text
stringlengths 102
112k
| url
stringlengths 37
240
| crawl_date
timestamp[us, tz=UTC]date 2024-01-04 00:15:18
2024-01-31 23:10:45
| exclusion_reason
stringclasses 1
value |
|---|---|---|---|
WASHINGTON - When U.S. and Australian troops practiced amphibious landings, ground combat and air operations last summer, they drew headlines about the allies deepening defense cooperation to counter China's growing military ambitions.
But for U.S. war planners preparing for a potential conflict over Taiwan, the high-profile Talisman Sabre exercises had a far more discreet value: They helped create new stockpiles of military equipment that were left behind in Australia after the drills ended in August, U.S. officials told Reuters.
The United States and its allies are increasingly worried that in the coming years Chinese President Xi Jinping could order his military to seize Taiwan, the democratically-governed island China considers its own territory. So, the U.S. military is taking a hard look at its own military readiness and trying to play catch-up in a critical area: its logistics network.
The equipment from Talisman Sabre included roughly 330 vehicles and trailers and 130 containers in warehouses in Bandiana, in southeastern Australia, the Army says.
The amount of equipment, which has not been previously reported, is enough to supply about three logistics companies, with as many as 500 or more soldiers, focused on ensuring supplies reach warfighters.
It's the kind of materiel that's needed for a future drill, a natural disaster, or in a war.
"We're looking to do this more and more," Army General Charles Flynn, the top Army commander in the Pacific, told Reuters in an interview.
"There's a number of other countries in the region where we already have agreements to do that," he added, without naming specific countries.
Reuters interviews with more than two dozen current and former U.S. officials found that American military logistics in the Pacific is one of the greatest U.S. vulnerabilities in any potential conflict over Taiwan.
U.S. war games have concluded that China would likely try to bomb jet fuel supplies or refueling ships, crippling U.S. air and sea power without having to battle heavily armed fighter jets or sink America's fleet of surface warships, according to current and former officials and experts.
In response, the United States is trying to spread its military logistics hubs across the region - including warehouses in Australia, officials told Reuters.
Asked about Reuters' conclusions, the Pentagon said that the Department of Defense is working with allies to make U.S. forces more mobile and distributed.
But critics say Washington's network is still too concentrated and that the government hasn't put enough money or urgency toward the effort.
"When you really dig down a couple of layers, the intel community is blinking red as far as for the next five years. And yet some of these timelines (to address the risks) are 10, 15, 20 years long," said Congressman Mike Waltz, a Republican who leads the House subcommittee overseeing military logistics and readiness.
"There's a mismatch there."
RISKS FOR THE U.S.
The U.S. military's logistics arm, U.S. Transportation Command (TransCom), has had a major success: funneling more than 660 million pounds of equipment and over 2 million rounds of artillery to the Ukrainian military in its war with Russia.
Supporting Taiwan, roughly 100 miles from the coast of China, would be orders of magnitude harder, U.S. officials and experts acknowledge.
The U.S. has not formally said it would intervene if China were to attack Taiwan but President Joe Biden has repeatedly suggested he would deploy U.S. troops to defend the island.
Xi has ordered his military to be ready to take Taiwan by 2027. But many analysts see that as an attempt to galvanize his military rather than a timeline for invasion.
A senior U.S. military official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said supplies of ammunition are at the top of the list of priorities in the Indo-Pacific, followed by fuel, food and spare parts for equipment. "If we run out of the things to shoot ... that's going to be an immediate problem," the official said, adding planning for a Taiwan contingency was already well underway.
U.S. officials warn that in a major conflict Navy ships could quickly run out of missile defenses.
In a war game run for Congress in April, China prepared for an amphibious assault on Taiwan with massive air and missile strikes against U.S. bases in the region. That included the U.S. naval base on the Japanese island of Okinawa and the Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo.
The potential impact of attacks on U.S. logistics hubs, refueling ships and aerial refueling tankers, was a "wake up call" for many lawmakers, said Becca Wasser at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) think tank, which ran the war game.
"China is going to purposely go after some of the logistics nodes to make it difficult for the United States to sustain operations in the Indo-Pacific," Wasser said.
To address such vulnerabilities, the U.S. military is looking to places like Australia as more secure locations to stockpile equipment, even as it expands cooperation with the Philippines, Japan and other partners in the Pacific.
The Biden administration announced in July the United States would also create an interim logistics center in Bandiana, Australia with the aim of eventually creating an "enduring logistics support area" in Queensland.
According to an internal U.S. military document seen by Reuters, the facilities in Bandiana could hold more than 300 vehicles and had 800 pallet positions.
In July, the U.S. Air Force carried out Mobility Guardian 23, an exercise in the Indo-Pacific with Australia, Canada, France, Japan, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, that included practicing air refueling and medical evacuations.
The military used the opportunity to leave behind equipment, including in Guam. That gear helped forces there deal with fallout from the recent Typhoon Mawar but would also be useful in any future conflict, said Air Force Major General Darren Cole, the director of operations at Air Mobility Command.
Cole noted his command was responsible not just for disaster relief but contingencies "all the way up to full combat operations, full scale major war."
FROM "JUST IN TIME" TO "JUST IN CASE"
There has been a shift in the United States military's thinking. For decades, the United States has not had to worry about a foreign power targeting its logistics bases. That allowed planners to focus on efficiency, adopting the "just-in-time" logistics model common among private-sector manufacturers.
That approach led to the cost-saving decision to create mega-bases, like Ramstein Air Base in Germany. Ramstein was safe from Taliban and Islamic State attacks.
But a conflict with China could make mega bases, which include Camp Humphreys near Seoul, prime targets. This risk is prompting the switch to a more costly approach to logistics that includes dispersing U.S. stockpiles and pre-positioning supplies around the region.
"Instead of planning for efficiency, you probably (need) to plan for effectiveness, and move from 'Just in time' to 'Just in case,'" said Rear Admiral Dion English, one of the Pentagon's top logistics officers.
The U.S. did this in Europe after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, pre-positioning stocks and investing in bases and airfields that deploying U.S. troops could use if needed. In the five years leading up to Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the Pentagon requested $11.65 billion in funding from Congress to preposition equipment in Europe.
By contrast, a Reuters analysis of the Pentagon's budget request found that the military currently plans to only ask for $2.5 billion from fiscal year 2023 to 2027 to preposition equipment and fuel and improve logistics in Asia. The Pentagon has an annual budget of about $842 billion currently.
Another costly problem is the aging fleet of U.S. transport ships. The average age of the ships designed to carry heavy cargo, like tanks, into a conflict zone is 44 years with some older than 50 years.
One blistering analysis by CNAS concluded: "The Department of Defense has systematically underinvested in logistics in terms of money, mental energy, physical assets, and personnel."
Senator Roger Wicker, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the Pentagon and Congress needed far more focus on Pacific bases and logistics.
"Our ability to deter conflict in the Western Pacific over the next five years is not close to where it needs to be," he told Reuters. REUTERS
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/the-logistics-of-war-how-washington-is-preparing-for-a-chinese-invasion-of-taiwan
| 2024-01-31T10:50:32Z
|
blocked_url
|
What if you were told that profits and the planet were not at odds? If you finance companies making the transition to cleaner energy, the outlook is bright for both economic and environmental growth!
Howie Lim speaks to Luke Edwards, managing director, Renewable Power & Transition, Brookfield Corporation for more insights.
Synopsis: The Business Times Branded Podcasts; finely curated, intelligent, thought provoking content for decision-makers. Inspired by the newsroom of your trusted partner.
This episode is brought to you by Brookfield Corporation.
Highlights:
01:05 Interest in investing in net zero transition increasing
03:07 Investment in energy infrastructure must rise
05:54 Benefits to value chain productivity
11:56 Challenges with energy transition
14:24 Support for transition investing strategy
16:34 Building on the strategy
More about:
Brookfield Transition Investing: https://www.brookfield.com/zero-compromise
Renewable Power & Transition: https://www.brookfield.com/our-businesses/renewable-power-transition
Written and hosted by: Howie Lim (howielim@sph.com.sg)
With Luke Edwards, managing director, Renewable Power & Transition, Brookfield Corporation
Edited by: Claressa Monteiro & Howie Lim
Produced by: Howie Lim
Engineered by: Joann Chai Pei Chieh
Executive Producer: Claressa Monteiro
A podcast by BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media
Follow BT Branded Podcasts:
Channel: bt.sg/btbrpod
Apple Podcasts: bt.sg/bpap
Spotify: bt.sg/bpsp
Google Podcasts: bt.sg/bpgo
Website: bt.sg/brpod
Feedback to: btpodcasts@sph.com.sg
Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice.
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/business/bt-branded-podcasts-revitalising-growth-through-net-zero
| 2024-01-31T10:50:42Z
|
blocked_url
|
SINGAPORE – They typically exist only on the silver or small screen, chained to realms of fiction.
Once in a while, however, a reported sighting or two crops up, its author claiming to have spotted the legendary dragon. Such accounts occasionally pepper mediaeval English records: The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle of 793, for instance, mentions “fiery dragons flying across the firmament”.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Read the full story and more at $9.90/month
Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month
ST One Digital
$9.90/month
No contract
ST app access on 1 mobile device
Unlock these benefits
All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com
Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device
E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/life/dragon-hunting-six-insta-worthy-spots-to-slay-that-dragon-shot-for-chinese-new-year
| 2024-01-31T10:50:53Z
|
blocked_url
|
SINGAPORE – Mediacorp has unveiled the star-studded cast of its upcoming blockbuster drama Emerald Hill, a spin-off of the popular TV series The Little Nyonya (2008 to 2009), with local actress Jeanette Aw slated to reprise the role of original protagonist Yueniang.
Aw, who also played Yueniang’s mute mother Juxiang in The Little Nyonya, reacted on social media to her guest-starring role in Emerald Hill.
“Never have I ever thought that 16 years on, I’d be invited to reprise this role of Yueniang Yamamoto,” the 44-year-old wrote on Instagram on Jan 30. “See you on-screen soon.”
Emerald Hill is scheduled to premiere in the first half of 2025 on Channel 8, weekdays at 9pm.
Its three female leads are rising actress Tasha Low, Chantalle Ng of My Star Bride (2021) fame and Ferlyn G, a member of now-defunct K-pop girl group Skarf.
Low plays the new “little Nyonya” Xinniang, a homeless girl who roams the streets with her foster mother (Chen Liping). Xinniang is initially believed to be Anya, the long-lost daughter of a wealthy family, but several years later, the real Anya (Ferlyn G) is found.
The male leads are Tyler Ten and Star Search 2019 winner Zhang Zetong. Other cast members include Zoe Tay, Jesseca Liu, Shaun Chen, Romeo Tan and Sheila Sim.
The Little Nyonya, which also starred Qi Yuwu and Joanne Peh, was hugely successful when it aired 16 years ago, with the two-hour finale smashing ratings records with a viewership of 33.8 per cent, attracting about 1.67 million viewers.
It was the big winner at the Star Awards in 2009, nabbing nine awards, including for Best Drama Serial, Best Actress for Peh and Best Supporting Actress for Ng Hui and Xiang Yun.
The Little Nyonya had a Chinese remake in 2020, starring Chinese actress Xiao Yan and Taiwanese actor Kou Chia-jui. Chinese actor Dai Xiangyu, who played Japanese photographer Yousuke Yamamoto in the original version, played the same role in the Chinese version.
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/life/entertainment/actress-tasha-low-is-the-new-little-nyonya-in-spin-off-series-jeanette-aw-to-reprise-her-role
| 2024-01-31T10:51:03Z
|
blocked_url
|
In a speech that delivered China’s assessment of world trade conditions in 2024, Commerce Minister Wang Wentao last week warned the “environment is poor”.
“Rising trade protectionism” and “intensified geopolitical conflicts” were among the main challenges, he told reporters in Beijing on Jan 26.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Read the full story and more at $9.90/month
Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month
ST One Digital
$9.90/month
No contract
ST app access on 1 mobile device
Unlock these benefits
All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com
Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device
E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/the-looming-trade-tensions-over-china-s-subsidies
| 2024-01-31T10:51:14Z
|
blocked_url
|
Call them pet peeves, call them petty grievances, one thing is certain – complaining about everyday irritations feels cathartic. It is also the premise of American comedy podcast I’ve Had It.
Hosts Jennifer Welch and Angie “Pumps” Sullivan state, tongue in cheek, that their goal is to compartmentalise complaining and be nicer in their day-to-day life. Their complaints range from pedestrian (cordless vacuums, people who clap when a plane lands, long Instagram captions) to political (the state of the education system).
Already a subscriber? Log in
Read the full story and more at $9.90/month
Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month
ST One Digital
$9.90/month
No contract
ST app access on 1 mobile device
Unlock these benefits
All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com
Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device
E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/toxic-positivity-is-out-welcome-to-the-new-world-of-indulgent-pettiness
| 2024-01-31T10:51:24Z
|
blocked_url
|
The Ukrainian-born winner of a Miss Japan contest has reawakened a long-simmering question on the archipelago: What does it mean to be Japanese?
