OPEC+ members will consider whether to extend existing oil cuts for three to four months or to increase output gradually from January during their two days of talks that start on Monday, OPEC+ sources told Reuters. Officials from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Russia and others, a group known as OPEC+, held an initial round of talks on Sunday before formal discussions began but failed to reach agreement on policy for 2021.
OPEC+ had been due to ease existing production cuts by 2 million barrels per day (bpd) from January 2021, but a second coronavirus wave has reduced demand for fuel around the world, prompting a rethink among members of the group.
OPEC+ is now considering extending the existing cuts of 7.7 million bpd, about 8% of global demand, into the first months of 2021, a position supported by OPEC’s de-facto leader Saudi Arabia and other major producers in the group, sources said.
Preliminary consultations on Sunday between Saudi, Russian and other key ministers did not agree on strategy.
Diego Maradona was ‘unmanageable’ and should have been sent to rehab, said his personal surgeon who is being investigated over involuntary manslaughter.
Prosecutors in San Isidro, near Buenos Aires, said they were investigating Leopoldo Luque over possible medical negligence and police raided his doctor’s surgery and home on Sunday.
But Luque said the footballing icon was a difficult person to control, and he would often kick the surgeon out of his house, and he has been made a ‘scapegoat’ for the Argentinian’s death.
Maradona’s death is being treated as possible manslaughter and police have raided the home of his personal doctor (pictured together)
A statement from the prosecutors’ office later said they had begun analysing material gathered and clarified that ‘no decisions have been made at the moment regarding the procedural situation of any person.’
The probe was triggered by concerns raised by Maradona’s daughters Dalma, Gianinna and Jana over the treatment he received for his heart condition at his home in Tigre, north of Buenos Aires, judicial sources said.
Maradona died of a heart attack on Wednesday aged 60, and was buried on Thursday at the Jardin de Paz cemetery on the outskirts of the Argentine capital.
Talented 18-year-old Sporting Lisbon starlet Nuno Mendes has delayed signing a new contract at the club amid interest from Liverpool.
Mendes has impressed this season and was previously linked with Leicester and Newcastle.
The left-back is also a target for the Reds, according to A Bola, who report that he does not want to deter them by increasing his release clause, which already stands at £40m, in a new deal.
They claim that Liverpool would ‘back out’ of signing him if the release clause is made higher.
Mendes already has a long-term contract with the Portuguese side, who have produced an array of talent over the years, including Cristiano Ronaldo.
He is among the latest crop of talented youngsters to make the grade at first-team level and his current deal runs until 2025.
Research in humans and monkeys suggests that lipocalin-2 (LCN2), which is a hormone that plays a role in feeling full after consuming a meal, might be able to help people lose weight.
Previous studies have suggested that when mice receive LCN2 over a period of time, it reduces their appetite and body weight, improves their sugar metabolism, and increases energy expenditure.
A new paper that appears in the journal eLife suggests that the hormone has a similar effect in primates such as monkeys and humans. This may mean that LCN2 could help people with obesity lose weight.
Obesity is an increasingly serious worldwide health concern. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least 2.8 million people die every year as a result of obesity or overweight.
This condition is also associated with other chronic health concerns, such as type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer, and depression, among others.
Doctors typically class people as having overweight when they have a body mass index (BMI)of 25 or above, and they tend to class people as having obesity if they have a BMI of 30 or above.
Currently, it is difficult to reduce obesity because of researchers’ limited understanding of the body’s mechanisms that maintain a balance between weight, energy intake, and energy use.
For example, when people who have had obesity for a long time lose weight, their bodies respond by slowing down their metabolism, which can ultimately lead to weight regain.
In general, diet- and exercise-based weight loss programs tend to work in the short term, while known pharmacological therapies raise safety concerns and have a limited effect.
Lead study author Dr. Peristera-Ioanna Petropoulou and colleagues believe that conducting further research into LCN2 may lead to a new way of reducing obesity.
A retrospective, observational study has found that people who received the BCG vaccination — which prevents tuberculosis — were less likely to report symptoms of COVID-19 and less likely to have antibodies against the infection in their blood.
Scientists developed the BCG (bacillus Calmette-Guérin) vaccine more than 100 years ago to protect against the bacterial infection tuberculosis (TB).
In the United States, BCG is approved for people at high risk of developing TB and for treating some forms of bladder cancer.
But research also suggests that BCG vaccination early in life can reduce child mortality by up to 45%, mainly through reduced susceptibility to sepsis (blood poisoning) in babies, respiratory infections, and fever.
In adolescents and older people, there is also some evidence that BCG protects against viral respiratory infections.
Scientists believe the vaccine primes the “innate” immune system, the body’s first line of defense against viruses and other invading organisms. Unlike adaptive immunity, innate immunity rarely targets specific pathogens that the body has encountered in the past.
