ABT has announced a new version of its R8 LMS GT2 and it’s absolutely ludicrous. It's called the ‘XGT’, it's restricted to 99 units, and almost hilariously it's road-legal. So, while it gets substantially less boot space than, say, a regular R8, it does get that car's really rather substantial V10, here sending 640bhp to the rear wheels through a seven-speed transmission. A set of forged alloys are wrapped in road-going Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tyres, too. Weight comes in at around 1,400kg - less than an Audi RS3 - and it's equipped with dual-adjustable suspension and modified springs, which means owners have more wiggle room setting it up for the Ikea run. The XGT's top speed depends on the car's rear wing setting, but ABT quotes a maximum of 192mph. https://www.topgear.com/car-news/supercars/ps520k-abt-xgt-audi-r8-racecar-road

Ferrari's Carlos Sainz and Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg both crashed in an eventful Friday second practice session at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The session was shortened to 20 minutes following a near half-hour delay caused by repairs to barriers damaged by Sainz in a heavy crash at Turn Three. Hulkenberg's off at Turn One then immediately cost another seven minutes. Sainz's team-mate Charles Leclerc set the pace, just 0.043 seconds ahead of McLaren's Lando Norris. Red Bull's Max Verstappen was third fastest, 0.173secs off the pace, complaining at one point that his car was "bouncing like a kangaroo" in the final sector of the lap around the marina. Mercedes driver George Russell was sixth fastest, behind the Alfa Romeo of Valtteri Bottas and the second Red Bull of Sergio Perez. Lewis Hamilton in the second Mercedes was eighth fastest, 0.193secs behind his team-mate. Inside the mind of record-breaking Red Bull's design genius How to follow the Abu Dhabi GP F1 bosses back sprint race format change for 2024 Life begins at 43: Aston could extend Alonso contract The truncated session meant teams and drivers had very little time to set up their cars and none managed to do the usual race-simulation runs, so there was little indication as to potential form for the weekend. Sainz lost control of his Ferrari after just eight minutes of running. His car hit a bump as it went through one of the fastest corners of the track. This likely caused a loss of downforce and therefore the driver to lose control. He was following an Alpha Tauri car at the time, and Sainz reported to his team over the radio: "Dirty air from the car gave me a massive snap. Dirty air and the bump, I think." In the first session, a number of the junior drivers who were used by nine of the 10 teams as part of their mandatory "young driver" running had wild moments over the same bump, without actually losing control. Sainz was unhurt in the accident but the barriers were extensively damaged and there were just 25 minutes of the session remaining when it was restarted. But just two minutes later there was another red flag after Hulkenberg ran wide on the exit of Turn One, put his right rear wheel on the artificial grass outside the kerb and spun. The car rotated back across the track and its rear corner smashed into the barriers, causing the session to be stopped again, for seven minutes this time while the damaged Haas was removed. That meant a hectic final quarter-hour, which started with Verstappen barging his way past both Mercedes drivers as the cars left the pits, and accusing them of "blocking him". The lack of running will make the teams' work overnight tougher than usual as they head into a race weekend in which a number of championship positions are still contested. Key among them, Ferrari are just four points behind Mercedes in their battle for second place in the constructors' championship behind Red Bull. Both teams are keen to secure the position, not least for the extra $10m or so of prize money but also as a morale boost after difficult seasons. Ferrari have the momentum after a stronger second part of the season following a series of upgrades that have improved their difficult car. There is also some uncertainty over fourth place, with McLaren 11 points ahead of Aston Martin. At the back, the bottom four teams - Williams, Alpha Tauri, Alfa Romeo and Haas - are covered by just 16 points. Meanwhile, in the drivers' championship, Sainz and Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso are tied on 200 points in fourth and fifth places, just five points ahead of McLaren's Lando Norris, who is himself just seven ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/67518951

