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ASTANA – Kazakh famous singer Dimash Kudaibergen announced the upcoming premiere of the duet performance with the world-renowned Spanish opera singer Maestro Placido Domingo in his Instagram post on Jan. 18.
“Tomorrow will be the premiere of our joint performance with the greatest voice of the 20th century, maestro Placido Domingo, where we sang a duet from Georges Bizet’s 1863 opera The Pearl Fishers,” he wrote.
The performance is set for Jan. 19 in Budapest during the final of the international project Virtuosos V4+. The second part of the final is scheduled for Jan. 26. The children’s classical music competition will be streamed live on the project’s YouTube channel.
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https://astanatimes.com/2024/01/dimash-kudaibergen-to-perform-with-placido-domingo-in-budapest/
| 2024-01-19T09:29:52Z
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ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addressed Italian business people at the Kazakh-Italian roundtable in Rome on Jan. 18, witnessing the signing of four strategic documents, reported the Akorda press service.
The roundtable gathered top management from nearly 30 Italian companies.
Kazakhstan’s Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund and Balestra signed an agreement defining the terms of the implementation of a project to build a sulfuric acid plant in the Suzak district in the Turkistan Region. The capacity of the plant, which will supply sulfuric acid to the companies of the Kazatomprom national company, will be 800,000 tons per year.
Kazakhstan’s Baiterek holding signed an agreement with SACE, an Italian insurance-financial group, establishing a limit on insurance for transactions with Italian participation in investment projects in priority sectors of the economy.
The roundtable saw the signing of an agreement between Samruk Energy and Ansaldo Energia. The agreement envisions the reconstruction of Almaty’s combined heat and power plant (CHP-3) with the construction of a steam-gas unit with a capacity of up to 544 megawatts.
Another document was a memorandum of cooperation between the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs and the General Confederation of Italian Industry, commonly known as Confindustria, the Italian small, medium, and big enterprises federation.
The document is aimed at supporting Italian companies in Kazakhstan and Kazakhstan’s companies in Italy, as well as strengthening economic and trade relations between the business communities of Kazakhstan and Italy. There are now approximately 300 companies in Kazakhstan with Italian capital.
Economic growth in Kazakhstan
During the roundtable, President Tokayev, who arrived for an official visit in Rome on the evening of Jan. 17, extensively discussed the investment opportunities in Kazakhstan. He asserted that despite the geopolitical developments, the nation maintains its position as the largest and one of the fastest-growing economies in the region.
He pointed out the country’s economic growth last year was at 5.1%, nearly twice the projected global indicator.
“In the medium term, we set ourselves the strategic goal of achieving growth in the range of 6-7%, which will allow us to double the size of the economy by 2029. This requires comprehensive reforms,” said the Kazakh leader.
He told the Italian business community that besides political reforms, Kazakhstan is also committed to strengthening its market-oriented and competitive economy, which he deemed a “necessary condition for success.”
“Today, I can confidently inform you that significant and fundamental reforms will soon begin in Kazakhstan, making our economy more transparent, resilient, and dynamic. Our goal is to bring Kazakhstan’s standards, rules, and business practices to the level of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. We aim to create an investment climate that meets the highest global standards,” said Tokayev.
He assured the investors of the nation’s plan to continue implementing measures to make investing in Kazakhstan more attractive, including eliminating unnecessary requirements for businesses.
“The Investment Council has recently been established, endowed with extensive powers that will facilitate the implementation of investment projects through prompt decision-making and comprehensive government support,” added Tokayev.
Antonio Tajani, Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, expressed Italy’s keen interest in increasing exports and providing new opportunities for Italian businesses.
“Kazakhstan is a priority country for our diplomacy of growth,” he wrote in a post on X.
Oil and gas sector
According to Tokayev, the energy sector is the primary area of economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and Italy. More than 80% of Kazakhstan’s oil is exported to Europe, meeting around 10% of the European Union’s needs.
“I want to express gratitude to Italy, a long-standing and reliable energy partner of Kazakhstan,” said Tokayev, commending Eni’s activities in Kazakhstan, including in the nation’s giant Kashagan and Karachagan fields.
Eni is an Italian multinational energy company engaged in the exploration, production, refining, and marketing of oil and natural gas. It is one of the world’s major integrated energy companies, with operations in more than 60 countries across the globe.
Tokayev invited Italian companies to participate in the service maintenance of the oil and gas industry.
Renewable energy and critical raw minerals
Another area of cooperation that offers significant opportunities is renewable energy. The President emphasized that Kazakhstan became the first country in the region to ratify the Paris Agreement and undertake commitments to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.
The renewable energy potential of Kazakhstan, he noted, is estimated at one trillion kilowatts per hour.
“It has attracted the interest of major global companies such as the French Total, Saudi ACWA Power, UAE’s Masdar, and the German-Swedish Svevind Energy Group. These companies intend to implement projects to generate 43 gigawatts of renewable energy,” said Tokayev.
He is confident Italian companies can also join these companies in uncovering Kazakhstan’s renewable energy potential.
Tokayev also called on Italian businesses to collaborate in the extraction and processing of critical raw materials, another strategically important area given the technological revolution and the projected growth in global demand.
“According to the World Bank’s estimates, Kazakhstan has over 5,000 undiscovered deposits valued at over $46 trillion. Today, we already produce 19 out of the 34 types of raw materials needed for the European Union’s economy,” said Tokayev.
The deposits of another nine types of minerals, including cobalt, tungsten and lithium, can be developed with the necessary investments, he added.
The International Energy Agency estimates demand will continue to grow and will more than double by 2030. Globally, investment in critical minerals development rose by 20% in 2021 and 30% in 2022. Among the different minerals, lithium saw the biggest increase in investment, at 50%.
Transport and logistics
In its effort to become a regional hub, Kazakhstan is keen to develop the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also known as the Middle Corridor. Data from the Kazakh Transport Ministry shows in 2023, nearly 2.75 million tons of cargo were transported via the TITR, which is 64% more than in 2022.
The transit time along the TITR was reduced from 38-53 days to 18–23 days. It is planned to reduce this period to 14–18 days in 2024, including within the territory of Kazakhstan – from 6 to 5 days.
Tokayev said the route complements the Belt and Road Initiative. He also said Kazakhstan plans to connect the route with the Trans-European Transport Network, an EU-wide network of rail, inland waterways, short-sea shipping routes, and roads, and the Global Gateway.
“We also support the G7 initiative for partnership in global infrastructure and investments,” added Tokayev.
Over the past 15 years, Kazakhstan has invested over $35 billion in transportation infrastructure. In the next three years, the country plans to build over 1,300 kilometers of railways.
“This will increase the transportation of goods towards China, South Asia, and Europe. Therefore, we invite Italian investors to participate in the development of our ports, joint production of transport vessels, and the creation of logistics centers,” he said.
Tokayev stressed Kazakhstan and Italy are “more connected than ever before” with 13 international routes passing through Kazakhstan and direct flights between Almaty and Milan.
“We welcome plans to establish direct air links between Astana and Rome and Milan. This will undoubtedly contribute to the development of our economic relations and people-to-people ties, as well as promote tourism,” said Tokayev.
Agroindustry
Ample opportunities are also present in the agricultural sector, according to the Kazakh President. He mentioned Kazakhstan’s abundant resources as more than 70% of its territory is suitable for agriculture, making the country the “breadbasket of Central Asia.”
“We are among the top ten largest global producers of wheat and flour. Our agricultural products are supplied to more than 80 countries worldwide. Considering the growing food shortage globally, we aim to triple the productivity of this sector and double our exports. Kazakhstan is interested in developing cooperation with Italian partners in the cultivation of cereals and oilseeds, as well as the production of pasta, meat, and dairy products,” noted the President.
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https://astanatimes.com/2024/01/kazakh-italian-roundtable-concludes-with-1-5-billion-in-signed-deals/
| 2024-01-19T09:29:58Z
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ASTANA – The Monetary Policy Committee of Kazakhstan’s National Bank decided to reduce the base rate to 15.25% per annum from 15.75% (November, 2023), the bank’s press service reported on Jan. 19.
“Annual inflation reached single digit levels by the end of 2023. Monthly inflation in December slightly exceeded the historical average. External inflationary processes continue to develop favorably amid falling world food prices and the contractionary policies of central banks. Inflationary pressures remain in the domestic economy due to robust domestic demand, supported by fiscal stimulus, as well as elevated and unstable inflation expectations,” reads the statement.
The bank’s further decisions on the base rate will depend on whether the actual dynamics of inflation correspond to its forecast trajectory. Achieving the 5% inflation target requires maintaining moderately tight monetary conditions. The National Bank will monitor incoming economic information and, in the absence of shocks, the gradual reduction of the base rate will continue, not excluding pauses. However, the decline cycle can be long, according to the bank.
The next decision regarding the base rate will be announced on Feb. 23, at noon Astana time.
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https://astanatimes.com/2024/01/kazakh-national-bank-lowers-base-rate-to-15-25/
| 2024-01-19T09:30:05Z
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ASTANA – Kazakhstan has 15 rare earth deposits, strategically important components of electronics and clean energy technology, and eyes for closer cooperation with international partners in uncovering the ample opportunities these deposits present, Chairman of the National Geological Service Erlan Galiyev told The Astana Times.
The National Geological Service was created in 2022 with a goal to provide comprehensive service support to subsoil users.
As the world is in the midst of a transition to clean technology, demand for rare earth metals is growing. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates rare earth elements may see three to seven times higher demand in 2040 than today, depending on the choice of wind turbines and the strength of policy support.
Rare earth metals refer to a group of 17 elements in the periodic table, which include 15 lanthanides, as well as scandium and yttrium. They are used as components in high-technology devices, including smartphones, digital cameras, computer hard disks, fluorescent and light-emitting-diode (LED) lights and computer monitors. They are also used in clean energy and even defense technologies.
“In industry, rare earth metals are used both in mixed form and individually, with metal oxides predominantly employed. They are primarily used as alloying additives in various steels and alloys, getters [gas absorbers] in electronic devices, manufacturing magnetic materials and igniter mixtures, serving as catalysts, and hydrogen storage materials in the production of special types of glass, ceramics, and in nuclear technology,” said Galiyev.
The renewable energy sector also has a keen interest in ensuring stable supply chains for rare earth minerals and diversifying sources of reserves.
Deposits in Kazakhstan
Fifteen rare earth deposits registered in the state are spread across three regions of Kazakhstan: Turkistan, Kostanai, and Mangystau.
Deposits in the Turkistan Region are Budenovskoye, Akdala, Inkai, Kanzhugan, Moiynkum Central, Mynkuduk West and Central and Jamchi. In the Kostanai Region, there are Akbulak and Kundybay, and in the Mangystau Region, there are Melovoye, Taibogar, Tasmurun, Tomak and storage of technogenic mineral formations.
Data from the National Geological Service also indicates Kazakhstan possesses a raw material base of rare metals, including tungsten with 2.2 million tons of reserves, molybdenum with one million tons, lithium with 75,600 tons, tantalum with 4,600 tons, niobium with 28,100 tons, beryllium with 58,000 tons, among others.
Rare metals is a broader category that includes elements that are rare in the Earth’s crust or have limited commercial uses. It encompasses a variety of elements, some of which may not be classified as rare earth metals.
Despite their name, rare earths are not particularly scarce. What makes them rare is that they are hardly found in concentrations and quantities significant enough to justify their commercial extraction.
In terms of rare metals, Kazakhstan boasts six lithium oxide deposits. However, Galiyev noted that the prospects for the development of these deposits are not high due to the absence of efficient processing technologies and the low profitability of development.
There are also two deposits of cupriferous sandstones containing osmium oxide in Zhezkazgan and Itauz in the Karagandy Region.
“At these deposits, the by-product extraction of copper-containing ores with osmium is conducted by Kazakhmys. The production of osmium-187 is managed by the Zhezkazganredmet state enterprise,” he said.
Besides this, the nation also has 17 deposits of tantalum-containing ores, including 13 deposits with associated niobium. Nearly 80% of the reserves are deposits of rare-metal pegmatites in eastern Kazakhstan and the Sarymbet deposit in northern Kazakhstan.
Strategic importance
In his address to the nation in September 2023, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said developing deposits of rare and rare-earth metals should be a priority task. He described these metals as a “new oil.”
“Countries that succeed in this area will set the course for technological progress worldwide,” he said back then.
Kazakh expert in geology and subsoil use Bakyt Muratov said rare and rare-earth metals are the “vitamins of metallurgical production.”
Muratov also sees a sharp increase in global demand for rare and rare-earth metals in recent years. High-quality low-alloy niobium and rare-earth steels are important for the transport engineering sector, oil and gas extraction industries, and the associated pipeline systems worldwide.
“For instance, it is not a secret among specialists and scientists that each ton of niobium introduced into low-carbon steels for transportation and construction products allows for saving 200-300 tons of steel and reducing the weight of the structure by 30-40%. Moreover, the service life of the corresponding products increases by 1.5-2 times,” he told The Astana Times.
However, Muratov acknowledges that the production of rare metals, rare earths, and their compounds in Kazakhstan can be characterized as not living up to their potential. He said there has been a “three-decade stagnation.”
He said Kazakhstan needs to focus on the development of geology, exploration of ore deposits and prospective areas, new technologies for the extraction and enrichment of rare and rare-earth metals, research and development, as well as the training of professionals.
Geopolitical factor in rare earth metals
According to Washington-based Benchmark Minerals Intelligence, China is the world’s top miner and processor of rare earths. China is projected to be around 71% in mined praseodymium-neodymium (PrND) and 86% in PrNd oxides in 2023, according to Benchmark data.
China’s role in shaping global prices for rare earths and supply chains is undeniable. As an example, it announced a ban in December that covers critical technologies for extracting and separating rare earths, as well as for producing specific types of magnets, further consolidating China’s position as a virtual monopoly.
Countries worldwide, especially those highly dependent on these minerals, including the European Union, have a vested interest in securing additional sources of rare earths to reduce reliance on China.
In a policy brief released in June 2022, the Caspian Policy Center explains this move doesn’t stem from geopolitical reasons only, but also to avoid supply disruptions that came with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Seeking partnerships in resource-rich Central Asia could be a unique opportunity for the United States and others to attain new sources for rare earth minerals and thereby improve their economic and national security. For countries in the region, rare earth elements extraction represents an important commercial opportunity,” write the center’s analysts.
But for that commercial opportunity to become a reality, it will require “important changes in policies, thinking, and ways of doing business.”
“Good geology alone is not enough,” reads the report.
Cooperation with international partners
The topic of rare earth metals has become more prominent in discussions between Kazakh officials and their foreign partners. As the demand for rare metals is expected to grow in the coming years, officials assert Kazakhstan can meet this demand.
At the Kazakh-German Business Forum in June, Kazakhstan’s Creada Corporation and Germany’s HMS Bergbau agreed on investments and the development of a project for the exploration, extraction, and processing of complex rare metal ores in eastern Kazakhstan. The planned project will cost $200 million.
Rare earths, and more broadly critical raw minerals, are also on the agenda in the cooperation between Kazakhstan and the EU. The EU relies on China to meet 98% of its needs of supply and refining of rare earths, as well as manufacturing of permanent magnets.
Facilitating these discussions was a strategic partnership agreement in raw materials, batteries and renewable energy signed by Kazakhstan and the EU in November 2022.
“To diversify sources of critical raw materials, countries in need of rare metals and rare earth metals established cooperation with producer countries, including Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan has gained widespread recognition by forming partnerships with the EU, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and Korea,” said Galiyev.
This collaboration, he noted, aims to attract investments in the exploration of deposits and technogenic mineral formations, transfer technologies for comprehensive processing of hard-to-extract ores and develop the production of products of rare earths and rare metals.
Expanding geological exploration
These efforts are part of the nation’s broader efforts to expand geological exploration. It also stems from President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s directive to increase the area of geological and geophysical exploration to at least 2.2 million square kilometers by 2026.
Galiyev stressed that the early stages of geological exploration activities are underway to attract private investments in subsoil use. These include in-depth studies of areas, geological and hydrogeological surveys, geological-mineralogical and deep geological mapping at 1:200,000 scale, as well as prospecting and thematic work.
The total coverage of the country’s geological and geophysical exploration is expected to reach 2.01 million square kilometers in 2024, 2.038 million square kilometers in 2025, and 2.21 million square kilometers in 2026.
According to Muratov, the transition to a digital format, the creation of a national geological database, is a “matter of time, financial, and staff resources.”
“Well-known large corporations in the country are currently digitizing historical materials. The question of transferring these materials to the state remains open as of today,” he added.
He went on to assert that Kazakhstan needs a separate ministry of geology and subsoil protection, a comprehensive reform to get rid of unscrupulous investors and develop a long-term state funding program for scientific research on rare and rare-earth metals.
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https://astanatimes.com/2024/01/kazakhstan-boasts-15-rare-earth-deposits-eyes-for-deeper-exploration/
| 2024-01-19T09:30:11Z
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ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Italian President of the Council of Ministers Giorgia Meloni underscored mutual desire to promote peace, security and stability at both global and regional levels and continue to diversify and deepen ties in all areas of mutual interest in a joint statement published on Jan. 18, the Akorda press service reported.
The sides reaffirmed full respect for the United Nations Charter as the common framework for coexistence and cooperation and willingness to foster dialogue on international migration.
Tokayev and Meloni expressed satisfaction with the countries’ diplomatic relations, which “have transformed into a strong partnership based on mutual trust, shared values, and effective cooperation.”
“Kazakhstan is Italy’s main economic partner in Central Asia, and Italy is Kazakhstan’s largest trading partner in the European Union and one of the leading investors in the Kazakh economy,” the statement reads.
The joint statement emphasized the high prospects for development of trade and investment ties, building on the document signed by the Deputy Prime Ministers and Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan and Italy last year in Astana.
“The key areas of cooperation are energy, exploration and extraction of natural resources, green economy, construction, infrastructure, transport and logistics, agriculture, scientific and technological activities, and consulting services,” reads the joint statement.
Underlining the importance of deepening mutually beneficial cooperation, Tokayev and Meloni welcomed the establishment of the Business Council.
In their statement, both leaders noted the importance of the negotiation of an agreement between the countries’ governments on encouragement and mutual protection of investments that will contribute to the improvement of the investment climate and development of mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation between the countries.
Higher education and culture were also addressed in the joint statement. Tokayev and Meloni noted the importance of expanding cooperation between Kazakh and Italian universities, prioritizing science and technology. The sides welcomed the official opening of the Italian Cultural Centre in Almaty on Nov. 30 last year, the first in Central Asia that “was another step towards the rapprochement of the two peoples and the strengthening of cultural ties.”
The joint statement also outlined that the participation of Kazakhstan in the 60th International Biennale of Contemporary Art in Venice will promote the culture and art of Kazakhstan both in Italy and abroad.
Tokayev and Meloni expressed readiness of the two countries to continue close cooperation within the framework of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Kazakhstan and the European Union and its member states signed in 2015 and in full force since 2020.
Pledging support for major transport and connectivity initiatives in Central Asia, particularly those related to the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), or the so called Middle Corridor, the parties also expressed support for the implementation of the European Union’s Global Gateway project.
Reaffirming the mutual aspiration to create a solid and promising basis for cooperation between the EU and Central Asia, as well as to strengthen regional dialogue in Central Asia, Tokayev and Meloni noted the importance of holding the Central Asia + Italy format meeting in Rome this year and in Kazakhstan in 2025.
As part of promoting the climate agenda, Meloni expressed appreciation of Kazakhstan’s relevant initiatives, taking note of the proposal to establish the Project Office of Central Asian Countries on environmental protection and climate change in Almaty and hold the Regional Climate Summit under the auspices of the UN in 2026 in Kazakhstan.
President Tokayev wished Meloni success in Italy’s G7 presidency and invited her to pay a visit to Kazakhstan.
Italy is a leading trading partner for Kazakhstan in Europe and is among the largest investors in the Kazakh economy. Trade turnover between the countries reached nearly $15 billion in 2022. The volume of foreign direct investment (FDI) from Italy to Kazakhstan totaled $7.3 billion. Today, more than 300 Italian companies operate in Kazakhstan, including large investors such as ENI, SDF Group, PetroValves, Maire Tecnimont, IVECO, Tenaris and others.
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https://astanatimes.com/2024/01/tokayev-meloni-pledge-to-diversify-and-deepen-ties/
| 2024-01-19T09:30:18Z
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It was only a matter of time before little Lyra was introduced to the world of Strictly Come Dancing and on Thursday Janette Manrara was gushing when her little one paid a very special visit.
The mother-of-one is currently in rehearsals for the Strictly Come Dancing live tour and couldn't resist bringing her six-month-old to come down and show her the glittering set.
Taking to her Instagram account, Janette shared a heartfelt photo and a video showing Lyra being introduced to the stage - and was even dubbed: "The star of the show" in the comments.
Captioning the photo, the It Takes Two host penned: "Such a beautiful moment having Lyra [rose emoji] and @aljazskorjanec come to visit and get on stage w/ me. I was pregnant w/ her all of the @strictlycomedancinglive last year, so it was quite a full-circle moment to have her on stage.
"I miss them both, but so thrilled to show her one day how much mami loved doing what she did and how wonderful it is to bring so much joy to those who come watch. Feeling very blessed."
The featured image was a sweet family photo of both Janette and her husband, Aljaz Skorjanec holding their little one under blue stage lights. Aljaz even held up his daughter's hand in a dancer-esque pose.
Next in the post was an adorable video of Janette carrying her little girl on stage. Lyra looked adorable, donning a cream love-heart-adorned tracksuit, matching cream bow, and white shoes.
Janette can be heard in the clip saying: "This is where mummy works, this is mummy's job."
Friends and fans went wild for the adorable update in the comments section. The first read: "Lyra: The true star of the show!" alongside a heart-eye emoji. Janette replied: "She is! [white love heart emoji]".
A second penned: "Adorable [red love heart emoji] what a lovely little family you have and how joyous it is to see Aljaz in his element as a dad [red love heart emoji]."
"The next Strictly star with Miss Lyra," wrote a third. One fan even requested Janette bring her out on stage, replying with: "You'll have to bring her out on stage in Liverpool on Tuesday 30th January xx."
Lyra and Aljaz have since returned home to Cheshire whilst Janette and her fellow castmates enter their technical rehearsals which have notoriously long hours. However, they did accompany Janette for her first few days of rehearsals.
The couple welcomed Lyra in July last year and revealed that they were preparing to start their IVF journey and naturally fell pregnant with their first child.
Aljaz exclusively told HELLO!: "We were preparing for IVF mentally and physically and then it was just a relief to finally have that positive test. I have so much respect for any parent that goes through IVF, not just for what it puts them through physically but mentally too."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/511632/janette-manrara-daughter-lyra-special-strictly-visit/
| 2024-01-19T09:48:49Z
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Ben Shephard has bid farewell to his "wonderful" Good Morning Britain colleague, Nick Rylance, who is the head of film at ITV Studios.
Taking to his Instagram Stories on Thursday, the 49-year-old shared his good luck wishes to Nick, who previously worked as a film producer for ITV Daytime and is leaving the network for PR & Social Media agency, Organic.
Sharing a selfie from Nick's leaving party which shows the presenter and his co-star Susanna Reid posing alongside Nick, Ben penned: "Fond farewell to our wonderful film guru @nickrylance."
In another photo, which featured Lorraine Kelly, Ben continued: "Lovely morning, lots of smiles and memories. Good luck Nick, we'll miss you!"
Lorraine also shared a sweet tribute to Nick on social media. Posting a photo of the pair at Nick's leaving-do, the Scottish star penned: "A lovely send-off for our @nickrylance - the best in the biz. Worked with him for over 20 years interviewing more stars than there are in heaven. A beautiful speech by our @vejk100 - we will miss you lovely Nick! Good luck with your new adventure #friendship #love."
Responding to the heartfelt post, Nick wrote in the comments section: "It's all been so overwhelming, I have enjoyed today so much. Thank you for being you and thank you @vejk100 for that deeply moving and entertaining speech. Love you loads."
Ben's leaving message comes just a week after the journalist paid tribute to his co-star Kate Garraway's late husband Derek Draper, who passed away earlier this month at the age of 56.
Derek's death came after several serious health complications inflicted by coronavirus. The former political adviser had been critically ill following a heart attack in early December.
Taking to Instagram with a photo of Derek and Kate, which saw the doting husband planting a kiss on his wife's cheek, Ben wrote in the caption: "On what has been the saddest of days @kategarraway I've been reminding myself of the wonderful times and memories we have all shared together. This is how I'll always think of Derek - bringing you so much joy, your smile says it all, the size of which is matched only by his love for you, Darcey and Bill. Sending all our love Kate to you and all the family."
He added: "Also thank you to everyone who has reached out to me, I promise I will pass on your messages, I know they will bring Kate so much comfort as they have for the last few years."
After Derek's death, Kate shared a message with Good Morning Britain viewers which was read aloud by Susanna on the programme. See what she had to say in the video below.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/511633/ben-shephard-bids-farewell-good-morning-britain-colleague/
| 2024-01-19T09:48:55Z
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Welcome back to a very special episode of A Right Royal Podcast where we were lucky enough to sit down with the man of the hour, royal expert and journalist Robert Hardman, who has been making headlines with some of the revelations in his new book, Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story.
Listen to the latest episode of the podcast here:
Robert was given an unprecedented amount of access to King Charles over his first year of ruling, and shares many fascinating tales from behind the curtain in his new book - many of which have become huge talking points, including why the late Queen was left unhappy after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle named their daughter Lilibet, and the details surrounding Queen Elizabeth II’s death.
In A Right Royal Podcast, Robert gives plenty of clarity about the hot topics aforementioned, as well as why some of the royals weren’t at the Queen’s bedside when she passed away - and the heartbreaking way that Charles found out that his mother had very sadly died.
Join the podcast’s hosts, Andrea Caamano and Emmy Griffiths, as they dive into the details of the new account alongside HELLO!’s Royal Editor Emily Nash, who shares her own insight into the King’s first year being on the throne.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/511577/a-right-royal-podcast-the-truth-about-the-queens-reaction-to-lilibets-name/
| 2024-01-19T09:49:02Z
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Ellie Leach looked like a golden goddess for her reunion alongside professional partner and fellow 2023 champion Vito Coppola this week as they geared up for the start of the Strictly Come Dancing live tour. The winners of the series looked elated to be back in each other's arms as they posed for official photographs at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham ahead of the first live show on Friday.
In true Strictly style, Ellie's dress was drenched in glitter and sparkle with a patterned bodice and slim straps. The skirt, meanwhile, had a triangular hem and featured delicate hanging sequins. The bodice also had a flattering gold belt around the middle, cinching the silhouette beautifully.
Vito was no less sparkling, of course. The Italian professional dancer donned a gold-flecked black ballroom shirt buttoned up to the neck, paired with smart trousers and shoes.
The pair won the show back in early December, beating out competition from Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin and Bobby Brazer and Dianne Buswell and, although they've been enjoying some much-needed downtime following the 15-week run of the BBC Latin and Ballroom show, in recent days they have been working solidly in the studio in preparation for the tour.
Speaking to HELLO! exclusively during their rehearsals for the tour, the soap actress explained how Strictly had changed her for the better.
Ellie, 22, said: "I'm not scared any more. Pushing myself out of my comfort zone has done me the world of good. I'm really proud of myself for that. "My mum likes to use the word 'blossomed'. They can see I've become a more positive person."
But in addition to their incredible dance routines and chemistry on the dancefloor, the pair have made headlines for their chemistry away from the ballroom.
Vito addressed this speculation in a press conference with HELLO! and other reporters, stating they ignore the rumours: "We are in the rehearsals all day, we have so many things to think about, choreography.
"We have to have the time to eat, we nap a little bit, then we go home and we eat and sleep because we rehearse again so we really are so focused. All of this beautiful experience, words cannot describe how we are enjoying every single rehearsal, every single second of this amazing experience."
MORE: Strictly's Nadiya Bychkova wows in gorgeous dress to announce exciting new role
Wha'ts more, appearing on This Morning earlier this month, Ellie and Vito denied they were anything more than great friends. "We have a great, great relationship," the professional dancer revealed whilst putting his arm around his dance partner.
"We made a promise…" he continued, before Ellie then interjected: "Weeks ago, we said, if we make it to the final, 'Why don't we get a tattoo? But it was just a joke, we didn't expect to get there."
Vito added: "Then we made it to the final, and thought we now have to keep the promise. In the end we decided to do a bee with the body of an aubergine because a bee is a Brazilian insect. But that is a symbol of our bond."
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Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie braved the snow in Switzerland this week, attending a conference in Davos designed to raise awareness about modern slavery and how to tackle the issue.
Princess Eugenie has championed awareness of the issue repeatedly, even hosting a podcast on the topic and co-founding the Anti-Slavery Collective. Ever supportive, her older sister travelled to be by her side as she made a speech.
During the event, both royals rocked boho-inspired looks, with Eugenie donning a tapestry-style tunic with intricated floral embroidery. Princess Beatrice eschewed her usual sophisticated black attire for a more laidback look, wearing an oatmeal-coloured coat atop a shirt adorned with gold buttons, keeping the Swiss chill off. She was also clutching a coat with a faux fur trimmed hood – two coats is better than one, after all!
Princess Eugenie added a chic black coat to her outfit, as she posed among the snowy pines outdoors at the end, smiling alongside the former UK prime minister Theresa May, who namechecked the royal for her hard work.
"Delighted to speak alongside @the_anti_slavery_collective @princesseugenie Jose Manuel Barroso & John Schultz @hpe on how to tackle this great human rights issue of our time."
According to The Guardian, Eugenie's speech read: "Guns and drugs can be only trafficked once but human beings are trafficked again and again and again. For them it happens every day and minute."
It's been a busy few weeks for Eugenie, who enjoyed a post-Christmas family break in Jamaica with her husband, Jack Brooksbank, and their sons, August, who is three next month, and eight-month-old Ernest.
Things are set to get even busier for Princess Eugenie and Beatrice given that Princess Kate and King Charles are both currently off work due to health reasons. While the York sisters are not working royals, they could step in now that numbers are dwindling!
There have been suggestions from royal watchers for Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie to become full-time working royals. However the York sisters both have full-time careers since graduating from university.
The King's slimmed-down monarchy only has four working royals under the age of 65, the Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh – and with Princess Kate unable to work until Easter, her absence will surely be felt.
In the event a monarch cannot undertake their duties as sovereign on a temporary basis due to illness, two or more Counsellors of State are appointed to act in their place. Usually the duty would fall to William in the first instance.
Buckingham Palace has said, however, that it did not anticipate Counsellors of State being necessary when the King is treated in hospital for an enlarged, benign prostate next week.
Royally obsessed? Listen to the latest episode of HELLO!'s Right Royal podcast here...
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Iran said on Friday that it successfully carried out an air defence drill using drones designed to intercept hostile targets in an area stretching from its southwestern to southeastern coasts, amid heightened tensions in the region.
On Thursday Pakistan launched air strikes against what it said were separatist militants inside Iran in a retaliatory attack two days after Tehran said it struck the bases of another group within Pakistani territory.
The tit-for-tat strikes were the highest-profile cross-border intrusions in recent years and have raised alarm over wider instability in the Middle East since the war between Israel and Hamas erupted on Oct. 7.
“Iranian forces have successfully launched a new air defence method that uses drones to intercept and target hostile targets,” state-run Press TV quoted an Iranian army spokesman as saying.
The two-day drills, which began on Thursday, cover an area from Abadan in southwestern Khuzestan province to Chahbahar in southeastern Sistan and Baluchistan province that borders Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Press TV said the army’s air force and navy, the aerospace force and the navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) participated in the exercises.
Iran and Pakistan have a history of rocky relations but both have signalled a desire to cool tensions in the wake of this week's strikes.
Against the backdrop of the war in Gaza, Iran and its militia allies around the Middle East have been carrying out attacks on Israeli and U.S. targets in the region in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Iran has also launched strikes on Syria against what it said were Islamic State sites, and Iraq, where it said it had struck an Israeli espionage centre. REUTERS
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| 2024-01-19T10:59:19Z
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MANILA - The Philippines and Canada signed a memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation on Friday, a move which Manila's defence minister said could later lead to a troop pact between the two countries.
"I'm glad to hear that there is a strong intention on both sides to deepen and strengthen the relationships by forging new milestones in our defence relations to culminate, perhaps, with the Visiting Forces Agreement," Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said in a statement.
Teodoro didn't say what form or shape a possible VFA with Canada will take, but an existing VFA that the Philippines has with the United States allows the rotation of thousands of American troops in and out of the Philippines for war drills and exercises.
The memorandum, the defence ministry said, would jumpstart cooperation between the defence and military establishments of both countries on military education, training exchanges, information sharing, peacekeeping operations and disaster response.
"The strongest assets we have are the mutual trust and confidence that we have in one another...and because we are dealing with each other in a straightforward, open, and on a rules-based manner, such trust is reinforced and will surpass political changes and the tests of time," Teodoro added.
Canada has supported the Philippines in the face of China's increased assertiveness in the South China Sea, backing a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration that said China's South China Sea claims had no legal basis. China rejects that finding.
The signing of the memorandum followed the signing in October of an arrangement between the Philippines and Canada for the use of Ottawa's Dark Vessel Detection (DVD) system to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing by vessels that have switched off their location transmitters to evade detection.
