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WTO warns of ‘rocky road’ with food shortages

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WTO chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

The World Trade Organization is gathering in Geneva for its first ministerial meeting in nearly five years to tackle food security threatened by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, overfishing and equitable access to Covid vaccines.

WTO chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala opened the four-day meeting on Sunday with the warning “expect a rocky, bumpy road with a few landmines along the way”.

But she told journalists she was “cautiously optimistic” that the more than 100 attending ministers would manage to agree on at least one or two of a long line of pressing issues, and that would be “a success”.

The WTO is under pressure to eke out long-sought trade deals on a range of issues and show unity amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and an impending global hunger crisis.

But since the global trade body only makes decisions by consensus, it can be more than tricky to reach agreements.

Top of the agenda at the gathering in Geneva is the toll Russia’s war in Ukraine – traditionally a breadbasket that feeds hundreds of millions of people – is having on food security.

Credit: rfi

Pope Francis says Ukraine war was ‘perhaps somehow provoked’

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Pope Francis

Pope Francis has said Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine was “perhaps somehow provoked” as he recalled a conversation in the run-up to the war in which he was warned Nato was “barking at the gates of Russia”.

In an interview with the Jesuit magazine La Civiltà Cattolica, conducted last month and published on Tuesday, the pontiff condemned the “ferocity and cruelty of the Russian troops” while warning against what he said was a fairytale perception of the conflict as good versus evil.

“We need to move away from the usual Little Red Riding Hood pattern, in that Little Red Riding Hood was good and the wolf was the bad one,” he said.

Francis added that a couple of months before the war he met a head of state, who he did not identify but described as “a wise man who speaks little, a very wise man indeed … He told me that he was very worried about how Nato was moving. I asked him why, and he replied: ‘They are barking at the gates of Russia. They don’t understand that the Russians are imperial and can’t have any foreign power getting close to them.’”

Credit: theguardian.com

Denmark, Canada to sign deal ending dispute over Arctic isle

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Denmark, Canada to sign deal

A territorial dispute between Denmark and Canada over a barren and uninhabited rock in the Arctic has come to an end, with the two friendly countries agreeing to divide the tiny island between them. Under the agreement, signed yesterday, a border will be drawn across the 1.3 square kilometres (0.5 square miles) Hans Island, in the waterway between the northwestern coast of the semi-autonomous Danish territory of Greenland and Canada’s Ellesmere Island. The rock has no mineral reserves. Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod said it was “an important signal now that there is much war and unrest in the world”.

Canada and Denmark agreed in 1973 to create a border through Nares Strait, halfway between Greenland and Canada. But they were unable to agree on which country would have sovereignty over Hans Island. In the end, they decided to work out the question of ownership later.

In 1984, Denmark’s minister of Greenland affairs raised a Danish flag on the island, buried a bottle of Danish schnapps and left a note saying: “Welcome to the Danish island.”

Canadians then planted their own flag and left a bottle of Canadian brandy.

Credit: Aljazeera.com

EU set to take legal action against UK over post-Brexit deal changes

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European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen

The EU is expected to launch legal action against the UK government on Wednesday over its decision to scrap some post-Brexit trade arrangements.

Ministers insist current checks on some goods travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland must end to avoid harm to the peace process.

They published a parliamentary bill on Monday aimed at overriding parts of the deal signed with the EU in 2020.

But Brussels says going back on the arrangement breaks international law.

The Northern Ireland Protocol is the part of the Brexit deal which keeps Northern Ireland in the EU’s single market for goods.

This prevents a hard border with the Republic of Ireland – including checks there on the movement of people and goods – which both the UK and EU want to avoid in order to ensure peace is maintained.

But instead it means checks on some goods arriving into Northern Ireland from other parts of the UK. That is opposed by unionists in Northern Ireland who argue it creates a trade border in the Irish Sea and could lead to the break-up of the UK.

