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Mach numbers compare the flow velocity of a fluid past a boundary to the speed of sound. Crucially, however, there is no universal speed of sound. Instead, sound travels at different rates depending on the medium the sound is travelling in and the temperature. Consequently, Mach 1 is equal to the local speed of sound, that is the speed in the medium through which an object is traveling.
The local nature of the measure might make it seem unimportant, compared to universal constants. For anyone trying to surpass Mach 1, it’s sound’s local speed that matters, and it can become important for those nearby as well if they succeed.
Mach 1 can vary dramatically depending on temperature and the material through which one is moving, as well as weakly with some other factors. However, while there is a Mach 1 for water or any other medium, it’s almost always used to refer to movement through air, particularly at the heights at which airplanes usually fly.
In air, Mach 1 is determined primarily by temperature, which decreases with altitude. Consequently, while the speed of sound is frequently given as 343 m/s (772 mph, or 1,242 kmph), representing room temperature, airplanes can often break Mach 1 at less than 300 m/s.
A solid object traveling through gas creates pressure waves in front of and behind it. These travel at the speed of sound in that gas, and for something as large as an aircraft they’re a force to be reckoned with. As the object’s speed increases, the waves get forced together, which at Mach 1 creates the famous sonic boom, which is not only disturbingly loud, but can rattle objects hard enough to cause pieces of houses to fall off. Objections to this inevitably led to restrictions on flights that would cause such booms. These in turn have raised costs, which is why you can’t now buy a passenger flight from New York to London in three hours anymore, although NASA hopes to fix that.
Even approaching Mach 1 poses problems. As aircraft get close to the speed of sound, they experience greatly increased aerodynamic drag and can become harder to control. This led to Mach 1 being referred to as the “sound barrier”, with suggestions in newspapers it was impossible to exceed.
An inaccurate analogy between Mach 1 and c, the speed of light in a vacuum, has led many people astray. Exceeding Mach 1 was considered almost impossible to do safely in an aircraft, until Chuck Yeager did it, leading to the term the “sound barrier”. Consequently, once the apparent limit was broken, and jets proceeded to exceed the speed of sound on a regular basis, many people assumed the speed of light would prove similarly permeable.
This contributed to concepts like Warp Factor 5 in Star Trek being widely accepted, as if this was just an engineering problem like building planes that can fly at Mach 5. It makes for great science fiction, but the problems start when people believe it despite the real differences.
Importantly, the fact that the local speed of sound could be exceeded was never in doubt. The crack of a bullwhip comes from the small sonic boom when a skilled user makes the cracker travel faster than Mach 1. Thunder is produced by a similar shockwave in the air. The challenge was to scale up.
Meanwhile, more than a century after Einstein published the theory of Special Relativity, we have no evidence of anything traveling faster than the speed of light, whether it be tachyons or ordinary matter accelerated to pass that speed.
By the way, the official definition of Mach 1 refers to the speed at which a fluid flows past a boundary, but we usually think of it as the speed at which a solid object like an airplane moves. Don’t be concerned by this discrepancy. Since all motion is relative, if the speed at which a plane is moving is measured compared to the air around it, rather than to the ground, the air will be flowing past it at the same rate in the opposite direction. It’s the relative motion of the two that matters. Consequently, a plane traveling with the wind can travel faster relative to the ground, than the speed of sound in the air it’s moving through, without exceeding Mach 1 and creating a sonic boom.
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https://www.iflscience.com/what-is-mach-1-and-why-does-it-matter-72438
| 2024-01-12T20:15:15Z
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Beauty
Olivia Rodrigo Tries Out Ariana Grande's High Pony
And more of the best celeb beauty looks of the week.
There is one pop star known famous for wearing her hair in a ski-high ponytail, but this week another celebrity singer gave her signature look a try. Olivia Rodrigo could almost be confused for a raven-haired Ariana Grande at the Governors Awards, with her long hair slicked back into a pony with a sleek side part. In the the past few days, there seems to have been a lot of celebrity look swapping. Megan Thee Stallion turned up to the Mean Girls premiere in New York on Monday with long platinum blonde hair and we could have sworn it was Regina George herself. Along with her icy blonde hair, Meg referenced the movie with a Burn Book-inspired mani. She posted a close-up of her new hair color and manicure in an Instagram dump on Wednesday and has previously called herself “the black Regina George.”
It’s hard to beat a Mean Girls-themed manicure, but this week the celebrities just kept on giving with their strong beauty looks. Ahead, are our pick for the top hair, makeup, and nail moments.
Megan Thee Stallion’s Mean Girls Homage
Megan Thee Stallion went Regina George-blonde for the Mean Girls premiere at AMC Lincoln Square Theater, New York.
Olivia Rodrigo’s Pop Princess Ponytail
An Ariana-Grande inspired Olivia Rodrigo wore a wrap-around high ponytail to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences 14th Annual Governors Awards in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
Avantika Vandanapu’s Hair Is Full Of Secrets
Two of the best beauty moments from this week go to Avantika Vandanapu. The actress, who plays Karen Shetty in the upcoming musical remake of Mean Girls, arrived at the movie’s premiere in New York on Monday night with a romantic modern Marie Antoinette up-do, winged eyeliner, diamond earrings, and a bindi. Then, the next day, she was spotted strolling around midtown in a backless dress and rollers in her hair.
Florence Pugh’s Punk Marilyn Monroe Moment
Florence Pugh’s hair for the Governors Awards in Hollywood was one-half punky spikes and one-half soft Marilyn Monroe curls.
Dua Lipa’s Strong Cat Eye
We love and admire Dua Lipa’s TikTok-filter perfect winged liner. The singer attended the Masters of the Air premiere after-party at Regency Village Theatre in Los Angeles on Wednesday night wearing a chic half-updo with a cat eye that was so perfect that it almost didn’t look real.
Emma Stone’s Plum Lipstick
The plum red lipstick that Emma Stone wore for the premiere of A24 and Showtime's The Curse in Beverly Hills on Monday complimented her rich red hair color perfectly.
Teyana Taylor’s Bright Red Pixie
No one can rock a pixie cut quite like Teyana Taylor. At the 2024 National Board of Review Gala in New York on Thursday, the singer and actress arrived with a fire engine-red hair look accessorized with long, sculptural gold earrings.
Lindsay Lohan’s Elevated “Cady” Waves
Lindsay Lohan channeled the original Cady with this soft side part and ultra-long waves at the Mean Girls premiere.
Ayo Edebiri’s Back-to-Back Bobs
We could never get tired of Ayo Edebiri arriving on a red carpet with her cute, up-swept short bob. The actress wore the style at both the Golden Globes Award ceremony and then at the Academy Awards two nights later.
Jenna Ortega’s Classic Curtain Bangs
Jenna Ortega’s Palm Springs International Film Festival glam included curtain bangs, winged eyeliner, and blushed cheeks and lips.
Xuân-Mai Phạm’s Pink Hair
With the Mean Girls movie release on the horizon, vlogger Xuân-Mai Phạm is keeping the pink carpet moments going. We loved her fuchsia hair with wispy bangs at the movie premiere.
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https://www.nylon.com/beauty/best-celeb-beauty-looks-olivia-rodrigo-high-pony-megan-thee-stallion-blonde
| 2024-01-12T21:39:00Z
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Entertainment
Ariana Grande's "Yes, and?" Lyrics Address The Drama — But Not As You'd Think
It’s a mind your business anthem.
In the eyes of the public, Ariana Grande may seem like she has a lot to answer for. Over the past year, as the pop star took a concerted step back from the spotlight to focus on filming the upcoming theatrical adaptation of Wicked, her personal life took a step forward. In April 2023, a wave of speculation about her body and weight forced her to briefly emerge to address the comments. Later in the year, news that she’d separated with ex-husband Dalton Gomez and started dating her Wicked co-star Ethan Slater (who had a fresh baby and wife) turned the tabloids into a frenzy. She was accused of being a homewrecker, and people began scrutinizing her past relationships. For the large part, Grande kept quiet — until now.
Today, Jan. 12, pop star Ari has returned with an apparent agenda: to address all the drama with “yes, and?,” her first release since 2020’s positions that marks the start of her highly anticipated next era. Early fan predictions claimed it would be her “homewrecker anthem” when she recently trotted out the house with a custom sweatshirt bearing the song title — but it’s not exactly that. After a few listens (and viewings of its choreo-heavy music video), it’s apparent that “Yes, and?” side-steps any confessions to focus on touting self-preservation and minding your own business, an opportunity to teach her critics rather than owning up to any of her own wrong-doing.
The first thing to get out of the way? “Yes, and?” is a banger. Produced and written by Grande herself alongside pop titans Max Martin and Ilya Salmanzadeh, it heavily interpolates the sparkling deep-house beat of Madonna’s “Vogue” and is clearly meant to channel the classic hit’s rousing, celebratory atmosphere — and the lyrics reflect that.
The song opens by laying out the scene: “Everybody's tired/ And healin' from somebody,” Grande sings, referring, perhaps, to her own long history of trauma, or the fact that the world is generally a mess right now. But she doesn’t dwell on any of that. Instead, the tone immediately pivots into one of encouragement: “Boy, come one, put your lipstick on/ Come on and walk this way through the fire/ And if you find yourself in a dark situation/ Just turn on your light and be like.” (Her choice of the word “boy” could be interpreted as a nod back to “Vogue” and its lyric, “It doesn’t matter if you’re a boy or girl.”)
The chorus hammers in the core message of the song: to protect your peace and prioritize self preservation: “Yes, and?/ Say that shit with your chest, and/ Be your own f*ckin' best friend/ Say that shit with your chest/ Keep moving like, “What's next?”/ Yes, and?”
It’s in the second half of the track where it really starts to get juicy, as Grande begins singing in the first person. “I'm so done with caring/ What you think, no, I won't hide/ Underneath your own projections/ Or change my most authentic life.” These lyrics are vague and a little cookie-cutter but it’s the first moment she turns her attention to her own public narrative. She finally lets it all fly on the bridge as she delivers her most explicit lyrics on the song, seemingly addressing the public body-shaming from the past year — “Don’t comment on my body, do not reply” — and her relationship affairs: “Why do you care so much whose **** I ride?”
This latter lyric is what’s incited the most attention across social media, with users interpreting it at best as a flagrant middle-finger to her haters, and at worst, a justification of messing with a married man. But ultimately, it doesn’t really accomplish either. (For what it’s worth, sources claimed to People that Grande and Slater only got together romantically after they’d both separated from their spouses, but who’s to say.) Realistically, we’ll probably never find out what actually happened, and if we do, it certainly won’t come from the mouths of Grande or Slater. Instead, Grande’s taken the opportunity leave us all with a nugget of wisdom: “Your business is yours and mine is mine,” a message that at this point should be evergreen.
At the end of the day, the most interesting part of “yes, and?” has nothing to do with the drama, or whether or not she “homewrecked” a marriage. It’s when you start looking at it as a marketing tactic or shrewd business decision — a way for a pop star to have last laugh — that the gears finally click into place. This ethos is perhaps, what “yes, and?” shares with its widely-considered sister song “thank u, next,” another release that proves just how skilled Grande has become at spinning negative press into her own moment of triumph.
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https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/ariana-grande-yes-and-lyrics-meaning
| 2024-01-12T21:39:06Z
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Culture
The 13 Most Anticipated Films of Sundance 2024
Spoiler: Kristen Stewart stars in not one, but two love stories.
Next week, Hollywood and Letterboxd fiends will descend upon Park City, Utah for the United States’ crown jewel of independent film festivals: Sundance. There will be no shortage of celebrities rocking alpine-chic styles, nor directors wheeling and dealing in Canada Goose puffers — but most importantly, there won’t be a shortage of films. This year promises a slew of dynamic, visionary movies sure to capture our minds and hearts — like Molly Manning Walker’s How To Have Sex and Jack Bergert’s Little Death — and others to anoint a new class of directors and actors to watch in the months and years to come. Ahead, find the 13 films we’re most excited to see at 2024’s Sundance.
Little Death
Little Death is a dark comedy about taco-truck entrepreneurs, a screenwriter’s midlife crisis, and opioid fixes — which is to say that it’s a story about Los Angeles. David Schwimmer, Talia Ryder, Dominic Fike, and Jena Malone star in this feature debut by acclaimed music-video director Jack Bergert, who is best known for working with artists like Doja Cat, Schoolboy Q, and Kendrick Lamar.
Love Lies Bleeding
Kristen Stewart is a Sundance sweetheart with 10 festival premieres under her belt, including The Runaways, Adventureland, and Lizzie. Lucky for K-Stew fans, the actress is starring in not one, but two love stories this year. Love Lies Bleeding is a hedonistic, sweet, and violent lesbian romance following a reclusive gym manager (Stewart) with a criminal family, and a bodybuilder (Katy O’Brian) in search of a dream that can only be found in Las Vegas. The film is directed by Rose Glass, whose 2019 psychological thriller Saint Maud garnered critical acclaim.
Love Me
Love Me is Kristen Stewart’s other love story premiering at the festival — and it’s as strange as it is sweet. Also starring Beef’s Steven Yeun, Love Me marks the directorial debut of duo Sam & Andy, a young married couple who’ve been making films together since they were teenagers. The shapeshifting and philosophical romance takes place after the collapse of humanity and tells the love story of a smart buoy and an orbiting satellite that Stewart and Yeun inhabit in different forms. “It's hard to explain,” Stewart told Entertainment Weekly in 2021. “I hope I don't botch it, because it's a really revolutionarily written script.” Needless to say, it’s going to be freaky, and we will be seated.
My Old Ass
In what is our favorite film title of Sundance 2024, My Old Ass is a heartfelt coming-of-age story about a teenager (Maisy Stella) who takes mushrooms the summer before her senior year of college and encounters her future self (Aubrey Plaza). Yes, we’re skeptical of yet another teen mushroom trip on screen, but who wouldn’t want to meet Aubrey Plaza as their future self? The film is directed by Megan Park, who made the transition from acting to directing in 2019 with the school-shooting drama The Fallout, starring Jenna Ortega and Maddie Ziegler.
Layla
In Layla, a struggling Arab drag queen (Bilal Hasna) falls in love for the first time. This drama from burgeoning director Amrou Al-Kadhi takes us to the queer enclaves of the nightclub, the beauty-supply store, and most poignantly, into the heart of Layla, a new heroine with plenty of sparkle.
It’s What’s Inside
From writer-director Greg Jardin comes a playful sci-fi film following a pre-wedding party that devolves into chaos when an estranged pal appears with a mysterious suitcase. Starring Australian up-and-comer Alycia Debnam-Carey, Brittany O’Grady of The White Lotus, and James Morosini of The Sex Lives of College Girls, It’s What’s Inside is shaping up to be the scream of Sundance.
How To Have Sex
People are already raving about How to Have Sex, which won the distinguished Un Certain Regard prize at Cannes last year and feels like the 2024 spiritual sequel to Skins. Molly Manning Walker’s directorial debut stars English actress Mia McKenna-Bruce and follows party-going British teens as they drink, dance, and hook up across the streets of Greece on holiday. What could go wrong?
I Saw the TV Glow
Jane Schoenbrun introduced audiences to the genre of “emo horror” with their 2021 Sundance debut We’re All Going to the World’s Fair. Their latest feature I Saw the TV Glow follows Owen, (Justice Smith), a teenager whose world gets turned upside down when a classmate (Brigette Lundy-Paine) introduces him to a mysterious late-night TV show. Themes of adolescence, suburbia, and memory are explored with a clever, icy ambiguity.
Ponyboi
Ponyboi follows a young intersex sex worker on the run from the mob after a drug deal goes south. Set on a Valentine’s Day in New Jersey, Esteban Arango’s Sundance debut chops and skews LGBTQ coming-of-age and mobster genres to create a film that’s equally thrilling and tender.
Lolla: The Story of Lollapalooza
This three-part documentary series traces the history of Lollapalooza, which started as a farewell tour for Jane’s Addiction in 1991 and went on to effectively harness the caustic energy of ‘90s youth counterculture. Through archival footage and interviews with audiences and bands, filmmaker Michael John Warren — best known for his concert films for Nicki Minaj, Jay-Z, as well as Rent — traces the early beginning of the rock festival and its lasting legacy.
The Bleacher
This surreal and silly claymation short film is about a woman whose life is upended when the disappearance of her sock at the laundromat causes her to get sucked into a washing machine. Directed by Adam Wilder and Nicole Daddona, the film is voiced by veteran comedian Kate Micucci and High Maintenance’s Ben Sinclair.
Sebastian
Sebastian follows Max, a young writer in London who begins working as a sex worker to research his debut novel. The sophomore feature from Finnish-British writer-director Mikko Mäkelä is a transgressive take on sex work, rejecting moralizing and exploring how it can lead to greater self-understanding.
Say Hi After You Die
In this touching, surreal meditation on grief, a woman believes her best friend has been reincarnated into a porta-potty. Written, directed, and starring Kate Jean Hollowell, who goes by the pseudonym Number One Popstar, the short is a hilarious and existentialist journey into the psyche, complete with a musical number choreographed by Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’s Kathryn Burns.
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https://www.nylon.com/life/sundance-2024-most-anticipated-films
| 2024-01-12T21:39:10Z
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NYLON NIGHTS
6,000 Pieces Of Korean Fried Chicken & Busta Rhymes: An Inside Look At The Opening Of COQODAQ
Flatiron’s hottest new restaurant is a cathedral of fried chicken.
Welcome to NYLON’s Party Report Card, where we give you the Who, What, Where, Why, and When on this week’s hottest parties — plus all the gossip you missed. It’s the inside scoop you need to feel like you were on the invite list. Sorry in advance for the FOMO.
WHAT: The opening party for COQODAQ, presented by Resy and Amex
WHEN: Thursday, Jan. 11
WHO: Simon Kim, Busta Rhymes, Mayor Eric Adams, Reilly Opelka, Evan Mock, Philip Lim, Kim Shui, and more
WHERE: COQODAQ, 12 E. 22nd St., New York, New York
WHY: To celebrate the opening of COQODAQ, the newest restaurant from Gracious Hospitality Management’s Founder and CEO Simon Kim
THE VIBE:
Within two minutes of waiting in line for COQODAQ’s opening party, I was handed a shot of roasted chicken consommé with Korean red ginseng to sip on. “‘Now this is hospitality,’" I thought. On my way out the door an hour and a half later, I was offered tuna tartare on a crisp cracker. In between was everything a restaurant opening should be.
Ornate, generous, and brief, the COQODAQ party had an 8-foot Veuve Clicquot tower, bumps of Petrossian caviar being doled out from a rocket-ship ice sculpture with abandon, and no less than 6,000 pieces of fried chicken that circulated the cathedral-like room to the music of ABBA and Taylor Swift. The party swelled early: Coat check was at capacity by 8 p.m. and people were making their way to the exit by 9:15 p.m. But that’s because in only a couple short hours, COQODAQ provided.
“Let’s say it everyone,” Simon Kim yelled in a toast. “CO-CO-DAQ,” to which hundreds of people chanted the onomatopoeic name. At this point, almost every photographer assumed a position to capture what was about to happen next. From all the fanfare, I thought it was going to be the arrival of Busta Rhymes, who was set to perform later. Instead, the lights came up to reveal gleaming piles of fried chicken on silver platters, carried by servers stationed around the perimeter of the room, which reverberated with cheers. I have never seen a plate of fried chicken reach such a level of exaltation. Guests flocked to the trays, but there was more than enough to go around; COQODAQ, after all, is a cathedral of abundance —– a sentiment shared by fashion designer Jérôme Lamaar, who I clinked drumsticks with while listening to a Robyn remix. A few minutes later, anticipating the sudden needs of hundreds of people, the servers distributed wet napkins from the same trays.
Shortly after, Busta Rhymes performed a 20-minute set — including “I Know What You Want,” his 2002 hit featuring Mariah Carey — gave nods to hip-hop’s 50th birthday, and praised Kim before diving into a drumstick, which he exclaimed was “crazy.” Later in the evening, the party continued with karaoke and Khee Soju bombs in the back room. But I left long before this: I was already so full.
BEST DRESSED: Kim Shui in white fur boots, a red miniskirt and corset, and fur-lined red coat. (Or, the chicken, well-dressed in COQODAQ’s soy sauce garlic and gochujang glazes.
OVERHEARD: “What the f*ck did you do to this chicken?” Busta Rhymes, after taking a bite. “That gluten-free sh*t is what I’m on.”
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https://www.nylon.com/nylon-nights/party-report-coqodaq-restaurant-busta-rhymes-simon-kim
| 2024-01-12T21:39:12Z
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Awards season has begun and this year's Emmys – delayed from September 2023 due to the WGA and SAG strikes – will have an official backstage suite, curated by Backstage Creations, where nominees, presenters and guests will be able to pick from a series of fabulous travel gifts, including an African safari, which could be worth over $10,000.
Other travel options include a stay at a gorgeous Panama villa or a visit to the Museum Hotel Cappadocia in Turkey, named as one of the top 50 hotels in the world (rooms start at $500), and one of the first museum concept hotels, containing hundreds of priceless artifacts,while the rooms are set within caves.
For those looking for some skincare rehab amid the busy season, there are options from MORITEK Beauty, a brand which integrates natural ingredients with cutting-edge medical aesthetics for clean and effective anti-aging products, and Purdori Skincare, another clean skincare brand made with trademarked, proprietary blend RO-ICE+; their full set retails for over $400.
All guests can also walk away with a Ricardo Beverly Hills collection case (the Ricardo Beverly Hills Montecito 2.0 Hardside Luggage retails for over $500 ) and a faux fur, PETA-award-winning jacket from SpiritHoods, (beginning from $319)
Attendees at the event, which will be backstage at the Nominee Celebration on Saturday, January 13, will all be able to sip on health juices from Wonder Juice, snack on cookies from Crumbl, and all will go home with Fluora, the Magical LED Houseplant, which retails for almost $300, Deborah Roberts' new book, gorgeous stationery from Crane, an everlasting candle, lip products from K-beauty authority Peripera, and a $990 gift bag from Miracle of the Sea which features their patented 2% Natural Marine Extract in Aloe Vera Gel, 2% Natural Marine Extract in Almond Oil, and the Miracle of the Sea Lip Health Balm.
Backstage Creations has also curated suites for the People’s Choice Awards, BET Awards, Teen Choice and Billboard Music Awards, amd this year, guests at the Emmys suites will be asked to donate to help raise funds to support the Television Academy Foundation, whose mission is to educate and advance the next generation of television leaders, through programs including the College Television Awards, Student Internship Program, The Interviews: An Oral History of Television, Media Educators Conference and The Power of TV.
2024 Emmys gift bag
● Amazing Grass- Amazing Grass Greens Blend makes it easier to stay on track with your health and wellness with a curated combination of 17 different greens fruits & veggies plus probiotics which provide a good source of Vitamin C, K and fiber.
● Crane Stationery- Made from fine, all-cotton paper in a warm white shade, the shimmering gold border on these half sheets turns writing a quick note into a special occasion.
● Crumbl- Crumbl, founded in 2017 in Logan, Utah, aims to bring friends and family together over the box of the best cookies in the world; in six years, it has expanded from a modest shop to a thriving franchise boasting over 950 locations in the US, Puerto Rico, and Canada, featuring a weekly rotating menu of crowd favorites and unique original recipes.
● Disney Publishing Worldwide- In Lessons Learned and Cherished: The Teacher Who Changed My Life, award-winning ABC News journalist Deborah Roberts curates a collection of essays and musings from celebrity friends and colleagues alike that share how teachers changed them, imparted life lessons, and helped them get to where they are today.
ESPN Person Mike Greenberg uses his lifetime of sports knowledge to spin yarns of the legends among the legends and tell you why some have claimed their spot in the top 100 of all time, in Got Your Number: The Greatest Sports Legends and the Numbers They Own.
To tie in with the Disney+ series, eercy Jackson and the Olympians, Book One: Lightning Thief, which introduces Percy Jackson who has just ten days to find and return Zeus’s stolen master lightning bolt and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus.
● Everlasting Candle Co- The Candle Reimagined: A luxurious steel candle that never melts - providing endless clean burning ambience to your home.
● Helmut Koller Studio- A stylish and versatile tote bag designed by artist Helmut Koller, and crafted from durable, eco-friendly materials, in a sleek design ideal for everyday use.
● HIPPEAS- Flavor your mind with HIPPEAS Nacho Vibes Chickpea Tortilla Chips – a delicious, plant-based snack made with clean ingredients and packed with far out flavor!
● JUNKLESS Chewy Granola Bars- JUNKLESS is the healthier granola bar that you’ll love because we use real ingredients, less sugar, and “no fake stuff” like artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.
● Marine Biology & Environmental Technologies LLC- Developed and tested by dermatologists and plastic surgeons, all natural and organic Miracle of the Sea® products contain MBET’s patented Natural Marine Extract™, the ingredients of which have been scientifically shown to help prevent the aging process as well as rejuvenate and heal thin, fragile, easily bruised and torn skin, sun damage, cracked lips, acne scars, stretch marks and more
● Nature’s Garden- Nature’s Garden Probiotic Strawberry Yoggies are real fruit pieces coated in creamy yogurt and sweetened with fruit juice, boasting 2 billion probiotic cultures, 3 grams of prebiotic fiber and only 80 calories per serving --the 21 ounce bag contains 30 single-serve snack packs
● Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc - The ageLOC LumiSpa iO, from Nu Skin, is a one-of-a-kind connected cleansing device that uses patented micropulse technology, a unique counter-rotation action that draws out dirt, oil, makeup, pollutants and toxins, and lifts them away without irritating skin or disrupting the skin’s natural microbiome balance – no matter your age or skin type.
● Peripera- K-Beauty lip authority Peripera has the perfect color and texture for every look, from high-intensity stain Ink The Velvet Lip Tint to ultra-lustrous and moisturizing Ink Glasting Lip Gloss.
● Poppin’ Love- Handcrafted Small Batch Gourmet Popcorn Gift Tower featuring Churro popcorn, Confetti popcorn and Chocolate Raspberry popcorn from Poppin’ Love
● Project Honey Bees- The original Adopt-a-Bee brand; every bee product purchased funds a hive and supports pollinators research.
● Revive Collagen- Revive Collagen, recommended by celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton, is a game-changing, luxury liquid collagen supplement that delivers real results to the skin, hair and nails within 6-8 weeks.
● Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.- Trail Pass IPA is non-alcoholic new brew from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., one of America's top independent craft brewers—family-owned, operated, and argued over since 1980.
● TOVOLO®- Elevate your beverage experience with Tovolo’s highly detailed, slow-melting, decorative craft ice molds —available in a variety of fun and festive shapes.
● Why Jury Duty Matters- Andrew Guthrie Ferguson, Professor of Law, American University Washington College of Law wrote the first (and only) book on jury duty, “Why Jury Duty Matters” for an inside look at our legal system.
● Wonder Juice - Wonder Beet, champions the power of beets in four exceptional mixes: Beet + Lemon + Ginger, Beet + Veggie, Beet + Berry, and Beet + Cherry, known as a high-nutrition, low-calorie superfood, beets are perfect for those seeking an all-natural boost of vitality for long-lasting, clean energy.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/511157/peek-inside-the-2024-emmys-gift-bag-worth-over-10000/
| 2024-01-12T21:41:54Z
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Tracy Spiridakos will be leaving Chicago PD at the end of season 11, showrunner Gwen Sigan tells HELLO! The actress stars as Hailey Upton, and it emerged last year that she would be written out of the upcoming season, which premieres on January 17, 2024.
Now, Gwen has revealed that Tracy gave them the heads up early on that she was "ready to depart, and has been very kind in giving us a full season to do her character justice," adding: "I'm happy to share that she will be in the full season."
"I am very grateful for that," Gwen continued. "She is such a good actor – and we want to do her justice. Upton is so interesting, because she's such a unique voice and so defined as to what her past was like and why she is the way she is.
"We're really going to dig into that this season, and dig into growth and transformation – how do you get through your life not looking like what you thought it was going to look like, and realizing that there could be more out there that is maybe better for you? It will be a fun ride for her, and there are some interesting and new characters coming in for her to play against."
As for how her departure will impact the team, Gwen shares that although the whole team will be affected, Hank Voight (Jason Beghe), will struggle "a lot," adding: "I think he's got such a soft spot for her, he really loves her."
Season 11's return was delayed due to the WGA and SAG strikes in 2023, and so will only feature 13 episodes. "My goal was to make them the tightest 13 episodes we can," Gwen says of the writers' core goals for the season, "to get the most out of it that we possibly could".
However, it does mean, Gwen reveals, that "everyone gets less highlight episodes than usual sp [we knew we had to] go for it when we're in there, go crazy with all of them."
Tracy joined the NBC show during season four, and became a series regular in season five. Her character, Hailey Upton, wed Jay Halstead in season nine, but actor Jesse Lee Soffer shocked viewers when he confirmed he would be leaving in season ten. The character of Jay left to join a task force in Bolivia, but fans were devastated to see that their marriage then crumbled over the course of the season as Jay ghosted Hailey. It is unclear what their status will be as season 11 opens, or if Jay and Hailey will make their way back to each other as she departs Chicago.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/511159/exclusive-chicago-pds-tracy-spiridakos-will-appear-in-13-episodes-season-11/
| 2024-01-12T21:42:00Z
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Carrie Johnson has revealed that it's all change at her family home of Brightwell Manor with her children deciding to swap up their rooms in the Grade II listed building.
Taking to her Instagram Stories the mum-of-three shared a glimpse inside her daughter Romy's bedroom, with the youngster enjoying a new patterned wool blanket that carried several hearts as well as her full name of 'Romy Iris Charlotte Johnson'. The room also carried a dresser with a floral lamp and a large letter 'R' sat on it.
On the wall hung two animal-themed posters, with one carrying a picture of a polar bear and another featuring a scene from the children's book series Babar the Elephant; a similar Babar poster was seen on the floor by a cream-coloured wardrobe.
The picture also saw Carrie revealing two of Romy's stuffed animals, with two tiny white teddy bears sat by the pillows. Although the snap didn't show off the full bed, the bottom likely had a flower design, as the political consultant had previously shared a snap of it in full when Wilfred lived in the room.
The three-year-old still had the bedroom last September when his mum captured an adorable photo of him in his PJs while reading his bedtime story. At the time, the single bed was topped with a white quilted sheet with a mini raspberry print and the Babar picture was still hanging on the wall.
Carrie hasn't revealed which room her little man has moved into, but considering that the Oxfordshire home boasts an impressive nine bedrooms, he was spoilt for choice!
The property is also reported to feature five bathrooms, six reception rooms, and almost five acres of land with a guest cottage, a tennis court, a walled garden, two stables and even a moat.
Romy recently marked a major life event as the two-year-old had her first day at nursery. Earlier in the week, Carrie shared a snap of her middle child munching on a delicious-looking cheese toastie. The toddler donned a vibrant pink outfit comprised of a pink coat adorned with polar bears which she wore with a pair of spotty pink trousers.
Captioning the photo: "First day at nursery calls for a celebratory cheese toastie from @nettlebedtree." Romy's first day of nursery ensemble was the perfect way to settle her into the major life change as Carrie has often mentioned how much her brood loves animals.
SEE: Carrie Johnson surprises with bare baby bump photo
MORE: Carrie Johnson shares sweet photos of her three children during family countryside outing
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/homes/511156/carrie-johnson-big-change-family-home-children/
| 2024-01-12T21:42:06Z
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A new memo which was recorded by the late Queen's private secretary, Sir Edward Young, has revealed insights into the Queen's final moments, revealing that she died peacefully in her sleep.
The document, which was shared by the Daily Mail, reads: "Very peaceful. In her sleep. Slipped away. Old age. She wouldn't have been aware of anything. No pain." The memo has now been entered into the royal archives after being made public for the first time and forms part of the Mail's royal writer, Robert Hardman's new book, Charles III: New King, New Court. The Inside Story.
The book adds that Sir Edward was then presented a red box with two letters from Her Majesty. These letters were addressed to King Charles and Sir Edward.
Other extracts from the book revealed that King Charles and Queen Camilla spent an hour with the Queen before she passed away on 8 September 2022, and that the news of Her Majesty's death was shared with Charles as he returned to Balmoral after picking mushrooms.
Fears about the Queen's health led to Charles going over his notes on London Bridge, the codeword for the operation about the Queen's death, on a helicopter ride over to Balmoral, and he personally told Prince William and Prince Harry to head to Balmoral, although it was believed at the time that the monarch would have days rather than hours left.
The biography also revealed that Princess Anne and the Queen's closest friend, Angela Kelly would alternate at her bedside, while the Rev. Kenneth MacKenzie read to the Queen from the Bible.
In a BBC documentary about Charles' first year on the throne, Anne spoke about her mother's death, saying it was "purely serendipity" that she had been at Balmoral at the time.
"I had been... two days up on the West Coast and I was coming back, stayed the night, was going south," the Princess Royal said. "We always enjoyed being at Balmoral. We spent a lot of time there in our youth and.. a lot of it was a probably more independent life than almost anywhere else. That's probably still true. That's a bonus."
Referring to the late Queen, she said: "I think there was a moment when she felt that it would be more difficult if she died at Balmoral. I think that we did try and persuade her that shouldn't be part of the decision making process. So I hope she felt that was right in the end because I think we did."
READ: Zara Tindall's sad admission that son Lucas doesn't remember the late Queen
REVEALED: Duchess Sophie's secret tribute to late Queen everyone missed
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/511158/the-queen-died-in-her-sleep-without-pain/
| 2024-01-12T21:42:12Z
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Elizabeth Hurley is always wowing her fans with her impressive set of swimwear and flawless physique, but the model really turned it up a notch on Friday when she posed in what might be her most unique bikini yet.
The star shared a gorgeous photo taken in the shade of a palm tree wearing a two-piece that appeared to have been embellished with dozens of crystals, which caught the sun ray's perfectly. The 58-year-old allowed her beautiful brunette hair to fall down her face as she gave a sultry look to the camera.
Speaking about her bikini brand, the star shared: "Last weekend of our New Year sale at Elizabeth Hurley Beach, link in bio," adding a string of heart emojis, and her followers quickly fell in love with the stylish snapshot.
One enthused: "You are sensational!!! Beyond!" while a second posted: "Looking hot gorgeous," and a third shared: "ETERNAL GODDESS!!!"
A fourth sweetly posted: "So beautiful in Blue, love you Elizabeth Hurley," while a fifth shared: "Cool in blue, talented, always beautiful Elizabeth, love you, [you] great look in any colour but stunning [in] pink or red."
When it comes to her fitness, Elizabeth has previously said how she loves the outdoors and makes sure she avoids being sedentary for too long. "I love working in my garden and am never happier than when wielding a strimmer. I walk my dogs a lot too," she previously told MailOnline, adding: "I don't do any set exercise but can't sit still for long."
A half-hour walk is something she incorporates into her day-to-day life, but she does like to weave in some core work with some Pilates and yoga for toning muscle. "I think it's important to stay sort of firm," she told E! News previously. "I don't go to the gym, but I don't lie around on the sofa."
As well as keeping active for exercise, Elizabeth enjoys movement when it comes to well-being. The star shared a video of her partaking in Watsu massage therapy back in November, which she described as "one of the best stretches I've ever had."
Watsu therapy is a passive hydrotherapy usually done in water. It combines elements of stretching to enable stretching and joint mobility.
When it comes to diet, Elizabeth isn't one of these celebrities who constantly partake in unsustainable, fad diets, previously admitting to MailOnline: "I actually eat quite a lot, but very little junk or processed foods and don't drink much alcohol. I try to eat lots of vegetables and never eat between meals."
She also told The View: "I always watch what I eat, but I eat plenty of food. I don't do all that green juice, I don't do any of that… powders, I don't really take vitamins. I try not to eat too much for dinner."
PHOTO: Elizabeth Hurley turns up the heat with Christmas-themed bronzed bikini photo
WOW: Elizabeth Hurley poses in just a robe in candid behind-the-scenes photo you can't miss
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/fashion/celebrity-style/511160/elizabeth-hurley-total-bombshell-sizzles-unique-bikini/
| 2024-01-12T22:17:01Z
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Meryl Streep caught a case of the giggles on Friday as she posed with her Only Murders In The Building co-star Martin Short. Days after the pair shut down rumors of a romance blossoming between them – their characters fell in love during the third season of the Hulu comedy – they were joined by Steve Martin and Selena Gomez at the 2024 AFI Awards luncheon.
Meryl, 74, rocked a stunning lavender pants suit for the occasion, paired with nude court heels, and she was caught bursting out into laughter on the red carpet, as she wrapped her arm around Selena, who had her arm over 73-year-old Martin's shoulder
Selena wore a stunning waist-cinching black column dress with a sweetheart neckline and black belt with gold detailing, while Steve and Martin both wore classic black suits with white shirts, and almost matching ties, with Martin's featuring a monochromatic plaid pattern, and Steve's featuring black-and-white diagonal stripes.
"Martin and Meryl are NOT dating, and are just very good friends -- nothing more," a rep for Martin shared with the press in the days after the 2024 Golden Globes when rumors began to circulate across social media.
The rumors come months after The Devil Wears Prada actress Meryl confirmed that she and her husband of 45 years Don Gummer, had split more than six years ago. In a statement, a spokesperson for the Oscar winner told Page Six: "Don Gummer and Meryl Streep have been separated for more than six years, and while they will always care for each other, they have chosen lives apart."
Meryl and Don were first introduced by her brother, Harry, in 1978, as Meryl was mourning the loss of her late boyfriend and Deer Hunter co-star John Cazale, who had sadly passed away from lung cancer that same year. Together they welcomed four children: Henry Wolfe was born on November 13, 1979, daughter Mary born on August 3 1983, and a second daughter Grace on May 9 1986. Five years later on June 12, 1991 they welcomed daughter Louisa.
Martin's wife Nancy died in 2010 after a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Together they adopted three children, 40-year-old Katherine, 37-year-old Oliver Patrick and 34-year-old Henry.
Jennifer Aniston, Bradley Cooper, Reese Witherspoon and Margot Robbie were also among the attendees at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills to celebrate the best in movies and TV from the past year.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/511161/meryl-streep-is-all-giggles-with-martin-short-afi-awards/
| 2024-01-12T23:14:06Z
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For almost 25 years, Michael J. Fox has been raising awareness and money for research into Parkinson's, which currently has no cure, and now the actor has called the diagnosis a "gift" that has allowed him to change the public's perception of the disease. Michael was diagnosed in 1991 and went public in 1998.
He launched his Foundation in 2000, and has so far raised over $2million towards research and the development of therapies for those living with Parkinson's.
