Blackberry Mercury Release Rumored For Verizon In The U.S.

BlackBerry recently bowed out of the smartphone business properly by announcing that it has inked an exclusive agreement with China-based TCL to manufacture and sell devices with the iconic BB brand. The Canadian company will no longer be making its own devices but there have been rumors about one device that it was working on prior to essentially doing away with its handset business. Rumor has it that the BlackBerry Mercury release will take place with Verizon in the United States.

The handset that BlackBerry is believed to have worked on prior to inking the deal with TCL is codenamed Mercury. A purported render of the BlackBerry Mercury was leaked online recently. It shows that the handset might feature a dual-edge curved display as well as a full QWERTY keyboard that has a fingerprint sensor embedded underneath the space bar.

Aside from its 4.5 inch curved display, the BlackBerry Mercury is believed to be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor and a big enough battery that’s capable of powering the device for two straight days.

This is all that’s known about the handset at this point in time. It’s now claimed that the BlackBerry Mercury release will eventually take place in the coming months and that Verizon will be carrying it in the United States.

Neither BlackBerry nor Verizon has confirmed anything about this device so it’s best to take this with a grain of salt until there’s more information.

Filed in Cellphones. Read more about BlackBerry and Verizon.

Apple MacBook Pro 2016 series fail Consumer Reports’ battery tests

Consumer Reports' team conducted tests on the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, 13-inch MacBook Pro without Touch Bar and a 15-inch MacBook Pro.

Apple’s new MacBook Pro series did not receive recommended ratings from Consumer Reports. The site, which conducted several tests on MacBook Pro 2016 series to evaluate display, performance etc noted that battery life of the laptops were ‘highly inconsistent’.

However, Apple’s Senior Vice President Phil Schiller said the results do not match company’s extensive lab tests. Schiller tweeted out saying, “Working with CR to understand their battery tests. Results do not match our extensive lab tests or field data.” He attached a link to an imore article as well.

Consumer Reports’ team conducted tests on the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, 13-inch MacBook Pro without Touch Bar and a 15-inch MacBook Pro. The report insists they tested battery life on these laptops repeatedly and averaged those results together to come to a final battery score. “The MacBook Pro battery life results were highly inconsistent from one trial to the next,” the report reads.

Consumer Reports has talked about its battery tests in detail:

“For instance, in a series of three consecutive tests, the 13-inch model with the Touch Bar ran for 16 hours in the first trial, 12.75 hours in the second, and just 3.75 hours in the third. The 13-inch model without the Touch Bar worked for 19.5 hours in one trial but only 4.5 hours in the next. And the numbers for the 15-inch laptop ranged from 18.5 down to 8 hours,” the report reveals.

It adds the laptops fail to meet Consumer Reports’ standards for recommended models, owing to disappointing battery results. It is worth noting these are the first set of MacBooks to not receive recommended ratings from Consumer Reports.

The report revealed their methodology of conducting battery tests as well. It put out a step-by-step procedure of how they performed the tests. Consumer Report notes the performance of a device can be influenced by a software update and thus they performed the battery tests again after macOS Sierra 10.12.2 was released. However, according to the report, the update did not make any difference in the results.

Apple unveiled its new MacBook Pro series at its event on October 27. Apple’s newest MacBook Pro is the thinnest and lightest one yet. The function key on the keyboard in the new MacBook Pro has been replaced by a new ‘Retina-quality’ multi-touch display known as the Touch Bar. Apple claims the MacBook Pro features the ‘brightest and most colourful Retina display yet’ with 500 nits of brightness, which Apple claims is 67 per cent brighter than the previous generation.

The device starts at Rs 1,29,900 for the 13-inch variant (256GB) without the TouchBar. The one with TouchBar costs Rs 1,55,900 for the 256GB version and Rs 1,72,900 for the 512GB storage option. The 15-inch display variant of Apple MacBook Pro is available in India at Rs 2,05,900 for 256GB storage variant. The 512GB option costs Rs 2,41,900.

