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Scientists have cooked up a new explanation for the explosive craters that have recently rocked Siberia. Trapped gas and climate change are still the prime suspects, but the new theory hints that a deeper geological force might be at play.
Since 2012, at least eight circular “gas emission craters” (GECs) have formed in the Yamal and Gydan peninsulas of Russia. Many more are perhaps out there still lying undiscovered, although they tend to make their presence known by creating a large bang during their creation.
Some of the girthiest GECs are more than 20 meters (66 feet) wide and reach depths of 50 meters (164 feet).
Internet cranks have pondered whether the craters might have been created by apocalyptic asteroids or aliens, but those claims have no credible evidence.
The standard scientific explanation of the Siberian pockmarks is that they’re the result of a prehistoric lake buried underneath a layer of permafrost. Organic material became trapped beneath the surface where it was decomposed by microbes, generating heaps of methane gas as a byproduct.
The permafrost layer kept a lid on the subterranean drama, but then came climate change. The average summer temperatures in this part of Siberia have risen by up to 2.5°C (4.5°F) over the past few centuries, which is even higher than the rising temperatures seen across the globe in recent years.
The heat increases the rate of decomposition below the surface, plus it thaws the “ceiling” of permafrost. Pressure gradually mounds like a shaken-up soda bottle with a weakening cap. Eventually: boom! The permafrost becomes so degraded that the gas rapidly escapes and creates a gaping crater.
It’s a logical theory, but researchers from the University of Oslo argue that this explanation fails to answer why they’re only found in a certain corner of Russia.
Instead of the accepted model, the team of Norwegian scientists believes that the explosions are the result of heat and gas that originate deep below the Earth’s surface. The geological makeup of the region means the hot gas is allowed to seep through geological faults to the near-surface, just below the permafrost layer.
The climate crisis still plays a role in this theory, however. Just as the previous theory suggests, the permafrost on the surface has been degrading due to climate change, weakening the “cap” that previously kept hold of the hot gas. The end result is the same: boom!
“Our model suggests that GECs form above local heat and gas conduits, where the permafrost is the thinnest,” the study authors write.
“Extra-and intra-permafrost processes contribute to pressure buildup, while climate change exacerbates permafrost degradation, leading to the deepening of thawed zones and an increased number of thermokarst lakes,” they conclude.
This is just one possible explanation, however. To test their hypothesis, the researchers call out for detailed surveys of the area to examine its permafrost thickness and internal geology.
The study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, was recently posted to the preprint server EarthArXiv.
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https://www.iflscience.com/siberias-explosive-craters-are-forged-by-deep-geological-forces-new-study-claims-72483
| 2024-01-16T18:13:06Z
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The Indian Continental Plate could be splitting in two, a new study proposes. However, instead of breaking vertically, like east Africa, to form a new microcontinent, India could be sheering horizontally as it runs into Eurasia, separating into two layers each about 100 kilometers (60 miles) thick.
The Himalayas form the world’s mightiest mountain range, but their really distinctive feature is the Tibetan Plateau behind them.
Considering this, you might think we would understand the process that is producing them better than we do. Everyone (ok, maybe flat-Earthers aside) agrees that both features are a result of India moving north at a rate of 1-2 millimeters/year (0.04-0.08 inches/year), driving into Eurasia in the process. Over 60 million years, that sort of slow motion can force mountains to an immense height. Beyond this, however, there is plenty of debate.
One theory is that the Indian Plate is too buoyant to sink into the mantle, causing it to slide under the Eurasian Plate, producing the bulge that is Tibet. Another suggests the Indian Plate is buckling, like a piece of paper forced edge-on into resistance, with Tibet created by a bulge.
However, at the American Geophysical Union conference in December, a third option was presented.
According to this view, the Indian Plate is “delaminating”. If continents had nerve cells this would be every bit as painful as it sounds, with the top part peeling off to prop up Tibet, while the denser bottom sinks into the mantle. The upper floating part, the proponents say, is thick enough to account for Tibet’s enormous altitude. Meanwhile the lower section is behaving in a manner familiar from the way oceanic plates are forced underneath continental plates, for example where South America meets the Pacific.
“We didn’t know continents could behave this way and that is, for solid earth science, pretty fundamental,” Professor Douwe van Hinsbergen of Utrecht University, who is not an author of the study, told Science Magazine.
It's not practical to drill up to 100 kilometers (62 miles) deep to check the idea, so the conclusions are drawn from individually inconclusive hints. Those proposing the idea draw their evidence from helium that bubbles up through Tibetan springs.
Helium is rare on Earth, but helium-3 is rarer still, having to be left over from the planet’s formation – it’s one reason people have proposed mining the Moon for it. On the other hand, some radioactive processes produce new helium-4. Consequently, high concentrations of helium-3 indicate a source in the mantle.
By measuring the isotope ratio of helium at 200 Tibetan springs, Simon Klemperer of Stanford University and co-authors found a pattern indicating the mantle is close enough to the surface of northern Tibet for helium-3 to reach escape. Further south, the leaking gas is mostly helium-4, leading the team to conclude the plate has not split there yet and forms a barrier the helium can’t cross. The exception is one area near Bhutan. Here, they think, the mantle has penetrated the crust, creating the anomalous signal.
Earthquake patterns in the region bolster the case and suggest the mantle intrusion is coming from the eastern side of the plateau.
The idea is plausible given that we know tectonic plates are structured like a layered cake. Chefs put the denser cake layer at the bottom so the sponge doesn’t get crushed by the weight above. The planet has no such thought process, but nevertheless the lower part of plates is formed from solidified mantle rock, which is denser than the part it supports. Computer models suggest something could separate the two. “This is the first time that … it’s been caught in the act in a downgoing plate,” van Hinsbergen told Science Magazine.
The authors suspect the process has been aided by the Indian Plate’s shape, which is thicker at its northernmost point and thinner at the sides. With the center sinking faster, even modest pressures (by tectonic standards) from mantle material above the lower part of the plate can peel it off.
A preprint of a yet to be peer-reviewed paper on the earthquake evidence is available on ESS Open Archive. The work was also presented at the 2023 annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union.
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https://www.iflscience.com/the-indian-tectonic-plate-might-be-splitting-in-two-just-like-africa-72480
| 2024-01-16T18:13:12Z
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Scientists have found a mineral in lunar rocks that suggests there was a lot more water in the Moon’s crust than previously thought. The mineral in question is apatite, the most common phosphate, which is also found in our bones and teeth. The mineral contains volatile elements in its structure and tends to form in the presence of water.
A lot of our understanding of the Moon’s geology comes from the rocks collected by the Apollo mission. Those samples represent only a tiny fraction of the geology of the Moon and historically, painted a picture of it as dry, lacking in volatiles. Meteorites coming from our satellite have provided a different view and so has re-analysis of the Apollo sample.
Lead author of the study Dr Tara Hayden discovered that meteorite Arabian Peninsula 007 (discovered in Saudi Arabia in 2015) was from the Moon. An analysis showed where it came from and that it contained intriguing minerals.
"I was so lucky the meteorite not only came from the Moon but remarkably, featured chemistry so vital to our understanding about lunar water-bearing minerals," Hayden said in a statement. "Lunar meteorites are revealing new, exciting parts of the Moon's evolution and expanding our knowledge beyond the samples collected during the Apollo missions. As the new stage of lunar exploration begins, I am eager to see what we will learn from the lunar far side."
The meteorite is a piece of lunar crust that broke apart following an impact around 4.5 billion years ago –that’s just after the Moon formed. A planetoid the size of Mars hit our fledgling planet and threw enough material in orbit to form the Moon. What kind of elements were there at the beginning is unclear and there are many missing pieces in the puzzle of the following period.
"The discovery of apatite in the Moon's early crust for the first time is incredibly exciting—as we can finally start to piece together this unknown stage of lunar history. We find the Moon's early crust was richer in water than we expected, and its volatile stable isotopes reveal an even more complex history than we knew before," said Hayden.
More lunar material will soon be available to scientists when humans (hopefully) return to the Moon in 2026 with Artemis III. The samples collected then will provide new insights into the geological history of the Moon.
"We know most about the history of water on the Moon from the Apollo samples, but those samples are thought to only represent about five percent of the entire Moon surface," said Hayden. "Until we get more samples back in the upcoming Artemis missions, the only other samples from the surface we have are meteorites."
The study is published in Nature Astronomy.
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https://www.iflscience.com/the-moon-used-to-be-a-lot-wetter-than-we-thought-72479
| 2024-01-16T18:13:18Z
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A potential problem for any intelligent aliens that could be out there that may prevent them from developing technology has been highlighted by a recent paper: the oxygen bottleneck.
Free atmospheric oxygen is, of course, one of the key signs of potential life to look out for. The only planet where we know there is intelligent life (well, kinda) has free atmospheric oxygen in abundance. Naturally, we have looked for it on other planets, given the important role it has played on Earth in the evolution of animal life.
As the new paper highlights, the benefits of breathing isn't the only thing oxygen has done for humans.
"On Earth, fire certainly played a crucial role in the establishment of human civilization and the onset of technology," the paper explains. Cooking food was of course important in our development, giving us more energy and possibly helping our brain size to increase. Fire has also been utilized by humans to control our environment, and help us in hunting.
"However, by far the most important role for fire in the rise of human civilization is its use as an energy source," the paper continues. "This probably started very early on as a way to keep warm, thereby increasing the range of environmental conditions suitable for settlements; then it evolved into more sophisticated uses, such as metal smelting, melding and tool fabrication; finally, it provided both the energy source and the fuel (for example, charcoal) that initiated the Industrial Revolution and led to the ‘Great Acceleration’ and the Anthropocene."
Without fire, there would be no Industrial Revolution. And here's where it might be bad news for anyone who wants to meet other alien life: For there to be fire, you don't need just a bit of it, but a lot of it. In terms of fire, there is a sweet spot. Not enough oxygen, and plant matter will not combust. Any higher than 35 percent it will combust so well that forests would not be able to grow and sustain themselves. According to this paper, below 18.5 percent oxygen and the chance of combustion is limited, but just above 20 percent (on Earth it is around 21 percent at the moment) seems to be the sweet spot where fires can burn and vegetation can grow.
Any lower than 18.5 percent, and species could become intelligent, but find themselves unable to make complicated technology (or even smelt metals, as we have done for thousands of years.
"Imagine a young and intelligent species on an alien world with an atmosphere that’s just 1 percent oxygen," co-author on the paper, Adam Frank, wrote for Big Think. "Those clever tool-using creatures would never get the chance to watch a tree burn after being hit by lightning and get the idea of using fire for their own purposes. They would never have the chance to learn how fire could be used to cook food, clear land, or, most importantly, melt metals. The poverty of oxygen in their air would likely box these creatures in forever, limiting their development."
“The presence of high degrees of oxygen in the atmosphere is like a bottleneck you have to get through in order to have a technological species,” Frank added in a statement. “You can have everything else work out, but if you don’t have oxygen in the atmosphere, you’re not going to have a technological species.”
The oxygen bottleneck, as the team termed it, could prevent intelligent, tool-using, and possibly communicative species from becoming technologically advanced ones capable of making contact with us, perhaps explaining the lack of contact. The team suggests other possible ways primitive species could produce heat, such as focusing the rays of their stars or geothermic energy, but none are as easy or freely available as combustion.
On the bright side, the team hopes that the oxygen bottleneck may assist the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. As well as letting us know that in the search for technological civilizations it may be better to look for oxygen-rich planets, should we receive potential technosignatures, oxygen levels on planets in the region could help us know whether technology is likely present on them. If it's too low, we can guess that it is probably unlikely a species would have developed the technology needed for contact.
“The implications of discovering intelligent, technological life on another planet would be huge,” co-author Amedeo Balbi added. “Therefore, we need to be extremely cautious in interpreting possible detections. Our study suggests that we should be skeptical of potential technosignatures from a planet with insufficient atmospheric oxygen.”
The paper is published in the journal Nature Astronomy.
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https://www.iflscience.com/the-oxygen-bottleneck-astronomers-find-huge-new-problem-for-alien-civilizations-72460
| 2024-01-16T18:13:24Z
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Have you ever heard of Jesus being called Jesus H. Christ? This is, in fact, not a little-known middle name like Hector, but a relic of the Greek alphabet and Christian symbolism.
Dr Dan McClellan, Biblical scholar at the University of Birmingham and keen TikTokker, explains that the most widely accepted theory of the middle “H” initial is that it originated as a Christogram, a monogram formed of letters and symbols representing Jesus.
Christograms can be found on all kinds of artifacts, from artworks and coins to gravestones and even ancient tattoos. As it turns out, there’s even one slipped into the name of Jesus Christ himself.
Check out Dr McClellan's explanation in the video above.
Credit: Dan McClellan
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https://www.iflscience.com/what-does-the-h-in-jesus-h-christ-mean-a-bible-scholar-explains-all-72467
| 2024-01-16T18:13:30Z
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As winter rages, and viruses continue to spread, you might find yourself wondering: Can I catch two at once? What about three, or four, or (gulp) more? And, perhaps most importantly, what happens if I do?
It’s a question that was posed a lot back in 2022 when fears of a so-called “tripledemic” of COVID-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) were rife.
“Most of what we know about virus infection, virus pathogenesis, [and] virus epidemiology is based on the one virus-one disease approach,” Pablo Murcia, a virologist at the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, told The Scientist at the time. “And that’s not real.”
Can you be infected with multiple viruses at once?
Unfortunately, yes – you can be infected with more than one virus at a time. However, we know relatively little about how these viruses interact, Murcia added.
In one 2019 study, Murcia and colleagues analyzed respiratory illness cases in Scotland between 2005 and 2013, finding that of all patients who had at least one virus, 11 percent also had another – some unlucky individuals harbored up to five.
What happens if you are?
If you do catch more than one virus at once, it is possible that the symptoms of one could compound the symptoms of the other, leaving you feeling worse off than if you simply had one virus. Although, not necessarily.
“The best data about coinfection come from studies of more serious viruses, such as HIV and hepatitis,” wrote Dr Richard Klasco in a 2018 piece for The New York Times. “These studies show that coinfection can worsen, ameliorate or have no impact on the course of an illness. The outcome depends on the viruses involved.”
For example, coinfection with HIV and hepatitis C virus can result in a worse outcome, Klasco adds.
Referring to respiratory co-infections, Dr Armando Paez, chief of the Infectious Disease Division, Baystate Health, said: “Hospitalization is often required for those suffering from co-infections due to their more serious cases of illness.”
But it’s not all bad news. As Klasco mentioned, not all co-infections will have a negative outcome. A dual infection with influenza A and B, he says, doesn’t seem to worsen symptoms. The same is probably true of the common cold:
“While you can get two colds at once, you probably won’t feel any worse than you would with one. The difference that you might experience is being sick for longer than you might otherwise expect.”
Viral interference
Sometimes, viruses can block one another in what is known as viral interference. This is what, according to some experts, likely happened during the pandemic: COVID may have taken precedence over flu and RSV, effectively blocking them.
Similarly, in the autumn of 2009 during the swine flu pandemic, rhinovirus, which is responsible for the common cold, began to dominate in some parts of Europe, before swine flu took over again. That same year, the pandemic delayed the onset of RSV by up to two and a half months.
This sort of interference can arise in a number of ways. For example, different viruses can target the same receptors on host cells, meaning that the first to gain entry can prevent other viruses from getting access. Viruses can also compete for resources once inside host cells, resulting in a "survival of the fittest" type situation.
The best-understood mechanism of interference involves interferons – defensive molecules produced by the cells of vertebrates when they sense a virus is present. Interferons trigger the expression of genes that can prevent more than one virus from entering a cell or stop viruses that are present from replicating or exiting the cell.
Although viral interference can provide short-term immunity against other viruses, using these and other methods, it’s by no means a given and it’s still very much possible to catch multiple viruses at the same time.
All “explainer” articles are confirmed by fact checkers to be correct at time of publishing. Text, images, and links may be edited, removed, or added to at a later date to keep information current.
The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
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https://www.iflscience.com/what-happens-when-you-catch-multiple-viruses-at-once-72474
| 2024-01-16T18:13:36Z
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What’s your love language? Are you particularly receptive to words of affirmation? Or maybe you appreciate spending quality time with your partner, or cherish physical touch, or splashing out on a gift to express your love. Whatever your love language is, it has one thing in common with the others: none of them are supported by empirical research, according to a new study.
The notion of love languages has become deeply entrenched in society these days. In fact, the idea that people express and receive love in specific ways has become so popular that it has featured in various memes and as lyrics to songs.
The concept was first introduced by Gary Chapman in 1992, when he published his influential The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts, where he explained how there are five unique categories related to communicating love. The development of these categories was based on his experience in marriage counseling and linguistics. Since then, Chapman’s book has been translated into 50 languages and sold over 20 million copies worldwide.
The idea has spread far and wide; a casual Google search will offer you a glut of advice pages, charts, and quizzes, not only to help you identify your own love language, but also to offer tips on how to communicate it to your partner. There are even government initiatives that have been influenced by Chapman’s principles, including a $20 million relationship education and counseling programme that the Australian government has backed.
But while the idea may be cute, is it accurate? Well, as with all popular psychological ideas that try to compress complex social behaviours into easily digestible and identifiable categories, there are skeptics. And now a new study has poured cold water on Chapman’s ideas by finding very little empirical data to support it.
“Although there is only a limited body of empirical research on love languages”, the authors write, “the work that does exist does not provide strong support for the validity of the love languages’ core assumptions.”
Firstly, contrary to the prevailing idea that we all have our own specific form of love expression, our “primary [love] language”, research has consistently shown that people tend to “endorse all five love languages as meaningful ways of expressing love and feeling loved.”
This is a bit of a blow to one of the main principles of the love language system. If individuals do not actually have a preference for a specific language, then everything the idea is built on starts to wobble.
The second assumption, that there are only five forms of love language appears to be equally shaky. According to the researcher’s review of the existing literature, there are more ways to express love, including supporting a partner’s personal growth and autonomy. In addition, incorporating your partners into your wider social networks and developing conflict management strategies are also key.
Finally, Chapman’s third key assumption, that couples who “speak” the same love language report greater relationship quality, has also failed to show any meaningful evidence to support it. When testing whether couples who share the same languages (vs. those who don’t) claim to be more satisfied, the results were not empirically significant. In contrast, the evidence seems to suggest that receiving any form of love is associated with greater relationship satisfaction.
Responding to the study, Chapman has said that his book’s success speaks for itself. As he told the Washington Post, “I think the fact that so many millions of people have read the book, so many people have found it to be helpful in their relationship, that I’m convinced it can have a tremendous positive impact on a marriage.”
How can over 20 million people be wrong? Well it wouldn’t be the first time in history a large body of people believed and endorsed something that has little basis in reality.
Love as a diet?
So how do the researchers recommend we think about our love expressions and relationships if they have now toppled the romantic Tower of Babel? They recommend viewing relationships as a kind of balanced diet:
“We offer an alternative metaphor that we believe more accurately reflects a large body of empirical research on relationships: Love is not akin to a language one needs to learn to speak but can be more appropriately understood as a balanced diet in which people need a full range of essential nutrients to cultivate lasting love.”
The explain that, just as we need a varied diet providing all the key nutritional ingredients, such as carbs, protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals, so too do our love lives.
“[A]lthough people might be able to successfully maintain their relationships even if they are missing a particular ingredient (e.g., lack of physical touch in long-distance relationships), the best relationships will be ones in which partners spend time together (quality time), express appreciation (words of affirmation), show affection (physical touch), help and support each other (acts of service), and make each other feel special (which is presumably the intention behind gifts), among other behaviors (e.g., support for personal goals and autonomy) not captured in Chapman’s five love languages.”
The study is published in Current Directions in Psychological Science.
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https://www.iflscience.com/whats-your-love-language-it-could-be-less-important-than-you-think-72476
| 2024-01-16T18:13:42Z
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You've probably been told at some point that oil is made from dinosaurs, thinking that when you are at a gas station you are pumping refined velociraptor directly into your Volvo. As widespread as the belief is, it's not true. Oil is not made from the decomposed bodies of ancient dinosaurs.
“For some strange reason, the idea that oil comes from dinosaurs has stuck with many people," geologist Reidar Müller from the University of Oslo explained to Science Norway. "But oil comes from trillions of tiny algae and plankton."
As algae and plankton died tens to hundreds of millions of years ago, they sank to the bottom of the sea, where they accumulated and were buried by layers and layers of sediment. Eventually, after millions of years in a high-pressure and low-oxygen environment, the algae and plankton got "cooked" and turned into that sticky black oil we humans apparently can't get enough of despite the threat of a climate emergency. From here, it seeps upwards until it hits rock it can't make it through, requiring humans to drill it out (or some other natural disaster to set it free again).
While marine dinosaurs – or a T. Rex that discovered its arms weren't particularly well-adapted to swimming – may find themselves on the bottom of the ocean after death, it's unlikely they would get converted into oil themselves.
This is partly because an oxygen-deprived environment is needed to convert organic matter into oil. Once dead, they would have become a meal for smaller aquatic creatures, picking them apart until they got down to the bones, long before they could be buried.
Now to explain why, "if dinosaurs actually existed", their bones aren't everywhere.
All “explainer” articles are confirmed by fact checkers to be correct at time of publishing. Text, images, and links may be edited, removed, or added to at a later date to keep information current.
An earlier version of this article was published in Septemeber 2023.
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https://www.iflscience.com/where-does-oil-come-from-no-it-isnt-dinosaurs-72470
| 2024-01-16T18:13:48Z
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In the last few days, arctic air has brought below-freezing temperatures across many parts of the US, including Chicago and Lake Michigan. There, people noticed a very peculiar phenomenon: "Steam" appeared to form above the Chicago River and the lake. Prompting many to ask (maybe in the style of 4 Non Blondes): what’s going on?
The first thing to say is that it is not steam. Steam is water vapor released when water is heated. What you are seeing is indeed water vapor – but we ought to be pedantic about its formation. The phenomenon you are seeing is closer to seeing one’s breath on a cold day. You probably wouldn’t describe yourself as steaming.
Smoke on the Water
Watching the video (or if you are in Chicago or somewhere with equally cold weather and flowing water), you are witnessing water vapor condensing over the surface of the water. This has been previously called sea smoke, but it is a lot more similar to fog than anything else.
It forms due to the temperature difference between the cold air and the warmer water. At the boundary between the two, a thin layer of air forms, and in it there is some water vapor. Warm air rises, and the water vapor, suddenly in contact with colder air, condenses into fog in wispy structures across rivers, seas, and lakes.
The best conditions happen when there is a big difference in temperature between the air and the water, like in Chicago right now. And it is easier when there’s little wind so that the condensation has time to take place and it is not immediately blown away.
A More Technical Science Lesson Is Dew
So why do you need those conditions for the formation of sea smoke? That has to do with the dew point. The amount of water vapor needed to saturate a certain volume of air depends on the temperature. The cooler it is, the easier is to get to the dew point. Beyond that, water vapor starts to condense. At high altitudes, we call this condensation clouds. At ground level, we call it fog.
Fog and sea smoke are related, but fog forms in the opposite way – warm air over cold water. Another similar phenomenon to sea smoke is the sublimation of ice when in direct sunlight.
All “explainer” articles are confirmed by fact checkers to be correct at time of publishing. Text, images, and links may be edited, removed, or added to at a later date to keep information current.
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https://www.iflscience.com/why-did-steam-appear-over-the-chicago-river-in-freezing-temperatures-72484
| 2024-01-16T18:13:54Z
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The Guinness World Records have temporarily suspended their "world's oldest dog" title amid claims that the current title holder was not as old as its owners claimed it was.
When Bobi passed away, an entry on the Guinness World Records website explained that he had lived to be 31 years 165 days old. While not a ripe old age in human terms, you don't find many dog millennials, and this prompted a few raised eyebrows from Internet investigators.
On Reddit, a few posts on the Dogs subreddit questioned whether a dog could live that long, with some users citing the previous title holder only being an estimated 23 years and 7 days old. Several claimed that they had unearthed earlier photos of Bobi, and that the photos showed a different dog with white paws.
Vets had questions too. Danny Chambers of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons told The Guardian that none of his colleagues believed the dog could be that old.
“This is the equivalent of a human living to over 200 years old which, given our current medical capabilities, is completely implausible," Chambers added. "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, and no concrete evidence has been provided to prove his age."
Wired dug into the matter some more. Bobi's age had been verified by the Portuguese SIAC pet registration program, according to the Guinness World Records, but when Wired contacted the SIAC they replied that "at the time, the animal’s holder declared that it had been born in 1992, but we have no registration or data that can confirm or deny this statement."
Vets spoken to by Wired also had questions about how an overweight dog lived to such an age (217 in dog years).
Guinness World Records were already aware of questions about Bobi and had launched their own investigation. On Tuesday, they confirmed that Bobi's title of World's oldest dog had been taken away temporarily while that continues.
“While our review is ongoing we have decided to temporarily pause both the record titles for oldest dog living and ever," a spokesperson said, per The Guardian. "Just until all of our findings are in place."
