The Intimate Stranger
For the first time, the vast majority of Indian Americans were either born in the United States or have lived here for 20 years or longer. Some 25 years ago, we would almost always accost an unknown Indian we might encounter in a K-Mart or a Krogers in Carbondale, Ill., where I went to college. And proof of your authenticity as an Indian came from your ability to break into Hindi first.These days, we might not even give Indians in a mall a second glance. And the Hindi is too rusty to attempt first.The past two decades have been transforming for Indian life in the United States. The Indian population has risen almost five-fold since 1980, from around 400,000 to over 2 million presently. The Indian presence is visible in business, in technology, in professions, such as medicine, in the motel sector, in Hollywood and Broadway. This month the windows of the fashionable Macy’s and Lord & Taylor department stores in Manhattan are decked out with resplendent Indian costumes and few Indians walking by blink an eyelid.We have settled into America and America kind of has cozied up to us. For those of us with green cards and U.S. citizenship, the immigration officer’s “Welcome home!” salutation on our return from overseas travel does not feel odd. Many of us no longer view ourselves as outsiders, interlopers or imposters. We can claim America as home.“Ap India sein hoan?” I found a waiter inquiring of me recently at an Indian restaurant as I absent-mindedly fidgeted with the menu listings of the all-too-familiar malai kofta, palak paneer, alu gobhi…The predictable conversation followed. “Where in India are you from?” “How long have you been here?” The waiter had arrived in the United States only two years earlier. He and I represent two bookends holding a transforming divide taking shape within the Indian American community. Disparaging terminology has long classified these polars: ABCDs v FOBs – American born confused desis and fresh off the boat.We always knew which side of the boat was weighted heavier.For the first time, however, the vast majority of Indian Americans were either born in the United States or have lived here for 20 years or longer.The center of gravity of Indian American life is shifting from recent immigrants to Indians with deep roots in this country. Many Indians who came here in the early 1980s are even discovering that they have lived longer outside India than in India. The trend will inevitably accelerate in the years ahead.This shift has profound consequences for the community. Indian American public culture, politics, economics, and indeed media coverage, has long been dominated by the first generation and recent immigrants.Indian organizations, social and cultural institutions, policy analysts and scholars have to begin reorienting their perspective in ways that bridge and accommodate the two distinct Indian communities in our mix.We are way past the taunts and ridicule of ABCDs and FOBs. The two groups are intimately intertwined and inoxerably bound together. We need a serious discourse on the implications of the seismic shifts taking shape within the community.Say hello to that intimate stranger wolfing down that papri chaat, will you? Related Items
Onyok Velasco see bright future for PH boxing in Olympics PLAY LIST 00:45Onyok Velasco see bright future for PH boxing in Olympics00:50Trending Articles05:25PH boxing team determined to deliver gold medals for PH01:37Protesters burn down Iran consulate in Najaf01:47Panelo casts doubts on Robredo’s drug war ‘discoveries’01:29Police teams find crossbows, bows in HK university01:35Panelo suggests discounted SEA Games tickets for students02:49Robredo: True leaders perform well despite having ‘uninspiring’ boss02:42PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games CARSON, CA – AUGUST 26: Miguel Cotto punches Yoshihiro Kamegai, as Cotto goes on to win in a 12 round unanimous decision during the WBO Junior Middleweight title fight at StubHub Center on August 26, 2017 in Carson, California. Harry How/Getty Images/AFPPuerto Rican great Miguel Cotto battered back the determined challenge of Japan’s Yoshihiro Kamegai on Saturday to claim the vacant World Boxing organization junior middleweight world title.In an action-packed bout in an outdoor ring at the StubHub Center in suburban Los Angeles, Cotto emerged with a unanimous decision, winning it by scores of 120-108, 119-109, and 118-110.ADVERTISEMENT Abatayo adds to PH’s haul in lawn bowls with bronze Read Next Cotto hadn’t fought since November 2015, when he lost the middleweight title to Canelo Alvarez, who later vacated the title to take on Gennady Golovkin on September 16.But the 36-year-old, who says he’ll retire after one more fight in December, was dominant as he improved to 45-1 with 33 wins inside the distance.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSWATCH: Drones light up sky in final leg of SEA Games torch runSPORTSSEA Games: Philippines picks up 1st win in men’s water poloSPORTSMalditas save PH from shutoutKamegai came right at Cotto from the opening bell, backing him into the ropes and sneaking in rights.But Cotto landed the harder punches, nailing him with a big left hook to end the first round. UPLB exempted from SEA Games class suspension It was just one of many punishing blows Kamegai would absorb on the night.Cotto landed a huge right hand to start the fifth that snapped Kamegai’s head back — even then the Japanese kept coming.