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News_Naija

Ways To Reduce Screen Time For Healthy Vision

Reducing screen time is important for maintaining healthy vision and preventing digital eye strain, also known as computer vision syndrome. Screens have become a constant part of daily life in today’s digital world, from work and education to entertainment and communication. While technology offers convenience and connectivity, excessive screen time poses serious risks to eye health with outcomes like blurred vision, dry eyes, and long-term vision problems. According to a 2022 survey by the American Optometric Association, the average gamer spends more than eight hours a day on screens and has experienced various eye-related symptoms from gaming, including eyestrain, headaches, dry eyes, and blurred vision. The body noted that many gamers are aware of the eye health implications of long-term screen usage, but less than half, 46 per cent, visit an eye care professional for a comprehensive eye examination every year. Defining digital eye strain as a complex eye and vision problem related to near work experienced during or due to computer use, the AOA stated, “Using technology has many benefits, but it should be used responsibly. “With gaming and screen time on the rise, so is the risk of screen-related eye issues. The sooner you start prioritising your eye health offline, the longer you can continue doing what you love online.” The Chief Medical Director, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Prof John Okeniyi, said that excessive screen time leads to eye strain and blurred vision. Okeniyi, who is also a Consultant Paediatrician, said digital eye strain is also becoming increasingly common in children due to excessive screen exposure. He also warned that excessive screen time is posing serious health risks to children, including delays in cognitive and motor development, obesity, vision problems, and mental health issues. According to an online medical portal, Mayo Clinic, prolonged exposure to screens can lead to fatigue, discomfort, and even difficulty focusing on distant objects. “As such, it is crucial to adopt healthy habits that reduce screen time and support better vision. Simple lifestyle changes like following the 20-20-20 rule, taking frequent breaks, and setting screen-free zones can make a significant difference. “For both children and adults, prioritising eye care is essential in a world increasingly dominated by digital devices. “By taking conscious steps to limit screen exposure, individuals can preserve their vision and reduce the risk of digital eye-related issues. Healthy vision starts with smarter screen habits.” However, the following are some effective tips to reduce screen time and improve your vision: Take breaks and follow the 20-20-20 rule Take eye breaks. Look away from your monitor, smartphones, televisions, and tablets, among other things. According to Mayo Clinic, the 20-20-20 rule is the game: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. “The 20-20-20 rule is an effective way of protecting your eyes from digital strain. This gives your eyes a chance to relax and reduce fatigue,” it said. Check lighting and reduce glare Mayo Clinic stressed that bright lighting and too much glare can strain the eyes and make it difficult to see objects on a monitor. “The worst problems are generally from sources above or behind you, including fluorescent lighting and sunlight. Consider turning off some or all of the overhead lights. If you need light for writing or reading, use an adjustable desk lamp. “Close blinds or shades, and avoid placing your monitor directly in front of a window or white wall. Place an anti-glare cover over the screen,” it added. Maintain correct screen positioning Correct screen positioning is essential to reduce eye strain and discomfort. When your screen is at the right height and distance, your eyes don’t have to work as hard to focus, preventing fatigue and potential long-term vision issues. “Your computer monitor should be at arm’s length, with the top of the screen adjusted to just below eye level. Make sure that your computer monitor is at arm’s length and adjust the height so the top of the screen is just below eye level,” a Las Vegas ophthalmology and LASIK clinic, Brimhall Eye.  Use computer eyeglasses According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, if you work on a computer for many hours at a time, you might find that using computer eyeglasses reduces eye strain. “These prescription glasses allow you to focus your eyes specifically at computer screen distance (intermediate distance, which is about 20–26 inches away from your face). Some of these glasses have multifocal lenses to help you quickly shift your focus between close, intermediate, and far distances. Be aware that computer glasses for reducing eye strain are not the same as blue light blocking glasses,” it stated. Adjust brightness and screen contrast “If your screen glows brighter than your surroundings, your eyes have to work harder to see. Adjust your screen brightness to match the level of light around you. Also, try increasing the contrast on your screen to reduce eye strain,” the American Academy of Ophthalmology advised. Engage in offline activities In this fast-paced digital world, offline leisure activities have emerged as a vital avenue for personal well-being and work-life balance. They refer to activities that do not require screens or the internet and allow individuals to engage in hobbies, sports, and social interactions offline. As we spend an increasing amount of time online, reconnecting with the offline world offers a refreshing break, fostering creativity, relaxation, and deeper social connections. They encourage us to escape the constant buzz of notifications, allowing our minds to recharge and focus on what truly matters.