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https://www.iflscience.com/worlds-oldest-dog-temporarily-stripped-of-title-amid-controversial-claims-72477
| 2024-01-16T18:14:00Z
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Arab countries are not keen to get involved in the rebuilding of Gaza if the Palestinian enclave will be "leveled" again in a few years and stress the importance of Palestinian statehood for any regional settlement, the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday.
Speaking to CNBC in an interview in Davos, Switzerland, Blinken said there was a "new equation" in the Middle East in which Israel's Arab and Muslim neighbors were prepared to integrate Israel into the region but they were equally committed to a pathway to a Palestinian state.
He said both the Arab states and Washington believe that until that issue is addressed, neither Israel nor the region will have peace, stability and security.
"You have to resolve the Palestinian question," Blinken said. "Arab countries are saying this ... Look, we're not going to get into the business, for example, of rebuilding Gaza only to have it leveled again in a year or five years and then be asked to rebuild it again."
"You're in a place right now, where, again, Arab countries, including countries like Saudi Arabia, are prepared to do things in their relationship with Israel they were never prepared to do before. That opens up an entirely different future, a much more secure future."
"In terms of Israel's own security, the Arab piece of the equation and the Palestinian peace - that's the way to true lasting security," Blinken said.
Speaking also in Davos, Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said the kingdom could recognise Israel if a comprehensive agreement were reached that included statehood for the Palestinians.
Blinken in his latest trip to the Middle East just a week ago had brought a rough agreement to Israel that its predominately Muslim neighbors would help rehabilitate Gaza after the war and continue economic integration with Israel, but only if it committed to eventually allowing the creation of an independent Palestinian state.
U.S.-brokered talks on a Palestinian state in territory now occupied by Israel collapsed almost a decade ago. Right-wing leaders in Israel's current ruling coalition oppose Palestinian statehood.
The war in Gaza started when Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking 240 hostages. Israel says more than 130 remain in captivity.
Israel responded to Hamas' assault with a siege, bombardment and ground invasion of Gaza that have devastated the tiny coastal territory and killed more than 24,000 people, according to Gaza health officials. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/blinken-says-arab-countries-not-keen-to-rebuild-gaza-if-it-will-be-leveled-again
| 2024-01-16T18:16:29Z
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MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin met the Russian and North Korean foreign ministers on Tuesday, after their meeting in Moscow, Russian state news agency RIA quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying.
North Korean foreign minister Choe Son Hui's visit comes as the two countries have drawn closer since the beginning of Russia's military campaign in Ukraine. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/putin-meets-russian-n-korean-foreign-ministers-in-moscow-ria
| 2024-01-16T18:16:39Z
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MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Ukraine's statehood could suffer an "irreparable blow" if the pattern of the war continued, and Russia would never be forced to abandon the gains it had made.
Putin made his televised comments a day after Switzerland agreed to host a global summit at the request of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
Putin dismissed "so-called peace formulas" being discussed in the West and Ukraine and what he called the "prohibitive demands" they entailed.
"Well, if they don't want (to negotiate), then don't!" he said.
"Now it is quite obvious, not only (Ukraine's) counter-offensive failed, but the initiative is completely in the hands of the Russian armed forces. If this continues, Ukrainian statehood may suffer an irreparable, very serious blow."
Putin's statements about the course of the war have become increasingly confident and aggressive in recent months, with the failure of Ukraine's counter-offensive to deliver any substantial gains against well entrenched Russian forces.
Russia currently controls 17.5% of the territory of Ukraine.
Putin said talk of negotiation was "an attempt to motivate us to abandon the gains that we have realized over the past year and a half. But this is impossible. Everyone understands that this is impossible."
A peace formula put forward by Zelenskiy calls for the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity, cessation of hostilities and withdrawal of Russian troops, among other points.
Russia says any negotiation would have to take account of the "new realities" created by its forces on the ground. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/putin-says-ukraines-statehood-at-risk-if-pattern-of-war-continues
| 2024-01-16T18:16:50Z
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Bertrand Traore scored a stoppage time penalty as Burkina Faso claimed a 1-0 victory over Mauritania in their Africa Cup of Nations Group D clash at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake on Tuesday, writing a piece of history in the process.
It is the first ever win for the Burkinabe in their opening match of the Africa showpiece finals and came at the 13th attempt, handed to them when Aston Villa midfielder Traore stroked home his spot-kick after a foul by Mauritania captain Mohamed El Abd on Issa Kabore.
Burkina Faso dominated possession, but it was Mauritania who carved out the better chances, though they were denied by the excellent reflexes of goalkeeper Herve Koffi and will feel aggrieved not to have got something from the game having conceded in the 96th minute.
Burkina Faso head the pool with their three points after the first round of matches. Fancied Algeria were surprisingly held to a 1-1 draw by Angola on Monday. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/late-penalty-seals-burkina-faso-win-over-mauritania
| 2024-01-16T18:17:00Z
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WOKING, England - McLaren's preparations for the 2024 Formula One season are going to plan with the team confident they can continue last year's impressive performance gains, according to principal Andrea Stella.
The former champions were fourth overall last year after a slow start to the campaign, with Britain's Lando Norris and Australian rookie Oscar Piastri increasingly challenging the dominant Red Bulls.
A new wind tunnel and racecar simulator are now in use at the Woking factory while Rob Marshall and David Sanchez have joined from Red Bull and Ferrari respectively in senior technical roles.
"The preparation so far has been relatively smooth. Smooth in the Formula One sense, which means pushing everything last minute, to the limit. But so far we are on plan," Stella told reporters at a livery presentation.
"So far we don’t see diminishing returns," added the Italian.
"This obviously will have to be proven once we put the car on the ground, but when it comes to the wind tunnel development of this year...(it) seems like we can maintain it.
"We are already starting to work on the further developments that we hope to bring relatively soon in-season and they also seem to be quite interesting."
The season starts in Bahrain on March 2 after testing from Feb. 21-23 and Red Bull will again be the clear favourites, with Max Verstappen chasing his fourth world championship in succession.
Stella cautioned that while confident about the rate of progress, much depended on how much Red Bull had improved their car after the most dominant season on record with 21 wins in 22 races.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown recognised it could be an "unpleasant surprise" when Red Bull showed their true hand.
"I would say Red Bull should be extremely competitive and we will see where we are, what kind of challenge we will be able to set on track," said Stella.
"For us, it’s important that we see we are doing a good job out of our own performance development and we are confident that if we keep doing this, over time we have an opportunity to close the gap."
Norris, 24, will be starting his sixth season in Formula One still chasing a first win but boosted by seven podium finishes last year including six second places.
"When Lando wins his first race it will be a beautiful moment. He is ready for that. It’s more about us being ready and delivering that car that allows him to take the opportunities," said Stella.
"Hopefully we will have the opportunity in 2024." REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/formula-one/mclaren-confident-they-can-keep-improving-in-2024
| 2024-01-16T18:17:11Z
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WOKING, England - McLaren see Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri as their long-term driver pairing in Formula One and believe they can convince the Briton to stay beyond next year, according to the team's chief executive Zak Brown.
Norris, 24, is set to start his sixth season with McLaren while Australian Piastri, 22, had a strong debut last year after a legal tussle for his services with Renault-owned Alpine in 2022.
Champions Red Bull have made no secret of their interest in Norris, whose contract at McLaren expires at the end of 2025 with the sport entering a new engine era and general reset in 2026.
"We have Lando under contract for another couple of years, of course we are in dialogue with him on a continuous basis," Brown told reporters at a livery launch at the team's Woking headquarters.
"We’re very focused now here obviously on the short term, but 2026 is not far away and we recognise that being able to retain Lando and Oscar for the foreseeable future is definitely a key element and something that is a high priority for us."
Piastri has a contract to the end of 2026.
Brown said his approach was to take care of all his employees, sponsors and drivers so that they wanted to be part of McLaren.
"I tend to focus on making sure McLaren’s the best environment and people want to be with us because you ultimately cannot control external approaches to those various people," he explained.
"I’m very confident in the relationship that we have with Lando, I know he’s very excited for this year and was very impressed with what he saw in the second half of last year.
"He loves working with (team principal) Andrea (Stella) and everyone on the team, so all we need to keep doing is keep giving him the environment that he wants to be in and then I’m confident he’ll stick around."
Stella said Norris, who had six second places and a third last year and now jointly holds the record for most podiums without a win (13), brought a lot to the team.
"The relationship between Lando and Oscar I think is a point of strength for our team," he said. "The two have almost complimentary driver characteristics from a driving and technical point of view.
"For Lando it’s almost unexplored as to how good he is, sometimes he surprises us with some of the performances he can put together." REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/formula-one/mclaren-want-norris-and-piastri-for-the-long-term
| 2024-01-16T18:17:21Z
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Italy centre Tommaso Menoncello, who missed last year's Rugby World Cup through injury, was included in the country's Six Nations squad as new head coach Gonzalo Quesada selected his players on Tuesday.
A new era begins for Italian rugby after the Argentine took over from Kieran Crowley, who led Italy in the last two Six Nations championships and the World Cup, and Quesada has named five uncapped players in the 34-man squad.
Menoncello became the youngest-ever Six Nations try scorer on his debut against France in 2022, but missed the World Cup after picking up a bicep injury in Italy's defeat by Ireland in a warm-up game in August.
The 21-year-old only returned to action for Benetton in December, and took part in Italy's training camp earlier this month.
Props Matteo Nocera, Luca Rizzoli, Mirco Spagnolo, and flankers Alessandro Izekor and Ross Vintcent are the uncapped players included, in a squad which contains 17 Benetton players and eight from Zebre Parma.
Simone Ferrari, Paolo Odogwu, Dino Lamb and Marco Riccioni are all ruled out through injury and flanker Michele Lamaro remains as captain under the new coach, a role the 25-year-old has held since 2021.
Quesada and his squad will meet up in Verona on Jan. 22, having only had the Italian-based players at his recent sessions.
"We will have the opportunity to work for the first time, even for just three days, with the entire group," Quesada said.
"Now we will go into the basics of our game and the attack and defence structures. We won't have much time available and we will try to concentrate the work as much as possible."
Italy begin their Six Nations campaign in Rome against England on Feb. 3, before an away game against last year's Grand Slam winners Ireland eight days later.
Squad
Forwards: Pietro Ceccarelli, Danilo Fischetti, Matteo Nocera, Luca Rizzoli, Mirco Spagnolo, Giosue Zilocchi, Gianmarco Lucchesi, Marco Manfredi, Giacomo Nicotera, Niccolo Cannone, Edoardo Iachizzi, Federico Ruzza, Andrea Zambonin, Lorenzo Cannone, Riccardo Favretto, Alessandro Izekor, Michele Lamaro, Sebastian Negri, Ross Vintcent, Manuel Zuliani
Backs: Alessandro Garbisi, Martin Page-Relo, Stephen Varney, Tommaso Allan, Paolo Garbisi, Juan Ignacio Brex, Tommaso Menoncello, Federico Mori, Marco Zanon, Pierre Bruno, Ange Capuozzo, Monty Ioane, Simone Gesi, Lorenzo Pani REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/menoncello-returns-to-italy-squad-for-six-nations
| 2024-01-16T18:17:31Z
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PARIS - France saw the lowest number of births since World War Two last year, the national statistics agency INSEE said, in a blow to its traditionally strong demographic profile.
France registered 678,000 births last year, representing a decrease of 7% from 2022 and down 20% since peaking in 2020, INSEE said in its annual census report.
The country has for decades been an outlier compared to other European countries, avoiding a collapse in birth rates as seen in Germany, Italy and Spain.
Demographers have traditionally put this down to France's generous health and childcare system as well as tax breaks and other benefits for having children, especially three or more.
That has helped soften the impact of an aging population while contributing to the country's long-term growth prospects, which economists say are generally determined by demographics, productivity gains and labour force participation.
INSEE said that the average number of children per mother fell last year to a three-decade low of 1.68 from 1.79 in 2022. In 2021, France had the highest birth rate in the European Union along with the Czech Republic at 1.83, the last year for which comparative figures are available.
Not only is the 2023 figure below the 2.2 generally considered to be necessary to maintain population levels in developed countries, it is also below the 1.8 births estimate that underpinned a deeply contested 2023 retirement reform.
That could mean that if the birth rate stays at 2023 levels the reform will not reduce the pension deficit as planned.
However, a recovery in the birth rate in the coming years is possible as people born in 2000-2010 - a period of high births - themselves begin to have children, researchers at the Institut National d'Etudes Demographiques said in a note.
While people are having fewer children, pro-family Unis pour les Familles says that the decline does not mean people want fewer children but rather conditions are not necessarily good.
In an Opinionway poll of 11,000 people for the association, two-thirds who did not have children said that they wanted to while one out of five parents said they would have liked more children.
The most common reasons people gave for not having more children were concerns about the economic, social and climatic outlook, cited by 30% of those polled. Some 28% said raising children cost too much.
The successive crises over the COVID outbreak, surging energy prices and record inflation have taken a heavy toll on household confidence, which has struggled to recover from record lows reached in mid 2022, according to INSEE's monthly survey. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/france-sees-collapse-in-births-to-lowest-since-world-war-two
| 2024-01-16T18:17:42Z
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PARIS - Scientists in China on Tuesday announced that they have cloned the first healthy rhesus monkey, a two-year-old named Retro, by tweaking the process that created Dolly the sheep.
Primates have proved particularly difficult to clone, and the scientists overcame years of failure by replacing the cloned cells that would become the placenta with those from a normal embryo.
They hope their new technique will lead to the creation of identical rhesus monkeys that can be experimented on for medical research.
However, outside researchers warned that the success rate for the new method was still very low, as well as raising the usual ethical questions around cloning.
Since the historic cloning of Dolly the sheep using a technique called somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) in 1996, more than 20 different animals have been created using the process, including dogs, cats, pigs and cattle.
However it was not until two decades later that scientists managed to clone the first primates using SCNT.
A pair of identical crab-eating macaques named Hua Hua and Zhong Zhong were created using SCNT in 2018 by researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Neuroscience in Shanghai.
But that breakthrough, led by the institute’s Qiang Sun, only resulted in live births in fewer than two per cent of attempts.
Qiang was also a senior author of the new research published in the journal Nature Communications.
He told AFP that the team had extensively researched why previous efforts to clone the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) had failed.
In an earlier attempt, one monkey – out of 35 implanted foetuses – was born alive, but it died in less than a day.
Qiang said that one of the “major problems” was that the placentas of cloned embryos were showing abnormalities compared to those from in vitro fertilisation.
So the researchers replaced the cells that later become the placenta, which are called the trophoblast, with those from a healthy, non-cloned embryo.
The trophoblast cells provide nutrients to a growing embryo, and turn into the placenta that supplies oxygen and other life-supporting assistance to the foetus.
The technique “greatly improved the success rate of cloning by SCNT” and led to the birth of Retro, Qiang said.
Human cloning ‘unacceptable’
However Lluis Montoliu, a scientist at the Spanish National Centre for Biotechnology who was not involved in the research, pointed out that just one out of 113 initial embryos survived, meaning a success rate of less than one percent.
If human beings were to ever be cloned – the great ethical fear of this field of research – then other primate species would have to be cloned first, he said.
But so far, the poor efficiency of these efforts has “confirmed the obvious: not only was human cloning unnecessary and debatable, but if attempted, it would be extraordinarily difficult – and ethically unjustifiable,” Montoliu said.
Qiang emphasised that cloning a human being was “unacceptable” in any circumstance.
For the SCNT procedure, scientists remove the nucleus from a healthy egg, then replace it with another nucleus from another type of body cell.
The embryo therefore grows into the same creature that donated the replacement nucleus.
A rhesus monkey named Tetra was cloned in 1999 using a different technique called embryo splitting.
But this simpler technique can only produce four clones at once.
Scientists have focused on SCNT in part because it can create far more clones, with the goal of creating identical monkeys to study a range of diseases as well as test drugs. AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/scientists-clone-first-rhesus-monkey-using-new-method
| 2024-01-16T18:17:52Z
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RAFAH, Gaza - Gaza fisherman Abdul Rahim al-Najjar risks his life every day rowing a dinghy into the waves under Israeli military surveillance to net an occasional crab or fish - tiny morsels of food on which his hungry family has come to rely.
The fishermen of the tiny Palestinian enclave have long been subject to strict Israeli prohibitions on how far out they can fish, but since the devastating war began on Oct. 7 they only dare venture about 100 meters (110 yards) from the shore.
More than three months of fighting, blockade and Israeli bombardment have pushed Gaza, which is ruled by the militant Palestinian group Hamas, to the brink of starvation, with U.N. assessments saying its people are at serious risk of famine.
For fishermen, barely able to cross the first swells of Mediterranean surf, let alone reach the deeper water where the larger shoals may be swimming, anything they catch is now vital to keep themselves and their families alive.
"It is very little. This is our fishing. You see? We cannot feed our children," said Najjar, sitting on the beach and holding up a lone, scrawny crab he had pulled from his net.
Small girls sat watching Najjar as he worked, searching for morsels in the nets as he sorted them and hung them to dry.
Before the war, fishermen used motors with their small boats and could range several kilometers from Gaza's built-up shoreline. Now they head off in pairs with oars, one pulling them through the waves while the other stands to throw nets.
When they get more than 100 meters out, Israeli forces sometimes fire shells towards them to urge them back to shore, he said, amid increased security concerns linked to the war.
"We live according to what we fish. Despite what we are going through, we want to go fishing and live," Najjar's brother, Ibrahim who fishes with him.
ACUTE HUNGER
Why they are willing to brave shellfire for so small a reward is evident in Rafah town centre, where people queued at a charity kitchen. Children, their faces pinched, stood waiting to eat meagre, unaccompanied portions of lentils or pasta.
"Our bodies are failing due to lack of food. My children are ill from lack of food. It's not enough. It's barely enough for two people and must serve seven. It's not even one meal," said Mohammed al-Shondoghli, a displaced man at the kitchen.
Israel's offensive in Gaza has killed more than 24,280 people, according to health authorities in the enclave, and driven most of its 2.3 million people from their homes.
Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas after militants from the group killed more than 1,200 people and seized 240 hostages during an Oct. 7 rampage into southern Israeli towns.
A U.N.-backed report in December said Gazans faced crisis levels of hunger, with the risks of famine rising daily. Recent footage showed a melee as hundreds of people in Gaza City rushed for a rare flour aid delivery.
At the charity kitchen a woman who gave her name as Um Mustafa said she had come too late and it was all gone when she reached the front of the long queue.
"I don't know what I will feed my children. My father is elderly. He has a heart condition. Schools only give a bottle of water and two biscuits," she said. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/gaza-fishermen-brave-shells-for-tiny-catches-in-struggle-to-feed-families
| 2024-01-16T18:18:03Z
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WASHINGTON -The U.S. military on Tuesday carried out a new strike in Yemen targeting anti-ship ballistic missiles in a Houthi-controlled part of the country, two U.S. officials told Reuters, the latest military action against Iran-backed group over its targeting of Red Sea shipping.
U.S. officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the strike on Tuesday targeted four anti-ship missiles. The strike has not been previously reported.
Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping have continued even after President Joe Biden last week ordered an initial wave of strikes to degrade Houthi capabilities.
The Houthis, who control most of Yemen's Red Sea coast, have claimed their attacks on commercial ships are aimed at supporting the Palestinians in Israel's war in Gaza.
The Houthi movement has pledged to expand its targets in the Red Sea region to include U.S. ships and has vowed to keep up attacks after U.S. and British forces carried out dozens of strikes last week against radar and missile capabilities.
On Monday, Houthi forces struck the U.S.-owned and operated dry bulk ship Gibraltar Eagle with an anti-ship ballistic missile, the U.S. military said. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/us-targets-houthi-anti-ship-missiles-in-new-strike-on-yemen-officials
| 2024-01-16T18:18:13Z
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Dua Lipa may be everywhere right now, thanks to the success of Barbie during awards season, but she's keeping her cards close to her chest as far as her personal life is concerned.
The 28-year-old English and Albanian singer appears on the cover of the latest issue of Rolling Stone, and spoke with writer Brittany Spanos about blending her personal life with her music.
Dua is currently in the process of putting the finishing touches on her long-awaited third studio album, the follow-up to the seminal 2020 release Future Nostalgia, which became a pillar of quarantine music.
She revealed that a large part of the record, which is due to release later this year, has been influenced by her personal life, including the ins and outs of dating in her 20s.
The singer was in the midst of a breakup with American model Anwar Hadid in December 2021, when she first began work on the record, after a two-year relationship.
She made waves last year when she began dating Greek-French filmmaker Romain Gavras (with whom she also attended the Cannes Film Festival), although that ended after eight months together.
Dua confirms in the interview that, as of December, she is single, although new reports have begun to emerge that she is now sparking up a romance with English actor and model Callum Turner, although neither party has spoken on that matter yet.
"As things get bigger, you get more scared to open up and be vulnerable and sit down in a room and just speak from the heart," she says of making her circle more and more close-knit over the past couple years.
SEE: Dua Lipa just wore the tricky Tasman UGG's and styled them to perfection
"Dating, I think overall, is just a little confusing," she adds. "It's either through friends of friends or people you trust where you can meet new people, because [dating] is not really so straightforward when you are, I guess, a public person."
She also expands upon using stories of dating in her mid-20s while working on the record with her co-collaborators, and details that the experiences of her love life come through more in her lyrics than what she says in person.
The "Houdini" singer particularly references one of the songs from the album, where she finds healing in seeing her ex move on with a new partner and finds peace in complimenting his new relationship.
MORE: Dua Lipa matches her cherry cola hair to her handbag and it's iconic
"When you have a feeling like that one, you feel really grown because you're like, 'Oh, whoa, I'm such an evolved human being that I can see my ex move on and feel good about it,'" she adds.
"I think I've had breakups in my life where I felt like the only kind of breakup you could have was when things just ended really badly," Dua tells the outlet. "Things ending in a nice way was such a new thing.… It taught me a lot."
MORE: Dua Lipa is a scarlet mermaid in skintight satin dress after hair transformation
Expanding more upon the album, which is inspired by psychedelic-pop and British rave music, she says: "This record feels a bit more raw."
"I want to capture the essence of youth and freedom and having fun and just letting things happen, whether it's good or bad. You can't change it. You just have to roll with the punches of whatever's happening in your life."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/511392/dua-lipa-confirms-relationship-status-talks-confusing-love-life-third-album/
| 2024-01-16T18:50:40Z
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Joel Madden knows he has a loyal and supportive wife in Nicole Richie, but when it comes to picking up the phone in an emergency, his sister-in-law Cameron Diaz is the one to call.
The Good Charlotte singer has been married to the Simple Life alum since 2010, while his twin brother and bandmate Benji Madden has been married to the Charlie's Angels actress since 2015.
The foursome are a tight-knit group, often seen together at events or cozy double dates, and during the twins' latest podcast appearance, they hilariously explained why they both know Cameron would be the one to rely on to get them out of a sticky situation.
Benji and Joel were on fellow celebrity siblings Kate Hudson and Oliver Hudson's podcast Sibling Revelry – dedicated to interviewing famous brothers and sisters – when Kate asked who in their immediate family would be their first call should they be hypothetically arrested.
After the How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days actress maintained they only get one call for both of them, and teased she felt she knew who it would be, Joel declared: "I'll tell you right now, it's Cameron."
Benji nodded in agreement and reiterated: "Yeah, my wife," as Kate shared that Cameron was "1,000%" her guess.
Joel then added that if she didn't answer, his next call would be to John Rosenberg, a "dear friend" and lawyer, prompting Oliver to then ask where his wife Nicole ranked in the emergency contact list.
MORE: Cameron Diaz speaks out for the first time following 'name-drop' in Jeffrey Epstein documents
He admitted: "Nicole is a good call," before his twin brother added: "But it's fifty fifty that she has her phone [with her]," and Joel in turn joked: "And likely she goes, 'Oh my god that sounds fun.'"
Still, he did go on to add in her defense: "No listen, the truth about Nicole is that she's down," before explaining: "If I called her – look, if she was the second call – I just know Cameron is going to charge in there and get us right out, even if she has to break us out."
MORE: Cameron Diaz's too-cute daughter enjoys day out with mom and stunning lookalike grandma – see photo
He continued: "If I call Nicole and say, listen, it's serious, I need you to do this. She's doing it. She's so down."
Kate ultimately joked: "That's because Cameron can rob the bank and drive the getaway car at the same time," to which Benji added: "She has literally been trained to do it."
After tying the knot in 2015, Benji and Cameron welcomed their first daughter, Raddix, in December of 2019, though they keep her out of the public eye. Joel and Nicole, who started dating in 2006, share two kids, daughter Harlow 16, and son Sparrow, 14.
Get the lowdown on the biggest, hottest celebrity news, features and profiles coming out of the U.S. Sign up to our HELLO! Hollywood newsletter and get them delivered straight to your inbox.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/511393/joel-madden-benji-madden-reveal-cameron-diaz-is-emergency-contact-nicole-richie/
| 2024-01-16T18:50:46Z
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New York Times bestselling author Elle Kennedy never set out to write a next-generation romance book, but it turns out fan emails really do work. Elle, whose book series Off Campus has become a TikTok sensation, recently released The Graham Effect, which follows Gigi Graham, the hockey-playing daughter of Hannah Wells and Garrett Graham, characters from the first book in the series, The Deal.
