WebLifeNG

Netherlands Embassy on Issuing Visa to Nigerians

2017-08-22T17:31:00.000-07:00

The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Nigeria, on Tuesday, reminded Nigerians that it was no longer in the business of issuing them visas.

The Embassy’s Charge d’ Affaires, Mr Michel Deleen, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that the Embassy had since 2013 swapped its visa issuance processes in Nigeria.

Deleen said that the Embassy had since 2013 swapped its visas issuance to Nigerians with the French Consulate General in Lagos and the Embassy of Belgium in Abuja.

Let me remind Nigerians that since 2013, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Nigeria had signed agreements with the French Consulate-General in Lagos and the Embassy of Belgium in Abuja.

What this means is that we have swapped our visa application processes in Nigeria with the French Consulate-General in Lagos and the Embassy of Belgium in Abuja.

Let me remind Nigerians that under these agreements, any Nigerian that wants to visit the Netherlands for business, study or tourism should always process their visa applications through the French Consulate-General in Lagos and the Embassy of Belgium in Abuja,

he said.

Deleen also enjoined Nigerians to always apply for visas to the Netherlands, through VFS Global to the French Consulate-General in Lagos and the Embassy of Belgium in Abuja.

The Charge d’ Affaires said that it was important for Nigerians and other nationals in Nigeria to know that VFS Global was the internationally-authorized organisation for receiving all visa applications.

Let me also advise anyone seeking visas to the Netherlands through the French Consulate-General in Lagos and the Embassy of Belgium in Abuja, to always first apply through VFS Global.

When you first apply to VFS Global for visas to the Netherlands, VFS Global would thereafter send them to the French Consulate-General in Lagos and the Embassy of Belgium in Abuja for processing,

he said.

VFS Global is the world’s largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions worldwide.

The company manages administrative and non-judgmental tasks related to visas, passports, identity management and other citizen services for its client governments.

NOVA PROPHETS By: Osarose Aifuwa Timothy

2017-08-20T17:11:00.000-07:00

The longer they rule, the less benefit the people derive. Nigeria now needs a ‘mind revolution,’ a revolution that calls forth a return to decency, probity, transparency of process and fairness in outcome.

This can be achieved not by subterfuge, divide and rule and turning Nigeria in a field of discord or a street of broken institutions. It is accomplished by honouring the principles of dugged democratic good governance and dugged economic justice. It is done by persuading the oppressors that we are better off as one instead of better off tearing at one another’s throats at the foot of the enemy.

I have come to a painful conclusion that the whole Nigerian state needs to be overhauled. We need a bloody revolution, not some peaceful revolution. As long as these thieving politicians are living, we will never have change. This crosses all tribal groups. We all know this "inconvenient truth." Nigeria needs to be purged of these elements and some of its likeminds.

I feel the youth are no different from our parents generation. I actually think they will be a lot worse. Instead of the youth in college saying that they want to be a doctor or an engineer, they say that they want to be a politician. And we all know the reason why they choose this path of work. It is in order so they can loot public funds.

A revolution is needed. Nigeria should not celebrate independence again, because we very much dependent in deceit. We have more impoverished people now, than 20 years ago.

A mobilising force for a better Nigeria is on-going across the country, message the author on WhatsApp to be a part of this project for a better Nigeria 07030251176 and 08163183980
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Twitter: @nova_prophets

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Update on Ric Flair's Health

2017-08-18T18:33:00.001-07:00

As reported by WWE commentator, Michael Cole during Monday Night Raw this week, Ric Flair underwent successful surgery on Monday afternoon.

The daughter of the two time Hall of Famer, Charlotte Flair on behalf of the family thanked the WWE Universe for supporting their father and her family during this difficult time.

On behalf of my family and I, we want to THANK everyone for the prayers, texts, calls and support,

she wrote.

Our Dad is a FIGHTER and your continued thoughts and prayers MEAN THE WORLD to us.

Ric Flair was hospitalized over the weekend for what his representative described as “tough medical issues.”

According to media reports, Flair initially arrived at the hospital on Saturday morning for heart-related issues.

Despite an initial claim that the WWE Hall of Famer was undergoing “routine monitoring,” Melinda Morris Zanoni, his agent at Legacy Talent and Entertainment, shared an update Sunday night on Twitter that implied his situation had become more serious.

Are u a Fan/Friend of Ric Flair?

Morris Zanoni tweeted.

If so, we need prayers & positive energy 4 our Living Legend as he is dealing w/some tough medical issues.

Details regarding where Flair was admitted and regarding what necessitated his hospital stay are unknown at this time.

Here's how the 2017 Solar Eclipse might Affect Animals and Pregnant Women

2017-08-18T18:12:00.000-07:00

On August 21, the 2017 solar eclipse will be visible throughout mainland America.

This rare phenomenon has already gotten everyone excited and hurriedly buying solar eclipse glasses.

While it may be an interesting spectacle for humans, scientists suggest that a total solar eclipse may leave a lot of animals confused on Monday.

The 2017 solar eclipse will stretch from Lincoln Beach, Oregon to Charleston, South Carolina, during which the moon will completely block the sun.

In effect, the total solar eclipse will make daytime look like nighttime and this period will confuse animals.

During the period of the eclipse animals may manifest some erratic or unusual behaviors.

Records from past eclipses show that animals acted different than usual the moment the moon blocks out light in the middle of the day.

During a total solar eclipse in 1544, it was said that birds ceased singing and in 1560 it was said that birds fell to the ground during a total eclipse,

reported.

Bruce Stein of the National Wildlife Federation explained that most animals are likely to start their nighttime routine once the 2017 solar eclipse hits on Monday.

Animals are expected to exhibit behavior that typically occurs in the evening. During previous eclipses, elephants in Africa were seen and chimpanzees were observed staring at the sky and looking “baffled by what was going on,”
USA Today wrote.

While many wild animals will mistake a solar eclipse for dusk, most household pets are unlikely to have the same reaction.

According to University of Missouri professor of astrophysics Angela Speck, on a normal day and thus the unusual absence of daylight during the eclipse won’t affect their routines.

