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MHI Wins Best 100 Prize at Good Design Award 2022 for EX ROVR “ASCENT” Explosion-Proof Plant Patrol Inspection Robot

TOKYO, Oct 7, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - EX ROVR "ASCENT," the second-generation explosion-proof(1) plant patrol inspection robot produced by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), has won the "Good Design Best 100" award in the "Good Design Award 2022"(2) hosted by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion. EX ROVR "ASCENT" is a robust and reliable partner to achieve a safe working environment, protecting workers and assets by autonomously inspecting plants that process oil, gas, and chemicals. In scenes of accidents, EX ROVR "ASCENT" can be used to report the status even in areas where humans cannot access."ASCENT" second-generation EX ROVRGood Design Best 100 winners are selected as the top 100 entries among the Good Design Award 2022 winners, based on overall judgement of aesthetics, concept, and potential. The development of the EX ROVR series started after gas leakage accident in tunnels occurred in which on-site rescuers were unable to perform activities due to the existence of flammable gases. In winning this award, EX ROVR "ASCENT" was commended for its technology and design that packs many features in a compact body to achieve safety of workers and efficient asset management, the advanced fusion of IoT and robotics, while being Zone 1 explosion-proof.Key features of EX ROVR "ASCENT" include superior mobility achieved by its tracked driving mechanism, long reach provided by its 6 degree-of-freedom wire-actuated manipulator, and domestic and overseas explosion-proof certification such as IECEx(3) and ATEX.(4) The robot can easily navigate staircases up to 46 degrees, steps of up to 20cm, and drive through rough terrains. The manipulator can be extended to a height of 1.5 meters, which allows close-up and front-facing inspection of pressure gauges, pipes, and other inspection targets.Spurred on by this award, MHI will further improve EX ROVR "ASCENT" in terms of both hardware and software, and continue to offer solutions based on explosion-proof robot technology to realize safety and security in diverse environments such as refineries and industrial plants.(1) Explosion-proof devices are defined as being equipped with features that collectively limit the danger of the device igniting an explosion or fire from its own electric sparks or heat in environments filled with inflammable gas. Devices for use in industrial plants, etc. should be certified as explosion-proof.(2) As successor of the Good Design Product Selection System founded in 1957, the Good Design Award represents Japan's activities in design evaluation and promotion, with the "G mark" award symbol widely acclaimed as a mark of superior design. More details can be found at www.g-mark.org/(3) IECEx certificates are issued by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and attest to the suitability of using the device in explosive atmospheres. IECEx certification, which is widely adopted internationally, is based on quality assessment standards set by the IEC.(4) ATEX (ATmospheres EXplosibles) certification refers to two directives based on IECEx relating to explosive atmospheres and stipulate the health and safety requirements and conformity assessment procedures that must be met to bring devices or protective systems for use in explosive atmospheres to the EU market. As the ATEX directives and IECEx follow the same standards, there is fundamentally no difference in their technical details.Please visit the [EX ROVR plant patrol inspection robot] product page at www.mhi.com/products/energy/ex_rovr.html.About MHI GroupMitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world's leading industrial groups, spanning energy, smart infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, please visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories on spectra.mhi.com. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Looks Forward to Another Returning Classic

TOKYO, Sep 23, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team makes its first trip to Rally New Zealand determined to compete for the top positions when the event's popular gravel roads return to the world stage for round 11 of the 2022 FIA World Rally Championship on September 29-October 2.2022 GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRIDKeen to look forward after a disappointing weekend on the rough and rocky roads of Acropolis Rally Greece, the team heads to New Zealand with a lead of 63 points in the manufacturers' championship while Kalle Rovanpera leads the drivers' championship by 53 points and has his best opportunity yet to clinch his first title if he can add eight more points to his advantage.Joining Rovanpera and Elfyn Evans - who make their Rally New Zealand debuts - will be reigning world champion Sebastien Ogier, who finished a close second on his previous visit to New Zealand in 2010 and returns to the team's line-up for the final three rounds of the season. Takamoto Katsuta will be another New Zealand first-timer in his TGR WRT Next Generation entry.Back on the WRC calendar after 10 years away, Rally New Zealand is famed for fast and flowing stages that wind their way through the stunning scenery of the country's North Island. The smooth gravel roads are characterised by their pronounced camber which drivers can use to carry more speed through corners.The rally is based in New Zealand's largest city Auckland, with the service park located on its waterfront and the opening stage to take place in the Pukekawa Auckland Domain park on Thursday evening. Friday then features more than half of the rally's competitive distance with 158.56 kilometres to be driven across two loops of classic stages to the south around Raglan, starting with the iconic Whaanga Coast which is followed by two stages around Te Akau. A tyre fitting zone in Raglan separates the two loops, rather than a full service. Saturday takes place to the north of Auckland with two more loops of three stages run either side of service, while Sunday is made up of two repeated stages on the city's eastern side, with the second pass of the purpose-built Jack's Ridge as the rally-ending Power Stage.Quotes:Jari-Matti Latvala (Team Principal)"Personally I am really looking forward to going back to New Zealand and I think it's a rally that our team can look forward to as well. Greece was of course disappointing for us and there are lessons we can take from there to be stronger on similar rallies in the future. But Rally New Zealand is a very different gravel rally. The surface is smoother, the roads are fast and flowing, and the camber makes it feel like you are dancing with the car. The roads are amazing and you don't find them anywhere else in the WRC. I had the pleasure to win there myself in 2010, actually in a very close finish with Sebastien. For the rest of our drivers it will be a new challenge but I think they will all enjoy those roads and I'm confident we can be fighting for the victory once again."Sebastien Ogier (Driver car 1)"After a nice break it's exciting to be getting back in my GR YARIS for these three events to end the season. Rally New Zealand is one of the rallies I really wanted to do this year. I was there once before in 2010 and I have mostly good memories; it was a very close fight until the final corners when a spin handed the win to Jari-Matti. At the time it was hard to take but thankfully I could score my first WRC win just a few weeks later. The rally itself is beautiful with some of the best roads in the world. After this break it won't be easy to get back in the rhythm right away, but like always I will try to compete for the victory and help the team to the best possible result."Elfyn Evans (Driver car 33)"It's going to be exciting to finally have the chance to compete in New Zealand for the first time. I've heard many great things about the event and especially about the roads and how rewarding they are to drive. So if what everybody says is true then I'm sure we're going to have a lot of fun there and hopefully we can have a good rally. It's never easy to prepare for a new event like this, particularly because we're not able to test outside of Europe, but within the team we do at least have some previous experience from New Zealand, not least from Jari-Matti and Seb. We've also been having a look through the archives for old videos of the stages just to get an idea of what we're likely to face."Kalle Rovanpera (Driver car 69)"It will be really interesting to go to Rally New Zealand. I have only heard good things about the country and the rally and how nice the roads are. To prepare we have been watching whatever videos we can to get an overview of how the stages are and to understand what we might need from the car before we get there. Recent rallies have not been ideal for us but we know what we need to improve and we are working hard to have more pace and be more comfortable. Again we will be opening the road in New Zealand but hopefully we can have good speed, enjoy the event and finish with a good result."Please visit www.wrc.com for the latest. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Mitsubishi Motors’ All-New Outlander Wins 2022 Australian Good Design Award

