Real Madrid re-sign Mariano Diaz for 33 million

Real Madrid said Wednesday they have re-signed striker Mariano Diaz from French side Lyon for 33 millions euros ($39 million) on a five-year deal having only last summer allowed him to move to France for eight million.

Diaz, a Spain-born Dominican Republic international, is a product of the Real academy, but had looked initially set to sign for Sevilla before Real made their move having decided to exercise a buy-back option negotiated last year.

The 25-year-old was a hit in France as he scored 18 times and provided seven assists to help his side finish in the top three and gain a Champions League qualification berth.


Real said he would be presented Friday.

Under the terms of the deal, Lyon will receive 15 percent of any surplus Real make in a future deal for the player.

source: sports.inquirer.net

An Apple-1 goes up for auction on Sept. 25

Calling all Apple fanboys and collectors: an Apple-1 is set to be sold at an auction in Boston on Sept. 25, 2018, and potential buyers will be able to bid online. The computer is estimated to fetch between $300,000 and $400,000 (about P15.9 million to P21.3 million).

The computer, which was built in 1976, was recently restored and is billed as being perfectly operational. It comes with the owner’s manual, a new period-style power supply with original Apple-1 power cable and connector, as well as a keyboard and a period Sanyo 4205 video monitor.

The Apple-1 will be auctioned with a starting bid of $50,000 (P2.6 million) with live bidding set to begin Sept. 25. Hopefuls can sign up to bid via Invaluable.com.



The Apple-1 was the first personal computer sold by the Californian tech firm. It is a relatively rudimentary device, requiring a keyboard and a monitor or TV to function. It is now a collector’s item that can fetch impressive sums when remaining machines come up for sale. Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak produced around 200 models in 1976, almost all of which sold within a few months.

The computer is being sold as part of the “Remarkable Rarities” auction, which features rare items from Nirvana “Smells Like Teen Spirit” sheet music signed by the three band members to a letter signed by George Washington.

Other Apple-related lots in the sale include a Macintosh computer signed by Steve Jobs and nine team members (estimated to fetch $25,000 to $30,000, or about P1.3 million to P1.59 million) and a Betamax videotape of the firm’s “1984” commercial for the launch of Macintosh (estimated to fetch $10,000 to $15,000, or about P533,000 to almost P800,000).

You can bid on the Apple-1 through this link. JB

source: technology.inquirer.net

Aspirin disappoints for avoiding first heart attack, stroke

Taking a low-dose aspirin every day has long been known to cut the chances of another heart attack, stroke or other heart problem in people who already have had one, but the risks don’t outweigh the benefits for most other folks, major new research finds.

Although it’s been used for more than a century, aspirin’s value in many situations is still unclear. The latest studies are some of the largest and longest to test this pennies-a-day blood thinner in people who don’t yet have heart disease or a blood vessel-related problem.


One found that aspirin did not help prevent first strokes or heart attacks in people at moderate risk for one because they had several health threats such as smoking, high blood pressure or high cholesterol.

Another tested aspirin in people with diabetes, who are more likely to develop or die from heart problems, and found that the modest benefit it gave was offset by a greater risk of serious bleeding.

Aspirin did not help prevent cancer as had been hoped.


And fish oil supplements, also tested in the study of people with diabetes, failed to help.

“There’s been a lot of uncertainty among doctors around the world about prescribing aspirin” beyond those for whom it’s now recommended, said one study leader, Dr. Jane Armitage of the University of Oxford in England. “If you’re healthy, it’s probably not worth taking it.”

The research was discussed Sunday at the European Society of Cardiology meeting in Munich. The aspirin studies used 100 milligrams a day, more than the 81-milligram pills commonly sold in the United States but still considered low dose. Adult strength is 325 milligrams.

WHO’S REALLY AT RISK?

A Boston-led study gave aspirin or dummy pills to 12,546 people who were thought to have a moderate risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke within a decade because of other health issues.

After five years, 4 percent of each group had suffered a heart problem — far fewer than expected, suggesting these people were actually at low risk, not moderate. Other medicines they were taking to lower blood pressure and cholesterol may have cut their heart risk so much that aspirin had little chance of helping more, said the study leader, Dr. J. Michael Gaziano of Brigham and Women’s Hospital.


One percent of aspirin takers had stomach or intestinal bleeding, mostly mild— twice as many as those on dummy pills. Aspirin users also had more nosebleeds, indigestion, reflux or belly pain.

Bayer sponsored the study, and many researchers consult for the aspirin maker. Results were published by the journal Lancet.

ASPIRIN FOR PEOPLE WITH DIABETES?

People with diabetes have a higher risk of heart problems and strokes from a blood clot, but also a higher risk of bleeding. Guidelines vary on which of them should consider aspirin.

Oxford researchers randomly assigned 15,480 adults with Type 1 or 2 diabetes but otherwise in good health and with no history of heart problems to take either aspirin, 1 gram of fish oil, both substances, or dummy pills every day.


After seven and a half years, there were fewer heart problems among aspirin users but more cases of serious bleeding, so they largely traded one risk for another.

FISH OIL RESULTS

The same study also tested omega-3 fatty acids, the good oils found in salmon, tuna and other fish. Supplement takers fared no better than those given dummy capsules — 9 percent of each group suffered a heart problem.

“We feel very confident that there doesn’t seem to be a role for fish oil supplements for preventing heart disease,” said study leader Dr. Louise Bowman of the University of Oxford.

The British Heart Foundation was the study’s main sponsor.  Bayer and Mylan provided aspirin and fish oil, respectively. Results were published by the New England Journal of Medicine.

Other studies are testing different amounts and prescription versions of fish oil, “but I can’t tell people go spend your money on it; we think it’s probably better to eat fish,” said Dr. Holly Andersen, a heart disease prevention specialist at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell who was not involved in the study.

The new research doesn’t alter guidelines on aspirin or fish oil, said Dr. Nieca Goldberg, a cardiologist at NYU Langone Medical Center and an American Heart Association spokeswoman. They recommend fish oil only for certain heart failure patients and say it’s reasonable to consider for people who have already suffered a heart attack. /cbb

source: technology.inquirer.net

Asian Games: PH golfer Yuka Saso wins gold medal in dramatic fashion

Philippine bet Yuka Saso delivered the country’s second and third gold after conquering the women’s individual golf competition in the 2018 Asian Games Sunday at Pondok Indah Golf and Country Club in Jakarta.

Saso flourished in the crucial stages, delivering on an eagle in the 18th hole to finish with a -13 overall score after 18 holes.

The 17-year-old Saso bounced back from her double bogey in the 17th hole.

China’s Liu Wenbo was the frontrunner going into the 18th hole with a -13 mark but wavered in the final with a quadruple bogey.

Saso’s triumph also lifted the Philippines women’s team to the gold medal spot, pushing the country’s gold total to three.

The Philippine team secured the gold medal with a -22 mark after Saso’s performance.



Weigtlifter Hidilyn Diaz won the Philippines first gold medal. The Filipinos now have 12 medals overall, nine of which are bronzes.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Former Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Ed King dies at age 68

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Ed King, a former guitarist for Lynyrd Skynyrd who helped write several of the group’s hits including “Sweet Home Alabama”, has died in Nashville, Tennessee, according to a family friend. He was 68.

Scott Coopwood said King died Wednesday due to cancer. Funeral arrangements had not yet been announced Thursday.

King joined the band in 1972 and was part of its first three albums with its distinct three-guitar sound.


He is credited on several of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s songs, including “Saturday Night Special” and “Workin’ for MCA”, and his voice can be heard providing the opening count on “Sweet Home Alabama”. The song was a response to Neil Young’s songs “Southern Man” and “Alabama”, which focused on the Southern white man’s rise on the back of slavery. The song is now considered a Southern anthem played often at sporting events and was used for a time on Alabama license plates.

“Ed was our brother, and a great songwriter and guitar player,” said Gary Rossington, a founding member of the band. “I know he will be reunited with the rest of the boys in Rock and Roll Heaven”.

King left the band two years before a plane crash killed singer Ronnie Van Zant and guitarist Steve Gaines in 1977. He rejoined the group 10 years later when it reunited with Johnny Van Zant taking his brother’s place and played with the band until he retired in 1996 due to heart problems. He had a heart transplant in 2011.