"It's been a gift that keeps on taking. It's been a gift because it's given me an audience to talk about what's possible," he told the audience at the 2024 National Board of Review Gala in New York City, where he was honored with the Best Documentary Award for his Hulu film, Still.
Referencing his collaboration with director Davis Guggenheim, Michael added: "We tend to think of documentaries as journalism, and they are journalism. But they're also cinema. And he's a master. He tricked me into saying [expletive] I never would've. And so I thank you, brother, you're just an amazing talent."
Still "follows the life of beloved actor and advocate Michael J. Fox, exploring his personal and professional triumphs and travails, and what happens when an incurable optimist confronts an incurable disease".
Michael was joined by his wife of 35 years, Tracy Pollan, for the rare public appearance, where Tracy made a very glam entrance in an all-black ensemble. The 63-year-old looked chic in a tight black top in a halter style with a mesh bodysuit underneath that exposed her toned arms, and completed her look with black pants that gently flared at the bottom, a pair of peep-toe black heels, and stud earrings.
The mom-of-four and Back to the Future actor Michael share four children: son Sam, 34, twin daughters, Aquinnah and Schuyler, 28, and Esmé, 22.
In 2023 Michael opened up on life at the age of 62, admitting that he no longer fears his own death following his diagnosis at the age of 29.
“One day I’ll run out of gas," he told Town & Country. "One day I’ll just say, ‘It’s not going to happen. I’m not going out today.’ If that comes, I’ll allow myself that. I’m 62-years-old."
He added: "Certainly, if I were to pass away tomorrow, it would be premature, but it wouldn’t be unheard of. And so, no, I don’t fear that.”
He told the publication that his biggest fear was now "anything that would put my family in jeopardy," revealing that he has had nightmares of "falling into Tracy or one of the kids on the street, and them getting hit by a bus".
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/health-and-fitness/511162/michael-j-fox-unexpected-remark-about-parkinsons-joined-by-wife-at-rare-public-appearance/
| 2024-01-13T00:24:25Z
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ASTANA – Kazakhstan is in the midst of democratic transformation, making progress in strengthening the human rights protection system and aligning it better with the best international practices, the Akorda press service reported in a factsheet posted on Jan. 12.
According to the document, significant amendments have been made to legislation pertaining to democratic participation, human rights protection, and the rule of law. These changes have facilitated a higher level of participation of the population in the decision-making process, according to the concept of the “Listening State”.
“The unveiling of this document by the president’s administration signifies another step in publicly setting out the priorities of the head of state in this important area,” said Alua Nadirkulova, ambassador-at-large for human rights at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Astana.
She explained that it followed the Dec. 8, 2023 decree by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev approving a new action plan in the field of human rights. “That document represented the third package of measures in this area and was adopted just before the Human Rights Day, showcasing the president’s dedication to addressing issues in this domain, while also considering societal demands and international commitments.”
Compared to the previous two packages from 2021 and 2022, the third package envisions the implementation of nearly twice as many legislative and practical tasks by 2025, including over 40 events. “These sociallly-oriented measures aim to promote policies of equal rights and opportunities for both women and men, freedom of association, the right to work and workplace safety, the right to life and dignity by adopting a zero-tolerance approach towards domestic violence and torture, as well as ensuring respect for human rights in criminal justice and business sectors, non-discrimination, and inclusion,” Nadirkulova explained.
The decree and the action plan signal Kazakhstan’s dedication to promoting democratic principles and protecting human rights. A significant component of this initiative is the collaboration with prominent international organizations such as the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in executing the measures outlined in the plan.
Democratic participation
The reforms enacted a limit of a single seven-year term for presidents, removing an option of re-election. The presidential influence over local governments and the Senate, the upper house of the Parliament, was curtailed.
The registration threshold for political parties was reduced fourfold from 20,000 to 5,000. This liberalization resulted in the emergence of new parties such as Respublica and Baytaq. Respublica got into the Mazhilis, the lower chamber of the Parliament, after a parliamentary election in March 2023, along with the established parties of Amanat, Auyl People’s Democratic Patriotic Party, Aq jol Democratic Party of Kazakhstan, People’s Party of Kazakhstan, and the National Social Democratic Party.
The powers of the Mazhilis were expanded through a new electoral model – based on party lists and single-mandate constituencies.
The factsheet also notes that Kazakhstan introduced quotas for women, youth, and persons with special needs on electoral party lists and in the allocation of parliamentary mandates. The elections of mayors of district and city levels resulted in the renewal of nearly 60% of rural political leaders.
The creation of the Presidential Youth Personnel Reserve gave young professionals a chance to take leading positions in the civil service. The transformation of the National Council of Public Trust into the National Kurultai (Congress) bolstered public participation in governance.
Human rights mechanisms
The adopted legislative amendments strengthened the independence of courts. The categories of cases for jury trials have been expanded.
Kazakhstan granted constitutional status to the institution of the Ombudsperson for Human Rights. The Constitutional Court was re-established on Jan. 1, 2023, with a clear purpose to enhance the safeguarding of citizens’ basic rights and freedoms.
“Its decisions have the final force, as even the President cannot revise them, including those decisions related to the constitutional rights of citizens,” reads the factsheet.
A recently adopted law regulating mechanisms such as online petitioning is meant to enhance citizen’s engagement in government’s activities. The law on online petitions is due to enter into force on April 1, 2024.
Kazakhstan has introduced the Social Code aimed at supporting vulnerable citizens, including a special payment for those employed in hazardous working conditions.
The country has also abolished the death penalty, protecting prisoners’ right to health. It has also ratified the United Nations conventions on children rights and persons with disabilities.
Kazakhstan has strengthened criminal responsibility for torture, legal definitions of torture and ill-treatment as well as the national mechanism of torture prevention. Enhanced legal frameworks address domestic violence, eliminating possibilities of repeated reconciliation in such cases.
The country has made a few more legislative reforms, adopting the laws on payments from the National Fund to Kazakhstan’s children and on peaceful assemblies.
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https://astanatimes.com/2024/01/kazakhstan-takes-further-steps-in-human-rights-protection/
| 2024-01-13T03:03:38Z
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They were both normal young women who met and fell in love with Princes and found themselves living extraordinary – and very public – new lives.
Now, as Crown Princess Mary prepares to become Denmark’s new Queen, HELLO! reveals the close bond she shares with our own Princess of Wales. Royal experts tell how Australian-born Mary, who is a decade older than Kate and celebrates the 20th anniversary this year of her wedding to Crown Prince Frederik, has been an inspiration for the younger royal as they support their husbands and carve out meaningful roles for themselves on the world stage.
The two women, who met most recently when Mary welcomed Kate to Denmark on an official visit in 2022, have plenty in common. Aside from their physical similarities, both Mary, 51, and Kate, who celebrates her 42nd birthday this week, are strong, capable women from normal middle-class families, who met their husbands in everyday circumstances. They have won the hearts of the public by throwing themselves into royal duties and charity work and, as well as being loyal wives, are devoted, hands-on mothers who put their families first. And both are pictures of regal elegance, having impressively stepped into the role of future Queen.
“Mary truly is the power behind the throne and will be for decades to come – there’s no doubt about that,” Danish royal author Trine Villemann tells HELLO!
“Frederik is a lovely guy and he’s very popular, but Mary is a much better communicator and public speaker. She has great skill and enormous talent, and people in Denmark are calling her ‘King Mary’. Her approval ratings are higher than those of the rest of the royals, too,” Trine adds.
“I think Kate has learnt from Mary and looked to her for inspiration and advice, and I think Mary admires Kate and sees her as a kindred spirit. They come from similar positions in life and they’ve had to walk some of the same path to be with the man they love and get to where they are today.
“Perhaps Mary sees herself as a mentor because Kate is younger and still has small children. One of the first things Mary did after she got married was set up her own Mary Foundation, and many of the things you see Kate doing today, Mary was doing ten to 15 years ago, like her work with children and addressing issues such as bullying and loneliness,” says Trine, whose best-selling book 1015 Copenhagen K explores the dynamics of the Danish royal family.
HELLO!'s royal editor Emily Nash, who joined the two women in February 2022 at a centre in Copenhagen for women and children fleeing domestic abuse, says: “There is a lot for Kate and Mary to bond over: motherhood, coming from outside the royal family, life in the spotlight and their shared interest in sport and mental health.
“They’re both tall, elegant and well versed in media attention, and they clearly had lots in common and chatted warmly to one another. Mary was impressive, slipping effortlessly between Danish and English, and she seemed comfortable with the media.
“Like Kate, she is clearly a natural with young children, and both instinctively crouched down to chat to youngsters who were offering them posies outside. And, like Kate, Mary clearly knows her subject matter well.”
The Princess of Wales’s parents Michael and Carole Middleton were airline workers before launching a party supplies business, and Mary’s background is also distinctly down to earth.
The youngest of four children born in Hobart, Tasmania, to maths professor John Donaldson and university secretary Henrietta (who died in 1997), law graduate Mary was working as an estate agent in Sydney when a chance encounter in the Slip Inn pub – where Prince Frederik was enjoying a night out with his brother Prince Joachim, their cousin Nikolaos of Greece and Princess Märtha Louise of Norway during the 2000 Olympic Games – changed her life.
Mary, who described herself as “a T-shirt and shorts girl, known to go barefoot”, later recalled: “The first time we met, we shook hands, and I didn’t know he was the Crown Prince of Denmark. An hour or so later, someone came up to me and said: ‘Do you know who these people are?’”
As a long-distance romance blossomed, Mary turned to deportment coach Teresa Page to help prepare for her future before the couple married in Copenhagen Cathedral in May 2004.
“She has to present herself in public, she’s photographed, she meets people, she walks into rooms, greets people and builds rapport,” Teresa later said. “All of those skills require supreme confidence and can be learnt to be done in a really confident way.”
Meanwhile, Kate and Prince William met as students at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, falling in love and going on to marry at Westminster Abbey in April 2011.
Trine says: “In many ways, Kate had an easier ride. Mary went to the other side of the world and had to learn a new language and adapt to a lifestyle that was completely different. But she has managed to build a life for herself and, with enormous skill, learnt what it entails to be a royal.”
Both Kate and Mary, who love sport and have enviable athletic physiques, have become international style icons who look equally chic in day dresses, power suits or glittering ball gowns, prompting fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld to observe: “Kate is like a younger sister to Mary.”
They enjoy mixing high-end with high street fashion, too. Although Mary favours Danish brands such as Ole Yde and Cecilie Bahnsen, as well as Italian label Prada and handbags from Chanel and Hermès, she is also a fan of Zara, just like Kate, who has worn affordable pieces from H&M as well as clothes by her favourite designer, Alexander McQueen.
Meanwhile, just as Kate regularly takes Prince George, ten, Princess Charlotte, eight, and five-year-old Prince Louis to school, Mary is a hands-on mother to Prince Christian, 18, Princess Isabella, 16, and twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, who turned 13 on Monday.
“Between them, Mary and Frederik always sat down with the children for breakfast and read them stories and put them to bed, and Mary has always done the school runs and gone to the cake sales, very much like Kate,” Trine says. “Family comes first.”
Perhaps the key to both women’s success is the way they have looked to past Queens for inspiration. Like Elizabeth II, Kate is a consummate diplomat with a fierce sense of duty, while Trine believes that Mary models herself on Frederik’s late grandmother Queen Ingrid, the wife of Frederik IX and the brains behind a change in Danish law that allowed Queen Margrethe to become monarch, rather than her younger brother.
“I think Mary has built her royal life on Ingrid’s approach, and Frederik and Mary’s reign will be in the down-to-earth spirit of his grandparents,” she says. “As we say in Denmark: ‘Long live King Mary!’”
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/510954/kate-middleton-crown-princess-mary-denmark-parallels/
| 2024-01-13T07:57:25Z
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Carrie Johnson is the proud mother of three children, three-year-old Wilfred, two-year-old Romy, and six-month-old, Frank. On Thursday, she shared an adorable photo alongside her youngest, who was sleeping.
The mother-son duo looked so sweet in the candid snap, snuggled into each other whilst little Frank snoozed. Alongside the photo were the words: "The nights are long, but I sure will miss these cuddles."
The heartfelt image came just hours after Carrie issued a heartfelt plea to fans for help regarding baby Frank's current sleep schedule. She revealed she is struggling to get much sleep as the infant likes to fall asleep on her, and she can't face going through the "heartbreaking" 'crying out' method.
She wrote: "Frankie is over six months now and still sleeping in our room, waking up every couple of hours for a feed. He's obviously still very little but it would be nice to get a tiny bit more sleep soon.
"At the moment, I usually get him to sleep by feeding him and him falling asleep on me, rather than him being able to settle in his cot. Has anyone got any advice that doesn't involve the 'crying out' method? It just breaks my heart too much…"
Following her message, Carrie shared some gushing words after hundreds of fellow mums and fans reached out to her.
"Just a quick note to say hundreds of you have replied with SUCH kindness and thoughtful messages of advice and solidarity. It's very comforting to know I'm not alone and that lots of you are, or have been, in exactly the same boat. So appreciate all your messages - thank you [red love heart emoji]."
Before the update, Carrie revealed that her daughter Romy has gone through a big change at home and has moved into her brother's old bedroom, complete with a brand new personalised blanket.
The cherry red blanket covered the little one's bed and was adorned with her full name, Romy Iris Charlotte Johnson, as well as several white love hearts.
"Quite jealous of my daughter's beautiful new wool blanket from @graceblankets," Carrie penned.
Other details in the plush room feature a large baby blue R on Romy's bedside table, as well as two Babar pictures and a sweet poster of a polar bear. Carrie has previously revealed how much her brood love animals, so it comes as no surprise that they are heavily featured in Romy's new bedroom.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/511163/carrie-johnson-sleeping-photo-baby-frank/
| 2024-01-13T09:51:49Z
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With her latest collection launching this week, a new business in the pipeline, a novel to finish and two young daughters to look after, Tabitha Webb rarely has time to put her feet up.
The designer is a bundle of energy with an impressive work ethic. It has helped her build a successful brand that counts the Princess of Wales and her sister Pippa Middleton – as well as celebrities including Holly Willoughby, Davina McCall, Claudia Winkleman and Fearne Cotton – among its fans.
CHANGE OF SCENE
Recently, however, Tabitha has discovered the joys of switching off after she and her geologist husband Gavin Ferrar bought a holiday home in his native South Africa. And while the task of decorating and furnishing the beachside property has kept her busy, she is finally reaping the rewards.
"I’m definitely more relaxed here," Tabitha says, inviting HELLO! into her bolthole for this exclusive photoshoot and interview. "I can come and check out of life for a few weeks and forget about the things I might usually worry about, like how many followers I’ve got on Instagram or which celebrity wore my clothes and who wore somebody else’s.
"And it’s so nice to know the kids have been outside surfing or kayaking instead of on a screen."
Tabitha, 48, and Gavin, 54, bought the five-bedroom house in Plettenberg Bay on the Western Cape 18 months ago, snapping it up after looking around it once. A three-minute walk from the beach, it is the perfect retreat to escape the British winter. The couple spent Christmas and New Year there, together with daughters Betsey, 12, and Primrose, five, and a succession of family members.
"We’ve been coming down here every Christmas for the past ten years or so and we always said if we saw somewhere we loved, we’d buy it,” Tabitha says. “When we saw this place, we just fell in love with it."
As the house was newly built, it didn’t require any renovation, so Tabitha instead turned her creative eye to finding the furniture and fittings that would create an eclectic living space in tune with her signature bold prints, use of colour and chevron designs.
BUCKING THE TREND
"The style is very Cape Dutch, so it’s lovely and homely and I wanted to create a nice beach-cottage feel while still using lovely fabrics. A lot of South African houses are very big, modern and white, but the whole beige-and-grey thing doesn’t work for me so I’ve mixed lots of different prints and colours, which really does freak some people out.
"I just wanted it to feel bright and happy and airy; somewhere you can be comfortable sitting in front of the fire or on the veranda with a glass of wine. I very much wanted a chilled beach/surfer vibe, which I think we’ve nailed."
LONG-DISTANCE DESIGN
To create their dream home, which they plan to rent out on luxury rental agency Perfect Hideaways when they’re not there, Tabitha enlisted the help of local company Pezula Interiors over months of long-distance phone calls.
"It was a massive project and quite complicated doing it from another country with a woman you’ve never met in a house you’ve looked around once, but it worked.
"It’s quite an eye-opener when you’ve got a totally empty house to fill with every single thing you need, down to a corkscrew. But it’s also nice to be in a house where everything is where it’s meant to be."
Bright and spacious, the house is filled with natural materials, from the wooden beams on the vaulted ceilings to the rattan lampshades and white-painted wooden sticks that form the kitchen cabinet doors.
The cosy living room is dominated by a stone-clad fireplace, while the soft furnishings are a mix of calm, neutral tones and bright, mismatched cushions and throws. Painted surfboards on the wall add to the beach-house vibe, while the beds, featuring upholstered headboards, are made up with Tabitha’s own-brand linen.
She adds: "I shipped over Christopher Farr and Andrew Martin fabrics from the UK, but have also picked up lots of African pieces – furniture from vintage shops, art from the local markets and beaded mirrors, candlesticks and cake stands from craftsmen who sell things at the side of the road. I bought the kitchen chairs from a cheap online shop and painted them green to add a splash of colour. It’s been a real gathering of things we love as we’ve gone along and I can finally say that, apart from a few empty bookshelves, it’s pretty much done."
In the warmer months, Tabitha and her family spend most of their time outside on the large, covered veranda, which has a big wooden dining table for entertaining. There’s also a swimming pool bordered by decking and tropical shrubbery.
"I love the idea of the kids making memories here. My husband has lots of local mates here and now the girls have friends, too. We’re very lucky to have a life that’s different to our lives in the UK. Gav and Betsey love surfing and I like to have a walk to the beach every day."
BUSY TIMES AHEAD
The beach was the photoshoot location for the campaign for Tabitha’s new Coastal Cowgirl collection of knitwear and cashmere bombers featuring slogans such as "Beach, wine, skinny dip, bonfire" and "Cowgirls live forever".
She’s also joined forces with Jenni Falconer’s actor and businessman husband James Midgeley to launch Band of Sundays, an underwear subscription business, in the spring. "I don’t think I ever replace my pants, and my knicker drawer is so bad, which I think is often the case when you’re older and married," she says.
"These will be everyday cotton knickers, either in plain colours or with some of my prints, and you can sign up to get a pair as often as every month."
As well as this, after her debut novel No Regrets in 2020, she is busy finishing her second – a romance about a "hot farmer" and the woman who moves from the city to be with him.
"I’m really enjoying writing it, but I’ve been told there’s not enough sex in it so I’m working on that,” she says, adding with a laugh: "I’m probably better at writing sex than I am at anything else."
Tabitha’s celebrity friends have been a huge support as her business has evolved and grown – Pippa even collaborated with her in 2015 to design a dress and scarf to raise money for the British Heart Foundation.
"I met Pippa through friends and she’s wonderful, and I think [she and Kate] look great in the clothes," she says. "I’ve got such a nice supportive network of people, like Vogue Williams, Davina McCall, Holly, Fearne and Claudia, who support my brand.
WOW: 10 multi-million dollar celebrity homes that will blow your mind: Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, more
"I feel like I’ve kind of grown up with them; they’re all legends and they’re so sweet. Everyone supports each other, which is so nice. I feel very lucky."
INTERVIEW: TRACY SCHAVERIEN
PHOTOS, HAIR & MAKE-UP: SUPERNOVA CREATIVE MANAGEMENT
Tabitha’s new knitwear collection is available at tabithawebb.co.uk. To register at Band of Sundays, visit bandofsundays.co.uk.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/homes/511025/designer-tabitha-webb-holiday-home-south-africa-photos/
| 2024-01-13T09:51:55Z
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Hollywood was out in force once again on Friday as stars of the big and small screen stepped out for the 2024 AFI Awards Luncheon at the Four Seasons Los Angeles in Beverly Hills.
The swanky event celebrated the best in TV and film from the last year and saw the likes of Natalie Portman, Jennifer Aniston, Margot Robbie, and more dazzle on the red carpet in their finest lunch attire.
Among the movies and TV shows being honored were Barbie, Oppenheimer, Killers of the Flower Moon, Maestro, May December, The Bear, The Morning Show, and Only Murders in the Building.
Check out some of the best-dressed stars below…
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Emma Stone
Poor Things star Emma Stone jazzed up her monochrome Louis Vuitton outfit with a matching wraparound belt that added a striking contrast between her oversized, plunging white shirt and black, pleated skirt.
Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman has been slaying the red carpet this awards season with her vampy dresses after seemingly confirming her split from her husband, Benjamin Millepied. However, she opted for a more demure approach in this floral Christian Dior shirt dress that boasted a fit and flare silhouette, which she teamed with strappy black sandals.
Selena Gomez
Only Murders in the Building star, Selena Gomez donned her finest power lunch suit and wowed in this pinstripe number by Giuseppe di Morabito. We love the wide-legged pants, strapless top, and matching jacket combo, which she added some definition to by cinching in her waist with a black and gold belt.
Margot Robbie
Margot Robbie dug into the Chanel archives for her outfit – which was first worn by Claudia Schiffer on the runway in 1995. The Barbie star looked gorgeous in a high-waisted black skirt, plunging, cropped red shirt with an elaborate brooch, and a sparkling gold chain belt with Chanel's iconic double C logo.
Florence Pugh
Florence Pugh can do no wrong this awards season. The actress looked incredible in her Stella McCartney two-piece, rocking white, wide-legged pants with a matching military-style cropped jacket that flashed a hint of her toned stomach. Love.
Carey Mulligan
Saltburn actress Carey Mulligan kept it classic in this LBD by Bottega Veneta, which boasted a corset top that drew attention to her bare décolletage, and a pencil skirt, completing her look with matching heels.
Lily Gladstone
Killers of the Flower Moon star Lily Gladstone turned heads in this vibrant red Burberry dress which was emblazoned with silver chains. Adding more of an edge, she teamed it with black, pointed-toe boots.
Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Aniston rocked a look we're not used to seeing from her – but as always, she looked incredible. She swapped out her LBD for a red patterned maxi skirt teamed with a black halterneck top and matching fitted blazer, completing her outfit with black, pointed-toe boots.
Reese Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon also opted for a floral-patterned dress and rocked this strapless white number that cinched in at her waist and fell to her ankles. Simple, elegant, beautiful.
Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep kept it classic in a Givenchy suit but updated the look by opting for a vibrant lavender hue, teaming the ensemble with nude heels, round glasses, and her trademark smile.
Julianne Moore
May December star Julianne Moore went hell for leather in her figure-hugging dress which featured a V-neckline and fell to her knees. She teamed the frock with a matching jacket that boasted dropped shoulders and a slightly oversized fit.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/fashion/celebrity-style/511164/afi-awards-luncheon-2024-best-dressed-red-carpet-photos/
| 2024-01-13T10:57:41Z
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Emily Blunt has rocked a second sensational power suit in 24 hours and we think we may love this one even more than the last. The Oppenheimer actress, 40, arrived at the AFI Awards Luncheon at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills on Friday night in an ice queen goes-to-work moment that we just couldn't get enough of, and we are sure a certain royal would also agree that she nailed it.
The Devil Wears Prada actress was seen stepping onto the red carpet of the prestigious TV and film awards wearing a gorgeous double-breasted white cape that had all the structure and chic quality of an oversized blazer. The piece featured boxy shoulders, a plunging V-neckline, and one covered button keeping the piece together. She styled the unusual take on a workwear staple with a hidden V-neck top that had a sheer barely-there panel with a rounded neck to offer the piece a sense of security when Emily stepped out.
The A Quiet Place star teamed the piece with a pair of cigarette suit pants in the same light hue that grazed the ankle. Accessorizing the look was a pair of nude pointed-toe stilettos in a sheer patterned material. Emily also added a box clutch bag that looked like a mini briefcase with a monogrammed print and gold hardware. We loved how Emily tied the gold details of her clutch into her coordinating gold glimmering rings and oversized statement gold earrings.
As she so often does, Emily wore her makeup in a natural style with stylish accents. The Pain Hustlers star's milky complexion looked lit from within and she wore a mid-toned opaque nude lip and plenty of mascara to accentuate her greeny-blue eyes. Her highlighted blonde hair was tied in a voluminous ponytail to amplify the elevated workwear aesthetic.
We can imagine that Meghan Markle would adore Emily's suit moment. The royal, 42, was seen wearing a similar look to an Invictus Games friends and family reception hosted by the City of The Hague and the Dutch Ministry of Defence at Zuiderpark in 2022. Prince Harry's wife styled a double-breasted white blazer with matching pants and neutral pointed-toe stilettos, much like Emily, and even added a white bag with gold hardware. Meghan wore her hair in loose waves and rocked a delicate gold hand chain bracelet.
The mother-of-two was seen posing with an array of A-listers. She stood for a photograph with Barbie star Margot Robbie who took a blazer look to a different place. The Australian actress styled a cropped red blazer with black piping with a black mini skirt, black strappy heels, and a Chanel waist chain. Barbie director Greta Gerwig wore a checked double-breasted version with black pants, a blue crisp shirt, and a black tie. Emily was also seen catching up with her Oppenheimer co-star Robert Downey Jr.
Just 24 hours before, Emily was spotted wearing another modern take on a power suit when she made an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert wearing a cropped black blazer and matching pants that were sown together to form a stylish jumpsuit. She once again wore her hair up, favoring a bun on this occasion, and worked the piece which featured waist-cutouts to perfection. The actress joked with the show's host about how she had rocked the same piece that Lenny Kravitz had worn to the Golden Globes earlier in the week.
She said: "I saw him swaggering across the floor at the Golden Globes, I'd already pre-planned this for your show and I thought, 'Do you know what, I'm still going to wear it'."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/fashion/celebrity-style/511165/emily-blunt-sensational-ultimate-white-power-suit-meghan-markle/
| 2024-01-13T10:57:47Z
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With its wealth of classical treasures, historic churches and exquisite masterpieces from the Italian Renaissance, contrasted with modern-day designer stores and throngs of tourists, Venice can be an overwhelming city to explore. Fortunately, I discovered a tranquil refuge on a private island, a mere 15-minute boat ride from Piazza San Marco, the city's bustling main square.
Following a James Bond-style arrival via a private boat, I checked into the JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa, a prestigious five-star luxury haven situated on a private island in the enchanting Venetian lagoon, known as Isola delle Rose.
Once a clinic and retreat for those with respiratory problems, this stunning hotel has welcomed the elite of the film industry and serves as a discreet retreat for Hollywood stars during the Venice Film Festival, owing to its secluded and exclusive location.
Since 2015, the building has undergone meticulous restoration and now boasts; 266 suites, a fine dining restaurant, private spa and a mesmerising rooftop infinity pool with breathtaking views of the lagoon's blue waters and enchanting skyline.
Also within the expansive private grounds are an olive grove (where the resort produces their own olive oil), a family area with a sports field and outdoor pool. Not only that, there is even a beautiful former Church, which can now be hired for private events.
Suites
Once in my suite, a Junior Suite Terrace with a Garden View, I was immediately impressed with the spacious layout and the cream-and-white aesthetic. The expansive open-plan living space boasted a walk-in closet, a cosy living area, bedroom, bathroom and a large terrace overlooking the gardens.
The room featured taupe leather seating, contrasting black and white artwork, a muted L-shaped sofa with black stitching, a 42-inch television, a comfortable king-sized bed as well as a Scandi black wooden tripod lampstand. The large floor-to-ceiling windows also served as a statement feature, generously inviting an abundance of natural light and offering enchanting views of the island's petite private garden, complete with loungers.
The interior leant towards understated but managed to exude a timeless look with its predominantly off-white palette. Dotted around the room were leather couches, art pieces and meticulously crafted blown-glass vases – most likely Murano glass. The bathroom, in particular, was a masterpiece of marble elegance, featuring an indulgently deep tub and a walk-in shower that added a touch of luxury to the overall ambiance.
The suite was well-equipped, air-conditioned and regularly serviced by housekeeping, ensuring things always felt fresh and well-stocked. As expected, the service here was exemplary and came with an extra dose of warm hospitality. The staff, all the best in the business, tended to my every need with warmth and dedicated professionalism. I could see why Hollywood stars would flock here.
Restaurants
The resort offered a wide range of dining options, from international favourites to the most delectable Italian cuisine. A comprehensive breakfast buffet is laid on at the Cucina café, and the hotel also has a gourmet restaurant, Dopolavoro, which was awarded two stars in the Michelin Guide Italy 2023.
During one of my nights there, I opted to dine at the Sagra Rooftop Restaurant, which had an expertly curated menu that showcased the brilliance of Italian culinary delights. But if you fancy something more relaxed, head down to the hotel's pizzeria.
Places to visit
You cannot travel to Venice without spending a day on two of Venice's enchanting islands: Burano and Murano. Both places offer a delightful escape from the bustling streets of the city. Luckily for guests staying at the JW Marriott Venice Resort, you can book direct excursions that will take you there in one of the hotel's private boats.
When visiting Murano, I explored one of the numerous glass factories and workshops, witnessing skilled workers shaping molten glass into intricate forms of glassware and artwork. The factory offered a comprehensive look at the island's glassmaking history, displaying a stunning array of historic and contemporary glass pieces. Additionally, the island's charming canals and vibrant streets provide a picturesque backdrop for strolls.
Burano, elsewhere, is iconic for its brightly painted houses. It's widely believed that the houses were painted in different colours to help fishermen identify their homes in the fog. Whether or not that's true is debatable, but the island is an Instagram-worthy hot spot. Apart from the colourful facades, Burano is famous for its centuries-old tradition of lace-making. The delicate artistry of Burano lace is showcased in the local shops, where I was able to purchase a beautiful handmade lace scarf for my mum.
You can't have a trip to Venice, without visiting some of their main attractions such as St. Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace, La Fenice Opera House and a walk through the Ghetto and over the romantic Rialto Bridge. Here, you can stroll across the bridge, explore the nearby markets and enjoy panoramic views of the canal.
Whether you want to enjoy a brief getaway or a longer, more meaningful trip, you can't go wrong with Venice.
Rates at JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa start from £500 per night, visit jwvenice.com for more information.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/travel/509449/jw-marriott-venice-hotel-review/
| 2024-01-13T10:57:53Z
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ASTANA – The art exhibition featuring paintings by Arzhan Yuteev, a young artist from the Altai Republic, focused on ancient legends and the rich culture of the Altai Region, has achieved significant success. The exhibition opened on Nov. 11 at the Kulanshi Art Gallery and will run through Jan.19.
According to Leila Makhat, the curator of the gallery, the Following Wolf Trails exhibition explores fundamental themes such as the soul, one’s roots, the connection of generations, and the beauty of emotions.
“The theme of self-identification in modern realities is very relevant. Only by understanding the depth and beauty of the history of one’s people can we comprehend the world we will pass on to our children,” she said.
“The mystical legends of the Altai Region serve as an endless source of inspiration. However, in Yuteev’s paintings, ancient plots and images take on new meaning while retaining their essence and depth.”
Makhat emphasized that the presented works depict the protective she-wolf mother, storytellers recounting the feats of mighty heroes, secret knowledge encrypted in runes, and the immortal beauty of Altai women.
In her opinion, there are two works from the exhibition that leave a lasting impression.
“The painting titled Eternity showcases the theme of love, power, and eternal values. The other painting, Legend, reveals the ambiguous image of the wolf-mother, who protects her children and guards her kin,” she said.
In an interview with the Astana Times, Yuteev echoed Makhat’s perspective.
“Eternity explores love, family values, and the importance of the family as a whole. The concept is both male and female, laid down by nature. In most myths and legends, the main character is a man and his beloved. That’s when I decided to delve into this topic,” he explained.
Yuteev emphasized his desire for his works to have meaningful depth and emotional impact on viewers.
“I want to create works that emotionally influence the viewer, establishing a visual dialogue. I want the person to feel the depth of the picture,” he said.
Yuteev shared that this exhibition reflects his connection to his roots, emphasizing that the theme he explores is vast and largely untouched.
“The Kazakh audience is receptive and inquisitive, asking numerous questions about my art. Most importantly, they comprehend and resonate with the exhibition’s topic,” he said.
This marks Yuteev’s second international exhibition, with the first one held in Berlin. Over time, he has observed that preparing for such events becomes more manageable, and his confidence grows.
“Now, I feel more assured in both myself and the exhibitions’ concept. I comprehend what I aim to convey to the audience and the emotions I want to evoke,” he concluded.
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https://astanatimes.com/2024/01/kazakh-capital-hosts-exhibition-about-altais-mystical-world/
| 2024-01-13T12:15:25Z
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ASTANA – Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of economic development in Kazakhstan. They spearhead innovation and create a dynamic market environment. In an interview with The Astana Times, an entrepreneur Amir Davletov shared a personal story of launching a food tech business from scratch in the Kazakh capital.
Food tech is a rapidly evolving sector, driven by ongoing technological advancements and changing consumer preferences. Davletov’s main focus is the Eat&Fit company, a healthy food organization and delivery service.
The Eat&Fit project
Eat&Fit specialists develop meal plans with a particular focus on fitness and nutrition goals, such as weight loss or muscle gain.
“It is a little difficult to get used to this nutrition format due to muted tastes. As soon as the receptors are ‘cleaned’ and become more sensitive to the real taste of products instead of flavor enhancers, it starts to feel comfortable. Our clients forget about the severity, overeating, and heartburn. There is no need to think about what to eat for lunch today, spend time cooking, waiting for couriers or standing in lunch queues in cafes,” said Davletov.
Eat&Fit is still in the formative stage. There are 10 people in the office team and nearly 60 people in production facilities and delivery systems.
“It seems to me that we still do not have a clear organizational structure. We understand the need to test new products and approaches in such a fast-paced market. The structure is also constantly changing. Many things can be outsourced in modern business,” he said.
The opening of Eat&Fit was initiated by three people, both partners and friends.
“We founded the company in 2015 after the food tech sector started to develop in Russia. We were pioneers in this field in Kazakhstan. Unfortunately, we could not maintain partnership and friendship, and now I am the only owner,” noted Davletov.
The entrepreneur recalled the rapid growth he observed in the launch stage. Later, similarly to other startup stories, Eat&Fit encountered the death valley curve, the challenging period between the company’s initial funding and its first revenue.
“Just as we started to get out of this difficult phase, quarantine restrictions appeared due to COVID-19. The relevance of the subscription model during the pandemic was very low. At that time, all restaurants and cafes entered the food delivery market. Besides, our client stayed at home with plenty of free time,” said Davletov.
The largest customer category consists of high-level specialists and top managers, the company’s customer development methodology shows. Most often, they focus on careers and developing their professional skills, according to the Eat&Fit founder.
“Our audience values their time, yet it takes a lot of effort to form a varied diet on their own. It does expand, but not as fast as we would want. As an entrepreneur, I have ambitions to build a big business, but unfortunately, we have a very narrow market in this segment,” said Davletov.
He noted the lack of high demand for the Eat&Fit product.
“Let’s be honest, healthy food with subscription delivery is not the basic need of every person. People live on credit without their own housing and sophistications, no matter how sad it sounds. Therefore, if we talk about what goals our product covers, then this is rather one of the ways to make life more comfortable when the basic needs are already covered,” he said.
The food tech industry in Kazakhstan
Comparing Russian and Kazakh food delivery markets, Davletov highlighted that Kazakhstan will ensure a similar infrastructure for developing this area in the short run.
“In Russia, most players in the grocery store market with their own brands sell healthy food in boxes. The delivery infrastructure makes it easy to order and receive lunch within 15 minutes,” he noted.
As a case in point, Davletov brought an example of Mealty, the Russian ready-to-eat meal delivery service.
“Mealty is represented in many business centers in Russia. Healthy food is available almost everywhere. I think Kazakhstan will soon have a similar story. For instance, Kaspi Bank and e-Magnum [the Magnum E-commerce Kazakhstan project] have already concluded respective agreements,” said Davletov.
Accelerated digitalization in Kazakhstan covers the food retail industry as well. Apart from other features, Kaspi Bank’s e-grocery system has risen in demand among the population. Last February, the bank gained operational control over e-Magnum. It decided to invest 70 billion tenge (US$15 million) in the development of the e-Magnum joint venture in the next three years and received 90% ownership of the company.
“There is also a raft of new startups, including Chocofood, Airba Fresh, Arbuz.kz, and Clever. So far, they all specialize in products. To increase the repeatability of orders, one way or another they will introduce ready-made food, including healthy meals,” he noted.
Social contradictions
Given Davletov’s willingness to promote wellness among citizens in his own way and make this objective the company’s mission, the entrepreneur said he doubts people need it.
“My good friend and successful entrepreneur Ilyas Isatayev said that we are engaged in a countercultural business. It is now a trend to have breakfasts in coffee shops or dinners in hookah bars. We constantly face the objection that 8,000-9,000 tenge [US$18-19] for five meals a day is expensive, while these same people leave twice as much money for hookahs and alcohol,” said Davletov.
“The situation is still a bit unclear. On the one hand, people care more about their health. On the other hand, we are experiencing financial difficulties: over the past couple of years, food and packaging materials have become very expensive. Overall, life has become much more expensive, affecting the increase in the entire wage fund, but the purchasing power is still decreasing,” he added.
Another project Davletov runs is a photo studio called Krai Sveta (The World’s Edge), where his spouse Gulnara Davletova organizes photo sessions. When asked about family and work, he said it is difficult to combine partnership and family relations in business.
“First, I expected my wife to be in charge of the studio. Later, I realized that it was more important for me to make her feel comfortable than for the studio to earn more. So she’s just doing what she loves and what she’s good at – photography,” he said.
Davletov shared three factors that differentiate his studio from others in the city.
“Due to the facility’s remoteness and low rent per square meter, we could open three halls at once instead of one. Secondly, we chose a model with interior halls for a specific theme, rather than locations with decorations. We made the interior minimalistic so that it would not lose relevance for as long as possible. Thirdly, we have also focused on videography, because in this area the price is higher, and the trend is growing,” he said.
The entrepreneur continues to study the experience of foreign companies, saying that he understands “the need to refine or change the business model, as the company now faces limitations when scaling.”
In 2024, Eat&Fit plans to introduce a precedent for a radical change with a preliminary action plan. Davletov addresses various scenarios given the significant influence of external factors on the course of events.
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https://astanatimes.com/2024/01/kazakh-food-tech-entrepreneur-unveils-insights-on-doing-business-in-astana/
| 2024-01-13T12:15:32Z
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ASTANA – In 2023, 1,975 children enjoyed 920 tours offered by 13 travel companies in Kazakhstan, getting free flights as part of the Kids Go Free program, the Tourism and Sports Ministry’s press service reported on Jan. 12.
