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NEW DELHI - A key regional leader broke away from India’s opposition alliance on Jan 28 and was set to join hands again with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in a major blow to Mr Modi’s challengers months before general elections.
According to local media reports, Mr Nitish Kumar, chief minister of the northern state of Bihar, tendered his resignation to the state governor.
He told news agency ANI that not everything was alright with the alliance.
“Today, I have resigned as the chief minister and I have also told the governor to dissolve the government in the state. This situation came because not everything was alright,” he said.
Mr Kumar’s departure weakens India’s opposition parties which had decided to set aside their differences in 2023 to form an alliance called ‘INDIA’ to take on the BJP in general elections due by May.
He was instrumental in bringing together opposition parties to form the 28-party alliance, which includes the main opposition Congress party.
Congress spokesman Jairam Ramesh said that the BJP was scared of the alliance and this “political drama had been created” to divert attention.
The alliance was already facing serious turbulence last week with member Mamata Banerjee, chief minister of the eastern state of West Bengal and the head of Trinamool Congress party, saying it will contest Bengal alone.
Similarly, another member, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which rules the national capital territory of Delhi and northern state of Punjab, said it will not ally with Congress in Punjab. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/south-asia/indias-united-opposition-faces-major-setback
| 2024-01-28T09:00:00Z
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SINGAPORE – “Was that really you? It looks real.”
Lydia (not her real name) received a few messages like these in March 2023, when someone posted a sexually explicit deepfake video of her on social media platform Reddit.
The micro-influencer shut down her Instagram account for a few months as she was afraid someone would publicly comment about the video on her posts.
Her boyfriend at the time messaged the Reddit user who posted the video, and threatened to file a police report if it was not removed. The video did not have many comments or shares before it was taken down, but Lydia had to battle paranoia and anxiety for close to a year at the thought of it still being circulated.
Lydia is one of the many worldwide who fall victim to graphic deepfakes, which involve artificial intelligence (AI) tools being used to fraudulently create images or videos.
Over the last week on social media platform X, sexually explicit AI-generated images of American pop star Taylor Swift were shared. One of the posts featuring the images garnered more than 45 million views, and seemingly sparked other new graphic fake images of the singer-songwriter to be shared.
Edited graphic images are not new, but the ability to generate them through AI has made the process easier.
The director of advocacy, research, and communications at women’s advocacy group Aware, Ms Sugidha Nithiananthan, said that technology-facilitated sexual violence is growing more complex.
She added: “With increasingly sophisticated encrypted platforms and generative artificial intelligence, victims may not only find themselves unknowingly featured in explicit content, but face difficulty in securing evidence and reporting such advanced forms of online harms.”
SG Her Empowerment (SHE) chief executive Simran Toor said that the organisation aims to draw attention to issues like the rise in generative AI facilitating online harms, and will work to find solutions and provide support and assistance to those who have been targeted.
SHE is a non-profit that champions gender equity and works with community partners to empower women and girls.
“Everyone has the right to be safe, both online and offline,” she added.
In the year since online harms help centre SheCares@SCWO opened, it has helped more than 100 clients and provided over 220 counselling sessions. It also helped clients file 13 police reports and more than 80 reports with Internet platforms.
The centre was launched in January 2023 by SHE and Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations (SCWO) to help victims report online harms. It also offers free counselling support and legal clinics.
The most common types of online harms encountered by clients of the centre are cyber bullying, image-based sexual abuse, cyber stalking, and sexual harassment.
In one case, a woman faced harassment from her husband’s former mistress for two years.
The mistress stalked the victim on social media platforms, and subjected her to impersonation and doxxing.
Photos of the victim’s family were taken from her social media profile, edited crudely, and then uploaded online. The perpetrator also left unpleasant remarks on the social media profile of the school that the victim’s child was attending.
Victims often face more than one type of online harm, said SHE.
Based on SHE’s own research, the top harms encountered by Singaporeans are impersonation, cyber bullying, defamation, and image-based sexual abuse.
At Aware’s Sexual Assault Care Centre, half of the cases of unwanted sexual behaviour perpetrated through digital technology in 2022 were contact-based sexual violence, which is defined as explicit, coercive, and sexually harassing messages or comments on social media.
The centre received 179 technology-facilitated cases of sexual violence in 2022. Some 28 per cent occurred on messaging platforms such as Telegram and WhatsApp.
Social media platforms like Facebook and TikTok accounted for 19 per cent of all cases.
Those who sought support from the centre spanned a wide age range.
In cases where the victim’s ages were known, the bulk of them involved those between 18 and 34.
Those between 35 and 44 accounted for 13.4 per cent of all cases in 2022, while those under 18 accounted for 8 per cent. Four per cent of victims were over 45.
Almost eight in 10 perpetrators in the 179 cases were known to victims, with 29 per cent reporting that the perpetrator was an acquaintance, like a classmate or online friend. Another 27 per cent said it was an intimate partner or former partner.
Dating app contacts made up 17 per cent of perpetrators.
In one case at Aware’s centre, a man realised he had been “catfished”, or tricked, when he met someone from a dating app in person. The perpetrator appeared much older and different than his profile.
During the date, the perpetrator sexually harassed the victim and forced him to share graphic images of himself. When the victim declined future meet-ups, the perpetrator threatened to post the images online.
There have been steps for online spaces to be better regulated with the passing of two Bills in the past two years.
The Online Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act means social media platforms can be ordered to take down some types of egregious content, which includes sexual violence or coercion in association with sexual conduct.
The Online Criminal Harms Act allows the Government to act more effectively against criminal online activities such as scams and malicious cyber activities.
To seek help at SheCares@SCWO, call 8001-01-4616 or WhatsApp 6571-4400 on weekdays between 9am-9pm. Those who want to contact Aware’s Sexual Assault Care Centre can call 6779-0282 on weekdays between 10am to 6pm.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/no-recent-spike-in-tech-facilitated-sexual-harm-but-ai-poses-concern-for-future-women-s-groups
| 2024-01-28T09:00:10Z
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LOS ANGELES – LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers overcame Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors 145-144 in a National Basketball Association double overtime classic on Jan 27.
James, defied his status as the oldest player in the league at 39, scoring 36 points with 20 rebounds and 12 assists in 48 minutes.
Curry, the 35-year-old two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, finished on the losing side despite an outstanding performance, scoring 46 points with seven assists.
Four-time MVP James settled the game by sinking his two free throws with just a second remaining on the clock.
The Warriors grabbed the one point lead thanks to a superb 28-foot, three-pointer from Curry with 5.2 seconds left. Klay Thompson took the game into the second period of overtime after his 25-foot three with seven seconds remaining.
All that came after Curry levelled the enthralling game with 5.2 seconds left in regulation.
James said the duel with Curry was one he would look back on when his Hall of Fame career is finally over.
“It’s something that you will truly take all in when you are done playing and are able to watch with your grandkids and say that I played against one of the best ever to play this game,” he said.
“Steph came to me after the game and said, ‘How does it keep getting better?’”
In Denver, Nikola Jokic and the defending champions Nuggets held off a Philadelphia 76ers team without star centre Joel Embiid, winning 111-105 on Jan 27.
Embiid, the league’s reigning MVP, was a late scratch for the visiting 76ers, sitting out with left knee soreness after his pre-game workout. It is the fourth straight season that Embiid has missed a chance to go face-to-face with two-time MVP Jokic in Denver.
Embiid came on court at the end of the game and chatted with Jokic, who was quick to praise his rival.
“Whether you are a basketball fan, a soccer fan or an NFL (National Football League) fan, I think you need to appreciate what he is doing right now, it’s historic. He’s making history right now,” said the Serb.
Over in Milwaukee, Giannis Antetokounmpo had 30 points and 12 rebounds as the Bucks, second in the East, crushed New Orleans 141-117 ahead of Doc Rivers’ debut on their bench on Jan 29.
Meanwhile, in Boston, a dominant third quarter helped the Los Angeles Clippers stretch their winning streak to five games with a 115-96 road victory over the Celtics.
It was Boston’s second consecutive home loss after starting the season 20-0 in home games. It also ended the team’s three-game winning streak. The Clippers have won 13 of their last 15 games.
Meanwhile, NBA commissioner Adam Silver is finalising a contract extension that will likely keep him in his post up until 2030, ESPN reported on Jan 27.
A new deal would ensure that Silver still has oversight of the league as it works toward a new media rights deal and potential expansion. Silver has been known to closely work with owners, management and players, more so than his predecessor, David Stern. AFP, REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/basketball/lebron-james-and-lakers-beat-stephen-curry-s-warriors-in-double-overtime-classic
| 2024-01-28T09:00:20Z
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BARCELONA – Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez said on Jan 27 that he had decided to step down at the end of the season after his side lost 5-3 at home to Villarreal in La Liga, their third defeat in their last five games in all competitions.
Barca are third in the table on 44 points, 10 behind leaders Real Madrid and eight adrift of second-placed Girona.
“I’d like to announce that as of June 30 I will not continue as Barca coach,” he told a press conference after meeting with club president Joan Laporta for over half an hour.
“It is a situation of common sense and I have decided that on June 30th I will not continue as Barca coach.
“The club needs a change of dynamic and I told the president Joan Laporta. As a fan, thinking about the club and the players, they will be freed up and will be calmer.”
He added: “The best thing to do is to leave on June 30th. Having said that, I will give my all for the four months that are left, I think we can have a good season and I hope that the dynamic will change. I believe I am doing the right thing.”
Xavi played for Barcelona for 17 years, making 767 appearances and winning 25 trophies, including four Champions League titles and eight La Liga crowns.
But despite being a club great and winning La Liga last term, Barca's stuttering campaign has put Xavi under pressure. They were thrashed by Real in the Spanish Super Cup final earlier in January and knocked out in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals by Athletic Bilbao on Jan 24. Barca face last season's Italian champions Napoli in a Champions League last-16 tie.
“I had a very human conversation with the president (Laporta), with a lot of common sense. The trust is absolute, he even got a little emotional,” Xavi, 44, added.
“But I think it is time. I’m not driven by financial matters, but by my heart. I think it’s the best thing for the club. I don’t want to be a problem for the club in my heart.
“This game today is an example that we need a change of direction because it has been unfortunate and it is a time to change this dynamic. I can’t remember a game as cruel as today. I insist. I don’t want to be a problem but a solution and I believe that between now and June I can still be a solution.”
Barca's on-field struggles are a reflection of the turmoil off the pitch at the club, including deepening financial problems and a refereeing scandal that could drag on for years.
Spanish prosecutors in March 2023 filed a complaint over alleged payments by Barca from 2001 to 2018 totalling more than €7.3 million (S$10.6 million) to firms owned by former refereeing official Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira.
A Barcelona court has agreed to take on the case.
Barca already face huge financial challenges related to their massive wage bill and as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and a €1.6 billion Camp Nou stadium renovation project.
“Being Barca manager is cruel... people don’t value your work,” said Xavi. “It’s terrible wear and tear. I’m a positive guy... but you know... It doesn’t make sense to continue.
“It affects the club, my family... I will be at home for a while, I need to be with my children.” REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/barcelona-coach-xavi-hernandez-to-leave-at-the-end-of-the-season
| 2024-01-28T09:00:31Z
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MIAMI – Nelly Korda carded a three-under 68 on Jan 27 to remain atop the leaderboard after three rounds of action at the LPGA Drive on Championship in Bradenton, Florida.
Korda entered the day with a two-stroke lead before recording three birdies, an eagle and two bogeys at Bradenton Country Club to move to 13-under 200. She now holds a four-shot edge over Megan Khang (66 on Jan 27), Japan’s Ayaka Furue (69) and Lydia Ko of New Zealand (69), who are all tied for second on nine-under 204.
It was rough in the early going for Korda, who posted back-to-back bogeys at the par-three seventh and the par-five eighth.
But those ended up being Korda’s only blemishes, and she surged late, going eagle-birdie at Nos. 17-18 to close her round.
“I birdied the par-five (sixth) and then unfortunately snap hooked my next two tee shots, which ended up both of them being bogeys,” Korda said.
“And then just had a fresh attitude coming into the back nine. I mean, it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. Hopefully, I can lead that into (Jan 28).”
Korda, a Bradenton native, gave caddie Jason McDede credit for keeping her composed during the rough patch on the front nine.
“It’s nice to have a really positive teammate like I do in Jason,” Korda said. “He always makes sure I keep my head up and never doubt myself pretty much, to tell myself that I can make any hole an opportunity for birdie.”
With her performance on Jan 27, the 25-year-old Korda is 18 holes away from her first victory on the LPGA Tour since November 2022, when she won the Pelican Women’s Championship.
Just one stroke behind Khang, Furue and Ko are China’s Xiyu Lin (70), South Korean Kim Sei-young (69), Robyn Choi of Australia (66) and Auston Kim, who secured low-round honours on Jan 27 with a seven-under 64 to skyrocket 35 spots on the leaderboard.
Kim collected three birdies and an eagle over her final five holes. She finished with six birdies for her round, logging just one bogey – at the par-3 ninth.
“It was a bit of a blur. I was just playing golf. I honestly can’t remember what my scorecard looks like,” Kim said.
“I made bogey on 9 unfortunately, I was an unfortunate three-putt; missed a really short one. But that helped me lock in a little bit more, provide a little bit extra focus.
“Once I made the turn, I felt like I was moving at really good pace, really good tempo.”
South Korea’s Lee So-mi, who was in second after the second round on Jan 26, limped to a five-over 76 on Jan 27 to drop into a tie for 22nd.
Reigning champion Celine Boutier of France, is also in a tie for 22nd following a one-over 72. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/golf/nelly-korda-still-on-top-at-lpga-s-drive-on-championship
| 2024-01-28T09:00:41Z
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TEHERAN – Iran on Jan 28 said it simultaneously launched three satellites into orbit, nearly a week after the launch of a research satellite by the Revolutionary Guards drew Western criticism.
“Three Iranian satellites have been successfully launched into orbit for the first time,” state TV reported.
The satellites were carried by the two-stage Simorgh (Phoenix) satellite carrier and were launched into a minimum orbit of 450km, it added.
The Mahda satellite, which weighs around 32kg and was developed by Iran’s Space Agency, is designed to test advanced satellite sub-systems, the official Irna news agency said.
The other two, Kayhan 2 and Hatef, weigh under 10kg each and are to test space-based positioning technology and narrowband communication, Irna added.
Last week, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps sent the research satellite Soraya into space.
Britain, France, and Germany condemned that launch in a statement rejected by Iran as “interventionist”.
Western governments, including the United States, have repeatedly warned Iran against such launches, saying the same technology can be used for ballistic missiles, including ones designed to deliver a nuclear warhead.
Iran has countered that it is not seeking nuclear weapons and that its satellite and rocket launches are for civil or defence purposes only.
The Islamic republic has struggled with several satellite launch failures in the past.
The successful launch of its first military satellite into orbit, Nour-1, in April 2020 drew a sharp rebuke from the US.
Teheran has been under crippling US sanctions since Washington’s 2018 withdrawal from a landmark nuclear deal which granted Iran sanctions relief in return for curbs on its nuclear activities designed to prevent it from developing an atomic warhead.
Iran has always denied any ambition to develop nuclear weapons capability, insisting that its activities are entirely peaceful. AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/iran-launches-three-satellites-into-orbit
| 2024-01-28T09:00:52Z
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KAHRAMANMARAS, Turkey - Ms Zahide Seker contemplated suicide many times after losing almost her entire family in Turkey’s massive earthquake one year ago.
Instead, the 48-year-old decided to pin her hopes on a fight for justice, demanding that those she holds responsible for the collapse of her building near the quake’s epicentre in the city of Kahramanmaras are hunted down and brought to account.
“I will not stay silent until justice is served,” she told AFP at one of the small container homes that serve as the temporary residences for hundreds of thousands of survivors across 11 quake-hit provinces.
Ms Seker lived in Kahramanmaras’s Ebrar complex, a centrally located group of eight-floor buildings where 1,400 died when the first 7.8-magnitude tremor struck in the pre-dawn hours of February 6, 2023.
Officials said nearly 7,500 buildings collapsed in the city centre alone, overwhelming rescuers in snowy storms that descended on the region at the time.
Ms Seker pulled out the bodies of her two children with her bare hands on the sixth day.
“They took away my joy for life. It’s been a year. I can’t get over this trauma. I wanted to die many times,” she said, breaking down in tears.
“Only justice will console me now.”
Ignored warnings
The disaster, which killed more than 50,000 people in all, was Turkey’s deadliest in many centuries.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan blamed the scale of the toll on negligent building contractors, accusing them of cutting corners by using cheap concrete and ignoring basic construction standards.
More than 200 contractors and developers were arrested in the immediate aftermath of the quake. Some tried to flee abroad and were detained at Istanbul airports.
But lawyers representing victims’ families fear that numerous contractors may escape blame because much of the incriminating evidence disappeared when bulldozers cleared the debris.
Meanwhile, probes into public officials who approved building permits and signed off on the safety inspections may only be launched with the interior ministry’s permission, which has been conspicuous by its absence.
Ms Nebahat Pacala, who lost her husband, daughter and granddaughter, said she kept warning contractors they were building on unstable ground and violating safety codes.
“They built a prayer room below the first floor. They cut the supporting columns,” the 68-year-old said, adding that her apartment walls had begun to swell because of water damage.
“But the contractors threatened my son when we warned them.”
Missing evidence
Mr Tevfik Tepebasi, a senior contractor at the Ebrar site, argued in court that he should not be charged with a crime because, he said, “I don’t know anything about construction” – an argument that created uproar in the Turkish media.
He faces up to 22 ½ years in prison if convicted of causing death or injury by gross negligence, and is being prosecuted in other quake-related cases too.
Ms Gamze Bilginer Dogan, 29, who lost her parents and nine-year-old daughter at the complex, was nervous before walking into court for the trial’s second hearing earlier this month.
“I am here so that Tepebasi does not walk free,” she said.
An expert report on one of the collapsed buildings at the complex concluded that rules were “not sufficiently complied with”.
The report identified local council officials responsible for project oversight as a “primary negligent party”.
But Mr Omer Godeoglu, a lawyer for the families, said a lack of evidence could mitigate punishment for those responsible.
“While everyone was focused on their lost loved ones, evidence was removed and the rubble was cleared early,” he said.
Controversial amnesty
At a rally in Kahramanmaras in 2019, Mr Erdogan praised a hugely controversial zoning amnesty that allowed buildings erected in violation of safety standards to stay standing in return for a one-off payment to the government.
He called it a cure for Turkey’s chronic housing problems, offering 145,000 additional people homes in Kahramanmaras alone.
Today, its detractors blame the zoning exemption for the quake’s tragic death toll.
“The zoning amnesty is legal on paper, but the question here is whether contractors sought to make a profit with the help of municipalities,” lawyer Godeoglu said.
At the ruins of a former five-floor building, Ms Tuba Erdemoglu, 35, showed AFP pieces of foam usually used for insulation.
She alleged that foam – rather than reinforced concrete – was used in the building’s supporting columns.
Forty-four of the building’s residents died, including her sister and parents.
“This building collapsed in seconds. Foam was falling like snow,” Ms Erdemoglu said.
“I want the local council staff to be included in the case. I will never forgive those who murdered my family.” AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/turkey-quake-survivors-seek-justice-one-year-on
| 2024-01-28T09:01:02Z
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In particular, the Russian official figure likely masks a much larger effort, including the so-called spending on reconstruction in occupied parts of Ukraine and redirecting private sector wealth to the war effort, the Telegraph writes in its analysis.
Moscow turns bakeries and even classrooms into tools to ramp up weapons production. The Itlamas shopping mall in Izhevsk was turned into a facility for the production of Lancets, effective Russian attack drones, in the summer of 2023. It became only the first known example of a vast state-led effort to ramp up military production. The Italmas Mall was renamed to the Italmas Scientific Research Centre.
Other examples show that even some bakeries were turned into drone assembling facilities.
The Russian TV propaganda shows Russian children learning to assemble munitions parts for drones in workshops. It is unclear how many such workshops actually operate, although it indicates at least the policy direction Moscow is trying to pursue.
Over time, the full-scale economic mobilization can give Russia overwhelming materiel superiority not only over Ukraine but also over other European NATO members. Russia has publicly declared its intention to continue the war against Ukraine for the next 3-4 years, to break the country by overwhelming numerical and material superiority, and doesn’t plan to stop there.
“It is f—ing insane,” one UK defense insider told the Telegraph, referring to institutional barriers to expanding Western arms production.
“The secrecy of Russia’s defense industry, and the tendency of officials to massage figures for propaganda purposes, make it difficult to assess the exact extent of Russia’s shift to the war economy. But almost all experts agree it is real, dangerous, and well underway,” the analysis concludes.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said in a report to parliament in December 2023 that Russia currently produces over 100 tanks and over 200 AFVs per month, although it is impossible to verify these claims.
At the same time, western officials told the New York Times in September 2023 that Russia is on track to manufacture two million artillery shells a year — double the amount Western intelligence services had initially estimated Russia could manufacture before the war.
Total European production is far behind such figures. As an indicator of this failure, Europe couldn’t fulfill its initial promise to supply one million artillery shells for Ukraine in 2023. Currently, Ukraine is firing nearly five times fewer artillery shells than Russia, which means not only the lack of artillery support for offensive actions but even limits the counterbattery fire to support infantry in defense.
“With North Korea and Iran, Putin has reliable suppliers of military equipment that don’t care the slightest for their own people’s needs,” Norbert Röttgen, a former chairman of the Bundestag’s foreign affairs committee, told the Telegraph. “If we do not manage to decisively ramp up our support of Ukraine so it can militarily win the upper hand against Russia, there is no guarantee that Russian aggression will not spread to other European states. Supporting Ukraine now is our best defence against Russia.“
The frustration for people like Mr Röttgen is that although the problem is obvious, it seems almost politically impossible to address.
As was reported, Ukraine allocates 80% of all state expenditures for defense. However, the total sum is still far behind Russia’s due to the country’s overall size and economic capacity. While successfully increasing drone production to over 1 million in 2024, Ukraine is much slower in increasing production of ammunition, artillery systems and vehicles due to little development of this sector before the war. However, even regarding drones, some experts fear Russia may overcome Ukrainian production volumes, although specific Russian figures are classified.
Read more
- Ukraine squeezes every last drop for defense in 2024 budget, Russia still 2.5x more
- Ukraine, Lithuania agree on joint drone production
- Ukraine ramps up long-range drone production to dozens per month
- Ukraine’s FPV drone production nearly sixfold behind Russia’s amidst engineers shortage
- Inside Ukraine’s campaign to crush Russia with combat drones
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/28/the-russian-military-spending-is-seven-times-higher-than-the-nato-average/
| 2024-01-28T09:03:04Z
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BANGKOK - A British skydiver was killed on Jan 27 after he sneaked to the top of a 29-storey Pattaya condominium to jump from its rooftop, but his parachute failed to deploy, police said.
The skydiver was identified as Mr Nathy Odinson, 33, a British passport holder. His Facebook page, Nathy’s Sky Photography, has more than 5,000 likes and over 10,000 followers.
Police in Pattaya were alerted to the accident at 7.30pm and rushed to the building in Tambon Na Klua in the Bang Lamung district of Chonburi province and found Mr Odinson’s body on the ground.
A round blue parachute was found on his body and it was not fully deployed.
Security officials of the condo told police they heard a loud noise of a heavy object hitting the ground, and they later heard a woman crying, so they rushed out to check and found Mr Odinson in critical condition before he died.
The security officials said Mr Odinson had parked his car outside the condo and sneaked inside and went upstairs to do a base jump from the top with his friend filming a video on the ground.
They said the man hit tree branches before falling onto the ground.
They added that Mr Odinson had sneaked in to do base jumping several times earlier.
Police Captain Kamolporn Nadee, deputy inspector of Bang Lamung Police Station, said the victim’s friend, who waited to shoot the video on the ground, was interrogated. He said police would check security cameras of the condo before wrapping up the case.
The Facebook page of Mr Odinson posted several clips of his skydiving and base jumping from many locations in Thailand.
His posts also tagged a Facebook page called Thai Sky Adventurers that sells packages for tourists who like skydiving from a small plane. The tourism company is in Chonburi’s Si Racha district. THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/british-skydiver-falls-to-his-death-from-pattaya-condo-as-parachute-fails-to-open
| 2024-01-28T10:32:03Z
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KAMPALA - Uganda has distanced itself from an opinion written by a Ugandan judge on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) dissenting from the panel's ruling in South Africa's genocide case against Israel, and said the remarks do not reflect Uganda's position.
Julia Sebutinde was the only judge on the 17-member ICJ panel to vote against all six measures adopted by the court in a ruling ordering Israel to take action to prevent acts of genocide as it fights Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.
"The position taken by Judge Sebutinde is her own individual and independent opinion, and does not in any way reflect the position of the government of the republic of Uganda," the government said in a statement issued late on Saturday.
It added that the east African country supported the position of the Non-Aligned Movement on the conflict that was adopted at its summit in the Ugandan capital this month.
That NAM position contained in a document issued at the end of the summit condemned Israel's military campaign and killing of civilians and also called for an immediate ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian access.
The movement was formed officially in 1961 by countries opposed to joining either of the two major Cold War-era military and political blocs. Many of the countries were newly independent from their colonial rulers.
Sebutinde was one of only two judges who issued dissenting judgements while 15 voted for the emergency measures which covered most of what South Africa had asked for in the case. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/uganda-says-judges-dissent-from-world-court-ruling-on-israel-does-not-reflect-its-position
| 2024-01-28T10:32:14Z
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SHANGHAI - China’s securities regulator said on Jan 28 that it will fully suspend the lending of restricted shares effective from Jan 29, in the policymakers’ latest attempt to stabilise the country’s stock markets following recent sharp falls.
A string of supportive policies by Beijing, including a deep cut to bank reserves, helped lift Chinese stocks off five-year lows early in the Jan 22 week, but they retreated again on Jan 26, reflecting deep investor pessimism over the outlook for markets and the shaky economy.
Analysts and investors say Beijing needs to roll out more support measures to revive consumer and business confidence and get activity back on a more solid footing.
Restricted shares are often offered to company employees or investors with certain limits on their sale, but they can be lent to others for trading purposes, such as short-selling, which can add pressure on markets during a prolonged slump.
