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US surgeons transplant pig kidney into patient

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US surgeons transplant pig kidney into patient

A groundbreaking medical procedure took place in Boston, where surgeons successfully transplanted a kidney from a genetically engineered pig into a 62-year-old man who needed a transplant, the New York Times reports.

If the breakthrough is successful, it could bring hope to people who are suffering from kidney failure.

According to the New York Times report, the indications are encouraging so far.

Physicians at Massachusetts General Hospital, known as Mass General, have reported that the patient’s condition is steadily improving since the surgery last weekend.

The patient, Mr. Richard ‘Rick’ Slayman of Weymouth, Mass., is recovering well at MGH and is expected to be discharged soon, as stated on the hospital’s website on Thursday.

“The real hero today is the patient, Mr Slayman, as the success of this pioneering surgery, once deemed unimaginable, would not have been possible without his courage and willingness to embark on a journey into uncharted medical territory. As the global medical community celebrates this monumental achievement, Mr. Slayman becomes a beacon of hope for countless individuals suffering from end-stage renal disease and opens a new frontier in organ transplantation,” said Joren C. Madsen, MD, DPhil, Director of the MGH Transplant Center.

The new kidney has already started producing urine, which is an encouraging sign of progress.

Slayman is currently moving around the hospital and could be released shortly.

According to Dr Winfred Williams, an associate chief of the nephrology division at Mass General and the patient’s primary kidney doctor, a new source of kidneys “could solve an intractable problem in the field — the inadequate access of minority patients to kidney transplants.”

A medical director for kidney transplantation at Mass General, Dr. Leonardo V. Riella, said the widespread use of genetically modified animal kidneys for transplantation could render dialysis unnecessary.

The transplant programme was developed by Mass General Brigham, the hospital’s parent organisation.

More than 800,000 individuals in the United States suffer from kidney failure, necessitating dialysis as a crucial procedure to eliminate toxins from their bloodstream.

There is a significant demand for transplanted kidneys, with over 100,000 individuals currently waiting to receive one from a living or deceased donor.

In addition, tens of millions of Americans have chronic kidney disease, which can lead to organ failure.

Although dialysis is crucial for sustaining life, the most effective treatment is an organ transplant.

The Nigerian Senate, last Thursday, urged the Federal Government to broaden the scope of the National Health Insurance Scheme to include individuals suffering from chronic kidney disease.

The Senate’s resolutions came about after Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua (APC, Katsina Central) sponsored a motion during Tuesday’s plenary.

According to Yar’Adua’s presentation, 25 million Nigerians suffer from renal illnesses, according to new data from the Nigerian Association of Nephrology.

Surgeons at the University of Maryland had successfully performed heart transplants on two patients with heart disease, using hearts from genetically modified pigs.

Despite the organs functioning well and showing no signs of rejection, both patients, who were suffering from advanced disease, passed away shortly after.

Global music business records 10.2% growth in 2023

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Global music business records 10.2% growth in 2023

Global music revenues were up 10.2 percent last year to $28.6 billion, according figures released Thursday, but record firms are concerned over how to maintain growth in the streaming era.

The biggest artist in the world was — no surprise — Taylor Swift, according to the annual report by International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, which represents global record companies.

Swift was followed closely by two Korean bands, Seventeen and Stray Kids, reflecting the increasing spread of K-Pop.

The biggest singles in the world were “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus, the only song to surpass 2 billion streams (2.7 bn), followed by “Calm Down” by Rema and Selena Gomez (1.89 bn) and “Kill Bill” by Sza (1.84 bn).

The music industry grew for the ninth consecutive year, thanks largely to the continued growth of streaming (up 11.2 percent), which now accounts for more than two-thirds (67.3 percent) of global revenues.

Paid streaming subscriptions soared past 500 million for the first time to reach 667 million.

Physical formats — particularly vinyl — also saw growth, with sales up 13.4 percent.

“The figures in this year’s report reflect a truly global and diverse industry, with revenues growing in every market, every region and across virtually every recorded music format,” said John Nolan, IFPI’s chief financial officer.

The fastest-growing regions were Sub-Saharan Africa (up 24.7 percent) and Latin America (19.4 percent), thanks to the spread of streaming and the rise of local stars like Burna Boy, Asake, J Balvin and Bad Bunny.

