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Asin tibuok is one of the latest Filipino ingredients to go viral online.
Israeli vlogger Nas Daily featured the ingredient in one of his recent videos, which got over 70,000 likes on TikTok alone. In his clickbaity title, he presented the ingredient as a “dinosaur egg,” but that’s not what it is.
Aside from Nas Daily, recipe YouTuber Emmymade has also featured it on her channel. Instead of labeling it as a dinosaur egg, she instead called it what it is: “the rarest salt in the world.”
Asin tibuok is an artisanal salt made in Alburquerque, Bohol. Its name literally translates to “whole salt” in English. It is a rare, heirloom ingredient that’s dying out due to the lack of people who know how to make it.
The process of making asin tibuok is labor-intensive and consists of many steps spanning months.
In a feature on salt around the Philippines for F&B Report, Ms Nayna Katigbak writes, “[Dried] coconut husks are placed in coastal mangroves to soak in seawater for several months, ensuring each is thoroughly saturated with salt from the water.
“These are then dried under the sun then slowly burned until reduced to ash. The ash is mixed with more seawater to form a smoky brine, after which the mixture is boiled down in clay pots to form a solid mass of salt.”
As opposed to what the Nas Daily video claimed, the salt doesn’t necessarily taste like coconut.
“The taste is smoky, almost fruity. Chunks can be broken off for cooking and eating, and can be dipped or ground into a powder and sprinkled over food. The distinct taste makes it perfect for Asian flavor profiles,” Ms Katigbak continued.
Philippine food heritage advocate John Sherwin Felix, otherwise known as Lokalpedia, also sounded off on the Nas Daily video.
Mr Felix explained that the salt doesn’t have a coconut flavour, but a smokey one instead, due to the process of filtering the brine through the burnt coconut husks.
The salt is currently enjoying its viral popularity online, but the number of asinderos or salt makers making it are dwindling down to almost nothing.
Mr Mario Baluarte is one of the only makers of asin tibuok left. He started making it at age seven from his grandfather, but is now 62.
In an interview with Inquirer.net, he recounts that there were once over 40 families in his hometown of Sta. Fe who were making the salt but now, there are only four families in the business.
Mr Baluarte says that the lack of interest in making the salt mostly stems from its laborious process.
“Our grandchildren are attending school. Some younger men have work. No one’s making asin tibuok. They don’t want to be burned by the salt-making process. The younger generation don’t want to get their hands dirty,” he explains.
The art of making asin tibuok may be dying but, as of now, it’s still alive. With renewed interest in the salt both locally and worldwide, there’s hope that more youth will continue the tradition.
Hopefully, even if it gets their hands dirty. PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/what-is-asin-tibuok-and-why-is-it-trending-online
| 2024-01-20T06:59:50Z
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GUWAHATI – The removal of a Tamil film from Netflix following complaints from right-wing Hindu groups has sparked concerns about growing censorship – both official and unofficial – in India, even as a new draft law seeks to increase regulation of streaming content.
Annapoorani: The Goddess Of Food was released in cinemas on Dec 1, 2023, after it was cleared by the government’s film certification body. The movie, starring south Indian female superstar Nayanthara, follows a Hindu woman’s quest to win a cooking competition.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/south-asia/cut-it-out-streaming-platforms-including-netflix-and-amazon-prime-face-censorship-pangs-in-india
| 2024-01-20T07:00:01Z
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SINGAPORE – As part of its vision to prevent blindness and address sight impairment in the region, the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) is now partnering the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the first collaboration of its kind in South-east Asia.
The tie-up, announced on Jan 20, will see SNEC’s global ophthalmology unit assisting the WHO and other countries in providing safe and accessible ophthalmic services.
This makes SNEC a WHO collaborating centre. Such centres are institutions designated by the WHO director-general to contribute to the organisation’s work. Currently, there are over 800 such centres in more than 80 member states.
Through this collaboration, SNEC said its global ophthalmology unit will support the growing capacity of the eyecare workforce in the region and provide technical assistance on research work in preventing blindness.
There are about 40 million blind people in the world. South-east Asia has some of the highest rates of blindness, accounting for some 28 per cent of people in the world with avoidable blindness, according to figures from the WHO that were reported in 2022.
Speaking at the 37th Singapore-Malaysia Joint Meeting in Ophthalmology in the Ngee Ann Kongsi Auditorium at the Singapore General Hospital campus, Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said: “This is a nice accolade and recognition of how far we’ve come and, more importantly, how much SNEC will contribute to all local and regional standards of ophthalmic care and education.”
Addressing around 600 delegates, Dr Balakrishnan, who was formerly SNEC’s medical director, added: “What I wanted you to think about is to expand this into an Asean network and work together, extend and be more effective in maintaining high standards of education, training and technology dissemination across the entire South-east Asia.”
Highlighting the importance of investing in research and development and building up institutions, he added: “That’s the only way you get progress that builds on itself and lasts the test of time.”
SNEC and the Singapore Eye Research Institute said they have been working with the WHO extensively, including providing expert guidance in the organisation’s think-tank groups and reviewing its policies and guides related to evidence-based eyecare reports.
Speaking to the media on Jan 20, Professor Aung Tin, chief executive of SNEC, said: “There is a high prevalence of blindness and visual impairment in many countries. Singapore is fortunate that we have very good eyecare facilities and are able to help patients manage complex eye diseases.
“Unfortunately, this may not be the case everywhere in the South-east Asia region, and we certainly hope to help in this aspect.”
Prof Aung Tin said one of SNEC’s aims since its collaboration with the WHO will be to train more ophthalmologists, ophthalmic assistants, technicians and nurses in other countries in the region.
“We have already trained a number of ophthalmologists from Asean countries. Now, with SNEC becoming a WHO collaborating centre, we will help in training even more eyecare professionals under a train-the-trainer programme, so those who have received training can return to their countries and impart their knowledge to their colleagues,” he added.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapore-national-eye-centre-in-tie-up-with-who-to-address-vision-impairment-in-region
| 2024-01-20T07:00:11Z
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NEW YORK – The Boston Celtics, who are the overall National Basketball Association (NBA) leaders, had been formidable at home all season – something that the Denver Nuggets took special note of.
On Jan 19, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray combined for 69 points as defending champions Denver ended Boston’s unbeaten home start to the campaign with a thrilling 102-100 victory.
A heavyweight showdown lived up to the billing in a gripping battle at Boston’s TD Garden.
The Nuggets’ victory snapped the Celtics’ 20-game unbeaten run on their home court, with the Nuggets laying down a psychological marker in what could well turn out to be a possible NBA Finals preview.
Both two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Jokic and Murray were in scintillating form throughout.
Jokic finished with 34 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists while Murray led the Nuggets scoring with 35 points.
“During the season you’ve got to find ways of motivating yourself and your team, and them not having a loss at home really motivated us,” Murray, who also had eight rebounds and five assists, said afterwards.
“We just wanted to come here and bring the right energy regardless. It was good to get a win today.
“They’ve got a great team, lot of guys I’m familiar with that I’ve been playing with or against my whole life – just a lot of fun when it gets competitive and physical like that. Just a really good win on the road.”
Denver coach Michael Malone was proud of his two stars, saying: “They played for themselves and they played for other people. It was high-level basketball from two All-Star players.”
Derrick White led Boston’s scoring with 24 points while Jayson Tatum added 22 and Kristaps Porzingis 21.
For long periods of the titanic battle, it looked as if Boston would escape with their unbeaten home record intact in a game that saw the lead change hands 13 times.
They built a big 12-point lead during the second quarter with Tatum scoring 10 points and Jaylen Brown adding seven.
But Denver always managed to claw their way back into the contest and edged ahead 99-98 with 3min 36sec remaining after Jokic’s driving hook shot.
Tatum missed an opportunity to tie the game with an unsuccessful driving layup with 17 seconds left and the Nuggets held on for a gutsy victory.
“I think I kind of rushed it, and that’s on me,” Tatum said. “I had more time than I gave myself.”
Boston remain top of the Eastern Conference with 32 wins and 10 defeats, leading second placed Milwaukee (28-13).
Denver improved to 29-14 and are third in the West behind Minnesota (30-11) and Oklahoma City (28-13).
In other games on Jan 19, Cam Thomas scored 33 points and Nic Claxton added 22 and 14 rebounds as the visiting Brooklyn Nets ended a four-game losing streak with a 130-112 road victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
In Orlando, Joel Embiid’s rich vein of form for Philadelphia continued as the 76ers swatted aside the Magic 124-109.
The reigning NBA Most Valuable Player delivered another barnstorming display, scoring 36 points and grabbing seven rebounds in just three quarters as the Sixers cruised past their opponents.
It marked the 19th straight game where Embiid has scored 30 points or more as Philadelphia bagged their fourth consecutive victory.
Devin Booker produced a superb 52-point display as the Phoenix Suns routed the New Orleans Pelicans 123-109 on the road. The Suns point guard made six three-pointers while shooting 18 of 30 from the field in the win.
Kevin Durant added 26 points for Phoenix with Bradley Beal scoring 13.
Zion Williamson scored 24 points for New Orleans, who trailed almost for the entirety of the contest. AFP, REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/basketball/nikola-jokic-jamal-murray-star-as-denver-nuggets-hand-boston-celtics-first-home-loss
| 2024-01-20T07:00:21Z
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RIYADH – French forward Karim Benzema has returned to Saudi Arabia 17 days after he was supposed to check back in with his club Al-Ittihad, a source close to the club said on Jan 19.
Club officials were said to be “furious” with his behaviour but there is no chance of him ending his contract in January despite speculation linking him with European clubs, the source added.
Benzema, 36, left for holidays during the Saudi Pro League’s mid-season break three weeks ago and shut down his Instagram account, which is followed by 76 million users.
A different source said Benzema, who won the Ballon d’Or in 2022 and is reportedly being paid €100 million (S$146 million) a season, had been on holiday in Mauritius until Jan 15.
“Benzema arrived Thursday evening, 17 days late. He should have returned on Jan 2,” the source close to the club said. “We couldn’t reach him for 10 days. The club management and the coach are furious with what happened.
“There will be a meeting with the club board to explain what happened and discuss his future.”
The source added that Benzema remains captain of Al-Ittihad and there was “no option” for him to leave the club. Some reports have linked him with a move to English Premier League sides Chelsea and Arsenal.
The Frenchman was one of the biggest names to move to the Saudi Pro League in 2023, along with Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mane, Neymar and a host of other players from Europe’s top leagues.
Benzema’s club, one of four in the league owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, slipped to seventh in the table in December after three consecutive defeats, leading to Benzema being booed by supporters.
The season resumes on Feb 7.
Ronaldo, meanwhile, insisted on Jan 19 that the Saudi Pro League was “more competitive” than the French Ligue 1.
“To be honest, I think the Saudi championship isn’t worse than the French championship. I think it’s more competitive,” the five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo told the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai.
The Portuguese striker was the first major star to move to Saudi Arabia when he joined Al-Nassr in January 2023.
Asked about the often-derided level of the Saudi Pro League, Ronaldo added: “They can say what they want, it’s just my opinion. I have played there for a year so I know what I’m talking about.
“I think that now we are better than the French championship and we continue to improve.” AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/karim-benzema-returns-to-furious-saudi-club-17-days-late
| 2024-01-20T07:00:32Z
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PARIS – Thierry Henry is hoping that Kylian Mbappe and other French World Cup stars might make themselves available for his team at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but it all mostly depends on their clubs.
The 25-year old Mbappe, France’s biggest star, will be a free agent in the summer and his choice of club has provoked intense speculation. The Paris Saint-Germain striker has long been linked with a move to Real Madrid.
“There’s a difference between wanting something and being able to attain it,” Henry, France’s Under-21 and Olympic coach, said on Jan 19 of Mbappe playing at the Olympics.
“I don’t know where he’ll end up, but the club will have a say. I haven’t contacted him about it yet.”
Hosts France qualified automatically for the Olympics football tournament which kicks off on July 24, two days before the opening ceremony.
Each team is allowed three players over the age of limit of 23, and Henry, who played 123 times for France’s senior team, hopes that the prospect of playing at an Olympics at home will attract players.
But he said he also had not heard from other over-age stars, such as Antoine Griezmann, 32.
“No one has approached me,” Henry said.
“Let’s be honest, it’s the Olympics in France, so it’s a big deal for everyone. If you talk to any player in France, they’d like to do the Olympics. But will they be able to?”
“I have a lot of possibilities and very few certainties,” added Henry of his squad.
“It’s even truer when it comes to preparing for the Olympic Games, which don’t fit into the Fifa calendar. We’re at the mercy of the clubs’ willingness to release their players.
“I don’t know who I will select yet, but let’s say I want a player and his current club accepts. If he is transferred in the summer, how do I know if his new club will want to release him?”
The problem is complicated because France have qualified for Euro 2024 in Germany just before the Paris Games, meaning that senior players may find it too taxing to play two major tournaments in a row.
“We do not know the squad for the Euro either,” Henry said.
The 46-year-old, who was part of the France squad that won the World Cup at home in 1998, also said there will be expectations from “me, the team, everyone” for the Olympics regardless of what team he has.
“It’s France. Visualising gold is normal. But getting there is another question,” he said.
“It’s not always easy to win at home, to transform this pressure into a positive emotion.”
Prior to his current role, the Frenchman has coached Monaco and Montreal Impact, and has been an assistant with Belgium, but he is not counting on a long coaching career.
“I like coaching but one day I will stop,” he said.
“Longevity at the (top) level football, apart from DD (France national team coach Didier Deschamps), it’s hard.” AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/thierry-henry-dreams-of-kylian-mbappe-and-gold-for-olympic-hosts
| 2024-01-20T07:00:42Z
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MELBOURNE - Carlos Alcaraz eased into the fourth round of the Australian Open for the first time on Saturday after Chinese wildcard Shang Juncheng retired hurt while trailing their uneven contest 6-1 6-1 1-0.
In the unusual position of playing someone younger than himself, twice Grand Slam champion Alcaraz had simply dominated 18-year-old Shang for just over an hour on Rod Laver Arena.
Shang, known as "Jerry" at his Florida training base, had taken a medical timeout for treatment on his thigh at 4-1 down in the second set and gave up the ghost after being broken for the sixth time at the start of the third.
"It's not the way anybody wants to move on and I wish him a speedy recovery," said second seed Alcaraz, who will play Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic in the last 16.
"He started the year unbelievable, playing great games, and I was looking forward to playing this match ... I think Jerry and myself wanted to play a long match."
Shang broke new ground for China when he reached the second round as a qualifier last year and was looking to become the first Chinese man to reach the last 16 of a Grand Slam since 1938.
The teenager was unable to muster sufficient power on his serve to be confident of holding, however, and did not have enough game on returns to get a look at the Spaniard's.
Alcaraz barely needed to move out of first gear as he eased through the first two sets, throwing in the occasional stunning lob or crosscourt winner to keep the crowd engaged.
Last year, the 20-year-old watched the year's first Grand Slam from his couch nursing a hamstring injury and he was delighted to get through to the business end of the tournament for the first time in three visits to Melbourne Park.
"This is the first time I've played the second week here and it feels special," he added.
"Coming to this tournament this year, I was looking to improve the result that I did in 2022. I did it. And now is the time to keep going, play better and better, and hopefully go through more rounds." REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tennis/awesome-alcaraz-reaches-second-week-at-melbourne-for-first-time
| 2024-01-20T07:00:53Z
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MELBOURNE – Novak Djokovic has opened up on how he riled Roger Federer when he broke onto the scene as a cocky upstart, but said it only fired up his quest to become the best player in the world.
The Serbian world No. 1 is gunning for a historic 25th Grand Slam in Melbourne, where he has already won the Australian Open title a record 10 times.
He is already the most-decorated player in the men’s game, with two more Slams under his belt than the injured Rafael Nadal and four ahead of the retired Federer, fellow members of the so-called “Big Three”.
On Jan 19, Djokovic coasted past 30th-seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry in his 100th match at the Australian Open, looking close to his best after patchy performances in the opening two rounds.
He was asked after his victory on Rod Laver Arena to reflect on his early career as he sought to challenge the established powers in the game.
“I know certainly Federer didn’t like the way I was behaving at the beginning,” said the 36-year-old, who enjoyed a storied rivalry with the Swiss great, winning 27 of the 50 matches they played.
“I think it didn’t sit with him well. I don’t know about the others. I guess I wasn’t the favourite type of guy to some of the top guys because I was not afraid to say that I want to be the best player in the world.
“I was confident, and I felt like I have the game to back it up.”
But Djokovic, who faces French 20th seed Adrian Mannarino in the last 16, insisted he never lacked respect.
“Respect is something that I was taught that needs to be present regardless of what is happening,” he said.
“Obviously on the court a lot of things can happen in a kind of heat of a battle. It was a very long time ago now, 20 years since I made my first debut I think on the professional tour. It’s really hard to say who liked me more or less.”
And the Serb gave an insight into what drives him, saying he was fuelled by what he perceived as unfair criticism.
“If I made a mistake, I would admit it and, of course, say I make a mistake. I raise my hand, I apologise,” he said.
“But if I think the criticism came with no particular reason, then I would just keep going in the kind of direction that I chose, and that’s it.
“I knew and I know today that you can’t have everyone liking you, who you are, how you play, how you behave, what you talk about. It’s normal. We’re all different. We have all different preferences.” AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tennis/novak-djokovic-admits-roger-federer-tensions-early-in-career
| 2024-01-20T07:01:03Z
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MELBOURNE - Novak Djokovic has already been pushed to four sets in two of his early matches at Melbourne Park but Australian great Rod Laver says engravers should get to work putting the world number one's name on the Grand Slam trophy for an 11th time.
Djokovic is eyeing a record-extending Melbourne Park title that will also take him past Margaret Court's haul of 24 majors but the Serb has not had it all his own way and was pushed hard by teenager Dino Prizmic and local hope Alexei Popyrin.
Laver, the only player to win the calendar Grand Slam twice, is still convinced Djokovic will glide past challengers after the 36-year-old downed Tomas Martin Etcheverry to set up a fourth round meeting with Adrian Mannarino.
"It's almost like he's priming himself to get through to the final," 11-times Grand Slam winner Laver said on Saturday after arriving in Melbourne from California.
"He'll lose a set somewhere in these five-setters and I'm thinking, 'Is he having us on?' because he could win this in two and two and two (6-2 6-2 6-2)."
Djokovic claimed last year's title despite playing with a small tear in his hamstring and 85-year-old Laver, who has the centre court at the Australian Open named in his honour, said it would take something extraordinary to dethrone him.
"He's such a great athlete to begin with, but his mind also is tennis and so he sees it almost unfold in front of him, just what he should be doing," said Laver.
"That's how he's being a great champion.
"He serves well, his groundstrokes are unbeatable, so I have to believe, unless someone miraculously plays their best tennis to knock him off they can start putting part of his initials on the trophy now." REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tennis/only-something-miraculous-can-stop-djokovic-in-melbourne-laver
| 2024-01-20T07:01:13Z
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A 65-year-old man was rescued from a frozen lake on Jan 18 after his dog worked with a police officer to pull him out of the water, said Michigan State Police.
In a statement, the police said that the rescue occurred at about 11.45am.
Motor Carrier Officer (MCO) Kammeron Bennetts responded to a call from a Michigan man who had fallen through the ice in Arbutus Lake in East Bay Township, the statement added.
MCO Bennetts could not reach the man due to the ice conditions. Instead, he got the man’s dog, Ruby, to help.
In bodycam footage posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, the officer is seen attaching an orange-coloured rescue disc with a yellow rope to Ruby’s collar. The officer then instructs the man to call for his dog while he holds onto the rope.
Ruby is seen running back to the owner with the rescue disc.
After the man gets hold of the disc, MCO Bennetts is heard saying: “I need you to kick your feet. Kick your feet back. Bring your feet up to the surface by kicking your feet!”
Breathing heavily, the officer pulls the rope while continuing to shout: “Keep pulling on that disc. Pull on the disc, kick your feet. Keep kicking your feet!”
According to the police, MCO Bennetts was assisted by a firefighter from Grand Traverse Metro Fire Department as they pulled the man to safety. He was in the water for approximately 16 minutes.
In the footage, the man is seen lying flat on his stomach.
The police said he was taken to Munson Medical Center for treatment and later discharged.
The police hailed “the quick actions of MCO Bennetts, along with the help from Ruby” for the successful ice rescue.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/michigan-dog-helps-police-officer-rescue-its-owner-who-fell-into-frozen-lake
| 2024-01-20T07:01:24Z
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Lauren Sanchez revealed she was "thrilled" to be at the 2024 Living Legends of Aviation honors on Friday January 19, 2024.
As the 54-year-old made her way inside the ballroom at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, where Prince Harry was also in attendance, she joked that it was "only time" before more women were inducted into the organization; there are less than 10 female members.
Lauren was joined by her fiance Jeff Bezos, who skipped the red carpet, but sat with her inside; Jeff was inducted in 2023. Lauren wore a slinky black strapless ball gown for the gala, paired with elbow-length black gloves - and in true 'mob wife' fashion, wore her engagement ring, rumored to be worth more than $2million, over the gloves.
The organization made the announcement about Lauren's induction in December 2023.
"The Living Legends of Aviation are pleased to announce that Lauren Sánchez will receive the Elling Halvorson Vertical Flight Hall of Fame Award at the 21st Annual Living Legends of Aviation Awards," the institution wrote.
"From Emmy Award-winning journalist to helicopter pilot and aviation businesswoman, Lauren Sánchez’s achievements in aviation and unwavering commitment to advancing women in the industry inspire us all."
They concluded: "We are truly honored to recognize her with our highest award for vertical flight. Join us on January 19, 2024, to celebrate and honor this inspiring #WomanOfAviation #LivingLegends #AviationAwards #WomenInAviation #AviationExcellence."
"I just can’t believe it!!!" Lauren continued, before explaining: "What a huge honor it is to be recognized by the Living Legends of Aviation. Flying is my passion and this is truly such an honor. (You also have no idea how happy you made my dad who has been a pilot since I was a little girl)."
Lauren and Jeff began dating in 2019 after being friends for many years. He proposed in 2023 while they were on vacation on his $500 million superyacht.
"When he opened the box, I think I blacked out a bit," she told Vogue. Lauren then revealed that rather than an over the top party or grand gesture, Jeff had simply hidden the ring underneath her pillow.
Prince Harry, 39, made a solo appearance – despite rumors his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex would be joining him – at the event, skipping the red carpet and sneaking into the Beverly Hilton hotel, in Beverly Hills, California, via the back doors.
Wearing a black velvet tuxedo, paired with a white shirt, the father-of-two was put on the spot by host John Travolta in the actor's opening remarks, with the Grease star asking the audience: "What can you remember about your first flight?"
The royal then remarked: "It's classified," to laughter from the room.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/511700/lauren-sanchez-thrilled-honored-alongside-prince-harry-wows-in-a-slinky-black-ball-gown/
| 2024-01-20T07:05:48Z
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King Charles' relationship with Prince Harry has been fractured since he and Meghan Markle announced they would be stepping down as senior members of the royal family back in March 2020.
Subsequently, the release of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Netflix docu-series Harry & Meghan and the publication of Harry’s memoir Spare have only widened the gap between father and son.
Surprisingly, however, it seems that despite Harry revealing many private family secrets and even labelling his father King Charles as unaffectionate and unable to communicate with him during his childhood years – the monarch would be open to a reconciliation with his youngest son.
Speaking to the hosts of HELLO!'s A Right Royal Podcast, royal author Robert Hardman – who this week published a new royal book, Charles III New King. New Court. The Inside Story – revealed that the 75-year-old King would “definitely” like to reconcile with Harry.
Listen to the podcast below to find out what qualities King Charles has that will enable a reunion and why, despite being open to mending their relationship, “certain things” are still “non-negotiable”.
LISTEN: King Charles is open to a reconciliation with son Prince Harry
In this special podcast episode, Robert also touches upon the drama that unfolded after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle named their daughter Lilibet after Queen Elizabeth II, and clarifies what really angered the Queen - and it wasn't the name itself.
“The Queen adored Harry, right to the end, and Harry adored her. She met Lilibet and loves her granddaughter, that was not an issue,” Robert told hosts Andrea Caamano and Emmy Griffiths, along with HELLO!’s royal editor Emily Nash.
“What was at issue was the handling of the story that came after the naming of Lilibet. And it was the way in which the Sussexes put out a statement saying the Queen had been entirely supportive of the name, and it was largely stated that she had given them her blessing."
He continues: "This was followed by a BBC report saying that the Queen had not given her blessing... then you had the situation where you had the Sussexes firing off legal letters to the BBC and others, and more or less demanding the palace corroborate their version of events.
"And that's when the real anger kicked in – because you don't start telling the Queen, 'Say you said this'. It was the handling of the naming row rather than the naming."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/511590/why-a-reconciliation-between-king-charles-and-prince-harry-is-set-to-happen/
| 2024-01-20T07:05:54Z
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With her daughter Lady Louise Windsor now settled at the University of St Andrews and son the Earl of Wessex midway through his teenage years, the Duchess of Edinburgh has reached a time where she can focus more on her passions and interests.
Sophie, who turned 59 on Saturday 20 January, has been a loyal and hard-working member of the royal family for nearly a quarter of a century.
Last year, she carried out 179 engagements in the UK and across the globe to support her brother-in-law the King and the more than 70 charities and organisations of which she is patron.
HELLO! also understands that this year, the Duchess is looking forward to working more with her patronages, meeting communities across the country and recognising those who support people with disabilities and promote opportunities for young people.
Her birthday week itself saw her visiting Katherine Low Settlement in Battersea, London, which works to reduce poverty and isolation and is celebrating its centenary.
Meanwhile, in June, she will celebrate 25 years of marriage to the Duke, who himself turns 60 on 10 March, giving the couple a great deal to look forward to.
But what is it that makes her such a stalwart of the royal family? Like the Princess of Wales, with whom she can often be seen sharing a joke at family and sporting events, Sophie is widely admired for her caring, down-to-earth personality and easy ability to connect with others.
She was also close to Elizabeth II, who, with her dedication to duty, was her ultimate royal role model. And she is fully committed to her royal work, even if it doesn’t always get the attention it deserves.
Royal photographer Tim Rooke, who has travelled overseas with the Duchess since 2000, tells HELLO!: "She's great to work with and she understands the value to her charities of a nice photograph of her, but she gives her full attention to the people she’s visiting or working with.
"She's very warm – there's a lot of hugging and it's all very genuine. You can see from the way she physically reacts to things she hears that she finds it moving and emotional. For the people she meets, having a VIP take an interest means a lot. She makes sure everyone feels they’ve had their moment with her.”
It’s an approach that has made the Duchess a firm favourite with her charities. Telling HELLO! how Sophie "greets everyone with compassion, kindness and love", Karen Sugarman of Shooting Star Children’s Hospices, of which Sophie has been patron since 2002, says: "She embraces every single person she meets with such warmth, rolls up her sleeves and helps with various activities with the children. She is truly cherished by us all and we feel incredibly honoured that she has remained part of our charity’s family for the past 22 years."
It’s a similar story at Debra, which supports sufferers of the rare skin condition epidermolysis bullosa – "butterfly skin" – and of which Sophie has been patron for many years. "She's so incredibly warm," Lindsey Puddifant, Debra’s head of PR, tells us.
"She's down to earth and approachable. She's lovely with members – adult members or children – of the charity, and just very happy to chat. She's very kind and very considerate and she knows loads of stuff about the condition. You know she's not putting on a façade, she’s not putting on a front. The warmth that comes from her is clearly natural and authentic."
Another one of Duchess' longstanding patronages is learning disability charity Mencap, with Sophie running part of the virtual London Marathon in 2020 in support. Jackie O'Sullivan, acting CEO for Mencap described the Duchess as a "committed and supportive patron" adding that her "ongoing support makes a huge difference".
Watch Sophie's marathon moment in the clip below...
And the Scar Free Foundation was one of Sophie's first patronages when she became a full-time working royal in 2002. Describing the Duchess as a "wonderful patron," Jenni Herd, Communications Manager at The Scar Free Foundation, tells us: "Sophie's commitment to our mission has not only made more people aware of scarring as an issue, but has driven meaningful change. Her advocacy has opened doors so we can fund the right people and right research at the right time.
"She speaks up for our ambassadors, amplifies their voices, and encourages people to see the story behind the scars. We're now closer than ever to scar free healing. We are so grateful for Her Royal Highness' warmth and compassion over the last two decades."
Sophie has also travelled the world with the sight-saving charity Orbis, a cause particularly close to her heart – Louise was born with esotropia and had two operations to correct her vision – and has several military patronages. So what is she like as a person?
"She’s lovely, fresh, down to earth, she has a big heart, she’s very intelligent," says designer Sophie Habsburg, Archduchess of Austria, whose handbags are often carried by the Duchess. What you see is what you get. There's no hidden agenda in any kind of way."
Sophie is also refreshingly relatable for a member of the royal family and won plaudits in 2021 for candidly sharing her experience of going through the menopause.
"You suddenly can't remember what on earth it was you were talking about," she said. "Try being on an engagement when that happens!"
Sophie has long championed gender equality and founded the Women's Network Forum, which promotes women in the workplace, in 2014. But since 2019, she has taken on a fascinating new area with the Government's Preventing Sexual Conflict in Violence Initiative and the United Nations' Women, Peace and Security agenda.
It's a gritty subject, but Sophie is clearly passionate about it – she is expected to travel overseas this year to champion the rights of women and girls and highlight the appalling impact of sexual violence in conflict around the world. As she enters her 60th year, the Duchess can be proud of her work to date – but clearly believes there's still much more to do.
LISTEN: Why King Charles is the ‘happiest’ he has been despite royal dramas
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| 2024-01-20T07:06:00Z
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Prince Harry was honored with a Living Legends of Aviation medal by John Travolta on Friday - and the Grease actor referenced his famous 1985 dance with Harry's mother Princess Diana in his opening remarks.
John once famously danced with Harry's mom Princess Diana at the White House and later called it one of the "highlights of my life," and Prince Mario-Max Schaumburg-Lippe, who appeared on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and was in attendance later spoke to HELLO! and other media about John's speech, calling the moment "very touching and sweet".
He said: "John Travolta presented the award and he referred to the dance with his mother Princess Diana, [when] Prince Harry was one-years-old so he's like, 'Now I see you again under a new circumstance, on a new stage.' That was very touching and very sweet because we all remember how gorgeous the dance was of John Travolta and Princess Diana, and now Princess Diana's son is getting an award from John Travolta.
"It was the cutest, most touching moment and it's a moment of history and I love it – it was beautiful to watch."
The event, hosted by John, saw Harry and Lauren Sanchez honored, along with four other inductees who are being recognized for their contributions to aviation and aerospace.
Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke was in attendance to celebrate her friend Lauren, and she called the Prince's speech "poetic".
"He talked about taking off and being up in God's playground, up in the clouds, and he talked about the taste of magic [being up there,] it was poetic," she shared.
Prince Harry, 39, made a solo appearance – despite rumors his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex would be joining him – as he was inducted into the "Living Legends of Aviation" for his work as a British Army veteran, skipping the red carpet, and sneaking into the Beverly Hilton hotel, in Beverly Hills, California, via the back doors.
The father-of-two wore a black velvet tuxedo, paired with a white shirt, and was put on the spot by host John in the actor's opening remarks, as he asked the audience: "What can you remember about your first flight?" The royal then quipped: "It's classified," to laughter from the room.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/511701/john-travolta-references-1985-dance-princess-diana-presents-prince-harry-with-aviation-honor/
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Gemma Atkinson's children, Mia, three, and baby Thiago have the sweetest bond, and on Friday the sibling duo was captured in the most adorable at-home video.
Taking to her Instagram account, Gemma was overcome with emotion judging by the emojis she used to accompany the clip. Mia could be seen playing with her baby brother, who was sitting in his high chair, before giving him a sweet kiss on the forehead. See the touching moment in the video below.
"Her sweet little kiss at the end [welling up and heart eyes emoji]," Gemma penned alongside the clip, which was taken at their luxe family home in Cheshire.
Not only are the little ones developing the closest bond, but the pair were also doubles of each other in the special family clip, with both of them having the same adorable button nose which was strikingly clear as they were filmed from the side.
Mia was wrapped up in her pajamas and a fluffy purple dressing gown, whilst Thiago donned a beige babygrow and black bib.
After being coined a "mother hen" immediately after her baby brother was born back in July last year, it's safe to say Gemma was feeling sentimental about how quickly Mia is growing up. Ahead of the video, the former Hollyoaks actress shared a throwback photo of her little girl from three years ago sitting on the sofa.
Gemma simply captioned the photo with a giant teary-eyed emoji surrounded by love hearts and added the song, They Grow Up Too Fast, by Jimmy Charles.
The lyrics of the section used by Gemma in the video were incredibly meaningful: "Give me a replay, give me a rewind, there's a way to slow down time. Someone show me how, make it right now."
Gemma shares her two children with her fiancé Gorka Marquez, who is currently in his homeland Spain filming the Spanish version of Strictly Come Dancing where he is a judge.