King was also an original member of the California psychedelic group Strawberry Alarm Clock, which had a hit that King co-wrote called “Incense and Peppermints” in 1967. CC

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Hope floats

JAKARTA—Wushu’s Divine Wally lost in the semifinals of the women’s 52-kilogram sanda event Wednesday and settled for the bronze, the country’s fourth in the 18th Asian Games, which came a day after the Philippines broke through in the continental showcase courtesy of lifter Hidilyn Diaz.

In a match late in Day 4, Wally, the 2015 world champion, lost, 2-1, to Iran’s Elaheh Mansoryan Samiroumi at Jakarta International Expo for the Philippines’ fifth medal—counting the other three bronzes won by the men’s and women’s poomsae trios and Agatha Wong, another wushu bet.

Wally made the semifinals after posting a 7-2 win over hometown bet Petriwi Selviah earlier in the day, only to fall in a match where she was expected to dominate her Iranian foe.

Ironically, a win would have given the Philippines zero medals for the day, but would have put Wally in contention for a gold.

Instead, hope for a second gold on Thursday will be pinned on 4-foot-11 bundle of energy Carlos Yulo, who resumes his gold quest in the men’s floor exercise.

The Philippines’ lone gold came from Diaz, who ruled the women’s 53-kilogram snatch and clean and jerk events of weightlifting.

Yulo takes a stab at gold No. 2 and a historic first artistic gymnastics gold in the country’s long participation in this continental showcase.

The 18-year-old Yulo, who has been training in Japan for the last three years preparing for tournaments of this magnitude, topped the eight-man field that made it to the medal round of his pet floor exercise and will start seeing action at 4 p.m. (5 p.m. in Manila).

Yulo, the silver medalist in the floor exercise early this year in the World Cup in Doha, scored 14.500 in classification, with Chinese Taipei’s Chia- Hong Tang placing second at 14.450 and Japan’s Kakeru Tanegawa third at 14.400.

He finished seventh in a 24-man field in the individual all-around with a score of 80.750, six points behind champion Lin Chaopan of China.


Yulo will also compete in the vault finals.

Meanwhile, the Blu Girls advanced to the page system playoff of softball after routing host Indonesia, 4-0, under scorching heat at Gelano Bung Karno field to raise their record to 4-1, tied for second with China behind undefeated Japan.

They were to play Chinese Taipei at 8 p.m. Wednesday for a win that would assure them of a bronze medal at the very least and a chance to play for the gold.

Royevel Palma hurled a no-hitter in three innings relieving Mary Ann Antolihao as the Blu Girls regained sharp form a night after being downed by the tournament-leading Japanese, 1-11.

The bowling trio of Liza del Rosario, Lara Posadas and Alexis Sy finished way out of the medal fight as the Malaysian team of Hamidi Badrul, Rahman Siti Adbul and Mei Lan Cheah took the gold.

source: sports.inquirer.net

After US hype, Asia greets ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ with a shrug

“Crazy Rich Asians” has been hailed as a win for diversity in Hollywood and sparked controversy in Singapore for its portrayal of the city-state — but in much of Asia, the movie is being greeted with little more than a shrug.

The first Tinseltown film to feature a majority-Asian cast for a generation, the adaption of author Kevin Kwan’s bestseller about Singapore’s ultra-rich Chinese elite has soared to the top of the North American box office.

The rom-com, which tells the Cinderella-like story of an ordinary Asian-American woman and her super-rich boyfriend, will likely do well in parts of Asia when it is released this week.



But it is not generating the same level of excitement as in Hollywood, where the Asian-American community has long been marginalized, and many in the region may well be wondering what all the fuss is about.

“Asians have been seeing themselves on screen in their own domestic films since cinema began,” Maggie Lee, chief Asia film critic for Variety, told AFP.

Still, those that watch the movie are likely to enjoy the film for what it is — an entertaining rom-com — and recognize the Hollywood hype is something particularly related to the Asian-American experience, she added.

Fabulous wealth, stunning clothes

A two-hour celebration of fabulous wealth, stunning clothes and idealized love, the movie’s main character is economics professor Rachel Chu — played by American actress Constance Wu — who flies to Singapore for a break with her lecturer boyfriend Nick Young.

It is only in the affluent city-state that Rachel realizes the man she has been dating for a year, played by British-Malaysian actor Henry Golding, is the scion to one of Asia’s wealthiest families.

Dazzling jewels, private jets and an imperious mother are all thrown into the mix, as Rachel seeks to navigate the world of Singapore’s super-wealthy.

The first Hollywood production since the “Joy Luck Club” in 1993 to have a majority-Asian cast, the movie has generated frenzied publicity in the US and has generally been well reviewed.


Asians have often been relegated to sidekick roles in Hollywood in recent times while there have also been much-criticized attempts at “yellowface” casting when white actors attempt to make themselves look Asian.

This was the case when Scarlett Johansson was cast in the Hollywood remake of Japanese anime classic “Ghost in the Shell”.

Other Hollywood productions, such as “The Great Wall” set in China and “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” in India, have been criticized for drafting in a major white star to play the lead role or their cliche-filled representations of Asia.

‘Just a movie’ 

In Singapore, where much of the film’s action takes place, there has predictably been considerable buzz, with many curious to see how local culture is depicted and happy that their tiny country is starring in a Hollywood hit.

But some have been angered about how the film focuses primarily on the country’s ethnic Chinese, who make up about three-quarters of the city-state’s inhabitants.

The country of 5.6 million, where the film is released Wednesday, is also home to substantial ethnic Indian and Muslim Malay minorities, as well as large numbers of expatriates.

Singapore activist Kirsten Han has been strident in her criticism, writing that the movie “isn’t really a win for diverse representation.”

“What I would like to see as a Singaporean is something that reflects my country and society in all our diversity and complexity,” she said.

In other parts of Asia, the reception is likely to be much more muted, with a Hollywood production offering little real competition to booming domestic entertainment industries, from Bollywood and Korean movies to Chinese soap opera.

Even in Singapore, many accepted the film was meant to be light entertainment, rather than an attempt to accurately depict the city-state’s society.

“People, it’s just a movie,” said one Facebook post under an article on the website of broadcaster Channel NewsAsia discussing the portrayal of Singapore in the film.

“Sit back and enjoy”. NVG

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Apple to unveil low-cost MacBook, new Mac Mini, iPad Pros and 6 Apple Watch models — report

As fall approaches, Apple fans are rubbing their hands together at the prospect of refreshed iPhones, upgraded MacBooks, iPad Pros and a fourth series of Apple Watches; and Bloomberg says those dreams are coming true.

The rumors have been ample but as the annual September Apple events draw nigh, a few of them have allegedly been confirmed through “people familiar with the plans” as reported by Bloomberg, while another was spotted on an EEC listings by French site Consomac.

Bloomberg writes “Apple Inc. will release a new low-cost laptop and a professional-focused upgrade to the Mac mini desktop later this year.”


An upcoming 13-inch laptop, believed to look like the current MacBook Air with thinner bezels will also feature the brand’s well-known higher-resolution Retina display, according to the sources who don’t want to be identified.

But will it be a MacBook, or MacBook Air? That has been the question.

This latest report suggests that the aforementioned notebook will in fact be an upgraded Macbook Air that could appeal to those shopping for a more affordable Apple computer, as well as students.

Furthermore, a high-end iMac Pro and a new Macbook Pro featuring a reworked keyboard and faster processor options are also slated to arrive in a separate event to the iPhone unveilings (possibly in October) in order for Apple to make amends with frustrated loyal users who have complained that updates are not meeting their “professional needs.”

Mac Mini, the desktop that comes without a screen, keyboard or mouse, hasn’t had an upgrade in four years but may be getting one shortly. Generally popular with app developers, the new Mac Mini would be aimed at professionals, according to the report, by adding new storage and processor options, likely to raise the $500 (over P26,000) price tag.

As for other Apple products believed to be in the pipeline, the report makes note of three new iPhones, Apple Watches with larger screens and new iPad Pros. It’s unknown whether the tablets will feature FaceID.

Meanwhile six new Apple Watches in Series 4 have been registered with the Eurasian Economic Commission this week, two fewer models than with the previous series. Unfortunately, no specifications were revealed, although it’s believed the brand will maintain its two watch sizes of 38 millimeters and 42 millimeters but increase screen size by 15 percent.