Ms Karolina Shiino, the 26-year-old winner of the 2024 competition, moved to the country when she was five and became a citizen in 2023. Her unexpected victory in a contest that, most years, passes little-noticed has sparked a debate on “Japanese-ness” – one that is less simple than you might think.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Read the full story and more at $9.90/month
Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month
ST One Digital
$9.90/month
No contract
ST app access on 1 mobile device
Unlock these benefits
All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com
Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device
E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/ukraine-born-beauty-queen-triggers-debate-on-what-it-means-to-be-japanese
| 2024-01-31T10:51:34Z
|
blocked_url
|
SINGAPORE – A 34-year-old man who attacked a Malaysian celebrity with an extendable baton during a fan meeting at the Singapore Expo pleaded guilty to assault.
Muhammad Nabil Rashid, a Singaporean, admitted he committed the offence due to delusions that the victim – Mr Ahmad Kamal Ahmad Adli, 36, better known as Kamal Adli – had molested Nabil’s female relative.
Nabil, who pleaded guilty on Jan 31 to one count of assault and two counts of using criminal force on another person, was remanded at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) following the attack.
A psychiatrist who examined him felt he suffered from a psychiatric illness – likely delusional disorder. Dr Cheow Enquan felt he also had antisocial personality disorder.
Despite these, the doctor stated that Nabil was not of unsound mind during the attack and was aware that his actions were wrong.
This was not his first brush with the law.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Cheah Wenjie told the court that Nabil has earlier convictions over violent offences, including voluntarily causing grievous hurt and criminal intimidation.
For the current case, the DPP said that on March 12, 2023, Mr Ahmad – known for his roles in Malay-language horror film Niyang Rapik and action comedy movie Abang Long Fadil, and several television shows – took part in a celebrity meet-and-greet session at a bazaar event at the Singapore Expo.
His attendance was advertised on social media, and he had also posted on Instagram about it.
Nabil, who believed the actor had molested his relative, decided to go to the event and attack the actor after he saw the advertisements. Court documents did not state what spurred him to feel that way.
Nabil armed himself with an extendable baton and donned a cap and a face mask before travelling to the Singapore Expo. He arrived there shortly before 9.20pm and called out to Mr Ahmad when he saw him.
The DPP said: “(The actor) thought the accused wanted to take a photo together with him, and approached the accused.
“The accused then took out the extendable baton from his pocket, extended it to its full length, and hit (him) once on the top of his head, once on the left side of his face, and once on his arm.”
After that, Nabil pulled down his face mask and smiled at Mr Ahmad before walking away.
Members of the public and the actor’s family members chased Nabil and pinned him down.
The police arrested Nabil soon after. Both men were then taken to Changi General Hospital (CGH).
Mr Ahmad suffered facial wounds, one of which needed four stitches. At around 11pm, he was pushed in a wheelchair at CGH when he crossed paths with Nabil, who spat at him.
Dr Cheow stated in his report that the attacker did not know Mr Ahmad personally.
DPP Cheah said the doctor believed the accused had a complete lack of insight into his illness and refused to take any medication, despite multiple attempts to persuade him to do so.
Medication was given to him despite his refusal as he “demonstrated he was a danger” to Mr Ahmad.
In an unrelated case on April 2, 2022, Nabil spat at a 39-year-old woman’s face, following an argument in Sembawang.
She alerted her 55-year-old husband, who called the police. Nabil then spat at the older man and placed him in an armlock.
On Jan 31, the DPP asked the court to sentence the offender to up to three years and two weeks’ jail.
He added that Dr Cheow was of the opinion that the accused “posed a substantial risk to others in view of his psychotic illness, personality disorder and history of violent offences”.
Defence lawyer Wee Hong Shern pleaded for his client to be given up to two years’ jail. He told the court that Nabil is now taking his medication and has the potential to be rehabilitated.
Nabil is expected to be sentenced on Feb 28.
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/man-assaulted-malaysian-actor-over-delusions-victim-had-purportedly-molested-his-relative
| 2024-01-31T10:51:45Z
|
blocked_url
|
Synopsis: The Straits Times speaks with experts to discuss how public housing design has evolved in Singapore.
Public housing is all around us. They are in older towns such as Queenstown and Toa Payoh, and in newer ones like Punggol and Bidadari. Eight in ten Singaporeans live in HDB flats.
How has the design of HDB blocks evolved over the decades? What has worked out and what hasn’t?
ST’s housing correspondent Michelle Ng speaks with architects Khoo Peng Beng and his wife Belinda Huang, founders and directors of Arc Studio Architecture + Urbanism.
They are the design duo behind the groundbreaking Pinnacle@Duxton in Cantonment Road, the first 50-storey public housing project in Singapore, and also the first one in the world to have two sky bridges linking the seven towers that it comprises of.
Highlights (click/tap above):
1:50 How the Pinnacle@Duxton was part of evolution in HDB public flat design
3:03 Background to the design features of the Pinnacle, including its “Sky Gardens”
10:15 Peaceful “bridges in the sky”: But can the sky garden on the 50th floor be turned into a more active space for people?
12:45 How Mr Khoo and Ms Huang are regularly invited to talks overseas to talk about this special high-rise and high-density public housing model
15:19 Their favourite feature of the Pinnacle; can things be improved? For eg, a music studio, art centre, elderly care, communal areas opened up for evolution
25:23 Is there life beyond a 99-year leasehold HDB flat? Sustainability, adaptive reuse
Discover ST’s interactive graphic article of this topic: https://str.sg/JXMGj
Produced by: Michelle Ng (ngmich@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Teo Tong Kai and Fa’izah Sani
Edited by: Teo Tong Kai
Follow ST Podcasts:
Channel: https://str.sg/wvz7
Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukK
Spotify: https://str.sg/wukH
SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/
Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts
Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg
---
Discover more ST podcast channels:
In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt
Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7
Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN
Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf
Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m
ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE
#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad
Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX
Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts
---
Special edition series:
True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T
The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2
Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn
Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB
Singapore’s War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/design-duo-behind-hdb-s-gamechanging-pinnacleduxton
| 2024-01-31T10:51:55Z
|
blocked_url
|
You are reading the Evening Update newsletter. Get up to speed with the important stories from the day. Subscribe to our newsletter.
Retrenchments in Singapore more than doubled in 2023 even as unemployment dipped slightly
Outspoken Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim sworn in as Malaysia’s 17th king
He plans to tackle corruption and revive the KL-Singapore high-speed rail project during his reign.
Work on Cross Island Line’s Maju station to start in Q2 2024; $480m contract awarded
Commuting between Maju station in the west and Hougang station in the north-east will take only 35 minutes.
Competition watchdog holding second review of Grab’s purchase of Trans-Cab
CCCS said that it had concerns about a likely reduction in competition should the deal proceed.
More than half of van registrations in 2023 were electric; Chinese EV brands most popular
Animal cruelty and welfare cases surge 79% in 2023, highest in 11 years: SPCA
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals investigated 915 cases of animal cruelty in 2023.
More charges for money laundering accused who allegedly misled MOM to obtain work passes
Three Singaporeans arrested for allegedly trafficking drugs worth about $470,000
Starting CNY on a good note
Find out how new notes make their way to special ATMs that dispense them for CNY hongbao gifting.
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/evening-update-today-s-headlines-from-the-straits-times-on-jan-31-2024
| 2024-01-31T10:52:06Z
|
blocked_url
|
SINGAPORE – President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong have written to Johor ruler, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, to congratulate the 65-year-old, who ascended the throne on Jan 31 to become Malaysia’s 17th king.
Sultan Ibrahim was crowned after taking the oath of office at the national palace in Kuala Lumpur in a ceremony attended by several dignitaries, including Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
In his letter, shared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Tharman extended his “warmest congratulations”, expressing his confidence that the King would bring Malaysia to greater heights with his counsel and guidance.
“Singapore and Malaysia share a close friendship that is built on strong people-to-people ties, besides the close cooperation between our governments and longstanding business relationships.
“I look forward to working with Your Majesty to ensure that these bonds continue to flourish, for the mutual benefit of both our peoples,” wrote Mr Tharman, who also invited Sultan Ibrahim to come to Singapore for a state visit.
PM Lee wrote in a separate letter: “Your vision of a cohesive and forward-looking Malaysia augurs well for the country’s next bound of development.”
With increasing instability around the world, he added that the partnership between Singapore and Malaysia would be extremely important “for the continued prosperity and security of our peoples”.
Describing the relationship between the two neighbours as “multifaceted and enduring”, PM Lee said: “Singapore looks forward to strengthening our friendship and cooperation during Your Majesty’s reign.”
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapore-s-leaders-congratulate-malaysia-s-new-king
| 2024-01-31T10:52:16Z
|
blocked_url
|
SINGAPORE – Did you spot a “train” or an “ERP gantry” while walking the aisles at AMK Hub’s FairPrice Xtra? These are part of the Chinese New Year decorations to make shopping fun.
“The ERP here does not refer to Electronic Road Pricing, it refers to Enjoyable, Refreshing and Pleasant shopping,” said Mr Tey Lian Lee, branch manager of AMK Hub’s FairPrice Xtra.
The hypermarket also has decorations which look like street signs, traffic lights, 24 neon signs made from recycled advertisement boards and a 15m-long dragon made from 1,200 recycled drink cans.
These decorations were put up in the first week of January and will be displayed in the store until the end of the Chinese New Year (CNY) period.
“The store would conventionally hang lanterns, dragons and lions, and red banners but this year, we wanted to make it uniquely Singaporean,” he added.
Preparations began in September, and Mr Tey worked with a team of six staff members to source recycled materials to produce the decorations.
Festive decorations at each FairPrice outlet are planned and set up by the respective branch managers and staff.
“It takes one night to set up but it takes a few months to produce because my staff also have their daily jobs to do,” Mr Tey told The Straits Times.
Mr Goh Yew Seng, 46, who took his four-year-old son Shuo Fan to view the decorations, including a train cabin replica, on Jan 22, said: “I like the decorations because it is something familiar.
“Kids can sit here and relax while we go shopping and I’m sure the kids like it.”
Ms Kelly Lee, 43, a real estate agent, said: “It is very creative to have these decorations in a supermarket, and it is something special – not the usual CNY decorations.”
It’s not just the decorations which were drawing the interest of the customers in the run-up to CNY. On Jan 28, a 30kg giant grouper was filleted in front of eager shoppers.
Madam Doreen Koh, 50, saw a crowd of people gathering around the seafood corner and it piqued her interest.
“I was very happy because the fish is very affordable and I could tell it was very fresh from seeing how they sliced the fish, so I felt it was worth it to buy a slice,” she said in Mandarin.
Mr Tey, who has been working at the supermarket chain for more than 30 years, hopes the decorations can make shopping more exciting, especially when it gets stressful during the peak period, when he expects footfall to rise.
“It may be busy and there might be long queues, but if you make the shopping look and feel more comforting and pleasant for shoppers, it would probably be less stressful,” he said.
“Every year is different, so I always think about ideas we need to make the shopping experience better.”
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/take-a-train-and-go-through-an-erp-gantry-while-shopping-at-amk-hub-s-fairprice-hypermarket
| 2024-01-31T10:52:26Z
|
blocked_url
|
KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s state oil company Petroliam Nasional – or Petronas – is looking to bring back Formula One races to the country in 2026 after a nine-year hiatus, according to three sources with knowledge of the matter.
The South-east nation hosted a leg of the F1 world championship at its Sepang International Circuit (SIC) from 1999 but staged its last race in 2017 due to declining ticket sales and rising costs of hosting the event.
Petronas, Malaysia’s only Fortune 500 company, won naming rights to the SIC for three years last October. The circuit continues to host MotoGP races and other motorsport events.
Petronas’ plan to bring back the F1 race was revealed during a company townhall led by the firm’s president and chief Executive Tengku Muhammad Taufik Tengku Aziz on Jan 30, the sources said, declining to be identified as they were not authorised to speak to the media.
The sources did not elaborate on the reasons for the potential return. Petronas, the SIC and the Malaysian prime minister’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In 2023, Malaysia’s sports minister Hannah Yeoh said that hosting an F1 race was “very expensive” and added that: “If we could host an F1 race, we already would have done it – but for now, we can’t afford to have races.”
F1’s office also did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
The sport’s popularity has widened globally in recent years, driven by the “Formula 1: Drive to Survive” Netflix TV series and as more countries vie to host the races to raise visibility, boost tourism, and stimulate their economy.
Formula One announced last week that Madrid will host the Spanish Grand Prix from 2026 to 2035 on a new circuit that will have both street and non-street sectors.
The new 5.47-kilometre circuit will be built in and around Madrid’s IFEMA convention centre in the north of the Spanish capital and will feature 20 corners, organisers said in a statement.
It will have the capacity to receive over 110,000 spectators per day, which could increase to 140,000 and “making Madrid one of the largest venues on the F1 calendar”.
There is clear potential for growth in the sport and Malaysia could be looking to capitalise.
Three-time F1 world champion Max Verstappen won the last Malaysian Grand Prix in 2017 while Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes’ seven-time champion, won the drivers’ championship that year.