The pair met on the UK version of the show back in 2017 but were not partnered together. Gorka was partnered with Alexandra Burke, meanwhile, Gemma was partnered with Aljaz Skorjanec, who has since, along with his Strictly star wife, Janette Manrara become exceptionally close friends with Gemma and Gorka.
Aljaz and Janette even site Gemma and Gorka as one of the reasons they upped sticks and moved up to Cheshire when Janette was pregnant with her first child, Lyra Rose last year.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/511702/strictly-gemma-atkinson-mia-kisses-thiago/
| 2024-01-20T07:36:29Z
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BEIJING – A fire at a school dormitory in central China killed 13 pupils and injured one person, Chinese state media reported on Jan 20.
The dead were third-graders at an elementary school, according to China Newsweek, a weekly magazine published by China News Service, the second-largest Chinese news agency after Xinhua. Third-graders in China are usually nine years old.
The blaze at Yingcai School in Henan’s Yanshanpu village was reported to the local fire department at 11pm on Jan 19, Xinhua said.
“Rescuers arrived at the scene quickly and the flames were extinguished at 11.38pm,” Xinhua said.
The injured survivor “is currently receiving treatment at the hospital and is in stable condition”, according to Xinhua.
The local authorities are investigating the fire’s cause, and the head of the school has been detained, Xinhua said.
Yanshanpu village lies on the outskirts of Nanyang, a city of nearly 10 million.
Little information about the boarding school is publicly available, though social media videos published earlier showed young children, including kindergarteners, wearing smocks with the school’s logo, and older children learning calligraphy.
Chinese social media users expressed outrage about the fire and called for any safety lapses to be punished.
“It’s too scary, 13 children from 13 families, all gone in an instant... If there is no severe punishment their souls will not rest in peace,” one commenter on the Weibo social site wrote.
Fires and other deadly accidents are common in China owing to lax safety standards and poor enforcement.
In November 2023, 26 people died and dozens were taken to hospital after a fire at a coal company office in northern China’s Shanxi province.
In July 2023, 11 people died after the roof of a school gym collapsed in the country’s north-east.
In June the same year, an explosion at a barbecue restaurant in north-western China left 31 dead and prompted official pledges of a nationwide campaign to promote workplace safety.
And in April, a hospital fire in Beijing killed 29 people and forced people who were desperately fleeing it to jump out of windows to escape.
After the coal company fire in November, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for the country to “conduct in-depth investigations of hidden risks in key industries and improve emergency plans and prevention measures”. AFP, REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/13-dead-in-china-school-fire-chinese-state-media
| 2024-01-20T08:32:01Z
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SINGAPORE – In this week’s Book Box, The Straits Times looks at books that delve into ancestral memories. Buy the books at Amazon. These articles include affiliate links. When you buy through them, we may earn a small commission.
Book review: Vanessa Chan’s The Storm We Made an uneven Malayan espionage thriller
Opening with the disappearance of teenage boys in 1945 Japanese-occupied Malaya, The Storm We Made follows mother of three Cecily Alcantara as her worst nightmare comes true when her son Abel vanishes to the Kanchanaburi Labour Camp on the Burma-Thailand border.
Soon, the reader learns that the Eurasian woman had a part to play in the Japanese’s imperial ambition to create an “Asia for Asians”, which had seen nearly the whole of South-east Asia come under the flag of the Japanese empire, a guilt that eats at her.
Book review: Adventure in 18th-century Senegal in David Diop’s Beyond The Door Of No Return
On the island of Goree, off the coast of Senegal, is a door.
Through it, captured Africans would have emerged from dark dungeons into the sunlight of their native land one last time, before being packed onto ships and sold across the sea into slavery.
This is the titular Door Of No Return in David Diop’s third novel, in which swashbuckling adventure and doomed romance in 18th-century Senegal culminate in tragedy.
Book review: Jhumpa Lahiri’s Roman Stories sketches the Eternal City in decay
Rome is one of those cities that nigh everybody has an idea of. Whether it is the endless adventure in Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita (1960) or the dangerous mystique in Dan Brown thrillers, its representation in popular media has given it its own mythology.
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri’s title for her short story collection is taken from another classical representation, Alberto Moravia’s Racconti Romani, or Roman Tales, published in 1954.
Except she subverts all ideas of Rome and writes from the perspectives of immigrants, the overlooked other growing in population in the Eternal City and whose place is simultaneously more fundamental to the city’s functioning, but also more precarious.
Book review: Jesmyn Ward’s harrowing Let Us Descend enters the hell of American slavery
In his pioneering 1845 memoir, the former slave Frederick Douglass recalls a horrific childhood memory of watching his aunt get whipped by their master.
“It was the blood-stained gate, the entrance to the hell of slavery, through which I was about to pass,” he writes.
This line by Douglass, who in penning his own narrative helped prove the intellectual capacities of African-Americans, finds its echo in American author Jesmyn Ward’s Let Us Descend.
Golden Mile Complex designer Tay Kheng Soon: Don’t be duped by idea of global city
In 1968, architect Tay Kheng Soon received a call from then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s office. He had impressed with a paper he authored on housing and nation building, and Mr Lee, through his adviser George Thompson, wished to see him.
Ushered through the doors of City Hall, Tay was struck by Mr Lee’s “height and ruddy complexion”. Mr Lee, however, had no time for niceties, immediately beginning a thrust-and-parry with Tay on the role of Malay kampungs in modern Singapore.
The content of the discussion seemed to hardly matter, recalls Tay in his new book. “The man was sizing me up. But beyond argument, I also felt the weight of his overbearing presence. It was palpable. You could not prevail against this colossus of a man.”
Bestsellers: The Straits Times’ Weekly Bestsellers Jan 20
Theresa Devasahayam’s newest book, Little Drops, debuts at No 3 on the non-fiction bestsellers list.
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Beyond The Door Of No Return
By David Diop, translated by Sam Taylor
Fiction/Pushkin Press/Hardcover/256 pages/$32.47/Amazon SG (amzn.to/3U2tMqp)
4 stars
On the island of Goree, off the coast of Senegal, is a door.
Through it, captured Africans would have emerged from dark dungeons into the sunlight of their native land one last time, before being packed onto ships and sold across the sea into slavery.
This is the titular Door Of No Return in David Diop’s third novel, in which swashbuckling adventure and doomed romance in 18th-century Senegal culminate in tragedy.
In 2021, Diop became the first French author and the first of African heritage – his father is Senegalese – to win the International Booker Prize with his visceral World War I novel, At Night All Blood Is Black.
That same year, he published Beyond The Door Of No Return in French. It has now been translated into English by Sam Taylor.
Diop, a university lecturer in 18th-century literature, subverts the tropes of that era’s travel writing to chart his own voyage into the dark heart of colonialism.
A young Frenchwoman, Aglae, sits at the deathbed of her father, Michel Adanson, a renowned botanist who neglected her in his pursuit of academic acclaim.
Before he dies, he speaks one last word: “Maram”. Aglae, determined to unravel her estranged father’s final mystery, discovers a notebook of his which records a research expedition to Senegal he undertook when he was 23.
There, a village head tells him the tale of the “revenant”, a woman called Maram Seck who has done the impossible: She was sold into slavery in America, but has returned alive.
Despite the scepticism of his guide, a cocky 15-year-old prince called Ndiak, Adanson decides to seek out the revenant.
Michel Adanson was a real-life naturalist who, in 1748, travelled to Senegal on an expedition funded by the Compagnie des Indes, or the French East India Company. He went on to publish his findings in Histoire Naturelle Du Senegal (Natural History Of Senegal).
Diop delves into the gaps of this expedition through the use of multiple frame narratives, all of which question how stories are recorded and which ones get to become history.
At first, the novel foregrounds the European Enlightenment narrative, with its focus on mastering the world through scientific knowledge and reason.
This gradually recedes to the edges of the frame, as the naturalist moves deeper into Senegal and encounters unknowable forces that he first exoticises, then embraces.
Into the centre moves the story of Maram, a redoubtable, resourceful woman who can draw on the power of her faru rab, a spirit protector that takes the form of a giant boa.
These multiple layers of diegesis slow down the novel to a degree that may frustrate readers, particularly the early sections from Aglae’s perspective. Even then, however, Diop is already planting seeds that will flower later on with devastating effect.
What seem like throwaway moments, such as a Senegalese toddler pulling Adanson’s hair or the refrain “Ripples, little waves, then stillness”, return with new and terrible significance.
Maram, Ndiak and Adanson’s stories are caught in the coils of colonialism and capitalism that will close inexorably around them.
But for a brief space, Diop opens a hidden door and lets light fall upon a part of history left too long in the dark.
If you like this, read: Washington Black by Esi Edugyan (Serpent’s Tail, 2018, $18.18, amzn.to/3vGCOj2), a Booker Prize-shortlisted adventure novel in which the eponymous hero goes from being enslaved on a Barbados sugar plantation to travelling the world as a scientist’s assistant.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/arts/book-review-adventure-in-18th-century-senegal-in-david-diop-s-beyond-the-door-of-no-return
| 2024-01-20T08:32:22Z
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Let Us Descend
By Jesmyn Ward
Fiction/Bloomsbury/Hardcover/303 pages/$38.41/Amazon SG (amzn.to/3U2wrjX)
4 stars
In his pioneering 1845 memoir, the former slave Frederick Douglass recalls a horrific childhood memory of watching his aunt get whipped by their master.
“It was the blood-stained gate, the entrance to the hell of slavery, through which I was about to pass,” he writes.
This line by Douglass, who in penning his own narrative helped prove the intellectual capacities of African-Americans, finds its echo in American author Jesmyn Ward’s Let Us Descend.
Ward, a two-time National Book Award winner, has depicted with exquisite devastation the lives of working-class African-Americans in rural Mississippi.
She turns to history for her fourth novel, the title of which alludes to the hellish descent in Italian poet Dante Alighieri’s 14th-century epic Inferno.
Ward’s narrator, Annis, hears snatches of this poem as she eavesdrops on a tutor reciting Dante to her half-sisters. Unlike them, Annis is enslaved, conceived when her plantation-owner father raped her mother.
She muses that the hell Dante travels “has levels like my father’s house”. Instead of the abstract inferno of the ancient poem, the hell of slavery is a very real one in which she and her mother toil.
By night, Annis’ mother teaches her in secret to fight like her grandmother, a Dahomey warrior who was sold into slavery after she fell in love with the wrong man, thus beginning the tragic plight of their line. The novel opens with Annis’ powerful statement: “The first weapon I ever held was my mother’s hand.”
When her father attempts to rape her too and her mother intervenes, he sells her mother. In grief, Annis starts a secret affair with another enslaved girl, Safi, only for her father to sell them both.
So begins her descent into a historical hell, a horrifyingly brutal cross-country march to New Orleans, which looms as “the grief-wracked city” of an infernal landscape.
Ward draws on African mythology to populate this landscape with ravening spirits, from They Who Take and Give, who inhabit the devouring earth, to the river that tries to drown Annis in each crossing.
Annis’ mercurial guide through this hellscape is Aza, a tempestuous, fickle storm spirit who takes the name and form of Annis’ grandmother, but has her own agenda.
Haunted by memories of her mother, Annis must decide if she should give herself over to worshipping Aza or if she has the strength to carve her own path.
Ward maps a harrowing path through a senseless hell of humanity’s own making. The amount of suffering in this novel is relentless, verging on repetitious. In its final stretch, however, it becomes transcendent.
As in Inferno, the heroine emerges from hell to a sky full of stars.
If you like this, read: The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates (Oneworld, 2020, $19.26, Amazon SG amzn.to/3Hhu3OV). Hiram Walker, who grows up enslaved on a Virginia plantation owned by his white father, discovers he possesses the power of Conduction, which is akin to teleportation but draws on memory. He uses it to aid the Underground Railroad, the secret network that helps the enslaved escape to freedom.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/arts/book-review-jesmyn-ward-s-harrowing-let-us-descend-enters-the-hell-of-american-slavery
| 2024-01-20T08:32:33Z
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Roman Stories
By Jhumpa Lahiri, translated by the author and Todd Portnowitz
Fiction/Alfred A. Knopf/Paperback/204 pages/$36.63/Amazon SG (amzn.to/47y7rEh)
3 stars
Rome is one of those cities that nigh everybody has an idea of. Whether it is the endless adventure in Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita (1960) or the dangerous mystique in Dan Brown thrillers, its representation in popular media has given it its own mythology.
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri’s title for her short story collection is taken from another classical representation, Alberto Moravia’s Racconti Romani, or Roman Tales, published in 1954.
Except she subverts all ideas of Rome and writes from the perspectives of immigrants, the overlooked other growing in population in the Eternal City and whose place is simultaneously more fundamental to the city’s functioning, but also more precarious.
The author, born in London to Indian immigrants, wrote these stories originally in Italian, the language of her adoptive city where she lives half the year. Three of the nine short stories are translated by Todd Portnowitz; Lahiri worked on the rest herself.
It is a breezy read, Lahiri precise in her sentences, sometimes even bordering on the minimalist. In The Boundary, the daughter of a villa’s caretaker fusses over a family who has rented the villa to stay, observing them as they easily take over the house as if it is their birthright.
Her feelings are inexplicit, contrasting only the visitors’ garrulity with the quietude of her father, whose speech is garbled after he was beaten up by thugs in the city. Work for her continues after they leave as she surveys the items they have left behind.
Later, in Well-Lit House, an immigrant family is chased out of their apartment by the collective action of hostile neighbours, despite their hopes that “a well-lit house can change your life”.
In The Delivery, a woman is shot on a whim by two boys on a motorino while out on an errand.
“Go wash those dirty legs,” she is told, the last thing she hears before her head hits the tarmac.
In all these stories, the characters are unnamed and Lahiri never reveals their ethnicity, alluding only to their foreign-ness with phrases like someone’s wife being from “my country” or the wearing of the hijab.
Rome, despite its beauty, is shown to be in decay, with xenophobic slurs scrawled on the walls. The rich find every opportunity to decamp to their summer and winter homes elsewhere, leaving their homes in the temporary care of their immigrant employees.
What Lahiri does best is showing the complicated feelings of ownership and regret felt by the immigrants. An older immigrant watches her younger counterpart fitting in and she “nearly dies from envy”.
The problem is that many of the stories are too short or simplistic to mean much more than a straightforward recovery of marginalised voices – a project no doubt with its own value but is, on its own, insufficient for Lahiri’s stratospheric standards.
Two stories in the first third, P’s Parties and The Re-entry, though, have some potency. The former gives readers a different idea of the foreign in the form of an Italian man’s wishful affair with an expat. Rome’s cosmopolitanism becomes also a site of intrigue.
The Re-entry sketches a subtle portrait of degrees of belonging as two friends, one more local than the other, meet in a restaurant.
“In the end, she has no personal link to the history she studied,” the character who considers herself naturalised realises. “Nor will she ever experience the comfort of having lunch in a trusted restaurant that forms part of her family’s history.”
If you like this, read: Death In Rome, by Wolfgang Koeppen, translated by Michael Hofman (Hamish Hamilton, 1992, $28.30, Amazon SG, amzn.to/3O4rAuJ). Yet another novel set in Rome, following the four members of a German family in the decaying city after World War II. Its publication in 1954 provoked great controversy in Germany for its portrayal of a former Nazi officer.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/arts/book-review-jhumpa-lahiri-s-roman-stories-sketches-the-eternal-city-in-decay
| 2024-01-20T08:32:43Z
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The Storm We Made
By Vanessa Chan
Historical fiction/Hodder & Stoughton/Paperback/337 pages/$31.32/Amazon SG (amzn.to/3U8KQv0)
3 stars
Opening with the disappearance of teenage boys in 1945 Japanese-occupied Malaya, The Storm We Made follows mother of three Cecily Alcantara as her worst nightmare comes true when her son Abel vanishes to the Kanchanaburi Labour Camp on the Burma-Thailand border.
Soon, the reader learns that the Eurasian woman had a part to play in the Japanese’s imperial ambition to create an “Asia for Asians”, which had seen nearly the whole of South-east Asia come under the flag of the Japanese empire, a guilt that eats at her.
It was 10 years ago in Bintang, Malaya, during the time of British-occupied Malaya that she had an affair with and spied for a charming Japanese man Fujiwara – who posed as the British-accented Bingley Chan – even as she was married to British loyalist Gordon Alcantara, who worked for the colonial administration.
Interleaving chapters that switch between 1930s British Malaya and 1945, in the waning days of the Japanese empire after the United States had detonated bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki, debut Malaysia-born author Vanessa Chan tells the story of how one Eurasian woman changed the world in this spy thriller-meets-historical fiction.
The premise is intriguing, if a tad unbelievable, in its rendition of historical causality, although The Storm We Made has made waves internationally as a unique story of World War II, told not from the vantage point of the European theatre of the war and instead from the perspective of the Malayans.
But it is likely that the reader familiar with the region’s literature will not think the book has ventured into new territory as the local perspective on Japanese-occupied Malaya has been a staple of fiction: Singaporean literary pioneer Rex Shelley’s novels deal with the Eurasian experience of the Occupation and Malaysian novelist Tan Twan Eng’s The Gift Of Rain (2007) features a biracial protagonist in the same era, for example.
Further afield beyond Malaya, the fiction of Japanese-occupied Asia has been tackled by the likes of global literary heavyweights like Amitav Ghosh, Wu Ming-yi and Yu Miri. In comparison, The Storm We Made’s atmosphere can feel thin as historical fiction and does not quite evoke the scope of the Occupation’s world as many of its predecessors have.
The psychology of the book’s adult characters also feel unevenly fleshed out. Readers are not quite sure why, for example, Cecily takes to Fujiwara’s political slogans so easily. Melodrama takes precedence over psychological complexity in lines like: “And with time, the Fujiwara-sized knot in her stomach became a dull ache, one that she felt only rarely – on days when the monsoon rains flared, like an old healed-over injury.”
What Chan accomplishes best is her rendering of the psychology of Cecily’s three children and their lives during the occupation, horrific but never devoid of hope. In one particularly moving scene, an unlikely friendship between Abel and Freddie, a fellow innate in the labour camp, bears fruit as the latter begins painting scenes of unbearable horror with a twig and his blood.
These childhood friendships are often shot through with an immense pain: Cecily’s other children make friends with other Japanese people and slowly but surely develop a precocity to the evils of what they see and witness.
A book with uneven payoffs, The Storm We Made is a highly readable, if at times painful, window into the Japanese Occupation, but its psychological and historical worlds, ultimately, lack staying power.
If you like this, read: People Of The Pear Tree by Rex Shelley (Marshall Cavendish Editions, 2011, $16.30, Amazon SG, go to amzn.to/48Hy1MS). First published in 1993, the novel speaks to the Eurasian experience of the Japanese Occupation through a love story set in the time of guerilla war.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/arts/book-review-vanessa-chan-s-the-storm-we-made-an-uneven-malayan-espionage-thriller
| 2024-01-20T08:32:54Z
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SINGAPORE – In 1968, architect Tay Kheng Soon received a call from then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s office. He had impressed with a paper he authored on housing and nation building, and Mr Lee, through his adviser George Thompson, wished to see him.
Ushered through the doors of City Hall, Tay was struck by Mr Lee’s “height and ruddy complexion”. Mr Lee, however, had no time for niceties, immediately beginning a thrust-and-parry with Tay on the role of Malay kampungs in modern Singapore.
The content of the discussion seemed to hardly matter, recalls Tay in his new book. “The man was sizing me up. But beyond argument, I also felt the weight of his overbearing presence. It was palpable. You could not prevail against this colossus of a man.”
A New World In The Making: Life And Architecture In Tropical Asia is a whittled-down version of Tay’s 2021 Big Thinking On A Small Island: The Collected Writings & Ruminations Of Tay Kheng Soon, which was edited by Kevin Tan and Alvin Tan and which ran to over 700 pages. “Unreadable”, muses Tay today.
This new, shorter offering by NUS Press comes at a more manageable 274 pages. Like its predecessor, it contains a short memoir written by Tay, as well as a compilation of his lectures, conference papers and proposals written in the course of his storied career, which includes the design of Brutalist icons such as Golden Mile Complex and People’s Park Complex.
The meeting with Mr Lee – quickly dealt with in the edited text – was an inflection point in Tay’s life. Tay, still sharp and forceful at 83, believes he was being auditioned to be Mr Lee’s planning adviser – a position later given to Dr Liu Thai Ker.
Soon after, he was asked to serve as a People’s Action Party candidate, which he turned down. By 1975, he had had high-profile run-ins with the Ministry of National Development and the Housing Board (HDB), organised a protest against the Vietnam War and left Singapore, expelled by the co-founders of his architecture firm Design Partnership, known today as DP Architects.
Asked if he regrets the more brambled path he chose, Tay says: “No, there is no regret. I cannot be under anybody’s thumb.”
After 10 years of living in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and designing low-cost housing there, he made his way back as an associate professor at the National University of Singapore and the president of the Singapore Institute Of Architects from 1990 to 1993. He says: “I was robust enough to take whatever situation and make the best of it.”
Tay’s ideas, abundant in the book, are radical reimaginations of Singapore’s urban development. One of his first disagreements with the authorities was over high-rise flats, which he thought should make way for a low-rise, high-density alternative.
The Singapore Planning And Urban Research Group (Spur), which he helped form in 1965, also got into a spat with HDB in 1967 over the construction of Collyer Quay’s 12-lane coastal superhighway, which Spur argued harmed the environment and was being planned without sufficient public consultation.
In recent years, he is best known for his “rubanisation”, a categorical rethink of cities’ divisions between the urban and the countryside. Within this framework, Singapore is the leader of the region, more consciously re-investing in surrounding rural areas – a proposal he says he has discussed with senior officials in Temasek.
He believes Singapore’s prospects lie in a more economically and culturally strong region. This is, in some ways, a return to the Malayan identity ideal torn asunder when Singapore and Malaysia separated in 1965.
“The younger generation has been duped into this idea of a global city,” he says. “We look upon the region as backward and we sneer at them. We see it in narrow, simplistic terms. Chinese and the West forward. Malay backward. We can’t survive if we can’t get along with our neighbours.”
Ever engaged, Tay has continued to innovate, proposing foreign worker dormitories that offer individual rooms and toilets and an Indo-Pacific Cultural Centre next to the casinos at Marina Bay to celebrate Singapore’s regional heritage.
The “rambunctious pioneering spirit” of his generation is all but gone, he laments, with “fear becoming a major condition of life and no challenging of conventional ideas”.
Naturally, his most scathing comments are reserved for Singapore’s architecture, which he describes as “obiang” – a bad taste apeing of the West, and a desperation to be superficially different that reflects a lack of deep thinking.
“We want to show off, but there’s no fundamental philosophy and regional appreciation,” he charges. Referring to black buildings that are so common to the industrial aesthetic, he adds: “Buildings painted black in our hot tropical climate is a crime.”
The belated appreciation of Golden Mile Complex and People’s Park Complex has lent his voice more popular influence. For him, architecture must balance the profit interest of the developer, practical concerns like how people move within the building, and a host of historical, environment and aesthetic concerns.
He once spent six months getting to know a client before sketching a design for his house in 10 minutes.
“It cannot be just transactional,” he says. “That is a sell-out. It must be a dialogue. It’s understanding the design problem from the inside of the problem.”
Architecture, for him, is also a tool for decolonisation. “It is sickening and a total slave mentality if it is completely Westernised. Not just copy and adapt, but inspire and contradict. Creativity emerges out of that.”
A New World In The Making: Life And Architecture In Tropical Asia ($34.50) by Tay Kheng Soon is available on Amazon SG (amzn.to/47AaIDi).
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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/arts/golden-mile-complex-designer-tay-kheng-soon-don-t-be-duped-by-idea-of-global-city
| 2024-01-20T08:33:04Z
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Fiction
1. (1) Days At The Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa
2. (5) King Of Greed by Ana Huang
3. (2) It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
4. (-) It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover
5. (3) The Little Liar by Mitch Albom
6. (4) Love Redesigned by Lauren Asher
7. (-) Murder In The Family by Cara Hunter
8. (7) Before The Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
9. (9) The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas
10. (-) The Disappearance Of Patrick Zhou by Ally Chua
Non-fiction
1. (1) Atomic Habits by James Clear
2. (2) The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down by Haemin Sunim
3. (-) Little Drops: Cherished Children Of Singapore’s Past by Theresa Devasahayam
4. (5) The Art Of Thinking Clearly by Rolf Dobelli
5. (7) I Want To Die But I Want To Eat Tteokbokki by Baek Se-hee
6. (9) The 48 Laws Of Power by Robert Greene
7. (4) Love For Imperfect Things by Haemin Sunim
8. (3) Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
9. (6) The Psychology Of Money by Morgan Housel
10. (-) Surrounded By Idiots by Thomas Erikson
Children’s
1. (1) Cat Kid Comic Club #5: Influencers by Dav Pilkey
2. (2) True Singapore Ghost Stories #27 by Russell Lee
3. (3) Diary Of A Wimpy Kid #18: No Brainer by Jeff Kinney
4. (4) Percy Jackson And The Olympians #6: The Chalice Of The Gods by Rick Riordan
5. (5) Investigators #7: All Tide Up by John Patrick Green
6. (6) Dog Man #11: Twenty Thousand Fleas Under The Sea by Dav Pilkey
7. (7) DorkDiaries #15: Not-So Posh Paris Adventure by Rachel Renee Russell
8. (8) The 169-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton
9. (-) Dog Man #10: Mothering Heights by Dav Pilkey
10. (10) Diary Of A Wimpy Kid #17: Diper Overlode by Jeff Kinney
This is The Sunday Times’ compilation of bestseller lists from the Times, Popular, Epigram, Wardah Books and Book Bar bookstores.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/arts/the-straits-times-weekly-bestsellers-jan-20
| 2024-01-20T08:33:15Z
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SINGAPORE – The dragon centrepiece of Chinatown’s Chinese New Year (CNY) decorations has stirred up mixed reactions on social media, with some netizens likening it to cartoon character Shrek and even Japanese comedian Pikotaro.
A photo uploaded on Facebook page Complaint Singapore shows a large red-and-orange dragon with its claws outstretched, eyes widened and mouth agape.
Some netizens reacted to the photo with amusement, while others defended the design of the dragon.
A Facebook user said: “I’ve never seen a dragon before but I’m quite sure this is not it.”
Another said the dragon looked like “Shrek with a dragon’s mouth”, while some thought it resembled Pikotaro, who stormed the world with his hit Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen, or PPAP.
A netizen wrote on Facebook: “Let’s wait for the dragon to undergo plastic surgery before CNY day.”
But some defended the dragon design, citing that it is only unflattering from some angles, and looks better lit up at night.
“Maybe (the design) was supposed to be an eccentric and funny style,” wrote a user of Facebook.
Another netizen said the designers cannot satisfy everyone and urged those who can contribute CNY decor ideas to volunteer and help.
The dragon centrepiece was designed by 13 students from the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD).
This is the 13th year that SUTD and its students have been involved in the light-up.
On Jan 19, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong launched the annual CNY celebrations during the street light-up and opening ceremony held at Kreta Ayer Square.
He was joined by the MPs for Jalan Besar GRC – Minister for Communications and Information Josephine Teo, Mr Heng Chee How, Central Singapore District Mayor Denise Phua and Dr Wan Rizal.
The festive lights will come on nightly until March 9 in New Bridge Road, Eu Tong Sen Street, South Bridge Road and Upper Cross Street.
The celebrations will feature activities like a festive fair, weekend stage shows, a countdown party and a lion dance competition.
The countdown party will be held at Kreta Ayer Square on CNY Eve, on Feb 9 at 10pm.
Previous iterations of CNY decorations at Chinatown have also faced mixed reactions from netizens.
In the Year of the Rabbit in 2023, one large rabbit figurine was mocked online for appearing to be answering nature’s call.
More items were placed on stage to partially obscure it.
In 2019, Chinatown welcomed the Year of the Pig with lanterns in the shape of a family of eight pigs – the tallest of which was 12m high.
Netizens said the massive pig lanterns looked more “dirty” than festive, “slightly bleary-eyed” and “scary”.
Former MP Lily Neo, who was then adviser to Jalan Besar GRC Grassroots Organisation (Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng), said the structures would look better lit at night.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/shrek-or-pikotaro-cny-dragon-decor-in-chinatown-fires-up-social-media
| 2024-01-20T08:33:25Z
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LOS ANGELES – Sam Burns had little expectations of himself, and with the pressure gone, the American notched two eagles on the way to an 11-under 61 on Jan 19 to take a one-stroke lead at the halfway stage of the PGA Tour’s American Express tournament in La Quinta, California.
The 27-year-old said he did not realise he was within sight of the 13th sub-60 round in PGA Tour history until he was on the 17th green, where his birdie putt from about 25 feet slid by.
He parred 18th to cap his career-best round, heading the field on 17-under 127 on another low-scoring day in the California desert east of Los Angeles.
“Overall just a really solid day,” said Burns, who added birdies at 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th to grab the solo lead.
“I hit a lot of quality shots and was able to make some putts.”
He kickstarted his round with a 15-foot eagle at the par-five fourth hole on the Nicklaus Tournament Course, one of three in use over the first three rounds of the event.
He also had birdies at the fifth, sixth and seventh, then eagled the par-five 11th where he hit a “perfect seven-iron” that left him three feet for eagle.
Burns added that he was not thinking about a 59.
“Based off the scores, obviously everybody’s shooting some good numbers, so (I was) just trying to keep pace and trying to hit as many quality shots and get as many looks as possible,” he said.
Korean-born American Michael Kim had 10 birdies and a bogey in his nine-under 63 for 128 on the same course, where South Korean Lee Kyoung-hoon had nine birdies in his eight-under 64.
Lee was tied for third on 15-under 129 with amateur Nick Dunlap, a University of Alabama sophomore who shot an impressive seven-under 65 on the Stadium Course – considered the toughest of the three courses which also include the La Quinta Course.
Reigning US Amateur champion Dunlap is trying to become just the eighth amateur to win on the PGA Tour since 1945, and the first since Phil Mickelson won in Arizona in 1991.
He said his strong start to the week came down to “trusting myself” in only his fourth tour start.
In women’s golf, New Zealand’s Lydia Ko turned in a five-under 67 to join Japan’s Ayaka Furue (71) atop the leaderboard after two rounds of the LPGA Tournament of Champions in Orlando, Florida.
The duo are at eight-under 136 at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club, two shots ahead of Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh (68) and Mexico’s Gaby Lopez (71). AFP, REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/golf/sam-burns-grabs-pga-tour-lead-in-california-with-sizzling-61
| 2024-01-20T08:33:35Z
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LONDON – Something novel happened last week at Manchester United. Prospective part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe swanned into Old Trafford’s cramped press room and talked to the ladies and gentlemen of the media.
His business partners in waiting, the Glazer family, have never bothered with such a public forum.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/ratcliffe-in-charm-offensive-but-changes-at-united-will-take-time-amid-tighter-ffp-scrutiny
| 2024-01-20T08:33:46Z
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PARIS - It was impossible to see through the snow and fog on the Antarctic seas, but expedition leader Ian Strachan knew his ship was approaching a true behemoth: The world’s biggest iceberg lay somewhere ahead.
“Then the clouds lifted and we could see this expansive – almost abstract – white line that extended each way across the horizon,” he told AFP.
As the ship got closer during its visit on Jan 20, huge gaping crevasses and beautiful blue arches sculpted into the edge of the iceberg came into focus.
Waves up to 4m high “smashed” and “battered” its wall, breaking off small chunks and collapsing some arches, Mr Strachan said.
He compared sailing along the endless jagged edge to looking at sheet music. “All the cracks and arches were different notes as the song played.”
The tooth-shaped iceberg named A23a is nearly 4,000 sq km across, making it more than twice the size of Greater London.
After three decades stuck to the Antarctic ocean floor, the iceberg is now heading north on what could be its final journey.
It contains an estimated one trillion tonnes of fresh water that are likely to melt off into the ocean along the way.
The iceberg, which is up to 400m thick in places, is currently drifting between Elephant Island and the South Orkney islands.
Mr Strachan was speaking to AFP as his ship, run by expeditions firm EYOS, was wrapping up a private tour of the Antarctic Peninsula.
It had been planning to go to South Georgia Island but, due to a bird flu outbreak there, it visited A23a instead.
It was not the first ship to witness the majesty of the iceberg.
Britain’s RRS Sir David Attenborough was travelling to Antarctica on a scientific mission in December when it found the A23a blocking its path.
Chief scientist Andrew Meijers, who was on board, said that when they approached the iceberg, the mist parted, the sun came out and a pod of orcas even swam past.
“It was really magical,” Mr Meijers told AFP.
“It took us six hours to steam past it,” he added.
A23a first broke off the Antarctic coast back in 1986, making it the world’s oldest iceberg, as well as its largest.
But it quickly became stuck to the ocean floor, where it languished for decades.
Mr Andrew Fleming of the British Antarctic Survey told AFP that in 2020, he saw satellite images suggesting it was “wobbling”.
Then in late 2023, A23a broke free from its icy shackles and started venturing north.
Whether or not this was caused by climate change – winter Antarctic sea ice reached its lowest level on record in 2023 – remains an open question.
