Gaza: Aid worker killings prompt temporary halt to UN operations after dark

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14 April 2024

Gaza: Aid worker killings prompt temporary halt to UN operations after dark — UN News/Ziad Taleb - Night scenes of displaced persons’ tents in the Tal Al-Sultan neighborhood, west of the city of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip.

UN humanitarians in Gaza have suspended operations at night for at least 48 hours in response to the killing of seven aid workers from the NGO World Central Kitchen on Tuesday.

The move will allow for further evaluation of the security issues that impact both personnel on the ground and the people they are trying to serve, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said on Wednesday during the noon briefing for reporters in New York.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) reports that daytime operations are continuing, including ongoing efforts to get food aid convoys into northern Gaza.

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‘Chilling effect’

World Central Kitchen and other charities have suspended aid operations which has had a “double impact” in the Gaza Strip, Mr. Dujarric said in response to a reporter’s question.

“It has a real impact on people who depend on these organisations to receive aid,” he said.

“But it also has a psychological and chilling effect on humanitarian workers, both Palestinians and international, who continue to do their utmost to deliver aid to those who need it at great personal risk.” 

The World Central Kitchen staff, consisting of local and international personnel, were killed in multiple Israeli airstrikes on their convoy while departing their warehouse in Deir al Balah in central Gaza.

A ‘horrific’ incident: WHO chief

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said he was horrified by the killing of the seven humanitarian workers, noting that their cars were clearly marked and should never have been attacked.

“This horrific incident highlights the extreme danger under which WHO colleagues and our partners are working – and will continue to work,” said Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaking in Geneva.

WHO has been working with World Central Kitchen to deliver food to health workers and patients in Gaza hospitals.

Tedros underlined the need for safe humanitarian access through establishment of “an effective and transparent mechanism for deconfliction”. He also called for “more entry points, including in northern Gaza, cleared roads, and predictable and expedited passage through checkpoints.”

Meanwhile, the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, is working with the Palestine Red Crescent Society to assist in the repatriation of the remains of the international staff from World Central Kitchen.

“According to the Israeli military, an initial investigation found that the strike was a ‘grave mistake’ due to a misidentification,” OCHA said in its latest update, issued on Wednesday.

Israeli authorities said that a new humanitarian command centre will be established to improve the coordination of aid distribution, while a full independent investigation will be completed over the coming days. The findings will be shared with World Central Kitchen and other relevant international organizations.

UN News – Footage of destruction of Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza, following the end of the latest Israeli siege. The World Health Organization (WHO) reiterated that hospitals must be respected and protected; they must not be used as battlefields.

Al-Shifa Hospital

WHO again requested authorization to travel to the destroyed Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City in the wake of the end of the two-week Israeli military siege.

Tedros said teams have been trying to seek permission to access what is left of the hospital, to speak with staff, and to see what can be saved “but at the moment, the situation looks disastrous.”

Al-Shifa was the largest hospital and main referral centre in the Gaza Strip, containing 750 beds, 26 operating rooms, 32 intensive care rooms, a dialysis department and a central laboratory.

Tedros reiterated his call to respect and protect hospitals which “must not be used as battlefields.”

Since the conflict began nearly six months ago, WHO has verified more than 900 attacks on healthcare in Gaza, the West Bank, Israel and Lebanon, resulting in 736 deaths and 1,014 injuries.

Currently, only 10 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are still able to function even partially.

A WHO team also planned to visit two other hospitals in northern Gaza on Tuesday, but no permission was received.

Expert condemnation

Two experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council have joined the growing international condemnation over the wholesale destruction and killing at Al-Shifa Hospital.

Tlaleng Mofokeng, Special Rapporteur on the right to physical and mental health, and Francesca Albanese, Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, called for the international community to take action.

“The extent of the atrocity is still unable to be fully documented due to its scale and gravity – and clearly represents the most horrific assault on Gaza’s hospitals,” they said in a statement.

They said international law prohibits the besieging and destruction of a hospital and the killing of health workers, the sick and wounded, as well as the people protecting.

“Allowing this violence to take place has sent a clear message to the world and the international community that the people of Gaza do not have the right to health and critical determinants of health adequate for their existence.”

The rights experts urged UN Member States use all their powers to stop the horror in Gaza, saying they are appalled by the massacre of civilians by Israeli forces.