It almost didn't come about because as Elle tells HELLO! next gen books can be "hit or miss" and she is often left "disappointed," a feeling she would never want to pass on to her readers. But after a dog walk, inspiration appeared – and now the book has a 4.3 rating on Goodreads, and Elle is already writing a sequel for the new series, titled Briar U.
Born and raised in Canada, it's no wonder Elle found herself writing about brutes on the ice who are gentle giants off, but even Elle is surprised by the phenomenon of romance books set in the world of hockey.
"There are other sports romances, so I'm always wondering, 'Why hockey?'" she tells HELLO! "And I don't know if I can answer that other than to say hockey is extra physical; you don't see basketball players smashing each other into the boards and things like that. The physicality of it adds to the appeal."
What inspired you to do your own next-generation book with The Graham Effect?
They're hit or miss for me; most of the time I'm disappointed – the characters aren't doing what my imagination created after the other books ended. But I made a mistake in writing a novella anthology with other authors and there was a little cute story about Garrett and Hannah (from The Deal) – they get trapped in the snow – and I had hundreds of emails from readers saying, ''I need to see a novella for every single book in the off-campus series.'
So I wrote The Legacy and made the second mistake of giving Garrett and Hannah twins and suddenly I'm getting hundreds more emails: 'Oh, I want to see what Garrett and Hannah's twins would be like.' I really was not planning on writing a book for them – I don't typically do fan service – but I was walking my dogs and I was like, 'What would their twins look like?'
At first I thought, 'So the son plays hockey, obviously.' And then I just like, 'No! I think the daughter plays hockey!' And then the entire story poured into my head.
When you're writing a series, where do you get your inspiration as an author for each new character?
A lot of the time, I will maybe meet someone that has a personality trait that I like and think would be interesting if a character had that. For example, in The Play (book three in the Off Campus series) the heroine Demi is obsessed with true crime and that's based on someone that I know – anytime I go to her house, that's what we're watching – so sometimes it's little personality traits that I see in people or random conversations that I hear, and you just roll with it.
You're working on a second book about Shane and Diana. What can you tease about that?
I don't even know how this book took me where it took me. It is so much fun; it starts as this enemies to lovers, fake dating trope, and then suddenly takes you on this roller coaster into the most angsty places, and it's fantastic. Not that I'm tooting my own horn, but I really enjoyed writing this book.
It surprised me a lot; it's fun, it's bantery and they're both hotheaded and stubborn, and they were so much fun to write. But then it just takes you somewhere so much deeper.
How do you balance not giving into fan service and telling the story that you want to tell?
It's hard for me to write a book that is not the book that I want to write, so it's not even a matter of finding a balance. It's a matter of 'I am unable to do that.'
One of the complaints about The Legacy was that it wasn't as cute [as the other books], and readers just wanted to see pages and pages of people happy, and as a writer, I just physically can't do that. My brain can't write something that I personally don't want to write. But, I do put little Easter eggs, which I know the fans are going to love.
How do you know when it's time to say goodbye to a set of characters?
I always feel in my gut when it's time to say goodbye. I know I won't be writing more in the Off Campus world. But it feels like I can do so much more in the Briar U world;
I think there's an endless possibility of stories there.
Who would be your dream cast if The Graham Effect hit the screen?
This is going to reveal a lot about me, but I don't think I know any current actors. If I was fancasting, I'd say, a young George Clooney would have been great for Ryder. Or I can see Jacob Elordi [from Euphoria], maybe Nicholas Galitzine [Red, White and Royal Blue], but I don't know a lot of the younger actors these days.
Is there a trope you really dislike?
I don't like "secrets". Like, he has a secret against her family and he's there to get revenge, the kind of secret where you're hiding something really important in the relationship or where you marry someone with other intentions, and then the whole book you're waiting for the person to find out about that huge secret that's about to drop. It gives me too much tension and I get too angry.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/510993/spicy-author-elle-kennedy-hockey-books-are-so-popular-fancasting-jacob-elordi-nicholas-galitzine/
| 2024-01-16T18:50:52Z
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Alec Musser's cause of death has been determined three days after he was found dead by his fiancée Paige Press.
The late actor, who previously starred in All My Children and Grown Ups, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office revealed on Tuesday.
His fiancée had previously confirmed his passing on her Instagram account in a series of emotional tributes.
More to come.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/511397/alec-musser-all-my-children-cause-of-death-revealed/
| 2024-01-16T19:34:36Z
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Carrie Johnson had a reason to celebrate during the week as close friend Lucy Cooper-Schlipf marked her birthday, and Carrie decided to bring her baby son Frank along with her for the day.
The mum-of-three shared a selection of photos from the group's time at Langan's, a traditional French restaurant located near Hyde Park. And while the birthday girl was celebrated, it appears that her young son Frank was the true star of the show, with the youngster being held by several of her friends, with the star obscuring his face with a heart emoji.
Her friend, Annie, held Frank in several of the photos, including a traditional girls' selfie during the trip, but Carrie shared a snap of her young son as she travelled back to her Oxfordshire home later in the evening. Alongside a snap of the tot fast asleep in his baby carrier on the train, the star wrote: "Now on the train back home with my very sleepy travel buddy."
Carrie and her group certainly appeared to have the time of their lives during their day out, with the mum-of-three sharing her mouth-watering dinner choices, which included the "best fish" for a main and a succulent dark chocolate ice cream for dessert.
The political consultant has a close bond with her youngest son, who she shares with former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and in a recent snap, the duo looked so sweet as they snuggled into each other whilst little Frank snoozed. Alongside the photo were the words: "The nights are long, but I sure will miss these cuddles."
The heartfelt image came just hours after Carrie issued a heartfelt plea to fans for help regarding baby Frank's current sleep schedule. She revealed she is struggling to get much sleep as the infant likes to fall asleep on her, and she can't face going through the "heartbreaking" 'crying out' method.
She wrote: "Frankie is over six months now and still sleeping in our room, waking up every couple of hours for a feed. He's obviously still very little but it would be nice to get a tiny bit more sleep soon.
"At the moment, I usually get him to sleep by feeding him and him falling asleep on me, rather than him being able to settle in his cot. Has anyone got any advice that doesn't involve the 'crying out' method? It just breaks my heart too much…"
Before the update, Carrie revealed that her daughter Romy has gone through a big change at home and has moved into her brother's old bedroom, complete with a brand new personalised blanket.
The cherry red blanket covered the little one's bed and was adorned with her full name, Romy Iris Charlotte Johnson, as well as several white love hearts. "Quite jealous of my daughter's beautiful new wool blanket from @graces_blankets," Carrie quipped.
Other details in the plush room feature a large baby blue R on Romy's bedside table, as well as two Babar pictures and a sweet poster of a polar bear. Carrie has previously revealed how much her brood love animals, so it comes as no surprise that they are heavily featured in Romy's new bedroom.
PHOTOS: Carrie Johnson shows of impeccable physique in skin tight ensemble
RELATED: Carrie Johnson shares adorable 'celebratory' photo of daughter Romy following first day of nursery
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/511396/carrie-johnson-baby-son-frank-steals-show-girls-day-out/
| 2024-01-16T19:34:43Z
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The Princess Royal reportedly raised concerns about her "decent-sized hat" which ended up blocking Prince Harry's view at King Charles' coronation last May.
Princess Anne's towering, feathered hat which appeared to block her nephew Harry's view during the service sparked various memes on social media at the time.
A new royal book details the first year of Charles' reign, including the historic Westminster Abbey ceremony.
In Robert Hardman's new book, Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story, which is being serialised by The Daily Mail, Anne defends herself against allegations she had worn the hat on purpose and had changed seats at the last-minute, to ensure a "speedy exit".
In his latest publication, released on Thursday, Robert writes: "At the Coronation itself, Prince Harry was seated in the third row of the royal section, immediately behind Princess Anne, who was wearing a striking red-plumed bicorn hat that remained on her head throughout. Social media snipers instantly concluded that Harry had been deliberately placed behind his aunt's tall hat to obscure his view.
"This is nonsense. Not only do the Lord Chamberlain's Office not think like that, but the Princess Royal had only switched to that seat after her request for a speedy exit.
"'The hat was an interesting question,' the Princess recalled later. 'I said: 'Are you sure you want me to keep the hat on? Because it's quite a decent-sized hat.' And the answer was yes. There you go. Not my choice."
Cameras picked up a sweet exchange between Princess Anne and Prince Harry, with a lip-reading expert telling HELLO! at the time that the Duke of Sussex told his aunt: "I don't mind," possibly in response to Anne commenting on his seating position. He then reportedly said: "Sit at the front."
Robert Hardman's book also reveals how the Princess Royal was the one to greet Harry when he arrived at Balmoral to pay his respects to his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.
Harry also confirmed that he and his aunt exchanged a hug in his memoir, Spare, released last January, as he arrived at the royal family's Scottish estate.
He wrote: "Hunched against the cold, I hurried into the foyer. Aunt Anne was there to greet me. I hugged her. Where’s Pa and Willy? And Camilla? Gone to Birkhall, she said. She asked if I wanted to see Granny. Yes…I do. She led me upstairs, to Granny’s bedroom. I braced myself, went in."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/511395/princess-anne-breaks-silence-over-coronation-hat-prince-harry/
| 2024-01-16T19:34:49Z
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If you can overlook the insignificant lifeforms on its surface, the history of Earth is the slow expansion of its continents. Billions of years ago our planet was largely a water world with a few small islands poking above the surface. Then, as now, the floor of the oceans bore more resemblance to the composition of the other rocky planets than it does to continental rocks. The question of how continents came to cover so much of the planet has puzzled geologists, but a new theory gives the credit to mountain ranges.
The idea is counter-intuitive. After all, if there were no continents, where would the mountains sit? Nevertheless, Dr Ming Tang of Rice University said in a statement: "If our conclusions are correct, every piece of land that we are now sitting on got its start someplace like the Andes or Tibet, with very mountainous surfaces."
Many of the world's mountain ranges are eroded continental arcs, located at the margin where a continental plate rode over an oceanic one. Tang proposes these arcs are factories for the distinctive continental rocks.
Tang's hypothesis, presented in Nature Communications, is based on the distribution of niobium and tantalum in rocks from around the world. Although the two metals' names sound like they come from science fiction and fantasy books respectively, the elements are so chemically similar they usually turn up in the same places, leaving a very constant ratio.
However, the continental crust has 20 percent less niobium, proportionally, than the rest of the planet. The missing niobium has troubled geologists for decades.
Tang studied databases of the elemental composition in rocks, and came to the conclusion the continental average is being dragged down by arclogites, materials that collect at the base of continental arcs. Although often deeply buried, arclogites can be brought to the surface by volcanoes.
Tang had arclogites from the High Sierras tested and confirmed those made of rutile crystals are high in niobium. He thinks these crystals trapped a lot of niobium, but not tantalum, and most of them sunk into the mantle, leaving low niobium crust behind.
Rutile only forms under high pressures, such as is provided at the base of the crust with a mountain range above. While the niobium content provided the clue that allowed Tang to recognize what was happening, the more important aspect of the minerals formed by the continental arcs is that their low iron content makes them lighter, and therefore more buoyant than oceanic basalts.
Where the first continental arc came from is unclear, but once it appeared, it began a self-reproducing cycle. The arc produced continental rock, which rode over any oceanic plates it encountered, producing more continental arcs, and therefore more continents.
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https://www.iflscience.com/we-may-finally-know-where-continents-come-from-51400
| 2024-01-16T19:36:09Z
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WASHINGTON - The U.S. is not looking for a war with the Houthis, the White House said on Tuesday.
"We're not looking to expand this. The Houthis have a choice to make and they still have time to make the right choice, which is to stop these reckless attacks," White House spokesman John Kirby said.
Attacks by the Houthis on ships in the Red Sea have affected companies and alarmed major world powers. The Houthis say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/us-not-looking-for-war-with-houthis-white-house
| 2024-01-16T19:49:12Z
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A date has been set for the hearing into Manchester City's alleged financial rule breaches, the Premier League's CEO Richard Masters said on Tuesday.
City were charged in February with more than 100 alleged breaches of finance rules since their acquisition by the Abu Dhabi-based City Football Group, and were referred to an independent commission for a hearing.
"There is a date set for that proceeding. Unfortunately, I can't tell you when that is but it is progressing," Masters told the Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) Committee of the UK Parliament.
When the charges were announced in February, City said they welcomed "the review of this matter by an independent commission, to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position."
The charges against City, who are targeting a fourth straight Premier League title this season, are different to those brought against Everton and Nottingham Forest on Monday, Masters told the committee.
"If any club, the current champions or otherwise, had been found in breach of the spending rules, they would be in exactly the same position as Everton or Nottingham Forest," he said.
"But the volume and character of the charges laid before Manchester City, which I obviously cannot talk about at all, are being heard in a completely different environment."
Everton and Forest are facing potential points deductions - which would be a second for Everton this season after they were docked 10 points in November. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/hearing-date-set-for-man-citys-financial-rule-breach-charges-premier-league-ceo
| 2024-01-16T19:49:23Z
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KORHOGO, Ivory Coast - Namibia winger Deon Hotto scored in the 88th minute to hand them a shock 1-0 victory over Tunisia at the Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday and keep up the sequence of surprise results that have dominated the opening days of the tournament in the Ivory Coast.
Hotto sneaked in at the back post to hand the southern African country, 87 places below Tunisia in the world rankings, a deserved win as they were markedly more enterprising and created the better chances in the opening Group E encounter at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium.
Namibia, competing in their fourth finals but who had never tasted a Cup of Nations finals victory previously, should have won by a more handsome margin but were let down by poor decision making.
Mali and South Africa play later on Tuesday at the same venue in the second Group E game. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/namibia-upset-tunisia-at-cup-of-nations
| 2024-01-16T19:49:33Z
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MORONI - Comoros' President Azali Assoumani won a fourth five-year term after being declared by the country's electoral body on Tuesday as the winner of Sunday's election in which he contested against five opponents. REUTERS
MORONI - Comoros' President Azali Assoumani won a fourth five-year term after being declared by the country's electoral body on Tuesday as the winner of Sunday's election in which he contested against five opponents. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/comoros-president-extends-rule-after-latest-poll-victory
| 2024-01-16T19:49:44Z
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SAN SALVADOR - El Salvador's Nayib Bukele holds a large lead ahead of his bid next month to win reelection as president, a poll showed on Tuesday, as one Latin America's most popular leaders rides a wave of support for his hardline security policies.
The poll gives Bukele a 71% lead over his nearest rivals from El Salvador's once-dominant political parties, who both poll below 3% in the survey by Francisco Gavidia University.
The 42-year-old Bitcoin enthusiast and former mayor of the capital stepped down temporarily as president last November to seek a second five-year term.
He was legally allowed to mount a reelection campaign only after Supreme Court judges declared that Bukele's human right to run outweighed the constitution's ban on serving consecutive terms as president.
Lawmakers from Bukele's New Ideas Party, which dominates the current Congress, appointed the judges who ruled that he could run.
About a fifth of those surveyed told the pollster they would either abstain in the Feb. 4 vote, or leave their ballot blank.
According to the poll, the party's already strong grip on the legislature could grow stronger, projected to win 57 out of 60 seats under the current make-up of the chamber.
Dating back to March 2022, Bukele invoked emergency powers as part of an unprecedented anti-gang push that has seen police arrest more than 75,000 suspected gang members. The powers suspend rights to due process, including mounting a legal defense, which critics argue amount to a creeping authoritarianism in the Central American nation of almost 7 million.
The dragnet has led to a sharp reduction in the murder rate, which for years was one of the world's highest, as well as Bukele's sky-high approval rating.
Bukele's government has been accused of brokering a pact with the country's two top criminal gangs, Mara Salvatrucha and Barrio 18, in order to reduce the homicide rate and boost his party's prospects. He has repeatedly denied the accusations.
The poll interviewed about 1,900 Salvadorans from Jan. 3-8 and featured a nearly 3% margin of error. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/el-salvadors-bukele-looks-set-to-cruise-to-controversial-presidential-reelection-poll
| 2024-01-16T19:49:54Z
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BRUSSELS/PARIS -European Union member states have given initial backing to a naval mission to protect ships from attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi militia in the Red Sea, European diplomats said on Tuesday, after the launch of a U.S.-led mission in the region.
Many commercial shippers have diverted vessels to other routes following attacks in the Red Sea by the Houthi militants, who control much of Yemen and say they are acting in solidarity with the Palestinians as Israel and Hamas wage war in Gaza.
The diplomats said the bloc's Political and Security Committee, responsible for preparing foreign and defence policy, had given its initial support for the mission, which would work with like-minded partners.
The objective was to establish it by Feb. 19 at the latest and make it operational soon afterwards. Several diplomats said they hoped the process could be fast-tracked given the tensions in the region. It will be discussed by foreign ministers on Jan. 22.
The European External Action Service (EEAS) - the EU's diplomatic arm, which proposed the mission - declined to comment on confidential discussions.
The United States last month said it and other countries would patrol the Red Sea in a new mission - Operation Prosperity Guardian - to try to allay fears that disruption in one of the world's top trading arteries could hit the global economy.
But some U.S. allies, notably European countries, have raised reservations about the plan and baulked at the idea of being under U.S. command.
"The issue is always the command and control and in an EU/NATO framework, each and every nation keeps political control; in a 'coalition of the willing', the framework nation is in control," said one diplomat.
Much of the EU's trade to Asia transits through the Red Sea and Suez Canal and a growing number of shipping firms have rerouted via South Africa slowing down trade and raising costs.
Three European diplomats said the mission would initially see three vessels under EU command as part of the EU's so-called Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).
Two diplomats said France and Italy, which already have warships in the region, along with Germany, which planned to send the Hesse frigate, would contribute first.
France has said its Languedoc warship is already coordinating with the U.S.-led mission and sharing intelligence.
The mission would be financed by the EU and countries could then rotate ships, contribute as they see fit or just give tacit approval, the diplomats said.
There was still a need to define exactly the rules of engagement beyond patrolling and how it fitted in with other EU missions off the coast of Somalia and in the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic entrance to the energy-rich Gulf region.
The Languedoc has already used missiles to shoot down drones in the Red Sea and the EU mission would approve that, two diplomats said.
More complicated would be whether they would have the go-ahead to board suspicious vessels in case of weapons smuggling to the Houthi rebels.
Italy, Spain and France stood out last week by not taking part in U.S. and British strikes against the Houthis in Yemen and not signing a statement put out by 10 countries justifying the attacks. The Netherlands, Germany and Denmark signed on to the statement.
The divergence highlights divisions in the West over how to deal with the Iranian-aligned Houthis. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/eu-states-give-nod-to-red-sea-mission-to-deter-houthis-diplomats
| 2024-01-16T19:50:05Z
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FRANKFURT - Germany's government is considering the delivery of tank ammunition to Israel to support it in its fight against Hamas, according to German magazine Der Spiegel on Tuesday.
The departments involved have already agreed in principle to fulfil a request from the Israeli government, the report said.
The request to supply around 10,000 rounds of 120mm precision ammunition for the Israeli army was received by Berlin in November.
Since the industry cannot deliver the desired precision ammunition immediately, the option to first release ammunition from German army stocks is being considered, in order to respond to the request promptly, according to the report.
A German government spokesperson was not immediately available for comment outside of regular business hours. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/german-government-considers-delivery-of-tank-ammunition-to-israel-spiegel
| 2024-01-16T19:50:16Z
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DAVOS - Jordan's Prime Minister Bisher al Khasawaneh said on Tuesday that peace with Israel remained a strategic choice but any push to drive Palestinians to the kingdom would pose an "existentialist" threat.
Jordan, which shares a border with the West Bank, fears that the Gaza conflict could spread with wider violence by armed settlers encouraged by the army triggering a large scale Palestinian exodus to the other side of the Jordan River.
"In the event that there are actions and conditions that generate and create mass displacement of populations, that is a clear violation of the peace treaty," Khasawneh said, referring to the country's 1994 deal with Israel during a session in Davos.
"It poses an existentialist threat... that we will have to react to and we hope we will never arrive at that point or juncture because we are firmly committed to comprehensive peace."
Khasawneh said regional projects with Israel that involved multi-million dollars where both countries would trade energy and water that were in the pipeline before Oct. 7 were for now effectively suspended.
"Today under the existing conditions it's quite inconceivable for any Jordanian minister to just sit on a podium and have that type of interaction and transaction with an Israel counterpart as regrettable as it is, it's a fact of life," he added.
"The horrific scenes that are on the screens day in day out and hour in hour out of the carnage wreaked on Gaza by the indiscriminate targeting of civilians, a majority children and women is something that renders that unimplementable under the existing circumstances," Khasawneh said.
Israel launched the war to eradicate Hamas after militants stormed across the border fence on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and capturing 240 hostages. The war has driven nearly all Gazans from their homes, some several times, and caused a humanitarian crisis, with food, fuel and medical supplies running low.
The only solution to avoid deeper conflict and regional instability was to put in place a political process with a time frame that leads to a two-state solution where a Palestinian state would emerge alongside Israel, Khasawneh said. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/jordans-pm-says-peace-with-israel-remains-strategic-choice-despite-gaza-war
| 2024-01-16T19:50:26Z
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MADRID - The number of migrants entering Spain irregularly by sea has jumped nearly 300% so far in January from the same period in 2023, with the vast majority arriving in the Canary Islands, official data showed on Tuesday.
The seven islands lying around 100 kms (60 miles) off Africa's northwestern coast have become the main destination for migrants from Senegal and other African countries trying to reach Spain in search of a better life or fleeing conflict.
A total of 3,658 migrants entered Spain by sea, most in fragile boats, between Jan. 1 and 15, up from 921 in the year-ago period, Interior Ministry data showed. Around 95% of those who arrived by sea went to the Canary Islands while the rest entered via the Balearic Islands or Spain's mainland.
The number of boats increased only marginally, to 80 from 65, suggesting more crammed and dangerous voyages.
2023 was a record year for irregular migrant arrivals in Spain, particularly on the Canary Islands, the entry point of 39,910 last year.
Rights group Caminando Fronteras (Walking Borders) said in its latest report that 6,618 migrants had died trying to reach Spain last year, with the Atlantic route to the Canary Islands being the deadliest.
The bodies of five migrants were transported to Tenerife's port of Los Cristianos on Jan. 4 after the coast guard found them in a large wooden boat at sea a few days earlier.
The Spanish government last year intensified contact with authorities in countries such as Senegal and Mauritania to reverse the trend. Spain also had to create additional emergency accommodation for migrants in military barracks, hotels and hostels across the country. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/migrant-boat-arrivals-to-spain-nearly-quadruple-in-january
| 2024-01-16T19:50:37Z
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BRUSSELS - Belgian police have found stolen Picasso and Chagall paintings in a basement in the city of Antwerp, local authorities said on Tuesday, adding that the artworks are still in good condition.
The paintings, Picasso's "Tête" and Chagall's "L’homme en prière", were stolen from an art collector in Tel Aviv, Israel, in 2010 and are worth US$900,000 (S$1.2 million).
At the time of the theft, US$680,000 worth of jewellery was stolen as well but only the paintings have been found.
Local police had started an investigation when a source informed them that a Belgian national was offering both artworks for sale.
The local prosecutor said the main suspect has been arrested. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/stolen-picasso-chagall-paintings-worth-900000-found-in-antwerp-house
| 2024-01-16T19:50:47Z
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A Russian woman accused of assassinating a prominent pro-war blogger told a court on Tuesday she had thought the package she handed to him in a St Petersburg cafe contained a listening device, not a bomb.
Darya Trepova said she was acting under orders from a man in Ukraine whom she knew as "Gestalt" (German for "Shape"), who had been sending her money and instructions for several months before the killing of blogger Vladlen Tatarsky on April 2 last year.
Russia accused Ukraine immediately after the attack of organising Tatarsky's murder. Senior Ukrainian officials have neither claimed responsibility nor denied involvement, with presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak describing it as "internal terrorism".
Tatarsky was killed by a bomb concealed in a statuette that Trepova handed to him in the cafe, where he was giving a talk to an audience of up to 100 people.
The figurine was a crude likeness of Tatarsky, who accepted it as a present. Witnesses have told the trial that he jokingly called it "Golden Vladlen" and turned it over in his hands before it exploded, killing him on the spot and injuring dozens.
Gestalt's identity remains unclear.
In testimony at her trial in St Petersburg on Tuesday, Trepova, 26, said she was introduced to him by a Ukraine-based journalist called Roman Popkov with whom she had connected on Twitter. She said she told Popkov that she opposed Russia's invasion and was sympathetic to Ukraine, and was looking for his help to come to Ukraine and work as a journalist herself.
Russian investigators have accused Popkov in absentia of "orchestrating the execution of a terrorist act". He has denied any involvement.
