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ABIDJAN - Ivory Coast will spend Tuesday and Wednesday waiting to see whether they will be able to continue at their own tournament after a horror loss in their last Africa Cup of Nations group game, which will go down as the biggest shock in finals history.
Equatorial Guinea, a country of only 1.6 million people and with a motley team comprised mainly of players from the lower leagues in Spain, upset the Ivorians 4-0 on Monday in the heaviest defeat ever suffered by a host nation.
It was a humiliating loss that left the Ivorians, jeered off by their own supporters, third in Group A and now waiting to see whether they will qualify for the last 16.
The top two teams in each group advance to the knockout stage, along with the four best third-placed finishers.
With Groups A and B completed on Monday, the Ivorians are still in contention especially after neighbours Ghana conceded two goals in stoppage time against Mozambique and drew 2-2 to finish third in Group B.
While the Ivorians collected three points from their trio of group games, Ghana managed only two and are likely to be eliminated with Groups C and D concluding on Tuesday and Groups E and F on Wednesday.
Ghana's shock demise was a glimmer of light on a dark day for the Ivorians, whose defeat set off rioting among angry supporters with vehicles and buses stoned along the route from the Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium.
The game was an endless series of missed chances for the Ivorians while everything their lowly-ranked opponents touched turned to gold.
"In life, there are sometimes matches that turn into nightmares, matches where everything seems linked," said Ivory Coast coach Jean Louis Gasset.
"We call this the disaster scenario. We have three points, because we won a match," he said of their 2-0 success in the tournament opener against Guinea Bissau on Jan. 13.
"And we hope to still qualify as one of the four best third-place finishers. We are waiting for the results of others."
Gasset, a former France assistant coach, said he could not fathom what went wrong.
"This is a difficult question. What went wrong with the players? I don't think is their state of mind. When I see players crying in the locker room, it hurts me. The players tried. I think we've tried everything," he added.
"When you have a scenario like this, which borders on a nightmare, there is not much to say or do." REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/anxious-wait-to-see-if-cup-of-nations-hosts-ivory-coast-stay-in-tournament
| 2024-01-23T12:02:41Z
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LONDON – Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders believes that his team are all in it together as they prepare for their League Cup semi-final, second leg at Fulham on Jan 24.
The Reds are leading 2-1 on aggregate, having trailed to an early goal from the Cottagers in the first leg at Anfield earlier in January before fighting back with two goals in front of their home fans. That result meant that Fulham must now win on home soil against the nine-time winners, if they are to make it to Wembley in February in hopes of winning their first major trophy.
Liverpool, however, are not backing down as Lijnders pointed to the hunger of every player in the squad.
“Playing a semi-final is great and the chance to go to Wembley, an iconic stadium. It all impacts development and gives players constant opportunities when they know they are not playing today, but a Cup game next week so they train better,” said the Dutchman, who was on media duty on Jan 23 in place of manager Jurgen Klopp.
“Everyone is involved, you are (aiming to) reach finals, it’s important and it gives opportunities.”
One of those who will relish his chance to make a difference is striker Darwin Nunez, who has scored only five Premier League goals before his brace against Bournemouth the last time out to take his tally to seven in 20 league games.
“We’re really happy with him,” added Lijnders.
“Each game he creates six chances by himself. If he trains how he trains the goals will come because the team is creating. He will get better, improve and he is already important, it is nice to see.”
After an 11-day mid-season winter break, Liverpool were back in Premier League action over the weekend. Klopp’s men defeated Bournemouth 4-0 thanks to two goals each from Nunez and Diogo Jota to move five points clear at the top of the standings – although they have played one game more than second-placed Manchester City.
They will be full of confidence as they seek to win the League Cup which they most recently won in 2021-2022. The Reds have beaten Fulham in seven of their last 10 encounters, including their last three in a row. The Cottagers have won only once, while there were two draws.
They have also showed that they are not missing their talisman and top scorer Mohamed Salah much. The Egyptian forward is at the Africa Cup of Nations but is returning soon to Merseyside for treatment on an injury. Nevertheless, Liverpool have won all three matches in his absence and scored eight times in the process, with the goals spread among the team.
“I know the country is devastated to lose him,” said Lijnders.
“The only reason ours and their medical team decided for him to come back is to give the best chance to make the final if Egypt reach it. The expected return to play is three or four weeks.”
There was better news as Lijnders confirmed that Andy Robertson, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Curtis Jones should all be available to face Fulham if required. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kostas Tsimikas are also nearing returns.
In the Fulham camp, manager Marco Silva’s men have lost five of their last eight matches in all competitions. However, a 2-1 home win over Arsenal came in that run so they are still capable of a shock victory if Liverpool take their foot off the gas.
“We have a chance against Liverpool to make history, and we will give everything,” said midfielder Joao Palhinha.
“We know what we will face, it is something important for the club, for us. But we know it will be really, really tough. They are in a good moment of the season, but the most important thing in football is the present and we will try to beat them and make history.”
Silva will have to make do without the injured Adama Traore and the trio of Calvin Bassey, Fode Ballo-Toure and Alex Iwobi, who are all at the Africa Cup of Nations.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/everyone-is-involved-in-liverpool-s-quest-to-win-league-cup-says-assistant-pep-lijnders
| 2024-01-23T12:02:51Z
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DOHA - Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu said he was "ashamed and appalled" to see his goalkeeper Zion Suzuki subjected to racial abuse on social media after they lost their second Asian Cup group game against Iraq last week.
Iraq claimed their first victory over Japan in 42 years with a 2-1 upset after Suzuki's error allowed Aymen Hussein to score the opener.
The 21-year-old, who has a Ghanaian-American father and Japanese mother, said he welcomed criticism of his performances but wanted people to stop commenting on his race.
"For our precious player Suzuki, I feel very ashamed and appalled that he was racially discriminated. I will support him in any way possible to make sure he's fully concentrated and focussed," Moriyasu told reporters on Tuesday.
"I think this can't happen in any case. They should respect human rights, it can't happen in a diverse world. We live in a world where these things may happen but through football we must bond together."
The incident comes after AC Milan's French goalkeeper Mike Maignan briefly walked off the pitch in protest during a 3-2 win at Udinese in Serie A over the weekend when he was subjected to racial abuse.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino even suggested that clubs should face "automatic defeat" if their fans display racist behaviour.
Japan are looking to get their Asian Cup campaign back on track when they face Indonesia on Wednesday with both teams on three points each, behind group toppers Iraq who have qualified for the last 16 with six points.
Moriyasu accepted responsibility for the loss against Iraq and said he had sought the opinions of his players and staff to prepare for their final group game.
"I try to listen to my players and staff's opinions as much as possible. I'm not a top-down style manager, I'm open to everyone. I try to synchronise with their thoughts as well," he said.
"But when we make decisions as a team I know I'm the decision maker. But it's not a difficult task for me after listening to their opinions."
Japan defender Takehiro Tomiyasu said their main objective is to keep a clean sheet after conceding two goals in both matches against Vietnam and Iraq, adding that the seniors had to step up and lead.
"We have to learn form mistakes against Iraq," the Arsenal full back said.
"After the Vietnam match I had the opportunity to give my voice and opinions. It was a positive thing for the team and I take it as a sign that the coach relies on the team. Our captain (Wataru) Endo or even myself have to be leaders on the pitch." REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/japan-coach-moriyasu-appalled-by-racist-abuse-directed-at-keeper-suzuki
| 2024-01-23T12:03:02Z
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MADRID -Madrid will host the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix from 2026 to 2035 on a new circuit around the capital's IFEMA exhibition centre, the sport announced on Tuesday.
Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya currently hosts the country's grand prix and has a contract until after the 2026 race. There was no mention of that circuit in the Formula One statement.
Sources indicated talks were continuing with Barcelona about the circuit's future, however, with a possibility of Spain having two races in 2026.
The country currently has two Formula One drivers -- Carlos Sainz at Ferrari and double world champion Fernando Alonso, now 42 but still a frequent podium finisher last season, at Aston Martin.
"Madrid is an incredible city with amazing sporting and cultural heritage, and today’s announcement begins an exciting new chapter for F1 in Spain," said Formula One chief executive Stefano Domenicali.
The race proposal, he added, "truly epitomises Formula One’s vision to create a multi-day spectacle of sport and entertainment that delivers maximum value for fans and embraces innovation and sustainability."
Madrid last hosted a grand prix at Jarama to the north of the city in 1981, with the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona becoming the home of the Spanish race in 1991.
"Modern Formula One cars racing on a new circuit in the Spanish capital city of Madrid is an enticing prospect," said Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the governing FIA, in a statement.
"As we build towards the introduction of the FIA 2026 Formula One regulations, which have been framed with Net Zero carbon by 2030 in mind, it is pleasing to see that the local organisers have placed a sharp focus on environmental sustainability in their plans for the event."
The proposed 5.47km circuit, using both street and non-street sections, remains subject to FIA homologation and safety checks as well as calendar approval by the World Motor Sport Council.
The layout, near the city's Barajas airport and with 90% of fans expected to access the venue by public transport links, will feature 20 corners.
The venue's projected capacity is more than 110,000 spectators per day with plans to increase that to 140,000 over the first half of the agreement, making Madrid one of the largest venues on the calendar.
"This event, which we expect to be followed on a global scale by 70 million people, will represent an increase of more than 450 million euros ($489.92 million) in Madrid's GDP per year and the creation of 8,200 jobs," said the president of the Madrid region Isabel Diaz Ayuso. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/madrid-to-host-spanish-gp-from-2026
| 2024-01-23T12:03:12Z
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SINGAPORE – A pair of ladies’ golf clubs gifted by her father’s colleague was what kickstarted Chen Xingtong’s unexpected journey in the sport.
With no one else in her family expressing interest in the game, her father signed her up for golf lessons at Warren Golf Club in early 2019.
It took a while for Xingtong to warm up to it, with the 15-year-old recalling how she initially found it tough to swing the club. But she stuck with it and even switched from competitive swimming to golf after deciding to pursue it more seriously a year later.
In 2020, she joined the Singapore Golf Association’s (SGA) future squad comprising selected junior golfers who have done well at its junior events, and made the junior squad the following year.
Xingtong said that she enjoys golf because “we’re not really competing with other people, we’re just trying to minimise mistakes” and that “as long as you play well, you have a fighting chance”.
She added: “It’s not head-to-head kind of competition, you don’t know how other people are playing unless you’re keeping track so you can focus on yourself, it appeals to me more.”
The teenager’s sporting career had initially begun in swimming, but she decided to make the switch owing to the demanding training schedule – from Primary 1 to 3 she had to juggle daily training sessions with her studies and Chinese dance co-curricular activity.
Her training regimen is no less intensive now but golf holds a different appeal.
Such is her dedication to the sport that she transferred from Bukit Panjang Government High School midway through Secondary 1 to enrol in the Singapore Sports School, as the latter offered a programme that would allow her to focus on sports and studies.
The Secondary 4 student said: “In golf, there’s a lot more of a mental aspect to it like practice. Because you have to learn how to deal with pressure in a tournament situation.”
This season, she is hoping to build on a confidence-boosting maiden international win at the 8th Peugeot Selangor Amateur Open golf championship in 2023. On Jan 24 and 25, she will compete in the national qualifying tournament for the HSBC Women’s World Championship held here from Feb 29 to March 3.
Xingtong, who is part of a field of nine, said: “There are a lot of top pros playing so it’ll be a good learning experiencing for me. For example, if they make a wrong shot or miss a putt, I’ll be able to watch and learn how they’ll recover from such setbacks and hopefully be able to incorporate their techniques into my own game as well.”
Another golfer eyeing a spot in the US$1.8 million (S$2.4 million) competition is 12-year-old Aamiya Koul, whose love for the game began when she was about four.
Unlike Xingtong, Aamiya hails from a family of golfers – her father introduced her to it and she learnt by hitting balls with a plastic club into a net at her condominium.
When she was six, she finished 13th at her first competition and the disappointment motivated her to improve.
The Singapore American School pupil said: “I enjoy the competitiveness and the luck involved in the game... I like being able to win.”
This fierce desire to win is evident in other aspects of Aamiya’s life, particularly when she plays basketball with her club.
It has also propelled her to victories on the international stage. In December 2023, she won the US Kids Golf Indian Championship title to earn a spot at the 2024 US Kids World Championship.
The HSBC tournament will be special for Aamiya, who has watched every edition on the course since 2015.
She said: “It’s cool to be able to play with all the pros. Playing the qualifiers would be a great experience. I want to learn from all the better people playing like all the pros and top amateurs.”
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/singapore-golfers-chen-xingtong-and-aamiya-koul-eye-a-spot-at-hsbc-women-s-world-championship
| 2024-01-23T12:03:22Z
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MELBOURNE – In his van where he used to live, the legendary rock climber Alex Honnold had a hangboard. It’s a contraption which climbers hang from to strengthen their fingers in preparation for the tiny holds on a rock wall. Maybe Coco Gauff has one of those in her house because when it comes to hanging on for dear life she’s seriously tough.
On Tuesday on Rod Laver Arena, the sun was up, sweat fell, errors rained, 188 minutes passed and grit won. Gauff wasn’t great but she was worthy. She wasn’t her best self yet she won her Australian Open quarter-final over Marta Kostyuk 7-6 (8-6), 6-7 (3-7), 6-2.
When you read a score in a newspaper it doesn’t tell you the complicated truth. Of how this one, for instance, was dramatic, erratic, testing, emotional and uneven. It wasn’t a classic but it was full of epic changes in momentum. Kostyuk led the first set 5-1 and lost it. Gauff served for the match in the second set and lost that one.
In between, they served 17 double faults, had 58 unforced errors just on the forehand, hit sublime winners, had 36 break points, 16 breaks of serve and more heroism than you can imagine. Kostyuk’s leg had tape curling down it and later she said: “It was a good match but at times I really felt like it’s easier to cut my leg off because it was really, really painful.”
Sport always looks new but mostly it’s reprising ancient lessons. Can you problem-solve? Are you executing? Did you bring your mouthguard? At 1-5, the first set feels over yet Gauff, the US Open champion, knows there’s nothing such as lost causes in sport. You shrug, you play on. It’s the Nadal rule.
“I was just trying to win one extra game,” the American said. “I believe every point, every game matters.” She broke the Ukrainian thrice, led 6-5, and was then broken to 6-6. By now everyone needed oxygen, even the fans.
In the tie-breaker, nine points of 14 went against serve. After a while the match predictor graph looked liked it had been given an electric shock. “Take your time,” Kostyuk’s coach, Sandra Zaniewska yelled at her. In Gauff’s box, Brad Gilbert, who wrote the classic book Winning Ugly, clenched his fist. She hasn’t read the book but employing the author is sufficient.
Nerves, tiredness, blisters. On they went. While travelling in a car recently, Kostyuk said she’d heard a lyric which went something like “You can get to your dreams without falling asleep”. This was her first Grand Slam quarter-final and her promise was as clear as the despair she semaphored with her hands. Gauff held on to her emotions, Kostyuk exclaimed, slumped, tossed her racket, lectured her coach and asked rhetorical questions: “Why do I go to the net?”
In the second set, Kostyuk broke Gauff in the first game and then Gauff broke her back. Coaches, the greatest actors on the planet, did not break a sweat. Rod Laver was in his arena and in his time, the man whose left forearm measured 12 inches, liked to give the ball what he decorously called “a bit of a nudge”. So did these ladies, Kostyuk at one point firing in an angular smash at 177kmh.
Gauff’s forehand was misfiring like a rusty rifle yet she found her way to 5-3 in the second set. Surely this was handshake time. But Kostyuk, riding on an exquisite backhand down the line, broke her, won the second set tie-breaker and it looked like anybody’s game but really it wasn’t. Gauff had more and Kostyuk didn’t.
Here was the final lesson: champions elevate, they find more, they raise the quality. First-serve points won by Gauff in the first and second sets were 53 and 45 per cent. In the third set 100. Her average first-serve speed in the first and second set was 176kmh and 170kmh. In the third set 189. Yes, just another gear.
Gauff won the final set smoothly and it was over, a match not beautiful but raw, not sublime but scrappy. Sometimes the only art left to give is persistence. The women, both remarkable, hugged and then they disappeared into their separate worlds.
Gauff will stay at the Open and return to evening card games with her parents. Kostyuk left the premises but with a useful reminder that this was just a tennis match. “I was texting with some people from Kyiv. I said, ‘How is it? How are you guys?’ They said, ‘Well, we were looking between your score and where the missiles are flying’.”
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tennis/coco-gauff-teaches-a-lovely-lesson-how-to-win-when-your-game-isn-t-working
| 2024-01-23T12:03:33Z
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MELBOURNE - Aryna Sabalenka overpowered Barbora Krejcikova 6-2 6-3 in a brutally swift quarter-final on Tuesday to keep her Australian Open title defence firmly on course and set up a showdown with U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff.
After the first two quarter-finals on Rod Laver Arena had run for a combined seven hours, Sabalenka came out firing as if to ensure that the court schedule would be back on track before the final clash of the day.
The second seed hammered her serves and groundstrokes over the net accompanied by her trademark yelps, breaking the ninth seeded Czech three times to only the one hiccup herself and clinching the first set after little more than 30 minutes.
Sabalenka rattled through her first service game of the second set to love on the back of a couple of piledriver forehands and was soon feasting on the Czech's second serve to break the former French Open champion again.
The atmosphere on the main showcourt was subdued as the one-sided contest continued with almost everything Krejcikova tried to do to change the course of the match meeting with a howitzer of a response from the other side of the net.
In the sixth game, Krejcikova again managed to break Sabalenka - only the second player to do so at Melbourne Park this year - and followed that up with a hold to reduce the deficit to 4-3.
Krejcikova had lost the opening set in three of her four matches on the way to the last eight but there was to be no comeback against the Belarusian.
Sabalenka held with a couple of huge serves then broke the Czech to love to set up the semi-final date with American Gauff, who denied Sabalenka her second Grand Slam crown in the final at Flushing Meadows last September.
With all but one of the seeds in the top half of draw, including world number one Iga Swiatek, having already departed, the meeting between Sabalenka and Gauff could go a long way to deciding who takes home the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Trophy. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tennis/sabalenka-demolishes-krejcikova-to-set-up-gauff-semi
| 2024-01-23T12:03:43Z
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BUDAPEST - Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Tuesday he had invited his Swedish counterpart to visit and negotiate his country joining the NATO military alliance, a process that Hungary and Turkey have delayed.
Asked about the invitation, a spokesperson for Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said in a text to Reuters that Stockholm had not yet decided how to respond.
"Today I sent an invitation letter to Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson @SwedishPM for a visit to Hungary to negotiate on Sweden’s NATO accession," Orban said on the X social media platform. No specific date was proposed for the visit.
The aim of the visit would be "to build trust", Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told reporters on Tuesday.
"Political and security cooperation needs unconditional trust," he added.
Sweden applied to join NATO in May 2022 in a historic shift in its security policy prompted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February that year.
But Turkey and Hungary both raised objections, holding up a process that requires unanimity among NATO's member countries.
Finland finally joined last year but Ankara pressed Stockholm to toughen its stance on members of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) based in Sweden, which the United States and the European Union as well as Turkey deem a terrorist group.
Turkey's parliament was set to approve Sweden's NATO application later on Tuesday and President Tayyip Erdogan was expected to sign it into law in the coming days.
That would leave Hungary as the last country to ratify Swedish membership, a position that Orban's government has said it wants to avoid.
British foreign minister Lord David Cameron, in a post on X, said he had discussed with Orban on Tuesday "the importance of Sweden's swift accession to NATO, making Allies safer, NATO stronger and the Euro-Atlantic area more secure".
Hungary and Turkey both maintain better relations with Russia than other members of the U.S.-led North Atlantic Treaty Organization. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/hungarys-orban-invites-swedish-pm-for-nato-talks
| 2024-01-23T12:03:53Z
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MOSCOW - Russia launched missile strikes on Ukraine's military production facilities and successfully hit all intended targets, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Tuesday.
The strikes were carried out with air- and land-based missiles against enterprises producing missiles, explosives and ammunition, the Defence Ministry said in a statement that Reuters could not independently verify.
Ukrainian officials said earlier that Russia unleashed a mass air strike on Ukraine on Tuesday, killing at least four people and wounding more than 60 others. They said the early-morning missile attack mostly targeted the country's two largest cities, Kyiv and Kharkiv. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/russia-strikes-ukrainian-military-industrial-complex-facilities-defence-ministry
| 2024-01-23T12:04:04Z
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NEW YORK - Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez on Tuesday will urge a U.S. judge to appoint him a new lawyer and delay his drug trafficking trial, after arguing the Drug Enforcement Administration sent a rabbi to "infiltrate" his defense team.
Jorge Bar-Levy, a Florida resident who told Reuters he was ordained as a rabbi in 2019, said he helped Hernandez find a New York lawyer and get kosher meals in jail.
But Hernandez says Bar-Levy was actually "enlisted" by the DEA, citing a public statement Bar-Levy made.
"That is not a fair trial, judge," Hernandez said in a Jan. 18 court hearing.
U.S. District Judge Kevin Castel will now hear arguments in Manhattan federal court over whether Hernandez's trial on charges of protecting drug traffickers can proceed as planned on Feb. 5.
Hernandez has also requested that Castel appoint a public defender to represent him because his current lawyer, Raymond Colon, has said he is too ill to try the case.
Hernandez was a key ally to the United States on immigration and anti-narcotics operations while leading Honduras from 2014-2022. But the Justice Department said he abused his power and ran the Central American country as a "narco-state," and took millions of dollars in bribes from cartels.
Hernandez, 55, was extradited to the United States in April 2022. He has pleaded not guilty.
LAWYER COMPARES CASE TO 'NOVELA'
At last Thursday's hearing, Colon said Bar-Levy met with Hernandez's family and reported information back to the DEA. Colon said he had also met Bar-Levy "many, many times."
He compared the sequence of events to a melodramatic Latin American soap opera. "This turned into basically, as we say in Spanish, a novela," he said at the hearing.
Castel ordered prosecutors to confer with the DEA.
In a Jan. 19 letter, prosecutors acknowledged Bar-Levy met with Hernandez's family and shared information with the DEA in 2020. But they said the DEA had no contact with Bar-Levy since then and called the claim the government directed him to infiltrate Hernandez's defense team "unfounded and incorrect."
They also said they shared documents pertaining to Bar-Levy with the defense in August 2022.
PRESIDENT'S BROTHER CONVICTED
Bar-Levy also acknowledged meeting with Hernandez's relatives in early 2020 and sharing information with the DEA. But he said he told Colon about those contacts in 2022, and disputed the claim that the DEA directed him to infiltrate Hernandez's defense.
Bar-Levy told Reuters his initial meeting with Hernandez's relatives was shortly after the former president's brother Tony Hernandez was convicted on U.S. drug trafficking charges. He said the family thought he could help with legal troubles.
Bar-Levy said he had alerted the DEA of the meeting so the U.S. government would not perceive him as a "collaborator" of a foreign government, but had not had contact with the agency since 2020.
Bar-Levy said Hernandez asked him for help after he was arrested in Honduras in 2022. Bar-Levy said he referred the case to Colon, and later helped Hernandez get kosher meals in jail, but otherwise had no role in the defense. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/honduras-ex-president-says-dea-sent-rabbi-to-infiltrate-defense
| 2024-01-23T12:04:14Z
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GENEVA - The World Food Programme said on Tuesday that very little food assistance has made it beyond southern Gaza since the start of the conflict and that the risk of pockets of famine in the Palestinian enclave remained.
Israel's offensive launched in the wake of a deadly rampage by Hamas militants in southern Israel on Oct. 7 has displaced most of Gaza's 2.3 million population and caused acute shortages of food, water and medical supplies.
At least 25,295 people in Gaza have been killed, according to Palestinian authorities, with thousands more feared buried under the rubble of a coastal strip largely laid to waste.
"It's difficult to get into the places where we need to get to in Gaza, especially in northern Gaza," said Abeer Etefa, WFP spokesperson for the Middle East.
"Very little assistance has made it beyond the southern part of the Gaza Strip... I think the risk of having pockets of famine in Gaza is very much still there."
Etefa noted that there was a "systematic limitation on getting into the north of Gaza, not just for the WFP".
"This is why we're seeing people becoming more desperate and being impatient to wait for food distributions, because it's very sporadic," she said.
"They don't get it frequently, and they have no trust or confidence that these convoys will come again."
The U.N. humanitarian office this month said Israeli authorities were systematically denying it access to northern Gaza to deliver aid and this had significantly hindered the humanitarian operation there.
Israel has previously denied blocking the entry of aid.
Since the start of hostilities, aid deliveries to northern Gaza have been limited, and the area was cut off altogether from external aid for weeks earlier in the conflict. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/little-aid-reaching-gaza-prompting-risk-of-pockets-of-famine-wfp
| 2024-01-23T12:04:24Z
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SAN JOSE/MEXICO CITY - Long a byword for laidback environmental tourism, Costa Rica is now wrestling with a surge in violence so striking that its government is borrowing a page from nearby El Salvador, which took draconian steps to tackle its own crime problems.
In an effort to cut a homicide rate that has soared 40% in the last year alone, Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves has introduced tough new legislation to combat crime, dubbing El Salvador a "reference" point.
"Chaves is planning a crackdown... He's a security hardliner pushing for a course correction," said Chris Dalby, director of the World of Crime think tank. "'Mano dura' (firm hand) talk plays well."
Chaves' ideas include increasing jail sentences for minors to the adult maximum of 50 years, allowing extraditions, and extending use of preventive detention, making it easier to hold suspects with limited evidence.
"Extraordinary times require extraordinary measures," Chaves said as he presented his National Security Plan in November.
Costa Rica is one of a growing number of Latin American countries seeking to tackle the expansion of drug cartel activity by emulating Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele's sweeping crackdown.
Bukele's suspension of constitutional rights, which among other things allows police to indefinitely detain suspected gang members without the right to a lawyer, has elicited strong condemnation by human rights campaigners.
But it has had a significant impact on crime and is domestically popular, putting Bukele on the verge of a historic re-election next month. And it has become a beacon for regional politicians battling gangs, from Chile to Ecuador.
While Chaves insists he doesn't want to become exactly like Bukele, his plan is still a radical shift for Costa Rica, which has traditionally taken a gentler approach to crime prevention.
Many in the opposition-controlled Congress publicly still cleave to that approach, but even there, whispers of support for tougher policies are growing, fueled by fears for the country's $2 billion tourism sector.
"(Bukele's) work dismantling organized crime has been excellent and worth analyzing to replicate in Costa Rica," David Segura, a lawmaker in the opposition conservative New Republic party said in a recent social media post.
Costa Rica saw its murder rate jump to 17.2 per 100,000 people in 2023 from 11.7 in 2018. By contrast in El Salvador, the rate plunged to 2.4 after being the highest in the world less than a decade earlier.
Bukele was voted Costa Ricans' favorite political leader in an October survey by research firm Indice. Meanwhile, Chaves' own poll ratings have plummeted nearly 30 percentage points since his election in May 2022.
CHANGING WINDS
Analysts say Costa Rica's spike in homicides has been driven by gang warfare among cocaine traffickers. Gang recruitment was helped by growing social discontent and unemployment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Political friction with neighboring Nicaragua and Honduras has also hindered regional security cooperation, which analysts say has fed a sharp drop in cocaine seizures in Costa Rica.
Costa Rica's traditionally light-touch handling of suspects - who are often simply given precautions in lieu of arrest - has also fueled the problem, according to Jorge Torres, Chaves' security chief.
"How can a strong 17-year-old boy who killed a citizen with an AK-47 be treated like an 8-year-old boy who stole some candy?," Chaves said in October, arguing criminal groups recruit minors precisely because they often get off scot-free.
For now, Chaves' "mano dura" bill is stuck in Congress, with opposition critics calling it anti-Costa Rican and authoritarian.
"We live in a democracy. We're not El Salvador or any of those countries that violate individual rights," said Gloria Navas, a New Republic lawmaker who heads the congressional committee on Security and Drug Trafficking.
Chaves needs the backing of at least 29 of 57 lawmakers for most of the proposals, and his party currently has only nine seats. But he has been able to previously pass legislation with support from other conservative factions.
Chaves' other challenge is that Costa Rica is less used to pursuing narcos than its neighbors, having abolished its army over 70 years ago to prioritize progressive welfare policies.
Proponents of the welfare-first approach say historically that helped to shield Costa Rica from violence long prevalent in much of Central America, and that more welfare spending could do so again.
Laura Chinchilla, president from 2010 to 2014, said she had successfully curbed violence by preventing the poor from falling into crime.
"I don't think we have to resort to the militarized models of other countries," she told Reuters. "If we've done it (the peaceful way) for a lifetime, we should be able to do it now."
Others in Congress think Chaves' plan doesn't go far enough.
Opposition conservative lawmaker Lesley Bojorges recently backed the idea of harsh El Salvador-style prisons, while judicial chief Randall Zuñiga has expounded the merits of more detentions.
Sergio Araya, a political scientist at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, a conservative think tank, said such tougher approaches were on track to become more popular with Costa Ricans weary of crime in the coming months and years.
"There's likely to be growing support for ideas in the so-called 'Bukele model,'" he said. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/once-tranquil-costa-rica-eyes-salvadoran-inspired-response-to-crime-surge
| 2024-01-23T12:04:35Z
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If you've ever watched The Wire, Breaking Bad, or have simply hung around with some interesting people during your time on Earth, you have probably come across the term "burner phones".
Burner phones are generally depicted as being used by drug dealers, or others trying to keep their activities a secret, usually for nefarious purposes. But the phones themselves are not special, and in fact, were in fairly standard use around 20 years ago, sold as "pay-as-you-go" handsets. All they really are is old handsets with pay-as-you-go sim cards inside. What makes them "burner" phones is the willingness of the owner to "burn" them at a moment's notice, destroying either the sim card, phone, or both.
Why do drug dealers use them? One reason is simply that they are preferable to the alternative. If you are going to use a phone to arrange drug deals and then be caught by law enforcement, it's best if you don't have a contract with a phone company linking that phone to you and your address. See also: why drug dealers (generally) don't insist on bank transfers over untraceable cash.
That doesn't mean that burner phones are untraceable to law enforcement. If they were to get ahold of a burner phone, police could have access to the text messages and call records stored on it. Linking it to drug dealers might be more difficult, however, unless they were silly enough to have bought it using a card, or were caught on CCTV buying the phone in question, or topping it up. This was how law enforcement caught up with Rex Heuermann, currently on trial accused of murdering three women found dead on the Long Island beachfront in 2010. According to the police, part of the evidence against him is that a burner phone used to contact the victims was purchased by Heuermann using his American Express card.
"While burner phones offer a higher level of anonymity compared to regular phones, they are not completely untraceable," cyber expert Shanal Aggarwal told How Stuff Works. "Burner phones can be traced by law enforcement agencies using various methods, such as call detail records (CDRs), location tracking, surveillance and Stingray devices."
Of course, there are other ways to keep your information secure (there are legitimate reasons to do this) without anything as dramatic as setting your phone on fire every few weeks, including encryption and VPNs. Burners, when people using them take caution not to connect to the Internet, and discard them quickly before moving onto the next burner, can provide people with extra anonymity. But if the phone is found, there are still ways it can be traced back to its owner.
“Your phone is a tracking device,” cybersecurity expert Jake Moore told The Guardian. “If you are moving around with a burner phone and you’ve still got your other phone with you, then law enforcement can do some triangulation on where you were.”
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https://www.iflscience.com/burner-phones-are-they-really-untraceable-72559
| 2024-01-23T12:44:10Z
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As advanced as the human race is and probably will ever be, one thing nevertheless seems to stay true: as a species, we’re weirdly obsessed with dicks. If we’re not worrying about whether it’s big enough – it is, calm down – then we’re repurposing heart and blood pressure medication to try and make sure it’s hard enough.
