According to Silayo, 70 honey samples were collected from 34 districts and tested in Germany to verify quality for export markets.

“Our country has the opportunity to access the European Union market and other international markets because 96 per cent of our honey has been proven globally to meet high-quality standards,” he is quoted .

Silayo urged honey producers to avoid using non-standard processing equipment and poor storage containers, warning that quality lapses could undermine export opportunities.

He also said TFS is pushing for more investment in honey processing, noting Tanzania currently has 97 medium and large processing factories. The agency is finalising construction of a new honey processing plant in Nzega, Tabora Region, and rehabilitating two others in Manyoni District and at the Sao Hill tree plantation in Mafinga District.

TFS said production of bee products has risen to an average of 33,861 tonnes, up from 31,179 tonnes, while honey exports have reached 9,500 tonnes valued at 93.3 billion shillings.

The Indonesian Oncology Association said that 242,988 deaths in Indonesia were attributed to cancer, largely due to delays in treatment and early detection. This information was shared during a discussion forum held to commemorate World Cancer Day titled "Close the Care Gap: Bring Attention to a Higher Level." Cosphiadi Irawan, the General Chair of the Indonesian Oncology Association, highlighted data from the Global Burden Cancer (Globocan) report of 2022, which estimated 19.9 million new cancer cases worldwide with a death toll of 9.7 million, local media Berita Satu reported.

Prices of commodities surge after elections

After the 2024 election, prices of various essential community needs in several traditional markets in Kebumen, Central Java, surged. Necessities experienced price hikes of up to 100 percent. At Tumenggungan Market on February 18, notable increases were observed in curly chillies and red cayenne peppers, reports local media Kompas . Wijiati, a trader at the market, attributed the spike to a possible shortage in the supply of goods due to farmers' participation in the general election, leading to heightened demand and scarcity.

Re-election

Four polling stations in the northern Prohibition area, TPS 01, 02, 05, and 06, conducted re-voting for the 2024 election due to flooding on the day of simultaneous voting, February 14, reports local media Republika . The Indonesian Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) said that 2,413 polling stations were eligible for re-voting due to various issues such as natural disasters, floods, the presence of unregistered voters, incorrect distribution of ballot papers, and the detection of violations.

Prabowo dominates official vote count

In Indonesia's 2024 presidential election, Prabowo Subianto, alongside running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, maintained a commanding lead in the official vote count by the General Election Commission (KPU). With over 65 percent of the votes tallied from more than 820,000 polling stations as of Saturday at 02:00 PM WIB, Prabowo holds approximately 57.52 percent of the votes, positioning him for a potential single-round victory, reports local media Jakarta Globe . His closest competitors, Anies Baswedan and Muhaimin Iskandar secured 24.6 percent of the votes, while Ganjar Pranowo and Mohammad Mahfud MD attained 17.89 percent.

Election officials dead

As of February 17, 2024, 57 election officials from various groups, including the Voting Organizing Group (KPPS), community protection, and the Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu), have passed away. Data from the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) showed that the deaths comprised 29 KPPS members, 10 members of Community Protection (Linmas), nine witnesses, six officers, two voting committee members, and one member of Bawaslu. The officers' ages varied, with the primary causes of death being heart disease, accidents, acute respiratory disorders (ARDS), and hypertension, local media Republika reported.

Beyond the financial crisis, Lebanon finds itself entangled in regional geopolitics. Ongoing conflicts, notably the Israel-Hamas war and escalating tensions along the Lebanon-Israeli border contribute to the country's instability, with fears of war spillover intensifying.

Yet, against this tumultuous backdrop, Beirut Souks is poised for a revival, with plans for over 180 shops to open by July 2024. "We are in the midst of a phased re-launch, with commitments on over 90% of Beirut Souks’ leaseable space. The gradual opening of stores will commence in the second quarter of 2024, aiming for close to 100% occupancy by summer," Beirut Souks's General Manager, Adib Al Nakib, told GSW.

The United Nations' World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2024 report outlines several challenges. Despite a vibrant tourism season and robust remittance flows, Lebanon's GDP contracted by 0.2% in 2023, and inflation skyrocketed from 171.2% in 2022 to 230.4% in 2023.

While the outlook for 2024 and 2025 hints at a potential economic recovery with expected growth rates of 1.7% and 3.8%, respectively, concerns linger, particularly regarding inflation, projected to remain elevated at 78.1% in 2024 and 30.7% in 2025.

"Beirut's souks are part of the economy. While the heart of Beirut has a distinct advantage, it's not clear that its souks can develop independently. A healthy economic recovery is only possible within the framework of a regional agreement, as was the case at the end of the civil war in the 90s," Economics professor Jassem Ajaka said in an exclusive interview with GSW.

Ajaka also underscored the challenges facing potential investors, including consumer purchasing power and country risk levels. "If the country emerges from political chaos, Beirut's souks would be a favourite choice for investors," he added.

Lebanon's economy is thus greatly dependent on the political landscape and geopolitical interference.

"We acknowledge the challenging external factors that may impact our anticipated launch. As significant contributors to the economic landscape in the area, we have implemented various measures to create a positive environment for investments and have shown adaptability to changing needs and challenges. However, it is essential to recognize that complete insulation may not be achieved," Al Nakib noted.

Analysts, lawmakers, and officials suggest that the prevailing political paralysis is diminishing prospects for crucial reforms that could attract foreign support and prevent social unrest. Ongoing political divisions continue to hinder the formation of an executive authority capable of implementing reforms or reaching an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and donor countries.

In 2022, Lebanon agreed to $3 billion in financing from the IMF, contingent upon the implementation of key measures to address its financial crisis. The outgoing cabinet also approved a revised financial recovery plan during that period.

However, these developments have been eclipsed by the enduring political deadlock and banking sector opposition to the proposed plan. As of today, one of the world's most severe financial crises is still ongoing.

"No sustainable recovery is possible in the current political and geopolitical context. Political power needs to break the deadlock it is in: elect its president, form a government, mitigate political conflicts, and begin economic reforms. It's the only way!" Ajaka emphasized.

As Lebanon grapples with multifaceted challenges, Beirut Souks stands at the crossroads of hope and realism, navigating a delicate balance between economic revival and the broader geopolitical context.