Jan 28’s move will “highlight fairness and reasonableness, reduce the efficiency of securities lending, and restrict the advantages of institutions in the use of information and tools, giving all types of investors more time to digest market information and creating a fairer market order”, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) said a statement published on its official WeChat account.
The CSRC added that the move would “resolutely” crack down on illegal activities that use securities lending to reduce holdings and cash out.
The regulator also said it will limit the efficiency of some securities lending in the securities refinancing market from March 18.
Last October, the CSRC restricted securities lending businesses and tightened scrutiny of improper regulatory arbitrage by imposing higher margin requirements.
China’s stock market tumbled in 2023 and has extended its slide in the new year. Though the blue-chip CSI300 Index has recovered some ground, it is still down about 3 per cent in the year to date.
Small Chinese investors are scrambling even harder than foreigners to exit the crumbling stock markets, sending premiums on global index funds skyrocketing as they search for exposure to anything but the sputtering domestic economy.
China’s economy grew 5.2 per cent for 2023, slightly above the government’s target, but the comparison was flattered by a weak, lockdown-hit 2022 and the recovery has been highly uneven.
December data showed lacklustre consumption and the fastest fall in home prices for nine years, with the property market in a deep crisis.
Both Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges said they will suspend securities lending by strategic investors during lockup periods, effective from Jan 29. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/business/china-securities-regulator-suspends-restricted-share-lending-from-jan-29
| 2024-01-28T10:32:25Z
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SINGAPORE – Fans of K-pop girl group NewJeans may want to head to Orchard Road on Feb 3.
“NewJeans will be performing live at Nike Orchard Road on Feb 3,” according to an announcement on sportswear giant Nike’s app on Jan 27. “We’re not being super shy about it.”
Nike said fans stand a chance to catch the girl group live by answering this question on Jan 30 – “Tell us why you are the biggest NewJeans fan.”
NewJeans, comprising Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin and Hyein, will be performing in Singapore for the first time.
“After the performance, winners get first dibs to the Air Max 90 LV8 during an exclusive member shopping experience at Nike Orchard Road,” said the Nike announcement.
Nike said fans can also shop in-store during Member Days between Jan 30 and Feb 4 for the limited-edition Nike By You x NewJeans collection, available exclusively at Nike Orchard Road.
Nike Orchard Road – located in the building known as 268, between Apple Orchard Road and The Heeren – opened on Jan 19.
At three storeys high and spanning 28,000 sq ft, it is the brand’s largest store in Asia outside of China.
NewJeans, which made their debut in July 2022 with the single Attention, collaborated with Nike in March 2023 when they starred in the sportswear company’s Air Max campaign.
They recently won Group of the Year at the 2024 Billboard Women In Music Awards, becoming the first K-pop female act to earn the accolade.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/entertainment/k-pop-girl-group-newjeans-to-perform-live-at-nike-orchard-road
| 2024-01-28T10:32:36Z
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MUNICH, Germany - Injury-hit Bayern Munich have signed fullback Sacha Boey from Galatasaray on a contract until 2028, the German champions said on Sunday.
The 23-year-old former France youth international had joined Galatasaray on four-year contract in 2021 from Stade Rennais. There were no financial details of the Bayern move but German media reported it was worth about 30 million euros.
"Sacha Boey is a very quick and physically very strong right back who puts in a lot of kilometres in each game and does not shy away from a one-on-one," said Bayern sports director Christoph Freund. "He will improve our defensive quality."
The Bavarians, second in the Bundesliga behind Bayer Leverkusen, have been struggling with a growing list of injury absences including defensive stalwarts Dayot Upamecano and Konrad Laimer, who were injured in their midweek win over Union Berlin and will be out for weeks.
Defensive midfielder Joshua Kimmich was also injured in that game, while defenders Kim Min-jae and Noussair Mazraoui are on international duty and right back Bouna Sarr is also injured. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/bayern-sign-defender-sacha-boey-from-galatasaray-until-2028
| 2024-01-28T10:32:46Z
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LONDON – Sean Longstaff and Dan Burn scored as Newcastle United knocked Fulham out of the FA Cup with a 2-0 fourth-round victory and sixth-tier Maidstone United stunned Championship high-flyers Ipswich Town on Jan 27.
Cauley Woodrow netted a last-gasp goal as Luton Town won 2-1 at Everton and Brighton & Hove Albion crushed Sheffield United 5-2 in the other all-English Premier League clashes.
Newcastle, runners-up in last season’s League Cup, will play in the FA Cup fifth round for only the second time in 18 years.
“It would be incredible to (reach Wembley) in the FA Cup. The (League) Cup whetted the appetite for us – it was an incredible day, the scenes beforehand, the support we had. Hopefully, we can go a long way in this competition this year,” manager Eddie Howe told ITV.
Longstaff scored in the 39th minute at Craven Cottage, pivoting to plant a shot into the net after Fulham struggled to clear a corner. Fulham players screamed for a handball in the build-up, but the goal stood.
Burn doubled Newcastle’s lead in the 61st minute after goalkeeper Marek Rodak did well to push away Sven Botman’s header, but the ball fell to the left-back to fire home.
“It has been such a long time since the club have won something. We’ve made a big thing over the last two seasons about that and we have four games to either get to the final or win it, so let’s see who we get in the next round and hopefully we can push on,” Burn said.
Luton’s Woodrow, who broke his hand during the match, netted in the 96th minute when he smashed a close-range shot past goalkeeper Joao Virginia to seal their 2-1 victory in front of a stunned Goodison Park crowd.
“To be fair, I don’t really remember much. It just fell to me and I managed to tap it in. It was a tough game and at the end it was like a basketball match,” Woodrow told the BBC.
Vitaliy Mykolenko’s 39th-minute own goal had put Luton ahead before Jack Harrison cheered the Everton faithful with an equaliser in the 55th minute, hammering in a low shot that Luton goalkeeper Tim Krul allowed to let slip through his hands.
“We believe we can go anywhere and win. We were confident coming into the game. I didn’t enjoy many cup runs as a player. We will enjoy this, it does mean a lot and it is important that we enjoy these moments,” Luton manager Rob Edwards said.
Joao Pedro netted a hat-trick, including two goals from the penalty spot, to lead Brighton to an emphatic win at Sheffield United.
Leicester City knocked out Championship rivals Birmingham City 3-0 thanks to goals by Jamie Vardy, Yunus Akgun and Dennis Praet.
Adam Randell scored the equaliser for Plymouth Argyle to force a replay with fellow Championship side Leeds United after a 1-1 draw.
Meanwhile, Maidstone shocked Ipswich, who are second in the Championship table, with a 2-1 victory at Portman Road, knocking out a side 98 places above them in the English football pyramid. Maidstone are the lowest-ranked team left in the competition.
“It’s the magic of the FA Cup, we have to believe,” Maidstone manager George Elokobi told ITV. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/newcastle-united-luton-town-win-as-sixth-tier-maidstone-united-stun-ipswich-town-in-the-fa-cup
| 2024-01-28T10:32:57Z
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ABIDJAN – Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro hailed “fantastic” Victor Osimhen for the African Footballer of the Year’s tireless performance as the Super Eagles beat Cameroon 2-0 at the Africa Cup of Nations on Jan 27.
“He didn’t score but he had a fantastic game. It is not easy to stop that guy,” Portuguese coach Peseiro said, following the last-16 tie in Abidjan.
Ademola Lookman scored both goals, but Osimhen set up the first and his remarkable running and pressing created constant problems for the Cameroon defence.
“Ask the opposition defenders how much they suffered. The first goal, he created the goal. He is fantastic for our team. Nobody can win a match alone, everybody has to play, but he is a good example,” Peseiro said.
Added Lookman: “It was a big performance from the team, we fought well from the first minute to the 100th minute.”
Meanwhile, Cameroon coach Rigobert Song said a lack of experience cost his side.
“I have a young team and players who are learning at this level. They will learn and improve from their mistakes. In two or three years from now it will be the same players but a different team,” he admitted.
Three-time champions Nigeria now advance to a quarter-final on Feb 2 against Angola, and it remains to be seen if goalkeeper Stanley Nwabili will be able to play in that game after he was stretchered off late on against Cameroon.
“It is impossible to evaluate immediately the situation. We need 24-48 hours before we know, but if he cannot recover, we will play with another goalkeeper,” Peseiro said.
Of Angola, who topped their group and then defeated Namibia 3-0 in the last 16 on Jan 27, Peseiro added: “They are a very good team. In this moment, all the teams can win this tournament. Angola have performed very well, and if we want to beat them we must do our best, like today.”
Like Lookman, Gelson Dala bagged a brace for Angola in their last-16 win. Mabululu scored Angola’s other goal.
Dala took his goal tally to four – one less than 34-year-old chart-topper Emilio Nsue of Equatorial Guinea – by scoring twice before half-time in Bouake.
Angola captain Fredy, who created both Dala goals, dedicated the triumph over Namibia to the people of the Southern Africa country. He said: “Economically, times are tough for many Angolans, so I hope our victory has lifted spirits back home. We are in the quarter-finals having come to Ivory Coast as outsiders.
“That rating was hardly surprising, as only Tanzania and the Gambia were ranked lower among the 24 contenders. But being written off by many observers motivated us. We believe in our abilities as footballers and are raring to go against Nigeria.
“Once again we will be the underdogs and once again we will be determined to prove the forecasters wrong. We are proud Angolans and fear no team.” AFP, REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/nigeria-coach-jose-peseiro-hails-tireless-victor-osimhen-after-win-over-cameroon-at-afcon
| 2024-01-28T10:33:07Z
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SINGAPORE – Over the last 40 years, Felix Knick has sailed a wide range of boats including dinghies, keelboats and foiling catamarans, and competed in regattas like the world championships and transalantic races that have taken him from New York to Hamburg.
These days, the seasoned sailor has swopped his sails for wings and can be found out winging on the waters along East Coast Park and Changi Beach.
Winging, which is short for wingfoiling, is a water sport that is growing in popularity around the world. It combines elements of windsurfing, kitesurfing and foiling and the athlete – or winger – stands on a board while holding onto an inflatable wing that typically spans four to six metres square.
The board is equipped with a hydrofoil, which lifts it above the water surface, allowing the wingers to go faster.
Knick, 46, picked the sport up in 2021 and is now part of a community of over 100 wingers in Singapore.
The chartering director in a shipping company said: “It’s still a relatively new sport so it’s very much in development. When I started with equipment that were differently shaped, they were huge and very heavy.
“Now the equipment is very light, you can foil in much lighter winds. In the beginning you needed 12 to 15 knots (22.2 to 27.8kmh) of wind, we’re foiling with six knots.
“It’s good for Singapore because usually Singapore weather is light wind conditions.”
Wingers here can go as fast as 25 to 28 knots in Singapore, while experienced sailors overseas can hit 40 knots in strong winds.
The discipline is set for a larger stage in the future. Other foiling disciplines have already been included in the Olympic programme – kitefoiling and iQFoil will be making their debuts at the 2024 Paris Games.
The former requires athletes to use a kite and foilboard to navigate a course, while the latter is a format of windsurfing – unlike the former Olympic discipline RS:X, the daggerboard is replaced by a foil.
Winging was included in the 2023 World Beach Games and is set to be part of the Youth Sailing World Championships and the 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
It could find itself in the Olympic programme in the future after governing body World Sailing in 2022 recognised wingfoiling’s potential for inclusion.
In Singapore, the sport remains largely recreational and is mainly done by adults. Its popularity has grown from a handful of wingers here six years ago to over 100 now.
Businessman Chew Ker Wan recalled how only three to four people were doing the sport when he picked it up in 2018 and said its appeal lies in its low barriers to entry in terms of cost and transportability.
An entry-level set comprising a wing, board and foil costs about $3,000. As the wing is inflatable and the set-up can be dismantled, the equipment is compact and easy to bring around.
The 49-year-old, who started in windsurfing before going into windfoiling, noted that many wingers are people who have done various water sports such as windsurfing and wakeboarding.
He said: “It’s exciting as a sailing class because when you look at sailing, you will look at sailboats that are very big... so when you travel, you have to carry a lot of equipment so you either ship the equipment there or even windsurfing, you have to a very long board which some airlines don’t take.
“For winging the draw is that it’s very compact, you can fly regular airlines.”
Business unit manager Edmund Lim, who started the sport about six months ago, enjoys the camaraderie in the local community.
Lim, 57, has gone with many overseas adventures with the friends he has made through windsurfing, windfoiling and kitefoiling, and has a winging trip planned in Lombok in August. The grop has also gone on snowboarding and mountain biking trips to places like Mauritius, Australia and Hawaii.
He said: “It gets us to keep evolving with the trends and it’s good for the mind too because we’re learning a new sport. Everybody’s nice to each other, you spread kindness and friendship.”
In 2023, Singapore Sailing began introducing competitions and it is looking to introduce a programme to get more youths into the sport. This will support the training programmes that are currently being run by the national sports association’s affiliates.
Its general manager Rohaizan Mohamed Zain said: “The sport has evolved and from a performance point of view, from the federation, we align ourselves as much as possible with World Sailing’s... We have to adapt and change, keep ourselves updated through times. This is not the only thing the federation is going to focus on, there’s going to be more.
“But we’re not neglecting foiling – we want to look into it while still focusing on our other classes that are in the Olympics.”
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/winging-it-on-the-water-wingfoiling-picks-up-in-singapore
| 2024-01-28T10:33:17Z
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BUDAPEST - Hungary's far-right Our Homeland party would lay claim to a western region of Ukraine that is home to about 150,000 ethnic Hungarians if Ukraine loses its statehood due to Russia's invasion, the party's leader said late on Saturday.
Our Homeland leader Laszlo Toroczkai made the remarks at a conference where the party, which has six lawmakers in the 199-strong Hungarian parliament, hosted far-right leaders from Germany's AfD and the Dutch Forum for Democracy, among others.
"Regarding the war in Ukraine, our message is very simple: immediate ceasefire, peace and a resolution through talks," Toroczkai said in a video posted on his party's website, calling for autonomy for ethnic Hungarians in western Ukraine.
"If this war ends up with Ukraine losing its statehood, because this is also on the cards, then as the only Hungarian party taking this position, let me signal that we lay claim to Transcarpathia," he said, drawing applause from the crowd.
The Hungarian Foreign Ministry and the Ukrainian Embassy in Budapest did not immediately respond to emailed questions for comment about Torockzai's remarks.
In a December interview on public radio, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban expressed support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, according to a summary of his remarks published by government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto is due to meet his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in western Ukraine on Monday to prepare the ground for a possible meeting between leaders of the two countries.
Budapest has clashed with Kyiv over what it says are curbs on the rights of roughly 150,000 ethnic Hungarians to use their native tongue.
Last month all European Union states except Hungary, which is also a member of NATO, agreed to start EU accession talks with Ukraine. The bloc's leaders bypassed Orban's opposition by getting him to leave the room when the decision was made.
But leaders could not overcome his resistance to revamping the EU budget to channel 50 billion euros to Kyiv and are expected to revisit the issue at an emergency summit next Thursday. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/hungary-far-right-would-lay-claim-to-neighbouring-region-if-ukraine-loses-war
| 2024-01-28T10:33:28Z
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The Environmental Media Association's (EMA) annual awards event may be the biggest A-list event you've never heard of – and the 2024 gala was no different, with Jane Fonda, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sheryl Crow, and Laura Dern all in attendance.
Michelle was joined by husband David E. Kelley, with the pair - who have been married for 30 years - making a rare public appearance together; on the green carpet, David was spotted taking pictures of his wife as she took selfies with Laura and Sheryl.
Big Little Lies star Laura was honored with the Ongoing Commitment Award at the gala, and her rousing speech which called on Americans to come together over the climate crisis saw her receive a standing ovation. She was welcomed to the stage by close friend Sheryl Crow, who performed three acoustic tracks – 'Soak Up The Sun,' 'My Favorite Mistake,' and 'Everyday Is a Winding Road,' – who also revealed how Laura was inspiring Sheryl's sons without realizing it.
"What I love the most about him admiring [Laura] is that he didn't really know that she was one of the very first people to hold him when he came home from the hospital, [that Laura] threw him his baby shower when he was just fresh out of the packaging, and so here I am getting to honor Laura who is in so many ways, an inspiration to my life, but also to my kids lives," Sheryl revealed to the audience of more than 300 guests.
The night kicked off with Lance Bass – co-chair of the EMA – walking the red carpet, along with guests Nikki Reed and Ian Somerholder, whose film Common Ground won Best Documentary, John Owen Lowe (the son of Rob Lowe), and 9-1-1 Lone Star's Ronen Rubinstein.
"Tonight is about celebrating this film and the people around us who are actually doing [the work] and Common Ground is changing lives, and it will change the entire agricultural industry," former The Vampire Diaries star Ian told HELLO!
"The more we can make noise around things that matter, that actually move the needle, the more we help to define and carve that path that's being paved for all the generations below us."
Held at Sunset Studios in Hollywood, where operations are 100% carbon neutral, the event saw guests mingling at a cocktail reception before a dinner was served inside a tent on the lot, with famed Los Angeles' vegan restaurant Crossroads catering the dinner with a delicious mezze spread, caesar salad, and later mushroom gnocchi, potato truffles, and more.
Wines from Medalla Real kept the party going, as the awards were handed out; Netflix's Unstable won the Paul Junger Witt Comedy Award, while Ellie Goulding's Monumental, an Amazon Studios film that saw her performing at Kew Gardens, in England, won Best Variety Feature.
Michelle and David were sat in the middle of the room, with a clear view of the stage, although they appeared to have left just before the final awards were handed out. Jane, meanwhile, sat front and center alongside Laura and Sheryl, while Riverdale's Madeleine Petsch sat with Mean Girls star Auli'i Cravalho.
But it was Laura's thought-provoking and emotional speech that saw her receive a standing ovation as she questioned why so many Americans refused to acknowledge the climate crisis despite it impacting them.
"Ask any farmer in Missouri or Texas if they've noticed changes in the climate in the last few years and they will say yes – the winters are harsher, the summers are drier, the patterns less predictable and there's a real cost to their crops. They know this," Laura began, adding: "They are smart, caring people and yet still not enough of them vote with us."
"Ask someone from the reddest parts of Florida about climate and they'll tell you that last year, the ocean outside their front door topped 90 degrees… moms in Alabama fear hurricanes now in a different way, just like they worry about school shootings more than they used to," she continued.
"And yet somehow not enough of them vote with us either, nor do the parents in Kentucky who live near a power plant or a factory and their kids have asthma, or the people in South Carolina and Tennessee who witness entire animal species vanishing every year.
"These people, our fellow Americans, are actively resisting the work. We're asking them to do work that will save their farms and rivers and towns. Why, I propose? It's because they've been told we're crazy."
The 56-year-old concluded: "We need to find a new language, one that works not just in Los Angeles at a fundraiser, but in Iowa and Oklahoma and West Virginia. We must see and celebrate community with everyone despite all our anger, and our fear, however rightfully justified, because community is our only answer now… because a majority of Americans fundamentally want community not chaos, just as they want votes not violence, laws not lies, books not bans and truth not tantrums."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/512203/michelle-pfeiffer-rare-red-carpet-appearance-with-husband-david-e-kelley-star-studded-hollywood-event/
| 2024-01-28T11:21:52Z
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Kevin Clifton melted hearts at the weekend with a precious new image of his baby daughter, Minnie.
Taking to Instagram on Saturday, the former Strictly Come Dancing star uploaded an image of himself enjoying a sweet cuddle with his tiny tot.
Minnie, whom Kevin and his partner Stacey Dooley welcomed in January 2023, looked so precious in the snap wearing a candyfloss pink pyjama set emblazoned with ballerina mice, presents and snow-topped fir trees.
She was pictured with her little arm wrapped around doting dad Kevin - a move which prompted an abundance of heartfelt messages in the comments section. Alongside his sweet update, Kevin included the caption: "Taking some rest with daddy" followed by a red heart emoji and a little mouse.
While Minnie's face was hidden from view, her red hair, which she inherited from her mother Stacey, was on full display.
It's been a whirlwind couple of months for Kevin and Stacey who recently celebrated their baby daughter's milestone first birthday. The special occasion was a joyous family affair complete with endless birthday treats.
The star of the show was undoubtedly Minnie’s incredible, three-tiered hot pink birthday cake adorned with ornate swirls of white icing. The cake was surrounded by a plethora of delicious-looking dishes including two raspberry pavlovas, focaccia bread, spaghetti, tomato and mozzarella salad, and cheese-topped aubergine.
Elsewhere, Stacey uploaded an image of their beautiful family home which they aptly transformed ahead of the special occasion. Continuing the pink theme, Stacey and Kevin opted to adorn their living room with baby pink, white and chrome balloons.
Beyond this, Stacey also decorated a string of glasses with rose-hued velvet ribbons for an extra dose of pink glamour.
"Spent the entire weekend celebrating our baby g [pink love heart emoji]. My best best little pal is ONE," Stacey wrote in her caption.
"To all our dearest pals and fam who made such an effort…what can I say? We are v v lucky. So touched. Kev, first year? COMPLETED IT MAAAAATE".
Stacey and Kevin welcomed their bundle of joy into the world back in January last year. Shortly after Stacey gave birth, Kevin took to his Instagram account and posted an adorable photo which revealed the baby's gender and name in one. The snap was of an envelope which read: "Minnie's parents." The professional dancer then followed up with an Instagram Story which said simply: "Our daughter Minnie is here."
While the couple have kept much of their family life under wraps, former Strictly champ Stacey has been incredibly honest about her experience as a first-time mother. During an appearance on The One Show, Stacey told presenters Emma Willis and Jermaine Jenas: "Honestly, it's like I'm the first woman to ever have a child. I'm that dramatic! I'm just completely obsessed. I'm head over heels, she's magic."
She added: "I'm good as gold and she is just a delight. I'm biased, aren't I? But she is just the love of my life and I'm just made up with her."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/512204/kevin-clifton-melts-hearts-photo-red-haired-minnie/
| 2024-01-28T11:21:58Z
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Discover 1100+ ready to use ilcons, the essential bridge between icons and comprehensive illustrations. This iconic, hand-drawn library offers miniature spot illustrations, perfect for crafting unique designs on your website or app.
"Thank you for taking the time to explore our product launch! Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we genuinely consider every suggestion. If you have any comments, ideas, or requests for enhancements, please don't hesitate to share."
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https://www.producthunt.com/posts/ilcons
| 2024-01-28T11:55:05Z
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DOHA/GENEVA - U.N. officials and aid groups called for countries to reconsider their decision to pause funding for the U.N. refugee agency for Palestinians on Sunday, warning that its life-saving aid for some two million people in Gaza was in jeopardy.
At least nine countries, including top donors the United States and Germany, have paused funding for the U.N. refugee agency for Palestinians (UNRWA) following allegations by Israel that some of its staff were involved in the deadly Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel that killed 1,200 people.
"While I understand their concerns – I was myself horrified by these accusations - I strongly appeal to the governments that have suspended their contributions to, at least, guarantee the continuity of UNRWA's operations," U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Sunday, vowing to hold to account "any U.N. employee involved in acts of terror".
Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA commissioner-general, also urged countries to "reconsider their decisions before UNRWA is forced to suspend its humanitarian response."
More than 26,000 people have been killed in Israel's military campaign against Hamas in Gaza, the enclave's health ministry said. With flows of aid like food and medicine into the territory just a trickle of pre-conflict levels, deaths from preventable diseases as well as the risk of famine are growing, aid officials say.
Since the Oct. 7 conflict began, most of Gaza's 2.3 million people have become reliant on the aid UNRWA provides, including about one million who have fled Israeli bombardments sheltering in its facilities. Palestinians expressed anger at the funding cuts.
"We used to say Israel was launching a war of famine against us in parallel to its war of destruction, now those countries who suspended the aid to UNRWA declared themselves partners in this war, and collective punishment," said Yamen Hamad, who lives at an UNRWA-run school in Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza Strip, after fleeing northern Gaza.
A U.N. appointed expert on the right to food Michael Fakhri warned on social media platform X that the funding cuts meant that famine was now "inevitable" in Gaza.
Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz on Saturday called for agency to be replaced and urged for more countries to cut funding. Israel has not yet publicly given details of UNRWA staff members' alleged involvement in the attack on Israel.
Deputy U.N. spokesperson Farhan Haq declined to respond directly to Katz's remarks but said UNRWA overall had a strong record.
Guterres said 12 staff members had been implicated and that nine had been terminated, one was dead and the identities of the other two were being clarified.
There was no immediate sign of countries' heeding the U.N. call to reinstate aid. However, Norway and Ireland said they would continue funding the agency.
UNRWA was set up to help refugees of the 1948 war at Israel's founding and provides education, health and aid services to Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/un-urges-countries-to-reverse-funding-pause-for-palestinian-agency
| 2024-01-28T12:04:17Z
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Hong Kong pop star Edison Chen, who was embroiled in a nude photo scandal in 2008, is returning to the Hong Kong music scene after 16 years.
The 43-year-old will perform as part of the music group 3Cornerz at pop culture carnival ComplexCon Hong Kong, which will be held from March 22 to 24.
“Another key component of ComplexCon Hong Kong is the live music performance,” the event said on social media on Jan 27. “The headliner for Friday, March 22, is a group that has not appeared on the same stage for a long time, and we’re ready to welcome their energy again – 3Cornerz.”
3Cornerz comprised of Chen, MC Yan and Chef, who released their hip-hop albums 3 Corners in 2012 and 3 Corners II in 2015. The group, which combines hip-hop with other genres such as jazz and funk, most recently released new songs Godzilla and Long in 2023.
Chen, who starred in several successful movies such as the Infernal Affairs trilogy (2002 to 2003) and Initial D (2005), left the entertainment industry and focused on his fashion business after he was implicated in the photo scandal in 2008.
That year, photos of him engaging in intimate acts with Hong Kong artistes such as singer-actresses Gillian Chung and Cecilia Cheung were published online, leading to a months-long saga that culminated in Chen, then 27, announcing his departure from the Hong Kong entertainment scene.
The singer-actor married Chinese supermodel Qin Shupei, 34, in 2017 and they have a six-year-old daughter, Alaia.
Chen performed at a music festival in Chengdu city in China’s Sichuan province in October 2023, with Qin and Alaia in the audience to support him.