But before you get yourself thrown out of the clinic for drug-seeking behavior, perhaps there’s something else you can swallow that’ll get things straightened out again: Your goddamn vegetables.
Eggplant: more than just an emoji
It may not be exciting, but one of the best ways you can look after your erectile function is to keep your heart healthy. “The mechanisms are interconnected,” Aedin Cassidy, a professor at Queen’s University Belfast’s School of Biological Sciences, told the BBC in 2023.
As such, erectile dysfunction, or ED, is “a kind of barometer of heart health,” she explained, and could be an “early warning that you may have heart health problems.” In fact, the two problems are so closely related that for men above 55, experiencing a significant episode of erectile dysfunction imparts a one in fifty chance of having a major stroke or heart attack within the year.
So, if we’re asking what foods can help with erectile problems, it’s helpful to look at which help your heart and blood pressure. Top of the list? Fresh fruit and vegetables.
“If you are worried about erectile dysfunction (ED), you might want to turn to the produce section,” explains a Harvard Health writeup of a seminal 2016 study into the role of specific nutrients on the condition. It followed more than 25,000 men over ten years, linking up the incidences of ED with participants’ intake of a type of chemical compound known as flavonoids.
“Of the main types of flavonoids, three had the greatest benefit: anthocyanins, flavanones, and flavones,” the page reports. “High levels of these natural plant chemicals are found in berries, like blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries, as well as cherries, grapes, apples, pears, and citrus fruit.”
The impact of these little blue berries wasn’t small, either: the researchers found that men who ate an average of at least three portions of flavonoid-rich foods each week were around ten percent less likely to experience erectile dysfunction. And some more good news: you can also get the pecker-perking ingredients from indulgences like cocoa and red wine (though, to be clear, they weren’t as good as the fruit and veg.)
The weird thing is, we’re not quite sure why. There are some likely theories, though: flavonoids are known to affect the concentration of nitric oxide in the blood, which can help you harden up – this is actually how Viagra works – so that probably has something to do with it. Leafy greens like spinach and arugula (rocket, for readers outside North America) also contain high levels of nitrates, so add a few to your salad while you’re there.
Previous research also suggests that flavonoids can inhibit the effects of certain artery-constricting proteins, which will likely have a beneficial effect on erectile function too. “The penis acts as a window to the health of the circulatory system,” wrote Doug Lording, an endocrinologist and andrologist at Cabrini Hospital and Honorary Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at Monash University, in a 2014 article for The Conversation.
“As blood vessels in the penis are smaller, they may be affected earlier than other parts of the body, such as the heart.”
Oil me up
Fresh produce is a great start, but many studies have highlighted the benefits of taking it further. The so-called “Mediterranean diet” – one with a lot of fruit and vegetables, but also whole grains, nuts and seeds, herbs, healthy fats like olive oil, and fish – is a favorite recommendation for those hoping to add some wood to their chuck.
Why is this combination of foods so beneficial? It’s likely a variety of things: omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to reduce erectile dysfunction, at least in rats, so foods high in this compound – like fish, nuts, some oils, flax, and leafy greens – may help erectile performance.
At least one long-term analysis has pinpointed olive oil as a beneficial ingredient for erectile health too – though (ironically) it has to be virgin or extra virgin, since the properties that likely help with erectile dysfunction are destroyed in the refinement process. Tomatoes – key for the diet that gave us recipes like pizza and pasta pomodoro – are also fantastic for beefing up your boner: they “are rich in vitamin C, carotenoids (lycopene) and polyphenols (rutin),” notes the study, “and also contribute to prevent vascular dysfunction in ED by exhibiting anti-inflammatory properties, improving NO availability, and normalizing aortic vasoconstriction.”
Overall, however, the bedroom success of the Mediterranean diet may simply come down to the same cardio-dick connection as before. “A Mediterranean diet [is] linked with better exercise capacity, healthier arteries and blood flow, higher testosterone levels, and better erectile performance,” said Athanasios Angelis of the University of Athens, Greece, back in 2021.
He had just presented his research, which measured the correlation between adherence to a Mediterranean diet, and erectile dysfunction in 250 middle-aged men with high blood pressure. The results were clear: the participants who followed a Mediterranean diet showed higher tolerance for exercise, higher testosterone levels, better coronary and vascular health, and of course, improved erectile performance.
“The findings suggest that the Mediterranean diet could play a role in maintaining several parameters of vascular health and quality of life,” Angelis said.
Watermelon, no sugar
Remember how tomatoes were recommended because of their lycopene content? That’s a type of antioxidant which, despite its name, does not give you a wolf dick – but studies have noted that low intake of the chemical seems to be linked to erectile dysfunction.
Once again, we’re not quite sure of the mechanism here, but rat studies have shown that lycopene can significantly lower blood glucose, reducing oxidative stress and releasing more of that sweet sweet nitric oxide. Its other main effect is to make things red – so look out for things like pink grapefruit or red peppers to cook up alongside the tomatoes.
Or, of course, you could try watermelon. Not only is this a source of lycopene, but it also contains the amino acid citrulline – a substance that research is tentatively beginning to link to improved erectile performance.
“Research into the effects of citrulline and watermelon is relatively new,” notes Medical News Today, and most studies on it "have been small or looked only at animals. As such, it is too early to say there is conclusive proof that watermelon can act as a natural Viagra.”
Nevertheless, they report, “preliminary research is promising […] most men can safely try watermelon juice or citrulline supplements as an alternative to Viagra.”
After all, what could it hurt? Even if it doesn’t give you a citrulline-induced hard-on, it’s still fresh fruit – and really, that’s the takeaway from all this.
“Ultimately, there’s no harm in trying to live a healthier lifestyle,” Neel Patel, a GP from LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor, told the BBC.
“Ensuring you’re eating a balanced diet with the recommended amount of fruit, vegetables and whole grains is a brilliant place to start.”
The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
All “explainer” articles are confirmed by fact checkers to be correct at time of publishing. Text, images, and links may be edited, removed, or added to at a later date to keep information current.
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https://www.iflscience.com/could-your-diet-help-you-avoid-erective-dysfunction-72577
| 2024-01-23T12:44:16Z
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On February 6, 2023, one of the worst earthquake sequences of the 21st century rocked Turkey and Syria, killing over 59,000 people and displacing many more. It can be hard to imagine the colossal geological forces that produce these disasters, but a new collection of photography from the wake of the disaster manages to illustrate just that.
In the days following the quakes, scientists from the China University of Geosciences, the US Geological Survey, and the Middle East Technical University rushed to eastern Turkey to document the surface deformations caused by the earthquake.
One of their photographs shows how a once-straight railway track became bent with a prominent curve as a result of both ground shaking and liquefaction. Likewise, drone photography of farmland shows how the quakes radically shifted the fields, so much so that rows of crops have become dramatically offset.
Earthquakes are primarily caused by the sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust due to tectonic plate boundaries (known as fault zones) crashing into each other and/or grinding past one another. The built-up stress can exceed the strength of the rocks, leading to a sudden rupture and the release of energy in the form of seismic waves that shake the ground.
When major geological upsets like this happen, soil liquefaction can occur. Strong shaking can disturb the strength and stiffness of the ground’s top layer, causing it to behave like an oozing syrup. This is how we see surface deformations like the bent train track, which defies our everyday perception of “trusty old Earth” being rigid and immutable.
The 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake was, in fact, two earthquakes. The initial rupture occurred in the early hours of Monday, February 6, around the Dead Sea fault zone, but the most intense shaking (magnitude 7.8) happened 24 seconds later when the rupture reached the East Anatolian fault zone (EAFZ). Some 7 hours later, a magnitude 4.5 aftershock hit the junction of the EAFZ with the Çardak-Sürgü fault, sparking a second major earthquake (magnitude 7.5) 86 minutes later.
Using their imagery, the researchers were able to gain an even more detailed idea of how the February 2023 earthquake unfolded.
“The surface deformation, together with the geophysical data show that the rupture sequence started slowly on the Africa/Arabia plate boundary, and when the rupture hit the Arabia/Anatolia boundary, it exploded, like a bullet hitting a bomb, and activated the entire East Anatolian fault system, causing the vast destruction,” a press release about the project explains.
“Lessons learned will help protect other communities in earthquake-prone areas in the future,” it added.
The study is published in the journal Science.
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https://www.iflscience.com/dramatic-images-show-how-turkeys-giant-2023-earthquake-broke-the-earth-72573
| 2024-01-23T12:44:20Z
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As far as rare colorations go, funky-looking lobsters seem to be pulled out of the ocean pretty regularly, and in the name of science, The University of New England (UNE) in Maine is building quite the collection of these beautiful beasts.
While lobsters usually come in orange or red, they also have a peculiar tendency to appear in virtually every other color too. Fishing vessels have caught examples of bright blue, yellow, calico, seemingly transparent, and even split-color lobster variations, with many either being released or donated to research centers. Now, a team at UNE has launched a study into the genetic mechanisms behind these extraordinary variations.
Research into and knowledge surrounding these color variations is currently limited, but with the help of UNE’s growing collection, that could soon change. “At this point, no one really knows in detail why some lobsters develop these multicolor variations,” Markus Frederich, professor of marine sciences at UNE said in a statement, “though we do have some theories.”
“We have access to all these different lobsters, and we have the students who are eager to do the research. We thought, ‘Let’s jump on this.’”
UNE is currently home to (IFLScience favorite) Banana the bright yellow lobster, as well as Currant, who is a blue-brown split, and Fig, a baby purple lobster. The genetic makeup of these species will be decoded in the hope of identifying the genes responsible for the seemingly random color anomalies.
In their investigation efforts, the team highlighted the need for developing non-invasive testing methods that won’t harm the lobsters. In addition to being able to feel pain, the specimens held at the university range in rarity from around one-in-30 to one-in-50 million, so their protection is vital to the research.
Additionally, the team is tending to the eggs of an orange lobster, which are expected to hatch this spring, with the aim of monitoring the proportion of offspring that emerge as orange.
Despite currently holding a healthy and diverse range of rare lobsters, when studying genetic diversity and abnormalities, the more the merrier. Frederich plans to establish a sustainable research partnership that allows local lobstermen to send rare specimens to UNE for study before their release back into the wild.
“This is the type of project that plays to both UNE’s strengths and our goals,” said Charles Tilburg, academic director of UNE’s School of Marine and Environmental Programs. “Dr. Frederich and his team are performing novel, interesting research while partnering with a local industry, providing outstanding training for our students, and answering important questions in the field.”
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https://www.iflscience.com/mysteries-behind-1-in-50-million-super-rare-lobster-colors-may-soon-have-an-answer-72575
| 2024-01-23T12:44:20Z
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Researchers have announced the detection of a new fast radio burst (FRB), a mysterious and very powerful astronomical event. These flashes of radio waves pack the energy released by the Sun over several days into a fraction of a second. The new one is the farthest and most powerful ever detected, and also comes from a completely unexpected place.
A lot of FRBs have been flashes in the pan, happening once and then never again. Others are seen repeating. Researchers have been able to track events in both camps and most of them come from isolated galaxies. But not this one. This comes from a group of galaxies that are in the process of merging.
When the Australian Square Kilometer Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) radio telescope picked up the signal of FRB 20220610A, astronomers knew they had something special on their hands. It was four times more energetic than other FRBs. Follow-up with the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope suggested it came from something really far away. But only thanks to Hubble could they see the merging group of galaxies that existed when the universe was 5 billion years old.
"It required Hubble's keen sharpness and sensitivity to pinpoint exactly where the FRB came from," lead author Alexa Gordon, of Northwestern University, said in a statement. "Without Hubble's imaging, it would still remain a mystery as to whether this was originating from one monolithic galaxy or from some type of interacting system. It's these types of environments – these weird ones – that are driving us toward better understanding the mystery of FRBs."
Previous FRBs have been linked to magnetars, neutron stars with an incredible magnetic field, interacting with other objects. But this profile doesn’t fit all cases. There might be multiple ways for FRBs to form, or we might be missing a unifying characteristic. The environment where this one comes from is certainly peculiar – a galaxy interacting with at least another six.
"We are ultimately trying to answer the questions: What causes them? What are their progenitors and what are their origins? The Hubble observations provide a spectacular view of the surprising types of environments that give rise to these mysterious events," added co-investigator Wen-fai Fong, also of Northwestern University.
FRBs have only been studied for less than two decades and they are discovered serendipitously. Radio observatories coming online in the coming years will possess much higher precision, which will allow more discoveries of FRBs and greater insight. Hopefully, enough insights to provide some answers.
"We just need to keep finding more of these FRBs, both nearby and far away, and in all these different types of environments," said Gordon.
The results were presented at the 243rd meeting of the American Astronomical Society in New Orleans, Louisiana earlier this month.
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https://www.iflscience.com/notorious-and-puzzling-radio-signal-traced-back-to-a-truly-unusual-place-72574
| 2024-01-23T12:44:26Z
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Scientists have broken the record for the smallest and tightest molecular knot, creating a chemical that self-assembles into a knot with the formula [Au6{1,2-C6H4(OCH2CC)2}3{Ph2P(CH2)4PPh2}3]. The makers highlight the six gold atoms at the start by referring to the entire molecule as Au6.
The way a molecule affects others depends not just on the elements it's composed of, but on the shape these take on. Complex molecules can be folded in vast numbers of ways, and sometimes only one of these will produce the desired biological effects. Predicting and controlling such folding is considered one of the hardest problems in science, and one where computers are only just starting to displace humans.
Knots represent the extreme end of this. It’s not easy to tie even long thin strands of atoms into knots because you can’t just grab the ends like pieces of rope on a sailboat. Finding ways to make molecules knot can help develop humanity’s capacity for more practical knotting. Since DNA, RNA, and many proteins knot without human intervention, performing knotting of our own helps us understand these vital molecules’ behavior.
Knots are categorized by the number of crossings. Au6 forms the simplest kind of non-trivial knot, with three crossings, and is known as a trefoil.
Chemists cannot measure the tightness of molecular knots in a physical sense, so they use the number of atoms in the knotted strand, dividing by the number of crossings, as a proxy. The fewer atoms per crossing, the tighter a knot is.
Au6, produced by a team including Professor Richard Puddephatt of the University of Western Ontario, has just 54 atoms in its backbone. This compares with the previous record for a metallaknot of 69, while no organic trefoil knot has been achieved with fewer than 76 atoms. Much larger knots, with far more crossings, have achieved tightness scores as low as 24, but Au6’s 54 atoms and tightness score of 18 easily beats all. Theoretical models suggest that 50 atoms may be a minimum for a knot.
Most molecular knot-making involves creating ever more complex knots, but there is a niche subfield in producing ever-tighter knots, as the below video accompanying an earlier record proves.
Small knots have generally been made by using metal ions to draw helical chains into a targeted shape and then pulling the metals out to leave a knot behind. It’s a stepping stone to stronger and lighter plastics, among other things.
Au6, however, is made differently, and Puddephatt told New Scientist it was an accident. They were mixing two liquids containing different molecules to make structures with interlinked, but not knotted, chains called catenanes. Using X-ray crystallography to study the product, they found some of the catenanes had self-assembled into trefoil knots.
“We’ve made many combinations of gold acetylides and phosphine ligands and they’ve never before given a trefoil knot,” said Puddephatt. “We hadn’t predicted that this would happen in this case, so it was serendipity.” He also acknowledged the process was not fully understood, although it is repeatable and has potential for use in more complex situations.
The study is published in Nature Communications.
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https://www.iflscience.com/worlds-smallest-tightest-knot-ever-created-is-just-54-atoms-long-72578
| 2024-01-23T12:44:31Z
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Kate Rowe-Ham is a powerhouse when it comes to menopause. The 47-year-old even penned a book on the subject, Owning Your Menopause: Fitter, Calmer, Stronger in 30 Days, sharing her wisdom with the masses.
That said, when she began experiencing perimenopause symptoms herself at 41, Kate was not prepared for what was to come and felt ill-equipped for the way menopause would impact every element of her life, from her marriage and her friendships to her health.
"I had heart palpitations, breathlessness and crippling anxiety," Kate says. "There were times when I thought I was going to die and told my husband to tell the doctors it was my heart, because my palpitations were so bad."
The impact menopause had on Kate's relationship with her husband was one of the biggest shocks, with the personal trainer sharing many of her friends ended up going through divorces while grappling with menopause.
"You don't know who you are anymore and you can grow apart from your partner," Kate said of the way menopause can impact our closest relationships.
"I was shouting at my husband and my kinds, and looking back, I wouldn't have wanted to live with me then. It's a really difficult time of transition and a lot of marriages don't come back from it."
Navigating marriage during menopause
Kate worried about her husband's reaction to her explaining that she was perimenopausal.
"He might switch me out for a younger, more versatile model," she fretted, before realising it was a relief that her feelings of anger and isolation were explained. "I realised we had a way back and that this was a solvable issue."
INSPIRATION: Menopause made me feel like an imposter – but now I'm more liberated than ever
"I told him he was going to have to bear with me for however long it took to come out the other side," Kate said of how she and her husband navigated menopause.
"It's frustrating, because when you have young children your relationship might take a backseat, then as you get back on track, menopause starts," but there is a way to reframe the transition.
A new relationship chapter
Kate explains that if we see raising children together as the second chapter in our relationship, navigating and coming through menopause together is a third chapter to look forward to.
"We agreed to stick around together because it's worth it. We love each other," Kate says. "It's been difficult but we've got so much still to look forward to. It's about feeling positive about the future.
"It might not be great right now, but there are always good times ahead."
Read more inspiring stories of women in their second act and buy Owning Your Menopause: Fitter, Calmer, Stronger in 30 Days here.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/brides/511860/relationships-menopause-tough-marriage/
| 2024-01-23T13:23:38Z
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Just days after celebrating her eldest daughter Lexi's 18th birthday, attention turned towards Amanda Holden's second daughter Hollie who turned 12 on Tuesday.
The Britain's Got Talent judge took to her Instagram page to share a collage of throwback pictures, with Katy Perry's song Fireworks playing in the background. In the caption, she gushed about her "rainbow baby".
"My youngest is 12 today!! #January babies. #HRH Hollie Rose Hughes," wrote Amanda. "You burst into our lives this day and brought us sooo much happiness and joy [rainbow emoji] our rainbow baby.
"Our light. You're the most funny ,clever & beautiful girl. Cartwheeling in the garden and ruining all socks!.(obsessed with skin care at 11!!! And desperate for TikTok! (you're still not having it.) But @drunkelephant and @soldejaneiro coming your way this morning. We love you so much. Mama & Dada xx."
Amanda and her record producer husband Chris Hughes share two daughters, Lexi and Hollie. The pair met in Los Angeles back in 2003 and began dating a year later.
They tied the knot in December 2008, with their one-year-old daughter Lexi in attendance. However, the couple sadly lost their son, Theo, after he stillborn at seven months in 2011. A year later, both Amanda and Chris welcomed their second daughter Hollie.
Over the weekend, Amanda threw her daughter Lexi an 18th birthday bash to remember, where she was seen dancing to Sophie Ellis-Bextor's hit song Murder on the Dancefloor. She wrote: "The latest trend. #murderonthedancefloor @lexi.hughes_official 18th … enjoy the entire long version with all guests is on my TikTok account…" Watch the clip below
Upon uploading the post, Amanda received some backlash from fans – and ITV host Lorraine Kelly. During the showbiz segment with Tyler West, viewers were shown the clip. "It was great. I have no words for this. I have no words for that performance right there," he told Lorraine.
"The thing is, I could never imagine my mum walking into my 18th birthday party going, 'Look guys, I know you've all seen Saltburn, here's my performance.'"
Surprised and in shock, Lorraine laughed: "It's like, 'Muuum! Mum, stop it!' She's hilarious." One fan quipped: "Mum at 18th birthday party!! Stealing show bit cringy." A second wrote: "Oh dear MUM... Me thinks you don't know your place. It's really NOT about YOU..."
But others were quick to defend Amanda, with one writing: "Shocking comments, clearly people who want to make judgmental comments are the ones who are embarrassing… she's having a fabulous night with her family & friends & let the woman enjoy it… I would be getting down with all my daughters friends too!!! Enjoy life, share love not hate."
Another post read: "Love this, I had a great relationship with my Mum and I was very proud of her as I imagine your daughter is of you too. A 18th to remember, singing, dancing, being around friends! I hope you all had a great time."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/511866/amanda-holden-tribute-rainbow-baby-hollie-12th-birthday/
| 2024-01-23T13:23:44Z
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As her son Duff turned 22, Lara Spencer shared a heartwarming revelation about him which many people might not know.
Taking to Instagram, the mom of two penned a tribute to her son on his birthday, writing: "Happy GOLDEN Birthday Duff!!! Found this video today. My son filling in for my beloved Dad, walking me down the aisle."
The Good Morning America anchor shared a video of her beloved son, then-aged 17, walking her down the aisle at her wedding to second husband Richard McVey. Lara stunned in the lacy white wedding dress as she walked across the grass accompanied by the tall teenager.
Duff stepped in to walk his mom down the aisle in what would have been an incredibly emotional moment, as Lara's own father passed away in January 2011.
The TV host continued: "That was 5 plus years ago and what a moment for me. But 22 years ago today --1-22-02--now THAT was everything. The day I gave birth to this kid--and my life as a mom began. I love you my Duff. Wishing you a year filled with happiness, good health, great adventures, and a million laughs."
The photos were a snapshot of Duff's life so far, highlighting his love of sport and his family.
Lara shared a number of photos of her son over the years, including ones of him and his sister Kat growing up. She even had a photo of herself with her son and daughter, smiling brightly.
The two kids are currently at university, as Duff is studying at Southern Methodist University in Dallas Texas. Meanwhile his younger sister Kat, 19, is at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Texas, where Lara's GMA co-star George Stephanopoulos daughter with Ali Wentworth is also a freshman.
Needless to say, fans flocked to wish Lara's son a happy birthday.
"What a handsome young man and how proud you must be!! Hope the Birthday Boy has a great day", one fan wrote. Another chimed in: "Happy birthday to your wonderful son".
One person added: "I know this is a happy birthday post so happy birthday! But can we talk for a minute how fantastic you looked on your wedding day!?! Wow."
As Lara's embraced her recent empty nest life, she revealed that she's been adopting dogs for a while now. She wrote on Instagram: "I fell in love this morning on GMA. I would adopt this lover in ONE second if I hadn't just adopted another rescue pup a week ago (my husband would probably ask to be adopted if I brought another one home)."
"BUT you can!!!!!!His name is CHIEF and he is proof positive that a pit bull mix deserves the same loving care as all other breeds. He's a big teddy bear that just wants to cuddle and play. 10 months old, healthy as can be, and ready to keep your bed or sofa warm for you."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/511867/good-morning-america-lara-spencer-emotional-revelation-son-turns-22/
| 2024-01-23T13:23:50Z
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Kim Kardashian is used to feedback from her fashion forward 10-year-old and we wonder what she'll think of her mom's latest look.
On Tuesday, Kim took to her Instagram stories to flash some skin in some sexy sleepwear from SKIMS. In the first video, Kim modeled a tiny bralet and long pants, which were adorned with hearts.
She proudly showed off her gym-toned physique as she twirled for the camera in the Valentine's Day drop attire.
She then slipped into a silky, pink two piece with lace trim, which she confessed she was "obsessed with". "@skims vday drops tomorrow," she reminded her followers.
While fans will likely adore the latest love-inspired collection, we never know what North will have to say.
She's one of her mom's harshest critics and she's slammed Kim's fashion choices in the past. Take for example, Kim's Met Gala Schiaparelli dress which she wore as a tribute to Karl Lagerfeld.
It was dripping in 50,000 real pearls and the ensemble turned heads when Kim hit the red carpet for the star-studded event in May.
However, North didn't like it one bit and said: "It looks beachy and the pearls look fake," leaving the designer to confess: "This is my worst nightmare."
Most recently, she also shared make-up free photos of Kim on TikTok and cheekily quipped: "Such a good picture," accompanied by several crying-laughing emojis.
North's confidence leads to some comical moments, and Kim has even branded North a "scammer" during an interview with GQ as she opened up about her firstborn's entrepreneurial spirit.
Speaking about North's savvy business strategy while hosting a lemonade stand, she told the outlet: "She makes signs. She stays there hours and hours. "Her friends help, so she splits the money with them," Kim explained as she detailed how North brings along a pitcher, a wagon, table and chairs and even a fan.
However, she switches up the prices depending on who her customers are. While she charges $2 for a glass of lemonade to passersby, she ups the price significantly for those she's familiar with.
"If she knows you, she will fully scam you," Kim said, recounting how friends have called her to say North charged them $20 for a glass. North's clever tactic? "She'll grab their $20 and say, 'I don't have any change.'"
Kim has expressed to her daughter the importance of giving honest opinions while being considerate of others' feelings on The Kardashians.
"There’s a way to be honest and not hurt people’s feelings, and I want you to learn that because there’s a way to say, 'No, I might not love that.'"
Reflecting on North's honesty, Kim expressed in a confessional, "Sometimes I just want people to lie to me and be nice."
Kim later acknowledged in a confessional, "North won’t lie, and that’s amazing. I’m trying to teach her you don’t need to jump in and annihilate people for no reason. There’s a way to soften it up and not hurt people’s feelings."
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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| 2024-01-23T13:23:56Z
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Michael Strahan's daughter Isabella has escaped to sunnier climes ahead of starting chemotherapy following her brain tumor diagnosis in October 2023.
The 19-year-old – who has completed her radiation treatment – was diagnosed with a rare cancerous brain tumor called medulloblastoma, which starts in the lower back part of the brain that controls coordination and movement.
After undergoing surgery to remove the fast-growing 4-centimeter tumor, and a grueling recovery including learning to walk again, Isabella is finally enjoying some much-needed R & R.
Taking to Instagram on Monday, the USC student shared some stunning bikini-clad photos of herself soaking up the sun with her twin sister Sophia.
Both Isabella and Sophia looked gorgeous in their bikinis as they embraced in one sweet photo which saw Isabella lovingly gaze at her twin.
Isabella shared a carousel of images of herself rocking a black and red two-piece emblazoned with a cherry print while also wearing a large straw hat.
Another photo showed her wearing a black bikini while posing on the beach – and she looked so happy and relaxed.
Sophia, meanwhile, looked equally as stunning in a purple bikini and posted a clip of her and her sister lounging in a pool while staring out at their incredible surroundings.
The siblings are extremely close and after Isabella's diagnosis was shared publicly, Sophia was quick to pen a touching tribute to her twin.
"I’m so lucky to have the most amazing sister and best friend in the world," she posted on Instagram alongside photos of the two together in recent months.
"The last few months have been so much harder than we could have ever imagined, but it’s made me realize just how strong you are. You inspire me and I’m so proud of you. Us forever."
Isabella's latest bikini-clad photos come after she admitted that she had been reluctant to take pictures of herself as the cancer treatment had left her feeling not "like myself".
"I just had a Sephora ad come out, that I shot in May 2023. So, it’s super exciting," she said in her first video post for her blog.
"But I remember being so excited to go to the store and take a selfie with it and I can’t do that right now because I don't really feel like myself or that person in the ad."
She added: “These past two months, it’s been rough. It’s been challenging and it’s been very hard, but I know I’ll get through it.
"I know time will heal and things will get back to being — I can’t really say normal because there’s not really normal now in my life, but things will get back to being calmer."
Isabella was diagnosed with medulloblastoma in late October, but it wasn't until January that she and her dad revealed she had cancer during an interview with Robin Roberts on GMA.
"It's been like, two months of keeping it quiet, which is definitely difficult," she told Robin. "I don't wanna hide it anymore 'cause it's hard to always keep [it] in."
Isabella will soon head to Duke Children's Hospital & Health Center in Durham, North Carolina – her twin sister Sophia attends Duke – to start chemotherapy.
While there, she plans on sharing her journey with chemotherapy and recovery, through a YouTube series that will benefit her hospital.
She told Robin: "I hope to just kind of be a voice, and be [someone] who people, maybe [those who] are going through chemotherapy or radiation can look at."
Get the lowdown on the biggest, hottest celebrity news, features and profiles coming out of the U.S. Sign up to our HELLO! Hollywood newsletterand get them delivered straight to your inbox.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/fashion/celebrity-style/511857/gma-michael-strahan-daughters-isabella-sophia-wow-bikini-photos/
| 2024-01-23T13:24:02Z
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The Queen stepped out for two public outings in one day and there was a certain detail in the royal's style choices that caught our eye, and let's just say it was a more unconventional choice from Camilla.
The royal was seen out in Swindon wearing a tan brushed coat with stitching detailing down the front and on the sleeves. She teamed it with a traditional country chic ensemble - a khaki green round neck jumper with a red tartan pleated skirt.
King Charles' wife topped off the look with a pair of over-the-knee black suede boots by Russell and Bromley. The royal's hair was worn in her signature blow-dry and her makeup was kept simple with her new trendy overlined lip look and a lick of mascara.
Camilla popped on her favourite 'Vintage Alhambra 5 Motifs 18-carat Yellow Gold & Agate Bracelet' by Van Cleef & Arpels but royal onlookers may not have noticed an unusual detail in the Queen's jewellery choices. Camilla was seen wearing mismatched earrings.
Though they were both pretty pieces, the earrings did not match in the slightest. On her right side, she wore a gold statement earring with diamond chips and on the other side, she wore a pearl drop earring.
Her Majesty usually sticks to traditional jewellery choices, after all, Van Cleef & Arpels is one of her most-worn brands and it has a long-standing history as a brand worn by aristocracy. Jewellery expert Stefano Pietrini, from Watches and Crystals, told HELLO! that: Van Cleef & Arpels' long history of dressing the most elite members of society, coupled with its fine craftsmanship and highest quality jewels, is what makes it so popular among royals, even to this day."
Camilla visited a refuge centre before heading to Deacon & Son Jewellers who are celebrating 175 years of trading.
The royal was seen meeting the company's manager director Richard Deacon who showed her a collection of carriage clocks and even tried on a Rolex Oyster Perpetual herself. She later visited the Deacon & Son Jewellers workshop where the team use traditional skills and craftsmanship in making and repairing clocks, watches and jewellery, before stepping onto the streets of Swindon that were lined with well-wishers. Many held out cards for the King who will undergo treatment for an enlarged prostate.
The royal stepped out just days earlier to open the new 'Safe Space' during a visit to Aberdeen Art Gallery in Scotland, as part of an initiative to guide those who suspect someone is living with domestic abuse. She wore a caramel-coloured checked dress coat by Roy Allen which paired with the same suede boots by Russell and Bromley and the 'Mini Venice Bag in Forest Grain' by Demellier London.
DISCOVER: Who are Queen Camilla’s children and teen grandchildren?
Before that, Her Majesty styled the stylish boots with a dressier coat for a special occasion. She was seen with her husband the King attending the New Year's Eve Mattins service at the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate wearing a stunning aquamarine Bruce Oldfield tweed dress coat with a black leather clutch by Anna Valentine x Charles Laurie, leather gloves and a beautiful flower-adorned hat by Philip Treacy.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/fashion/royal-style/511855/queen-camilla-trendy-mismatched-earrings-did-you-notice/
| 2024-01-23T13:24:08Z
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Is there any modelling feat that Kate Moss cannot conquer? Apparently not, judging by the 50-year-old's latest work for British beauty brand Charlotte Tilbury.
Over the course of her multifaceted career, the supermodel has proven the breadth of her ability.
From ethereal Alexander McQueen muse to magnum-eating Marie Antoinette for Vivienne Westwood, Kate has range.
READ: Kate Moss turns 50: Her most iconic looks of all time
And her most recent campaign presents yet more evidence to justify her place as one of fashion's most striking beauties.
Kate teamed up with her friend, long-term collaborator and go-to makeup mogul Charlotte Tilbury to pay tribute to one of Hollywood's most revered and adored on-screen style moments.
