While we all enjoy a binge watch session of a TV show we are obsessed about, we all know that the effects of staying up late watching the tv aren’t that great.
Watching television late at night can disturb your sleep, you will be tired in the morning and now, according to a new study, it can also lower sperm count in men.
A Danish study looked at 104 couples who had been trying to conceive for two years, with the average age of the men participants being 34.
It found that those who stay up late, whether it’s binge watching TV shows or playing video games, have a much lower count that men who go to bed early.
According to the study, an hour can really make a difference – men in bed by 10.30pm had four times better sperm quality than those staying up after 11.30pm.
However, it’s really all about how much sleep they get – guys who get 7.5 to 8 hours of sleep each night have a normal sperm count and many (not all) find it easier to conceive.
Professor Hans Jakob Ingerslev, co-author of the study from Aarhus University, said:
“These were men who had been trying to have a baby for about two years and an early bedtime was likely to be important because it allowed them to get more sleep.”
Meanwhile, a gynaecologist at Manchester University NHS Trust said:
“They should think about what is keeping them up and try to change their habits, whether it’s binge-watching Netflix or sending emails.
“Going to bed earlier with their partner may also increase their opportunity for sex, improving their chances of success further.”
Amid allegations of rape levelled against its Senior Pastor, Biodun Fatoyinbo, the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly has declared seven days of fasting starting from Monday (today).
This comes as protesters vowed to continue to demand justice following allegations by Busola Dakolo, wife of popular musician, Timi Dakolo, that Fatoyinbo raped her 20 years ago.
Addressing the congregation on Sunday, Fatoyinbo said the yearly special programme titled, ‘Seven Days of Glory,’ which usually takes place from July 1 to July 7, had been suspended.
The programme had in the past attracted international preachers like Creflo Dollar and Bishop T.D. Jakes.
However, Fatoyinbo, who claimed to be speaking under the instruction of God, said the programme had to be cancelled because he did not want the invited preachers to go through the embarrassment of being heckled by protesters.
Fatoyinbo added, “We will have prayers for those who are interested in coming but we are not going to have the seven days of glory. It has been suspended because I don’t want all those kind of stuff.
“So, if you want to pray, come; but the regular seven days of prayer, having preachers come in, you don’t want to put your guest speakers through that. We love to host people properly.”
His speech was greeted with chants of ‘we love you pastor’ from worshippers.
In a prayer that ensued, he added, “As we start our fasting, even though we are not doing the seven days of glory (programme), those of you who are led to come and pray here, as you come, the Lord will lift you up.”
Shortly after Fatoyinbo’s speech, his wife, Modele, attested to the integrity of her husband, insisting that he was not a rapist.
Mrs Fatoyinbo said, “Not even as an unbeliever would my husband rape someone. Hello, let me talk, please, not even as an unbeliever…”
However, her husband grabbed the microphone from her, saying, “The elders are stepping into it, please let them handle it.”
Earlier, the church, which usually begins its sermon at 10am, held a session of testimonies by female members, apparently with the aim of rubbishing allegations that Fatoyinbo was a rapist.
About seven women came out one after another to share their ‘COZA experience’.
The women all claimed that their lives had hit rock bottom but God used Fatoyinbo to save them from destruction.
While Fatoyinbo was being eulogised inside the church auditorium, he was being heckled by protesters outside.
The protesters, mainly women, demanded justice and asked for the pastor to step down.
The #ChurchToo Movement, a group of at least 126 civil society organisations and individuals, which organised the protest, marched to the front of the church around 9.30am clad in white T-shirts and holding placards that read, ‘We are watching you,’ ‘Your pastor is not your God,’ ‘Thou shall not rape’ and ‘No to sexual abuse in my church,’ among others.
At the scene of the protest, COZA protocol officers formed a barricade against the protesters as officers of the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps accosted protesters and journalists who tried to intercept the barricade.
A convener of #ChurchTooMovement, Bukky Shonibare, said, “We demand that the board and leadership of COZA commence investigation into the allegation of rape levelled by Busola Dakolo and any other member of the church against its lead pastor, Biodun Fatoyinbo.
“While the investigation is being carried out, Pastor Fatoyinbo must be asked to step down from any leadership role in the church.
CAN Reacts To Rape Allegations
“The Christian Association of Nigeria, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and other relevant Christian bodies must show leadership by condemning this crime coming from the church. The continuous harassment and intimidation of Busola and Timi Dakolo, and other victims must stop forthwith.”
She said in the coming days, the group would take its protest to relevant bodies to show that rape and other forms of sexual abuse would no longer be tolerated.