Watched Dangal? Here’s Geeta Phogat’s real fight in Commonwealth Games. See video

Before watching Aamir Khan's Dangal, take a look at the non-scripted, real fight of Geeta Phogat during Commonwealth Games.

It seems Mr Perfectionist Aamir Khan is back in form and all set to deliver a promising hit with his latest release, Dangal. The film is based on how Mahavir Singh Phogat trained his two daughters, Geeta and Babita, to wrestle in the face of patriarchy and the two girls went on to win in the Commonwealth Games. The scripted scenes in Dangal, which are a result of lot of hard work and relentless practice, are bound to move you and inspire you. Fatima Sana Shaikh, who plays Geeta, makes the mat her own as she fights on an international level.

Dangal movie review

However, the real fight of Geeta Phogat during Commonwealth Games did not involve any background music, retakes and cuts. It was raw and bruising, and all the more special for it.

Geeta Phogat’s victory in the Commonwealth Games was one of the touching cinematic moments in Dangal. Presented in such a way that her victory belongs only to her, it is obviously a result of a lot of hard work.

5 reasons to watch Aamir Khan and Sakshi Tanwars Dangal 

Coached by her father, Geeta broke records and patriarchal beliefs as she became India’s woman gold medallist at the Commonwealth games prevailing over Aussie wrestler Emily Bensted on October 7, 2010. That she was from Haryana where women are not allowed to call their life their own, made the journey even more remarkable.

Also read | Beyond Dangal reviews: Decoding Aamir Khan’s success formula

In a recently released biography of Mahavir, it is written, “As Mahavir stood amid the cheering crowd that day, his gaze locked in on his daughter with pride, the cold winter morning of 1988 flashed before his eyes. That was the day when he had held her in his arms and emphatically proclaimed one day she will make her family proud.”

Sunday's NFL Capsules

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Browns are winless no more.

Cleveland avoided that fate Saturday by beating the San Diego Chargers 20-17 for their first victory in more than a year. San Diego's Josh Lambo missed a 45-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Browns (1-14) their first win in 377 days.

When the kick sailed right, Cleveland's small crowd erupted in celebration and Browns players poured off their sideline as if they had just won the Super Bowl.

The Browns avoided becoming the second team to go 0-15, and no longer have to worry about joining the 2008 Detroit Lions as the only teams to lose all 16 games.

Cleveland built 10-point lead in the third quarter and hung on — defensive tackle Jamie Meder blocked a potential tying field goal with 3:49 left — to give coach Hue Jackson his first win with the Browns.

The win also snapped Cleveland's 17-game losing streak dating to last season.

The Chargers (5-10) lost their fourth straight and one that could sting for a while.

JAGUARS 38, TITANS 17

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Blake Bortles' best game of the season helped the Jaguars end a nine-game losing streak.

Bortles threw for 325 yards and a touchdown, and was on the receiving end of a 20-yard trick play that sealed the win with 5:25 remaining. Rookie Jalen Ramseyreturned an interception 30 yards on the ensuing play to set off a raucous — and long-awaited — celebration in Jacksonville.

Bortles and the Jaguars (3-12) played inspired football and won for the first time this season at EverBank Field. Maybe they rallied around interim coach Doug Marrone. Maybe they played for ultra-popular ex-coach Gus Bradley, who was fired six days earlier . Maybe they just wanted to avenge an embarrassing loss to the Titans (8-7) on national television in late October.

It was a debacle for the Titans, who had won three in a row and needed a victory to set up an AFC South title game next week against Houston. Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota appears to be done for the season, leaving late in the third quarter with an air cast on his right ankle.

FALCONS 33, PANTHERS 16

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Falcons are back on top of the NFC South, capturing their first division title since 2012.

Matt Ryan threw for 277 yards and two touchdowns, Tevin Coleman had 135 yards from scrimmage, including a pivotal 55-yard fourth-quarter TD run.

The Falcons then had to wait about 3 ½ hours to celebrate when the Saints defeated the Buccaneers to seal Atlanta's first playoff appearance in four years.

The Panthers (6-9) were officially eliminated from playoff contention after making the Super Bowl last season.

