Porsche joins this month's gay pride cultural festival in Germany, known as the Christopher Street Day. The festivity happens every year at the end of July and this year, and Porsche showcases its solidarity to the cause by displaying six multi-colored Porsche 911 units, representing a rainbow which has been a symbol of Pride festivals.
Of note, Porsche wasn't the first automaker to express support with Pride events. Earlier this month, Bentley wraps its Continental GT V8 with a rainbow theme in support of North West of England's first virtual Pride event. You may need: diagnostic code reader. Back in June, BMW made a similar move and wrapped an 8 Series Convertible in celebration of LGBTQ+ Pride Month in the United States.
During this time of the year, millions of people all over the world campaign for the rights and take a stand against discrimination of the LGBT+ community. This aligns with Porsche's view; the automaker stands up for an open-minded existence and diversity.
"We demand and foster equal opportunities and want to make it possible for all Porsche staff to contribute just as they are, regardless of elements including their gender, ethnic background, religion, disability, age or sexual orientation," explains Andreas Haffner, Member of the Executive Board for Human Resources.
Apart from the six colorful Porsche 911s, the automaker's flagpole bears a rainbow flag during the weekend of the festival. The 911s were parked on the square outside of the Porsche Museum, while quite a number of Porsche employees joined the virtual Pride Run – running distances in bright-colored shirts on their own routes.
Take note that Porsche has also taken a stance on the matter internally. Three and a half years ago, the Department for Equal Opportunities and Diversity (MEC) was born to promote equal opportunities for all employees of the company.

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Given the state of the world right now, we're all looking for something to warm our hearts and put smiles on our faces - and Jessica Swale's Summerland does just that.
The period drama, primarily set during World War II, follows Alice (Gemma Arterton), a reclusive author who debunks folklore and myths and lives on her own in a house by the seaside in a small town where she is teased by local children and believed to be a witch.
Her peace is interrupted when she is entrusted with caring for Frank (Lucas Bond), a teenage evacuee from London. She is reluctant to let him stay and asks for him to be given to another family, but while that process happens, they have to learn to live with and tolerate each other. AD: Bluetooth scan tool. At first Alice isn't interested in looking after him or giving him any attention, annoyed he's getting in the way of her life's work, but eventually they form a friendship, care for each other, and he helps her investigate myths, such as magical floating islands in the sky.
Through flashbacks featuring Vera (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) in the 1920s, we learn more about Alice's history and why she is on her own and so grumpy and obnoxious, and we also get a glimpse of her in the present day, played by Penelope Wilton.
Despite the period setting, the movie takes on contemporary themes and tells a lovely - albeit very sentimental - story about forbidden love and loss, with magical floating island spotting in-between. The setting is beautiful, with the White Cliffs on the south coast of England often in the background.
Arterton puts in a reliably solid performance. She begins as this wild-haired crabby spinster who doesn't care what the town thinks of her and gradually becomes someone much kinder and more considerate. Frank makes her think about somebody else for once and her hard attitude following years of hurt and isolation softens slowly but surely.
She has top support from the adorable Bond, Dixie Egerickx as his new school friend Edie, and Mbatha-Raw in a small yet pivotal role, while Tom Courtenay pops up as Mr. Sullivan, who has to deal with Alice's tantrums.
The story isn't particularly gripping or exciting and it is a bit too good to be true, yet Summerland is a sweet, uplifting tale that should put a smile on your face.

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Singapore - They are going viral. The two photos here of the 10 Workers' Party members who were elected in the recent General Election.
The MPs-elect were at the 2020 Cabinet Swearing-In Ceremony yesterday, which was held simultaneously at the Istana and in Parliament as part safe-distancing measures.
The photos, published online by WP Secretary-General Pritam Singh, show the 10 MPs-elect wearing masks and observing social distance at the Istana and in Parliament. See: Autel car diagnostic. There were five of them at each venue.
Mr Singh, Mr Muhamad Faisal Manap, Mr Gerald Giam, Mr Leon Perera, Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong and Dr Jamus Lim are in suits, while Ms He Ting Ru is in a formal dress. WP Chairman Sylvia Lim and Ms Raeesah Khan made a statement in ethnic wear.
The photos drew nearly 9,000 likes in a span of only two hours. Those commenting on the photos spurred the opposition MPs-elect on as they prepare to take part in the latest term of Parliament alongside a sea of 83 PAP MPs.
The 2020 General Election saw the WP make significant gains in Parliament even though prominent party members Mr Low Thia Khiang, Mr Chen Show Mao and Mr Png Eng Huat had stepped down from electoral politics.
In what was the first election under the leadership of Mr Singh, the WP held on to its Aljunied GRC-Hougang SMC stronghold and scored better than it did in the 2015 General Election.
On top of winning a stronger mandate in the two wards it already held, the WP made history once again and clinched yet another GRC - the second multi-member constituency to ever be won by the opposition - when the WP team at Sengkang GRC beat a PAP team of three political office-holders and a newcomer.
The four-member ward was newly carved out ahead of the elections and was contested by three fresh faces from the WP - Dr Jamus Lim, Ms Raeesah Khan and Mr Louis Chua - and one candidate who had run in one previous election, Ms He Ting Ru. The WP team faced off with a People's Action Party (PAP) team that included three political office-holders and one new candidate.
The WP team pulled off what seemed like an impossible feat when it emerged the victor at the polls, beating the PAP team of Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and labour chief Ng Chee Meng, Senior Minister of State for Health and Transport Dr Lam Pin Min, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs and Health Amrin Amin and new candidate Raymond Lye. /TISG

