Regular cycling can improve mobility in patients with muscle degeneration: Study
A new study led by McMaster University has found that regular cycling can greatly improve mobility in patients with myotonic dystrophy (MD), which is a genetic disease that causes muscle degeneration.
SEPT 8: The company revealed four versions of the new handset at its Cupertino headquarters, with an audience attending in person for the first time since the pandemic.
It also showed off a new extreme sports wearable - the Watch Ultra.
The event focused on next generation iPhone, Watch and AirPod products.
Apple CEO Tim Cook was on stage at the Steve Jobs theatre inside the tech giant's California campus - but the presentation itself was entirely pre-recorded.
Apple Watch Series 8
Apple Watch Series 8 has a number of new features, including car crash detection, temperature sensors for tracking ovulation cycles and a new low-power mode option.
People have been cautious about menstrual trackers since changes were made to abortion legislation in the US and there are concerns that data about periods could be used by law enforcement. Apple says the data on its devices will be encrypted and only accessible via a passcode or biometrics.
"We are taking our commitment to women's health even further," said Jeff Williams, Chief Operating Officer at Apple.
Apple said a new automatic retrospective ovulation notification could help those who are trying to conceive.
If activated, the new watch can monitor body temperate every five seconds overnight, and detect tiny changes which can signal ovulation.
Another new feature is car crash detection. Using sensors, the watch will be able to identify a severe crash and will automatically connect its wearer with emergency services, provide their exact location and notify emergency contacts.
The Series 8 now also features a low power mode, a feature borrowed from the iPhone, that promises up to 36 hours of battery life on a full charge.
The Apple Watch Series 8 is priced from $399 in the US, £419 in the UK.
Apple Watch Ultra
Swim proof, dust proof and crack resistant - Apple has announced its rival to the likes of Garmin, Polar and other rugged watchmakers.
Ultramarathoner Scott Jurek from Born to Run appeared in the presentation for the new watch, which focused on a larger face design for extreme sports use.
All Ultra watches have up to 36 hours battery life on a single charge and an extended battery life of 60 hours, with Apple promising enough power for its customers to complete an ultra-triathlon which includes swimming, cycling and running.
The Apple Watch Ultra is priced from $799 in the US, £849 in the UK
iPhone 14
The company is releasing the iPhone 14 in two sizes, the iPhone 14 and the iPhone 14 Plus.
The new handsets are capable of sending an emergency call for help via satellite. The phone will display the whereabouts of passing satellites overhead and demonstrate how to point the device at them correctly.
It can take from 15 seconds to a few minutes to send a basic message.
"The investment to add satellite capability should not be underestimated," said Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS Insight.
"It will likely have taken Apple years to put all the pieces of the puzzle in place, including a commercial agreement with satellite provider Globalstar, and the creation of the infrastructure needed to pass messages to the emergency services."
Tech analyst Paolo Pescatore said he believed the innovation was good news for consumers "in hard to reach areas".
"It is encouraging to see providers starting to get serious about using satellite - ultimately reliable and robust connectivity is still highly sought after among all users," he said.
iPhone 14 camera
The tech giant announced a new 12-megapixel camera, capable of taking photos of fast-moving subjects, and the company claims a 49% improvement in low-light capturing.
The front camera also included auto-focus for the first time, to help sharpen selfies.
According to Apple, iPhone users took more than three trillion photos in the last 12 months.
The iPhone 14 is priced from $799 (US), £849 (UK).
iPhone 14 Pro
The biggest change in iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max design is the top of the screen which is now a pill shaped cut-out.
A feature called the Dynamic Island has replaced the black notch, which many iPhone users complain about - and it can change shape depending on what notifications there are.
The other big change is that the handset can always remain on.
When the phone is not in use, the screen dims and the refresh rate is lowered.
The handset comes in a deep purple colour alongside black, silver and gold.
The iPhone 14 Pro is priced at $999 (US), £1099 (UK).
AirPods
AirPods Pro are easier to find than their predecessors. Each pair comes with a new system for finding individual lost earphones, which play a chime when dropped outside of the case.
Additionally, the case itself gets its own speaker, which will play a louder sound when prompted by the Find My app.
The new AirPods Pro are priced at $249 (US), £249 (UK).
JULY 29: Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai emphasised the importance of education in a surprise appearance while diver Tom Daley made a show of support for LGBTQ+ rights as the baton relay concluded.
But the biggest shock perhaps came when a 10m tall animatronic bull came steaming into the stadium as part of a ceremony that celebrated the multiculturalism of both Birmingham and the Commonwealth.
As the parade of athletes concluded, each of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales were warmly received before host nation England arrived in a cloud of confetti to send the volume skyrocketing with a crowd rendition of We Will Rock You.
The Games are officially open, with events beginning on Friday and more than 5,000 athletes representing 72 nations and territories competing in 280 medal events until 8 August.
