When the November storms unleashed their fury on the Indonesian island of Batam, Dewi Puspalani and her 70-year-old mother-in-law, Mayuteh, scrambled to salvage what they could. The family’s prized possessions – a small refrigerator and a few other appliances – were hoisted onto a table. Her husband stashed away the charcoal grill he used to run their modest food business, while the family’s five children were sent to higher ground to shelter with relatives. Rain hammered down on their two-room shack, leaking through the roof and soaking clothes hung indoors. Then came the floodwaters – dark, foul and relentless. As a toxic, knee-deep tide of sewage, garbage and industrial waste surged through their home, Puspalani and her family prayed. For the 9,000 or so households in Tanjung Uma, a coastal
Category Archives: HEALTH-STYLE
Feb
A 22-year-old air passenger from Bangkok has been arrested in Hong Kong on suspicion of bringing in 8kg (17.6lbs) of the key component of the emerging drug know as “space oil”, worth an estimated HK$8.4 million (US$1.07 million). The case was reported on Thursday, a day before etomidate will be classified as a dangerous drug. The government is set to gazette the change and enforce it immediately on Friday. Etomidate and its three analogues – metomidate, propoxate and isopropoxate – will also be listed in the gazette as dangerous drugs. Currently, etomidate, an anaesthetic, is regulated as a Part 1 poison that can only be prescribed by a doctor. The traveller arrived from Bangkok on Thursday, and during customs clearance, a batch of suspected “space oil drug” in powdered form
Feb
The rise of ‘friendship apps’ Our phones have made us lonelier. These apps promise to find us a BFF. Getty Images; Alyssa Powell/BI Read in app On one of the coldest nights in New York this year, I bundled up and went to a trendy tourist trap to meet up with five people who also felt that the pull to make new friends was stronger than the windchill. I didn’t know anything about my matches aside from a text I’d received that told me that two of them also like reading, that several enjoyed the same irreverent TV shows I do, like “Arrested Development” and “Broad City,” and that one had bungee jumped in New Zealand. We were meeting as a group curated by the app 222 , which asks
Feb
Singapore has started an initiative to expand its senior care programme using horse therapy as it grapples with the challenges of a rapidly ageing population . “Haydays with Horses” is a two-year programme to tap into the therapeutic power of miniature horses to help elderly residents improve their physical health, cognitive functions and psychological well-being. The wealthy city state has one of Southeast Asia’s most rapidly ageing populations and officials have warned that the “silver tsunami” is a key long-term threat. Some organisations in Singapore have already introduced ballet lessons for the elderly and silent disco sessions for those in elder care. Miniature horses wait to interact with elderly residents at the NTUC Health Active Ageing Centre in Singapore on Tuesday. Photo: AFP Now, for the first time, hoofed, four-legged
Feb
With the world marking the World Cancer Day on 5 February, a medic in Kericho has urged Kericho residents to prioritize healthy lifestyle to prevent pancreatic cancer, a rare form of cancer that is not easy to detect and treat. Pancreatic cancer is a type of cancer that begins as a growth of cells in the pancreas which is an organ found behind the lower part of the stomach. The pancreas work is to make enzymes that digest food as well as insulin that helps manage blood sugar. In an interview with KNA, a resident surgeon at AIC Litein Kericho annex clinic Dr. Philip Blasto noted that pancreatic cancer has no screening tests to detect it early and the symptoms are seen when the disease has advanced. “Pancreatic cancer is
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Feb
Whatever you do, don’t suffer through unsatisfactory sex. If everyone involved isn’t having a good time, something needs to change. Sex is one of the most pleasant activities available to us on this little blue rock, but folks are too often uncomfortable, depressed and overall dissatisfied with their experiences in bed. Some underwhelming situations are bound to happen here or there, but if bad sex is a recurring issue, some expert advice could come in handy. With that in mind, we reached out to some professional sex educators to tackle some of the common issues surrounding bad sex. [Image: SHVETS production] How to avoid bad sex with someone new If you’ve been swiping on dating apps or hitting the bar scene, getting to the point of hooking up can be
Jan
Princess Beatrice has given birth to her second child, named Athena, Buckingham Palace has announced. Athena was born several weeks prematurely and weighed 4lb 5oz, but is said to be healthy and doing well. The new baby, the second child of Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, was born a week ago on 22 January at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London. The King and Queen and other members of the Royal Family were said to be delighted at the baby’s safe arrival, said the Palace. Beatrice had been due to give birth in early Spring, but in December had received medical advice not to travel long distances. The photo issued of Athena shows her wrapped in a blanket, with her hand over her face. In a social
Jan
