Oscar winners party it up at Vanity Fair, Governors Ball

LOS ANGELES — There’s no such thing as being all dressed up with nowhere to go on Oscar night.

The Hollywood elite have various glamorous parties to choose from, whether they attended the Academy Awards or not.

Here’s a roundup of the post-Oscars party action:

Governors ball
After hours on the red carpet and a three-and-a-half hour telecast, Academy Awards guests are ready for some food when the show ends. That’s why the first stop for many is the Governors Ball, the Oscars’ official after-party, held just upstairs from where the show takes place.

Benicio del Toro snacked on pizza as he snaked through the party. “The Revenant” cinematographer, Emmanuel Lubezki, enjoyed some strawberries, his new Oscar by his side. Steven Spielberg opted for liquid refreshment (a Heineken), which he sipped on while speaking with supporting actor winner Mark Rylance, who gleefully posed with his trophy.

Meanwhile, Tobey Maguire chatted with Bryan Cranston, and Common smiled for a photo with fans.

Wolfgang Puck catered the party, serving mini-burgers, smoked-salmon Oscars, caviar-topped baked potatoes and chicken pot-pies. There was also a sushi spread, a table filled with crab legs and lobster claws, and a vast array of desserts.

The Governors Ball is also where the night’s winners can have their new Oscars engraved with their names. Leonardo DiCaprio commanded a huge audience when he arrived to have his statuette personalized, all trying to capture a cell-phone photo of the best actor winner. No sooner had he left than best actress Brie Larson arrived, her new Oscar and longtime boyfriend Alex Greenwald in tow. He snapped pictures of her as her statuette was engraved, and the two toasted with Champagne and a kiss when it was finished.

In fact, every guest at the ball took home an Oscar: tiny chocolate Oscars were given as party favors.

Elton John AIDS Foundation

Charlie Sheen made a grand entrance to the Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscars viewing party Sunday.

The actor, who revealed his HIV-positive status last year, took photos with fans at the event, which organizers say raised $6.2 million to help fund AIDS research.

More than 1,000 guests attended the lavish annual gala, where colorful gowns and sharp suits ruled.

Caitlyn Jenner, who wore a fitted red Zac Posen frock, was seen hugging and whispering with supermodel Heidi Klum, who wore an elegant off-the-shoulder lilac dress. The two snapped photos and laughed while admiring each other’s outfits arm-in-arm at Jenner’s table.

Additional celebrity attendees included Mariah Carey, Jeffrey Tambor, Russell Simmons, Gene Simmons, and Steven Tyler, who donated five days at his Mau home to the foundation’s silent auction.

Notable Oscar viewing moments included Sam Smith’s acceptance speech for his original song win for “Writings on the Wall.” Guests gave the openly gay singer a standing ovation in response to his support of the LGBT community.

They also jumped out of their seats to cheer on Leonardo DiCaprio as he accepted his first Academy Award.

After the show, Elton John, in a deep blue suit, congratulated the Oscar winners, thanked his guests and offered his thoughts on the show.

“Well, that was an interesting Oscars for a change,” he said, before closing the party with a performance. John crooned his hits, including “Benny and the Jets” and “Rocket Man,” and sang some tracks from his latest album, “A Wonderful Crazy Night.” Guests went home with a signed copy.

At the “Vanity Fair” party

Elton John and Lady Gaga chatting side-by-side on a sofa made for a hot photo op at the magazine’s annual Oscar party, this year held in Beverly Hills.

Other guests caused a logjam as they stopped to take photos of Gaga, who had performed at the Oscars, and John, who had hosted his own party earlier in the evening. A few feet away, and unnoticed for the moment, was Alejandro G. Inarritu, who had just won the best director award for “The Revenant.”

Leonardo DiCaprio, best actor winner for the film, dropped by with his trophy. The eclectic crowd also included Jon Hamm, Serena Williams, Jennifer Garner, Keegan-Michael Key and Don Rickles.

“Out of my way,” Rickles barked as he was pushed through the crowded room in a wheelchair, pretending to wield the cane in his lap as a weapon. But he was smiling, and so were those getting a taste of the 89-year-old’s trademark insult comedy.

Nominee Charlotte Rampling stood briefly alone before she was swarmed by admirers.

Guests dined on chef Thomas Keller’s black truffle lasagna and salmon at the evening hosted by the magazine’s editor, Graydon Carter. There were souvenirs to be had, with people lining up to get their photos taken for mock Vanity Fair covers.

Even stars have to wait for cars when it’s time to go home. Caitlyn Jenner, who earlier in the evening had been deep in conversation with Lady Gaga, cooled her high heels at the limo line until her transportation arrived. Meanwhile, Patricia Arquette got comfortable sitting inside a tent that was part of an elaborate hub to usher partygoers into and out of the event. TVJ

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Crawford stops Lundy to retain WBO title

NEW YORK — Terence Crawford stood on the second rope, mouth open and tongue sticking out for the entire world to see.

Simply, it was the picture of a man enjoying his success.

“It’s real satisfying,” Crawford said after stopping Henry Lundy 2 minutes, 9 seconds into the fifth round to retain his WBO super lightweight title Saturday night.

“Glad I got the job done (and) put on a great show.”

The bout picked up where the fighters left off at their final press conference Thursday, when they exchanged words before Crawford shoved Lundy in front of photographers.

Crawford (28-0) drew blood in the fourth round, opening a cut along Lundy’s right eye. Crawford then dropped Lundy (26-6-1) for a standing eight count with a combination early in the fifth, and after the fight was restarted, Crawford’s assault continued until referee Steve Willis stopped the fight.

“I caught him with some good shots,” Crawford said. “I was picking up momentum.”

According to Compubox stats, Crawford landed 89 of 247 total punches, including 49 of 84 power punches. By comparison, Lundy connected on 47 of 211 punches, and 31 of 85 power punches.

“He got me with a good shot,” Lundy said.

Following the fight, Crawford and Lundy embraced in the ring.

“(He) hit me on the top of my head and threw (my) equilibrium off,” Lundy said. “Couldn’t recover.”

While the main event was explosive from the opening bell, the earlier semi-main event between Felix Verdejo and Willian Silva in the WBO Latino Championship Lightweight division was an exhibition of scientific boxing. Verdejo took a 10-round, unanimous decision over Silva to improve to 20-0.

“I felt very good,” Verdejo said. “This is a new learning experience for me.”

In the first four rounds, Silva and Verdejo used their feinting and movement in order to trade jabs. Verdejo slightly began to open up in the fifth with heavier shots, one of which staggered Silva late in the round.

But there was little in the way of a sustained attack from either fighter in the later rounds, which may have had to do with Silva’s philosophy of circling away from Verdejo.

“He moved a lot during the fight,” Verdejo said.

Verdejo landed more jabs (39), power punches (67) and total punches (106), but Silva disagreed with the judges’ decision. Only one judge, John McKaie, thought Silva won a round, the ninth. The remaining two judges, Alan Rubenstein and Robin Taylor, gave Verdejo all 10 rounds.

“I don’t care what the scorecard says. I thought I did enough to win the fight,” Silva said.

The Crawford-Lundy and Verdejo-Silva bouts highlighted a seven-fight card which drew a sellout crowd of 5,092 at The Theatre at Madison Square Garden.

Emanuel Taylor, Sean Monaghan, Christopher Diaz, Jean Carlos Torres and Julian Rodriguez all won their undercard fights. Taylor knocked out Wilfredo Acuna in the sixth round of a super lightweight bout; Monaghan improved to 26-0 with a fifth-round stoppage of Finnish light-heavyweight Janne Foreman; Diaz knocked out Angel Luna at the 2:42 mark of the fourth round of their featherweight fight; Torres moved to 4-0 by stopping Miguel Gloria (1-2) via third-round technical knockout, while Rodriguez took an eight-round, unanimous decision over King Daluz (12-3-2).

source: sports.inquirer.net

OSCARS: Complete list of 88th annual Academy Award winners

HOLLYWOOD, United States — Following is the list of winners at Sunday’s 88th annual Academy Awards presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Best Picture: “Spotlight.”

Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio, “The Revenant.”

Actress: Brie Larson, “Room.”

Supporting Actor: Mark Rylance, “Bridge of Spies.”

Supporting Actress: Alicia Vikander, “The Danish Girl.”

Directing: Alejandro G. Inarritu, “The Revenant.”

Foreign Language Film: “Son of Saul.”

Adapted Screenplay: “The Big Short.”

Original Screenplay: “Spotlight.”

Animated Feature Film: “Inside Out.”

Production Design: “Mad Max: Fury Road.”

Cinematography: “The Revenant.”