The DVD system will also enhance the Philippines' maritime domain awareness over its territorial waters and exclusive economic zones, where it has had a series of maritime confrontations with China. REUTERS
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GUWAHATI - Nearly 300 Myanmar soldiers crossed the border into India to flee an advance by armed insurgents fighting the country’s junta, an Indian paramilitary officer told AFP on Jan 19.
Clashes have rocked parts of Myanmar near the Indian border since the Arakan Army (AA) attacked security forces in November 2023, ending a ceasefire that had largely held since a 2021 military coup.
This week, the group said it had taken over the major town of Paletwa and six military bases along the border of India’s Mizoram state, where the soldiers had crossed on Jan 17.
A total of 276 troops carrying their arms and ammunition arrived at Bondukbangsora village, an officer from the Assam Rifles paramilitary force, who declined to give a name, told AFP.
“We have given them shelter at our camp,” he said, adding that the arriving soldiers were “given all the support they require”.
The officer said that his unit was collecting biometric data from the soldiers and had sought approval from the defence ministry in New Delhi to return them to Myanmar.
Hundreds of other Myanmar troops have fled to India to escape fighting since the ceasefire ended in November 2023, according to local media reports.
Two Myanmar military aircraft arrived in Aizawl, the Mizoram state capital, to collect and repatriate soldiers who retreated from the conflict.
In October 2023, an alliance of the AA and two other ethnic minority armed groups launched a joint offensive across Myanmar’s northern Shan state, capturing towns and seizing vital trade hubs on the China border.
Last week, the alliance announced a China-mediated ceasefire in Shan state after months of conflict that posed the biggest threat to the junta since it seized power.
The agreement does not apply to areas near the Indian border where fighting between the military and insurgents has raged on. AFP
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BANGKOK - A Thai court on Jan 19 ordered the government to come up with an urgent plan to curb air pollution within 90 days, as the kingdom braces for its annual peak of noxious haze.
Air quality plummets in Thailand in the early months of the year, as smoke from farmers burning stubble adds to industrial emissions and vehicle exhaust fumes.
Bangkok and the northern city of Chiang Mai ranked among the world’s most polluted cities on some days in 2023, prompting a group of people to bring a legal case to get the government to act.
The Chiang Mai administrative court on Jan 19 ordered the National Environmental Commission to present “preventive methods to solve pollution both short and long term” within 90 days.
The court ruled that the previous government of then Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, accused by the claimants of “neglecting his duty”, had not moved quickly enough to tackle pollution.
“After consideration, the defendants neglected their duties and acted too slowly,” the court ruling said.
The government of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, which took over in August, has promised to tackle air pollution as a “national agenda”.
A draft Clean Air Act endorsed by Mr Srettha’s Cabinet, aimed at tackling the problem, passed its first reading in Parliament on Wednesday.
Early on Jan 19, Bangkok was 10th in the list of cities with the worst air quality around the world, according to air pollution monitoring firm IQAir. AFP
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| 2024-01-19T10:59:51Z
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BANGKOK – Thailand has discovered nearly 15 million tonnes of lithium deposits, a government spokesman said on Jan 19, a boost for the kingdom’s goal of becoming a regional hub for electric vehicle production.
The find means Thailand has the third-largest lithium resources, behind Bolivia and Argentina, but it is not yet clear how much can be exploited commercially.
The 14.8 million tonnes of lithium are distributed between two separate sites in the southern province of Phang Nga, government deputy spokeswoman Rudklao Intawong Suwankiri told The Nation television station.
“We are trying to find out how much can we use from the resources we found. It takes time,” Ms Rudklao told The Nation.
Lithium is a key component in the manufacture of batteries used in electric cars, as well as smartphones and other electronics.
The government of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, which took over in August, has made it a priority to try to boost Thailand as a regional production hub for electric vehicles, building on the kingdom’s history of assembling conventional cars.
During the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Mr Srettha met industry leaders, including the deputy chairman of Bosch, to urge him to invest in EV production in Thailand.
“It’s good news. It’s an opportunity for Thailand to become self-reliant in the production of EV batteries,” Ms Rudklao said of the lithium discovery.
In December 2023, two Chinese EV giants said they would invest 2.3 billion baht (S$87 million) to develop Thailand as a production hub. REUTERS
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SHANGHAI/SINGAPORE - In the face of intense pressure from authorities to help revive a sickly stock market, Chinese fund management companies are increasingly launching equity funds that are bankrolled mostly by the firm’s own money.
China’s securities regulator has been nudging fund managers to prioritise the launch of equity products as authorities scramble to revive a stock market plumbing five-year lows.
In recent informal guidance, the regulator told some fund managers they needed to launch at least four equity funds before they open any new bond fund, in hopes of propping up the stock market in a way that some analysts think is unlikely to succeed.
Torn between the regulator’s guidance and investors’ apathy towards equities in an ailing economy, mutual fund companies are increasingly setting up so-called “sponsored funds”.
Under Chinese regulation, fund management companies can kick off sponsored funds with just 10 million yuan (S$1.89 million) of seed money that must remain in the fund for three years.
That compares to the normal requirement for new funds to have at least 200 million yuan of assets and 200 investors before the launch.
“Fund performance is ugly and clients are suffering from losses, so money managers have to take money out of their own pockets,” said hedge fund manager Zhang Kaihua. “What else can they do?“
The number of sponsored equity funds and balanced funds that invest in both stocks and bonds jumped nearly 40 per cent to 122 last year, according to fund consultancy Z-Ben Advisors.
Despite the burst of such funds, China’s blue-chip index has extended its decline in the new year, casting doubts over the effectiveness of the raft of policy measures regulators have announced since the middle of last year.
The impasse in markets has seen Chinese funds perish as rapidly as they are born. A total of 148 equity and balanced funds were forced to liquidate in 2023 because of being too small to be viable, the most in five years.
Fund managers are under pressure to launch equity funds, but “in such a environment, you can hardly raise money,” said a Shanghai-based portfolio manager who is preparing to launch a sponsored fund.
“You have no choice but to invest with your own money first,” said the fund manager, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The anaemic fund-raising by funds and a sliding stock market feed each other “in a vicious cycle that dents long-term investor confidence,” said UBS Securities China equity strategist Lei Meng.
Sponsored funds, which charge the usual management fees, will be wound up after three years if they do not have a required 200 million yuan in assets.
Top managers of sponsored funds include China Asset Management Co, E Fund Management Co, China Southern Asset Management Co and Fullgoal Fund Management, according to Z-Ben Advisors.
Wanjia Asset Management Co this month set up a 10 million yuan fund that invests in pharmaceutical stocks, almost entirely with its own money, a regulatory filing showed.
In December, Galaxy Asset Management set up a new materials equity fund after securing only four subscribers, according to a filing. Galaxy ended up contributing 10 million yuan, or 98.9 per cent of the fund assets.
China Southern Asset Management declined to comment. Wanjia, Galaxy and the other named managers of sponsored funds did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
Bond funds are more popular with investors, but regulators have slowed vetting applications for fixed income products, instead speeding up the approval for equity funds.
“Once you get green light to launch an equity fund, you don’t want to waste it,” said another fund manager who also declined to be identified. “It’s also a condition to launch bond funds.”
Another reason behind the burst of sponsored funds is a hope among money managers that investors disappointed with the performance of existing funds will look for fresh opportunities, and hence a new lease of life for their business.
“Investors have been losing money in existing funds, triggering heavy redemptions and fund liquidation,” said hedge fund manager Zhang. “With new funds, portfolio managers can start afresh.” REUTERS
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SINGAPORE – Artificial Intelligence (AI) can boost a firm’s e-commerce capabilities but bosses and industry experts warn that challenges remain.
Their concerns around cost, biases, security and privacy highlight the need for companies to carefully weigh the pros and cons of adopting AI within their e-commerce applications.
SGInnovate executive director of investments Tong Hsien Hui noted that AI can be used within multiple applications within e-commerce, such as using machine learning to optimise inventory control and drive recommendation engines. Large-language models could also run chatbots to improve customer experience.
“Given the competitiveness of the e-commerce market, retailers will likely welcome or at least seriously consider any solutions that can improve their margins, especially in price-sensitive sectors such as fast-moving consumer goods,” Mr Tong noted.
“In such sectors, as one organisation successfully finds ways to optimise their costs through the use of AI tools, others will be forced to play catch up or seek other solutions that help them achieve similar improvements in order to maintain competitiveness.”
However, Mr Tong pointed out that there are limitations associated with AI tools that firms will need to understand as they seek to implement them in their business.
For example, companies with e-commerce capabilities may seek to improve customer targeting and product recommendations by using large-data models, but they will also need to balance these benefits against the risk of increasing bias in their datasets.
“Organisations that intend to harness AI heavily in their operations will need to take into account the long-term costs of maintaining a team that can continuously upgrade or maintain the tools and platforms required to extract value from their data models,” said Mr Tong.
Mr Aaron Tan, co-founder and chief executive of Carro, a unicorn start-up dealing with used cars, said AI can help to determine pricing more intelligently and detect any anomalies in the vehicles it sells. The company has been using AI since its incorporation in 2015.
“AI helps reduce inventory ageing and improve overall operational efficiency across all functions… With the help of AI and technology, the same salesman can be two to three times more productive,” added Mr Tan.
However, he pointed out that AI presents its own set of challenges, including high computing costs and the expense associated with hiring developers to work on AI models, noting: “Unless the business is at scale, it’s hard to cover the cost for AI.”
A recent survey by customer relationship platform Salesforce found that 80 per cent of companies in Singapore with e-commerce capabilities, such as retail and automotive firms, are already using AI in some shape or form.
It also noted that 42 per cent have already implemented the technology, while 38 per cent are still experimenting. An additional 20 per cent are still evaluating if and how AI can fit into their operations.
The survey also found that only a small percentage of customers globally fully trust companies to responsibly use their data and employ AI ethically.
Salesforce Asean senior vice president and general manager Sujith Abraham noted that AI can help companies become more customer-centric by improving product discovery, personalisation and brand loyalty.
“Our customers in the region are saying that their sales are improving through AI-powered product recommendations and enhancements in the overall customer experience,” said Mr Abraham.
“However, security and trust are top concerns when it comes to AI. Businesses will need to tap on trusted technology with built-in ethical and responsible guidelines to gain trust from consumers and shareholders.”
Statista data notes that Singapore has one of the world’s fast-growing ecommerce industries with a projected revenue growth of US$3.5 billion between 2023 and 2028. The country’s AI market is projected to reach US$10.39 billion by 2030.
Singapore proposed a new governance framework for generative artificial intelligence on Jan 16 and is now seeking international feedback.
The initiative – termed the Model AI Governance Framework for Generative AI – was developed by the AI Verify Foundation and Infocomm Media Development Authority, and builds on an existing framework from 2019 that covers only traditional AI. It is expected to be finalised in mid-2024.
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More than a year after breaking up with her fiance and fellow K-pop star Dawn, South Korean singer Hyuna may have found a new love.
The 31-year-old shared on social media on Jan 18 a photo of the back view of a man and a woman holding hands, as she wrote in Korean, “Please look at us kindly”, and included the emoji of a couple with a heart.
She tagged South Korean singer Junhyung, 34, in the post, as he shared the same photo on social media without any caption.
The duo appeared to be admitting they were dating, although some fans wondered if they were promoting a collaboration.
Hyuna’s agency At Area and Junhyung’s agency Black Made added to the mystery when they issued a statement separately on Jan 19. At Area said it was not involved in its artistes’ private matters, while Black Made said it was unable to confirm the matter.
Netizens suspected that Hyuna and Junhyung, who were former label mates at agency Cube Entertainment, may have begun dating as early as November 2023. Online sleuths discovered a photo showing their signatures posted on the Instagram page of Seumikatsu on Nov 9, with the owner thanking the two idols for visiting the restaurant in Seoul, South Korea.
Hyuna, whose full name is Kim Hyun-ah, debuted as a member of girl group Wonder Girls in 2007 before she left in the same year. She was later part of the girl group 4Minute, which debuted in 2009 and dissolved in 2016.
In 2010, Hyuna launched her debut solo single Change, which featured Junhyung. She gained further fame when she appeared in the music video of Gangnam Style with South Korean rapper Psy in 2012.
In 2018, she acknowledged that she had been dating K-pop boy band Pentagon’s Dawn for two years, resulting in their contracts being terminated by their then agency Cube Entertainment.
Hyuna and Dawn announced their engagement in February 2022 before parting ways in November that same year. Dawn, 29, announced in October 2023 that he was beginning his military service as a social service worker.
Junhyung, whose full name is Yong Jun-hyung, rose to fame after debuting in 2009 as a member of K-pop boy band Beast, who changed their name to Highlight in 2017 after leaving their original agency Cube Entertainment.
Junhyung left the group in March 2019 after he was implicated in an illegal sex video scandal involving entertainers such as former BigBang member Seungri and singer Jung Joon-young.
Jung was accused of sharing the sex videos in a chatroom with several artistes. Junhyung admitted he had viewed footage shared by Jung and exchanged lewd text messages regarding the sex videos.
Junhyung enlisted in the military in April 2019 and was discharged from service in February 2021. He made a music comeback by releasing his solo EP, Loner, in November 2022.
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SINGAPORE – The Straits Times talks to seven designers and architects on their dream projects for 2024, what inspires them, and how the projects are helping them hone their craft and design sensibilities.
These upcoming works include a collapsible rattan coffee table, paintings and ceramics, architecture and design books, as well as sustainable builds in Singapore and around the world.
Architect aims to think like a painter
Mr Rene Tan, 59, is the director of RT+Q Architects, which he co-founded in 2003. He was named Designer of the Year at the President’s Design Awards 2016.
The firm, too, has won accolades, including the Singapore Institute of Architects’ Architectural Design Awards and Urban Redevelopment Authority Architectural Heritage Awards, for projects such as the Petit Jervois apartments and a semi-detached house dubbed the House of Spice.
“I hope my inspiration for 2024 will be a non-architecture one. In fact, I want architecture to be the last thing on my mind, in terms of motivation. I think it’s essential that I exorcise all architectural things from my being in order to clear the way for new ideas.
In short, don’t think like an architect. Perhaps think and feel like a painter. I think painting will liberate me from my prejudices about design and free me from my hang-ups about architecture. These days, I produce a painting for every project my firm does.
Painting is an important activity. It makes me think about composition and form rather than plans and buildings.
I also want to listen to more jazz. I believe the ad libitum aspect of jazz, which allows the artist to improvise, will steer me away from the tyrannical rules and dogmas of design.
In terms of buildings, we have projects whose completion we are looking forward to in 2024. These represent a new kind of thinking towards sustainable design. They are different from our previous works in the way they rethink materials, reconsider the weather and reimagine form.
We just published our book, Rethinking The Tropical House – 20 Years Of RT+Q Architects, which features 29 of our projects.
There is also the ongoing LC150+ project by RT+Q Architects. This is a travelling exhibition of physical models of the 20th-century master architect Le Corbusier’s work.
The models are products of RT+Q interns, who spend their first week building a model of one of Le Corbusier’s architectural works. Over the past 20 years, we have amassed some 220 models that are now touring the world.
These models are at Yale University in the United States, which I graduated from in 1987 with a double major in music and architecture. We share these models free of charge with the world.
We also send our colleagues as ambassadors globally to meet people and give talks. The tour has already been to 23 venues around the world.
I see this project as the logical conclusion to, and physical manifestation of, lessons I learnt in architecture – especially in negotiating our increasingly digital world.
Another challenge in the future is to develop better working synergies between consultants and builders, and to understand each other’s trade better. This will produce better buildings and foster a more desirable environment.
In 2024, I will be buying less and designing more; shopping less and creating more.” – Arthur Sim
Serving the community
Mr Lim Cheng Kooi, 60, is the principal director of award-winning architecture firm AR43, which was founded in 2006.
Its accolades include the DFA Design for Asia Awards and International Architecture Awards for projects such as the Golden Pagoda Buddhist Temple and a building dubbed the Perforated House.
“My motivation this year is to focus on doing things that matter most and are close to my heart – perhaps working at a more comfortable pace, travelling more and spending more time doing paintings and ceramics, which I have been passionate about for over 35 years.
I hope to work on projects that will benefit and make a difference to people or the community as a whole.
The firm has been involved in pro-bono work in Bylakuppe, India, designing facilities for the aged and those with disabilities for welfare organisation Karuna Home. AR43’s first project for the organisation, a home for children with disabilities, was opened by the Dalai Lama in 2000.
A 28-room home for the elderly was completed just before the end of 2023 and I was unfortunately unable to attend the opening ceremony. It will be satisfying to visit it in 2024.
Our dream would be to work on a similar project in Singapore.
We have been working on several projects since before the pandemic, including the upgrading of two mosques, which were delayed for a few years.
These two mosques are fully funded by devotees. Unfortunately, the delay caused the budget to tailspin due to high inflation. Our motivation is to create a design that is sympathetic to their needs while being mindful of the budget.
This year, I also hope to work on my paintings and ceramics. Hopefully, I will have enough good pieces before the end of 2024 to have an exhibition.
My last solo exhibition was in 2008, with all sales proceeds donated to Karuna Home and a bursary programme for Northbrooks Secondary School. The challenge for 2024 is about juggling my time between architecture and art.
Our profession has many challenges ahead. Inflation is making the practice harder in terms of managing higher business costs, and the interest of young architects is dwindling. We need to put an end to some outstanding problems such as the issue of undercutting architects’ fees by some players.
I hope for fairer remuneration, equal opportunities for smaller practices like ours, and to streamline business costs for the architectural profession to stay healthy.” – Arthur Sim
From Japanese ikebana to Chinese construction
Mr Kelvin Bing, who is in his 50s, is the founder of design and project management firm Renaissance Planners & Designers, which was established in 1994.
The firm has designed and completed 60 landed homes and over 300 interior design projects. Its accolades include the Singapore Design Award for private homes in Sunset Way and Namly Avenue.
“This year will be my 30th in the design industry and I want to give back to it, especially to those just starting out, by sharing the knowledge and experience I have gained along the way.
I recently published a book, Choreographing Spaces, featuring the firm’s works. I am working on another book that I hope will serve as a guide and reference for those in the design and building construction industries, using case studies from my firm to describe real-life processes better, as well as practical aspects of design – for instance, project management and the properties of construction materials.
I hope the new book will inspire young designers and architects to persevere in their chosen career. If design is going to be a lifelong endeavour, it is important to find satisfaction and inspiration from the profession.
When I was starting out in the 1990s, I was inspired by Singapore’s pioneer architects – such as the late William Lim, Alfred Wong and Tang Guan Bee – to push the boundaries of design. Their notable works, like Golden Mile Complex, the National Theatre and Marine Parade Community Club, are still inspiring.
I have also practised ikebana, the Japanese art of floral arrangement, since the 1990s. It has taught me how to be calm and still. More recently, I have been inspired by traditional Asian architecture, and intend to explore a more pluralistic approach to design that integrates different cultures.
In 2023, I visited the Imperial Palace in Beijing, China, and was able to get a good look at the timber structural system used in the buildings. Chinese architecture uses a unique bracket system that cantilevers from the column, like branches of a tree, to hold up huge roofs.
The joinery used is essentially a tongue-and-groove system. I was inspired to adopt this traditional form of Chinese design for a house that my firm is working on, and hope to complete it this year.
I also want to focus on sustainable design, including incorporating Zero Energy Buildings principles like maximising natural light and cross-ventilation to create a bright and airy environment indoors.
My firm is working on using more sustainable building materials and renewable energy sources in our projects by integrating the use of recycled materials, as well as solar and wind energy systems.
In addition, I see the need for increasing collaboration between designers and contractors on projects.
One of the aspects of design is the ability to fuse different cultures and traditions with new technology in a coherent and aesthetically pleasing way. I believe designers are a key part of the process.” – Arthur Sim
Weaving big dreams
Ms Ng Si Ying, 30, is a full-time user experience designer by day and rattan artisan by night. She began working with rattan in 2016 and sees it as an area of study as well as a craft.
She creates custom pieces for corporate and individual clients, and chronicles her work at @atinymaker on Instagram.
“I aim to make some progress on my Rattan As Weave project, where I explore all the different ways of flat weaving patterns with rattan. Flat weaving features the interface of vertical threads (warp) and horizontal threads (waft).
My progress is quite slow at the moment, at only 14 out of the goal of 100 patterns. But I shall not attempt to set unrealistic expectations, as I tend to get distracted by other ideas.
I’m also eager to explore larger designs with rattan and experiment with different material combinations, and to discover additional functionalities that rattan can fulfil.
One of my to-do projects this year involves repurposing a rattan hula hoop into a collapsible coffee table. Despite having the idea for a while, I’ve delayed it due to indecision.
Spring cleaning at the end of 2023 reminded me that the hula hoop has been silently waiting its turn. At the same time, I didn’t want to be caught up in repeating things that I was comfortable doing. I haven’t acquired the skills for it – that’s also part of the growing that I hope to do this year.
This is the year I’m committed to bringing this project to life and figuring out the weave I’ve been meaning to learn.
Working on smaller objects with thinner rattan strips has been my focus for a while, so exploring a larger work will definitely provide valuable lessons.
Smaller projects, such as flower pots and tea cosies, have been more manageable in terms of size and weaving. The size of the material that I have is also on the finer end.
I also tend to jump around projects, so a big project would require me to focus on one thing for a long time. I wasn’t sure if I was ready for that in my early days with this craft.
I’m accustomed to crafting every part that goes into my works, but creating larger pieces – especially furniture – will demand some collaboration with experts. I’m not yet sure what kind of experts, but being able to express my design ideas is going to be a new skill set that this project will foster.
Many things have inspired my work with rattan. But recently, I’ve been interested in the designs of living spaces – their colours, textures and materials – and how rattan could fill them.” – Yamini Chinnuswamy
Sustainability on her mind
Ms Ivy Koh, 42, is the deputy chief operation officer of SJ Architecture, part of the Surbana Jurong Group. Headquartered in Singapore, the group is a global urban, infrastructure and managed services consulting firm with a talent pool of around 16,000 in more than 120 offices spanning about 40 countries. Ms Koh plays a key role in leading a team of architects, as well as collaborating across teams and overseeing the implementation of design concepts.
“One of my dream projects is the design and restoration of the Temasek Shophouse Extension, a row of 1920s conservation shophouses in Orchard Road.
Temasek Shophouse is envisioned to be Singapore’s downtown social impact hub when it is ready by 2025.
The extension will add about 4,100 sq m of space, notching up the total area to 6,400 sq m, with larger and more diverse spaces for events and exhibitions, as well as for social enterprises, retail, and food and beverage outlets.
The unit at 28 Orchard Road was completed in 2019 and won the Urban Redevelopment Authority Architectural Heritage Award in 2019. The adjacent shophouses in the extension will be restored to honour their heritage.
Some of the key architectural features of the conservation shophouses – such as the facade, staircases, mosaic floor finish and ceiling details – will be carefully restored to retain their unique characteristics.
Designing the building to accommodate diverse functions within a single space was also one of the major challenges. It needed to be agile and adaptable to cater to its various uses and user groups.
The journey of designing Temasek Shophouse, as well as its extension, has been truly inspiring for the design team, and I see more opportunities to bring about new ideas in future projects that can make a meaningful impact not only on society, but also on culture, the environment and people.
Designing for sustainability will continue to be a priority in 2024. It goes beyond the design of a building. We also have to think about a building’s day-to-day operations.
Another important trend we are following is regenerative design – which goes beyond conventional sustainability practices – that restores and enhances ecosystems using artificial intelligence (AI).
AI is a valuable part of the creative process and we need a mindset shift to dispel concerns of AI replacing designers.
Instead, designers should think of AI as ‘assisted intelligence’, as there is vast potential to harness its computational capabilities to create more innovative and captivating designs.” – Chantal Sajan
Preserving the soul of spaces
Mr Peter Tay, 52, is a President’s Design Award recipient of Designer of the Year 2014. After graduating in architecture from London’s Architectural Association in 1999, he pivoted to interior design. He manages high-end global projects with his team at Peter Tay Studio, which he founded in 2003, and is known for redesigning the homes of celebrities such as Chinese-American singer Wang Leehom and Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi.
“I’m working on several dream projects, such as the interior design for an upcoming residential development by billionaire Peter Lim in Ardmore Park.
I’m also redesigning the main lobby, two sky terraces and a rooftop communal space at South Beach Office Tower in Beach Road. The building was designed in 2016 by British architectural firm Foster + Partners.
But one project that stands out is the reimagining of the interiors of the luxe J-Sekka Suites, a hotel in Niseko in Hokkaido, Japan. Niseko is known as the St Moritz of the East for its ski slopes and powdery snow.
I was tasked with redesigning J-Sekka’s luxury residential apartment comprising studios, two-bedroom suites and two penthouses. Amenities at the apartment include a bar, a lounge, a spa, a wellness centre and restaurants.
The hotel boasts stunning views of Mount Niseko Annupuri’s snow-capped peak.
I conceptualised the interiors with local woods, such as birch and hinoki (Japanese cypress), to provide a counterpoint to the winter wonderland outside.
My approach to interior design is to find opportunities in the layout to incorporate a reflective surface, such as a ceiling mirror, or use metal or glossy veneers for a mirror-like effect.
Reflections gently nudge people to slow down and contemplate. I have been designing meditative alcoves with reflective accents for almost two decades.
I am not concerned about trends, as a site tells me everything I need to know about how it should be transformed.
I look at the historic underpinnings of the place and try to unearth the unwritten ‘literature’ inherent in the site.
This is done through intensive background research about the character of the site, its owners, their aspirations and, most importantly, what the space is going to be used for.
When the provenance of a site is respected and reimagined as a modern space, it creates a legacy.
My dream projects allow me to freeze the ‘soul’ of a space as I see it, through its history, colours, furnishings and accents.” – Chantal Sajan
Sustainability meets gastronomy and culture
Mr Tan Kay Ngee, 67, founder of global firm Kay Ngee Tan Architects, picked up the President’s Design Award 2023 for Designer of the Year. The firms’ work on two bungalows in the Gallop Extension of the Singapore Botanic Gardens won the Singapore Institute of Architects’ Architectural Design Award 2023 for Design of the Year, as well as the Urban Redevelopment Authority Architectural Heritage Award for distinction in conservation in 2022.
“We have several irons in the fire that would fit the ‘dream project’ billing, but one that stands out in 2024 is the Tariria Culture, Art and Gastronomy Centre in Van in eastern Turkey.
It is envisioned by the Turkish government as a premier tourism destination, and its culinary academy aims to integrate local culture, history, architecture and nature. It is named after Queen Tariria of the Urartu Dynasty, who established gardens and a sprawling orchard on the project site more than 2,800 years ago.
Everything about the project evokes an ethereal charm. When my team and I visited the site years ago, there was a rare, dream-like quality about the land, perhaps from its long history.
Many parts are still untouched and just waiting to be discovered. There is also a 12th-century church on Akdamar Island in Lake Van, which has some of the region’s most beautiful architecture.
Our goal is to strike a balance between the region’s vast cultural heritage and contemporary architectural innovations.
Tariria Centre is designed using Turkish hardwoods, such as chestnut and walnut, and locally sourced volcanic stones, such as ahlat stone.
Feature glass walls, supported by a locally produced steel structure, blur the lines between the outdoors and indoors.
The hall of the lobby can seat up to 150 people for events such as conferences or seminars, and can be converted into a lounge or bistro.
There is also a multi-purpose hall that can accommodate up to 800 visitors, and a two-storey restaurant area with panoramic views of Lake Van and Mount Suphan which, at 4,000m high, is one of Turkey’s highest volcanos.
By using sustainable materials for construction and preserving the traditional values of the indigenous people, we can ensure the economic development of the communities that call Van home.” – Chantal Sajan
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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/home-design/dream-weavers-designers-and-architects-on-their-dream-projects-of-2024
| 2024-01-19T11:00:43Z
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Hollywood star Arnold Schwarzengger made headlines after he was detained for about three hours by Customs officers at Munich Airport in Germany on Jan 17 for failing to declare an expensive Audemars Piguet watch.
Specially made for the 76-year-old star of the Terminator film franchise (1984 to 2019) by the luxury Swiss watchmaker, the bespoke watch was due to be auctioned off for a fund-raising dinner on Jan 18 evening in aid of his eco charity, the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative.
With an opening bid of €50,000 (S$73,000), the 43mm black ceramic Audemars Piguet Arnold Classic Watch ended up fetching €293,000 (S$427,000) at the auction held at Stanglwirt resort in Austria.
Pleased with the results, Schwarzenegger cracked jokes about his detention in Munich, saying Customs officers tried to look for a second watch but failed because he had hidden it “where the sun don’t shine”.
According to the Bild daily, the American-Austrian actor was charged €35,000, including €4,000 in tax and €5,000 in penalty for not declaring the prized Audemars Piguet.
Known for his love of timepieces, the retired bodybuilding icon and former governor of California has had several collaborations with Audemars Piguet over the years. It began with a limited-edition Royal Oak Offshore (Reference 25770SN), which he wore in the 1999 action horror film End Of Days.
In an interview with several publications, including The Straits Times, in Dubai in 2023, former chief executive Francois-Henry Bennahmias – who left the brand in December 2023 after 30 years – told the story of how the End Of Days collaboration came to be.
“We were having lunch at Arnold’s office in Malibu – he was supposed to buy watches. There were watches on the table and he was supposed to choose. There were security guards around us, and he said, ‘What are we doing here? This is bulls**t. I don’t care about this.’
“And I said, ‘Are you shooting a movie?’ He said, ‘Yes. End Of Days.’ And I said, ‘Could we do something where you put the watch in the movie? We will create a special edition and we will raise money for a foundation.’ And he said, ‘I love this. Okay.’ That was how the whole thing started,” said Mr Bennahmias.
The collaboration fuelled a craze for the Royal Oak Offshore which has not abated. Since then, there have been more than 10 collaborations between the watchmaker and the action star, including the T3 (2003), All Stars (2007) and The Legacy (2011).
In 2023, Audemars Piguet released the Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph End Of Days, which pays tribute to the original released in 1999.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/style/schwarzenegger-s-special-audemars-piguet-watch-which-he-failed-to-declare-auctioned-for-over-400000
| 2024-01-19T11:00:53Z
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SINGAPORE - The assets seized in Singapore’s largest money laundering case that saw 10 foreigners arrested are now worth more than $3 billion.
The police said on Jan 19 that they have issued prohibition of disposal orders on another 55 properties and 15 vehicles.
An additional 189 luxury bags, 34 pieces of jewellery and five luxury watches were also seized.
This now brings the assets confiscated by the authorities to 207 properties, 77 vehicles, money in bank accounts amounting to more than $1.45 billion, and cash of various currencies worth more than $76 million.
Thousands of bottles of liquor and wine, cryptocurrency worth more than $38 million, 68 gold bars, 483 luxury bags, 169 branded watches and 580 pieces of jewellery were also seized in total.
Separately, warrants of arrest and Interpol Red Notices have been issued against two more suspects – Cambodian nationals Su Yongcan, 33, and Wang Huoqiang, 29 – for money laundering offences.
A Red Notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.
The police said that the pair had left Singapore before arrests related to this case began on Aug 15, 2023.
Prosecutors said in October 2023 that Su Yongcan is the brother-in-law of Wang Dehai, one of the 10 accused.
In arguing against bail for Wang Dehai in October 2023, the prosecutor said Su Yongcan and Wang Huoqiang – who is Wang Dehai’s cousin – were accomplices who might help him abscond.
The Straits Times reported on Aug 21 that Su Yongcan and Wang Huoqiang were said to be on the run from the Chinese authorities over illegal gambling activities in 2018.
On Jan 19, the police said Su Yongcan, who previously held a passport issued by the People’s Republic of China (PRC), had more than $16 million in cash and other foreign currencies seized from him. The police also froze his bank accounts with a total balance of more than $145 million.
Prohibition of disposal orders for seven properties and 10 vehicles were also issued in relation to Su Yongcan.
In relation to Wang Huoqiang, who previously held a passport issued by the PRC, the police seized about $188,000 in cash and other foreign currencies. A prohibition of disposal order was issued for one vehicle.
His bank accounts with a total balance of more than $5 million were also frozen.
Those with information on Su Yongcan or Wang Huoqiang’s whereabouts should call the police hotline on 1800-255-0000.
On Aug 15, 2023, the police conducted a massive islandwide blitz led by the Commercial Affairs Department that involved more than 400 officers.
Nine men and one woman were arrested and charged the next day with various offences including money laundering, forgery and resisting arrest.
Second Minister for Home Affairs Josephine Teo said in a ministerial statement in October 2023 that the raid here was one of the largest anti-money laundering operations in the world.
In 2021, the authorities picked up several signals, including the use of suspected forged documents to support sources of funds in bank accounts here.
Some suspicious transaction reports (STRs) were filed by financial institutions and other companies, and the police investigated these alerts.
In early 2022, the police launched an extensive intelligence probe that uncovered a web of people believed to be connected to one another, with some of them associated by familial ties.
The police quietly probed further to avoid alerting the suspects, and a decision was made to hold off any enforcement or overt investigative actions.
This was done so the police could develop as full a picture as possible of the suspects and their associates, their suspected criminal activities and their assets, before moving against them.
