Global male fertility crisis: When a male born to a woman who smokes, his sperm count reduces by 50 per cent
For years, scientists across the world have gathered evidence showing declines in sperm quality. Now, new research compiling the results of those studies has found that sperm count has dropped dramatically around the world, and the rate of decline is accelerating. In a new analysis, researchers at Mount Sinai Medical...
DR Congo: Unresolved local conflicts, presence of foreign armies and poorly paid soldiers weaken combatants’ trust
A slow rollout of the Disarmament, Demobilisation, Community Recovery and Stabilisation Programme in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been undermined trust. Although President Felix Tshisekedi first called for a new DDR programme in 2019, the initiative is not yet operational, even with provincial and national coordinators appointed over...
Haiti’s forsaken women: They run own gangs for protection or collaborate with men, often with deadly results
While women are forcibly recruited io criminal gangs, others reluctantly join for protection or work, earning money by collecting information or stealing from homes, according to women who have fled gang-controlled areas and others working in such places who spoke on condition of anonymity out of security concerns. Some women...
Haitian gangs use rape to control women, who are now responding with own ‘Pink Iron’ gangs
It was love at first sight for Madeline*, who first met Baptiste* at a church retreat in Haiti’s southern port town of Les Cayes in 2002. As infatuated teenagers, they eventually wedded and settled in the Caribbean country’s capital, Port-au-Prince. With a growing family and unsteady work selling bottled sodas...
While US war industry revels in weapons heaven, the rest us on the planet huddle in hell on earth
In April this year, the United States offered attack helicopters worth $997 million to Nigeria, marking the latest stage in the warming of relations between the two countries that began early in President Donald Trump years. The Nigerian military, however, has committed torture on a massive scale while targeting thousands...
Ohio State University research says tomato consumption lowers heart disease, cancer and diabetes risks
Tomatoes are in the top 10 fruits and vegetables for containing levels of pesticide residue. Wash tomatoes before eating. The benefits of consuming different types of fruit and vegetable are impressive, and tomatoes are no different, according to a new study by the Ohio State University. As the proportion of...
New study says regular consumption of tomatoes kills bad bacteria in the gut, decongests throat
Rich in the antioxidant lycopene and other essential nutrients, tomatoes are known for their health benefits. But lesser understood are the implications tomato consumption has for gut health. In a new study, researchers examined the effects of a tomato-heavy diet on the gut microbiome using an animal model. Researchers fed...
New study reveals marijuana smokers most at risk of developing lung disease or ‘shortness of breath’
A new study found that airway inflammation and emphysema – or shortness of breath – are more common in cannabis smokers than cigarette smokers. Smoking is the most common cause of emphysema, a chronic lung condition resulting from air sacs becoming stretched and damaged. While many people smoke cigarettes, cannabis...
Non-state actors have the expertise to tackle conflict in northern Kenya but damaged trust in government’s a barrier
Conflict and insecurity have been synonymous with northern Kenya since independence. Thus, in recent weeks, cases of bandit attacks in the region have left villages terrorised and led to several deaths. In October 2022, the government launched a multi-agency security operation aimed at curbing further attacks. Northern Kenya is characterised...
Climate change: Last of glaziers on African mountains are vanishing as ‘Kenya is boiling in these times’
Africa is home to three glacier-capped mountains. Within decades, scientists say, the glaciers will be gone. Mount Kenya’s will be the first to go, with researchers predicting their disappearance as soon as 2030. The mountain would be among the first in the world to entirely lose its glaciers because of...