Industry observers suggest that it’s likely that the Apple Watch Series 4 will be unveiled alongside the iPhones, supposedly in September. JB

source: technology.inquirer.net

Madonna’s rambling Aretha Franklin tribute earns backlash

NEW YORK — The backlash was swift for Madonna’s rambling, egocentric tribute to Aretha Franklin at the MTV Video Music Awards, with media and Queen-of-Soul fans wondering why she got the gig in the first place.

Dressed in flowing black with grandiose flourishes of African jewelry, Madonna’s send-off came before she presented the video of the year award to Camila Cabello on Monday night. She spoke at length about her own start in the business and her own career before thanking Franklin for “empowering all of us. R.E.S.P.E.C.T.”

Cabello then collected the biggest award of the night for her “Havana” video with a bow to Madonna, dedicating the trophy to, you guessed it, Madonna.


There was a short video of early Franklin that played before Madonna said that the icon who died Thursday “changed the course of my life,” and Franklin’s “Respect” played as the night’s closing credits rolled. But there was no live musical performance honoring the legend.

Some accused Madonna, in her spiky silver headpiece, heavy necklaces and beaded bracelets, of cultural appropriation. Far more accused her of making the show’s only tribute to Franklin all about herself.

“I’m so lost,” radio host Charlamagne Tha God tweeted. “I thought Madonna was supposed to be paying homage to Aretha but all I heard was her paying homage to herself.”

After describing her teen exit from Detroit to make her name in show business, Madonna said at one point, “So, you are probably all wondering why I am telling you this story.”

Why, yes. Before she got to the point (she sang “(You Make Me Feel Like) a Natural Woman” acapella at an audition of yore), Madonna meandered through references to Paris, poverty, guitar lessons and finally her backside hanging out at a VMAs show after breaking a stiletto.

“Does Madonna know Madonna didn’t die?” ESPN’s Katie Nolan tweeted.

Marc Snetiker of Entertainment Weekly described the speech on Twitter as “Madonna presents an Aretha Franklin tribute by Madonna featuring Madonna with Madonna and Madonna as ‘Madonna’.”

The response was not unlike that from some fans of Prince when Madonna donned a “Purple Rain” suit to honor him soon after his death, at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards.

The Madonna Twitter roasting included this from one angry Franklin fan: “Only madonna would tell her life story while honoring a dead Black Woman lmaooo.”

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Atletico Madrid, Valencia open Spanish season with draw

MADRID — Atletico Madrid and Valencia couldn’t manage more than a 1-1 draw in the opening match of the season for potential contenders for the Spanish league title on Monday.

Both teams debuted new signings and came boosted by great seasons a year ago, but it was an even match from the start at Valencia’s Mestalla Stadium, with neither finding an edge to earn the victory.

The hosts came closer to winning and squandered a few great chances in the final minutes.


Angel Correa gave Atletico the lead in the 25th minute with a shot from close range after a great set up by Antoine Griezmann, who cleared a few defenders before sending a perfect ball to the forward behind the defense. Correa had only goalkeeper Neto to beat and easily found the corner.

Atletico held on for the rest of the first half but Valencia equalized shortly after halftime with a great goal by striker Rodrigo, who controlled the ball with his chest after a cross into the area and fired a left-footed shot into the top of the net.

“We can’t say it was unfair, but if we had won the match it wouldn’t be a crazy result,” Rodrigo said. “We faced a great rival and showed that we are playing on a high level. That’s what we want to keep doing the whole season.”

Gabriel Paulista nearly scored again for Valencia less than 10 minutes after Rodrigo’s goal, but his header off a corner struck the post. Daniel Wass had a chance on a breakaway with a few minutes left, but his shot was saved by Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak. Kevin Gameiro also missed a clear opportunity just before the final whistle.

“We lacked organization in the end and I didn’t like that,” Atletico coach Diego Simeone said. “But I’ll stick to what we did well. These teams are very similar and we had our chances to win the match.”

Atletico finished runner-up to Barcelona in the league last season, while Valencia was fourth and secured a Champions League berth. Atletico was coming off a victory over city rival Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup.

Simeone started Monday’s match with one of the team’s top signings in the offseason, France forward Thomas Lemar, playing up front with Griezmann and Diego Costa. Other recently arrived players began on the bench, including Gelson Martins, Nikola Kalinic and Rodri. Martins came in as a substitute in the second half, replacing Griezmann.

Wass, one of Valencia’s new signings, was in the starting lineup, while Gameiro, Denis Cheryshev and Michy Batshuayi began on the bench. Gameiro and Batshuayi entered in the second half.


Defending champion Barcelona made its league debut on Saturday with a 3-0 win against Alaves with a pair of goals by Lionel Messi at Camp Nou Stadium.

Real Madrid opened with a 2-0 win over Getafe with Gareth Bale scoring and setting up Dani Carvajal’s goal at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

In the match that closed out the first round, Athletic Bilbao defeated Leganes 2-1 at home thanks to an injury-time winner by Iker Muniain.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Simon Cowell hopes for a 1D reunion concert

Music mogul Simon Cowell believes that, somewhere, sometime along the way, the boys of the pop band One Direction will share the stage once more.

“I just think the legacy is too big not to go back to at one point,” he said of the group—
which he helped create in 2010 as a judge in “The X Factor.”

“They have enough songs,” he told “Entertainment Tonight.” “I didn’t realize how many hits they have had.”


The members of 1D—Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Liam Payne—are all pursuing solo careers. But Simon would love to see them back together, he said, even if only for a concert series.

“When they do get back together it will be a huge event. But look, they’re all doing their own thing and they’re all being successful. But I have a feeling it will happen,” Simon said. “I really do. I would love it to happen.” —ALLAN POLICARPIO

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Bertens shocks No. 1 Halep to win Cincinnati title

Dutch challenger Kiki Bertens profited from a third-set collapse by Simona Halep to score the biggest win of her career Sunday, beating the world number one 2-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-2 in the Cincinnati WTA final.

“This is the best day of my career, winning on a surface that you didn’t really like. That’s a great feeling,” Bertens said.

“I’m just so proud, and it’s such a great feeling to hold the trophy at the end of the week.”


Halep, who claimed the Montreal title a week ago and came into the final on a nine-match winning streak, ran out of reserves and was unable to stop the mounting Bertens momentum.

“I’ve lost three finals here, but maybe I will able to win one at this tournament because I love to play here,” said Halep, who fell to Serena Williams in the 2015 final of the hardcourt US Open tuneup and to Garbine Muguruza in the title match last year.

“I had match ball, so I was there,” Helep said. “I didn’t take my chance. In the third set I was empty and I couldn’t fight anymore.”

The upset took just over two hours and marked the 10th time this season that 17th-ranked Bertens has defeated a top 10 opponent.

“It was such a tough match, and after winning that second set I knew, anything is still possible — just keep on going,” said Bertens, who claimed a sixth career WTA title.

“Winning a title like this, my first hard court title, and against number one of the world, getting my career high on Monday … it’s  just coming everything together, I guess,” she added.

Bertens saved a Halep match point in the second-set tiebreaker to stay alive.

“I’m a little bit upset because I couldn’t manage better today, but that’s it. I’m like this, and I have to work more,” Halep said.


Halep had looked like ending a quick afternoon with a victory after breaking Bertens twice to sweep the first set.

But the 26-year-old Dutchwoman, who had considered retiring last season due to poor results, began to turn the tide in the second as she broke for a 3-1 lead.

Halep got that break back in the eighth game to make it 4-all, and took tighter control in the tiebreaker.

But Bertens won four games in the decider to take a 4-2 lead and quickly seized the set seconds after saving the match point.

Halep ‘exhausted’

Halep seriously faded in the final set, going down two breaks to trail 1-4.

Bertens kept up the pressure and advanced with a winner on her first match point, posting her second career win over Hale six years after beating her for the first time.

The depleted Halep is still entered as top seed in the upcoming WTA tournament in New Haven, which ends just two days prior to the start of the US Open in New York.

While not specifying if she will actually play, Halep said she would travel to Connecticut on Monday.

“For sure I need a little bit of rest because I’m exhausted.

“But also I take the positive from these two weeks,” she added. “It’s a great confidence (builder), and I’m looking forward actually for the next one to be better on court.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

China’s Sun Yang launches Asian Games charm offensive

China’s Olympic champion Sun Yang showed a softer side to his gnarly public image on Sunday by lavishing compliments on rival Japanese swimmer Kosuke Hagino at the Asian Games.