Sound Mixing: “Mad Max: Fury Road.”

Sound Editing: “Mad Max: Fury Road.”

Original Score: “The Hateful Eight.”

Original Song: “Writing’s on the Wall” from “Spectre.”

Costume Design: “Mad Max: Fury Road.”

Documentary Feature: “Amy.”

Documentary (short subject): “A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness.”

Film Editing: “Mad Max: Fury Road.”

Makeup and Hairstyling: “Mad Max: Fury Road.”

Animated Short Film: “Bear Story.”

Live Action Short Film: “Stutterer.”

Visual Effects: “Ex Machina.”

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Leonard leads Spurs to 50th win

HOUSTON — Road-weary and eager to get home, the San Antonio Spurs spoke before Saturday night’s game about the importance of maintaining focus in the finale of their season-long road trip against the Houston Rockets.

They were able to do that, never trailing in a 104-94 win that let them tie the mark as the seventh-fastest team in NBA history to reach 50 wins.

Kawhi Leonard scored 27 points and LaMarcus Aldridge added 26 to give San Antonio a 7-1 record on their annual “Rodeo Road Trip” that coincides with the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo. They also extended their NBA record of straight 50-win seasons to 17.

“This game is always very mental because it’s the last game on the road and everybody can’t wait to get home,” Tony Parker said. “This was a great win. Everybody was very focused.”

It was the fifth straight win for the Spurs (50-9), who have a double-digit lead in the Southwest Division and the second-best record in the NBA behind Golden State.

The Spurs showed no signs of fatigue despite wrapping up the long road stretch as they never trailed and held a double-digit lead for most of the night.

“Our guys played well and stayed locked in the whole trip,” Aldridge said. “I think everybody was motivated to finish the trip off right.”

San Antonio led by 31 points in the second half, but Houston slowly chipped away at the lead. James Harden and Jason Terry both made a 3-pointer to power a 6-2 run that made it 94-83 with less than four minutes left.

The Spurs slowed Houston down after that by intentionally fouling Dwight Howard, and Leonard and Aldridge both added baskets to secure the victory.

Harden led the Rockets with 27 points, but shot just 10 for 25 from the field.

“We got our shots, we just didn’t knock them down,” Harden said. “We played with some aggressiveness in the second half, but it was a little bit too late.”

Houston used a big run at the end of the third quarter to whittle down the lead, and scored the first six points of the fourth to pull to 76-63. San Antonio got back on track after that, scoring the next six points to make it 82-63 with nine minutes left.

The Spurs were up by 20 at halftime and used an 11-2 run to open the second half and extend the lead to 62-33 with eight minutes left in the third quarter. Houston missed seven shots and had a turnover to help San Antonio pad the lead.

Aldridge made four straight points to extend San Antonio’s lead to a game-high 31 points with about five minutes left in the third quarter. Houston scored the next eight points to get the Rockets to 71-48.

David West made a basket for San Antonio after that before the Rockets wrapped up the quarter with a 9-3 run to cut the lead to 76-57 entering the fourth.

The Spurs were up by 15 at the end of the first quarter and used an 8-2 run to open the second and push their lead to 34-13.

Houston used a 9-2 spurt later in the second to pull to 38-27, but San Antonio outscored the Rockets 13-4 over the rest of the quarter to take a 51-31 lead into halftime.

TIP-INS

Spurs: San Antonio hasn’t played at home since Feb. 6. … Parker finished with 15 points. … Aldridge had 16 rebounds.

Rockets: C Clint Capela missed his second games in a row with a sprained right foot. … F Josh Smith started for the fourth straight game. … Trevor Ariza made two 3-pointers to extend his streak with at least one 3 to 29 games, the longest streak by a Rockets player since 39 in a row by Aaron Brooks in the 2009-10 season.

DUNCAN’S MILESTONES

Tim Duncan blocked a shot by Harden in the first quarter to make him the fifth player in NBA history to reach 3,000 blocks. He also had six rebounds on Saturday night to give him 14,971 in his career, passing Karl Malone (14,968) for sixth place in league history.

“Unbelievable career and 3,000 blocks, that’s a lot,” Parker said. “That’s a lot of great defense and Timmy’s been maybe one of the best defenders ever in the NBA.”

HE’S BACK

Houston forward Donatas Motiejunas, who has been sidelined by a back injury, returned for the first time since Dec. 31. Motiejunas, who rejoined the Rockets earlier this week when a trade to the Pistons involving multiple players was rescinded because of a failed physical by one of the players, had two points and a rebound.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Mcdonald’s thanks customers with iconic items on one value menu

For the first time in the company’s history, McDonald’s USA is offering four of its most iconic menu items – the Big Mac made with 100% beef, a 10-piece order of crispy Chicken McNuggets made with white meat, its golden Filet-O-Fish and the seared on the grill Quarter Pounder with Cheese – on a national value menu.

Starting February 29 nationwide, customers can mix and match any two of these McDonald’s classics for just $5 as part of a limited time offer.

“We wanted to thank our guests for providing their feedback as we continue to build a better McDonald’s,” said Chef Jessica Foust, McDonald’s director of culinary innovation. “Offering All Day Breakfast, refreshing classics like the Egg McMuffin and furthering our sustainability efforts are all examples of us listening to our guests. As a thank you and as proof that we will continue to listen, we are making our most iconic menu items available for a limited time at never before seen value.”

While these classics have been discounted before as limited time offers, they have never been offered all together on one value menu. But these items are no strangers to making history:

    They’ve stood the test of time with the youngest of the group, Chicken McNuggets, holding a spot on our national menu for 33 years, while the veteran, Filet-O-Fish, boasts 51 years.

    The Big Mac and Filet-O-Fish were all developed by McDonald’s franchisees – Jim Delligatti and Lou Groen respectively.

    The Economist Magazine publishes the Big Mac Index to annually contrast the value of foreign currencies against the U.S. dollar.

    All four menu items originated in the U.S. but are now sold in many other countries – most notable is the Big Mac which today is sold in more than 100 countries.


And now, the Big Mac, 10-piece Chicken McNuggets, Filet-O-Fish and Quarter Pounder With Cheese will add another milestone to the history books by coming together for customers to mix and match and enjoy at a great price.

source: business.inquirer.net

Tony Burton, cornerman-trainer in 6 ‘Rocky’ films, has died

LOS ANGELES — Tony Burton, a veteran character actor best known for brief but memorable turns as a tough, no-nonsense trainer and cornerman in Sylvester Stallone’s first six “Rocky” films, has died at age 78.

Burton died of pneumonia Thursday at a Southern California hospital, his wife, Aurelain “Rae” Burton, said Friday.

Failing health had prevented him from appearing in “Creed,” the seventh “Rocky” movie and the one for which Stallone is nominated for a best supporting actor Oscar at Sunday’s Academy Awards.

“People would always ask him, ‘What’s Sylvester Stallone like,’ his wife recalled with a chuckle. “He’d just say, ‘Sylvester’s a nice guy.’ That’s all he’d ever say.”

Burton, a former boxer himself, had a long career as a character actor.

He appeared in “The Shining” and “Stir Crazy” and was one of the ballplayers in the 1976 film “The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings.”

He was a regular in the television series “Frank’s Place” and appeared in “Chicago Hope,” ”The Rockford Files” and “Sanford and Son.”

His last major film was 2006’s “Rocky Balboa,” in which he prepares the nearly 60-year-old Rocky Balboa character played by Stallone for an exhibition against the current champion, telling Balboa to “bring some hurtin’ bombs.”

In the first two Rocky films, his character, Tony “Duke” Evers, was trainer and manager to Rocky’s world-champion opponent, Apollo Creed, played by Carl Weathers.

In “Rocky II,” Burton tries to talk the champion, who barely won that first fight, out of giving Balboa a rematch.

“He’s all wrong for us, baby,” his character says. “I saw you beat that man like I never saw no man get beat before and the man kept coming after you. … Let it go.”

Born and raised in Flint, Michigan, Burton was a top Golden Gloves boxer in his youth and had a brief professional boxing career.

In addition to his wife of 36 years, he is survived by his son, Jomo and daughters Juanita and Christal. Another son, Martin, preceded him in death.

Funeral services are pending.

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Car bomb in southern Thailand injures 7 police, 2 civilians

PATTANI, Thailand  — A roadside police patrol camp in southern Thailand was attacked Saturday by an improvised car bomb that left seven officers and two civilians injured, police said.

The attack in Pattani province was believed to have been carried out by Muslim insurgents who targeted the outpost used by special forces, said police Col. Keerati Waeyoosoh, the Pattani police superintendent.