He brought up the photo scandal, something which he rarely talks about in public, during a visit in Taiwan in November 2023. He told the media he did not give up on himself when almost everyone thought it was over for him in 2008.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/entertainment/pop-star-edison-chen-to-return-to-hong-kong-music-16-years-after-nude-photo-scandal
| 2024-01-28T12:04:28Z
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Hong Kong singer-actor Dicky Cheung has assured fans he is fine, after a video of a stunt involving him and a piano in mid-air went viral on social media.
The 58-year-old previously announced he would be holding a concert in Macau on Feb 12. He had been actively rehearsing in the past few days.
A video of the rehearsal began circulating on Chinese social media on Jan 25. It showed Cheung playing the piano in mid-air while rotating 360 degrees with the musical instrument. He and the piano suddenly fell, and staff at the scene stepped forward immediately to prevent the piano from falling further.
Cheung, known for TV serials such as Journey To The West (1996) and The Duke Of Mount Deer 2000, posted a video on Chinese social media Weibo on Jan 25 evening. It showed him standing and tapping his foot to the beat of music.
He wrote: “The Macau concert has an even more over-the-top stage. Rest assured that everything was safe during the rehearsal.”
The next day, he shared three photos on Weibo of himself with a cat, writing: “Please set your mind at ease as I am fine and in good spirits. I added a new member to my family today.”
He told the Hong Kong media that the video was from a previous rehearsal and that the piano segment had been dropped from the concert.
However, he said it was cancelled not because it was too dangerous, but because not all the parts needed for the performance could be obtained.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/entertainment/singer-dicky-cheung-says-he-is-fine-after-piano-reportedly-falls-on-him-during-concert-rehearsal
| 2024-01-28T12:04:38Z
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UN to punish staff involved in Hamas’ Oct 7 ‘acts of terror’ in Israel: Guterres
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Taiwan’s plunging birth rate not just about money, but also gender expectations
Taiwan’s total fertility rate was 0.87 children per woman in 2022; the global average is 2.3.
How to talk to your children about sensitive news topics such as wars
Parents can help allay their kids' fears by talking to them. Here are some tips for every age group.
Young and Savvy: Counting the costs and blessings of pursuing a master’s in Britain
Gaining new friends and experiences could take the edge off the hefty financial outlay.
Meet the ‘Globetoddlers’: This tot flew 31,000km, visited five destinations in her first year
More parents are taking babies and toddlers on overseas holidays.
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| 2024-01-28T12:04:49Z
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SINGAPORE – Pet owners should leave their companion animals at licensed boarding facilities when they are away, the Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) has said.
The service’s advisory was in response to The Straits Times’ query into the death of a dog at an unlicensed pet boarding facility, which AVS is looking into as a case of alleged animal neglect.
Miso, a four-year-old Singapore special, was declared dead on Jan 2 by a vet after the dog was found unresponsive while at an unlicensed boarding service in Serangoon Gardens, which Miso’s owners did not name.
The owners, Ms Jazsica Law and her husband, Mr Steven Phua, boarded the dog there on Dec 27, 2023, expecting to pick it up on Jan 5 after they returned from their holiday in Taiwan.
Midway through the trip on Jan 2, Ms Law said she received a call from the boarding facility’s owner about Miso’s death.
According to the vet’s report, Miso had no heartbeat and was not breathing when it arrived at the vet clinic.
Vets were also unable to perform resuscitation as rigor mortis had set in on Miso’s carcass by then, the report added.
Rigor mortis is the stiffening of joints and muscles when a human or animal dies, and occurs between two and six hours in dogs after death.
Ms Law, a photographer in her 30s, put up a series of Instagram posts about the matter from Jan 6.
She told The Straits Times: “Her sudden and premature death at the boarding place is something that we never anticipated in a million years. Her death has left an irreplaceable void in our hearts.”
Ms Law said she was aware that the boarding facility was not licensed when she had first used its services in 2021 on the recommendation of a friend as the business was operating out of a Housing Board flat in Tampines at the time.
She said: “He was taking in only a couple of dogs and we felt more assured as there were people at the home almost round the clock.”
Following its move to a shophouse at the end of 2022, Ms Law said she had assumed that the business had been licensed as a pet boarding facility as it now occupied a commercial space.
She said: “We trusted that the owner had taken the proper route (in applying for a licence), and that falls on us for not double-checking it.”
The boarding facility declined ST’s request for comment, citing the ongoing investigation.
AVS said that licensing for such services is put in place to safeguard animal welfare and encouraged pet owners to place their pets in the care of these service providers.
AVS group director Jessica Kwok said: “AVS officers conduct regular inspections at licensed pet boarding facilities to ensure compliance with licensing conditions.”
A person found guilty of operating an unlicensed pet boarding facility can be fined up to $10,000, jailed for up to 12 months, or both.
Under Animal and Birds Act, a person found guilty of neglecting animals under their care can be fined up to $15,000, jailed up to 18 months or both.
Pet owners can check the AVS website for a list of licensed pet boarding facilities.
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| 2024-01-28T12:04:59Z
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DOHA - Iraq won all their group games as they advanced to the Asian Cup knockout stage but coach Jesus Casas tempered expectations on Sunday by saying his team were not favourites for the title.
Iraq were one of three teams to finish the group stage with maximum points, along with defending champions Qatar and Iran, with Casas's side delivering the biggest upset of the tournament so far when they beat Asia's top-ranked side Japan.
Iraq play Jordan in the last 16 on Monday and although Casas said his side drew confidence from the memorable victory over Japan, the Spaniard added that there was a long way to go in the tournament.
"We aren't favourites. I repeat, we're very happy with our tournament until now. The Iraqi people are very proud of the players and their performances," Casas told reporters.
"But tomorrow we have a very hard match against a very good team. In one match, all is possible -- one red card, one penalty, one mistake or nerves. So we aren't favourites for sure.
"We can win all matches but we need to give 200%. If we have a perfect match it's possible to win but if you make one mistake (in the knockout stage) you say 'Bye, bye'. All is possible in football but it's very hard."
Jordan also impressed in the group stage with a 4-0 win over Malaysia and a 2-2 draw with South Korea, who were one of the pre-tournament favourites.
Hussein Ammouta's side earned praise for how they pressed as a unit against South Korea, especially their forward line, while they regularly won duels all across the pitch.
"We are very similar in our style. Jordan are a very good team, it won't be easy," Casas said.
"I think Jordan and us are on the same level. Jordan have a very good coach. They have three strikers who are very dangerous. We have a lot of good things too.
"Obviously we have confidence after three matches but it's not enough. It was amazing when we beat Japan but it was only one match. To win the Asian Cup we have to win four more matches; we have possibilities but it's not easy." REUTERS
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| 2024-01-28T12:05:09Z
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PARIS - Two protesters on Jan 28 hurled soup at the bullet-proof glass protecting Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” in Paris, demanding the right to “healthy and sustainable food”.
The action, which comes as French farmers protest across the country, is the latest in a string of similar attacks against artworks to demand more action to protect the planet.
Two women flung streams of red and orange soup onto the glass protecting the smiling lady to gasps from the crowd in the French capital’s Louvre museum.
“What is more important? Art or the right to healthy and sustainable food,” they asked, standing in front of the painting and speaking in turn.
“Your agricultural system is sick. Our farmers are dying at work,” they added, before security staff placed black screens in front of them and evacuated the room.
A group called Riposte Alimentaire (“Food counterattack” in French) claimed responsibility for the stunt.
In a statement, they said the soup throwing marked the “start of a campaign of civil resistance with the clear demand... of the social security of sustainable food”.
The action comes as French farmers have been protesting for days to demand better pay, taxes and regulations.
The government has been trying to keep discontent among the agricultural workers from spreading months ahead of European Parliament elections, which are seen as a key test for President Emmanuel Macron’s government.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal on Sunday scrambled to announce new measures as some farmers threatened to block roads into the capital on Jan 29.
Custard pie
The action at the museum follows a series of such stunts by climate activists against world-famous paintings to demand more action to phase out fossil fuels and prevent global warming.
In October 2022, two activists from the Just Stop Oil group grabbed headlines when they splashed tomato soup over the glass protecting Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” at the National Gallery in London.
They complained that art lovers were more concerned with paintings than the planet.
The “Mona Lisa” has been attacked several times before.
A man threw a custard pie at her in May 2022, also saying artists were not focusing enough on “the planet”. Her thick glass casing ensured she came to no harm.
She has been behind glass since a Bolivian man threw a rock at her in December 1956, damaging her left elbow.
The glass was made bulletproof in 2005.
In 2009, a woman threw an empty teacup at the painting, which slightly scratched the case. AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/climate-change-activists-aim-soup-at-mona-lisa-in-paris-louvre
| 2024-01-28T12:05:20Z
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DOHA/GAZA - Medical facilities are at risk of collapse in Khan Younis, the southern Gaza city now at the focus of Israel's offensive, the Gaza Health Ministry warned on Sunday, as fighting raged across the Palestinian enclave.
Residents said Israeli planes and tanks also pounded areas in Gaza City to the north, where Israel has slowly been pulling out troops. The fighting could be heard in the nearby towns of Beit Lahiya and Jabalia, near to Gaza City.
Israel's military said it was engaged in "intensive battles" in Khan Younis, where it said troops "eliminated terrorists and located large quantities of weapons".
The armed wing of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad said fighters clashed with Israeli troops in several areas across the enclave overnight. Hamas' armed wing said its fighters destroyed two Israeli tanks in Khan Younis.
The latest fighting came as U.N. officials and aid groups urged countries to reconsider their decision to pause funding for the U.N. refugee agency for Palestinians, a vital source of aid in Gaza. At least nine countries have paused funding following allegations by Israel that some of UNRWA's staff were involved in the deadly Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.
Gaza Health Ministry spokesperson Ashraf Al-Qidra said 165 Palestinians were killed and 290 wounded in the past 24 hours, bringing the total killed in Israeli strikes since the war began to 26,422. Officials in the Hamas-ruled territory do not distinguish between militants and civilians in their count.
One strike on a house in a suburb of Gaza City killed eight people, health officials said.
Israel launched a war it says aims to eliminate Hamas after the militants' unprecedented cross-border assault, in which 1,200 people were killed and 240 abducted, according to Israeli officials.
HEALTHCARE SYSTEM FAILURE
Palestinian medics and residents said Israel continued to bomb areas around the two main hospitals in Khan Younis, hindering efforts by rescue teams to respond to desperate calls from people caught in the Israeli bombardment.
“There is a complete failure of the healthcare system at Nasser and Al-Amal hospitals," said Qidra.
Israel says it takes steps to avoid civilian casualties, but accuses Hamas of operating in densely populated areas, including those around hospitals, and using civilians as human shields. It has released photos and videos supporting this allegation, which the Islamist group denies.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said in a statement that medical teams at Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younis would be unable to perform surgeries because oxygen supplies were depleted.
More families were displaced from Khan Younis on Sunday. Some people took dirt roads to get closer to the city of Rafah along the border with Egypt or Deir Al-Balah to the north. Others headed west to an area called Al-Mawasi where residents described being crammed into a small area.
"It is as crowded as it can get," said electrician Abu Raouf, a father of four. "People have lost their ability to think, their ability to feel, they are moving like robots, it is just a matter of time before Israel sends tanks into here as well, there is no place safe."
Reem Abu Tair left Khan Younis in the cold with three children, one of them an infant.
"We managed to save our lives, we escaped bombings and the destruction that is surrounding us only to end up in the cold. So, if a child does not die from the bombing, he will die from the cold,” Abu Tair said. REUTERS
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| 2024-01-28T12:05:30Z
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The party received 6% of votes during the 2022 Hungarian elections.
Toroczkai made the remarks on Saturday at his party’s annual conference in Budapest. He blamed “international financiers” for pressuring Ukraine into the war with Russia, a war he said would “destroy Europe and send the continent’s economy to the bottom,” Hungarian Index.hu reported.
Toroczkai also stated, “if Ukraine’s statehood ceases to exist due to the war, Mi Hazank will lay claim to Zakarpattia.”
This is not the first time the Mi Hazank leader has commented on Ukraine. Last year, he spoke about the need to prevent a new world war and claimed Ukraine had been sold to foreign investors. He also opposed Finland and Sweden joining NATO, fearing it would increase the chances of war with Russia.
Mi Hazank currently holds six seats in the Hungarian Parliament. Zakarpattia, located in western Ukraine, was part of the Austria-Hungary Empire until the 20th century. About 10% of the Zakarpattia population are ethnic Hungarians, but almost 90% are Ukrainians.
As was reported, Budapest sent troops to Ukraine’s border in February 2022, at the beginning of the Russian invasion, raising speculations that Hungary was posed to occupy Ukraine’s westernmost Zakarpattia Oblast immediately after Putin took Kyiv. However, the Hungarian expert András Rácz, who until recently worked for Hungary’s state Institute for Strategic and Defence Studies and is currently a Senior Fellow at the German Council on Foreign Relations, said these speculations are groundless, saying that Hungary’s military presence was not meant for attacking Ukraine, but rather as part of a contingency plan in the event of a humanitarian crisis and massive refugee wave.
Expert explains what Hungary’s troops were really up to at Ukraine border when Russia struck
Zakarpattia proclaimed the independence of the “Carpathian statehood” in 1939 but was quickly occupied by the Hungarian army. It became part of the USSR after WWII.
The struggle for Carpatho-Ukraine (1938-1939), or how WWII started for Ukrainians
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Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor’s Office reported that the attack injured three people who were in their flats at the time of the attack.
The attack occurred at around 01:30 AM. A 15-year-old boy and a 35-year-old man sustained explosive injuries and cuts. A 30-year-old woman from a neighboring building was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury.
Fourteen apartment buildings, educational facilities, and nine cars were damaged due to the attack. Presumably, Russians fired MLRS rockets at the town.
Symbolically, the name of the town Myrnohrad means “peaceful city” in Ukrainian.
The prosecutor’s office launched an investigation into violating the laws and customs of war. As Russia continues its relentless missile strikes across Ukraine, civilian casualties continue to mount. Yesterday, Russian forces also launched missile strikes on Myrnohrad and Kherson, causing significant casualties and damage. The strikes resulted in seven injuries, including children, and damaged a school, a shopping center, and a kindergarten.
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On 22 January 2024, Russian authorities reported there had been 220 attacks on military enlistment offices since 24 February 2022. Other statistics from media outlet Mediazona reported 113 attacks on elistment offices recorded 26 July 2023.
“Taken together, these statistics indicate a doubling of arson attacks on elistment offices over the last six months,” the UK defense intelligence reported.
The head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, Sergey Naryshkin, accused the perpetrators of the arson attacks of working for the West. However, the increase in the number of attacks is probably related to the growing distrust in Putin’s promise that there will be no more mobilization waves in Russia.
Further mobilization will contradict the promise Putin gave on 14 December 2023 at the annual press conference, that there will be no more mobilization in the country.
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, military enlistment offices, police departments, city administration buildings, and reception halls of “United Russia” party have been attacked throughout Russia. After the mobilization was announced, the number of incidents increased. No one died as a result of the arson, and the damage was minimal. Detainees are most often charged with terrorism. More than 30 cases have already ended with verdicts of up to 19 years in prison.
Read more:
- Bloomberg: War with Ukraine sparks labor shortage in Russia
- Ukraine passes law to enhance military readiness and veteran welfare
- Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief addresses mobilization and frontline situation in briefing
- Zelenskyy: Military proposes to mobilize up to 500,000 more people
- Danilov warns of possible total mobilization in Russia after 2024 presidential election
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“We must have the capabilities to make sure that Russia will give up forever the thought of even looking in Ukraine’s direction, including at sea,” Vice Admiral Neizhpapa said.
In the interview, he named two goals of Ukrainian operations at sea — to stop the Russian navy from being able to attack Ukraine and to enable cargo ships to access Ukrainian ports. The latter goal was crucial to ensure stable exports of Ukrainian agriculture production and increase money flow to the war-time economy.
In total, Ukrainian amphibious operations have destroyed nearly two dozes of Russian warships, combining missile, drone, and sea drone attacks.
However, the admiral warns the previous tactic may no longer work since the enemy is also adapting.
“The enemy is adapting, and we must also adapt. A modern war is a war of technologies. Whoever wins in the technological sense will have victory,” he said.
Ukraine’s allies supplied Ukraine with a limited number of longer-range missiles in 2023. However, Ukrainian forces have used them to hit targets only in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine but not inside Russia, referring to restrictions from partners.
Read more:
- Ukraine unveils FURY: new weapon to dominate the Black Sea
- Ukraine’s victory demands more than drones. “Boots on the ground” define true territory control, says Navy commander
- Ukraine’s sunflower seeds plundered by Russia and shipped to Türkiye
- Türkiye, Romania, and Bulgaria sign agreement for joint Black Sea mine clearance
- Minister: Ukraine exports 15 mn tons of cargo via Black Sea corridor in five months amid Russia’s blockade
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/28/ukraine-would-win-the-war-faster-if-it-had-permission-to-fire-western-weapons-against-targets-deep-inside-russia-navy-commander/
| 2024-01-28T12:08:56Z
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ANKARA - Two masked gunmen shot one person dead during Sunday service at a church in Istanbul, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said, adding that authorities were working to capture the assailants.
Yerlikaya, who condemned the attack, said it took place around 0840 GMT at the Italian Santa Maria Catholic Church in the Sariyer district.
"C.T., who was among those participating in the service, was the target of a gun attack by two masked individuals and sadly lost his life," the minister said on social media platform X, referring to the initials of the victim.
Turkish officials tend to not use the full names of victims or perpetrators of attacks.
It was not immediately clear why the victim was targeted. Footage from the church showed several police cars and an ambulance outside the building. REUTERS
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| 2024-01-28T13:36:28Z
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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis on Sunday urged respect for civilians in conflict areas and said people were tired of wars, which he called a "disaster for the peoples and a defeat for humanity".
After his weekly Angelus prayer in St. Peter's square, the pope said humanitarian aid must be allowed to flow in Myanmar and said the population must be respected also in the Middle East, hit by the war between Israel and Hamas. He also mentioned the suffering of people in Ukraine.
The Myanmar military, which overthrew an elected government in 2021, has been battling an alliance of ethnic minority armies fighting to end its control of their regions since late October.
Francis also said he learned "with relief" that a group of people including six nuns, had been freed in Haiti after nearly a week in captivity. Last week, he had called for their release. REUTERS
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JOHOR BAHRU - Malaysian police have seized close to RM3 million (S$852,000) worth of drugs and arrested eight men, including the suspected mastermind of a smuggling syndicate.
Johor police chief commissioner M. Kumar said the suspects were arrested in a special operation involving the Johor and Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Departments on Jan 24 and 25.
“The syndicate is believed to have been active since June 2023, smuggling drugs to a neighbouring country through sea routes with the help of boat skippers,” he told a press conference at state police headquarters on Jan 28.
“The suspects, all locals, were arrested in five raids around the Johor Bahru, Muar, Permatang Pauh (Penang) and Muadzam Shah (Pahang) areas.
“The first raid was on a house in Parit Jawa, Muar, which is believed to be the storage and transit point for the drugs before they are smuggled out.”
He said police will also work with their counterparts in the neighbouring country to investigate the syndicate’s activities.
Mr Kumar said the suspects, aged 23 to 40, tested negative for drugs.
“However, seven of them have records involving drug and criminal offences, while one is on the wanted list,” he said.
The suspects have all been remanded for seven days since Jan 25.
Mr Kumar said the drug haul from the operation comprised 82.86kg of methamphetamine, 2.78g of ecstasy pills and 2.5g of ketamine, worth a total of RM2.735 million.
“We also seized eight cars, 12 motorcycles, gold and jewellery, cash and watches amounting to RM1.78 million,” he said, adding that the total value of all seized items, including the drugs, came to RM4.52 million.
He said the case is being investigated for trafficking dangerous drugs. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
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HYDERABAD, India - England beat India by 28 runs on day four of the opening test to go 1-0 up in the five-match series at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Sunday.
Chasing 231 for victory, India were all out for 202 with skipper Rohit Sharma (39) top-scoring for them.
Tom Hartley was the pick of the English bowlers, claiming 7-62 in his debut test.
The second test begins in Visakhapatnam on Friday. REUTERS
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| 2024-01-28T13:37:00Z
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Hyundai's Thierry Neuville made a perfect start to the season by winning the Monte Carlo Rally on Sunday after a close battle with Toyota's eight-times world champion Sebastien Ogier.
The two started the final day just 3.3 seconds apart, with Belgian Neuville leading and Ogier chasing a record-extending 10th Monte Carlo win on his home asphalt roads in the French Alps.
Neuville won Sunday's first two stages to stretch the gap to 13.5 seconds going into the final Col de Turini Power Stage and completed the hat-trick to finish 16.1 clear of Ogier and celebrate his second career Monte Carlo win.
The win was also the 20th of his career.
Elfyn Evans, Toyota's main title contender in the absence of reigning world rally champion Kalle Rovanpera who is taking time out, completed the podium. REUTERS
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| 2024-01-28T13:37:10Z
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SINGAPORE – Heading into the Jan 26-27 PSU National Invitational, national high jumper Kampton Kam did not have too many expectations.
In addition to spending the last few months recovering from an Achilles injury and a heel bruise, the school term had also just started for the University of Pennsylvania sophomore.
A national record was not on the cards, but Kam leapt 2.15m at the Penn State University Multi-Sport Facility on Jan 27 to better his previous indoor high jump national mark by 7cm.
The achievement was a timely boost for the 22-year-old, who is aiming to qualify for the national championships of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA). He also has a more lofty target in the 2024 season: Earning a spot at the July 26-Aug 11 Paris Olympic Games.
He said: “I have been dealing with some nagging injuries since the Asian Games then there were finals and starting school, so I’ve been taking the time to get back in form and rehabilitate with the injury... It’s a step in the right direction.”
Over the winter break, Kam also attended a training camp in Japan, where he was able to fine tune his routine.
For example, he has been working on a 10-step run-up for his jumps, as compared to an eight-step approach before the Asian Games, to get more speed and run a better curve.
Kam noted that the 2.15m mark in his third competition of the season was achieved with a six-step run-up, which was an encouraging sign.
To qualify for the NCAA indoor track and field championships in March, he will need to be among the top 16 in the NCAA’s rankings for indoor high jumpers.
He is also chasing his school’s indoor and outdoor records, which stand at 2.24m and 2.28m respectively.
Getting to the Olympics, however, will be tougher as he will have to hit the qualifying height of 2.33m or finish among the top 32 in the world rankings by June.
Kam, who hit his outdoor personal best of 2.20m in April 2022, is determined to give it a try.
His experiences in the past two years have only hardened his resolve. In 2022, a collapsed lung forced him to withdraw from the Hanoi SEA Games. A year later, the injury-hit athlete learnt that his mum had cancer and he also missed out on qualifying for the outdoor regionals.
He said: “A season could turn out very unfavourable sometimes and it’s about trying to learn from the experience but also trying not to put too much emphasis on the failures.
“What I learnt was how to do better in terms of how I keep a positive attitude... Being able to do what I love is something I don’t take for granted. Every time I’m jumping and competing, I treat it like it’s my last competition.”
He also received some sound advice from former national high jumper Wong Yew Tong – holder of the outdoor national record of 2.22m set in 1995 – who told him to be patient.
Yu Long Nyu, who has been coaching Kam since he was nine, is encouraged by his recent performances.
She is working closely with his coaches in the United States, adding: “It’s important to have consistent performances, this makes it easier to allow the coaches to work towards the plan.
“We will try our best. Whatever the result is, it will definitely benefit us.”
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| 2024-01-28T13:37:20Z
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MELBOURNE – Italian Jannik Sinner conjured up a great escape in his first ever Grand Slam final, coming back from two sets down to defeat Daniil Medvedev 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 in the Australian Open men’s singles decider on Jan 28.
The 22-year-old fourth seed was the first Italian to win the Melbourne Park title.
World No. 3 Medvedev took 85 minutes to claim a 2-0 lead, breaking the Italian twice in each of the first two sets.
Fourth seed Sinner replied in similar fashion, breaking Russian in the 10th game of the next two sets to level the tie.
In the decider, the Italian clearly has more left as he romped to a 5-2 lead and closed out the match in his first major final. AFP
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| 2024-01-28T13:37:31Z
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MELBOURNE - Jannik Sinner beat Daniil Medvedev of Russia 3-6 3-6 6-4 6-4 6-3 to win the Australian Open men's singles championship on Sunday.
The 22-year-old fourth seed was the first Italian to win the Melbourne Park title. REUTERS
MELBOURNE - Jannik Sinner beat Daniil Medvedev of Russia 3-6 3-6 6-4 6-4 6-3 to win the Australian Open men's singles championship on Sunday.
The 22-year-old fourth seed was the first Italian to win the Melbourne Park title. REUTERS
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| 2024-01-28T13:37:42Z
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PARIS - The French government is considering further help for the country's farmers, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said on Sunday, as their nationwide protests to demand better pay and living conditions showed no sign of abating.
Farmers in France, the European Union's biggest agricultural producer, complain they face unfair competition from rivals in more lightly regulated countries. To press their cause, they have set up roadblocks on major roads over the last week.
"We will look at any other measures we can take regarding those aspects of unfair competition," Attal told reporters.
Already on Friday, the government dropped plans to gradually reduce state subsidies on agricultural diesel, and announced other steps to reduce the financial and administrative pressures farmers face.
Farmers, however, want more.
The FNSEA, France's biggest farmers' union, has said it will continue protests and other unions have threatened roadblocks around Paris and the Rungis food market near the capital.
Farmers in other European countries, including Germany and Poland, have also staged protests, saying the European Union is not doing enough to protect them from cheaper production elsewhere. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/french-pm-considers-more-help-for-farmers-as-protests-persist
| 2024-01-28T13:38:03Z
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Earlier this week, Princess Anne had a sensational sartorial moment in a silky emerald slip dress and vibrant checkered jacket as she paid a visit to the Save The Children head office in London, of which she is patron.
In photographs shared by the charity on Instagram, the royal was pictured meeting with staff from several teams across the organisation, including Humanitarian and UK Impact and Wellbeing.
The 73-year-old royal looked immaculate in green as she paired a satin full-length skirt with a hunter green ribbed crew-neck jumper and a waist-cinching plaid jacket from Cotswold Collections - which caught the attention of royal style fans for the most surprising reason.
The Princess Royal is no stranger to a noteworthy style moment. Most of her wardrobe serves as evidence of her everlasting sartorial identity, with Anne often choosing to recycle her favourite garments from the 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond.