Pets’ daily activities are largely influenced by that of their human companions, so they don’t rely on the sun’s position to dictate their routines.

Although they might still want to go to bed or eat, the sudden change in the environment brought by the eclipse won’t have an alarming effect on household pets as opposed to wild animals.

Zoos in areas on the path of the full eclipse will observe the behavior of animals during that day. The Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in Columbia, South Carolina will observe baboons, gorillas and sea lions, to name a few.

The Omaha Zoo and Aquarium, on the other hand, will keep watch of giraffes, butterflies and screech owls.

A solar eclipse is also said to affect pennant women in particular.

Superstitious beliefs in various cultures suggest that pregnant women shouldn’t view an eclipse or go outside during an eclipse, otherwise her child will suffer some deformities at birth.

Although the alleged birth defects caused by a solar eclipse have never been scientifically proven, people in general are still advised to take extra precaution when viewing the 2017 solar eclipse.

Scientist have warned against looking at a solar eclipse directly, since this could severely damage a person’s eyes. The use of special solar eclipse glasses with a protective screen is a must.

Scientists advice the use of Solar Eclipse Glasses when viewing the 2017 solar eclipse

According to NASA, the period when the moon completely blocks the sun will be around two minutes and forty seconds.

Although the path of totality will only pass through 14 states in the U.S., the 2017 solar eclipse can still be viewed in parts of South America, Africa and Europe.

The last time the U.S. was able to see a total solar eclipse was in 1979.

FC Barcelona players' jersey to bear 'Barcelona' as tribute to terror attack victims

2017-08-18T17:53:00.000-07:00

Barcelona players will wear the city’s name on their shirts this weekend instead of their own as a tribute to the victims of Thursday’s terror attacks, as announced by the club.

The special jerseys will also include the hashtag #TotsSomBarcelona (Catalan for “We are all Barcelona”) on the chest.

Athletes for all Barcelona teams across all sports and age divisions will wear a black armband in games this weekend.

Inside the stadium, the club will hold a moment of silence before Sunday’s La Liga opener against Real Betis.

Terrorists carried out two attacks in northeast Spain on Thursday and early Friday, first in Barcelona and later 70 miles down the coast in the resort town of Cambrils. Both attacks involved vehicles ramming groups of pedestrians.

Police believe the attacks are related and could have been part of a larger plot.

Other European clubs have made gestures similar to Barcelona’s after other tragedies.

Following the 2015 terror attacks in Paris, Paris-St. Germain players wore jersey with the phrase “Je suis Paris” (“I am Paris”) in place of their shirt sponsor and Saint Etienne wore jerseys with a logo combining the Eiffel Tower and the peace symbol.

7 THINGS: What you didn't know about being a Royal heir in England

2017-08-18T17:38:00.000-07:00

As the next in line to inherit the throne, royal heirs are entitled to a number of privileges.

However, until very recently, they have also been restricted by ancient traditions which have shaped the British monarchy's order of succession.

Since the arrival of the newest heirs — Prince George and Princess Charlotte — many of these traditions have changed, but being next in line to the throne still comes with certain customs.

Here are seven things you may not know about life as a royal heir:

1. They don't need a last name.

Any royal with the title "His Royal Highness Prince" or "Her Royal Highness Princess"
doesn't need to use a surname at all.

Before 1917, British royals used the name of the house or dynasty to which they belonged, but after this date, George V made a drastic change when he adopted Windsor as the surname of his family.

In 1960, the Queen made another change when she decided that her children would use Mountbatten-Windsor to reflect Prince Philip's name.

Unless Prince Charles chooses to alter this when he becomes king, he will continue to be of the House of Windsor and his grandchildren will use the surname Mountbatten-Windsor.

2. It used to be unheard of for royal heirs to go to school.

When Prince Charles enrolled at Hill House prep school in London, he was the first heir apparent not to have a private tutor.

Charles and Diana continued to buck the trend by sending Princes William and Harry to the prestigious Wetherby prep school before their time at Eton.

When Prince George starts his education this September, he will attend Thomas's, a private primary school in southwest London, rather than home school.

3. Male heirs no longer take precedence over their sisters.

In 2013, legislation dating back to the 17th century was amended under the Succession to the Crown Act .

This ground-breaking amendment declared that the order of succession now be determined by the order of birth, rather than gender.

So, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's second child, Princess Charlotte , could one day wear the crown herself, particularly if her brother, Prince George, doesn't have children.

Charlotte will remain fourth in line to the throne, ahead of her uncle Prince Harry, who is in fifth place, regardless of whether or not William and Kate go on to have another son.

4. The royal heir needs the Queen's permission to marry.

In 1772, King George II passed the Royal Marriages Act, stating that his descendants could not marry without the reigning monarch's consent.

This law has overshadowed British royals in recent history, most notably when King Edward VIII had to abdicate the throne in order to marry the divorced Wallis Simpson.

And despite the fact that Queen Elizabeth never formally prevented her sister Princess Margaret from marrying Captain Townsend, their marriage was never able to take place.

Fortunately, the Succession to the Crown Act changed this so that only the first six in line to the throne will need the monarch's permission to marry.

Since Prince Harry is in fifth place, this means he will still need to ask his grandmother's permission should he ever propose to his girlfriend Meghan Markle.

5. Prince William was the first future king to be born in a hospital.

Both he and his brother Prince Harry were born in the private Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London, where the Duchess of Cambridge also gave birth.

The Queen was born at a home belonging to her mother's parents in London's Mayfair and Prince Charles was born at Buckingham Palace.

6. The arrival of a royal heir is one of the few special occasions that is marked with a gun salute from British soldiers.

This can take place at either Hyde Park, Green Park, or the Tower of London, and a total of 62 rounds will be fired over 10 minutes.

The custom is that gun salutes are fired for the birth of every prince or princess, no matter where their place is within the succession.

The last royal salute for a royal birth was for Princess Charlotte in 2015.

