A biochemistry researcher at the University of Yaounde Medical School in Cameroon’s capital, said she developed a plant-based solution to fight leukemia.

"My solution is to make xenografts by administering an aqueous extract of plant bark powder to mice capable of developing tumors,” Francine Tankeu told Anadolu Agency. “We make them leukemic beforehand and then we follow their evolution.”

The next step is to arrange the remedy in a final physical aspect of the drug as it will be used in a patient and according to its compatibility.

"This other step includes several aspects such as toxicological studies to ensure its safety before moving to the human stage," said Tankeu.

She noted results on animals show a significant regression of tumor volume after 30 days.

“The survival rate is good but the test has not yet been performed on a human patient since. The steps to be taken before clinical testing, like human trials, are not complete and I don't have enough funds,” she said.

The idea to use plants came from her daily life in Africa, where she noticed a majority of the population uses traditional plant-based medicine for diseases.

"The beneficial effects of Syzygium Guineense, the plant I use, are not negligible because its activity is anti-leukemic. Beyond being used as a spice for local dishes, it is also used for the treatment of certain cancers," she said.

'Improved traditional medicine'

She figured if she could establish a scientific basis for the traditional use and formulate an improved traditional medicine, it would be "very useful."

The methodology is "in tune with African socio-cultural realities” she said.

Tankeu wants to formulate "an improved traditional medicine" and to study the effects of the leafy forest plant when it is administered in conjunction with anti-cancer drugs to see if there would be a synergistic effect or a reduction in side effects reduction from chemotherapy.

She received the Young Talent Award In 2020 from the For Women in Science in Sub-Saharan Africa program at the L'Oreal Foundation and UNESCO.

This prize allowed her to realize her work is "an effective contribution to the problem of cancer,” she said.

But the fight remains "vast, long and far from being won in view of the growing number of patients in the world as well as the obstacles to scientific research," said Tankeu.

It is “very complicated in my country" for several reasons she told the Turkish news agency.

Notably, the lack of financial avenues, absence of technical platforms and prejudice against female scientists.

She noted that teachers prefer to work with male researchers because of perceptions that family responsibilities of women present obstacles.

In addition, "many children die before they are even put on treatment because the standard of living of the inhabitants is lower than the cost of examinations for an accurate diagnosis," she said.

The number of cancer cases is increasing annually in Cameroon, diagnosis times are long, more than 60% of patients arrive at an advanced stage and treatment is expensive, according to the Health Ministry.

Tankeu also lamented about erroneous beliefs and perceptions

“It is a real barrier," she said.

Despite the situation, the young biochemist said she views the future of her solution with "a lot of optimism, especially given the previous results."​​​​​​​/aa

Eleven million Nigerians need humanitarian aid because of terrorism and attacks by armed gangs, according to UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria Edward Kallon.

Nigeria is the third most affected country by terrorism after Afghanistan and Iraq on the UN's Global Terrorism Index 2020, said Kallon, after a national security summit in Abuja.

He underscored that Nigeria is facing security problems in different regions.

More than 20,000 people have died since 2009 in acts of mass violence by the Boko Haram terror group, which appeared in Nigeria in the early 2000s.

Hundreds of thousands of people have migrated because of terror attacks and conflicts in Nigeria./agencies

Eleven million Nigerians need humanitarian aid because of terrorism and attacks by armed gangs, according to UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria Edward Kallon.

Nigeria is the third most affected country by terrorism after Afghanistan and Iraq on the UN's Global Terrorism Index 2020, said Kallon, after a national security summit in Abuja.

He underscored that Nigeria is facing security problems in different regions.

More than 20,000 people have died since 2009 in acts of mass violence by the Boko Haram terror group, which appeared in Nigeria in the early 2000s.

Hundreds of thousands of people have migrated because of terror attacks and conflicts in Nigeria./agencies

Twenty-three countries made national climate education pledges, including net-zero schools and placing climate at the heart of national curriculums on Friday at the COP26 climate conference.

Young climate leaders met in Glasgow with negotiators, officials and ministers from all around the world, to demand action to prevent dangerous climate threads.

Education ministers pledged to do the same with nations such as South Korea, Albania and Sierra Leone pledging to decarbonize the school sector and develop school resources.

"Wherever I have been in the world, I have been struck by the passion and the commitment of young people to climate action," COP26 President Alok Sharma said in a statement.

The voices of young people must be heard and reflected in these negotiations here at COP, he said.

"I am also aware of the fear and anxiety many of them feel about the future of the planet, including my own children," he added.

Swedish climate change activist Greta Thunberg said Friday that the summit has failed and it is no secret.