The biggest music markets remained the United States, Japan and Britain.

– TikTok effect –

The industry has several key concerns, however, particularly as young people spend increasing time on TikTok and games.

“The worst ad-supported, short-clip video platforms have no chance of leading to paid subscriptions and are becoming the primary consumption platforms for many young consumers,” said Dennis Kooker, of Sony Music, at a press conference to launch IFPI’s report.

Universal Music Group recently yanked its music off TikTok in a feud over the app’s approach to AI-generated music and song royalties.

Kooker suggested record firms were increasingly focused on superfans.

“Those who want more, and are willing to pay more, need products that are specifically designed for them,” he said.

But firms are finding it hard to encourage people to pay for streaming in several key markets, including France.

“The streaming penetration rate is still very low in France,” said Marie-Anne Robert, managing director Sony Music France, at the conference.

“It’s a huge challenge for us and the artists and the recent introduction of a streaming tax clearly does not help,” she added, referring to a new tax on services like Spotify that is being introduced this year in France.

AFP

Four arrested as police raid fake drinks factory in Lagos

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Four arrested as police raid fake drinks factory in Lagos

Policemen attached to the Isokoko Division of the Lagos State Police Command have raided a house in Agege where fake drinks are being produced.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this in a video shared on his X handle on Thursday.

According to Hundeyin, during the raid, four persons believed to be the masterminds behind the illegal distillery were arrested, and fake drinks were recovered among others.

His caption read, “Officers of Isokoko Division, acting on credible information, raided a house in Agege where fake alcoholic drinks were being produced.

“The police arrested four people behind the illegal distillery and recovered fake drinks, empty bottles, and labels of different brands. Investigation is ongoing.”

According had reported in December 2023, that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control intercepted counterfeiters involved in the production of a variety of fake beverages including wine, soft drinks, and other products estimated at over N750,000,000 in the Eziukwu market in Aba, Abia state.

Same month, officers attached to the Ojo Division of the Lagos State Police Command arrested two suspects, Magnus Nwonka, 42, and Imo Lawrence, 35, for being in possession of fake drinks.

The suspects were reported to have led the detectives to a multi-room factory in a filthy environment where the fake drinks were produced.

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French schools received threat messages, says ministry

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French schools received threat messages, says ministry

At least 30 schools in the Paris region have this week received threatening messages accompanied by “shocking” footage of beheadings, the education ministry said on Thursday.

The establishments — mainly secondary schools — have received “serious threats” containing “justification of and incitement to terrorism,” a representative of the education ministry told AFP.

The messages came through the ENT digital platform that serves as a link between teachers, pupils and parents; internal emails ; or the Pronote software used by the education ministry.

Investigators were working to “identify the perpetrators”, said the ministry, adding that psychological support had been offered to children or adults who had watched the “shocking videos”.

According to a police source, at least five high schools in the department of Yvelines, in the west of the Greater Paris region, received bomb threats between Wednesday and Thursday.

Perpetrators “hacked a student’s email address” in order to distribute the message and a beheading video, the source said.

In the department of Seine-et-Marne, to the east of the French capital, a secondary school received a message saying that explosives had been hidden throughout the establishment “in the name of Allah”, a police source said.

The latest threats follow a flurry of false bomb alerts targeted schools, airport and tourist sites in autumn 2023.

In October, a radicalised Islamist stabbed a former teacher to death in the northern town of Arras.

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal was set to chair a meeting on school security on Thursday.

AFP

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No going back until perpetrators are arrested -GOC

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No going back until perpetrators are arrested -GOC

Troops from the Defence Headquarters currently carrying out a manhunt for one Endurance Okodeh, alias Amangben, the prime suspect, and others involved in the killings of 17 soldiers and some civilians at Okuama, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State will continue to be in the creeks.

They will remain there until the recovery of all weapons stolen by the perpetrators of the crime and also the arrest of all those involved.

The General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army/Land Component Commander, Joint Task Force, South-South, Operation DELTA STATE, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, disclosed this on Thursday while hosting the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, who paid him a condolence visit at the Division’s Headquarters in Port Harcourt Barracks.

