Monkeypox is endemic in Nigeria. But surveillance isn’t what it should be: Pox virus illustration. ROGER HARRIS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/GettyImages There has been an outbreak of monkeypox cases in a number of countries that are not endemic for the virus. Monkeypox is caused by an orthopoxvirus that is closely related to the virus that caused smallpox. …
Climate change isn’t just making cyclones worse, it’s making the floods they cause worse too – new research: People take refuge on a sports ground following flooding caused by Cyclone Idai in Mozambique. DFID/Flickr, CC BY-SA Super cyclones, known as hurricanes or typhoons in different parts of the world, are among the most destructive weather …
Caught COVID? Here’s what you should and shouldn’t do when self-isolation isn’t mandatory: ilze kalve/Shutterstock We are all tired of COVID. But even though the news has moved on to other concerning geopolitical issues, it is a fact that COVID is still very much with us. Vaccines have certainly helped drive down its worst effects, …
Ukraine: Putin isn’t mad – he’s following a long-established great power playbook for conquest: The Russian invasion of Ukraine has confounded everyone. Given its huge economic, reputational and political costs – not to mention the immense human misery it has already caused – how can anyone in their right mind choose to start such a …
Green space access is not equal in the UK – and the government isn’t doing enough to change that: Wealthy areas of London have better green space provision than the national average. QQ7/Shutterstock A growing gap in green space provision divides the UK according to recent research, with people in northern cities having access to …
For workers in Africa, the digital economy isn’t all it’s made out to be: Staff members of an e-commerce company in Rwanda. Xinhua/Wang Teng via Getty Images Today more than half of the world’s population is connected to the internet. In Africa, there are over 590 million internet users and over 800 million mobile phone …
COVID: how will people behave when self-isolation isn’t mandatory?: eldar nurkovic/Shutterstock The legal requirement to self-isolate when infected with the coronavirus will end in England on February 24, the UK prime minister has announced. It’s been two long years since the start of the pandemic, and during that time, our everyday behaviours have been subject …
Death during sex isn’t just something that happens to middle-aged men, new study finds: Maria Markevich/Shutterstock Sex has many beneficial physical and psychological effects, including reducing high blood pressure, improving the immune system and aiding better sleep. The physical act of sex and orgasm releases the hormone oxytocin, the so-called love hormone, which is important …
Maternal and child healthcare isn’t reaching everyone in urban sub-Saharan Africa: People in poorer urban areas aren't receiving the necessary healthcare. Shutterstock The world has seen dramatic improvements in maternal, newborn and child health. For instance, the World Health Organisation reported a 38% reduction in maternal deaths between 2000 and 2017, globally. Maternal deaths refer …
South Africa in the news: ‘It could’ve been better if..’: Kohli’s childhood coach reacts to his comments; says Virat ‘isn’t greedy for anything’: Virat Kohli addressed the controversies surrounding Indian cricket in an explosive press conference ahead of the South Africa tour on Wednesday. Kohli’s interaction with media came roughly a week …: “South Africa” …
Soil isn’t dirt: it’s the foundation of life and needs real care: shutterstock Healthy soil is critical for life on earth. It can contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation, food and nutrition security. It is central to achieving sustainable development goals. It is the foundation of life on land. It provides many ecosystem services …
Nigeria’s transport grant isn’t the best way to allocate fuel subsidy savings: here’s what is: Protestors march in Lagos during a demonstration against fuel subsidy removal in 2012. Pius Utomi Ekpei/AFP via Getty Image Following unrelenting pressure by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, the Nigerian government intends to eliminate its fuel subsidy …
South Africa’s isn’t doing enough to provide HIV prevention treatment for mothers: why it needs to: Shutterstock A global target for the elimination of mother to child transmission of HIV globally was set in 2015. The ambitious target of the Joint United Nations Programme (UNAIDS) was to reduce new infant HIV infections by 75% by …
Social care reform: free online event on what isn’t working and how to fix it: Boris Johnson’s September announcement of a plan to fund social care reform and NHS recovery in England was long-awaited, if not applauded. Critics question the extent to which the new health and social care levy the government proposes will be …
Overtraining probably isn’t behind your weight loss plateau – here’s why: Some people claim that stress from overtraining is the reason people struggle to lose weight. InesBazdar/ Shutterstock When it comes to improving our physical fitness, the time you don’t spend exercising (often known as “recovery”) is as important as the exercise and training you …
Claims that COVID jabs can be used to track you with ‘luciferase’ are false – the substance isn’t even in the vaccine: Emerald Robinson, the White House correspondent for the conservative news network Newsmax, recently tweeted that Moderna’s COVID vaccine contains luciferase “so that you can be tracked”. “Read the last book of the New …
New deal to decarbonise shipping isn’t enough – here’s how global trade can reach net-zero: Ships with everything. imageBROKER Much of the world has been left disappointed by the Glasgow Climate Pact, the outcome of the COP26 climate conference. Scientists say it will not lead to the decarbonisation required to limit global warming to less …
Nigeria is a federation in name only. Why Buhari isn’t the man to fix the problem: Is President Muhammadu Buhari committed to the genuine federalisation of the Nigerian polity? Getty Images The scenes and stories emerging from Nigeria are simply frightening. Nigeria, not a regional powerhouse but traditionally a veritable continental player, has been missing …