This Week Fully Funded Scholarships at Tsinghua University in China, 2018

Find below latest scholarship opportunities abroad. Click on any of them to apply.

1. Fully Funded Scholarships at Tsinghua University in China, 2018

2. PhD Scholarships at University of Wollongong in Australia, 2018

3. 10 Scholarships at British University of Cyprus, 2018

4. Scholarships at Alexandria University in Egypt, 2018-2019

5. 2018 Scholarship in Chemical Engineering at University of Nottingham Ningbo in China

 


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

Anti-Malaria: Eating 'Ogbono' Soup during Malaria Treatment is Helpful-Researchers Say

A Pharmacist has opened up on how eating Ogbono soup while administering an Anti-Malaria drug would improve the efficacy of the drug and the health of the individual. 

A Pharmacist, Dr Chukwuma Agubata, has said that taking Irvingia Fat from nuts of Irvingia Gabonensis Var Excelsa, known as ‘Ogbono’ soup has helped to improve the efficacy of anti-malarial drugs.

 Agubata, a researcher and lecturer in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, made the assertion when he spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Lagos.

 He said that eating Ogbono soup while administering Artemether, an Anti-Malaria drug would improve the efficacy of the drug.

 He said that Ogbono would assist the drug to pass through all the barriers to get to its destination in the body and start working properly.

According to him, the finding came out of a research work entitled “Novel Lipid Microparticles for Effective Delivery of Artemether Anti-Malaria Drug Using a Locally-Sourced Irvingia Fat from Nuts of Irvingia Gabonensis Var Excelsa (Ogbono)."

“Malaria is an endemic disease and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, and we also know that most malaria drugs are administered by mouth — the Artemether Anti-Malaria drugs.

“’But there is a major challenge which is the low water solubility of the drug which limits it dissolution and absorption into the blood stream; all this also affect the efficacy of the drug.

“’So, what we have done in this research is to improve the anti-malaria efficacy of Artemether drugs by formulating with Irvingia Fat (Ogbono) which is locally sourced so that there could be improved delivery and efficacy.

“In our research, we got a very good result and this shows that our local materials can actually improve the efficacy of some drugs that already exist,’’ he told NAN.

“The Ogbono was formulated as microparticles, where the fat from it was used to entrap the drug and it became a carrier for the drug to the bloodstream.

“So, if you take Ogbono soup while administering or taking Artemether, there should be an improvement as it will assist the drug to pass through all the barriers to get to its destination in the body and start working properly.’’

 Agubata called for support from the government and private organisations to take the research to the next level.

 “We intend to take this research to the next level with the support of corporate organisations and the government.

“We will be able to do local mobilisation and mass produce the locally sourced materials so that Nigerians will benefit.

“Going forward, there is hope in reducing the burden of malaria with this research,’’ he said.

(NAN)

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

Gospel Singer Tells Ladies To Date As Many As 5 Men

A popular Ghanaian gospel musician has advised young ladies to date multiple partners, before they get married, adding that it will give the ladies chance to assess the guys and choose the best.

 

Esaaba Haizal

While speaking during an interview with Abusua FM in Ghana, popular US-based Ghanaian female gospel musician, Esaaba Haizel, stirred some controversy with her advice on dating as she advised young ladies to date three to five men.

The gospel singer disclosed that her advise stems from the fact that she believes that dating multiple partners is necessary in order to assess them before selecting Mr Right.

 Speaking further, she explained that dating one man is very risky because the man might break the woman’s heart by jilting her after heavily investing in the relationship. She quickly added that the ladies should be careful not get in any sexual activities with the men.

She said: "I advised young girls on my Facebook wall to have three to five men at the same time without having any sexual intercourse with them. You just have to be firm not to sleep with them.

"Having multiple partners will help you to study them, then you let the rest go, by choosing just one. Why waste your time to date only one person?"

The gospel singer further explained that dating multiple men also has many other advantages aside from the giving the lady a chance to assess them.

"I’m saying this because you can’t have it all. One of the men would be interested in your business, one would be concerned about the food you eat on daily basis thereby supply your needs, the other will be interested in the shoes, make ups, clothing you wear, the list goes on," she stated.

 Though Esaaba's view sounds controversial but she believes it is good advice which would not be given even in church.

"I’m a Christian, is there something wrong with my advice to young ladies who aspire to marry? It's a good advice your pastor cannot give you," she quizzed.

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

6 Online Scams You Need To Avoid

 Internet users around the world have been urged to be safety conscious whenever they are online to avoid falling victim to scammers.

Pictorial representation of a scammer

 

Here are 6 important scams you must watch out for when you are online so as not to fall victim to online fraudsters, according to this article by Reader's Digest.