TOKYO, Sep 20, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (hereafter, Mitsubishi Motors) announced that the all-new Outlander won the 2022 Australian Good Design Award in the Product Design -- Automotive and Transport segment.Outlander PHEV model Organized by Good Design Australia, the Australian Good Design Awards has been promoting excellence in design and innovation since 1958 and is recognized by the World Design Organization (WDO) as Australia's peak international design endorsement program. This year, design projects from around the world were evaluated against criteria for excellence, innovation and impact in design by a jury of more than 70 international design experts. The Good Design Awards Jury commented: "The SUV bodystyle has surpassed the conventional sedan in popularity, mostly because of functionality. The Mitsubishi Outlander is an example of good use of space combined with stylish execution. The Interior delivers a family sized, seven seat accommodation and contemporary styling. The Exterior proportions project a sense of robustness yet nicely balanced with delicate detailing in the lamps and chrome embellishments. Mitsubishi has successfully managed to create a distinctive graphic face in a crowded market." The all-new Outlander is Mitsubishi Motors' flagship built under the design concept Bold Stride. The exterior features thick, horizontal proportions which produce a bold, fixating presence, and the jet tail fin pillars inspired by the vertical tail of airplanes express the vehicle's powerful and nimble road performance. Inside, Mitsubishi Motors carefully selected materials to enhance the premium feel, while the horizontally-sculpted instrument panel, which makes it easy to understand the position of the car while driving, adds a feeling of robustness and spaciousness. "The evolved Outlander series has been highly acclaimed around the world, winning an array of prestigious design awards in Japan, the United States and Europe, and we are honored that the all-new Outlander has won another significant award in Australia," said Seiji Watanabe, division general manager of design, Mitsubishi Motors. "The all-new Outlander embodies the company's 'Robust & Ingenious' design philosophy that epitomizes Mitsubishi Motors-ness. By winning this award, we hope that more customers will have the opportunity to see and experience it for themselves." The winners of the 2022 Australian Good Design Awards were selected in 11 design disciplines which include Architectural Design, Communication Design, Design Research, Design Strategy, Digital Design, Engineering Design, Fashion Impact, Next Gen (Student), Product Design, Service Design and Social Impact. About Mitsubishi MotorsMitsubishi Motors Corporation (TSE:7211) --a member of the Alliance with Renault and Nissan--, is a global automobile company based in Tokyo, Japan, which has about 30,000 employees and a global footprint with production facilities in Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, mainland China, the Philippines, Viet Nam and Russia. Mitsubishi Motors has a competitive edge in SUVs, pickup trucks and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and appeals to ambitious drivers willing to challenge convention and embrace innovation. Since the production of our first vehicle more than a century ago, Mitsubishi Motors has been a leader in electrification--launched the i-MiEV --the world's first mass-produced electric vehicle in 2009, followed by the Outlander PHEV --the world's first plug-in hybrid electric SUV in 2013. The company announced a three-year business plan in July 2020 to introduce more competitive and cutting-edge models, including the Eclipse Cross (PHEV model), the all-new Outlander and the all-new Triton/L200.For more information on Mitsubishi Motors, please visit the company's website athttps://www.mitsubishi-motors.com/en/ Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Targets Gravel Double in Sardinia

TOKYO, May 27, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team aims to continue the winning run of the GR YARIS Rally1 at Rally Italia Sardegna on June 2-5: The second part of a double-header on rough and rocky gravel roads in southern Europe.2022 GR YARIS Rally1The trip to the Mediterranean island of Sardinia comes hot on the heels of last week's Rally de Portugal, where the team claimed a one-two finish in the first gravel event of the hybrid Rally1 era. After three consecutive wins on three different surfaces, Kalle Rovanpera leads the championship by 46 points, with Elfyn Evans up to fifth in the standings after taking second place in Portugal. Esapekka Lappi returns to action in Sardinia where he finished on the podium with the team in 2018. Takamoto Katsuta will once more line up for TGR WRT Next Generation, having climbed to third in the points when he narrowly missed out on a podium in Portugal.Sardinia's stages are characterised by fast but narrow tracks which are lined with bushes, trees and rocks, leaving little margin for error. The sandy surface gets swept away by each passing car to expose a rocky and abrasive base, which can combine with some of the highest temperatures of the season to provide a tough test for cars and tyres.The service park returns to the seafront in Alghero on the island's northwest after one year in Olbia in the east, which will still hold the start of the rally on Thursday evening complete with a new mixed-surface super special stage. Friday and Saturday are made up of familiar roads from recent years, with one pair of stages run to be run twice in the morning before another two tests are repeated in the afternoon. Saturday's leg will be tackled without a midday service, which has been replaced by a tyre fitting zone. For Sunday's conclusion there's a comeback after a year's absence for the Cala Flumini and Sassari - Argentiera stages on the coast north of Alghero, with the latter once again hosting the rally-ending Power Stage.Quotes:Jari-Matti Latvala (Team Principal)"Portugal was a fantastic first event on gravel for the GR YARIS Rally1 and the team can go to Sardinia knowing it has built a fast and reliable car. But we know it won't be easy to achieve a similar result. In Sardinia we can expect higher temperatures and the road surface is harder with lots of loose rocks. The road-sweeping effect is usually greater and will probably penalise us more than it did in Portugal. But Kalle is obviously in incredible form at the moment and I'm sure that Elfyn will also feel a boost to his confidence after his drive last weekend. Finally, Esapekka returns to our line-up and has gone well in Sardinia in the past, so with a good road position I'm sure he will be fast too."Elfyn Evans (Driver car 33)"It was good to get a strong result on the board in Portugal and although I wasn't fully satisfied with the weekend, it gives us something to build on in Sardinia. As a team we showed that we have a great starting point with the car on gravel and I think we can still improve some things for the next event. It helps to have two rallies in succession that are relatively similar in character, although the roads in Sardinia tend to have a harder base than the typical stages in Portugal. The weather is likely to be even hotter, so it is going to be a challenging weekend for the cars and the drivers."Kalle Rovanpera (Driver car 69)"Sardinia will be another tough rally. The stages there have been tricky for me in the past but last year I had a better feeling even though we had some issues during the weekend. Hopefully this year we can enjoy the stages and be fast. If the conditions are hot and dry like normal, I think it could be more difficult for us to fight for the win from first on the road than in Portugal, but the target will be the same: to do the best job we can. We go there knowing that we have a good base with the car on gravel and although we need to focus on making it even better, we are already in a good place."Esapekka Lappi (Driver car 4)"It was great to see the performance of the GR YARIS Rally1 on gravel in Portugal and this has certainly made me more excited for next week. Of course I've not had as much time in the car on gravel as the others but the feeling has been good so far and it looks like the team has done a really good job. I've always liked going to Sardinia; the location and the weather is really nice and I had some good rallies there when I was last with the team. So I'm really looking forward to it. Our starting position will be good for the Friday and I hope we can fight for the top four or even a podium."Please visit www.wrc.com for the latest.Follow TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRT:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TOYOTAGAZOORacingWRCTwitter: https://www.twitter.com/TGR_WRC (@TGR_WRC)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tgr_wrc/ (@TGR_WRC)YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCtALHup92q5xIFb7n9UXVg Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Back in Action on Challenging Croatian Roads

