BPL 2019: Smith, Warner fall cheaply in 1st high-profile match since ball-tampering saga
BPL 2019: Smith, Warner fall cheaply in 1st high-profile match since ball-tampering sagaBanned Australian superstars Steve Smith and David Warner led Comilla Victorians and Sylhet Sixers, respectively in their first match of Bangladesh Premier League 2019 in Dhaka.advertisement India Today Web Desk DhakaJanuary 6, 2019UPDATED: January 6, 2019 17:25 IST Steve Smith and David Warner were seen exchanging pleasantries during the BPL 2019 match in Dhaka on Sunday (Twitter Photo)HIGHLIGHTSSteve Smith led Comilla Victorians to a four-wicket win over David Warner’s Sylhet Sixers in DhakaSmith scored 16 from 17 balls while Warner managed 14 from 13 balls in their BPL 2019 openersShahid Afridi blasted 39 from 25 balls to help Smith’s side beat Warner’s SixersFormer Australia captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner led Comilla Victorians and Sylhet Sixers, respectively in their first-ever Bangladesh Premier League match on Sunday after the infamous ball-tampering incident from last year.Smith and Warner were handed the huge responsibility of leading their teams in their season openers at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka. Both the Australian players were seen exchanging pleasantries and shook hands as they walked out for the toss earlier in the day.While Warner was picked up by the Sylhet Sixers in the pre-tournament draft, Smith’s participation had remained uncertain as several franchises opposed his inclusion from outside the draft as a replacement for Sri Lanka’s Asela Gunaratne.However, Steve Smith led the Victorians to a winning start in BPL 2019 as they beat David Warner’s Sylhet Sixers by four wickets.Afridi shines for Steve Smith’s VictoriansFormer Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi starred for Steve Smith’s team as he smashed a 25-ball 39, which included five boundaries and two sixes. The Victorians were reeling at 97 for 6 from 16.3 overs, chasing 128 before Afridi began opening his arms up.Smith managed only 16 runs from 17 balls but he stitched a crucial 30-run stand with Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal after the Victorians lost two wickets.Earlier in the day, David Warner was declared run out but the decision against him was questionable as he made it past the crease first when two Sylhet batsmen ran to the same end.Warner made a 13-ball 14, including three boundaries, before he was adjudged run-out.advertisementSmith and Warner are both serving 12-month bans, which expire on March 30. The two batsmen, who are known for their consistency, are likely to play the World Cup and the Ashes later this year for Australia.Speaking to the media in December last year, Smith had said he was aware of what was going on in the Australian dressing room beore Cameron Bancroft was caught on television cameras tampering the red cherry during a Test match in Cape Town against South Africa in March.”In the room I walked past something and had the opportunity to stop it and I didn’t do it. It went out and happened on the field. I had the opportunity to stop it rather than say I didn’t want to know anything about it. That was my failure of leadership for that and I have taken responsibility for that,” Smith said.While Smith and Bancroft, who revealed Warner had asked him to alter the condition of the ball, spoke to the media, Warner decided to keep mum and go about his preparations for the much-anticipated international comeback.Also Read | Virat Kohli sympathises with Steve Smith and David Warner: I felt very badAlso Read | Steve Smith reveals why he did not appeal ball-tampering banAlso Read | I want to come back better than I was, says Steve Smith in new commercialAlso See:For sports news, updates, live scores and cricket fixtures, log on to indiatoday.in/sports. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for Sports news, scores and updates.Get real-time alerts and all the news on your phone with the all-new India Today app. Download from Post your comment Do You Like This Story? Awesome! Now share the story Too bad. Tell us what you didn’t like in the comments Posted byAkshay Ramesh Tags :Follow Steve SmithFollow David WarnerFollow Bangladesh Premier LeagueFollow Australia ball tamperingFollow Comilla VictoriansFollow Sylhet SixersFollow Smith BPL 2019Follow Smith Warner BPL cricket toss
Associated Press DohaSeptember 29, 2019UPDATED: September 29, 2019 20:48 IST World Athletics Championships: Guinea-Bissau’s Braima Suncar Dabo assists Aruba’s Jonathan Busby across the line of a men’s 5000mHIGHLIGHTSBraima Suncar Dabo stopped his own race to help a struggling competitor finish Friday nightAny athlete in that situation would do the same thing, said DaboBusby, from Aruba, collapsed onto the track and was placed in a wheelchair by medical staffYou didn’t need a stopwatch or a measuring tape to identify the biggest winner on the first night of track and field’s world championships.The gold medal for sportsmanship went to Braima Suncar Dabo, the 5,000-meter runner from Guinea-Bissau who stopped his own race to help a struggling competitor finish Friday night.Dabo held up an exhausted Jonathan Busby and together they staggered around the last turn and over the finish line to great applause, even though the other runners had crossed 5 minutes earlier. Busby, from Aruba, collapsed onto the track and was placed in a wheelchair by medical staff.Sport is about so much more than just your own performance.to Braima Suncar Dabo and Jonathan Busby at the #WorldAthleticsChamps pic.twitter.com/pYVeROMMYPIAAF (@iaaforg) September 27, 2019″Any athlete in that situation would do the same thing,” Dabo said through a translator.”It was something normal to do, to help someone from another country, because (Busby) was representing his country as well.” All Busby said was “thank you,” Dabo added.Both Busby and Dabo are the only athletes from their nations at the world championships. Both men competed under special invitations that allow countries without strong track programs to send one athlete to the championships, even if that athlete has not met qualifying standards.Dabo was far off the pace, and his goal wasn’t to qualify for the final, but just to run a personal best. Dabo’s time nearly five minutes slower than the leader was officially recorded as a personal best even after stopping to help Busby. But Dabo said he’d been much faster in the past.advertisementOfficially, Busby was disqualified. But the crowd roared for him and Dabo as they crossed the line.Also Read | Joao Vieira becomes oldest person to win a medal in World Championship historyAlso see:For sports news, updates, live scores and cricket fixtures, log on to indiatoday.in/sports. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for Sports news, scores and updates.Get real-time alerts and all the news on your phone with the all-new India Today app. Download from Post your comment Do You Like This Story? Awesome! Now share the story Too bad. Tell us what you didn’t like in the comments Posted byNitin Kumar Tags :Follow World Athletics ChampionshipsFollow Doha World Athletics Championships: Braima Dabo helps ailing rival cross the finish line in 5000m raceBraima Suncar Dabo made a bigger impact after he helped his ailing rival Jonathan Busby to the finish line on the first night of track and field’s world championships.advertisement Next