A mild drama, however, ensued while the protest was ongoing as supporters of Fatoyinbo emerged with placards that read, ‘We love Pastor Fatoyinbo’ and ‘Biodun is a great man,’ among others.
Our correspondent observed that some of them accepted N500 each from a #ChurchTooMovement protester to surrender their placards before other Fatoyinbo supporters rejected the amount they were offered.
About two protesters were said to have been arrested by the DSS around 8am before the main demonstration began but their identities remained unknown as of press time.
In a related development, human rights advocacy group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, condemned the alleged harassment and arrest of anti-rape activists who protested outside COZA, Abuja.
SERAP’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, in a statement on Sunday urged the security agencies to release those arrested unconditionally.
In the wake of the heavy outrage against Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly, COZA, over alleged rape and molestation of women, another woman has surfaced levelling similar allegation against the general overseer of the Synagogue Church of All Nations SCOAN, Prophet T.B Joshua.
It is no longer news that Busola, wife of singer Timi Dakolo, came out last week with revelations of how she was allegedly raped by Pastor Biodun.
Although, the pastor had since denied raping anyone in his lifetime, “even as an unbeliever”, there were mass protests in several locations of COZA on Sunday with members and non member calling for his resignation.
However, the woman, who was on a protest in support of Busola, made claims that Prophet T.B Joshua trapped her in his church for 14 years and raped her. She showed a book which she claimed contained evidence against the cleric in case he denied.
In a viral video, the woman said she was trapped in the church for 14 years before the Lord set her free.
According to her, “This is not the time for make up, this is the time to address. I am also talking on behalf of other young girls that are still in the captivity of TB Joshua. 8-years-old, 14-years-old and 11-years-old are still there.
“Yes, I can say it, because they have money, connections, they can put people down. Enough is enough, if he thinks I am lying, he can contest it in court.”
The United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), Nigeria Program, has honoured the Director General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr. Sani Aliyu and 15 other heroes of HIV response in Nigeria.
The award ceremony held in Abuja recently to honour the 16 distinguished men and women that have made significant contributions to the HIV epidemic control in Nigeria, was part of the commemoration of PEPFAR’s 15th anniversary.
The awardees, drawn from People Living with HIV (PLWH), civil society, government, and private citizens, are all persons who have made sacrifices and committed themselves to serve those affected by HIV and AIDS.
Sharing her thoughts, the Director of Media, NACA, Mrs. Toyin Aderibigbe said “In the face of the epidemic, they have provided outstanding leadership, fought against the stigma and discrimination that impedes HIV service uptake, offered innovations, has made great sacrifices for the greater good.
“Dr. Aliyu has given special attention to empowering and engaging with PLWH, vulnerable women and girls, key populations, adolescent and young people and has strived to ensure that the civil society and faith-based responses are better coordinated and supported.
“PEPFAR’s support to Nigeria revolutionised and accelerated the delivery of services over the past 15 years, extending a lifeline to people in need, building capacity, strengthening Nigeria’s health systems and leaving a legacy in the heart of many people.
“Nigeria’s HIV/AIDS response today has a renewed focus and has made significant progress, with more than 1.1 million people on treatment and a programme of sustained investment to expand the treatment programme and remove barriers to treatment and prevention for all Nigerians.
“American generosity, the work of PEPFAR and its partners, and the heroism of the awardees that has saved millions of lives, averted millions of new infections, and changed the course of the AIDS epidemic in Nigeria is appreciated and commendable.
“Abdulkadir Ibrahim, National Coordinator of the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN) is noted. The generosity of PEPFAR, and the sacrifices of people working to change the course of HIV in Nigeria is an enduring legacy cherished by all,” she said.
For Aliyu, there is no better way to appreciate PEPFAR’s assistance to the country in the control of HIV/AIDS and celebrate the heroes of the response than to demonstrate government commitment to putting more people on treatment, keeping them alive, healthy and productive and ultimately end AIDS in the country.
The Co-ordinator, Association of Women Living with HIV in Nigeria (ASHWAN), Assumpta Reginald, National, said: “I celebrate Dr Aliyu for his vision and the breath of fresh air that he brought to the National HIV response. With him, we will surely get to the next the mile and end AIDS in Nigeria.”
Other beneficiaries of the award are National Coordinator, ASHWAN/ Regional Director ICW-WA, Mrs Ukam Reginald Assumpta; Pioneer National Coordinator, NEPWHAN, Dr Patrick Olabiyi Matemilola; former National Coordinator, NEPWHAN, Mr. Victor Olaore Omoshehin; Executive Director, Society of Women & Children Living with HIV Abuja, Mrs. Lucy Attah Enyia; Activist/Initiator of Sex Workers Association, Mr. Alban Anonyuo; Independent journalist and researcher, Ms. Tobore Ovuorie; Founder, Kishimi Shelter & Care Foundation, Mrs. Samuel, Grace Ton; and HIV Expert, Researcher & Director, Board of IHVN, U.S.A, Dr William Blattner.