The GOC assured all that the troops conducting operations over the murder of officers and soldiers at Okuama community would “be firm, strong, decisive, and professional in the cause of the operations in the general area.”

Abdussalam, while appreciating the NDDC Managing Director and his team for the visit, reiterated that “no amount of propaganda, arm-twisting, blackmailing, intimidation and false narratives would distract troops from staying on course to achieve their objectives”.

He said, “The mission handed to troops by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, is basically to recover the weapons carted away by the perpetrators of this heinous crime and ensure that all those involved are arrested.

“Troops will continue to be in the creeks until these objectives are achieved.”

The GOC however assured all that “the operations would be conducted in the most professional manner in line with the global best practice of adherence to rules of engagement and respect for the fundamental human rights of the citizenry”.

He appealed to people and communities to assist troops regarding the location of the fleeing suspects and the stolen weapons.

He urged the public to avail the Nigeria Army credible intelligence on where to get the criminals and ensure they answer for their crimes.

While calling on people of the Niger Delta region to go about their normal activities, Abdussalam maintained that “troops will not rest until all those involved are tracked down to account for their deeds.”

He reassured all that the operation is being conducted in such a way that, going forward, nobody would contemplate attacking men in uniform.

He also stressed that “false narratives being churned out, and propaganda peddled over this mindless criminality  would not deter troops from fishing out the criminals”.

He emphasised that “the Armed Forces of Nigeria is the symbol of our sovereignty”, stressing that “the Commander-in-Chief, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu captured it succinctly when he said an attack on our Armed Forces is an attack on our nation”.

The GOC appreciated the MD and his team for identifying with the NA at this moment of grief saying that “there would not be development without peace and security, thus, the two institutions would continue to work together for the common good of society”.

Earlier, the Managing Director of NDDC, Ogbuku, while commiserating with the GOC, said that “without peace in the Niger Delta region, there would not be development.”

He averred that the Niger Delta region has been peaceful for some time, owing to the sacrifices of officers and men of the Armed Forces of Nigeria submitting, however, that the sad event that occurred in Okuama has called for concern.

This, according to him, informed the reason he led his management team on a condolence visit to the Division, as they stand in solidarity with the NA over the gruesome murder of officers and soldiers.

Ogbuku said that “this unfortunate incident didn’t define the people of the Niger Delta region” as, according to him, for years now, the people of the region have embraced peace and dialogue.

He further said that no one  in the region is in support of this mindless act of criminality because the region has been relatively calm and remains the bedrock of the national economy.

The NDDC boss called on all stakeholders to calm and support the Nigeria Army to fish out the perpetrators of the act saying “this is the only way justice would be served, particularly to those who paid the supreme price”.

Son’s goal not enough as Thailand hold South

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Son’s goal not enough as Thailand hold South

Son Heung-min scored but South Korea were held 1-1 at home by Thailand in a World Cup qualifier on Thursday in their first match since the sacking of Jurgen Klinsmann.

It was also the first game since revelations about a bust-up between skipper Son and Paris Saint-Germain’s Lee Kang-in at the Asian Cup, where South Korea lost 2-0 to Jordan in the last four.

Son was left with a dislocated finger in the fracas at their team hotel in Qatar on the eve of the semi-final.

Lee started on the bench on Thursday but came on soon after Thailand grabbed a shock equaliser in Seoul, with Suphanat Mueanta firing in from close range just after the hour in the World Cup qualifier.

Despite the stalemate, South Korea are still on course to reach the next stage of qualifying for 2026 and sit top of their group with seven points from three matches.

With under-23 coach Hwang Sun-hong taking temporary charge following the dismissal as coach of the German Klinsmann, the hosts took the lead three minutes before half-time.

Spurs attacker Son inevitably scored it, turning in from close range to put South Korea on the way to a third qualifying win from as many games.

A capacity crowd at the 66,000-seater Seoul World Cup Stadium was stunned into silence on 61 minutes when Suphanat was on hand and onside to rifle past exposed goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo.

South Korea had several chances to score the winner, but they failed to take them against an increasingly overworked Thailand defence.

The two sides meet again on Tuesday in Bangkok.

