BMW's big-boy X7 SUV enters preproduction phase

We're about a year away from seeing the final version.

Before a vehicle enters production in earnest, it goes through a process called preproduction. That's where
BMW's all-new X7 is right now.
BMW announced today that the X7 has entered the preproduction phase at the automaker's plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Preproduction is the phase in between prototyping and production, which gives the automaker the chance to see how the vehicle fares on an assembly line, and it also gives one more chance to make sure there aren't any issues.

Because the vehicle is not 100 percent ready for the spotlight just yet, BMW is wrapping its pre-pro X7s in camouflage, which will obscure its body lines and prevent spy photographers from getting a full shot of the car before BMW stages its unveiling. BMW claims the car will be unveiled in late 2018, likely around the Los Angeles Auto Show or the Paris Motor Show before it.
BMW's Spartanburg operation is
huge. It built more than 411,000 vehicles in 2016, making it the largest plant BMW Group operates worldwide. A majority of what it produces is shipped overseas, but it's also responsible for BMW's SUV lineup in the US. Since its opening in 1994, BMW has built approximately 3.9 million vehicles there, and it employs about 9,000 workers, with another thousand slated for hire by 2021.

The X7 is loosely based on the
Concept X7 iPerformance, a plug-in hybrid concept that existed to let the world know that BMW was finally serious about building a three-row crossover. BMW has been absent from this segment, but the
Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class and Audi Q7 are probably happy about that. Too bad for them, because in a year's time, there'll be a whole new competitor to contend with.

BMW Concept X7 previews the biggest, fanciest BMW crossover ever

(Credit: BMW)

Here Is What Happens When You Fill A Car's Gas Tank With Coke

Most of us definitely haven’t thought about what a car would do if we put other liquids in an engine that runs on gasoline. But cars are running on all kinds of stuff these days, right? Like electricity, and so on? That’s what I hear. It’s worth a try to put Coke in the tank, in case gas prices go up and we all get desperate.

Thank goodness that YouTuber
TechRax , who regularly destroys technology and other items in strange ways, tried this experiment for us in the name of science and alternative fuels.

Who needs Elon Musk and Tesla when you have a person like this around, willing to serve the people and the planet in a 2003 BMW 325i wagon instead of all of these fancy new “electrified ” cars?

Let’s all watch how his brave experiment, which appears to have happened on public roads, went:

Darn. That repair bill looks large, too. Who would have thought that putting something other than gas in a gasoline engine wouldn’t go well?

Well, it was worth a try. Now maybe I’ll go see what happens when you put a smartphone into a waffle iron . You never know when you may need to do that!

Cosmetic surgery: Rosy Meurer shades Tonto Dikeh

Actress and alleged side chick of Olakunle Churchill, Rosy Meurer, who Tonto Dikeh accused of being part of the reasons for her marriage crash has shaded her in a new Snapchat post.

2 hours after Tonto released a promo clip for her reality show where she revealed she had a cosmetic surgery because she was extremely ashamed of her body, Rosy Meurer made the post below…

Again, Peter Okoye Speaks On P-Square Getting Back Together

Peter Okoye who now goes by the stage name Mr P in a new interview with Silvervlbird TV, shut down the hopes. According to him, P-Square returning to the stage as a duo is like chasing the winds and a no go area.

Peter further highlighted that he just had a successful solo tour in the U.S and ahead of his Europe tour beginning March 2018, he is set to put out more materials so his fans can hear something new and fresh following the release earlier of two singles ‘cool it down’ and ‘for my head’. Speaking on P Square comeback, he said;

I don’t think it is happening (on their reunion). Like I said ‘change is constant’. At the moment, we’re all doing our individual stuff. Music is what I do for a living; I’m an entertainer, a singer, a dancer, a performer and I want to keep it that way. 

On whether there’s pressure on him to live up to expectation of P Square fame, Peter had this to say;

 People think there’s probably pressure, but trust me there’s none. I’ve done a lot of rehearsal, I’ve done my research and all; I’m moving forward. At the moment, it’s the thing (moving forward) now for me.

I just came back from a U.S tour – fantastic tour – and I’m doing Europe in March, April and May (next year). I’m going to miss Nigeria but that’s why I’m trying to put out more materials before the tour so I can be able to promote them when I’m out there.