“This is a great day for the province’s music scene allowing us to build on the momentum of the last two years,” says Alex Grigg, Executive Director of Music BC. “In this time, our industry has focused on helping BC artists develop their careers and showcase their talent around the world, boost business in BC studios, create greater opportunities for live music performances that bolster activity in our communities, and facilitate professional development so that we can build a stronger, more sustainable industry. On behalf of the staff, board of directors and the BC music industry we extend our gratitude to the Government of BC and Minister Beare for their continued support and investment into the BC Music sector.”Music BC and Music Canada would also like to thank all members of the BC music community who participated in the effort to secure provincial funding and shared their insights, experiences and success stories. The one-year investment of $7.5 million will contribute to BC’s strong and vibrant communities and also benefit BC tourism, arts and creative industries, and small business development.About Music CanadaMusic Canada is a non-profit trade organization that represents the major record companies in Canada: Sony Music Entertainment Canada, Universal Music Canada and Warner Music Canada. Music Canada also works with some of the leading independent record labels and distributors, recording studios, live music venues, concert promoters, managers and artists in the promotion and development of the music cluster. For more on Music Canada, please visit www.musiccanada.com.About Music BCMusic BC Industry Association is a not for profit association serving the for profit and non-profit music industry, including artists from all genres, industry professionals, service providers, studios, promoters, venues, festivals, producers, agents, managers and educational institutions. For more on Music BC, please visit www.musicbc.org. VANCOUVER – Music BC and Music Canada applaud the Government of British Columbia’sannouncement of a new music fund for the province called AMPLIFY BC. Administered through Creative BC, the new Fund will provide much-needed support for the development of BC artists and musicians, music companies, skills development and live music production, stimulating economic growth and activity in the sector. “Music Canada would like to applaud the Government of BC and Minister Beare for this important investment which demonstrates their confidence in the music sector,” says Amy Terrill, Executive Vice President of Music Canada. “The intense interest in the former BC Music Fund’s suite of programs underscores that BC is home to a vibrant, diverse and engaged music community ready to take their songs and businesses to the next level. With this new investment BC will continue to benefit from leveraged private and other government dollars, and ensure the BC music sector remains competitive with other jurisdictions.”The announcement was made during JUNOs Week, as the Canadian music industry has congregated in Vancouver for the 47th annual JUNO Awards, celebrating excellence in Canadian music while also showcasing Vancouver, and the province’s music sector to the rest of the country. Login/Register With: Advertisement Advertisement
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The patients we are referring for transplant have tried all our current treatment options and they have not worked for them.Dr Jo Howard, Guys and St Thomas’ Foundation Trust One member of the British group has already suffered two strokes linked to his condition and fears he could die if he has another.Another was admitted to hospital 40 times last year as her condition deteriorated, causing her extreme pain. On some occasions, the 24-year-old’s condition has become life threatening.The patients have been told their cases are not ‘exceptional’ enough to justify the transplant, even though doctors have said they need the treatment urgently.Although there is a possibility of clinical trials being set up in the next few years doctors fear these could come too late for some patients. Other treatments – new medications and the possibility of gene therapy – are several years away.Dr Jo Howard, consultant haematologist at Guys and St Thomas’ Foundation Trust in London, said: “The patients we are referring for transplant have tried all our current treatment options and they have not worked for them.“They are coping with recurrent hospital admissions, severe pain and are desperate to get on with their normal lives. They are aware of the risks of transplant but see this as their only option of living a fulfilling life.”Dr Howard said that while she agrees that a clinical trial is needed to show who would benefit most from a transplant, a handful of patients are already extremely unwell and need urgent treatmentShe pointed out there is only a small number of patients in this position, around 1 in 400, who do not respond to the drugs used as part of current treatment and therefore approving transplant treatment will not open the floodgates to large numbers.Sickle cell patients have a genetic condition which affects their red blood cells, causing them to become sickle-shaped and making it difficult for them to pass through blood vessels and to deliver sufficient oxygen to all parts of their bodies.Patients who have a sickle cell crisis – characterised by severe pain – often end up in hospital and can find it hard to live a normal life. Severe cases will be life threatening, with sufferers at high risk from infections and also from strokes. Trials in the US have seen severe sickle cell disease reversed in 87 per cent of adults who underwent a stem cell transplant from a sibling. Half of the patients treated were able to stop immunosuppressant drugs – taken to stop their body rejecting the transplant – after a year.Children with sickle cell disease are treated with transplants but, because their bodies have not been weakened by many years of sickle cell crises, they are able to tolerate chemotherapy better than adults.However, US trials have successfully treated adults with less powerful chemotherapy drugs before transplant.An NHS England spokesman confirmed there had been fewer than 10 applications for funding and they had all been turned down.The spokesman added: “While stem cell transplants for sickle cell disease in adults may offer the chance of a cure for some carefully selected patients, the treatment can also lead to a number of complexities, some of which can be severe and life threatening.“For this reason, the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) has called for research proposals on the topic, and NHS England will use the clinical evidence gathered to inform future policy and ensure patients continue to receive the highest standards of treatment, care and support.”Adewale Lawal Adewale Lawal’s wife Julie is terrified each time he leaves their house in case he succumbs to yet another sickle cell crisis.The 46-year-old IT director has had two strokes since his sickle cell disease ‘exploded’ 18 months ago – and doctors have told him he has an 80 per cent chance of having a third one which could be fatal or leave him crippled. 