The Kids Go Free initiative is a family-oriented holiday program designed to boost domestic tourism in Kazakhstan. Launched in January 2022, the program provides complimentary air travel for children aged two to 17, subsidizing passengers for tours within Kazakhstan when purchased from a licensed tour operator specializing in domestic tourism.
This initiative allows parents to avoid paying for the airfare of their minor children during vacations within the country, provided they acquire a complete tour package from a licensed travel company.
In 2023, the amount of compensation reached 90 million tenge ($199,226), with the overall tour sales generating 458 million tenge ($1 million).
The most popular destination was Lake Alakol, with 637 children enjoying free flights, resulting in a compensation of 10.7 million tenge ($23,686).
Next was Almaty, where 561 children traveled for free. Compensation reached 31.9 million tenge ($70,615).
The Caspian coast took the third spot, hosting over 350 children in the past year through the program, with a compensation of 25.5 million tenge ($56,447).
Aktau remained a hotspot for tour packages exceeding one million tenge ($2,214).
In 2022, the Kids Go Free program facilitated 692 tours worth 373 million tenge ($825,681). A total of 1,430 children flew during the year, and the compensation hit 76.2 million tenge ($168,678).
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https://astanatimes.com/2024/01/nearly-2000-kids-in-kazakhstan-enjoy-tours-with-free-flights-under-kids-go-free-program/
| 2024-01-13T12:15:38Z
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This article first appeared in Issue 15 of our free digital magazine CURIOUS.
A 5,000-year-old bristlecone pine stands in the White Mountains of California, making it the oldest non-cloned living organism on Earth. We know the extremes of longevity can get messy in the context of animal cancers, but what about botanical species? Do plants get cancer?
Louise Gathercole is the Coordinator for the Centre for Forest Protection (CFP), UK, a new center led by Forest Research and Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, which carries out innovative research into protecting trees and woodlands from future threats. She is also a part-time PhD student researching oak trees. We caught up with her to find out if, and how, plants get sick.
Do plants get sick?
Louise Gathercole (LG): Plants do get sick, and it can have a big impact on things like our food supply. For example, the Irish Potato Famine happened because the plants got sick. With trees, we have had problems with fungi like Dutch elm disease and ash dieback, which have a big impact on our landscape.
What about cancer?
LG: With plants, there are lots of things that cause their cells to grow uncontrollably, and in a way that's not normal for the plant. Usually, these are caused by something else. So, it might be bacteria infecting the cells and subsequently the DNA. You also get viroids, viruses, and fungal infections, and in some cases, we don’t know what’s causing the cell growth.
Then there are also galls caused by gall wasps, a lot of which grow on oak trees. The wasps lay an egg in a leaf or acorn bud and when they hatch, they secrete chemicals that cause the cells of a leaf or an acorn to grow abnormally. That creates this space that's safe for the gall wasps’ larvae to develop in. This doesn’t really harm the tree.
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One of our science leads, Lisa Ward, who is Head of Pathology at Forest Research sent me some examples of plant diseases that cause massive cell proliferation in a cancer-like way. There’s crown gall that transfers bacteria into a plant’s genome, altering levels of plant hormones which leads to irregular cell division, causing tumors to grow. Also, black knot fungus releases chemicals that make the tree grow extra plant cells that are unusually large, resulting in swollen, woody galls. But there are many more.
How do these growths differ from animal cancer?
LG: You don't get secondary cancer because the cells don't move around the body. So, the cancer can't affect the different parts of the plant. But the way these growths can spread is the pathogen itself can move. So, a bacteria might infect cells in one area, but if the bacteria then multiplies and replicates, it can move somewhere else, or get carried somewhere else by another organism.
The other thing is that, for the most part with plants, it’s not spontaneous. It’s often triggered by a bacterium or fungus, while animal cancers are more typically a spontaneous breakdown in DNA replication or a breakdown in the body system that deals with out-of-control cells. Of course, there are exceptions like cervical cancers and human papillomavirus, so there are some similarities there.
Do we have plant medicines?
LG: If you think about agriculture and gardening, there is the use of pesticides and fungicides to protect plants. Then there’s biocontrol, where you might have an invasive insect that could be controlled by introducing more of its natural predators.
That's quite a big area of research now, using biocontrol for potential future threats such as pests and disease, but obviously, you have to do a lot of work to make sure that the predator you’re releasing doesn't affect other species. People are also looking into whether you can put together a cocktail of bacteria that might out-compete a bacterium that's causing problems. Improving the natural environmental conditions, such as soil, can also help as environmental factors can affect a plant’s susceptibility to disease. So, there are lots of things that aren’t quite medicines, but that can actually help to deal with whatever is causing the illness.
What are you looking into at the CFP?
LG: We are researching possible future invasive threats to trees, and also how to make our trees more resilient. We do a lot of genomics research at the CFP at Kew, using methods previously developed for human health or agriculture.
One method is to compare the genomes of sick trees with the trees that seem to be resistant to a pest or disease. If you get more of one version of a gene in the resistant group, that version might be helping the tree to resist the disease. In reality, it is much more complicated than just one gene, but if we can identify the mix of variants, or the genotypes, that lead to a healthier outcome, we can start looking at planting more resistant trees in the future.
CURIOUS magazine is a digital magazine from IFLScience featuring interviews, experts, deep dives, fun facts, news, book excerpts, and much more. Issue 18 is out now.
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https://www.iflscience.com/can-plants-get-cancer-72324
| 2024-01-13T13:26:36Z
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On February 21, 1997, a man calling himself Mel Waters rang the late-night radio talk show "Coast to Coast with Art Bell" with a very strange story to tell.
According to Waters, on his property, around 14 kilometers (9 miles) west of Ellensburg, Washington, there was a hole that seemingly had no bottom. Waters told the host that locals would toss their garbage into the hole (the first thing you're supposed to do when you find an anomaly of scientific interest) and it would never fill up.
He went on to claim that, investigating the matter, he had gotten an absurd amount of fishing line to dangle into the hole in an attempt to assess its depth.
"As usual I brought the dogs with me... they wouldn't go anywhere near the damn thing," he told the show, "and if I try to bring them there on a leash they'll just dig their feet and they do not want to go anywhere near the hole."
Dangling the line in, he claimed it reached down over 24,000 meters (80,000 feet) without reaching the bottom.
The Earth's crust, on land, is variable. On average it is about 30 kilometers (19 miles) thick, though under mountain ranges it can reach as much as 100 kilometers (62 miles). If Water's claim were true, the hole would go deeper into the crust than any human-made hole has ever reached into the Earth.
That title goes to the Kola Superdeep Borehole, on the Kola Peninsula in northwestern Russia. The project, which spanned from May 24, 1970, to just after the collapse of the Soviet Union, saw the deepest branch of the hole reach 12,263 meters (40,230 feet) below the surface.
It seems unlikely that somebody stumbled across a deeper hole without anybody really knowing about it, but Waters' strange testimony didn't end there. According to him, the hole had other mysterious properties, including bringing dogs back from the dead. On the show, he claimed that a local resident threw a dead pet into the hole, only for it to show up alive again later on with a hunter. The dog, having been through a lot, did not come back to its "owner".
Other bizarre claims included that radios placed near it would play old music, while metals held near the hole would morph into other substances.
The urban legend spread, and others claimed that they had seen the hole too, though none of them would ever reveal an exact location. Of course, this is likely because the tale is nonsense. Waters went on to claim that the government had forced him to lease them the land the hole was on with no explanation, which gave him the money to move to Australia.
Investigations showed there were no records of Waters in the area, nor his wife working at the university where she supposedly procured the fishing line. People have looked for the hole itself, but have presented no evidence of its existence.
The hole, likely a hoax or the passing on of an urban legend, could not exist as it is described, even before you get to the "and it brings dogs back from the dead" aspect.
"Geologically and physically, it’s not possible for a hole to be that deep," Jack Powell, a geologist with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, who had been asked about the hole by local filmmakers, told Daily Record News. "It would collapse into itself under the tremendous pressure and heat from the surrounding strata."
Powell believes the legend was sparked by a local gold mine that had its entrance in a local field, with a shaft of around 27 meters (90 feet). Which, though deep, is hardly what we'd call bottomless.
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https://www.iflscience.com/geologically-impossible-the-strange-story-of-mels-supposedly-bottomless-hole-72417
| 2024-01-13T13:26:42Z
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The fourth anniversary of COVID-19 being declared a pandemic is almost upon us. In 2024, the availability of vaccines has made it a very different beast from the disease authorities were struggling to contain at the start of 2020. Since that time, we’ve learned much about the SARS-CoV-2 virus and its effects, but this research will continue for many years to come. A recent publication sparked a slew of new headlines about how a vegetarian or vegan diet could help protect against COVID-19, but some experts are not convinced that the study lives up to the hype.
What the study said
The research team used data from a group of 702 Brazilian adults recruited between March and July 2022, splitting them into omnivorous (424 people) or predominantly plant-based (278 people) groups according to their declared eating habits.
The plant-based group was then further divided into two categories: flexitarians, defined as those who ate meat no more than three times per week; and a vegetarian/vegan combined category.
Among the entire group of 702 people, 330 (47 percent) reported having had COVID-19 – 224 with “mild” symptoms, and the remaining 106 with “moderate” symptoms.
Analysis of the data indicated that the omnivores had a significantly higher reported incidence of COVID-19 than the plant-based groups (52 percent vs. 40 percent) and were more likely to have had a rougher time of it, with 18 percent reporting moderate to severe symptoms (vs. 11 percent).
The plant-based groups had fewer pre-existing medical conditions, higher rates of physical activity, and lower rates of obesity, all things the authors point to as potential risk factors for COVID-19 and its complications.
Overall, and after correcting for confounding factors, the study concluded that those following a mostly vegetarian or vegan diet were 39 percent less likely to become infected that those eating an omnivorous diet.
Taking that headline figure in isolation, it would be easy to conclude that changing your eating habits might go a considerable way towards protecting you against what can still be a deadly disease. But things are rarely that simple, unfortunately.
What are the limitations?
The paper’s authors state: “We recommend the practice of following plant-based diets or vegetarian dietary patterns.” However, some experts who were not directly involved in the study believe that this recommendation is too premature.
“I think that this study can’t provide substantial evidence for this recommendation with regards to COVID-19 infection,” commented Professor Margaret Rayman, a professor of nutritional medicine at the University of Surrey. Professor Rayman then went on to cite evidence from other studies suggesting that some important nutrients that may help people fight COVID-19 are actually easier to obtain from an omnivorous diet.
Dr Gavin Stewart, a senior lecturer in evidence synthesis at Newcastle University, also took issue with the conclusions based on the relatively small sample size and the observational nature of the study.
“This work presents interesting data but the authors conclusions do not adequately reflect the uncertainty inherent in small observational studies that are not designed to assess causal relationships. The conclusion that plant-based diets have a preventative role in COVID-19 infection is premature and not warranted,” Dr Stewart said.
To the study authors credit, they do clearly state in the paper that both the dietary information and COVID-19 infection history were self-reported. This type of data collection always introduces bias – people may consciously or unconsciously give an inaccurate account of their eating habits, for example, and some people may have had asymptomatic COVID and thus not be aware they’ve been infected.
“The main problem is that, despite the finding that people who ate plant-based diets had lower incidence of COVID infection than people who ate omnivorous diets, we just can’t be sure whether this correlation is caused by the type of diet they say they eat, or by something else,” elaborated Professor Kevin McConway, Emeritus Professor of Applied Statistics at the Open University.
Professor McConway acknowledged that the researchers had performed statistical adjustments to try to account for the many factors that could have influenced the results, such as pre-existing medical conditions in the different groups, but it’s almost impossible to cover all your bases.
“This doesn’t rule out the possibility that diet type does, to some extent at least, cause differences in infection risk, but it does very clearly mean that we just can’t be sure about cause and effect from this study.”
So, should we all be changing our diets?
“There are, of course, many reasons why people might want to increase the amount of plant-based food in their diets, apart from any effect that might possibly have on COVID infection risk,” said Professor McConway. For example, many adopt a plant-based lifestyle out of concern for the environment or due to an ideological objection to consuming animal products.
Changing your entire lifestyle based on this one study alone is likely unwarranted, given the caveats highlighted by the authors themselves and by the experts quoted here. However, it is worth remembering that the “plant-based” group in the study did include the so-called “flexitarians”, who still ate meat but just less frequently.
With that in mind, even if the conclusions of the study do end up being supported by future research, it could be the case that adding more vegetables and legumes to your diet, and switching it up with the occasional meat-free day, could be enough to see some reduction in your risk of getting COVID-19, whilst maximizing your chances of getting in all the nutrients you need.
Maybe the answer is not to adopt an entirely new diet plan. Maybe the key – though, admittedly, it makes for a less sexy headline – is the age-old maxim, “Everything in moderation.”
The study is published in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health.
All “explainer” articles are confirmed by fact checkers to be correct at time of publishing. Text, images, and links may be edited, removed, or added to at a later date to keep information current.
The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
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https://www.iflscience.com/is-a-vegan-diet-really-going-to-protect-you-from-covid-19-72427
| 2024-01-13T13:26:48Z
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This article first appeared in Issue 15 of our free digital magazine CURIOUS.
H.G. Wells set off an obsession with his novel The Time Machine, one whose frequent appearances in science fiction testifies to its popularity ever since. Many of the other futuristic concepts Wells and his contemporaries wrote about have long since come true, but we don’t seem to be any closer to time travel, at least of the sort popularly envisaged. So, is it even possible?
Physics offers reasons to think it might be, starting with its status as the fourth dimension. However, it also throws up a lot of obstacles, some of which may yet prove insurmountable.
Not that sort of time travel
Answering a question like this needs to start with what one means by time travel. In one sense we are all traveling in time, approaching the future at the rate of one second every second. Of course, that's not what people mean, but it points to the need to think a bit harder about definitions.
Some forms of time travel are definitely possible, but while they may be closer to popular meanings, they’re still not really there. We know from Special Relativity that time passes differently for someone traveling at a substantial fraction of the speed of light than for someone stationary. Consequently, astronauts on a trip to Mars, particularly a more rapid one than is currently considered, would experience very slight time dilation effects. Looked at one way, they would return to an Earth whose clocks, including biological clocks, are very slightly out of step with their own.
For a short trip like that, the differences would be minor, and overwhelmed in terms of aging by the effects of zero gravity. Faster and more distant journeys, where the time shifts would be more noticeable, may be well outside our current capacity, not to mention budget, but we know they are theoretically possible. The sorts of time travel where space voyagers return to Earth barely changed but their families have aged decades could happen, and if humanity does not derail its progress through war or environmental collapse, they probably will.
What we really mean
Unless some force maintains the traveler's position relative to the planet, you'd find yourself floating helplessly in space waiting for the Earth to catch up.
Pedantry aside, we all know what is meant by time travel: going to a point in either the past or the future and (hopefully) returning safely. Even if this is possible in theory, there are some quite major practical problems to consider.
To pick just one example: fictional representations of time travel almost always assume the traveler ends up in the same location in space, relative to the Earth, but would this be the case? After all, even if you just traveled back in time by a week, so you could bet on a sporting contest for example, the Earth would have moved millions of kilometers in its orbit around the Sun in that time, and the Sun would, in turn, have migrated a small way around the galaxy.
Unless some force maintains the traveler's position relative to the planet, you'd find yourself floating helplessly in space waiting for the Earth to catch up. Ignoring this problem reflects a view of the Earth as the center of the universe disproven by Copernicus.
If you assume time travel involves conservation of momentum, the traveler would likely end up close to their location of origin, but slight changes in direction could still result in relative shifts in location that could prove lethal.
Nevertheless, objections like this don't make time travel impossible, just impractical.
The strangeness of space-time
In addition to raising the possibility of time dilation effects, Einstein’s special theory of relativity implied that space and time are more intimately linked than had previously been assumed. The idea of a four-dimensional space-time was raised soon after, and developed in the general theory of relativity, where Einstein showed that huge mass can curve space-time, including what physicists call worldlines.
One consequence of this is that similar time dilation effects can occur in a powerful gravitational field just as they can when traveling close to the speed of light. If you want to experience time travel at the pico-scale, climb a mountain or get in an airplane to put some distance between you and the Earth’s gravity.
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More significantly, if this distortion becomes sufficiently extreme it should create what is called a “closed timelike curve” (CTC), which followed precisely would take you back to an earlier time.
As the book The Quantum Physics of Time Travel notes: “If time travel is impossible, then the reason has yet to be discovered.”
Nevertheless, there is clearly a lot we don't know about time. If it is merely the fourth dimension, why can we easily change our position in space, but not do so in time, other than letting it carry us forward like a river? The answer could turn out to create physical obstacles to time travel we have yet to identify.
Grandfather paradoxes
The obvious problem with traveling back in time: accidentally (or deliberately) kill your grandparents and you are never born, so how could you kill them? Science fiction writers usually use this as a plot device to force their characters to undo the changes they have made. The ending produces a world where all the crucial details are similar enough that the trip occurs paradox-free, but things are nevertheless better.
That’s great for fiction, but scientists have to acknowledge that such an outcome is unlikely.
One possible solution to the grandfather paradox lies in the many-worlds interpretation. If true, there are an infinite number of universes branching off from each other every time an event occurs that could turn out in different ways. In this scenario, the universe where your grandfather was mysteriously killed before conceiving your parent is as real as the one you experience, and traveling in time merely means hopping from this universe to that one.
A variation on the grandfather paradox is the Bootstrap Paradox, where time travel creates the conditions for itself to happen. An example might be a person receiving instructions from the future on how to build a time machine, leading to the creation of a world where their future self can send those instructions back. While self-consistent, these situations nevertheless leave open the question of where the information came from in the first place. Once again, this is the sort of thing fiction writers can casually gloss over in films like The Terminator, but physicists have to face directly. Calling them closed causal loops may speed communication but doesn’t solve the problem.
What isn't clear, however, is whether paradoxes actually prevent someone from traveling through time, even if they potentially make it a very bad idea.
A one-way trip?
A return to one's own time would risk the bootstrap paradox, where the information collected on the trip is used to bring the foreseen world into reality.
Most time travel stories today involve efforts to go back in time to try to change the endless things we’re unhappy about. However, Wells’s tale is of a traveler going forward to witness the decline of humanity and eventually the Earth. This avoids the grandfather paradoxes and is quite possibly more plausible.
Such forward traveling might have its appeal, particularly if you expect the future to be better than the past – you‘d get to reap the benefits of those solving today’s problems without having to do any of the work. The problem would come if you started missing your loved ones and wished to return home. At the very least, a return to one's own time would risk the bootstrap paradox, where the information collected on the trip is used to bring the foreseen world into reality.
If so, how?
If we accept that time travel is possible, paradoxes can be resolved, and it's something we are willing to risk, that still leaves the question of how.
The simple-sounding explanation is that one needs to travel faster than the speed of light, but this is easier said than done. It's possible to travel faster than the local speed of light in a medium that slows light down, something we witness in the Cherenkov Effect. This, however, does not get you a ticket to the 19th century. For that, you need to travel faster than the speed of light in a vacuum. Although faster-than-light travel is not inherently impossible, an object with mass cannot travel at exactly the speed of light, which poses something of an obstacle to traveling faster than it. In practical terms, how does one accelerate from slower than light speed to faster without going at the speed of light in between?
According to Stephen Hawking, a prerequisite for time travel is the presence of exotic matter, specifically matter with negative energy. This isn't necessarily as impossible as it might sound, but so far we have not identified the existence of any negative mass particles, in contrast to antimatter, which, while rare, definitely exists.
Why aren't they here?
Ultimately, the strongest evidence against time travel is probably its own equivalent of the Fermi Paradox. If time travel is possible, why have we not encountered any tourists from the future? Hawking even sent them an invite.
Either humanity has never invented time travel, or our descendants have, but have used it very responsibly. Given our record with every other technology, the latter seems unlikely.
CURIOUS magazine is a digital magazine from IFLScience featuring interviews, experts, deep dives, fun facts, news, book excerpts, and much more. Issue 18 is out now.
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https://www.iflscience.com/is-it-possible-to-travel-through-time-or-do-paradoxes-get-in-the-way-72306
| 2024-01-13T13:26:54Z
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Lying deep beneath the Pacific Ocean, an immense geological superstructure has been growing since the Cretaceous period, fuelled by an area of intraplate volcanism that’s larger than Great Britain.
In a new study, geologists attempt to piece together how the so-called Melanesian Border Plateau was formed, concluding that it was formed through several different pulses of volcanism starting when dinosaurs roamed the Earth and continuing into the present day.
The sea floor is scattered with countless seamounts (underwater mountains) and ridges, as well as larger volcanic structures. It’s often assumed that underwater features like these are formed by single, somewhat sudden volcanic upsets. These events have the potential to be cataclysmic, sparking large environmental changes.
However, this recent research suggests that the Melanesian Border Plateau has a more complicated backstory. Located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, the so-called superstructure appears to have formed over millions upon millions of years through a slow-burning genesis that unfolded in four distinct stages.
"There are some features in the Pacific basin where [scientists] have only a single sample, and it looks like a very large massive single event," Kevin Konrad, study leader and Assistant Professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, told Live Science.
"Sometimes when we sample these features in detail, we realize they're actually built over multiple pulses over tens of millions of years and wouldn't have significant environmental impacts," Konrad continued.
To reach their findings, the team carried out geochemical analysis on samples scooped up from the Melanesian Border Plateau region, the Western Samoa Seamounts, the Eastern Samoa Seamount Province, and the Tuvalu Seamount Chain region.
This showed that the origin of the superstructure started in the Cretaceous period around 120 million years ago with a giant outpour of lava, creating an array of seamounts.
In the second phase, between 56 million to 33.9 million years ago, the lithosphere (the outer rocky shell of Earth) passed over a volcanic region called the Arago hotspot, creating more seamounts and some oceanic islands. These islands eventually eroded away and sunk below the surface.
Thirdly, fast forward to a more recent time, the Miocene epoch (23 million to 5 million years ago). The same islands and underwater mountains were reactivated and new volcanoes were formed as the Earth's lithosphere passed over another hotspot, the Samoa hotspot. This volcanic hotspot is still creating new islands even to this day.
Finally, in a period that’s still ongoing today, new volcanic eruptions at the plateau emerged because the lithosphere had been deformed by the rollback of the Pacific plate beneath the Tonga trench.
It’s a complex story, which the researchers say will provide a more nuanced picture of how some underwater features are formed. To describe the geological products of these multi-stage events, the team proposes the term “Oceanic Mid-plate Superstructures”.
The new study is published in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters.
[H/T: Live Science]
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https://www.iflscience.com/strange-superstructure-in-the-pacific-has-been-forming-since-dinosaurs-ruled-earth-72420
| 2024-01-13T13:27:00Z
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Simon Cowell likes to keep his life at home away from the spotlight but on Friday, he shared the sweetest family photo featuring his son, Eric, stepson Adam, and fiancé, Lauren Silverman.
Taking to his Instagram feed Simon posted a touching photo of the family-of-four. Eric, nine, has changed so much and was the image of his father in the sweet snap. Standing behind Eric was Simon's stepson, Adam, who is Lauren's son from her marriage to Andrew Silverman.
Captioning the photo, he wrote: "A couple more of us and Pebbles,". Pebbles is the family's latest four-legged addition. The family-of-four were headed out on a sun-soaked winter walk with a number of other pooches Squiddly and Diddly. The family also has dogs, Freddie and Daisy.
In the snap, the quartet donned matching black puffer coats, the perfect pieces for the plummeting winter temperatures. Simon and Lauren also slipped on a pair of glamorous sunglasses.
Eric was also cuddling up to a beautiful black pooch in the sweet snap. A second photo showed Simon, Lauren, and Eric mid-walk against a woodland backdrop.
Friends and fans couldn't wait to weigh in on the wonderful update. "Your son is your double Simon," one fan penned. A second added: "Wow such a handsome family." Meanwhile, a third penned: "Aww, I always had Alsatians growing up . Gorgeous dogs .. and when did Eric get so tall?"
Simon shared news of Pebbles' arrival on Thursday with a sweet photo of the pooch appearing happier than ever with his new owner. Pebbles appeared to be kissing a pouting Simon who was cuddling the dog on his lap.
A second photo showed the Britain's Got Talent judge snuggling into his latest family addition.
"Awww look at those eyes. Nothing better than a four-legged addition to the family," one fan penned.
A second added: "Congratulations- Pebbles hit the jackpot!" A third replied writing: "OMG cuteness overload."
Simon's love of dogs is well documented. In 2015, he told Glamour: "I have always loved dogs but had no idea how much happiness they would bring to my life."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/511166/simon-cowell-ultra-rare-photo-sons/
| 2024-01-13T13:41:16Z
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Heidi Klum has taken to Instagram as she prepares for her hosting duties on the latest season of Germany's Next Top Model. The America's Got Talent judge, 50, shared a brand new video with her 11.8 million followers where she underwent a supermodel-worthy transformation and debuted an incredible blazer that shows workwear doesn't have to be the professional pieces you wear to the office.
The model was seen in a gorgeous boxy blazer with crisp lapels in a bright red shade which was covered in red sparkly gemstones. She styled the piece with a crisp white shirt and showed off her stunning photoshoot-worthy hair. We have grown used to seeing Heidi wear her luscious locks in a straight style with her signature bangs on AGT. On this occasion, the mother-of-four showed off her stunning blow dry where her hair was styled in bouncy 90s curls with her fringe styled away from her face with tonnes of volume at the root. Think all of the volume of Brooke Shields' iconic 90s hair and you have Heidi's look.
Heidi was seen in a second video riding on a golf buggy with fashion designer Christian Cowen around the studio for her Germany's Next Top Model comeback. Fans caught a glimpse of a stunning pair of oversized sparkly earrings beneath her blonde tresses and she added a pair of black cat-eye sunglasses with red rims to complete the ultra-glamorous look.
The star credited her gorgeous hairstyle to stylist Lorenzo Martin and rocked a deep brown smokey eye and nude satin lip courtesy of makeup artist Linda Hay who also did her Golden Globes makeup. Heidi loves to offer fans a behind-the-scenes insight into her life. She shared a photo in a relaxed cream tracksuit with a graphic print on the back and fluffy slippers with rollers in her hair, preparing for her red-look aesthetic, captioned: "#setlife."
Heidi loves a bright red aesthetic and we would argue it's the color she rocks best. Take a look at five of her best ruby-red outfits.
DISCOVER: Leni Klum and long-time boyfriend share 'adoption' news - and mom Heidi will be so happy
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/511167/heidi-klum-dazzling-red-hot-blazer-breathtaking/
| 2024-01-13T13:41:22Z
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Lauren Sanchez pulled out all the stops to ensure she looked incredible for her fiancé, Jeff Bezos' 60th birthday celebrations in Milan on Friday.
The 54-year-old donned a black, see-through, Dolce & Gabbana lace dress from the designers' Spring/Summer 2023 collaboration with Kim Kardashian, which featured the DG Millennials logo woven into the fabric.
Lauren looked phenomenal in the sultry midi dress that also boasted a high neck and slinky silhouette that showcased her incredible physique.
To protect her modesty, she wore a black, push-up bra and matching thong underneath the sheer design, accessorizing with a silver necklace and matching hooped earrings.
She also debuted a new hairstyle, rocking shaggy curtain bangs courtesy of hairstylist, Pete Burkill, and her flawless makeup – which consisted of a soft smokey eye, nude lips, and a bronzed complexion – was done by makeup artist Buster Knight.
Sharing the stunning photo on Instagram, Lauren simply captioned the pic: "Happy birthday baby," followed by a black heart emoji, to which Jeff replied: "Happy to be going around the sun with you."
That wasn't her only message to her beau. Shortly before showing off her evening outfit, Lauren posted an adorable throwback photo of Jeff as a child, alongside a black-and-white image of the couple together.
She added a heartfelt message, which read: "Look who's turning 60! Happy birthday, baby! Today is another day where your laughter fills our home, and that smile of yours lights up every room. Wishing you an abundance of simple joys and quiet moments of happiness.
"May this year be filled with everything you love, from peaceful mornings to joyous celebrations. I hope each day brings you countless reasons to smile, just like you give me a reason to smile every single day. Love you, and happy birthday, my love."
This year's birthday marks Jeff's first since he got engaged to Lauren. The Amazon founder popped the question in May with a stunning diamond ring estimated to be worth $2.5 million, while they were aboard his luxurious $500 million superyacht.
The couple took their relationship public in January 2019, shortly after he announced he was divorcing his wife of 25 years, novelist and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, with whom he shares four children.
At the time, Lauren was also amid a divorce after 13 years of marriage to Patrick Whitesell. She has two children from a previous relationship with former NFL star Tony Gonzalez.
Lauren and Jeff have both gushed about their relationship over the past few years. In 2022, Lauren told CNN of their romance: "We're really great teammates, and we also have a lot of fun together and we love each other."
Jeff added: "It's easy. We bring each other energy, we respect each other. So, it's fun to work together."
The billionaire's birthday isn't the only cause for celebration this month. On January 19, Lauren will receive the Elling Halvorson Vertical Flight Hall of Fame Award at the 21st Annual Living Legends of Aviation Awards.
The former journalist earned her helicopter pilot's license in 2016 and subsequently created Black Ops Aviation, an aerial film and production company.
Sharing her joy over her latest accolade when the news was announced last month, Lauren penned on Instagram: "I just can't believe it!!! What a huge honor it is to be recognized by the Living Legends of Aviation.
"Flying is my passion and this is truly such an honor. (You also have have no idea how happy you made my dad who has been a pilot since I was a little girl)."
Get the lowdown on the biggest, hottest celebrity news, features and profiles coming out of the U.S. Sign up to our HELLO! Hollywood newsletterand get them delivered straight to your inbox.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/fashion/celebrity-style/511169/lauren-sanchez-wows-see-through-dress-jeff-bezos-60-birthday/
| 2024-01-13T13:41:28Z
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From her iconic red carpet outfits to her stylish off-duty looks, Rihanna never fails to impress with her incredible fashion choices, and the star took it to the next level as she posed in the most incredible lace lingerie on Friday.
In a new video shared on the Savage x Fenty Instagram page, the Umbrella hitmaker looked phenomenal in a red lingerie set adorned with sparkling embellishments, which she perfectly styled with a red feather coat.
Rihanna, 35, accessorized with glittering silver and pink jewels to round off the sizzling look, styling her hair in bouncy waves that framed her face. For her makeup, the singer opted for a touch of pink shimmering eyeshadow, a rosy blush, and a bright pink lip. Gorgeous!
Rihanna's underwear brand Savage x Fenty shared the video to mark the release of its Valentine's Day lingerie collection.
Another photo showed the We Found Love songstress posing in a bright pink lingerie set with a matching set of suspenders and stockings with the caption: "And that's how the bad gal does VDay."
Thousands of fans rushed straight to the comments to have their say on the breathtaking post. One follower wrote: "She is EVERYTHING." While another added: "Love the Barbie pink!"
A third joked: "No more lingerie and focus on the album now [laughing emoji]."
Rihanna's Savage x Fenty brand has dropped continuous sell-out collections since its first release in 2018. The singer began to build her successful fashion and beauty empire with the popular Fenty Beauty, which launched a year prior in 2017.
Last month, Rihanna surprised fans as she made an appearance at the Fenty x Puma party in Los Angeles to promote the collaboration between her beauty brand and the popular sportswear brand.
The mother-of-two was serving Y2K in a pair of low-rise denim jeans, a lavender leather jacket, and an oversized fur coat in a matching shade, whilst debuting the new Creeper Phatty sneakers.
Looking effortlessly cool as always, Rihanna rounded off the playful style with a silver chain across her jeans, a statement beaded necklace, and a pair of silver drop earrings.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/fashion/celebrity-style/511170/rihanna-wows-in-jaw-dropping-red-lace-lingerie-fenty/
| 2024-01-13T13:41:34Z
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Zara Tindall has been enjoying a trip to Australia with her husband Mike Tindall, and the pair looked as loved up as ever as they attended the Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Race Day on Saturday.
King Charles' niece looked the epitome of elegance for the event wearing a Leo Lin high-neck midi dress, which featured romantic puffed sleeves, a waist-cinching belt and a gorgeous orange and blue rose print.
Zara, 42, accessorised with a pair of silver heels and a matching clutch bag, rounding off the ensemble with a navy statement fascinator that featured orange detailing to perfectly complement her dress. For her jewellery, the royal opted for a pair of sparkling drop earrings, a silver bangle and a beaded bracelet.
The mother-of-three wore her hair in loose waves which was pushed back into an elegant updo to highlight her pretty features. Looking glamorous for the occasion, Zara wore a pair of fluttering false lashes a rosy blush on her cheeks and a pink lip with a hint of shine. Lovely!
Mike, 45, looked smart in a cream suit and brown shoes, while perfectly coordinating with his wife wearing a navy blue tie with white diagonal stripes.
The Magic Millions Polo Instagram account shared a series of photos during the event with the caption: "MAGICAL MOMENTS. We're having a magical day at the 2024 @thestargoldcoast @magicmillions Raceday! Joining us today are our wonderful Magic Millions ambassadors, Zara and Mike Tindall Delfina Blaquier and Nacho Figueras, and Nicole and Billy Slater, together with the ever-inspiring Katie Page-Harvey and Gerry Harvey.
"The sun is shining, the fashions are spectacular and the magic moments keep on coming as we head directly towards the $3m The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic."
The royal couple have been enjoying their trip Down Under, and Zara was spotted shopping solo on Friday.
Looking stylish in her summertime ensemble, Zara wore a striped shirt dress tied together at the waist, teamed with a pair of white trainers, cat-eye sunglasses and an Aspinal of London brown crossbody bag.
In a video shared on Instagram, Princess Anne's daughter was seen exploring the Pacific Fair shopping centre in Queensland as she teamed up with Magic Millions Polo to embark on a shopping spree with a fan.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/fashion/royal-style/511168/zara-tindall-waist-cinching-floral-dress-with-husband-mike-tindall/
| 2024-01-13T13:41:40Z
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The University of Colorado Boulder men’s basketball team returned to the CU Event Center following a brief hiatus over the holidays with home wins over the University of Washington and Washington State University two days apart. Despite missing two of their three leading scorers, senior leader Tristan da Silva and freshman sensation Cody Williams, both out due to injury, the Buffs pulled out two gritty victories off the back of point guard KJ Simpson.
With da Silva out with an ankle injury and Williams sidelined with a wrist injury, Colorado was short-handed for its bouts with the Huskies and Cougars. The loss of both players cannot be understated as, along with being leading scorers for the Buffs, da Silva and Williams have been among the team leaders in minutes and both are capable defenders.
In their absence, junior guard Julian Hammond III and senior forward Luke O’Brien entered the starting lineup. Forward Harrison Carrington and guard Javon Ruffin were set to earn their first real minutes of the season as the sixth and seventh players off the bench. Heading into back-to-back games against above .500 opponents, Colorado head coach Tad Boyle needed to turn to unlikely candidates for meaningful playing time.
Dec. 29: Colorado vs Washington
Entering the game in Boulder, the Washington Huskies sat at 8-3 with a win over No. 7 Gonzaga on their resume. Headed by fifth-year senior guard Keion Brooks Jr., who leads his team with 20.5 points per game off 40.5% from three on the season, the Huskies were rolling off a four-game win streak before meeting the Buffaloes.
The game started tight, with both teams relatively even for the first seven minutes of play, but a pair of tough Simpson baskets in the paint propelled Colorado to a 20-15 lead with 10 minutes remaining in the first half. Already, Colorado bench players were making the most of their increased playing time with Carrington making a highlight reel steal and behind-the-back pass to set up a sweet Simpson transition layup.
Simpson had praise for Carrington after the game.
“We love Harry. This whole team trusts him on the floor, he’s someone that does everything right,” he said.
The Buffs carried the momentum for the rest of the first half, taking a 32-26 lead into the break. Simpson had already made 11 points and three assists on the day, while Brooks had been held to only five points for the Huskies.
However, Brooks did not stay quiet for long. As the scoring ramped up in the second half, the Buffs found big minutes in Eddie Lampkin Jr. who achieved a double-double in points and rebounds before the 20-minute mark, and sharpshooter Hammond III who hit his second and third three-pointers of the game. Opposingly, the Huskies started getting hot from beyond the arc as Brooks nailed three straight three-pointers in under five minutes. Brooks’ last shot tied the game at 54 with eight minutes remaining.
As the game clock wound down, Washington established a seven point lead just after the six minute mark, capitalized by an impressive alley-oop finish from Brooks assisted by guard Sahvir Wheeler. But the Buffs responded only a minute later with a game-stopping one-handed dunk by forward Hadley.
“The crowd was great, and obviously our students weren’t here tonight, but our community showed up,” said coach BoyIe when addressing the excitement of the Hadley dunk.
“I told him [Hadley] after the game I knew we were gonna win after he did that,” Simpson said about the dunk.
Hadley continued to be big for Colorado down the stretch as he and Simpson closed out the Huskies with back-to-back finishes in transition to put the Buffs in front to end the game. Simpson ended the game with 21 points and 10 rebounds.
Dec. 31: Colorado vs Washington State
The Washington State Cougars arrived in Boulder two days later with a similar game-day record to their in-state rivals, sitting at 9-3. Unlike the Huskies, however, the Cougars had lost two of their last three games and were coming off a 22-point defeat to the University of Utah just two days before. Without a clear-cut star, Washington State’s three leading scorers, freshman guard Myles Rice, senior forward Isaac Jones and senior forward Andrej Jakimovski, head the team.
From the first whistle, Simpson was attacking the rim at will. In the first 11 minutes, Simpson’s nine points, all coming from inside or free throws, boosted Colorado to a 23-12 lead. Considering the de Silva and Williams injuries, the Buffs offense seemed to have adapted well to playing off a more ball-dominant and aggressive Simpson.
Addressing the increased role, Simpson said, “I love basketball. I never wanted to come out, that’s how I’ve been since growing up… this is something that you have to do when guys go down.”
In the final stretch of the first half, the Cougars rallied behind three straight Jakimovski three-pointers in under two minutes to bring the score to 29-25. However, a Simpson transition layup and a pair of nice drives from Hammond helped bring the lead back up to 39-29 to end the half.
After putting up 14 first-half points, Simpson continued his big night by adding 11 more points in the first 12 minutes of the second half, including his lone three-pointer of the night. But without any consistent offense outside of Simpson, the Buffs allowed the Cougars to stay in the game. After Jones’ tenth point of the second half, a layup, the score was brought to a slim Colorado lead at 58-56 with eight minutes and 24 seconds remaining.
