Video: Did Jada Pinkett ask her husband Will Smith to slap Chris Rock?

Will Smith has issued a video apology to Chris Rock for slapping him at March’s Academy Awards, saying that his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, had “nothing to do” with his decision to hit Rock.

Rock, who was hosting the event, made an on-stage joke about Pinkett Smith’s lack of hair, leading Smith to defend his wife. Today (July 29), the King Richard actor decided to answer questions that have been asked for months. 

“After Jada rolled her eyes, did she tell you to do something?” Smith read. “No,” he responded. “I made a choice on my own, from my own experiences, from my history with Chris. Jada had nothing to do with it,” he insisted. The “Gettin’ Jiggy wit It” artist added, “I’m sorry, babe.” 

Smith also apologized to the rest of his loved ones for his surprising actions. “I wanna say sorry to my kids and my family for the heat that I brought on all of us.” Some social media users commended Smith’s ability to take responsibility for the incident. 

“My favorite part of Will Smith’s apology is him making it CLEAR that Jada never told him to do anything to Chris after his joke. So many people built a following off of blaming Jada and spewing hatred at her for what Will did,” one person tweeted. 

Another added, “I will never forget when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock [and] y’all blamed Jada of all people. Whew chile, the misogyny.” 

During Smith’s video he apologized to the entire Rock family — specifically addressing Chris, Tony and their mother. 

“I didn’t realize and wasn’t thinking about how many people got hurt in that moment,” the award-winning actor said. Smith also shared that he’s reached out to Rock personally, but the comedian was “not ready to talk.” 

Watch: 

 

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Twitter update could let users to add image, video, GIF to their posts

Micro-blogging platform Twitter is testing a new feature that will let users attach media in multiple formats to a single tweet.

With this feature, a user can add an image, video, and GIF to a single tweet. According to GSM Arena, those who have used Twitter for any amount of time would know that the company has so far supported having only a single type of media attached. 

While users can attach four images, there was no way to attach more than a single video or a GIF or mix them with the images. 

With this update, the limit of four forms of media remains but users can now have any combination of images, videos, and GIFs within those four slots. 

Talking to Techcrunch, Twitter said, "We're testing a new feature with select accounts for a limited time that will allow people to mix up to four media assets into a single tweet, regardless of format." 

They added, "We're seeing people have more visual conversations on Twitter and are using images, GIFS and videos to make these conversations more exciting. 

With this test, we're hoping to learn how people combine these different media formats to express themselves more creatively on Twitter beyond 280 characters." 

As is usual for Twitter tests, the feature will only be available to select accounts in select regions. 

There's no word yet on when the feature will roll out to everyone, if at all, as per GSM Arena.

Graphic VIDEO: Giant screen falls on dancers at Hong Kong concert, 2 injured

Hong Kong officials said Friday they would open an investigation into a concert accident in which a giant video screen fell down onto the stage and injured two dancers.

Video clips from the Cantopop group Mirror concert Thursday night show a massive LED screen suspended above the stage crashing down, directly landing on one dancer before toppling over onto another as audience members scream in horror. 

The injured performers were both sent to the hospital, with one of the dancers reported to be in “serious condition.” Hong Kong leader John Lee said Friday that authorities will “comprehensively investigate the incident” and review safety requirements for future performances, according to a government statement. He also said the government would help family members of one of the injured dancers be able to travel from Canada to Hong Kong to see him. 

Concert organiser MakerVille said in a statement it was “deeply saddened” over the injuries of two performers and that it would work with authorities in the probe. “If we find anything suspicious, or if any person or unit is involved in misconduct, we will immediately report it to the police,” the statement read. Authorities also revealed their initial findings after inspecting the show venue _ the Hong Kong Coliseum _ on Friday. 

The concert on Thursday was the fourth of 12 scheduled concerts by Mirror, with tens of thousands of fans having bought tickets. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung told reporters Friday the government was “very concerned” about the incident and that an investigation would be conducted, likely over several weeks. “We will do research to find out whether (the steel cable broke) due to an operational or material problem. It cannot currently be concluded at this stage,” said Yeung, adding that the incident will affect “all future performances.” 

