Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Young Illegal Immigrant Who Rescued Child Dangling In Balcony Meets President, Honored With Citizenship, Job

The young African immigrant who scaled building to save a child dangling from the balcony of a building has finally met the French President, got a honorary citizenship and a job.

 
Mamoudou and French President, Macron
 
The 22-year-old herioic Malian immigrant, Mamoudou Gassama, who scaled an apartment building in Paris to save the life of a dangling 4-year-old, has met with French President, Emmanuel Macron.
 
After the video of him saving the boy went viral, the undocumented immigrant, who has now been dubbed "Le Spiderman" because of how fast he scaled the building to get to the child has also been rewarded for his brave act.
 
 
Mamoudou met with President Macron at the Elysée Palace, after which Macron revealed that Mamoudou will be granted French citizenship and enrolled as a firefighter in the French fire service.
 
"All the papers will be put in order," Macron said when meeting Mamoudou Gassama.
 
 
The president later tweeted: "With Mr Gassama who saved the life of a child after scaling four floors with his bare hands. I told him that in recognition of this act of heroism he would be regularized as soon as possible and that the Paris fire brigade were ready to welcome him."
 
During his meeting with Macron, Mamoudou told him of his experience. "I was trembling, I couldn't believe it," he said. 
 
 
Macron asked what condition the child had been in once he'd been rescued.  "He was crying, his feet were hurt" said Gassama, adding that he had seen the toddler since the incident.

"Bravo," replied the president. 

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Monday, May 28, 2018

Free Online Human Rights Course by Utrecht University

Free Online Human Rights Course by Utrecht University
Utrecht University
Course starts on February 12, 2018

Apply Now

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Free Online Course on How to Apply to College

Free Online Course on How to Apply to College
University of Pennsylvania
Course Starts on June 4, 2018

Apply Now

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

UP and MasterCard Foundation Scholarship Program for Africans in South Africa, 2019

UP and MasterCard Foundation Scholarship Program for Africans in South Africa, 2019
University of Pretoria (UP), South Africa
Application Deadline: August 30, 2018 and September 15, 2018

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When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

5th Annual International Photo Competition in B&W Child Photography, 2018

5th Annual International Photo Competition in B&W Child Photography, 2018
B&W Child Photo Competition Part of World of Photography
Application Deadline: July 15th, 2018

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When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

University of West London International Ambassador Scholarships in UK, 2018

University of West London International Ambassador Scholarships in UK, 2018
University of West London, United Kingdom
Application Deadline: July 15, 2018

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When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

50 EMAS Online and Full-Time MBA Scholarships for International Students in Russia, 2018

 50 EMAS Online and Full-Time MBA Scholarships for International Students in Russia, 2018
Eurasian Management and Administration School, Russia
Application Deadline: Every month, the last day of the month, the campaign can be terminated by EMAS without any preliminary notice.

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When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)
Full Tuition Executive MBA Scholarship at Stockholm School of Economics in Sweden, 2019
Stockholm School of Economics, Sweden
Application Deadline: June 26, 2018

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When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Government of Australia Fully Funded MSc Fellowships at World Maritime University, 2018

Government of Australia Fully Funded MSc Fellowships at World Maritime University, 2018
World Maritime University (WMU), Sweden
Application Deadline: Applications can be submitted at any time; there are no cut-off dates.

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When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Sunday, May 27, 2018

17 Royal Rules Meghan Markle Has To Follow Now That She's A Duchess

After her celebrity and famous wedding, here are 17 royal rules Meghan Markle has to follow now that she's a Duchess.

Prince Harry of England became the Duchess of Sussex

 
Life as she knows it—is over.
 
On Saturday, American girl Meghan Markle married Prince Harry of England became the Duchess of Sussex. It kind of goes without saying but life as she knows it has officially ceased to exist. From galas, balls, public engagements, teas and meetings with the Queen Elizabeth II, Meghan is now living a life of royal duties.
 
While many may see tiaras, gowns and castles when they look at Meghan, the realities of living as a royal and essentially a life of service to the British monarchy involves a very ordered and highly scrutinized existence, filled with a seemingly endless amount of arbitrary etiquette that should not be crossed.
 
From entering a room in a specific order to making sure not to cross her legs or keeping her skirt a certain length, Meghan will need to adhere to a slew of royal rules to avoid major no-nos or faux pas in order to stay in society and the Queen's good graces.
 