It’s a natural defence against disease that helps clear our airways. But what are the signs that it signifies something more serious? Joel Snape Sun 19 Nov 2023 15.00 GMT 269 Coughing’s reputation, it’s probably fair to say, has taken a bit of a hit. Once an occasional irritation, it recently spent a couple of years as a key symptom of a disease that everyone was worried about, and it has never entirely recovered. Cough on a train in 2021, and a decent chunk of the carriage would look at you as if you should be hermetically sealed in a bag. Do it now, and you may get away with a couple of nasty stares. But, Covid aside, what else might be causing that cough? And is there anything, realistically, you can do about it? “Coughs are a commonly presenting complaint, but in the vast majority of cases they’re nothing to worry about,” says Dr Timothy Gatheral, a consultant respiratory physician at the University of Lancaster. “As a consultant, I have a different perspective, as most cases I see have advanced to something more concerning, but the general NHS advice is not to worry unless you have a cough that persists for more than three weeks, or worsens very abruptly.” It is worth pointing out at this stage that coughing is actually an important part of the body’s defence against disease. It is a natural reaction to getting something stuck in the throat – a sudden-onset cough can often be from an obstruction you didn’t notice on its way down – and it also expels mucus, microbes and foreign particles from the respiratory tract, protecting the lungs. In some cases, excess coughing can actually lead to … more coughing, as the nerve that controls this coughing reflex becomes hypersensitive, which is one reason that it’s helpful to keep short-term coughs in check with hot honey water or sugar-free sweets. Most short-term coughs are caused by colds or flu, although heartburn, allergies, or infections can all play a part. But again, unless you’ve had one that lasts, it is unlikely to be a signifier of anything serious. Technically, even smoker’s cough can be a temporary issue, caused when the chemicals you inhale from smoking damage the small hairs – known as cilia – lining your airways, as well as causing inflammation and a buildup of mucus. Stop smoking, and it should improve – although other issues caused by lighting up won’t. One of the most common issues signified by a prolonged smoker’s cough, for instance, is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the technical term for a whole group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties. “Exposure to cigarette smoke can cause COPD, but so can certain types of dust and chemicals,” says Dr Gatheral. “Asbestos is the one that everyone worries about, but silica dust is increasingly an issue for builders and fitters, as people have their kitchens done.” Smoking-related COPD won’t go away if you give up tobacco – but at least it shouldn’t worsen. Another cause of COPD and other conditions, of course, is pollution: globally responsible for around one in six premature deaths worldwide in 2019, it’s worsening in many areas of the UK even as the WHO lowers its recommendations for allowable legal limits. If you’re able to choose when you go out, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs keeps a five-day forecast for UK levels online; if you can’t avoid the most polluted times, then try to stay away from main roads or at least to the inside of the kerb. Finally, if you have a cough that won’t go away, that worsens abruptly, or that appears alongside other symptoms such as breathing difficulties, unexpected weight loss, or even spots of blood, that’s the time to seek medical help – and be persistent about it. Conditions such as lung cancer or pulmonary fibrosis aren’t easy to treat, but they can be managed. “I don’t want people to worry unnecessarily, but there are times when it’s important to push,” says Dr Gatheral. “Most coughs will resolve on their own, but you know your own body, and if there’s something seriously wrong then it’s crucial that you get it checked out and, if possible, treated, sooner rather than later.” Coughing is mostly good for us, a biological adaptation that stops us from swallowing stuff or expels unpleasant material from our airways. Sometimes, though, it’s a marker of something worse. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/nov/19/should-i-worry-about-my-cough