MORE: Kate Moss' most unforgettable 90s looks
READ: Kate Moss' daughter: Everything you need to know about Lila Moss
Charlotte transformed Kate into vintage beauty Marilyn Monroe, recreating the moment in the 1953 picture Gentlemen Prefer Blondes in which the protagonist Lorelei Lee belts out Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend.
Sporting a shiny fuchsia strapless number alongside opera gloves and some pretty mesmerising jewels, Kate gave her best 'leading lady' energy, delivering an unforgettable performance.
READ: Lila and Kate Moss' most stylish moments
RELATED: Exclusive: Kate Moss reveals her life lessons and special way she uplifts women
She wore her hair in a sleek side parting, allowing a cascade of blonde curls to tumble over one shoulder as she paid tribute to the Hollywood icon.
Speaking of which, the uber-glam campaign marks the arrival of 'Charlotte's Hollywood Beauty Icon Lipstick', including five satin-shine pinks, created using the brand's K.I.S.S.I.N.G formula.
The supermodel wore 'Icon Baby', a "warm nude-rose" shade, according to the brand's website, housed in an elegant pink metallic tube.
"I do love a nude lip, and this is such a gorgeous nude rose shade and feels luxurious when you apply it," Kate revealed via the brand.
Boasting the supermodel seal of approval, we reckon this lipstick is definitely one to add to our Valentine's Day beauty wish list…
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/hfm/beauty-trends/511854/kate-moss-recreates-iconic-marilyn-monroe-diamonds-film-moment/
| 2024-01-23T13:24:14Z
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The broadcaster, who was previously the show's Showbiz Reporter, is thrilled to have joined the main presenting team and has spent her first few episodes alongside regular host Dermot O'Leary. What's more, fans are loving the addition of Sian to the roster of familiar faces on the morning programme.
But when Sian isn't hard at work flitting between television and radio gigs, she can be found at home in London where she lives with her fiancé Jake Beckett, and we are obsessed with their interiors!
Sian and Jake have shared the occasional glimpse inside their home in the capital, especially after undertaking some impressive DIY projects…
Sian Welby's stunning London home she transformed herself…
Living room: before
Sian's living room is gorgeously spacious, and the TV presenter has decorated it beautifully. The television star posted a video on her social media last summer showing a before and after video of her living room.
Before taking to the room with a paintbrush, the room had pristine white walls, which is great for making a room incredibly airy and bright, but perhaps a little on the simple side.
A television was also hanging on the wall and opposite sits the comfy yet stylish grey L-shaped sofa.
The parquet floors are to die for, and we love the huge doors that lead out onto the garden from the living area, which make it easy to get outside but also bring in vast amounts of daylight.
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Living room: after transformation
In the same video, Sian showed off the finished result after adding a lick of paint to the room. Explaining her choice on social media, she said: "Went for a bold colour this time!
"Bit of a gamble but I love the end result. Used @lick Red 03 and only needed 2 coats (with a 2-hour drying time between coats) so super quick transformation - All done in the same afternoon!)"
Finishing touches
As well as adding a gorgeous coat of colour to the feature wall in her living room, Sian made sure to add stylish finishing touches such as this print of London with 'You Are Here' emblazoned on it.
The star also showed off another chic cocktail print, while a fancy 'Dream On' print sits above the door leading into the living area.
Hallway
The living room isn't the only room in Sian's home with a glow-up. The This Morning presenter also recorded her transforming the hallway area.
Similar to the lounge, the hallway – which runs from the front door to the back of the house – was painted a simple white colour, drawing attention to the stunning wooden floor.
Sian opted to paint the entire hallway a gorgeous Teal colour, as shown in this photo. The hallway also features a free-standing mirrored cabinet. Mirrors are a clever way of making a space seem bigger due to reflecting light and space.
The Capital FM host has become a DIY queen! Here, Sian shows off the journey from turning her hallway a simple white to chic teal, and it's making us want to redecorate!
Dressing room
When you work in TV and radio, one perk is collating a seriously enviable wardrobe. So it's only natural that Sian has a stunning dressing room area at her home.
The room includes a huge free-standing mirror and cupboards behind it, as well as a large wardrobe space for clothes, shoes and accessories. There's also a comfy green sofa, perfect to sit and try on heels for events and industry parties.
Garden
Sian decided to take her DIY and design talents outside the house, too, and gave her garden a very chic makeover. As anyone who lives in a city will know, making the most out of a smaller space is imperative and Sian has done exactly that.
Although there's no grass, the garden area is the perfect place to host in the warmer months thanks to the huge outdoor sofa which sits on large grey tiles.
We also love the foliage and fairy lights that are attached to the fence surrounding the garden. Side tables and outdoor chairs add even more practicality.
Bedroom
Sian also shared a glimpse into her bedroom when she took this mirror selfie showing off her outfit. She and Jake have a large bed in their room featuring some stylish artwork on the walls.
A television is hanging in front of their bed while underneath sits the soundbar and an alarm clock.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/homes/511858/sian-welbys-london-home-totally-transformed-will-have-you-running-to-redecorate/
| 2024-01-23T13:24:20Z
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Carrie Johnson shares a spacious home with her husband Boris and their three children Wilfred, three, Romy, two, and baby Frankie, six months, but the family of five had an unusual sleeping arrangement on Monday.
Despite their house, known as Brightwell Manor, featuring nine bedrooms, the mother-of-three revealed several of them were sharing the master bedroom.
"2 out of 3 in our bed tonight," Carrie captioned a photo on her Instagram Stories. It showed her eldest son fast asleep dressed in blue London-themed pyjamas with a cute print made up of red buses, phone booths and Paddington Bear, while baby Frankie was lying on his back napping underneath Wilfred's arm in a Peter Rabbit babygrow. Surrounded by white pillows and a thick duvet, the siblings both sported unruly bed hair with tufts of blonde locks standing on end – how cute!
Carrie and Boris have shared a few glimpses inside the other bedrooms at the Oxfordshire property after swapping the fast-based bustle of No. 11 Downing Street for the picturesque village of Brightwell-cum-Sotwell in 2023.
Estimated to be worth £3.8 million, the Grade-II listed home has been undergoing a renovation, with Carrie putting her personalised touches on the interior.
After welcoming her newborn son in July, Carrie shared sweet photos of her son sleeping on a dark wooden bed made up of crisp white bedding and beautiful blue and white cushions with frilly borders that tied in with their china lamp.
Elsewhere, her children's rooms have undergone a magical makeover. While she chose to maintain period features such as wooden floorboards and picture rails, Carrie asked an artist to handpaint fairytale-worthy woodland images on the walls. "The super talented @megboscawenstudio doing her thing!" Carrie wrote mid-transformation.
Romy appears to have moved into Wilfred's old bedroom, as she had the same animal-themed posters and floral wrought iron bed as her elder brother did just months ago.
Now, Wilfred's personalised touches have been replaced with Romy's, with the youngster enjoying a new patterned wool blanket with her full name of 'Romy Iris Charlotte Johnson', and a dresser topped with a large letter 'R'.
Outside also offers the Johnsons plenty of space to explore. The home sits on five acres of plush greenery, including a duck pond, a vegetable patch, a guest cottage, a tennis court, two stables and even a moat. See the home video of the duck pond in the making...
RELATED: Shirlie Kemp reveals glimpse inside revamped outhouse as she updates on renovation journey
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/homes/511859/carrie-johnson-unusual-sleeping-arrangements-with-wild-haired-kids-wilfred-frankie/
| 2024-01-23T13:24:26Z
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King Frederik of Denmark has a shiny new signature following the abdication of his mother Queen Margrethe II earlier this month.
The new Danish monarch, who has been on the throne for just over a week, showcased his autograph in a photo posted on the royal family's official Instagram account.
The picture showed a letter that Frederik sent to a member of the public who has just celebrated his 100th birthday. In keeping with Queen Margrethe's tradition, Danish citizens who reach their 100th, 105th and 110th birthdays will receive a personal, signed letter from the king.
Frederik's new signature now ends with an "R", an abbreviation of the Latin word "Rex" which means "King". The late Queen Elizabeth II would also sign any official documents with the letter "R" which stood for "Regina", meaning "Queen".
The caption on the Instagram post noted that this was the first letter signed by Frederik to be sent to a citizen celebrating their centenary birthday.
"In addition, the King will also continue to send congratulations on the occasion of diamond, crown diamond, iron and nuclear weddings at 60, 65, 70 and 75 years of marriage respectively," the caption read in part.
"The tradition of greetings from the Majesty on special anniversaries goes back many years. It started with telegram greetings that were sent, written down and read out to the birthday person in question on the day."
King Frederik acceded to the throne on Sunday 14 January alongside his wife, Queen Mary. His mother Margrethe formally signed a declaration of abdication at the Council of State meeting, in the presence of Frederik, and Frederik's heir and 18-year-old son, Crown Prince Christian.
The royals then travelled to Christiansborg Palace where Frederik gave his first address from the balcony as king. "My hope is to become a unifying king of tomorrow. It is a task I have approached all my life. It is a task I take on with pride, respect and joy," he declared.
The crowds broke into applause and cheers again as Queen Mary joined her husband on the balcony, sealing the moment with a kiss.
While Margrethe's abdication came as an initial shock, Juliet Rieden, editor-at-large of The Australian Women's Weekly, explained why now was the right time for the 83-year-old queen to step down.
"It definitely came out of the blue," Juliet told HELLO!. "But I think she's a very pragmatic Queen. She saw the popularity of Frederik and Mary. She saw the vitality that they could give to the monarchy moving forward. And their eldest son Crown Prince Christian has just turned 18 and is clearly very serious about the role of heir. So, everything is in place.
"Margrethe will, of course, still be there guiding them all. But I think she had in her mind that Frederik and Mary were ready to take the throne, and Mary gave stability to the possibility of Frederik becoming king early."
LISTEN to A Right Royal Podcast and find out what Danes really think of those photos of King Frederik in Madrid:
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/511865/king-frederik-denmark-fancy-new-signature-revealed/
| 2024-01-23T13:24:32Z
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I'm always on the lookout for a perfect pink lipstick, and I've struggled. Until now, that is. Charlotte Tilbury has just launched some new products for 2024 and I was immediately drawn to the pink shades in the 'Hollywood Icons' collection - especially when I discovered various makeup artists used lipsticks from the edit on their celebrity clients during award season.
Take Jessica Chastain for example - her regular makeup artist Kristofer Buckle gave her the most dreamy makeup look for the Critic's Choice Awards earlier this month and at the time he didn't disclose which of the new K.I.S.S.I.N.G lipsticks he chose for his A-lister.
Luckily for you, I have sources in all the best places and I reached out to the Charlotte Tilbury's UK PR team to ask what exact shade she wore. Turns out Kristoph chose Icon Baby, £25, which is a warm nude-rose lipstick. The perfect pink for the redhead, don't you think?
But Kristoph is convinced pink is in! "Pink lips are having a moment," he said. "From the Golden Globes and Critics’ Choice to the Emmys, pink lips have been dominating red carpets."
He continued: "These new lipsticks are fabulous! I’ve had so much fun playing with these and can’t wait for everyone to try them. For Jessica’s look, we played with a few of the new pink shades which come in Charlotte’s K.I.S.S.I.N.G. formula. I love this formula because it adds a subtle shine to the lips without having to use a gloss. So you can get that on-trend lip gloss effect without any of the stickiness or risk of transferability. These lipsticks are also amazing for red carpets because they give the lips a contouring effect. They’re like your lips but better – more defined, symmetrical, and full. The shade we chose complemented Jessica’s dress so beautifully."
Taking a look at the new Hollywood Pinks range, I wanted to try the one I gravitated to the most. And that was Candy Chic. I'd say this is the most 'poppy' of all the five new satin shine lipsticks.
And, well, I just love it. It's described as "a candy pink to make everyone wink" but I'd describe it as the most wearable lipstick for every day. If you love a pinky-nude but find the nude often overshadows the pink, this is the lipstick for you.
It also feels so lovely on… but that's all down the K.I.S.S.I.N.G Formula. As expected, it does need topping up but that's the compromise for the shine you get.
These days, most of my go-to long-lasting lipsticks need a little balm or gloss on top to give my lips some shine, but not this one - they're super shiny as you can tell on the selfie I shared above. Sorry, this picture isn't perfect, it's January and it's very grey outside but I think this photo best reflects the real life colour of the lipstick.
I teamed the lipstick with one of the new lip liners joining the Charlotte Tilbury LipCheat family called '90s pink' and the dreamy 90s-inspired warm rose pink will be used daily from this moment on.
Looking at the collection as a whole I did feel like it lacked some zingier shades, but then again, the beauty of these lipsticks is that they're wearable and you could apply them without a mirror - they glide on so easily. You may need to reapply throughout the day, but it does have some staying power, but the shine goes a little bit after eating and drinking. If you're looking to buy both the lipstick and the liner, I suggest going for the new Lip Kit, priced at £45 saving 5% (every saving counts though, hey?!).
We all know Pillow Talk is Charlotte Tilbury's iconic lip colour, and it's one that's often in my handbag to reach for, but I think this one might be my new favourite.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/shopping/511870/i-review-charlotte-tilbury-hollywood-pink-collection/
| 2024-01-23T13:24:39Z
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Chocolates and flowers are nice for Valentine's Day, but a romantic mini-break is even better if the budget allows. And with Valentine's Day less than a month away, you're going to need our handy guide to some of the most romantic hotels in the UK - with some tried and tested.
Top 5 most romantic hotels in the UK - at a glance
If it's a romantic hotel you're searching for, call it off as we've compiled an edit of the romantic hotels in London, Scotland and everywhere else in-between. Some offer spa treatments, spa days and afternoon tea while you'll find some are all about an indulgent meal or creating a romantic ambience in your hotel room. From country escapes with beautiful surroundings to city breaks offering indulgent meals, these places are sure to sweep your loved one off their feet and reignite the romance.
How I chose the UK's most romantic hotels
Personal experience: Don't just take my word from it - me, along with some of my colleagues, have been lucky enough to stay in some of the hotels listed and have given our honest reviews. If we haven't stayed in them, you'll find top trusted reviews included from places like Tripadvisor.
Location: This is all about celebrating love and the UK, so you'll find only UK romantic hotels in this edit.
Availability: I've tried to include as many as possible that have availability on or around Valentine's Day. But of course, a romantic hotel is not just for February 14...
Facilities: From spas to squash courts, the edit covers all manner of hotels with a range of facilities on offer to guests.
Browse our pick of the most romantic hotels in the UK...
Coworth Park, Ascot
The royal favourite
- Rooms start from £455
- 5-star
- Indoor swimming pool
- Spa and wellness centre
- 3 restaurants
Set in the beautiful Berkshire countryside, luxurious spa hotel Coworth Park is pure relaxation from start to finish and perfect for anyone looking to enjoy a romantic escape, Coworth Park is a secret hideaway amongst rolling fields, where a grand Mansion House and converted stables offer rural charm garnished with modern delight.
The dining options include Michelin-starred modern British cuisine, award-winning afternoon tea and relaxed, rustic dining with views across the grounds. There's also an award-winning spa offering a welcome dose of relaxation.
HELLO! Tried & Tested
"I've never felt more relaxed than when I stayed at Cowarth Park - I can certainly see why Prince Harry decided to stay there on the night before his wedding to Meghan Markle. Any pre-wedding jitters would have melted away in the oasis of calm that surrounds the hotel.
"If you're looking for a romantic trip, I couldn't recommend it more. The rooms are absolutely exquisite and the warm, contemporary décor reflects the serenity of the rural setting, alongside sumptuous four-poster beds, open fireplaces and the signature freestanding copper baths." - Leanne Bayley, HELLO!
The Portobello Hotel, London
The rock and roll hotel
- Rooms start from £196.50
- 4-star
- Located on London's famous Portobello Road
- Honesty bar
Frequented by the likes of Kate Moss and Johnny Depp, The Portobello Hotel is a stone's throw away from London's treasure-filled Portobello Road, ideal for strolling along on a spring afternoon with your lover.
The hotel itself is considered a boho chic London bolthole, secretly hidden behind the doors of a two-storey Georgian townhouse and is the perfect location for you to live out your rom-com fantasies at - Patrick Dempsey even stayed there while filming Bridget Jones.
Persian rugs and cosy fireplaces give the hotel a homely feel, and some rooms include circular beds and copper baths.
HELLO! Tried & Tested:
"I lived out my romantic comedy dreams in the Portobello Hotel, handily positioned near Notting Hill and Portobello Road, some of London's cutest areas. The hotel is picture perfect, with beautiful wallpaper, vintage crockery and our room included a circular bed and incredible copper bathtub, a Victorian contraption that's all gold pipes and brass taps - Kate Moss is said to have enjoyed a few nights in this room!
"Waking up at the hotel is definite romcom vibes, thanks to the huge bay windows overlooking a quaint London park. We stayed for breakfast in the dining room, a continental affair that is worth having just to see if any famous faces join you..." - HELLO!'s Carla Challis.
The Gleneagles Hotel, Scotland
The luxury Scottish stay
- Rooms start from £525
- 5-star
- Spa
- Three golf courses
- Home to the only two Michelin starred restaurant in Scotland
With secluded views of the Scottish countryside, beautiful scenery and spacious surroundings, this luxury castle hotel is the perfect place for an amorous getaway. Boasting an array of bespoke suites, three championship golf courses, an award-winning spa and the critically acclaimed, Michelin-starred Andrew Fairlie restaurant, guests can revel in the hotel’s lavish amenities.
Gleneagles is also the perfect place for couples to snuggle up in front of the hotel's cosy fireplaces or wind down at one of the welcoming bars for a warming winter cocktail at the decadent 1920s style American Bar, with its cashmere lined walls, wool curtains and original marble fireplaces.
The Gilpin Hotel, The Lake District
The one for R&R
- Spa suits start from £910
- 5-star
- Spa space
- Michelin starred restaurant
- Champagne bar
Set in 21 acres, Gilpin Hotel has 30 bedrooms, two restaurants (Michelin-Starred SOURCE and Gilpin Spice), a Champagne Bar, lounge, terraces, spa treatment area – and don't forget to look out for the llamas and alpacas roaming around.If you're looking for a hotel with a hot tub. You might want to check out the Spa Suites.
Designed as the ultimate spa sanctuary for two, at 100 square metres the Spa Suites have a beautiful ‘outdoors/indoors’ vibe, with a lovely display of live plants suspended from a lightwell to create each suite’s own atrium.Every suite has floor to ceiling windows and patio doors opening out onto a gorgeous south facing decked garden with fountain water features and a stunning two metre square stone-built hot tub, all alongside a huge pond.If you're looking for the creme de la creme of romance, this is it.
HELLO! Tried & Tested
"I was in heaven as soon as I stepped foot onto the Gilpin grounds. It's just an oasis of calm and the views are just incredible. With the mountains to the west, and tranquil woodlands with a stream to the east, you'll be in awe wherever you look. I loved the suite we stayed in, and it was so lovely and cosy. I can see why a lot of couples go there. While you might be tempted to stay inside, there are just too many amazing spots to visit at the Gilpin Hotel. My favourite restaurant had to be Spice, with its delicious pan-Asian menu in a cool, laid-back setting. SOURCE is also incredible, the Michelin-starred hotspot is more than just a dinner; it’s an experience." - Leanne Bayley, HELLO!
Gotham Hotel, Manchester
The city escape
- Rooms start from £140 a night
- City centre location
- Rooftop terrace
Looking for something with wow-factor? Then a romantic cityscape to Gotham might just do the trick. Couples can catch up on life in vintage-style suites complete with an emperor-sized feather bed, roll-top bath and a decadent cabinet stocked with all the ingredients for romance.
You can also head to the top floor and indulge in some of the cocktails at the hotel’s Brass Club before enjoying dinner at Honey Restaurant with the Manchester vista providing the perfect backdrop for some memorable photos.
Horwood House Hotel, Buckinghamshire
The cute countryside spot
- Rooms start from £169
- 4 star
- Grade II-listed
- On-site spa
Nestled in the rural tranquillity of the Buckinghamshire countryside, couples would love this stunning Grade-II listed Horwood House which combines heritage and comfort to ensure a perfect stay.
Built in 1911 and currently nearing completion on a detailed £6 million refurbishment, the hotel’s Manor House and expansive grounds blend classic styling with modern luxury to offer a stay with wow-factor, with resplendent lounges, picturesque gardens, Modern British dining and 165 beautiful bedrooms. Suites boast wonderful views of the grounds while also providing a sanctuary for relaxation and rejuvenation.
All rooms come equipped with en-suite bathrooms, tea and coffee making facilities, ironing board and iron, safe and complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi.
The Varsity Hotel & Spa, Cambridge
The hotel for city centre explorers
- Rooms start at £187
- City centre location
- Spa next door
- Roof top terrace
Romance may not immediately spring to mind when you think of Cambridge, but this charming city has a deep-rooted history, stunning architecture, quaint boutiques and intimate restaurants perfect for romancing your loved one. Situated at the heart of Cambridge's most famous colleges lies The Varsity, a stunning riverside hotel and spa that has perfected the art of making a hotel feel like a home from home.
After a day of restoration in the hotel's luxury spa, slip into a blissful sleep in plush King-sized beds with panoramic views of the historic city. The ultimate spot to keep your beau entertained, hotel guests have access to the gym, daily fitness classes, spa treatments, SPA Pool, Sauna and Steam Room, an iconic Roof Terrace, 6th-floor Panoramic Bar and Brasserie, Riverside Steakhouse, nearby punting and complimentary bicycles.
HELLO! Tried & Tested:
"As someone who has frequented Cambridge a lot, I didn't think a hotel could make me fall back in love with the city I grew up near, but the Varsity Hotel made me see the city in the most romantic way.
"Situated behind the city centre, and close to the River Cam, it's the perfect spot to base you and your partner to explore this beautiful, whimsical city. There's punting nearby, a must in Cambridge, a spa next door but the piece de resistance is Six, the hotel's rooftop restaurant which boasts the most incredible views of this historic city." - Carla Challis, HELLO!
Bovey Castle Hotel, Devon
The five-star castle
- Rooms start from £299
- 5-star
- Indoor Art Deco swimming pool
- Countryside surroundings
With secluded valleys of countryside, beautiful scenery and spacious surroundings, this luxury castle hotel is the perfect place for an amorous getaway.
You'll be treated to a restful break in one of the hotel's stylish classic rooms, with access to spa facilities, including a steam room, jacuzzi, sauna, and spectacular indoor Art Deco swimming pool located within the Orangery and overlooking the river. This overnight destination will give you the chance to put your feet up and kick back in gorgeous country surroundings.
The Four Seasons Hotel, Hampshire
The one for period-drama romance
- Rooms start from £714
- 5-star
- 18th century manor house
- Pet friendly
From pony riding to spa treatments, this five-star hotel nestled in the Hampshire countryside is a luxurious way to spend Valentine's Day.
Set in a restored 18th-century manor, it's just 40 minutes away from London, with 500 acres of landscape, with the hotel grounds allowing you to get closer to nature.
HELLO! Tried & Tested:
"The fact that Four Seasons, Hampshire is dog friendly gets major brownie points for me. It's not often you can visit an amazing five-star hotel and take your beloved with you (I'm talking about the pooch by the way!). This is a stunning Downton Abbey-esque hotel that will be made even more special with your true love. Be sure to try the afternoon tea for the ultimate afternoon treat." - Leanne Bayley, HELLO!
Drakes Hotel, Brighton
The seaside resort
- Rooms start from £164
- 4-star
- Beachfront location
Nothing says 'I love you' like waking up to the sound of the sea and the sun rising behind the ocean. For a relaxing retreat that feels like a home away from home, Drakes of Brighton is a gorgeous boutique hotel tucked away on Brighton's Kemptown seafront.
Complete with freestanding roll-top baths that look out onto the seafront, Drakes will go above and beyond to ensure your Valentine getaway is extra special. From fresh rose petals scattered on the bed, to a pre-run petal bath when you enter the room, there's something extra special about the romance of Drakes.
This fabulous boutique hotel is said to be a favourite of Cate Blanchett's, and has been a seaside pad for both Kylie Minogue and Woody Allen in the past.
The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa, Bath
The Bath bolthole
- Rooms start from £300
- On-site spa
- Situated on Bath's famous Royal Crescent
- Pet-friendly
Bath is one of the most romantic cities in the UK and the ideal setting for a Valentine's retreat. So book this luxurious spa hotel for a one night stay including a romantic six-course Valentine's dinner with a glass of Taittinger Champagne, Tea, Coffee and Petit Fours, followed by a leisurely breakfast the next day.
Cliveden House, Berkshire
The one fit for a king and queen
- Rooms start from
- 5-star
- 17th century property
- Georgian-style
- 2 swimming pools and spa
This five-star country-house-hotel hosted Meghan Markle the night before her lavish wedding to Prince Harry. Stretching across 376 verdant acres, the 17th-century property, situated alongside the banks of the River Thames in Berkshire, has welcomed the likes of Queen Victoria, Winston Churchill and Charlie Chaplin through its opulent doors.
Head to Cliveden’s Georgian-style dining room with your nearest and dearest for a taste of modern British dishes, fastidiously prepared and immaculately presented. Once you’ve polished off your delicious meal, conclude your romantic evening with an arm-in-arm stroll around the stately grounds before retiring to one of the hotel’s 48 suites for a much-needed rest.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/travel/511607/most-romantic-hotels-in-the-uk/
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VILNIUS - Lithuania's Defence Council has decided to initiate negotiations to buy Leopard 2 tanks from Germany, Defence Minister Arvydas Anusauskas told reporters on Tuesday, as the NATO member seeks to build a tank battalion.
The Leopard 2 is made by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, part of German-French technology group KNDS.
"Our intention is creating a tank battalion, but much will depend on conditions, such as what price we agree on. So I can‘t name any details yet," he said.
Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, NATO has pledged to strengthen its presence on the alliance's eastern border.
Lithuania, a neighbour of Russia and Moscow's close ally Belarus, currently does not operate tanks. The new tank unit is scheduled to be combat-ready by 2030.
Germany has committed to permanently deploy a combat-ready brigade of about 4,800 soldiers in Lithuania by 2027, which will be the first permanent foreign deployment of German troops since World War Two.
It has headed the international NATO force of more than 1,000 troops in the country since 2017.
Lithuania recently took final delivery of a 670 million-euro-order ($727.71 million) of 91 German-made Boxer armoured fighting vehicles, which it ordered in 2016. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/lithuania-seeks-to-buy-leopard-2-tanks-from-germany
| 2024-01-23T13:33:04Z
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VILNIUS - Lithuania's Defence Council has decided to initiate negotiations to buy Leopard 2 tanks from Germany, Defence Minister Arvydas Anusauskas told reporters on Tuesday, as the NATO member seeks to build a tank battalion.
The Leopard 2 is made by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, part of German-French technology group KNDS.
"Our intention is creating a tank battalion, but much will depend on conditions, such as what price we agree on. So I can‘t name any details yet," he said.
Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, NATO has pledged to strengthen its presence on the alliance's eastern border.
Lithuania, a neighbour of Russia and Moscow's close ally Belarus, currently does not operate tanks. The new tank unit is scheduled to be combat-ready by 2030.
Germany has committed to permanently deploy a combat-ready brigade of about 4,800 soldiers in Lithuania by 2027, which will be the first permanent foreign deployment of German troops since World War Two.
It has headed the international NATO force of more than 1,000 troops in the country since 2017.
Lithuania recently took final delivery of a 670 million-euro-order ($727.71 million) of 91 German-made Boxer armoured fighting vehicles, which it ordered in 2016. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/lithuania-seeks-to-buy-leopard-2-tanks-from-germany-0
| 2024-01-23T13:33:15Z
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MANILA - Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said he does not endorse Taiwan independence and reiterated his country was committed to its One-China policy, a response to China's outrage over recent remarks in congratulating Taiwan's election winner.
Marcos said in an interview with GMA News TV aired on Tuesday that his congratulatory comment to Lai Ching-te earlier this month, where he referred to him as president, was a "common courtesy".
"The One-China policy remains in place. We have adhered to the One-China policy strictly and conscientiously since we adopted (it)," Marcos said.
"We are not endorsing Taiwanese independence. Taiwan is a province of China."
The congratulatory message, however, drew a sharp rebuke from China, with its foreign ministry spokesperson telling Marcos last week to "read more books to properly understand the ins and outs of the Taiwan issue".
That prompted a fierce response from the Philippines defence minister, who criticised the Chinese official for "low and gutter-level talk".
Marcos in the interview added he was for peace and "does not want conflict" in the region.
The Philippines and China have been at loggerheads this past year, coinciding with Marcos making overtures to defence ally the United States, including widening base access to the U.S. military.
China has seen that as a provocation and part of a challenge by Washington to its Taiwan policy.
The Philippines and Taiwan have unofficial ties as both maintain an "economic and cultural office" in Taipei and Manila serving as a de facto embassy. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/philippines-marcos-says-does-not-endorse-taiwan-independence-seeks-to-avoid-conflict
| 2024-01-23T13:33:28Z
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YANGON – Six high-ranking Myanmar junta officers who handed over a strategic town to ethnic minority fighters and surrendered with hundreds of troops have been taken into custody, a military spokesman and others told AFP on Jan 23.
Junta troops in Laukkai near the border with China surrendered to an alliance of armed ethnic minority groups in January following weeks of clashes sparked by a surprise offensive against the military.
Around 2,000 troops surrendered and were later allowed to leave the town with their families, sparking further criticism of the junta leadership by its supporters after a string of battlefield losses.
The six brigadier-generals who led troops in the Laukkai region have been taken into custody, a military source told AFP.
It was not clear what they could be charged with, or if all would be charged, said the source, who requested anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media.
Under Myanmar’s military law, leaving a post without permission can be punished by the death penalty.
There was “no sentence for the six brigadier-generals yet”, junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun told AFP on Jan 23.
Some of the six were considered close to junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, said another military source who also requested anonymity.
Laukkai is the largest town seized by the alliance – made up of three armed ethnic minority groups – since it launched attacks in October.
General Min Aung Hlaing made a name for himself in 2009 when, as a regional commander, he expelled one of the alliance groups, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), from the town.
The military then installed a militia that got rich producing drugs and selling a potent cocktail of gambling and sex to visitors from across the Chinese border.
Laukkai is also notorious for online scam operations where thousands of Chinese and other foreign nationals are often trafficked and forced to work defrauding their compatriots over the Internet.
The scams anger China, a major ally and arms supplier of the junta, and Beijing has repeatedly asked the military to crack down on the billion-dollar industry.
Analysts say Beijing maintains ties with ethnic armed groups along its border and likely knew in advance about the alliance’s October offensive, which has seized swathes of territory and blocked trade crossings with China.
The military and the alliance announced in January a China-mediated ceasefire, which both sides have since accused the other of violating. AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/myanmar-military-officers-held-by-junta-after-surrendering-town-to-opponents
| 2024-01-23T13:33:41Z
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DUBAI - The Syrian foreign ministry said on Tuesday that there was "no justification" for Jordanian air strikes, which caused civilian casualties of women and children, on its territory.
Jordan has stepped up a campaign against drug dealers in recent weeks, after clashes last month with dozens of people suspected of links to pro-Iranian militias carrying large hauls of narcotics over its border with Syria, along with weapons and explosives.
Suspected Jordanian air strikes on southern Syria killed 10 people including children early on Thursday, according to local Syrian media and monitors tracking the conflict.
There was no immediate comment from Jordanian authorities.
"The escalation that we have witnessed in the past few months is not at all consistent with what was agreed upon from both sides regarding sincere cooperation to combat all violations, including criminal gangs for drug smuggling and trafficking," the foreign ministry added. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/syria-no-justification-for-jordanian-air-strikes-on-its-territory
| 2024-01-23T13:33:52Z
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ZURICH - UBS on Jan 23 unveiled its biggest branding campaign since 2016 to drive growth, spending tens of millions of dollars to freshen its image after the takeover of Credit Suisse.