Credit: bbc.com

Saudi Arabia eases mask mandate as first Hajj pilgrims arrive

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Hajj pilgrim

Saudi Arabia has lifted a mask mandate for indoor spaces even as COVID-19 infection numbers steadily climb past 1,000 new cases a day after reaching double-digit lows just two months ago.

Monday’s move comes as the kingdom prepares to welcome around 850,000 pilgrims from abroad to participate in the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The first batch of foreign pilgrims since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic began arriving from Indonesia earlier this month.

Masks will still be required at Islam’s holiest sites in Mecca and Medina, where pilgrims gather for worship, according to the new rules. Organisers of events and festivals can continue to require masks if they wish.

The kingdom also dropped a rule requiring proof of vaccination on a mobile app that was needed to enter certain places, attend some events and board planes.

Both mask-wearing and use of the app have been sparsely enforced in recent months.  The COVID-19 pandemic has hugely disrupted Muslim pilgrimages, which are usually key revenue earners for the kingdom, bringing in some $12bn annually.

Credit: Aljazeera.com

Natural Remedies for Flu Symptoms

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Influenza

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process.

The flu (or influenza) is caused by a virus. Several kinds of viruses can give you the flu. While there’s no cure for the flu, there are natural remedies that might help soothe flu symptoms. They may also help shorten how long you have the flu.

We’ll review 10 natural remedies and explain how to use them, and why they can help.

Drink water and fluids

Drinking water and other fluids is even more important when you have the flu. This is true whether you have a respiratory flu or a stomach flu.

Water helps to keep your nose, mouth, and throat moist. This helps your body get rid of built-up mucous and phlegm.

You can also get dehydrated if you aren’t eating or drinking normally. Diarrhea and fever (two common symptoms of a flu), can also cause water loss.

You can stay hydrated by consuming plenty of:

water

coconut water

sports drinks

herbal tea

fresh juice

soup

broth

raw fruits and vegetables

You’ll know you’re drinking enough water and liquids if:

you have to urinate regularly

the color of your urine is almost clear or pale yellow

If your urine is a deep yellow to amber color, you may be dehydrated.

It’s also helpful to avoid smoking as much as possible since it can further irritate your nose, throat, and lungs.

Get plenty of rest

It’s important to rest and get more sleep when you have the flu. Sleeping can help boost your immune system. This helps your body fight off the flu virus. Cancel your usual routine and make sleep a priority to help get you back on your feet.

Drink warm broth

Drinking warm chicken or beef bone broth is a good way to help you stay hydrated. It helps to loosen and break up nose and sinus congestion.

Bone broth is also naturally high in protein and minerals like sodium and potassium. Drinking broth is a good way to replenish these nutrients while you have the flu. Plus, protein is important for rebuilding immune cells.

You can buy ready-made varieties, but be sure to look for those that are low in sodium (salt). You can also make your own broth by boiling chicken or beef bones. You can freeze portions of broth for future use.

You can shop online for bone broth.

Up your zinc intake

The mineral zinc is important for your immune system. This nutrient helps your body make germ-fighting white blood cells. Research shows that zinc might help ease cold and flu symptoms. Zinc helps your body fight the flu virus and may slow down how fast it multiplies.

You can take a zinc supplement or a multivitamin with zinc during flu season. You can normally get plenty of zinc from a balanced daily diet. Foods that are high in zinc include:

red meat

shellfish

lentils

chickpeas

beans

nuts

seeds

dairy

eggs

You can shop for zinc supplements online.

Rinse with salt water

A warm water and salt rinse (sometimes called a salt water gargle) can soothe a sore throat. It can also help to clear mucous. Here’s how to rinse with salt water:

Boil or heat up water and let it cool until it’s warm or at room temperature. Mix 1/2 tsp salt to 8 ounces of warm water.

Pull the salt water to the back of your throat and gargle it for about 10 to 30 seconds so that it rinses your mouth and throat.

Spit the water into a sink and repeat 2 to 4 times.

Do not swallow the salt water. Do not allow children to gargle until they can safely gargle with plain water.