Ottawa researchers use viruses to target and destroy HIV

While Ottawa researchers are known for their work on cancer-fighting viruses, one team is applying these viruses to a new target: HIV.

Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa have discovered that the Maraba virus, or MG1, can target and destroy the kind of HIV-infected cells that standard antiretroviral therapies can't reach.

This laboratory discovery was published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases .
If this technique works in humans, it might possibly contribute to a cure for HIV.

While daily medications keep the level of HIV virus in the blood low, there is currently no way to totally eliminate dormant HIV-infected cells from the body. If a person living with HIV stops taking antiretroviral medications, these hidden viruses rapidly rebound.

These latently HIV-infected cells are hard to target because they are not distinguishable from normal cells. Dr. Jonathan Angel and his team tried a new approach of identifying these dormant cells by using the MG1 virus. This virus attacks cancer cells that have defects in their interferon pathway, which makes the cells more vulnerable to viruses. Dr. Angel and his team previously found that latently HIV-infected cells also have defects in this pathway.

"We thought that because latently HIV-infected cells had similar characteristics to cancer cells, that the virus would enter and destroy them," said Dr. Angel, senior scientist and infectious disease physician at The Ottawa Hospital, and professor at the University of Ottawa. "It turns out we were right."

California Amplifies The Cancer Scare From Cellphones

After numerous studies over two decades, there is no convincing evidence that cellphone use increases the risk of cancer. Consensus within the medical profession is that the health effects of regular cellphone use are quite small, if they exist at all. Some studies even show health benefits.

But that didn’t stop the California Department of Public Health last week from issuing their Guidance on How to Reduce Exposure to Radiofrequency Energy from Cell Phones.  To be fair, they were forced to by a CA State Judge who ruled in favor of a UC Berkeley conspiracy theorist named Joel Moskowitz who had sued for release of such guidelines.

95% of Americans own a cellphone. Children now get their first cellphone around age 10, and most millennials keep their phones on or near them most of the day, even when they sleep.

So it would seem relevant to know whether or not it could be dangerous. But after years of study, the International Agency for Research on Cancer at the World Health Organization only classified radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as ‘possibly’ carcinogenic. Conspiracy theorists got more excited about that than the medical community.

In one study that followed more than 420,000 cellphone users over a 20-year period, researchers found no evidence of a link between cellphones and brain tumors, the obvious cancer of concern. Other studies, especially from Oxford and the Swiss Public Health Institute have also found no correlation.

Cellphones send and receive radiowave signals to and from cellphone towers. These signals are a form of electromagnetic radiation called radiofrequency (RF) energy, like that generated by TV and radio transmitters. When a phone sends signals to a tower, the RF energy goes from the phone’s antenna out in all directions, including into the head and body of the person using the phone.

Cellphones also emit RF energy when using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, but at lower levels.

Unlike ionizing radiation like gamma rays, neutrons and alpha particles, RF does not have enough energy to split chemical bonds, such as those in compounds like DNA in our cells, which can cause cancer at really high doses.

Some think that, while RF can’t split bonds, it might heat up cells enough to cause damage. But our bodies are really good at heat regulation so you’d have to get an awful lot of dose to do anything, like put your head in a microwave oven, and there is no evidence this happens with cellphones.

(This type of RF heating is quite different from the hot phones that recently spontaneously began burning and were recalled. That was from the batteries overheating)

With years of study and billions of people using cellphones, the fact that we have no real evidence that cellphone use causes cancer means there is little need to worry about it. It’s one of those phantom worries, like low levels of radiation, that is so far below the noise of everyday risks that it’s foolish to spend any effort or money trying to guard against it. Especially since you’ll end up not spending that effort and money addressing real risks – like air pollution, eating too many carbs or driving while texting.

If holding the cellphone to your head is the real vector, then just put it on speaker or facetime, or use the hands-free option in your car. I always put my calls on speaker anyway, not for this reason, but because my old arms get tired.

Or you could just text instead…but not while driving.

Worried About Your Brain? Check Your Blood Pressure

We typically think of high blood pressure as a risk factor for heart attacks. But it can also cause serious harm to our brains. Left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to small “silent strokes,” cognitive impairment, and dementia.

Hypertension, the clinical term for high blood pressure, is a disease that results in an above average amount of pressure on the walls of our arteries. Over time, this pressure damages the blood vessels. Though it can cause a range of health problems, hypertension is particularly dangerous for the brain .

