Metal cookware ‘Dades3n’ shown to cause lead poisoning and low IQ

Sep142023 by Samuel AnsongNo Comments

Metal cookware ‘Dades3n’ shown to cause lead poisoning and low IQ

A new study on nearly 200 consumer products and food samples across four regions in Ghana has revealed worrying levels of lead contamination in the popular metal cookware, ‘dades3n’. The Global Rapid Market screening study which happens to be the largest of its kind highlights alarming levels of lead in consumer goods and food produced in low and middle income countries including Ghana with far reaching global consequences. The study conducted by the environmental NGO, Pure Earth’s Blacksmith Initiative revealed that there are high levels of lead contamination in the following: Metal cookware (Dades3n) has 55%, ceramic cookware has 18%, toys for kids has 14%, and cosmetics (local mascara) has 7% of lead. According to a report launched by the World Bank recently, the levels of...

Sep132023 by Samuel AnsongNo Comments

AFCON 2023: Full list of all the 24 qualified teams

Africa News, Sports News

The full list of the 24 teams to participate in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has been confirmed now. This was after the final round of qualifying games were concluded on Tuesday, with Cameroon and Namibia the last teams to book their slots. Cameroon scored three second half goals to win 3-0 against Burundi on Tuesday night and secure their place in the Ivory Coast tournament. Ghana’s Black Stars also confirmed their qualification in the final round of qualifying games by beating the Central African Republic 2-1 to top Group E. Next year’s tournament will not see any teams making their debut, with Gambia making a second consecutive appearance after making their debut in the last edition in Cameroon. Ivory Coast will host the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations from January 1...

Sep132023 by Samuel AnsongNo Comments

France halts iPhone 12 sales over radiation levels

Science & Technology, World News

France has ordered Apple to stop selling the iPhone 12 for emitting too much electromagnetic radiation. On Tuesday, the French watchdog which governs radio frequencies also told the tech giant to fix existing phones. The ANFR has advised Apple that if it cannot resolve the issue via a software update, it must recall every iPhone 12 ever sold in the country. But the World Health Organization has previously sought to allay fears about radiation emitted by mobile phones. It says on its website there is no evidence to conclude that exposure to low level electromagnetic fields is harmful to humans. The iPhone 12 was first released in September 2020, and it is still sold worldwide. Apple told the BBC it was contesting the ANFR’s review, and said it had provided the regulator wi...

Sep122023 by Samuel AnsongNo Comments

Cedi to endure some volatility against dollar this week; one dollar going for ¢11.43

Ghana News

The Ghana cedi is expected to endure some volatility against the US dollar on the retail market this week. This follows a marginal depreciation against the American greenback last week. The local currency shaved 0.35% in value to the American greenback. It, however, strengthened 1.02% and 0.20% against the pound and euro respectively on the retail market. The year-to-date loss of the cedi to the dollar on the retail market stood at 11.40%, whilst the interbank market was estimated at about 22%. The forex market was a bit choppy last week as the cedi saw some volatility against the US dollar. This is despite the Bank of Ghana announcing plan to auction $120 million in its FX forward auctions for the Bulk Oil Distribution Companies quarter 4, 2023, with $20 million to be sold ...

Sep122023 by Samuel AnsongNo Comments

Motorway tunnel: Highway Authority starts stolen bolts replacement

Ghana News

Workers from the Bridge Maintenance Unit of the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) last Saturday started replacing the bolts holding the corrugated metals in the tunnel that connects Tema Community 18 to Borteyman. The replacement is to prevent the bridge which lies beneath the Accra Motorway from collapsing, following the theft of about 1,400 of the 2,000 bolts holding the bridge to the motorway concrete. The stealing incident was discovered recently following an assessment on the bridge which showed signs of imminent danger. The assessment found the missing bolts to have also compromised the structural integrity of the bridge, making it susceptible to collapse if not repaired immediately. The tunnel was closed to traffic last Saturday to allow for the replacement of the ...