Keerati said the bomb, made from a cylinder gas tank, was placed inside a car that had been stolen earlier Saturday from a tire shop whose owner was shot three times but survived. The car was then parked before it exploded outside a roadside restaurant adjacent to the police camp, which was destroyed by the blast.

More than 5,000 people have been killed since an insurgency erupted in 2004 in Thailand’s three southernmost provinces, the only ones with Muslim majorities in the predominantly Buddhist country. Last year, the level of violence dropped, according to official figures, but peace talks have made little apparent progress.

The insurgents are known for drive-by shootings and bombs placed on parked motorcycles and cars.

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Oscar host, producer, others honor black women in Hollywood

BEVERLY HILLS, California — Oscar host Chris Rock, producer Reginald Hudlin and film academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs took an afternoon off from Academy Awards preparations to celebrate black women in Hollywood.

Rock, Hudlin and Boone Isaacs were among the guests at Essence Magazine’s ninth annual awards luncheon Thursday at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Hudlin took the stage to present an award to legendary entertainer Debbie Allen.

The annual Essence event celebrates the achievements of black women in entertainment. Actress Tracee Ellis Ross and entertainment attorney Nina Shaw were also recognized.

Shonda Rhimes announced that Allen has agreed to serve as producing director of “Grey’s Anatomy” and called the writer-director-choreographer-performer “a force of nature.”

“Debbie blows through an environment and changes the landscape forever,” Rhimes said.

Ross, accompanied by her father and older sister, Rhonda, accepted the Fierce and Fearless award. She said she had been sick for the past week and worried she wouldn’t be able to attend the luncheon.

“I got dressed in the car,” she said. “I’m unclear if what I’m wearing is see-through. If it is, I’m sorry.”

Oprah Winfrey opened the program, which will air Saturday on OWN.

In a year when Hollywood’s lack of inclusion has overwhelmed the Oscar race, Winfrey said, “it’s a beautiful thing that we have the good sense to do this for ourselves.”

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Chart-topping Adele gets emotional with big Brit Awards win

LONDON — A tearful Adele was crowned queen of the British music scene — and banished memories of Grammy Awards sound glitches — with four prizes and a soulful performance at the Brit Awards on Wednesday.

“Not bad for a girl from Tottenham that don’t like flying,” said the North London-born singer as she accepted the Global Success Award.

The world-conquering diva also took trophies for British female solo artist of the year; British single of the year, for lovelorn ballad “Hello”; and album of the year for 15 million copy-selling “25.”

Adele has seen “25” — her first album in almost five years — top charts around the world, though her performance at last week’s Grammy Awards was unsettled when a microphone fell into a piano during the tender song “All I Ask.”

There were no such glitches Wednesday during her performance of “When We Were Young,” though the singer choked up as she accepted the Global Success award — presented by astronaut Tim Peake from the International Space Station.

“You’re getting … bored of me,” she quipped, accidentally slipping an expletive into the live telecast.

“I got really lost for a while — I didn’t know if I’d ever come back,” she added. “And for you all to be so kind to me…”

Later she apologized for losing her composure.

“I’m really sorry for the ugly crying face,” she said.

Adele also sent a message of public support to “Tik Tok” singer Kesha, who is fighting to get out of a contract with record producer Dr. Luke, who she says sexually assaulted her.

The Brits ceremony, performed to music-industry figures and thousands of fans at London’s O2 Arena, also featured performances from Coldplay, Justin Bieber and Rihanna — joined onstage by Drake for a sultry “Work.”

Singer-songwriter James Bay was named best British male solo artist, while Bieber was named best international male artist. The 21-year-old Canadian star, who has endured some wayward behavior and scrapes with the law, thanked his fans, saying “everybody has their own journey. Everybody has their ups and downs.”

The prize for best British group went to dependable crowd-pleasers Coldplay. Singer Chris Martin dedicated the award “to all the young men and women musicians in refugee camps around the world. We could be them and they could be us.”

The awards — which celebrate international as well as British acts — have been accused of failing to represent the industry’s ethnic diversity, in an echo of the debate raging around the Academy Awards. All the British nominees this year were white.

Singer Jack Garratt, who won the critics’ choice prize, said “it is a shame that half of U.K. music has been somehow forgotten about.”

Awards organizer the British Phonographic Industry has promised to look at how nominees and winners are selected, and has announced a new advisory committee made up of black and ethnic minority music-industry figures.

U.S. band Eagles Of Death Metal, whose concert was targeted in the November Paris attacks, lost out to Australia’s Tame Impala in the international group category.

Before the show, Eagles singer Jesse Hughes thanked everyone who had supported the band, which returned to the Paris stage last week, three months after Islamic extremists massacred 89 people during the band’s show at the Bataclan theater.

“The reception we’ve received since coming back to Europe has truly been humbling and has helped us get back to doing what we do — playing kick-ass butt-shaking rock ‘n’ roll music,” he said.

The Brits were once renowned for chaos, enlivened by incidents including a 1992 stunt in which British band the KLF left a dead sheep at the after-show dinner.

The ceremony has been transformed in recent years into a slick, often predictable, talent showcase — though Madonna gave audiences a shock last year when she got tangled in her flowing cape and tumbled off the stage mid-performance.

This year’s show was short on surprises — apart from Bjork beating bigger-selling artists to female international artist of the year — but strong on spectacle, with an opening number featuring dozens of dancers in red helmets and skirts that suggested flamenco centurions.

Jets of flame erupted liberally during Bieber’s performance of “Sorry.”

“I thought you were going to set us all on fire, Justin,” said Adele.

Singer Annie Lennox and actor Gary Oldman paid homage to David Bowie, who died last month aged 69, before a musical tribute by New Zealand singer Lorde and Bowie’s touring band.

“It’s almost impossible to mention Bowie’s name in the past tense,” Lennox said.

“The legend of his extraordinary sound shall be revered for as long as the Earth shall spin.”

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Djokovic eases into 700-win club in Dubai

World number one Novak Djokovic recorded his 700th career win on Wednesday when he cruised past Tunisia’s Malek Jaziri and into the Dubai Tennis Championships quarter-finals.

Djokovic won 6-1, 6-2 in 65 minutes and will face Spain’s Feliciano Lopez for a spot in the last four.

The 28-year-old Serb moves to 12th on the all-time win list which is headed by Jimmy Connors of the United States who racked up 1,254 in his career.

Djokovic is the third active player to pass the milestone, following in the footsteps of Roger Federer (1,067) and Rafael Nadal (775).

The Serb had 25 unforced errors in what could not be called a perfect performance on Wednesday but which still carried him to 14-0 this season.

“I’ve played a lot of matches and I’m very pleased and very proud of each win I’ve had,” said 11-time major winner Djokovic, who was presented on court with a gluten-free cake to mark the occasion.

Organizers also created a #nole700 hashtag in honor of his latest achievement.

“I started as a professional just over ten years ago. I love this sport with all of my heart and enjoy every moment of it. I expect a lot from myself, I’m trying to improve and get better in every element of my game.

“But I know I’m not the only one who wants to be number one and win titles.”

Djokovic admitted to some frustration as he closed out the win.

“(After a set and a half) I started missing a lot of forehands, easy forehands from mid-court. It frustrated me, honestly, a little bit.

“But I managed to win the match. I’ll take the positives out of it and hopefully will be able to raise my game even more. ”

Second seed Stan Wawrinka, who denied Djokovic a career Grand Slam with victory over the Serb in last year’s French Open final, needed five match points to beat Croatian qualifier Franko Skugor, ranked 188th.

While not playing at his best, Wawrinka was not disappointed.

“I got through in two sets and I’m into the quarter-finals. Now I can look forward to the next match,” said the Swiss star who next faces eighth seed Philipp Kohlschreiber.

Flamboyant Australian Nick Kyrgios won his second match in less than 24 hours, after a late arrival in the emirate following his first career title last weekend in Marseille.

The unseeded Kyrgios dispatched Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Kukushkin 6-3, 6-2 and next faces third seed Tomas Berdych, who he beat last weekend in the Marseille semi-finals.

The Czech, however, will be buoyed by having knocked the talented 20-year-old out of the Australian Open last month.

As clouds moved into the Gulf, conditions remained hot at 33 degrees Celsius at the Aviation Club, where Berdych tamed Italian qualifier Thomas Fabbiano 6-2, 6-2.

“Kyrgios is doing well, for me it’s going to be a big challenge. I have a lot to get back after last week. I must refocus myself, try to raise the game, and play some good tennis again,” two-time runner-up Berdych said.

“He’s full of fireworks on the court — in a good way. He’s playing really aggressive. He’s going for a lot of shots, risking a lot.”