TOKYO, Apr 15, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team will aim to build upon its positive start to the FIA World Rally Championship's new hybrid era when the 2022 season resumes for round three at the Croatia Rally on April 22-24.2022 GR YARIS Rally1The team currently leads the manufacturers' championship with Kalle Rovanpera heading the drivers' standings after claiming the first victory for the GR YARIS Rally1 on the previous round in Sweden in February. Elfyn Evans has been among the pacesetters so far and will be keen to get back on the podium in Croatia, where he was part of a thrilling final-stage showdown with team-mate Sebastien Ogier when the country made its WRC debut one year ago.With the event not forming part of Ogier's programme of selected rallies for 2022, Esapekka Lappi again completes the TGR WRT line-up after finishing third on his comeback in Sweden. Fourth in Sweden was Takamoto Katsuta, who continues his full campaign with TGR WRT Next Generation on a rally he claimed two stage wins on in 2021.After the two winter rounds in Monte Carlo and Sweden, Croatia provides the first pure asphalt test for the new Rally1 cars. The event is based out of the capital city Zagreb with the stages taking place close to neighbouring Slovenia. The roads are characterised by a wide variety of different asphalt types, meaning grip levels are constantly changing. Many sections are fast and flowing and include jumps and crests, while others are more technical and twisting.Following shakedown on Thursday morning and a ceremonial start in Zagreb in the evening, the rally begins on Friday with the longest leg of the event, consisting of two loops of four stages all familiar from the 2021 event. Much of Saturday takes place in similar territory just to the south-west of Zagreb, but there is also a longer trip towards the Adriatic coast near Rijeka for the new Platak stage. As on Friday, all four stages are repeated after midday service. The final day takes place to the north of the capital and includes another new stage, Trakoscan - Vrbno, which is run twice together with Zagorska Sela - Kumrovec, host to the rally-ending Power Stage.Quotes:Jari-Matti Latvala (Team Principal)"The first two events of the season with the new regulations were very intense and the break in the schedule has given us the chance to evaluate what we have learned and to keep developing the GR YARIS Rally1. We had some test days on gravel in Sardinia and then the pre-event test in Croatia last week. Until now, a lot of the focus has been on reliability and the function of the hybrid system, but now we can really work on optimising the setup of the car and trying to make it even stronger. The big challenge in Croatia is that the asphalt surface is often changing during the stages and the level of grip differs a lot. I think this surprised many drivers last year and those going back for a second time will know what to expect. Kalle didn't do so many kilometres last year but knows it's important to keep scoring points, Elfyn was so close to winning in 2021 and will want to get a strong result, and then for Esapekka the rally is completely new. So our drivers may be approaching the rally differently but hopefully this can be good for the team result at the end of the weekend."Elfyn Evans (Driver car 33)"It's been quite a long break since the last rally so it's been good to get back in the car for some testing and to get ready for Croatia. For me it has not been the start to the year that we wanted by a long way and we need to look forward and focus on performing in the coming events. Croatia is not an easy rally but it was a good one for us last year and hopefully we can have a strong run again. There are some things from last year that we have tried to learn from so that we have a car that's suited to all of the different conditions. On our test we had a particularly slippery road that's similar to what we'll face on the rally, and that was a good place to work through some options."Kalle Rovanpera (Driver car 69)"I have been waiting to get back in the car for Croatia and that's always a good sign! We've only had two rallies but it's always nice to have some good points in the beginning of the season. We are in the same situation as last year leading the championship going to Croatia and hopefully we can do better there this time around. It will be a big challenge for us because we didn't get to experience most of the stages last year, but we have been in this situation before with less experience than our rivals and I will do my best to manage. The feeling in the test was positive and I think there has been really good progress with the car. Hopefully it will go well on the event too."Esapekka Lappi (Driver car 4)"Sweden was a great start to our season sharing the car with Seb. I hope I can take the confidence from there, but that was in conditions I know well and something I'm comfortable with, while Croatia will be a completely new rally for me. But I'm still really looking forward to what we could do there. The car felt really good in the test. It had been a while since I had driven on asphalt and it's crazy how impressive the grip is on this surface. You can also really appreciate how much extra power we have from the hybrid. It was a bit like a Finnish road with a lot of crests and jumps, which is not so common on asphalt and pretty fun. There's also a lot of dirt on the roads and managing that is something I want to be better at. I want to perform well and have a clean rally and I'm sure we can do it." Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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More cell-cultured chicken products approved for sale in Singapore

SINGAPORE - Alternative-protein lovers have something new to "peck" at, after Singapore on Thursday (Dec 16) approved the sale of more cultivated meat products. The move comes a year after it became the world's first country to allow meat without slaughter to be sold. Californian start-up Eat Just's Good Meat division received approval last December from the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) to sell bite-sized chicken nuggets that were created by culturing animal cells. They were sold at 1880 Singapore, a social club at InterContinental Singapore. On Thursday, the company received approval to sell new types of cultivated chicken products - including chicken breast - at JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach next week. The chicken breast will also be made available at some hawker centre stalls, including Loo's Hainanese Curry Rice in Tiong Bahru. Good Meat has committed to increasing its investment to produce cultivated meat in Singapore, including the design and manufacture of equipment and systems, with a target for operation within the next two years. Thursday's approval is part of Singapore's aims to produce 30 per cent of its nutritional needs locally by 2030. Alternative proteins are considered more sustainable than traditional meat products, as large volumes of plant-based or cell-cultured foods can be produced involving less land and labour. More firms here are entering the emerging field of alternative proteins amid growing global consciousness about the carbon footprint of rearing livestock for food, which produces about 15 per cent of all global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation. Over the past two years, more than 15 alternative-protein start-ups have set up base in Singapore, The Straits Times reported in April this year. With the ramping up of production in the next two years, Good Meat expects to hire more engineers, scientists and other manufacturing professionals to run its facility and expand its business. The Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment said last year that there could be 55,000 new and upgraded jobs in the green economy over the next decade, with agri-tech being one of the key sectors. Bao and chicken and waffle made with cultured chicken at private club 1880 More on this topic   Related Story Plant-based Impossible Pork to launch across more than 120 restaurant outlets across S'pore   Related Story World's first commercial cultured meat production facility operational in S'pore

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Golf: Final-hole blip costs McIlroy lead in Dubai