Authorities will also try to determine if any safety improvements are needed at other venues for upcoming performances to minimise the chances of such an incident occurring again, Yeung said. Officers from the Labour Department have collected evidence from the venue and will work to determine who is responsible for the incident, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun said. He said all activity under the remaining suspended screens at the venue will be halted, and organisers will work with government officials to determine how best to remove the suspended screens safely. 

Mirror, the 12-member band, has skyrocketed in popularity in Hong Kong and been credited with the revival of Cantopop.

Watch:

Toyeen B's World: Graphic VIDEO: Giant screen falls on dancers at Hong Kong concert, 2 injured

VISIT: https://t.co/j6FTAlPCZT#HongKong #Cantopop #CantopopgroupMirrorConcert #MakerVille #ToyeenB #TBW xo pic.twitter.com/zTVDNt0G5v

— Fireworks With Toyeen B. (@FireworksWithTB) July 29, 2022

Nigerian, Ethiopian, Chinese, Indian busted by Dubai Police for running a casino

FYI: Gambling is 'haram' (forbidden) in the UAE!!!

More than a dozen people who ran a casino from a villa in Dubai have been jailed, while five others were fined for gambling. 

In an effort to purge the gambling dens runs from homes across the emirate, a Dubai Police captain said the force organised a raid in April on one such property in Al Rashidiya after a tip-off. 

A team of officers made the late-night raid and found poker and roulette tables inside. 

“We put a plan to deter gambling places in the city,” the police captain said in court documents. “The two-floor villa has gambling tables, a cashier and other tools used in gambling.

It has a surveillance system in all rooms and there was a service for providing beverages and food for customers.” A second officer said they had seized several mobile phones in the raid, which led to prison sentences for 17 people. “There was a room in the villa as a command room containing screens to monitor the other rooms and gambling areas,” he said. “There was a screen to show the bets. We seized three new iPhones inside the room.” 

A Chinese citizen, 29, was charged with organising gambling at the secret den. He was sentenced to one year in prison, fined Dh100,000 ($27,225) and will be deported on completion of his prison term. 

The other 16 members of the group — who were aged between 21 to 39 and from Ethiopia, India, Nigeria and China — were working in the casino as cleaners, shisha servers, translators, a technician, a watchman and croupiers. 

The female cleaners said the place was used as a gambling den. Three female croupiers at the poker tables said they had also made sure no cheating happened while customers played roulette. 

At Dubai Criminal Court they were charged with criminal abetting and each sentenced to three months in jail, fined Dh100,000 and will also be deported upon release. 

Five customers from India, Iran, Indonesia and Britain who were found in the villa during the police raid denied engaging in gambling and claimed they were attending a party. 

They were fined Dh10,000 each for gambling inside the villa. All money and gambling tools have been confiscated by order of Dubai Courts. 

This year, a Dubai Police officer uncovered an Asian gang of seven who ran a gambling den inside a clothes shop in the Al Fahidi area of the city. 

UAE laws prohibit all forms of gambling, as well as the advertising of any form of gaming. 

Culled From The National.

Alleged Dallas Airport Shooter, Portia Odufuwa Claimed To Be Married To Chris Brown

Dallas police are providing more details about the shooting that erupted inside Dallas Love Field Airport late Monday morning (July 25), including who opened fire – a woman who was once found incompetent to stand trial and said she was married to R&B singer Chris Brown.

According to NBC Dallas-Fort Worth, Dallas Chief of Police Eddie Garcia identified the woman who pulled out a gun inside the airport and began shooting toward the ceiling as 37-year-old Portia Odufuwa. 

She was reportedly dropped off at the airport just before 11 a.m. and then once inside, went into a restroom and changed clothes. 

Garcia says the women then left the restroom in a hoodie, pulled out a gun and began firing several shots, most of which were directed at the ceiling. It isn’t clear as to why Odufuwa allegedly discharged a weapon, but witnesses claim she was complaining about her marriage and threatened to blow up the airport. 

At this point, we don't know where exactly the individual was aiming. From what we are seeing she was aiming at the ceiling," Garcia said. " There are several rounds that were found." She has been known to local law enforcement in the past. 