STATUETTE
Trepova said that guided by Gestalt, she attended talks by Tatarsky in early 2023 and introduced herself to him, claiming to be an art student called Anastasia Kriulina.
In March, he sent her the statuette of Tatarsky by post, with instructions to hand it to him in person. She told the court it had occurred to her then that it might be a bomb and remembered the case of Darya Dugina, a pro-war journalist who died when her car was blown up near Moscow in 2022.
"I was very scared and asked Gestalt: 'Isn’t this the same as with Daria Dugina?' He replied that no, there was only a wiretap and a tracker," Trepova said, according to a transcript by independent Russian news outlet Mediazona.
"Handing over a listening device is already an invasion of privacy and is illegal, and I was very worried about this, and thought it might be a bomb."
She said she went ahead because "I didn't think they could set me up like this", and assumed the purpose of eavesdropping on Tatarsky was to find out more of what he knew about the war in Ukraine, which she opposed.
After the bomb went off, Trepova said, she called Gestalt to confront him.
"I swore at him and said that people were hurt there and I realised that they have done this and I was involved in it. I realised that the figurine had exploded," she said.
Trepova said Gestalt told her she could ask questions later.
"I continued to swear. He said: 'When you come to Ukraine and visit us, you can hit me.' This made me very angry," she said tearfully. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/woman-accused-of-killing-russian-war-blogger-says-handler-lied-about-bomb
| 2024-01-16T19:50:57Z
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On 16 January, Ukraine’s government allocated an additional 792 million Ukrainian hryvnias (around $20 million) from the state budget reserve fund to purchase more ammunition and drones for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Amid a halt to US military support for Ukraine, the Ukrainian government has reallocated funds from reserve funds to strengthen the defense capabilities of Ukraine’s Armed Forces.
“Military units distribute these additional funds for very urgent needs. For the purchase of ammunition, thermal imagers, and drones,” the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal said. “We are strengthening our army to effectively counter the enemy, to liberate and defend our lands, and to win as soon as possible,” he added.
Ukraine’s Prime Minister explained that this is additional funding for each brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in proportion to the personal income tax paid by Ukrainian taxpayers in December 2023.
Earlier today, the commander of Ukraine’s Ground Forces, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, said that the Ukrainian Army has to prioritize defense along the 1,000-km eastern front due to a lack of ammunition.
Related:
- Reuters: Ukrainian troops on “active defense,” can still surprise, Ukraine ground commander says
- Zelenskyy meets with global leaders and investors at Davos, calls for confiscation of Russian assets
- 9 reasons negotiations with Russia are utterly pointless
- UN: 26.5% surge in Ukraine civilian casualties in December due to intensified Russian air attacks
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/16/ukraine-reallocates-reserve-funds-to-buy-ammo-and-drones-amid-us-aid-freeze/
| 2024-01-16T20:34:05Z
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On 16 January 2024, Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy took part in the “Big Business Leaders to Ukraine” meeting, met with the NATO Secretary General, President of the European Commission, US Secretary of State and leaders of other countries on day one of the World Economic Forum in Davos (Switzerland). President Zelenskyy also addressed the participants of the Davos forum.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Ukraine’s President said that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will not stop if Ukraine’s allies withdraw their support. President Zelenskyy called Vladimir Putin “a predator who is not satisfied with frozen food” and said that Ukraine would never accept a frozen conflict. Zelenskyy reiterated that Russia must pay for its invasion and called for the confiscation of Russian frozen assets.
During the meeting of the “Big Business Leaders to Ukraine,” President Zelenskyy said that Ukraine has managed to push the Russian fleet out of the Black Sea and secured a safe Black Sea corridor to export goods from Ukrainian ports.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke about Ukraine’s economic growth, which exceeded 5% in 2023, and shared optimistic forecasts for Ukraine’s GDP growth in 2024. He invited to invest in Ukraine and participate in its recovery.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took part in the Big Business Leaders to Ukraine meeting on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos (Switzerland).
Zelenskyy said that Ukraine has pushed the Russian fleet out of the Black Sea and created a safe Black Sea… pic.twitter.com/dgzSEFKZ9F
— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) January 16, 2024
The President of Ukraine also met with the management of JP Morgan, an American multinational financial services firm, and international investors.
“It is important for us to attract private capital to rebuild Ukraine. We hope that JP Morgan will help attract a large number of global investors and corporations to the Ukrainian economy,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
Ukraine’s President had also met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Davos.
“We discussed many important issues. The situation on the battlefield, defense needs of Ukraine, further strengthening of the Ukrainian air defense, preparations for the next NATO summit in Washington, work with partners on bilateral security agreements within the framework of the G7 declaration, which will be in force until Ukraine joins NATO,” Zelenskyy said following the meeting with Stoltenberg.
Supporting Ukraine is an investment in the security of NATO countries, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Davos, Switzerland.
"We discussed many important issues. The situation on the battlefield, defense needs of Ukraine, further strengthening of the Ukrainian air defense, preparations… pic.twitter.com/WfTTyIjDxi
— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) January 16, 2024
“We have to support them [Ukrainians – ed.], and I am also quite sure that NATO allies will continue their support, because support for Ukraine is not charity. Supporting Ukraine is an investment in our own security,” Jens Stoltenberg said.
President Zelenskyy also met with the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
"We discussed further defense cooperation between Ukraine and the USA. I am grateful to the US President, the Congress & the entire… pic.twitter.com/jh4zognzk2
— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) January 16, 2024
“A meaningful meeting with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. We discussed further defense cooperation between Ukraine and the United States. Air defense and long-range capabilities are particularly important for our country. I am grateful to the President of the United States, the Congress and the entire American people for their continued and powerful assistance to Ukraine,” President Zelenskyy said.
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen also met with the President of Ukraine on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
“We discussed the key priorities of relations between Ukraine and the EU in the near future. We agreed to start screening Ukrainian legislation. This is another step towards opening negotiations on Ukraine’s membership in the EU,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
Speaking at the Davos Economic Forum, President Zelenskyy called on countries to join in supporting Ukraine and said that the Russian invasion of Ukraine can be ended only by putting pressure on Russia.
Ukraine's President Zelenskyy has addressed the participants of the World Economic Forum in Davos today. https://t.co/kMY5Z4v9jJ
— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) January 16, 2024
President Zelenskyy said that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s imperial ambitions are bound to fail. At the same time, Ukraine’s President expressed dissatisfaction with Western sanctions, and said these sanctions fail to block Russia’s missile production.
“Even Putin’s current buddies in Pyongyang and Tehran are simply taking advantage of his madness while he still has the technology and resources to pay them. No one believes in his future and is not investing in it,” Zelenskyy said. “Of course, I am grateful for every package of sanctions [against Russia – ed.], but it is an obvious weakness of the West that Russia’s nuclear industry is still not under global sanctions, even though Putin is the only terrorist in the world who has taken a nuclear power plant hostage,” Zelenskyy added.
Ukraine’s President said that confiscating frozen Russian assets would be a “strong decision.” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that these assets must be used to help Ukraine repel Russian invasion and rebuild the country when the war is over.
“Putin loves money above all else. The more billions he and his oligarchs, friends and accomplices lose, the more he will regret starting this war,” Zelenskyy said.
Ukraine’s President said that Ukraine would never agree to freeze the war and give Russia a chance to replenish its losses and prepare another devastating invasion.
“This year should be decisive. Could the freezing of the war in Ukraine be its end? I don’t want to accept the truth that any frozen conflict will sooner or later flare up again. Let me remind you that after 2014 there were attempts to freeze the war in Donbas. There were very influential guarantors of this process – the then German Chancellor and the then French Presidents. But Putin is a predator who is not satisfied with frozen food,” Zelenskyy said.
Zelensky said that any reduction in support would only prolong the war and emphasized that the Russian war against Ukraine must end with a “just and stable peace.”
On the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Ukraine’s President also met with Prime Minister of Luxembourg Luc Frieden, President of Singapore Tharman Shanmugaratnam, and President of Rwanda Paul Kagame.
Ukraine's President continues bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
President Zelenskyy met with the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, the President of Singapore & the President of Rwanda.
📹https://t.co/OXwjtxvmy0 pic.twitter.com/6ktshodLco
— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) January 16, 2024
“We continue important bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. Among the main topics is the Peace Formula and its support,” Zelenskyy said.
During the first-ever meeting between the leaders of Ukraine and Singapore, President Zelenskyy invited Singapore to join Ukraine’s Peace Formula.
At another first-ever meeting with the President of Rwanda, the President of Ukraine said that Ukraine is interested to supply agricultural products to Rwanda and other African countries.
Ukraine's President continues bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
President Zelenskyy met with the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, the President of Singapore & the President of Rwanda.
📹https://t.co/OXwjtxvmy0 pic.twitter.com/6ktshodLco
— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) January 16, 2024
“Ukraine has recently opened an embassy in Rwanda and is interested in developing bilateral relations. We are ready to become a supplier of agricultural products. The support of our country by African countries is important to us,” Zelenskyy said.
Ukraine’s President met with King Philippe I of Belgium, Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander De Kroo, and Prime Minister of Vietnam Pham Minh Dinh in Davos.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets with King Philippe I of Belgium and Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander De Kroo in Davos.
📹https://t.co/BCHupnV69S pic.twitter.com/WtfChAnOOJ
— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) January 16, 2024
“Ukraine appreciates Belgium’s decision to provide F-16 fighter jets, the training of Ukrainian pilots by Belgian experts, the recent 15th defense assistance package, and Belgium’s leadership in establishing a €1.7 billion fund to support Ukraine, which will be filled by taxation of profits from frozen Russian assets. Thank you for your support,” Zelenskyy said.
The World Economic Forum in Davos continues. Our team will keep you updated on the new developments.
Related:
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/16/zelenskyy-meets-with-global-leaders-and-investors-at-davos-calls-for-confiscation-of-russian-assets/
| 2024-01-16T20:34:45Z
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Princess Eugenie was supported by her sister, Princess Beatrice, as she highlighted an issue close to her heart.
The mum-of-two joined a panel discussion in Davos alongside former British prime minister Theresa May, to raise awareness about modern slavery and how to tackle the issue.
Beatrice, 35, was seen in the audience as her sister Eugenie, 33, gave a talk at an event which focused on the role of business and government in tackling modern slavery and human trafficking.
Eugenie and her best friend, Julia de Boinville, founded their charity, The Anti-Slavery Collective, in 2017.
According to The Guardian, Eugenie said: "Guns and drugs can be only trafficked once but human beings are trafficked again and again and again. For them it happens every day and minute."
Theresa May, who is the head of the Global Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking, appeared on the second season of Eugenie's podcast series Floodlight last year.
The talk took place at Goals House as the World Economic Forum kicked off in Davos, Switzerland. While on maternity leave with her second son Ernest, born last May, Eugenie revealed that she had joined the Goals House Advisory Board.
Goals House is a community of internationally renowned activists, thinkers, political figures, business leaders and entrepreneurs, that come together at significant global moments throughout the year united in the drive to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
On Wednesday, Eugenie will be a discussion leader at the WEF event, Frontier Action Against Trafficking and Modern Slavery in Europe, where she will discuss her own personal experience and leadership, and how she thinks leaders can take action in resolving human trafficking and forced labour in Europe in 2024.
Meanwhile, Princess Beatrice is a regular at the annual World Economic Forum in her role as Vice President of partnerships and strategy for Afiniti technology.
The royal sisters were joined by their husbands and their parents, the Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York, on Christmas Day in Sandringham.
Eugenie also enjoyed a post-Christmas family break in Jamaica with her husband, Jack Brooksbank, and their sons, August, who is three next month, and eight-month-old Ernest.
The Princess also has a full-time role as a director at art gallery, Hauser & Wirth.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/511398/princess-beatrice-supports-princess-eugenie-davos/
| 2024-01-16T21:06:47Z
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OTTAWA - Canada on Tuesday clamped down on researchers affiliated with a list of mainly China-based universities to stop them working on subjects deemed sensitive or critical to Canadian national security.
In measures Ottawa said were aimed at shielding advanced and emerging technologies, government grants will not be provided to researchers with links to universities connected to defense and security entities of countries that could harm security.
The universities are mostly based in China but a few from Iran and Russia are also listed.
"While Canadian-led research is defined by its excellence and collaborative nature, its openness can make it a target for foreign influence," the ministers of innovation, health, and public safety said in a joint statement.
An official said that while the policy affected only federal funding, the Ottawa government hoped it would used as guidance by provincial governments and Canadian institutions.
In 2022, Canada arrested and charged a researcher with espionage for allegedly trying to steal trade secrets to benefit China.
Canada is a member of the "Five Eyes" alliance with Britain, the United States, New Zealand and Australia. Last year the grouping's intelligence chiefs accused China of intellectual property theft and using artificial intelligence for hacking and spying against the nations.
China routinely rejects such charges.
The U.S. has long accused China of intellectual property theft and the issue has been a major sore point in U.S.-China relations. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/canada-clamps-down-on-researchers-with-ties-to-china-iran-russia
| 2024-01-16T21:21:37Z
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When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, Irish chef Andrew Walsh knew he had to come up with something innovative or lose all revenue for his Keong Saik Road restaurant.
The lockdown and social distancing measures meant Cure went from receiving an average of 50 diners a day to none.
Since customers could not visit the restaurant, chef Walsh had to find a way to bring his food to them.
As Cure’s modern Irish dishes were not particularly well-suited for home delivery, chef Walsh focused on creating dishes such as meat pies that customers could easily enjoy at home instead. They were never on Cure’s menu but made “an ideal choice for deliveries”, says the 40-year-old.
“We made the bold decision to pivot towards selling Irish beef and Guinness pies, fisherman pies, ratatouille pies, and chicken and leek pies.”
The recipes were cherished family secrets handed down from the chef's grandmother. However, customising the pies for delivery required some tweaking in the kitchen to keep them as heartwarming as ever.
To his delight, the pies were a hit and Cure saw average orders of 300 pies daily. This prompted chef Walsh and his team to purchase additional freezers and hire more part-time staff to support the growing demand.
“As people adjusted to working from home, our meat pies became more than just a meal – they became a comforting companion to people not near their loved ones. It spoke volumes about the shared craving for comfort during uncertain times,” he says.
After successfully keeping Cure open for business through 2020, the Irishman notched up another achievement during the pandemic when the restaurant was awarded a Michelin star the following year.
This is just one example of how chef Walsh, a self-professed risk-taker, has stayed successful and relevant in what has been a challenging and uncertain environment for the F&B industry.
According to chef Walsh, the only way to survive is to stay adaptable and pivot quickly when necessary.
“Picture this: we went from being a cosy dine-in spot to a bustling home delivery business practically overnight. The transition wasn't just about changing our operations, it was a complete shift in mindset," says chef Walsh.
"We had to embrace new ways of doing things, learn on the fly, and navigate a new course in uncharted waters.”
If passion and love for F&B are what kept the culinary artist in him going, it is chef Walsh's pragmatism and business acumen that have helped him thrive as a restaurant owner.
"There's no point being a great chef if you can't run a profit and loss. I love the creative side of the business – working on new ideas and new dishes – but if you don't pay the bills, you don't pay the suppliers, then you can't make the food that feeds your creativity,” he says.
Chef Walsh learned the ins and outs of hospitality management from two decades of working in some top establishments in New York, London, and Singapore.
He came to Singapore in 2012 to be the head chef of Michelin-star chef Jason Atherton's Spanish restaurant Esquinas. Then he ventured out on his own three years later with the launch of Cure Concepts Group in 2015.
Today, the Group runs Cure, the Asian-fusion experience restaurant Butcher Boy, the Japanese-inspired Catfish Izakaya, and wine bar 87 Club Street Wine Room.
Chef Walsh also recently added a fifth restaurant, Tilly’s, to his repertoire in September 2023.
Tilly’s creation is a response to the changing post-pandemic demands the F&B industry is facing.
“Costs of running businesses are consistently increasing, and customers are constantly looking for good deals nearer to where they live as work-from-home and hybrid work arrangements become the norm,” says chef Walsh.
The adaptable chef Walsh pivoted again and opened Tilly's in the heart of the residential area of Katong, serving Irish comfort food at an accessible price point to complement his fine dining establishments.
The new venture is reflective of the chef-owner’s versatility and demonstrates just how much he embraces change.
"We're continuously looking at new ideas, new dishes, new marketing, new platforms,” he says.
Opportunities for Cure Concepts are not confined to Singapore. Besides having new international collaborations in the pipeline, chef Walsh is also the culinary concept lead of Ember Beach Club at One&Only Desaru Coast in Malaysia. Occasionally, he invites well-known guests, such as chef Bjorn Shen, to collaborate on exclusive limited-edition menus.
The right system for a growing business
With a four-month-old restaurant in Singapore and planned new launches abroad, chef Walsh had to re-assess his company’s efficiency to adapt to rising costs and shrinking profit margins caused by disruptions to the global supply chain.
Amid this upheaval, Cure Concepts Group's accountant, Ms Cheryl Tan, suggested they implement accounting platform Xero. Chef Walsh admits he was initially skeptical about why the company would need it when they were already paying a professional to do the job.
Now, he is thankful he agreed to using Xero after seeing for himself the company's efficiency gains after a year of using the system.
Xero has saved time for the Group's finance team automating manual paperwork and admin while giving them real time visibility and actionable intel on their profit and loss (P&L), and costs.
Xero’s document and data-capturing software Hubdoc has also been a game-changer. At a company where the chefs and managers are in charge of their own food and beverage costs as well as purchasing, the ability for everyone to individually and easily take photographs of invoices, receipts or bills to upload into a single system has improved their productivity.
This is in stark contrast to the laborious manual invoicing that chef Walsh had to plough through when he worked in London, a process that took an hour a day and added to his already heavy workload.
Now, with all their documents and data in one place, Cure Concepts' chefs and managers can access the dashboards and reports that help them keep better track of their costs.
“Xero gives them open access and they can forecast how they're doing that month, for example if they're spending too much on food or if they need to come down on wine,” says chef Walsh.
“The result is that the Group has been able to keep costs a lot tighter. On average, we are able to reduce costs by 10 to 20 per cent every month.”
With an easy-to-use and efficient accounting software to support them, the Group’s chefs and managers have been a lot less distracted with business administration and can dedicate more time to their core work.
Using Xero has also saved them money in terms of workforce allocation. Since the launch of its two new businesses, Cure Concepts has increased its headcount by 10 employees.
"We're growing and our accountant Cheryl is growing with us because we've freed up her time to help out with new projects,” chef Walsh says.
F&B has traditionally been a highly manual industry and slow to adopt new technologies, a situation that chef Walsh feels needs to change after experiencing the benefits of Xero firsthand.
He shares that the industry can realise significant gains by adopting technology but as ever, the all hands-on chef-proprietor asserts that restaurants need the human touch.
"With digital solutions helping to make running my businesses easier, I can focus on important things like creativity and innovation to help them grow and thrive. And while technology is vital to all businesses these days, the human touch will always be irreplaceable, especially in my business," says chef Walsh.
Learn more about how Xero can help your business.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/food/michelin-star-chef-andrew-walsh-stays-successful-in-singapore-food-scene-cure-concepts-group
| 2024-01-16T21:21:47Z
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In today’s digital world, healthcare is adapting to meet evolving needs. One of these developments is the introduction of online pharmacies that offer patients more convenience. Co-founder and director of online pharmacy Glovida-RX (GRX), Winthrop Wong, offers a look at what the pharmacy does, and shares some helpful tips on managing some common medical conditions.
Q: My child has recurrent cases of eczema. What is the best way to control the outbreaks and will my child outgrow this condition?
Eczema flare-ups are caused by a variety of triggers, which can vary from person to person. It can affect people across their lifespan, beginning in childhood or presenting as an adult-onset condition that affects adults 50 years and up.
If your child experiences frequent flare-ups, it is beneficial to keep track of and avoid the environmental factors that trigger them. It is best to moisturise the skin regularly, and avoid harsh soaps or even clothing made from rough fabrics. It may help to take an allergy test so that you can avoid allergens that irritate the skin and trigger flare-ups.
You may calm an eczema flare-up by switching to gentle soaps targeted towards relieving symptoms, such as an emollient body wash or a soap-free cleanser. To manage symptoms, you may use a variety of topical creams, such as steroidal hydrocortisone cream or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory cream. To control the itching that often accompanies flare-ups, you may also consider obtaining oral antihistamines which are available over the counter. For advice that is specific to your child’s condition, it would be helpful to consult with a healthcare professional.
At GRX, pharmacists are available online to offer medication counselling, advice and guidance on your child’s prescribed treatment. If your child does not have a prescription, GRX can connect you with available doctors who can provide a diagnosis and prescribe the necessary medications.
Eczema symptoms and flare-ups can subside with age, but there is no definite answer as to whether or not your child will outgrow the condition.
Q: It's cold and flu season, so I want to support my immune system. Can vitamin C help? How much is too much?
The immune system is a complex network of organs, cells and proteins that defends the body against infection, whilst protecting the body's own cells. While eating a balanced diet is adequate in supporting a strong immune system, you may also take certain supplements such as vitamin C, D, zinc, beta carotene and probiotics.
Vitamin C is an antioxidant which helps protect your body from free radical damage, which can trigger colds and flu. While taking it does not directly prevent colds, it may help decrease the severity of symptoms, and shorten the duration of the illness.
The recommended amount of vitamin C that a healthy adult requires is generally around 100mg a day, but this can vary depending on personal factors such as age, gender and medical history. You may speak to a pharmacist for guidance on the amount best suited to your needs.
Q. I've been experiencing bouts of nausea, bloating, and diarrhoea. What might be causing these symptoms and what can I do to quickly relieve them?
There are many potential reasons for why you may be experiencing symptoms of nausea, bloating and diarrhoea. Some common reasons include gastroesophageal reflux disease, indigestion or excess intestinal gas, migraine, or even food poisoning.
A pharmacist will ask you more questions to evaluate your symptoms before providing advice on your next steps. If pain persists, visit a doctor or the emergency department.
Q. What types of medicines can I purchase from an online pharmacy like GRX?
GRX’s drug list caters to most medical conditions, with up to 500 different products. It carries General Sale List, Pharmacy Only, and Prescription Only medication, assuring patients that they are able to get medicine for their daily needs, including vitamins, supplements and chronic medication. GRX is also able to source medications for specific requirements like eczema and deliver them to your doorstep.
Q. What are some health-related topics I can talk to a pharmacist about?
Pharmacists are trained healthcare professionals who can provide guidance on various health-related topics. They provide consultations and are able to assist with daily medication needs. This is particularly helpful for caregivers of the elderly or those with more complicated medicine routines.
While pharmacists cannot diagnose medical conditions, they can provide information on various medications, such as recommended doses and contraindications. They can also recommend over-the-counter and prescription medications, address queries about prescribed drugs, and assist in chronic disease management. Pharmacists also support common ailments such as cough and colds, smoking cessation or weight loss plans, offer guidance for family planning, provide nutritional advice, organise medication regimens, and help formulate strategies for medication adherence.
Glovida-Rx is an online pharmacy offering a comprehensive range of prescription and general medications, as well as free consultation services with a pharmacist. For more information, visit www.glovida-rx.com.sg
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/eczema-nausea-diarrhoea-pharmacist-tips-on-managing-everyday-health-issues-glovida-rx
| 2024-01-16T21:21:48Z
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PARIS - A dozen French Olympic athletes took to the catwalk on day one of Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday to parade their Stephane Ashpool-designed kit for this year's Olympics.
The kit, unveiled at the headquarters of the French Olympic Committee, included the athletes village uniform, featuring a 1990s vibe, as well as the training and competition outfits that will be provided by French brand Le Coq Sportif.
"It was a two-year project," Ashpool said.
"The outfit is a blend between the blue, the white and the red. The athletes told me they wanted to be chic, elegant, bright. The result is these blended colours."
The Paris Olympics will be held from July 26-Aug. 11. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/chic-elegant-bright-french-athletes-parade-kit-for-2024-olympics
| 2024-01-16T21:21:55Z
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DOHA - Saudi Arabia came from behind to beat Oman 2-1 in their Asian Cup Group F opener on Tuesday at a packed Khalifa International Stadium where VAR awarded the Green Falcons a late winner from Ali Al-Bulayhi in second-half injury time.
Oman took the lead when they counter-attacked from a poorly taken Saudi corner and Hassan Al-Tambakti won a penalty when he was clipped in the box, with Salaah Al-Yahyaei stepping up to score with a confident finish.
But Saudi Arabia were the better side in the second half and after missing a couple of chances, Abdulrahman Ghareeb took it upon himself to dribble past four Oman defenders before finishing calmly to get the Saudis singing again.
The Saudis completed the comeback in the sixth minute of added time when Al-Bulayhi headed home from a set piece and although the linesman's flag went up for offside, VAR intervened to award Roberto Mancini's side the goal. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/saudi-arabia-leave-it-late-to-beat-oman-in-asian-cup
| 2024-01-16T21:21:56Z
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Everton made mistakes but have taken steps to do things correctly, manager Sean Dyche said on Tuesday after the club were charged with breaking the Premier League's spending rules.
