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Healthwatch
1 h
33
Trees enhance life in a multitude of ways. They combat climate change by reducing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. They muffle sound pollution and reduce air pollution, drawing in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. When rain pours from the skies, trees decrease stormwater runoff, preventing flooding and soil erosion. They also provide valuable habitats to support biodiversity in insects, birds, and other animals, and microorganisms. The list goes on.
Equally important is accumulating evidence that simply spending time around trees and green spaces uplifts our health and mood. Below are a few of the biggest benefits we reap.
Keeping it cool: Trees help prevent heat-related illness
Climate change is causing rising temperatures and more heat waves across the US. These effects are worse for those who live in neighborhoods known as urban heat islands, where asphalt and concrete soak up heat during the day and continue to radiate it at night. Temperatures can reach 7° F hotter than suburban, rural, or simply wealthier and leafier neighborhoods.
Trees and their leafy canopy provide shade that helps to prevent urban heat islands. What does that mean for individuals? It translates to fewer heat-related health illnesses, which strike outdoor workers and younger, older, and medically vulnerable people more often. A study published in The Lancet calculated that increasing tree canopy to 30% coverage in 93 European cities could prevent an estimated four in 10 premature heat-related deaths in adults in those cities.
How trees help children: Better mood, behavior, attention, and more
Spending more time in nature has been linked with better health outcomes like lower blood pressure, better sleep, and improvement in many chronic conditions in adults. These findings are prompting a growing interest in forest therapy, a guided outdoor healing practice that leads to overall improved well-being. But what's also remarkable are the varied benefits of trees and nature for children.
One study of children 4 to 6 years old found that those who lived close to green space demonstrated less hyperactive behavior and scored more highly on attention and visual memory testing measures compared with children who did not.
Just seeing trees can have mental health benefits. In Michigan, a study of children between the ages of 7 and 9 demonstrated that students who could see trees from their school windows had fewer behavioral problems than those with limited views.
In Finland, researchers modified daycare outdoor playscape environments to mimic the forest undergrowth. These daycares were compared to control standard daycares and nature-oriented daycares where children made daily visits to nearby forests. At the end of 28 days, the children in the daycares with modified forest undergrowth playscapes harbored a healthier microbiome and had improved markers of their immune systems as compared to their counterparts.
How green space helps communities
Having green space in neighborhoods also does a lot to enrich the well-being of communities. A randomized trial in a US city planted and maintained grass and trees in previously vacant lots. Researchers then compared these green spaces to lots that were left alone.
In neighborhoods below the poverty line, there was a reduction in crime for areas with greened lots compared to untouched vacant lots. Meanwhile, residents who lived near lots that were greened reported feeling safer and increased their use of the outside space for relaxing and socializing.
How can you help?
Unfortunately, urban tree canopy cover has been declining over the years. To counter this decline, many towns and nonprofit organizations have programs that provide trees for planting.
A few examples in Massachusetts are Canopy Crew in Cambridge and Speak for the Trees in Boston. (Speak for the Trees also offers helpful information on selecting and caring for trees). Neighborhood Forest provides trees for schools and other youth organizations across the US. Look for a program near you!
Planting trees native to your region will better suit the local conditions, wildlife, and ecosystem. Contact your regional Native Plant Society for more information and guidance. If you are worried about seasonal allergies from tree pollen, many tree organizations or certified arborists can give you guidance on the best native tree selections.
If planting trees is not for you but you are interested in contributing to the mission, consider donating to organizations that support reforestation, like The Canopy Project and the Arbor Day Foundation.
Source: Harvard Health Publishing
Legit
3 hrs
11
The 2024 UTME result of Ogbodo Ekenedilichukwu Grace, a girl who represented Nigeria in Rwanda in the Pan-African Mathematics Olympiad 2023, has been released online.
Ifeyinwa Faith Ogbodo, Grace's family member, shared her pictures and UTME result on Facebook.
Ifeyinwa could not contain her joy at Grace's academic feat.
Grace scored 317 on aggregate: 75 in English, 89 in physics, 70 in biology and 83 in chemistry.
Grace's school teachers and management commended
An excited Ifeyinwa thanked God for Grace's feat and appreciated her tutor, school principal, proprietress and teachers. In her words:
"...Special thanks goes to all her teachers from cradle till date."Thank you Engr. Calculus Chukwunonso Onyenanu (0803 548 5238) for your endless efforts in tutoring her to this height, God bless you greatly."Thank you the Principal Mrs Nyah Margret and Teachers FSTC, Awka."Thank you the Proprietress and Teachers ofNadora Memorial Nursery and Primary School, Awka."Grace among UTME's 0.5%
Ifeyinwa released pictures showing when Grace represented Nigeria with two others in Rwanda in the Pan-African Mathematics Olympiad 2023.