According to the Dallas Morning News, Odufuwa was found incompetent to stand trial in a June 2021 misdemeanor case in which she pulled a fire alarm although there was no fire. She was referred to outpatient mental health services. She also has arrest records for arson, criminal trespass, bank robbery and false reporting all filed in several cities in northern Texas over the past few years. Several of the cases have been dismissed, while the decisions on others are unclear. She also reportedly claimed to be “God’s prophet.” In the fire alarm incident, court records show she was staying at a Mesquite, Tex., hotel when managers refused to extend her stay. She was arrested after she pulled the alarm and gave the address to Brown’s home as her own. 

In the arson incident, which took place October 2019, she was found standing outside of a house fire and claimed to be responsible for it. When an officer asked why, she said she was “God’s prophet.” She also refused to give any more information about herself until she could speak with her husband, which she falsely claimed was Brown. However, she was arrested in connection, but no Dallas County District Attorney charge was filed due to lack of evidence that it was she who started the fire. An arrest warrant affidavit obtained by NBC Dallas-Fort Worth reveals Odufuwa fired two shots into the air at the airport and was quickly confronted by a uniformed Dallas police officer. Additionally, surveillance footage shows the woman pointing her weapon at the officer, who then fired several shots at Odufuwa, striking her at least once in the lower body area. Odufuwa was later taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital in an unknown condition, however no other information about her motivation behind the shooting was provided by authorities. 

The Dallas FBI and ATF are reportedly assisting Dallas Police in the investigation. 

The Morning News says it is unclear if she has an attorney. 

Her family declined to comment.

FACT CHECK: Her name is Portia Odufuwa 37, she has been identified as the Dallas Love Field Airport mass shooter.

➖#PortiaOdufuwa is a NIGERIAN-AMERICAN, not a Foundational Black American.

➖ 3 yrs ago, she was arrested for ARSON, BANK ROBBERY, FALSE ALARM, CRIMINAL TRESPASS pic.twitter.com/8tKG1FvkzJ

— Sir Maejor (@sirmaejor) July 26, 2022

Guess where most Qatar World Cup teams will be staying...

Three quarters of the teams at the World Cup finals in Qatar will be based within a 10km radius of each other, Fifa said on Tuesday, announcing the hotels and training venues for the 32 national sides.

Unlike in previous tournaments, all teams will stay in the same hotel and use the same training base throughout the tournament — even carrying out their sessions the day before matches at their camps rather than the stadiums. 

Fifa said 24 of the 32 teams are based within a short drive of each other close to the capital Doha. “Players will have more time to train and rest during the competition, while being able to experience the excitement that will take over the country at much closer quarters, as fellow players and passionate fans from all 32 nations will be gathering in a single area,” said Colin Smith, Fifa’s Chief Operating Officer — World Cup. The tournament starts on Nov. 21 and runs until the final on Dec. 18 and is played at eight venues.

Teams will check in to their hotels and training camps at least five days before their first match. 

Fifa said the accommodation “range from four- and five-star hotels to villas, resorts and non-hotel accommodation, including sports academy residences and school/university housing.”

ANNOUNCED: Islamic new year holiday for UAE public sector

The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources has announced holiday for public sector employees to mark the Hijri New Year 1444.

"Hijri New Year Holiday in the Federal Government is on 1st of Muharram 1444," officials announced on Tuesday. 

Earlier on Saturday, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation declared July 30, 2022, an official paid holiday for all private sector employees in the UAE to celebrate the Hijri Year 1444. 

This comes in implementation of the Cabinet decision on official holidays approved for the government and private sectors for 2022.

Hijri New Year Holiday in the Federal Government
is on 1st of Muharram 1444

Happy Hijri New Year pic.twitter.com/qBSQprSafj

— FAHR (@FAHR_UAE) July 26, 2022

 

Toyeen B's World: ANNOUNCED: Islamic new year holiday for UAE private sector.

Photos: Following his alleged affair with his friend's wife, Elon Musk says he hasn't had sex in ages

Elon Musk has announced to the world that he's apparently not 'had sex in ages'.

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO may be the current richest man in the world, but clearly having tonnes of money doesn't always mean you're fulfilled in every area of your life. After responding to allegations that he slept with Nicole Shanahan - the wife of Google co-founder Sergey Brin - by calling the rumours 'total bs,' to further back up his point Musk decided to fill the world of Twitter in about his sex life - or lack of. The Wall Street Journal cited several people who claimed to be familiar with the situation between Musk, Brin and Shanahan. 