Petronas has been a sponsor of the Mercedes team since 2010, with the partnership bearing eight constructors’ and seven drivers’ world championships – including one from the retired Nico Rosberg.
The team ranked second in the constructors’ standings last season, with Hamilton in third and teammate George Russell in eighth in the drivers’ standings.
Petronas is due to announce its full year 2023 and fourth-quarter earnings profit in early March.
The company in November posted a lower third-quarter profit on the back of softer revenue due to lower average realised oil and gas prices. REUTERS, AFP
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/formula-one/petronas-aiming-to-bring-back-malaysian-formula-one-gp-in-2026-sources
| 2024-01-31T10:52:37Z
|
blocked_url
|
Seventh-seed Alexandre Muller won an all-French matchup with qualifier Antoine Escoffier in the first round of the Open Sud de France on Tuesday in Montpellier.
Muller, who did not record an ace, defeated Escoffier 7-6 (4), 6-3 in 1 hour and 38 minutes. Escoffier had eight aces, but also had more double faults, 7-4. Muller, ranked 71st, converted five of seven break-point opportunities in getting past his 172nd-ranked opponent. Muller will face American Michael Mmoh in the Round of 16.
Qualifier Pablo Llamas Ruiz of Spain won a battle with veteran Richard Gasquet of France, 7-6 (6), 7-5, while Canada's Denis Shapovalov cruised past France's Hugo Gaston 6-1, 6-3 in 1 hour, six minutes. Llamas Ruiz faces top seed Holger Rune of Denmark in the Round of 16.
In additional all-French matches in the Round of 32, Harold Mayot defeated Lucas Pouille 6-4, 7-5 and Gregoire Barrere outlasted Ugo Blanchet 6-7 (7), 6-4, 6-2. France's Arthur Cazaux eliminated Germany's Maximilian Marterer 6-1, 6-3.
--Field Level Media REUTERS
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tennis/alexandre-muller-advances-at-montpellier
| 2024-01-31T10:52:47Z
|
blocked_url
|
BERLIN - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's ruling coalition is considering ways of bolstering the independence of country's highest court as fears about the strength of the far-right AfD party grow.
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is polling second in nationwide surveys, raising concern it could gain significant influence in the legislature after the next federal elections in 2025 and seek to hollow out democratic structures from within.
The anti-establishment, nationalist party is already under state surveillance on suspicion of being extremist and anti-constitutional. It rejects allegations it is undemocratic and has said the Constitutional Court, which is appointed by parliament, is biased and closely linked with the government.
Several senior lawmakers from Scholz's centre-left coalition have over the past week called for the structures ensuring the independence of the constitutional court to be anchored in the constitution rather than a mere law.
This would mean any attempt to change the workings of the court would require a two thirds majority rather than a simple majority in the Bundestag lower house of parliament. They have not mentioned AfD by name.
"As democrats we have the obligation to stay alert and that includes considerations on how we can best protect our constitution and its institutions from anti-constitutional influences," Justice Minister Marco Buschmann said in emailed comments to Reuters late on Tuesday, adding that talks were already underway on how to achieve this.
Scholz himself said the debate was good. "It is important to do these things," he said at an event late on Tuesday, according to magazine Der Spiegel.
Asked to comment, Justice expert for the AfD parliamentary group Stephan Brandner said the party stood for an independent top court and was fighting more for a real division of powers than other parties.
Thousands of Germans have taken to the streets in recent weeks to protest against the AfD, with some of them calling for a ban on the party.
The constitutional court plays a key role in the complex system of checks and balances introduced in Germany following the Nazi era when the power of the government was unchecked. It has the power to review the adherence to the constitution of legislature and German authorities.
Stephan Thomae, lawmaker and legal expert of the parliamentary group of junior coalition partner the Free Democrats (FDP), told paper Welt am Sonntag it was important to anchor in the constitution the division of the court into two senates, the 12-year terms of judges and the court's freedom to decide on its own procedures.
Johannes Fechner, a lawmaker from Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD), pointed to changes introduced in Poland by the Law and Justice party during its eight years in power that European institutions say compromised the independence of the judiciary.
"It is extremely important all democrats advance together," said Konstantin von Notz, chairman of the parliamentary committee that oversees the intelligence services and lawmakers for the Greens junior coalition partner.
Scholz's coalition would need the support of the opposition conservatives to change the constitution, some of which have already expressed their support for such a move. REUTERS
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/berlin-explores-ways-to-shield-top-court-from-far-right
| 2024-01-31T10:52:58Z
|
blocked_url
|
BRUSSELS - European Union leaders will propose on Thursday holding an annual debate on a planned 50 billion euro ($54.1 billion) aid package for Ukraine in an effort to overcome opposition from Hungary, according to draft summit conclusions.
The aid is to cover Ukraine's needs for 2024-2027. Hungary has been pushing for an annual review with a veto right, which other EU members oppose.
In a new update to the draft summit conclusions, the EU leaders would hold yearly debates on the aid package based on reports by the European Commission.
"The European Council will hold a debate each year on the implementation of the facility with a view to providing guidance on the EU approach towards the situation stemming from Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine," the Jan. 30 draft conclusions seen by Reuters read. REUTERS
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/eu-leaders-propose-annual-debates-on-ukraine-aid-draft-summit-conclusions
| 2024-01-31T10:53:08Z
|
blocked_url
|
PARIS - Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Wednesday he would step up checks on big French and European retailers to ensure they pay French farmers fairly under a law designed to safeguard farm-gate prices, as France seeks to quell farmer unrest.
Farmers in France, the EU's biggest agricultural producer, argue they are not being paid enough and that a push by the government and retailers to bring down food inflation has left many producers unable to cover costs.
The government has notably demanded retailers and suppliers finish annual price negotiations by Jan. 31, two months earlier than usual, as part of its drive to lower consumer prices.
Le Maire said in an interview with French radio CNews/Europe 1, that he will launch 500 checks on five big retailers to check if they comply with the so-called EGALIM law designed to guarantee fair prices at the farm-gate, which protesting farmers say is poorly enforced.
Le Maire added that he will also launch specific checks on European retail purchasing alliances over EGALIM.
Last week, Le Maire had announced France would impose fines of up to 2% of revenues on food retail companies that do not give French farmers fair prices under the EGALIM law.
Le Maire said on Wednesday his services had sent formal requests to "four industrial groups" who were suspected of not complying with the law.
"If we are proven right, they will be heavily sanctioned on up to 2% of their revenue," Le Maire said, declining to name the groups in question.
Preliminary figures from the national statistics agency INSEE on Wednesday showed EU-harmonised prices in France rose by 3.4% in January when compared to the same month a year earlier, but marking a slowdown from the 4.1% figure recorded for December.
"I made the commitment that inflation would decrease rapidly at the start of 2024; it will be the case," Le Maire told CNews/Europe 1. REUTERS
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/frances-le-maire-vows-to-better-enforce-law-designed-for-farmers
| 2024-01-31T10:53:18Z
|
blocked_url
|
MOSCOW - Russian anti-war candidate Boris Nadezhdin said on Wednesday he had submitted 105,000 signatures in his support to the Central Election Commission (CEC) to underpin his bid to challenge Vladimir Putin in an upcoming presidential election.
The CEC will check the authenticity and quality of the signatures submitted by Nadezhdin and other would-be candidates and announce next month who will join Putin on the ballot paper.
Putin's victory is widely seen as a foregone conclusion, but Nadezhdin has surprised some observers with trenchant criticism of what the Kremlin calls its "special military operation" in Ukraine.
After a series of heating outages across Russia during an unusually cold winter, Nadezhdin said earlier this month that the country would be able to afford to spend more on its citizens if it was not pouring so much money into the military.
As a candidate nominated by a political party, he needed to gather 100,000 signatures across at least 40 regions in order to stand in the March 15-17 election.
Putin, who has chosen to run as an independent rather than as the candidate of the ruling United Russia party, needs 300,000 signatures but has already collected over 3.5 million, according to his supporters. REUTERS
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/russian-anti-war-candidate-nadezhdin-says-he-has-enough-signatures-to-run-for-president
| 2024-01-31T10:53:29Z
|
blocked_url
|
Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has told military manufacturers to "stop fooling around" and further increase the production of self-propelled artillery systems.
Shoigu visited arms-producing factories in the Urals industrial city of Yekaterinburg on Tuesday and said Russia was increasing production of air defence missiles after a series of Ukrainian drone attacks that have targeted cities and energy infrastructure.
In video published by news site RBC on Wednesday from Shoigu's factories tour, he chided the management of one plant for not producing enough self-propelled artillery.
"Listen, stop fooling around here, guys. We got busy with this in 2022. We should have had these machines operating at full capacity in 2023," he told the plant's bosses.
"I'd like to receive within a week a specific proposal on how we'll reach the indicators set by the president (Vladimir Putin) ... this must be done, because all these orders are connected with the performance of very specific work on the battlefield," he said.
The director said the factory had already increased production six-fold in the last two years.
Russia has placed its economy on a war footing and shifted defence plants to round-the clock production to meet the needs of its forces in Ukraine.
Its defence industry will supply the army with "several times" more military equipment this year than in 2022 and 2023, Interfax news quoted Deputy Defence Minister Alexei Krivoruchko as saying this month. REUTERS
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/russias-shoigu-urges-faster-artillery-production-no-fooling-around
| 2024-01-31T10:53:39Z
|
blocked_url
|
LONDON - Checks of fruit and vegetables entering Britain from the European Union will not start before the end of October, the government said on Tuesday, offering some relief to the food industry which is worried about new post-Brexit port delays.
The first phase of Britain's new post-Brexit import system for food and fresh products is due to come into force on Wednesday, having been postponed five times due to worries about border disruption and the cost-of-living crisis.
Initially, EU exporters of so-called medium risk animal and plant products will be required to present export health and phytosanitary certificates to British authorities.
Physical checks on shipments will only start on April 30 followed by a requirement for safety and security certificates from Oct. 31.
Mindful of delays when the EU started checking imports from Britain in 2021, British businesses have warned of more disruption, saying EU exporters are not ready for the UK changes and Britain's port infrastructure might be unprepared too.
Britain's Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) added to the confusion last week when it unexpectedly reclassified a selection of fruit and vegetables from "low" to "medium" risk on its UK Plant Health Information Portal.
But it also put a temporary "easement" in place, allowing the products to continue being treated as low risk and therefore not subject to pre-notification requirements, phytosanitary certification or physical inspections until Oct. 31 2024.
The department later removed the reference to Oct. 31, leaving no firm date for when the easement would be removed.
Defra said on Tuesday the easement was expected to be in place until "at least" October 2024 and the government would give industry at least three months to prepare for any changes.
Delaying physical checks beyond October might allow the government to avoid the embarrassment of any disruption during a possible national election campaign, which Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said he expects in the second half of the year.
However, it could create problems later as the proportion of fresh produce Britain imports from the EU in the winter months rises to 70%.
“The way these changes have been handled is concerning," said Marco Forgione, Director General of The Institute of Export and International Trade, which represents UK importers.
"At a time when business is preparing for the most significant modernisation of the UK border in several generations the lack of communication on this reclassification of fruit and vegetable products is not very encouraging."
The Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) has estimated the reclassification would add 200 million pounds ($253 million) a year to import costs and would be felt by consumers.
The UK government has said the inflationary impact of the new Border Target Operating Model system will be less than 0.2 percentage points over a three-year period. REUTERS
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/uk-says-no-post-brexit-checks-on-eu-fruit-vegetables-until-oct-at-earliest
| 2024-01-31T10:53:50Z
|
blocked_url
|
GAZA/DOHA - Israeli forces pounded areas in northern and southern Gaza on Jan 31 after the Palestinian militant group Hamas said it had received and was studying a new proposal for a ceasefire and release of hostages in Gaza.
The proposal, presented by mediators after talks with Israel, appeared to be the most serious peace initiative for months in the Israel-Hamas war.
A senior Hamas official told Reuters it involved a three-stage truce, during which the group would first release the remaining civilians among hostages it captured on Oct 7, then soldiers, and finally the bodies of hostages that were killed.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, did not indicate how long the stages would last or what was envisioned to follow the final stage.
But it was the first time since the collapse of the only brief truce of the war so far, in late November 2023, that details had been released of a new proposal being considered by both sides.
Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, which has been devastated by almost four months of bombardment by Israeli forces, said any ceasefire agreement must end the war and allow them back into homes they abandoned as Israeli forces advanced.
"Any ceasefire that doesn't end the war and return us to our homes in Gaza City and the north is not worth it," said Ahmed, a father of six who fled his home in Gaza City in the north of the enclave for the city of Rafah in the south.
"We are exhausted. We were happy to learn about the news of a possible agreement. We hope they don't disappoint us by signing any agreement that won't return us to our homes and end the war," he told Reuters by telephone.
According to Gaza's health authorities more than 26,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli bombardments in the war, triggered after Hamas fighters stormed into Israeli towns on Oct 7 killing 1,200 and taking 253 hostages.
Israel's bombardment continued on Jan 31 in parts of the city of Khan Younis in the south and in districts of Gaza City, witnesses said. Israeli planes also bombed areas in the Al-Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, residents said.
