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DAVOS, Switzerland - To have policies that succeed in developing and growing the economy, they must be accompanied by social policies at an industrial scale.
A systematic approach is needed to developing human capital, which requires first and foremost education systems that provide high-quality education for all, said President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan 17.
In today’s environment, this will require the constant replenishing of skills, which is hard to get right, as it is not possible to bet on specific skills that will be relevant five or 10 years from now, he noted.
But broadly speaking, the areas of digitalisation, artificial intelligence and green energy are going to be important, and there are clusters of skills required for these, he said.
He was responding to a question on how Singapore, which is known for its public sector and private sector skills, takes on long-term bets and builds up the human capital and capabilities needed for those.
Mr Tharman said: “You might not get it precisely right, but you can get it roughly right. We have to do that with some gusto. And that too requires the public sector to participate in the game. It requires mobilising employers, and motivating individuals.”
In contrast, countries that focus purely on industrial policy – for instance, by encouraging investors to set up a plant in a particular town – will find over time that it will cost more and more, as they will not have the skills ecosystem to sustain it, he added.
The panel, consisting of former and current government members, economists and private sector representatives, was discussing the role and impact of governments as investors on the private sector.
Panel moderator Saadia Zahidi, managing director at WEF, had observed that there are people, even in advanced economies, who are not confident their governments have the skills and capabilities to make the right long-term big bets, even if they are thinking of the public good.
Mr Tharman noted that today’s industrial policies risk crowding out other countries.
While some of the motivation for these policies is good, such as to drive down the costs of low-carbon or zero-carbon technologies, the other motivation, often undisguised, is geopolitical.
“It’s about achieving a lead over someone else,” he said. “It’s a complicated game. Countries with the deepest pockets, or the ability to borrow the largest amounts of money without suffering a credit rating loss, are at an advantage over the rest.”
For example, a country that offers subsidies that lower the cost of energy would be at an advantage over another country with policies like carbon taxes to incentivise the use of low-carbon technology over fossil fuels.
“Realistically, countries do want to be ahead of others. But at least 80 per cent of their efforts has to be in developing their capabilities rather than in making sure someone else doesn’t catch up,” said Mr Tharman.
On the topic of governments as investors, Dr Lee Kai-Fu, founder of Chinese start-up 01.AI, which builds large language models, said there were benefits to getting governments involved as such.
They have the means to bet on technological trends with a view to the long term and patience to wait it out that can lead to big success.
“The private sector cannot do that. I’m a private sector investor, and if I invested that way, the fund will be out of business very quickly,” he said.
And even if the long-term investments do not pan out, they serve the important function of creating a brain trust.
He cited the example of China, which in 2005 rolled out a major national initiative to invest in new energy technology, such as new types of batteries and solar panels.
This has become a successful industry today, with China having 80 per cent of the world’s solar panel market share and many of the largest battery companies, but it was 18 years in the making, he said.
Many companies funded back then actually did not succeed, he added.
“But that created a brain trust so that when the timing became right, they came back and built some of the best solar panel companies,” said Dr Lee.
The risk for governments is that waiting 10 or 15 years for a return on its investment may lead to criticism or cause cost challenges, he added.
Mr Faisal Alibrahim, minister of economy and planning in Saudi Arabia, said there is now momentum to think long-term about solving challenges such as climate action and technological disruption, and that gives rise to opportunities for both the public and private sectors to work together.
“But that definitely means we should be okay with the private sector profiting and using that profit to good use, and we should be okay with governments becoming a stronger partner with the private sector,” he said.
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| 2024-01-18T02:39:41Z
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Follow our live blog for more updates.
SINGAPORE - Transport Minister S. Iswaran was handed 27 charges in court on Jan 18.
A court officer told the court the charges were read to him before the hearing.
Iswaran, who was arrested in July 2023 by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), arrived at the State Courts at about 8am on Jan 18.
He arrived with his legal team, which includes Senior Counsel Davinder Singh from Davinder Singh Chambers, and did not comment when The Straits Times approached him.
The prosecution team is led by Chief Prosecutor Tan Kiat Pheng, who is assisted by two Deputy Public Prosecutors, Jiang Ke Yue and Kelvin Chong.
Iswaran told the court he intends to claim trial.
The court heard that the charges are two counts of corruption, 24 counts for obtaining items from someone he had business dealings with as a public servant and one for obstructing the course of justice.
Court documents show that most of the offences he faces involve property tycoon Ong Beng Seng, who brought Formula One to Singapore in 2008.
In September 2022, Iswaran had allegedly corruptly obtained from Mr Ong gratification with a total value of about $145,434 as inducement for advancing his business interests in matters relating to a contract between Singapore GP and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).
He also allegedly obtained from Mr Ong gratification valued at $20,848.03 in December 2022 for advancing his business interests in matters relating to a contract between Singapore GP and the STB and a proposal for a contract with the STB.
He had also allegedly obtained, as a public servant, valuable things with a total value of about $218,058.95 from Mr Ong between Nov 2015 and Dec 2021.
Iswaran had also allegedly obstructed the course of justice on or about May 25, 2023.
Iswaran, 61, was arrested by CPIB on July 11, 2023, following its investigation into a separate matter. He was then released on bail.
He was instructed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to take a leave of absence until investigations were completed.
His monthly pay was reduced to $8,500 until further notice, and he continues to draw his MP allowance.
On Jan 9, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing provided an update in response to a parliamentary question.
He said the CPIB has completed its investigation into Iswaran and the matter was before the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC).
The AGC has the prosecutorial discretion to decide whether a person is charged and the charge on which he is prosecuted.
Iswaran was elected into Parliament in 1997 as an MP for West Coast GRC, where he has served for the last 26 years.
He was promoted to full minister in the Prime Minister’s Office in 2011, and has held ministerial positions in the ministries of education, home affairs, and communications and information.
Mr Ong was also arrested on July 11 as part of the corruption probe.
This story is developing.
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| 2024-01-18T02:39:51Z
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SINGAPORE - Transport Minister S. Iswaran has resigned from the People’s Action Party (PAP) amid a corruption case against him.
He will also be stepping down as Transport Minister and West Coast GRC MP.
Iswaran will also repay his salary as Minister and allowances as MP from the commencement of the CPIB’s investigations in July 2023, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Jan 18. Iswaran has been on a leave of absence since July 11.
In his resignation letter to PM Lee dated Jan 16, Iswaran said the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) charged him with various offences.
“I reject the allegations in the charges and will now focus on clearing my name. Given the circumstances, I feel it is right for me to resign from Cabinet, as a Member of Parliament and as a member of the PAP,” he added.
In a separate letter dated Jan 17, Iswaran wrote to PM Lee to say that he would be returning his salary and MP allowance received since the commencement of CPIB investigations.
“My family and I have decided to return the monies because we cannot in all good conscience benefit from them when I was unable, on account of the Investigations, to discharge my duties as a Minister and Member of Parliament,” said Iswaran.
He added that he will not be seeking the return of these monies if he is acquitted.
Responding to Iswaran’s letter, PM Lee on Jan 17 said he was disappointed and saddened that Iswaran was leaving politics in these circumstances.
“But it is essential that I deal with such matters rigorously in accordance with the law. It is the right thing to do. We must uphold the integrity of the Party and the Government. I am sure you understand the importance of doing so. Singaporeans expect no less,” he said.
In a separate statement on Jan 18, PMO said that effective Jan 18, Acting Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat will replace Iswaran as Transport Minister. He will also be appointed Second Minister for Finance.
Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu will be the new Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations.
Earlier on Jan 18, Iswaran appeared before a district judge and was charged with two counts of corruption over bribes.
He is accused of accepting more than $160,000 from hotelier Ong Beng Seng to advance Mr Ong’s business interests in a Singapore Grand Prix contract with the Singapore Tourism Board in September and December 2022.
Iswaran also faces 24 charges of accepting valuable items worth more than $218,000, including Singapore Grand Prix tickets, between November 2015 and December 2021 from Mr Ong while being a public servant, and one charge of obstructing justice in May 2023.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/iswaran-resigns-as-transport-minister-from-the-pap-amid-charges-including-corruption
| 2024-01-18T02:40:02Z
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DAVOS, Switzerland - Most people view water simply as a day-to-day resource, but water is also both a victim and cause of climate change, as seen in droughts in countries such as the Netherlands – long known for an abundance of water – and the loss of moisture in soil and forests, said panellists at the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Jan 17.
The issues related to water are low-hanging fruit in tackling climate change, as they can be solved through proven technologies and available financial resources, said President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, a panellist speaking in Davos, Switzerland, where the forum is being held from Jan 15 to 19.
First, however, governments and organisations need to understand the role it plays in the economy and climate change, said the panel, in a discussion about water and its role in achieving sustainability
This would help accelerate and scale up solutions looking at efficient management of water and also help advise policy around water pricing, said the panellists, who included members of the Global Commission on the Economics of Water, of which Mr Tharman is a co-chair. The commission is a global project to transform water governance.
Mr Tharman said solving the problems around water management is achievable within a reasonable period of time “if we organise ourselves well and if we finance this so that everyone benefits”.
He added that the technologies and innovations required are already known, and can be financed with resources from the global market system.
“What’s required… are changes in the way we govern water, together with biodiversity and everything else that it takes to solve the climate crisis. It’s changes in governance and changes in the way we finance,” he added.
There is proven technology that needs to be scaled up and made affordable to the ordinary farmer in India or Africa, and for local municipalities everywhere in the developing world, he said.
It also needs to be implemented at scale in the most advanced countries, he added.
Another panellist, Dr Kirsten Schuijt, director-general at conservation organisation WWF International, pointed out that while water has direct economic value given its role in food and energy production, it also has huge indirect economic value, for instance, through wetlands and other freshwater ecosystems, which play a key role in processes like water purification and floodwater control.
“The problem is that we often don’t realise what that economic value is, and how that actually impacts us as people,” she said.
She added that while there are local communities in some countries such as Kenya and Malawi whose livelihoods depend on water, there are people in other parts of the world who take the availability of water for granted.
“We need to include the assessment of freshwater availability in our risk assessments as corporates as part of water stewardship, and be prepared for what will come over the next years as climate change is going to be impacting us wherever we sit,” she said.
Mr Ulrik Gernow, chief operating officer of Danish pump manufacturer Grundfos, said water provision and management is ultimately a business.
“If there is a fair price of water, it will incentivise investment in water. It will incentivise actually innovating in water… putting new solutions in place, encouraging start-ups to actually come into this because… there’s actually good return on investment of actually doing the work,” he said.
He added that putting a higher value on water will lead to greater motivation for being more thoughtful about managing water demand and also increase the deployment of water reuse technologies.
Mr Tharman said it is not only about scaling up one or two big innovations, but scaling up categories of innovations that would allow for competition and different experiments to flourish.
If the challenge is known and the solutions exist, what is required from the public sector is to define the challenge, explain how it is going to incentivise private investment, then regulate the solutions and call for bids, he said.
The public sector’s role in these new areas is to drive down the costs of new solutions by moving faster than the market would on its own.
“That’s what happened in solar. That’s what’s going to happen here as well. So the task of the public sector is to co-invest, mitigate risk and also to set standards and regulations,” he said.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/solving-the-issue-of-water-is-low-hanging-fruit-in-tackling-climate-crisis-president-tharman-at-wef
| 2024-01-18T02:40:23Z
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ZURICH - Israel will be allowed to participate in ice hockey’s U20 World Championships Division III tournament in Bulgaria after the sport’s governing body received safety assurances from Bulgarian authorities, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) said on Jan 17.
In early January, the IIHF announced that Israel had been barred from participating in international competitions, citing safety concerns.
“We are grateful to the Bulgarian authorities, the Ministry of Youth and Sport, Ministry of Interior, the local police and all our stakeholders for their support and assistance in this matter,” the IIHF said in a statement.
The IIHF announced that they will make further decisions regarding Israel’s participation in future tournaments in February.
The U20 World Championship Division III, Group A will take place in Sofia from Jan 22-29.
Hamas fighters killed 1,200 Israelis on Oct 7 in the deadliest Palestinian militant attack in Israel’s history, prompting an Israeli retaliatory ground and air offensive.
Since then more than 24,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/israel-s-ice-hockey-team-cleared-for-u20-world-championships-after-federation-s-reversal
| 2024-01-18T02:40:34Z
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MELBOURNE - Highlights of the fifth day of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Thursday, all times local (GMT +11):
1115 - PLAY UNDERWAY ON COOL DAY AT MELBOURNE PARK
Play got underway as scheduled on the outer courts at Melbourne Park, where there were blustery conditions with the temperature a cool 19 degrees Celsius (66 degrees Fahrenheit).
Australian Open order of play on Thursday
READ MORE
PREVIEW-Tennis-Undercooked Medvedev looks to beat the heat in bid for Australian Open crown
Djokovic, Sabalenka go through after Jabeur ousted by talented teen
Djokovic survives Popyrin scare to reach third round
Sabalenka glides past Fruhvirtova into third round
Jabeur shocked, contenders through as rain hits Melbourne
De Minaur has 'more to show' in Australian Open campaign
Sinner swats aside De Jong and dreams of Baywatch bod REUTERS
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| 2024-01-18T02:40:44Z
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ATKINSON, New Hampshire - Donald Trump's schedule on Wednesday summed up the unprecedented nature of this year's election: spend the day in court fighting a defamation case and the evening rallying supporters in his bid to become the next U.S. president.
That is how the former president, the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican nomination and the world's most famous defendant, has chosen to divide his time this week as he pursues his political comeback.
Trump was not obliged to be in the federal courtroom in Manhattan, where a judge warned him he could be kicked out if he was disruptive. His appearances for the civil court case are entirely voluntary.
From there, he planned to spend Wednesday evening on the campaign trail in New Hampshire ahead of the state's Republican presidential primary next week.
It is an unusual strategy for an extraordinary situation: a major presidential candidate trying to win the White House while facing a fusillade of federal and state criminal charges, as well as the civil defamation trial and a civil fraud trial.
But Trump and his campaign are keenly aware of the publicity and sympathy his court appearances can generate with his loyal base of supporters while he attempts to stave off challenges from Republican rivals Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis.
“Nobody else can take this crap," Trump said to the hundreds of people who had lined up in blowing snow and pelting ice outside a country club in Atkinson, New Hampshire, on Tuesday night to see him.
The crowd burst into sustained applause.
Trump faces dozens of federal and state charges related to attempts to undermine the 2020 election as well as a federal prosecution for mishandling classified documents. He has denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges, contending that the cases are politically motivated. The Justice Department says it acts without political bias.
The federal case Trump is attending this week is a civil one, the damages phase of the defamation trial for writer E. Jean Carroll, who claims Trump destroyed her reputation and should pay millions of dollars in damages for denying in 2019 that he had raped her nearly a quarter of a century earlier.
At his rally in Atkinson, he griped about the dual commitments.
“Nobody’s ever had to do this before,” he said. “These people are disgraceful.”
SPLIT SCREEN
The day after a resounding win on Monday in Iowa, where he trounced both DeSantis and Haley by about 30 percentage points in the state's first-in-the-nation caucus, Trump could have taken a victory lap around New Hampshire. Instead, he took a seat in the New York courtroom to observe jury selection in the defamation case.
He didn’t leave the federal court building in lower Manhattan until midafternoon, posting on his Truth Social platform that he should have been in New Hampshire but “had to spend time in a Federal Courthouse with a Trump Hating, Radical Left Judge.”
His supporters, meanwhile, waited for hours in storm-tossed New Hampshire after Trump’s plane was delayed by the weather.
“We froze our rear ends off trying to get in here!” said Phil Caron, 81, who had come from neighboring Massachusetts.
It was the first Trump event for Cat Wiggins, 51, from Hampton, New Hampshire. She didn’t mind waiting.
“I am totally stoked,” she said, adding that she was on Trump’s side with regard to his legal woes. She said the 2020 election, which Democrat Joe Biden won, was “stolen.”
Trump took the stage two hours late, regaling the crowd with how difficult it been there to get there. His flight was a perilous one, he said, and the pilot had urged him not to go amid heavy snow and the high winds.
“This was a little rocky tonight,” he said and then suggested that he might not have made it to his rally at all. “That would have been a pretty big story, right?”
It was the kind of tale the former president loves to tell on the campaign trail, embellished for dramatic effect, casting himself as the stalwart hero braving obstacles for his devoted fans. They ate it up.
The E. Jean Carroll defamation trial will stretch at least until next week, with Trump intending to shuttle between New York and New Hampshire as he campaigns ahead of the primary on Tuesday.
The ping-pong travel pattern is likely to repeat throughout the election year.
Trump's federal trial in Washington related to the election charges is scheduled to start on March 4, the day before Super Tuesday, when 16 states and one U.S. territory hold Republican nominating contests.
A New York state case in which Trump is charged in connection with hush money payments to a porn star comes in late March. The federal classified documents trial in Miami is scheduled for May.
Trump aims to have the Republican nomination wrapped up by then. He is expected to face a greater challenge from Haley in New Hampshire, with its mix of moderate and independent voters, than he did in Iowa. But he remains the favorite in the Republican primaries to come.
Until then, he apparently hopes to use his time in courtrooms to his full advantage. REUTERS
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| 2024-01-18T02:40:54Z
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SAN SALVADOR - The last woman imprisoned in El Salvador on charges linked to abortion on Wednesday called for people in the Central American country to stop denouncing women who suffer obstetric emergencies, in her first public comments since her release.
El Salvador has one of the most draconian abortion bans in the Americas, which critics say extends to women who suffer miscarriages and stillbirths. Many women have been sentenced to decades in prison on charges of killing their children.
The 28-year-old woman, known as Lilian, was the last woman still imprisoned on such charges, according to two local civil rights groups. Others still face judicial proceedings.
"I call on people stop denouncing other innocent women," Lilian told a press conference after a judge last month acquitted her of a 30-year sentence after seven years behind bars.
The civil rights groups said Lilian gave birth to a girl in a public hospital, but the baby died 72 hours later while under the care of doctors. Lilian was, however, prosecuted for abandonment and neglect, and later for aggravated homicide.
Years later, a judge reviewed the 2015 sentence and acquitted Lillian on the grounds that both she and her daughter were in a vulnerable condition in the hospital when the events occurred, the groups said.
Lilian, who is also the mother of a 10-year-old, said she was happy to be reunited with her family.
The groups, the Citizens' Group for the Decriminalization of Abortion and the Feminist Collective, since 2012 have campaigned for the release of women facing up to 50 years in prison on charges of aggravated homicide.
They say their campaigns have helped release 73 women, though another six cases are being processed and 11 remain active because the attorney general's office decided not to file the appeals. These women are currently not in prison.
El Salvador's attorney general's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Central American neighbors Nicaragua and Honduras, as well as the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean, also impose blanket bans on abortion, including in cases of rape and when the mother's life is at risk. REUTERS
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| 2024-01-18T02:41:05Z
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CHICAGO – With Chicago temperatures sinking below zero, electric vehicle charging stations have become scenes of desperation: depleted batteries, confrontational drivers and lines stretching out onto the street.
“When it’s cold like this, cars aren’t functioning well, chargers aren’t functioning well, and people don’t function so well either,” said Mr Javed Spencer, an Uber driver who said he had done little else in the last three days besides charge his rented Chevy Bolt and worry about being stranded with a dead battery – again.
Mr Spencer, 27, said he set out Jan 14 for a charging station with 48.2 km left on his battery. Within minutes, the battery was dead. He had to have the car towed to the station.
“When I finally plugged it in, it wasn’t getting any charge,” he said. Recharging the battery, which usually takes Mr Spencer an hour, took five hours.
With more people owning electric vehicles than ever before, cold snaps this winter have created headaches for electric vehicle owners, as freezing temperatures drain batteries and reduce driving range.
And the problems may persist a little longer. Chicago and other parts of the United States and Canada this week have been stunned by bitterly cold temperatures. On Jan 16, wind chills plummeted near minus 34 deg C across much of the Chicago area, according to the National Weather Service. Dangerously low temperatures and waves of snow are expected to stick through the end of the week.
“It’s kind of like, I don’t really want a Tesla”
Vehicles use more energy to heat their batteries and cabin in cold weather, so it is normal to see energy consumption increase, Tesla reminds users in a post on its website, where it offers a few tips for drivers: Keep the charge level above 20 per cent to reduce the impact of freezing temperatures.
Tesla also recommends that drivers use its “scheduled departure” feature to register the start of a trip in advance, so the vehicle can determine the best time to start charging and preconditioning. That allows the car to operate at peak efficiency from the moment it starts.
In a painfully chilly car park in Chicago on Jan 16, Tesla drivers huddled in their cars waiting for a charge.
That morning, Mr Nick Sethi, 35, an engineer in Chicago, said he had found his Tesla frozen shut.
He spent an hour in minus 20 deg C temperatures struggling with the locks.
Finally, he was able to chisel out the embedded trunk handle to open it, clambering in and driving his Model Y Long Range SUV 8 km to the closest supercharging station. He joined a long line of Tesla drivers.
All 12 charging posts were occupied, with drivers slowing the process down slightly by staying inside their vehicles with the heat on high.
“It’s been a roller-coaster ride,” Mr Sethi, who moved to Chicago from Dallas last spring, said of owning a Tesla through a string of brutally cold days. “I’ll go through the winter and then decide whether I keep it.”
A few charging posts down, Ms Joshalin Rivera was also experiencing a bit of buyer’s remorse. She sat with the heat blasting inside her 2023 Tesla Model 3 as she juiced up the battery.
“If you’re waiting in that line and you only have 50 miles (80.47 km), you’re not going to make it,” Ms Rivera said, gesturing to the line of vehicles stretched out onto Elston Avenue. She said that she had seen a Tesla run out of battery shortly after a driver attempted to cut the line.
In normal conditions, Ms Rivera’s car can drive up to 439 km on a single, 30-minute charge. This week, Ms Rivera said she has awakened to find about one-third of her car battery drained from the overnight cold. As temperatures plummeted, she spent hours every morning waiting in line and recharging the battery.
“It’s kind of like, I don’t really want a Tesla,” she said.
Why does cold weather drain electric vehicle batteries?
Unlike cars with internal combustion engines, an electric vehicle has two batteries: a low-voltage and a high-voltage. In particularly cold weather, the lower-voltage, 12-volt battery can also lose charge, like it does in traditional vehicles.
When that happens, the EV cannot charge at a fast charger until the low voltage battery has been jump-started, said Mr Albert Gore III, a former Tesla employee who is now the executive director of the Zero Emission Transportation Association, which represents automakers including Tesla and has released a tips sheet for operating electric vehicles in cold weather.
The challenge for electric vehicles is the two sides of the battery – the anode and the cathode – have chemical reactions that are slowed during extremely cold temperatures. That affects both the charging and the discharging of the battery, said Mr Jack Brouwer, director of the Clean Energy Institute and a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at the University of California, Irvine.
“It ends up being very difficult to make battery electric vehicles work in very cold conditions,” Mr Brouwer said. “You cannot charge a battery as fast or discharge a battery as fast if it’s cold. There’s no physical way of getting around.”
Tesla did not respond to a request for comment.
They don’t have these problems in Norway
As people in the industry study what went wrong in Chicago, some suggest that the charging infrastructure may have been simply outmatched by the extreme cold weather.
“We’re just a few years into EV deployment at scale,” Mr Gore said. “This is not a categorical problem for electric vehicles,” he added, “because it has largely been sorted out in other places.”
Some of the countries with the highest usage of electric vehicles are also among the coldest.
In Norway, where nearly 1 in 4 vehicles are electric, drivers are accustomed to taking steps, such as preheating the car before a drive, to increase efficiency even in cold weather, said Mr Lars Godbolt, an adviser of the Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association, which represents more than 120,000 electric car owners in Norway.
Charging stations in Norway see longer lines in the winter than summer, since vehicles are slower to charge in colder weather, but that has become less of an issue in recent years since Norway has built more charging ports, Mr Godbolt said, citing a recent survey of members. Also, the majority of people in Norway live in houses, not apartments, and nearly 90 per cent of electric vehicle owners have their own charging stations at home, he said.
Around the world, 14 per cent of all new cars sold in 2022 were electric, up from 9 per cent in 2021 and less than 5 per cent in 2020, according to the International Energy Agency, which provides data on energy security.
In Europe, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Finland and Denmark had the highest share of electric vehicles in new car registrations in 2022, according to the European Environment Agency.
Cold weather is likely to be less of an issue as companies update electric vehicle models. Even in the last few years, companies have developed capabilities that allow newer models to be more efficient in the cold. “These new challenges rise up, and the industry innovates their way to not completely but at least partly solve many of these issues,” Mr Godbolt said.
All vehicles, including ones powered by diesel or gas, perform worse in cold weather, noted Mr James Boley, a spokesperson for the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, a trade association that represents more than 800 automotive companies in Britain. He said that the problem was less about the capacity of electric vehicles to run well in cold weather, and more about the inability to provide necessary infrastructure, such as charging stations.
With a gas or diesel powered car, drivers have complete confidence that they will find gas stations, so are less focused on their decreased efficiency in cold weather, he said. “If electric vehicle charging infrastructure isn’t in place, it can be more of a concern.”
Mr Spencer, the Uber driver, said the economics of driving an EV for a ride-sharing service may not work in Chicago winters. Uber said in a statement that it offers charging discounts for its drivers, but Spencer still worries about the economics.
“The payout is the same, but the cost to drivers, with all these extra charges, is much more,” he said. NYTIMES
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| 2024-01-18T02:41:15Z
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IOWA - Iowa’s attorney general on Jan 17 sued TikTok, accusing the video-based social media platform of misleading parents about their children’s access to inappropriate content on the company’s app.
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird in a lawsuit filed in a state court in Polk County accused TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance of lying about the prevalence on its platform of content including drugs, nudity, alcohol and profanity.
“TikTok has kept parents in the dark,” Bird, a Republican, said. “It’s time we shine a light on TikTok for exposing young children to graphic materials such as sexual content, self-harm, illegal drug use, and worse.”
Alleging consumer fraud, Iowa is seeking financial penalties and an order barring ByteDance-owned TikTok from engaging in deceptive and unfair conduct.
TikTok said it “has industry leading safeguards in place for young people, including parental controls and time limits for those under 18. We are committed to tackling industry-wide challenges and will continue to prioritise community safety”.
It was the latest lawsuit by a US state against TikTok, which along with other social media companies faces pressure from regulators globally to protect children from harmful content.
States including Arkansas and Utah have filed similar cases. A judge in Indiana in November dismissed a lawsuit against TikTok by that state’s attorney general. Other states are investigating.
On Jan 2, Montana said it was appealing a decision by a US judge in November to block Montana’s first-of-its kind state ban on use of TikTok.
Montana’s ban had been set to take effect Jan 1 but US District Judge Donald Molloy on Nov 30 issued a preliminary injunction to block the ban, saying Montana’s law “violates the Constitution in more ways than one” and “oversteps state power”.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will be among the social media CEOs testifying on Jan 31 before the US Senate Judiciary Committee on online child sexual exploitation. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/iowa-sues-tiktok-alleging-parents-misled-about-inappropriate-content
| 2024-01-18T02:41:26Z
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WASHINGTON - A Maine court on Jan 17 said the state should wait for the US Supreme Court to rule on Donald Trump’s appeal of his disqualification from Colorado’s Republican primary ballot before reevaluating a similar decision in the northeast state.
Maine State Superior Court Judge Michaela Murphy ordered Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, to reassess her decision to bar the former US president from the primary ballot within 30 days after the Supreme Court rules.
Murphy found that the Supreme Court’s decision to take the Colorado case “changes everything about the order in which these issues should be decided, and by which court”.
Bellows in December determined that Trump, the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, was ineligible to hold office again under a provision in the US Constitution that bars people who have engaged in “insurrection or rebellion” from holding office.
A Bellows spokesperson said her office is reviewing the decision and had no additional comment. A Trump spokesperson called the ruling a “correct action”.
“We remain steadfast in our opposition to these bad-faith shams,” the spokesperson said, referring to challenges to Trump’s candidacy.
The ruling on Jan 17 increases the stakes of what was already expected to be a politically explosive ruling from the US Supreme Court on Trump’s eligibility to return to the White House. Oral arguments are scheduled for Feb 8.
Murphy wrote in her ruling that the Supreme Court will hopefully “clarify” the role of state officials and courts in addressing ballot challenges under the US Constitution.
Depending on the sweep of its ruling in the Colorado case, the US Supreme Court could resolve the issue nationwide in the coming weeks.
Maine’s primary is scheduled for March 5.
Maine and Colorado are so far the only two states to disqualify Trump under the constitutional provision, known as Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. Both states have put their decisions on hold while Trump appeals.
Courts and election officials in several other states have rejected similar ballot challenges to Trump’s candidacy.
Bellows granted a petition from a group of former Maine lawmakers who sought to disqualify Trump. She concluded Trump incited an insurrection in an attempt to hold onto power following his defeat in the 2020 election, culminating in the Jan 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol.
Trump appealed the ruling, saying Bellows was biased against him and that he did not have the ability to properly defend himself. He denied engaging in insurrection.
Trump has decried the ballot challenges as an undemocratic attempt at election interference by his political adversaries. Proponents of disqualification have argued that holding Trump accountable under the constitution supports democratic values.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/maine-court-puts-trump-ballot-decision-on-hold-until-after-supreme-court-acts
| 2024-01-18T02:41:36Z
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LONDON/WASHINGTON/DAVOS, Switzerland -The U.S. on Wednesday returned the Yemen-based Houthi rebels to a list of terrorist groups, as the militants claimed their second attack this week on a U.S. operated vessel in the Red Sea region.
Attacks by the Iran-allied Houthi militia on ships in the region since November have slowed trade between Asia and Europe and alarmed major powers - an escalation of the more than three-month-old war between Israel and Palestinian Hamas militants in Gaza.
The Houthis say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians and have threatened to expand attacks to include U.S. ships in response to the American and British strikes.
In a sign it remains undeterred, the Houthi movement on Wednesday said it made a "direct hit" with missiles on the U.S. Genco Picardy bulk carrier.
The attack, which marked the second on a U.S.-linked vessel in the area this week, was confirmed by U.S. shipping operator Genco, which said its vessel was hit by a projectile while it transited the Gulf of Aden with a cargo of phosphate rock.
Genco said there were no injuries to crew and the ship suffered limited damage to its gangway and was on a course out of the area.
"The naval forces will not hesitate to target all sources of threat in the Red and Arabian sea within the legitimate right to defend Yemen and to continue supporting the oppressed Palestinian people," the group's military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said in a statement.
On Monday, Houthi forces struck the U.S.-owned and operated dry bulk ship Gibraltar Eagle with an anti-ship ballistic missile. There were no reports of injuries or significant damage.
U.S. officials said the "Specially Designated Global Terrorist" listing was aimed at cutting off funding and weapons the Houthis have used to attack or hijack ships.
A Houthi spokesman told Reuters that attacks on ships heading to Israel would continue and the designation would not affect its position.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, whose country backs Hamas in its war with Israel, said an end to the war in Gaza was needed to remove the threat to shipping.
"The security of the Red Sea is tied to the developments in Gaza, and everyone will suffer if Israel's crimes in Gaza do not stop ... All the (resistance) fronts will remain active," Amirabdollahian said at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
SUPPLY CHAINS SNARLED
Maersk and other large shipping lines have instructed hundreds of commercial vessels to stay clear of the Red Sea, sending them on a longer route around Africa or pausing until the safety of vessels can be assured.
"It's one of the most important arteries of global trade and global supply chains and it's clogged up right now," Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc told Reuters Global Markets Forum in Davos, adding disruption would probably last at least a few months.
Banking executives are worried the crisis might create inflationary pressures.
Freight rates have more than doubled since early December, according to maritime consultancy Drewry's world container index, while insurance sources say war risk premiums for shipments through the Red Sea are also rising.
