Donald Trump heads to Georgia on Wednesday for the ninth time, but the first as the underdog in the 2020 presidential race.

The president won the state by 5 percentage points in 2016, but several polls taken since late June show him in a dead heat with former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee.

The swing in the Peach State is part of a broader trend in some states Mr Trump won rather easily last time. Each shows a 5-point to 10-point swing away from the president. That means his campaign already is spending money in places it did not expect, and Mr Trump will need to visit those places plenty before Election Day -- likely taking him away from the six or seven expected swing states his campaign initially targeted.

Sharing the full story, not just the headlines

Where his 2016 campaign was a start-up, his re-election bid is turning into something of a reclamation project.

"The trip tells you that the triple whammy of virus, the slowed-down economy and the social unrest has really taken a toll. ... It's more of an official visit this time, but there's the president and his team would have to be completely unrealistic to not think Georgia is in play right now," said one Republican strategist.

The tables turned in Georgia on the president sharply since the coronavirus outbreak began.

An University of Georgia survey completed on March 2 put him up 8 percentage points over Mr Biden, just as the former VP was solidifying himself as the presumptive Democratic nominee. But two polls, conducted by Public Policy Polling and Fox News, from late June gave Mr Biden a 2-point and 4-point lead there, respectively.

"There's no question all the lights are flashing red, at this moment at least, for the Trump campaign," said Bill Galston, a former Clinton White House aide now with the Brookings Institution. "Biden is doing well in places that six months ago, people thought he might not have a chance."

The president is headed to Atlanta ostensibly to announce the easing of regulations that his administration contends will clear the way for infrastructure projects in the Peach State. In so doing, he will be touting his second-term agenda for overhauling the country's infrastructure -- something on which he ran four years ago, only to fail to reach anything close to a deal with just about anyone, Republican or Democrat, on Capitol Hill.

A list of polls show nearly two-thirds of all Americans want Washington to cut a massive check for new roads, bridges, tunnels, airports and other things. The issue also is popular among older voters, a voting bloc Mr Trump won four years ago but has steadily lost during his term.

'All politics, all the time'

"From Trump's perspective, the most important group is seniors," the GOP strategist said. "There is a reason why Joe Biden is doing well with seniors: they don't see him as being as toxic as Hillary Clinton. They're not afraid of him like with her."

Still, White House aides are dismissing the notion that the trip should be viewed like a campaign stop on the taxpayer dime. And experts say they have a point about Atlanta, where he will tour and speak at a UPS facility.

For one, the Georgia capital also is widely considered the capital of the South. It is a major player in the financial, energy, tourism and automotive sectors.

"I can think of three or four other reasons than re-election that might take any president to Georgia," Mr Galston said. "But with this president, it is all politics, all the time. Although the president is not indifferent to GOP candidates he likes, he cares more about his own prospects."

Also on the ballot in November are the states two US senators, a rarity. GOP Senator David Perdue has been a Trump ally since the president was a candidate and fellow-Republican Senator Kelly Loeffler has been a reliable vote since taking office this year. (Ms Loeffler is expected to travel to Atlanta on Air Force One and Mr Perdue is slated to be by the president's side after meeting him there.)

'Greatly exaggerated'

Though the mere visit suggests Mr Trump now anticipates a fight to keep the Peach State red, the Republican strategist and Mr Galston caution against ruling him out.

"His political demise has been greatly exaggerated," the strategist said. "Biden's in a good place, but Trump can still win this thing."

One way he helped salvage some Republican-held House seats in the 2018 midterm cycle was by holding raucous campaign rallies in those areas. But the coronavirus pandemic has forced the president and his campaign team to re-think those events after a subpar turnout recently in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The Atlanta trip will start to form an answer to whether a daytime official visit about a complicated matter like nixing infrastructure project regulations can provide the same boost as one of his wild rallies.

"The electoral landscape is looking more perilous for the president with each passing week. We saw his rallies give GOP House candidates a boost in the 2018 midterms. Now he needs to do that for himself," said Patrick Murphy, polling director at Monmouth University. "I expect we will see him in a lot of states he won handily four years ago. But it's not clear how impactful non-rally trips can be."

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Trump heads to Georgia as 'lights are flashing red' in state he won easily in 2016 - Analysis - The Independent

Bundaberg offshore

Lately, offshore fishing from Bundaberg and 1770 has been awesome! Plenty of trophy-sized coral trout and red emperor has been caught. Using pilchards and live baits will get you into some tasty trout, and big flesh baits will get you some red emperor action. Remember to fish the tide change, as that one hour on the tide change can definitely change your day. There has also been plenty of pelagics offshore. Even a few small marlin have been caught on most of the popular fishing grounds off Bundaberg.Bundaberg inshore

The inshore reefs have been producing some cracking grunter and grassy sweetlip. Most of these fish are being caught early in the mornings and late afternoons. There has been also some nice sized squid around. The shallows off Elliott Heads seems to be the hottest spot for these.

The mouth of the Burnett River has been alive with plenty of schoolie mackerel and tuna over the past week. Trolling hardbody lures and fast-retrieving metal slugs around the bait will get you into some action. Stick with around 60lb leader while chasing the schoolies. Stay away from the wire and your catch rate will increase crazily. There has also been some cracking bream being caught and most of them are being caught on small soft plastics and small vibes. Also, dont forget to drop the crab pots in the new moon tides will get those crabs moving.

Both the Baffle and the Kolan systems have been producing some ripper flathead and whiting. The flathead have been loving slow-rolled paddle-tail soft plastic over super-shallow sandbars. Pumping yabbies at low tide and fishing the incoming afternoon tide will get you into a nice feed of whiting. Again, dont forget to throw the crab pots in. The three metre tides will get them moving.

Lake Monduran is still fishing well considering how cool this weather is. Quite a few barra have been caught, measuring up into the 90cm range and they are tanks! The shallow windblown points have been where all the barra action has been. The new Samaki Redic lures have been getting the bite for most anglers.

The Queensland seasonal closure for snapper and pearl perch came into effect from 12.01 am on the 15th July and will run until 11.59 pm on 15th of August. During this time the snapper and pearl perch will be no-take species to protect the fish during spawning and to help rebuild stocks. More information can be found on the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries website.

Till next timeKeep it realMitch Beyer

Tackle World Bundaberg

Previous fishing reports: Solid fishing around the region with more to come

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Offshore fishing producing the goods Bundaberg Now - Bundaberg Now

Photo by Erin

The most popular replacement names Ive seen are Redtails, Red Wolves, Red Hawks, Red Pandas, Monuments and Warriors. Mark me for team Redtails.

Statement From The Washington Football Team:

On July 3rd, we announced the commencement of a thorough review of the teams name. That review has begun in earnest. As part of this process, we want to keep our sponsors, fans and community apprised of our thinking as we go forward.

Today, we are announcing we will be retiring the Redskins name and logo upon completion of this review.

Dan Snyder and Coach Rivera are working closely to develop a new name and design approach that will enhance the standing of our proud, tradition rich franchise and inspire our sponsors, fans and community for the next 100 years.

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The Washington Football Team Name will be officially Dropped. What new name would you like to see? - PoPville

By Wonderwall.com Editors 5:15am PDT, Jul 14, 2020

Wonderwall.comis rounding up the best and worst fashion from our favorite celebrities who were born in July, starting with this Australian actress. Margot Robbie, who celebrates her birthday on July 2 every year, wore this dramatic black gown by Dries Van Noten to the "Birds of Prey" London premiere in 2020. While the elements on their own may work, together, the gown looks peculiar. From the asymmetrical feathery sash and exposed bra to the structured skirt and fuchsia opera gloves, the whole look while ambitious was too busy. Next, let's take a look at one of Margot's best looks

RELATED: Fashion hits and misses from the 2020 awards season

Margot Robbie stunned at the "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" premiere in London in 2019. The star, who played late actress Sharon Tate in the film, was a vision in a burnt orange gown by Oscar De La Renta. While the color alone was absolutely breathtaking, the plunging neckline, scarf detail and delicately pleated chiffon fabric elevated the already ethereal look!

RELATED: Fashion hits and misses from celebs born in June

While Jennifer Lopez, who celebrates her birthday on July 26, has been known to wear plenty of show-stopping looks, this particular dress was a major miss. At the 2020 Golden Globe Awards, the "Hustlers" star wore a custom Valentino gown embellished with a huge green-and-gold statement bow. Some fans on Twitter compared J.Lo to a boldly wrapped Christmas present. Thankfully, she stepped up her sartorial game a few days later

RELATED: Fashion hits and misses from celebs born in May

It's hard to believe both of these J.Lo looks are from the same awards season! Just two weeks after the 2020 Golden Globes, Jennifer Lopez arrived at the 2020 Screen Actors Guild Awards in a sleek, off-the-shoulder black gown by Georges Hobeika a major improvement! The sultry silhouette was incredibly flattering on the stylish star, who completed her Old Hollywood glam look with $9 million in Harry Winston jewels including a 73.55-carat diamond necklace. This look, while simple, exuded elegance.