The 10 accused – Chen Qingyuan, 33, Lin Baoying, 44, Su Baolin, 42, Su Haijin, 40, Su Jianfeng, 35, Su Wenqiang, 31, Vang Shuiming, 43, Wang Baosen, 31, Wang Dehai, 34, and Zhang Ruijin, 45 – have all been denied bail.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/assets-frozen-in-money-laundering-case-exceed-3b-55-more-properties-and-15-vehicles-seized
| 2024-01-19T11:01:04Z
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SINGAPORE – The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has called for a safety timeout at the construction site of an MRT station in Pasir Ris, after a section of noise barrier panels came crashing down upon being hit by machinery.
In response to queries from The Straits Times, an LTA spokesman said the accident took place on Jan 16 at around 5pm where the upcoming Pasir Ris East station is being built.
The barrier was damaged by a grabber that had toppled over, said the spokesman. A grabber is a machinery with two or more jaws that is used to pick up items.
He added that the broken panels were removed from the scene, and a professional engineer has verified the remaining structure as safe.
A safety timeout is a planned event where companies take time off from their daily work routine to take stock of and review workplace safety and health systems, and work processes.
In a Facebook post on Jan 18, Shin Min Daily News reported that the barriers are about four-storeys high and are erected just a few metres away from Block 208 Pasir Ris Street 21.
There were no injuries to workers or damage done to the nearby Housing Board block as a result of the accident, said the LTA spokesman.
A noise balloon has been put up at the site to temporarily reduce noise pollution, while the barrier is being repaired, he added.
“LTA takes a serious view of safety incidents,” said the spokesman.
“Investigations into the incident are ongoing. We called a safety timeout to check that the site is in order before allowing (the) contractor to continue work.”
As part of the Cross Island Line, construction of Pasir Ris East station as well as eleven other stations, is expected to be completed by 2030.
The Straits Times has contacted the Ministry of Manpower for more information.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/construction-of-mrt-station-in-pasir-ris-paused-after-noise-barrier-panels-wrecked
| 2024-01-19T11:01:14Z
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SINGAPORE – A Chinese national was employed as an odd job worker when a man asked him if he was interested in a “fast cash” job involving swopping a genuine diamond ring at Tiffany & Co with a replica.
Wu Youquan, who agreed to the plan, came to Singapore in November 2023 and went to the jewellery store’s outlet at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands (MBS) to commit the offence.
He was caught after a Tiffany & Co team manager noticed that the price tag attached to the replica ring had a different texture from the one found on the genuine 3.18 carat piece, which was worth $318,000.
Her male colleague was about to conduct a physical check on Wu when the latter took out the genuine ring from his pocket and asked for forgiveness.
Wu, 44, was sentenced to three years and four months’ jail on Jan 19 after he pleaded guilty to a theft charge.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Kelly Ng said that a man known as Chen Hanbo had earlier reached out to Wu around October 2023 to ask if he was interested in the “high risk” job.
Wu agreed to be part of the plan, even though Chen did not disclose how much he would earn from it – he only assured him that he would not be “short-changed”. Court documents did not disclose where the men were at the time.
Wu came to Singapore alone on Nov 9, 2023, with Chen footing his travel expenses. He was instructed to go to Tiffany & Co to look for the biggest diamond ring and snap a picture of its price tag.
Wu went to the Tiffany & Co outlet at The Shoppes at MBS and claimed to be “Mr Liew” from Taiwan, saying he was looking for a gift for his wife.
A client adviser showed Wu several diamond rings and with her permission, he snapped a picture of one worth $318,000 with its accompanying price tag.
Wu sent the picture to Chen and told the adviser he would return within the next few days to buy the ring.
Wu returned to China the next day and met Chen, who said that Wu would receive, via post, a replica ring which would look similar to the genuine piece.
After receiving the replica on Nov 18, 2023, Wu returned to Singapore alone two days later and Chen, again, footed his travel expenses.
He went back to the Tiffany & Co store and was served by a team manager, who showed him several rings on a black tray. Wu was also told that the client adviser, who had earlier served him, was not in the store at the time.
By using sleight of hand, Wu swopped the 3.18 carat ring with the replica after distracting the team manager by claiming that he wanted to have a look at another piece of jewellery.
DPP Ng said: “After stealing the genuine ring, the accused lied to the victim that he wanted to purchase (a) 2.15-carat ring so that he could find an opportunity to leave the store.
“While the victim was facilitating this purchase, the accused told the victim that he had changed his mind.”
The team manager then realised that the texture of the price tag on the replica ring felt different from the one on the genuine piece. She told Wu that the replica did not belong to Tiffany & Co, and the Chinese national did not respond.
Her male colleague, who was alerted, told Wu that he wanted to conduct a physical check on him.
The two men entered a room and Wu took out the genuine ring from his pocket. He asked for forgiveness and was arrested soon after.
For theft, an offender can be jailed for up to seven years and fined.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/man-who-swopped-diamond-ring-worth-318k-with-replica-at-tiffany-co-gets-more-than-3-years-jail
| 2024-01-19T11:01:24Z
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SINGAPORE – Dengue infections have been going up for six consecutive weeks, with 396 cases reported in the week of Jan 7 to 13 – the highest weekly figure in more than a year. Six weeks ago, there were just 143 cases.
While this is a far cry from the 1,552 cases a week at the peak of the infection in 2022, the steady increase in cases has the National Environment Agency (NEA) urging people “living in dengue cluster areas to take immediate action to suppress the Aedes mosquito population and help break disease transmission”.
It also asked them to cooperate with NEA officers inspecting their property for mosquito larvae.
There were almost 10,000 dengue cases reported last year, down from the more than 32,000 cases in 2022. The largest number of this Aedes mosquito-borne viral infection seen here was in 2020, when there were 35,315 cases and 32 deaths.
Dengue caused three deaths here in the first nine months of 2023. In the previous year, 19 people died.
However, experts say the recent heavy rains could lead to a drop in dengue cases.
“The general trend is for dengue cases to dip after heavy rainfall and this dip can go on for as much as six weeks,” said Professor Hsu Li Yang, an infectious diseases expert and vice-dean for global health at the National University of Singapore Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health.
While wet weather resulting in standing water increases mosquito breeding, heavy rain causes a “flushing effect” where the larvae are washed away, killing most of them.
The experts are also not overly worried about the two changes in the dominant dengue serotype in 2023, although they warn that a second infection could prove more serious.
There are four dengue serotypes. DEN-3, the dominant strain behind the bulk of infections in 2021 and 2022, was overtaken by DEN-1 in June 2023, and later DEN-2 in September.
People do not get reinfected by the virus from the same serotype, but can be infected by the other three strains.
Professor Paul Tambyah, who is president of the United States-based International Society for Infectious Diseases, said the switch in dengue serotype is unlikely to result in a higher number of infections, although it may be too early to be sure.
“There was concern (back in 2021) that DEN-3 had not been circulating for some time and thus immunity levels would be low.
“DEN-2, on the other hand, has been circulating almost continuously for decades. And thus, this year’s peak may be lower than previously, like last year’s, when DEN-1 was dominant during the mid-year season,” said Prof Tambyah, who is also a senior consultant in infectious diseases at the National University Hospital.
However, both he and Prof Hsu said people who are infected a second time, which means the infection is caused by a different serotype, are likely to become more seriously ill.
Said Prof Tambyah: “The phenomenon of antibody enhanced infection is now well accepted, and thus a second infection in many cases – not all – can be more serious than a first.”
Antibody-dependent enhancement refers to the body producing suboptimal antibodies – in the case of dengue, the antibodies target the earlier serotype but are not the best for a subsequent infection by a different viral serotype – that may actually increase the ability of a virus to enter cells and cause a worsening of disease.
He added: “There is also the question as to which combination of viruses – meaning, DEN-1 followed by DEN-2, or the other way around – is more serious. The bottom line is that we should avoid getting bitten and getting any infection at all.”
Symptoms of dengue include a sudden onset of fever, headache, muscular and joint aches, nausea and vomiting. Anyone with such symptoms should see a doctor to prevent the infection from taking on a more severe form, such as dengue haemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome.
There are currently 80 active dengue clusters, of which 17 have 10 or more cases. The biggest cluster in the Boon Lay-Corporation Road-Jurong West area has recorded 200 cases, of which 48 were within the past fortnight.
The NEA said it had observed a “fast rate of dengue transmission” in this cluster, as well as two in Pasir Ris and one in Jalan Chegar in Upper Thomson.
It urged people to use insect repellent to protect themselves from being bitten by the Aedes mosquito.
Anyone diagnosed with or suspected to have dengue is also advised to avoid further mosquito bites, to prevent passing on the dengue virus to mosquitoes and other people in their neighbourhood, NEA added.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/highest-number-of-dengue-cases-in-over-a-year-but-recent-heavy-rains-may-see-fall-in-cases
| 2024-01-19T11:01:35Z
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SINGAPORE - A devoted family man, Syahied Ahmad, had written and recorded a song as a tribute to his mother.
Sadly, Madam Asmah Adam, 51, never got to listen to her son sing his heartfelt composition in person.
On Jan 16, just four days after he completed writing the song, Mr Syahied was killed in a traffic accident.
The 29-year-old SMRT train captain was riding his motorcycle to work along the Ayer Rajah Expressway towards Tuas when he was involved in an accident involving a trailer, two cars, and two motorcycles at about 6am. He was taken unconscious to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital but did not survive. A 29-year-old male car driver was arrested for careless driving causing death.
Mr Syahied’s sister, Ms Syakienah Ahmad, 27, told The Straits Times that he had recorded the song, titled Lady In Red, the night before the accident. The song, a symbol of his enduring love and affection, remains unreleased.
His family plans to have the song put up on music streaming platform Spotify, but Ms Syakienah said they have left it to Mr Syahied’s friend, Kenny Kamil, 21, who was with him while he was recording the song, to decide when to do so.
Mr Syahied, the eldest of three children, was remembered by his sister Ms Syakienah as a pillar of emotional support for their mother.
“He was always a safe space for my mum to confide in. That’s why he composed this song, to express his love and gratitude,” she said.
His interest in music was sparked at a young age by his father Mr Ahmad Samsudin, 58, who taught him basic guitar chords. Mr Syahied’s curiosity and passion for music led him to teach himself to play several various musical instruments, including the keyboard, which he played by ear. His musical journey included performances with his father and cousins.
On his TikTok account, Mr Syahied often posted snippets of him singing, or playing portions of pop songs on various instruments.
His best friend Akmal Aziz, 29, a call operator for an airline, reminisced about Mr Syahied’s carefree nature and zest for life.
“He loved life and lived it fully. We had plans for a road trip to Malacca, to visit my grandparents’ kampung after Hari Raya. Syahied would have loved the relaxing environment there,” Mr Akmal said.
The two had been friends since 2001.
Mr Akmal said that upon learning that Mr Syahied had been in an accident, he left for the hospital in Jurong immediately from his workplace in Paya Lebar.
“By the time I reached, he was already gone,” Mr Akmal said, adding that he had broken into tears at that point. “His distraught father kept asking me to take a look at Syahied. When I finally felt his body, it was already cold. It was too late and I did not get to say goodbye.”
He added that Mr Syahied “taught me to relax when things got tough, and to have integrity” and that he felt he had not thanked his friend enough when he was alive.
Ms Syakienah said she felt the same way.
“In our family, we practised tough love. But that is something I regret. Amongst the many things I wish I told my brother, I wish I told him that I loved him,” she said.
“We never said, ‘I love you’ enough. It’s the simple things you take for granted, thinking there will always be another chance. But sometimes, there isn’t.”
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/loving-son-writes-records-song-for-mum-but-dies-in-accident-before-she-can-listen-to-it
| 2024-01-19T11:01:45Z
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A new outfit will focus on conducting research in adult education and training, as part of a national push to equip Singaporeans for changes in the workplace.
Enterprises, adult educators and learners themselves can look forward to more opportunities to explore adult education through dedicated upskilling projects and sharing sessions at the Adult Learning Collaboratory (ALC), the newest initiative rolled out by the Institute for Adult Learning (IAL).
This was announced at IAL’s inaugural Adult Learning Xchange 2024 by Education Minister Chan Chun Sing. The event, which seeks to promote dialogue and sharing on adult and lifelong learning, was held at Raffles City Convention Centre from Jan 18 to Jan 19.
Supported by SkillsFuture Singapore, the ALC aims to collaborate with partners from different industries and institutions to address and overcome obstacles faced in adult learning through multiple rounds of research, brainstorm and tests, as well as promote a wider adoption of successful adult education approaches, to benefit more Singaporeans.
Mr Chan described the ALC to be a “catalyst” in bringing together the strengths of the respective partners and stakeholders to address pertaining issues in adult education, such as creating appropriate content for learning.
The new 3,500 sq foot facility will be built at the Lifelong Learning Institute in Eunos Road, and is set to be launched in the second half of 2024. It will serve as a facility for demonstrations, showcases and engagements in adult learning.
The ALC will start off with three pilot projects, which will conduct research with other organisations to address relevant workplace issues.
One such project is the “Enabling employees to be co-pilots in enterprise transformation” project, which aims to teach enterprises proven approaches they can take to raise workforce morale and their willingness to learn, increasing their skill sets and value.
This can be done through coaching and training sessions, as well as the introduction of new management practices.
Ms Tan Yen Yen, senior director of Business and the Creatives at Singapore Polytechnic, is one of the partners involved in the project. She said that helping businesses unlock the full potential of their workforce is paramount to ensure that educational initiatives will have a lasting impact on various stakeholders and society.
“Through our strategic alliance with the ALC, we aspire to actively contribute to and elevate Singapore’s training and adult education standards,” she added.
The other two projects the ALC will initiate involve teaching mature workers how to embrace and navigate their way around artificial intelligence and how to create effective programmes within the Training and Adult Education sector.
IAL’s executive director, Associate Professor Yeo Li Pheow, said the ALC serves as a hub for different stakeholders to come together and discuss the many different challenges, both present and new, faced by Singaporeans in the workspace.
“We have never had a platform where multi stakeholders can come together to discuss. (The ALC) is an excellent opportunity to bring different stakeholders together, creating a platform for dialogue, the exchange of ideas and sharing, allowing for the formation of faster solutions.”
Prof Yeo said he hopes to see more companies and even smaller organisations come on board and share their challenges.
“The goal is to use this platform to better prepare adult educators,” he said.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/new-hub-to-enhance-adult-learning-to-be-launched-in-second-half-of-2024
| 2024-01-19T11:01:56Z
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LONDON - Ivan Toney will captain Brentford at home to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Saturday as the striker makes his eagerly-anticipated return from an eight-month ban.
Manager Thomas Frank, whose side have drifted into the relegation battle in Toney's absence said it was a massive boost to have him back, for his goals and his leadership.
"He's bossing. He's like an eight-year old-boy, he just wants to go out and play," Frank told a news conference on Friday. "Just that pure joy of playing football.
"I'm looking into the eyes of a player who is very committed, very excited. He will start tomorrow, he will lead the team out, he'll be the captain. I'm sure he'll be ready."
Toney scored 20 goals in 30 league appearances last season but was banned for betting offences.
The return of the man his Brentford team mates refer to as 'Big Dog' could not come at a better time with the club in 16th place, three points above the relegation zone, and one point behind 15th-placed Forest.
"Not only this week, the last three-and-a-half years, he is a special character in many ways, he's a fantastic person to be around myself, the staff, the players, the energy he brings, the smile, the positivity at the training ground," Frank said.
"On the pitch he wants to win, he wants to help the team, of course it's a massive boost. It's like a new signing. He's the second best striker in my opinion in the Premier League."
One worry for Frank is that with the January transfer window still open, Toney could be lured away by a big-money offer from a Premier League rival, although none have arrived so far.
"As I said earlier in these conferences, it's 99% something, that he will stay here but football is crazy, you never know what will happen tomorrow," Frank said.
"He's committed to helping the team, that's all that's on his mind he wants to stay here, he wants to help the team." REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/toney-to-captain-on-brentford-on-return-from-ban
| 2024-01-19T11:02:06Z
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Spaniard Carlos Sainz, 61-year-old father of the namesake Ferrari Formula One driver, won the Dakar Rally for the fourth time in Saudi Arabia on Friday with Audi taking a first title in the car category.
American Honda rider Ricky Brabec won the motorcycling category for the second time. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/formula-one/rallying-audis-sainz-wins-dakar-rally-for-a-fourth-time-at-61
| 2024-01-19T11:02:16Z
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MELBOURNE - Amanda Anisimova said she was proud of reaching the second week of the Australian Open on her return from an eight-month break from tennis, even if part of her expected to hit the ground running.
The 22-year-old American, who in May announced an indefinite break from the sport because of mental health concerns and burnout, kicked off her campaign in Melbourne by knocking out Russian 13th seed Liudmila Samsonova 6-3 6-4.
Anisimova, a semi-finalist at the French Open in 2019 and former world number 21, followed that up with comprehensive victories over Argentine Nadia Podoroska and former world number two Paula Badosa in the next two rounds.
"I'm really proud of myself," Anisimova told reporters.
"I wasn't sure, should I expect to do well? Because a lot of people were telling me, 'don't put too much expectations on yourself. You've taken a lot of time off. Don't get too down on yourself if you don't do well at these tournaments'.
"I kind of took that in a little bit, but I still expected a lot out of myself. But at the same time I was going to be happy whether I lose in the first round or if I do well.
"I'm just really happy that I was able to get this far, but I still think that I can do more."
Currently languishing at 442nd in the world, Anisimova can expect a big bump in her ranking by reaching the Melbourne Park fourth round for the third time.
She will have to be at her very best to get any further, however, with in-form defending champion Aryna Sabalenka as her next opponent. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tennis/returning-anisimova-takes-pride-in-reaching-fourth-round
| 2024-01-19T11:02:27Z
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MIAMI - An Atlas Air Boeing cargo plane was forced to make an emergency landing at Miami International Airport after experiencing an engine malfunction shortly after departure.
"The crew followed all standard procedures and safely returned to MIA," Atlas Air said in a statement, adding that it would conduct an inspection to determine the cause of the incident which occurred late on Jan 18.
Unverified videos on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, showed flames shooting out of the left wing of the aircraft while in flight. Reuters could not immediately verify the authenticity of the videos.
The aircraft involved was a Boeing 747-8F, data from flight tracking website Flightaware showed. The aircraft is powered by four General Electric GEnx engines.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded and no injuries were reported, the airport told Reuters.
Boeing, FAA and General Electric did not respond to Reuters requests for comment.
Boeing has been engulfed in a crisis since an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 airliner made an emergency landing after part of its fuselage broke off shortly after take-off from Portland, Oregon, on Jan 5.
The incident prompted the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to temporarily ground 171 aircraft for safety checks. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/atlas-air-boeing-cargo-plane-makes-emergency-landing-at-miami
| 2024-01-19T11:02:37Z
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WARSAW - EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders visits Warsaw on Friday to discuss judicial reforms which could allow Poland access to billion of euros of EU funds frozen amid concerns over the rule of law.
The previous nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) cabinet carried out a deep overhaul of the judiciary, which the EU and international watchdogs said put courts and judges under political influence and damaged democratic checks and balances.
New pro-EU Prime Minister Donald Tusk has vowed to restore the rule of law and get the funds released. But he faces resistance from supporters and allies of the former ruling party, who include President Andrzej Duda and some high-profile judges.
A senior official in the new Polish government told Reuters the cabinet hopes some of the issues can be addressed without passing new laws which could be vetoed by Duda.
"We are completely relaxed that it is all going in the right direction," the official said. "Politically, we have it agreed with the Commission that some things will be addressed without new laws."
On Friday, PiS lawmakers said they had asked for a vote of no-confidence in Justice Minister Adam Bodnar, the man leading the judiciary reforms.
Bodnar and Reynders will hold a joint press conference at 1145 GMT.
Tusk met the EU's chief executive in December and announced that the bloc would transfer a first 5 billion euros ($5.5 billion) of aid.
This money comes free of the EU's usual rule of law conditions and is part of Poland's 60-billion-euro chunk of the bloc's COVID recovery stimulus.
Reyders had said in December that Poland needed "some time" to improve the independence of the judiciary so the European Union can disburse more funds. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/eus-reynders-visits-poland-to-discuss-restoring-rule-of-law
| 2024-01-19T11:02:48Z
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Hundreds of supporters of a jailed rights activist staged a protest on Friday in the capital of Russia's Bashkortostan republic and police detained at least seven people, a Russian news outlet reported from the scene.
The gathering in the city of Ufa took place in defiance of the region's leader, Radiy Khabirov, who has warned of tough action against what he called extremists and traitors.
Russian-language outlet SOTA Vision published video showing police warning people through a loudhailer that they would be arrested if they took part in an unauthorised gathering.
It showed one woman being led away by police despite remonstrations from people nearby. Police linked arms in a human chain to clear the way for a bus carrying detained people, as onlookers chanted "Shame!"
Bashkortostan, in the southern Ural mountains near the border between Europe and Asia, is one of more than 80 republics and regions that make up the Russian Federation.
It was the third protest this week, but the first in the regional capital, in support of minority rights activist Fail Alsynov, who was sentenced on Wednesday to four years in a penal colony on charges of stirring ethnic hatred, which he denied.
Alsynov, 37, is regarded as a hero by many of the region's ethnic Bashkir people for campaigning on behalf of their language, culture and rights. He led successful protests in 2020 to prevent the start of mining operations on a hill that Bashkir people consider sacred.
Last year he spoke out against the recruitment of ethnic Bashkirs to fight for Russia in Ukraine, saying "this is not our war".
Public protests in Russia are very rare given the risk of arrest, especially since the start of the war. The timing is all the more sensitive given that President Vladimir Putin is standing for a new six-year term in March.
While his victory is not in doubt, analysts say there is pressure on regional leader Khabirov to keep the situation under tight control to prevent embarrassment to the Kremlin during an election campaign. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/russian-police-make-arrests-as-protest-moves-to-regional-capital
| 2024-01-19T11:02:58Z
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NEW YORK – For several decades, scientists have gathered evidence that the global warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions is making some types of extreme weather more likely or more intense. It is a bigger challenge to connect climate change to a particular weather event at a specific time and place. But the science that enables researchers to do just that has advanced over the past 20 years to the point that individual heat spells, storms, floods, droughts and wildfires are now routinely tied to global warming.
1. How do researchers determine whether there is a connection?
Researchers first classify a weather event as extreme by putting it in the context of observations of the same type of event in the same area, ideally over a long period of history. Weather can be capricious, so just because an event is extreme does not mean humanity’s greenhouse gas pollution played a role. A possible connection is assessed by using computer models to create two virtual worlds. One of them, the so-called counterfactual world, is built by keeping carbon concentrations constant at a level in the past before people began burning fossil fuels. In the other, actual concentrations are plugged in. Then researchers compare the weather event in the two scenarios. This methodology does not determine whether global warming caused the event – but rather, whether it made it more likely, more severe or both. One of these three was the determination in 71 per cent of the more than 500 extreme weather events or trends reviewed by researchers since 2011, according to a count up to August maintained by CarbonBrief.org, a UK-based non-profit that covers developments in climate science.
2. What kind of extreme weather is most tied to climate change?
Heatwaves are most directly linked to carbon pollution. And heat, along with dryness and wind, fuels wildfires, which is why scientists have become so confident that climate change is making wildfires in the western United States, Australia and elsewhere much worse. (The US fire season is two months longer than it was in the 1970s and 1980s.) Global warming is making tropical cyclones – also called hurricanes or typhoons – more intense, but not necessarily more frequent. Warmer water and moister air – two results of global warming – provide additional fuel to tropical cyclones and other storms.
3. What recent weather events have been linked to emissions?
Researchers concluded that the scorching heat of July 2023 in North America and Southern Europe would have been almost impossible if not for the effects of greenhouse gas pollution. The extreme wildfires in eastern Canada in mid-2023, which produced hazardous air conditions there and in the US, were assessed as 50 per cent more intense and seven times more likely to have occurred due to those effects. Flooding in South Africa in April 2022, in which some 460 people died, was seen as twice as likely. And September flooding in Libya, which killed more than 11,000 people, was assessed as a staggering 50 times more likely and as much as 50 per cent more intense because of global warming.
4. Does global warming always mean less cold weather?
Not necessarily. Climate change has made winters shorter and blizzards and extreme cold snaps less likely. But with the Earth’s poles warming faster than the rest of the planet, there is a decrease in the contrast between the heat of the equator and the cold of the North Pole, and that can unleash strange consequences. The record cold that crippled the Texas power grid in February 2021, for example, was the result of the polar vortex – a girdle of winds that typically keeps cold bottled in the Arctic – buckling and releasing frigid air across much of the US.
5. Where is this headed?
Since the mid-19th century, the world has warmed more than 1.1 deg C, according to the most authoritative source on the matter, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC. At the current pace, that increase will reach 1.5 deg C – the level at which global warming becomes extra dangerous, in the view of climate scientists – as soon as the 2030s. From there, the intensity of extreme weather is expected to grow exponentially, doubling if global warming reaches 2 deg C and quadrupling at 3 deg C, the IPCC says.
6. What are the ramifications?
In addition to changing living conditions fundamentally, global warming is affecting many financial calculations, since huge parts of the global economy including agriculture, travel and insurance face risks tied to the weather. It has been estimated that climate change accounted for US$8 billion (S$10.7 billion) of the $63 billion in losses from Hurricane Sandy in the US in 2012 and US$4 billion of the US$10 billion in damages in Japan from Typhoon Hagibis in 2019. BLOOMBERG
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/how-scientists-link-climate-change-to-worse-heat-waves-droughts-wildfires-and-floods
| 2024-01-19T11:03:08Z
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GAZA - Palestinian doctor Hani Bseiso faced an agonising decision when his teenage niece was wounded by Israeli shelling of her Gaza City home: amputate her leg or risk her bleeding to death.
Unable to reach a nearby hospital, and using little more than a pair of scissors and some gauze he had in his medical bag, he removed the lower part of A'Hed Bseiso's right leg in an operation carried out on the kitchen table without anaesthetic.
Grainy video footage that went viral on Instagram shows him wiping the bloody stump of her right leg as she lies on the table. One of her brothers holds her steady, another holds up two mobile phones to provide better lighting.
The house is only 1.1 miles (1.8 km) from Gaza's Al-Shifa hospital, usually a six-minute drive or a 25-minute walk away, but Bseiso said intense Israeli fire in the area made it too dangerous to try to get there.
"Unfortunately, I did not have any other choice. The choice was that I either let the girl die or I try to the best of my abilities," Bseiso told Reuters this week in an interview in the room where he amputated her leg on Dec. 19.
Reuters was unable to confirm independently what struck her home, why it came under fire and what events preceded the attack.
"Could I get her to the hospital? Of course not," Bseiso said, describing the area as "under siege". "The tanks were at the entrance of the house."
Israeli authorities say they work to minimise harm to civilians.
Asked for comment about the events of Dec. 19, the Israeli military did not specifically respond to questions about the incident at A'Hed Bseiso's home, but said Hamas used hospital complexes as cover, an allegation the militant group denies.
"A central feature of Hamas' strategy is the exploitation of civilian structures for terror purposes," the military told Reuters.
"Specifically, it has been well documented that Hamas uses hospitals and medical centers for its terror activities by building military networks within and beneath hospitals, launching attacks and storing weapons within the confines of hospitals, and using hospital infrastructure and staff for terror activities."
"Regrettably, Hamas continues to put Gaza's most vulnerable citizens in serious danger by cynically using hospitals for terror," it said.
'THANKS TO GOD'
A'hed Bseiso, 18, is part of a generation of young amputees emerging from the war being fought in Gaza since Hamas militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking 253 hostage, according to Israeli tallies.
Doctors say many of those killed in the Gaza Strip since then might have been saved if they had been able to reach hospital.
Lying in bed several weeks after the amputation, A'hed Bseiso told Reuters she found an Israeli tank near her house when she went outside at about 10:30 a.m. to get a signal to call her father, who lives abroad.
She and her sister went inside and closed the blinds of the house in case it was shelled. Shortly afterwards, the building came under fire and she was wounded, she said.
She realised she had no feeling in her leg when family members tried to help her by pulling out shrapnel.
"They placed me on the dining table. There was no medical equipment. My uncle saw the sponge that we clean the dishes with, a wire, washing-up liquid and chlorine (disinfectant)," she said.
"He took them and he started scrubbing my leg. He amputated my leg without anaesthetics and without anything at home."
Asked how she withstood the pain, she said: "I was just saying 'Thanks to God' and reading the Koran. Thanks to God, I did not feel much but of course there was pain, and the scene and the shock."
She has since undergone further operations in hospital to treat the injuries she received.
More than 24,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel began its military campaign in Gaza in response to the Oct. 7 attack, Palestinian officials say.
Many others, including children, have had limbs amputated because of the severity of their wounds during the Israeli offensive, which Israel's military says is intended to eliminate Hamas and secure the release of the remaining hostages.
More than 1,000 children in Gaza had undergone leg amputations by the end of November, according to the U.N. children's agency UNICEF.
Poor hygiene and shortages of medicine further endanger lives, and doctors say supplies to hospitals are hindered by the lack of access to them. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/gaza-doctor-amputates-nieces-leg-at-home-without-anaesthesia
| 2024-01-19T11:03:19Z
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Brooklyn Beckham announced his next career move on Thursday and it's opening in London.
The 24-year-old has revealed he is taking his cooking skills to the next level and is opening a pop-up takeaway with Uber Eats where he will be offering a number of dishes including a tribute to his great-grandmother Peggy.
Taking to his Instagram account he revealed: "My nanny Peggy taught me how to make her English Breakfast sandwich when I was five, and it’s been my favourite ever since.
"I've always been into trying different foods, cuisines, and cultures, but that was one of my earliest memories of loving cooking.
Brooklyn has always had a penchant for cooking and revealed it's one of the things he and his dad, David Beckham bond over. "Spending time in the kitchen is definitely something me and my dad bond over… even though I think I make my English Breakfast sandwich better, he does make a pretty good one!"
As well as his favorite English breakfast sandwich, Brooklyn will also offer, Chicken Tikka Masala and Wagyu Bolognese. The dishes will be available for only two days on January 25 and 26 on the Uber Eats app in London.
"You are a perfect husband," one fan replied. A second added: "Your love of cooking is such a beautiful expression…a joyful gift. Bravo @brooklynpeltzbeckham Team Beckham." Meanwhile, a third added: "This is amazing."
British classics are certainly a favourite in the Beckham household as David Beckham often delights in his mother, Sandra Beckham's cooking, his favourite dish being ham, egg and chips, pineapple, and mushy peas.
In May 2022 he took the sweetest photo of whilst sat in his mother's kitchen at the dinner table, beaming as they were about to enjoy their meal.
"Can't beat dinner with mum," wrote the famous footballer. "Gammon, chips, pineapple, fried egg, coleslaw & mushy peas. Favorite as a kid thanks mum, followed by a jam doughnut and a cup of tea," he wrote, before teasing his sister Joanna, writing: "Sorry @jo_jo_beckham_ the [king] was home for dinner. @sandra_beckham49."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/511639/brooklyn-beckham-career-move/
| 2024-01-19T11:21:10Z
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As someone who writes about beauty for a living, it feels like career suicide to admit that I’ve been lazy with my skincare routine lately.
While I’ve always diligently cleansed and used an acid toner, a serum and a moisturiser each night, recently I haven’t been in the mood and at the most have been removing my makeup and half-heartedly patting on moisturiser.
However, a trip to west London's most luxurious wellness hotspot changed that.
Last weekend I paid a visit to The HVN in Knightsbridge, expecting to treat myself to a blissful massage, but this heavenly space is so much more than your usual spa – and it completely reset my approach to skincare.
From the moment I walked into the ultra-zen space, complete with minimalist concrete walls and a super soft green carpet, I knew I was set to be transported far from London's busy streets. The HVN brings the outside in with, circadian lighting, woodland aromatics and bird song playing throughout the space, all known to reduce stress.
So far, so wellness. But far from being woo-woo, The HVN's treatments are all supported by science, and each client begins their visit with a consultation with a medical professional.
My consultation with nurse practitioner Carrie saw me undergo a full body scan which measured my weight, body fat and every part of my body, with the idea that The HVN would prescribe treatments to address any concerns, via an osteopath, a nutritionist, and aestheticians, then a second scan post-treatments would see how they had impacted my body. It's a long-term approach rather than the quick fixes which often don't deliver results.
Next up, Carrie performed a skin analysis using a machine that showed all the different layers of my skin. The scan revealed damage and signs of ageing on and beneath the surface of the skin, to help create a bespoke treatment plan.
The analysis assessed wrinkles, texture, pores, red and brown spots, UV damage, and as a lifelong sun worshipper I certainly fretted about what the scan would show – but I was pleasantly surprised!
My skin age showed me to be 29, five years younger than I am, and the texture analysis said my skin texture is really good, with Carrie explaining that my use of glycolic acid is likely to thank for this.
READ: I’ve been a Beauty Editor for 25 years and these are the products I will be repeat buying in 2024
As I mentioned, I'd lost interest in my skincare routine – it hadn't been giving me the immediate glow I'm after, but the skin analysis proved my products are working and reignited my passion for applying my nightly lotions and potions. Sure, I might not be seeing results each day, but over time it's clearly paying off.