The attacks target a route that accounts for about 15% of the world's shipping traffic and acts as a vital conduit between Europe and Asia. Japanese trading house Sumitomo Corp said it had some cargoes in the Red Sea that were affected.
The attacks are causing major disruption to Italian ports, fuelling fears a prolonged crisis may force companies to move traffic away from the Mediterranean more permanently.
Italy wants fellow European Union members to agree next week to create an EU maritime security mission that can become operational as soon as possible, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said.
The alternative shipping route around South Africa's Cape of Good Hope can add 10-14 days to a journey compared to a passage via the Red Sea to the Suez Canal.
Prolonged attacks by the Houthis on ships would lead to a shortage of tankers, the CEO of Saudi oil giant Aramco said.
"If it's in the short term, tankers might be available ... But if it's longer term, it might be a problem," CEO Amin Nasser said in an interview in Davos.
Earlier on Wednesday, a Malta-flagged container ship was approached by three skiffs and a drone 10 miles southwest of Yemen's Dhubab. No damage or casualties were reported, Ambrey said in an advisory note. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/us-lists-houthis-as-terrorists-rebels-hit-another-us-operated-ship
| 2024-01-18T02:41:48Z
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Submitted by nadiahmn on Thu, 01/18/2024 - 08:46 LIVE: Iswaran faces 27 charges He has told the Court he intends to plead not guilty. PUBLISHED: Jan 18, 2024 LOADING
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https://www.straitstimes.com/iswaran-cpib
| 2024-01-18T02:43:46Z
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While navigating the complexities of divorce, Gisele Bündchen has candidly opened up about the 'push back' she experiences from her children, as she and her ex-husband, Tom Brady, adapt to co-parenting.
In an interview with Harper's Bazaar, the 43-year-old supermodel shared insights into the challenges and learning curves of raising her two children, son Benjamin, 14, and daughter Vivian, 11, during this transitional period.
Gisele highlighted that her children's upbringing is quite different from her own, and she's determined to equip them with essential life skills.
"The way you make your room, the way you organize and make your bed is the way you're going to do your life," she told her kids, emphasizing the importance of discipline and organization.
However, she admits, "Sometimes I get pushback, especially because now they're in two different homes and there are two different ways. But I feel like I owe it to my kids, because of what my mom taught me."
The supermodel’s approach reflects her efforts to instill values and a sense of responsibility in her children, despite the challenges posed by the divorce.
"I tell them, 'If you're not learning here and now, then when and with who?'" she shared, expressing her commitment to their personal development.
Gisele's love and pride for her children are evident in her public messages. Celebrating Benjamin's birthday, she posted a series of photos, including a loving image of her kissing her son in his football gear.
"Happy birthday to the sweetest boy! You have the biggest heart and I feel so lucky I get to learn with you everyday. Te amo muito," she shared, also writing the message in Portuguese.
The supermodel also opened up about Benjamin's foray into football and how he's embracing his father's legacy.
"Benny's doing football," she told PEOPLE. "He just started, and his first game was so nice. It was nice to go because I had all the little friends come to me and be like, 'Oh my God, I love Benny. I love Vivi. They're so nice. He helped me with this.'"
Reflecting on her children's growth and individuality, Gisele expressed her satisfaction in seeing them flourish.
"It makes me proud to see how they're all becoming their own little individual selves, but how their principles and their values are so strong. It makes me so happy to see that they're flourishing into their own beings."
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/mother-and-baby/511523/gisele-confesses-pushback-from-kids-amid-divorce-from-tom-brady/
| 2024-01-18T03:06:27Z
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Beauty
An Honest Review Of Rhode’s New Pineapple Refresh Cleanser
Hailey Bieber’s latest skin care drop won’t whisk you away on a tropical vacation, but it will take off your mascara.
Ever since Rhode launched in June 2022, we’ve been trying their products — and enjoying them, too. But more than a year after the releases of the original holy trinity — Peptide Glazing Fluid, Barrier Restore Cream, and Peptide Lip Treatment — we still don’t have a 100% complete skin care routine ... until now.
Pineapple Refresh is the name of the brand’s new cleanser, and according to a press release, it’s “the ultimate a.m./p.m. refresh for your skin that feels like a sun-soaked vacation.” (Fittingly, the campaign shows Hailey Bieber and company on a beach in yellow scuba gear.) We immediately had some questions: Is this cleanser effective? Can it remove mascara? Can washing your face really feel like taking a tropical vacation with Hailey and her model friends? The answer to that last one is probably no, but as for the rest, we’re here to find out.
FAST FACTS:
- Brand: Rhode
- What’s new product? Pineapple Refresh daily cleanser
- Price: $28
- Specs? Vegan, cruelty free, fragrance free, formulated without gluten, and ophthalmologist- and dermatologist-tested
- Who is it for? All skin types, safe for sensitive skin
- When does it launch? Jan. 25
- Where can you buy? rhodeskin.com
The Product:
How To Use
Cleansing might not seem like it needs to be explained, but Pineapple Refresh does have some specific instructions: You’re directed to emulsify a dime-size amount between your wet palms before applying it to your face, then rinse thoroughly (after which you might follow up with the Glazing Milk, Glazing Fluid, and Barrier Restore Cream). The lathering step is key for making the cleanser effective at removing SPF, makeup, and any grime on your face — and for avoiding using too much product.
Worth It?
Pineapple Refresh is priced at $28 for 5 oz. which might cause some sticker shock if you’re a CeraVe fan used to getting a Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Face Wash three times the size for $20. However, Rhode isn’t a drugstore brand, and the cleanser is actually pretty closely aligned with other products from similar product ranges. The Outset Gentle Micellar Antioxidant Cleanser, for example, costs $32 for 5 oz., the Hyper Skin Gentle Brightening Gel Cleanser with Mandelic Acid goes for $28 for 5 oz., and the Fenty Skin Total Cleans'r Remove-It-All Cleanser is also $28 for 4.9 oz.
First Impressions
The strong emphasis on pineapple initially made me nervous — my skin is on the drier side, so I’m not really in the market for an exfoliating face wash. But when I tested the cleanser, those concerns totally went away. I didn’t sense any acidic or drying feeling, and the scent wasn’t very pronounced either.
Following the instructions, I worked the cleanser between my hands before applying it on my face (it starts out a translucent yellow and works into a white lather). It emulsified and became creamy, not bubbly, which made it easy to concentrate it on specific areas for makeup removal. After about 30 to 60 seconds, it does take off all your makeup, as promised.
Once I rinsed and patted dry, my skin felt good: not tight like I needed to rush to put on moisturizer, nor greasy like I needed to wash my face again, which is exactly the result I want post-cleansing.
Final Verdict:
It does feel a bit wild to get waitlist-level hyped about a cleanser, but that being said, I was impressed with Pineapple Refresh. By nature, cleansers spend the least amount of time on your face of any other product in your routine, but that doesn’t mean that the experience shouldn’t feel nice — and this was pleasant, easy, and, most importantly, effective. As a major makeup wearer, I almost always depend on double cleansing to get the job done, and this cleanser made me reconsider my stance. I can’t say I’m tossing my DHC Oil Cleanser just yet (it basically makes makeup fall off your face), but I can say I would feel comfortable using this as a single-step cleanser, especially on lighter-makeup days.
Overall, I liked the sensorial experience, but I was most impressed by the results. Did Hailey make washing my face feel like a vacation? Not exactly. But she might be teaching a generation of baby skin care lovers how to wash their faces properly, and that’s definitely something.
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https://www.nylon.com/beauty/rhode-skin-pineapple-refresh-cleanser-review-2024
| 2024-01-18T03:06:48Z
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Entertainment
Everything We Know About Ariana Grande's New Album, 'Eternal Sunshine'
It’s out sooner than you think.
Ariana Grande is officially back in popstar mode. Fresh off the release of her exuberant, drama-stoking new song “yes, and?,” the singer has unveiled the details around her highly-anticipated seventh studio album, Eternal Sunshine. Though fans predicted the name a while ago, there’s still a lot up in the air about her new era, including its themes, tracklist, and the collaborators she worked with.
Ahead, find everything we know about the project so far:
When will Eternal Sunshine be released?
The album drops March 8 via Republic Records. You can pre-order it now, here.
What is the meaning behind Eternal Sunshine?
Though Grande hasn’t confirmed it directly, fans believe the album title is a direct reference to the 2004 cult film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind starring Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey, reportedly one of Grande’s favorite films.
A few subtle clues from the singer herself point to this theory being true: Grande’s “yes, and?” music video included an easter egg with the longitude and latitude coordinates of Montauk, the city where the film takes place. And on Jan. 17, Grande’s separate Instagram account for her 2018 record Sweetener shared the famous Alexander Pope poem from which the movie took its name: “how happy is the blameless vestial’s lot! the world forgetting by the world forgot. eternal sunshine of the spotless mind! each pray’r accepted. and each wish resign’d.”
Other fan theories speculate the arc of the film, which follows a former couple getting their memories wiped after a bad break-up, heavily mirrors Grande’s 2022 divorce with ex-husband Dalton Gomez, and that Eternal Sunshine, or ES for short, doubles as a subtle dedication to her current alleged beau Ethan Slater — though these are both unconfirmed.
What are the themes of the album?
There’s still very little we know about the themes of the record so far. Lead single “yes, and?”centers around her exploration of relationships, dating, and the pressures of celebrity so there’s a high chance those themes will continue on the rest of the record.
Ari herself has stayed tight-lipped about its themes doing virtually zero press so far, but she did remark on social media that the photoshoot captured “what the album feels like so perfectly,” so take from that what you will.
Who did she work with on the album?
Grande’s full list of collaborators for this album is still a secret, but it’s safe to say Max Martin and Ilya Salmanzadeh were heavily involved. The two superstar producers are credited as writers and producers for “yes, and?,” and Grande shared photos of her, Martin, and Salmanzadeh hard at work in the studio on social media.
As for features, fans are speculating that SZA possibly contributed to the record as she’s been heavily interacting with Grande’s posts on Instagram.
Are there multiple versions of the album?
There are — sort of. Grande has taken a page from Taylor Swift’s book of business and will be releasing four different covers for the album. While the intial, slightly blurred close-up image of her face will likely serve as the album’s main art, three other “exclusive” covers are still yet to be revealed on her official merch website. Vinyl and CD collectors, rejoice!
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https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/ariana-grande-eternal-sunshine-release-date-tracklist-features
| 2024-01-18T03:06:54Z
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Fashion
Blackpink’s Jisoo Serves Snow Bunny In Alo’s Spring 2024 Collection
Jisoo’s latest venture involves some much-deserved comfy clothes.
Jisoo is a busy woman. Not only does she serve as one-fourth of Blackpink, she’s juggling a burgeoning solo career and is a global style icon. Now, the singer continues to boost her fashion resume as the newest face of Alo Yoga’s Spring 2024 collection.
The singer deserves to clock some time in comfy clothes considering how hard she works, an opportunity that Alo provides with functional and extremely cute outfits. In the campaign, out today, Jisoo rocks Alo’s Accolade Crewneck in athletic heather grey, the quintessential Airflife High Waist leggings in the dreamy, new soft mulberry, and the off-duty cap, among other pieces. Our favorite look? The Snomoto Puffer Mini Skirt and a matching Snomoto Puffer Jacket, which makes her look as soft and sweet as a snow bunny with a chic, alpine edge.
“This partnership with Alo felt like the perfect match because my health and wellness has always been a priority for me,” Jisoo says. “I love to move whenever I have the time, especially with yoga pilates.”
Shop the Alo x Jisso Spring 2024 collection on aloyoga.com starting today and see photos from the campaign, below.
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https://www.nylon.com/life/jisoo-alo-yoga-spring-2024-collection
| 2024-01-18T03:07:00Z
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Culture
12 Of Our Favorite Non-Alcoholic Drinks For Dry January & Beyond
For the sober-curious among us.
Never has it been chicer to skip a cocktail and opt for a non-alcoholic alternative that’s also conveniently hangover-free. Just ask Bella Hadid, Cara Delevingne, Demi Lovato, or any of the other celebrities embarking on a sober lifestyle (or at least, a Cali-sober one.) As the number of people abstaining from alcohol continues to rise, Dry January is starting to feel less like a month and more like a lifestyle. Below, we share our favorite mocktails and non-alcoholic beverages that make exploring sobriety a little more flavorful.
De La Calle!
This fermented pineapple beverage packs the bold flavors of Mexico into a can with 10 remixes of the traditional Nahua drink that’s been around since pre-Hispanic Mesoamerica. I’m always drawn to savory flavors, so Del La Calle’s Tamarind Citrus and Mango Chili quickly became my go-tos for when I’m craving something tangy and bright. - Layla Halabian, culture editor
Wynk
With a 1:1 ratio of THC and CBD, Wynk gives the perfect buzz for a balanced brain and body high. As a bonus, it comes in three yummy flavors: Black Cherry Fizz, Juicy Mango, and Lime Twist, which also make for a good cocktail base for flavorful, easy-to-down vodka sodas. - Sophia June, culture writer
Aplós
I don’t drink (booze) at home, but every once in a while, I’ll have a splash of Aplós Calme served neat in an Our Place Party Coupe. I’m obsessed with the yuzu and shiso — and the fact that the broad-spectrum hemp helps me stop feeling like my atoms are vibrating after a stressy day. - Chelsea Peng, managing editor
De Soi
2024 is the year of the amaro, and for all non-drinkers who want to enjoy the sweet bitterness of a well-made apéritifs, De Soi is here. With a celebrity cofounder (Katy Perry) and cans that look like they could be in the MoMA gift shop, De Soi checks all the boxes of a buzzy aperitif brand — but it’s also delicious: sweet, without being cloying, and with the perfect amount of fizz . - SJ
St. Agrestis’ Phony Negroni
Classic cocktail lovers can rejoice with St. Agrestis’ Phony Negroni, which mimics the bitterness of a classic negroni with hints of juniper, citrus, and floral notes. There’s even carbonation to make it closer to the real thing. - LH
Giffard
Even high-end liqueurs are getting the booze-free beverage treatment: French spirits maker Giffard recently released a non-alcoholic liqueur, available in pineapple, ginger, grapefruit, and elderflower, which means your at-home mocktail bar is about to be seriously elevated. A little ginger liqueu, soda water, and lime makes the perfect après-work beverage. - SJ
Proxies
Not only is Proxies vibrant and full-bodied, the alcohol-free wine is elegant enough to gift to a sober friend. Another bonus: Proxies can also be a go-to for any recipes that call for wine. - LH
OLIPOP
Olipop makes healthy fizzy beverages with prebiotics, updating classics like orange and grape sodas for the modern palette. Their root beer, in particular, slaps, and has become the most popular in the U.S, according to CNBC. This month, Olipop launched a Mocktail Starter Kit including three cans of four of the company’s popular flavors, along with a virtual mixologist who can offer suggestions based on ingredients you already have at home. - SJ
Cann
With only 2 milligrams of THC, Cann won’t hit you like a freight train (unlike some edibles!) but instead brings a giggly, bubbly buzz that keeps you charismatic through dinner parties and ragers alike. Plus, its light and fruity flavor combos — like Grapefruit Rosemary, Lavender Lemon, and Blood Orange Cardamom — are sweet but never cloying. - LH
New Brew
With its groovy font and high-contrast colorway, the self-proclaimed “euphoric seltzer” New Brew only seems like it has weed in it. What New Brew offers in lieu of THC is kratom and kava root, which has historically been used by Indigenous people for their medicinal properties. Personally, I love the caffeine boost, which feels cleaner than traditional energy drinks. - SJ
Ghia
You can’t talk about non-alcoholic beverages without mentioning Ghia, the herbal, tannic apéritif and an early name in the now-stacked market. It’s a satisfying bitter-to-sweet ratio that works on the rocks or as a spritz — and now comes in a juicy, fruit-forward Berry version for those with a sweeter palette. But to me, Ghia’s true highlight is its collection of salty, spicy canned spritzes that are nothing short of mouth-watering. - LH
Kin Euphorics
I find it’s just as chic to carry around a can of Kin at a party than even the prettiest of beer cans. But even better than that, Kin keeps me in a relaxed, zen-like state during the function. Kin Euphorics has been in the non-alcoholic beverage industry since 2017 when it fused botanics, nootropics, and adaptogens rooted in Ayurvedic medicine into beautifully designed cans. Since then, founders Jen Batchelor and Bella Hadid have expanded their offerings to four flavors, from earthy to smoky to fruity. - SJ
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https://www.nylon.com/life/the-best-dry-january-drinks
| 2024-01-18T03:07:06Z
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Nylon Nights
Making It (& Making Out) At Ian Somerhalder & Paul Wesley’s Bourbon Party In Aspen
A pre- and post-game analysis of the weekend’s Brother’s Bond event.
Sure, pregaming is fun, but there’s nothing more sacred than the Sunday morning debrief — especially when you’re the one who threw the party. That’s why NYLON is catching up with the hosts of the most exclusive events before, during, and after to find out how it went, who showed up, and all the juiciest you-had-to-be-there intel. Below, we go inside Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley’s recent bourbon party in Aspen.
The Pregame
The goal for tonight, Ian Somerhalder says, is to “get hammered and make out.”
Somerhalder and Paul Wesley are sitting on a demi-lune velvet banquette at the Snow Lodge — the Aspen outpost of Montauk’s Surf Lodge — just a few hours before they’ll host a party for their bourbon brand Brother’s Bond. It’s the first official wintertime event for the label, and the Vampire Diaries actors and former NYLON cover stars are pregaming with some halibut in beurre blanc before their guests — including Alessandra Ambrosio, Rocky Barnes, and Nick Robinson — try the whiskey in custom hot toddies and bop to a performance by Keinemusik DJ Rampa. The evening — which has been in the making since the pair were first introduced to Snow/Surf Lodge founder Jayma Cardoso through a mutual friend a year ago — is all about celebrating Brother’s in the ultimate “après-ski, fireside-energy” setting, Somerhalder says.
“When we walked outside, I had misty eyes seeing the Brother’s Bond bar,” he tells NYLON. Somerhalder’s wife, actor Nikki Reed, says she remembers him asking her two and a half years ago if he should pursue distilling after a late night of playing “super chemist” in their kitchen. “I was there as this was being mixed and blended and dreamt up,” she notes as she pulls up a chair, joining us a few moments late (she’s been taking care of the couple’s infant son). “I was like, ‘This is the best idea — the two of you are going to create magic together.’”
The Party
Somerhalder’s expectations have been quickly met — within an hour, there are guests locking lips by one of the yurts in the now-bumping courtyard of the St. Regis, where Snow Lodge is located for the season, though it’s mostly obscured by the participants’ Moncler hoods. It’s unclear whether the PDA was the 95-proof rye’s doing or that of the expertly spiced hot toddy Wesley says he’s “over the moon” about, but it’s more evident that, with this party, the titular brothers feel as though they’ve really arrived as whiskey makers. They ham it up behind the bar, testing the limits of the speed pours, and the Chrome Hearts- and heavily houndstooth-suited crowd responds in kind by pushing into taste what Somerhalder calls an elixir, “pure as the driven snow.”
By 4:45 p.m. a guest in a fur toque starts gyrating on a low wooden table as a drone hovers overhead. A small but energetic contingent of Brazilians performs a sort of maypole dance around a heat lamp. Shot skis are upended and blinis are Petrossian-ed, Wesley and Somerhalder climb up to join Rampa on the Revolve stage, and the mood is sincerely convivial (if slightly shivery).
The Debrief
At 8 p.m. (everything ends early in Aspen), Wesley and I regroup at the Snow Lodge for the post-game debrief (another round of halibut is ordered). “I saw a lot of hot toddies going around,” he says. “And I want to believe it’s because they love it, and not because it’s really cold.” But the big moment of the evening, Wesley says, was when he looked out at the crowd from the DJ booth. (For the record, he became a Rampa fan not from going out, but from Spotify.) As Wesley zoomed out on his phone, he landed on the back bar, where the Brother’s Bond blends were displayed on a rattan shelf. It’s a dream realized, he says, to have your bourbon at a really cool party.
And there will only be more to come as they plan to continue their partnership at Surf Lodge in the summer, this time with Mystic Charmers — and Brother’s and Coke slushies.
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https://www.nylon.com/nylon-nights/ian-somerhalder-paul-wesley-bourbon-party-aspen
| 2024-01-18T03:07:12Z
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What did the galaxies in the early universe look like? Researchers now think they have a clearer idea, and like many of us in the Northern Hemisphere are battling with freezing temperatures and dreaming of summer. So, in their beach-themed analogy, galaxies at the edge of what we can see are close in shape to pool noodles and surfboards.
The occasional frisbee or volleyball-shaped galaxy appears in the data, with frisbees becoming more and more common with time. Most of these objects are flatter compared to the galaxies we see today, most of which have either got a spiral structure or an elliptical one (like those volleyballs but much bigger).
“Roughly 50 to 80 percent of the galaxies we studied appear to be flattened in two dimensions,” explained lead author Viraj Pandya, a NASA Hubble Fellow at Columbia University, in a statement. “Galaxies that look like pool noodles or surfboards seem to be very common in the early universe, which is surprising, since they are uncommon nearby.”
Elongated galaxies were already spotted in the deep Hubble data. JWST confirmed those observations and showed that even more distant galaxies have those characteristic shapes – important insights into how these early galaxies formed.
“In the early universe, galaxies had had far less time to grow,” said Kartheik Iyer, a co-author and NASA Hubble Fellow also at Columbia University. “Identifying additional categories for early galaxies is exciting – there’s a lot more to analyze now. We can now study how galaxies’ shapes relate to how they look and better project how they formed in much more detail.”
The current beachware range might not be all that there is out there. Researchers admit that there are still major gaps in our knowledge of these distant cosmic objects. JWST will continue to see deeper and wider and find many more of these early galaxies.
“These are early results,” said co-author Elizabeth McGrath, an associate professor at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. “We need to delve more deeply into the data to figure out what’s going on, but we’re very excited about these early trends.”
A paper with these results is submitted to The Astrophysical Journal and available on the Arxiv.
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https://www.iflscience.com/galaxies-in-the-early-universe-were-shaped-like-pool-noodles-and-surfboards-72505
| 2024-01-18T03:25:08Z
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In many countries around the world, people are living longer – but is there a pattern to this? That was the question posed by a team of demographers and it turns out, the answer is yes. Despite some differences in how it reaches this point, life expectancy is increasing, and with it, the longevity gap between males and females is getting smaller.
What David Atance of Universidad de Alcalá, Spain, and colleagues sought to find out was whether there were differences in the factors affecting longevity or mortality across countries. If so, they also wanted to determine whether those differences were becoming stronger, or if patterns were actually converging.
The team used both historical data from the United Nations Populations Division records and population projections for 194 countries spanning from 1990 to 2030 to conduct a statistical analysis of nine mortality indicators, including life expectancy at birth and the Gini index (a measure of inequality in lifespan).
The results revealed that in 1990 and 2010, countries could be clustered into five separate groups, resembling the continents, based on their mortality/longevity indicators. In the period between those years, countries sometimes swapped clusters, though the researchers attribute this to factors such as war, or unstable socioeconomic and political conditions.
However, all clusters were found to have something in common – life expectancy had increased, while the gap in mortality between males and females had shrunk. The team also identified a decrease in the disparities in longevity between groups of countries, suggesting that, overall, patterns of longevity are converging.
When the same statistical model was applied to projections for 2030, these trends were the same. However, the researchers acknowledged that it cannot be said for certain what will happen in the evolution of longevity, seeing as estimates are based on past trends.
“As a future line of research, it would be particularly interesting to review our mortality estimates and cluster configurations in 2030, when we will have reliable data. This future analysis would allow us to assess the degree of accuracy of our 2023 estimates,” the researchers write in the paper describing their findings.
One country that exemplifies the increase in longevity is the US, where the number of people aged 100 or over has been steadily increasing since 1950. If projections do happen to be correct, they line up with the current study’s findings; the number of American centenarians is set to quadruple over the next 30 years, and whilst 78 percent of the current bunch are women, that’s set to decrease by 10 percent by 2054.
The study is published in the journal PLoS One.
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https://www.iflscience.com/humans-are-living-longer-than-ever-and-the-male-female-gap-is-shrinking-too-72478
| 2024-01-18T03:25:14Z
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A series of statements attributed to British astronomers and astronauts have sparked speculation the JWST has found evidence for alien life. Those quoted are respected names, but since at least one of them has been misquoted, there’s probably more smoke than fire. Even if something has been found, it’s almost certainly hints of little green microbes, not a message from little green men.
According to The Spectator, three prominent figures with links to the British astronomical community marked the change of year by dropping hints of a big 2024 announcement in the quest for life beyond the Earth. Even that article acknowledged none had gone into detail. The most explicit quote was attributed to astrophysicist and science communicator Dr Becky Smethurst, who they claim said: “I think we are going to get a paper that has strong evidence for a biosignature on an exoplanet very, very soon. Let’s just say it’s on my bingo card for 2024.”
However, the video they linked to doesn’t contain this quote. Meanwhile, what Smethurst did say has been seriously misrepresented.
So far neither astronaut Tim Peake, nor Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock, the other two figures mentioned, have commented. However, if Smethurst knew something, even if she couldn’t talk about it just yet, it’s unlikely she would want to issue such a clear denial. So, it looks like if anyone does think they have found evidence of alien life, they’re not waving it under the noses of prominent astronomers.
In a previous video, Smethurst did say: “Hopefully you will agree with me that now we have the JWST, I don’t think it’s a case of if we’ll detect biosignatures in an exoplanet’s atmosphere, I think it’s a case of when.” However, this video was made more than a year ago. If Smethurst knew something then that the rest of us didn’t, it would almost certainly have come out by now.
The article didn't just leave it at twisting/inventing the words of respected scientists. Instead, it linked in UFO conspiracy theorists, the type that are not only convinced aliens are visiting us, but the powers that be know and are keeping the truth from the public. Let’s say it again – the more people a conspiracy requires, the harder it is to keep secret. The idea that politicians, public servants, and astronomers are all working together to keep the biggest story of all time quiet, and have done so for years, is just silly.
Ars Technica picked up The Spectator’s story. On the one hand, they were keen to put to rest any association with alien technological civilizations. On the other hand, they gave a further boost to the idea of a major JWST finding on the way.
“The rumors have been out there for a while now, percolating through respectable corners of the astronomy and astrobiological community, that the James Webb Space Telescope has found a planet with strong evidence of life,” the article claims, before firmly attaching these to K2-18b, the planet where last year the JWST found methane, carbon dioxide and what might conceivably be dimethyl sulfide, (CH3)2S.
K2-18b transits in front of its star every 33 days, and is considered such a priority that the JWST watches when it does. Consequently, it now has a larger bank of data than it had at the time that paper came out. This means it’s likely someone processing the data knows either that the dimethyl sulfide find is wrong, or somewhat more solid than it looked based on just two transits.
One difficulty with rumors is that it’s hard to know who to ask for comment. Like most scientific fields, the astronomical community is large enough that just because someone doesn’t know anything about a soon-to-be-released discovery doesn’t mean it isn’t there. It could just be a different team involved.
Ars Technica sought comment from NASA. They quote JWST’s deputy project scientist Knicole Colón as saying: "JWST has not found definitive evidence of life on an exoplanet. It is anticipated that JWST observations may lead to the initial identification of potential biosignatures that could make habitability more or less likely for a given exoplanet. Future missions will be needed to conclusively establish the habitability of an exoplanet."
That sounds like a “nothing yet” to us, but Ars Technica, called it “not a hard no”. You can be the judge on that, but it’s very unlikely the JWST has collected enough evidence for confidence of life on K2-18b. Even if we found solid evidence of dimethyl sulfide, which is probably years away, it would be far from proof of life. On Earth, dimethyl sulfide only seems to be made by living things, but it’s a simple enough molecule that it might form in other ways under the right conditions. Other gases are considered more reliable biosignatures, but are probably beyond the JWST’s capacity to find.
If we want to find life this way, rather than picking up a clear radio signal from an advanced civilization, we’re unlikely to get anything close to certainty from the JWST. For that, as former IFLScience writer Jonathan O’Callaghan noted, we have to wait at least for the Grace Roman Observatory, which will not be launching until 2027 at the earliest. More likely both the JWST and Roman will, in this area at least, simply act as precursors for the Habitable Worlds Observatory, which is decades away and could use what other telescopes find to guide its path.
Other planets are even less likely prospects. K2-18b was targeted because it’s a large Hycean world, making its atmosphere relatively easy to study, and therefore a stepping stone to smaller worlds. JWST isn’t even looking at most of the rocky planets considered the best prospects for life because, for all its great powers, it lacks the sensitivity to find signs of life around them.
It’s hard to find something where you’re not looking. On the other hand, as The Spectator article shows, it’s very easy to report something that’s not there if you want it badly enough.
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https://www.iflscience.com/rumors-of-jwsts-discovery-of-life-are-greatly-exaggerated-heres-why-72503
| 2024-01-18T03:25:20Z
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Some fish can walk, but the armored catfish goes one step further in wriggling its way across desert environments in search of resources. Wriggling is the wrong word, however, as scientists considered the mode of locomotion to be so unusual as deserving of its own word: reffling.
The armored catfish reffles its way across land when it finds itself at a dead end in its present habitat. It may be that the isolated body of water it was living in has run out of food or some other resource, and so rather than giving in to its fate, it ups sticks and reffles off someplace else.
These fish are loricariid catfishes, a highly diverse group of fishes that can be found in Central and South America. They have a highly specialized morphology that enables them to inhabit aquatic and terrestrial environments without dying – but that doesn’t mean it's easy.
In National Geographic's Welcome To Earth, we saw an armored catfish making the perilous journey. It leaves a unique track in the sand as it reffles its way towards water. The clip states they can survive for hours at a time on land, but if time runs out, it can be fatal.
Fortunately, the nomadic catfish they caught on camera completes its mission, reffling across the sand and splashing back into more comfortable aquatic surroundings. They're able to navigate thanks to tastebuds that line their bodies and can detect compounds that indicate water's proximity and quality.
The term “reffling” was coined by a 2021 study that sought to better understand the terrestrial behaviors of armored catfish, which were previously poorly described.
“Loricariid catfishes use a novel, highly asymmetric form of axial appendage-based terrestrial locomotion involving their mouth, pectoral fins, pelvic fins, posterior axial body, and tail,” wrote the authors. “As this behavior is so unlike any other described locomotor behavior, we have created a new word to describe it: reffling.”
The unique approach to moving across land may be the consequence of them being rather stiff for a fish, but their rigidity has its perks, too.
“These species have numerous unique morphological traits that may greatly reduce body and fin flexibility,” they continued. “Because loricariids are so inflexible, they may be constrained into reffling as their only means of terrestrial locomotion, but their stiffness may improve force transmission, allowing them to be among the fastest fishes on land.”
Those fins weren’t made for walking, and that’s not what armored catfish do.
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https://www.iflscience.com/this-catfish-walks-so-weirdly-scientists-named-a-new-kind-of-locomotion-72501
| 2024-01-18T03:25:26Z
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Using little more than a tusk, scientists have pieced together the lifetime travels of a single woolly mammoth that wandered North America more than 14,000 years ago.
Starting life in the western Yukon, the mammoth traveled hundreds of kilometers through northwestern Canada before arriving at her final resting place, an early human settlement in present-day Alaska. It seems there’s little doubt that this venturing mammoth was slaughtered by a hungry group of hunter-gatherers.
The international team of researchers from McMaster University, the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and the University of Ottawa chronicled the epic journey by studying a mammoth tusk using ancient DNA and isotopic analyses.
Isotope analysis relies on the principle of “you are what you eat.” The technique is capable of providing precise insights into an animal's life – such as their diet, geographic origin, and migration patterns – by looking at the concentration of certain stable isotopes within their tissues that were picked up from their surrounding environment.
The complete tusk belonged to a woolly mammoth that was recently named “Élmayuujey’eh”. It was unearthed alongside remains of a juvenile and a baby mammoth at Swan Point, an archaeological site that’s home to the earliest evidence of humans in Alaska.