Ryan torched the Panthers for the second time this season. He threw for 503 yards and four TDs in Atlanta's Week 4 win over Carolina at the Georgia Dome, a victory that set the stage for the Falcons' playoff push.

SAINTS 31, BUCCANEERS 24

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Mark Ingram rushed for two-touchdowns and a game-sealing first down in the final minutes.

The Buccaneers (8-7) needed a win to keep pace with Green Bay (9-6) for the final NFC wild-card spot, but couldn't keep up with the Saints' explosive offense. And their loss handed the NFC South to Atlanta, while giving the New York Giants a wild-card berth.

Drew Brees was 23 of 34 for 299 yards and a touchdown for New Orleans (7-8), which gained 417 total yards and did not have a turnover against a with 26 takeaways — including three interceptions of Brees in the clubs' previous meeting two weeks earlier.

This time, it was New Orleans' defense producing turnovers; Jairus Bryd intercepted Jameis Winston twice. The first takeaway set up Ingram's second TD, and the second stalled a promising Bucs drive into Saints territory.

Now Tampa Bay must win the season finale and hope for losses by Washington and Green Bay next week. If that happens, a complicated tie-breaker based on strength of victories will decide the final playoff spot between the Bucs and Packers.

RAIDERS 33, COLTS 25

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Derek Carr threw three touchdown passes in the second quarter before leaving in the fourth quarter with an injured right leg.

Carr's injury leaves a dark cloud over the best season for the Raiders (12-3) in 14 years.

Oakland clinched its first playoff berth since 2002 last week and can win the AFC West and earn a first-round bye by winning next week in Denver or if Kansas City loses one of its final two games.

But that is all secondary to Carr's health. The third-year quarterback has led a resurgence in Oakland with 28 TD passes and seven fourth-quarter comebacks this season.

Now the Raiders may have to prepare for life with Matt McGloin at quarterback.

Carr got hurt with Oakland leading 33-14 early in the fourth quarter when he was sacked by Trent Cole. Carr stayed on the ground for several minutes in pain as trainers came out to treat him.

With the crowd chanting "M-V-P! M-V-P!" Carr limped off the field without putting any pressure on his right leg. He was then taken away on a cart.

Indianapolis (7-8) will not make the playoffs.

PATRIOTS 41, JETS 3

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Tom Brady passed for 214 yards and three touchdowns , and the Patriots moved a step closer to securing home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.

A loss or tie by the Raiders against the Colts later Saturday would officially give New England the AFC's top seed.

Malcolm Butler added two interceptions and a fumble recovery , and LeGarrette Blount had a pair of 1-yard touchdown runs.

New England (13-2) took advantage of New York miscues all day, scoring on three of its first four possessions.

The Jets (4-11), who have lost six of seven, had four turnovers.

The only really good piece of news for the Jets came before the game, when Todd Bowles rejoined the team and coached from the sideline a day after a medical scare sent him to the hospital.

PACKERS 38, VIKINGS 25

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers threw for 347 yards and four touchdowns, WHILE Jordy Nelson shredded Minnesota's secondary for 154 yards and two scores.

The Packers' fifth straight win set up a winner-take-all showdown next week with Detroit for the NFC North title, while extinguishing the Vikings' faint postseason hopes.

Green Bay (9-6) built a 28-13 lead at halftime, with Rodgers accounting for all four scores. He finished 28 of 38, and shrugged off his right calf injury after scrambling for a 6-yard touchdown late in the second quarter and making a rare Lambeau Leap .

Rodgers and Nelson connected for scores from 21 and 2 yards in the first half.

Playing again without running back Adrian Peterson, the Vikings (7-8) had success through the air after Sam Bradford threw for 382 yards and three touchdowns, including a 71-yard touchdown pass to Adam Thielen in the second quarter. Thielen had a career-high 202 yards and two scores.

DOLPHINS 34, BILLS 31, OT

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Jay Ajayi ran for 206 yards and broke loose for a 57-yarder in overtime to set up Andrew Franks' 27-yard field goal.