7. It's almost impossible for an heir to renounce their right in the line of succession.

However, as Royal Central points out, the British Parliament does have a say in who succeeds the monarch under a doctrine known as 'Parliamentary supremacy'.

"It is, therefore, not the Queen who determines who succeeds her but Parliament," the site explains, although this would inevitably cast doubt over the succession line altogether.

Once reigning, a monarch can abdicate from the throne, as King Edward VIII did in 1936.

Google and Facebook could be Politically Attacked from the right, Memo suggests

2017-08-18T17:13:00.000-07:00

A leaked memo written by the president of a conservative lobbying group gives an insight on how the right could attack Facebook , Google and Twitter over alleged political bias, according to a new report in Axios.

The report highlights a brewing battle over how much control internet providers and platforms should have when it comes to unpopular political viewpoints.

For instance, Google revoked domain registration services for the online neo-Nazi publication Daily Stormer this week, effectively kicking it off the internet until it could find a new provider.

Cloudflare, which provides defense against hack attacks, also canceled service for the Daily Stormer, in a move that Cloudflare's CEO admitted could set a dangerous precedent.

And Facebook reiterated that it would remove posts that celebrate "hate crimes or acts of terrorism," in the wake of a neo-Nazi demonstration in Charlottesville, Virginia, last week.

Now, one conservative activist has floated the idea of forcing internet platform companies to declare themselves editorially neutral, or lose protection against liability for what their users post on their platforms.

The Net Neutrality Battle

The impetus for the memo is the ongoing battle over net neutrality.

Ajit Pai, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission and a Republican, is preparing to scrap rules on net neutrality put in place by his Democratic predecessor, Tom Wheeler, during the Obama administration.

The net neutrality fight pits online content providers such as Google parent Alphabet ,
Facebook and Netflix against broadband service providers such as AT&T , Verizon Communication and Comcast.

In broad terms, telco and cable companies argue that tech companies' web traffic uses their networks, and they'd like more freedom to set prices.

One way they could do this would be to create tiered packages or bundles of content, based on business deals with content creators — similar to the way cable networks package TV channels today — and restrict or slow access to content that isn't in those packages.

Providers haven't explicitly said they want to create tiered services or packages, but they argue they should have the freedom to experiment. Wheeler's rule prevented this experimentation, they argue.

The tech giants and their allies, however, argue that all traffic should be treated equally, or neutrally, as has been the case since the beginning of the internet.

The internet's innovation would be curtailed if providers could favor certain traffic, they argue.

The latter argument won the day the last time the net neutrality fight was in court, when a federal appellate court upheld the rules Wheeler put in place.

Pai's move to reverse those rules is likely to trigger another round of fights in Congress, the courts, or both.

What The Memo Suggests

The memo, written by Phil Kerpen of an activist organization called American Commitment, suggests that conservative lawmakers could reframe the battle over net neutrality into a larger battle over neutral speech on the internet.

Social media (Facebook, Twitter) and search (Google) companies with dominant market position represent themselves as politically neutral while systematically promoting liberal views and limiting or even banning conservatives,

begins the letter.

Right now, online platforms are protected under the Communications Decency Act from liability for material their users post.

For instance, while a newspaper can be sued for libel if it prints something untrue written by a reporter, Facebook cannot be sued because a user posts something libelous.

Kerpen's memo suggests that the government should make internet companies promise that they're going to treat all content equally or lose this protection.

Platforms that represent themselves to the public as neutral would be subject to enforcement actions if they violate those representations (of neutrality) through a consumer-protection framework.

The political calculus here seems to be that Google and Facebook would look like hypocrites if they oppose this kind of regulation while at the same time arguing for regulation of internet access providers.

By simply proposing this framework, the Trump administration would make clear that the asymmetry of companies identified with conservative causes risking regulatory retaliation while companies identified with liberals are given a free pass is over.

Kerpen told Axios that the memo represented only "preliminary thoughts."

But it's an interesting glimpse into a possible political attack from the right on Silicon Valley companies.

Read full letter here.

Source: CNBC

The New 'Shaft Movie' may see the return of Samuel L. Jackson & More

2017-08-18T16:51:00.000-07:00

After reigning supreme during the "blaxploitation" era of cinema and returning in 2000 for a follow-up, Shaft is getting another shot at silver screen fame.

Since 2015, a new movie centered around the cool private detective has been in the works, and Ride Along 's Tim Story has been attached to direct.

For a long time this was considered to be a reboot, but now it appears that this new Shaft movie will actually continue the Shaft saga that's been running since the 1970s, because Samuel L. Jackson is being eyed to reprise his role from the 2000 Shaft movie.

Samuel L. Jackson is in negotiations to reprise John Shaft II, the nephew of the original John Shaft, in this new movie, which is now reportedly called Son of Shaft. But the fun doesn't stop there.

Richard Roundtree, a.k.a. the original John Shaft himself, is also angling to return in Son of Shaft as the man who started it all.

As for new talent, Independence Day: Resurgence's Jessie T. Usher is in talks to play the youngest of the Shaft men, i.e. the son of Jackson's Shaft.

If all three of these men are able to finalize deals, this will be a full-fledged family affair.

Deadline also reported that Son of Shaft will see Usher's Shaft, who is an FBI agent and cyber expert, teaming up with his dad after the two of them have been estranged for years.

The partnership between these generations is described as "an uneasy collision of old school meets new school."

Based on the novel written by Ernest Tidyman, the original Shaft movie was released in 1971, and followed Richard Roundtree's detective being hired to save the daughter of a Harlem mob boss from Italian criminals who have kidnapped her.

The movie earned numerous accolades, including Isaac Hayes' "Shaft" winning the Best Original Song Oscar. Shaft's Big Score and Shaft in Africa followed in 1972 and 1973, respectively.

The 2000 Shaft movie saw Samuel L. Jackson's John Shaft in action as an NYPD detective investigating a murder. This installment was met a fair amount of positive reception.
Which brings us to Son of Shaft.

Given how many reboots and remakes Hollywood churns out on a regular basis, it's refreshing that this new Shaft movie has decided not to press the reset button and instead continue the story that began more than 45 years ago.