The analysis of the tusk showed that the mammoth was an adult female who was around 20 years old when she died some 14,000 years ago. This was a critical window of time when the last remaining woolly mammoths lived alongside the region’s first human inhabitants for at least 1,000 years.
The mammoth spent much of her life in a relatively small area of the Yukon. However, as she grew older, she migrated over 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) in just three years before settling in the midst of Alaska.
Altogether, this information strongly suggests that the mammoth was killed by human hunter-gatherers.
“She was a young adult in the prime of life. Her isotopes showed she was not malnourished and that she died in the same season as the seasonal hunting camp at Swan Point where her tusk was found,” Matthew Wooller, senior author, director of the Alaska Stable Isotope Facility, and a professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, said in a statement.
The researchers think it’s a reasonable bet that the two young mammoths found near her remains were her children. It’s believed mammoths behave much like modern elephants, with females and young-uns living in close-knit matriarchal herds and mature males traveling solo.
Significantly, the remains of mammoths have been found at three other archaeological sites within just 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) of Swan Point. This led the researchers to conclude that this region was a meet-up point for at least two closely related, but different herds.
“This is more than looking at stone tools or remains and trying to speculate. This analysis of lifetime movements can really help with our understanding of how people and mammoths lived in these areas,” added Tyler Murchie, a recent postdoctoral researcher at McMaster University's Department of Anthropology.
The study is published in the journal Science Advances.
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https://www.iflscience.com/tusk-tells-the-tale-of-huge-journey-made-by-a-woolly-mammoth-14000-years-ago-72498
| 2024-01-18T03:25:32Z
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Here's a fun fact to annoy people with; depending on how pedantic you are as a person, you could call the Sun blue-green. In fact, you have NASA's permission to do so.
"So, the sun actually emits energy at all wavelengths from radio to gamma ray. But," NASA explained ahead of the 2017 eclipse, "it emits most of its energy around 500 nm, which is close to blue-green light. So one might say that the sun is blue-green!"
Of course, we don't see it like that, thanks to how our eyes work.
"Though the sun emits strongest in the green part of the spectrum, it also emits strongly in all the visible colors – red through blue," NASA continued. "Our eyes which have three color cone cell receptors, report to the brain that each color receptor is completely saturated with significant colors being received at all visible wavelengths. Our brains then integrate these signals into a perceived white color."
Now that we've got the fact that the Sun is blue-green but perceived as white out of the way, why are sunsets and sunrises red?
When the Sun hits our atmosphere, light in the blue spectrum is scattered more efficiently than red light by particles within it, known as Rayleigh scattering. With less blue light hitting your eyes, you will perceive the Sun as tinted slightly yellow. The more atmosphere the light has to travel through – say at sunrise and sunset – the more blue light gets scattered, making the Sun appear yellower or red.
Conversely, when the Sun is directly above you it will appear whiter, as the blue light has less atmosphere to scatter through in order to reach your eyes.
On Mars, with a far thinner atmosphere filled with carbon dioxide and dust, red light scatters more efficiently, meaning all the robots we have sent there look out on an eerie blue sunset, contrasting nicely with all the red.
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https://www.iflscience.com/why-are-sunsets-and-sunrises-red-when-the-sun-is-blue-green-72504
| 2024-01-18T03:25:38Z
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Researchers have been able to achieve quantum coherence at room temperature – this is the ability of a quantum system to maintain a well-defined state without being affected by external disturbances. This breakthrough is an important step forward in the development of quantum computers. It is easier to work with them if you do not have to cool them down to incredibly low temperatures.
Quantum computers’ fundamental unit of information is the qubit. These tend to be made of a few particles entangled in a specific state. That means that no matter the distance you put between them, any interaction with one of them affects all the particles in the state. This is extremely useful for the computation side of things, but an entangled state is also very fragile.
In this work, the team achieved an entangled quintet state in electrons. They were able to craft it by using a chromophore – a dye molecule that absorbs light and emits a specific wavelength (or color), making it perfect to excite electrons in a specific way to get to the singlet. But that alone is not enough. The chromophore was embedded in a metal-organic framework (MOF), which is a nanoporous crystalline material.
The MOF was chosen to accumulate a lot of chromophores, but keep them restricted in their angle of motion. They are able to move sufficiently that as they emit color they excite electrons in the quintet state, but the motion restrictions suppress the shaking that would lead to a breakdown of the state.
“This is the first room-temperature quantum coherence of entangled quintets,” co-author Professor Yasuhiro Kobori of Kobe University said in a statement.
The team was able to use microwave light to check the state of the system, showing it remained in quantum coherence for over 100 nanoseconds. This is a tiny fraction of a second, but it shows that quantum coherence is achievable at room temperature.
“It will be possible to generate quintet multiexciton state qubits more efficiently in the future by searching for guest molecules that can induce more such suppressed motions and by developing suitable MOF structures,” speculates senior author Associate Professor Nobuhiro Yanai from Kyushu University. “This can open doors to room-temperature molecular quantum computing based on multiple quantum gate control and quantum sensing of various target compounds.”
Quantum sensing is a particularly exciting application. By using the extremely sensitive nature of quantum entanglement (which is usually the problem), researchers believe they can develop sensing technologies with higher resolutions and sensitivities compared to the ones currently in use.
The study is published in Science Advances.
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https://www.iflscience.com/world-first-as-stable-qubit-for-quantum-computers-achieved-at-room-temperature-72502
| 2024-01-18T03:25:44Z
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Chicago Fire season 12 has returned – and although we learned Randall 'Mouch' McHolland (Christian Stolte) was safe and alive, it wasn't all plain sailing as Blake Gallo (Alberto Rosende) left Firehouse 51 and Christopher Hermann appeared to have been left injured after saving the team from a bomb.
For HELLO!, showrunner Andrea Newman breaks down what fans can expect from the rest of season 12…
Christopher Hermann will face consequences for his heroics:
"His big heroic save at the end of the premiere will have consequences for him both psychologically and physically – and it's going to take Darren Ritter (Daniel Kyri) with a big move to help him get past that," says Andrea.
"Those two will end up having their relationship tested a little bit; Ritter is the one who kind of comes to save the day for Hermann."
Darren Ritter will get a bigger season:
When asked if Ritter will get more scenes in season 12, Andrea admitted that the writers room have "been talking about that".
"Ritter is a big favorite, and he's a favorite of ours, we love him. It only makes the show better the more Ritter we have so Ritter gets some great moments early in the season this year and we'll continue to explore that character more."
Violet Mikami will step into her spotlight:
The biggest change fans can expect from season 12 will be seeing Violet Mikami (Hanako Greensmith) "stepping into her spotlight," with Gallo and Sylvie Brett both leaving Firehouse 51.
"I think this is a year where Violet kind of turns everything she's been through into something positive and it lets her step into the spotlight," says Andrea. "Violet also has some big calls and it gives her the time to shine and step up as a leader and as a central character in the show."
New Firehouse 51 romance?
The season premiere appeared to hint at a possible new romance between Violet and Sam Carver (Jake Lockett) – and Andrea admits that there is a lot of fun to be had between these two this season.
"They're just great together, they're so fun together, and we love watching them," Andrea says, adding: "I think Violet is not looking for anything serious, but I think that there's a lot of fun to be had between those characters and I think that that relationship will have some surprises on that."
And it turns out Hanako and Jake didn't even need to be told that there may be a new arc, with Andrea sharing that "they just kind of knew, it was so funny!"
"In talking to both of them, they both kind of knew and they both can play the drama and the comedy so well, and both of those things will come in handy for this relationship."
Why newcomer Derek Gibson will cause 'good trouble':
At the end of episode one, Deputy District Chief Wallace Boden (Eamonn Walker) gives a passionate speech about the meaning of being part of 51 – and it comes at the right time as a new firefighter will be joining the Firehouse in episode two.
"I think anybody coming into 51 has a challenge because they're all so close – it was an adjustment for Carver too – and you can't keep everything on the surface when you work with people who like to dig in. There will be a lot of layers to peel back on this Gibson character, and that's what our 51 like to do, they try to get to the heart of who somebody is and that's not easy for everybody – and it's not necessarily the right fit for everybody – but Gibson is an intriguing character and everybody wants to get to know him, and he going to cause some trouble – some good trouble."
Gibson is not a replacement for Gallo though: "Gibson plays things closer to the vest, he's magnetic in the same way that Gallo was but he's also more mysterious."
Stellaride are still struggling – even six months on
Andrea says that Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) and Kelly Severide (Taylor Kinney) will have a simmering tension throughout most of the season, even though it's been six months since he returned to Chicago.
"There's been some simmering tension underneath and the audience very much gets to be a part of that journey instead of us being like, 'Oh, it's resolved and they got through it!' What we find out is they've been burying some things," says Andrea.
"They're very much in love, obviously - it's obvious within two seconds of the premiere that they can't keep their hands to themselves! – but there's definitely a new element to this relationship and we get to see that play out and see the journey of getting through that and how that affects them"
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/511518/chicago-fire-season-12-surprise-romance-major-consequences-for-hermann-and-stella-and-kellys-tension/
| 2024-01-18T03:50:20Z
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Amid a tumultuous conservatorship battle, Elijah Blue Allman, son of the singer Cher, has encountered a new setback.
His recent attempt to dismiss his divorce from estranged wife Marieangela 'Queeny' King was denied by a judge, adding another layer of complexity to an already fraught situation.
According to documents obtained by The Blast, the judge's decision to not dismiss the divorce was influenced by an existing temporary order for support to Elijah.
This ruling comes amidst Elijah, 47, and Marieangela, 36, reportedly joining forces earlier this month to request the dismissal of their divorce action.
This move was initially perceived as a pathway for Marieangela to have a say in Elijah’s drug abuse treatments, hinting at a potential reconciliation and a united front against Cher's efforts to establish a conservatorship over her son.
However, the judge's refusal to dismiss the divorce, based on the technicality of the support order, casts doubt on the couple's future actions. "The decision to deny a dismissal for the divorce was seemingly based on a technicality — the previous decision awarding King temporary support from Allman," as reported by The Blast.
The conservatorship battle itself has been contentious. Earlier in January, Cher's request for a conservatorship over her son was denied by a judge.
At the heart of this legal battle, Elijah claimed he had been sober for three months. Despite these claims, Cher's concerns about her son's wellbeing remained a pivotal factor in her pursuit of the conservatorship.
Marieangela’s stance has been vocal and clear, especially regarding her husband's treatment and Cher's involvement.
She accused Cher of "kidnapping" Elijah from a New York hotel room on their wedding anniversary and later having him placed in a lockdown facility in Mexico.
"I have always been a champion for the sober community and for Elijah's sobriety," Marieangela said in a statement. She expressed her disapproval of "pop-up, makeshift, unethical scam rehabs" and her concerns about Elijah being under a Mexican Conservatorship.
The ongoing saga took another turn when Cher filed court documents claiming that Elijah had gone missing, a claim that he refuted in court while reiterating his sobriety.
Judge Jessica Uzcategui subsequently denied Cher's petition for a conservatorship, highlighting a lack of proper notice and refusal of Cher's legal team to share necessary information with Elijah.
Elijah's financial situation has also been a point of contention. Receiving $10,000 monthly from a trust fund, Cher has argued that these payments could endanger his life if misused.
She proposed diverting these funds to an account under her control, a move meant to safeguard him from potential drug abuse or risky financial decisions.
Throughout this legal and familial ordeal, Cher has been outspoken about Marieangela's influence on her son, describing her as a "destructive presence" in Elijah's life and accusing her of obstructing the treatments she had arranged for him.
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/mother-and-baby/511524/chers-son-elijah-blue-allman-dealt-fresh-blow-amid-conservatorship-debacle/
| 2024-01-18T03:50:26Z
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HONG KONG - China's ageing population threatens key Beijing policy goals for the coming decade of boosting domestic consumption and reining in ballooning debt, posing a severe challenge to the economy's long-term growth prospects.
A record low birth rate in 2023 and a wave of COVID-19 deaths resulted in a second consecutive year of population decline, accelerating concerns about China's demographic downturn.
Large groups of the 1.4 billion people living in the world's second-largest economy will exit the labour pool and age past a prime period of their lives for consumption, exacerbating structural imbalances that policymakers have vowed to address.
Household consumption's share of economic output in China is already one of the lowest in the world, while many provincial governments - responsible for pensions and elderly care - are deep in debt as a result of decades of credit-fuelled investment-driven growth.
"China's age structure change will slow down economic growth," said Xiujian Peng, senior research fellow at the Centre of Policy Studies (CoPS) at Victoria University in Melbourne.
In the next 10 years, about 300 million people currently aged 50 to 60 - China's largest demographic group, equivalent to almost the entire U.S. population - are set to leave the workforce at a time when pension budgets are already stretched.
The state-run Chinese Academy of Sciences sees the pension system running out of money by 2035, with about a third of the country's provincial-level jurisdictions running pension budget deficits, according to finance ministry data.
LOW RETIREMENT AGE
China, which accepts few and only highly-skilled foreign workers, has one of the world's lowest retirement ages, at 60 for men, 55 for white-collar women and 50 for women who work in factories. A record 28 million people are scheduled to retire this year.
Employees at state-owned companies are typically mandated to retire when of age, while private employers rarely keep workers longer, whereas in some Western countries the retirement age is more flexible.
Unemployed Li Zhulin, 50, from the northwestern Shaanxi province frets about relying solely on her husband's pension of about 5,000 to 7,000 yuan ($697 to $975) per month when he retires in 2027 after a career at a state-owned company.
Li has been cutting back on expenses and scouring the internet for financial planning tips to try to be "less of a burden" for her only daughter.
"In addition to supporting her own family if she marries, she would also take care of four elderly people," Li said, including the husband's parents. "I can't imagine how difficult that would be."
Chinese society has traditionally expected children to support their parents financially as they age and often by living together to care for them.
But as in many Western countries, rapid urbanisation has shifted young people to bigger cities and away from their parents, prompting a rising number of seniors to rely on self care or government payments.
Whereas five workers supported every Chinese retiree in 2020, the ratio will decline to 2.4 workers in 2035 and 1.6 in 2050, estimates University of Wisconsin-Madison demographer Yi Fuxian.
"By that point, China's pension crisis will develop into a humanitarian catastrophe," Yi said.
Japan's ratio was 2 to 1 in 2022 and is projected to hit 1.3 to 1 in 2070 according to its government. But Japan was already a high-income economy before its population's ageing accelerated.
AGEING CONSUMERS
China's second-largest group, about 230 million people aged 30 to 49, are in a prime period for consumption as their career is advanced enough to afford buying homes and cars and parents begin spending on child education.
Once the group reaches their 50s, their children will finish schooling and start earning their own income, meaning the cohort is expected to participate less in domestic consumption.
Their future replacement, currently in their 20s, is the smallest generation since the famines of the 1950s, a direct result of China's one-child policy from 1980 to 2015.
This bodes ill for China's property sector, which accounted for about a quarter of its economic output before its bubble popped in 2021 due to over-leveraged developers and excess supply of apartments, drawing comparisons with Japan's predicament in the 1990s before its lost decades of stagnation.
"Japan's experience shows that as the share of the working age population declines, so does demand for housing," said Larry Hu, chief China economist at Macquarie.
INNOVATION WOES
China saw a rise in births after ditching the one-child policy but the recovery was far off pre-implementation levels and also short-lived. Fewer children were born in each of the past eight years, including 2023.
Demographers say the number of children in any economy is directly correlated with domestic consumption.
Peng at CoPS says a shrinking domestic market will increase China's reliance on exports. With China already producing a third of the goods consumed around the world, it has redirected credit flows from property to manufacturing, in a bid to lift industries up the value chain and avoid the middle income trap.
But, Peng says, an ageing workforce "means they have less incentives to innovate, and a slower, not faster, productivity improvement." REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/chinas-ageing-population-threatens-switch-to-new-economic-growth-model
| 2024-01-18T04:11:39Z
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JAKARTA - Indonesia's presidential candidates have pledged to strengthen the government's anti-corruption agency, laying out their plans ahead of the country's Feb 14 election, to counter graft in South-east Asia's largest economy.
The candidates' promises were made at a dialogue late on Jan 17.
The pledges come as experts bemoan a slowdown in the country's fight against graft amid an erosion of the powers of its once-vaunted Corruption Eradication Commission, known by its Indonesian initials as the KPK.
The election sees leading candidate Prabowo Subianto, the defence minister and former general, facing off against former provincial governors Ganjar Pranowo and Anies Baswedan.
Mr Anies, the former governor of the capital Jakarta, said he would bring Indonesia's battle against graft back on track by strengthening the KPK and revising the law governing the agency.
"We want to return the KPK as an authoritative institution in the legal sense and this means revising the KPK law," he said at the live streamed event held by the KPK and attended by its top officials and all candidates.
The law was amended in 2019 and experts have said it weakened the KPK by curbing its freedom to wiretap suspects and by classifying its independent investigators as civil servants that report to the government.
The revision, made under current President Joko Widodo, who is known as Jokowi, triggered mass protests at the time.
Mr Prabowo said he would take a "realistic" approach to preventing corruption cases by increasing the wages of state officials entrusted with large budgets, citing the examples of judges and officials at his own ministry who are responsible for military hardware procurement.
"I have made a calculation with my expert team. We have the capability, we are not poor," he added, without elaborating on the budget plan for the wage increase.
Mr Ganjar, the former governor of Central Java province and the candidate of the party of President Jokowi, pledged to restore the KPK's independence, push for audits of government agencies and ensure assets are confiscated from those convicted of graft.
Over the course of President Jokowi's nearly decade in office, six of his ministers have been charged or jailed for graft, and the chief of the KPK, Firli Bahuri, was also named as a bribery suspect in November.
In 2022, Indonesia dropped four places on global graft watchdog Transparency International's corruption perception index to 110 out of 180 countries. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/indonesia-presidential-hopefuls-pledge-to-boost-troubled-anti-graft-agency
| 2024-01-18T04:11:50Z
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TAIPEI - Taiwan's ministerial Cabinet submitted its customary post-election joint resignation on Thursday, but is widely expected to be asked by President Tsai Ing-wen to stay on in a caretaker role until May when the new president takes power.
The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won Saturday's presidential election, but lost its majority in parliament.
Taiwan Premier Chen Chien-jen had said on Tuesday that the Cabinet would resign in accordance with past constitutional practice before the new parliament meets next month after the DPP lost it legislative majority.
Taiwan media has reported Tsai will ask the Cabinet to stay on in a caretaker role until Vice President Lai Ching-te, who won the presidency, assumes his new role on May 20 and appoints his own Cabinet.
The new session of parliament opens on Feb. 1.
Tsai was not able to run again for the presidency in accordance with Taiwan's constitution after two terms in office. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/taiwan-cabinet-submits-customary-post-election-resignation
| 2024-01-18T04:12:00Z
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SINGAPORE - Former transport minister S. Iswaran was handed 27 charges on Jan 18, including allegedly receiving tickets from property tycoon Ong Beng Seng to shows such as Harry Potter And The Cursed Child.
Some of the charges were related to alleged incidents that happened between 2015 and 2021, and included receiving two tickets to a football match between West Ham United and Everton.
A court officer told the court the charges were read to him before the hearing.
Iswaran, who was arrested in July 2023 by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), arrived at the State Courts around 8am on Jan 18.
He arrived with his legal team, which includes Senior Counsel Davinder Singh from Davinder Singh Chambers, and did not comment when The Straits Times approached him.
The prosecution team is led by Chief Prosecutor Tan Kiat Pheng, who is assisted by two deputy public prosecutors, Mr Jiang Ke Yue and Mr Kelvin Chong.
When the judge asked Iswaran how he intended to plead, he said: “Not guilty.”
Iswaran is now out on $800,000 bail.
The court heard that the charges are two counts of corruption, 24 counts of obtaining items from someone he had business dealings with as a public servant and one of obstructing the course of justice.
Mr Singh told the court that Iswaran was initially charged on Jan 15 with 36 charges and that cautioned statements were taken on these charges.
He said the defence learnt on the morning of Jan 18 that there were now 27 charges, and asked if the prosecution was proceeding on the remaining nine charges.
The prosecution said it was not.
Court documents show that most of the offences Iswaran faces involve Mr Ong, who brought Formula One to Singapore in 2008.
In September 2022, Iswaran had allegedly corruptly obtained from Mr Ong gratification with a total value of about $145,434 as inducement for advancing his business interests in matters relating to a contract between Singapore GP and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).
He also allegedly obtained from Mr Ong gratification valued at $20,848.03 in December 2022 for advancing his business interests in matters relating to a contract between Singapore GP and the STB and a proposal for a contract with the STB.
He had also allegedly obtained, as a public servant, valuable things with a total value of about $218,058.95 from Mr Ong on 24 occasions between November 2015 and December 2021. He allegedly either received this through Mr Ong directly, Mr Ong’s company Como Holdings (UK) or Singapore GP.
He allegedly did so while knowing that Mr Ong had a connection with his official function as chairman of the F1 Steering Committee.
The items include two tickets to a football match between West Ham United and Everton worth about £468 (S$1,006.06) that he received around November 2015 and 10 Green Room tickets to the 2017 Singapore Formula One Grand Prix worth about $42,265 that he received in September 2016.
He also allegedly in September 2018 obtained 13 general admission tickets to the 2018 Singapore Formula One Grand Prix worth about $16,744.
He also purportedly received tickets to multiple shows including Hamilton, Kinky Boots, Book Of Mormon and Harry Potter And The Cursed Child.
Iswaran had also allegedly obstructed the course of justice on or about May 25, 2023.
He had allegedly made repayment of $5,700 – the cost of his business class flight ticket from Doha to Singapore that he had taken on Dec 11, 2022, at Mr Ong’s expense – through Singapore GP.
Iswaran, 61, was arrested by CPIB on July 11, 2023, following its investigation into a separate matter. He was then released on bail.
He was instructed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to take a leave of absence until investigations were completed.
His monthly pay was reduced to $8,500.
On Jan 9, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing provided an update in response to a parliamentary question.
He said the CPIB has completed its investigation into Iswaran and the matter was before the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC).
The AGC has the prosecutorial discretion to decide whether a person is charged and the charge on which he is prosecuted.
Iswaran was elected into Parliament in 1997 as an MP for West Coast GRC, where he served for the last 26 years.
He was promoted to full minister in the Prime Minister’s Office in 2011, and has held ministerial positions in the ministries of education, home affairs, and communications and information.
Mr Ong was also arrested on July 11 as part of the corruption probe.
On Jan 18, in response to media queries, a spokesperson from AGC said Mr Ong was among others investigated in the case.
She added: “The Attorney-General’s Chambers will take a decision in respect of the investigations against Mr Ong and others, after the case against Mr S. Iswaran has been completed, including the presentation of evidence in court.”
Iswaran’s pre-trial conference is scheduled for March 1.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/former-transport-minister-s-iswaran-faces-27-charges-including-corruption-says-he-is-not-guilty
| 2024-01-18T04:12:11Z
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SINGAPORE - Former Transport Minister S. Iswaran now faces 27 charges in total.
He is accused of 24 counts of obtaining, as a minister, items with a total value of more than $200,000 from property tycoon Ong Beng Seng. Mr Ong is the man who brought Formula One to Singapore.
These items include tickets to the Singapore Grand Prix, football matches in the UK and musicals.
Iswaran allegedly obtained the following, either from Mr Ong directly, or through either Como Holdings (UK) or Singapore GP:
1. Two tickets to the show Thriller worth about £200 (approximately S$429.94 according to court documents), around November 2015.
2. Two tickets to the show The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time worth about £270, around November 2015
3. Two tickets to the football match for West Ham United FC vs Everton FC (Boleyn Ground) worth about £468, around November 2015.
4. Two tickets to the football match for Arsenal FC vs Tottenham Hotspur FC (Emirates) worth about £550, around November 2015.
5. Ten green room tickets to the 2016 Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix worth about $42,265, in September 2016.
6. Ten green room tickets to the 2017 Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix worth about $42,265, in September 2017.
7. Five boardwalk tickets to the 2017 Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix worth about $40,000, in September 2017.
8. Four tickets to the show Book of Mormon worth about £540, around December 2017.
9. Four tickets to the football match for Chelsea FC v Southampton FC (Stamford Bridge) worth about £700, around December 2017.
10. Four tickets to the shows Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Part 1 and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Part 2 worth about £1,000, around December 2017.
11. Four tickets to the football match for Arsenal FC v Liverpool FC (Emirates) worth about £1,100, around December 2017.
12. Four tickets to the show Kinky Boots worth about £300, around December 2017.
13. Six Twenty3 tickets to the 2018 Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix worth about $13,193.10, in September 2018.
14. Thirteen general admission tickets to the 2018 Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix worth about $16,744, in September 2018.
15. Four tickets to the show The Play That Goes Wrong worth about £380, around December 2018.
16. Four tickets to the show School of Rock worth about £560, around December 2018.
17. Four tickets to the football match for Chelsea FC v Manchester City FC (Stamford Bridge) worth at least £120 around December 2018.
18. Four tickets to the show Hamilton worth about £400, sometime around June 2019.
19. Four tickets to the show Waitress worth about £524, sometime around June 2019.
20. Four tickets to the show Betrayal worth about £1,080, sometime around June 2019.
21. Six green room tickets to the 2019 Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix worth about $26,643, sometime in September 2019.
22. Sixteen general admission tickets to the 2019 Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix worth about $20,608, sometime in September 2019.
23. Two tickets to the show Back to the Future worth about £449, or about S$814.49, sometime around December 2021.
24. Two tickets to the show & Juliet worth about £250, sometime around December 2021.
Iswaran was also handed two graft charges.
25. He allegedly corruptly obtained 10 Green Room tickets, eight Twenty3 tickets and 32 general admission tickets to the 2022 Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix worth about $48,150, $56,068 and $41,216, in September 2022.
26. He allegedly corruptly obtained: an outbound flight on Mr Ong’s private plane from Singapore to Doha worth about US$7,700 (approximately S$10,410.40 according to court documents; a one night’s stay in Four Seasons Doha, worth about $4,737.63 through Singapore GP; and a business class flight from Doha to Singapore worth about $5,700 through Singapore GP.
This was as an inducement for doing acts in relation to his principal’s affairs - advancing Mr Ong’s business interests in matters relating to: a contract with a public body, the Facilitation Agreement between Singapore GP and the Singapore Tourism Board and a proposal for a contract with the STB to establish the ABBA Voyage virtual concert in Singapore;
27. Iswaran is also accused of performing an act that could likely obstruct the course of justice. He allegedly repaid $5,700 to Singapore GP for the cost of his business class flight ticket from Doha to Singapore that he purportedly took on Dec 11, 2022, at Mr Ong’s expense through Singapore GP.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/tickets-to-f1-harry-potter-shows-and-football-matches-what-are-the-27-charges-s-iswaran-faces
| 2024-01-18T04:12:21Z
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SINGAPORE - Drivers here now have more places to juice up their electric vehicles (EVs), as more than 2,400 charging points have been installed at about 700 Housing Board residential carparks across all 26 HDB towns.
Drivers of taxis, private-hire cars and commercial fleet vehicles that run on electricity can also top up their batteries much quicker, with the roll-out of the first public fast chargers in HDB commercial carparks.
With these fast chargers, drivers can get half of a full charge in 30 minutes on average, said EV-Electric (EVe) Charging, a Land Transport Authority subsidiary overseeing the deployment of public EV chargers, on Jan 18.
The new chargers are in two HDB commercial carparks at the HDB Hub in Toa Payoh and the Oasis Terraces neighbourhood centre in Punggol.
Launching the fast chargers at an event at the HDB Hub on Jan 18, Senior Minister of State for Transport Amy Khor said the authorities will look to deploy fast chargers at other HDB neighbourhood and town centres as well as JTC industrial estates that fleet drivers frequent.
She said more details will be made public in the coming months.
Dr Khor, who is also Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment, said: “We have achieved the interim target of equipping one in three HDB carparks with EV chargers by 2023.”
“The accessibility of EV chargers really is an important factor to encourage the switch from ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles to electric vehicles,” she added.
“Over the next couple of years, we will deploy these EV chargers to the remaining HDB carparks to ensure convenience.”
The Government’s aim is to install at least 12,000 EV chargers in about 2,000 HDB carparks by 2025.
At the carpark in HDB Hub, Shell now operates four fast charging points, powered by two 120kW direct current (DC) dual-gun chargers. There will also be two 22kW alternating current (AC) chargers there.
At Oasis Terraces in Punggol, SP Mobility will run two fast charging points, powered by a single 100kW DC dual-gun charger. In addition, there will be four 22kW AC chargers.
Unlike AC chargers, a DC charger has a converter inside the charger. That means it can feed power directly to the car’s battery and does not need the vehicle’s onboard converter.
Each dual-gun charger can juice up two EVs at the same time.
With these fast chargers, EV drivers will be able to get a quick boost that will give them an extra 100km to 200km in mileage with a 30-minute to one-hour charge, Dr Khor said.
In contrast, charging a vehicle such as the MG5, which cab operator Strides Premier uses as a taxi, takes about 8½ hours using a slow charger.
EVe said the decision to deploy fast chargers at HDB carparks came in response to industry feedback.
Right now, most fast chargers are at commercial malls and offices. The company said heavy EV users such as cabbies and fleet drivers had asked for more fast chargers at public carparks, where parking rates are more affordable, and where there are amenities such as coffee shops and hawker centres.
Dr Khor said overnight slow charging, however, remains the predominant charging strategy for private electric cars, adding that most drivers will need to charge their EVs only once every five or six days if they clock an average daily mileage of 50km.
She added: “While slow chargers will meet the needs of most EV drivers, we also recognise that fast chargers are needed as a supplement.”
Dr Khor noted that new electric car registrations formed 18.2 per cent of all new car registrations in 2023 – 50 per cent more than that in 2022, and almost five times compared with 2021.
In November 2023, registrations for “cleaner energy” cars, which include fully electric and hybrid cars, crossed 75 per cent of all car registrations for the first time, she added.
There are now almost 11,000 fully electric cars on the roads here, and more than 15,200 EVs, after including other vehicle classes such as taxis and motorcycles.
As part of the Singapore Green Plan 2030, the Government’s aim is for all vehicles here to run on cleaner energy by 2040, with the registration of new diesel cars and taxis to stop from 2025 and the registration of new pure combustion engine cars to end from 2030.
While EV adoption has climbed, the shortage of EV chargers has been a sticking point for drivers yet to make the switch.
In November 2022, five companies were picked to roll out EV chargers at 2,000 public carparks under a large-scale tender.
This was part of the Government’s move to encourage greater adoption of EVs by expanding the charging network to tackle “range anxiety”, a common concern among drivers that their cars will run out of power before reaching a charging station.
The bulk of the chargers installed as part of the large-scale tender are 7.4kW slow chargers that are mostly located on the third deck of HDB multi-storey carparks.
The large-scale tender followed an earlier one awarded in September 2021 to install more than 600 charging points in public carparks.
Singapore aims to have 60,000 EV charging points by 2030, of which 40,000 will be in public carparks and 20,000 in private premises such as malls and condominiums.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/ev-chargers-installed-at-700-hdb-carparks-new-public-fast-chargers-in-toa-payoh-punggol
| 2024-01-18T04:12:31Z
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GAZA/ISRAEL-GAZA BORDER/DOHA - Israel pressed its assault on Khan Younis in southern Gaza on Jan 17, sending tanks westwards while Jordan decried shelling that badly damaged its field hospital in the city.
The Jordanian army said it held Israel responsible for a “flagrant breach of international law” in damage to the facility. Israel’s military denied striking or damaging the hospital, saying it opened fire after encountering a “terrorist cell” next to the hospital.
In a statement, Israel’s military said it coordinated the presence of troops in the area in advance with authorities and added medics were instructed to go to safer area. It said it could not identify the source of gunfire that injured a medical worker and the hospital remained “fully functioning”.