1. No Selfies: During her first official event with Prince Harry, Meghan revealed that she would no longer be able to take selfies with fans after a couple asked her to pose."We're not allowed to do selfies," she told the duo, reports the Daily Mirror. The rule was created to encourage people to make eye contact and make conversation with royals, instead of turning their backs to them (a huge no-no) to take a selfie.
 
Jennifer Gehmair, Royal Family etiquette expert, told Smooth Radio, "Turning your back to the Duke and Duchess and taking a selfie is discouraged if at all possible. I know it's fun to do, but they much would rather see your face." 

2. No Autographs: She may have some Suits superfans in her past, but these days the new royal isn't allowed to sign autographs under any circumstances. From here on out it's only royal documents and in some rare cases—visitor's books, according to RoyalUK.com.
 
3. No Social Media: Meghan's not allowed to have her own social media page, which is why her own lifestyle blog and Instagram, The Tig, went dark last year.
 
4. No Dark Nails: According to sources at OK! magazine, Royal Family members are prohibited from wearing dark and colored nail polish. Meghan wore the Queen's favorite color, Essie's Ballet Slippers, to the Royal Wedding, and we have a feeling that color is here to stay.
 
5. No Traveling Without Mourning Clothes: Ever since the King George died while the then-Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip were in Africa and had to travel back to England in regular clothes, it is imperative that all royals always travel with a set of funeral clothes in order to be respectful.
 
6. Curtsy Time: The queen expects female family members, including Kate Middleton and Camilla Parker Bowles, to curtsy when they enter a room in her presence, even when it's an informal occasion, which means Meghan better get used to the curtsy. If she is at an official event, Meghan must also curtsy to anyone who outranks her title.
 
7. No Miniskirts: The queen disapproves of hemlines higher than an inch or two above the knee. Regular female visitors such as Kate, Camilla, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are already aware of the fashion stipulation. If Meghan hasn't already ditched her little black dresses or her minis, time to throw them out!
 
8. None of that Crossed-Legged Business: It's frowned upon for Royal Family members to cross their legs, according to an expert for Hello! You'll never see Kate Middleton crossing her legs anywhere other than at her ankles. Kate often does a side-by-side move known as "the Duchess Slant," which Princess Diana utilized. Meghan better be working on her Duchess of Sussex slant!
 
9. No Wedges: The Queen apparently DESPISES wedge shoes, says Vanity Fair.  So get rid of 'em, girl! 
 
10. Mealtime Is at 8:30: If dining the queen, Meghan should be prepared to always eat at 8:30 and dinner will be over by 10. The Queen is known for strictly adhering to her royal schedule.
 
11. No Open Seating: At a Royal Family gathering, Meghan will always be sat next to Prince Harry.
 
12. No Room Raiding: There is a strict code of conduct for how to enter a room when your are with the royals. Here's the royal order: Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Camila, Prince William, Kate Middleton, and then most likely, Prince Harry and Markle, according to Reader's Digest.
 
13. Don't Eat Before the Queen or After the Queen: Markle should not begin eating her meal until the Queen has started hers, StyleCaster reports. The former Suits star also needs to keep her eyes peeled—for when the Queen stops eating, everyone must stop eating, even if there is still food.
 
Diane Gottsman, who wrote Modern Etiquette for a Better Life, told Bravo that there are strict rules when eating with the leading lady of England. 
 
"No one should start eating before the Monarch and no one should carry on eating after the Monarch has finished," Gottsman said. 
 
14. No Sleeping 'Til the Queen Sleeps: If Markle stays at the Queen's house, she's gotta stay up until QE2 falls asleep, so says the Daily Beast. Apparently it's considered bad form to call it a night before the monarch. Luckily, the Queen isn't known for throwing all night-ragers so Markle likely will be able to hit the hay before midnight. 
 
15. Do Not Pass Go: Monopoly is not allowed. According to Reader's Digest, in 2008, the Leeds Building Society gave the Duke of York Prince Andrew the game of Monopoly to which he responded, "We’re not allowed to play Monopoly at home. It gets too vicious." Looks like all of Meghan's get out of of jail cards have been used up. 
 
16. No Pinkies Out: Tea time is an important time for royals. Etiquette expert Myka Meier told People that the correct way to drink tea is to use your thumb and index finger to hold the top of the handle, while the middle finger supports the bottom. You should also sip from the same spot the entire time so that the rim doesn’t get lipstick stains. If you are a coffee drinker, you should loop your index finger through the handle. But beware—no pinkies out. Even the royals draw the line somewhere.
 