It was Simpson, as it had been all night, that closed out the game for the Buffs. Following a pair of Rice free throws that cut the Buffs’ lead to only one point, Simpson drove one-on-one against the Cougars’ Jones and nailed a soaring hook shot off the backboard. The score was 67-64 with two minutes remaining.
The Buffs’ defense showed up big time in the end, managing to hold Washington State to a lone buzzer-beater three-pointer while Colorado scored at will on the other end. Simpson finished with a career-high 34 points as Colorado beat Washington State 74-67.
“Tonight we needed [KJ] to score and he went out and got 34. The kid’s special, he has solidified himself as one of the great point guards in Colorado basketball history,” coach Boyle said after the game.
Since the Washington and Washington State victories, the Colorado men’s team has lost two straight games during their Arizona trip and will play at the University of California Wednesday, Jan. 10.
Contact CU Independent staff writer Charlie Hewitt at Charlie.Hewitt@colorado.edu.
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https://www.cuindependent.com/2024/01/10/kj-simpson-leads-short-handed-buffs-to-back-to-back-victories-over-washington-and-washington-state/
| 2024-01-13T15:32:12Z
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You wouldn’t want to be on Venus right now. Or any day really. The atmospheric pressure and temperature are so high that you would be flattened and cooked immediately. It is much more bearable in the clouds of the planet, with a tropical climate and Earth-normal temperatures – as long as you don’t mind the sulfuric acid. Clearly, it’s an inhospitable place for us anywhere, but would some life be able to survive? New evidence suggests that at least its basic components are unaffected.
The work conducted by Professor Sara Seager, her son, and a team looked at amino acids – the building blocks of proteins, crucial for life. The team wanted to know how an extremely acidic environment affects these molecules. They found that 11 out of 20 amino acids tested were unmodified, and another eight were modified only in their side chains after four weeks at extremely high concentrations of sulfuric acid.
This latest work follows a previous study by Seager about the stability of nucleic acid bases in sulfuric acid. These bases are the components that make up DNA and RNA. They too can survive unscathed in the extreme environment of the clouds of Venus.
“Concentrated sulfuric acid's chemical properties differ significantly from that of water, so much so that our results may appear unexpected. Our findings help to challenge the prevailing misconception in the astrobiology and biology communities that organic chemicals are uniformly unstable in concentrated sulfuric acid,” the researchers wrote in their latest paper.
Chemical stability is not equivalent to life, but it certainly moves the dial away from impossible. Habitability in the clouds of Venus has been a hot topic since the detection of phosphine in them. The molecule is produced by life forms on Earth, but it is not clear what creates it there.
Ultimately, to understand what goes on, or might go on, in the clouds of Venus, we need to go there. Multiple missions are being planned for the second rock from the Sun. The first is a private one next year, and both NASA and the European Space Agency have missions to study the planet next decade.
“Venus, our neighboring planet, lies conveniently close, which allows us to directly probe its cloud particles through space missions,” the authors write in the paper. “Ultimately, a sample return from the Venusian atmosphere may be necessary to robustly ascertain the presence of life, if indeed life exists there.”
The study has been accepted for publication in the journal Astrobiology, and is available on the ArXiv.
[H/T: Phys.org]
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https://www.iflscience.com/building-blocks-of-life-survive-in-the-sulfuric-clouds-of-venus-72441
| 2024-01-13T16:06:16Z
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Jacinda Ardern married her long-term partner Clarke Gayford in a private ceremony in New Zealand on Saturday.
New Zealand's former first couple tied the knot in a Hawkes Bay vineyard wedding surrounded by their close friends and family members.
Jacinda, 43, looked ethereal in a floor-length white dress by fashion designer Juliette Hogan, which featured a draped halterneck and a fitted waist, which she teamed with a floor-length veil. The former prime minister wore her hair in an elegant updo, accessorising with a pair of sparkling silver drop earrings.
Television presenter Clarke, 47, who proposed to Jacinda in 2019, looked smart in a black tuxedo and a tie, with a white pocket flower to match his new wife's bouquet.
The couple were engaged for five years after they had to postpone their wedding in early 2022 due to Covid restrictions that were put in place while Jacinda was in government. The mother-of-one spoke to reporters that year, stating: "My wedding won’t be going ahead but I just join many other New Zealanders who have had an experience like that as a result of the pandemic."
Jacinda held the role of New Zealand Prime Minister from 2017 until January 2023, when she unexpectedly resigned from the role, citing exhaustion.
Following her resignation, the Prince and Princess of Wales shared a personal message thanking the political leader for her service.
Tweeting the message on their shared joint Twitter account, Prince William and Princess Kate wrote: "Thank you @jacindaardern for your friendship, leadership and support over the years, not least at the time of my grandmother’s death. Sending you, Clarke and Neve our best wishes. W & C."
The royals first met Jacinda for the first time publicly in April 2019 when he paid his respects to the victims of the Christchurch mosque shootings during his solo trip to New Zealand.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/brides/511173/new-zealand-former-prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-marries-clarke-gayford/
| 2024-01-13T16:11:00Z
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Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton have been plagued by recent reports that their almost three-year marriage is in trouble due to them spending significant amounts of time apart.
Just recently, they celebrated New Year's Eve in different time zones, with Gwen attending an event in Las Vegas, Nevada, while Blake was performing at WinStar World Casino and Resort near the Oklahoma–Texas state line.
However, on Friday, the couple had the best response to those who are doubting the state of their marriage, proving they are still very much together and in love.
Taking to Instagram, Gwen shared a video of her being inducted into Orange County's first-ever Hall of Fame – and Blake was right by her side to cheer her on for her big moment.
In the video, which can be seen below, Gwen starts by excitedly modeling her outfit for the event while getting ready in a huge dressing room.
The 'Don't Speak' singer looked typically stylish, rocking a denim 3D floral skirt with a white shirt partially unbuttoned. She added a matching pair of knee-high denim boots and some black fishnet tights.
Accessorizing her outfit, Gwen opted for chunky gold jewelry and her signature red lip, wearing her blonde hair down and tucked behind her ears, which were adorned with simple earrings.
After Gwen explains the reason for the video, it then cuts to her and Blake walking while holding hands as they make their way to the auditorium, with the singer turning around to smile for the camera as she grips her husband tightly.
Being the perfect gentleman, the country music singer is seen holding a door open for his wife, before escorting her into the room while placing a protective hand across her back.
The couple married at Blake's 1,300-acre Oklahoma ranch on July 3, 2021, after meeting in 2014 and falling in love while starring on The Voice together. They exchanged vows in front of their closest friends and family members, with Gwen wearing two breathtaking gowns, both designed by Vera Wang.
The first was a white strapless multi-layered tulle ball gown, which the designer described as "modern minimalist construction". For the evening celebrations, Gwen made a quick change into a mini strapless dress which she accessorized with statement fishnet tights and white boots.
"You need a party dress when you get to marry @blakeshelton @verawang, gz," she wrote on Instagram.
Ahead of their first anniversary, Gwen opened up about their marriage, telling Ellen DeGeneres: "Marriage itself is just so fun," adding that she "feels very blessed."
Speaking of the "very small" guest list, Gwen explained: "It got really small. I had this fantasy of building like bleachers, but it got smaller and smaller, and as you know, the Lord works in mysterious ways."
She added: "It was the perfect amount of people. It was so intimate. It was so exactly what it needed to be."
She also described her wedding as "one of the greatest moments of my life" on the Tell Me About It podcast, adding: "It was beyond what I thought it was gonna be."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/brides/511174/gwen-stefani-blake-shelton-respond-marriage-trouble-claims-new-video-watch/
| 2024-01-13T16:11:06Z
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Paris Hilton was one of the most iconic figures of the noughties. With her pink micro-bags and her pet chihuahua always in arms, the socialite epitomized all the pastel appeal of noughties fashion. Now she has reminded us of some of her classic 2000s style as she unearthed an array of throwback pictures to share with her 26.1 million Instagram followers to mark a personal family moment.
The Paris in Love star, 42, dug out photos with her sister Nicky Hilton and cousin Sophia Umansky to mark her The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star aunt Kyle Richards' birthday. The carousel of photos was captioned: "Happy Birthday @KyleRichards18! So many special memories! Sending you lots of love on your special day! Hope all your birthday dreams and wishes come true. Love you", with an array of birthday emojis. In the first photo, a young Paris was seen cuddling up to her aunt in a yellow summer dress with black embroidered flowers around the V-neckline. Kyle looked so youthful with full bangs and an embellished navy blazer on.
Paris shared a sweet photo from when she was a little girl sat on her aunt's lap. A bronzed Kyle was seen with lighter brown hair with Paris who looked so adorable with a gold Alice band in her hair. The carousel then fast-forwarded several years to Paris and Nicky in their early twenties with Kyle. Paris rocked a classic 2000s aesthetic – a pale blue ruched crop top with an ab-baring low-rise matching mini skirt and shoulder bag. Her icy blonde locks were styled in a voluminous ponytail, whilst her sister wore her hair down and chose a figure-hugging white floral shift dress. Kyle wore a matching ponytail to Paris'.
In another photo from a similar era, Paris was seen rocking an icy blue satin dress with silver embellishments to match her trendy icy blue eyeshadow and fluffy bag. Kyle switched up her hair once again with a half-up style which we believe would have involved a claw clip. Paris The Memoir writer also showed her ability to rock a classic 90s aesthetic. She shared a picture from what looked like her teenage years where she opted for a black lace top and dark eyeliner and was pictured next to her aunt who rocked a 90s blowout and fashionable dark red lipstick.
As the carousel went on, Paris went further back in time sharing adorable photos from happy childhood moments with her aunt Kyle. The mother-of-two was seen enjoying time in the pool with her sister and cousin Farrah Aldjufrie who stars in Netflix's Buying Beverly Hills. Kyle, who was only 12 when Paris was born, was even seen as a youngster with Paris as a baby in a photo from the 80s. By the end of the carousel, Paris had brought her fans back to the present day where she was seen posing at an evening event with her cousin Sophia, 23, sister Nicky, now 40, and Kyle who rocked an embellished black jacket.
A lot has changed since those earlier photos. Paris welcomed a second baby via surrogate at the end of last year with her husband Carter Reum with whom she also shares a son, one-year-old Phoenix. Kyle and Paris' relationship has had its bumps as Kyle is estranged from her sister Kathy, Paris' mother. Kyle has previously said on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills that she didn't want her disconnect from her sister to impact her daughter's relationship with their aunt.
"I don't want you guys to get involved in our stuff," she told her daughters Alexia and Sophia. Referencing Paris and Nicky Hilton, Kyle added: "My sister and my nieces are a package deal, so if Kathy and I have an argument, all of a sudden it's like okay, I'm cut off from everybody," she tearfully explains. "And that's, for me, the hardest part ... honestly more than anything."
DISCOVER: Paris Hilton on baby number 3 – what the star has said about having another child
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/fashion/celebrity-style/511172/paris-hilton-wows-ruched-mini-skirt-icy-blonde-locks-pre-baby-throwback/
| 2024-01-13T16:11:12Z
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Tom Brittney has addressed his upcoming exit from Grantchester in a new interview. Speaking to The Rakish Gent, the actor, 33, opened up about his decision to wave goodbye to Reverend Will Davenport.
"I left Grantchester a few months ago after six happy years of doing the show," he said. "I wanted to see what else was out there and play different people for a while! So currently on the hunt for that exciting next thing."
Revealing his plans for the future, Tom added: "In the meantime, I'm, also prepping to direct a feature film adaptation of The Whale Tattoo, a novel that just won the Polari Prize. It's a beautiful, gritty book that I think will make an equally beautiful and gritty film. Watch this space!"
Back in July, Tom released a vague statement confirming his exit from Grantchester. Refraining from sharing the reasons behind his departure, the TV star simply said that it was "time for the baton to be passed."
"I've had the most incredible time playing Will Davenport for the last five years," he said. "I got to solve crimes with my best friend, and work with the best cast and crew I could ever ask for. I'll miss it more than anything. But it's time for the baton to be passed, as it once was to me, and I'm so excited for Rishi to join the Grantchester family."
Handing the reins to Hollyoaks alum, Rishi Nair, the former soap star will replace Tom in season nine.
Cast as Reverend Alphy Kotteram - who ends up working with DI Geordie Keating (Robson Green) when an intruder breaks into the vicarage – Masterpiece describes Alphy as having "an instinctive distrust for authority and absolutely no desire to get involved in murder investigations".
READ: What happened at the end of Grantchester season 7? Ultimate recap ahead of series 8
Teasing what's to come, the synopsis explains: "Alphy and Geordie will discover they have a lot more in common than they first think, and Alphy will find that in Grantchester, murder is never far away. From deadly circuses, abandoned babies, and hostile historians to vanishing valets and murderous satirists, Geordie and Alphy witness first-hand how religion can be corrupted, but also how faith, love and friendship can offer hope – and renewal."
Chatting about Alphy, Executive Producer Emma Kingsman-Lloyd said: "Audiences can look forward to a new and fantastically entertaining chapter as we welcome Rishi Nair to the series. Alphy Kotteram is charismatic, witty and will give Geordie a run for his money. I think the audience will love our new addition."
Tom has also celebrated Rishi's new role, sharing a post on Instagram which read: "Wishing @rishinair all the best in joining the Grantchester family. You're going to love him." In a sweet back-and-forth, Rishi replied: "Thank you so much, Tom! Huge boots to fill."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/511177/tom-brittney-real-reason-for-leaving-grantchester-in-season-nine/
| 2024-01-13T16:11:18Z
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Mike Tindall has been partial to borrowing accessories from his wife Zara Tindall from time to time, and on Saturday he was spotted donning one of his wife's fancy hats as they headed out in Australia.
Taking to his Instagram account, the father-of-two beamed for the camera wearing a light beige suit, black and white stripy tie and white shirt, and of course, Zara's dazzling hat. The fabulous piece was navy blue and beige and featured a dramatic orange embellishment, and matched Mike's suit remarkably well!
The couple were attending the Magic Millions race day, a charity they have supported since 2012 when Zara was named the first Magic Millions Racing Women Ambassador.
This isn't the first time Mike has been spotted slipping into one of Zara's fabulous pieces. In January last year, Mike was spotted donning a sage green number as he smouldered for the camera. The photo was taken at another Magic Millions exploit following his stint on I'm A Celebrity… Get me Out Of Here.
One fan quipped "Wouldn't be the races without a pic of @mike_tindall12 in Zara's fascinator". A second added: "Not your colour sweetie!" His fellow I'm A Celebrity… contestant, Sue Cleaver wrote: "Give it back Michael."
The couple looked so loved up as they stepped out at the event with Zara wearing an elegant orange and blue gown with a matching waist-cinching belt. The gown beautifully flowed all the way to the equestrian's ankles and featured oversized capped sleeves.
The video of the couple was shared on the official Instagram for Magic Millions alongside the words: "Zara and Mile [heart eyes emoji]. It's a beautiful day for the @stargoldcoast @magicmillions Raceday."
Zara matched her beautiful gown and elegant hat with dazzling silver pointed-toe heels and a matching clutch bag.
Nacho Figueras, a close friend of Prince Harry was also spotted stepping out alongside the couple with his beautiful wife, Delfina Blaquier.
Alongside incredible images of the couples, were the words: "MAGICAL MOMENTS. We’re having a MAGICAL day at the 2024 @thestargoldcoast Magic Millions Raceday! Joining us today are our wonderful Magic Millions ambassadors, Zara and @mike_tindall12, @delfinablaquier and @nachofigueras, and @nicoleroseart and @b1slater, together with the ever inspiring Katie Page-Harvey and Gerry Harvey.
"The sun is shining, the fashions are spectacular and the magic moments keep on coming."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/511171/mike-tindall-channels-wife-zara-tindall-australia/
| 2024-01-13T16:11:24Z
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It's no secret that Princess Kate didn't fly to Balmoral to be with Queen Elizabeth II upon news she had taken a turn for the worse on 7 September 2022, but the reason may not be what you expect.
According to the Daily Mail, the Princess of Wales chose to remain at Adelaide Cottage with her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and, Prince Louis as they were due to start school at their new school, Lambrook, the following day.
The Mail's royal expert, Robert Hardman elaborated in his new biography Charles III: New King, New Court. The Inside Story, that the Princess felt they needed a parent with them and wasn't prevented from going to Scotland by the King.
In Prince Harry's memoir, Spare, he revealed that the King told him he shouldn't bring his wife, Meghan Markle, to Balmoral despite both of them already being in the UK for the Well Child Awards.
He penned: "He said I was welcome at Balmoral, but he didn’t want…her [Meghan]. He started to lay out his reason, which was nonsensical, and disrespectful, and I wasn’t having it. Don’t ever speak about my wife that way.
"He stammered, apologetic, saying he simply didn’t want a lot of people around. No other wives were coming, Kate wasn’t coming, he said, therefore Meg shouldn’t. Then that’s all you needed to say."
But according to Richard, Kate had not been asked to stay at home: "She had certainly not been asked to stay away," he explained.
"Rather, it was the start of a new term at a new school for George, Charlotte, and Louis, and she had decided that one parent should be with them on such an important day."
Prince William and Princess Kate tried to keep a sense of normality for their children at the time which is why they still insisted they go to school on 8 September 2022.
During their walkabout in Windsor, the Prince of Wales told school teacher, Elaine Gee, from Woking: "Prince William spoke about George, Charlotte, and Louis, saying that they were trying to keep some sense of continuity for them at school and keep things as normal as possible," according to PEOPLE Magazine.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/511175/why-princess-kate-didnt-fly-balmoral/
| 2024-01-13T16:11:31Z
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Sofia Vergara has been traveling the world recently to promote her upcoming Netflix series Griselda, and the star looked better than ever as she posed in a sheer black blouse during her London trip on Friday.
Taking to Instagram to share a snapshot of her all-black ensemble, Sofia, 51, showed off her lace bralette through her sheer blouse, which she teamed with a pair of fitted trousers and a form-fitting blazer.
Perfectly elevating the look with her accessories, Sofia dazzled in a pair of sparkling statement drop earrings and a black rose brooch to complete the look. The mother-of-one wore her hair in a sleek straight style, opting for a glam makeup look consisting of a soft smokey eye and a matte nude lip.
Posing next to a London taxi for the photo, Sofia captioned the post: "Hands up, who needs a lift?"
Fans wasted no time in admiring the gorgeous snapshot, and one follower wrote: "You look so beautiful Sofia!" While another added: "Stunning."
A third penned: "London suits you, darling."
The Modern Family actress followed with another post that showed her jetting off to her next destination. Looking low-key in a white tracksuit and a pair of Adidas trainers, Sofia posed alongside longtime friend Luis Balaguer as they traveled to New York on a private plane.
Earlier this week, the America's Got Talent judge exuded glamour in a slinky off-shoulder gown with the most amazing gold embellishments as she hit the red carpet to attend a premiere of Griselda at the Callao Cinema in Madrid.
The figure-hugging velvet gown was adorned with gold sequin embroidered flowers across the sleeves, which she elevated by adding a selection of gold jewels. The floor-length gown was yet another hit with fans, who flooded Sofia with compliments over the breathtaking look.
"Wow! Killing these looks," one wrote. While Paris Hilton joined the influx of gushing fans by commenting: "Gorgeous [heart eye emoji]."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/fashion/celebrity-style/511179/sofia-vergara-shows-off-curves-sheer-blouse-lace-bralette-london-trip/
| 2024-01-13T17:08:24Z
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Louise Redknapp surprised fans as she shared a throwback photo from her early solo music career on Friday - and the star looked gorgeous in a fitted sleeveless top and a pair of low-rise denim jeans.
Taking a trip down memory lane, Louise, 49, shared the snapshot taken from her A Kiss From Heaven song promotion back in 1996. The photo showed the singer looking youthful in her low-slung jeans that gave a glimpse of her toned abs, along with her 90s-style choppy layered hair and smokey eye makeup.
The mother-of-two captioned the post: "A little flashback Friday…who remembers having these posters back in the 90s?"
Fans were quick to comment on the nostalgic post, with one writing: "Yes! I miss those days when you would pick up a copy of Smash Hits, TV Hits, etc to get the posters. The 90s were the best."
Another added: "Tune! I had this poster on my wall." While a third penned: "This is a beautiful picture of you!"
The throwback snap was taken two years before the star tied the knot with her now ex-husband Jamie Redknapp. The pair were married for 19 years and had two children together, Charley, 19, and Beau, 15, before separating in 2017.
Louise has since moved on with her businessman boyfriend Drew Michael, and the pair went public with their relationship in September 2023.
Two months later in November, the I Wanna Be The Only One singer went Instagram official with her new beau, sharing a photo of the two of them posing at dinner alongside Louise's eldest son Charlie.
Fans flooded the post with messages in support of her new romance, with one writing: "The upgrade we all needed to see [hot flame emoji]." Another joked: "I think this is what we call a hard launch."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/fashion/celebrity-style/511182/louise-redknapp-wows-in-low-rise-jeans-incredible-throwback-photo/
| 2024-01-13T17:08:30Z
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Gemma Atkinson is preparing for an exciting milestone with her son, Thiago. Returning to Instagram, the actress revealed that her five-month-old is in the early stages of learning to crawl, although he's finding the process frustrating.
Sharing an adorable video of Thiago on Friday, the tiny tot – who was born in July – attempted to move closer to his mum, before becoming visibly upset. "He gets so frustrated, bless him. It is frustrating isn't it pal," Gemma said, comforting her son.
According to the NHS, most babies typically start crawling at around 7 to 10 months, so it won't be long until Thiago's on the move!
Gemma and her fiancé – Strictly star Gorka Marquez – welcomed their baby son over the summer, with Gemma confirming the news on Instagram.
"Little man is here! He arrived safe and sound and he's utterly wonderful," she penned on her stories. "We're all home together soaking up this lovely bubble before Gorks has to leave for Strictly rehearsals next week. Thank you for all your lovely wishes. Our family is complete."
Gemma and Gorka are also parents to a daughter – four-year-old Mia – and fans have already noted the striking resemblance between the siblings. Earlier this week, Gorka, 33, shared a delightful carousel of family photos on Instagram, including a selfie of himself and Thiago.
Sparking a reaction from fans, Gorka's followers branded Thiago Mia's "double". "He is the absolute double of Mia," chimed one, while another commented, "Looks so much like Mia".
A third remarked: "Thiago is gorgeous like his dad, he has his mum's eyes, and is Mia's double" while a fourth gushed: "He's Mia's spitting image".
Back in September, Gemma spoke exclusively to HELLO! about becoming a mum for the second time. "Oh, I'm loving it. It's just going so fast. I always think if you could bottle it up and sell it, that would be the key to everyone's happiness – that time at home with you and your baby and the family," she said.
"It's obviously chaotic and you're tired at the same time but it's so wonderful as well, you don't want it to end."
READ: Gemma Atkinson reveals real reason she'd never move to Spain with Strictly's Gorka Marquez
Asked how Mia's adapted to being a big sister, Gemma gushed: "She's like a mother hen; she's obsessed with him. She mucks in helping with the nappies and helps me get him dressed, which sometimes results in it taking a little bit longer than if I'm doing it on my own, but I just love the fact that she's so into him.
"I said to her, 'Are you happy? Is everything ok?' and she says, 'Yeah, I love having Thiago, I love our little family.' It goes through your mind: 'I hope they don't feel pushed out or like they've been replaced or anything like that', and thankfully she's taking it all in her stride, bless her."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/511181/gemma-atkinson-new-video-frustrated-baby-thiago-attempts-to-crawl/
| 2024-01-13T17:08:36Z
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In a long muted brown maxi skirt and crimped hair, Blake Lively was worlds away from her usual glam self on the set of It Ends With Us on Friday January 12. The actress stars as Lily in the adaptation of the popular Colleen Hoover novel, and she paired the skirt with a matching tank top and a buttercup yellow shirt over the top that was unbuttoned and tied into a knot at the waist. She accessorized with large hoop earrings and a smattering of beaded bracelets.
In the pictures, Justin Baldoni, the director of the film who also stars as the main male character, and Blake were seen arguing and kissing, as they shot scenes for the film which is expected to hit theaters in summer 2024.
Filming recently resumed for the production, after it was halted due to the WGA and later SAG strikes, but prior to that Blake was often pictured in character rocking looks for the maximalists to swoon over.
In one scene she was snapped in a pair of oversized, vintage-patterned mustard trousers with a blue quilted trouser layer peeking out from above her waistband, paired with a navy crop top and layered with a buttoned down yellow striped shirt and a mustard yellow blazer.
It Ends With Us is an adaptation of Colleen's controversial novel which took social media by storm in 2022. The book – which has around three billion views on TikTok, is a #1 Sunday Times bestseller and stayed on the New York Times bestseller list for over 90 weeks – is loosely based on Hoover's mother’s own journey when Colleen was a child.
The female protagonist, Lily (played by Blake) grew up in a toxic household, but after working hard through school she moves to Boston after graduating college where she meets a new romantic partner in Ryle Kincaid (played by Justin), an older neurosurgeon who has a "no dating rule" and a questionable attitude towards relationships. But their romance begins to mimic those Lily had seen growing up, with devastating consequences, and as the new relationship overwhelms Lily, her thoughts turn to her first love, Atlas Corrigan (played by Brandon Sklenar) and a link to the past she left behind.
However the book has been criticized for romanticizing domestic abuse, especially as the promotion of the novel by the publishers has focused on the spicier elements of the text.
Fans were also upset at the casting choices due to the discrepancy between Blake and Justin's real-life ages and those of the characters they portray; Blake, 35, is playing 23-year-old Lily, and Justin, 39, will play the 30-year-old neurosurgeon.
But Colleen later defended their casting, revealing that she wanted to age them up due to the nature of the story, and apologized formaking them so young in the first place.
"Back when I wrote It Ends With Us, the new adult [genre] was very popular," she said, adding: "You were writing college-age characters. That's what I was contracted to do. As I started making this movie, I'm like, 'We need to age them out because I messed up,' so that's my fault."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/511184/blake-lively-unrecognizable-in-new-jersey-with-it-ends-with-us-costar/
| 2024-01-13T18:27:37Z
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Charles Spencer has given Althorp Estate a whole new look! Returning to X on Saturday, the Earl shared a photo of the 500-year-old property, which served as the late Princess Diana's childhood home. Basked in a sunset pink glow, the transformation was branded "magical" by fans. "Lit up last night - @AlthorpHouse tickled pink," Charles penned in the caption.
Shortly after posting, the Earl was inundated with comments. "Althorp House looks like just a theatre set bathing in that pink light," quipped a follower. "Quite magical," added another. Meanwhile, a third mused: "What a lovely picture of a beautiful house."
Charles and his beloved sister, Diana, both grew up on the estate after their father, the 8th Earl Spencer, inherited the title and home from his father in 1975. Charles was 11 and Diana was 14 at the time, while their older sisters, Jane and Sarah, were already adults.
Following her tragic death in Paris in 1997, the late Princess of Wales was buried at the Oval Lake on the grounds, which remains private and is only accessible by close members of the family.
Charles, 59, regularly shares updates on life at Althorp, and last week, he revealed that he'd hosted an epic dinner party for one of his dearest friends, with the estate's Picture Gallery serving as the backdrop.
The long dining table was topped with a white tablecloth and dressed with several candelabras. Eagle-eyed fans also spotted a large fireplace towards the back of the room, which boasts an array of gilt-framed paintings and portraits hung on the wood-panelled walls.
Charles' dinner party followed the news that the front lawn of his stately home had been flooded thanks to Storm Henk, which hit the UK earlier this month and wreaked chaos in vast areas of southern England.
MORE: Charles Spencer shares glimpse inside lavish dinner party celebration at stunning Althorp home
READ: Inside Princess Kate's go-to designer Tabitha Webb's spectacular holiday home in South Africa
Taking to Instagram, the father-of-seven shared a photo of the flooded area, writing: "The wettest I've ever known Althorp to be. We've had so much rain that the lawn is saturated and the drains are choked. Looking forward to the promised dryer weather. The house is on a slight rise, so will be spared flooding. A couple of hundred years ago, we had a moat - might be time to reinstate it…"
Naturally, his followers were left concerned by the development. "Be safe and well!" replied one. "Praying for dryer weather Charles," noted a second. Appointed custodian of Althorp in 1992, Charles continues to live at the property with his third wife, Karen, Countess Spencer and their daughter, Lady Charlotte Diana Spencer.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/homes/511185/charles-spencer-magical-transformation-princess-diana-childhood-home-althorp/
| 2024-01-13T18:27:43Z
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After 52 years, Queen Margrethe of Denmark will abdicate on Sunday 14 January but in the hours before, she has shared a beautiful tribute that looked back at her incredible reign – and it was all set to Cyndi Lauper's 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun'.
"Special moments from Her Majesty The Queen's reign," the reel was captioned, continuing: "Tomorrow, the Queen will step down as Queen of Denmark and leave the throne to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Read a lot more about the upcoming change of throne on the Royal Palace's website."
In the video, royal fans saw moments such as the queen dancing with dignitaries, walking with the Pope and posing with the late Queen Elizabeth II. Other clips showed her in national Danish dress, cheering on the international football team, and standing alongside her beloved family.
As the poignant song played over the reel, at one moment they timed the lyrics, "when the working day is done, oh girls, they wanna have fun," to coincide with clips of Margrethe as a younger woman walking in a suit, before cutting to her in a ballroom in a voluminous pink ball gown dancing a traditional dance with a big smile on her face.
Queen Margrethe surprised royal watchers on 31 December 2023 when she announced, as part of her traditional New Year's address, that she was abdicating the Danish throne.
In a statement released on social media on New Year's Eve and on the official royal family website, Margrethe shared: "I have decided that now is the right time. The 14th January 2024 - 52 years after I followed my beloved father - I will step back as the Queen of Denmark. I leave the throne to my son the Crown Prince Frederik."
It continued: "Tonight, I first and foremost would like to express my thanks. Thank you for the overwhelming warmth and support which I have received during all these years. Thank you to the changing governments with whom the collaboration always has been rewarding, and thank you to The Parliament, who have always vested their confidence in me.
"Thank you to the many, many people who on special occasions and in everyday life have embraced me and my family with kind words and thoughts, turning the years into a string of pearls. The support and assistance which I have received throughout the years, have been crucial to the success of my task. It is my hope that the new King and Queen will be met with the same trust and devotion which have fallen to my lot. They deserve it! Denmark deserves it! I will conclude my new year’s address in my usual manner: GOD BLESS DENMARK, GOD BLESS YOU ALL."
Her son Crown Prince Frederik will be proclaimed king on Sunday 14 January, as part of the abdication process. His wife Crown Princess Mary will become Queen.
Queen Margrethe became the longest-serving European monarch following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022 but her health has troubled her over the last few years and in February 2023 she underwent "extensive" back surgery.
During that time Crown Prince Frederik took over her royal duties.
Frederik and Mary have four children: Prince Christian, 18, Princess Isabella, 16, and 12-year-old twins Josephine and Vincent.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/511186/queen-margrethe-fun-video-looking-back-reign-cyndi-laupers-girls-just-wanna-have-fun/
| 2024-01-13T18:27:49Z
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Woodcutting and birdwatching might seem to be contradictory endeavors.
One involves highly active industriousness – lots of movement and loud noise, the banging and thumping of shifting logs, plus the chainsaw’s high-decibel banshee shriek; the other calls for quiescence – a relaxed stillness and gentle tranquility, being unobtrusive, non-threatening, thus allowing for watchful and contemplative observation.
Aren’t the two undertakings mutually exclusive, ill-matched and impossibly conflicting?
Well, yes and no. I’ll try and explain.
A few days ago a tree-trimmer friend dropped off a dump truck load of mixed-hardwood logs. Good stuff, well-seasoned. Mostly ash and oak, walnut and maple, along with a bit of cherry, apple, and hickory. Several logs were eight or nine feet long and measured upwards of thirty inches in diameter.
He also promised another similar load would soon be forthcoming. Meaning I had to get to work ASAP before that second load arrived, just in case winter’s weather turned serious with sleet or snow.
Scrambling about an unstable pile of logs, while holding a chainsaw, with slippery ice underfoot, is neither safe nor fun. I needed to saw up what I had into stove-size lengths, split the bigger rounds, then wheelbarrow the readied firewood closer to the house and stack it into neat ricks.
It was a measly 19 degrees when I stepped outside, clutching my armload of lumberjack tools. I’d bundled up as best I could and still waddle. My exhaled breath made little clouds in the arctic air.
The sky was a clear, wintery blue. Though the morning sun provided little actual heat, it bathed the frozen landscape in a flood of brilliant light – a sort of psychological warmth.
Frost sparkled on the bark of the heaped logs.
When asked why I choose to heat with wood I generally say because I like the wonderful radiant heat and enjoy the physicality of maintaining my woodpile.
These simple pleasures require a lot of work – hard manual labor. But having an ample supply of ready-to-burn firewood on hand bestows a fundamental reassurance – like knowing your cellar’s shelves are filled with home-canned jars full of tasty fruits and vegetables. Whatever unexpected disaster the world or weather throws your way, you’ll still eat and stay warm… and this knowledge is absolutely priceless!
However, with each passing year, my aging body reflects that progression. The necessary sawing, splitting, and stacking of sufficient firewood to carry us through the winter becomes a little harder. Age may teach you how to work more efficiently, but time’s passage takes a relentless toll on how much strength and energy you have on a given day to accomplish certain tasks.
My woodcutting proficiency has noticeably slowed, while the length and frequency of the rests I need to take between bouts of work have steadily increased.
Starting fresh in the morning, I can work an hour before I need to sit and rest for five minutes. The next cycle is 45 minutes of work and 10 minutes rest. Then it’s 30 and 15.
Eventually, the ratio cycles flip — I rest more than I work. When I’ve reached the point of mostly sitting around and wasting time, I quit for the day.
I’m telling you this because it explains how I’ve recently been cutting wood and watching birds – not simultaneously but consecutively: work, tire, rest, birdwatch.
Birds seem to view a weary woodcutter sitting quietly atop an upturned log as totally harmless – even something of a curiosity, worthy of closer scrutiny. Not only do they immediately surround him, but often get almost in your face!
I first noticed this odd behavior decades ago when I began cutting firewood for other woodstoves. Turn the saw off, take a seat, and you’d soon be practically swarmed by flocks of chickadees, titmice, and sparrows.
Nuthatches will hang upside down on a limb barely an arm’s length away, while wrens will perch just as close, at eye level, and pitch a fit of what sounds like righteous indignation. Downey woodpeckers will come almost as close, and if there’s a hedge or bush nearby, cardinals will ensconce themselves in the tangles, add a bit of color and provide sharp pert-pert-pert whistles.
Yes, these are all dooryard birds, typically tolerant and friendly species. But they regularly approach much closer when I’m taking my woodcutting rest breaks.
It’s not typical behavior for a huge pileated woodpecker – the closest thing Ohio has to a pterodactyl, and one of the wildest, shyest, most easily-spooked birds in the woods. During my recent woodcutting session, one spent almost an hour investigating nearby trees 30-50 feet away. Occasionally the wary bird would pause to give me a thoughtful yellow-eyed stare. Yet after careful study, he ignored me as just another harmless stump-like lump. I was delighted!
Then there was the big redtailed hawk who sat in a riverbank sycamore for over an hour, like a job inspector watching a sluggard employee.
Finally, there were the robins — a huge squadron that numbered at least a couple hundred birds. En masse, they came winging low overhead in the afternoon, crossed the river, and settled into the lower trees and bankside bushes.
The sky had filled with clouds and darkened. A steady north wind was dropping the temperature. In the cold and gloom, robins were about the last birds I’d expected to see, and certainly not in such multitude.
You have to be optimistic about the future when confronted with such a remarkable congregation!
Red-breasted robins are the quintessential symbol of spring. Like jars of canned goods in the cellar, or cords of firewood stacked and ready to burn, robins are birds of hope and promise, delivering a positive reassurance of making it through to a better tomorrow.
Reach Jim McGuire at [email protected].
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https://www.registerherald.com/2024/01/09/birds-and-firewood/
| 2024-01-13T19:46:50Z
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BROOKVILLE – On Saturday, January 13, Brookville High School will be holding its Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony prior to the varsity boys basketball game.
The on court recognition will take place at approximately 7 p.m.
A reception will be held at 4:45 p.m. in the high school cafeteria, followed by the formal ceremony in the auditorium at 6:45p.m. and concluding with the on court recognition. This year’s inductees are Bill Idle and Corey Eagle.
Bill Idle biography
Bill Idle is a 1973 Brookville graduate. He developed his love of sports from his father and played sports up through eighth grade. He realized he was not an athlete so he used his musical talents in band and choir.
Idle was a member of every band possible at Brookville including marching band, concert band, stage or jazz band, and pep band.
In December of 1972, when he was a senior, he met Ted Landis, sports editor of the Brookville Star and was asked to help cover sports for the Brookville. He spent a decade covering Brookville baseball, Lady Devils basketball, softball, and volleyball.
Idle also assisted in covering Dixie, Northmont, and Tri-County North. He also was part of the Brookville Star ratings service for football and basketball and presented a number of Ratings Champion Trophies. Also, during that time, he covered football and basketball for Dixie, Tri-County North and Northmont.
He was the voice of the Brookville Pee Wee football team from 1974-1983. He also did the announcing for Twin Valley North Pee Wee football for two years.
Idle graduated at the top of his class from International Broadcasting School in 1978. Beginning in 1983, he went into radio full-time and spent ten years away from Brookville. Hel was news and sports director for the following radio stations during those ten years: WROY/WRUL Carmi, Illinois; KMKS Bay City, Texas; WAGF Dothan, Alabama; WKEU AM/FM Griffin, Georgia; KMTS/KMTN in Jackson, Wyoming; and WBLL/WPKO Bellefontaine, Ohio.
He covered a state championship basketball team in Griffin, Georgia in 1988. He called the “Textile Bowl” on radio in Griffin between Fort Valley State and Valdosta State. A highlight of his career was broadcasting an Auburn vs Alabama baseball game in Dothan, Alabama. He also broadcast for Headland, Alabama when they won a state championship in 1986.
In December of 1988, Idle returned to Ohio to work in Bellefontaine, where he spent five years. In 1993, Ted Landis asked him to return to the Brookville Star to cover Dixie football and basketball.
In 2001, upon Landis’ retirement, he was asked to cover Brookville sports as sports editor of the Brookville Star by Editor Jim Hoffman. He has been covering Brookville sports since that time.