Bringing three generations of Shaft men together has the potential to be a lot more interesting than just putting a slightly new spin on an already-told story.

Son of Shaft is being written by Black-ish creator Kenya Barris, but no release date has been set yet.

Find Out how adding Water to Your Whiskey makes it Better

2017-08-17T18:02:00.000-07:00

As with anything involved with the dark science behind alcohol and drinking, whether to add water to your whiskey has long been a contentious topic.

Some people swear by drinks on the rocks, others won’t touch anything that’s not neat.

But one group of scientists have now published a paper that lends some reasoning to adding at least a few drops of water to your whiskey.

According to their paper, diluting the whiskey and lowering the alcohol content enhances the smell and taste, which — assuming you’re sipping and not taking shots — is good news.

The research, published in Scientific Reports, focused on the interaction of one molecule, guaiacol, which is responsible for whiskey’s smokey taste.

The research found that due to the interaction between water, ethanol, and guaiacol, diluting your whiskey with water pushes more of the guaiacol molecules to the surface. That means they’ll hit your tongue and nose first, enhancing the taste and smell.

How much water should you add? Whiskey preferences are personal, paper co-author Bjorn Karlsson told NPR.

It’s “very hard to say something in general.”

Conventional wisdom would say somewhere between a few drops and one ice cube is a good place to start, but you’ll have to fine-tune your own personal preferences.

Can arthritis be Prevented with the Pill?

2017-08-17T17:45:00.000-07:00

Women who take the oral contraceptive pill are protected from going on to develop arthritis in later life, according to be study.

Scientists believe hormonal changes prompted by the pill may decrease the risk of suffering from the painful disease.

Research in Sweden found that using the common contraceptive method for seven or more years was associated with a 19 per cent lower chance of developing
rheumatoid arthritis.

We were able to address these questions more thoroughly than has been possible before.

However, women who had stopped using the pill still appeared to benefit from a protective effect, enjoying a 13 per cent lower risk of the condition.

Rheumatoid arthritis, which usually develops between the ages of 40 and 50, affects more than 400,000 people in the UK.

It occurs when the body’s immune system targets joints such as the wrists and ankles, causing painful swelling, and is twice as common in women as it is in men.

This has led scientists to suspect hormonal and reproductive factors may contribute to the underlying cause.

Researchers at the Karolinska Institute drew on data from 2,809 women with the disease and compared it with the medical records of 5,312 women randomly selected from the general population.

They found that those who had used an oral contraceptive at any time had a lower risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis than those who had never done so.

The risk was 15 per cent lower in current users of the pill.

Over time, rheumatoid arthritis can damage the joints themselves as well as the nearby cartilage.

There is no cure for the condition, however the symptoms can be treated using medication and supportive therapies such as physiotherapy.

In this large population-based study, we were able to address these questions more thoroughly than has been possible before

the researchers wrote.

Using the Pill for more than seven years - the average length of use among the study participants - was associated with a 19 per cent lower risk of developing arthritis.

Further research is required to explore the biological mechanisms behind our findings.

The oral contraceptive pill contains artificial versions of the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which women produce naturally to prevent the ovary releasing an egg.

Pill usage declines steeply with age, from two-thirds of women aged 20 to 24, to 11 per cent of women in their late 40s.

There is no upper age limit beyond which healthy women should not take the pill, however those who smoke are advised not to take it above 35, according to the Family Planning Association, a sexual health charity.

Published in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases, the study also sought to identify whether breastfeeding was associated with a lower risk of arthritis, as had been suspected, however no significant link was found.

Source: TELEGRAPH

"I won't go to the White House if invited" - Kevin Durant

2017-08-17T17:28:00.000-07:00

The Golden State Warriors are yet to be invited to the White House following their NBA Finals victory this past spring, but Kevin Durant has already made up his mind on the matter.

“Nah, I won’t do that,” Durant told ESPN’s Chris Haynes in an exclusive interview Thursday .

I don’t respect who’s in office right now.

Two championship clubs have visited the White House since Donald Trump’s term as president: The New England Patriots and Clemson’s football team.

I don’t agree with what he agrees with, so my voice is going to be heard by not doing that,” Durant explained. “That’s just me personally, but if I know my guys well enough, they’ll all agree with me.

The Warriors were asked about a potential White House visit back in June after it was reported that the team had voted unanimously against it, and the club said the decision would be made “when and if necessary.”

That report was followed by Warriors star Steph Curry telling reporters he wouldn’t go if the opportunity was presented.

The 2017 Stanley Cup-winning Pittsburgh Penguins, on the other hand,
reportedly would attend if invited.

Durant, whose hometown of Seat Pleasant, Maryland, is just a short drive from Washington, D.C., spoke at length about Trump, the recent events in Charlottesville, Va., and athletes’ responsibility as role models.

Here are a few excerpts from the interview.
On his and others’ reaction to Trump’s statement following the Charlottesville violence:

I just wanted to sit back and analyze everything and gather my thoughts.

I wanted to say something immediately, but I definitely want to be the voice of where I come from and people who have come from my neighborhood and deal with oppression.

I’m representing a lot of people. As far as what’s going on in our country, for one, as an athlete, you have to commend Colin Kaepernick, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, CP3 [Chris Paul] [and] Dwyane Wade for starting that conversation last year. Russell Westbrook also said something in his speech. A lot [of] guys with platforms have drove the conversation in a good direction. And what’s going on in Charlottesville, that was unfathomable.

On his view of the increased racial tension across the country—and Trump’s role in it:

He’s definitely driving it.

I feel ever since he’s got into office, or since he ran for the presidency, our country has been so divided, and it’s not a coincidence. When [Barack] Obama was in office, things were looking up. We had so much hope in our communities where I come from because we had a black president, and that was a first.

So to see that and to be where we are now, it just felt like we took a turn for the worse, man. It all comes from who is in the administration. It comes from the top. Leadership trickles down to the rest of us. So, you know, if we have someone in office that doesn’t care about all people, then we won’t go anywhere as a country. In my opinion, until we get him out of here, we won’t see any progress.

