Katie Ledecky moving on after a bit of a letdown at worlds

BUDAPEST, Hungary — OK, it wasn’t like Katie Ledecky was a flop at the world championships.

Far from it.

She won five gold medals. She took silver in her other event.

“If that was my bad year for the next four years, then the next couple years are going to be pretty exciting,” Ledecky declared.

But her performance in Budapest did prove one thing.

She’s human.

Ledecky failed to set a personal best in any of her races — the ultimate goal for every swimmer, even more than the medals. A runner-up finish in the 200-meter freestyle was the 20-year-old’s first individual defeat in a major international race.

“I always wish there was more,” Ledecky said. “I’ve never walked away from a season completely satisfied, even last year (after winning four golds at the Rio Olympics). You always are looking and moving forward.”

She was certainly due for a letdown.

Ever since a stunning breakthrough at the 2012 London Olympics, when she won the 800 free as a little-known 15-year-old, Ledecky’s trajectory has been nothing but up, up, up.

In 2013, she won four golds at the worlds in Barcelona, setting a pair of world records. Two years later in Kazan, she swept every freestyle from 200 to 1,500 meters, setting two more world records. And, yes, two more world records fell last summer in Brazil, transforming her into a full-fledged star.

But that wasn’t the only striking change in Ledecky’s life.

After putting off college for a year to focus on the Olympics, the Washington, D.C.-area swimmer moved across the country for her freshman year at Stanford. It has been an enriching experience that she’s fully embraced, meeting new people and taking all sorts of challenging classes, but perhaps it had an impact on her swimming.

Ledecky acknowledged that she “didn’t really set as high of goals or have that same motivation, just always being on and on and on.”

“Going through a lot of transitions and changes this year, knowing that I’ve gone through that now, I can really take what I’ve learned and use it moving forward,” Ledecky said.

She was certainly overshadowed along the banks of the Danube.

Caeleb Dressel emerged as America’s newest sensation with a record-tying seven gold medals — three of them on the same night, the first swimmer ever to accomplish that feat at worlds.

“He’s incredible,” Ledecky said, maybe even a bit relieved to have the spotlight shining elsewhere. “Just so impressive how he goes race to race to medal ceremony to medal ceremony, has another race in about two minutes. He’s just such a great athlete and such a great swimmer. So young, too, that he has so many great years ahead of him.”

Dressel is the same age as Ledecky.

Chances are, they both have plenty of great years ahead of them.

But now, for perhaps the first time in her swimming career, Ledecky is facing a bit of a setback.

It will be interesting to see how she bounces back.

In all likelihood, she’ll come back better than ever.

“This year I didn’t really set very specific time goals or goals in general,” she said “I just kind of wanted to repeat in all by different events from the past two worlds and just play a part on some good Team USA relays. I didn’t really have too big of expectations for myself, especially compared to the last couple of years. I knew there were expectations externally, but I was really just trying to focus on my own races, putting those together, and using this year as a big learning year.”

Ledecky took on her most demanding program at these championships, competing in four individual events and two relays, a total of 6,300 meters in all counting preliminaries, semifinals and finals.

“It was pretty tiring,” she conceded. “I’m pretty wiped out right now. But I’m happy with how it all went. I was happy with how I was able to bounce back after each race, move forward to the next race and get through to the next round as well as I did.”

She’s not totally pleased with the results, even though she’s now the winningest female swimmer in world championship history with 14 gold medals — more than anyone except Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte.

Ledecky feels like she’s capable of more.

“I’m happy with five golds and a silver,” she said. “But there’s a lot of room for improvement for me, as crazy as that sounds. Moving forward, I’m going to be really motivated. I’m really looking forward to working toward 2020 now.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

Tesla Model 3 electric car has no instruments, just a 15-inch screen

Electric car manufacturer Tesla has delivered the first 30 units of their new Model 3 sedans. And the big difference from regular cars is the model’s lack of the traditional gauges and instruments.

On the evening of July 28, Tesla held a grand handover event to the first thirty owners of the Model 3 electric car. However, owners may need some getting used to the single 15-inch display sitting in the middle of the dashboard, according to The Verge.

The single-screen on the dashboard is a radical design change for the interior of cars and is part of the company’s ongoing strategy to push for driving autonomy in cars.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk believes that in the future, drivers wouldn’t even care if there’s no instrument cluster.

“You won’t really need to look at an instrument panel all that often,” Musk said during the event.

He goes so far as to add that eventually, people will be able to “watch a movie, talk to friends, go to sleep” in Tesla cars.

The Model 3 is the first step in Tesla’s grand plan to make electric cars more accessible for the masses. By accomplishing this goal, it paves the way for greater adaption of electric vehicles, and the eventual retirement of their gas-guzzling predecessors. Alfred Bayle/JB

source: technology.inquirer.net

2 dead 4 wounded in German nightclub shooting

A gunman opened fire at a packed nightclub in southern Germany early Sunday, killing one and wounding four before being shot by police, authorities said, ruling out a terror attack.

The 34-year-old man, identified as an Iraqi national, “was critically injured in a shootout with police officers as he left the disco, and later succumbed to his wounds in hospital,” police said in a statement.

“We’re not assuming that this is an act of terrorist violence,” police spokesman Fritz Bezikofer told rolling news channel NTV.

“The events in the disco and all the links are somewhat clearer and they actually rule out a terror background,” he said, adding that the gunman was not an asylum seeker and has been living in Germany for some time.

Another police source said he could have been motivated by personal relationship issues.

Officers began receiving emergency calls from terrified clubbers at around 4:30 am (0230 GMT) as the man began shooting in the nightclub heaving with “several hundred” people, said police.

One person was killed on the spot and three others seriously wounded in the club called “Grey”, located in an industrial zone in Constance, a city on the banks of the eponymous lake near the Swiss border.

Shortly after the gunman left the building, he was shot by police. One officer was also injured in the exchange of fire.

Terrified nightclubbers had either fled the building or found a place to hide, police said, adding that the danger was now over.

Helicopters were circling overhead and special forces were also deployed to secure the site.

‘Club was jam-packed’

A witness told national news agency DPA that the attacker was shooting randomly at clubbers around him.

“The club was jam-packed,” added the unnamed man, who said he had seen the attacker and fled quickly with his friends.

A bouncer at the site had sought to stop the attacker, but was himself injured by the man, local broadcaster SWR said, also reporting witnesses saying that the gunman was armed with an automatic pistol.

Police was unable to confirm the type of weapon used, but Bezikofer said it was “not just a pistol, the talk is of a long weapon or an automatic pistol”.

The shooting came just two days after Germany was shaken by a knife attack in the northern port city of Hamburg.

A 26-year-old Palestinian had killed one and injured six in an assault at a supermarket.

He was a known Islamist with psychological problems, and investigators say his motives remain unclear.

Germany has been on high alert about the threat of a jihadist attack, especially since last December’s truck rampage through a Berlin Christmas market that claimed 12 lives.

But it has also been hit by other assaults unrelated to the jihadist threat.

Among the deadliest in recent years is a Munich shopping mall rampage last June by 18-year-old German-Iranian man which left 10 people dead including the gunman himself.

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Jona Soquite voted as 1st grand champ of ‘The Voice Teens’

Jona Soquite, a 13-year-old native of Davao City, became the first ever grand champion of “The Voice Teens” on Sunday night.

Soquite, who belonged to the team of coach Sarah Geronimo, got 44.78 percent of total viewers’ votes cast via text and various online sites.

As grand champion, Soquite gets a house and lot, P1 million in cash, a recording and management contract, and a business package.

Following her on second spot was Isabella Vinzon of Mexico, Pampanga, for getting 22.42 percent of the votes; Mica Becerro of Surigao del Sur on third for getting 17.79 percent; and Jeremy Glinoga from Lipa City on fourth for getting 15.01 percent.

Vinzon belonged to the team of coach Bamboo Mañalac, Becerro to the team of coach Lea Salonga, and Glinoga to the team of coach Sharon Cuneta.

Soquite sang “I Believe I Can Fly,” a song composed and performed by R. Kelly.

Vinzon sang “Rise Up,” which was originally performed by Andra Day, who composed the song with Jennifer Decilveo.

Becerro sang “Time to Say Goodbye,” which was composed by Francesco Santori, with original Italian lyrics by Lucio Quarantotto and English lyrics by Frank Peterson. It was made popular by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman.

