Author: damazah@gmail.com

A bacterial enzyme that indiscriminately slashes DNA (artist’s illustration) has been harnessed to kill cancer cells. Credit: KTSDesign/Science Photo LibraryScientists have exploited a peculiar CRISPR enzyme so that it fights cancer by shredding the DNA in cancer cells, causing them to self-destruct.The enzyme can be programmed to recognize a specific messenger RNA, such as one made by a cancer cell. Once the enzyme finds its partner, it slashes the cell’s genome to pieces.The DNA-shredding approach, reported in two papers in Nature1,2, could provide a way for researchers to kill cancer cells that express ‘undruggable’ mutant proteins that have been difficult…

Jeff BorzelloJul 24, 2026, 09:05 AM ETClose Basketball recruiting insider. Joined ESPN in 2014. Graduate of University of Delaware.Multiple AuthorsThe highly anticipated Dec. 21 nonconference men’s basketball game between Duke and Michigan has been called off, sources told ESPN on Friday.The game was originally scheduled to be played at Madison Square Garden, but a misinterpretation of broadcast rights forced the sides to attempt to move the game to LoanDepot Park, home of the Miami Marlins. However, the broadcast rights issues remained, and all parties couldn’t come to an agreement, ultimately forcing the game to be canceled.Duke will now play Texas…

Monopoly Events run scores of conventions, including Comic-Cons in Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham and the north east of England.They also organise specialised events dedicated to the likes of professional wrestling, horror and anime, featuring celebrity guests from across the world.The announcement has been met with mixed views by fans.Some praised the decision, saying they had no desire to be “plastered all over some drab blogging YouTube page”, with others saying they did not like the possibility of children being filmed by people they did not know.One fan wrote: “It’s one thing walking around with your phone, which someone could…

Funmi Ogundare  The Yoruba Tennis Club (YTC) is set to host the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, who  will deliver the third edition of its centenary seminar/lecture series, themed: ‘Democracy and the Imperative of Good Governance: Renewing Hope in Challenging Times’, as part of activities marking its 100th anniversary. The programme is scheduled to hold on August 6, at the Greetings Hall of the Yoruba Tennis Club, Onikan. The  Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is expected as the Special Guest of Honour. The General Secretary of the club,  Lookman Kotun, in a statement, noted that the…

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has sympathised with passengers of the Enugu Air airplane which suffered a runway excursion in Benin City, Edo State. PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that an Enugu Air Embraer E170, operating Flight 4264 from Lagos, veered off the runway after landing at Benin Airport on Thursday. Thd airline, owned by the Enugu State Government, confirmed that all 63 passengers and five crew members disembarked safely, and that no injuries or fatalities were recorded. ‘Safety in Enugu Air is non-negotiable’ In his first public statement on the incident on Friday, Mr Mbah expressed joy that none…

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has commenced a comprehensive review of the 2026 Hajj and Umrah operations, calling on Nigerian pilgrims and other stakeholders to submit complaints, observations and suggestions on services rendered during the exercise. The commission said the feedback would help identify shortcomings, improve future pilgrimages and strengthen oversight of organisations involved in Hajj and Umrah operations. NAHCON explained that the submissions would also play a key role in determining the renewal of licences for service providers, including tour operators, State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, airlines, cargo companies, caterers and accommodation providers. The commission urged contributors…

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has backed the proposed 13.1million dollars Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) project, saying it aligns with the state’s industrialisation agenda and would strengthen clean energy and manufacturing development. The project, proposed by Earthoc Group and its partners, involves the establishment of a 14.13 million Standard Cubic Feet Per Day (MMSCFD) Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) mother station at Owaza in Ukwa West Local Government Area. The project is focused on boosting gas utilisation and supporting industrial growth in the state. Speaking during a meeting at Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area, on Thursday with the…

A PlayStation Network outage which left some gamers unable to play digital games for hours has been resolved. According to Down Detector, which tracks outages, tens of thousands of people reported problems globally, external with the service on Friday.The outage, which affected gamers’ ability to launch games, apps or network features on their PlayStation, prompted some to highlight their concerns around Sony’s plans to no longer release new PlayStation games on discs from January 2028.By Friday evening, all affected services were up and running, according to Sony’s status page, external. The BBC has approached PlayStation for comment.”Can’t play digital games…

It has been a long road for President Donald Trump as he looks for a justification to erect a tariff wall around the US, including against key allies.From the opioid crisis to illegal migration, then the need to bring manufacturing back to America’s shores, the list goes on.Through Trump’s second term, there has been a new justification almost every month for the trade levies he is seeking to place on allies.Some have been overturned by the courts, others by economics and some even by their own logic. And so, Trump has now turned to effectively accusing dozens of trade partners…

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has announced the start of the world’s first human clinical trial of a vaccine developed specifically against the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, with the first volunteer vaccinated at the University of Oxford. The announcement was contained in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday by CEPI’s Senior Communications and Advocacy Manager, Jodie Rogers. The Phase I clinical trial, known as BD-Ebov, will evaluate the safety of the experimental vaccine and its ability to stimulate immune responses in healthy adult volunteers. The vaccine candidate, ChAdOx1 BDBV,…