Posts in category: Uncategorized

Alarming levels of a major hypertension risk have been found among Indigenous people in Australia’s Top End, in a first-of-its-kind study. Associate Professor Jun Yang has previously established that a hormonal condition called primary aldosteronism (PA) is a significant but frequently undiagnosed cause of high blood pressure (hypertension), however there is no data on PA in Australian First Nations communities.

People in Asia are known to report worse sleep than their counterparts in Europe and North America. New research, using objective measures of sleep rather than subjective reports, has shown that not only do people in Asia go to sleep later and have shorter sleep, they also have lower sleep quality than those in other parts of the world. Additionally, their sleep during the work week is more variable and they do not extend their sleep as much at the weekend.

Almost half of mobile phones tested at the height of the pandemic were contaminated with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, bolstering a theory that the devices supercharged the spread of COVID-19.

The time it takes for Australian boys to fall asleep remains the same between 10 and 12 years of age, according to new Flinders University research.

Researchers have developed a blood test that detects Parkinson’s disease, potentially establishing a way to help diagnose the condition before nervous system damage worsens.

A man-made antibody successfully prevented organ rejection when tested in primates that had undergone a kidney transplant, Duke Health researchers report.

The surface protein of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), known as the spike protein, is critical for infecting host cells. The spike protein facilitates the infection process by binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors on the surface of airway epithelial cells, initiating the virus entry into the cells.

First-time fathers seem to experience a steeper decline in relationship satisfaction in the first two years postpartum than second-time fathers, who appear to recover lost relationship satisfaction by the time their second child is 14 months old, according to a study published August 30, 2023 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Judith T. Mack and Lena Brunke from Technische Universität Dresden, Germany, and colleagues.

New Curtin research into injuries sustained by trail users has found mountain biking is not the dangerous, injury-plagued sport reserved for thrill-seekers that it is often perceived to be and that the health benefits outweigh the risks.

THE pro-active stance that the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has adopted in relation to the Public Order Act (POA) and how it is being abused should be lauded.

LAZ must never shy away from taking a stand on major issues to do with the administration of law and order.

It must always stand firm oblivious of which political party is in control of the government.  It should not be scared of stepping on someone’s toes for what is at stake is justice for all.

We feel LAZ is right to question the commitment of the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) in ensuring that the much-maligned POA is administered fairly.

The POA has suddenly come under spotlight after the Zambia Police Service refused to allow the Patriotic Front hold a mass rally in Lusaka’s Zingalume area citing vague “security concerns” even though the notification was sent days in advance.

LAZ said it is deeply disappointed with the UPND government which has continued to abuse the archaic POA to stifle citizen’s rights and freedoms after promising it would end such kind of cruelty.

LAZ president Langisani Zulu said it is saddening that the UPND in government has continued to abuse the POA to stifle citizen’s constitutionally guaranteed human rights of association, assembly and expression.

In a statement issued in Lusaka, Mr Zulu said with the ushering of the UPND into government, LAZ like many citizens had hoped the abuse of the provisions of the POA experienced under the previous governments would come to an end but regrettably, little had changed under the leadership that had promised to govern the country according to the rule of law.

Mr Zulu cited last week’s episode in which Zambians witnessed the Police denying the PF’s request to hold a political rally as a manifestation of the UPND government’s propensity to violate the rights and freedoms of citizens using an outdated and colonial law.

To the surprise of Zambians, the Police Service through Inspector General Graphael which had cited the old excuse of security reasons in foiling the PF mass political gathering on the basis that they did not have enough numbers of officers to police the event, suddenly had more than enough numbers mobilised to stop the rally from being held.

While Zambians have not forgotten that the POA was abused even during the PF regime, and others before them, they had expected the new dawn administration to act differently and not misuse it.

After all, the UPND after being ushered into office had proclaimed that it would uphold and promote the democratic tenets that guaranteed political parties to operate freely.

Thus, LAZ owes it to the citizens to keep reminding the ruling UPND about its promise to ensure political breathing space for all – friends and foes.

As Mr Zulu noted, the fact that wrong things were committed in the past should not comfort the UPND government to repeat the same mistakes. 

The nation’s peace and stability can only be guaranteed when there is less abuse of the POA and LAZ should be pro-active to ensure that it is not.

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