Study: Blood test may find if pregnant women are at risk of premature births

A study published in the journal Science revealed that blood tests can accurately identify if pregnant women will deliver babies up to two months prematurely. The blood biomarkers, maternal blood could also estimate gestational age or delivery date with comparable accuracy to ultrasound, but possibly at lower cost, according to the study funded by March of Dimes, a New York-based nonprofit organization that works to improve the health of mothers and babies. Biomarkers are a naturally occurring molecule, gene, or characteristic by which a particular pathological or physiological process, disease,…

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South Africa’s Jacob Zuma makes second court appearance on corruption charges

Former South African President Jacob Zuma, who was ousted by his own party in February, arrived at the Durban High Court on Friday for his second appearance on corruption charges relating to a $2.5 billion arms deal in the late 1990s. Zuma faces 16 charges of fraud, racketeering and money laundering relating to the deal to buy European military hardware to upgrade South Africa’s armed forces after the end of apartheid in 1994. State prosecutors and Zuma’s lawyers are expected to argue over a start date for the trial, a…

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Senators want 1993 election results declared

The Senate has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for honouring the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1999, presidential election, the late Chief MKO Abiola and his running mate, Babagana Kingibe. President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, particularly stated that the recognition was long overdue. While backing the declaration of June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day, some senators urged Buhari to take a step further by making the date a national holiday. They also urged the President to order the Independent National Electoral Commission to announce the results of the election,…

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Lionel Messi wants Neymar back at Barcelona

Lionel Messi says he would “love it” if Neymar returned to Barcelona, and believes Antoine Griezmann would make a great team-mate too. Brazil international Neymar left the Nou Camp last summer and joined Paris St-Germain for a world record fee of £200m. But less than a year on, there is increasing uncertainty over the striker’s future at the Parc des Princes with Real Madrid and Manchester United both being linked with the player. Messi forged a strong and successful partnership with Neymar at Barcelona and the Argentine is keeping close…

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Buhari: June 12 now Nigeria’s Democracy Day, Abiola gets GCFR

President Muhammadu Buhari in a surprise move Wednesday  declared  June 12 Nigeria’s Democracy Day and also awarded Nigeria’s highest honour, Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, GCFR,  to the late businessman Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, winner of the election held on same date in 1993. The election, adjudged to be the freest and fairest up till that year, in Nigeria’s history was  annulled by the military junta headed by Ibrahim Babangida, plunging Nigeria into a five-year political crisis. Abiola died in 1998 and General Sani Abacha, who was one of the…

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