North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un has congratulated his team of scientists for launching a spy satellite, calling it a "new era of space power". He described the mission as a "full-fledged exercise in self defence". North Korea fired a rocket believed to contain the spy satellite on Tuesday. It claimed it was a success but South Korea said it was too soon to tell if the satellite is functioning, after two previous launches failed. Mr Kim appeared at a reception of space scientists and technicians on Thursday with his wife Ri Sol Ju and, daughter, Kim Ju Ae, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). He said the launch "had propelled the country into a new era of space power", KCNA said. And it added that Mr Kim said "the possession of reconnaissance satellite is a full-fledged exercise of the right to self-defence". North Korea's premier Kim Tok Hun said the satellite would give their military the capacity to strike the whole world. Developing a functioning spy satellite is a major part of North Korea's five-year military plan - and the technology could in theory enable Pyongyang to monitor the movement of US and South Korean troops and weapons on the Korean Peninsula, allowing it to spot incoming threats. A few hours after Tuesday's launch, North Korean state media claimed that they were already reviewing images of US military bases in Guam. The launch has been strongly condemned by the UN as well as other countries including the US and Japan. And it has sparked a row with South Korea, who said it believed the North received help from Russia. The latest launch followed Mr Kim's rare trip to Russia in September, when President Vladimir Putin offered Pyongyang help to build satellites. North Korea claims successful launch of spy satellite S Korea suspends parts of military deal with North North Korea fully suspends military pact with South Pyongyang's launch of the satellite called "Malligyong-1" was its third attempt after two attempts had failed in May and August. South Korea confirmed that the launch was successful but said it was too early to determine if the satellite was functioning as claimed by the North. South Korea partially suspended a five-year-old military accord with the North, after Pyongyang's launch of the satellite on Tuesday. Pyongyang responded by threatening to suspend the deal in full, adding that it "will never be bound" by the agreement again. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-67517260

Music title:Gucci Mane - Cold (feat. B.G. & Mike WiLL Made-It) Signer:Gucci Mane B.G. & Mike WiLL Made-It Release date:Nov 21, 2023 Official YouTube link: Informations about the signer:- Your opinion about the track (music video):-

Nick movie: Percy Jackson and The Olympians Time: 8 episode Netflix / Amazon / HBO:Disney+ Duration of the movie:December 20, 2023 Trailer:

Israel and Hamas have agreed to a humanitarian pause, allowing 50 civilian hostages in the Gaza Strip to be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, according to the government of Qatar. Following mediation by the U.S., Qatar and Egypt, Israel’s government and Hamas militants have agreed to a temporary cease-fire that will last four days — and could be extended, the ministry of foreign affairs in Qatar said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. “The humanitarian pause will also allow the entry of a larger number of humanitarian convoys and relief aid, including fuel designated for humanitarian needs,” Qatar said, adding that the start of pause will be announced in the next 24 hours. “The agreement includes the release of 50 civilian women and children hostages currently held in the Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of a number of Palestinian women and children detained in Israeli prisons,” the ministry said. More people could be released in the later stages of the agreement, the ministry added. The major diplomatic breakthrough comes after weeks of conversations between the U.S., Qatar, Israel, Egypt and Palestinian militant group Hamas. Hamas infiltrated southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people, including foreigners, and taking about 240 hostages into Gaza. In response to the terror attack, Israel launched air, sea and ground attacks on the coastal enclave which is run by Hamas. More than 14,000 Palestinians have so far been killed, according to Gaza’s media office which is run by Hamas. Israeli cabinet members approved the deal just after 3 a.m. Wednesday in Jerusalem and said it would be the “first stage” of hostage release. Before Qatar’s announcement, a senior U.S. administration official said late Tuesday the initial tranche of 50 hostages will be released over four days, during which Israel will pause its bombardment of Gaza to ensure their safe crossing. The first wave of hostages could include three Americans, including one toddler, the official said. The deal has built-in incentives to get more hostages out over time. The Israeli government said in a statement following the cabinet vote that as part of the deal, “the release of every additional ten hostages will result in one additional day in the pause.” Separately, Hamas said in a statement that Israel had agreed to release 150 Palestinian women and child prisoners. Neither Qatar nor Israel mentioned the number of Palestinians who would be released in exchange for the hostages held by Hamas. U.S. President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken welcomed news of the deal. The four-day pause in fighting will allow for more humanitarian aid deliveries into Gaza where civilians are living in dire circumstances without sustained access to food, water, fuel and electricity. An average of 42 aid trucks per day have been sent into Gaza since Oct. 21. Israel made it clear in its statement following the vote that the war would not end until all hostages were released and Hamas eliminated. “Outside there is a lot of nonsense talk, as if after we cease (fire), for the release of the hostages, we will stop the war,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in opening remarks ahead of the cabinet meeting. “I would like to clarify, we are at war, and we will continue to fight, continue to fight until we reach all our goals.” https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/22/israel-and-hamas-reach-deal-to-release-50-civilians-held-in-gaza-qatar.html