“The world is witnessing the first genocide shown in real time to the world by its victims and unfathomably justified by Israel as compliant with the laws of war,” they said.

Special Rapporteurs are appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. They are not UN staff and do not receive payment for their work.

Unusually Lightweight Black Hole Candidate Spotted by LIGO

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Newsdesk

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14 April 2024

Unusually Lightweight Black Hole Candidate Spotted by LIGO

In May 2023, shortly after LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory) turned back on for its fourth run of observations, it detected a gravitational-wave signal from the collision of an object, most likely a neutron star, with a suspected black hole possessing a mass that is 2.5 to 4.5 times more than that of our Sun.

This signal, called GW230529, is intriguing to researchers because the candidate black hole’s mass falls within a so-called mass gap between the heaviest known neutron stars, which are slightly more than two solar masses, and the lightest known black holes, which are about five solar masses. While the gravitational wave signal alone cannot reveal the true nature of this object, future detections of similar events, especially those accompanied by bursts of light, could hold the key to answering the question of how lightweight black holes can be.

The image shows the coalescence and merger of a lower mass-gap black hole (dark gray surface) with a neutron star (greatly tidally deformed by the black hole's gravity). This still image from a simulation of the merger highlights just the neutron star's lower density components, ranging from 60 grams per cubic centimeter (dark blue) to 600 kilograms per cubic centimeter (white). Its shape highlights the strong deformations of the low-density material of the neutron star
Credit: Ivan Markin, Tim Dietrich (University of Potsdam), Harald Paul Pfeiffer, Alessandra Buonanno (Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics

The image shows the coalescence and merger of a lower mass-gap black hole (dark grey surface) with a neutron star (greatly tidally deformed by the black hole’s gravity). This still image from a merger simulation highlights just the neutron star’s lower-density components, ranging from 60 grams per cubic centimetre (dark blue) to 600 kilograms per cubic centimetre (white). Its shape highlights the strong deformations of the low-density material of the neutron star. Image Credit: Ivan Markin, Tim Dietrich (University of Potsdam), Harald Paul Pfeiffer, Alessandra Buonanno (Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics

“The latest finding demonstrates the impressive science capability of the gravitational-wave detector network, which is significantly more sensitive than it was in the third observing run,” says Jenne Driggers (PhD ’15), detection lead scientist at LIGO Hanford in Washington, one of two facilities, along with LIGO Livingston in Louisiana, that make up the LIGO Observatory.

LIGO made history in 2015 after carrying out the first direct detection of gravitational waves in space. Since then, LIGO and its partner detector in Europe, Virgo, have detected nearly 100 mergers between black holes, a handful between neutron stars, as well as mergers between neutron stars and black holes. The Japanese detector KAGRA joined the gravitational-wave network in 2019, and the team of scientists who collectively analyze data from all three detectors is known as the LIGO–Virgo–KAGRA (LVK) collaboration. The LIGO observatories are funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), and were conceived, built, and are operated by Caltech and MIT.

The latest finding also indicates that collisions involving lightweight black holes may be more common than previously believed.

“This detection, the first of our exciting results from the fourth LIGO–Virgo–KAGRA observing run, reveals that there may be a higher rate of similar collisions between neutron stars and low mass black holes than we previously thought,” says Jess McIver, an assistant professor at the University of British Columbia, deputy spokesperson of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, and a former postdoctoral fellow at Caltech.

Prior to the GW230529 event, one other intriguing mass-gap candidate object had been identified. In that event, which took place in August 2019 and is known as GW190814, a compact object of 2.6 solar masses was found as part of a cosmic collision, but scientists are not sure if it was a neutron star or black hole.

After a break for maintenance and upgrades, the detectors’ fourth observing run will resume on April 10, 2024, and will continue until February 2025.

Written by Whitney Clavin

Source: Caltech

First Person: ‘I no longer amount to anything’ – Voices of the displaced in Haiti

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14 April 2024

First Person: ‘I no longer amount to anything’ – Voices of the displaced in Haiti

He and others spoke to Eline Joseph, who works for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Port-au-Prince with a team which provides psychosocial support to people who have fled their homes because of the violence and insecurity.

She spoke to UN News about her working life and supporting her family.

“I have to say it has become more difficult to do my job as I am unable to move about freely and provide care to displaced people, especially those who are located in red zones, which are too dangerous to visit.