Drink herbal tea

Several herbs have natural antiviral and antibacterial properties. Star anise is a star-shaped spice from which oseltamivir was traditionally extracted.

Oseltamivir phosphate (better known as Tamiflu) is a prescription drug used to speed recovery from or to prevent getting the flu. Its antiviral properties are effective against some kinds of flu viruses. Other herbs and green leafy teas also have germ-fighting and antioxidant benefits.

An herbal tea may help your body fight off the flu virus. A hot herbal drink is also soothing to your throat and sinuses.

You can make a flu-fighting herbal tea with star anise and other herbs like:

green or black tea

turmeric

fresh or dried ginger, or ginger paste

fresh garlic

cloves

Sweeten herbal teas with pure honey. Honey, royal jelly, and other bee products have been found Trusted Source to have natural antiviral and antibacterial properties.

Many bagged teas are available with these as dried ingredients combined together.

Apply essential oils

Some types of essential oils may help protect you against certain viruses and bacteria. One study found that tea tree oil helps to fight the flu virus by slowing or stopping the rate that the virus multiplies. According to the study, tea tree oil works best when it’s used within two hours of infection. This shows that it may help to block the flu virus from multiplying.

In practice, you might add a few drops of tea tree oil to liquid hand soap when you wash your hands or mixed into lotion you use. Some commercially made mouthwashes include it as an ingredient.

Other plant and herbal essential oils may also work as natural antibiotics and antivirals. These include:

cinnamon oil

peppermint oil

eucalyptus oil

geranium oil

lemon oil

thyme oil

oregano oil

Use essential oils only as directed. Do not ingest essential oils, many are toxic. Most essential oils can be used on the skin after they’re mixed with oils like almond or olive oil. You can add fresh and dried herbs and spices to food to get similar benefits.

Diffusing essential oils into the air with a diffuser may also help against some kinds of viruses and bacteria. Be aware that aromatherapy has an influence on children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and pets.

Use a humidifier

The flu virus survives longer in dry indoor air. This may make the virus spread more easily. Colder, outdoor temperatures generally lower humidity in the air. Indoor air can get dry from heating and air conditioning use. Using a humidifier to add humidity in your home and workplace might help reduce flu viruses in the air.

Inhale steam

Breathing in steam from a warm pot of water can help soothe your nose, sinuses, throat, and lungs. Steam inhalation or steam therapy uses water vapor to help loosen mucous congestion.

The warm moist air may also relieve swelling in the nose and lungs. Steam inhalation might help to soothe a dry cough, irritated nose, and chest tightness.

Ways you can heat water for steam:

in a pot on the stove

in a microwave-safe bowl or mug in the microwave

in a vaporizer

Avoid steam from boiling water. Be careful to test the temperature of the steam before breathing it in. Keep your face and hands far enough away to avoid scalding or burning yourself. Add a few drops of essential oils or a medicated vapor rub to the water for added antiviral and antioxidant benefits.

Eat a bland diet

If you have the stomach flu, eat small amounts of food at a time. Try hand-sized portions.

The stomach flu can give you nausea, cramps, and diarrhea. Bland foods are easier to digest and may help ease your stomach symptoms.

Foods that are easy on the stomach

BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast)

crackers

cooked cereals (oatmeal and cream of wheat)

gelatin (Jell-O)

boiled potatoes

grilled or boiled chicken

soup and broth

electrolyte rich drinks

Avoid foods that may irritate your stomach and digestion.

Foods to avoid while you have the stomach flu

milk

cheese

caffeine

meats

spicy foods

fried foods

fatty foods

alcohol

Flu symptoms

The flu typically causes respiratory — nose, throat, and lung — symptoms. Top flu symptoms are:

fever

chills

headache

body ache

runny or stuffy nose

sore throat

dry cough

tiredness and fatigue

The stomach flu is a flu virus that causes digestive symptoms. You might have:

chills

fever

nausea

vomiting

stomach cramps

diarrhea

Flu complications

The flu can sometimes lead to health complications. It can trigger other viral and bacterial infections in the lungs, throat, ears, and other areas. These include:

pneumonia

bronchitis

sinusitis

ear infection

encephalitis (brain infection)

People who are at higher risk of complications from the flu include:

children younger than 5 years

adults 65 years or older

people with other health conditions

Flu and other health conditions

If you have the flu, talk with a doctor if you also have a chronic health condition. These include:

asthma

heart disease

lung conditions

diabetes

kidney disease

liver disease

stroke

epilepsy

sickle cell anemia

Your doctor may prescribe antiviral medications that help reduce symptoms and the length of the flu. These drugs work best when taken within two days of getting the flu.