On the important role athletes can play in politics:

For us to move forward, we need more athletes and people of power and influence to come out and speak.

It’s great to see a lot of athletes coming together and trying to direct a positive path for a lot of kids and a lot of people in this country who look up to us.

It’s huge for us. It’s huge for sports. It’s huge for the influence we have, because we’re leaders at the end of the day. It feels good to see my brothers in the NBA and across sports speaking out.

Click HERE To Read Full Interview.

Prince William is Breaking Royal Protocols

2017-08-17T17:03:00.000-07:00

Over the years, George and Charlotte's most adorable moments happen when they board planes with their mom and dad.

Unknowingly to most people, Prince William has actually been breaking unofficial royal protocol by flying with his children.

William's father, Prince Charles, is the current heir to the throne followed by William and his kids, Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

It has been standard practice, thought not official, for those in the succession to the throne to travel separately so that if anything should happen to the plane, their royal lineage would stay intact.

In fact, George and Charlotte shouldn't be traveling on the same plane either.

A spokesperson for the royal family told the BBC at the time:

While there is no official rule on this, and royal heirs have travelled together in the past, it is something that the Queen has the final say on.

Prince William asked the Queen for permission to travel with Prince George on their royal tour to Australia and New Zealand in 2014 when his son was less than a year old.

Most recently, Kate and William brought their children along to Poland and Germany.

And if you recall, George and Charlotte also accompanied their parents to Canada last year.
Breaking protocol is nothing new for the royal couple.

When it comes to raising their children, Kate is reportedly "keeping stuffy royal protocol far from their apartment at Kensington Palace."

Pizza Makers Impelled to Reduce fat in order to tackle Childhood Obesity

2017-08-17T16:49:00.000-07:00

Public health executives are urging food manufacturers to make chips, pizzas, crisps and burgers healthier, opening a second front in efforts to tackle childhood obesity.

Public Health England wants to go further than the focus on cutting sugar by demanding firms that make products eaten regularly by children ensure they are far less fattening by reducing the calories in them.

The new emphasis on sources of calories from ingredients other than sugar has been prompted by growing concern that children’s waistlines are expanding because they are copying adults by consuming 200-300 calories too many per day.

Over 40,000 deaths a year – one in 10 – are linked to people being dangerously overweight, health experts say.

PHE will start by investigating how many calories these types of foods popular with children contain and issue what ministers say will be “strong guidance” on reformulating them, and exhort manufacturers and retailers to act to improve children’s health.

A third of our children leave primary school overweight or obese and an excess of calories – not just excess sugar consumption – is the root cause of this

said Duncan Selbie, PHE’s chief executive.

The move marks the latest stage of the government’s bid to reduce childhood obesity, which has been heavily criticised by health and children’s groups as too weak.

Within weeks of becoming prime minister in July last year, Theresa May watered down what under her predecessor David Cameron was due to be a more robust strategy on the subject. Under May it became just a “plan for action”.

The initiative follows what PHE says is the “real progress” achieved over the past year in persuading manufacturers of sugary foods and soft drinks to cut the amount of sugar in their products.

Nestle, Greggs, Starbucks, Kellogg’s and other firms have all pledged to do that, as have the makers of Lucozade and Ribena, and supermarkets such as Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and M&S.

They have done so with nine types of sugary foods, including breakfast cereals, cakes, ice-cream, biscuits and yogurt. But health experts claim that the introduction next April of the sugar levy is as key to why some soft drinks ranges are cutting sugar content as their desire to join the fight against childhood obesity.

However, health campaigners warn that the drive to make such foodstuffs less calorific, which also includes sandwiches and ready meals, may fail because companies do not have to take part.

PHE’s new calorie reduction plan is “welcome in principle but short on detail”, said Malcolm Clark, the coordinator of the Children’s Food Campaign.

Beyond passing a sugary drinks tax into law, the government has so far provided thin gruel for parents and health professionals keen to see significant progress on tackling childhood obesity.

Prof Graham MacGregor, chair of the campaign group Action on Sugar, said the sugar tax should be extended to confectionery.

Former U.S. President, Barack Obama breaks twitter Record

2017-08-16T19:06:00.000-07:00

A tweet quoting Nelson Mandela by former US President Barack Obama has attracted more than 3 million likes on Twitter, breaking the record for most likes.

Posted on Sunday, the tweet reached the milestone on Thursday, breaking the previous record held by singer Ariana Grande after a bombing at one of her concerts in the English city of Manchester.

No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or his background or his religion...

Obama wrote, quoting the late South African president.

A picture attached to the post shows Obama playing with toddlers of different racial backgrounds.

The tweet, Obama's first in weeks, came in the context of deadly white supremacist violence in the town of Charlottesville, Virginia.

Heather Heyer, 32, was killed when a man drove a car into a crowd of anti-hate protesters on Saturday.

Police later arrested white supremacist James Fields Jr and charged him with second-degree murder, as well as other charges.

Obama has authored six of the top 10 most liked tweets in history.

His successor, US President Donald Trump, is a more prolific Twitter user but has yet to reach the Democrat's popularity on social media.

Trump's reaction to the violence in Charlottesville stood in stark contrast to Obama.

The 45th president of the US has repeatedly blamed both sides for the violence but also said there were "very fine" people on each side.

NOT TOO OLD TO STUDY: 91 Year Old Thai woman, Kimlan Jinakul earns Bachelor's Degree

2017-08-16T18:28:00.000-07:00

A grandmother in Thailand has proven that learning is a life-long endeavor by earning her first university degree at the tender age of 91.

Kimlan Jinakul wanted to attend university as a young girl but never had the chance, the recent graduate told the BBC in Bangkok.

Her opportunity finally came long after she watched most of her children grow up and complete their education.

Originally from Lampang province in the country's north, Kimlan was a sharp student and attended one of the best schools in her province, according to the BBC.

But soon after her family moved to the capital Bangkok, she got married and abandoned her dreams of getting a degree.