Glinoga did the only Filipino song of the night – “Dahil Mahal na Mahal Kita,” which was composed by Larry Hermoso and performed by Roselle Nava. /atm

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Ink or swim? Tattoos on show at worlds

World records have tumbled and gold medals won but the colourful array of tattoos on show at the world swimming championships have proved just as eye-catching, be they designs of sharks, dolphins or even the lion adorning the arm of Adam Peaty’s grandmother.

A vast array of images, script, and secretive symbols adorned the bodies of competitors, from flowing and harmonious waves to powerful and speedy creatures of the deep.

The Olympic rings — a proud stamp on the skin of the swimmers who competed at a Games — are also common place, but some of the world’s fastest have explained the thinking behind the art work on their bodies.

Britain’s Peaty has been one of the stand-out performers at the Duna Arena with two world records and golds in the men’s 50m and 100m breaststroke.

Peaty had a large tattoo of a lion inked onto his left shoulder after winning the Olympic 100m breaststroke title last year in Rio de Janeiro.

“The tattoo is more about training for me,” said the 22-year-old in Budapest.

“When you wake up, you look in the mirror and you go to the pool. It reminds me of the hard work I put in to win in Rio, while I am swimming.

“It also keeps me grounded and passionate about what I do, it reminds me of how I got there.

“It is great to have a reminder, it’s getting extended in a few days,” he added without wanting to give away the future design.

Peaty’s wheelchair-bound grandmother, Mavis Williams, 74, got a temporary tattoo, a copy of his lion tattoo, which delighted the British swimmer.

“That was crazy, I actually thought she had had a proper tattoo done, I thought ‘oh my god, what has she done, but she loves it,” said Peaty with a grin.

Bruno Fratus, who took silver in the men’s 50m freestyle on Saturday behind Caeleb Dressel of the USA, explained how his winged tattoo was done on a whim.

“I trust the guy who does my tattoos so badly that I just give him my arms and say ‘do whatever you feel like as long as it’s not too crazy’ as I still got to wear short sleeves,” the 28-year-old told AFP.

‘It’s who I am’

“As long as I have space and money I’ll keep doing it, and time off because every time you tattoo something you need 10 days off water.

“That’s a graffiti I saw in Miami in Wynwood, I just took a picture and give it to him as a reference. That one’s just a wing.

“I woke up one morning and thought ‘I think I would look good with a wing on my arm’.”

His compatriot, Etiene Medeiros won the women’s 50m backstroke gold on Thursday and explained the differing motivations for her tattoos.

“I have an ocean mermaid on my forearm to bring its energy into my life, beneath it a lotus flower, which is rising from the ashes like a phoenix,” said the 26-year-old Brazilian.

“Beneath that, an ‘ohana’ tattoo to remind me how blessed I am to have my family and friends.

“On my ankles, I have the name of my father and mother, I also have other ones which are hidden.”

South African-born Dutch swimmer Kyle Stolk boasts a springbok and an Irish shamrock displayed on a resplendent Dutch flag.

“I wanted to incorporate the three places that have made me where I am today,” said the swimmer, who learned his trade in Dublin, before moving to the Netherlands who he represented at the Rio Olympics.

“It might be a too flamboyant for some people but it means a lot to me, it’s who I am,” he said

source: sports.inquirer.net

One dead, six wounded in Hamburg supermarket knife attack

HAMBURG, Germany—One person was killed and six others were injured on Friday when a failed asylum-seeker brandishing a knife attacked shoppers in a Hamburg supermarket, shouting “Allahu Akbar” before being overpowered by passers-by, police and officials said.

The attack had been motivated by “hate,” mayor Olaf Scholz said, although he stopped short of declaring it a terrorist incident.

“It makes me especially angry that the perpetrator appears to be a person who claimed protection in Germany and then turned his hate against us,” he said.

If confirmed as an Islamist attack, it would be the first in Germany since Tunisian Anis Amri drove a truck into crowds at a Berlin Christmas market on December 19, killing 12 and injuring 48.

Police said that the man was a 26-year-old born in the United Arab Emirates, but were unable to immediately confirm his nationality or identify the motive behind the violence.

News website Spiegel Online reported that the individual was named Ahmad A., who had arrived in Germany seeking asylum and had contact with the Islamist scene as well as a history of mental health problems and drug use.

The attacker had been scheduled to be deported, but the process had been held up as he lacked identity papers, Scholz said.

A police murder unit and a squad specializing in politically-motivated crime are investigating the attack.

High alert

Germany has been on high alert about the threat of a jihadist attack since Amri’s rampage in Berlin, for which the Islamic State group claimed responsibility.


Jihadists have also carried out a string of random assaults in European countries using knives.

Like the Hamburg attacker, Amri was a failed asylum seeker who could not be deported for lack of documents.

The similarity between the two cases risks reopening barely-healed wounds over Chancellor Angela Merkel’s decision to allow more than million migrants into Germany since 2015, with just two months to go until legislative elections in September.

“These criminals want to poison our free society with fear, but they will not succeed,” mayor Scholz said.

Improvised weapons

The attacker stabbed to death a 50-year-old man, believed to be a German citizen, and “struck out wildly” at others, wounding a woman and four men aged 19 to 64, police said.

Another 35-year-old man was hurt while overpowering the attacker in the street alongside other passers-by shortly after the killing.

“A crowd of about 30 people ran out of the supermarket. They yelled that someone had been stabbed… we saw a man go past with a big knife, like a butcher’s knife, in his hand,” eyewitness Ralf Woyna told Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Woyna had been sitting at a cafe opposite the entrance to the shop where the chase began.

“Two customers who also looked Middle Eastern took all the chairs from the cafe and ran after him. I lost sight of them for a minute and heard a shout of ‘Allahu Akbar’ in the distance, I knew it was an attack straight away,” he added.

An amateur mobile phone video published by news site Spiegel Online showed a handful of pursuers confronting the attacker, a bearded man wearing a T-shirt and jeans, amid dense city traffic.

They can be seen hurling chairs at him to keep him at a safe distance as he yells and brandishes the knife.

According to Spiegel Online, the 35-year-old man injured during the struggle was the one who finally forced the suspect to the ground, using a pole.

The witnesses slightly hurt the attacker while they were overpowering him, before handing him over to police.

Newspaper Bild published images of the man lying handcuffed on the ground and sitting in the back seat of a police car, a bloodied white bag pulled over his head.

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Katie Couric leaving Yahoo news site

NEW YORK— Katie Couric is leaving the online company Oath, formerly Yahoo, where she has been conducting interviews and reporting news since 2014.

The former “Today” show host and “CBS Evening News” anchor will be concentrating on production work for the time being. A representative for Couric said Friday she turned down an opportunity for a short-term contract extension at Oath.

Couric is working on a documentary with National Geographic, where she did a project on gender revolution recently. She’s producing a scripted series for Netflix, hosts a podcast where she interviews figures in news and pop culture, and produces “Scraps,” a cooking and travel series for the FYI network.

The 60-year-old Couric also hosts an online cooking series with her husband John Molner.

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Google removes ‘Instant Search’ to aid mobile interface

Most people nowadays rely on Google search for a quick and easy way to attain answers to whatever query they may have.

With smartphones becoming the most used tool to conduct such searches, Google has decided to remove its Instant Search feature, particularly since the feature doesn’t appear to make much sense in the now-preferred platform.

“We launched Google Instant back in 2010 with the goal to provide users with the information they need as quickly as possible, even as they typed their searches on desktop devices,” Google’s statement to Search Engine Land read.

“Since then, many more of our searches happen on mobile, with very different input and interaction and screen constraints. With this in mind, we have decided to remove Google Instant, so we can focus on ways to make Search even faster and more fluid on all devices,” Google explained.

The search optimization feature, which debuted in 2010, was introduced to collectively cut off millions of seconds per hour by fielding results as fast as possible and cutting down overall search time.

However, the feature was originally intended for desktop users and eventually became a “redundant tool” due to the rise of Google users who prefer mobile searching.

Although the feature remains helpful for PC users, those on mobile screens interact with software through fingers and virtual buttons. Furthermore, loading the results page on top of the virtual keyboard design isn’t exactly a user-friendly experience for most.

Meanwhile, instead of the recommended search results, mobile Google users will now have “auto-complete” suggestions in the drop-down menu. Khristian Ibarrola/JB

source: technology.inquirer.net

MTV taps Katy Perry to host VMAs

NEW YORK—Katy Perry will host this year’s MTV Video Music Awards, the network announced Thursday, as it turned to one of pop music’s most visible stars for its big gala.