After wearing a Barbie pink puff-sleeved gown with a contrasting chequered skirt to the BAFTAs in 1984, the thrifty royal reworked the dress and wore it to the Save the Children Festival of Trees more than 15 years later.
Her blue fur-lined coat has been in her wardrobe since 1976, yet the late Queen's daughter has continued to wear the winter fashion winner right up to her 70s, having continued to rock the garment for nearly 50 years.
And perhaps her most timeless staple, her mustard yellow coat dress, has been worn to Trooping the Colour, Epsom Derby, Royal Ascot and more several times between 1980 - 2023.
Yet Princess Anne's bold and beautiful Cotswolds Clothing jacket sparked the attention of royal style fans for a different reason. Not only was the garment brand new - a rarity in the royal's wardrobe - but it was just £65.
"We are thrilled to see The Princess Royal wearing our latest Dogtooth Jacket at her recent visit to the Save the Children London office. The classic style and quality of this piece, along with our Rib-and-Cable Crewneck suit her wonderfully!" penned the brand on Instagram.
Several style fans took to social media to share their thoughts on Anne's surprising new look, taking to Instagram page @royalfashionpolice to share their thoughts.
"New! Unbelievable. Princess Anne is "Princess sustainable". Normally she wears her dresses for thirty years," penned one. "I came to see if this [jacket] was vintage. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her wear something 'new'!" added another, while a third quipped: "New clothes?!" in confusion.
"This green and black jacket is beautiful, love the design and cut," read another comment. "I cannot tell you how much I love this jacket. One of my faves EVER."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/fashion/royal-style/512207/princess-anne-rare-change-to-look-cotswolds-collection-jacket/
| 2024-01-28T14:21:30Z
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They're arguably the most beloved duo on the ice and have been ever since they nailed their iconic Bolero performance at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, which landed them perfect scores and a gold medal each.
But now, Jayne Torvill, 64, and Christopher Dean, 63, known to the masses as Torvill and Dean, are most frequently seen on ITV's Dancing On Ice where they offer the celebrities their expert training and scores from the judging panel.
After working together closely for a number of years, it's perhaps unsurprising that the duo are extremely close. The pair have shared insight into their friendship – and debunked rumours of a romantic relationship – many times. Here's all there is to know about their bond…
Torvill and Dean on their early friendship
"My first memory of Chris is seeing him at the ice rink one Saturday afternoon in 1971. He stood out because he was whizzing around so fast and had blonde hair. That's when I named him the Blonde Prince," Jayne told Radio Times. The pair first met when they were just teenagers and were paired together on the ice
Christopher admitted that it wasn't always as comfortable skating with Jayne: "We were very shy with each other," he told Radio Times. "Janet Sawbridge, our coach, made us get into a hold. We were standing nose to nose, hip to hip, and there was nowhere to look except at each other. It felt awkward – for a minute. From then on, both of us wanted to make a go of it."
Torvill and Dean discuss their first (and only) kiss
During the same interview, Jayne was quizzed about the relationship rumours. "We did actually kiss once – before we were a skating couple. We were in the back of the bus going to a league match, and it just happened. It was a one-off. We never talked about it afterwards. We laugh about it now."
Christopher spoke about the same incident after being questioned during an episode of Piers Morgan's Life Stories. "We dabbled," he admitted, referring to their kiss.
On love and friendship
Christopher is a father to two grown-up children Jack and Sam. He shares his two sons with his ex-wife American skater Jill Trenary. The couple met in the early 1990s and tied the knot in October 1994. In 2010, they announced their separation. He is now in a long-term relationship with Karen Barber, also a trainer on Dancing On Ice.
Before his marriage to Jill, the DOI star was married to French-Canadian World ice dance champion Isabelle Duchesnay, whom he met while helping her and her brother with their choreography. They married in 1991 but divorced in 1993.
MORE: Dancing on Ice star Christopher Dean's family: all we know
MORE: Christopher Dean's ultra-rare photos of two grown-up sons are so sweet
Meanwhile, Jayne has been married to Phil Christensen since 1990 and the couple are parents to two children, Kieran and Jessica.
Both Christopher and Jayne have opened up about whether their partners were ever threatened by their close bond. In a joint interview with the Financial Times, Christopher admitted that his first wife was jealous of his bond with Jayne.
"Someone who doesn't understand [our relationship] could be jealous," Jayne continued. After their divorce, Isabelle reportedly said: "I felt that he had two women in his life.
"Because his work was more important, that automatically made Jayne more important because she was his work."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/512159/christopher-dean-and-jayne-torvills-intense-bond-from-kiss-and-dating-rumours/
| 2024-01-28T14:21:36Z
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Strictly winner Ellie Leach's ex has weighed in about her reported new romance with Bobby Brazier in a tell-all interview.
The Coronation Street actress was devastated when boyfriend of five years Reagan Pettman "broke her heart" by kissing another girl behind her back – but it seems Ellie's ex has had a change of heart, revealing he "misses" her as speculation mounts about her blossoming bond with her Strictly Come Dancing Live! co-star, Bobby.
Reagan told The Sun on Sunday: "I hurt her and broke her heart. I’m not proud of it. It sounds cliché but I was really drunk and it all happened at once. I knew what I had done was wrong and instantly regretted it.
"I want to rebuild the trust again and for her to be back in my life. But if she’s happy with Bobby, then I am happy for her. But I really miss her."
Ellie, 22, was blindsided when Reagan confessed his infidelity last March, five months after his indiscretion occurred on a night out.
It has been widely reported that Ellie and Bobby have grown closer while rehearsing for the Strictly tour and have gone on "secret dates".
While the pair are yet to comment, they have been pictured enjoying a cheeky Nando's together, cuddling up backstage, and with Bobby's arm draped over the back of Ellie's chair during a break from rehearsals.
Reagan still fancies his chances, however, and says he's taking claims Ellie is loved up with Bobby, 20, "with a pinch of salt".
As for Ellie, it seems unlikely she would give Regan a second chance since she previously admitted she signed up to Strictly to move on from her heartbreak.
She told The Sunday Mirror newspaper last year: "Being cheated on was upsetting, but now’s the perfect time to put my all into Strictly and give that 500 percent.
HELLO! has contacted Ellie's representatives for comment.
Ellie and Bobby wouldn't be the first couple to find love on the Strictly tour: former contestants Molly Rainford and Tyler West struck up a romance on last year's tour while Gemma Atkinson and Gorka Marquez also found love on the road.
Corrie favourite Ellie, famed for playing Faye Windass on the ITV soap, was previously linked to her dancer partner Vito Coppola.
The pair, whose special bond led them to victory last year, are definitely just friends. Vito recently set the record straight, telling The Mirror: "We have a great relationship and honestly when you just find people, not just me and Ellie but their family which I love.
EXCLUSIVE: Strictly stars reveal how the show has changed them as we join them at tour rehearsals
"You just find these people that you think are going to stay in my life forever, in each others lives forever, and all the family and the dogs."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/512208/strictly-ellie-leach-ex-breaks-silence-bobby-brazier-reports/
| 2024-01-28T14:21:42Z
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Emily Atack showcased her blossoming baby bump at the weekend as she posed for a series of stunning snapshots.
In the glamorous images, which she uploaded to Instagram, Emily, 34, was a vision in a bump-skimming black swimsuit. She styled her wet blonde locks in a centre part and highlighted her chiselled features with a vampy beauty blend comprising a deep red lipstick, fluttery lashes and sculpting bronzer.
Emily elevated her maternity swimwear look with a pair of large silver hoop earrings and a cluster of coordinating silver rings. Perfection!
Posing up a storm, the pregnant star, who is believed to be dating Dr Alisatir Garner, beamed as she sweetly cradled her growing baby bump.
"Me and baby went for a swim" Emily wrote in her caption, followed by a red heart emoji.
The Inbetweeners actress first shared news of her pregnancy in December 2023. She made the announcement on Instagram with a beautiful black-and-white selfie giving centre stage to her bare baby bump.
Sharing her news, she wrote in her caption: "Hello everyone, it's been a little while but I'm back with some news. I'm delighted to share with you all that we're having a baby!! I've never been so happy and utterly terrified at the same time."
Emily went on to say: "I've got to know my body on such an insane level. It's made me appreciate the one I've been given SO much, I'm doing my absolute best to make it a home for the little squid I'm growing."
She finished by adding: "I'm so happy to be writing all of this to you all. You've always stuck by me through the years, do stick around to watch me enter my mum era. Christ. Let's go."
Her post quickly racked up thousands of likes, with fans taking to the comments section to share sweet messages of congratulations. Amongst the messages, Ruth Langsford gushed: "What WONDERFUL news! Congratulations. What a lucky baby to have the yummiest Mummy!" while Denise Welch added: "Omg!!! Amazing!! Your mum must be beside herself!!!!"
While the TV star has shared a glimpse inside her pregnancy journey, she tends to keep details of her romance with alleged beau Alistair under wraps. The lovebirds have only been pictured together on one occasion in September last year.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Dr Alistair Garner is a Materials scientist. He got his PhD and Masters from the University of Manchester and also worked there as a lecturer.
Prior to finding love with Alistair, Emily has been linked to a string of famous faces including the likes of Harry Styles, Seann Walsh and Big Brother star Liam McGough.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/512206/pregnant-emily-atack-growing-baby-bump-swimsuit-selfies/
| 2024-01-28T14:21:49Z
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Jools Oliver enjoyed a whirlwind visit to New York with her daughter Daisy Boo Pamela and it's plain to see that the mother and daughter duo share the most wonderful bond.
Jamie Oliver's wife took to Instagram to share a series of photos from their 24-hour trip in aid of attending a Masters of the Air screening with heartthrob Austin Butler. Jools, 49, and her mini-me daughter, 20, enjoyed a VIP cinema experience and managed to squeeze in plenty of shopping and sightseeing in the Big Apple.
Jools penned: "24 hours in fantastic New York we laughed from the moment we left till the moment we reached home and then we were still laughing!!! find yourself a travel partner who just gets you aka the daughter! What an incredibly fun, funny precious few days xxx"
The mother of five was pictured wearing a stylish cream Borg coat, skinny jeans, and a Gucci bag. Proving she's not afraid to embrace a youthful trend, Jools donned a pair of coordinating scarlet socks paired with patent leather kitten heels.
Meanwhile, Daisy Boo was her mother's spitting image, clutching an iced coffee as she pounded the pavements.
Another snap showed the youngster bundled up against the cold in a navy jacket and flared jeans.
"Nothing beats a mother-daughter weekend EVER!!!," one follower wrote, while another branded the memories "so wonderful and precious".
The pair's mother/daughter trip was even sweeter since Jools recently confessed she was struggling without her eldest daughter Poppy, 21, who is currently travelling the world with her boyfriend Ben
In a candid and emotional post in December, Jools shared a note her daughter had written for her.
"Just when I was feeling a bit down and overwhelmed this little message arrives. I am obviously pretending that Poppy not being here for Christmas for the first time in 21 years is ok but it really isn’t," she said
"We miss her so much especially now at Christmas when emotions run especially high! I am putting this here although a little personal (she has approved)! will make me happy every time I have a scroll through Instagram.
"I very often question how I have parented and parent my little ones now, I always think I have done so many things wrong (and I know I have) but I know that I love them with every fibre of my being and I guess it proves that’s enough. Thank you Pop we love you xxx we hope you are having a wonderful, happy time my little firstborn."
Jools regularly treats fans to snaps of her joyful brood with the Naked Chef star Jamie; Poppy Honey, Daisy Boo, Petal Blossom, 15, Buddy Bear, 13, and seven-year-old River Rocket.
The Olivers have plenty of space at their sprawling Essex home, Spains Hall, which they moved into in 2019.
PHOTOS: Jamie and Jools Oliver renew wedding vows in the Maldives alongside their 5 children
The historic country property boasts ten bathrooms, two drawing rooms, and a great hall, plus an additional six-bedroom 16th-century farmhouse, a three-bedroom lodge, and converted stables on the grounds.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/512211/jamie-oliver-wife-jools-new-york-trip-daughter-daisy-boo/
| 2024-01-28T14:21:55Z
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It’s been over a year since the Prince and Princess of Wales relocated to Windsor, a move which not only saw them leave Kensington Palace, but also move their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis to an entirely new school.
The Waleses appear to have adjusted well to a slower pace of life in Berkshire. Their four-bedroom home on the Windsor estate is surrounded by 13 acres of green space, Princess Kate’s parents and siblings live within an hour’s drive, and the privacy of their candy-pink Adelaide Cottage couldn’t be a more idyllic haven for Kate’s three-month post-surgery recovery amid the news she underwent a major abdominal procedure in January.
While Kensington Palace never cited a specific reason for Princess Kate and Prince William’s decision to uproot their former London lives, it was believed the couple chose to move their children away from the hustle and bustle of the city to help them have "as normal an upbringing as possible".
Royal expert Robert Hardman has revealed a rare insight into the Wales family's set-up in Windsor in his new book Charles III New King. New Court. The Inside Story.
"The Prince and Princess of Wales are said to be 'extremely happy' in this relatively ordinary home in the grounds," he writes, adding that a royal official revealed: "They are there as a family with total privacy and without lots of staff."
The Wales family's quiet life in the countryside has no doubt improved their work-life balance, allowing Kate and William to be more present for their children at home.
Global parenting expert Jo Frost, otherwise known as Supernanny, told HELLO! that Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte's "immaculate manners" in public are down to a harmonious "balance" of understanding royal etiquette while also acting their age.
"Behind closed doors, no doubt they're playing games and winding each other up as siblings do, teasing each other, having fun and baking cookies and being out in nature," she shared of their set up at home.
It seems the Wales family's "ordinary" set-up is just right for them too, as Robert adds: "The idea that they are itching to replace the Duke of York at Royal Lodge (with its pool and children’s toy cottage) is said to be ‘overpriced’. 'It might happen but it’s not planned,' is the verdict."
Listen to more of Robert's insider revelations about the royal family in the latest episode of HELLO!s A Right Royal Podcast below.
As far as royal standards are concerned, the Wales family's life in Windsor is rather modest in comparison to their former London lifestyle.
Even more so their decision to downsize to the Grade II-listed 'cottage' considering the family didn't opt for the grander (and currently vacant) Windsor Castle, which wouldn't be out of the question in view of Prince William and Prince George one day becoming King.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/homes/512209/prince-william-kate-middleton-extremely-happy-since-moving-to-windsor/
| 2024-01-28T14:22:01Z
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Queen Camilla appeared in good spirits on Sunday as she was seen arriving in a black Audi at the hospital where her husband King Charles is being treated for an enlarged prostate.
It's thought to be her fourth visit after Charles was first seen entering the London Clinic private hospital on Friday morning.
At the time, Buckingham Palace said in a statement: "The King was this morning admitted to a London hospital for scheduled treatment. His Majesty would like to thank all those who have sent their good wishes over the past week and is delighted to learn that his diagnosis is having a positive impact on public health awareness."
Charles was diagnosed with the benign condition on January 17 while staying at Birkhall in Scotland, after going for a check-up because he was experiencing symptoms.
It's unclear what procedure the King underwent, but surgery is usually only recommended for moderate to severe symptoms that have not responded to medicine, the NHS website says.
The King's medical team will likely advise a hospital stay of one to two nights, followed by a recuperation period at home spanning 10-14 days. During this time, Charles will be advised to take it easy and avoid strenuous activities, though he may engage in light work from the comfort of his home.
He is understood to have wanted to share the news to encourage other men to get themselves checked.
Ahead of his procedure, His Majesty paid a special visit to the Princess of Wales who is currently recovering at the same hospital after abdominal surgery. The royal mother-of-three, 42, is not expected to carry out official engagements until after Easter, with Prince William also clearing his diary of official duties for the time being.
The Palace refused to confirm what Kate was being treated for but revealed that the condition was non-cancerous. In a statement, the palace added: "The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate.
"She hopes that the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible; and her wish that her personal medical information remains private.
"Kensington Palace will, therefore, only provide updates on Her Royal Highness' progress when there is significant new information to share.
"The Princess of Wales wishes to apologise to all those concerned for the fact that she has to postpone her upcoming engagements. She looks forward to reinstating as many as possible, as soon as possible."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/512205/queen-camilla-visits-king-charles-hospital-following-prostate-surgery/
| 2024-01-28T14:22:07Z
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ASTANA – The United Nations declared 2024 the International Year of Camelids (IYC 2024), aiming to spotlight the crucial role of camelids in the livelihoods of millions of households in over 90 countries. Ranging from alpacas to Bactrian camels, dromedaries, guanacos, llamas, and vicuñas, these animals significantly contribute to food security, nutrition, and economic growth, and hold cultural importance worldwide.
According to Qyzylorda TV news agency, the camel farming industry is flourishing in the Kazaly and Aral districts of the Kyzylorda Region, where residents are developing camel farming due to the animals’ adaptation to the local environment. Camels can endure a week without drinking and survive without food for a month, showcasing their resilience. Currently, there are 61,000 camels in the Kyzylorda Region.
The village of Aralkum, with 250 houses, relies predominantly on livestock farming, with camels playing a crucial role.
Tolemis Orynbai, a resident of the village, emphasized that camels are well-adapted to the region’s harsh desert conditions, having successfully weathered the drought of 2021 without any losses compared to other domestic animals.
Rearing camels proves effective, given their 12-month lactation period and lower grass consumption compared to other animals.
Camel farming brings multiple benefits, including the production of clothes from their fur and skin, as well as the creation of a fermented milk drink called Shubat.
“I milk my camels three times a day. Each camel gives one to one and a half liters of milk per day. After the camel nurses its baby, I proceed with milking,” said Asyl Almagambetova, a local farmer.
Farmers in the region have been working to improve camel breeds and plan to increase camel milk production in the coming years.
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https://astanatimes.com/2024/01/year-of-camelids-unveils-kazakhstans-flourishing-camel-farming/
| 2024-01-28T14:24:44Z
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Princess Charlene pulled out all the stops on Saturday as she stepped out with her husband Prince Albert amid celebrations for Monaco's patron saint, St. Devote.
The duo appeared in high spirits as they arrived together at Saint Nicholas Cathedral following a traditional ceremony on Friday which saw the royals take part in a spectacular bonfire lighting.
For Saturday's outing, Charlene, 46, appeared fresh-faced and radiant as she posed for photographs outside the Cathedral. The Monegasque royal ensured all eyes were on her as she debuted a striking navy power suit complete with a double-breasted blazer and coordinating, straight trousers.
In a departure from the stylish royal's typically sleek suits, Charlene looked flawless in her modern trouser suit with a bold, boxy twist. It screams power dressing - and we're totally here for it!
Charlene elevated her formal outfit with a sleek clutch, a cosy navy scarf and a pair of dazzling diamond earrings. The mother-of-two wore her honey blonde hair in a sweeping side part and opted to highlight her naturally beautiful features with iridescent lilac eyeshadow, pink lipstick and rosy blush.
She was joined by her husband Albert, 65, who looked his usual dapper self wearing a smart navy suit. He teamed his suit with a crisp white shirt and accessorised with a pair of black sunglasses to shield his eyes from the bright sunshine.
Charlene's sartorial triumph comes after she enjoyed a precious moment with her twins on Friday evening at a traditional reenactment and bonfire lighting held in Monaco to celebrate their patron saint. The lighting of the boat has been a tradition maintained by Monaco's royal family since the 19th century.
Former Olympian swimmer Charlene looked elegant in an Emilia Wickstead white double-breasted longline coat, teamed with a pair of black trousers, a knitted scarf, a pair of heeled boots and black leather gloves.
Like mother, like daughter, Charlene appeared to twin with her nine-year-old daughter Gabriella who wowed in a cream and camel chequered Burberry wool coat and brown leather boots.
Prince Jacques, meanwhile, looked every inch his father's mini-me wearing a black longline coat, smart black shoes and a matching black scarf.
Following the festivities, the royal couple's social media team updated the Palais Princier de Monaco's Instagram account with a carousel of pictures.
They added the caption: "On Friday, January 26, the princely family attended the ceremony of the Salvation of the Most Holy Sacrament, presided by H.E Mgr Dominique-Marie David in the Chuch Sainte-Davote.
"After the religious celebration, LL. AA. SS. Prince Albert II, Princess Charlene, Hereditary Prince James and Princess Gabriella kiss the symbolic boat."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/fashion/royal-style/512210/princess-charlene-navy-power-suit-outing-prince-albert/
| 2024-01-28T14:34:39Z
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Michael Douglas has left fans open-mouthed after being filmed eating a rather divisive food item this weekend.
The Hollywood star was captured on camera by his son Dylan Douglas, 23, preparing to tuck into a huge oyster while out at a restaurant, and his reaction can be viewed in the footage below.
The oyster was mistaken for a "mini chicken salad sandwich" by one fan in the comments section, while others were left concerned about his health due to the amount of raw fish in one serving.
"Risky to eat raw. Doctors don't. Low chances but potentially serious threat to health," one fan wrote, while another commented: "From my own experience with oysters, bigger is not always better." A third added: "I like oysters but that was GROSS. Was it a dare Mr. Douglas? You’ve got guts."
Michael often shares snippets of his family life on social media, and loves nothing more than spending time with his wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and their grown-up children, Dylan and Carys, 20.
The award-winning actor is also father to 45-year-old son Cameron Douglas, from his first marriage to Diandra Luker.
It's been an exciting few months for Michael, who recently returned home to New York City after spending several weeks in India, where they celebrated the holidays and welcomed in the new year. It's set to be an exciting year for the family too, with two milestone birthdays coming up.
Michael turns 80 in September, while Carys turns 21 in April. Michael and Catherine have been empty nesters for the past few years, but make sure they often still see their beloved children.
Carys is an aspiring model and Brown University student, while Dylan has dabbled with acting, modeling and graduated from Brown University in 2022.
Catherine and Michael are both incredibly proud of their children, who often feature on their social media. Previously, during a chat on the Today Show, Catherine indicated that her children were set to follow their parents in the entertainment industry.
She said: "Michael and I would be the first parents to say, 'You know, maybe you should think of another career,' but we've seen how passionate they are about the craft.
"They know what celebritydom is. They know the good, the bad, warts and all that."
She continued: "But their passion is about acting as a craft and they've done every theatre camp – my kids went off to summer camp every year, to theatre camp with the Broadway kids, and held their own very, very well, I have to say."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/health-and-fitness/512212/michael-douglas-worries-fans-eating-habits-new-video-son-dylan-douglas/
| 2024-01-28T14:34:46Z
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KATHMANDU - Bhutan’s liberal politician Tshering Tobgay, leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), officially began his second term as prime minister on Sunday, following elections earlier this month.
To mark his appointment formally, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck handed a scarf to Tobgay, a statement posted on the king's official facebook page said.
Tobgay, 58, is country's fourth freely elected prime minister since democracy was established in the Himalayan kingdom 15 years ago. A former bureaucrat and an advocate for Bhutan’s Buddhist culture, he was previously prime minister from 2013 to 2018. He was also the leader of opposition in the parliament set up after the first free vote in 2008 until 2013.
Bhutan is a country of fewer than 800,000 people, situated between China and India. It is known for its Gross National Happiness (GNH) index, an economic gauge that takes into account factors such as recreation and emotional well-being that are ignored by gross domestic product measures.
But Tobgay faces the challenge of revamping the $3 billion economy following the COVID-19 pandemic and creating jobs to prevent young Bhutanese people from going abroad, mainly to Australia, in pursuit of better opportunities.
Bhutan has extensive economic and cultural ties with India, which is also its largest donor and trade partner and Tobgay has made clear his wish to mtaintain a deep relationship with the country.
It has no formal diplomatic relations with China but is in talks with Beijing to resolve border disputes - negotiations closely watched by India, which has its own border dispute with China. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/bhutan-s-liberal-tobgay-becomes-prime-minister-after-fourth-free-vote
| 2024-01-28T15:08:47Z
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BEIJING/SHANGHAI - The Chinese coast guard said it had made “temporary special arrangements” to allow the Philippines to deliver supplies to troops at a grounded World War II-era vessel at a disputed reef.
The Chinese coast guard had previously deployed vessels to block missions by the Philippines to supply troops on the transport ship, which has become a military outpost at the Second Thomas Shoal, 190km off the Philippine island of Palawan.
In a statement on its official WeChat account late on Jan 27, the Chinese coast guard said it had allowed necessary supplies but also that it would resolutely defend China's sovereignty and maritime rights and interests at the Second Thomas Shoal and its adjacent waters.
“On Jan 21, a small aircraft from the Philippines airdropped supplies to the illegally beached warship,” the WeChat statement said.
“The Chinese coast guard has followed up and monitored the situation in real time, controlled and dealt with it in accordance with laws and regulations, and made temporary special arrangements for the Philippines to replenish necessary daily supplies,” it added.
China, which claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, points to a line on its maps that cuts into the exclusive economic zones of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia.
It has repeatedly called on the Philippines to tow away the ship on the basis of a promise it said Manila made but Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has denied.
The WeChat message said the “relevant parties” in the Philippines had deliberately misled international opinion and ignored the facts, and that was not conducive to easing tension in the South China Sea. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/china-allows-philippines-to-supply-troops-at-disputed-reef
| 2024-01-28T15:08:58Z
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WASHINGTON - The first joint meeting of the U.S.-China working group on fentanyl precursor chemicals will be held on Jan. 30 in Beijing, a senior U.S. official said on Sunday.
"This is a key part of the implementation of our bilateral cooperation on this effort," the U.S. official told reporters.
The official added the United States has information that China started action against Chinese precursor chemical companies around the time of the summit of U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping last November.
The United States will pursue law enforcement actions and impose controls on the precursors. The meeting is a pivotal moment for the issue, the official said.
Top Chinese and U.S. officials held candid talks in Bangkok aimed at lowering tensions between the United States and China on Taiwan and other subjects, ahead of an expected springtime call between President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Fentanyl is a leading cause of drug overdoses in the United States, and the two leaders discussed efforts to reduce its flow at a summit in California last year. The U.S. is already seeing fewer seizures of illicit chemicals used to make fentanyl at U.S. airports after China moved to shut down companies that make them.
China has started some conversations with Mexico about the issue, the official said.
"It is really important that this is a multilateral issue," the official said. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/first-meeting-of-us-china-working-group-on-fentanyl-precursor-chemicals-to-be-held-tuesday
| 2024-01-28T15:09:08Z
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BANGKOK – Most Thai people believe the nation is suffering an economic crisis that needs to be addressed urgently, according to a survey, which shows mixed views among citizens about the government’s planned US$14 billion (S$18.8 billion) cash handout programme.