Kimlan encouraged her own sons and daughters to study, and four out of five of them earned masters degrees. One of them is going on to obtain a PhD in the U.S.

Watching their academic successes inspired the nonagenarian to enroll in a degree program at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University at the age of 72, but her studies were soon derailed by the death of one of her daughters.

After recovering from the loss and sadness, I pushed myself to finish

Kimlan told BBC.

She went back to school at the age of 85 to seek a degree in human ecology, which she hoped would teach her how to live better and be happier.

I'm hoping my daughter's soul would be pleased to see this

she added.

It's never too late. My mind is always awake and sharp for learning.

Alibaba Group to help Small and Medium-sized Enterprises expand their Business to Global Markets

2017-08-16T18:05:00.000-07:00

Alibaba, a leading global wholesale trading platform, has expressed its willingness to extend helping hand to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the city for expanding their business globally at a faster pace.

Addressing a workshop for re-sellers of textile products in the city recently, Alibaba.com Head, Global Supplier Department, Jack Zhang ascertaining the crucial role that SMEs play in an economy, said small businesses were key source of trade and innovation globally.

Alibaba.com was committed to supporting them to fully unleash their potential by leveraging the power of technology and online commerce, he said.

Through our network of partners and local workshops, we hope to help SMEs expand their businesses globally at a faster pace.

Zhang said.

The session was aimed at empowering them to further expand their business and increase their presence in the global markets and nearly 200 re-sellers from the textile market attended the workshoop, a company release said today.

The workshop, titled 'Infinity-Grow your Business', focused on educating the exporters and traders on various government policies related to exports and innovation in the SME sector through sessions with industry captains.

Quoting local chapter of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Vanitha Mohan, the release said there was a huge potential in the small business industry in India and their contribution to Indian economy was critical.

Rising internet penetration and greater uptake for digital were transforming the ways SMBs operate in India today and it's heartening to see companies like Alibaba.com supporting them to expand their business globally, she said.

GAME CHANGER: Motorola Smartphone with Self-repairing Screen

2017-08-16T17:51:00.000-07:00

Motorola mobile company is working on a feature for its future smartphones which, in all likeliness, will be a game changer in true sense for the industry.

According to a new found patent by Slashgear website, Motorola is working on a display glass that will be able to heal itself.

The self-repairing screen is said to come covered with a polymer material. The patent explains that the 'memory' polymer material will remember its original shape and will restore itself if broken or cracked, in certain conditions. The handset software will recognize the crack in the display and will initiate a healing process.

Once the user approves the process, a set of hardware will then start heating up the screen, due to which the glass will let its molecules wiggle and restore the original shape.

Although the glass won't be healed completely, it will help in reversing some level of deformation.

Motorola is already known for its 'ShatterShield' display, which debuted with Moto X Force and was recently seen in the flagship Mot Z2 Force, which launched in the US. However, with this new technology, the handset maker may completely ditch the 'ShatterShield' technology.

On the note of 'displays', Motorola recently came in the news for the Moto Z2 Force's 'Jelly Like' scrolling effect, similar to what was found with the OnePlus 5 smartphone as well.

Members of XDA Developer website spotted the issue and have also posted a video on YouTube showing it in action on a Moto Z2 Force.

The website says that the 'Jelly Effect' issue started appearing on the Moto Z2 Force within 5 minutes of usage after its unboxing. The problem was spotted while scrolling though the app drawer and settings menu.

It was further mentioned that Moto Z2 Play refreshed the screen from bottom to top, indicating the inclusion of an inverted orientated screen.

Although there is no official word from Lenovo engineers, XDA says the display may have been oriented in the opposite manner to better arrange the phone's internals.

Checkout the Nintendo Switch Game Fans are Warning People not to Buy

2017-08-16T17:40:00.000-07:00

For some days now, a Nintendo Switch game has started to gain notoriety as the worst release on the platform. Any time people post about this game online, they warn others not to buy it.

Troll and I is a port of a game for Playstation 4, Xbox One and PC from this past March. It’s an adventure game about a young man and his troll friend somewhere in Scandinavia. Despite having been released for the Switch yesterday, it only recently became available in the Nintendo eShop, so I had to actually venture out into the world to grab a physical copy.

My first impulse was to reserve one at GameStop, but they didn’t have any, so I went online and reserved one at my local Best Buy.

This morning I dodged and weaved through Union Square’s farmer’s market to pick it up at Best Buy. Shout outs to Giselle, the employee manning the store pick up counter, for not making me actually say the name of the game I was buying. After handing over $30, Troll and I was mine. It is the only Switch cartridge I own.

One of the first things you’ll see when you boot up is the front page of a newspaper announcing the death of Joseph Stalin. Someone offers another character, Nico, a three million dollar bounty to capture a live troll.

I was actually kinda into this offbeat premise, but far too quickly the game leaves the Stalin’s death and the troll bounty hunter behind. The game then transitions to somewhere in a Scandinavian forest, where our main character, Otto, resides. He’s off to hunt some boars for his mom. Guess how long she lives?

In Troll and I, you’ll doing a bunch of quick time events to escape danger, climb a lot of ledges and cliff faces, hunt some animals, craft some weapons, and solve some platforming puzzles. It basically feels like it wants to be the Tomb Raider reboot, but also there’s a troll who comes to save you from danger. Otto and the troll quickly become friends—like disturbingly quickly.

This kid goes from not knowing trolls exist to being buddies with a troll overnight. You can ride the troll, and also play as the troll, and it’s exciting because at the very least it’s not another platforming puzzle.

The platforming puzzles are pretty easy, except when the game’s controls make them impossible. To jump off ledges, you’re supposed to hold L to sprint, then just run at a ledge. This works until it just, for no reason, doesn’t. After successfully jumping off three platforms, I ran at a ledge ten times only for the game to assume I wanted to hang off it. Let me jump, Troll and I. Let me fucking jump, okay?

There are some hidden gems on the Switch, like Shephy or Implosion: Never Lose Hope. Do not mistake Troll and I for one of those. It has completely earned its notoriety. Please, don’t make my mistake. If you see Troll and I at the Best Buy, just turn away. It’s clunky, trite, not bizarre enough to make up for its shortcomings, and yes, it is absolutely the worst release on the Switch right now.