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Good morning and welcome back to Speed Lines, The Drive's roundup of what matters in the world of cars and transportation. It's Friday, and that is always a good thing. On tap for today: the "fundamental architecture" of the Tesla Model Y will be different when it comes to Germany, Volvo's hybrid gamble pays off and BMW's still trying the hydrogen thing.
A quick programming note: due in large part to the extremely slow auto industry news cycle as of late, Speed Lines will be running on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from now on for the foreseeable future. You may need: Bluetooth scan tool. If you have strong feelings about this move or general feedback, I'd love to hear them in the comments.
Tesla had another great week, posting its fourth consecutive quarterly profit at $104 million and even more deliveries than in Q1. It announced its next factory will be in the Austin, Texas area. Its stock price continues to soar until it becomes the standard by which all global currency is judged by. All good things for the most-watched automaker on the planet.
But this is Elon Musk we're talking about, so there's always a chance he'll pull a fast one on the rest of us. Buried in Tesla's Q2 earnings call is a detail that didn't catch a lot of headlines: the fact that the Model Y crossover sounds like it will be significantly retooled when its production begins in Germany's Giga Berlin plant sometime next year. Here's a transcript of that call from Seeking Alpha, emphasis mine:
Well, we bring a massive amount of effort into manufacturing engineering, the machine that makes the machine. There's probably 1,000%, maybe 10,000% more engineering required for the factory then for the product itself. So we're certainly making progress. I mean, battery and powertrain factory, Gigafactory in Nevada is, you know, alien dreadnought version 0.5, something like that, starting to approach version 1.
We're getting way better at making cars. You can see that in Giga Shanghai. You'll see that even more with Berlin. And we're really changing the design of the car in order to make it more manufacturable. The fundamental architecture of Model Y will be different in Berlin, it may look the same, but the internals will be quite different and fundamentally more efficient architecturally than what we've done to date.
And Tesla manufacturing exec Drew Baglino followed up:
Yes. I was going to expand on that. I think part of the Alien Dreadnought concept is not just automation, but minimizing the number of process steps and complexity involved in the manufacturing system, which involves really integrating design and manufacturing across from like when the raw materials enter the factory to the finished goods exit. And we're learning so much through doing that.
It's extremely rare, if not entirely unprecedented, for an all-new car to be retooled completely with a year or two of its launch while it still looks the same. Having said that, quality issues around the Model Y are already well-documented, and considering the many, many production problems its sibling the Model 3 had, it does not surprise me that Tesla is trying to retool things as it gets that car out to the global masses.
This could well be a catch-up move-like a software patch-after Tesla rushed to get the Model Y out on time. Baglino is talking about production; Musk seems to be talking about the car itself. An Electrek post from earlier this month indicates it's a mix of both.
Presumably, those manufacturing techniques will be adapted at the Fremont and Shanghai plants, so it will be interesting to see if the Model Y itself is really that much of a different car. Somebody get Sandy Munro on the phone.
Gone, somewhat sadly, are the days when Volvo subsists on turbocharged five-cylinder engines. But in their place have been a new generation of plug-in hybrid, forced-induction motors across the entire range. They're impressive powerplants for sure; I was just testing a T8 XC90 and was won over by its power and efficiency.
These motors are clicking with buyers, too, reports Automotive News. Plug-in hybrid sales are now up 80 percent in the first half of 2020. F...