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has earmarked £2bn for building electric cars in the UK in his latest update on the country’s finances to the House of Commons. With an election due to be held by 28 January 2025 but expected within the next 12 months, this was one of the chancellor’s few opportunities to boost his party’s bid for another term of office by splashing some cash, which he’d built up thanks to better than expected tax income. While there were no new measures for motorists announced, the chancellor announced £2bn of government cash to encourage new investment in zero emission vehicle manufacturing in the country and said that it would “ensure that the UK remains competitive”, and that the money would be welcomed by the likes of Nissan and Jaguar Land Rover. The money is planned to be spread over five years from 2025. Business secretary Kemi Badenoch welcomed the money, saying that it “builds on recent investment wins”, including £4bn the government says that companies have committed to a UK gigafactory producing batteries for electric vehicles, and a £600m investment from BMW to produce the Mini Electric in Oxford for another generation. https://www.topgear.com/car-news/electric/chancellor-announces-ps2bn-boost-ev-manufacturing

LeBron James became the first player to score 39,000 points in the NBA as the LA Lakers beat the Utah Jazz in the in-season tournament. Needing five points, he scored 17 in a 131-99 victory in Los Angeles that secured a quarter-final place. James, 38, surpassed Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's tally of 38,387 points in February to become the leading scorer of all time. "I haven't really had chance to wrap my head around what it means," James said. "There's been so many great players in this league since the beginning of time, and so many great scorers. "To be able to be the first of anything is always pretty cool. A wild moment, for sure." The four-time NBA Most Valuable Player saluted the crowd at the Crypto.com Arena when his achievement was announced. James recorded nine assists and seven rebounds and team-mate Anthony Davis scored 26 points and made 16 rebounds. The Indiana Pacers reached the last eight with a 157-152 win at the Atlanta Hawks. Tyrese Haliburton, who said this week the tournament gave "more juice" to early season games, scored 37 points as the Pacers overturned a 20-point first-half deficit. Darius Garland's 32 points led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 122-119 overtime victory over the Philadelphia 76ers that kept their qualifying hopes alive. The quarter-finals take place on 4 and 5 December, with the semis on 7 December and the final on 9 December in Las Vegas. https://www.bbc.com/sport/basketball/67494274