After the two super-scientific scans, it was time for me to embrace The HVN's relaxation offering in the Cocoon Room, featuring the UK's only Hydro Bed, a warm water mattress that cradles your body at the optimum temperature of 38 degrees, instantly relaxing tight, tired, aching muscles and joints.
Indeed, as soon as I lay down I found myself fighting to stay awake so I could enjoy every minute of The Cocoon Ritual, a restorative and rejuvenating full body massage.
My therapist Sonia had magic hands, with a feather-light touch that still eased out any tension. My favourite element of the Hydro Bed was the fact that she could massage my shoulders without me having to move, thanks to the pliable nature of the water bed – this also means pregnancy massage can take place on it, without the client having to turn over.
Post-treatment, I floated out of The HVN in a blissful haze, excited to not only revel in my new zen state, but to put the expert intel I'd received into practice.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/511636/fell-back-in-love-skincare-routine-hvn-knightsbridge/
| 2024-01-19T11:21:16Z
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It’s a wonderful day to be a Gen Z. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and Selena Gomez just took to her Instagram story to share the news that Disney Channel’s mega-hit, Wizards Of Waverly Place is making a comeback. Thank you, TV gods.
In a series of stories uploaded by the Rare Beauty founder, Selena looks to be more than excited for the reboot. Captioning one story of an image of the pilot episode script “home again.”
Here’s what we know about the reboot
In all honesty, we don’t know much. But what we do know is that a pilot episode has been confirmed for the reboot and both Alex, played by Selena Gomez, and Justin Russo, played by David Henrie will reunite as wizard siblings once again. Unfortunately, there's no word on younger brother Max, played by Jake T. Austin, making a comeback and 13-year-old me’s heart is hurting more than it should.
Aside from the fun family feuds, best friend Harper's crazy funky junky hats and the wizarding world’s often tumultuous magic mishaps, we’re excited to see what fashion statements an older, wiser and more powerful wizard like Alex is about to rock.
The first episode aired back in 2007 and inspired a generation of boisterous girls who layered dresses over pants, striped long sleeves under graphic t-shirts, vests over mismatched turtlenecks and basically everything in between.
So, in honour of this very exciting news, we take a look back at Alex Russo’s wardrobe with the hopes that her 2024 character channels the same vibe.
Skinny jeans and boots
If there’s one combo that's Alex Russo coded it's a pair of skinny jeans and knee-high boots. I can’t lie, younger me thought that this was the epitome of trendy fashion and I still stand by it.
Layering long vest tops
The mid-2000s was all about layering and the WOWP wardrobe team was all over it. Alex often sported long colourful vest tops over the top of t-shirts, most featuring a frill or lace trim, perfectly balancing the stereotypical “girl” wardrobe with a rebellious edge.
Long necklaces
Talk about statement accessories. In almost every outfit Selena sported while playing Alex, she was donned in an oversized, often sparkly, long necklace. A seriously mid-2000s coded accessory (which I can imagine a lot of us have PTSD from). I hope the wardrobe team brings this iconic stylistic choice back and somehow makes it chic for 2024.
Stripes
To be honest, if I told you this ‘fit was from Urban Outfitters' latest drop, you’d probably believe me. Striped knits were an Alex Russo fave and they seem to be making a resurgence today in the form of skinny scarves, Acne Studio sweaters and long-sleeved layers.
Bedazzled sandals
Hear me out. Bedazzled sandals could make a comeback if styled right. Let's be honest, stranger things have happened in the fashion sphere ( we're looking at you JW Anderson frog shoes) and it will only take one designer brand to bring them back to life.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/hfm/culture/511638/selena-gomez-wozards-of-waverly-place-sequel-wardrobe/
| 2024-01-19T11:21:21Z
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A real leather jacket is a true investment piece. It's worth splashing that extra cash, as once you get it right, you're set for life. With the focus more than ever on making sustainable sartorial choices and creating a wardrobe that's built to last, what better place to start than with a leather biker jacket, leather bomber jacket or leather blazer to throw on over everything all year round?
Leather has long been a staple for all of the most stylish celebs, from Kate Moss to Meghan Markle and Hailey Bieber to Bella Hadid. It adds a bit of edge to any outfit and creates timeless looks that never age.
Whether it's a biker, bomber or an oversized blazer, Bella Hadid is rarely seen without a leather jacket. She styles them with everything from wide-leg trousers and trainers to sheer dresses and stiletto heels. Hailey Bieber is similar, wearing hers with both mini dresses and off-duty denim.
Kate Moss has been stepping out in leather jackets since the 90s and she's still rocking them today, most recently pictured pairing a cropped style with a red blouse, maxi skirt and platform boots.
Before she became a royal, the Duchess of Sussex was also often pictured in sleek leather jackets. She loved her Christy style from Club Monaco, which she wore with chic black dresses or skinny jeans and tees.
How we chose the best leather jackets
Material: All of the jackets in this edit are made from real leather. This means they'll be a forever piece in your wardrobe and will only get better with age.
Style: We've included biker jackets, bomber jackets and blazers, so no matter the cut you're looking for, we've found a classic and timeless style.
Price: We've found some real leather pieces for around the £100 mark, as well as styles pushing £1,000 if you want to invest in a designer brand.
Leather biker jackets
AllSaints Leather Jacket
AllSaints Balfern Leather Jacket
Sizes available: UK 2-16
Colours available: Black
Shipping: Free Standard Delivery
Returns: Free within 28 days
AllSaints is synonymous with leather jackets and the biker styles are iconic for good reason. Perfectly crafted in soft leather, if you only have one, make it the Balfern. Fully lined, it features the brand's signature metal trims and two zipped pockets.
Reiss Leather Jacket
Reiss Geo Leather Biker Jacket
Sizes available: UK 4-18
Colours available: Black
Shipping: £5.95 Next Day Delivery
Returns: £1.95 within 28 days
Crafted from premium leather, the chic Geo jacket from Reiss has an elegant slim-fit design with a classic biker collar and cool asymmetric zip detail.
Anine Bing Leather Jacket
Anine Bing Benjamin Leather Jacket
Sizes available: XS-L
Colours available: Black
Shipping: Free Standard Delivery for orders over £400
Returns: Free within 14 days
From the relaxed fit to the removable waistbelt and leather that gets more supple with each wear, Anine Bing's Benjamin biker jacket is at the very top of our wish lists.
Arket Leather Jacket
Arket Racer Leather Jacket
Sizes available: EUR 34-44
Colours available: Black
Shipping: £5 Standard Delivery or free for orders over £125
Returns: Free within 30 days
Arket's racer-inspired leather biker jacket has a boxy cut, with a stand collar and zip details at the sleeves. We love it styled with wide-leg jeans.
Mango Leather Jacket
Mango Leather Biker Jacket
Sizes available: XXS-4XL
Colours available: Black
Shipping: £3.95 Standard Delivery or free for orders over £30
Returns: Free within 30 days
Leather jackets don't come much more affordable than this one from Mango. Made from 100% Nappa leather, it has a classic slim fit design and comes in an inclusive range of sizes, from XXS to 4XL.
& Other Stories Leather Jacket
& Other Stories Topstitched Leather Jacket
Sizes available: XS-L
Colours available: Black
Shipping: £4 Standard Delivery or free for orders over £80
Returns: Free within 30 days
For a unique take on the leather biker jacket, & Other Stories has this boxy zip-up style with an all over faded finish. It features a stand-up collar, padded shoulders and duo chest zip-pockets.
Karen Millen Leather Jacket
Karen Millen Signature Leather Jacket
Sizes available: UK 6-16
Colours available: Black, Blush, Dark Tan, Black/White
Shipping: £4.99 Standard Delivery or free with Karen Millen Premier
Returns: £2 within 28 days or free with Karen Millen Premier
Cropped at the waist with a lightly tailored silhouette, Karen Millen's signature leather jacket is so flattering. It features classic silver-tone zips and notched lapels.
Zara Leather Jacket
Zara Studded Leather Jacket
Sizes available: XS-L
Colours available: Black
Shipping: £3.95 Standard Delivery or free for orders over £50
Returns: £1.95 within 30 days
If you're looking for something a little more unique, head to Zara. This limited edition leather jacket is covered in chains, studs and rhinestone embellishments. It's perfect to wear to a festival or if you just want to add some serious style to an otherwise minimalist outfit.
Leather blazers
M&S Leather Jacket
M&S Autograph Leather Relaxed Blazer
Sizes available: UK 6-24
Colours available: Black
Shipping: £3.99 Standard Delivery or free for orders over £60
Returns: Free within 35 days
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Reformation Leather Jacket
Reformation Veda Dalia Relaxed Leather Blazer
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Colours available: Black
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Go ultra 90s with Reformation's leather blazer. Designed to be oversized and roomy, wear it with everything from jeans to mini skirts this season and beyond.
Mint Velvet Leather Jacket
Mint Velvet Leather Blazer
Sizes available: UK 6-18
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Mint Velvet is known for luxe and timeless capsule wardrobe pieces. With its long-line, double-breasted silhouette, smooth lining and glossy buttons, we love this leather blazer.
Jigsaw Leather Jacket
Jigsaw Oversized Leather Blazer
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Slightly oversized, lightweight and cut from ethically-sourced Nappa leather, this Jigsaw blazer is perfect for layering. It comes with a back vent and jet flap pockets.
Hush Leather Jacket
Hush Leather Blazer
Sizes available: UK 4-18
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Leather bomber jackets
ASOS Leather Jacket
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Sizes available: XS-L
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M&S Leather Jacket
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COS Leather Jacket
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Whistles Leather Jacket
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Sizes available: UK 4-20
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Whistles' sleek leather bomber jacket is timeless. It has a slightly oversized fit, but the brand advises to size up if you plan on layering with chunky knits.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/shopping/511506/best-leather-jackets-for-women/
| 2024-01-19T11:21:22Z
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Ukrainian hackers stole technical documentation on 500 Russian Ministry of Defense facilities, according to Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne, referring to its sources in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).
“Hackers of the Blackjack group, which is likely affiliated with the SBU, hacked into a Russian state-owned company that builds military facilities throughout Russia. Ukrainian cyber warriors downloaded over 1.2 TB of data from the ‘Main Military Construction Directorate for Special Facilities’,” Suspilne wrote.
This included over 500 datasheets on Russian Ministry of Defense military facilities: weapon arsenals, anti-aircraft missile sites, headquarters, barracks, including those located in Ukrainian territories occupied by the enemy, as well as other technical project documentation, according to the sources.
Suspilne says the hackers also took down seven servers and encrypted over 150 employee computers at the agency.
“Effectively, the Russian construction specialists were left without any data or backup copies of information,” Suspilne wrote.
Earlier, the Blackjack group attacked a Moscow internet provider, erasing 20TB of data and websites, disrupting internet access; called it a “warm-up” attack before a bigger one in revenge for a hack on a Ukraine telecom, as per security source.
Also, Hackers from the Ukrainian IT army paralyzed the operation of the Russian automated enterprise management system 1C-Rarus.
Following a Russian cyber attack on Ukraine’s top-three telecom company, Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) allegedly attacked Russia’s tax system, destroying the entire database and its backup copies.
Read also:
- How Ukraine built a volunteer hacker army from scratch
- Media: Ukrainian hackers leave part of Moscow without internet access
- Ukrainian hackers’ cyber attack on biggest enterprise management system results in million-dollar losses for Russia
- DW: How Ukraine’s hackers attack Russian targets on cyber front lines
- Ukrainian hackers target Russia’s water supply company
- Ukraine says it wiped out Russian tax data in cyber offensive
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/19/media-ukrainian-hackers-steal-tech-docs-on-500-russian-defense-facilities/
| 2024-01-19T11:30:30Z
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Williams Group, a women-owned strategic communications agency, is now a Certified B Corporation™. The Grand Rapids-based firm joins an international movement of purpose-led companies using business as a force for good.
Williams Group received high scores for its equitable business practices and community contributions. Wg has done significant pro bono work with many West Michigan nonprofits, and donates at least 10% of its profits each year to charitable causes.
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https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/companies-on-the-move/williams-group-is-now-a-certified-b-corporation/
| 2024-01-19T11:49:53Z
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The Grand Rapids accounting and advisory firm formerly known as Beene Garter began 2024 with a new name.
The firm rebranded Jan. 1 and took on the name of Troy-based parent company Doeren Mayhew, which acquired Beene Garter in January 2022. The firm in the two years since used the name Beene Garter, A Doeren Mayhew Firm.
Fully transitioning to the Doeren Mayhew name was the final move to integrate the firms after the acquisition. The 74-year-old operation “took some time to talk to our clients, talk to our staff about the rebranding and the merger and let clients know what it means, why it matters and how it affects them,” said Josh Garvey, managing shareholder at Doeren Mayhew’s Grand Rapids office.
“In the last year, we really started talking to the market about the rebrand and about the name change. We didn’t want to rip the Band-Aid off day one and shock the clients and shock the staff because we were a nearly 80-year-old firm with a rich tradition in Grand Rapids, and we also have very loyal staff,” said Garvey, who started at Beene Garter more than 13 years ago and has led the firm since Oct. 1, 2022. “We wanted to make sure we took that time to reflect in the last 24 months and do more of a slow progression and do it right and, first and foremost, make sure the clients understand why we did it.”
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The rebranding “marks another milestone in the evolution of our firm, strengthening our position in the region and strategically moving us forward to grow our local team and expand our West Michigan footprint,” Garvey said.
A prolonged transition to the new name also allowed the firm to retain brand equity built up over decades in Grand Rapids as Beene Garter name, said Matt Brzezinski, marketing manager for Doeren Mayhew’s Grand Rapids office.
The firm took its time with the rebranding “to assure that our clients realize that we’re still the same people, and we still have the same commitment to their business (and) the same drive for the West Michigan community,” Brzezinski said. “That’s what we wanted to keep with the slower transition.”
Doeren Mayhew’s Grand Rapids office has a staff of 130 people. The merger resulted in zero staff turnover at the Grand Rapids office, Garvey said.
In addition to Troy and Grand Rapids, the 91-year-old Doeren Mayhew has offices in in Houston and Dallas, Texas; Charlotte, N.C.; Miami, Tampa and Naples, Fla.; and Zurich, Switzerland and London, England.
The 55th largest CPA firm in the U.S, Doeren Mayhew has nearly $140 million in annual revenue and 590 employees.
For the former Beene Garter operations, the 2022 merger brought access to a number of services that the firm previously did not provide, including international tax accounting, a full insurance practice based in Troy, and a mergers and acquisition practice, Doeren Mayhew Capital Advisors.
The Grand Rapids office has grown gross revenues by 15% to 17% in each of the last two years, after hovering at 8% to 10% for years. Garvey forecasts the Grand Rapids office to grow at a rate closer to 20% in 2024.
Part of the growth will come from a recruiting service launched in 2023 for C-suite financial talent — controllers, CFOs, and other positions — for clients and non-clients that “has already exceeded my expectations,” Garvey said. The service places finance professionals in both contract and permanent positions.
“That department has rocket-shipped off the ground fast,” he said. “We have high hopes and expectations for that department. It’s a very good support for our clients. When your CFO or your controller quits, the first person they call is their CPA, and as soon as they do it’s, ‘I have a way to help you. Here’s what that is.’ It goes to that department that has people already set up that are locked and loaded.”
The merger into a larger, national firm like Doeren Mayhew came as the industry consolidates and copes with issues such as higher software and cybersecurity costs, as well talent shortages. Garvey notes how today “there’s less and less accounting students coming out of colleges nationwide that are going into the accounting profession.”
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, based in Durham, N.C., reported in October that the number of college students graduating with undergraduate accounting degrees declined 7.8% in the 2021-22 academic year from 2020-21. That equated to 47,000 fewer students who earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting.
College students earning a master’s degree in accounting declined 6.4% during the same period, or by 18,238, according to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants report that also noted a 16.9% decline in the number of accounting graduates in the decade from 2012-13 top 2021-22 as college undergraduate enrollments overall declined.
Becoming part of a national firm “helps a lot” in attracting and retaining staff, both in terms of offering the kind of compensation packages needed to compete for talent and providing upward career development and opportunities to work in other markets around the nation, he said.
More from Crain’s Grand Rapids Business:
New owners hope to land restaurant, retail 132-year-old Division Avenue building
Veteran financier expects U.S. economy to cool but avoid recession in 2024
Grand Rapids, metro Detroit architecture firms merge to build statewide reach
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https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/banking-finance/grand-rapids-cpa-firm-completes-merger-integration-with-rebranding-to-doeren-mayhew/
| 2024-01-19T11:50:00Z
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The 12th annual Michigan Economic Outlook Survey was unveiled at the Detroit Economic Club’s annual meeting at the MotorCity Hotel and Casino on Tuesday.
The survey ran from Nov. 14, 2023, to Dec. 16, 2023, and involved input from over 1,000 businesspeople and many associations throughout the state. The report found that 42% of people have a positive perception of Michigan’s economy, as compared to 30% who had a negative outlook.
Michigan’s rating as a “great place for young professionals” continues to slip, dropping to an average rating of 64 from 65 a year prior, and 67 in 2022.
Michigan’s Chief Growth Officer Hilary Doe; Quentin Messer, Michigan Economic Development Corporation CEO; and Gabriel Ehrlich, director of research seminar in quantitative economics at the University of Michigan discussed the implications of the report. The panel was moderated by Daniel Howes, a senior editor at The Detroit News.
According to the report, people were less optimistic about their organization or business six months in the future than they were about one or three year timeframes.
“We do expect Michigan to have a little bit of a soft patch for economic growth in the first half of the year,” Ehrlich said. “The reality is high interest rates are gonna make it tough. It’s a challenge for the mortgage industry, the auto industry, (and) the building trades. The good news is inflation is falling right now. That’s going to get the Federal Reserve space to pivot away from fighting inflation and towards supporting growth a little more and that should give some relief to Michigan. We expect growth to start picking up in the second half of this year and then into 2025.”
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Ehrlich said analysts often track Michigan’s economic growth based on how the state compares to before the COVID-19 pandemic. H owever, he said Michigan is only just beginning to recover from the impact the pandemic had on unemployment.
“Michigan lost a lot more jobs at the start of the pandemic. The historical pattern is when the national economy catches a cold, Michigan gets the flu,” Ehrlich said. “If you look at the data, inflation is slowing down. We’re not going to see prices go back to where they were before the pandemic, but we can see the prices get back to where the Federal Reserve wants it to be, which is about 2% per year.”
It will take a year or two to see a real difference in Michigan’s net migration numbers, Doe told Crain’s Detroit.
“We’ve done some comparative analysis relative to faster-growing states to identify where we need to improve our metrics to undergird our growth and speed it up,” Doe said. “In particular, where we can be more supportive of attracting talent. And what we’ve been hearing from folks, is that it’s not a single thing anymore, in terms of jobs, the great opportunities, great places and welcoming communities.”
In essence, the “package” of a place matters. Doe said her team found that the three factors that other growing states had in common were a higher median income growth rate, bachelor’s degree attainment and those walkable transit which community centers that are growing are sort of their population growth centers”
Messer said that he can see Michigan succeeding in attracting young people if they can “win” in regard to people, places and projects.
“I think ultimately businessmen and businesswomen make decisions about where they see an upward trajectory, where they see energy and civic engagement, where they can, especially now in this generation of leadership, where they can have an impact, highly defined impact.”
Messer is optimistic about Michigan’s future, but he believes that how Michigan residents speak about their home state is feeding the loss of young people. He said he’s seen a trend that many people will choose to be humble about Michigan’s accomplishments as opposed to other growing states like Texas.
“I think Michiganders have been like, ‘The product will speak for itself. Our excellence will speak for itself,’ ” Messer said. “Whether it’s in higher education, whether it’s in our ability to manufacture anything from cars to things in aerospace, to furniture, to clothes, whatever. It will speak for itself. But I think sometimes we forget the importance of messaging … There is something to be said about just the power of just relentlessly thinking you’re going to win. ”
Doe told Crain’s that she doesn’t think the outcome of the 2024 presidential election will impact Michigan’s growth plan, but it is necessary that the growth plan needs to last beyond any gubernatorial administration. A critical component of Michigan’s growth story, Doe said, is scholar attraction, retention, and small business entrepreneurship.
“I think entrepreneurship and small business creation are going to be the one of the powerhouse diversification that leads Michigan into the future and will help in those moments where the nation catches a cold, ensure that we don’t get a flu and it will also help with talent attraction and retention is the kind of jobs are young folks want,” Doe said.
Ehrlich said the United Auto Workers union strike had less of an impact on the state than many people anticipated, though it will take time before all the strike’s implications are known.
“We really got lucky that the strike was wrapping up by late October,” Ehrlich said. “I do think that if it had gone longer, it would have gone into the holiday season. It would have had more of an impact on Michigan’s economy, but those spillover effects take time to materialize.”
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https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/economic-development/outlook-on-michigan-economy-mildly-positive-in-annual-economic-outlook-survey/
| 2024-01-19T11:50:06Z
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Corewell Health’s board of directors has a new makeup in the new year.
The system, with co-located headquarters in Grand Rapids and Southfield, appointed two new directors on Jan. 1: Joseph Fifer, former president and CEO of Healthcare Financial Management Association and former vice president of finance for Spectrum Health; and Dr. Robert Williams, a retired family physician.
The two new members replace three members who departed the board at the end of the year, the company said in a press release. Robert Roth, longtime CEO of RoMan Manufacturing Inc., retired from the board. Dr. Christopher Carpenter left Corewell to become the interim dean at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine and Angel Hernandez left Corewell last month to become the chief of neurology at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in Florida.
Alongside the new board members will be new board leadership. Inaugural board Chair Julie Fream, and departing CEO of the MEMA Original Equipment Suppliers group, concluded her role as chair on Dec. 31 last year, but will remain on the board.
Sean Welsh, regional president for PNC Bank, is the new Corewell board chair. Michael Todman, former president of Whirlpool, is the new vice chair, replacing Welsh.
“During this transformative time in health care, we are thrilled for Joe Fifer and Dr. Robert Williams to join our board to lend their expertise, insights and advice,” Tina Freese Decker, president and CEO of Corewell, said in a press release. “We have made great strides toward achieving our vision of a future where health is simple, affordable, equitable and exceptional thanks to the support of Bob Roth, Dr. Chris Carpenter and Dr. Angel Hernandez. As members of our founding board, we will always be grateful for their service and contributions to our organization.”
The new board is faced with a variety of priorities.
The system is managing growth, including a $57 million property buying spree in Grand Rapids. Michigan’s largest in-state health care system has been amassing parcels for its $110 million office park project and surrounding development plan. The office park, known as Corewell Health Place, is under construction and set to be fully occupied in the summer of 2024.
The health system is also involved in two major cybersecurity breaches. Last year, the data of 1 million Corewell patients was exposed twice in two separate cyberattacks on vendors of the health system.
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https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/health-care/corewell-health-names-2-new-board-members-as-3-depart/
| 2024-01-19T11:50:12Z
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Rising incidence rates for mental illnesses on college campuses led a Grand Rapids-based telehealth company that offers online mental health assessments to pursue a new focus designed to help students get screened and access treatment.
Through an initiative that launched in 2023 and has grown steadily, Mentavi Health LLC has partnered with 55 college and universities, including the University of Michigan, that combined enroll 1.5 million students.
In the partnership, Mentavi offers students clinical assessments that screen and diagnoses for depression and anxiety. The “Smart Assessment” also flags other mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder for a follow-up screening.
Mentavi Health has been “talking with colleges every week at this point and adding new colleges almost every week,” and aims to accelerate the initiative in 2024, said Tim Gutwald, the firm’s vice president of business outreach.
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College health centers that are often stretched for resources can refer students to Mentavi Health for an immediate online assessment, which costs $179. Some colleges will assist students in paying for the assessment, Gutwald said.
The initiative follows a push by Mentavi Health to transition to working more with traditional health care providers, rather than directly targeting consumers, he said.
“It’s something where we’ve seen progressive uptake and momentum, and we’re looking to continue that in 2024,” Gutwald said. “We can quickly and effectively assess students for the presence of mental health conditions such as ADHD, anxiety and depression so that the patients can get treatment they need and can succeed at their school.”
Mentavi Health also wants to appeal directly to employers to offer the virtual assessment to employees at a discounted price. The company recently signed a Grand Rapids restaurant operator for the service, Gutwald said.
Founders launched Mentavi Health in 2018 as ADHD Online LLC to offer online assessments for children who may have Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Patients come to Mentavi Health through referrals from primary care physicians. Mentavi Health has since expanded the platform to screen for other conditions beyond ADHD.
The results from online assessments are reviewed by licensed psychologists for a diagnosis and, if needed, a referral for treatment. Patients can either seek treatment through an ADHD Online licensed clinician, the campus health clinic or on their own.
The idea behind ADHD Online was to eliminate the long waits of weeks or months that it typically takes to get an appointment with a psychologist.
In partnering with student health clinics on college campuses, Mentavi Health targets a large and growing need across the country.
In web surveys involving 96,000 U.S. students at 133 campuses in the 2021-22 academic year, 44% reported symptoms of depression and 37% reported anxiety disorders. Among respondents, 15% said they had seriously considered suicide in the past year.
Those are the highest recorded rates in the history of the 15-year-old Healthy Minds survey. In Michigan, the survey included students from Grand Rapids Community College, Ferris State University, Western Michigan University and Michigan State University, the University of Michigan, and Wayne State University.
Mentavi Health offers the online mental health assessment for a generation of college students today who are long accustomed to doing so much online, having grown up with the technology as part of their daily lives, and welcome telemedicine.
“College students certainly comfortable using telehealth and comfortable using technology to access health care,” Gutwald said. “People certainly appreciate kind of the privacy and confidentiality that telemedicine offers even more so than the standard health care.”
More from Crain’s Grand Rapids Business:
Venture capital investments in Michigan companies fall again in 2023
Oprah Winfrey to speak in Grand Rapids at Econ Club annual dinner
Cannabis operators report sales spike ahead of forecasted blizzard
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https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/health-care/mentavi-health-partners-with-colleges-for-online-student-mental-health-assessments/
| 2024-01-19T11:50:18Z
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Trinity Health Michigan and University of Michigan Health-West have appointed Dr. Lloyd Geddes Jr. as executive director of the Cancer Network of West Michigan.
Geddes came to Grand Rapids from the Methodist Cancer Institute at Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare in Memphis, Tenn., where he was medical director from October 2020 to January 2024. He previously served as the medical director for the Cancer Center at UP Health System in Hancock in the Upper Peninsula, which under his leadership improved in performance from the 30th to the 90th percentile.
Geddes also was involved in founding and managing the Oncology & Hematology Centers of Atlanta from 2002 to 2013.
“Dr. Geddes’ extensive experience aligns well with the Network’s mission to deliver exceptional care for patients close to home,” said Dr. Matt Biersack, president at Trinity Health Grand Rapids. “Our cancer treatment centers bridge resources for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and research, ensuring patients and families can receive exceptional care locally.”
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Trinity Health in Grand Rapids and Muskegon formed a joint venture in 2019 with University of Michigan Health-West and Michigan Medicine to create the regional Cancer Network of West Michigan that includes specialists in oncology from each health system.
Dr. Geddes’ appointment includes serving as medical director at Trinity Health’s Richard J. Lacks Sr. Cancer Center in Grand Rapids and working with the Trinity Health Johnson Family Cancer Center in Muskegon, and the University of Michigan Health-West Cancer Center in Wyoming. He also was appointed as a faculty clinical instructor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at Michigan Medicine’s Rogel Cancer in Ann Arbor.
“The Cancer Network of West Michigan offers patients access to renowned cancer research, advanced clinical trials and emerging protocols,” Geddes said in a statement. “My goal is to continue to elevate the standard of cancer care in Grand Rapids, the Lakeshore and beyond.”
Geddes earned his medical degree from the University of Florida College of Medicine and is pursuing an executive MBA at Louisiana State University.
More from Crain’s Grand Rapids Business:
Venture capital investments in Michigan companies fall again in 2023
Oprah Winfrey to speak in Grand Rapids at Econ Club annual dinner
Cannabis operators report sales spike ahead of forecasted blizzard
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https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/health-care/regional-cancer-network-names-new-director/
| 2024-01-19T11:50:24Z
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Dr. Michael Weiner is all about new frontiers.
The former U.S. Navy medical officer has served in several countries, including Greece, Japan and Italy, as well as on ships in the middle of the ocean.
He was also the takeoff and landing physician for NASA’s space shuttle program.
More domestically, he led IBM’s global health care division and was the chief medical officer for defense contractor Maximus and its 34,000 employees.
Weiner now, however, is rounding out his career in East Lansing, serving as MSU Health Care’s chief medical officer and looking to expand the university’s health care reach beyond mid-Michigan.
After such a storied career, why come to MSU?
I think at the end of it, I still desire service to others and service to the nation. That doesn’t leave you. And what an opportunity to provide service to a renowned Big Ten university. All the things I had learned and seen and done in a 40-year career in the military and in the commercial world, I wanted to bring that to an organization that was growing and transforming and looking to reinvent itself.
Is this as exciting as working for NASA and the Navy?
It’s a very exciting time for us. The past was slow to move, slow to adopt and slow to change. But now it’s an empowering place to support care.
MSU Health doesn’t have a hospital to run its innovations through. How will it grow?
We do not have a hospital. But we are not burdened by a hospital. The future of medicine, not for just MSU, the future of medicine in America, is pushing to get patients out of the hospital and into outpatient settings. We are wonderfully set up to be part of that national transition — and lead some of it. We are focused on ambulatory surgical centers and primary care delivery and utilizing telemedicine. We now have our own lab and we have tele-physical therapy that we deliver across the state. If you get rid of the burden that is the hospital and just think about the agility of what’s available without a hospital, we are primed for that. That is our strategic plan. We’re about to open our first ambulatory surgical center in the Lansing area and are breaking ground on another in East Lansing soon.
MSU Health is a strategic partner with Henry Ford Health. We know about the research center and academic plans, but are there plans to have a greater presence for care in the Detroit area?
It’s coming. We have a wonderful partnership with Henry Ford. I would foresee more relationships occurring with them. You’re definitely going to have the chance to see the Spartan helmet in the Detroit area. I am not certain exactly how it’s going to roll out, but we’re going to grow with them. There will be more clinical integration in the days to come.
What skills are you bringing to this expansion?
Well, after a career in the military and with IBM and Maximus, I understand structure and the ability to create a strategy and vision and follow through on it. All of those organizations do that well and I want to bring that to the academic setting. (Colleges) are not set up to grow financially. It’s not been the core of the business. But in health care, we have to be financially viable. We want to be here in 40 years and the only way to do that is to be able to adapt and evolve in the transforming health care market.
So the mission is to extend the reach of MSU Health across the state and be a real bigger player in the market?
Yes, because across America, health care systems are closing up shop because they have not figured out how to be financially viable. We need everyone operating and growing. There are more patients than we collectively can take care of. We can’t lose any of the people currently seeing patients and we need more. This is a big deal. The state needs us to grow and for us to be successful.
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https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/health-care/this-doctor-worked-for-the-navy-and-nasa-now-his-mission-is-to-expand-msus-health-care-reach/
| 2024-01-19T11:50:30Z
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An Atlanta college will benefit from the latest large donation made by Kalamazoo businesswoman and philanthropist Ronda Stryker and her husband, William Johnston, the chairman of Greenleaf Trust.
The couple donated $100 million to Spelman College, where Rhonda Stryker has served as a trustee since 1997. Stryker also serves as a director at Kalamazoo-based Stryker Corp., where she is the largest individual shareholder, and as vice chair and a director at Greenleaf Trust.
The Atlanta-based private, historically Black women’s liberal arts college, founded in 1881, has about 2,300 students.
The donation is the largest ever in the history of Spelman College and for historically black colleges and universities, said Lovette Russell, the college’s board chair.
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“We are invigorated and inspired by this incredible act of generosity,” Spelman College President Helene Gayle said. “This gift is a critical step in our school’s mission to eliminate financial barriers to starting and finishing a Spelman education. We can’t thank Ronda Stryker enough for her selflessness and support as both a trustee and friend. There’s no doubt that Spelman College is better because of her.”
Spelman College will use $75 million of the donation to support endowed student scholarships and the remaining $25 million “to develop an academic focus on public policy and democracy, improve student housing and provide flexible funding to meet critical strategic needs,” according to a statement.
Russell called the donation a “transformational gift to any institution, period.”
“We are so grateful, proud and inspired by this phenomenal gift,” she said in announcing the historic donation this morning to Spelman College students.
The contribution continues a lengthy history of philanthropic work for Stryker and Johnston. Rhonda Stryker ranked 128th on Forbes’ 2023 list of the wealthiest Americans with a net worth of $7.4 billion.
The couple a decade ago gave a $100 million gift to the Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, named after Stryker’s grandfather.
In 2019, their Stryker Johnston Foundation donated $57.7 million to the Foundation for Excellence, and another $28.2 million in 2020. The Foundation for Excellence was formed in 2017 to create a bridge between philanthropy and municipal finance in Kalamazoo.
The Spelman College donation “is really about securing the future young women who want to go to Spelman far into the future,” Gayle said during an appearance this morning on the CBS Mornings show.