In 2022, Bill established Brookvillesports.com, a free internet radio website to cover Brookville sports in all three sports seasons. This has enabled Brookville athletes to continue to receive excellent coverage since the Brookville Star went out of business in February of 2023.
He still wrote for The Star until it ended and has been covering Brookville football and basketball, both boys and girls, for The Eaton Register-Herald.
In March 2022, Idle was honored with the OHSAA Southwest District Media Award, which was established by former BHS High School Principal Dale Creamer. Ted Landis was the original recipient of the Award in 1998 and former Brookville Star Editor Ron Nunnari received the award in 2011 while serving as news and sports editor of the Englewood Independent.
Bill is currently married to Susan Idle and they have been married since 2012. He was married to the late Anne Idle for 21 ½ years before she passed in 2004. Bill has a sister Kathy Idle.
Bill plans to continue covering Brookville sports on Brookvillesports.com for as long as he is able. He says besides the two wives he has been blessed with, covering Brookville athletics and the relationships he has built and had the privilege to witness, is the most significant event that has ever happened to him. He is very grateful to be able to give back to his Alma Mater in this way!
Corey Eagle biography
Corey Eagle has been an athlete all of his life, but had a special affinity for football and baseball, where he excelled in baseball especially. He began his high school career in 1993 and graduated in 1996.
He played junior varsity football and baseball his freshman year. As a sophomore, he earned a varsity letter in football while the team went 9-1. In baseball, as a pitcher, he went 8-0, had a 2.17 ERA, had 85 strikeouts, was awarded BHS Best Pitcher Award, and earned 1st Team SWBL honors, while the team finished 1st in the SWBL and the team was ranked No. 1 in the Ohio State Poll in Division III.
As a junior, he earned his 2nd varsity letter in football, the team finished 9-2, advancing to the state playoffs. In baseball, as a pitcher, he went 9-2, had a 1.09 ERA with 110 strikeouts, was awarded BHS Best Pitcher Award for the second year in a row, selected 1st Team SWBL, and selected 1st Team All-Area.
The team finished 1st in SWBL and they advanced to the regional semifinals where Eagle threw two no hitters in the state tournament (one of those in the district finals).
He was selected as the Greenblat-Warnke award winner as the top junior athlete of the Class of 1996. Eagle was also recognized as the Channel 7 Athlete of the Week in May 1995 following the two no hitters in the state tournament.
As a senior, Eagle earned his 3rd year varsity award in football and was selected as a team captain. In baseball, he was chosen captain as well. He went 7-2 as the pitcher, had a school record 0.46 ERA with 73 strikeouts, was awarded BHS Best Pitcher, and Team Most Valuable Player.
He was also recognized as 1st Team SWBL, named the SWBL Player of the Year, selected 1st Team All-Area, and named to the Mizuno All-Ohio Series as first team All-Ohio.
In total during his high school career, Eagle amassed a record of 24-4, with 270 strikeouts, was chosen BHS Best Pitcher and selected First Team SWBL three years in a row, selected First Team All-Area twice, and most importantly to him, Brookville won the SWBL league championship all four years while he played.
Eagle was a member of the Greenville American Legion Post 140 Baseball Team from 1994-1996 which produced many other Brookville Hall of Fame members including Ritchie Moody, T.J. Loughman, Chad Lindsey, and Brian Sprada.
After high school, Eagle accepted an athletic scholarship to Eastern Kentucky University where he played baseball for them. At EKU, he was a four-year starting pitcher who still owns three records: Innings pitched in a season, Innings pitched in a career, and Career Starts. He compiled 22 career wins, 247 career strikeouts, and was 3-0 in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.
He was named All-Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Team in 1998 and 2000 and was All Ohio Valley Conference Second Team in 2000. Corey is the son of Ken and Bobbie Eagle of Brookville.
He currently works at Greenville Federal in Greenville, Ohio. He still resides in Brookville with his wife Jena and has two beautiful daughters Rylan, who is a freshman, and Reagan, who is a sixth grader.
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https://www.registerherald.com/2024/01/09/brookville-hall-of-honor-set-for-jan-13/
| 2024-01-13T19:46:57Z
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Souper Supper at New Hope
New Hope Church will host its next Souper Supper on Saturday, Jan. 27, from 4-6 p.m. On the menu: ham and beans, hashbrown casserole, cornbread, salads, desserts and drinks. New Hope Church is located at 5367 U.S. 35 West, Eaton. A free will offering is collected to support this outreach.
Camden Kids for Christ
Northside Chapel First Church of God at 6820 N. Main St. in Camden offers Camden Kids for Christ for students in kindergarten through 6th grade on the third Saturday of each month from 5-7 p.m. All are welcome.
Gospel Light Baptist location change
Gospel Light Baptist Church is currently meeting at William Bruce Elementary School, located at 506B Aukerman Street in Eaton, while its new church building is being built. The public is invited to worship with the Gospel Light church family this Sunday at 9:15 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. For more information go to www.gospellighteaton.org.
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https://www.registerherald.com/2024/01/09/church-briefs-312/
| 2024-01-13T19:47:03Z
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PERRYSBURG — Heavyweight Charlie Henson, a junior, was the only Northmont wrestler to place in the Perrysburg Invitational held Jan. 5 and 6.
Henson placed 8th losing by a fall (3:31) to senior Dirk Konrad of Reading in the battle for seventh place. After a first round bye Henson won by a fall (3:02) against John Flores of Wauseon. He then scored a 6-3 decision over Konrad before losing by a fall (1:17) to Caleb Bowman of Toledo St. John’s Jesuit.
In the consolation bracket Henson won by a fall (1:34) against Jacob Ball of Start (Toledo) High School. Henson then lost by a fall (1:33) to Brody Brown of Penn (Indiana) before facing Konrad for seventh place.
No. 1 seed Jeffrey Blair of Chaminade-Julienne took the heavyweight title with a 5-1 decision over No. 2 seed Isaac Lehman of Napolean. Blair also won the title at last year’s invitational.
Brody Brown (Jr.) of Penn placed 3rd winning by a fall (2:43) over Asher Wilson (Sr.) of Nordonia. Caleb Bowman (Jr.) of Toledo St. John’s Jesuit took 5th place over Michael Cannings (Sr.) of Toledo Central Catholic by injury default.
As a team the Thunderbolts finished 31st out of 45 teams with 44 points. Perrysburg won the tournament with 258 with Highland (Medina) 2nd with 162.
Other Northmont results:
106 – Elijah Humphrey (Fr.) lost by fall (3:39) to Aluma Enwa (Sr.) of Great Crossing (Kentucky) in the opening round. In consolation Humphrey lost by a fall (2:48) to Luca Andres (So.) of Upper Arlington.
113 – Printiss Moore (So.) lost by a fall (0:17) to Ren Birk (Jr.) of Great Crossing. In consolation Moore lost by a fall (0:34) to Graham Pohlmeyer (So.) of Nordonia.
120 – Connor Slentz (So.) lost by a fall (1:06) to Alex Gonzales (Sr.) of Napolean. In consolation Slentz won by fall (1:43) against Noah Coble (Jr.) of Chardon before losing by fall (4:04) to Ryan Schmidtendor (Jr.) of Penn.
126 – Henry Pergram (Sr.) lost by fall (2:28) to Noah Tipton (Sr.) of Genoa Area. In consolation Pergram scored a 12-6 decision over Peyton Wuebker (So.) of Whitmer before losing by a fall (4:22) to Brody Thorp (So.) of Perrysburg.
132 – Noah Allen (Sr.) lost by a fall (1:40) to Drew Matthews (Sr.) of Liberty Center. In consolation Allen scored a 17-1 technical fall over Xavier Scott (Sr.) of Bowling Green and an 11-4 decision over Linkin Mullins (Fr.) of Clyde. He then lost by fall (1:33) to Samuel Like (So.) of Maineville.
144 – Landon McCargish (So.) won by fall (2:40) against Isaiah Johnson (Sr.) of Great Crossing. He then scored 4-0 decision over Ronald Johnson II (So.) of Chaminade-Julienne. McCargish then lost an 8-6 decision to Stone Busler (Sr.) of Archbishop Moeller.
In the consolation bracket McCargish lost by a fall (3:40) to Dominic Grecol (Jr.) of Strongsville.
150 – John Wright (Sr.) lost by a 17-1 technical fall to C.J. Fisher of Clyde. In the consolation bracket Wright lost a 9-3 decision to Drew Vargas (So.) of Little Miami.
157 – Charlie Wendt (Fr.) lost by a 16-1 technical fall to Hayden Cox (Fr.) of Archbishop Moeller. In consolation Wendt lost by fall (3:38) to Kyle Miller (Jr.) of Nordonia.
165 – Dylan Cleary (Jr.) lost by a fall (5:42) to Logan Shubert (Jr.) of Chardon. In consolation Cleary lost by forfeit to Grady Gustweiler (Sr.) of Tinora.
175 – Marcos Velasquez (Sr.) scored a 7-3 decision over Caiden Nichols (Sr.) of Perrysburg. Velasquez then lost an 11-3 major decision to Gabe Garlick (Sr.) of Lakota.
In consolation Velasquez won by fall (1:55) against Josh Arvanetes (Jr.) of Highland Medina. He also won by a fall (2:28) against Hector Garza (Fr.) of Clyde. Velasquez then lost by fall (3:27) to Aiden Helmke (Jr.) of Tinora.
190 – Devin Jones (Jr.) lost by fall (1:49) to Grant Richardson (Sr.) of Evergreen. In consolation Jones won by a fall (4:24) over Clifford Stull of Firelands before losing a 7-3 decision to Luke Walz (Sr.) of Defiance.
215 – Christian Moncrief (Sr.) lost by a fall (3:29) to Ben Tule of Waseon. In consolation Moncrief lost by fall (2:16) to Logan Sifuentes (So.) of Liberty Center.
Reach Ron Nunnari by email: [email protected].
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https://www.registerherald.com/2024/01/09/henson-places-in-perrysburg-invitational/
| 2024-01-13T19:47:09Z
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EATON — The Preble County District Library has released the following calendar of programming and events for the month of January.
New: Weekly Winter Storytimes & Crafts for Kids
Many of our branches offer weekly in-person storytimes for kids of All ages. Our storytimes are formulated around Every Child Ready to Read initiative, focusing on the five early literacy practices of reading, singing, playing, talking, and writing. Some crafts may get a little messy.
• Every Monday at New Paris at 5:30 p.m.: Storytime
• Every Tuesday at Camden at 5:30 p.m.: Little Ones Storytime
• Every Saturday at West Alexandria at 11 a.m.: Magical World of Storytime
New: Eaton Storytimes – Winter Session Registration Open
Runs through Feb. 8. Registration is required. To register, cAll the Eaton Branch at 937-456-4331.
• Mother Goose Storytime (birth-age 3): Wednesday or Thursday at 10:30 a.m.
• Eaton Library Mice Storytime (age 3-Pre-K): Wednesday or Thursday at 10:30 a.m.
• Family Storytime (birth-age 5): Thursday at 4:45 p.m.
• After School Crew Storytime (age 6-12): Thursday at 4:45 p.m.
New: Kids Grab & Go Crafts – All Branches
January’s Kids Grab & Go kit is a Winter Diorama craft.
Kids grab & go kits are available at All branches unless noted otherwise. Contact your local branch to reserve a kit while supplies last.
New: Tween/Teen Grab & Go Crafts – All Branches
January’s Tween/Teen Grab & Go kit is a lip balm craft.
Tween/Teen grab & go kits are available at All branches unless noted otherwise. Contact your local branch to reserve a kit while supplies last.
New: Adulting Can Be Fun!
The Preble County District Library offers various adult craft and social programs in January at several of our locations throughout Preble County. Some programs require registration, please cAll the hosting branch for details.
• Thursday, Jan. 11 at 6 p.m. at Camden: Adult Craft Club
• Monday, Jan. 15 at 6 p.m. at Eaton: Social Stitch
• Tuesday, Jan. 16 at 6 p.m. at New Paris: Shabby Chic Valentine Decor Craft
• Tuesday, Jan. 16 at 6 p.m. at PC Room: Paper Bead Necklace Craft
• Saturday, Jan. 20 at 11 a.m. at PC Room: Intro to Genealogy Part One
• Thursday, Jan. 25 at 6 p.m. at Camden: Adult Game Night
• Wednesday, Jan. 31 at 6 p.m. at Eaton: AYA Book Club
New: Weekly Teen Programs at the Eaton Branch
On Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m., teens in grades 6-12 can come to the Eaton Branch to enjoy activities such as coloring and simple crafting, board games, video games, and more!
• Tuesday, Jan. 16 at 3:30 p.m. at Eaton: Anime Club
• Tuesday, Jan. 23 at 3:30 p.m. at Eaton: Needle Felting
• Tuesday, Jan. 30 at 3:30 p.m. at Eaton: Monthly Movie
New: Family Crafts and Activities
The Preble County District Library offers various craft and social programs for kids, teens, and families in January at several of our locations throughout Preble County.
• Wednesday, Jan. 10 at 4 p.m. at West Elkton: Kids Bingo and Popcorn Night
• Wednesday, Jan. 10 at 4:30 p.m. at West Manchester: Winter Animal Bookmarks
• Thursday, Jan. 11 at 4:30 p.m. at Eldorado: Winter Animal Bookmarks
• Saturday, Jan. 13 at noon at West Alexandria: Stickerpalooza
• Monday, Jan. 15 during open hours at West Elkton: Discover America
• Wednesday, Jan. 17 at 4:30 p.m. at West Manchester: Bingo Day
• Wednesday, Jan. 17 at 6 p.m. at Camden: After School Fun
• Thursday, Jan. 18 at 4:30 p.m. at Eldorado: Bingo Day
• Tuesday, Jan. 23 at 5:30 p.m. at West Alexandria: Kids Book Club
• Tuesday, Jan. 23 during open hours at New Paris: Board Game Day
• Wednesday, Jan. 24 at 4:30 p.m. at West Manchester: Clothespin Snowman
• Thursday, Jan. 25 at 4:30 p.m. at Eldorado: Clothespin Snowman
New: Build Something New with LEGO Programs
Let your imagination run wild as Preble County District Library hosts LEGO Club. LEGO Club is kids and teens to show off their Master Builder skills. If you bring LEGOs from home, please label them in a container with your child’s name.
• Saturday, Jan. 27 at noon at West Alexandria: Lego Club
• Monday, Jan. 29 at 4:30 p.m. at Eaton: Lego Club
• Tuesday, Jan. 30 during open hours at New Paris: After School Lego Time
New: Harry Potter Spirit Week – Jan. 8-10, 12-13 at West Alexandria
Show how much of a fan you are of Harry Potter and the library by dressing up each day and visiting the Camden branch! Every day you participate and visit the library, you will receive a smAll treat PLUS be entered for our Grand Prize! AdditionAll y, various Harry Potter themed adult, teen, and children’s grab & go kits will be available throughout the month, while supplies last.
• Monday — Harry Day: Harry supports his Quidditch Team no matter what. Be Like Harry and support your favorite team by wearing their colors.
• Tuesday — Ron Day: Okay, Let’s be honest – Ron has a bit of a lazy side. Embrace your inner Ron Weasley and stay comfy in your PJs today.
• Wednesday — Hermione Day: Hermione lives by the motto, “When in doubt, go to the library!” Let’s All wear our favorite book characters as a shout-out to the library.
• Friday — Luna Lovegood Day: Embrace your wacky side and dress quirky today. Wear mismatched socks. Mix stripes with polka dots. Be quirky! Besides, it will help keep Nargles away.
• Saturday – Hedwig Day: Hedwig was Harry’s faithful friend, with him through so many ups and downs. Let’s shout out to All those animals that bring us so much joy. Wear a shirt with your favorite animal on it.
New: Notes From Helen – Jan. 22, 25-25 at West Elkton during open hours
We are inspired by our longtime patron, Helen, who often takes the time to write us a handwritten thank-you note when returning her books. An art that seems to be almost lost in a time where a quick text or email is used instead. Amongst the hustle and bustle of our busy schedules, let’s take the time to write a handwritten note or card to someone special! We will have a variety of stationery to choose from. We hope to see you then!
New: 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s – Thursday, Jan. 18 at 6 p.m. at Camden
Join the Alzheimer’s Association – Miami VAll ey Chapter at the Camden Library to learn about detection and resources. Reservations are recommended for this program.
New: Bluey Day! Saturday, Jan. 27 at 1 p.m. at Eaton
Are you a fan of the lovable puppy Bluey, her Mum, Dad, and little sister Bingo? Then this program is for you! Join us for a Bluey filled afternoon. We’ll have crafts, games, prizes, and more! Feel free to come in your best Bluey costume or attire!
Other Library Program Offerings:
Book a Librarian
Would you like to learn more about computers? Do you have a new tablet or smartphone you’d like to learn more about? The Reference Librarian is happy to help! Book an appointment on Monday afternoons between 1-4 for assistance with: tablets/e-readers, computers, Microsoft Office, Internet, resumes and job searching, using the library catalog, and research. Call 937-456-5562, email preblerefatpreblelibrary.org, or stop by the library in person to set up an appointment!
Explore & More Adventure Pass Program
Explore & More NOW with your PCDL Library Card! We are excited to introduce our newest service, the Explore & More Adventure Pass Program, enabling PCDL patrons to borrow passes using their library card. This one-time pass, which must be checked out in person at the Eaton Branch, grants patrons limited free access to attractions that would otherwise charge admission fees.
Participating organizations include The Dayton Art Institute, Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, Johnston Farm & Indian Agency, and Carillon Historical Park.
*Each organization sets its own rules for how many individuals are covered under its passes and which days the passes will be honored. Patrons are advised to cAll the organization ahead of their visit for hours and rules.
Don’t Throw Away Local History – Contact the Preble Co. Genealogy Room, Instead!
The Preble Co. Genealogy Room is interested in archiving any local and family historical items you might come across as you clean. This includes (but is not limited to): old paperwork/documents/records, family bibles with family information, pictures of Preble Co. residents, landmarks, and properties, old maps and land records and any items having to do with the history of Preble County, its families and the surrounding areas.
If you come across an item as you clean and wish to donate it to the PC Room, please contact us at 937-456-4970 Monday -Thursday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., or by email at [email protected].
Preble Co. Records Online – families, obituaries, marriages, historic landmarks, and more
Search the library’s in-house Genealogical & Historical Records collections. Visit https://preblelibrary.org/genealogy to get started on your search! Family files can also be researched in person at the PC Room. To view a list of All PC Room resources, visit https://preblelibrary.org/genealogy/holdings.
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https://www.registerherald.com/2024/01/09/pcdl-january-programming/
| 2024-01-13T19:47:16Z
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Rachael Lambertson
MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE — Rachael Lambertson of Camden has been named to Southern New Hampshire University’s Fall 2023 Dean’s List. The fall terms run from September to December. Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.500 to 3.699 for the reporting term are named to the Dean’s List. Full-time status is achieved by earning 12 credits over each 16-week term or paired 8-week terms grouped in fall, winter/spring, and summer.
Andrew Shepherd
MANCHESTER NEW HAMPSHIRE — Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) recently announced Andrew Shepherd of Eaton had been named to the school’s Fall 2023 President’s List. The fall terms run from September to December. Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.700 and above for the reporting term are named to the President’s List. Full-time status is achieved by earning 12 credits over each 16-week term or paired 8-week terms grouped in fall, winter/spring, and summer.
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https://www.registerherald.com/2024/01/09/student-notes-164/
| 2024-01-13T19:47:22Z
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BROOKVILLE — City Manager Sonja Keaton informed council the city the city’s general fund balance showed an increase in 2024.
“I’m pleased to inform council that we increased our general fund balance by $458,152,” Keaton said.
Keaton noted the city began 2023 with a balance of $1,568,924 in the general fund.
Keaton said 2024 will begin with a balance of $2,027,076.
“This is the first time since 2020 that our general fund beginning balance is over $2 million,” Keaton said.
Prior to the start of the council meeting, the oath of office was given by Brookville Law Director Rod Stephan to the mayor and three councilmembers after they were elected to in last November’s election.
Chuck Letner returned as mayor after running unopposed.
Also re-elected were incumbent councilmembers J.D. Fowler and Stephan Crane.
The third elected councilmember is Dennis Piper, who is serving his first term.
In a related matter, council voted to name councilmember James Zimmerlin as vice mayor once again.
“I appreciate the support of my fellow councilmembers,” Zimmerlin said.
In business matters, council accepted the lowest and responsive bid of $773,930 from M&T Excavating of Bradford, Ohio, as the contractor for the Hay Avenue reconstruction Phase II project.
“Our references were checked on M&T Excavating because we weren’t familiar with that contractor and the references were favorable,” Keaton said.
Keaton noted the city received five responsive bids for the project.
In other business matters, Keaton informed council the city sold two surplus items on Govdeals.com, an online auction marketplace for government surplus items.
Items sold were:
• 2007 cut saw for $340
• 2002 pole saw for $280
Council heard the first reading of an annual resolution that allows the city to sell surplus property at a public auction, a private sale, by internet auction, or by donation to a government entity.
Council approved an ordinance establishing the zoning classification of R-1A (suburban residential) for the 113.562 acres of annexed land located between Heckathorn Road and the Wolf Creek bike trail in Perry Township to Brookville on Oct. 17, 2023.
“A public hearing on the proposal was held on Dec. 5 and and planning commission did make a final recommendation at its December meeting to approve the ordinance,” Stephan said.
Stephan said the property owner, JLR Leasing LLC, which is managed by John Ritter, plans to construct a meeting facility for an area church
Stephan said the property owner requested the annexation in order to obtain city water and sanitary sewer services.
Stephan said last October the meeting center will contain meeting rooms and a recreation area.
“It is expected the meeting center will occupy approximately five to seven acres,” Stephan said.
Stephan said the property owner requested the annexation in order to obtain city water and sanitary sewer services.
In other matters, Brookville Police Chief Doug Jerome said the police cruiser ordered by the department last summer is currently being built.
Jerome said the new cruiser may possibly be available to the department by April.
Reach Terry Baver at [email protected].
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https://www.registerherald.com/2024/01/10/2024-general-fund-balance-shows-increase/
| 2024-01-13T19:47:28Z
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It's not just all sequins and skates on Dancing on Ice. Every year without fail, celebrities find themselves nursing injuries after taking a tumble or pushing themselves too hard during training - and this year, Amber Davies is one of those celebrities. The West End star tore her quad whilst practising with her skating partner Simon Senecal and had to undergo physiotherapy during her recovery.
Whilst chatting with HELLO! and other press, the former Love Islander explained how she sustained her "painful" injury.
"I had a tear at the top of my quad," said Amber, 27. "It was from off-ice training but we'd been on the ice for two and a half hours. When you're on the ice it's all about being down in your knees, so by the end of the session, your legs and bum are burning.
"We'd come off and thought, 'let's just use this time and do a couple of lifts so we can put them on the ice in a different session'. As Simon lifted me up, the top of my quad popped," explained the theatre star. "It was so, so painful. We had to call the medic, I had to have physio every morning."
Looking on the bright side, Amber continued: "But it kind of made things real for me, like oh my gosh injuries can definitely happen and will happen. I surprised myself because sometimes when things happen I can retract but I didn't, I stayed calm and I carried on going."
Amber went on to say that, luckily, her injury "wasn't too much of a big tear", and needed two to three weeks of recovery.
While many viewers will know Amber from her stint on ITV2's Love Island back in 2017, when she won the series with her then-boyfriend, Kem Cetinay, she has since carved out a career on the West End.
She landed her first major stage role in 9 to 5: The Musical, before going on to star in Bring It On: The Musical, Back to the Future: The Musical and Pretty Woman.
When asked if her performing skills have come in handy on the ice, Amber said that her dance technique has been of little use to her so far.
EXCLUSIVE: Dancing on Ice's Alex Murphy stuns in poignant bridal gown at 'royal wedding'
"I had to scrap all my dancing technique because everything on ice is down, bent knees and your weight forward," she explained. "The only aspect I've been able to add is the performance, from my neck up. I think that's going to be my saving grace because my skating skills are okay, they're not Greg standard, let's put it that way," she quipped, referring to fellow contestant Olympian Greg Rutherford. "I think my saving grace is going to be my face and that's down to my [theatre] training, which I'm so lucky I've got."
Amber's place in this year's line-up was announced back in September. Speaking about the news on ITV's Lorraine at the time, the actress said: "I would definitely say that I'm an adrenaline junkie but I do get more nervous as I get older and I hope that I can contain them, I don't want to the adrenaline to get the better of me."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/510924/dancing-on-ice-amber-davies-reveals-medic-called-after-painful-injury/
| 2024-01-13T20:08:41Z
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After 28 years of marriage, there's a lot of trust between Al Roker and Deborah Roberts – but Al has been keeping a close eye on one man in her life: David Muir. Deborah and David have been hosting 20/20 together since September 2023, when Deborah replaced Amy Robach, and Al is one proud husband, admitting that he thought his wife looked like a "badass" in their new promotional picture.
But their chemistry is a "little too good," he quipped in a new interview with Entertainment Tonight's Spilling the E-Tea.
"I think you're doing great, you know? …In fact, the chemistry almost seems a little too good," the 68-year-old joked, according to Entertainment Tonight. He then continued: "You both adore each other, and I think the show is now to the next level."
Deborah was unveiled as the new co-anchor of ABC News' 20/20 alongside David, 49, in September 2023. She had been with ABC since 1995 when she joined 20/20 as a correspondent after being recruited by Barbara Walters.
"It is something that gives me a feeling of accomplishment and great pride,” Deborah, 63, added of her new role.
Sharing the news on social media alongside a portrait of herself and David, Deborah penned: "I have some news to share. I am thrilled and humbled to step into the role as co anchor @abc2020 alongside my friend and colleague @davidmuirabc. We are proud to carry on the tradition of in-depth reporting on this venerable newsmagazine which has revealed truths and opened hearts and minds for 46 years, beginning with the great Barbara Walters and Hugh Downs.
"It is the thrill of a lifetime to travel the path which Barbara cleared for women like me who dreamed of reporting meaningful and life changing stories. What a privilege and honor to keep the legacy going."
David was also over the moon to hear the news, taking to Instagram to express his excitement, stating: "If you hear cheering on New York City's Upper West Side – that's me. @debrobertsabc in her new role – an all new @abc2020 Friday."
Deborah was brought in to replace Amy, 50, who co-anchored 20/20 with David from 2018-2023. She was fired from the role, alongside her position at GMA3, after her affair with now-boyfriend and former co-host, T.J. Holmes – who was also dismissed – became public knowledge.
At the time, the network released a statement saying: "After several productive conversations with Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes about different options, we all agreed it's best for everyone that they move on from ABC News."
At the time, the network released a statement saying: "After several productive conversations with Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes about different options, we all agreed it's best for everyone that they move on from ABC News."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/511187/2020s-deborah-roberts-and-david-muirs-chemistry-is-a-little-too-good-says-al-roker/
| 2024-01-13T20:08:47Z
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have welcomed a new family member! Adding to the flock at their Montecito home, the royal couple has adopted Sinkie – an ailing chicken previously owned by their good friend and neighbor, Ellen DeGeneres.
Confirming the news on Instagram, Ellen, 65, gave fans an update on Sinkie. She revealed that the bird had been bullied by other rescue chickens at the Montecito estate she shares with her wife, Portia de Rossi.
Explaining that she'd been forced to relocate Sinkie – who has only just recovered from a broken fibula bone – Ellen revealed that it had all worked out in the end, with pals Meghan and Harry taking her on.
"Sinkie's leg is fixed but our chickens were still picking on her so she had to be re-homed," penned the TV star. "Luckily our friends Harry and Meghan's coop had room for one more. Not sure yet what her royal title will be."
Delighting fans with the update, fans raced to the comments. "Gotta love Harry and Meghan. I'm sure Archie and Lili will take excellent care of little Sinkie," wrote one. "So happy she is safe and yes, being treated like royalty," quipped another. Meanwhile, a third penned: "Sinkie, is lucky. Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet will spoil her."
Following their move to California in 2020, Harry and Meghan have adopted several farm animals, and they've got plenty of room for more.
Joining Oprah Winfrey for a tell-all interview, the royal couple gave fans a glimpse of their chicken coop – AKA a red hen house adorably labelled, 'Archie's Chick Inn, Established 2021'.
Explaining that they'd rescued their hens from a local factory farm, Harry, 39, nodded to Meghan, adding: "She's always wanted chickens."
"I just love rescuing," replied Meghan.
MORE: Why Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced pregnancy at Princess Eugenie's wedding
A family of animal lovers, Harry and Meghan have also rescued dogs, and their current three can be quite the handful! In October 2022, Harry spoke to winners of the WellChild Awards, and during the video call, he opened up about day-to-day life with their pets. "I tell you what, we all need a dog that keeps us calm. I've got three in this house now. So, we basically have five children," he joked.
"I've got a black Labrador called Pula, a rescue beagle called Guy. And we got another rescue beagle called Mia. And between the three of them, they charge around chasing squirrels and causing all sorts of problems to us every single day. But they are also emotional, emotional support dogs 100% when they're behaving."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/511190/prince-harry-meghan-markle-adopt-pet-chicken-ellen-degeneres-reveals/
| 2024-01-13T20:35:02Z
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Since it's inaugural event in 1996 the Critics Choice Awards, has become a glamorous and eagerly awaited event in the entertainment industry, honouring the finest in cinematic and television achievement.
As such, it has consistently served as a showcase for some of the most stunning and memorable red carpet fashion moments. Each year, celebrities and fashion icons such as Margot Robbie, Zendaya and Angelina Jolie grace the red carpet, turning it into a veritable runway of couture and high fashion. From breathtaking gowns to designs that are a time capsule into early 2000s fashion, these ensembles have all defined red carpet elegance at the Critics Choice Awards.
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At this year's ceremony, Barbie has set a new record with 18 nominations, the highest ever for a single film at the event so we can expect to see another dazzling doll-inspired look from the archive on Margot. Oppenheimer, with its 13 nods, is also predicted to win big on the night. Other films such as Maestro, Poor Things, and The Holdovers are tipped to win more than one award, and it's anticipated that Anatomy of a Fall and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse will be among the winners on the night.
Vanessa Paradis - 2004
For the 9th Annual Critics Choice Awards (which took place at the iconic Beverley Hills Hotel)Vanessa Paradis wore a flowing, bohemian-inspired dress in soft teal, adorned with lace detailing and floral embellishments. She chose to accessorise with a bold necklace that featured large, colourful flowers, complementing the accents on her dress. Her long blonde hair was styled in loose waves, and her makeup included a bold red lip, giving a nod to classic vintage glamour.
Katie Holmes - 2008
Back in 2008 Katie Holmes wore a glittering beige Lanvin frock from the brand's spring/summer collection of that same year, adorned with subtle sequins that exuded sophistication. The one-shouldered element added a chic asymmetrical touch to the design, which created a shimmering effect onstage. Katie opted for a minimalist approach to accessories, with a pair of classic Christian Louboutin peep-toe pumps and hair styled in a sleek, straight bob allowing the dress to take centre stage.
Penélope Cruz - 2009
Penélope Cruz wore an exquisite, strapless evening gown. The dress, a deep blue navy, featured a dark blue velvet sash tied around the waist with a bow, which provides a stunning contrast in texture. Penélope expertly accessorised with a black clutch and hair pulled back in a sleek, neat updo.
Emily Blunt - 2010
Emily Blunt donned a silver knee-length George Chakra dress adorned with sequins for the 15th iteration of the awards ceremony. The dress sported a unique geometric pattern, with scalloped edges and cap sleeves. The dress was a hit for its flattering shape, and old-school charm.
Lupita Nyong'o - 2014
Lupita Nyong'o’s stunning custom Calvin Klein Collection gown from the 19th Annual Critics' Choice Awards lives in our minds rent free. Elegantly designed with a sleek, figure-hugging mermaid silhouette the ivory silk crepe dress featured a unique bodice with cut-out details enhancing the sculptural quality of the outfit. She finished the look with Kimberly McDonald jewellery.
Keira Knightley - 2015
Keira Knightley dressed in a floor-length muted grey-blue gown from Delpozo's Spring 2015 collection that combined classic grace and modern detailing. The dress, with its delicate peter pan collar, exuded an ethereal quality. giving it a modest yet contemporary feel. Adorned with intricate gold floral appliqués, the touch of opulence and texture was perfect for the awards ceremony and her growing pregnancy bump.
Angelina Jolie - 2018
Angelina Jolie wore a custom white Ralph & Russo LWD (little white dress... in case you were wondering) to the 23rd Annual Critics' Choice Awards, boasting a striking detail around the neckline: feathered embellishment that added a touch of whimsy. The textured detail provided a beautiful contrast to the smooth lines of the gown's silhouette. Finished with a pair of diamond earrings that gave the look a classic touch of sparkle, and a bold red lip, the entire ensemble was a masterclass in red carpet dressing.
Margot Robbie - 2018
Margot Robbie's look for the 23rd Annual Critics' Choice Awards hailed from Chanel's 2018 Resort collection. The distinctive dress featured horizontal black and beige stripes that created a striking visual contrast. Accentuating her waist was an ornate, embellished belt with intricate detailing… a statement piece against the simpler background of the striped fabric.
Gemma Chan - 2019
Gemma Chan wore a dramatic, floral-patterned Jason Wu gown featuring a bold print. The ruffled off-the-shoulder neckline, adding volume and a romantic feel to the outfit. The voluminous and flowing silhouette created a grand sweeping effect, making the gown a standout on the red carpet. The best part? Pockets gave a touch of practicality that I'm sure we all can appreciate.
Zendaya - 2020
Trust Zendaya to deliver a bold and fashion-forward ensemble on the carpet. Her Tom Ford attire consisted of a metallic, high-shine, hot pink breast plate that added a futuristic edge to her high-waisted, floor-length skirt. The ensemble is a testament to Zendaya's reputation for being a trendsetter and her willingness to take sartorial risks.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/hfm/fashion-trends/511189/critics-choice-awards-best-dresses-ever/
| 2024-01-13T22:33:36Z
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Prince Albert and Princess Charlene enjoyed a day of family fun with their children – Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella – on Saturday. Pictured at the Circus Parade in Monaco, the royals marvelled at the floats, performers, live band, and elephants at the Place du Palais.
Part of the 46th Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival, the parade served as the opening act. Marking 50 years of the annual event, this year's festival is particularly poignant as it's dedicated to the memory of Albert's father, the late Prince Rainier III.
A fan of the circus, Prince Ranier was a founding member and helped launch the first festival in 1974.
Wrapping up warm for the festivities, Princess Charlene, 45, put on an elegant display in a tailored camel coat and suede knee-high boots. Meanwhile, Prince Albert, 65, stepped out in a navy overcoat and a bright yellow scarf. Adorably, the royal's outfit was mimicked by his nine-year-old son, Prince Jacques, who sported a near-identical jacket
As for Princess Gabriella, the young royal looked adorable in a leopard print coat and boots. Getting into the spirit of things, Jacques and Gabriella were each given red clown noses to wear during the parade. Revealing their adorable bond, Jacques and Gabriella were later spotted holding hands as they walked through The Palace Square – so sweet!
A family affair, Beatrice Borromeo and her eldest son, Stefano Ercole Carlo Casiraghi were also in attendance, as was Prince Albert's sister, Princess Stephanie of Monaco.
Like her father, Prince Ranier, Princess Stephanie shares an affinity for the circus. "My father passed on his love of the circus to me deep within me, deep within my veins," she told the Monaco Tribune last year.
Princess Charlene and Prince Albert's attendance at the Circus Parade marks one of their first public appearances of 2024.
MORE: Princess Charlene of Monaco dazzles alongside Prince Albert during New Year's speech
READ: 6 magnificent gowns worn by royalty's most glamorous ladies in 2023
Prior to the outing, the couple had rounded out 2023 with the New Year's address, which was posted on the Royal Family's Instagram account. Exuding glamour, Princess Charlene donned a dark red Ralph Lauren dress with long sleeves and an asymmetric collar.
Her stylish blonde crop was teased to one side, while her makeup was soft and flattering. As for Prince Albert, the father-of-two opted for a classic navy suit.
A heartfelt speech, Albert referred to "difficult times" in 2023, while remaining positive. "We have a shared duty to acknowledge our good fortune, and an ambition too, to remain united, by protecting our institutional model, our social and economic achievements," he said.
"We must also show our gratitude for these advantages by working together to pass on what we have inherited to future generations," he added. "For our principality, 2023 has also been a year of celebrations, with commemorations marking the centenary of the birth of my father, Prince Rainier III."
Towards the end of the speech, Princess Charlene joined him in saying "Happy New Year" in French, English and Monegasque. This marked the sixth year that she has accompanied her husband for the annual address.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/511191/princess-charlene-prince-albert-joined-by-children-at-the-circus-parade-in-monaco/
| 2024-01-13T22:33:42Z
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Emily Blunt, Carey Mulligan and Rosamund Pike brought the cold British weather to Hollywood on Saturday January 13, as they were among the A-listers to attend the gorgeous BAFTA Tea Party in Los Angeles. Amid the glitz and glamour of awards season, the annual tea party, held at the Maybourne Beverly Hills this year, is a welcome respite from evening galas and ball gowns, with the attendees wearing their sunday best for the fun and relaxed event.
Irish actor Cillian Murphy, Saltburn's Alison Oliver, and Andrea Riseborough were all also in attendance, with Andrea cirling back to stop Alison and praise her for the up-and-coming actress' incredible work in the Emerald Fennell film.
Emily wore a stunning A-line midi dress with intricate cutout detailing, while Maestro star Carey rocked a pant suit in a pale green that appeared luminious in certain lights Rosamund – who wowed fans at the Golden Globes in a stunning black fishnet veil – wore a gorgeous floral dress with rose detailing on the pockets, and which she described to press as part "lingerie".
Elsewhere, Abbott Elementary's Quinta Brunson looked ready for spring in a sweet midi dress that flared out from the waist and featured floral detailing on the skirt while her co-star Janelle James rocked a black-and-white tennis dress.
May December star Julianne Moore looked gorgeous in a two-tone column dress that featured a slinky black barddot neckline, and a tweed skirt. The award-winning actress will appear in Mary and George in Spring 2024, following the true story of Mary Villiers, a British woman who used her son to climb the social ladder in the reign of King James I.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/511188/emily-blunt-carey-mulligan-tom-hiddleston-the-best-of-british-to-hollywood-for-bafta-tea-party/
| 2024-01-14T02:17:28Z
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When she announced her abdication during a live new year TV address at the beginning of this year, Queen Margrethe II sent shockwaves through Denmark as the first Danish monarch to abdicate in almost 900 years.
The Queen will officially step down this Sunday, paving the way for her son, Crown Prince Frederik, to take her place as Denmark's reigning monarch.