See a doctor when

Let your doctor know if you have a fever higher than 100.4°F (38°C). Also, seek urgent medical attention if your symptoms do not improve after one to two weeks.

See your doctor if you have:

trouble breathing

chest pain

fever higher than 100.4°F (38°C)

chills or sweating

mucous that’s a strange color

blood in your mucous

severe cough

Flu vs. cold

Viruses cause the flu and the common cold. Both kinds of infections can give you a fever. Cold and the flu viruses cause similar symptoms. The main differences between a flu and a cold are how bad the symptoms are and how long you have them for.

Flu symptoms begin suddenly and are typically severe. A flu can last for one to two weeks. Cold symptoms are typically milder. You might have a cold for a week or longer.

Read more about the differences between flu and cold symptoms here.

The takeaway

In most cases of the flu, you’ll likely not need to see a doctor. Stay home and don’t bring it to your workplace or school. Get a yearly flu vaccination. Drink fluids and rest.

Home remedies can help reduce symptoms so you can be more comfortable and rest more easily while you have the flu — and rest has a big impact on getting better faster.

Source: www.healthline.com

Feature: What’s All That Jazz About Achimota Forest?

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Achimota Forest

The Achimota Forest, surely belonged to the Owoo family when in 1922, the colonial administration decided to take a portion and paid £4,000.00 as compensation. In 1927, the colonialists came back for more, promising to use part as an extension of the Prince of Wales College, now Achimota School and the other part as a forest reserve for the cultivation of fuel wood for the school. This one they paid no compensation.

In this day and era, the Owoo family has been demanding release of the portion of the land which had not been utilised for the purpose it was acquired for. According to records at the Lands ministry, the Owoo family begun the request during the J.A. Kufuor administration, continued to the Mills/Mahama administration and recently in the current Nana Addo administration. It looks like over 146 hectares of the forest land has gone back to the Owoo family. By the new land laws, since the family were not compensated for the land before the coming into force of the 1992 Constitution, the Owoo’s have the right to every inch of space of that land.

Government of the Republic of Ghana, must return the land to the family and if there has been any development on it, GoG must be the intermediary between the Owoo family and the occupants for a peaceful resolution.

In the heat of this saga, Manasseh Azure, decided to produce a will allegedly to be Sir John’s, and listed portions of the Achimota forest bequeathed to the late Forest Commissioner’s relations.

All hell, was let loose and instead of Ghanaians investigating the authenticity of that Will, people went to war against the current administration in particular and political office holders, past and present, in general. The Lands Commission came out with the news that it has no records to indicate that Sir John owned any land in the Achimota Forest and Ramsar Site, Sakumono. Yet, Ghanaians still believed what Manasseh put up.

Of the total landmass of 479 hectares of forest, only 145 hectares are in contention at the moment. That 145 hectares of land belong to the Owoo family by right, so what are we waiting for?

It is seemingly obvious that Ghanaians, in general, will allow some mischievous people to set an agenda for them and boom, there will be hitherto unknown citizens who would come to talk about the right things to do and accuse people who choose to remain silent about things that only occur in the minds of such citizens.

The whole country is then taken on a roller-coaster ride as people who want us to believe they care, will come and tell us things they want us to believe.

The real danger to this country is the rapid losing of forest cover in our forest belt. That is what Ghanaians should be talking about and not some 479 hectares in general or 145 hectares of some family’s private land in particular.