The towering Chinese topped the time sheets in the morning’s 200 metres freestyle heats in Jakarta in a leisurely one minute, 47.58 seconds before being reminded about an unseemly diplomatic row he sparked at the last Asian Games in 2014.

Furious after being ambushed by Hagino in the 200m free in Incheon, Sun branded Japan’s national anthem “ugly” — not the first time the three-time Olympic gold medallist has become involved in a war of words.

“Look, I think Hagino is a good guy,” Sun told reporters. “The way he swims the individual medley is an inspiration to me. We should be working together to raise the level of Asian swimming.

“Today was a good first swim, very satisfied. The Asian Games isn’t the biggest competition perhaps but it’s an important stepping stone towards the world championships and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.”

His part-time coach Denis Cotterell said the giant Chinese was pacing himself with further individual races to come in the 400m, 800m and 1,500m free.

“That was just a very safe swim,” the Australian told AFP. “He was slow off the blocks and just did what he had to do.

“He’s got a long programme so it’s early days,” added Cotterell. “We’ll know more about where he’s at at the end of the meet.”

Hagino, who won Olympic gold in the 400m individual medley in Rio two years ago, failed to qualify for the 200m freestyle at this year’s Asian Games.

Jordan’s Khader Baqlah, who has trained alongside American stars Caeleb Dressel and Ryan Lochte at the University of Florida, posted the second quickest time behind Sun in 1:47.60.

Defending champion Daiya Seto qualified fastest for the men’s 200m butterfly final in 1:57.23 from fellow Japanese Nao Horomura, who also won his his heat in 1:58.06, edging out India’s Sajan Prakash.

“I can definitely go quicker,” said Seto, who also won Pan Pacific gold in Tokyo earlier this month.

“It was about conserving energy. The key tonight will be to be brave and go for it.”

China’s Xu Jiayu went quickest in the men’s 100m backstroke heats, clocking 53.60 seconds with title-holder Ryosuke Irie of Japan winning his heat in 53.85.

China claimed the top two spots in qualifying for the women’s 200m backstroke final, with Liu Yaxin storming through to win her heat in 2:09.52, almost two seconds faster than Peng Xuwei.


Japan went one-two in the women’s 100m breaststroke heats with Satomi Suzuki quickest in 1:06.92 from Reona Aoki (1:07.24).

China dominated the swimming competition at the 2014 Asian Games, winning 22 gold medals to 12 for closest rivals Japan.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Former NFL linebacker credits yoga for saving his life

NEW YORK — Keith Mitchell only ever considered himself a football player. It was a label he willingly claimed for so long. When that was ripped away, he was lost.

“You don’t realize how attached you are to the identity,” the former All-Pro linebacker said. “I didn’t know myself.”

He had to relearn who he was.



On Sept. 14, 2003, playing for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Mitchell made what appeared to be a routine tackle — until he wound up flat on his back, unable to move. He was rushed to the hospital.

There Mitchell learned his playing career was over in only his seventh NFL season — at 31 years old. He had a spinal contusion.

“All my life, I’ve been told doctors have all the answers,” he said. “So what do you do when the doctor doesn’t have an answer for you? I mean, do you become the victim? That’s where things can get really chaotic with depression and suicidal thoughts — all that kind of stuff you hear about — and that’s what showed up for me.”

Until he found conscious breathing, which led to meditation and ultimately yoga.

Mitchell latched onto the practice quickly, even though he had never done it before.

“I realized that I had to,” he said. “If I didn’t, I don’t think I would be here.

“It held me together,” Mitchell added. “It created a new way of investing in me and creating a new me, not just with the physical ways I sustained and held trauma but also the mental ways I sustained and held trauma.”

Yoga gave him a holistic view of himself as he was healing.


Not only does Mitchell still do yoga, he’s a certified yoga instructor with more than a decade of experience. He founded the Light It Up Foundation and the KM59 wellness movement that helps children, trauma survivors, first responders and veterans.

He’s even pioneering for the NCAA and NFL to further adopt the practice. Mitchell believes some players lose perspective as they latch onto “the concept of a gladiator” as a football player. Instead of listening to their bodies, they just push them.

Mitchell says the meditation aspect of yoga can bring them back to reality, allowing them to focus on themselves and figure out who they are beyond football. The workout part then simply maintains the body.

Post-career physical and mental dips can be prevented.

“Even though the headline intention of most yoga sessions is to lengthen muscles and to work on core stability, the benefits that are reaped from the mindfulness piece are huge,” said National Athletic Trainers’ Association president Tory Lindley, who’s also the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Health, Safety and Performance and Director of Athletic Training Services at Northwestern University. “Yet in some ways, more athletes aren’t even aware they’re doing it when they’re doing it.”

Some are, and it’s part of the reason why they practice yoga.

“It helps you stay clear, so that you never get down or up and down or up,” New York Jets defensive lineman Leonard Williams said. “It helps you just think about your intention every day, saying clear and focused on what you want in life.”

Mitchell wishes he had practice yoga while playing football. It would have helped him recover all that he sacrificed to the game on a regular basis, mentally and physically, and find a better balance.

But he knows not to stress the what-ifs in life.

“I used to go around the country hitting people,” Mitchell said. “Now I go around the country saying, ‘Namaste.’”

source: sports.inquirer.net

New York University makes tuition free for all medical students

NEW YORK – New York University (NYU) said Thursday it would offer all its current and future medical school students free tuition in an effort to tackle soaring debt levels and encourage more applicants.

The move – which it said was financed by the generosity of the university’s “trustees, alumni, and friends” – amounts to a reduction of $55,018 in annual fees, regardless of financial needs or academic merit.

It does not cover living and administrative costs averaging $27,000 a year.


“A population as diverse as ours is best served by doctors from all walks of life, we believe, and aspiring physicians and surgeons should not be prevented from pursuing a career in medicine because of the prospect of overwhelming financial debt,” said Dr. Robert Grossman, dean of the NYU School of Medicine.

In its statement, NYU also pointed out that high student debt was putting graduates off pursuing less lucrative specializations including pediatrics and obstetrics and gynecology.

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the median debt of a graduating medical student in the US is $202,000 – while 21 percent of doctors who graduate from a private school such as NYU face over $300,000.

“Our hope — and expectation — is that by making medical school accessible to a broader range of applicants, we will be a catalyst for transforming medical education nationwide,” said Kenneth Langone, chair of the Board of Trustees of NYU Langone Health.

Thursday’s announcement came as a surprise ending to the school’s annual white coat ceremony, which marks the start of first-year students’ medical careers.

Those 93 students will benefit from the scholarship, along with 350 others enrolled further along in the program.

NYU said it is the only top 10-ranked medical school in the US to offer such an initiative.  /kga

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Aretha Franklin’s music rise on charts following her death

NEW YORK — Aretha Franklin’s music quickly climbed the iTunes’ charts following her death on Thursday.

Her “30 Greatest Hits” album hit the No. 1 spot, replacing Nicki Minaj’s new album, while “Respect” reached No. 2 on the songs’ charts.

More songs from Franklin, including “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” ”Think,” ”Chain of Fools” and “I Say A Little Prayer,” were in the Top 40.


The iTunes charts tracks digital sales and is updated multiple times each day.

Franklin died pancreatic cancer at age 76. She had battled undisclosed health issues in recent years and in 2017 announced her retirement from touring. /ee

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Asian stocks recover after news of US-China trade talk

Asia stocks opened sharply lower on Thursday, joining a global sell-off on concerns over Turkey’s financial crisis but later pared losses on news that China and the US would hold trade talks.

Equities across the region suffered steep losses at the opening bell, with Tokyo and Shanghai off by more than one percent, dragged down by a weak session on Wall Street as traders fretted over possible contagion from Turkey’s currency crisis.

Japan’s main Nikkei 225 index shed 1.20 percent in early trade and China’s benchmark Shanghai Composite was off by 1.17 percent after another day of volatile trading driven by Turkey.


On Wednesday, Ankara hiked tariffs on imports of several US goods in retaliation for American sanctions, the latest step in a tit-for-tat spat between the two NATO allies that shows little sign of easing.

The crisis has sent the Turkish currency into free-fall and sparked concerns that European banks and other emerging markets exposed to the unit could also suffer.

A bearish mood saw European markets close down nearly two percent and the broad US S&P 500 market off by nearly one percent.