A constant throughout much of Queen Margrethe's reign was her husband, Prince Henrik, who passed away in 2018. The prince was a flamboyant and eccentric character whose later life in particular was marred by controversy.
He was a bon vivant with a penchant for poetry, cooking and wine who became notorious for his unpredictable outbursts, which earned him the title of "Whiner of the Year" from one Danish TV channel.
Born Henri de Laborde de Montpezat in 1934 at Talence, Gironde in France, the prince spent much of his childhood in Hanoi, where he became fluent in Vietnamese, before moving to Paris to study law and political science at the Sorbonne.
He moved to London to work as a diplomat, where he first met the then Princess Margrethe in 1967. Within a year of their marriage, they welcomed their first son and heir to the Danish throne, Prince Frederik.
According to Wim Dehandschutter, royal reporter at DPG Media, the prince made a positive first impression on the Danish people. "In the beginning, generally he was greeted with big emotions and love," Wim exclusively told HELLO!. "He was a young handsome French man who took the young Princess Margrethe by storm."
The prince's behaviour in later life grew increasingly erratic as he opted to candidly share many of his personal frustrations with the press, before being diagnosed with dementia shortly before his death.
He was a polarising figure who evoked delight and disapproval in equal measure from the Danish public. "Prince Henrik had a love-hate relationship with the Danish people," Wim said. "They loved to hate him."
Join us as we look back at some of the standout moments in the colourful and controversial life of Prince Henrik.
Mid-life crisis
Prince Henrik sparked controversy in 2002 when he aired his frustrations with his life in the shadows, deeming himself useless, relegated and in the "midst of a mid-life crisis".
This revelation came following reports that he had been demoted to the third rank in the Danish royal family, after he had been the guest of his son Frederik, who Queen Margrethe chose to represent her instead of her husband, at an official New Year's reception in Copenhagen earlier that year. The prince told Danish newspaper BT that these circulating comments were the "final straw".
He blamed the press for what he described to be the "worst crisis" of his life, and denied that his son was at all responsible for his bruised self-esteem. "He's a wonderful boy," he said. "It's not his fault. I think he's timid and he isn't content with the current situation. I want to make that clear. I'm not jealous of my own son. He's not the one trying to change the order."
In the midst of this, Henrik fled to his chateau in the South of France to take a step away from royal life.
Aversion to royal life
When Margrethe became queen in 1972, the title of Prince Consort was immediately bestowed on her husband, as is convention. Henrik had to overhaul his life when his wife became queen: he had to change his religion, language and name to adapt to Danish royal life.
However, the prince, who maintained in his writings that he still saw the Frenchman Henri when he looked in the mirror, did not shy away from voicing his displeasure with some of the adjustments that royal life demanded.
In particular, he openly criticised his Prince Consort title. Traditionally, when a queen is crowned, her husband is named prince, while if a king ascends to the throne, his wife immediately becomes known as queen.
He told the French newspaper, Le Figaro, that he deemed this to be a form of gender discrimination: "Denmark, which is otherwise known as an avid defender of gender equality, is apparently willing to consider husbands as worth less than their wives."
There was also criticism of the prince's failure to fully embrace Danish culture and integrate himself in Danish society. "It's been said that Henrik, a French-born royal, was never truly accepted, because he never learned to speak proper Danish. If he had made more effort, this could have been the first step in full recognition," Wim said.
"Furthermore, Danish people had the feeling that Prince Henrik did not make huge efforts to integrate himself. For example, he stated unabashedly that he would choose French wine over Danish beer, the French car brand Citroën above Scandinavian Volvo."
During the queen's 75th birthday celebrations, Prince Henrik caused quite the stir when he was spotted on holiday in Venice despite claims that he was unwell.
Controversial burial plans
Shortly before his death in 2018, Prince Henrik marked his lifelong grievance with his title by announcing that he did not wish to be buried next to his wife.
In an interview with Se og Hor, he said: "I didn't marry the Queen to be buried at Roskilde. My wife has decided that she wants to be Queen, and I'm very happy about that. But as a human being she needs to know that if a man and wife are married, they are equal."
"It's my wife and not me that can do anything about this matter. If she wants me buried with her, she has to make me King Consort," Henrik added. "End of story – I couldn't care less."
Danish tradition dictates that the spouse of a monarch is buried with them in Denmark's Roskilde Cathedral. However, as per his wishes, the prince was cremated, with half of his ashes scattered in Danish waters, and the other half interred in the private gardens at Fredensborg Castle.
According to Wim, although many of his views and combat points were regarded as "childish" by the Danish public, "his popularity improved in his final years". " Perhaps because times have changed," Wim said. "Because they realised that he was important to the Queen and for fulfilling her role.
"After his death, people were very sad and acknowledged him and his role. My friends remembered how people were in huge lines to see the coffin […] the Queen would not have been the Queen she has been if it weren't for Prince Henrik. We owe him a big thank you as well as the Queen."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/510961/the-controversial-life-of-queen-margrethes-husband-prince-henrik/
| 2024-01-14T08:13:16Z
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Tennis is back for 2024, and first stop is the Australian Open! Thousands of tennis fans - and players - are set to descend to Melbourne Park, where they will take in all the action from the courts. This is the first of the four Grand Slam tennis events held each year, preceding the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open.
Do not miss
And while the focus will remain firmly on the tennis players, who are the loyal partners that will be cheering them on from courtside - or at home? From Andy Murray's wife Kim to Emma Raducanu's boyfriend Carlo Agostinelli, we take a look at the sports stars' supportive other halves.
Novak Djokovic's wife Jelena Djokovic
Novak Djokovic tends to have his wife Jelena supporting him from the sidelines. The couple married in July 2014, and shared their wedding day exclusively with HELLO! magazine. The big day took place just a few days after Novak scored his second Wimbledon title. Jelena, who runs the Novak Foundation, said of laying eyes on her groom for the first time: "I was seeing him through tears and immediately started crying when I saw him.
"I was just so happy and probably being pregnant makes it quite difficult to control the emotions. I am so blessed to have him in my life. I couldn't ask for a better partner than him." The couple are now parents to son Stefan, six, and daughter Tara, three.
The past 12 months have been amazing for the Serbian player, who won the Australian Open, French Open and US Open titles as well as clinching victory in the ATP Finals. On social media, Novak was quick to pay tribute to his wife, writing: "What an amazing season this has been. Forever grateful to my wife for being the best mother I could ask for to our kids, while I was making history of the sport. Her support and love that I have been feeling from my family made this historic season possible.
"I would like to congratulate and thank my team for their dedication and efforts. Another very successful year for the team in the books. We will remember this one forever. So many memorable moments that sent chills down our spines. Journey continues in 2024. Looking forward to what’s coming up. Onwards and upwards."
Andy Murray's wife Kim
Andy Murray's wife Kim has supported him throughout his tennis career. The couple married in April 2015 and are parents to four children; Sophia, Edie, Teddie, and Lola. Kim and Andy's romance dates back to 2005, when the couple met at a party in South Africa. The following year their relationship became public knowledge when Andy sweetly ran to Kim's side, to kiss her after winning his first senior title.
MORE: Andy Murray opens up about career sacrifices wife Kim made to support him
During a chat with HELLO! last year, Kim revealed how proud she is of her husband. "It's great he is still so focussed," she shared. "He goes out there wanting to win every single match and we are very proud of him."
Naomi Osaka's boyfriend Cordae
The Japanese tennis player has been romantically linked to rapper Cordae since 2019, and in July 2023, they welcomed a baby girl named Shai. However, it seems the couple have sparked split rumours with the 26-year-old tennis star removing all traces of Cordae from her Instagram page.
During an interview in InStyle's December digital issue, Naomi opened up about parenting with Cordae and how they have "built a really good foundation". She said: "I don't know if it's because he's just an easygoing guy, but I think we just respect each other's opinions. And if we disagree on something, we talk it out. At the end of the day, we both want what's best for Shai."
She added: "I've stepped away from tennis before, but this time, it was the longest duration of my life. And I think it kind of gave me a perspective like, 'Hey, you're not going to play tennis forever. And you kind of have to cherish the years that you can play.' I do want to be a good role model for Shai, and I want her to see that this was an important chapter in my life."
Alex de Minaur and Katie Boulter
This tennis couple will be supporting each other when they are not playing. The British beauty and Australian hunk began dating in 2021. They confirmed their romance on International Women's Day in 2021. Sharing a beautiful picture of themselves, Alex wrote: "Happy international women’s day!! Specially to this one, I don’t mind you." To which, Katie replied: "Guess you're OK too [love heart emoji]."
British player Katie often shares pictures with Australian star Alex on social media, with the pair even celebrating the festive season together. Just a few weeks ago, Katie uploaded sweet snapshots of the couple and remarked: "Get yourself a guy that loves taking pictures with you."
Alex is the highest ranked Australian Men's tennis player, with many Aussies hoping he will go far. The's?? had one of the best rankings since fellow Aussie Lleyton Hewitt.
Felix Auger-Aliassime's girlfriend Nina Ghaibi
French Canadian player Felix Auger Aliassime has been in a relationship with Nina Ghaibi, 22, since early 2019. They often post photos together online, and have already won a loyal legion of fans. The tennis player previously paid tribute to Nina on her birthday, writing: "Happy birthday to the one who makes all moments feel so special. I'm so blessed and privileged to share this life with you. Now time to hear about you being older than me for the next 2 months. Enjoy your day cutie."
For their second anniversary, Felix gushed: "Well, I'm pretty happy our paths crossed two years ago. Two years of love and happiness. To many more in the future." But it seems Felix won't be the only person Nina will be cheering on! Her cousin, Australian player Ajla Tomljanović, is also set to take the court.
Ajla also used to date fellow tennis star Matteo Berrettini, from 2019 to 2022. Before their split, Felix said of his friendship with the Italian player in Netflix's Break Point: "Both our girlfriends are cousins, so it just happens that we spend a lot of time together. He's one of my best friends on the [ATP] tour. He's really a great guy."
Emma Raducanu's boyfriend Carlo Agostinelli
British tennis hopeful Emma Raducanu went public with her romance with her billionaire boyfriend, Carlo Agostinelli, during Paris Fashion Week in September after months of rumours. Although the pair have been pictured out and about on the odd occasion, Carlo is yet to be seen courtside at one of Emma's matches.
The Stanford University graduate, who was also a pupil at Harrow, is the son of American banker Robert Agostinelli and Mathilde Favier, who is head of PR at Dior. Emma and Carlo sparked romance rumours when the pair appeared to share sweet pictures during a sun-soaked vacation to Mexico in May 2023.
Caroline Wozniacki's husband David Lee
Former world No.1 champion Caroline Wozniacki was awarded one of the main-draw wildcards for the Australian Open 2024. The tennis star, who won the title at Melbourne Park in 2018, made an exciting comeback last summer after nearly four years away. She will doubt be cheered on by her husband David Lee, whom she married in June 2019.
Shortly after the nuptials, Caroline gushed to HELLO!: "We had the best time, it was awesome. We had an absolute blast and got to enjoy the whole four days we were there and got to say hi to everybody and got to interact and it was absolutely perfect." She added: "We partied all the way until four in the morning which was perfect."
Since getting married, Caroline and the former NBA All-Star have welcomed two children, daughter Olivia and son James. The sports star often sings her husband's praises on social media, for Father's Day last year, she gushed: "A big shoutout to the Father of our Dreams. Tomorrow we are celebrating Father's Day with a heart full of gratitude for the unwavering support and love you bring. From late-night feedings to diaper changes, you've been my rock through it all."
She added: "Together, we're raising our beautiful children, and your dedication as a father fills my heart with joy. Thank you for being the anchor in our family, guiding us with your wisdom and unconditional love. Happy Father's Day, my partner in parenthood!"
Coco Gauff's 'mysterious' boyfriend
Although this American player has yet to disclose the identity of her boyfriend, Coco Gauff has referenced him during her interviews. Shortly after winning her first Grand Slam title at the 2023 US Open, Coco credited her partner for being there for her.
"Honestly, I didn't have any of those visions [of winning] till last night," she said after her win. "You know, I thought about it, but I told myself to get it out of my head, because that's what I did at French. I was envisioning, you know, what would happen if I would win. I think I wanted it too much." The star added: "Last night, I started a little bit, but honestly, I just called my boyfriend, and I told him let's talk until it's time to go to sleep so we spoke until 1:00 a.m. and then I went to sleep."
The 19-year-old also revealed the gift she received from him - a nеcklacе with an infinity symbol. "My boyfriеnd gavе this to mе. Infinity," she disclosed. "Hе gavе that to mе aftеr I won thе US Opеn. Onе day I just got tirеd of taking it off, so I just kеpt wеaring it. Lеt mе play with somеthing that mеans somеthing to mе."
Paula Badosa and Stefanos Tsitsipas
Another tennis power couple! Paula, 26, and Stefanos, 25, went public with their relationship shortly after the 2023 Italian Open in Rome – since then, the pair have even played Mixed Doubles together. The Spanish and Greek stars made headlines after they won their first-ever mixed doubles match in World Tennis League action in December.
"This was the test," joked Paula after winning the match. "Either we get divorced, or this goes better & better." In which, Stefanos replied: "It's a true pleasure to share the court with someone I've followed for a few years. My favourite female tennis player."
After the semi-finals at the Vienna Open in October 2023, Tsitsipas gushed to a reporter: "I'm in love with tennis, my girlfriend, and my family, these three things that I call the holy trinity."
Carlos Alcaraz's rumoured girlfriend Maria González Giménez
The Spaniard, who is one of the biggest names in tennis right now, is believed to be dating Maria González Giménez, a tennis player from Murcia.
The couple, who are yet to go public with their relationship, have kept their romance on the down low. However, Tennis Tonic previously shared a screenshot of an Instagram story posted on Alcaraz's account where the two where seen sharing a sweet embrace.
Taylor Fritz's girlfriend Morgan Riddle
American tennis ace Taylor Fritz was one of the breakout stars to feature in Netflix's tennis doc, Break Point. His girlfriend of three years, Morgan Riddle, also featured in the hit show.
They first met on the exclusive, members-only dating app Raya, during the pandemic in 2020. During a previous chat with People, the social media influencer revealed she had just moved to Los Angeles and "didn't know anybody" so turned towards the app where she met the tennis star.
"Because it was during Covid, no restaurants were open, no bars were open so we ordered sushi," she divulged. "We went to his place and I made him watch Midsommar with me, the really messed up horror movie. Why I chose that as my first introduction to a guy, I don't really know. I think I traumatized him a little bit."
During an interview with New York Times in August, Taylor was very honest about his work commitments and demanding schedule which sees him constantly travelling across the world. "I was like: 'Look, this is not how it's going to be. I don't have this free time. I'm going to be traveling, like, every single week,'" he shared. " But I also said, 'You know, it's not a bad deal — you can travel all over the world, if you're up for it.'"
The tennis star - who is also a doting father to his seven-year-old son Jordan, whom he shares with ex-wife Raquel Pedraza – added: "She's very on me about eating healthy, getting lots of sleep… It's the little things that create a healthy routine for me, and that helps me perform better."
Grigor Dimitrov's girlfriend Madalina Ghenea
The Bulgarian athlete, who previously dated Nicole Scherzinger, went public with his romance with the Romanian actress last year. Madalina has been pictured in the box at various tournaments, including Wimbledon and the Madrid Open.
Exclusive: Grigor Dimitrov is training 'talented' Romeo Beckham
The actress has previously been romantically linked to Hollywood stars such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Gerard Butler and Michael Fassbender. She played Sophia Loren in the series House of Gucci, and has also appeared alongside former Gossip Girl star Ed Westwick in Deep Fear.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/510792/australian-open-partners-supporting-tennis-stars/
| 2024-01-14T10:33:43Z
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Simon Cowell thrilled fans at the weekend with new photos of his lookalike son Eric bonding with their latest family addition - a German Shepherd mix pup called Pebbles.
Taking to Instagram on Saturday, Simon, 64, shared a snapshot of Eric stroking their newest arrival while lying down on a plush rug.
Elsewhere, the entertainment mogul uploaded an image of Eric sweetly hugging his furry companion at home on a large, sand-hued sofa. He could be seen with his chin resting between Pebbles’ ears in a loving display of affection. Adorable!
For the candid snaps, ten-year-old Eric, whom Simon shares with his fiancée Lauren Silverman, looked so grown up wearing a royal blue T-shirt and matching blue joggers.
Captioning the images, the former X Factor judge simply penned: "LOVE". His post quickly garnered thousands of messages in the comments section, with fans flocking to share their thoughts.
One follower wrote: "Awwwww they're so cute together" while another chimed in: "Gorgeous dog and your son looks so much like you".
A third commented: "A boy and his dog!! They will be best buddies!!" and a fourth sweetly added: "Gorgeous [red heart emoji] So special growing up with pets".
Simon's love of dogs is well documented. In 2015, he told Glamour: "I have always loved dogs but had no idea how much happiness they would bring to my life." He is already a proud dog parent to pet pooches Daisy, Freddie and Yorkire Terriers, Squiddly and Diddly whom he shares with his fiancée Lauren.
The happy couple welcomed their son Eric into the world on Valentine's Day in 2014. Since welcoming Eric, Simon has been incredibly candid about how his life has changed for the better. "Before Eric, my life was 99 per cent work. I was obsessed with it," he admitted in an interview with The Sun, before adding: "Now Eric is around, I don't work through the night anymore. If he hadn't come along, God knows what would have happened."
Lauren and Simon took their relationship to the next level in 2021, with music mogul Simon popping the question during a trip to Barbados.
According to The Sun, the proposal is thought to have been an intimate affair with only their son Eric and Lauren's 17-year-old son, Adam, from her previous marriage, present.
Speaking in February 2022, Simon revealed the couple's son Eric had a big part in coaching him towards the proposal. "One hundred percent he had to coach me. And we planned it. He was a big part of it," he told Entertainment Tonight.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/511193/simon-cowell-rare-photo-lookalike-son-eric-pet-dog-pebbles/
| 2024-01-14T10:33:49Z
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Kim Kardashian went on a trip down memory lane on Saturday as she took a look through the family photo albums.
The Skims founder was feeling incredibly nostalgic as she shared an adorable photo featuring herself and her older sister Kourtney Kardashian as little girls, posing in matching polka dot dresses, posing with their late father, Robert Kardashian Sr.
The image no doubt brought back a lot of emotional memories for Kim, who was incredibly close to her dad. Fans were quick to comment on the post after Kim shared it on Instagram, with many sending heartfelt messages.
"The loss of a dad never goes away," one fan wrote, alongside a love heart emoji. "Your dad would be so proud," another commented, while a third added: "The greatest memories are with you forever Kim."
Robert passed away suddenly on September 30 2003, aged just 59. The lawyer was the father of Kourtney, Kim, Khloe and Rob Kardashian, and was married to Kris Jenner between 1978-1991.
He tragically passed away after being diagnosed with esophageal cancer two months before his death.
Robert gained a lot of media attention during the trial of OJ Simpson, acting on his defence team while he was accused of murdering his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Rob Goldman.
The Kardashians often talk about the memories they have of Robert, and back in 2020, Kim received a hologram of her late dad as a gift for her 40th birthday from then-husband Kanye West.
While Kim is clearly missing her dad this month, the reality star is also focusing on the happy moments her family have to look forward to.
On Friday, she shared a sweet picture of herself with her five-year-old daughter Chicago, as she counted down the days until her little girl's sixth birthday.
"It's someone's birthday soon," she wrote alongside the image. Chicago turns six on January 15, and in true Kardashian style, she will no doubt be celebrated with a themed party.
The Kardashians certainly know how to throw a party, and all of Kris' grandchildren are treated to themed birthday celebrations every year, usually with the help of their go-to party planner, Mindy Weiss.
Along with Chicago, Kim is also mom to children North, ten, Saint, eight, and Psalm, four, who she shares with ex-husband Kanye West. Kim and Kanye divorced in 2021 and while it made headlines,he protective mom has been careful to ensure that their children are protected from it all.
She recently told GQ: "Ultimately, what matters is that kids feel loved and heard. You want to be sensitive because they're just kids, and it's hard to go through no matter what age."
The beauty mogul continued: "You have to make sure that you only go to a level that they can understand. It's okay to show a vulnerable side. You never go to a negative side."
"Just because I know how to manage my stress well doesn't mean that I don't feel the emotions," she said. "If I'm sad, of course I will cry and feel it."
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| 2024-01-14T10:33:55Z
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After a long hiatus, Holly Willoughby is set to grace our screens once again on the upcoming series of Dancing on Ice.
And with the show kicking off on Sunday, we can't wait to witness Holly's resplendent wardrobe brimming with sequins and sparkles. The star is known for her enviable physique, and given her schedule, we are dying to know what Holly eats to stay in such great shape. Keep scrolling to discover her weekday winners in addition to some of her guilty pleasures…
So… what does Holly typically eat? While the 42-year-old star is a fan of eating healthily, she doesn't shy away from carbs or the odd treat food.
MORE: The best meal delivery services in the UK: Mindful Chef, Gousto & more
A keen chef, Holly is usually found rustling up delicious homecooked meals for her husband Dan Baldwin and their children, Harry, 14, Belle, 12, and Chester, eight. She's also partial to a bowl of pasta and baked potatoes. Sign us up for Holly's diet any day!
Down-to-earth as ever, Holly was refreshingly honest when asked what she serves up for her three children. She previously told Asda Living magazine: "I want to fill them with goodness and make sure they don’t snack between meals. I like them to try new things, like crab and cockles.
"But I love a processed cheese slice myself, so I can't be that militant about nutrition." A girl after our own heart.
We've rounded up her ultimate meals below and paired them with expert quotes from nutritionist, Mark Gilbert.
What does Holly Willoughby eat for breakfast?
The former Celebrity Juice star said in the interview that she kicks off her day with a balanced and nutritious breakfast to give her long-lasting energy. Her go-to meal is yogurt, granola and berries. In light of her busy schedule, we imagine the TV host washes it down with a very strong coffee!
"Raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries generally give lower, more gradual sugar spikes than other fruits making them better alternatives to most other fruits," Mark tells us.
"Berries are also high in antioxidants, which help to reduce inflammation and damaging oxidative stress in the body.
"Yogurt is a great choice, as it has high-quality protein and can be beneficial for the gut (which research shows controls almost as much of our body as the brain). A top tip is to check the protein and the sugar levels on the label and go for high protein and minimise sugar – yogurts vary quite a bit in these crucial nutrients. A high-quality Greek yogurt will usually be best. If you can get a minimum of 20 grams of protein in the morning, it will have the effect of reducing your cravings and calorie intake for the rest of the day. Also, don’t necessarily get the low-fat version of yogurt, as eating dairy fat is associated with being leaner and healthier!"
What does Holly Willoughby eat for lunch?
The blonde is famed for her Sunday roasts with all the trimmings. The star has been known to share snaps of her homecooked meals on her Instagram account – and we're lusting after an invite.
Keen to replicate Holly's wonderful roasts? Mark offers us a top tip. "When indulging in a roast dinner, I recommend eating the protein first – starting with the meat and eating the starchy carbs later in the meal," he shared.
"You can mix it up but try to 'front load' these foods, as they will trigger the fullness switch much more effectively and will stabilise blood sugar levels better."
What does Holly Willoughby snack on?
Holly is a fan of a healthy snack and favours carrots dipped in hummus, as well as fresh mango. But she also loves a chocolate bar as much as the rest of us! Whilst it can be tempting to reach for white and milk chocolate, Mark strongly recommends opting for dark chocolate instead.
"Opting for dark chocolate can be a great option as it contains flavonoids, which are natural compounds that have been shown to reduce stress and anxiety and improve blood flow," he explains.
"Eating a small amount of dark chocolate can help to boost mood and reduce stress levels."
What are Holly Willoughby's guilty pleasures?
When she was presenting This Morning, Holly never hesitated to try a tasty, sweet treat. Over the years, Holly has tried an array of delicious sugary snacks including cake and millionaire shortbread.
A self-confessed chocoholic, Holly even sought the help of British hypnotist Paul McKenna to cure her chocolate cravings during one episode of the show. He attempted to do so by making her associate the taste of chocolate with something she hates – tinned tuna. We can't see that working, somehow.
What does Holly Willoughby eat for dinner?
When she's not cooking up a storm at home, Holly occasionally ventures out for a bite to eat at upmarket restaurant, Nobu. Her favourite dish is the yellowtail sashimi with jalapeño.
As for her go-to mid-week meal, the mother of three loves to whip up a simple and indulgent pasta dish – like a carbonara, mac 'n cheese or a Bolognese.
Expert Mark tells us: "Ideally do some exercise before a carb heavy meal. Intense exercise burns the sugar (glycogen) stored in your muscles and frees up room to store all those extra carbs back in the muscles, where they don’t do any harm. Even moderate exercise, like walking, before or after a meal has numerous benefits."
Holly is vocal about her love for a glass of wine so we imagine she's been treating herself with dinner – especially since she previously dished that she's had the worst hangover ever in lockdown.
The star also previously revealed her beverage of choice is a low-calorie vodka with soda water and lime, a perfect health-conscious treat. Sign us up for Holly's regime!
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/cuisine/511041/holly-willoughby-dancing-on-ice-host-daily-diet-revealed-expert/
| 2024-01-14T10:34:01Z
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Ryan Thomas is determined to go far in the new series of ITV's Dancing on Ice. The Coronation Street star is hoping to make it further than his brother Adam on Strictly Come Dancing last year. Adam, who is known for his roles on Emmerdale and Waterloo Road, made it to week seven in the latest series of the BBC dancing show before being voted out.
Chatting with HELLO! and other press ahead of the new series, Ryan spoke about the "brotherly banter" between him, Adam and their brother, Scott, who rose to fame after appearing on Love Island back in 2016.
During Adam's seven weeks on Strictly, Ryan cheered from the sidelines and supported his brother through his journey. "I remember being with my brother all the way through his process on Strictly and it was a daily conversation of support, so he's now having to be my support," said the 38-year-old, who's paired with professional skater Amani Fancy.
"He's going to be there for the first show, with my other brother. It's a family affair, we're all very supportive of each other, but along with that comes some brotherly banter and I have to do better than both my brothers on any show that they do," he said, laughing.
"The object of the game is to beat Adam! As long as I get further than Adam did on Strictly, then I'm happy," joked Adam, who is engaged to TOWIE star Lucy Mecklenburgh.
Despite Adam's determination, his skating partner Amani admitted the pair have "a long journey" ahead of them during an appearance on ITV's This Morning on Tuesday.
Revealing that Adam had suffered a "tough fall" during rehearsals, Amani said: "I mean we've got a long journey ahead of us, we need to make sure that what happened in practice a few weeks ago doesn't happen in the live shows - which was quite a tough fall.
"But it's not easy, they've got to lift us, they've got a life in their hands."
Praising her co-star's hard work, she said: "He's got good self-awareness but he's an interesting student and he works harder than anyone else I know. He'll go to his paddle competitions, go to PT, be with his kids and go to skating."
Ryan's position in this year's line-up was announced back in October, after which Amani took to Instagram to express her delight.
"I’ve honestly been hoping for this pairing since the @dancingonice line up came out after watching an interview Ryan was on, to the point where I've nagged production to tell me if it was him countless times but had no luck until today."
The 26-year-old added: "I'm so proud to be your partner and cannot wait to see you thrive and become the skater I know you can be. Who knows, maybe we won't be able to tell who the professional is by the end of the competition."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/511061/dancing-on-ice-ryan-thomas-admits-sibling-rivalry-brother-adam-after-strictly/
| 2024-01-14T10:34:07Z
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Hollywood's awards season is well and truly underway. After last weekend's Golden Globes, the spotlight is on the 29th annual Critics Choice Awards, which will see the biggest film stars in Tinseltown hit the red carpet at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California on Sunday for a chance to pick up one of those coveted trophies.
Keep reading for all you need to know about this year's ceremony, including how to watch it, who is nominated, and who will be hosting the show.
How to watch the Critics Choice Awards and timings of the show
The three-hour ceremony kicks off at 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on the East Coast and in Los Angeles on The CW.
Los Angeles' CW affiliate, KTLA-5, will also host a red carpet show which begins at 2 p.m. PT.
Viewers can also stream the ceremony on platforms including Hulu+, DirecTV Stream, Sling TV and Fubo TV.
Who is hosting this year's awards?
For the second year running, comedian Chelsea Handler will host the ceremony.
The actress is perhaps best known for her stand-up career, as well as for her late-night chat show, Chelsea Lately.
On returning as host, the 48-year-old said in a statement: "I am very happy and excited to be hosting the Critics Choice Awards again this year, as last year was one of the most fun nights I’ve had.
"There is no greater reward than making fun of actors and then getting drunk with them afterward. It’s an honor."
The full list of Critics Choice nominees
Leading the nominations this year is Greta Gerwig's Barbie, which is competing in 18 categories, including Best Picture, Best Director (Greta Gerwig), Best Actress (Margot Robbie), and Best Supporting Actor (Ryan Gosling).
Bringing up the rear are Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer and Yorgos Lanthimos' Poor Things, both of which earned 13 nominations, with Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon trailing closely behind.
It's going to be a tough competition this year, but after last weekend's Golden Globes, we predict Oppenheimer will win big once again.
Best Picture
American Fiction
Barbie
The Color Purple
The Holdovers
Killers of the Flower Moon
Maestro
Oppenheimer
Past Lives
Poor Things
Saltburn
Best Actor
Bradley Cooper, Maestro
Leonardo DiCaprio, Killers of the Flower Moon
Colman Domingo, Rustin
Paul Giamatti, The Holdovers
Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer
Jeffrey Wright, American Fiction
Best Actress
Lily Gladstone, Killers of the Flower Moon
Sandra Hüller, Anatomy of a Fall
Greta Lee, Past Lives
Carey Mulligan, Maestro
Margot Robbie, Barbie
Emma Stone, Poor Things
Best Supporting Actor
Sterling K. Brown, American Fiction
Robert De Niro, Killers of the Flower Moon
Robert Downey Jr., Oppenheimer
Ryan Gosling, Barbie
Charles Melton, May December
Mark Ruffalo, Poor Things
Best Supporting Actress
Emily Blunt, Oppenheimer
Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple
America Ferrera, Barbie
Jodie Foster, Nyad
Julianne Moore, May December
Da'Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers
Best Young Actor/Actress
Abby Ryder Fortson, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.
Ariana Greenblatt, Barbie
Calah Lane, Wonka
Milo Machado Graner, Anatomy of a Fall
Dominic Sessa, The Holdovers
Madeleine Yuna Voyles, The Creator
Best Acting Ensemble
Air
Barbie
The Color Purple
The Holdovers
Killers of the Flower Moon
Oppenheimer
Best Director
Bradley Cooper, Maestro
Greta Gerwig, Barbie
Yorgos Lanthimos, Poor Things
Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer
Alexander Payne, The Holdovers
Martin Scorsese, Killers of the Flower Moon
Best Adapted Screenplay
Kelly Fremon Craig, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.
Andrew Haigh, All of Us Strangers
Cord Jefferson, American Fiction
Tony McNamara, Poor Things
Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer
Eric Roth and Martin Scorsese, Killers of the Flower Moon
Best Original Screenplay
Samy Burch, May December
Alex Convery, Air
Bradley Cooper & Josh Singer, Maestro
Greta Gerwig & Noah Baumbach, Barbie
David Hemingson, The Holdovers
Celine Song, Past Lives
Best Cinematography
Matthew Libatique, Maestro
Rodrigo Prieto, Barbie
Rodrigo Prieto, Killers of the Flower Moon
Robbie Ryan, Poor Things
Linus Sandgren, Saltburn
Hoyte van Hoytema, Oppenheimer
Best Production Design
Suzie Davies, Charlotte Dirickx, Saltburn
Ruth De Jong, Claire Kaufman, Oppenheimer
Jack Fisk, Adam Willis, Killers of the Flower Moon
Sarah Greenwood, Katie Spencer, Barbie
James Price, Shona Heath, Szusza Mihalek, Poor Things
Adam Stockhausen, Kris Moran, Asteroid City
Best Editing
William Goldenberg – Air
Nick Houy – Barbie
Jennifer Lame – Oppenheimer
Yorgos Mavropsaridis – Poor Things
Thelma Schoonmaker – Killers of the Flower Moon
Michelle Tesoro – Maestro
Best Costume Design
Jacqueline Durran, Barbie
Lindy Hemming, Wonka
Francine Jamison-Tanchuck, The Color Purple
Holly Waddington, Poor Things
Jacqueline West, Killers of the Flower Moon
Janty Yates, David Crossman, Napoleon
Best Hair and Makeup
Barbie
The Color Purple
Maestro
Oppenheimer
Poor Things
Priscilla
Best Visual Effects
The Creator
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
Oppenheimer
Poor Things
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Best Comedy
American Fiction
Barbie
Bottoms
The Holdovers
No Hard Feelings
Poor Things
Best Animated Film
The Boy and the Heron
Elemental
Nimona
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
Wish
Best Foreign Language Film
Anatomy of a Fall
Godzilla Minus One
Perfect Days
Society of the Snow
The Taste of Things
The Zone of Interest
Best Song
“Dance the Night," Barbie
“I’m Just Ken," Barbie
“Peaches," The Super Mario Bros. Movie
“Road to Freedom," Rustin
"This Wish," Wish
"What Was I Made For," Barbie
Best Score
Jerskin Fendrix, Poor Things
Michael Giacchino, Society of the Snow
Ludwig Göransson, Oppenheimer
Daniel Pemberton, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Robbie Robertson, Killers of the Flower Moon
Mark Ronson, Andrew Wyatt, Barbie
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/511114/critics-choice-awards-2024-nominees-host-how-to-watch/
| 2024-01-14T10:34:13Z
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Former Strictly star Janette Manrara has shared an adorable snapshot of her baby daughter Lyra Rose wearing a tricolour outfit - and it might be her sweetest picture yet.
Taking to Instagram on Saturday, Janette, 40, posted a snapshot of her baby daughter rocking a sweet nautical striped dress in shades of white and navy.
The tiny tot looked so adorable wearing an oversized scarlet bow, ribbed cream tights and a pair of white patent shoes fastened with large white bows.
Gushing over her baby girl, Janette wrote in her caption: "Red, white, & blue never felt so cute!"
In the comments section, Janette's fans were quick to highlight Lyra’s striking resemblance to her famous mother.
Proving that the apple never falls far from the tree, one follower wrote: "Adorable, looks like her mummy", while another chimed in: "Omg this baby girl is the cutest. So much like her mumma. You dress her so beautifully."
A third remarked: 'Spitting image of her mummy" and a fourth added: "Beautiful, looks like her mummy" followed by a pink heart emoji.
Janette shares Lyra with her husband, Aljaz Sjorjanec, 33. The lovebirds welcomed their tiny tot into the world in July after preparing “mentally and physically” for IVF. Speaking exclusively to HELLO! Magazine about their pregnancy news, Aljaz explained: "We were preparing for IVF mentally and physically and then it was just a relief to finally have that positive test. I have so much respect for any parent that goes through IVF, not just for what it puts them through physically but mentally too."
Since Lyra Rose's arrival, Aljaz and Janette have been incredibly open about their journey as first-time parents. In a candid chat, Aljaz recently told us: "Every single day is a pinch-yourself moment.
"Of course, it's very demanding, but the beautiful moments make all the sleepless nights worth it, like when I see her happy and smiling and I'm looking at her with such excitement and anticipation to see what she's going to do next."
The happy couple are raising their growing family in a beautiful family home in Cheshire where they recently moved after living together in London. Not only does the north remind the couple of Aljaz’s native Slovenia, their new pad also appears to be the perfect place to put down roots in light of their proximity to fellow Strictly stars Gemma Atkinson and Gorka Marquez. Take a look in the video below...
"It will be so nice to have Uncle Gorka and Auntie Gemma nearby," Janette revealed in an exclusive interview.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/511192/janette-manrara-fans-say-same-thing-new-picture-lyra-striped-dress/
| 2024-01-14T10:34:19Z
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Count Nikolai of Monpezat is feeling nostalgic. With his grandmother, Queen Margrethe II, preparing to abdicate the Danish throne, the 24-year-old reflected on the 'sweet memories' from her 52-year reign.
Taking to Instagram on Saturday, Nikolai shared a carousel of photos, all taken on the balcony at Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen.
Nikolai's sentimental post precedes Queen Margrethe's abdication, which is set to take place on January 14. As a result, Nikolai's uncle, Crown Prince Frederik will accede to the throne, alongside his wife, Crown Princess Mary.
Although the accession will be a momentous event, Count Nikolai is not expected to attend. While his father, Prince Joachim, will be there to support his brother, he will do so without his wife, Princess Marie, or any of his four children.
A statement from the royal palace's press officer revealed that Princess Marie will stay in Washington, where the couple now live while Prince Joachim works as an attaché to the Ministry of Defence.
The palace spokesperson also commented on the fact that the pair's children will not be attending, saying: "Prince Joachim will be there, but the children [Count Henrik and Countess Athena] go to school, there is no special reason," before confirming that Joachim will leave the country the following day.
Nikolai and his brother Felix, whom Joachim shares with his first wife, Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg, were not included in the statement. However, it's highly unlikely that they will be in attendance either.
The family have appeared to show signs of tension since Queen Margrethe decided to strip Joachim's children of their HRH titles in 2022. The change affected all four of Joachim's. They are currently styled as Count/Countess of Monzepat.
Speaking at the time, Joachim made an unprecedented public statement about his mother's decision, saying: "We are all very sad. It's never fun to see your children being mistreated like that. They themselves find themselves in a situation they do not understand." The queen went on to apologise for the shake-up, which still sees her grandchildren retain their places in the line of succession.
In a rare interview, Nikolai joined Australian outlet, 9Honey in September, where he explained that he and his grandmother have remained on good terms.
"It's still quite a touchy subject but, I mean, I am the same person as I've always been," he said of Queen Magrethe's decision. "It's more just a formality or sort of change of belonging, in a way. 'I am the same person I have always been, it's weird having to settle for another surname now. Or another… not surname, another call sign."
Asked about his relationship with The Queen, Nikolai replied: "We have a nice relationship, yeah, she wished me happy birthday, we have a fine relationship," he said. "We saw her for her birthday as well, that was really nice to get together."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/511195/count-nikolai-of-monzepat-shares-sweet-memories-with-grandmother-queen-margrethe-ahead-of-abdication/
| 2024-01-14T10:34:26Z
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Dylan Dreyer often shares the realities of raising three small children, and her latest post resulted in a lot of sympathetic messages coming her way.