In 1972 or thereabouts, I travelled with my family from Abidjan, headed north, on road and entered Ghana at Brong-Ahafo, towards Kumasi. On the way, we came to Koforidua and I never forgot that name because I was then a student in Effiduase, Koforidua in the Eastern Region.

All the way from the Ghana border, there was what seemed like a cloud cover, but it was not a cloud cover. It was canopies of trees that made the area so serene and cool in such rich forest. Koforidua was no exception and I could hardly see the sky until we went through the town.

Thirty years on, and I went to the burial of a friend’s wife and when I got to Koforidua it was like I was on the Accra-Ada Road. All the trees were gone and none was being planted in replacement.

Between 1990 and 2010, a period spanning twenty years, Ghana lost 33.7% or 2,508,000 hectares of its 7.44 million hectares of forest cover. From 2000 to date the average rate of deforestation in Ghana is 0.6% loss of forest cover per annum.

The reasons for deforestation are topped by illegal logging and most recently by galamsey or unregulated mining practices.

We are in this Ghana,when forestry officials will permit foreigners like the Chinese to go cutting down protected species like rosewood and ensure safe passage out of the country.

We are in this Ghana, when some immigration officials were alleged to have granted visas to some Chinese illegal immigrants who were even fined by the court for the degradation of some Ghanaians lands while illegally exploiting for gold.

We are in this Ghana, while our lands and rivers are polluted by foreigners in connivance with some Ghanaians as this country is gradually getting to El-Salvador’s standards before that country declared total ban on all forms of mining when 90% of its water bodies were polluted.

These are more serious issues than some blessed family’s 479 hectares of land which is now topic of discussion, a mere 0.4% of total forest cover we lose yearly, due to recklessness, partisanship, greed, unjustified traditional authority and what have you. The day we will wake up and see arid land within our compound, no one should blame politicians or political office holders.

Now, again, this Achimota Forest saga has enable those persons who only seek the least opportunity to tell the whole world what knowledge they have and how much they care for the country, when in fact they do not, to come out talking about acquisition of state lands and properties by political office holders.

Where were they when private businesses were forcibly taken from the owners and made state businesses and after these businesses flopped due to mismanagement, they were sold to the private sector?

Edward Osei Boakye started operating the United Mattress and Foam Company in 1959 at age 26. He became to be known as Boakye Mattress and his factory was a leading one in West Africa. He also built the first fully service private hospital in the 70’s. For some reasons, the state under Rawlings took over all his businesses and his hospital became the state-owned Police Hospital.

J.K. Siaw, established Tata Brewery in 1969 and ten years later, this largest wholly own African brewery company in Africa, was confiscated by Rawlings, who gave it to the state and called it Achimota Brewery and later gave it to an international brewery company, Guinness Ghana.

B.A. Mensah started a successful tobacco company under the name International Tobacco Ghana (ITG) and like the others, Rawlings seized it in 1988 and sold it SSNIT, then to British American Tobacco and Duraplast.

Edward Boakye, J.K. Siaw and B.A. Mensah among many others had their genuine businesses unjustifiably acquired by the state. This is the real issues that should occupied our minds, because the above-named gallant Ghanaians were truly going to set the pace for a highly advanced private sector which was going to be the engine of growth of Ghana’s economy. If those businesses were allowed to stay in the hands of their original owners and more private businesses were encouraged to come up, today the nation would have been the winner.

We are here, rather talking about Achimota Forest and worse, nothing reasonable about how to return the land to the Owoo family but only about people who have acquired state lands. The state is most guilty when it comes to acquiring private properties.

We should not forget how the depressed bank, Bank for Housing and Construction (BHC) which went into liquidation and all its prime lands were sold for the price of agbeli kalaklo without copra.

We should not forget, the once vibrant Nsawam Cannery which went into private hands of an NGO founded and owned by then first lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings.

We should not forget the once leading shipyard in Africa, the Tema Shipyard, which was given to private hands and sooner than later, it all fell apart.