Fourth seed Roberto Bautista Agut claimed a 16th win of the season with a 6-0, 6-1 hammering of South Korean youngster Hyeon Chung.

Bautista Agut, who has won two titles already this season, will next face Marcos Baghdatis after the popular Cypriot defeated Canadian Vasek Pospisil 6-4, 6-2.

Two more seeds also reached the last eight, with sixth seeded Spaniard Lopez beating Czech Lukas Rosol 6-3, 7-6 (9/7).

Kohlschreiber put out young Croatian Borna Coric 6-2, 7-6 (7/5).

source: sWorld number one Novak Djokovic recorded his 700th career win on Wednesday when he cruised past Tunisia’s Malek Jaziri and into the Dubai Tennis Championships quarter-finals.

Djokovic won 6-1, 6-2 in 65 minutes and will face Spain’s Feliciano Lopez for a spot in the last four.

The 28-year-old Serb moves to 12th on the all-time win list which is headed by Jimmy Connors of the United States who racked up 1,254 in his career.

Djokovic is the third active player to pass the milestone, following in the footsteps of Roger Federer (1,067) and Rafael Nadal (775).

The Serb had 25 unforced errors in what could not be called a perfect performance on Wednesday but which still carried him to 14-0 this season.

“I’ve played a lot of matches and I’m very pleased and very proud of each win I’ve had,” said 11-time major winner Djokovic, who was presented on court with a gluten-free cake to mark the occasion.

Organizers also created a #nole700 hashtag in honor of his latest achievement.

“I started as a professional just over ten years ago. I love this sport with all of my heart and enjoy every moment of it. I expect a lot from myself, I’m trying to improve and get better in every element of my game.

“But I know I’m not the only one who wants to be number one and win titles.”

Djokovic admitted to some frustration as he closed out the win.

“(After a set and a half) I started missing a lot of forehands, easy forehands from mid-court. It frustrated me, honestly, a little bit.

“But I managed to win the match. I’ll take the positives out of it and hopefully will be able to raise my game even more. ”

Second seed Stan Wawrinka, who denied Djokovic a career Grand Slam with victory over the Serb in last year’s French Open final, needed five match points to beat Croatian qualifier Franko Skugor, ranked 188th.

While not playing at his best, Wawrinka was not disappointed.

“I got through in two sets and I’m into the quarter-finals. Now I can look forward to the next match,” said the Swiss star who next faces eighth seed Philipp Kohlschreiber.

Flamboyant Australian Nick Kyrgios won his second match in less than 24 hours, after a late arrival in the emirate following his first career title last weekend in Marseille.

The unseeded Kyrgios dispatched Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Kukushkin 6-3, 6-2 and next faces third seed Tomas Berdych, who he beat last weekend in the Marseille semi-finals.

The Czech, however, will be buoyed by having knocked the talented 20-year-old out of the Australian Open last month.

As clouds moved into the Gulf, conditions remained hot at 33 degrees Celsius at the Aviation Club, where Berdych tamed Italian qualifier Thomas Fabbiano 6-2, 6-2.

“Kyrgios is doing well, for me it’s going to be a big challenge. I have a lot to get back after last week. I must refocus myself, try to raise the game, and play some good tennis again,” two-time runner-up Berdych said.

“He’s full of fireworks on the court — in a good way. He’s playing really aggressive. He’s going for a lot of shots, risking a lot.”

Fourth seed Roberto Bautista Agut claimed a 16th win of the season with a 6-0, 6-1 hammering of South Korean youngster Hyeon Chung.

Bautista Agut, who has won two titles already this season, will next face Marcos Baghdatis after the popular Cypriot defeated Canadian Vasek Pospisil 6-4, 6-2.

Two more seeds also reached the last eight, with sixth seeded Spaniard Lopez beating Czech Lukas Rosol 6-3, 7-6 (9/7).

Kohlschreiber put out young Croatian Borna Coric 6-2, 7-6 (7/5).

source: sports.inquirer.net

With its new S7 phone, Samsung looks even more like Apple

NEW YORK — Apple and Samsung phones, which have been looking more and more alike over the past few years, are much closer to virtual twins with Samsung’s latest Galaxy S7.

The convergence began two years ago when iPhones got larger, mimicking Samsung’s once-innovative, plus-sized “phablets.” Last spring, Samsung started emphasizing higher quality materials and sophisticated design, just as Apple had for years. And last fall, Apple boosted the resolution on the iPhone camera, narrowing one of the major gaps it had with Samsung.

With the S7, Samsung is lowering its camera’s resolution — you read that right — to match the iPhone’s 12 megapixels.

To be sure, there are key differences. Only the latest iPhones have special features you activate by pressing harder on an icon or link, while Samsung is among the biggest boosters of virtual reality.

It’s too early to say which phone is better. Though Samsung announced the S7 on Sunday at a wireless show in Barcelona, Spain, the phone isn’t coming out until March 11. My hands-on time has been limited to controlled settings.

And for most users it may end up being a draw — Samsung leads the pack among Android phones, while Apple has its own self-contained ecosystem, iOS. For many, a choice between the two could come down to preference for one system or another — and the apps available for each.

For now, here’s how Apple and Samsung phones stack up:

Camera

For both, the rear cameras are now at 12 megapixels — up from 8 for iPhones and down from 18 for Samsung. That doesn’t mean Samsung photos are getting worse, though.

In making the change, Samsung adopted the iPhone’s 4-by-3 dimension, ditching the widescreen format it had long used. Widescreen produces vertical shots that are awkwardly tall, such that I’ve had to crop them to 4-by-3 anyway. The 6 megapixel reduction is equivalent to chopping off the excess.

The front cameras are both at 5 megapixels, after Apple boosted its resolution in the iPhone last fall. Apple also turned the screen into a flash for selfies. Samsung, ever the fast follower, is now doing the same with the S7.

Samsung is promising improvements in low-light shots, borrowing techniques from full-bodied, SLR cameras, though it’ll require extensive tests to see how well the camera performs. Even with last year’s models, Samsung cameras tend to produce brighter night shots than the iPhone. But I’ve also seen more distortion when those shots are blown up. We’ll see if that’s been fixed with the S7.

Size

Samsung’s 5.1-inch Galaxy S7 is slightly larger and heavier than the 4.7-inch iPhone 6s, but not much so. There’s a premium version of the S7 called the S7 Edge; both sides curve like a waterfall, such that the screen flows over the side to the back of the phone. The Edge screen is 5.5 inches, but much of that comes from the curvature. The phone itself is taller, but just a tad wider and heavier.

Compared with the 5.5-inch iPhone 6s Plus, though, the S7 Edge is smaller.

Extras

Neither the iPhone nor the S7 phone lets you replace the battery with a spare. But the S7 does let you add storage. And the base model is 32 gigabytes, double what the iPhone offers for starters.

Unlike the iPhone, the S7 is waterproof. There’s no need to keep USB and other ports sealed, as past waterproof phones did. The S7 also offers wireless charging; you simply lay the phone flat on a charging base. However, wireless charging is typically slower than plugging in a USB charger.

Apple and Samsung both let you unlock phones with your fingerprint rather than a passcode. And both let you make payments with a tap at some retail stores. The Samsung Pay service works with a greater range of merchants, but with credit cards from fewer banks and in fewer countries for now than Apple Pay.

Shortcuts

The latest iPhones and the S7 Edge have shortcuts to common tasks, such as taking selfies. With the iPhone, you hard press on an app icon. With the Edge, you swipe from the right edge. That swipe also gets you headlines, frequent contacts and favorite apps.

Apple lets third-party app makers create their own shortcuts, while Samsung does not.

Virtual reality

Samsung is ahead of Apple, though it faces competition from other Android manufacturers, including LG.

Samsung already has its own VR headset, while LG is coming out with one. They won’t work with each other’s phones or any other Android phone. Both companies will soon sell 360-degree cameras for taking VR video. Apps on the phone will ease sharing with friends and viewing on the VR devices.

Availability
The iPhone 6S and 6S Plus have been available since September. There has been speculation that Apple is coming out with a smaller model soon, but it’s not expected to have all of the advanced features found in the 6S phones.

Advance orders for the S7 phones started this week. March 11 is the release date in the U.S. and several other markets. TVJ

source: technology.inquirer.net

Messi and Co ready to make magic vs Arsenal

LONDON — Barcelona’s strike trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Neymar are ready to weave their magic when the Champions League holders take on Arsenal in the last 16 on Tuesday.

The three forwards share 81 goals from the Spanish league, Copa del Rey, and Champions League this season, and their team heads into the first leg at Emirates Stadium as the clear favorite.