Selena Gomez, who blows out candles on her birthday cake every July 22, has evolved into a style star over the last few years. At the 2015 InStyle Awards, however, the "Rare" singer sported head-to-toe Louis Vuitton and looked lackluster at best. Her black mesh top with an exposed bra underneath, coupled with a puffy white miniskirt, made for a forgettable ensemble. Luckily, the talented actress-singer made up for this fashion mishap

Selena Gomez hit the red carpet at the 2019 American Music Awards in this gorgeous acid green Versace minidress complete with gold hardware and a flattering ruffle detail along the side. The "Lose You to Love Me" singer completed the statement look with layered diamond choker necklaces and matching pumps.

While Sandra Bullock is usually among Hollywood's best dressed celebrities, she's had a few fashion misses in her day like this look. At the 2015 Crystal + Lucy Awards, the Oscar winner wore a disappointing dark-hued number by Monique Lhuillier that featured a one-shoulder detail with a sparkly midnight blue bodice and dark purple patterned skirt. Even with those great black gladiator heels, this one was a miss for us. Thankfully, Sandra who celebrates her birthday on July 26 made some modifications to her style

Glitz and glam! At the "Ocean's 8" premiere in London in 2018, Sandra Bullock hit the red carpet in a winning look a long-sleeved jumpsuit by Zuhair Murad featuring culottes. From the multicolored stripes and sequins to the plunging neckline, Sandra looked like a disco darling! Combined with her effortless, tousled locks and a simple pair of ankle-strap stilettos, she was the epitome of classy but cool.

Before we praise Priyanka Chopra for her most breathtaking number, we need to talk about this ill-fitting ensemble she sported at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. While we're all for a good oversized sweater, this one was disastrous. The random patches of red and yellow fringe coupled with the loose strings hanging from the sleeves made for a really messy look. She paired the sweater with a peculiar knee-length skirt and black heeled booties. Luckily, the A-lister who celebrates her birthday on July 18 has definitely made up for this fashion miss

Priyanka Chopra stunned in this pink gown by Cristina Ottaviano at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards. The flattering garment featured ruched detailing and an off-the-shoulder neckline. The "Isn't It Romantic" star finished her red carpet look with glitzy Bulgari jewels, including a necklace crafted from more than 56 carats of diamonds.

Sandra Oh who celebrates her birthday on July 20 every year attended the BAFTA Los Angeles and BBC America TV Tea Party in 2018 in this patchwork-inspired dress by Duro Olowu. While the eclectic midi-length dress is gorgeously crafted, the stiff skirt made it look more boxy than flattering. The "Killing Eve" star is known for her show-stopping red carpet numbers, and while this one might have worked in theory, it wasn't our favorite. Next, let's see one of the Canadian star's most stunning looks

At the BAFTA Los Angeles and BBC America TV Tea Party in 2019, Sandra Oh stunned in a different look byDuro Olowu, the same designer she wore at the previous year's event. And this time, it was an undebatable hit. From the metallic print to the perfect fit, the frock flattered the former "Grey's Anatomy" star in every way. Keeping her accessories simple, Sandra finished the evening look with peep-toe heels by Pierre Hardy and earrings by Nina Runsdorf.

Listen, we're all for a daring look, but this one was a letdown. Kristen Bell attended the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards in knitted black dress by Julien Macdonald. The ring detailing down the bodice added a futuristic-looking touch, but the mixed materials dress was too busy for our liking. Luckily, the "Good Place" star who celebrates her birthday on July 18 delivered one of her most stunning red carpet looks to date that same year

Sometimes less really is more! Kristen Bell hit the 2018 Emmy Awards red carpet in this breathtaking gown by Solace London. The floor-length dress, which featured a rectangular neckline, was minimalism at its absolute finest.

Sophia Bush, who celebrates her birthday on July 8, attended Entertainment Weekly's SAG Awards Nominees Celebration in 2018 in this bright yellow midi-length dress by Diane Von Furstenberg. While there are elements of this garment that work well on their own the standout color, the statement belt cinched at the waist, the sultry lace fabric, the figure-hugging black slip altogether, it looks rather odd. Next up? One of Sophia's most elegant looks

Could she look more angelic? At the 2019 Screen Actors Guild Awards, Sophia Bush was a sartorial princess in this ethereal gown by Monique Lhuillier. The subtle polka-dot pattern, the layers of tulle, the cape overlay it's hard to pinpoint our favorite detail of this stunning garment! The "One Tree Hill" star completed the dreamy look with simple jewelry by Jacob & Co. and an updo with a complementary black headband.

Even the most sartorially inclined stars make mistakes. In 2016, Olivia Munn, who blows out candles on her birthday cake every July 3, wore this unconventional gown by J. Mendel to the Vanity Fair Oscar Party. The dramatic slit and cut-outs around the bodice were details that amped up the sultriness of an otherwise unexciting garment. But this piece, while experimental, was a letdown compared to the Stella McCartney gown she wore to the Oscars ceremony hours earlier. Now, let's take a look at one of Olivia's better looks

At the Los Angeles premiere of Starz's "The Rook" in 2019, "Love Wedding Repeat" star Olivia Munn wore this stunning gown by Galvan Phoebe. The champagne-hued dress, which was embellished with sequins and featured a bustier bodice, was the perfect balance of simple and sultry.

In 2019, Sofia Vergara, who celebrates her birthday on July 10 every year, attended the Los Angeles premiere of "Once Upon A Time in Hollywood" in this number by Dolce & Gabbana. While the shin-length dress featuring eyelet detailing hugged every curve, it still didn't seem to fit quite right. Unfortunately, this one was a fashion miss for us. Next up? One of Sofia's best red carpet moments

Former "Modern Family" star Sofia Vergara turned heads at the 2015 SAG Awards in this one-shouldered, figure-hugging gown by Donna Karan Atelier. The fiery red hue, floor-length silk and fine corset boning were elements of the garment we absolutely adored!

View post:

Fashion hits and misses from celebs born in July | Gallery - Wonderwall

A group of four kayakers two pairs of people each in a two-person boat headed downstream from a boathouse run by Ground Up Adventures, an outdoorsy nonprofit, near the Sorlie Bridge. That took them toward the Riverside Dam, and one of the kayaks overturned as they tried to avoid going over the dam.

A bystander called 911 and sheriffs deputies in a boat came to help. Nearby, another group of three kayakers one person in a single kayak and two in a two-person craft noticed the deputies boat and asked for help, too. Grand Forks police officers drove the four-person group back to the launch, and deputies took the three-person group back on their boat.

All seven people were wearing life jackets, according to Sgt. Thomas Inocencio, who heads the sheriffs departments water operations team.

I think that was probably a largely contributing factor that prevented anybody from getting injured, Inocencio said.

Sheriffs deputies are called to the Red River 20 to 30 times each year, and about two or three of those calls are to help people in similar straits, Inocencio said.

He said neither group was particularly familiar with the river, and both said they didnt know the dam was there. Inocencio also chalked the incident up to a strong current. He said he wasnt sure if fatigue was a factor.

The river is reportedly flowing at least marginally faster and stronger than normal. Inocencio said the Reds current is significantly stronger than usual, but Jim Grijalva, who chairs Ground Up Adventures board of directors, said it was only a bit stronger.

Deputies were called at 5:25 p.m. Sunday. The river was about 20.07 feet high and flowing at a rate of 8,790 cubic feet per second 10 minutes before then, according to U.S. Geological Survey data. Staff at the National Weather Services Grand Forks office also said those figures were higher than normal, but didnt pin a specific normal figure. Survey data indicates that, since June of 2019, the river has always flowed faster than the 75th percentile of previously recorded rates.

Its hard to say what normal is, Grijalva told the Herald. The river is still safe, but, like always, you have to wear your life jacket and be cognizant of where you are in the river.

Staff at the boathouse encourage people who rent kayaks to paddle upstream at first, toward Lincoln Park, and then head back with the current to reach the launch and return their kayak. Its easier, the thinking goes, to go downstream on the back end of a trip than it is to go upstream, when fatigue would be an increasingly important factor.

If you get tired, its easy to turn around and float back to the boathouse, Grijalva explained.

Boathouse staff usually tell renters that the return trip downstream takes about half the time as the paddle upstream.

The kayakers on Sunday went downstream first, Grijalva said. They were paddling sit on top-style kayaks, which are different from sit in ones that can be rolled rightside up by an experienced user.

Theres this kind of myth that goes around the community that the Red River has these mysterious undertow currents, that if you get in the water it could pull you under, and its a complete myth, Grijalva said, stressing that no renters have been injured and the rescues on Sunday were the first incidents of their kind.

He said that 99.9% of the time its fun and everybody has a good time.