The piece accuses Musk of having gotten romantically involved with Shanahan for a brief period of time, which in turn, is said to have led to her and Brin separating on 15 December 2021 and Brin filing for divorce in January earlier this year over 'irreconcilable differences'. 

However, Musk has contested the claims of an affair, responding to the article on Twitter by writing: "This is total bs. Sergey and I are friends and were at a party together last night! I’ve only seen Nicole twice in three years, both times with many other people around. Nothing romantic." 

As if to further prove his case, he followed up by responding to another user's tweet to 'keep [his] dick in his pants' by stating: "Haven’t even had sex in ages (sigh)."

Toyeen B's World: Photos: Elon Musk caught having an affair with Google co-founder Sergey Brin's wife, Nicole Shanahan.

Photos: Elon Musk caught having an affair with Google co-founder Sergey Brin's wife, Nicole Shanahan

Busted!!!

The Tesla CEO has allegedly had an extramarital affair with Nicole Shanahan, the wife of billionaire Google co-founder Sergey Brin, People magazine reports. Musk and Brin were close friends until the affair, the publication reported, citing a report in the Wall Street Journal. 

The relationship between the two moguls started turning sour after Brin learned his wife had an affair with fellow tech billionaire, Musk. Brin filed for divorce in January citing "irreconcilable differences," and stated that he and Shanahan had been separated since December 15, 2021. 

Additionally, Brin asked for joint custody of their daughter. He also said that he is not seeking spousal support from Shanahan and requested she not be awarded it either. 

Musk reportedly apologized to Brin at a party earlier this year. 

Brin was reportedly among the first people to be given a Tesla vehicle when production got off the ground, and Brin reportedly gave Musk $500,000 in 2008 to keep Tesla afloat during the financial crisis. 

The alleged affair came several months after Musk had broken up with his girlfriend, singer Grimes, with whom he has had two children. 

Meanwhile, Musk is currently locked in a legal battle with Twitter after he dropped a bid to purchase the social media company. 

The Tesla boss Elon Musk said late on Sunday on Twitter that he and Google co-founder Sergey Brin remain friends and denied a report that he had been involved in an affair with Brin's wife Nicole Shanahan.

ANNOUNCED: Islamic new year holiday for UAE private sector

Saturday, July 30, will be an official paid holiday for all private sector employees in the UAE on the occasion of Islamic new year (1444H).

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) said this is in line with the decree issued by the UAE Cabinet to unify the official holidays of public and private sectors in 2021 and 2022. Unified holidays mean that Emiratis and expats working in government departments and private companies are entitled to the same official days off for national and religious events. 

Unlike the Gregorian New Year, which is based on the solar system, the Islamic New Year is based on the lunar system. Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. Earlier this month, Ibrahim Al Jarwan, member of the International Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences, noted that the Islamic New Year — also called the Hijri New Year or Arabic New Year — would fall on July 30 this year. While this doesn’t mean a long weekend for those who get Saturday-Sunday off, it will be a welcome relief for those working on Saturdays. 

The next official holiday also falls on a Saturday — October 8, to mark the birthday of Prophet Muhammed (PBUH). 

The holiday to mark the Commemoration Day and UAE National Day would translate into a four-day weekend. December 1, 2 and 3 would be the days off; December 4 is a Sunday and that makes it a four-day holiday.

MoHRE Declares 30th July as Islamic New Year Holiday for Private Sector#IslamicNewYear #UAE #MOHRE@MOHRE_UAE pic.twitter.com/nWM62drt3F

— UAE Forsan (@UAE_Forsan) July 24, 2022

UAE Golden Visa 2022 for Nigerians et al: New categories, updates explained

Golden Visa holders can stay outside the UAE for any amount of time, without their visa being nullified.

This and other major updates were announced to the Golden Visa scheme for expatriates in the UAE. On April 18, the UAE government announced new entry visas and residency permits, where different types of residency options were made available to people travelling to the UAE for a visit or for long-term residence. 

As part of the update on the Golden Visa, the announcement provided details on the duration of stay allowed for an individual in the UAE, while he or she completes the Golden Visa application process, as well as the number of family members and domestic workers they may be able to sponsor. 