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Hong Kong expanded compulsory mask-wearing rules to cover all public areas, as part of the strictest social-distancing measures unveiled by the government on Monday.
"Residents should wear masks to protect themselves and everyone around them," Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung Kin-chung said at an afternoon press conference announcing the ramped-up rules.
The new regulation will take effect on Wednesday and is set to last a week. Currently it is only compulsory to wear masks at public indoor venues. AD: autel code reader.
Get the latest insights and analysis from our Global Impact newsletter on the big stories originating in China.
Andrea Fraser, 32, who plays football for Kitchee SC's women's team, said the new mandate was "incredibly frustrating for athletes" and that under the coming rule, she did not plan to exercise outdoors.
"In the summer, Hong Kong gets incredibly hot and humid. It's already super uncomfortable when I'm walking at a normal pace. I can't even imagine running or doing sprints as part of a football training workout ... I would be dying," she said.
"I think people are either not going to exercise as much or will just put up with it ... even though it's not ideal."
Why is the government expanding the mask-wearing requirement?
Hong Kong is battling a third wave of coronavirus infections, with more than 100 new cases recorded for the sixth day in a row.
Cheung said there was a need to toughen Covid-19 measures after noting how some recent confirmed cases showed people were exposed to higher risks of infection when they did not wear masks and engaged in various social activities.
The city set a single-day record of 145 coronavirus cases on Monday, with four additional deaths, taking the tally to 2,778 infections and 22 related fatalities.
Of the latest cases, 142 were locally transmitted, also a record high.
The number of Covid-19 infections has already surpassed the 1,755 recorded for the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak in 2003.
Concerns have also been raised over the risk of spreading the respiratory disease when people take off their masks to smoke.
What groups will be affected?
Only children under the age of two or with a "reasonable excuse" such as medical conditions will be exempted from the new mask regulations. Mask-wearing is not mandated when eating and drinking or taking medicine.
The exemptions do not apply to those who are exercising.
For smokers, health director of special duties Thomas Chan Chung-ching said at the press conference: "The public should take this opportunity to quit smoking and avoid doing so in public areas."
Those who flout the rules will be subject to a maximum fine of HK$5,000 (US$645).
Should you exercise with a mask on?
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said in its guidelines last month that people should not wear masks when exercising as this could reduce the ability to breathe comfortably.
Although it was still possible to exercise with a mask on, a degree of discomfort from sweat and heat generated via exercise, as well as from the environmental temperature, could be expected, said Julien Baker, a professor and head of the department of sport and physical education at Baptist University.
He added that people should be aware of the large amounts of water vapour carried in expired air when they exercise, which can compromise their face masks.
"Depending on the type of mask used, this may compromise the integrity of the mask, making it wet and inefficient as a protective device ... There may also be potential for poor hygiene associated with a saturated mask," he said.
Experts also said people should avoid exercising vigorously outdoors with a mask on.
"Previous research has shown that masks that restrict air flow increase the rate of perceived exertion, in other words, the difficulty of an exercise, while also reducing exercise performance," said Stephen Wong Heung-sang, professor and chairman of the department of sports science and physical education at Chinese University.
He recommended that those with pulmonary or other serious medical conditions seek medical advice before exercising with a face mask.
...

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Singapore - "One united people regardless of race, language or religion." This is what all Singaporeans recite in the National Pledge. Many countries around the world laud and look to Singapore as the model multiracial society, one that many should aspire to in terms of managing race relations.
Yet, many Singaporeans (especially in recent years) will tell you that while Singapore has indeed come far in managing the race issue, the journey has not ended and there is more to be done. See: Autel diagnostic scanner. What we have attained is perhaps tolerance at best.
The Younger Generation Is More Open
It's about time Singapore engages in much more open and honest conversations about race. The younger generation especially are the ones who are much more willing to engage in these conversations.
Just last week, Education Minister Ong Ye Kung spoke about how young people today have a very different view of race and religion. He mentioned that the generation before him approached Singapore's diversity with a tolerant mindset, while his generation is more accepting and appreciative of other cultures.
He said: "But if you ask people of my generation to sit down and have a conversation (about sensitive issues), it feels awkward, and almost a bit embarrassing and uncomfortable."
Continuing with the generation of today, he mentioned that "they actually want to talk about it. But they need facilitation, and they are honest about it".
This is a viewpoint I agree with wholeheartedly. The younger generation of today seem to be much more vocal about what they view of racial prejudice, and other issues like gender discrimination and climate change.
Exhaustion From Educating The Majority
Some of my friends from the minority races have commented that they feel that many from the majority race are ignorant about the plight of the minority races. One of my Indian friends commented that she constantly feels tired having to explain to her Chinese friends why certain issues are racist.
The exhaustion of having to explain racism to the majority race is something that many minorities feel and rightfully so.
When looking at the way racial and religious issues are discussed online, one common narrative that emerges is the rhetoric that the onus is not on the minority groups to educate the majority race on racism.
This is indeed true.
How then can we resolve this exhaustion?
I have spoken to a number of friends, and they have all mentioned how it's important to start engaging in such conversations about race and religion at a young age.
Many (myself included) have highlighted that their days in school were where they faced a substantial amount of racist comments.
It is, therefore, important to correct this when we are at an impressionable, young age to prevent the ignorance to be carried on as we mature.
Starting Young
Tampines Secondary School recently used conversation cards and board games to engage students on race and religion, which I find is a much more fruitful way to celebrate Racial Harmony Day. Such engagement with these scenarios will heighten the empathy and sensitivity of the young to such issues.
Of course, engaging in such dialogue does not mean we do it only on Racial Harmony Day.
Sometimes when I share my own experiences facing racism to some of my friends who are Chinese, they find themselves uncomfortable or awkward hearing my experiences and are unsure of how to react to them.
To foster an environment that allows all parties to engage in such sensitive issues comfortably and sensibly, perhaps at a school level it should be inculcated into our daily curriculum. This could range from having games such as those used by Tampines Secondary School to showing movies that highlight similar themes or even having simple sharing sessions within the class.
Schools are not the only parties that should be involved in ensuring open conversations about race. The home is another, so parents should do as best as they can to start conversations with their children about race and religion as well. The issue is then, what happens if some parents themselves are holding onto racist mindsets? Well, then its time for...