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Kayakers overturned trying to avoid Grand Forks dam - Grand Forks Herald

Alexander Albon scored his first points of the season on Sunday afternoon. The gap to Mercedes was large, but the Red Bull Racing driver is in any case happy to have finished in the points at the Red Bull Ring.

"I was having Lewis flashbacks," Albon said to Sky Sports.

"It was okay.. it was a good race. This weekend we lacked a bit of pace, so we just need to check where to find the time. I think we know. It's good to get some points after last week."

Formula 1 heads to Hungary next weekend but the Red Bull driver expects a tough weekend when it comes to battling the Mercedes

"I think it will be hard to beat them [MER] now. They are strong in the high-speed long corners which is kind of like Hungary. We just need to work on that. I think Max & I both know the areas where the car is weak and we just need to address it."

Continued here:

Albon expects Mercedes to be tough to beat when racing heads to Hungary - GPblog.com

The remarkable resurgences of Daniel Tupou and the Morris twins at Bondi have helped the Roosters dominate the NRL Players' Poll team of 2020 with a stunning seven Tricolours stars dubbed the best in their positions by their peers.

Coach Trent Robinson has also pinched Craig Bellamy's crown as the NRL's best clipboard carrier according to the 150 players surveyed across all 16 clubs by NRL.com in conjunction with the Sydney Morning Herald.

As a result, the annual poll has been painted red, white and blue as the premiers boast representation that has never been seen before from one club.

Bona fide superstars James Tedesco and Luke Keary have been dubbed the best fullback and five-eighth respectively by the players, while captain Boyd Cordner also came in second behind Viliame Kikau for second-row honours.

Those results barely raise an eyebrow given their form en route to back-to-back titles and regular representative appearances.

So too the acknowledgement of Cameron Smith as the game's best No.9 according to his peers and Jason Taumalolo its top lock, with both winning the polls for the third straight year.

Mitchell Pearce edged out Nathan Clearly for halfback, and Manly's polarising prop Addin Fonua-Blake being regarded as the best big man by his opponents caught the eye out of the 2020 poll.

But it's the sheer dominance from the Roosters outside men that is this year's biggest take-away leading into their grand final rematch with Canberra.

Pearce, a Tricolours premiership-winner and favourite son until Cooper Cronk's signing forced him to Newcastle, is the only member of the Players' Poll backline not plying his trade under Robinson.

Tupou hasn't played for NSW since 2015 but was in career-best touch this season before being floored with a two-month syndesmosis injury against Melbourne.

Players across the code were surveyed in the week leading into that game, with results leaning toward those turning heads in the here and now.

Incumbent Kangaroos winger Josh Addo-Carr not cracking the top five flyers is case-in-point.

Still, considering neither Tupou or the Morris twins rank anywhere near the best-paid players in the positions, and Joey Manu has usurped ex-Rooster Latrell Mitchell as the game's best centre, the acknowledgement from their peers is well deserved in Robinson's eyes.

"I think it's a really nice show of respect to guys who have been at the top of their game consistently for a decent amount of time," Robinson told NRL.com.

"I think players respect their opposition in that they know they're dangerous to play against and know that if they're given any opportunity, they can ice a key moment.

"It's a nice show of respect from their peers."

The spotlight rarely finds its way to Tupou amid the glamour that players like Tedesco and Keary bring at the Roosters.

The 29-year-old beanpole would have it no other way, having honed his game to become far more than a lofty aerial target on the left flank.

"I think he's found a real balance between hardness and finesse," Robinson said.

"He does both very well. He loves the new-age, tough elements of being a winger. But he's still got the finesse to finish off any chance he gets.

"Wingers these days more and more, when everyone's getting back onside, they're often called on to take a carry where they're vulnerable, where they've got three and four defenders gunning for them and they're the only ones there to take that carry.

"That's their role these days, and Toops has been doing that better and better year after year."

The Morris brothers meanwhile have landed at the Roosters for a steal, understood to be each earning less than $300,000 in 2020.

Canterbury let them go from their heavily back-ended deals two years ago, while the Dragons missed out on Brett and Cronulla ended up releasing Josh as he pushed to link with his brother at Bondi.

Were they to reverse their respective Origin retirements, Blues coach Brad Fittler would have serious food for thought based on their recent form.

The twins turn 34 in August and are managing "old man injuries" like calf, groin and back niggles on a weekly basis, but still leaving younger opponents for dead every weekend.

In turn their influence at the Roosters is telling for Robinson, who can see Manu (who cleaned up 43% of votes for best centre) thriving under the Morris stewardship.

"Josh and Brett, they know their role in the game," Robinson said.

"They take that role, to teach their teammates and pass on their knowledge, very seriously. What's great is they can express themselves so well to younger players.

"You don't always get that with players with great know-how, they can't always communicate the way they want. Those two are very good at it.

"You look for quality players at the market, that's the first thing. Then you consider how they will fit, whether their style works for what your after, how they will go with the players around them and the standards you want at your club.

"It doesn't always work that way, you don't always get a choice or a chance at players like those two. It's a pleasure and an honour to have them."

Continue reading here:

Seeing red, white and blue: Robbo thrilled as Roosters dominate poll - NRL.COM

SINGAPORE (THE BUSINESS TIMES) - Ground handler and caterer Sats sank into the red for the three months to March 31, the first quarter the company is reporting its financials since the coronavirus hit the world.

The listed company recorded a net loss of S$6.3 million for the fourth quarter of FY 2020, against earnings of S$49.9 million a year ago, going by the financial results filed with the Singapore Exchange on Thursday.

Sats said in a statement: "The group's performance for the quarter was impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic across the region, which led to a significant drop in global demand for air travel. This in turn created substantial adverse impact on revenue and profitability."

Revenue dropped 8.1 per cent year on year to S$433.1 million, despite higher contribution from the food-solutions segment. Its gateway services contributed 17.8 per cent less in revenue as a result of the pandemic. By contrast, its food-solutions revenue was marginally higher by 0.8 per cent.

The share of results from associates and joint ventures fell S$40.1 million, registering a loss of S$31.2 million, compared to an S$8.9 million profit in the previous corresponding quarter.

Loss per share stood at 0.6 Singapore cent for the quarter.

Sats' net profit declined 32.2 per cent to S$168.4 million for the full year, with earnings per share at 15.1 cents.

Revenue rose 6.2 per cent to S$1.9 billion, while net asset value per share as at end-March was S$1.45, down from S$1.48 a year ago.

No final dividend has been proposed; the full year total dividend is therefore six cents. This will allow the company to preserve more jobs and capabilities to support its customers as aviation volumes resume, and to pursue opportunities outside of aviation, Sats said in the statement.

Alex Hungate, its chief executive officer, flagged that the operating environment in the next financial year will be challenging for its aviation related businesses.

Sats shares ended at S$2.88 or S$0.01 down on Thursday, before the financial results went public.

View post:

Sats sinks $6.3 million into the red in Q4 - The Straits Times

We made it through the first big racing weekend and bam! Here comes another one! And Monday is a huge day, with Ford finally launching the Bronco. Be sure to check us out Monday, July 13, at 8 p.m. Meanwhile, heres what else is happening in the car world:

Isobel Dando, managing director of Pivotal, Jaguar-Land Rovers just-announced subscription service, explaining why JLR is launching such a feature curiously at the same time Mercedes-Benz is getting rid of its service. Which automaker has the right strategy?

Did you watch Formula 1s 2020 season opener in Austria? Youll recall its the first of eight-straight European races as F1 tries to put together some semblance of a season.

Depending on your viewpoint it was an exciting race with gobs of interesting plot twists and intrigue, differing team strategies, dashed hopes and dreams coming true. Or on the other hand you might have thought it was a snoozefest that put people to sleep around the world, with Mercedes Valtteri Bottas having such a huge lead all day the announcers had little to report with no choice but to go crazy when there was a pass for eighth place or a 16th-place car went out with some sort of malfunction.

One thing thats indisputable is the attrition rate was sky-high. There were only 11 cars running at the end. To get the straight story our Joe Saward, one of just a handful of F1 journalists credentialed at the moment, poked around the garage area and talked to team principals, F1 officials and race engineers and wrote a fascinating piece about why so many cars dropped out. One factor: The Red Bull Rings high altitude makes a cars air-dependent systems work harder. To find out the rest of the story check out Sawards piece here. F1 is back at the Ring this weekend.

In one of motorsports worst-kept secrets Fernando Alonso is returning to Renault, the team that helped bring him two F1 World Championships. He previously drove for the outfit from 2003-06 and again in 2008-09. The move makes Alonso the first driver in F1 history to drive three separate stints for the same team. Hes replacing Daniel Ricciardo, who is moving to McLaren. Alonsos Renault teammate is up-and-comer Esteban Ocon.

Seven-time NASCAR Cup champ Jimmie Johnson has twice tested negative for COVID-19 so can race Sunday (7/12) at Kentucky Speedway. Johnson missed the Brickyard 400 last Sunday, snapping his streak of 663 straight starts dating back to 2002.