A majority of 63.5 per cent of survey participants think the ailing economy requires urgent solutions, and 20.2 per cent believe that while the nation is in a crisis situation, the need to address the issues is not too pressing, according to a survey by the National Institute of Development Administration released on Jan 28.
The poll was conducted via phone between Jan 22 and 24 among 1,310 Thai nationals aged 18 and above nationwide.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin last week reiterated that the country’s economy, South-east Asia’s second largest, is in a “crisis”, with the past decade’s average annual growth of about 1.9 per cent trailing most regional peers.
Mr Srettha and his government have pushed for more stimulus measures and have called for policy rate cuts.
The latest government initiative is the so-called digital wallet programme, which initially planned for 10,000 baht (S$380) to be wired to about 55 million Thai adults.
Due to budgetary concerns expressed by central bankers and opposition parties, the program was scaled back to about 50 million people by excluding some high-income earners.
About 34.7 per cent of respondents in the survey want the government to stop the cash handout project, while 33.7 per cent believe it should be implemented this year and 18.6 per cent think it should only be given to fragile groups.
Last year, gross domestic product growth was estimated to have slowed to 1.8 per cent even as a recovery in tourism, a key pillar of the Thai economy, began gathering pace.
At the same time, consumer prices fell in the fourth quarter, bolstering Mr Srettha’s rate-cut calls. BLOOMBERG
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/most-thais-believe-nation-suffering-economic-crisis-poll-shows
| 2024-01-28T15:09:18Z
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SINGAPORE – The first executive condominium (EC) launched this year saw more than half of the available units sold over the weekend, with analysts offering mixed assessments of the take-up.
Some said the 53 per cent of units sold at Lumina Grand, launched in Jan 27, shows healthy demand for ECs, while one analyst noted that proportion sold has dropped from the highs of the previous years despite favourable conditions.
City Developments Limited (CDL), developer of the Bukit Batok project, said in a media release that 269 out of 512 units had been sold as at noon on Jan 28, with the three-bedroom premium and four-bedroom units the most popular.
Lumina Grand units are priced from $1.34 million for a three-bedroom to $1.39 million for a three-bedroom premium and $1.63 million for a four-bedroom. A five-bedroom unit at the EC is priced at $2.1 million.
The average launch price was $1,464 per sq ft, with an additional 3 per cent applied to units sold under the deferred payment scheme.
CDL group chief executive officer Sherman Kwek, in a statement, said: “The strong take-up rate for Lumina Grand reflects the keen interest among first-time buyers and HDB upgraders for well located and thoughtfully designed properties.”
In the statement, the property giant noted that only 30 per cent of ECs can be allocated to second-time buyers during the initial launch under current regulations, and that this quota had been reached for Lumina Grand.
Huttons Asia CEO Mark Yip said the demand from second-time buyers was “very strong”.
He noted that the split between first-time and second-time buyers was 43 per cent and 57 per cent.
ERA Singapore CEO Marcus Chu said there was sizeable pent-up demand from qualified buyers for the project as it is likely to be the only EC launch this year.
Mr Chu noted that there is a price gap of 44 per cent between an EC and a newly launched suburban private condominium located outside the central region. This is up from the gap of 29 per cent in 2019, making ECs an attractive option, he added.
He said astute home buyers are also drawn to the potential for ECs to be sold at private property prices, adding that EC owners typically make a gross profit of between $300,000 and $450,000.
Based on EC projects completed since 2015, there were only three unprofitable transactions, he said.
Propnex CEO Ismail Gafoor, meanwhile, said there is pent-up demand for ECs as there was a limited number of unsold ECs in the area. He cited the nearby Altura development being 89 per cent sold as at Jan 20.
“Furthermore, (with the project) being located near the upcoming Tengah new town, where plenty of new HDB flats are being built, some EC buyers may see it as a potential exit plan in the future, by selling their EC units to HDB upgraders eventually,” said Mr Ismail.
However, Mr Nicholas Mak, chief research officer of Mogul.sg, observed that the take-up rates of the most-recent EC project launches have been slipping gradually, with Lumina Grand the lowest among four projects.
In the first weekend of its launch, Copen Grand EC, launched in October 2022, saw 73 per cent of its 639 units sold; Tenet EC, launched in Dec 22, had 72 per cent of its 618 units sold, and Altura EC, launched in August 2023, had 61.1 per cent of its 360 units sold.
Lumina Grand’s lower take-up rate is despite the factors in its favour, said Mr Mak. He cited how the project is likely to be the only EC launched this year and also the low stock of available EC units.
He attributed the falling take-up rate to the rising prices of EC units. The average price of Copen Grand was $1,300 psf, while the average price of Lumina Grand is 12.6 per cent higher, at $1,464 psf after the “early-bird” discount, he said.
Over the same period, the non-landed residential property price index had risen more slowly at 6.9 per cent, he added.
“Hence, the price increase of new EC units has outpaced the prices of the rest of the condominium market,” he said.
“Although ECs are still popular, the housing budgets of home buyers are limited.”
ERA, Huttons and PropNex are the marketing agents for Lumina Grand, along with OrangeTee & Tie.
The 179,000 sq ft development, which consists of 10 12- to 13-storey residential blocks, features unit sizes ranging from 936 sq ft for a three-bedroom flat to 1,496 sq ft for a typical five-bedroom unit.
Located at the junction of Bukit Batok West Avenue 5 and Bukit Batok Road, Lumina Grand has facilities such as a 50m-long lap pool, reading lounges and a kids’ play zone.
The EC is located near the Bukit Gombak MRT station on the North-South Line, as well as the future Tengah Plantation and Tengah Park stations on the upcoming Jurong Region Line.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/housing/first-executive-condo-launch-of-2024-sells-53-of-units
| 2024-01-28T15:09:29Z
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SINGAPORE – Stepping away from a sport that you love is never easy, and after spending over two decades on the bowling lanes, former national captain Jazreel Tan was ready to take the next big step.
For months she had been thinking of hanging up her bowling ball and shoes, but after a few sleepless nights, it was only at the start of 2024 that she decided to call time on her “roller-coaster” career.
Tan, 35, finally announced her retirement via an Instagram post on Jan 27, noting that her 21 years with the national women’s team has been “a dream”.
In an interview with The Straits Times, Tan said: “I’ve done this for so many years already, it’s kind of like an identity. It’s always difficult to leave something that you know, you’ve just been doing for so long.”
A former school and club swimmer, Tan’s fairy-tale start in bowling began in 2003, when the then 14-year-old was crowned Singapore’s youngest national champion.
Her trophy cabinet continued to fill up in the ensuing years, as she picked up a team gold, two silvers and a bronze at the 2014 Asian Games, seven medals (1-5-1) at the SEA Games (2005, 2011, 2015) and a masters silver at the World Women’s Championship in 2007. In 2010, she was also named Female Collegiate Rookie of the Year in the United States and was included in the Collegiate 1st Team All-American.
Her last victory was in January 2023, where she clinched a silver and two bronzes at the Asian Tenpin Bowling Championships in Hong Kong.
But with those triumphs also came dry spells, with her last individual international title coming at the Singapore Open in 2018. Tan admitted that she struggled on and off the lanes, noting on social media that “I cried, I got depressed. I hated life, I hated myself”.
She finally decided that it was time to quit, saying: “I’ve had some issues, I was getting very tired mentally and I started to feel things I have never felt before like panic and anxiety, so with all that, it naturally affected me physically too.
“Health wise, bowling wise. Just physically it was getting bad too.”
When asked about her regrets, Tan said: “There were many tournaments or medals that I wish I got, there’s always going to be a regret. But now there’s no more chance for that and these dreams, sometimes they end, the results and the medal or the colour of medal is not everything.”
Tan, who will continue in her role as programme manager and organiser at Sonic Bowl – a job she has held for the last three years – will also miss travelling the world with her teammates, the majority of whom she has known for over a decade.
She said: “I think the joy of being able to travel and getting to know so many people from all over the world, getting to bowl with so many teammates and experiencing all these different highs and lows with them for so long, it’s something that without bowling, I will never be able to experience and I’m definitely thankful for all it has given me.
“I’m still trying to take time to digest that I’m never gonna be competing at that level again but the journey and meeting all these fantastic people really made it worth it.”
Laughing as she recounted her favourite moment, Tan said it was in 2004, when she was hit on the head with a bowling bowl her by a teammate when she was attemping a practice throw during a tournament.
Paying tribute to Tan, Dr Valerie Teo, president of the Singapore Bowling Federation, said: “I remember Jazreel from when she was 14, the new kid on the block who blazed the lanes and won her first national open title. She and the national team went on to start a solid tradition of consistency and of being world class which has anchored our successes today.
“Beyond her achievements on the lanes, Jazreel has been a mentor to young athletes and has contributed to the bowling community in many other ways... It is very heartening to see our athletes continue to contribute to our community and be part of our village that is essential for our continued success. A big thank you to Jazreel and I wish her all the very best.”
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/a-dream-ends-for-bowler-jazreel-tan-who-has-retired-after-21-years-in-the-singapore-national-team
| 2024-01-28T15:09:39Z
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AL RAYYAN – Australia set up a tasty Asian Cup quarter-final clash against South Korea or Saudi Arabia with a 4-0 win over a spirited but limited Indonesia on Jan 28.
Midfielder Jackson Irvine said they “just had too much for” Tim Garuda, noting: “We knew Indonesia had nothing to lose and that they would right and fun. In the first half they caused us some problems with their energy and intensity, but I think our experience and professionalism shone thorough in the second half.
“We just had too much for them on the day. That’s the kind of team we want to be: experienced, see the game out and get the goals at the end to seal a good performance.”
The Socceroos are trying to win the title for a second time and were again solid rather than spectacular in getting the job done in a niggly last-16 encounter in Doha.
Said Graham Arnold: “You’ve got to give credit to Indonesia, I thought Indonesia played very well and I have been saying it for a few years now back in Australia that Asian football is coming along a lot.
“Indonesia tested us, it wasn’t an easy game. The 4-0 result may look like that but it wasn’t. It’s a great milestone for my 50th game and we’ve scored in that time 99 goals, but for me, it is important that our defence is strong and another clean sheet is perfect.”
Two goals in the first half, a deflected own goal on 12 minutes and a diving header by Martin Boyle on the stroke of the break, put Arnold’s side on their way.
With Indonesia out of gas at the end, Craig Goodwin volleyed in a rebound on 89 minutes for 3-0 and defender Harry Souttar made it four in stoppage time.
The scoreline flattered Australia but it was their third clean sheet in four matches and they have conceded only once.
Roberto Mancini’s Saudi Arabia face Jurgen Klinsmann’s South Korea on Jan 30 for the right to meet them.
Indonesia were making their first appearance in the knockout rounds of the competition and were ranked 121 places below a physically imposing Australia.
They produced the first chance on six minutes when Netherlands-born attacker Rafael Struick prodded the ball first time narrowly over the bar.
Indonesia were behind soon after, Irvine crossing hard and low from the right and the ball flicking off the boot of defender Elkan Baggott and wrong-footing goalkeeper Ernando Ari.
Arnold puffed out his cheeks in relief midway through the half when Indonesia’s Justin Hubner, who plays for the Under-21 team of English Premier League Wolverhampton Wanderers, let fly from distance. Hubner, another born in the Netherlands, did not really get hold of it and goalkeeper Mat Ryan saved easily.
There was not too much in it for a lot of the half, a physical game reduced to niggly fouls and Indonesia twice letting fly with ambitious attempts that flew over the target.
Said Irvine: “I’m really pleased with the second-half performance. “They play with a lot of emotion. They got a little bit nasty, a little bit naughty, towards the end and we had to stay calm. We did that well enough.”
Indonesia’s vocal fans dominated at the compact Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium but they were silenced for a second time on 45 minutes when Scotland-born Boyle connected on a delicious Gethin Jones cross to stoop in for 2-0.
Mitchell Duke should have made it 3-0 with 10 minutes left but he missed the target with only the goalkeeper to beat, before Goodwin made the game safe.
Souttar headed in at the death to embellish the scoreline.
Said Indonesia captain Jordi Amat: “I am very proud of my team. We knew from the start it would be a tough game. They were more clinical in the first half. We had our chances but couldn’t score. We need to work and come back stronger.” AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/australia-brush-indonesia-aside-4-0-to-reach-asian-cup-quarters
| 2024-01-28T15:09:50Z
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LONDON – The FA Cup fourth-round match between West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers was suspended on Sunday after supporters clashed.
Wolves were leading 2-0 lead when projectiles were hurled on to one end of the pitch in the 82nd minute, sparking a brawl in a corner at The Hawthorns.
Fans spilled on to the pitch, prompting players to leave the field. After a suspension of 38 minutes, the players returned and the match resumed, with the clock reset to 77 minutes 10 seconds, the time that Matheus Cunha had scored Wolves’ second goal.
Pedro Neto had scored in the first half for Wolverhampton who held on for a 2-0 victory and a berth in the fifth round.
The delay prompted officials to push back the draw for the FA Cup fifth round – originally scheduled for just before Liverpool’s kick-off against visiting Norwich City on Jan 28 – to half-time of that game. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/west-bromwich-v-wolves-suspended-after-supporters-clash
| 2024-01-28T15:10:00Z
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HYDERABAD, India - India's failure to make the most of perfect batting conditions in their first innings cost them the opening test against England, head coach Rahul Dravid said on Sunday.
India posted 436 replying to England's first-innings total of 246 for a sizeable first-innings lead of 190 at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.
England rode player-of-the-match Ollie Pope's epic 196 to post 420, setting India a tricky target of 231 on a turning track.
Debutant spinner Tom Hartley claimed 7-62 to bowl out India for 202 and help England to go 1-0 up in the five-match series.
"It was always going to be challenging to chase 230 on a fourth-day wicket which was turning," Dravid said after India's loss in an extended final session on the penultimate day.
"I thought we probably had 70 runs less on the board in the first innings when conditions were pretty good to bat in on day two."
Yashasvi Jaiswal (80), KL Rahul (86) and Ravindra Jadeja (87) missed out on hundreds while Axar Patel and Srikar Bharat fell short of fifties.
"I thought in those kinds of situations we got ourselves into some good starts but we did not truly capitalise," former India captain Dravid said.
"So in some ways, we left those 70-80 runs back in the first innings... I'm a little bit more disappointed with our first innings."
While Pope provided a masterclass in how to play spin using his feet and frequently playing the sweep and scoop shots, several India batters looked ill at ease against the turning ball.
Dravid attributed it to their lack of first-class cricket exposure.
"A lot of these guys play a lot of white-ball cricket and don't get a lot of time to play first-class cricket. But they are learning, they are getting there."
Dravid heaped praise on Pope's stellar knock, which he felt made all the difference.
"It's one of those games where you... come out and give your best and if somebody does something exceptional, you shake his hand and congratulate him," Dravid said. "And for me that is important."
The second test in Visakhapatnam begins on Friday. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/india-could-not-exploit-perfect-conditions-in-first-innings-says-coach-dravid
| 2024-01-28T15:10:10Z
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MELBOURNE – Jannik Sinner’s Australian Open victory is an emphatic statement that he is among the elite group of newcomers finally challenging the established order.
The 22-year-old was ranked a lowly 17th after 2023’s tournament in Melbourne, where he lost a gruelling five-setter to Stefanos Tsitsipas in the fourth round.
But he showed on Jan 28 he now belongs in the top bracket, coming from two sets down to beat third seed Daniil Medvedev 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 in three hours and 44 minutes.
Sinner ended last season with four ATP Tour titles, including his first Masters crown in Toronto, and added gloss by leading Italy to their first Davis Cup crown since 1976.
He also reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon and the ATP Finals decider, both times being defeated by Serbia’s world No. 1 Novak Djokovic.
But he turned the tables in the semi-finals in Melbourne, recording a momentous victory over the 10-time Australian Open champion to record his third victory over the Serb in four meetings.
One striking aspect of Sinner’s performances is his extraordinary air of calm on court.
He squandered a match point against Djokovic that could have proved fatal as the top seed won the third-set tiebreak, but took his next opportunity 55 minutes later.
“I’m really relaxed, to be honest. I just try to work as hard as possible and in my mind I feel like the hard work always pays off,” he said.
“If this can happen, it’s good. If not, I gave 100 per cent, and the rest I cannot control.”
The fourth seed is enjoying life on the road with coaches Darren Cahill and Simone Vagnozzi.
“He (Cahill) helped not only me but I think the whole team to believe in ourselves, but also to enjoy, because we travel so much around the world, and to enjoy the time together is really important,” said Sinner.
“I think the combination with him and also with Simone, it’s awesome on the court. I think at the moment we are handling everything in the right way.”
A career in professional tennis was not a given for Sinner, who grew up in the German-speaking north of Italy.
He was a champion skier as a youngster and still enjoys the sport in the off-season. He was also a keen footballer.
Sinner was named the 2019 ATP Newcomer of the Year but he has struggled to make his mark at the Majors, with the semi-finals at Wimbledon being his best performance before this Australian Open.
The Italian is not the first of the new generation of players to make his move – he admits he is still behind 20-year-old rival Carlos Alcaraz, who already has two Slams under his belt.
“When we play, potentially it’s always a good match-up, but at the moment we also have to say that he is further than I am,” he said.
Nicola Pietrangeli, one of only two other Italians to win a Grand Slam men’s singles title, believes his compatriot has the edge in the rivalry, describing him as a “phenomenon”.
The 90-year-old, who won the French Open in 1959 and 1960, believes Sinner and Alcaraz will battle it out in the rankings.
“I see Sinner more as the new boss than Alcaraz, because with Alcaraz, it’s strange, he plays very well, then very badly,” he said.
“Some said that his (Sinner’s) service was too weak, but he now serves at more than 200kmh. He has no weak point.
“He always has a smile, he’s happy with what he’s experiencing. He’s not like some people who show off while they earn millions and millions.” AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tennis/calm-in-a-storm-jannik-sinner-turns-grand-slam-winner
| 2024-01-28T15:10:21Z
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MELBOURNE - Daniil Medvedev was philosophical about his loss to Jannik Sinner in Sunday's Australian Open final, rationalising that at least he had made it to the title-decider and not crashed out in an earlier round.
The 27-year-old Russian had hoped it would be third time lucky on Rod Laver Arena on Sunday, having lost the 2021 and 2022 finals at Melbourne Park to Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal.
The third seed took the first two sets with some brilliantly aggressive tennis only for the 22-year-old Italian to rally for a 3-6 3-6 6-4 6-4 6-3 victory and claim his first Grand Slam title.
"It's very, very tough when you have a mentality, I don't want to say champion, but a good mentality, a sport mentality, it's very tough to lose in the final," he said.
"It kind of hurts more maybe than to lose in semis or quarters. But you have to try to find positives, and the positive is, well, the final is better than the semi-final and quarters."
The 2021 U.S. Open champion has now lost five of the six Grand Slam finals he has played, three of them after leading by two sets.
The other two five-set losses came at the hands of Nadal, the Spaniard rallying to claim the 2019 U.S. Open title and the Australian Open title two years ago.
Medvedev made very dark comments about the death of his dreams after the 2022 final and said his more philosophical attitude this year was a reflection of a change in his outlook towards tennis and life.
"I am different. I am different," he said. "I managed to ... become a different person with different mentality.
"I'm really going to try to make everything possible with myself, with my mind, for this loss to not affect my future tournaments and future seasons."
Medvedev had already spent more than 20 hours on court before the final thanks to his five-set wins over Emil Ruusuvuori in the second round, Hubert Hurkacz in the quarter-finals and Alexander Zverev in the semis.
It was perhaps then no surprise that he would tire in the fifth set of Sunday's three-hour, 44-minute final but unfortunately for him, Sinner, who had played four hours fewer, did not.
"I was fighting, I was running. I was, like, 'I will try, if tomorrow I don't feel my legs it doesn't matter, I'm going to try everything I can today until the last point', and I did," Medvedev said.
"He didn't seem as tired as my opponents before. He started playing better. I got a little bit tired. Serve went a little bit worse. So the momentum changed and I really tried in my mind to change it back again.
"But I didn't manage to do it, and that's why he's the winner and has the trophy." REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tennis/medvedev-philosophical-about-another-grand-slam-final-loss
| 2024-01-28T15:10:31Z
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Berlin - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called on Sunday for the European Union to complete its creation of a banking and capital markets union so the bloc can compete with the U.S. and China for new technologies.
Scholz told a conference in Berlin for European delegates of his Social Democrats (SPD) party that this was a key issue for economic growth and the creation of jobs in Europe.
The single market is far too fragmented, especially when it comes to financial issues, which is why the EU, with more than 400 million inhabitants, is unable to make full use of its power, he said.
"That's why we need to complete the European project so that European companies can rise," Scholz said.
The plan to create a single market for capital has been on the table since 2015 without any real progress.
Scholz also called for a minimum tax rate for companies of 15% to be introduced in all EU countries. "Isn't that possibly also the basis for the banking and capital markets union to work?" he asked.
There has been concern that banks would choose to be based in an EU country with very low taxes "and if things go wrong, all European taxpayers will have to pay," Scholz noted.
The heads of EU institutions called for a strengthened euro and progress towards a capital markets union in a joint appeal in December. REUTERS
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| 2024-01-28T15:10:42Z
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DOHA/GENEVA - United Nations officials and aid groups called for countries to reconsider their decision to pause funding for the UN refugee agency for Palestinians on Jan 28, warning that its life-saving aid for some two million people in Gaza was in jeopardy.
At least nine countries, including top donors the United States and Germany, have paused funding for the UN refugee agency for Palestinians (UNRWA) following allegations by Israel that some of its staff were involved in the deadly Oct 7 Hamas attacks on Israel that killed 1,200 people.
“While I understand their concerns – I was myself horrified by these accusations – I strongly appeal to the governments that have suspended their contributions to at least guarantee the continuity of UNRWA’s operations,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Jan 28, vowing to hold to account “any UN employee involved in acts of terror”.
Mr Guterres said 12 staff had been implicated and that nine had been fired, one was dead and the identities of the other two were being clarified. He promised a thorough investigation into the allegations.
Mr Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA commissioner-general, also urged countries to reconsider funding suspensions.
“It would be immensely irresponsible to sanction an agency and an entire community it serves because of allegations of criminal acts against some individuals, especially at a time of war, displacement and political crises in the region,” Mr Lazzarini said in a statement.
“The lives of people in Gaza depend on this support and so does regional stability,” he added.
More than 26,000 people have been killed in Israel’s military campaign against Hamas in Gaza, the enclave’s health ministry said.
With flows of aid like food and medicine into the territory just a trickle of pre-conflict levels, deaths from preventable diseases as well as the risk of famine are growing, aid officials say.
Since the Oct 7 conflict began, most of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have become reliant on the aid UNRWA provides, including about one million sheltering in its facilities after fleeing Israeli bombardments.
Some Palestinians expressed anger at the funding cuts.
“We used to say Israel was launching a war of famine against us in parallel to its war of destruction. Now, those countries who suspended the aid to UNRWA declared themselves partners in this war and collective punishment,” said Mr Yamen Hamad, who lives at a UNRWA-run school in Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza Strip, after fleeing northern Gaza.
Mr Michael Fakhri, a UN-appointed expert on the right to food, warned on social media platform X that the funding cuts meant that famine was now “inevitable” in Gaza.
Ms Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, said the funding pause contravened the order by the International Court of Justice to allow effective humanitarian assistance to reach Gazans.
“This will entail legal responsibilities – or the demise of the (international) legal system,” she wrote on X.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz on Jan 27 called for the agency to be replaced and urged for more countries to cut funding.
Israel has not yet publicly given details of UNRWA staff’s alleged involvement in the attack on Israel.
Deputy UN spokesman Farhan Haq declined to respond directly to Mr Katz’s remarks but said UNRWA overall had a strong record.
There was no immediate sign of countries’ heeding the UN call to reinstate aid, although Norway and Ireland said they would continue funding the agency.
British Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch on Jan 28 said there was “clearly a problem” with the agency.
“There have been very significant allegations made that people from the UN’s relief works agency participated in or had privy knowledge of the Oct 7 attacks,” she told Sky News.
“That is extremely serious, and I think it is quite right that we suspend payments to them.”
But Britain will continue funding other humanitarian organisations working within Gaza, including the Red Cross and Unicef, she said.
UNRWA was set up to help refugees of the 1948 war at Israel’s founding and provides education, health and aid services to Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.
A vast majority of UNRWA’s 30,000-strong staff is Palestinian, with 13,000 of those in Gaza.
The US is UNRWA’s single biggest donor, having contributed more than US$296 million (S$398 million) to the group in 2023.
The agency has long been regarded with suspicion by Israel and Republicans in the US, who argue that it only fuels the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and that money going to food, education and healthcare frees up Hamas to fund hostilities against Israel.
That argument has continued as Israeli forces in Gaza uncover more evidence of tunnels and supplies buried beneath the territory.
While criticism over UNRWA’s role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict became even more charged after the Oct 7 attack, the agency has also paid a heavy price in Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, with more than 150 of its staff killed in the violence.
Fighting continued raging across Gaza on Jan 28. Palestinian medics and residents said Israel continued to bomb areas around the two main hospitals in Khan Younis, hindering efforts by rescue teams to respond to desperate calls from people caught in the Israeli bombardment.
More families were displaced from Khan Younis. Some people took dirt roads to get closer to the city of Rafah along the border with Egypt or Deir Al-Balah to the north. Others headed west to an area called Al-Mawasi, where residents described being crammed into a small area.
“It is as crowded as it can get,” said electrician Abu Raouf, a father of four.
“People have lost their ability to think, their ability to feel, they are moving like robots. It is just a matter of time before Israel sends tanks into here as well. There is no place safe.” REUTERS, BLOOMBERG
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/un-urges-donors-to-maintain-funding-for-palestinian-agency-but-will-punish-staff-involved-in-attack
| 2024-01-28T15:10:53Z
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You may have heard of the Fermi Paradox, but if you haven't, here it is in a nutshell: Given the high probability that alien life exists out there in the universe, why has nobody got in touch?
If there are so many other civilizations out there, possibly at far more advanced stages than we are because of how long the universe has dragged on for (no offense universe, but get to the point), why are they not doing what we're doing, sending out probes and desperately searching for other signs of life?