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Although the Bugatti we know today makes some of the most extreme and expensive cars in the world under the Volkswagen umbrella, the Molsheim, France-based automaker is a company with modest family roots. It was started in 1909 by Ettore Bugatti, who obviously loved cars, but first, he loved his sons. In 1926, his four-year-old son Roland asked Ettore for a car, and unable to tell him no, he got to work with his older son Jean to produce the original Bugatti Baby, a half-scale, electric replica of their famous Type 35 racer.
Of course, it ended up being a hit with rich customer's children, so 500 of them were ultimately produced and sold between 1927 and 1936. You may also like: TPMS Programming Tool.
Today, despite some of the charm being lost, Bugatti has remade the baby, albeit at a slightly larger three-quarter scale and with a bit more power. It's called the Baby II, and it can do 42 miles per hour.
It'll do said speed thanks to a 13.4-horsepower electric motor that powers the limited-slip rear axle. That power is only available in the Vitesse and Pur Sang trims, however. There's also a base model. Yes, Bugatti's toy car for rich kids has three trim levels.
The positively plebian €30,000 base model (about $35,000) is eloquently named "Base." It has a composite body (plastic of some description), paired with a 1.4Kwh battery pack, which provides about 15 miles of range. That pack also allows the 5.4-hp electric motor to propel the base-model Baby Bugatti up to 30 mph in "Expert" mode-if you consider your child an expert. There's also a "Novice" mode that's limited to just 12 miles per hour-perhaps for one of your offspring who you only have 1.3 horsepower's worth of faith in.
I wouldn't want to be seen in that base model, however. You can only get it in blue and I don't want my dearest Rupert to be arrested for vagrancy in downtown Monaco. For that reason, I'll be taking out a loan against my parent's house (don't tell them) to purchase either a Vitesse or Pur Sang trim level. Ah, I'm feeling better already. A bit further from that base model filth.
The Vitesse is the cheapest model available with the top-of-the-range 13.4 horsepower electric motor. That is, if you consider €43,500 ($50,500) cheap. It has a larger, 2.8kWh battery pack for an extended range of about 31 miles, and its 42 mph top speed is also a bit easier to reach thanks to a carbon fiber body.
Yep. That's not even the most expensive one.
The exterior is available in a variety of colors, as is the leather the seat is upholstered in. You can also select a higher quality leather if regular hides won't do. And the only difference between this model and the range-topping "Pur Sang" is the €58,500 ($68,000) price and the hand-formed aluminum body. Bugatti tells us it takes 200 hours to form.
There's a variety of other techy stuff that the little car has like LED headlights and regenerative braking, but most of the other details we received from Bugatti talk about riveting stuff like how the fuel pump handle has been exactly reproduced using 3D scanning and so is the gear selector.
Frankly, with all of the technology at Bugatti's disposal, I'm not sure why they aren't just making exact, full-size replicas of Type 35s. I know there are companies that already do that and do it well, but all of this fuss for something for a kid to tool around in seems pretty silly to say the least. Plus, we all know that kids don't care about stuff like this, and they will undoubtedly leave it out in the middle of the yard for it to get rained on.
I'm afraid you'll have to act fast if you want one, though. The original 500 reservations ran out rather quickly, but a few spots have opened up due to the global pandemic. You can configure one on the Bugatti Baby's website if you want to confirm with your child which color would be appropriate for his new toy. I think our Deputy News Editor Caleb is actually doing that right now.

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Yesterday was Ford's big day, and the Bronco's biggest rival, Jeep, did everything it could to spoil the party. First, it released a concept for a V8-powered Wrangler that reports indicate is headed to production, and whose hype video showed it scaring off horses-a not-so-subtle jab at Ford. Then, on launch day itself, Jeep announced it will soon go somewhere else Ford can't quite yet follow: down the route of electrification with the Wrangler.
Jeep specifically refers to the 4xe model as "electrified," which, while encompassing everything from mild hybridization to full electric drive, is in this case tipped to mean plug-in hybrid (PHEV) power. You may need: diagnostic scanner. This will give the Wrangler 4xe and its smaller Compass and Renegade 4xe companion models the flexibility to drive on both an internal combustion engine and-for short distances-purely electric power.
Though this 4xe drivetrain is also anticipated to appear underneath the Gladiator and revived Wagoneer, just when Jeep plans to introduce hybrid power remains unknown. Ford's electrification plans for the Bronco remain similarly ill-defined, as the company has reportedly floated the idea of an electrified Bronco internally, though in our talks with Ford's U.S. consumer marketing head Mark Grueber, he was hesitant to confirm such a model, stating only that Ford will monitor the market for demand.
And if the 2021 F-150 is anything to go by, there certainly is a demand for hybrid trucks, which on the new F-series will look like a 47-horsepower electric motor attached to the engine. It's a less extensive form of hybridization, but it's also one that requires less engineering and thus expense, and could let Ford expedite a hybrid Wrangler competitor to market-just perhaps not one that can drive on electric power alone-for now.