“He’s a tough fighter, tough opponent,” Cotto said. Since round number five, six, I already knew I’m not going to stop him.”Despite his heart, Kamegai didn’t have the power to hurt Cotto, who insisted he would stick to his plan to retire after one more fight this year.“I’m 36 already. I’m going to be 37 on october 29 and I think it’s enough. It’s enough boxing for me,” Cotto said. “One more in December and that will be all.”ADVERTISEMENT Asked who he’d pick for an opponent in his final bout, Cotto deferred to trainer Freddy Roach.Roach mentioned the possibility of getting the winner of the Golovkin-Alvarez bout.“We’re not going to duck anybody,” Roach said. “We’re going to go out with a bang.” LATEST STORIES Catriona Gray spends Thanksgiving by preparing meals for people with illnesses SEA Games: PH’s Alisson Perticheto tops ice skating short program LOOK: Venues for 2019 SEA Games View comments Brace for potentially devastating typhoon approaching PH – NDRRMC SEA Games in Calabarzon safe, secure – Solcom chief LIST: Class, gov’t work suspensions during 30th SEA Games MOST READ Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. WATCH: Streetboys show off slick dance moves in Vhong Navarro’s wedding
When Yusuf Pathan is in the middle boundaries aren’t far away. Tuesday too saw him bring out his explosive best hitting a fast-paced 59 and helping India beat South Africa by two wickets in the third ODI at Newlands in Cape Town.Yusuf Pathan during his knock of 59. APHe was especially brutal on Johan Botha hitting three sixes in his over to drub the ever-climbing asking rate in a single go in the 30th over. The asking rate had made the 221-run target seem monumental.Pathan came to the crease after Yuvraj Singh’s dismissal when the score was a dismal 93/5 and together with Suresh Raina brought it up to 168 before Raina became Morne Morkel’s third victim.Raina fell after scoring a dogged 37. However, his fall didn’t stop Pathan’s charge and he could have carried on further had Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel not plotted his fall.Steyn lured him into taking the aerial route with a short ball. The ball went miles into the sky before falling short of the boundary where Morkel pulled off an outstanding catch in the deep. His 50-ball 59 helped India total reach 182 but then India had just three wickets in hand and needed 38 runs to win.But Harbhajan Singh, who has proved his batting acumen in the past, ensured India reach the target with Ashish Nehra by his side. Harbhajan scored 23 not out.Before Pathan and Raina got busy in their revival act, the Proteas were busy counting scalps at the Newlands track.India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was the fourth wicket to fall, one which the hosts were after.advertisementDespite his poor form, had he stayed a bit longer, he could have taken the game away from them.Dhoni wanted to play Johan Botha across line but failed as AB de Villiers took an easy catch behind the stumps. He fell for five as India were 69/4.But, it was Morne Morkel who helped the hosts make early inroads into the Indian batting by scalping Virat Kohli and opener Rohit Sharma.First he got the better of Virat Kohli on 28 with a ball that took the edge of his bat to land in wicketkeeper AB de Villiers’ gloves. Then Morkel claimed Rohit Sharma on 23 with a similar ball but it crashed into his stumps as India fell to 61/3.Earlier, continuing with his poor form Indian opener Murali Vijay fell early with Dale Steyn taking his wicket in the third over. He went for 1 when the India score was 4.South Africa’s Faf du Plessis raises his bat to celebrate his half-century. APFor the South Africans debutant Faf du Plessis and J.P. Duminy’s 110-run fifth wicket partnership proved to be the largest pie in their batting wagon-wheel of 220 runs.Electing to bat first, the hosts started poorly, losing their opener Hashim Amla early.A good length ball from Zaheer Khan took the inside edge of Amla’s bat before crashing on to his stumps. He put 16 on board.Soon one down batsman Colin Ingram followed with Virat Kholi displaying amazing agility in claiming his catch. Ingram had defended the ball off Harbhajan Singh and it dropped low, but Kohli dived forward from the slips to take an impressive catch. He fell for 10 as the South Africa score read 49/2.But that wasn’t the only instance of fine fielding display. A few minutes later Zaheer Khan, not known for his catching skills, came up with a blinder of catch in the deep to send back AB de Villiers’ off Yusuf Pathan’s ball.He dived and latched on to the ball mid-way in air. De Villiers departed on 16 as South Africa slumped to 83/3.Graeme Smith during his knock of 43. APThe other opener, captain Graeme Smith, who was holding fort at one end tried to provide some stability. But without much help from the other end he couldn’t carry on for long and an edge of his bat in Harbhajan Singh’s over got carried towards the slips cordon where Virat Kohli performed the final honours. He scored 43 even as the South Africa score read 90/4.Finally, debutant Faf du Plessis and J.P. Duminy took it upon themselves to arrest the fall and put 110 for the fifth wicket, before Munaf Patel realised that it had turned out to be too long an innings.Patel accounted for Plessis on 60. And no sooner did their partnership end that Zaheer Khan struck to dispatch Duminy on 52.Three balls later tail-ender Morne Morkel too walked back run out scoring 5 as the South Africa score read 207/7. The bottom three added just 13 runs between them.advertisementIndia lead the five-match ODI series 2-1. The two teams next meet on Friday in Port Elizabeth.