Perry was also the first performer announced for the awards, which will be aired globally from Los Angeles on August 27.

MTV broke the news by posting a picture of the newly blonde singer clad as an astronaut — a nod to the awards’ “Moonman” statuette and the network’s early commercials.

In a statement, Perry joked that she had started “training in zero gravity.”

MTV has experimented with different host formats for the annual party, which are generally better remembered for attention-grabbing on-stage incidents than for the award winners.

Miley Cyrus hosted the event two years ago, but in 2016, MTV decided to have multiple presenters throughout the night rather than a single host.

Perry, the only person with more than 100 million followers on Twitter, is up for five VMAs this year for “Chained to the Rhythm,” her disco-inspired track whose video presents a sci-fi amusement park fantasy.

The 32-year-old has three videos that have reached one billion views on YouTube, led by “Roar.”

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Folding tablet featured at a tech event in China

The idea of folding tablets and smartphones is something that manufacturers have been playing with and teasing for some time now. The once quirky idea is now a reality, as one phone manufacturer recently showed off its folding tablet concept at an event in China.

The folding tablet dubbed “Lenovo Folio” was showcased at the recently concluded Lenovo Tech World 2017 in Shanghai, China, according to Business Insider.

The device, which features a 1,920 x 1,440 resolution and 7.8-inch display, folds in half to the size of a 5.5-inch smartphone with back-to-back screens.

Powered by a dated but still capable Snapdragon 800 processor, the slick new gadget also runs on the Android 7.0 Nougat operating system.

Finding older hardware on a supposed cutting edge-device should not be an issue, considering this folding tablet is still just a proof of concept. Since the device is still on the development stage, it will be a while before consumers can get their hands on one.

On the other hand, it was previously reported that Samsung and LG also created their own folding gadgets. Rumors at the time suggested that release dates are somewhere around the third or fourth quarter of 2017.

A video of the folding tablet in action is available below,  posted by a YouTuber who attended the tech event. Alfred Bayle/KI

source: technology.inquirer.net

Can You Claim Land Transfer Tax?

Land transfer tax (LTT) is a charge levied by each Canadian province when you acquire a property. It is based on the amount paid for the land and includes any amount remaining on the mortgage or debt assumed as part of the purchase agreement. This tax is determined using a specific equation and a land transfer tax calculator.

Many people wonder if land transfer tax can be claimed. If you’ve moved for work and your employer has not reimbursed you, you can claim the LTT. Also, there exists a rebate in the provinces of Ontario, British Columbia and Prince Edward Island that allows you to recoup the cost of the land transfer tax entirely.

Land Transfer Tax Rebate

In Ontario, first-time home buyers can qualify for a rebate that is equal to the full amount of the land transfer tax paid, up to a maximum of $4,000. As of January 1st, 2017, this tax rebate is restricted to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of the country. Furthermore, you must apply for the land transfer tax rebate within 18 months of the date of registration of the transfer or the date of the unregistered disposition.

Qualifying for the Ontario Rebate

There are certain criteria you must meet in order to qualify for the Ontario land transfer tax rebate. You must be 18 or older and live in the purchased home within nine months of buying it. Furthermore, you cannot have previously owned a home. If your spouse has already owned a home during the time that they have been your spouse, you will not qualify. The rebate covers the full amount of the LTT up to the maximum home purchase price of $368,250. If your home costs more than that price, you can still qualify for the maximum rebate but have to pay the remainder of the tax.

Qualifying for the Toronto Rebate

The city of Toronto has its own land transfer tax that comes with a separate rebate. The criteria that must be met are similar to that of the Ontario LTT rebate. You must be 18 or older, live in the home within nine months of purchase, and cannot have owned a home before, with the same going for your spouse (during the time that they’ve been your spouse). The maximum amount you can receive as your rebate is $3,725. You are eligible for both the Ontario and the Toronto rebates if you’ve bought property in the city. Additionally, if you are purchasing a home with your spouse, and only one of you is eligible for the rebate, you can still get 50% of the rebate amount. This goes for both the Toronto and Ontario LTT rebate.

Using the Land Transfer Tax Calculator

To determine what your land transfer tax is you will need to use the land transfer tax calculator. You’ll need the purchase price of your home and this land transfer tax calculator.

source:  northwoodmortgage.com

WATCH: Apple’s Siri belts out Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’

Apple has been known to hide easter eggs on its intelligent personal assistant Siri in previous years, but the latest one will take users down classic rock memory lane.

By uttering the words: “I see a little silhouette of a man,” to Siri on either the iPhone or a Mac, the quirky artificial intelligence will follow through with the lyrics of one of rock band Queen’s famous songs, “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

Although Siri may not possess the same singing prowess as Freddie Mercury,  the witty AI more than makes up for it with gusto, willingly belting out thirteen lines of lyrics following the opening line.

Considering Siri is classified as neither a boy or a girl, the virtual assistant even modified the lyrics to fit the situation. “I’m just a poor assistant, nobody loves me. It’s just a poor assistant from a poor family”.

Of course Siri couldn’t have been more wrong, since most Apple fans out there completely adore the virtual assistant.

If you want to hear more of Siri’s singing, just ask, “What does the fox say?” and it will do the rest. KI

source: technology.inquirer.net

Jamaica stuns Mexico to reach CONCACAF Gold Cup final

PASADENA, Calif. — After Kemar Lawrence ripped and exquisite shot over Mexico’s five-man wall and into the top corner for one of the biggest goals in Jamaican soccer history, the defender hushed his teammates and refused to celebrate.

These Reggae Boyz are staying cool, even after a goal that sent them into the CONCACAF Gold Cup final with a chance to make history.

Lawrence scored on a clutch 24-yard free kick in the 88th minute, and Jamaica advanced to the final with a 1-0 upset victory over Mexico on Sunday night.

“I think our guys were hungry,” Jamaica coach Theodore Whitmore said. “They needed it more than the Mexicans, and we did what we had to do.”

Jamaica will face the United States on Wednesday night at Santa Clara, California. With a victory over the home team, the Reggae Boyz would claim their first championship in soccer’s North and Central American and Caribbean region.

“The best way I could put it is the Biblical story,” Whitmore said. “David slew Goliath.”

The Reggae Boyz have reached the final for the second straight Gold Cup, but this stunning upset at the Rose Bowl ranks among their biggest international wins. Mexico has won seven Gold Cup titles, the U.S. five and Canada one.

“That’s a cycle we want to break,” Whitmore said. “That’s something we sit and discuss. It’s always Mexico, U.S. We want to be in that group. We want to be a team, a country that someone can talk about, and that’s what we’re working toward.”

Jamaica goalkeeper Andre Blake kept this game scoreless with a series of impressive saves while Mexico dominated possession with a lineup missing most of El Tri’s most-accomplished players.

But after Lawrence repositioned the ball in a bit of shifty gamesmanship, his late strike froze Mexico goalkeeper Jesus Corona. The ball curled over the wall and slipped just below the bar for the New York Red Bulls defender’s third international goal and first in three years.

The 24-year-old Lawrence doesn’t take free kicks for his MLS club, but Whitmore knew his quality from recent practices.

“The New York Red Bulls probably have a better kicker than Kemar Lawrence,” Whitmore said with a smile. “Now, Jamaica’s team needs Kemar Lawrence in dead-ball situations. It’s a totally different thing. Probably when the New York Red Bulls see this tonight, they might (want him) to take free kicks.”

Trying to win its second consecutive Gold Cup and fourth in five tournaments, Mexico used the deeper reaches of its player pool following the World Cup qualifiers and the Confederations Cup last month. While teams were allowed to make up to six substitutions for the knockout rounds, El Tri coach Juan Carlos Osorio said he was blocked by Mexico’s clubs.

Mexico hadn’t trailed in the tournament before Lawrence’s late goal, but El Tri also hadn’t been impressive — no player scored more than one goal.

“This is a process, and it takes a lot of work to get a team that can compete in a World Cup,” assistant coach Luis Pompilio Paez said. “This is not a sufficient result, but this is the middle of the process. I saw a team that gave everything. We always respect what the other team does. We just needed to get a goal, and we didn’t have the right circumstances. Embarrassment, sadness — as a team, we feel it.”

Blake also starred 11 days ago when Mexico and Jamaica played to a 0-0 draw in Denver. With the Philadelphia Union keeper playing exceptionally well, Jamaica has allowed only two goals in the tournament.

