New report raises alarm over rising antibiotic resistance as dangerous fungi evolve stronger defences
As rates of antibiotic resistance grow alarmingly among disease-causing bacteria, dangerous fungi also are evolving stronger defences, with a lot less fanfare. Every year, infections of moulds and yeasts such as Aspergillus and Candida kill more than 1.5 million people globally, more than malaria and on a par with rates...
Opinion: Syrian refugees in Lebanon need help and protection, not more pressure to leave
As a Syrian in Lebanon who has been involved with the refugee response from day one, I have seen first-hand how the desperation in this community has grown. Many families are struggling to survive, let alone support themselves and thrive. And more and more Syrians want to get out, even...
Fears of deadly ‘super variant’ that combines Delta and Omicron cleared after researchers say it never existed
On January 7, virologist Leondios Kostrikis announced on local television that his research group at the University of Cyprus in Nicosia had identified several SARS-CoV-2 genomes that featured elements of both the Delta and Omicron variants. Named by them as ‘Deltacron,’ Kostrikis and his team uploaded 25 of the sequences...
UN Day of the Dead: By November 1 Covid’s true death toll was millions more than official counts
Last year’s Day of the Dead marked a grim milestone. On November 1, the global death toll from the Covid-19 pandemic passed five million, official data suggested. It has now reached 5.5 million. But that figure is a significant underestimate. Records of excess mortality, a metric that involves comparing all...
Angry Angolan citizens attack, term journalists in state owned media as ‘sell-outs’ for ‘hiding’ truth
Angry Angolan citizens are venting their frustrations on journalists working for state-controlled media, accusation them of being sell-outs being used by the government to hide the ills perpetrated by the ruling elite. This was the case on January 10 when six journalists from Angola’s state media were attacked by rioters...
5G networks now available for millions of American but aviation firms are wary it’ll disrupt airport operations
The activation of C-Band frequencies by AT&T and Verizon means that improved 5G networks are now available for millions of Americans. The long-anticipated rollout began on January 19, but with one caveat: Both companies temporarily pushed back plans for 5G networks near certain airports after criticism from the Federal Aviation...
Kenya police can’t explain mystery of dozens killed and dumped in river that flows into Lake Victoria
Kenyan police now say that incidences of decomposing bodies being recovered from a river in the western part of the country have been going on for two years. The authorities were not forthcoming with answers to why the deaths and manner of disposal of the bodies has not been investigated...
Britain dumps work-from-home schedule as coronavirus incidence declines
Work from home guidance has been scrapped by Prime Minister Boris Johnson amidst a raft of announcements as England’s Covid Plan B is thrown out. The most recent round of guidance, asking Brits to work from home came into force on December 13, 2021. It was introduced before Christmas to...
Court in Kigali rules appeal in ‘Hotel Rwanda’ film hero’s case can proceed without him
A Rwandan court has ruled that an appeal by prosecutors in a case involving Paul Rusesabagina, who was portrayed in the movie ‘Hotel Rwanda’ sheltering hundreds of people during the 1994 genocide, could proceed in his absence. Rusesabagina, 67, was sentenced to 25 years in prison after being found guilty...