Here are all the details: 

Who is eligible for the Golden Visa? The categories covered under the Golden Residence permit have been expanded. 

According to amendments to the Golden Residence Scheme, here are the beneficiaries of the long-term 10 year residence permit:

1. Investors:

• Public investment
• Real estate investment

2. Entrepreneurs:

• Owners of registered successful start-ups
• Those who have an approved idea for a start-up
• Previous founders of a successful start-up that was sold inside or outside the UAE

3. Exceptional talents

• Culture and art
• Investors and innovators
• Sports
• Digital technology
• Other vital fields

4. Scientists and professionals

• Scientists
• Chief executive and senior officials
• Science professionals
• Engineering professionals
• Health professionals
• Education professionals
• Business and Administration professionals

• Information technology professionals
• Legal, social and cultural professionals

5. Outstanding students and graduates

• Best performing students in secondary schools
• Best graduates from UAE universities
• Graduates of best 100 universities worldwide

6. Humanitarian pioneers

• Distinguished members of international and regional organisations
• Outstanding members of associations of public benefits
• Recipients of recognition awards in humanitarian fields
• Distinguished volunteers and sponsors of humanitarian efforts

7. Frontline heroes

• Frontline workers with extraordinary efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic

What are the benefits of the new Golden Visa?

As per the amendments, these are the benefits of the Golden visa:

• Golden Residency holders can sponsor their family members including spouse, children and support staff without any limit.

• There is no restriction on the maximum duration of stay outside the UAE in order to keep the Golden Residency valid.

• An e-visa valid for six months will be provided, to proceed with residence issuance.

• Family members are allowed stay in the UAE in the event of death of the original holder of the Golden Visa until the end of their permit duration.

• No sponsor or employer required.

• 10 years renewable visa.

Criteria for the Golden Visa

According to the category you are eligible for, the requirement criteria is different for each. Therefore, if an individual wants to apply for a Golden Residence they must fulfil the following requirements.

Golden Residence for Scientists

• They must be recommended by the Emirates Scientists Council.

• The candidate should have a Ph. D. or master degree in the disciplines of engineering, technology, life sciences and natural sciences from the best universities in the world.

• The candidate should have substantial research achievements.

Golden Residence for Professionals

• The applicants should have a valid employment contract in the UAE.

• Should be classified in the first or second occupational level as per the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation classification.

• The minimum educational level must be a bachelor’s degree or equivalent.

• The monthly salary should not be less than Dh30,000.

Golden Residence for Exceptional Talents

• It is awarded based on talent only regardless of the educational qualification, the employment status, the monthly salary or professional level.

• It requires the recommendation or approval of a federal or local government entity.

Golden Residence for Real Estate Investors

• Real estate investors can obtain Golden Visa when purchasing a property that is worth at least Dh2 million.

• Investors are also entitled to obtain the Golden Visa when purchasing a property with a loan from specific local banks.

• Investors can also obtain Golden Visa when buying one or more off-plan properties of no less than Dh2 million from approved local real estate companies.

Golden Residence for Entrepreneurs

• An entrepreneur should own or be a partner in a start-up registered in UAE in the category of small and medium enterprises (SME), which generates annual revenues of not less than Dh1 million.

• In addition, obtaining approval for a start-up idea from an official business incubator (an organisation that helps start-ups or entrepreneurs to develop their business) or from the Ministry of Economy or the competent local authorities.

• If the person is a founder or one of the founders of a previous project that was sold with a total value of not less than Dh7 million. The approval of the Ministry of Economy or the competent local authorities is required for projects or ideas.

Golden Visa for Outstanding Students and Graduates

• Must present their academic performance, which is their cumulative average or GPA.

• Year of graduation.

• The university’s classification or standing.

Culled From Gulf News.

Photos: Meet the 15th elected president of India & the country’s second female president, Droupadi Murmu

Droupadi Murmu has been elected the 15th President of India on Thursday.

She is the first tribal President of India and the country’s second female President. Soon after being elected as the head of the state, Murmu took to Twitter to express her gratitude to her colleagues for choosing her as the presidential candidate. 

She wrote: "Elated by all of the support from my all political colleagues Ministers, MP's and MLA's from all -around India for choosing me to serve as the 15th President in the world's largest democratic country Mother India." 