 

1. Free trial offer! (Just pay forever)

How it works: You see an Internet offer for a free one-month trial of some amazing product—often a teeth whitener or a weight-loss program. All you pay is $5.95 for shipping and handling.

 

What’s really going on: Buried in fine print, often in a color that washes into the background, are terms that obligate you to pay $79 to $99 a month in fees, forever.

 

The big picture: “These guys are really shrewd,” says Christine Durst, an Internet fraud expert who has consulted for the FBI and the FTC. “They know that most people don’t read all the fine print before clicking on ‘I agree,’ and even people who glance at it just look for numbers. So the companies spell out the numbers, with no dollar signs; anything that has to do with money or a time frame gets washed into the text.” That’s exactly what you’ll see in the terms for Xtreme Cleanse, a weight-loss pill that ends up costing “seventy-nine dollars ninety-five cents plus five dollars and ninety-five cents shipping and handling” every month once the 14-day free trial period ends or until you cancel.

 

Avoidance maneuver: Read the fine print on offers, and don’t believe every testimonial. Check TinEye.com, a search engine that scours the Web for identical photos. If that woman with perfect teeth shows up everywhere promoting different products, you can be fairly certain her “testimonial” is bogus. Reputable companies will allow you to cancel, but if you can’t get out of a “contract,” cancel your card immediately, then negotiate a refund; if that doesn’t work, appeal to your credit card company.

 

Don't worry: there are plenty of free things available on the Internet, scam-free. Here's our guide.

 

2. The hot spot imposter (He’s close, real close)

How it works: You’re sitting in an airport or a coffee shop and you log into the local Wi-Fi zone. It could be free, or it could resemble a pay service like Boingo Wireless. You get connected, and everything seems fine.

 

What’s really going on: The site only looks legitimate. It’s actually run by a nearby criminal from a laptop. If it’s a “free” site, the crook is mining your computer for banking, credit card, and other password information. If it’s a fake pay site, he gets your purchase payment, then sells your card number to other crooks.

The big picture: Fake Wi-Fi hot spots are cropping up everywhere, and it can be difficult to tell them from the real thing. “It’s lucrative and easy to do,” says Brian Yoder, vice president of engineering at CyberDefender, a manufacturer of antivirus software. “Criminals duplicate the legitimate Web page of a Wi-Fi provider like Verizon or AT&T and tweak it so it sends your information to their laptop.”

 

Avoidance maneuver: Make sure you’re not set up to automatically connect to nonpreferred networks. (For PCs, go to the Network and Sharing Center in the Control Panel. Click on the link for the Wi-Fi network you're currently using. A box with a "General" tab should pop up. Click "Wireless Properties." Then, uncheck the box next to "Connect automatically when this network is in range," and click OK to enable. For Macs, click on the Wifi button in the upper right, click "Open Network Preferences," and check “Ask to join new networks.”) Before traveling, buy a $20 Visa or MasterCard gift card to purchase airport Wi-Fi access (enough for two days) so you won’t broadcast your credit or debit card information. Or set up an advance account with providers at airports you’ll be visiting. This map lists Wi-Fi services at all U.S. airports. And don’t do any banking or Internet shopping from public hot spots unless you’re certain the network is secure. (Look for https in the URL, or check the lower right-hand corner of your browser for a small padlock icon.) Learn more about how to disable automatic Wi-Fi connections.

 

3. Beware of the not-so-sweet tweet (It’s a real long shot)

How it works: You get a “tweet” from a Twitter follower, raving about a contest for a free iPad or some other expensive prize: “Just click on the link to learn more.”

 

What’s really going on: The link downloads a “bot” (software robot), adding your computer to a botnet of “zombies” that scammers use to send spam e-mail.

 

The big picture: Scammers are taking advantage of URL-shortening services that allow Twitter users to share links that would otherwise be longer than the 140-character maximum for a tweet. These legitimate services break down a huge URL to 10 or 15 characters. But when users can’t see the actual URL, it’s easy for bad guys to post malicious links.

 

Avoidance maneuver: Before clicking on a Twitter link from a follower you don’t know, check out his profile, says Josh George, a website entrepreneur in Vancouver, Washington, who follows online scams. “If he’s following hundreds of thousands of people and nobody is following him, it’s a bot,” he says. Here's how to protect yourself online to avoid being scammed.

 

4. Your computer is infected! (And we can help)

How it works: A window pops up about a legitimate-sounding antivirus software program like “Antivirus XP 2010” or “SecurityTool,” alerting you that your machine has been infected with a dangerous bug. You’re prompted to click on a link that will run a scan. Of course, the virus is found—and for a fee, typically about $50, the company promises to clean up your computer.

 

What’s really going on: When you click on the link, the bogus company installs malware—malicious software—on your computer. No surprise, there will be no cleanup. But the thieves have your credit card number, you’re out the money, and your computer is left on life support.