Speaking to thousands who filled Glasgow’s main George Square, Thunberg said COP26 has just turned into “a PR event” where leaders give beautiful speeches and announced commitments and targets, while the governments of the “global north countries are still “refusing to address climate action.”/aa

Iran said Friday that its stockpile of 20% enriched uranium has reached 210 kilograms (463 pounds).

Iran’s semi-official Tasnim and Fars news agencies quoted a spokesman for the country’s atomic agency, Behrouz Kamalvandi, who said the quantity is larger than the 120 kilograms at 20% set by parliament to be produced.

Kamalvandi added that the agency produced 25 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium -- a level only countries with nuclear weapons can produce.

Uranium enriched to 90% can be used to develop a nuclear weapon but Iran has repeatedly said its program is for civil purposes.

Under the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, Tehran was allowed to enrich uranium to a level not exceeding 3.67%.

In January, a spokesman for Iran's atomic agency said the country was reviewing the need to increase uranium enrichment to a level greater than 20% and stressed Tehran has the capability to enrich uranium to a level that could reach 90%.

The European Union, US and Iran announced Wednesday that nuclear talks will resume Nov. 29 in Vienna.

The talks aim to restore the 2015 nuclear deal which was annulled by former US President Donald Trump in May 2018 as well as to bring Iran in compliance with international commitments regarding its nuclear program./agencies

The US will convene many of the world's foreign ministers virtually next week to discuss the global response to the coronavirus pandemic, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Friday.

Blinken said the Nov. 10 gathering of top diplomats "will assess the current state of the global response to COVID-19, the virus’s impact, and the threat of future pandemics." Notably, Blinken said the meeting will address inequities in global vaccine distribution amid sharp criticism that developing nations have been left greatly underserved by the jab drive.

"Despite progress in worldwide vaccination, we are not where we need to be. This is not only a health crisis, but an economic, humanitarian, and security crisis as well," Blinken said in a statement.

"Governments must summon the political will to work together and with leading institutions and leaders across key sectors to keep the focus on both ending the pandemic and building back better global health security capacity and architecture so that we can collectively prevent, detect, and respond to emerging infectious disease threats," he added.

Blinken did not specify which diplomats would be in attendance, but said his counterparts and leaders from regional and international organizations would be included.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres used this year's gathering of world leaders at the General Assembly to assail searing inequity in vaccine access as the developed world mulls booster shots for its populations while many in developing regions are desperately searching for immunizations.

“This is a moral indictment at the state of our world. It is an obscenity. We passed the science test, but we are getting an F in ethics,” he said./aa

Bosnia and Herzegovina was hit by strong floods after heavy rain on Thursday night and Friday morning.

The floods caused rivers to swell and burst their banks in low-lying areas in many cities across the country, especially in the capital Sarajevo.

Meanwhile, many houses and business places as well as cars in the underground garages also flooded and the traffic in the capital was disrupted.

The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Meteorology Union said precipitation will continue throughout the country and a red alert was issued against the danger of floods and landslides.

Bosnia often suffers from floods and landslides which causes people to spend nights outside.

More rain is expected throughout the week.

In May 2014, floods killed tens of people and damaged nearly 20,000 homes in Bosnia and Herzegovina./agencies

Indigenous leaders are demanding a list of concessions before Pope Francis visits Canada, including CAN$60 million owed to Indian Residential School survivors, according to a Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC) report Friday.

"The Catholic Church has very deep pockets and I'm sure they could pay all the compensation they owe, plus more..." said Saskatchewan Cree lawyer Eleanor Sunchild, who has acted for thousands of residential school survivors.

For years various Indigenous tribes and advocates, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, have urged Pope Francis to come to Canada and apologize to Indigenous groups for the Catholic Church's role in abusing some of the 150,000 Indigenous children forced to attend the schools beginning in the 1820s. Calls for the Pope's visit intensified after hundreds of unmarked graves were discovered at school sites.

Earlier this year, Francis accepted the invitation, which is expected to take place sometime after Indigenous leaders travel to the Vatican for an audience with the Pope in December.

Assembly of First Nations National Chief RoseAnne Archibald said she will welcome Francis, but besides the apology, the church must return the land where the schools were situated to First Nations ownership and agree to a papal bill signifying that Indigenous People are guaranteed to be treated with respect.

“The Catholic Church must be accountable and acknowledge their responsibility for the great harm caused by their direct role in the institutions of assimilation and genocide that they ran,” Archibald told the Toronto Star newspaper.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission travelled all over Canada to hear stories from survivors of the 139 schools and their families and the commission's final report in 2015 called for an in-person papal apology on Canadian soil.

Former commissioner Marie Wilson said there must be full compensation for survivors before any visit by the Pope.

"It's just words unless it's accompanied by meaningful action. You must make tangible efforts to make amends. There's been a breach of that, so there has to be action," she told the Toronto Star./agencies