17. No Shellfish For You: It's an ancient royal tradition to say no to shellfish in order to avoid food poisoning. While the royal family doesn't always adhere to that rule, Queen Elizabeth still does. Let's be honest, the 92-year-old loves her traditions. Since it's only a few days in, it's still unclear if Meghan will be allowed to feast on the exoskeleton-bearing aquatic invertebrates now that she's no longer a mere mortal. But perchance she's already thrown out her hunger for molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms, along with those Godforsaken wedges.
 
And of course, there are sooooo many more!
 
Good luck, Meghan! We know you're up for the challenge!
 

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Ronaldinho To Marry Two Women on Same Day?

It has been reported that Brazilian superstar and ex-footballer, Ronaldinho is reportedly set to marry two women at the same time.

Ronaldinho is reportedly set to marry TWO women at the same time
 
Ronaldinho is to marry TWO women at the same time, according to reports.
 
The Brazilian ace could tie the knot in August with his two 'fiancees' Priscilla Coelho and Beatriz Souza. The two women are said to have been living 'harmoniously' with the former Barcelona star since December at his £5million Rio de Janeiro mansion.
 
Ronaldinho, who is claimed to be “adept at polygamy”, started dating Beatriz in 2016 but continued his relationship with Priscilla, which began several years earlier.
 
The women reportedly receive an “allowance” of around £1,500 from the footballer to spend as they wish.
 
And it is claimed he always gives the two the exact same presents, including recently buying them matching perfume during a trip abroad together.
 
Former World Player of the Year Ronaldinho asked both for their hand in marriage in January last year and gave them both engagement rings, according to Brazilian columnist Leo Dias.
 
He will marry the two women at a private ceremony inside the Santa Monica condominium, in the upmarket Barra da Tijuca district in Rio, where he has lived since 2015, according to a columnist from Brazil’s O Dia newspaper.
 
The star’s sister, Deisi, who is against her brother’s polygamy, has already said she won’t be attending, according to Dias.
 
Brazilian singer Jorge Vercillo, who is Ronaldinho’s neighbour, has reportedly been confirmed as responsible for the wedding music and one of many celebrity friends who will be attending the nuptials.
 
Both Priscilla and Beatriz are from Belo Horizonte, the city where the footballer played with Atletico Mineiro, leading the club to its first Copa Libertadores title in 2012.
 
Although Ronaldinho has never publicly confirmed his relationship with the women, friends of the star reportedly treat them both as his fiancees, according to reports.
 
Ronaldinho has allegedly been dating the two women and proposed to both at the same time
 
He also travels with both women to almost every event he attends.
 
In March this year, during a trip to Japan with his samba music band, he posted photos and a video of himself with both women to his 32 million followers of his Instagram page.
 
They also travelled with him to the Brazilian capital Brasilia a week later where the footballer, who is believed to be considering a career in politics like fellow footballer Romario, joined centre-right party the Brazilian Republican Party (PRB).
 
The party’s electoral number is 10 - the same as Ronaldinho’s Barcelona shirt.
 
But party insiders have privately voiced concerns that Ronaldinho’s unorthodox lifestyle choices could harm his chances at the ballot box, according to reports.
 
Last April family members of Priscilla were reportedly planning on confronting the star after reports emerged that he was dating both her and Beatriz.
 
A family friend told Brazil’s Extra newspaper: “They are upset because they discovered that every present he gives to Priscilla, he also gives to the other girl.”
 
The retired footballer is apparently aiming for a career in politics
 
Claiming they are concerned about Priscilla’s reputation as one of Ronaldinho’s two lovers, the friend said: “She is almost being fired from her job because of this."
 
***
Source: The Sun UK

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Ebola Patients Who Sneaked Out Of Hospital, Die After Returning Home

Some Ebola patients who had the nerve to run away from where they were being held, have reportedly died afterwards.

File photo: An Ebola camp
 
Doctors have confirmed that three people with Ebola have fled the hospital in DR Congo on Wednesday, Punch Metro reports.
 
However, two of them have died after returning home, Doctors without Borders (MSF) said.
 
“Between Sunday May 20 and Tuesday May 22, three patients voluntarily left the isolation unit at Wangata hospital” in Mbandaka, Henry Gray, the agency’s emergency intervention coordinator in that city, said in a statement.
 
“The first patient, who was on the brink of being cured, left the hospital on Sunday evening,” he said.
 
“The two others left the facility with their families on Monday night. One of them died at home, and his body was was returned to the health centre for a secure burial,” Gray said.
 
“The second was taken back to the centre yesterday morning and died during the night.”
 