India lost their second position to Sri Lanka, while Australia maintained their place at the topThe Indian cricket team dropped a rung to third but Virat Kohli continued to top the batting chart in the latest ICC one-day rankings announced on Wednesday.India lost their second position to Sri Lanka, while Australia maintained their place at the top of the heap.Sri Lanka’s 3-2 series win over England helped them gain one ratings point to move up to 112, the same ratings points as India.However, when ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point, Angelo Mathews’ side edged out India.In the individual rankings, Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni remained steady at sixth followed by Shikhar Dhawan at eight spot (a loss of one position).Rohit Sharma entered the top-20 at the the 20th position.Among the bowlers, seasoned off-spinner Ravindra Jadeja slipped a position to fifth to be only Indian in the top-10.Elsewhere in the list, off-spinners James Tredwell of England and Sachitra Senanayake of Sri Lanka entered the top 20 for the first time at the end of the five-match ODI series between the two sides that finished at Edgbaston on Tuesday.Sri Lanka claimed the five-match series 3-2 after they sealed the fifth and final ODI with a six-wicket win on Tuesday.Tredwell jumped 18 places to a career-best 12th with 627 ratings points, while Senanayake vaulted 20 places to 13th, with 623 ratings points.Both Tredwell and Senanayake claimed nine wickets in the series. However, Senanayake had a better average of 15.11, while Tredwell’s haul came at an average of 18.44.advertisementMeanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Tillakaratne Dilshan moved up two places to seventh in the rankings for ODI batsmen, in the only positive movement inside the top 10.Dilshan was the highest run-getter in the series, with 222 runs at an average of 44.40.South Africa batsman AB de Villiers occupies the second place and Australia’s George Bailey holds the third position.
P2.5 B shabu seized in Makati sting, Chinese national nabbed Taylor Statham, who struggled all game, tied the game at 18 but 1Bataan, which played without Sean Manganti, was quick to regain the advantage with Pasaol splitting his free throws to get back the lead.“We had to adjust there for a while because we’ve been playing with Sean since the pre-season but it was easy to play with Kuya Chito,” Assitio said about his veteran teammate Chito Jaime.The Risers, who lost for the first time in group stage no thanks to a Gerald Anderson-led effort from Marikina earlier in the day, won another P100,000 for the third leg crown.“We need to bounce back in the next leg, no excuses,” said Pasol.The President’s Cup returns to the SM Megamall Events Center on Saturday.ADVERTISEMENT P2.5 B shabu seized in Makati sting, Chinese national nabbed Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next Private companies step in to help SEA Games hosting PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games PLAY LIST 02:42PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games01:44Philippines marks anniversary of massacre with calls for justice01:19Fire erupts in Barangay Tatalon in Quezon City01:07Trump talks impeachment while meeting NCAA athletes02:49World-class track facilities installed at NCC for SEA Games02:11Trump awards medals to Jon Voight, Alison Krauss Trump campaign, GOP groups attack Google’s new ad policy 1 dead, 3 injured in Quezon road crash SEA Games hosting troubles anger Duterte Anton Asistio leads 1Bataan. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOMANILA, Philippines— Solidifying the newest rivalry in street ball, Pasig Grindhouse Kings and 1Bataan Risers faced off in the Chooks to Go Pilipinas 3×3 finals for the third time this season.But the Risers pulled ahead in the race to the top of the standings, escaping the Kings, 21-19, in an intense final battle Friday in the third of the five legs of the 3×3 tournament at SM Fairview Events Center.ADVERTISEMENT
Hong Kong tunnel reopens, campus siege nears end LATEST STORIES At 34, Ben Askren finally makes UFC debut under Vegas lights Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. The victory shored up the output of 1Bataan, led by Anton Asistio, Santi Santillan, Alvin Pasaol and Chito Jaime, to 280, 20 ahead of the Pasig Grindhouse, which won the last leg.The two sides were neck-and-neck until the final seconds but with Pasig Grindhouse missing all of their attempts from downtown for a walk-off win, the Risers pounced on the chance as Santillan nailed the game-winning freebie.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSPrivate companies step in to help SEA Games hostingSPORTSUrgent reply from Philippine football chiefSPORTSPalace wants Cayetano’s PHISGOC Foundation probed over corruption charges“We always expect that facing them will be tough because they’re bigger than us, “ said 5-foot-8 guard Asistio of the Kings composed of Dylan Ababou, Taylor Statham, Troy Rike, and Joshua Munzon.Pasig Grindhouse trailed by 10-15 then 14-18 but always found a way to storm back into the match, which is being played at half court with only 10 minutes on the clock. MOST READ Lacson backs proposal to elect president and vice president in tandem View comments