Daily life continues on the streets of Port au Prince, despite the insecurity.

The insecurity in Haiti is unprecedented – extreme violence, attacks by armed gangs, kidnappings. Nobody is safe. Everyone is at risk of becoming a victim. The situation can change from minute to minute, so we have to remain vigilant at all times.

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Loss of identity

Recently, I met a community of farmers who were forced, due to gang activity, to leave their very fertile land on the hills outside Petionville [a neighbourhood in the southeast of Port-au-Prince] where they grew vegetables.

One of the leaders told me how they have lost their way of life, how they could no longer breath the fresh mountain air and live off the fruits of their labour. They are now living in a site for displaced people with people they do not know, with little access to water and proper sanitation and the same food every day.

He told me that he is not the person that he once was, that he has lost his identity, which he said was all he possessed in the world. He said he no longer amounts to anything.

I have heard some desperate stories from men who have been forced to witness the rape of their wives and daughters, some of whom were infected with HIV. These men could do nothing to protect their families, and many feel responsible for what happened. One man said that he felt worthless and was having suicidal thoughts.

Workers from a local UN NGO partner, UCCEDH, assess the needs of displaced people in downtown Port-au-Prince.

I have listened to children who wait for their fathers to come home, dreading that they may have been shot dead.

Psychological support

Working on the IOM team, we provide the psychological first-aid for people in distress, including one-to-one and group sessions. We also make sure they are in a safe place.

We offer relaxation sessions and recreational activities to help people unwind. Our approach is people-centred. We take into account their experience and introduce elements of Haitian culture, including proverbs and dances.

I have also organized counselling for older people. One woman came up to me after a session to thank me, saying that this was the first time she had been given the opportunity to put into words the pain and suffering she was experiencing.

Family life

I also have to think of my own family. I am forced to raise my children within the four walls of my home. I can’t even take them out for a walk, just to breathe fresh air.

When I have to leave the house for shopping or work, my five-year-old daughter looks me in the eyes and makes me promise that I will return home safe and sound. This makes me very sad.

My 10-year-old son told me one day, that if the president, who was murdered in his home, is not safe, then no-one is. And when he says that and tells me that he has heard that the bodies of murdered people are being left on the streets, I don’t really have an answer for him.

At home, we try and have a normal life. My children practice their musical instruments. Sometimes we will have a picnic on the veranda or have a movie or karaoke night.

With all my heart, I dream that Haiti will once again be a safe and stable country. I dream that displaced people can return to their homes. I dream that farmers can return to their fields.”

World News in Brief: Rights chief dismay over Uganda anti-LGBT law, Haiti update, aid for Sudan, executions alert in Egypt

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13 April 2024

World News in Brief: Rights chief dismay over Uganda anti-LGBT law, Haiti update, aid for Sudan, executions alert in Egypt

In a statement, Volker Türk urged authorities in Kampala to repeal it in its entirety, together with other discriminatory legislation passed into law by parliamentary majority.

“Close to 600 people are reported to have been subjected to human rights violations and abuses based on their actual or imputed sexual orientation or gender identity” since being enacted last May, said Mr. Türk.

“It must be repealed in its entirety or unfortunately this number will only rise.”

He called on politicians to uphold the rights and dignity of all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

“Criminalization of and application of the death penalty to consensual same-sex relations are contrary to Uganda’s international human rights treaty obligations.”

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Constitutional rights

He pointed out that even Uganda’s own constitution demands equal treatment and non-discrimination.

“It is crucial that the authorities also repeal Section 145 of the Penal Code Act, which also imposes criminal penalties for consensual same-sex sexual relations”, he added, together with enshrining sexual orientation and gender identity “as prohibited grounds for discrimination.”

Mr. Türk said there needed to be “a conducive environment for all human rights defenders – including LGBTQ rights advocates – to carry out their legitimate human rights work” including by enabling them be work openly without discrimination and exercise their rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly.

Healthcare in Haiti under attack by armed gangs

Hospitals in Haiti’s capital have come under increasing attack by armed gangs, with some being looted amidst the ongoing turmoil, the UN humanitarian coordination office, OCHA, reported on Wednesday.

A UNFPA-supported mobile health team visits a site for displaced people near Haïti’s capital Port-au-Prince.

Two healthcare facilities in Port-au-Prince were forced to shut down, while two others remain closed despite plans to reopen, after being shuttered due to the rising violence.