Switzerland’s biggest lender will use the slogan “Banking is our craft” as it seeks to attract new customers to its wealth management, asset management, and investment banking franchises.
UBS declined to reveal the exact cost of the campaign, which will include online and printed advertisements, sponsorship, events, social media and billboards.
“This is the most we’re investing in the brand since 2016,” UBS Group chief marketing officer John McDonald told Reuters. “This is about driving the business towards its growth ambitions.”
“We want to make sure prospective customers become more familiar with UBS so they’re more likely to consider us when it’s time to choose a wealth manager, for instance.”
The decision to come up with a new tagline goes back to April 2023, after the rescue of Credit Suisse was arranged by the Swiss authorities to stave off a broader banking crisis and former CEO Sergio Ermotti returned to UBS.
In the past, UBS has used the slogans “We will not rest” and “For some of life’s questions, you are not alone. Together we can find an answer” in previous campaigns.
The new campaign was developed together with advertising firm Publicis and brand strategy company Prophet.
“This campaign portrays UBS as a strengthened, global firm, and helps reshape how our clients, prospects and investors perceive us,” Mr Ermotti said.
The bank, which oversees more than US$5 trillion (S$6.7 trillion) in assets and is currently integrating Credit Suisse, has already agreed to continue the fallen bank’s longstanding sponsorship of the Swiss national football team and tennis legend Roger Federer.
The global campaign will go live first in Britain and the United States from Tuesday before being rolled out to 10 other countries, including Singapore, Australia, Germany and Japan.
The concept of “craft” evokes the best attributes of Swissness, Mr McDonald said, and would help raise awareness of UBS particularly in the United States and the Asia-Pacific region.
“Craft signals personal attention, care, expertise, precision, passion,” Mr McDonald said. “...in a sense of a carefully curated expertise that’s deployed for an individual customer.” REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/business/banking/ubs-unveils-big-branding-push-after-credit-suisse-takeover
| 2024-01-23T13:34:05Z
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SINGAPORE - Sabana Industrial Real Estate Investment Trust (Sabana Reit) posted a distribution per unit (DPU) of 1.15 Singapore cents for the half-year ended Dec 31, 2023, down 21.2 per cent from the year-ago period.
In a bourse filing on Jan 23, the trust manager said the decline was the result of 10 per cent of the total available for distribution being retained for “prudent capital management, in view of additional costs incurred and to be incurred in connection with the internalisation (of the Reit’s manager)”.
Gross revenue for H2 2023 rose 13.1 per cent year on year (yoy) to $56.6 million from $50.1 million, uplifted by positive rental reversions across the portfolio as overall occupancy rate remained stable.
Net property income (NPI) improved slightly to $27.8 million in H2 2023 from $26.3 million in the corresponding period a year ago.
The H2 results bring Sabana Reit’s FY2023 DPU to 2.76 Singapore cents, down 9.5 per cent from 3.05 cents in FY2022.
For the full year, gross revenue was up 17.9 per cent to $111.9 million from $94.9 million in FY2022; NPI rose 3.2 per cent to $55 million on the back of three consecutive years of positive double-digit rental reversions and stable overall occupancy rate, said the manager.
As at end-December 2023, the Reit’s portfolio occupancy rate remained at 91.2 per cent, unchanged from the previous year. The manager said this data excludes 1 Tuas Avenue 4, which is undergoing asset-enhancement works.
The Reit, which has 18 properties under its management, achieved a higher portfolio valuation of $903.9 million as at end-2023, up 2.1 per cent yoy. This was attributed to ongoing asset enhancement initiatives, asset rejuvenation and higher signing rents for both new and renewed leases across the portfolio, said the manager.
With an aggregate leverage of 34.3 per cent as at end-2023, the Reit has a debt headroom of $145.7 million. The manager added that the portfolio’s weighted average lease expiry has remained consistent at three years, underpinned by proactive leasing efforts.
The manager expects interest rates to stay elevated and operating costs to remain high. The manager will continue to aim to convert all financing facilities into sustainability-linked or green loans by 2025.
Units of Sabana Reit ended Jan 23 unchanged at $0.39. THE BUSINESS TIMES
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https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/sabana-reit-posts-212-fall-in-h2-dpu-to-00115-with-10-kept-for-capital-management
| 2024-01-23T13:34:18Z
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SINGAPORE - The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has seized about 160kg of vegetables, fruit and processed food illegally imported from Malaysia.
The joint operation on Jan 19 and 20 by SFA and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) targeted delivery trucks, which typically transport produce and food products that are distributed directly to retailers and customers.
One truck was found at Woodlands Checkpoint to contain the undeclared and under-declared items such as spring onion, cabbage, bean curd, and peeled garlic. The truck was driven by two men, believed to be the importers.
SFA seized all illegally imported produce and processed food, and is conducting further investigations.
Food imports in Singapore must meet SFA’s requirements, as illegally imported produce and food products of unknown sources can pose food safety risks, SFA said in a joint statement with ICA.
It said: “Food can only be imported by licensed importers, and every consignment must be declared and accompanied with a valid import permit.”
Offenders who illegally import fresh fruits and vegetables may be fined up to $10,000, jailed up to three years, or both.
Those convicted of illegally importing processed vegetables or food can be fined up to $1,000. Repeat offenders can be fined up to $2,000.
The statement said: “SFA will continue to safeguard food safety through our integrated food safety system, which includes strict import regulations and enforcement, and work closely with border control agencies to deter illegal import across our borders.”
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/160kg-of-illegally-imported-produce-and-processed-food-from-malaysia-seized-by-sfa
| 2024-01-23T13:34:30Z
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SINGAPORE - Schools across Singapore will simulate power, water or food supply disruptions on February 15 and 16, as part of this year’s Total Defence Day activities.
Among them, 40 secondary schools involving some 50,000 students and teachers will get a taste of what a food emergency is like, when canteen offerings are replaced with locally-made ready-to-eat (RTE) meals.
Meanwhile, 21 markets and hawker centres will have their next quarterly market cleaning fixed on Feb 26 and 27, with the synchronised closures meant to simulate food supply disruptions.
Hitting Singaporeans in their stomachs is one aspect of the inaugural Exercise SG Ready from Feb 15 to 29, which will simulate a coordinated attack on Singapore using a variety of methods, ranging from cyber attacks to disinformation campaigns and drone attacks.
More than 500 organisations from the public and private sector will participate in the islandwide exercise, which aims to get individuals, communities and businesses to think about emergency preparedness and to put their own contingency plans in place in case of disruptions.
For instance, the RTE meals are meant to educate students on food security during emergencies. Co-developed by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and food solutions provider SATS, the halal meals will use some locally grown bayam (spinach) and abalone mushrooms.
The three meal options – baked fish with chunky tomato, vegetable ragout, and makhani chicken with briyani rice – are all halal, while the latter two seek to encourage flexibility in food choices by using plant-based seafood and frozen chicken.
The distribution of RTE meals to selected secondary schools is the second phase of a pilot programme, following an earlier phase in Oct 2023 that involved 2,800 students and teachers across 10 secondary schools.
Apart from schools, some businesses and organisations here will also be involved in the simulated civil emergency.
Among them is South Beach Consortium, which will switch off its water features and close off some toilets at South Beach Tower in Beach Rd. Power to air conditioners, selected lifts and escalators will also be shut off to simulate power cuts.
Some of its tenants will also participate, with the JW Marriott Hotel to carry out limited disruptions to water supply and take part in a food distribution exercise.
Two of its tenant businesses, consultancy Bain and Company and financial firm Intesa Sanpaolo, will be among 21 organisations conducting a simulated phishing exercise during the period to test cyber security awareness and weak links in their security posture.
The organisations will use playbooks launched by the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore, which have detailed instructions on how to simulate phishing exercise on enterprise software, and teach their employees how to spot cyber threats.
Meanwhile, 20 buildings in the civic district will conduct a simulated blackout on Feb 15 by turning off their facade lighting.
The public can also experience how selected MRT stations can be turned into civil defence shelters during emergencies. The Singapore Civil Defence Force and Land Transport Authority will organise civil defence shelter open houses at Dakota, Potong Pasir and Tan Kah Kee MRT stations on Feb 23, between 10am and 4pm.
Individual members of the public can turn up to participate, but larger groups of 20 or more will have to make a reservation online.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/schools-businesses-and-buildings-to-simulate-power-food-disruptions-for-total-defence-exercise
| 2024-01-23T13:34:48Z
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MUNICH, Germany - Bayern Munich's shock 1-0 home loss to Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga on Sunday showed the German champions need to improve to remain competitive, said coach Thomas Tuchel on Tuesday.
The defeat was Bayern's second of the season in the league and the first time after 65 games that the Bavarians failed to score in a home Bundesliga game.
"We can do a lot of things better," Tuchel told a press conference ahead of Wednesday's postponed league match against Union Berlin.
"We have a lot of room for improvement. The explanation in terms of passion, bite, tackling and enthusiasm remains the same. For 70 minutes (against Werder) that was below the level we expect of ourselves."
Bayern, who are in second place on 41 points, seven off leaders Bayer Leverkusen, have a game in hand and can cut the gap with a win over Union.
"Passion, bite, enthusiasm these are the basic values," Tuchel said. "These values have to be clearly visible by us.
"This is not an easy switch to make. We are very aware of how much room we have for improvement. It is our task and my responsibility."
Bayern, who are chasing a record-extending 12th consecutive league title, still have the league's best attack with 52 goals scored and top striker Harry Kane having already netted 22 times in his first Bundesliga campaign so far.
They also face Italy's Lazio in the Champions League last 16 next month.
"We remain below our expectations in the games. We will keep demanding it until it works and we are able to show that passion that hunger and greed that is the basis," Tuchel said.
"That you feel there is a team that goes together towards their goal against any resistance." REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/bayern-munich-have-a-lot-of-room-for-improvement-says-tuchel
| 2024-01-23T13:34:59Z
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MADRID -Madrid will host the Spanish Grand Prix from 2026 to 2035 on a new city circuit around the capital's IFEMA exhibition centre, Formula One said on Tuesday in an announcement that left Barcelona facing an uncertain future.
The Circuit de Catalunya's current contract expires after the 2026 race but Formula One chief executive Stefano Domenicali suggested the Barcelona track could remain on the calendar beyond then.
"The fact we are in Madrid is not excluding the fact we could stay in Barcelona for the future," he said at a lavish presentation.
"Looking ahead, there are discussions in place to see if we can really extend our collaboration with Barcelona, with whom we have a very good relationship, for the future."
Sources indicated there was a possibility of Spain having two races in 2026.
The country currently has two Formula One drivers -- Carlos Sainz at Ferrari and double world champion Fernando Alonso, now 42 but still a frequent podium finisher last season, at Aston Martin.
With Sainz in the audience, Domenicali declared the Madrid contract marked the start of "an exciting new chapter for F1 in Spain.
"Spain was a market that just a couple of years ago was not in the centre of our eyes," added the Italian. "Now it is very important."
The race proposal, he said, epitomised the sport's vision of "a multi-day spectacle of sport and entertainment that delivers maximum value for fans and embraces innovation and sustainability."
Madrid last hosted a grand prix at Jarama to the north of the city in 1981, with Barcelona becoming the home of the Spanish race in 1991.
Domenicali said the Madrid deal also showed Europe was still eager to invest in the sport at a time of growth in new venues in the Americas, with the United States now hosting three races, and Middle East.
"Modern Formula One cars racing on a new circuit in the Spanish capital city of Madrid is an enticing prospect," said Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the governing FIA, in a statement.
"As we build towards the introduction of the FIA 2026 Formula One regulations, which have been framed with Net Zero carbon by 2030 in mind, it is pleasing to see that the local organisers have placed a sharp focus on environmental sustainability in their plans for the event."
The proposed 5.47km circuit, using both street and non-street sections, remains subject to FIA homologation and safety checks as well as calendar approval by the World Motor Sport Council.
The layout, near the city's Barajas airport and with 90% of fans expected to access the venue by public transport links, will feature 20 corners.
The venue's projected capacity is more than 110,000 spectators per day with plans to increase that to 140,000 over the first half of the agreement, making Madrid one of the largest venues on the calendar.
"This event, which we expect to be followed on a global scale by 70 million people, will represent an increase of more than 450 million euros ($489.92 million) in Madrid's GDP per year and the creation of 8,200 jobs," said the president of the Madrid region Isabel Diaz Ayuso. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/madrid-to-host-spanish-gp-from-2026-barcelona-future-uncertain
| 2024-01-23T13:35:10Z
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MELBOURNE - Novak Djokovic and Coco Gauff were both made to toil for semi-final places on a blazing Tuesday at the Australian Open as the tournament was heading for another potentially late evening after the day session spilled over.
Two epic battles in the afternoon meant defending women's champion Aryna Sabalenka did not walk onto Rod Laver Arena until well after 9 p.m. but the Belarusian made short work of Barbora Krejcikova to ease some of the pressure on the schedule.
With fourth seed Jannik Sinner and fifth seed Andrey Rublev following them onto the main showcourt later in the evening, however, fans were gearing up for another long night.
Holder Djokovic was expected to breeze past Taylor Fritz having come into the contest with an 8-0 win-loss record over the 12th seed but he endured a stern test that lasted nearly four hours to prevail 7-6(3) 4-6 6-2 6-3.
"This match was not an enjoyable match for me at all," Djokovic told reporters.
"Of course, I'm proud to overcome the kind of challenge and obstacles and I'm pleased to win but it wasn't enjoyable at all. It was really ... a lot of suffering in every aspect.
"You have days like that where you just have to accept it, face the circumstances and try to make the most out of it."
Fritz, who at 26 is a decade younger than his opponent, made the Serb sweat in a tight first set that the American dropped in a tiebreak before drawing level in the contest on a steamy day where both players looked physically drained at times.
"I played a really high level for the first two sets and they were physically tough. It was like 2-1/2 hours by the time we finished the two sets," said Fritz.
"I need to get to the point where I can do that for five hours."
Djokovic might have had starting troubles in his bid to win an 11th Melbourne Park title and 25th Grand Slam to eclipse the record of Margaret Court but he is an expert problem solver and took advantage of a tiring Fritz to prevail.
Gauff was happy to win "ugly" as she quelled the challenge of Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk 7-6(6) 6-7(3) 6-2 in a little over three hours and the U.S. Open champion will need to raise her level if she hopes to win a second Grand Slam title.
"Yeah, it was a fight," said Gauff, who had to battle back from 5-1 down in the opening set. "I think today was definitely a 'C' game, so didn't play my best tennis but really proud that I was able to get through today's match.
"Hopefully I got the bad match out of the way and I can play even better."
Kostyuk said she felt like a winner despite the loss having helped give fresh attention to the war raging in her country nearly two years after Russia's invasion.
Her compatriot Dayana Yastremska also made it to the last eight at the year's first major, while Elina Svitolina had to retire in the fourth round.
"I think the girls did really well," Kostyuk said. "I hope we'll be able to succeed in most of the tournaments, especially the big ones where there's a lot of media."
Sabalenka continued her merciless progress with a 6-2 6-3 victory over 2021 French Open champion in 71 minutes to book a meeting with Gauff - a rematch of their Flushing Meadows title clash where the American prevailed to win her first major.
"I think it was a really great match today. I played really great tennis and I really hope I can just keep playing that way or even better," Sabalenka said.
"Thank you so much for the atmosphere. I know you're waiting for the next match but I enjoyed it.
"It reminded me of the (Australian Open) final last year." REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tennis/djokovic-gauff-labour-into-australian-open-semis-as-long-night-looms
| 2024-01-23T13:35:22Z
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Rafael Nadal is set to return on the court next month during the Qatar Open after the Spaniard's name appeared on the entry list for the ATP 250 tournament staring on Feb. 19 in Doha following yet another injury.
The 37-year-old has missed the Australian Open this month after suffering a small muscle tear during his comeback from a long injury layoff at the Brisbane International earlier in January. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tennis/nadal-set-for-february-return-from-injury-at-qatar-open
| 2024-01-23T13:35:35Z
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MELBOURNE – Novak Djokovic was hot, bothered and exhausted, as he claimed after his Australian Open quarter-final victory on Rod Laver Arena on Jan 23.
But he is Djokovic after all, and the signs are that nothing – and nobody – will be able to stop him as he stayed on track for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title.
The Serbian world No. 1 struggled with the conditions early in the contest against Taylor Fritz, but defied the fierce Melbourne heat and a battling performance from his American opponent to prevail 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. He will next take on Italian Jannik Sinner or Russian Andrey Rublev for a place in the final on Jan 28.
“It was extremely hot when the sun was still out there. Physically and emotionally very draining. But huge round of applause to Fritz for a great performance today,” Djokovic said after the match which stretched to 3hr 45min.
“My conversion of the break points was really poor, but I think at the end of the day I managed to break him when it really mattered, in the third and the fourth sets.
“I think I upped my game probably midway through the third set, all the way to the end.”
The win was Djokovic’s 33rd consecutive victory in Melbourne, a startling run stretching back to 2018. He did not compete at the event in 2022 due to his Covid-19 vaccination status.
The 36-year-old came into the match boasting a perfect 8-0 record against the American 12th seed.
And it was business as usual as the Serb – more used to playing cooling night matches in Melbourne – edged a gruelling first set that lasted 84 minutes.
Fritz, 26, had two set points on the Djokovic serve in the 12th game, but the 10-time champion snuffed them out and dominated the subsequent tiebreak to take control.
The top seed left the court after the first set and when he returned he suffered the first break of the match. Fritz, who survived eight break points in the opening set, fought off seven more points during the second to pull level.
Djokovic finally won a break point at his 16th attempt to wrest control of the third set and broke again to leave himself one set away from victory. He broke for the third time in the sixth game of the fourth set when Fritz tamely dumped a forehand into the net.
A lucky net cord helped the American break back to stay alive, but he doubled-faulted in the following game to hand the initiative back to Djokovic and this time he made no mistake.
Victory leaves the Serb just two wins from standing alone as the only player in history – male or female – to have collected 25 Grand Slam singles titles.
Djokovic, who has never failed to win the Australian Open once he has reached the semi-finals, is level with Margaret Court on 24 Majors.
But he is already out on his own in men’s tennis – two clear of the injured Rafael Nadal who is set to return during the Qatar Open in February and four ahead of the retired Roger Federer.
In the women’s quarter-finals, Aryna Sabalenka overpowered Barbora Krejcikova 6-2, 6-3 in a brutally swift clash to keep her title defence firmly on course and set up a showdown with US Open champion Coco Gauff.
“It was a great match today, I played great tennis,” said the Belarusian world No. 2.
“I hope that I can keep playing that way or even better. I’ve been working so hard last year and in pre-season. It’s all about hard work, giving it all on the practice court so you’re ready for a match as best as you can be.”
Gauff outlasted unseeded Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk 7-6 (8-6), 6-7 (3-7), 6-2 after more than three scrappy hours. AFP, REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tennis/novak-djokovic-outlasts-taylor-fritz-to-reach-11th-australian-open-semi
| 2024-01-23T13:35:47Z
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MELBOURNE - Aryna Sabalenka continued to cut a swathe through the Australian Open draw with a sometimes brutal demolition of Barbora Krejcikova on Tuesday but only after she had signed her name on the bald head of her fitness trainer.
The Belarusian would be the first to admit that she sometimes marches to a different drummer and her new pre-match ritual, now repeated five times at Melbourne Park this year, is not too popular with performance coach Jason Stacy.
"Somehow I decided to start drawing my signature on his head," Sabalenka explained after her fourth-round win over Amanda Anisimova.
"I did it before the first match. Now it's a routine. Every time, he's not super happy that I'm going to do it.
"He's like, 'Okay, anything for the win'. I'm like, 'Thank you'."
The next time Sabalenka signs Joyce's head will be on Thursday when she puts her Grand Slam title on the line in a blockbuster semi-final against fourth seed Coco Gauff.
Sabalenka lost her second Grand Slam title-decider to the American teenager at the U.S. Open last September and said she could not wait to test herself against Gauff again.
"I love it. I love it," she said after her quarter-final win on Tuesday.
"After U.S. Open, I really wanted that revenge, and that's a great match. It's always great battles against Coco, with really great fights."
Sabalenka won the first set of the U.S Open final quite comfortably and admitted at the time that she got "too emotional" as she tried to stop Gauff fighting her way back into the contest.
That was a reminder of the days only a few years ago when Sabalenka's emotional fragility stopped her from making the most of her undoubted talent at the majors.
The 26-year-old said she had worked with psychologists for several years but ultimately the fix had come when she took responsibility for her own actions.
"I'm not getting crazy on court, I'm not rushing things," said Sabalenka, who has now reached the semi-finals at the last six Grand Slams.
"I'm just playing point by point, and that's it, and fighting for every point without overthinking about my dreams, about what I want to do, about how many slams I want to win and all that stuff.
"I was able to separate myself from that kind of mentality and just start focusing on myself and focusing on things I can improve and I can get better in, and what I actually have to do to win every match I play." REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tennis/sabalenkas-head-signing-ritual-works-its-charm-again
| 2024-01-23T13:35:59Z
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SINGAPORE – Owners of Apple devices have been urged to immediately install the latest software update, which addresses a vulnerability that allows hackers to run malicious code.
The affected devices are certain models of iPhones, iPads and Macs, as well as all Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K models, said the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) in an alert on Jan 23
The vulnerability involves the WebKit browser engine that powers Apple apps, including Web browser Safari, Mail and the App Store. It allows attackers to insert malicious code on vulnerable devices after the user opens a Web page designed to steal personal data or attack devices.
CSA advised users of the affected products to install the update released on Jan 22.
It said: “The vulnerability is reportedly being actively exploited.”
Apple said in an advisory on its website that the tech giant is aware of a report that this flaw may have been exploited by attackers, adding that the issue has been fixed.
The devices affected are:
- iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone XS and later
- iPad (fifth generation and later)
- iPad Pro 9.7-inch
- iPad Pro 10.5-inch
- iPad Pro 11-inch
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch
- iPad Air (third generation and later)
- iPad mini (fifth generation and later)
- Macs running macOS Monterey and later
- Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K
According to tech media outlet Bleeping Computer, this is Apple’s first zero-day vulnerability exploited in 2024.
A zero-day vulnerability refers to a security weakness that was discovered by attackers before the software provider was aware of it.
CSA has also reminded Apple users to enable automatic software updates by going to Settings > General > Software Updates > Enable Automatic Updates.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/tech/apple-users-urged-to-install-updates-to-fix-vulnerability
| 2024-01-23T13:36:11Z
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PARIS - By flashing a perfect smile, online beauty influencers have proven adept at convincing their young followers that they too can have blindingly white, perfectly aligned teeth for very little money, time or effort.
But the teeth whitening or straightening products these influencers are promoting – often via sponsored ads on social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok – can be dangerous if used incorrectly, dentists have warned.
And some companies pushing these inexpensive, at-home products have fallen far short of their lofty promises.
The United States-based firm SmileDirectClub aggressively advertised online for its “clear aligners”, which are plastic braces worn daily to straighten teeth.
However, the firm filed for bankruptcy in December, leaving many customers in the lurch.
Ms Chantelle Jones, a 32-year-old Briton who paid the firm £1,800 (S$3,000), only had her top teeth straightened and never received the bottom moulds.
“I’m not sure if I’m going to get any money back,” she told the BBC in December.
The company has announced its “Lifetime Smile Guarantee” simply “no longer exists”, advising customers to seek professional help.
But because a dentist did not initiate the process, they would “have to start everything from scratch”, French dental surgeon Genevieve Wagner told AFP.
These types of products are not used solely for aesthetic purposes, said Dr David Couchat of the French Federation of Orthodontics.
“Aligning a few incisors can happen quickly, but there is a lot of work to be done afterwards about how someone will use their jaws to chew,” he said.
Whiter shade of pale
The simple online tests offered by these products cannot detect bone loss, tooth loosening or gum disease, said Dr Christophe Lequart, a dental surgeon and spokesman for the French Union for Oral Health.
But if the products are used by customers with such problems, it could lead to serious long-term damage, he warned.
Other products promoted by enthusiastic beauty and wellness influencers include teeth whitening strips, pens, gels, lamps and toothpaste.
Some of these products are sold online for as little as US$20 (S$27) – compared to potentially thousands for a whitening procedure carried out by a dentist.
The active whitening ingredient in many of these products, the chemical compound hydrogen peroxide, is strictly regulated in the United Kingdom and European Union.
The concentration of hydrogen peroxide cannot exceed 0.1 per cent in over-the-counter products in the UK and EU. Dentists, however, can use or prescribe products that have up to six per cent.
That did not stop the French influencer Poupette Kenza from pushing Crest 3D Whitestrips, which tests have shown contain up to 10 per cent hydrogen peroxide.
Late in 2023, the French authorities fined Kenza €50,000 (S$73,000) for promoting the banned product, which regularly gets millions of views on TikTok under hashtags such as #crest3dwhite.
‘Big scam’
When used in large quantities, hydrogen peroxide can be harmful – particularly if applied to cavities or diseased gums.
Before whitening, dentists clean teeth to remove any surface discolouration, a process which does not happen for at-home products bought online.
Dental surgeon Lequart said that using too much of these products can cause irritation or even lead gums to recede – an early warning sign of future tooth loss.
One online customer said the Crest strips “lighten teeth several shades, of course, but give a horrible sensation during hot or cold meals”.
Dr Lequart said that “on social networks, the target audience is relatively young and concerned about savings”.
This could lead to a potential “disaster in terms of oral health”, he added.
Dr Wagner emphasised that most young people have perfectly healthy teeth and should not use “whitening products, which damage their teeth prematurely via acids”.
Dr Lequart cautioned that before-and-after whitening images on social media are often touched up using Photoshop.
And Dr Couchat pointed out that influencers promoting these products often have expensive porcelain veneers covering their original teeth.
“They are taking advantage of people’s credulity. It’s a big scam,” he added.
These veneers are also popular among Hollywood stars, a common inspiration for many dreaming of a whiter smile. AFP
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| 2024-01-23T13:36:23Z
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ABIDJAN - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday pledged $45 million in additional financing to help fight conflict and bring stability to coastal West Africa, where insecurity linked to jihadist insurgencies has increased in recent years.
Blinken is on the second stop of a four-nation tour of Africa taking him to Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Angola from Jan. 21-26.
The purpose of the trip is to discuss U.S.-African partnerships over trade, climate, infrastructure, health, security and other issues. It follows a summit in Washington with African leaders in December 2022.
Security challenges in West Africa, the fallout of a coup in Niger last year and Russia's growing influence in the region are among key topics during Blinken's trip.
He arrived in Ivory Coast's financial capital Abidjan on Monday evening and met President Alassane Ouattara on Tuesday morning, after which he announced the extra financing at a joint press briefing.
Ivory Coast is one of several coastal West African countries impacted in recent years by Islamist insurgencies that took root in Mali in 2012 and spread across the Sahel region despite costly, internationally backed military efforts to contain it.
"We spent a lot of time discussing mutual security challenges," Blinken said. "We appreciate Ivory Coast's leadership in the fight against extremism and violence."
The funding will supplement $300 million the U.S. has already invested in coastal West Africa over the past two years.
"We have increased military training by 15 times and are investing in civil protection in Ivory Coast," Blinken added.
Ouattara said security in the region remained a challenge.
"That is why we do appreciate the USA for their support in the area of intelligence and the fight against terrorism," he said.
The U.S. faced a setback in its fight against militants in the Sahel when military officers toppled Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum, a key ally, in July last year.
The coup in Niger was one of a series of military takeovers or attempted power grabs that occurred in West and Central Africa over the past three years.
The instability has raised concern, particularly as juntas have cut ties with traditional Western allies such as the European Union and France, which withdrew thousands of troops from the Sahel last year.
Blinken met Akinwumi Adesina, president of the African Development Bank, at a sub-regional rice research institute in the afternoon. He is scheduled to fly to Nigeria in the evening. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/blinken-pledges-45-million-to-boost-coastal-west-africa-security
| 2024-01-23T13:36:36Z
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LONDON - The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency has released a slickly produced Russian-language video to try to persuade Russian intelligence employees to switch sides and work as double agents for Washington.
CIA Director William Burns said in July that disaffection among some Russians over the war in Ukraine was creating a rare opportunity to recruit spies, and that the CIA was not letting it pass.
The video, released on the CIA's official channel on X, tries to appeal to what it suggests are patriotic Russians working in the intelligence community who may feel betrayed by what it called corruption in elite circles and the poor way the Russian armed forces are equipped and supplied.
"Those around you may not want to hear the truth. But we do. You are not powerless," says the video, the latest in a series of recruitment videos targeting Russia, before detailing ways to contact the CIA.
Accompanied by melancholy classical music, the video's main, fictional character is an unnamed 35-year-old male employee of Russia's military intelligence agency who casts himself as a patriot who loves Russia and once served as a paratrooper.
"Do I have enough courage to confront this betrayal?" the video shows him saying, before he says he has realised the real enemy is inside Russia in the form of a corrupt leadership and elite.
"The top leadership has sold the country out for palaces and yachts at a time when our soldiers are chewing rotten potatoes and firing from prehistoric weapons. Our people are forced to give bribes to simply find work," the man says as video clips of a bleak Russian winter are spliced with images of high-end official limousines and wealthy Russians giving toasts.
The fictional character says his patriotism has spurred him to act and work with the CIA, and the video's final shot depicts a well-dressed man contacting the CIA by mobile phone from a snowy courtyard.
KREMLIN SHRUGS OFF VIDEO
The Kremlin says everything is done to ensure the Russian military has the equipment it needs to be successful in what Moscow calls its "special military operation" in Ukraine.
It has rejected as false various corruption allegations, and shrugged off the video.
"You know, this practice is quite common, intelligence agencies around the world very often use the media and social networks to recruit new employees. And they do it all the time, the CIA does it every year," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.
Peskov suggested the CIA had made a mistake by circulating the video on X, formerly known as Twitter, which is banned in Russia and can be accessed only by using a virtual private network, many of which are also banned.
"Somebody needs to tell the CIA that in our country (Russian social network) VKontakte is much more popular than the banned X. And that VKontakte's audience is much larger," Peskov said. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/cia-tries-to-recruit-double-agents-in-russia-with-new-video
| 2024-01-23T13:36:49Z
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LISBON - Portugal's centre-left Socialist Party (PS) has extended its lead as the favourite to win the most votes in a snap general election on March 10, although it remains far from a parliamentary majority, an opinion poll showed on Tuesday.
There was also a strong jump in voting intentions for the third-placed far-right party Chega (Enough) that could be key to the wider right wing forming a government, according to the survey by Intercampus for newspapers Correio da Manha and Jornal de Negocios.
Socialist Prime Minister Antonio Costa resigned on Nov. 7 over an investigation into alleged illegalities in his government's handling of several large investment projects. Costa has denied wrongdoing and remains head of a caretaker government.
The PS, now led by 46-year-old former infrastructure minister Pedro Nuno Santos, commanded 26.4% support in the Intercampus poll, up from 25.4% a month ago.
The Democratic Alliance, which encompasses the centre-right main opposition Social Democratic Party (PSD), the conservative CDS-PP and the monarchist party, trailed behind with 20.8%, although in December the PSD alone polled at 22.5%.
Chega, which is already the third-largest force in parliament and has recently moderated its populist, anti-establishment rhetoric, jumped to 16.6% support from 11.6%. The right-wing Liberal Initiative polled at 5.4%.
Left Bloc and the Communists had 7.4% and 3.9%, respectively, with the overall left garnering 37.7%, behind the overall right with 42.8%.
PSD leader Luis Montenegro has ruled out any form of reliance on Chega to govern, and many analysts say a post-election quagmire would ensue without such support, potentially leading to a repeat ballot.
Intercampus surveyed 637 people on Jan. 16-20, with a margin of error of around 4%. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/portugals-socialists-extend-lead-for-march-election-far-right-grows-survey
| 2024-01-23T13:37:04Z
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BERLIN - Support for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) dropped slightly in two polls published on Tuesday after 10 days of nationwide protests against the far-right party, although it remained firmly in second place.