A bunch of racing entities are approved for loans under the Paycheck Protection Program. The U.S. Small Business Administration released its list of PPP loan data on the U.S. Department of the Treasury website; the SBA administers the loans. Our list only shows approved entities, not necessarily those who accepted the money.

This weeks In The Car With features industry standout and Aston Martin U.S. boss Laura Schwab. Schwab spoke to our Mark Vaughn and appropriately both were in Astons, Vaughns a red V8 Vantage coupe and Schwabs a DB11 Volante. Through the magic of the web they each dialed up Skype, put their smartphones on the dash and chatted away. Check out new episodes of In The Car With every Wednesday on autoweek.com or on our YouTube page. (You are subscriber, right?) We hope youll join us for the ride!

This content is imported from YouTube. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Toyota Gazoo Racing is adding to its list of spare parts for vintage-Toyota enthusiasts. After starting with A70/A80 Supra parts last May, GR is adding the spectacular 2000GT. The lithe 2000GT was launched in 1967 and stayed on sale until 1970. Only 337 were built. Initially Gazoo is offering transmission- and differential-related parts.

Mercedes-Benzs next-gen S-Class, due in September, looks like it could be the most tech-heavy luxury car on the market. Why? Believe it or not the dang thing has five screens (not a typo!) inside. The center display is almost 13 inches (diagonally) and features Benzs second-generation MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment system. In addition to the center screen theres another screen where the gauges would be, and the passengers in the back get three screens of their ownthey all use the MBUX system, too. Oh, and the head-up display uses augmented reality when navigating; for example, using eye tracking, arrows could be projected onto the road lane. Crazy!

When not conducting interviews from inside an Aston former California Assistant Treasurer-turned-West Coast Editor Mark Vaughn has been tooling around LA in the beautiful Polestar 1, the $150K-plus hybrid from Volvos in-house tuner. Vaughns opinion is that while the car is indeed a stunner it could use some help in the dynamics department.

Taking a page from Vaughns playbook, Patrick Carone did some time out east in Ferraris F8 Spider. Turns out its Carones first trip out of Manhattan since COVID-19 walloped the city a few months ago. In fact its he and his wifes first time venturing more than a couple blocks from their apartment. What a way to bust out of lockdown!

If youre like me you can spend hours watching cars scream around racetracksI could watch supercars fly around the Nrburgring all day. We just posted the boys from the Comrades YouTube channel taking a McLaren Senna out to a public day on the 13-mile legend, flicking around hapless slower cars like they were literally parked. It even starts drizzling halfway through the lap. Check it out, its good fun.

The 117th Autoweek Podcast is sort of a racing special, with our F1 writer Joe Saward checking in from Europe to join Wesley Wren, Mike Pryson and Robin Warner to tell listeners about his time at the Austrian Grand Prix. The gang analyzes the race, the troubles the teams faced and what its like to attend an F1 race during a global pandemic. Later in the show Warner interviews Porsche sports car driver Nick Tandy. Tune in here, on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher or wherever podcasts are played.

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As always were on the case this weekend, monitoring and reporting on automakers and sanctioning bodies latest happenings. Well continually update the site of courseyoull know whats happening when we do. Check back often!

Thanks for reading Autoweek and please stay safe.

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The Autoweek Dispatch: Fernando Alonso Heads Back to Renault, While the Next-Gen Mercedes S-Class Is Jammed with - Autoweek

Cllr Karen Constantine

We really need jobs, jobs, jobs! Decent and secure employment is top of my wish list for Thanet. I know many others feel the same way. Decent work is the foundation for a fulfilling life for many.

To tackle the rising tide of poverty in our area and reverse the decline of our emptying high streets we have to move from a reliance on precarious employment to providing rewarding and secure job opportunities for the long term.

Post-covid, we will require a settlement to help us recover from the economic pressure and strains that the pandemic and austerity have placed on us all. They say we are heading into the worst recession in our history. Making cogent plans to secure full and decent employment should be the goal that brings our communities together in common cause.

Manston has long been an issue that divides us. Its no secret that Ive campaigned on an anti cargo hub and no night flights manifesto, yet I have sympathy with both the fors and againsts.

Over the years Ive listened to thousands of people outlining their concerns and hopes. It almost always comes down to the need for fulfilling employment opportunities. People dont want zero hour or temporary contracts. They dont want to work in jobs below their skill level. They resent working for minimum wages and they dont go to work for no satisfaction. But thats often whats on offer.

The wrong decision

I wish I could feel excitement and optimism about the green light for an air freight hub at Manston, but given the extraordinary circumstances in which permission has been granted, I cant quite suspend my disbelief. This is a wholly political and a wholly wrong decision. The Expert Inspectorate (ExA) who spent considerable time and cost writing a report, didnt recommend the air freight hub. They could not see benefit in the proposal that the Manston plan be given a DCO as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP).

Why has the Secretary of State decided, in the face of all evidence to the contrary, to give it the go ahead? The Governments own advisors say this plan risks the UK carbon targets being missed. Can there be anything more important than tackling the climate emergency?

Not long ago, the plans for the the Heathrow expansion were ruled illegal by the Court of Appeal. That scheme did not adequately take into account the Governments own commitments to tackle the climate crisis. The Government is set to repeat that folly here in Manston. The Secretary of State has blithely ignored the evidence of their own experts.

Whilst this is wholly political decision its also one that effectively passes the buck and leaves the markets to decide whether there are sufficient bullish investors who have 300m to get the project off the ground. Freight capacity currently exists at other UK airports, already operational and with major infrastructure in place, including roads, railways, warehousing and the pre-existing skilled workforce.

Legal challenges

We need cool heads now. I strongly suspect that legal challenges will be brought, given the environmental stakes are sky high. This will cause inevitable lengthy delays. The judicial process is very time consuming, For instance, Im still waiting to go to appeal with Marion Kepple in respect of the closure of the acute stroke unit at QEQM.

The legal challenges against Manston air freight hub will be mounted. The research conducted and assembled by the ExA and others will be scrutinised. The impact on the environment and our health will be examined in detail.

The impact on the environment and our health will be examined in detail. Research confirms that exposure to regular aircraft noise dramatically increases the risk of dying from a heart attack. In addition, exposure to carbon monoxide from planes also impacts respiratory conditions like Asthma, causing increased hospitalisation.

Some think Manston is vital to imports and will be a boon to exports. Think again. The weaker pound makes imports more costly. Air freighted goods more-so. We are in uncharted territory. Post Brexit, UK goods are likely to become more expensive to export. Tariffs negotiated on a country by country basis will make it it difficult for companies to export efficiently. We can take nothing for granted.

We simply dont know how Brexit and Covid will impact our markets.

Where will the mandatory house building be?

In addition, losing Manston as a potential brown-field housing site means, without doubt, we will see thousands more homes crammed into unsuitable green spaces and green wedges. Again, this is imposed upon us by central Government. We wont get the 400 social (council) homes that Stone Hill Park promised, nor the other amenities including an advanced manufacturing business park creating high quality jobs, nor tourism magnet leisure facilities which included a surf lake and Kents first Olympic-standard swimming pool. These came as part of a package of 4000 homes.

Also take into consideration that Heathrows Terminal 5, cost 4.3b to build. Will 300m actually be enough cash to get Manston going? I have my doubts. Especially when you consider the escalating costs of the Parkway railway station.

The ExA reached the right conclusion. That the Secretary of State overrides them is unacceptable and sets dangerously low standards. The Government isnt acting in the public interest but their own. Its a narrow, fettered, self-interested decision and aims to hoodwink us all into believing in the unbelievable. It denies a public discussion about what Thanet really needs, and what we should be demanding from our Government.

Jobs, jobs, jobs.

We may continue to disagree. However, we should agree that, as a minimum, regardless of what happens (or doesnt) at Manston, and regardless of our own personal preferences, that we need our senior politicians to urgently secure an immediate economic recovery plan for Thanet, the poor relation in Kent.

Thanet has vibrant potential, with very many talented and highly qualified young people. We are not currently harnessing, utilising and developing their skills and talents. Nor do we have a strategy in place to develop work in new green technologies or the creative industries where we can expect expansion of opportunities.

Government must underwrite a plan to ensure the provision of decent, sustaining work that we all need. Not tomorrow, nor contingent on private sector investors but NOW!

Related

Excerpt from:

Opinion with Cllr Karen Constantine: Seeing Red Flight of fantasy is not the answer to Thanet's plight. - The Isle of Thanet News

SHANGHAI (REUTERS) - Four cities along China's Yangtze river have declared top-level flood warnings over the past two days after torrential rain triggered landslides and inundated roads and farmland, with parts of the river threatening to burst its banks.

The "red alerts" in Xianning and Jingzhou in Hubei province and Nanchang and Shangrao in neighbouring Jiangxi highlight the country's vulnerability to extreme weather from climate change and the risks of overdevelpment on flood plains, experts say.