Original Post By: GITA JACKSON for KOTAKU

12 THINGS: Reasons why Digital Marketing can help Boost your Business

2017-08-15T17:59:00.000-07:00

With the gradual directional change of modern technologies, small and medium businesses are doing everything they can to meet targets, which can be said to be true for the rest of human society. Brick-and-mortar businesses are either changing their business models to an online one, or beefing up existing marketing efforts with digital marketing strategies – in an attempt to capture a growing and very profitable online marketplace.

For it is the process of arousing the interests of targeted audiences online that will spell the difference between a successfully thriving business – and a failed one. Even if you receive tons of daily traffic to your website, they would not amount to anything unless they convert to leads or sales. In the digital arena where business and commerce are heading to, Digital Marketing tools and techniques provide business owners the best chances for competition, survival and even business growth.

The 12 reasons enlisted below will show you why the use of digital marketing is not only an investment-wise decision but also an effective marketing channel that can help you grow your business.

Because Digital Marketing Levels the Online Playing Field

Gone are the days when business owners still welcome the notion that Digital Marketing is only for the likes of multinationals and large corporations that have the sufficient resources required to mount an online marketing campaign. Digital Marketing actually levels the playing field, providing small and medium enterprises the chance to compete against the big boys and attract their share of targeted traffic.

With digital marketing, small companies now have the resources to perform sales and marketing processes that were previously available only to large corporations. Without a call center, small businesses can engage effectively with multiple customers, even to customers from any parts of the world even if they don’t have physical stores or branches in these locations.

Because Digital Marketing Is More Cost-Effective than Traditional Marketing

Small businesses have very little resources and even capitalization. This is why Digital Marketing provides them with a better and much more cost-effective marketing channel that delivers results. Gartner’s Digital Marketing Spend Report highlighted that up to 40% of respondents claimed getting considerable savings by using digital marketing methods of promotion for their products and services.

That is why according to the Gartner survey, 28% of business owners surveyed will shift marketing budget allocations from traditional media channels and invest them into digital online marketing tools and techniques. HubSpot confirms this as shown in the chart below that confirms how digital marketers get better Cost-Per-Lead (CPL) compared to other marketing channels.

Because Digital Marketing Delivers Conversion

Businesses marketing products and services online measure success by the percentage rate of incoming traffic gets converted into leads, subscribers or sales, depending on the intended purposes of your website. Without conversion, all your traffic would mean nothing and all your marketing efforts will simply go to waste. That is why business owners are streamlining their digital marketing campaigns towards conversion optimization, making it a top priority above everything else.

There are several tools and techniques that you can use for your digital marketing campaign such as Search Engine Optimization, social media marketing and email marketing. As seen from the chart below from HubSpot’s 2013 State of Inbound Marketing Report, these three that generate quick and effective communication and interaction with targeted audiences will deliver better-than-average results in terms of higher conversion rates.

Because Digital Marketing Helps Generate Better Revenues

Higher conversion rates generated by effective digital marketing techniques will deliver loads of profitable benefits for you and your business in terms of better and higher revenues. Google confirms this in a study with IPSOS Hong Kong, claiming 2.8 times better revenue growth expectancy for companies using digital marketing strategies to those who do not.

With better revenue growth expectancy, small and medium enterprises using digital marketing techniques will have 3.3 times better chances of expanding their workforce and business – opening their doors to better, larger and farther reaching markets both locally and abroad. Google’s Asia-Pacific Head of SME Kevin O’Kane describes the Internet as rocket fuel for growth for small and medium enterprises.

Because Digital Marketing Facilitates Interaction with Targeted Audiences

One of the reasons why digital marketing is taking over traditional marketing channels is the ability of Internet marketing tools to interact with targeted audiences in real time. Engagement in any form is what your customers expect to receive when interacting with your brand or business. How your business handles such engagements and interactions will spell the difference between business success and failure – just like what eMarketer’s report Key Digital Trends for 2014 is saying as shown below:

Interacting and providing your customers with proper engagement points can give you an insight of what your targeted audiences want. This vital information will steer you towards making the right set of next moves, provide your customers with an even better experience, develop good relationships with them – gaining their loyalty and trust that you will need when your business begins to grow.

Because Digital Marketing Caters to the Mobile Consumer

Undoubtedly, mobile internet will be the next wave of information dissemination and communication channel, brought about by the rapid proliferation of smartphones, tablets and other internet-enabled devices. These mobile devices have become a central part of American life that 91% of adults in the United States always have their devices within reaching distance.

Now would be the best time to have digital marketing campaigns intended towards mobile consumers, paving the way for them towards achieving better growth and faster expansion. Mobile gadgets have evolved from being mere alternatives for laptops and personal computers, into something that is influencing their purchasing decisions as confirmed by another report from eMarketer.

Because Digital Marketing Builds Brand Reputation

The power of digital marketing lies in its ability for attracting targeted traffic. These types of audiences for your content are most likely already ready to know more about your brand, products or services and may be interested enough to purchase what you have to offer. Delivering on what you promised will help you develop a better relationship with your targeted audiences, help them transition into paying customers that will go back and interact with your site some more – on a regular and continuous basis.

This will prove beneficial for your brand reputation, as satisfied customers will most likely tell other people about their experience with your brand, product or service. Your brand reputation will go viral as expected, further opening new doors of opportunities for reaching bigger markets and attain business growth.

Because Digital Marketing Provides better ROI for Your Marketing Investments

With better revenues and better branding, Digital Marketing can provide a better Return of Investments (ROI) than traditional media and marketing channels. With traditional media, the cost is too exorbitant for small and medium enterprises to leverage on, and the results received are somewhat vague and difficult to measure.

Digital Marketing on the other hand can easily be tracked and monitored, with results immediately realized and measured as soon as targeted audiences provide contact information, subscribe to a newsletter or training program, or make a purchase. The key to success in Digital marketing however, is to generate a steady flow of targeted traffic that converts into sales and leads. The more your business generates this kind of traffic, the faster you can realize your ROI.

