‘Shapeshifting’ now obvious in animals in response to climate change

The gang-gang cockatoo is one of the species whose bills have been increasing in size as the climate grows hotter. Photograph: William Robinson/Alamy

According to research, animals are increasingly “shapeshifting” because of the climate crisis.

As such, warm-blooded animals are physiologically, getting larger beaks, legs and ears to adapt to a hotter climate and to better regulate their temperature.

With the differences becoming more pronounced as the climate warms, when animals overheat, birds use their beaks and mammals use their ears to disperse the warmth and some creatures in warmer climates have historically evolved to have larger beaks or ears to get rid of heat more easily, the Guardian reports.

According to the report, if animals fail to control their body temperature, they can overheat and die just as  beaks, which are not covered by feathers and therefore not insulated, are a site of significant heat exchange, as are ears, tails and legs in mammals if not covered by fur.

The beak of the mulga parrot (Psephotus varius) has been increasing in size. Photograph: Minden Pictures/Alamy  

The review, published in the journal Trends in Ecology & Evolution, found that the differences are particularly pronounced in birds, according to the report, as the author of the study, Sara Ryding of Deakin University, a bird researcher, said: “Shapeshifting does not mean that animals are coping with climate change and that all is fine.

“It just means they are evolving to survive it – but we’re not sure what the other ecological consequences of these changes are, or indeed that all species are capable of changing and surviving.”

While the scientists say it is difficult to pinpoint climate breakdown as the sole cause of the shapeshifting, it is what the instances studied have in common across geographical regions and across a diverse array of species like the Australian parrot that have shown a 4-10% increase in bill size since 1871, positively correlated with the summer temperature each year, the report stated further.

Miyetti Allah begs Buhari, NASS to stop implementation of anti-open grazing laws by states

Miyetti Allah

FULANI cattle breeders in the country have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly to do anything possible to frustrate anti-open grazing laws being passed by some states across the country, describing the laws as satanic against their age-long tradition, Vanguard Newspaper reports.

According to the report, the cattle breeders operating under the aegis of Miyetti Allah Kauta Hore, expressed concerns over the actions of the states, particularly Southern states, insisting that they were counterproductive to their known economic business.

The group, at a press conference in Abuja, decried the ranching method of rearing cattle as captured in the anti-open grazing laws, noting that: “Ranching as envisage by many requires massive capital investment and difficult to sustain, not economical and is not small livestock holder centered”, the report stated further.

Governor Bello Masari bares it all on Anti-Open Grazing and Ranching Option

Bello Masari, Katsina State Governor

Katsina State Governor, Bello Masari in a live interview on TVC News Politics Today, bares it all on banditry and related insurgencies in Nigeria. See the video below curtsey, TVC News:

Why a lot of people masturbate and how to stop masturbation - Blessing

Okoro Blessing Nkiruka,  a relationship and mental expert in a video on her IG provides all you need to know about masturbation and self control over an act which she considers an addiction. See the video below:

Kotansibe (It's not yet finished)

King OYEYEMI orders the assassination of Chief ABIODUN KOTANSIBE purposely to inherit his farmland, the only fertile piece of land in the community.

Now as Chairman of the farmlands association, Oyeyemi retrenches all the workers and replaces them with his choice personnel, his idea of rotational employment.

Given a very successful retrenchment exercise, Oyeyemi later endorses a sharp price increase of all his farm produce, a development which indirectly shoots up the prices of every other item in the market.

TOP 070921 NEWS SNIPPETS

“When the epistemology of Northern traditional institutions would be written, however, it will be recorded that while Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II, the deposed emir of Kano, thought it more profound and reverential to be called and addressed simply as “Sarkin Kano”, a certain Adanno thought the title had become too debased and common that he needed a higher, more exclusive order of preferment. He wanted to be called sultan instead.

“When mad men under the franchise of Boko Haram or their affiliates maim, murder, rape and destroy in the name of Allah, claiming that if they die, a bevy of brides awaits them at the entrance of paradise, you might expect the spiritual curator of the religion to either keep quiet or admonish such fanatics behind closed doors.

“At least in the religious cauldron that Nigeria has turned out to be. But that’s not the Sultan that Abubakar III is – or has been. He tells the mad men in plain language, which he repeated in a recent meeting I had with him, that: “They’ll go straight to hell!” And he says so publicly, too. That no one can kill in Allah’s name and hope to find shelter in paradise.

Straight A’s across the board for the @cplusseries Sept 2020 lookbook … the revolutionary brand returns to the #NYFW runway one year later - Fashion week

FROM THE IG DESK OF FASHION WEEK

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Sarah Harding Goes Home At 39

(C) Getty Images

Sarah Harding, 39, known for singing with the British pop group Girls Aloud, has died after a battle with breast cancer, her mother said Sunday via an Instagram post.

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A post shared by Sarah Harding (@sarahnicoleharding)

The singer said last August that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and it had spread to other parts of her body, USA Today Life reports.

FG to recover millions of naira paid to 588 doctors

Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige

Nigeria’s Federal Government will recover millions of naira wrongly paid to 588 medical doctors across the country.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, stated this while answering questions from State House correspondents in Abuja.