The Democratic Republic of Congo announced on May 8 that there had been cases of the notorious haemorrhagic fever in a remote northwestern district called Bikoro.
 
Last Thursday, the first case was reported in a city — in Mbandaka, a transport hub located on the Congo River.
 
Twenty-seven people have died out of 58 cases, according to a World Health Organization toll.
 
Lacking a licensed drug to treat the contagious disease, doctors use tried-and-trusted measures to contain its spread by quarantining patients and tracing those who have been in contact with them.
 
MSF, which supports the hospital in Wangata, said it was important to understand that “forced hospitalisation” would not work.
 
“The commitment of the patient” to being quarantined “is fundamental,” it said, highlighting the need for public awareness on how to halt the outbreak.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Monday, May 21, 2018

How Liverpool Can Beat Real Madrid At The Champions League Final - Xabi Alonso Speaks Up


Former Liverpool player, Xabi Alonso, has spoken out on how the Premier League club can beat Real Madrid at the Champions League final.
Xabi Alonso
 
Xabi Alonso, a former Spanish footballer and Liverpool ace, believes the club can beat Real Madrid and be European champions.
 
However he says this can happen only if they cope with the pressure of playing in a Champions League final, the Agence France Presse, AFP, reports.
 
Alonso won Europe´s premier tournament with Liverpool in 2005 and Real in 2014, having spent five years playing for both of this season´s finalists.
 
Real are no strangers to this stage of the competition. They have reached three of the last four Champions League finals and won them all, with Saturday´s showdown offering them the chance for a third consecutive triumph.
 
Liverpool, meanwhile, are without a single player to have experienced a match of this magnitude. Only their coach Jurgen Klopp has gone the distance in Europe, with Borussia Dortmund, who were beaten by Bayern Munich in 2013.
 
“They have to prepare for the game very well because Real Madrid have all the experience,” Alonso said, in a video interview sent to AFP on Monday.

“For all the Liverpool players it will be their first Champions League final. They have to deal with this emotional side which is almost as important as the football side.

“If they can get the right balance between the excitement and the motivation, that will be the right way to approach this final.”
 
Alonso thinks Liverpool will need to play “the perfect game” to cause an upset in Kiev but Klopp´s men have arguably Europe´s most dangerous attack in their favour.
 
Three of the four top scorers in this season´s Champions League belong to Liverpool, with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino both on 10 and Sadio Mane on nine. Real´s Cristiano Ronaldo is out in front on 15.
 
“Whenever they have space, Real need to control them,” Alonso said. “They are able to attack through the middle of the pitch, they can connect with short passes very well, they combine very well.

“They are definitely one of the biggest strengths of Liverpool at the moment.”
 
While Liverpool are gunning for their sixth European success, Real are chasing their 13th to move six clear of AC Milan in the all-time list of champions.
 
“They are making history, they are big and getting bigger,” Alonso said. “What they have achieved in the last few years is not only a big surprise, a few years back you would think it was absolutely impossible.

“Zidane has done so well to manage the team and make the players have great belief in what he does. He has my total respect and admiration.”


When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

World Cup 2018: Spain Releases Squad List As Morata, Fabregas, Others Miss Out (See Full List)

Ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, the Spanish national football team has released its 23-man squad and notable names including Fabregas, Morata, Alonso, all missed out.

 
File photo
 
Alvaro Morata has missed out on a place in Spain's squad for the World Cup in Russia, with Cesc Fabregas, Marcos Alonso, Ander Herrera and Hector Bellerin also omitted by Julen Lopetegui.
 
Lopetegui named his 23-man squad for the tournament on Monday, with four Premier League players included - David de Gea, Cesar Azpilicueta, Nacho Monreal and David Silva.
 
However, there was no place for Chelsea striker Morata, with Isco, Sergio Asensio, Lucas Vazquez, Rodrigo and Diego Costa preferred in attack.
 
Morata has struggled for fitness and form since joining the Blues from Real Madrid last summer, and has scored 11 goals in the Premier League since arriving in England.
 
Spain sqaud list
 
Meanwhile, Andres Iniesta has been included in the squad the day after playing his final game for Barcelona.
 
"We've taken the players we feel are the best and feel that we have the ingredients to challenge for the title and are just anxious for things to start now," said Lopetegui.
 
"We feel that each one will bring his style and personality to the team and this is important for each game and each situation."
 
Spain open their tournament against neighbours Portugal on June 15 before they face Iran and Morocco in their remaining Group B fixtures.
 
Lopetegui added: "This is the best and most beautiful competition in the world but at the same time the most difficult as you only have three initial games to prove oneself."
 