Support for the AfD dropped 2 percentage points to 20% in a Forsa poll, the lowest level in four months. The party remained behind the opposition conservatives on 31% but still well ahead of all the three parties in Chancellor Olaf Scholz's centre-left coalition, who together were polling 32%.
The AfD dropped 1.5 percentage points on the week to 21.5% in the poll by the German Institute for New Social Answers (INSA), behind the conservatives on 30.5% and the ruling coalition on 31%.
"The demonstrations against the AfD are supported by 37% of Germans and they are showing an impact," INSA chief Hermann Binkert said.
The AfD however is still polling eight percentage points more than Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD), he added.
The 11-year-old AfD has soared in polls over the past year - up from the 10.3 % it scored in the 2021 election, buoyed by discontent with the government's handling of crises including the Ukraine war, inflation and pressure on public services from large-scale immigration.
Still, hundreds of thousands of Germans have demonstrated nationwide against the AfD in the past 10 days following the publication of a report revealing that two senior members had participated in a meeting where plans for the mass deportation of citizens of foreign origin were discussed.
The proposals for "unassimilated citizens" to be deported to "a model state in north Africa", reported by outlet Correctiv, horrified many Germans. Some have compared the proposals to the Nazis' initial plan to deport European Jews to Madagascar.
The AfD has denied the plans are party policy and co-leader Alice Weidel parted ways with one of her advisers who participated in the talks.
Still, Germany's domestic spy chief Thomas Haldenwang has warned of extremist movements within the AfD, which is under security surveillance.
Separately, Germany's Constitutional Court said on Tuesday authorities could cut off state funding to the successor party to the far-right NPD even though it is not banned, in a ruling which fuels a debate about whether the AfD should be penalised. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/support-for-far-right-afd-eases-after-germany-wide-protests-polls
| 2024-01-23T13:37:19Z
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It's been four years since the second season of Big Little Lies came to our screens, and the likes of Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman and Meryl Streep gripped audiences across the world. Needless to say since the season came to an end, fans have been desperate for more with little relief - but Nicole Kidman took the time to reassure them that season four is on the way.
"We’re at work on it," the Moulin Rouge! actress informed Variety at the New York premiere for Expats. According to Nicole, she and co-star Reese are "texting every day" about the third season. She added: "there's a timeline and we're doing it."
Otherwise, Nicole was careful not to share too much information. "We can’t say anything more," she said. "We’ve got to start keeping our mouths shut…We’ve got to button it."
The star first confirmed that Big Little Lies would be coming back to screens in November 2023 at a fan event, where she said: "I loved Big Little Lies because it sort of came along at a time in my life when I had my children, and I was thinking I was going to retire, and then this situation came along, where Reese Witherspoon and I were able to produce that show."
She continued: "And then all of you watched it and made it a massive success. And we will be bringing you a third one, just FYI."
Reese similarly mentioned on January 8th that she is "hard at work" on the project, and that "Nic and I have been working on it a lot" - giving hope to fans.
Making season three happen
The road to season three hasn't been easy, as president of HBO Casey Bloys revealed that the sheer star power of the cast means that it's incredibly hard to find a gap in the schedule for filming.
"I love this group of people—I would do anything with them. The reality is, they are some of the busiest actresses working in Hollywood. I just think it’s not realistic," he said. "Look, if they all came to me and said, ‘We worked out all of our schedules!’—then sure. But I just don't think it's realistic."
The unexpected death of Jean-Marc Vallée, who directed the original series before his death in 2021, was also a serious blow to the cast.
Nicole mentioned to Entertainment Tonight that "We are obviously all devastated at the loss of Jean-Marc Vallée. That made us go, 'Can we move forward?' But Reese and I, and all of the other women, have decided, yes we can."
Season two almost didn't happen
Reports suggested that it was a miracle that they managed to film season two as Reese and Nicole were so busy.
Running Hello Sunshine productions, Reese has balanced her work on Big Little Lies with The Morning Show, Little Fires Everywhere, and Daisy Jones & the Six.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/511856/nicole-kidman-confirms-big-little-lies-season-3-everything-shes-said-so-far/
| 2024-01-23T13:45:34Z
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Understandably, the life of an A-lister seems impossibly glamorous to us mere mortals. But if Zendaya's latest look is anything to go by, the Spider-Man star is actually way more relatable than we'd first anticipated.
Paris has set the wheels in motion for Haute Couture Week, and with the most avant-garde period in the fashion calendar comes a plethora of killer celebrity 'fits.
Bringing her style A-game to the Schiaparelli SS24 show, the actress proved that she is partial to some affordable hosiery.
Dressed by globally renowned stylist Law Roach, Zendaya looked utterly striking on Monday when she was snapped outside the Italian luxury label's showcase event.
The 27-year-old brought an infusion of gothic elegance to the front row, sporting a black polo neck top with statement 3D knot detailing running along the outer sleeves alongside a lustrous midaxi skirt, complete with a voluminous train.
MORE: Tom Holland and Zendaya's relationship timeline
READ: The best street style outfits at Paris Couture Week SS24
Her Joan of Arc-esque micro bangs prompted considerable attention, as did her striking fishnets and heels combo.
As it turns out, Zendaya's calf-high fishnet socks are actually from Italian hosiery stalwart Calzedonia, the label's 'Micronet Knee-Highs' to be exact.
READ: 12 luxury hosiery brands to shop for quality tights and socks in 2023
RELATED: Julia Roberts' fishnet tights are the chicest accessory of 2023
Despite their modest price point – the style currently retails for just £4 – her fishnet socks added a sense of refined sultriness to Zendaya's otherwise eye-wateringly expensive ensemble, working seamlessly with her stilettos to create a sultry sock-shoe pairing.
Time to take our cues from the screen star and up our hosiery game…
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/hfm/fashion-trends/511871/zendaya-wore-affordable-fishnets-alongside-schiaparelli-at-paris-fashion-week/
| 2024-01-23T13:45:41Z
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Beauty
14 Beauty & Self-Care Gifts To Give Yourself For Valentine’s Day
If Miley can buy herself flowers, you can buy yourself an LED face mask.
Valentine’s Day falls on a work day this year, so there’s that in case the impossibility of getting a dinner reservation and the over-priced chocolates weren’t enough. But even if you’re not expecting gifts from any person in particular, why not let the holiday spirit move you to show some love…to yourself?
If you’re looking for a little treat, we’ve got some recommendations you’ll want to “add to cart” immediately. From cheap thrills like the perfect red lipstick or a glowy liquid blush, to high-end buys like a cool skin care gadget (in pink!), there’s something for everyone (that will last much longer than flowers). Read on for 14 Valentine’s Day beauty gifts you can give to the person you love the most.
The only thing better at mood-boosting than fresh nails is not having to wait at the salon for them. With these press-ons, you can try out the super cute Korean Blush Nails trend in literally five minutes. Glamnetic nails look so professional and they have just the right almond shape that looks elegant but still lets you work a keyboard.
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https://www.nylon.com/beauty/valentines-day-beauty-self-care-gift-ideas
| 2024-01-23T13:46:56Z
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SOUNDCHECK
IVE And Saweetie Channel The 2010s & 9 Other New Songs Out This Week
Jack Antonoff shares his ode to Margaret Qualley, while Kygo and Ava Max take on Shakira.
Every week, we bring you SOUNDCHECK — your destination for the best new music that hit the web over the course of the week. Because you should always be prepared when someone passes you that AUX cord. This week's roundup features 10 of our favorite emerging and established artists.
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https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/soundcheck-01-22-2024-ive-saweetie-bleachers
| 2024-01-23T13:46:57Z
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Paris Haute Couture Fashion week has just begun and already it is a feast of exciting and memorable moments. Running from Jan. 22 - 25, Haute Couture week shows some of the most fabulous, over-the-top looks we see all year, from fashion houses like Chanel, Giambattista Valli, and Valentino. Kicking off the week are the highly-anticipated Schiaparelli and Dior shows, both of which attract some of the most in-demand style stars, giving them a chance to create their own fashion statements sitting in the front row.
Rihanna arrived to Dior’s runway show wearing and extra-tall baseball cap and reimagined puffer coat, meanwhile Zendaya was seen sporting long black hair and short bangs, looking like a goth bride at Schiaparelli. Jennifer Lopez was also in attendance at the Schiaparelli, wearing an oversized textured coat and sunglasses with built-in golden eyebrows. What’s clear is every celebrity is out to give us something to look at — and to talk about.
With many more shows still to come on the Parisian runways, there’s no doubt even more incredible A-lister sighting to come. Ahead, some of the best celebrity appearances (and looks) from Paris Haute Couture Fashion week. Keep checking back for more as the week continues.
Zendaya
Zendaya at the Schiaparelli Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2024 runway showStephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis Entertainment/Getty Images
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez at the Schiaparelli Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2024 runway showMarc Piasecki/WireImage/Getty Images
Karlie Kloss
Karlie Kloss at the Schiaparelli Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2024 runway showMarc Piasecki/WireImage/Getty Images
Da'Vine Joy Randolph
Da'Vine Joy Randolph at the Schiaparelli Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2024 runway showStephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis Entertainment/Getty Images
Soo Joo Park
Soo Joo Park at the Schiaparelli Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2024 runway showJacopo Raule/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu
Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu at the Schiaparelli Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2024 runway showStephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis Entertainment/Getty Images
Bella Thorne
Bella Thorne at the Schiaparelli Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2024 runway showJacopo Raule/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
Sabrina Elba
Sabrina Elba at the Schiaparelli Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2024 runway showStephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis Entertainment/Getty Images
Kelly Rutherford
Kelly Rutherford at the Christian Dior Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2024 runway showDave Benett/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
Felicity Jones
Felicity Jones at the Christian Dior Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2024 runway showDave Benett/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
Rihanna
Rihanna at the Dior Haute Couture runway showDave Benett/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
Elizabeth Debicki
Elizabeth Debicki at the Dior Haute Couture runway showDave Benett/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
Anya Taylor-Joy
Anya Taylor-Joy at the Dior Haute Couture runway showDave Benett/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
Ali Wong
Ali Wong at the Christian Dior Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2024 runway showJacopo Raule/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
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https://www.nylon.com/fashion/best-celebrity-looks-paris-haute-couture-spring-summer-2024
| 2024-01-23T13:46:58Z
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Astrology
Would You Let Astrology Guide Your Next Hotel Stay?
Make your next vacation approved by the cosmos.
The popularity of astrocartography continues to rise in 2024, from using it to plan major moves to picking a birth chart-approved vacation destination. Now, Moxy Hotels and Sanctuary are getting in on the action with Cosmic Curations, expanding on the app’s astrology insights to include a series of astro-adventure guides, personalized travel recommendations, and more to help guests align with the cosmos during their travels.
Starting Jan. 23. the Sanctuary app will tap into the power of astrocartography to feature free personalized travel dates, locations, and companion recommendations, specifically tailored to Moxy destinations around the world. Cosmic Curations’ travel-inspired horoscopes hopes to make 2024 the best year of travel — and once guests check-in at their Moxy Hotel destination, the IRL astrology perks kick in.
Travelers can partake in “Sip by Sign” cocktails with “cosmically-inspired coffee foam patterns” as well as a twist to Moxy’s “Bedtime Stories” program, which allows guests to hear 2024 predictions based on their birth sign’s element, enjoy a serene sound bath, or dig into dream interpretations. But the bespoke programming really takes the cosmic cake, featuring events like aura photography sessions at Moxy Virginia Beach in February, vernal equinox celebrations at Moxy Warsaw Praga, and a full moon watch party at Moxy Lisbon City this April — not to mention a VIP astrology experience in Athens, Greece, famously the birthplace of modern astrology.
“If there was ever a year for the stars to help inform travel, it would be 2024,” says Lauren Ash, Sanctuary astrologer. “The constant transition will encourage people to get out of their comfort zone, make bold choices, and set the tone for their future. Transformative travel doesn’t happen without big moves – your personal astrology can hold the key to taking that leap!”
Find your next travel destination and Moxy Hotel on Moxy.com and the Sanctuary app.
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https://www.nylon.com/life/moxy-hotels-sanctuary-cosmic-curations-astrocartography
| 2024-01-23T13:46:58Z
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In 1997, a 14-year-old boy at Eagle Rock Junior High School in Idaho Falls began telling his classmates about the dangers of dihydrogen monoxide.
"Dihydrogen monoxide is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and kills uncounted thousands of people every year. Most of these deaths are caused by accidental inhalation of DHMO, but the dangers of dihydrogen monoxide do not end there," information given out to fellow students read, per Snopes. "Prolonged exposure to its solid form causes severe tissue damage. Symptoms of DHMO ingestion can include excessive sweating and urination, and possibly a bloated feeling, nausea, vomiting and body electrolyte imbalance. For those who have become dependent, DHMO withdrawal means certain death."
The info sheet compiled by Nathan Zohner went on to explain that DHMO is a major component of acid rain, can cause severe burns, and has been found in tumors taken from cancer patients. The sheet continued to hype up the dangers of this compound.
"Quantities of dihydrogen monoxide have been found in almost every stream, lake, and reservoir in America today. But the pollution is global, and the contaminant has even been found in Antarctic ice. DHMO has caused millions of dollars of property damage in the midwest, and recently California."
Despite this, Zohner explained, the substance was still in wide use, being used as everything from an additive in junk food, to a fire retardant.
"The American government has refused to ban the production, distribution, or use of this damaging chemical due to its 'importance to the economic health of this nation.' In fact, the navy and other military organizations are conducting experiments with DHMO, and designing multi-billion dollar devices to control and utilize it during warfare situations," Zohner's info sheet concluded. "Hundreds of military research facilities receive tons of it through a highly sophisticated underground distribution network. Many store large quantities for later use."
After getting the info out there, Zohner then asked 50 classmates whether the substance should be banned. Forty-three out of the 50 – or 86 percent of the class – "voted to ban dihydrogen monoxide because it has caused too many deaths".
This was of course concerning to Zohner, because dihydrogen monoxide is water. By giving it an unfamiliar name and simply listing facts about, Zohner was able to convince the majority of his class that water should be banned, even though dihydrogen monoxide (two hydrogen, one oxygen) merely describes the more familiar H2O. Though we don't have the data to go on, it's likely that the term "monoxide" was associated by some with carbon monoxide and its sometimes deadly effects.
The schoolchildren were not the only ones to be taken in by the hoax, which spreads around from time to time. In 2007, New Zealand MP Jacqui Dean signed a letter calling for water to be banned. In 2011, two radio DJs in Lee County, Southwest Florida, were temporarily suspended after warning listeners that dihydrogen monoxide was coming out of the taps. Residents began calling the utility company, believing the water to be unsafe, simply because it contained water.
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https://www.iflscience.com/how-a-14-year-old-boy-convinced-his-class-to-ban-dihydrogen-monoxide-72579
| 2024-01-23T14:09:36Z
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A newly discovered planet is a record-breaker in many ways, but the one for which it is likely to be remembered is heat so extreme that one hemisphere is lava.
The HD 63433 system, also known as (TOI 1726), interests astronomers because it is a relatively close star (73 light years away) that resembles a young Sun. At 99 percent of the Sun’s mass and with similar proportions of heavy elements, HD 63433 will end up being very similar. Currently, however, it is less than 10 percent of the Sun’s age, providing excellent insight into our home star’s early development.
On the other hand, HD 63433’s planetary system is nothing like how our own would have looked in its early days. Four years ago, two planets were found with sizes similar to Neptune, but orbits of just 7.1 and 20.5 days. Around some of the faint red dwarves we study that might put one of them in the habitable zone, but with HD 63433’s Sun-like luminosity, both make Mercury look cold. Still, even with such furnace-like planetary siblings, the newly discovered HD 64433 d stands out.
When a team analyzed data from the TESS space telescope they found additional, shallower, dips in the light coming from HD 63433 that these two planets could not be responsible for. Another planet is orbiting HD 63433 – but it’s a lot smaller than the first two discoveries, so when it passes between us and the star, it blocks out less light.
After further analysis, the team concluded the new planet, HD 63433d, has a diameter about 7 percent larger than Earth’s, but it orbits in just 4.2 days. That means two things: it’s staggeringly hot, and one side will always face the star, a phenomenon known as being “tidally locked”.
As a result, the star-facing side is even hotter than it would be if it got some relief at night. The side in question is estimated to have a temperature of 1,257 °C, (2,294 °F). That doesn’t just mean that any atmosphere long since boiled away – the rocks will have turned to lava.
HD 63433d is not the hottest planet we have ever found. Kepler-10b orbits a star of similar brightness in less than an Earth day. It’s much easier for us to detect these sorts of close-in planets than those that orbit more slowly, so we have quite a collection.
Nevertheless, our previous super-hot discoveries are also dissimilar to Earth in other ways, such as having much larger masses. If it was only further out, HD 63433d would be a near-perfect analog for the early Earth. Although its mass, and therefore density, are not yet known, it is thought to have a similar composition.
HD 63433 has characteristics that mark it as a member of the Ursa Major Moving Group, a set of stars that formed together in a cluster about 414 million years ago and have gradually drifted apart. The announcement of HD 63433d is published along with a study of several other members of the same group.
Astronomers are likely to keep paying the system plenty of attention. Since most planets in star systems orbit in roughly similar planes, as occurs for our own, the presence of several planets that transit their star from our perspective greatly raises the chances of other worlds further out that do the same. If we haven’t found them yet, that may just be because we haven’t been watching long enough.
Even the planets we have found, while clearly hostile to life, could teach us something interesting about the scattering that goes on early in a star system’s life, which left its mark on Earth and the Moon.
Although we have found around 5,000 planets, only 50 are thought to be less than 500 million years old. Most of those are gas giants, orbit very faint stars, or both. HD 63433’s combination of Sun-like brightness and relative closeness means it’s bright enough to be seen with binoculars (magnitude 6.9), making its fluctuations easy for telescopes to study. “HD 63433 is the brightest known host of young transiting exoplanets in the sky,” the study notes.
For lovers of the weird acronyms astronomers use for their projects, this work was done as part of the TESS Hunt for Young and Maturing Exoplanets (THYME).
The study is published open access in the Astronomical Journal.
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https://www.iflscience.com/nearest-young-earth-sized-planet-is-half-lava-and-metal-as-hell-72571
| 2024-01-23T14:09:42Z
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Organ transplantation is one of the most incredible breakthroughs in 20th-century medicine. However, the sad truth is that there simply aren’t enough organs to meet demand. In the US alone, more than 10,000 patients are waiting for a liver transplant, and their doctors desperately search for ways to give them more time until the right organ becomes available. Now, a successful experiment with a pig’s liver could lead to a creative new solution.
Scientists from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania just announced the successful perfusion of a pig’s liver using blood from a recently deceased human donor. It’s hoped that this idea could be developed into what they’ve called a “bridge” for critically ill patients – a kind of transplant halfway house, to keep them going until a human liver is found.
“Any time a patient dies while waiting for a transplant, it is a tragedy, and we are always working to develop new ways to extend their lives,” said study lead Dr Abraham Shaked in a statement. “The success of the first part of our study is significant for those facing liver failure, offering a glimpse into a future where innovative solutions can bring hope to patients who might otherwise be destined to die while waiting for a transplant.”
For the experiment, which took place last December, the donor’s circulatory system and breathing were artificially maintained after medics had confirmed brain death. Their organs were not deemed suitable for donation to patients on the transplant waiting list, but their family generously agreed to allow their body to be used for this procedure.
Perfusion refers to the process of circulating blood through an organ. The donor’s own liver was kept in place throughout – this is not the same as xenotransplantation, true animal-to-human transplants. Instead, the pig liver, which was genetically engineered to minimize the chances of rejection, was hooked up to the donor’s circulatory system from outside their body.
The donor’s blood was circulated through the pig liver, bypassing their own liver. They were monitored for 72 hours, during which time there was no inflammation observed in the liver and no issues with the donor’s body.
Waiting times for people on the liver transplant list can stretch as long as 5 years. There is currently no way to replace the function of the liver with a machine, such as can be done with dialysis for the kidneys, so patients with liver failure really have no option other than a transplant. If this perfusion approach proves safe and feasible, it could help keep the sickest patients alive for a vital window of time, maximizing their chances of getting a transplant.
There’s also potential for it to be used as a temporary treatment for people healing from liver injuries, in a similar way to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for the heart and lungs.
“Our system combined with a genetically modified liver combines modern organ perfusion technology with the functions of a whole liver, which is a potentially powerful combination that could save lives,” said Dr Peter Friend, chief medical officer of OrganOx, the company that produced the device that makes the procedure possible.
These results are only the first stage of a larger study the team is working on, with three more deceased donors. The procedure will need to be trialed in donors whose own livers have been removed to get a true sense of whether it can provide the “bridge” to transplant that the scientists are hoping for.
The team paid tribute to the kindness of the family who donated their loved one’s body for this experiment. A relative commented: “Our family is very proud to support this medical advancement and see our loved one’s legacy benefit countless others. It is a testament to our loved one’s selflessness and compassion to know this donation offers such hope for people suffering serious disease in the future.”
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https://www.iflscience.com/world-first-experiment-running-human-blood-through-pig-liver-could-be-vital-bridge-to-transplant-72580
| 2024-01-23T14:09:48Z
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LONDON – Britain plans to announce new sanctions in the coming days targeting Houthi financing of attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Jan 23.
US and British forces carried out a fresh round of strikes on Jan 22 in Yemen, targeting a Houthi underground storage site, as well as missile and surveillance capabilities used by the Iran-aligned group.
"We're going to use the most effective means at our disposal to cut off the Houthi's financial resources, where they are used to fund these attacks," Mr Sunak told Parliament.
"We are working closely with the United States on this and plan to announce new sanctions measures in the coming days," he added.
Mr Sunak also said British Foreign Secretary David Cameron would visit the Middle East this week. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/britain-to-announce-new-sanctions-against-houthis-in-coming-days-pm-sunak
| 2024-01-23T15:05:37Z
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SEOUL - North Korea has demolished a major monument in its capital that symbolised the goal of reconciliation with South Korea on the orders of leader Kim Jong Un, who last week called the rival a “primary foe” and said unification was no longer possible.
Satellite imagery of Pyongyang on Jan 23 showed that the monument, an arch symbolising hopes for Korean reunification which was completed after a landmark inter-Korea summit in 2000, was no longer there, according to a report by NK News, an online outlet that monitors North Korea.
Reuters could not independently confirm that the monument, known informally as the Arch of Reunification, had been demolished.
Mr Kim called the monument an “eyesore” in a speech at the Supreme People’s Assembly on Jan 15, where he ordered that the constitution be amended to say the South was a “primary foe and invariable principal enemy,” official media said.
Tensions have spiked on the Korean peninsula following intensifying military manoeuvres by the South Korean and US militaries in response to weapons testing by the North, which said it was readying for a “nuclear war” with its enemies.
The arch, formally known as the Monument to the Three-Point Charter for National Reunification, stood 30 metres tall and was symbolic of the three charters, which were self-reliance, peace and national cooperation, according to South Korean government records.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, who took office in 2022, has taken a hard line against the North, calling for immediate and tough responses to North Korea’s military actions that have raised tensions on the Korean peninsula.
North Korea has vowed to “wipe out” the South if attacked by the South and US forces. Late in 2023, the North declared as no longer valid a key agreement signed with the South in 2018 aimed at de-escalating military tensions.
Following Mr Kim’s speech last week, the North’s assembly abolished key government agencies that have been instrumental to decades of exchanges with Seoul. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/north-korea-tears-down-monument-symbolizing-union-with-the-south-report
| 2024-01-23T15:05:48Z
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KUALA LUMPUR – Political tensions are rising in Malaysia as the wife of former finance minister Daim Zainuddin was charged in court on Jan 23 with failure to declare her assets, while a son of former premier Mahathir Mohamad is under a separate anti-graft probe.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is using the investigations over alleged corruption against the two Tuns and their family members to showcase his fight against graft involving prominent people.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/malaysia-pm-pushes-anti-graft-probes-against-foes-raising-questions-over-potential-abuse
| 2024-01-23T15:05:58Z
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LOS GATOS, California – Streaming pioneer Netflix took a big step into live events on Jan 23 with a more than US$5 billion (S$6.7 billion) rights deal that would make it the exclusive home of World Wrestling Entertainment’s Raw from January 2025.
The 10-year partnership will see Raw on the streaming platform in the United States, Canada, Britain and Latin America, among other territories, the companies said.
Netflix will also exclusively telecast outside the US all WWE shows and specials, including SmackDown, as well as pay-per-view live events such as WrestleMania and Royal Rumble.
Netflix has, in recent years, been keen on live events. It secured rights to a tennis face-off between Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz in December and streamed a celebrity golf tournament in November featuring Formula One drivers and golfers.
The deal marks a major shift for WWE as Raw, which debuted in 1993 and has 1,600 episodes, leaves linear television for the first time since its inception.
WWE merged with UFC parent Endeavour Group to form TKO Group Holdings in a deal valued at US$21 billion in 2023, forming one of the biggest names in wrestling and entertainment. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/netflix-to-stream-wwe-raw-in-67b-bet-on-live-events
| 2024-01-23T15:06:09Z
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LOS ANGELES – Oscar voters lined up behind a classic studio blockbuster, giving 13 nominations to Oppenheimer, the most of any movie, and setting up the long-awaited coronation of its director, Christopher Nolan, as Hollywood’s leading filmmaker.
No film by Nolan has ever been named best picture. He received his second nomination for directing on Jan 23.
The recognition for Oppenheimer had been expected. But the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences threw surprises into all of the other major categories.
Most prominently, Greta Gerwig did not receive a nomination as best director for Barbie.
Instead, the increasingly international academy gave a first nomination to the French filmmaker Justine Triet, who directed Anatomy Of A Fall, a did-she-or-didn’t-she thriller.
Barbie also failed to figure into the best actress category, with Margot Robbie overlooked for bringing the doll to zany life.
Instead, Annette Bening was honoured as a best actress candidate for her obsessive, ageing swimmer in the Netflix film Nyad.
Oppenheimer was followed by Poor Things, a female-focused take on the Frankenstein myth, with 11, and Martin Scorsese’s Killers Of The Flower Moon, with 10.
The nominees were:
For best picture: Past Lives; American Fiction; Anatomy Of A Fall; Barbie; The Holdovers; Killers Of The Flower Moon; Maestro; Past Lives; Poor Things; The Zone Of Interest; Oppenheimer
For best actress: Annette Bening, Nyad; Lily Gladstone, Killers Of The Flower Moon; Sandra Huller, Anatomy Of A Fall; Carey Mulligan, Maestro; Emma Stone, Poor Things
For best actor: Bradley Cooper, Maestro; Colman Domingo, Rustin; Paul Giamatti, The Holdovers; Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer; Jeffrey Wright, American Fiction
For best director: Jonathan Glazer, The Zone Of Interest; Yorgos Lanthimos, Poor Things; Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer; Martin Scorsese, Killers Of The Flower Moon; Justine Triet, Anatomy Of A Fall
For best supporting actress: Emily Blunt, Oppenheimer; Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple; America Ferrera, Barbie; Jodie Foster, Nyad; Da’Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers
For best supporting actor: Sterling K. Brown, American Fiction; Robert De Niro, Killers Of The Flower Moon; Robert Downey Jr, Oppenheimer; Ryan Gosling, Barbie; Mark Ruffalo, “Poor Things”
For best international film: Io Capitano (Italy); Perfect Days (Japan); Society Of The Snow (Spain); The Teachers’ Lounge (Germany); The Zone of Interest” (United Kingdom)
For best adapted screenplay: American Fiction; Barbie; Oppenheimer; Poor Things; Zone Of Interest;
For original screenplay: Anatomy Of A Fall; The Holdovers; May December; Past Lives; Maestro
For best animated feature film: The Boy And The Heron; Elemental; Nimona; Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse; Robot Dreams
For best animated short: Letter To A Pig; Ninety-Five Senses; Our Uniform; Pachyderme; War Is Over! Inspired By The Music of John & Yoko
For best documentary feature: Bobi Wine: The People’s President; The Eternal Memory; Four Daughters; To Kill A Tiger; 20 Days In Mariupol
For best documentary short: The ABCs Of Book Banning; The Last Repair Shop; Nai Nai & Wai Po; The Barber Of Little Rock; Island In Between
For best production design: Barbie; Killers Of The Flower Moon; Napoleon; Oppenheimer; Poor Things;
For best live action short: The After; Invincible; Knight Of Fortune; Red, White And Blue; The Wonderful Story Of Henry Sugar
For best cinematography: El Conde; Killers Of The Flower Moon; Maestro; Oppenheimer; Poor Things;
For best makeup and hairstyling: Golda; Society Of The Snow; Maestro; Oppenheimer; Poor Things;
For best costume design: Barbie; Killers Of The Flower Moon; Napoleon; Oppenheimer; Poor Things
For best visual effects: The Creator; Godzilla Minus One; Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3; Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One; Napoleon
For best film editing: Anatomy Of A Fall; The Holdovers; Killers Of The Flower Moon; Oppenheimer; Poor Things. REUTERS, NYTIMES
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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/entertainment/oppenheimer-barbie-nominated-for-best-picture-at-oscars
| 2024-01-23T15:06:19Z
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SINGAPORE – A woman who acted as a nominee director of a local company was fined $3,000 after the firm’s bank account received more than $620,000 in scam proceeds.
The court found that Chinese citizen Zhang Tianxue, 41, did not exercise reasonable diligence in the discharge of her duties as a director as she failed to exercise any supervision over the company’s affairs.
Zhang, who is now a Singapore permanent resident, pleaded guilty on Jan 23 to one charge under the Companies Act. She was also disqualified from being a company director for two years.
Court documents said Zhang got to know one Wu Jinping, a director of JJCA Corporate Services, in 2012. The two were friends and former colleagues.
Some time in 2020, Wu’s friend told her about another friend’s son, one Mr Li Yilun, who wanted to incorporate a company in Singapore.
As the inquiry came from a friend, Wu felt reassured to take on Mr Li as a client. JJCA Corporate Services also conducted background checks and found nothing suspicious. They then set up a company for Mr Li, named Moon SNE.
Zhang was then appointed to serve as the nominee director of Moon SNE in May 2020. She received $1,000 as remuneration.
But from then till March 9, 2022, when she relinquished her directorship, Zhang did not meet or speak to Mr Li to ascertain the nature of his business, and did not conduct regular checks on the company’s financial affairs.
On March 11, 2021, management consultancy TMF Singapore H alerted the police that their related company based in South Africa had fallen victim to an impersonation scam, and was scammed of more than US$463,000 (S$620,500).
The sum was transferred to Moon SNE’s bank account. The Commercial Affairs Department seized the account one day after receiving the report.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Wong Shiau Yin called for Zhang to be fined $4,000 and given a disqualification order of three years. Said DPP Wong: “Other than being a paper director allowing Moon SNE to meet the statutory requirement of having at least one local director, Zhang made no other contribution to Moon SNE whatsoever.”
Zhang’s lawyer, Ms Jacintha Gopal of R.S. Solomon, said her client reviewed the background checks on Mr Li and the sales invoices he submitted of his business, and believed his business was legitimate.
Subsequently, UOB approved the opening of the bank account based on those invoices, said the lawyer.
She added this was not a case where Zhang had missed obvious red flags on the company’s financial transactions.
Ms Gopal, who asked for a lower fine of $2,000 and a one-year disqualification period, said: “(Zhang) had nothing to do with the impersonation scam and nothing to do with the proceeds that entered into Moon SNE’s bank account. She did not have sinister intentions.”
Wu has been charged with one count of abetting Zhang’s offence.
Her case will be heard at a later date.
Zhang is one of several nominee directors who were hauled to court recently for failing to exercise diligence in their duties.