According to the minister, the affected doctors wrongly benefitted from Medical Residency Training Fund meant for a particular category of doctors.

He said the names of the doctors were uncovered after a thorough scrutinisation of the 8000 names submitted by Chief Medical Directors of Federal Government health institutions for the training programme.

While maintaining that the delay in making the refund by the affected doctors was holding back the Residency Fund payment by the government Ngige, however, revealed that a substantial amount of the money had been refunded by some of the affected doctors while efforts had been intensified to recover the remaining balance.

Kotansibe and Ama Ebony - expected resolutions, earlier delayed but now back on track

Previously, we brought you this information -

"If you have been following KOTANSIBE and AMA EBONY, both of which are story entrants on the stable of Ward9ice on the SEB we do apologize that you may have to wait a bit further to have their resolutions.

The reason for this action is not unconnected with the fact that Ward9ice is making a U-turn from its FULL story telling format to just providing the SYPNOSIS to enable you rack your brains and participate better in the Ward9ice franchise.

The two story entries would be reformatted to fit into Ward9ice’s latest narrative format as stated below:

On this platform Ward9ice will henceforth publish and share with you stories of your fancy in a short, interactive and exciting format to keep you informed, educated and above all, very creative.

As such we would only share with you the story synopsis and allow you then to provide whatever desiring resolutions you think befits the storyline or perhaps, just generally lend a comment to the possible true-life-situation(s) of the story.

Guess what, every story entry of the Ward9ice series would also be published on our Instagram page: SEB to enlarge the participation.

The Ward9ice Series comes weekly on the SEB and we indeed, can do it together."

However, we are pleased to inform you that due to popular demand both Ama Ebony and Kotansibe are back on track in their usual formats. Thanking you all for your love and concern and patronage.

Ward9ice Obeys Call Of Nature

Ward9ice is obeying the call of nature with “change” as the only constant thing in the world.

On this platform Ward9ice will henceforth publish and share with you stories of your fancy in a short, interactive and exciting format to keep you informed, educated and above all, very creative.

As such we would only share with you the story synopsis and allow you then to provide whatever desiring resolutions you think befits the storyline or perhaps, just generally lend a comment to the possible true-life-situation(s) of the story.

Guess what, every story entry of the Ward9ice series would also be published on our Instagram page: SEB to enlarge the participation.

The Ward9ice Series comes weekly on the SEB and we indeed, can do it together.

Taliban spokesman says China to keep Kabul embassy open and beef up relations

The Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar (left) and Chinese foreign minister, Wang Yi, during a meeting in Tianjin, China, in July 2021. Photograph: Li Ran/AP

China has promised to keep its embassy in Kabul open and “beef up” relations, the Taliban have said, as Afghanistan’s new rulers worked on preparing their new government and winning international recognition, The Guardian reports.

According to the report, a spokesman for the Islamist militia, Suhail Shaheen, said on Friday a senior member of the Taliban’s political office in Qatar had been told by China’s deputy foreign minister that Beijing also aimed to increase humanitarian assistance.

While the west has mostly adopted a wait-and-see approach and demanded evidence, as the Taliban move from insurgency to government, of more inclusive government and respect for human rights, China has said it seeks “friendly and cooperative” relations – although it, too, has yet to formally recognise the new regime, the report stated and submits further that analysts have said a stable and cooperative administration in Kabul could pave the way for major Chinese infrastructural and other investment in Afghanistan, possibly including in the war-ravaged country’s big copper and lithium

Pay close attention to what your ‘friends’ say when they are ‘joking’ - RENO

FROM THE IG DESK OF RENO OMOKRI

Pay close attention to what your ‘friends’ say when they are ‘joking’. Jesting reveals more about who is jealous of you and who wants you to fail. Never are people more serious than when they are joking. In fact, so many yokes are broken when you listen to jokes. When a friend jokes about your source of income, there is every likelihood that he has been spreading bad rumours about your source of wealth. Laugh, but mark him. The less you tell him, the better for you. The less you see of him, the more you will see of peace.

Father Shoots His 8-year-old Daughter Dead, Says He Thought It Was An Intruder, Police Say

William Oliver Mug

A Memphis man is charged with reckless homicide after his daughter was shot and eventually died from what a police affidavit describes as a tragic turn of events, Fox13 Memphis reports.

According to the Memphis Police Department, 31-year-old William Oliver was checking the house for intruders early Friday morning when the child’s mother altered him to a noise.

Oliver checked the bedroom closet, police said, when he slid back the door, saw a silhouette and fired one time, according to the report.

CHIKWE IHEKWEAZU APPOINTED ASSISTANT DG OF WHO

Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director General, NCDC

Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, a Nigerian epidemiologist and public health physician who is the current Director General of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, the agency responsible for protecting public health and safety through the control and prevention of communicable diseases in Nigeria has been appointed as the Assistant Director General of Health Emergency Intelligence at the World Health Organisation (WHO).

