The FDA has approved VIZZ (aceclidine ophthalmic solution) 1.44% as the first and only eye drop treatment specifically for presbyopia in adults. Presbyopia, which causes blurry near vision due to aging, affects about 128 million adults in the US alone. VIZZ is a once-daily prescription eye drop that works by contracting the iris sphincter muscle to create a pinhole effect. This mechanism improves near vision for up to 10 hours without causing distance vision blurring or a myopic shift. It starts working within 30 minutes of application. Clinical trials involving hundreds of participants showed significant improvement in near vision and…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
Two African nations — Egypt and South Africa — have secured spots among the world’s 30 most influential countries, according to the latest rankings by US News & World Report. The annual list, which assesses nations based on their global impact, cultural influence, political leadership, economic strength, and international alliances, placed Egypt at 19th and South Africa at 28th. The United States topped the chart as the most influential country, followed by China, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France in the top five. Other notable entries include Russia (6th), Japan (7th), the United Arab Emirates (8th), Saudi Arabia (9th), and…
Namibia and Zambia have taken a historic step toward regional integration by abolishing passport requirements for their citizens, allowing travel between the two countries using only national identity cards. The landmark agreement, announced this week, means citizens of both nations can now cross borders freely without the need for visas or passports. Officials say the move will boost trade, tourism, and cultural exchange, while strengthening people-to-people ties. Zambia’s High Commissioner described the development as a reflection of the “strong historical ties and shared destiny” of the two countries. This follows a similar deal Namibia signed with Botswana just months ago,…
Nigeria’s fourth-largest telecoms operator, 9mobile, has rebranded as T2, unveiling a new identity aimed at reigniting its market presence and accelerating its digital transformation. The Chief Executive Officer, Obafemi Banigbe, announced the change on Friday in Lagos, describing it as a defining moment in the company’s journey toward innovation, agility, and customer-centric growth. “This is not just a brand unveiling. It marks the beginning of a whole new chapter in our company’s history. We are no longer who we were. We are evolving into something greater, more ambitious, and aligned with the future,” Banigbe said. Banigbe explained that T2’s vision…
Nigeria has emerged as the global leader in the percentage of social media users who rely on the platforms primarily for news, according to the Digital 2025 Report by We Are Social and Meltwater. The data shows that 56.6% of Nigerian social media users aged 16 and above say reading news is a main reason they use social media, placing the country ahead of Brazil (52.8%) and Turkey (52.0%), which rank second and third, respectively. The report highlights that more than half of its users in the top five countries — Nigeria, Brazil, Turkey, Greece (50.2%), and Argentina (49.7%) —…
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has debunked claims of a shutdown, assuring Nigerians and market stakeholders that its operations remain fully active and stable. In a statement issued by its Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina, the refinery categorically denied reports alleging suspension of truck loading or production activities. “The Dangote Petroleum Refinery is fully operational. There has been no shutdown, nor has there been any suspension of truck loading activities,” the statement read. The company explained that the intermittent sale of Residual Catalytic Oil (RCO) is part of routine business practice, usually involving bulk parcel sales — a…
Despite diverse dietary traditions and growing global interest in vegetarianism, African nations notably do not appear among the top countries by percentage of vegetarian population. According to data compiled from various surveys over different years, countries such as India lead the world with an estimated 20-39% of their population identifying as vegetarian. Other countries with high vegetarian populations include Mexico (19%), Taiwan (13-14%), and Israel (13%). European countries also show significant vegetarian populations, with Finland, Sweden, Austria, and several others reporting rates around 10-12%. Australia and Argentina similarly register percentages above 10%. Beyond these regions, the United States and Canada…
Uganda is on the brink of an economic transformation after announcing the discovery of more than 31 million metric tonnes of gold ore, containing over 320,000 tonnes of refined gold. The find, valued at an estimated $12 trillion, ranks among the largest mineral discoveries in modern history. If fully tapped, the reserves could catapult Uganda into the ranks of the world’s leading gold producers, unlocking vast foreign investment opportunities and potentially reshaping global gold markets. Officials say the bonanza offers a once-in-a-lifetime chance to overhaul the country’s infrastructure, create jobs, and boost government revenues. However, experts warn that transparent management,…
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has issued a fresh flood alert for 198 Local Government Areas (LGAs) across 32 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The agency warned of high to very high flood risks between August 7 and August 21, citing rising river levels and persistent rainfall nationwide. The alert, referenced No: 32-25-003-06, was issued on Thursday by NIHSA Director-General, Mr. Umar Ibrahim. It cautioned that over 100 communities and major transportation routes could face severe disruptions during the forecast period. The affected states include Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi,…
OpenAI released a keenly awaited new generation of its hallmark ChatGPT on Thursday (Aug 7), touting “significant” advancements in artificial intelligence capabilities as a global race over the technology accelerates. ChatGPT-5 is rolling out free to all users of the AI tool, which is used by nearly 700 million people weekly, OpenAI said in a briefing with journalists. Co-founder and chief executive Sam Altman touted this latest iteration as “clearly a model that is generally intelligent”. Altman cautioned that there is still work to be done to achieve the kind of artificial general intelligence (AGI) that thinks the way people…