DUBAI (AFP) - Rory McIlroy suffered a disappointing double-bogey on the closing par-5 hole to fall from a one-shot lead to one behind the leaders at the halfway stage of the European's Tour's season-ending DP World Tour Championship on Friday (Nov 19). The 32-year-old Northern Irishman, winner of the tournament in 2012 and 2015, was four-under-par through 17 holes and 11-under total. On the par-5 18th, where a stream bisects the fairway, McIlroy's tee shot rolled into the right fairway bunker. From up against the bunker wall, he needed to lay up, but his third shot from 211 yards hit the bank and rolled back into the water hazard at Jumeirah Golf Estates. As McIlroy slipped to joint fourth place at nine-under-par, it left three players tied for the lead at 10-under - England's Sam Horsfield (66), Ireland's Shane Lowry (65) and American John Catlin (65). And while that is the battle for the US$3 million winning cheque - the largest in any golf tournament across the world - the Race to Dubai tilted firmly in favour of American Collin Morikawa, who birdied the 18th and moved to eight-under par overall. His nearest challenger, compatriot Billy Horschel, shot a two-under 70, but was 10 behind the leaders in tied 43rd place. Lowry, the 2019 Open champion at Royal Portrush, chipped in for an unlikely eagle on the par-5 14th hole in a bogey-free round. "I feel like my game is in good shape and I feel like I know my way around this place and I know how to play here," said Lowry. "For me personally, it's two more days left and then end of a long year and a half. I'm looking forward to giving everything and leaving it on the course this weekend and hopefully I'm there near the top of the leaderboard come Sunday afternoon." Horsfield put together a masterclass of lag putting as he birdied five successive holes from the sixth onwards. Two late bogeys denied him sole possession of the lead. "It was nice. I feel like I've been playing pretty well and I just haven't been scoring great. I made five birdies in a row, and it was really nice to see some putts drop there. I had a little wobble, 16 and 17, but to birdie the 18th was great," said the Englishman, winner of two titles on the European Tour during the UK swing last year. "I've definitely given myself a lot of opportunities the last two days and I just want to continue to do the same thing." Nosebleed interrupts Catlin Catlin, winner of the Austrian Open this year, was solid throughout his round and made five birdies on the back nine. A sudden nosebleed denied him a sixth birdie on the 17th hole, where he was putting from eight feet. "I have had these in dry places. It's nothing serious, but you don't want to stand over a putt with your nose bleeding," said Catlin. Sweden's Alexander Bjork shares fourth position with McIlroy after a 67. Morikawa was in a share of sixth place with Germany's former world No1 Martin Kaymer (68). McIlroy, for whom it was the 37th sub-par round on the Earth course in 42 attempts, said of his misfortune on the 18th: "Hit a good drive down there yesterday. It's a comfortable tee shot for me. It was playing slightly back into the wind and I hit that tee shot really well. I did not expect it to go as far as it did and get up into the face of the bunker. "Even that was fine. And then the third shot, I hit a really good shot. That part of the fairway was just sort of thatchy and it came up spinny into the wind. I hit a good golf shot and felt like I didn't deserve to be in the water. A 70 was the worst I could have shot." McIlroy is paired with Morikawa for the third round. More on this topic   Related Story Golf: Gooch takes one-shot lead at RSM Classic   Related Story Golf: South Korea's Lee6 leads LPGA Tour Championship

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Football: Solskjaer laments ‘darkest day’ as Man Utd hit rock bottom

MANCHESTER (AFP) - Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said Manchester United's 5-0 thrashing at home to Liverpool on Sunday (Oct 24) is the low point of his nearly three years in charge of the Red Devils, but insisted he will continue as manager. United trailed 4-0 at half-time for the first time in Premier League history as Mohamed Salah struck twice after Naby Keita and Diogo Jota opened the floodgates inside the first 15 minutes. Salah completed his hat-trick shortly after the break as Liverpool won by a five-goal margin for the first time away to their fiercest rivals. "It is not easy to say something apart from it is the darkest day I have had leading these players," Solskjaer told Sky Sports. "We were not good enough individually and as a team. "The whole performance was not good enough." Solskjaer's men have taken just one point from the last 12 in the Premier League to fall eight points off leaders Chelsea after just nine games. United were thrashed 6-1 at home to Tottenham in front of an empty Old Trafford last season, but recovered to finish second in the Premier League. However, Solskjaer said this defeat was even more damaging given the context of the rivalry between the clubs. "You can look at last season we lose to Spurs 6-1 this is worse, miles worse," he added. "This is miles worse for me as a Manchester lad. I've just got to say we have to get over this as quickly as we can." Solskjaer is yet to win a trophy since taking charge in December 2018, but has been credited with leading the club back into the Champions League in the past two seasons. And he insisted he will not step down despite the growing calls for him to lose his job. "I have come too far, we have come too far as a group. We are too close to give up now," he said. "The players will be low but there's loads of characters there. "We know we are rock bottom, we can't feel any worse than this. Let's see where we take it." United captain Harry Maguire issued an apology to the club's fans for the humiliating defeat. "We apologise to the fans, it was nowhere near good enough for this club," said the England defender. "To lose to Liverpool in any game of football hurts. The way we lost the game, to be 4-0 down at half-time in front of our fans, like I say it is not good enough." More on this topic   Related Story Football: Salah hits hat-trick as Liverpool humiliate Man Utd   Related Story On The Ball: No option but to keep Solskjaer at the wheel at Manchester United

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New Carriages for AGT System in Hiroshima Win “GOOD DESIGN AWARD 2021”