The semifinal crowd was dominated by Mexico’s vast Southern California fan base, yet the Rose Bowl was less than half-full with just 42,393 fans. The absence of Chicharito Hernandez and other top Mexican stars, combined with El Tri’s unattractive performances in the Gold Cup to date, apparently kept many of their usual faithful at home.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino watched the semifinal from the Rose Bowl stands. So did Osorio, who served the fifth game of a six-match FIFA ban for his conduct toward officials during the Confederations Cup.

Mexico beat Jamaica in the 2015 Gold Cup final, and El Tri also defeated the Reggae Boyz 2-0 at the Rose Bowl just 13 months ago during the Copa America. Jamaica finally got one back, beating Mexico for the first time in the teams’ eight Gold Cup meetings.

Blake made two brilliant saves in succession in the 12th minute, diving twice to stop close-range chances by Jesus Duenas and Erick Torres, the Houston Dynamo star and the only player on the current roster from outside Mexico’s domestic leagues.

Blake did it again in the 25th minute, stopping Torres’ point-blank header from the top of the 6-yard box with improbably quick reactions.

source: sports.inquirer.net

What Happens After Your Mortgage Is Paid Off?

Fixed rate mortgages, variable rates, mortgage terms, payments schedules—these will all be things of the past when your mortgage is paid off. However, you can’t just make your final mortgage payment and forget about it entirely. There are steps to take when finishing paying off your mortgage. So, what happens after your mortgage is finally paid off?

 When Last Payment Is Done

After you’ve made the last payment on your mortgage, you’re still not home free. No matter the type (fixed rate mortgage, variable mortgage, etc.) making the last payment doesn’t clear your debt until the appropriate paperwork is filled out. You’ll also need to pay a discharge fee to the lender to fully rid yourself of the mortgage. The discharge fee removes the legal registration of the burden from the land titles from the lender. Depending on the lender the discharge fee can vary but it’s usually in the $350 range.

There is no law saying you have to pay the discharge fee immediately after making your last mortgage payment but you should do it within months. Without paying the discharge fee you will not be able to sell your home, transfer its title or obtain another mortgage.

Once the Mortgage Has Been Discharged

The lender will send a document to the registry office letting them know that your title is now clean and there is no longer a lien on your property. This means that if you sell your home, all the equity is fully yours. Then, you’ll need to look over your mortgage statement. Fixed rate mortgages, variable mortgages, all mortgages in fact, come with a statement. This is a document that is sent out twice yearly to show the balance, insurance rate, monthly payments and balance of tax account (if the taxes are paid with the loan) of the mortgage. When you receive this statement after making your final mortgage payment make sure it shows zero balance.

You’ll also need to verify that your credit report no longer contains your mortgage. Keep in mind that this could take a few months. Furthermore, if you had mortgage insurance with your loan, this will expire the moment the mortgage is paid off, so you don’t need to worry about it any longer.

The Final Steps

When you’ve paid off your mortgage in full, you are still required to pay property taxes. If your taxes were rolled into your mortgage, you’ll have to call your city and arrange to make the payments on your own. Now, it’s up to you whether you wish to borrow against the home again. You don’t have to take out fixed rate mortgages or traditional mortgages, you can take out a line of credit instead.

source: northwoodmortgage.com

Blink-182 calls off shows after Chester Bennington suicide

Rockers Blink-182 on Saturday called off stadium shows they had planned with Linkin Park whose singer Chester Bennington hanged himself.

The bands, two of the top-selling rock acts at the turn of the century, had been set to team up for “Blinkin Park” concerts at New York’s Citi Field baseball stadium Friday and two days later at Hershey Park in Pennsylvania.

A day after Linkin Park scrapped its tour in light of its frontman’s suicide, Blink-182 said it would not go ahead on its own and that the shows were canceled.

“Blink-182 is wrecked by the loss of our friend and amazing musician Chester Bennington,” it said in a statement.

“We could never imagine playing Blinkin Park without his incredible talent and voice. It just would not be possible,” it said.

The concerts had also been due to include leading hip-hop ensemble the Wu-Tang Clan and Machine Gun Kelly, a rapper from a younger generation.

Machine Gun Kelly on Facebook mourned Bennington but said he would return to the stage with a concert Sunday in Las Vegas.

“It’s time to start celebrating LIFE, and we will celebrate his as well,” he wrote.

Bennington, 41, had long struggled with drug and alcohol problems and was traumatized by being molested as a child.

His body was found hanging by a belt at his Los Angeles home on Thursday, which would have been the birthday of his friend Chris Cornell, the Soundgarden singer who similarly killed himself in May.

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Gasol agrees to three-year deal with Spurs—report

NEW YORK—Spanish 37-year-old free agent center Pau Gasol, a six-time NBA All-Star, has agreed to a three-year deal with the San Antonio Spurs, ESPN reported Friday.

The contract, according to unnamed sources in the ESPN website report, will include a partial guarantee in the final season for the Barcelona-born star, who is set to start his 17th NBA campaign later this year.

Gasol, who won NBA titles in 2009 and 2010 with the Los Angeles Lakers, spent seven seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies before being traded to the Lakers in 2008. He signed as a free agent with Chicago in 2014 and San Antonio last July.

In 64 games for the Spurs last season, Gasol averaged 12.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 blocked shots as San Antonio went 61-21, the NBA’s second-best record behind eventual playoff champion Golden State.

Gasol has career NBA averages of 17.9 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.7 blocked shots over 1,119 games.

By declining his $16.2 million contract option for next season, Gasol allowed the Spurs salary cap room to sign fellow free agents Rudy Gay, Brandon Paul and Joffrey Lauvergne and are in talks to bring back Argentine star reserve guard Manu Ginobili for a 16th season in San Antonio.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Chester Bennington’s death falls on same day as pal Chris Cornell’s birthday

Deceased Soundgarden and Audioslave vocalist Chris Cornell certainly meant a lot to Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington.

This undeniable bond may or may not have been a factor in 41-year-old Bennington’s decision to take his own life on the same day Cornell would have turned 53.

The rock icon was found lifeless inside his home in Palos Verdes Estates in Los Angeles, California, on Thursday (Friday in Manila).

Authorities believe Bennington took his own life by hanging himself—the same manner by which Cornell died last May.

The two enigmatic musicians created a lasting friendship after touring together in 2008.

News of Cornell’s suicide struck Bennington pretty hard, according to Linkin Park member Mike Shinoda.

In an earlier interview with Radio.com, Shindoda shared how Bennington performed in a televised show with a heavy heart during the time of Cornell’s passing.

“He was getting halfway through and getting choked up,” Shinoda said. “And even when we did play the whole song and it was taped for TV he kind of just stopped towards the end.”

In honor of Cornell, Linkin Park dedicated a live performance of “One More Light” during an appearance in “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” while Bennington performed a rendition of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” at his private funeral.

He also bared his soul in a touching open letter to his fallen comrade.

“Thoughts of you flooded my mind and I wept,” Bennington wrote. “I’m still weeping, with sadness, as well as gratitude for having shared some very special moments with you and your beautiful family. You have inspired me in many ways you could never have known. Your talent was pure and unrivaled. Your voice was joy and pain, anger and forgiveness, love and heartache all wrapped up into one.”

Two months removed from Cornell’s death, no one anticipated Bennington would die in a similar manner.

In the wake of the tragic incident, Chris’ widow, Vicky Cornell, tweeted: “Just when I thought my heart couldn’t break any more…..I love you.”

Meanwhile, Bennington was open about his countless struggles with drugs and alcohol addiction in the past.

His never-ending battle with his personal demons is mirrored in each of the band’s songs, particularly the sexual abuse he experienced during his youth. /ra

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

US stocks end at records, lead global equities higher

NEW YORK, United States — All three major US equity indices rose to fresh records Wednesday on solid earnings and higher oil prices, concluding a sunny session for global equities.

The Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq all ended at new peaks as investors shrugged off worries about Washington, where President Donald Trump’s agenda has languished amid opposition to his health care reform proposal.

Bourses in Europe were higher ahead of Thursday’s European Central Bank meeting. Tokyo, Hong Kong and Shanghai also all rose.

Earnings growth among companies in the S&P 500 has thus far been “much better” than expected, said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at Wunderlich Securities.

“That is helping the stock market and is the focus this week,” Hogan said.

Other elements that helped boost stocks included better-than-expected housing data and a bullish US oil inventory report that supported oil prices and boosted shares of petroleum-linked companies.