However, the lira managed to claw back some ground after losing just under a quarter of its value on Friday and Monday, a loss that had prompted fears of a fully-fledged economic crisis in the critical emerging economy.

And equities in Asia staged a fightback after news hit the wires of upcoming talks between the US and China, currently embroiled in a trade spat that economists warn could harm the global economy.

China’s Vice Commerce Minister Wang Shouwen, the deputy representative on international trade negotiations, will meet with a senior US treasury official, David Malpass, at the invitation of the United States, the ministry in Beijing said in a statement.

Traders saw a glimmer of hope of a detente in the ongoing trade battle that has seen the two sides hit each other with reciprocal tariffs on goods worth $34 billion, with much more threatened.

The two countries plan to launch a new round of tariffs on $16 billion worth of goods from each country on August 23.



“It is hard to tell how the talks will go but it’s a positive signal that the two countries are looking for some compromise plan,” said Makoto Sengoku, market analyst at Tokai Tokyo Research Institute.

“If they were determined to fight it out, they wouldn’t meet,” he told AFP.

A few hours into the trading session, the Nikkei was back in positive territory while markets in China and Hong Kong had almost erased all of their losses.

Key figures around 0300 GMT 

Dollar/Turkish lira: STABLE at 5.98 lira

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1381 from $1.1349

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2720 from $1.2700

Dollar/yen: UP at 110.86 from 110.73 yen

Tokyo – Nikkei 225: UP 0.01 percent at 22,206.66

Hong Kong – Hang Seng: DOWN 0.1 percent at 27,290.26

Shanghai – Composite: DOWN 0.2 percent at 2,716.31

Oil – Brent Crude: UP 45 cents at $71.21 per barrel

Oil – West Texas Intermediate: UP 14 cents at $65.15 per barrel

New York – Dow Jones: DOWN 0.5 percent at 25,162.41 (close)

London – FTSE 100: DOWN 1.5 percent at 7,497.87 (close)

/vvp

source: business.inquirer.net

Twitter Lite now available in 45 countries

A year after its launch, Twitter Lite is now available for Android users in a total of 45 countries.

Twitter Lite was rolled out last year to provide a faster, data-friendly version of the app to those connected to slower 2G or 3G networks.

Twitter began testing the Lite app in the Philippines in September, and then expanded to 24 more countries by November. Now it’s broadening its availability to 21 more countries.

On Monday, Twitter announced that the app will be available in the Google Play Store for anyone in the following 45 countries: Algeria, Argentina, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Romania, Serbia, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yemen and Zimbabwe.

Twitter Lite is aimed at those faced with expensive data plans, slow mobile networks or little storage space on their device. Designed to launch 30 percent faster, the app also offers key features — timeline, tweets, direct messages, trends, profiles, media uploads, notifications — with quicker navigation.

While smartphone adoption grew to 3.8 billion connections by the end of 2016, a vast number of smartphone users still rely on 2G —40 percent of connections in 2017, according to the latest report from GSMA.

Along with the increased availability, Twitter Lite has also received Push Notifications, Night Mode, Bookmarks, Threaded Conversations and Data Saver. These additional tools allow users to manage what is automatically loaded, what can wait and what can’t — all of which will contribute to saving energy, data and bandwidth.

Find out more at www.lite.twitter.com. The app is available to download from the Google Play Store. JB

source: technology.inquirer.net

Brady sees ‘urgency’ in preseason game vs Super Bowl foe

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady thinks his next game against the Philadelphia Eagles is a little like the last time he played them.

The reigning NFL MVP says he’s eager to get back on the field for the first time since the Super Bowl, and his next chance is in Thursday night’s exhibition game against Philadelphia. Brady did not play in the preseason opener against Washington last week.

“We’ve got a big one against the Eagles and we know the challenge they present,” Brady said on Tuesday. “So, (we’re) trying to put a lot into it and see if we can obviously get a lot out of it. You know, it’s a big test. They’re a good team and we’re going to have to play well.”


Philadelphia beat the Patriots 41-33 in February for its first Super Bowl title. The teams will meet again in New England this week, with considerably less on the line.

But you wouldn’t know if from listening to Brady, who said there is urgency even in the second game on the exhibition schedule, because the team needs to line up against an opponent to measure its progress.

“They’re important,” Brady said. “If it was a waste of time, we wouldn’t do it. I think there’s a lot of urgency, and you know we’re not where we need to be, got a lot of work to do and these practices are a part of it, (along with) the opportunities that we get in the game.”

Brady, who turned 41 this month, said he is feeling healthy and planning to play on Thursday night. The decision will be up to coach Bill Belichick.

“I certainly plan on being out there,” Brady said.

Also Tuesday, Brady repeated that his goal is to play “a long time.” He reportedly reached an agreement that could boost his pay this year by $5 million in 2018; he is signed through next season.

“You always have short-term goals and long-term goals, and this year’s the one I’m focused on,” he said. “Obviously, I want to play for a long time, so I’ve said that for a while. Feel like I’m a broken record.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

Man crashes light plane into his house after fight with wife

PAYSON, Utah, United States — A Utah man flew a small plane into his own house early Monday just hours after he had been arrested for assaulting his wife in a nearby canyon where the couple went to talk over their problems, authorities said.

The pilot, Duane Youd, died. His wife and a child who were in the home survived despite the front part the two-story house being engulfed in flames, Payson police Sgt. Noemi Sandoval said.

The crash occurred at about 2:30 a.m. in Payson, a city of about 20,000 60 miles (95 kilometers) south of Salt Lake City.


Investigators believe the twin-engine Cessna 525 belonged to Youd’s employer and that he intentionally flew into his own house; Sandoval said he was an experienced pilot. It wasn’t immediately clear who employed Youd or whether he was authorized to take the plane.

It’s unknown if the child in the house is related to Youd, Sandoval said.

Youd, 47, was arrested about 7:30 p.m. Sunday after witnesses called police to report that he was assaulting his wife, Utah County Sheriff’s Sgt. Spencer Cannon said. The couple had been drinking and went to American Fork Canyon to talk about problems they were having, authorities said.

Youd was booked on suspicion of domestic violence and posted bail, Cannon said. Youd requested an officer escort him to his home so he could get his truck and some belongings around midnight. That occurred without incident, Sandoval said.

Within hours, Youd was taking off in the plane from the Spanish Fork-Springville Airport about 15 miles (25 kilometers) north of his house. He flew directly to his neighborhood and smashed into his house, Sandoval said.

Photos of the wreckage showed the white plane charred and in pieces in the front yard nearby an overturned and crushed car. Most of the upscale house was still intact, but heavily burned in the front. Youd and his wife bought the 2,700 square foot house valued at nearly $400,000, in 2016 in a quiet subdivision of new homes near the foothills, county property records show.

The plane barely missed power lines and other homes, Sandoval said. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.

Online court records show that Youd agreed last month to attend marriage and family counselling sessions for six months as part of a plea agreement following an April 8 domestic violence incident in which he was charged with disorderly conduct.


It is the second bizarre airplane incident in recent days. On Friday an employee stole a turboprop plane from Sea-Tac International Airport in Seattle and flew it for more than an hour before dying in a crash on an island southwest of Tacoma. /cbb

source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

Browns ‘sticking’ with plan to start Taylor over Mayfield

BEREA, Ohio — He’s still Baker the backup.

Despite rookie Baker Mayfield’s stellar performance in his NFL preseason debut, the Cleveland Browns are not moving the No. 1 overall pick into the starting lineup ahead of Tyrod Taylor.

“National hype,” quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese said Sunday, downplaying the outside push to elevate Mayfield after one game. “We have our plan, we’re sticking to it and when it changes we’ll all know.”


Mayfield won over some doubters on Thursday night in a 20-10 win over the New York Giants. The Heisman Trophy winner from Oklahoma threw two touchdown passes to tight end David Njoku and showed pocket poise and awareness while completing 11 of 20 passes for 212 yards.

The reviews on Mayfield were beyond exceptional, leading to cries that he should jump Taylor, who went 5 for 5 for 99 yards and posted a perfect 158.3 rating during his two series.

Zampese was pleased with everything he saw from Mayfield, but he cautioned against putting too much into his first taste of pro football.

“He’s had 22 preseason NFL snaps,” Zampese said. “He has a long way to go and we’re encouraged with where he’s at right now.”