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 29 – The Ministry of Health has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention programs in light of the U.S. withdrawal. President Donald Trump announced pulling the US from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the suspension of global health aid, including funding from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), dealing a major blow to Africa and other developing countries. Speaking at a weekly media briefing in Mombasa, Dr. Patrick Amoth, Director General for Health, highlighted the critical role the U.S. has played in supporting Kenya’s HIV programs, disease prevention efforts, and health system resilience over the years. “Kenya has made significant strides in the fight against HIV/AIDS, with 98% of people living with HIV aware of their status and on treatment, and
Jan
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 28 – Public Service Principal Secretary Amos Gathecha has revealed that the government is actively exploring alternative funding sources to support people living with HIV and AIDS, considering the United States’ move to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO) global fund. Gathecha expressed concern that the move by US, the largest financial contributor to the program, would have significant consequences on Kenya’s efforts to combat HIV and AIDS. “We hope America won’t pull out of the WHO program because they are the biggest financiers,” Gathecha stated. “But should they pull out, as a country, we have to get alternatives on funding.” The announcement comes days after Donald Trump signed an executive order affirming the intent to withdraw from the WHO global health initiative. The move is
Jan
High blood pressure often develops without noticeable symptoms, earning it the nickname “silent killer.” This silent killer has led many people to their early demise. If you have ever noticed you have high or low blood pressure, the best thing is to check it regularly to avoid it being too high or too low without […] The post Warning Signs of High Blood Pressure You Should Not Ignore appeared first on The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News.
Jan
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to begin the process of withdrawing the US from the World Health Organization (WHO). “Oooh, that’s a big one,” the newly inaugurated US president said as he approved the document after arriving back at the White House. It was one of dozens of executive actions he put his signature to on day one in office. This marks the second time Trump has ordered the US be pulled out of the WHO. Trump was critical of how the international body handled Covid-19 and began the process of pulling out from the Geneva-based institution during the pandemic. President Joe Biden later reversed that decision. Carrying out this executive action on day one makes it more likely the US will formally leave the global
Jan
A cultural row has reignited in Malaysia after police began an investigation over a giant dragon puppet decorated with the flags of the Southeast Asian country and China at an event organised by a Chinese association in Johor. Police in Johor’s Muar district said that their officers spotted the dragon puppet during a procession on Saturday night. “Based on monitoring during the procession, it was found that the dragon replica was decorated with [the] Jalur Gemilang on the right side of its body and the left side featured the flag of China,” district police chief Raiz Mukhliz Azman Aziz, who was referring to the name of the Malaysian flag, was quoted as saying on Sunday by national newswire Bernama. Police are checking for any infringement of public order, assembly laws
Jan
Getting married isn’t just about love and commitment, it could also mean extra cash in your pocket, depending on where you live.Some governments around the world offer financial incentives to couples who tie the knot, aiming to tackle issues like declining populations and ageing communities. Here are five countries where saying “I do” comes with […] The post 5 countries that pay you to get married appeared first on The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News.
Jan
The possibility that Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis is associated with viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites has been postulated over the past three decades. By BEN EDIDIN JANUARY 20, 2025 11:23 (L-R) In green – herpes virus proteins. In red – Alzheimer’s tau. In orange – a merge of the two. (photo credit: Shemesh Lab) Researchers from the School of Pharmacy at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have discovered a surprising correlation between Alzheimer’s disease and the presence of Herpes Simplex Virus-1 (HSV-1). Their study, “Anti-Herpetic Tau Preserves Neurons vis the cGAS-STING-TBK1 Pathway in Alzheimer’s Disease,” was published in the peer-reviewed journal Cell Reports in early January. Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis depends on Neurofibrillary tangles, which are made predominantly of the proteins, extracellular β-amyloid (Aβ), and intracellular hyperphosphorylated tau (p-tau). The causes of these pathologies remained
Jan
Namibia has been ranked the fourth safest country in Africa by Altezza Travel, a destination management company headquartered in Tanzania. This was announced by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism on Saturday. Altezza Travel formulated the rankings by reviewing leading global studies from recent years, including official statistics and citizens’ perceptions of personal safety. Ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said Altezza Travel ranked Namibia as one of the safest and most peaceful countries to visit in Africa. “Namibia has long been one of the most politically stable countries, with infrastructure that is generally good and the tourism industry is well-developed. “Namibia was ranked fourth after Mauritius in first place, Ghana in second and Zambia in third place. This ranking points out our peaceful nature as Namibians, but also highlights that