One idea is the Great Filter. The hypothesis goes that before alien civilizations can make it to the point where they are able to leave their solar system and begin colonizing their galaxy, something happens to prevent them from doing so, or we'd see evidence for this in our own Milky Way. Whether this is the step from multi-cell life to animals that can use tools, or from where we are now to exploring the galaxy, we just don't know.
What makes this so interesting is we wouldn't know if we are past the "great filter" or whether it's going to happen in our future. Could it be that most don't make it past single-cell life and we have made it past this filter? Or at some point yet to come are we, like other alien civilizations out there, about to destroy ourselves before we are able to leave Earth, perhaps through war or using up our resources before we can escape?
Somewhat disconcertingly, some philosophers and scientists have suggested that this means if we were to find life on, say, Mars it would have some less-than-ideal implications for where we are in relation to the Great Filter. Oxford University philosophy professor Nick Bostrom says that he hopes the search for extraterrestrial life turns up nothing. If we found very simple life forms, Bostrom argued in an article published in the MIT Technology Review in 2008, then we could conclude that the filter happens sometime after that point of life. If we found multi-cellular life, this would narrow down the point at which the Great Filter could take place.
Bostrom believes that in order to narrow down where the filter takes place, we should look at life on Earth to see which steps are improbable. "One criterion is that the transition should have occurred only once," he wrote. "Flight, sight, photosynthesis, and limbs have all evolved several times here on Earth, and are thus ruled out."
He also argued that evolutionary features that took a long time to occur even after prerequisites were met would indicate that this evolutionary step was improbable, eg the original emergence of life. The step from animals to humans took place over a relatively short time period, geologically speaking, suggesting it's a weak candidate for a Great Filter event.
If we were to find evidence of vertebrates on Mars (very unlikely, but we can dream!) he believed that would be terrible news, as it would suggest that the bulk of the Great Filter is still in our future, and we'll have to face the probability that we will go extinct before we are technologically mature enough to travel through the galaxy.
"Such a discovery would be a crushing blow. It would be by far the worst news ever printed on a newspaper cover," Bostrom wrote. "This is why I’m hoping that our space probes will discover dead rocks and lifeless sands on Mars, on Jupiter’s moon Europa, and everywhere else our astronomers look. It would keep alive the hope for a great future for humanity."
So, though there are many other possible solutions to the Fermi Paradox that are worth looking at if you enjoy that sort of thing, if Bostrom is correct it means that finding evidence of advanced civilizations is good news, but finding the wrong stages of life that evolved independently in our own Solar System would be the worst possible news we could receive.
An earlier version of this article was first published in November 2020.
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https://www.iflscience.com/finding-life-on-mars-could-be-the-worst-news-ever-for-humanity-72662
| 2024-01-28T15:24:26Z
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All organisms are made of living cells. While it is difficult to pinpoint exactly when the first cells came to exist, geologists’ best estimates suggest at least as early as 3.8 billion years ago. But how much life has inhabited this planet since the first cell on Earth? And how much life will ever exist on Earth?
In our new study, published in Current Biology, my colleagues from the Weizmann Institute of Science and Smith College and I took aim at these big questions.
Carbon on Earth
Every year, about 200 billion tons of carbon is taken up through what is known as primary production. During primary production, inorganic carbon — such as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and bicarbonate in the ocean — is used for energy and to build the organic molecules life needs.
Today, the most notable contributor to this effort is oxygenic photosynthesis, where sunlight and water are key ingredients. However, deciphering past rates of primary production has been a challenging task. In lieu of a time machine, scientists like myself rely on clues left in ancient sedimentary rocks to reconstruct past environments.
In the case of primary production, the isotopic composition of oxygen in the form of sulfate in ancient salt deposits allows for such estimates to be made.
In our study, we compiled all previous estimates of ancient primary production derived through the method above, as well as many others. The outcome of this productivity census was that we were able to estimate that 100 quintillion (or 100 billion billion) tons of carbon has been through primary production since the origin of life.
Big numbers like this are difficult to picture; 100 quintillion tons of carbon is about 100 times the amount of carbon contained within the Earth, a pretty impressive feat for Earth’s primary producers.
Primary production
Today, primary production is mainly achieved by plants on land and marine micro-organisms such as algae and cyanobacteria. In the past, the proportion of these major contributors was very different; in the case of Earth’s earliest history, primary production was mainly conducted by an entirely different group of organisms that don’t rely on oxygenic photosynthesis to stay alive.
A combination of different techniques has been able to give a sense of when different primary producers were most active in Earth’s past. Examples of such techniques include identifying the oldest forests or using molecular fossils called biomarkers.
In our study, we used this information to explore what organisms have contributed the most to Earth’s historical primary production. We found that despite being late on the scene, land plants have likely contributed the most. However, it is also very plausible that cyanobacteria contributed the most.
Total life
By determining how much primary production has ever occurred, and by identifying what organisms have been responsible for it, we were also able to estimate how much life has ever been on Earth.
Today, one may be able to approximate how many humans exist based on how much food is consumed. Similarly, we were able to calibrate a ratio of primary production to how many cells exist in the modern environment.
Despite the large variability in the number of cells per organism and the sizes of different cells, such complications become secondary since single-celled microbes dominate global cell populations. In the end, we were able to estimate that about 1030 (10 noninillion) cells exist today, and that between 1039 (a duodecillion) and 1040 cells have ever existed on Earth.
How much life will Earth ever have?
Save for the ability to move Earth into the orbit of a younger star, the lifetime of Earth’s biosphere is limited. This morbid fact is a consequence of our stars life cycle. Since its birth, the sun has slowly been getting brighter over the past four and half billion years as hydrogen has been converted to helium in its core.
Far in the future, about two billion years from now, all of the biogeochemical fail-safes that keep Earth habitable will be pushed past their limits. First, land plants will die off, and then eventually the oceans will boil, and the Earth will return to a largely lifeless rocky planet as it was in its infancy.
But until then, how much life will Earth house over its entire habitable lifetime? Projecting our current levels of primary productivity forward, we estimated that about 1040 cells will ever occupy the Earth.
Earth as an exoplanet
Only a few decades ago, exoplanets (planets orbiting other stars) were just a hypothesis. Now we are able to not only detect them, but describe many aspects of thousands of far off worlds around distant stars.
But how does Earth compare to these bodies? In our new study, we have taken a birds eye view of life on Earth and have put forward Earth as a benchmark to compare other planets.
What I find truly interesting, however, is what could have happened in Earth’s past to produce a radically different trajectory and therefore a radically different amount of life that has been able to call Earth home. For example, what if oxygenic photosynthesis never took hold, or what if endosymbiosis never happened?
Answers to such questions are what will drive my laboratory at Carleton University over the coming years.
Peter Crockford, Assistant Professor, Earth Sciences, Carleton University
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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| 2024-01-28T15:24:32Z
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Issue 19 (February 2024) of CURIOUS is out now, bringing you science highlights for the month plus deep dives into intriguing topics, interviews, exclusives, diary dates, and explanations for some of Earth’s most perplexing natural phenomena and landscapes.
In This Issue…
OUR COVER STORY: Is Hypnosis Real?
Or is it all just an act? Find out what science has to say.
DEEP DIVE: Where Does The Idea That Crystals Are Healing Come From?
Despite a lack of evidence, the world of crystal healing is as popular as ever. Why?
WE HAVE QUESTIONS: When Can Wildlife Photographers Intervene?
Saving wildlife is typically frowned upon, but when does it become ethical?
WHERE ON EARTH: Mysterious Patterns In The World’s Largest Salt Flat
Salar de Uyuni in southwest Bolivia is a photographic playground of a salt flat that turns into a massive mirror when flooded with water.
Exclusive: Meet Author Sarah Graham and read an excerpt from her new book Rebel Bodies.
Plus: News, diary dates, what to see, watch, and read this month, and much more.
Subscribe to the IFLScience newsletter and get every issue of CURIOUS delivered to your inbox free each month.
Issue 20 (March 2023) drops on February 25 so subscribe to our newsletter and get it delivered directly to your inbox at the end of each month.
Are you CURIOUS? Well go on, take a look.
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https://www.iflscience.com/is-hypnosis-real-find-out-more-in-issue-19-of-curious-out-now-72639
| 2024-01-28T15:24:38Z
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The rate at which the rare but crucial quantum phenomenon known as tunneling occurs has been measured experimentally for the first time, and found to match theoretical calculations. The theoretical estimates in this area had been regarded as highly uncertain, so confirmation in one specific case allows for greater confidence in estimating the frequency of other tunneling events.
Quantum tunneling is one of the many phenomena where subatomic particles behave in ways classical physics would say is impossible. In this case, an object trapped in a way that classically requires a certain energy to escape leaves the trap, despite having less than that amount of energy. It’s a consequence, and proof of, the dual wave/particle nature of objects like electrons – a pure particle could not escape, but a wave occasionally can. Phenomena like alpha decay of atomic nuclei depend on quantum tunneling to occur.
Tunneling is essential to quantum physics, and calculations based on simple examples are set in undergraduate courses. Real-world examples are considerably more complex, however; knowing tunneling will occasionally occur in a specific situation, and knowing how often, are very different things. In a new paper, a team at the Universität Innsbruck provide the first measure of the reaction between a hydrogen molecule and a deuterium anion, finding it to be the slowest reaction involving charged particles ever observed.
The reaction (H2 + D− → H− + HD) involves a shift between a molecule of two hydrogen atoms – protons without neutrons – and an atom consisting of a proton and neutron orbited by two electrons. After tunneling occurs, one of the components of the molecule has a neutron, while the unattached atom, still negatively charged, is neutron-less. Although it looks like a neutron has been transferred, the reaction is considered to represent proton exchange.
Since hydrogen still makes up most of the universe, events like this that require no heavier elements happen very frequently on a cosmic scale, despite the odds in any specific encounter between hydrogen and deuterium being low. Moreover, if we are to have any hope of modeling more complex tunneling events we need to anchor our estimates with measures of simpler examples like this.
The Innsbruck team tested the rate of occurrence experimentally by filling a trap with a mix of deuterium ions cooled to 10 K (-263°C/-441°F) (warmed by collisions to 15 K) and hydrogen gas. At these temperatures transfer is classically impossible, but the presence of negatively charged hydrogen ions after 15 minutes indicated it had happened, albeit not often.
The rate is measured in cubic centimeters per second, giving a value of 5.2 × 10−20 cubic centimeters per second, with a margin of error of around a third, which is unlikely to mean much to anyone other than a quantum physicist.
It translates, however to transfer occurring one in every hundred billion times a deuterium anion collides with a hydrogen molecule. This might seem too rare to worry about, but even a small patch of gas contains many billions of molecules. Add enough deuterium and the number of collisions becomes immense.
Measuring the rate “requires an experiment that allows very precise measurements and can still be described quantum-mechanically,” senior author Professor Roland Wester said in a statement. The idea for the experiment came to Wester 15 years ago, but the tunneling is so rare it took considerable effort to construct an experiment where it could be measured.
The study is published in Nature.
An earlier version of this article was published in March 2023.
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https://www.iflscience.com/the-odds-of-a-quantum-tunneling-event-are-one-in-a-hundred-billion-72661
| 2024-01-28T15:24:45Z
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JOHOR BAHRU - Some 30,000 Johoreans are expected to make a line along a 35km stretch of road in Johor Bahru on Jan 31 to witness the sending-off ceremony of Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar as the Johor ruler starts his journey as the new Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Johor police chief commissioner M. Kumar said that the Johor ruler was expected to leave Istana Bukit Serene at about 8am on Jan 31 and head straight to the royal hangar at Senai International Airport.
“His Majesty... is expected to reach the royal hangar in about an hour. Along the way, there will be thousands of Johoreans, estimated to be between 20,000 and 30,000, who will cheer and show their support for the Sultan,” he said in a press conference.
He added that some 1,200 policemen and other supporting agencies would be deployed to ensure the journey runs smoothly.
The 35.5km of road will be closed for about an hour, starting from 7.45am.
“I urge those who have things to attend to in the morning to leave early. I would also like to remind the public to heed the advice of our personnel and officers for their own safety,” he said.
Mr Kumar also encouraged Johoreans to turn up for the ceremony to show their support for the Sultan.
“There are about 15 points along the way the people could go to if they want to join the crowd,” he said.
“I urge Johoreans to come forward and show support to our Sultan. This is a historic moment for us.”
At a special meeting of the Conference of Rulers held at Istana Negara in October 2023, Sultan Ibrahim was unanimously elected to become the 17th King of Malaysia.
His term would come into effect on Jan 31, 2024.
He would succeed the current King Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah of Pahang, whose five-year term officially ends on Jan 30, 2024.
Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Ibrahim was appointed Regent of Johor at Istana Bukit Serene on Jan 28, in anticipation of the Sultan’s ascent to the federal throne. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/road-closure-large-crowd-expected-in-jb-to-send-off-johor-sultan-for-inauguration-as-king
| 2024-01-28T16:41:04Z
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MELBOURNE – After 283 points, five sets and three hours and 44 minutes of running in the Australian Open final, only this divided the two men. One point. Daniil Medvedev won 141, Jannik Sinner 142. The line between history and heartbreak is thinner than the lines they hit.
On an exhausting night which was loud and riveting, it was the Italian with the modesty of a choir boy and the lean sinew of a distance runner who wrote a brave history for himself. Jannik Sinner, 22, did not merely win his first Grand Slam title in Melbourne, he earned it. His nerve was evaluated, his tactics examined, his composure investigated. His prize for passing every test was a trophy he would not let go of.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/composure-and-character-takes-jannik-sinner-to-a-first-grand-slam-title
| 2024-01-28T16:41:14Z
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LONDON – The long goodbye for Jurgen Klopp began on Jan 29 with a 5-2 FA Cup fourth round win over Championship side Norwich City at Anfield.
The Reds manager had told ITV before the game: “Don’t think about me any more. Now for me, I am completely back on track (after his midweek announcement)...
“There will be a moment at the end of the season when we say goodbye and that will be emotional but between now and then we have a massive job to do.”
But with just 20-odd games left with the German at the helm after his bombshell announcement in midweek that he would depart at season’s end, the Kop was awash with banners and flag featuring Klopp’s likeness.
Unsurprisingly, the reception for Klopp when he strode out of the tunnel and the rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone felt more raucous and poignant than usual.
Once the actual football got underway, the first chance came from the boot of Darwin Nunez in the 11th minute, as his well-taken curler from outside the box cannoned off goalkeeper George Long’s post. He again almost opened the scoring three minutes later but narrowly missed out on getting on the end of a Diogo Jota cross.
But Liverpool were not to be denied and on 16 minutes the Reds opened the scoring with a goal made in the club’s academy. Midfielder James McConnell, who at 19 was making his first start, pinged a well-placed ball onto Curtis Jones head and the 22-year-old local lad angled his header into the far post.
But second-tier Norwich equalised six minutes later with their first real chance through another header. From their first corner, Gabriel Sara’s delivery arrived at the near post for Ben Gibson to direct it past Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
It didn’t take long for Liverpool to regain the lead, however. On 28 minutes Liverpool were back ahead with another academy product Conor Bradley getting the assist. The Northern Irish right-back disposed Sam McCallum, played a one-two, then fed Nunez in the box to make it two.
The Uruguayan forward is the first player in Europe’s big five leagues to hit double figures in goals (10) and assists (10) this season without penalties.
Bradley should have got another assist two minutes later but Cody Gakpo missed a sitter. The Reds could have virtually wrapped up the match before half-time but Ryan Gravenberch’s effort was cleared off the line.
Eight minutes after the break, it was 3-1 after Gibson did not get enough purchase on Jones’ raking long pass, allowing Jota to fire home.
The Reds wrapped up the tie on 63 minutes when substitute Virgil van Dijk scored his second goal of the season with a powerful header off a Dominik Szoboszlai corner.
But Norwich, ninth in the Championship, reduced the arrears in the 69th minute with a thunderbolt from outside the box from substitute Borja Sainz. The Reds restored their three-goal advantage in added time via a Gravenberch header.
In an earlier FA Cup tie on Jan 28, Wolverhampton Wanderers ran out 2-0 winners over West Bromwich Albion in the Black Country derby, but only after the match was interrupted due to clashes involving the two sides’ supporters.
Wolves were leading 2-0 when projectiles were hurled onto one end of the pitch in the 82nd minute, sparking a brawl in a corner at The Hawthorns.
Fans spilled on to the pitch, prompting players to leave the field. After a suspension of 38 minutes, the players returned and the match resumed, with the clock reset to 77 minutes 10 seconds, the time that Matheus Cunha had scored Wolves’ second goal.
“We are disappointed with any type of incident like that,” West Brom manager Carlos Corberan told ITV. “Unfortunately, the game was interrupted by this incident and now, we are unable to talk about the atmosphere our fans created. We are totally disappointed by this.
“Everything before the incident was unbelievable, between both clubs it was very special and incidents like that we need to avoid.”
Wolves manager Gary O’Neil called the disturbance “really disappointing.”
“Up until that point it was a good tie with good atmosphere,” O’Neil told ITV. “How people behave at football is really important and we need to look at that, make sure everyone is safe. When we came back out, the atmosphere had gone, it was really sad to see.”
“I know that the West Brom players’ families were in that area, which is a concern,” he added. “I really hope everyone’s OK, I’m not really sure what stoked it.” REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/jurgen-klopp-s-liverpool-farewell-tour-begins-with-5-2-win-over-norwich
| 2024-01-28T16:41:25Z
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Girona reclaimed top spot in LaLiga after a 1-0 win at Rafa Benitez's Celta Vigo on Sunday, thanks to a Portu strike early in the first half and to their goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga, who excelled for the unexpected season leaders.
Girona sit alone at the summit with 55 points, one ahead of Real Madrid, who have a game in hand and face Getafe on Thursday.
Portu scored from a counterattack led by Miguel Gutierrez in the 20th minute, and Gazzaniga worked his magic to produce a superb performance to keep out the home side and help secure the three points. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/keeper-gazzaniga-shines-as-girona-reclaim-top-spot-with-win-at-celta
| 2024-01-28T16:41:35Z
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Manchester City striker Khadija Shaw netted her 13th Women's Super League goal of the season as her side grabbed a 2-0 win away to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday to stay second in the table and keep pressure on leaders Chelsea.
The second-half strike by the 26-year-old Jamaican doubled City's advantage following an early own goal by Amy Turner. Martha Thomas came closest to scoring for Spurs, but her effort was ruled out for offside.
The win gives City 28 points after 12 games, three behind reigning champions Chelsea, who beat Brighton & Hove Albion 3-0 on Saturday, and three ahead of third-placed Arsenal, who travel to Liverpool for Sunday's late game.
Earlier in the afternoon, Nikita Parris struck twice to give Manchester United a 2-1 win at home to Aston Villa, while fullback Janice Cayman got the only goal of the game as Leicester City edged Everton 1-0 on Merseyside.
At the bottom of the table, 11th-placed West Ham United eased their relegation fears as they carved out a tense 2-1 win over Bristol City, who are bottom of the 12-team league, in a game that featured 15 minutes of second-half stoppage time. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/shaw-strikes-again-as-man-city-grab-2-0-wsl-win-over-spurs
| 2024-01-28T16:41:45Z
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HYDERABAD, India - England captain Ben Stokes said his side's 28-run win against hosts India in Sunday's first test was their best victory under his leadership.
Since Stokes and head coach Brendon "Baz" McCullum took charge in 2022, England have championed an ultra-aggressive approach that puts entertainment above outcome.
Under the dynamic duo, the side have won test series at home against New Zealand and South Africa, while drawing the Ashes series against Australia last year.
They triumphed in Pakistan too but many wondered if their "Bazball" approach would work against India, who have not lost a test series at home since 2012.
"We've been part of some amazing games over the last few years," Stokes told reporters after England went 1-0 up in the five-match series.
"We've had some incredible victories but considering where we are and who we playing against, the position we found ourselves going into our second innings... it's a big reason as to why I feel this is our best victory since I've been captain."
England conceded a huge lead of 190 but vice-captain Ollie Pope's sublime 196 helped them to post 420 in the second innings, setting India a tricky target of 231.
Debutant spinner Tom Hartley (7-62) then ran through India's batting line-up to bowl England to a thrilling victory.
Stokes had no hesitation in calling Pope's masterclass the best knock by an English batter in India's spin-friendly conditions.
"I've been lucky enough to see a lot of Joe Root innings in sub-continent conditions but unfortunately now he’s slipped down to two or three behind Popey," Stokes said with player-of-the-match Pope by his side.
"Since becoming vice captain, he's done an incredible job with that this week as well. I keep going to him to throw ideas, plans, what he sees."
Left-arm spinner Hartley also showed a lot of character after bleeding 131 runs in 25 overs in India's first innings.
Stokes heaped praise on Hartley and had similar admiration for spinner Jack Leach, who soldiered on with a knee injury sustained during fielding.
"He's been an absolute warrior this week," Stokes said of Leach, his batting partner in the famous 2019 Ashes victory at Headingley.
"You know what he's had to go through to just be standing on the field, and also bowling those overs."
"The commitment he’s shown is honestly inspiring, it's amazing."
"He is an absolute legend who epitomises what I want everyone's focus to be on, which is the team above individual success." REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/stokes-savours-englands-best-win-under-his-captaincy
| 2024-01-28T16:41:56Z
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MELBOURNE - Jannik Sinner said he was ready for the pressure and expectation that came with being a Grand Slam champion after becoming the first Italian to win the Australian Open by beating Daniil Medvedev in the final on Sunday.
Being forced to come from two sets down in a first Grand Slam final would test the nerves of any player but the 22-year-old dealt with the pressure in the ice-cool manner with which he has met all success, and failure, over his young career.
"There is always pressure but the pressure is something good. You have to take it in a good way. It's a privilege, no?" he said after his 3-6 3-6 6-4 6-4 6-3 win over the Russian third seed.
"Because there are not so many players who have this kind of pressure but in the other way, when you have pressure, it's always, okay, he believes that I can really do it.
"So yes, I like to dance in the pressure storm. I don't know how to say. Like me personally, I like it, because that's where most of the time I bring out my best tennis.
"I'm also quite relaxed on this occasion, because I always try to enjoy being on court."
Sinner had been widely tipped as a potential Grand Slam champion at Melbourne Park this year after finishing last season as the hottest player on the ATP Tour.
He followed that by leading Italy to their first Davis Cup title in late November and on Sunday Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was quick to offer her congratulations.
"Jannik Sinner writes a new page of history today that makes us proud," she wrote on social media. "For the first time, Italy wins the Australian slam. A memorable feat worthy of a true champion."
Sinner said representing Italy was perhaps the most important part of his triumph.
"Being able to make them happy today, because I feel like... they push me also, that I can believe in myself and then having so much support, it's amazing," he said.
The closest Sinner got to betraying real emotion in his post-match media appearances was when he spoke about the way his parents had supported his dream but not put any pressure on him.
That said, he felt he was more than ready for the attention and expectation that joining the Grand Slam winners' club would bring.
"I feel it's part of the game, no?" he said. "Me, I'm extremely happy that I am in this position now. I have a great team behind me who knows what I have to do.
"It's all part of the process. Obviously having this trophy, it's an amazing feeling. I feel grateful to have this here. But I know that I have to work even harder, because the opponents, they will find the way to beat me and I have to be prepared." REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tennis/unflappable-sinner-becomes-a-grand-slam-winner-after-thriving-under-pressure
| 2024-01-28T16:42:06Z
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LONDON - Queen Camilla visited her husband King Charles III again in hospital on Jan 28, his third day at a central London clinic where he has undergone corrective prostate surgery.
Charles, 75, was admitted to The London Clinic on Jan 26 after officials took the unusual step of disclosing that he had an enlarged prostate although the condition was benign.
Camilla left the hospital in a black Audi at around 3:10 pm (1510 GMT). A small crowd of well-wishers gathered on the pavement as she departed.
The king’s daughter-in-law is also currently at the clinic following abdominal surgery.
Catherine, Princess of Wales, 42, who is the wife of heir to the throne Prince William is on her 13th day of an expected two-week stay.
The king’s announcement has prompted a surge in internet searches for the term “enlarged prostate” on the state-run National Health Service (NHS) website.
The charity Prostate Cancer UK said it had seen a more than 100 per cent increase in people using its online risk checker on Thursday compared with Wednesday.
“The nature of these things (is) if it becomes public knowledge it will lead to more men seeking help. That’s a good thing,” said consultant urological surgeon Ian Eardley. AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/king-charles-iii-spends-third-day-in-london-hospital-after-prostate-surgery
| 2024-01-28T16:42:17Z
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SKOPJE - North Macedonia's parliament elected Talat Xhaferi to head a caretaker government on Sunday, the first time an Albanian has held the position, and he will lead the country until general elections scheduled for early May take place.
Xhaferi served as the speaker in parliament before he was nominated by the ruling government coalition to become prime minister. The current government's main task is to secure fair and free elections.
Xhaferi got 65 votes in the 120-seat parliament but the opposition party boycotted the vote even though it will have a few seats in the caretaker government.
"I will do this duty with trust, honour and high responsibility," Xhaferi told lawmakers before the vote.
Xhaferi becoming PM marks the first time an Albanian has held such a high office in the country. Albanians make up about 29.5% of the population of North Macedonia which has about 1.8 million people.
The elections are due to be held on May 8, where the biggest issue for the new parliament and government will be changing constitution to recognise a Bulgarian minority.
In exchange, Bulgaria will allow its West Balkan neighbour to start membership talks with the European Union.
The country has seen many internal ups and downs since 2001 when fighting broke out between government troops and ethnic Albanian rebels demanding more rights. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/north-macedonia-elects-albanian-as-caretaker-pm
| 2024-01-28T16:42:27Z
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WASHINGTON - Former U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Sunday that she thinks some protests in the United States demanding a ceasefire in Gaza could be linked to Russia, and that the FBI should conduct a probe into their funding.
Pelosi, who made the remarks in a CNN interview, provided no evidence for her claims. She was asked whether opposition to President Joe Biden's policy in the war in Gaza could hurt the Democrat in November's presidential election.
"For them to call for a ceasefire is Mr. Putin's message, Mr. Putin's message. Make no mistake, this is directly connected to what he (Russian President Vladimir Putin) would like to see," Pelosi told CNN.
"I think some of these protesters are spontaneous, and organic, and sincere. Some I think are connected to Russia," she said. "Some financing should be investigated and I want to ask the FBI to investigate that."