The Today Show star took to Instagram over the weekend to reveal that her sons were currently all ill, which had resulted in "chaos" at home.
However, she was quick to find joy amongst it all after her oldest son Calvin, six, made her a heartwarming handmade gift.
The little boy had drawn his mom a picture featuring a love heart making up the words 'I love you'.
The proud mom posted a picture of her son's artwork on her feed, alongside the caption: "This morning was pure chaos because kids are sick and no one has slept. All Cal wanted to do was make me smile before I left. That’s all it took!"
Fan comments included: "I hope your sons get better soon," and "Hope everyone feels better and you stay healthy! Nothing worse than sick kids and a sick momma!" A third follower added: "I hope everyone feels better soon."
Dylan is also mom to four-year-old son Oliver and two-year-old son Russell (Rusty), who she shares with her cameraman husband, Brian Fichera.
Dylan loves nothing more than being a mom and fans enjoy her relatable updates on social media about raising three young children in an apartment in New York City.
And while Dylan often gets asked if she would ever add to her brood, the TV star admitted that she thinks she's "maxed out" while talking to HELLO! in 2022. "I think I've maxed out now," she said, before admitting: "I wish I had started having kids sooner, because I really love everything about kids.
"I never thought I would love it as much as I do. Being a mom is the best. I love fostering their ideas, I also somehow found more patience after becoming a mom." Although she and Brian weren't always convinced that a family with children was in their future.
"We didn't think we wanted kids at all," she said. "We were living in New York City, traveling whenever we wanted to, doing whatever we wanted, and then suddenly it sort of came to us both. We were like 'let's have kids'. Both of us obviously love it."
The number three also holds a special place in Dylan and Brian's hearts as she explained: "When we decided to have children, I used to always want three. I grew up with two brothers, my husband is one of three. Three just feels right for us now."
Dylan's children have a magical childhood, spending the weeks in New York City, and a lot of the weekends and holidays by the beach.
The family have a beautiful beachside property just outside of the city, which boasts sea views and is seconds from the beach, meaning her sons have a lot of space to play and run around.
Read more HELLO! US stories here
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/511196/today-dylan-dreyer-parenting-struggle-fans-send-support/
| 2024-01-14T11:09:07Z
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ASTANA — In the heart of Kazakhstan, the indomitable spirit of adventure beats in 74-year-old Sarsenbay Kotyrashov, whose remarkable journey has already captured the imagination of many. Having traversed the vast landscapes of Kazakhstan, Russia, Georgia and Türkiye, Kotyrashov’s journey continues with ambitious plans for the future.
Kotyrashov’s initial feat involved a staggering 8,000-kilometer journey across Kazakhstan in just 181 days, showcasing not only his physical endurance but also his unwavering commitment to exploring diverse cultures. His new journey, covering Russia, Georgia and Türkiye, aimed at fostering friendship and cultural exchange.
From Astrakhan to Istanbul, Sarsenbay Kotyrashev has covered a distance of 3,000 kilometers. In total, he aims to cover 16,000 kilometers to travel around the globe. Taking into account the route connecting the west and east of Kazakhstan, he has covered an additional 3,000 kilometers.
Now, Kotyrashov plans to explore Europe. In April of 2024, he intends to embark on a new phase of his journey that will commence in Istanbul. He will get there by plane and then walk through Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, Austria, Germany and France. From France, the traveler plans to fly to the United States, where he aims to visit eight states. Afterward, in the spring of 2025, Kotyrashev will fly to China and traverse northern China, Mongolia and Altai, concluding his journey in the East Kazakhstan Region.
Beyond the physical challenges, Kotyrashov’s journey is imbued with a higher purpose. He aspires to revive the long-forgotten celebration of kumys, a traditional Kazakh drink, which is a fermented dairy product, compile a list of crafts persons from various regions of Kazakhstan and submit it to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). His travels are not just about personal achievement, they serve as a global call for peace and friendship. Along the way, he takes every opportunity to share insights about Kazakhstan, its language, people and rich cultural heritage.
However, such an ambitious journey comes with its share of challenges. Financial constraints, expensive accommodations and the need for visas are among the challenges that Kotyrashov faces. Despite these obstacles, he remains resilient, engaging with ambassadors and foreign ministries to navigate bureaucratic requirements. Support from sponsors, including his workplace and public funds, has been instrumental in covering some of the expenses.
Kotyrashov has valuable advice for aspiring adventurers, emphasizing the importance of setting goals. He encourages walking at least seven kilometers daily, not just for physical well-being but also for shaping one’s worldview. According to him, dreams can only be realized when accompanied by a clear sense of purpose.
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https://astanatimes.com/2024/01/74-year-old-traveler-from-kazakhstan-embarks-on-journey-around-globe/
| 2024-01-14T11:57:41Z
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ASTANA – Abilkhan Kasteyev, a towering artist of his generation and the master of social realism who stood at the foundations of Kazakh fine arts, celebrates 120 years on Jan. 14.
His carefully constructed and richly hued paintings often told the story of ordinary Kazakh people at the intersection of the nomadic heritage and the social dynamics in the Soviet Union. In the landscape series, he explored the world around him in all its beauty and oddity.
Kasteyev’s early years and works
Kasteyev was born in 1904 in the village of Chizhin in the Almaty Region. The son of a shepherd, much of his childhood was spent walking the cattle and observing nature which encouraged the boy’s desire to create. He carved various crafts and made jewelry from wood and bones. Typical of the Kazakh-Muslim community of his generation, the drawing of people was prohibited, so his talent was condemned in the auyl (village in Kazakh).
In 1927, at the age of 23, Kasteyev worked in the Turksib (Turkistan-Siberia) railway construction. That is when his fondness for drawing was noticed by the construction management and the talented guy was sent to study in Almaty at an ordinary school.
While studying in Almaty, Kasteyev came under the influence of an inspirational art master, realist painter Nikolai Khludov. It was a massive stroke of good fortune for Kasteyev. With Khludov’s encouragement, he flourished, learning skills of painting, working with paints and canvases and getting acquainted with the works of the classics.
He had his first taste of fame during those years with canvases called “Yurt Interior” (1929), “To School” (1930), “Portrait of S. Kusykbaev” (1930) and “Turksib” (1932).
The artist turned to the theme of the construction of the Turksib many times, starting from the time of his work at the construction site. The later version of the “Turksib” painting (1969) depicts a group of horsemen and women in the foreground watching the approaching railroad train from the mountain. It embodies the meeting of the old and the new in the life of Kazakhs. Without depicting a single face, the artist reflected people’s delight at the new phenomenon in their lives.
In the competition for best painting dedicated to the Kazakh poet Abai Kunanbaiuly in 1943, Kasteyev was awarded a diploma, a result that helped to propel him into applying to study art in Moscow. His dedication to art won him a place at the Krupskaya evening art studio, where he studied for three years.
Kasteyev first exhibited his paintings publicly in 1942.
Kasteyev’s oeuvre
Kasteyev’s works were the product of the Soviet era when a traditional nomadic lifestyle was fundamentally changed by the elements of Soviet power. His artwork can be rightfully called an artistic chronicle of Soviet Kazakhstan, reflecting the historical events that took place in the country in the 20th century, radically transforming the traditional way of life of the formerly nomadic people.
An aesthetic of Soviet life, usually applied to his work, depicts social changes in Kazakhs’ everyday life, such as the migration of auyls, traditional games and customs, the emergence of radio and gramophone and a widely known realistic painting of this period, “Picking Cotton.”
“Today, Abilkhan Kasteyev’s works can be considered as important ethnographic material, as it has always been important for the artist to preserve the authenticity of facts and closeness to nature. By meticulously detailing and accurately documenting every aspect of the objects, Kasteyev makes them a subject of study for those interested in Kazakh culture and daily life.” This was the assessment the anthropology and ethnology researcher at the Central State Museum Beibitkali Kakabayev made in his 2017 article on sociocultural and ethnographic aspects of Kasteyev’s creativity.
“By meticulously detailing and accurately documenting every aspect of the objects, Kasteyev makes them a subject of study for those interested in Kazakh culture and daily life. Therefore, we can say that the works of the artist are a kind of ‘visual text’ telling about the ethnography of the people, and the artist himself appears not only as a carrier of cultural tradition but also as an ethnographer, skillfully working in the field with primary material,” he wrote.
He singled out Kasteyev’s “In the Yurt of Hero of Socialist Labor Almagambetov Shabadan,” painted in 1948, notably for depicting a typical yurt interior common in rural areas in the 1940s-50s.
“Despite a number of innovations inherent in the mid-20th century (framed paintings, portraits, household items, etc.), the interior retains the traditional order of things and the division of interior space into male and female halves,” wrote Kakabayev.
One of Kasteyev’s early works from 1937 shows how a young woman is forcibly taken away to marry someone. The piece titled “Girl Abduction” reveals Kasteyev’s protest against the infringement of women’s rights. The dark landscape against the background emphasizes the tragedy of the scene.
Kasteyev also paid tribute to landscape paintings with a series of works dedicated to capturing the beauty of the Almaty Region’s scenery. “Alpine Skating Rink Medeo” is one of the most well-known paintings that depict the mountain pearl that is the Medeo skating rink.
Portraits
The lifetime achievement of Kasteyev is the creation of portraits of notable Kazakh public figures, including ethnographer Shokan Valikhanov, poet Zhambyl Zhabayev, revolutionary Amangeldy Imanov and poet Abai Kunanbaiuly.
In 1944, Kasteyev received the title of People’s Artist of the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR) for being the first person in the country to recreate the picture of Imanov.
But it was his series of paintings of Abai that generated discussion across the Kazakh art community. Kasteyev created around 30 works dedicated to Abai. The image of the young Abai, created in 1945, which depicts the poet reading and refining his ideas, stands out most.
The artist passed away in 1973, leaving behind a substantial creative legacy of over 1,100 works. The State Museum of Arts in Almaty, which has been carrying the artist’s name since 1984, has the largest collection of his works. His paintings can also be found in many museums and private collections in Kazakhstan and abroad.
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https://astanatimes.com/2024/01/kazakhstan-marks-120-years-of-abilkhan-kasteyev-artist-of-realism-at-soviet-kazakh-nexus/
| 2024-01-14T11:57:48Z
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ASTANA – The Sazalem startup, whose name translates to ‘world of music’ in Kazakh), is on a mission to build an online platform that unites all genres of Kazakh music. With an extensive database of over 20,000 compositions, the app has crossed the one-million download mark. Sazalem CEO Numi Musalieva shared insights into their vision in an interview with Digital Business news agency.
The Sazalem was previously owned by someone else. Could you please tell us more about what changed?
Gani Myrzamuratov initiated the Sazalem project in 2013, observing discontent as Kazakhs favored foreign artists over their own. He created the platform to showcase the wealth of Kazakh musical content, collecting both contemporary compositions and musical folklore, including kui (traditional Kazakh instrumental pieces). Initially a website, the platform gained substantial traffic, reaching up to 1,000 visitors per day.
However, development ceased after accumulating 10,000 songs, likely due to unforeseen popularity and increased technical demands.
By the end of 2022, Serik Beketayev, who currently works at Google, acquired the project, including all intellectual and commercial rights, and allocated $150,000 for rapid progress and team maintenance.
Why did Beketayev take on this project?
Beketayev sees it as a duty. Born and raised in Kazakhstan, he learned to play the dombyra (a Kazakh national musical instrument) locally. With experience working in the United States, he recognized an excellent opportunity to contribute to the Kazakh culture’s development and popularization. We are observing an increasing number of people switching to their native language, leading to the emergence of many local artists. A similar trend occurred in Japan and South Korea, which became progressive and did not lose their identity, as they value their culture and history.
We did not have to start from scratch: there is a website, and there is a vast database of musical creativity. We just needed to create versions for iOS and Android, rebrand, and set up processes that direct users exclusively to the mobile app.
Why do you prioritize mobile apps?
This aligns with the strategy followed by advanced music platforms. Even industry leader Spotify emphasizes mobile app usage. While the Sazalem website still exists for music searches, clicking the ‘Listen’ button prompts users to use the mobile app.
How does Sazalem differentiate itself from global platforms like Spotify and Yandex Music?
We simply cater to different target audiences. Spotify and Yandex Music are large global platforms that hardly consider local peculiarities and do not understand our mentality. Moreover, they target an audience in big cities and primarily promote their products among urban dwellers.
In our case, 95% of the audience is in rural areas, in regions where many people may not even know what Spotify is. That is our audience.
Offering free music with ads, Sazalem’s 500 tenge ($1) monthly subscription is significantly lower than the 1,500 tenge ($3) minimum on other platforms. Our team wants to make Kazakh music accessible to people in small and medium-sized cities and rural areas for free, in good quality, with personalized playlists.
There is another aspect to this issue — the artists. On other platforms, the system is set up so that artists gather information on where their content is placed and then request listening data for royalty payments. We seek to empower artists by providing a transparent system where musicians, after registering and passing compliance checks, can access statistics and receive fair royalties.
How does Sazalem address the issue of regions with limited access to the internet?
While acknowledging internet challenges in rural areas, we partially address this by enabling offline song listening. You can save the necessary compositions and then listen to them anywhere. The platform currently boasts 70,000 monthly users, with 70% of them from different regions, turning these users into mini-brand ambassadors to promote the app further. By talking about Sazalem, they help us promote the app.
Sazalem finds its highest usage in southern and eastern Kazakhstan, which covers around 50% of users, with the Almaty Region leading the user count.
How does Sazalem generate revenue, and what sets it apart?
There are two main types of monetization — advertising and subscriptions. Subscriptions are straightforward: we need to prove our value to the customer so that they want to pay to use the platform. The service costs around 499 tenge ($1). Out of 70,000 monthly active users, approximately 8% have already subscribed.
Advertising on the Sazalem can take various forms, including banners and audio advertising.
The third potential avenue for promotion and monetization is collaborations with major companies in Kazakhstan. For instance, we won the Altel and Tele2 competitions and became their partners.
Sazalem is not a story about monetization and making money. Of course, we need finances to pay salaries and continue its development. But our main goal is to become the digital cultural heritage of Kazakhstan and make Kazakhs genuinely love domestic creativity.
How many people are on the project team?
A team of 14 individuals is structured into technical and creative teams. The first group comprises developers and individuals responsible for the product’s functionality. The other one consists of content managers, who conduct searches for rare compositions both offline and online, along with social media marketing (SMM) specialists.
Could you tell us about the IT component of the project?
Our foundation is a mobile application on iOS and Android, which we developed over four months.
We also use machine learning for personalizing music playlists. We tested the algorithm to guarantee it offers comparable songs and music with a probability of no inferiority to other leading global music platforms. Another interesting aspect is our testing technology that will allow us to improve the quality of vintage music recordings. Within our database, numerous outstanding works suffer from subpar sound quality.
What can we expect from Sazalem in the next six months?
Our main goal is to achieve stable economic conditions to expand our musical collection and launch large special projects.
These projects include a digital library of all Kazakh kuis, aiming to capture the diverse regional renditions, and the launch of Kazakh language podcasts about Kazakhstan’s culture. Collectively, these initiatives aim to enrich Sazalem’s content and enhance its overall value.
The article was originally published on Digitalbusiness.kz
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https://astanatimes.com/2024/01/sazalem-startup-seeks-to-make-kazakh-music-accessible-to-all/
| 2024-01-14T11:57:54Z
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Russia is preparing to fight any attempts by the US or Europe to seize its $300 billion in frozen central bank assets in favor of Ukraine, according to Bloomberg.
Russian central bank assets in the West were frozen in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Discussions over the transfer of frozen Russian assets to Ukraine as reparations for damage caused by the Russian armed aggression have intensified amid political divisions in the US that prevent Congress from approving $61 billion in aid to Ukraine in 2024.
The seizure of frozen Russian assets is aimed at putting pressure on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and supporting the government in Kyiv, according to Bloomberg. The White House is backing a bill that would allow it to seize some Russian assets.
According to Bloomberg, the US plans to coordinate this move with G7 allies, especially in Europe, where about two-thirds of frozen Russian funds are held and where support for seizures has been lukewarm.
Russia has hired international law firms and commissioned expert views to defend its interests in court, Bloomberg reported, referring to people familiar with the matter. Russia’s Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina called the potential freeze “a very negative signal for all central banks,” Bloomberg reported.
The Kremlin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, has denounced the freeze as a violation of the basic principles of reserve security, saying that there are no legitimate grounds for seizure and that the litigation could last for decades, Bloomberg reported.
Related:
- White House: US aid to Ukraine stopped while Russian strikes only intensify
- Biden: “Failure to support Ukraine is just absolutely crazy”
- Biden calls on Congress to “stand with Ukraine” as Putin “banking on” US aid failure
- FT: G7 working groups explore options to confiscate Russian assets
- G7 nations lean towards seizing Russian assets
- US Congress approves bill on transfer of Russia’s frozen assets to Ukraine
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/12/bloomberg-russia-braces-for-legal-battle-over-its-frozen-assets/
| 2024-01-14T12:45:59Z
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Anti-government forces in Somalia have seized a crashed United Nations mission helicopter with four Ukrainian citizens onboard, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleh Nikolenko said.
According to Oleh Nikolenko, four Ukrainians and five foreigners were on board the UN helicopter seized by Somali militants. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesman reported that the names of the captured have been identified.
“We are finding out all the details of the crash and hijacking, the condition of the Ukrainians, and establishing contact with the company that owns the helicopter to coordinate actions. We are keeping this situation under special control together with other involved agencies of our state,” Oleh Nikolenko said.
According to Oleh Nikolenko, the helicopter belongs to a Ukrainian private company that was fulfilling a contract for transportation ordered by the UN. The Ukrainian Embassy in Kenya and the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the UN in New York have already received urgent instructions from the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry to take the necessary measures, Oleh Nikolenko wrote on Facebook.
On 10 January 2024, the BBC reported that the Somali armed Islamist group al-Shabab had seized a UN helicopter with passengers and crew.
Related:
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/12/ukrainians-among-captives-of-somali-militants-after-un-helicopter-crash/
| 2024-01-14T12:46:39Z
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Denmark is providing Ukraine with a new package of financial assistance. The money will go toward rebuilding Mykolaiv, Minister of Community and Territorial Development Oleksandr Kubrakov stated on Facebook.
Yesterday, Kubrakov met with Danish Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy Dan Jørgensen, who arrived in Kyiv on a working visit. The fourth meeting of the special Supervisory Committee was also attended by Mykolaiv Oblast Governor Vitalii Kim and Mykolaiv Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych.
Denmark is allocating $21 million for the reconstruction of Mykolaiv. The package from Denmark includes projects in the agricultural sector aimed at demining agricultural land, providing cogeneration plants, as well as the reconstruction of a dormitory at Mykolaiv State Agrarian University for fire safety.
Kubrakov recalled that in spring 2023, Denmark took patronage of Mykolaiv and Mykolaiv Oblast. Since then, the country has allocated $100 million for recovery already.
With these funds, they have already purchased 44 units of special and construction equipment, 30 school and city buses, medical equipment, firefighting equipment, water towers, and water supply equipment. Emergency recovery work is underway at some sections of the CHP plant. Work is being carried out on gas and power grids, equipment is being installed.
The restoration of three neighborhoods in the city is also underway, as is the construction of shelters in at least 9 schools.
Part of Mykolaiv Oblast was occupied by Russian invaders in the first weeks of the full-scale invasion on February 2022. In the autumn of 2022, during the counteroffensive, the Ukrainian armed forces liberated the territories of Mykolaiv Oblast.
However, now the Russians often shell the frontline communities of the region, in particular Ochakiv.
Related:
- Ukraine finds Russian torture chamber in Mykolaiv Oblast
- Glasgow twins with Mykolayiv, uniting through shipbuilding, after departing Rostov-on-Don
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/13/denmark-allocates-21-mn-to-mykolaiv-funds-to-go-toward-recovery/
| 2024-01-14T12:47:19Z
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Russia initiated a missile attack across Ukraine early this morning. On 13 January, air alerts were declared nationwide as cruise missiles were launched from Tu-95MS aircraft, and Kinzhal missiles were fired by MiG-31K fighters, Ukraine’s Air Forces reported.
The move comes as Russia intensifies missile attacks on Ukraine in January.
In Kropyvnytskyi (Kirovohrad Oblast), explosions were heard early in the morning, with the city’s air defense systems responding.
Dnipro witnessed sounds of explosions around 5:00 AM, followed by repeated blasts around 7:00 AM.
Air alerts were announced in every Ukrainian Oblast, signaling a high level of threat and urging citizens to seek immediate shelter. It lasted for three hours.
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/13/explosions-reported-in-kropyvnytskyi-and-dnipro-as-russia-launches-overnight-missile-attack/
| 2024-01-14T12:48:00Z
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During his official visit to Riga on Thursday, 11 January, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of not allowing Russia to transform the ongoing war in Ukraine into a ‘frozen conflict’.
Highlighting the risks of easing sanctions and reduced international support, Zelenskyy’s remarks underscore the importance of sustained global backing and a unified stance against Russian aggression, crucial for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and countering Russian disinformation campaigns.
Latvian president urges allies to support Ukraine until full victory over Russian imperialism
In a conversation with Latvian reporters, Zelenskyy highlighted Ukraine’s commitment to retaining its territories and thwarting Russia’s efforts to manipulate narratives in European and American media through heavy investment in disinformation, Baltic Times reports.
Zelenskyy expressed concerns about Russia potentially preparing for a major counter-offensive and enhancing its manufacturing capabilities.
He stated, “Russia must not be given the opportunity to prepare for a major counter-offensive, Russia must not be given the opportunity to develop manufacturing. Nor should the Russian forces be allowed to turn into an army like the one that attacked Ukraine at the beginning of the war and tried to destroy us.”
He pointed out the dangers of a potential easing of sanctions and diminished international pressure if the war were to become stagnant. If the war in Ukraine is frozen, countries might start to ease sanctions and ask why a new sanctions package and, for example, a tribunal are needed if there are no active hostilities, Zelenskyy said, emphasizing the critical nature of continuous international support.
Latvia announces new military aid package for Ukraine, including ammunition, howitzers, helicopters
The Ukrainian president warned against giving Russia time to prepare for a ‘revenge war’, urging for the consolidation of societal and international plans and objectives.
“If the war in Ukraine is frozen, Russia will have time to prepare for a revenge war. This must not happen. We need to consolidate our societies, our plans need to match those of our partners and our capabilities. This means receiving aid that also takes into account the capabilities of our partners. But I am not at liberty to comment on Ukraine’s objectives on the front line in more detail,” he said.
Latvia to organize psychological support course for Ukrainian border guards
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/13/if-war-in-ukraine-is-frozen-russia-will-have-time-to-prepare-for-a-revenge-war-zelenskyy-says/
| 2024-01-14T12:48:40Z
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Fighters of Ukraine’s 5th Separate Assault Brigade employed the domestic ground unmanned combat platform Ironclad in combat, Ukraine’s Land Forces said on Tuesday.
"Ironclad": Ukrainian wheeled combat robot destroys Russian positions
The new Ironclad robot that can remotely pound Russians with heavy machine gun fire is the latest example of Ukraine's tech-driven approach to warfare https://t.co/5xOAdJDXrv
🎥 Ukraine's Land Forces pic.twitter.com/ZdVkWVTVEl— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) January 13, 2024
Video footage shows the robot targeting a Russian position with a heavy machine gun. The Ironclad uses a domestic “Shablya M2” combat module, which can be fitted with 7.62 mm or 12.7 mm machine guns, according to the statement.
While the exact specifications of the modernized platform are unknown, earlier announced characteristics indicate a net weight of 1,800 kilograms and maximum payload capacity of up to 350 kilograms.
Top speed on roads is approximately 20 kilometers per hour, and 15 kilometers per hour off-road. Operating range is up to 130 kilometers on a single charge, with remote control range from 5 kilometers, extendable to 10 kilometers with a repeater, according to Militarynyi.
Ironclad’s armored hull withstands 7.62 mm ammunition.
The shots seen in the video are made by the robotic Shablya turrets, developed by a Ukrainian engineering team. Ukraine has now contracted them for the first time, Ukraine’s Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said on 10 January.
“Shablya is innovation and an example of modern warfare weapons,” Fedorov said.
Shablya is an example of a Ukrainian homegrown military tech startup that received state investments through the Brave 1 defense cluster as part of Ukraine’s strategy to develop unique technological solutions for its defense forces.
The combat module can be installed on the ground, vehicles, or special transport, providing fire support from trenches, bunkers, and pickups, according to the developers. It accommodates 7.62 mm PKT, M240, M2 machine guns, or other weapons.
The operator inserts the armament into the turret and coordinates fire at distances up to 1,200 meters using a remote control panel, camera, and monitor. Shablya’s armor withstands bullets. It can team up with the robotic Ris platform to deliver firepower on the hottest fronts, the developers said.
Ukraine’s tech-driven war and focus on drones
Faced with Russia’s prevailing manpower and military resources, Ukraine has opted for a tech-driven approach as it seeks to expel Russian invaders from its territory.
Drones have a special place in this approach. In the air, Ukraine’s state project, Army of Drones, provides hundreds of drones daily to the army, including small reconnaissance FPV drones, kamikaze drones, and heavy drone bombers.
In the sea, an agile fleet of naval drones has pushed away Russia’s Black Sea Fleet out of occupied Crimea and has sunk at least two flagships.
Regarding ground combat drones, Ukraine has three key priority areas, as Deputy Defense Minister Volodymyr Havrylov outlined in July 2023.
- logistics drones that can operate near the frontlines to evacuate wounded soldiers or deliver ammunition on contested ground within enemy firing range.
- combat drones equipped with light weaponry like automatic grenade launchers, machine guns, or anti-tank munitions operated remotely by a human. These low-profile robots can ambush Russian forces from bushes or other concealment.
- stationary robotic systems with machine guns or optical surveillance equipment that can be positioned at key points and remotely controlled. While limited in mobility, these can assist in reconnaissance or be integrated into defensive fortifications, Havrylov explained.
Ground robots like the Ukrainian-made Ironclad can save lives by destroying enemies while keeping personnel safely distant, Havrylov said. Ukraine’s military is providing feedback to developers on how to optimize the unmanned platforms for the battlefield.
Related:
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/13/ironclad-ukrainian-wheeled-combat-robot-destroys-russian-positions/
| 2024-01-14T12:49:20Z
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In its latest announcement, the Myslovo Dictionary of the Modern Ukrainian Language has identified ‘mobilization’ as Ukraine’s most significant word for the year 2023. This term, often equated with draft or conscription, has been pivotal in calling up eligible Ukrainian citizens for military service.
The choice of ‘mobilization’ reflects its central role in national discourse, especially following the introduction of mobilization bill in parliament in December, according to the Myslovo dictionary team.
The word ‘counteroffensive’ secured the second spot in the year’s linguistic ranking. It was noted by the dictionary that while ‘counteroffensive’ gained substantial media attention, it was overshadowed by ‘mobilization’ due to the latter’s broader impact and the palpable frustration over the former’s unmet expectations.
Additional words that contended for the title included terms directly linked to the ongoing full-scale war, such as ‘ukhyliant’ (draft dodger), ‘blockade/deblockade’, ‘positional warfare’, and ‘drone’. Also among the words of the year were ‘summer in Crimea,’ a phrase by Chief of Defence Intelligence Kyrylo Budanov, representing the Ukrainian public’s inflated expectations from the counteroffensive, ‘positional warfare,’ gaining prominence after a publication by Commander-in-Chief Zaluzhnyi about the war entering a new phase and ‘conflict,’ reflecting societal disputes, including the presumed conflict between President Zelenskyy and Commander-in-Chief Zaluzhnyi.
Notably, ‘AI’ (artificial intelligence) was the only globally relevant term in the list, primarily due to its integration into military technology.
Since its inception in 2012, the Myslovo dictionary, known for documenting contemporary linguistic trends in Ukrainian, including slang and neologisms, has been selecting the Word of the Year. This choice, now in its eleventh iteration, hinges on a word’s prevalence and societal impact. The platform encourages public contributions to its growing lexicon.
The phrase “Russian warship, go f**k yourself,” famously uttered by Ukrainian sailors, was the standout phrase for 2022.
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/13/mobilisation-is-ukraines-word-of-the-year-in-2023-myslovo/
| 2024-01-14T12:50:01Z
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Stéphane Séjourné, the newly appointed French Foreign Minister, arrived in Kyiv on the morning of January 13, as confirmed by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The French Foreign Ministry stated that Séjourné’s visit aims to continue France’s diplomatic efforts in Ukraine and reaffirm France’s commitment to its allies and the civilian population.
During his visit, Séjourné is expected to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Séjourné himself confirmed his arrival in Kyiv via Twitter, emphasizing that Ukraine has been defending its sovereignty and securing the safety of Europe for nearly two years. “France’s assistance is long-term. This is what I came to convey during my first trip to Kyiv,” he added.
🇺🇦🇫🇷🇪🇺Depuis près de 2 ans, l’Ukraine est en première ligne pour défendre sa souveraineté et assurer la sécurité de l’Europe.
L’aide de la France s’inscrit dans la durée.
C’est ce que je suis venu dire à Kiev pour mon premier déplacement. pic.twitter.com/xyAlKyKPs3
— Stéphane Séjourné (@steph_sejourne) January 13, 2024
As reported by “Suspilne”, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and Séjourné honored the memory of the fallen at the Wall of Remembrance for those who died for Ukraine in Kyiv’s Mykhailivska Square, where they laid flowers.
The visit was initially planned for the former Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, but recent reshuffles in the French government led to Séjourné’s appointment.
This week, French President Emmanuel Macron announced Gabriel Attal as the new Prime Minister following the resignation of his predecessor Elisabeth Borne. The Elysée Palace revealed the new French government lineup, where most key ministers from Borne’s cabinet retained their positions, but the Foreign Minister role saw a change.
It’s noteworthy that Attal, who has maternal roots in Odesa, is the youngest individual to hold this position. For a detailed read about Attal, refer to the article “The First After Napoleon.”
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/13/new-french-foreign-minister-visits-kyiv-to-affirm-long-term-support/
| 2024-01-14T12:50:41Z
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The defense and foreign ministers of Finland, Sweden, and Denmark have penned a joint op-ed hailing their new respective bilateral military cooperation agreements with the United States as a “historic step” demonstrating security consensus in northern Europe amid the Russian threat.
“That our three countries have now, over the course of 15 days, signed bilateral defense cooperation agreements with the USA is a natural continuation of this development and an important step in our purposeful adaptation to changed security policy conditions,” wrote the Nordic officials in GP.se.
The ministers said Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine represented a “breaking point” for European security that necessitated Finland and Sweden’s decision to pursue NATO membership.
“We stand for a long-term, clear-sighted, and realistic Russia policy, which is based on a credible deterrence and defense capability. We hope that Russia develops in a peaceful and democratic direction, but must assume – and prepare for – that the country will pose a threat to us for a long time to come,” they argued.
The officials contended the new defense pacts will facilitate early and effective US military assistance in a deteriorating situation, with an American presence acting as a deterrent.
“The agreements strengthen security for both our countries and the United States, and for our Nordic and Baltic neighboring countries. They are applicable bilaterally, but will also facilitate NATO’s defense planning and contribute to strengthening the alliance as a whole. This is of central importance to us,” the ministers wrote.
They said it was a strength that Denmark, Sweden, and Finland now have “effective and similar forms of cooperation with the USA bilaterally,” signaling consensus and bolstering regional security.
In December, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark signed a bilateral defense cooperation agreement (DCA) that will allow the US military to deploy its troops on their territory. Norway had not only signed its own DCA in 2021, but the following year supplemented the original agreement to strengthen it even further.
Related:
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/13/nordic-nations-hail-new-us-defense-pacts-as-historic-step-amid-russian-threat/
| 2024-01-14T12:51:21Z
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In the evening of 13 January, farmers blocked truck traffic at the Romanian border crossing point “Siret,” located across from the Ukrainian “Porubne,” Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service said.
Hitherto, Romania had remained the only unhindered avenue for Ukrainian exports since the Polish and Slovakian farmers’ blockade of Ukrainian border crossings. This blockade started on 6 November amid concerns about increased competition from Ukrainian hauliers after the liberalization of cross-border shipping rules between Ukraine and the EU.
The causes and estimated duration of the Romanian farmer blockade are unknown, while traffic complications may occur in both directions, the State Border Guard Service statement says.
“Currently, there is no significant queue of freight vehicles heading towards Ukraine. 825 vehicles are registered in the exit queue from Ukraine,” the agency notes.
At the same time, the passage of passenger cars, buses, and pedestrians is carried out as usual, the State Border Guard Service points out.
Romania has become one of the key countries for the transit of Ukrainian products after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the blockade of sea routes.
Its role increased after Polish truckers started a blockade of Ukrainian trucks on border crossing points in late November. They were sporadically joined by Slovakian truckers.
At the end of December, it was reported that the governments of Ukraine and Poland agreed on an action plan to unblock the border, but there has not yet been a complete unblocking.
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/13/romanian-farmers-join-ukraine-border-blockade/
| 2024-01-14T12:52:01Z
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The Russians have not yet granted the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts present at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP) access to all nuclear reactor halls of the power plant, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said.
Russian troops occupied the biggest nuclear power plant in Europe, Zaporizhzhia NPP, in the Zaporizhzhia Oblast (southeastern Ukraine) on 4 March 2022. Russia restricts international observers’ access to the nuclear power plant.
Generally, five nuclear reactors of the Zaporizhzhia NPP have been in cold shutdown, with one kept in hot shutdown, which the IAEA reported was necessary to produce steam for nuclear safety purposes, including the processing of liquid radioactive waste in storage tanks.
“The International Atomic Energy Agency experts at Zaporizhzhia NPP have not yet been granted access to the reactor halls of Units no. 1, 2, and 6, which hinders their ability to monitor the nuclear and physical safety situation at the plant, as well as the five specific principles established by the UN Security Council,” Rafael Grossi stated.
The Russians claimed that the reactor hall was allegedly “sealed.” Instead, they offered the IAEA team access to this area “in about a week,” Rafael Grossi stated.
According to the IAEA, in December 2023, IAEA experts were also denied access to the reactor halls of power units no. 1, 2, and 6, although previously the mission had access to the reactor hall of any unit that was in a state of “cold shutdown.”
According to Rafael Grossi, such restrictions on timely access of IAEA experts to Zaporizhzhia NPP “impede the IAEA’s ability to independently and effectively assess the safety and security situation, including to confirm the declared condition of the reactor facilities, spent fuel pools and associated safety equipment.”
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/13/russia-blocks-iaea-access-to-zaporizhzhia-nuclear-plant/
| 2024-01-14T12:52:41Z
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Russia currently holds more than 100 Ukrainian civilians, including residents from the temporarily occupied territories of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, without formal charges, says Olha Skrypnyk, head of the Crimean Human Rights Group.
The unlawful detention of over 100 Ukrainian civilians by Russia, without charges or legal representation, highlights a grave human rights violation. These individuals, many of whom were forcibly removed from occupied areas, are kept incommunicado, with no legal charges, inaccessible to lawyers, and often transferred between locations, with some even moved to Russia.
Skrypnyk highlights the challenges in identifying the exact number of detainees, noting that while it’s difficult to provide an exact figure, the number is definitely over 100.
The detainees include Spanish volunteer Mariano Garcia Calatayud, known as Mario, and the mayor of Hola Prystan, Oleksandr Babych, both currently held in Simferopol’s detention center. According to Skrypnyk, Russia’s illegal detention of civilians poses significant challenges in terms of their legal status and the process of their release.
Petro Yatsenko, spokesperson for the Coordination Staff for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, asserts that Russia has abducted thousands of Ukrainian civilians, often falsely presenting them as prisoners of war, complicating their return. He accuses Russia of attempting to charge these civilians with obstructing their so-called “special military operation,” despite lacking any legal grounds for their imprisonment.
Yatsenko also points out that Russia’s actions aim to inflict maximum suffering on the Ukrainian civilian population and discourage them from supporting their military. He mentions instances where Russian occupiers falsely claim to release civilians while continuing to hold them captive.
Recently, 230 Ukrainians were released from Russian captivity, marking the first exchange since August 2023.
Ukraine conducts largest prisoner exchange since Russian full-scale invasion’s start
Related:
- FT: Russia won’t stop in Ukraine, warns Latvian FM
- Estonia to allocate GDP’s 0.25% to Ukraine’s defense in next four years
- Ex-Donetsk prison warden who hid in Kyiv for two years to spend 11 years in jail for torturing Ukrainians
- Recent prisoner swap exposes torture against Ukrainian POWs
- Ukraine conducts largest prisoner exchange since Russian full-scale invasion
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/13/russia-detains-over-100-ukrainian-civilians-without-charges-human-rights-advocate-reports/
| 2024-01-14T12:53:21Z
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Russian manufacturer “Special Technological Center” (STC), producer of the “Orlan-10” drones frequently used against Ukrainian Armed Forces, is increasing its production volumes despite sanctions and reliance on Western components, as revealed by documents leaked by Ukrainian hackers “Cyber Resistance” and analyzed by Ukrainian volunteer community Inform Napalm.
The escalation in production of Orlan-10 drones by Russia amidst sanctions highlights the challenges of international restrictions in curbing military advancements and underscores the strategic importance of these UAVs in modern warfare, particularly in the context of the ongoing Russian war against Ukraine.
The STC is reportedly heavily dependent on imported electronics for its “Orlan-10” model. Key components include propellers and engines made by Chinese company T-Motor, flight controllers and GPS modules from China’s Radiolink Electronic Limited, Lenovo laptops, and Sony cameras. Moreover, the enterprise imports devices, parts, and equipment from countries like the USA, Germany, Spain, Austria, the UK, and Switzerland.
The procurement documents analyzed indicate simplistic schemes for importing sanctioned components. Goods from the manufacturer are initially sent to a distributor in the same country, then purchased by intermediary companies in China, Serbia, UAE, or Türkiye. Subsequently, a Russian importing firm acquires these goods for the drone manufacturing plant, with transactions in dollars, euros, and yuan. Analysts also discovered that STC has steady Chinese partners supplying critical electronic components.
The cost of one “Orlan-10” drone is estimated between $87,000 and $120,000, as reported by the UK’s Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies.
A December 2022 investigation by Reuters, “Important Stories,” and the British Institute of Defence Studies found that the sanctioned STC continued to procure Western components through a network of intermediaries, purchasing $25.75 million worth of products from January to October 2022.
Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate reported acquiring 100 gigabytes of secret data from the Russian STC enterprise.