Arteries carry vital oxygen and glucose to our brains. And because the brain is a resource hog—it accounts for just 2 percent of our body weight but uses
20 percent of our available oxygen and calories —minor problems with blood vessels and blood flow can have major consequences.

Researchers note that:

“brain tissue deprived of oxygen and glucose as a result of compromised blood supply is likely to sustain transient or permanent damage."

Doctors can see the damage on MRI brain scans. The scans can reveal small strokes and “hyperintensities” deep in the brain’s white matter, which indicate cerebral small vessel disease. This damage in white matter can lead to vascular cognitive impairment and vascular dementia, which is the second most common form of dementia.

Hypertension is also recognized as a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.
But there is some good news. Some studies suggest proper treatment of hypertension can reduce dementia risk by as much as 50 percent . And several clinical trials are studying whether anti-hypertensive drugs might be beneficial for dementia prevention and treatment.

At Sunnybrook Research Institute in Toronto, Dr. Sandra Black is comparing two popular classes of anti-hypertensive drugs to see which better protects the brain from vascular damage. Using available data, she has already found that angiotensin receptor blockers reduced dementia risk significantly more than ACE-inhibitors. Dr. Ihab Hajjar at Emory University is conducting a clinical trial of candesartan , a type of angiotensin receptor blocker, to test its potential to prevent or slow the development of Alzheimer’s in patients with mild cognitive impairment.

Both of those studies focus on Alzheimer’s, but others are working on vascular dementia. At St George's, University of London, Dr. Atticus Hainsworth is testing tadalafil (commonly known as Cialis) in patients with cerebral small vessel disease to see if it can improve blood flow and treat vascular dementia.

All of the studies mentioned were supported by the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation, where I am the Chief Science Officer. Other funders are joining our efforts.

Earlier this year, the NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke announced a consortium to study vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia.

The group will focus on the development of better diagnostic tools for vascular changes in the brain. This will enable researchers to identify patients with early signs of cerebral small vessel disease and treat them so they never develop dementia.

Soon, we will have effective treatments for vascular dementia. Today, you can lower your odds of developing it by managing hypertension.

Miss Iraq Forced To Flee Country After Controversial Selfie

The family of Miss Iraq have been forced to flee the country after the winner posed for a picture with Miss Israel.

Iraqi beauty queen Sarah Idan posted a selfie of her Israeli counterpart Adar Gandelsman attending the Miss Universe pageant in Las Vegas, US.

Idan’s intentions, as per her caption, was to promote ‘peace and love’ but some social media users weren’t having any of it.

Such was the backlash in Iraq over the picture that Idan’s family have since left the country for fear of a violent retribution.

Gandelsman told Israeli TV:

People made threats against her and her family that if she didn’t return home and take down the photos, they would remove her title, that they would kill her…
Out of fear, they left Iraq at least until the situation calms down.
Idan, 27, said Gandelsman wishes ‘that one day there will be peace between the two religions (Judaism and Islam) and that her children will not have to do military service’, reports Mail Online.

She added:

She asked for a photo and I agreed, saying that I too hoped for peace and wanted to help pass on the message.
This picture doesn’t mean I support the Israeli government or its policies towards Arab countries. I apologise to everyone who it as an insult to the Palestinian cause – this was not its purpose.

One critic commented:

Your peace with Israel, which has burned the Arab world for its own interests, does not honour us…
I respect pacifist Jews who oppose the state of Israel, but we don’t want their peace built on the ruins of our country.
Idan was born and bred in Baghdad. After the 2003 invasion she worked with the American military in 2008, later moving the to the United States and getting a degree in Los Angeles.

As per Wikipedia:

Iraq and Israel do not have any formal diplomatic relations as the former does not recognize the latter. Iraq declared war on the newly established Jewish state in 1948 and since then the relations between the two states have remained hostile at best. Iraqi forces also participated in the subsequent wars against Israel in 1967 and 1973.
In 1981, Israel, afraid of another attack from Iraq, bombed an Iraqi nuclear reactor under construction at Al Tuwaitha, southeast of Baghdad, claiming a threat to national security. Iraq did not respond. During the Persian Gulf War, Iraq fired 39 modified Scud ballistic missiles at Israel despite there being no aggression from Israel at the time. Israel, under pressure from the United States, never retaliated.