Mr Fleming emphasised that these icebergs are a natural process, adding that one or two big ones break off every year.
“It’s more likely that its time had just come,” he added.
But he emphasised that such icebergs are “part of a huge system that is changing dramatically”.
This “lumbering beast” moves slower than walking pace, Mr Fleming said.
“The Titanic would’ve spotted this one coming.”
Since breaking free, A23a has followed roughly the same path as previous massive icebergs A68 and A76, moving past the east side of the Antarctica Peninsula through the Weddell Sea along a route called “iceberg alley”.
As the iceberg is “ejected out into the Southern Ocean”, warmer waters and bigger waves will start to break it up, Mr Fleming said.
If it follows the path of the two comparably huge previous icebergs, it will travel north-east towards the island of South Georgia, a haven for wildlife including penguins and seals.
There is a slight fear that if the iceberg parks itself near the island, it could block these animals from getting to where they normally forage, threatening their ability to feed themselves.
But this is not expected to happen.
A68 instead broke up into smaller chunks, causing a problem not for animals but for humans, making it difficult for fishing ships to navigate the area, Mr Meijers said.
A more likely path would be for A23a to move around the island and continue meandering northwards.
A rare few icebergs have made it so far that they have been spotted from the Brazilian coast.
But eventually A23a will meet the fate of all icebergs that journey north – melting away in warmer waters.
“Ultimately, they’re doomed,” Mr Fleming said. AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/worlds-biggest-iceberg-battered-by-waves-as-it-heads-north
| 2024-01-20T08:33:56Z
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Jennifer Hudson and Common put on an animated display during their first TV appearance together since she confirmed she was in a serious relationship.
The 42-year-old will be joined by her rumored boyfriend on The Jennifer Hudson Show on January 22 – but on Friday she teased his appearance and they looked besotted with each other.
Taking to Instagram, Jennifer posted a short clip, which you can see below, of the couple smiling and gazing into each other's eyes.
Set to Snoop Dogg's track, Sensual Seduction, neither of them could wipe the smiles from their faces as they ignored the people around them and only had eyes for each other.
In another clip released by the show, Common, 51, can be seen walking out onto the stage holding a beautiful large bouquet for Jennifer.
The couple – who were first linked in 2022 – has yet to publicly confirm their relationship, but they are doing little to dispel reports that they are dating.
On Wednesday, they were seen sitting courtside together while watching the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks at Crypto.com Arena in LA.
They also took in a game on January 10 and again sat courtside as they watched the Toronto Raptors and the Los Angeles Clippers, also at the Crypto.com Arena.
Last November, Jennifer and Common were pictured holding hands as they made their way to the concert venue, Joe's Pub, in Manhattan.
Shortly after, the Dreamgirls actress admitted on CBS Mornings that she is "very happy" and in a serious relationship, although she did not name her beau.
Speaking to Gayle King, Jennifer was asked by the talk show host how she is feeling about her "very nice relationship with someone who shall remain nameless".
Unable to hide her glee, Jennifer responded: "I am very happy, yes, ma'am." The actress also indicated that she sees long-term potential with her new man.
"Boo'ed up? I think it's more sophisticated than boo'ed up... Definitely not an entanglement," she said. "That's for sure."
Jennifer has addressed speculation about her and Common's relationship status in the past. Two months after they were first linked in July 2022, she played down the reports when quizzed by Entertainment Tonight.
"People create their narratives of it and it's like, OK, you know, how you feel," she said, adding: "We shot a film together and he played my husband. We gotta eat in between those moments."
The film Jennifer was referring to is their upcoming action-thriller Breathe. Directed by Stefon Bristol, it depicts a world in which air supply has become scarce, and Jennifer's character is in a fight to survive.
In August 2023, she appeared to be more forthcoming when asked about their romance again. "The rumors say a lot of things," she told TMZ. "He's a beautiful man, I will give you that."
Jennifer was previously in a relationship with ex-fiancé David Otunga for 10 years. They began dating in 2007 and got engaged a year later. In 2009, they welcomed their son, David Daniel Otunga Jr., but they split eight years later.
Common is also a dad and is a father to his daughter, Omoye Assata Lynn. He shares her with his ex-girlfriend, Kim Jones, whom he split from in 2008.
He has a decorated dating past and was previously in a relationship with Erykah Badu, who Common called his "first love". He has also had relationships with actress Taraji P. Hensen and Serena Williams.
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/511703/jennifer-hudson-common-loved-up-tv-appearance-the-jennifer-hudson-show/
| 2024-01-20T09:04:12Z
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The Princess of Wales is currently spending her longest time away from official engagements - aside from her maternity leave - since becoming a working royal.
Kensington Palace confirmed this week that Princess Kate, the wife of Prince William, had been admitted to The London Clinic for "planned abdominal surgery" that would not only keep her hospitalised for two weeks, but would also prevent her from returning to public duties until some time "after Easter".
While the Princess' medical condition has not been disclosed, the Palace did confirm her hospitalisation was not related to cancer treatment. She will return to her Windsor-based home, Adelaide Cottage, to continue her recovery once she is deemed well enough to leave The London Clinic.
Luckily for Kate, recovery in Berkshire shouldn't be too difficult for her as she has the support of her husband William and their children; Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five, at home.
Keep reading to see inside the Princess of Wales' tight-knit support system as she recovers away from the spotlight.
Princess Kate's post-surgery recovery support system
The Waleses' modest, four-bedroom property on the Windsor Castle estate is far more private than the royals' London residence of Apartment 1A in Kensington Palace, with ample green space for Kate to enjoy her recovery in nature away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
When the Wales family moved from London to Windsor in 2022, they chose to do so without their former live-in nanny, Maria Teresa Turrion Burallo, who had lived with the family since 2014.
While Maria may no longer live with the family, her support will no doubt be called on to help support the Wales family as Princess Kate remains out of action during her post-surgery recovery.
Also close by to lend and helping hand are the Princess' siblings, James Middleton and Pippa Middleton, who live no more than a 40-minute drive away should their sister need their support.
Kate's younger sister Pippa lives in Bucklebury with her husband, James Matthew, and their three children – Arthur, Grace and Rose.
Her brother, who recently welcomed his first son Inigo with his wife Alizee Thevenet, also lives in Berkshire in a £1.45 million farmhouse.
Kate's parents Carole and Michael Middleton also own a £4.7 million home in the village of Bucklebury in Berkshire, which is less than an hour's drive from the Wales family.
Conveniently, the Waleses' home is located on the Windsor Home Park estate in Berkshire, which is where Windsor Castle is located, and the family can walk to the main castle in around 10 minutes.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/homes/511592/kate-middleton-post-surgery-support-system-windsor-adelaide-cottage/
| 2024-01-20T09:04:18Z
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Meghan Markle was forced to miss her husband, Prince Harry's Living Legends of Aviation award ceremony after one of their children became unwell.
The news was confirmed by PA, who revealed: "The Duchess of Sussex, who had been expected to attend the event, was not present as one of their children became unwell the PA news agency understands."
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are the proud parents of four-year-old Prince Archie and two-year-old Princess Lilibet. It wasn't confirmed which of their little ones were taken unwell but it was expected that Meghan would appear alongside her husband on the night.
In his first appearance in 2024, the Prince was honoured with a Living Legends of Aviation medal at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, for his work as a British Army veteran and pilot.
Harry completed two tours of Afghanistan as a forward air controller and an Apache helicopter pilot, having flown countless training missions in the UK, US, and Australia.
He also served for 10 years in the military, rising to the rank of Captain, and later founded the Invictus Games – a sporting event for wounded military personnel and veterans.
John Travolta presented the Duke, 39, with his medal and referenced the sweet moment he danced with the Duke's late mother, Princess Diana, at the White House in 1985.
Harry made a "poetic" speech according to Twilight director, Catherine Hardwicke, who told HELLO!: "He talked about taking off and being up in God's playground, up in the clouds, and he talked about the taste of magic [being up there,] it was poetic."
Harry has joined the A-List line-up of celebrities who have been coined aviation and aerospace "legends" including Buzz Aldrin, Jeff Bezos, Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford, Morgan Freeman, Elon Musk, and Saudi Prince Sultan bin Salman Al Saud.
Prince Mario-Max Schaumburg-Lippe shared a picture from inside the ballroom alongside the Prince and opened up to HELLO! about the encounter.
"I am very very happy that he is the focus of the night, and he deserves it," he said, adding: "He has been through a lot being so public and it is a very personal moment of joy for him. What I like to do is congratulate him for the big award, and I think we all should – how many big moments in life do we all have? It is very few and this is a very big moment.
"I congratulated him for being such an accomplished pilot, and I saw that he was very touched, it is a big award and it is very well deserved. He gave the most lovely speech, thanking others, not only accepting it for himself but also the aviation industry for making things happen [such as] engineers. I am very happy [for] him. He is fabulous, very humble, and sweet."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/511704/meghan-markle-forced-to-miss-prince-harry-award/
| 2024-01-20T09:04:24Z
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Russia is conducting an information campaign aimed at portraying NATO’s defensive Steadfast Defender 2024 exercises as provocative actions, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in its daily report.
NATO’s Steadfast Defender 2024 exercises, commencing next week and extending through May, have drawn attention from both NATO officials and the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). General Chris Cavoli, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, announced the participation of 90,000 personnel from 31 NATO member states and Sweden, along with an impressive array of military assets, emphasizing NATO’s intent to reinforce the Euro-Atlantic area during simulated conflict scenarios.
Chair of the NATO Military Committee Admiral Rob Bauer reinforced NATO’s stance, cautioning against complacency and the need to “expect the unexpected” regarding potential conflicts with Russia, a sentiment echoed by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who highlighted the Kremlin’s incessant threats.
Since the announcement of the exercises in September 2023, the Russian MFA has misleadingly portrayed NATO’s actions as increasingly provocative and aggressive. They have accused NATO of conducting a “demonstration of force” on Russia’s doorstep, despite Russia’s own military activities near NATO’s borders.
Yulia Zhdanova, a Russian delegation member at the OSCE, claimed that NATO exercises provoked a “game of nerves” and further escalated tensions. Meanwhile, a Kremlin-affiliated milblogger dismissed concerns about a future Russian attack on NATO as an attempt by the German government to artificially create a non-existent threat.
ISW’s report suggests that Russia’s information campaign aims to divert attention from its recent aggressive rhetoric and actions toward NATO. Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, have issued threats against Finland and the broader NATO alliance, painting the West as Russia’s “enemy” and justifying its actions in Ukraine as a battle against the West. Moreover, Russia has engaged in electronic warfare exercises that disrupted GPS signals across Poland and the Baltic region, raising concerns about its intentions.
In conclusion, the ISW report underscores Russia’s deliberate efforts to manipulate the narrative surrounding NATO’s Steadfast Defender 2024 exercises, portraying it as provocative while ignoring its own aggressive behavior. This information operation seeks to distract from Russia’s hostile rhetoric and actions towards NATO and its persistent goal of weakening the alliance.
Read also:
- Baltic states to build defensive installations along borders with Russia, Belarus
- Times: Europe has three-five years to prepare for Russian military threat, Estonian PM says
- General: Russia keeps some 22,000 troops near Ukraine’s northern border
- CNN: Biden warns top lawmakers that US soldiers on the line if Russia-Ukraine war expands into NATO territory
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/20/isw-russia-conducting-information-campaign-to-misrepresent-natos-steadfast-defender-2024-exercises/
| 2024-01-20T09:31:29Z
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As of October last year, Ukraine’s agricultural exports to EU nations have nearly returned to pre-war 2021 levels, though it continues to be among the top three suppliers to the EU, the European Commission said in its latest report.
Despite the ongoing Russian blockade, Ukraine manages to continue its export of agricultural products through the temporary Black Sea corridor.
The report highlights a notable shift in the pattern of imports from Ukraine. After a peak in the second half of 2022 and early 2023, the monthly import figures for September and October 2023 have almost reverted to 2021 levels, marking a reduction of about 45% compared to the same period in 2022. However, the cumulative import from January to October is still 1% higher than in 2022, an increase of approximately €100 million.
Russia stole nearly 8 million tons of harvest in occupied Ukraine
There has been a significant change in the composition of these imports. The EU has seen a substantial increase in grain (up by €1.2 billion or 39%), sugar (€254 million or 652%), and poultry (€148 million or 50%). Conversely, there has been a decrease in the imports of sunflower and protein crops (down €762 million or 29%) and vegetable oils (€688 million or 29%).
From January to October 2023, Ukraine holds the third position in the volume of agricultural imports to the EU, with a total of €12.843 billion, marking an increase of 371 million euros or 3% compared to the same period in 2022. This positions Ukraine behind only Brazil and the UK.
Additionally, Ukraine has emerged as one of the top three countries in terms of increased consumption of European agricultural exports, alongside the UK and Türkiye. With a 19% increase (€447 million), Ukraine ranks 14th in the overall list for consumption of European agricultural products, reaching the highest level of European agricultural product consumption in the past four years.
The report also notes that the total export of agricultural products from EU countries from January to October 2023 amounted to €190.8 billion, while agricultural imports to the EU from third countries were recorded at €132.8 billion.
Read also:
- Qatar contributes $20 million to “Grain from Ukraine” initiative
- France transfers second vessel to aid Ukraine’s grain exports
- Lithuania, Latvia leaders: Sanctions should affect grain from Russian-occupied territories
- Grain from Ukraine summit’s statement: Starvation of civilians as warfare tactic prohibited
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/20/ukraine-ranks-as-third-largest-agricultural-supplier-to-eu/
| 2024-01-20T09:32:09Z
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SINGAPORE - Bruno Mars is set to play a third show at the Singapore National Stadium on April 3, after his April 5 and 6 shows quickly sold out on Jan 20.
Live Nation Singapore announced the additional show for the celebrated American singer-songwriter on social media on Jan 20.
The entertainment company said tickets for the “third and final show” on April 3 will go on sale from 12pm on Jan 25.
On the same day, Ticketmaster Singapore is also set to release additional tickets for pop sensation Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour concerts, which will take place over 6 nights from March 2 to March 9.
Mars’ tickets are priced between $108 and $598.
The pre-sale for his first show on April 5 sold out soon after kicking off on Jan 19 at 11am.
A second show on April 6 was added to cope with “incredible demand”, Live Nation had said. But general sales tickets to both shows were quickly snapped up on Jan 20, prompting the concert organiser to add a third show on April 3.
Some fans who have not secured their tickets were happy to learn about the third show, saying they would try their luck on Jan 25.
Others lamented on social media that they will not be able to go for the additional show since it falls on a weekday.
Known for hits like Just The Way You Are and It Will Rain, Mars has a massive global fan base, with more than 32 million followers on Instagram.
The chart-topping artiste performed two nights at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in 2018, and played his first show in Singapore at the same venue in 2014.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/bruno-mars-adds-third-show-on-april-3-tickets-to-go-on-sale-on-jan-25
| 2024-01-20T10:04:19Z
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The next big demographic jolt is coming in a country whose human capital keeps essential portions of the global economy afloat. Its impact will be felt everywhere, from London hospital wards and Los Angeles wharves to dinner tables across the Middle East.
While still a relatively young nation, the Philippines is determined to reduce its birth rate, and sees much smaller families as a route to the prosperity enjoyed elsewhere. It wants a place in the pantheon of Asian success stories alongside nations like Singapore and Malaysia. The archipelago of 115 million people has already made meaningful progress, thanks in part to the reduced sway of the Roman Catholic Church and the ensuing easing of restrictions on contraception.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/the-philippines-has-a-baby-problem-it-s-going-to-be-the-world-s-headache
| 2024-01-20T10:04:30Z
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SINGAPORE - The traffic situation outside some schools in Bukit Timah has improved slightly, a few years after measures were introduced in 2020 to keep peak hour congestion manageable.
These include staggering reporting times of schools in the area, and converting Hillcrest Road, where Raffles Girls’ Primary School (RGPS) is located, into a one-way street from 1pm to 2pm during school dismissal.
Traffic during arrival and dismissal times at RGPS has been a perennial problem for many years due to the school’s proximity to Dunearn Road, which is a main road that is used to get to other schools in the area, like Nanyang Girls’ High School and National Junior College.
Parents would need to turn into Hillcrest Road – a two-way road consisting of single lanes – from Dunearn Road in order to enter the school’s compound.
Although the dismissal time at RGPS is 1.20pm, parents are only allowed to drive in to pick up their children at 1.40pm.
In an advisory notice sent to parents in June 2023, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said that it will not allow vehicles to wait along Dunearn Road and Hillcrest Road ahead of time before the school gate opens at 1.40pm.
Ms Ang Kai Shin, a grassroots volunteer who leads the traffic task force in Bukit Timah, said that regular enforcement was needed to help motorists keep to the arrangement of Hillcrest Road being a one-way street.
“The school also needed help to discourage cars from picking up and dropping off students along the road, as well as parking obstructively, which were dangerous practices and also exacerbated the congestion,” said Ms Ang.
In 2021, LTA added another zebra crossing along Hillcrest Road and some safety features at a crossing near the bus stop at Tan Kah Kee MRT station.
Still, parents continue to wait along Dunearn Road as early as 1.10pm to pick their children up, according to checks by The Straits Times in the second week of January.
An RGPS staff member, who declined to be named, said morning drop-offs are not an issue, as students alight from cars quickly and traffic is moving.
He said: “Afternoons are the problem because parents arrive too early and start queuing up along the road. Our gates only open at 1.40pm. But there is definitely less honking and noise, and the residents complain less about these issues.”
A parent who wanted to be known only as Mrs Gill said the situation has improved over the last three years due to efforts of the school and traffic wardens to regulate traffic.
“No one wants to break the law, but there is no other solution on what to do. Dunearn Road is a generally crowded road because of all the schools in the area. If parents come only after 1.40pm, they will end up waiting even longer, and no one wants that,” said the 44-year-old real estate director, who has two daughters in SGPS, in Primary 2 and Primary 4.
Senior Minister of State for National Development Sim Ann, who is an MP for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, told The Sunday Times that road traffic congestion and safety is the most frequently encountered municipal issue in the Bukit Timah division.
She said: “Ultimately it is about finding a reasonable balance between the needs of pedestrians and motorists, visitors and residents. Over the years, my volunteers and I have tackled various kinds of traffic problems, but we also expect new ones to emerge.”
Housewife Sandra Tan, 61, who lives opposite RGPS, said the afternoon dismissal timings and measures are an inconvenience, especially when Hillcrest Road turns into a one-way street.
“Instead of turning left from my house to enter Dunearn Road, I will have to turn right and make a detour to get to the main road,” she said, adding that taxi drivers tend to avoid the area during dismissal time because of its notorious traffic.
Reducing traffic woes
Many other schools around Singapore have implemented similar measures to tackle traffic congestion.
Rosyth School principal Suraj Nair said: “To better support traffic flow, the school also expanded the student drop-off and pick-up points at the end of 2022, and hired an additional security officer to support our staff in arrival and dismissal processes.”
“The school also engages neighbourhood community partners and grassroots leaders to seek support and understanding from residents, especially with parents using the adjacent HDB carparks.”
He said significant traffic congestions occur during inclement weather conditions and during major roadworks along Serangoon North Avenue 3 and Avenue 4, where Rosyth School is located.
But the LTA has made changes, like widening roads and adjusting traffic light timings, to improve the traffic flow in the area, he said.
“The traffic situation also stabilises during the course of the year after drivers become more used to the procedures and routines, and self-adjust the time in which they arrive in school,” he added.
A spokesperson for Catholic High School said it used to experience heavy traffic along Bishan Street 22 in the morning, but traffic flow has improved in the past two years.
The school redirected its bus routes in 2022 away from the flow of private cars, and staggered the start times of the primary and secondary sections in 2023. In 2022, the school also started a car-lite day to encourage more students to take public transport to school.
“During peak periods, we engage additional security guards to assist with the direction of traffic flows in the mornings. Where necessary, we also seek the assistance of our colleagues from the Traffic Police to help with the appropriate enforcement work,” said the spokesperson.
Catholic High School also has a WhatsApp chat group involving key stakeholders, including Marymount grassroots volunteers, LTA and TP, that monitors the traffic situation and can take immediate action when required.
The Sunday Times visited a total of seven schools in January to observe traffic during school peak hours.
Traffic at Rosyth School and Catholic High School during dismissal ran smoothly. Some parents parked at the nearby HDB carparks before walking over to the schools to pick their children.
At Henry Park Primary School and CHIJ Primary and Secondary (Toa Payoh), cars steadily streamed into their compounds as early as 6.45am. Traffic wardens helped to facilitate the flow of cars going in and out of the schools, signalling them to stop whenever there were pedestrians.
Some parents dropped their kids off at the side gate to avoid the queue, while others parked nearby and walked their children to school.
Ms Zhu Hai Yan, 43, walks her Primary 3 and Primary 5 daughters to CHIJ (Toa Payoh) from their home nearby. But on days when it rains, she and her husband drive their girls to school.
“But we usually come earlier, at about 6.30am, to avoid the congestion,” said Ms Zhu, who works in a clothing store.
Traffic conditions near Anderson Primary School in Ang Mo Kio get congested during dismissal, when a long line of 50 to 60 cars starts to form around 1.10pm, waiting along a double yellow line outside the school.
Some parents choose to wait until the crowd of cars dies down by 1.50pm before driving straight into the school to pick their children up.
Mr Ken Gerrard, a 71-year-old retiree who was picking up his grandchildren from Anderson Primary School on foot, said that cars should not be parked along roads with double yellow lines as it is illegal.
Some residents living near schools are resigned to facing heavy traffic daily.
To avoid the jam along Bartley Road where Maris Stella High School is located, residents at condominium Bartley Ridge use Mount Vernon Road instead, a single-lane road which also becomes quite congested.
To avoid the heavy morning traffic, Mr Adlan Raid, a 26-year-old IT engineer, walks to Bartley MRT station instead of driving to work.
Residents think congestion will get worse when construction works of the Bidadari HDB flats at the junction of Bartley Road and Mount Vernon Road are completed around 2025.
An LTA spokesperson said: “Based on our observations, any traffic slowdown near schools is typically transient and arises from vehicles queuing along the road before the start of school and during dismissal hours.”
Its measures include getting schools to remind parents to plan their arrival time and follow designated locations for pickups and drop-offs instead of waiting along roads, as well as deploying parking wardens to deter illegal parking where necessary. Safety measures like traffic signs and road humps also remind motorists to slow down near schools.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/school-traffic-congestion-in-bukit-timah-more-manageable-but-long-queues-of-cars-remain
| 2024-01-20T10:04:40Z
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A T-shirt. A pair of shoes. Caps. Paper.
Please, Carlos, sign.
Alcaraz obliges. He signs everything. Someone, leaning down, tosses a ball at him. Then another. He autographs them. He tosses a signed cap back up and a kid fails to catch it and so he leans down, picks it up and throws it again. Is fine manners a compulsory subject in Spanish schools? Because like Rafael Nadal this man comes dressed in humility.
In Rod Laver Arena on Jan 20 there’s a man gyrating in the crowd to Y.M.C.A, that hit song from 1978. Alcaraz in his chair is grinning in admiration. He knows about dancing because it’s what he’s doing on court all afternoon, slithering, sliding, twisting, lunging, as if he’s moving to an invisible music. The man who might save tennis when Novak Djokovic is gone has rhythm. And his opponent is feeling the blues.
“Let’s go Jerry,” someone shouts from the stands. Jerry is the cartoon mouse from the 1940s who’s still so famous that it becomes the favourite show for a kid from Beijing. Jerry is Shang Juncheng’s nickname and Jerry is in trouble because he’s injured and also trapped by Spanish brilliance.
Whirrr. A topspin forehand lob on the run, as delicate as a string of spun spider silk, curls over Jerry’s head. Bzzzz. Alcaraz’s arm is like a live cable and a forehand travels cross-court as if the ball’s been given an electric shock. Pssst. A drop shot born in El Palmar, Spain lands and spins and dies without fuss.
This isn’t a match, of course, it’s a tutorial from a gifted 20-year-old Spaniard to a clearly talented 18-year-old from China. Somewhere Novak Djokovic is grinning, for together they are only two years older than him. Shang is a leftie with a stinging forehand, but he needs fast wheels to play Alcaraz and his strapped thigh is acting like a brake.
Eventually the Chinese player retired from the match at 1-6, 1-6, 0-1 down and history will have to wait. He was trying to walk in 85-year-old shoes and become the first Chinese man in a Grand Slam fourth round since Kho Sin-Khie at Wimbledon in 1938. You sense one day he’ll get there.
If Shang is a tennis kid, then there’s still something of the boy to Alcaraz. It’s evident in his smile as wide as a new moon. It’s there in his confession earlier this week that “sometimes I don’t see the score and I try to make the impossible (shot) for the crowd”. It’s there in the way, in his last match, he happily tapped hands with his opponent Lorenzo Sonego after they constructed a delightful point. It suggests that even as he plays to win and with control, he also plays with a boyish glee.
Can this last, can his free-spiritedness find expression even as pressure tightens and social media nitpicks and everyone expects from him a constant switchblade competitiveness? That we don’t know but what we can say is that sport is so bloated with commerce and pomposity, so consumed by profit and Instagram followers, that we sometimes forget that its finest advertisement is joy.
What makes the pulse race and our faces crease with pleasure? Not the coffee, the over-expensive merchandise, the Melbourne Park singers, the two-story Courtside Bar at court No. 6, but the exhilaration of a young man who plays tennis as if celebrating it.
Even rival coaches can sense it and one told me admiringly the other day, “He brings great energy. Like the smile. It looks like he’s having a good time.” But joy also stems from form and Alcaraz, who said he’s feeling a “seven (or) eight” out of 10, is elevating himself with every round.
As the same coach explained, “he’s very explosive” and he wasn’t just referring to the Spaniard’s foot-speed but his artful ability to generate a great shot out of nothing. “That makes it exciting to watch because he comes from neutral to offence in a split second.”
Modern sport often has the stench of conceit and spills over with entitled heroes. But Alcaraz is both rounded as a player – that slowpoke retired Swiss won his first Slam at 21; he has two at 20 – and as a man. When the match was done he scribbled on a camera lens as is the fashion and it was an oddly long message, written in English by a Spanish young man about his Chinese rival. “We will play again! Stay strong! Wish a speed recovery!”
Then, his on-court interview done, he started signing. The crowd emptied yet he kept going. One autograph, 10, 20, 30. Then it was time and he smiled and left but was followed down the tunnel by the plaintive, pleading cries of the unsatisfied. They called his name. They wanted him back. Everyone, you see, always wants more from Carlos Alcaraz.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/in-an-era-of-profit-and-pomposity-alcaraz-brings-a-smile-and-spirit
| 2024-01-20T10:04:50Z
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MELBOURNE - Second seed Carlos Alcaraz led a group of players sealing berths in the Australian Open fourth round for the first time on Saturday as the second seed enjoyed a short outing that finished when his Chinese opponent Shang Junchen pulled up injured.
Four-times Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek continues her quest for a first Melbourne Park title when the top-seeded Pole plays Czech Linda Noskova later on Rod Laver Arena, before sixth seed Alexander Zverev takes on American Alex Michelsen.
Daniil Medvedev will look to make short work of Felix Auger-Aliassime in the penultimate match on Margaret Court Arena after the third seed needed nearly 4-1/2 hours to beat Emil Ruusuvuori in a match that concluded in the early hours of Friday.
Alcaraz showed him how it is done, easing through two sets against Shang 6-1 6-1 before his ailing 18-year-old opponent threw in the towel while trailing 1-0 in the third.
"This isn't the way anyone wants to move on," said the 20-year-old Spaniard, who takes on Miomir Kecmanovic next after the Serb beat 2023 semi-finalist Tommy Paul 6-4 3-6 2-6 7-6(7) 6-0.
"I want to wish him a speedy recovery. He's an amazing player. I was looking forward to this match. Unfortunately he wasn't in the best shape possible."
While Shang fell short in his bid to become the first Chinese man to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam in the Open era, the country will have a women's singles player in the second week as 12th seed Zheng Qinwen beat Wang Yafan.
Zheng, who was named the WTA Tour's most improved player in the 2023 season after winning Asian Games gold and the Zhengzhou title, held off her plucky compatriot 6-4 2-6 7-6(8).
The 21-year-old will no doubt be inspired by memories of Li Na's triumphant campaign in 2014.
"I watched that final 10 times," said Zheng. "Unbelievable player, the first Asian woman who won a Grand Slam, how can you not remember that?"
Zheng, who reached the quarter-finals of the U.S. Open last year, next plays Oceane Dodin after she prevailed in an all-French third-round duel with Clara Burel 6-2 6-4.
IN THE MONEY
It was the end of the road for former Flushing Meadows champion Sloane Stephens after the American lost 6-7(8) 6-1 6-4 to Anna Kalinskaya.
By making it to the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time, Kalinskaya is already assured of her biggest payday - nearly $250,000 - though she seemed in no rush to spend it.
"I don't have anything in mind. I'll take it easy," said Kalinskaya, who faces Italian Jasmine Paolini next. "Maybe a nice purse."
French wildcard Arthur Cazaux sealed a breezy 6-3 6-3 6-1 win over Dutch 28th seed Tallon Griekspoor to reach the last 16 at a major for the first time where he will meet ninth seed Hubert Hurkacz of Poland.
Hurkacz downed Frenchman Ugo Humbert 3-6 6-1 7-6(4) 6-3.
Dayana Yastremska will return to the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time since Wimbledon 2019 after her 6-2 2-6 6-1 win over American 27th seed Emma Navarro.
The Ukrainian next faces twice former champion Victoria Azarenka, who beat battled back from 4-1 down in the second set to beat 2017 French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko to go through 6-1 7-5. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tennis/alcaraz-breaks-new-ground-at-australian-open-zheng-advances
| 2024-01-20T10:05:01Z
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MELBOURNE - Twice former champion Victoria Azarenka took her career record against Jelena Ostapenko to 4-0 on Saturday with a 6-1 7-5 victory in the third round of the Australian Open.
Azarenka won both her Grand Slam titles at Melbourne Park and the 34-year-old showed just how much she enjoys the tournament with her fourth straight win over the 2017 French Open champion.
The 18th seed next faces Dayana Yastremska after the Ukrainian qualifier scored a 6-2 2-6 6-1 win against 27th seed Emma Navarro.
"I knew it's going to be a tough battle," Azarenka said after her victory over the Latvian, who had opened the season by winning the title in Adelaide and returning to top 10.
"I felt like I played a really, really good first set, really kept the pressure.
"She's a Grand Slam champion, she's been in amazing form coming off the title so I knew she was going come back and play strong.
"I was just trying to find an opportunity in that second set to get one break point at a time and try to get my chances."
Azarenka got off to a flyer at Margaret Court Arena, breaking Ostapenko in the second game en route to a 3-0 lead. She broke again in the sixth game and was serving for the set before her opponent offered any real resistance.
Ostapenko earned her first break point in that game but squandered it with an unforced error and Azarenka fired an ace to claim the set.
The 11th seed showed much more urgency in the second set, converting a break point in the fourth game before establishing a 5-2 lead, but Azarenka broke back in the ninth and held serve in a see-saw 10th to level it.
The Belarusian then capitalised on a series of errors and a double fault from Ostapenko to break her again, and saved four break points in the final game before sealing victory in an hour and 23 minutes.
"Happy to close it out. There was a close one in the last game," Azarenka said.
"I was going to make her work really hard to earn the point and put a little bit pressure. I was able to convert my opportunities." REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tennis/azarenka-maintains-perfect-record-against-ostapenko-to-reach-fourth-round
| 2024-01-20T10:05:22Z
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MELBOURNE - Zheng Qinwen received a surprise visit from former Australian Open champion Li Na after reaching the fourth round at Melbourne Park for the first time on Saturday and the good news for the Chinese number one does not end there.
The 21-year-old clinched her place in the second week at Melbourne Park with a 6-4 2-6 7-6(8) win over compatriot Wang Yafan on the same Rod Laver Arena court where Li lost the 2011 and 2013 finals before taking the crown in 2014.
"I was super happy to meet her and have the chance to talk with her because I never talked with her in person. That was really special for me," Zheng told reporters.
"I think she's much more beautiful she looks on TV. She said, 'don't think too much, just keep it simple'. I think that's what I need to do right now."
Zheng, who moved to Li's hometown of Wuhan to train at the age of eight, said she watched her hero beat Dominika Cibulkova in the 2014 final at least 10 times.
Li's triumph was the first by a Chinese or Asian player at Melbourne Park and Zheng's chances of emulating her, although still modest, have been greatly enhanced by a culling of seeds in her quarter of the draw.
Zheng, the 12th seed, will next meet world number 95 Oceane Dodin with either Italian 26th seed Jasmine Paolini or world number 75 Anna Kalinskaya awaiting the winner of that tie in the quarter-finals.
When China was investing heavily in tennis as part of a government drive to develop a multi-billion dollar sports industry, the Australian Open started marketing itself as the "Grand Slam of the Asia-Pacific".
It remains the closest thing to a home Grand Slam for Chinese players and Zheng said she had felt the support of her compatriots on court this week.