A call for social change
In its opening ceremony partly masterminded by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight and which organisers said would be watched by more than a billion people worldwide, Birmingham put down an early marker for what it wants to offer the sporting world over the next 11 days.
Malala and Daley were not the only ones to call for social change during the event and a mile out from Alexander Stadium, signs hanging by the road read "sport is just the beginning".
There will likely be more to come given athletes have been told that, unlike at the Olympics, they can use their platform to protest against social injustice at these Games.
The ceremony alluded to the darker side of the Commonwealth's past, with chains representing those used in the slave trade pulling the giant bull into the stadium.
But it also called for togetherness for a group of nations whose future is becoming increasingly uncertain, with competing nation Barbados already having replaced the Queen as its head of state and Jamaica's prime minister saying it will be "moving on".
Daley has previously spoken out against Commonwealth countries that criminalise same sex relationships and the diver has continued that work in a new BBC documentary.
He brought the cause into the stadium too, with the Olympic champion entering the stadium flanked by activists holding LGBT+ flags as he played his part in the Queen's baton relay shortly before the Games were officially declared open.
A surreal Shakespeare puppet and dancing cars
The weight of legacy hung in the air before the ceremony even began, as Birmingham residents flooded to the stadium to celebrate their city being at the centre of a global event.
Some have questioned the Commonwealth Games' relevance in an increasingly packed sporting calendar and the £778m cost, but that message did not seem to have reached the many fans queueing to get in before the Alexander Stadium gates opened.
The ceremony, in front of 30,000, began with a call for unity: "In times of darkness, we carry a dream of light that calls us all to gather."
An intense, drum-led opening sequence reached a crescendo and gave way to a host of red, white and blue cars driving into the stadium.
They formed a Union Jack before a classic Aston Martin brought Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall into the arena.
The surrealism of a stadium full of cars was soon supplanted by a four-metre-high puppet of William Shakespeare entering.
It was a ceremony of light and shade, switching suddenly between uplifting sequences to moments of rage and turmoil.
A joyful - and slightly bizarre - moment with Shakespeare and three other giant puppets turned darker as a tower at the end of the stadium was engulfed in images of flames to symbolise a library that burnt down with a collection of Shakespeare's works inside.
Then Malala - who became a Birmingham resident after receiving treatment there when she was shot by the Taliban as a teenager in Pakistan - entered the stadium to the largest cheer of the night.
She spoke as passionately as always about children, particularly girls, having access to education before welcoming the crowd to Birmingham.
Bull rages, then dances
Nothing demonstrated the move between light and dark more than the moment Drag Race star Ginny Lemon's song celebrating Birmingham's pioneering achievements came to an end as a giant raging bull entered the stadium - passing the spotlight from one icon to another.
The bull was tamed by the ceremony's leading star Stella, who then climbed on top and rode it around the stadium to swelling music before Birmingham's favourite son Sir Lenny Henry interrupted proceedings to welcome 72 teams of excited athletes into the arena.
England were the last to come in, with the crowd's singing making their entrance all the more intimidating.
Daley then entered to finish off the baton relay along with other English favourites including hockey player Alex Danson and gymnast Max Whitlock.
Prince Charles opened the Games as he read a message from the Queen calling Birmingham "a pioneering city… symbolic of the rich diversity and unity of the Commonwealth".
Fireworks followed as LED lights lit up in the crowd and Birmingham's own Duran Duran entered to bring the party to an end as the giant bull swayed its head to the beat.
What to watch on day one
This year's event features the largest number of events for women (136) and Para-sport athletes (42) in Games history and there will be up to 11 live streams to choose from on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.
On Friday, England's Alex Yee and Georgia Taylor-Brown will go for gold in the triathlon (11:00-16:00 BST) and England and Scotland have high hopes in the track cycling (16:00-18:10).
Australia may well steal the show in the pool (19:00 21:50), where Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus could open her account and Zac Stubblety-Cook may set a world record.
At the gymnastics, England and Scotland will bid for men's team gold (09:00-20:30).
With inputs from BBC
For the poorest urban sector, who often cannot afford private vehicles, walking and cycling can provide a form of transport while reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, diabetes, and even death.
Hiking and cycling enthusiasts in the Kathmandu Valley have new attractions ready in Chandragiri Municipality.
The city has recently developed a 1.5 kilometre hiking trail and 5 km cycling track in the jungle of Chandragiri hill.
The hiking trail begins at Matatirtha, a famous pilgrimage site to pay homage to mothers, and ends at the foothill about 300 metres away from Matatirtha, making a half circle in the jungle.
New hiking trail is fresh and organic. No concrete structures are used, only stones and wooden pieces are used to make stairs to develop the trail up the hill. One can enjoy the greenery, birds’ chirpings, cool breeze and a magnificent view of the Valley from the south-western side.