Maris Ogg, president of Tower Bridge Advisors, said sentiment has also been boosted by the improved outlook in Europe following the election of French president Emmanuel Macron as well as the recognition that Trump is a business-friendly president, even if his agenda looks uncertain.

“The market is recognizing we are in a pretty good environment and we are at the beginning of a cycle that could on for quite a while,” Ogg said.

Among US companies reporting results, Morgan Stanley surged 3.3 percent, but IBM and United Continental fell 4.2 percent and 5.3 percent after investors found fault with results.

Euro pulls back

The euro surged Tuesday to a near 15-month pinnacle at $1.1583, but pulled back to $1.1513 on the eve of the ECB.

ECB chief Mario Draghi has expressed greater confidence in the economy in recent weeks and analysts are looking for him on Thursday to continue to prepare the ground for an eventual shift away from easy-money policy later this year through a tapering of the bond purchases.

Still, Kathy Lien, managing director of BK Asset Management, said ECB officials have been unnerved by the rise of the euro of late and warned the central bank will want to avoid giving the currency a further boost.

“It is in their best interest to halt the one-way move, ease the euro off its highs by repeating that inflation is not on a self-sustainable path, and then gradually set expectations for taper from a lower base,” she said.

“That way… they could take the steam out of the rally.” CBB

source: business.inquirer.net

Extra! Extra! Red Sox once again playing a lot of innings

BOSTON — No rest lately for Dustin Pedroia and these Boston Red Sox.

The Red Sox kept up their recent rash of playing extra extra innings when they went into the 15th early Wednesday against the Toronto Blue Jays.

It was past 1 a.m. at Fenway Park with the AL East leaders and Toronto tied at 4. The start was delayed for more than an hour by rain, and Pedroia and Chris Young homered for Boston.

Both teams scored a run in the 11th to keep it going. In the middle of the 14th, there was a second seventh-inning stretch, with “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” again playing at the ballpark.

The Red Sox lost in 16 innings to the New York Yankees on Saturday. Boston and the Yankees then split a day-night doubleheader Sunday.

Boston lost to Toronto 4-3 on Monday night — albeit in just nine innings.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Uber, Grab patrons already having difficult time booking rides

Had a hard time booking a Grab or Uber this rainy Wednesday morning?

Well, that may just be a prelude to what could actually happen on July 26 when thousands of unregistered app-based drivers are expected to be forced out of metro streets.

Transport network companies (TNCs) Grab and Uber are the usual go-to mode of transport of workers whenever it rains. But on Wednesday, netizens lamented that they could not get a ride through the apps.

Netizen @memyselfJAM said that she has been trying for “15 minutes” to book a ride to no avail.

The Inquirer also observed in Makati City that office workers who could not book a ride in the apps instead waited out in the rain to hail taxis.

Grab said that their drivers are not out on a strike today. But noted that the fewer number of drivers servicing commuters may be caused by their fear of being apprehended by authorities for operating without a valid franchise.


Historically, Grab said that drivers would usually go out when it rains to address the demand for ride-hailing services. It noted though that despite the surge pricing mechanism, drivers still have the last say on whether they want to go out or not.

Last week, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) ordered Grab and Uber to seize the operations of their drivers who they included in their platforms even if these drivers do not have valid franchises.

Of the 56,000 drivers in both of their platforms, only 3,700 have valid franchises.

Because of their violation of the terms and conditions of their accreditation, the TNCs were made to pay a fine of P5 million. Uber has settled their fine Tuesday afternoon, while Grab is set to pay theirs Wednesday.

A technical working group meeting to iron out the issues of the TNC industry will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the LTFRB. IDL

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Want to escape traffic? Take a flying taxi

While Uber has changed ground transport in many cities, Sao Paulo’s infernal traffic jams have sparked a new app that opens the sky to commuters: Voom, a helicopter taxi service that charges according to distance and the passenger’s weight.

It’s a godsend for those in a rush — but only if the weather permits.

Gustavo Boyde, a Brazilian living in the United States who goes to Sao Paulo for business, is one of those who says the hops above the city are the only way to get around.

“I’ve opted for helicopters,” he said, pointing to the metropolis sprawling beyond the horizon as he choppered from a chic central district to the airport.

Sao Paulo — South America’s biggest city, home to 12 million residents within its municipal limits and millions more in satellite towns — is regularly choked by gargantuan traffic jams.

There are 5.9 million vehicles, or one for every two people. At peak hour, traffic can be backed up as much as 576 kilometers (358 miles).

Not so pricey

A new venture launched in April by Europe’s Airbus, Voom has taken a page out of Uber’s marketing manual to put clients above it all — at a competitive price.

The app asks passengers to enter their weight and that of any baggage, then immediately sends the calculated fare.

Boyde’s run, from the southeastern neighborhood of Itaim Bibi to the airport some 30 kilometers (20 miles) away, takes nine minutes and costs $150.

Compare that with the market rates before Voom became available. Individual helicopter companies wanted 10 times more — and trips needed to be booked at least two days in advance.

“Our goal is to make helicopter transport accessible to more people, so that the helicopter is seen as an alternative,” said Voom’s executive director, Uma Subramanian.

In Boyde’s case, taking a helicopter through the app was a no-brainer. Using a traditional taxi on the clogged roads would have cost him $50 and an hour and a half of frustrating stop-and-go.

“I chose Voom because it fits within my travel budget, it’s economical and it’s practical,” Boyde said.

“Those are two hours I can now use for work, which is handy given the tight schedule I have,” he said.

According to Subramanian, saturated roads in Latin America mean that “people lose up to 10 hours a week” stuck in traffic.

Biggest fleet

Sao Paulo topped a list of 500 cities Voom considered for its debut, for a variety of reasons.

The city, which sits in a state of the same name whose population exceeds 45 million, has the biggest fleet of helicopters in the world.

ANAC, the National Association for Civil Aviation, says 700 choppers, or nearly a third of Brazil’s total number, are located there, alongside 528 helipads.

Brazil’s deep recession also means that many in Sao Paulo’s aviation sector have embraced Voom.

“In the current situation of a contracting market, the arrival of this service is a positive,” said Arthur Fioratti, head of the ABRAPHE association of Brazilian helicopter pilots that covers some 2,000 professional flyers.

Back during Brazil’s boom time, between 2010 and 2013, the sector flourished. ABRAPHE said there were 2,000 helicopter flights a day in Sao Paulo state.

Today, there are 1,300.

Voom has deals with three helicopter companies which operate five helicopters in Sao Paulo’s metropolitan zone.

Business travelers are the company’s target clientele — an elite used to taking a lift to the top of a glass-and-steel tower to be picked up on the rooftop helipad.

But it hopes to eventually broaden the appeal of flitting across the sky by bringing fares down to below what a taxi would charge.

Eye on the weather

Currently, between six and 10 people use Voom’s service daily.

“When my friends saw me using a helicopter to get to the airport they asked if I’d become a millionaire. When I told them how much it cost, they were surprised,” said Lucas Amadeu, head of marketing for Voom.

“I think that once people know what it costs, the service will grow a lot,” he added.

But while market forces are one thing, Mother Nature is another, and the sometimes violent storms and tropical rain that lash Sao Paulo can ground Voom’s fleet.

At those times, users are forced to resort to ordinary taxis — and to confront road traffic made even more choked by the weather.

Within Brazil, the poor quality of public transport in Sao Paulo is well known. In 2013, the biggest protests the country has ever known erupted when authorities tried to raise fares for the creaking, overburdened network of buses and metros.

One risk for Voom is that it might become too popular. An abrupt rise in the number of helicopters flying above the city could prompt the same sort of response as in New York, where officials are considering ways to limit flights.

For now, though, the company has its view fixed on other horizons.

Its next city pegged for expansion is Mexico City, another badly choked megapolis.

For Boyde, who goes to Mexico City almost as often as he does to Sao Paulo, that is good news.

“If they do the same thing over there, I’ll be their customer,” he said.

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

8 Things To Know About Mortgage Insurance

If you’re in the process of applying for a mortgage or starting to shop around for one, you’re probably thinking about how you can get a low mortgage rate. However, there’s more to getting a mortgage than the rate. There’s also mortgage insurance, which is an important part of getting a home loan if you’re having trouble coming up with a decent down payment. Many Canadians are not aware of what mortgage insurance is. Below you’ll find eight important things to know about mortgage insurance.