"The Australian Open has a lot more Chinese fans, so I feel like I'm playing at home because the crowd was supporting me more," she said.
"In the U.S. Open it's more like half and half. Sometimes they support opponents more, sometimes it's me. It's a totally different atmosphere. It's the first time I've reached the fourth round here, so that was special." REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tennis/zheng-gets-li-surprise-after-making-melbourne-fourth-round
| 2024-01-20T10:05:33Z
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DAVOS – In his special address at the opening ceremony of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Chinese Premier Li Qiang went big on his country’s wish to enhance global cooperation in the economic field.
But for many in the audience, the No. 2 in command of the world’s second-largest economy would need to follow up with more details on how Beijing plans to achieve that goal.
They said they wished to see deeper reforms and new policies that would support, for example, the ease of doing business in China.
Government officials, business leaders, experts and observers filled the Congress hall on Jan 16 for Mr Li’s speech, his first as China’s Premier at the annual gathering in the Swiss town. They hoped to get a glimpse of the real state of China’s economy and its prospects, following lacklustre economic growth after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Their concerns: problems in China’s property sector, slower export activity, youth unemployment, limited domestic demand and a changing demographic profile due to an ageing society.
Expectations were running high ahead of the meeting after China announced that Mr Li would be leading the delegation for the gathering.
American news site Politico said the size of his delegation – he was reportedly accompanied by 10 state ministers – caused a bit of buzz in Washington, which sent United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan to Davos.
Others said Mr Li’s entourage of 140 people was the biggest since 2017, when President Xi Jinping led more than 80 Chinese business leaders to the Forum.
But size apart, it was the timing of Mr Li’s address that mattered.
His visit comes at a time when the world is still caught up in a relatively slow-moving global economy, continuing conflicts in two hot spots, and dismal gains in dealing with the consequences of climate change. There are other risks as well, among them misinformation at a time of elections in several countries.
Mr Li, in his address, attempted to assure the world of China’s growth trajectory, which he said was “making steady progress” on “sound and solid fundamentals”.
The Chinese economy, which grew 5.2 per cent in 2023 – higher than the official target of around 5 per cent – will “continue to provide strong impetus for the world economy”, he added.
“Choosing the Chinese market is not a risk, but an opportunity,” he told the audience.
Illustrating China’s potential in demand and infrastructure development, he noted that the number of people in the middle-income group will double to 800 million in the next 10 years or so, from around 400 million now.
China’s rate of urbanisation is more than 10 percentage points lower than those in the developed world, so there is considerable room for development in areas such as transportation and telecommunication.
He reaffirmed China’s commitment to further opening its economy and fostering a market-oriented and law-based business environment for international cooperation.
Dr Gary Hufbauer, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, told news network Voice of America that Mr Li’s speech was generally positive, but it did not touch on any specifics that Beijing would take to attract Western companies.
“It did not have anything that I would call ‘concrete measures’ that would really appeal to the business community. So they will be more sceptical,” he said.
A China watcher from Germany who advises companies told The Straits Times it would have been useful if the Premier had reassured foreign companies that are still operating in the country – despite geopolitical shifts – that China would support them, as the policy landscape within the country evolves.
The observer, who requested anonymity, also said she was hoping for Mr Li to address issues such as how China plans to move forward with an ageing population, as well as deal with youth unemployment.
Spanish-German wind engineering company Siemens Gamesa’s chief executive, Dr Jochen Eickholt, told ST he wished Mr Li had elaborated more on green technology.
Entrepreneur Loubna Bouarfa said she is happy to see that the Chinese Premier’s perspective is aligned with Europe’s in terms of values – that artificial intelligence (AI) should be for all and inclusive. But she would like to see how Beijing’s view on data evolves.
A paper on the Chinese AI advantage by business school IMD notes that, with more than 700 million Internet users, China has a clear advantage in data volume that can be used to train AI-learning algorithms.
“The devil is in the details,” she added.
On Jan 17, at a session on reigniting growth in China, Australia’s ambassador to the United States Kevin Rudd said the key question for China’s future would be “the restoration of Chinese domestic consumer confidence”.
He added: “Because that is China’s best long-term guarantee, and it lies at the heart of Chinese economic policy.”
Mr Rudd suggested that Beijing should look at wage policy, tax policy and welfare measures to rekindle consumer confidence.
He said Chinese business confidence needs to be addressed and that Mr Xi’s administration needs to “de-emphasise ideology and re-emphasise the core question of the normal profit incentives for businesses operating in a market economy”.
The former prime minister of Australia also warned that geopolitics could “pull the floor” from underneath China’s growth model, if the current state of ties between the US and China deteriorates.
Still, in a reflection that China continues to hold their interest, hundreds of business delegates and officials showed up on Jan 16 for a “Dalian Night” reception at the Congress Centre, where guests were treated to a cultural performance and gourmet cuisine from Dalian, a city in north-eastern province Liaoning.
Dalian will host the Summer Davos meeting for China watchers and potential investors later in 2024.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/chinese-premier-li-qiang-courts-investors-in-davos-but-they-want-more-than-just-promises
| 2024-01-20T10:05:43Z
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MOSCOW - Russian lawmakers have prepared a bill allowing for the confiscation of money and property from people who spread "deliberately false information" about the country's armed forces, a senior member of parliament said on Saturday.
Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of the State Duma, said the measure would also apply to those found guilty of what he described as other forms of betrayal. These included "discrediting" the armed forces, calling for sanctions against Russia or inciting extremist activity.
"Everyone who tries to destroy Russia, who betrays it, must face deserved punishment and compensate for the damage inflicted on the country, at the cost of their own property," Volodin wrote on Telegram.
He said the bill would be brought to the State Duma, the lower chamber of parliament, on Monday.
Since sending its army into Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has intensified a long-running clampdown on all forms of political dissent. Under laws passed in March of that year, discrediting the armed forces or spreading false information about them are already punishable by long jail terms. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/russia-to-consider-law-on-property-confiscation-for-fakes-about-army
| 2024-01-20T10:05:54Z
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We only have one word to describe Lorraine Kelly and that is unstoppable! The ITV star looked unbelievable on Friday when she was captured running into the sea wearing the most fabulous swimsuit.
Slipping her brown tresses back into a bun, she made for the water giving fans a full glimpse of her deep green spaghetti-strap swimsuit, and she looked incredible. The unexpected moment was even more impressive due to the currently freezing temperatures across Great Britain especially in Scotland, where the clip was filmed.
Captioning the clip she penned: "BIG NEWS - watch until the end to see if I am brave enough to go in!! - my first novel THE ISLAND SWIMMER set in ORKNEY comes out on February 15th - Hope you like it. Pre order - details in my bio. Also dates for book tour.
"Ticket costs offset when you buy a book. So looking forward to meeting you all @orionbooks @waterstones #orkney #swimming #wildswimming #bracing #energising #reading #books #love #happy #happyplace."
Despite the cold, Lorraine was beaming as she ran towards the waves after telling fans all about her exciting debut book, The Island Swimmer.
Friends and fans went wild in the comments section. "Well done, looking forward to seeing you on 10th feb, could go for a dook then if tides are good !! I’ll join you xx.
A second added: "Blimey Lorraine bit cold for that [laughing face emoji]." A third replied writing: "Yeah that’s the way to do it, good on you, I love a bit of open water, and the colder the better." Meanwhile, a fourth added: "Oh my god how far did you have to walk in brave (or slightly barking) lady [applpause emojis]."
The Island Swimmer follows Evie, who, according to the official summary of the book, returns home to Orkney after her father falls "desperately ill."
"When Evie's father falls desperately ill, she finally returns to the family home on Orkney and the wild landscape she left as a teenager, swearing never to return. Not everyone is happy at her arrival, particularly her estranged sister Liv, their relationship broken after a childhood trauma.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/511705/lorraine-kelly-dazzles-followers-in-daring-swimsuit-video/
| 2024-01-20T10:36:17Z
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Whether it's her elegant coat dresses or chic suits, Princess Kate never misses when it comes to her timeless style. It's not just formal dressing that she nails either, the royal has perfected the off-duty look on countless occasions with her straight-leg jeans and blazer combos.
One pair that the Princess of Wales has repeat-worn over the years is her trusty & Other Stories Slim Jeans (previously named the 'Favourite' jeans). Retailing at £75, the low-key denim style features a high waist, a slim leg, and a slightly cropped ankle.
It's not often that we see Princess Kate opting for denim, but the royal sent fans into a frenzy when she stepped out wearing her Slim Jeans in the shade Soft Blue back in 2021. Looking effortlessly stylish, Kate teamed her flattering denim with a white T-shirt, a salmon pink Chloé blazer and her white Veja trainers.
I tracked down the royal-approved jeans to find out if they were really worth the hype, and I was seriously impressed by the soft denim and comfortable fit. Regent Street's & Other Stories didn't have my size in stock, so I opted for a size up which meant the jeans didn't have the exact cropped ankle, although they did fit perfectly everywhere else.
The first thing I consider when trying on a pair of jeans is whether I feel restricted in them. There's nothing worse than wearing a snug-fitted pair that becomes unbearable to wear during the post-meal bloat, but these felt stretchy enough to feel comfortable all day while still being fitted around the waist. Made from 99% cotton, it's no surprise that they felt so easy to wear.
Another thing I noticed about the Slim Jeans is how flattering they are. High-waisted styles are always great for enhancing the silhouette, and the straight leg was slightly fitted while still being relaxed enough to feel comfortable – striking a balance between a figure-hugging style without opting for skinny jeans.
I wanted to channel Princess Kate's smart-casual look, so I tried the & Other Stories jeans on with a white boxy tee, a pink blazer and white trainers. While I loved the pink and denim combo, I would more likely wear the straight-leg jeans with a grey knitted jumper and ballet flats, or a black square neck top, heeled boots and a longline coat.
The jeans are available in five shades of blue denim, along with black and ecru options. They've received an average of 4.5 out of five stars on the & Other Stories site, with plenty of customers raving about the "perfect fit."
One reviewer wrote: "Never tried these jeans before but I love everything about them - the fit, the shape, the length & and the dark blue wash. If you've moved away from skinnies but don't want to go wide leg, these are a great option."
However another warned of inconsistencies in sizes between the colours, so I'd recommend double checking the sizing guide on the & Other Stories before taking the plunge.
Final verdict on the & Other Stories Slim Jeans
If you're looking to invest in a pair of staple denim jeans, I think the & Other Stories pair tick all of the boxes. Straight-leg styles work well for any occasion, and they're so timeless that you won't be getting bored of them any time soon.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/shopping/511424/i-tried-kate-middleton-and-other-stories-straight-leg-jeans/
| 2024-01-20T10:36:23Z
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Franco Smith hails ‘extraordinary’ performance as Glasgow seal knockout berth
Glasgow Warriors head coach Franco Smith praised his players for an “extraordinary” performance as they booked their place in the last 16 of Investec Champions Cup.
Two tries apiece from Huw Jones and Kyle Rowe and another from Josh McKay sealed a convincing 29-5 home victory over Toulon.
Warriors will be away from home when the competition resumes at the start of April and Smith revealed he was always confident they would progress from the pool.
He said: “If you look at the weather conditions, to score five tries with the ball in hand is extraordinary. They (Toulon) didn’t come here just to roll over.
“They defended very well, especially in the first half. This is a very good win for us.
“There are a lot of learnings to take from it but you can never take a European win for granted. I thought the way we built into the game was fantastic. I’m excited to say I was never in doubt that we would qualify for the last 16.”
Jones was named player of the match after being restored to his preferred berth in the centres after filling in on the wing due to an injury crisis in previous matches.
Smith added: “He was brilliant. It was never a case of not wanting to play him in centre. He was fantastic in helping us by playing on the wing. He put the club first which says a lot about the man and what the club means to him. That contribution is well appreciated.
“I’m happy that he and Sione (Tuipulotu) clicked straight away. They’ve been training like this all the time. It was just our injury crisis over Christmas that forced us to play him on the wing. Again his attitude was fantastic.”
Kyle Steyn managed the full 80 minutes on his first appearance since October, putting him in contention for a Scotland place in the Six Nations opener away to Wales.
Smith added: “I thought both Kyles played really well. I was happy to see Kyle Steyn back leading into the Six Nations. To come back and prove to yourself that your fitness levels are alright and that you are back into the swing of things is important.
“We couldn’t play him last week as we felt he needed another week of training but he has done well to play 80 minutes tonight.”
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https://www.rugbypass.com/news/franco-smith-hails-extraordinary-performance-as-glasgow-seal-knockout-berth/
| 2024-01-20T10:55:37Z
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'No way': So-called head stamp red card on Ireland prop splits rugby fans
An ugly incident in the Connacht’s 27-10 bonus point Pool 1 victory over Bristol Bears at the Dexcom Stadium has split rugby fans on social media.
Bristol Bears’ second row Josh Caulfield was sent off in the 12th minute for a head stamp on Connacht’s Finlay Bealham. The incident clearly had a profound bearing on the Investec Champions Cup match and it has seen opinions sharply divided among fans and experts.
As he cleared the ruck Caulfield can be seen raising his leg, apparently to step over Ireland prop Bealham. His boot comes down early, however, landing squarely on the side of the Connacht tighthead’s face.
While there didn’t seem to be any clear stamping motion, Caulfield was sent off by referee Pierre Brousset.
Josh Caulfield recieves a red card for standing on the head of Finlay Bealham 🤕
What are your thoughts on the call?#InvestecChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/nFmkWpYLIQ
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) January 19, 2024
Some supporters argue that Caulfield’s action was unintentional, noting that he appeared not to be looking at Bealham as his foot made contact. They contend that there was no deliberate stamping motion, suggesting the incident was an unfortunate accident.
England and Bristol prop Ellis Genge wrote: “There is no way in this world Josh caulfield has intentionally stamped on his head, every player watching that knows it too.”
There is no way in this world Josh caulfield has intentionally stamped on his head, every player watching that knows it too.
— Gengey (@EllisGenge) January 19, 2024
On the other hand, a section of rugby fans online insists that the red card was justified, emphasizing the player’s duty of care towards his opponent. This group argues on the X that the action as reckless, warranting the dismissal regardless of intent.
The game itself saw Connacht emerge victorious, thanks in part to Ireland Sevens star Andrew Smith’s efforts. Connacht’s win, fueled by their numerical advantage, keeps their Champions Cup aspirations alive, while Bristol grapples with the fallout from another loss.
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https://www.rugbypass.com/news/no-way-so-called-head-stamp-red-card-on-ireland-prop-plits-rugby-fans/
| 2024-01-20T10:55:45Z
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Today is a special day in the calendar of the British royal family as Duchess Sophie celebrates her 59th birthday. The Duchess of Edinburgh has earned herself many loyal watchers over the years as she has attended charity events, made visits to organisations that matter to her, and been spotted at historic royal events.
Prince Edward's wife has worn some supremely elegant looks over the years and we are sure that as she enters her 59th year and her first full years as the Duchess of Edinburgh, she will continue to pull out the stops in all the public outings to come.
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Take a trip down memory lane with us as we revisit some of Duchess Sophie's most age-defying looks on her special day…
A regal vision
The state visit of the president of the Republic Of Korea in 2023 was a momentous occasion, not least of all because it was an opportunity for the royals to flex their sartorial prowess. Duchess Sophie did not disappoint, in fact she stunned in a glorious white Suzannah London dress. The elegant gown featured a sheer embroidered panel on the shoulders and up the neck for an ethereal touch and also had long sleeves that were cuffed at the wrist. The royal styled the piece with the breathtaking aquamarine tiara and a modest silver clutch.
A Barbie moment
In June 2022 the then-Countess of Wessex stunned in a block colour moment next to her sister-in-law the then-Duchess of Cambridge. The royal ladies attended the Order of The Garter service at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle where Sophie stunned in a bubblegum pink A-line dress with long fluted sleeves and a rounded neck. She paired the knee-length piece with a pair of nude heels, a beige floral and feathered fascinator, and a beige croc-print clutch.
Festive blues
The Duchess attended the Christmas Day church service at Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate in 2018 and she pulled out one of her numerous fabulous dress coats. Sophie rocked the cornflower blue belted piece with a pair of navy tights, black platform heels, and a pair of chic black leather gloves. Peeking out from the top of the coat was a blue and black ditsy floral printed dress with a ruffled neckline. Her black netted fascinator completed the look.
A bronzey moment
In 2021 Sophie once again embraced blue but in a totally different way. The royal was seen arriving at the biennial Rifles Awards Dinner at the City of London Guildhall wearing a stunning aquamarine floor-length evening dress with a square neckline and cinched waistline. The bronzed Duchess teamed the dress with a glitzy clutch in blue and black sequins and flesh-coloured shiny pointed-toe heels. The perfect finishing touches were added in the form of a diamond-encrusted brooch and coordinating drop earrings that were shown off by her hair being styled in an elegant updo.
The picture-perfect wedding guest
In 2021 Sophie was photographed alongside her husband, the then-Earl of Wessex at the wedding of Flora Ogilvy, granddaughter of Princess Alexandra, to Timothy Vesterberg, at St James's Church in Piccadilly, London. The Duchess looked stunning in a rosy pink shin-length A-line dress which featured cinching around the neck and on the cut-off sleeves. She coordinated the pink dress with a cream clutch adorned with pink raffia flowers, a pair of cream patent heels with a buckle around the ankle and the pièce de résistance was a cream lace fascinator with a corsage detail.
Trendy taupe
Duchess Sophie is known for getting out her best looks when she attends a special wedding. In 2011 she was seen with her husband Prince Edward leaving the Hotel de Paris to attend the religious ceremony of the royal wedding of Prince Albert II of Monaco to Charlene Wittstock in Monaco. The royal opted for a taupe aesthetic that with the 90s fashion revival we have seen over the last year and the wearing of trendy browns, is a look that would go down well today. The then-46-year-old Sophie paired the taupe piece with a cowl neckline with a coordinating feathered fascinator, ruched clutch, and peep-toe heels.
A classic LBD
In 2014 Sophie switched it up entirely and opted for a classic little black dress that exuded glamour. The royal was pictured alongside Strictly host Tess Daly at the star-studded St John Ambulance Everyday Heroes celebration of the nation's life savers at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in 2014. The Duchess's floor-length gown had a diamanté-encrusted halterneck and she swept her hair over to one side for an effortless look.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/fashion/royal-style/511707/duchess-sophie-edinburgh-age-defying-looks-fifty-ninth-birthday/
| 2024-01-20T10:58:13Z
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Amanda Holden is known to have a close bond with her daughters, and the star delighted fans by sharing the sweetest unseen family photos to mark a special milestone on Saturday.
The Heart Radio host celebrated her eldest daughter Lexi's 18th birthday by sharing a video filled with special family moments dating from Lexi's birth to the present day – and the teenager looks just like her mum!
Amanda, 52, shares her two daughters, Lexi and Hollie, 12, with her record producer husband Chris Hughes. The pair met in Los Angeles back in 2003 and began dating a year later.
The couple tied the knot in December 2008, with their one-year-old daughter Lexi in attendance. In 2012, they welcomed their second daughter Hollie.
Taking to Instagram to share the heartwarming video, Amanda captioned the post: "Well… The time has literally slipped by and our beautiful @lexi.hughes_official is 18 today. We just cannot quite believe it. Darling. We are so proud of the intelligent, sensitive, funny, perceptive and loving woman you have grown up to be. We are here for you and love you so very much. Cannot wait to celebrate with our family and friends tonight!"
Hundreds on fans and friends rushed to the comments to send Lexi their birthday wishes. One follower wrote: "She is sooo beautiful and I bet with a gorgeous heart just like her mummy." While another added: "Beautiful Lexi! Happy happy birthday. Where have the years gone?"
A third gushed: "Happy birthday to your beautiful Lexi wish her all the best. She is a mini you."
Lexi is already following in her mother's showbusiness footsteps after Amanda revealed in 2022 that her then 16-year-old daughter had been signed Kate Moss' Storm modelling agency.
The mother-daughter duo have been likened on countless occasions, most recently when they posed on the red carpet together at The Fashion Awards 2023. Amanda dazzled in a black strapless mini dress that featured an exaggerated bell skirt, a lace corset and a statement train that swept the floor. The Britain's Got Talent judge completed the vampy look with a pair of black platform heels.
Lexi coordinated with her mother in a floor-length black dress with cut-out detailing across her midriff and a thigh-high slit. She wore a similar platform heel to Amanda, whilst her long locks were styled in loose waves that perfectly framed her face.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/511706/amanda-holden-shares-rare-family-photos-emotional-milestone/
| 2024-01-20T10:58:19Z
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SINGAPORE - Two men were arrested for their alleged involvement in a China officials impersonation scam, which caused their victims to lose more than $445,000 in the process.
The two men are aged 21 and 25, the police said in a statement on Jan 20.
The police said it received two separate reports on Jan 17 that a 19-year-old woman and a 21-year-old man had allegedly been kidnapped.
Prior to the reports, the parents of the victims, who were based in China, received videos of the victims being tied up with ransom demands from unknown persons communicating in Mandarin.
The victims’ parents then contacted their friends in Singapore, who in turn reported the incidents to the police.
Following the reports, the police conducted extensive follow-up investigations and managed to track down the victims within 12 hours.
They were subsequently established to be victims of the impersonation scam.
In the first case, the female victim had received an unsolicited call on Oct 31, 2023, purportedly from an Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officer.
She was then routed to another scammer claiming to be a police officer from China, who alleged that her particulars were used to sign up for a bank card involved in money laundering activities in China.
The scammer then told the female victim that to avoid being arrested and deported, she had to furnish monies as bail and case resolution.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the victim had transferred more than $230,000 to the bank accounts of the scammers, who are also known as the “China police” to the victim.
In the second case, the male victim received an unsolicited call in early November 2023, purportedly also from an ICA officer.
The male victim was accused of having a Chinese mobile number that was associated in the spread of Covid-19-related rumours in China.
He was then routed to another scammer claiming to be a police officer from China, who alleged that he was involved in money laundering activities.
Acting under the instructions of the scammer, the male victim transferred $215,000 into bank accounts provided by the scammer, on the pretext that it was for bail.
In both cases, the two victims had to report to the “China police”, through either video calls or messages and video calls over a messaging application on their mobile phones, five times a day.
Sometime in early January, both victims were asked to assist in the ongoing investigation by recording a video of themselves being tied up and pretending that they were captured separately as part of “scam education”.
The scammer arranged for the video recordings to be facilitated by the 25-year-old suspect, who also acted in the staged kidnap scene where he pointed a kukri knife at both victims to make the videos more convincing.
A week later, both victims were instructed to isolate themselves at various safehouses.
The female victim, whose safehouse was arranged by the 25-year-old suspect, was asked to cease communication with others, including her parents, to facilitate the investigations.
On Jan 15, the male victim was eventually located by the police in a safehouse rented by the 21-year-old suspect.
Unknown to the two victims, the scammers had sent the purported scam education videos to threaten their parents and ask for ransom.
Preliminary investigations by the police revealed that the two suspects had acted on the scammers’ instructions to book and rent units for the victims.
They had also exchanged the victims’ mobile phones with new mobile phones and SIM cards so the victims could not be reached by anyone, except the scammers.
Police investigations into the cases are ongoing. Case exhibits such as the kukri and ropes used in the videos were seized.
Those convicted of cheating can be jailed up to 10 years and fined.
Those convicted of possessing a scheduled weapon can be jailed up to five years and receive a minimum of six strokes of the cane.
The police said it would like to highlight that overseas law enforcement agencies have no jurisdiction to conduct operations in Singapore, arrest anyone or ask members of the public to help with any form of investigations without the approval of the Singapore Government.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/2-men-arrested-after-victims-of-china-official-impersonation-and-kidnap-scam-lost-more-than-445k
| 2024-01-20T11:36:51Z
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SINGAPORE – More than $700,000 has been seized from a man for his suspected involvement in unlicensed moneylending and money laundering activities.
The 49-year-old, who is the sole proprietor of Xpress Leasing, has also been arrested and is expected to be charged on Jan 22, the police said on Jan 20.
The police said they received at least 12 reports between September and October 2020 alleging that his business entity issued loans illegally under the pretext of buying and leasing pre-owned mobile phones.
It is also said to have sent debt collectors to deal with those falling behind in loan repayments.
The Straits Times first reported about the scheme in October 2020 when two maids shared about the arrangement.
A representative for Xpress Leasing confirmed the buy-and-leaseback scheme at the time, but said the company had “decided to stop offering it to foreigners since the beginning of this month (October 2020), as many of them do not understand how it works”.
Explaining how the scheme worked, he added that if the company bought a mobile phone from a maid for $1,000, only $760 would be paid to her because $240 would be treated as rental for the device for the first month. The rental subsequently would be $50 a month.
The maid also had the option of getting her phone back by buying it for $1,000, which could be paid in instalments over four months.
Police investigations revealed that between June and October 2020, the 49-year-old man allegedly carried on a moneylending business without a licence by issuing illegal loans on the premises of his company.
During the course of investigations, five bank accounts connected to his alleged criminal activities were frozen and more than $700,000 was seized.
The man, who was previously convicted of unlicensed moneylending offences, will be charged in court with one count of carrying on a moneylending business without licence.
He will also be liable for enhanced punishment under the same offence and three counts of acquiring property that represents the benefits from criminal conduct.
Those found guilty of carrying on a moneylending business without licence will be jailed for up to four years, fined between $30,000 and $300,000, and receive up to six strokes of the cane on the first conviction.
In the case of a second conviction, they can be jailed for up to seven years, fined between $30,000 and $300,000, and receive up to 12 strokes of the cane.
Those convicted of acquiring properties that represent their benefits from criminal conduct can be jailed for up to 10 years and fined up to $500,000.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/man-arrested-for-suspected-unlicensed-moneylending-money-laundering-over-700k-seized
| 2024-01-20T11:37:01Z
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SINGAPORE – The sight of his wife collapsing to the ground from his punches was a wake-up call for Mr Muhammad Firdaus Zhairudin.
The 35-year-old, who used to hit his wife when he could not control his anger, panicked and immediately called the police. He was let off with a stern warning.
He vowed to stop inflicting violence on his family. That same year, in September 2019, he joined the Thye Hua Kwan (THK) Brotherhood programme, an initiative by THK Moral Charities to support men who committed family violence in their healing process.
Mr Firdaus’ journey to recovery has not been easy, as it took around two years before he could regulate his emotions and learn to think before responding.
Today, as he approaches his fifth year in the programme, Mr Firdaus is much closer to his six children and wife.
He has been working as a hotel front desk executive for around four years – the first long-term job he has held. He stayed for up to only four months in each of his previous jobs.
Mr Firdaus said that handling unreasonable customers is a good “challenge” for him, as he is able to put what he learnt from the programme into practice.
When he starts feeling angry, he uses a breathing technique before taking time to cool down, sit down, or drink a beverage. “The first few seconds will change everything... You must do something else, if not something bad will happen,” he added.
Set up in September 2019, the THK Brotherhood programme aims to break the intergenerational cycle of violence by partnering men who caused harm to others to be a part of the solution in ending family violence, said THK Moral Charities.
Each run of the programme comprises eight to ten sessions, conducted every three weeks. Each session covers topics such as personal values and healing, as well as group sharing segments that allow participants to talk about their problems and discuss coping strategies.
More than 80 men have benefitted from the programme, with 55 currently enrolled in the group.
Participants will also be given opportunities to be trained as group facilitators and mentors, said Mr Ben Ang, principal social worker at THK Moral Charities.
Together with the National University of Singapore Social Service Research Centre, THK Moral Charities conducted a qualitative study on 11 participants in November and December 2023 to find out how to attract and sustain engagement levels in the programme.
Preliminary findings, which were released at a symposium on Jan 20, showed that most participants suffered from adverse childhood experiences, which may have shaped their beliefs in toxic masculinity.
Ms Fionn Lui, a social worker at THK Moral Charities who heads programme research, said the study showed that men who committed family violence are interested in showing emotional vulnerability, but only in a safe environment where they are not judged and treated sincerely.
Looking ahead, Ms Lui said the organisation will use these findings to fine-tune the curriculum. For instance, it hopes to allocate more time and resources to coping strategies and open conversations with people they have hurt.
Mr Firdaus looks forward to the sharing segments, as he can listen to other participants’ problems, provide support or advice, and talk about his own troubles.
Similarly, he is now willing to share his feelings with his family members and listen to their opinions.
Recalling that his children used to avoid eye contact with him out of fear, Mr Firdaus said: “Now we watch movies and go food-hunting, and we can even joke around together.”
“My goal for this year is just to love my family more... I know I’ve been hurting them too much.”
THK Moral Charities said in 2023 that it started to involve the spouses and family members in the programme. This was well-received by the participants.
Mr Ang noted that his team also organises informal social events – group hikes and sports activities – and invites the men’s families, because familial support encourages the men to keep showing up for the sessions.
Participants have also been giving back to the community, by reaching out to inmates upon release.
In July 2023, laws to better protect victims of family violence and enhance the rehabilitation of abusers were passed, including an update to the definition of family violence to cover physical, sexual, emotional and psychological abuse.
Speaking at the symposium on Jan 20, Minister of State for Social and Family Development Sun Xueling said that perpetrators of family violence are often overlooked.
She urged the public to show them empathy as some may have faced abuse in their own lives or have mental wellness issues.
“So we must create a safe and supportive environment where perpetrators can seek help and be rehabilitated without fear of judgment,” she added.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/overcoming-family-violence-brotherhood-programme-helps-over-80-men
| 2024-01-20T11:37:12Z
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Catch up on some of the week's top reads. Subscribe to our newsletter here.
askST: Iswaran is the first reported person to be charged under Section 165. What is this provision?
Section 165 makes it an offence for a public servant to accept gifts from someone involved with them in an official capacity.
Staring death in the face, S’pore hospice patients pass on memories through legacy videos
Legacy videos help capture the essence of one’s life, and can help to enrich the lives of the next generation.
Maybank becomes first foreign bank to offer fixed deposits for CPF funds
The bank’s customers can tap this option to grow Ordinary Account funds for retirement.
Couple agreed 50% of flat’s value to be split upon divorce, but judge says it should be 100%
As it was their matrimonial home, the entire value must be included in assets divided upon divorce, said the judge.
MBS to inject $1 billion for next phase of hotel transformation, works to be completed in 2025
Such large tourism projects will help lift Singapore as a tourist hub, says an analyst.
More S’pore professionals seeking to change jobs despite cooling labour market: LinkedIn
Of the over 1,000 professionals LinkedIn polled here, 86 per cent are considering a new job in 2024, up a striking 15 percentage points from 2023.
The vanishing practice of eating with your hands and the loss of family mealtimes
When did dining become a functional and hasty experience, instead of a multisensory exercise in being present, asks the writer.
Don’t cake me home: Takashimaya looking for customer who bought sample
The department store advised the customer who purchased the cake sample not to consume it.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/this-week-s-top-reads-from-the-straits-times-jan-20-2024
| 2024-01-20T11:37:22Z
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MELBOURNE - French wildcard Arthur Cazaux reached the fourth round of the Australian Open on Saturday and warned his future opponents that whatever else happens in their matches, they will know they have been in a fight.
The 21-year-old, ranked 122nd in the world coming into the tournament, rode his powerful serve to a 6-3 6-3 6-1 thrashing of Tallon Griekspoor in the third round, adding the Dutchman to a list of victims already featuring Laslo Djere and Holger Rune.
It is Cazaux's debut at Melbourne Park -- he was not ranked high enough to get into qualifying last year -- and he became the first wildcard since Denis Istomin in 2017 to get into the second week.
Having played the likes of Rune, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Arthur Fils as a junior, Cazaux said he does not feel any pressure on court.
"I'm ready to fight everyone. I'm ready to fight in every match," he said.
"I'm here to give everything on court. Sometimes I play bad, sometimes I play good. It doesn't matter. The only important thing is to give everything on court. That's my rules."
Cazaux does not look like he is feeling any pressure as he struts around the court, his white baseball cap on backwards and a diamond earring in each ear.
He attributes his rocket of a serve, which earned him 18 aces in the second round against eighth seed Rune and another 14 in his shorter match against Griekspoor, to playing handball.
"I always had a good shoulder because I played handball for many years," he added.
"I did seven years of handball in a good team, so during all of my childhood, I shot every day.
"It's always been a big strength on my game. I know I can improve on my serve, but it's a big strength, yes."
He will face another big-server in Polish ninth seed Hubert Hurkacz in the fourth round as he looks to become the first wildcard to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals since Czech Tomas Smid in 1983. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tennis/french-wildcard-cazaux-continues-to-punch-above-his-weight
| 2024-01-20T11:37:32Z
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MELBOURNE - Daniil Medvedev raced into the second week of the Australian Open with a 6-3 6-4 6-3 victory over Felix Auger-Aliassime on Saturday, showing few signs of fatigue after his marathon late-night outing in the second round.
The Russian third seed, who came from two sets down to beat Emil Ruusuvuori well into the early hours of Friday morning, looked at his clinical best as he eased into the fourth round for fifth time.
"It was tough, especially after the last match I had but happy to play some good level," said Medvedev, who took his career record against Auger-Aliassime to 7-0.