AFP

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So This Happened (239) reviews Delta bloodbath, prevalence of rape, others

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So This Happened (239) reviews Delta bloodbath, prevalence of rape, others

So This Happened reviews the Delta bloodbath which led to the death of 16 soldiers, including senior officers of the Nigerian Army last week.

Our nation is made up of millions of individuals, each playing a crucial role in the defense of our country. Among these individuals, our soldiers stand out as the finest, bravely putting their lives on the line to protect what we hold dear. But something quite disheartening has happened!

The communities of Okuama in the Ughelli South Local Government Area and Okolaba in the Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State were thrown into chaos on Friday as soldiers descended upon the area, setting houses ablaze in retaliation for the brutal killing of 16 soldiers, including senior officers. The soldiers took over the area, forcing many residents to flee for their lives.

It is absolutely appalling that Nigerian universities are still plagued by strikes and unpaid salaries. How does it seem that we continue to get everything wrong in the country, especially when it comes to education? I thought we had moved past this point of incompetence and neglect. The National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, has criticized the Federal Government for its failure to pay the four months’ withheld salaries of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational Associated Institutions.

The prevalence of rape in society is a chilling reality that cannot be ignored. It is a crime that knows no boundaries, affecting individuals of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. The fear of rape can permeate every aspect of a person’s life, leading to feelings of helplessness and vulnerability. The Rivers State Police Command has reported the arrest of a 16-year-old boy for the heinous crime of raping his 11-year-old female schoolmate on the school premises in Port Harcourt.

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NFIU confirms According report on 15 terrorism financiers

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NFIU confirms According report on 15 terrorism financiers

The Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit has confirmed an exclusive report by The According on the designation of 15 entities, including nine individuals and six Bureau De Change firms that have been sanctioned over alleged terrorism financing.

The According had on Wednesday, March 20, reported that following the directive of the Federal Government, the Nigerian Sanctions Committee on Monday, March 18, revealed the identities of the 15 indicted entities.

Confirming According’s report to journalists on Thursday, the spokesperson for the NFIU, Sani Tukur, noted that the designations were approved by President Bola Tinubu and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi.

Tukur said, “I just want to provide an update and context to the issue of designation of terrorism financiers. It wasn’t actually a statement from the NFIU but a release by the Nigerian Sanctions Committee. However, the NFIU is the secretariat of the committee, hence the email that was used by the committee to send to its subscribers.

“It is a requirement that once analysis is done and persons and entities are designated as financiers, such is published on the website of the Sanctions Committee immediately. Once it is so published, all subscribers will receive it in their email boxes. It so happens that only Sanusi from The According has subscribed to the list, and that is why he received it immediately after it was published.

“The procedure for the designation is such that once persons are determined to be financiers, the list is sent to the President for approval through the Attorney General of the Federation.

“Before persons and entities are so designated, a meeting of the National Sanctions Committee is held at the Attorney General’s office and decisions taken there.

“The NFIU email was used to send to subscribers because the NFIU is the secretariat of the Sanctions Committee. The recent designation information was sent to over 9,000 recipients, of which Sanusi happens to be the only journalist who received it due to his subscription status.”

Earlier, The According reported that the nine individuals under sanctions are

1. Tukur Mamu

2. Yusuf Ghazali

3. Muhammad Sani

4. Abubakar Muhammad

5. Sallamudeen Hassan

6. Adamu Ishak

7. Hassana-Oyiza Isah

8. Abdulkareem Musa,

9. Umar Abdullahi

While the six BDCs and firms are

10. West and East Africa General Trading Company Limited

11. Settings Bureau De Change Limited

12. G. Side General Enterprises

13. Desert Exchange Ventures Limited

14. Eagle Square General Trading Company Limited

15. Alfa Exchange BDC

Details of the development were revealed by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, in an email sent to our correspondent on Tuesday night, entitled “Designation of Individuals and Entities for March 18, 2024.”

The document revealed that the Nigeria Sanctions Committee met on March 18, 2024, where specific individuals and entities were recommended for sanction following their involvement in terrorism financing.

“The Honourable Attorney General of the Federation, with the approval of the President, has thereupon designated the following individuals and entities to be listed on the Nigeria Sanctions List,” the document read in part.

Top of the list of individuals named in the document was a Kaduna-based publisher, Tukur Mamu, who is currently being tried by the Federal Government for allegedly aiding the terrorists who attacked the Abuja-Kaduna train in March 2022.