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We're calling it – the Ford Bronco and Bronco Sport are two of the hottest debuts this year. From anticipation to leakages down to the official launch, motoring journalists in the U.S. and all over the world surely had their hands on deck when these two returning nameplates finally made their debut. See: Launch obd2 scanner.
In fact, all 3,500 reservation slots for the Bronco First Edition models were sold within hours, which prompted the automaker to boost the production to 7,000 units, giving chance to those who would like to be the first to own the limited-run, fully-fledged Bronco.
Unfortunately, those additional 3,500 slots are exclusive to the U.S. market, according to a report by Muscle Cars & Trucks. In a statement to the publication, Bronco Sport Marketing Manager Jovina Young said that "Bronco First Editions specifically was a US-Market product." Young added that the reservations are not transferrable.
With that said, those who reside in Canada, or any other country other than the U.S. for that matter, won't get the first versions of the Bronco and Bronco Sport.
Available for $59,305 (2-Door) and $63,500 (4-Door), the Bronco First Edition is described by Ford as having the Badlands' mechanicals combined with the best bits of the Outer Banks' interior and Wildtrak exterior. You'll also get unique graphics and interior touches, plus a Shadow Black hardtop, Lux package, and Sasquatch package.
As for the Bronco Sport First Edition, Ford said that it mixes Badlands' capability with the Outer Banks' cabin, along with unique badging, black accents, and graphics. Only 2,000 units of the Bronco Sport First Edition will be sold for $39,995.
Ford targets delivery of the Bronco by the spring of 2021, while the Bronco Sport will start moving by the fall of 2020.

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Real Madrid's 34th La Liga title owed much to their old guard but Spanish football has witnessed a number of new players exploding onto the scene.
Here, AFP Sport takes a look at five revelations to come out of the season.
1. Martin Odegaard, Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad have had many success stories this season, with Alexander Isak, Mikel Merino and Mikel Oyarzabal all helping to put them within sight of the top four.
But Odegaard was the architect of their surge, delivering performances of such consistent quality that many believed Real Madrid might recall him early from his two-year loan.
Four goals and five assists hardly does justice to the 21-year-old's contribution. When Real Sociedad were playing well, he was at the heart of everything and it was no coincidence their late dip coincided with Odegaard's suffering from tendinitis.
Half a decade after Madrid made him a world sensation aged 16, Odegaard is coming good.
2. Lucas Ocampos, Sevilla
After hopping around five clubs in seven years, Ocampos appears finally to have found his feet.
The 25-year-old is not only Sevilla's top scorer, he is in the top five in La Liga, with 14 goals in 32 games.
Sevilla signed Ocampos from Marseille and they got a gem because Ocampos has been one of the players of the season, with his running, power, and energy helping Sevilla secure a place in the top four.
With a thundering shot and a feisty attitude, the Argentinian has been a fans' favourite from the start.
Ocampos has already been linked with another move but with Sevilla in the Champions League, he might finally decide to stay put.
3. Fede Valverde, Real Madrid
Valverde was quieter after the three-month break seemingly took the edge off his fitness but he was the catalyst for Madrid's recovery early in the season and a pivotal run in the middle.
That 21-match unbeaten streak put Madrid in contention for the title when Valverde was perhaps the team's most important player.
He injected energy and dynamism into a midfield that had become too one-paced and brought a directness that made Madrid's attack less predictable.
When Madrid failed to deliver Paul Pogba last summer, many thought Zinedine Zidane had been left short. To his relief, Valverde stepped up.
4. Ansu Fati, Barcelona
It is 11 months since Fati burst onto the scene by becoming the third youngest player to score in La Liga, before sending Spanish football into meltdown by scoring again, 111 seconds into his first start for Barcelona.
At 16 years and 304 days old, he was Barca's youngest ever scorer but it was not just the records that impressed. He dribbled, shot, nutmegged opponents and took risks.
"We have to take this kid very seriously," warned Madrid's Marca while El Mundo declared: "A star is born".
Eight goals, three since the restart, and 25 league appearances is a remarkable return for a now-17-year-old, with a hugely exciting future.
5. Ferran Torres, Valencia
Torres made his La Liga debut in January 2018 but this has been a breakthrough campaign for one of Spain's brightest young talents.
Lightning quick and with an end-product to match, Torres has long been attracting the interest of Europe's top clubs, which could result in a move unless he extends his current contract beyond next year.
His performances this season have done little to dampen enthusiasm around the 20-year-old, who has hit six goals in 43 games, including two in the Champions League.
With Valencia missing out on Champions League qualification and the club again looking for a new coach, Torres appears to feel his future lies elsewhere. There will be no shortage of suitors.
ta/lp