"I tried to always give him tough shots so I didn't have to run too much and in the third set I managed to find some shots, so happy with the level of my game."
The pair went to five sets in the quarter-finals two years ago at Melbourne Park before Medvedev prevailed after saving a match point but Auger-Aliassime came nowhere near the level he displayed that night.
The error-prone Canadian 27th seed showed some fight to prevent Medvedev from winning the match with a sixth break but the Russian served out comfortably enough to seal the victory in just over two hours.
Medvedev, back-to-back losing finalist in Melbourne in 2021 and 2022, moves on to a meeting with Portuguese world number 69 Nuno Borges in the last 16.
The 27-year-old said he was still feeling the effects of his second-round match, after which he did not get to bed until 7am.
"It wasn't easy, I'm not feeling fresh, I'm not feeling 100%," he said.
"At least I have this super ability that I can sleep where I want, whenever I want. When I was younger, I would go out at night after matches and sometimes train without sleep. Maybe that helped me play today." REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tennis/medvedev-motors-into-fourth-round-at-melbourne-park
| 2024-01-20T11:37:43Z
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MELBOURNE – Top seed Iga Swiatek crashed out of the Australian Open on Jan 20, losing 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to Czech teenager Linda Noskova in the third round as her bid for a maiden Melbourne Park title and fifth Grand Slam fell apart.
It also meant that the Pole’s 18-match winning run came to a shuddering halt.
“I’m speechless, I knew it was going to be an amazing match with the world No. 1 and such a player, but I didn’t really think it would end up like this,” said Noskova.
The emotional 19-year-old crouched to the floor and put her hands over her face when the big moment came and buried her head in her towel later and cried.
“I’m just really glad to get through this round,” she added.
Swiatek, more accustomed to breezing past opponents with the odd “bagel” or 6-0 scoreline thrown in, had struggled in Melbourne, enduring a first-set tiebreak in her opener against Sofia Kenin before fighting back from the brink of defeat to oust Danielle Collins the last time out.
Noskova emerged as a tricky third-round opponent with three top-10 wins under her belt, but Swiatek looked in no mood to be dragged into another dogfight as she broke in the sixth game and held to love in the next to take charge.
The 22-year-old barely let the intensity drop after taking the first set as she forced Melbourne Park debutant Noskova into uncomfortable positions in the second by working the angles and launching big forehands.
But the Czech held firm, responding with some explosive hitting of her own and breaking en route to levelling up the contest before heaping the pressure on the four-times major champion to take a 2-1 lead in the decider.
Swiatek looked to have composed herself during a brief pause in play as doctors attended to a sick supporter in the crowd and broke back, but Noskova did not relent and got her nose in front again to close out the match on serve and complete a huge upset.
“I was shaking a little,” Noskova said about serving for the victory. “I didn’t hit two first serves which was not the best start for me but I pulled out an ace.”
In other matches, two-time former champion Victoria Azarenka took her career record against Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko to 4-0 with a 6-1, 7-5 victory.
The Belarusian won both her Grand Slam titles at Melbourne Park and the 34-year-old showed just how much she enjoys the tournament with her dominant win over the 2017 French Open champion.
“I knew it’s going to be a tough battle,” Azarenka said after her victory over Ostapenko, who had opened the season by winning the title in Adelaide and returning to top 10.
“She’s a Grand Slam champion, she’s been in amazing form coming off the title so I knew she was going come back and play strong. I was just trying to find an opportunity in that second set to get one break point at a time.”
In the men’s draw, Daniil Medvedev raced into the second week with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Felix Auger-Aliassime, showing few signs of fatigue after his marathon late-night outing in the second round.
The Russian third seed, who came from two sets down to beat Emil Ruusuvuori well into the early hours of Jan 19 morning, looked at his clinical best as he eased into the fourth round for the fifth time.
Cameron Norrie, the 19th seed, took out former world No. 2 Casper Ruud with a 6-4, 6-7 (7-9), 6-4, 6-3 win to make it to the fourth round for the first time. REUTERS, AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tennis/teenager-noskova-stuns-top-seed-swiatek-in-australian-open-third-round
| 2024-01-20T11:37:55Z
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BOBIGNY, France - A French court on Jan 19 gave suspended jail sentences to three officers in a rare case of police brutality coming to court, after a black man suffered irreversible rectal injuries.
Mr Theo Luhaka was left disabled after suffering severe anal injuries from a police baton, as well as wounds to his head, during a stop-and-search in the Paris suburb of Aulnay-sous-Bois in 2017.
Activists said the police officers had got away lightly, however, and called for firm prison terms.
The verdict was handed down in Bobigny, north-east of Paris, as concerns about police violence in France are coming to the fore following the death of a 17-year-old, who was shot by police during a traffic stop in June 2023.
After more than nine hours of deliberation, Marc-Antoine Castelain, 34, who was found guilty of the truncheon blow that injured Mr Luhaka, received a 12-month suspended prison sentence. He was also banned from carrying a weapon and working on the streets as a police officer for five years.
His colleagues Jeremie Dulin, 42, and Tony Hochart, 31, received three-month suspended terms.
They were banned from carrying a weapon and working on the streets as policemen for two years.
Prosecutors had asked for a three-year suspended jail term for Castelain and suspended sentences of six and three months for Dulin and Hochart respectively.
Castelain’s blow ripped the muscle surrounding Mr Luhaka’s anus, leaving a wound 10cm deep.
But the court rejected the charge of “deliberate violence resulting in permanent mutilation or infirmity”.
The tense courtroom was packed with Mr Luhaka’s supporters and plain-clothes police for the sentencing. Afterwards, he was greeted with a round of applause.
Activists held up posters showing the faces of people who had died as a result of police violence.
Mr Luhaka, now 29, has said he once dreamed of becoming a footballer, but now suffers from incontinence and spends most of his time in his room watching the United States detective series Monk.
Activist anger
He has become a symbol of the heavy-handed tactics that police are accused of using in the high-rise housing estates that ring the French capital.
Visibly moved, Mr Luhaka did not speak after the ruling. He had said earlier he wanted to see the policemen convicted.
This was a rare case of police brutality to be tried in a court instead of at an internal disciplinary hearing.
His lawyer Antoine Vey said the guilty verdict was a “victory”, but activists said the police had got away with a slap on the wrist.
“The message sent to the police is: ‘You can mutilate, kill. You’ll get a reprieve’,” said activist Amal Bentounsi.
The SOS Racisme group said that the interior ministry must follow the verdict by “engaging reforms”. It said that the attack on Mr Luhaka was the result of a “law and order philosophy based on confrontation”.
‘Huge relief’
Castelain’s lawyer Thibault de Montbrial called the sentence “a huge relief” because “it has been established, as he has said from day one, that he is not a criminal”.
Mr Luhaka initially accused Castelain of raping him with a baton -- an accusation the officer denied, saying he had aimed his baton at Mr Luhaka’s legs. Prosecutors said there was not enough evidence to support the rape charge.
“I felt like I was raped,” Mr Luhaka told the court on Jan 15.
The IPGN police watchdog concluded before the trial began that the baton blows were inflicted at a time when “Luhaka was not attacking the physical integrity of the police officers”.
Castelain said his baton blow was “legitimate” and had been “taught at the police academy”.
The other officers kneed, punched and aimed pepper spray at Mr Luhaka while he was handcuffed and on the ground.
The case blew up in the media after security camera footage of the incident was shared online.
In June 2023, a police officer shot Nahel, a 17-year-old Frenchman of North African origin, in the Paris suburb of Nanterre.
The killing sparked more than a week of riots and posed uncomfortable questions for France about police brutality, living conditions in urban suburbs and integration in an intensely multicultural society. AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/french-officers-get-suspended-jail-terms-in-police-brutality-case
| 2024-01-20T11:38:05Z
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DAMASCUS - An Israeli strike on Damascus killed the Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ spy chief for Syria and three other Guards members on Jan 20, Iranian media said, in an attack that flattened a multi-storey residential building.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said at least six people were killed in the Israeli strike in the Mazzeh neighbourhood of the Syrian capital.
In recent weeks, Israel has been accused of intensifying strikes on senior Iranian and allied figures in Syria and Lebanon – backers of the Palestinian militant group Hamas – raising fears the Gaza conflict could expand.
“The Revolutionary Guards’ Syria intel chief, his deputy and two other Guards members were martyred in the attack on Syria by Israel,” Iran’s Mehr news agency said, quoting an informed source.
In a statement, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed it lost four of its members in the strike that it accused Israel, its regional arch-foe, of carrying out.
The mid-morning strike, which caused a large plume of smoke to billow into the sky, was also reported by Syrian state media.
The official Syrian news agency Sana said a residential building in Damascus’ Mazzeh neighbourhood had been targeted in what it called “an Israeli aggression”.
An AFP correspondent at the scene said the destroyed building was cordoned off with ambulances, firefighters, and Syrian Arab Red Crescent rescue teams all present at the site.
Civil defence were busy searching for survivors under the rubble of the totally collapsed building, he said.
AFP video footage showed damaged cars covered in rubble and with their windows blown out near the site of the strike.
“I heard the explosion clearly in the western Mazzeh area, and I saw a large cloud of smoke,” a resident told AFP, requesting anonymity due to security concerns.
“The sound was similar to a missile explosion, and minutes later, I heard the sound of ambulances,” he added.
Hundreds of Israeli strikes
When asked about the strike, the Israeli army told AFP: “We do not comment on reports from the foreign media”.
Israel rarely comments on individual strikes targeting Syria, but it has repeatedly said it will not allow arch foe Iran, which backs President Bashar al-Assad’s government, to expand its presence there.
During more than a decade of civil war in Syria, Israel has launched hundreds of air strikes on its territory, primarily targeting Iran-backed forces as well as Syrian army positions.
But it has intensified attacks since the war between Israel and Hamas, which like Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement is an ally of Iran, began on Oct 7.
The observatory said “an Israeli missile strike targeted a four-storey building, killing six people... and destroying the whole building where Iran-aligned leaders were meeting” in Damascus.
Its director, Rami Abdel Rahman, said one of the victims was a Syrian civilian.
The British-based war monitor with a network of sources inside Syria said the targeted building belonged to the IRGC and that the neighbourhood is known to be a high-security zone home to leaders of the IRGC and pro-Iran Palestinian factions.
The Mazzeh area is also home to the United Nations’ headquarters, embassies, and restaurants.
“They were for sure targeting senior members” of Teheran-backed groups or Iranian forces, Abdel Rahman told AFP.
In December 2023, an Israeli air strike killed a senior Iranian general in Syria, the military force said.
Mr Sayyed Razi Moussavi was the most senior commander of the Guards’ foreign operations arm to be killed outside Iran since a US drone strike in January 2020 killed the arm’s commander, Qasem Soleimani, in Baghdad.
Since 2011, Syria has endured a bloody conflict that has claimed over half a million lives and displaced several million people.
The recent Israeli raid comes four days after the Revolutionary Guard said it attacked “an Israeli intelligence headquarters” in Arbil, the capital of Iraq’s northern province of Kurdistan.
Iraqi authorities said the attack killed four civilians and wounded six others.
In December 2023, an Israeli air strike killed a senior general with Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, the military force said.
Mr Razi Moussavi was the most senior commander of the Guards’ foreign operations arm, the Quds Force, to be killed outside Iran since a US drone strike in Baghdad on Jan 3, 2020 killed the Force’s commander Qasem Soleimani.
In the same month, air strikes in eastern Syria, “likely” carried out by Israel, killed at least 23 pro-Iran fighters, the Observatory said at the time, reporting four more dead in the country’s north.
Recent months have also seen regular cross-border exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
Israel rarely comments on individual strikes targeting Syria, but it has repeatedly said it will not allow arch-foe Iran, which backs President Bashar al-Assad’s government, to expand its presence there.
Since 2011, Syria has endured a bloody conflict that has claimed over half a million lives and displaced several million people. AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/5-dead-in-israel-strike-on-syria-targeting-iran-aligned-leaders-information-office
| 2024-01-20T11:38:15Z
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ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev presented Almaty Aport apples to Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) Qu Dongyu in the Italian capital on Jan. 19, reported the Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture.
Almaty Aport, an apple variety, participates in the Global Action on One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) initiative to preserve precious agricultural products worldwide. The FAO’s program considers products with unique qualities related to geographical specificities, farming practices, and cultural heritage.
“Kazakhstan is widely known as the birthplace of apples. Aport apples grow near Almaty, the largest metropolis of our country and my hometown,” said Tokayev. The head of state added that Almaty, a homeland of Aport, is translated from Kazakh as ‘a place of abundance of apples.’
The unique type of apple is known for its sour-sweet taste, unforgettable smell, and juiciness. The agricultural miracle of the Almaty mountains has become the national pride and a strive for Kazakhstan to establish its globally recognized brand.
President Tokayev expressed hope for the FAO’s support in promoting Almaty Aport to the world markets. Launched in September 2021, OCOP facilitates inclusive, profitable and environmentally sustainable food systems through the green development of high-value agricultural products.
In 1970, Kazakhstan had 3.8 million Aport trees, and in 1984, the number dropped to 1.4 million, according to the ministry’s data. Nevertheless, scientists have been researching the revival of the apple since 2012 and shared their first impressive results last year.
Innovative solutions for restoring the Kazakh brand
Despite the efforts to ensure international recognition of Aport apples, fruit farming in Almaty encounters the impact of urbanization, bureaucracy, and commercial approach to cultivation. Yet innovations allowed specialists to reinvigorate the legendary taste and create environmental conditions for the development of the Kazakh brand.
In an interview with the Inbusiness.kz news agency, Svetlana Dolgikh, the head of the laboratory of crops biotechnologies at the Kazakh Scientific Research Institute of Fruit Growing and Viticulture, spoke about the challenges in the production of Aport apples and innovations of the horticultural industry used in their cultivation.
“There are a lot of reasons why the Aport apple has degraded. Firstly, the old variety has accumulated a raft of viral infections. Secondly, uncontrolled reproduction. This is when specialists are focused not on the fruits that the tree gives, but on the annual growth. The higher the increase, the worse the quality of the fruits,” she said.
Dense construction in the foothills of Almaty has also destroyed thousands of hectares of Aport apples. “In the 90s, with the launch of the mass construction of elite cottages, the gardens were demolished and uprooted.”
In addition, the market demand remains crucial for the development of the fruit.
“Almaty Aport is a branded variety. It will never give a big profit if the price for 1 kg is 500 tenge (US$1), similarly to other apples. If it is beautiful and large, then its cost should be increased at least five times, and it should be bought as an elite cake on the table,” said the expert.
From 2012 to 2021, the laboratory has been working on the revival of Almaty Aport under the leadership of late Kazakh research biologist and professor Magzhan Issin.
“We selected the types of Aport we decided to clean from viral infections. By 2015, we received its improved varieties. Out of 300 forms of Sievers apples, we selected 11 in which the DNA profile was very close to the profile of Aport,” she said.
Over the past 20 years, Kazakh scientists have been engaged in the revival of Aport using modern technologies and experimental gardens. According to the institute, the researchers have collected 115 clones and developed 29 cultivars based on Almaty Aport.
Global recognition and geographic indication
Almaty Aport was officially registered in the State Register of Geographic Indications in October last year. For this purpose, the Almaty Region Apple Growers Association (ARAGA) applied to the National Institute of Intellectual Property.
To gain global acknowledgment, apple producers must identify the countries where they seek legal protection for Almaty Aport. As a result, respective materials were dispatched to France, Poland, Spain, and Russia.
Three months ago, Kazakh Minister of Justice Azamat Yeskarayev confirmed that Almaty Aport is now recognized as a Kazakh brand. He also noted that Kazakhstan is in the process of patenting its national dishes, such as kumis, kurt, and kozhe.
“It may be patented here in Kazakhstan. To get an international patent, there is a need to conduct an accurate molecular genetic analysis,” explained Dolgikh.
“Only our institute has a collection of Aport forms so that someone can do a genetic analysis. A genetic passport is not required for breeding achievements in Kazakhstan. Disputes will begin as soon as the genetic analysis is launched,” she added. According to Dolgikh, there are now more than 40 forms of Aport globally.
The expert reminded that Kazakhstan is also a member of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), which aims to provide an effective system for plant variety protection.
“We need to find free and suitable land for the production and planting of apple gardens. Now we have all the data and technologies for geoinformation analysis. Everything is ready, we just need to find plots and plant a garden with proper observance of agricultural technologies,” said Dolgikh.
Historical insights into Almaty Aport
The first mention of Aport apples was found in the monastery archives and dated back to 1175. The documents state that the apple was brought to the Kingdom of Poland from the Ottoman Empire. Scientists have different opinions about its origin: some consider it Ukrainian, others – Russian, and others – Turkish. Another theory says it is an authentic aborigine of the Almaty Region’s mountains.
In 1865, a peasant named Yegor Redko from Russia’s Voronezh province brought Aport seedlings to Vernyi (a former name of Almaty). He planted the seeds on the bank of the Malaya Almatinka River in the foothills of the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains and crossed some of them with the local wild apple tree.
The climate of Almaty gave the most suitable conditions for the seedlings to grow. The Aport apple found its ecological niche at 900-1,200 meters above sea level. The harvest represents large fruits weighing up to 370-500 grams.
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https://astanatimes.com/2024/01/all-roads-lead-to-rome-legendary-almaty-aport-apple-hits-global-spotlight/
| 2024-01-20T12:04:48Z
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ASTANA – The European Parliament (EP) approved a resolution on the assessment of the European Union’s (EU’s) strategy for Central Asia on Jan. 17. It marks a significant milestone in the EU’s strategy towards the region.
Released the following day, this comprehensive strategy outlines a vision of strengthened ties between the EU and Central Asia, highlighting areas of sustainable development, enhanced connectivity, energy, critical raw materials, and security. This comes at a time when geopolitical shifts have opened new doors for cooperation.
Emerging opportunities amid geopolitical challenges
Kazakhstan emerges as a notable partner in this strategy. For instance, the country produces 18 critical materials out of 34 listed by the EU, having proved its reliability by contributing to the EU’s energy security through oil supplies and to the nuclear energy sector through uranium supplies. Kazakh and European experts are continuing to explore cost-effective and sustainable supplies of critical raw materials and decarbonization of energy production.
The resolution acknowledges Kazakhstan as the first Central Asian country to ratify the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreements (EPCA) with the EU. This agreement lays a robust groundwork for expanding collaboration in key sectors like connectivity, energy efficiency, the green economy, and digitalization. It also commends the recent memorandum of understanding between Kazakhstan and the EU, focusing on a strategic partnership in sustainable raw materials, batteries, and renewable hydrogen value chains.
Given the current geopolitical landscape, the importance of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor, has grown significantly. This is particularly true in the context of the insecurity in the Black Sea, the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, and the closure of trade routes across Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine.
According to the report, geopolitical consequences of the war in Ukraine have reinvigorated the Middle Corridor not only as a regional economic zone, but also as an alternative and sustainable route between Asia and Europe that avoids crossing Russian territory.
The resolution stresses the significance of promoting regional integration along the Middle Corridor and calls on the European Commission “to investigate the possibility of the European Investment Bank’s support for investments in infrastructure development in Central Asian states, especially in the Middle Corridor.”
Additionally, the resolution recognizes the crucial role of Central Asian countries, beyond China and Pakistan, in ensuring stability in Afghanistan. This includes humanitarian aid, electricity, trade opportunities, and joint connectivity projects. In this context, it highlights that “Central Asia is a crucial area for containing religious extremism, terrorism and drug trafficking networks and faces increased migratory pressure due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.”
Touchpoints on green agenda
The EU and Kazakhstan are both committed to long-term carbon neutrality. In this regard, the European parliamentarians have called for the implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change, standing “ready to provide expertise and cooperation.”
The Paris Climate Accords outline the international community’s commitment to curb the growth of the average global temperature to ensure climate-sustainable low-carbon development by imposing obligations on national governments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Kazakhstan signed and ratified the Paris Agreement in 2016, committing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 15% by 2030. The country’s climate change agenda is aligned with the European Green Deal, a set of policy initiatives of the European Commission aimed at making the EU climate-neutral by 2050. Kazakhstan, in turn, aims to reach carbon neutrality by 2060 through developing clean energy projects and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The report emphasizes that “climate change, a growing population and economic needs are putting increasing strain on water resources in Central Asia.” Indeed, the transboundary water management takes center stage in Central Asia’s agenda.
The resolution underlines the EP’s interest in stabilizing the Aral Sea environment and encourages Central Asian states to step up dialogue in water cooperation, especially through regional platforms, such as the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS). This year, Kazakhstan took over the chairmanship of the organization with a particular focus on the issues related to the relict water reservoir.
Additionally, water diplomacy programs of international organizations and financial institutions like the Blue Peace Central Asia (BPCA) initiative seek to bring high-level officials to support innovative technical solutions and provide training for water specialists.
Trade and investment cooperation
The report underlines the importance of a positive investment climate for the economic development of Central Asia and EU-Central Asian trade and cooperation.
According to the resolution, a positive investment climate, which leads to the creation of quality workplaces with adequate salaries and decent working conditions, depends on stable democratic institutions, respect for human rights and the rule of law, as well as the capacity of businesses and civil society for due diligence application.
The EU is Kazakhstan’s key trade and investment partner. In 2022, the overall trade between Kazakhstan and the EU reached a remarkable $41.9 billion, according to the Kazakh Foreign Ministry. In the first nine months of last year, trade turnover hit $30.5 billion, with the first quarter’s foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows from the EU amounting to $5.2 billion.
Despite the rapid development of economic cooperation, especially in energy and transport, there are indications of the need for deeper mutual trust between the parties.
Visa liberalization dialogue
The report also reflects on the interest of Central Asian states in initiating a dialogue with the EU for visa liberalization. It encourages the European Commission to “intensify consultations on developing targeted and comprehensive reform roadmaps for the Central Asian states to pave the way for visa facilitation and readmission agreements.”
Kazakh officials are actively promoting freedom of travel with other countries, which retained visa requirements in response to a unilateral visa-free regime established by Kazakhstan, especially with the EU countries.
Reflections of Kazakh parliamentarians
Aigul Kuspan, the chairwoman of the Committee for International Affairs, Defense and Security of the Mazhilis, a lower house of the Kazakh Parliament, shared her perspective on the outcomes of the document.
“The new report, prepared by European MPs, demonstrated that the European Parliament is able to play a more significant role in the development of a wide range of interaction between Kazakhstan and the EU, as well as to support our country’s efforts to develop regional cooperation in Central Asia,” she said.
In November last year, the Kazakh delegation led by Kuspan participated in the 20th meeting of the European Union (EU) and Kazakhstan Parliamentary Cooperation Committee in Brussels in November last year.
In her Facebook post, the parliamentarian recalled the event and described it as “another step in developing dialogue with the European Parliament.”
“We discussed the prospects for Kazakh-European political, trade, economic, and investment cooperation. Special attention was paid to issues related to the promotion of regional cooperation between Central Asia and the EU, including interconnectedness, climate change, and international security,” she wrote on Jan. 17.
In her welcoming speech at the event, Kuspan stressed the importance of expanding bilateral contacts based on the EPCAs between Kazakhstan and the EU, as well as the new agreements on critical raw materials.
Political pundit Aidos Sarym summarized the report as a call to intensify the EU’s interaction with Central Asia. The member of Mazhilis, the lower house of the Kazakh Parliament, agreed with the relevance of promoting strategic partnerships in politics.
“One can only welcome the call of the European parliamentarians on the need for the EU to cooperate with Central Asian states,” Sarym wrote in his Telegram channel.
At the same time, the expert focused on the difference of opinion related to political persecution.
“There is not a single decree, law, or regulatory document in Kazakhstan’s legislation, according to which citizens of our country would be persecuted for certain political views. Censorship is prohibited in the country by the Constitution,” he said.
“On the contrary, the reforms have strengthened the system of human rights protection, freedom of expression and assembly,” he added, defining the Kazakh Parliament as a platform for active political debate and the expression of polar opinions.
The rule of law, the independence and professionalism of the judicial system are being consistently strengthened, according to Sarym.
“The main task for Kazakhstan today is to strengthen the culture of the rule of law. The dictatorship of law and order must ensure the equal application of the law to all, without exception. This is what Kazakhstan strives for and is working on every day,” he said.
Underlining the fundamental democratic shortcomings in Central Asia, the report called on the Central Asian authorities to release all political prisoners.
As for the persons listed in the resolution of the European Parliament, the expert said, “they have violated the law and are responsible for this by a court decision.”
As a case in point, Sarym brought an example of legislation in Western countries where, as he said, calls for the overthrow of the constitutional order and the violent change of power, incitement, and financing of extremist activities – in short, to undermine the constitutional order – are strictly persecuted.
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https://astanatimes.com/2024/01/eu-report-signifies-new-chapter-in-regional-cooperation/
| 2024-01-20T12:04:55Z
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ASTANA – Kazakh ski jumper Ilya Mizernykh, 16, wins Kazakhstan’s first gold in the Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympics, reported the press service of the country’s National Olympic Committee on Jan. 20.
The athlete beat 38 competitors from 21 countries and scored 214 points. Austria’s Niki Hamml came second, and Poland’s Lukas Lukaschuk ranked third.
“After the first jump on a normal springboard, Mizernykh held the third place. However, with the second jump, he improved his result finishing in the final first place,” reads the statement.
Kazakh Minister of Tourism and Sports Yermek Marzhikpayev congratulated Kazakhstan on its first gold at the Winter Youth Olympics. Earlier, Kazakh athletes won only silver and bronze medals at the tournament.
“This is the first award of the highest standard in the history of the Winter Youth Olympics won by our athletes. On the first day of the championship, Ilya Mizernykh, competing in ski jumping, defeated all rivals and climbed to the highest podium of victory. It is a great start. May all our athletes also win gold medals at this Olympics. Congratulations from the bottom of my heart,” said Marzhikpayev.
The international sports event kicked off on Jan. 19 and will last until Feb. 1. Overall, 42 athletes represent Kazakhstan.
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https://astanatimes.com/2024/01/ilya-mizernykh-wins-kazakhstans-first-gold-at-gangwon-2024-winter-youth-olympics/
| 2024-01-20T12:05:01Z
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ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held talks with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Secretary for Relations with States of the Holy See, on Jan. 19 in the Vatican, reported the Akorda press service.
The President acknowledged the support of the Vatican in making the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, held in Kazakhstan, a significant platform for strengthening mutual understanding and mutual respect between religions.
Tokayev recalled the historic visit of the Pope to Kazakhstan, which became an important symbol of the promotion of peace, resonating not only among the Catholic community of Kazakhstan, but also representatives of other religions in the region.
Kazakhstan is committed to strengthening ties with the Holy See in education, healthcare, climate change solutions.
Tokayev thanked Archbishop Paul Gallagher for the willingness of the Vatican Library and the Apostolic Archives to allow Kazakh scientists to freely access historical materials. He also welcomed the collaboration of Astana-based National Research Center for Maternal and Child Health with the Vatican’s Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù (Baby Jesus Pediatric Hospital).
The President confirmed Kazakhstan’s commitment to interethnic and interfaith harmony, aimed at strengthening peace, harmony, and mutual respect, and invited Archbishop Paul Gallagher to take part in the next Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Astana.
As part of his official visit to the Vatican, Tokayev also toured the Sistine Chapel, the Chapel of St. Peter and St. Paul (Cappella Paolina), and the Sala Regia (Regal Room) of the Apostolic Palace.
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https://astanatimes.com/2024/01/kazakh-president-holds-talks-with-archbishop-paul-richard-gallagher-in-vatican/
| 2024-01-20T12:05:08Z
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ASTANA – Lights, cameras and action are anticipated in the Kazakh film industry in 2024 as around 30 national films supported by the State Center for Support of National Cinema will be released, reported the center’s press service.
Historical dramas, action movies, and much-anticipated auteur films dominate the coming year’s release schedule.
“Among them are historical dramas such as ‘Zhambyl. New Era’, ‘The Last Verdict’ about Akhmet Baitursynuly, and a war drama titled ‘Qara Qyz’ (Swarthy Girl). Also, a big musical featuring the songs of the A-Studio pop band called ‘Soldier of Love’, a film called ‘Shulama’ (Don’t Make Noise) about Kazakh rap, a great action movie ‘Zhaza’ (Punishment) focusing on corruption, and other movies will be released,” Zhangeldy Omiraliyev, the center’s spokesperson, told Jibek Joly TV channel.
The center continues to empower emerging filmmakers and contribute to diversifying and enriching the Kazakh cinematic scene. It plans to produce 19 more films in Kazakhstan this year.
The center’s chairman Kurmanbek Zhumagali said in a press statement that the center funded 29 feature-length films in different years and they are ready for release. Half of them have just been produced, and some of the earlier works have yet to be released. Among the unreleased projects are films from as far as the 2019 production.
Bright 2023 for the Kazakh film industry
From local successes to international acclaim, Kazakhstan’s movie industry has had a monumental year in 2023 and continues to grow.
“2023 was a very successful year for the entire film industry. It is no secret that we are currently experiencing a real cinema boom. Film production is increasing yearly and the number of movies released in cinemas is also growing significantly,” said Omiraliyev.
Last year, Kazakh cinema released 70 films, including 56 comedies, making comedy the most favored genre among local audiences, while fewer viewers attended dramas, action and horror movies.
It was a landmark year with eight Kazakh films created with state support receiving awards at international film festivals. The drama “Paralympian” won in the best actor category at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Film Festival in Mumbai, India.
The film “Bauryna Salu” (Adoption) was honored with an award at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards festival in Australia. The movie “Brothers” won the best director award at the 15th Tashkent International Film Festival.
The documentary “Eva. Batyr Kyz” (Eva. Hero Girl) won prizes at 13 international film festivals in the past six months of 2023 and continues to draw global acclaim.
The film “Tezek” (Dung) by Bakytas Sanitas, which seeks to give a more nuanced perspective of the villager’s adventurous life, is negotiating with the Netflix streaming company.
With international platforms such as Netflix partnering closer with local filmmakers, the world is taking notice of Kazakhstan’s talent. The world premiere of Adilkhan Yerzhanov’s new film “Rhinoceros” will be held this year at the prestigious Rotterdam Film Festival.
Kazakh films have experienced a surge among the local audiences as well. The recently released action movie “Burkit” (Eagle), for example, collected a significant amount at the domestic box office within a month, according to Zhumagali.
Auteur films
Among the common genres of comedy, drama, and historical films, auteur films or authors’ films continue to gratify audiences with original, distinct cinematic signatures.
According to Zhumagali, the author’s films are a “separate matter.” The auteur films require a year to establish their worth at international festivals and face challenges in distribution due to the limited appeal to the average viewer. However, there is a niche market for these kinds of movies, making it essential for the author’s films to find a way to be seen.
Last year, the Kazakh auteur films industry delighted audiences with such films as “Bauryna Salu” (Adoption) by Askhat Kuchinchirekov, “Brothers” by Darkhan Tulegenov, “Aikai” (Scream) by Kenzhebek Shaikakov and “Auyl” (Village) by Serik Aprymov.
These are the filmmakers to keep on the radar for 2024 when their acclaimed and anticipated films will reach Kazakh audiences.
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https://astanatimes.com/2024/01/nearly-30-state-supported-kazakh-films-set-to-illuminate-big-screens-in-2024/
| 2024-01-20T12:05:15Z
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ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles on Kazakhstan published in international media. This week’s foreign media digest covers Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s official visit to Italy and the Vatican, European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas’ tour to Central Asia, United States – Kazakhstan ties and more.
Schinas tours Central Asia in preparation for Brussels transport forum
Euractiv released an article on Jan. 17 about European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas’ tour of the five Central Asian countries before an Investors Forum for European Union (EU) – Central Asia Transport Infrastructure, in Brussels on Jan. 29-30.
“Schinas, who holds the portfolio of ‘Promoting our European way of life’, started his tour by visiting Kazakhstan, the largest territory among the five and the most ambitious in developing its relations with the EU,” reads the article.
The Brussels forum aims to contribute to the long-term objective of making the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) a multimodal, modern, competitive, sustainable, predictable, smart and fast route linking Europe and Central Asia in 15 days or less.
In the current geopolitical situation, with Russia and Iran targeted by Western sanctions, the importance of the TITR, also called the Middle Corridor, is increasing, and the aim is to overcome bottlenecks, physical or bureaucratic.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Schinas described Kazakhstan as a “key actor in the region’s positive evolution” and “a beacon in modernization and reforms.”
Italy-Kazakhstan, Tokayev in Rome opens a new chapter of cooperation: 23 agreements signed
Agenzia Nova, an Italian news agency, published an article on Jan. 18 reporting on Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s visit to Italy.
“The first day of the visit to Rome by the President of Kazakhstan ended with the signing of a joint declaration, seven intergovernmental agreements and 16 commercial memorandums of understanding,” the article reads.
A day marked, in particular, by the meeting at the Quirinale with his counterpart Sergio Mattarella, by the one at Palazzo Chigi with the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, and finally by the participation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani in the roundtable on investments organized at the Farnesina.