Pelosi's comments marked the first time a prominent U.S. lawmaker has accused Russia's leader of backing U.S. protesters calling for a ceasefire.
Protests demanding a ceasefire in Gaza have recently erupted across the U.S., including near airports and bridges in New York City and Los Angeles, vigils outside the White House and marches in Washington. Demonstrators have also interrupted Biden speeches and events.
The protests have been organized by a range of human rights, Jewish and anti-war activist groups.
Democratic U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said on Sunday that opposition by many to the war in Gaza was based on "the indiscriminate loss of life" in the region.
"I think what we are seeing right now throughout the country is that young people are appalled at the violence and the indiscriminate loss of life," she told NBC News when asked about the protests against Biden's policy in Gaza.
The U.N. has demanded an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, but Washington has vetoed resolutions for such calls in the United Nations Security Council, saying it would let Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, which governs Gaza, regroup and rebuild.
Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's subsequent assault on Gaza has killed more than 26,000 Palestinians, over 1% of the 2.3 million population there, according to Gaza's health ministry. Many are feared buried in rubble.
Israeli bombardments have flattened much of the densely populated enclave, leaving most Gazans homeless, sparking food shortages that threaten famine and incapacitating most hospitals. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/pelosi-urges-fbi-probe-of-gaza-ceasefire-protests-in-us-suggests-russia-links
| 2024-01-28T16:42:37Z
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WASHINGTON - The White House said on Sunday there was no change in its Israel policy after NBC News reported the United States was discussing using weapon sales to Israel as leverage to convince the Israeli government to scale back its military assault in Gaza.
"Israel has a right and obligation to defend themselves against the threat of Hamas, while abiding by international humanitarian law and protecting civilian lives, and we remain committed to support Israel in its fight against Hamas. We have done so since Oct. 7, and will continue to. There has not been a change in our policy," a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council said.
NBC News reported earlier on Sunday that at the direction of the White House, the Pentagon has been reviewing what weaponry Israel has requested that could be used as leverage. The report cited sources and said no final decisions were made.
The report added that the U.S. is considering slowing or pausing the deliveries in hopes that doing so will make the Israelis take actions such as opening humanitarian corridors to provide more aid to Palestinian civilians.
Among the weaponry the U.S. discussed using as leverage, the NBC News report added, were 155 mm artillery rounds and joint direct attack munitions (JDAMs), which are guidance kits that convert dumb bombs into precision-guided munitions.
The heavy death toll from Israel's war in Gaza has led to much international alarm. President Joe Biden has previously referred to Israeli bombing as "indiscriminate" but Washington has not called for a ceasefire, saying such a measure would benefit Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, which governs Gaza.
Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's subsequent assault on Gaza has killed more than 26,000 Palestinians, over 1% of the 2.3 million population there, according to Gaza's health ministry. Many are feared buried in rubble. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/us-says-its-israel-policy-unchanged-after-report-on-leveraging-weapon-sales
| 2024-01-28T16:42:48Z
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Calista Flockhart is making her grand return to the spotlight, thanks to a well received Ally McBeal reunion at the latest Primetime Emmy Awards, and the Ryan Murphy show Feud: Capote vs the Swans.
The 59-year-old actress sat down with The New York Times to talk all things life and career, with a large part of that revolving around her marriage to Harrison Ford, which received renewed attention thanks to Ford's emotional speech at the Critics Choice Awards, where he thanked his wife for her support.
She and the 81-year-old screen legend have been together for over two decades, 13 years of which they've been married, and she reflected on their dynamite life together.
However, Flockhart remarked that the one thing she wasn't keen on doing with her husband anymore was engaging in his more adventurous pursuits, especially flying.
Ford is a licensed pilot, having been flight training since the 1960s and is recognized as one of Hollywood's most notable pilots (alongside the likes of John Travolta and Prince Harry). His tenure in the sky has yielded some accidents, though none as notable as one from 2015.
His vintage World War II plane crashed at a golf course in Venice, California after it lost engine power, and the actor suffered from a shattered pelvis, a broken ankle, and broken back.
Flockhart recalled rushing to the hospital to be by his side, saying: "It might, in fact, be one of the worst things I've ever been through in my life. It was horrible."
In fact, just a couple of years later, when Ford wanted to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, she remembered saying: "I won't fly in any little plane. I'll only fly when he's in a jet, with a co-pilot."
LATEST: Calista Flockhart reveals why Harrison Ford acts differently around her
The Golden Globe-winning actress even talked about her refusal to ride on a motorcycle with her husband, adding: "I went once, when I was young and stupid.
"We were riding on a highway in Jackson on the way to the airport, and the wind was so strong and the helmet was so heavy that I couldn't move my neck for three days."
MORE: Harrison Ford's emotional speech for Calista Flockhart and marriage decoded by relationship expert
When asked what the couple did get up to during their free time, she talked about their more relaxed pursuits in their Wyoming home with their son Liam, 23.
"We loved watching 'Barry' together," she said. "When Liam was young, we all watched Hercule Poirot obsessively. We started doing some jigsaw puzzles during Covid."
MORE: Harrison Ford's rarely-seen five children and blended family with wife Calista Flockhart in photos
Although the Star Wars actor is also a bit of a handyman, having built a name for himself as a carpenter and builder of sorts. Flockhart revealed that the reputation definitely stuck at home as well.
"He built the table at the end of the bed for the TV to come up and out of," she shared. "I can boss him around pretty much about everything. I'm not guaranteed that he'll do it. He has been exploring his carpentry roots lately, because he had more time with the strike."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/brides/512220/calista-flockhart-devastating-confession-harrison-ford-plane-accident-aftermath/
| 2024-01-28T17:03:41Z
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Christine Lampard looked amazing in a one-shoulder wedding guest dress in an unearthed photo from last year.
The Loose Women host shared a happy memory from Ashely Cole's Italian wedding in aid of wishing her close friend a happy birthday. The never-before-seen throwback photo from the summer of 2023 showed Christine perched on a bench alongside her friend Jasmine and husband Frank Lampard, looking absolutely gorgeous in her electric blue design.
With half-empty glasses of Aperol Spritz in front of them and Christine throwing her head back with laughter, it looked like the couple were having the time of their lives.
The Lorraine host and former Chelsea manager Frank joined a star-studded guest list including John Terry and Sam Faiers to celebrate former footballer Ashley's wedding to partner Sharon Canu.
Held at the five-star hotel La Vecchia Posta in Ladispoli near Rome, the oceanfront event featured a live orchestra, giant floral installments, and a spectacular firework display.
At the time, Christine – who raises children Patricia, four, and Freddie, two, with Frank – was pictured in her figure-hugging wedding guest dress, enjoying the sunshine alongside her husband during a rare child-free weekend.
The relaxed, sun-soaked event couldn't have been more different than the couple's own nuptials at St Paul's church in Knightsbridge, London.
The formal winter wedding, held just five days before Christmas on December 20, 2015, saw the church filled with celebrity guests from the realms of football and presenting, before they kept the party going at private members' club The Arts Club.
Christine was a breathtaking bride in a plunging lace dress designed by Suzanne Neville, which she teamed with sparkly heels and a tulle embroidered veil secured in her chignon.
The day was all the more emotional since Frank's late mum Pat was missing from the proceedings, having sadly passed away from pneumonia in 2008, one year before Frank met Christine at the Pride of Britain Awards.
Reflecting on her big day during a Loose Women debate, Christine said it was still a highly emotional subject for the couple.
"I'm not going to cry saying this but he said he saw lots of her in me. He could imagine us going for afternoon tea and shopping together. He got emotional with his speech," she said.
Former GMB host Piers Morgan, who made the guest list alongside the likes of Ant McPartlin and Holly Willoughby, also shed some light on the ceremony in one of his old Daily Mail columns.
DISCOVER: Christine Lampard makes rare comment about 'exhausting' blended family
He reported that Frank had described Christine as his best friend and praised her for embodying similar qualities to his mother. "As you all know, I was a mummy’s boy," Frank declared.
"My biggest regret is mum died before she ever got to meet Christine because they’re so similar, like two peas from the same pod."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/brides/512221/christine-lampard-wedding-guest-dress-throwback-frank-lampard/
| 2024-01-28T17:03:42Z
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Adele is continuing to get candid during her ongoing Weekends with Adele Las Vegas residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.
The 35-year-old British songstress opened up to her audience during her latest weekend show about previously living in the United Kingdom and her anxiety about riding the tube.
"I wasn't even scared to be on the tube. I loved it. It reminded me of my teenage years," she revealed, explaining that she had developed a fear of the London Underground because of the 2005 terror attacks.
Commonly known as 7/7, the 7 July, 2005 bombing of four London public transportation spots during the morning rush hour remains one of the UK's deadliest terrorist attacks in history, leaving 52 dead and more than 700 injured.
"I haven't really been on the tube In England, not since I've been famous," Adele continued. "It is since we had a terror attack there. I have been scared because I get claustrophobic."
However, that all changed when she had tickets to see ABBA's Mamma Mia! The Party at the O2, and she had no other choice but to take the tube.
She set the scene: "So it was Friday night and I had an appointment before. So I had to get there in like 45 minutes and it's like a two-hour drive really in traffic. So I had to get on the tube, and my appointment required me to be in full hair and makeup. So I very much looked like Adele the singer."
MORE: Everything Adele has said about having children with her 'husband' Rich Paul
However, she was able to commute without getting recognized, adding: "I got on the tube and I had a mask on. I did have lots of security guards with me in fairness and a few friends, but we were all very under the radar and I felt right at home. You'll never guess what happened, but I [expletive] fell asleep!"
Adele still managed to make the event on time, and eventually got spotted a few times by fans along the way. "Anyways I loved it. And then I got to the O2 and I had to walk through thousands and thousands of people. People started recognizing me then, but I was [expletive] out of time."
MORE: Adele reveals ideal name for baby no. 2 with Rich Paul
The "Rolling in the Deep" hitmaker has since set down roots in Los Angeles with her son Angelo, 11, and new husband Rich Paul, and admitted in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter that she loved living in LA. Check out just how much she's adapting to life in the States below...
"It's still sometimes strange, but I like it because I get left alone in L.A., which sounds weird," Adele explained. "And for anyone that has never been to L.A., you assume it would be the opposite.
MORE: Sylvester Stallone reveals the real reason Adele bought his jaw-dropping $58m mega-mansion
"But there are so many famous people here that they don't waste their time. Because if I see I'm being followed, I'll cancel my day and I'll drive out to Palm Springs and back."
She remarked on how much of a contrast it can be to living elsewhere, adding: "I wouldn't say it can be frenzied sometimes elsewhere, but it's just, I've got 20 minutes wherever. 'Is that Adele?' By the time they realize it is, I've got to leave. And I just don't get that here."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/512213/adele-reveals-anxiety-living-in-the-uk-claustrophobia-tube/
| 2024-01-28T17:03:44Z
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Rihanna looked breathtaking in burgundy as she joined her long-term partner A$AP Rocky and their two young children at The Cesar Restaurant in Paris on Saturday night amid the rapper's ongoing gunfire trial.
The Barbadian singer, 35, stepped out in a merlot-hued dress adorned with a silky hood, contrasting cuffs and a sophisticated midi length as she accessorized with oversized Gucci GG Monogram sunglasses and strappy towering heels for the rare family outing.
The Umbrella singer cradled her rarely seen son RZA, one, in her arms as she exited the ritzy Italian restaurant. Her mini-me was dressed in a black puffer jacket, cherry-red sweatpants and Fenty x Puma Creeper sneakers in honour of his mom's beauty brand.
Meanwhile, rapper A$AP Rocky carried their baby daughter Riot Rose in a baby carrier as she slept under a white blanket aptly emblazoned with red roses.
The couple are in the French capital for Paris Fashion Week, and recently spent the evening at the Pia ces Jaunes charity gala in honor of children and teenagers in hospital.
Rihanna and Rocky may be some of the biggest names in music, but the power couple have chosen to keep Riot Rose, five months, and RZA, one, largely out of the spotlight since they first became parents in 2022.
On Saturday, however, the couple put on a united front with their children despite Rocky's ongoing legal troubles. The rapper is currently dealing with a civil suit stemming from an incident in November 2021, involving former friend A$AP Relli in Hollywood, California.
Relli filed a civil suit for assault, battery, and emotional distress against Rocky following reported usage of a firearm and a physical altercation between the two, and is asking for more than $25,000 in damages. The father-of-two is pleading not guilty to two counts of assault with a firearm.
The couple rarely discuss their personal lives, though Rihanna did give an insight into how motherhood changed her relationship with Rocky in a rare interview with Vogue in March 2023. "We’re best friends with a baby," she said.
"We have to be on the same page, but we’ve always kind of had that in our relationship. Everything changes when you have a baby but I wouldn’t say it’s done anything but made us closer."
The Distrurbia hitmaker added that she doesn't remember life before welcoming her son in 2022, and that the arrival has strengthened her connection with her beau.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/512216/rihanna-rocks-burgundy-midi-dress-rare-family-outing-with-asap-rocky/
| 2024-01-28T17:03:50Z
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Blake Lively loves nothing more than being a mom, and is notoriously private when it comes to her family.
The Hollywood star prefers to keep her children off of social media, but this weekend, she gave a rare glimpse inside their home life, as she detailed one of the ways her children enjoy learning.
Taking to Instagram, Blake opened up about a fun app, Tappity, which her kids are huge fans of.
Blake herself also finds it very fun, and joked that she has learnt so much from it, that there was no need for her to have gone to school!
She shared a photo of the app on her Instagram Stories, alongside the following message: "This is not an ad. I get nothing out of this. I just love @tappityapp. It's engaging, informative, fun and they care about safety.
"That said, I'm always triple checking any kids app constantly for safety because that's my responsibility, not an app's, but I do LOVE this one.
"Such a great platform for education and fun in one. I've learnt so much from it myself. See mom, I knew I didn't have to go to school for all those years!"
Blake and her husband Ryan Reynolds share four children - James, nine, Inez, seven, Betty, four, and an 11-month-old whose name and gender have not been announced to the public.
Blake and Ryan are raising their children in New York, and take them with them whenever they travel for work.
Ryan previously revealed the secret to their close family unit when he said in 2019: "Blake and I don’t do movies at the same time. If she is doing a movie in Thailand and I am doing a movie in Vancouver we would just never see each other. We operate as a unit, and that really works well for us.
"The kids stay with us, and the family stays together, and that is where home is. So if we are in Spain or Utah or New York, as long as we are together, we're home."
The Wrexham FC owner also told People magazine: "It's genuine when I say I take a huge interest in their days and how things are going."
Detailing how modern parenting has allowed for a better understanding of his kids' upbringing, he said: "I think as parents, we are so much better equipped to handle the rigors of childhood through our kids now than when I was a kid," adding: "It's just totally different now."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/512218/blake-lively-insight-into-fun-home-life-with-four-children-rare-comment/
| 2024-01-28T17:03:56Z
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Paris Hilton is sparing no expense when it comes to introducing her kids to their famous mom's lavish lifestyle.
The Simple Life alum, 42, along with her husband Carter Reum, also 42, went all out over the weekend as they celebrated their son Phoenix Barron's very first birthday with a star-studded themed birthday party at home.
Last year the couple became parents twice-over: they surprised their families and fans alike when they announced the birth of their first son together in January, and did the same for the arrival of their daughter London Marilyn in November.
For baby Phoenix's first birthday, Paris opted for a "Sliving Under the Sea" theme, a nod to her signature slogan, a mix of the words "slaying" and "living."
The party, which saw attendance from fellow moms and dads Rumer Willis, Kelly Osbourne, Lance Bass, and more, featured plenty of entertainment for both the kids and adults, from yummy treats to play time with farm animals.
The mother-of-two appears to have perfectly pulled off exactly what can be trickiest about a kids' birthday party, making sure everyone of all ages has something to enjoy.
Kadie Roberts – who has close to a decade of experience in party planning for several high-end event companies, including her own – explained to HELLO! that while kids' birthday parties lend themselves to more creativity and "a bit of whimsy," they also require more patience.
MORE: Paris Hilton wows in ruched mini skirt with icy blonde locks in amazing pre-baby throwback
MORE: Paris Hilton details her struggles as a working mom of two kids
She said: "This also makes them one of the more challenging events to go off without a hitch," adding: "If you're not thoughtful in the details, the party can feel disjoined when attempting to engage so many different age groups and demographics in the same place, at the same time."
In a video shared on Instagram Stories from the party, Paris – who joined in on the blue theme wearing a tulle, Cinderella-like princess dress – said: "I'm so excited, I've thrown amazing birthday parties my whole life so to now be able to do this for my little boy is such a special memory."
MORE: Paris Hilton dazzles in rhinestone plunging gown for glamorous baby-free reunion with Kim Kardashian
Paris previously honored her son's birthday with a sweet tribute on Instagram on January 16, in which she wrote: "One year ago, a beautiful angel baby entered our lives, bringing so much love and happiness."
She went on: "My precious little one, you are more than a dream come true. You make my life complete," adding: "Every day with you is a priceless gift, and I'm endlessly grateful to be your mommy.
"Celebrating your first of many birthdays, Baby P – here's to a lifetime of laughter, love, and wonderful adventures with our cutesie crew!"
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/512222/paris-hilton-son-phoenix-first-birthday-challenge-first-party-since-baby-london-arrival/
| 2024-01-28T17:04:01Z
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Lena Tindall is certainly taking after her sporty parents Mike and Zara Tindall. The five-year-old granddaughter of Princess Anne impressed onlookers during a Rugby for Heroes charity event by completing a 5k fun run alongside her rugby star dad.
Adorable photos from the special day show Lena hugging her proud father Mike after racing to the finish line. The pair had the choice of undertaking a 3k, 5k, or 10k run and, impressively, opted for the mid-range distance. Despite things appearing to be hard going for Lena at times, doting dad Mike was very encouraging and helped spur her on.
Wrapping up warm against the morning chill, Mike wore his red charity tee on top of a black padded coat.
The beanie-clad royal went hand-in-hand with little Lena, whose red top was paired with a purple puffer coat and black leopard print leggings.
Mike was seen chatting to other runners after making it over the finishing line and the pair were presented with medals for completing the race.
Sporty parents Mike and Zara
The Tindalls are raising their children Mia, nine, Lena, and little Lucas, two, to be just as sporty as them.
Mike has played in the Six Nations, helping to take home the Rugby World Cup crown in 2003, while equestrian Zara is an Olympic medallist and has previously been crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
The girls already play for their local rugby club, with Mike telling HELLO! last year he's proud to see his daughters following in his footsteps.
"Both Mia and Lena go to Minchinhampton rugby club on a Sunday and they are only nine and four so we've got to give them a bit of time before the pressure comes on but they love all sports and they play rugby as well," he said.
Appearing on a Loose Men special, Mike previously revealed just how competitive the family is when it comes to sports. They don't mess around!
DISCOVER: Mike Tindall shares frank advice for his sporty children Mia, Lena and Lucas
"I can't let them win," he joked, before adding: "No, I let Mia win occasionally, but then we have races up the stairs. She'll race me to her bedroom, but I always make sure I beat her a couple of times because she absolutely goes mad."
He added: "She's really competitive. But it's part of making sure she understands that she has to be able to take losing every now and again."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/512217/mike-tindall-sporty-daughter-lena-5k-charity-run-photos/
| 2024-01-28T17:04:07Z
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It is no hidden secret that Zara Tindall and her cousin Prince Harry share a very special bond. Having grown up just a stone's throw away from each other, the royals have since forged a lasting friendship.
From a shared interest in rugby to family ski trips, keep scrolling for some of their sweetest moments together…
A royal ruckus
Zara and Harry appeared in high spirits back in 2014 as they shared a hug with Zara's husband Mike Tindall following an exhibition wheelchair rugby match at the Copper Box as part of the Invictus Games.
At the time, keen equestrian Zara said: "Sport is important to me obviously. I've grown up with it. It's a fantastic way of getting out there and exercising and getting back into the community. I'm very excited to be involved."
Hugs at Royal Ascot
Zara looked every inch the protective older cousin in 2015 as she joined Prince Harry at Royal Ascot for a spot of sporting action. In one tender moment, the mother-of-three could be seen sweetly placing an arm around Harry in a loving embrace.
For the special occasion, the royal cousins donned their glad rags, with Prince Harry looking dapper in a navy suit, whilst Zara resembled a ray of sunshine in a buttercup yellow dress and a coordinating floral button hat.
Festive fun
While royal engagements are typically formal affairs, Zara and Prince Harry injected an element of fun into their Christmas Day at Sandringham in 2009.
Ahead of the annual service, the duo were snapped in good spirits as they braved the snow with beaming smiles etched across their faces.
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Family ski trip
The Duke of Sussex and his cousin Zara appeared to have a blast as they hit the slopes in Switzerland during a family ski trip. Harry has been a regular on the slopes since a young age - and his enjoyment for the sport was clear to see as he took a T-bar lift alongside his cousin whilst wearing a bright yellow ski jacket and a paisley print red bandana.
A smile of support
Prince Harry flashed a warm smile in May 2008 as he caught up with Zara at the wedding of Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly. Zara, who attended as a bridesmaid, appeared to relish the splendid family occasion, choosing to wrap an arm around Harry as she clung on to a bouquet of fresh white flowers.
For the royal wedding, Zara wowed in a pistachio green floor-length dress designed by Vera Wang. She was joined by fellow bridesmaids Jacqueline Aubie and Susannah Toynbee.
Patriotic pair
Zara and Harry flew the flag for England in 2011 at the RBS 6 Nations Championship match between England and France. From their spots in Twickenham Stadium, the rugby enthusiasts got into the spirit of things as they donned matching flat claps emblazoned with the flag of England. And if their faces are anything to go by, the royal cousins had a hoot of a time.
A shared laugh
Zara stood by Prince Harry and Meghan's side at the National Service of Thanksgiving held at St Paul's Cathedral during the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Having flown in from their home in Montecito, California, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex appeared to relish their time mingling with the likes of Zara who looked fabulous for the special occasion in a Barbie pink coat dress and a clashing fuschia floral headpiece.
When royals get the giggles
It seems the royals are just like the rest of us! Zara and Harry enjoyed a cheery, lighthearted moment in 2016 at Royal Ascot - a key event in the royal calendar. On day one of race week, Zara and Harry were all smiles, pausing to share a laugh amid the spectacular racing.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/512219/zara-tindall-prince-harry-sweetest-cousin-moments-revealed/
| 2024-01-28T17:04:13Z
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Lydia Bright has invited HELLO! into her new home to tell us all about her life as a single mum and her new career as an author.
Joining us for an exclusive interview and photoshoot with daughter Loretta, who turns four next month, the influencer, entrepreneur and former reality TV star says that moving into their forever home – a four-bedroom Georgian house in west Essex – felt like another milestone for the tight-knit pair.
"Loretta and I have always had this very intense bond, because it's just the two of us," says Lydia, 33. "I've never experienced parenthood any other way, so I don't know what things would be like in a two-parent family, but I'm very lucky to have my family nearby to help. Being a single mum means I've been able to experience all of those magical moments, like her taking her first steps or saying her first words all to myself."
Lydia's new book
The bond Lydia shares with Loretta is the inspiration behind her latest project – an illustrated children's book called Mummy and Me, which tells the story of an elephant and her calf, Etta, as they go on a magical adventure. She has, of course, been reading it with Loretta at bedtime.
"Loretta is such a bookworm and whenever I read her a book, she always asks, 'Who is the illustrator and who is the author?' So I couldn't wait to tell her that the author is me!" Lydia says. "I first had this idea when I was pregnant and knew I was going to be a single mum, and I was looking for books that would make Loretta feel represented. I wanted to create a magical story and I'm fascinated with elephants because in the wild they are single mothers and the rest of the herd help them bring up their calves, so I always say the elephant is my spirit animal."
Solo parenting
Lydia, who split up with Loretta's father Lee Cronin before she was born, says the garage owner is still in their daughter's life.
"Even when we weren't together during my pregnancy Lee was always at every scan and he was there for Loretta's birth," she says. "It didn't work out for us, but it was a non-negotiable that her dad was going to be in her life and that will never change."
Finding love again
And she tells us how she is dating again and hopeful of finding love.
"For the first two years after Loretta was born, I had no interest whatsoever in dating but I'm open to it now and I dated a bit last year," she says. "These days, there's a lot more checkboxes and when you've got kids and you're working as well, it's not worth investing the time in a second or third date if you're not really feeling it initially. I've met some nice people and made some nice friends, and I'm speaking to people, but there's been nothing serious.
"But I know it's not going to be this way for forever with me and Loretta. I do want to meet somebody because I want to have more children. But I don't feel like I'm in a massive rush because I feel very content and fulfilled with my life. I live in a nice home, I'm very happy with my career and I've got a very tight family. I don't feel like there's this massive void in my life that needs to be filled by a man. But equally it would be nice to share my life with somebody. I just think it will naturally happen when it happens and when it feels right."
Mummy & Me by Lydia Bright and illustrated by Jojo Clinch (Puffin Books) is out 1 February 2024.
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Sex and the City fans rejoice - Candace Bushnell, bestselling author and real-life Carrie Bradshaw whose newspaper column inspired the hit TV series is coming to the UK with her one-woman show, True Tales of Sex, Success and the City.
The production is the "origin story" of the cult drama, detailing how she got there, "and what happened to me afterwards," she says. "With a couple of naughty sex stories thrown in for good measure."
The tour takes her around the UK but the highlight will be one night at the London Palladium next week. "It's quite an honour. It's something I'd never would have imagined would happen in my life. Being a performer is pretty new to me."
Breaking taboos
No stranger to pushing boundaries, Candace is currently developing another idea which she hopes will also break taboos – a reality TV dating show which follows four female friends in their 50s as they navigate the immersive dating experience.
"Each episode asks a question such as 'How do we find love at any age? Is the answer dating an ex?" says Candace. "Being 50-something or 60-something is very different to how things were 50, 30 or even 20 years ago. People are living more vibrant lives, they're healthier for longer."
Dating and her sex life
Having a sex life is still important to the author. "I think it's great one has it, although at the moment I'm a little too busy to worry about it. But if it works out, great."
If she does date, she'll often use an app. "I meet interesting men, but I haven't met anyone I'm regularly dating. I imagine it will happen at some point, when the time is right."