Crazy times we live in.

Stop wishing on P Square reunion” – Peter ‘Mr P’ Okoye says

Fans of one time Africa’s most popular group, P Square, who still hold high hopes of a reunion, have been told to perish the thought…

P Square, comprising twin brothers Peter and Paul, went their separate ways under controversial circumstances some few months ago, signalling the end of an era of the most successful duo on the continent.

In spite the bitter parting of ways, some fans still held high hopes that the brothers will reunite for the sake of music but Peter Okoye, the younger of the twins, who has been more vocal about standing on his own, advised such fans to get used to seeing him and his twin brother perform as solo artists.

Peter, who expressed these views in a recent interview with Silverbird TV , pointed out that he just had a successful solo tour in the U.S and ahead of his Europe tour beginning March 2018, he is set to put out more materials so his fans can hear something new following the release earlier of two singles ‘cool it down’ and ‘for my head’.

Speaking on the chances of a P Square comeback, he said:
“I don’t think it is happening (on their reunion). Like I said ‘change is constant’. At the moment, we’re all doing our individual stuff. Music is what I do for a living; I’m an entertainer, a singer, a dancer, a performer and I want to keep it that way”.

On whether there’s pressure on him to live up to expectation of P Square fame, Peter had this to say:
“People think there’s probably pressure, but trust me there’s none. I’ve done a lot of rehearsal, I’ve done my research and all; I’m moving forward. At the moment, it’s the thing (moving forward) now for me. I just came back from a U.S tour – fantastic tour – and I’m doing Europe in March, April and May (next year). I’m going to miss Nigeria but that’s why I’m trying to put out more materials before the tour so I can be able to promote them when I’m out there.”

Ramsey Nouah Celebrates His 47th Birthday Today (Drop Your Congratulatory Messages)

Ramsey Nouah (born Ramsey Tokunbo Nouah Jr.; 19 December 1970) is a Nigerian actor. He won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 2010.

Nouah’s acting career kicked off when he starred in the Nigerian TV soap opera Fortunes. Nouah has since then appeared in numerous films starring as the lead role.

He has been called “Lover-Boi” for his numerous roles in romantic film. In 2010 Nouah won the African Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in the Best Picture award-winning film The Figurine. Nouah is considered to be one of the most sought-after actors in Nigeria.

Nouah is married to Emelia Philips-Nouah. The couple have two sons and a daughter, named as Quincy, Camil Nouah and Desiree Nouah.

10 Health Benefits Of Cucumber

Health Benefits Of Cucumber
Here are some advantages derived when you eat cucumber.

1. They are a good source of vitamin B Since cucumbers contain about 95 percent of water, you get rehydrated when you consume them.

2. Cucumbers make your skin smoother and younger while boosting your hair growth.

3. Cucumbers have been employed in recent years in battles against cancer.

4. It helps in curing hangover
Cucumbers help keep your breathe fresh while preventing bad breath.

5. Cucumbers aid easy digestion and weight.

6. Cucumbers reduce blood cholesterol and controls blood pressure in the human body.

7. Cucumbers encourages healthy joint and relieves arthritis and gout pain.

8. They help keep the heart healthy.

9. A large part of cucumber flavour comes from it’s seed.

10. Cucumbers contain vitamin C.

Check Out The Luxurious Home Allegedly Owned By Saudi Arabia Crown Prince, It Worth About N100 Billion (Photos)

It is no longer news that a crowned prince of Saudi Arabia is living a luxurious life as amazing photos of his luxurious home have emerged on social media.

Reports have it that Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud is the owner of a $300 million (N100 billion) chateau mansion near Versailles in France.

The home was landscaped to be a 57 acre park in Louveciennes and was anonymously sold in 2015. It was called world’s most expensive home by Forbes magazine.

The report states that the chateau’s ownership is meticulously hidden through various shell companies in France and Luxembourg, all of which are owned by Eight Investment Company, a Saudi firm led by the head of Prince Mohammed’s personal foundation.

It was earlier reported that the crowned prince is currently spearheading an anti-corruption probe and wealth accumulation at home that saw more than 200 princes and dozens of former ministers being detained.

Prince Mohammed’s rise to power began in 2013, when he was named the head of the Crown Prince’s Court, with the rank of a minister.

See more pictures below:-