People in and around another hospital fled as tanks approached the district overnight following an Israeli army statement that it had come under fire from the area.
Palestinian health officials said seven people were killed by Israeli air strikes that damaged homes near the hospital, one of only a third of Gaza’s hospitals still partially operational.
Farther south from the hospital in nearby Rafah, Palestinian health official said 16 people were killed when an Israeli missile hit a house in the city just before midnight on Jan 17. Several other people were wounded, they said, expecting the number of fatalities to increase.
Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy said extra field hospitals were expected to be up and running in the coming days.
“These have of course been necessitated by Hamas’ strategic militarisation of Gaza’s existing hospitals,” he said, adding this showed that Hamas militants were the ones breaching international law. Hamas denies using hospitals for cover.
Explosions from shelling and air strikes sounded further west in Khan Younis as the Israeli tanks moved on. Lines of thick black smoke rose from bomb sites.
As night fell, residents reported heavy Israeli tank and aerial bombing in Khan Younis as well as the Al-Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza.
Israel said it had killed six Palestinian fighters, including the southern district Hamas officer in charge of interrogating suspected spies.
The military said in a statement that the killing of counter-espionage officer Bilal Nofal “significantly impacts the terrorist organisation’s capacity to develop and enhance its capabilities”.
‘Missiles falling on us’
Further south in Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of people have moved on Israeli advice, people cried over several shrouded bodies, including of a young girl, Masa.
“We were asleep and then we found the missiles falling on us. We got up and couldn’t see anything. We started checking on each other. The girl was martyred,” said her aunt, Ms Tahreer Shoman, adding that her siblings had been wounded but survived.
In central Gaza, the Israeli military said it killed militants in Deir al-Balah who tried to fire mortars at its forces. It said soldiers apprehended seven militants and killed several others and destroyed rocket launchers in the area of Bureij, from which it said 25 rockets had been fired on Jan 16.
Fighting also raged in densely populated Jabalia in northern Gaza on Jan 17, a day after Israeli tanks stormed back into parts of the north they left last week.
In early January, Israel announced it was scaling back operations in the north of the Palestinian enclave as part of what it called a more targeted approach in its war against Hamas after operations that flattened entire residential districts.
At least US$15 billion (S$20 billion) will be needed just to rebuild houses in Gaza, the head of the Palestine Investment Fund, Mohammed Mustafa, told the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan 17, without taking into account the extensive damage to basic infrastructure and hospitals.
Israel’s military campaign has left Gaza’s population facing crisis levels of hunger and at growing risk from disease as supplies run low, aid agencies say.
“If the war in Gaza continues, more people are likely to die of hunger or famine than war,” Mr Mustafa said.
Aid destined for Palestinian residents and Israeli hostages in Gaza arrived in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula on Jan 17 under a deal brokered by France and Qatar, Egyptian security and Red Crescent officials said.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society later said 146 trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered Gaza from the Kerem Shalom crossing with Israel. From the Rafah crossing with Egypt, 48 trucks entered carrying food, water and medical supplies in addition to 12 commercial trucks, it said.
The head of the United Nations’ relief agency UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, described desperate scenes of overcrowding in Rafah on the Egyptian border. He said more than 1.2 million people there were seeking shelter from the fighting.
With “the struggle for survival consuming every hour”, Gazans are trying to protect themselves from the cold and rain using makeshift structures of plastic sheeting, said Mr Lazzarini in a post on the UNRWA website, renewing his call for a humanitarian ceasefire.
Communications were down across Gaza on Jan 17 for a sixth day, leaving its Palestinian inhabitants unable to receive warnings on social media from the movement of Israeli forces.
Most have already been forced to flee several times.
Hostages
Palestinian health officials said 163 Gazans had been reported killed over the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to more than 24,400. Israel’s war on Gaza is in its fourth month.
Israel reported two more soldiers killed, taking the toll since it began ground operations in Gaza to 193.
Israel says it has killed 9,000 Hamas militants.
Israel has vowed to “eliminate” the enclave’s Hamas rulers after gunmen stormed into southern Israel on Oct 7, killing 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies.
On Jan 17, Israel adjusted the number of people it says were taken hostage on Oct 7 to 253 from 240.
Around half of the hostages were released in a November truce during which some Palestinians held in Israeli prisons were also freed. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/israel-presses-southern-gaza-assault-jordan-decries-damage-to-hospital
| 2024-01-18T04:12:42Z
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QUITO - Ecuadorean prosecutor Cesar Suarez, who focused on pursuing organized trans-national crime in Guayas province, one of the country's most violent areas and the site of an on-air attack on a television station last week, has been killed, the attorney general said on Wednesday.
Suarez, who had been placed in charge of investigating the television station attack, was traveling to a court hearing when he was killed, the council of the judiciary said in a statement condemning the attack.
The killing had the hallmarks of an assassination, police said in a statement, adding that the victim sustained a number of gunshot wounds.
Ecuador has suffered a recent burst of violence, including the gunmen interrupting the broadcast at TC Television in Guayaquil, the hostage-taking of more than 200 prison staff, explosions in several cities and the kidnapping of police officers.
In response President Daniel Noboa declared a 60-day state of emergency, including a nighttime curfew, and designated 22 criminal groups as terrorist organizations.
"The criminals, the terrorists, will not hold back our commitment to Ecuadorean society," attorney general Diana Salazar said in a video posted to social media. "We call on the forces of order to guarantee the security of those who are carrying out their duties."
Suarez was investigating the attack against TC Television. Police have arrested 13 people, including two minors, who are detained for suspected terrorism crimes.
"We reject all forms of violence as a response to the conflict we are experiencing and we ratify the strong commitment of the national government to supporting justice," Defense Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo said in a message to journalists.
Salazar's office has launched an investigation into Suarez's killing. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/organized-crime-prosecutor-in-ecuadors-guayas-killed-ags-office
| 2024-01-18T04:12:52Z
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Chicago PD season 11 premiered on Wednesday – and fans finally discovered Adam Ruzek's fate after a devastating season ten finale saw him shot in the chest. Six months on from that fateful moment Ruzek, (Patrick John Flueger) thankfully, was alive and still trying to get fit enough to pass the tests required to get back on the team.
Viewers see him running around his neighborhood being timed by Kevin Atwater (LaRoyce Hawkins), but it's clear he's not yet where he needs to be, and showrunner Gwen Sigan has told HELLO! that episode two will finally dive into where Ruzek is physically – and mentally.
"Episode two is a Ruzek episode; we really highlight him and show his journey and what it's been like for him for the last six months – and it's been a hard road," said Gwen.
"It's been six months of physical rehab, and it takes a lot physically but also mentally to get you back to where you were before. Adam is someone that relies so much on this job – it's part of his self-worth, part of keeping him sane – and he needs the adrenaline and the impact of this job.
"If he didn't have this job who would Ruzek be? It is always the most fun question to ask because he'd probably be on the other side of this world [as a criminal]. Now, he's in this weird space because he has not passed his tests, so we will get to see that journey with him."
Episode two and three will also offer insight into Adam's relationship with Kim Burgess (Marina Squerciati), with Gwen confirming these two are still "committed to each other" after rekindling their romance with a kiss in season ten.
"[In episode two] we also get to see Burgess, and what they look like together now that they are a family unit and are committed to each other," Gwen shared.
"For Burgess, she needs to figure out, 'how do you help someone when they're spinning out, support them in the way that they need?' Episode three is also a Burzek [a portmanteau of Burgess and Ruzek] episode so we're heavy Burzek for the next two episodes, and it's lovely because they're so good together; they have the best chemistry.
"Kim and Adam have grown so much as a couple, and we get to see that in these six months they finally found this rhythm – and it's not perfect. It is a hard thing to go through when your partner is going through rehab and has physically not been well, but we get to see that now they have the tools that they didn't when they were younger."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/511410/chicago-pd-what-comes-next-adam-ruzek-kim-burgess-after-season-11s-revelation/
| 2024-01-18T04:38:35Z
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Chicago PD fans were left devastated after the premiere of season 11 revealed that Hailey Upton (Tracy Spiridakos) and Jay Halstead (Jesse Lee Soffer) had finalized their divorce, 18 months after Jay left Chicago.
The first episode of the new season saw Hailey continue to spiral, making major mistakes that led to devastating consequences, and posting the divorce papers in a fit of frustration, before – at the end of the episode – breaking down and telling Hank Voight (Jason Beghe) she needed help.
Showrunner Gwen Sigan has now told HELLO! that the coming 12 episodes will see Hailey go through a "transformation".
"The breakup with Jay was, for Hailey, one of those things that has then triggered all the other things that she hasn't dealt with; she is someone that emotionally wants to be steady and in control and so she has buried a lot of stuff deep down, but Jay's departure broke the dam and it's coming out without her consent," revealed Gwen.
"Season 11 will see Hailey realizing this and recognizing now that there's a whole world outside, and that she has options that she didn't see before. I'm excited to dig into a lot of what makes Hailey hurt and then see a transformation."
As for whether there is any chance of a reunion for Hailey and Jay at this point, Gwen admits there won't be one before Tracy's departure from the series, but that fans should "never say never".
"I don't see a reunion before her departure, but never say never. They have a very real connection, and I think it's one of those things where in ten years time those characters find each other," she suggested.
Tracy will be leaving Chicago PD at the end of season 11, after giving the writers a "full season to do her character justice".
"I am very grateful for that," Gwen previously told HELLO!.
"She is such a good actor – and we want to do her justice. Upton is so interesting, because she's such a unique voice and so defined as to what her past was like and why she is the way she is."
"We're really going to dig into that this season, and dig into growth and transformation – how do you get through your life not looking like what you thought it was going to look like, and realizing that there could be more out there that is maybe better for you?" she continued.
"It will be a fun ride for her, and there are some interesting and new characters coming in for her to play against."
As for how her departure will impact the team, Gwen shares that although the whole team will be affected, Hank Voight (Jason Beghe), will struggle "a lot," adding: "I think he's got such a soft spot for her, he really loves her."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/511411/chicago-pd-boss-teases-hailey-and-jay-reunion-after-shocking-season-11-premiere/
| 2024-01-18T04:38:41Z
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It can be difficult to stay motivated and keep up with a regular fitness routine during menopause. Broken sleep can lead to lazy mornings and hot flashes are not exactly a great match for sweaty workouts. Yet we know that having a healthy lifestyle that’s nourished with good food and a consistent fitness routine can really help to manage our symptoms as well as our mood.
And according to Kate Rowe-Ham, menopause fitness expert and author of the book, Owning Your Menopause: Fitter, Calmer, Stronger in 30 Days, keeping fit and healthy during menopause doesn’t have to be something to dread. The key, she says, is to approach it with the right mindset, listen to your body, understand your goals and make your habits suit your lifestyle.
“I work with so many women who suddenly find that what they used to do is no longer working for them,” Kate explains to HELLO! “They begin to up their workouts and many begin to undereat, cutting out large food groups only placing more stress on their body and often this will exacerbate their symptoms.”
Instead, Kate says menopause brings a great opportunity to listen to your body and get to understand what it really needs. And this will also save you more time! “This is a really good time to evaluate your workouts so you can find out what does work, and you will not only find that this gives you more time because often we think we need to train for a long period of time, and we don't if we get it right.”
Kate says that evaluating our fitness regime, understanding our limits and managing our expectations will make fitness sessions less of a chore and will really help them be something to actually look forward to. “Your workouts suddenly become more enjoyable, effective and sustainable and you begin to make real progress. The reality is there are no quick wins or hacks because we need to ensure that what we are doing is about our long term health, however this doesn't mean working out endlessly or daily.”
Here are Kate’s 4 simple habits to keep you healthy and strong during menopause:
1. Start the day with a positive mindset, a stretch and a glass of water
“Before you even begin moving, you have to accept your changing body and think about your why. We often place unrealistic expectations on ourselves or try to change too many things at once so be really aware and mindful of what it is you want and allow time for change. It will happen but be patient. And when you wake up try to do a little stretch and drink a glass of water."
2. Complete your exercise routine in the morning
“If you are in an exercise routine, I try to encourage women to move in the morning, as once the day gets underway we may find it harder as the excuses can creep in. And if all you can manage is a walk, that is fine, but do try to do 4,000 steps each day.”
3. Prioritize protein at every meal
“Protein is really important in menopause for a number of reasons. It helps with recovery and repair; it maintains and repairs tissues and supports the immune system; it can help keep you fuller for longer, prevent insulin dips, and keep sugar levels stable and it helps build lean muscle and can prevent muscle loss. Aim to eat 1 to 1.2 grams of protein per kg of your bodyweight but do not eat it all in one sitting. Instead, break this protein requirement down into 3 meals, adding fibre, leafy greens and good carbs alongside.”
4. Lift weights
“Lift weights, not necessarily daily, but at least 3 to 5 times a week. Weight training is so fundamental - not only does it allow you to use your time efficiently but it will see you make strength gains you didn't know were possible. Suddenly, moving your body becomes enjoyable and your symptoms may begin to ease.”
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/health-and-fitness/511525/i-am-a-fitness-expert-and-these-4-simple-habits-will-keep-you-healthy-and-strong-during-menopause/
| 2024-01-18T04:38:47Z
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Travis Barker, at 48 years of age, has recently demonstrated a touching gesture for his newborn son, Rocky Thirteen Barker.
The famed musician, who welcomed his son with wife Kourtney Kardashian in November, showcased a pair of personalized sneakers emblazoned with his baby's name.
This personal tribute comes at a time when Travis has been under the microscope for his public outings post the birth of his son.
Following Rocky's arrival on November 1, Travis has been spotted several times without Kourtney, as she focuses on caring for the newborn at home.
During this period, Kourtney, 44, shared her postpartum experiences on social media. In one post, she emphasized the importance of a gentle approach to post-birth recovery, stating, "7 weeks postpartum: first day in the gym doing 30 minutes walking 3.0 12.0 incline. Taking it easy, no rush, no pressure mamas. Your body is healing. It’s not a race."
This advice mirrors the nurturing and patient approach she is taking in her own recovery.
However, some of Travis's recent actions, including his outings and the couple's public displays of affection, have raised eyebrows among fans and followers.
A notable point of discussion has been the naming of their son, Rocky Thirteen, a name Travis had expressed a liking for due to its connections to his favorite musician and number.
In a conversation with his daughter Alabama, Travis had said, "I like Rocky Thirteen. That’s this name that’s just been going through my head lately."
This decision led to some backlash, with fans on Reddit speculating about the dynamics of the decision-making process in their relationship.
One user commented, "Her allowing this baby’s name to be Rocky Thirteen will confirm for me that he is controlling." Another added, "Yeah I don't like that the new kid's name is completely Travis's interest... He seems very controlling and the only reason why Kourtney accepts it is because he loves her and is devoted to her."
At the Emmy Awards, the couple's affectionate behavior on the red carpet, specifically a moment captured where Travis appeared to lick Kourtney's face, further fueled debates about their public persona. A Reddit user remarked on this, stating, "What is this? In the middle of the Emmy's."
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/mother-and-baby/511526/travis-barkers-touching-tribute-to-son-rocky-after-fans-question-musician/
| 2024-01-18T04:38:53Z
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SYDNEY/TAIPEI - Taiwan’s remaining Pacific Island allies have pledged support in the wake of Nauru cutting ties on Jan 15 days after a presidential election, a move that whittled Taiwan’s diplomatic footprint in the region to three countries.
Two of those allies, Marshall Islands and Palau, have long-standing defence and funding compacts with the United States, while a third, Tuvalu, entered a security and migration agreement with Australia in November.
With Nauru’s switch, Taiwan’s allies in the region have halved from six to three since 2019, amid increased US-China rivalry for security ties and offers of infrastructure and funding.
The remaining 15 countries in the Pacific Island Forum regional bloc have diplomatic ties with China.
China claims Taiwan as its own territory with no right to state-to-state ties, a position Taiwan strongly disputes. Worldwide, a dozen countries maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taipei.
In a statement on Jan 18, Marshall Islands said its ties with Taiwan were “rock solid”, and in the region’s best interest.
“The Republic of the Marshall Islands values the strong relationship with Republic of China (Taiwan) as an indispensable partner in promotion of democratic principles,” a statement on its official Facebook page said.
“In parallel, we wholeheartedly respect the sovereignty of all countries and will continue to foster open and friendly dialogue with other nations for the sake of peace and stability for all,” it added.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry said on Jan 17 that Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Tien Chung-kwang will attend the inauguration of Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine on Jan 22 as a special envoy of President Tsai Ing-wen.
Taiwan also said that Tuvalu Prime Minister Kausea Natano had reaffirmed his country’s ties with Taiwan in a message to its embassy in Funafuti.
Tuvalu’s government, in a caretaker period ahead of a national election on Jan 26, congratulated Taiwan’s new president-elect, Mr Lai Ching-te on its Facebook page.
Palau wrote on Facebook it stands with Taiwan, which it called a “good friend”, adding that nations were free to choose whom they can build diplomatic ties with “without coercion”.
Palau’s President Surangel Whipps had written to Mr Lai, saying his nation wanted to “further strengthen our already rock solid alliance at the soonest opportunity”, Mr Whipps office said. REUTERS
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| 2024-01-18T05:43:54Z
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SINGAPORE – Japanese rock band King Gnu are touring Asia for the first time, and will bring their The Greatest Unknown Asia show to Singapore on April 10.
The tour kicked off in Osaka on Jan 13 and will travel to the Japanese cities of Nagoya, Tokyo, Fukuoka and Sapporo before making its way to Singapore. The tour’s other Asian stops include Taipei, Shanghai and Seoul.
Tickets to the gig at The Star Theatre are priced from $88 to $208 and go on sale on Jan 22.
Formed in 2013, King Gnu comprise Daiki Tsuneta (vocalist and guitarist), Satoru Iguchi (vocalist and keyboardist), Kazuki Arai (bassist) and Yu Seki (drummer).
The quartet released their fifth studio album, The Greatest Unknown, in November 2023. It includes Specialz, the opening theme song for the second season of hit anime Jujutsu Kaisen (2020 to 2023).
The album has topped Japan’s Oricon Weekly Chart and Billboard Japan chart.
Specialz is No. 6 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart, and its music video has been viewed more than 67 million times within three months of its release.
In addition to the energetic track, fans can also expect the rockers to perform hit songs such as Sakayume (2021), Ichizu (2021) and Ame Sansan (2022) at the April concert.
Book It/King Gnu Asia Tour “The Greatest Unknown” in Singapore 2024
Where: The Star Theatre, 1 Vista Exchange Green
When: April 10, 7pm
Admission: Tickets from $88 to $208 go on Jan 22 at 10am via Ticketmaster (ticketmaster.sg/activity/detail/24sg_kinggnu or call 3158-8588)
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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/entertainment/japan-rock-band-king-gnu-to-hold-first-concert-in-singapore-on-april-10
| 2024-01-18T05:44:05Z
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American haircare brand Amika lands in Singapore
Popular Brooklyn-based haircare brand Amika, launched in 2007, is finally here.
The brand is known for its Perk Up Dry Shampoo ($24), a talc-free option which gives hair a freshly washed look by reducing oil and odour. It one of the best-selling dry shampoos in the United States in 2022.
Other bestsellers include Soulfood Nourishing Hair Mask ($52), Wizard Silicone-Free Detangling Primer ($46) and Normcore Signature Shampoo ($37). Each product is infused with sea buckthorn, a medicinal plant that is rich in antioxidants.
Amika’s packaging is 100 per cent recyclable, and its B-corp label signifies that the brand not only prioritises profit, but also places an emphasis on social and environmental responsibilities.
Amika is sold in Sephora stores and at sephora.sg
La Prairie’s newest anti-ageing mask
Luxury Swiss skincare brand La Prairie has launched an advanced anti-ageing treatment, Platinum Rare Haute-Rejuvenation Mask, which promises to deliver visible results after just one application.
Formulated to empower and reactivate the skin’s natural rejuvenating capacity, it uses a patented Macro-Infusion Technology, which claims to enable active ingredients to penetrate into the skin without the use of needles.
The two-step treatment involves invigorating the skin with high molecular weight hyaluronic acid and collagen, before applying a cream to seal in these ingredients.
The mask also contains two key ingredients exclusive to the brand’s skincare products – Platinum Multi-Peptide and Exclusive Cellular Complex, a proprietary anti-ageing blend.
The Platinum Rare Haute-Rejuvenation Mask is priced at $2,590 for 12 vials of Ultra-Potent Concentrate and a 20 ml tub of Ultra-Sensorial Cream. It is available at La Prairie Orchard.
The Body Shop goes totally vegan
The Body Shop is officially 100 per cent vegan as of last week.
It is the world’s first global beauty brand to achieve 100 per cent vegan product formulations across all ranges, including skincare, bodycare, haircare, make-up and fragrance. The certification, awarded by British charity organisation The Vegan Society, was achieved through the validation of more than 4,000 ingredients across 1,000 products.
To celebrate, The Body Shop has launched the Yes! Another Vegan campaign, playfully acknowledging the anticipated eye rolls that often accompany discussions about veganism.
The Body Shop products are available at its stores on shopping platforms Lazada and Shopee, and The Body Shop stores.
Baby G’s Hello Kitty collection
Hello Kitty is turning 50 in 2024.
To celebrate this milestone, Japanese electronics company Casio Computer has released the newest addition to its family of Baby-G shock-resistant watches, which will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2024.
Taking inspiration from the classic BGD-565 – the first Baby-G model on the market – the new watch is given a red, white and blue colour scheme. The iconic cartoon character adorns the band, which is made from bio-based resin. Flip the light switch and watch Hello Kitty’s eyes, nose and whiskers come to life on the LED backlight on the dial.
The collaboration timepiece is priced at $179 and is available at G-Shock retailers and online at str.sg/AyU4
New Calvin Klein ad sparks controversy
It looks like the recent Calvin Klein advertisement campaign featuring American actor Jeremy Allen White is not the only thing that got the Internet buzzing over his buff bare body.
Last week, another advertisement featuring British musician FKA twigs by the American fashion brand set tongues a-wagging.
Banned by Britain’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for perceived sexual objectification, the image depicts the star in a denim shirt, revealing part of her body, accompanied by the words “Calvins or nothing”.
FKA twigs criticised the ASA for double standards on Instagram, garnering support from other female performers.
Calvin Klein’s history of sexually suggestive ads includes a 1995 incident, which provoked outrage among parents and child welfare authorities. The ad, which featured young models in provocative poses, sparked an investigation by the United States’ Department of Justice.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/style/style-news-haircare-brand-amika-launches-la-prairie-drops-advanced-anti-ageing-mask
| 2024-01-18T05:44:15Z
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SALAMANCA – Under-pressure Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez said on Jan 17 that he would resign if his squad no longer believed in him, following last weekend’s heavy Spanish Super Cup final loss to Real Madrid.
Barca were hammered 4-1 by Real on Jan 14 and also sit eight points off Girona in the Spanish La Liga standings. Real are a point behind the surprise leaders.
Defensively, the Catalans have struggled this season which is in stark contrast to last season’s La Liga success.
They have conceded 22 goals at the halfway stage of the league season after shipping only 20 in the whole of the 2022-23 campaign.
Xavi still believes he is the man for the job, but if he is not, the Spaniard will have no qualms about leaving.
“The day my players no longer follow me, I’ll pack my bags and leave,” the 43-year-old former Barca captain said.
“If I hadn’t won La Liga last year I wouldn’t be here. When someone tells me there’s a problem, I’ll leave. I love this club. I’m here to bring something to it. If I don’t do it, I’ll go home.
Xavi returned to the Spanish champions in 2021 after a spell in Qatar as Al Sadd boss with Barca in free fall.
On Jan 18, they faced third-tier Unionistas in the last 16 of the Spanish Cup before playing Napoli in the first leg of the same stage in the Champions League in February.
“When the owners signed me from Qatar, they said it was (during) one of the worst moments in the club’s history,” Xavi added. “And we’re in the process of changing things.
“I’m calm, I have three titles to win. I think we’re closer to success than failure.”
Former Real coach Jose Mourinho – sacked by Italian Serie A side Roma this week following a string of bad results – has been loosely linked to the Barca hot seat, although that is unlikely because of his stronger association with rivals Real and his controversial clashes with Barca in the 2010s.
But according to Venezuela’s El Nacional news, the agent of the Portuguese, Jorge Mendes, has offered the services of his client to the Catalans.
An article on Goal.com also said that while appointing Mourinho “would go against absolutely everything Barcelona supposedly stand for... an approach cannot be ruled out.” AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/xavi-threatens-to-pack-his-bags-if-barcelona-players-no-longer-follow-him
| 2024-01-18T05:44:26Z
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MELBOURNE - World No. 1 Iga Swiatek battled back from two breaks down in the final set to beat Danielle Collins 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 on Jan 18 and reach the third round of the Australian Open for the fifth successive year.
Collins may be ranked 62nd in the world but has a good record at Melbourne Park and beat Swiatek in the semi-finals two years ago before going on to lose to Ash Barty in the title-decider.
Four-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek has an excellent record against lower-ranked players but really had to dig deep into her reserves to overcome Collins in a scrappy three-hour contest on Rod Laver Arena.
The 30-year-old Collins faltered in her serve at key moments in the match and Swiatek found her best tennis late in the decisive set to move onto a third-round clash with Czech Linda Noskova. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tennis/world-number-one-swiatek-survives-huge-collins-scare
| 2024-01-18T05:44:36Z
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MELBOURNE - Sixth seed Alexander Zverev survived an almighty scare at the Australian Open on Thursday as the former semi-finalist dug deep to beat Slovakian qualifier Lukas Klein 7-5 3-6 4-6 7-6(5) 7-6(7) and move into the third round.
Rain forced the contest to be completed under the roof on John Cain Arena and Zverev found himself in big trouble as world number 163 Klein turned up the pressure after losing the opening set to take the next two.
The 25-year-old Slovak, whose only previous Grand Slam main draw appearance was at Wimbledon in 2022, inched towards his first career top-10 win but squandered the chance to break at 4-4 in the fourth set.
Zverev levelled the contest as Klein frittered away a 3-1 lead in the tie-break and the 26-year-old German swapped breaks with his opponent early in the decider before holding his nerve in a tie-break to prevail. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tennis/zverev-battles-past-qualifier-klein-into-third-round
| 2024-01-18T05:44:46Z
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BEIRUT - Iran-backed Hezbollah has rebuffed Washington's initial ideas for cooling tit-for-tat fighting with neighbouring Israel, such as pulling its fighters further from the border, but remains open to U.S. diplomacy to avoid a ruinous war, Lebanese officials said.
U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein has been leading a diplomatic outreach to restore security at the Israel-Lebanon frontier as the wider region teeters dangerously towards a major escalation of the conflict ignited by the Gaza war.
Attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis on shipping in the Red Sea, U.S. strikes in response and fighting elsewhere in the Middle East have added urgency to the efforts.
"Hezbollah is ready to listen," a senior Lebanese official familiar with the group's thinking said, while emphasising that the group saw the ideas presented by veteran negotiator Hochstein on a visit to Beirut last week as unrealistic.
Hezbollah's position is that it will fire rockets at Israel until there is a full ceasefire in Gaza. Hezbollah's rejection of the proposals presented by Hochstein has not been previously reported.
Despite the rejection and Hezbollah's volleys of rockets in support of Gaza, the group's openness to diplomatic contacts signals an aversion to a wider war, one of the Lebanese officials and a security source said, even after an Israeli strike reached Beirut on Jan. 2, killing a Hamas leader.
Israel has also said it wants to avoid war, but both sides say they are ready to fight if necessary. Israel warns it will respond more aggressively if a deal to make the border area safe is not reached.
Such an escalation would open a major new phase in the regional conflict.
Branded a terrorist organisation by Washington, Hezbollah has not been directly involved in talks, three Lebanese officials and a European diplomat said. Instead, Hochstein's ideas were passed on by Lebanese mediators, they said. Reuters consulted eleven Lebanese, U.S., Israeli and European officials for this story.
One suggestion floated last week was that border hostilities be scaled back in tandem with Israeli moves towards lower intensity operations in Gaza, the three Lebanese sources and a U.S. official said.
A proposal was also communicated to Hezbollah that its fighters move 7 km (4 miles) from the border, two of the three Lebanese officials said. That would leave fighters much closer than Israel's public demand of a 30 km (19 mile) withdrawal to the Litani River stipulated in a 2006 U.N. resolution.
Hezbollah has dismissed both ideas as unrealistic, the Lebanese officials and the diplomat said. The group has long ruled out giving up weapons or withdrawing fighters, many of whom hail from the border region and melt into society at times of peace.
Israel's Prime Minister's office declined to comment on "reports of diplomatic discussions" in response to questions from Reuters for this story. Spokespeople for Hezbollah and the Lebanon government did not immediately respond to detailed requests for comment.
The White House declined to comment on Reuters' reporting.
Hezbollah has, however, signalled that once the Gaza war is over it could be open to Lebanon negotiating a mediated deal over disputed areas at the border, the three Lebanese officials said, a possibility alluded to by Hezbollah's leader in a speech this month.
"After the war in Gaza, we are ready to support Lebanese negotiators to turn the threat into opportunity," one senior Hezbollah official told Reuters, speaking on the condition of anonymity. He did not address specific proposals.
Hezbollah previously held fire during a 7-day Gaza truce in late November.
Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy, in response to a Reuters question at a media briefing on Wednesday, said there was "still a diplomatic window of opportunity," to push Hezbollah away from the border.
Hochstein has a track record of successful mediation between Lebanon and Israel. In 2022, he brokered a deal delineating the countries' disputed maritime boundary - an agreement sealed with Hezbollah's behind-the-scenes approval.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, in whose cabinet Hezbollah has ministers, has said Beirut was ready for talks on long-term border stability.
During his Jan. 11 visit to Beirut, Hochstein met Mikati, the parliament speaker and army commander. He said publicly at the time that the United States, Israel and Lebanon all preferred a diplomatic solution.
Hochstein was hopeful "all of us on both sides of the border" could reach a solution to allow Lebanon and Israel to live with guaranteed security, he told reporters.
IRAN
The spearhead of the Iran-aligned "Axis of Resistance", Hezbollah was drawn into a battle it has said it did not expect when Palestinian ally Hamas stormed Israel on Oct. 7, triggering a conflict that has also spilled into the Red Sea, where U.S. strikes have targeted Yemen's Houthis over their attacks on shipping.
Hezbollah has said its campaign has aided Palestinians by stretching Israeli forces and driving tens of thousands of Israelis from their homes.
It has come at a cost, with around 140 Hezbollah fighters and at least 25 Lebanese civilians killed, as well as at least nine Israeli soldiers and a civilian. The intensity has been growing in recent weeks.
Hezbollah, founded by Iran's Revolutionary Guards in 1982, is the most powerful and influential of the groups Iran backs. It has played a big part in Tehran's wider foreign policies.
Sources familiar with Hezbollah thinking have said it knows all-out war would be ruinous for Lebanon, a country already destabilised by years of financial and political crises, and where Hezbollah's vast arsenal has long been a point of contention. Experts say the cache includes more than 100,000 rockets.
Even as Iran-aligned fighters draw U.S. fire elsewhere in the region and Iran launches strikes in Syria and Iraq, Tehran would be loathe to see Hezbollah and Lebanon subjected to massive destruction, not least because it has previously had to foot the bill of reconstruction, said Mohanad Hage Ali, deputy director of the Carnegie Middle East Center, a think-tank based in Beirut.
Iran's foreign minister on Wednesday said attacks against Israel and its interests by the "Axis of Resistance" will stop if the Gaza war ends.
Hage Ali said Hezbollah clearly wanted to avoid full-scale conflict. It did not want to be left in a situation where Israeli strikes continue or intensify in Lebanon after the Gaza war ends or is significantly scaled back, he said.
"A process in which it can engage, or support, the Lebanese state as it negotiates would provide the benefits of de-escalation," he said.