In winning for the ninth time in 10 games, the Dolphins (10-5) inched closer to their first playoff berth since 2008. Miami can secure the AFC's final wild-card berth as early as Sunday if Denver loses to Kansas City.

Denver needs to win its final two games to make the postseason, and Baltimore is eliminated from the wild-card race and can only make the playoffs as the AFC Northchampion.

The Bills (7-8) were eliminated from contention and extended the NFL's longest active playoff drought to 17 seasons. Buffalo's drought is tied for the fifth longest in NFL history, and is the longest since the New Orleans Saints went 20 years before qualifying for the playoffs for the first time in franchise history in 1987.

Ajayi is the fourth player in NFL history to have at least three games with 200 rushing yards in a season. Earl Campbell, OJ Simpson, Tiki Barber are the others.

Franks forced overtime by hitting a career-best 55-yard field goal with 6 seconds remaining.

CARDINALS 34, SEAHAWKS 31

SEATTLE (AP) — The Arizona Cardinals continue to give the Seattle Seahawks headaches at home. This time, it will likely end up costing Seattle a first-round bye in the playoffs.

Chandler Catanzaro hit a 43-yard field goal on the final play.

Seattle rallied from a 31-18 deficit, scoring two touchdowns inside the final three minutes to pull even 31-31. Jimmy Graham had a 37-yard touchdown catch and Paul Richardson's 5-yard TD with 1:06 left tied it. Steven Hauschka missed the extra point that could have given Seattle the lead, but it didn't matter in the end.

Arizona went 50 yards in the final minute and Catanzaro's kick was good, delivering a huge blow to Seattle's chances at the No. 2 seed in the NFC.

It was the Seahawks' first home loss this season; all NFL teams have now been beaten in a home game.

REDSKINS 41, BEARS 21

CHICAGO (AP) — Kirk Cousins threw for a touchdown and ran for two more, and the Redskins gave their fading playoff hopes a boost.

DeSean Jackson added 114 yards receiving, and Washington (8-6-1) intercepted Matt Barkley five times.

Eighth in the NFC behind Green Bay and Tampa Bay coming in, Washington scored 14 points in the first quarter after struggling early in recent games, and never really was threatened by the Bears (3-12).

Cousins, shaky against Carolina, was 18 of 29 for 270 yards. He threw a 17-yard touchdown to Chris Thompson in the first quarter and scored on a 9-yard run in the second. He also pushed in from the 1 late in the third to make it 31-14.

49ERS 22, RAMS 21

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Colin Kaepernick threw a 10-yard touchdown pass with 31 seconds remaining and scrambled for a go-ahead 2-point conversion as the 49ers overcame a 14-point deficit to end a 13-game losing streak.

Kaepernick rolled to his right while looking for a receiver before tucking the ball and barreling into the end zone. That gave the 49ers a sweep in the renewal of the instate rivalry with the Rams' return to Los Angeles this season.

Kaepernick threw for 257 yards, two touchdowns and one interception and rushed for a touchdown for the 49ers (2-13).

Kaepernick found Rod Streater on a slant pattern to cap a 10-play, 73-yard drive to make it 21-20.

Jared Goff was intercepted by Rashard Robinson with 16 seconds left as the Rams again squandered a late two-score lead for the second time in their past three home games.

Goff, the No. 1 overall draft pick, has lost all six of his starts for Los Angeles (4-1

Queen's Christmas message: 'I draw strength from unsung heroes'

The Queen will say she draws strength from "ordinary people doing extraordinary things" in her annual televised Christmas Day address.

Volunteers, carers, community workers and good neighbours are unsung heroes whose quiet dedication makes them special, she will say.

She will also praise the achievements of the UK's Olympians and Paralympians.

The address was recorded before news broke that her granddaughter, Zara Tindall, had lost her baby.

The 10-minute message, filmed in Buckingham Palace's regency room, will be broadcast at 15:00 GMT on BBC1, ITV, Sky News channel and BBC Radio 4.

For the occasion, the Queen wore a deep jade, silk cloque dress by Angela Kelly, as well as a pearl and diamond brooch previously worn by the late Queen Mother.