Motorola Mobility on Monday launched the Moto X Play smartphone in India starting at Rs. 18,499 for the 16GB variant. Meanwhile, the 32GB variant will be available for Rs 19,999. The Moto X Play – just like other Motorola phones – will be exclusively available for buy from e-retail website Flipkart starting from midnight tonight. The Moto X Play is an indirect successor to last year’s Moto X (Gen 2), the direct successor being the Moto X Style. It is therefore lacking on the high-end hardware of the Moto X Style, but at the same time it packs in quite a few tidbits of its own to make it stand out. Motorola is banking heavily on two aspects – namely battery life and camera capabilities – of the Moto X Play to make it well worth the price tag.At its price, the Moto X Play forms a connecting link between the Moto G (Gen 3) and the Moto X Style, nestled carefully within the budget segment that is currently simmering with activity thanks to some really good handsets.In terms of specifications, the Moto X Play comes with a 5.5-inch FullHD IPS display with a 1080×1920 pixels resolution and 403 ppi pixel density. The Moto X Play comes with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 on the front. It has a water-repellent nano-coating (IP52 certification) that protects it from accidental spillage. Note that it’s lacking on IPX7 certification like the Moto G (Gen 3), so you cannot afford to dunk it in water.The Moto X Play is powered by a 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor coupled with Adreno 405 GPU and 2GB RAM. The phone supports expandable memory of up to 128GB via microSD card.advertisementThe Moto X Play runs Android 5.1.1 Lollipop out-of-the-box and like other Motorola phones runs an almost stock version of it, meaning almost zero bloatware. The Moto X Play, like the previous Moto X comes with Active Display and Touchless Control functions. While Active Display lets you preview your notifications and updates (as well as view the system clock) without waking your phone, Touchless Control lets you train your phone to respond to your voice commands even when the screen is off.On the camera front, the Moto X Play sports a 21-megapixel rear camera with autofocus and dualLED (dual tone) flash. It does not support 4K video recording. The front camera is a 5-megapixel.Connectivity options include: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, 4G LTE, NFC among others. The Moto X Play is a dual-SIM phone with 4G support on both the SIMs.The Moto X Play houses a non-removable 3,630 mAh battery that promises two days battery backup on single charge on extreme usage and supports fast charging (using Motorola’s proprietary TurboCharger sold separately). It will be available in the colours White and Black.Motorola did not launch the Moto X Style on Monday. The company also did not divulge details about when the phone is expected to launch in India.The Moto X Play was announced along with the Moto X Style and the Moto G Gen 3 in late August. The Moto G Gen 3 is available in India at Rs.11,999 for the 8GB/1GB RAM variant, while the 16GB/2GB RAM version comes at Rs.12,999.
Defending champion Andy Murray of Britain fought off a nagging left hip injury and a half-hour rain delay to beat Alexander Bublik 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 in the opening round of Wimbledon.Murray, who lost in the first round at Queen’s last month, showed no ill effects from an injury that caused him to call off two days of practice last week.The 134th-ranked Bublik, from Kazakhstan, was playing in his seventh tour-level match. His eccentric style, built on slices and drop shots, seemed as though it could test Murray’s mobility.Murray countered with his own defensive game and took advantage of his opponent’s errors. Bublik had 35 unforced errors to Murray’s 10 and had 12 double-faults.NISHIKORI HITS TOP FORMJapan’s Kei Nishikori breezed through his Wimbledon first-round clash with Italy’s Marco Cecchinato 6-2 6-2 6-0 on Monday, demolishing an opponent who was playing his first senior-level match on grass.The ninth seed did not disappoint the legion of Japanese fans who gave him a hero’s welcome as he walked on to Court Twelve, outclassing his rival from the first point when he powered a backhand winner down the line.Cecchinato, ranked 102nd, could not handle Nishikori’s thundering drives off both wings, with the 24-year-old Italian’s one-handed backhand proving particularly fragile.Nishikori, 27, showed off his full repertoire of shots in a faultless third set which he peppered with delicate drop shots and ended with an emphatic volley.Japan’s highest-ever ranked player did not show any sign of the injuries that have plagued him on grass courts in recent years. His toughest challenge of the day was making his way off the court as he was mobbed by dozens of fans seeking autographs. advertisement
zoomIllustration; Image Courtesy: K Line Japanese shipping major K Line is to launch a significant structural reform in order to improve its profitability from fiscal year 2019.Namely, the company plans to cancel charter contracts for containerships and small and medium sized dry bulkers worth around JPY 50 billion (USD 447 million) and reduce its market exposure.As part of its next medium-term management plan, the company intends to improve profitability by concentrating on four business pillars, namely the Dry Bulk, Car Carrier, Energy Resource Transport, and Logistics and Affiliated businesses.With this implementation of the business structural reforms and changes of other extraordinary income or losses, the company now expects to record a net loss of JPY 100 billion (USD 895 million) for the year ended March 31, 2019, compared to a previously expected loss of JPY 20 billion (USD 179 million) for the period.K Line revised the forecast of consolidated financial results ending March 2019 because of provision for losses regarding chartering in operating loss, reflection of impact by dry bulker’s weaken market conditions, extraordinary losses related to cancellation of chartering contracts, as well as the change of the timing implementation for extraordinary profit by assets’ sale such as fleets to subsequent period, which results in expansion of net loss attributable to owners of parent.As to the cost of the business structural reforms, K Line estimated around JPY 65 billion followed with provision for loss related to containerships chartering to Ocean Network Express (ONE), as well as chartering cancellation of containerships and dry bulkers.K Line determined to record the provision for losses of around JPY 15 billion, as rationally estimable amount, regarding loss related to containerships chartering as well as to carry out cancelling chartering contracts for some of uneconomical containerships and small and medium sized dry bulkers to reduce the exposure to risks from market fluctuation.