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Adawele Lawal, sickle cell anaemia sufferer at home in CambridgeCredit:Si Barber Desperately ill sickle cell sufferers in Britain are being denied a potentially life-saving treatment which is readily available to patients in the US.A handful of British adult sickle cell patients have been put forward for stemcell transplant treatment by their doctors because their condition is so severe.But they have all been turned down by the NHS, despite the treatment – which involves a bone marrow transplant – being used regularly on children in this country and successfully trialled with adults in the US.The consequences for the patients could be fatal, as they generally do not respond well to the drug normally used to treat severe sickle cell disease – hydroxycarbamide – and may not tolerate regular blood exchanges to replace the damaged red blood cells. He now has to have weekly blood transfusions to reduce the risk of his bloodcells sticking in blood vessels; he is allergic to the drug hydroxycarbamide.“Every time it is getting harder to transfuse me,” said Mr Lawal. “Three doctors have said I am a critical case – yet the NHS says I’m not clinically exceptional enough.”In October last year a specialist recommended a stem cell transplant but Mr Lawal has twice been rejected by NHS England, despite having a second stroke in April.“Being turned down was a blow,” he said. “The decision was no because I am not clinically exceptional enough. But I have not told what they would class as clinically exceptional.”His wife Julie has launched an appeal to fund the estimated £105,000 cost of the stem cell transplant. The couple are also considering re-mortgaging their Cambridgeshire home to raise the money.If the treatment was carried out in the US he would have to spend several weeks in a Washington hospital and return for regular checks for three years.The alternative would be to have it done in the UK where surgeons have said they would be happy to carry out the procedure. His brother Adegbenga is prepared to donate the stem cells.“My wife is at the point where she is frightened every time I leave the house, every time I go to work, every time I have a twitch she thinks something is wrong.”Fatuma MayembeFatuma Mayembe would love the normal life of a 20-something living in London – but frequent sickle cell crisises have meant she has had to take a break from university and leave her in hospital every couple of weeks.“I call it my handcuffs – it is really hard,” said the 24-year-old business studies student from Colindale, north London.“I am struggling to finish university because I have missed out so much when I was in hospital. I am so fed up and tired of it.’Her frequent crises – which can be so bad she has to be admitted to an intensive care unit – occur despite medication.But her doctors’ application for a transplant was rejected, despite her 11-year-old brother agreeing to be a donor. “As much as I am scared about the transplant I still feel the opportunity to live a normal life has been snatched out of my hands. I’m a young woman who just wants to live,” said Ms Mayembe.
Forty years on from Cyclone Tracy’s devastation, Mariana Gatis recalls the tragedy that flattened Australia’s northern-most capital city.Clutching her daughters Nectaria and Poppy, three and 14 months respectively, she was en route to Sydney as part of a mass evacuation of the city’s survivors, when her photo was innocuously taken and unbeknownst to her would become one forever entrenched with the disaster. She shares the story, that still lives with her to this day, with Neos Kosmos.“We all waited for Cyclone Tracy but we were all unprepared, we didn’t even know what the cyclone meant and we got all together, the whole family just before the cyclone on the 24th of December. They were talking about it from the 22nd of December, that this was coming, but because of its strength all the radars broke and they didn’t know anything about it after that, but they knew it was heading towards us.”At approximately 11.00 pm on Christmas Eve 1974, as Mariana prepared for midnight mass, the local Greek Orthodox priest appeared on television, advising people to stay home with their families before the inevitable hit. She and her husband took their measle-stricken daughters to her sister’s house which was close by. There they gathered as many necessities as they could – warm blankets, prepared milk, bags full of clothes – and sat by as the wind starting howling at around midnight. “It was raining right through, the kids were sleeping, my husband and I were holding the glass door of the house because we were trying to stop it from shattering. All of a sudden the glass starting cracking, and my husband said ‘we better get down’, so we grabbed the kids from their beds and we went downstairs to where my sister had a granny flat with a bathroom. “We went under the flat and barricaded in with mattresses, there were four kids and five adults under there. Upstairs was wiped out. We stayed there in the cold and really awful state, which carried on until 4.00-5.00 am, the water and the howling of the wind, it was awful.” Debris restricted their movements the following morning. Mariana explains as people were promptly clearing the roads, at the first opportunity she and her husband inspected the state of their own property. Aside from slight structural damage and heavy flooding, the house survived. But with no power and water, and after two days in near solitude, broadcasted messages were advising of evacuations out of Darwin in an effort to prevent the onset of diseases. “On the way to the airport, that’s where the photo was taken. I was actually stressed and in fear of the diseases that they were talking about, we already had sick children, we didn’t need anything else. My aim was to get out of Darwin, so I was stressed when the photo was taken. I saw it a few weeks later.” Mariana flew to Sydney with her daughters, where her husband had relatives. There she found refuge in Callan Park Hospital, in a former psychiatric ward where they were given accommodation, with a bed and a shower, until she reached out to her husband’s family, where they remained until February, 1975. On her return to Darwin she discovered the photo that would go on to make her one of the many faces of the tragedy. “Everyone was telling me … I hadn’t seen it, I was surprised. People were collecting money in my name, for Darwin, they used my photo for this.”Her daughter Nectaria doesn’t recall much from the events but she does remember playing in the debris left behind when they first returned to Darwin. “When we got back I remember going out and playing, because some of those properties had cleared because it was all about moving the bodies and debris and stuff, the only image I remember, there was cleared land a couple of blocks down and we would play there, like in a bath tub that was randomly sitting there or was full of water.”She has had her own experiences of notoriety from the photo, including at a local bar.“After work we went to a bar in town for birthday drinks and it had all these photos of Cyclone Tracy and sure enough there was one of me, my sister and my mum and I thought ‘OK’. And that’s when I walked up to the barman and said ‘you owe us free drinks, you’ve got to pay us for something, you’re advertising our photo’. And he did.”The photo has been used in subsequent insurance campaigns with the Northern Territory’s TIO.And despite four decades passing since Tracy hit, the memory of the tragic events of 1974 still finds a way back into their lives.“To this day every time I hear about a cyclone I still panic, I have my first aid kit ready all the time. The moments are still there, I can’t get them out of my mind, and whenever there is a warning on the television I ring them to ask them where it is,” Mariana says. Facebook Twitter: @NeosKosmos Instagram