It is on this occasion that Tokayev spoke of the opening of a “new chapter” in relations. Italy, he recalled, is Kazakhstan’s third largest trading partner in the world, and since 1991, the year of independence, it has invested almost $10 billion in the Central Asian country.
But now, the Kazakh President underlined, “it is time to bring the partnership to a higher level” and to “explore new fields of cooperation.” In addition to energy, there are “enormous opportunities” in the field of rare raw materials, energy and digital transition, transport infrastructure, industry and agriculture.
United States Ambassador to Kazakhstan outlines U.S. engagement in Central Asia
U.S. strategic interests in Central Asia boil down to stability and sovereignty, according to U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan Daniel Rosenblum, reported the Voice of America (VOA) on Jan. 15.
Daniel Rosenblum told the Caspian Policy Center gathering on Jan. 4 that the main goal of U.S. policy for Central Asia is to ensure that Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan “stand on their own, be fully sovereign and independent countries that can make their own choices about who to associate with, who to trade with, who to have relations with — without undue external pressure.”
Rosenblum pointed to the so-called C5+1 group, including the United States and the five republics, underlining its “value in acting as a group, integrating with one another, cooperating — that makes each of them stronger individually.”
Kazakhstan is America’s top business partner in Central Asia, with $3 billion in bilateral trade in 2022 and an estimated 15% increase last year, plus $5 billion direct investment in 2023.
Kazakhstan and EU should seek new opportunities for a stronger partnership
Aidos Sarym, a member of the Kazakh Parliament, analyzed the recently adopted European Parliament resolution dubbed EU Strategy on Central Asia: New Opportunities for a Stronger Partnership in the Euractiv opinion column on Jan. 18.
On Jan. 17, the European Parliament (EP) voted to adopt the resolution.
The resolution, a planned document of the European Parliament, reflects the assessment of the members of the European Parliament of the implementation of the EU Strategy for Central Asia.
This document marks the first instance where Central Asia is recognized as a region that has formed its regional identity, with independent positions on certain issues of contemporary international and regional relations and unified regional opportunities in trade, investment, business and innovation.
The European Parliament recognizes the convergence of global and regional challenges and threats to the European Union and Central Asia, creating new opportunities for long-term, structured cooperation.
In this regard, the European legislative body calls on the European Union to intensify its engagement with Central Asia, given its “geostrategic importance”, and to promote strategic partnerships with the Central Asian states through enhanced political and economic cooperation.
Kazakhstan Ambassador, Pakistan Minister for Culture Jamal Shah forge cultural ties
The Nation, Pakistan’s leading daily newspaper, published an article on Jan. 17 about the intention of Kazakhstan and Pakistan to bolster cultural exchanges and foster people-to-people connections, particularly in art, culture, heritage, and cinema.
“Ambassador Yerzhan Kistafin of Kazakhstan met with Caretaker Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture, Syed Jamal Shah, at the National Heritage and Culture Division in Islamabad on Tuesday. The meeting reflects the shared commitment of both nations to deepen understanding and strengthen their already friendly and brotherly relationship,” the article reads.
The minister emphasized the paramount importance of cultural ties, acknowledging the rich cultural heritage and picturesque landscapes of the region. Both parties expressed a keen interest in enhancing collaboration in film and cinema to fortify cultural relations.
Oil majors close to settling $5 billion Kashagan field dispute
The oil majors behind the giant Kashagan field are close to a deal with the Kazakh authorities that will settle a dispute over a potential $5 billion environmental fine, according to people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reported on Jan. 16.
International partners including Eni, Shell, Exxon Mobil and TotalEnergies have prepared a draft settlement that would stop the government from pursuing the environmental penalty and include a pledge from the companies for additional investment in social projects, the people said, asking not to be named because the talks are private. This spending will amount to $110 million over the next two years, one of the people close to the matter said.
Kazakhstan produces almost 90 million tons of oil in 2023
Kazakh Energy Minister Almassadam Satkaliyev said Kazakhstan extracted almost 90 million tons of oil in 2023, almost six million tons more than the previous year, reported EFEComunica, a Spanish international news agency, on Jan. 16.
This year, Kazakhstan plans to produce up to 90.3 million tons. Satkaliyev said there are currently no problems with the transport of Kazakh oil.
Acceptance of applications for membership of the National Coordination Committee
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Program (SGP) in Kazakhstan and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) announced on Jan. 15 a call for applications for membership in the National Steering Committee (NSC) among representatives of civil society organizations in Kazakhstan with at least three years of experience.
They include local communities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academic institutions, research institutes and conservation and sustainable agriculture organizations.
Candidates must have at least three years of experience in the GEF focal area, which is climate change, particularly in the areas of renewable energy and energy efficiency.
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https://astanatimes.com/2024/01/news-digest-foreign-media-on-presidents-visit-to-italy-european-commission-vice-presidents-tour-to-central-asia-and-more/
| 2024-01-20T12:05:21Z
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ASTANA – The President met with the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) Qu Dongyu on Jan. 19 at Rome’s headquarters, reported the Akorda press service.
During the meeting, Tokayev outlined the importance of ensuring global food security and promoting sustainable development of the agro-industrial complex.
“Food shortage is one of the most pressing problems on the global agenda. Being among the leaders in the production of grain crops, Kazakhstan seeks to contribute to solving this problem. The volume of wheat exports reaches nearly 6 million tons. We are among the top 10 large producers of grain and flour,” noted the President.
The President expressed Kazakhstan’s interest in UN expert support on improving seed production, combating agricultural land degradation, promoting green agriculture, rational and efficient use of water and land resources. As part of the participation in the FAO global action on One Country One Priority Product (OCOP), aimed at developing sustainable production and trade chains for the marketing of unique local agricultural products, Tokayev presented Qu with the Almaty aport apples.
“Kazakhstan is widely known as the birthplace of apples. Aport apples grow in the vicinity of Almaty, the largest metropolis in our country. We intend to work together to bring this variety to world markets. I rely on your personal support in promoting this initiative,” the President said.
Tokayev also spoke about the country’s priorities as chair of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) and the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) and called on FAO to support the development of projects for land reclamation in the Aral basin and water resources management. He also proposed creating the FAO subregional office for Central Asia in Kazakhstan.
During the meeting with the Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) Cindy Lou McCain, Tokayev spoke about the measures taken by Kazakhstan to ensure global food security and provide humanitarian assistance through international organizations, including the IOFS and the UN.
In 2023, Kazakhstan provided humanitarian assistance to six countries for $9.2 million. Given the tough humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, Kazakhstan donated $1 million to the Palestinian people and delivered two shipments of humanitarian aid. Financial assistance was also provided to Afghanistan, Türkiye, Pakistan and other countries affected by natural disasters.
The President paid special attention to the situation in Afghanistan. In his opinion, it is extremely important that the international community continues to make efforts to prevent a humanitarian crisis in this country.
According to Tokayev, work is currently underway to create a UN Regional Center for Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty. The activities of this center will streamline interdepartmental coordination of the UN in Central Asia to strengthen regional peace, security and sustainable development.
Following the meetings, Tokayev invited Qu and McCain to take part in the upcoming Astana International Forum.
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https://astanatimes.com/2024/01/president-tokayev-meets-with-un-top-officials-addresses-global-food-security/
| 2024-01-20T12:05:28Z
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NASA’s Stardust mission to Comet Wild 2 has revealed its secrets very slowly. They’re finally coming together, however, and the results are showing that the outer Solar System in its early days was not the simple place previously thought. How one comet came to have dust from widely separated parts of the early Solar System remains unanswered, however.
Long before Rosetta’s Philae landed on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko or space agencies brought back samples from asteroids, NASA sent a mission to collect pieces of Comet Wild 2. After a 1974 encounter with Jupiter, this once-distant comet follows an orbit more typical of asteroids, between Mars and Jupiter. The mission is so old it launched last century (1999), returning its sample to Earth in 2006.
Back then we lacked the confidence to try and land on a comet, let alone take off again with a sample in tow. Instead, NASA took advantage of the distinguishing feature of comets: they produce tails as they approach the Sun containing gas that has boiled off their surface, and dust that has been carried with it.
The Stardust mission put a gel-covered plate shaped like a tennis racket into Comet Wild 2’s tail and brought home whatever stuck. Although preliminary analysis was published not long after the first samples were analyzed, a more detailed picture is now emerging.
"Comet Wild 2 contains things we've never seen in meteorites, like unusual carbon-iron assemblages, and the precursors to igneous spherules that make up the most common type of meteorite," study author Dr Ryan Ogliore of Washington University in St Louis said in a statement. "And all of these objects have been exquisitely preserved within Wild 2. The comet was a witness to the events that shaped the solar system into what we see today."
The reason it has taken so long to reveal this is that the samples were around a million tiny grains trapped in the aerogel. Identifying the bits of the comet was so hard that NASA had to call on thousands of volunteers who looked at microscope images of the collection plate to spot where the bits had landed.
"Nearly every Wild 2 particle is unique and has a different story to tell," Ogliore said. "It is a time-consuming process to extract and analyze these grains. But the science payoff is enormous."
Although the majority of the grains are still unstudied, many have been investigated using techniques that were not available when the mission occurred.
These reveal that, instead of being composed of dust unaltered from the supernova that seeded the early Solar System with heavier elements, the comet had a mix of sources. Along with small amounts of this interstellar dust, the samples contain traces from many parts of the cloud that became planets and asteroids after the Sun’s formation. This includes material from both sides of the gap Jupiter created in the cloud. “Comet Wild 2 does not exist on a continuum with known asteroids,” Ogliore writes in the paper.
This was a surprise, since Wild 2 probably formed beyond the orbit of Neptune, in the vast spaces where little was thought to have happened.
Once these pieces became part of Comet Wild 2, they experienced almost no further processing, being quite literally put on ice. Being only around 3 kilometers (2 miles) wide, the comet also didn’t have the sort of geological processes that would transform the grains through great pressure or reactive chemistry.
"The Stardust samples…contain a record of the deep past covering billions of miles," Ogliore said. "After 18 years of interrogating this comet, we have a much better view of the solar system’s dynamic formative years."
How typical Comet Wild 2 is remains unknown. Perhaps many comets were like this, but it’s also possible that by sheer chance the first comet we sampled was one of the most interesting.
The analysis is published in the journal Geochemistry.
An earlier version of this article was published in January 2024.
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https://www.iflscience.com/comet-wild-2s-surprisingly-varied-dust-reveals-our-solar-systems-early-history-72547
| 2024-01-20T12:13:58Z
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Spring, summer, fall and winter – the seasons on Earth change every few months, around the same time every year. It’s easy to take this cycle for granted here on Earth, but not every planet has a regular change in seasons. So why does Earth have regular seasons when other planets don’t?
I’m an astrophysicist who studies the movement of planets and the causes of seasons. Throughout my research, I’ve found that Earth’s regular pattern of seasons is unique. The rotational axis that Earth spins on, along the North and South poles, isn’t quite aligned with the vertical axis perpendicular to Earth’s orbit around the Sun.
That slight tilt has big implications for everything from seasons to glacier cycles. The magnitude of that tilt can even determine whether a planet is habitable to life.
Seasons on Earth
When a planet has perfect alignment between the axis it orbits on and the rotational axis, the amount of sunlight it receives is fixed as it orbits around the Sun – assuming its orbital shape is a circle. Since seasons come from variations in how much sunlight reaches the planet’s surface, a planet that’s perfectly aligned wouldn’t have seasons. But Earth isn’t perfectly aligned on its axis.
This small misalignment, called an obliquity, is around 23 degrees from vertical for Earth. So, the Northern Hemisphere experiences more intense sunlight during the summer, when the Sun is positioned more directly above the Northern Hemisphere.
Then, as the Earth continues to orbit around the Sun, the amount of sunlight the Northern Hemisphere receives gradually decreases as the Northern Hemisphere tilts away from the Sun. This causes winter.
The planets spinning on their axes and orbiting around the Sun look kind of like spinning tops – they spin around and wobble because of gravitational pull from the Sun. As a top spins, you might notice that it doesn’t just stay perfectly upright and stationary. Instead, it may start to tilt or wobble slightly. This tilt is what astrophysicists call spin precession.
Because of these wobbles, Earth’s obliquity isn’t perfectly fixed. These small variations in tilt can have big effects on the Earth’s climate when combined with small changes to Earth’s orbit shape.
The wobbling tilt and any natural variations to the shape of Earth’s orbit can change the amount and distribution of sunlight reaching Earth. These small changes contribute to the planet’s larger temperature shifts over thousands to hundreds of thousands of years. This can, in turn, drive ice ages and periods of warmth.
Translating obliquity into seasons
So how do obliquity variations affect the seasons on a planet? Low obliquity, meaning the rotational spin axis is aligned with the planet’s orientation as it orbits around the Sun, leads to stronger sunlight on the equator and low sunlight near the pole, like on Earth.
On the other hand, a high obliquity – meaning the planet’s rotational spin axis points toward or away from the Sun – leads to extremely hot or cold poles. At the same time, the equator gets cold, as the Sun does not shine above the equator all year round. This leads to drastically varying seasons at high latitudes and low temperatures at the equator.
When a planet has an obliquity of more than 54 degrees, that planet’s equator grows icy and the pole becomes warm. This is called a reversed zonation, and it’s the opposite of what Earth has.
Basically, if an obliquity has large and unpredictable variations, the seasonal variations on the planet become wild and hard to predict. A dramatic, large obliquity variation can turn the whole planet into a snowball, where it’s all covered by ice.
Spin orbit resonances
Most planets are not the only planets in their solar systems. Their planetary siblings can disturb each other’s orbit, which can lead to variations in the shape of their orbits and their orbital tilt.
So, planets in orbit look kind of like tops spinning on the roof of a car that’s bumping down the road, where the car represents the orbital plane. When the rate – or frequency, as scientists call it – at which the tops are precessing, or spinning, matches the frequency at which the car is bumping up and down, something called a spin-orbit resonance occurs.
Spin-orbit resonances can cause these obliquity variations, which is when a planet wobbles on its axis. Think about pushing a kid on a swing. When you push at just the right time – or at the resonant frequency – they’ll swing higher and higher.
Mars wobbles more on its axis than Earth does, even though the two are tilted about the same amount, and that actually has to do with the Moon orbiting around Earth. Earth and Mars have a similar spin precession frequency, which matches the orbital oscillation – the ingredients for a spin-orbit resonance.
But Earth has a massive Moon, which pulls on Earth’s spin axis and drives it to precess faster. This slightly faster precession prevents it from experiencing spin orbit resonances. So, the Moon stabilizes Earth’s obliquity, and Earth doesn’t wobble on its axis as much as Mars does.
Exoplanet seasons
Thousands of exoplanets, or planets outside our solar system, have been discovered over the past few decades. My research group wanted to understand how habitable these planets are, and whether these exoplanets also have wild obliquities, or whether they have moons to stabilize them like Earth does.
To investigate this, my group has led the first investigation on the spin-axis variations of exoplanets.
We investigated Kepler-186f, which is the first discovered Earth-sized planet in a habitable zone. The habitable zone is an area around a star where liquid water can exist on the surface of the planet and life may be able to emerge and thrive.
Unlike Earth, Kepler-186f is located far from the other planets in its solar system. As a result, these other planets have only a weak effect on its orbit and movement. So, Kepler-186f generally has a fixed obliquity, similar to Earth. Even without a large moon, it doesn’t have wildly changing or unpredictable seasons like Mars.
Looking forward, more research into exoplanets will help scientists understand what seasons look like throughout the vast diversity of planets in the universe.
Gongjie Li, Assistant Professor of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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https://www.iflscience.com/earth-isnt-the-only-planet-with-seasons-but-they-can-look-wildly-different-on-other-worlds-72551
| 2024-01-20T12:14:04Z
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People put a lot of trust in their mobile phones; we use them to make payments, do work, and jot down last night’s weird dreams (thank you Notes app). But unfortunately, they can also be used to target us, and a new study from MIT researchers has revealed how hackers could take advantage of a phone’s light sensor to track and reconstruct our activity.
Ambient light sensors are used by phones to detect surrounding light levels and adjust brightness accordingly, if it’s on an auto-adjust setting. Whilst other phone features require user permission for apps to access them, such as the camera or microphone, light sensors typically don’t. It’s this that researchers believe could be exploited.
Led by Yang Liu, the team at MIT developed an algorithm that’s capable of using variations captured by the light sensor to reconstruct images of a person’s touch interactions with their phone, such as scrolling or swiping.
They tested the algorithm out on an off-the-shelf Android tablet in multiple scenarios, including sitting a dummy in front of the screen and using either a mannequin, cardboard cutout or human hand to touch it, as well as seeing if it could pick up on gestures whilst watching videos. In all circumstances, the results revealed that light sensor data could be used to pick up on interactions with the screen and create images of them.
“This imaging privacy threat has never been demonstrated before,” said Liu in a statement.
If that sounds a tad worrying, you’ll be pleased to know that such a threat is far from imminent. The rate at which images could be retrieved in the study was only one frame every 3.3 minutes – that’s slow enough that whoever was trying to get the images would struggle to keep up with your phone interactions in real-time. And even if they do get images, if retrieved from a natural video, the pictures can be pretty blurry.
Nevertheless, the researchers came up with some ways that could help to mitigate some of the potential risks. The main target is software; they recommend that access to ambient light sensors should be restricted, with users having to give permission in the same way as done with camera or microphone requests.
They also suggest putting a cap on the sensors’ capabilities, keeping the precision and speed low enough to prevent high-resolution images, and also placing the sensor on the side of the device where it can’t detect the most revealing gestures.
And if you also happen to be concerned that you’re phone is listening to you, don’t be – it isn’t. If anything, you should probably think about giving it a decent clean.
The study is published in Science Advances.
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https://www.iflscience.com/hackers-could-use-the-light-sensor-on-your-phone-to-spy-on-you-72552
| 2024-01-20T12:14:10Z
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After finally removing the final two fasteners on the canister and nearly 4 months after it was dropped in the Utah desert by OSIRIS-REx, the curation team at NASA has finally revealed the remaining sample of asteroid Bennu.
The last two fasteners were removed on January 10, allowing the team to complete the last steps of opening the Touch-and-Go-Sample-Acquisition-Mechanism (TAGSAM) head and finally providing access to the remaining sample. Prior to the lid removal, the team had already collected 70.3 grams (2.48 ounces) of asteroid material.
Creative lead Erika Blumenfeld and project lead Joe Aebersold of the Advanced Imaging and Visualization of Astromaterials team snapped the above photo, giving a highly detailed, top-down view of the sample using manual high-resolution precision photography and a semi-automated focus stacking procedure.
The next step for the curation team will be to remove the metal collar surrounding the canister and then prepare a glovebox that will be used to transfer the sample from the TAGSAM head into sample trays. Then, the trays will be photographed and weighed, before being packaged up and stored at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.
It’s been a long road to get to this point. OSIRIS-REx successfully dropped the capsule containing the Bennu sample back in September 2023, but trying to get into the canister inside proved to be trickier than anticipated. Two of the fasteners couldn’t be removed and so the team had to come up with a new game plan. Eventually, on January 10 this year, the problem was solved.
“Our engineers and scientists have worked tirelessly behind the scenes for months to not only process the more than 70 grams of material we were able to access previously, but also design, develop, and test new tools that allowed us to move past this hurdle,” said Eileen Stansbery, division chief for ARES (Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science) at NASA's Johnson Space Center, in a statement.
“The innovation and dedication of this team has been remarkable. We are all excited to see the remaining treasure OSIRIS-REx holds.”
Although a portion of the sample is already available for the general public to see, it’ll be a while before we know the full details of what the sample has to say about asteroid Bennu. The coming weeks will give the team a chance to assess the final mass of the sample, which has already surpassed their goal of 60 grams (2.12 ounces). It’s expected that the catalog of all the Bennu samples will be released later this year.
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https://www.iflscience.com/osiris-rex-remaining-asteroid-bennu-sample-revealed-and-photographed-in-super-high-resolution-detail-72550
| 2024-01-20T12:14:16Z
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When viewed from above, the Eye of the Sahara looks just like an enormous impact crater sitting in the middle of the Sahara Desert of Mauritania. Stretching 50 kilometers (30 miles) in diameter, comprised of a series of uniform ripples, this crater-esque anomaly is in fact entirely terrestrial.
This spectacular ancient geological formation was used in the 1960s by Gemini astronauts as a landmark. Geologists initially believed the Eye of the Sahara, aka the Richat Structure, to be an enormous impact crater. However, further studies into the sedimentary rock making up the central dome have dated the formation back to the late Proterozoic, between 1 billion and 542 million years ago.
It's worth noting that some still believe the structure is actually the remains of the lost city of Atlantis, as its circular shape is said to resemble the land described by Plato – but we’re not entertaining that here.
The structure is likely to have actually formed through a process called “folding”, creating what’s called a symmetrical anticline. Folding occurs when tectonic forces acting from either side squeeze sedimentary rock – if the rock is cold and brittle it can fracture, but if it’s warm enough, it will become a fold. Folds that form upwards are called an anticline, while downward folds are called a syncline.
However, in a 2014 paper published in the Journal of African Earth Sciences, researchers proposed an entirely different formation explanation for the Eye. The presence of volcanic rock is said to suggest evidence of molten rock being pushed to the surface, causing the dome shape, before being eroded into the rings we see today. The paper proposed the separation of the supercontinent Pangaea may have played a part in these volcanic formations and tectonic shifts.
The structure is made up of a mixture of sedimentary and igneous rock. Erosion across the structure’s surface reveals fine-grained rhyolite and coarse crystalline gabbro rocks that have undergone hydrothermal alteration. The types of rock found across the rings erode at different speeds, creating different colored patterns across the surface. Large sharp-angled fragments of sedimentary rock called megabreccia add to the swirling colorful irregularities that make up the formation.
The dome center contains a limestone-dolomite shelf with kilometer-wide breccia, ring dikes, and alkaline volcanic rock. The complex geological structure of the Eye has puzzled and interested geologists since its discovery, and it is still widely considered to be one of the most impressive geological features in the world. As such, in 2022 it became one of the first 100 geological heritage sites recognized by the International Union of Geological Science (IUGS).
Due to its vast size, the Eye of the Sahara is best viewed from great heights (preferably space), so for now we’ll have to rely on satellite images to bask in all its glory.
An earlier version of this article was published in January 2023.
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https://www.iflscience.com/the-eye-of-the-sahara-is-a-geological-mystery-staring-into-space-72548
| 2024-01-20T12:14:22Z
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How will the world change over the next 1,000 years? Unless you happen to hold the keys to time travel or immortality, it’s a question that none of us will live to know the answer to. But in Tuscon, Arizona, an experimental philosopher has created the Millennium Camera, a device that hopes to capture it all.
The idea of taking an image over the course of 1,000 years was thought up by University of Arizona research associate Jonathon Keats. His design is relatively simple for a camera; it consists of a pin-sized hole in a thin sheet of 24-karat gold, through which light can hit a small copper cylinder that sits atop a steel pole.
Inside is a light-sensitive surface coated in thin layers of the oil paint pigment rose madder, which will fade with the light, though whether this will happen at the correct rate is something of an educated guess.
With the help of researchers from the Desert Laboratory on Tumamoc Hill, the camera was installed next to a bench overlooking the Star Pass neighborhood in Tuscon. There, visitors are encouraged to sit and think about the future.
However, even with a carefully designed camera, there’s no guarantee that anyone in the future will get to see the image it could theoretically produce.
"One thousand years is a long time and there are so many reasons why this might not work," Keats said in a statement. "The camera might not even be around in a millennium. There are forces of nature and decisions people make, whether administrative or criminal, that could result in the camera not lasting."
But if it does happen to survive, Keats has some ideas about what it might show. Whilst the landscape features like hills will most likely appear mostly sharply, there will be a blur to features that change more easily, like buildings.
It’s also important that the camera isn’t opened before the 1,000 goal: "If we open in the interim, then it diminishes the imagining that we need to be doing.”
Keats hopes that the camera will encourage people to reflect on how best to plan for the future, taking into account the growth of populations and with it, our relationship with the natural environment.
"Most people have a pretty bleak outlook on what lies ahead," said Keats. "It's easy to imagine that people in 1,000 years could see a version of Tucson that is far worse than what we see today, but the fact that we can imagine it is not a bad thing. It's actually a good thing, because if we can imagine that, then we can also imagine what else might happen, and therefore it might motivate us to take action to shape our future."
Keats is planning on installing further cameras in Chongqing, China, Griffith Park in Los Angeles, and the Austrian Alps. "This project depends on doing this in many places all over the world," he said. "I hope this leads to a planetary process of reimagining planet Earth for future generations."
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https://www.iflscience.com/this-camera-will-spend-1000-years-taking-an-image-of-the-arizona-desert-72553
| 2024-01-20T12:14:28Z
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This taxonomic rollercoaster is very confusing. You might already be aware that the name “strawberry” is a misnomer, as strawberries aren’t really berries at all. Well, it seems strawberries are full of surprises, or rather covered in them, because those seedy-looking white dots aren’t actually seeds.
The strawberries’ pitted accessories are called achenes, and they are in fact the plant’s fruit, with each containing a single seed inside. The term “achene” actually refers to the simple dry fruit produced by many different flowering plant species, including quinoa, buckwheat, and cannabis.
So, if the strawberry isn’t the fruit of the plant, and it’s not a berry, then what is it?
Strawberries are technically aggregate fruit, from the family Rosaceae. Raspberries and blackberries also fall into this category, and they all belong to the same family as roses.
The term “berry” is vague in the sense that any edible, fleshy fruit containing seeds can be referred to as a berry, but there is actually a scientific classification. To be classed as a berry, the fruit must contain more than one seed and be made up of an outer skin (exocarp), a fleshy middle (mesocarp), and an inner casing that holds the seeds (endocarp).
Berries are derived from a single ovary of an individual flower and are made up of two distinct groups. Citrus fruits belong to the taxonomic group hesperidium and are classified as modified berries, while the Cucurbitaceae family (including gourds, cucumbers, and watermelon) comprise the pepos group of berries.
That’s right, grapefruit, lime, and pumpkin are all technically berries.
Strawberries, unlike the true berry group, are actually the swollen receptacle tissue that holds the seed carrying fruit on its surface. Unlike other fruits, when the strawberry flower is pollinated the fruit doesn’t swell; instead the receptacle tissue swells, while the true fruit separates into small, dry achenes. And since achenes contain only one seed, they can’t be classified as a berry either!
To add insult to injury for the poor tasteless achene fruit, most strawberry plants aren’t even grown from their seeds. Strawberry plants send out what’s called “runners” as they grow, essentially little strawberry clones that will take root and begin growing when they reach the ground.
The unusual life cycle of these berry imposters mean they’re lumped in with the rest of the fruity outcasts in the aggregate fruit category, along with the drupe classification of one seeded freaks.
An earlier version of this article was published in January 2023.
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https://www.iflscience.com/those-white-dots-on-strawberries-arent-strawberry-seeds-72549
| 2024-01-20T12:14:34Z
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Late change for Harelquins as Louis Lynagh called in for Ulster
In a late shift for today’s Investec Champions Cup game against Ulster Rugby, Harlequins have been forced to replace Cameron Anderson in the starting 15.
Anderson, originally slated to start on the left wing, has been sidelined due to injury. Stepping up in his place is Will Joseph, who will don the No 11 jersey. Additionally, Louis Lynagh has been named on the bench at No 23.
HARLEQUINS: 1. Joe Marler 2. Jack Walker 3. Will Collier 4. Irne Herbst 5. George Hammond 6. Chandler Cunningham-South 7. Will Evans 8. Alex Dombrandt (Captain) 9. Danny Care 10. Marcus Smith 11. Will Joseph 12. Andre Esterhuizen 13. Oscar Beard 14. Nick David 15. Tyrone Green
REPLACEMENTS: 16. Sam Riley 17. Fin Baxter 18. Dillon Lewis 19. Joe Launchbury 20. Archie White 21. Will Porter 22. Lennox Anyanwu 23. Louis Lynagh
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https://www.rugbypass.com/news/late-change-for-harelquins-as-louis-lynagh-called-in-for-ulster/
| 2024-01-20T12:27:02Z
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Travis Barker gave fans an insight into his and Kourtney Kardashian's nursery for baby Rocky.
The Blink-182 drummer took to TikTok to share a video of himself hanging out in what appeared to be the couple's bedroom as he amused himself by throwing crumpled-up balls of paper into the waste bin in the corner of the room - and it was definitely taking him a while to land the throw.
The clip, seemingly filmed by his daughter Alabama, saw Travis make multiple attempts at throwing balls into the bin. His daughter seemed utterly shocked that he couldn't land it, muttering "you can not be serious" in the background.
Eventually, the drummer did manage to land the shot, with the crumpled ball going straight into the waste bin - and he celebrated with a fist pump and a clap before going to kiss Kourtney, who was sat in an armchair behind him with baby Rocky.
But fans were perhaps most shocked by the fact they were getting a proper glimpse into Kourtney and Travis' home life - the nursery in particular.
In the big master bedroom, complete with a fireplace, the couple had transformed one side of the room into a nursery for their newborn with a gorgeous crib with wooden panels as well as a changing station. Closer to the couple's bed, they had laid down an animal print blanket for the baby with a wooden mobile dangling over the top on a big creamy rug.
Fans were surprised by the down-to-earth setup, with one person commenting: "Ok but it is so nice to see the crib in the bedroom.. Celebs, they're just like us". Another seemed practically shocked by the way they'd set up the nursery and bedroom, adding: "idk why but i did not expect their room to look like this".
Another chimed in: "How cute is the crib though", while a fourth fan wondered just where they got it from. The couple's crib of choice is the NurseryWorks Gradient Crib, made from solid maple hardwood that will set you back $10,000.
Fans were also surprised by Kourtney's appearance in the video - with many not noticing her til right at the end as she remained hidden behind Travis.
"Wait was Kourtney sitting there the whole time cuz I didn’t notice till the end", one person wrote.
Another couldn't help but comment on how happy the Kardashian sister seemed. "Kourtney looks so happy I am over the moon for you all", they added.
This was an overwhelming theme of the fans' comments, with one person summarising the general sentiment: "I love how you and your kids make Kourtney’s life look so normal now! She’s definitely not a Kardashian any more! We love Mrs. Barker".
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/511708/kourtney-kardashian-travis-barker-shock-fans-unexpected-nursery-baby-rocky/
| 2024-01-20T12:47:52Z
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Celine Dion has had a lifetime of dealing with personal loss – and now she is suffering from another family tragedy following the death of her niece, Brigitte Dion.
The 51-year-old, who was the daughter of Celine's older brother Clément Dion, died suddenly on December 29, 2023, after she was involved in a car accident in the town of Saint-Thomas, in the Lanaudière region of Quebec, Canada.
According to the Journal de Montréal, Brigitte was killed in a head-on collision around 6:15 p.m. after a car left its lane for unknown reasons and ended up in the wrong direction.
This caused a crash between Brigitte and the unknown drivers' vehicles. Both were then hit by a third car, according to Sûreté du Québec.
The tragedy reportedly occurred when Brigitte was driving to a store near her home, but after realizing she forgot her wallet, she had to turn around and drive back.
While Celine has yet to comment on the death of her niece, Brigitte's daughter, Kim Cantin Dion, shared a heartbreaking post on Facebook alongside photos of her and her mom.
She wrote in part: "I can't believe what I'm doing... the words... the pictures... I'm confused mom. Look how beautiful my mommy is. Cause you were my mom all to me. Just mine."
Kim added: "My mom was a little tired, but that wasn't the reason she left. My mom wants us to remember the beautiful dynamite bomb she was.
"Remember the bridge that makes sparks. Talk about my mom often. Make her live again, my mom. You're still there mom. But otherwise. I love you mom."
In recent years, Celine has been forced to say goodbye to her husband, Rene Angelil, and her brother, Daniel Dion, who both died of cancer just two days apart in January 2016.
Just eight months later, in August 2016, Celine's brother-in-law, Guy Poirier died after cancer spread to his "lung, brain, and bones". In 2003, her father, Adhémar Dion, lost his battle with cancer and died aged 80.
In 1993, Celine's 16-year-old niece, Karine, died in her arms due to complications related to cystic fibrosis.
"I had her in my arms," Celine recalled to People of Karine's final moments. "I started to sing softly in her ear, and out of nowhere her eyes closed.
"I looked at my mom, who was massaging her feet because her circulation didn’t work, and nodded, 'OK, it’s happening.'"
She added: "One tear came down Karine’s cheek, and then she went."
Celine's latest loss comes at a difficult time for her as she continues to battle stiff person syndrome, a rare neurological disorder she was diagnosed with in 2022 after stepping out of the spotlight in October 2021.
In December, Celine's older sister, Claudette gave a fresh update on the It's All Coming Back To Me Now hitmaker's progress.
Speaking to Canadian site 7 Jours, Claudette said: "She's working hard, but she doesn't have control over her muscles.
"What breaks my heart is that she's always been disciplined. She's always worked hard. Our mother always told her: 'You're going to do it well; you're going to do it properly."
She added: "It's true that in both our dreams and hers, the goal is to return to the stage. In what capacity? I don't know."
