Author: damazah@gmail.com

A viral social media post about the use of Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) has sparked controversy among Nigerians and healthcare professionals over health insurance. The post, made on X on 2 August by user @106_36_52, who identifies as a medical doctor on the platform, criticised a family who, according to him, visited a hospital after church for medical checks under their HMO plan. “I give the federal government 24 hours to ban this thing called HMO in Nigeria. Full family, straight from church with matching Ankara. Third set only today. God abeg,” he wrote. The post had generated more than…

Cancer immunotherapy has dramatically changed how doctors treat many forms of cancer, yet pancreatic cancer has remained particularly resistant to these advances. A major obstacle is the environment that develops around pancreatic tumors. These tumors often create a “cold” tumor microenvironment that blocks immune cells from launching an effective attack. Researchers at the University of Chicago have now developed a new approach that could help overcome this problem. In a study published in Science Advances, the team used BifidoSumIL-2, an engineered strain of Bifidobacterium longum, a probiotic bacterium naturally found in the gut, to carry an immune-stimulating treatment directly into…

Guardian writers’ predicted position: 17th (NB: this is not necessarily Louise Taylor’s prediction but the average of our writers’ tips)Last season’s position: 12thProspectsAs David Hopkinson, Newcastle’s chief executive, recently reflected: “This is a moment of change. Life is all about change but there are certain moments of punctuation and we are in one of those now”. With Eddie Howe having stepped down, applying a full stop to almost five largely successful years as manager, there is a new head coach in Matthias Jaissle. The 38-year-old German excelled during previous postings in Austria and Saudi Arabia but has never managed in…

Paul Keuker, 51, accidentally fell during the show and transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead The cause of death of a 51-year-old concertgoer, Paul Keuker, who accidentally fell at Madison Square Garden during a Goose concert on June 20 has been determined.  According to a medical examiner, Keuker died of multiple blunt impact injuries, ABC7 reports. Keuker was transported to Bellevue Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Goose released a statement following the show. “We are deeply saddened and heartbroken to learn of the tragic event that occurred at tonight’s show. We extend our deepest sympathy to…

1Something solvers may lack – and so were not finished (6) 1 down. Something solvers may lack – and so were not finished. 6 letters.2Part of bloomer in Guardian? There you have it (6) 2 down. Part of bloomer in Guardian? There you have it. 6 letters.3Happens to meet – as any intersecting answer here does (4,6) 3 down. Happens to meet – as any intersecting answer here does. 4 letters and 6 letters.4Good lesson as example of double definition (5) 4 down. Good lesson as example of double definition. 5 letters.5About negative introduction, admission of meanie who delivers jabs?…

Nigeria’s headline inflation is expected to maintain its downward trend in the coming months, as easing core inflation and reduced exchange rate volatility continue to offset persistent pressure from food prices, analysts at Comercio Partners have said. The outlook followed the latest inflation data released by the National Bureau of Statistics, which showed that headline inflation slowed to 15.43 per cent year-on-year in July 2026, from 15.91 per cent in June. The decline marked the second consecutive monthly moderation and the sharpest slowdown in headline inflation recorded so far this year. According to the analysts, the July figures point to…

The US, meanwhile, has been asking for a number of concessions from Canada, including removing its remaining retaliatory tariffs on American autos and adjusting its dairy quotas to allow greater access for US cheese producers.It has also asked for the ban on US alcohol sales, imposed last year by most Canadian provinces in retaliation to Trump’s tariffs, be removed.Asked on Wednesday if the latest deal will include significant concessions on dairy, Minister LeBlanc said that Canada’s dairy supply management programme – which sees production quotas, set pricing, and import quotas on dairy, eggs, and poultry – will remain “entirely intact”.Polls…

US President Donald Trump delivers remarks during a meeting with cryptocurrency executives in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on Aug. 19, 2026. Jim Watson | AFP | Getty ImagesPresident Donald Trump said the U.S. will launch what he called the “most crushing economic operation ever taken against any country” against Iran, threatening severe financial penalties on any nation that helps Tehran evade sanctions.In a Truth Social post, Trump said Iran’s navy, air force, and military production facilities have been destroyed and its currency rendered worthless, arguing the regime is “hanging by a thread.” He said…

HoverAir drones always have intriguing gimmicks. This one folds flat to fit in your pocket. This one can land on water. Another can charge inside its carrying case. But the brand’s latest trick might be its riskiest: it’s attempting to sneak a drone past the FCC.In December 2025, the US government banned future foreign drones from reaching our shores, and HoverAir’s floating Aqua drone was one of the first casualties. But this time, brand owner Zero Zero Robotics might have found a loophole: its latest $750 Versa drone isn’t a drone, it claims, but rather a DJI Pocket-style mini steadycam…

Illegal dumps in West Yorkshire, Surrey and Kent will be cleared up using taxpayer money, Andy Burnham has announced, as the prime minister promises a new drive to tackle toxic waste.Ministers have identified dumps in Bradford, Runnymede and the Isle of Sheppey, which collectively contain about 22,000 tonnes of illegal waste, to be cleared in the next phase of the government’s national clear-up effort.Meanwhile, fines will be raised for rogue dumpers, and AI-powered drones will be used to detect illegal activity while it happens, as the government looks to prioritise prevention alongside clean-up efforts.Burnham said in a statement: “These toxic…