Asked what is involved in coaching such remarkable players, Luis Enrique told a news conference on Monday: “I tell them ‘Abracadabra,’ and the magic sparks, that’s all I do.”

More seriously, he added: “It’s quite simple, in situations of the game, you don’t have to wish what you would like them to do – because they are already doing it. They press, up front, to get the ball from the opponent, and we work hard so that our midfielders can give them the ball. … It’s a pleasure to have these players with me.”

Luis Enrique expects a tight game, but one where Barcelona will look to impose its brand of attacking, possession football.

It’s certainly worked in the past, with the Catalan side beating Arsenal in both of their previous meetings in the knockout stages, along with the final in 2006.

“I’ve seen Arsenal before, and also this season, and they are going to press high at some moments,” he said. “But I hope we can keep possession of the ball in their half of the pitch and put into practice our football. Our target is to win the game, no matter what.”

The key figure in achieving that is likely to be Messi.

Already hugely influential, Luis Enrique believes he is getting even better.

“Last season, he was unbelievable,” the coach said. “He did pretty much everything; he scored, he made a defensive sacrifice, he assisted, and this season he is at the same level or even better. When Lionel Messi goes back to midfield, he becomes the best midfielder, when he plays as a striker he can be a really good scorer, and now he plays on the wing. But he has the freedom to create superiority in certain areas of the pitch. And he’s our leader.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

Chinese phones go global after pushing aside Apple, Samsung

SEOUL, South Korea — Move over, Apple and Samsung. The next big smartphone might be from little-known Chinese brands such as TCL and OPPO.

Along with other Chinese phone makers such as Huawei and Xiaomi, Chinese brands have surpassed Samsung in China and are encroaching on Apple’s turf. In the coming years, analysts forecast that these cheap Android phones with not-so-cheap features will likely attract more budget-conscious customers in Europe and even in Samsung’s and Apple’s home markets, South Korea and the United States.

Chinese phone makers made their global ambitions known at this week’s Mobile World Congress wireless show in Barcelona, Spain. Huawei and TCL vied to steal the spotlight from Samsung and LG, both of which announced new high-end phones at the show. Xiaomi, which typically launches phones in China, will preview the Mi 5 phone in Barcelona on Wednesday.

“The Chinese smartphone vendors have a very unique feature — it is the price,” said Shu On Kwok, editor of AndroidPIT, a website that tracks Android developments. “You get the same features as an LG or a Samsung smartphone has hardware-wise, but for a lower price.”

Samsung saw its market share decline in 2015, while Apple forecast its first revenue decline in over 13 years. Both will have to do more to prove the value of the extra dollars their customers pay.

Along with premium hardware, Apple has tried to position its products as unique by offering software, services and apps that work only on Apple devices — although in many cases comparable services are available for Android devices.

At Samsung’s product event Sunday, mobile chief D.J. Koh said “we have other ideas” beyond core smartphone features. Samsung, for instance, is promoting its Galaxy phones’ compatibility with a Samsung virtual-reality headset and an upcoming 360-degree camera. But VR is still in its early days, of interest largely to gamers and tech pioneers.

The Chinese brands have already taken their toll on Samsung. Although it’s still the largest smartphone maker in the world, Samsung is no longer among the top five phone makers in China, according to market research firms IDC and Counterpoint Technology. Profits from the mobile business have plunged to less than half of what it was in its heyday. Apple’s sales in China rose in the fourth quarter, but its growth was outshined by Huawei.

But bad news for manufacturers is good news for consumers.

Many of these Chinese companies sell decent phones for less than $200, compared with about $650 for an iPhone or high-end Samsung Galaxy phone. In other words, for the same price, customers can buy three or four smartphones with decent cameras and screens.

Chinese makers can keep prices low by reducing the profit margin and turning to cheaper components that are a year or two old. That means high-end phones still take better pictures and have sleeker, thinner designs. But phone innovation has slowed, and the advances appear marginal to many consumers. A Huawei photo taken in good light often looks just as good as an iPhone or Samsung shot when displayed on a small phone screen.

Melissa Chau, senior research manager at IDC, said Chinese companies are catching up on phone design and quality even more quickly than Samsung did a few years ago.

“Samsung was a fast follower in terms of innovation,” Chau said. “These Chinese players, they are even faster.”

And while these phone companies are pushing cheap phones, they are starting to succeed in getting customers to pay more — though still not as much as an iPhone or a high-end Galaxy. For instance, the average price for Huawei smartphones in China was $213 last year, up 21 percent from 2014, according to IDC.

Having succeeded in China, these phone makers are looking elsewhere to grow. OPPO, China’s fourth-largest smartphone maker according to IDC, is marketing aggressively in southeast Asia. Xiaomi already sells phones in Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia.

At the Barcelona show, Huawei executive Adam Joshua said that while the company’s focus has been on emerging markets, it also has eyes on “the European market, Australia, and obviously the last big one, the U.S.”

Analysts said Huawei and Xiaomi will likely steal customers from Apple and Samsung in their strongholds as some budget-conscious consumers seek to upgrade their phones without financial pressure.

When South Koreans were just starting to buy smartphones, many upgraded frequently to get longer-lasting batteries, sharper cameras and larger screens.

Now fewer consumers care whether they have the latest technologies, said Oh Bong Yeon, a 38-year-old South Korean. They may even wait several months until the price drops. Although Oh has the iPhone 6, he said he would buy Huawei’s flagship smartphone if the company starts selling it in South Korea.

Raphael Rashid, 28, a British citizen living in Seoul, loves his Xiaomi Redmi Note 2, which his friend bought for him in China for about $120. Before Xiaomi, Rashid used a $150 Huawei smartphone for about a year.

“For a thousand dollars, I can get five new phones in the space of two years,” he said. “I’ll always have the latest phone.”

Much of the growth comes from consumers who feel comfortable buying phones directly from manufacturers online, rather than from the wireless carrier. In the U.S., consumers are just starting to warm up to direct online sales, especially as carriers stop offering discounts in exchange for two-year contracts.

Huawei is now the third-largest smartphone maker in the world. Its market share exceeded 7 percent last year, compared with less than 6 percent in 2014, according to IDC. That’s still far behind Samsung’s 23 percent and Apple’s 16 percent, but success doesn’t necessarily mean being No. 1 everywhere.

In fact, ZTE mobile chief Adam Zeng said the Chinese phone maker wants to be in the top three in selected markets — read that as No. 3 — and not necessarily worldwide.

And Xiaomi might have trouble expanding to established markets — particularly the U.S. — because of accusations it has copied or closely imitated designs from Apple and other companies. Phone manufacturers routinely sue each other in these markets, and Xiaomi will need to build up a portfolio of its own patents to defend itself.

Even if gaps remain in market share, IDC’s Chau said Chinese companies can at least close the gap in brand reputation in about three years. That’s partly because Apple and Samsung are struggling to stay cool.

She said that while Apple is still the premium brand in China, “it’s been around for a while and people are familiar with it. It lost the extra shine of being the new.”

source: technology.inquirer.net

Global winds chill business optimism in Europe

FRANKFURT, Germany — Business confidence fell in Germany and France this month, increasing concern that the global market turmoil may be weighing on the economy of the 19-member euro currency union.

Germany’s closely watched Ifo confidence index fell to 105.7 points in February from 107.3 last month, the third decline in a row. France’s INSEE index dropped to 100 points in February from 102 in January.

The data released Tuesday bolsters the argument for the European Central Bank to expand its monetary stimulus efforts at its next meeting March 10.

The central bank is currently pumping 60 billion euros ($66 billion) per month in freshly printed money into the financial system through bond purchases in an attempt to push up weak inflation and support a modest recovery. The eurozone grew 0.3 percent in the last three months of last year; unemployment remains high at 10.4 percent.

In Germany, the eurozone’s largest economy, business executives’ view of current conditions improved but their outlook for the next half-year worsened significantly.

Economist Carsten Brzeski at ING-DiBa called the reading a “wake-up call.”

“Global events have finally reached German companies’ boardrooms,” he wrote in an email research note.

The euro fell in currency markets, from around $1.1040 to under $1.10 before rebounding slightly.

The German survey indicated executives share worries about the global economy that have sent financial markets lower recently. China’s economy is slowing down, with unpredictable consequences for the rest of the world, while low oil and commodity prices have hit emerging market economies that supply much of the world’s growth these days. Financial market turmoil itself could have an impact by making businesses cautious about risking more investment in production.

The Ifo index is valued as a guide to where the economy is headed. The survey is based on monthly responses from about 7,000 firms.