According to the document, Mamu “participated in the financing of terrorism by receiving and delivering ransome payments over the sum of $200,000 US in support of ISWAP terrorists for the release of hostages of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack.”

Kerosene price hit N1,340 per litre in February – NBS

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Kerosene price hit N1,340 per litre in February – NBS

The National Bureau of Statistics says the average retail kerosene price of a litre increased from N1,329 recorded in January 2024 to N1,340 in February 2024.

The bureau said this in its Petrol Price Watch for February 2024, released in Abuja on Thursday.

It said the February price of N1,340 represented a 0.86 per cent increase compared to what was obtained in January.

The bureau said the average price per litre of kerosene increased on a year-on-year basis by 14.23 per cent from N1,173 recorded in February 2023 to N1,340 in February 2024.

On state profile analysis, the report showed that Kaduna recorded the highest average price of N1,866 per litre of kerosene in February, followed by Benue at N1,769 and Niger at N1,710.

“On the other hand, the lowest price was recorded in Bayelsa at N971.00, followed by Rivers at N1,065 and Kwara at N1,070,” the report read.

The NBS said the analysis further showed that the North-Central recorded the highest average retail price per litre at N1,486, followed by the North-East at N1,387.

It said the South-South recorded the lowest average retail price per litre of kerosene at N1,231.

The report said the average retail price per gallon of kerosene paid by consumers in February 2024 was N4,880, indicating a 0.19 per cent increase from N4,870 recorded in January 2024.

“On a year-on-year basis, the average price per gallon of kerosene increased by 24.29 per cent from N3,926 recorded in February 2023.

On state profile analysis, it showed that Adamawa recorded the highest average retail price at N6,092 per gallon of kerosene, followed by Bauchi at N5,910 and Kano at N5,779.

On the other hand, the report said Delta recorded the lowest price at N4,025, followed by Abuja and Ondo at N4,250 and N4,400, respectively.

Analysis by zone showed that the North-East recorded the highest average price per gallon of kerosene at N5,553, followed by the North-West at N5,072.

“The South-East recorded the lowest average price per gallon of kerosene at N4,518,” the NBS said.

(NAN)

We must avenge their deaths, soldier speaks on colleagues killed in Delta

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We must avenge their deaths, soldier speaks on colleagues killed in Delta

A Nigerian soldier, identified as Egitanghan G, has expressed his desire to be part of any operation seeking to avenge the deaths of the military personnel who were killed during a peace keeping mission in Delta State last week.

The soldier, who claims to be from Delta State, expressed outrage over what he called “rubbish comments” made about the deceased soldiers.

He highlighted his own experience fighting for his country and emphasized the sacrifices soldiers make to protect their homeland.

In a video posted on his TikTok handle on Wednesday, he said in pidgin English, “This message na for my Niger Delta brothers.

“When I dey read the comments about the things wey dem talk about our soldiers wey die for Delta State, na cry I dey cry because me na Delta boy.

“I know the things wey I dey face for this country. I don go Maiduguri spend four years, fight. I know how many Maiduguri soldiers wey come from Maiduguri wey die for their state to protect their land. I know how many Katsina people wey come from Katsina wey die for Katsina.

“But una get mind kill our soldiers for Delta State and all the South South people dey comment rubbish comment. They say whether soldiers wey die for North, whether them dey put them online?

“We no fit forgive anybody wey kill frontline soldiers. We must avenge their death. Even me wey be Qarri boy, I pray make I dey among the operation.

“Una dey forget say those that live in glass house do not throw stone abi? If oil touch one hand, e go affect the other hand. As una don price, una must collect.

“Una forget say these soldiers get wife, get family, get mama wey dey pray for them as them dey protect the country.

“We do good things to the good people and bad things to the bad people.”

According reports that a Nigerian Army commander, three officers, and 12 soldiers who were killed in Delta State last Thursday.

The fallen soldiers, serving with the 181 Amphibious Battalion, were on a peace-keeping mission to quell community clashes in Bomadi Local Government of Delta State when the incident occurred.

It was also reported that some of the recovered corpses had their heads severed off, while the stomachs of others were ripped off with some of the vital organs missing.

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