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The publisher of a Chinese-language children's book accused of spreading racial discrimination has pulled the book from stores and suspended further distribution.
Days after the National Library Board said it was removing theWho Wins? book, publisher Marshall Cavendish Education today apologized not for its racist depictions, but rather any confusion readers may have experienced.
"We would like to apologise for any misunderstanding caused to some readers. As a socially responsible publisher, we have decided to cease the sale and distribution of this series and recall the books from retail stores," it said in a statement.
[MCE PRESS RELEASE]
ADVENTURES OF PI PI《谁赢了》 WHO WINS?
The core of Marshall Cavendish Education's mission is to support, nurture and inspire students. We want to reassure our readers that there is no intention from Marshall Cavendish Education to produce content that promotes discrimination in any way.
We appreciate the feedback from some public members who have highlighted their perspectives. As a socially responsible publisher, we have decided to cease the sale and distribution of this series and recall the books from retail stores.
We would like to apologise for any misunderstanding caused to some readers. The books we publish cater to an all-inclusive society where diversity is respected and celebrated, and our team is dedicated and committed to that cause.
For any enquiries, please contact us .
Marshall Cavendish Education
- End-
The major educational publisher said it has recalled and would no longer sell the book, which depicted a dark-skinned boy with a "head of oily curls" as a school bully tormenting light-skinned students.
The picture book, written by Chinese author Wu Xing Hua and intended for children 7 to 9, was part of a five-book series called the Amazing Adventures Of Pi Pi. Through Pi Pi's experiences, they impart lessons about life.
The book stirred controversy after it was called out Friday by Facebook user Umm Yusof, who had he borrowed it from a public library.
"Mao Mao is the school bully, everyone is afraid of him. Mao Mao is dark-skinned with a head of oily curls. Mao Mao does not respect anyone, not even the teachers," Umm Yusof wrote of her translated sections from the book.
"It goes on to describe how Mao Mao bullies the protagonist Pi Pi – making him do his homework, use his own money to buy Mao Mao his favourite food, etc. And after Mao Mao gives Pi Pi a bloody nose, the latter walks home cursing Mao Mao as ‘smelly.'"
In response to the backlash, the National Library Board told Coconuts Singapore it was removing the book from shelves.
"In view of some feedback from its patrons, NLB is currently reviewing the Chinese language book in our collection, ‘Who Wins?' by Wu Xing Hua. This will be done in consultation with our Library Consultative Panel, which is an independent and citizen-based panel," its statement said. "In line with our established procedures, we have removed all copies of the books from our libraries during the period of review."
On Racial Harmony Day, ironically, I borrowed an astoundingly racist local book from the National Library Board, Singapore. The villain (毛毛... meaning HAIRY) is described in explicitly racialised terms, and in contrast to all the other characters who are depicted as fair-skinned.
Quote: "Mao Mao is the school bully, everyone is afraid of him. Mao Mao is dark-skinned with a head of oily curls. Mao Mao does not respect anyone, not even the teachers." It goes on to describe how ...Mao Mao bullies the protagonist Pi Pi - making him do his homework, use his own money to buy Mao Mao his favourite food, etc. And after Mao Mao gives Pi Pi a bloody nose, the latter walks home cursing Mao Mao as "smelly".
This book doesn't use the common redemptive tropes of the bully just being misunderstood, or the protagonist turning him into a friend. Big Bad Black Boy is aggressive from start to end, spurring Pi Pi to learn martial arts ("Karate Kid" trope). The book ends with both boys fighting in the canteen and getting hauled to the principal's office.
Author basically cha...

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Orlando Bloom is praying for the return of his dog, Mighty.
On Sunday, the Carnival Row actor, 43, shared a heartbreaking post about his canine companion, who went missing last week in Montecito, California.
"I don't recall a time in my life where I've been so broken wide open," Bloom wrote alongside a series of photos of him and Mighty on Instagram. "The rawness I have felt over these past few days and sleepless nights at the idea of my little man being lost and scared, with me unable to do anything to protect him, is a waking nightmare. See: TPMS Sensor. "
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"I feel powerless," the star added. "Maybe like so many others who are losing loved ones or unable to see our loved ones because of the times.⁣"
Bloom also told his fans and followers to "cherish the moments we share with the ones we love because nothing is promised."
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"Trust it and don't be afraid of love or the fear of losing love," he said. "Love is eternal. The bond between Mighty and I shows devotion in ways I have not truly understood until now. I am a devoted father & partner, still, there is a reason why they call them ‘man's best friend'. I miss him."
"Send out a prayer for my little strong and Mighty boy to find his way back to his family. 🙏❤️⁣," Bloom concluded his post.
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Bloom revealed on Wednesday that Mighty went missing and was last seen in Montecito. The father-to-be said the pup "is chipped and his collar has a number to call – if you take him to your local vet or shelter or police station he can be traced back to me for a reward."
He also added a note urging fans to "please only send REAL INFO," explaining, "my heart is already broken so please don't add insult to injury."
Bloom welcomed Mighty into his home in 2017 when he was separated from now-fiancée Katy Perry, who is expecting her first child with him. (Bloom is also dad to 9-year-old son Flynn, whom he shares with ex-wife Miranda Kerr.)

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Catch PEOPLE Now every weekday at 1:00 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT on People.com or on the PeopleTV app on your favorite streaming device. Want even more? Check out clips from previous episodes of PEOPLE Now.