In Khan Younis, residents reported heavy fighting around the Al-Nimsawi residential area. In the centre of the city, Israeli forces blew up a cluster of houses in a residential area, residents said.
Tanks continued to bomb areas around Nasser Hospital, the largest hospital still functioning in southern Gaza, and Hamas media said 17 Palestinians had been killed in Khan Younis since late on Jan 30.
Israel's military said its forces had killed at least 25 Palestinian militants in Gaza in the past 24 hours, and that three Israeli soldiers had been killed in battles in the northern and southern parts of the enclave.
That took the number of Israeli soldiers killed since the start of the ground offensive in Gaza to 224.
The ceasefire proposal followed talks in Paris involving intelligence chiefs from Israel, the United States and Egypt, with the prime minister of Qatar.
In a mark of the seriousness of the negotiations, Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said he was going to Cairo to discuss it, his first public trip there for more than a month.
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeated his vow not to pull troops out of Gaza until "total victory", a reminder of the huge gap in the public stances of the warring sides over what it would take to halt combat even temporarily.
Israel says it will not stop fighting until the militant group which has ruled Gaza since 2007 is eradicated.
Hamas says it will release its remaining captives only as part of a wider deal to end the war permanently.
Netanyahu is under pressure from ally Washington to chart a path towards ending the war, and domestically from relatives of hostages who worry that negotiations are the only way to bring them home.
But far-right parties in his ruling coalition say they will quit rather than endorse a deal to free hostages that left Hamas intact. REUTERS
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/israeli-forces-pound-gaza-hamas-studies-ceasefire-proposal
| 2024-01-31T10:54:00Z
|
blocked_url
|
Call the Midwife star Helen George has teased "hard-hitting" moments for newlywed couple Trixie and Matthew in scenes that will air towards the end of series 13. During an appearance on The One Show on Monday, the actress revealed that the characters are in or "a few bumps" over the course of the new season.
Find out exactly what Helen said in the video below.
When asked by host Alex Jones what it's been like filming scenes with her co-star Olly Rix as Trixie and Matthew face troubles in their marriage, Helen said: "Hard because they've just got married and you think, 'Gosh, it's so happy and he's rich and she gets all these posh clothes and it's great'. There's a few bumps along the way but it's fun as well."
Giving an idea of how the season might end for Trixie and Matthew, the 39-year-old went on: "There are hard-hitting scenes, especially towards the end of the series but it turns into a kitchen sink drama by the end of it. Some of the scenes that were filmed were so real, like any real couple at home today. They were great to play."
Trixie and Matthew haven't had an easy time of it following their fairytale wedding in season 12. In the latest instalment of the period drama, the couple had a spat after the pair clashed over Trixie's roles as a wife and a midwife.
While Trixie was in the middle of delivering a baby, she received an urgent call from Matthew, who expressed his anxieties over his business. "I had the most tiresome meeting about investment and things not going to plan," he said. "The business, it's so stressful. I have the most dreadful headache, and Jonty won't stop crying for you."
Annoyed that Matthew had called her at work, Trixie told him: "I can't believe you called me out for this when I'm on duty," to which he suggested she consider her "other responsibilities" as a wife.
After hanging up the phone, Trixie oversaw trainee midwife Joyce's handling of the afterbirth. Clearly preoccupied with her argument with Matthew, Trixie dismissed Joyce's concerns over the placenta and it was later revealed that part of the organ had remained in the patient, causing excessive bleeding.
Joyce ended up reporting the incident to Sister Julienne, prompting Trixie to take all responsibility for the error, which she said was "unprofessional and unforgivable".
As a result of her mistake, the midwife decided it would be best for her to spend three nights a week at Nonnatus House to prioritise her work.
Matthew wasn't overly pleased when he heard the news and asked Trixie if she was "a wife or a midwife". When she asked if she could be both, things ended on a sour note. "Only you can answer that," said Matthew, before walking away.
What will the future hold for Matthew and Trixie? Creator and writer Heidi Thomas gave an idea of what to expect ahead of series 13.
"They embark upon the journey of marriage and the next chapter of their lives in a way that takes a bit of an unexpected and dramatically rich turn," she revealed. "They suffer severe financial challenge which is not something they were expecting and it both deepens their relationship and challenges it."
Season 13 of Call the Midwife airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Sunday evenings at 8pm. All episodes are available on BBC iPlayer.
|
https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/512412/call-the-midwife-helen-george-teases-hard-hitting-scenes-trixie-matthew/
| 2024-01-31T10:55:49Z
|
blocked_url
|
When Lydia Bright posted pics of her recent holiday to Australia, we got a glimpse of her impressive bikini body as she enjoyed the sun and surf on Sydney’s Bondi Beach.
Lydia’s 1.2 million Instagram followers were quick to shower her with compliments after she revealed toned, tanned limbs and killer abs.
Now the influencer, entrepreneur and former reality TV star, who is mum to daughter Loretta, who turns four next month (Feb), shares her diet and exercise secrets with HELLO!
“I’ve always been really into fitness and enjoy being active, and I'm also very lucky that I've got fast metabolism, so I don’t think I’ve ever been bigger than a size 10,” Lydia, 33, tells us. “I trained throughout my pregnancy, so even after having Loretta I didn’t find it difficult to get back into shape. For me, energy produces energy and if I don't exercise I get achy and lethargic. So I’ve never massively taken my foot off the ball with fitness, because I actually enjoy it and if I don’t squeeze it in, everything else kind of starts taking a bit of a hit as well.”
So what is Lydia’s fitness routine?
“I usually go to the gym three times a week, and each time I run 5k, which takes about 30 minutes,” she says. “On two of those days I will do a little bit of weight training too. I vary it a bit and although that might include some ab work, I don’t pay particular attention to that area. But because I eat quite clean, I don’t have fat sitting on top of my abs, so you can see them. Also, being a mum means I’m always active.”
As for her diet, Lydia prefers healthy eating to junk food, although she enjoys a glass of wine.
“I’ve always had a really good diet and now that I’m a mum I cook more and don’t eat out as much, so I’m always trying new things,” she explains. “I cook nice, healthy meals for us and Loretta eats what I eat. I was always very conscious when she was younger that I wasn’t going to cook two meals for two people and because of that she’s always been an amazing eater. I wouldn't eat turkey dinosaurs and waffles, so why would I give that her her? I want her to eat the best and to eat healthy. People always laugh on my Instagram because I'll put a video of her chowing down cockles as if it's popcorn.
“We eat loads of like fruit, vegetables and pulses, like quinoa and lentils,” continues Lydia, who has just published her first children’s book, Mummy and Me, in which the mother and calf elephants represent Lydia and Loretta’s own single-parent family unit. “In the morning we have smoothies, and I sometimes skip breakfast because we’re getting ready for school. When I come back from the school run I usually have a brunch, like carrot zucchini fritters with poached eggs on top. Dinner might be teriyaki salmon with rice and broccoli.
“Although I live like this to feel good and for my energy, there are vanity reasons too. We’re all getting older and I want to be in shape and look good too,” she adds. “I don’t really like fried food and I haven’t got a massive sweet tooth, but I’m part Italian and I do love a glass of wine at the weekend. And if I fancy some chocolate or a burger or curry, then I have it. A little bit of everything in moderation is fine.”
Mummy and Me by Lydia Bright and illustrated by Jojo Clinch (Puffin Books) is out 1 February 2024
|
https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/health-and-fitness/512411/lydia-bright-reveals-her-exercise-and-diet-secrets-and-how-she-got-those-killer-abs/
| 2024-01-31T10:55:55Z
|
blocked_url
|
Vaginal prolapse, or pelvic organ prolapse, takes place when one or more of the organs in the pelvis slip down and move away from their normal position, creating a bulge in the vaginal walls.
Despite being a common condition, it's one many people feel uncomfortable talking about, but it is important to normalise vaginal prolapse by emphasising that it is a common issue affecting many women and assigned female at birth (AFAB) individuals.
In addition, vaginal prolapse is treatable and easy to diagnose, so there is no reason to keep silent about the condition or feel embarrassed.
Many gynaecological health conditions are associated with unnecessary stigma and shame, which is largely due to the overwhelming lack of information and education on women's health.
The most important thing we can do to normalise conditions such as vaginal prolapse is to talk about them candidly and openly, and to create an environment where patients feel comfortable sharing their experiences.
What causes vaginal prolapse?
Vaginal prolapse happens when the group of muscles and tissues that normally support the pelvic organs, known as the pelvic floor, becomes weakened and cannot hold the organs in place firmly.
Vaginal childbirth, old age, obesity, lack of strength training, chronic constipation, hormonal changes and having a hysterectomy all leave you more prone to pelvic prolapse.
Other factors that can increase your risk of the condition include any activity that puts pressure on the pelvic muscles, such as being overweight or obese from a very young age or having a job that requires lifting heavy loads without proper training.
The four main types of prolapse are the bladder bulging into the front wall of the vagina (anterior prolapse), the womb bulging or hanging down into the vagina (uterine prolapse), the top of the vagina sagging down, and the bowel bulging forward into the back wall of the vagina (posterior wall prolapse).
READ: Why we really need to talk about vaginal health
Need to know
Vaginal prolapse is common
Almost 50 per cent of all women and AFAB folks between ages 50 and 79 have some degree of uterine or vaginal vault or some other form of pelvic organ prolapse. You are not alone!
Vaginal prolapse can occur at any time, not just after menopause or childbirth – case in point, six per cent of women and AFAB individuals under 30 are affected, while 30 per cent of women aged 51-59 years have the condition and 50 per cent of women over 80 experience prolapse.
Signs of prolapse
Some of the common symptoms of prolapse include incontinence, a sense of fullness or heavy weight in the pelvis, a bulging sensation in your vagina, lower-back pain and constipation.
Symptoms can also include a feeling of bulging or something coming down the vagina, difficulty with bladder or bowel movements, or pain during sex and urination
READ: How to overcome your exercise fear if you're suffering from pelvic floor weakness
Can you prevent vaginal prolapse?
You may be able to prevent this condition with weight loss, a high-fibre diet to minimise the risk of constipation, drinking plenty of water to keep your bowel movements easy and smooth, not smoking, and doing Kegel exercises, as well as strength and Pilates training, both of which help you maintain strength in your pelvic floor.
How to treat vaginal prolapse
Treatment for vaginal prolapse includes lifestyle changes, a pessary, or surgery to remove the uterus. In some cases, the vagina may need to be stapled back in place with a surgical stapler.
That said, surgical intervention is not always needed for vaginal prolapse. The recommended treatment will depend on the type and severity of the prolapse, your symptoms and your overall health.
You may be assigned a pelvic floor physiotherapist who will support your healing and recovery. Non-surgical options include lifestyle changes, pelvic floor exercises, hormone treatment and vaginal pessaries.
A vaginal pessary is a device, usually round in shape, that is placed in the vagina and supports the pelvic organs. It can be used as a short or long-term treatment option for prolapse.
DISCOVER: Try this super-fun exercise to strengthen your pelvic floor – it's not a Kegel, I promise
When to seek help
Seek help regarding vaginal prolapse if you experience symptoms that affect your daily life or cause discomfort.
Like many other health conditions, vaginal prolapse is best treated when detected early. It's best to see a doctor as soon as possible if you suspect vaginal prolapse.
In addition, beyond treatment, we should also emphasise the importance of early prevention and pelvic floor health. We go to great lengths to maintain our overall health and should extend our pelvic floor the same courtesy.
Valentina Milanova, women's health expert and founder of Daye, a gynaecological health company that offers products and services for period pain, at-home STI testing and the treatment of vaginal infections.
|
https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/health-and-fitness/512414/vaginal-prolapse-need-to-know/
| 2024-01-31T10:56:01Z
|
blocked_url
|
Sarah Jessica Parker is synonymous with New York City, thanks to her glittering role as Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City and …And Just Like That, so you'd imagine she lives in a brownstone in the Big Apple, just like her character in the show.
The actress, who is currently living at The Savoy in London while she stars in The Plaza Suite at The Savoy Theatre, but when she's taking a break from the city, SJP and her husband Matthew Broderick spend time at their cosy home in the Hamptons, which is nothing like you'd imagine.
Sarah and Matthew's seafront home is situated in Amagansett, Long Island, and in 2022 the star listed their vacation home on Booking.com, for people to stay in the dreamy property.
On her listing, SJP proved she has the same way with words that Carrie Bradshaw has, writing: "I’m thrilled to welcome guests into this little home away from home by the beach, and hope the cozy space we’ve created in our Hamptons cottage is just what the doctor ordered.
"Guests will get a glimpse into all that Amagansett has to offer, while enjoying some of my favorite things to do in the area, like unwinding in the secluded backyard surrounded by fresh ocean air, spending days reading and relaxing at the beach, and dining at a few local favorite restaurants like Nick & Toni’s and Lobster Roll.
"We want our guests to make themselves at home, so feel free to kick off your shoes, break into the fully stocked bar, and admire all of the vintage appliances we’ve collected over the years."
The property was only available to rent for two nights, priced at $19.98 – the year Sarah began starring in Sex and the City.