    1. This type of insurance protects the lender against default and not the homeowner. Mortgage insurance is designed to ensure the lender is able to recoup costs should you default on your loan.

    2. Mortgage insurance is mandatory for borrowers who can only come up with a down payment for their home of less than 20% of the total. Furthermore, down payments cannot be less than 5%.

    3. The cost of mortgage insurance depends on the type of loan you’ve applied for and the amount of your down payment.

    4. Mortgage insurance is not the same as homeowner insurance. Homeowner insurance is put in place to protect your home and possessions against damages such as fire, theft, etc. Also, mortgage life insurance is different than mortgage insurance. Mortgage life insurance in designed to repay any outstanding mortgage payments should the homeowner find themselves on long-term disability or in the event of death.

    5. Insurance has nothing to do with getting you a low mortgage rate. To get a low mortgage rate you need good credit and a good mortgage broker because he or she will shop around for you to find a low rate. However, having mortgage insurance doesn’t hurt your chances of getting a low mortgage rate.

    6. There are only three places you can get mortgage insurance in Canada: CMHC, Genworth Financial and Canada Guarantee. Any other place offering mortgage insurance is a scam.

    7. Mortgage insurance costs the homebuyer 2.80%-4.00% of the total mortgage amount, but it does allow you to purchase a home with a lower down payment.

    8. You don’t have to pay the premium on mortgage insurance up front. The cost gets lumped in with your mortgage payments.

The best way to learn about mortgage insurance is to talk to your mortgage broker. While you’re at it, you can inquire about getting a low mortgage rate.

source:  northwoodmortgage.com

Chris Hemsworth pegs Charlize Theron as the new agent 007

Fans of the popular TV series “Doctor Who” have been abuzz with the announcement of a female actress to take over the iconic role. So what would happen if James Bond became Jane Bond?

Apparently, “Thor” actor Chris Hemsworth believes that “Snow White and the Huntsman” co-star Charlize Theron fits the bill as the next agent 007, according to an interview with W Magazine.

As to why Theron should be the next Bond, Hemsworth said, “Because she scares the hell out of me.” He adds, “And I think she could beat the sh** out of me and most villains out there.”

“She embodies every ounce of strength and nobility and dignity and integrity that that character should have. She’s smart as hell. She’s physically able,” continued Hemsworth.

The “Thor” star was impressed with Theron during their work together in “Snow White and the Huntsman.” Hemsworth noted her ability to perform the fight scenes while wearing heels and an 8-foot long gown.

And if James Bond had “Bond girls,” Jane Bond should also have a “Bond boy,” to which Hemsworth cheerily volunteered himself: “I could be the Bond man, cool.”

So what does Charlize Theron think of all this?

“Thanks, dude!” was her reply when asked in an interview with ET during the premiere of her movie “Atomic Blonde” in Berlin, Germany.

While flattered, Theron mentions that it was all “a little overwhelming.” That and the thought of taking the role from present James Bond actor Daniel Craig would be, in her very words, “cray cray.” Alfred Bayle/JB

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Canada fires drive thousands more out of their homes

MONTREAL, Canada — Thousands of people fled their homes in western Canada over the weekend as strong winds fanned forest fires that have ravaged British Columbia province for more than a week.

The inferno’s progress prompted authorities to take new emergency measures, ordering the evacuation of 24,000 people in the region including the town of Williams Lake which is home to some 11,000 people, reported public broadcaster CBC.

Some 60 percent of affected residents have already left their homes.

Authorities estimate that around 17,000 people had already evacuated before the latest orders as wild fires sparked by hot dry weather prompted a state of emergency to be declared on July 7.

Navi Saini, a spokeswoman for the province, said there were currently 161 wildfires active as of Sunday.

Further to the south, fire crews equipped with planes and helicopters in the US state of California were making steady progress against 11 active blazes fueled by searing temperatures and high winds.

“Great news! All evacuation warnings for the #AlamoFire have been lifted. There is fire equipment still in the area working – use caution,” the official account for Cal Fire tweeted.

The Whittier fire, which began on July 8 and stretched across 18,015 acres and has burned down almost 2,000 structures was 36 percent contained, according to the agency. CBB

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Hamilton wins British GP, cuts Vettel’s F1 lead to 1 point

SILVERSTONE, England — Lewis Hamilton slashed Sebastian Vettel’s Formula One championship lead to one point by winning a record-equaling fifth British Grand Prix on Sunday as his title rival was left reeling by a late puncture.

Vettel was in third heading into the penultimate lap at Silverstone only to see his front left tire shred – immediately after Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen’s car experienced the same fate.

Raikkonen still made the podium by replacing Vettel in third, but the championship leader fell back to seventh as the 25-point lead he held over Hamilton going into the 10th round of the 20-race season was all but wiped out on an overcast afternoon in central England.

It capped a dominant weekend for Hamilton in front of his home fans and the three-time world champion was assisted by Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas making up seven places to join him on the podium after finishing second.

“Great drive by Valtteri,” Hamilton said over the team radio after claiming victory. “Fantastic job, all weekend.”

For Hamilton, the victory after failing to make the podium in his last two races will vindicate the decision to embark on a two-day holiday to Greece after last weekend’s Austrian GP. The jaunt annoyed racing fans in London who turned up to a flagship showcase of the sport that was attended by the other 19 drivers.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Yankees top Red Sox 4-1 in 16th; Boston plays under protest

BOSTON — Didi Gregorius lined a go-ahead single in the 16th inning and the New York Yankees outlasted the Boston Red Sox 4-1 Saturday in the longest game between the bitter rivals at Fenway Park since 1966.


Matt Holliday hit a tying home run off Boston closer Craig Kimbrel in the ninth that cleared the Green Monster, and it took 5 hours, 50 minutes and 512 pitches to finish. That is, if it’s really over — the Red Sox put the game under protest after a bizarre play on the bases involving Holliday in the 11th.

Both teams burned through their bullpens, and the relievers won’t get much rest. The Yankees and the AL East-leading Red Sox are set for a day-night doubleheader Sunday.

Boston starter Chris Sale struck out 13 in 7 2/3 scoreless innings of three-hit ball. He leads the majors with 191 strikeouts.

Yankees starter Luis Severino allowed one run and four hits in seven innings. He gave up Mitch Moreland’s sacrifice fly in the third.

Ben Heller (1-0) went two innings. Seven Yankees relievers combined to blank Boston on four hits for nine innings.

Doug Fister (0-3) gave up three runs in the 16th. Jacoby Ellsbury led off with a double, Gregorius and Austin Romine hit RBI singles and Gary Sanchez added a sacrifice fly.

A day after Yankees blew a ninth-inning lead and lost, they rallied to win for just the eighth time in 28 games. New York closed within 3 1/2 games of Boston.

The Red Sox had been 43-0 when leading after eight. Kimbrel, the winning pitcher in the All-Star Game on Tuesday night, had his first career blown save at Fenway following 30 successful ones.

Red Sox manager John Farrell put the game under protest after an odd sequence in the 11th.

Holliday led off with a walk and Ellsbury followed with a grounder to Moreland at first base. Moreland threw to second for a forceout but Holliday retreated toward first and slid into the bag as shortstop Xander Bogaerts’ throw arrived.

Moreland wasn’t able to reach the ball, which hit Ellsbury and bounced into foul territory. Farrell argued in favor of an interference call and after a lengthy review, the umpires allowed Ellsbury to stay on first.

The clubs last played 16 at Fenway on June 4, 1966, when Jim Gosger’s three-run homer gave Boston a 6-3 victory.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Yankees: Manager Joe Girardi said the club was “hopeful” that OF Aaron Hicks, on the 10-day disabled list with a strained right oblique, would “start doing some light baseball activity” when the club returns from its season-long, 11-game trip.

Red Sox: Placed RHP Joe Kelly on the 10-day DL before the game with a strained left hamstring and recalled RHP Brandon Workman from Triple-A. . RHP Blaine Boyer left with right elbow tightness. . Bogaerts put on a soft brace to support his left ring and pinkie finger under his batting glove halfway through batting practice.

HONORED

The Red Sox welcomed about 1,300 Vietnam veterans and their families onto the field during a pregame ceremony.

UP NEXT

Yankees: RHP Bryan Mitchell (1-1, 5.06 ERA) is set for the opener and RHP Masahiro Tanaka (7-8, 5.47) in the nightcap Sunday.

