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Shirley Ballas Critiques Celebrity Contestants on Strictly

2024-12-08

From reproductive rights to climate change and Big Tech, The Independent is at the forefront when it comes to uncovering and sharing stories. Whether it's delving into the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing the impactful documentary 'The A Word' that shines a light on American women fighting for reproductive rights, we understand the significance of separating facts from the noise. In this critical moment in US history, having reporters on the ground is crucial. Your donation enables us to continue sending journalists to engage with both sides of the story.

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Reproductive Rights and Beyond

The Independent is dedicated to covering a wide range of important issues. Take, for example, their in-depth investigation into reproductive rights. They shine a light on the American women who are bravely fighting for these rights, showing the real struggles and efforts involved. This kind of reporting is essential in a society where such issues are often overlooked or misrepresented. It gives a voice to those who need it and helps to bring about change.Another aspect is their coverage of climate change. They don't just report on the facts; they also explore the implications and potential solutions. By doing so, they empower readers to understand the gravity of the situation and take action. Their work on Big Tech is also noteworthy. They investigate the power dynamics and ethical questions surrounding these tech giants, holding them accountable and ensuring that the public is informed.

Strictly Come Dancing: Insights from the Judges

Shirley Ballas, the head judge of Strictly Come Dancing, is usually known for her kind words and uplifting comments. However, on some occasions, she doesn't miss a thing. During the Saturday night semi-final (7 December), when the remaining contestants were performing to make it to the final, she gave her critiques. After Gill and his partner Lauren Oakley's Paso Doble, she praised him for the improvement he showed and said, "I love to see it JB, when I can actually see an improvement and you have saved it for the final. You brought everything to that." She also pointed out her past criticism of Paso Dobles where the celebrity often just stands while the professional does all the work.Later in the programme, Gill's Salsa to "Red Alert" by Basement Jaxx made history as it became the first Salsa to be awarded a perfect score in six years. Craig Revel Horwood, usually the most critical judge, also left his seat to shake Gill's hand. This was a special occasion as Gill was celebrating his birthday. Rachel McGrath appraised his performance for The Independent, saying, "Gill, compared to the others, has often flown under the radar. But each week, he's brought heaps of energy to the ballroom and out of all the remaining celebrities, he's always looked like he's having the most fun on the dancefloor."

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The Independent is trusted by Americans across the political spectrum. Unlike many other quality news outlets, they choose not to lock Americans out with paywalls. They believe that quality journalism should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial situation. This approach ensures that the public is informed and can make well-informed decisions. Your support makes it all possible. It allows the Independent to continue their important work and bring the truth to the forefront.In conclusion, your support is vital to The Independent's mission. It helps them tell the stories that matter and make a difference in the world. Whether it's in the realm of politics, entertainment, or social issues, their work is invaluable. Thank you for being a part of this journey.

December 7, 2024, by Karan Singh. Tesla has recently rolled out FSD V13 to early access testers, and we are continuously uncovering more of its remarkable features. FSD V13.2 brings significant new elements such as starting FSD from park, autoparking at the destination, and the ability to reverse. Alongside these major enhancements, there are also numerous smaller improvements.

Experience the Evolution of Tesla's FSD with V13

FSD V13: A Leap in Autonomous Driving

Tesla's FSD V13 marks a significant milestone in autonomous driving. It not only offers advanced features like starting and parking autonomously but also showcases enhanced awareness of the vehicle's size and the surrounding objects. This comprehensive capability allows FSD to navigate through extremely tight spaces with ease, making multiple-point turns when needed. It's a testament to Tesla's continuous innovation in the field of autonomous driving.

FSD V13's ability to give more space to other vehicles when they get too close is a crucial aspect. This natural movement, similar to what humans do, provides a sense of safety not only to the vehicle occupants but also to other drivers on the road. It acts as a buffer zone, minimizing the risk of mishaps caused by sudden or harsh maneuvers.

Moreover, the increased speed at which FSD V13 makes decisions compared to its predecessors gives it an edge in handling emergency situations. Those extra moments can make a significant difference in ensuring the safety of everyone on the road.