The Merseyside club, who have appealed against a previous 10-point deduction from earlier this season, are potentially facing a second points penalty due to the fresh charges brought on Monday.
"Certainly in the recent stats and facts I think we are in the bottom three or four net spends in the last three or four seasons," Dyche told reporters ahead of Wednesday's FA Cup third round replay against Crystal Palace.
"So there is a start point of the club motioning to doing things correctly... there were mistakes, I'm sure, down the years... but that's a natural part of football. It's not an exact science."
Dyche said the club had been "cutting resources" in an effort to adhere to the league's rules.
"Since I have been here we have let players go out of contract. We have been working hard. We sold three young players in the timelines we were given to make sure the money was in," he said.
The manager said Everton would remain focused on their appeal against the 10-point deduction.
"It's an on-pitch sanction and we've actually been cutting the idea of being on-pitch powerful by resources to do the right thing... it is a strange situation," Dyche said.
"I don't think it was just me who was shocked. The pundits, the media were all shocked so we have to wait and see what the appeal brings."
Everton are 17th in the league with 17 points after 21 matches, just one above the relegation zone. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/there-were-mistakes-but-everton-took-steps-to-do-the-right-thing-dyche
| 2024-01-16T21:22:00Z
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MEXICO CITY - Mexico has dropped out of the race to host the 2036 Olympic Games, the president of the National Olympic Committee (COM) said on Tuesday, citing the "tough competition".
Former Foreign minister Marcelo Ebrard and the COM announced in Oct. 2022 Mexico's intention to host the 2036 Olympics.
The country had previously hosted the Summer Games in 1968.
South Korea, India, Egypt and Qatar have also expressed their intention to bid for the 2036 Games.
COM president Maria Jose Alcala said that Mexico would now only consider launching a bid for the Youth Games.
"We had a talk with the International Olympic Committee and we saw that the competition is very tough," Alcala told reporters at a sponsors' event on Tuesday.
"We are turning around to see if we can have the bid for the Youth Olympic Games, which is where we would have a great chance."
"It would be before the 2036 Games... We are in talks with the IOC."
Alcala added that Mexico could also bid for the 2027 Pan American Games after the northern state of Nuevo Leon showed interest in hosting the event. The Colombian city of Barranquilla was recently stripped of the hosting rights after failing to meet its contractual obligations.
"There is an approach from Nuevo Leon, they are the only ones who have approached us. That is still under discussion," Alcala said. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/mexico-withdraws-bid-for-2036-summer-games
| 2024-01-16T21:22:22Z
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OTTAWA - If Republican frontrunner Donald Trump wins the U.S. presidential election in November, it will be "a step back" that makes life tough for Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Tuesday.
Trudeau, whose center-left Liberals came to power in November 2015, had rocky relations with Trump during his first four-year White House term. In 2018, Trump accused Trudeau of being weak and dishonest.
"It wasn't easy the first time and if there is a second time, it won't be easy either," Trudeau said in French during a discussion hosted by the Montreal chamber of commerce.
He added: "But we can't imagine a day when it will ever be easy with the Americans. The main responsibility for any prime minister is to represent and defend Canada's interests ... we've been able to do this very well these past few years."
Canada sends 75% of its goods and services exports to the United States and is particularly vulnerable to any U.S. shift toward protectionism.
When Trump came to power he vowed to renegotiate the free trade treaty that bound the United States. Canada and Mexico. Ottawa spent almost two years locked in talks to produce a trilateral pact that largely protected Canadian interests.
About two-thirds of Canadians surveyed this month said U.S. democracy cannot survive another four years of Trump in power, and about half said the United States is on the way to becoming an authoritarian state, a poll released on Monday said.
A Trump win would be "a step back" and a victory for "a populism that reflects a lot of anguish and fury ... without necessarily providing solutions", Trudeau said.
The Liberals have made fighting climate change a priority and Trudeau said Trump showed little interest in the environment during "the lost four years" of his first term.
"There are clearly issues where I do not agree at all with Mr. Trump," Trudeau said, citing the climate question.
The next Canadian election has to be held by September 2025 and the Liberals are trailing their right-of-center Conservative rivals. Trudeau repeated criticism that the party had taken its inspiration from the Trump movement. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/another-trump-presidency-will-not-be-easy-for-canada-pm-trudeau
| 2024-01-16T21:22:32Z
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AMSTERDAM - The Dutch Senate will support a law to evenly spread asylum seekers over municipalities in the Netherlands, despite strong resistance from far-right election winner Geert Wilders' Freedom Party and other parties looking to form a new government.
The law aims to resolve a continuing crisis at the country's overcrowded processing centre for asylum seekers, where at times hundreds of people have been forced to sleep in the rough due to a shortage of available shelters in the rest of the country.
The law, which could force municipalities to take in a given number of asylum seekers, had been adopted by the country's lower legislative body before the Nov. 22 election won by the anti-immigration Freedom Party led by Wilders.
But it remained contentious, as Wilders and the conservative VVD party of outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte remained opposed, together with the other two parties that are now involved in the talks to form a coalition government.
In the end, Rutte's own party members in the Senate made a surprising U-turn on Tuesday and said they would support the law, giving it a decisive majority in the upper chamber.
The four prospective government parties are still far from any pact almost eight weeks after the election, as they try to agree on common ground to assuage the serious doubts parties have voiced over working with Wilders.
If they reach an agreement, they would be forced to deal with the law that the Senate is now set to officially adopt on Jan. 23.
"My god," Wilders said in a post on X in response to news about the VVD's Senate decision.
Ruben Brekelmans, a VVD lawmaker in the lower chamber, said he wished his Senate colleagues had waited for an agreement on stricter migration policies before handling the spread of asylum seekers. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/dutch-senate-defies-prospective-government-parties-over-migration-law
| 2024-01-16T21:22:43Z
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PARIS - French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday made a wide array of promises - from testing uniforms in schools to overhauling parental leave - in a bid to reinvigorate a second mandate marred by his unpopularity and contested reforms.
One week after appointing France's youngest ever prime minister, Macron, whose margin of manoeuvre is constrained by a lack of absolute majority in parliament, urged the French to be united to make the country stronger.
"I'm convinced that we have all the assets we need to succeed, and that we will live better tomorrow than we do today," he told a news conference.
Macron started out by spelling out measures concerning children including regulating, in a way he did not specify, screentime for children.
He said uniforms would be tested in about one hundred schools, adding that there would be more civic instruction classes and that all children in junior high school should have access to theater classes.
Macron also said he would ask his government to launch a new batch of liberal reforms to boost the economy, saying the country needed to be encouraged to 'produce more' and 'innovate more'.
"France will be stronger if it wins back its financial independence", he said. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/macron-urges-the-french-to-be-united-promises-wide-array-of-reforms
| 2024-01-16T21:22:53Z
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PARIS - Qatar and France have brokered a deal with Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas to deliver urgent medication to some 45 Israeli hostages held by the group in Gaza in return for humanitarian and medical aid for the most vulnerable civilians.
The two countries said the aid would leave Qatar for Egypt on Wednesday before being taken across the Rafah border crossing.
Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said in a statement the deal would mean "medicine along with other humanitarian aid is to be delivered to civilians in the Gaza Strip, in the most affected and vulnerable areas, in exchange for delivering medication needed for Israeli captives in Gaza."
He did not give details on how much aid or what aid would be delivered to civilians.
Earlier, Philippe Lalliot, head of France's foreign ministry crisis centre which organises aid efforts, said negotiations had been going on for weeks and the initial idea had come from the families of some of the Israeli hostages.
Specific medical packages for several months, which were put together in France, would be delivered to each of the 45 hostages. The International Committee of the Red Cross will coordinate on the ground.
France still has three nationals held in Gaza, but none of them are in urgent need of medication, Lalliot said. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/qatar-france-broker-deal-to-get-aid-medication-to-civilians-hostages-in-gaza
| 2024-01-16T21:23:04Z
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BELGRADE - Thousands of opposition supporters rallied peacefully in the Serbian capital Belgrade on Tuesday in an anti-government protest to demand the annulment of last month's elections, which were described by international observers as unfair.
The populist ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) won 46.72% of the votes in the snap parliamentary and local elections. But an international monitoring mission said the SNS gained an unfair advantage through media bias, the improper influence of President Aleksandar Vucic, and voting irregularities such as vote-buying.
Vucic and his allies said the elections were fair.
The rally was also staged to mark the sixth anniversary of the killing of Oliver Ivanovic, a moderate Kosovo Serb politician. Ivanovic was gunned down in front of his party office in 2018 in the ethnically divided town of Mitrovica, a predominantly Serb area of mainly Albanian Kosovo, which declared independence from Belgrade in 2008.
The investigation over Ivanovic's death is still ongoing in both Serbia and Kosovo. In an address to the crowd, Marinika Tepic, a leader of the center-right alliance Serbia Against Violence (SPN), which came second in the vote, said the opposition remains determined to contest the election results.
"The entire planet knows, we caught him (Vucic) red-handed...him who would not dare to appear before his people," said Tepic, who last month went on a two-week hunger strike to protest the outcome of the vote.
The opposition says it also wants the annulment of elections in Belgrade which ended inconclusively and are seen by many as fraudulent.
On Monday, Milos Vucevic, the head of SNS, said voting in Belgrade may be repeated if no one manages to form a coalition and secure a majority in the city hall.
With its population of 1.4 million people, Belgrade represents about a quarter of Serbia's electorate, and its mayor is seen as one of the most influential officials in the Balkan country.
Serbia is a candidate for membership in the European Union, but before it joins the bloc, it must first reform the judiciary, rule of law, and media freedoms, and root out corruption, organized crime, and corruption.
It must also mend ties with Kosovo and align its foreign policies with those of the EU, including the introduction of sanctions against Russia, over its invasion of Ukraine. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/thousands-rally-in-serbia-to-protest-election-outcome
| 2024-01-16T21:23:14Z
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RuPaul's Drag Race season 15 contestant Princess Poppy, who was part of the contingent that won the prize for Best Reality Competition, quickly went viral for their green goblin-troll ensemble, a contrast to the other queens, who opted for elaborate pageant gowns.
"I wanted to do the exact opposite of what is expected of you when you go to an event like this. I wanted to take decorum and turn it on its head," Poppy told Entertainment Weekly on the red carpet. "Mainly I wanted to be a troll-slash-hag. I wanted to be so shocking that you just have to turn and look at me – in the worst way possible."
Here are five other looks in the history of the Emmys that'll probably also make you go "now that's wild…"
Chyna, Emmys 1999
Late wrestler and actress Chyna, real name Joan Marie Laurer, made quite an entrance at the 51st Primetime Emmy Awards in an outfit that resembled something she'd wear in the ring.
The WWE legend wore an amalgamation of a black leather bodysuit as a dress with daring slits and cut-outs all around, showing off quite a bit of her ripped physique and piped with rhinestones across the edges.
In what is the clearest homage to Carrie Bradshaw we could ever see, Sarah Jessica Parker strutted into the 52nd Primetime Emmy Awards in a custom Oscar De La Renta pink dress that was quite buzzworthy at the time.
While tame by today's standards, the larger-than-life dress with a grand hoop skirt covered in feathers embodied the Sex and the City lead's unabashedly quirky and feminine sense of style. And let's not forget that random piece of tulle wrapped around Sarah's arm.
The Young and the Restless star Victoria Rowell sparked conversation at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards with a blue strapless dress that eschewed sparkle to sport the face of then-POTUS Barack Obama.
The actress and author revealed that the point of the dress was to make a statement about youth in foster care at a time when, just eight months into his presidency, Obamacare was enduring the struggle of being passed by the Congress.
Actor and comedian Fred Armisen made a s(p)lash at the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards in a tribute to horror icon Freddy Krueger, including a red and green striped tie over a black suit with a white button down. And, of course, a glove with claws meant to slash.
While the look may have seemed out of place for the Portlandia creator, it actually served as a tribute to horror director Wes Craven, who created the character of Krueger and passed away three weeks before the ceremony.
Game of Thrones star Gwendoline Christie seemingly imbibed the holy spirit with her Gucci white and red robed gown, which had many immediately drawing comparisons to symbolism both Christian and ancient.
The sweeping patterned ensemble was memed by many who thought it looked like Jesus Christ's robes from the painting of the Last Supper, or more like opulent ancient Roman togas. We'll let you be the judge.
Get the lowdown on the biggest, hottest celebrity news, features, and profiles coming out of the U.S. Sign up to our HELLO! Hollywood newsletter and get them delivered straight to your inbox.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/fashion/511401/emmys-2024-red-carpet-green-goblin-five-other-wildest-outfits-in-emmys-history/
| 2024-01-16T21:55:05Z
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Shania Twain is known for her iconic singing style, but also for her ravishing fashion sense, and she put that on full display on Tuesday as she celebrated her nomination for a People's Choice award.
To mark the nomination, Shania shared a clip from a previous People's Choice awards ceremony where she performed her most iconic song, "Man! I Feel like a Woman" wearing a top hat and a skintight bodysuit that shimmered under the lights with its crystalline embellishments. The singer performed at her sultry best while guests like Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson and Ryan Reynolds cheered her on.
Shania had opted for a pink wig for the look and a pair of sky-high heels that blended seamlessly into her outfit with their silver color.
In her caption, the 58-year-old enthused: "I've been nominated for a @peopleschoice award and it's extra sweet because I'm among a fab group of women as well - Let's go girls!!"
Fans were proud of the country superstar as one compared her to a major A-lister, commenting: "Is thst Sarah Jessica Parker?" while a second added: "There is no one quite like Shania."
A third penned: "Congratulations Queen you truly deserve it can't wait for 2024! Let's go Vegas," and a fourth shared: "YAY! CONGRATULATIONS, you BEAUTIFUL person! Well deserved! Thank you for always inspiring us to be true to ourselves and to not be afraid to be our own person! Congratulations, again!!!"
Shania is no stranger to rocking a gorgeous look when it comes to celebrating incredible news, and the star looked phenomenal last month when she donned a statement black mini dress teamed with a pair of white thigh-high boots to mark her 13th wedding anniverary.
In the caption, her husband, Frédéric Thiébaud, wrote: "@shaniatwain. Such a beautiful stunning, kind, smart lady! One of the favorite pictures I took of this extraordinary human being. Happy anniversary."
Shania and Frederic got married back in 2011 on New Year's Day, and have been blissfully happy ever since. The couple have an extraordinary love story too, having first got together in 2010 after Shania's divorce from her first husband Robert "Mutt" Lange, who had an affair with Frédéric's ex-wife, Marie-Anne.
The happy couple eventually married in 2011, and Frédéric even helped raise Shania's son Eja from her marriage to Mutt. While the singer is notoriously private and rarely gives interviews, she previously opened up about her love life in an interview with AARP The Magazine. "It's twisted. So beautifully twisted," she said. Mutt and Marie-Ann are believed to still be together, but have kept out of the spotlight.
In an interview with The Guardian, Shania affirmed her relationship with Frédéric: "It's a passionate love on every level. I used to be very monotone in my relationships."
RELATED: Shania Twain wishes Brad Pitt a happy birthday but with a cheeky twist
RELATED: Shania Twain, 58, displays tiny waist in sizzling see-through dress – see stunning photos
She asserted that she found her desire for more with her now-husband, adding: "Poor Freddy pays the price, because I'm like: If I'm ever getting married again, this is me. I don't think Mutt ever knew me. That's the difference."
Get the lowdown on the biggest, hottest celebrity news, features and profiles coming out of the U.S. Sign up to our HELLO! Hollywood newsletterand get them delivered straight to your inbox.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/fashion/celebrity-style/511403/shania-twain-compared-sarah-jessica-parker-skintight-bodysuit-marks-major-celebration/
| 2024-01-16T22:38:59Z
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First Dates is back and we're loving watching the hopefuls see if they'll find love as they step into the famous restaurant, and for the Channel 4 show's latest episode, freelance video producer Steph Kyriacou was welcomed in.
But Steph didn't come alone as both he and his mum featured in the same episode, but thankfully the experience wasn't too daunting. "I just let her do it," Steph told HELLO! in an exclusive interview, admitting he was too wrapped up in his own date to worry about how his mum's was going. "I was having such a nice time that I genuinely just forgot half the time, not even that my mum was there, but I forgot that I was on a TV show.
"The thing I was most nervous about was this beautiful woman sitting in front of me and how this is my first proper date in about six years. I was more nervous about not embarrassing myself in front of this woman. I did look over once or twice because she was laughing at one point, I'm sure I heard my mum laugh across the restaurant, so I was like: 'Now I have to have a peek and see what's going on'."
Steph is a massive self-confessed fan of the show, often watching alongside his mum and sister, and he revealed how in a joking manner it was a family viewing party that led to him and his mum signing up. "My sister said something like: 'Steph, you should apply, you've been single for a while and you keep saying that you want to find somebody, they pair people up really well on first dates, why don't you give it a go?' I pulled the application up and then I said to my mum, 'Well you've been single for about as long as I have, why don't you apply as well?'"
One theme of Steph's episode is his being a trans man, though ahead of the show he wasn't worried about how his date would react as he had been "open" about this on his application form, noting: "I wouldn't want to go on a date and then have the person not know and then if they don't want to date a trans person, then we can just leave it there."
And while Steph had some concerns that his mum might say something "misguided" when speaking about her son, thankfully this didn't pan out, meaning his only concern was having been out of the dating pool for a while. "It was a mixture of emotions, I was excited but really nervous because I've had casual things over the years, but this was my first proper date date," he admitted.
"There's a way I want to be on a date with someone when it's not a casual thing. I didn't have to remind myself of things, but this was a real fancy adult date and I had to give myself a little pep talk beforehand just to try and not get nervous or ramble or say anything silly."
On how he previously navigated the dating world, Steph added: "I have this pre-established relationship with people I'm comfortable with which is a lot easier than trying to date strangers. Going back properly into the dating scene has been interesting, I've been on a few dates in the last year through a dating app I'm on, but they've all been going for drinks once and then never hearing back.
"I'm open [about my identity] on dating apps, so I've not faced issues thus far involving me being trans, people can just swipe away from me if they're not interested, which saves me a lot of time. But there's always that little voice in the back of my head that's always saying: 'Be careful, because you never quite know people's true intentions'. I know you can't always prevent this, but I want to try and avoid unsafe situations and that's the main way that being trans affects my dating life, that that constant paranoia and striving for safety, which I know a lot of a lot of white cis-het men won't have that fear."
Having worked at PinkNews for several years creating videos alongside his own personal projects, Steph has amassed an online following and he spoke of how it was an "honour and privilege" to be able to share positive trans representation. "Being trans has been a big part of my life ever since I got comfortable with myself and started publicly speaking about my identity," he shared. "I'm almost 30 and I still get overwhelmed when I see trans representation because we're not used to good trans representation, so much of it, we're used as the butt of jokes or in shock, disgusting storylines."
Countering this narrative, he added: "First of all, that's obviously rude and inaccurate, but we just want to see people like us living our lives and doing normal things, like going on dates and being embarrassing and flirting with someone and saying something cringy. People genuinely forget that at the end of the day, we're just people, which sounds like the most simplistic statement, but people forget that we are just humans living our lives trying to get through day to day.
"It's a massive deal that there's a platform allowing positive trans representation without making a big deal of it. I didn't know how much of what I said was going to be included in the show itself, but I'm really thankful that it was just a small portion of the date, because there is more to me than just being trans. First Dates did a really good job of getting that balance right in the episode."
And speaking about the importance of shows like First Dates featuring a diverse set of contestants, he continued: "It's reflecting the world that we live in, there's no point in having reality TV if it's not real. In some shows, I won't name names, the cast all look exactly the same, and have exactly the same background. And that's fine if it works for that show, but if you want to portray real lives, real joy, real relationships, you need real people.
"It's incredibly important to be diverse, not just with trans people, but with people of colour, disabled people and to reflect reality in reality TV. I still get excited every single time I'm watching First Dates and I see a fellow queer person or a trans person being themselves and opening themselves up to dating."
Although Steph's episode, which was available on 4oD before hitting Channel 4, has been overwhelmingly positive, he's still aware that a "little bit of negativity" will be generated from his appearance, something that leaves him dismayed, but mostly about the effect it may have on "other trans people seeing those comments, especially younger ones".
RELATED: Dee Allum praises changing comedy scene ahead of major stand-up comedy gig
EXCLUSIVE: Jordan Gray shares supportive messages from transgender youth ahead of return to stage
And while many might be hopeful to see him dip his toes into other reality formats, this isn't something that is massively on his mind. "The main reason I even considered First Dates is because it's one of my favourites, but it's also one of the only ones that I watch because it's so real and wholesome," Steph admitted. "I wouldn't say no, there are shows that I would definitely say yes to, it would just depend on the show because it turns out I quite like television."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/511400/first-dates-steph-kyriacou-positive-trans-representation-exclusive/
| 2024-01-16T22:39:05Z
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NEW YORK - US stocks ended lower on Tuesday after mixed earnings from Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs pressured banks, and as sell-offs in Boeing and Apple weighed on the S&P 500.
Morgan Stanley tumbled 4.2% to a more than one-month low after it posted a lower quarterly profit, while Goldman Sachs’ stock ended 0.7% higher after it reported a 51% rise in profit.
The S&P 500 banks index dipped 1.2% to an over one-month low after other major US banks reported lower profits on Friday.
Spirit Airlines slumped 47% after a federal judge blocked JetBlue Airways’ planned US$3.8 billion acquisition of the ultra-low cost carrier, agreeing with the US Department of Justice the deal would hurt consumers.
Apple dropped 1.2% after offering rare discounts on its iPhones in China in response to stiff competition there, days after being overtaken by Microsoft as the world’s most valuable firm.
Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller dampened sentiment by saying there should be no rush to cut interest rates even though he was more confident of inflation being on track to meet the Fed’s 2% target.
Traders pared expectations that the Fed might begin its rate cuts in March, with US Treasury yields also rising.
“Certainly valuations are extended, but I think what is happening today is more of a broader consolidation of markets around that idea that investors had gotten a little too optimistic about how willing the Fed would be to ease rates,” said Ross Mayfield, an investment strategy analyst at Baird.
Following strong December gains, the S&P 500 has been near its January 2022 record high close for the past several sessions. It is now down about 1% from that record high.
Wall Street rose last week as investors continued to bet on an early start to the Fed’s monetary-policy-easing cycle, despite a lack of supporting voices among policymakers and mixed inflation data.
UBS Global Research boosted its 2024 year-end target for the S&P 500 to 5,150 points, representing a more than 8% upside from current levels.
Of the 11 S&P 500 sector indexes, 10 declined, led by a 2.4% drop in energy, followed by a 1.2% loss in materials. The technology index rose 0.4%.
The S&P 500 declined 0.37% to end the session at 4,765.98 points.
The Nasdaq declined 0.19% to 14,944.35 points, while Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.62% to 37,361.12 points.
Volume on US exchanges was relatively heavy, with 13.0 billion shares traded, compared to an average of 12.1 billion shares over the previous 20 sessions.
Advanced Micro Devices jumped 8.3% after Barclays analysts raised their price targets for AMD and several other chipmakers, saying they would benefit from growth in artificial intelligence. Larger rival Nvidia climbed about 3% and hit a record high.
Boeing slumped almost 8% to a two-month low after the Federal Aviation Administration extended the grounding of its 737 MAX 9 airplanes indefinitely and Wells Fargo downgraded the stock to “equal weight” from “overweight.”
Declining stocks outnumbered rising ones within the S&P 500 by a 2.6-to-one ratio.
The S&P 500 posted 23 new highs and two new lows; the Nasdaq recorded 63 new highs and 182 new lows.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/wall-street-ends-down-as-apple-weighs
| 2024-01-16T22:54:14Z
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SINGAPORE - The eighth edition of Light to Night, a visual arts festival organised by National Gallery Singapore, is making a return with a showcase of art presented in unconventional ways.
The marquee event of Singapore Art Week will feature over 60 artworks and programmes ranging from interactive art installations, interdisciplinary programmes, captivating light projections, and live performances in the civic district. The show runs from Jan 19 to Feb 8.
Works from veteran and budding South-east Asian artists – including Singapore’s Lee Wen and Teo Eng Seng, and Indonesia’s Arahmaiani – will be on display, inviting the audience to view and interact with them in fresh ways. Locations will include the National Gallery Singapore, Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall, The Arts House, Asian Civilisations Museum, Funan, and The Padang.
Light to Night Singapore has both free and ticketed experiences, and festival-goers can pre-book tickets for selected programmes at lighttonight.sg to secure slots.
“Showcasing a diverse lineup of artists from Singapore and South-east Asia, Light to Night Singapore 2024 encourages festival-goers to engage in introspection while reimagining art and everyday spaces through artworks and programmes that are immersive and interactive for all to enjoy,” said Ms Suenne Megan Tan, Festival Executive Director and Senior Director of Museum Planning and Audience Engagement at National Gallery Singapore.
“Embracing the theme ‘Reimagine’, the festival aims to foster a new appreciation and love for the visual arts, where each encounter with art becomes an opportunity to rediscover and reimagine the world around us.”