Only La Paix University Hospital remains operational in the capital area, and it has come under significant strain due to rising demand for its services.

The Delmas 18 Hospital and Saint Martin health centre were both looted on 26 and 27 of March.

PAHO, the UN-administered Pan American Health Organization, is providing it with essential supplies such as medicines, fuel, and logistical assistance to help it keep services going.

Pharmacies raided

According to OCHA, armed groups have also targeted and raided some 10 pharmacies in Haiti’s capital, severely hindering public access to medications.

Rising violence has also affected the work of HIV and tuberculosis service sites. Local UNAIDS services are collaborating with Haiti’s Health Ministry, with HIV testing being prioritized.

Amid a political vacuum, Haiti’s powerful gangs have launched coordinated attacks on various targets since February, including police stations, prisons, airports, and seaports, resulting in the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry three weeks ago.

While a state of emergency is in effect, a transitional government has yet to be established.

On Tuesday the World Food Programme (WFP) distributed hot meals to over 28,000 people in the capital and last week the UN health agency (WHO), children’s agency (UNICEF) and local partners carried out nearly 600 consultations in displacement sites.

UN in Sudan and South Sudan team up to make crucial aid deliveries

Responding to the critical needs of civilians impacted by the ongoing war in Sudan, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) country teams there and in neighbouring South Sudan have teamed up to deliver supplies to the Blue Nile and Nuba Mountains.

The ongoing crisis has significantly impeded the ability of the WHO office in Sudan to access and deliver essential emergency medical supplies to the two regions, said WHO in a statement on Wednesday.

By leveraging the South Sudan office’s logistical expertise, and available resources, emergency health kits have been prepositioned from existing stockpiles in areas along the Sudan-South Sudan border, ensuring timely and effective assistance to those in dire need.

Commitment to collaboration

The joint effort is a testament to the commitment of both offices to cross-border collaboration, and the inter-agency emergency health supplies are expected to serve approximately 830,000 people in the conflict-affected Blue Nile and Nuba Mountains areas for the next three months.

The shipment is the second that WHO South Sudan has been able to deliver across the border since the outbreak of the brutal conflict between rival militaries nearly a year ago.

The dispatch of the supplies is part of WHO’s continuous relief efforts in support of the Sudanese people, the agency said.

Egypt must halt executions, urge UN human rights experts

A group of independent UN human rights experts on Wednesday expressed grave concern after death sentences were handed down to seven people by Egypt’s highest court in January, in the years long so-called “Helwan Brigade” counter-terrorism case.

Their executions would constitute arbitrary killings in violation of the right to life due to unfair trials and other human rights violations, they said in a statement.

Suspected Helwan Brigade members were accused of targeting security forces in the wake of the military coup against former democratically-elected President Mohamed Morsi more than 10 years ago.

Follow international law

“Capital punishment may only be carried out after a legal process that guarantees all of the safeguards required by international human rights law,” the Human Rights Council-appointed experts said.

The cases allegedly involved grave violations of international law, including enforced disappearances and incommunicado detention, torture and forced confessions, denial of access to lawyers and family visits, protracted pre-trial detention, solitary confinement, and mass trials before special terrorism courts which did not meet fair trial standards.

“Egypt has also failed to independently and effectively investigate and remedy these alleged violations as required by international and Egyptian law,” they said.

The death sentences further violate international law because they are based on convictions for vague and overly broad terrorist offences, the experts added.

There is also a real risk that executions in practice may constitute prohibited torture or cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.

“We urge Egypt to halt these executions, to independently investigate the alleged human rights violations and review the judicial proceedings in light of Egypt’s international obligations,” they said.

Rapporteurs and other UN rights experts are independent of any government, are not UN staffers and receive no salary for their work.

UN leaders galvanize action for reparations for people of African descent

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13 April 2024

UN leaders galvanize action for reparations for people of African descent

Experts and UN leaders exchanged views about the best ways forward, centred on this year’s theme, A Decade of Recognition, Justice, and Development: Implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent.

While the decade ends in 2024, much work remains to be done, General Assembly President Dennis Francis told the world body.

To galvanize action-based efforts, he announced a meeting focusing on the issue of reparatory justice, to be held on Monday on the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, marked on 25 March.

People of African descent face many prejudices and injustices through legacies of slavery and colonialism, from police brutality to inequalities, he said, stressing that the world must take action to fully protect their human rights.