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Worldnews

Chelseas Pedro Hits Debut Double In Club World Cup Semi To Down Fluminense

Joao Pedro hits a brace on debut against former club Fluminense to send Chelsea into FIFA Club World Cup 2025 final. England’s Chelsea defeated Fluminense of Brazil 2-0 to reach the final of the FIFA 2025 Club World Cup, with Blues debutant Joao Pedro netting twice against his boyhood club. The Brazilian forward, who was at Fluminense from age 10 until leaving for Watford in 2020, curled his new club in front at MetLife Stadium on Tuesday from the left side of the box in the 18th minute. The 24-year-old, who joined the Londoners from Brighton for $81.5m last week, sealed the win in the drilled effort that went in off the underside of the bar early in the second half. The Blues will face the winner of Real Madrid against Paris Saint-Germain, who play in the second semifinal on Wednesday. Temperatures were soaring in New Jersey, which will stage next summer’s FIFA 2026 World Cup, ahead of the 3pm kickoff. A crowd of 70,556, which was only 10-15 percent short of capacity, attended the game, despite the 34 degrees Celsius (93F)  at kickoff, with humidity that made it feel like 40C (104F). FIFA had, however, cut ticket prices from $473.90 to $13.40 last week. It did not take long for the action on the field to reach similarly heated levels soon after Pedro’s opener, when Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah handled in his own area. Video Referee Assistant (VAR) intervened, and the original awarding of the penalty was overturned. Fluminense were incensed, but Chalobah’s arm was in a natural position by his side. Fluminense’s best opening came moments earlier, when Marc Cucurella was forced to clear Hercules’s shot off the line in the 27th minute. Former Chelsea defender Tiago Silva, who appeared 113 times for Brazil, lined up against his former club since departing the London club last October. The 40-year-old was far busier than his former teammates in their defensive lines, with his keeper, Fabio, drawn into a number of saves. There was little the oldest player in the tournament, at 44, could do about either of Pedro’s strikes, the second a brilliant finish following a counterattack early in the 56th minute. Cole Palmer set the move in motion by dribbling past three players before laying off for Enzo Fernandez, who in turn laid on to Pedro. Much like his first goal, where he took two steps to start to celebrate, then stopped and clasped his hands, Pedro showed respect to his former club by muting his response to both strikes. Chelsea will now seek to secure a second FIFA Club World Cup, following their 2021 victory. European teams will win their 12th straight Club World Cup title, and 17th in 18 tries, the lone exception a 2012 victory by Brazil’s Corinthians over Chelsea. The London-based club has earned $88.4m to $103.8m for reaching the final, the amount depending on a participation fee FIFA has not disclosed. Follow Al Jazeera English:...