TOKYO, Oct 22, 2021 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - The new 7000-Series carriages in service on the "Astram Line," an Automated Guideway Transit (AGT) system designed and manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engineering, Ltd. (MHIENG), a group company of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), have received a "GOOD DESIGN AWARD 2021(1)" from Japan Institute of Design Promotion. The Astram Line is operated by Hiroshima Rapid Transit Co., Ltd. as part of the city of Hiroshima's public transit system. The award was presented in recognition of renewal for new era both the carriages' outstanding functional upgrades and carrying on the line's identity as a symbol of peace befitting Hiroshima.The Astram Line's new 7000-Series carriages (photo courtesy of Hiroshima Rapid Transit Co., Ltd.)The award-winning carriages retain the chrome yellow hue of the original carriages, a color selected as a symbol of "peace" "goodwill" "ideal", and adopt a recurring pattern of 16 dots also interpreted as a message of peace(2). Together, these design elements conjure an expression of "continuation and evolution", a concept praised by the award sponsor as ideally in harmony with the present and future of Hiroshima. The award also recognized the Astram Line carriages' substantial functional upgrades: seats, bogies, air-conditioning and other system improvements resulting in enhanced safety and comfort; environmental compatibility; and attention to passenger needs, especially use of baby strollers and a barrier-free design.In addition, the new 7000-Series carriages were also selected to receive the top award in the product category of the "17th Hiroshima Good Design Award 2021," a program operated by the Hiroshima -shi Industrial promotion center(3). The carriages are manufactured locally at MHIENG's Mihara Machinery Works in Hiroshima Prefecture, and their double award-winning achievement demonstrates their contribution to their home area. Local production combined with local utilization deepens local understanding toward MHIENG, and the newly received awards further reinforce MHIENG's firm determination and commitment to contribute to the sustained development of its local community.The Astram Line connects Hondori Station in Hiroshima's city center with Koiki-koen-mae Station in its northwestern outskirts, a total distance of 18.4 kilometers (11.4 miles) - making the Astram Line the longest AGT operating in Japan. The new 7000-Series carriages are being manufactured to replace the existing cars, with plans calling for a total of 24 trains (144 carriages) to be delivered in stages through FY2024. Six trains have already been handed over.MHIENG has a long track achievement of ESG initiatives by supplying AGT systems, clean mobility systems which emit no CO2, because its carriages are driven by an electric motor. Going forward, by handling all aspects of transportation projects, throughout planning, design, manufacturing, construction, testing, operation and maintenance, MHIENG will continue to respond to reduction of environmental impact both in Japan and around the world.(1) GOOD DESIGN AWARD are presented in recognition of design that fulfills a purpose or offers an ideal. The design can be of something tangible or intangible: for example, industrial goods, architecture, software, services, etc. The "G MARK" symbolizing award winners is widely known in Japan.(2) The 16 dots, arranged in 4 lines of 4 dots, express safety and comfort. Their round shape is associated with life, peace and the earth, and their orderly pattern symbolizes gatherings of people and hearts.(3) This program aims to deepen understanding toward design by honoring excellent designs of locally produced commodities, both to promote their sales and to support industries with links to design.About MHI GroupMitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world's leading industrial groups, spanning energy, logistics & infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, please visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories on www.spectra.mhi.com. Copyright 2021 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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All-New Outlander PHEV Model Wins the Good Design Award 2021 in Japan

TOKYO, Oct 20, 2021 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) announced that the plug-in hybrid EV (PHEV) model of the all-new Outlander crossover SUV -- scheduled to be released in Japan in mid-December -- won the Good Design Award1 2021 run by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion.The all-new Outlander PHEV model is MMC's flagship model that brings together its expertise in electrification technology and all-wheel control technology, while also incorporating a newly developed platform and an array of advanced technologies. Based on the product concept of "I-Fu-Do-Do" or authentic and majestic in Japanese, the all-new Outlander elevates both the appeal of an SUV and an electric vehicle, with its smooth, powerful acceleration and the safe, secure driving performance in various situations. Based on the bold expressions of functionality with which MMC has designed its SUVs over the years, the company developed the all-new Outlander under its new design concept, Bold Stride. The exterior expresses a bold, fixating presence with a solid stance and dependability for drivers to take a new step forward. Inside the cabin, the horizontally-sculpted instrument panel makes it easy to understand the position of the car while driving, and adds a feeling of robustness and spaciousness. The result is a high-quality and advanced interior space. In selecting the all-new Outlander, the Good Design Award jury commented: "The all-new Outlander has undergone a complete platform overhaul and has become a PHEV SUV with a large cabin space that can accommodate a third-row seating. The interior and body designs incorporate a horizontal tone for an enhanced feeling of strength and sharpness. Even while offering such a high degree of luxury, road performance, eco-friendliness, and cabin space, Mitsubishi Motors has maintained a reasonable price. SUVs continue to be popular, and we expect the Outlander to be selected by a wide range of users, including people with high environmental awareness." 1. The Good Design Award has been the sole comprehensive design evaluation and commendation system in Japan since its founding as the Good Design Product Selection System in 1957. Over the past 60 years, the movement has aimed at improving Japanese industry and lifestyle through design, and the total number of awards presented has reached more than 45,000. Today, it has grown into a global design award in which numerous companies and organizations participate from around the world, and the G Mark, which is the symbol of the award, is widely known as a mark of design excellence.2. Design model shown. Specifications may differ from production model. About Mitsubishi MotorsMitsubishi Motors Corporation (TSE:7211), MMC--a member of the Alliance with Renault and Nissan--, is a global automobile company based in Tokyo, Japan, which has more than 30,000 employees and a global footprint with production facilities in Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, mainland China, the Philippines, Viet Nam and Russia. MMC has a competitive edge in SUVs, pickup trucks and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and appeals to ambitious drivers willing to challenge convention and embrace innovation. Since the production of our first vehicle more than a century ago, MMC has been a leader in electrification--launched the i-MiEV -- the world's first mass-produced electric vehicle in 2009, followed by the Outlander PHEV -- the world's first plug-in hybrid electric SUV in 2013. MMC announced a three-year business plan in July 2020 to introduce more competitive and cutting-edge models, including the Eclipse Cross PHEV (PHEV model), the all-new Outlander and the all-new Triton/L200. For more information on MMC, please visit the company's website at https://www.mitsubishi-motors.com/en/. Copyright 2021 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Football: No striker, no problem, says Guardiola after Saints stalemate

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND (REUTERS) - Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola said the club's failure to sign a new striker in the close season was not the reason they were unable to beat Southampton on Saturday (Sept 18). City were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw at the Etihad Stadium after mustering just one shot on target all match, their lowest tally in a Premier League game since March 2017. Guardiola's side were heavily linked in the British media with Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane and Cristiano Ronaldo as they looked to replace all-time top goalscorer Sergio Aguero, who left for Barcelona ahead of the new season, but they were ultimately left frustrated in the transfer market. "Today we didn't win not because we didn't have a centre forward," Guardiola said. "We didn't win because our process in the buildup was wrong or the better balls for players up front were not good. When they are good, they can run, arrive in other positions. "That (no striker) is not the reason. The reason is because we didn't do our process from our back four and Fernandinho. The five guys who have to bring the ball to the other players were not good today." Guardiola also doubled down on his denial of any wrongdoing following his comments that a greater number of fans needed to attend the Etihad, a statement that angered supporters' groups. "I didn't say anything wrong after the Leipzig match," Guardiola added. "I said we need support of our fans. I never complained about how many come or don't come. I've never done this in my life. "I am grateful for 100 people, 85 people extra in the stadium. I thank them (fans) for coming. Of course they were awesome especially in last minute when we push more. It was difficult to ask them to get right behind us when we are not good or we have lost." More on this topic   Related Story Football: Guardiola ‘guilty’ after Man City frustrated in Southampton draw   Related Story Football: Guardiola not apologising for asking more fans to attend Saints match

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Football: Son scores winner as Tottenham stun Man City