Germany, the biggest economy in the 19-country euro currency union, is enjoying low unemployment of 4.5 percent and steady growth of 0.3 percent in the fourth quarter of last year. While exports have slowed, spending by consumers and the government has picked up.

The French confidence index slipped due to declining confidence among retailers. Manufacturing held up, suggesting global headwinds were not yet severely affecting the country’s gradual recovery.

Analyst Chantana Sam at HSBC Global Research said the fall in retail confidence could suggest that the impact from the terror attacks that left 130 people dead in November was lingering more than expected. Retail confidence remains below the level seen before the attacks.

Analysts say the ECB could try to help the economy by increasing its bond-buying stimulus program. It could also cut the interest rate on deposits it takes from commercial banks, currently minus 0.3 percent. The negative rate is a drastic step aimed at pushing banks to lend money rather than let it pile up at the central bank’s super-safe overnight deposit facility. The negative rate has also helped push the euro lower against other currencies, helping exporters. TVJ

source: business.inquirer.net

Facebook’s Zuckerberg at crossroads in connecting the globe

SAN FRANCISCO — Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg likes to boast that his 3-year-old effort to bring the developing world online has reached millions of people in some of the world’s poorest nations.

But a central element of his Internet.org campaign was controversial even before it was shut down in a key market this month. Indian regulators banned one of the pillars of the campaign, a service known as Free Basics, because it provided access only to certain pre-approved services — including Facebook — rather than the full Internet.

That leaves the social media mogul at a crossroads. Though he has vowed not to give up, Zuckerberg hasn’t said whether he’ll alter his approach. Facebook declined to make executives available for comment. Zuckerberg could shed light on his plans when he speaks Monday at Mobile World Congress, an annual industry event in Barcelona, Spain, where he has touted Internet.org in previous years.

“Everyone in the world should have access to the Internet,” Zuckerberg wrote on Facebook this month, arguing that online connections can improve lives and fuel economic development.

To achieve that goal, Zuckerberg has high-flying dreams for someday providing Internet connections through a network of drones, satellites and lasers. But his near-term plan is simpler: Facebook works with wireless carriers in poorer nations to let people use streamlined versions of Facebook and certain other online services, without paying data charges.


While the drones may someday connect people in areas too remote for cables or cell towers, Free Basics is intended for people who live in areas with Internet service but still can’t afford it.

A low-income resident of urban Manila, for example, can use Free Basics to view thePhilippines‘ GMA News site. “He can be informed. He can research. He can read the news,” Ederic Eder of GMA News said.

The program varies by country, in offerings and effectiveness.

In South Africa, for instance, Facebook partnered with the third-largest wireless carrier, Cell C. But Johannesburg resident Priscilla de Klerk said she couldn’t get Free Basics to work on her phone.

“Cell C is much cheaper as far as everything else is concerned, but their free Facebook is not a reality,” she said.

Last fall, Facebook announced a major expansion in Africa, where another regional carrier, Bharti Airtel, said it will offer Free Basics in 17 countries.

“They’re getting a lot of traction in Africa,” said Danson Njue, a Kenya-based telecom analyst with the Ovum research firm. Tech rivals Google and Microsoft also have programs to expand Internet access, he noted, but their approaches are content neutral and involve extending networks to underserved areas.

Facebook doesn’t pay wireless companies for the cost of Free Basics. Carriers make money if new users eventually move to a paid data plan. Facebook also says it makes no money, as it doesn’t show ads, though Zuckerberg has conceded it benefits from gaining users in the long run.

While the company hasn’t released detailed usage figures, Facebook says Free Basics has brought more than 19 million people online for the first time. That counts any user who didn’t have Internet access before, regardless of whether they’re currently active.

On the Internet.org website, mixed in with videos about impoverished students using Free Basics to study and laborers starting small businesses, Facebook boasts more than 1 billion people “have access” to the service. That’s the combined population of regions where it’s available, not the number of users.

Free Basics is now in 36 countries. It was suspended last year in Egypt, on the anniversary of anti-government protests that were organized partly on Facebook. An earlier version of Free Basics, known as Facebook Zero, was shuttered three years ago in Chile, after authorities said Internet providers couldn’t offer discounts for accessing some content but not others.

Similar concerns turned India into the program’s biggest battleground.

Free Basics enrolled more than 1 million Indians in its first year, according to Facebook’s wireless partner, Reliance Communications. But critics, including many in the country’s growing tech community, complained it was a predatory scheme: If low-income users couldn’t afford anything besides Free Basics, opponents said, that meant Facebook was deciding which online services the nation’s poor could use.

“The government should not allow big players to monopolize the Internet,” said Manu Sharma, who runs a software development company in New Delhi.

Facebook responded last fall by announcing it would open Free Basics to any app that met its technical requirements for systems with limited capacity. Zuckerberg also changed the program’s name to Free Basics, after critics complained “Internet.org” sounded like a nonprofit, when it’s part of a for-profit company (the overall campaign is still called Internet.org).

But opponents still worry that Facebook could change requirements at any time, force competitors to pay higher rates to get into the program, or even block services that run afoul of powerful politicians.

“The fact that it could decide what apps could be hosted … was a huge problem for me,” said Basit Zaidi, a New Delhi attorney.

As Indian regulators began studying the issue, Facebook drew more resentment with a public-relations blitz that critics called heavy-handed and patronizing. The regulators effectively banned Free Basics after concluding Internet providers shouldn’t be allowed to charge different rates for certain services, because that discriminates against other content.

U.S. regulators have endorsed the concept of “net neutrality,” which says all websites and apps should be treated equally by Internet providers. They’re now studying whether “zero rating” programs, which offer some content for free, should be allowed. Net neutrality supporters are hoping India’s decision will influence other nations.

Facebook has also launched a program that helps Internet providers offer reliable Wi-Fi service in underserved areas at affordable rates and without limits on content. The program’s been limited to tests in a few countries.

The giant tech company could use its resources and clout with carriers to offer a similar wireless service, perhaps at limited speeds or volume, but without any restrictions on content, said Josh Levy of Access Now, a nonprofit that supports net neutrality. Zuckerberg has suggested in the past that such a service would be too expensive and difficult to offer.

Some Indians, meanwhile, say their country could have benefited from Free Basics.

“Ultimately, something is better than nothing, even if that something is flawed,” said Uday Singh Tomar, a software engineer in New Delhi. “If a person is hungry and getting nothing, a free meal is good enough.”

source: technology.inquirer.net

Cacao production on remote island finally yields Tokyo chocolate

Chocolates made from cacao cultivated in the village of Ogasawara on Hahajima island, a remote part of Tokyo, were unveiled earlier this month after difficulties were overcome in growing the crops. A launch party was held on Feb. 9 in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo.

A confectionery maker in Saitama Prefecture initially proposed making “precious chocolate that lives up to the name of Tokyo,” and a farm on the island cooperated with the firm to realize the dream. The farm and the confectionery maker faced a number of difficulties — including a complete die-off of the first cacao trees that were planted — to finally release the preproduction chocolates. The product is expected to be commercially available in 2018.

Cacao is mostly cultivated between the latitudes of 20 degrees north and south. Hahajima island is located about 1,000 kilometers south of the main part of Tokyo on the latitude of 26 degrees north.

Masayuki Hiratsuka, 66, the president of Hiratsuka Confectionery Co. based in Soka, Saitama Prefecture, came up with the idea of cultivating domestic cacao and proposed it to a farmer in Ogasawara.

Cultivation began in 2010 when 1,000 seeds were planted, and 167 of them began to sprout. However, all of those withered within a couple of months.

Kazuo Orita, 68, who is from Hahajima, put himself forward to grow cacao on the island as he “was interested in cultivating southern crops” and had already been growing lemons on the island.

Supported by the confectionery company, Orita built a large greenhouse that was customized to be resistant to typhoons and carefully grew cacao. He finally enjoyed his first harvest in October 2013.

“I was riddled with anxiety at first but became confident as cacao was proven able to grow [in Japan],” Orita recalled.

It is necessary to ferment and dry the seeds taken from cacao pods, and it was in March last year that preproduction was completed. Compared to chocolate made from imported cacao, the type using Ogasawara-grown cacao has a mild taste and is fruity, according to Hiratsuka and Orita.

The farm is expected to harvest about 500 kilograms of cacao from 500 trees this year, and hopes to increase production fourfold next year.

“I want to make Hahajima a cacao island and boost the island’s economy,” Hiratsuka said.

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

US earns Olympic berth with 5-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago

HOUSTON — After scoring three goals against Trinidad and Tobago, Alex Morgan was relieved that the United States was assured a spot this summer in the Rio Olympics.

“We finally qualified,” Morgan said. “We don’t have to talk about qualifying anymore.”