In September 2023, Singaporean Er Beng Hwa was fined $4,000 and disqualified from being a company director for three years. He had been a nominee director of 186 companies, and one firm was used by scammers to launder $3.23 million.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/nominee-director-fined-3k-after-firm-s-bank-account-used-to-receive-620k-in-scam-proceeds
| 2024-01-23T15:06:30Z
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SINGAPORE – Amid the move to reduce heat-inducing emissions, a very large crude vessel (VLCC) partially powered by the less pollutive liquified natural gas (LNG), was launched by Minister of Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu on Jan 23 morning at PSA Keppel Terminal in Tanjong Pagar.
“Shipping must play a role in reducing its emissions and contribute to the fight against climate change.” said Ms Fu to industry stakeholders and representatives from AET, the Malaysian-owned, Singapore-headquartered ship owner and global operator of crude and clean petroleum tankers.
Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) chief executive Teo Eng Dih and senior officials from the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, Ministry of Transport, MPA and PSA also attended the naming ceremony of the Eagle Veracruz.
The launch marks the 100 million gross tonnage milestone for the Singapore Registry of Ships (SRS).
With a carrying capacity of 300,000 deadweight tonnes, the Eagle Veracruz is the third and final tanker delivered on long-term charter to Shell Tankers Singapore.
The addition of Eagle Veracruz under the Singapore registry means that the SRS, which administers about 4,000 vessels, ranks among the world’s largest ship registries with one of the youngest quality fleets, said MPA.
SRS oversees Singapore-flagged ships and ensures that they comply with the relevant International Maritime Organisation (IMO) conventions to enhance the safety, efficiency and environmental protection of international shipping.
Citing an IMO study, Ms Fu said greenhouse gas emissions from global shipping, which accounts for 3 per cent of total emissions, will continue to rise.
For the international shipping to be more environmentally friendly, Ms Fu said that Singapore is “working with like-minded partners to create sustainable maritime ecosystems, such as establishing green and digital shipping corridors to the Americas, Europe and Asia, developing harmonised standards and regulations for the safe handling and bunkering of future marine fuel such as methanol, ammonia and hydrogen”.
There are also opportunities to reduce fuel usage and costs by improving energy efficiency, noted Ms Fu, adding that retrofitting existing ships or building new ships to carry new green fuels in future are possibilities.
For instance, LNG-powered carriers like the new Eagle Veracruz are designed to reduce friction and improve efficiency while sailing, and are equipped with features to prevent the methane gas in the LNG from leaking during storage present opportunities to reduce fuel consumption.
The main engine in Eagle Veracruz is also built to allow for future retrofit options when fuels that produce low or zero carbon become more cost-effective.
Retrofitting can also help extend the lifespan of the VLCC “from a future proofing perspective in the face of shipping emissions regulations”, said Mr Kavickumar Muruganathan, energy, environment and economics lecturer at National University of Singapore.
He noted that because LNG bunkering infrastructure or facilities to pump LNG into vessels at ports worldwide are very limited, VLCCs are dual-fuelled with diesel.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/launch-of-vessel-partially-powered-by-cleaner-lng-marks-milestone-for-s-pore-flagged-vessels
| 2024-01-23T15:06:40Z
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SINGAPORE – A 34-year-old man is slated to be charged in court on Jan 24 with the attempted murder of a 77-year-old woman. The man is believed to be the woman’s son.
The police said on Jan 23 that they were alerted on Jan 18 at about 4.45pm to an assault at a residential unit in Serangoon Central.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the man had allegedly tried to kill the woman on Jan 16 by pressing a pillow over her face while she was sleeping. The man was arrested in connection with the incident.
If convicted of attempted murder, the man faces life imprisonment and caning. He can be also jailed for up to 20 years and fined or caned, or both.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/man-to-be-charged-with-attempted-murder-for-allegedly-smothering-sleeping-woman-with-pillow
| 2024-01-23T15:06:50Z
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SINGAPORE – The Ministry of Health (MOH) has found more potential lapses such as ineffective incident reporting frameworks and inadequate training and competence of staff at private cord blood bank Cordlife amid investigations, and has given the company till the end of May to rectify the issues.
In a regulatory filing on Jan 23, Cordlife said it received a letter from MOH with a list of the “potential areas of non-compliance” with health regulations that the ministry has identified based on its inspections. These also include inappropriate storage of cord blood units.
“The company has been informed that it is required to rectify the potential non-compliances (including the circumstances which had led to the potential non-compliances) by May 31, 2024,” said Cordlife.
The company’s processes have come under the spotlight after the health authorities revealed on Nov 30, 2023 that seven of its 22 storage tanks were exposed to temperatures above minus 150 deg C.
Cord blood units have to be stored at temperatures below minus 150 deg C, or they could thaw and be damaged.
Around 2,200 cord blood units in one of the affected tanks were damaged and rendered unsuitable for stem cell transplants.
Investigations into the viability of cord blood units in the six other tanks are under way, with updates by MOH due soon.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung announced on Dec 8, 2023, that investigations would take roughly six weeks.
Other process lapses previously reported on Nov 30 include:
Cordlife’s temperature monitoring system failing to send notifications of the temperature lapses in certain tanks to personnel between February and June 2022; six-monthly preventative maintenance was not carried out for two tanks in 2022; and the implementation of a new cord blood processing method in August 2023 that was not properly validated according to the approved plan and protocol.
The company said in the Jan 23 filing that it will continue to work closely with MOH to ensure that all identified issues are rectified by the deadline.
“The company will also continue to comply with all other statutory requirements, including those found under the Healthcare Services Act 2020 and its subsidiary legislations, as well as the licensing conditions issued to the company in relation to its licensable healthcare services,” it added.
On Jan 10, Senior Minister of State for Health Janil Puthucheary said MOH will review regulatory requirements for cord blood banking following the Cordlife incident.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/more-potential-lapses-found-at-cordlife-moh-sets-end-may-deadline-to-rectify-issues
| 2024-01-23T15:07:01Z
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SINGAPORE – Sales of commercial shophouses fell to their lowest quarter in 13 years in the final three months of 2023, as the market turned cautious after a billion-dollar case of money laundering in Singapore came to light in August.
Caveats were filed for just 15 transactions that quarter, compared with 37 deals between July and September.
In terms of transaction value, the deals valued at $95 million from October to December 2023 represented a 70 per cent plunge from nearly $321 million recorded in the same period in 2022.
This is the lowest quarterly sales based on transaction data since 2010, noted a report by property agency PropNex released on Jan 19.
The year on the whole saw a notable slowdown in the once-bustling commercial shophouse market, with 131 shophouses worth about $1.14 billion changing hands. This is down from 191 deals worth $1.6 billion in 2022.
This is the lowest sales volume achieved in a year since 2019, when 123 shophouses fetched a total of $916 million.
PropNex head of research and content Wong Siew Ying said there were fewer big-ticket acquisitions in the final quarter of 2023. She attributed the lacklustre performance to a combination of factors, including a soft economic outlook and heightened due diligence following the anti-money laundering blitz.
At least 10 foreigners have been arrested in what is one of Singapore’s largest anti-money laundering operations, where $2.8 billion in cash and assets were seized.
Meanwhile, the market slowdown also means that owners who were initially confident about price hikes earlier in the year are now more open to negotiation, property agents told The Straits Times.
Mr Richard Tan, founder of PropNex Shophouse Elites, which specialises in the shophouse market, said many owners raised their prices after the last round of property cooling measures in April 2023.
The higher additional buyer’s stamp duty (ABSD) rates on residential properties drove investors’ interest to the commercial shophouse market.
Currently, Singaporeans would have to pay an ABSD rate of 20 per cent when buying their second residential property, and 30 per cent for subsequent properties.
Permanent residents pay 30 per cent ABSD on their second residential property and 35 per cent for subsequent properties. Foreigners bear the brunt of the new measures as they now have to pay a rate of 60 per cent when buying any residential property, up from 30 per cent.
Mr Tan said many foreigners see commercial shophouses as a “safe haven to park their wealth”.
“After the money laundering crackdown, we saw fewer foreign buyers. Owners did not immediately drop their asking prices,” he added.
“For months, both owners and buyers adopted a wait-and-see approach. But after a long lull period and a notable drop in transaction volumes, some owners are now more open to negotiation.”
Mr Tan gave an example of a freehold five-storey shophouse in the Upper Circular Road conservation area. The owner had asked for $40 million, but the highest offer received was $35 million. Both owner and buyer have proceeded to discuss the terms and conditions of the sale, he said.
But there are still some owners who are firm on their asking prices as the leasing market is good and they are not in a hurry to sell, he added.
District 8 (Little India and Jalan Besar) dominated shophouse sales in 2023 with 44 transactions, the PropNex report noted, citing caveat data. This significantly surpassed the next most popular area, District 14 (Geylang and Eunos), where 18 deals were done in the year.
The top transaction in the last three months of 2023 was the sale of a 999-year leasehold four-storey shophouse in Serangoon Road for $18.5 million in November.
Caveats were not lodged for several transactions in prime locations in Districts 1 and 2, PropNex noted.
There were fewer transactions in the final quarter of 2023 by foreigners, who typically avoid lodging caveats to keep their identities private, market observers said.
Caveats are lodged by buyers with the Singapore Land Authority to publicly assert their legal or financial interest in a property, but the process is not mandatory.
Meanwhile, leasing activity remained resilient, driven by a recovery in tourism. Monthly median rents bounced back to $6.39 per sq ft for the months of October to December 2023, from $5.98 psf in the previous three months.
“A positive turn in market conditions will bode well for occupiers, especially those in the F&B (food and beverage), retail and accommodation segments,” Ms Wong said.
For the whole of 2023, the shophouse leasing market registered 3,660 transactions totalling $37.9 million, eclipsing the 3,589 transactions worth $34.3 million in 2022.
Ms Wong anticipates steady demand for shophouses in 2024, supported by their limited supply, heritage value and potential for capital growth.
The projection is further bolstered by expectations of interest rate cuts in 2024 and continued improvements in the tourism sector, she added.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/shophouse-market-slows-amid-money-laundering-bust-sellers-more-open-to-negotiation
| 2024-01-23T15:07:11Z
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SINGAPORE - In a hallowed ceremony steeped in tradition, the Anglican Bishop of Singapore, Dr Titus Chung, was installed as the new Archbishop of the Province of the Anglican Church in South East Asia on Jan 23 at St Andrew’s Cathedral.
He succeeds Datuk Melter Jiki Tais, who is Bishop of Sabah and assumed the post of archbishop in 2020.
Dr Chung, 59, now leads about 46,600 Anglicans across the four dioceses of Singapore, West Malaysia, Kuching and Sabah. He is the third Singaporean to have taken on the role since the province was formed in 1996.
A province is an autonomous group of Anglican churches, created when churches in a region are established enough to look after their own affairs.
Dr Chung was appointed Bishop of Singapore in 2020 and saw the diocese through the Covid-19 pandemic.
Several Cabinet ministers and leaders of the Anglican Communion were at the cathedral to witness the ceremony.
They include Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam, National Development Minister Desmond Lee and Manpower Minister Tan See Leng. Former president Tony Tan, Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh and Workers’ Party chairwoman Sylvia Lim were also present.
The ceremony was followed by a thanksgiving dinner held at Fairmont Singapore, which President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli and Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Culture, Community and Youth Alvin Tan attended.
Speaking at the dinner, President Tharman described Dr Chung’s installation as coming “at a time of growing fragility around the world”, with political and religious schisms threatening human well-being and security in some countries.
“All the more in these times, that we should uphold universal humanitarian values, including respect for each other as individuals, an interest in each other’s cultures and creeds and faith in our common humanity,” Mr Tharman said.
“This has particular importance for us as Singaporeans, whose very identity rests on multiracial and multi-religious harmony,” he added. “Our religious leaders play a key role in this regard, as they both guide their flock in understanding their own religious beliefs and responsibilities, and foster positive and shared civic norms and values.”
The new archbishop, who holds a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Edinburgh, was ordained as a priest in 1997 after graduating from Trinity Theological College in Singapore.
He served as a priest and subsequently as vicar at the Chapel of the Holy Spirit from 1997 to 2005, before joining St Andrew’s Cathedral in 2009.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singaporean-named-new-anglican-archbishop-for-south-east-asia
| 2024-01-23T15:07:21Z
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SINGAPORE -Constant care and attention is needed to preserve trust among the Republic’s different communities, and Singaporeans must never assume that the work is done, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Jan 23.
This is particularly so given a world of heightened geopolitical tension, and where people are increasingly identifying themselves in narrow ethnic and religious terms, he said at the 75th anniversary celebration of the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO).
Such behaviour has fuelled the rise of extremist groups and nativist political parties – an overseas trend, but one which can have a huge impact on Singapore’s social cohesion and harmony given that the country is plugged into the global grid, DPM Wong said at the event at Raffles Town Club.
“It is quite clear in my mind that one of my key priorities as leader is to keep our society together, to keep Singapore strong and united, amidst powerful forces that will seek to divide us,” he told the audience of 120 guests, who included IRO patron Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.
That one of the most religiously diverse countries in the world is also one of its most harmonious societies is remarkable and very precious, given the prevailing trend elsewhere towards intolerance and extremism, DPM Wong said of Singapore.
“And we know this did not happen by chance. No doubt, all of us here believe in the good of humankind. But we also know that as humans, we are fallible. The primal emotions of race and religion are always lurking under the surface.”
Singapore is where it is today in its inter-faith understanding due to decades of hard work, including by generations of IRO leaders who guided their communities to treat one another with mutual respect, Mr Wong said as he thanked the inter-faith group’s pioneers and leaders.
Founded in 1949 by religious leaders of five faiths, the IRO today comprises representatives from the Hindu, Jewish, Zoroastrian, Buddhist, Taoist, Jain, Christian, Muslim, Sikh and Baha’i religions.
DPM Wong said the Government takes religious matters seriously and protects religious harmony here through policies and laws such as the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act, but this is just one part of the approach.
“More importantly, we are very fortunate to have amongst us religious leaders who understand the context in which we operate,” he said.
“You understand that our faiths in Singapore are best practised in ways appropriate to our multi-racial and multi-religious context. You set good examples for your communities in promoting mutual respect and understanding.”
As Singapore embarks on its next bound of nation-building, there is no doubt that the IRO’s work will be more important than ever, he added.
This is as competition between countries for influence and strategic dominance is heating up, while the capacity to tackle problems on a global scale has diminished.
He cited the war in Ukraine, which is entering its third year, and the conflict between Israel and Hamas, which recently passed its 100-day mark and which has spread to the Red Sea.
More people are also living in echo chambers and forming their own “tribes”, noted Mr Wong.
“They listen only to what they like to hear, and believe them, even if these are half-truths, untruths or conspiracy theories,” he added.
Singapore is fortunate that its religious communities understand the need and take the effort to develop strong bonds with each other. “Indeed, the IRO has always been a symbol of harmony and unity, especially during tough times,” he added.
He cited the communal riots in 1964 when the IRO visited the injured in hospitals and appeared on television to urge mutual understanding. More recently, it brought together over 100 religious leaders and members of the various religious communities to pray for the peace, understanding and reconciliation in Israel and Gaza.
That the IRO has been taking steps to develop its next generation of leaders and began to reach out to non-religious groups is commendable, Mr Wong said while urging unceasing effort to keep moving closer to Singapore’s ideal of one united people.
“As the saying goes, trust is built slowly drop by drop, but trust is lost in buckets. Just one lapse, just one mistake, just one careless word can easily undermine many years of hard work.”
In his welcome address, IRO president Noor Mohamed Marican called on the attendees to renew and reaffirm their belief of religion, dialogue and fellowship, which he said are the pillars for peace on which the IRO was built.
He listed three tasks for the inter-faith group, which echoed ESM Goh’s sentiments during its 70th anniversary in 2019.
These are: to work to expand the common space for Singaporeans of diverse backgrounds to practise their own religions; for religious leaders to actively speak out against segregationist practices and divisive speech; and for the IRO to strive to enhance day-to-day interactions, for people of different religious backgrounds to collaborate for the common good.
“While our aspiration is sustainable peace for all, we must acknowledge the need to be prepared for challenges that may threaten our religious harmony,” he said.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/trust-between-communities-hard-earned-needs-constant-tending-lawrence-wong
| 2024-01-23T15:07:32Z
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DOHA – Being ruthless is next on the agenda for Australia as they made it to the Asian Cup round of 16, following a 1-1 draw with Uzbekistan in their Group B match on Jan 23.
The Uzbeks scored a late equaliser as they too moved into the knockout rounds, ahead of Syria who beat India 1-0.
The Socceroos were looking to win all three group games at the Asian Cup for the first time and took the lead through Martin Boyle’s controversial first-half penalty in Doha.
But Azizbek Turgunboev headed home in the 78th minute as the points were shared.
Australia won the group on seven points, ahead of Uzbekistan (five), Syria (four) and India (zero).
“Our main objective was to finish top of the group and thankfully we did that. It was a hard-fought draw,” said Boyle.
“I feel like we created a lot of chances today and could have put more away, but fair play to them – they stayed in the game and got their goal.
“We’ll have to look at the mistake that caused the goal and be defensively better.
“We wanted to keep another clean sheet and we know we need to be a bit more ruthless at the other end.
“The link play is good and we’re getting in the right areas. We just need to put the ball away.”
Australia thought they had taken the lead when Kusini Yengi headed home after 10 minutes, only for the strapping Portsmouth striker to be flagged offside.
Riley McGree was then guilty of a shocking miss five minutes before half-time with the goal at his mercy, after Yengi had danced his way through the Uzbekistan defence.
But Australia were given a reprieve when a VAR (video assistant referee) check judged that the ball had hit Uzbek defender Odiljon Hamrobekov’s hand in the build-up as he slid in to tackle Yengi.
Boyle dispatched the penalty low into the corner to send the Socceroos into half-time with the lead.
After the break, the Central Asians had a goal disallowed themselves when Umar Eshmurodov headed home from a free kick, only to be flagged for offside.
But they got their reward when substitute Turgunboev got on the end of a cross to nod in Uzbekistan’s equaliser.
It was the first goal Australia had conceded at the Asian Cup, following wins over India (2-0) and Syria (1-0).
“We didn’t do too bad,” said Yengi. “We wanted to win but we got a point and topped the group, so we’re content.
“I don’t really care who we face in the next round – we’ve got a great team and when we play at our best we can beat anyone.”
McGree agreed, adding: “There are a lot of positives to take. Top of the group and on to the next one. Our aim was to top to the group, and we have. Whoever we play in the last 16, we have to beat them.”
Separately, Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu has said that Zion Suzuki has “the full support” of his squad at the Asian Cup after the goalkeeper was racially abused online.
The 21-year-old Suzuki, whose father is Ghanaian-American and mother Japanese, said he was abused on social media following Japan’s shock 2-1 loss to Iraq last week.
“Zion is an important player for Japan and I strongly object to the people who violated his human rights and racially abused him,” Moriyasu said ahead of the Samurai Blue’s game against Indonesia on Jan 24. AFP, REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/australia-top-group-uzbekistan-also-into-asian-cup-last-16
| 2024-01-23T15:07:42Z
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ABIDJAN - Goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy became the latest Egypt player to be sidelined from the Africa Cup of Nations after picking up an injury on Monday.
The first-choice keeper has been ruled out of the rest of the tournament in Ivory Coast after dislocating his shoulder during Egypt's 2-2 draw with Cape Verde on Monday, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) said on Tuesday.
"As a result, he will miss the team's remaining matches in the Africa Cup of Nations," EFA said in a statement.
Al Ahly keeper El Shenawy was injured deep into stoppage time after he tamely parried a cross into the path of Bryan Teixeira, who netted to give the already-qualified Cape Verde a late draw. He was replaced by Mohamed Abou-Gabal.
Two years ago, Abou-Gabal also stepped in when El Shenawy sustained an injury in the round of 16 penalty shootout win over the Ivory Coast.
The 34-year-old proved Egypt's hero with impressive displays as the team reached the final, only to lose to Senegal on penalties.
El Shenawy's exit from the squad comes days after Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah suffered a hamstring injury that will likely rule him out for the rest of the tournament.
Salah is scheduled to return to Liverpool on Wednesday to continue his treatment.
"Salah will immediately begin work with the club’s medical staff upon his return to Merseyside with a view to being back in action as soon as possible for club and country, giving him the best chance to return to compete at AFCON if Egypt ... continue to advance in the tournament," Liverpool said in a statement on Monday.
Egypt finished second in Group B with three points following three successive 2-2 draws. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/egypt-goalkeeper-el-shenawy-ruled-out-of-cup-of-nations
| 2024-01-23T15:07:53Z
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Liverpool and Egypt forward Mohamed Salah is expected to return to play in three to four weeks if there are no setbacks in his recovery from injury, the Premier League side's assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders said on Tuesday.
The Egypt international will travel to England to undergo treatment after sustaining a hamstring injury before halftime in Thursday's 2-2 draw with Ghana at the Africa Cup of Nations in Abidjan, triggering panic at Liverpool.
"It's a proper tear in his hamstring so it's expected (he will) return to play in three to four weeks if everything goes smooth and everything goes right," Lijnders told reporters ahead of Liverpool's League Cup semi-final second leg against Fulham.
"It will go smooth and it will go right because of how we've treated his body before."
The Dutchman added that medical personnel from Liverpool and Egypt agreed he would undergo treatment in England, rather than remain with the national team who have reached the last 16 of the tournament.
"(What) I'm really happy about is the medical team of Egypt and the medical team of Liverpool football club really worked together and were in close contact and both made this decision," he added.
"Our medical team decided for him to come back and to give him the best possible chance to come back if we reach the (League Cup) final."
Liverpool, who have won the League Cup a record nine times, travel to Craven Cottage on Wednesday with a 2-1 advantage from the first leg. They will be boosted by the likely return of left back Andy Robertson who has been sidelined since October with a shoulder injury.
"He's only trained once so he's pushing himself in the squad which is nice because he's one of our captains so that's really important. The medical team said it's a coaching decision so he's in (against Fulham)," Lijnders said.
Liverpool lead the Premier League standings by five points ahead of champions Manchester City, who have a game in hand. A quick return for Salah could be crucial in helping Juergen Klopp's side claim a second Premier League title. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/salah-to-return-in-three-to-four-weeks-says-liverpools-lijnders
| 2024-01-23T15:08:03Z
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AL WAKRAH, Qatar - Uzbekistan joined Australia in the last 16 of the Asian Cup on Tuesday after the two teams played out a 1-1 draw in their final group game while Syria beat India in the other encounter in Group B.
Australia had already qualified for the knockout stage and guaranteed a top-two finish, with the result moving the 2015 champions to seven points while Uzbekistan finished second with five points.
Australia had an early goal ruled out for offside but they took the lead at the stroke of halftime when they were awarded a penalty following a VAR check for a handball from Odiljon Hamrobekov, with Martin Boyle putting away the spot kick.
But Uzbekistan equalised in the 78th minute when Azizbek Turgunboev climbed over the defence to head home Jaloliddin Masharipov's cross at the far post.
In the other group game, Syria beat India 1-0 after Omar Khribin -- the 2017 Asian Footballer of the Year -- netted in the 76th minute to give the Middle Eastern side their first goal of the tournament.
With four points, Syria must wait to see if they can qualify for the last 16 as one of the best third-placed teams while India exit the competition without scoring a goal in three losses. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/uzbekistan-through-to-asian-cup-last-16-after-draw-with-australia
| 2024-01-23T15:08:13Z
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MELBOURNE - Second seed Carlos Alcaraz faces arguably the toughest test of his Australian Open campaign when he faces Germany's Alexander Zverev in the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park on Wednesday, in a match that promises to be a fascinating clash of styles.
Alcaraz has faced Zverev seven times before, with the German baseliner prevailing on four occasions, but it was the young Spaniard who dominated their only previous encounter at a major, with a straight sets win at last year's U.S. Open.
Zverev has put that defeat in quarter-finals in New York down to fatigue after playing a marathon encounter against Jannik Sinner the previous round, and the German got his revenge when he beat Alcaraz in the year-ending ATP Finals in Turin.
"I'm not like (at) the U.S. Open where I was completely dead and where I feel like I'm physically exhausted," Zverev said after beating Cameron Norrie in his last match in Melbourne.
"I'm tired, for sure... but I'm not dead... I expect it to be very different."
Alcaraz, who has been pushed past three sets only once in Melbourne, has spent about five hours less on court than Zverev, and the Spaniard's inventive all-court game has been a highlight of the tournament.
"I'm proud with the level that I am playing," Alcaraz said after his straight sets demolition of Miomir Kecmanovic in the last 16.
"I'm feeling better and better every match that I'm playing and I'm coming into the quarter-final with a lot of confidence."
Men's third seed Daniil Medvedev is aiming to reach his third Australian Open semi-final in four years when he takes on big-serving Pole Hubert Hurkacz, who is making his first appearance in the last eight in Melbourne.
Hurkacz, who reached the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2021, has beaten Medvedev in their last two meetings and the Russian knows exactly what he can expect from the ninth seed.
"He serves well. It's tough to return his serve," Medvedev said. "That's going to be the key. I need to stay strong on my serve, don't give him the break, either try to break him or go to the tiebreak and try to win the tiebreak."
Top seed Iga Swiatek's shock exit at the hands of Czech teenager Linda Noskova has left the top half of the women's draw wide open, with the 19-year-old now hoping to extend her dream debut in Melbourne to a first-ever Grand Slam semi-final appearance.
Noskova faces off against Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska in their first-ever meeting.
China's Zheng Qinwen, the last seed standing in that half of the draw at number 12, meets Russia's Anna Kalinskaya in the first match of the evening session on Rod Laver Arena, with a first ever trip to a major semi-final the reward on offer for both players. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tennis/preview-tennis-alcaraz-gears-up-for-zverev-examination-in-melbourne
| 2024-01-23T15:08:24Z
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WASHINGTON – United States Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin made his first public appearance, virtually and from home since his secret hospitalisation, during a meeting on Ukraine's military needs on Jan 23.
Mr Austin, 70, was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre in Maryland on Dec 22 to treat prostate cancer.
He returned to the hospital on Jan 1 due to complications, including a urinary tract infection. His hospitalisation was not revealed until four days later, and the Pentagon did not specify why he was being treated until Jan 9.
Mr Austin's failure to tell President Joe Biden he was hospitalised drew criticism from lawmakers and caught the White House by surprise.
Mr Austin appeared on the livestream for a few minutes as he made his opening remarks. He was sitting in front of a white wall, with what appeared to be a security system keypad on his left and a Department of Defence seal on the right.
While there was a slight break in the livestream, Mr Austin did not appear to mention his health, but called for additional air defence systems for Ukraine.
He is not expected to take part in a joint press conference with the top US general after the meeting, something that has become routine after such gatherings. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/us-defense-secretary-make-first-public-appearance-virtually-since-hospitalization
| 2024-01-23T15:08:34Z
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Former England striker Michael Owen has opened up about the guilt he feels after his son James was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition, which has left him clinically blind.
Appearing on Tuesday's Good Morning Britain with his son, the 44-year-old football star confessed he goes to bed every night and prays a cure will be found for Stargardt disease.
"I suppose as a parent, myself and my wife probably felt far worse than James, which sounds really bad," he said. "You want to take all the pain away from him, you feel sorry for him every time he goes to hospital and gets new drops that make his eyes sting and he’s crying all day."
James, 17, was diagnosed with Stargardt disease at the age of eight. He has since been forced to give up his dream of becoming a professional footballer like his father due to his sight getting progressively worse throughout the years.
"But James was born that way, James doesn't know any different," added Michael. "I think it was quite hard for us when we found out that this was an incurable disease at the moment.
"We live in an age with stem cells that we go to bed every night praying something will be there to cure him, but at the moment, it’s a condition that regresses over time."
Stargardt disease is a rare inherited condition that affects one in 8,000 to 10,000 people. The eye disease causes vision loss in children and young adults. Symptoms of the condition typically develop before the age of 20 and include a loss of detailed vision and colour perception, wavy vision, blind spots and blurriness.
Confessing that the family have been dealing with some time, Michael continued: "That's obviously horrible, but I've never sung it off the rooftops. We get on in life. James is 18 in a couple of weeks. We have a fantastic life together, it brings us closer, I have to drive him everywhere and I'm absolutely delighted about that.
He added: "We take the positives out of it. Of course you bring it to light in the public domain and everyone's like, 'Oh my word', but it's water off a duck's back for us. It's news to the world but we’ve been living with it a long time."
Asked whether he felt guilty about the things he would say to James before the diagnosis, the doting dad replied: "Absolutely. I couldn't understand why he wasn't looking at the camera straight. I'd get people come up to me and say, 'Just a little bit of advice for your son, when he shakes your hand, tell him to look in someone’s eye.'
"You always think to yourself, 'Shall I tell him?' No, I'll just leave it. I can't be bothered having the conversation and that happens to this day."
Michael shares son James with his wife Louise, to whom he has been married to since 2005. The couple are also parents to Love Island star Gemma Owen, 20, as well as daughters Emily, 16, and Jessica, 14. James touched upon his upset when his hopes of becoming a professional footballer were dashed.
He said: "Everyone dreams of being a footballer when they're younger, so it was quite hard, especially with it being so close to home. It's something you have to get over."
Speaking about his dad's support, the teenager – who is now training with England’s Partially Sighted Futsal team - added: "He is a great dad, he definitely helped me through a lot of the hard times and understanding why I am this way.
"It's been a massive help and it's made me into the person I am today. I am a lot happier now. It doesn’t really affect me now."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/511878/michael-owen-guilt-son-james-blind/
| 2024-01-23T15:22:07Z
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Victoria Beckham is known for always looking chic and part of her signature aesthetic is a makeup look that is so elegant that makeup can barely be detected on her skin.
The fashion designer, 49, took to Instagram to share the secret to her glowing look and it is her (pretty boujee) collaboration with Augustinus Bader to create the 'Rejuvinating Priming Moisturizer in Golden' which retails for £60 and claims to use "Augustinus Bader’s clinically-tested, patented TFC8® technology and supercharged clean actives to revitalize dry, dull skin."
But really, VB's secret is how she applies the product - a bizarre beauty application method that has confused her fans. The former Spice Girl was seen sitting in a pristine white robe with a matching towel on her head talking about this step in her beauty routine as she pressed the product into her face.
Victoria spoke directly to her fans saying: "This, as you can see, has a little bit of colour in it, a little bit of shine, which is so pretty. I push it in, all over your whole face…I don't know if you can see the shine. A little bit more coverage than the original, just a little bit. It gives a really nice golden glow."
"This product can be worn alone, or under makeup," the mother-of-four added. "The highlight it leaves on the skin is very natural, I often tap on more throughout the day to refresh and hydrate."
Many of us are tempted to rub moisturisers or serums into our faces so the product absorbs into the skin. However, Victoria was seen stamping the product onto her cheeks, chin, and forehead with the palms of her hands.
Fans questioned this technique with one asking: "Why aren’t you putting it under your eyes or anywhere near?", whilst another asked: "Wouldn’t you be wasting half of it by rubbing into your hands first?? I thought it was better to 'dot dot dot' then use fingertips to blend?? Xx Which is better Victoria?".
We asked an expert to weigh in and answer that very question. Sharon Hilditch MBE FCGI has over 28 years of experience in the beauty industry and is the founder and product developer of British skincare brand, Crystal Clear. She tells HELLO!: "Patting, or pushing the product into the skin, when applying skincare is an old Japanese technique that is used to increase the microcirculation to the skin (blood flow).
"By increasing the microcirculation we are increasing the oxygen and nutrients that reach the skin cells to help clear out impurities and create glowing skin. Patting or pushing the product into the skin will also stimulate the lymphatic drainage in the face to reduce excess puffiness, especially around the eyes," she adds.
Sharon does warn that this method has its limitations, however. "Patting a skincare product into the skin will not make it penetrate better as the penetration depends on if the skin is in a permeable state," she tells us.