“Racism and racial discrimination are a flagrant violation of human rights,” he said. “It is morally wrong, has no place in our world and must therefore be roundly repudiated.”

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UN chief slams ‘devastating’ legacies

The results of the legacy of enslavement and colonialism are “devastating”, said UN Secretary-General António Guterres in a statement delivered by UN Chef de Cabinet Courtenay Rattray.

Pointing to opportunities stolen, dignity denied, rights violated, lives taken and lives destroyed, he said “racism is an evil infecting countries and societies around the world.”

While racism is “rife”, it impacts communities differently.

Action must dismantle inequalities

“People of African descent face a unique history of systemic and institutionalized racism, and profound challenges today,” the UN chief said. “We must respond to that reality, learning from and building on the tireless advocacy of people of African descent.”

Action must change that, he said, from governments advancing policies and other measures to eliminate racism against people of African descent to tech firms urgently addressing racial bias in artificial intelligence.

Violent history

Chef de Cabinet Mr. Rattray, speaking on his own behalf, reminded the world body that the International Day is observed annually on the day the police in Sharpeville, South Africa, opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against apartheid “pass laws” in 1960.

Since then, the apartheid system in South Africa has been dismantled, and racist laws and practices have been abolished in many countries.

Today, a global framework for fighting racism is guided by the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which is now nearing universal ratification.

Protesters gather in Times Square in New York City to demand justice and to protest racism in the United States following the death of George Floyd in May 2020, while in police custody. (file).

‘Commemoration is not enough’

However, Mr. Rattray said, racism is entrenched in social structures, policies and the realities of millions today, violating people’s dignity and rights while fuelling silent discrimination in health, housing, education and daily life.

“It is high time we shook ourselves free,” he said, calling for action.

“Commemoration is not enough. Eliminating discrimination requires action.”

That includes countries and businesses delivering reparatory justice, he said.

Also addressing the General Assembly were Ilze Brand Kehris, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights and June Soomer, Chair-designate of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent.

For full coverage of this and other official UN gatherings, visit UN Meetings Coverage, in English and French.

Future-Proofing Your Business: The Role of AI in Cloud Services

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Newsdesk

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12 April 2024

Future-Proofing Your Business: The Role of AI in Cloud Services — Working with a laptop – illustrative photo. Image credit: Jonathan Francisca via Unsplash, free license

At the heart of this transformation is the fusion of AI in cloud services, a combination that’s redefining efficiency and decision-making in business today.

Imagine your business as a well-oiled machine, continually adapting to market changes with precision and insight.

From automating mundane tasks to unlocking big data’s potential, let’s explore how this technological tandem can be the keystone for future-proofing your enterprise.

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AI Meets Cloud Computing: A Strategic Alliance

Consider the landscape of modern business—constantly evolving and highly competitive. To stay ahead, embracing the fusion of AI with cloud computing is not just an option but a strategic imperative.

Whether you need cloud computing in NY & NJ or MI & LA, integrating artificial intelligence opens doors to new possibilities. Enterprises are now automating mundane tasks and crunching colossal datasets with unprecedented speed and accuracy. This partnership doesn’t merely streamline operations; it empowers informed decision-making with insights that were once buried in data overload.

Harnessing Big Data: AI’s Analytical Prowess

Big data is the new gold rush in business, but it takes sophisticated tools to mine its value. This is where AI shines within cloud services, offering:

Swift parsing of vast datasets.
Predictive analytics for forecasting trends.
Real-time insights that fuel agile decision-making.

These capabilities allow companies to not only understand historical patterns but also to anticipate future outcomes. The result? A proactive stance in strategy formulation and risk management.

By leveraging AI’s analytical might, businesses can uncover hidden correlations and insights that catapult them ahead of competitors who are still sifting through data the old-fashioned way.

Consider how this level of analysis can redefine your market positioning.

Revolutionizing Expense Management

In the quest for operational excellence, control over company finances is critical. That’s where AI in cloud services intersects with financial management tools, such as Moss, to revolutionize how businesses handle their expenses. Powered by AI, these platforms offer:

Real-time visibility into spending patterns.
Automated expense tracking and categorization.
Intelligent budget forecasting.