 
Spain squad:
 
Goalkeepers: David de Gea (Manchester United), Pepe Reina (Napoli), Kepa Arrizabalaga (Athletic Bilbao).
 
Defenders: Jordi Alba (Barcelona), Nacho Monreal (Arsenal), Alvaro Odriozola (Real Sociedad), Nacho Fernandez (Real Madrid), Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea).
 
Midfielders: Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Isco (Real Madrid), Thiago Alcantara (Bayern Munich), David Silva (Manchester City), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Saul Niguez (Atletico Madrid), Koke (Atletico Madrid).
 
Forwards: Marco Asensio (Real Madrid), Iago Aspas (Celta Vigo), Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid), Rodrigo Moreno (Valencia), Lucas Vazquez (Real Madrid).

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Royal Wedding: What Harry and Meghan Did After Their Wedding Reception In Windsor Castle


What Prince Harry and his beautiful bride, Meghan did after their grand royal wedding reception has been revealed.
Harry and Meghan
 
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle snuck out of Windsor Castle this afternoon just hours after their wild Wedding Reception, Daily Star UK reports.
 
It was confirmed that the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex made a sneaky getaway today, managing to avoid the waiting press and public.
 
It was just hours after the couple danced the night away at a wild celebration held at Frogmore House.
 
Celebrity guests celebrated the couple tying the knot by downing themed cocktails, eating up-market fast food and watching a spectacular fireworks display while dancing toa top DJ.
 
But the fun did not stop when Frogmore House closed its doors, with some guests carrying on the party at trendy London hotspot the Chiltern Firehouse.
 
British designer Clare Waight Keller, who designed Meghan's stunning wedding dress, Harry rushed up to her to praise her efforts soon after the ceremony.
 
She said: "He came straight up to me and he said 'oh my God, thank you, she looks absolutely stunning'."
 
Asked about the moment Meghan was able to look at herself dressed and ready in the mirror on Saturday morning, Ms Waight Keller added: "She was just glowing," adding "She was absolutely radiant."
 
Harry's dad, the Prince of Wales staged the black-tie evening dinner for his son Harry and new daughter-in-law Meghan, who arrived in an environmentally-friendly 1968 Jaguar E-Type Concept Zero that ran on electric power.
 
Guests dined on posh burgers among other dishes, with candyfloss on offer for those with a sweet tooth – and there was reportedly a cocktail named "When Harry Met Meghan", a reference to the romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally starring Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal.
 
According to reports, the couple is planning to honeymoon in Namibia.
 
They will soon be whisked off to a £500-a-night hideaway in the south-west African country.
 
Harry was previously said to have contacted lodge company Natural Selection to organise an adventure in the remote country.


When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

May 20th Celebration in Misaje #PhotoNews #NationalDay2018 #Cameroon

Divisional Officer for Misaje
Though the atmosphere was tensed with combat ready forces of law and order almost in every corner, as early as 9am, on May 20th, 2018, pupils, students, various recognized groups and militants some political parties as well as associations could be seen in their uniforms moving towards the Misaje grandstand. When the Divisional Officer for Misaje arrived the ceremonial ground, he was received by the mayor of Misaje Council, Sammy Mbgata.

Activities to commemorate National Day began with the singing of the National Anthem and after the anthem; the Divisional Officer for Misaje decorated with citizens with medals for their contribution in nation building.  Babayor Abubakar, young business man cum YCPDM Section President was one of the two persons who were decorated.
 After performing the decoration rite, the march past started with the military that were closely followed by the forces of Law and Order.
They were immediately followed by pupils of the nursery and primary schools, secondary, high schools and vocational schools. The next set was made up of recognized socio-cultural, economic groups, trade unions and the achaba’s union. The most attention-grabbing during the match-past was that pupils and students had the opening to convey various messages in relation to the theme of the National Day in songs while marching. In songs, the main theme that flowed to the hearing of everyone was the notion of PEACE and UNITY the act of living in peace.
There euphoria and fanfare when political parties were called up for marching. The CPDM stole the show with over the political parties in terms of numerical strength. In terms of numerical strength, the CPDM carried the day. However, ANDP which made it first public appearance in Misaje sent emitting signals that ANDP party is out for real business. On the other hand, UDP party also made its first public appearance for the first time and the number was negligible. The Driver’s union and the achaba riders closed the march past. The achaba union who a day before benefitted some bikes support from Minister Fuh Calistus Gentry thrilled the crowd as they ride-past chanting.
 Some of the groups that caught special attention during the march-past included Happy Daughters of Bem, Misaje Shaa Union, Dumbu Drivers Union, the Achaba Union of Sabongida, Man No Know group of Misaje, Talk about Women, Koko of Mbissa, Bochung Women group, Cassava and Garri union, Agric Pharmacy women,   Merry sisters. Abi Yu Ngir etc. 