The festival in 2023 was the first since the Covid-19 pandemic to be unfettered by pandemic restrictions. Over 60 works of art were featured.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/arts/art-reimagined-in-showcase-to-light-up-civic-district-at-night
| 2024-01-16T22:54:24Z
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We refer to Ms Jeanette Koh Siew Fah’s letter “Veterans’ attempt to volunteer as mentors to SMEs thwarted” (Jan 11).
We would like to clarify the requirements for the management consultant certification offered by the Institute of Management Consultants Singapore (IMCS).
IMCS is a Singapore Accreditation Council-accredited certification body for the Registered Management Consultant (RMC), a certification programme aligned to the SS680:2021 standard which sets out the minimum professional standards and practices for management consultants. The certification focuses on consultancy experience, skills and ethics, evaluating candidates on academic qualification, at least 1,000 hours of recent consultancy work, positive client testimonials, and passing an exam from an IMCS or equivalent course.
Recognised by Enterprise Singapore, the RMC is a prerequisite for management consultants engaging in projects for SMEs applying for the Enterprise Development Grant. While we advocate certification as a credential, senior professionals can still offer their consulting or mentoring services in an open market based on buyer and seller principles.
As a non-profit association, IMCS is committed to building a thriving local management consulting community. We support members with diverse expertise to collaborate to access business opportunities.
For more information, contact secretariat@imcs.sg.
Teo Cheng Swee (Dr)
President
Institute of Management Consultants (Singapore)
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https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/forum/forum-certification-needed-for-management-consultants-working-with-smes-that-apply-for-grant
| 2024-01-16T22:55:06Z
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We refer to Mr Tan Jeh Yaw’s letter “Congestion at checkpoints can diminish benefits from proposed Iskandar SEZ” (Jan 10).
Our land checkpoints are one of the busiest land crossings in the world, with about 400,000 travellers using both Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints daily. This figure goes up to 440,000 during school and public holidays.
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) adopts a multi-pronged approach to alleviate traffic congestion and continuously reviews checkpoint operations to enhance the efficiency of immigration clearance processes and traveller experience at the checkpoints.
ICA monitors traffic conditions in real time and dynamically adjusts the deployment of officers to manage the traffic situation. Clearance lanes are also converted flexibly for different modes of conveyance in response to traffic conditions. For example, car zones can be converted to clear motorcycles during peak periods. This mitigates the risk of the motorcycle queues ballooning along the Causeway/Second Link and Bukit Timah Expressway/Ayer Rajah Expressway and blocking other vehicles from entering the checkpoints.
ICA has also adopted innovative solutions to automate immigration clearance for travellers. In recent years, we installed 90 more automated lanes at the bus hall, and automated clearance is the default for bus travellers today. This allows us to redeploy officers for car clearance.
From early 2024, ICA will progressively roll out contactless clearance for all modes of travel. These solutions leverage technology, which help to increase clearance throughput and significantly reduce the reliance on manpower for immigration clearance.
Woodlands Checkpoint is scheduled to be redeveloped, and this will allow us to further increase our clearance capacity and throughput, reducing travel time from 60 minutes to 15 minutes during peak periods.
We hope travellers can understand that ICA’s finite number of officers are already maximally deployed across various parts of the checkpoints when on duty. ICA also has to ensure that security at both land checkpoints is maintained with the large volume of travellers crossing the borders daily.
Patrick Ong
Head, Strategic Communications and Media Relations
Corporate Communications and Service Division
Immigration and Checkpoints Authority
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https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/forum/forum-ica-uses-multi-pronged-approach-to-ease-traffic-congestion
| 2024-01-16T22:55:16Z
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Like others whom I have spoken to, I am confused that OneService and LifeSG apps have overlapping services.
For example, when you report illegal parking in HDB estates on the OneService app, occasionally you will be prompted on whether you want to use the LifeSG app or stay with OneService.
Other services in the OneService app such as those on helping neighbours, booking facilities, construction noise, cleanliness, maintenance issues, HDB facilities and greenery are also found in LifeSG.
To avoid duplication, LifeSG should just focus on issues such as those concerning citizenship and community, education and learning, end of life, and family and parenting; and OneService solely on municipal issues.
Or both apps could be consolidated into one brand-new app that is more user-friendly.
Cheng Lai Wah
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https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/forum/forum-merge-oneservice-and-lifesg-apps-into-one
| 2024-01-16T22:55:26Z
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As a retired small and medium-sized enterprise proprietor, I find the concept of an SME mentorship programme to be well-meaning but somewhat misguided (Veterans’ attempt to volunteer as mentors to SMEs thwarted, Jan 11).
A defining characteristic of SME bosses is that they are self-made, having chosen the path of independence rather than the more structured environment of a major corporation or institution.
The majority of SME bosses have gone through the process of baptism by fire to acquire strength, wit and quick thinking to come out on top of a situation.
Learning therefore takes place through self-guidance, trial and error, the accumulation of experience and hard knocks, as well as informal interactions. To have built oneself up brings with it a unique sense of achievement.
In turn, the objective of a trade association for SMEs is not to become the very kind of rigid institution that members shied away from at the outset, but rather, to allow for more casual meetings and exchanges of information and advice.
One could even suggest that instead of seeking the advice of the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises and being informed that they needed to be certified consultants, Ms Jeanette Koh Siew Fah and her associates could have considered starting their own independent mentorship venture. That would truly have been in the SME spirit.
Paul Chan Poh Hoi
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https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/forum/forum-sme-mentorship-programme-a-well-meaning-but-misguided-idea
| 2024-01-16T22:55:37Z
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The Significant Investments Review Bill, which Parliament passed on Jan 9, is a landmark piece of legislation aimed at enhancing Singapore’s national security, but may also entail costs for investors and the economy.
In passing the Bill, Singapore joins at least 37 other countries that have introduced measures to screen investments for reasons of national security since the 1990s.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/mind-the-costs-of-investment-screening
| 2024-01-16T22:55:47Z
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Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has won an unprecedented third term in office as voters ignored China’s warnings against electing presidential candidate Lai Ching-te. In the island’s first-past-the-post system, Mr Lai prevailed with 40 per cent of the vote. Mr Hou Yu-ih from the Kuomintang, the largest opposition party, had 33.5 per cent, and Mr Ko Wen-je from the smaller Taiwan People’s Party attracted 26.5 per cent. Reflecting both anti-incumbency sentiments towards the DPP, and the effect of Beijing’s warnings that Taiwanese “must make the right choice”, Mr Lai’s victory was 17 percentage points lower than that clinched by his predecessor, Ms Tsai Ing-wen, in 2020. The DPP also lost its majority in Parliament.
Now that the Taiwanese have spoken, and in some ways asserted their identity, what next? The big question is whether Beijing will punish the Taiwanese for ignoring its warnings. Some threatening military manoeuvres and economic penalties are possibly in the offing. However, this instinct to punish is likely to be tempered by the imperative to preserve the gains of the fence-mending summit in November between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his American counterpart Joe Biden. Restraint also makes sense for China to avoid making itself even more of a target for candidates in a bitterly contested United States presidential election race. Meanwhile, the Pacific island Nauru’s decision to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favour of China must come as a balm for its sense of injury from the poll results.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/st-editorial/crucial-next-steps-after-taiwan-polls
| 2024-01-16T22:55:58Z
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Waiting times at many accident and emergency (A&E) departments in public hospitals went up recently, when there was a surge in the number of respiratory infections during a new Covid-19 wave.
Public hospitals in December 2023 urged individuals with mild to moderate symptoms to visit a general practitioner (GP) clinic or polyclinic near their home amid an increase in such infections that put a strain on their operations.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/why-are-we-still-rushing-to-hospitals-when-it-s-not-an-emergency
| 2024-01-16T22:56:19Z
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BRISTOL, England - Tommy Conway's early goal secured second-tier Bristol City a place in the FA Cup fourth round as they beat Premier League West Ham United in a tempestuous replay at Ashton Gate on Tuesday.
Youngster Conway pounced on a poor back pass in the third minute to give the hosts the lead and City were well worth their victory as West Ham ended with 10 men after Said Benrahma was red-carded early in the second half.
Conway had also scored in the initial tie that ended 1-1.
Bristol City's reward is a home tie against either Premier League Nottingham Forest or third-tier Blackpool who play their third-round replay on Wednesday.
Fourth-tier Newport County set up a dream home tie against 12-time winners Manchester United as they beat non-league Eastleigh 3-1.
In an all-Championship clash, Birmingham City's Koji Miyoshi scored in stoppage time to secure a 2-1 victory over Hull City. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/conway-sends-bristol-city-past-west-ham-in-fa-cup-replay
| 2024-01-16T22:56:29Z
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TURIN - A stunning first-half brace by striker Dusan Vlahovic helped Juventus to a 3-0 home win over Sassuolo in Serie A on Tuesday as Massimiliano Allegri's side extended their unbeaten league run to 15 games.
Vlahovic broke the deadlock in the 15th minute with a rasping shot from just outside the box and made it 2-0 before the break with a free kick from long range before substitute Federico Chiesa sealed the win in the 89th minute.
Juve remain second in the standings on 49 points, two points behind leaders Inter Milan and seven above third-placed AC Milan.
Sassuolo are 14th, with two points separating them from the relegation zone. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/superb-vlahovic-double-fires-juventus-to-3-0-win-over-sassuolo
| 2024-01-16T22:56:39Z
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KORHOGO, Ivory Coast - Mali took advantage of an early let-off to beat South Africa 2-0 in the Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday and take the lead in Group E.
After Percy Tau missed a penalty for South Africa, Mali captain Hamari Traore broke the deadlock after an hour and Lassine Sinayoko added a second six minutes later to put the west Africans ahead of Namibia on goal difference in the standings.
Traore was quickest to react and scored from centimetres out after South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams had barely kept out a curling free kick from Sekou Koita at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium.
The second goal came soon after as a through ball put Sinayoko goal side and he shrugged off two defensive challenges to score from close range. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/two-goals-in-six-minutes-earn-mali-win-over-south-africa
| 2024-01-16T22:56:50Z
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PARIS - French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday he would travel to Ukraine in February to finalise a bilateral security guarantee deal and Paris would deliver more sophisticated weaponry in the coming weeks.
The trip comes at a time when political infighting in the United States and European Union has held up two major packages of assistance for Ukraine.
France has been working to complete a bilateral security guarantee accord with Ukraine to help boost its finances and defences against Russia with a view to deterring Moscow from future aggression.
Macron said some 40 Scalp long-range missiles and several hundred bombs would be delivered in the coming weeks.
"With these deliveries, I will go myself to Ukraine in February and finalise these texts," Macron told a news conference, adding that Europeans would need to ensure Ukraine could continue to defend itself against Russia.
Kyiv is seeking to maintain flows of military and financial aid from its Western allies after nearly two years of fighting a full-scale Russian invasion.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was in Kyiv last week to sign a new security agreement and announce an increase in military funding for Ukraine to buy drones, including surveillance, long-range strike and sea drones.
Macron said Russia could not be allowed to defeat Ukraine otherwise the security of Europe would be put at risk. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/frances-macron-to-travel-to-ukraine-in-february-to-finalise-bilateral-security-deal
| 2024-01-16T22:57:10Z
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WASHINGTON - Lithuania broke European human rights laws by allowing the CIA to subject an alleged 9/11 suspect to "inhuman treatment" in a secret interrogation center in the Baltic country, the European Court of Human Rights ruled on Tuesday.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, the court said Mustafa Ahmed Adam al-Hawsawi raised multiple complaints of torture, ill treatment and unacknowledged detention in 2005-2006 when he was held at a secret facility in Lithuania run by the CIA. Al-Hawsawi is now held in Guantanamo Bay on suspicion of being a facilitator and financial manager of al Qaeda.
While held in Lithuania, he experienced an extremely harsh detention regime, according to the press release, including solitary confinement, the continuous use of leg shackles and exposure to noise and light.
"The cumulative effects of such a detention regime had amounted to inhuman treatment within the meaning of the Convention, which the Lithuanian authorities had enabled by cooperating with the CIA," the release said.
Asked for comment, the Lithuanian embassy in Washington pointed to an article published by the Baltic News Service quoting Lithuania's Justice Ministry as saying Lithuania would comply with the court's decision to award Hawsawi 100,000 Euros ($108,750) in compensation.
The chamber held unanimously that there had been violations of the prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment/investigation because of Lithuania's failure to effectively investigate al-Hawsawi's allegations "and because of its complicity in the CIA secret detainee programme."
It also held that there were violations to articles relating to the rights to a fair trial and life, as well as abolition of the death penalty, according to the press release, because Lithuania assisted al-Hawsawi's "transfer from its territory in spite of a real risk that he could face a flagrant denial of justice and the death penalty."
The release said the chamber held there also have been violations to right to liberty and security, right to respect for private life and right to an effective remedy.
The court said it gained key information from a U.S. Senate panel report from 2014 that said the CIA's interrogation of al Qaeda terrorism suspects in secret prisons was more brutal than policymakers were told and in some cases amounted to torture that failed to generate effective intelligence.
“While not commenting on the specific case, I’d note that CIA’s detention and interrogation program ended in 2009," a CIA spokesperson said.
The Guantanamo detention center in Cuba was established by Republican President George W. Bush in 2002 to house foreign terrorism suspects following the 2001 hijacked plane attacks on New York and the Pentagon that killed about 3,000 people. Its population grew to a peak of about 800 inmates before it started to shrink.
It came to symbolize the excesses of the U.S. "war on terror" because of harsh interrogation methods that critics have said amounted to torture. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/lithuania-broke-human-rights-laws-in-case-tied-to-cia-detention-program-european-court-rules
| 2024-01-16T22:57:21Z
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PARIS - French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that he would deal with the leaders that countries give him when asked about the prospect of the re-election of Donald Trump as U.S. president.
"I've always had the same philosophy, I take the leaders that people give me," Macron said during a news conference.
"The United States is an important ally... It's a democracy that's going through a crisis in which it itself is the first priority and the second priority is China's power. All of us Europeans need to be lucid about that." REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/macron-on-trump-i-take-the-leaders-that-people-give-me
| 2024-01-16T22:57:31Z
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PARIS - French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday sought to breathe new life into his final term in power with a promise for a “stronger and fairer” France at a rare news conference.
With over three years of his second and final term to run, Macron has been on the back foot in recent weeks after a series of crises and a growing challenge from the far-right.
Last week he announced a new cabinet with a pronounced tilt to the right, naming Gabriel Attal, 34, as France’s youngest-ever prime minister, and followed this with his first full-scale domestic press conference in half a decade.
With concerns over education riding high in France, Macron’s comments were peppered with promises to improve civic responsibility among young people and crack down on radicalism.
He announced a trial that could lead to school uniform becoming compulsory in the next two years, said all children should learn France’s national anthem “La Marseillaise” and also unveiled an idea for all schoolchildren to take drama courses.
“I am convinced that we have the basis to succeed,” said Macron, telling reporters gathered under the chandeliers of the Elysee Palace “our children will live better tomorrow, than we live today”.
Watched by his new cabinet team, Macron announced what he described as a “civic rearmament”, saying that “every generation of French people must learn what the Republic means”.
‘Common culture’
“France will be stronger... if we are more united, if we re-learn to share values, a common culture, respect in classroom, in the street, in public transport and in shops,” he said.
Entering even into the daily lives of families, he announced that he wanted to “regulate the use of screens among young children”, although it was not immediately clear how this would be implemented.
Macron also promised order, by “better controlling our borders, by fighting against uncivilised behaviour with a doubling of the police presence in our streets, by fighting against drugs, by fighting against radical Islam.”
His comments came as his Education Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera, promoted in the reshuffle to head a new super ministry of education and sports, is being bitterly attacked over her decision to send all three of her children to a private school.
The row, which has overshadowed the cabinet reshuffle announced last week, was sparked when she said she sent one child to a private school over short staffing at his public establishment.
The minister was loudly booed Tuesday as she visited the boy’s former school in a bid to clear the air with teachers.
‘Collective impoverishment’
The president, accused by opponents of being aloof and even of having monarchical tendencies, regularly answers questions from reporters while abroad but has made a habit of almost never holding a full-scale press conference at home.
Instead, Macron has preferred to communicate through videos and posts on social media, as well as formal addresses to the nation at times of acute domestic or international crisis.
But Macron is hoping to reboot a second term in office hobbled by the lack of a parliamentary majority, after mass protests against a pensions reform and divisions within his ranks over an immigration bill last year.
Analysts say the Elysee is genuinely concerned that the far-right National Rally (RN) led by Marine Le Pen and her youthful protege Jordan Bardella, 28, could defeat pro-Macron forces not just in European elections in June but also in the 2027 presidential polls.
Macron accused the RN of being the “party of collective impoverishment” and “of lies”.
“I am pleased to have been able to prevent this operation (by defeating the far-right in the previous 2022 presidential election) and I will do everything to continue this because it is good for the country”. AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/macron-seeks-to-revive-presidency-with-vow-for-stronger-france
| 2024-01-16T22:57:42Z
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Trump back in court for second defamation trial after Iowa victory
Fresh off a campaign victory in Iowa, Donald Trump sat in a New York courtroom on Tuesday to defend himself for a second time against charges that he defamed writer E. Jean Carroll after she accused him of raping her decades ago.
Trump watched from the defendant’s table as Carroll’s lawyer told a jury that the then-US president made her life miserable when she went public in 2019 with her story that he had attacked her in a department store dressing room in Manhattan.
“He used the world’s biggest microphone to attack Ms. Carroll, to humiliate her, and to destroy her reputation,” lawyer Shawn Crowley said.
Carroll, 80, is seeking at least US$10 million in damages in a civil case that will put the allegations of sexual assault back in the headlines while he pursues the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
Macron seeks to revive presidency with vow for ‘stronger’ France
French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday sought to breathe new life into his final term in power with a promise for a “stronger and fairer” France at a rare news conference.
With over three years of his second and final term to run, Macron has been on the back foot in recent weeks after a series of crises and a growing challenge from the far-right.
Last week he announced a new cabinet with a pronounced tilt to the right, naming Gabriel Attal, 34, as France’s youngest-ever prime minister, and followed this with his first full-scale domestic press conference in half a decade.
Arctic blast ends New York snow drought, brings record cold to West
Millions of Americans awoke on Tuesday to snow, freezing rain and frigid temperatures as an Arctic blast gripped much of the United States, ending a nearly two-year “snow drought” in New York City and putting much of the West into a deep freeze.
Record-breaking cold was expected across the Rocky Mountains, Great Plains and Midwest on Tuesday, with wind chills below minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 34 degrees Celsius) reaching the mid-Mississippi Valley in the morning.
The lowest temperature in the country on Tuesday morning was -36 deg F (-38 deg C) in the small Colorado town of Briggsdale, population 134.
Scientists in China clone first rhesus monkey using new method
Scientists in China on Tuesday announced that they have cloned the first healthy rhesus monkey, a two-year-old named Retro, by tweaking the process that created Dolly the sheep.
Primates have proved particularly difficult to clone, and the scientists overcame years of failure by replacing the cloned cells that would become the placenta with those from a normal embryo.
They hope their new technique will lead to the creation of identical rhesus monkeys that can be experimented on for medical research.
Stolen Picasso, Chagall paintings worth $1.2 million found in Belgian house
Belgian police have found stolen Picasso and Chagall paintings in a basement in the city of Antwerp, local authorities said on Tuesday, adding that the artworks are still in good condition.
The paintings, Picasso’s “Tête” and Chagall’s “L’homme en prière”, were stolen from an art collector in Tel Aviv, Israel, in 2010 and are worth US$900,000 (S$1.2 million).
At the time of the theft, US$680,000 worth of jewellery was stolen as well but only the paintings have been found.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/while-you-were-sleeping-5-stories-you-might-have-missed-jan-17-2024
| 2024-01-16T22:58:02Z
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SINGAPORE – When it comes to health, maybe people should “play-play”.
Health institutions in Singapore are turning to games and rewards to spread the word about illness and disease, and also to nudge people to pick up healthier habits.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/play-your-way-to-better-health-with-games-the-doctor-ordered?utm_campaign=STPicks
| 2024-01-16T22:59:01Z
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SHENZHEN – Seek and one would find just about anything in Shenzhen.
Bordering the Hong Kong New Territories, the city is reputed for being China’s Silicon Valley, an industrial hub for electronics and technological innovation.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/shenzhen-more-than-just-a-taobao-shopping-cart-come-to-life?utm_campaign=STPicks
| 2024-01-16T22:59:12Z
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Preparations are well under way for the eighth edition of the Light to Night Festival that commences this week…
… with teams of personnel including lighting and audio technicians, fabricators and artists working on more than 60 works of art and programmes at various locations.
The marquee event of 2024’s Singapore Art Week that starts on Jan 19, the Light to Night Festival will run till Feb 8 and is the largest visual arts festival organised by National Gallery Singapore.
Interactive art installations, interdisciplinary programmes, light projections and live performances will take place around National Gallery Singapore, Victoria Theatre, The Arts House and the Padang and set the civic district abuzz.
While artists, both veteran and budding, are at the forefront of the festival, it takes entire crews behind the scenes to ensure that the installations – encompassing sculptures, lighting projections and set designs – are executed to plan.
One of the main highlights this year is Wings of Change by veteran artist Kumari Nahappan, who is known for her large-scale sculptures that often depict subjects such as fruit and seeds.
Supervised on site by the artist herself, the work on Jan 13 involved transporting eight pre-inflated saga seeds made out of canvas to the Padang.
A single giant saga seed, some 6m in height and 7.8m in diameter, was then inflated twice – once to check if its placement would obstruct guests from viewing the light projections on the facade of National Gallery Singapore, and a second time after the placement of its base was confirmed.
Because the seed was so big, six workers who specialised in inflatables had to help support it in place during inflation and made minor adjustments based on the artist’s instructions.
Rain was another issue to contend with, as many of the installations were outdoors, meaning work had to pause when there were downpours.
Take, for example, local artist Howie Kim’s installation Party Pavilion, situated at the Asian Civilisations Museum Green.
Work on the theme park-inspired piece had to wait till the rain stopped in the afternoon on Jan 12, before seven workers slowly pieced together, like a jigsaw, a sheltered platform that visitors can walk through.
Light projections, which have been present in all editions of Light to Night, require a lot of patience during the set-up and troubleshooting phase.
The 205m-long facade of National Gallery Singapore will feature light projections from Singaporean artist Teo Eng Seng and Paris-based Polish artist Milosh Luczynski in 2024.
A three-dimensional animation of the National Gallery was projected onto the actual building’s facade to precisely align 33 high-powered laser projectors.
ALL MAPPED OUT
This animation was meticulously crafted using a laser scan stencil of the building and precisely mapped onto the facade through an advanced projection mapping system.
The visual arts festival has free and ticketed experiences, and festival-goers can pre-book their tickets for select programmes at lighttonight.sg
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https://www.straitstimes.com/multimedia/graphics/2024/01/light-to-night-singapore-2024/index.html?shell
| 2024-01-16T22:59:32Z
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Waiting times at many accident and emergency (A&E) departments in public hospitals went up recently, when there was a surge in the number of respiratory infections during a new Covid-19 wave.
Public hospitals in December 2023 urged individuals with mild to moderate symptoms to visit a general practitioner (GP) clinic or polyclinic near their home amid an increase in such infections that put a strain on their operations.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/why-are-we-still-rushing-to-hospitals-when-it-s-not-an-emergency?utm_campaign=STPicks
| 2024-01-16T22:59:43Z
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SINGAPORE - For those looking to get active as part of their new year’s resolutions for 2024, there is a nagging worry as they return to the gym, football field and badminton hall.
The risk of injury looms for all, whether they are student-athletes or weekend warriors.
The Straits Times speaks to Dr Cormac O’Muircheartaigh, medical director of the Sports Medicine Lab, for his expert insights into common sports injuries and how to prevent them.
1. Ankle sprains
By far the most commonly sustained sports injury is an inversion ankle sprain, where ligaments get strained due to a twisting injury such as landing from a jump while playing basketball. This is a form of acute injury, which occurs suddenly and is usually associated with severe pain.
According to Dr O’Muircheartaigh, the majority of ankle ligaments will naturally heal with a good rehabilitation programme. But to prevent them, a good dynamic warm-up and cool-down mobility routine is the ideal solution.
Dynamic mobility drills like hip circles, high stepping and lunges with a twist are great exercises to prepare the body for more strenuous activity. Here are seven dynamic warm-up stretches to reduce the risk of acute soft tissue injuries and to counteract the effect of prolonged sitting.
2. Runner’s knee
Also known as patellofemoral pain, this injury occurs due to accumulated load between the kneecap and the groove it glides in on the femur. This is a form of overuse injury that develops when a muscle, tendon, ligament, or bone is repeatedly stressed without adequate rest.
For overuse injuries, a good regular strengthening programme stimulates muscle adaptation to stress, which strengthens it to withstand more load over time. Some suitable knee strengthening exercises include wall squats, quadricep stretches and hip bridges.