Because Digital Marketing Earns People’s Trust

Digital Marketing rides on the current online trend that focus more on social media signals resulting from direct and more personalized interaction between a brand or business and their targeted audiences. In the Nielsen Global Online Consumer Survey that involved 25 thousand consumers coming from at least 50 countries, 90 percent of respondents claimed they would trust information about a particular brand, product or service if the data comes from people they know.

Digital Marketing leverages on social media signals, social proof and testimonials from actual consumers who have previously purchased, joined, or availed of a product or service marketed by a particular brand or business. The more reliable these social signals are, the higher the trust rate it can generate from targeted audiences – most of which can be potential customers.

Because Digital Marketing Entices People to Take Favorable Action

While social signals and testimonials help earn trust from targeted audiences, Digital Marketing makes use of effective strategies that will entice people to take a favorable action your brand or business intends them to take. Conversion to leads or sales is still initiated and under full control by the website visitor. They are not compelled to do so but digital marketers can make use of clever and innovative ways to entice conversion using Calls-To-Action.

Calls-To-Action specifies what your web visitors should do next – either to sign up, like, download something, call or buy – specific steps that will entice them to perform a favorable action. Innovative forms, buttons and texts are optimized according to copy, color scheme, graphics and even positioning on the page to generate the best results in terms of generating favorable action.

Because Digital Marketing Makes You Ready for the Internet of Things

The “Internet of Things” is a global ecosystem of interconnected devices – tablets, smartphones, gadgets, appliances and more – that can interact with each other through the Internet. Sounds like something from a Sci-Fi thriller, but this is what the projected 24 billion gadgets by the year 2020 will actually head to. Digital Marketing will prepare your business towards this eventuality, an interconnected ecosystem that will permeate through every aspect of people’s lives. Survival for your business in the era of the “Internet of Things” means inclusion in this interconnected grid – giving you an access window to reach out to targeted audiences belonging to this online grid.

Because Digital Marketing Ensures Business Survival Online

It is a normal occurrence for brick-and-mortar business establishments to encounter visitors entering their store, skimming through and inspecting products, then leave without buying anything. Many kinds of people like these come and go, but a targeted few will actually make a purchase and if satisfied, will come back for more on a later date. If you get less of the later and more of the few, sooner or later your brick-and-mortar business will cease to exist.

Your business can be likened to this. Even if you have tons of website visitors but none of them ever convert, your business will also cease to exist. Digital Marketing helps you make use of proven strategies and techniques that attract not necessarily more traffic – but highly targeted traffic that delivers results. Targeting the right kind of people that delivers the right kind of results is what Digital Marketing is all about – ensuring survival for your business.

Original Publication: DIGITAL MARKETING PHILIPPINES

Google pays Apple a whopping $3 billion to become iPhone's Default Search Engine

2017-08-15T17:03:00.000-07:00

As the Android vs iOS rivalry began to boom a few years back, Apple made a major move and quickly removed Google apps like YouTube and Google Maps from the iOS homescreen, the most valuable piece of screen real estate in mobile. These days, Apple and Google remain fierce competitors in the mobile space, but the two companies still enjoy a longstanding and mutually beneficial relationship when it comes to mobile Safari.

Whether you’ve noticed or not, the default search engine on mobile Safari has always been Google. And seeing how Apple has never shied away from sticking it to Google, you might be wondering why Apple hasn’t replaced Safari’s search engine with, say, Bing or DuckDuckDuck Go. The answer here is two-fold.

For starters, Google remains the top search engine on the planet, and replacing it with an alternative wouldn’t exactly align with Apple’s commitment towards enhancing the user experience. Second, and more importantly, Google pays Apple a whole a lot of money for the privilege of being the go-to search engine on mobile Safari.

With search-based advertising still accounting for the lion’s share of Google’s revenue, it shouldn’t come as any surprise that the search giant is more than willing to pay Apple an exorbitant fee to keep Google search front and center on mobile Safari.

According to analyst A.M Sacconaghi Jr., Google this year is on pace to pay Apple a whopping $3 billion in 2017 for the right to remain the default search engine on iOS.

CBNC reports states:

Court documents indicate that Google paid Apple $1B in 2014, and we estimate that total Google payments to Apple in FY 17 may approach $3B,” Bernstein analyst A.M. Sacconaghi Jr. said. “Given that Google payments are nearly all profit for Apple, Google alone may account for 5% of Apple’s total operating profits this year, and may account for 25% of total company OP growth over the last two years.

That’s a huge sum, but it certainly stands to reason that the price Apple charges has gone up considerably since the $1 billion figure Google paid in 2014.

As for how Sacconaghi Jr. came up with the $3 billion figure, Business Insider relays a portion of his research note:

Our estimate is triangulated in a number of ways: (1) third party market research suggests that Google’s total mobile revenues have increased from $16B to $50B (i.e., have tripled) from CY14 to CY17 (Exhibit 3); accordingly, payments to Apple likely have increased commensurately (to $3B) since then; (2) In the last two quarters, Apple’s Services revenues have increased YoY by $2.4B, with the App Store being the biggest contributor (which we model has increased $1.35B YoY), and Licensing revenues to be up by the second largest amount, which could be up $500M or more – suggesting that total licensing in the last two quarters is increasing at a rate of $1B per year this year; and (3) Google’s distribution Traffic Acquisition Costs (TAC – the amount it pays OEMs and carriers for search placement) is 2.2x what it was in 1H 14 (Exhibit 4), again suggesting that if Apple held share, payments from Google to Apple might be up a similar amount to $2.2B (or more assuming Apple gained share). We note that press reports have indicated that the revenue share between Apple and Google was at one point 34%, which if true and still the case today, would point to a much higher than $3B in payments from Google to Apple today.

As far as business relationships go, this one seems mutually beneficial. As far as Google is concerned, the deal gives it prime placement on the iPhone and the iPad. And as far as Apple goes, the $3 billion figure is essentially free money.