Researchers at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA, wondered whether BCG might reduce susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
“We were interested in studying the BCG vaccine because it has long been known to have a general protective effect against a range of bacterial and viral diseases other than TB, including neonatal sepsis and respiratory infections,” says co-senior author Dr. Moshe Arditi, director of the Pediatric and Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division at Cedars-Sinai.
COVID-19 symptoms and antibodies
Between May 11 and June 18, 2020, 6,201 healthcare workers gave blood samples and answered questions about their medical history, including whether they had received BCG and vaccines against two other bacterial infections and influenza.
In total, 1,836 said they had received the BCG vaccination, 4,275 said they had not received it, and 90 were unsure.
Those with the vaccination were less likely to report experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 at any time in the past 6 months.
Overall, 3.5% of the entire cohort tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.
Among those who reported receiving the BCG vaccine, 2.7% tested positive, while among those who said they hadn’t received it, 3.8% tested positive.
“It appears that BCG-vaccinated individuals either may have been less sick and therefore produced fewer anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, or they may have mounted a more efficient cellular immune response against the virus,” says Dr. Arditi.
After adjusting for age and sex, BCG vaccination — but none of the other vaccinations — was still associated with a reduced likelihood of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.
In their paper, the researchers write:
“Taken together, these results indicate that a history of BCG vaccination confers a nonspecific protective effect against infection with SARS-CoV-2 and decreases the presence of self-reported COVID-19 symptoms. This appears to be specific to BCG, as [other vaccinations] […] are not associated with similar protection against infection with SARS-CoV-2.”
Encouraging people to eat more dried fruit — without added sugar — could be an effective way to boost their intake of vital nutrients, researchers have concluded.
Low consumption of fruit in the United States and other countries is a major contributor to diet-related disease and disability, according to a recent analysis.
Fruit is a good source of nutrients, such as fiber and potassium, that many people lack in their diet. It also contains bioactive nutrients that provide extra health benefits, including and carotenoids.
Research suggests that eating fruit is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes.
However, only about 24% of females and 14% of males in the U.S. eat the recommended daily amount of fruit, according to the US National Cancer Institute.
Several factors might contribute to people’s low intake of fresh fruit, including limited availability, high cost, and perishability.
Recommending that people eat more dried fruit could be one solution.
Healthful Snack
Dried fruit offers several advantages over fresh fruit in terms of cost, availability, and ease of storage and transport. It could also replace more unhealthful snack food that is high in sugar, salt, and saturated fat.
At the same time, however, there are concerns about overconsumption leading to excess calorie intake because dried fruit is such an “energy dense” form of fruit.
Previous observational studies have found that eating dried fruit is associated with health benefits. However, the evidence is inconclusive because people who eat more dried fruit may tend to have a more healthful diet and lifestyle overall.
The new study by researchers at Pennsylvania State University in University Park aimed to get around this difficulty by comparing days when particular participants reported eating dried fruit with days when they ate none.
They found that people tended to consume more key nutrients on the days they ate dried fruit, including dietary fiber and potassium. However, they also consumed more calories.
“Dried fruit can be a great choice for a nutritious snack, but consumers might want to be sure they’re choosing unsweetened versions without added sugar,” says Valerie Sullivan of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, MD, who was a grad student at Pennsylvania State University when she led the study.
“Portion sizes can also be tricky because a serving of dried fruit is smaller than a serving of fresh since the water has been taken out. But the positive is that dried fruit can help people potentially consume more fruit because it’s portable, it’s shelf-stable, and can even be cheaper.”
The cost of air tickets along several routes have doubled due to the high demand for air travel in light of the rising insecurity in the country and the cost of flight operations.
Checks on several airline websites showed that even intending passengers who booked their flights days ahead of departure were also affected.
A check on Friday on the website of Max Air showed that a one-way ticket from Maiduguri to Lagos for Saturday was put at N100,000 while the same flight costs N70,000 for Monday.
A flight from Kano to Abuja on Azman Air on Friday was put at N85,000; the same route for Saturday was put at N61,000.
A flight from Lagos to Abuja via Max Air on Monday was put at N80,000 while the same flight on Aero was fixed at N107,000.
Travelling to Kano State from Lagos on Arik Air on Saturday, cost about N70,618 while the flight would cost N65,564 for the same route on Tuesday.
It was also observed that the Lagos-Port Harcourt route, which is one of the busiest in the country, had also been affected.
A check on Arik Air’s website on Friday showed that there were no available seats till Monday and the price for the four available seats was fixed at N52, 868 each for afternoon flight and at N57,045 for morning.
Overland Airways which travels less busy routes with its much smaller aircraft also hiked its ticket prices.