Alongside Sarah's intro to the property, Booking.com wrote of the gorgeous home: "Situated just steps from the gorgeous shoreline, Sarah Jessica Parker’s charming 1940s beach cottage wields a coast-bound pathway for easy and spontaneous access to one of the most private beaches in the Dunes, just a 2-3 minute walk from the cottage.
"Touting a dreamy closet full of footwear from Sarah Jessica's eponymous luxury line, as well as a home bar fully stocked with Thomas Ashbourne, the three-bedroom cottage is the idyllic seaside reverie to kick off your shoes, post up in front her stunning brick fireplace, and treat yourself to a charcuterie board with SJP’s ready-to-serve Perfect Cosmo in hand. The dreamy escape aptly features an expansive deck surrounded by lush greenery, bestowing a completely private backyard to unwind."
READ: Why is the Sex and the City reboot so reassuring for 30-something women?
Despite listing the home on Booking.com, Sarah and Matthew do spend time there, with SJP sharing a video there last summer.
In the Instagram clip, SJP strolls along the deck of her oceanside home, panning out to reveal the ocean view at her Hamptons abode, wowing fans with the surroundings. Watch the clip below...
Read on to see inside SJP and Matthew's lowkey vacation home...
We love the coastal decor and can't wait to see more insights into Sarah's home when she's finished her sojourn in London.
|
https://www.hellomagazine.com/homes/512410/sarah-jessica-parker-hamptons-home/
| 2024-01-31T10:56:07Z
|
blocked_url
|
The Princess of Wales is no doubt happy to be home, and will be surrounded by her loved ones as she continues to recuperate following her surgery.
This week is extra special for the Middleton family, as Princess Kate's mother Carole Middleton turns 69 on Wednesday. The Princess will most likely be joined by her parents at her home in Windsor, where they will mark the milestone birthday privately.
Kate, 42, has temporarily stepped back from public duties to care for Kate and their three children, Prince George, ten, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five.
On Monday, Kensington Palace announced that the royal had left hospital and returned to her home almost two weeks after undergoing major abdominal surgery. She was admitted to the London Clinic – the same private hospital where King Charles underwent treatment for an enlarged prostate – for a planned operation on 16 January.
The future Queen is not expected to return to official duties until after Easter, with her husband the Prince of Wales temporarily stepping back from his royal role to juggle caring for her and their children.
A Kensington Palace spokesperson said: "The Princess of Wales has returned home to Windsor to continue her recovery from surgery. She is making good progress.
"The Prince and Princess wish to say a huge thank you to the entire team at The London Clinic, especially the dedicated nursing staff, for the care they have provided. The Wales family continues to be grateful for the well wishes they have received from around the world."
As well as being cared for by dad William and their nanny, Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo, it's understood that George, Charlotte and Louis have been spending time with their maternal grandparents Carole and Michael Middleton at their home in Bucklebury, Berkshire, during their mother's hospital stay.
Members of the Middleton family are understood to have visited Kate in hospital, too. Carole's celebrations will no doubt be low-key this year. In the past, William and Kate have joined the Middletons on holiday on the Caribbean island of Mustique to celebrate Carole's birthday. And in 2019, Pippa threw a party at her Chelsea home for her mother's 64th birthday.
|
https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/512413/kate-middleton-joyous-family-day-amid-recuperation-home/
| 2024-01-31T10:56:14Z
|
blocked_url
|
"Thanks for checking out our launch!🚀 This is our first feature launch on Product Hunt, and we'd love to hear your thoughts. ❤️ Tell us what you like, should improve, and any future features you'd like to see. We're grateful for your feedback and support - let's chat! 😊"
|
https://www.producthunt.com/posts/auto-subtitle-generator-by-lovo
| 2024-01-31T11:32:35Z
|
blocked_url
|
"Thanks for checking us out! Candidates, feel free to try out a practice interview (and receive tips/scores at the end). Enterprises, let us know if our software fits your needs by joining the waitlist - we are starting pilot programs soon! All feedback is appreciated."
|
https://www.producthunt.com/posts/firstround
| 2024-01-31T11:32:41Z
|
blocked_url
|
Calvin Klein is best known as a legend of American fashion, who created a brand recognizable worldwide.
After retiring in 2003, Calvin has more than earned the right to take things easy, and over the years he's had many romantic relationships. He's been married twice, to Jayne Centre from 1965 to 1974 with whom he has a daughter, and Kelly Rector from 1986 to 2006.
In 2010 he dated Nicholas Gruber for two years, who was then 20 years old. But nowadays he can often be found spending time with his long-time boyfriend Kevin Baker, 35.
The couple are often spotted in West Hollywood going for lunch or enjoying dinner dates, and Kevin is frequently spotted on his boyfriend's arm at red carpet events. Although the couple have never publicly spoken about their relationship, plenty of reports have substantiated that they are dating.
But who is Kevin Baker? Calvin and his boyfriend have kept remarkably quiet about their relationship, but here's everything you need to know…
Kevin is a model
Kevin is a model who has featured in many editorial shoots, from magazines like Supplementaire to Homme Style. He's been linked to agencies like Nous and Heffner.
After a few years of campaigns in the early 2010s, it seems Kevin hasn't done any modelling since. He also seems to keep a relatively low profile, as he doesn't appear to have any public social media.
He has a twin brother
Good looks seem to run in the Baker family, as the 35-year-old could often be found modelling with his twin brother Joel.
Similarly, Joel hasn't modeled since 2013 according to online records like Male Model Scene and Models.com.
He and Calvin went public in 2016
It's unclear when Calvin and Kevin first started dating, but they were first publicly spotted together in 2016 at the Mint Luxury Conference in Mumbai, India.
Not long after that first sighting in March, the couple were spotted at the Broadway Opening Night Performance of American Psycho in New York, and the 2016 Future of Fashion Runway Show.
They love going on a lavish holiday
Since going public in 2016, Calvin and Kevin have been spotted on a number of vacations together. From an indulgent trip to St. Barts, to a Hamptons getaway, the couple have been spotted chilling by the beach and riding helicopters together.
|
https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/512424/calvin-klein-pictured-with-model-boyfriend-who-is-kevin-baker/
| 2024-01-31T11:57:11Z
|
blocked_url
|
Tesco shoppers in Bishop's Stortford were no doubt left stunned when Sir Rod Stewart strolled into the store on Tuesday.
The British rock legend paid a visit to his local Tesco store to celebrate Wolfie's Whisky, his own whisky brand, now being available to buy for £35 per bottle in more than 400 Tesco stores across the UK.
Sir Rod, 79, drove himself to the supermarket to celebrate the launch. Dressed aptly in a Tesco-blue coat and zany printed scarf, the father-of-eight took time to speak with fans and workers, scanning a bottle of his own Scotch Whisky through the tills and posing for photographs beside the display.
Sir Rod has previously revealed that Wolfie's is a tribute to his Scottish heritage.
In an interview last year with the Scottish Daily Mail, the legendary rocker said: "I don't have my photo on the bottle as I didn't want it rammed down people's throats that this is Rod's whisky, just in case they're like, 'I hate his [expletive] music. I'm not drinking that'.
"I couldn't imagine getting involved in something like Bacardi, it had to be Scotch whisky because of my dad and my love of Scotland and, of course, Celtic. So it was a no-brainer really."
The Do Ya Think I'm Sexy? hitmaker's unexpected Tesco appearance comes just days after his wife, Penny Lancaster, made a much-welcomed return to ITV's Loose Women panel.
The former panellist, who quit her regular stint on the daytime show in 2023 due to a clash in "professional and personal commitments," joined her former co-stars Christine Lampard, Sunetra Sarker, Nadia Sawalha and Judi Love on the show.
Opening up about her health, Penny explained: "I actually had a scan yesterday but I tore my meniscus back in September and then just when I thought I was getting better, I was out on tour with my husband in Brazil and I decided to go to a jiu-jitsu class like you do for extra training for my police work, extra defence, but I overdid it and made it way worse."
The former model, 52, joined the City of London Police as a volunteer special constable in 2021, but her current injury means she is temporarily unable to work.
Speaking of her husband's ongoing support, Penny added: "He’s seen the dedication I have with the force and what it gives me back, as well as what I can give them. We’re a good team, we bounce off each other's energies.
"He supports my jobs and my roles that I take on and vice versa," Penny added.
“Penny is my whole world. What a girl,” Rod previously told HELLO! in our world exclusive coverage of their vow renewal in 2017.
“Love means many things to many people but to me it’s wanting to share everything with the one you love and I love Penny more now than ever, if that is at all possible."
|
https://www.hellomagazine.com/cuisine/512418/sir-rod-stewart-surprise-visit-local-tesco-wolfies-whisky/
| 2024-01-31T11:57:17Z
|
blocked_url
|
Queen Camilla looked supremely elegant at an engagement at Windsor Castle on Tuesday. The King's wife was seen wearing a lace-adorned look with her favourite knee-high boots that have fast become her staple this winter.
The royal, 76, made an entrance in a new Fiona Clare jacket that had a high round neck and was worn done up. The garment had lace panelling down the front and around the neck and wrists for a dainty look.
The form-fitting jacket was paired with a coordinating A-line skirt in the same heavy navy fabric. Her boots were a chic touch and her jewellery added a touch of glamour. Camilla wore the pieces she is most loyal to – her classic 'Vintage Alhambra 5 Motifs 18k Yellow Gold & Agate Bracelet' by Van Cleef & Arpels and two gold necklaces with special meanings.
She stacked the ‘Apollo Mini Blue Topaz and Diamond Pendant in Yellow Gold' by Kiki McDonough that has been embellished with a ruby for her July birthstone and a pendant engraved with the initials of her five grandchildren from her first marriage to Andrew Parker-Bowles – Lola, Freddy, Eliza, Louis, and Gus. She also popped on a pair of diamond and pearl drop earrings.
The finishing touches were added in the form of her trademark blowdry with the front section that had been styled away from her face in a Farrah Fawcett-esque way, as well as a swipe of rosy pink lipstick.
The reception at Windsor Castle was held to celebrate the authors, illustrators and binders who have been involved in the new Miniature Library collection displayed alongside Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House to mark its centenary year.
The Doll's House library holds miniature books of the 1920s that were handwritten by the era’s most iconic writers, from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Vita Sackville-West to A. A. Milne and Thomas Hardy.
An anniversary initiative led by Her Majesty has seen the creation of 20 manuscripts that have been written and decorated by hand by leading writers and illustrators, to build a Modern-Day Miniature Library to capture the literary landscape of modern Britain. Amongst the lineup are works by Malorie Blackman and Jacqueline Wilson, as well as Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.
In her written introduction, the Queen said: "These new books highlight the incredible richness of twenty-first century Literary talent – and demonstrate how fortunate we are to have access to so many outstanding writers, whose work brings joy, comfort, laughter, companionship and hope to us all, opening our eyes to others’ experiences and reminding us that we are not alone."
Camilla stepped out earlier this week also sporting a blue moment with her Russell and Bromley boots. She was seen exiting The London Clinic with her husband who underwent treatment for an enlarged prostate.
DISCOVER: Queen Camilla is so elegant in unexpected cinched cord look
She was seen in an unexpected caped moment wearing an Anna Valentine deep blue dress with frayed detailing in stripes down the front carrying the 'Mini Venice' bag by Demellier London in Forest Grain, a deep green colour.
|
https://www.hellomagazine.com/fashion/royal-style/512420/queen-camilla-understated-elegance-lace-co-ord-knee-high-boots/
| 2024-01-31T11:57:23Z
|
blocked_url
|
Crown Princess Victoria wore the ultimate high-low fashion combo as the Swedish royals stepped out for the French state banquet on Tuesday evening,
The royal, 46, looked beautiful in a one-shouldered gown from H&M, featuring metallic embroidery.
She first wore the custom number for the Nobel Prize ceremony in 2016, so it was a delight to see her bring it back and with the same tiara, nonetheless.
Crown Princess Victoria donned the Napoleonic Cut-Steel Tiara, which dates back to the 1800s, wearing her brunette locks up in her signature low bun.
She wore a smokey eye makeup look, with a berry lip and a sweep of bronzer.
The future queen is a big fan of the Swedish high street chain and has chosen to wear pieces from the brand's Conscious Collection for some major occasions, including for her brother Prince Carl Philip's wedding to Sofia Hellqvist in 2015.
Victoria was joined at the banquet by her husband, Prince Daniel. The couple are parents to Princess Estelle, who turns 12 on 23 February, and seven-year-old Prince Oscar.
The Swedish royals have welcomed President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron for a two-day state visit.
The banquet took place at the Royal Palace in Sweden, with King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia playing host.
Queen Silvia, 81, looked elegant in a purple lace gown with the Cameo tiara, while her daughter-in-law Princess Sofia, 49, stunned in a blush pink dress with her wedding tiara.
Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel later stepped out at a business seminar at Stockholm City Hall on Wednesday.
The royal mum-of-two looked chic in a cream pantsuit for the engagement, accessorising with a patterned scarf.
