Posts in category: Uncategorized

A Northeastern professor says the Centers for Disease Control has significantly overestimated the number of people who have received at least one COVID shot, leading the federal agency to paint a rosier picture of vaccine compliance than actually exists.

THE Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested Evaristo Sakala a former Army Secretary at ministry of Defence for corrupt practices involving US$ 400 million in relation to the procurement of the Gulfstream G650 Presidential Jet.

According to ACC public relations officer Timothy Moono, Mr Sakala 53, of Plot No. 11257 Chalala in Lusaka, was charged with one count of willful failure to Comply with Applicable Law and Procedure contrary to Section 34 (2) (b) of the Anti-Corruption Act No.3 Of 2012.

He said details are that between the 1st January, 2017 and 31st July, 2017, Mr Sakala, being the Army Secretary and a member of the Ministerial Procurement Committee for the Ministry of defence and whilst acting together with others, did wilfully fail to comply with the applicable law and procedure in the manner he approved the award of the tender number MOD/MPC/024-17 relating to the procurement of the Modernisation of the Defence forces Program at a contract price of US$ 400,000,000.00 to Elbit Systems Limited.

Mr Moono said in this matter, the Commission has so far arrested six individuals and those arrested and charged were former Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence Stardy Mwale, former, Defence Secretary Rtd. Brigadier General Michael Obister Mbewe and Former Ministry of Defence Director General Medical Services Rtd. Brigadier General Frank Hardy Sinyangwe, others arrested are Director-Finance at Ministry of Green Economy and Environment Esabel Willima Chinji and Former Ministry of Defence Director Human Resources and Administration John Phiri.

Mr. Sakala has since been released on bond and he is expected to appear in court soon.

Older people will be alerted to the increased risk of falls thanks to a new smart sock created by electronic textiles (e-textiles) experts at Nottingham Trent University.

While artificial intelligence continues to transform health care, the tech has an Achilles heel: training AI systems to perform specific tasks requires a great deal of annotated data that engineers sometimes just don’t have or cannot get. In a perfect world, researchers would be able to digitally generate the exact data they need when they need it, unlocking new capabilities of AI.

Researchers from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) recently found that a device used to measure oxygen levels might be overestimating those levels in children of different races, which could lead to inaccurate readings. The findings were published online in JAMA Pediatrics.

Singapore’s new mandatory labeling system, called Nutri-Grade (NG), is likely to encourage consumers to purchase beverages with lower sugar content, suggests a trial by researchers at Duke-NUS Medical School. The findings, published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, show that NG labeling can empower people with chronic conditions such as diabetes to make healthier choices, with trial participants opting for drinks with 1.5g less of sugar per serving—equivalent to about 2.9g of sugar per 330ml can.

In an effort to understand the origin of systemic lupus erythematosus and why some patients present with more severe disease than others, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers say they have identified a type of autoantibody that may worsen the condition and have also found how these autoantibodies originate. They say their findings have implications for biomarker testing in lupus and may help identify patients that need early and aggressive treatment.

POVERTY levels have risen in the country and there is growing disenchantment among citizens and the UPND government and President Hakainde Hichilema should be ready to exit because Zambians are ready another change of government, the Patriotic Front has said.

Frank Ng’mbi, the PF’s chairman for industry says the UPND and President Hichilema should not worry about losing power in 2026 as Zambians have already resolved to vote the ruling party out of government because.

Dr Ng’ambi claimed that the UPND administration WAS not only exhibited second-rate leadership, but has also been divisive, with the policies which were not in the interest of the people with worsened the poverty and hunger levels in various communities.

Dr Ng’ambi Ng’ambi said, instead of fearing losing power in 2026, President Hichilema should feel proud that Zambians gave him the opportunity to lead as republican President, but should also appreciate the fact that many were disappointed because the head of State had performed dismally in delivering his promises.

He said in interview in Kitwe that President Hichilema should focus on resolving economic challenges the country and work at reducing tension that has gripped the country as a result of the threats against former President Edgar Lungu.

Dr Ng’ambi said President Hichilema should not worry about how strong and popular the PF was becoming but should be concerned about his inability to meet the expectations of the many Zambians who voted for the UPND.

He stated that what should preoccupy President Hichilema should be the shortage of essential medicines and other medical supplies in the country’s health facilities and not insulting former President Lungu for going to church.

Dr Ng’ambi said what President Hichilema should know was that it was not Kutumpa (being stupid) for former President Lungu to go to church and that the former head of State was not under house arrest for President Hichilema to restrict his public appearances.

“President Hichilema should not be emotional and worry about losing power in 2026. President Hichilema should not be the one to decide who should challenge by decreeing that he will never allow former President Lungu to return to power. Let President Hichilema not worry about losing power in 2026 because Zambians have already resolved to vote him out and bring back the PF because Zambians have realized it was a caring government.”

“Emotional outbursts and threats against former President Lungu and other PF leaders will not reduce the cost of living. President Hichilema has failed to live to his campaign promises of reducing mealie meal to K50 per 25kilogramme bag, reducing fertiliser from K650 to K250 per 50kilogramme bag.

The bag of mealie meal is now almost K200, while that of fertiliser is more than K1, 000. He should not vent his frustration or anger or ECL. No,’’ Dr Ng’ambi said

Dr Ng’ambi said President Hichilema should concentrate on finding solutions to the problems and challenges the country was facing as opposed to making frequent international trips at the cost of Zambians.

He said the people of the Copperbelt were expecting President Hichilema to make definitive pronouncements when he was on the Copperbelt for seven days but that it was disappointing that the head of State had not made any decision on the two giant mining companies in Konkola Copper Mines (KCAM) and Mopani Copper Mines (MCM).

 A 14-year-old girl of Chama district has been sexually abused and impregnated by her 38-year-old step-father. The sexual abuse of the victim by Charles Mkandawire is believed to have began when the victim was only 12-years-old and in grade six. Muchinga province commanding officer Kaunda Mubanga said the incident happened between 2021 and December 2022 […]

The spinal cord acts as a messenger, carrying signals between the brain and body to regulate everything from breathing to movement. While the spinal cord is known to play an essential role in relaying pain signals, technology has limited scientists’ understanding of how this process occurs on a cellular level. Now, Salk scientists have created wearable microscopes to enable unprecedented insight into the signaling patterns that occur within the spinal cords of mice.