FSD Gives Space When Being Passed

The thoughtful touches in FSD's behavior are truly remarkable. For instance, when a car approaches unexpectedly, FSD reacts appropriately, providing an added layer of safety. Tesla's collection of audio data to train its AI on audio input is another significant step. Soon, the vehicle will be able to react to various sounds, including vehicle honks and emergency vehicles, and even honk itself. This makes FSD more human-like and predictable, enhancing safety for both FSD users and other road users.

As FSD becomes more human, it learns good defensive driving habits. These small changes propagate throughout the entire model through Tesla's End-to-End AI training. This continuous learning process ensures that FSD continues to drive safely, moving closer to the goal of achieving 99.999% safety.

The ability of FSD V13 to reverse and handle tight spaces is especially important for robotaxis and fully autonomous vehicles. It demonstrates Tesla's commitment to making their autonomous systems capable of handling a wide range of situations without human intervention.

Tight Spaces: FSD's Expertise

FSD V13's ability to navigate tight spaces is truly impressive. In the video from WholeMarsBlog, we can see how FSD makes effective turns to get out of relatively tight locations. This showcases the vehicle's ability to assess the space and make the necessary maneuvers accurately.

As we look forward to seeing FSD V13 in more challenging situations, it becomes evident that Tesla is constantly pushing the boundaries of autonomous driving. The early access testers are already witnessing the benefits of this latest version, and we hope to see its extended availability to more HW4 users in the coming months.

With each update, Tesla is bringing us closer to a future where autonomous driving is seamless and safe. FSD V13 is a significant step in that direction.

Update 2024.39.10: FSD Supervised 13.2

FSD Supervised 13.2 is installed on 0% of the fleet, with no installs today. The last update was on Dec 7, 7:36 am UTC. While HW3 could potentially see a version of V13 in the future, Tesla is currently focused on HW4. Creating a smaller model for HW3 would be a necessary step in its development.

Tesla's Holiday Update: Hidden Gems

Every Tesla update brings new features, and the Holiday Update is no exception. One of the notable additions is Tesla's new Service History, available through Service Mode. Owners and technicians can now add service records permanently, covering a wide range of tasks from windshield wiper replacements to motor or battery pack swaps.

With the Holiday Update, vehicle owners can also view this information without going into Service Mode. It's a convenient feature that provides easy access to maintenance records.

Tesla App Commands have also seen an improvement. When in close proximity to the vehicle, commands sent via the Tesla app are now executed quicker and more reliably over Bluetooth, without relying on the phone's and vehicle's internet connection. This feature is available for both iPhone and Android and supports most vehicles.

Curvature Assist: Sharper Turns on Autopilot

In certain regions, Tesla has introduced Curvature Assist, a feature that enables the vehicle to perform sharper turns while on Autopilot. When active, the vehicle displays "Curvature Assist Active" in the visualization area, providing an added level of control during turns.

This feature enhances the driving experience and showcases Tesla's attention to detail in optimizing Autopilot's performance.

Autopilot Hardware Version: Easy Identification

With update 2024.38, it is now easier to determine whether your vehicle has Autopilot hardware 3 or hardware 4. The software tab in the vehicle settings clearly shows the FSD hardware version, making it convenient for owners to keep track of their vehicle's capabilities.

WiFi Diagnostics Tool: Improving Connectivity

Tesla's new WiFi Diagnostics tool helps improve the WiFi connection by displaying the connection status and speed, along with some useful tips. Owners can access this tool by going to Control > Wi-Fi and tapping on the blue Diagnostics link.

It provides detailed information about the access point and the vehicle's MAC address, enabling users to troubleshoot connectivity issues more effectively.

Improved Voice Recognition: Understanding Different Accents

Many users have reported improved voice recognition in this update, especially in dialects other than American English. Tesla's voice command system is now better at understanding different accents and performing commands more reliably.

This is a significant improvement that enhances the user experience and makes interacting with the vehicle more intuitive.

Nearby Parking: Making Parking Easier

When viewing details for a Point of Interest on the map, users can now tap on "Nearby Parking" to get directions to nearby parking lots or garages. This feature simplifies the process of finding parking in busy areas and big events.