U.S. News & World Report has ranked Spelman College number one among historically black colleges and universities for 17 straight years. Spelman College also graduates the most Black women who go on to earn a doctorate degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
More from Crain’s Grand Rapids Business:
Financing, construction costs stall 39-unit Grand Rapids housing project
Global packaging company to close Grand Rapids-area plant, laying off 111 workers
Talent constraints drive need for pre-planning in 2024 construction projects
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https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/nonprofits-philanthropy/kalamazoo-billionaire-donates-100m-to-black-womens-college-in-atlanta/
| 2024-01-19T11:50:36Z
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Despite a state grant to offset nearly $1 million project costs, a Grand Rapids-based developer says industry-wide financing challenges and construction prices are stalling plans for a 39-unit “attainable” housing project at a former union hall.
Leaders of Third Coast Development LLC have run into high interest rates, rising construction costs and a need to make their proposed housing project at 916 Benjamin Ave. NE a little less dense to secure city approval for the project, explained Third Coast Partner Dave Levitt.
“The rise in interest rates has made the cost of new construction and rates you have to charge in rent inconsistent with what people can afford to pay,” Levitt said. “Benjamin Flats is a project we really want to do and eventually, when the market conditions are right, we will do something.”
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Third Coast leaders still expect their special land use request for the roughly $8 million Benjamin Flats project to be considered by the Grand Rapids Planning Commission in the coming weeks. Initial plans to construct 48 apartment units have been scaled back to 39 units, the highest density that could be achieved without rezoning the property from low-density residential, Levitt said.
Third Coast plans to demolish the former union hall building on site and construct a two-story apartment building in its place. The apartments would be a mix of studios and one- and two-bedroom units priced at, including utilities, around 30% of a tenant’s income.
Third Coast acquired the vacant union hall property from the Kent-Ionia Labor Council at the end of 2021 for $310,000, according to property records.
The project aims to fit the size and density of the surrounding community, which includes many two-story ranch houses, to emulate the character of the neighborhood, Levitt said.
“There is not a lot of housing availability so we’re excited to bring more options and especially more options within that price point to that neighborhood,” Levitt said.
Third Coast in October 2023 received a $960,000 grant from the Revitalization and Placemaking Program (Rap 2.0) through the Michigan Economic Development Corp. The RAP grant is “very important” for the project, but it still comes with its own strings attached, Levitt said.
“Our situation is improved having (the grant),” Levitt said. “This is still a puzzle and requires a lot of playing through those twists and turns. We still have to make this pencil and get financing in place to make it all work.”
The financing obstacles are not unique to the Benjamin Flats development, Levitt added.
“If it’s not (using) Low Income Housing Tax Credits or high-end housing, there isn’t a lot of housing being built right now,” he said.
This is in line with the American Institute of Architects’ January 2024 construction forecast. Firms specializing in multifamily projects reported strong billings through mid-year 2022, but have been slowing steadily since then, with significant declines by the fourth quarter of 2023, according to AIA data.
CLARIFICATION: This story has been updated with a new total project cost of around $8 million.
More from Crain’s Grand Rapids Business:
Venture capital investments in Michigan companies fall again in 2023
Oprah Winfrey to speak in Grand Rapids at Econ Club annual dinner
Cannabis operators report sales spike ahead of forecasted blizzard
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https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/real-estate/financing-construction-costs-stall-39-unit-grand-rapids-housing-project/
| 2024-01-19T11:50:42Z
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Jim Woods was recently named partner at architecture, engineering, planning firm OHM Advisors. After over 25 years with the Michigan Department of Transportation, he joined the community advancement firm in 2019 to lead its Kalamazoo office. As a project manager and construction engineer, he provides construction engineering experience and technical construction management insight on large multidisciplinary projects. Jim is a graduate of Ferris State University and Michigan Tech University.
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https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/people-on-the-move/jim-woods-named-partner-at-ohm-advisors/
| 2024-01-19T11:50:48Z
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Call it Botox, Dysport, or Jeuveau – there’s no denying that injections with botulinum toxin A are popular. In fact, over 8.7 million cosmetic procedures were carried out with them in the US in 2022. But does their regular, long-term use make any real difference to the faces of those who receive them? A case report on the use of Botox in identical twins suggests that it might.
The first evidence came from a case report published in 2006. The stars of the show were a pair of 38-year-old identical twin sisters, with the study comparing the presence of imprinted, or permanent facial lines between the two.
One twin had received Botox injections in the forehead and glabellar region (the bit between the eyebrows) two to three times a year for 13 years, and in the crow’s feet twice in the two years preceding the report. The other twin had only received Botox on two occasions – three and seven years before the report, in the forehead and glabellar region.
Photos of each twin were taken with their faces at rest and when smiling, both from a face-on view and from each side. The photographs revealed imprinted forehead and glabellar lines on the sporadically treated twin and a lack thereof on the regularly treated twin, both at rest and smiling. Crow’s feet were visible on both twins when smiling, but were considered less noticeable on the regularly treated twin. If you're curious, you can see photos in the studies on the twins.
As a result, author Dr William J Binder concluded: “Long-term treatment with Botox can prevent the development of imprinted facial lines that are visible at rest. Botox treatment can also reduce crow's feet.”
There’s an argument that perhaps the twins were aging differently, and that could be to blame rather than Botox – but Binder suggested that the similarity in smile lines, where neither had received treatment, would indicate otherwise.
In a follow-up case report published in 2015, it’s stated that both twins also used SPF 45-50 sunblock daily, neither used retinol, and they both led very similar, healthy lives – on opposite sides of the Atlantic. It’s for this reason that the authors conclude that the difference in lines between the twins couldn’t be attributed to differences in sun exposure either; the sporadically treated twin with more lines lived in Munich, where the average UV index is lower than Los Angeles, where the other twin lived.
The later case study had similar results to the first. “The treated twin exhibits virtually no forehead rhytides [fine lines] at rest, whereas static forehead rhytides are visible in the sporadically treated twin. Similarly, the crow’s feet are mild in the treated twin, deeper in the sporadically treated twin,” the authors write.
Although neither twin experienced any adverse effects, recent research into Botox has looked beyond the potential physical side effects. One study even concluded that Botox injections in the forehead could change how brains process emotions.
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https://www.iflscience.com/one-twin-had-regular-botox-the-other-didnt-this-is-what-happened-72456
| 2024-01-19T11:52:08Z
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Kim Kardashian's tour of her SKIMS office is a sight to behold - but "of course" is it. The reality TV star stunned fans by sharing a video of herself giving a walking tour of her expansive workplace on TikTok.
But there were multiple reasons why viewers were left in disbelief. In the eye-opening clip below, Kim moves from one head-turning feature to another, and it all begins with a wall of every magazine cover she has ever graced.
The 43-year-old embraced the "of course" trend which involves filling in the blanks, "I'm a BLANK, of course I BLANK," to poke fun of stereotypes and tease the quirks of her profession and personality.
But her extravagant headquarters left many fans shocked by its contents.
Although Kim was mocking herself, there were a number of comments from fans who felt the video was "ego-centric" and her office was unnecessarily over-the-top. "My mouth just dropped," wrote one, as a second remarked: "What the [expletive]!" and a third added: "Her office is bigger than my apartment complex."
Many others were concerned that Kim had a sunbed in her office which she proudly climbed into and posed in her dressing gown. "If Kim Kardashian is using a tanning bed does that mean it's safe again?" asked one fan, while numerous others quipped: "The tanning bed shocked me," and there were crying face emojis next to "tanning bed" comments.
Others defended Kim and pointed out that the bed may be to help her psoriasis. The autoimmune condition causes inflamed and scaly patches on the skin and UVB rays can help clear it up.
Dr Paul Banwell, the founder and previous head of The Melanoma and Skin Cancer Unit (MASCU) in East Grinstead spoke to HELLO! about the dangers of using a tanning bed: "The younger you are when you get a sunburn, sadly the greater the risk of skin cancer," he said.
"Sunbed use is a highly predictive marker of future skin cancer formation and a previous history always puts us on red alert when patients explain this.
"We know that skin cancer is caused by exposure to the Solar Constant – ie. the combination of ultraviolet radiation (UV-A and UV-B), infrared (IR) and visible light from the sun. Intense exposure via sunbed use also dramatically increases risk of skin cancer formation (between 30-70%) and thus avoidance of sunbeds is mandatory," explained Dr Banwell.
"Sunbeds bring on premature aging, wrinkling of the skin, eye problems and a high risk of skin cancer."
Dr. Banwell calls for sunbeds to be banned altogether in the UK, and added: "I have noticed an increase in patients coming to me for mole removal and skin cancer who have used sunbeds. In Australia, sunbeds are already banned, we could save thousands of lives if we ban them in the UK too. I advise people not to use sunbeds."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/health-and-fitness/511641/kim-kardashian-shares-shocking-ego-centric-tour-office-complete-with-sunbed-video-watch/
| 2024-01-19T12:05:12Z
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On top of Homo sapiens, at least eight other species of our genus have walked Earth: Homo habilis, Homo rudolfensis, Homo erectus, Homo antecessor, Homo heidelbergensis, Homo naledi, Homo floresiensis, and Homo neanderthalensis (Neanderthals). Plus, it's likely in the future there will be more that are recognized or unrecognized.
That’s not even mentioning Denisovans, which may be a distinct species or subspecies, plus the unknowable number of human species that may be out there, yet to be discovered by science.
All of these animals (that includes us) belong to the genus Homo, which comes from the Latin name for “human”. Members of the Homo family are part of a group called hominins. This should not be confused with hominids – the latter refers to modern humans and the other living great apes, such as chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, and orangutans.
Members of the Homo genus are all closely related to modern humans (relatively speaking), belonging to the same genus as us – just as tigers, lions, jaguars, and leopards belong to the genus of Panthera.
All of them except for H. sapiens have since fallen into extinction, but there were points where we inhabited a world shared by several human species. Our species even interbred with some of them – and it was far from a one-night stand.
Bear in mind that none of these species evolved directly from one another in a linear development. H. erectus didn't suddenly turn into H. sapiens one day like a Pokémon evolving. If only it were so simple. The human family tree is messy, deeply intertwined, and complex – not to mention full of gaps due to the fragmentary fossil record.
We do, however, know a lot about some of the Homo species that have wandered the planet over the past few million years.
Homo habilis
The earliest known member of the genus Homo is Homo habilis, which evolved over 2.4 million years ago. Fossils of this species have been discovered in present-day Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Africa, indicating they once lived across a significant portion of eastern and southern Africa.
H. habilis is a crucial character in the story of hominin evolution as their brain was larger than other apes, marking a significant milestone in the development of complex behavior. Also known as the “handyman,” they were skilled makers of stone tools, which consisted of knapped flakes that could be used as blades.
Most researchers believe H. habilis was bipedal and walked upright, although it would have looked relatively ape-like by our standards. After this pioneering species arrived on the scene, human evolution accelerated – for reasons that remain unclear.
Homo rudolfensis
The first known remains of Homo rudolfensis were discovered in 1972 along Lake Turkana in East Rudolf, Kenya. The species lived between 2.4 to 1.8 million years ago, around the same time as H. habilis in similar parts of Africa.
Anatomically speaking, it was also relatively similar to H. habilis, although fossil evidence shows the species had a notably bigger skull. This similarity has led to debates among paleoanthropologists about the classification and evolutionary relationships of these early hominins.
Homo erectus
Homo erectus is arguably one of the most significant and successful hominins to ever live, depending on how you define those terms.
It is undoubtedly the longest-surviving hominin, with evidence showing the species lived between around 1.89 million and 110,000 years ago – that’s almost 2 million years, compared to modern humans that have only been around for 200,000 to 300,000 years.
H. erectus is the first known hominin to have migrated out of Africa. This feat gave the species a huge geographical distribution, with fossils showing the species spanned Africa, Asia, and Europe. In another first, there’s some decent evidence that H. erectus was also the first species to control fire.
Remains of H. erectus show it was a highly varied species, which isn’t surprising considering its huge geographical and temporal extent. However, most specimens show signs of a human-like body, like elongated legs and shorter arms in comparison to its torso.
Homo antecessor
Homo antecessor lived about 800,000 to 1.2 million years ago in Europe.
After first discovering their remains at the Gran Dolina cave in Spain in 1994, they were formally described as the last common ancestor of modern humans and Neanderthals. Later work showed this wasn’t exactly the case, although they’re perhaps an offshoot of hominin that was formed just before the split between modern humans and Neanderthals.
Homo heidelbergensis
Fossils show that Homo heidelbergensis lived approximately 700,000 to 200,000 years ago in Africa, Europe, and possibly Asia.
The species had a blend of features seen in both earlier hominins, like Homo erectus, and later species, such as Homo sapiens. Just as these features would suggest, they were a versatile and transitional hominin that wielded a relatively large brain, could craft sophisticated tools, and inhabited diverse environments.
Homo naledi
One of the more recent additives to the gang, remains of Homo naledi were first discovered in 2013 by exploring the Rising Star Cave system in the Cradle of Humankind, South Africa.
Early work suggests that H. naledi lived millions of years ago, owing to their relatively small brain size. However, subsequent dating revealed they overlapped with Homo sapiens, some 250,000 years ago.
The species has become one of the most controversial characters in this cast of extinct humans. As detailed in a popular Netflix documentary, the Rising Star Cave system contains rock art and decorated graves, which some have said were created by H. naledi. The cave also suggests that species buried their dead, implying they had advanced emotional intelligence.
This claim is remarkable since N. naledi had brains not much bigger than that of a chimpanzee. It’s so remarkable, in fact, many paleoanthropologists don’t buy it.
Homo floresiensis
Homo floresiensis is one of the most unique hominins. Nicknamed “the Hobbit”, the species stood at just over 1 meter (3 feet 6 inches) tall and had a teeny brain.
Don’t let their small stature fool you into thinking they were archaic, however. They lived on the Indonesian island of Flores just 100,000 to 50,000 years ago until modern humans arrived in the region. That means there’s a chance we came across this species in the flesh.
Some anthropologists have speculated that H. floresiensis could still be living on the small Indonesian island based on the folk tales of the indigenous Lio people. However, that’s a pretty wild claim that not many other researchers like to entertain.
Homo neanderthalensis
Better known as the Neanderthals, Homo neanderthalensis is a bit like the “sister species” of H. sapiens. Genetically, we're 99.7 percent identical and it is starkly clear that rampant interbreeding occurred between the species time and time again.
In years gone by, Neanderthals were often portrayed as the heavy-browed, lumbering "caveman" cousin of H. sapiens. However, mounting evidence shows that they were artistic, adaptable, and highly intelligent.
They died out around 40,000 years ago for reasons that a hotly debated by scientists. Some anthropologists believe it could have been climate change or a disease outbreak that drove them into extinction, while others pin the blame on Homo sapiens for outcompeting them or introducing tropical diseases on their migration from Africa. Some even argue that the demise of Neanderthals could have been caused by a genocide at the hands of modern humans.
Homo sapiens
Last but not least, it’s H. sapiens, aka modern humans. Etymologically, their name means “wise man” or “knowledgeable man”, which is pretty arrogant considering they created the name.
This species emerged around 300,000 to 200,000 years ago, but it wasn’t until 100,000 years ago that their brain shape became “modern” like today’s individuals. H. sapiens first appeared in Africa and went on to inhabit every continent of Earth. This tendency for exploration has even seen them land on the Moon a couple of times and have plans to return shortly.
They are the sole living member of the Homo genus - and for good. They are adaptable, creative, intelligent, social, highly competitive, and have the potential to be fiercely aggressive.
This unusual blend of characteristics means have H. sapiens have somewhat of a paradoxical nature. While they have made amazing cultural achievements and great technological advancements, they are wracked by conflicts within their own species and face severe challenges regarding their impact on the environment.
All “explainer” articles are confirmed by fact checkers to be correct at time of publishing. Text, images, and links may be edited, removed, or added to at a later date to keep information current.
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https://www.iflscience.com/how-many-human-species-have-walked-earth-more-than-you-may-think-72524
| 2024-01-19T12:05:13Z
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Actress Joan Collins is the most glamorous and vivacious 90-year-old we know, married to her fifth husband Percy Gibson and a mother of three.
The former Dynasty star, who made her name as the feisty Alexis Colby in the hit 80s show, adores her family. Her children are Tara Newley, 60, Alexander Newley, 58, who she shares with her second husband Anthony Newley, and Katyana Kass, 51, daughter of Joan and Ron Kass, the icon's third husband.
In the documentary This is Joan Collins, the movie star commented on being a mum: "Motherhood was really exciting and I love every minute of it."
We don't often see photos of Katyana, who Joan welcomed into the world on 20 June 1972, and affectionately calls 'Katy'.
Tragically, Katyana was hit by a car when she was just eight years old. In the same documentary, Joan recalled: "She was knocked down by a car and sustained very serious brain injuries and I was told that she was going to die. She was in a coma for a very long time."
Her daughter spent 47 days in a coma, and according to MailOnline, Katyana was left with brain injuries following the near-fatal accident. She had another accident in 2012 when she fell in Joan's apartment block and broke her eye socket. Thankfully Katyana recovered fully.
Like her famous mother, Katyana followed Joan into acting and appeared in the movie The Optimists at age one.
See heartwarming photos of Joan and her daughter below…
Joan shared this lovely picture of herself and her daughter and wrote: "Happy to celebrate my beautiful daughter Katy's birthday with a lovely dinner party with all her friends. #birthdaygirl #celebration #party #friends #proudmother."
Here are Joan and Katyana in 2009 at the 'Slim, Rich & Famous' Private View 9 in London. The ladies looked like they had a fun time together.
Mother and daughter looked ultra-stylist on a night out together in 2007, Joan in a chic cream ensemble and Katyana wearing black and red.
Katyana joined her mother and stepfather Percy at the LA Confidential Magazine Legends after-party in Beverly Hills in 2006.
The pair channeled old Hollywood back in 1983 at the 40th Annual Golden Globe Awards at Beverly Hilton Hotel.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/511640/joan-collins-daughter-katyana-rare-photos/
| 2024-01-19T12:05:19Z
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Stepping out on the snow-sprinkled streets of New York City yesterday, our favourite ‘it’ girl, Taylor Swift, opted for a seriously chic ensemble that’s easier than ever to recreate at home.
The BFF to Blake Lively and Selena Gomez chose to keep things subtle and warm, layering a hooded knit maxi dress underneath a long black wool coat, paired with chunky black boots and a sandy-hued suede handbag. The singer swapped out her usual red lip for a muted peach shade, perfectly matching her golden locks and winged liner eye makeup.
MORE: Secretarycore: TikTok's latest fashion trend is the most bizarre one yet
RELATED: The best dressed stars at the Emmys 2024
With the weather being colder than cold at the moment, keeping snuggly and warm is a number one priority for all however, fashion lovers will know that this shouldn't come at the expense of a fabulous ‘fit.
Taking notes from Miss Swift’s recent outfit, I think it’s safe to say that this look could be recreated with your existing wardrobe. If you don’t have a knit maxi dress, swap it out for a hoodie and long skirt combo, layer a pair of tights underneath for added warmth, add a pair of docs or chunky boots and finish with your go-to overcoat. A simple, yet chic look that’s also comfortable.
I also think that a simple fresh-faced makeup look will help elevate your outfit if you’re planning on staying out after dark. Taylor is renowned for her black-liner cat eye look and bold lipstick choices.
It’s been a big few years for the mega-hit pop star, I mean the woman toured for over 20 months with the Era’s tour, got a sports star boyfriend, had numerous dinner dates with her besties and not to mention, all the award show red carpet looks. Talk about exhausting, I think she deserves to strut the NYC sidewalks in a casual, cosy outfit, don't you?
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/hfm/fashion-trends/511645/taylor-swifts-2024-winter-outfit-formula-is-so-easy-to-recreate/
| 2024-01-19T12:05:25Z
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When it comes to making quick, healthy meals, is there a more handy kitchen appliance than an air fryer? So if you want to join Team Air Fryer, we’ve found the best air fryers to shop online that have top reviews, tried and tested by shoppers.
We’ll tell you which are the best to shop now, from the top budget air fryers to the best-rated cute and colourful air fryers that will add style to your kitchen, that you'll find at top retailers like John Lewis, Ninja and Amazon.
What size air fryer do I need?
The size air fryer you need all depends on how large your household is. Or, if you plan on cooking multiple dishes at once, you may want to consider a double air fryer, such as Ninja's popular Foodi Dual Air Fryer, which has two independent 3.8L cooking zones.
If you're looking for a good quality, efficient air fryer but don’t have a lot of money to spend, don’t worry – we’ve found the best budget air fryers that have earned top reviews, from no-frills and 2L mini models up to large capacity. If you want to spend a bit more on this must-have appliance, these are some of the best top-brand air fryers out there, including multi-function wonders that will make all kinds of cooking a snap.
If you're into an aesthetics and Instagrammable appliances, you will also want to consider design - like a stylish air fryer in a bold colour to match your kitchen, or a retro look air fryer if you're going for a classic vibe. Let's be honest, some of us just want a basic, easy-to-use fryer that is well-rated and gets the job done – but also looks EXTRA cute on our countertops.
What size air fryer do I need for 1-2 people?
For one to two people, up to 3L should be enough, or you can go a bit higher in capacity for more versatility.
What size air fryer do I need for 3-4 people?
For three to four people, check out 4-5L air fryers.
What size air fryer do I need for a large family?
For large households, the large capacity air fryers from 6L and up will do.
Where can I find air fryer recipes?
You can easily find amazing recipes in so many places online, including from air fryer brands, like Philips' collection of delicious meals. Not to mention that we're obsessed with the seriously impressive air fryer recipes on TikTok. It’s no wonder that air fryers are so popular!
So let's get cooking! Keep scrolling to find out all the benefits of an air fryer, and which brands we, and shoppers, are loving right now – and where you can get one of your own.
What are the benefits of an air fryer?
The primary benefit of cooking with an air fryer is your health, since air fryers give you crispy ‘fried’ food using no oil, which means less fat.
Air fryers are also more energy efficient when it comes to cooking for just yourself or when you’re making smaller dishes, and they’re very easy to clean, too.
What we really love about air fryers is that they’re also a multi-purpose appliance - not only can you fry food, you can also bake in them, and they’re also a quick and easy way to reheat leftovers like pizza. The result will seem fresher than it would be in a microwave, which often leaves reheated food unevenly cooked, overcooked or soggy.
What are the best air fryer brands?
Ninja air fryers are considered top-of-the-line, and are pretty much the highest-rated everywhere, so if you can find one on sale, grab it while you can for less! HELLO! editors are big fans of Ninja and Cosori air fryers, which are among the top-rated on Amazon and just about everywhere else. If you're looking to branch out when it comes to equally trusted brands, Daewoo and Salter have been earning rave reviews at Currys and Wayfair. At John Lewis, shoppers love Tefal and Instapot, which rank just below the Ninja range.
How we chose the best air fryers
- Personal experience: Air fryers are a kitchen staple with HELLO! editors - and we're sharing our personal experiences with air fryers we've shopped for ourselves, and use for cooking for ourselves and our families, from Ninja to Cosori.
- Verified reviews: In some cases there may be an air fryer we haven't personally tried, but we know from Google and social media trends, and reading hundreds of reviews from verified shoppers and reviewers, which air fryers deserve a spot in our expert edit.
- Tried and trusted retailers and brands: It's not just about which air fryer to shop, but also where to shop it - so we've only included HELLO! editor-approved retailers and brands that we personally know and love.
Shop the best air fryers 2024
Best air fryer for family of 3 or 4
Key information
- Capacity: 5.5L / 5.8qt
- Power: 1700W
- Special features: Temperature Control, Programmable
- Product dimensions: 29.9D x 36.4W x 32.1H centimetres
- Colours available: black, white and red
- 2 year guarantee and lifelong support
What we thought
This is the that I currently have in my kitchen, and I use it almost daily to feed my family of three. I was looking for a digital but no-fuss air fryer that was easy for beginners like my teenage son (air fryer nachos are a big hit).
After doing plenty of research I finally settled on the Cosori 5.5L model, taking into consideration the affordable price, the simplicity of use and cleaning - the nonstick baskets are easy to wipe clean and are also dishwasher safe - and the quality based on over 42k five-star ratings on Amazon."
The Cosori 5.5L air fryer is great for your health and your budget: it saves up to 55% on energy bills because it cooks 50% faster than a conventional oven, and you use 85% less oil when compared with traditional deep frying. There are 11 presets so you can cook with the touch of a button, and the basket is roomy enough to cook for three to four.
Best air fryer for a speedy dinner
Key information
- Two year warranty
- 5.7L (6qt) working capacity, subject to mixture
- Weight: 6.5kg
- Size H31, W33, D35cm
- Accessories included: 1 x 5.7L Removable Cooking Pot, 1 x Cook & Crisp Tray, 1 x Condensation Collector.
What we thought
"I enjoy cooking but there are nights - mainly during the week - that I just don't want to spend hours in the kitchen. This air fryer promised speedy dinners and it didn't disappoint. There are 10 settings that include: steam, grill, fry, and slow cook so it's just so much more than a simple air fryer, it's basically your oven AND your hob. It fits lots inside, and is ideal for approximately 3-4 portions. A big positive is the 'Speedi Meal Builder' which is on an app and it suggests recipes to make." - Leanne Bayley, Director of Lifestyle & Commerce.
Finding the perfect air fryer is no mean feat, there are so many to choose from but if time is never on your side - and you find cooking a bit of a chore - the Ninja Speedi 10-in-1 5.7L Rapid Cooker and Air Fryer is the one for you. You get restaurant-worthy meals in one pot in 15 minutes (excludes pre-heat time).
The Rapid Cooker mode combines steam with convection heat to cook fluffy grains, tender vegetables, and proteins – all at once. Create thousands of custom recipes with the Speedi Meal Builder - simply choose your favourite ingredients and build your own recipe!
What we thought
Best air fryer for a single person
Key information
- Rely on 15-year repairability at a fair price
- 8.3L litre working capacity
- Weight: 11kg
- Size 418mm x 402mm x 305mm
- Accessories included: Drawers, cooking plate, grill plate (accessories are dishwasher safe).
What we thought
"Wow! How perfect is this air fryer? My favourite thing is that you needn't worry about timings: all you have to do is sync the drawers, so everything finishes at the same time. What's more, it cooks 40% faster than an oven (no need to preheat it) and it uses up to 70% less energy. So, you can get dinner ready quicker whilst slashing your bills. Another highlight? There's Extra Crisp technology which makes it great for bacon and french fries. You can also grill steaks like a pro on the Sizzling Grill Plate, which thankfully is dishwasher safe." - Leanne Bayley, Director of Lifestyle & Commerce.
Yes, you could opt for an air fryer with one single drawer if you're a chef cooking for one, but it might be restrictive. This one from Tefal is the best of both worlds as you can enjoy single and dual zone cooking in one sleek grey appliance with Easy Fry Dual, Tefal’s dual air fryer and grill.
Unlike most double air fryers, Easy Fry Dual has two different sized drawers – a 5.2L and a 3.1L – that you can use independently to meet your cooking needs. If you're dining alone? Just heat the smaller drawer to save energy. Or use both to make a complete meal. The XL drawer fits a whole chicken and the combined 8.3L capacity can feed up to 8.
Best dual air fryer
Key information
- Product Weight: 8.2kg
- Product Dimensions (cm): H:31.5 x W:38 x D:26.5 cm
- Wattage: 1 cooking drawer: 1200W | 2 cooking drawers: 2400W
- Dish Washer Safe Components: Yes
- Capacity: 7.6L
- Guarantee: 2 Years
What we think
This viral Ninja is a huge hit with HELLO! Readers, even more so when it’s on sale. It’s very big and a bit more complex to master, but if you’re looking to cook a whole meal at once, for example both roast a chicken and fry up chips at the same time, you won’t find a more comprehensive air fryer out there. It has six settings, and you can do two different cooking settings simultaneously with both ready to serve at the same time. Fans call it ‘brilliant’ and a ‘game changer’.
The Ninja Foodi Dual Zone air fryer has six cooking functions, Air Fry, Max Crisp, Roast, Bake, Dehydrate, Reheat, and two 3.8L drawers: a 1.6kg chicken fits in each.
Best small air fryer for 1-2 people
Key information
- Special features: Temperature Control, Programmable
- Product dimensions (cm): 25.6D x 21.1W x 26.7H
- Capacity: 2L / 2.1 qt
- Sound: 48 dB
- Power: 900W
What we think
As someone who owns a larger top-rated Cosori, this is the air fryer I would have bought if I hadn’t needed a bigger one. If you want a quality air fryer that doesn’t take up too much space, and that is great for 1-2 people, you can get Cosori quality in a smaller package with the 2L version.
Perfect for smaller kitchens, this mini Cosori also uses up to 95% less oil. It features an easy-to-use touch screen, and is connected to the eSync app which contains 30 free recipes.
Most stylish air fryer
Key information
- Cooking settings: 8
- Capacity: 6L
- Special features: Temperature Control, Timer, Programmable
- 1 year guarantee and optional 2 year extension,
What we think
Not only are Tower air fryers highly rated, but they also feature one of our favourite stylish designs and come in a host of colours.
Depending on the size you need - ranging from 3.8L to 6L - the Tower air fryer is available in multiple colours and with a manual dial or touch controls. This midnight blue version features a roomy non-stick basket, Vortx technology and eight cooking presets.
Best air fryer for large families
- # of cooking functions: 16
- Capacity: 7.2 L (1.4 kg)
- App? Yes, connected to NutriU app, and also compatible with Amazon Alexa.
What we think
Philips air fryers have fans among HELLO!’s editors, and this one is just perfect for larger families. There’s just one basket, but it’s a whopping 7.1L - meaning you can serve up six portions at once.
This smart air fryer that’s compatible with Alexa has 16 different cooking functions, including bake, defrost, fry, grill, roast, dehydrate, toast and reheat. All the removable parts are dishwasher safe, and it serves six.
Top two-drawer budget option
- Cooking settings: 12
- Capacity: 8.2L
- Special features: Temperature Control, Timer, Sync and Match allows both drawers to be ready at same time
- Very easy to clean
What we think
Katherine Robinson, Senior Lifestyle Editor, says: "My mum actually has this air fryer, and she's very impressed with it. I can personally vouch for the fact that it makes oven chips taste great! She says it's easy to clean and she loves the Sync and Match function - which allows for matching cooking times on the two drawers to make sure both are ready at the same time."
With an 8.2 litre capacity, this twin-cook air fryer is great for families - it can prepare double portions and cook different food ready to serve at the same time. It has 12 cooking functions with pause, resume sync and match features to ensure identical cooking times and temperatures.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/shopping/511559/best-air-fryers-with-top-reviews/
| 2024-01-19T12:05:31Z
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TBILISI - Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Friday that his country needed a new constitution to entrench its "democratic aspirations", Russia's Interfax news agency reported.
It quoted Pashinyan as telling a meeting at the country's justice ministry: "We must have a Constitution that will make the Republic of Armenia more competitive and more viable in the new geopolitical and regional conditions".
Pashinyan, a longtime liberal opposition leader who swept to power on the back of a 2018 revolution which ousted the former ruling elite, was cited as saying it was vital to do everything possible to shore up Armenia's legitimacy.
Under Pashinyan, Armenia fought and lost a 2020 war with Azerbaijan over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region whose ethnic Armenian population fled en masse last year after an Azerbaijani military operation.
Pashinyan has also taken steps to distance Armenia from traditional ally Russia, building ties with Western countries instead while also engaging in talks to sign a potential peace treaty with Azerbaijan that would end three decades of conflict. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/armenias-prime-minister-says-his-country-needs-a-new-constitution-ifax
| 2024-01-19T12:31:44Z
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SEOUL – China’s embassy in Seoul has warned citizens against the dangers of having plastic surgery done in South Korea, from the risk of death to major facial changes that make it difficult to pass through immigration checks.
South Korea is one of the world’s most popular destinations for medical tourism, canvassing foreign patients in the past decade, the bulk of whom come from China and the United States, data provider Statista says.
“In recent years, many foreigners have come to South Korea for cosmetic surgery, and some people have been involved in medical disputes and surgical failures and even deaths have occurred,” the Chinese embassy said in a note to the public.
The note follows the death in January of a Chinese woman after receiving liposuction surgery three times at a plastic surgery clinic in the Gangnam area of the capital, the Yonhap news agency said on Jan 17, citing police.
Reuters could not immediately reach a representative of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons to seek comment outside business hours.
The Chinese embassy asked its citizens to be wary of advertising and take note of the risks, while choosing intermediaries carefully and checking the legitimacy of medical institutions or surgeons, signing clear contracts and retaining full records.
“If there is a major change in (your) post-operative appearance, or if you are still in the post-operative recovery stage, you should bring the surgical certificate when you leave the country,” the embassy added.
Such a precaution would help avoid complications with check-in or subsequent entry and exit procedures, it said.
South Korea had 2,718 plastic surgeons in 2022, according to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, a number similar to China’s estimated 3,000 surgeons, despite a population that is 28 times the size of South Korea’s. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/chinese-embassy-warns-of-plastic-surgery-risks-in-south-korea
| 2024-01-19T12:31:55Z
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TOKYO - Japanese prosecutors on Jan 19 charged two lawmakers over a funding scandal, adding to pressure on Prime Minister Fumio Kishida whose support rate has plummeted.
The lawmakers, along with several staff members of factions of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), are accused of violating the political funds control law, according to prosecution documents seen by AFP.