Morgan’s hat trick, the third of her career, highlighted the United States’ 5-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago on Friday night in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament.

The World Cup champions, ranked No. 1 world, will seek their fourth straight Olympic gold medal and fifth overall.

There were two Olympic berths up for grabs in the North and Central America and Caribbean region. Canada secured the other spot in Brazil with a 3-1 semifinal victory over Costa Rica earlier Friday at BBVA Compass Stadium.

It is the third straight trip to the Olympics for the 11th-ranked Canadians, who will face the United States on Sunday in the tournament’s final match.

The Americans went 3-0 with a 16-0 goal difference in the group stage of the eight-team qualification tournament. They capped the first round with a 10-0 rout of Puerto Rico led by a team record-tying five goals from Crystal Dunn, the last player cut from the roster that won the World Cup last summer in Canada.

The Americans have never lost a CONCACAF Olympic qualifier, going 17-0-1, and they’ve outscored opponents 96-4.

It is the first time Trinidad and Tobago has made the semifinals in qualifying.

“I think we took it to Trinidad and Tobago,” Morgan said. “They’re a really good first-half team but I think as the game wears on they get a little more unorganized. But I think we wreaked some havoc for them in the first half.”

Coach Jill Ellis tinkered with the lineup a bit for the match, sitting Dunn and Ali Krieger, who had both logged a lot of minutes in the tournament.

Overall, Ellis is working with a younger roster than the one that won the World Cup last summer in Canada.

Several players, including Abby Wambach and Lauren Holiday, have retired. Amy Rodriguez and Sydney Leroux are expecting and won’t be available for the Olympics. Megan Rapinoe is recovering from knee surgery.

The youngest on the team is 17-year-old Mallory Pugh, headed to UCLA next season. Pugh started and made an impact early with an assist on Tobin Heath’s opening goal of the match in the 12th minute.

“I felt good,” Pugh said afterward. “I think the whole atmosphere of the stadium and everything was just really cool, and I think that kind of translated into my game. And my teammates, too, just having Alex be so positive, I think that helped a lot, too.”

It was Heath’s first goal for the national team since she scored in the 5-2 World Cup final victory over Japan.

Morgan scored her first in the 30th minute off a header from another national team newcomer, 21-year-old Lindsey Horan. Horan skipped college to play professionally in France but will play this season for the NWSL’s Portland Thorns.

Carli Lloyd, playing on the home field of her NWSL team, the Houston Dash, scored on a header in the 43rd minute for her 23rd goal in the team’s last 18 games. Lloyd has 86 goals for her career.

Morgan added her second in the 71st minute and claimed the hat trick with a goal two minutes later.

U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo saw very little action from T&T, which had no shots on goal.

“I was so mentally focused and prepared. I was hoping for a little bit more from Trinidad. I was hoping that once we went up by a couple of goals they would come at us, that they would press us, and I would be more involved in the game,” Solo said.

Trinidad earned a spot in the semifinal by finishing second in its group with wins over Guyana and Guatemala. The last time the team faced the United States was in the CONCACAF qualifying tournament for the World Cup in 2014. The U.S. won 1-0.

Afterward, Trinidad and Tobago coach Richard Hood praised his team for the effort, but admitted they were simply outmatched by the World Cup champions.

“In the end we weren’t able to cope with it as well as we’d liked,” Hood said.

source: sports.inquirer.net

‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ author Harper Lee passes away; 89

WASHINGTON—Harper Lee, who wrote one of America’s most enduring literary classics, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” about a child’s view of right and wrong and waited 55 years to publish a second book with the same characters from a very different point of view, has died at the age of 89, local Alabama news site reported on Friday.

Multiple sources in Lee’s hometown of Monroeville, Alabama, confirmed the writer’s death, according to Al.com.

For decades it was thought Lee would never follow up “To Kill a Mockingbird” and the July 2015 publication of “Go Set a Watchman” was a surprising literary event – as well as a shock for devotees of “Mockingbird.”   Reuters

source: lifestyle.inquirer.net

Rihanna delays tour after illness

NEW YORK, United States—Rihanna on Thursday delayed the start of a world tour days after the R&B star missed the Grammys, citing an illness that affected her voice.

The first scheduled show on Rihanna’s “Anti” tour is now March 12 in Jacksonville, Florida, according to her website and notices from venues.

Rihanna had previously been due to open the tour on February 26 in San Diego, but has postponed eight shows.

The singer abruptly canceled a performance on Monday at the Grammys, the music industry’s top awards.

Her representative said at the time that the Barbados-born singer had fallen ill and was under doctor’s orders to rest her vocal cords to avoid permanent damage.

A representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.

Rihanna is scheduled to end the tour on August 12 in Zurich.

The Barbados-born singer toured extensively in 2013 and then briefly the following year with Eminem, but had since kept a lower profile.

She returned to the scene last month with “Anti,” her first full-length album since 2012.

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

How Can You Preserve Your Skin’s Elasticity As You Grow Older?

As we age, fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging slowly catch up on us. Try as we might to avoid them  with moisturizers and other skincare products, we tend to forget that these problems aren’t just rooted in dehydration or too much sun exposure. These are all related to a very important quality in your skin: elasticity.

Skin elasticity refers to two things according to dermatologist Dr. Michael Chua of Imperial Derm Clinic. “Scientifically and literally, skin elasticity refers to the skin’s ability to ‘bounce’ back to its normal form upon mechanical stretching. Cosmetically though, it refers to the sagging of the skin.”

Either way, your skin’s ability to retain its tight and youthful appearance declines and gives rise to dryness and unwanted lines and blemishes. This is normal because  Dr. Michael tells us that there are two major factors of decreased skin elasticity. One of them is intrinsic and normal aging. The other is the one that causes real issues: “Photoaging or aging because of external factors, like excessive sun exposure, chemicals, and smoking, [can speed up the process of sagging skin],” shares Dr. Michael. And this can be the real culprit since some of us aren’t aware of it even if the smallest changes in our routine can reverse the damage.

Here are five ways you can preserve your skin’s elasticity.

#1 Get a head’s start
If you’re still in your 20’s and thinking that you shouldn’t be concerned about this just yet, think again. Dr. Michael tells us that you should start preserving your skin’s elasticity as early as possible. “Skin changes begin to happen in your 20’s and drastically [change further] in your 30’s so this is the best time to start becoming conscious. Prevention is key.”

#2 Be wary when the sun is out
One basic and easy way to prevent skin aging and decreased elasticity is upping your sunblock application.”Not applying sunblock while getting exposed to the sun is still the biggest mistake [people make],” shares Dr. Michael. Another mistake is how we aren’t aware of how some of the  ingredients in our your makeup products can have bad effects on our skin. “Using cosmetic products like makeup with a lot of preservatives and harmful chemicals is also a culprit,” he notes.

#3 Know what’s good for you
“When looking for anti-aging products, always look for ingredients like tretinoin or retinol, alpha hydroxyacids like glycolic acic, citric acid, lactic acid, and malic acid,” Dr. Michael tells us. He also makes note of other key ingredients to watch out for in our skincare routines: “Antioxidants like Vitamins A, C, and E are also important.”

#4 Eat right
It is not enough that you load up on essential vitamins and minerals your skincare products; you have to make sure you are consuming them through the food you eat. Dr. Michael reminds us that  “foods that are rich in antioxidants like the usual fruits and vegetables are beneficial.”

#5 Try trusted treatment
If you feel that it’s too late for you in terms of saving your skin’s elasticity, there’s still hope. Dr. Michael advises how there are several different procedures out there that can improve sagging skin. “There are procedures such as lasers, and machines that use radiofrequency, ultrasound and infrared to tighten the skin.” One new procedure you can try is Thermilift from Belo Medical Group which uses injectable radiofrequency to target sagging skin on a deeper level for long-lasting effects. Many more are available out there, all catering to different needs. Just make sure that they are performed by a board-certified skin specialist.

Photo courtesy of Glass Magazine

source: preen.inquirer.net

Caitlyn Jenner epitomizes 'third gender' says photographer Leibovitz

Tokyo — Former Olympic icon turned transgender heroine Caitlyn Jenner has triggered debate about whether there could be a "third gender", American portrait photographer Annie Leibovitz said Wednesday.

The former decathlon gold medallist is featured alongside the likes of pop diva Adele, Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in a new exhibition by Leibovitz currently on show in Tokyo.

An out-take from last year's Vanity Fair cover photoshoot features Jenner in a white corset, a shot Leibovitz described as a "tongue-in-cheek" nod to the magazine's arty style.