Image copyright2016 NICK KNIGHT

Image captionThe Queen's 90th birthday portrait, which features Prince Charles smiling at his mother, is framed on Her Majesty's desk during the Christmas address

In the speech, which will also be broadcast across the Commonwealth, the Queen will congratulate British Olympic and Paralympic athletes.

"Having discovered abilities they scarcely knew they had, these athletes are now inspiring others," she will say.

Team GB and Paralympics GB both came second in this year's Rio Games.

Image copyrightPA

Image captionThe successes of Team GB and Paralympics GB were celebrated in Manchester and London in October

Her Majesty will also reflect on the achievements of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, which celebrated its 60th anniversary this year, and The Prince's Trust, which was 40 years old in 2016.

Earlier this week, Buckingham Palace said the Queen would step down as patron of 25 charities and organisations, including the NSPCC, Battersea Dog's Home and Save the Children.

The Queen remains patron of some 600 charities and bodies, and will highlight their work in the Christmas address.

Zara Tindall, the equestrian champion, who is married to former England rugby player Mike Tindall, was due to give birth to her second child in the late spring.

The baby would have been the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh's sixth great-grandchild

Buckingham Palace said it would not comment on the private matter.

In this year's alternative Christmas message on Channel 4, Brendan Cox, the widower of murdered MP Jo Cox, will call for an end to the "rise of hatred" and pay tribute to his wife.

Track Santa on Christmas Eve With NORAD

The North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) normally watches the skies for threats, but tomorrow they will also be tracking Santa. The NORAD Tracks Santa website will allow you to see where Santa is dropping off presents throughout the day.

Tracking Santa has been a tradition at NORAD and its predecessor since 1955. Back then, a Sears Roebuck & Co. advertisement for a 'call Santa hotline' contained a misprint, and children began calling the military installation, according to a NORAD website.

The officers and airmen at the tracking center near Colorado Springs, Colorado had fun with the calls and began giving the children updates on Santa's location, and that tradition continues tomorrow.

FUEL CELLS Clean Energy for the Future

PM Modi in Mumbai today to lay foundation for Rs 3,600-crore Shivaji memorial

CHIEF MINISTER Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said the government would go ahead with the construction of the Shivaji Memorial in the Arabian Sea despite opposition to the project. “Even the great warrior king had to face opposition, but that did not stop him. We will also not let any opposition stop the project,” said the CM at an event at the Gateway of India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Maharashtra on Saturday and lay foundation stones for the memorial as well as metro rail projects in Mumbai and Pune.

The state government’s plan to build the Rs 3,600-crore memorial has been criticised by environmentalists and citizens. While environmentalists have raised concerns about the impact of the construction on marine life, an online campaign started this week by a citizen against the memorial has garnered over 21,000 signatures. Fisherfolk have also opposed the construction, claiming it will affect their livelihood.

Fadnavis, however, assured Shivaji followers that the statue would be constructed and made ready during his tenure.

A day before the jalpujan for the Shivaji statue by PM Modi, the BJP organised a show of strength across the city. Water samples from rivers and soil samples from the warrior king’s forts were collected from all 36 districts and brought to the city. A chariot rally displaying the 72 urns filled with the water and soil from across the state began from Shivaji Chowk in Chembur.

Saffron flags were unfurled across the city as the rally made its way to the Gateway of India, where the chief minister delivered his address. “After a delay of 15 years, the dream for the statue will finally be fulfilled,” said Fadnavis.

The Maratha community has been organising protests across the state to demand benefits through reservation.

BJP yatra, rally irk allies

Politics intensified in Mumbai a day before PM Narendra Modi’s arrival in the city.

The BJP’s rath yatra and bike rally — organised a day before the foundation-laying ceremony for the Shivaji memorial — did not go down well with the party’s allies, who did not participate in the rath yatra.

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, who is expected to attend Saturday’s events, went into a huddle with his party’s senior legislators and ministers. Top sources in the Shiv Sena said the party was planning a “show of strength” of its own on Saturday.