CINCINNATI: American Madison Keys overcame late leads by Svetlana Kuznetsova in both sets to defeat the Russian for the Cincinnati Masters title on Sunday. The confidence-boosting 7-5 7-6(5) victory sent Keys into the US Open later this month as the world’s number 10 ranked player. “If you told me a week ago this is where I would be, I would have laughed in your face!” Keys said in accepting the tournament trophy. In both sets, the 2017 US Open finalist trailed 5-3 before rallying to win. Also Read – Puducherry on top after 8-wkt win over ChandigarhKeys won four consecutive games to claim the opener. She needed a tiebreak to prevail in the second. The triumph was the fourth in a row on hardcourts for the 16th-seeded Keys over Kuznetsova and the 24-year-old’s fifth career title. The 34-year-old Kuznetsova, twice a Grand Slam champion, served for the first set but Keys held out before winning four consecutive games. In the second set Kuznetsova broke Keys in the third game and went ahead 3-1. But Keys, down 5-3, won three games in a row to go up 6-5. This time, Kuznetsova fought back, forcing a tiebreak when the ball touched the top of the net and rolled over to the other side, creating a light moment that had Keys smiling in disbelief.
OTTAWA – The federal Finance Department has shaved several years of projected deficits from Canada’s long-term financial future following better-than-expected economic growth in 2017 — though many more years of deficits remain.Finance officials predicted in a report released Friday that barring any policy changes, the federal government could be on track to run annual shortfalls until 2045-46, compared to projections last year that deficits would run to 2050-51.If such a scenario played out, the deficit would reach an annual high of $24.8 billion around 2030-31 before beginning to fall.By 2040-41, the federal debt would top out at around $1.08 trillion before starting to fall, as compared to last year’s prediction that it would reach $1.55 trillion by 2050-51.The improvement is attributed to an overall boost in the fiscal outlook, particularly in the medium term, which comes after the Canadian economy mounted a surprise resurgence over the past 12 months.While long-term predictions contain considerable uncertainty, Finance Minister Bill Morneau nonetheless said the projections prove the Liberal government’s plan is bearing fruit.“We have an ambitious plan to grow Canada’s economy by investing in people, growing the middle class and helping those working hard to join it,” Morneau said in a statement Friday. “Our plan is working.”The Liberals won the 2015 election on a plan to spur economic growth by running annual deficits of no more than $10 billion over the first couple years to pay for infrastructure investments before balancing the books in 2019-20.But they abandoned those so-called “fiscal anchors” as the economy took a beating from collapsing oil prices in 2016, and have instead focused on lowering the debt-to-GDP ratio, which is a measure of Ottawa’s debt burden.The Liberals have not set a timeline for a return to balance.The Opposition Conservatives wasted no time latching onto Friday’s report to further their argument that the Liberals are leaving a legacy of debt.“Justin Trudeau will be a 74-year-old man relaxing on a private island before the budget is balanced,” Conservative finance critic Pierre Poilievre said in a statement.“He is leaving the next generation with the bill for his reckless spending and the only way he can pay that bill is by raising taxes.”The Finance report emphasized investments in skills and technology as it warned that Canada’s aging population will contribute less to the economy and instead become a drain on public finances in the coming years.That warning largely explained why the GDP was projected to see slower growth between 2023-2055 than in previous decades, going back to 1950.“It is therefore imperative to continue to grow the economy by investing in the middle class and in the skills and technology that will make Canada more productive, competitive and fair,” the report read.“In particular, improving the economic participation of groups traditionally under-represented in the labour market, including women, Indigenous people, older workers, newcomers and persons with disabilities, is key to Canada’s long-term fiscal and economic performance.”— Follow @leeberthiaume on Twitter.