Ilorin to Abuja flight was put at N56,000 on Saturday and N61, 500 on Sunday; the same route was put at a cost of N56,000 on Tuesday and N52,500 on Wednesday.
The increase in the air tickets caused a debate on social media last week as several Nigerians lamented how they had to part with large sums of money to purchase tickets.
Confirming the increments on Friday, the Managing Director of Aero Contractors, Captain Ado Sanusi, told The Punch that airlines could not access foreign exchange at the official rate while the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria had increased its fees.
Sanusi said except airlines were given special concessions, the prices would continue to rise and could hit an average of N100,000 for even the Lagos/Abuja route.
He said, “We were buying dollars at N360 and it went to N380 but you can’t get it for less than N480.
“We are paying VAT at 7.5 per cent. We are paying 15 per cent duty on our spare parts. The boarding passes, we pay 15 per cent duty on it.
“The passenger service charge has increased by FAAN. So, don’t look at one component but look at the total reason for the increase.
“Yes, there is an increase in demand but it is caused by the lack of aircraft and this lack of aircraft is caused by unavailability of spare parts which is also caused by dollar scarcity.”
Also speaking, the General Secretary, Aviation Roundtable, Mr Olumide Ohunayo, said there was a connection between the rising airfares and the insecurity in the country.
Lagos based travel agent, Mr Ndudim Nwaoma, said, his encounter with several passengers showed that many were desperate to fly because of the high level of insecurity in the country.
Heart disease is a very serious problem these days but you can avoid becoming a statistic by looking at what you eat more closely.
Read on to see which foods you should avoid to keep your heart pumping properly, and then replace these fridge offenders with heart-healthy foods instead.
Sugary cereals
Take a look at the nutrition label of your cold cereal. Does it have more than eight grams of sugar per serving to make up for its low-fat level? Skip it.Fried chicken
More fried food, more problems. Study participants who consumed larger amounts of fried food had higher risk for death from coronary artery disease.
French fries
It’s not just battered and fried bird that’s tough on your ticker, though. High levels of potato consumption has been linked to increased risk for both hypertension and type 2 diabetes in scientific research. And frying the spuds delivers a one-two punch to your cardiac health.
Potato chips
Increased servings of potato chips tacked on more pounds than any other foods including sugary drinks, processed meats and red meat.
In addition to ample calories—160 calories per serving for 15 Lay’s—chips are low in fiber and protein while offering a good shake of sodium.
Fruit smoothies
In theory they should be healthy, unless you count how many grams of sugar you are actually consuming. Plus, by drinking fruit instead of eating it whole, you lose the essential fiber that could help normalize elevated blood lipids.
Hot dogs
Hot dogs and sausages can be high in saturated fat. Even low-fat options tend to be packed with salt. It’s important to watch your sodium intake, as more dietary sodium often leads to higher blood pressure.
Ketchup
Ketchup is very high in sodium as well. Just two tablespoons contains 320 milligrams of sodium. Plus, it boasts eight grams of sugar per two-tablespoon serving.
Barbecue sauce
It’s best for your heart to steer clear of (or go light on) the sauce at your cookout. A couple tablespoons of the typical bottle variety has about 310 milligrams of sodium.
Table salt
Start by adding half of what a recipe calls for, and scale up to only use what you need. So you don’t shake on extra out of habit, leave the salt in the kitchen and only bring it to the table if you need it after the first bite.
Fat-free packaged snacks
A good rule of thumb: Avoid any product that is not normally fat-free. What it doesn’t have in fat, it makes up for in sugar.
Fat-free peanut butter
Low-fat peanut butters usually contain the same amount of calories as its conventional counterpart. Again, you’re trading fat for sugar.
Canned vegetables
Some canned vegetable products are packaged with excess added sodium which can take a vegetable with no salt and make it have more than a processed snack item.
Fruit-flavored yogurt
Sometimes, it’s good to be plain—as in plain Greek yogurt. Fruity yogurts can contain upwards of six teaspoons of sugar per serving. A better choice is to buy plain Greek yogurt and mix it with your own fresh or frozen unsweetened fruit.
Margarine
Butter isn’t so bad after all. A 2016 review in PLOS One found very little links between butter consumption and heart disease. Instead, margarine appears to be more of a villain, since it can be full of additives and saturated fats.
Pastries
Donuts and other bakery goodies are not only high in fat, sugar and white flour, but they also may be transporting trans fats into your bloodstream.
As a reminder, trans fat can increase risk of developing heart disease since they simultaneously lower good cholesterol and raise bad cholesterol.
Red meat
Aim to integrate more plant-based proteins, such as beans and nuts, for the biggest heart health boost. Red meat consumption has been shown to increase cardiovascular risk.
White bread
Whole grains come paired with fibre and more vitamins, while white bread is commonly stripped of both. Since the carbs come with no fibre to balance things out, they increase blood sugar rapidly, which can contribute to the development of diabetes or heart conditions over time.