'THREATS AND INDUCEMENTS'
The diplomacy faces significant complications, and many observers see a serious risk of an escalation in fighting. Israel has said its army will act if diplomacy cannot restore security to northern Israel.
Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said the group had heard "threats and inducements".
The threat, Nasrallah said in a Jan. 15 speech, was the warning that Israel would move forces to its northern border as it shifts to the next phase of the Gaza war. Hezbollah was ready for war and would fight without "any limits, rules or boundaries", he said.
But he has also alluded to diplomatic possibilities, saying in a Jan. 5 speech that once the Gaza war was over Lebanon had "a historic opportunity" to liberate land.
Those comments were widely interpreted as reflecting the possibility of a negotiated deal settling the status of disputed border areas.
Four Lebanese officials briefed on the matter said Hochstein has discussed ideas aimed at advancing such a deal, but he had not presented any draft proposals. The officials did not provide details of the ideas.
An Israeli official told Reuters Israel's government has "relayed lots of demands," without giving details. "One way or another, our 80,000 northern residents will be returning home," the official said.
France has also been involved in de-escalation efforts. A source familiar with French thinking said Nasrallah's public comments alluding to a possible border deal were "direct messages to the Americans and to the French".
"He's telling us: 'the door is open'". REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/hezbollah-rejected-us-overtures-still-open-to-diplomacy-to-avoid-wider-war
| 2024-01-18T05:44:57Z
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BROOKVILLE — The oath of office was given during the organizational meeting to three Brookville Local Schools board of education members who were elected in the Nov. 7, 2023 election.
Brookville Local Schools Treasurer Katrina Hillard gave the oath of office to incumbents Susan Steck and Tim Denlinger.
Hillard also gave the oath of office to Fred Garber, who is serving his first term as a board member.
After the oaths were completed, the board elected Judy Hoover once again as board president.
The board elected Joy Eyler as board vice president.
Board members were then appointed as representatives/delegates to the following committees/organizations:
• Denlinger – athletics council
• Eyler – Brookville Community Scholarship Foundation
• Hoover – district policy and the Ohio School Board Association annual conference delegate
• Garber – OSBA alternate delegate to the annual conference and district technology liaison
• Steck – OSBA legislative liaison
Also during the organizational meeting, the board indicated it recognizes the Brookville School Employee Association as the sole and exclusive bargaining agent for all classified personnel in the school district eligible for membership in the association.
The board also indicated it recognizes the Brookville Teachers Association, an affiliate of the Ohio Education Association/National Education Association,as the sole and inclusive bargaining agent for all certified personnel in the school district eligible for membership in the association.
The board indicates it recognizes the following legal firms as those most commonly used by the district. The firms are:
• Bricker and Eckler LLP (debt and election)
• Frost, Brown, Todd (finance and labor)
• Park Street law group, LLC (tax revision and appeal)
• Subashi, Wildermuth and Justice (general counsel)
The board also designated Hillard as the district’s public records designee.
During the regular meeting, the board approved a contract for superintendent Jason Wood, effective Aug. 1, 2025 through July 31, 2030.
The board approved the contract of Scott Petry as custodial manager for the remainder of the 2023-2024 school year.
The board approved a contract for Elizabeth Osswald as paraprofessional for the remainder of the 2023-2024 school year.
The board gave its authorization to join the OSBA.
The board granted the following professional leave requests:
• Riley Cruse – A-list classroom classroom Observation at Stevenson Elementary School in Riverside and Demmitt Elementary School in Vandalia (Jan. 18)
• Ashley George, Stephanie Hinds and Shawn Thomas – the Ohio Association of Elementary School Administrators and the The Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators Women’s Leadership Conference in Columbus, Ohio (Jan. 30-31)
Reach Terry Baver at [email protected].
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https://www.registerherald.com/2024/01/16/board-members-receive-oath-of-office/
| 2024-01-18T05:51:04Z
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CAMDEN — Mason Shrout was quick to give credit to his family, teammates and community moments after he reached a milestone no other basketball player in Preble Shawnee or Preble County history has ever achieved.
Shrout joined a small state-wide club and started his own locally when he reached the 2,000-career point mark during a 79-39 win over Bradford on Friday, Jan. 12.
Shrout, who is also the career assists leader at Preble Shawnee, entered Friday’s game needing 13 points to reach the milestone. He finished the game with 25 points.
He got there on a layup with 3:51 left in the second period on an assist from classmate Logan Hawley.
“I’m extremely blessed. First of all, I got to thank God. I mean, none of this would be possible without him,” Shrout said moments after signing an autograph for a fan just outside the Arrows locker room after the win. “Just the love and support from this community, my family, my mom, my dad, my brother. I mean, I was walking through the line and my brother made sure he was the one that gave me the tightest hug. It’s an awesome accomplishment. I’m super blessed to be able to do it. I wouldn’t be able to do it without them, without my teammates.”
Shrout said reaching the milestone at home is special.
“That was awesome. I was doing the math in my head, and we had three games, three games away,’ he said. “I was just worried to myself I might get it at Ross; I might get it at Madison, I don’t know. I came down on my ankle weird, so I sat out against North, and I think that’s just God putting it together and let me come home and break it here.”
Shrout said he didn’t feel too much pressure while attempting to reach a milestone not many Ohioans have ever reached.
“No, not really. I would say it was definitely getting my adrenaline up,” Shrout said. I came out and I missed two free throws. I don’t usually miss free throws like that. I would say my adrenaline was through the roof. So, I would say it was a little bit of pressure, but I mean, it was it was just fun.”
Shrout scored the game’s first four points and finished the first quarter with nine points as Shawnee raced out to a 16-0 lead. The Arrows led 20-6 after one.
A basket between two Hawley dunks, both assisted by Shrout, gave him 1998 points early in the second quarter.
“I’m just super blessed. I’ve put a lot of time into this game, and I’m super blessed that it’s paying off and everything’s coming full circle,” he said. “It’s just such a great experience.”
Although Shrout is known more for his scoring, sharing the ball with his teammates is just as important to the Purdue Fort Wayne signee.
“That’s one thing my parents have preached to me since I was young, be a pass first guard and everything will come to you,” he said. “So, if you come off the ball screen looking to pass first, the shots are going to fall, and then if they help over, I’m dumping it off the Logan (and) he’s bringing the rim down with him.”
Shrout said he hadn’t thought about being the only player in Preble County to surpass 2,000 points.
“I have not I thought about that yet but that’s awesome,” he said.
Shawnee coach Jake Turner said the moment is special and he hopes Shrout realizes what he’s accomplished.
“Amazing. Amazing accomplishment,” Turner said. “We talked about it in there (the locker room) with the team afterwards. I don’t know if I know any guys or been around any guys who scored 2,000 points. It’s just so unbelievable, but it’s well deserved. He works his tail off. He’s an unbelievable player. Hope he really lets this sink in tonight and enjoys this moment. This is special. I mean, I don’t know how many in Ohio High School scored 2,000, not a lot. He deserves it. I’m so proud of him, happy for him, happy for his family.”
Reach Eddie Mowen Jr. at 937-683-4061 and follow on X @emowenjr.
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https://www.registerherald.com/2024/01/16/preble-shawnees-shrout-becomes-1st-pc-basketball-player-to-reach-2000-career-points/
| 2024-01-18T05:51:10Z
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Nicole Kidman recently opened up about a surprising insecurity that has followed her throughout her career.
In a candid conversation on the “Radio Times” podcast, Nicole, at 56, revealed how her stature has been a source of personal discomfort and why it has even led her to lie about her true height.
Reflecting on her experiences, Nicole shared the teasing she endured during her younger years. “I was teased. I was called ‘Stalky.’ They’d always be like, ‘How’s the air up there?’” she recalled. This teasing left a lasting impact, influencing how she perceives her height in both personal and professional settings.
Nicole also divulged that people often express surprise at her height, commenting, “‘You’re so much taller than I thought,’” which has led her to grapple with her appearance, especially in high-profile events.
“Whenever you go on the red carpet, they send the shoes and the shoes are always so high. And I’m like, ‘Do they have a kitten heel? No.’ I’m just, like, going to be the tallest person, the giraffe,” she explained.
In an attempt to blend in and perhaps to avoid drawing attention to her height, Nicole admitted to downplaying it. “I will say I’m 5 ft 10 ½ in when I’m really 5 ft 11 in,” she shared, illustrating the lengths she has gone to in order to feel more comfortable with her height.
Nicole's height has not only been a source of personal insecurity but has also impacted her acting career. “I want to be small,” she expressed, highlighting the challenges of wanting to fit a certain physical mold in her roles.
Despite these challenges, she also recognizes times when her height can be beneficial. “I can appreciate my height and use this in my work when it’s related to what I’m doing,” she acknowledged.
Her height has also contributed to physical health issues. “I’ve had knee issues and all sorts of things, partly because of my height,” Nicole added, pointing out the less often discussed physical repercussions.
Within the industry, Nicole faced warnings that her height could be a barrier to her career. Recalling her audition for Annie, she said, “I was told, ‘You won’t have a career. You’re too tall.’”
This experience, particularly being measured and feeling “mortified” for being above the height cutoff, left a deep impression on her.
As a mother, Nicole is keen on teaching her daughters the importance of inner resilience over external judgments.
“What does matter is how you allow other people to either say ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ to you, and whether you accept that,” she advises them. “That inner resilience as a human being, that’s the superpower, really. Above all superpowers.”
Despite the challenges posed by her height, Nicole Kidman has carved out a highly successful and acclaimed career in the film industry, winning an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, six Golden Globe Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award.
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/511527/nicole-kidman-reveals-surprising-insecurity-she-has-about-herself/
| 2024-01-18T06:10:42Z
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Princess Beatrice is one of the less visible members of the royal family, who only makes a handful of high-profile appearances every year and who very much keeps her private life out of the public eye.
But one person who has had the privilege of working with Beatrice and has seen first-hand what she's really like behind closed doors is Andy Cook, Chief Executive of the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity, of which Beatrice is a patron.
Anyone remotely familiar with King Charles' niece knows just how avidly she advocates for people with dyslexia — as someone who has dyslexia herself, it is a cause that is particularly close to her heart.
And in an exclusive interview with HELLO!, Andy shared a sweet anecdote that epitomises just how down-to-earth Beatrice is, and how closely she cherishes the specialist charity — whose support she herself actually received during her school years.
Reflecting on his personal encounters with the Princess, Andy told us about one particular instance when Beatrice visited the Helen Arkell Centre in 2019. "She met all the children, she spent ages with them," he told HELLO! "She was just enjoying herself, going around and talking to everybody. She made sure she spoke to absolutely everyone in the room before she left."
Andy then explained that following this visit, Beatrice jumped in the car with him to visit Helen — the charity founder — at home in her bungalow. Aged 99 at the time, Helen was house confined due to poor health.
"It just felt like, she could have been anybody, taking me for a lift in the car, but it just happens to be somebody really special," he said. "That's something that I will certainly remember in particular. It epitomised what she's like. No airs and graces. Very down-to-earth.
"She arrived in this old person's bungalow which wouldn't have been posh in any way, wouldn't have been tidied up particularly," he continued. "In we went, Beatrice comes in with a cake, comes in with a tea, sits down with Helen. And it was just so easy, so personal and so relatable as well.
"Everybody that's met her comes away saying, 'I just can't believe how easy she was to talk to.' Whether it's school children who have got dyslexia or Helen, our founder, and everyone in between – that's the first feedback, that she was so easy to talk to and she was so interested in hearing what they had to say."
This poignant and touching encounter came just before Helen passed away. "It was the last opportunity to see Helen when she was well enough to be able to appreciate a visit like that, albeit, you know, she got out of bed," Andy explained. "She hadn't got out of the bungalow. She was housebound but she was well enough to receive a visit like that and she passed away about six months later."
He added: "I know it meant a lot to Helen at the time, but it meant a lot to her family as well. The fact that she got to have tea with a Princess. How many people can say that?"
Although the initial plan was for Beatrice to visit the Centre and hopefully meet Helen there if she were well enough to attend in-person, Beatrice and her team decided to adapt when the circumstances changed. "It became quite clear that Helen wasn't going to be well enough for it," Andy explained. "And so Princess Beatrice and her team said, 'Well, that's fine, Helen only lives around the corner.'"
According to Andy, this stand-out moment was truly representative of Beatrice's kind and caring nature. He also reminisced on the first time he ever met the Princess at Buckingham Palace, and how quickly she put him at ease. "When I went for a meeting with her, she made me a cup of tea, poured the tea and, you know, it was just like having a cup of tea with anybody else," he said.
"I didn't need to have felt apprehensive at all, because she was just a completely normal person. She would be talking and saying, 'What are we doing this year? It' great that we've taken you on. What can I do to help?' She was really down-to-earth."
As a patron, Andy explained that Beatrice takes her role very seriously. According to Andy, Beatrice is determined to change the narrative and stigma around dyslexia — she previously told HELLO! that having dyslexia is a "gift".
"Princess Beatrice is a brilliant patron. She opens doors for you," Andy explained. "What she does for us is raise our profile in a very genuine way where she feels, of course, so deeply herself.
"She hasn't got nearly as many patronages as maybe some of the royal family, so she's able to give much more of herself to those that she is a patron of, which is brilliant.
"She's absolutely passionate about changing the narrative about dyslexia and promoting it as a positive thing. It's thanks to people like her that the narrative will change and the public will view dyslexia differently."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/511135/princess-beatrice-heartfelt-gesture-dyslexia-charity/
| 2024-01-18T06:10:48Z
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A Right Royal Podcast is back with a bang for the New Year! We've hardly had time to take our trees down and polish off the last of our Christmas leftovers, and yet we're already knee-deep in royal drama.
In the new episode, our hosts Andrea and Emmy return to delve into all things Danish royalty — from King Frederik's reaction to his wife Queen Mary's popularity, to what the Danes really think about those infamous pictures of King Frederik in Madrid with Mexican socialite, Genoveva Casanova.
Andrea and Emmy are joined by Wim Dehandschutter, royalty journalist at DPG media, Joe Little, managing editor at Majesty Magazine and Chris Ship, royal editor at ITV News. In the aftermath of the whirlwind abdication of Queen Margrethe and accession of her son, Frederik, there was plenty to discuss.
One of the most contentious talking points was the recent scandal that struck the new King towards the end of last year, when he was spotted in Madrid with Genoveva Casanova. Chris Ship shared his insights into how the Danish public reacted to those controversial snaps.
Listen to the podcast below to find out what Chris had to say.
The new Queen Mary was a major topic of conversation, as she was greeted by a huge outpouring of impassioned cheering when she appeared on the balcony at her husband's accession. As King Charles experienced during his marriage to Princess Diana, Frederik has to contend with the fact that his wife is, perhaps, more popular than he is. The question is: does he care?
“Well, I suppose you could perhaps compare him with Prince Charles and Diana, and Prince Charles most definitely did care. But I'm not sure that Frederik necessarily does. Again, it's hard to say but he's a very emotional guy. And we saw that on his wedding day, when he cried as she was walking up the aisle to him," Joe said.
He added: "I think he's very much in love with her. And I don't think he would resent for one moment the fact that she is far more popular than him and is perhaps regarded as the saviour of the Danish monarchy."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/511469/how-the-danes-really-feel-about-those-infamous-pictures-of-king-frederik-in-madrid/
| 2024-01-18T06:10:54Z
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Over the past couple of years, there has been much attention on Prince William and Prince Harry's strained relationship. The fractured ties were closely monitored during the period of mourning after Queen Elizabeth's death in September 2022 when the Waleses and Sussexes came together.
In a new book, Charles III: The Inside Story, author Robert Hardman has written about the moments about what happened behind closed doors – and the kind gesture Prince William made to his brother.
Remembering the day, the late Queen's coffin had arrived at Buckingham Palace, the royal author revealed how the family got together for an "informal" supper and how Prince William and Kate later offered their police escort to Prince Harry and Meghan.
"Inside the palace, all the members of the Royal Family were there to welcome the Queen back to royal headquarters for the last time, followed by an informal supper," he writes.
"Afterwards, the Prince and Princess of Wales suggested that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex should attach their car to their police escort for the journey back to Windsor, since they were all going the same way.
"It was only a small gesture (they would not be sharing a car) and nowhere near any sort of reconciliation. However, the late Queen would have approved."
Just days prior to the funeral, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle accompanied Prince William and Princess Kate on their walkabout in Windsor where the two couples met with royal well-wishers who travelled to pay their respects. This was the first time the two couples were seen coming together since the Queen's Platinum Jubilee and the much talked about Oprah Winfrey tell-all interview.
It's no secret that the relationship between William and his brother Harry has been strained in recent years – something which the Duke of Sussex spoke in great detail about in his memoir, Spare.
In the four years since Harry and Meghan stepped down as senior working royals, the couple have been critical of the monarchy, telling their story in their Netflix documentary and Harry's book.
The couple were asked earlier this year to vacate their UK home Frogmore Cottage, in a move sanctioned by the King. In March 2021, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex also took part in an interview with Oprah Winfrey in which they made a number of allegations against the royal family.
They were reunited with the family during the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022 and then again at her funeral in September. The last time Harry was seen with Prince William was when he attended King Charles and Queen Camilla's coronation in May 2023.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/511491/prince-william-and-kates-unknown-kind-gesture-to-prince-harry-and-meghan-markle-after-queens-death-revealed/
| 2024-01-18T06:11:00Z
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King Charles is set to undergo a corrective procedure in hospital next week having sought treatment for an enlarged prostate, and has cancelled a series of upcoming engagements as a result.
However, the King is "in good spirits", according to royal sources, as he relaxes at his Scottish home, Birkhall, which he has previously described as "a unique haven of cosiness and character".
He was said to be in "good form", and accompanied by his wife the Queen. The couple spent most of the pandemic lockdowns at Birkhall, as well as their honeymoon in 2005, and also retired there following Queen Elizabeth II's London funeral.
Charles inherited Birkhall from his grandmother when she died in 2002. The news of his health condition was announced on Wednesday, when it was also revealed that the Princess of Wales had undergone abdominal surgery the previous day.
Buckingham Palace confirmed the King's news in a statement, which read: "His Majesty's condition is benign and he will attend hospital next week for a corrective procedure. The King's public engagements will be postponed for a short period of recuperation." The Palace declined to say whether he would be treated in London or Scotland.
It's understood that Charles, 75, was keen to share the details of his diagnosis to encourage other men who may be experiencing symptoms to get checked in line with public health advice.
According to the NHS website: "Benign prostate enlargement (BPE) is the medical term to describe an enlarged prostate, a condition that can affect how you pee (urinate). BPE is common in men aged over 50. It's not a cancer and it's not usually a serious threat to health."
The King had a series of meetings and events planned at Dumfries House in East Ayrshire on Thursday and Friday, which are now being postponed on his doctor's advice. Prince William has also re-arranged his diary to support his wife and their three children, with Princess Kate not expected to return to work until after Easter.
In a statement, Kensington Palace said: "Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales was admitted to hospital yesterday [Tuesday] for planned abdominal surgery. "The surgery was successful and it is expected that she will remain in hospital for ten to fourteen days, before returning home to continue her recovery. Based on the current medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter.
"The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate. She hopes that the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible; and her wish that her personal medical information remains private.
"Kensington Palace will, therefore, only provide updates on Her Royal Highness’ progress when there is significant new information to share. "The Princess of Wales wishes to apologise to all those concerned for the fact that she has to postpone her upcoming engagements. She looks forward to reinstating as many as possible, as soon as possible."
The royal mum was last seen publicly on Christmas Day, when she and her family attended church on King Charles' Sandringham estate.
LISTEN: In our Right Royal Podcast this week, we're looking at abdications...
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/511516/king-charles-good-spirits-birkhall-home-ahead-operation/
| 2024-01-18T06:11:06Z
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The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that on 17 January, Russian troops attempted to break through the Ukrainian defenses on the Mariinka and Lyman fronts, improve their positions on the Kupiansk and Avdiivka fronts, launched attacks on the Shakhtarsk and Bakhmut fronts, and stormed Ukrainian positions on the left bank of Kherson Oblast.
As per a UK intelligence report, the encirclement of the city of Avdiivka continues to be a central objective of Russian military operations in Donetsk Oblast, albeit at a significant human toll. Avdiivka is strategically viewed as a gateway to Donetsk city, the capture of which could bolster Russian morale.
“Over the last day, Ukrainian and Russian forces clashed 71 times. In total, the enemy launched six missile and 69 aviation strikes and shelled the positions of our forces and civilian settlements with artillery 35 times.
Unfortunately, there have been casualties among the civilian population due to Russian terrorist attacks. Private residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure have suffered destruction and damage,” said the Ukrainian forces.
During the day, Russia carried out over 10 air strikes on Kharkiv and Chernihiv oblasts and shelled over 30 settlements with artillery and mortars.
On the Mariinsky front, Ukraine’s Defense Forces continued to hold the enemy from advancing into Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Mariinka, and Novomykhailivka villages in Donetsk Oblast. Overall, occupiers attempted to breach the defense of Ukrainian forces nine times in this direction.
Russian troops also shelled settlements on the Kherson front, including Kherson, Antonivka in Kherson Oblast, and Dmytrivka in the Mykolaiv Oblast. Additionally, the enemy carried out air strikes near Chervonyi Mayak, Zmiivka, and Tyahynka villages.
“The enemy continues its attempts to dislodge our units from the bridgeheads on the left bank of the Dnipro.
Within the day, it conducted six unsuccessful assaults on the positions of our forces,” the Ukrainian military said.
Throughout the day, the Ukrainian armed forces conducted strikes on seven positions of Russian troops, damaging military vehicles and air defense missile systems. Ukrainian air defense forces also successfully intercepted one Kh-59 guided aviation missile.
Read also:
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/18/ukrainian-army-says-russians-conduct-assault-ops-at-most-axes-trying-to-break-through-ukraines-defenses-over-last-24-hours/
| 2024-01-18T06:27:59Z
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Ariana Madix has praised her new boyfriend for his "calming energy," something that the reality star is understandably grateful to have in her life after a whirlwind 10 months.
The Vanderpump Rules star found herself at the center of scandal – or should we say, 'scandoval' – in March 2023 when it emerged her partner of nine years had been cheating on her with Raquel Leviss, one of Ariana's best friends. After a very public break up, Ariana moved on with New York-based personal trainer Daniel Wai, and she has now told HELLO! that he has taught her to recognize and be grateful for things in her life that keep her grounded.
"I think he's such a grounding force and has a really calming energy, and I think that that's something that I'm really grateful for," Ariana said the premiere party for season 11, held in the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles on Wednesday January 17.
"Also, he's a Taurus and I'm a cancer, so it makes sense," she quipped.
Ariana and Daniel met in April 2023, just a month after the affair emerged, at Coachella Music Festival, where they were introduced by mutual friends. Daniel hails from New York, and college, he majored in computer science and worked in consultancy for several years before he pivoted to his current fitness profession after passing his National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Certified Personal Trainer test.
"Today, I feel I have found my true calling and that is specializing in fitness and exercise that matches a client's goals, needs, and expectations," he shared on his website.
The pair have been enjoying long distance for the past nine months, although Ariana will be moving to New York City – temporarily, at least – as she will make her Broadway debut on January 29 as Roxie Hart in Chicago.
After a successful stint on Dancing with the Stars, the 38-year-old completed a series of singing, dancing and acting auditions to land the role for the eight-week limited run which tells the satirical story of how criminals can become celebrities, when Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer, murders her lover and then deceives the public and the media with her lawyer Billy Flynn.
Although nervous, Ariana says that she had been "channeling" her nerves into excitement and has been viewing old performances from Ann Reinking and the 1942 Ginger Roberts film Roxie Hart which have been "really good inspiration".
Stream the premiere of Vanderpump Rules season 11 on January 30 on Hayu in Canada and Bravo in the US, and on January 31 on Hayu in the UK
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/511528/vanderpump-rules-star-ariana-madix-one-change-new-boyfriend/
| 2024-01-18T06:54:34Z
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SHANGHAI - More than a decade after Ikea tried to kick them out, the raucous Shanghai pensioners’ matchmaking group that gathers weekly in the furniture store’s cafeteria is still very much alive and kicking.
Every Tuesday, hundreds of elderly lovebirds take over most of the tables in the chain’s spacious canteen, shunning the classic Swedish meatballs for their own tea, snacks and even booze brought from home.
Faced with empty nests and changing social structures as China’s population ages, they have taken matters into their own hands and turned the store into an unlikely dating site.
“There’s nothing embarrassing about saying it. It’s not only young people who need love, elderly people also need love,” an impeccably made-up retired nursing home director named Qingqing told AFP on a recent winter afternoon.
The atmosphere – and noise level – was more like a high school cafeteria than an old people’s home.
Glossy fur and leopard print mingled with leather baseball caps and mirrored sunglasses, as some sat around giggling and chatting while others roamed the room flirting.
High-spirited pensioners passed around tangerines, tea and the occasional bottle of cheap alcohol, littering the tables with peels and nutshells.
Among the more than 297 million people aged 60 or more in China, a quarter are single, according to official data.
While multigenerational households were the norm in the past, many elderly people now live on their own.
In a 2016 survey by Beijing’s Renmin University, a quarter of over-60s said they experienced loneliness.
“I’m lonely all the time. I feel that life is very boring at my age... I always wanted to have a partner,” said Gu Yijun, a lively retired coach driver.
The 73-year-old regularly travels an hour and a half by public transport to come to the meet-ups, but he was sanguine about his chances of success.
“It’s also a way to relax and have fun,” he told AFP.
“It’s much better than facing the mirror alone at home, seeing only myself reflected back.”
Need care
The group has met at Ikea for more than 10 years, although no one seems quite sure how it all started.
There appears to be no clear organiser, with most saying they had heard about the gathering from friends.
“There are some practical difficulties for us to go to more elegant places,” said Qingqing’s friend Xu Yizhen, adding Ikea’s affordability “suits us better”.
Initially, the multinational company was less than delighted by its ageing lonely hearts club.
The store’s many attempts to get rid of them have been widely reported in Chinese and foreign media since 2011.
Ikea assigned extra security, roped off the seating areas and put up a sign urging the group to disband, reports said.
One guard recounted an altercation with an old man who threw hot coffee at him when asked to be quiet.
Tensions appear to have cooled off considerably since then.
At a recent meeting, staff did not raise an eyebrow when a man dressed in a teddy-bear-patterned suit wandered around smoking and trying to make people do shots of whisky.
Ikea “has been aware of the loneliness of the elderly in its neighbourhood who need care and interaction, so the store would like to provide a place where they can feel at home and meet with friends”, a representative told AFP when contacted.
They did not reply when asked about Ikea’s past interactions with the group.
Tight schedules
Ikea is not the only seniors’ dating hotspot in the city.
Some spend Tuesdays in Ikea, then head to People’s Park at the weekend, joking that they have “tight schedules”.
On a cold Sunday in the park, AFP saw some familiar faces swaddled in thick cotton clothes, introducing themselves and chatting.
The more introverted stood at the edge of the group, waiting to be approached.
The chances of finding true love in either location are difficult to gauge.
“It’s unlikely you’ll find (a nice partner in Ikea) because good men and bad men are mixed here,” said Qingqing.
Gu said it was difficult for those in “less well-off economic conditions” to find someone, while painter Li Shiqi, a regular for 10 years, bemoaned the fact that people’s standards were “quite high”.
“I heard from others that the success rate here is less than three per cent,” he said.
Li finally did get lucky last month, although his paramour is now travelling.
“We had a little crush on each other because of her good looks and relatively young age,” the 74-year-old said.
“If we are ready to begin a romantic relationship, when she comes back, we will be together.” AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/shanghai-s-elderly-seek-romance-at-ikea-lonely-hearts-club
| 2024-01-18T07:16:06Z
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WASHINGTON - A U.S. congressional committee on China has sent a letter to the Secretary of the Navy raising doubts about a plan to move fuel from Hawaii to storage facilities across the Indo-Pacific and warning that the U.S. military risks being unprepared for a possible conflict.
In a letter dated Jan. 17 and seen by Reuters, Mike Gallagher, the Republican chair of the House of Representatives' select committee on China, told Secretary Carlos Del Toro that a long-term plan to redistribute fuel from Hawaii's Red Hill underground bulk storage facility was a "strategic imperative" in light of China's historic military buildup.
The Pentagon in October began to drain the 1940s-era Red Hill facility at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam after a leak contaminated the water systems there, and said the fuel would be loaded onto tanker ships and transported to existing support sites. The full closure of the site is expected to take several years.
Gallagher wrote that he was not convinced the Defense Department had developed a long-term solution and that without a robust logistics network to sustain U.S. bases, ships and aircraft with fuel, the U.S. military in the Pacific would "grind to a halt."
"It is unclear how exactly the Navy will replace and distribute the aggregate bulk fuel capacity of Red Hill," Gallagher said, noting that storage capacity at new dispersed locations would require more frequent trips by ships around the Pacific, adding to operational risk.
A Navy spokesperson said: "As with all congressional correspondence, the Department of the Navy will respond, as appropriate. We have nothing additional to provide at this time."
U.S. military experts have warned about gaps in U.S. defense logistics as China, which now has more naval vessels than the United States, has dramatically expanded its military and not ruled out using force to bring Taiwan under its control. China considers the democratically governed island part of its own territory.
U.S. officials have turned to commercial tankers under the Tanker Security Program to give the Pentagon access to U.S.-registered vessels to deliver fuel to the military in the event of a crisis.
That program would not be enough, Gallagher said.
"The Navy appears to be short – by several dozen – ships that will be needed to transport and deliver fuel to our bases and forces operating across the Indo-Pacific," Gallagher said, citing a 2016 Defense Department determination that it would need 86 tankers for moving equipment and supplies for global operations.
Gallagher requested that Del Toro detail in writing to the committee whether the department had enough forward fuel storage facilities and access to refinery capacity for operations in the Indo-Pacific, whether it had identified secure locations to build replacement facilities for Red Hill, and whether it had plans to integrate facilities of allies and partners in redistributing fuel.
"We must address potential weaknesses in our logistical supply lines, while we still have the time to do so," he said.
Fuel storage in the region can be controversial. The U.S. embassy in the Philippines said on Jan. 11 that the U.S. delivered fuel from Hawaii to Subic Bay, formerly a U.S. Navy base in the country's north that is not currently one of the sites Manila has agreed to give U.S. military access. The move was done in coordination with the Philippines government, according to the U.S., but a Philippine senator had said the 39 million gallon fuel shipment raised concerns about unauthorized extension of agreements on the pre-positioning of military supplies. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/house-committee-raises-doubts-about-us-navys-indo-pacific-logistics
| 2024-01-18T07:16:16Z
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TOKYO - Japan aims to become the fifth country to put a spacecraft on the moon when it attempts a precision landing on Friday, in what would be a boost for a space programme that has suffered a wave of setbacks and been eclipsed by rival China.
Dubbed the "moon sniper", the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) probe is attempting to land within 100 metres (328 feet) of its target, a technology JAXA says is unprecedented and essential in the search for moon water and human habitability.
Japan is increasingly looking to play a bigger role in space, partnering with close ally Washington to respond to China's military and technological might, including in space. Japan boasts a number of private-sector space startups and aims to send an astronaut to the moon as part of NASA's Artemis programme.
But JAXA has faced multiple setbacks, including a launch failure in March of the new flagship rocket H3 that was meant to match cost-competitiveness against commercial rocket providers like SpaceX.
JAXA's Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) probe will start a 20-minute touchdown phase on its one-way mission from midnight on Saturday (1500 GMT Friday), trying to land on a target site roughly the size of two athletic tracks on the slope of a crater just south of the lunar equator.
"No other nation has achieved this. Proving Japan has this technology would bring us a huge advantage in upcoming international missions like Artemis," said Shinichiro Sakai, JAXA's SLIM project manager.
India's Chandrayaan-3 in August made a historic touchdown on the moon's south pole, a major technological feat given the rough terrain, highlighting India's rise as a major player in space.