About 140 people are dead or missing from the storms, while China's state broadcaster CCTV said on Friday (July 10) that accumulated economic losses exceed 60 billion yuan (S$11.9 billion).

China has blamed unusual weather conditions, including humidity carried from the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean, as the immediate cause, but it has also said long-term changes in climate patterns have made it more vulnerable.

In June, rainfall was 13.5 per cent higher than the seasonal average, according to official data. The country has experienced a 20 per cent increase in incidents of heavy rainfall since 1961, the China Meteorological Administration has said.

"The floods in southern China are consistent with an increase in extreme weather due to climate change," said Liu Junyan, campaigner with the environmental group Greenpeace.

"In many parts of China, we have seen dramatic changes in precipitation in recent decades, and as a result, flooding."

A recent study conducted by researchers in Nanjing suggested that economic damage from floods rose to US$25.3 billion (S$35 billion) a year over 2006-2018, up nearly a third from the 1984-2018 annual average.

Each 0.5 deg Ctemperature increase would lead to a US$60 billion rise in annual flood losses, they estimated.

While climate is a major factor, this year's floods also expose the growing risks from overdevelopment in flood plains, said Ma Jun, director of the independent Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs (IPE), which monitors China's rivers.

"The rainfall is high but it is not the highest," he said.

"The flooding is going to cause a lot more damage because of urbanisation and industrialisation, especially in low-lying places."

China has been vulnerable to floods throughout its history, with climate conditions made worse by human activities like deforestation, the reclamation of wetlands and the storage of water for power generation and irrigation.

Beijing has in turn sought to engineer a solution to the problem, with giant dam projects partly designed to regulate water flows along the Yangtze, the longest river in Asia.

The giant Three Gorges reservoir has been storing around 50,000 cubic m per second of water this week, while discharging only 35,000 cubic metres per second in order to reduce the impact of floods downstream.

It is now 3.5m higher than warning levels, according to the Ministry of Water Resources.

Mr Ma said China needs better urban planning - and increased efforts to build "sponge cities" capable of absorbing water - if it is to ease the rising long-term risks.

"China has spent more resources building dams and reservoirs and flood controls, but they are not a panacea," he said.

Read the original:

China cities declare flood 'red alerts' as extreme weather threats surge - The Straits Times

He denied pulling the gun to cops... until he was shown the pictures.

A Hispanic couple driving through a wealthy area of Colorado looking for their friend's wedding rehearsal found something else instead: a furious CEO who allegedly threatened to blow their heads off.

On June 12, Chris Ochoa and his girlfriend were traveling through Elk Canyon Estates in Sedalia, and followed his GPS to the exact address given to him by the groom.

After pulling into the driveway, they realized they didn't recognize any of the cars there, so immediately made a u-turn to head back out and call their friend. They didn't get very far.

Karen Calls Police on Black Man Waiting on Son Outside His Own House View Story

"As I was driving back up the main road, a large red truck pulled in front of me and cut me off, blocking the road," Ochoa wrote on Facebook, with the pictures to prove it.

He said the man who would later be identified as Paul Favret, the CEO of a local energy company jumped out of the truck and pulled a gun on them.

"He then ran to my driver's side window (which was down) and continued to point the gun and yell that he was 'going to blow our head off!' and that he 'wants to blow my head off'," he claimed in the post.

"He did not ask us any questions about where we were going. He simply cut us off and assaulted us. Apparently, the u-turn that I had made was in his driveway; and he wasn't happy about it."

With their hands up and not daring to move, knowing he could shoot at any time, the couple continuously apologized and told him they were just searching for their friends' wedding party.

"We apologized for turning around in his driveway but he would not put the gun down," he said. "He remained in rage for what felt like an eternity."

82-Year-Old Shoots 11-Year-Old Neighbor and Her Dad Dead After They Testified Against His Dog View Story

As he moved around the car, his girlfriend quickly snapped the pics and called 911.

"We felt in danger as he kept pointing the gun at our faces and continued to tell us how much he wanted to kill us," he said.

A member of the wedding party finally arrived and Favret eventually backed off and retreated to his house. When the couple arrived at the correct venue nearby, they showed the photo to the owner of the house, the groom's aunt, who identified Favret as the HOA President.

Ochoa who identifies as Mexican-American later found out that two other cars had gone to the incorrect address because of the GPS mix-up, but no one else had guns pulled on them. He also discovered he and his girlfriend were the only minorities in the entire neighborhood at the time, and he believes this is why he was targeted.

However, when Ochoa told police he wanted to press charges, he claimed the groom's aunt told him "If you press charges and disrupt my community I will cancel the wedding."

"I was in disbelief that she put me in the position of choosing between ruining my best friend's wedding or doing what is right," he wrote. "I had no choice but to walk away. It amazed me that she was willing to cancel her own nephew's wedding because of this."

Ochoa was so upset over the incident he ended up missing the wedding the next day. However now that it has passed, he decided to push ahead with pressing charges.

In an incident report, Favret initially denied pulling a gun. But when deputies showed him the pictures, he changed his story, claiming he didn't remember that part because of pain medication he was on for shoulder surgery.

Black Mother Says Two Men Wearing MAGA Hats Pulled Gun on Her and Teen Daughter View Story

He issued a statement through his company Resource Energy, claiming: "The Facebook post in question does not portray an accurate version of the events. However, I deeply regret my actions that day."

"I had no way of knowing the identities of the individuals in the vehicle," he said. "I just saw the unknown vehicle very close to the home at a time when we were not expecting any visitors and our property is clearly marked with our address and is about 1/2 mile from their destination."

Favret also claimed he's had problems with intruders on his property in the past engaging in illegal elk hunting.

According to 9News, The Douglas County District Attorney's Office has now filed five criminal charges against Favret, including two felony menacing charges and three misdemeanors relating to gun crimes.

He has until the end of the week to turn himself in; if he does not an arrest warrant will be issued.

If convicted, he could face up to three years in prison.

He declined an on-camera interview with the site, but sent a text exclaiming "Now that I am healing... and understand what really happened I feel terrible that I scared them. I scared myself."

Got a story or a tip for us? Email TooFab editors at tips@toofab.com.

Florida Sheriff Threatens to Deputize Every Gun Owner in the County to Combat 'Lawless' Protesters View Story

Link:

CEO Threatens To Blow Latino Couple's Heads Off After Making Wrong Turn Into His Driveway Looking For Wedding Rehearsal RM - TooFab

Teen sensation is among a select band of players to hit goals in consecutive league games for the Red Devils and his talent is hard to play down

On a night when Manchester United made Premier League history,another moment of magic from 18-year-old Mason Greenwood inspired them to victory.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sat relatively silently on the sidelines at Villa Park as he watched his side extend their unbeaten run to 17 games in all competitions and become the first team in Premier League history to win four consecutive games by a three-goalor highermargin.

United cruised to this3-0 victory over Aston Villa and it was Greenwood again providingthe standout moment.

Solskjaer has been keen to downplay any links between Greenwood and great players of Uniteds past but its now hard to ignore the comparisons between the teenager and the clubs all-time leading goalscorer Wayne Rooney.

Remember the name!, commentator Clive Tyldesley roared when Rooney burst onto the scene for Everton in October 2002 when he washailed as the coming force in English football.

Greenwood had just turned one and will have had no idea of Rooneys heroics that day against Arsenal. But now, 18 years later,he has taken on the mantle of the most exciting young talent to push through in a generation.

His work off the ball has been praised as much as his goal scoring and it was another confident performance from the attacker, who has nailed down his position in the starting XI. But for all the praise of his work rate and pace it is his goals which are setting him apart from the rest.

Spare a thought for any defender trying to deal with him.A coach might demand that a centre-back shows an attacker onto his weaker footbut Greenwood doesnt have one.

Some wonderful work from Anthony Martial in the build-up to United's second goal,after winning the ball back off Tyrone Mings, preceded a sublime finish from Greenwood. From outside the box - andwith his supposedly weaker right foot - he beat Pepe Reina with a rocket of a strike.

That brought his total to 16in all competitions and nine in the league;the last teenager to score that many in a single league campaign was a certain former United No.10 in Rooney.

Solskjaer might not want to attract thecomparisons but the evidence is there for all to see. The homegrown prospecthas the talent that could be key to Uniteds fast-flowing attacking front line for years to come.

His goal, which came in added time in the first half, settled a tie which at first United were slow to get in to. Solskjaer named an unchanged side for the fourth consecutive league game, the first time United had done so since November 2006, but their effortswere fruitless early on despite the possession they enjoyed.

While Villa pressed the visitors in the opening exchanges, Unitedlooked lethargic and not at all like the fast attacking team we have seen since the restart.

Anwar El Ghazi and Douglas Luiz both had efforts from range which werent anything to test David de Gea. On another day Jack Grealish would have given them the lead when he got on the end of a great ball from Ezri Konsa but the United target could only volley his effort over the bar at the far post.