She would, she says, be open to marrying again – she was married for 10 years to ballet dancer Charles Askegard until 2012. "But I don't have any, 'The guy has to be this, the guy has to be that' ideas because I think that would be restrictive."
The trend for women dating in their 'second act' of life is down to a number of factors, she believes.
No fear of ageing
"Women are more independent, more mentally savvy, they're in charge of their finances, we're more aware of health, looking and feeling good. People are not going away at 50 – I mean, Kate Moss just turned 50, right? Sandra Bullock is 60! It's also a time when women have to reinvent themselves a little bit," she adds.
Ageing, she says, is, "really about your attitude, and some people manage to keep a better attitude."
A poster girl for the over 60s, Candace tries to keep to the same weight, doesn't eat junk food, and exercises in moderation. "I've done Botox for years. But the reality is that all these treatments cost money, so unfortunately, it's a reflection of wealth," she says.
Following the West End debut and the UK tour, as well as the TV series in development, what's next for the legendary New Yorker? "Isn't that enough?" she asks. "I think the thing to do is to keep looking forward."
Candace Bushnell: 'True Tales of Sex, Success and SEX AND THE CITY' tours the UK from February 2, including the London Palladium on February 7. For more information and to buy tickets, click here.
Pick up the latest issue of HELLO! on sale now. Subscribe to HELLO! to get the magazine delivered free to your door every week or purchase the digital edition online via our Apple or Google apps.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/512127/candace-bushnell-on-ageing-dating-new-one-woman-show/
| 2024-01-28T17:16:53Z
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On Friday, January 26, Jay Leno made the heartbreaking decision to file a conservatorship for his wife of over 40 years, Mavis Leno.
The former Tonight Show host, 73, made the move in light of his wife's ongoing battle with dementia, which he hadn't previously addressed. In the paperwork, first obtained by TMZ, he stated the intention of the conservatorship is to assure Mavis, 77, has a living trust set up in the case that he dies.
Below, take a look back at the longtime couple's decades-long love story, from how they met, to all the peculiarities of their union.
Who is Jay Leno's wife?
Mavis was born Mavis Elizabeth Nicholson on September 5, 1946, in San Francisco, California, to dad Nick Nicholson, an actor and musician, and his wife Jane Torgler.
Since 1997, Mavis has been part of the board of directors of the Feminist Majority Foundation, and has led their Campaign to Stop Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan since then. Per the foundation's website, she has previously "testified and made numerous television and public appearances to urge the United States and the United Nations not to recognize the Taliban regime and to restore women's human rights in Afghanistan."
In 2009, she told the L.A. Times: "I promised the Afghan women that I am not one of those Americans who has no attention span, and as long as this situation persists, I will be in there. Tenacity isn't just the most important thing, it's the only thing."
How did Jay Leno and his wife meet?
Jay and Mavis met in the 1970s at famed Los Angeles comedy club the Comedy Store, where the veteran television host was scheduled to do stand-up.
MORE: Jay Leno makes bold statement about impact of debilitating car and motorcycle accidents
They both made lasting impressions on each other. Mavis previously recalled to the L.A.Times seeing her future-husband and thinking: "Holy [expletive]! That comedian is gorgeous!" Plus, of their first interaction when she went back to the ladies room – right by where comedians would hang out at the club – she recalled: "I came out of the bathroom, he said, 'Are you that girl in front?' And I said, 'Yes, that was me.'"
Unexpected proposal and first moves
The couple's union was full of surprises from the start. Firstly, Mavis never thought she would get married; she explained to People in 1987: "It was a big thing with me, part of my vehement feminism. But with Jay, I began to realize that this was the first time I was ever with someone where I had a perfect, calm sense of having arrived at my destination."
Jay was also likely unlike anyone she had ever met, which he proved early on in their relationship. The comedian has never been a drinker, and his wife still remembers him offering her $35 to go shopping instead of getting her a cocktail at the bar.
Their engagement was no less peculiar: rather than the traditional engagement ring, Jay proposed with an insurance plan for the couple. He also explained to the L.A. Times: "I had this insurance policy, and I thought if something happened to me, my girlfriend wouldn't be covered, but if we're married, we're covered, so… we might as well get married. Not the most romantic," and Mavis added: "He was going to get me [an engagement ring], but we had just bought a house, so why would I do that?"
Does Jay Leno have kids?
Jay and Mavis never had kids together, which Mavis has said is something she decided on when she was a kid herself. In 2014, she told The Washington Post: "I remember telling my mother when I was 7 or 8 that I was never going to get married or have children."
Citing the 1955 sitcom The Honeymooners as an influence, she further explained: "I would see a young woman who was very attractive and a thousand times smarter, and she's living in this little tenement hovel with her husband," adding: "These men spend all their time talking about what a drag the wives are and asking how can they get away from them. It's perfectly obvious the women are the ones trapped."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/512215/jay-leno-wife-mavis-marriage-unusual-proposal-decision-to-not-have-kids/
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Madonna couldn't be prouder of her daughter Lourdes Leon as she continues to make her own mark in the spotlight, and highlighted her latest achievement.
The 27-year-old appeared on the latest cover of Perfect Magazine, and looked incredible posing in a corseted bodysuit, almost inspired by her mom's famous Jean Paul Gaultier cone bra, with a black sheer bottom.
While her legs remained bare, it was her hair that really stole the show, as she reclined and let her waist-length jet black locks fall down behind her.
Madonna, 65, took to her Instagram Stories to support her daughter by sharing the cover while writing above it: "My baby is…"
While the full interview with Lourdes, who goes by the stage name LOLAHOL, isn't out yet, she was interviewed by Julia Fox, who considers her a "little sister," and they spoke about life experiences in New York and Lourdes' growing solo music career.
In an excerpt from the conversation, Lourdes reflected on her solo career, saying: "Once I started the work…I actually shocked myself, because I didn't think I was capable of it.
"It was a moment for me where I felt very proud of myself. Ever since, I have just been sure that I am doing the right thing."
Lourdes began expanding into music in 2022, when she released her debut EP simply titled GO. She has since released four singles, most recently a cover version of Judy Garland's 1944 single "The Boy Next Door," originally from the soundtrack of Meet Me in St. Louis.
Released in December, the decision to push the cover as a single was inspired by her well received performance of the song at a Ganni X Dr. Martens launch event in Bushwick, Brooklyn in late November.
Speaking with Vogue that month, Lourdes gushed about her fondness for the song and its original singer, saying: "I'm a huge musical theater girl and love Judy Garland.
MORE: Madonna's daughter Lourdes Leon showcases toned abs in cropped silver top
"This particular song was one I was thinking about a lot at the time, and after some late hours in the studio I tried singing it over a track Kiri and I had been playing with. Something clicked for me and felt right, and we just followed that feeling."
Lourdes, who has been supporting her mom on The Celebration Tour over the past few months alongside the rest of her siblings, then performed the track at the popular Brooklyn club Paragon, but explained that instead of hitting the clubs, she prefers taking to the studio and producing more music.
MORE: Madonna's children Lourdes Leon and Rocco Ritchie make ultra-rare joint appearance
"I'm usually down to support my friends when they're playing but much more drawn to the studio lately," she explained. "I feel like I'm on the verge of something truly profound with what I'm making and have been following that inspiration whenever I can."
However, the rising star will be going on the road soon as well, as she'll be performing at a pair of music festivals in Europe this summer. She will first perform at Barcelona's Primavera Sound on May 30, followed by Parklife in Heaton, Manchester on June 8.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/fashion/celebrity-style/512223/madonna-daughter-lourdes-leon-poses-corset-waist-length-hair-mom-shows-support/
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Beauty giant Avon faces criticism for sustaining its Russian operations amidst Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. The BBC found that Avon continues to recruit sales agents and maintain production at a large facility in Moscow Oblast. The UK-headquartered company has been operating in Russia for three decades.
Since Russia started its full-blown invasion of Ukraine, the Yale School of Management has been tracking over 1,500 companies and found that over 1,000 have publicly announced they have curtailed operations in Russia beyond the minimum required by international sanctions, although some continue to operate there undeterred.
Known for its door-to-door sales model showcasing cosmetics and fragrances, the 137-year-old company has recently shifted towards physical stores and social media sales, according to BBC.
Avon factory continues operations
Avon, which started its Russian operations in the early 1990s, has achieved significant success and became the leading perfume brand in Russia, as per Avon’s website. The company established its Naro-Fominsk factory near Moscow in 2004, producing over 220 varieties of cosmetics and perfumes. Avon informed the BBC that the Naro-Fominsk facility now solely caters to the Russian market.
At the onset of Russia’s war, Avon informed the Interfax news agency of plans to shift production for Eastern European markets from its Naro-Fominsk plant to Poland, a commitment they seem to have honored. In late October last year, when a contact ordered from Avon Russia, three out of four products delivered were manufactured in Naro-Fominsk, with one originating from Poland, according to BBC.
Avon registers new sales agents in Russia
When Russia started its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Avon halted investment and ceased exporting beauty products from Russia to other markets, including Ukraine. Natura & Co, Avon’s Brazilian parent company, has stressed that maintaining local operations in Russia is solely to support sales agents dependent on their business.
Despite the company’s claims, the BBC has found it is still possible to register as a new sales agent for Avon’s Russia-based firm, with recruits offering prizes, cash bonuses, and even holidays for hitting targets.
BBC found that Avon’s website invites Russian citizens over 18 to access “iconic, high-quality products,” highlighting the potential for additional income and a career as a beauty expert.
After the BBC’s online registration, they received a welcome email offering entry into an “Easy Start” sales program and contact information for a local coordinator. A YouTube video on Avon Russia’s account, celebrating their 30-year presence, features senior managers discussing awards, social media training, sales improvement techniques, and international trips for top “Star Club” sellers.
An Avon spokesperson emphasized,
“Avon Russia supports women in Russia through activities that fund their social selling businesses, providing critical support for their livelihoods.”
In its January 8 update, the Kyiv School of Economics which has been monitoring the international companies’ business activities in Russia, released the following statistics:
- Number of companies that continue Russian operations: 1,576;
- Number of companies that have reduced current operations and held off new Investments: 547;
- Number of companies that have curtailed Russian operations: 1,206;
- Number of the companies that completed withdrawal from Russia: 348.
Read also:
- Insider: GRU officer in Brussels funnels military exports to Russia
- FT: Russia still imports one-third of essential war tech from Western companies
- “No support for Ukraine and its army”: PepsiCo restricts mentions of war in its PR?
- Upgraded Russian guided bombs suggest ongoing access to foreign electronics
- Majority of Russian billionaires see wealth increase in 2023, Bloomberg index shows
- Milka maker faces German backlash over Russia business
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| 2024-01-28T17:29:10Z
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At the SPD party’s European Delegates’ Conference, the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the EU nations should provide more aid for Ukraine, as Germany’s assistance for Ukraine amounts to 7 billion euros in 2024, with Berlin paying more than half of all other EU states combined, RND reports.
With major US and EU aid packages for Ukraine in limbo, assistance from the individual states became more important for Ukraine. Germany stands out as the leading European nation in providing aid to Ukraine.
One of Scholz’s two key messages at the conference was that the other EU states must significantly increase their help for Ukraine in its defense against Russia. Just days before the EU member state leaders’ summit in Brussels, he called on European Union countries to increase their defense aid to Ukraine, citing Russia’s reliance on diminishing EU and US support for Ukraine.
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MANILA - Former Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte's son urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to resign on Jan 28, calling him lazy and uncompassionate in a deepening rift between the two politically powerful families.
Marcos teamed up with Duterte's daughter Sara to make her vice-president in their 2022 election win. But cracks in the families' alliance have emerged as the incumbent has veered away from his predecessor's anti-drugs and foreign policies.
Sebastian Duterte, who is mayor of Philippines' third most populous city Davao, said there had been a resurgence in crime after his father's hardline campaign had been relaxed.
At a leadership forum, he also accused Marcos of endangering innocent Filipinos by allowing the Americans in, a reference to expanded US access to military bases, including several close to Taiwan. The older Duterte had forged closer ties with China.
Sebastian Duterte also opposed Marcos' decision to restart peace negotiations with communist rebels, saying he did not know anything about the suffering of people living in areas that used to be rebel strongholds.
"You are lazy and you lack compassion. That's why we are unhappy," he said.
Mid-term elections loom
He spoke just before Marcos took the stage at a government-led rally in the capital to drum up support for his "Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines)" campaign, where he has promised to improve state services and budget transparency.
Marcos' alliance with the Dutertes was crucial to his presidential victory, so a souring of their relations could have implications in his bid to solidify his support base ahead of the mid-term Senate and congressional election next year.
Sara Duterte, who is also education secretary, attended the president's rally before flying to Davao to join her father and siblings at a prayer rally against moves to amend the Philippine constitution, which Marcos backs.
Some opponents of constitutional change, including the Dutertes, say it is driven by an agenda to change the political system and remove term limits, including that of the president, who can currently serve just one six-year term.
"He is putting politics first, their self-preservation ... rather than focusing on the job," Sebastian Duterte said.
"Mr. President, if you have no love and aspirations for the nation, resign."
Like her brother, Sara Duterte has openly defied some of Marcos' policies, including the peace talks with communist rebels which she said was an "agreement with the devil."
There was no immediate comment from Marcos' office or from the vice president on Sebastian Duterte's remarks. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/former-philippine-leaders-son-calls-president-marcos-lazy-urges-him-to-quit
| 2024-01-28T18:13:23Z
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LIVERPOOL - Liverpool cruised into the fifth round of the FA Cup with a 5-2 rout of Championship side Norwich City on Jan 28, to kick off Juergen Klopp's long goodbye at Anfield.
Liverpool's beloved manager announced on Jan 27 that he would leave the Merseyside team at the end of this season, his ninth at the helm.
The eight-times FA Cup winners had goals from Curtis Jones, Darwin Nunez, Dioga Jota, Virgil van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch.
Liverpool will next play either Watford FC or Southampton after that fourth-round game earlier on Jan 28 ended in a 1-1 draw thanks to a last-gasp goal by Southampton's Stuart Armstrong to force a replay.
Ben Gibson and Borja Sainz scored for Norwich City, who are ninth in the Championship, 28 spots below Premier League leaders Liverpool in England's football pyramid.
Wolverhampton Wanderers' 2-0 victory in their fourth-round match at West Bromwich Albion on Sunday was interrupted for nearly 40 minutes due to clashes involving the two sides' supporters.
Wolves were leading 2-0 when projectiles were hurled on to one end of the pitch in the 82nd minute, sparking a brawl in a corner at The Hawthorns.
Matheus Cunha and Pedro Neto scored for Wolves, whose manager Gary O'Neil called the disturbances "really disappointing".
"Up until that point it was a good tie with good atmosphere," O'Neil told ITV. "How people behave at football is really important and we need to look at that, make sure everyone is safe. When we came back out the atmosphere had gone, it was really sad to see."
The delay prompted officials to push back the draw for the FA Cup fifth round -- originally scheduled for just before the Liverpool-Norwich 1430 GMT kick-off -- to halftime of that game. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/liverpool-through-to-fa-cup-fifth-round-wolves-win-game-marked-by-fan-violence
| 2024-01-28T18:13:34Z
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WASHINGTON - Three US service members were killed and dozens wounded during an unmanned aerial drone attack on US forces stationed in northeastern Jordan near the Syrian border, President Joe Biden and US officials said on Jan 28.
Biden blamed Iran-backed groups for the attack.
"While we are still gathering the facts of this attack, we know it was carried out by radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq," Biden said in a statement.
At least 34 personnel were being evaluated for possible traumatic brain injury, a US official told Reuters.
"While we’re still gathering facts, this is most assuredly the work of an Iranian-backed militia group," a second official said.
The deaths marked the first fatalities of US troops in the region since war began in Gaza. Biden said the attack occurred on Jan 27 night.
The attack is a major escalation of the already tense situation in the Middle East, where war broke out in Gaza after Palestinian Islamist group Hamas' attack on Israel on Oct 7 which killed 1,200. Israel's subsequent assault on Gaza has killed over 26,000 Palestinians, according to the local health ministry.
While the United States has thus far maintained an official line that Washington is not at war in the region, it has made strikes against targets of Yemen's Houthi groups that have been attacking commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
"We will carry on their commitment to fight terrorism. And have no doubt - we will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner of our choosing," Biden said in his statement released by the White House. REUTERS
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| 2024-01-28T18:13:44Z
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LAGOS - Defying pressure by leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to restore constitutional rule, junta leaders of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso said on Sunday they were quitting the regional bloc.
The decision is a blow to regional integration after the bloc suspended the three countries following military takeovers.
Here is a summary of the situation:
WHY DID THE THREE COUNTRIES LEAVE THE BLOC?
The juntas said in a joint statement that ECOWAS had drifted from the ideals of its "founding fathers and the spirit of Pan-Africanism," and accused the bloc of failing to assist in their fight against Islamist insurgents and ending insecurity.
ECOWAS has imposed a raft of economic, political and financial sanctions on the three in a bid to force them to return to constitutional order, but that has only hardened their position.
The juntas called the sanctions illegal and inhumane.
CAN A MEMBER STATE LEAVE ECOWAS?
Under Article 91 of the ECOWAS Treaty, a member state can only withdraw its membership after giving a written one-year notice and abides by its provisions during that period. It is unclear for now if the three intend to do so.
WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPACT
Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso are landlocked countries that depend on ports in their ECOWAS neighbours for imports and exports. Leaving the bloc could see an increase in tariffs and could impact the free movement of their citizens and financial flows within the rest of the bloc.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT
ECOWAS, headquartered in Nigerian capital Abuja, could call an emergency summit to discuss the withdrawal but may not have the leverage to stop them leaving.
The decision to depart is seen as a major test for current ECOWAS chair Nigeria, whose President Bola Tinubu has sought to re-assert the country's position as the dominant regional power.
ECOWAS, which has been trying to negotiate with the Niger junta leaders, has previously said it was ready to deploy troops to restore constitutional order if diplomatic efforts fail.
The bloc is yet to carry out its threat. REUTERS
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| 2024-01-28T18:13:54Z
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NEW YORK - The world's largest cruise ship is set for its maiden voyage on Saturday, but environmental groups are concerned that the liquefied natural gas-powered vessel - and other giant cruise liners to follow - will leak harmful methane into the atmosphere.
Royal Caribbean International's Icon of the Seas sets sail from Miami with capacity for 8,000 passengers across 20 decks, taking advantage of the surging popularity of cruises.
The ship is built to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG), which burns more cleanly than traditional marine fuel but poses greater risks for methane emissions. Environmental groups say methane leakage from the ship's engines is an unacceptable risk to the climate because of its short-term harmful effects.
"It's a step in the wrong direction," said Bryan Comer, director of the Marine Program at the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), an environmental policy think tank.
"We would estimate that using LNG as a marine fuel emits over 120% more life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions than marine gas oil," he said.
In terms of warming effects, methane is 80 times worse over 20 years than carbon dioxide, making cutting those emissions key to holding down global temperature warming.
Cruise ships like Icon of the Seas use low-pressure, dual-fuel engines that leak methane into the atmosphere during the combustion process, known as "methane slip," according to industry experts. There are two other engines used on bulk carriers or container ships that emit less methane but they are too tall to fit in a cruise ship.
Royal Caribbean says its new ship is 24% more efficient when it comes to carbon emissions than required by global shipping regulator the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
LNG emits fewer greenhouse gases than very low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO) that powers most of the global shipping fleet, said Steve Esau, chief operating officer of Sea-LNG, a industry advocacy organization.
Cruise engines convert natural gas into power in a cylinder, where it is "important to make sure that all the natural gas is converted to energy," said Juha Kytölä, director of R&D and Engineering at Wärtsilä, which developed the cruise ship's engines.
What is not converted can escape during the combustion process into the atmosphere, he said, adding that Wärtsilä's natural gas engine technology emits 90% less methane than it did 20 to 30 years ago.
Cruise ship engines have an estimated methane slip of 6.4% on average, according to 2024 research funded by the ICCT and other partners. The IMO assumes methane slip at 3.5%.
"Methane is coming under more scrutiny," said Anna Barford, Canada shipping campaigner at Stand Earth, a nonprofit organization, noting that the IMO last summer said its efforts to cut greenhouse gases includes addressing methane emissions.
Of the 54 ships on order from January 2024 to December 2028, 63% are expected to be powered by LNG, according to the Cruise Line International Association. Currently, about 6% of the 300 cruise ships sailing are fueled by LNG.
Newer cruise ships are being designed to run on traditional marine gas oil, LNG or alternatives like bio-LNG that only account for a fraction of U.S. fuel consumption.
Royal Caribbean will use different fuels as the market evolves, said Nick Rose, the company's vice president of environmental, social, and governance.
"LNG is one piece of our actual strategy," he said. REUTERS
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| 2024-01-28T18:14:05Z
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Are wedding bells ringing for Jennifer Hudson and Common? It appears a walk down the aisle isn't out of the question, at least not for him.
Though it took the couple several months to confirm their romance following over a year of speculation, now the rapper isn't holding back when it comes to expressing his love for his Oscar-winning girlfriend.
After decades of friendship, the rapper, 51, and the singer, 42, made their hard-launch during an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show in January, and the next step just might be a wedding.
Speaking with Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager on the Today Show last week, Common – whose real name is Lonnie Rashid Lynn – opened up about his recently changed view on marriage.
He has never been married, though he shares daughter Omoye Assata Lynn, born in 1997, with ex-fiancée Kim Jones. He was also in a brief relationship with comedian Tiffany Haddish until 2021.
Asked by Hoda whether he is the "marrying type," he declared: "I feel like I have grown and the work that I have done on myself has allowed me to see that I am a marrying type," explaining: "I am the type that, I'm capable and I have the capacity, and if at some point in my life I may want to do that, I would know when the right time is."
He noted: "For me, everything is divine," and added: "I work from that discernment that God speaks – when He speaks into your stomach and you feel it in your heart and your spirit."
MORE: Jennifer Hudson is all legs in leather look for date night with Common – see photos
MORE: Jennifer Hudson is 'seduced' by Common in first loved-up TV appearance
The Grammy winner ultimately said: "So when I would feel that, I will communicate with that person, and if she's feeling that, then why not?"
Common was also put on the hot seat the same week by his very own girlfriend Jennifer, when the two decided to confirm their relationship while on her show.
MORE: Jennifer Hudson oozes old Hollywood glamour in figure-hugging gown at 2023 Daytime TV Emmys
"Let's get down to business, Mr. Common," Jennifer started, before cheekily asking him: "I'm a host, and so I have to ask you this question, because everybody always wants to know this. Are you dating anyone?"
He revealed he was in fact dating "one of the most beautiful people I've ever met, in life," and coyly revealed it was Jennifer when he said: "She's smart. She loves God. She has something real down-to-earth about her. She's talented. But I set my standard kind of high because she had to have an EGOT," adding: "She had to win an Oscar [for] her first movie. I set my standard high. She had to get her own talk show."
Jennifer achieved the coveted EGOT status (reserved for recipients of an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award) in 2022, when she won a Tony for her role as co-producer of "A Strange Loop," which won best musical that year.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/brides/512231/jennifer-hudson-boyfriend-common-teases-marriage-amid-blossoming-romance/
| 2024-01-28T19:28:21Z
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Looking spellbinding in a slinky black dress, Holly Willoughby returned to ITV viewers' screens for week three of Dancing on Ice.
The 42-year-old presenter, whose return to the ice-skating competition was up in the air following her shock departure from This Morning, proved she's back to her best in yet another stunning sartorial display. Holly looked amazing in a Rasario halterneck dress with white bow embellishment at the bust with a keyhole cut-out as she joined her new co-host Stephen Mulhern on the rink.
Sparkling Susannah Lovis earrings completed the look while a thigh-high split running up her right leg offered a peek at her strappy Jimmy Choo sandals.
Her bob was slicked back and coiffed in a deep side-parting and with a retro flick by her hairstylist Ciler Peksah, while her MUA Patsy O'Neill gave the star a bold brow, taupe lip and dewy complexion.
She wrote on Instagram: "Let’s go to the Movies 🍿… it’s movie week on @dancingonice … You are in for a treat! See you soon @itv #hwstyle💁🏼♀️✨ dress by @rasario shoes by @jimmychoo jewellery by @susannahlovisjewellers ✨".
The presenter's latest look comes after she channelled Barbie in a bubblegum pink, strapless design last weekend.
The vibrant dress boasted a gathered bow at the left shoulder and a figure-skimming, flattering column silhouette.
With her icy blonde bob coiffed in a sleek style and her pretty features defined by a glamorous beauty concoction, Holly could have been mistaken for Barbie icon Margot Robbie.
And to kick off the launch episode of this year's Dancing on Ice, Holly went all out in shimmering Suzanne Neville sequins.
The low-cut number was oh-so-flattering and the perfect amount of sparkle for the Sunday night family-friendly show.
Holly's stylist Danielle previously gave an insight into working with the presenter in a post on lifestyle blog, Wylde Moon.
"I love the aspect of the job where I get to meet people that wouldn't normally cross my path in everyday life. And most importantly the fact that I get to work with my friends! Because we spend so much time together, there’s nothing we don’t know about each other's lives and support each other through," she said.
"It’s honestly not like work. I'm so lucky… apart from the returns… did I mention the returns?!"
Holly's grand return to the small screen comes three months after she announced she would be retiring from the This Morning sofa.
The news came off the back of a tumultuous few months for Holly and the breakdown of her close friendship with former co-host Phillip Schofield, who resigned from the role following his relationship with a much younger man being made public.
In her statement, the mum-of-three said: "I have let ITV know today that after 14 years, I will not be returning to This Morning. To everyone who has ever worked on the show over the years, thank you so so much. This is such a difficult goodbye, you are incredible and I forever will be proud of what we've done together.
DISCOVER: Holly Willoughby looks glowing in wedding dress of dreams you have to see
She continued: "Thank you to everyone at ITV for being supportive. To every guest who has sat on our sofa, thank you. Most of all, thank you to the wonderful viewers. You've been so loyal, so supportive and the very best company every day.
"Richard and Judy said 'we only look after this show, it will always belong to the viewers'. It's been an honour to just be part of its story and I know this story has many chapters left to go. Sadly, however, I now feel I have to make this decision for me and my family. I will miss you all so much. Holly."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/fashion/celebrity-style/512226/holly-willoughby-dancing-on-ice-cut-out-bow-dress/
| 2024-01-28T19:28:27Z
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