When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Friday, May 18, 2018

New Pig Virus could Pose Threat to Humans

A new virus found in pigs may pose a threat to people, new research suggests.
Researchers found the virus was able to infect cultured human cells and cells of other species in a lab. The discovery is raising concerns about a potentially dangerous outbreak in the United States.
The pig virus, known as Porcine deltacoronavirus, was first identified in China in 2012. It was found in pigs but it was not associated with disease.
Two years later, it was discovered in the United States during an outbreak of diarrhea among pigs in Ohio. Since then, it's been detected in other countries. Young pigs infected with the virus develop severe diarrhea and vomiting that can be deadly.
To date, no human cases of the disease have been reported. But scientists are worried that the virus could infect people due to its similarity to the viruses responsible for the outbreaks of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome).
"Before it was found in pigs -- including in the Ohio outbreak -- it had only been found in various birds," said the study's senior author, Linda Saif, a professor of veterinary preventive medicine who's with Ohio State University's Food Animal Health Research Program. "We're very concerned about emerging coronaviruses and worry about the harm they can do to animals and their potential to jump to humans."
The ability of a virus to jump between species depends on its ability to find receptors on the cells of people or animals, explained the study's lead researcher, Scott Kenney.
"A receptor is like a lock in the door. If the virus can pick the lock, it can get into the cell and potentially infect the host," Kenney said in a university news release. He's an assistant professor of veterinary preventive medicine at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center.
To investigate the pig virus' potential to jump to other species, researchers at Ohio State and Utrecht University in the Netherlands honed in on a particular cellular receptor called aminopeptidase N.
The study, published online this week in the journal PNAS, showed the virus could bind to the receptor in human cells and to cells from cats and chickens.
However, these were cells cultured in a lab setting.
The researchers added that their findings don't prove that the pig virus can cause disease in other species. "But that's something we obviously want to know," Saif said.
The team plans to continue its investigation, looking for antibodies in human blood that would indicate that the pig virus may have infected people.
"We now know for sure that [the pig virus] can bind to and enter cells of humans and birds," Saif said. "Our next step is to look at susceptibility -- can sick pigs transmit their virus to chickens, or vice versa, and to humans?"

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Thursday, May 17, 2018

5 Reasons Why You Should Consider Fasting Once A Week - Dietitian Shares Important Benefits

The five important reasons why we should all consider fasting once a week and how it could stop us from putting on weight this winter has been shared by a renown dietitian.

 
Australian dietitian, Susie Burrell (pictured) said regular fasting has a range of benefits and may help you lose weight
 
With winter fast approaching, many of us are trying to stick to a healthy eating plan to avoid gaining the excess kilos during the colder months.
 
According to an Australian dietitian, Susie Burrell embracing regular fasting could be the answer to maintaining your weight.
 
'While fasting is not a new invention, many religious and cultural groups have been fasting for thousands of years, the potential benefits it offers for weight loss is still being understood,' she said on her blog.
 
'One thing we do know is that various types of fasting offer a myriad of health benefits and as such embracing some form of regular fasting is most likely a good thing for all of us, even if we do not resort to the most restrictive regimes.'
 
Here are some of the main benefits of fasting:
 
1. It resets our hormones
 
Hormones can cause havoc on our weight, particularly if there's a serious imbalance in the body.
 
'While weight loss is linked to some types of fasting, it is actually our inflammatory markers – cholesterol, blood glucose, insulin, blood pressure that all improve when we fast,' said Susie.
 
'Long term controlled levels of all of these markers is linked to a reduce risk of developing a number of chronic disease including Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some types of cancer.'
 
2. It reminds us what it is like to be hungry
 
As we move into winter, there's no denying that many of us indulge in comfort foods and overeat.
 
'Human beings rarely eat when they are hungry, rather they eat because they are tired, bored or because other people around them are eating,' explained Susie.
 
She said having a low calorie diet for 16-24 hours will help remind the body of what it is like to feel hungry.
 
3. It helps us eat less
 
Portion sizes have increased dramatically in the past five to 10 years and many of us are becoming overweight or obese because of it.
 
'It is safe to say that most of us eat far too much each and every day,' said Susie.
 