"What I like about what Caitlyn Jenner has done for us is that she has sort of opened up this whole idea that maybe there's more than two genders," said Leibovitz.

"Maybe it's a little more complicated than we were thinking. There are many parts to gender.

"She had everything money could buy, including the breasts — she had beautiful breasts."

Leibovitz recalled that shooting the queen had been like photographing an elderly relative, praising the 89-year-old monarch's energy.

"The queen was like everything you would want to imagine," Leibovitz told AFP.

"She didn't get up until I said, 'Thank you, we're done.' Everything I had heard about her wonderful sense of duty was true.

"It was sort of like photographing your great-aunt," she added.

"She was walking up the hall mumbling: 'This is the last time I wear this cape!' It was like 75 pounds (34 kilos), really heavy.

"Of course, I stuck my foot in my mouth by saying 'can you take your crown off?' and she said: 'Can I do what?' She was incredible."

'Modern' Empress

Leibovitz's "Women: New Portraits" opened in London last month and continues a project she began more than 15 years ago.

The 66-year-old unveiled portraits of Pakistani activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai and American Olympic swimming champion Katie Ledecky for the Tokyo leg of the exhibition.

She also talked of wanting to photograph Japan's Empress Michiko, who she described as "quite extraordinary, very modern".

Leibovitz's collection documents women of outstanding achievement and also features photos of Misty Copeland, the first black American prima ballerina, US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and tennis pioneers Venus and Serena Williams.

"Being a fighter is part of being a woman," said Leibovitz. "Some of us managed to survive."

The former Rolling Stone magazine photographer is arguably best known for her iconic portrait of a naked John Lennon curled up next to Yoko Ono, kissing his wife on the cheek.

The Beatle was shot dead outside his New York apartment building just hours after posing for the photo.

"I was expressly told (by the magazine) not to take that photograph with Yoko," said Leibovitz of the Rolling Stone cover shot.

"But John wanted Yoko in the picture. At the last minute, Yoko didn't want to take her clothes off. John acted pretty normal, but I always felt I didn't really 'get' Yoko at all until after John passed." — Agence France-Presse

source: gmanetwork.com

Actress Vanessa Hudgens’ Instagram post draws attention of authorities

SEDONA, Arizona — A heart carved into red rock is drawing the attention of authorities in Arizona who are investigating to see if actress Vanessa Hudgens is the culprit.

Hudgens posted a photo of the carving, bearing the names Vanessa and Austin, on her Instagram page Sunday but later removed it. Other photos with the hash tag “sedonadreams” still appeared on the site Tuesday.

The media brought the photo to the attention of the Coconino National Forest, which manages land around Sedona renowned for the towering red rocks, spokesman Brady Smith said. Authorities are investigating the incident, he said Tuesday.

A representative for Hudgens, 27, did not immediately respond to messages left by The Associated Press. Hudgens recently appeared on Fox’s live production of “Grease.” She’s best known for her role as Gabriella Montez in the “High School Musical” television show and movie.

Smith said he isn’t sure whether law enforcement has located a heart that matches the one posted by Hudgens within the forest’s 250 square-mile Red Rock Ranger District. Authorities will be researching social media posts and trying to contact any witnesses, he said.

Damaging a natural feature on US Forest Service land is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and a maximum $5,000 fine. Smith said he’s unaware of any signs in the district to inform people of the law. Forest officials try to maintain the natural beauty of the area, he said.

“People make mistakes whether knowingly or unknowingly,” Smith said.

But that doesn’t excuse illegal activity, he added.

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Brighten up your bathroom with a pretty tissue tray

You don’t need a total overhaul to give your home a fresher look. In most cases, all you have to do is to make adjustments here and there.

You can start with the little, often neglected areas like the vanity tray in your room or in the guest toilet.

Not all tissue box holders are created equal. Let’s put a little whimsy in that vanity corner—a tissue box holder shaped like a house! 








You’ll need:

Cardboard sheet or any kind of stock paper that can hold something
Cutter or scissors
Pencil for marking
Masking tape or regular tape, depending on paper used
Ruler
Acrylic paint

STEP 1:

Measure, then cut your stock paper into the following sizes:

5 pcs, 5 x 5 inches
2 pcs, 3 x 5 in
Chimney, 1.75 x 1.75 in

STEP 2 u
After you’ve measured and cut the pieces, assemble and tape them together.

source:lifestyle.inquirer.net

Pacquiao sorry for gays-animals comparison, stands ground on same-sex unions

I’m sorry for hurting people by comparing homosexuals to animals. Please forgive me for those I’ve hurt. I still stand on my belief that I’m against same sex marriage because of what the Bible says, but I’m not condemning LGBT. I love you all with the love of the Lord. God Bless you all and I’m praying for you.

Posted by Manny Pacquiao on Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Filipino boxing icon and senatorial candidate Manny Pacquiao has apologized to the public for comparing gays to animals in his stand against same-sex unions.

In a 47-second Facebook video uploaded on Tuesday night, the Sarangani representative said sorry for his statement relegating homosexuals as “worse than animals.”

“Nais ko pong humingi ng paumanhin sa mga nasaktan dahil sa aking pagkumpara sa tao sa hayop. ‘Yun po ay kamalian ako. Ako po ay humingi ng paumanhin sa lahat ng mga nasaktan,” Pacquiao said.

(I’m sorry for hurting people by comparing homosexuals to animals. Please forgive me for those I’ve hurt.)

But Pacquiao said he was firm on his stand against same-sex marriage.

“Hindi po nagbabago ang aking desisyon. Against po ako sa same-sex marriage, at ‘yun po ang paniniwala ko. Ang mali ko lang po ay kinumpara ko ‘yung tao sa hayop. Humihingi po ako ng pumanhin,” Pacquiao said.

(I still stand on my belief that I’m against same sex marriage because of what the Bible says, but I’m not condemning LGBT.)

“I am humbling myself before you and before God for my mistake. Thank you and God bless,” he added.

Pacquiao, who is running under Vice President Jejomar Binay’s United Nationalist Allliance, has earned the ire of netizens, celebrities, and the lesbians, gays, bisexual, and transgender community for his remark. TVJ

source: sports.inquirer.net

Shiffrin wins WC slalom in first race after 2 months out

CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland — Mikaela Shiffrin is definitely back.

Two perfect runs saw the American win a women’s World Cup slalom by almost a half-second on Monday in her first race after two months out with injury.

Crossing the line smiling after her second run, Shiffrin turned to look at the timings board then put her head in her hands at the realization she had won.

“I came in blind a little bit,” she said. “I knew my training skiing was some of the best I was doing but I just wasn’t sure. It was kind of close your eyes and go, see what happens at the end of the run.

“I didn’t know what to expect from the rest of the girls. I was just watching on television and wasn’t sure of the pace. I could see it but it’s different from being there.”

It was Shiffrin’s first race since tearing a ligament in her right knee in December. The Olympic and world slalom champion started skiing again only two weeks ago.

Shiffrin won two slaloms in Aspen, Colorado, and both by big margins, before the training mishap in Sweden. She has won her last six slaloms stretching back to last season.

This was Shiffrin’s 18th win on the circuit, moving her level with Tamara McKinney for the second-most wins by an American woman. She turns 21 next month.

Leading after the first run, Shiffrin finished 0.45 seconds faster than Nastasia Noens of France and 0.50 ahead of Marie-Michele Gagnon of Canada as several of her rivals struggled in difficult conditions.

Three of the top 10 after the first run did not finish: Michelle Gisin, Petra Vlhova and Erin Mielzynski. Lila Lapanja of the United States also skied out.

“That was a tough race, tough for all the girls,” Shiffrin said. “Some of the girls had really bad visibility. I had OK visibility, I was struggling to see but at least I could see a bit. I’m relieved with the luck of having better visibility.

“I was at the top, looking at the start and I was thinking, ‘Oh it doesn’t look too bad.’ Then I closed my eyes for about a minute, visualizing the course, and then when I opened them again I was like, ‘Hey, where did the slope go?'”

World Cup slalom leader Frida Hansdotter finished sixth, 5.89 behind Shiffrin. The Swede has 545 points, 99 more than second-best Veronika Velez-Zuzulova of Slovakia, who was 10th.

Shiffrin, who has won the past three titles, is 245 points behind Hansdotter. There are only two slalom races left along with a parallel event this month in Stockholm that counts in the slalom standings.

“The slalom globe’s out. I’m going to focus on GS a little bit now, try to see how quickly I can get back, see how many points I can get overall,” Shiffrin said.

Shiffrin is targeting the super G and super combined in Soldeu at the end of the month, but added, “That depends how training goes.”

source: sports.inquirer.net