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras may have won the confidence vote, but the challenges for his government are far from over. Wednesday’s fierce debate is regarded in Greece as nothing more than a teaser of what is to be expected when the Hellenic Parliament convenes to vote for the ratification of the FYROM-Greece agreement that will see the former adopting the name ‘North Macedonia’.Up until Wednesday, it was widely speculated that the debate will take place on Friday and Saturday, thus justifying the decision by Speaker Nikos Voutsis to call for a two-day debate on the confidence vote, instead of a three-day one. The reasoning behind this was to make sure that the debate – and possible ratification of the deal – would take place before Sunday’s scheduled protest rally against the Prespes agreement, which is expected to bring hundreds of thousands of protesters in front of the Parliament, at Syntagma Square.However, in more likelihood the issue will be brought to the parliament within next week, as the PM has expressed his eagerness to close this issue before the end of the month.On Wednesday, FYROM’s Foreign Ministry sent a ‘note verbale’ to the Greek Foreign Ministry, informing that FYROM “has fulfilled the internal legal conditions required for the entry into force of the final agreement,” effectively giving the Greek government the green light to finalise the deal.Getting support from the Parliament, though, might prove an even bigger headache for Mr Tsipras than the confidence vote. His leftist SYRIZA party has no more than 145 MPs, which means that he needs at least six more to put the deal into effect. So far, he has secured four votes, all from independent MPs: Tourism Minister Elena Koundoura (who was elected with the former junior coalition party, ANEL), Deputy Minister of Civil Protection Katerina Papakosta (formerly of Nea Dimokratia), Deputy House Speaker Kostas Zouraris (who was elected with ANEL, but is not a member of the party), and member for Iraklio Spiros Danellis (forrmerly of To Potami). Should Deputy Minister of Growth Vassilis Kokkalis (formerly of ANEL) and Member for the second district of Athens, Thanasis Papachristopoulos (who retains his ANEL seat) vote in favour of the agreement, as expected, then the deal will be ratified. Democratic Left leader Thanasis Theocharopoulos, has also expressed his will to support the accord, unless the party (which is now part of the the PASOK-led centre-left coalition, Kinima Allagis) imposes party discipline and aligns with KINAL’s stance. They are expected to have decided by 20 January.What also remains to be seen is what the centrist party To Potami will do. The official party line was to support the agreement, whowever two of its MPs have said that they will not, and are urging leader Stavros Theodorakis to align with the Opposition party, Nea Dimokratia. Should Theodorakis, along with MPs Giorgos Mavrotas and Spiros Likoudis stay true to their pledge to support the deal, then Tsipras will have the support of 154-155 MPs in what he sees as his personal legacy.As expected, the Prespes agreement took centre stage at the debate on the confidence vote, with former Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias presenting the arguments in favour of the agreement, explaining that the agreement is legally binding regarding irredentism and national symbols and also clearly defines borders, thus dismissing any fears that FYROM would ever wish to expand its territory over Greece (which is a far superior military power). He also warned that the alternative to an agreement would mean the increase of Turkish influence in the Balkans.Defending his long-standing position on the issue, former Defense Minister Panos Kammenos said that leaving the coalition with SYRIZA was a matter of principle, and attacked the main opposition New Democracy (ND) party for hypocritical opposition to the deal, given that the party was supportive of a compromise, when it was in government.As for the leader of ND, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, he said that the deal is “harmful” for Greece and accused the government for deliberately “toying” with the national issues for political purposes. In his response, the PM challenged the Leader of the Opposition to a televised debate on the Prespes agreement, which might put off the parliamentary debate for at least a couple of days. Facebook Twitter: @NeosKosmos Instagram
Cesar Azpilicueta hopes that the Chelsea supporters will behave themselves for next month’s Carabao Cup semi-final against TottenhamFollowing the abuse Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling suffered at Stamford Bridge this month, Chelsea fans caused further controversy by signing anti-semitic chant about Spurs last week.The incident occurred in Hungary during Chelsea’s Europa League game against MOL Vidi.But defender Azpilicueta hopes the Blues’ fans will instead support the team in a more ethical away for their two-legged clash against rivals Spurs.“It’s a massive derby for the fans and we hope that all the behaviour on and off the pitch is what football deserves,” said Azpilicueta, according to Evening Standard.
Premier League Betting: Match-day 5 Stuart Heath – September 14, 2019 Going into the Premier League’s match-day five with a gap already beginning to form at the top of the league. We will take a…“There is a lot of rivalry between us, but this is a game where we have to show everyone.“The players will fight hard for our team and we need the maximum from the fans to help the team.“This is a massive game for everyone. We have to show how we are as a club. To give everything for the team, to be behind us. Hopefully we can show how we are, how we behave.”Eden Hazard’s late winner secured Chelsea a 1-0 win over Bournemouth and a place in the last four on Wednesday.
The 30-year-old is playing for the first time in the English Premier League and so far he has liked what he has seenGoalkeeper Rui Patricio started playing professionally in 2006 with Sporting Clube Futebol in the Portuguese First Division.But in 2018, after 327 appearances, he decided to try his luck somewhere else and landed in the English Premier League.Now with the Wolverhampton Wanderers, he’s finding new motivations and he’s happy at the club.“I am happy, very happy to be here,” he told Sky Sports.
Jose Mourinho is sold on Lampard succeeding at Chelsea Tomás Pavel Ibarra Meda – September 14, 2019 Jose Mourinho wanted to give his two cents on Frank Lampard’s odds as the new Chelsea FC manager, he thinks he will succeed.There really…“It is a new professional experience, it has been a massive learning curve and it is something new, changing my routine, and that is something which involves my family as well.”“I feel really great, physically and psychologically, and I want to continue to take advantage of the experience I am having, living in a new country,” he added.“Everything in life requires a bit of faith, but for me, it is knowing what is going on inside my head, inside my soul, and in both our personal lives and professional lives, we need to know how we are, to be able to have a good life.”“For me, being professional is being at the top level in both my personal life and professional life,” he commented.