In my kayak, I cried over my daily battles with PTSD, but realised I had done something other people would find challenging or even scary. Afloat out there, I had been objectively brave Anna Britton Wed 22 Nov 2023 07.00 GMT Ilooked around, letting my paddle fall on to my wetsuit-clad lap. Tiny waves lapped against my kayak, reeds swayed on the riverbank, clouds scuttled across the sky. All I could hear was rustling leaves and the occasional honk of geese. There wasn’t a person in sight. Earlier, I had sat in my car beside the river in Yarmouth, gripping the steering wheel, gritting my teeth against the pressure that had been building in my head since I had seen that the tide and wind conditions were perfect for a solo kayak. Inside of me, there were two Annas. One loved kayaking and couldn’t wait to get out on to the water. The other desperately wanted to go home and curl up under a blanket where it was safe. Living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) means that there are often two conflicting voices in my head. One tells me that it doesn’t matter what I have for lunch, while the other is desperately afraid of making the wrong choice. One loves reading in bed before I go to sleep, the other wants to stay up as late as possible watching TV to avoid nightmares. My brain is hardwired by traumatic experiences in my past to protect me, which it unfortunately does by identifying danger in situations where there is none. “You will enjoy this,” I told myself, fighting against the tears gathering in my eyes. “I promise.” Doing things quickly helps remove the anxiety of decision-making, so I flung myself out of the car and tried to lose myself in the mechanics of getting ready to go out on the water: inflating my kayak, testing my lifejacket was tight enough, assembling my paddle. All the while, I repeated to myself the mantra that I would enjoy this. One part of me knew it was true, while the other could not shake the all-consuming fear that something awful was going to happen if I didn’t get myself home right away. Without allowing myself a moment to reconsider, I hauled my kayak on to my hip and strode down to the river. I jumped in and paddled away from the shallows, passing boats and families of geese. I paddled hard, willing the fear to fall away as I strained to cut through the water as smoothly and quickly as possible. That day in 2022, as I told myself I loved what I was doing again and again despite the alarm bells in my head ringing on a loop, I found myself alone on a long stretch of river. There is always something peaceful about being on the water, even when I’m on it with friends or watching my dog swim after a ball. But there’s something different about floating alone on a river. I stopped paddling. I let my aching arms rest. I looked around at the still water and the fields in the distance. The wind ruffled my hair as I breathed deep, my chest loosening. I didn’t make a conscious decision to start crying. Despite the storms that clash inside of me, I’m quite good at squashing my emotions until I’m in a safe place to express them. I like to feel in control. Yet something in the solitude the river offered me that day broke through those bolstered defences. Tears ran down my face and my chest heaved with sobs. All the fight I had carried with me, that had been necessary to get me on to the water, left me. I felt the sadness of living with PTSD. It’s cruel and difficult. It’s not fair. It’s so incredibly tiring. Alone on that river, I cried out the pain of having daily battles to do simple things that other people didn’t spare a thought for. I let out the frustration of having a mind that worked against me, so desperate to protect me that, at times, it didn’t want me to do anything at all. I was deeply sad but even as I cried, I was so grateful that I was there on the river. Mental health recovery is often a fine balancing act between pushing my limits to broaden my capacity and having compassion for myself, so taking steps back when needed. Somehow, that moment on the river was a beautiful mix of the two. I had battled to get there, had rallied against my fears, and I’d found a moment in nature that allowed me to care for myself, to let out some of the deep hurt I carry. I don’t want my life to be small, and big moments such as sitting alone on the river, after the fight to get there, remind me that my life can be everything I want it to be. Sitting on my kayak, I felt brave. When filled with fear on a daily basis, feeling brave can be alien. It takes courage to work against our fears, but there is always a little voice inside my head telling me that it can’t really be counted as bravery if you are doing things that other people don’t even think twice about. But that solitary moment was different. I had done something that other people would find challenging or even scary. I had been objectively brave. I won’t pretend that I was magically cured of PTSD from that day onwards. Unfortunately, it is something I struggle with on a daily basis. I have good times and bad. In the tougher moments, I think back to crying in my kayak on the river. I was strong enough to get myself there, and kind enough to care for myself, too. I use it as a tangible example when I am struggling. I can be strong and kind. I can be more than my fear. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/nov/22/a-moment-that-changed-me-alone-on-a-river-i-sobbed-with-pain-and-resolved-to-live-a-big-life

