NAIROBI, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's agricultural regulator on Tuesday announced new measures to tighten controls on the export of mangoes in a bid to curb illegal shipments.

The regulations, which include mandatory physical inspection of shipments, are intended to prevent exporters from mixing mangoes with other fruits, a practice that emerged following the suspension of avocado exports on Oct. 31, the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), a government corporation established to develop, regulate and promote scheduled crops, said in a statement published by local media on Tuesday.

"All mango exporters, with effect from Nov. 13, are required to apply for physical inspection of their consignments at their packing houses," AFA Director-General Willis Audi said.

Audi added that the AFA took the step after noticing that some exporters were mixing shipments of mangoes and avocados in order to circumvent a temporary ban on the export of the latter to stop the shipment of unripe fruits.

Mangoes are Kenya's second most important fruit export after avocados. Kenya exports fresh and processed mangoes mainly to the Middle East, China and European Union countries such as the Netherlands and Britain. - Xinhua

The relationship between alcohol and mental health among UK minority ethnic groups is explored in a joint report from Lancaster University, King's College London, the University of Liverpool and Edge Hill University.

The research shows the association between alcohol use and mental health differs across minority ethnic groups, and provides insight into people's reasons for drinking and the treatment that they have received.

Principal investigator Dr Laura Goodwin from Lancaster University said: "Our research has shown that different ethnic backgrounds can use alcohol to cope with their mental health. This work has highlighted the need for better integration of mental health and alcohol services and a specific need for tailored provision that is culturally appropriate for different ethnic groups.".

Previous research has established that both alcohol use and mental health problems can be stigmatised within some minority ethnic groups, which may be one reason why these groups are less likely to seek formal support. Researchers aimed to explore this across specific minority ethnic groups given that there are known cultural differences between groups.

The report used information from nationally representative studies and found that hazardous drinking was common among White British groups as well as some minority ethnic groups, and that poor mental health was associated with increased levels of alcohol use among some minority ethnic groups.

The team conducted interviews with adults with minority ethnic backgrounds living with a diagnosed mental health problem. The team found that there is a need for better understanding and recognition of mental health symptoms and problem drinking, and the interplay between drinking practices, help-seeking and support, and cultural frameworks.  

The team conducted further interviews with service providers, community mental health staff and minority ethnic service users to understand how alcohol use is identified and treated within mental health services. This identified several barriers preventing people being able to disclose alcohol use when presenting to mental health services, a lack of implementation of formal alcohol screening tools by mental health services, and the limited availability of a range of alcohol services targeted to or informed by the needs of minority ethnic service users.

The report includes several implications and recommendations, including a need to ensure better representation of minority ethnic groups within large UK datasets, a need for mental health and alcohol services to take a culturally appropriate preventative approach to enable better identification of problems and when to seek support, and more consistent screening of alcohol use, using formal tools within mental health services.

Post-doctoral research associate and Lecturer, Dr Jo-Anne Puddephatt, Lancaster University and Edge Hill University, said: "This project has provided actionable insight into the relationship between alcohol and mental health across minority ethnic groups, and how these can be used to inform the way in which minority ethnic groups are supported when experiencing alcohol and mental health problems."

Senior Research and Policy Manager at Alcohol Change UK, Mark Leyshon said: "It is unfortunately very common that alcohol and mental health problems go hand-in-hand, interacting in ways that can maintain or worsen each other. This new report has shown that people from minority ethnic groups with a mental health problem may need additional support around their alcohol use, and that both mental health and alcohol services must become more culturally literate to better serve this particular community".

The report was funded by Alcohol Change UK, under the New Horizon's programme.

You can read the full report here.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited the Middle East over the weekend (Amos Ben-Gershom/GPO)© Provided by The Independent

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has suspended a minister who suggested dropping a nuclear bomb on Gaza.

Heritage Minister Amihay Eliyahu, from a far-right party in the coalition government, was asked in an interview with Radio Kol Berama about a hypothetical nuclear option to which he replied: “That’s one way.” 

His remark drew swift condemnation from around the Arab world, scandalised mainstream Israeli broadcasters and was deemed “objectionable” by a U.S. official.

On Sunday, Netanyahu’s office issued a statement saying that the minister concerned - Heritage Minister Amihay Eliyahu, from a far-right party in the coalition government - had been suspended from cabinet meetings “until further notice”.

“Eliyahu’s statements are not based in reality. Israel and the IDF (military) are operating in accordance with the highest standards of international law to avoid harming innocents. We will continue to do so until our victory,” Netanyahu’s office said.

Neither Eliyahu or his party leader are in the streamlined ministerial forum running the Gaza war. Neither would they have inside knowledge of Israel’s nuclear capabilities - which it does not publicly acknowledge - or authority to activate them.

Eliyahu said in a social media post: “It is clear to anyone who is sensible that the nuclear remark was metaphorical.”

But he added: “A strong and disproportionate response to terrorism is definitely required, which will clarify to the Nazis and their supporters that terrorism is not worthwhile.”

The crisis prompted another troubleshooting visit to the Middle East by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken over the weekend.

“Obviously that was an objectionable statement and the prime minister made very clear that he (Eliyahu) wasn’t speaking on behalf of the government,” a senior U.S. State Department official said.

The League of Arab States said in a statement: “The racist statements of Israeli Minister Eliyahu are revealing. Not only does he admit that they possess a nuclear weapon, but he also confirms the reality of the Israelis’ abhorrent racist view towards the Palestinian people.” By Athena Stavrou, The Independent 

Chronos Publishing having acquired the rights from Agent Fox Media, are delighted to announce that they have signed Stephen Gillen in a two-book deal. Stephen was one of the UK's most wanted London gang members and was incarcerated for 15 years as a Category A prisoner, having spent his jail time with some of the UK's most prolific criminals, including Charles Bronson with whom he remains in contact today. 

In this 'tell all' book, Stephen, 52, discusses the demons that have chased him from childhood, pushing him into crime and ultimately causing him to pay a terrible price. Stephen's autobiography details his life inside some of the UK's 'darkest and most dangerous' prisons and how a complete psychotic break finally helped him to see how his life could be better. 

Following his release in 2003, Stephen is determined to help others avoid going down a criminal path. Now a successful CEO, author and TV personality, his life story has been opted for screen and his upcoming projects include a TV series alongside the two-book deal with Chronos Publishing.  

Extraordinary. Stephen Gillen The Search For A Life Worth Living, will be released in Spring 2024. 

Stephen said: 

'It has been even traumatic at times to have delved back into the depth of my dark past, but the mission and message of how I survived at such a high level of constant danger and navigated a true transformation to true redemption and hope, needs to be told. There are many others who are destined to wrestle personal darkness but this destruction can be the most creative brightness. Life balances all things in the end, and it gives us not what we want – but what we become.

Showreel on Stephen Gillen VIEW HERE! 

Taryn Johnson Publishing Director of FCM Publishing said: 

'It's very rare to come across such a story of resilience, retribution, horror, and hope. Stephen has a life story that Guy Ritchie could only hope of imagining and yet he has  clawed his way back, and in doing so is now helping others. I hope that people reading this book will see that even those deemed unworthy of a second chance, have something to give and that the mind is ultimately the most powerful tool we have. 

I knew the moment I read the first draft that this was a story that had to be told, now with as-yet-untold chapters and a deeper look into the darkness. It's a bloody gripping read already and it's just going to be phenomenal when it comes out.'