A two-piece is Victoria's go-to uniform for her day-to-day public outings, but she also loves bright colour block dresses and patterned frocks for evening receptions and galas.
LISTEN: Inside the Danish royal abdication
|
https://www.hellomagazine.com/fashion/royal-style/512425/crown-princess-victoria-wears-hm-dress-heirloom-tiara/
| 2024-01-31T11:57:29Z
|
blocked_url
|
Who is ready for more Michelle Keegan on our screens?! It has been confirmed that the Brassic star’s hit show from 2023 will be making a comeback, and we couldn’t be more excited to tune in.
The BBC has revealed that Michelle’s drama Ten Pound Poms will return for another instalment, and the Fool Me Once actress will be joined by fellow cast mates Faye Marsay and Warren Brown for their continued adventures in Australia.
The new synopsis reads: “After a challenging first year in Australia, the new series will follow nurse Kate Thorne and the Roberts family into 1957 on their adventure down under, as they are determined to make this new country everything they hoped it would be for a fresh start. Will Kate, Terry and Annie finally get a slice of the Australian dream they were promised?”
The show will also welcome several new cast members in the shape of the Skinner family, “fresh off the boat from Ireland and the unscrupulous land-lord Benny Bates”.
The first season was a big hit for BCB, with 7.7 million viewers after 28-days. For those unacquainted with the show, it follows a group of Brits who leave post-war Britain for new lives in Australia. The show is set to begin filming in mid-February in Australia.
Speaking about the show, writer Danny Brocklehurst said: “The positive viewer response to Ten Pound Poms was a true delight. We tapped into a little-known part of our recent history and told stories which reflected the realities of the real Poms that made the trip.
TI couldn't be more thrilled to be teaming again with the BBC, Stan and Eleven to continue our characters' adventure down under.”
BBC’s director of drama Lindsay Salt added: “We’re delighted to take BBC viewers back to Australia for more sunshine with Ten Pound Poms series two. With Michelle Keegan, Faye Marsay and Warren Brown returning to lead the cast, and some fantastic new characters and stories from the brilliant Danny Brocklehurst, there’s so much more for our ‘Poms’ to discover Down Under.”
Filming will once again take Michelle from her Essex home, but she has previously opened up about her work ethic while filming Fool Me Once, telling HELLO! and other reporters: “I loved it, it was very intense and there were long days. But like Joanna [Lumley] said, that's the reason why you're in this job, you’re in this industry. If something like this book grips you, you don't mind! I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. To be part of it, I just felt very lucky, I loved it!"
She continued: "It is a cliche thing to say but you almost become a family and I think every actor says that in any production but this one especially for me was like a family. I was coming in every morning, getting greeted by people I’ve been seeing for months."
|
https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/512419/michelle-keegan-fans-delighted-as-hit-show-renewed-for-season-two/
| 2024-01-31T11:57:36Z
|
blocked_url
|
BBC Three's new supernatural drama, Domino Day, follows the titular character, a young witch who feeds on the energy of others using dating apps to find her victims.
Desperately seeking a community that can help her understand who she is, Domino heads to Manchester, where she's being trailed by a coven of witches who want to put a stop to her antics. But when a dangerous figure from her past comes back to haunt her, will she get the fresh start she's looking for?
The series features a cast of rising stars, including Siena Kelly, Percelle Ascott and Sam Howard-Sneyd. Keep reading for all you need to know about the cast.
Siena Kelly – Domino Day
Siena leads the cast as Domino Day, a powerful young witch in her early twenties who has only recently learned about her powers and is clueless about how to channel her supernatural force.
Siena, who hails from Camden, London, made her TV debut in 2018 in ITV's adaptation of Vanity Fair, before going on to land roles in the Channel 4 drama Adult Material, for which she received a TV BAFTA nomination, and in the Sky One series Temple.
Percelle Ascott – Leon
Percelle plays Leon, a human who strikes up a blossoming romance with Domino.
The 30-year-old is known for appearing in TV shows including Netflix's The Innocents, CBBC fantasy show Wizards vs Aliens, and the E4 comedy-drama, Youngers. He may also be recognised for his roles in Silent Witness, Doctor Who and Tin Star.
Sam Howard-Sneyd – Silas
Sam plays Silas, who has a "swampy" romantic relationship with Domino.
The actor, who is a LAMDA graduate, will make his on-screen debut in Domino.
You may also like
Babirye Bukilwa – Sammie
Babirye plays Sammie, a witch originally from London who moves to Manchester in search of a new life.
Her previous credits include Dreaming Whilst Black, We Hunt Together, Babylon, Our Girl and Casualty.
Alisha Bailey – Kat
Alisha portrays witch and coven leader Kat.
The actress is perhaps best known for playing Heather in Sky Atlantic's 2018 miniseries, Save Me, which starred Surrane Jones, Lennie James and Stephen Graham. She has also appeared in episodes of Grace, I Am, Doctor Who and Call the Midwife.
Poppy Lee Friar – Geri
Poppy plays Geri, a witch with telekinetic powers who has a close friendship with coven leader Kat.
The 28-year-old actress has had main roles in an array of major shows, including Ackerly Bridge, Dead Gorgeous, Mr Selfridge, and In My Skin. She also portrayed Jayne Torvill in ITV's 2018 biopic Torvill & Dean about the titular Olympic ice dancers.
Molly Harris – Jules
Molly plays Jules, the youngest witch in the coven who joined against her parents' wishes and is a bit of a party animal.
Molly has appeared in episodes of various popular shows, including Grace, Baptiste, Doctor Who, I Hate Suzie, Trying, and Industry.
Watch Domino Day on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer from Wednesday 31 January at 9pm.
|
https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/512426/meet-the-cast-domino-day-bbc-three/
| 2024-01-31T11:57:42Z
|
blocked_url
|
Mariska Hargitay is usually the center of attention thanks to her starring role on Law & Order: SUV – but she was overshadowed by her teenage son on Tuesday.
The 60-year-old looked tiny as she sat beside her 17-year-old son, August, who towered over her as they watched the New York Knicks defeat Utah Jazz from their courtside seats at Madison Square Garden.
The mother-son duo couldn't wipe the smiles from their faces when they were captured on the jumbotron, and August looked especially excited as he pumped his fists in the air.
For the outing, Mariska donned turned-up white pants with a silky red blouse and a black leather jacket.
August, meanwhile, wore khaki pants with a light T-shirt and a dark corduroy jacket with a shearling lining.
His animated display also stole the limelight from the very famous guests he was with – Michael J. Fox, his wife Tracy Pollan, and Dirty Dancing star, Jennifer Grey.
The group was seemingly in high spirits and happily posed together for photos, with Tracy and Jennifer appearing lost in conversation at one point.
Mariska and the Back to the Future star have become firm friends over the years and when he released his documentary, Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie, in 2023, she was on hand to support him.
The actress attended a screening of the film – which documents Michael's life, career, and battle with Parkinson's disease – last May and paid tribute to the actor. "About last night," she captioned a photo of herself and her husband, Peter Hermann, sitting on either side of Michael.
"Oh what a movie, oh what a person, oh what a heart…" she continued. "Give yourself the gift of watching @realmikejfox tell his extraordinary story in STILL, out 5/12 from @appletv. I saw it and I'm, yes, STILL thinking about it—and I will be for a long time."
Mariska added: "It's masterfully directed by the great @davisguggenheim, and it's a master class from Michael J. Fox in what happens when a beautiful, humble, eminently decent, hardworking soul goes toe-to-toe with an incurable disease.
"Michael, you are one of a kind, a true light, a true gift. Thank you for your story."
Meanwhile, Mariska is no doubt preparing for a huge change when August turns 18 in June and begins to think about flying the nest.
The actress and her husband Peter welcomed their eldest son on June 28, 2006. Five years later, in 2011, they adopted a baby girl named Amaya, now 12. Within six months, they adopted another child, a baby boy named Andrew, now 11.
Mariska previously revealed that it was "always part of the plan" for her and Peter to adopt. The couple married in Santa Barbara, California, on August 28, 2004, after just over two years of dating.
She told Good Housekeeping: "August wanted siblings, and Peter and I both envisioned this big family because we both come from that. Plus, we just had so much love to give."
Speaking about their family in 2018, she told People: "Our family is so perfect, or at least perfect for me. Together we're just this whole, happy, joyful, chaotic, crazy unit. I've never known anything that was more right."
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.
|
https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/512415/mariska-hargitay-towering-son-august-steals-limelight-night-out-michael-j-fox/
| 2024-01-31T11:57:48Z
|
blocked_url
|
Where does the time go? That is what Claudia Schiffer was left wondering when her oldest child, Casper, turned 21 on January 30.
To honor her firstborn, the supermodel took to Instagram with a series of images of him proving he's the perfect blend of his mom and dad, director, Matthew Vaughn.
Casper looked every inch the male model in the photos in which he was casually strolling through the streets of London, smoking a cigarette.
He wore a long, dark coat and newsboy hat and sported stubble. "My son Caspar is 21 today" Claudia captioned the post. "He is the sweetest, caring, most mischievous, smart, clever, with a sense of humour, well mannered, and sporty.
"He beats us all at tennis, croquet, backgammon, chess, table tennis, skiing, pool and more… You have got it all: the perfect English gentleman. Mama and Daddy are proud of you. Loooove you."
Fellow model and friend, Elle McPherson, was one of the first to comment and wrote: "Can you believe our sons? Cy is turning 21 next week too - seems not so long ago we were picking them up together at the school gates."
Danish model, Helena Christensen also chimed in and wrote: "Happy birthday to your handsome son."While there were plenty of congratulatory messages to Casper, there were also some fans who were divided over her choice of photos.
"Couldn’t she pick pictures without promoting cigarettes?" wrote one, as another asked: "Cigarettes?"But there were plenty of Claudia's social media followers who pointed out that Casper was likely just smoking for the photoshoot.
Claudia and Matthew share three children together; Casper, Clementine, 19, and Cosima, 14.
The family spends most of their time in the UK where they own a modern countryside manor and an Elizabethan mansion in Suffolk too.
Claudia has previously spoken about being a mother when she told Stylist magazine: "I come from a big family and I always wanted to have kids of my own. Before I met Matthew, I worked non-stop.
"But once we got together, suddenly a whole new world seemed to open up. Matthew and I are a team."
Talking about the moment she knew Matthew was the one, she told The Guardian. "I'd never found anyone that perfect and I just thought, oh, there's no perfect man out there. Then I met him. He had everything I wanted in a man. He completely swept me off my feet."
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.
|
https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/512417/claudia-schiffer-dashing-son-casper-turns-21-sparks-reaction-new-photos/
| 2024-01-31T11:57:54Z
|
blocked_url
|
Whether you're an American Football fan or not, the Super Bowl is a momentous annual event for all, particularly fashion fanatics.
Last year, Rihanna provided enough fashion and beauty moments during her halftime performance (lest we forget her pregnancy reveal) to keep us talking for months.
After Taylor Swift's bold jumper and smudge-proof red lipstick combo got us talking at the AFC Champions final this weekend, it's a British icon bringing sartorial greatness to the Super Bowl LVIII, and who more iconic both inside and outside of the fashion world, than Victoria Beckham?
The fashion designer and her husband David have teamed up with Uber Eats to create a hilarious commerical, recreating her iconic "My Dad Had A Rolls Royce" moment from David's documentary, and wore a T-shirt to mock herself for the occasion.
In the ad, Victoria sits wearing her iconic t-shirt tucked into a pair of light-wash jeans, accessorised with a black belt from her eponymous fashion label. She satirically explains she and David will be taking part in a "little commercial" for either the "super big baseball game" or the "hockey bowl" and "Jessica Aniston" will also feature.
MORE: Victoria Beckham is 'The original Mob Wife' - Here’s 10 photos that prove it...
RELATED: I found an insanely flattering £14 H&M dress - and it's serving major Victoria Beckham vibes
The advert may seem rather nonsensical if the back story isn't clear. Immediately after David's Netlfix documentaey Beckham aired, Victoria became a viral meme for the humorous part of the first episode where she calls herself ‘working class’ but David proceeds to mock her and force her to admit her father actually drove her to school in a Rolls Royce.
VB said: “We’re very, very working class", which prompts David to pop his head into the room from behind a door frame and say “Be honest. What car did your dad drive you to school in?” After several attempts to sidestep the question, the former Spice Girl then replies: “OK, in the Eighties, my dad had a Rolls-Royce.”
MORE: Victoria Beckham reveals the secret to why her clothes fit perfectly every time
RELATED: Victoria Beckham honours Eva Longoria's Oscar nomination in 2024's chicest dress trend
She then made a slogan tee of her iconic quote (as she does with many of her famous phrases), and the rest is history.
Again, we may not know much about American Football, but what we do know is that it's on Febeueay 11 thanks to VB's ad, and Taylor Swift made us aware that the Kansas City Chiefs is one of the two teams who made it to the final.
On Sunday, she celebrated boyfriend Travis Kelce's AFC Champions league win which secured their place in the Super Bowl. She stepped out in a bright red-orange jumper and bright red lipstick which captured our attentions because it didn't seem to budge even after constanly kissing her beau.