Lower Volume in Reverse: Enhancing Safety

Tesla has added an option to lower the volume of audio when the vehicle goes into reverse. This new safety feature is located under Controls > Safety and provides an additional layer of protection, especially in noisy environments.

Set Arrival Energy: Planning for the Journey

Owners can now choose the amount of energy they want to arrive with at their destination. Tesla takes this into account when determining charging stops and times, providing a more personalized driving experience.

Adjust Passenger Seat On Screen: Added Convenience

Tesla's new Seats option in the settings allows owners to move the passenger seat forward and backward. This is particularly useful when there is a baby seat behind the passenger seat or when extra room is needed.

Although there are no presets or memory, this feature provides added convenience for owners in adjusting the seat according to their needs.

Vehicle Maintenance Summary: Keeping Track of Service

Owners can now view their vehicle's maintenance history easily. This builds on the recent Maintenance History feature and provides a read-only view for vehicle owners without the need to go into Service Mode.

It includes a variety of maintenance items, allowing owners to stay informed about the service history of their vehicles.

Autopilot Lane Changes in Europe: Enhanced Visibility

In Europe, Tesla has added a new indicator light that shows which automatic lane changes are available. This provides clear visibility to the driver and helps in making more informed decisions during Autopilot usage.

A total of 69,916 racegoers made their way to Sha Tin, and an additional 10,775 flocked to Happy Valley. This remarkable influx brought the total number of attendees for the Longines Hong Kong International Races to a staggering 80,691, marking the highest attendance since 2018. The HKJC's chief executive officer, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, expressed his personal view, stating, "I personally think it was one of the best, if not the best, Longines Hong Kong International Races and an incredible week. Starting with the Longines International Jockeys’ Championship, it was an amazing success. Today, we hoped to create a highlight, and I personally think everything went to perfection."

Success on the Track and Beyond

When looking purely at the results, it was a tremendous success for Hong Kong horses. Locally trained horses swept three of the four HKIR races - Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup, Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint, and Voyage Bubble (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}) in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile. British raider Giavellotto (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) landed the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase, becoming the first British horse to achieve victory at the 'Turf World Championships' since 2012. Engelbrecht-Bresges added, "When you look at the sporting performances, Romantic Warrior is the best 2000m horse in the world. It was an absolutely dominant performance; he showed that he is absolutely world-class, and to win this race (Longines Hong Kong Cup) for the third time is an incredible effort. He has now broken the world prize-money record of Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d’Oro) with total prize-money of HK$177 million (£17,849,886/€21,528,584/$22,753,164/A$35,611,075), which is an amazing achievement." It was also a very good win by Giavellotto. With Ka Ying Rising, he had tremendous competition from another Hong Kong horse [Victor The Winner (Aus) (Toronado {Ire})], which disrupted his rhythm, but he is an amazing sprinter. Voyage Bubble has shown how good he is, and the runner-up [Soul Rush (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn})] also put on a tremendous performance.The meeting was broadcast into 29 countries live, and in Hong Kong, the attendance figures were tremendous with an overall total of 80,000. There were also 6,511 visitors from the Mainland, a record - 40% more than last year.

Impressive Turnover and Global Impact

Turnover reached HK$1,716.3 million (£173,090,614/€208,754,294/$220,628,571/A$345,305,094), including a commingling record of HK$473.8 million (£47,783,215/€57,628,494/$60,906,494/A$95,324,566), an increase of 10% on last year's Longines HKIR. Engelbrecht-Bresges said, "Our strategy to bring the best races from Hong Kong and show them overseas is really proving a great success with our races today for the first time under the World Pool banner, which shows our racing product is extremely well received. Today is not about the turnover. Today is about the sport - it was a fantastic spectacle. The crescendo was the fireworks to close this wonderful meeting. We have one new racing fan in Sir Alex [Ferguson]. He was absolutely enthused about Hong Kong and what he saw, so he promised me to come back. This meeting attracts a global audience and global recognition, and this reflects positively on Hong Kong."We would like to thank all the owners, trainers, and jockeys who have brought their horses here because we can make this a global event only with their support. A tremendous team effort behind the scenes makes Hong Kong such a wonderful place to visit and connect to the world as a vibrant, world-class city.