'A regular fast is an easy way to remind us how much we are actually eating and how little we actually need to eat to maintain our weight.'
 
4. It buffers our high calorie days
 
Sticking to a healthy eating plan all week is difficult when you might not be able to control how your food is being prepared.
 
In particular, social events can easily lead to overindulging in too many calories.
 
'There will always be days when we eat far too much - celebratory meals, parties, elaborate restaurant meals,' said Susie.
 
'Having a day or two that helps to buffer these high calorie days via plenty of salads and soups is an easy way to balance your overall calorie intake without dieting.'
 
5. You may lose weight
 
Many view winter as a time where weight gain is almost inevitable, but you can lose a few kilograms without dieting.
 
'One of the best outcomes of regular fasting – whether it is eating only in an eight-hour window or having a low calorie day or two each week is that you may even lose 1-2kg a month without dieting,' said Susie.
 
Source: DailyMail UK

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Ebola Outbreak Spreads To DR Congo City - WHO Releases Alarm

The dreaded Ebola disease raging through DR Congo, has reportedly spread into the city, a development which has sparked serious tension.

File photo: An Ebola camp
 
According to the BBC, the World Health Organisation has reported that the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo has spread from the countryside into a city, prompting fears that the disease will be increasingly hard to control.
 
Health Minister Oly Ilunga Kalenga confirmed a case in Mbandaka, a city of a million people about 130km (80 miles) from the area where the first cases were confirmed earlier this month.
 
The city is a major transportation hub with routes to the capital Kinshasa.
 
Forty-two people have now been infected and 23 people are known to have died.
 
Ebola is a serious infectious illness that causes internal bleeding and often proves fatal. It can spread rapidly through contact with small amounts of bodily fluid and its early flu-like symptoms are not always obvious.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

World Cup 2018: England Rejects Arsenal Midfielder, Wilshere


The midfielder could be headed for sunny Greece rather than Russia following an interaction with a fan on social media.
 
Jack Wilshere
 
Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has intimated that he has been left out of England's World Cup 2018 squad, having playfully accepted an offer of a holiday to Greece from a stranger on Twitter.
 
The 26-year-old has not appeared for the Three Lions since Euro 2016, but appeared to be in the running for a place on the plane to Russia.
 
However, a series of late-season knocks are said to have convinced manager Gareth Southgate to look elsewhere. And Wilshere suggested he will be free over the off-season with his response to someone inviting him on a trip to Zante with "the lads".
 
Alongside two laughing emojis, he replied on Twitter: "Let me know the dates and I'm in."
 
Wilshere continued the light-hearted interaction by adding: "Can I bring the baby as well?"
 
World Cup 2018 squads have been revealed by many of the 32 teams involved in June and July's finals this week, with Gareth Southgate to name his 23-man on Wednesday.
 
The tournament gets under way with Russia vs Saudi Arabia on Thursday June 14. England's first match is against Tunisia on Monday June 18 before group games against Panama and Belgium.
 
Spain, Brazil, Germany, Argentina and France are among the favourites to win the 2018 edition, although Belgium, England, Portugal and more will be hoping to cause a surprise.


When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Facebook Closes 583 Fake Accounts


Millions of fake accounts used to perpetrate unscrupulous activities have been taken down on Facebook as part of efforts to make the platform safer for use.
 
Facebook user
 
Facebook said it axed 583 million fake accounts in the first three months of 2018.
 
It said those closures came on top of blocking millions of attempts to create fake accounts every day.
 
The social media giant also detailed how it enforces “community standards” against s*xual or violent images, terrorist propaganda or hate speech.
 
Despite this, the group said fake profiles still make up 3-4 percent of all active accounts.
 
In a report released yesterday, Facebook claimed it “detected almost 100 percent of spam and removed 837 million posts assimilated to spam over the same period.
 
“Facebook pulled or slapped warnings on nearly 30 million posts containing s*xual or violent images, terrorist propaganda or hate speech during the first quarter.

“Improved technology using artificial intelligence had helped it act on 3.4 million posts containing graphic violence, nearly three times more than it had in the last quarter of 2017.
 
“In 85.6 percent of the cases, Facebook detected the images before being alerted to them by users,” said the report
 
The figure represents between 0.22 and 0.27 percent of the total content viewed by Facebook’s more than two billion users from January through March.
 
“In other words, of every 10,000 content views, an estimate of 22 to 27 contained graphic violence,” the report added.
 
Responses to rule violations include removing content, adding warnings to content that may be disturbing to some users while not violating Facebook standards; and notifying law enforcement in case of a “specific, imminent and credible threat to human life”.
 