AI-driven systems process financial data with precision, permitting a level of analysis that identifies cost-saving opportunities and prevents budgetary excess. Harnessing cloud efficiency, decision-makers can gain mastery over their expenditures without wading through mountains of receipts and statements.

This symbiosis of AI and expense management not only streamlines workflows but also equips leaders with the insights to act decisively in financial planning.

Reflect on how this technological leap could redefine your company’s expense control strategy.

Decision-Making Elevated: The AI Advantage

Good decisions come from experience, and experience comes from bad decisions—or so the saying used to go. But with AI in cloud services, we’re rewriting the adage. Businesses now harness data-driven clarity to make decisions that are:

Sharper, thanks to AI’s ability to process complex variables.
Quicker, as machine learning algorithms learn and adapt in real time.
More strategic, with predictive analytics illuminating potential roadblocks.

This isn’t about replacing human intuition; it’s about augmenting it. When AI serves up high-caliber analysis on a silver platter, leaders can focus on visionary thought rather than getting bogged down by data paralysis.

Look at transforming your decision-making apparatus into an engine of precision and foresight.

Scaling New Heights: AI-Driven Cloud Scalability

Imagine a business terrain that’s as dynamic as the weather; it shifts, sometimes unpredictably. In such an environment, scalability becomes paramount. AI-enhanced cloud services inherently offer the elasticity to scale up or down based on operational demand—seamlessly and cost-effectively.

Rather than over-investing in infrastructure to accommodate peak loads or expansions, AI-driven cloud solutions dynamically adjust resources in alignment with real-time business needs. This agility ensures you’re equipped for sudden market shifts without missing a beat.

So, contemplate how this unparalleled flexibility can be the linchpin of not just surviving but thriving in today’s ever-fluctuating marketplace.

Cannabis use during pregnancy linked to increased risk of mental health problems in children

By

Torsten Hjelmar

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12 April 2024

A new study presented at the European Psychiatric Association Congress 2024 reveals a significant association between prenatal cannabis use disorder (CUD) and an increased risk of specific mental health problems.

Cannabis remains by far the most consumed illicit drug in Europe. Around 1.3% of adults in the European Union (3.7 million people) are estimated to be daily or almost daily users of cannabis. Though males have a typically higher prevalence with regards to cannabis use, the latest statistics show that women are catching up with men in drug use, especially in the younger population.

There is increasing concern around the increase in cannabis use observed in younger females in the EU, especially among pregnant and breastfeeding women. This concern is amplified by recent studies that have shown that the content of the psychoactive substance in cannabis (THC) is currently around 2-fold higher than it was 15–20 years ago, therefore increasing the risk of adverse effects for young women and their offspring following use when pregnant.

This large-scale study, conducted by researchers at Curtin University in Australia, analysed data from over 222,000 mother-offspring pairs in New South Wales, Australia. The research team utilised an innovative approach, leveraging linked data from health registries, ensuring both the exposure (prenatal CUD) and the identified symptoms of mental health problems were confirmed using diagnostic tools based on the ICD-10-AM classification system.

The study found that children born to mothers with prenatal CUD had a double risk of symptoms associated with the diagnosis ADHD, and other mental health problems compared to offspring without such exposure. A significant interaction effect was also found between prenatal CUD and maternal smoking. Additionally, the research found synergistic effects between prenatal CUD and other pregnancy complications, such as low birth weight and premature birth and potentially developing the same mental health problems.

These findings highlight the potential long-term consequences of cannabis use during pregnancy and emphasise the importance of preventive strategies.

Professor Rosa Alati, Head of the Curtin School of Population Health and senior author of the study, noted “These findings highlight the need to increase awareness of the risks associated with cannabis use during pregnancy among women planning to become pregnant.”

“This study is unique because it utilises linked data with confirmed diagnoses, providing a more robust picture of the potential risks associated with prenatal cannabis use. The results underscore the need for public health education campaigns and clinical interventions to raise awareness about the potential risks of cannabis use during pregnancy and to support women in making informed decisions regarding their health and the well-being of their children,” explains Dr Julian Beezhold the Secretary General of the European Psychiatric Association.

Gaza: Resuming night-time aid deliveries, UN reports ‘dire’ conditions

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12 April 2024

Gaza: Resuming night-time aid deliveries, UN reports ‘dire’ conditions — UN News/Ziad Taleb - Children fill containers with drinking water in the Al-Shaboura neighbourhood in Rafah in southern Gaza.