Red Sox: RHP Rick Porcello (4-11, 4.75) and LHP David Price (4-2, 3.91) are slated to start.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Mayweather, McGregor take trash-talk tour to New York

NEW YORK—Floyd Mayweather was on the attack on Thursday, branding Conor McGregor a quitter as the four-stop tour hyping their cross-combat superfight hit New York.

“Eejit” and “Circus Clown” were the tamest epithets the former welterweight king, who retired from boxing with a perfect 49-0 record in 2015, threw at McGregor, one of the biggest stars of mixed martial arts.

“Gave up not once, not twice but three times!” said Mayweather. “Real fighters never give up.

McGregor, a two-division champion in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, has conceded three defeats in 24 bouts, all by submission.

The two men are set to face each other in a boxing ring in Las Vegas on August 26 in what could be the richest fight in history.

Thursday’s show at the Barclays Center, home of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets, drew a pro-McGregor crowd of more than 13,000.

It was the third such production in three days, with one more scheduled for London on Friday aimed at pumping up interest in the bout — although both men seemed to be running short of inventive invective.

McGregor eschewed his sharp-tailored suits for a bare chest and white fur overcoat — which he swept from his shoulders as he took the stage to offer a flexed-arm pose that inflamed the crowd.

The Irishman then paced impatiently as Mayweather, draped in an Irish flag, made his way to the stage and they took their positions for the ritual staredown from opposite sides of the podium.

A giant step forward from each had them nose to nose and brought more cheers from the crowd before McGregor launched into a lewd, crude address.

“No one’s going to stop me walking around this place like I own it,” he said.

Mayweather, meanwhile, was all indifference until it was his turn to speak. After a little back-and-forth with the crowd, he showered McGregor with handfuls of dollar bills from his backpack — a day after McGregor mocked the paltry stash of cash “Money” had brought to their promotional stop in Toronto on Wednesday.

“They’re all ones!” McGregor said. “Because that’s all you’re worth,” Mayweather replied.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Federer shines bright in twilight zone

LONDON, United Kingdom — Roger Federer insists he is only slightly surprised to find himself tantalizingly within touching distance of a record eighth Wimbledon title despite his 36th birthday fast approaching.

The Swiss star reached the Wimbledon semi-finals for the 12th time on Wednesday with a 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (7/4) win over Milos Raonic.

It was his 100th match at the All England Club and the 50th Grand Slam quarter-final of his career.

At 35, Federer is the second oldest man to reach the semi-finals after Ken Rosewall who finished runner-up in 1974 at the age of 39.

With ‘Big Four’ rivals Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic suffering injury-hit exits on Wednesday and Rafael Nadal having lost in the fourth round, Federer is favourite to reclaim the Wimbledon title on Sunday and break the tie for seven he has shared with Pete Sampras since 2012.

It would also take him to 19 career majors and make him the oldest champion at Wimbledon in the Open era.

“The plan was always to hopefully be strong later on in my career,” said Federer who will face Tomas Berdych in Friday’s semi-finals.

“I don’t see myself playing better than a few years ago. I always hope to improve every year.

“I’m just very happy that I’m still doing so well. Am I surprised? Maybe a little bit.”

The contrast between Federer and Murray and Djokovic on Wednesday was impossible to ignore.

Defending champion and world number one Murray lost in five sets to Sam Querrey of the United States, hobbled by a long-standing right hip injury.

Djokovic, the three-time winner, quit after two games of the second set of his quarter-final against Berdych with a right elbow injury.

Like Murray’s hip, the elbow problem plaguing Djokovic has been a constant menace for many seasons.

It has got so bad that Djokovic admitted he is contemplating either surgery or even an extended break from the sport.

Federer has already trimmed back his schedule, skipping the 2016 and 2017 French Opens which were won by Djokovic and Nadal.

After losing to Raonic in the Wimbledon semi-finals last year, Federer shut down his season to rest a knee injury which had already required surgery earlier in 2016.

He came back in January this year, won the Australian Open for his 18th Slam, added the Indian Wells-Miami Masters double before hibernating again through the claycourt season.

“Once you hit 30, you’ve got to look back and think of how much tennis have I played, how much rest did I give my body over the years, how much training have I done, did I do enough, did I overdo it or not enough,” he explained.

“It’s always calibrating the whole thing. For me it worked out. Sometimes the body and the mind do need a rest.” CBB

source: sports.inquirer.net

Bayern sign Rodriguez on loan deal from Real

Colombia’s hot-shot James Rodriguez has joined Bayern Munich on a two-year loan from Real Madrid, the Bundesliga club announced on Tuesday.

The two clubs have agreed on a two-year deal until June 30, 2019, with the option for Bayern to buy the 25-year-old midfielder who was the top scorer at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

“We’re delighted we’ve been able to complete this transfer,” said Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

“Signing James Rodriguez was our coach Carlo Ancelotti’s biggest wish, following their successful spell working together in Madrid.

“James is a very versatile player.

“He’s a goalscorer himself, he sets up a lot of goals and on top of that he’s great from set-pieces.

“There’s no question that this transfer further increases the quality in our team.”

The attacking midfielder has been recruited by the Bavarian giants with a few of their star-studded squad threatening to leave.

Brazil forward Douglas Costa is negotiating a transfer with Juventus while winger Serge Gnabry, 21, who has only just signed from Werder Bremen, wants to be loaned out to gain experience.

James joined Real in July 2014 for 75m euros from Monaco on the back of his outstanding performances at the Brazil World Cup, where he scored six goals in the finals as Colombia reached the quarter-finals.

His best season at Real was in 2014/15, under current Bayern boss Ancelotti, when he scored 17 goals, with 18 assists, in 46 matches.

But Rodriguez struggled to break into Real’s star-studded first team under Ancelotti’s replacement Zinedine Zidane.

He made just 13 starting appearances last season in the Spanish league with a further nine off the bench.

Matters came to a head in April when James expressed his frustration after being replaced in a 4-2 win at Leganes.

“I am satisfied with James and find it perfectly normal for him to get upset in such a situation,” said Zidane at the time.

The writing was on the wall for the Colombian at the Bernabeu from then on and he expressed his desire to move long before Bayern came calling.

He played against his future employers for just seven minutes when Real beat Bayern in the quarter-finals of the Champions League and was left out of the squad which beat Juventus 4-1 in the final.

James will get straight down to business at Bayern.

He flies with Ancelotti’s squad on their tour of China and Singapore, which leaves on Sunday, and will include stars Thomas Mueller, Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben.

James will be joined by fellow new signing Corentin Tolisso, 22, who has just joined Bayern from French side Lyon for 41.5 million euros ($47.3m).

Alongside Tolisso, Gnabry and James, the German champions are set to add two new names to their squad for next season with Germany internationals Niklas Suele and Sebastian Rudy signed from Hoffenheim.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Robert Whittaker edges Romero, grabs interim belt at UFC 213

LAS VEGAS — Robert Whittaker won the UFC interim middleweight title Saturday night, surging in the late rounds to earn a unanimous decision over Yoel Romero at UFC 213.

Whittaker (20-4) recovered from a hyperextended knee in the first round with a strong striking performance, peppering Romero (12-2) with punches and kicks over the final three rounds. The Australian won his eighth consecutive fight, earning the victory 48-47 on all three judges’ scorecards at T-Mobile Arena.

“It’s a moment I’ve always dreamed of,” Whittaker said. “My knee was definitely hurt. I injured it in camp, and Romero’s kick set it back weeks. I know that Romero will capitalize on any weakness he sees, so I had to play it off. That’s just what champions are made of.”

The main event of the UFC’s traditional July showcase in its hometown was canceled earlier in the day when bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes was hospitalized. She was scratched from her second title defense against Valentina Shevchenko, who criticized the champion’s preparation for the bout.

Alistair Overeem also beat Fabricio Werdum by narrow majority decision in the third career meeting of two veteran heavyweights, and former lightweight champion Anthony Pettis also returned to the division with a unanimous decision victory over Jim Miller.

Whittaker took advantage of his bout’s promotion to the main event by claiming the belt in front of a pay-per-view audience. He earned the chance to fight for the full 185-pound title held for the past year by Michael Bisping, who is injured.

Bisping stepped into the cage afterward and congratulated Whittaker in his own irascible style.

“The fact that you’re standing there with a belt on makes me sick,” the Englishman said, throwing his own belt on the canvas. “Take that belt. Fight for it.”

Romero’s Olympic-level wrestling skills kept Whittaker on the defensive for much of the first two rounds. Whittaker increased his striking output while Romero sat back in the third and fourth, with Whittaker also defending Romero’s takedowns more adroitly.