Medical students at the University of The Gambia have outlined problems they are facing which are causing delays in the completion of their courses. In a press release issued yesterday they focused on the delays in the departure and arrival of Cuban lecturers which has resulted in the course taking eight years to complete instead of seven. They say despite all their efforts, the problem still persists. Below is the full text of the release:It is without doubt that medical students will make up the core of our country’s health system in the near future. Therefore, prioritizing medical education is empirical in improving the health of the people of our beloved nation, The Gambia. Any factor which interferes with effective medical education is leaving the future of our country to chance.For years we have been faced with a number of problems as medical students, the most distressing being delays. This hindered effective medical education and is accumulating with increasing intensity and led to a build-up of frustration. For over three years, whenever it comes to the holidays of our Cuban lecturers, they would either not leave on time for their holidays or leave and not come back on time. The consequence of which is the time in which they are away added to our 7-year program. For instance, the batch that just graduated spent over 8 years in medical school. If this problem isn’t solved now, there is a high chance that this might reoccur. Last year, the Cubans stayed away for about 8 months which led to a peaking of our frustration. As a result, we formed an ad hoc committee to consult with the necessary stakeholders and come up with an amicable solution.Several attempts were made to contact all the authorities involved but some of the calls remained unanswered. A persistence of the problems led to a press conference in February this year which resulted in a meeting with the University authorities, relevant ministries and other stakeholders. The meeting was convened and orchestrated by the University of The GambiaStudents Union (UTGSU) and the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MQHERST). The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoHSW), the body primarily responsible for the going and coming of the lecturers were present at that meeting. Several promises and propositions were made so as to prevent the problem from recurring.Over the past months, a series of follow ups were made, both formal and informal, to ensure that the relevant authorities see to it that the problem is prevented. However, to our dismay, it would seem things are not going as planned and history is repeating itself. Presently, three dates for the departure of the Cuban lecturers were given and none proved to be fruitful. To show our utmost dissatisfaction, we staged a peaceful protest marching from the arch to the quadrangle on Thursday 13th December 2018. As medical students of the University of The Gambia, we have only one demand.“LET OUR CUBAN LECTURERS GO FOR THEIR HOLIDAYS AND COME BACK ON TIME.”Foroyaa will get in touch with the authorities to get their comments on the matter.
Honda RidgelineAgain keeping the status quo, the Honda Ridgeline maintains third place on the American Made Index. This crossover-that-looks-like-a-truck provides a better ride than a traditional pickup and gets an awesome lockable trunk right in the floor of the bed. And it doesn’t do the truck stuff too badly, either, as it’s able to carry 1,860 pounds of payload and tow 3,500 pounds.The Ridgeline is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 good for 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. That is channeled through a six-speed automatic transmission with available all-wheel drive. It’s built in Lincoln, Alabama. 2019 Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison: An off-road animal 7:53 2020 Kia Telluride review: Kia’s new SUV has big style and bigger value 49 Photos Chevrolet CorvetteMoving up from the 10th-place slot last year is the 2019 Chevrolet Corvette. While we’ve all been ogling the new mid-engine Corvette, it’s easy to forget what a performance bargain the current-generation ‘Vette is. From the base trim to the Grand Sport to the bonkers ZR1, the Corvette is an American icon.My preference is for the Grand Sport, which strikes a perfect balance between everyday drivability and canyon-carving performance. The 6.2-liter V8 puts out 460 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. You can get it with a seven-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission, but the kicker is the borrowed chassis and aero parts from the beefier Z06. Like I said, perfect balance. The Corvette is made in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Enlarge ImageFact: Bronze or gold wheels make any car at least 200% better. Don’t @ me. Toyota How do you renew interest in a car that’s slowly approaching the point in its life where replacement might be in the cards? It’s easy: Just make a special edition that’s so pretty, it’s hard not to heap praise on it. That’s the 2020 Toyota 86 Hakone Edition, and as it turns out, it’s not too expensive.The 2020 Toyota 86 Hakone Edition will cost $30,825 including destination, CarsDirect reports, citing Toyota’s latest pricing documents. Given that the 86’s base price for the 2020 model year is $27,850 (also including destination), that means the Hakone Edition upgrade is just $2,975. Bear in mind, that cost is for one with a manual transmission; adding an automatic adds $720 to the bottom line.While that might seem like a lot for an appearance package, it’s pretty comprehensive. On the outside, it comes with green metallic paint, a rear deck spoiler and unique 17-inch bronze wheels. Inside, the seats rock a tan-and-black motif with Alcantara suede elements, a similarly colored armrest and a stitched 86 logo on the dashboard itself. Tan stitching extends to the steering wheel, shift boot and parking brake. The Hakone Edition gets its name from the Hakone Turnpike, a twisty driving road that’s earned its fair share of notoriety. Given that the 86 offers one of the purest, most stripped-down driving experiences available in a small car, I say the name fits.Underneath the appearance package, the 2020 Toyota 86 is the same as it ever was. Under the hood is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that puts out 205 horsepower with a six-speed manual transmission, or 200 hp with a six-speed automatic. The car is shared with Subaru, which sells it as the BRZ, packing a few more creature comforts (and a slightly higher window sticker) than its Toyota-based brethren. 