The reality of the climate crisis is an undeniable truth: average global temperatures are increasing due to emissions of greenhouse gases released by human activities. (Disinformation) Rising temperatures bring with them increasingly frequent and severe weather events like droughts, wildfires and storms, devastating the natural world, people’s lives, and their livelihoods. The verdict is in, and the science is clear: we must take bold action to protect our world from the worst effects of climate change. And yet, many conversations about the climate crisis are still stuck in a different reality, where urgency is minimised, and the science is called into question.…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
“The initiative will screen 500,000 residents aged 18 and above across all three senatorial zones in Kaduna State for diabetes and hypertension, providing free screening and services. The screenings will be conducted in two phases and will cover urban and rural areas, emphasizing underserved communities to ensure equal access to healthcare,” the state Commissioner of Health, Umma Ahmed said.
When the SELECT trial started in 2001, there were high hopes it would prove that taking vitamin E or selenium could help prevent prostate cancer. The newest results from the trial show just the opposite—that taking selenium or vitamin E can actually increase the odds of developing prostate cancer. By Patrick Skerrett Bottom line: men shouldn’t take selenium or vitamin E as a way to prevent prostate cancer, or anything else for that matter. “I counsel all of my patients to absolutely avoid any dietary supplements that contain selenium or vitamin E—including multivitamins,” says prostate cancer expert Dr. Marc Garnick,…
Lassa fever is a cryptic viral disease that is spread predominantly from rodents to humans in West Africa. We estimated the health-economic burden associated with Lassa fever, highlighting the gains to population health and economies that could be afforded by Lassa vaccines, several of which are currently in development. The problem Lassa fever is a poorly understood zoonotic disease that causes viral hemorrhagic fever and thousands of deaths annually throughout West Africa. It has also been identified as a leading pandemic threat by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other global health institutions. This has motivated considerable investment in the…
The price of a 50 kg bag of local rice surged year-on-year (YoY) by 152.9%, reaching N95,738 in September 2024, compared to N37,853 in September 2023. This data was revealed in the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) ‘Selected Food Price Watch’ for September 2024. Additionally, the price of 1 kilogram (kg) of local rice during this period was N1,914.77. The report highlighted that beans recorded an even higher YoY growth rate, exceeding 200%. Specifically, the average price of 1kg of brown beans increased by 281.97%, rising from N716.97 in September 2023 to N2,738.59 in September 2024. Month-on-month, the price saw…
Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly prevalent in business operations. According to GoDaddy’s Global Entrepreneurship Survey, 94% of respondents reported that digitization has significantly improved their work processes. AI tools offer various ways to enhance efficiency for small businesses, from streamlining workflows to improving decision-making, gaining a competitive edge, and enhancing customer experiences. AI can automate tasks, analyze data, and provide actionable insights, helping small businesses compete with larger firms. However, leveraging AI strategically and thoughtfully is key. Here are three ways AI can benefit your business: Automate Time-Consuming TasksAI can automate repetitive tasks such as data analytics, invoicing,…
The upcoming UN climate change meeting, COP29, will feature a dedicated Health Day on 18 November in Baku, Azerbaijan, as part of the negotiations from 11-22 November. The World Health Organization (WHO) aims to ensure health is a central focus in climate talks. Maria Neira from the WHO emphasized two key objectives: raising awareness that the climate crisis is a health crisis and showing how mitigating climate change can bring significant health benefits. Neira stressed the need to integrate health into all climate actions. The Health Day will begin with a high-level meeting on the Baku Initiative on Human Development…
A tweet by Senator Shehu Sani has sparked a thought-provoking conversation about the growing issue of beggars in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. ASHENEWS recalls that the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, during the inauguration of the construction of an access road from Ring 1 by N16 to Judges’ quarters and roads within the quarters in Katampe District of Abuja on Tuesday, declared war on Abuja beggars. He gave them a one week ultimatum after which they would begin to be apprehended. “Let me state clearly that we have declared war; Abuja is turning into a beggar city.…
Mathematicians in China and the United States say they have developed a “model of everything” that simplifies complex systems in the body, society and the environment by revealing their patterns and interactions. The team, led by renowned Chinese-American mathematician Yau Shing-Tung, says their model can be used to analyse many scenarios. They range from how gut microbes interact and trigger inflammation, to how increased carbon dioxide and pollutants cause climate warming, and how firms compete and cooperate to boost the economy. In biological scenarios, the model’s analysis could be used to help pharmaceutical professionals develop treatments – for example, for cancer by decoupling cells…
“The significance of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) disclosure in attracting financing for sustainable development in Africa cannot be overstated. It is no longer optional; it is essential for Africa to thrive in the 21st century,” said Solomon Quaynor, Vice-President of the African Development Bank Group, during the opening of the inaugural Africa ESG Forum in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The two-day event, organized by the African Development Bank, the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF), and Making Finance Work for Africa (MFW4A), is themed “Building a Sustainable Finance Ecosystem for Africa: A Collaborative Approach for ESG Disclosure.” The forum…