Paul Pogba was then caught in possession and Trezeguet fired a warning sign as his effort ricocheted off De Geas post.

A controversial penalty decision moments later, however, ensured United took the lead. Fernandes pirouetted on the ball and brushed intoKonza as he did so. The Portuguese was looking for the contactbut VAR backed referee Jon Moss decision. Fernandes duly dispatched from the spot for his seventh league goal of the season.

United sparked into life after the goal with a power injected into their front line that had been missing in the opening half hour. Greenwood, Martial and Marcus Rashford all had driving runs into the box that had to be dealt with by Reina before Greenwood scored Uniteds second before the break.

Solskjaer will say he is not interested in records but becomingthe first side to win by a three-goal or higher margin for four consecutive league games is some feat, especially a team that not so long ago was looking for consistency and creativity.

Article continues below

Pogba, who put in another classy performance in the hub of Uniteds midfield, got the third. A Fernandes corner was delivered straight to the Frenchman waiting on the edge of the box. He took one touch before perfectly guiding his curled shot into the bottom corner.

United were in cruise control by that stageand it gave Solskjaer the opportunity to rest his key men. Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Greenwood, Martial, Nemanja Matic and Fernandes all came off ahead of another busy week.

The United boss might decide to rotate his squad with three big fixtures to come but one things for sure; Greenwoods going to be key. Remember the name.

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'Remember the name!' - Greenwood merits Rooney comparisons and heads for Man Utd record books - Goal.com

This article first appeared in Harper's Bazaar Singapore, the leading fashion glossy on the best of style, beauty, design, travel and the arts. Go to http://www.harpers bazaar.com.sg and follow @harpers bazaarsg on Instagram and harpers bazaarsingapore on Facebook. The July issue is out on newsstands.

It is easy to look at a blindingly beautiful star such as Priyanka Chopra Jonas and think: "When has someone like that ever struggled to be accepted?"

But it turns out the Bollywood-Hollywood double threat has quietly amassed her share of battle scars in the fight for greater inclusivity and diversity - the topic du jour in fashion and entertainment these days.

Her career may be in ascendance and she may be one half of Tinseltown's newest power couple since marrying singer Nick Jonas, but the 37-year-old reveals she still encounters bias in her professional and personal life.

"It's a factor every day," she says.

Discreetly, she does not elaborate. But, as she sits in her dressing room at our cover shoot in Los Angeles - swathed in a fluffy grey robe and with her chihuahua-mix rescue Diana burrowed in her lap, it is clear she has given this some thought.

Asked if the much-touted moves towards greater diversity and inclusion in the media are more than just a trend, she is impressively pragmatic.

"Look," she says. "Buzzy is good. It's great that people are talking about inclusivity because there's an accountability. When someone doesn't do it, you can say, 'Why aren't you doing it?'

"So, if it is a trend, let's use it in a way in which it actually becomes a reality. Because only when the noise is loud enough is there change."

Chopra says that society still has a very specific idea of what beauty should look like and how it should sustain over the years. PHOTO: HARPERS BAZAAR

The same goes for acceptance of different body shapes and sizes.

"I would like to see the most amazing fashion labels catering to women of all sizes," she says. "There's this thing called 'sample size' and I don't know who that size is for. A woman's body changes, especially because of having kids or just from being in your 30s, and then your 40s and 50s."

She adds that society still has a very specific idea of what beauty should look like and how it should sustain over the years. "And how someone who's 50 should look like a 25-year-old. Those skewed ideologies still exist and I wish the fashion and beauty industries would really be aware of it."

I always end up wearing really large diamonds because my Indian heritage insists on big gemstones. But I'm an amalgamation of the world. I have East and West in me and I can wear a sari with as much elan as I do a gown or a little dress.

ACTRESS PRIYANKA CHOPRA, on how her heritage helped shape her personal style

She concedes: "Of course, there's conversation around it and we see some amazing representation of beautiful women who are full and curvaceous. But again, it's not 'normal' and it's just a pat on the back when someone does it."

The Quantico (2015 to 2018) and Baywatch (2017) actress is doing her bit to nudge industry norms in the right direction.

Last year, she launched the "Skinclusion" campaign with skincare brand Obagi to celebrate different skin tones.

She says: "When I grew up, I didn't see anybody who looked like me on a magazine cover in the United States.

"Now, my kids or my friends' kids or my nieces are going to grow up seeing girls like themselves and the more that happens, the more we normalise a cosmopolitan world that is full of all kinds of people."

The actress is very much lighting the path towards that world.

Since appearing in the terrorism series Quantico and becoming Mrs Nick Jonas, she is, for many in the West, their first real taste of anything South Asian, especially after her widely documented Indian nuptials last December.

"For a lot of people, I'm an introduction to what India is," she says. "It's like, 'Oh, this is what happens at an Indian wedding.'"

She relishes her role as de facto cultural ambassador, though.

"I love cross-pollination and I want to be able to educate people about this incredible culture I grew up in."

"Like, my husband is all about it," she says of the 27-year-old Jonas Brothers star and actor, who has taken to playing Bollywood tunes as his "hype music" before he goes on stage.

Chopra says she still encounters bias in her professional and personal life. PHOTO: HARPERS BAZAAR

This is why she and Jonas are producing an upcoming Amazon reality series in which couples of different faiths and ethnicities "come and, instead of a boring rehearsal dinner, have a sangeet", a lively Indian pre-wedding reception.

"It's important for us to make our children curious and tolerant and to have conversations about including every kind of person, regardless of their geography or physicality or sexuality," says the star, who is in talks to appear with Keanu Reeves in the fourth Matrix film slated for release next year.

An avowed feminist, Chopra Jonas plans to fuse her philanthropic efforts with those of her husband, and continue using her celebrity to promote education and women's rights through her work with the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (Unicef) and the Global Citizen poverty-eradication initiative.

She believes that her heritage and peripatetic childhood as the daughter of two army doctors not just gave her a uniquely cosmopolitan world view, but also shaped her personal style.

"I always end up wearing really large diamonds because my Indian heritage insists on big gemstones," she quips. "But I'm an amalgamation of the world. I have East and West in me and I can wear a sari with as much elan as I do a gown or a little dress."

"My heritage has given me the confidence to experiment and wear different things. I'd wear an amazing kurta from Sabyasachi (Mukherjee) with jeans," she says, referring to the Indian fashion and jewellery designer.

When it comes to signature red-carpet looks such as her show-stopping caged Dior gown at the Met Gala last year, she inhabits a slightly different headspace.

"I'm moody. I guess this is the actress in me," she says. "I choose a character I want to be and create scenarios for my stylist, hair and make-up and wardrobe. Then, they present a bunch of things to me, we all have some rose and do a fun fitting and ideate."

For her everyday style, Chopra Jonas prefers to "be comfortable yet put together".

"But at home, I'm a sweats ninja - that's what my husband calls me," she says with a chuckle.

Whatever she puts on, the non-negotiable accessory is confidence. Which, she insists, is something "you're not born with; anyone can learn".

"I was an extremely insecure kid and had low self-esteem till I was 20," she says. "But over time, especially because I started working in the entertainment business at 18, I quickly adapted to knowing this is something I can create."

And the trick to that? "Finding your strengths instead of focusing on your weaknesses," she says.

"Everyone has flaws. I have a million of them and, being a public person, I get told about all of them."

But she has learnt how not to be so hard on herself, work through her insecurities and learn, ultimately, that "you're your own best friend".

"Because the longest relationship you're going to have with anyone is with yourself," she points out.

"And we forget that all the time."

View original post here:

Ahead of the curve, Entertainment News & Top Stories - The Straits Times

We made it through the first big racing weekend and bam! Here comes another one! And Monday is a huge day, with Ford finally launching the Bronco. Be sure to check us out Monday, July 13, at 8 p.m. Meanwhile, heres what else is happening in the car world:

Isobel Dando, managing director of Pivotal, Jaguar-Land Rovers just-announced subscription service, explaining why JLR is launching such a feature curiously at the same time Mercedes-Benz is getting rid of its service. Which automaker has the right strategy?

Did you watch Formula 1s 2020 season opener in Austria? Youll recall its the first of eight-straight European races as F1 tries to put together some semblance of a season.

Depending on your viewpoint it was an exciting race with gobs of interesting plot twists and intrigue, differing team strategies, dashed hopes and dreams coming true. Or on the other hand you might have thought it was a snoozefest that put people to sleep around the world, with Mercedes Valtteri Bottas having such a huge lead all day the announcers had little to report with no choice but to go crazy when there was a pass for eighth place or a 16th-place car went out with some sort of malfunction.

One thing thats indisputable is the attrition rate was sky-high. There were only 11 cars running at the end. To get the straight story our Joe Saward, one of just a handful of F1 journalists credentialed at the moment, poked around the garage area and talked to team principals, F1 officials and race engineers and wrote a fascinating piece about why so many cars dropped out. One factor: The Red Bull Rings high altitude makes a cars air-dependent systems work harder. To find out the rest of the story check out Sawards piece here. F1 is back at the Ring this weekend.