3. Neck pain
Neck pain, or pain in the cervical spine, can be caused by sitting in a bad posture for prolonged periods and being immobile in school or at work. These ailments can have a spill-on effect while playing sports.
The simple correction for this is to move regularly during the day, says Dr O’Muircheartaigh. It is important to strengthen the lumbopelvic (lower back) region to improve postural stability. Stability exercises like pelvic tilt, alternate arm and leg raises and bridging can help alleviate this nagging ache.
4. Anterior cruciate ligament tears
An anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture in the knee is one of the worst injuries an athlete can suffer, with recovery periods ranging between one to two years. These most commonly occur during sports that involve sudden stops or changes in direction such as football, basketball and skiing.
Dr O’Muircheartaigh says: “There are specific strengthening programmes that can reduce the risk of an ACL tear by more than 50 per cent. If you are involved in sports, you should be performing exercises that follow these programmes.”
These exercises focus on strengthening the hamstrings (hamstring leans), quadriceps (walking lunges) and also improving balance (toe raises). More details can be found here.
But if an ACL injury has already been sustained, Dr O’Muircheartaigh notes that there are rehabilitation protocols backed by research which assist in healing an ACL without the need for surgery.
He adds: “Not everybody is suitable for this protocol and it is quite a difficult protocol to follow, but it reinforces the fact that our body has an inherent incredible ability to heal and adapt!”
Tips to prevent injury
1. Combine static and dynamic stretching
Static stretching has not been consistently shown to reduce the risk of acute injury, according to research studies. But rather a combination of static and dynamic exercises to prepare for training and exercise has been shown to reduce the risk of injury, says Dr O’Muircheartaigh.
2. Hydrate well and get enough sleep
Dehydration and fatigue increase the risk of acute injury. Extreme sports are at higher risk of acute injury, due to the nature of the sport. Skiing when fatigued increases the risk of injury so sleeping well in advance reduces the risk of injury.
3. Progressive training
Start gradually and respect the timeline that it takes for your body to adapt to exercise and training. Dr O’Muircheartaigh says: “Our bodies are amazing and capable of adaptation, repair and regeneration. But you have to respect tissue adaptation and healing timelines.
“Muscles will recover and adapt far quicker than tendons or ligaments will. Bones and cartilage will respond well to progressive training with overloading as well, but this repair takes time.”
4. Listen to your body
Take a recovery or rest day as part of adaptation. Enjoy the fitness journey as it is investing in your physical and mental wellbeing for your future.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/hitting-the-gym-hard-in-2024-get-tips-from-a-specialist-on-how-to-prevent-sports-injuries?utm_campaign=STPicks
| 2024-01-16T22:59:54Z
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WASHINGTON – The world saw former United States president Donald Trump in the unfamiliar role of unifier in his victory speech on a freezing winter night in Iowa on Jan 15.
He delivered two punches at the Republican Party’s first nomination caucus in the 2024 presidential election – one in terms of his vote share, and the second in repositioning himself for the next contest.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/trump-takes-higher-ground-after-big-iowa-caucus-win?utm_campaign=STPicks
| 2024-01-16T23:00:15Z
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Pedro Pascal, of course, has been a total scene-stealer this first week of awards season, during which he has celebrated nominations for his impactful role in The Last of Us.
However – while his heartthrob looks and even custom slings for his recently injured shoulder have definitely garnered attention – for the Emmys on Monday night, he shared the spotlight with his sister, Lux Pascal.
While the Game of Thrones alum, 48, has always been largely private about his personal life, he hasn't shied away from heartfelt, public shout-outs to his family. Below, read all there is to know about Lux, plus Pedro's two other siblings.
Who is Pedro Pascal's sister Lux?
Lux, 31, is Pedro's youngest sister, and like her brother, she is also an actress. She graduated from Juilliard in 2023 with an MFA in acting, and has had roles in The Prince (2019), Invisible Heroes (2019), and Chilean drama series Los 80 (The 80s), which ran from 2008 to 2014.
In 2021, Lux came out as transgender, and she has been vocal about her experience, her older brother's support, and issues concerning the LGBTQIA+ community ever since.
She has reportedly been in a relationship with fellow Chilean actor José Antonio Raffo since 2011.
How has Pedro Pascal supported his sister Lux?
When Lux came out as transgender in 2021, Pedro shared a tribute to her on Instagram along with her cover on Ya, a Chilean magazine, and wrote: "Mi hermana, mi corazón, nuestra Lux," which translates to: "My sister, my heart, our Lux."
In the magazine spread publicly detailing her transition journey, Lux credited her older brother as being an "important part" of it, and recalled: "When I officially told him about my transition through FaceTime, he asked me how I felt… because I remember that he was worried," adding: "I told him, 'I'm happy.' And his answer was: 'Perfect, this is incredible.'"
MORE: Pedro Pascal shows support for trans sister Lux with latest photos
Pedro also told Esquire last year: "I wouldn't want to speak on her behalf… but she is and has always been one of the most powerful people and personalities I've ever known. My protective side is lethal, but I need her more than she needs me."
Who are Pedro Pascal's other siblings besides Lux?
Aside from little sister Lux, Pedro also has an older sister, Javiera Balmaceda, 50, and a younger brother, Nicolás Balmaceda, 36.
Similarly to Pedro, Javiera is also in the entertainment industry, working as head of local originals for Spanish-speaking Latin America for Amazon Studios. Pedro had his sister Javiera by his side at the 2023 Oscars, where the Amazon-produced film Argentina, 1985 was nominated for best international feature.
MORE: My Dentist’s Murder Trial: everything to know about Pedro Pascal's HBO true-crime drama
As for the second to youngest Pascal sibling, Nicolás isn't involved in the entertainment industry, and is instead pursuing a career in medicine. In 2019, though Pedro joked his older brother "hates attention," he gave him a birthday shout-out on Instagram, in which he revealed he was in the midst of getting a PhD in pediatric neurology.
Where is Pedro Pascal's family from?
Pedro's parents, Verónica Pascal and José Balmaceda, are originally from Chile. Pedro was only nine months old when the family fled the country and sought refuge in Denmark, and later Texas and California, for their involvement in the opposition movement against Augusto Pinochet (Chile's head of state from 1973 to 1990) and his military dictatorship.
His dad worked as a fertility doctor, while his mother – who was the niece of Andrés Pascal Allende, nephew of Salvador Allende and leader of Chile's Revolutionary Left Movement – was a child psychologist. She died of suicide in 2000, after which Pedro changed his name from José Pedro Balmaceda Pascal to Pedro Pascal.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/511406/pedro-pascal-relationship-sister-lux-all-about-siblings-family/
| 2024-01-16T23:27:16Z
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Chicago Med fans were left shocked at the end of season eight to see Dr Will Halstead leave the windy city and reunite with his love, and former colleague, Dr Natalie Manning. Although actor Nick Gehlfuss won't be returning to the NBC show, bosses Diane Frolov and Andrew Schenider tell HELLO! that Halstead's presence "is still alive" in the walls of Gaffney Chicago Medical Center.
"After six months, they've all had a long time to process his departure, but he will be referenced, and his presence is still alive in memory and in examining certain characters and the way things are done, he will be referenced," says Andrew.
The show will return to screens on January 17, 2023, after a four month wait due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strike, but the premiere will take place six months after the events of the final.
"We had to accommodate, creatively, the long hiatus so we're six months down the line from when the finale occurred and there have been some big changes in the hospital," Andrew continues, revealing that Dr Marcel Crockett is still working on 2.0 – "this is very prominent in the premiere because he hasn't used it on a patient, only in simulations, but he has to use it on a very difficult case that comes in" – while the hospital itself has now been sold to a consortium, leading to "conflict" for Sharon Goodwin.
For Dr Asher (Jessy Schram) and Dr Archer (Steven Weber), their friendship has deepened over the months, and Diane shares that we'll see Asher helping Archer "work through" his issues as he prepares to have a kidney transplant, with the donor his estranged son.
"He's getting a kidney from his son and had a very difficult relationship with his son – on a very deep level he feels he was not a good father – [so he questions], 'is he really worthy of receiving this organ, this gift from his son?' It's a hard thing for him to accept," says Andrew.
But the big change this season will be the new doctor, Dr Mitch Ripley, played by Luke Mitchell.
"Luke is a very dynamic actor and he has a lot of range as an actor," says Andrew, praising the newcomer. But it won't be as easy for Dr Ripley, as he has a history with Dr Daniel Chrles (Oliver Platt,) which will be "challenging" for the esteemed doctor to handle.
"[Ripley] interacts a great deal with Doctor Charles, sometimes in difficult ways, and he has a presence that really can be challenging for Charles – it's exciting to see them play together," shares Diane, adding: "He's coming in with a backstory with Charles that goes back to his adolescence so there's a lot to unpack between the two."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/511408/chicago-med-fans-can-expect-big-changes-season-9-will-halstead-will-have-a-presence-exclusive/
| 2024-01-16T23:27:22Z
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Dame Joan Collins, at 90 years old, made a sensational appearance at the recent 2024 Emmy Awards, captivating everyone with her age-defying grace and style.
The Dynasty star turned heads in a pale blue gown, beautifully adorned with sequins, paired with matching opera gloves.
This choice of attire not only accentuated her glamorous style but also highlighted her remarkably youthful complexion.
This stunning display set social media abuzz, with fans flocking to Twitter to express their disbelief and admiration. One fan exclaimed, "Dame Joan Collins is 90 years old and still poppin’!" Another echoed the sentiment, saying, "I would like everyone to know that Joan Collins is literally 90 years old. That’s a diva."
The compliments continued, with another adding, "Joan Collins looks ridiculous for 90 years old," and yet another stating, "I don’t understand how Joan Collins is 90 years old. Queen."
The playful and affectionate comments didn't stop there. Fans continued to marvel at her ageless beauty, with remarks like, "Dame Joan Collins serving at 90 years old," and "Living up to her name and legacy."
"The Emmys: Joan Collins has not aged since 1979," said one more. Another shared their pleasant surprise and well wishes, "I did not expect Joan Collins to appear on my tv screen. I’m glad mother is doing well. She looks phenomenal."
So, what is the secret behind Joan's remarkable youthfulness? Joan credits her nutritionist Gabriela Peacock’s advice, stating to HELLO! “Gabriela’s advice is wise and wonderful, and her tips for looking good and feeling fabulous are always priceless.”
Gabriela shed light on Joan's dietary regimen, emphasizing portion control: "I recommend to my clients that smaller portions help to maintain a balanced approach to eating and also help to regulate your blood sugar levels throughout the day to ensure you have stable energy levels," she tells HELLO!
Discussing Joan's breakfast routine, Gabriela mentioned, “Unflavoured live yogurts without a lot of sugar are great to keep your energy levels up and berries again are help will help to boost longevity and also give a bit more sweetness to the yogurts which helps.”
She also highlighted the importance of omega-3-rich foods like salmon, noting, “These foods contain essential fatty acids that play a role in supporting skin health, contributing to a radiant appearance and promoting longevity.”
Gabriela's approach to balanced meals involves having more substantial meals during the day and lighter ones in the evening, focusing on leafy vegetables and protein, especially oily fish.
The author of, 2 Weeks To A Younger You. believes this diet regime is essential for maintaining overall health and well-being.
Get the lowdown on the biggest, hottest celebrity news, features and profiles coming out of the U.S. Sign up to our HELLO! Hollywood newsletter and get them delivered straight to your inbox.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/health-and-fitness/511407/dame-joan-collins-shares-secret-to-incredibly-youthful-looks-90-after-fans-left-disbelief-at-ageless-appearance/
| 2024-01-16T23:27:28Z
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Hidden gem is definitely a phrase that we love using when it comes to travel reviews - that little hotel in the countryside, the dreamy English village that is the setting of the next huge period drama, but when it comes to the city of Karlovy Vary, it truly does earn this moniker.
While the historic location is certainly known in its native Czech Republic and other European nations, whenever a Brit thinks of the country, it will be the capital city of Prague that first springs to mind. However, just under two hours outside of Prague, by car or public transport, this spa city lies in the gorgeous Czech mountains, and while it's not the location of period dramas, huge films have used its picturesque buildings and streets for their movie scenes.
Perhaps it was because when we arrived in the city during a cold December day we were in the middle of a flurry of snow, but the beauty of Karlovy Vary was plain to see upon arrival. When Winter Wonderland was written back in 1934, it must have been this place that served as inspiration, as I was immediately put into the mood for Christmas despite being a bit 'Bah humbug' about the season beforehand.
During our time in the historic city, where legends say King Charles IV discovered a hot spring which became the town's first spa, we visited the Moser Glassworks, which produces the most luxurious Czech products with its army of glassmakers and quality checkers. One huge highlight of our trip involved a visit to the Emperor Spa.
The elegant building was originally a spa for royalty and the rich and famous, but has now been transformed into a cultural centre, housing a small concert hall. Most of the interiors have remained unchanged, meaning you can still glance around some of the old facilities and view the iconic staircase where James Bond and Le Chiffre met in Casino Royale.
Film has a long history in the surrounding mountains, with Shanghai Nights also having been filmed in the city, while James Bond also dined at the Grandhotel Pupp with Vesper Lynd, which still sells 007-themed cocktails, shaken not stirred. Pop along in July and you can spend time at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, while the aforementioned hotel has the names of movie stars carved into the paving stones on its drive.
For those who just want to soak in the beauty of the surrounding area, it's incredibly easy to do so, with the streets being an Instagrammer's dream, while the Diana funicular can sweep you into the mountains and the Diana observation tower that gifts unparalleled views of the nearby forests and mountains. Nestled right next to it is the century-old Diana Restaurant. Fashioned like an old hunting lodge with a roaring fire and wide-open spaces, the establishment offers some of the best food in the area and is a total meat-lovers dream. Vegetarian and vegan options are on hand, but you will find across the whole of the Czech Republic that these dishes aren't their main priority.
Given that I mentioned its heritage as a spa city, it would be remiss of me not to mention the spa credentials still on offer. Various natural springs dot the city, including a spring water walk, but at the centre is the thermal spa baths, located at the Hotel Thermal. You don't need to be a guest at the hotel to enjoy the facilities and during these wintery days, you will come to love the heated outdoor pool. As I swam around in the waters, I entirely forgot the outside temperature was at -2C, giving me a shock when I felt how cold my hair was. Just outside the main pool is a heated jacuzzi that is certainly the spot to unwind, beer in hand, while the interior still offers spa staples like saunas and steam rooms, with the steam being a particular favourite of mine, with its soothing music and low lighting make it the perfect spot to sit back and relax.
Now, I can rave about how great Karlovy Vary is until I'm blue in the face, but that is not to discount Prague under any circumstances. Karlovy Vary is the perfect day trip for you, but Prague should still be your main base of operations with a raft of activities, restaurants, and Instagram-worthy views to snap up.
Where to stay
When figuring out where to stay in Prague, you can do no better than at the Andaz Prague. This five-star hotel is located in the middle of the city and is just minutes away from metro stations and incredible sights. In less than ten minutes you can be viewing old guardhouses that marked the boundaries between Old and New Town or the Municipal House, which is one of the most impressive buildings I've seen in my life, with its art nouveau stylings.
The entire of the Andaz matches its surroundings and the bedrooms are a dream, and even feature a 3D lion carving just above your bed. As for the bed, you can't get a better night's sleep than with the dreamy queen-sized we slept in. An active concierge service is available to fulfil your every whim, including bringing a mouth-watering lunch direct to your room.
Special cocktails inspired by the scents of perfume populate the bar and the breakfasts served are just what you need in the morning to get you out into the city, no matter the weather (and we had a lot of snow). And given that many of us may be partial to a full English, you will be able to track one down on the hotel's menu.
A selection of spa treatments are also available, and while I sadly wasn't able to experience these, my eye was firmly planted on what sounded like a divine white chocolate treatment.
Rooms at the Andaz Prague start at £348.00 through booking.com
What to do in Prague
As a bustling city, Prague has plenty to do and if you're a sight-seer, the historic location is the perfect break for you. Wandering around the streets of Old Town, you do feel like you're back in the medieval period with the stone buildings and cobbled paths, and around every corner there is some worthy of your Instagram grid.
Special highlights included the House of the Black Madonna, a building designed in the Cubism art movement, a snowy trip to the St. Vitus Cathedral and the ultimate tourist destination of the city: the Prague astronomical clock. The gorgeously-designed clock is attached to the Old Town Hall and is the oldest astronomical clock still in operation. And as many a local will tell you, the surrounding area gets very busy ahead of a new hour as throngs gather to watch 'The Walk of the Apostles' which strikes the new hour.
And for specific experiences, the Manufaktura shop offers shelves of Czech cosmetics and locally-sourced items, which are perfect gifts for family when coming back home.
But the most notable experience I had during my three-day stay was the Beer Spa. Karlovy Vary may be home to many spas, but this unique one is located right in the heart of Prague, a ten-minute drive from the Andaz. And yes, you are bathing in beer, well natural extracts that would be brewed into beer. Now, I understand the idea of this might raise an eyebrow, but the extracts help to relax skin pores and with high vitamin B and enzymes also boosts skin regeneration.
The experience is an hour long and alongside the beer baths are an ice room and sauna and a straw bed, which I highly recommend only lying on with a towel. Elsewhere, you can sample beer bread and get free unlimited light or dark beer for the entire experience, and trust me, there is nothing like relaxing in what is akin to a beer jacuzzi with a pint in hand.
Where to eat
Prague has many restaurants for you to settle in for a nice meal - from the traditional to the experimental to ones that allow you to soak in your surroundings, and thankfully I experienced all three during my time there. To start with, there was the Municipal House Brewery, a traditional Czech beer hall with accordian players and plenty of meaty dishes that you'll more than likely be wanting to go for the half-portions when asked. Most starters are served cold, and to tell you the truth I wasn't too impressed with my pâté, but when it came to my meal, I was more than happy.
For my experimental dining experience, I had an incredible six-course meal at the Štangl restaurant, which is located just opposite the Forum Karlin. Each course was paired with a different wine, and if you weren't feeling the whole six courses, you could get a smaller three-course option. But trust me, you will want to experience all six of these treats. All the courses are prepared to bring out the tastes that you want, and considering I am not a fan of zucchini or mushroom, I was more than happy to finish off the dishes where these ingredients took centre stage.
But when it came to the food, the highlight had to be the river lunch cruise booked through Prague Boats. The food was not of the same standard as the Štangl, but its buffet-style offerings of goulash, cold meats and pasta were just what you wanted as you enjoyed a leisurely cruise up and down the River Vltava. In the snow, it was truly a winter wonderland and I would happily have done two or three trips on the cruise just to take in this magical city.
Getting there
While there are many ways to get to Prague, the best way has to be with British Airways from London City Airport. Nestled in the heart of the city, it's so easy to get to, just a DLR trip away, and check-in is a doddle, as is the return trip. Flying in business was the way to go with a delicious onboard meal served, all the drinks you could want and priority boarding, what more do you need in cold British and Czech weather?
Flights to Prague with British Airways from London City Airport start at £148.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/travel/511405/winter-break-prague-karlovy-vary/
| 2024-01-16T23:27:34Z
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Belarus is working on a new military doctrine that provides for the use of nuclear weapons for the first time, Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin said on 16 January, the European Pravda reported.
In May 2023, the defense ministers of Russia and Belarus signed documents on deploying tactical nuclear weapons from Russia to Belarus. A month later, the president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, announced that Russia delivered its first nuclear warheads to the territory of Belarus, a country bordering Ukraine to the north.
“We clearly communicate the views of Belarus on the use of tactical nuclear weapons deployed on our territory. A new section has appeared where we clearly define our allied obligations to our allies,” Belarusian Defense Minister ViktorKhrenin said at a meeting of the Security Council of Belarus.
The new military doctrine of Belarus will be submitted for approval to the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly, a representative body that operates in parallel with the parliament in Belarus. How the new doctrine could be applied to Russian nuclear weapons is unclear.
Security Council Secretary of Belarus Aliaksander Volfovich said that the deployment of Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus is intended to deter aggression from Poland, a NATO member. Aliaksander Volfovich noted that statements by Poland and other neighboring countries forced Belarus to strengthen its military doctrine but did not specify which statements he was referring to.
In June 2023, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said that Belarus had built special storage facilities on its territory to house Russian tactical nukes.
Thus, Belarus and Russia violated the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The Soviet Union joined the NPT in 1968 (obligations and rights now assumed by Russia). Belarus joined the NPT on 23 May 1992 with Ukraine and Kazakhstan. Only four countries worldwide have not joined the NPT, namely India, Israel, Pakistan, and South Sudan.
The NPT is an international treaty whose objective is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of atomic energy, and achieve nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament.
The deployment of the shorter-range, less powerful nuclear weapons is Moscow’s first move of nuclear warheads outside Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Related:
- Ukraine intel chief says Russia delivered first nuclear warheads to Belarus
- Russia deploys first batch of nuclear weapons to Belarus
- European Parliament’s resolution brands Lukashenka regime “accomplice” in Russia’s war crimes, and Belarus Russia’s “satellite state”
- More deported Ukrainian children arrive in Belarus, Lukashenka confirms
- Ukraine continues to fortify its border with Belarus despite lack of immediate threats
- No flags, no teams: Russians and Belarusians to join 2024 Olympic Games as neutral athletes
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/16/belarus-to-use-nuclear-weapons-in-new-military-doctrine/
| 2024-01-16T23:50:59Z
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The European Parliament has agreed on a resolution that proposes stripping Hungary of its EU Council voting rights. On 16 January, Member of the European Parliament Petri Sarvamaa announced this development on his X/Twitter account.
The EU’s attempt to secure a crucial €50 billion financial aid package for Ukraine faced a setback as Hungary’s Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, vetoed the proposal on 15 December 2023.
According to Sarvamaa, the parliament is set to vote on this resolution on Thursday, 18 January.
“Delivering on our promises: the final letter has now been sent to the President of the Parliament,” Sarvamaa wrote.
The resolution’s primary focus is the initiation of procedures under Article 7.2 of the EU Treaty to strip Hungary of its voting rights and to start a parliamentary investigation into the legality of the European Commission’s decision to unfreeze €10 billion in funds for Hungary in December 2023, as reported by Euractiv.
Article 7.2 allows the Parliament, with a two-thirds majority approval, to call on Hungary to answer before the European Council on its breaches of the rule of law. This could lead to the suspension of Hungary’s voting rights. The draft agreement of the resolution, as obtained by Euractiv, also directs the Committee on Legal Affairs to take the necessary steps to review the legality of the Commission’s decision before the Court of Justice.
“We are also sending a strong signal to the Commission: If they simply distribute billions of euros in order to evade Hungary’s vetoes, they will not get away with it. (…). Because the rule of law does not work in Hungary, the European Parliament is now launching this lawsuit against the Commission,” Green MEP Daniel Freund told Euractiv.
However, the move to restrict Hungary’s rights within the EU faces opposition. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has pledged to veto any decisions aimed at limiting Hungary’s rights in the European Union.
Read also:
- Zelenskyy meets with global leaders and investors at Davos, calls for confiscation of Russian assets
- Times: Europe has three-five years to prepare for Russian military threat, Estonian PM says
- Switzerland to host Global Peace Summit
- Davos communique sets stage for global cooperation on Ukraine Peace Formula
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/16/european-parliament-to-vote-on-resolution-on-stripping-hungary-of-eu-voting-rights/
| 2024-01-16T23:51:39Z
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On the evening of 16 January, the Russian army launched missiles at Kharkiv (eastern Ukraine), Oleh Syniehubov, the head of the Kharkiv Oblast State Administration, reported.
Kharkiv is located less than 50 kilometers from the Ukrainian-Russian border. Russia has been launching ballistic missiles at Kharkiv several times a week for almost two years now, mostly at night. The ballistic missiles that the Russian army launches at Kharkiv from the neighboring Belgorod region in western Russia take only a few minutes to reach the Ukrainian city.
At 9:41 pm, the Ukrainian Air Force warned Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine, of a ballistic missile threat. At 9:43 pm, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported that the city was under a missile attack and urged Kharkiv residents to take cover.
The Russian army launched missiles at Kharkiv (eastern Ukraine).
According to Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov, civilians were injured as a result of the Russian missile strike.
📹UNIAN pic.twitter.com/QigNzlVdrX
— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) January 16, 2024
According to the head of the Kharkiv Oblast State Administration, Oleh Syniehubov, Russia had struck Kharkiv with two S-300 ballistic missiles. Oleh Syniehubov said that 17 people have been reported injured, and two women are in serious condition.
The Russian missile strikes damaged residential buildings in Kharkiv, according to the head of the Kharkiv Oblast State Administration.
“A 43-year-old woman was hospitalized in serious condition. Another woman has also been seriously wounded. Twelve more people are in light and moderate condition,” the head of the Kharkiv Oblast State Administration reported.
The Mayor of Kharkiv, Ihor Terekhov, said that Russian missiles struck downtown Kharkiv.
“Strikes on the city center. Exactly where there is no military infrastructure and exactly where there are residential buildings. The attack on the center of Kharkiv is purely terrorist in nature. At least ten residential buildings were damaged. The rescuers continue to clear the rubble, which is large,” Ihor Terekhov reported.