Claudette, 74, has shared several health updates about her sibling in recent months. "We're all crossing our fingers, and I'm glad people are concerned," she said during a TV show appearance in Quebec.
"She is working hard, and we are confident that we will succeed."
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/celebrities/511713/celine-dion-heartbreak-niece-dead/
| 2024-01-20T12:47:58Z
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Jodie Foster's kids have mostly kept out of the spotlight, with only rare photos of them joining her during award season. But it seems that while raising her two sons, the two-time Oscar winner was reluctant to let them know of her incredible career.
While appearing on The View, Jodie revealed that she had hidden her acting career from her kids when they were growing up because she didn't want it to impact how they view her.
The 61-year-old explained that she "didn't want them to know me that way".
"I wanted them to know me as their mom and the person who went away to work and stuff", she said, before adding: "I just didn’t want them to be confused about what I did for a living."
In fact, it seems that her sons didn't have a clue what she did at all - they actually thought their mom was a construction worker.
The Silence of the Lambs actress revealed that when she brought her son Charlie to set with her when he was three, making sure that he had toys to play with while she was working, he just thought she must work in construction.
"I brought him to set one day and I bought him a little plastic tool belt and stuff," she recalled. "And I was like, 'Yeah, and this is this set and this set and this set.' And for a really long time, he thought I was a construction worker."
Now, her sons are fully grown up, as Charlie is 25 and Kit is 22, there is no confusion as to what their mom does - they are fully aware of her talent.
The boys, who she shares with former partner Cydney Bernard, have followed in their mom's footsteps in their own ways. Charlie, like Jodie, graduated from Yale and it's believed he is aspiring to be an actor. Meanwhile Kit has also gone down the Ivy League route as he is set to graduate from Princeton later this year with a degree in Chemistry.
But despite the boys clearly taking inspiration from their mom, the Taxi Driver star revealed they "have no interest" watching her movies with her. She hopes, though, that they might tune into the latest season of True Detective, which she will star in, as they are "really into" the show already.
"There’s a few films that I would never show them because I would be worried about being teased", she joked - particularly referring to her 1995 film Nell where she plays a woman who grew up in an isolated cabin.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/511715/jodie-foster-kids-did-not-know-she-was-actress-growing-up-construction-worker/
| 2024-01-20T12:48:04Z
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Joan Collins, 90, looked sensational on Friday when she stepped out at a fabulous cocktail party in a slinky black outfit.
The actress attended the USA launch of her brand new book, Behind The Shoulderpads, and looked truly fabulous. Joan opted for a chic off-the-shoulder black blouse with translucent sleeves, adorned with hundreds of black sparkles, which she matched with glittery black trousers.
Captioning the post, she penned: "Fabulous #cocktailparty last night to launch the #USA version of my #newbook #behindtheshoulderpads (#linkinbio ) with many friends and family - #morephotostocome - Thanks to @jrichnyny @alanakstewart @janeseymour @thedonnamills @officialstefaniepowers @jerryfayehall @rene_horsch @patrickseanf @alibambam #godson."
As for her glam, Joan wore her hair in her iconic bouncy blowdry style and opted for a makeup look of black smokey eyeshaddow, vibrant pink lipstick, and soft rosy blusher.
In true Joan fashion, she was covered in fabulous jewellery including two chunky silver rings, a long beaded necklace adorned with pearls, and matching drop-pearl earrings.
"A magical night also, what an incredible week you’re having you are being celebrated so well-deserved," one person replied. A second added: "What great photos! You look fabulous xx."
Meanwhile a third wrote: "Wow…..what a line up…you look stunning! [Red love heart emoji]."
Joan, who also dazzled at the Emmy's earlier this week, revealed last year that her secret to looking so incredible was a tip passed down from her mother. She said to avoid cosmetic procedures and focus on keeping her skin moisturized - and it's safe to say her beauty hacks paid off on the Emmy's red carpet.
For the occasion, she opted for a pale blue glittering gown embellished with hundreds of sequins. Joan completed her look with matching satin opera gloves, chic chandelier earrings, and a pair of pointed-toe heels in the same baby blue hue.
The English actress also credits her nutritionist Gabriela Peacock’s advice when it comes to maintaining her incredible looks, and previously told HELLO! "Gabriela's advice is wise and wonderful, and her tips for looking good and feeling fabulous are always priceless.
Gabriela herself also explained Joan's dietary regime which is exceptionally healthy. "I recommend to my clients that smaller portions help to maintain a balanced approach to eating and also help to regulate your blood sugar levels throughout the day to ensure you have stable energy levels."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/fashion/celebrity-style/511711/joan-collins-dazzles-slinky-black-ensemble/
| 2024-01-20T12:48:10Z
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Helen Flanagan got hearts racing as she posed for one of her most sizzling looks to date on Saturday.
The former Coronation Street star looked incredible in a sheer black camisole with red polka dots and ribbon detailing, after revealing her involvement in the Ann Summers Valentine's Day campaign last week.
Helen, 33, wore her blonde hair in soft waves, opting for a glam makeup look consisting of a flutter of black mascara, a touch of rosy blush and a pink lipstick with a hint of shine.
The mother-of-three captioned the post: "As if I am part of a Valentines Ann Summers campaign. Shop my fave Valentine's picks on my stories now."
Hundreds of fans were quick to have their say on the post, with one writing: "Unreal!" While another added: "Looking gorgeous as usual Helen."
A third added: "Go you! You look amazing."
The former I'm A Celeb campmate announced that she would be taking part in the brand's campaign with a reel that showed her modelling various lingerie sets.
Helen explained how honoured she was to be taking part as a single mum. She wrote: "It's empowering to be asked to represent as a single person, partnering up with the iconic Ann Summers rabbit. Ann Summers is celebrating Power Couples, whether you are celebrating love, friendships, or are all about self-love this year."
"Being single; I know my worth. I focus on myself and my family. This Valentine's I want women in the same situation as me, to find love and acceptance."
The star is known to have a close bond with her three children, Matilda, seven, Delilah, five, and two-year-old Charlie – and the family took a trip to Bali earlier this month to spend quality time together following the Christmas period.
It was the first year that Helen had spent Christmas day away from her kids, who were with their dad and ex-fiancé Scott Sinclair.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/fashion/celebrity-style/511716/helen-flanagan-wows-in-jaw-dropping-sheer-lingerie/
| 2024-01-20T12:48:17Z
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National treasure Dawn French, known for keeping the nation laughing for the last three decades, steps out of the limelight for some time to herself from the luxury of her £2 million Cornish home.
Dawn sold her former waterside home in Fowey for £6.6 million in 2021, which frankly can be compared to a castle. But now she lives in a seaside home with her husband of ten years Mark Bignell. She previously took to Instagram to show off the property's impressive study with enormous bay windows, salmon pink walls and a mahogany writing desk.
The star of French and Saunders has been open about her relationship with her daughter Billie, 32, whom she shares with her ex-husband and fellow comedian Lenny Henry, 65, and has even revealed that she has chosen to live just 12 minutes away from Billie. Speaking of their relationship, Dawn told the Telegraph in 2015: "We could no longer live together - there would be murder. But we have to live nearby."
Opening up further about their relationship, Dawn told HELLO!: "[Our bond] is unbreakable. We have the same amount of mother/daughter friction that any mum and daughter have, it's no more or less. But I've learnt a lot about her. And she's learnt a lot about me." She added that her daughter is: "My biggest test and my biggest joy."
Dawn and her ex-husband adopted Billie in 1991 when she was just two weeks old. She has previously said that "the minute Billie arrived that was it for me. She fills everything I needed to be as a mother." At the age of 24, the star's daughter moved out of home with her mother telling the MailOnline that there were "frequent wars" between them.
The Death on the Nile actress gave an insight into their relationship saying: "I expected that if you nurture [a child], like a tomato plant, it grows towards the light, and surely if your mum is someone who wants to have fun with you and have adventures and read with you and spend time with you, how could you ever have a war?".
She added: "But I haven’t got a kid who wants to read with me and have adventures with me, I’ve got a different kind of kid who’s a different set of challenges and that’s been my lesson."
Dawn spoke about adopting Billie on Elizabeth Day's How To Fail podcast, revealing: "The minute we met her and she came into our lives - I think a week afterwards - you just hit the ground running.
"Suddenly there's a phone call. And it happened right in the middle of when we were about to make a French and Saunders series - we had the studios booked, we had the directors booked, we had all our crew booked, we were writing the series ready to go into the studio."
The mother-daughter pair have maintained a close relationship since they decided to live separately and on Billie's 30th birthday, Dawn took to Instagram to share an adorable childhood photo with a young Billie that was captioned: "This lil wriggler is 30yrs old today. My extraordinary ray. My greatest challenge & greatest blessing. Happy Birthday beautiful girl."
Billie's father and star of The Lenny Henry Show also lives away from his daughter. The comedian has settled down in south Oxfordshire with his casting director partner, Lisa Makin. He was given an honorary doctorate from the University of Oxford in 2016 in recognition of his contribution to British comedy and drama, as well as with his achievements in international charity work.
DISCOVER: Dawn French, 66, shares insight into recovery following major surgery with scar photo
The Ab Fab writer and Comic Relief co-founder previously lived together in Berkshire in the quaint village of Spencers Wood in a home with an outdoor heated swimming pool, paddocks and an annexe.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/511710/dawn-french-cornwall-home-near-daughter-billie-henry/
| 2024-01-20T12:48:23Z
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Kate Moss stepped out for a glamorous outing with her daughter Lila and the pair were the sweetest mother-daughter duo. Nineties supermodel Kate, 50, stepped out for the Dior Homme show during Paris Fashion Week Menswear Fall/Winter 2024-2025 at Ecole Militaire in France's capital on Friday.
The model was seen smiling at her 21-year-old daughter as they sat front row at the glamorous event. Kate looked stylish wearing a pair of skin-tight black pants with a powder blue knit vest that was adorned with blue beads scattered all over and concentrated on the high neckline.
She teamed the pants that looked like leggings with a pair of over-the-knee black leather boots with a stiletto heel and a black crossbody bag which she slung over her shoulder. Her hair was worn in loose waves for her classic undone look and her makeup was similarly pared back with just a smudging of brown pencil around the eye.
Kate added eclectic jewellery in the form of bejeweled hoop drop earrings, a gold bangle, and a pearl bracelet with a statement green gemstone. As she arrived at the event, the 90s icon was seen wearing a black vinyl button-down leather jacket with a collar which would have gone down a treat 30 years ago and is so stylish now.
Lila, who has followed in her mother's modeling footsteps, also looked chic. She was seen in a grey marl cropped jacket with a sharp collar which she wore buttoned up with a pair of black velour flares and pointed-toe boots.
Lila mirrored her mother's pared-back aesthetic, wearing a no-makeup-makeup look with just a brown eyeshadow flick on her eyes and her hair left natural. For jewellery, Lila added a fine gold chain necklace and a diamanté-adorned pink ring.
Kate caught our eye earlier this week when she stepped out for an evening at the Ritz Hotel in Paris to celebrate her 50th birthday. The supermodel looked so glamorous in a sheer floral lace gown in black over a black bodysuit. She added an unusual piece of outerwear in the form of a trailing black velvet cape, which she held over her shoulders, that had tassels at the end and a gold shiny lining.
She stacked diamanté-encrusted bracelets on one wrist over her lacy sleeve and as always, wore her hair in a natural style with minimal makeup that featured a simple wash of sparkle over the eyelids.
Lila was seen entering the hotel for her mother's special evening in black. A bronzed Lila wore a midi dress with lace around the top under a longline black coat and added a pair of coordinating black platform heels for a classically elegant look.
Kate wore an all-black look when she stepped onto the red carpet for The Fashion Awards 2023 presented by Pandora at The Royal Albert Hall last November. She opted for a floor-length black gown with a plunging V-neckline, a thigh split, and dramatic chiffon batwing sleeves. She stunned in a sultry black eyeliner look whilst posing next to fellow model Jourdan Dunn and beauty industry legend Charlotte Tilbury.
DISCOVER: Amanda Holden shares emotional video with rare family photos
Lila was in attendance too. She wore a super sheer gladiator-inspired metallic dress by Nensi Dojaka with black underwear, much akin to the iconic sheer dress Kate wore in the 90s. The young model added coordinating peep-toe heels and pulled her hair up with strands out to frame her face.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/511714/kate-moss-doting-mum-glamorous-outing-lookalike-daughter-lila/
| 2024-01-20T12:48:29Z
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Rita Ora stepped out in Paris on Friday for Dior Homme's PFW show, sitting amongst the likes of Kate Moss, her daughter Lila, and Princess Eugenie.
The singer, fashion designer and wife of filmmaker Taika Waititi is recognised for pushing the boundaries of fashion. Whether she's wearing prosthetic dinosaur spikes on her back, sheer outfits when performing for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex or taking classic leopard print to new heights - she's constantly turning heads with her bold style agenda.
But the 33-year-old captured our attention for the opposite reason at Dior's show. Her outfit was, as always, completely on trend, but the laid-back, TikTok-approved aesthetic was totally unexpected.
Rita simply wore a pair of dark grey pleated trousers with a lighter grey turtleneck jumper left loose over the top, finished with a pair of navy loafers. It wouldn't be a Rita 'fit without something slightly unusual: her jumper boasted two extra sleeves which she wrapped across her chest, giving the aesthetic a preppier feel.
Her look combined 'normcore' with 'dark academia' and it's perfect for this winter.
If you're not familiar with the two terms prominent in Gen Z's buzzword vernacular, normcore champions all things - you guessed it - normal. Patternless clothing and simple outfit formulas. Think: unpretentious dad dressing - jeans, jumpers, trainers and shirts.
Dark academia is a newer aesthetic that made waves in 2023. Attire includes tapered trousers, collared shirts under knitted vests and plenty of tweed in hues of brown, grey and black. Thanks to the simplicity of the trend and its earth-toned aesthetic, many affordable brands like H&M and Mango have great pieces at reasonable prices available to get the look.
Is 'new year, new dress code' on Rita Ora's style agenda? only time will tell...
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/hfm/fashion-trends/511709/rita-ora-unexpected-outfit-dior-homme-paris-fashion-week-show/
| 2024-01-20T12:48:35Z
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It may be below freezing outside, but Emily Ratajkowski is (as always) bringing the heat.
The model and host of HighLow with EmRata has a penchant for stylish bikinis (which is useful considering she's also the founder of swimwear brand Inamorata), and her latest summer-clad Instagram post proves teeny tiny floss bikinis with bold designs are the It-girl favourite for this year.
Emily shared a photo with her 30m followers wearing a cheerful blue bikini top adorned with contrasting red hearts. Also sometimes called 'floss' bikinis, "It's like a string bikini except it features sultry thin straps, that are often compared to dental floss because they are so skinny they are barely visible," explains Hello! Fashion's digital editor Natalie Salmon.
Not only is the minuscule amount of material on trend for 2024 as also proven by Kendall Jenner (more on this below), but romantic patterns are set to be a major fashion trend this summer.
Following on from the corsage and balletcore crazes of 2023, the SS24 runways were awash with 3D florals, statement roses and even more bows. Plus, Depop predicted "post romance" as one of its four major upcoming trends. "While 2023’s girlhood trend offered an escape into the simpler joys of our youth, 2024 is ushering in a wave of realism," the platform explained, "Ribbons are adorning the mundane, florals are taking on practical roles, and in this mature aesthetic, red is the new pink."
Kendall Jenner officially hard-launched the tiny bikini trend earlier this month on her sun-kissed island adventure to see in the new year. From a creme and burnt orange ruffle piece to a lime green and chocolate brown colourway, tiny two-pieces with bold designs appeared to be taking up the most (and least) space in her suitcase.
Suffice it to say: tan lines are going to be non-existent this summer....
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/hfm/fashion-trends/511712/emily-ratajkowski-has-joined-the-itsy-bitsy-bikini-trend/
| 2024-01-20T12:48:41Z
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JAKARTA - Indonesia's presidential candidate frontrunner Prabowo Subianto widened his lead over his opponents in the latest surveys as the world's third-largest democracy heads to an election on Feb. 14, two pollsters said on Saturday.
Based on a survey conducted between Jan 10 and 16, 48.6% of voters polled supported defence minister Prabowo and his vice presidential candidate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, eldest son of President Joko Widodo, polling company Indikator Politik Indonesia said.
The number of his supporters increased having been unchanged at around 45.8% in the two previous surveys by Indikator.
Prabowo widened his lead over former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan and former Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo, in Indikator's survey, despite coming under attack in a Jan. 7 televised presidential debate where his opponents took aim at his military procurement strategy as defence minister.
Support for Anies eased to 24.2% from 25.5% in the previous survey on Dec. 30 to Jan 6, while backing for Ganjar slid to 21.6% from 23%.
Pollster Lembaga Survei Indonesia (LSI) said based on a telephone survey conducted on Jan 10-11, Prabowo has 47% support, up from 45.6% in the previous poll.
Support for Anies rose slightly to 23.2% from 22.3%, but Ganjar's backing slid to 21.7% from 23.8%, LSI said.
Both Indikator and LSI said the possibility remains of the election going into a second round as despite Prabowo's wide lead he has not yet secured the necessary votes to win in the first round.
If no candidate secures votes from more than half of the 205 million eligible voters, a runoff will be held on June 26. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/indonesias-prabowo-strengthens-lead-in-election-polls
| 2024-01-20T13:09:24Z
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The Philippines’ music-loving President is drawing flak online for using a government helicopter to bypass the capital’s horrendous traffic – ranked as the world’s worst – to see a concert of popular rock band Coldplay on Jan 19.
Most were venting their frustrations over how awful traffic is around metropolitan Manila – a sprawling metropolis of 16 cities densely packed with over 13 million people – and how President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and his government seem oblivious to it.
Metro Manila had the worst traffic among 387 cities in 55 countries in an index regularly released by navigating and mapping firm TomTom.
It takes about 25 minutes and 30 seconds to travel 10km in Metro Manila, according to the index. By comparison, travelling the same distance in Kansas City in the United States takes just 8 minutes and 40 seconds.
That fact did not slip past Coldplay frontman Chris Martin.
“We’ve seen some traffic, but I think you’re No. 1 in the world,” he said in between songs.
“So, thank you, thank you for making the effort to pull through all of that b***t to be here.”
Netizens were quick to point out that one person who did not have to put in much effort to get to the concert was Mr Marcos.
Some took Mr Martin’s off-the-cuff comment as casting shade on the President, but he was seen in a TikTok video smiling and taking it all in in good humour.
The concert venue is about 30km north of the capital Manila, but concertgoers usually have to leave their homes at least three hours before the event starts, especially if a very popular artist is performing.
Some posted online that they had to leave by noon for a concert that was not scheduled to start till at least 7pm.
That was not the case for Mr Marcos.
Videos posted online saw him and his wife, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, disembarking from the presidential helicopter that landed on an open field near the concert venue.
His security detail was on another helicopter. There were two other helicopters on the field, but it was not clear whether those were part of his entourage.
Most said Mr Marcos should have gone to the concert on his own account instead of using a government aircraft issued to him for his official duties.
“Mind you, there was more than just one helicopter. No wonder my taxes are so high, for his heli and tix,” said Xhymari on X.
“I, a regular Filipino taxpayer in the Philippines, go through heavy traffic as I ride a shuttle, a jeep and sometimes a taxi in my daily commute, while our country’s president BBM rides a helicopter using my tax money to easily get to where he wants/needs to be,” said Anonymous Galore, another X user.
Major-General Nelson Morales, who heads the presidential security detail, defended Mr Marcos’ use of the presidential helicopter.
He said in a statement that the concert venue “experienced an unprecedented influx of 40,000 individuals eagerly attending a concert, resulting in unforeseen traffic complications along the route”.
“Recognising that this traffic situation posed a potential threat to the security of our president, the PSG (Presidential Security Group) took decisive action by opting for the presidential chopper,” he added.
He said this “ensured the safety of our leader but also exemplified our commitment to prioritising security in the face of unexpected challenges”.
Mr Marcos also had his share of online defenders.
“What were you expecting? He takes a tricycle?” said X user DaisyM38241.
Chantal, also posting on X, remarked: “A president of every country is an important person, safety is their top priority bcos they’re leading a whole nation and a lot of people are dependent on them, also that’s faster transportation for his scheds.”
But government critic and activist Renato Reyes told the online news site Rappler that Mr Marcos’ use of a helicopter to go to a concert was a “grave insult to millions of Filipino commuters”, as the Philippines lacked a “progressive and pro-people” mass transportation system.
“A president who takes a chopper to watch a concert amid terrible traffic and a mass transport crisis, will not sympathise with jeepney drivers, operators and commuters. This is the state of transportation in the Philippines today,” he said.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/philippine-leader-marcos-slammed-for-taking-helicopter-to-coldplay-show-amid-manila-s-crazy-traffic
| 2024-01-20T13:09:34Z
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KOTA KINABALU - A group of pupils and their two teachers had to walk for two days on a rain-soaked mud track to get to Sekolah Kebangsaan Magandai, their school in Sabah’s interior Kota Marudu district.
Their unfortunate experience following a vehicle breakdown has sparked an outcry online, prompting a minister from the Malaysian state to pledge to address the issue.
In a Facebook post on Jan 17, one of the teachers, who goes by the handle Moniq Cfrndz, shared two video clips showing at least three pupils who had to walk on the mud track while carrying umbrellas and some bags.
Their faces, hair, clothes and shoes were all stained with mud.
The teacher explained that the group had to walk to school several days ago after their vehicle broke down due to the road conditions.
They could not reach their destination the same day, as it was challenging to navigate the muddy terrain safely in the rain, so they spent the night in a hut before continuing with their journey the next day.
The teacher said in another post on Jan 19 that the youngest among the pupils is just six years old.
In one of the video clips, two pupils said they felt cold, tired and hungry.
“My heart breaks, seeing them walk so far to return to school,” the teacher said in her post, adding that the pupils are too young to endure such hardship.
She also appealed to the authorities to repair the road quickly for the benefit of the villagers.
Her Jan 17 post has since been shared more than 2,000 times. Many netizens empathised with the plight of the pupils. Some questioned: “Where did our ministers go?”
Sabah Works Minister Shahelmey Yahya said on Jan 20 that the 40km road leading to the school was actually under construction, reported local media.
He said the frequent rain has softened the soil structure and made it difficult for construction and maintenance works to be carried out.
“The contractor informed us that their machinery is at the construction site and will be dispatched to areas where damage always occurs for maintenance,” he added.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/sabah-pupils-teachers-walk-for-two-days-on-rain-soaked-mud-track-to-get-to-school
| 2024-01-20T13:09:45Z
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Slovak alpine skier Petra Vlhova was transported to hospital in a helicopter after suffering a fall in the first round of giant slalom at the World Cup in Jasna, Slovakia on Saturday.
The 2022 Winter Olympics gold medalist was in stable condition, her team said in a statement.
"She is undergoing a complex examination that will reveal the range of medical ailments," they said.
Vlhova, 28, won the world championship in giant slalom in 2019 and holds the record for the most wins in the World Cup by a Slovak in the sport.
She is the third notable alpine skier to be airlifted to hospital due to a fall this month, after France's Alexis Pinturault and Norway's Aleksander Kilde. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/alpine-skiing-slovakias-vlhova-airlifted-to-hospital-after-giant-slalom-fall
| 2024-01-20T13:09:55Z
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MELBOURNE - Novak Djokovic may be the overwhelming favourite to win his 11th Australian Open title this year, but for the thousands of locals heading to Melbourne Park on Sunday, Alex de Minaur's clash with Russia's Andrey Rublev is the hottest ticket in town.
"Demon" as he is affectionately known, is the last Australian standing in the singles, and victory over the fifth seed would see him become the first Australian man to reach the last eight in Melbourne since Nick Kyrgios nine years ago.
All three of De Minaur's wins over Rublev in their five previous meetings have come on hard courts, and the 10th seed heads into Sunday's match having not dropped a set in Melbourne so far.
Somewhat surprisingly, De Minaur has also spent less time on court than any other men's player, with all three of his matches finishing on or around the two-hour mark, a sharp departure from his previous performances at the majors.
Slightly built and lacking obvious weapons like a killer serve or raw power, the 24-year-old's matches are usually battles of attrition, with the Aussie forced to rely on running power, fitness and heart to wear down his opponents.
Yet after his first-round opponent Milos Raonic retired hurt, De Minaur advanced to the last 16 with straight sets victories over his next two opponents.
"I probably must be feeling the freshest I've been getting at this stage of the tournament," he said after beating Italian qualifier Flavio Cobolli in his last match.
"Physically I'm feeling great. Now it's just about giving all my energy for what's to come."
De Minaur will step out onto the Rod Laver Arena for the first match of the evening session, the primetime slot at a Slam, with Djokovic facing off against France's Adrian Mannarino in the final match of the earlier day session.
Djokovic has not been his usual imperious self in Melbourne, being pushed to four sets in his opening two matches, but the Serb, who is tied with Margaret Court on 24 majors, can usually be counted on to raise his game in the second week.
The 35-year-old Mannarino faces the task of having to beat Djokovic for the first time at his fifth attempt if he is to make the first Grand Slam quarter-final of his career.
A win for the Serb, on the other hand, would see him reach his 58th Slam quarter-final and equal Roger Federer's all-time record for most appearances in the last eight at the majors.
U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff kicks things off on Rod Laver when she takes on unseeded Pole Magdalena Frech, while second seed Aryna Sabalenka faces American Amanda Anisimova on Margaret Court Arena.
Men's fourth seed Jannik Sinner of Italy and seventh seed Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece are also in action, against Russia's Karen Khachanov and American Taylor Fritz, respectively. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tennis/preview-tennis-demon-and-djoker-headline-day-eight-at-melbourne-park
| 2024-01-20T13:10:05Z
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SEOUL - Heavy snow interrupted some events at the 2024 Winter Youth Olympics in South Korea's Gangwon province on Saturday, with thousands of officials armed with snow-removal gear deployed to clear the way for events to continue.
The city of Gangneung in the province had seen more than 28 centimetres (11 inches) of snowfall as of 5 p.m. local time, and the nearby city of Samcheok had 25.8 cm, Yonhap news agency reported, citing the Korea Meteorological Administration.
A heavy snow advisory has been in effect in mountainous regions of the province, as more snow is expected through Sunday, the agency said.
The provincial government office said in a statement it had declared an emergency and launched protocols to ensure the safety of participants in the Games as well as of residents.
It said it had mobilized 5,620 officials and 693 pieces of snow removal equipment to tackle the problem.
The 2024 Winter Youth Olympics, open to athletes aged 15-18, began on Friday and runs until Feb. 1. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/winter-youth-olympics-in-south-korea-hit-by-heavy-snowfall
| 2024-01-20T13:10:16Z
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A four-man crew including Turkey's first astronaut arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) early on Saturday for a two-week stay in the latest such mission arranged entirely at commercial expense by Texas-based startup company Axiom Space.
The rendezvous came about 37 hours after the Axiom quartet's Thursday evening liftoff in a rocketship from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Both the Crew Dragon vessel and the Falcon 9 rocket that carried it to orbit were supplied, launched and operated by Elon Musk's SpaceX under contract with Axiom, as they were in the first two Axiom missions to the ISS since 2022.
Once the astronauts reach the space station, they fall under the responsibility of NASA's mission control operation in Houston.
The Crew Dragon autonomously docked with the ISS at 5:42 a.m. EDT (1042 GMT) as the two space vehicles were flying roughly 250 miles (400 km) over the South Pacific, a live NASA webcast showed.
Both were soaring in tandem around the globe at the hypersonic speed of about 17,500 miles per hour (28,200 km/h) as they joined together in orbit.
With coupling achieved, it was expected to take about two hours for the sealed passageway between the space station and crew capsule to be pressurized and checked for leaks before hatches can be opened, allowing the newly arrived astronauts to move aboard the orbiting laboratory.
Plans call for the Axiom-3 crew to spend roughly 14 days in microgravity conducting more than 30 scientific experiments, many of them focused on the effects of spaceflight on human health and disease.
The multinational team was led by Michael López-Alegría, 65, a Spanish-born retired NASA astronaut and Axiom executive making his sixth flight to the space station. He also commanded Axiom's debut mission - the first all-private voyage to the ISS - in April 2022.
His second-in-command for Ax-3 is Italian Air Force Colonel Walter Villadei, 49. Rounding out the team are Swedish aviator Marcus Wandt, 43, representing the European Space Agency, and Alper Gezeravcı, 44, a Turkish Air Force veteran and fighter pilot, making his nation's first human spaceflight.
They will be welcomed aboard ISS by the seven members of the station's current regular crew - two Americans from NASA, one astronaut each from Japan and Denmark and three Russian cosmonauts.
Since its founding eight years ago, Houston-based Axiom has carved out a business catering to foreign governments and wealthy private patrons aiming to put their own astronauts into orbit. The company charges at least $55 million per seat for its services organizing, training and equipping customers for spaceflight.
Axiom also is one of a handful of companies building a commercial space station of its own intended to eventually replace the ISS, which NASA expects to retire around 2030.
Launched to orbit in 1998, the ISS has been continuously occupied since 2000 under a U.S.-Russian-led partnership that includes Canada, Japan and 11 countries belonging to the European Space Agency. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/four-astronauts-including-turkeys-first-arrive-at-space-station
| 2024-01-20T13:10:26Z
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DUBAI - Commanders from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and Lebanon's Hezbollah group are on the ground in Yemen helping to direct and oversee Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping, four regional and two Iranian sources told Reuters.
Iran - which has armed, trained and funded the Houthis - stepped up its weapons supplies to the militia in the wake of the war in Gaza, which erupted after Iranian-backed militants Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, the four regional sources said.
Tehran has provided advanced drones, anti-ship cruise missiles, precision-strike ballistic missiles and medium-range missiles to the Houthis, who started targeting commercial vessels in November in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, the sources said.
IRGC commanders and advisers are also providing know-how, data and intelligence support to determine which of the dozens of vessels travelling through the Red Sea each day are destined for Israel and constitute Houthi targets, all the sources said.
Washington said last month that Iran was deeply involved in planning operations against shipping in the Red Sea and that its intelligence was critical to enable the Houthis to target ships.
In response to a request for comment for this story, the White House pointed to its previous public comments about how Iran has been supporting the Houthis.
In his weekly news conferences, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani has repeatedly denied Tehran is involved in the Red Sea attacks by the Houthis. The IRGC public relations office did not respond to request for comment.
Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam denied any Iranian or Hezbollah involvement in helping to direct the Red Sea attacks. A Hezbollah spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
The Houthis, who emerged in the 1980s as an armed group in opposition to Saudi Arabia's Sunni religious influence in Yemen, say they are supporting Hamas by striking commercial ships they say are either linked to Israel or are heading to Israeli ports.
Their attacks have affected global shipping between Asia and Europe through the Bab al-Mandab strait off Yemen. That has triggered U.S. and British air strikes on Houthi targets in the country, opening a new theatre of conflict linked to the war in Gaza.
The Gaza conflict has also sparked clashes between Israel and Hezbollah militants along the Lebanese border, as well as attacks by Iran-linked groups on U.S. targets in Iraq and Syria.
"The Revolutionary Guards have been helping the Houthis with military training (on advanced weapons)," an Iranian insider told Reuters. "A group of Houthi fighters were in Iran last month and were trained in an IRGC base in central Iran to get familiar with the new technology and the use of missiles."
The person said Iranian commanders had travelled to Yemen as well and set up a command centre in the capital Sanaa for the Red Sea attacks which is being run by the senior IRGC commander responsible for Yemen.
REGIONAL STRATEGY
The Red Sea attacks fit in with Iran's strategy of expanding and mobilising its regional Shi'ite network of armed militias to project its influence and show its ability to threaten maritime security in the region and beyond, two analysts said.
They said Tehran wanted to show that the Gaza war could be too costly for the West if it drags on - and could have catastrophic consequences in the region as things escalate.
"The Houthis are not acting independently," said Abdulaziz al-Sager, director of the Gulf Research Center think-tank, who based his conclusion on a close analysis of the capabilities of the group, which has an estimated 20,000 fighters.
"The Houthis, with their personnel, expertise and capabilities are not that advanced. Dozens of vessels cross through Bab al-Mandab daily, the Houthis don't have the means, resources, knowledge or satellite information to find the specific target and attack," he said.
White House national security spokeswoman Adrienne Watson also said last month that Iranian-provided tactical intelligence had been critical in enabling the Houthis to target ships.
According to two former Yemeni army sources, there is a clear presence of IRGC and Hezbollah members in Yemen. They are responsible for supervising military operations, training and reassembling missiles smuggled into Yemen as separate pieces, the two people said.
Abdulghani Al-Iryani, a senior researcher at the Sana'a Center for Strategic Studies, an independent think-tank, said: "It is clearly the case that the Iranians are helping identify the target and the destination. There is no local Houthi capacity to do that."
One senior regional source who follows Iran and who spoke on condition of anonymity said: "The political decision is in Tehran, the management is Hezbollah, and the location is the Houthis in Yemen."
WEAPONS AND ADVICE
Houthi spokesperson Abdulsalam said the group's aim was to target Israeli ships heading to Israel without causing any human or significant material losses. U.S. and British strikes on Yemen would not force them to back down, he said.
