LONDON, Apr 24: A festival bringing together 37 companies from around the world to perform Shakespeare’s 37 plays in different languages kicks off at London’s Globe theatre on Monday with a Maori version of “Troilus and Cressida.” The initiative, called Globe to Globe, is part of a wider World Shakespeare Festival as well as the London 2012 Festival that ties in with the summer Olympics. (agencies)
Warm-up ‘enhances performance’
WASHINGTON, Apr 24: Performing a warm-up using just body weight can improve performance during exercise, according to a new study on elite athletes.
An international team, led by La Trobe University, has found that performing low load gluteal muscle exercises before a work-out enhances strength and power in the lower body during exercise.
For their study, researchers analysed the effect of warm-up exercises on 22 elite Australian Football League (AFL) players to enhance performance.
“We found that body-weight gluteal exercises increase explosiveness in your lower half. Low load exercises of this nature are likely to be more acceptable to the athlete and coach than are protocols incorporating heavier loads due to a lower risk of fatigue and minimal equipment requirements.
“A warm-up protocol involving low load exercises targeting the gluteal muscles is effective at acutely enhancing explosive power output in the lower limbs,” the study’s lead author Justin Crow said.
In fact, the researchers compared three warm-up methods on players including the low load exercise protocol squatting on a whole body vibration machine and a control protocol where athletes did no warm-up.
“The players that performed the low load gluteal exercises were more powerful during jumping than those in the control group and weight-bearing vibration group.
“Coaches may consider this protocol when preparing athletes for competition or training in sports involving explosive lower limb movements such as jumping, sprinting, and some weightlifting movements,” he said in a release.
The findings have been published in the ‘Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research’. (PTI)
Ban hopes UNSC reform process will be accelerated
UNITED NATIONS, Apr 24: Ahead of a visit to India, United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon today expressed hope that the Security Council’s reform process will be accelerated to meet expectations of countries like India which are keen to play a bigger role as permanent members of the powerful UN body.
“I am very well aware of the aspiration of the Indian government to serve even in a bigger role as permanent member of the UNSC,” Ban told here in an interview on the eve of his three-day visit to India.
Ban will depart for his third visit to India as UN Chief tomorrow and would be meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other senior political leaders in New Delhi.
The Secretary-General would receive an honorary doctorate degree from Jamia Islamia University.
His itinerary also includes a trip to Mumbai where he would meet Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and attend an event hosted by Reliance Industries’ Chairman Mukesh Ambani, who is member of the Millennium Development Goals Advocacy group, which Ban had established.
Ban said UNSC reforms has been one of the most important and most debated issues, particularly during the last 20 years and has picked up pace in the last three years.
He noted that UN member states have been working “very hard and accelerating” the pace of the reform process.
“There is generally broad consensus of views that considering such dramatic situations which have been taking place in the international community, the UNSC should be reformed in a more representative, more democratic, transparent way,” Ban said.
While there is “almost near consensus” that the UN’s powerful 15-nation body should be reformed, Ban said member states have not been able to find a clear formula which would satisfy and meet the expectations of all member states. (PTI)
UN chief warns NKorea against further provocative measures
UNITED NATIONS, Apr 24: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is warning North Korea against “further provocative measures.”
The UN chief was asked to comment on yesterday’s warning from North Korea’s military of imminent “special actions” that would reduce South Korea’s government to ashes within minutes.
North Korea attempted to launch a rocket on April 13 but it disintegrated.
Ban urged North Korea to fully observe UN Security Council resolutions which reflect the will of the international community. The resolutions imposed tough sanctions against the North and ban nuclear and missile tests.
Ban, a former South Korean foreign minister, said “any further provocative measures will not be desirable for the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula.” (AGENCIES)
Shakespeare in Jericho echoes year of Arab strife
JERICHO, WEST BANK, Apr 24: A Shakespearean drama depicting the downfall of a prideful medieval king carried a modern-day message for a Palestinian audience that has watched upheaval play out in the Middle East. The Ashtar theatre company, based in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, delivered “Richard II” in the open-air courtyard of a ruined 8th-century palace in Jericho, one of the world’s most ancient cities. (agencies)
Lohan comeback forges ahead with Liz Taylor role
LOS ANGELES, Apr 24: Lindsay Lohan is set to play iconic screen legend Elizabeth Taylor in a new TV movie, Lifetime Television said yesterday, confirming what Lohan has claimed for weeks as she forges ahead with her comeback from legal and personal troubles. Lohan, 25, is the first name to be announced for Lifetime’s original movie “Liz & Dick,” based on the true story of Taylor’s passionate romance with actor Richard Burton, whom she married twice throughout her life. (agencies)
Ryan Seacrest to stay on ‘American Idol’
LOS ANGELES, Apr 24: “American Idol” host Ryan Seacrest will remain on the top-rated US TV singing contest, the Fox television network said yesterday, ending speculation the popular personality might jump to a new show. Seacrest has hosted “Idol” for 11 seasons and seen contestants such as Kelly Clarkson go on to singing stardom, Jennifer Hudson win an Oscar and Adam Lambert court controversy with his glam style. (agencies)
Jennifer Hudson says always disliked man accused of killing her family
CHICAGO, Apr 24: Grammy and Oscar winning singer and actress Jennifer Hudson testified yesterday that she had known the man charged with killing three members of her family since they were in middle school together but never liked him. Hudson was the first witness called at the murder trial of William Balfour, who is charged with shooting dead her mother Darnell Donerson, 57, her brother Jason Hudson, 29, and her nephew Julian King, 7. (agencies)
Gay media group honors Chaz Bono, Betty White
LOS ANGELES, Apr 24: Media watchdog the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation brought out some big names in Hollywood over the weekend including American sweetheart Betty White to honor movies, TV shows and performers. At the annual GLAAD Media Awards on Saturday night, the group gave one honorary trophy to transgender activist and celebrity Chaz Bono, the child of superstar Cher and Sonny Bono, for promoting equal rights in the media. The makers of documentary “Becoming Chaz,” Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey, earned another trophy for their film about his transformation. (agencies)
Victoria Beckham turns designer hand to cars
BEIJING, Apr 24: British fashion designer Victoria Beckham had her soccer-superstar husband “David in mind” when helping create a new special edition of Range Rover’s off-road vehicle, the “Evoque.” “I’ve stayed very true to myself. I’ve designed a car that I want to drive, a car that I think David wants to drive,” the former Spice Girl told Reuters in an interview in Beijing, where she was promoting the vehicle, late on Sunday. (agencies)