Poll ratings for Mr Kishida’s government are at the worst level since the LDP returned to power in 2012, dragged down by voter anger about inflation, and a string of earlier scandals.
At the centre of the latest sprawling scandal are kickbacks, which allegedly went to party members who exceeded their ticket sales quotas for party fundraising events.
Prosecutors alleged that lawmaker Yasutada Ohno conspired with his secretary to hide political donations worth more than 51 million yen (S$462,111) from 2018 through 2022.
Lawmaker Yaichi Tanigawa and his secretary were also accused of hiding more than 43 milion yen during the same period.
The two MPs belong to the largest faction of the ruling LDP, previously headed by ex-premier Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated in 2022.
Other administrative employees from a faction Mr Kishida headed until recently, and another faction, were also charged on Jan 19.
Factions have long been crucial to the inner workings of the LDP, with prime ministers distributing top positions with faction politics in mind.
Earlier this month, prosecutors arrested ruling party lawmaker Yoshitaka Ikeda and his secretary, reportedly on suspicion of receiving around 48 million yen in kickbacks.
In December 2023, Mr Kishida sacked the top government spokesman, the trade minister and two other ministers – all belonging to the Abe faction.
The charges on Jan 19 came a day after Mr Kishida expressed his intention to dissolve the faction he previously headed “to restore public trust”. AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/japan-prosecutors-charge-two-lawmakers-over-fund-scandal
| 2024-01-19T12:32:05Z
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SEOUL - Video footage released by an organisation that works with North Korean defectors shows North Korean authorities publicly sentencing two teenagers to 12 years’ hard labour for watching K-pop.
The footage, which shows the two 16-year-olds in Pyongyang convicted of watching South Korean movies and music videos, was released by the South and North Development (Sand) Institute.
Reuters was unable to independently verify the footage, which was first reported by the BBC.
North Korea has for years imposed tough sentences on anyone caught enjoying South Korean entertainment or copying the way South Koreans speak, in a war on outside influences since a sweeping new “anti-reactionary thought” law was imposed in 2020.
“Judging from the heavy punishment, it seems that this is to be shown to people across North Korea to warn them. If so, it appears this lifestyle of South Korean culture is prevalent in North Korean society,” said Dr Choi Kyong Hui, president of Sand and doctor of political science at Tokyo University, who defected from North Korea in 2001.
“I think this video was edited around 2022... What is troublesome for (North Korean leader) Kim Jong Un is that Millennials and Gen Z young people have changed their way of thinking. I think he’s working on turning it back to the North Korean way,” she said.
The video, made by North Korean authorities, shows a large public trial in which the two students in grey scrubs are handcuffed while watched by about 1,000 students in an amphitheatre. All the students, including the two 16-year-olds, are wearing face masks, suggesting the footage was shot during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The students were sentenced, according to the video, after being convicted of watching and spreading South Korean movies, music and music videos over three months.
“They were seduced by foreign culture... and ended up ruining their lives,” the narrator states, as the video cut away to young girls being handcuffed and Pyongyang women wearing South Korean fashion and hairstyles.
Reclusive North Korea and the rich, democratic South are technically still at war after their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty, and are divided by a heavily fortified demilitarised zone. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/north-korea-teens-get-12-years-hard-labour-for-watching-k-pop-video
| 2024-01-19T12:32:16Z
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BISHKEK - The European Union expressed concern on Friday about the detention of a number of journalists in Kyrgyzstan and searches at the offices of media outlets which have been critical of the government.
Kyrgyz authorities detained 11 journalists this week, accusing them of inciting unrest, and raided the offices of 24.kg and Temirov Live media outlets. The United States Department of State said on Thursday it was "deeply concerned" by the move.
In a statement the EU delegation to Kyrgyzstan and embassies of member countries expressed "concern about the extensive searches and confiscation of private property of independent media offices and the detention of journalists in Kyrgyzstan."
Expressing different opinions and engaging in independent journalism are part of exercising universal human rights and freedom of expression, they said, urging Kyrgyzstan to stick to its international obligations and legal norms.
Zhanysh Barakov, a lawyer for one of the detained journalists, told Reuters they have been held in custody until March 13. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/eu-says-it-is-concerned-by-kyrgyz-crackdown-on-independent-media
| 2024-01-19T12:32:26Z
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MOSCOW - The Kremlin said on Friday it regretted Argentina's decision not to join the BRICS bloc of nations and hoped that Buenos Aires would reconsider.
Argentina's incoming Foreign Minister Diana Mondino said in November that his country would not join the BRICS grouping of developing nations despite being invited to do so. President Javier Milei has chosen instead to deepen ties with the United States.
In a call with reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said of Argentina's decision:
"Of course this is regrettable, but this is the sovereign right of Argentina, and we respect any decision of Buenos Aires.
"We, in turn, as far as Argentina is concerned, hope that over time the leadership of this country may consider it more profitable for itself to return to BRICS."
The BRICS bloc of developing countries, which formerly consisted of Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa, is in the process of expanding to admit other nations.
In addition to Argentina, the bloc in August agreed to admit Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates in a move aimed at accelerating its push to reshuffle a world order it sees as outdated. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/kremlin-says-it-regrets-argentinas-decision-not-to-join-brics-hopes-it-reconsiders
| 2024-01-19T12:32:36Z
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SINGAPORE – A rebound on Wall Street overnight gave regional investors all the encouragement they needed to end the share trading week on a positive note.
The mood turnaround on Jan 19 sent the Straits Times Index (STI) up 12.51 points or 0.4 per cent to 3,152.29 points but still down 1.2 per cent for the week.
Losers inched ahead of gainers 279 to 254 across the broader market, with 1.2 billion shares worth $944.9 million changing hands.
Most key regional indexes also ended higher, but not those in mainland China and Hong Kong after the People’s Bank of China announced its decision not to cut interest rates.
Regional sentiment was buoyed after a good showing on Wall Street, where surging tech stocks powered the three key indexes higher after a positive briefing from industry giant Taiwan Semiconductor.
The S&P 500 rose 0.9 per cent, the Nasdaq added 1.3 per cent and the Dow Jones Industrial Average put on 0.5 per cent to snap a three-day losing streak.
Traders checked out the sectors that saw the heaviest drops since the beginning of the year, leading to global equity markets posting gains overnight, private bank LGT noted.
Any comments from international policymakers at the last day of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, could provide further impulses, said LGT.
Property developer and hotel operator Hotel Properties slid 0.6 per cent to $3.59, a day after the prosecution said it would make a decision on the investigation against managing director Ong Beng Seng at the conclusion of the court case against former Transport Minister S. Iswaran.
Iswaran had allegedly obtained over $300,000 worth of tickets, hotel stays and flights from Ong.
GuocoLand closed unchanged at $1.44. The firm is part of a consortium that was the sole bidder for a residential and commercial development site in Marina South.
It lodged an offer significantly below market expectations, raising concerns that the plot would not be awarded. THE BUSINESS TIMES
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https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/singapore-shares-track-equity-markets-gains-in-wall-street-europe
| 2024-01-19T12:32:47Z
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SINGAPORE – Peranakan cuisine icon Violet Oon has won her court bid to buy out businessman Manoj Murjani, who holds a 50 per cent stake in her eponymous restaurant business through his holding company.
Ms Oon and her two children, who own the other half of the business, said Mr Murjani had pressured them into signing a new agreement under duress in 2019 after he learnt that the trio had increased their salaries.
Under this agreement, the company purportedly owed $1.55 million to Mr Murjani’s company, Group MMM.
If this supposed loan was not repaid, it would potentially be converted into equity for Group MMM, giving Mr Murjani a majority shareholding.
In a written judgment issued on Jan 19, High Court judge Philip Jeyaretnam found that Mr Murjani had exerted economic duress and undue influence in order to change the shareholder arrangements with a view to his taking control of the company.
Justice Jeyaretnam said: “Given the unfairly exploitative and manifestly disadvantageous nature of the 2019 agreements and the claimants’ testimony concerning the negotiations and the pressure they felt under, I find that the claimants would not have entered into them but for the illegitimate pressure exerted on them.”
The judge said the economic duress made the agreement invalid.
He granted an order sought by the family to buy out Group MMM’s stake in the company.
The company Violet Oon was set up in 2012 by Ms Oon, her daughter Tay Su-Lyn and her son Tay Yiming.
Ms Oon was the company’s culinary curator and chef; Ms Tay was the creative director, marketing manager, and events and catering manager; and Mr Tay was the general manager and managing director.
In 2014, Mr Murjani acquired 50 per cent of the company for $450,000.
At the time, Ms Oon drew $5,000 a month, Ms Tay $1,000 and Mr Tay $4,500. By November 2018, the salaries increased respectively to $8,000, $5,000 and $8,000.
After Mr Murjani found out about this in December 2018, he accused the family of over-paying themselves and took the view that he should be compensated by the company to balance off the salary increments.
He initially claimed that the overpayment amounted to $511,804. This figure was eventually revised to $1.25 million.
During a meeting with Mr Tay in February 2019, Mr Murjani proposed that Group MMM should get 70 per cent of the company based on the value of his contributions.
On Feb 21, 2019, Mr Murjani e-mailed Mr Tay a list of terms, to which the family agreed.
One of the terms stated that Group MMM would receive from the company $1.55 million, which included $1.25 million “overpaid” to the trio.
Another term was for Ms Oon and Ms Tay to be removed from the board, leaving only Mr Tay and Mr Murjani as directors. Mr Murjani was also to be appointed chairman and chief executive of the company.
Other terms related to the company’s branding, including shifting the brand to “VO Singapore” instead of “Violet Oon” and redoing public relations materials to feature Mr Murjani and Group MMM.
A new shareholders’ agreement was signed on Feb 26, 2019.
In 2022, Ms Oon and her children, who are represented by a team led by Ms Meryl Koh from Drew & Napier, filed a lawsuit alleging oppression.
The family also sought an order that Group MMM sell its shares in the company to them, at a price to be determined by the court or a court-appointed valuer.
On April 5, 2023, Group MMM offered to buy the family out for $6 million, on the condition that the family cannot use the “Violet Oon” name.
The family rejected the offer, and the case went to trial on July 10, 2023.
In his judgment, Justice Jeyaretnam said this offer was “not reasonable” because it did not address what Ms Oon and her children wanted, which was to buy out Group MMM, and was premised on Group MMM using Ms Oon’s name.
He said Mr Murjani had used the salary dispute as an opportunity to confuse and pressure Mr Tay by using “tactics” such as threatening severe consequences, inflating the amount of overpayment and exaggerating Group MMM’s contributions.
Mr Tay testified that Mr Murjani had threatened to wind up the company and expose the family to financial claims as they had given personal guarantees for bank loans.
Mr Murjani denied the allegations, but Justice Jeyaretnam concluded that the businessman had made his meaning clear without being explicit.
“From my observation of him in the witness box, he appears to be someone equipped with an ability to manipulate others emotionally without spelling things out,” said the judge.
In a statement to the media, the family said the judgment represented “a fair and just outcome” and that they feel vindicated by the court’s findings.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/violet-oon-wins-court-bid-to-buy-out-business-partner
| 2024-01-19T12:32:57Z
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Free exchange of Nets FlashPay cards at SimplyGo ticket offices postponed ‘until further notice’
Nets FlashPay cards will be phased out from June as part of a move to the SimplyGo system.
New office launched to broaden Government-citizen partnership
The Singapore Government Partnerships Office will also help connect people and groups.
Money laundering case: Assets frozen exceed $3b; 55 more properties and 15 vehicles seized
Warrants of arrest and Interpol Red Notices have also been issued against 2 more suspects.
Acra sanctions Bedok resident behind 185 firms over links to $3b money laundering bust
Enhanced security measures to be in place in Chinatown with big crowds expected at CNY bazaar
The public should take note of crowd advisories and comply with instructions from security staff.
Nice or not? Decorations in Senja estate raise questions about what’s acceptable in common areas
The decorations consisted of temporary stickers and artworks attached onto the corridor’s wall using removable tape.
Construction of MRT station in Pasir Ris paused after noise barrier panels wrecked
There were no injuries to workers, or damage done to the nearby HDB block as a result of the accident.
Jail, caning for man who carried woman to field and molested her
A friend of the victim alerted the police and officers arrived at the scene to arrest the offender.
Steady, reliable, humorous: Liu Jianchao seen as China’s clear choice for next foreign minister
The career diplomat has extensive experience, having served as ambassador to the Philippines and Indonesia.
Additional tickets to Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars concerts in Singapore to be released
Extra tickets to The Eras Tour will go on sale on Jan 25, while general sales for Bruno Mars' shows begin on Jan 20.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/evening-update-today-s-headlines-from-the-straits-times-on-jan-19-2024
| 2024-01-19T12:33:08Z
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SINGAPORE - The site of the former Kebun Baru Primary School in Ang Mo Kio is set to make way for high-rise housing developments, if a proposed amendment to the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s (URA) masterplan gets the green light.
URA, which published the proposed amendment on Jan 19, said the changes mooted to the land parcels in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 2 are meant to facilitate future “high-density residential developments”.
The former Kebun Baru Primary site is 1km from Mayflower MRT station on the Thomson-East Coast Line and spans 1.82 ha, or 2½ football fields.
The proposed changes include re-zoning the “educational institution” and “open space” site for residential and road use.
Established in 1985, Kebun Baru Primary occupied the site until it merged with Ang Mo Kio Primary in January 2002. The merged school moved to 20 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 in May 2002.
The site of the former Kebun Baru Primary School was then used as a holding location for several schools that were being upgraded, such as the primary school section of CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School from 2010 to 2013, Anderson Primary from 2014 to 2015 as well as Mayflower Primary and the MOE Kindergarten@Mayflower from 2019 to 2022.
Demolition work on the former Kebun Baru Primary school building started from the third quarter of 2023, according to a Housing Board circular.
Property analysts said any residential developments built on the site will be attractive for home buyers, given the site’s proximity to several schools and the Mayflower MRT station.
Ms Christine Sun, chief researcher and strategist at property firm OrangeTee Group, said the site may be popular among Singaporeans with school-going children, since CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School, Ai Tong School and Rosyth Primary are nearby.
As there is a mix of private and public housing in the area, Ms Sun said the site could be used for either, and it can yield an estimated 750 condominium units or 500 to 550 HDB flats.
If an HDB project is built on the site, it may be categorised under the Plus flat model, as it is within walking distance of the Mayflower MRT stop, said Ms Sun. Plus flats are those in choicer locations near MRT stations and town centres.
But property portal Mogul.sg’s chief research officer Nicholas Mak said there is a good chance it would be a 99-year leasehold condominium project with an estimated 750 units.
This is because it is too small for an HDB Build-To-Order project, he said.
Mr Mak added that the site will be an attractive location for new homes, as Ang Mo Kio is a popular estate with limited new housing supply.
This Ang Mo Kio plot is not the only former school site to be earmarked for housing development.
The former Guangyang Primary School site in Bishan Street 12 had also been proposed for re-zoning to a residential site in December 2023.
Established in 1918, Guangyang Primary merged with Townsville Primary and moved to the Townsville Primary site in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 in January 2023.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/housing/former-site-of-kebun-baru-primary-school-in-ang-mo-kio-earmarked-for-high-rise-housing-developments
| 2024-01-19T12:33:18Z
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SINGAPORE - A new residential development will be built on a plot of land next to Kembangan MRT station, which currently houses a football field with a running track and a basketball court.
The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) on Jan 16 published a proposed amendment to its masterplan, to re-zone several land parcels and prepare the site for housing. The development will include a new neighbourhood park as well as commercial and recreational amenities, URA said.
The plot proposed for residential use is nearly 2ha, or almost the size of three football fields. Currently zoned for residential use with shops on the first storey and a plot ratio of 2.5, it will be re-zoned to be only for residential, with a higher plot ratio of 3.2. This means the development can have more than 36 storeys.
An adjacent plot along Lengkong Tiga that houses the Kampong Kembangan Community Club will be re-zoned as a park.
URA said the proposed residential development will meet demand for housing and allow future residents to tap the site’s proximity to amenities and transport nodes like Kembangan MRT station.
In a Facebook post on Jan 16, Manpower Minister Tan See Leng, who is an MP for Marine Parade GRC, said plans are underway to rejuvenate the Kembangan area, which includes the redevelopment of Kampong Kembangan Community Club.
Some existing facilities in the area will be affected, Dr Tan said, adding that he and his team will work with respective agencies to “ensure a smooth transition” and minimise inconvenience to residents.
Asked about the fate of the community club and if a replacement will be built, URA said agencies are currently firming up the details and will share more information when ready.
The community club hosts a variety of classes including line dancing and ballet, and has facilities such as a co-working space, a dance studio and a karaoke room.
Responding to queries, a People’s Association (PA) spokesman said when redevelopment works on the current building begins, Dr Tan and Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong - who is also an MP for Marine Parade GRC - will work with agencies and grassroots volunteers to minimise disruption to residents.
He cited making use of nearby community clubs and residents’ committee or residents’ network centres to continue programmes and classes as much as possible.
Other community clubs in the area include the Kampong Ubi Community Centre, Bedok Community Centre and Eunos Community Club.
An 84-year-old retired babysitter, who only wanted to be known as Madam Lee, was among the residents who lamented the potential loss of the community club and other facilities.
She takes qigong classes with her friends there every morning, to avoid staying home alone.
“If the community club is gone, there will be no place for my instructor to hold qigong classes,” Madam Lee said in Mandarin.
She added that there are no alternative gathering spots for her to chat with friends on weekday afternoons, since the nearby void decks are not as centrally-located and do not come with toilets.
Retired civil servant Chua Lay Tin, 68, who visits the community club up to five times a week to play badminton and read newspapers, felt that a community club is more practical and useful than a park, and replacing it was unnecessary.
Another long-time Kembangan resident of 30 years, who only wanted to be known as Mr K, was upset about the potential removal of the field. He uses the running track there every morning.
“Why must we be deprived of a field, when this is the only green space in the area?” said the retired civil servant in his sixties. “By all means, redevelop the community club but keep the field for us.”
Other nearby parks lack a large open space for adults to play group sports or for children to run around, he added.
Property analysts said the upcoming residential development is likely to attract many prospective buyers as it is located next to an MRT station.
Property portal Mogul.sg’s chief research officer Nicholas Mak reckons it is more likely that a condominium will be built on the site instead of Housing Board flats, given its location next to Kembangan MRT station - making it very valuable.
He estimated that the site could yield around 720 to 740 condo units, or 500 to 600 HDB flats.
If HDB flats are built, these are likely to be launched under the Plus model which come with stricter resale conditions, he said.
There will be strong pent-up demand for new HDB flats in the area, given that nearby flats are about 35 to 36 years old, he added.
Mr Mak also said rezoning the site to be solely for residential use is a “missed opportunity”, as there are very few vacant plots of land to develop a decent-size retail mall near Kembangan MRT Station.
OrangeTee Group chief researcher and strategist Christine Sun said the site could be suitable for either a condominium or HDB flats.
More than 400 HDB flats could be built, or 550 to over 600 condo units, she added.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/housing/new-homes-and-park-set-to-be-built-near-kembangan-mrt-station-community-club-to-be-redeveloped
| 2024-01-19T12:33:28Z
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Singapore - New laws to protect Singaporeans from online harms and a Housing Board (HDB) playground designed in collaboration with residents are recent examples of partnerships between citizens and the Government.
Minister of Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong said on Jan 19 that such partnerships have always been part of the Government’s DNA, adding: “We might think it’s easy for someone to just draft up some legislation, but the thought process behind it, the rationale and why we do certain things came about because of this partnership.”
Mr Tong was speaking during a dialogue at the launch of the Singapore Government Partnerships Office (SGPO), which will serve as a “first stop” for those keen to partner the Government and connect them with resources to help them turn their ideas into action.
He highlighted two laws passed in the past two years: the Online Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, where social media platforms can be ordered to remove certain types of egregious content like posts advocating self-harm and child sexual abuse, and the Online Criminal Harms Act, which allows the Government to act more effectively against criminal online activities such as scams.
These laws, as well as the formation of charity organisation SG Her Empowerment, which runs Singapore’s first support centre for victims of online harms, came about because of a group of people including social workers and lawyers came together to find ways to tackle the scourge of online harm.
Mr Tong added that Singapore is one of the first few countries in the world to have laws to tackle online harms, and that came about because of the power of social activism.
Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who was also on the panel, said Singapore has come a long way in terms of Government-citizen partnership, adding that when he started working in Government more than 25 years ago as a young civil servant, there was a very different way of working.
“It was top down policy,” he said, adding that engagements and consultations with the public were quite rare in those days. And then, it started to become “more mainstream”.
In 2011, when he entered politics, DPM Wong said his starting point was to engage different people and hear their ideas and feedback.
He added: “There will be differences, there will be different perspectives, but hopefully we can form a consensus and hopefully your inputs, your perspectives, will enhance decision-making. And often, very many times, they do.”
He cited the example of a playground in Sembawang which the HDB designed and built in partnership with residents, under its “Build-a-Playground” initiative.
About 1,800 people, including residents and other members of the community such as students from nearby schools, came together to share views on the kind of playground they wanted. About 300 residents took part in workshops to design the playground.
He said the sense of fulfilment and ownership residents found through the process was much more than if it had been built through a usual consultation exercise. He opened the playground in 2018 when he was the National Development Minister.
And this experience shows that “there’s a lot that we can do in taking partnerships forward”, he said on Jan 19.
The other two panellists were Mr Larry Yeung, executive director of Participate in Design, a citizen engagement consultancy, and Dr Carol Soon, Principal Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies.
Mr Yeung said one challenge of engaging Singaporeans is that people see engagement as a wish-list to ask for what they want. And if they don’t get what they want, they may diss the effort to hear their views.
He told The Straits Times that true engagement is more focused on the process of the Government working with people to find solutions, and less focused on outcomes.
So there is a need to help Singaporeans understand how engagement works, he said.
DPM Wong said there is also a need to broaden and deepen partnerships and engagements with Singapore in the days ahead.
On the Government’s part, Mr Tong noted, a mindset shift is also needed.
For example, an idea that was suggested may not work today, but this does not mean it will never work. He suggested that the Government tweak the idea or put it aside until society is ready for its implementation, instead of rejecting it outright.
Ms Lin Shiyun, founder of 3Pumpkins, shared how she started the charity at one presentation during the launch of SGPO.
Ms Lin, a former arts producer, started one of the charity’s programmes, the Tak Takut Kids Club, after spending three years at playgrounds interacting with children from low-income families.
“I feel the kids want a sense of belonging. Some of them don’t have good relationships at home,” she said, adding that meeting this need for belonging could help these children break from the negative influences they may experience at home.
In 2019, she started the club in a shop in Boon Lay, which offers arts-based and other activities where they could also make friends with.
She said: “With the formation of the SGPO, we are looking at how to deepen partnerships and to build a better safety net for the kids.”
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/laws-to-protect-singaporeans-against-online-harms-an-example-of-people-govt-partnership-edwin-tong
| 2024-01-19T12:33:39Z
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ABIDJAN - Ivory Coast are hoping to have striker Sebastien Haller back from injury for their last Africa Cup of Nations group game after their coach Jean-Louis Gasset admitted they were out-muscled against Nigeria on Thursday.
The host nation lost 1-0 in their second Group A game and are now under pressure to get a result when they conclude the opening phase of the tournament against Equatorial Guinea on Monday.
The Ivorians are third in the group standings with three points, one behind both Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria, and will be looking for a win to make sure of their progress to the last 16.
Gasset said he hopes Haller, who missed the opening two games with an ankle injury, will be back to help add some bite to his side.
“The medical team has been working day and night to get him ready. His ankle is healed but it’s the physical work that remains to get him fit. I sincerely hope that Sebastien will be able to participate in the third match with us.”
The tall Borussia Dortmund striker will provide a focal point for the Ivorian attacks, which were easily stymied by a five-man Nigerian defence on Thursday in a disappointing spectacle for the home fans.
“It was a very physical match. Nigeria chose to defend very low with a five-man defence. They slowed us down by refusing to play. We had to be patient, we had to be defensive, we had to try and get past them on the wing,” added Gasset, France’s former assistant coach.
“We didn’t feel like we could compete physically. We had opportunities when we got the ball into their box, but it was the big Nigerians who inevitably cleared the ball. In the end it was a small detail that made the difference and gave them a penalty.”
A kick in the calf of Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen from 20-year-old Ivorian defender Ousmane Diomande led to a penalty after a lengthy VAR review and William Troost-Ekong converted to hand Nigeria a first win on Ivorian soil.
“We have a young team without much experience, although plenty in terms of quality. I didn't have the impression that the Nigerian team was superior to us but there is still work to be done. This is the start of the competition. We won the first game, we lost the second. We will do our best to win the third,” Gasset added.
Egypt in 2006 were the last host nation to win the Cup of Nations. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/hosts-ivory-coast-hope-haller-can-return-for-final-group-game
| 2024-01-19T12:33:49Z
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It is too early to tell the extent of Mohamed Salah's injury, Juergen Klopp said on Friday, but the sight of the Liverpool talisman limping off the pitch with what his club manager called a hamstring injury rang alarm bells with the Merseyside team.
Liverpool were handed a scare when Salah, the Premier League's joint top scorer this season with Manchester City's Erling Haaland, limped off just before halftime in Egypt's 2-2 draw with Ghana at the Africa Cup of Nations on Thursday.
"We don't know anything about it," Klopp told reporters on Friday. "I spoke with him last night and how it was. They are doing further assessments now and then we will know more.
"At that moment he was shocked and couldn't see why he was hit by something so intense. You have these hamstring injuries in a different way. He felt it and we know how rarely Mo goes off, or needs to go off, so it is definitely something, but I don't have any more information right now."
The 31-year-old is rarely injured and has missed just 10 league games in six-plus seasons.
Klopp said he was uncertain whether Liverpool's medical staff would travel to the Ivory Coast to assess the extent of Salah's injury.
"We will see. It depends on the diagnostics," he said. "We will have ultrasound and MRI and then we will know what it is and we will see and make plans, but it's too early (at the moment)."
Liverpool, who play at Bournemouth on Sunday, top the Premier League on 45 points after 20 games, two points clear of Manchester City. Aston Villa also have 43 points but have played one more game than the two sides above them.
Liverpool will likely be without Trent Alexander-Arnold again on Sunday, Klopp said, after the defender injured his knee in their FA Cup third-round win over Arsenal on Jan. 7.
"Obviously he can walk, on the catwalk," Klopp said, when asked about Alexander-Arnold being spotted at a fashion show this week in Milan.
"The injuries are all positive, but not ready. (Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson and Dominik Szoboszlai) are all going in the right direction but we will see when they can join first-team training. I don't expect them for Bournemouth.
"I hope that nobody else will be out," the manager added. "After Bournemouth and maybe for Fulham (League Cup semi-final on Wednesday). Trent is close, Robertson close and Dom close. So all going in the right direction but for the weekend's game, no." REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/salahs-injury-must-be-significant-if-he-needed-to-go-off-says-klopp
| 2024-01-19T12:34:00Z
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DOHA - South Korea's hunt for a first Asian Cup title in 64 years suffered a major blow when coach Juergen Klinsmann confirmed on Friday that first-choice goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu had been ruled out of the rest of the tournament with a knee injury.
The 33-year-old, who played in their 3-1 win over Bahrain, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee during a training session ahead of their second game against Jordan on Saturday.
"We're very sad about Seung-gyu's injury but it's part of sport, it happens in tournaments but we have to move on. We keep him in our thoughts and we fight for him," Klinsmann told reporters.
"What I told the team was that we are here and we have a mission, that is to stay till the end of the tournament."
South Korea midfielder Lee Jae-sung said the injury to one of their most senior players had motivated them to go deeper in the tournament.
"Being an athlete I know how much being injured hurts. But there are 25 other players in the squad... We're all together in this and hopefully it gives us extra motivation to go far," he said.
South Korea are in disciplinary trouble after five players were booked in their group opener, including skipper Son Heung-min and centre back Kim Min-jae.
One more yellow card will result in a suspension for the following game but Klinsmann said he would not ask his players to exercise caution.
"We obviously didn't want so many yellow cards. Obviously if you get a second one they miss a game. It's part of football, two or three could have been avoided - the players know that too - but it's something you have to live with," he said.
"Managing yellows is something for the players to look at. As a player you need to trust your instincts, you can't be too cautious. If it happens, it happens."
Jordan are top of Group E after they beat Malaysia 4-0 and although many expect the Middle Eastern side to play defensively against a team 64 rungs above them in the world rankings, Klinsmann thinks otherwise.
"Jordan will make it difficult and frustrating for us and we need to find a way to break them down," the German said.
"But if you score four goals, you're not a defensive-minded team... If the coach fields a defensive-minded team, that's his choice.
"They've proven they're dangerous, they can counter-attack really fast and have gifted players up front. We have to be alert."
Klinsmann also confirmed Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Hwang Hee-chan is pain free and back in training after missing the first game due to injury. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/south-korea-keeper-kim-ruled-out-of-asian-cup-with-knee-injury
| 2024-01-19T12:34:10Z
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MELBOURNE - Novak Djokovic finally hit his stride at the Australian Open on Friday as he sent Argentine Tomas Etcheverry packing 6-3 6-3 7-6 (2) in the third round and marched into the second week of the tournament for the 16th time.
The 10-times champion, who was dragged into dogfights in the first two rounds, gave a masterclass in clean and clinical tennis for two sets as he picked apart the 24-year-old Argentine in his 100th match at Melbourne Park.
Etcheverry had seen off 36-year-old Andy Murray in the opening round and 37-year-old Gael Monfils in the second, but found the 36-year-old Djokovic an altogether different prospect.
The 30th seed was unable to land a punch on the 24-times Grand Slam champion, who faced not a single break point, until a flurry in the third set that finally gave the crowd the contest they wanted.
Djokovic, the top seed and reigning champion, clearly did not want to play a fourth set as he continues to struggle with a cold-like ailment and raced through the tiebreak and into the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the 63rd time.
"It was the best performance during this tournament and obviously I'm pleased with how I played throughout the entire match, particularly in the first two sets," said the Serbian, who hit 34 winners over the match.
"He stepped it up in the third set ... (but) in the tiebreaker I found the right shots, the right serves and closed it out in straight sets."
The first week of a Grand Slam for top seeds is first of all about getting through against keen lower-ranked players looking to snatch the limelight with an upset.
At the Australian Open, there is also the balancing act of wanting enough time on court to get properly match fit after the off-season break and needing to conserve energy for the business end of the tournament.
Djokovic probably expended more energy than he wanted in the first two rounds but on Friday always looked like he was in control of the match, even when Etcheverry came back at him at the end.
Next up for Djokovic is France's Adrian Mannarino or American young gun Ben Shelton, who were locked in a five-set contest on Kia Arena. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tennis/djokovic-finds-his-groove-to-down-etcheverry-in-melbourne
| 2024-01-19T12:34:20Z
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MELBOURNE – Novak Djokovic is beginning to find his groove, and his rivals at this Australian Open should probably start to feel a little bit concerned about the world No. 1 at his favourite Grand Slam.
The Serb, who is aiming to win a record-extending 11th crown at Melbourne Park and 25th Slam title, had needed four sets to clinch victory in both the first and second rounds – against Dino Prizmic and Alexei Popyrin.
But on Jan 19, the 36-year-old rediscovered his rhythm to cruise through to the fourth round, brushing aside 30th seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry with minimum fuss in his 100th match at the tournament.
He was never in trouble against the Argentinian, and claimed a 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) win.
“It was a great match, I think the best performance I have had during this tournament and I’m pleased with the way I played throughout the entire match,” Djokovic said as cheers rang out on Rod Laver Arena.
“He stepped it up, raised his level of tennis probably one or two levels in the third set and we went toe-to-toe. In the tie-break I guess I just found the right shots, the right serves, and closed it out in straights.”
The Serb has been under the weather in Melbourne, regularly blowing his nose during changeovers, and admitted he has not been at his best.
But there was no drama in his latest match as he produced a trademark focused performance full of control.
The top seed did not face a single break point in the match, which lasted just under 2½ hours.
Djokovic’s century of appearances at his most successful Slam now trails only Roger Federer (117) and Serena Williams (105), and he has now clinched his 31st consecutive Australian Open match win.
“At the end of the day, when I reflect on all of the journey that I’ve been through, with my family or as people of Serbia, it’s been an incredible blessing to be here,” added the 10-time Melbourne Park winner.
He will next face either French 20th seed Adrian Mannarino or American 16th seed Ben Shelton in the last 16.
In other matches, fourth seed Jannik Sinner underlined his title credentials by racing into the second week of the Australian Open without dropping a set after a 6-0, 6-1, 6-3 demolition of Sebastian Baez.
The clean-hitting Italian banged down six aces and 34 winners to see off the Argentinian 26th seed in less than two hours in cool and blustery conditions, sealing the deal with a seventh break of serve.
Stefanos Tsitsipas, the Greek seventh seed, dropped the first set in both of his opening two matches but managed to avoid the same fate against France’s Luca Van Assche, cruising home 6-3, 6-0, 6-4.
In the women’s draw, Mirra Andreeva dug deep into her reserves to defeat Frenchwoman Diane Parry and the 16-year-old Russian was thrilled to catch the attention of one of her idols, saying she would print and frame Andy Murray’s words of praise.