The State Emergency Service of Ukraine is already working at the sites of the attacks, trying to pull people out from under the rubble of residential buildings damaged by Russian missile strikes.
Related:
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/16/russia-launches-missile-attack-on-kharkiv-ukraines-second-largest-city-video/
| 2024-01-16T23:52:19Z
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As she stepped out in Paris for her 50th birthday celebration, Kate Moss exuded an aura of timeless elegance, making her way to the much-anticipated party at the luxurious Ritz hotel.
Accompanied by her boyfriend, Nikolai Von Bismark, 37, and close friends, Kate's arrival in the City of Lights was nothing short of a fashion spectacle.
The supermodel, who had meticulously planned this bash, dazzled in a chic lace gown, an embodiment of style and sophistication.
This black floral frock, layered over a skimpy bodysuit, perfectly showcased her stunning figure.
The ensemble was further elevated by the addition of diamond bracelets, adding a touch of sparkle to her already mesmerizing look.
Completing this exquisite outfit was a dramatic satin cape with a champagne lining, and she opted for strappy silver heels to tie it all together.
Kate's journey to Paris for this milestone celebration was marked by style and luxury. She flew from Oxford to the French capital via a private jet, capable of hosting up to seven VIP guests, setting the tone for the lavish festivities that awaited.
The event promised an impressive gathering, with rumors that Kate would be joined by celebrity friends, including the likes of Noel Gallagher, at the Ritz.
The excitement for the celebration was palpable, as indicated by the preparations and participation of those close to her.
Lila, Kate's daughter, was seen heavily involved in the preparations, leaving their London home with bags in tow to join her mother in Paris for the celebration.
The anticipation was further heightened by Lila's Instagram story, which featured an image of the Eiffel Tower, signaling the commencement of the grand event.
Friends and fans alike took to social media to extend their love and best wishes to Kate on this significant occasion. Rita Ora, a close friend and fellow style icon, expressed her heartfelt sentiments, saying, "So grateful for ALL of our memories, too many for me to put into one post! Thank you for your guidance all of these years and your loyalty, and your work ethic is 0 to none."
Sadie Frost, another close friend who had the pleasure of celebrating Kate's pre-birthday on a tropical island, shared her joy, saying, "Happy 50th birthday @katemossagency …
"it was so so special celebrating your pre-birthday with some of our beautiful friends … there was so much fun and laughter amongst our celebratory circle #spiritualwarrior."
Get the lowdown on the biggest, hottest celebrity news, features and profiles coming out of the U.S. Sign up to our HELLO! Hollywood newsletter and get them delivered straight to your inbox.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/fashion/celebrity-style/511409/kate-moss-turns-heads-in-see-through-lace-frock-as-she-celebrates-50th-birthday-party-with-beau-nikolai-von-bismark-37/
| 2024-01-17T00:11:09Z
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WASHINGTON - The Biden administration was expected to announce plans to relist Houthi rebels as specially designated global terrorists, a US official told Reuters.
The US military has carried out a series of strikes in Yemen against anti-ship ballistic missiles in a Houthi-controlled part of the country in response to attacks by the rebel group that have disrupted Red Sea shipping.
The Iran-allied Houthi militia has threatened to expand its attacks to include US ships in response to American and British strikes on its sites in Yemen.
US President Joe Biden on Jan 12 called Yemen’s Houthi forces a “terrorist” group, after American and British warplanes, ships and submarines launched dozens of air strikes across Yemen overnight.
The Houthi militia movement has threatened a “strong and effective response”. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/biden-admin-to-relist-houthi-rebels-as-specially-designated-global-terrorists-source
| 2024-01-17T00:26:51Z
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SAN FRANCISCO - Apple’s iPhone for the first time became the world’s biggest-selling smartphone after rival Samsung’s 12-year run as leader, data showed.
According to data from the International Data Corporation (IDC) released on Jan 15, the iPhone stole Samsung’s crown in 2023 with 234.6 million units sold, compared with the South Korean firm’s 226.6 million units.
The US tech giant commanded a 20.1 per cent market share ahead of Samsung’s 19.4 per cent, the IDC said.
Analysts from the closely watched market tracker said Apple’s rise was due to the success of premium devices such as the iPhone.
They also pointed to an increasingly fragmented market for smartphones that run on the Android operating system, citing low-end Samsung rivals such as Transsion and Xiaomi as well as Honor and Google.
The success of Huawei’s well-received offerings in China also had an effect on Samsung’s drop in sales, the IDC said.
The sales data came ahead of the latest release of Samsung models expected at an event in California on Jan 17.
According to IDC, global smartphone shipments declined 3.2 per cent to 1.17 billion units in 2023, though the group said the industry was recovering after a sluggish period.
“Growth in the second half of the year has cemented the expected recovery for 2024,” the IDC said in a statement. AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/business/apple-ends-samsungs-12-year-run-as-worlds-top-smartphone-seller
| 2024-01-17T00:27:01Z
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MADRID - Businesses are failing to tackle a shortage of green skills among workers, risking delays in the transition to a lower carbon economy, a report prepared with the participation of Spanish renewable energy giant Iberdrola shows.
As the world transitions away from fossil fuels, a global lack of skills is emerging as a major hurdle holding back the development of greener industries.
“The green transition is threatened by business leaders’ failure to develop and source green skills,” the Green Skills Outlook report by Economist Impact and Iberdrola says.
The report, which includes a survey of 1,000 business leaders, looks at nine countries, including the United States, China, Britain and Spain, focusing on the energy, technology, infrastructure, transport and logistics sectors.
It defines green skills as “the knowledge, competencies, values and attributes needed to develop and support a sustainable, low-carbon and resource-efficient society”, be it via technical skills, such as installing solar panels, or broader practices like corporate sustainability reporting.
While a vast majority of business leaders surveyed see skills as the main driver of the green transition, only 55 per cent of them have put in place, or plan to, programmes for their workers to get these skills.
“This leaves a large fraction of the workforce without crucial skills training, which risks obstructing progress in the green transition,” said the report.
Overall, 62 per cent of respondents expect such bottlenecks to delay the transition, and many respondents want governments to pitch in with grants or tax relief for companies investing in green skill programmes, as well as funding for educational courses.
The research found a majority of businesses seeing more opportunities than challenges in the transition, expecting it to create more jobs than it will destroy.
Estimates by the International Energy Agency show that clean energy could create 30 million new jobs by 2030, while 13 million jobs are seen at risk in industries tied to fossil fuels.
“Skills and labour are the real key to transitioning to a greener economy and lowering carbon emissions,” said Iberdrola Executive Chairman Ignacio Galan, whose firm has deployed a number of programmes for that purpose and teamed up with shipbuilder Navantia to help it diversify into offshore wind farms. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/business/businesses-arent-doing-enough-to-address-green-skills-shortages-report
| 2024-01-17T00:27:12Z
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WELLINGTON – New Zealand businesses are less pessimistic about the economy following the election of a centre-right government, amid signs that inflation pressures are easing, potentially allowing interest rates to decline.
A net 10 per cent of firms expect the economy will deteriorate in the next six months, according to a fourth-quarter survey published on Jan 16 in Wellington by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research. That’s down from 49 per cent in the third quarter and leaves business sentiment at its brightest since the second quarter of 2021.
Fewer firms experienced rising costs, and the proportion who intended to raise prices fell for a fourth straight quarter, the survey showed. That may be good news for the country’s Reserve Bank, which warned last year that surging immigration was a risk to its inflation outlook and said interest rates may go even higher this year if necessary.
“The economy unexpectedly got some wind in its sails going into the end of 2023,” ANZ Bank New Zealand chief economist Sharon Zollner said in a note. “The RBNZ will be pleased to see the decline in direct inflation indicators, but wary of the forward-looking indicators that suggest a risk that the economy may be getting a second wind before the inflation-fighting job is done.”
Reducing Costs
The October election of a National Party-led government that has pledged to deliver income tax cuts and reduce the cost of doing business has buoyed sentiment. The economic research institute’s analysis of its survey going back to 1970 showed that confidence was on average higher whenever the centre-right was in power.
In November, the RBNZ projected that inflation would drop into the 1-3 per cent band it targets in the second half of this year, but signalled it didn’t intend to cut rates until 2025. Since those comments, an unexpected contraction in third-quarter gross domestic product has seen investors bet the Official Cash Rate could fall to 4.5 per cent by the end of the year from its current 5.5 per cent.
The institute still expects the RBNZ to hold the OCR throughout 2024, principal economist Christina Leung told a briefing.
“Its a pretty encouraging picture for the Reserve Bank,” she said. “This report is providing signs that the next move is a cut, but certainly nothing to suggest that demand is falling off the cliff that would warrant concern enough to loosen monetary policy.” BLOOMBERG
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https://www.straitstimes.com/business/economy/new-zealand-firms-more-upbeat-as-signs-inflation-could-ease
| 2024-01-17T00:27:22Z
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TOKYO - Business morale at big Japanese manufacturers slid in January for the first time in four months and was expected to remain subdued, the Reuters Tankan poll showed, underscoring concerns about weak demand from China and elsewhere.
The monthly poll, which tracks the Bank of Japan’s (BOJ) key tankan quarterly survey, found the service-sector mood improving, but it was seen deteriorating slightly over the coming three months, reflecting fragile domestic consumption.
The poll results may dash hopes the Japanese economy, the world’s third-largest, could count on external demand to offset weakness at households amid rising living costs underpinned by stubbornly weakness in the yen currency.
In the Reuters poll of about 500 large- and mid-sized companies, in which 240 firms responded on condition of anonymity, many voiced concerns about uncertainty overseas in countries such as China, Japan’s largest trade partner.
“The Chinese market remains unstable and we cannot foresee a bright future there. As a result (our) domestic client is taking a wait-to-see stance,” a paper/pulp maker company wrote in the survey on condition of anonymity.
A machinery maker manager cited cooling US-China relations, China’s slowdown, the prolonged war in Ukraine and the renewed conflict between Israel and Hamas as sources of concern on the outlook, making clients wary of raising capital spending.
Another machinery maker wrote: “Inflationary trend globally saps appetite for capital expenditure and China’s stagnant economy aggravates our sales of production materials and durable goods materials.”
There’s no shortage of worries.
A precision machinery maker voiced concerns about impact of earthquakes that struck on the New Year’s day in the Noto peninsula, northwest of Tokyo, on its factories there.
The sentiment index for manufacturers stood at +6, down six points from the previous month, dragged down by exporting sectors such as cars and electronics, according to the survey conducted between Dec 22 and Jan 12.
The index is expected to stay flat over three months ahead in April.
The service-sector index grew to +29 in January from +26 in the previous month, led by retailers, information/communications and transport/utilities. The index will edge down in April.
The BOJ’s tankan showed in December 2023 sentiment at big Japanese manufacturers hit a near two-year high in the three months to December, and that for non-manufacturers jumped to levels not seen since 1991, signalling the conditions needed to unwind monetary stimulus were falling into place.
The Reuters Tankan indexes are calculated by subtracting the percentage of pessimistic respondents from optimistic ones. A positive figure means optimists outnumber pessimists. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/business/japan-manufacturers-less-confident-as-dark-clouds-hang-over-china-global-growth
| 2024-01-17T00:27:32Z
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Consistent, coherent govt policy key for successful transition to low-carbon economy: WEF panel
Companies also should be willing to pay a “green premium” for more environmentally friendly technology, said panellists at the discussion, which included Second Minister for Trade and Industry Tan See Leng.
Great Budget Meal Hunt officially launched to allow public to crowdsource cheap meals
The BudgetMealGoWhere website allows users to search for the nearest coffee-shop budget meal options. Drinks priced at $1.20 and below are also listed.
Trump takes higher ground after big Iowa caucus win
Trump’s nod to liberals and conservatives in his victory speech may be calculated to knock out rival Nikki Haley, notes Bhagyashree Garekar.
US attacks Houthi anti-ship missiles in new strikes, vessel hit in Red Sea
The White House said the additional strikes took out ballistic missiles the Houthis were ready to launch.
Mind the costs of investment screening
S’pore is joining a club of countries with laws to screen investments on national security grounds. Vikram Khanna explains why it needs to exercise those powers sparingly.
Elderly victim avoids losing $1.5m to investment scam after police, bank intervene
The 71-year-old had made payments to different bank accounts after a foreign acquaintance promised him “quick returns”.
All aglow: Bringing the Light to Night Festival to S’pore’s civic district
Teams of personnel including lighting technicians and artists are working on more than 60 works of art and programmes at various locations.
Why are we still rushing to hospitals when it’s not an emergency?
Misconceptions about A&E departments and the need for quick solutions are driving people to hospitals when they could easily see a GP, says the writer.
Play your way to better health with games the doctor ordered
Health institutions in Singapore are turning to games and rewards to spread the word about illness and disease, and also to nudge people to pick up healthier habits.
Ajit Singh Gill, Singapore’s oldest Olympian, dies at 95
Even in his 90s, the former national hockey player’s love and passion for sport and the Olympics never diminished.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/morning-briefing-top-stories-from-the-straits-times-on-jan-17-2024
| 2024-01-17T00:27:43Z
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FLACHAU, Austria - Mikaela Shiffrin had tears in her eyes after capping an emotional few days with a record-extending 94th Alpine skiing World Cup win in a floodlit night slalom in Flachau, Austria, on Tuesday.
The American had missed weekend races in Altenmarkt-Zauchensee due to illness and then made a trip to Switzerland when partner Aleksander Aamodt-Kilde was airlifted to hospital after crashing in the Wengen downhill on Saturday.
"I'm really proud of this evening and very thankful for my whole team," said Shiffrin after coming from 0.07 behind to beat Slovakia's Petra Vlhova by 0.27 and secure her fifth career win in Flachau.
"These last days have been very challenging. They've been so supportive and helped me go see Aleks.
"The last three days I feel like I lived a lifetime," added the overall World Cup leader.
The win was Shiffrin's record-extending 57th in slalom and she now leads the World Cup standings in the discipline by 25 points. Shiffrin and Vlhova have won all the slaloms so far this season and 13 of the last 14.
Shiffrin also tied Ingemar Stenmark's record of 81 slalom podiums with her sixth win of the season.
Sweden's Olympic giant slalom champion Sara Hector finished third, her first World Cup slalom podium.
The next races this weekend are on home snow for Vlhova in the Slovakian resort of Jasna. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/alpine-skiing-shiffrin-takes-94th-world-cup-win-in-flachau-night-slalom
| 2024-01-17T00:27:53Z
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Russia said on Tuesday that it was increasingly apparent to the world that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's plan to resolve the nearly two-year war had no hope of succeeding and dismissed meetings devoted to it as "pointless and harmful".
The fourth in a series of meetings bringing together officials from several dozen countries - but not Russia - was held this week in Davos. A commentary on the Russian Foreign Ministry's website said the meeting had exposed differences between participants and produced no increase in support for the proposals.
"There is a growing understanding that no overall, fair and sustainable peace can be achieved by focusing on the ultimatum of the 'Zelenskiy formula,'" the commentary said.
"All such meetings ... including the Davos gathering and those to follow it, are pointless and harmful for settling the Ukrainian crisis."
Russia is pointedly not invited to the meetings centred on Zelenskiy's peace plan, which calls for withdrawal of all Russian troops from Ukraine, recognition of its 1991 post-Soviet borders and a mechanism to bring Moscow to account.
Zelenskiy has ruled out talks with Moscow while Russian troops remain in the country. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday, he urged the West to tighten sanctions pressure on Moscow and to step up support for Kyiv.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Ukraine's statehood could suffer an "irreparable blow" if the pattern of the war continued, and that Russia would never be forced to abandon the gains it had made in its military campaign.
Ukraine has sought through the meetings and other diplomatic moves to garner greater support from the "global south," with many countries having stayed on the sidelines in the conflict.
Zelenskiy's Chief of Staff, Andriy Yermak, said there were participants at the Davos meeting from 18 Asian countries, 12 African countries and six South American countries.
The Swiss government agreed after the latest gathering on Zelenskiy's peace plan to host a global peace summit on Ukraine at Zelenskiy's request.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the Davos talks as "simply talking for the sake of talking," saying there could be no moves towards a settlement without Russia's participation. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/russia-calls-ukraine-peace-meetings-pointless-says-plan-cant-succeed
| 2024-01-17T00:28:04Z
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LONDON - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faces a major parliamentary showdown on Wednesday over his plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, with many of his own lawmakers threatening to rebel after they lost an initial bid to toughen his proposed law.
The government comfortably defeated amendments to strengthen the bill late on Tuesday that had been backed by almost a fifth of lawmakers from Sunak's Conservative Party. But he only won because most opposition parties voted against the rebels, whose action has again exposed deep divisions in the governing party.
The Conservative rebels, who backed changes to close what they say are loopholes in the legislation, will now have to decide whether to back down, or join forces with opposition parties to try to defeat the government at the law's final stage in the House of Commons, known as a third reading.
While one senior rebel lawmaker said the group had enough backing to defeat the government, some centrist Conservatives believe only a small number will vote against the legislation mindful of pressure from voters to tackle migration.
With an election due later this year, many Conservative lawmakers are fearful of losing their parliamentary seats.
The resignations of two Conservative vice-chairmen before the start of voting on Tuesday underscored the divisions in the party over the legislation, which Sunak believes is crucial for reviving the Conservatives' popularity before the election.
Simon Clarke, a former Conservative minister, said he was prepared to vote against the government, because the patience of the public with illegal migration would soon be "exhausted" and he did not believe the legislation as drafted would work.
Defeat would be a huge embarrassment for Sunak and would severely weaken his authority over his party.
SMALL BOATS
Sunak has made stopping arrivals of asylum seekers crossing over from France on small boats a central aim of his government.
Most of them say they are fleeing wars and abuse in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia and the majority of arrivals in the last five years whose cases have been completed have been given refugee status.
But the British government says about 90% making the journey are men, and many of them are economic migrants rather than genuine refugees.
The legislation has alienated both moderate Conservatives, who are worried about Britain breaching its human rights obligations, and right-wingers, who contend it does not go far enough.
About 60 Conservative members of parliament voted for a rebel amendment that would have prevented any international law from blocking deportations.
That number would spell defeat for the government in Wednesday's final vote if they all vote against the legislation alongside opposition parties, who say the Rwanda plan is unworkable and a waste of money.
In a pointed reminder to Conservative lawmakers, Sunak's spokesman said on Tuesday that passing the legislation was the fastest way to get flights off to Rwanda.
So far no asylum seekers have been sent to Rwanda because of legal challenges. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/uk-pm-sunaks-authority-faces-test-in-showdown-over-rwanda-asylum-plan
| 2024-01-17T00:28:14Z
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Two Russian missiles struck a residential area in the centre of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second city, on Tuesday, injuring 17 people, two of them seriously, and badly damaging homes, local officials said.
Rescue teams were sifting through piles of rubble to establish whether others were hurt. The city's mayor described two "powerful explosions" and said at least 10 dwellings had been damaged.
Regional Police Chief Volodymyr Tymoshko told public broadcaster Suspilne that one missile hit a roadway, the other a three-storey apartment building. A fire broke out on two floors of a hospital opposite the building, but was extinguished.
Suspilne posted an online photo showing rescue teams poring carefully over piles of smashed building materials.
Kharkiv Regional Governor Oleh Synehubov, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said 17 people had been injured. Twelve were in hospital, including two women who were seriously hurt.
Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov, also writing on Telegram, said the missiles struck "precisely where there is no military infrastructure and precisely where there are in fact residences."
"There are at least 10 damaged buildings. Rescue teams are continuing to go through the rubble. And there is plenty of rubble."
Kharkiv, in Ukraine's northeast, has been a frequent target of attacks, but in the space of the nearly two-year-old conflict, the city has not fallen into Russian hands. Russian missiles hit a hotel in the city last week, injuring 11 people. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/russian-missiles-hit-ukraines-kharkiv-17-injured
| 2024-01-17T00:28:24Z
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Chicago Fire season 12 will premiere on Wednesday January 17, and will also mark the final episode of Alberto Rosende's Blake Gallo, as he will be leaving the show after four years – and so it is no surprise to learn that there were a lot of tears on set during his final scenes.
"Gallo has been a big part of the show for a long time and had a Super Bowl season last season with a great journey, and so the reason he leaves makes sense and the timing kind of made sense," showrunner Andrea Newman tells HELLO! before the show's return to NBC.
"But I will say that it's hard to say goodbye to Gallo and it's particularly hard for Violet (Hanako Greensmith) and Ritter (Daniel Kyri) as well, as they were quite the trio, - and in real life too - so there were a lot of tears on the set that day in real life."
Andrea continued: "There's a line from Boden in the premiere, which is along the lines of, 'Once you've been a part of 51 you're always a part of 51,' so the door is always open to see Gallo again and, and he's certainly a huge part of the family."
Shadowhunters star Alberto joined the series in season eight as the reckless new firefighter candidate. He was upped to a regular in 2019 and has become a core member of the firehouse.
This 12th season will also see the departure of Kara Killmer's Sylvie Brett, but before she heads out to, presumably, Portland, Oregon to live with her fiance Matthew Casey (Jesse Spencer).
Andrea shares that things are going to get bad for Brett before they can get better.
"Brett is really going to throw herself into the job in a whole new way and she will have some high-stakes, big action stories, more than she's ever had and unlike anything she's had before," Andrea says before teasing: "And she's going to take some risky, risky ventures out there – and in one case, maybe too risky."
Kara joined the show in season three; both Kara and Alberto have also appeared in the spin-off shows Chicago PD and Chicago Med.
It is thought that the actress will appear in the first half of the upcoming season and depart part of the way through. In the show's 10th season, Jesse Spencer, who played Sylvie's boyfriend Captain Matthew Casey, left the show, with his character moving to Oregon.
Sylvie and Matthew begin a long-distance relationship, which she ended during the 11th season premiere. However, the season ended with Matthew returning to propose to Sylvie, and although we did not see her answer, promotional pictures have confirmed she is wearing an engagement ring.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/511412/chicago-fire-cast-were-in-tears-filming-alberto-rosendes-final-scenes-as-blake-gallo-exclusive/
| 2024-01-17T01:43:19Z
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OTTAWA - The number of study permits Canada issued to Indian students fell sharply late last year after India ejected Canadian diplomats who would process the permits and fewer Indian students applied due to a diplomatic dispute over the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada, a top Canadian official told Reuters.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller added in an interview that he believes the number of study permits to Indians is unlikely to rebound soon. Diplomatic tensions erupted after Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in June said there was evidence connecting Indian government agents to the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia.
The tensions are likely to weigh on the numbers going forward, Miller said.
"Our relationship with India has really halved our ability to process a lot of applications from India," Miller said.
In October, Canada was forced to pull 41 diplomats, or two-thirds of its staff, out of India on orders from New Delhi. In addition, the dispute has prompted Indian students to seek to study in other countries, a spokeswoman for the minister said.
Those factors led to an 86% drop in study permits issued to Indians in the fourth quarter of last year from the previous quarter, to 14,910 from 108,940, according to official data that have not been previously reported.
C. Gurus Ubramanian, counselor for the High Commission of India in Ottawa, said some Indian international students were looking at other options besides Canada due to "concerns, in the recent past, regarding lack of residential and adequate teaching facilities" at some Canadian institutions.
Indians have formed the largest group of international students in Canada in recent years, with more than 41% - or 225,835 - of all permits going to them in 2022.
"I can't tell you about how the diplomatic relationship will evolve, particularly if police were to lay charges," Miller said. "It's not something that I see any light at the end of the tunnel on."
International students are a cash cow for Canadian universities as they bring in about C$22 billion ($16.4 billion) annually and slowdown will be a blow to the institutions.
In June, Canada said there were "credible" allegations linking Indian agents to the murder of Nijjar in a Vancouver suburb. India has rejected that allegation. Canadian authorities have yet to charge anyone for the killing.
Last year, the U.S. Justice Department charged a 52-year-old man who had worked with an Indian government employee with plotting to assassinate a New York City resident who advocated for a Sikh sovereign state in northern India.
The Canadian government also has been seeking to reduce the overall number of international students entering the country, in part as a response to an ongoing housing shortage.
"Right now we have a challenge with the sheer volume" of students coming in, Miller said. "It's just gotten out of control and needs to be reduced - I would say - significantly over a short period of time."
Miller said the government would introduce other measures to lower the volume of international students during the first half of this year, including a possible cap.
Canada is a popular destination for international students since it is relatively easy to obtain work permits after finishing courses.
The government intends to address "a very generous" program for postgraduate work permits and to crack down on "fly-by-night" universities, called designated learning institutes, he said.
The government already plans curbs to the number of off-campus work hours for international students, which the food service and retail industries fear could cause labor shortages.
In 2023, the government projected that some 900,000 international students would study in Canada that year, about three times that of a decade ago. Miller said 40% of those students - or some 360,000 - were Indian. The number of permits given to Indian students declined by 4% last year, but they remained the largest group. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/canada-minister-says-study-permits-to-students-from-india-drop-due-to-dispute
| 2024-01-17T01:59:26Z
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