The 64-year-old veteran politician vowed to work for the development of her tribal community, "When I was Nominated as NDA'S presidential candidate from that day I took oath in my mind that If I become President, first of all I will work for more development of my tribal and adivasi brothers and sisters of Whole India & Odisha. Now that time has came I will keep my promise." 

She continued to write: I bow head towards Mahaprabhu Shree Jagannath for the blessings and everything I achieved till date, I thank my every Citizen of mother India and to all of You, I cannot express my feeling right now!" "India scripts history," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Twitter. "A daughter of India hailing from a tribal community born in a remote part of eastern India has been elected our President!"

Met Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji and congratulated her. pic.twitter.com/ALdJ3kWSLj

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 21, 2022

World's Best Passports: Japan 1st, UAE 15th, Nigeria 100th!!! See FULL list

Nigeria has moved up three places as its passport is ranked 100th out of 116 countries, but it is still among the least powerful in Africa, the latest 2022 Henley Passport Index shows.

The index, published by Henley & Partners, a London-based global citizenship and residence advisory firm, ranks 199 passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. 

The Nigerian passport, according to the index, only guarantees visa-free access to 46 countries of the world an improvement from 45 as at March 2022. The African countries with the least powerful passports are Somalia, Libya, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan. 

Countries Nigerians can visit Visa-free:

Benin 

Burkina Faso 

Cameroun 

Cabo Verde 

Chad 

Comoros 

Côte d’Ivoire 

Djibouti 

Ethiopia 

The Gambia 

Ghana 

Guinea 

Guinea-Bissau 

Kenya 

Lesotho 

Liberia 

Madagascar 

Mali 

Mauritania 

Mauritius 

Mozambique 

* Niger 

Rwanda 

São Tomé and Príncipe 

Senegal 

Seychelles 

Sierra Leone 

Somalia 

Togo 

Uganda 

Zambia 

Zimbabwe 

Iran 

Kyrgyzstan 

Maldives 

Timor-Leste 

Antigua and Barbuda 

Barbados 

Dominica 

Fiji 

Haiti 

Saint Kitts and Nevis 

Suriname 

Fiji 

Micronesia 

Tuvalu 

Vanuatu  

Emirati travellers are now able to visit 176 countries around the world on either a visa-free or visa-on-arrival basis…

The past two years have been hard on travel due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but according to the release of the latest Henley Passport Index, the UAE passport has retained its powerful status. 

In the latest ranking released by the authority, the UAE sits at number 15 on the list with a score of 176. It is the highest rank it has achieved since the launch of the ranking system back in 2016. It shares its position with Cyprus.

The UAE is also the only Arab nation to rank in the top 20.

According to the report, the UAE passport is declared a ‘pandemic winner’. Back in 2012, a decade ago, the UAE held the 64th position on the rankings with a score of just 106. In 2021, it ranked 16th on the list, sharing the spot with Chile, Monaco and Romania – proof that it is getting stronger as the years pass by.

-ADVERTISEMENT-

The top 15 countries on the Henley Passport Index can be found below:

1. Japan
2. Singapore / South Korea
3. Germany / Spain
4. Finland / Italy / Luxembourg
5. Denmark / Austria / Netherlands / Sweden
6. France / Ireland / Portugal / the UK
7. Belgium / New Zealand / Norway / Switzerland / the US
8. Australia / Canada / Czech Republic / Greece / Malta
9. Hungary
10. Lithuania / Poland / Slovakia
11. Estonia / Latvia / Slovenia
12. Iceland
13. Malaysia
14. Lichtenstein
15. The UAE / Cyprus

You can view the whole report here.

Netflix loses one million subscribers

Almost a million subscribers fled Netflix in the second quarter, roughly half the number the beleaguered streaming giant had forewarned investors about, but still the most significant desertion in its history.

Netflix logged revenue growth of 9% for the quarter, bolstered by the blockbuster success of its most-watched series "Stranger Things." It also saw tangible improvement in the Asia-Pacific region, adding 1.1 million payers for the quarter. The U.S. and Canada accounted for the largest amount of cancellations with 1.3 million abandoning the service. 

Wall Street swooned late Tuesday after the results were unfurled, cheering the pushing shares up in after market trading. 