The feeling is the same about Taylor, who was acquired from Buffalo during the offseason. The 29-year-old has been everything the Browns could have hoped as a leader and mentor to Mayfield.

“He’s our guy, and that’s what he is,” Zampese said, “and to keep bringing it up is the only reason why anybody put a cloud in anybody’s head. So let’s get on with him being the guy and let’s get on to playing and winning and doing what we’re supposed to do and what we’re here for.”

Zampese, who previously worked as Cincinnati’s quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator, gushed when describing what Taylor has brought to the Browns — and what he means to Mayfield.

“Tyrod sets the bar for consistency,” Zampese said. “There’s no doubt about it. There’s no man I can think of more consistent than him — when he gets here, how he is when he’s here, taking care of his body, study habits, leading the team on the field. The bar is set very high. It’s fantastic.”


During his interview session, Zampese bristled at the idea that Taylor was just holding a spot until Mayfield is ready.

“I’m not going to talk about keeping the seat warm,” Zampese snapped. “I think he’s going to be very successful for us this year, which is the only year that matters. And I like where he’s at, I like where he’s going, I love his leadership, the way he’s aggressively going about being the leader of this team, completing balls and moving us down the field.”

source: sports.inquirer.net

Carrie Underwood preggy again

Carrie Underwood is pregnant with her second baby.

In a recent Instagram video, the country singer revealed to her fans that she and husband, Mike Fisher, are expecting a new child.

“We’re excited to be adding another little fish to our pond,” said Carrie, who already has a 3-year-old son, Isaiah.

“This has been a dream come true with album and with baby news,” added the “American Idol” Season 4 winner, who’s also about to release her latest album, “Cry Pretty.” “We’re just so excited you guys can share in this with us.”—ALLAN POLICARPIO

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Lawsuits accuse Tesla's Musk of fraud over tweets, going-private proposal

Tesla Inc and Chief Executive Elon Musk were sued twice on Friday by investors who said they fraudulently engineered a scheme to squeeze short-sellers, including through Musk's proposal to take the electric car company private.

The lawsuits were filed three days after Musk stunned investors by announcing on Twitter that he might take Tesla private in a record $72 billion transaction that valued the company at $420 per share, and that "funding" had been "secured."

In one of the lawsuits, the plaintiff Kalman Isaacs said Musk's tweets were false and misleading, and together with Tesla's failure to correct them amounted to a "nuclear attack" designed to "completely decimate" short-sellers.

The lawsuits filed by Isaacs and William Chamberlain said Musk's and Tesla's conduct artificially inflated Tesla's stock price and violated federal securities laws.

Tesla did not respond to a request for comment on the proposed class-action complaints filed in the federal court in San Francisco. The company is based in nearby Palo Alto, California.

Short-sellers borrow shares they believe are overpriced, sell them, and then repurchase shares later at what they hope will be a lower price to make a profit.

Such investors have long been an irritant for Musk, who has sometimes used Twitter to criticize them.

Musk's Aug. 7 tweets helped push Tesla's stock price more than 13 percent above the prior day's close.

The stock has since given back more than two-thirds of that gain, in part following reports that the US Securities and Exchange Commission had begun inquiring about Musk's activity.

Musk has not offered evidence that he has lined up the necessary funding to take Tesla private, and the complaints did not offer proof to the contrary.

But Isaacs said Tesla's and Musk's conduct caused the volatility that cost short-sellers hundreds of millions of dollars from having to cover their short positions, and caused all Tesla securities purchasers to pay inflated prices.

Tesla's market value exceeds $60 billion, and its shares closed Friday up $3.04 at $355.49.

According to his complaint, Isaacs bought 3,000 Tesla shares on Aug. 8 to cover his short position.

The proposed class period in Isaacs' lawsuit runs from the afternoon of Aug. 7 through the next day, and in Chamberlain's lawsuit runs from Aug. 7 to Aug. 10. — Reuters

The New York School of Photography

The New York School of Photography (NYIP) has been in business for 100 years. And even after a century, it is still considered one of the nation's top photography schools!

Today, NYIP is celebrating its 100-year history by sponsoring a slideshow of photos taken by former graduates on the school's website.



This competition selected some of the best photos taken by these graduates, who have since succeeded in the field of photography.

Photos featured in this lineup were taken by a variety of photo professionals, including photojournalists. The photos were all different in the sense that they vary from black and white photos to colorful sunsets.

Of course, the journey to becoming a professional photographer for many began at the front steps of this school! NYIP offers courses in everything from videography to photography basics-basics which led up to the multimedia photography of today. However, the old world has not vanished with new age technology.

Taking photographs of people is still popular and offered as a course of study at the school. Outdoor photography and nature courses are also offered. You can also take weather-based photography courses, many of which focus on cold weather.

Cold weather photography often features photos of snow-capped mountain ranges and snowy scenes with subtle shades of sunlight.

The school has its own suggestions for cold weather photographers. Not only are cold weather photographer plagued with runny noses and ice cold fingers; they must also wear apparel that helps them exist comfortably in cold environments. For many, this means wearing warm boots and dressing in layers, so snow does not reach your skin.





Different types of photography courses available

You can also take photography courses that specialize in photographing lunar eclipses and New York City tourism. The nice thing about taking such courses is that it spices up your portfolio and shows you have experience in different environments and with different kinds of photos.

You can read about each course the school offers by visiting their website. You will also find sample photos that reflect what is taught in that particular course. Hot air balloon photography courses are also offered.

New York school of photography is chosen by hopeful photographers, because of the school's long-standing positive reputation. Under some circumstances, tuition is tax deductable. However, your tax advisor will be able to tell you whether or not this applies to you.

You will need special photography equipment to attend this school. A point and shoot camera is the most basic and necessary piece of equipment (a digital SLR camera is even better). However, digital courses require you to buy Adobe Photoshop.

Benefits of this photography school

According to many students in 2009, NYIP has helped them fulfill their educational goals. Many NYIP students have been successful in producing high quality digital images for their courses, and report getting great feedback from. One student said they took courses that were on both CD and DVD. Many students have been pleased with the school's affordability when compared to other photography institutions.

Other students received free equipment after signing up for a course. The school has also given students free camera bags before they even start courses. The nice thing about this is that it gives you a jump start on your photography career and study.

NYIP's website offers tips on how to take photos in different atmospheres, such as on a football field and how to take romantic photos. The romantic photos went along with a Valentine's theme for the month of February.

By visiting the school's student center on the school's website you find discounts on Ritz Camera equipment. The New York School of Photography worked out a deal with ritzcamera.com for students to buy Ritz Camera equipment at a student discount rate. This is part of the school's efforts to make education more affordable to students. Under this discount program, students can save seven percent on products that are essential to an NYIP education. This only applies to the Ritz Camera website, though.

If you want to pursue a serious career in photography, you have a variety of schools to choose one. Each comes with its own allure, its own specialty. Some are located in big commercial areas that are close to trendy, booming areas.

But the New York School of Photography has been helping students picture their careers for 100 years, and it shows no sign of turning off the window of opportunity to a photography career!

source: www.best-photography-courses.com

Stephen Curry shoots 86, finishes last in Web.com event

HAYWARD, Calif. — Stephen Curry dropped 11 strokes to par on the first eight holes and shot a/an 16-over 86 on Friday to finish last in the Web.com Tour’s Ellie Mae Classic.

The Golden State Warriors star, making his second appearance in the event at TPC Stonebrae, finished at 17-over 157 after opening with a 71 on Thursday.

Curry was last among the 154 finishers — 33 strokes behind leader Alex Prugh — and missed the cut by 13 strokes. Last year, Curry shot 74-74 to tie for 148th and miss the cut by 11 shots.

“I couldn’t hit a driver to save my life today, so that’s how golf goes,” Curry said. ” One day you have it, or at least in the amateur world, one day you have it and one day you completely lose it and you have no idea what you’re doing over the top of the ball.”

Playing as an amateur, Curry bogeyed the par-3 second, made a quadruple-bogey 9 on the par-5 third after hitting consecutive drives out of bounds, bogeyed the par-4 fifth, made a triple on the par-4 seventh and a double on the par-4 eighth.

“As always, it’s an amazing opportunity to be out here to test my game under the ultimate pressure, stressful situations,” Curry said. “Today was interesting all the way around. I knew sort of what I had to shoot (to make the cut). I played the first holes OK and then the wheels fell off on the third hole.”