Improved IT also helped Facebook take action against 1.9 million posts containing terrorist propaganda, a 73 percent increase. Nearly all were dealt with before any alert was raised, the company said.
 
It attributed the increase to the enhanced use of photo detection technology.
 
Hate speech is harder to police using automated methods, however, as racist or homophobic, hate speech is often quoted on posts by their targets or activists.


When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

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Wednesday, May 16, 2018

Runaway Athletes at Common Wealth Games Resurface

Reports say a group of runaway athletes who vamoosed into "sosongho" the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games last month have finally resurfaced with their visas due to expire later tonight.
Daily Telegraph reports that the group of African athletes who went missing are now consulting with the Refugee Advice and Casework Service in Randwick, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
Approximately 19 athletes disappeared during the Games, including five boxers and three wrestlers from Cameroon – one of whom was meant to face Kiwi fighter David Nyika in the heavyweight section quarter-finals.
The Australian Government emphasised during last month’s event that the athletes had not breached their visas by leaving the athletes’ village but they were warnings they would be tracked down as well as an urge to depart before the visas expired today.
“If they don’t want to be held in detention or locked up at the local watch house, they’d better jump on a plane before the 15th and comply with their visa’s conditions,” Australia’s Home Affairs minister Peter Dutton said.
It isn’t the first case of athletes disappearing during the Commonwealth Games.
In 2012, seven athletes from Cameroon were reported missing while back in 2006 in Melbourne, 14 athletes from Sierra Leone were eventually granted asylum after more than 40 competitors went missing.

Source: cameroononline.org

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Study: Yogurt Might Lessen Chronic Inflammation


May 15 (UPI) -- Consuming yogurt may help reduce chronic inflammation, which is a factor in bowel and cardiovascular disease, arthritis, asthma and obesity, according to a new study conducted in Wisconsin, known as the dairy capital of the United States.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin at Madison studied the effects of yogurt on chronic inflammation, which is when the body attacks itself and affects organs and systems. Their findings were published Monday in the Journal of Nutrition.
"Eating eight ounces of low-fat yogurt before a meal is a feasible strategy to improve post-meal metabolism and thus may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases," Ruisong Pei, a UW-Madison food science postdoctoral researcher involved in the studies, said in press release.
As part of the body's innate immune system, inflammation is the first line of defense against illness and injury. But it becomes harmful when the inflammatory response lasts too long.
Anti-inflammatory medications -- including aspirin, naproxen, hydrocortisone and prednisone -- reduce the effects of chronic inflammation by improving the intestinal lining. It prevents endotoxins, which are pro-inflammatory molecules made by gut microbes, from entering the blood stream.
But the drugs have risks and side effects.
For two decades, researchers previously explored dairy products as a potential dietary treatment.
"There have been some mixed results over the years, but [a recent article] shows that things are pointing more toward anti-inflammatory, particularly for fermented dairy," said Brad Bolling, an assistant professor of food science at the school. He cited a 2017 review paper that assessed 52 clinical trials.
"I wanted to look at the mechanism more closely and look specifically at yogurt," Bolling said.
Bolling and his researchers enrolled 120 premenopausal women, 50 percent of whom were obese and the other 50 percent non-obese. For nine weeks, half of the participants were assigned to eat 12 ounces of low-fat yogurt every day and a control group ate non-dairy pudding.
During the study, blood samples were studied.
"The results indicate that ongoing consumption of yogurt may be having a general anti-inflammatory effect," Bolling said.
Those results were previously published last year in the British Journal of Nutrition.
In new research, participants were also involved in a high-calorie meal challenge at the beginning and end of their nine-week dietary intervention. They started with yogurt or non-dairy pudding followed by a large high-fat, high-carb breakfast meal.
"It was two sausage muffins and two hash browns, for a total of 900 calories. But everybody managed it. They'd been fasting, and they were pretty hungry," Bolling said.
In both challenges, blood work showed that the yogurt "appetizer" helped improve some key biomarkers of endotoxin exposure and inflammation. Also glucose metabolism improved in obese participants in speeding the reduction of post-meal blood glucose levels.
Researchers couldn't find compounds in yogurt responsible for the shift in biomarkers or how they act in the body.
"The goal is to identify the components and then get human evidence to support their mechanism of action in the body. That's the direction we are going," Bolling said. "Ultimately, we would like to see these components optimized in foods, particularly for medical situations where it's important to inhibit inflammation through the diet. We think this is a promising approach."


When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)