2020 Hyundai Palisade review: Posh enough to make Genesis jealous Honda PassportThe Honda Passport is a new (well, reborn) entry to both the Honda lineup and the American Made Index. This midsize crossover comes to the fray with great driving dynamics and plenty of tech like the standard Honda Sensing suite of active safety features. An available 8-inch touchscreen gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as a Wi-Fi hotspot.Under the hood is the stalwart 3.5-liter V6 producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. However unlike the Ridgeline, the Passport sends that power through a nine-speed automatic transmission. Having said that, just like the Ridgeline, this is the only powertrain available. The Honda Passport is built in Lincoln, Alabama. 2020 BMW M340i review: A dash of M makes everything better Honda PilotDropping down to seventh place for 2019 is the Honda Pilot. Like its two-row Passport sibling, the three-row Pilot offers parent-focused technology like Cabin Talk as well as myriad standard driver-assistance features through the Honda Sensing tech suite. Honda’s largest crossover offers up nearly 84 cubic feet of cargo space. Honda’s 3.5-liter V6 engine shows up again, making a serviceable 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. Touring and Elite trims get a nine-speed automatic transmission while lower trims have to make do with a six-speed auto. The Honda Pilot is made in Lincoln, Alabama. 2019 Acura MDX adds new features and an A-Spec model Post a comment 20 Photos 2019 Acura RDX A-Spec: Sharp handling, sharper looks Tags Take a master class in drifting in the Toyota 86 Now playing: Watch this: Coupes Sports Cars Jeep CherokeeKeeping its top-of-the-list placement, the Jeep Cherokee is 2019’s most American-made car. Refreshed for 2019, the compact crossover now features more tech, better cargo space and a slightly tweaked look. It’s available in no fewer the nine trims, including the off-road specific Trailhawk and a fancy-pants Trailhawk Elite.For 2019, the Cherokee gets a new 2.0-liter, turbocharged, four-cylinder engine with 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, though naturally aspirated I4 and V6 choices are also available. Regardless of engine, a nine-speed automatic transmission gets the power to the pavement — or dirt as the case may be. The Cherokee is made in Belvidere, Illinois. 0 18 Photos 52 Photos 2019 Honda Ridgeline: The commuter’s pickup truck Share your voice Tags 71 Photos 26 Photos Car Industry Toyota,Enlarge ImageIt’s all in a day’s work for the Jeep Cherokee, the most American-made car in 2019. Jeep With high trade tensions looming and increasing talk of tariffs, more and more consumers are looking to buy American. Cars.com has released its annual American Made Index, showcasing companies that use the most American-sourced parts and labor in their vehicles. The results may surprise you.Cars.com analyzed more than 100 US-built vehicles for five key data points: manufacturing location, parts sourcing, US employment, engine sourcing and transmission sourcing. You might think something like the Ford F-150 would top the list, but it drops from its No. 5 spot for 2018 and out of the top 10 completely. Even the first-place holder, the Jeep Cherokee, is a pretty global product. It’s a Jeep, sure, but that brand is part of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, an Italian-owned business.Cars.com surveyed 1,000 people and found that half are concerned about automotive import tariffs, with 41% saying they are unsure if tariffs would make them more likely to buy American. Either way, we’re big fans of all the vehicles on this list. These days, buying American doesn’t necessarily mean sticking with a US-based automaker. 69 Photos General Motors Chevrolet Honda Jeep Acura GMC CanyonIf you’re looking for a slightly fancier version of the Colorado that’s more focused on luxe than dirt, check out the GMC Canyon. The top Denali trim gets standard heated and ventilated front seats as well as a heated steering wheel. Maximum payload capability is 1,665 pounds while max towing is a fairly healthy 7,600 pounds.The Canyon is available with the same 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, 3.6-liter V6 or 2.8-liter diesel as the Chevrolet Colorado. It’s also built in Wentzville, Missouri. Toyota’s 2020 86 Hakone Edition is green, bronze and gorgeous 2019 Honda Passport: A well-rounded midsize offering 2019 Honda Pilot Elite: A smoother, tech-rich crossover SUV Chevrolet ColoradoMaking its debut in the top 10 is the Chevrolet Colorado. Shown here in the tough ZR2 Bison off-road spec, the Chevy Colorado is an excellent truck and one of the two midsize pickups you can get with a diesel engine. Adding to the ZR2’s two-inch lift and front and rear locking differentials, the Bison gets beefier skid plates (trust me, that’s a good thing), steel bumpers and integrated recovery points. Heck, you can even get a snorkel.Base models get a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a six-speed manual transmission, but a more popular choice is the 3.6-liter V6 gas engine with 308 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Meanwhile, the 2.8-liter diesel pumps out 186 horsepower and a delicious 369 pound-feet of twist and is mated to a six-speed automatic. The Chevy Colorado is built in Wentzville, Missouri. 