Ukraine’s military intelligence seizes classified data from Russian drone manufacturer
In January 2023, Lieutenant General Oleksandr Pavlyuk, Deputy Commander of the Ground Forces, stated that Russia began using the “Orlan-10” drone to drop fragmentation grenades. In June, two “Orlan-10” drones belonging to the Russian Ministry of Defense reportedly crashed in the Voronezh region of Russia, as reported by Russian media with published photos.
The Orlan-10, a reconnaissance UAV developed by Russia’s Special Technology Center, has played a significant role in various wars, including the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Orlan-10, featuring a composite fuselage to reduce radar detection, is typically deployed in groups for varied functions like reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and data relay. In 2020, the more advanced Orlan-30 was introduced, enhancing effectiveness with precision weaponry.
The operational impact of the Orlan-10 has been significant, as evidenced by Colonel Yurii Solovey’s December 2022 statement of Ukrainian forces destroying over 580 units, affecting Russian capabilities in artillery recon and counterbattery fire. Despite sanctions impacting their procurement, Russia reportedly increased Orlan-10 and -30 supplies by 53 times since early 2022, as stated by Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu in July 2023. The drones’ importance in warfare is further highlighted by Andrii Biletskyi’s October 2023 comments on the challenges Ukrainian forces face in countering them, citing their use in artillery adjustment, reconnaissance, and their resistance to jamming.
Western companies supplied components for Russian Orlan drones despite sanctions – media
Production of the Orlan-10 has been robust, with over 1,000 units produced by 2018 and continued orders in 2022. Exported to Russian allies, the Orlan-10 has seen action in various global conflicts. However, reports in 2023 revealed that despite sanctions, the drones contained components from countries like Ireland and US- and Swiss-made microchips, highlighting the challenges of enforcing sanctions and the ingenuity in bypassing them. These components are crucial for navigation and targeting, demonstrating the technological sophistication and international dependency of modern military equipment.
Ukrainian air defenses destroy Russian ground attack aircraft Su-25 and UAV Orlan-10 – Air Force Command
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/13/russian-drone-manufacturer-orlan-10-ramps-up-production-despite-sanctions-inform-napalm-reports/
| 2024-01-14T12:54:02Z
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On January 13, Russia unleashed a massive aerial assault on Ukraine, launching an arsenal of 40 missiles and drones. However, a significant portion of these, including advanced aeroballistic and cruise missiles, failed to hit their intended targets.
This highlights the effectiveness of Ukrainian defense strategies and electronic warfare capabilities.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported a diverse array of weaponry used in the attack:
– Surface-to-air missiles from Belgorod region in Russia.
– Shahed combat drones originating from the Kursk area.
– Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles launched from MiG-31K jets.
– Numerous cruise missiles dispatched from strategic bombers over the Caspian Sea.
– Additional cruise missiles and guided aviation missiles from various Russian territories.
Eight missiles were destroyed by Ukrainian air forces. More than 20 out of 32 listed aerial attack means (those which are not included in the downed statistics), did not reach their targets, due to counteraction by Ukraine’s electronic warfare means.
“Furthermore, the supposedly unparalleled Russian missiles are increasingly deteriorating and going astray!” Air Forces of Ukraine stressed.
However, they added, that this does not mean they are not a threat. “Quite the opposite,” they commented: “Therefore, stay vigilant and do not ignore alarms, especially with the use of ‘ballistics’.”
Related:
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/13/russian-missiles-are-deteriorating-and-going-astray-ukraines-air-forces-say-in-aftermath-of-russian-morning-missile-attack/
| 2024-01-14T12:54:42Z
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Exclusive
Military
ISW: Russia’s ability to rotate troops will likely sustain offensive tempo in Ukraine. The concentration of the Russian military’s entire combat-capable ground force of over 460,000 in Ukraine allows Russia to conduct operational rotation of its troops in Ukraine, ISW said. This will likely sustain Russia’s offensive tempo in Ukraine.
Russian losses.As of 12 Jan 2024, the approximate losses of weapons and military equipment of the Russian Armed Forces from the beginning of the invasion to the present day:
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- Personnel: 368460 (+840)
- Tanks: 6060 (+10)
- APV: 11254 (+16)
- Artillery systems: 8710 (+11)
- MLRS: 957
- Anti-aircraft systems: 642 (+1)
- Aircraft: 329
- Helicopters: 324
- UAV: 6836 (+1)
- Cruise missiles: 1806
- Warships/boats: 23
- Submarines: 1
- Vehicles and fuel tanks: 11612 (+16)
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Intelligence and technology
Russia hits 2 million large-caliber munitions yearly; 500k shortfall covered by North Korea. First Belarus, then Iran, and now mainly North Korea have covered Russia’s ammunition shortfalls, according to Ukrainian intelligence
British Intel: Russia unable to resist Ukrainian FPV drones on Dnipro’s eastern bank in Kherson Oblast. Russia lacks the electronic warfare capabilities in eastern Kherson to counter the remote-controlled Ukrainian drones, which, British intel said, citing a Russian blogger’s battlefield report, destroyed up to 90% of Russian military equipment in the area.
International
Ukrainians among captives of Somali militants after UN helicopter crash. Four Ukrainian citizens and five other foreigners were taken hostage by Somali militants who seized a crashed UN helicopter in Somalia, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spox said.
UK boosts military aid to Ukraine with £2.5 billion package. The military aid package will include advanced weapons, drones, and training for Ukrainian soldiers.
Zelenskyy and Sunak sign landmark security pact between UK and Ukraine. The UK has reaffirmed its commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity as it signed a ten-year security cooperation agreement with Kyiv.
Humanitarian and social impact
Russian forces kill 2 people in shelling of Kherson. The Russian occupying forces shelled the Kherson city with artillery on 12 January, killing two citizens, Kherson Oblast head Oleksandr Produkin said.
Russia’s attack kills one, injures three in Kherson Oblast, southern Ukraine. Since the liberation of the western bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast by Ukrainian forces in November 2022, Russian troops have been firing at the liberated territories from the eastern bank of the river, regularly resulting in civilian deaths and injuries.
Political and legal developments
Bloomberg: Russia braces for legal battle over its frozen assets. Russia is ready to challenge any attempts to confiscate its central bank reserves as compensation for Ukraine.
Ukraine designates Subway int’l sponsor of war for chain’s continued operations in Russia. America’s Subway fast food chain is supporting Russia’s economy and capacity to wage war by keeping over 500 locations open in Russia, Ukraine’s anti-corruption agency said.
Zelenskyy: Air control crucial for Ukraine’s ground offensive. According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine “does not make wide steps forward” because Russian forces “control the sky.” “If we unblock the sky, we will go forward, if not – we will stand where we stand,” he said.
New developments
White House: US aid to Ukraine stopped while Russian strikes only intensify. The United States has suspended aid to Ukraine pending Congressional approval of new funding, US National Security Adviser John Kirby said on 11 January at a briefing in the White House.
Read our earlier daily review here.
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/13/russo-ukrainian-war-day-687-ukraine-and-uk-seal-landmark-security-pact/
| 2024-01-14T12:55:22Z
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The Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry has presented the “I Want to Find” project for relatives of Russian military personnel captured in Ukraine, RFE/RL reported. Specifically, Telegram chatbots and a website where you can find out whether a specific Russian soldier is in captivity or has not died.
“The Russian Federation does not properly communicate with family members of occupying military personnel, does not provide information about their fate after they ended up as invaders in Ukraine. This applies to both missing persons, prisoners of war, and those killed,” said Andrii Yusov, a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate, at the project presentation.
According to Yusov, there have even been cases when Ukraine, for example, handed over soldiers’ bodies to Russia, but their relatives did not receive any information at all.
Therefore, as stated on the project’s Internet resources, “I Want to Find” was created in view of “Ukraine’s adherence to the principles of international humanitarian law in order to fill the information vacuum that has arisen due to the inaction of the Russian authorities.”
“Hundreds appeal to the ‘I Want to Live’ project channels every day. It was decided to launch the ‘I Want to Find’ project as the only center for finding Russian military personnel. To provide information to their families. So that they go to representatives of their government with this information, demand exchanges or the return of remains,” said Vitalii Matviienko, spokesman for the state project, during a briefing.
There, they predict receiving several thousand appeals per week.
Russian citizen Irina Krinina, who recently arrived in Ukraine in search of her captured husband, will also help implement the project in Ukraine. According to her, Russia does not provide its citizens with any information, while Ukraine is ready to do so.
“We will collect requests, and if a relative is captured in Ukraine… we will organize a video call to confirm and give the Russian person the opportunity to go and demand information from the state, say: ‘Here is my Vasia in captivity!’ That is, we provide tools,” Krinina said.
At the very start of Russia’s invasion on 24 February 2022, Ukraine set up a hotline for families of Russian KIA and POW soldiers.
As well, Ukraine maintains a surrender hotline for Russian military personnel.
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/13/ukraine-launches-i-want-to-find-project-to-aid-families-of-russian-pows/
| 2024-01-14T12:56:02Z
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Ukraine’s Defense Forces have recorded 626 cases of Russian occupiers using munitions containing toxic chemicals since the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported.
“Just in January of this year, 51 cases were recorded. Moreover, the frequency of use is increasing. Up to 10 cases of chemical use are recorded daily,” the statement says.
The Ukrainian military specified that the Russian army most often uses grenades such as K-51 and RGR, which it drops from drones.
However, improvised explosive devices containing irritating substances are also used, as are artillery shellings with shells containing hazardous chemicals.
In addition, it was reported that on 14 December 2023, the use of a new type of special RGV-VO gas grenade containing the CS chemical was detected.
“36 cases of chemical use have been documented and sent for investigative actions as part of a criminal investigation by radiation, chemical, and biological intelligence groups from the composition of military units of the Support Forces Command together with the SBU,” the General Staff added.
Related:
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/13/ukraine-military-russia-increases-use-of-chemical-weapons/
| 2024-01-14T12:56:42Z
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Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense has completed the first phase of implementing an automated defense resource management system in the Armed Forces based on System Analysis Program Development (SAP), the Ministry of Defense said.
The system should help increase accountability in the Ukrainian army and better track military support from its allies. As well, it takes Ukraine one step further towards NATO integration.
SAP is a leading international resource management system used by 28 NATO countries.
The system automates supply processes, generates information on warehouse inventories, requests, allows seeing real needs, purchasing for and providing the army with everything necessary in a timely manner.
“The priority of the Ministry of Defense is the implementation of automated systems and the rejection of paper processes. SAP will help us ensure the most modern process of managing defense resources,” Deputy Defense Minister Kateryna Chornohorenko said at a meeting with partners.
Thanks to SAP, the Ukrainian army has automated control over the supply and accounting of weapons and military equipment at major bases. This also applies to spare parts for the equipment Ukraine receives as part of international technical assistance.
“For the system to work everywhere, warehouse employees have already been adapted and trained. The ultimate implementation of the system should result in a complete automation of logistics processes and a full rejection of paper workflow in logistics operations,” summarized Oksana Ferchuk, Adviser to the Deputy Minister of Defense for Digital Development, Digital Transformation and Digitalization.
The plan is to inventory assets at all warehouses and military units working with the SAP system by the end of 2024. They will also be fully modernized.
Related:
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/13/ukraine-rolls-out-nato-standard-automated-military-logistics-system/
| 2024-01-14T12:57:22Z
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Russia uses ports in annexed Crimea and Türkiye to illegally export thousands of tons of sunflower seeds stolen in the occupied territories of southern Ukraine, according to the investigation by OSINT analysts, Texty reported.
After the Russian army occupied the fertile lands of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts in southern Ukraine in 2022, Russia began to export Ukrainian grain and other agricultural products massively and illegally sell stolen Ukrainian products abroad using cargo ships flying the flags of different countries.
The OSINT analysts from the KibOrg project, in cooperation with SeaKrime, have published an investigation into how Russia is exporting Ukrainian sunflower seeds from the port of Feodosia in occupied Crimea (southern Ukraine).
According to the investigation, the Gam Express vessel entered the occupied Crimea after a four-year break in December 2023, loading 2850.95 tons of sunflower seeds in occupied Feodosia (Crimea).
Investigators found that from 2017 to 2019, this vessel had already made illegal calls to the closed ports of the occupied Crimea under the names Lady Eman, Narsis, and Haje Amira under the flags of Tanzania, Togo, and Lebanon.
Gam Express turned off the AIS transponder, which allowed tracking its route, on 12 December 2023, according to the MarineTraffic platform. The vessel entered the occupied Feodosia between 12 and 18 December 2023. It left the port of Feodosia on the evening of 10 January after the vessel was loaded with cargo.
On 10 January 2024, a phytosanitary certificate No. 792236306100124002 was issued for a consignment of sunflower seeds on the Gam Express vessel. The document was signed by Olga Glazkritskaya (Stepanenko), an official responsible for the Feodosia customs post, whose data is given here.
Texty: Russia made over $ 5 bn on stolen harvest in occupied Ukraine
According to the document, the shipment of sunflower seeds was registered for Türkiye, the port of Samsun. The contract for the consignment of sunflower seeds was signed between Agrogroup and a Turkish company, namely Trans World Agro Tarim Ihracat Ithalact Limited Şirketi.
On behalf of the seller, the documents were signed by the founder of Agrogroup, Dmitry Cherkesov, and on behalf of the buyer, by the director of the Turkish company, a citizen of Ukraine, Leonid Pashkovskyi.
On 12 January 2024, the Gam Express vessel with sunflower seeds from the Russian-occupied territory of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast (southeastern Ukraine) arrived at the Turkish port of Samsun for unloading.
NASA Harvest revealed approximately 6.4 million tons of wheat and nearly 1.5 million tons of sunflower seeds were harvested in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories in 2023.
Russia stole nearly 8 million tons of harvest in occupied Ukraine
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia stole millions of tons of Ukrainian grain, causing direct losses of nearly $9 billion to the Ukrainian agricultural sector and indirect losses of $31.5 billion.
The extensive theft included the seizure of farms and larger agricultural entities, impacting a sector that constituted approximately 10% of Ukraine’s GDP, per the World Bank’s 2021 estimate. Previously a leading global wheat, barley, and corn exporter, Ukraine faced significant disruption.
Deliberate and systematic grain theft by Russian forces has severely disrupted Ukrainian grain exports, contributing to soaring global commodity prices and a broader food crisis. In response, the US imposed sanctions on Russian corporations and individuals involved in the illicit seizure and transfer of Ukrainian grain.
Related:
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/13/ukraines-sunflower-seeds-plundered-by-russia-and-shipped-to-turkiye/
| 2024-01-14T12:58:02Z
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Ukraine needs more military aircraft for combat operations to support infantry, Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, told Reuters in an interview.
Ukraine is awaiting the delivery of Western-made fighter jets to deprive Russia of its air superiority, which prevents the Ukrainian Armed Forces from conducting successful counteroffensive operations.
According to Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukraine needs reliable aircraft that could support a counteroffensive by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and planes that could fire long-range cruise missiles behind the front line to create conditions for a breakthrough.
“I would talk about A-10s as an option if they’ll be given to us. This is not a new machine, but a reliable one that has proven itself in many wars and which has a wide array of weapons for destroying land targets to help the infantry,” Oleksandr Syrskyi said.
Colonel-General Syrskyi noted that the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II planes will provide crucial support to ground troops, as these aircraft are designed to destroy ground targets, such as tanks, artillery, etc. According to Oleksandr Syrskyi, A-10s would allow the Ukrainian Armed Forces to seize the initiative against a well-resourced Russian army.
ISW: Russia’s ability to rotate troops will likely sustain offensive tempo in Ukraine
Oleksandr Syrskyi added that attack helicopters, such as AH-64 Apache, AH-1 Super Cobra, and UH-60 Black Hawk, can also play an important role.
The American A-10 Thunderbolt is a single-seat, twin-turbofan, straight-wing, subsonic attack aircraft developed by Fairchild Republic for the United States Air Force. A-10s have been in service since 1976. The aircraft is commonly referred to as the “Warthog” or simply “Hog.”
Earlier, Oleksandr Syrsky said that the Russian army’s offensive in Ukraine is failing. He added that Russian forces were continually attacking in several parts of the front, with Ukrainian forces conducting small counterattacks.
“This is an active defense when we are not just sitting on the defensive but constantly counterattacking and switching to the offensive in some directions. And the enemy knows this,” Oleksandr Syrskyi said.
In addition to calls for more aircraft, Ukraine has asked the allies to speed up the supply of artillery ammunition, which some Ukrainian units complain is in short supply, Reuters reported.
While drones are increasingly important on the battlefield, artillery is a staple for both Ukrainian and Russian armies. According to Reuters, Ukraine has to balance the use of shells of different calibers based on available stockpiles.
Despite the near-stalemate along the nearly 1,000 km frontline, Oleksandr Syrskyi, who led the defense of Kyiv in early 2022 and Ukraine’s lightning-fast counteroffensive in the Kharkiv Oblast later that year, told Reuters that future breakthroughs are still possible.
Related:
- Ukraine Mission Head: NATO positively assesses F-16 deployment preparations in Ukraine
- Pentagon: Ukrainian F-16 training wrapping up by December 2024
- David topples Goliath: Ukraine’s DIY naval drones outfox Russia’s Black sea fleet
- British Intel: Russia unable to resist Ukrainian FPV drones on Dnipro’s eastern bank in Kherson Oblast
- Ukraine reports first evidence of North Korean missile used by Russia
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/13/ukraines-top-general-wants-more-military-aircraft-to-turn-the-tide-of-war/
| 2024-01-14T12:58:43Z
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The first American store from Ukrainian frozen food producer Galya Baluvana has opened in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, co-founder Volodymyr Matviychuk announced. In comments to Forbes, he said the next store will open in Chicago.
Matviychuk said that the MultiCook franchise was sold in Philadelphia back on 2 September 2023. The 110-square meter store in Philadelphia sells:
- frozen varenyky — Ukrainian dumplings with various fillings;
- pelmeni — meat dumplings;
- syrnyky — fried cheesecakes;
- pancakes;
- deruny — potato fritters;
- chicken cutlets;
- holubtsi — stuffed cabbage rolls
- and other semi-finished products.
“We already have eight partners in the US, we plan to open 100 stores across America in 2024. In Chicago we are waiting for the opening at the end of February,” the co-founder of the Halya Baluvana chain told Forbes.
For the American market, the franchise fee is €5,000, royalties are €100.
Matviychuk started his business in 2018 with a small store in Lutsk. Operating under Halya Baluvana in Ukraine, it is known as MultiCook abroad. In 2022, Matviychuk stopped selling Halya Baluvana franchises in Ukraine. Since then the focus has been solely on expansion. For export, the businessman offers a franchise for a workshop and store for frozen semi-finished products.
In total, the company has 700 stores. Of these, more than 80 outlets operate abroad in 15 countries, with the largest number of these in Poland – almost 50 stores.
Related:
- Five Ukrainian war startups taking on Russia’s brute force
- Ukrainian fashion keeps lights on despite war’s darkness
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/13/ukrainian-frozen-food-chain-opens-first-us-location-in-philadelphia/
| 2024-01-14T12:59:23Z
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Article by: Maria Tril, Alya Shandra
On 29 December 2023, Ukraine’s State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) detained the Lviv businessman Ihor Hrynkevych, who allegedly offered $500,000 to a senior SBI official, the bureau reported.
His detention comes amid an announcement of an internal shakeup by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who claimed that one of the priorities of his team would be to “clear the system from dishonest participants – inside and outside the institution” and that an internal audit conducted over four months had determined that UAH 10 billion ($264 million) had been stolen from Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense.
According to the SBI, the bribery attempt comes amid an ongoing criminal investigation into procurement fraud related to clothing and linen contracts for Ukraine’s Armed Forces. The Lviv businessman’s companies won 23 bids worth over $1.5 billion to supply the Defense Ministry.
The investigation found that Ihor Hrynkevych’s companies, which were previously involved in construction, did not have proper manufacturing, warehouse, and other facilities for the production and storage of material for the needs of the Ministry of Defense (MoD). This led to state budget losses worth $1.2 billion and disruption of supplies.
The businessman’s companies didn’t fulfill at least six contracts. The companies delivered goods to military warehouses in small quantities for seven more contracts but received full payment, the SBI reported.
An additional eight contracts were fulfilled with 3-5 month delays. Analysis of foreign trade contacts and customs documents indicates overpricing of goods supplied to the military.
“The SBI is also examining the potential involvement of former Defense Ministry officials who failed to take any legal action to enforce or terminate problematic contracts,” said the statement.
The investigation reports that the total damages could exceed $1 billion.
At what stage is the case now?
On 30 December, the Pechersk District Court of Kyiv imposed pre-trial detention on Hrynkevych with an alternative bail of over UAH 420 million ($11 million). As of 8 January, the businessman remains in custody.
The detained businessman may face up to eight years in prison under Ukrainian law if charged and convicted of offering a bribe to a government official, the SBI said. The SBI said it is considering requesting pre-trial detention.
The results of the SBI investigation and suspicions of possible procurement corruption in the Ministry of Defense are still pending.
The scandal has involved the businessman’s family, which includes his wife, daughter, and son. This is because, as per journalist Tetiana Nikolayenko from the Defense Ministry’s Public Anti-Corruption Council, none of the companies are registered to Ihor Hrynkevych himself. His wife and daughter have withdrawn from the list of beneficiaries, and one of the companies is registered only to his son.
On 9 January, Ihor Hrynkevych’s son Roman wrote on Instagram that his family’s activities complied with the current legislation.
According to the founder of the investigative journalism program Nashi Hroshi, Yuriy Nikolov, the Defense Ministry is canceling almost all contracts with companies linked to the family of Lviv businessman Ihor Hrynkevych.
The head of the Defense Ministry’s Press and Information Department, Illarion Pavliuk, said to Radio Liberty on 10 January that the Defense Ministry is “examining under a microscope” the agreement with the company associated with Hrynkevych, which is still in force.
“We are studying all the details extremely carefully. If even the smallest violations are discovered and there are grounds for terminating the contract, it will be terminated,” Pavliuk said.
He said this is an agreement for catering for the military in Mykolaiv and Kherson oblasts, valid from 1 January to 1 April 2024. As of now, no violations of this agreement are known.
“There are currently no grounds to terminate it. We are closely examining everything related to this contract, the quality of services provided,” the Ministry of Defense representative told Radio Liberty.
On 11 January, a Ukrainian court seized the property of Ihor Hrynkevych’s family and affiliated companies on the initiative of the State Bureau of Investigation, SBI reported.
The business assets were seized to compensate the state for the losses inflicted. They include real estate, premium cars that are owned by the businessman’s family, as well as property and accounts of companies under his control.
Experts estimated that all products supplied by the businessman’s companies for the needs of the Ministry of Defense in 2023 do not meet quality characteristics and are unusable, according to the SBI.
Previously, the National Agency for Asset Recovery and Management published a list of the traced assets, in particular:
- 17 residential properties, including three apartments owned by Ihor Hrynkevych’s wife Svitlana; 1 Lviv apartment owned by Yaryna Hrynkevych; 1 Lviv apartment owned by Marian Shved;
- Seven non-residential properties, including commercial space in Kyiv;
- 18 land plots, including significant plots in Kyiv Oblast, belonging to Ihor Hrynkevych and his son Roman Hrynkevych;
- Nine luxury vehicles;
- Share capital worth UAH 14,7 million ($ 389,000)
- 12 weapons;
- Three intellectual property rights.
According to ARMA Deputy Chairman Pavlo Velikorechanin, the agency has identified that the suspects have bank accounts in over eight institutions.
Other disclosures related to the Hrynkevych family
Meanwhile, as the businessman was winning tenders and improperly disbursing the funds, his family members were boasting about their gorgeous lifestyle on social media.
Ihor Hrynkevych’s daughter, Olha Shved, was also involved in a scandal in August 2023, Ukrainska Pravda reported. The young woman published a photo on her Instagram stories in the gold VIP carriage of one of the Ukrainian Railways trains.
Sevhil Musaeva, editor-in-chief of Ukrainska Pravda, said on Facebook on 7 January 2024 that she was offered money to delete this news back then.
Why is it important?
After being appointed to lead Ukraine’s Defense Ministry, Rustem Umerov had launched probes into possible corruption in his institution. Procurement scandals had plagued the ministry while it was headed by his predecessor Oleksiy Reznikov, who resigned on 5 September 2023.
Apart from Hrynkevych’s case, the probes have resulted in a former Ministry of Defense official being suspected of embezzling almost a billion hryvnias ($25 million) during the procurement of bulletproof vests for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. On 8 January, the Prosecutor’s Office informed that Yuriy Shapoval, former deputy defense minister, is suspected of procuring bad quality bulletproof vests that cannot be used in the army.
These charges were added to two other counts: one for procuring substandard bulletproof vests for UAH 350 million ($9.2 million) that did not pass ballistic tests, and another for the procurement of poor-quality fatigues, valued at $25 million, that are unusable under winter conditions. Shapoval is currently under custody.
In December 2023, the Ministry of Defense and Ukraine’s Security Service announced that they had thwarted an embezzlement scheme by which UAH 1.5 billion ($39.6 million) was stolen during the purchase of ammunition. By this scheme, contracts for the purchase of ammunition were made at prices 30% higher than market value and were characterized by production speeds slower than usual.
When commenting about the fight against corruption in his ministry, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced that the Ministry of Defense is implementing a new procurement architecture based on NATO standards. As part of it, procurement of all non-weapons items, such as food, clothing, and fuel, will be made by the State Logistics Operator, created in November. Umerov said that it had cut costs by 20% during the four months of his work. Meanwhile, weapons are procured by the Defense Procurement Agency.
“These procurements are just starting and we will see the results, but it is already clear to us that there will be no such mess as there was in Reznikov’s ministry,” Yuriy Nikolov, an investigative journalist who uncovered a food procurement scandal that eventually led to Reznikov’s demise, commented to Apostrophe.
One of the ways that the State Logistics Operator will attempt to sieve through shady contractors of the Defense Ministry is to introduce risk indicators such as unfulfilled contracts.
Clearing out the Defense Procurement Agency could be more problematic. Under Volodymyr Pikuzo in 2022, it made a payment of $19.8 million to a US contractor for the repair of 155 mm M109 howitzers, but the repair turned out to be of poor quality, and the claim process is still ongoing. Pikuzo also did not respond to inquiries by civic anti-corruption bodies. Currently, the agency has an acting head, and is yet to be chaired.
Truly reforming weapons procurements will require a systemic reform, Olena Tregub, member of the Public Anti-Corruption Council at the Ministry of Defense, executive director of the Independent Anti-Corruption Commission, told Apostrophe. Currently, the market of contractors working with the Defense Ministry is not in the best state: sometimes, all of the contractors applying for a tender were not honest.
Moreover, the general state of Ukraine’s law enforcement system plays a role. Rustem Umerov’s desire to avoid corruption scandals in his agency is laudable, but the scale of money flows in Ukrainian defense is huge, and no anti-corruption council can keep up. It is ultimately up to Ukraine’s law enforcement agencies to prosecute cases of wrongdoing. However, the food procurement scandal that led to Reznikov’s dismissal has yet to find a resolution, Tregub said.
Read also:
- Ukraine’s anti-graft agency and Transparency International Canada to enhance cooperation in corruption disclosure
- Why Ukraine’s defense minister Reznikov resigned and who is tapped to replace him
- Media: Supplier for Ukraine’s army acquires Croatian hotels
- “No support for Ukraine and its army”: PepsiCo restricts mentions of war in its PR?
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/13/ukrainian-mod-contractor-nabbed-amid-1-2b-fraud-probe-as-minister-vows-to-clean-house/
| 2024-01-14T13:00:04Z
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NATO should prepare for a prolonged war between Russia and Ukraine, as neither side has the military capability to secure a decisive victory, NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană said in an interview with Romanian TV channel Digi24.
Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has managed to occupy around 18% of Ukrainian territory. Ukraine’s Armed Forces liberated Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Sumy Oblasts in northern Ukraine in the spring of 2022 and pushed Russian forces out of most of Kharkiv and Mykolayiv Oblasts during the counteroffensive in the autumn of 2022.
However, according to Mircea Geoană, Russia’s military economy “meets today’s needs,” while North Korea and Iran are sending weapons to Russia for a war against Ukraine.
“Just as some of us, perhaps at the beginning of the war, almost three years ago, thought that in two weeks the Russians would occupy Kyiv, we said: ‘No, Ukraine has the capabilities to resist,’ so perhaps we had too much enthusiasm and optimism at the beginning of the Ukrainian offensive a few months ago last spring,” Mircea Geoană said.
At the same time, Geoană urged not to be overly pessimistic “because Ukraine has enough resources to sustain this war” and be successful.
“My call is to prepare for a long war that will last. The war will not end in 2024 and probably not in 2025. We see no military potential that would allow us to win a decisive victory on either side. We expect a protracted war with small offensives, counteroffensives, gaining and losing territory,” Geoană said.
Mircea Geoană also stated that NATO will never accept that Russia occupies Ukraine and “returns to Romania’s border.”
Related:
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/13/war-in-ukraine-will-not-end-in-2024-or-2025-nato-deputy-secretary-general-says/
| 2024-01-14T13:00:44Z
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“It is very important that this is a fair and bilateral agreement. After the end of this war, this is an agreement on our alliance with the UK. Not only must the UK react within 24 hours if any new aggression against Ukraine occurs, but Ukraine will also defend its ally and partner within 24 hours,” Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said while speaking on the TV air on 14 January 2024.
The agreement signed on 12 January 2024 by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Prime Minister of the UK, Rishi Sunak, declares bilateral military cooperation but also determines the planned UK military aid for Ukraine in 2024, given the current Russian aggression. The agreement highlights that the UK provided £2.3 bn of military aid for Ukraine in 2022, another £2.3 bn in 2023, and will allocate £2.5 bn in military aid during 2024. The agreement is valid for ten years and will expire if Ukraine becomes a NATO member.
Zelenskyy and Sunak sign landmark security pact between UK and Ukraine
The agreement is the first Ukrainian security agreement with a NATO country, but Ukraine continues negotiations with other allies to conclude similar agreements. The agreement furthers the Joint Declaration launched by the UK, Ukraine, and other members of the G7 in Vilnius on 12 July 2023, subsequently joined by a further 24 states.
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/14/a-security-agreement-with-the-uk-is-bilateral-ukraine-will-also-assist-if-the-uk-faces-any-future-aggression-prime-minister/
| 2024-01-14T13:01:24Z
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He warned, answering the question of journalists, that “if my Republican colleagues don’t fund Ukraine, they’re going to have an awful lot of – to pay for.”
Republicans blocked a funding bill for Ukraine aid on 6 December, wanting domestic border policy changes tied to any further military assistance. So far, both parties failed to reach an agreement in the Congress.
Regarding border policy, Biden said he is prepared “to make significant alterations at the border.” He added that negotiations have been going on for the last five weeks, and he is hopeful there will be a solution reached.
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/14/biden-says-republicans-will-have-an-awful-lot-to-pay-for-if-they-dont-pass-military-assistance-for-ukraine-now/
| 2024-01-14T13:02:04Z
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As of 10 pm on 13 January, Romania formers have resumed the movement of Ukraine’s trucks through the “Porubne-Siret” checkpoint, Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service said late on 13 January.
On the same day, on 13 January, Romania farmers blocked truck traffic at the Romanian border crossing point “Siret,” across from the Ukrainian “Porubne.” The reasons for the blocking were unknown. According to the border guards, over 820 vehicles have registered in the electronic queue to cross the border through the Porubne checkpoint.
Romania has become one of the key countries for the transit of Ukrainian products after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the blockade of sea routes.
Its role increased after Polish truckers started a blockade of Ukrainian trucks at border crossing points in late November. Slovakian truckers joined them.
- On 6 November, dozens of Polish truck drivers blocked three border crossings with Ukraine and expanded it to a fourth crossing. The Polish protesters demanded the return of permits for Ukrainian carriers, tougher EU transportation requirements, prohibiting non-EU company registration, access to Ukraine’s Shlyakh system for eligible drivers, separate border queues for EU cars in eCherha, and dedicated lanes for empty vehicles.
- On 13 November, talks between Ukraine and Poland at the countries’ border failed to resolve the strike, and four days later, nearly 3,000 trucks had congested at the Polish-Ukrainian border.
- The organizers of the Polish trucker strike at the Ukrainian border had close ties to Russia and supported Russia’s occupation of Crimea.
- The protest claimed its first casualty on 22 November, when a 56-year-old Ukrainian truck driver who was waiting to cross the border into Ukraine died.
- On 27 November, Poland presented Ukraine with carrier demands: implementation of commercial permits for Ukrainian companies, except those transporting humanitarian/military goods, plus suspension and verification of licenses for companies opened after the Ukraine war outbreak.
- At the end of December, it was reported that the governments of Ukraine and Poland agreed on an action plan to unblock the border, but there has not yet been a complete unblocking.
Read also:
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/14/romanian-formers-end-up-blocking-trucks-at-ukrainian-crossing/
| 2024-01-14T13:02:44Z
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Exclusive
Military
Ukraine military: Russia increases use of chemical weapons. Ukraine is now seeing up to 10 cases a day of Russian forces using munitions filled with toxic chemicals against Ukrainian troops and civilians.
Mobilisation is Ukraine’s word of the year in 2023 – Myslovo. Myslovo Dictionary declares ‘mobilization’ as Ukraine’s 2023 Word of the Year, amidst a backdrop of war-related terms like ‘counteroffensive’, ‘draft dodger’, and ‘drone’, reflecting the nation’s intense military and political landscape.
Explosions reported in Kropyvnytskyi and Dnipro as Russia launches morning missile attack. Russian cruise missiles were launched from Tu-95MS aircraft, and Kinzhal missiles were fired by MiG-31K fighters.
As of 13 Jan 2024, the approximate losses of weapons and military equipment of the Russian Armed Forces from the beginning of the invasion to the present day:
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- Personnel: 369160 (+700)
- Tanks: 6065 (+5)
- APV: 11269 (+15)
- Artillery systems: 8728 (+18)
- MLRS: 957
- Anti-aircraft systems: 646 (+4)
- Aircraft: 329
- Helicopters: 324
- UAV: 6848 (+12)
- Cruise missiles : 1806
- Warships/boats: 23
- Submarines: 1
- Vehicles and fuel tanks: 11632 (+20)
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Intelligence and technology
Russian drone manufacturer ‘Orlan-10’ ramps up production despite sanctions, Inform Napalm reports. Russia’s “Special Technological Center” has significantly increased the production of the Orlan-10 drones, utilizing imported components to circumvent restrictions.
Ukraine rolls out NATO-standard automated military logistics system. Ukraine has implemented a digital logistics platform aimed at fully automating its military’s supply chain management and eliminating paper-based processes.
Ukraine’s top general wants more military aircraft to turn the tide of war. The commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces told Reuters that the Western-made attack aircraft would be a game-changer in the ongoing war with Russia.
International
Denmark allocates $21 mn to Mykolaiv: funds to go toward recovery. In the spring of 2023, Denmark took patronage of the city and oblast of Mykolaiv. Since then, it has allocated $100 mn for its recovery.
Nordic nations hail new US defense pacts as historic step amid Russian threat. Finland, Sweden, and Denmark stand for a “long-term, clear-sighted, and realistic Russia policy,” their defense ministers write in an op-ed.
New French foreign minister visits Kyiv to affirm long-term support. Stéphane Séjourné arrived in Kyiv to reinforce France’s support commitments to Ukraine, marking his first official visit in this role.
Romanian farmers join Ukraine border blockade. Farmer protests have obstructed freight traffic at the vital Siret border crossing between Ukraine and Romania, a key export route for Ukraine.
Humanitarian and social impact
Ukraine launches “I want to find” project to aid families of Russian POWs. With Russia providing little information on the fate of its soldiers in Ukraine, relatives are now looking to a new Ukrainian project for help finding captured troops.
Russia detains over 100 Ukrainian civilians without charges, human rights advocate reports. These individuals are kept incommunicado, with no legal charges, inaccessible to lawyers, and often transferred between locations, with some even moved to Russia.
Ukraine’s sunflower seeds plundered by Russia and shipped to Türkiye. An investigation by OSINT analysts revealed how Russia is using ports in occupied Crimea and Türkiye to illegally export thousands of tons of sunflower seeds stolen from the occupied territories of southern Ukraine.
New developments
Ukrainian frozen food chain opens first US location in Philadelphia. Halya Baluvana, a popular Ukrainian producer of frozen varenyky, pelmeni and other foods, has opened its first US location in Philadelphia.
Russia blocks IAEA access to Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. The IAEA Director General says Russia has not allowed its experts to enter the reactor halls of three units at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which was occupied by Russian troops in March 2022.
War in Ukraine will not end in 2024 or 2025, NATO Deputy Secretary General says. Mircea Geoană, the NATO Deputy Secretary General, said in an interview that neither side has the military edge to end the war in the coming years.
Read our earlier daily review here.
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/14/russo-ukrainian-war-day-689-new-french-foreign-minister-makes-first-foreign-visit-to-ukraine/
| 2024-01-14T13:03:25Z
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On 13 January 2023, a Ukrainian air force spokesman, for the first time, stated that Ukrainian forces disabled over 20 of the Russian missiles using “active countermeasures by means of electronic warfare.” The missiles missed their targets, “which may be an inflection in Ukrainian electronic warfare capabilities that are normally credited with disabling Russian drones but not missile systems,” ISW concluded in its assessment.
Russia has resumed its long-range air strikes on Ukraine since 1 January 2024, using various types of missiles, including Surface-to-air S-300 missiles in a ballistic mode, Shahed combat drones, Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles, numerous cruise missiles dispatched from strategic bombers and additional cruise missiles and guided aviation missiles from various Russian territories. In November 2023, Ukraine’s Commander-in-chief, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, listed electronic warfare among the top 5 priorities Ukraine should develop to counter Russia.
ISW also noted that Russia has dramatically increased the use of chemical weapons in the first weeks of 2024. According to the Ukrainian General Staff, Russian forces have used chemical weapons 626 times since the beginning of the full-scale invasion and have used them at least 51 times in 2024 already, which means nearly 8% of all cases were indicated in the last 14 days of the already 690-day-long war.
ISW notes that the Russian 810th Naval Infantry Brigade acknowledged on 22 December 2023 that the brigade deliberately uses chemical weapons by dropping K-51 grenades from drones onto Ukrainian positions near Krynky in the east bank of Kherson Oblast. Russia is a party to the Chemical Weapons Convention, which prohibits the use of that type of weapon as a method of warfare.
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/14/ukraine-likely-began-using-ew-to-counter-russian-air-attacks-while-russians-rapidly-increased-the-use-of-chemical-weapons-isw/
| 2024-01-14T13:04:05Z
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