The teenager appeared close to tears as she went 5-1 down in the decider and was one point away from defeat before battling to a 1-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-5) win.
Murray hailed Andreeva’s mental strength afterwards.
“Maybe she turned the match around because she is hard on herself and demands more of herself when she’s losing or playing badly? Winner,” he said.
Andreeva said she did not expect Murray to watch her match, much less comment about it.
“I’ll try to print it out somehow,” she said. “I don’t know, I’ll put it in a frame. I’ll bring it everywhere with me. I’ll maybe put it on the wall so I can see it everyday.”
US Open champion Coco Gauff also eased into the fourth round, demolishing fellow American Alycia Parks 6-0, 6-2.
Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, meanwhile, described her 6-0, 6-0 demolition of Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko as “perfection”, but the Belarusian world No. 2 said she could get even better in a chilling warning to her rivals. AFP, REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tennis/smooth-novak-djokovic-glides-into-last-16-at-australian-open
| 2024-01-19T12:34:31Z
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HAVANA - Cuban Elda William, a 60-year old former psychologist, had been making ends meet selling cellphone plans - until a sewage pipe at her home office burst, putting off prospective clients.
No one has come to fix it and her income dried up, leaving her with little choice but to turn to Quisicuaba, a community-led soup kitchen for the hungry in central Havana.
"Thanks to this place my family has well-prepared food," William said in an interview, adding that the free meal offered by the project reminded her of the 1980s, when the communist-run government itself provided free rations to the population.
Those benefits - including a monthly ration of basics such as rice, beans, sugar, cooking oil and coffee - have been scaled back over the years and particularly recently, as the economic crisis has resulted in shortages and high prices. That has forced citizens in need to look elsewhere for a meal.
Enter Quisicuaba.
The decades-old project, funded by on-island cultural and community groups, donations from abroad, and private gifts - has recently become one of a handful of non-governmental projects to achieve scale in a nation that has since Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution largely depended on the state to support the needy.
The project now provides breakfast, lunch and dinner to 4,000 people per day, from all walks of life and from various provinces, according to Quisicuaba logistics coordinator Octavio Dominguez, who said that number grows daily.
Staff also provide a delivery service for those in need who can't reach the impeccably clean and brightly decorated soup kitchen in central Havana.
"Every day we may receive 30, 40, 50 new cases," said Dominguez. "We feed anyone who arrives ... there are no conditions. We don't ask how much they make, and we charge nothing."
Quisicuaba leader Enrique Aleman, a Cuban lawmaker who has received accolades from President Miguel Diaz-Canel for his work with the soup kitchen, said the island's ailing economy - made worse, he said, by severe U.S. sanctions - provides the backdrop for the group's work, but is not its principal driver.
"To say that this social project is primarily economic in nature is to stigmatize it," Aleman said in an interview.
Many who appear on the doorstep of Quisicuaba, he said, suffer from a range of existing problems exacerbated by the recent economic crisis - often related to addiction, nutrition, health or family issues - and he said his fast-growing project aims to provide a holistic response, including counseling, shelter and food.
The group has expanded recently, opening a shelter in San Antonio de los Baños, outside Havana, which takes aim at another problem increasingly apparent in Cuba as the economy slides: homelessness.
The shelter, which also has an agricultural component to help grow food for the soup kitchen, currently cares for 53 people but aims to have as many as 570 at full capacity, staff said.
Angela Figueroa, 66, was living on the streets when she heard of the Quisicuaba soup kitchen. From there she eventually made her way to the new center in San Antonio de los Baños.
"Now I have breakfast, lunch, and dinner," she said. "Despite the economy, and the shortages, they treat us very well, they worry about our food, our medication."
Quisicuaba's logistics manager Dominguez says the group stands ready to help more of those left destitute by the crisis.
"The more people we can help, the better," Dominguez said. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/cuban-soup-kitchen-sees-soaring-demand-as-economic-crisis-deepens
| 2024-01-19T12:34:41Z
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Some 160 people who applied for asylum at Finland's eastern border last year have since disappeared, amid a sudden surge of asylum seekers arriving via Russia, Finland's immigration authority said.
Finland closed its eastern border with Russia late last year amidst a growing number of arrivals from countries including Syria and Somalia. It accused Moscow of funnelling migrants to the border, a claim the Kremlin has denied.
The immigration authority Migri said it got 1,323 asylum applications at the eastern border between August and December last year, about 900 of those in November and more than 300 in December.
Now 160 people are missing from reception centres, most with unknown whereabouts, Migri's Director of the Asylum Unit, Antti Lehtinen told Reuters.
Eighteen people have turned up in other European countries, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany and Switzerland, to refile an asylum application.
"It's of course possible that of these 160 most of them have continued to another country, but they haven't yet applied for asylum in that country," Lehtinen said.
Every asylum seeker in Finland has their fingerprint taken to the Eurodac-system, Europe's shared fingerprint database, Lehtinen added.
Under EU rules, the EU country where a migrant first applies for asylum is responsible for processing the application.
Earlier in January, Finland extended the closure of its border with Russia until Feb. 11, saying it was likely that the inflow of asylum seekers would restart if the border opened.
In response to the situation at the eastern border, Finnish president Sauli Niinisto called last year for an EU-wide solution to stop uncontrollable entry to Europe's passport-free Schengen area.
On Thursday, a coast guard unit of the Finnish Border Guard said it was investigating several cases of "assisting illegal immigration" related to the eastern border, suspecting criminal organisations of large-scale human smuggling.
"Smuggling activities have taken advantage of the border security disruptions on the eastern border," the coast guard said in a statement. REUTERS
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| 2024-01-19T12:34:52Z
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BERLIN - Germany is expected on Friday to approve a law that shortens the path to citizenship and makes it easier to hold multiple nationalities, moves designed to ease crippling labour shortages by making the country more attractive to migrant workers.
The new law, a signature policy of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition of centrist and left-leaning parties, comes as Germany is convulsed by rows over the burden that migration is placing on public services at a time when money is scarce.
"We have to keep pace in the race to attract skilled labour," said Interior Minister Nancy Faeser ahead of the vote in the Bundestag that will pass the new law.
"That means we need to make an offer to qualified people from the world over, just as the United States and Canada do. German citizenship is obviously part of that."
Under the new rules, citizenship will be available after five years' residence, reduced from eight, in line with neighbouring countries such as France. For people who are "exceptionally well integrated", three years will be enough.
Rules on dual nationality, now normally allowed only for citizens of other EU countries, would be loosened. That would potentially let tens of thousands of Turks, including third-generation immigrants, become voting members of German society after their parents and grandparents contributed to the country's post-war reconstruction.
The measure passes as parties compete with each other to offer voters tougher lines on immigration, promising more rapid deportations of illegal immigrants and failed asylum seekers, in a bid to contain the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which has been surging in the polls amid a weak economy and frustrations over public services.
The opposition conservatives, who oppose the new rules, have moved an amendment in parliament demanding a stop to the changes in order to "preserve the value of German citizenship". The AfD says there should be no right to acquire German citizenship, which should be only a favour granted by the government.
A reform has long been demanded by progressives who say citizenship law must acknowledge the reality that Germany has been an ethnically diverse multicultural society since guest workers from Italy and Turkey first arrived to ease labour shortages in the very early 1960s. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/labour-hungry-germany-to-ease-citizenship-path-despite-migration-rows
| 2024-01-19T12:35:02Z
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MOSCOW - Police in the central Russian republic of Bashkortostan on Jan 19 arrested more protestors incensed over the jailing of a popular activist as a court sentenced nine demonstrators to short jail terms.
Thousands have taken to the streets of the small town of Baymak in freezing temperatures this week, clashing with riot police in a rare display of public outrage.
They are supporting Fail Alsynov, a local activist who campaigns for the protection of the Bashkir language and was sentenced to four years in prison on Wednesday for “inciting hatred”.
Alsynov had publicly criticised Moscow’s mobilisation drive for the offensive in Ukraine launched nearly two years ago and also opposes mining in the region on environmental grounds.
Videos on social media showed police arresting protestors at a small rally in the regional capital of Ufa on Jan 19.
Unsanctioned protests are illegal in Russia and authorities have promised a tough response against those who have taken part.
A court in Baymak, 1,400km east of Moscow, sentenced nine people to between eight to 15 days in prison for disobeying police orders during large protests earlier this week, the press service for local courts said on Jan 19.
Police had used tear gas to disperse thousands of protestors who had gathered outside the Baymak courthouse on Jan 17 when Alsynov was sentenced.
Authorities said the activist made racist remarks in a speech, but he says his comments have been misinterpreted from the Bashkir language.
Regional governor Radiy Khabirov said “separatists” and “traitors” from abroad were trying to start a “partisan war” in the republic, home to a large Bashkir minority population.
Investigators have also opened criminal cases for “mass rioting” – a charge that carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison – though have not said whether any protestors have been indicted yet.
Bashkirs, a Turkic majority-Muslim people, account for around one-third of the region’s four million residents.
Since sending troops into Ukraine, Moscow has escalated a decade-long crackdown on dissent, handing out lengthy prison sentences to critics. AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/more-arrests-as-russia-cracks-down-on-rare-protests
| 2024-01-19T12:35:13Z
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LONDON – A newborn baby girl is in hospital after being found wrapped in a towel in a shopping bag on a London street, British police said on Jan 19 as London was experiencing sub-zero temperatures.
The baby was found by a person walking their dog in Newham, east London, just after 5am on Jan 16, London’s Metropolitan Police said.
According to the national weather service, it was minus 3 deg C in London at that time.
“That person kept the baby girl warm until London Ambulance Service paramedics arrived and checked her over before taking her to hospital,” Chief Superintendent Simon Crick, who leads policing in Newham, said in a statement.
“I am delighted to report that she wasn’t injured in any way and is safe and well in the care of hospital staff.”
Police said they were concerned for the welfare of the baby’s mother and appealed for her to get in touch. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/newborn-baby-girl-found-alive-in-shopping-bag-in-freezing-temperatures-in-london
| 2024-01-19T12:35:23Z
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MOSCOW - Oil tanks at a storage facility in the town of Klintsy in Russia's Bryansk region caught fire after the military brought down a Ukrainian drone, Alexander Bogomaz, the regional governor, said on Friday.
According to preliminary information, nobody had been hurt in the incident, Bogomaz said, adding that the fire was being put out by firefighting teams.
"An aeroplane-style drone was brought down by the defence ministry using radio-electronic means. When the aerial target was destroyed, its munitions were dropped on the territory of the Klintsy oil depot," Bogomaz wrote on the Telegram messaging app.
Bogomaz said a further two Ukrainian drones had been shot down over other parts of Bryansk by air defence units.
Unverified footage posted on social media showed a fire burning in the darkness at the oil depot along what looked like storage tanks.
The TASS state news agency said the fire covered an area of around 1,000 square metres. A specialised firefighting train had arrived on the scene, the RIA news agency reported, citing information from emergency services.
Earlier on Friday, the Russian Defence Ministry had said it had destroyed a Ukrainian drone in the skies over the Bryansk region, which borders Ukraine.
Authorities in the region regularly report drone attacks from Ukraine.
A Russian-appointed official said a day earlier that Ukraine had tried and failed to target a Russian Baltic Sea oil terminal with a drone, in what appeared to be a rare attempt to strike a facility in St Petersburg.
A Ukrainian government minister was quoted by the Interfax-Ukraine news agency on Thursday as saying that Ukraine had hit targets in St Petersburg using a domestically produced drone that flew 1,250 km (775 miles).
Reuters could not independently verify the statements. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/russian-oil-depot-catches-fire-after-ukrainian-drone-downed-governor
| 2024-01-19T12:35:33Z
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LONDON -The European Court Of Human Rights said on Friday that Ireland had launched a legal challenge against Britain over a new law that gives conditional amnesties to former soldiers and militants involved in decades of violence in Northern Ireland.
The law has been condemned by victims' families, human-rights groups and all major political parties on the island of Ireland, including British unionist and Irish nationalist. It came into force last September.
The Irish government, which submitted the case on Jan. 17, argues that certain provisions of the law are not compatible with the European Convention, the ECHR statement said.
Britain has halted prosecutions of those involved in the "Troubles" period, saying they are unlikely to succeed and an independent body should be set up instead.
Britain argues that prosecutions linked to the events of up to 55 years ago are increasingly unlikely to lead to convictions and that the legislation is needed to draw a line under the conflict.
When announcing its decision to take the British government to court over the law last month, Dublin had said it had no other recourse but to take legal action as London had shut off any possibility of a political resolution.
Britain called the Irish government's challenge "unnecessary."
Around 3,600 people died in three decades of confrontation between Irish nationalist militants seeking a united Ireland, pro-British "loyalist" paramilitaries and the British military. The conflict largely ended with a 1998 peace deal. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/ireland-launches-legal-case-against-uk-over-northern-ireland-amnesty-law
| 2024-01-19T12:35:44Z
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GAZA/DOHA/TEL AVIV - Israeli tanks on Friday mounted a new push into southern Gaza's main city, which is sheltering hundreds of thousands of Palestinians driven there by Israeli bombardment, once more approaching the enclave's biggest functioning hospital.
People inside Khan Younis' Nasser Hospital, forced to house displaced Gazans as well as patients, reported hearing shellfire from tanks advancing into the west of the city, while residents also reported fierce gun battles to the south.
The Gaza health ministry said 142 Palestinians had been killed and 278 injured in the previous 24 hours.
Israeli officials have accused Hamas fighters of operating from Nasser Hospital, which staff deny.
The Israeli bombardment and ground invasion launched in response to Hamas' Oct. 7 assault on towns and villages around Gaza have largely emptied the northern two-thirds of the 46 km-long (29-mile) coastal strip.
Around 85% of the 2.3 million population have been driven to seek shelter in the south, according to the U.N. - the area that is now the focus of Israel's campaign to eradicate the Hamas movement that governs Gaza.
People's ability to monitor the latest threats, report attacks or check on relatives - along with the functioning of rescue services - has been severely curtailed by a near-total blackout on telecommunications that was now in its eighth day, the longest outage since the start of the war.
Twelve people were killed in Israeli strikes on a residential building near the largely non-functioning Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City in the north of the enclave, Palestinian health officials said.
Israeli forces have made limited withdrawals from northern Gaza this month, saying operations there were largely complete.
But Palestinians in the southern Gaza City suburb of Tel Al-Hawa said Israeli tanks pushed back into the neighbourhood, forcing people taking shelter in some schools there to evacuate and head south.
The Islamic Jihad militant group said it had fought with Israeli forces in the Al-Bureij and Al-Maghazi refugee camps in central Gaza and in Khan Younis, while Hamas's armed wing said its fighters had clashed with Israeli forces in several areas across Gaza overnight and on Friday morning.
The Israeli military said it was continuing operations in central and northern Gaza, seizing weapons and killing "several armed terrorists".
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that Israeli forces had destroyed "16 or 17" out of 24 of Hamas' organised combat regiments, but that clearing the territory of militants would take "many more months".
NETANYAHU OPPOSED TO PALESTINIAN SOVEREIGNTY
Israel's onslaught on Gaza was triggered on Oct. 7 by Hamas attacks on the surrounding area in which around 1,200 people were killed and 253 taken hostage, of whom around half are still in Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.
Netanyahu also restated his opposition to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state that Israel's main ally, the United States, and many powers in and beyond the Middle East advocate as the only feasible long-term solution to the conflict.
"Israel must have security control over the entire territory west of the Jordan River. That's a necessary condition," Netanyahu told a briefing in Tel Aviv. "It clashes with the principle of sovereignty, but what can you do?"
U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller responded at a news briefing that the establishment of a Palestinian state was the only way to provide lasting security to Israel along with reconstruction, governance and security for Gaza.
Washington has had scant success in persuading Israel to alleviate the plight of an increasingly desperate civilian population, deprived since October of most of the regular humanitarian supplies on which they had depended, let alone of adequate medical care for the more than 62,000 people who have been wounded, alongside almost 25,000 dead.
One doctor was forced a month ago to amputate his 18-year-old niece A'Hed's leg below the knee, without anaesthetic, and using little more than a pair of scissors, gauze and sewing thread, after she said her family's home in Gaza City was hit by Israeli tank fire.
The house is only 1.1 miles (1.8 km) from Al-Shifa hospital, usually a six-minute drive or a 25-minute walk away, but Hani Bseiso said intense Israeli fire made it too dangerous to try to get there.
"Could I get her to the hospital? Of course not," Bseiso told Reuters in an interview, describing the area as "under siege".
"The tanks were at the entrance of the house," he said.
"The choice was that I either let the girl die or I try to the best of my abilities."
Asked for comment, the Israeli military did not specifically respond to questions about the incident at A'Hed Bseiso's home, but said Hamas used hospital complexes as cover, an allegation the militant group denies.
More than 1,000 children in Gaza had undergone leg amputations by the end of November, according to the U.N. children's agency UNICEF, amid poor hygiene and shortages of medicine. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/israeli-tanks-renew-push-towards-biggest-hospital-still-working-in-gaza
| 2024-01-19T12:35:54Z
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NEW YORK/MADRID - Some cruise operators have cancelled or adjusted their itineraries to avoid the Red Sea due to attacks on ships by Houthi militia, but the overall impact on the multi-billion dollar industry is not expected to be significant.
The attacks by the Iran-backed militia in Yemen since November have slowed trade between Asia and Europe and raised concerns about an escalation of the war between Israel and Palestinian Hamas militants in Gaza.
Royal Caribbean said in a statement on Jan 18 it had cancelled two voyages so far.
One from Muscat to Dubai was meant to take place from Jan 16 to 26, and another from Dubai to Mumbai was scheduled for Jan 26 to Feb 11.
It also amended last week the itinerary of a cruise between Aqaba and Muscat to disembark guests in a port city near Athens.
“Our global security team continues to closely monitor the situation in the region and we will make additional changes if required,” Royal Caribbean said.
Swiss-Italian operator MSC Cruises said on Jan 17 it had cancelled three trips in April from South Africa and the United Arab Emirates to Europe due to the Red Sea crisis.
“The safety of passengers and crew is the number one priority and as there was no viable alternative itinerary, the company has regrettably had to cancel the voyages,” MSC Cruises said. “The three ships will transfer directly to Europe without any passengers on board and avoid transiting through the Red Sea.”
Although thousands of passengers are affected, the impact on cruise operators at a global level is not expected to be significant, said Mr Todd Elliott, CEO of Florida-based travel agency Cruise Vacation Outlet.
“This is a small part of their overall fleet and multi-year itineraries so they will be able to overcome this easily,” Mr Elliott said.
Italy’s Costa Cruises told Reuters on Jan 18 that routes “remain unchanged” and only two of its cruises scheduled to transit through the Red Sea in March and April could be affected, including the last leg of a round-the-world trip.
Carnival Cruise Line said its global security team was working with global security experts and governments to prioritise safety, including adjusting its itineraries if needed. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/royal-caribbean-msc-cancel-cruises-due-to-red-sea-attacks
| 2024-01-19T12:36:05Z
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Ola Jordan and her husband James took a break from working on their Dance Shred program and spending time with their daughter Ella to attend a "very special" wedding.
The former Strictly Come Dancing stars dressed to the nines for their date night, with Ola posting a photo of the couple's glamorous wedding guest outfits on Instagram. Showing off her toned figure after revealing she lost three stone in 2023, Ola looked sensational in a deep forest green mini dress featuring a V-neck, balloon sleeves with a shirred cuff, button detailing and a subtle floral print. Fans recognised it as the All Saints All Saints Auden Lilly dress which also comes in black patterned and coffee brown and retails for £179.
A pair of sheer black tights, pointed-toe heels and a coordinating patent bag finished her elegant look. Beauty-wise, Ola accentuated her features with long lashes and a sweeping of blusher along her cheekbones, wearing her blonde bob in an effortless straight style. Meanwhile, James opted for a less wintery ensemble in a dapper grey three-piece suit with a blue tie.
"A rare day and night out together for 2 very special people’s wedding," Ola wrote, and it wasn't long before the comments section was inundated with questions about her outfit. "Where's the dress from please?" asked one, and another added: "Gorgeous x where is your dress from please it’s beautiful @olajordan." A third remarked: "You both look fab, have a lovely time."
The professional dancers met at a Blackpool dance competition in 1999 with Ola admitting she thought James was "tall and very good-looking, with slicked-back black hair and piercing blue eyes," according to her book, Strictly Ola: My Story.
They tied the knot in 2003 aged 21 and 25, with rare unearthed photos showing off the bride's elegant strapless ivory dress from the high street store Monsoon. After celebrating their milestone 20th wedding anniversary in 2023, they revealed they have no plans to renew their vows.
"Why would we?"James said during an exclusive interview with HELLO! Magazine. "When we said those words the first time, that was forever. If we did it again, it would spoil those memories."
For the occasion, they returned to their wedding venue Cooling Castle Barn in Kent and Ola slipped on her figure-hugging bridal gown once again. "Twenty years later and I'm wearing my dress; that's a nice thought. I surprised myself, if I'm honest. I never really imagined I ever would. I was 21 then, now I'm 41, and my boobs are definitely bigger since having Ella," she said, laughing.
DON'T MISS: Exclusive: The Repair Shop's Richard Talman on pressures of creating Will Kirk's 'classic' wedding ring
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| 2024-01-19T12:53:27Z
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Blake Shelton made another solo appearance on Wednesday after leaving Los Angeles to reunite with his fellow country stars in Nashville, Tennessee.
The singer was pictured at CMT Giants: Alabama, a tribute to country group Alabama, at Belmont University's Fisher Center for the Performing Arts – and one person noticeably absent was his wife, Gwen Stefani.
The couple has been plagued by reports their almost three-year marriage is in trouble due to them spending significant amounts of time apart over the last few months.
Just recently, they celebrated New Year's Eve in different time zones, with Gwen attending an event in Las Vegas, Nevada, while Blake was performing at WinStar World Casino and Resort near the Oklahoma–Texas state line.
The pair appeared to silence marriage trouble claims last Friday though when they put on a united front in honor of Gwen.
The 'Rich Girl' singer was inducted into Orange County's first-ever Hall of Fame – and Blake was right by her side to cheer her on for her big moment.
Sharing a behind-the-scenes video from the event, Gwen was all smiles as she showed off her outfit, which consisted of a denim 3D floral skirt with a white shirt, knee-high denim boots, and black fishnet tights.
The video, which you can see below, then cut to Gwen and Blake walking hand-in-hand as they made their way to the auditorium, with the singer turning around to smile for the camera as she gripped her husband tightly.
Being the perfect gentleman, the country music singer held a door open for his wife, before escorting her into the room while placing a protective hand across her back.
However, eyebrows were raised when just a few days later, she failed to show any public support for the opening of Blake's latest business venture, Ole Red Las Vegas.
While Blake may have been solo in Nashville, he didn't appear to have a care in the world as he happily smiled for photos while supporting the country supergroup.
His appearance comes after it was revealed that Gwen will reunite with her No Doubt bandmates for their first performance in nine years at Coachella 2024.
She teased the news first by sharing a video of a Zoom call with fellow members, guitarist Tom Dumont, bassist Tony Kanal, and drummer Adrian Young, which ended on a question mark after they all agreed to "do a show".
Gwen then shared a poster of the line-up for April's festival, with No Doubt featured prominently on the bill alongside headliners Lana Del Dey, Tyler, The Creator, and Doja Cat.
The Voice star has plenty of exciting career opportunities coming up. Alongside her long-awaited No Doubt reunion, she is also headlining a Super Bowl party next month.
Last week, it was announced that Gwen is the marquee performer for the Super Bowl LVIII TikTok Tailgate, the ultimate pregame party before the big game on February 11.
"We all know how massive of an event Super Bowl is, and I am so honored I get to be a part of it and perform at the Super Bowl TikTok Tailgate," she said in a statement.
Get the lowdown on the biggest, hottest celebrity news, features and profiles coming out of the U.S. Sign up to our HELLO! Hollywood newsletterand get them delivered straight to your inbox.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/brides/511649/blake-shelton-solo-appearance-leaves-la-gwen-stefani-big-announcement/
| 2024-01-19T12:53:33Z
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Paul Mescal is the man of the moment with several hit movies - and award nominations - under his belt. So after landing starring roles in beloved projects including Normal People and Aftersun, will his role in Gladiator 2 live up to the hype?
Chatting on The Graham Norton Show, the 27-year-old opened up about the film’s release date - and confirmed that the production was finally finished after they were forced to pause it during the SAG-AFTRA Strikes. He explained: “I finished filming yesterday and survived. It’s done. I am not allowed to say anything, but it will be out at thanksgiving this year.”
It was confirmed that the movie is set to land in cinemas in the US on 22 November 2024 - and we couldn’t be more excited!
Will Russell Crowe make an appearance?
Russell, who starred in the original movie as Maximus, has confirmed that he won’t be in the sequel. Chatting on the Ryan Tubridy Show, he said: “It’s an extension of the narrative, but it is long beyond Maximus’ passing, so it doesn’t really involve me at all. I hear that young fella Paul is a good dude and I wish him the best of luck with it.
“I think where they're picking the story up from, a young Lucius, stepping into the role of emperor. I think that's a very smart idea within the world of the film that we created.”
What will Gladiator 2 be about?
Following the events of the original movie, which was released back in 2023, the story now follows Lucilla’s son Lucius, who is the nephew of the evil Emperor. Paul is set to play a now grown-up Lucius, who is set to go on his own journey in Ancient Rome. Sign us up!
Director Ridley Scott has also appeared to confirm that Lucius is actually Maximus’ secret son, telling Empire: “It's the next generation. Roman history is so exotic that any part of it is really fascinating. History is far more exotic than anything you can dream up. The film will take the next step, which is the son. [Lucilla's] son, Lucius.”
What happened in the original movie?
For those who haven’t seen the 2003 movie, the story follows Maximus, the leader of the Roman Army. After the Emperor tells Maximus that he plans to have succeed him as Emperor, his son Commodus murders his father in a jealous rage, and arranges to have Maximus’ family murdered. While Maximus survives, he is sold into slavery and forced to fight as a gladiator, leading his path back to Commodus to exact his revenge.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/511654/gladiator-2-paul-mescal-gives-major-update-on-highly-anticipated-sequel-movie/
| 2024-01-19T12:53:39Z
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When it comes to royal vintage style icons, it doesn’t get much more notable than Princess Diana and screen star-turned-princess Grace Kelly.
It's unsurprising therefore that dresses worn by the late royals sold at auction in Los Angeles on Thursday for totals that far exceeded expectations.
Diana’s little black cocktail dress and Grace's green cape dress were sold at the Unstoppable: Signature Styles Of Iconic Women In Fashion auction at Julien’s Auctions for a combined total of over half a million pounds.
Style icon Diana's black dress that she wore the dress to a private event in 1993 was designed by Catherine Walker - a household name in British royal fashion. It featured an above-the-knee silhouette, a Bardot neckline and long sleeves, with a nautical black and white pattern across the neck and the cuffs - an elevated, fashion-forward piece that embodied the princess' signature chic dress code of the 90s.
It was estimated to sell for between $100,000 and $200,000 but went under the hammer for $325,000 (£256,000).
Actress-turned-royal Grace Kelly’s dress was a green tweed Givenchy number featuring a matching half-sleeve cape and a material waist belt - an ensemble that oozed 1960s elegance.
The Princess of Monaco wore the Givenchy outfit in 1961 with her husband Prince Rainier III to meet President Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy at the White House.
This dress was estimated to sell for between $60,000 and $80,000 but sold for the same price as Diana’s Catherine Walker dress.
Other iconic items that sold in the sale included a Patricia Field three-tiered tutu worn by Sarah Jessica Parker in Sex and the City, which sold for £41,000 and a Burberry trench worn by the late Whitney Houston in 2008, which sold for £3,600.
Royal fashion items, particularly ones worn by those by sartorial icons like Diana, often sell for unexpectedly (but expected) high prices. Last month, the fashion icon’s black and blue velvet evening gown designed by Jacques Azagury sold for a record-breaking £900,000.
Perhaps slightly beyond the realms of our price range - but a girl can dream, right?
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/hfm/culture/511643/princess-diana-grace-kelly-dresses-sold-for-half-a-million-pounds/
| 2024-01-19T12:53:46Z
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Stacey Dooley shared an intimate photo of her and boyfriend Kevin Clifton's bedroom at their gorgeous home and it looks fresh out of a palace! The former Strictly Come Dancing champion took to her social media to make a very relatable parenting plea to her one-year-old daughter Minnie and accompanied it with a photo inside the gorgeous room.
The mother-of-one wrote in the caption: "In bed at 7 pm… Mins. PLS play ball this eve and let me watch Traitors avec cuppa… NIGHT GANG," which prompted many of her fans to share her desire for her one-year-old to have a decent nights sleep, but our eyes were immediately drawn to the minimalist space.
Stacey and Kevin are fortunate that their home affords them super high ceilings, making the rooms look incredibly spacious. But thanks to the black paint and wooden panels on the wall, their bedroom still manages to have a cosy feel.
The wooden panels are part of a stylish feature wall, with three frosted glass panels in the middle complete with decorative patterns, adding a seriously luxe feel to the room which could be mistaken for an up-market hotel.
Although dark walls make a room look chic, light is needed. Stacey and Kevin have off-set to dark tones by having an extended, dropped ceiling in simple white paint, as well as placing a table lamp right next to their huge mirror on the wall which reflects the light throughout the room. The gold rim around the mirror adds an element of style, too.
It's not only the bed that Stacey and Kevin have to relax in, their bedroom also features a super cosy chair and footstool. Perfect for when nursing Minnie back to sleep in the small hours.
After a fan marvelled at how minimalist the bedroom was, Stacey shared a bit of insight into how she styles her home. "Where is all your 'stuff' Stacey? Please tell us that there is at least one really messy room in this house filled with all your 'odds and sodds' and 'bits and bobs' stuff'??" wrote the fan.
MORE: Claudia Winkleman's swanky London townhouse with rarely-pictured husband and three children
MORE: 7 Interior design trends you need on your radar for 2024
Stacey responded: "I've never had much stuff in my bedroom ever! Only like the necessities, so it's super chillllllll." The TV presenter and journalist previously shared another insight into their bedroom when she shared a video from their bed!
Stacey began by saying to the camera: "Gang, I hope you're alright," before slipping immediately back into mum-mode and looking down to Minnie on her lap, saying: "Get that out of your mouth, please."
A few details of the couple's bedroom are noticeable in the video including their stylish grey headboard which has a cream stitching effect in a striped pattern.
The pair are also lucky enough to have large fluffy white pillows and, in the first video, a blue and beige patterned cushion can be seen next to Stacey as she coos over her daughter.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/homes/511647/stacey-dooleys-private-bedroom-with-kevin-clifton-looks-like-a-palace-photos/
| 2024-01-19T12:53:52Z
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Kensington Palace announced on Wednesday that the Princess of Wales is in hospital after undergoing successful abdominal surgery. The unexpected news came as a total shock to many of us, considering that we only just saw her looking radiant and healthy as ever at Sandringham on Christmas Day.
According to the palace, Kate will be recovering at Windsor upon her return from the hospital and will not be returning to her royal duties until after Easter.
In light of this news, we reflect on some of the key events in the royal calendar that Kate will likely be missing while she recovers from surgery.
Children's Mental Health Week
Children's Mental Health Week is an occasion that is close to Princess Kate's heart, particularly as a mother of three children herself. In the past, the Princess has marked the occasion by visiting schools and meeting pupils to talk to them candidly about mental health.
However, Children's Mental Health Week falls in early February, so Kate will still very much be in the recovery process following her abdominal surgery.
The BAFTAs
Kate never disappoints whenever she graces the red carpet at the annual BAFTA awards. Just last year, she exuded pure Grecian glamour when she donned a white Alexander McQueen one-shoulder gown.
The BAFTAs this year will take place on 18 February. The Princess typically attends the event arm-in-arm with her husband, Prince William. While it is unclear whether William, who is President of BAFTA, will attend this year, Kate's likely absence will most definitely be felt.
Commonwealth Day service
Commonwealth Day is an annual event that happens on the second Monday in March each year, and sees people from all over the Commonwealth come together to celebrate.
Understandably, this celebration marks a major event in the royal calendar, and Kate is reliably always in attendance. Last year, the Princess joined King Charles for his first Commonwealth Day as King.
St Patrick's Day parade
Last year, William and Kate stepped out together for a joint engagement on St Patrick's Day, attending a parade with the Irish Guards. This occasion was a momentous one, given that it was the first time Kate attended the parade as the new Colonel of the regiment, a position that she took over from her husband.
The pair made emotional speeches and presented traditional sprigs of shamrock to officers and guardsmen. It is highly unlikely that Kate will be able to attend the event on March 17 this year.
Easter church service at Windsor
Easter is very much a family affair for the royals, who come together to attend a church service at Windsor each year to mark the occasion.
While Kate will likely not be able to attend the church service this year, the event will be happening right on their doorstep in Windsor, at St George's Chapel.
The rest of the family are likely to make an appearance at the Easter celebrations, including King Charles, who himself is undergoing surgery for an enlarged prostate, and his wife Queen Camilla.
LISTEN to the new episode of A Right Royal Podcast to find out why Prince William was "really hurt" by Prince Harry's "veiled criticisms of Kate":
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/511575/kate-middleton-missing-these-major-events-while-recovering-from-surgery/
| 2024-01-19T12:53:58Z
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King Frederik and Queen Mary have unveiled their first family portraits as King and Queen - and they couldn't be more magnificent.