LONDON (REUTERS) - Son Heung-min proved there is life at Tottenham Hotspur without Harry Kane as his goal earned the North London club a surprise 1-0 win over champions Manchester City in an absorbing Premier League opener on Sunday (Aug 15). All the talk beforehand was whether Tottenham's talisman Kane, strongly linked with a move to City, would be involved. The England skipper was left out of the squad, having only just returned to training, but it was his usual strike partner Son who gave Tottenham's new manager Nuno Espirito Santo a perfect start to his reign. “It was good I think. The atmosphere was special off the hard work of the boys. They make any crowd proud when they work so hard,” Espirito Santo, who enjoyed a third Premier League win over City boss Pep Guardiola, said. “It was strong. We were lucky because they had chances but the boys held on and they stayed in the game. We knew it would be tough. After that first 20 minutes, we did better and we started getting our chances. “I’m sure that with commitment and the talent we have, we will be a good team. We are in the process of that. I am learning every day and I am very proud of them today.” Tottenham were a constant threat on the counter-attack against a City side boasting new 100 million pounds (S$187 million) signing Jack Grealish and it was from one such raid from deep in the 55th minute that Son beat City 'keeper Ederson with a clinical finish. City enjoyed the lion's share of possession but their best chance came early on when Riyad Mahrez sliced wide. City have now lost all four games they have played at Tottenham’s new stadium without scoring, including three in the Premier League. “Spurs are a tough rival for us, always I have the feeling that we are good here but we cannot get results because they punish you in transitions,” Guardiola said. “Most of the players have 90 minutes in the legs, we have a long week to prepare to face Norwich and hopefully the players can come back step by step. “I see very very good things. I know the result is not good but I saw many many good things that will help us in the future to get better.” More on this topic   Related Story Football: Not going to talk about Kane, says Man City manager Guardiola   Related Story Football: Guardiola defends Man City's big spending in transfer market

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Employers with good HR practices should be recognised, get competitive advantage: Chee Hong Tat

SINGAPORE- A Singaporean who attended a job interview with a multinational corporation was once asked about his two years of national service with the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). The question of the foreign human resources manager was: "You wrote in your curriculum vitae that you spent two years with the SAF; what is SAF?" This story was related by NTUC deputy secretary-general Chee Hong Tat, who spoke on Thursday (July 22) at a virtual masterclass event by Human Capital Singapore on key trends impacting Singapore's economy. Mr Chee said an important factor that affects the "lived experiences" of local workers is how their employers and HR managers treat them at work. "These experiences are powerful in shaping perceptions, more so than our policy explanations and statistics. When the emotions in our hearts feel different from the logic in our heads, most people will follow their hearts. It is what makes us human," he added. "As a proud NSman who had served and defended his country, it was hurtful for him to be asked 'What is SAF?'." The anecdote illustrates the limitations of a foreign HR manager who is not familiar with Singapore, he said. Meanwhile, good HR practices - including working closely with unions - ought to be recognised, added Mr Chee. There is already a differentiation for such employers versus those with poor HR records who do not put in effort to develop their local workforce. But it could be more explicit, he said, and suggested that this could be done by giving the former more favourable consideration when it comes to government tenders, projects, and grants. He cited how the Land Transport Authority, in its bus package tenders, specified that "maintaining harmonious union-management relations" is one of the factors considered in evaluating the bids from participating companies. This gives a clear and direct incentive for public transport operators to forge a strong relationship with the National Transport Workers' Union, said Mr Chee, who is also Senior Minister of State for Transport. "Good employers who invest in building a strong Singaporean core and develop strong tripartite relations add social value, and we should recognise their contributions in tangible ways by giving them a competitive advantage." A more explicit differentiated approach will "allow us to take firm action against the small minority of black sheep," he added. "This will set the correct tone and the right set of incentives for companies and employers to support the larger social and economic objectives we want to achieve in Singapore."

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Evans wins, Ogier on the podium for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing

Toyota City, Japan, May 24, 2021 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team is celebrating its third win and double podium finish from four events so far in 2021 after Elfyn Evans claimed victory at the Rally de Portugal. Sebastien Ogier finished third and continues to lead the drivers' championship - two points in front of Evans - while the team has extended its lead in the manufacturers' standings.Car 33 (Elfyn Evans, Scott Martin)Along with co-driver Scott Martin, Evans drove a consistent and intelligent rally and was rewarded with the lead on Saturday afternoon. His advantage coming into the final day's five stages was a narrow 10.7 seconds, but he stormed through the opening test 8.9s quicker than anyone else to almost double his margin. He claimed two further stage wins later during the morning - bringing his tally for the weekend to six - and ultimately sealed victory by 28.3s. It's the fourth win of his WRC career, and his third since joining Toyota at the start of 2020.Ogier and co-driver Julien Ingrassia recovered well from the disadvantage of running first on the road on Friday and sweeping the loose gravel stages. Securing third overall, he saved his tyres for the rally-ending Power Stage to try and secure as many points as possible. He set the third-best time, giving him three bonus points and his two-point advantage in the standings over Evans, who was fifth-fastest in the same test as he sealed the overall win.Finishing a superb fourth place after a fast and consistent weekend, Takamoto Katsuta claimed the best result of his career to-date, driving a Yaris WRC as part of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRC Challenge Program.After retiring due to technical reasons on Saturday afternoon, Kalle Rovanpera restarted this morning, taking the opportunity to gain further knowledge and also setting the fourth-best time in the Power Stage.Quotes:Jari-Matti Latvala (Team Principal)"We are very, very happy with this result. At the beginning of the rally it wasn't looking like we would finish on the highest step of the podium. But in rallying you have to complete every corner until the end of the very last stage, and in the end we won the rally, which is always a fantastic feeling. Elfyn has been the most consistent driver over the weekend and the performance has been at a high level as well. And generally the team has been doing really good work over the weekend with a lot of positive things to take away: Seb scoring the third place, bringing great points for the championship, and also Takamoto taking his best ever result in fourth. Unfortunately it was a more disappointing rally for Kalle, but I'm sure he will be very motivated to come back strongly."Sebastien Ogier (Driver car 1)"Today we were focused on securing the third place overall and securing some bonus points in the Power Stage. We couldn't get the maximum there but three points is certainly better than nothing, and 18 points overall from the weekend is a positive result. I don't like when I'm not able to fight for the very top positions, but that was kind of expected coming here leading the championship and running first on the road, so we did what we could. We need to keep working and improve the pace for the next rally in Sardinia and see what we can do there, even though I expect it will again be challenging. Every time we score good points is a step towards the championship."Elfyn Evans (Driver car 33)"Obviously it's a fantastic way to finish by clinching the win. It wasn't all plain sailing all the way through the weekend, and we maybe weren't the absolute fastest crew, but we still had really good pace and the performance was generally quite consistent. This morning we knew that there wasn't such a big gap to second place, so we had to go out and give it our all. That's what we did, and we managed to set a few good times just to build up a bit of an advantage. In Croatia it was quite painful to miss out so it feels good to get this one sealed with relatively little drama."Kalle Rovanpera (Driver car 69)"From my side the weekend has been a disappointment. We had many issues and lost some good points from this, but that's rallying sometimes and we just have to continue onto the next one. Today we had the chance to test some different setups for the car in the first loop to help prepare for the next rallies. After that, we didn't have such good tyres for the Power Stage compared to some other drivers. I really tried to push to the maximum that I could, and it was good that we got at least two points - it was just not really possible to get a better time with the tyres that we had."For the latest results please visit www.wrc.comWhat's next?Rally Italia Sardegna (June 3-6) features fast and narrow stages coated with fine and sandy gravel, which is swept away by each passing car to leave rockier and rutted roads. Exposed rocks, as well as trees at the side of the road, can catch out the unwary. Temperatures can often be high, increasing the stress on the cars and the tyres. Copyright 2021 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Worshippers in Singapore welcome Good Friday service after a difficult year