A Russian actress has been killed in a Ukrainian strike while giving a performance to troops, according to her theatre. A dance hall in occupied Ukraine where Polina Menshikh was performing was hit by Ukrainian shelling on 19 November. The actress was reportedly giving a show to celebrate a Russian military holiday. Ukraine said about 20 Russian soldiers were killed in the strike, but Russian authorities have not commented on this. Ms Menshikh was giving a performance in a local dance hall capable of seating around 150 people, according to local reporting. A video purporting to show the moment of the strike was uploaded to social media. A woman, apparently Ms Menshikh, is seen on stage singing and playing guitar, before an explosion is heard and the hall's lights go out. Ms Menshikh died in hospital of her injuries. Speaking to the BBC's Ukrainian service, a Ukrainian army spokesperson confirmed media reporting of the strike. Portal, a theatre studio based in St Petersburg associated with Ms Menshikh said an upcoming performance of a play she had previously directed would be dedicated to her memory. The strike took place around 60km (37 miles) from the front line, in the village of Kumachove. Kumachove is located in the Donetsk region, in the area of eastern Ukraine occupied by Russia since 2014. Other areas in the Donetsk region have been hotpots of vicious fighting in recent months, particularly the cities of Avdiika and Bakhmut. Russian pro-war bloggers criticised the organisation of the show. A performance concentrating dozens of soldiers in one place made it an obvious target for a Ukrainian strike, they wrote. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67495384

Music title:Tate McRae - exes Signer:Tate McRae Release date:Nov 17, 2023 Official YouTube link: Informations about the signer:- Your opinion about the track (music video):-

Nick movie:Manodrome Time:February 18, 2023 Netflix / Amazon / HBO:Apple TV, Duration of the movie:1h 36m Trailer:

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militants have captured what they called an Israeli ship in the Red Sea and taken it to the Yemeni coast, calling all Israeli vessels a “legitimate target.” “The Yemeni armed forces reiterate their warning to all ships belonging to or dealing with the Israeli enemy that they will become a legitimate target for armed forces,” Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree said on social media on Sunday. He urged the international community to avoid working with Israeli ships or owned by Israeli individuals. “Yemeni armed forces confirm that they will continue to carry out military operations against the Israeli enemy until the aggression against Gaza stops,” the spokesperson said. On Monday, Japan’s top government spokesperson confirmed the capture of the Nippon Yusen-operated ship, Galaxy Leader, according to Reuters. Tokyo is now appealing with the Houthis for the release of the vessel and seeking the help of Saudi, Omani and Iranian authorities. Marinetraffic.com data indicates that the 21-year-old cargo vessel is sailing under the flag of Bahamas. “The hijacking of a cargo ship by the Houthis near Yemen in the southern Red Sea is a very grave incident of global consequence,” the Israeli military said on social media. “The ship departed Turkey on its way to India, staffed by civilians of various nationalities, not including Israelis. It is not an Israeli ship.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office qualified the vessel as owned by a British company and operated by a Japanese business, stating no Israeli people were present on the vessel. “This is another act of Iranian terrorism which expresses a leap forward in Iran’s aggression against the citizens of the free world, and creates international implications regarding the security of global shipping lanes,” Netanyahu said, according to a Google translation. Iran, which supports the Houthis and Hamas groups that are inimical to Israel, rejected claims of involvement in the ship’s capture, according to Google-translated comments by Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani, carried by the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency. “We have repeatedly announced that the resistance forces in the region represent their countries and make decisions based on the interests of their country and nation. They act spontaneously,” he said. Iran is itself no stranger to captures at sea — its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have often hijacked foreign vessels near the Straits of Hormuz for political leverage. Since Oct. 7, Tehran has nevertheless celebrated the feats of the so-called “resistance” militant groups that act against Israel, while keeping its distance and emphasizing their autonomy. https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/20/yemens-houthi-militants-seize-cargo-ship-in-the-red-sea.html