Others are MWO Musa Emmanuel (retired), Major General Ogbonnaya Simon Njoku (retired), Major General Tahir Umar (retired), Major General Life Ajemba (retired), Brigadier General Nurudeen Ayoola Hussain (retired), Professor Babatunde Osotimehin, former Director General NACA/Minister of Health and Executive Director of UNFPA — Posthumous, and former Director General of NACA, Prof. John Idoko.
A flat in Dagenham has been recovered as part of a National Crime Agency civil recovery investigation into a man believed to be a drug dealer and fraudster.
Mkpa Oju Uka, aged 50, from Essex, claimed the flat, worth around £310,000, had been bought with the profits of a second-hand clothes business, but investigators alleged it was paid for using the proceeds of drug sales and mortgage fraud.
The claim, which was brought back in April 2018, has taken more than a year to resolve due to Uka repeatedly using delaying tactics, such as not complying with court directions, to hinder the progress of the case.
A court order was obtained last week at a hearing in the High Court before the Hon. Mr. Justice Jay to recover the flat under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
The NCA is seeking to recover a second property linked to this case later this year.
Andy Lewis, Head of Asset Denial at the NCA, said: “The defendant thought that delaying tactics would stop us pursuing this case, but we were persistent and in the end successful in recovering property we believe was obtained as a result of criminal activity.
“We will continue our work to identify and prosecute those linked to economic and financial crime, and take away their illicit assets using all the tools available to us.”
Sarah Pritchard, Director of the National Economic Crime Centre said: “This is a great result and demonstrates our firm commitment to tackling illicit finance in the UK.
“We will continue to target wealth we believe has been illegally obtained regardless of where and how it is hidden.”
Researchers in Australia have found evidence that young people appear to be increasingly growing bony protrusions at the base of their skulls, right above the neck.
Examining 1,200 X-ray images of adult Australians, the researchers found that 41 percent of those between 18 and 30 had developed these bone spurs, which is 8 percent more than the overall average.
Some were only 10 millimetres long (0.4 inches) and barely noticeable, while others were up to 30 mm in length (1.1 inches), as the scientists described in their 2018 study.
Lead author David Shahar, a health scientist at the University of The Sunshine Coast, recently told the BBC
that he has been a clinician for 20 years, and only in the last decade, increasingly he has been discovering that his patients have this growth on the skull,”
The growths are happening at a very particular spot of the skull: right at the lower back part of our heads we have a large plate known as the occipital bone, and towards its middle is a slight bump called the external occipital protuberance (EOP), where some of the neck ligaments and muscles are attached.
Because it’s an attachment site, the location of the EOP is technically an enthesis. These places in our skeletons can be prone to the development of spiky bone growths called enthesophytes, typically in response to mechanical stress – for example, additional muscle strain.
As Shahar and his colleague Mark Sayers’s data indicate, there’s a prevalence of EOPs growing longer in young people.
Other studies have noted that 68 percent of staff and students report neck pain after using mobile devices for, on average, 4.65 hours a day. Bad posture, of course, is nothing new, but this is significantly more time than we humans used to spend craning over a book or writing in our diaries just a few decades ago.
To be clear, these elongated EOPs are not necessarily harmful in their own right, but they could be a symptom of a larger problem. The ways in which our bodies compensate for poor posture could put added stress on certain joints and muscles, increasing our chances for injury or musculoskeletal issues in the future.
“Although the “tablet revolution” is fully and effectively entrenched in our daily activities, we must be reminded that these devices are only a decade old and it may be that related symptomatic disorders are only now emerging,” the authors conclude.
“Our results suggest that the younger age group in our study have experienced postural loads that are atypical throughout the other tested age groups.”
Staying happy and healthy this rainy season takes more effort than you think: We can’t just sing ‘rain, rain go away’ to shun the heavy downpours these days.
We have to prepare and protect our health and those of our loved ones, what with work and school in full gear.
Here are some clever ways to stay dry, safe and healthy now that the rainy season is upon us:
1. Always carry an umbrella
Getting wet from a sudden downpour can cause a sudden change in your body temperature that may lead to fever and colds. To avoid getting sick, don’t forget to bring your umbrella with you wherever you go. It’s not only the best rain gear but also a sickness shield against cough, colds or fever when you’re caught up on a rainy day.