SINGAPORE - Identified as a close contact of a church member who tested positive for Covid-19, Mr Kenneth Lek was quarantined in February last year. During the two weeks at home, the 52-year-old investment manager was touched by the kindness of his neighbours and fellow church members, who dropped by to leave meals for him and his family. Mr Lek, a member at the Grace Assembly of God church, was one of many worshippers who attended on-site Good Friday services across Singapore after months of virtual and hybrid religious activity due to Covid-19 restrictions. Mr Lek said the Good Friday service was a special moment to share with other church members and to reflect on his experience in overcoming a difficult year. "Although we attend Good Friday services every year, it was made more memorable this time because we truly appreciate how fortunate we are and how we should not take things for granted in our lives," he said. Last year's Holy Week services were held virtually due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This year, services were conducted on-site with a cap on the number of attendees and stringent measures in place to prevent the spread of infection. Attendees who spoke to The Straits Times said the services were conducted smoothly with socially-distanced seating arrangements, zoning and staggered timings to prevent mingling between the congregants. Mr Lek, who has been attending on-site services regularly since restrictions were eased in October last year, said he was happy with the measures put in place by the church to prevent the spread of infection. "Precautions like temperature screenings and socially-distanced seating arrangements have become commonplace since the pandemic started, so we are used to these measures. I felt safer attending the service than if I were to go to a mall or restaurant," he said. A man is seen disinfecting seats after the conclusion of Good Friday services at Grace Assembly of God Church, on April 2, 2021. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY Undergraduate student Ms Ng Xiang Rong, 23, a member of City Harvest Church, recalled being elated when she reunited with her peers for physical services after a long wait. "This Easter, we are planning to hold watch parties in groups of eight. I am very thankful that the restrictions have eased somewhat, but I am reminded not to take it for granted and to treasure every opportunity to gather," she said. When church services were disrupted early last year, organisational development practitioner Stephanie Lau, 49, who is Catholic, missed the time she would spend with friends from the church on weekends. "When they announced the resumption of services, I remembered that I managed to book a physical Mass in October and I was very excited about it. "It was most memorable and it felt so good to be back in church again," she said. More on this topic   Related Story Holy Week services in S'pore churches, with Covid-19 safety precautions   Related Story Congregants allowed to sing during worship with masks on from April 5

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Join Purton and his Band Of Brothers

RACE 1 (1,200M) 7 Fantastic Way has caught the eye for his debut with several smart trials. He looks forward enough to score first-up. 12 Vukan has ability. He should have benefited from his first-up run. With even luck, he rates as the main danger. 14 Fire Ball is racing well and gets no weight on his back. 2 Xponential makes the step-down to Class 4. He will relish this drop in grade and gets the added bonus of apprentice Jerry Chau's 7lb (3.18kg) claim. RACE 2 (1,400M) 12 Golden Mission gets his chance to break through from the good draw with the in-form Antoine Hamelin astride. 3 City Legend is a perennial non-winner with 10 runner-up efforts from 30 starts. Still, he gets a handy 7lb claim and the favourable inside draw. 2 Winwin Thirtythree has drawn well. He won his last run in Class 5. He bears close watching again. 1 Destin rarely runs a bad race. He gets the services of champion jockey Zac Purton again. RACE 3 (1,200M) 4 Striking Mr C is capable. He was a three-time course-and-distance winner last season. He can turn around his first-up struggles. 5 Resolute grabbed a close-up second last start. He has drawn well and gets his chance. 1 Lucky Fun got off the mark impressively last time at only his second start. He just needs to handle the dirt track. 8 Demons Rock is looking for back-to-back wins. RACE 4 (1,600M) 6 Winning Steed gets the blinkers first time to sharpen him up, after struggling at his latest outing. His previous form was solid. If he can recapture that, he is capable of winning from the good gate. 2 Cheerful Days is doing everything right apart from winning. He is racing well and has gone close a number of times. But, once again, he just could not draw a good gate. 8 Country Boy kept on strongly for a close-up fifth last start. He is open to improvement and should run well. 4 Donc Je Suis is next best. He is steadily improving. RACE 5 (1,200M) 9 Super Alliances is a three-time course-and-distance winner. With even luck from the good draw, he is the one to beat. 3 All For South won well from the front last time. Chances are he will try the same tactic again and he will look the winner for a long way. 5 Sunset Watch makes the switch to the dirt for the first time this season. He has performed well on the surface previously and he is a leading player with that form. 6 Gunnar is a consistent on-pacer who gets his chance. RACE 6 (1,400M) 1 Band of Brothers narrowly missed in this grade two starts ago. Although he has drawn awkwardly, he rates as the one to beat, especially with Purton atop again. 3 Ballistic King does not win out of turn but he rarely runs a bad race. He has drawn well and gets his opportunity. 2 Not Usual Talent won in style last start. He has drawn well and gets Chau's handy 7lb relief. 10 Highly Proactive is next best on his form from early last season. RACE 7 (1,800M) G3 CENTENARY VASE HANDICAP 2 Furore won consecutive Pattern races before finishing a competitive fifth in last month's Group 1 Hong Kong Cup over 2,000m. Trainer Tony Cruz has this horse racing with confidence. He rates as the one to beat. 3 Columbus County finished third in last month's Group 1 Hong Kong Vase over 2,400m. He gets a handy weight relief and warrants respect as a two-time winner over this course and distance. 7 Savvy Nine is looking for back-to-back wins at Group 3 level over 1,800m. This is a step-up though, with the likes of Exultant and Furore taking part. But his last success is hard to discount. 1 Exultant rarely runs a bad race but might just need a bit further as he gets older. RACE 8 (1,400M) 4 Seaweed Fortune is better than his last-start suggests. He can bounce back to his best from the good gate. 9 Wins All is consistent. He is looking to snap three consecutive runner-up efforts. He gets his chance from Gate 1. 11 Ultra Express is steadily improving. He is worth including, down in the weights and from Gate 3. 3 More Than Enough is in form. He needs only to overcome the wide gate. He gets Christophe Soumillon, who rode a double on Wednesday night. RACE 9 (1,600M) 10 Casimiro is consistent. He should finish strongly with the fast tempo, with a number of on-pace runners in the race. 5 Looking Great grabbed a creditable fifth over 1,400m on debut. He is open to improvement and the extra 200m should suit. 7 Beauty Day is one who will roll forward. He will get his chance to be around at the finish. 3 Perfect To Great mixes his form but has shown glimpses of talent. Do not rule him out. RACE 10 (1,200M) 11 Guy Dragon was very unlucky last start. With a clean run, perhaps he could have won. He gets his chance to atone for that luckless effort. 3 Beauty Applause is looking for back-to-back victories. He is a classy on-pace galloper who needs only to overcome the awkward draw. 2 Duke Wai is in reasonably good form and appears to have found his mark with Chau's 7lb claim. 9 Handsome Bo Bo is next best, off the back of two wins at the city circuit this season. Comments courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club