"When you apply a product to your skin, the active ingredients need to have the correct molecular size to penetrate and pass through the outer layer, this is why the health of the skin is key in determining if a product will penetrate. If the skin has lots of compacted dead cells and has not been exfoliated, then the actives have no chance of getting where they need to be."
The expert offers some advice for those looking to emulate Victoria's technique. "If you choose to follow Victoria's method of patting the product into the skin to effectively penetrate then look for actives like certain peptides that contain small, lipid-soluble ingredients like retinol or glycolic acid," says.
DISCOVER: Celeb couples who lived apart: Kourtney Kardashian & Travis Barker, Victoria & David Beckham, more
"If you're more interested in hydration and plumping, look for products that contain large, water-soluble ingredients like hyaluronic acid as these sit in the outer layers to plump and hydrate the skin."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/511868/victoria-beckham-bizarre-beauty-application-confuses-fans/
| 2024-01-23T15:22:13Z
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Kelly Ripa never ceases to amaze with her boundless energy, beautiful sense of style and let's not forget those abs!
The 52-year-old host of Live! with Kelly and Mark maintains an impressive physique and swears by celebrity trainer Anna Kaiser's workouts.
So much so, she's been doing them for 14 years. Anna sat down with HELLO! to give an exclusive peek into Kelly's wellness regime, the moves she hates, the ones she loves and lifts the lid on the real reason she's so fit.
How many times does Kelly Ripa workout per week?
Despite her hectic work schedule with hosting Live!, her podcast and The Generation Gap - not to mention she's an author and she's raised three grown children - Kelly always makes time to exercise.
"She usually works out six days a week," Anna said. "Even when she travels, she'll do the workouts virtually if she needs to. Everyone knows that is her hour, morning or evening, she gets 45 minutes in and that is her time."
What is the Anna Kaiser fitness technique?
"My workouts are interval based," Anna said about her vibrant fitness classes. "The focus of the workout is strength and then I add elements of cardio, dance and power to elevate and make the strength training more effective."
And if you've ever seen any of Kelly's phenomenal workout videos with Anna, you'll be marveling at her dance moves. But Anna insists her workouts can fit anyone. "I say stick with it for a month and then moves will start to look familiar and it will become easier for your brain to recognize it.
"You'll be able to push your body harder because you'll know what to expect and you're not always learning something new."
The only thing Kelly won't do
Kelly prioritizes her workouts and she never misses a session. "She never cancels and she's let everyone know in her life that, that is her time," Anna explained. "It has been the same for 14 years. Even if she's had no sleep, she still shows up. If she's exhausted, she still shows up and then we decide how and what we do that day."
Anna says that everyone should make time for movement. "Even if you can only do 15 minutes or you only have time for a 30 minute workout. Show up for the time you have as it all makes a huge difference to your mind and body."
Kelly Ripa's daily diet
Kelly and her husband Mark Consuelos quit drinking alcohol several years ago and maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle.But that's not to say she doesn't indulge. "She has a healthy diet but she loves dessert," Anna revealed. "I say to her that it is really important to have a balance, but when you go on vacation you want to enjoy different cuisines.
"Kelly knows this more than anyone, the more you tell yourself not to do something, the more you're gonna want to do it. So allow yourself to enjoy food as part of life.
"It's less about staying away from something because of the calories or the fat content and more about what is going to give you the energy for your workouts and make you feel your best throughout the day."
Consistency is key
At 52, Kelly is in amazing shape and Anna says this is down to consistency and focusing on strength training. When discussing how Kelly's workouts have changed over the years, Anna says they've toned it down on the cardio, and upped the strength.
"I like to say in your twenties, you should work out as hard as you can to really build that base of support for your body and your spine, your muscles and you have the energy and the mobility to do that.
"In your thirties you add heavier weights but continue to work out at an elevated level because when you hit 40 it's really hard to build muscles."
Kelly has maintained the muscle that she's built over the last two decades by turning up every day, it's maintenance, not starting from scratch."
Use your brain
With a multitude of different moves to get your head around, Anna's routines mean your brain is getting a workout as well as your body - something that's so important as we age. "Kelly has memorized around 100 dances, which is amazing. These workouts are so good for your cognitive function."
Kelly is also eager to keep learning and I always have to keep finding things to challenge her both physically and mentally.
"It helps with stress relief and anxiety and energy and skin tone and circulation and longevity, all of those things, and that's why she loves it so much."
Workout with a friend
Kelly is often by Anna's side for her workouts and sometimes her daughter Lola joins in too, making it a family affair. Anna says finding someone to exercise with makes it more likely that you'll stick with your plan.
"Lola comes in and out depending on where she is in the world and school but it's really fun to work out with both of them and I love their energy together.
"They're very playful, you know, I always think it's nice to work out with friends as it gets you out of your own head and creates a different relationship to your body and the workout and it makes it really fun.
"Plus you hold each other accountable. So, anytime you can start a little challenge or program with a friend, I highly encourage it."
Anna Kaiser Studios has a multitude of different plans you can sign up to whether in class or virtually, if you're a beginner or a pro. Check out everything she has to offer here.
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/health-and-fitness/511873/kelly-ripa-personal-trainer-anna-kaiser-reveals-secrets-live-incredible-physique-52-photos-exclusive/
| 2024-01-23T15:22:20Z
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Savannah Guthrie shared a very relatable parenting issue during Tuesday's edition of Today. The host, who has two children with her husband Michael Feldman, revealed that her seven-year-old son, Charley, refuses to wear pants in the cold weather and will only wear shorts.
Savannah and her co-host Hoda Kotb were joined by co-stars Carson Daly, Craig Melvin, and family psychologist Dr Jennifer Hartstein for a debate about whether parents should force their children to dress warmly for winter when they refuse to wear a coat or would rather wear shorts than longer pants.
Sharing her personal experience and clever solution to the problem, Savannah said: "We are living this at home. My seven-year-old would only wear shorts and I finally just hid the shorts.
"I just took them and put them away and now he has no choice," she added.
Giving her advice, Jennifer said: "I think you have to pick your battles with anything. Hiding them is great and [so is] seasonal transfer - putting spring and summer stuff away when winter stuff comes down. But do you need to have the battle every morning? Or do you come up with an agreement? If it's a certain temperature you can wear the shorts. Is this the hill you need to die on?"
When asked if kids are really putting themselves in any danger by going out without a coat, Jennifer responded: "They're not. Whereas we used to be outside for a long period of time, they're not outside that much.
"You want them to be safe. A little time in the cold is not going to make them sick," she added.
As well as Charley, Savannah shares a nine-year-old daughter named Vale with her husband Michael, who works as a public relations and communications director. The family live in a townhouse in New York City, and also own a vacation home in New York State.
Savannah, who has been married to Michael since 2014, has previously spoken about her parenting approach and the importance of setting boundaries.
"I've never subscribed to that old-fashioned notion of 'Wait until your father gets home'," she told Today.com last year.
"You're not parenting if your kid hasn't called you mean — that's how you know you're doing it right. I don't like hearing it, but you have to have boundaries, you have to have those limits, and your kids won't like them. So sometimes you have to let them think that you're mean," she continued, adding that her children make their beds every morning. "I always tell them, 'I'm not judging on perfection, I'm judging on effort,'" she said.
Savannah welcomed her first child, Vale, in 2014 at the age of 42, before going on to welcome her son in 2016. She's previously called Charley a "medical miracle" after undergoing several rounds of IVF before falling pregnant.
Opening up about her pregnancy struggles back in 2019, she said: "Because we are older, it was important to me for her [Vale] to have a sibling, somebody to do life with," she told Health magazine.
"My husband and I, we decided, 'OK, let’s give it a shot,' you know? But it ended up taking more than one attempt. It took a few," said Savannah.
"But we were lucky. I always say, Charley was, like, the last egg out. He really was. And we're so blessed."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/511879/savannah-guthrie-reveals-relatable-parenting-problem-and-solution/
| 2024-01-23T15:22:26Z
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As far as decadent diamonds, diadems and baubles go, High Jewellery collections are the creme de la creme of twinkling delights.
Worn by queens throughout their reign, A-Listers on red carpets around the world and those precious few who find themselves lucky enough to call a piece their own. High Jewellery pieces are some of the most cultivated, opulent and sought-after pieces in the fashion world.
What is 'High Jewellery'?
High Jewellery is also known as 'Haute Joaillerie.' The distinction between regular jewellery and High Jewellery lies in the unique and exclusive nature of these collections. It elevates precious stones, beyond mere adornment, transcending fine jewellery by embodying the art in its purest form, making it not just jewellery but a masterpiece of artistic expression. "We have a saying, that High Jewellery is to jewellery what Haute Couture is to fashion," explains Parisian luxury maison Chaumet. Globally renown jewellers and a select few fashion houses create High Jewellery each year, often showing them to the press and public at Paris Couture Week.
From Chaumet and Chopard to Van Cleef & Arpels, scroll on for the most lavish, exciting and spectacular High Jewellery collections to have on your radar...
Bulgari - Mediterranea
Bulgari's 'Mediterranea' High Jewellery Collection is a celebration of the blossoming landscapes of Southern Italy. This collection draws inspiration from Bulgari's Roman heritage, the Byzantine elegance of Venice, and the Silk Road's pivotal role in the cultural exchange, weaving a narrative that guides enthusiasts on a journey from Rome to Venice. Marking a special tribute to the iconic serpent motif's 75th anniversary, the Mediterranea Collection features an array of Serpenti pieces. The Sapphire Serpenti necklace stands out, adorned with nine Sri Lankan sapphires totalling 40.81 carats, set against platinum and diamond scales, and finished with a striking tassel pendant boasting 80 oval-shaped sapphires.
DeBeers - Forces of Nature
De Beers announced the Forces of Nature High Jewellery collection on the 22 January, featuring eight unique solitaire diamond rings complemented by either a crown or jacket. Drawing inspiration from the majestic wildlife of Southern Africa, these transformable rings embody the splendour of nature, crafted with exceptionally rare diamonds handpicked for their unmatched quality and character. Each piece begins with a standout hero diamond, symbolising a specific creature through its distinct energy and allure, leading to the creation of eight bespoke pieces that abstractly represent iconic native animals. The collection showcases masterful craftsmanship, with designs that range from a lion-inspired ring with a golden mane to a giraffe Crown Ring accented with rough diamonds, each offering versatile wearability. De Beers' innovative approach allows these rings to be worn in multiple ways, transforming from elegant solitaires into stunning statement pieces. “The eight featured animals are an ode to the natural intoxicating beauty of the African continent, whose earth yields jaw-dropping natural treasures," Céline Assimon, De Beers CEO, told Hello! Fashion, "When designing the rings, we had no constraints: we were guided by the individual character of eight extraordinary diamonds. Their incomparable beauty challenged us to create strikingly modern, abstract interpretations of the majestic creatures that roam the environment that De Beers strives to conserve through our Building Forever programme."
Dior - Les Jardins de la Couture
Dior's latest High Jewellery collection, 'Les Jardins de la Couture,' is a homage to the inspiration gardens provided to Christian Dior since the iconic 'New Look' show in 1947. Crafted by Victoire de Castellane, Creative Director of Dior Joaillerie, who has been designing for the Maison since 1999, the collection was showcased at a spectacular event on June 3 2023 at Lake Como's Villa Erba, with the likes of Elizabeth Debicki, Michelle Yeoh, and Rosamund Pike in attendance. The collections features 170 pieces, including three secret watches, all inspired by the flora and fauna of the natural world. Think 'spring' with lush foliage, stone-crafted flowers, bouquets and abstract floral motifs. Innovatively designed, the collection offers versatility in wear, including transformable pieces where stones can be detached, rings that adorn multiple fingers, and brooches.
Boodles - A Family Journey
The 'Family Journey' collection marks a significant chapter in Boodles' legacy, celebrating a transformative odyssey that unveiled new horizons for the brand. In 1962, then-Chairman Anthony Wainwright embarked on a remarkable 16-day expedition to connect with dealers of exquisite diamonds and gemstones. The relationships he forged during this journey revolutionised Boodles, granting access to unparalleled quality in jewels. Fast forward sixty years, current Chairman, Nicholas Wainwright, has paid tribute to his father's pioneering spirit by undertaking his own expedition through ten European cities in ten days. The journey breathed life into the pieces you see in this collection. A highlight is the necklace inspired by Barcelona, capturing the city's dynamic energy with bold, brilliant hues, "visit Barcelona’s Park Güell and look out for Gaudí’s salamander, made of pink, yellow and green tiles. We’ve channelled his riot of colour, crafting a suite featuring a necklace, earrings and a ring — with a 3.32 carat pink sapphire at its heart."
Chopard - Precious Lace
Taking inspiration from the delicate lace textile, Precious Lace is a collection of artisan-crafted pieces that mimics the intricate detail and Savoir-faire that goes into making traditional lace material. “Our jewellery Artisans replicate the delicacy of lace with the extreme precision of their goldwork, combined with an airy design highlighting the radiance of precious stones.”
Van Cleef & Arpels - Le Grand Tour
The Van Cleef & Arpels 'Le Grand Tour' collection was unveiled in the breathtaking gardens of Rome's Villa Medici, marking one of the most magnificent high-jewellery presentations of the year. Each piece in the collection serves as a magical memento, inspired by Grand Tours. The "Grand Tour" was a tradition that began in the 16th century, where affluent Europeans embarked on long journeys across the continent. This voyage was seen as an elaborate cultural immersion, allowing them to deepen their understanding of art, literature, architecture, music, and other disciplines in a form of luxurious extended educational retreat. Think 'Gap Year' but for the 1%. "We followed the trail of our predecessors and chose cities that were renowned stops historically," explains Nicolas Bos, CEO of Van Cleef & Arpels, "We took inspiration from antique jewelry – Roman, Etruscan, Medieval or Renaissance –, marrying it with our own heritage, style and craftsmanship."
Chaumet - Le Jardin de Chaumet
Over the last two centuries Chaumet has prided itself as a jewellery that celebrates the natural world, "the Maison’s story has been written in complete harmony with nature," the brand explains. The 'Le Jardin de Chaumet' High Jewellery Collection was unveiled in 2023 in their iconic 12 Vendôme address. "Divided into four chapters, Le Jardin de Chaumet invites you to stroll through the undergrowth, wander among the flowers or in the fields, and let your imagination wander as you gaze upon the bouquets of the world."
Chanel - Tweed De Chanel
In 1932, Gabrielle Chanel introduced her first and only jewellery collection, Bijoux de Diamants, breaking with the codes of traditional jewellery. Since then the house has continued its founder's dream, creating an array of High Jewellery Collections, all inspired by Gabrielle. Since then each High Jewellery collection is a testament to turning dreams into reality. This includes the art of transforming the iconic, airy tweed of the House into pieces of High Jewellery that drape with the same delicacy and allure as the original fabric. Under the guidance of Patrice Leguéreau, Director of Chanel Fine Jewellery, the ;Tweed de Chanel' collection reimagines tweed in an unprecedented form: a delicate mosaic of gemstones. A prime example of this innovative approach is the Tweed Royal Necklace, a masterpiece born from 2,400 hours of meticulous workmanship. This necklace showcases an intricately flexible lattice of gemstone tweed, blending yellow gold with a magnificent mix of rubies and diamonds. At its heart sits a majestic lion's head, emblematic of Chanel High Jewellery, which can be detached and adorned as a brooch. The centerpiece, a pear-cut diamond, is also designed to be versatile, easily transitioning into a standalone ring.
Boucheron - More is More
In the wake of two challenging post-pandemic years, creative director Claire Choisne felt an overwhelming urge to break free from constraints, channeling a deep-seated desire to offer joy to the well heeled Boucheron clientele. It was from this yearning that the Carte Blanche 'More is More' collection was born, marking a bold departure from traditional High Jewelry norms. Choisne and her team embarked on a journey of creativity, embracing extravagant dimensions and elemental shapes like spheres and cubes, painting their creations with vibrant colors, stark contrasts, and unprecedented creations which give off an 80s inspired vibe. They ventured into the realm of optical illusions, incorporated novel materials, and in some instances, completely redefined the essence of High Jewellery. "This collection demonstrates that joy and happiness are compatible with the conservative High Jewellery industry," explains Boucheron, "This collection is unexpected, surprising, and comforting."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/hfm/fashion-trends/511662/the-best-high-jewellery-collections/
| 2024-01-23T15:22:32Z
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Every capsule wardrobe needs a pair of white trainers. There are few fashion pieces that so easily fall into the category of versatile, comfortable and eternally stylish, making them an easy win when you're choosing what to wear.
Whether you're pairing them with straight-leg jeans, leather trousers or loungewear, white trainers are the ultimate off-duty shoe. They can also be used to dress down a trouser suit, or add a more casual element to skirts and dresses of all lengths when the weather warms up.
The best white trainers at a glance
The trending pair: adidas Samba Trainers, £90 / $100
The affordable pair: M&S Collection Leather Lace Up Trainers, £49.50 / $86.99
Celebrities & royals wearing white trainers
Everyone from the royals to A-list celebrities and top fashion designers have a pair of white trainers in their repertoire. Princess Kate prefers a sleek style, choosing Vejas or Superga Cotu Classics, while Kendall Jenner tends to wear chunkier pairs, from basketball-inspired Nikes to retro dad trainers. The always stylish Katie Holmes shows hers off with cropped straight-leg jeans, and we love them as a finishing touch to Olivia Palermo's all-white tailored ensemble.
How we chose the best white trainers
Brands: We've only included brands tried and tested by the HELLO! shopping team. Universally-loved sports labels like Nike and adidas are no brainers, while the likes of Sketchers and M&S get seriously impressive reviews.
Style: We've included a range of silhouettes, from minimal and sleek to chunky and retro.
Price: Equally, we've included something for every budget, from trainers under £50 to pairs over the £100 mark.
adidas White Trainers
adidas Samba Trainers
Sizes available: UK 3-13.5
Shipping: £3.99 Standard Delivery or free for members
Returns: Free within 30 days
Loved by the likes of Bella Hadid and Hailey Bieber, the adidas Samba trainers were one of the most popular shoes of 2023 and continue to fly off the shelves. The cult sneakers have just been released in a new pearlescent all-white colourway that we can't wait to get our hands on.
Superga White Trainers
Superga 2750 Cotu Classic Trainers
Sizes available: UK 3.5 - 7.5
Shipping: £5 Standard Delivery or free for orders over £125
Returns: Free within 30 days
The Superga Cotu Classics are a plimsoll worn by Princess Kate. She's stepped out in the style for numerous royal engagements over the years, and it's no wonder as they're so classic and versatile. They have a sleek lace-up design that she pairs with everything from tailored trousers to straight-leg jeans and summer shorts.
Nike White Trainers
Nike TC 7900 Women's Trainers
Sizes available: UK 3.5-7.5
Shipping: £4.50 Standard Delivery or free for Nike Members & orders over £99
Returns: Free within 30 days
Want a pair of white Nike trainers but looking for something slightly different to the ever-popular Air Force 1s? The ultra cool TC 7900s feature a chunky but sporty silhouette with luxurious foam cushioning and the signature Swoosh. They're the perfect white trainers to pair with athlesiure outfits and luxe loungewear.
New Balance White Trainers
New Balance 550 Trainers
Sizes available: UK 3.5 - 7.5
Shipping: £5 Standard Delivery or free for orders over £125
Returns: Free within 30 days
Inspired by 90s basketball sneakers, the New Balance 550s are the ultimate chunky trainer that work to elevate any look. We'd wear them with wide-leg jeans or a loungewear set and longline coat this winter.
Veja White Trainers
Veja Campo Trainers
Veja's sleek Campo trainers are made with ChromeFree leather with mixed suede panels. The celebrity-favourite brand prides itself on being sustainable and is loved by Princess Kate and Meghan Markle who both have a pair.
With their minimalist design, the look amazing with skirts and dresses in both mini and midi lengths.
Marks & Spencer White Trainers
M&S Collection Leather Lace Up Trainers
Sizes available: UK 3-9
Shipping: £3.99 Standard Delivery or free for orders over £60
Returns: Free within 35 days
Marks & Spencer's white leather trainers look very similar to Axel Arigato's Arlo sneakers but are a fraction of the price. They have a cool chunky design but are still slim enough to wear everyday - even Holly Willoughby has been spotted in them.
Not just stylish, they feature the brand's Insolia Flex technology to ensure your feet are correctly placed and stay comfortable all day
Lacoste White Trainers
Lacoste Lerond Pro Trainers
Sizes available: UK 3-8
Shipping: £3 Standard Delivery or free for orders over £25
Returns: £2.50 within 365 days
First created by tennis champion René Lacoste in the 1950s, his eponymous brand's luxe trainers are still bestsellers today. Made from luxurious Nappa leather, the Lerond Pros are super durable but soft and lightweight.
Sketchers White Trainers
Sketchers Arch Fit Trainers
Sizes available: UK 3-8
Shipping: £3 Standard Delivery or free for orders over £25
Returns: £2.50 within 365 days
Sketchers are a firm favourite amongst shoppers thanks to their unrivalled comfort. This pair features the brand's patented and podiatrist-certified Arch Fit insole system which offers impressive support. It moulds to your feet to reduce shock and increase weight dispersion. Made with 100% vegan materials, they're also lightweight and flexible.
Puma White Trainers
Puma Rebound V6 Low Sneakers
Sizes available: UK 3-11
Shipping: £3.95 Standard Delivery or free for orders over £50
Returns: Freewithin 30 days
Puma's versatile V6 unisex trainers have a low-cut silhouette, a comfort sockliner and extra thick heel to provide the softest cushioning for your feet. They're made with sustainability in mind, using 30% recycled materials.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/shopping/511799/best-white-trainers-for-women/
| 2024-01-23T15:22:38Z
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The 2024 Oscar nominations are in – and awards season is about to get very interesting. Killers of the Flower Moon and Maestro received several nods. And man of the moment Cillian Murphy finally got his first-ever nomination. As for Hollywood's resident cool girl – Emma Stone could become a two-time Academy Award winner by the age of 35, thanks to her performance in Poor Things.
This year, the nominations were presented by Zazie Beetz and Jack Quaid live on Good Morning America from 8.30am EST, with the first batch being released before the second came at 8.41am EST.
So when's the big ceremony? This year's Oscars will take place on March 10, 2024 where they will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and kick off at the earlier time of 7/6c on ABC.
2024 Oscar nominations:
Best Picture
American Fiction
Anatomy of a Fall
Barbie
The Holdovers
Killers of the Flower Moon
Maestro
Oppenheimer
Past Lives
Poor Things
The Zone of Interest
Actor in a Leading Role
Bradley Cooper - Maestro
Colman Domingo - Rustin
Paul Giamatti - The Holdovers
Cillian Murphy - Oppenheimer
Jeffrey Wright - American Fiction
Actress in a Leading Role
Annette Benning - Nyad
Lily Gladstone - Killers of the Flower Moon
Sandra Hüller - Anatomy of a Fall
Carey Mulligan - Maestro
Emma Stone - Poor Things
Actor in a Supporting Role
Sterling K. Brown - American Fiction
Robert De Niro - Killers of the Flower Moon
Robert Downey Jr. - Oppenheimer
Ryan Gosling - Barbie
Mark Ruffalo - Poor Thing
Actress in a Supporting Role
Emily Blunt - Oppenheimer
Danielle Brooks - The Colour Purple
America Ferrera - Barbie
Jodie Foster - Nyad
Da'Vine Joy Randolph - The Holdovers
Directing
Justine Triet - Anatomy of a Fall
Martin Scorsese - Killers of the Flower Moon
Oppenheimer - Christopher Nolan
Poor Things - Yorgos Lanthimos
The Zone of Interest - Jonathan Glazer
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
American Fiction
Barbie
Oppenheimer
Poor Things
The Zone of Interest
Writing (Original Screenplay)
Anatomy of a Fall
The Holdovers
Maestro
May December
Past Lives
Animated Feature Film
The Boy and the Heron
Elemental
Nimona
Robot Dreams
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Documentary Feature Film
Bobi Wine: The People's President
The Eternal Memory
Four Daughters
To Kill A Tiger
20 Days in Mariupol
International Feature Film
Io Capitano - Italy
Perfect Days - Japan
Society of the Snow - Spain
The Teachers' Lounge - Germany
The Zone of Interest - UK
Music (Original Song)
The Fire Inside - Flamin' Hot
I'm Just Ken - Barbie
It Never Went Away - American Symphony
Wahzhazhe - Killers of the Flower Moon
What Was I Made For - Barbie
Costume Design
Barbie
Killers of the Flower Moon
Napoleon
Oppenheimer
Poor Things
Makeup and Hairstyling
Golda
Maestro
Oppenheimer
Poor Things
Society of the Snow
Music (Original Score)
American Fiction
Indiana Jones and the Dials of Destiny
Killers of the Flower Moon
Oppenheimer
Poor Things
Cinematography
El Conde
Killers of the Flower Moon
Maestro
Oppenheimer
Poor Things
Live Action Short Film
The After
Invincible
Knight of Fortune
Red, White and Blue
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
Animated Short Film
Letters to a Pig
Ninety-five Senses
Our Uniform
Pachyderme
WAR IS OVER! Inspired by the Music of John and Yoko
Documentary Short Film
The ABC's of Book Banning
The Barber of Little Rock
Island In Between
The Last Repair Shop
Nai Nai & Wài Pó
Editing
Anatomy of a Fall
The Holdovers
Killers of the Flower Moon
Oppenheimer
Poor Things
Production Design
Barbie
Killers of the Flower Moon
Napoleon
Oppenheimer
Poor Things
Sound
The Creator
Maestro
Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One
Oppenheimer
The Zone of Interest
Visual Effects
The Creator
Godzilla Minus One
Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3
Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One
Napoleon
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/511699/oscar-nominees-2024-see-the-full-list/
| 2024-01-23T15:39:40Z
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Christina Trevanion is back with a second season of the hit BBC daytime show, The Travelling Auctioneers, which sees the presenter and her team take their travelling auction house and workshop out on the road across the UK in search of hidden gems.
While Christina has been a regular fixture in the BBC's daytime schedule for several years, having appeared on shows such as Bargain Hunt and Antiques Road Trip, how much do you know about her life away from the cameras? Keep reading for all we know about her family life and what she gets up to when she's not on-screen.
Christina's career as an auctioneer
Christina, 42, is famous for her career as an auctioneer and puts her talents to use on various daytime shows. But how exactly did she make her start in the world of auctioneering?
It was Christina's parents' who inspired her love for antiques as she would often attend auctions with them as a young girl.
She went on to study Fine Art Valuation at Southampton Solent University, which is where she met her future business partner Aaron Dean. The pair would go on to set up an auction business, Trevanion & Dean, which is based in Whitchurch, Shropshire. In 2019, Christina took on sole ownership of the firm, which is now known as Trevanion Auctioneers & Valuers.
Christina made her TV debut back in 2013 as a valuer and researcher on the BBC show Flog It! She has since gone on to appear on shows such as Bargain Hunt, Antiques Road Trip, and Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is.
Christina's family life
According to her BBC profile, Christina lives in the Shropshire countryside with her husband and two daughters.
While the presenter tends to keep her personal life out of the spotlight, it's thought that she's married to Aaron Dean, her former business partner, who now works as a National Manager of Adam Partridge Auctioneers & Valuers.
After leaving their joint venture in 2019, Aaron said: "I am delighted that Christina is now taking over the business. I'm excited to see it thrive under her leadership. I've had a fantastic four years at Trevanion and Dean, full of laughter and fun, and it's time for me to move on."
The couple tied the knot on New Year's Eve in 2010.
Taking to Twitter, now X, in 2019, Christina reflected on her wedding day and memories of her late father, David, who sadly passed away in 2013. "9 years ago today, this man walked me down the aisle & technically 'gave me away'... although he would say that 'he reluctantly agreed to share me with' the (other) love of my life," she penned, adding: "Thinking of all those with a missing piece in their puzzle, but hoping that 2020 is a goodie!"
Christina's hobbies
When she's not busy travelling the UK on the hunt for unwanted items, Christina likes to spend time with friends and family.
Speaking to the BBC, the presenter previously revealed what she gets up to in her spare time. "As a busy mum of two, with a full-time job and a part-time job, I don't get a lot of free time, so when I do it is spent with my family and friends, in my garden, at home," she said.
It's clear from her Instagram page that Christina likes to spend a lot of time outdoors, both at home in her garden and travelling around the world.
Over the past few years, she has shared stunning photos from trips to Mauritius, Ibiza and the Maldives.
Taking to Instagram back in 2021, Christina shared a gorgeous snap from a boat trip in Ibiza, showing the TV star shaking the water out of her hair after a dip in the ocean. "Boat life," she penned in the caption.
The presenter also looks after her health, and not only has a daily exercise routine but also eats a healthy diet and has cut out alcohol.
In a post from February 2023, Christina revealed that it had taken her 41 years "to realise that physical well-being is equally as important as your mental health". She went on to say that after spending her 30s "running around" to take care of the people around her, she realised that she needed to take more time for herself to be able to "do all the things you need to and want to accomplish in a day".
"Personally, I have worked towards this by taking time every day to exercise, ditched booze (apart from the odd g&t, and a glass of wine with friends doesn’t count, right?) eating healthily and most importantly, realising that saying 'no' to things, in order to preserve this hard fought equilibrium is completely acceptable," she explained, adding that she has never felt "healthier, happier, stronger or more fulfilled".
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/511842/christina-trevanion-life-away-from-cameras-hobbies-home-life/
| 2024-01-23T15:39:41Z
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Kourtney Kardashian is giving fellow moms like herself some insight into the days leading up to the arrival of her newest bundle of joy, Rocky Thirteen Barker, with husband Travis Barker.
The 44-year-old reality TV star shared a rundown of what she included in her hospital bags on her lifestyle website Poosh, listing out all the items that went into her three bags – one for herself, one for the baby, and one for miscellaneous items.
While revealing all the things the newborn Rocky was provided with, she revealed the sweetest gesture that her 11-year-old daughter Penelope made for her new baby brother.
Kourtney wrote that her only daughter was responsible for packing the outfit for the baby to come home in, which she'd bought herself as a surprise. "P picked this out and bought it for the baby as a surprise for me, the sweetest."
Other items included were hats with matching swaddles, rubber pacifiers, car seats, extra clean wipes and diapers, and extra outfits (with matching swaddle blankets and hats, of course). Kourtney also used a seam ripper to rid the outfit of all tags beforehand, writing: "I'm a little crazy and cut each tag out of every outfit for baby's comfort."
Items from the Poosh founder's own bag include matching SKIMS pajamas for herself and Travis (which retail for $120 each), a toiletry bag with several creams, Arnica montana, nursing bras, and disposable black underwear ("The hospital provides white mesh ones but I like black. Anything to feel your best after birth is worth it – without sacrificing comfort").
MORE: Kourtney Kardashian reveals major update at $12m desert home just months after giving birth
She also added high-waisted postpartum underwear ("I've never tried them, but heard these are amazing after birth to help get your organs back into place"), Milkmaid tea, colostrum, collagen, cold packs, compression socks, and an outfit for her to go home in.
As it turns out, The Kardashians star and her lone daughter can be quite alike when it comes to their personalities as well, as evidenced by a recent episode of the reality series back in November when it came to their views of Tristan Thompson, Khloé Kardashian's controversial ex.
MORE: Kourtney Kardashian's stepdaughter responds to star's 'Rocky's parents' tribute photo
When in Palm Springs with her family, the topic of the LA Lakers star was brought up, and in a confessional, Kourtney confessed that both she and Penelope feel "so triggered" by the athlete, who fathered two children with Khloé.
"I feel like we all brush it off and are fine, but then I was so triggered. I was just like, I can't do it anymore," she said, adding that Penelope often felt the same. "There are times when I'm so triggered by him I can't be around him and then there's times when I just let it go because we just want harmony and, you know, he's the father of my niece and nephew."