Romero was cut on his left eyebrow while Whittaker had a bloody nose and mouth in the final round, which looked even until Romero slipped onto his back with 90 seconds left after failing to land a strike. Whittaker jumped on top to rain down blows to the final horn.

All three judges saw the fight identically, scoring the first two rounds for Romero and the final three for Whittaker.


The 40-year-old Romero was gracious after his eight-fight winning streak ended, praising his opponent.

Whittaker will get the chance to remove the interim designation from his belt when Bisping returns from injury, although it might not happen this year. The middleweight division has been in limbo ever since Bisping shockingly beat champion Luke Rockhold last summer and then fought old rival Dan Henderson instead of Romero, Whittaker or another top contender.

For the third straight year, the UFC had to change the main event of its July show in Vegas at short notice. Last year, Jon Jones was sidelined by a violation of the promotion’s anti-doping policy three days before UFC 200.

Shevchenko still showed up at T-Mobile Arena after being denied her long-awaited title shot when Nunes fell ill in the hours before their rematch.

Shevchenko was furious with Nunes, claiming the champion’s drastic weight cut was responsible for her illness. She also echoed UFC President Dana White’s statement that Nunes was medically cleared to fight, but declined to go from the hospital to the cage.

“You can’t just say, ’I don’t want to fight,’” Shevchenko said. “I couldn’t believe at the very last moment that this would happen to me. Of course I am upset. … I understand what she wanted. She wanted to cut (weight) in a very short time. You cannot do this. Our bodies need more time to recover.”

Shevchenko was greeted with loud cheers when she was shown on the arena’s video boards before the main event.

Overeem (43-15) and Werdum (21-7-1) finished a trilogy of fights between two of the most accomplished mixed martial artists of their generation. Werdum won their first meeting in the Pride promotion in 2006, and Overeem won their Strikeforce heavyweight rematch in 2011.

Overeem was slightly better during the first two rounds, and he survived the third after Werdum floored him with a knee to the head.

Pettis (20-6) returned to form in his return to 155 pounds, dominating the veteran Miller with flair and force. Pettis lost his title belt in March 2015 to start a 1-4 skid that included a two-fight stint at featherweight, but he looked sharp while carving up Miller (28-10), who bled copiously.

Before the pay-per-view portion of the card, heavyweight Travis Browne took his fourth consecutive loss in a second-round submission to 40-year-old Russian grappler Aleksei Oleinik.

Browne (18-7-1), Ronda Rousey’s fiancé, lost for the sixth time in his last eight fights despite dropping Oleinik with punches in the first round.

source: sports.inquirer.net

WATCH: Kesha drops comeback single ‘Praying’

Kesha liberates herself from her “party girl” image with the release of her new single “Praying” on Thursday.

Co-written by Ben Abraham, Andrew Joslyn and Ryan Lewis, “Praying” details the pop star’s journey in recouping her strength after a torrent of catastrophes. Breaking free from her raunchy image years ago, Kesha’s vocal prowess encapsulated her struggle in battling life’s obstacles.

Her single is part of the colorful track list for “Rainbow,” which will be released on August 11. Citing Entertainment Weekly, Kesha collaborated with singers Dolly Parton, Eagles of Death Metal, and The Dap-Kings Horns.

In an essay published on Lena Dunham’s Lenny Letter, Kesha elaborated: “In the past couple of years, I have grown into a strong, independent woman. I have realized through this long journey of ups and downs that if I’m lucky enough to have a voice that people listen to, then I should use it for good and for truth.”

Back in 2014, Kesha sued her former manager Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald for alleged sexual abuse while was signed under Kemosabe Records. Both are still embroiled in a legal skirmish.  Gianna Francesca Catolico /ra

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Judge hits 29th homer, tying DiMaggio’s Yankee rookie mark

NEW YORK—Aaron Judge equaled Joe DiMaggio’s New York Yankees record for home runs by a rookie—before the All-Star break.

Judge hit a two-run drive into the Yankees’ bullpen in right-center in the fourth inning of Wednesday’s 7-6 loss to Toronto, his major league-leading 29th home run of the season.

DiMaggio set the Yankees rookie mark in 1936. Judge reached it in New York’s 83rd game of the season.

“Any time you’re in the sentence as someone like DiMaggio is pretty incredible,” Judge said. “It’s quite an honor.”

Connecting on a 92 mph fastball, Judge drove it 398 feet, according to MLB’s Statcast. The only other rookies to hit 29 homers before the All-Star break were Mark McGwire in 1987 (33) and Jose Abreu in 2014 (29).

Judge is hitting .331 with 65 RBIs and 104 strikeouts.

New York trailed 5-0 before the homer. Judge came up with two outs in the ninth with a runner on first and struck out against Roberto Osuna, unsuccessfully trying to check his swing on a low, outside slider.

“I got fooled,” Judge said.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Asian markets suffer as US-North Korea tension escalates anew

Asian markets fell again Wednesday as nervous traders shifted toward safe havens on concerns about North Korea’s latest saber-rattling, while technology firms suffered another torrid day of selling.

Washington confirmed Tuesday that Pyongyang’s latest rocket test was of a missile capable of reaching the United States, ratcheting up pressure in an already tense crisis on the Korean peninsula.

Dealers are now awaiting the next development after Russia and China issued a joint appeal to ease tensions while the United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency meeting later in the day.

The test came just as the US was preparing to celebrate Independence Day and days before a G20 summit, where it will likely top the agenda.

It was the latest provocation by North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un who is determined to develop a nuclear weapons program he says is needed to ward off invasion.

South Korea and the US on Wednesday launched a barrage of missiles simulating a precision strike against Pyongyang, in response to the provocation.

“Traders and investors may be wondering what reaction this latest missile test will get,” said Greg McKenna, chief market strategist at AxiTrader.

With caution flowing through trading floors, markets sank into negative territory.

Tokyo ended the morning 0.5 percent lower with the yen, considered a safe bet in times of turmoil and uncertainty, strengthening against the dollar which hurt Japan’s exporters.

Hong Kong slipped 0.1 percent a day after diving 1.5 percent, while Shanghai shed 0.2 percent. Sydney lost 0.3 percent, Singapore eased 0.1 percent and was marginally lower.

Wellington and Taipei were also in the red.

Traders were given few leads with European markets slightly down and Wall Street closed for the July 4 holiday.

Tech firms were again suffering as global central banks consider tightening monetary policy.

The sector has been a huge beneficiary of the years of cheap borrowing from lenders, sending their stock prices soaring but the prospect of an end to such largesse has led to profit-taking.

Hong Kong-listed Tencent extended Tuesday’s more than four percent loss, while AAC Technologies also retreated and Sony slipped in Tokyo.

However, energy companies continued to benefit from the recovery in oil prices although the black gold, which is up about 10 percent since hitting recent lows in mid-June, dipped slightly Wednesday in Asia.

Investors are awaiting the release Wednesday of minutes from the Federal Reserve’s June policy meeting and key US jobs data Friday. JPV

source: business.inquirer.net

Galaxy S8 Mini rumored to join Samsung flagship phones lineup

Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S8 and S8+ are rumored to be getting a little brother in the form of the Galaxy S8 Mini to join the lineup.

According to a report from Chinese site IT Home via GSM Arena, the S8 Mini will have a 5.3-inch screen but will feel like a 4.7-inch device because of its end-to-end display. Basically, it will be a shrunk down version of a standard Galaxy S8.

The report also included a mock-up photo showing the size differences between the S8, S8+ and the rumored S8 Mini.

Coming with its smaller body are slightly toned down specifications. Instead of a top-of-the-line Snapdragon 835 processor, the S8 Mini is rumored to include the previous generation Snapdragon 821. It will also have 4GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage, half of the 64GB on the standard S8.

Unlike the previous Galaxy S5 Mini, which made compromises to its feature set to fit the smaller size, the S8 Mini will reportedly retain that flagship feel and experience, but on a smaller screen and form factor.

The Galaxy S5 Mini was launched in July 2014 and was the last Mini version of a flagship phone that the manufacturer released. It was marketed as a more affordable alternative to the high-end Galaxy S5.

The Galaxy Note 8 and Note 7 Fan Edition (refurbished Galaxy Note 7) are also expected to be released soon, adding to the current roster of high-end devices from the Korean phone maker. Alfred Bayle/JB

source: technology.inquirer.net