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Edgy All Blacks ready to right some wrongs: Cane

SYDNEY • All Blacks skipper Sam Cane yesterday said his team have an extra "edge" about them heading into their crunch clash with Argentina, driven by the "horrible" feeling of two straight defeats. New Zealand are in the rare situation of trying to avoid three losses in a row, a fate they have not suffered since 1998. Standing in their way in Newcastle today is an Argentinian side who not only beat them 25-15 in the Tri Nations this month, but followed it up with a battling draw against Australia. Cane admitted suffering two Test defeats in a row - they also lost to the Wallabies - and a backlash from their notoriously demanding fans had left them rattled. "Everyone in the squad is hurting and there is an opportunity to try and right some wrongs, and put some pride back in the All Blacks jersey," he said. "There is a slightly different mood. The easiest way to explain it is there is a bit of an edge, almost a grumpiness throughout the week. "Sometimes (in training), it's good to have a bit of fun, but we are so focused and have just wanted to get the most out of every training session this week to give ourselves the best chance of playing well." Much of the flak from the back-to-back defeats had been directed at coach Ian Foster, although Cane had also been under scrutiny for his leadership skills. He insisted his head had been "in a good place" this week with "tremendous support" from his teammates. "We are very focused on what we can control and in trying to get a good performance, and sort of blocking out any outside noise," the loose forward said. "We're embracing the pressure we're under but using that in a positive way to drive us... We're driven to try and put a performance together that we're proud of." He added that his team would keep their emotions in check against a Pumas side who could be extra motivated following the death of Argentina football legend Diego Maradona earlier this week. "Knowing the Argentinian people, from my limited experience I am sure he was viewed as a God-like figure," he said. "I'm sure that will be a big driving factor for them." Foster has reshuffled his forwards to better tackle the physicality of Argentina, bringing in prop Nepo Laulala for Tyrel Lomax, lock Scott Barrett ahead of Patrick Tuipulotu and loose forward Akira Ioane instead of Shannon Frizell. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS

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Ronaldo in good spirits on return to scoresheet

TURIN • Cristiano Ronaldo refused to be drawn on his social media comments after describing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests as "b***s***" but marked his return after recovering from Covid-19 in the best possible fashion of scoring. More than two weeks after testing positive for the coronavirus on Oct 13 while on international duty with Portugal, the forward came off the bench as Juventus got back to winning ways in Serie A with a 4-1 win over promoted Spezia on Sunday to move into third place. The game had been deadlocked at 1-1 when Ronaldo was introduced in the second half and he went on to grab a brace as the nine-time defending Italian champions put a stop to a sequence of two successive draws in the league. This was Ronaldo's first game for Juve since Sept 27 - he missed four games in all competitions - and the Portugal captain was thrilled to be back on the pitch. "I have been stationary. I had no symptoms and I felt good. I was stopped for a long time even though I had no symptoms and felt good. Today I went back to doing what I like - playing football," he told Sky Sports. "Serie A is a competitive league. (AC) Milan are doing a great job, as well as Lazio and Napoli. We have to work hard, but we are growing. "Cristiano is back, and this is the most important thing." Ronaldo, who had been furious at not being allowed to play in Juve's Champions League 2-0 defeat by Barcelona last week, hit out at the accuracy of PCR tests, sparking controversy. However, the 35-year-old, who is just two strikes behind league top scorer, Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic (nine), did not want to expand on his frustration at being forced to isolate while asymptomatic, adding: "I don't want to talk about it. The important thing is that I came back and we won." AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

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Sending off leaves coach in fit of pique

BARCELONA • Lionel Messi became the first player to score in 16 consecutive Champions League seasons, but Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman was left ruing a moment of rashness that could cost his side top spot in Group G. With minnows Ferencvaros and Dynamo Kiev in the draw, the Catalan giants and Juventus are firmly expected to duke it out to emerge as group winners. Barca will travel to Italy to take on the Serie A champions next week, but they will be without Gerard Pique after the former Spain defender was sent off for blatant pull-back in the box 20 minutes from time in the match against Ferencvaros on Tuesday. His red card did not cost Koeman's men, who were already leading 3-0, and while the Hungarian side got one back from the spot, the hosts added another two afterwards for a 5-1 thumping. Still, Pique's absence for the crucial trip to Turin may prove to be decisive in who finishes the group on top and therefore, likely to have an easier opponent in the last 16. Koeman was unhappy, claiming that the penalty was sufficient and a yellow card would have been a more suitable punishment instead. "The penalty and the red card is very bad for us but we are getting used to playing with one less," the Dutchman told reporters. "It happened at Celta Vigo (on Oct 1) and again today. It's too harsh a punishment. "If it's foul, it's a penalty and a yellow card. I don't understand why the referee produced the red card. But we have to accept it." Since 2015 - their fifth and last European Cup - Barca have not advanced to the final, prompting Messi's aborted request to leave the Nou Camp this summer. Their season will not be judged by performances against Ferencvaros, but rather against the likes of Juve. However, a commanding display should at least give some confidence to a team who have had a mixed start in La Liga and host Real in the first Clasico of the campaign on Saturday. After four league games, Barca are on seven points from two wins and a draw. BRIGHT SPOTS That's best for a coach. If there were any doubts about Barca's goalscorers, we have shown tonight that we have good people, with the great Leo who has given two assists. We're going home happy. RONALD KOEMAN, Barcelona coach, after seeing his team put five past Ferencvaros in their Champions League opening match. Besides Messi, Ansu Fati, Philippe Coutinho, and substitutes Pedri and Ousmane Dembele were all on target, leaving Koeman pleased. "Overall, I'm happy. At times we played very good football, but sometimes we also slowed down too much," he said. "That's best for a coach. If there were any doubts about Barca's goalscorers, we have shown tonight that we have good people, with the great Leo who has given two assists. We're going home happy." Juve also made a winning start, with a double from former Real striker Alvaro Morata, who is on a season-long loan from Atletico Madrid, sinking Dynamo 2-0 away. Despite Cristiano Ronaldo's absence due to a positive Covid-19 test last week, Andrea Pirlo enjoyed his first win as a coach in Europe's elite club competition, which he won twice with AC Milan during his playing days. The victory came against Kiev coach Mircea Lucescu, who 25 years ago handed the 41-year-old his professional debut for Brescia. In Group F, Ciro Immobile scored early against his former club Borussia Dortmund as Lazio marked their return to the Champions League after a 13-year absence with a 3-1 upset win. The reigning European Golden Shoe winner later reminded his critics that he was labelled "Dortmund's worst signing" after a poor 2014-15 season before being moved on, but has since become a key player for club and the Azzurri. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS

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