In one of motorsports worst-kept secrets Fernando Alonso is returning to Renault, the team that helped bring him two F1 World Championships. He previously drove for the outfit from 2003-06 and again in 2008-09. The move makes Alonso the first driver in F1 history to drive three separate stints for the same team. Hes replacing Daniel Ricciardo, who is moving to McLaren. Alonsos Renault teammate is up-and-comer Esteban Ocon.

Seven-time NASCAR Cup champ Jimmie Johnson has twice tested negative for COVID-19 so can race Sunday (7/12) at Kentucky Speedway. Johnson missed the Brickyard 400 last Sunday, snapping his streak of 663 straight starts dating back to 2002.

A bunch of racing entities are approved for loans under the Paycheck Protection Program. The U.S. Small Business Administration released its list of PPP loan data on the U.S. Department of the Treasury website; the SBA administers the loans. Our list only shows approved entities, not necessarily those who accepted the money.

This weeks In The Car With features industry standout and Aston Martin U.S. boss Laura Schwab. Schwab spoke to our Mark Vaughn and appropriately both were in Astons, Vaughns a red V8 Vantage coupe and Schwabs a DB11 Volante. Through the magic of the web they each dialed up Skype, put their smartphones on the dash and chatted away. Check out new episodes of In The Car With every Wednesday on autoweek.com or on our YouTube page. (You are subscriber, right?) We hope youll join us for the ride!

This content is imported from YouTube. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Toyota Gazoo Racing is adding to its list of spare parts for vintage-Toyota enthusiasts. After starting with A70/A80 Supra parts last May, GR is adding the spectacular 2000GT. The lithe 2000GT was launched in 1967 and stayed on sale until 1970. Only 337 were built. Initially Gazoo is offering transmission- and differential-related parts.

Mercedes-Benzs next-gen S-Class, due in September, looks like it could be the most tech-heavy luxury car on the market. Why? Believe it or not the dang thing has five screens (not a typo!) inside. The center display is almost 13 inches (diagonally) and features Benzs second-generation MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment system. In addition to the center screen theres another screen where the gauges would be, and the passengers in the back get three screens of their ownthey all use the MBUX system, too. Oh, and the head-up display uses augmented reality when navigating; for example, using eye tracking, arrows could be projected onto the road lane. Crazy!

When not conducting interviews from inside an Aston former California Assistant Treasurer-turned-West Coast Editor Mark Vaughn has been tooling around LA in the beautiful Polestar 1, the $150K-plus hybrid from Volvos in-house tuner. Vaughns opinion is that while the car is indeed a stunner it could use some help in the dynamics department.

Taking a page from Vaughns playbook, Patrick Carone did some time out east in Ferraris F8 Spider. Turns out its Carones first trip out of Manhattan since COVID-19 walloped the city a few months ago. In fact its he and his wifes first time venturing more than a couple blocks from their apartment. What a way to bust out of lockdown!

If youre like me you can spend hours watching cars scream around racetracksI could watch supercars fly around the Nrburgring all day. We just posted the boys from the Comrades YouTube channel taking a McLaren Senna out to a public day on the 13-mile legend, flicking around hapless slower cars like they were literally parked. It even starts drizzling halfway through the lap. Check it out, its good fun.

The 117th Autoweek Podcast is sort of a racing special, with our F1 writer Joe Saward checking in from Europe to join Wesley Wren, Mike Pryson and Robin Warner to tell listeners about his time at the Austrian Grand Prix. The gang analyzes the race, the troubles the teams faced and what its like to attend an F1 race during a global pandemic. Later in the show Warner interviews Porsche sports car driver Nick Tandy. Tune in here, on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher or wherever podcasts are played.

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As always were on the case this weekend, monitoring and reporting on automakers and sanctioning bodies latest happenings. Well continually update the site of courseyoull know whats happening when we do. Check back often!

Thanks for reading Autoweek and please stay safe.

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The Autoweek Dispatch: Fernando Alonso Returns to Renault; Next-Gen Mercedes S-Class Is Jammed with Tech - Autoweek

There can never be enough piling on Tom Brady, Alex Guerrero, and TB12, so its important to note that it was disclosed this past week that the Brady brand was approved for a Paycheck Protection Program loan of somewhere between $350,000-$1 million. The mere notion that it would apply is offensive.

If there is a baseball season, Im picking the Tampa Bay Rays to win the American League East.

Washington Post sports columnist Shirley Povich was a god in our industry and fought vigorously against the racist Redskins of his time. When Cleveland running back Jim Brown was crushing Washingtons football team, Povich wrote, Jim Brown, born ineligible to play for the Redskins, integrated their end zone three times yesterday. In another column, Povich wrote, The Redskins colors are burgundy, gold, and Caucasian.'

Garoppolo, a two-year-old horse making his second start, won a race at Belmont Park this past week.

The 2021 Red Sox will have already played 10 games against the Orioles before they first meet the Yankees June 4 in New York.

QUIZ: Name the only pitcher to hit a grand slam in an LCS game. Answer below.

Rusney Castillo has a major league contract, so even though theres no minor league season, hell make a final $5 million (prorated from his $13.5 million annual salary) from the Red Sox this year if there is a 60-game major league season.

Hate to see jobs lost, but a COVID-19-inspired limit on basketball assitant coaches is not the worst development. There are simply too many people in suits on NBA (and college) benches. It looks like one coach per player. Red Auerbach laughed at this in the early days of coach inflation. Red did it alone for his whole career and still had time to smoke a cigar on the bench when his team was far ahead at the end of games.

Patrick Mahomes has sports first half-billion-dollar contract. Wonder who will be the first billion-dollar player.

Umpire Joe West is 67, but he plans to work the shortened baseball season. West needs 66 games to pass Bill Klems record of 5,375 regular-season games worked by a big league umpire. Cowboy Joe gave multiple interviews this past week and came just shy of calling the whole COVID-19 thing a hoax. It got so bad that the umpires union Thursday put out a statement peppered with disclaimers such as regardless of any umpires personal views . . . we will conduct ourselves as professionals.'

Apropos of nothing (the great Nick Cafardo always used that in his Sunday notes), it occurs to me that Brady and Larry Bird share an odd/weird Boston ending. The last play of Bradys Patriots career was a pick-six in a playoff loss to the Titans. For some reason, it reminds me of Birds last game. Does anybody remember Larrys final competitive moment? It was the gold medal game of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. The USAs Dream Team defeated Croatia for the gold. And the great Larry Bird went scoreless. Larry Legends final game produced 0 points and two rebounds in 12 minutes. Bird was the only US player who did not score in the USs 117-85. Leading scorers for the losers: Drazen Petrovic (24), Dino Radja (23), and Toni Kukoc (16).

Speaking of Bird, during those early shutdown days of re-watching great games from the golden era, was I the only one who noticed that Larrys lefthanded game against Portland in 1986 has been somewhat overstated? Bird indeed scored 47 points in a 120-119 overtime win on Valentines Day in Portland, but I counted only seven lefthanded baskets when I re-watched it, and most of those were close to the hoop.

Eight of the NHLs playoff teams have never won the Stanley Cup: Arizona, Columbus, Florida, Minnesota, Nashville, Vancouver, Vegas, and Winnipeg. The Canucks made it to Game 7 of the Finals twice, losing to the Rangers in New York in 1994 and at home against the Bruins in 2011 (remember that one?).

I Give Up Dept.: Seth Schorr of Fifth Street Gaming told the New York Times, I expect that within the next five to 10 years in North America, esports will be third after the NFL and the NBA in terms of total wagering.'

RIP to Haverhills Mike Ryan, who made us all proud when he was a local boy catcher for the 1967 Red Sox. Ryan spent parts of four seasons with the Sox. He caught Dave Morehead and Ken Brett in Game 4 of the 1967 World Series and went 0 for 2 (like a lot of people) against Bob Gibson. Ryan died Tuesday at his home in Wolfeboro, N.H.

Congrats to WEEIs Courtney Fallon, a Boston native wholl be a sideline reporter for ESPNs coverage of Major League Lacrosses 20th anniversary tournament beginning next weekend in Annapolis, Md.

QUIZ ANSWER: Orioles lefthander Mike Cuellar vs. Minnesota in 1970.

Dan Shaughnessy is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at daniel.shaughnessy@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @dan_shaughnessy.

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Will sports re-starting really work? And other thoughts - The Boston Globe

MONTREAL -- Today was the last day that Quebecs speedily recruited new orderlies got to practice their skills on mannequins.

From now on theyll be in the field, learning to take care of real people.

Its not a moment too soon, as the military withdrawal from Quebecs care homes is complete. The Red Cross workers sent in by the federal government to help replace them, 900 in total, will trickle into place over the course of July.