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The Porsche 911 Turbo has been the quintessential high-performance sports car with everyday usability for the past 45 years. Following the market launch of the 911 Turbo S, the next generation 911 Turbo Coupé and Cabriolet are now being introduced – even more powerful, even faster and even more individual.
Thanks to their 427 kW (580 PS; 911 Turbo: Fuel consumption combined 11.1 l/100 km, CO₂ emissions combined 254 g/km; 911 Turbo Cabriolet: Fuel consumption combined 11. See: autel scan tool. 3 l/100 km, CO₂ emissions combined 257 g/km) engines, 30 kW (40 PS) more than their predecessors, both model variants dip under the magic three second 0-100 km/h mark with a time of 2.8 seconds (0.2 seconds faster). 750 newton metres of torque (up 40 Nm), now without an overboost time limit, make quick sprints even more spontaneous and effortless.
Acceleration, power output and torque of the new 911 Turbo therefore all match those of the previous generation 911 Turbo S. Power transmission is performed by an eight-speed PDK gearbox with a Turbo-specific set-up while its top speed remains unchanged at 320 km/h. Options such as the Sports and Lightweight Design packages, sports chassis and sports exhaust system are available for the 911 Turbo for the first time. As a result, customers will be able to adapt their vehicle even more to their individual tastes.
The new sports cars are following in prestigious footsteps as the 911 Turbo has been synonymous with luxury and performance since 1975. Each generation has continued to live up to the claim of being a global benchmark for high-performance sports cars. The 911 Turbo combines sportiness with everyday usability, emotive dynamism with reliability and exhilarating performance with efficiency. The latest generation of the two-plus-two seater is more than twice as powerful as the original Turbo, which was powered by a three-litre, single-turbocharged, 260 PS flat six. While the 911 Turbo may have become faster, larger and more comfortable over the years, it has always retained its fundamental characteristics.
The new 911 Turbo's 3,745 cm³ six-cylinder boxer engine boasts an increased output of 580 PS (911 Turbo: Fuel consumption combined 11.1 l/100 km, CO₂ emissions combined 254 g/km; 911 Turbo Cabriolet: Fuel consumption combined 11.3 l/100 km, CO₂ emissions combined 257 g/km) and now features symmetrical VTG turbochargers with electrically controlled bypass valves. In conjunction with its redesigned charge air cooling system and the use of piezo injectors, this improves responsiveness, performance, torque characteristics and its ability to rev freely. The chassis and body have become wider. The front axle now steers even more precisely thanks to an additional 42 millimetres of front track width and new 20-inch 255/35 tyres.
The active all-wheel control PTM is now able to transfer even more power to the front wheels while traction at the actively steered rear axle is increased by a 10 mm-wider track as well as 315/30 tyres on 21-inch wheels – one inch more than on the front axle. The revamped braking system is even more powerful and can be recognised by its red fixed callipers that are fitted as standard. The grey cast iron brake discs at the front now measure 408 mm in diameter (28 mm more than before) and are 36 mm thick (two millimetres more). The rear axle features 30 mm-thick brake discs with a diameter of 380 mm.
A sports exhaust system is optionally available on the 911 Turbo for the very first time. Two different chassis variants are also new: while the standard PASM chassis offers a greater spread between sportiness and comfort, the significantly firmer, electrically controlled 10 mm-lower sports suspension benefits the agility of the new 911 Turbo. Its set-up is aimed at enhancing the car's dynamics and provides even more stability in high-speed driving, such as when the vehicle is used on race circuits. The optional PDCC hydraulic active anti-roll stabilisation and PCCB ceramic brake system with ten-piston fixed callipers at the front refine the new model's driving dynamics yet further.
The design of the...

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Ten billion years ago, two neutron stars crashed into each other, causing one of the strongest explosions ever to be gazed by human eyes.
The light of the explosion, which likely lasted about two hours, took 10 billion years to reach Earth, where it was observed by NASA's orbital Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory.
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If you find the fact that the explosion took place eons ago impressive, you might also be interested to know that the blasts' brightness was equivalent to a quintillion - that's also a million trillion or 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 - Suns.
The explosion, which formed as a short gamma-ray burst (SGRB) was first spotted by a Northwestern University-led team of astrophysicists using NASA's orbital Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, CNET reports. It is the most ancient gamma-ray burst ever to be observed in the night sky by humans.
After NASA's scientists alerted their community, Hawaii's Gemini telescope was also quickly trained on the blast, as were telescopes located in Arizona and Chile.
"We certainly did not expect to discover a distant SGRB, as they are extremely rare and very faint," Northwestern's Wen-fai Fong, a senior author of the study, said in a press release. "We perform 'forensics' with telescopes to understand its local environment, because what its home galaxy looks like can tell us a lot about the underlying physics of these systems."
Based on the observations, as well as evidence previously collected on the gamma-ray bursts short-lived by nature, the collision and resulting explosion likely only took a couple of hours, according to the scientist's paper published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
"With SGRBs, you won't detect anything if you get to the sky too late," Wen-fai Fong explained. "But every once in awhile, if you react quickly enough, you will land on a really beautiful detection like this."