The current record for a plate sold in Britain is £518,000, but could that be about to change? Don't expect to talk, but do expect to... pay a shedload of money for not a lot of real estate. Calling all 007 fans, because the famed ‘AU 1’ numberplate attached to the gold-coated Rolls-Royce Phantom III in 1964's Goldfinger is being put up for sale by Primo Registrations. And pre-auction estimates put its value at over £300,000. No, you're not dreaming. Aside from the chance to own a bona-fide Hollywood classic and unleash all manner of sub-par Goldfinger gags, you'll also get a numberplate that actually stands for gold, ‘AU’ being the elemental symbol for the rather shiny and expensive metal on the periodic table. Managing director of Primo Registrations, Peter Johnson, said: “As iconic number plates go, this one has to be right up there with one of the best, not least of all because of the plate’s association with the famed car used by Goldfinger and Oddjob to smuggle gold out of the country! https://www.topgear.com/car-news/retro/expensive-positively-expensive-james-bond-goldfinger-au-1-plate-goes-sale

Stephen Curry scored a game-high 32 points to help the Golden State Warriors beat the Houston Rockets 121-116 and end a six-game losing streak. Curry and Klay Thompson each made five three-pointers as Houston lost for the fifth time on the road this season. The victory is the Warriors' first win in three matches since Draymond Green began a five-game ban. Also on Monday, Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks to a 142-129 win over the Washington Wizards. Antetokounmpo made 20 of his 23 attempts to finish with 42 points, while he added 13 rebounds and eight assists. The Denver Nuggets overcame the ejection of two-time Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic and head coach Michael Malone to claim a 107-103 victory over the Detroit Pistons. Jokic exited with 1:22 left in the first half after giving up two technical fouls, while Malone was ejected after arguing a call late in the first quarter. Reggie Jackson led the reigning champions with 21 points while the Pistons slumped to a 12th straight loss. Meanwhile, French teenager Victor Wembanyama, the number one draft pick, was restricted to just nine points as the San Antonio Spurs lost their ninth successive match - beaten 124-99 by the Los Angeles Clippers. The Miami Heat cruised to a 118-100 win at the Chicago Bulls, with Bam Adebayo and Duncan Robinson scoring 23 and 22 points respectively. Brandon Ingram scored 32 points, hitting all five of his attempted three-pointers, to power the New Orleans Pelicans to a 129-93 victory over the Sacramento Kings. Elsewhere, Jayson Tatum's 45-point display was not enough for the Boston Celtics who were beaten 121-118 by the Charlotte Hornets, with Miles Bridges hitting a match-winning three-pointer with six seconds left in overtime. Anthony Edwards scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the New York Knicks 117-100 in Minneapolis. https://www.bbc.com/sport/basketball/67482956