White rice
Processed rice ranks right up there with processed breads on the heart-harming scale. Highly processed carbohydrates increase belly fat, which is a risk factor for diabetes and coronary disease.
Energy drinks
Similarly, energy drinks are often amped up with oodles of sugar—and caffeine that can cause undue stress to your heart.
Soda
For each additional sugar-packed drink, such as cola, you drink each day, you increase your risk for both heart disease and stroke. Frequent consumption of all sweetened drinks, including soda, faux fruit juices and sports drinks, makes you more likely to die of atherosclerosis.
Diet soda
Research suggests that the chemicals in diet soda and the artificial sweeteners can alter gastrointestinal bacteria that make people more prone to gaining weight.
Pizza
If you do pick pizza for dinner and order delivery, be sure to go heavy on the fresh vegetables and light on the cheese.
Marinara sauce
While you’re shifting your slice, consider the tomato sauce, too. The average half-cup of marinara packs in 400 milligrams of sodium and 4 grams of sugar. Try low-sodium marinara sauce or trade olive oil for sauce on your DIY pizza.
Alcohol
Everything in moderation. But if you already suffer from high blood pressure or know that you have high triglycerides, then drinking alcohol can boost your odds of heart disease.”
Coffee creamer
Want to be even better? Drink your coffee black. And whatever you do, don’t dump in the non-dairy coffee creamer.
The Nigerian Presidency says beneficiaries of the the proposed off-grid solar home systems across rural communities in the country are expected to pay N4,000 monthly.
25 million Nigerians are estimated to benefit from the solar power programme.
In a statement on Sunday, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Laolu Akande, said the beneficiaries of the power programme, tagged Solar Power Naija, are expected to pay N4,000 monthly over a period of three years.
“An important aspect of the scheme is the option of outright ownership by beneficiaries at a cost ranging from N1,500 per week to N4,000 monthly depending on the capacities, for a period of three years,” Akande said.
The Federal Government had previously announced that it would commence the installation of the N140 billion solar project for 5 million households in “underserved and rural communities” from the first week of December.
The government noted that the initiative is a continuation of coordinated implementation of the Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP) of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.
The initiative is implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
The cost of air tickets along several routes have doubled due to the high demand for air travel in light of the rising insecurity in the country and cost of flight operations.
Checks on several airline websites showed that even intending passengers who booked their flights days ahead of departure were also affected.
A check on Friday on the website of Max Air showed that a one-way ticket from Maiduguri to Lagos for Saturday was put at N100,000 while the same flight costs N70,000 for Monday.
A flight from Kano to Abuja on Azman Air on Friday was put at N85,000; the same route for Saturday was put at N61,000.
A flight from Lagos to Abuja via Max Air on Monday was put at N80,000 while the same flight on Aero was fixed at N107,000.
Travelling to Kano State from Lagos on Arik Air on Saturday, cost about N70,618 while the flight would cost N65,564 for the same route on Tuesday.
It was also observed that the Lagos-Port Harcourt route, which is one of the busiest in the country, had also been affected.
A check on Arik Air’s website on Friday showed that there were no available seats till Monday and the price for the four available seats was fixed at N52, 868 each for afternoon flight and at N57,045 for morning.
Overland Airways which travels less busy routes with its much smaller aircraft also hiked its ticket prices.
Ilorin to Abuja flight was put at N56,000 on Saturday and N61, 500 on Sunday; the same route was put at a cost of N56,000 on Tuesday and N52,500 on Wednesday.
The increase in the air tickets caused a debate on social media last week as several Nigerians lamented how they had to part with large sums of money to purchase tickets.
Confirming the increments on Friday, the Managing Director of Aero Contractors, Captain Ado Sanusi, told The Punch that airlines could not access foreign exchange at the official rate while the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria had increased its fees.
Sanusi said except airlines were given special concessions, the prices would continue to rise and could hit an average of N100,000 for even the Lagos/Abuja route.
He said, “We were buying dollars at N360 and it went to N380 but you can’t get it for less than N480.
“We are paying VAT at 7.5 per cent. We are paying 15 per cent duty on our spare parts. The boarding passes, we pay 15 per cent duty on it.
“The passenger service charge has increased by FAAN. So, don’t look at one component but look at the total reason for the increase.
“Yes, there is an increase in demand but it is caused by the lack of aircraft and this lack of aircraft is caused by unavailability of spare parts which is also caused by dollar scarcity.”
Also speaking, the General Secretary, Aviation Roundtable, Mr Olumide Ohunayo, said there was a connection between the rising airfares and the insecurity in the country.
Lagos based travel agent, Mr Ndudim Nwaoma, said, his encounter with several passengers showed that many were desperate to fly because of the high level of insecurity in the country.
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