More iconic Super Bowl fashion and beauty content please...
|
https://www.hellomagazine.com/hfm/fashion-trends/512408/victoria-beckham-david-beckham-rolls-royce-uber-eats-super-bowl-commercial/
| 2024-01-31T11:58:00Z
|
blocked_url
|
Zaraand Mike Tindallare adored by royal fans for their down-to-earth and relaxed attitude to life despite being senior members of the royal family.
The couple, who wed in 2011, are parents to three children, Mia, aged 10, Lena, five, and Lucas, two, and the family live on the Gatcombe Estate in Gloucestershire in the heart of the Cotswolds.
Gatcombe is also home to Zara's mother, Princess Anne and Sir Timothy Laurence as well as Zara's older brother Peter Phillips – making the royal estate quite the family affair – and is perfect for weekends and holidays spent with the relatives.
Although Mike and Zara live on the estate, they have their own countryside bolthole away from the main building, and from the glimpses we've seen from their home, it's the perfect place to raise three children.
And with its generous land and gorgeous Cotswold stone details, it couldn't be more charming.
Zara and Mike's countryside abode with their three children...
Gatcombe Park
As mentioned, the Princess Royal lives in the main house on Gatcombe Park which was gifted to her in the 1970s for her late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, upon marrying Captain Mark Phillips. Princess Anne has lived in the huge Grade-II house ever since.
Although Zara and Mike don't reside at the main manor house, the 700-acre estate affords them plenty of room to have their own home and space with their three children, but remain close enough for family functions.
Don't miss
Acres upon acres
Thanks to Mike's online presence, the former England Rugby Captain has often given his followers a sneak peek into their country life.
This video shared on his Instagram shows him walking on the estate in the morning as he sends his best wishes to a local rugby team.
In the background, the great outdoors is shown in all its glory. We bet Mia, Lena and Lucas love nothing more than having this on their doorstep.
One area of their home that we've seen inside of is their home office. Mike appeared via video call for an interview on Good Morning Britain back in 2020 and viewers were treated to a peek at their private home.
Mike was sitting on a leather office chair for the call while in the background viewers will have spotted two comfortable sofa chairs, as well as tall white bookcases.
On the walls, there are a few framed portraits of animals including dogs and horses. The office looks stylishly decorated, while simultaneously looking well lived in.
Home comforts
Also that year, Zara appeared on Good Morning Britain for her own interview to discuss how Equestrian Relief was helping to raise funds to support the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic.
While chatting about the cause close to her heart, the mother-of-three was sitting in a room at her home that featured a number of home comforts including a coffee machine and a kettle above a fireplace.
The wooden beams on the ceiling also add the perfect countryside feel to the room.
Kitchen
Taking to his Instagram, Mike shared this video of him sitting at their kitchen island and we're obsessed with the bronze marble worktop and matching gold tap.
In the background, the walls are adorned with sage-green wooden panels, and there's a double wall oven too. Perfect for when they host dinner parties and gatherings.
However, having seen Zara and Mike in their stunningly huge kitchen in the main house during a previous interview, which you can see in the video below, it's likely the kitchen Mike is sitting in here is their second, slightly smaller kitchen – perhaps located in an out-house on the grounds of their home.
At-home gym
When you're an ex-Engand Rugby Captain married to an Olympic equestrian, it's only right that you have an at-home gym.
Mike has shared the occasional video from inside his and Zara's workout space.
The brickwork is exposed showing off the eye-catching Cotswold stone, and there's plenty of equipment in there to keep them busy while working out.
Party barn
Given that Princess Anne, Zara and Mike and Peter Phillips all reside at Gatcombe, it's fitting that they have a mutual space that they share for large family events and parties.
In an interview with Vogue, Zara and Mike revealed that they have what is known as the "party barn" in between the houses, the perfect spot for coming together for functions.
The piece reads: "At the centre of the farm is a converted barn known to all as 'the party barn' with a bar and catering facilities, giant screen and lounges that combine to make it the perfect setting for a gathering of old friends."
Although royal fans are yet to see the party barn, Princess Anne gave an interview with ITV in a large, mostly empty room, that was lined with stone walls and large windows.
The sparse décor indicates that the room is only used for the occasional get-together.
|
https://www.hellomagazine.com/homes/512416/zara-and-mike-tindalls-700-acre-estate-with-princess-anne-is-childrens-paradise/
| 2024-01-31T11:58:06Z
|
blocked_url
|
WASHINGTON - Hackers linked to the Chinese government are targeting critical infrastructure in the United States, preparing to cause "real-world harm" to Americans, FBI Director Christopher Wray plans to tell a House of Representatives panel on Wednesday.
Water treatment plants, the electrical grid, oil and natural gas pipelines and transportation hubs are among the targets of state-sponsored hacking operations that have received "far too little public focus," Wray will testify to the House select committee on competition with China.
"China's hackers are positioning on American infrastructure in preparation to wreak havoc and cause real-world harm to American citizens and communities, if or when China decides the time has come to strike," Wray will tell the panel, according to a portion of his testimony released by the FBI.
The Chinese foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the matter.
Wray is scheduled to make his first appearance before the House China committee on Wednesday at a hearing focused on cyber threats posed by Beijing. He will appear alongside three other top U.S. cyber officials.
Wray's warning comes a day after Reuters reported that the U.S. government launched an operation in recent months against a Chinese hacking operation, Volt Typhoon, that officials said had been spying on U.S. infrastructure networks.
Wray has repeatedly said the Chinese government is trying to undermine the United States through espionage campaigns, intellectual property theft and cyberattacks.
The Chinese government has previously accused the United States and its allies of spreading "disinformation" through its accusations against what Washington says are state-sponsored hacking groups. REUTERS
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/chinese-hackers-are-targeting-us-infrastructure-fbi-chief-to-testify
| 2024-01-31T12:22:26Z
|
blocked_url
|
KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia's cabinet has discussed a request by jailed former premier Najib Razak for a royal pardon but has no authority to make any announcement, its home minister said on Jan 31, amid frenzied speculation about the outcome.
It will be at the discretion of the Pardons Board to announce its decision, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said at a press conference on immigration and labour issues, which was packed with media seeking news on Najib's clemency bid.
The disgraced former leader Najib is serving a 12-year jail term for graft linked to state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), from which U.S. and Malaysian investigators estimate $4.5 billion (S$6 billion) was stolen and more than $1 billion channeled to accounts linked to the former premier.
Najib requested a royal pardon shortly after beginning his sentence in 2022 and after exhausting all other appeals. He consistently denied wrongdoing.
Malaysia's Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Zaliha Mustafa on Jan 30 said the Pardons Board had met this week and an official statement would be issued, though she did not say if Najib's request was discussed.
The remarks prompted a blitz of media speculation, with one prominent Malay-language newspaper forced to withdraw a report citing sources saying that Najib had been granted a full pardon.
Najib's lawyer and representatives, as well as Malaysia's attorney-general, a member of the pardons board, did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment.
Officials on Jan 31 declined to comment on further reports.
"Let us not jump the gun, let us wait for an official statement to be made," communications minister Fahmi Fadzil said at a separate press briefing.
"We must show professionalism in reporting."
US and Malaysian investigators estimate around $4.5 billion was stolen from 1MDB, with more than $1 billion channeled to accounts linked to Najib.
Najib says he was misled by fugitive financier Jho Low and other 1MDB officials over the source of the funds and that he believed they were donations from the Saudi royal family. He remains on trial in several other cases linked to corruption at 1MDB.
Najib's daughter, Ms Nooryana Najwa Najib, on Jan 30 posted on Instagram a picture of the former leader sitting pensively, accompanied by the message "Always waiting for your return, however long it takes." REUTERS
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/malaysia-cabinet-discusses-najib-pardon-bid-but-wont-announce-outcome-minister
| 2024-01-31T12:22:36Z
|
blocked_url
|
TAITUNG, Taiwan - Taiwan's military on Jan 31 simulated a scenario where China suddenly turns one of its regular drills around the island into an actual attack, on the same day China staged another "combat readiness patrol" near Taiwan.
Taiwan, which China regards as its territory to be reunified, says China's armed forces routinely operate in the skies and seas around the island in an effort to pressure Taiwan to accept Chinese sovereignty.
Taiwan's defence ministry says Chinese warplanes and warships often carry out "joint combat readiness patrols". It reported another such patrol on Jan 31, involving 22 Chinese aircraft.
In the exercise carried out in front of media in Taiwan's eastern county of Taitung, troops, tanks and armoured personnel carriers advanced across the ground as explosions rang out, beating back an invading force.
The defence ministry said the exercise "simulated the enemy military turning drills into war during joint combat readiness patrols" with "concealed people" guiding aerial strikes and commando assaults on critical infrastructure and other targets.
"The Critical Target Counter-Infiltration Drill demonstrated the results of our troops' peacetime training," officer Ko Ting-yi told reporters.
"In the face of increasingly frequent enemy threats, the army has continued to make breakthroughs and strengthen its training, while the troops have used realistic combat training to enhance basic combat capabilities."
Over the past year-and-a-half, China has staged two rounds of major war games around Taiwan, raising fears of a conflict which could drag in the United States and its allies, especially Japan.
China practised precision strikes and blockades in drills around the island last April after Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen met US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles.
Taiwan's traditional military thinking during a conflict has been to use its mountainous east coast, especially the two air bases there, as a place to regroup and preserve its forces given it does not directly face China unlike Taiwan's west coast.
But China has increasingly been flexing its muscles off Taiwan's east coast, sailing warships and flying warplanes and drones there and showing its ability to operate much further away from China's own coastline. REUTERS
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/taiwan-military-simulates-china-turning-drills-into-an-attack
| 2024-01-31T12:22:46Z
|
blocked_url
|
BEIJING - Talks between the U.S. and Chinese officials on stemming the flow of chemicals used for the production of deadly fentanyl have been "substantive" but "much more" needs to be done, the head of the White House delegation to Beijing said on Wednesday.
Washington hopes for deeper law enforcement cooperation, including on tackling illicit finance, and wants Beijing to put further controls on the chemicals that can be used to make fentanyl, said Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Homeland Security Advisor Jen Daskal.
"There is a lot more action that's needed in a range of areas that we discussed," Daskal told Reuters in an interview at the U.S. embassy in Beijing after the talks, adding "there's a renewed spirit of commitment to cooperate".
Daskal led an interagency delegation that held two days of talks with Chinese counterparts, resulting in the launch of a counter-narcotics working group - the first serious sign of cooperation on tackling the spread of fentanyl since late 2019.
The Beijing meetings follow a summit in San Francisco in November where U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping agreed to work on the issue, marking a notable shift in tone between the leaders and warming of relations.
Fentanyl is a leading cause of drug overdoses in the United States. The U.S. has said that China is the primary source of the precursor chemicals synthesized into fentanyl by drug cartels in Mexico. China denies this.
Following the talks, China said on Tuesday they were "in-depth and pragmatic," expressing hope the two sides could accommodate each other's concerns and "enhance and expand cooperation to provide more positive energy for stable, sound and sustainable China-U.S. relations".
Daskal "applauded" China for taking a series of concrete steps after the November summit and even before the group had been launched, and urged further action.
"They've taken some enforcement actions against some particular companies that were engaging in particularly concerning illicit behavior," said Daskal.
She also said China has started to send information to the International Narcotics Control Board about particular incidents, "that then allow global law enforcement agencies around the world to follow up on that information."
Ties between the two countries have been tense in recent years over a range of issues including the origins of COVID-19, trade tariffs, Taiwan and human rights, hampering Washington's hopes of persuading China to re-join its efforts to stop the flow of fentanyl into the United States.
In November 2019, in an unusual disclosure of Sino-U.S. cooperation in cracking down on fentanyl crimes, Chinese and U.S. law enforcement jointly announced that they had worked together to break up a smuggling ring.
But such cooperation on narcotics fizzled out when COVID-19 arrived, and multiple geopolitical headwinds pushed bilateral ties to their lowest in decades.
Daskal said that "there's a lot that companies can do...to stop selling to customers that are engaged in what is apparently bad behavior and to ensure they are labeling their exports correctly."
She said she expected to measure the progress of the cooperation during meetings between senior government officials in February and over the summer in Washington. REUTERS
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/us-says-fentanyl-talks-with-china-meaningful-but-more-needs-to-be-done-official
| 2024-01-31T12:22:57Z
|
blocked_url
|
SINGAPORE – Local shares eked out a modest gain on Jan 31 as wary investors await signals from the Federal Reserve on possible interest rate cuts in the United States.
The cautious mood left the Straits Times Index (STI) up just 0.1 per cent or 2.97 points to 3,153.01 with losers outnumbering gainers 310 to 224 after 1.7 billion shares worth $1.3 billion changed hands.
Key regional indexes were mixed following a mostly positive session on Wall Street, where the Dow Jones Industrial Average hit a new record despite weakness in tech shares.
The Hang Seng in Hong Kong lost 1.4 per cent and the Kospi in Seoul slipped 0.1 per cent, but the Nikkei 225 advanced 0.6 per cent and Malaysian stocks inched up 0.02 per cent.