JAXA stresses its high-precision technology will become a powerful tool in future exploration of hilly moon poles, seen as a potential source of oxygen, fuel and water. Japan also plans a joint unmanned lunar polar exploration with India in 2025.
"For lunar project development, Japan can't beat the U.S., China or India in terms of resources," said Kazuto Saiki, a Ritsumeikan University professor who developed SLIM's near-infrared camera that will analyse moon rocks after the landing.
"We should focus on building sought-after technologies like the pinpoint landing and near-infrared cameras which overseas exploration projects will strive to adopt."
JAXA has twice landed on small asteroids, but a moon landing is much more difficult due to its gravity, as seen in a number of recent failures.
Last year, a probe belonging to Japanese startup ispace inc crashed onto the moon's surface, and Russia's Luna 25 followed suit. A lander from American startup Astrobotic last week suffered a fuel leak, forcing it to abandon a touchdown attempt.
"Mistakes happen, but Japan is a very experienced space power - it's conducted very complicated space operations for many years," said Bleddyn Bowen, a University of Leicester associate professor specialising in space policy.
"Not as big as the United States or the Soviet Union of old or China today in terms of scale, but in terms of capability and niche advanced technologies, Japan has always been there."
SLIM's precision landing "won't be a game changer", but the demonstration of it and the lightweight probe manufacturing Japan has pursued might open up moonshots to space organisations worldwide by reducing the cost of each mission, Bowen added.
JAXA says it will take up to a month to verify whether SLIM has achieved the high-precision goals after touchdown.
On landing, SLIM will also deploy two mini-probes - a hopping vehicle as big as a microwave oven and a baseball-sized wheeled rover - that will take pictures of the spacecraft. Tech giant Sony Group, toymaker Tomy and several Japanese universities jointly developed the robots. REUTERS
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| 2024-01-18T07:16:19Z
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TAIPEI - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.’s net income fell less than expected in another sign that a chip industry downturn may have bottomed out.
TSMC, the main chipmaker to Apple and Nvidia, reported net income for the fourth quarter of NT$238.7 billion (S$10.2 billion), beating the average analyst estimate of NT$224.1 billion.
The company got a boost from frenzied demand for Nvidia’s artificial intelligence chips in 2023, offsetting a global smartphone slump. Revenue in the holiday quarter was US$625.5 billion (S$841.5 billion), TSMC reported earlier, matching the previous holiday quarter and arresting a series of falls.
Signs of recovery for the chipmaking sector have emerged in recent weeks. The Semiconductor Industry Association estimated chip sales increased in November after more than a year of declines.
For TSMC, which counts Android chipmaker Qualcomm and Apple among its biggest customers, a robust consumer economy will help stabilise sales. Executives including chief executive officer C. C. Wei said they expect “healthy growth” this year. BLOOMBERG
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https://www.straitstimes.com/business/tsmc-profit-drops-less-than-feared-as-chipmakers-escape-trough
| 2024-01-18T07:16:29Z
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MOV:MENT at *Scape
As part of comma – a festival that celebrates the creative enclave of youth groups and subcultures in the Somerset area – six dance films will be on show at *Scape.
A highlight is a film directed by Liz Sergeant Tan and Jeremy Ho titled I Summon You. Tan is the daughter of the late Christina Sergeant, an American theatre director who was the artistic director at the Singapore Theatre Repertory Showcase.
Tan, 30, the film’s choreographer and performer, says of making it: “It felt a lot like moving through glue sometimes. There were many painful memories I had to work through to find workable images. There were also many beautiful memories I rediscovered.”
Other films on loop include one on the post-war Japanese avant-garde dance form known as butoh, a film which explores the human body and its sculptural forms; and a piece on embodying intergenerational trauma through movement.
The festival runs at *Scape till Jan 28 and includes live performances, a community art project and street dance masterclasses. A festival village at *Scape Playspace will feature crafting, thrifting, zine-making and other hands-on activities.
Where: *Scape, 03-07 to 03-09, 2 Orchard Link
MRT: Somerset
When: Till Jan 28, 1 to 8pm, Thursdays to Sundays only
Admission: Free
Info: www.scape.sg/venue/movment-lab
Likeables: Exhibition by Studio Juju
Home-grown design firm Studio Juju is hosting its first solo exhibition at the Peranakan Museum, and one of the highlights is a modern-day reinterpretation of a classic piece of Peranakan furniture.
Today Bench, made of solid oak, reimagines the blackwood bench inlaid with mother-of-pearl – often acquired by Straits Chinese households in pairs – found in the Peranakan Museum’s collection.
Like the other pieces on show, Today Bench was created out of a residency programme at the National Design Centre from 2022 to 2023. This particular piece was also inspired by a gallery which features the interiors of Peranakan homes in the museum, which reopened in February 2023 after four years of renovation.
Presented by Priscilla Lui and Timo Wong, who co-founded Studio Juju in 2010, the exhibition displays a series of work that aims to be both likeable and meaningful.
Where: Special Exhibition Gallery, Level 2 Peranakan Museum, 39 Armenian Street
MRT: City Hall/Bras Basah/Bencoolen
When: Jan 19 to Feb 22, 10am to 7pm daily; till 9pm on Fridays
Admission: Free
Info: designsingapore.org/events/likeables
Textures 2024
If you missed the chance to get tickets to the sold-out multisensory staging of five Singapore horror stories in Cherita Hantu: Horror Reimagined, there are still other worthy treats at Textures, the annual festival celebrating Singapore literature.
Written and directed by Young Artist Award recipient Marc Nair, Thank You For Holding is a multidisciplinary piece centred on the experience of connecting to a phone operator at a call centre. It brings together poetry, movement and live music.
There is a neon-themed bookstore by Chio Books, which will pop up at The Arts House, where the festival is held.
A digital storytelling experience will also be made available on Arts House Limited’s YouTube channel from Jan 19. Story Walk, conceptualised by Kamini Ramachandran and featuring stories by Verena Tay, are told by storytellers Wesley Leon Aroozoo, Laura Kee and Hafiz Rashid.
Where: The Arts House, 1 Old Parliament Lane
MRT: City Hall
When: Jan 19 to 28, various timings
Admission: Free and ticketed
Info: artshouselimited.sg/tah-textures-2024
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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/arts/arts-picks-dance-films-at-scape-design-show-at-peranakan-museum-textures-literary-festival
| 2024-01-18T07:16:40Z
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Poor Things (R21)
141 minutes
Limited screenings from Jan 20 at The Projector
4 stars
The black comedy, adapted from Scottish author Alasdair Gray’s 1992 novel of the same name, is being released at The Projector as part of Freaks & Greeks: A Yorgos Lanthimos Showcase.
In the laboratory of eminent scientist Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe), a new assistant Max McCandles (Ramy Youssef) meets Bella Baxter (Emma Stone), a naive young woman who appears to be mentally and physically disabled.
As the weeks pass, McCandles comes to understand the mysterious origins of the strange child-woman with appetites that scandalise the household.
Bella finds herself boxed in by horrible men. But in this fantastical tale, Greek film-maker Yorgos Lanthimos infuses its steampunk-influenced science-fiction premise with shades of body horror and absurdity.
Created as a blank slate, Bella is an innocent, unburdened by shame, and becomes an explorer in realms that most women would not, or cannot, venture to.
A transformation like Bella’s is tricky. Too often, the result is character incoherence. Bella’s identity by the end is far removed from who she was at the beginning, but through her assured performance, Stone manages to hold these versions within the same person.
The Teachers’ Lounge (PG13)
98 minutes
Now showing at The Projector
4 stars
German director Ilker Catak’s tense and provocative moral drama is set in a German middle school, where an idealistic teacher’s investigations into a spate of petty campus thefts have spiralling consequences.
Young new hire Carla Nowak (Leonie Benesch) advocates fairness. She is protective of the accused pupil (Can Rodenbostel), a son of Turkish immigrants, and appalled by her fellow teachers pressuring the pre-teen kids to snitch on one another.
The exceptional performance by Benesch shows Nowak’s certitude being stripped away – the movie is confined entirely within the institution, where she is pursued down the hallways by an urgent handheld camera and a soundtrack of screeching violins while paranoia compresses around her.
Germany’s 2024 Academy Awards submission for best international feature deals with the fragility of social order and how quickly a system can unravel from a minor incident.
The End We Start From (NC16)
102 minutes
Now showing
3 stars
This British eco-disaster drama dispenses with genre conventions for an intimate, almost introspective, solitary survival journey of the woman referred to simply as Mother (Jodie Comer).
She goes into labour alone in her East London townhouse just as the city is submerged by massive floods.
At first, she evacuates with her husband (Joel Fry) to her in-laws’ (Mark Strong and Nina Sosanya) country house up north. But food is soon depleted, and the couple become separated in the nationwide chaos.
It is a slim story. The 2017 dystopian novella of the same title by British author Megan Hunter ran a mere 160 pages, and the adaptation, the feature directing debut of Mahalia Belo, rests wholly on Comer’s resolute and sensitive portrayal of motherhood in a narrative that is troubling for its everyday recognisability. Did England not begin 2024 with extreme flooding?
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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/entertainment/film-picks-poor-things-the-teachers-lounge-and-the-end-we-start-from
| 2024-01-18T07:16:50Z
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Enhypen World Tour Fate In Singapore
Fans of Enhypen will be glad to see their idols for the first time in Singapore, when the South Korean boy band hold two concerts here on Jan 20 and 21.
Formed in 2020 through the South Korean reality competition I-Land, the seven-member group consist of Ni-ki, Heeseung, Jake, Sunghoon, Jungwon, Sunoo and Jay.
The band’s name comes from the hyphen symbol, which connects different words to create new meanings. In the same way, Enhypen hope to come together to form an act based on connection, discovery and growth.
They have released the studio albums Dimension: Dilemma (2021) in Korean and Sadame (2022) in Japanese. Their latest album Orange Blood, released in November 2023, also debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200.
The Singapore performances are part of their second world tour, titled Fate, which has already travelled to Asian cities such as Seoul, Tokyo and Macau, as well as Chicago and Dallas in the United States.
Where: Singapore Indoor Stadium, 2 Stadium Walk
MRT: Stadium
When: Jan 20 and 21, 8pm
Admission: $148 to $348 via Ticketmaster (go to ticketmaster.sg or call 3158-8588)
Melanie Martinez: Portals Tour In Singapore
American singer-songwriter Melanie Martinez will be performing in Singapore on Jan 25 as part of her first Asian tour.
The Portals tour is the 28-year-old’s fourth concert tour, in support of her 2023 studio album of the same name. The album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and contains the self-reflective track Void, which has been played on Spotify more than 100 million times.
The dreamy-sounding Death also suggests how one’s essence continues to live on even after the physical body dies.
The tour will see Martinez performing exclusively as her alter ego Cry Baby, an otherworldly creature with pink skin, two pairs of blue eyes and green hair, and typically donning various nature-inspired clothing.
Where: Singapore Expo Hall 7, 1 Expo Drive
MRT: Expo
When: Jan 25, 8pm
Admission: $108 to $138 via Ticketmaster (go to ticketmaster.sg or call 3158-8588)
Priscilla Abby Rhythms Of The Universe Concert 2024
Malaysian singer Priscilla Abby, whose YouTube channel has more than 1.25 million subscribers, is known for her covers of songs as diverse as Chinese singer Ren Ran’s Birds And Cicadas (2020) and Malaysian singer Ismail Izzani’s Bidadari (2018).
The former teen prodigy, who shot to fame in a singing competition in 2014, has also released several original works, such as the empowering anthem Fight For My Life (2019) and the trippy number Love Once (2018), which is influenced by electronic dance music.
The 26-year-old is returning to Singapore with a concert titled Rhythms Of The Universe, which was performed in Malaysia’s Resorts World Genting in September 2023 to good reviews.
She recently addressed her Singapore fans in a Facebook video, saying: “I hope we can sing together and enjoy the music.”
Where: Gateway Theatre, 3615 Jalan Bukit Merah
MRT: Redhill
When: Jan 19, 7.40pm
Admission: $98 to $198 via Sistic (go to sistic.com.sg or call 6348-5555)
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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/entertainment/music-picks-concerts-by-enhypen-melanie-martinez-and-priscilla-abby
| 2024-01-18T07:17:00Z
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SEOUL – South Korean singer Kyuhyun, whose full name is Cho Kyu-hyun, will be touring Asia in March.
It is his first solo concert tour since his debut as a member of K-pop boy band Super Junior in 2005.
The 2024 Kyuhyun Asia Tour Restart will kick off with a three-day concert at Blue Square Mastercard Hall in Seoul from March 8 to 10.
The 35-year-old, who is also a TV host and musical singer, will then meet fans in Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand and Indonesia.
Ticketing details for the Singapore leg have yet to be announced.
Kyuhyun’s tour as a solo artiste is expected to include songs from Restart, his latest solo EP that was released on Jan 9.
The EP topped the iTunes top albums chart in 15 countries and regions around the world shortly after its release.
In November 2023, the singer was slightly injured when he attempted to restrain a woman wielding a knife in western Seoul. She had broken into the dressing-room area of the musical Ben-Hur, which he was starring in. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
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Summer Pavilion
Springy yusheng
So few places offer yusheng with wolf herring these days. For food safety reasons, many yusheng fish are not even raw. Think smoked salmon, canned abalone and, for the upcoming Year of the Dragon, there will be a lot of lobster yusheng because lobster in Chinese contains the word for dragon.
If you are tired of these options, and of raw salmon yusheng, Summer Pavilion at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore has a delicious one featuring geoduck (say gwee-duc). When sliced thin, as it is here, the salt water clam is so very springy.
Add to that the crunch of thin ribbons of white, red and purple radish, carrot, crunchy crackers and toasted nuts and seeds, and a dollop of caviar, and you have a perfect way to start any Chinese New Year meal.
What makes this Geoduck Clam With Black Caviar Yu Sheng ($238++ for small and $476++ for large) special is the very perky dressing. It is made with plum and lemon sauces and vinegar, among other things, and is mercifully not too sweet. I would like to do a takeaway, but this yusheng is available only for dine-in.
What you can order to take home is the restaurant’s Pen Cai ($480++ serving four and $960++ serving eight). It is a luxurious pot, with fish maw, fresh and dried scallops, roast pork, roast duck, abalone, black moss and mushrooms, among other ingredients. These are all napped in an umami bomb of a sauce that is not overly thick or gluggy.
The restaurant will also be offering six- to eight-course set lunches and dinners starting at $148++ a person from Feb 9 to 24.
Where: The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore, Marina Bay 7, Raffles Avenue
MRT: Promenade
Tel: 6434-5286
Open: 11.30am to 2.30pm, 6.30 to 10.30pm daily
Info: www.summerpavilion.com.sg
603 Tau Sar Piah
Homey cookies
The store might be called 603 Tau Sar Piah, but it stocks a lot more than the traditional Teochew flaky pastries filled with mung beans.
Aside from vegetarian tau sar piah with different fillings, the Ng family’s glutinous rice, curry puffs and chicken pies are also hot sellers.
For Chinese New Year, 603 Tau Sar Piah has two terrific cookies – Kueh Bangkit (from $16.80 a box) and Peanut Cookies (from $16.80 a box). Both have an old-school, homemade taste, a stark contrast to many Chinese New Year goodies.
The kueh bangkit is light and crumbles just so when you bite into it. There is a nutty flavour that comes from careful toasting of the tapioca flour with pandan leaves.
Similarly, the peanut cookie, from a family recipe that dates to the 1960s, is crisp and crunchy from peanuts shelled by hand, then roasted. Both make for compelling eating.
Cooking is such a pain during Chinese New Year and it is so easy to make a meal of 603 Tau Sar Piah’s Yam Cake ($28.80). It is packed with hand-shredded yam, dried shrimps, chicken lup cheong, dried scallops and shiitake mushrooms, and comes with toasted sesame seeds, sliced scallions and red chillies. Steam to reheat or, even better, pan-fry pieces of the yam cake for lunch.
Where: 603 Balestier Road
Info: The Lunar New Year range is available until Feb 9. Go to www.603tausarpiah.com/order to order. Delivery is free for orders above $200 and there is a 10 per cent discount on orders of $500 or more, made before Jan 26.
Aunty Hong
Fiery crackers
Aunty Hong, a Singapore purveyor of cookies and snacks, has a winning way with belinjau. The slightly bitter nuts are made into emping and cookies. I am a huge fan and always make a point to order the brand’s Handmade Emping Belinjau Cookies ($28 a tin) for Chinese New Year.
This year, aside from Himalayan Salted Classic Belinjau Keropok (from $17) and Sweet & Spicy Belinjau Keropok (from $19), there is the new Firecracker Belinjau Keropok (from $19). The crackers are glazed with chilli padi and are spicier than the sweet and spicy version. That said, the heat does not blow my head off, which is a very good thing. I finish half the packet before I remember to stop myself.
Another new offering is Coffee Butter Cookies ($28 a tin). These look a lot like those famous butter cookies from Hong Kong, although Aunty Hong’s version does not pack the same kind of coffee punch. They are aromatic and buttery enough for me to want to add them to my Chinese New Year snack tray.
Info: The Chinese New Year range is available until Feb 9. Order at least two days in advance from its website (www.auntyhong.sg/shop). Delivery is free for orders above $100 and costs $12 for each address for orders below $100.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/food/food-picks-geoduck-yusheng-from-summer-pavilion-cny-cookies-from-aunty-hong-and-603-tau-sar-piah
| 2024-01-18T07:17:21Z
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Today in Pictures, Jan 18, 2024
A colourful supporter attending an Africa Cup of Nations football match, a gaggle of geese receiving a priest’s benediction in Spain, and other photos from around the world in Today in Pictures.
Desmond Foo
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17 min ago
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https://str.sg/AAdR
A DR Congo's supporter reacts during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2024 group F football match between DR Congo and Zambia at Stade Laurent Pokou in San Pedro, Ivory coast on Jan 17.
PHOTO : AFP
A gaggle of geese walk to receive a priest's benediction during the 'Beneides' (Benedictions in Majorcan language) traditional ceremony of blessing animals that marks the day of San Anton (Saint Anthony), the animals' patron saint, in Muro, on the Spanish Balearic island of Majorca, on Jan 17.
PHOTO : AFP
Members of the media taking photos of Transport Minister S Iswaran leaving the State Courts on Jan 18.
ST PHOTO : KELVIN CHNG
Participants light candles to commemorate the victims of the Noto Peninsula earthquake on New Year's Day at a memorial gathering to mark the 29th anniversary of the "Great Hanshin Earthquake" in nearby Kobe, in the city of Itami, Hyogo Prefecture on Jan 16.
PHOTO : AFP
Myanmar Hindu devotees try to control a bull during the annual bull taming 'Jallikattu' festival in Kyauktan township on the outskirts of Yangon on Jan 17.
PHOTO : AFP
A woman takes video of sculptures by Yue Minjun in Morton Park during a snow storm in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on Jan 17.
PHOTO : REUTERS
Aerial shot of the Gyeongbok Palace covered with snow, in downtown Seoul, South Korea on Jan 17.
PHOTO EPA-EFE
Lebanon's defender #13 Khalil Khamis challenging for the ball with China's midfielder #18 Dai Wai-tsun during the Qatar 2023 AFC Asian Cup Group A football match between Lebanon and China at the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha on Jan 17.
PHOTO : AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/multimedia/photos/today-in-pictures-jan-18-2024
| 2024-01-18T07:17:32Z
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SINGAPORE – Prices of 13 popular seafood and vegetable items sold at FairPrice outlets islandwide will be frozen from Jan 18 through the Chinese New Year period to help consumers cope with rising costs.
Seafood items such as Chinese pomfret, red grouper and grey prawns, as well as selected vegetables such as nai bai and shiitake mushrooms, will have their prices locked, the FairPrice Group (FPG) announced on Jan 18.
“Seafood and vegetables are among the categories that are most impacted by the price increases during Chinese New Year,” noted Mr Andy Chang, director of fresh and frozen products at FPG.
“Prices (at FairPrice) are being pegged against those of the wet market because historically, we’ve realised that these categories see the largest spike and price fluctuations, so we thought it would be a good time for us to make sure we are competitive in terms of pricing,” he added.
Price benchmarking exercises conducted by FPG from Jan 12 showed that prices for popular fresh produce sold at wet markets – such as Chinese pomfret and red grouper – have gone up by an average of about 35 per cent, compared with prices at FairPrice.
The group first instituted a price freeze for fish and seafood in 2023. In 2024, selected vegetables were added to the list following feedback from customers, said Mr Chang.
Mr Vipul Chawla, group chief executive of FPG, said: “Chinese New Year holds immense significance for customers across Singapore, and we are mindful of the challenges that families may be facing.
“Higher demand for produce like seafood and vegetables during the festive period inevitably drives prices up, and our price freeze is aimed at helping customers alleviate this pressure.”
Some customers have felt the pinch over the years.
“Every year, wet markets increase the price, especially during Chinese New Year,” said Madam Ong Beng Keow, 64, who shops at supermarkets near her home instead of the wet market.
The part-time waitress was among customers at FairPrice’s outlet at Northpoint City in Yishun on Jan 18 stocking up on seafood to freeze, and other groceries ahead of Chinese New Year.
Feb 10 is the first day of the coming Chinese Year of the Dragon.
Madam Ong’s daughter-in-law Chai Xiu Fen, 29, who is a nurse, said: “Today we plan to get prawns, but usually for fish, we prefer to get it fresh... If there really isn’t going to be a price increase, then fresh fish is better, and I will buy it a few days before we’re going to cook it.”
Others, like a retiree in her 70s who wanted to be known only as Madam Chin, said she shops at both supermarkets and wet markets, and has no preference for where she purchases seafood as her family usually eats out during Chinese New Year.
On Jan 17, FPG announced that it will extend till Jan 24 its promotion of giving out $8 return vouchers for every $80 worth of Community Development Council supermarket vouchers used in a single transaction at its outlets.
The promotion was extended by a week to benefit more customers.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/consumer/price-freeze-for-popular-seafood-vegetables-at-fairprice-from-jan-18-through-cny-period
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SINGAPORE - Former Transport Minister S. Iswaran was handed 27 charges on Jan 18, including for allegedly receiving tickets from property tycoon Ong Beng Seng to shows such as Harry Potter And The Cursed Child.
This comes six months after he was arrested by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) in 2023.
This is what we know so far:
May 29, 2023
The CPIB alerts Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to information concerning then Transport Minister S. Iswaran. The bureau came across the information while looking into a separate matter.
July 5
The CPIB director briefs PM Lee on the bureau’s findings and seeks to open formal investigations and to interview Iswaran.
July 6
PM Lee gives his approval for a formal investigation.
July 11
Mr Ong Beng Seng, founder and managing director of Hotel Properties Limited, is also arrested in relation to the case. Both men are released on bail.
July 12
CPIB releases a statement saying that Iswaran is “assisting with investigations”. The matter is made public for the first time.
PM Lee says in a separate statement that he had instructed Iswaran to take a leave of absence until the CPIB investigation is completed. He announces that Senior Minister of State Chee Hong Tat will be Acting Minister for Transport.
In a doorstop interview, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong says the Government will be “upfront and transparent” and “will not sweep anything under the carpet” even if it is potentially embarrassing or damaging for the People’s Action Party and the Government. He also said that other MPs from West Coast GRC will cover Iswaran’s duties.
July 13
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) says Iswaran will remain in Singapore during the probe and will have no access to any official resources and government buildings.
July 14
Hotel Properties Limited discloses Mr Ong’s arrest in a Singapore Exchange filing and says he is cooperating with CPIB to provide information on his interactions with Iswaran.
The company also says that Mr Ong will post bail of $100,000 and will travel overseas from July 14.
CPIB confirms Mr Iswaran’s arrest.
July 18
Iswaran is seen leaving CPIB headquarters in Jalan Bukit Merah in the evening, some 10 hours after he was spotted entering the premises.
July 20
The PMO says PM Lee and DPM Wong did not disclose Iswaran’s arrest on July 12 as revealing such information is CPIB’s decision to make.
Online blog Political Sophistry is asked to put up a correction notice under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act for falsely claiming that Iswaran’s arrest was intentionally concealed because it was “politically embarrassing”.
Aug 2
Parliament discusses the CPIB probe. PM Lee makes a ministerial statement and tells the House that Iswaran’s monthly pay was reduced to $8,500 when he was interdicted.
Minister-in-charge of the Public Service Chan Chun Sing answers MPs questions on the matter. He says CPIB did not initially announce the arrest as it wanted first to establish more facts of the case, including hearing Iswaran’s side of the story.
Sept 19
Parliament debates a motion by opposition Progress Singapore Party MP Hazel Poa to suspend Iswaran. MPs reject the motion and vote to consider the matter when there is an outcome from the corruption probe.
Jan 8, 2024
National Development Minister Desmond Lee says in an interview with The Straits Times and Lianhe Zaobao that the corruption probe into Iswaran was a “very worrying development” and has had a big impact on West Coast GRC.
Mr Lee, who is an MP in the GRC, says: “Since (the news broke) in July, we have been able to hold the team together, energise them to continue serving the ground with passion and dedication.”
Jan 9
Mr Chan tells Parliament the CPIB has completed its investigation into Iswaran and the matter was before the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
In a written reply to a parliamentary question he says: “I understand that there is much public interest in this matter. I want to give my assurance that this case will be put through the due legal process.”
Jan 15
CPIB informs Iswaran that he will be charged and takes his cautioned statement.
Jan 16
Iswaran writes to PM Lee to inform him about the charges. He says he rejects the allegations and will focus on clearing his name. He also steps down as minister and MP and resigns from the People’s Action Party.
Jan 17
Iswaran writes to PM Lee again to say that he will return all that he received in ministerial salary and MP allowances since the start of the CPIB probe, although he has not been asked to do so.
He adds that he will not be seeking the return of the monies if he is acquitted.
PM Lee, in a letter, accepts Iswaran’s resignation and acknowledges the former minister’s decision to return his salary and allowances.
“It is essential that I deal with such matters rigorously in accordance with the law. It is the right thing to do. We must uphold the integrity of the Party and the Government. I am sure you understand the importance of doing so. Singaporeans expect no less,” says PM Lee.
Jan 18
Iswaran is charged in the State Court. His resignations as Transport Minister and West Coast GRC MP are announced, with the PMO releasing letters between the former minister and PM Lee.
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Follow our live blog for more updates.
SINGAPORE – There is nothing to suggest, as of now, that Formula 1 contracts or other contracts were structured to the disadvantage of the Government, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) said in a statement on Jan 18.
“The terms of all the agreements were considered carefully by the Government,” MTI added. “There was an independent consultancy study.”
This comes as former transport minister S. Iswaran was handed 27 charges, including two counts of corruption, in court on Jan 18. Iswaran had been involved in government engagements involving F1 from as early as 2008.
Iswaran allegedly obtained valuable items, such as tickets to musicals and football matches, either from property tycoon Ong Beng Seng, or through Como Holdings (UK) or Singapore GP. Mr Ong is the man who brought Formula One to Singapore.
In July 2023, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) told Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong that it needed to interview Iswaran as part of investigations into a case it had uncovered. PM Lee gave his approval for CPIB to conduct a formal investigation.
Iswaran and Mr Ong Beng Seng were both arrested on July 11, 2023, and later released on bail.
On July 12, PM Lee said he had instructed Iswaran to take a leave of absence until the investigation was completed.
MTI said all preparations for the F1 Singapore Grand Prix in 2024, which is scheduled for Sept 20 to 22, are on track.
Since its debut in 2008, the F1 Singapore Grand Prix has attracted more than 550,000 international visitors and generated about $2 billion in incremental tourism receipts, MTI said. Between 2008 and 2022, more than a billion viewers watched the race.
In September 2023, the race drew more than 264,108 people over the three-day race weekend.
MTI said international business events, such as the Time100 Leadership Forum, the Forbes Global CEO Conference, the Milken Institute Asia Summit and SuperReturn Asia, have also been organised around the F1 race in Singapore.
Beyond tourism, MTI added that the race has benefited Singapore companies involved in different aspects of the race, including logistics, transport, construction and engineering services.
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| 2024-01-18T07:18:03Z
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SINGAPORE - The People’s Action Party (PAP) stance on corruption is non-negotiable and part of its DNA. There can be no compromise, relaxation, or fudging the issue; no matter the political price, said Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
“The PAP government will continue to do everything we can to uphold the highest standards of integrity, incorruptibility and propriety. That’s how we maintain the trust that Singaporeans have placed in us,” he told journalists on Jan 18.
His remarks came hours after former transport minister S. Iswaran was handed 27 charges in court - two counts of corruption, 24 counts of obtaining items from someone he had business dealings with as a public servant, and one of obstructing the course of justice.
DPM Wong said that the party was “saddened and disappointed that Iswaran has to leave politics under these circumstances” and he has no doubt that it would affect party morale.
“But we cannot allow this political hit to compromise our zero tolerance stance against corruption.”
He added that this is why the party and government will continue to do the right thing and do everything they can to keep Singapore’s system corruption free.
He said: “I believe Singaporeans expect no less from us.”
DPM Wong said that the investigations into Iswaran were initiated by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) and since then, the government pursued the matter “decisively and proactively”.
Once CPIB completed its investigations and the public prosecutor assessed the findings independently, they decided to proceed with charges against Iswaran, said DPM Wong.
In court, Iswaran pleaded not guilty, and is now out on $800,000 bail.
When asked, DPM Wong said that the case would have “no impact” on succession and the leadership transition.
DPM Wong said it was announced that the PAP’s leadership transition will take place before the next general election, and before the party conference in November 2024.
“This plan remains on track,” he said.
On how the case would affect the PAP’s plans on when to call the general election, DPM Wong said the government’s focus is to continue and press on with its work, and redouble its efforts to improve the lives of Singaporeans.
He said: “When the general election comes, the PAP will present our report card to Singaporeans, and we’ll do our best to earn the confidence and trust of Singaporeans.”
On the Code of Conduct for Ministers, DPM Wong said that the code, which has been in place since 1954, is “not static” and continues to be updated.
“We will continue to review and update the Code, taking into account the experiences and learnings from this incident,” he said.
DPM Wong noted that there will be many civil servants who are disappointed, shocked and saddened by what has happened, including those who have worked closely with Iswaran all these years.
He stressed that there was no whistleblower or tip off, and that CPIB pursued this matter on its own accord.
The bureau, he said, did a thorough investigation and left no stone unturned, before presenting their investigation to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC).
DPM Wong highlighted that the AGC has explained that it will look at the investigations against Iswaran first, before deciding whether decisions should be taken against others who are involved in this matter.
He hoped that civil servants will see that “what has transpired is the determination of the PAP government to keep our system free from corruption”.
“That determination is clear, and we will not compromise on our zero tolerance stance against corruption,” he said.
“That will ensure that Singapore remains special, that will ensure that Singapore can continue to move forward with confidence in the future.”
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| 2024-01-18T07:18:13Z
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LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Lakers, healthy again and fueled by a near triple-double from Anthony Davis, spoiled Luka Doncic’s return from injury with a convincing 127-110 National Basketball Association (NBA) victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Jan 17.
Davis scored 28 points with 12 rebounds and nine assists and D’Angelo Russell scored 29 for the Lakers, withstanding a triple-double from Doncic – who had missed three games with a sprained right ankle.
Doncic scored 33 points with 13 rebounds and 10 assists. But Mavs star Kyrie Irving was limited to 12 points on four-of-16 shooting and Dallas never led after the first quarter.
It was just one of the lopsided victories on a night that saw the Cleveland Cavaliers rout the short-handed Milwaukee Bucks 135-95, and the Boston Celtics beating the San Antonio Spurs 117-98.
At arenas round the league, teams observed a moment of silence in memory of Golden State Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojevic, who died earlier in the morning in Salt Lake City after suffering a heart attack.
In Los Angeles, LeBron James said the Lakers’ victory – which pulled them back to 21-21 in the Western Conference – owed much to finally having a healthy squad.