UN officials launched assessment visits to Gaza and its agencies will resume night-time aid deliveries on Thursday after a 48-hour pause.

This after Israeli forces killed seven World Central Kitchen relief workers in a convoy delivering food in the enclave, where intense Israeli bombardment and ground operations continue.

“The situation in Gaza is disastrous,” World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. “Once again, WHO demands a ceasefire. Once again, we call for all hostages to be released, and for lasting peace.”

UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said on Thursday that because of what happened to World Central Kitchen “we had to pause to regroup and reassess”, adding that a convoy will deployed tonight, “hopefully making it to the north”.

Top UN officials have been warning that famine looms in northern Gaza as Israel continues to block and delay aid entry, especially in the north.

To date, Israeli armed forces have killed more than 30,000 people in Gaza, according to local health authorities, in response to Hamas-led attacks on Israel in October that left almost 1,200 people dead and 240 taken hostage.

“My psyche has been shattered from within.”

Some patients who were inside Al-Shifa Hospital in #Gaza during the latest siege recount their experience.#CeasefireNOW pic.twitter.com/gJa1WlOTse
— WHO in occupied Palestinian territory (@WHOoPt) April 4, 2024

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Aid and assessment missions

The UN Spokesperson said WHO teams reached two hospitals in Gaza City, carrying out assessments and delivering lifesaving supplies.

In addition, a WHO team reported dire conditions following Israel’s two-week-long siege of the Al-Shifa Hospital, he said.

The team spoke with patients who were able to leave the health facility after the siege, with one saying “doctors resorted to putting salt and vinegar on people’s wounds for lack of antiseptics, which are nonexistent,” Mr. Dujarric said.

“They described dire conditions during the siege, with no food, water or medicine available,” he said.

Grave humanitarian conditions

Almost six months into the war, humanitarian conditions are worsening, according to UN agencies on the ground.

On his way to Gaza on Thursday, Jamie McGoldrick, the UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, reiterated that there is no safe place in the enclave.

The Occupied Palestinian Territory “has become one of the world’s most dangerous and difficult places to work”, he wrote on social media before his departure.

‘It can’t continue like this’

UN Women reported that Gazans have almost no access to water, food and healthcare while facing near constant bombardment.

“Every day the war in Gaza continues, at the current rate, an average of 63 women are killed,” the agency said, highlighting the struggles facing Palestinians, including Mayadah Tarazi, who works with the YWCA Palestine, a non-governmental organisation (NGO).

“The hope is for a ceasefire now,” Ms. Tarazi said. “We keep calling for ceasefire, but we need real action. We need the support from the governments to really push for the ceasefire because it can’t continue like this.”

Israel’s West Bank aggressions

Meanwhile, in the occupied West Bank, aggressions against Palestinians, their property and their land are being reported by UN agencies and news outlets.

The UN humanitarian relief agency, OCHA, reported demolitions taking place on Thursday in Umm ar Rihan.

Since 7 October and as of 1 April, 428 Palestinians, including 110 children, have been killed by Israeli forces across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, of whom 131 were killed since the start of 2024.

In addition, nine were killed by Israeli settlers and three by either Israeli forces or settlers, according to the latest OCHA update.

During the same period, some 4,760 Palestinians have been injured, including at least 739 children, the majority by Israeli forces, the UN agency stated.

According to the Palestinian Prisoners Club, 11 Palestinians have additionally died in Israeli prisons since 7 October, mainly due to reported medical negligence or abuse, OCHA reported.

Lights illuminate the tents of displaced people in the Tal Al-Sultan neighbourhood in the south of the Gaza Strip.

Human Rights Council to vote on Israeli sanctions

The 47-member UN Human Rights Council is poised to vote on several draft resolutions related to the war in Gaza on the final day of its current session in Geneva.

Drafts include one calling for an arms embargo on Israel, tabled on the heels of an Israeli drone-fired missile attack on three vehicles in an aid convoy that killed all seven World Central Kitchen passengers early this week in Gaza.

The convoy was delivering emergency food aid sailed in from Cyprus to stave off the looming famine in northern Gaza.

By provisions of the draft resolution, the Council would call on all States “to cease the sale, transfer and diversion of arms, munitions and other military equipment to Israel, the occupying Power, in order to prevent further violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human rights”.

What is tomato juice good for?

