Lifestyle

In Spain, brotherhood set up by slaves marches at Easter

For centuries, African slaves and emancipated men marched in Seville's Easter parades, carrying statues of Christ and the Virgin on their shoulders as part of a unique brotherhood that remains active today.. What's unique about this brotherhood is that it emerged in the late 14th century, made up of Africans -- both slaves and freedmen -- who were barred from similar organisations, says Isidoro Moreno, a retired anthropologist from Seville University.

Fri, Apr 7, 2023 3 mins read

Lifestyle

Contenders face off for world chess title without top-ranked Carlsen

Russia's Ian Nepomniachtchi and China's Ding Liren begin battling it out Sunday to become chess world champion after top-ranked Magnus Carlsen, considered one of the best players of all time, opted not to defend his title.. As well as being the two top-ranked players after Carlsen, Nepomniachtchi and Ding qualified first and second respectively in last year's qualifiers match between eight of the world's top players.

Fri, Apr 7, 2023 3 mins read

Lifestyle

Philippines holds bloody crucifixions, whippings on Good Friday

Catholic zealots were nailed to wooden crosses while others whipped their backs bloody and raw in gruesome displays of religious devotion on Good Friday in the Philippines.. Ruben Enaje, who has been nailed to the cross more than 30 times in the past, said he would be back again next year if his body stayed healthy.

Fri, Apr 7, 2023 2 mins read

Lifestyle

Why are animal-to-human diseases on the rise?

From Covid-19 to monkey pox, Mers, Ebola, avian flu, Zika and HIV, diseases transmitted from animals to humans have multiplied in recent years, raising fears of new pandemics.. Some diseases end up becoming specifically human, like Covid-19.

Thu, Apr 6, 2023 2 mins read

Lifestyle

In Mexican jungle, scientists prepare for future pandemics

As night fell in Mexico's Yucatan jungle, veterinarian Omar Garcia extracted blood and fluids from a bat as part of an investigation aimed at preventing the next potential pandemic.. Once caught, blood, fluid and ectoparasite samples -- if they carry them -- are taken.

Thu, Apr 6, 2023 3 mins read

Lifestyle

Nearly a million Sahel children face 'severe wasting', UN says

Nearly a million young children in Africa's Sahel region will face severe acute malnutrition this year amid high food prices, conflict and climate change, UNICEF warned Friday.. "An estimated 970,000 children under 5 from West Africa's three central Sahel countries (Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger) will face severe wasting this year", the UN children's agency said in a statement.

Thu, Apr 6, 2023 1 mins read

Lifestyle

Amazon Indigenous lands prevent disease, save billions: study

Protected Indigenous reservations in the Amazon rainforest absorb thousands of tonnes of airborne pollution each year, saving around $2 billion annually in healthcare costs for treating respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, according to a study published Thursday.. By protecting their own lands against such fires -- often set by land-grabbers, cattle ranchers and others encroaching on the forest -- and instead saving pollution-absorbing trees, Amazon Indigenous peoples help prevent thousands of cases of potentially deadly diseases, found the study, published in the journal Communications, Earth & Environment.

Thu, Apr 6, 2023 1 mins read

Lifestyle

Amazon forests save $2bn in pollution healthcare: study

Rainforests on Indigenous lands in Brazil's Amazon protect millions of people from heart and lung diseases by absorbing pollution and save $2 billion a year in healthcare costs, researchers said in a study published Thursday, urging increased protection against deforestation.. Combined analysis of 10 years of data on disease, forest cover and pollution found that each hectare of forest burned generates health costs of $2 million (1.8 million euros) a year due to lung and heart infections, they said.

Thu, Apr 6, 2023 1 mins read

Lifestyle

Britain finding a soft spot for homemade Brie and Camembert

"I never thought it would be as big as this," says Stacey Hedges of her booming French-style cheese business, as another lorryload leaves the green Hampshire countryside for some of Britain's finest restaurants.. Former chef Hedges founded the Hampshire Cheese Company in 2005 and started producing Tunworth, a Camembert-style handmade cheese.

Thu, Apr 6, 2023 3 mins read

Lifestyle

'Unbearable': Vietnam airport construction dust blankets homes, school

A thick layer of dust from the construction of a huge airport in Vietnam has been blanketing nearby neighbourhoods for months, staining everything from trees to homes to schoolchildren's uniforms a sickly shade of red.. A thick coating of dust could be seen in the yard of local schools, while pictures on state media showed textbooks, classrooms and children's uniforms had turned red after a school day.

Thu, Apr 6, 2023 2 mins read