These and all the above, are things that should engage our minds. We know which regime came to destroy the private sector and brought down any chances of Ghana rising up economically. If today we are facing challenges, we need to look at the 1980’s through to the year 2000. There we will know where we went wrong.

We should stop these lies about Sir John’s Will and the jazz about Achimota Forest.

Hon Daniel Dugan

Kompany appointed Burnley manager

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Vincent Kompany

Burnley have appointed former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany as manager.

The Belgian, 36, was Anderlecht boss for two years before leaving by mutual consent in May, having led them to third in the Belgian top flight.

Burnley sacked Sean Dyche in April and replaced him with interim boss Mike Jackson, who was unable to prevent relegation from the Premier League.

“I’m excited by the challenge ahead,” Kompany said.

“Burnley Football Club is a truly historic English side and it is an honour to be appointed first-team manager.

“I’ve been impressed by the board’s vision for the club which aligns with my own and I look forward to playing my part as we enter an important season.”

Former Belgium defender Kompany spent 11 years at City, where he won 10 major trophies, including four Premier League titles.

His appointment comes amid Burnley’s financial troubles. They received a £65m loan with American finance company MSD Holdings, a “significant proportion” of which now has to be repaid after falling out of the top flight.

Burnley have not specified the length of Kompany’s contract.

The previous time the Clarets went down from the Premier League, in 2014-15, Dyche stayed in charge and led them to the Championship title the following season.

Credit: bbc.com

Serena Williams given Wimbledon singles wildcard

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Serena Williams

Serena Williams will make her return to Grand Slam tennis at Wimbledon this month after being given a wildcard entry to the singles.

The 40-year-old American, who is a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, has not played since injuring herself in the first round at SW19 last year.

She will make her return to tennis playing doubles at Eastbourne alongside Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur in the week before Wimbledon then compete at the All England Club, where she is a seven-time singles champion.

Williams’ elder sister Venus, who has won the singles at Wimbledon five times and the doubles six times alongside Serena, was not in the initial batch of singles wildcards announced on Tuesday.

However, the 41-year-old, who has not played on the WTA Tour since August, could still be given one of the remaining two spots for the tournament, which begins on 27 June.

Serena – who earlier on Tuesday had posted an image of her trainers on grass, captioning it: “SW and SW19. It’s a date” – is currently ranked 1,208 because of her prolonged inactivity.

She won the last of her Wimbledon titles in 2016, but reached the final in 2018 and 2019 after returning from maternity leave. She last won a Grand Slam singles title at the 2017 Australian Open.

The younger Williams first played in the singles event at Wimbledon as a 16-year-old in 1998 and has only missed the tournament three times since, including when pregnant with daughter Olympia in 2017.

Credit: bbc.com

Roma announce the capture of Nemanja Matic

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Matic (right) has signed for Roma on a one-year contract

Roma have announced the signing of midfielder Nemanja Matic after his departure from Manchester United. The Serbia international, who revealed in April that he would be leaving Old Trafford at the end of the season, is reunited with former boss Jose Mourinho for a third time. The 33-year-old has signed for Roma on a one-year contract that runs until 30 June 2023. The deal also has the option to extend by an additional year. 

Roma said in a statement on their official website: ‘The club is delighted to confirm the signing of Nemanja Matic. Matic, 33, has put pen-to-paper on a one-year contract with the Giallorossi that runs until 30 June 2023.’

Matic, who spent five years at United after joining from Chelsea, added: ‘I am pleased and honoured to be joining this club and I cannot wait to start the new season with my team-mates.

‘Roma is a big club, with amazing fans and a coach, Jose Mourinho, who is well known to everyone – making the decision to come here very straightforward. I hope that by working together we are able to achieve some great things.’

Matic has a long history with Mourinho, who he played under at both Manchester United and Chelsea. The midfielder has played 159 times for the Portuguese manager, more than he has played under any other boss. He went on to speak about their relationship in more detail by saying: ‘I already worked with him, we have a good connection and he is one of the reasons why I came here. 

Credit: dailymail.co.uk

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