“The most important for our team is about health,” said James, who had 25 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.
“If we get guys to be in uniform and be on the floor... we get the continuity, we could get some minutes together and see what we’re about.”
In Cleveland, Donovan Mitchell scored 31 points to lead the Cavaliers, who took full advantage of the absence of Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo to notch a sixth straight victory.
The Cavs raced to a 22-2 lead as Antetokounmpo, nursing a bruised right shoulder, watched from the bench – just the second game that the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player has missed this season.
Georges Niang connected on 13 of his 14 shots from the field on the way to a career-high 33 points for Cleveland and Jarrett Allen posted his 10th straight double-double with 21 points and 13 rebounds.
Damian Lillard led the Bucks with 17 points, making just seven of his 20 shots from the field. Khris Middleton had an even worse night, making just one of 10 shots on the way to two points.
“Obviously we know what Dame and Khris are capable of but I thought our guys came out and were very pointed, they were physical without fouling,” Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “I thought our team defence was elite.”
In Boston, Jayson Tatum scored 24 points, Jrue Holiday added 22 and Jaylen Brown returned from a one-game injury absence to score 21 as the Celtics gave San Antonio’s rookie star Victor Wembanyama a rude welcome in his first visit to the TD Garden arena.
Wembanyama scored 10 of his 27 points in the first quarter, but the Celtics pulled away relentlessly against the Western Conference stragglers to improve their perfect home record to 20-0.
Boston (32-9) are top of the East, ahead of the Bucks (28-13). AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/basketball/la-lakers-post-convincing-win-over-dallas-mavericks-despite-luka-doncic-return
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A Wolverhampton Wanderers fan struggled to contain his joy when his team scored a late winner in Tuesday's FA Cup tie against Brentford after he had stepped forward from the crowd to take over fourth official duties when an assistant referee fell ill.
Ross Bennett, a referee at youth level, said he had volunteered to help when the assistant could not continue in extra time.
"I had the referee asking if I'd do the fourth officiating, and I was like: 'If you give me a quick crash course, I will'," Bennett told the Wolves Express podcast.
"So for the next 30 minutes of my life, I was officiating a FA Cup replay match; it was quite surreal, really, crazy."
Bennett said he was "screaming" inside when Wolves scored from the penalty spot in extra time to win the match 3-2, setting up a fourth round encounter with West Bromwich Albion.
"The killer was not being able to celebrate the third goal because I'll be going to the West Brom game and I couldn't celebrate the goal that took us there because I didn't know if I was allowed to or if I had to stay neutral," he added. REUTERS
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DUBAI – Rory McIlroy has never been shy to share his vision for golf, and European football’s top-tier club competition has served as a model for his “Champions League” idea pitched for the future of his sport.
The Northern Irishman, a Manchester United fan, was in Dubai to defend his Dubai Desert Classic title, and he talked about a world tour with the best players challenged by the best from other tours.
“The way I view it is a bit like Champions League in football,” the four-time Major champion said. “It’s like the best of the best in Europe, and then all of the other leagues feed up into it.
“There’s lots of different tours getting interest and a lot of great players, but if you want to create something that is real value for the game of golf, I think it’s this top-level tour and then all the other tours feed into it.”
The world’s best golfers would then have to maintain excellence to stay at the top while players in tiers below would have to earn their way in.
McIlroy, previously a vocal opponent of LIV Golf, has reconsidered his position and can envision its usefulness.
A Saudi-centric version of LIV potentially joining with the PGA Tour has provided further credence.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is taking a wait-and-see approach.
“(All the outside discussions are) not really a big topic of discussion for us in our day-to-day lives,” he said on Jan 17.
“I think... going out to dinner and stuff like that with the guys out here, conversations are a bit different than they have been in the past, but that’s just because we got some stuff we need to figure out.
“And when I go out there to practise I’m trying to get my work in, and I wouldn’t say it’s a distraction for me.”
But McIlroy, 34, also underscored the importance of acting quickly.
“If this global tour somehow comes to fruition in the next few years, could you imagine bringing the best 70 or 80 golfers in the world to India for a tournament?” he said.
“I think (it) would change the game and the perception of the game in a country like that. So again, there’s so much opportunity out there to go global with it.
“I’ve said this for the last few months, but golf is at an inflection point, and if golf doesn’t do it now, I fear that it will never do it and we’ll sort of have this fractured landscape forever.”
The football-style format is an appealing idea to increase competition.
“There’s promotion and relegation and you have to earn your way in and you have to earn your spot to stay in,” McIlroy explained. “I think that’s really important, too.”
As to immediate steps, he proposed aligning interests “of the players, the business, the fans and the media and try to get everyone aligned”.
“Once you do that, then you can move forward,” he said.
In other news, Steve Stricker swept the PGA Tour Champions awards for the 2023 campaign after a season that saw him capture six wins and 15 top-10 finishes in 16 starts.
At the tour’s annual award dinner, held on Jan 16 night in Hawaii, Stricker walked away with the 2023 Jack Nicklaus Award as the Tour’s Player of the Year, the Arnold Palmer Award (season money leader) and Byron Nelson Award (season scoring average). He set tour records in those two categories.
“What a privilege and what an honour to have won these special awards,” said the 56-year-old.
“I’m thankful that we have the opportunity to compete against one another. A lot of us go back years and years ago where we first started playing golf. The passion that we all have, to play against the best at our age, is still really special for all of us.
“I’ve enjoyed the competition and enjoyed being with you guys and I look forward to another great year.” REUTERS
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MELBOURNE - Former world number seven and Australian Open finalist Danielle Collins announced she would be retiring this season after a close second-round loss to world number one Iga Swiatek at Melbourne Park on Thursday.
The 30-year-old American, who had a 4-1 lead in the deciding set but went down 6-4 3-6 6-4 to the four-times Grand Slam champion, said she was sick of the travel and wanted to have a family.
"This is going to be my last season, actually, competing," Collins told reporters after racing off Rod Laver Arena and straight into her press conference. "I don't really know exactly when, but this will be my last season and I'm really looking forward to that."
Her peak ranking of seventh in the world came in 2022 after she had beaten Swiatek in the semi-finals at Melbourne Park before going on to lose to Ash Barty in the final.
She also reached the semi-finals in Melbourne in 2019 and the quarter-finals of the French Open the following year.
"I feel like I've had a pretty good career. There has certainly been ups and downs to it, and I think the travel and some of the things away from the court with scheduling and all of that, this is a really tough sport," Collins told reporters.
"I have other things that I'd kind of like to accomplish in my life outside of tennis, and would like to be able to kind of, you know, be able to have the time to be able to do that. Obviously having kids is a big priority for me."
Collins said she was proud of taking Swiatek so close on Thursday and that losing did not sting as much as it had earlier in her career.
"I feel like I have kind of gotten to the point where obviously they matter and, you know, my career means a lot to me, but the end of the day, you know, you either win or you lose, and that's all there is to it," she said. REUTERS
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| 2024-01-18T07:19:05Z
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KYIV - Russia launched 33 drones and two missiles at Ukraine overnight, with air defences destroying 22 drones, the Ukrainian military said on Thursday.
"The main areas of attack were the south and north. The Ukrainian Air Force and Defence Forces destroyed 22 enemy drones. Several more drones did not reach their targets," Ukraine's Air Forces said on the Telegram messaging app.
Reuters could not independently verify the Ukrainian air force's report. There was no immediate comment from Russia.
Ukrainian military said Russian drones hit residential neighbourhoods in the southern city of Kherson where several buildings were damaged and a woman was wounded.
Drones also hit agribusiness facilities in the Beryslav community of Kherson region.
In the Mykolaiv region, which was also hit, debris from downed drones caused damage to a warehouse of an agricultural enterprise. There were no casualties, military said. REUTERS
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ISLAMABAD - Pakistan conducted strikes inside Iran on Jan 18, targeting separatist militants, the Pakistani foreign ministry said, two days after Tehran said it attacked Israel-linked militant bases inside Pakistani territory.
Iranian media said several missiles hit a village in the Sistan-Baluchistan province that borders Pakistan, killing three women and four children, all non-Iranians.
"A number of terrorists were killed during the intelligence-based operation," the Pakistani ministry said in a statement, describing it as a "series of highly coordinated and specifically targeted precision military strikes against terrorist hideouts".
It added, "Pakistan fully respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
"The sole objective of today’s act was in pursuit of Pakistan’s own security and national interest, which is paramount and cannot be compromised."
A Pakistani intelligence source told Reuters the strikes were carried out by military aircraft.
"Our forces have conducted strikes to target Baloch militants inside Iran," the intelligence official in Islamabad, the Pakistani capital, said.
"The targeted militants belong to BLF," he added, referring to the Balochistan Liberation Front, which seeks independence for Pakistan's Balochistan province.
Iran said on Jan 16 it had targeted Israel-linked militant bases inside Pakistan. Pakistan said civilians had been hit and two children killed, warning of consequences for which Tehran would be responsible.
Islamabad recalled its ambassador from Iran on Jan 17.
Pakistan and Iran have in the past had rocky relations, but the strikes are the highest-profile cross-border intrusion in recent years. REUTERS
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| 2024-01-18T07:19:26Z
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King Charles thinks highly of his daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales, a new royal book has revealed.
Robert Hardman's latest publication, King Charles III: The Inside Story, looks at Charles' first year of his reign and includes anecdotes about his relationship with various family members.
Kate has been part of the royal fold for a long time, having known her husband, Prince William, since their university days.
She married William in 2011 and has been a full-time working royal ever since.
Robert writes in his latest book: "'[Charles] thinks Catherine is doing a wonderful job, not just with her royal duties but also bringing up his grandchildren,' says a friend."
Charles and Kate's admiration for one another has long been documented.
On the state visit to Kenya in November, the King referred to Kate as his "beloved daughter-in-law" during a speech as he spoke of his family's connections to the East Africa country.
Kenya is where William proposed to his long-term girlfriend in 2010.
And when asked about being introduced to the royal family in her engagement interview, the future Princess revealed: "I was quite nervous about meeting William's father, but he was very, very welcoming, very friendly, it couldn't have gone easier really for me."
The royal family has been rocked by a double health scare this week as Kensington Palace announced that the Princess of Wales is being treated at the London Clinic, after undergoing abdominal surgery.
Future Queen Kate is expected to remain in hospital for ten to 14 days and is set to be away from official duties for up to three months to give her time to recover.
The nature of the Princess's condition has not been revealed although Kensington Palace confirmed it was not cancerous.
Meanwhile, the King will be treated at hospital next week for an enlarged prostate.
Buckingham Palace said Charles's condition was benign and he would be having a corrective procedure. His engagements will be postponed for a short period of recuperation.
Other revelations from Robert Hardman's book include claims that Queen Elizabeth II was "as angry as I'd ever see her" after Prince Harry and Meghan publicly stated that she was "supportive" of their decision to use her childhood name for their daughter Princess Lilibet, born in June 2021.
LISTEN: A Right Royal Podcast - Abdications
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| 2024-01-18T07:42:49Z
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DAVOS, Switzerland - India could ease its heightened scrutiny of Chinese investments if the two countries' border remains peaceful, a senior Indian official said in the first signal that the four-year-old curbs could be lifted.
Border tensions, the biggest irritant to relations between the nuclear-armed Asian giants, have eased, which could lead to improved investment ties, top industrial policy bureaucrat Rajesh Kumar Singh told Reuters on Wednesday at the annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland.
In 2020, India tightened scrutiny on investments from companies based in countries it borders, adding a layer of vetting and security clearances.
The move was widely seen as retaliation for a clash between Chinese and Indian troops on their disputed, 3,800-km (2,400-mile) Himalayan frontier that killed at least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers, their worst military conflict in decades.
The curbs have disrupted billions of dollars of investments between the world's two most-populous countries, halting planned projects including from Chinese automakers BYD and Great Wall Motor.
The investment rules "could change once our relationship there stabilises because I think the border issues that we've had - the border has stabilised", Singh, secretary at the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, said in an interview.
"On the investment side also, if things go well, I'm sure we can resume normal business."
He did not give a timeframe for a possible easing.
Asked if India's message was that Chinese investments depend on a peaceful border, Singh said, "You can't have somebody nibbling at your border while at the same time having red-carpet treatment for investments from there."
The investment curbs, he said, were a slight "step back" from India's broader opening to foreign investment in recent years. India has significantly reduced hurdles for inbound investment, lowering or scrapping foreign ownership caps in many sectors and granting automatic approvals.
Despite the border problems, China is India's largest source of imports, with bilateral trade rising 32% since tensions flared to nearly $114 billion in the fiscal year that ended in March.
Indian and Chinese troops clashed twice in 2022 even as peace talks were ongoing. New Delhi and Beijing, which fought a brief border war in 1962, have held a series of diplomatic and military talks to resolve the conflict.
The two neighbours must find a way to step back from potential confrontation in the western Himalayas, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said in June.
But, Singh said, "In the last year or so, there haven't been any incidents. So I'm expressing the general hope from the business community that things will, you know, stabilise and improve."
A mechanism to review foreign investments from all countries, resembling those in the United States and Australia, is an option India could eventually consider, Singh said, adding no decision has been taken as India would want to maintain a "welcoming environment" for investments. REUTERS
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| 2024-01-18T08:48:25Z
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JAKARTA – Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto has a commanding lead but is stagnating in popularity just a few weeks out from an election in February, an opinion poll showed on Jan 18, raising the chance of a second-round run-off in June.
The world’s third-largest democracy will hold an election on Feb 14, but the latest survey by Indikator Politik shows that despite a huge 20-point lead, Defence Minister Prabowo is no closer to the more than 50 per cent of the vote required to win in a single round.
The Dec 30 to Jan 6 survey showed the former special forces commander had the support of 45.8 per cent of the 1,200 respondents, with 25.5 per cent backing former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan, who moved into second place for the first time in Indikator’s surveys.
The ruling party’s Mr Ganjar Pranowo was the top choice of 23 per cent of respondents, and 5.8 per cent were undecided.
“Prabowo’s popularity might continue to stagnate unless he does something big,” said Mr Burhanuddin Muhtadi, Indikator’s executive director. “We cannot be sure if the election will be one round or two rounds.”
If no candidate secures votes from more than half of the 205 million eligible voters, a run-off will be held on June 26.
Mr Prabowo, 72, is contesting his third successive presidential election, having lost in 2014 and 2019 to the hugely popular incumbent, Mr Joko Widodo, better known as Jokowi, who cannot seek a third term.
In a move to tap his former rival’s support base, Mr Prabowo in October picked Mr Widodo’s 36-year-old son, Mr Gibran Rakabuming Raka, as his running mate and rose rapidly in the polls, a trajectory many analysts have attributed to the President’s tacit support.
Professor Marcus Mietzner from the Australian National University, who was part of the panel analysing the latest polling results, said Mr Prabowo has a big chance to win, either in one round or two.
“The difference with his competitors is 20 per cent. That is huge,” he said. “In elections in other countries, with a 20 per cent difference, an election would be considered done.”
The recent rise in popularity for Mr Anies, an academic and a former education minister, follows a series of strong performances in recent election debates. He is also gaining traction in one of the key battleground provinces of East Java, the Indikator poll showed.
Voter turnout will be a key factor in determining whether the vote goes to a second round, said Indikator analyst Kennedy Muslim, particularly given Mr Prabowo’s popularity among Gen-Z voters, or those born after 1997, whose turnout in the last election was far below the national rate. REUTERS
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| 2024-01-18T08:48:35Z
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MORONI - An overnight curfew has been imposed in the Indian Ocean nation of Comoros after violent protests against President Azali Assoumani's re-election rocked the archipelago, the interior ministry said.
Assoumani won a fourth five-year term after the country's electoral body on Tuesday declared him the winner of Sunday's election against five opponents.
The army fired tear gas to disperse protesters in the streets of the capital Moroni on Wednesday, while protesters were still on the streets in the north of the capital in the early hours of Thursday.
The interior ministry announced the curfew on Wednesday.
A Comorian government spokesperson blamed supporters of losing candidates for the protests.
"These are things that happen here and elsewhere, especially when we are beaten and we contest the results," Comorian government spokesperson Houmed Msaidie told Reuters.
He said several demonstrators were arrested.
Assoumani's opponents have said the election was tainted by voter fraud, saying there were instances of ballot stuffing and of voting ending before the official closing time. The government has denied those accusations.
Assoumani has ruled Comoros since first coming to power through a coup in 1999. He garnered 62.97% of the vote in the latest election, according to the national electoral commission.
With a population of about 800,000 people, Comoros has experienced around 20 coups or attempted coups since winning independence from France in 1975 and is a major source of irregular migration to the nearby French island of Mayotte.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights urged for calm and appealed authorities to practise restraint in the wake of protests. REUTERS
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SHAH ALAM – A man who became the first person to be charged under Malaysia’s anti-stalking law for stalking a woman for eight years was acquitted and discharged by a Magistrate’s Court on Jan 17.
Mohamad Safiq Rosli, 37, who had allegedly stalked photographer Acacia Mardiana Daud, 31, was ordered to be held at Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta in Perak at the pleasure of the Sultan of Selangor.
This means that Mohamad Safiq could be held indefinitely at the mental healthcare facility until an application is made to seek the Selangor ruler’s consent for his release.
Had he been punished for the charge under the new law, Mohamad Safiq would have faced a jail term not exceeding three years or a fine or both.
In delivering her decision on Jan 17, magistrate Sasha Diana Sabtu said while the prosecution managed to prove that Mohamad Safiq had indeed committed a crime, the defence managed to successfully argue that he was of unsound mind when doing so.
The defence of insanity states that “nothing is an offence” when committed by a person who is mentally ill and unaware that he or she is committing a crime.
Mohamad Safiq chose to remain silent when the judge asked him to enter his defence after ruling that the prosecution had succeeded in establishing a prima facie case against him.
He was accused of stalking Ms Acacia Mardiana via her social media platform X handle @ShaFoShizzie through his handle @sopert99.
The charges were based on police reports about three love messages sent by him to Ms Acacia Mardiana on June 15, 17 and 21 in 2023 that were tendered as evidence.
In the three messages, Mohamad Safiq declared his love for Ms Acacia Mardiana.
The photographer, who testified over Zoom, said that the stalking adversely affected her future.
“I underwent terrible trauma and feared for my health and safety. I dared not go out and it affected my work and daily activities and ruined my future. I lived in fear,” she added.
The defence’s only witness, forensic pathologist Ian Lloyd Anthony, when cross-examined, said Mohamad Safiq was diagnosed as suffering from schizophrenia during his mental evaluation.
“This mental disorder is a serious disorder and is characterised by symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations and may be accompanied by bizarre or disorganised behaviours,” he said.
Dr Ian Lloyd said the accused’s mental state at the time of the evaluation was predominantly delusional in nature and he also had multiple delusions, with the main one being delusion of love.
“The accused firmly believed that the victim was in love with him and he was in love with her. This illusion took place eight years ago and grew over time.
“He believed that they were in a romantic relationship when in actual fact it was a one-way relationship as she never reciprocated,” he said.
He added that schizophrenia requires lifelong treatment but individuals can achieve remission with medication as well as appropriate therapy.
In Mohamad Safiq’s case, he must be treated with medication and psychotherapy and the latter is only available at a hospital facility, said Dr Ian Lloyd.
Meanwhile, in her victim impact statement, Ms Acacia Mardiana said she was harassed and terrorised by the same man from the time she was 23 years old.
“He has wasted eight years of his life to disturb my life. I am not the person I used to be,” she said in the statement, which was read out by lawyer Jason Wee, who was holding a watching brief for her.
Ms Acacia Mardiana added that she cried out for help for eight years, feeling hopeless and fearing for her life as the accused was obsessed with her and did not stop looking for her even after she moved to Britain.
“The only thing that can protect me is the law. I beg you to please make him stay away from me forever.
“If he becomes a free man at the end of the sentence, I know he will continue to find me and that will be the end of my life,” she said. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/first-man-charged-under-malaysia-s-anti-stalking-law-gets-off-with-insanity-plea
| 2024-01-18T08:48:56Z
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JAKARTA - Mining activity at a nickel industrial park linked to mainly Chinese companies has contributed to mass deforestation in Indonesia, a non-governmental group said in a report.
The report of ecological damage in the nickel industry comes as Indonesia, home to the world’s largest nickel ore reserves, seeks to extract more value from the mineral by attracting investment into its processing and in the manufacturing of electric vehicle batteries.
The country has also set a production target of some 600,000 electric vehicles (EV) by 2030 - more than 100 times the number of EVs sold in Indonesia in the first half of 2023.
In the report released on Jan 17, US-based Climate Rights International (CRI) documented activity at the Indonesia Weda Bay Industrial Park (IWIP), one of the country’s largest nickel processing hubs, whose investors include China’s Tsingshan Holding Group and France’s Eramet.
The operator of the park, on Halmahera island in the Maluku region, is a joint venture between China’s Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, Zhenshi Holding Group and Tsingshan.
IWIP, Tsingshan, Eramet, Huayou, Zhenshi and the forestry ministry did not respond to requests for comment.
CRI said companies, which had permits, have cut down more than 5,300 hectares of tropical forest within the park’s concession since 2018, citing geospatial analysis of satellite imagery conducted by the group and researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, in the United States.
That is roughly the size of over 6,000 football pitches.
Experts have raised concerns the nickel industry could worsen deforestation in Indonesia, a resource-rich country that is also home to massive rainforests.
After years of rampant deforestation, Indonesia has had success in slowing the rate at which forests are cleared for plantations and other industrial activity.
From 2020 through 2022, Indonesia reduced its average primary forest loss by 64 per cent compared with 2015-2017, showed data from research group World Resources Institute.
CRI also estimated carbon dioxide emissions from deforestation were “roughly equivalent to the annual emissions of 450,000 cars.”
President Joko Widodo said last year Indonesia would increase scrutiny of miners and order companies to manage nurseries and reforest depleted mines. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/foreign-backed-nickel-hub-in-indonesia-is-causing-mass-deforestation-report-says
| 2024-01-18T08:49:06Z
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JAKARTA - Indonesia is planning to slash the targeted share of renewables in the national energy mix, a move seen by experts as a step back in the country’s ambition towards clean energy, while signalling its light-hearted attempt to part ways with fossil fuels.
The new target will hover at between 17 per cent and 19 per cent by 2025, as proposed by the National Energy Council (DEN). Previously, the government had set a target of 23 per cent for the same period.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/indonesia-to-slash-23-renewable-energy-target
| 2024-01-18T08:49:17Z
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Thailand is fine-tuning a proposed Bill that would allow only the medical use of cannabis.
For this reason, Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew said smoking cannabis is likely to require a doctor’s note, the Bangkok Post reported.
The Bill will make it clear precisely how to use the plant for medical purposes, he said.
It will outline who can use cannabis, as well as where, when and how it can be sold.
The Bill will also stipulate what part of the plant can be used, the minister said.
“If smoking is for health, we need to have a clear prescription from the doctor,” the Bangkok Post quoted Dr Cholnan as saying.
Cannabis plantations would require a permit from the authorities and must ensure the plants are of medical grade, he said, adding that plantations at home are unlikely to be allowed under the new law.
The proposed Bill was signed by Dr Cholnan earlier in January. It calls for a ban on recreational use of cannabis and hefty penalties for offenders.
The legislation is being drafted with participation from all stakeholders, Dr Cholnan said.
The public and industry stakeholders have until Jan 23 to submit feedback on the Bill.
Medical marijuana has been legal in Thailand since 2018, but in June 2022, it became the first country in Asia to declassify marijuana as a narcotic.
The move came before lawmakers could agree on how to regulate the industry.
Since then, thousands of weed shops have opened across the country and have been operating in a grey area.
They sell various products, from cannabis buds to oil extracts, that contain less than 0.2 per cent tetrahydrocannabinol – the psychoactive compound that gives users a “high” sensation.
Before the May 2023 election, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin made a pledge during his campaign to restrict the use of marijuana due to concerns over addiction and misuse.
His Pheu Thai Party promoted a hardline anti-drug campaign ahead of the polls, vowing to again classify cannabis as a narcotic.
But the party is now in a coalition with Bhumjaithai Party, which had spearheaded the move to decriminalise the crop.
Civil society groups say the definition of recreation in the proposed Bill is still unclear.
Mr Prasittichai Nunual, secretary-general of the Thai Cannabis Future Network, pointed out that the interpretation of what is considered recreational use is based on judgment calls by the authorities.
He said the Bill should add a clause giving the right to people to use cannabis in the family based on the knowledge of traditional Thai medicine.
Mr Prasittichai also pointed out that the Bill seems to emphasise taking legal action against those who violate the law, reinforcing a perception that cannabis continues to be seen as a dangerous drug.
He said penalties should be similar to those for cigarette or alcohol use.
The Bill will be “a compass to set the direction of cannabis in the future in the country, with a principle to preserve its use under Thai traditional medicine wisdom”, Mr Prasittichai said.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/medical-use-of-cannabis-may-require-doctor-s-note-thai-minister-says
| 2024-01-18T08:49:27Z
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BEIJING – China said on Jan 18 it was willing to mediate between Pakistan and Iran following an exchange of fire against militant targets in their border region, including a strike that Teheran said killed at least seven civilians.
“The Chinese side sincerely hopes that the two sides can exercise calm and restraint and avoid an escalation of tension,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a regular news conference.
“We are also willing to play a constructive role in de-escalating the situation if both sides so wish,” she added.
Nuclear-armed Pakistan and neighbouring Iran are both battling simmering insurgencies along their sparsely populated border regions.
On Jan 18, Pakistan said it carried out strikes against militant targets in Iran.
Teheran said it summoned the Pakistani charge d’affaires in response to the attack, which killed at least seven people.
Both countries are close partners of Beijing and members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
Ms Mao reiterated Iran and Pakistan were “friendly countries to China, and countries with important influence”. AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/south-asia/china-says-willing-to-mediate-between-pakistan-and-iran-after-strikes
| 2024-01-18T08:49:37Z
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SINGAPORE/KUALA LUMPUR - Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) is in talks to buy up to a 49 per cent stake in MMC Port Holdings, in a deal potentially valuing Malaysia’s biggest port operator at around RM30 billion (S$8.5 billion), two sources with knowledge of the matter said.
The infrastructure investor has begun seeking financing for the potential acquisition of a stake in MMC Port, part of the MMC Corp conglomerate controlled by Malaysian tycoon Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary, one of the sources said.
Reuters first reported in May last year, citing sources with knowledge of the matter, that Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar, ranked the 11th richest man in Malaysia by Forbes, was looking at bringing an investor into MMC Port Holdings.
The company has seven ports in Malaysia – Port of Tanjung Pelepas, Johor Port, Northport, Penang Port, Tanjung Bruas Port, SPT Services and Andaman Port, according to its website.
All are located along the Straits of Malacca, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
A 49 per cent stake in MMC Port would be worth US$3.1 billion (S$4.2 billion), although it is not clear yet what kind of premium will be agreed on by the two companies.
Talks are ongoing and there is no certainty that a deal will be reached, said the sources. They declined to be named as the discussions were confidential.
A spokesperson for GIP in New York declined to comment. MMC Corp did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Founded in 2006, United States-headquartered GIP manages more than US$100 billion in assets and has a portfolio including Britain’s Gatwick airport, the Port of Melbourne and major offshore wind projects.
If completed, GIP’s Malaysian investment will add to the hectic pace of mergers and acquisitions in the infrastructure sector globally in recent years, with soaring demand for logistics making the asset class increasingly popular.
As part of that trend, GIP itself is being acquired by BlackRock for US$12.5 billion.
Just days after the announcement by BlackRock, which manages US$10 trillion across all markets, US private equity firm General Atlantic said on Tuesday that it had agreed on a deal to buy United Kingdom-based infrastructure investor Actis.
Global private equity firms, sovereign wealth funds, and other investors have been pouring money into Asia infrastructure projects in recent years to get exposure to assets that are seen offering, stable, long-term and inflation-beating returns. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/business/gip-eyeing-up-to-49-stake-in-malaysian-port-operator-could-value-it-at-85-billion-sources
| 2024-01-18T08:49:48Z
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It is a sweet start to the year for home-grown freelance actress Jeanette Aw.
The 44-year-old opened the first pop-up booth of her patisserie brand Once Upon A Time in Nagoya, Japan, on Jan 16.
Aw posted a video of the opening day on Instagram with the caption: “Such a humbling experience. I’m so grateful.”
Another video, captured by her manager, showed the star shedding tears of joy.
Located on the 10th floor of the JR Nagoya Takashimaya department store, Aw’s booth is part of a 28-day chocolate fair called Amour du Chocolate, which will run until Valentine’s Day.
According to Chinese-language newspaper Shin Min Daily News in September 2023, although Aw worked with a team, including a Japanese pastry chef, for her pop-ups, she remained the “main baker” and developed the desserts herself.
Aw will reportedly head to Osaka and Tokyo next with her pop-up.
Apart from chocolate bon bons, the Once Upon A Time stall will sell its famous What The Fudge brownies. There is a special Japan-only orange flavour brownie, retailing for 3,456 yen (S$31).
Aw, who completed a patisserie course at Le Cordon Bleu Tokyo in 2019, started Once Upon A Time in 2021.
“This is the biggest event in Japan, so I really didn’t know what to expect,” she wrote on Instagram Stories. “I’ve been working on this for two years and there were challenges along the way. Today is the launch day in Nagoya. Finally.”
She added that to put up the “sold out” sign meant a lot to her. “It also made me a little emotional.”
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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/entertainment/actress-jeanette-aw-opens-her-first-chocolate-pop-up-in-nagoya
| 2024-01-18T08:49:58Z
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Who: Ms Pang Yi Xian, 32, founder of vintage luxury purveyor Welovechanelsg, which specialises in importing authentic vintage luxury handbags, watches and jewellery from brands such as Chanel, Hermes, Dior, Gucci and Cartier.
The home-grown online company was born out of the former teacher’s personal interest in collecting vintage Chanel bags. In 2018, she started selling her curated finds via Instagram (@welovechanelsg).
On Jan 13 and 14, she hosted Welovechanelsg’s first solo trunk show at Kith Cafe at Millenia Walk, where the local community of bag lovers, regular customers and vintage collectors were able to preview, try on and purchase over 200 items, including purses, timepieces and accessories.
Similar pop-up events previously took place at a private residence in Orchard Road in 2018 in collaboration with local clothing brand Tria The Label, and at online marketplace Carousell’s Carouselland bazaar in 2019.
“For me, my trunk show weekend was the perfect weekend. The bag and coffee lover in me has always dreamt of and envisioned an event where vintage collectors, regardless of occupation, gender and age, gather and have conversations in a safe, non-judgmental space. It was such a thrilling way to kick off 2024.
In a way, being a full-time curator with flexible working hours allows me to have truly perfect weekends with my family and friends in the form of play dates and family gatherings.
My husband and I often take our two sons, aged four and one, to playgrounds and libraries. Indoor play areas like The Polliwogs and The Joy Of Toys at Clarke Quay Central, as well as open spaces like the one beside Millenia Walk, are our favourite hangouts on weekend mornings and, sometimes, evenings.
Some parts of the weekend are also spent at home with the boys just playing with their toys if the week has been exhausting.
At times, we head to my parents’ and in-laws’ homes for dinner. My kids also enjoy interacting with their aunts, uncles and grandparents, so I’m blessed that we have a ‘village’ looking out for them.
On some weekends, my husband and I get to hang out and have meals without the kids. We take the chance to eat all the hawker food we can, since it’s less convenient to take the stroller and set up a baby chair at hawker centres.
My favourites are the Hokkien mee at Kaki Bukit 511 Market & Food Centre and prawn noodles at Old Airport Road Food Centre. At times, we also enjoy having dinner at Dempsey Hill and then taking a long walk after to decompress, or having grilled mala fish at Ba Shu Sichuan Restaurant in Bedok Central.