Sep122023 by Samuel AnsongNo Comments

Libya declares emergency as Storm Daniel kills 200

Africa News, International

At least 200 people have died after a powerful storm caused flooding in Libya, the Libyan Red Cross has said. However, the leader of the east Libya government, which is not recognised internationally, said deaths “exceed 2,000”. Storm Daniel made landfall in the North African nation on Sunday, prompting authorities to declare a state of extreme emergency. Seven Libyan army personnel have gone missing during ongoing rescue efforts. Officials in eastern Libya have imposed a curfew, while schools and shops have been ordered to close The eastern cities of Benghazi, Sousse, Derna and Al-Marj have been impacted by Storm Daniel. As well as the rising death toll, the Libyan Red Cross issued a statement saying that at least 150 homes have been destroyed. The head of the Red Cre...

Sep122023 by Samuel AnsongNo Comments

Group advocates National Suicide Prevention Plan

Ghana News, Health & Wellbeing, Lifestyle & Social

Ghana needs a National Suicide Prevention Plan to provide a common framework for addressing suicidal behaviours. This is a call from the Association for Suicide Prevention Ghana (GASP), a group of trained experts from multidisciplinary backgrounds. The Association believes such a plan will help produce local but relevant recommendations and guidelines in the areas of suicide research, surveillance, reportage and content in the media. It will also offer support for persons in suicidal crises, help for loved ones and relatives left behind or bereaved by suicides. The Association in a statement signed by its Secretary and President, Dr Johnny Andoh-Arthur and Dr. Emmanuel Nii-Boye Quashie, committed to helping anyone undergoing suicidal crises. The group, however, observed...

Sep122023 by Samuel AnsongNo Comments

Morocco earthquake: ‘We need help from whomever will give it’

Africa News, International

In the tiny village of Algou, high in the Atlas Mountains, screams came from under the rubble in the terrifying moments after the earthquake. But as the hours passed and with no specialist rescue teams appearing to assist the desperate efforts of the villagers, the screams turned to silence. Three days on, the Spanish firefighters who were the first professional teams to reach the devastated community hoped time had not run out. As they briskly picked their way through caved-in streets and collapsed archways their experience told them there was, however, no hope. The grim reality was reinforced by the reaction of their dogs. Igor and Teddy had been trained to bark when they found signs of life. The silence was deafening. “There is nothing we can do here,” said Juan Lopez,...

Sep122023 by Samuel AnsongNo Comments

New iPhone, new charger: Apple bends to EU rules

International, Science & Technology

Apple’s latest iPhone will almost certainly feature a USB-C charge point when it is unveiled on 12 September. The firm’s phones currently use its proprietary Lightning adaptor, unlike rivals, including Samsung. A European Union law requires phone manufacturers to adopt a common charging connection by December 2024 to save consumers money and cut waste. Most new Apple products such as the latest iPads already use USB-C, but the firm had argued against the EU rule. When it was introduced in September 2021, an Apple representative told BBC News: “Strict regulation mandating just one type of connector stifles innovation rather than encouraging it, which in turn will harm consumers in Europe and around the world.” Lightning to USB-C adaptors are already available from other elect...

Sep122023 by Samuel AnsongNo Comments

Scientists grow whole model of human embryo, without sperm or egg

Health & Wellbeing, International, Lifestyle & Social

Scientists have grown an entity that closely resembles an early human embryo, without using sperm, eggs or a womb. The Weizmann Institute team say their “embryo model”, made using stem cells, looks like a textbook example of a real 14-day-old embryo. It even released hormones that turned a pregnancy test positive in the lab. The ambition for embryo models is to provide an ethical way of understanding the earliest moments of our lives. The first weeks after a sperm fertilises an egg is a period of dramatic change – from a collection of indistinct cells to something that eventually becomes recognisable on a baby scan. This crucial time is a major source of miscarriage and birth defects but poorly understood. “It’s a black box and that’s not a cliche – our ...

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Author: Samuel Ansong