The selection of photos showed them posing in the Throne Room at Christiansborg Palace alongside their children, Crown Prince Christian,18, Princess Isabella, 16, and 13-year-old twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine.
The stunning images were taken on 14 January by photographer, Dennis Stenild, just moments after The King's proclamation which took place from The Throne Room's balcony.
Mary looked beautiful donning a stylish white dress embellished with glittering silver brooches. Meanwhile, Princess Josephine looked incredibly elegant in a vibrant red coat and her younger sister, Isabella opted for a chic black coat adorned with gold buttons.
Meanwhile, brothers, Christian and Vincent both donned smart navy blue suits.
On the official Instagram account for the Danish royals, the photos were accompanied by the words: "The Throne Hall at Christiansborg Castle forms the frame for the first official portraits of Their Majesties The King and Queen.
"The portrait series was taken by photographer Dennis Stenild a few moments after the King's proclamation, which took place from the balcony of Tronsalen on the 14th January 2024.
"The Royal Couple is pictured together with The Crown Prince, His Royal Highness The Crown Prince, and Their Royal Highnesses Princess Isabella, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine."
"Beautiful photos. Much pride for the new Royal Family, from Australia," one royal fan replied to the images. Another penned: "So proud of our Mary. Congratulations to all."
Meanwhile, a third penned: "Not a dry eye. Especially the last one. What a handsome young Crown Prince who just exudes confidence and is ready for the new challenges. It's going to go well."
Queen Margrethe II shocked royal watchers everywhere when she announced her immediate plans to step down as monarch on New Year's Eve, leaving her son Prince Frederick to take on the top job as King of Denmark alongside his wife.
In episode one of HELLO!'s A Right Royal Podcast, hosts Andrea and Emmy have an exclusive chat with ITV News Royal Correspondent Chris Ship, Majesty magazine managing editor Joe Little, and Belgian royalty journalist Wim Dehandschutter, who gathered with the crowds to watch King Frederik X become monarch. Listen to the full episode here.
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| 2024-01-19T12:54:04Z
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Salma Hayek took a daring walk down memory lane on Thursday for a flashback which fans will find difficult to forget.
The Mexican-born actress pulled out all the stops with a series of throwback photos she shared on Instagram.
Salma wowed in the images in which she only just protected her modesty as she posed on a bed in the nude.
The Frida star didn't divulge her age in the photos but looked radiant with her curly locks worn loose and a sultry gaze in her eyes.
Salma, 57, captioned the post with a cheeky message that read: "Some say never look back, but sometimes it’s the best view #tbt," and added a crying with laughter emoji.
Fans were blown away by the beautiful images and commented: "Ur jet black curly hair is quite amazing Dear Salma Hayek," and, "Backwards forwards and all the in between.. you ARE on fire," while a third remarked: "Wonderful as always."
Salma went viral last year when she hopped on the "gray hair" trend and shared a make-up free selfie highlighting her gray hair and wrinkles.
At the time, she quipped: "Waking up and counting how many white hairs and wrinkles have crashed the party this morning."
Her tongue-in-cheek self-deprecating post was quickly flooded with compliments from fellow celebrities, including Babylon beauty Olivia Wilde and iconic nineties supermodel Cindy Crawford.
Fans adore her approach to aging which she opened up about in an interview with Glamour. "I thought getting older meant I wasn't going to work. I'm working. I thought getting older maybe meant that you're not in love anymore. I'm in love."
Salma added: "I don't feel that I lost my flexibility or my agility or even my strength...Hell, I'm still going. Shocker. I'm still here. They tried to get rid of me a thousand ways. I'm still here."
When she made an appearance on Kelly Ripa’s podcast, Let's Talk Off Camera, she elaborated on her beauty regime and said while Botox isn't on the cards for her, something else is.
"I do a lot of the frequency machines," she confessed. "And they work on me better than on anyone. The people that do the machines say that the results I get, they don’t get with other people."
In addition, she swears by meditation. "Sometimes when I’m doing it, people tell me when I come out of the room, 'Oh my God, you look 20 years old.'
"When I don't [meditate] for some time, guess what? Not only [does] the face starts to drop and everything starts to drop, [but also] my herniated disc, the problem in my neck, the problem in my hip, my ankles [comes back]. I start breaking down."
Along with her meditation routine, Salma leans on non-invasive beauty treatments, such as radiofrequency and microfrequency machines, that refine and tighten the skin.
Get the lowdown on the biggest, hottest celebrity news, features and profiles coming out of the U.S. Sign up to our HELLO! Hollywood newsletterand get them delivered straight to your inbox.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/fashion/511656/salma-hayek-ultra-racy-throwback-might-be-most-daring-yet-best-view/
| 2024-01-19T13:37:19Z
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NCIS: Los Angeles Daniela Ruah has delighted fans with a photo from the set of the long-running CBS show. The American-Portuguese actress has returned to the franchise as a director following the cancelation of the LA-based spin-off, in which she starred as Kensi Blye for 14 seasons.
Taking to Instagram with a photo showing the star perched in a director's chair in front of an idyllic lakeside background, the 40-year-old penned in the caption: "Back in the @ncisverse learning, creating and feeling blissful… Back in the world...learning, creating and feeling in the clouds… #directing #happy #gig #moretocome #ncisfamilia #team #bts."
Fans rushed to the comments section to share their excitement, with one person writing: "Oh that's so cool. Glad to see you back on set," while another commented: "So excited to have you back in the director's chair! Congratulations, you're gonna smash it!"
Many fans are hoping Daniela will guest star in the upcoming 21st season now that she's back on set. One person penned: "So glad you are back but wished you were in front of the camera," while another added: "The episodes directed by you will definitely be the best, it would be nice to see you also as a guest star in the series as well as knowing that you are behind their direction."
Daniela is set to direct two episodes for the franchise: one for NCIS, which will air in March, and one for NCIS: Hawai'i with an April air date.
The actress' return comes one year after CBS announced the cancelation of NCIS: Los Angeles. On returning to the show, Daniela told Deadline: "Kensi was born as a character on NCIS, 15 years ago, so now to be able to step onto that set again, as a director, with that incredible cast and crew, is an absolute honor.
"So many familiar faces and people I love and they've welcomed me with open arms. It's like coming home."
The final episode of NCIS: Los Angeles aired back in May. The drama ended on a happy note, with Kensi falling pregnant with her first baby with her husband Deeks (Eric Christian Olsen), while Callen (Chris O'Donnell) tied the knot with Anna (Bar Paly) in a city hall wedding.
Daniela isn't the only former star fans are hoping will make an appearance in the upcoming season. Michael Weatherly, who played Tony DiNozzo for 13 years until his departure in 2016, has sparked speculation amongst viewers about a potential return to the role.
READ: Will Mark Harmon, Pauley Perrette, Michael Weatherly return to NCIS? Here's why it could happen
Taking to X earlier this month, the 55-year-old actor revealed his plans to reprise the role one day. In response to a fan asking Michael to reveal his favorite TV role, he wrote: "There will be more DiNozzo someday because he is the one character that felt unfinished… that's my plan! We shall see…"
Sharing their excitement in the comments section, one fan penned: "@M_Weatherly that's awesome Michael, thanks for the continued mystery of the unknown to look forward too. Shall I say welcome back DiNozzo," while another added: "YES! I would love to see Daddy DiNozzo in action, leading a team or possibly a spectacular fit in the director's Chair!"
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/511631/ncis-daniela-ruah-sparks-reaction-on-set-photo-amid-return-to-franchise/
| 2024-01-19T13:37:25Z
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Peter Andre's son Junior has spoken exclusively to HELLO! about becoming a big brother again and even discussed the gender of his new baby sibling.
Talking to us at the The Butterfly Ball in aid of the Caudwell Children's charity on Thursday, Junior, 18, divulged that the new baby is going to be more like a child to him than a brother or sister.
Peter, 50, and his wife Emily, 34, are expecting their third child together this year - Peter's fifth child – having shared their exciting pregnancy news in October 2023.
Junior told HELLO! about his feelings towards his new sibling: "Well I'm going to be one of eight now, which is crazy, I'm going to be a big brother again.
"Obviously, I'm going to be like 19 years older, so I'm going to treat it as if it's my child. It's going to prepare me for fatherhood but yeah I'm very excited."
On the subject of the baby's gender, Junior added: "I don't know what it's going to be, a boy or a girl, but either way I'm going to love it so much, I can't wait. But I'm not changing any nappies though, but honestly, I can't wait - it's like a restart on life again. We've got a new baby sibling, it's crazy."
GP Emily and singer Peter tied the knot in July 2015 having been engaged for two years. They already share son Theo, seven, and daughter Amelia, nine, and Emily is a stepmum to Peter's children Princess, 16, and son Junior, 18, from his marriage to model Katie Price.
Sharing their baby news in October, Emily and Peter both uploaded a selfie that saw them proudly beaming alongside five sonogram photos.
They captioned the image: "We are delighted to share the news with you all. A new addition to our family in 2024. The kids are so excited. So are we."
Junior also shared his goals for 2024 with us, explaining: "I'm always following my dreams, so in 2024 I'm trying to just work hard, make more music, do more acting.
"Obviously I'm going to be doing more songs, acting in more films, and you'll see more of me. So just following my dreams and ambitions and doing what I love the most,"
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/511651/junior-andre-talks-hello-gender-new-baby-sibling/
| 2024-01-19T13:37:31Z
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Rachel Riley has revealed the phrase she's not keen on mentioning at home in front of her two daughters, Maven and Noa, and encourages other parents to do the same. The Countdown presenter, who shares her daughters with former Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Pasha Kovalev, was previously chatting on an episode of the Spinning Plates podcast alongside host Sophie Ellis-Bextor when she revealed the phrase parents should avoid – and for good reason!
The mathematics whizz was discussing how, when children are finding maths difficult, she encourages a different phrasing to reinforce positivity.
"I think it's really important to be positive about it in the same way you wouldn't proudly say, 'I can't read,'" she said, adding: "Don't say, 'I can't do maths,' it's just, 'I can't do it yet'."
Rachel added: "Even if you're going in and trying to help your kids, over the pandemic more people were having to do more maths to a higher level than they did before, as they were helping their kids for obvious reasons, you can go back and learn it together and if you're asking questions, great, it's a learning opportunity."
The husband and wife welcomed their eldest, Maven, in December 2019, shortly after they tied the knot in a gorgeously intimate ceremony in Las Vegas. Almost two years later, in November 2021, they welcomed their second daughter, Noa.
Rachel, 38, often shares updates on her life away from her busy career with her gorgeous family, including fun days out with her daughters.
The TV star shared a heartwarming video of her daughters having the time of their lives at a 'Bluey' exhibition at the South Bank Centre in London just before Christmas, writing in the caption: "This show complete with people-sized Mum, Dad, Bingo and Bluey was perfect for small sized Bluey fans, thanks for having us - the girls loved it!" Little Noa looked right at home with the giant Bluey mascot.
MORE: Janette Manrara's daughter Lyra is 'true star of the show' as she makes special Strictly visit
MORE: Natasha Raskin Sharp welcomes first baby as she confirms break from BBC role
Meanwhile, the mother-of-two has also been open about her health journey in recent times, and received an abundance of praise from her following on social media after sharing that she had given blood for the 20th time – and for the first time since welcoming her youngest Noa in 2021.
Smiling for the camera, the television presenter looked totally relaxed in the medic's chair with a needle in her arm as she wrote: "Just managed my 20th blood donation @givebloodnhs the first successful attempt since babies, woohoo!" she celebrated.
Rachel continued: "Last time into my third year of breastfeeding my iron was too low, but @wildnutritionltd will be pleased to hear that their iron and vitamins supplements are working as this time they had to use their machine to check my levels weren't too high to donate! (They were perfect)."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/511653/rachel-riley-reveals-the-phrase-shes-banned-at-home-with-daughters-maven-and-noa/
| 2024-01-19T13:37:37Z
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ASTANA – The Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) set a historic record by transporting 63.5 million tons of oil in 2023, CPC General Director Nikolay Gorban announced at a press briefing on Jan. 16, reported the CPC’s press office.
Of these, 56 million tons came from Kazakh shippers, Gorban added, emphasizing that CPC’s Kazakh segment (CPC-K) logged 1.7 million accident-free man-hours, and the total vehicle mileage of 3.4 million kilometers in Kazakhstan experienced no serious accidents throughout the year. These statistics equate to over 12 million hours and 28 million kilometers, respectively.
2023 was distinguished by a high concentration of construction and installation work at most facilities during the implementation of the Bottleneck Elimination Program, which was completed.
This year, work continues on the construction of new external power supply facilities and installation of variable frequency converter equipment, enhancing the reliability and cost-effectiveness of the entire Tengiz-Novorossiysk pipeline system.
In the next few years, the CPC plans to change around 400 kilometers of the main oil pipeline’s linear section. In December, the CPC began replacing the first 27 kilometers, with a scheduled start for replacing two remote mooring devices in 2026, both in operation since 2001.
In 2023, the CPC’s consolidated revenue totaled $2.3 billion, with CPC-K contributing $460 million. CPC-K’s net profit reached 77 billion tenge ($170.1 million), and tax payments approached 80 billion tenge ($176.7 million).
According to the forecast for 2024, CPC’s consolidated revenue will increase to $2.5 billion, with projected figures for CPC-K including 236 billion tenge ($521.4 million) in consolidated revenue, a net profit of 92 billion tenge ($203.2 million), and tax deductions of 48 billion tenge ($106 million).
CPC shareholders received $1.34 billion in dividends last year, marking the first instance of the CPC paying interim dividends separately to shareholders of CPC-K in Kazakhstan, totaling $93.5 million.
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https://astanatimes.com/2024/01/caspian-pipeline-consortium-transports-record-63-5-million-tons-of-oil-in-2023/
| 2024-01-19T14:00:48Z
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ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Pope Francis at the Vatican, as he made his first official visit to the Holy See on Jan. 19, reported the Akorda press service.
Tokayev expressed gratitude to Pope Francis for his tireless and selfless efforts for the development of humanity throughout the globe.
“Your prayers for achieving peace have instilled faith and new hope in the hearts and minds of not only thousands of Catholics, but also many of our compatriots professing other religions. Today, multi-ethnic and multi-confessional Kazakhstan, historically located at the crossroads of civilizations, has become home to the largest Catholic community in Central Asia,” said the President.
Tokayev noted that Kazakhstan managed to form its own model of peace and national dialogue, based on the unity in diversity country’s fundamental principle, and underlined that “protecting the right to freedom of religion is an integral part of the political course.”
Tokayev expressed full solidarity with Pope Francis’ annual “Urbi et Orbi” (To the City and the World) speech, notably, that ”peace is primarily a gift of God, but it is also a responsibility incumbent upon all of us.”
“Fully sharing your aspirations, I am convinced that, despite all our differences, we must unite to promote the ideas of peace, constant dialogue between cultures and religions, and development for the benefit of people of all faiths. There is still time to express goodwill, there is still room for negotiations, there is still an opportunity to show wisdom,” Tokayev said.
President Tokayev emphasized Kazakhstan’s enduring partnership with the Holy See, highlighting sincere friendship and mutual respect.
The President thanked Pope Francis for global peace efforts, noting Kazakhstan’s substantial contributions through United Nations peacekeeping missions.
“The current geopolitical turbulence undermines global security, leading to immense human suffering and economic challenges. Kazakhstan, as a responsible state, makes a substantial practical contribution to the maintenance of global peace and security. We actively participate in UN peacekeeping missions in various hotspots around the world,” said Tokayev.
In response, Pope Francis thanked Tokayev and acknowledged the nation’s commitment to peace. The President affirmed Kazakhstan’s intention to collaborate with the Holy See in promoting tolerance and harmony.
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https://astanatimes.com/2024/01/kazakh-president-meets-with-pope-francis-in-vatican/
| 2024-01-19T14:00:55Z
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ASTANA – The Kazakh Parliament approved the deployment of up to 430 peacekeepers to participate in United Nations missions at a Jan. 19 joint meeting of the houses of the Parliament, reported the Mazhilis press service.
These missions are the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights, the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO, Palestine-Israel), the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA, Sudan).
Starting in March, it is planned to deploy 139 military personnel with their own military equipment, weapons and property as a reserve company to the UNDOF in the Golan Heights mission.
“Since 2014, 67 Kazakh officers have taken part in UN missions in Western Sahara, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, the Central African Republic and Lebanon as military observers and staff officers. Since 2018, 538 Kazakh military personnel have participated in the UN Interim Force in Lebanon mission as part of a peacekeeping unit,” said Kazakh Defense Minister Ruslan Zhaksylykov, reading out the message of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Six Kazakh officers serve in Western Sahara, two officers in the Central African Republic, two officers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and nine military personnel in Lebanon.
Tokayev noted that sending troops to UN peacekeeping missions (operations) not only significantly contributes to strengthening international security but also helps enhance Kazakhstan’s role on the global stage.
According to the President, participation in UN missions will allow the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan to acquire the necessary combat skills characteristic of peacekeeping operations, which will be used to improve the combat training of troops.
“The Armed Forces are ready to provide both individual military personnel as military observers and staff officers, as well as specialized units – infantry, medical, reconnaissance, engineering, which are most in demand in UN missions,” Tokayev said.
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https://astanatimes.com/2024/01/kazakhstan-to-send-up-to-430-peacekeepers-to-middle-east-africa/
| 2024-01-19T14:01:01Z
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ASTANA – Air travel, oil and gas sector, petrochemicals and agriculture were on top of the agenda during President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s meetings with Italian senior executives in Rome on Jan. 18, reported the Akorda press service.
Discussing air travel with Neos President Lupo Rattazzi, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted that direct air travel between the countries facilitates the development of trade, economic, cultural, humanitarian ties, and tourism.
The Italian company launched direct flights between Almaty and Milan in May 2023. Kazakhstan is among 70 destinations where Neos flies. Established in 2001, the company is a joint venture between Italian Alpitour and German TUI Group.
Tokayev stressed the high demand, with approximately 70,000 passengers transported since its launch.
Lupo Rattazzi shared plans to expand flight geography in the region and increase the number of flights between Almaty and Milan. Launching the flights connecting the Kazakh capital Astana to Rome and Milan is also on the agenda.
Prospects in oil and gas
The same day, Tokayev also met with Guido Brusco, Eni’s chief operating officer for natural resources. The meeting covered the outcome of Kazakhstan’s cooperation with Eni over the past year and future plans.
Eni has been involved in exploration and production projects in the country’s giant Karachaganak and Kashagan oil fields in western Kazakhstan.
In Karachaganak, the company holds a 29.25% stake, along with state-owned KazMunayGas (10%), Royal Dutch Shell (29.25%), Chevron (18%) and Lukoil (13.5%).
As part of the consortium responsible for the North Caspian Sea Production Sharing Agreement (NCSPSA) in Kashagan, Eni owns 16.81% along with KazMunayGas (16.88%), Shell (16.81%), ExxonMobil (16.81%), TotalEnergies (16.81%), CNPC (8.33%) and Inpex (7.56%).
In 2023, the total oil production volume from the Kashagan and Karachaganak fields reached 30.8 million tons, said Tokayev. According to him, achieving such results became possible through the joint efforts of the government of Kazakhstan and all consortium members, including Eni.
It is also present in the renewable energy sector, with two Badamsha wind farms in the Aktobe Region.
Brusco told Tokayev about the company’s plans to build a gas processing plant, a 250-megawatt hybrid power station in the Mangystau Region, and the production of vegetable oil for further processing into biodiesel.
Energy transition
President Tokayev also met with Alessandro Bernini, a chief executive officer at Maire Tecnimont, an Italian engineering and construction company that operates in the energy field, particularly in the oil and gas sector.
Maire Tecnimont is known for its expertise in executing projects related to decarbonization, energy transition, and the development of green technologies.
Tokayev highlighted the company’s extensive experience in implementing decarbonization and energy transition projects, as well as its widespread presence in 45 countries.
Tokayev stressed that Kazakhstan is interested in Maire Tecnimont’s ambitious plans aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions and developing green technologies. This interest stems from the commitment Kazakhstan has undertaken under the Paris Agreement, including achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.
The Italian company signed a contract in April 2023 for the basic design of the polymerization unit in the second phase of the construction of the petrochemical complex in the Atyrau Region.
As part of Tokayev’s visit, Maire and Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund signed a MoU to reinforce the cooperation in the energy transition. Specifically, the sides will form a working group to assess business and investment prospects.
The technical team will investigate economic collaborations to encourage and streamline investments within Kazakhstan, focusing on areas such as decarbonization, energy transition, and projects in oil, gas, chemicals, petrochemicals, and fertilizers.
Bernini noted the document “represents the combined efforts and commitment of Italy and Kazakhstan to work together to pave the way to investment opportunities in the relevant industries of cooperation.”
“Our group is also pleased to contribute to the training of new skills and professions as one of the enabling factors of the energy transition,” he said.
Agriculture
President Tokayev met with CEO Federico Vecchioni to discuss the prospects of implementing investment projects in Kazakhstan’s agricultural sector.
Bonifiche Ferraresi is an Italian agricultural holding engaged in the cultivation and marketing of agricultural products, including rice, corn, hard and soft wheat, barley, sugar beet, alfalfa, sunflower, soybeans, garden plants and fruits.
Tokayev emphasized that Kazakhstan is a leading producer of wheat and is one of the main wheat suppliers to Italy. He noted Kazakhstan’s plans to increase the share of grain processing within the country.
Federico Vecchioni shared the company’s plans to implement projects to cultivate cereal crops using Italian technologies and further deep processing in Kazakhstan, as well as for training specialists and technology transfer.
Tokayev said Kazakhstan is ready to provide comprehensive support. He invited the company to explore opportunities for joint projects in the development of intensive horticulture and seed breeding.
President Tokayev arrived in Rome for an official visit on the evening of Jan. 17.
On Jan. 18, he met with the President of Italy Sergio Mattarella. Later in the day, he met with the Italian President of the Council of Ministers Giorgia Meloni.
Tokayev also participated in the Kazakh-Italian roundtable, which saw the signing of agreements worth $1.5 billion.
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https://astanatimes.com/2024/01/new-flights-energy-agriculture-president-tokayev-meets-top-italian-businesses/
| 2024-01-19T14:01:07Z
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ASTANA – The trading volume on Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE) totaled 410.7 trillion tenge (US$909 billion), increasing by 57.0% or 149.1 trillion tenge (US$330 billion) last year compared to 2022, reported the KASE press service on Jan. 18.
Trading increased on both the foreign exchange and securities markets.
“The volume of trading on the secondary stock market increased by 78%. More than half of this volume consists of trading, the placement of KazMunayGas shares in December 2022. The number of transactions on the exchange market increased by 53%,” said KASE Chair Alina Aldambergen at the press conference, reported Kazinform.
Last year, the KASE index continued to grow, reaching 29%. In January, the index rose another 4.1% and hit a historical high of 4357.47 points. On Jan. 17, the market saw an increase in the shares value of Kazatomprom national atomic company, Bank CenterCredit, and Kcell cellular communication operator.
“The number of retail investors has risen significantly. They operate through brokerage organizations and also invest in local tools. More institutions are coming out with green bonds,” she said.
According to Aldambergen, at least 20 new organizations are planning to issue bonds this year.
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https://astanatimes.com/2024/01/trading-volume-on-kase-nears-910-billion-in-2023/
| 2024-01-19T14:01:13Z
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Instead of climbing up a long flight of 272 steps, visitors to Batu Caves in Selangor can look forward to an easier way to reach the main cave temple at the top.
An escalator will be built at the popular tourist attraction just north of Kuala Lumpur in 2024.
It is intended to make the Sri Subramaniar cave temple more accessible to the disabled and elderly visitors, said temple committee chairman R. Nadarajah at a press conference on Jan 19, Bernama reported.
Construction of the escalator and a new multipurpose hall will begin after Thaipusam, which falls on Jan 25.
While the hall is estimated to cost around RM35 million (S$9.9 million), Mr Nadarajah did not say how much the escalator will cost.
“We hope the government would assist us since this will allow the disabled and elderly who are unable to climb the steps to reach the main temple,” he said.
Batu Caves in Gombak is home to one of the more popular shrines outside India and is dedicated to the Hindu god of war Murugan. A 42.7m-tall statue of the deity greets visitors at the entrance of the attraction.
Thousands of tourists and Hindu devotees visit the cave and temple every day, with numbers rising to an estimated 1.6 million over the four-day Thaipusam period in 2023.
The 272 steps leading to the limestone caves were the subject of viral photos on social media after they were painted in bright shades of blue, red and orange in 2018.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/malaysia-s-batu-caves-to-have-escalator-built-after-thaipusam
| 2024-01-19T14:03:47Z
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JAKARTA - Indonesia’s presidential candidates have outlined their plans to tackle corruption, but activists and analysts say these campaign trail promises ahead of the Feb 14 polls are ineffective to root out deep-seated graft.
The three presidential candidates – former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan, Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto and former Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo – proposed their ideas on Jan 17 at an event hosted by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
These ranged from raising salaries of public officials, revising laws to restore the KPK’s powers, and adopting digitalisation for financial transactions.
However, analysts pointed out that the candidates failed to address political corruption, which they say is endemic in Indonesia.
Transparency International Indonesia researcher Alvin Nicola said political corruption, especially relating to how political parties are governed and financed, is the biggest issue that remains unresolved.
“Political financing has been ignored, even though it serves as an entry point that can determine how far policies can benefit the public as largely as possible,” he said.
He added: “Unfortunately, the candidates do not seem to take the issue of the conflicts of interests seriously, and give assurance to the public that the campaign funding from donations will not affect them when elected, such as when deciding on who will fill the Cabinet or when issuing policies.”
Mr Adnan Topan Husodo, director of Banten-based think-tank Anti-Corruption Lab, said political corruption, together with corruption in the judicial system, remain the most common forms of graft in the country.
“Politics in Indonesia is expensive, complex and opaque… But no presidential candidate has proposed reforms in the political field,” he said.
Reforms, he added, should include making political and campaign funding transparent and accountable.
Indonesia fares poorly on corruption rankings, sliding four spots to rank 110th of the 180 countries surveyed by Transparency International in 2022. Neighbours Singapore and Malaysia ranked as the fifth and 61st least corrupt countries respectively in the same survey.
Between 2018 and 2023, a total of six ministers and one deputy minister in the Cabinet led by President Joko Widodo were jailed for or charged with graft. Meanwhile, in November 2023, KPK chairman Firli Bahuri was accused of extorting money from Mr Syahrul Yasin Limpo, former agriculture minister and politician from the NasDem party, who had been arrested earlier for corruption.
Anti-graft activists and experts say Indonesia’s fight against corruption has regressed in the past few years, largely because the amendment of its anti-corruption law in 2019 eroded the KPK’s powers. This was seen as a systematic effort to weaken the agency, which had stepped on too many corrupt officials’ toes.
These changes included establishing a supervisory council that decides on the agency’s wiretapping, searches and arrests. KPK employees, including investigators and prosecutors handling important cases, were treated as civil servants who could be conveniently reassigned to other agencies to obstruct justice, critics have said.
Mr Adnan said the first condition before carrying out reforms in other sectors is to strengthen the anti-corruption agency and ensure its independence.
“If the KPK is not independent, it will not be brave enough to tackle political corruption cases,” he said.
He added that key reforms in the judicial system can be done to limit the discretion of law enforcers by establishing a check and balance mechanism and strengthening control over them by an independent body.
Both Mr Anies and Mr Ganjar mentioned the KPK’s dwindling authority at the Jan 17 event.
“We want to restore the KPK’s legal authority, and this means revising the KPK law. With the revision, we want to return it to its strong position again,” Mr Anies said.
Mr Ganjar also called for the return of the “full authority” to the graft buster to ensure its independence.
Front runner Prabowo proposed improving the welfare of high-ranking officials, such as judges, ministers and military commanders, to disincentivise graft.
“We need to enhance the quality of life and increase the salary of all state officials,” Mr Prabowo said. “We are capable (of doing that). I have made a calculation with my expert team. Indonesia is a rich, not a poor, nation.”
A salary hike, in Mr Adnan’s view, would be effective to address petty corruption among low-ranking officials, but not systemic graft. “Grand corruption and political corruption won’t be solved by a pay rise,” he said.
He cited the case of tax official Rafael Alun Trisambodo, who was on Jan 8 sentenced to 14 years’ jail for money laundering and accepting gratuities totalling 57 billion rupiah (S$4.9 million). Rafael’s monthly take-home salary was around 75 million rupiah – high by Indonesia’s standards.
Dr Zainal Arifin Mochtar, a law expert from Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University, said: “Raising salaries can only address corruption by need and cannot tackle corruption by greed.”
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/presidential-candidates-plans-can-t-tackle-indonesia-s-deep-seated-corruption-experts
| 2024-01-19T14:03:57Z
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SINGAPORE - A horrifying true-life crime that shocked the world ended up helping Jessica Hsuan get more into character for her new drama.
In Mediacorp’s first M18 Chinese-language series Kill Sera Sera, the Hong Kong actress plays May Shaw, a grieving mother determined to avenge her daughter, who is killed and dismembered in a brutal murder.
At a press conference at InterContinental Singapore on Jan 18 to promote the show, which is available on mewatch, Hsuan admits she could not conceive of something so perverse happening in real life.
But the sensational murder of 28-year-old Hong Kong socialite and mother of four Abby Choi in February 2023 - which occurred just as filming was about to begin on Kill Sera Sera - was downright chilling to Hsuan.
Choi’s headless body was discovered in a village in Tai Po, a suburb in Hong Kong. Some of her body parts were reportedly hidden inside a refrigerator and some of them were cooked. Among the suspects arrested were her former husband and his family members.
Hsuan, 53, tells The Straits Times: “Obviously, I don’t want to say something so tragic helped me to connect with the role, but I didn’t know this woman and still I felt so disturbed and so upset by her case. If something like that happened to your child, you would go crazy and mad with rage.”
The dark themes of the drama - about a serial killer who only strikes on Leap Day - surprised even the cast, which also includes Malaysia-born actor Christopher Lee, Taiwanese star James Wen as well as local artistes like Chantalle Ng, Xu Bin and Damien Teo.
Hsuan, for one, has a sex scene with local actor Terence Cao, who makes a cameo as a man who has an illicit affair with May. Despite her long career, the former TVB star admits that baring skin onscreen is quite uncommon for her.
She adds: “Terence’s character in the show is someone really sleazy, a really terrible person who must make the audience feel very uncomfortable. But filming the scene was okay. I had done fittings and knew I’d be wearing (a black negligee) and I was confident that whatever we did was necessary and in service to the plot.”
Still, there are scenes that rightfully terrified Hsuan, such as one where Lee, who plays May’s husband, slaps, demeans and attempts to rape her during an argument.
“Even when you know it’s acting and you know you are safe, it’s scary. It’s important to be in those feelings so your fear is authentic. I had a great scene partner in Chris and almost all of our scenes together were completed in one take,” she says.
While the two stars have admired each other’s work for a long time, Kill Sera Sera is the first time they are acting opposite each other. It is also a return to home-grown dramas for both. Lee, 52, is based in Taiwan for work and his last local series was After The Stars (2019), while Hsuan’s last project with Mediacorp was 2011’s Bountiful Blessings.
Hsuan had not been to Singapore in at least five years prior to filming Kill Sera Sera. “Everything here is so much more expensive now. I feel that way just observing the prices at the supermarket.”
Lee, however, is always glad to be back. While he took on this role for its boundary-pushing script and the chance to work with Hsuan and Wen, the series also allowed him to be close to home, as his Singaporean actress-wife Fann Wong and their nine-year-old son Zed live here.
Does it feel odd to switch between the patriarch of a dysfunctional and tragic family in the series to the loving father he is in real life?
Lee says: “Obviously if I’m still shooting something, I won’t forget about my character, but I don’t bring their emotions home with me.
“I keep it very separate and once I’m fully done filming something, I forget about it. I let it go, there’s no need to hold onto anything (because that) will interfere with my creation of new characters.”
When he is in Singapore, he focuses on spending quality time with Zed, who goes golfing with him.
“I have no dreams of him becoming a professional. Do you know how expensive it is to train someone to be a professional golfer? We’re talking millions of dollars. This is just something he enjoys,” he says.
Lee adds that he tries to respect Zed’s own interests - the boy’s dream is to become a marine biologist - while motivating him and encouraging him to do well in school.
He adds: “If we don’t see a need to, we don’t make him go for tuition. We also don’t judge him based on grades. We just try to expose him to different things so he can figure out what he likes.”
Lee clearly loves being a parent, but Hsuan - who is the mother of two in the series - has never wanted kids.
The bachelorette, who has never married, says: “Of course I have wondered before if I want to embark on the same path as many of my friends, who have gotten married and given birth, but I think having kids is a huge responsibility. I simply don’t have the time nor the patience - I really am an impatient person - to raise a child properly.
“But if it happens, falling in love and finding companionship is still wonderful. I don’t think there’s a need to be married, however. I’m really very happy with my single life.”
Kill Sera Sera is available on mewatch.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/entertainment/abby-choi-murder-hit-close-to-home-for-actress-jessica-hsuan-during-filming-of-m18-local-drama
| 2024-01-19T14:04:08Z
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