2. Keep your nutrition up
Eating healthy food is the cheapest way to protect you from sickness. You can cook a hot soup to invigorate your body or eat Vitamin C-rich foods to boost your immune system to help repulse flu and infection. A delicious and healthy meal is what makes rainy days a little warmer.
3. Wash your hands thoroughly
To keep you from getting colds, cough, and influenza, regular hand washing is the best way to prevent the spread of viruses and bacteria. Wash your hands properly by lathering soap between your fingers, under your nails and the top of your hands. Then rinse and dry your hands thoroughly too.
4. Drink plenty of water
There’s nothing better than sipping on a warm drink while the rain pours outside. Keep your hydration levels up by drinking 6 to 8 cups of water a day with a squeeze of lemon. Warm water gets your blood circulation going, which leads to a strong immune system that can protect you against getting infections and allergies.
5. Avoid rush hour commutes
Heavy rains with possible flooding can make commuting more difficult. If you have the chance to avoid hours when congestion is at its peak, do so. Avoid the hassle and the possibility of getting stuck in a downpour, leave earlier in the morning, or talk to your boss about your schedule adjustment.
6. Have some backup clothes ready
Since it’s easy to get wet during rainy days, walking around with your wet clothes is like inviting a virus into your body resulting in a fever and common cold. Prevent this by stashing away a pair of extra clothes at the office or at your gym during rainy days.
7. Keep up with weather updates
Stay up-to-date with the latest news and weather forecast which you can monitor not only on the radio and TV but also on social networking sites. Follow accounts that share useful information about weather and traffic updates, which might help you to get rid away from flooded areas and find alternate routes.
Nigerian Afro-soul superstar, Asa Elemide has released a new single titled ‘Good Thing’.
The singer took to her Instagram handle @asoofficial to announce the drop of her new song, her second album this year.
The lyric of the new single which bragged on the loss of an ex-lover, also emphasised on how her ex lost a “good thing” in her and what she stands for.
The song was a follow up to her comeback song ‘The Beginning’ which she released some weeks back.
Aṣa’s music influence grew from her father’s music collection built up for his work as a cinematographer, with records featuring American, Nigerian and African soul classics such as Marvin Gaye, Fela Kuti, Bob Marley, Sunny Ade, Diana Ross, Miriam Makeba.
She won the prestigious French Constant in Award in 2008, where she was voted best fresh talent of 10 singers in Paris.
Other albums released include: Beautiful Imperfection in collaboration with a French composer Nicolas Mollard, “Bed of Stone’’ released in August 2014 and the singer went on a world tour from 2015 to 2017.
A Nollywood writer, actor and director, Kagho Harley Akpor, has reportedly drowned in a swimming pool at a popular hotel in Asaba, Delta State.
Although the details of the incident were still sketchy as of press time, according to multiple reports, Akpor was at a location shooting a movie with other crew members when he fell into the pool and drowned as a result of lack of swimming skills.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Adeleke Adeyinka, who confirmed the incident on Tuesday, however, said he could not give details. Adeleke said contrary to rumours, the deceased was not at a movie location when he drowned, but simply went to the swimming pool for other reasons.
David Adeleke, award-winning Afrobeat star better known as Davido, has officially launched a mobile gaming application dubbed ’30 BG Money Run Jungle’.
The singer took to his Instagram account an hour ago to announce that his game is officially out and millions of naira will be given away for the next one week.
Here is all you need to do below:
Go to @30bgmoneyrungame follow and click the link in the bio to download the Game
Take a screenshot
Post and tag #30BGMoneyRun. There will be draws on IG every day at 6pm West African time to pick winners at random.
Each winner gets 10k naira just for downloading
Let’s RUN for the Money!!! (for apple users it would be available soon )
A statement on the app’s official social media page shows that ’30 BG Money Run Jungle’ is currently available for only Android smartphone users subscribed to MTN network.
“The Game You have been waiting for…Yes! there is cash to be won in the game. Run for 30 BILLION!!!!,” it wrote.
One of the e-posters promoting the game launch featured an avatar that shares a striking resemblance with the ‘If’ singer, donning the ‘OBO” signature neck-chain.
The gifted music star also revealed that plans are underway to release an IOS compatible version of the application.
He had earlier hinted fans about the launch.
“Who’s ready???? Can’t believe I’m about to have an actual GAME!!!,” Davido wrote.
It appears the Afrobeat star is keen on dabbling into more tasking business ventures surpassing the familiar boundaries of his music career.
Merging technology with entertainment to design a gaming platform is an innovative effort in the history of Nigerian celebrities.
He should surely be applauded for being a pacesetter.