Tags 1 2:47 Tesla Model S Long Range takes us back to the future 45 Photos This is why it’s possible for Tesla to have a million robotaxis by end of 2020 if we upgrade existing HW2 fleet of ~500k & make at least ~500k FSD cars— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 8, 2019 Owners that didn’t buy into the whole Full Self-Driving thing will still be able to upgrade, but they’ll pay to do so. Currently, Musk estimates that there are approximately half a million Teslas on the road that would be able to be retrofitted to the new FSD chips, which is more than we expected. The roll-out of this retrofit program isn’t set in stone yet, but Musk speculated on Twitter that it would start sometime in Q4 of 2019. He also didn’t hint at the cost of upgrading for those owners who would have to pay. Tesla declined to comment further on the subject. Tesla Watch the Tesla Model 3 ace european crash tests Comment Tesla Model 3 Review: Performance trim Now playing: Watch this: Share your voice Auto Tech Autonomous Vehicles Car Industry 2020 Mercedes-Benz EQC first drive: Luxury first, range second More From Roadshow Enlarge ImageElon Musk has been at it on Twitter again, this time talking about plans for a potential fall/winter rollout of the full self-driving computer retrofit. Charley Gallay/Getty Images Tesla’s high-powered in-house-designed “Full Self-Driving” chip has been in production for a while now, and it’s been fitted as standard to new Teslas since early 2019. The problem with that though is that it leaves owners of older Teslas out in the cold, right? Wrong, according to Elon Musk. The company is currently planning on offering the new hardware retrofit to owners of HW2-spec Teslas for no additional cost, provided the owners have already ponied up the dough for Full Self-Driving functionality. 2020 BMW M340i review: A dash of M makes everything better Elon Musk Tesla
Yukon Quest finish line. (Photo by Emily Schwing, KUAC – Fairbanks)The bells of the historic Immaculate Conception Cathedral in downtown Fairbanks rang in honor of legendary musher George Attla who died this week as Eureka musher Brent Sass cruised across the finish line to win this year’s Yukon Quest.Download AudioSass has been trying to win the Quest for years. This year, he gave up a 10-hour lead to two-time defending champion Allen Moore, who refused to give up easily.When Allen Moore blew through the Mile 101 checkpoint, he claimed the lead and gained nearly a half an hour on Brent Sass. After Sass left the checkpoint, he says his team made up much of that time.“It was funny the way I gauged it, I was watching the poop in the trail,” Sass said. “When I first started, the poop was all frozen and then as I got down the trail a little bit farther, I’d stick my ski pole in the poop every time when I’d go by and it got softer and softer and I knew then I was on his trail before I even saw the headlamp.”After the two crossed over Rosebud Summit, they ran for more than 40 miles within two minutes of each other all the way to the Two Rivers checkpoint, where they bedded down their teams for a mandatory 8-hour layover. Allen Moore says he was positioned right where he wanted to be.“As I have told you all along, I just wanted to get to Two Rivers and be close and I am close,” Moore said. “I couldn’t ask for me and now the dogs just have to perform. We’re in the perfect position. We’re in our home turf. They know where the finish line is. If they feel good, we will win.”With a race as close, both mushers knew they’d have to run behind their sleds and use ski poles to help their teams along. Moore is 57. He joked about what it would be like to race against 35-year-old Sass.“You’ll see an old guy and a young guy and a young guy really running to the finish line. ‘I’m going to kick your butt you old guys.’ ‘No you’re not you old guy,’” Moore said.Joking aside, Moore knew the 70-mile run to Fairbanks would be tough.“If you stop to untangle a tangle the other person will be a quarter mile ahead of you, just to untangle a tangle, the other person will be a quarter of a mile ahead of you, so that’s what it’s going to play down to,” he said.The two teams left within two minutes of each other. Twenty miles later, Brent Sass caught Moore’s team.“A plan came together,” he said.Sass says he took advantage of a road crossing, where spectators gathered to cheer on his dogs. Allen Moore’s kennel is not too far from the trail, so that also worked to Sass’s advantage.“The dogs, it was just amazing,” Sass said. “I called them up and we flew all the way through two rivers and I had to make sure I toned it back a little bit because I realized we still had like 50 miles to go.”Sass credits his lead dog Basin, who ran in lead for all but 25 miles of the race.“He’s an amazing dog, he just defies the odds,” he said.Sass drove a young team of two-, three- and five-year-olds this year.“Yeah, the future is real bright,” Sass said. “I got 25 puppies at home that my handlers are training up, so the future is real bright for Wild and Free.”Allen Moore crossed the finish line just over an hour later. Brent Sass was there to greet him.“Dogs look good,” Sass told Moore. “Nice race. It’s always a pleasure racing against you.”Moore seemed a little down his team’s performance.“I thought it could have been just like it was two years ago, where they really rocked, like Brent’s team did this year,” Moore said. “I thought my team would be that team again, but they just didn’t have it this year.”There are still 14 teams spread out across nearly 200 miles of trail. They’ll continue to cross the finish line throughout the week.
A collage of Priyanka Chopra and Yogi Babu.TwitterPriyanka Chopra’s costume at Met Gala 2019 has apparently become a butt of the joke. The actress’ hairdo has become fodder for trolling with netizens having a field day to create hilarious memes.What Piggy Chops donned?Priyanka Chopra was seen in a sheer silver thigh-high gown with ruffled feathers along with a thorny crown, while her hubby Nick Jonas was dressed in a white suit by Dior Men. However, the hairdo did not go down well with many as they found strange ways to mock her look without realising about the theme of this year’s MET Gala.This year’s theme is Camp: Notes on Fashion, inspired by photographer Susan Sontag’s 1964 essay ‘Notes on Camp’.Unfortunately, people found Priyanka Chopra’s attire to be strange and mercilessly trolled her over the costume and hairdo. As far as Tamil cine goers are concerned, they found similarities with Yogi Babu’s hairdo. Some even compared her costume to the actor’s funny look in Thalapathy Vijay’s Sarkar.When the post started doing rounds, actress Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, on a lighter note, reminded that the credit for Yogi Babu’s picture should be given to her as she had posted his look on Twitter during the shooting of Sarkar. 1/3 A collage of Priyanka Chopra and Yogi Babu.TwitterYogi Babu-Priyanka ChopraTwitterYogi Babu-Priyanka Chopra.TwitterPreviousNextSome ever compared Priyanka Chopra to be a twin of Yogi Babu and the comments by the likes of singer Srinivas further encouraged her to create funny memes around Piggy Chops’ look.
Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe speaks at the IISS Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore, June 2, 2019.ReutersChina’s Defence Minister Wei Fenghe said on Sunday, June 2, that a war with the United States would be a disaster for the world while issuing a warning to Washington not to meddle in security disputes over Taiwan and the South China Sea.China has been incensed by recent moves by US President Donald Trump’s administration to increase support for self-ruled and democratic Taiwan, including US Navy sailings through the Taiwan Strait that separates the island from mainland China.Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Asia’s premier defence summit, Wei said China would “fight to the end” if anyone tried to interfere in its relationship with Taiwan, which Beijing considers a sacred territory to be taken by force if necessary.Wei, the first Chinese defence minister to speak at the Shangri-La Dialogue since 2011, said Beijing’s military operations in Asia were purely aimed at self-defence, but it would not hesitate to counter an attack on its interests.”China will not attack unless we are attacked,” Wei said, cautioning that there would be dire consequences to any clash between China and the United States.”The two sides realise that conflict, or a war between them, would bring disaster to both countries and the world.”The United States, like most countries, has no formal ties with Taiwan but is its strongest backer and main source of weapons.On Saturday, acting US Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan told the Shangri-La meeting that the United States would no longer “tiptoe” around Chinese behaviour in Asia.While Shanahan’s speech was critical of China, his tone was often conciliatory. Wei took a more combative approach.”No attempts to split China will succeed. Any interference in the Taiwan question is doomed to failure,” said Wei, dressed in his uniform of a general in the People’s Liberation Army.”If anyone dares to split Taiwan from China, the Chinese military has no choice but to fight at all costs … The US is indivisible, and so is China. China must be, and will be, reunified.”China-US ties have become increasingly strained due to a bitter trade war, US support for Taiwan and China’s muscular military posture in the South China Sea, where the United States also conducts freedom-of-navigation patrols.TIANANMEN ANNIVERSARYIn May, Taiwan’s national security chief David Lee met White House national security adviser John Bolton, marking the first meeting in more than four decades between senior US and Taiwanese security officials.Taiwan is gearing up for presidential elections in January, and Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen has repeatedly accused Beijing of seeking to undermine Taiwan’s democracy and has vowed to defend the island and its freedoms.Wei, in a clear reference to the United States, also said: “Some countries from outside the region come to the South China Sea to flex muscles in the name of freedom of navigation.”This week will mark 30 years since a bloody Chinese military crackdown on protesters around Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, refocusing scrutiny on China’s approach to security threats.Taking questions from the floor, Wei defended the government’s handling of the Tiananmen “incident”, a rare official acknowledgement of the events of June 4, 1989; references to it are heavily censored in China.”The government was decisive in stopping the turbulence,” Wei said of the Tiananmen Square crackdown.”Due to this, China has enjoyed stability, and if you visit China you can understand that part of history.”On the ongoing trade war, which has shaken financial markets around the world, Wei said China would “fight to the end” if the United States wanted a fight. But if Washington wanted to talk, “we will keep the door open”.Trade tensions escalated sharply last month after Trump’s administration accused China of having “reneged” on its previous promises to make structural changes to its economic practices.Washington later slapped additional tariffs of up to 25% on $200 billion of Chinese goods, prompting Beijing to retaliate.Speaking at a hastily arranged news conference in Beijing, Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Wang Shouwen said it was irresponsible of the United States to accuse China of backtracking.”If the US side wants to use extreme pressure, to escalate the trade friction, to force China to submit and make concessions, this is absolutely impossible,” said Wang, who has been part of China’s trade negotiating team.
WHUT TV [http://www.whut.org/whut/] will present the television premiere of SNAPSHOT: A true story of love and invasion on June 10. An award-winning, one-woman play written and performed by Mitzi Sinnott, SNAPSHOT shares her literal and figurative journey to find her father, a veteran haunted by his experience in Vietnam. It is a poignant, autobiographical pilgrimage shaped by race, war, and mental illness.Through SNAPSHOT, Sinnott tells a story that is both intensely personal and tragically common. Portraying a variety of characters, Sinnott, the daughter of a Black man and White woman from Central Appalachia, evokes the singular places and personalities that make her story so compelling and unique. At the same time, she remains mindful that her father’s story is just one of hundreds of thousands of veterans, whose lives and families were similarly devastated by war and the failure to treat their invisible, but nonetheless crippling, wounds. SNAPSHOT was born in 2003, when Sinnott was invited to perform at an anti-war event in New York City. After agreeing to participate, Sinnott asked herself, “What do I know about war?” This question led her to a family photo album, and as she looked at the snapshots of her estranged father, who was drafted and sent to Vietnam before her birth, Sinnott realized that war had shaped the course of her entire life. She resolved to make sense of this painful legacy, and to reconnect with her father, Lorenzo Batts, Jr., whom she had not seen since 1978.