Weekends also give me more me-time, which has become so scarce since the kids came along. I enjoy a good cup of coffee, some old-school Channel 8 television dramas like The Unbeatables (1993 to 2002) and The Golden Path (2007 to 2008), and old movies like Harry Potter (2001 to 2011), The Parent Trap (1998) and He’s Just Not That Into You (2009).
So, sometimes, my ideal weekend is the opposite of a trunk show weekend. When I’m not busy curating and hunting for vintage goods, I will take a chill pill.”
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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/my-perfect-weekend-with-vintage-luxury-curator-pang-yi-xian
| 2024-01-18T08:50:09Z
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SINGAPORE – Think of Cartier, and the French jeweller’s Love bracelet may be what first comes to mind. But it is, in fact, the understated Trinity line that is the brand’s true dark horse.
You might have seen it worn by others without realising what it was.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/style/an-icon-by-the-choice-of-people-cartier-marks-centennial-of-trinity-ring-with-eight-piece-collection
| 2024-01-18T08:50:19Z
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SINGAPORE - After a two-year delay, the project to farm seafood in the pristine waters off Pulau Bukom for Singapore consumers is underway.
When up and running, the farm in the Singapore’s southern waters is expected to beef up local seafood supply by up to 3,465 tonnes a year.
That is equal to about 80 per cent of locally produced seafood, based on the latest food statistics in 2022.
In a statement on Jan 18, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said operators can now bid for two lots in open sea which span 5ha each - or the size of seven football fields - to farm fish and crustaceans.
Ms Wong Sheau Fong, SFA director of food infrastructure development and management, said: “Given our limited sea space for farming, farms will need to leverage on technology, innovation to increase productivity, and adopt sustainable practices to protect themselves against adverse environmental conditions brought about by climate change.”
She added that SFA has been conducting studies and surveys, as well as working closely with the industry, nature groups and marine biodiversity academics to launch more new sea spaces for sustainable aquaculture.
In 2022, plans to launch spaces for fish farming off three islands in the southern waters of Singapore raised concerns among academics and nature enthusiasts, who said the farms could take a toll on nearby coral reefs and recreational diving spots.
An environmental impact assessment earlier commissioned by SFA identified the waters around Pulau Satumu, Pulau Jong and Pulau Bukom as likely sites for more fish farms, and were to be put up for tender from the end of 2022.
The sites were shortlisted as they lie outside existing shipping anchorages and fairways, said SFA at the time.
In response to concerns from marine scientists and conservationists, SFA put the tenders for fish farms around Pulau Satumu and Pulau Jong on hold until the completion of more studies, which were done in consultation with researchers and nature groups.
However, SFA in 2023 said it will proceed to call a tender for aquaculture activities off Pulau Bukom because the assessment had shown that other key biodiversity areas will not be affected, and the site did not have as many corals.
The area will be designated for the first closed containment aquaculture system in Singapore’s southern waters.
Such a system results in less pollution to surrounding waters and marine biodiversity as waste matter and excess fish food are not directly discharged into the sea.
SFA in its statement said the tenders are based on the recommendation from the environmental impact assessment to limit production of seafood in the area to 90 per cent of the maximum population size the area can support sustainably.
The recommendation is based on data collected from September 2020 to October 2021, the statement added.
This is also the first time that SFA is launching a tender for sea space farming, which allows businesses to extend their 20-year lease by another decade. The tender will close at 12pm on April 11. More details can be found at this website.
Said Ms Wong: “SFA has carefully considered the feedback received and will continue to work with farms, including successful tenderers in the sea space tender exercises, to transform our agri-food industry and bolster Singapore’s food security.”
Singapore aims to produce 30 per cent of its nutritional needs by 2030, with seafood being a key pillar in meeting this goal, as it is the most viable protein to be farmed by the island-state.
Based on the latest food statistics in 2022, local farms harvested 7.6 per cent of Singapore’s seafood supply.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/2-lots-for-new-seafood-farms-in-waters-off-pulau-bukom-open-for-tender
| 2024-01-18T08:50:29Z
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SINGAPORE – A man who tried but failed to rape his drunk female friend after a drinking session was sentenced to four years and six months’ jail and three strokes of the cane on Jan 18.
The 39-year-old Filipino offender, who cannot be named due to a gag order to protect the victim’s identity, pleaded guilty on Jan 15 to an attempted rape charge.
Two molestation charges involving the same woman, a Filipina, were considered during sentencing.
In earlier proceedings, the prosecution said that on April 1, 2019, the man, the victim and two other people went to 1-Altitude bar in Raffles Place, where they consumed large amounts of alcohol.
The victim became intoxicated and started throwing up.
The group left the nightspot at around 1am the next day, and the offender helped the woman to a nearby taxi stand, where they boarded the same taxi and sat in the rear.
The vehicle was travelling to the man’s home when he pulled her towards him so that she could rest her head on his shoulder.
He molested the victim, who was drifting in and out of consciousness at the time.
When they reached their destination, he took her to his apartment and helped her to a bed, resting beside her when she fell asleep.
He molested her again between 3am and 5am that day.
Deputy public prosecutors Muhamad Imaduddien and Emily Koh stated in court documents: “The victim felt weak when she woke up and tried to turn away from the accused, but the accused managed to pull down (her top).”
The man undressed the victim and tried but failed to rape her as she managed to keep her legs crossed.
Her boyfriend turned up at the unit soon after and took the woman back to her own home.
The victim later confided in her close friends.
She also sought help from advocacy organisation Association of Women for Action and Research as she was having nightmares and panic attacks following her ordeal.
The victim attended a counselling session on May 14, 2019, and lodged a police report 13 days later.
She continued attending counselling sessions until July 2019, but stopped due to her work schedule.
The offender’s bail was set at $50,000 on Jan 18. He was ordered to surrender himself at the State Courts on Feb 13 to begin serving his sentence.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/jail-caning-for-man-who-tried-but-failed-to-rape-drunk-female-friend
| 2024-01-18T08:50:40Z
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SINGAPORE - It has been more than a month since their fourth son was born, but Mr Jamie Koit and Madam Bella Luong have had the chance to hold baby Leon only once so far – when he was delivered on Dec 8.
A heart murmur was detected when paediatricians checked him at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) the next day. The parents were then informed that their newborn has a congenital heart defect.
Leon was born with pulmonary atresia – a condition in which the valve of the pulmonary artery, the main blood vessel to the lungs, is not developed and blocks essential blood flow.
Barely three weeks and two surgeries later, he suffered two strokes. One affected his peripheral vision while the other affected the right side of his body.
He is still in the neonatal intensive care unit, needing to be tube-fed, and is receiving injections of blood-thinning medication twice a day.
The routine is expected to continue for the next three months, but all his parents want is to be able to cradle him in their arms at home. He is slated to be discharged on Jan 21.
“When the doctors first told us about his condition, we just had so many questions racing through our heads,” said Mr Koit, 41, in a phone call from KKH.
“Why wasn’t this detected earlier? What’s going to happen now? What does this mean for Leon in the future?”
According to the Cleveland Clinic in the United States, pulmonary atresia occurs in about one in 100,000 live births.
The survival rate without surgery is about 50 per cent at the age of one.
In Leon’s case, he went through a surgical procedure on Dec 14 to create an opening in his pulmonary artery. But the six-hour procedure was unsuccessful, and he underwent another one five days later.
This time, a small tube, or shunt, was inserted near his heart to allow blood to flow.
Because Leon is still growing, it is only a temporary measure. When he turns 18 months old, he will need to undergo cardiac surgery.
“We were told that there’s a 5 per cent to 15 per cent chance of dying if he undergoes the surgery now; 18 months is when the risk gets lower.
“After all this, he’ll have to go for rehabilitation and physiotherapy as well because of the strokes, although it’s still too early to tell if there’ll be any effects on his development,” said Mr Koit, who works in the finance industry.
Every day is a heart-wrenching ordeal, he added.
“Having to watch your child suffer and not being able to do anything about it. It hurts as a parent.”
In the meantime, the family has set up a fund-raising campaign on Give.asia with the aim of raising $70,000 to pay for Leon’s medical procedures.
Government subsidies and MediSave have helped to offset the bulk of the bills, and the donations will be paid directly to KKH.
The campaign has already amassed more than $29,000 since it began on Jan 12. Those who wish to help defray the costs of Leon’s medical treatments can do so at give.asia/campaign/big-heart-for-baby-leon
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/month-old-baby-with-heart-defect-had-2-strokes-2-ops-parents-raising-money-for-treatment
| 2024-01-18T08:50:50Z
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SINGAPORE - The People’s Action Party’s (PAP) stance on corruption is non-negotiable and part of its DNA. There can be no compromise, relaxation, or fudging the issue; no matter the political price, said Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
“The PAP government will continue to do everything we can to uphold the highest standards of integrity, incorruptibility and propriety. That’s how we maintain the trust that Singaporeans have placed in us,” he told journalists on Jan 18.
His remarks came hours after former transport minister S. Iswaran was handed 27 charges in court – two counts of corruption, 24 counts of obtaining items from someone he had business dealings with as a public servant, and one of obstructing the course of justice.
DPM Wong said the party was “saddened and disappointed that Iswaran has to leave politics under these circumstances”, and he has no doubt that it would affect party morale.
“But we cannot allow this political hit to compromise our zero-tolerance stance against corruption.”
He added that this is why the party and Government will continue to do the right thing, and do everything they can to keep Singapore’s system corruption-free.
He said: “I believe Singaporeans expect no less from us.”
DPM Wong said the investigations into Iswaran were initiated by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) and since then, the Government has pursued the matter “decisively and proactively”.
Once CPIB completed its investigations and the public prosecutor assessed the findings independently, they decided to proceed with charges against Iswaran, said DPM Wong.
In court, Iswaran pleaded not guilty, and is now out on bail of $800,000.
When asked, DPM Wong said the case would have “no impact” on succession and the leadership transition.
He said it was announced that the PAP’s leadership transition will take place before the next general election, and before the party conference in November 2024.
“This plan remains on track,” DPM Wong said.
On how the case would affect the PAP’s plans on when to call the general election, DPM Wong said the Government’s focus is to continue and press on with its work, and redouble its efforts to improve the lives of Singaporeans.
He said: “When the general election comes, the PAP will present our report card to Singaporeans, and we’ll do our best to earn the confidence and trust of Singaporeans.”
On the Code of Conduct for Ministers, DPM Wong said that the Code, which has been in place since 1954, is “not static” and continues to be updated.
“We will continue to review and update the Code, taking into account the experiences and learnings from this incident,” he said.
DPM Wong noted that there will be many civil servants who are disappointed, shocked and saddened by what has happened, including those who have worked closely with Iswaran through the years.
He stressed that there was no whistle-blower or tip-off, and that CPIB pursued this matter on its own accord.
The bureau, he said, did a thorough investigation and left no stone unturned, before presenting its investigation to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC).
DPM Wong highlighted that the AGC has explained that it will look at the investigations against Iswaran first, before deciding whether action should be taken against others who are involved in this matter.
He hoped that civil servants will see that “what has transpired is the determination of the PAP government to keep our system free from corruption”.
“That determination is clear, and we will not compromise on our zero-tolerance stance against corruption,” he said.
“That will ensure that Singapore remains special, that will ensure that Singapore can continue to move forward with confidence in the future.”
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/pap-s-stance-on-corruption-is-non-negotiable-part-of-its-dna-dpm-lawrence-wong-on-iswaran-s-case
| 2024-01-18T08:51:00Z
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SINGAPORE – Registration for Kindergarten 1 (K1) admission in 2025 to Ministry of Education (MOE) pre-schools will begin on Feb 16 and go on till Feb 20, said the ministry on Jan 18.
Some 55 MOE kindergartens, including two new ones, will be taking part in the upcoming MOE Kindergarten Registration Exercise.
The two new MOE pre-schools – MOE Kindergarten @ Elias Park and MOE Kindergarten @ Hougang – will be opening in 2025.
The MOE kindergartens at Blangah Rise and Kranji will continue to operate in 2024, but will not be accepting new K1 cohorts in 2025 as they will be closed or relocated.
Registration is open to children of Singapore citizens and permanent residents born between Jan 2, 2020, and Jan 1, 2021, both dates inclusive.
MOE will also be introducing expanded partnership clusters between its kindergartens and Early Year Centres from 2024’s exercise. These partnerships are with PCF Sparkletots Preschool and My First Skool, which currently operate 61 Early Year Centres for children aged two months to four years.
Three more expanded partnership clusters in Ang Mo Kio, Sembawang and Jurong West will join the current two in Punggol.
Partnership clusters allow one or more centres to be partnered with multiple MOE kindergartens concurrently.
All Singapore citizen and permanent resident children enrolled in these centres by Jan 31 of their Nursery 2 year will be offered a K1 place in a partner MOE kindergarten, if they register via the Early Year Centre registration form during the registration exercise.
The MOE kindergarten-Early Year Centre model “provides a continuum of pre-school education for children aged two months to six years”, said the ministry.
It added that its kindergartens will continue to accept children who are not enrolled in Early Year Centres through open admissions to ensure that these pre-schools remain accessible to non-Centre children.
An additional expanded partnership cluster in Tampines will be implemented from the 2025 registration exercise.
MOE kindergartens to hold open houses on Feb 3 and 17
All MOE kindergartens offer the three mother tongue languages – Chinese, Malay and Tamil – to encourage bilingualism in the early years and help lay a strong foundation for language learning.
The ministry said that its kindergartens’ curriculum is “designed by curriculum specialists to nurture children holistically in an enriching learning environment, so that they are confident, possess strong social skills, have a good foundation in literacy and numeracy, and are well-prepared for Primary 1”.
Before the registration exercise, parents are invited to attend the open houses of the 55 kindergartens on Feb 3 or 17 to learn more about their programmes and facilities. There, they can learn more about each kindergarten’s curriculum, programmes, interactive learning environment and facilities, as well as speak to the educators.
The open houses will allow parents to better understand the pre-schools before registering their child in their preferred kindergarten, said MOE.
Parents can register their child for admission to an MOE kindergarten via its website (www.moe.gov.sg/mk) from Feb 16, 9am, to Feb 20, 4pm, and can also contact their preferred pre-school directly should they require assistance during the registration period.
Parents will be informed of the registration outcome by April 15.
More information on the registration exercise can be found on the MOE website.
Outside this registration period, parents can seek admission to K1 or K2 for their child by contacting their preferred kindergarten directly to check if there are vacancies.
For parents who require full-day care service for their child, Kindergarten Care services are available in all MOE kindergartens.
Children enrolled in an MOE kindergarten will enjoy priority admission to the primary school that it is located in, with MOE kindergartens working closely with their primary schools to smoothen and ease their children’s transition from kindergarten to Primary 1.
The ministry reiterated that “like all children who may be eligible for priority admissions, placement into that primary school is not guaranteed and depends on the number of applicants and vacancies in the school during the Primary 1 Registration Exercise”.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/registration-for-2025-moe-kindergarten-admission-starts-feb-16
| 2024-01-18T08:51:11Z
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SINGAPORE - Minister of National Development and West Coast GRC MP Desmond Lee has assured residents in the constituency that their needs will be looked after in the wake of former Transport Minister S. Iswaran’s resignation.
In a Facebook post on Jan 18, Mr Lee said the MPs’ focus was on serving their residents.
He added that since July 2023, he and the other West Coast MPs – Mr Ang Wei Neng, Ms Foo Mee Har and Ms Rachel Ong – and Pioneer MP Patrick Tay had stepped up to cover Iswaran’s MP duties on the ground.
“We would like to assure our residents of West Coast that we will continue to serve them, and ensure that their needs are looked after.”
Mr Lee is also the adviser to grassroots organisations in the West Coast and said these arrangements will continue.
Iswaran’s resignation was announced earlier on Jan 18 after he was handed 27 charges, including two corruption charges, following a Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) investigation.
Mr Lee expressed sadness that Iswaran had resigned as an MP for West Coast GRC under these circumstances and thanked him for his contributions to the community.
Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong noted that Iswaran was an anchor minister in West Coast GRC.
Since taking leave of absence due to the case, Mr Lee and the other MPs from the GRC have been taking care of residents in the West Coast Division, said DPM Wong when he spoke to the media after Iswaran was charged in court.
In response to whether Iswaran’s departure will affect the PAP’s stance on when to call the next general election, DPM Wong said that the timing is dependent on the leadership transition, when Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong hands over the reins of government to him.
“So as and when that happens, we will think about when the elections have to take place thereafter.”
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/west-coast-residents-needs-will-be-looked-after-desmond-lee-following-iswaran-s-resignation
| 2024-01-18T08:51:21Z
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SINGAPORE – For the first time in her life, national short track speed skater Amelia Chua spent Christmas away from home last December.
Based in Nottingham, England, for her studies and training, the 17-year-old received a ticket from her parents to fly home to Singapore for the Christmas season. But she chose to stay in England to train for the Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG).
Just a month before that, the teenager had earned a quota spot at the Jan 19-Feb 1 Gangwon Games, after the withdrawal of one of the countries from the quadrennial event.
She said: “It was tough at first because this was my first time spending Christmas away from home and my family and I had already missed out celebrating my birthday (in October) with them.
“But I’m grateful to be able to train with the UK team here and for the support from the coaches and also the families of my teammates here, so I was not completely alone during the holiday season.”
Staying put in England, where she is training and studying at the University of Nottingham International College, was key for her to prepare for the biggest competition of her career.
Back home, she is only able to train on ice for two days a week – Singapore’s only Olympic-sized ice skating rink at JCube closed last August – while gets six days in the United Kingdom.
All this extra work was worth it for Amelia, who has dreamt of competing in the Winter YOG since she was a young girl.
She started recreational figure skating with her family in 2012 but switched to short track speed skating two years later after watching the Sochi Winter Olympics on television.
Amelia said: “I liked how the races were, they were really exciting. All the overtaking, even the crashes and how fast-paced the races would be... I was very intrigued, impressed and in awe of how the skaters were skating so I really wanted to give it a shot.
“It was hard initially because it’s two different disciplines but I was more into doing the fast-paced action, it felt more comfortable to me than doing the graceful figure skating things.”
She has been hooked on the sport since. Even a crash and an injured knee a week before her first regional competition in 2016 could not stop her from skating.
In Gangwon, Amelia is aiming to progress as far as she can and she is also looking forward to meeting her fellow athletes, some of whom she met at a camp in Korea in 2023.
She said: “I’m really excited to be representing Singapore at the YOG, it’s a huge honour and I’m very proud that I’ve come this far in my sport... It’s always been my dream to represent Singapore on such a huge stage since I picked up skating in 2014.
“I’ve always dreamed of going to the Olympics and this is just a major personal milestone, it’s a step in the right direction for where I want to be in my career.”
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/from-figure-skating-to-short-track-speed-skating-singapore-s-amelia-chua-gets-her-dream-debut-at-winter-yog
| 2024-01-18T08:51:32Z
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SINGAPORE – Ryo Ong used to be terrified of cockroaches, but after a year-long stint in South Korea, the Singaporean short track speed skater can now catch them with his bare hands.
It was a skill he picked up in 2022 when he was based in Busan, where he lived in a cramped and mouldy rented room with his mother and teammates Brandon Pok and Keegen Chan.
The 17-year-old was training there in a bid to qualify for the 2024 Winter Youth Olympics Games (YOG), with his hard work paid off when he booked his ticket through his performance at the 2023 ISU World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships.
With 1,800 athletes from 79 nationscompeting in the Winter YOG, which kicks off on Jan 19, it is the biggest event of Ryo’s fledging career. So serious is the Singapore Sports School (SSP) student about the competition that he boarded a plane to South Korea on Nov 11, the same day he completed his final O-level paper.
Ryo said: “I’m feeling quite prepared because I’ve been training for over two months and I feel like I’ve gotten most of my strength for the competition.
“I’m feeling pretty excited but I’m also quite nervous because I have no idea what to expect for such a major competition, but I’m prepared for whatever is to come.”
Stepping into the rink at the Gangneung Ice Arena will be a dream come true for Ryo, who realised he wanted to pursue the sport at the elite level after enrolling in SSP.
He started short track speed skating after his mother signed him up for a trial at the JCube ice rink when he was seven. He loves racing against others at high speed as he enjoys the challenge, noting that it pushes him to improve.
His determination was what got him through the rigours of his year-long stint in Busan, where he trained twice daily from 5 to 7am and 4.30 to 8pm under former South Korean skater Lee Ho-eung – who won a silver medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics – and two other coaches.
After qualifying for the Winter YOG, it was back to the books for Ryo – he had deferred his studies for a year and spent most of 2023 in Singapore to focus on his O levels.
In the last two months, he has been strengthening his body for competition and his coach has increased his training laps to build his stamina. His training plan also involves going at higher speeds to give him the power to push himself.
Qualifying for the Winter YOG has only whetted Ryo’s appetite for more as he eyes a spot at the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand, with the ultimate goal the Winter Olympics.
For now, he is aiming for a top 10 or 20 finish at the YOG and hopes to better his personal bests in his respective events: 500m (43.161 seconds), 1,000m (1min 27.013sec) and 1,500m (2:19).
He said: “I’m looking forward to experiencing how a major competition feels like and how fast the competitors are going to be and also how well I’ll be able to do at such a competition.”
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/hardier-after-korea-stint-singapore-short-track-speed-skater-ryo-ong-game-for-winter-youth-olympic-games
| 2024-01-18T08:51:42Z
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Travis Head smashed a rapid 119 and Josh Hazlewood blew away the West Indies top order to put Australia on course for a comprehensive victory on day two of the opening test at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday.
Head's seventh test hundred, the second at his home ground, helped Australia post 283 all out for a handy lead of 95 in the low-scoring contest.
Hazlewood then produced a four-wicket burst to rock West Indies, who finished day two on a precarious 73-6, still 22 behind and with a defeat inside three days looming large.
Justin Greaves fell for 24 to the final delivery of the day leaving Joshua Da Silva on 17 at the other end.
"Feels like the seam movement is sharper than yesterday, more pace in the wicket. So yes, it's nice," Hazlewood said.
"You are always in the game even if you are hit for a four occasionally."
After Australia resumed on 59-2, West Indies made frequent inroads to stay in the contest.
Occupying the number four position after Steve Smith moved up to the top of the order, Cameron Green (14) could not impress immediately.
Shamar Joseph (5-94) dismissed Green caught behind, and fellow debutant Greaves sent back Usman Khawaja (45), who was snared in the slip.
Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey did not last long but Head counter-attacked and brought up his hundred with a driven four off spinner Gudakesh Motie before celebrating the milestone in style.
The left-hander, who hit Shamar Joseph for back-to-back sixes, went past 3,000 test runs during his knock.
Kavem Hodge took a well-judged skyer near the rope to dismiss Head, who had gone after Alzarri Joseph.
Shamar Joseph dismissed Nathan Lyon (24) to complete his five-wicket haul but world test champions Australia remained in the ascendancy when West Indies came out to bat for the second time in two days.
Hazlewood dismissed Tagenarine Chanderpaul for a duck with his first delivery and, in his next over, sent back West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite (one) with Head taking a sharp catch at short leg.
West Indies slumped to seven for three after Alick Athanaze fell for a duck, attempting a hook against Hazlewood only to glove the ball to wicketkeeper Carey.
Hazlewood did not concede a single run until his fifth over, when he struck again, this time Hodge edging him to Smith at second slip.
Replacing Hazlewood in the attack, Green dismissed Kirk McKenzie (26) in his first over to reduce West Indies to 40-5.
West Indies, who have not won a test Down Under since 1997, are without all-rounders Jason Holder and Kyle Mayers, who have opted to play in lucrative Twenty20 leagues instead. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/head-and-hazlewood-put-australia-on-course-for-victory-v-windies
| 2024-01-18T08:51:52Z
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Brandon Ingram had the third triple-double of his career and led a franchise-record 3-point performance as the host New Orleans Pelicans routed the reeling Charlotte Hornets 132-112 on Wednesday night.
Ingram finished with 28 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. He tied his career-high with seven 3-pointers on 11 attempts and the Pelicans made a franchise-record 25 on 47 attempts (53.2 percent) from beyond the arc.
New Orleans' CJ McCollum added 22 points, rookie Jordan Hawkins had 21, Trey Murphy III scored 18 and Zion Williamson had 13. Hawkins made 6 of 9 3-point tries, Murphy sank 5 of 12 and McCollum hit 4 of 9.
LaMelo Ball scored 29 points, Terry Rozier added 25, Miles Bridges had 19 and Nick Richards finished with 10 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Hornets, who lost their sixth straight game and fell for the 17th time in 18 games.
Hawks 106, Magic 104
Dejounte Murray scored 26 points and made an 18-foot jumper at the buzzer to give Atlanta a win over visiting Orlando.
Orlando's Paolo Banchero tied the game with nine seconds remaining on a 3-point basket. Atlanta opted to not call its final timeout. Murray dribbled the length of the floor and made a tough shot at the horn.
Murray was 11-for-18 from the floor with five rebounds, five assists and two steals. Young had 18 points and 12 assists for the Hawks, who won for the second straight time to conclude a 3-2 homestand. Banchero put up 26 points for the Magic, who lost for the fourth time in five games.
Lakers 127, Mavericks 110
Anthony Davis scored 28 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, D'Angelo Russell delivered 29 points and Los Angeles continued its revival with a home victory to spoil the return of Dallas' Luka Doncic.
Davis just missed out on his third career triple-double, as he handed out nine assists. LeBron James amassed 25 points, eight rebounds and eight assists as the Lakers improved to 4-2 since Jan. 7. Los Angeles had lost nine of 11 games before the current run of success.
Doncic delivered 33 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for Dallas after missing the previous three games with a sprained right ankle. The Mavericks went 2-1 in the games their All-Star missed. Dereck Lively II scored 16 points for Dallas, but Kyrie Irving was held to 12 points on 4-of-16 shooting after he averaged 39.7 points per game while Doncic was out.
Trail Blazers 105, Nets 103
Anfernee Simons drove through the lane to sink a floater with 0.2 seconds left and give host Portland a victory over Brooklyn.
Jerami Grant registered 30 points and eight rebounds and Simons scored 20 points as Portland snapped a four-game losing streak. Duop Reath added 17 points and Malcolm Brogdon had 16 as the Trail Blazers won for just the second time in nine games, with both wins coming against the Nets.
Mikal Bridges scored 21 points and Spencer Dinwiddie added 19 points and seven assists for Brooklyn, which has lost four straight games and nine of its past 10.
Celtics 117, Spurs 98
Jayson Tatum tossed in a team-high 24 points and short-handed Boston made 18 of its 38 3-point attempts en route to a victory over visiting San Antonio.
Jrue Holiday finished with 22 points and Jaylen Brown added 21 points, seven rebounds and five assists for Boston. Holiday made six of his seven shots from beyond the 3-point arc. The victory improved Boston's home record to 20-0.
Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 27 points and five rebounds in 27 minutes. He shot 10 of 19 from the field and made 2 of 6 3-point attempts. Devin Vassell scored 21 points for San Antonio, which received nine points and 11 assists from Tre Jones.
Timberwolves 124, Pistons 117
Anthony Edwards scored 27 points and dished eight assists as visiting Minnesota defeated Detroit.
Karl-Anthony Towns also scored 27 points as the Western Conference-leading Timberwolves won their third consecutive game. Minnesota's Jaden McDaniels had 23 points, while Rudy Gobert powered for 19 points and 16 rebounds. Naz Reid added nine points off the bench.
Jaden Ivey led the Pistons with a career-high-tying 32 points, and he added six assists. Bojan Bogdanovic had 20 points, and Jalen Duren supplied 16 points and 11 rebounds. Isaiah Stewart and Alec Burks put up 12 points apiece.
Cavaliers 135, Bucks 95
Georges Niang scored a career-high 33 points off the bench and Donovan Mitchell added 31 to fuel host Cleveland to a rout of Milwaukee.
Niang made 13 of 14 shots from the floor and 5 of 6 attempts from 3-point range to send the Cavaliers to their sixth straight win. Cleveland's Jarrett Allen collected 21 points and 13 rebounds.
The Bucks were without superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, who sat due to a right shoulder contusion. Milwaukee's Damian Lillard made 7 of 20 shots from the floor to finish with a team-high 17 points.
Knicks 109, Rockets 94
Jalen Brunson scored 30 points in his return from a calf injury for host New York, which pulled away in the second half to beat Houston. Brunson, who missed the previous two games, added seven assists for the Knicks, who have won seven of nine.
Julius Randle led all scorers with 31 points for the Knicks, while Josh Hart contributed 10 points and 14 rebounds off the bench.
Fred VanVleet (24 points, 12 assists) and Alperen Sengun (18 points, 10 rebounds) each recorded a double-double for the Rockets, who finished 1-5 on a six-game road trip.
Raptors 121, Heat 97
Gary Trent Jr. scored 28 points, including knocking down eight 3-pointers, to lead Toronto past visiting Miami.
RJ Barrett added 26 points for the Raptors, who ended a four-game losing streak. Scottie Barnes had 20 points and Immanuel Quickley scored 17 points. The Raptors led by as many as 37 points and never trailed in the blowout.
Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo each scored 16 points for the Heat, whose three-game winning streak ended.
--Field Level Media REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/nba-roundup-pelicans-blast-hornets-set-3-point-mark
| 2024-01-18T08:52:02Z
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MELBOURNE – World number one Iga Swiatek and men's sixth seed Alexander Zverev both fought their way back from the brink of defeat to reach the third round of the Australian Open on Thursday, a day of close shaves for top seeds at Melbourne Park.
Swiatek said she was mentally already at the airport when trailing Danielle Collins by two breaks in the third set, while Zverev was picking his flight out of Melbourne as he stood staring at defeat in four sets to qualifier Lukas Klein.
Pole Swiatek showed all the fight of a four-times Grand Slam champion as she rallied for a 6-4 3-6 6-4 victory on Rod Laver Arena, while Zverev admitted he was fortunate to prevail 7-5 3-6 4-6 7-6(5) 7-6(7) over the Slovakian world number 163.
A combination of rain interruptions and tight opening matches kept the list of "completed matches" at Melbourne Park empty until deep into the afternoon on day five of the championships.
Swiatek knew she was in for a potentially tricky contest in the opening match on Rod Laver Arena as world number 62 Collins had beaten her in the semi-finals at Melbourne Park in 2022.
The 30-year-old American, who said after the match that she would be retiring this season, came out firing after losing the opening set and Swiatek needed her best tennis to overhaul a 4-1 deficit by rattling off the last five games in the third set.
"Oh my god, honestly, I was already at the airport," said Swiatek.
"I didn't feel like I had control over this match (but) I wanted to fight till the end. I'm happy that I was solid and I just believed till the end."
Zverev admitted that Klein's iron grip on their 4-1/2-hour contest, played mostly under the roof on John Cain Arena, had him plotting his journey back to Monte Carlo.
"I was thinking there's a Qantas flight at 11 p.m. tonight straight to Dubai and then one to home," Zverev said.
"A lot of the time I was a spectator in the match. I was just witnessing whether he's going to hit a winner or miss."
Women's fifth seed Jessica Pegula bucked the trend by being unable to rally in her contest with France's Clara Burel and the American crashed out 6-4 6-2.
Casper Ruud, the men's 11th seed, was also forced to battle hard for his place in the third round as he was taken to a fifth set tiebreak by local Max Purcell before winning 6-3 6-7(5) 6-3 3-6 7-6(7).
Ruud thought his match against the unorthodox Purcell was one he might have lost before the boost of confidence he got from a fine showing at the year-opening United Cup.
"That's a typical match you could end up losing," he told reporters.
"Today I didn't have to save match point, but he was basically only three points away from winning. It might be the good start I had in United Cup that gave me some confidence to stay in the rally and play well when I had to."
The Dane will next face British 19th seed Cameron Norrie, who also needed the full five sets to beat Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri 3-6 6-7(4) 6-2 6-4 6-4. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tennis/swiatek-zverev-into-third-round-after-australian-open-scares
| 2024-01-18T08:52:13Z
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