Thousands of people from nearly all 50 U.S states have continued to flood hospital emergency rooms in recent weeks due to widespread outbreaks of flu-like symptoms. And because many of these people have already been vaccinated for the flu this season, the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is basically having to admit that the flu shot is not nearly as effective as we have all been told it is – but be sure to get it anyway (they continually say).

Hosts South Africa and debutants Cape Verde Islands reached the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals after a dramatic finale to Group A on Sunday.

The search for an improved malaria test has received a boost as scientists from the University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin have developed a method for detecting malaria parasites in mosquito vectors that could help yield better estimates of malaria transmission intensity in different settings.

A new study has found strong evidence for a link between cleaning jobs and risk of developing asthma. Researchers at Imperial College London tracked the occurrence of asthma in a group of 9,488 people born in Britain in 1958.

A simple, inexpensive blood test performed on trauma patients upon admission can help doctors easily identify patients at greatest risk of death, according to a new study by researchers at Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City. The Intermountain Medical Center research study of more than 9,500 patients discovered that some trauma patients are up to 58 times more likely to die than others, regardless of the severity of their original injuries.

– Turkish top flight club Galatasaray have reached agreement on an 18-month contract for Ivory Coast veteran striker Didier Drogba, TRT television reported Sunday, quoting a source close to the club.

For the first time since the history of black history month, Nigeria as a country will this year official identify with this important black celebration, courtesy of the Lagos Theatre Association. The Black History Month is a month set aside to remember all important people in the history of Africa and the entire black world. The occasion also celebrates the important events like the infamous slave trade that ravaged the black world for centuries. The event was first celebrated at Kent State University in February 1970 .

Royal Exchange General Insurance Company, (REGIC), said it has paid out N1.58 billion as claims settlements to its clients at the end of the 3rd quarter, 2012.

The Volume 11 of the newly promulgated Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations ,NCARs, has been introduced by the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority,NCAA , Dr Harold Demuren. The new NCARs Vol 11 covers the Aerodrome and Consumers Rights.

The Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, maintained its upward trend last week as value of listed equities (market capitalisation) rose by N209.93 billion.

All through the remarkable literary career of Professor JP Clark (the First African writer to be appointed professor of English), the centrality of his plays has always been the relevance of the culture of his own people. Clark, the man of memorable electrifying verses, the man who vomits poetry naturally without conscious effort, deserves all the accolades in the world for beaming the beauty of the Ijaw culture to the world. Clark skillfully makes a break from this his universally acknowledged cultural zone when his play The Wives’ Revolt emerged in the literary scene after many years of hibernation in Kiagbodo where his MUSE supposedly dwells.

The newly appointed Executive Direrctor Global Fund – Mark Dybul has taken charge with a pledge to accelerate efforts to defeat the three highly infectious diseases – AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis by working closely with partners.

Kebbi State government has approved the release of N2.5 billion for the construction of 400 housing units in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital and Dakingari town.

Delta State government is working with Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) to build owner-occupier housing estates for civil servants in the state.

IN its commendable strive to discharge its social responsibility, Vanguard Newspaper in conjunction with the Nigeria Police recently organised a National Summit on Security Challenges in Nigeria at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.