It was a bleak and boring world of stripes and checks that Sharbari Datta gate- crashed into in 1991 with her first show of luxurious, ethnic menswear. In a world where the silk tie was perhaps the only fashion statement for urban men, Sharbari -with her coloured dhoti and well cut and embellished men’s kurtas, angarakhas, sherwanis- made a huge fashion statement that changed Indian menswear forever. Older men initially felt inhibited but the younger ones, mindful of the mirror, took to Sharbari with the zeal of a convert. They were followed by the older generation; who were slow to shed conventions. In 1998, she was awarded by Vijay Mallya of the UB Group for significant contribution to Indian clothing design. In 1999, she was awarded with the “Bharat Nirman” for the best person in the field of fashion in Kolkata. An exhibition and fashion show at Sheraton Hotel, Dhaka, Bangladesh saw an overwhelming reaction both from the press and public. Also Read – Add new books to your shelfTwenty five years down the line, Sharbari has dressed celebrities like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Kapil Dev, Leander Paes, Sunil Gavaskar, Sourav Ganguly, late Jagjit Singh, Shiv Kumar Sharma, Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, late RD Burman, Vijay Mallya, Sanjeev. Artists like MF Husain, Ganesh Pyne, Manjeet Bawa and Paresh Maity have bought from her and her client list includes some of India’s most powerful women like Mamata Banerjee, Shubha Mudgal, Shobha De, Ila Arun and Aparna Sen. Also Read – Over 2 hours screen time daily will make your kids impulsiveSharbari’s quick popularity indicated that Indians, both men and women, were fond of dressing up. The elaborate styles of a bygone era of leisure and pleasure were coming back with a vengeance in her clothes. Cave and folk art, Egyptian mural, calligraphy of West and East Asia, Pop art and Picasso, miniatures, Hindu Mythology were sources of inspiration for her leading many to describe her garments as ‘artwear’. Then, in 2001, Sharbari ventured into the realm of male accessory design and in a show sponsored by World Gold Council, she showcased her range of exquisite gold jewellery for men, breaking all pre-defined notions about masculinity. Sharbari, the designer for men, never looked back. What was your childhood like?My father, late Ajit Datta, belonged to a zamindar family near Dhaka, Bangladesh. He was an outstanding scholar, a literary person, a well known professor, and above all, a famous poet in the post-Tagorean era. I grew up in a truly intellectual cauldron. I completed my formal education from Presidency College with MA in Philosophy.My childhood and my formal education exposed me to the world of literature, arts, philosophy, music and mysticism. I was attracted to the cultural side of Indian tradition. My love for tradition and aspiration to serve the cause of our pre-existing culture, gave birth to the idea of designing Indian traditional attire for men. Tell us about your first break…My first exhibition was in 1991 at the Conclave Gallery in Kolkata. The exhibition was informal and without any commercial aspiration. The exhibition was successful in the sense that all the pieces were sold out. I got some confidence and did my second exhibition the next year. The press was invited for the same, garnering public recognition for me. You have dressed many a celebrity. Who are your best male clients?My client list would include, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Kapil Dev, Leander Paes, Sunil Gavaskar, Sourav Ganguly, Jagjit Singh, Shiv Kumar Sharma, Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, RD Burman, Mamata Banerjee, Shubha Mudgal, Shobha De, Ila Arun, Aparna Sen, Vijay Mallya, Sanjeev Goenka, amongst others. However MF Husain buying from me is a memory I have personally come to cherish over the years along with Ganesh Pyne, Manjeet Bawa, Paresh Maity.Any celebrities who surprised you by visiting your studio?Yes. My jaw dropped when the iconic film director Ismail Merchant dropped by one day to our studio. This was sometime in the 90s. He was visiting Kolkata on the occasion of the annual Kolkata film festival. He sat in the studio, had chai and sandesh. He ordered a kurta and churidar from my collection. I still can’t get over his visit. Another prized guest was Aishwarya Rai’s mother, Brinda Rai. She was visiting Kolkata when her daughter was shooting for Rituparno Ghose’s film, Chokher Bali. I kept asking her who had recommended me but she said that she had read about me. “Don’t underestimate yourself”, she said. I think she bought a few men’s kurtas as gifts. Aishwarya and Abhishek married four years after that visit. Rai ordered clothes for the bridegroom’s family from me. On another occasion I believe, a big steel tycoon from India purchased a kurta pyjama from me for the former US Vice President, Al Gore. Also, someone told me that a stole made by me displaying a motif from the Old Testament was displayed at the Vatican in Rome. A Cardinal who was visiting the St Xavier’s, Kolkata had carried it back to Rome. What challenges did you face while becoming Sharbari the brand?Regarding challenges, I must mention that I really didn’t face any. I was fortunate enough to taste success from the very beginning. I never retailed and sold my menswear privately, from my residence-cum-studio. I never advertised. Have you designed for women? I design women’s clothing on request – but my true and serious collection is always for men. I design exclusively for men, and to my knowledge, remain the only one. What are your other interests? How do you relax?My other interests include cooking, gardening, reading, art and music. I’m a voracious reader, I visit art galleries and I have also grown my own garden. Who are your fashion icons?My fashion icons would include MS Subbalakshmi, Rekha and Hrithik Roshan.Why did you choose to live and work in Kolkata?I was born and brought up in Kolkata. I have never even entertained the thought of moving to another city. I also like London but not as much as I adore Kolkata. Actually we grew up in the heart of South Kolkata and studied in Presidency College which is a distinguished institution of the city. I’m most comfortable in this city and my family has struck roots here. Would you ever ask Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen why they wanted to live in Kolkata?Do you think the city has changed? If so then how much?Yes, it has. But paribartan is inevitable and not a bad thing. You cannot expect the Gariahat crossing to be what it was like 30 years ago. The older generation doesn’t like change but it is best to adjust yourself and take it easy. I can keep day dreaming about the old neighbourhood we grew in or the pipul tree that raised its head in the garden. But the landscape and the skyscape has changed. Kolkata is now a city of highrises and flyovers. Life is lived in the fast lane and we shop no longer in local markets but in malls. My grandchildren think differently and I no longer have the energy of a 25 year old. How has the Trinamool Congress led State Government performed? Mamata Banerjee is serving her second term in office…I used to admire Mamata Banerjee from the beginning, even before she became the Chief Minister of West Bengal. But after she came to power I sometimes harboured doubts about the people surrounding her. But her struggle and effort to do good for Bengal is above question. She has also created a designer’s hub as part of ‘Vishwa Bangla’ and I have been given a stall there. Mamata also buys my kurtas as gifts for state guests who come for the Kolkata International film festival every year. I believe my kurtas have been gifted to stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Irfaan Khan, Prosenjit and Biswajit.Who are the best Indian models? Also, who are your favourite designers?I like Ritu Kumar’s designs and I even bought outfits from her at one point of time. When movie star John Abraham used to walk the ramp, I loved his looks and he has showcased my clothes with great aplomb. Top male models like Milind Soman, Zulfikar Syed and Shayan Munshi have also walked for me. They are all excellent in their work. You do have a factory, don’t you? You don’t retail at all?My daughter-in-law Kanaklata and son Amalin manage finances and look after day to day operations of the business. My factory is small but it is about 25 years old. I design all my clothes. I have never retailed and by God’s grace, my clothes are booked five months in advance. My label is sold in private, it is exclusive and I meet my clients by appointment only. You cannot get a copy of a Sharbari Dutta outfit or buy the same garment twice.