Shiv Sangram leader Vinayak Mete, who is now a BJP legislator, was upset at being “sidelined” despite spearheading the state committee that conceptualised and finalised the memorial. “I am yet to receive an invite for Saturday’s event. It hurts when the effort put in by you does not get acknowledged,” Mete said.

UN Security Council delays vote on Israeli settlements

United Nations (United States) (AFP) - The UN Security Council delayed a contentious vote on a draft resolution demanding that Israel halt settlements as President-elect Donald Trump weighed in and said the United States should veto the measure.

Egypt requested that the vote be postponed, one day after submitting the draft text to the council, a move that triggered immediate calls from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a US veto to block the resolution.

A similar resolution was vetoed by the United States in 2011, and it remained unclear whether Washington would shift stance this time, possibly abstaining to allow the measure to pass, although without US support.

"Israelis deeply appreciate one of the great pillars of the US-Israel alliance: the willingness over many years of the United States to stand up in the UN and veto anti-Israel resolutions," Netanyahu said.

"I hope the US won't abandon this policy."

Israel launched a frantic lobbying effort to pressure Egypt to drop the bid and reached out to its supporters in the United States and at the Security Council for support.

Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon said his government was deploying "diplomatic efforts on all fronts to ensure that this disgraceful resolution will not pass in the Security Council."

A senior Security Council diplomat suggested the motion could be buried indefinitely.

"There was a window of opportunity. Whether that window is still there is really not clear," said a Western diplomat.

- Trump calls for US veto -

Trump, who campaigned on a promise to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, bluntly said Washington should use its veto to block the resolution.

"The resolution being considered at the United Nations Security Council regarding Israel should be vetoed," he said in a statement.

"As the United States has long maintained, peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians will only come through direct negotiations between the parties, and not through the imposition of terms by the United Nations," he said.

"This puts Israel in a very poor negotiating position and is extremely unfair to all Israelis."

CNN reported that Israel reached out to Trump for help to pressure the Obama administration into vetoing the resolution.

The network quoted a senior Israeli official as saying Israel "implored the White House not to go ahead and told them that if they did, we would have no choice but to reach out to President-elect Trump."

"We did reach out to the president-elect and are deeply appreciative that he weighed in, which was not a simple thing to do," the official said, according to CNN.

Trump called Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to talk about the vote, CNN said, citing a diplomatic source. It said Trump called after Israel asked him to step in.

Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour said Trump's call for a veto was in response to pressure from the Israeli prime minister. "He is acting on behalf of Netanyahu," he said.

Trump has chosen as ambassador to Israel the hardliner David Friedman, who has said Washington will not pressure Israel to curtail settlement building in the occupied West Bank.

No new timeframe was announced for the vote, which had been scheduled for Thursday afternoon.

Arab ambassadors held an emergency meeting at the United Nations to press Egypt to move ahead with a vote but an Arab League committee decided after meeting in Cairo to continue talks on the fate of the motion.

Palestinian envoy Jamal al-Shobaki told reporters in Cairo that Egypt asked for more time and that there would be discussions over the next two days on the next step.

Illustrating how the Egyptian decision caught Washington flat-footed, Secretary of State John Kerry cancelled plans to make remarks laying out a vision for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Kerry spoke to Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Wednesday and then, after the Egyptian decision, to Netanyahu on Thursday.

President Barack Obama's administration has expressed mounting anger over the continued expansion of the Jewish outposts and speculation has grown that he could launch a final initiative before leaving.

- Saving the two-state solution -

Israeli settlements are seen as a major stumbling block to peace efforts, as they are built on land the Palestinians see as part of their future state.

The United Nations maintains that settlements are illegal, but UN officials have reported a surge in construction over the past months.

The draft resolution demands that "Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem."

It states that Israeli settlements have "no legal validity" and are "dangerously imperiling the viability of the two-state solution" that would see an independent Palestine co-exist alongside Israel.

The Middle East peace process has been comatose since a US initiative to re-launch peace talks collapsed in April 2014.

France announced plans to host an international conference on January 15 to try to restart talks based on the two-state solution.