The results marked the company's first two consecutive quarters of subscriber losses in its history.

World population to reach 8 billion by November with India surpassing China as the world's most populous country

India is set to become the world's most populous country next year, overtaking China with its 1.4bn people, according to UN figures. 

By this November, the planet will be home to 8bn. But population growth is not as rapid as it used to be. It is now at its slowest rate since 1950 and is set to peak, says the UN, around the 2080s at about 10.4bn though some demographers believe that could happen even sooner. 

But the population of the world is expanding unevenly. More than half the growth we will see in the next 30 years will happen in just eight countries - the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and Tanzania.

At the same time, some of the world's most developed economies are already seeing population decline as fertility rates fall below 2.1 children per woman, which is known as the "replacement rate". In 61 countries, the report says, populations will decline by at least 1% by 2050. With one of the lowest fertility rates in the world (at 1.15 children per woman), China has announced that its population is due to start declining next year - much earlier than previously thought. 

That is despite the country abandoning its one child policy in 2016 and introducing incentives for couples to have two or more children.

As India's population continues to grow it will almost certainly overtake China as the country with the biggest population in the world. Fertility rates are falling globally - even in many of the countries where the population is expanding. That is because, as previous generations expand, there are more people having children, even if individually those people are having fewer children than their parents did. Growth is also largely thanks to developments in medicine and science which mean that more children are surviving into adulthood and more adults into old age. That pattern is likely to continue, which means that by 2050 the global average life expectancy will be around 77.2 years. But this pattern means that the share of the global population aged 65 years or above is projected to rise from 10% this year to 16% in 2050. 

Again the distribution will be unequal with some countries, in East Asia and Western Europe, already seeing more extremes in ageing.

American woman fakes abduction with her Nigerian boyfriend in India after running out of money

A 27-year-old US citizen staying in New Delhi allegedly staged her own kidnapping after she ran out of money in an attempt to extort cash from her parents, police said on Sunday.

The woman, identified as Chloe Mclaughlin, had come to Delhi on May 3. She is a graduate from a university in the US and her father, who lives in Washington DC, is an ex-army officer, they said. The police said that on July 7, Mclaughlin called her mother and said that she was in an “unsafe environment” and was being assaulted and beaten by a man known to her. She did not disclose her current location though, they said. 

Her mother approached the authorities in India, and the US Embassy forwarded the matter to New Delhi District police. The case had been reported after more than two and half months of arrival of the victim in India, the police said. 

On July 10, Mclaughlin again spoke to her mother via a video call on WhatsApp, but just before her mother could get some more information about her, a man entered the room and their call was cut short. The United States Embassy conjectured that the woman was either incapacitated or was being prevented from contacting her family or Embassy, said Amrutha Guguloth, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), New Delhi. 

The police said they used technical intelligence and, in order to ascertain her most recent whereabouts, sought help from Yahoo.com for the IP address Mclaughlin had used to send an e-mail to American Citizen Services regarding her immigration document work on July 9. 

When the Bureau of Immigration was requested to provide the immigration form of the alleged victim, they gave the police the address she had shared with them, which was in Greater Noida, the officer said. Accordingly, the police conducted raids at a hotel, where she was suspected to have stayed. 

But the staff there said no one by her name had checked into their hotel. Meanwhile, investigators found that the Mclaughlin was using someone else’s Wi-Fi when she made the video call to her mother, Guguloth said. “Our team tracked the IP address and the mobile network associated with that IP address, which led us to one Okoroafor Chibuike Okoro, 31, a Nigerian national, in Gurugram. “He told the police that the woman was staying in Greater Noida,” she said. Following his input, the police tracked down Mclaughlin and arrested her. Mclaughlin, when she was questioned, confessed that she had staged her kidnapping as she had run out of money within few days of reaching Delhi, following which she and her boyfriend, Okoro, hatched a plan to extort money from her parents, the DCP said.

The woman’s passport had expired on June 6 and her boyfriend’s passport too had run out of validity, police said. She had come to India to stay with Okoro whom she had befriended on Facebook before coming to Delhi. Both of them were living together in New Delhi and were passionate about singing. That might be the reason they became friends, the police officer said. Legal action is being taken against both for overstaying in India without a valid passport and visa, police said. — PTI