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Newsroom

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12 April 2024

What is tomato juice good for — Photo by Pixabay

One of the most commonly consumed fruits is the tomato, which we often think of as a vegetable. The tomatoes juice is wonderful, we can add other vegetable juices, a little fresh lemon juice or consume it pure. If you like tomato juice, be sure to drink homemade, not from the supermarket.

In addition to being tasty, it is also useful, see why.

1. It is a rich source of vitamins A and C – Tomato juice is a great drink for strengthening immunity, which is also useful for the health of the eyes, skin, bones, teeth. Consumption of tomato juice is believed to help collagen synthesis. The drink also contains lutein and zeaxanthin, which together with vitamins A and C help fight free radicals.

2. Prevents High Cholesterol – Another reason to add tomato juice to our daily menu is that it can help balance cholesterol. Tomato juice is also rich in vitamin B3, which is known to stabilize cholesterol. The fiber in it can also lower blood pressure, scientists believe.

3. Aids in weight loss – Another great benefit of tomato juice is that it helps in weight loss. It is low in calories but provides us with important nutrients and hydration.

4. Improves bowel movements – The fiber in tomato juice keeps the liver healthy, aids digestion, reduces the risk of constipation and thus regulates and supports bowel movements.

5. Contributes to the detoxification of the body – The liver and kidneys are responsible for detoxifying our body and improving metabolism.

6. Rich in Lycopene – The red color of tomatoes is due to a fat-soluble antioxidant known as lycopene. Scientific studies have proven that lycopene protects the body from various types of cancer such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, coronary artery disease and others.

7. Energizes the body – Tomato juice is high in antioxidants that help eliminate free radicals in the body. In this way, not only the aging processes of the body are slowed down, but we also feel more energetic.

8. It is good for the heart – According to Western studies, the intake of lycopene can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and cardiovascular diseases by 30%. Tomatoes are rich in lycopene.

9. It is good for bones – Vitamin K, which is contained in good quantities in tomatoes, is of great importance for bone health. The synthesis of osteocalcin, which is believed to play an important role in building bones, depends on vitamin K, scientists believe.

10. Strengthens the hair – We know that the way we eat determines to a large extent the condition of our hair. Just as there are foods and drinks that harm her, there are also those that are good for her. Tomato juice and the useful nutrients it is rich in contribute to improving the condition of our hair.

Armed groups continue terror campaign across Burkina Faso

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12 April 2024

Armed groups continue terror campaign across Burkina Faso

High Commissioner Volker Türk said, from the capital Ouagadougou, that his local office had been “engaging intensely with the authorities, civil society actors, human rights defenders, UN partners and others on many of the multifaceted human rights challenges” the country faces following a coup in January 2022 that saw Captain Ibrahim Traoré assume power.

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Solidarity visit

“I came here to express my solidarity with the people of Burkina Faso at this difficult time and to engage on the human rights situation at the highest level,” said Mr. Türk.

The UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk addresses the media at the end of his visit to Burkina Faso.

He expressed gratitude to Captain Traoré, in his role as President of the transition, adding that they had held in-depth and wide-ranging discussions “on the grave security situation”, the humanitarian crisis as well as climate change and environmental degradation.

They also discussed shrinking civic space, “inequalities, the need to forge a new social contract and on ensuring inclusive participation of all Burkinabe in the transition process” back to civilian rule.

Describing the suffering of Burkinabe as “heartbreaking”, the head of OHCHR said there are 2.3 million people who are food insecure, more than two million people internally displaced and 800,000 children out of school.

In all, around 6.3 million out of a population of 20 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance.

Falling off the agenda

“Yet, it has slipped off the international agenda and the resources made available are totally insufficient to respond to the scale of people’s needs,” said Mr. Türk.

Just last year, OHCHR documented 1,335 violations and abuses of human rights and humanitarian law, involving at least 3,800 civilian victims.

“Armed groups were responsible for the vast majority of violations against civilians in incidents involving more than 86 per cent of the victims. Protection of civilians is paramount. Such wanton violence must stop and the perpetrators held accountable.”

He said he understood the grave challenges faced by security forces and had been “encouraged by assurances that steps are being taken to ensure their conduct fully complies with international humanitarian and international human rights laws”.

The transition now needs to proceed “rooted in human rights”, he said, calling on the international community not to lose sight of the widespread needs in Burkina Faso.