MORE: Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker shock fans with unexpected nursery for baby Rocky – see video
However, Khloé could understand where her niece was coming from. "If Penelope has her feeling about Tristan, rightfully so. Good for you, girl. I want Penelope to have these feelings and I don't want to talk her out of them.
"I don't want this behavior to be something that I'm validating or I'm justifying. I want her to know that how she's feeling is the right way to feel. We should not accept someone treating her like this."
Get the lowdown on the biggest, hottest celebrity news, features, and profiles coming out of the U.S. Sign up to our HELLO! Hollywood newsletter and get them delivered straight to your inbox.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/511884/kourtney-kardashian-daughter-penelope-sweetest-surprise-baby-brother-rocky-barker/
| 2024-01-23T15:39:44Z
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Southern Ukraine’s Kherson Oblast remains highly tense as the Russian forces employ artillery, aviation, and various types of UAVs to exert pressure on the Ukrainian defenders, as reported by Nataliia Humeniuk, the head of the joint press center of the Operational Command “South,” on Ukrainian TV, according to Ukrinform.
In Kherson Oblast, the Ukrainian forces have been holding a bridgehead on the Russian-controlled eastern bank of the Dnipro River for months while the Russians have been trying to eliminate it. Additionally, on a daily basis, Russians have been bombarding Kherson city and multiple other Ukraine-controlled settlements in the region.
“The situation remains quite tense. The enemy is trying to compensate for the pressure with artillery, aviation, using unmanned aerial vehicles of various modifications from strike to those carrying fragmentation ammunition,” she said.
Humeniuk explained that the Russian forces are trying to compensate for the days “when time was lost due to [bad] weather conditions.”
The spokesperson highlighted an increase in Russia’s UAV activity, with over 30 drones observed, including FPV drones and drones dropping shrapnel munitions. She further mentioned that the enemy had escalated drone usage not only in Kherson Oblast but also in the direction of Mykolaiv Oblast’s Ochakiv district, employing drones as well as artillery to exert pressure on the defenders.
“It is harder for them to do this now, because our counter-battery work was quite effective yesterday. A Grad multiple rocket launcher, seven artillery guns, two self-propelled artillery systems, and 11 units of armored vehicles were destroyed,” she said.
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/23/military-russians-intensify-artillery-drone-strikes-in-southern-ukraine/
| 2024-01-23T15:39:44Z
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The interior design of a royal home is something that intrigues many royal fans. What do the homes of British princes and princesses look like? Or what would they look like if they could start from scratch and entirely design their home (or palace) to fit their own modern tastes?
Royal onlookers get quite the insight into the kind of design inspiration that strikes Princess Beatrice's husband Edoardo Mapelli-Mozzi, 40, who heads up a property development and interior design company.
As Banda Property's founder and chief executive of Banda Property, Edoardo often takes to Instagram to show off the latest interior creations and their latest venture is pretty jaw-dropping.
The son of Italian nobility shared a carousel of photos which has already garnered over 2,000 likes. The first impressive photo of the lot shows a jaw-dropping penthouse living room with floor-to-ceiling windows revealing the New York City skyline. The space featured a neutral colour scheme with paneled walls and a stunning cream sofa facing a large grey coffee table.
The table centrepiece was adorned with decorative ornaments including coffee table books and a fruit bowl. Underneath lay a large rug in a rosy pink shade which added dimension to the minimalist space. The star of the show was an amazing feathered hanging light fitting in a taupe grey colour.
The next shot zoomed in on another part of the room which was adorned with a blush velvet chaise standing next to another coffee table. A marble-effect circular rug covered some of the hardwood floor which was put down in a chevron shape.
In another photo, the camera focused in on a minimalist dining area which seemed to take inspiration from a Scandi aesthetic and featured a table and chairs set that Kim Kardashian would applaud. The set was made from a white and beige marble and the table was dressed with a wire fruit bowl.
Another fabulous light fitting in gold was added to this area of the room which was a far more minimalist affair than the feathered number in the lounge area. A piece of abstract art on the wall above a bare mantlepiece completed the room.
Edoardo has shared an array of gorgeous rooms that Banda have designed. The Princess' husband showed off a stunning minimalist kitchen space with black cabinetry and khaki accents. Our favourite feature was the shelving built into the marble wall that housed decorative elements like a painting and a couple of wine glasses.
We can only imagine the expertise Edoardo will have no doubt plowed into the home he shares with his wife and two-year-old daughter Sienna.
Amongst the luxurious designs, Edoardo uses his Instagram to pen heartfelt messages to his nearest and dearest. On little Sienna's birthday, the doting dad wrote: "Happy Birthday Baby Girl. You bring us so much love and joy every day," with a string of heart emojis.
DISCOVER: This sweet anecdote shows just how down-to-earth Princess Beatrice is
He also marked his wedding anniversary with Princess Beatrice last July. "Happy wedding anniversary to the most beautiful wife in the world," he said. "I am so grateful for every moment we have shared, every challenge we have overcome, and every dream we have pursued together. I love you more than words can say, and I can't wait to celebrate many more anniversaries with you. Xx".
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/homes/511880/edoardo-mapelli-mozzi-princess-beatrice-husband-glamorous-nyc-penthouse/
| 2024-01-23T15:39:45Z
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SINGAPORE - Five Malaysian men are expected to be charged in court on Jan 24 for their suspected involvement in fake friend call scam operations targeting Singaporeans.
This comes after the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) and the Johor Commercial Crime Investigation Department of the Royal Malaysia Police busted a transnational scam syndicate in a joint operation.
The men, aged between 19 and 36, were arrested after Malaysian police officers raided two apartments in Johor on Jan 16. They were extradited to Singapore on Jan 23.
Preliminary investigations showed the syndicate started operating the scams in June 2023, and may be involved in more than 500 scam reports with losses amounting to more than $1.4 million.
Fake friend call scams involve scammers contacting victims through text messages or phone calls, pretending to be someone they know, and afterwards asking for financial help.
From January to November 2023, more than 6,300 victims fell prey to fake friend call scams, with total losses of at least $21.1 million.
The men will be charged with engaging in a conspiracy to cheat and, if found guilty, may each face a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine.
CAD director David Chew said the police have been working closely with their Malaysian counterparts to detect and cripple such transnational syndicates.
“We will continue to take tough action against individuals who perpetuate scams even if they are based overseas,” he added.
The police advise the public to be wary of unusual phone calls or messages from “friends” who ask for financial assistance.
The public should also check if there are signs of a scam and verify the details with official sources such as www.scamalert.sg, or call the Anti-Scam Helpline on 1800-772-6688.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/5-malaysian-men-to-be-charged-over-alleged-scams-of-singaporean-victims
| 2024-01-23T16:38:03Z
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SINGAPORE – Even with nearly 30 years of multinational experience in fast-moving consumer goods, Ms Poh Hwee Hian says that she still has much to learn – especially when it comes to integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into her workplace.
Ms Poh heads commercial and marketing development across 27 countries at in-flight caterer and ground handler Sats’ food solutions group, which she joined in June 2023.
“I believe AI will change a lot of things we do, and I don’t know enough about it,” said Ms Poh, who is in her early 50s.
Hoping to learn from other leaders and contribute more widely to Sats, she applied to join the Singapore Leaders Network’s (SGLN) new fellowship programme after her employer nominated her.
She was one of 60 inaugural fellows introduced on Jan 23 at a launch event held at Rochester Park in Buona Vista.
Aimed at mid- to senior-level Singaporean leaders, the fellowship, which will run annually, is designed to prepare participants for global leadership roles, with a focus on general management and leadership in a global setting.
Aspiring fellows had to provide a video presentation, personal essays and reference letters as part of a rigorous selection process by the networking group, which is backed by the Economic Development Board.
SGLN, which is managed by the Human Capital Leadership Institute, was launched in July 2022 to help Singaporeans prepare for global corporate leadership roles.
Besides a four-day leadership training course, fellows will meet an assigned mentor at least five times from March, and put their learning into action via a project. Virtual workshops and networking events will also be organised for them.
In a keynote speech at the fellowship’s launch, Ms Jill Lee, a corporate veteran and board director at engineering firm Schneider Electric, said many Singapore companies are venturing abroad and need enough Singaporeans with the experience to match.
“Global leadership capabilities can be best developed if the leaders have spent time to be immersed in the location, to appreciate how the culture, history and even politics there affect business,” she said.
A panel discussion featuring three fellows, and moderated by another, followed Ms Lee’s address.
The panellists were Ms Camy Loh, Bangkok-based deputy managing director of logistics provider Thai Tank Terminal; Ms Charlene Pereira, marketing director for South Asia-Pacific, finished lubricants at ExxonMobil Asia Pacific; and Mr Teo Hong Wei, director of innovation and customer solutions at MasterCard Asia Pacific.
Mr Malminderjit Singh, chief operating officer and Asia-Pacific regional director at consultancy Speyside, was the moderator.
The panellists spoke on sectors that Singaporeans are ready to be global leaders in, their hopes for the fellowship, and barriers deterring Singaporeans from taking up overseas stints, among other topics.
SGLN also signed a memorandum of understanding with eight strategic partners, including Sats, at the Jan 23 event, to support the development of global leaders at these companies.
European automation firm ABB is one of the eight partners, along with manufacturing firm Applied Materials, DBS Bank, UOB, HSBC, SMRT and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation.
Ms Jerrica Chooi, country holding officer for ABB Singapore, said international exposure is beneficial across a range of job functions at the firm, including engineering, market development and general management.
The company signed the partnership in hopes of exchanging best practices on encouraging meaningful overseas stints among Singaporeans with other employers.
She added that multinationals like ABB aim to fairly compensate those who uproot themselves.
Meanwhile, Ms Rafidah Rahumathullah, who will be based in London as global director of solution design, innovation and sustainability for logistics firm OIA Global from Feb 1, said the fellowship provides her with a safe harbour to explore new areas such as sustainability.
Ms Rahumathullah, 41, who worked in Dubai and Denmark previously, also said knowing that there will always be a supportive environment in Singapore gave her the courage to work in new frontiers abroad.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/jobs/new-fellowship-to-help-s-porean-leaders-make-global-leap
| 2024-01-23T16:38:13Z
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RIYADH - Karim Benzema wants to leave his Saudi club Al-Ittihad after a bust-up with management, a source close to the club told AFP on Jan 23.
The 36-year-old former Real Madrid striker held a “raging” meeting with the club and its Argentinian coach Marcelo Gallardo on Jan 19, the source said.
Benzema told his coach and club management “he doesn’t feel he is able to give his best because of the current pressure at Ittihad”.
“Benzema asked to leave Ittihad temporarily to change the atmosphere,” the source added.
Al-Ittihad offered to loan the French striker to another Saudi Pro League club but he has refused, the source added.
Contacted by AFP, Benzema’s entourage declined to comment.
The 2022 Ballon d’Or winner, who was one of the highest-profile signings of the Saudi league last year and is reportedly being paid €100 million (S$150 million) a season, returned to the club 17 days late after its mid-season break.
He has since been training alone in Jeddah, according to the source, not allowed for “discipline reasons” to rejoin his team-mates who are at a training camp in Dubai.
Reports in England say Premier League club Chelsea would be keen to take Benzema on loan in the current transfer window.
His former club in France, Lyon, could not afford his wages, according to their spokesman.
He said a possible loan deal for Benzema “had never been studied or considered”, adding: “It is not at all within Lyon’s financial means.”
A source close to the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), which owns Al-Ittihad and three other Saudi clubs, said anyway “there is no option that Benzema leaves this month”.
Benzema has scored nine goals in the Saudi Pro League this season, but is well behind Cristiano Ronaldo, who has netted 20 times for Al-Nassr.
Al-Ittihad are seventh in the division after three successive defeats. They have scored the fewest goals and conceded the most of the four teams owned by the PIF.
The league is due to resume on Feb 7.
Another high-profile recruitment to the Saudi league, former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, quit his club Al-Ettifaq to join Dutch side Ajax last week.
Henderson insisted his decision to return to Europe was made for football reasons because he wants to be in contention for England’s Euro 2024 squad.
His family reportedly found it hard to settle in the Gulf and his reputation as a supporter of LGBTQ rights was tarnished by his move to Saudi Arabia. AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/karim-benzema-wants-to-leave-saudi-club-after-bust-up-says-source-close-to-club
| 2024-01-23T16:38:24Z
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SINGAPORE – Growing up, Thitipat Ekarunpong heard tales of how football legend Sutee Suksomkit captured the hearts of fans while playing for Thailand and various clubs, including Singapore’s Tampines Rovers.
Now, the 19-year-old forward has a chance to follow in the footsteps of the Thai forward after he and compatriot Thanet Suknate, 18, sealed a loan deal with the Stags from Thai giants BG Pathum United on Jan 23 for the 2024 Singapore Premier League (SPL) season.
The move comes on the back of a three-year agreement that Tampines inked with the Thai League 1 side last September.
Thitipat, who hails from Nonthaburi, said through an interpreter: “I have heard about Sutee from people and read about him on the news. And because he played here, I know about Tampines Rovers.
“I want to become a first-11 player for the team and score goals regularly for Tampines.
“I will give my best for the club in training and when I play. Hopefully, in my time here, I will become a better player and help the club too.”
Between 2001 and 2009, Sutee played in the S-League (now known as Singapore Premier League) for Tanjong Pagar, Home United and Tampines, and had more than 200 appearances for them.
He and other Thai favourites like Surachai Jaturapattarapong, Kiatisuk Senamuang and Therdsak Chaiman became household names in Singapore before the league’s decline and the rise of the Thai domestic league.
Thitipat and Thanet will be the first Thai players in the SPL since 2013, when Theerawekin Seehawong turned out for Woodlands Wellington.
They will fill the club’s Under-21 quota for the new season, which is set to start in May.
The Straits Times reported in December the SPL will likely allow clubs to sign up to nine foreigners (five of any nationality, one from Asia and three U-21s), with a maximum of six being fielded at any one time.
Thanet, who can play in the centre of defence and in midfield, is out to impress fans in Singapore and back home in Ayutthaya as he and Thitipat chase their dreams of playing in Europe.
He said: “I am very happy to be in Singapore for a new experience and I am looking forward to playing for Tampines.
“I want to play in every match and show my best.”
While both players are looking to gain valuable game time in Singapore, this is not the first time they are part of a senior set-up.
In 2023, Thanet made a few appearances while on loan at Thai League 2 side Suphanburi and Thitipat played once in BG Pathum’s campaign.
Tampines coach Gavin Lee said they wanted a centre-back and a versatile forward.
They decided on the duo after viewing video clips of training and matches of shortlisted players from BG Pathum.
He then met the two youngsters in Thailand in December before the deals were agreed.
Lee, who steered the Stags to third in the nine-team SPL and third in the Singapore Cup in 2023, said: “Playing here will mean they are out of their comfort zone and their goal will be to become better players.
“For us, it is having extra options in defence, midfield and attack.
“I was impressed by Thitipat’s ability to hold the ball and he can play anywhere across the front line.
“Thanet is very calm on the ball despite his age and the fact that he has already played for a T2 side shows his calibre. We are looking forward to working with them.”
BG Pathum’s director of international operations Philip Tan said: “We believe that this move will be good for our young players to get some exposure outside of Thailand.
“Singapore has not had a Thai player for a long time, so I think it is good news for Singapore football as well.”
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/tampines-rovers-add-thai-flavour-for-new-season-with-loan-signings-of-duo
| 2024-01-23T16:38:34Z
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FOIX, France - A car rammed into a roadblock put up by protesting farmers in southwestern France on Jan 23, killing a woman and seriously injuring her husband and teenage daughter.
Farmers have been blocking roads across the country in protest at what they say are deteriorating conditions in the agriculture sector.
The three occupants of the car that crashed into the barrier on a motorway in the southwestern department of Ariege were taken into police custody on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter, police said.
The vehicle was travelling on the dual-lane carriageway leading to the roadblock despite it being clearly marked as closed to traffic because of the protest, Ariege prefect Simon Bertoux told reporters.
But a local prosecutor, Mr Olivier Mouysset, said that early results of the investigation suggested that the car, carrying a couple and a friend, had not rammed the barrier intentionally.
In the dark, the car ran into a wall made of bales of straw at the roadblock, hit the three people and only came to a halt when it crashed into the trailer of a tractor, Mr Mouysset said.
‘At speed’
A police source added that the car was travelling “at speed” as it drove into the barrier.
A test showed that the driver, a 44-year-old man, was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
All three occupants of the car are Armenian nationals, Mr Bertoux said.
The broader southwestern Occitanie region has been a focal point of farmers’ protests in recent days.
Farming union representatives on Jan 22 met Prime Minister Gabriel Attal to discuss their grievances, which include low food prices, rising charges for farmers, higher fuel prices and environmental protection rules that they say are unacceptable.
The woman who was killed was a member of the powerful FNSEA farmers union which has been leading nationwide protests.
Tensions have been running high, with the FNSEA announcing protests all this week and beyond if the government failed to respond to its demands.
“In the current circumstances that farming has to endure, this kind of drama is difficult to bear,” said FNSEA president Arnaud Rousseau, who first reported the incident.
The woman killed was 35, her husband is 40 and their daughter 14.
‘Nation is devastated’
At his meeting with the farming representatives on Jan 22 evening, Mr Attal made no immediate announcement but promised that a number of measures would be unveiled by the end of the week, according to Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau.
“The nation is devastated” by the accident, Mr Attal said on Jan 23 on X, formerly Twitter.
President Emmanuel Macron said he has had asked his government “to offer concrete solutions” to the farmers’ problems.
“My thoughts go out to the victims and their loved ones who are mourning them,” he said, also on X, calling the Jan 23 accident “a drama that has devastated us all”.
The FNSEA’s Mr Rousseau said the farmers’ mobilisation would “not be affected by this drama” and that “the struggle continues”.
Several motorways across the country were blocked by tractors on Jan 23.
Protesting farmers at roadblocks observed minutes of silence for the woman killed in the accident. AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/woman-dies-after-car-rams-french-farmers-roadblock
| 2024-01-23T16:38:45Z
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SALEM, New Hampshire - “Nikki!” called out a man from the back of the room, less than two minutes into Mrs Nikki Haley’s bid to convince the Republicans that she is their best bet against President Joe Biden in the 2024 election.
“Yes,” she ventured.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/new-hampshire-s-independent-voters-key-to-nikki-haley-s-bid-to-be-republicans-presidential-candidate
| 2024-01-23T16:38:55Z
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The skies of the Western Hemisphere are set for a “black Moon” on Friday night. Fortunately, you can put away the tin foil hats and stop repenting your sins. Despite some of the headlines, it doesn’t mean the second coming of a messiah or an ensuing apocalypse.
It does, however, mean a rare astronomical event that only happens roughly every 32 months.
A black Moon is the name given to the second new Moon in a calendar month. A new Moon is the first phase of the 29.53-day lunar cycle as the Moon orbits Earth. At this phase of the cycle, the Moon is invisible to the naked eye as its illuminated side faces away from Earth and towards the Sun, meaning it’s shrouded in darkness (and thus hard to see).
The black Moon will officially take place on Friday 30 September at 8.11pm EST (5.11pm PST) in the Western Hemisphere. For those in the Eastern Hemisphere (Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australasia) on the other side of the globe, the black Moon will arrive just in time for Halloween on October 30, or October 31 for the eastern-most regions.
As a side note, a blue Moon is when a full Moon occurs twice in a calendar month, according to the newer “non-traditional” definition. It doesn’t literally mean the Moon is blue. As NASA explains, “Squeezing a second full Moon into a calendar month doesn't change its color.”
Simply, a black Moon just means the Moon appears almost invisible in the sky for the second time in a calendar month. It’s perhaps not the most dramatic of astronomical oddities, but at least it means there's no apocalypse and you can keep your weekend plans.
[H/T: Space.com]
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https://www.iflscience.com/no-fridays-black-moon-doesnt-mean-the-end-of-the-world-38154
| 2024-01-23T16:46:22Z
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Sofia Vergara is living her best life! The actress, 51, is gearing up for the release of her highly-anticipated Netflix series, Griselda, and in a recent Q&A in London, the star opened up about her latest chapter.
"I didn't want to create a story where there was a happy ending. I wanted change," admitted Sofia. Newly single following her split from husband, Joe Manganiello, the TV star added that she relishes being an independent woman – just like Griselda. "I don't feel like I need a man. I mean, no, I want one but I don't need one," she said with a laugh.
While Sofia's open to love, she's happy being single too. And, with all this talk about relationships, it's got us wondering – who has she dated in the past? Meet Sofia's exes below…
Joe Gonzalez
Sofia married her high school sweetheart, Joe Gonzalez, in 1991. She was 18 at the time of their wedding in Colombia. Shortly after welcoming their son, Manolo, the couple decided to split in 1993.
"I was really young when I divorced his father, so I raised him [Manolo] trying to set the best example and give him the best that I could," Sofia recalled to PEOPLE in 2016. "When people compliment me on him, on how well mannered, how charming, funny and well-behaved he is, it makes all the sacrifices worthwhile."
Following their divorce, Sofia and Joe have remained on good terms, with the actress telling Parade: "We're still close friends. When José comes to the United States, he stays with me."
Nick Loeb
Sofia dated American businessman and actor, Nick Loeb, for four years. The duo – who got together in 2010 – confirmed their engagement in 2012. During the course of their relationship, Sofia and Nick decided to have two of her embryos frozen, in the hopes of starting a family one day.
By 2014, however, Sofia had announced their decision to split. Penning a statement on her WhoSay account, she noted: "Not that anyone should care, but in order to not give the press the chance to invent crazy and hurtful drama, I prefer to tell my fans personally that Nick and I have [decided] to be apart.
"We have [been] having too many problems with figuring out how to spend time together and [because] of my work and now his, it's been getting worse and worse, not fun anymore." Sofia concluded: "We are still very close but we [believe this] is the best thing for us right now."
While their breakup was initially amicable, Sofia and Nick were later involved in a lengthy legal battle over the custody rights of their frozen embryos.
In 2015, Nick, 48, argued that he should be allowed to use the embryos, despite the 2013 agreement he'd signed with Sofia, stating that they could only use the embryos if both parties had given their consent. After stating her desire to keep the embryos frozen, in 2021, a judge ruled in Sofia's favor, dismissing Nick's lawsuit altogether.
Joe Manganiello
Sofia's Modern Family co-star, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, introduced her to True Blood and Magic Mike actor Joe Manganiello in May 2014. At the time, the mom-of-one was engaged to Nick Loeb. Once their split was made public, however, Joe decided to make his move and asked their mutual friend, Jesse, for the actress's number.
Recalling how it all happened on The Late Late Show, Jesse told James Corden: "When she broke up with her fiancé at the time, Joe — like, immediately, the moment it was out in the world — called me and was, like: 'I need her number.'
"And then I called Sofia and I was, like, 'Can I give Joe your number?' And she was, like, 'Ay, no!'... but like, wanting me to give the number: 'Oh no, you go ahead, okay, okay.' And so I did the number exchange and he took over from there."
After going on their first date in New Orleans in June 2014, Sofia and Joe went from strength to strength, confirming their relationship in August. By December, they'd gotten engaged, with Joe popping the question during a trip to Hawaii.
"We had this big bay window [that I opened up], and the sun was going down pink over the mountains and over the bay, and I had this ring," Joe told Haute Living. "I had looked at every ring in the world, and this is the ring that I wanted. I had a whole speech prepared in Spanish. I proposed to her on one knee in Spanish with the sun going down. It was awesome."
On November 22, 2015, Sofia and Joe tied the knot at Breakers Resort in Palm Beach, Florida. An opulent affair with 350 guests, among them were Sofia's Modern Family co-stars: Ariel Winter, Ed O'Neill, Eric Stonestreet, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Julie Bowen, Sarah Hyland and Ty Burrell.
Following their wedding, the couple were frequently captured packing on the PDA on the red carpet, as well as celebrating one another with romantic tributes on social media.
Shocking fans, Sofia and Joe announced their separation on July 17, 2023. Two days later, when Joe, 47, filed divorce papers, he cited "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for the couple's split. He has since embarked on a relationship with actress Caitlin O'Connor.
Speaking candidly in a new interview with Spanish newspaper El País, Sofia shared the real reason they called time on their marriage. "My marriage broke up because my husband was younger; he wanted to have kids and I didn't want to be an old mom," she stated.
"I feel it's not fair to the baby. "I respect whoever does it, but that's not for me anymore. I had a son at 19, who is now 32, and I'm ready to be a grandmother, not a mother."
Sofia added that if "love comes along" in the future, her partner has to "come with [his own] children."
Justin Saliman
Sofia's most recent romance was with Justin Saliman – a sports medicine and arthroscopy-trained orthopaedic surgeon. After announcing her separation from Joe Manganiello in July, the Griselda actress was spotted on several dates with her new man in the fall.
By January, however, it was reported that their romance had come to an end. Sofia has also spoken about finding a new love in the future, suggesting that she's no longer dating Justin.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/511863/sofia-vergara-dating-history-from-joe-manganiello-to-justin-saliman-and-joe-gonzalez/
| 2024-01-23T17:16:14Z
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Fans had a lot to say when they heard that Dakota Johnson sleeps for 14 hours, ranging from absolute disbelief to completely relating to her. Now, she's set the record straight about her shut-eye schedule.
Speaking to Jimmy Fallon in her 10th appearance on the Tonight Show, Dakota couldn't help but laugh at the Wall Street Journal headline which read: 'Dakota Johnson Likes to Sleep for 14 Hours a Night'.
"That's a long time to sleep", Jimmy said. But according to the Madame Web actress, she didn't even say it like that.
"I said that I could easily sleep 14 hours but I don't, like, demand it", she chuckled. "I'm not a monster!"
"I have a job!" she added defensively. The news of Dakota's intense sleep schedule prompted a number of news articles questioning whether there was such a thing as too much sleep, or whether we should all be getting 14 hours at night. But the actress asked an important question: "Why is sleep bad?"
"Leave me alone!" She said, "I'm just asleep, I'm literally doing nothing. I'm just sleeping."
The average adult reportedly needs between seven and nine hours sleep, with the average American clocking around seven hours and 10 minutes per night. The idea of 14 hours, which is almost double that, might seem almost luxurious to many people.
"I don't have to take anything to sleep like that, either", Dakota insisted. "I can just sleep like that. I think if I took an Ambien, I'd wake up next year."
Dakota Johnson is set to star in Marvel's latest installment, Madame Web, which is out February 14th. The actress described filming the Sony Spider-Man Universe movie directed by SJ Clarkson, which uses a lot of CGI, as "psychotic".
"I’ve never really done a movie where you are on a blue screen, and there’s fake explosions going off, and someone’s going, 'Explosion!' and you act like there’s an explosion. That to me was absolutely psychotic," Dakota explained.
"I was like, 'I don’t know if this is going to be good at all! I hope that I did an okay job!' But I trusted [Clarkson]. She works so hard, and she has not taken her eyes off this movie since we started."
Dakota will appear on Saturday Night Live with Justin Timberlake on January 27th ahead of the superhero film's release.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/511890/dakota-johnson-addresses-recent-wellness-revelation-im-not-a-monster/
| 2024-01-23T17:16:20Z
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The Crown may be over, but royal intrigue reigns supreme. Gifting viewers with a new take on palace life, the Danish-made series Af Guds nåde (translated as By the Grace of God) has been commissioned, and it's set to tell the story of Queen Margrethe II.
Just weeks after the monarch abdicated from the Danish throne, executive producer Meta Louise Foldager Sørensen confirmed the news to The Guardian. "Regardless of whether you are royalist or not, and no matter how you spin it, she [Queen Margrethe] has a huge meaning for us as a people, in our little duck pond, but also out in the world," she began.
"It was not on the cards for the little princess to be queen, but times changed and she became a great queen. Now is the time to tell the magnificent story, which can give us an insight we have not had before."
Intrigued? Here's everything you need to know about the upcoming drama…
What is Af Guds nåde about?
Sam Productions and TV 2 are currently developing the series, and while the former has declined to comment on similarities between Af Guds nåde and The Crown, it has teased what's to come. "It will be a grand story about Queen Margrethe and the historic events since her birth in 1940," the company declared to The Guardian.
It has also been confirmed that the series will take place at Amalienborg Palace – the Danish Royal Family's official residence in Copenhagen. Retelling the story of Queen Margrethe's childhood and ascent to the throne, Af Guds nåde will portray events from the perspective of both the royal family and royal court employees.
Ready to "embrace the royal family for better or worse," the show is ultimately the tale of "a girl and her family," according to producers. Pernille Bech Christensen, a senior executive producer at TV 2, echoes this sentiment. In a press release, she explained that Af Guds nåde is "the story of a family, of an institution and of an anachronism that struggles to maintain its relevance in a modern age."
"The royal house is something that all Danes share, regardless of whether you are a supporter, an opponent or just somewhere in between," she added.
READ: Inside Queen Margrethe’s retirement and why 'King' Mary really wears the trousers
When will the series be released?
While Af Guds nåde is said to have been in development long before Queen Margrethe announced her abdication, the series will not start shooting until 2025. In the meantime, watch this space – we'll keep you updated as soon as a release date is confirmed.
The Danish Royal Family has yet to comment on the development of Af Guds nåde.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/511894/danish-version-of-the-crown-to-follow-queen-margrethe-and-family-everything-we-know/
| 2024-01-23T17:16:26Z
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If you ask me, every beauty lover should have a red lip in their arsenal. From your glam Grandma to the Parisian poster girl and every beauty icon in between, when you see someone with a slick of the right rouge they immediately exude boldness, confidence and femininity.
As is the nature of being a beauty journalist, I’m always testing new products, but when it comes to the red lipstick I’d spend my hard-earned money on, there’s one that I always rely on - and it often leaves people surprised.
If you’ve seen me in a red lip, chances are it’s the Kylie Cosmetics Velvet Lip Kit in Red Velvet. I don’t know if it’s something about the marshmallow-style goo dripping down the lid or the fact these lip kits were at their peak during my uni era but every time I tell people this is my FAVOURITE liquid lip they look at me in shock - until they see the results for themselves.
Why do I love it?
We all know wearing a red lip is a risk. Will you look like you’ve got bleeding gums five minutes after applying as it migrates into your mouth? Will it transfer onto your chin or stranger still, your nose? Worst case scenario, does it make your teeth look like you’ve been munching on a pack of Wotsits?
For many people, the risks far outweigh the benefits, and so they avoid a crimson pigment like the plague. But trust me, Kylie has nailed it with this one.
It feels so light on the lips and doesn’t dry them out and when I say I can apply it at 7am and wear it into the evening with no touch-ups, I’m not kidding. It’s a glorious red that makes my teeth look white and it looks great on a range of skin tones. It's a bonus that it comes with a lip liner but in all honesty I rarely reach for it.
Why is it better than the rest?
My approach to most things beauty and wellness is minimum effort, maximum impact and I don’t make an exception when it comes to wearing a red lip.
I want it to glide on easily (that includes no faffing about with a lip liner), stay on my lips and last all day. It might seem like a lot to ask but I assure you, this one ticks all the boxes.
PHOTOS: Bold royals with red lips! All the beauty inspiration you need
A word of advice
No matter how good a product is, if you don’t do the prep, it won’t reach its full potential. Much like laying bricks on a wonky surface, if your lips are cracked and crusty they’ll need a little TLC first. It’s a common consensus among the pros that when it comes to a long-lasting lip of any kind, starting with a well-primed surface is essential and exfoliation is key.
“Use a lip scrub to lift away any dry, flakey skin,” explains Dominic Skinner, Mac’s director of make-up artistry. And Lauren Parsons, global make-up consultant for Carolina Herrera, recommends applying lip balm at the same time as your skincare to create ‘the perfect canvas’ ahead of any make-up application.
Subscribe to HELLO!'s Beauty Collective newsletter for exclusive content straight to your inbox
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/511875/favourite-red-lipstick-people-shocked/
| 2024-01-23T17:16:32Z
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