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Yes, it sounds like the plot of "Groundhog Day."
Let's get that out of the way up front. "Palm Springs" is a romantic comedy about reliving the same day over and over, despite the protagonist's best efforts to break the cycle. Nothing new under the sun, as they say.
But a fresh take is still possible, and Max Barbakow's film provides one. You can't reinvent the wheel, but you can make it roll in a quirky way. That's what Barbakow does with "Palm Springs." It's dark, nihilistic, funny and ultimately sweet and hopeful, and thus so inadvertently perfect for people stuck at home practicing pandemic avoidance that you kind of have to love it a little.
At least I did.
Andy Samberg plays Nyles, a goof of a fellow tagging along with his younger girlfriend Misty (Meredith Hagner) for a November wedding in the city of the title. Nyles clearly isn't in it for the long haul with the vapid, self-centered Misty, but he seems to be enjoying himself. He floats in the pool while drinking all day. At the wedding - still drinking, still dressed in his swimsuit and flower shirt from the pool - he jumps in and delivers a spur-of-the-moment toast to bail out the bride's sister Sarah (Cristin Milioti), and it's perfect.
Later he flirts with Sarah, things heat up, he shows her some things about Misty she seems to know about already and ... he gets shot with an arrow. Not killed, but wounded, and he crawls off into a cave and, despite warnings, Sarah follows.
Lather, rinse, repeat, sort of. Nyles wakes up again, with Misty again, but now Sarah is stuck in the day, too. Evidently Nyles has been at this for a while - he's exhausted all of the potential fixes Sarah comes up with, but he's got nothing but time so he's willing to let her try them, bemusedly going along for the ride. This creates some pretty funny set pieces. (Screenwriter Andy Siara isn't afraid to go dark, which helps.)
The best part of the film is what you might think of as their blue period - a segment of time in which they figure nothing is going to get them out of this, so they might as well just do whatever they want, whenever they want, however they want. Because they're just going to be back again tomorrow. It's a nihilistic perspective, but a kind of breezy nihilism. All of us stuck inside during the COVID-19 pandemic will recognize the vibe. There are good days and bad days, but mostly just days after days. After a while, you become numb to it.
Actually, Nyles and Sarah do ALMOST whatever they want. Because of the already complicated nature of their relationship, they decide to keep things platonic. Or to try, at least. This is, at heart, a romantic comedy, after all, so good luck with that.
It's a great role for Samberg, who gets to be charmingly smarmy, never going too far in either direction. Milioti is also outstanding - she's tough and she's smart, and even as time goes on, Sarah remains more pro-active than Nyles does when it comes to solving their problem. And their chemistry together is terrific.
J.K. Simmons is terrific as an angry man - imagine that - who has a weirdly tender side. Peter Gallagher is also funny as the father of Sarah (and the bride).
Barbakow keeps things moving, never allowing Nyles and Sarah to overstay their welcome on any particular day. Of course, at some point, they have to move toward a resolution, and that's always tricky in time-loop stories. Particularly in this case, where you're having enough fun with the characters that you wouldn't mind looking in on a few more bizarre scenarios. (More Dale Dickey, please!)
Here again, though, Barbakow makes the wise choice of getting out while the getting's good. (We're in and out in 90 minutes.) It keeps "Palm Springs" refreshing, at a time when that's just what we need.
Three stars
out of four stars
Rated R; sexual content, language, drug use, some violence
1 hour, 30 minutes

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Possibly the only vehicle under more intense scrutiny than the newly revealed 2021 Ford Bronco is its diminutive doppelgänger, the Bronco Sport. For the first time in its history, the Bronco badge will be found on a unibody SUV-one which could easily sully the Bronco name if it didn't meet the public's expectations. Ford knows this, so to ensure the Sport exceeds expectations, it ran the junior model through many of the same extreme testing gauntlets as its larger, truck-based sibling.
Under the guidance of Bronco Sport project manager Adrian Aguirre, Ford tested the Sport in parallel with the full-size Bronco in Johnson Valley, California. Both vehicles were trialed along a similar set of "durability routes," on which Ford evaluated how the Bronco Sport's all-wheel drive, 18:1 crawl ratio, and low-speed modes handle the slow stuff.
High-speed thrashing sessions were undertaken in Anza-Borrego State Park, which Aguirre called the "spiritual home of the Raptor." The Bronco Sport obviously couldn't follow the big Bronco everywhere, but its R&D regimen was very similar.
"I think the Badlands [trim] is gonna surprise in terms of capability for the segment," Aguirre explained in a call with The Drive ahead of the launch. "It's up there with what is currently perceived as being 'performance,' so when you look at some of the 'Trail-Rated' Jeeps, and the Trailhawks, we have very little to ask or nothing. It will fight above its weight class with the Cherokee."
Aguirre pointed to its extensive terrain management system software as one of the Bronco Sport's biggest advantages over its competition, along with the legitimately useful Trail Control feature, Ford's off-road cruise control that sounds like a gimmick but is definitely smarter than a novice in the dirt.
The twin-clutch rear drive unit that can shuffle 100 percent of torque to either wheel and simulate a locking differential.
"In any of the drive modes, you can access the [torque vectoring] rear axle dynamically, so it'll intervene if required. And when you go into off-road modes, you can actually lock that center differential and ensure that you're gonna be having full-time four-by-four," he said.
"Something unique about the way we've executed these drive modes is that there are three unique brake calibrations, which really enable the system to change its behavior between an on-road drive mode, a drive mode where you're in the sand-where you need to have a little bit more slippage-and the slower rock crawl drive mode," he continued. "That, in combination with the driveline software and engine calibration, really enables the system to be a lot more capable than the competition."
Between those tech tricks, the twin-clutch rear end, its standard 8-ish inches of ground clearance and steel underbody bash plates and optional extras like a front-facing trail camera with an integrated washer, the 2021 Bronco Sport looks promising for those who want a bit more go-anywhere abilities in their workaday crossover.

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