 

The big picture: “Scareware” like this is predicted to be the most costly Internet scam of 2010, with over a million users affected daily, according to Dave Marcus, director of security and research for McAfee Labs, a producer of antivirus software. “This is a very clever trick,” says Marcus, “because people have been told for the past 20 years to watch out for computer viruses.” Even computer veterans fall prey. Stevie Wilson, a blogger and social-media business consultant in Los Angeles, got a pop-up from a company called Personal Antivirus. “It looked very Microsoft-ish, and it said I had downloaded a virus,” she recalls. “It did a scan and said it found 40 Trojan horses, worms, and viruses. I was concerned that they were infecting e-mails I was sending to clients, so I paid to upgrade my anti-virus software. Right after I rebooted, my computer stopped working.” Wilson had to wipe her computer hard drive clean and reinstall every-thing. Although most of her files were backed up, she lost personal photos and hundreds of iTunes files. “I felt powerless,” she says.

 

Avoidance maneuver: If you get a pop-up virus warning, close the window without clicking on any links. Then run a full system scan using legitimate, updated antivirus software like free editions of AVG Anti-Virus or ThreatFire AntiVirus.

 

5. Third world of charity scams, that is.

How it works: You get an e-mail with an image of a malnourished orphan—from Haiti or another developing nation. “Please give what you can today,” goes the charity’s plea, followed by a request for cash. To speed relief efforts, the e-mail recommends you send a Western Union wire transfer as well as detailed personal information—your address and your Social Security and checking account numbers. 

 

What’s really going on: The charity is a scam designed to harvest your cash and banking information. Nothing goes to helping disaster victims.

 

The big picture: The Internet, e-mail, and text messaging have given new life to age-old charity scams. “These cons watch the headlines very closely,” says Durst, and they quickly set up websites and PayPal accounts to take advantage of people’s kindness and sympathy. Durst recalls seeing fake donation websites within days of Michael Jackson’s death, urging fans to contribute to his favorite charities. Natural disasters, too, tend to spawn all sorts of fake charities.

 

Avoidance maneuver: Donate to real charities on their own websites. Find the sites yourself instead of clicking on links in e-mail solicitations; in the wake of the Haiti earthquake, scammers even set up fake Red Cross sites that looked real. Genuine aid organizations will accept donations by credit card or check; they won’t ask for wire transfers, bank account information, or Social Security numbers. Donations via text message are okay as long as you confirm the number with the organization.

6. Travel scams (Don't get wander-lost)

How it works: You get an email advertising an amazing deal on airline tickets to some exotic destination. Or, you see such a deal on the social media account of what appears to be a legitimate airline.

 

What's really going on: Like the "free trial" scam, these travel scams often have all sorts of extra costs hidden in the fine print behind that alluring cheap price. Most likely, you'll end up with a lighter wallet and no plane ticket. 

 

The big picture: The peak time for these kinds of online scams is summertime, when people have vacation on the brain. They're also common right before holidays such as Christmas and New Years. Scammers intentionally choose exotic, remote places that would be difficult to get to without their "amazing offer." (That would make the world's least visited country, which is stunningly beautiful, a perfect candidate!) Finally, they throw in an expiration date, saying that you've only got so many weeks or months to take advantage of this offer, hoping that a sense of urgency will rope you in.

 

Avoidance maneuver: Scour the details of the offer before clicking any sort of confirmation button, and certainly before giving any payment information. Make sure that what you see really is what you get. And, even if you crave a solo trip, it can't hurt to get a second pair of eyes as well. Another good tip is just to stick to travel agencies you trust; there are plenty of legitimate sites that still offer good deals.

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

List of Five World's Highest Paid Footballers Published. Checkout Latest Ranking

 A new list of the highest paid footballers in the world has emerged, showing how fierce rivals Ronaldo and Messi as well as others now rank.

Ronaldo and Messi

Lionel Messi has pocketed nearly £30million more than Cristiano Ronaldo this season, while Gerard Pique is the fifth best paid player in the world, according to research.

 France Football published a list of the best paid players, taking into consideration not only their wages but also bonuses and sponsorship deals.

 Messi comes out top, with the Barcelona star raking in an incredible £110million.

 His Real Madrid rival Ronaldo earned £82m, while Paris St Germain striker Neymar had an income of £71m.

 Fourth on the list is Gareth Bale, despite the Real Madrid forward enduring a difficult campaign in which he’s started just 16 La Liga games.

 In fifth is Pique, a surprising inclusion considering he plays in defence. Typically strikers are the best rewarded players, but the Barcelona centre-back has crept in with earnings of £25m during 2017/18.

***

Source: Metro UK

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