On the back nine, Curry birdied the par-4 10th, made a triple on the par-4 11th, bogeyed the par-3 12th, birdied the par-4 14th, had a double bogey on the par-3 16th and a bogey on the par-4 18th.

“It’s the same way I do on the court when I’m not making shots,” Curry said. “You just find something to focus on that you can do. For me, it was just trying to take each shot and just have fun with it and trying to hit a good shot and not really get too down about the result if it wasn’t what I was expecting.”



Prugh matched the tour nine-hole record with a back-nine 27 in a 60 that left him 16 under. He birdied the first seven holes on the back nine, parred the 17th and birdied the 18th.

“My putter has been a little streaky here and there, but when it’s on, it’s on,” Prugh said. “I’ve been making putts and fortunately whenever that happens it makes everything easier. ”

Prugh was two strokes short of the tour record of 58 set by Stephan Jaeger two years ago at TPC Stonebrae and one shot off Jaeger’s 36-hole tour mark for strokes.


Josh Teater was two strokes back after a 62.

Curry played alongside Cameron Champ and Martin Trainer. Champ, the Utah Championship winner last month who leads the tour in driving distance, was tied for 42nd after rounds of 68 and 67. Trainer, a two-time winner this year, shot 69-70 to miss the cut.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Michelle Yeoh relates ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ role with experience growing up in Hong Kong

Michelle Yeoh found she could easily relate to her roles in “Crazy Rich Asians” because it bore great
resemblance to her experience growing up in Hong Kong.

The Hollywood actress hadn’t read Kevin Kwan’s best-selling novel of the same title, and yet she could easily see herself in the movie adaptation, according to a report by South China Morning Post.

“I lived in Hong Kong in the heyday of the 1980s, with all those galas and parties and charity organizations,” said Yeoh in an interview. “I’ve seen this world and I understand it. So I thought, ‘what’s so unusual?’”


“Crazy Rich Asians” is a romantic comedy that is set to start showing in American cinemas on Aug. 15.

Yeoh played the part of a high-society Singaporean-Chinese woman whose son Nick, played by Henry Golding, fell for Chinese-American  girl Rachel, played by Constance Wu. With Rachel being of less highborn origin, Yeoh’s character struggled in convincing her son of the responsibility and significance of being an heir to their family.

More than simply portraying a controlling and traditional matriarch, Yeoh also wanted to show a more human side to her character to make her relatable.

“We needed to show all the reasons behind that – you’re the heir, the first born, someone groomed to take over an empire, and this empire is not just about wealth, it’s about responsibility. It’s not just about your family. It’s about all the families who work for you,” recalled Yeoh.

Born in Malaysia, Yeoh stands at the forefront of diversifying roles that go to Asian actors, according to the report.

“I always say I’m so blessed, that I don’t have to do [a job] just to do it. I choose what I want to do, and I see now that at least we are not stereotyped as much and forced to take a job even though we don’t agree with it. The doors are opening,” said Yeoh.

The actress referred to the stereotyping of Asian actors in action movies. An ironic sentiment considering she herself shot to fame while starring in movies like the James Bond film “Tomorrow Never Dies” and martial arts film “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.”

Nonetheless, Yeoh felt thankful that Asian actors are starting to get more opportunities to shine.


Meanwhile, the actress wondered how her Asian friends will react to “Crazy Rich Asians.” Alfred Bayle /ra

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Samsung’s new phone shows how hardware innovation has slowed

NEW YORK — Samsung’s new smartphone illustrates the limits of innovation at time when hardware advances have slowed.

The new phone, the Galaxy Note 9, will be faster and will last longer without a recharge. But while earth-shattering new features are in short supply, it will carry an earth-shattering price tag: $1,000.

The minor improvements reflect a smartphone industry that has largely pushed the limits on hardware. Major changes tend to come every few years rather than annually, and this isn’t the year for anything revolutionary in the Note.


The new phone will get some automatic photo editing and a stylus that can serve as a remote control. But the highlights will be a bigger battery, a faster processor and improved cellular speeds.

“You don’t see massive breakthroughs anymore from a hardware perspective,” said Carolina Milanesi, an analyst with Creative Strategies. “Everything is a little bit better, but nothing’s revolutionary.”

A 21 percent boost in battery capacity from last year’s Note 8 should translate to more than a day of normal use without a recharge. Samsung has been conservative on battery improvements ever since its Note 7 phone in 2016 developed a tendency to burst into flame, prompting an expensive recall and delivering a hit to the company’s reputation.

Since then, Samsung has subjected its phones to multiple inspections, including X-rays and stress tests at extreme temperatures. The company is also sending phones to outside labs, including UL, for independent safety tests.

“We’re three generations removed now,” Samsung’s director of US product marketing, Suzanne De Silva, said of the company’s renewed confidence in the battery. “This is the right innovation at the right time.”

Although Samsung’s Note phones are large, niche products intended for power users, they offer a preview of what’s to come in the mass-market Galaxy S line. A dual-lens camera, with better zooming, came to the Note 8 months before the S9 Plus got it, for instance. The Note also got curved edges before that became standard on Samsung’s flagship phones.

The new phones will come out Aug. 24 in the U.S. Borrowing from the iPhone’s playbook, the Note 9 will have the same price regardless of carrier. The starting price is $1,000, an increase from the Note 8, but on par with Apple’s top-of-the-line iPhone X. The Note 9 will get double the storage, at 128 gigabytes, compared with typical high-end phones, including the iPhone X. Samsung will also sell a 512-gigabyte version for power users for $1,250.

Even though the improvements from last year aren’t huge, Technalysis Research analyst Bob O’Donnell said they will come across as major for those who haven’t upgraded for a few years.


Thursday’s announcement in New York comes about a month before Apple is expected to unveil new iPhones. There’s been speculation — unconfirmed by Apple — that all new iPhones will ditch the home button and fingerprint sensor and rely entirely on facial-recognition technology found in the iPhone X. The Note 9 will still have a fingerprint sensor on the back of the phone. In a jab at Apple, Samsung executives also frequently emphasize that their phones have standard headphone jacks, which newer iPhones no longer do.

The camera in the Note 9 will use artificial intelligence to detect what’s in a scene — whether that’s food, flowers or a sunset — to automatically tweak images to make them pop. It’s much like applying filters with an app, except that the phone will do this itself, much the way Google’s Pixel phones already do.

As with the Pixel, the Note won’t be saving a version without the tweaks. Purists can turn the feature off to get images that reflect what the eye sees — an option unavailable with Pixel. The camera will also offer a warning if someone blinked in a shot, or if the image is blurry.

The Note’s stylus will now have Bluetooth, allowing people to control phones and apps from up to 30 feet away. This will let people control music or snap selfies just by clicking the stylus.

Samsung also said the popular shooter game “Fortnite” is coming to Android and will be exclusive to Samsung phones until Sunday.

source: technology.inquirer.net

Trade tensions torpedo oil, US sanctions hammer Russian rouble

SYDNEY — Asian shares were subdued on Thursday after a new round of tit-for-tat tariffs in the US-Sino trade conflict torpedoed oil prices, while the Russian rouble tumbled as the US slapped fresh sanctions on the country.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan barely budged as caution dominated. Japan's Nikkei slipped 0.5 percent, not helped by a shock slump in core machinery orders.

Early Thursday, China's state broadcaster said China must counteract US tariffs and Beijing had the confidence to protect its own interests as well as the means to do so.

China had already announced additional tariffs of 25 percent on $16 billion worth of US imports from fuel to autos. The tariffs will apply to billions of dollars in U.S. gasoline, diesel and other oil products, though not crude.

Analysts at ANZ noted there were also reports President Xi Jinping had asked China's major oil companies to increase domestic output to safeguard the country's energy security.

The oil market took the news hard with selling escalating as major technical levels broke.

US crude was last down 12 cents at $66.82 per barrel, having shed 3.2 percent on Wednesday, while Brent was off 2 cents at $72.26.

On Wall Street, trade-sensitive industrial companies were the biggest drag on the Dow, with declines led by Boeing and Caterpillar Inc.

The Dow fell 0.18 percent, while the S&P 500 lost 0.03 percent and the Nasdaq added 0.06 percent.

More sanctions

In currency markets, the Russian rouble sank after Washington said it would impose fresh sanctions because it had determined that Moscow had used a nerve agent against a former Russian agent and his daughter in Britain.