Can cuddling a cow make me less stressed? There’s one way to find out … It’s the hottest new wellness experience: three hours petting the retired dairy cows at Dumble Farm in East Yorkshire. Even at £50, the tickets sell out almost instantly Emma Beddington Tue 21 Nov 2023 07.00 GMT 337 When I think of cows, I don’t think relaxation; I think of anxiously peering over country gates or scuttling round the perimeter of fields, whispering: “Please don’t hurt me.” They’re huge, aren’t they? I’m not anti-cow, but I wouldn’t put them up there with a bubble bath and a vodka and tonic. Yet here I am, leaning against the warm flank of a dairy cross called Soft Face, my pulse slowing as I sense a ton of black-and-white bovine breathe gently beneath me. We’re both lying in the sweet-smelling hay in a quiet barn; Soft Face is “cudding” – regurgitating then chewing her lunch – while I stroke her face (as silky as her name suggests). I am deeply, blissfully relaxed. Forget goat yoga and welcome to cow cuddling, a wellness experience like no other offered by an unlikely trio of therapists: brother and sister farmers Fiona Wilson and James McCune and Fi’s husband, Will. Dumble Farm, the family’s East Yorkshire farm since the 1970s, could no longer sustain a dairy herd due to years of flooding, so the trio decided to move into conservation-grazing Highland cattle and managing habitat for endangered lapwings and other species. That meant selling the milkers, but they couldn’t bear to part with five of them – and cow cuddling was born. It took five months to train the cuddle cows, working out how and when they were calmest, and getting them used to strangers – you definitely shouldn’t just walk into a field and try it yourself. Dumble Farm has honed the art: a bonus silage feed before visitors arrive at lunchtime, and the girls are full, laidback and ready for love. They certainly seem it when we – that’s me, and Durham couple Craig and Amy, who have come for Amy’s birthday surprise – enter the barn. It feels deeply peaceful (we all automatically start whispering) and all five cuddlers are lying down. To start with I’m a little shy – am I really allowed to lie down and rest my face against this vast creature? Is it wise? – but the minute I let myself go, resting my head on brown-and-white beauty Cloud, I never want to stop. I move between her and Soft Face, watching their jaws move, stroking them and soaking up their warmth. When we’re ready to move on, James takes us into a pen of Highland calves – shaggy, stumpy and outrageously cute – and we spend a blissful half-hour combing them, occasionally getting nudged or nibbled if we’re not combing hard enough. If this sounds like heaven, it is, but it’s also almost as hard to book as Glastonbury: there are only six places on each adults-only £50 session (three hours of cuddles, calf brushing, walking the older calves on halters and touring the farm) and they sell out almost instantly. Visitors come from all over the country and one woman even came from Hawaii to visit the Highland calf she sponsors (another Dumble Farm sideline). Some visitors are keen to tackle their fears; others just love cows. I seem to be one of them now: my hands are greasy from calf brushing and I’m covered with straw, but buzzing and blissed out with bovine love. Is it really good for you? Who knows? Fi says Will comes to sit with the cows when he’s stressed, and visitors with anxiety and autism have told her how calming the experience is. Amy says she found it “very calming, tranquil. When you’re relaxing, lying next to them, it’s really therapeutic; it’s lovely.” Craig’s happy too: he “fell in love” with Highland calf Meredith (and groomed her so proficiently she fell asleep). How do the cows feel about their new role as wellness gurus? “If they didn’t like it, they wouldn’t do it,” says Fi. “They enjoy the attention.” https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/nov/21/cuddling-cow-less-stressed-wellness-experience-dumble-farm-east-yorkshire

Israel has recalled its ambassador in South Africa "for consultations", Israel's foreign ministry has said. It follows the "latest South African statements" on Israel, ministry spokesperson Lior Haiat said on X without giving specifics. South Africa has been highly critical of Israel's military operation in Gaza. On Monday it urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue an arrest warrant for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by mid-December. Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said failure to do so would signal a "total failure" of global governance. The recall of Israeli Ambassador Eliav Belotserkovsky comes just before South Africa is due to host a virtual summit of the Brics group of nations, which includes China and Russia, on the Israel-Hamas war. The meeting to be chaired by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa hopes to draw up a common response to the conflict. Also on Tuesday, South Africa's parliament is expected to vote on whether to close the Israeli embassy and suspend all diplomatic relations until Israel agrees to a cease-fire and commits to negotiations facilitated by the UN. The governing African National Congress has agreed to the motion but whether the party or the government will support it in parliament remains to be seen. Israel launched a major military campaign in Gaza in response to a cross-border attack by hundreds of Hamas gunmen on 7 October, in which at least 1,200 people were killed and about 240 others taken hostage. Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry says at least 13,000 people have been killed in the territory since Israel launched its retaliatory campaign. The UN Security Council has called for "urgent and extended humanitarian pauses" for "a sufficient number of days" to allow UN agencies to safely enter the sealed-off territory. South Africa, which has long been a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause, has been critical of the nature of Israel's response which it has described as "collective punishment". Israel has said that it is acting in self-defence and its aim is to eliminate Hamas and prevent another attack like the one last month happen again. South Africa, along with Bangladesh, Bolivia, Comoros and Djibouti, has submitted a referral to the ICC to investigate whether war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed in Gaza. South Africa has recalled its diplomats from Israel. There has been no South African ambassador in Israel for five years. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-67482681