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Worldnews

US Envoy Steve Witkoff Suggests Gaza Ceasefire Deal Is Close

Trump aide says Washington ‘hopeful’ a 60-day truce between Israel and Hamas can be reached by the end of the week. An aide to United President Donald Trump has suggested a Gaza ceasefire is close, saying Washington hopes to see an agreement finalised by the end of the week. “We’re in proximity talks now, and we had four issues, and now we’re down to one after two days of proximity talks,” special US envoy Steve Witkoff told reporters at the White House on Tuesday. “So we are hopeful that by the end of this week, we will have an agreement that will bring us into a 60-day ceasefire.” Witkoff said the deal would see the release of 10 Israeli captives and the bodies of nine. He added that the Trump administration thinks the deal “will lead to a lasting peace in Gaza”. Earlier on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters in Washington, DC, that while Israel “still has to finish the job in Gaza”, negotiators are “certainly working” on a ceasefire. Trump and Netanyahu dined together on Monday at the White House during the Israeli leader’s third US visit since the president began his second term on January 20. The two leaders are to meet again later on Tuesday. “He’s coming over later. We’re going to be talking about, I would say, almost exclusively Gaza. We’ve got to get that solved,” the US president told reporters at a cabinet meeting in the White House on Tuesday. “It’s a tragedy, and he wants to get it solved, and I want to get it solved, and I think the other side wants to.” Qatar confirmed on Tuesday that Hamas and Israeli delegations are in Doha to discuss the ceasefire proposal. “There is a positive engagement right now. The mediation teams – the Qataris and the Egyptians – are working around the clock to make sure that there is some consensus built on the framework towards the talks,” Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said. Israel’s war on Gaza has killed more than 57,500 Palestinians, internally displaced nearly the entire population of the enclave and placed hundreds of thousands of people on the verge of starvation. United Nations experts and rights group have described Israel’s military campaign in Gaza as a genocide. Netanyahu suggested on Monday that the US and Israel are working to ensure the mass displacement of Palestinians from Gaza – an idea first proposed by Trump in February. Israeli officials have been framing the push to remove all Palestinians from Gaza Gaza as an effort to encourage “voluntary migration” from the territory. “If people want to stay, they can stay, but if they want to leave, they should be able to leave. It shouldn’t be a prison. It should be an open place and give people a free choice,” Netanyahu told reporters. Rights advocates said the removal of Palestinians from Gaza, which would amount to ethnic cleansing, cannot be considered voluntary. Prominent legal expert Ralph Wilde said that with the widespread destruction, siege and daily attacks in Gaza, the concept of free choice to stay there or leave “is a lie”. “It’s forced displacement because that isn’t a choice that is made freely,” Wilde told Al Jazeera. Follow Al Jazeera English:...

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News_Naija

Budget Ministry Backs Proposal For Digital Policy Access

Policy Vault Africa, a digital platform for public policy, has proposed a landmark partnership with Nigeria’s Ministry of Budget and National Planning to digitise and preserve all the Ministry’s policy documents at no cost to the government. The proposal was tabled during a high-level strategic meeting held on June 27, 2025, between the organisation’s leadership and the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, in Abuja. Senior Adviser and Partner at Policy Vault Africa, Ikechukwu Ofuani, and Country Manager for Policy Practice, Damilola Atiri, led the delegation. They presented a comprehensive offer to digitise all existing policies, strategic frameworks, and planning documents under the Ministry’s purview, with a commitment to preserve them in their original form to ensure institutional memory, support evidence-based policymaking, and promote public transparency. Reacting to the proposal, Senator Bagudu described the initiative as “laudable” and affirmed the Ministry’s interest in partnering with Policy Vault Africa to advance digital governance and planning transparency. “This partnership represents an opportunity to strengthen institutional memory and ensure that our planning and policy processes remain transparent and driven by accessible data,” the Minister said in a statement on Wednesday. Policy Vault Africa has earned widespread recognition across the continent for its work in making authentic public policy documents accessible to stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, businesses, and citizens. Its approach involves curating unaltered government policies in digital format to enhance continuity, drive accountability, and foster knowledge-based decision-making. Speaking during the meeting, Ofuani said the organisation aimed to safeguard Nigeria’s policy legacy and modernise how policy is stored and referenced. “Nigeria’s policies are rich in vision and technical rigour,” he said. “Our goal is to ensure that these resources are preserved and accessible to drive continuity, inclusivity, and effective implementation.” According to Atiri, the proposed partnership would align Nigeria’s public policy infrastructure with global best practices in digital governance and open government frameworks. She noted that the availability of reliable and accessible policy data was crucial for informed decision-making and effective monitoring and evaluation, key components in achieving national development goals. “The ability to access policy documents without delay or distortion strengthens trust, supports continuity in government, and accelerates results,” she added. Stakeholders within the Ministry also expressed optimism about the potential of the proposed collaboration to modernise Nigeria’s governance landscape and support cross-ministerial planning efforts. If approved, the partnership will make Nigeria one of the first African countries to fully digitise its policy ecosystem at the federal level, using a centralised platform built to enhance transparency and access to information.