"We don't deny that we have a relationship with Iran and that we have benefited from the Iranian experience in training and military manufacturing and capabilities but the decision taken by Yemen is an independent one that has nothing to do with any other party," he said.
But a security official close to Iran said: "The Houthis have drones, missiles and everything needed for their fight against Israel but they needed guidance and advice on shipping routes and ships, so it has been provided to them by Iran."
When asked what kind of advice Tehran offered, he said it was similar to the advisory role taken by Iran in Syria, ranging from training to overseeing operations when needed.
"A group of Iranian Guards members are in Sanaa now to help the operations," the security official said.
Iran sent hundreds of Revolutionary Guards to Syria, alongside thousands of Hezbollah fighters, to help train and organise Shi'ite militia fighters from Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan to prevent the downfall of President Bashar al-Assad during the Sunni-led insurgency that erupted in 2011.
Washington and Gulf Arab states have repeatedly accused Iran of arming, training and financing the Houthis, who follow an offshoot of Shi'ite Islam and are aligned with Tehran as part of its anti-Western, anti-Israel "Axis of Resistance" alongside Lebanon's Hezbollah and groups in Syria and Iraq.
While Iran has denied having any direct role in the Red Sea attacks, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has praised the Houthis, whose Zaidi sect is an offshoot of Shi'ism, saying he hoped their strikes would last "until victory".
TRAIN AND EQUIP
A leader within the coalition of pro-Iranian groups denied there were any commanders from the IRGC or Hezbollah on the ground in Yemen right now.
He said a team of Iranian and Hezbollah military experts had gone to Yemen earlier in its civil war to train, equip and build the manufacturing military capability of the Houthis.
"They came and helped the Houthis and left, just as they did with Hezbollah and Hamas," he said, adding that the military capabilities of the Houthis should not be underestimated.
The person said the Houthis knew the terrain and the sea well and already had the systems in place for attacking ships, including high-precision equipment from Iran.
During the chaotic years after the 2011 Arab Spring uprising in Yemen, the Houthis tightened their grip on the country's north and seized the capital Sanaa in 2014, pushing a Saudi-led coalition to intervene militarily months later.
When Hamas attacked Israel, Iran had little choice but to demonstrate support for the Palestinian group after years of anti-Israel rhetoric but was worried that using Hezbollah would trigger massive Israeli retaliation, analysts said.
Iryani at the Sana'a Center for Strategic Studies said a major war between Israel and Hezbollah would be disastrous for Lebanon - and endanger the future of the group that has become the most important in Iran's "Axis of Resistance".
By contrast, the Houthis were in a unique strategic position to have a huge impact by disrupting global maritime activity with little effort, he said. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/iranian-and-hezbollah-commanders-help-direct-houthi-attacks-in-yemen-sources-say
| 2024-01-20T13:10:37Z
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DOHA/GAZA - Israel pounded targets across the Gaza Strip on Saturday while its planes dropped leaflets on the southern area of Rafah urging Palestinians seeking refuge there to help locate hostages held by Hamas, residents said.
Palestinian fighters battled tanks trying to push back into the eastern suburbs of the Jabalia area in northern Gaza, where Israel had started pulling out troops and shifting to smaller-scale operations, residents and militants said.
The Israeli military said aircraft struck militant squads trying to plant explosives near troops and fire missiles at tanks in northern Gaza and said it was striking targets throughout Gaza.
In the southern area of Khan Younis, where Israel says it has expanded its operations against Hamas, witnesses said tanks shelled areas around Nasser Hospital overnight, describing the bombardment as the most intense in many days.
Nasser is now Gaza's largest functioning hospital. Israel says Hamas fighters operate from in and around hospitals, including Nasser, which Hamas and medical staff deny though Israel has presented some footage and photos backing its claims.
The Israeli military said that in Khan Younis, it raided a military compound, neutralized ready-to-use rocket launchers and found explosives stashed underground while an aircraft struck two gunmen there.
The Gaza health ministry said Israeli strikes have killed 165 people and wounded 280 others in the past 24 hours, one of the biggest death tolls in a single day in 2024.
It did not distinguish between combatants and non-combatants in its daily toll. But most of the 24,927 Palestinians killed since the Oct. 7 war began are civilians, health officials say.
Israel has vowed to annihilate Hamas in Gaza after its fighters burst into Israel on Oct 7., rampaged through Israeli towns and bases, killing 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and dragging 253 hostages back to the enclave.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday vowed to press on with the war until Hamas is defeated and the remaining hostages released.
In more than 100 days of war, Israel's air, land and sea offensive has laid much of Gaza to waste, displacing most of the 2.3 million population, many forced to move repeatedly and seek refuge in tents that do little to protect them from the elements and disease, according to the United Nations.
In Rafah, where over a million Palestinians are taking shelter, Israel dropped leaflets showing photos of 33 hostages, their names written in Arabic, urging the displaced to make contact. "Do you want to return home? Please make the call if you recognise one of them," the leaflets read.
"They are asking people's help because they are unable to get to their hostages because of the resistance," said Abu Ali, one north Gaza resident. "End the war, Netanyahu, and get your people back," he told Reuters.
More than 100 of the hostages seized by Hamas were freed during a short-lived November truce. Israel says 132 remain in Gaza, 27 of whom have been killed in captivity.
In Israel, families of hostages camped outside Netanyahu's residence in the coastal city Caesarea.
"He needs to choose one (deal) and end the hostage saga," said Eli Stivi, whose son Idan is being held incommunicado in Gaza. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/fighting-across-gaza-as-israel-drops-leaflets-seeking-its-hostages
| 2024-01-20T13:10:47Z
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The relationship between Prince Harry and his grandmother the late Queen Elizabeth II has come under scrutiny due to new allegations that have come to light surrounding the naming of Harry and Meghan's daughter.
According to author Robert Hardman, a member of staff reported that the Queen was "as angry as I'd ever seen her" after Meghan and Harry publicly announced that she was supportive of their decision to name their daughter Lilibet, inspired by the Queen's own childhood nickname.
We explore the implications of this new revelation in A Right Royal Podcast. Our hosts, Andrea and Emmy, are joined by none other than Robert Hardman himself. Throughout the podcast, they delve into all things British royalty, and unsurprisingly, the prospect of tension between Harry and his late grandmother is a major talking point.
While it's unclear what exactly happened between the two, or whether explicit conversations were had about the naming of Lilibet, one thing was beyond doubt in spite of it all: the Queen's unwavering love for Harry.
"I mean, the Queen adored Harry, right to the end that you know, and Harry adored her, she met Lilibet and loved her granddaughter, that was not an issue," Robert explained.
"What was at issue was the handling of the story that came after the naming of Lilibet. And it was the way in which the Sussexes put out a statement saying the Queen had been entirely supportive of the name, and it was being, largely, not just suggested, but stated that she had given this blessing."
This announcement from Meghan and Harry was followed by a BBC report stating that the Queen had in fact not given her outright blessing, Robert explained. In the podcast, he revealed how the Sussexes "fired off legal letters to the BBC" and also when "the real anger" from the Queen actually kicked in.
Listen to the podcast below to find out the real story.
Prince Harry returned to the UK for the Queen's state funeral in September 2022, where he was briefly reunited with his brother, Prince William.
Andrea and Emmy also discuss other topics that come up in the book, such as details of the Queen's final illness and how the Princess Royal's hat was perceived at the coronation.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/511603/the-late-queen-elizabeth-ii-adored-grandson-prince-harry-right-to-the-end/
| 2024-01-20T13:18:35Z
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The European Union’s foreign-policy branch, the European External Action Service (EEAS), has proposed to its member states to overhaul a fund dedicated to military support for Ukraine, Bloomberg reported.
A Bloomberg-reviewed document from the EEAS details a previously proposed plan to establish the Ukraine Assistance Fund, with an annual budget of approximately €5 billion ($5.4 billion), which member states had yet to reach a consensus on.
The current funding system, the European Peace Facility (EPF), reimburses member states for weapons supplied to Ukraine. Despite several expansions of the EPF and the approval of seven packages totaling €3.5 billion since Russia’s full-scale invasion, unanimous support is needed for fund allocation and disbursement, leading to delays and disagreements among member states.
Diplomatic envoys from countries, including Germany have expressed concerns over the EPF’s diminishing effectiveness. They point out that future deliveries will increasingly consist of newly purchased weapons, as opposed to being drawn from existing arsenals.
The EEAS proposal suggests altering the fund’s governance to unify differing views among member states. It includes fixed reimbursement rates and incentives for joint European-Ukrainian industry initiatives, with a gradual phase-out of reimbursements for current stock and unilateral procurement.
The proposed fund envisions two primary “European pillars”: joint procurement of lethal and non-lethal support through European industry and continued training and equipping of Ukrainian troops.
This new instrument is designed to complement bilateral aid from individual member states and aims to address Ukraine’s urgent needs for artillery, specialized munitions, drones, air defense, and non-lethal support like demining and military medical assistance.
The EEAS’s draft includes recommendations for the EU to establish specific targets and timetables for deliverables, with member states outlining their contributions.
The proposal also suggests evaluating non-European equipment and services in the EU’s training and equipping Ukrainian forces on a case-by-case basis, acknowledging the contributions of countries like France that advocate for prioritizing EU industry in the fund.
Some member states have criticized this approach, arguing for sourcing weapons from wherever readily available rather than focusing primarily on the EU industry. The EEAS paper emphasizes the urgency of reaching a political agreement to increase the EPF’s financial ceiling by €5 billion for Ukraine, with the possibility of comparable annual increases until 2027, based on Ukrainian needs and guidance from member states.
Read also:
- ISW: Russia conducting information campaign to misrepresent NATO’s Steadfast Defender 2024 exercises
- Ukraine allocates record $ 466 million for fortifications
- Estonia to provide €14 million annually in development aid for Ukraine
- Rheinmetall overhauls two of 14 Leopard tanks for Ukraine in nine months
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/20/bloomberg-eu-discusses-revamp-of-e5-billion-ukraine-military-aid-fund/
| 2024-01-20T13:25:14Z
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According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Russian troops have reinstalled mines along the perimeter of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast, signaling ongoing safety and security challenges at the facility.
Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the largest in Europe, has been under Russian occupation since 4 March 2022, but it keeps working.
These mines, located in the buffer zone between the plant’s internal and external fences, were initially identified by the IAEA team and subsequently removed in November 2023 but have now been reinstalled.
Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the IAEA expressed concern over this development, emphasizing that the presence of mines contradicts IAEA safety standards. This area is restricted and not accessible to operational plant personnel.
What’s the worst that can happen at Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant? Four scenarios
The ZNPP recently experienced a significant power supply issue, losing its immediate backup power to reactor units for several hours. This incident underscored the plant’s vulnerability regarding external power availability, which is essential for cooling its six reactors and other critical safety functions. The plant’s backup power was eventually restored. Still, the incident highlighted the fragility of the power supply system, which has been reduced from ten lines to just two since the conflict began.
“The plant’s vulnerable power status remains one of the main dangers for nuclear safety and security at the site. The situation remains extremely worrying in this respect. The site has already lost all off-site power eight times since August 2022, forcing it to rely on emergency diesel generators,” Director General Grossi said.
In terms of maintenance, the ZNPP has informed the IAEA about its 2024 maintenance plan, prioritizing the site’s safety systems and activities deferred from the previous year. However, the IAEA team has not received a detailed copy of this plan for review. Based on available information, the IAEA concludes that the ZNPP will not implement a comprehensive maintenance plan in 2024. Grossi emphasized the importance of a robust maintenance plan for ensuring plant safety, especially with the extended shutdown of the reactors.
The IAEA continues to monitor other aspects of the ZNPP, including boric acid levels in unit 6’s safety systems and staffing levels in the control rooms, although they could not inquire about staff qualifications. The experts are also seeking further access to reactor and turbine halls and reactor rooftops to fully assess the plant’s safety.
Besides ZNPP, IAEA teams at Rivne, Khmelnytskyi, and South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plants, as well as the Chornobyl site, report that nuclear safety and security are maintained despite frequent air raid alarms and some instances requiring personnel to take shelter.
Russia’s occupation of the Zaporizhzhia NPP: Background
- Russia occupied the nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest, in the first month of its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
- Russian forces have reportedly mined the cooling system of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and prepared explosives near the plant’s nuclear reactors, raising concerns about a potential attack.
- There have been allegations that Russia launched an algorithm to trigger a nuclear disaster at the plant.
- Ukraine made a secret and unsuccessful attempt to retake the Zaporizhzhia NPP.
- The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has sought expanded access to the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
Read also:
- Bloomberg: EU discusses revamp of €5 billion Ukraine military aid fund
- ISW: Russia conducting information campaign to misrepresent NATO’s Steadfast Defender 2024 exercises
- Ukraine allocates record $ 466 million for fortifications
- Ukraine identifies US-made components in Russian missile used in Chernihiv attack
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/20/russian-troops-plant-mines-along-zaporizhzhia-npp-perimeter-iaea-identifies/
| 2024-01-20T13:25:54Z
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Jack Willis' England exile set to continue
The exile of sometime England flanker Jack Willis is set to continue with news that he has formerly extended his stay with French Top 14 giants Toulouse.
Willis will be playing in the Pink City up until 2026, having chosen to take up an optional two-year extension, Midi Olympique report.
With injury frequently afflicting French star Anthony Jelonch, Willis’ presence in Toulouse has proved particularly valuable.
He told Midi that: “I know that I am in my place for the next three years.”
The standout back row originally arrived in France in 2022 following the collapse of Gallagher Premiership side Wasps. He has now twice decided to stay in France, a decision that has likely come at the cost of any future England selection. The RFU increasingly strict attitude to overseas player selection suggests that the extension of the flanker’s French sojourn means it’s unlikely England head coach Steve Borthwick will be allowed to pick him.
Willis featured England at the Rugby World Cup and was a try-scorer against Chile on September 23 but it was to be his sole appearance at France 2023 after a neck injury saw him miss the remainder of his country’s campaign.
Last year Willis insisted it “wasn’t feasible” for him to remain in the Gallagher Premiership due to financial restrictions amid a squeezed salary cap and feels Toulouse is the best place for him to progress and enhance his Test credentials.
“It’s something that I think should be discussed and has to be discussed really,” he said of the RFU policy that rules out players who are playing their club rugby abroad. “It’s not up to me how these decisions go. If it was, I think I know which way I’d be heading for.
“Hopefully they think it through and hopefully things can change to a degree and open up a little bit more on the leniency.
“To play for England, you’ve got to play your best rugby and I felt like this was the right place for me to develop as a rugby player and be the best player I can be.”
“I know those two things sort of contradict at the moment but I am hoping it ends up changing so they can align slightly better.”
additional reporting PA
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https://www.rugbypass.com/news/jack-willis-england-exile-set-to-continue/
| 2024-01-20T13:58:24Z
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Lood de Jager pulling up trees in Japan after return from injury
There might only have been two matches in the first weekend of a two-part Round Six in Japan Rugby League One, but that didn’t stop Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath and Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars producing a game to remember today, as the former won 36-34 in their last outing before participating in The Cross Border Rugby.
Sungoliath, who entertain the (Auckland) Blues in the opening game of that series on February 3, looked like they would be heading into the engagement on the back of a loss, after a blistering start by Sagamihara. Smarting after last week’s embarrassing 60-point loss to Saitama, the Dynaboars scored four tries in the opening 15 minutes, by the end of which had them leading 26-0.
Ex-All Black backrower Jackson Hemopo was among the scorers, crossing for his fourth try from the last three weeks, while the former Blues back from Super Rugby, Matt Vaega, also scored for the second week in a row. A further penalty goal by ex-England age-grade representative James Grayson made it 29 points in 22 minutes, and it took 28 minutes of playing time before the visitor’s finally troubled the scoreboard attendants, when Australian-born second rower Trevor Hosea scored Suntory’s first try. The addition of a second, by last year’s leading try-scorer Seiya Ozaki, meant that halftime came with Mitsubishi still in charge by 15, but the momentum having swung Suntory’s way. This continued as the second half began, with further life breathed into Sungoliath hopes when the All Blacks’ Rugby World Cup skipper Sam Cane crossed for his second try in as many weeks.
With Sagamihara suddenly under pressure, it looked as if the game had become irretrievably lost when a penalty goal by Mikiya Takamoto, and his conversion of a try by Yutaka Nagare, meant Sungoliath went ahead for the first time, having scored 31 unanswered points in 36 minutes. Although it took the Dynaboars 33 minutes of the second half to register a point, their fifth try of the afternoon, which was scored by centre Joichiro Iwashita, appeared to have wrestled the decision in their favour as the clock ticked on, and went beyond the 80th minute. Sagamihara nearly had grabbed the game back too, but Suntory kept coming and their persistence was rewarded when centre Shogo Nakano, who was making his first appearance of the season, marked it with a try in the third minute of referee’s time to steal the win at the end of a remarkable afternoon.
The victory allowed Suntory to draw level on the table with their Fuchu rivals, Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo, both behind only the rampaging Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights, who warmed up for their game against the Gallagher (Waikato) Chiefs in The Cross Border Rugby, by savaging Mie Honda Heat 70-12 at Kumagaya. The Wild Knights host the Chiefs at their fortress in northeast Tokyo on February 4, and while Heat are someway short of the calibre of a Super Rugby side, Saitama nonetheless showed that they shouldn’t be taken lightly by the New Zealanders, after conducting a dress-rehearsal that included 10 tries.
In a week where countryman Joe Schmidt was unveiled as the new Wallaby coach, Robbie Deans presided over Saitama’s sixth consecutive win, with the accumulation of a fifth try-scoring bonus establishing a six-point lead for his unbeaten side at the top of the competition standings. A predecessor of Schmidt as Wallaby mentor, Deans is just one of a cadre at the Wild Knights who have had previous association with Australian rugby. This includes the ex-Melbourne Rebels second rower Esei Haangana, who scored two tries against the Heat, while leading Saitama in the league for the first time.
The 18-cap Brave Blossoms centre Dylan Riley, who schooled in Queensland, made his mark with two tries, taking himself to the top of the league individual try-scoring standings with six, while star Wallaby winger Marika Koroibete scored twice within 12 minutes of taking the field in the second half.
Springbok second row Lood de Jager, who last week celebrated his first appearance since July with a try, made it back-to-back tries, when he opened the scoring for the Wild Knights, two minutes into the game. His try was the first of six to be converted by Saitama flyhalf Rikiya Matsuda, whose 15 points from the game took his tally for the campaign to 74. This figure is 10 clear of Suntory’s Takamoto at the top of the individual rankings. Saitama has scored 151 points in its last 160 minutes of playing time, and pauses for The Cross Border Rugby, averaging 57 per game through the opening part of the season.
Shimizu Corporation Koto Blue Sharks jumped above their Hiroshima-based rivals on the point’s table in Division Three after comfortably accounting for Kurita Water Gush Akishima today. The Blue Sharks’ 18-point victory was rarely in doubt, even after a decent rally from Water Gush who scored tries either side of halftime to close to within five points. Having scored 25 points in the opening 30 minutes to take charge of the contest, Shimizu then scored the game’s final two tries to ease to a 38-20 final scoreline. Hooker Naomichi Tatekawa scored a try in each half for the Blue Sharks while their South African-born fullback Coenraad van Wyk weighed in with 18 points for the second week running.
The profitable two weeks means van Wyk is now the leading point-scorer in the grade with 45, 12 ahead of Hino’s Simon Hickie, although he has played a match more.
Credit: Japan Rugby League One
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https://www.rugbypass.com/news/lood-de-jager-pulling-up-trees-in-japan-after-return-from-injury/
| 2024-01-20T13:58:32Z
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Schoolboy superstar's transition into giant hooker nearing completion
The evolution of Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been unconventional, to say the least. The 22-year-old – who featured at lock, loose forward and in the front row at school – is now being groomed as the next ‘hooker project’ at the Bulls.
Born in Bloemfontein and schooled at Grey College, he was a superstar in age-group rugby.
Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White even once compared him to the two-time World Cup-winning Springbok prop Os du Randt.
However, Wessels – at 1.90 metres and 120 kilograms – is now getting most of his game time in the No.2 jersey and being compared to Bok great Malcolm Marx.
Wessels has played 169 minutes of the Bulls’ 180 minutes in this year’s Champions Cup campaign.
He played 12 minutes in the 27-16 Round One win over Saracens, played 80 minutes in the 28-29 Round Two loss to Lyon Olympique and 77 minutes in last week’s Round Three win (31-17) over Bristol Bears.
Wessels will also start when the Bulls host Bordeaux Bègles in a Champions Cup crunch match in Pretoria on Saturday.
He made 91 metres from 18 carries in Europe this season, with one clean break and statistics also reflect that he has beaten two defenders.
The rookie hooker has made 25 tackles, at a success rate of 81 percent – with two turnovers.
Some of his core skills, such as line-out throwing, do need work. Last week in Bristol the Bulls won less than 90 percent of their line-outs.
However, that is not of concern to the Bulls boss, who pointed out that Marx also struggled with his core skills when he first came on the scene.
“I am confident he [Wessels] will get it right,” White said.
“There is a hooker called Malcolm Marx, who lost a Test for South Africa against New Zealand and lost a couple of games for the Lions during his ‘learning’ process.
“Now Malcolm Marx is one of the best players in the world,” White said of the 64-times capped Bok stalwart. “That is the school fees you have to pay,” the Bulls boss said about his rookie No.2.
“The only way he is going to learn is by playing in a big game and throwing the ball in on the tryline.
“I am happy to keep pushing him, because when he gets it right, he has all the attributes to be a great player.
“He knows he has to work hard on that. I am comfortable, the more he gets into those situations, the better he will become.”
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https://www.rugbypass.com/news/schoolboy-superstars-transition-into-giant-hooker-nearly-complete/
| 2024-01-20T13:58:40Z
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It's safe to say Victoria Beckham takes her health and fitness very seriously, and, on Saturday, not only did she show off her incredibly toned physique, but she also gave a very personal glimpse into her daily health and fitness regime.
The mother-of-four was a vision as she posed for a mid-workout snap inside her home gym at her luxe West London abode. She donned a fabulously chic all-black gym outfit comprised of skin-tight leggings, a black sports bra, and white trainers as she performed an arm exercise.
Her impeccably toned arms took front and centre of the photo which she captioned: "MY SKIN HEALTH ROUTINE!
"Whilst my @VictoriaBeckhamBeauty Priming Moisturiser in Golden helps with that instant golden glow, I can see the difference in my skin texture and radiance from taking care of myself, with regular exercise and other wellness tricks I’ve picked up along the way from experts and friends.
She added: "I try and workout 5 times a week with @MrBobbyRich, more tips on my Instagram stories."
She swept her chesnut tresses back into a chic ponytail showing off her flawless blemish-free skin. As she said in the caption, the photo was followed by a slew of Instagram Stories showing fans a number of her favourite daily health hacks.
The first photo showed a bottle of apple cider vinegar which Victoria revealed she has a "couple of tablespoons" of every morning on an empty stomach.
Next was a video of her husband, David Beckham, preparing what she coined the "Beckham green smoothie," which was created from one avocado, spinach, one lemon, cucumber, apple slices, celery, and lime.
"All the ingredients of our Beckham green smoothie by @davidbeckham," she penned, before showcasing the full pre-blended ingredients stacked elegantly on a plate. The selection was even complete with the former Spice Girl's initials being cut out of cucumber and placed on one half of the avocado - so chic!
Next from VB's health hacks was her post-workout smoothie. The delicious pink drink was made from, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, bananas, apples, and vanilla protein powder. The ingredients were beautifully placed on her iconic black and white chequered dining room table.
She also revealed she has a shot of fresh ginger, lemon, black pepper, and turmeric every day, which was pictured alongside an elegant plant pot.
Finally, Victoria revealed that to end the day she reads for 20 minutes to wind down. "Every night, I try to read for at least 20 minutes to switch off from the day." We can't wait to try some of VB's fabulous health hacks for ourselves!
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/511718/victoria-beckham-shows-off-exceptionally-toned-arms/
| 2024-01-20T14:33:09Z
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The 'Hollywood smile' of perfectly straight, white teeth has long been associated with the rich and famous – but even some of the biggest stars needed professional help to achieve their enviable grins.
Before they became A-list names, the likes of Demi Moore, Celine Dion, and Tom Cruise had very different-looking teeth to what we are used to seeing today – and some have undergone a complete smile makeover.
Over the years, they and many more have transformed their appearance by tweaking the appearance of their teeth with the help of cosmetic dentistry, whether it be veneers, composite bonding, or teeth whitening.
We turned to leading cosmetic dentist and the President-Elect of The British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Dr. Sam Jethwa, of Bespoke Smile, to shed some light on what he thinks the below celebrities have done to achieve their dramatic teeth transformations.
Kanye West
The rapper shocked fans when he unveiled his $850,000 titanium dentures, which Dr. Jethwa revealed could "lead to complications" if they are a permanent fixture – something he strongly advises against.
"From the picture, it seems like he may have had upper teeth at the back removed. The dynamics of his smile suggests that this could be a permanent feature, and he may have had teeth removed to achieve this, as it could be an implant," he said.
"A titanium screw will have to be drilled into the gum. This is such a shame, as his smile appeared incredibly healthy before, and was very natural," he continued.
Kanye's new dentures may be temporary though, with Dr. Jethwa explaining that they may only be "a covering of his natural teeth and may have been achieved using something similar to a cosmetic brace but not to straighten the teeth".
He added: "However, I strongly advise against this. It can cause damage to the natural teeth, it can cause the enamel to wear down, cause food particles to get trapped, and can also irritate the gums."
Demi Moore
While the Ghost actress had "perfectly straight" teeth before, she appears to have boosted her smile with veneers.
"The key differences I can spot are the size and shape of the teeth and the color. This suggests that she has had veneers, which can create a stronger, whiter, and more even smile," Dr. Jethwa said.
"In the before picture, the top gum is more visible than it is in the after picture. This suggests that she may have had gum contouring before the veneers have been applied."
Explaining the procedure, he said that laser gum contouring "involves using a high-powered laser to contour uneven, or extra gum tissue with the aim of re-shaping the gums to make them look smaller and/or neater in proportion to the teeth".
Celine Dion
The Power of Love singer appears to have opted for a full smile transformation, with Dr. Jethwa believing she had veneers on the top eight teeth.
"This is common for people who want a full smile makeover as these are the teeth on display the most," he said.
"The difference between the before and after pictures is the shape of the teeth.
"The veneers which have been used have allowed for an incredibly symmetrical, well-balanced, and harmonious smile, and is in keeping with her facial features.
"The veneers are not too large, they fit her smile perfectly."
Tom Cruise
The Top Gun star's teeth transformation appears to be the result of extensive treatments.
"I would suggest that Tom Cruise has had multiple dental treatments to improve his smile and oral health," Dr. Jethwa said.
"It is clear from the before picture that his teeth were incredibly displaced. Displaced and crooked teeth can cause oral health issues, they are more susceptible to tooth decay as they can be incredibly difficult to clean," he added.
"Not only this, but they can cause problems with speech and with a person's bite. To correct this, I would suggest fixed braces."
Explaining the benefits of fixed braces over treatments like Invisalign, Dr. Jethwa said: "Fixed braces work by moving the teeth into the correct position whilst applying gentle pressure. Small brackets are bonded to the teeth and then connected to a wire.
"The wire is used to create tension, moving the teeth into alignment. I would recommend fixed braces for complex cases, as they are extremely precise."
Millie Bobby Brown
The Stranger Things actress appears to have enhanced her smile with some strategic tweaks.
"To me, it seems like Millie Bobby Brown may have had composite bonding on the two front teeth, and ultra-thin veneers on the canine teeth," Dr. Jethwa told us.
"Although in the after picture, her smile appears more even, it is not straight enough to suggest that she has had cosmetic braces. In a lot of cases, if the teeth are not too displaced, composite bonding and/or veneers can allow for a more even smile."
He continued: "The shape of the canine teeth has dramatically changed in the second picture, suggesting ultra-thin porcelain veneers, allowing for a natural result.
"The bottom edges of the two front teeth appear neater, which can be achieved through composite bonding."
Composite bonding is "non-invasive and involves the application of a tooth-colored composite resin to the surface of the tooth, which is then shaped and polished".
Dr. Jethwa added: "In this case, composite bonding has worked really well to improve overall tooth alignment and symmetry."
Nicole Kidman
The Big Little Lies star appears to have altered her teeth with gum contouring and veneers.
"Looking at the earlier pictures of Nicole Kidman, we can see that her top gums are visibly noticeable, which can cause the teeth to appear smaller," Dr. Jethwa said.
"This suggests that she has undergone a dental procedure called gum contouring to address the extra gum tissue, however not alone, the shapes of the teeth have been improved to match."
Dental veneers appear to have played a big part in altering Nicole's smile. "Veneers may be necessary to create a more even smile, which is what I believe Nicole has had," he added.
"Dental veneers are essentially a covering for the natural teeth and will be made of either composite resin or porcelain. They are bonded to the front of the tooth to change their color, shape, size, or length."
Note: Dr. Sam Jethwa has not treated the above celebrities.
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/healthandbeauty/511719/celebrity-teeth-transformations-before-after-photos/
| 2024-01-20T14:33:15Z
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We can always rely on Alexa Chung to wear a unique yet still effortlessly chic outfit.
The model and sartorial icon is constantly sharing outfits on social media that demonstrate her ability to put an individual spin on classic outfit formulas, from garden party dresses to pinstripe two-pieces.
MORE: The best cape coats to shop this autumn - inspired by Sienna Miller
This January she's taken style cues from chic dressing veteran Sienna Miller and championed the classic cape coat, proving it's an outerwear style to look out for if wanting to update your winter warmers wardrobe this season.
Alexa shared an Instagram story with her 6.3m followers questioning whether or not "not all heroes wear capes?" but she is in fact a hero - a fashion hero, who happens to be wearing a stylish cape (Superwoman, look out...).
Alexa wore a crisp white shirt tucked into straight-leg dark wash jeans and paired it with metallic gold square-toe cowboy boots - a typical outfit formula from a categorically cool It-girl.
But, as always, Alexa added her own individual touch with the "Cape No.01" from London-based womenswear brand Isa Afren. The heavy lambswool knit piece features statement horizontal stripes in muted grey, black and white tones. The label's brand ethos perfectly encapsulates Alexa's off-duty aesthetic "Isa Arfen's collections exude a sense of effortless glamour, a heavy dose of femininity and touches of European eccentricity while maintaining a spontaneous, relaxed attitude," the brand explains on its website.
Sienna Miller first put the cape back on the map in autumn 2023. "This season the cape coat is entering the big leagues, vying for your attention and it has British fashion icon Sienna Miller to thank," says Hello! Fashion's Orin Carlin, "Sienna swerved a tightly-woven structural cape in favour of a design with a slouchier appeal, a cosy chocolate brown poncho by partywear label Taller Marmo. Championing one of AW23's hottest hues".
Not all heroes wear capes, but in the fashion realm, they absolutely do.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/hfm/fashion-trends/511717/alexa-chungs-striped-cape-is-this-seasons-coolest-coat-alternative/
| 2024-01-20T14:33:21Z
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France's Cyprien Sarrazin proved as good as his word as he claimed a sensational double downhill victory at the iconic Hahnenkamm World Cup meeting on Saturday.
After becoming the first Frenchman to win the downhill in the Austrian resort since Luc Alphand in 1997 on Friday, he said had discovered the secret of the daunting piste.
He backed that up on Saturday by racing to his second win, this time edging out Swiss Marco Odermatt with Italian Dominik Paris finishing third.
While Friday's margin of victory over Italy's Florian Schieder was a slender 0.05 second, this time Sarrazin enjoyed a 0.91 second advantage with Paris more than a second slower.
The 29-year-old Sarrazin is now second in the overall World Cup standings behind Odermatt. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/alpine-skiing-sarrazin-claims-kitzbuhel-double
| 2024-01-20T14:41:53Z
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DOHA - Jordan were denied a first ever victory over South Korea when a 91st-minute own goal from Yazan Al-Arab gifted their opponents a 2-2 draw in their second Asian Cup Group E game at Al Thumama Stadium on Saturday.
South Korea took the lead when Son Heung-min was brought down in the box by Ihsan Haddad and after a VAR check that lasted several minutes, the Tottenham Hotspur forward kept his focus amid a crescendo of boos to score.
But Jordan did not crack and they were rewarded for their constant pressure in the 37th minute when South Korea's Park Yong-Woo headed the ball into his own net from a corner.
Jordan were denied a penalty in first-half added time when Musa Al-Taamari was brought down as he was bearing down on goal, but seconds later Yazan Al-Naimat made it 2-1 when he unleashed a half-volley from outside the box into the bottom corner.
South Korea upped the ante in the second half but it took 45 minutes before they finally found an equaliser when Hwang In-beom's shot was turned into the net by Jordan centre back Al-Arab.
The result leaves both teams on four points from two games. Bahrain and Malaysia, who lost their opening games, play the other group encounter later on Saturday. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/south-korea-held-by-jordan-in-thrilling-asian-cup-draw
| 2024-01-20T14:42:04Z
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