There were also reports of a new US Senate bill that would impose widespread sanctions on Russia for election meddling.

The rouble duly slid to its lowest since late 2016, with the dollar buying 65.50 roubles having jumped 3.4 percent overnight.

The pound skidded to its lowest against the dollar and euro in almost a year as fears grew Britain might leave the EU without a deal on trade with Brussels.

Traders reported a significant increase in investors hedging against a 'no-deal' Brexit, an event which could send sterling into free fall and hurt the economy by raising trade barriers with the UK's biggest export market.

Sterling was last trading at $1.2877, having dropped 0.4 percent overnight.

The Japanese yen seemed to be catching a bid as a traditional safe haven, with the dollar easing to 110.81 yen after stretching as high as 111.44 on Wednesday.

The euro was relatively steady at $1.1611, while the dollar index was a shade firmer at 95.098.

The New Zealand dollar shed 0.9 percent to a two-year trough at $0.6682 after the country's central bank took a dovish turn, pledging to keep rates at record lows well into 2020.

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) said rates were likely to be on hold for longer and cut its forecasts for economic growth this year and next. —Reuters

Carmelo Anthony reportedly agrees to join Rockets

Carmelo Anthony reached a verbal agreement to join the Houston Rockets, sources told Yahoo Sports and USA Today on Tuesday.

Anthony, a 10-time All-Star who was waived July 30 by the Atlanta Hawks, had been expected to sign with the Rockets when he cleared waivers.

Entering his 16th NBA season, Anthony has a career scoring average of 24.1 points per game with the Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks and Oklahoma City Thunder.

Last season, unaccustomed to his role as power forward and playing alongside Russell Westbrook and Paul George, he averaged a career-low 16.2 points in 32.1 minutes in his lone season for the Thunder.

This summer, he has worked out with Rockets stars James Harden and Chris Paul.

The Hawks acquired Anthony on July 25 as part of a three-team transaction, with Atlanta also receiving a protected 2022 first-round draft pick from the Thunder and Justin Anderson from the Philadelphia 76ers.

To complete the trade, the Hawks traded Mike Muscala to Philadelphia and Dennis Schroder to Oklahoma City, and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot moved from Philadelphia to Oklahoma City.

The Rockets created a roster opening last week by trading forward Chinanu Onuaku and cash to the Dallas Mavericks for center Maarty Leunen and the right to swap second-round draft picks in 2020. Onuaku played in six NBA games over the past two seasons and averaged 3.0 points and 2.3 rebounds.

Leunen, 32, has yet to appear in the NBA. — Field Level Media/Reuters

source: gmanetwork.com

Chris Paul donates $2.5M to Wake Forest basketball program

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — NBA All-Star and former Wake Forest guard Chris Paul is donating $2.5 million in support of the Demon Deacons’ basketball team.

The donation announced Tuesday is the school’s largest by a former Wake Forest basketball player.

School officials say it will assist a project to expand and enhance the men’s and women’s locker rooms, and the men’s locker room will be named for him.


Paul says the locker room project “inspired me, because that’s where players build relationships and create a unifying camaraderie.”

The Houston Rockets guard and Winston-Salem native led Wake Forest to its first No. 1 ranking in 2004-05 before becoming a nine-time All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medal winner with the U.S. national team.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Beyonce embraces her curves in interview, cover shoot for Vogue

LOS ANGELES - Beyonce has opened up about the difficult birth of her twins last year and how it changed her body, saying she has embraced her curves and was in no rush to get her old figure back.

The fiercely private "Lemonade" singer, 36, who rarely gives interviews, got personal for the September issue of Vogue magazine, in which she appears on the cover with little makeup.

"I have a little mommy pouch, and I’m in no rush to get rid of it," she said in the interview, released on Monday. "I think it’s real. Whenever I’m ready to get a six-pack, I will go into beast zone and work my ass off until I have it."

She said she weighed 218 pounds when she underwent an emergency cesarean section to deliver her twins Rumi and Sir in June 2017 and decided to allow herself time to recover rather than rushing to lose her baby weight.

"I embraced being curvier. I accepted what my body wanted to be," Beyonce said. "I was patient with myself and enjoyed my fuller curves."

The influential singer, who last year topped the Forbes 2017 list of highest-paid women in the music industry with an estimated $105 million, said she had decided to do the Vogue photo shoot without wigs or hair extensions, and with as little makeup as possible.

"I think it’s important for women and men to see and appreciate the beauty in their natural bodies ... To this day, my arms, shoulders, breasts, and thighs are fuller," she told Vogue.

Beyonce made her stage comeback after the birth of the twins at the Coachella music festival in April. She is currently on a U.S. and European tour with rapper husband Jay-Z.

Beyonce has appeared four times on the cover of Vogue, but the September issue is the first to be shot by an African-American photographer, 23-year-old Tyler Mitchell.

"There are so many cultural and societal barriers to entry that I like to do what I can to level the playing field, to present a different point of view for people who may feel like their voices don’t matter," she said, explaining her choice of Mitchell. — Reuters

Asian markets rally, yuan edges up after US gains

Asian markets rose on Monday after a healthy lead from Wall Street as positive US jobs data trumped fresh trade war threats, while the yuan extended a recovery after the Chinese central bank moved to support the unit.

Hong Kong led gains as the week got off to an upbeat start, with dealers tracking their New York and European counterparts following recent painful losses.

Data on Friday showed that while the US economy saw a slowdown in jobs creation in July, the pace of hiring remained strong over the past three months.


The report also showed wage growth remained tepid, helping temper worries about an overheating economy.

The result provided some much-needed cheer to markets, which managed to brush off a warning from Beijing that it would impose new tariffs on $60 billion worth of US goods if Washington pushes ahead with levies on $200 billion of Chinese imports.


Despite reports that unofficial talks have been held between the two sides, trade tensions continue to rise with a top White House advisor calling China a bad bet and saying its economy — the world’s second biggest — was struggling.

Still, equity traders were in a buying mood Monday. Hong Kong piled on more than one percent while Shanghai added 0.2 percent and Tokyo went into the break 0.5 percent higher.

Sydney rose 0.7 percent, Singapore jumped more than one percent and Taipei was 0.3 percent stronger. Jakarta climbed 0.7 percent despite an earthquake that rattled the island of Lombok, killing dozens of people.

– Pound struggles –
Support also came from the People’s Bank of China decision late Friday to unveil measures making it harder to bet against the yuan, which has suffered steep losses the past two months.

The currency, which is around lows not seen for more than a year, bounced back soon after the announcement and it extended the gains Monday.

The bank’s measure was similar to a move when the currency went into freefall following a devaluation three years ago that rattled global markets.

However, analysts were lukewarm on the move with some saying it indicated Chinese leaders were growing increasingly worried about the unit’s depreciation.

“The yuan kept falling when China did this last time in 2015, so I don’t think the PBoC’s move will significantly change the market tone,” Hao Hong, chief strategist at Bocom International Holdings, told Bloomberg News.

“No matter what happened over the weekend, the weakness in Chinese stocks may continue. The trade war is nowhere near its end and China’s economy is slowing down, so why would the trend reverse?”

In another forex trading, the pound was fighting to recover from Friday’s sell-off that came after Bank of England boss Mark Carney warned the chances of leaving the EU without a proper deal was “uncomfortably high” and “highly undesirable”.

While he said such a situation was still “unlikely” compared with other outcomes, the comments come as leaders on both sides are struggling to reach a compromise with just months to go before Britain is due to formally exit.

The remarks sent sterling tumbling, with an interest rate hike last week unable to provide any support.

Key figures at 0300 GMT

Tokyo – Nikkei 225: UP 0.5 percent at 22,626.56 (break)

Hong Kong – Hang Seng: UP 1.2 percent at 28,008.62

Shanghai – Composite: UP 0.2 percent at 2,745.04

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1563 from $1.1567 at 2100 GMT on Friday

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2996 from $1.3005

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 111.20 yen from 111.25 yen

Oil – West Texas Intermediate: UP 18 cents at $68.67

Oil – Brent Crude: UP 15 cents at $73.36 per barrel

New York – Dow Jones: UP 0.6 percent to 25,462.58 (close)

London – FTSE 100: UP 1.1 percent at 7,659.10 (close)

source: business.inquirer.net