The woman added that Grace has always been a star and that the best was yet to come for her.
JAMB said only 0.5% of candidates scored 300 and above and Grace's score ranks her among the top-performing students.
People celebrate Ogbodo Ekenedilichukwu Grace
Nerrisar Onyinye Ego Onyiaorah said:
"Wow!!! Congratulations to her and the entire family. The apple rarely falls far from its tree. Greater heights girl."Chioma Rowland said:
"Congratulations dear! Pray you attain more heights through His grace."Meilody Youcee said:
"This is huge! Greater height Ekene...you're truly a genius. Keep shinning girl coz you're a STAR!"Engr Wilson Okafor said:
"Great!"Great feat achieved!"That is the seed of:"From a family of Mathematicians and from a teacher from the family of mathematicians!"Anthonia Chioma Philips said:
"So proud of you baby girl."Congratulations to her and the entire family. Lord we are grateful ."Nosike Obudulu said:
"We thank God for blessing the work. Well done, Ekene. Thank you for making us proud. God will continuously give the increase."Patience Ejiasa said:
"Wow ooo, Congratulations my dear keep it up,Nadora Nadora Nadora we no dey carry Last at all."Benue girl trends over her UTME score
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that a 16-year-old Benue girl had become a viral sensation over her UTME score.
Pictures of the 16-year-old girl were shared on social media by excited folks as they celebrated her academic feat.
One of the people who was happy for the girl was Obande Christian Ogede. In a Facebook post, he hailed Tsavkegh, saying she really killed the JAMB exam and gave them the "Gboko standard." He said the girl is a student of Calvary Arrows Secondary School in Gboko, Benue State.
Source: Legit.ng
Legit
3 hrs
10
A Nigerian girl sat all alone at the backyard of her family's compound after a bitter experience with her father.
It was gathered that the sober girl got scolded by her father and this made her withdraw into her shell at home.
Lady shocked to see younger sister's state
Her elder sister identified on TikTok as @___toun shared the video online while narrating what transpired at home.
According to her, her younger sister resorted to sleeping at the backyard because she was scolded by her father for being disrespectful to her elder sister.
She added that the girl slept off for about 30 minutes after crying all alone at the backyard.
In the clip, her younger sister was seen on the ground close to their well looking helpless and sad.
She tied a wrapper and covered her legs with another wrapper. Her head was also twisted with her back to the wall.
Her sister captioned the video:
“POV: you found your kid sis like this at the backyard after scolding her. Unto say my papa follow her talk make she no dey follow her senior talk anyhow ooo. Nah hin she start this different pattern ooooo."Reactions trail video of girl at backyard
The comments section on TikTok was flooded with reactions from netizens who had different things to say.
PAULEËÇÝ said:
“Give her pillow make she feel comfortable it's her choice.”Mr caponee reacted:
“At least bring pillow and mat for her na!”Big Asmaco reacted:
“She was planning on how to pack out from the house and figuring her new life out.”Jacques Ze whipper said:
“If I deh leave for unah house d story go change.”Beautiful _keva said:
“U get luck say she no cry enter well the matter for no funny.”@sweenylive said:
“Na last born? Cos na so we dey behave.”Pretty Lovelyn reacted:
“Nah me be this when I still small my mama beat me like this I don pack my load sey I dey go my papa house lemi omo 5 years nah so l go write letter sey l don go or sleep outside.”Sandra Sandra said:
“Na so them dey do o, my sister worse, you no fit correct her o, Tufiakwa.”Watch the video below:
Last born in tears as sisters taunt her
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that reactions trailed the video of a young girl who was being taunted by her older siblings.
The girl who was said to be the last born of her family broke down in tears as her older siblings kept on stressing her in a video.
Source: Legit.ng
Investopedia
3 hrs
15
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Consumer sentiment fell sharply in May, bringing the Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index to its lowest level in six months.
The closely watched index dropped nearly 10 points from the last reading in April to 67.4, the lowest since November. The drop comes after the survey of consumer optimism had moved within a three-point range over the previous four months.
It’s the largest decline in the index in about three years, and fell far short of the 76.0 reading that economists surveyed by the and expected.