But the new orderlies are prepared, said one clinical instructor, despite their quick training.

We're trying to give them as much of a realistic approach to the program [as possible] so they're not caught off guard in any way, said instructor John Millar.

Weve focused a lot on PPE, we've focused a lot on isolation protocols, so we're very firm on that.

Theyve learned other skills, too, such as how to bathe residents or transfer them from a bed to a wheelchair. And the trainers have tried to prepare them emotionally for what can be a very tough job.

The most challenging for me is going to be end-of-life care, said Dev Rishi, who used to be a truck driver but applied for Quebecs expedited orderly training.

We're going to spend time with our residents for five years, ten years, and when they're going to leave, it's going to be really challenging for me, he said.

Another of the trainees, Maria Dhe Paganon, said she quit her job waiting tables for a chance at a steady job in health care.

If I can put that much effort and hard work into people rather than food, I can make a difference, she told CTV News.

CONFUSION LINGERS AROUND PAY

Theres also been some confusion around the program.

The provinces plan is to have 10,000 new orderlies in place by September, and when authorities sent the job callout they offered a competitive wage, including paid training.

But some students said they havent been paid yet, after about three weeks of training. They thought theyd be getting $26 an hour, paid biweekly.

A document obtained by CTV, sent to students training within the Central-West health district, explains that the students will be paid in three monthly installments for training. It also says the hourly rate is $20.55.

The health authority confirmed to CTV that trainees will receive their pay in three installments. Once the training is completed, they'll be paid the going pay on the "established salary scale" for orderlies, "as well as all applicable premiums," said spokesman Barry Morgan.

The union representing existing orderlies says that with COVID bonus premiums, the trainees will indeed by getting $26 an hour once training is over.

The trainees have had mixed reactions to this news. Some have been angry or even quit.

I feel like it depends upon the situation of every person, said Rishi on Tuesday, because me, I have savings, I can manage, but some people here, they're living paycheque to paycheque. For them it's really hard.

Theyll continue training in the field over the summer before officially starting their jobs in September.

RED CROSS ARRIVING THROUGHOUT JULY

Meanwhile, the new Red Cross workers are slowly arriving to be a summer stopgap.

Quebec Premier Franois Legault expressed frustration Tuesday that more than 1,000 Canadian Armed Forces soldiers have ended their mission inside Quebec's long-term care homes.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in late June the Canadian Red Cross will send 900 people to replace them. Trudeau said 150 Red Cross workers would arrive before July 6, with the balance in place by July 29.

Legault told reporters he hoped the Red Cross would be deployed more quickly. The premier lamented that only about 100 Red Cross members had begun working in Quebec's long-term care homes, where the majority of the province's deaths attributed to COVID-19 have occurred.

A Department of National Defence spokesperson said in an email Tuesday that soldiers transitioned out of Quebec long-term care homes on June 29, with small teams on standby to respond to any COVID-19 outbreaks that staff can't control on their own.

Legault said many hospital staff are still working in seniors' residences, creating residual problems in getting hospital operations going.

--The Canadian Press contributed to this report.

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After three weeks in classrooms, new class of 10000 Quebec orderlies heads into the field - CTV News Montreal

The race was originally scheduled to happen in April 2020 before it was postponed to the end of the year. Now, the 2020 event is canceled and it's set to happen in 2021 in April, COTA said.

Dorna Sports issues the following statement:

"The FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports regret to announce the cancellation of the 2020 Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas. Previously postponed, the ongoing coronavirus outbreak and resulting complications now sadly oblige the cancellation of the event to be confirmed. However the Promoters of the event and Dorna have already begun working on possible dates to propose to the FIM for the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas in April 2021 and plans have started in order to welcome the fans back ti the iconic venue. Circuit of The Americas is a stunning modern classic just outside of Austin, TX, and first welcomed MotoGP in 2013. Splashed with colour across the whole venue, and with one of the most awe-inspiring ascents into a tight Turn 1, the facility has turned heads since it joined the calendar and the FIM IRTA and Dorna Sports are very much looking forward to returning to the track next season."

Visitors from around the world came to Austin to witness the Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix in November of 2019.

Unfortunately for racing fans, they'll have to miss out on the tight turns and fast speeds in 2020 and have to wait until next year.

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2020 Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas race at COTA canceled due to COVID-19 - KVUE.com

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Its happening. . . .

Washington owner Dan Snyder is working on a name change for the team, coach Ron Rivera told The Washington Post in a Saturday interview. Rivera hopes the change can happen in the next two months.

If we get it done in time for the season, it would be awesome, Rivera told Les Carpenter.

Rivera indicated he and Snyder were discussing a name change even before sponsors such as FedEx, Nike and Pepsi applied pressure to eliminate a dictionary-defined racial slur. Snyder talked to NFL officials about it some 2 1/2 weeks ago, according to Rivera, and the owner is ready to make a change he once vowed would never happen.

The team issued a statement Friday, announcing it was conducting a thorough review of the name.

Rivera, who is on vacation, said Snyder has called him to discuss names. Quarterback Dwayne Haskins is among those who support Red Tails as the new name of the franchise.

Rivera did not share any of the possible team names he has discussed with Snyder.

We came up with a couple of names, Rivera said. Two of them I really like.

The most important criteria for a new name is that it respects Native American culture and traditions and also serves as a tribute to the military, Rivera said. Rivera is the son of an Army officer who grew up on military bases.

We want to do this in a positive way, Rivera said, adding they want to ensure the name wont be a joke.

Rivera, who was hired Dec. 31, told a Chicago radio station last week that the team name was a discussion for another time. He clarified Saturday, saying he believes the death of George Floyd on May 25 and the protests that followed the reason for his interview with the radio station was a separate issue from the dispute over the team name. Rivera added that he did not want to discuss the issue with a radio station in another market.

But Rivera, one of only four minority coaches in the NFL, made clear in the interview with Carpenter that he believes its time for the team name to change.

It was hard to fathom that it was in any way a racist thing, to be honest with you, Rivera said rooting for the team during the time he spent in the Washington area as a kid. Now, putting it in perspective, theres been a change.

My eyes are wide open.

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Ron Rivera collaborating with Dan Snyder on new team name - NBC Sports - NFL

METALS STOCKS

Gold futures ended lower on Friday, but held ground above $1,800 an ounce to score a fifth weekly gain in a row as the spread of coronavirus in many U.S. states and other countries raised the need to hedge against risk amid continued uncertainty over the economic outlook.

The fundamental drivers stimulating appetite for gold remain firmly in place, with the medium to longer term outlook pointing north, Lukman Otunuga, senior research analyst at FXTM, told MarketWatch. However, where gold trades in the week ahead will be heavily influenced by how prices behave around the psychological $1,800 level.

Gold futures ended lower on Thursday, pulling back after scoring a settlement Wednesday at the highest since September 2011, but the haven metal held ground above $1,800 an ounce after data showed weekly U.S. jobless benefit claims remained well above 1 million.

Read: Why gold has become a weapon of choice for investors

After charging to levels not seen in nine years, gold may experience a technical correction back towards the $1,780-$1,765 region before bulls gather fresh momentum on risk aversion, said Otunuga.

For the week, gold rose roughly 0.7% from last Thursdays settlement, which was the weeks last session due to the Independence Day holiday. The metal now has tallied a fifth weekly rise in a row, and trades up by more than 18% for the year to date. Silver was up about 4% for the week.

Analysts have tied golds rally in part to a continued fall in bond yields, which have eroded or eliminated the opportunity cost tied to holding non-yielding assets such as gold. The 10-year Treasury note yield

Gold also has kept its appeal amid worries that aggressive stimulus efforts could spark inflationary pressures.

Read: Why safe haven gold and the stock market are now moving the same direction

In a note dated Thursday, analysts at Goldman Sachs wrote that gold is a function of two primary factors: Fear which drives investment demand in developed markets, and Wealth which drives consumer demand in emerging markets.

An environment where the U.S. recovery slows due to a second wave of virus cases, but China, the worlds largest retail gold buyer, is recovering strongly is ideal for gold, as this would put downward pressure on U.S. real rates via the Fear channel and increase EM demand for gold via the Wealth channel, they wrote.

U.S. underperformance is also bearish the dollar, which helps gold by boosting the dollar purchasing power of consumers outside the U.S., they said.

Given all of that, the analyst said they have even greater conviction in their bullish $2,000 an ounce 12-month price target.

Among other metals on Comex, September copper (HGU20)rose 2.1% to $2.8975 a pound, for a weekly gain of more than 5%. October platinum (PLV20)shed 0.1% at $845.90 an ounce, tacking on around 1.7% for the week, and September palladium (PAU20)added 1.6% to $1,994.40 an ounce, for a weekly rise of over 3%.

Gallery: Which of the world's economies will recover fastest? (Lovemoney)

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Gold heads for weekly gain as it holds above $1,800 an ounce - MSN Money