Kolkata: Abhishek Banerjee, Trinamool Congress MP from Diamond Harbour, inaugurated a gate at the entrance of Boro Kachari temple in South 24-Parganas on Wednesday afternoon.The gate has been constructed with the financial assistance of the state Tourism department. Banerjee said a comprehensive plan worth Rs 56 lakh will be taken to beautify areas surrounding the temple. The expenditure will be borne by the Tourism department. He added: “I practice the rituals of Hinduism privately and I believe that when it comes to work, my religion is humanism.” Also Read – Speeding Jaguar crashes into Mercedes car in Kolkata, 2 pedestrians killedHe also said that Hinduism teaches people to be tolerant and accept views of others. “We do not believe in violence. We accept and respect the views of others and this is our tradition and heritage.” Boro Kachari temple is coming up as a major tourism hub. Thousands of devotees visit the temple on Tuesdays and Saturdays to offer prayers. Gajon festival and Neel Utsav are observed every year in the month of April. The decorative gate was completed in 10 months. It is said that thousands of farmers took shelter near the temple when the Marathas planned an attack on Kolkata. There is a general belief that Baba Boro Kachari protects the villagers from evil. Many devotees from nearby districts come to offer prayers at the temple. In addition to the construction of the gate, the approach road to the temple has also been repaired.
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Monday, March 12, 2018 Tags: Monarc.ca MONTREAL — Hotel and resort review site Monarc.ca has tabulated the reviews and ratings from more than 135,000 Canadian travellers for its annual ‘Best of the Best’ list.Monarc.ca has several review classifications including ‘Pro’ indicating reviews by Canadian travel agents.The ranking of the most popular resorts and hotels is based on a comprehensive set of specific criteria, such as the overall appreciation of the establishment, restaurants, beaches, cleanliness and value for money, says Softvoyage’s VP Sales & Marketing, Dan Langevin.Sun destinations included in the reviews are Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curacao, D.R., Grenada, Guadeloupe, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Saint Lucia, St Maarten, and Turks and Caicos.The 2017 results mark the eighth consecutive year Monarc.ca has ranked its most popular sun resorts and hotels. Here’s a look at the latest winners …TOP 3 MOST POPULAR DESTINATIONSMexicoU.S.Cuba & Jamaica (tie)BEST QUALITY VS. PRICEAzul Ixtapa Grand Resort, IxtapaRiu Palace Peninsula, CancunLuxury Bahia Principe Cayo Levantado, Samana and Excellence Playa MujeresBEST OVERALL EVALUATIONLuxury Bahia Principe Sian Ka An, Riviera MayaSunset Plaza Beach, Puerto VallartaRiu Palace Peninsula, Cancun & Azul Ixtapa Grand ResortBEST RESTAURANTSThe Hideaway At Royalton Riviera CancunRoyalton Riviera Cancun Resort & SpaLuxury Bahia Principe Sian Ka An, Riviera MayaBEST BEACHESRoyalton Cayo Santa MariaBeaches Turks And CaicosSanctuary At Grand Memories Santa MariaBEST FOR FAMILIESHyatt Ziva Puerto VallartaBeaches Turks And CaicosDisney’s Pop Century Resort, FloridaBEST FOR COUPLESRiu Palace Costa RicaSunset Plaza Beach, Puerto VallartaRiu Palace Cabo San LucasBEST FOR SINGLESBreezes Resort, NassauHotel Playa Caleta, VaraderoCelebration Suites, KissimmeeBEST FOR SENIORSHoliday Inn Anaheim Resort, Anaheim,Couples NegrilSunset Beach Resort Spa And Waterpark, Montego Bay
As British ambassador to Costa Rica and Nicaragua, I encourage British expats to register ahead of the European Union (EU) referendum on the United Kingdom’s membership in the Union.More than 100,000 British expats registered to vote for the U.K.’s most recent general election, in 2015. This is three times the number that had been registered in time for the 2010 General Election, but still only represents around 2 percent of those of us who are living overseas and who may be eligible to vote in the EU Referendum.Those who didn’t register to vote for our last general election may not have registered in time, while others may simply not have known they had the option to participate in this important democratic process while living abroad. U.K. overseas voters, in fact, are eligible (subject to fulfilling the criteria) to vote in a number of polls, like the U.K. Parliamentary General Elections, European Parliamentary elections and the upcoming EU Referendum.That’s why I am taking this opportunity to urge those of you who have been registered to vote in the U.K. in the last 15 years, to register now as an overseas elector at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote and ensure you don’t miss the opportunity to have your say in the EU Referendum.The date for the referendum itself has not yet been announced, which makes it all the more important that you register as soon as possible, to ensure that you complete this important step ahead of time. The process has been simplified, and I’ve been assured that it takes no longer than making a good strong cup of tea!If, for some reason, you’re unable or unwilling to register online, you have the option of downloading the forms and posting them, but please remember to submit your completed form well in advance of the deadline to allow time for postage and possible delays.The actual deadlines for registering to vote and applying for an absent vote will be set once the date of the referendum is known. Once you’ve registered, you can choose how you wish to vote — by post or by proxy, that is, asking someone you trust to vote on your behalf.If you were too young when you left the U.K. to have been registered, then you can register as an overseas voter if your parents, or guardians, were registered to vote in the U.K. in the last 15 years.Even if you’re not able to go online and register today, please don’t miss the opportunity to do this as soon as possible; and please encourage your friends, family and colleagues to do the same.Ross Denny is British Ambassador to Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Facebook Comments Related posts:UK documentary series seeks British families going back to nature in Costa Rica How the Clintons went from ‘dead broke’ to rich Recent exchange rate stability offers relief to businesses Costa Rica not alone as it waits for a new US ambassador