His appointment which is scheduled to take effect on November 1, 2021 was disclosed in an official letter signed and addressed to him by the WHO Director General, Tedros Ghebreyesus.

“I am pleased to welcome Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu as an Assistant Director-General for Health Emergency Intelligence from November 1, 2021.

“He will lead the work on strengthening pandemic and epidemic intelligence globally, including heading the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence in Berlin.

This is my message to the western world - your civilisation is killing life on Earth - Nemonte

Nemonte Nenquimo, an Indigenous activist and member of the Waorani nation from the Amazonian Region of Ecuador

FROM THE IG DESK OF MARYSIA MIERNOWSKA

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Blue whales resurfacing at Spain’s Atlantic coast

Blue whales, the world’s largest mammals, are returning to Spain’s Atlantic coast after an absence of more than four decades, Guardian reports.

The first one, according to the report was spotted off the coast of Galicia in north-west Spain in 2017 by Bruno Díaz, a marine biologist who is head of the Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute in O Grove, Galicia.

The report states further that another was spotted in 2018, and another the following year, and then in 2020 they both returned. Just over a week ago a different specimen was sited off the Islas Cíes, near O Grove.

ONE MAN BAND?

 
credits: Instagram | willsmith

I wanted to play drums because I fell in love with the glitter and lights, but it wasn’t about adulation. It was about being up there playing - Charlie

Late Charlie Watts

Charlie Watts, the drummer who provided the backbone of the Rolling Stones’ songs for more than half a century, has died, his spokesperson said. “It is with immense sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Charlie Watts.

“He passed away peacefully in a London hospital earlier today surrounded by his family.

“Charlie was a cherished husband, father and grandfather and also a member of the Rolling Stones one of the greatest drummers of his generation.

“We kindly request that the privacy of his family, band members and close friends is respected at this difficult time.”

A Sharia Court Sitting In Kano Has Sentenced Kannywood Actress Who Uploaded ‘Sexual Content’ On Social Media

Sadiya Haruna, Kannywood Actress and Blogger

A Sharia court sitting Kano state has sentenced Kannywood actress and blogger, Sadiya Haruna, to six months in Islamic school for “uploading sexual contents on her social media handles.”

According to online reports, the accused person, Sadiya Haruna, a resident of Kabuga Quarters was initially arrested on Friday by the Head of Surveillance Department of Kano State Hisbah Board, Malam Aliyu Usman.

She was then detained in the custody of the Islamic police until early Monday when she was brought before the Sharia court sitting in Sharada area of the state.

Yes, Nigeria needs a bridge builder, a compassionate leader, sensitive to the needs and aspirations of the poor and needy; a leader whose words count and can be counted on and a leader with courage – Tambuwal

Aminu Tambuwal, Governor of Sokoto State

Sokoto state governor and chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Governors’ Forum, Aminu Tambuwal has said Nigeria needs as President a leader with a broad view and inquisitive mind as the nation inches gradually to the 2023 general elections, Vanguard reports.

According to the report, Tambuwal stated this in Lagos at the 63rd birthday anniversary of legal luminary, Richard Akinola, held in Lagos on Sunday, where he also noted that the country needs a man capable of harnessing the potentials of Nigerians for the good of the land.

He equally noted that the leader must be incorruptible, must be a person who understands that the best way to fight corruption is by personal example and building strong institutions capable of withstanding shocks and manipulations, according to The Punch.

Challenge?

Challenge?

A Week After An Earthquake In Haiti

About a week after an earthquake that has left more than 2,000 people dead, Haiti is still reeling and aid groups are struggling to respond.

NPR reports that Aid agencies say they're trying to get aid to the quake zone as quickly as possible. But roads were blocked by the quake, a key highway is controlled by gangs — and then Tropical Storm Grace hit earlier this week.

Former President On His Knees Before Olu Of Warri

Credit: Instagram | Ubi Franklin

Nigeria's former President, Olusegun Obasanjo spotted paying homage to the new Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwaste lll.

Many businessmen and businesswomen deal with this reality every day: Will the woman who applies as a sales manager give me enough steady, committed time on the job to warrant my investment? - Elder

Larry Elder is one of the leading Republican candidates in a recall election that could unseat California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D). (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)

Nearly two decades before conservative radio host Larry Elder joined the long list of candidates who could unseat California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) in the state’s second recall election in history, Elder suggested that venture capitalists have the right to ask women whether and when they intend to have children as a way to “protect” their “investment”, the Washington Post reports.

“Are there legitimate business reasons for a venture capitalist to ask a female entrepreneur whether she intends to have children? Hell, yes,” Elder wrote in his 2002 book.

But the man believed to be Newsom’s top contender didn’t stop there, the report states further, adding that in several other sections of “Showdown: Confronting Bias, Lies and the Special Interests That Divide America,” Elder suggested that women who choose to have children are not “dedicated” to their jobs and are unable to give an “all-hands-on-deck commitment” to work. In another passage, Elder went after former acting Massachusetts governor Jane Swift (R) for taking on the new role after giving birth to twins, claiming that “to tell women they can run a state, have family and children, and be equally attentive to all — is a lie.”