12 Photos 2019 Honda Odyssey offers plenty of room and features for families 2019 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport loves to hustle Toyota 2019 GMC Canyon: A fancier Colorado 81 Photos 68 Photos Honda OdysseyThe feature-rich Honda Odyssey minivan also retains its number-two slot from last year’s list. While the 2019 model doesn’t see any changes from last, it’s still a darn good choice for families on the go with reconfigurable seats, Wi-Fi and an excellent rear-seat entertainment system. The Cabin Watch video system lets parents keep an eye on their little darlings without turning around in their seats, while Cabin Talk amplifies their voice so no yelling is required.The Odyssey is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 rated for 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. Most trims get a nine-speed automatic but the top Touring and Elite trims now use a 10-speed automatic with stop-start technology. The Honda Odyssey is made in Lincoln, Alabama. 2019 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison: A tougher off-roader Acura RDXThe third-generation Acura RDX squeaks into the top ten list with larger proportions, plenty of interior space and better handling than its predecessor. Forward collision warning with collision mitigation braking, adaptive cruise control that works even in low-speed traffic, lane-keeping steering assist and road departure mitigation are all standard across the board. Like its MDX counterpart, the RDX is available with the A-Spec styling package.The RDX sports a 2.0-liter, turbocharged, four-cylinder engine. Output is stated at 273 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, and it’s mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. The new RDX is built in East Liberty, Ohio. More From Roadshow 2019 Honda Ridgeline review: Light duty, heavy punch Acura MDXMoving up one slot to sixth place on the American Made Index is the non-hybrid variant of the Acura MDX. With its SH-AWD system, the MDX is one of the better handling midsize luxury crossovers, and for 2019 the company gives us the A-Spec treatment with a new front fascia and side skirts, 20-inch wheels, wider exhaust tips, unique gauges, a new steering wheel, carbon fiber trim and various Alcantara interior touches.However, both the standard and A-Spec models get a 3.5-liter V6 engine, rated for 290 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque going through a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Acura MDX is made in East Liberty, Ohio. 2019 GMC Sierra Denali review: So close to greatness Share your voice 3 Comments More From Roadshow 2019 Jeep Cherokee can handle the rough stuff 10 Photos
Facebook Comments The National Federation of the Fishing Sector (FENAPES) and the Costa Rican Fisheries Federation (FECOP) launched a campaign this week to collect signatures in support of a proposal to regulate tuna seine-fishing within 370 nautical miles of the country’s maritime territory.Under the slogan “Tico Tuna for Tico Fishermen,” the campaing calls on the government to issue an executive order establishing a six-year moratorium allowing artisanal fishermen to work without direct competition from industrial seine fleets within the proposed area, which is part of Costa Rica’s Exclusive Economic Zone.Data released in June by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission show that the international tuna fleet captured 253,000 tons of tuna within the country’s EEZ from 2002 to 2011.FECOP Executive Director Enrique Ramírez said Costa Rican waters currently offer a potential catch of 25,000 tons of tuna per year, “and most – 90 percent – is taken to other countries, mainly Ecuador.”FENAPES and FECOP representatives said the proposal would be a first step in promoting “sustainable” tuna fishing aimed at recovering marine resources in Costa Rica’s Pacific waters.The proposed regulations also would help some 15,000 families who depend on artisanal tuna fishing, as well as the tourism, sport fishing and environmental interests, Ramírez added.International seine-fishers catch 18 times more fish than than national fleet, and their fishing devices “affect other species such as dolphins, manta rays, sailfish and marlin, among others,” FENAPES and FECOP said.In August, Costa Rica banned shrimp trawling after the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court, or Sala IV, ruled that the fishing technique causes serious damage to the marine environment.Those interested in signing the petition can go to the campaign website at: http://firmas.fecop.orgWatch a video for the campaign here (Spanish only): No related posts.
TripAdvisor has upgraded its destination pages and revealed a new initiative that allows tourism boards and Destination Management Organisations (DMOs) to customise their content. The new ‘Premium Destination Partnership’ is available to all DMOs worldwide, enabling them to self-manage their destination content on the travel site.There are three sections that can be controlled: ‘Collections’, which provides lists of hotels, restaurants and attractions; ‘Articles’, which allows DMOs to create travel information for potential visitors; and ‘Events’, which offers information about upcoming events in the destination.The DMO-supplied content will run alongside TripAdvisor’s existing user-generated content and booking tools that are already available on its destination pages. DMOs participating in the programme will be offered access to a new dashboard that offers information about the performance of the content, as well as the campaign’s impact on tourism to their destination. Premium Destination Partnerships are now available in 28 languages.