“While consumers had been reserving judgment for the past few months, they now perceive negative developments on a number of dimensions. They expressed worries that inflation, unemployment and interest rates may all be moving in an unfavorable direction in the year ahead,” said survey director Joanne Hsu.
The survey showed similar declines when consumers were asked about their current economic conditions and on their expectations of future business conditions.
Consumers said they see inflation getting worse over the next year, anticipating an inflation rate of 3.5%, up from 3.2% in last month’s survey and above the average range seen prior to the pandemic. The survey also showed that consumers’ long-range inflation expectations of five years ahead ticked higher, remaining well above the pre-pandemic range. The worsening sentiment on price pressures come as inflation readings have continued to move higher in 2024.
Consumer inflation expectations are an important gauge for Federal Reserve officials, who closely watch survey results for indications if consumer behavior will lead to higher prices. Fed officials have said repeatedly that the central bank won't be in a position to consider cuts to the benchmark interest rate until inflation is under control.
Jeffrey Roach, chief economist at LPL Financial, said that uncertainty about inflation could affect consumer spending levels, which are a significant contributor to U.S. economic growth. The most recent retail sales report showed that consumers continued to surprise with their spending levels, though some interest-rate-sensitive categories moved lower, including automobiles and furniture.
“Most consumers have pivoted away from big-ticket buying plans, confirming what we saw from the Conference Board earlier this month” Roach said. “As of this month, most consumers believe now is a poor time to buy a vehicle or a home. These changes in buying plans could have knock-on effects in other categories of spending.”
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Oil tanker companies specialize in transporting and storing crude oil and refined products. The business involves firms that own, operate, or lease various oil tankers and facilities. Crude tankers transport bulk volumes of unrefined crude oil from oil extraction facilities to oil refineries, while product tankers carry refined products to facilities where they will be sold to end consumers, and replenishment oilers are used to refuel ships at sea.
These are the five biggest oil tanker companies by 12-month trailing (TTM) revenue. Some companies outside the U.S. report profits semi-annually instead of quarterly, so the 12-month trailing data may be older than it is for companies that report quarterly. This list is limited to publicly traded companies in the U.S. and Canada, either directly or through ADRs. Data is courtesy of YCharts.com. All figures are as of Dec. 15, 2022.
Scorpio Tankers is a Monaco-based shipping company that went public in 2010. It provides marine transportation of petroleum products worldwide. The company operates through three segments that represent different types of ships.
Scorpio has more than 100 vessels and anticipates growth over the next several years as it works to reduce its long-term debts and forecasts significant earnings potential and operating leverage.
Frontline is a Cyprus-based international shipping company that owns and operates oil and product tankers. The company also provides seaborne transportation of crude oil and oil products. Frontline was created through a series of significant restructurings, mergers, and acquisitions in the past decade.
It officially merged with Euronav in December 2022, redomiciling its headquarters in Cyprus and changing to Frontline Plc. It has 22 very large crude carriers (VLCCs), 26 Suezmax carriers, and 20 Aframax carriers.
Teekay is a Canada-based investment holding company that provides international crude oil and gas marine transportation services. It also offers offshore oil production, storage, and offloading services under both long-term and fixed-rate contracts. Two of its subsidiaries, Teekay Tankers Ltd. (TNK) and Teekay LNG Partners LP (TGP), trade separately under their own tickers. However, Teekay's revenue and market cap figures cited above include these two subsidiaries.
Teekay leadership has a strong outlook on the tanker market and its position. Nearly all of its tankers trade in the spot market, so it believes it has enough operating leverage and a strong market to operate in.
Tsakos Energy Navigation Ltd. (referred to as TEN Ltd. by the company) is headquartered in Hellas, Greece, and has been operating in the industry for 30 years. It has a fleet of 66 crude, product, liquid natural gas, and shuttle tankers.
TEN is considering upgrading some of its tankers to more modern vessels while continuing to expand into specialized tanker sectors such as shuttles and LNG. The company expects the tanker market to be set through at least 2026 due to tight yard capacity, low orders, and favorable market conditions.
SFL Corporation Ltd is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. It is a multi-industry shipper with 14 crude oil, product, and chemical tankers and two sea drills. It also has dozens of car carriers, container ships, and bulk freighters. The company's tankers are all backlogged, some until the third quarter of 2033, indicating it will be busy for the next several years.
SFL has paid dividends for 77 consecutive quarters and anticipates long-term success based on its vessel backlog and its plans to acquire four more tankers in the next several years.
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Kuryliuk
6 hrs
2