Australian shares rose 1.1 per cent to a record high after surprisngly good inflation figures sparked expectations of early interest rate cuts.
Investors here were likely focused on the US Fed as they navigate evolving market conditions and anticipate potential shifts in monetary policy, said Mr Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management.
While the Fed is not expected to cut rates in March, the focus is on whether such early rate-cut discussions are being entertained, he noted.
“Indeed, it’s poised to be a blockbuster day as Fed chair Jerome Powell has the potential to endorse or push back... ebullient investor sentiment,” Mr Innes said.
Frasers Logistics & Commercial Trust was the STI’s biggest gainer, rising 3.7 per cent to $1.12.
The trust leased 128,000 square metres of space across its portfolio in the first quarter, with an occupancy rate of 95.8 per cent, it noted earlier this week.
The STI’s biggest decliner was DFI Retail Group, down 4.8 per cent to US$2.
The banks all rose: DBS Bank gained 0.2 per cent to $31.88; OCBC Bank climbed 0.6 per cent to $12.89; and UOB rose 0.4 per cent to $28.37. THE BUSINESS TIMES
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/singapore-stocks-eke-out-gains-with-fed-rate-guidance-in-focus-sti-up-01
| 2024-01-31T12:23:07Z
|
blocked_url
|
SINGAPORE – Bosses have reservations about implementing flexible work arrangements but fear they could lose out on attracting and retaining talented staff if they fail to do so.
Firms are especially focused on the issue as a tripartite workgroup is developing guidelines on flexible work arrangements that will be compulsory for employers to follow once they are implemented later this year.
Some employers are concerned about whether such work arrangements might affect productivity, particularly if certain types of work are not suitable to be done from home, said Minister of State for Manpower Gan Siow Huang on Jan 31.
Ms Gan made her remarks during a visit to news site AsiaOne Online, which has already started implementing flexible work arrangements.
The 11-member workgroup developing the guidelines is jointly chaired by Ms Gan, Ms Yeo Wan Ling, director of NTUC’s women and family unit and its small-and-medium enterprise unit, and Mr Edwin Ng, Singapore National Employers Federation’s honorary secretary.
“We see that there are opportunities for employers to be creative and also receptive to different types of flexible work arrangements,” Ms Gan noted.
“Some employers have told us that if the employees are willing to consider different forms of flexible work arrangements, they can reach good outcomes most of the time.”
Ms Yeo noted during the AsiaOne visit that surveys show that employees say that flexible work arrangements let them work longer term at their jobs.
“Although productivity is a big concern for employers regarding flexible work arrangements, they stand to lose out if they don’t have such arrangements,” she added.
AsiaOne Online has seen a jump in productivity since implementing flexible working arrangements, said company spokesman Tan Thiam Peng.
“Our employees are able to work from different places, while some of them may require different arrangements depending on their personal situations... the flexibility actually motivates them at work,” he added.
The flexible arrangements have has also attracted new staff, said Mr Tan.
“A significant number of people we interview always ask about being able to work from home or having flexible work arrangements. It seems to be a major appeal and pull factor for people to want to join us, which helps us employ better people as well,” he noted.
At the same time, employees should be reasonable and responsible in their requests and usage of flexible work arrangements, said Ms Gan.
“We hear sometimes that employees are afraid to ask the employers or the managers for flexible arrangements, thinking that the managers might think that they are less committed to their work,” she added.
“But the guidelines, when published, will try to normalise this process of requesting for flexible work arrangements.”
Employers can voluntarily adopt the Tripartite Standard on Flexible Work Arrangements, which sets out best practices. The guidelines will build on these practices.
More than 12,000 companies have adopted this tripartite standard, mostly small and medium-sized enterprises, said Ms Gan.
AsiaOne Online analyst Wong Nan Hui, 32, has had more time with his family due to his flexible work arrangements.
“My mom doesn’t have rest days on weekends, so the weekdays when I can work from home gives me the chance to spend more time with my family,” said Mr Wong.
“I’ve also been able to prioritise my well-being more, as I can go for evening runs after work when I work from home. I’ve also had time to do some short courses related to technology and artificial intelligence to improve my skills.”
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-without-flexi-work-arrangements-could-lose-out-on-talent
| 2024-01-31T12:23:18Z
|
blocked_url
|
HONG KONG - Hong Kong’s economic growth accelerated in the fourth quarter to 4.3 per cent from a year earlier, official advance estimates showed on Jan 31, with inbound tourism and private consumption remaining the key drivers.
That compared with 4.1 per cent growth in third quarter, 1.5 per cent expansion in the second quarter and the 2.9 per cent in the first. However, the reading missed a median forecast of 4.7 per cent in a Reuters poll of 14 economists.
“Looking ahead, the difficult external environment will continue to pose pressures on Hong Kong’s exports of goods in 2024,” a government spokesman said, adding that the tight financial conditions may remain a constraint for the time being.
“The situation may stabilise later in the year if advanced economies cut interest rates as expected,” the spokesman said, noting that visitor arrivals should increase further as handling capacity continues to recover with an additional boost from the government’s efforts to promote mega events.
On a seasonally adjusted quarterly basis, the economy increased 0.5 per cent in the October-December period as compared with a 0.3 per cent growth in July-September, the data showed.
For the whole of 2023, GDP grew 3.2 per cent from the previous year.
Private consumption expenditure increased by 3.5 per cent in the quarter, compared to 6.2 per cent growth three months earlier. For 2023, private consumption expenditure increased by 7.4 per cent.
Goods exports recorded an increase of 2.8 per cent, compared to an 8.7 per cent decline in third quarter. Total exports of goods for 2023 decreased 10.3 per cent from 2022.
Imports of goods increased by 3.9 per cent in the fourth quarter, compared to a 6.1 per cent decline in the third quarter and a decrease of 8.5 per cent for the whole of 2023. REUTERS
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/business/economy/hong-kong-q4-gdp-expands-43-slower-than-forecast
| 2024-01-31T12:23:28Z
|
blocked_url
|
SINGAPORE – Jumping ship has gone out of fashion among local workers with the least amount of job-switching in six years.
Only 14.7 per cent of workers changed jobs in the past two years, a rate not seen since 2017.
The chances of landing a new post have dimmed due to the weaker economic environment, despite a tight labour market.
The fall in job change was seen across all age groups, in white-collar and blue-collar posts and across industries, noted a Ministry of Manpower survey on Jan 31.
Workers aged 25 to 29 – a group that is still exploring options in their early careers – continued to change employers most frequently.
About 13.9 per cent of this cohort had moved in the 12 months up to June 2023, compared with 5.5 per cent for workers in their 50s and 3.7 per cent for those over 60.
As fewer workers decamped, the share of employees with a tenure of less than one year fell from 17.9 per cent in 2022 to 16.4 per cent in 2023.
Job moves went down in all industries last year, but workers in sectors such as information and communications and administrative and support services switched posts more than others .
Around 50 per cent of workers had racked up at least five years in their current job, the survey noted, which also found that employees aged over 50 were more likely to have worked in the same firm for at least 10 years.
The ministry attributed the rise in long-staying employees to training, reskilling and policies such as the Retirement and Re-employment Act, which supports older workers who want to stay employed.
It remains to be seen if job prospects stay subdued in 2024.
The Straits Times recently reported that LinkedIn data found 86 per cent of professionals here are contemplating a new job in 2024, up 15 percentage points from 2023.
The professional networking platform based its findings on a poll in November and December 2023 of around 1,000 respondents aged 18 to 77.
Ms Betul Genc, who heads the Asean region for recruiter Adecco, said bosses have got better at retaining employees since the pandemic.
“Businesses started to broaden their focus beyond monetary compensation, considering factors like overall professional development, career progression plans, corporate culture and hybrid work arrangements,” she noted.
“This might have a positive impact on retention.”
She expects both bosses and workers to keep an eye out for opportunities in 2024. If presented with exceptional talent or promising career opportunities, she expects neither party to say no.
Amid the reversal of fortune for workers and the waves of layoffs, Mr Aslam Sardar, chief executive at the Institute for Human Resource Professionals, urged human resources officers to focus on driving productivity and keeping workers.
“Rather than focusing on replacing weaker talent, organisations could explore redesigning roles and promoting internal mobility,” he said.
“While it may seem opportune to reorganise, restructure and replace weaker talent, it is important to consider the potential impacts on employee morale, employer branding and long-term organisational health.
“The investment in employees’ learning and development remains paramount for sustained growth.”
The MOM findings also showed a decline in training hours for both those working and the unemployed, and across all age groups, which it attributed to a fall in online training.
About 43.5 per cent of workers took up training in 2023, down from 49.1 per cent in 2022. This statistic had hovered around 50 per cent since 2017.
The MOM report said Singapore’s job market remained competitive, with a high ranking among developed countries, despite a decline in employment due to economic challenges.
Efforts to narrow the wage gap had borne fruit, with the real income growth for lower-wage workers outpacing that of the median worker, while policies to promote flexible work also raised workplace participation by women.
About 12.2 per cent – a record low – of workers chose self-employment in 2023, while 87.8 per cent opted to work for others.
The trend could be explained by more job opportunities and economic uncertainties, the MOM noted.
Like the rest of the world, the poll found that Singapore employees are also working less, clocking up 41.9 hours a week, down from 45.3 hours in 2013.
However, as part-time work is less common here, they are still on the clock longer than their peers in similar high-income economies.
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/business/job-hopping-lost-bounce-in-2023-drops-back-to-2017-level
| 2024-01-31T12:23:38Z
|
blocked_url
|
SINGAPORE – The landlord of a six-storey hotel along McKenzie Road, who wanted to increase rent beyond the cap that was stated in the tenancy agreement, has lost a court fight against the hotel operator.
The landlord, Mr Hoon Kee Meng, is one of the sons of the late Mr Hoon Thing Leong, who owned the Kim San Leng chain of coffee shops and was dubbed Singapore’s “Coffee Shop King”.
Mr Hoon Kee Meng is the sole shareholder and director of Kim San Leng Realty.
He and the tenant, Dash Living, had taken each other to court after both sides failed to resolve their disagreements over how the tenancy could be renewed. The current lease ends on Jan 31, 2024.
Mr Hoon had proposed renewing the tenancy at a revised monthly rent of around $76,000.
But Dash Living said a clause in the tenancy agreement stipulated that the renewed monthly rent is to be capped at 10 per cent above the current monthly rent of $45,000.
The dispute centred on this clause, which did not specify the duration of the renewed lease.
The tenant argued that it had the right to renew the lease for two years, but Mr Hoon and his company contended that the tenancy agreement did not give Dash Living such an option.
In a judgment on Jan 30, Senior Judge Tan Siong Thye ruled in favour of the tenant.
Justice Tan found that Dash Living has a right to renew the tenancy for a period of two years at a monthly rent not more than 10 per cent above the current monthly rent, or $49,500.
The parties had signed the tenancy agreement on Dec 17, 2021.
In April 2023, the parties began discussions over renewal of the lease.
The landlord proposed to renew the lease at a revised monthly rent of around $76,000 on the basis that it had been offered that amount by a third party.
The tenant then highlighted the clause stipulating the rental cap.
The landlord rebuffed this, saying that the clause did not operate since there was no agreement on the renewal period, and therefore a new rate and term of rental had to be negotiated.
On Sept 14, 2023, the general manager of the hotel sent an e-mail to Mr Hoon, stating that the tenant will exercise its right to renew the tenancy for another two years.
Mr Hoon and his company took Dash Living to court, arguing that the tenant should vacate the premises once the lease expires.
Dash Living countered with its own court action, arguing that the landlord should renew the lease.
In his judgment, Justice Tan concluded that the parties did indeed intend for the lease to be renewed for two years.
The judge noted that Mr Hoon had told his lawyers not to state the duration of the renewed lease in the clause.
Justice Tan said this surreptitious omission suggests that the landlord intended to nullify the effect of the clause if the monthly rent goes up so that he would not be bound to lease the property to the tenant with the rental cap for another two years.
“This sinister intention of the landlord is unethical and inequitable,” said the judge.
Justice Tan also considered that before entering into the tenancy agreement, the parties had signed a letter of intent, or LOI, which expressly stated that the tenant has the option to renew the lease for a further two years.
The judge rejected Mr Hoon’s explanation that his signing of the document did not represent his acceptance of the terms, and that he only signed to trigger the timeline for the preparation of the tenancy agreement.
The judge said this explanation was “disingenuous”.
“If Mr Hoon truly did not accept the terms of the LOI, he should not and did not have to sign the LOI. Alternatively, he could have removed the period of the renewal of the tenancy agreement in the LOI before he signed,” said Justice Tan.
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/hotel-landlord-who-wanted-to-raise-rent-beyond-cap-stated-in-contract-loses-court-fight
| 2024-01-31T12:23:49Z
|
blocked_url
|
SINGAPORE - Two companies and their directors were on Jan 31 fined tens of thousands in court for food safety lapses.
Food processing firm Hai’s Roasted Meat Supplier was handed $30,000 in penalties for food safety offences while its director Luo Liang Hai was fined $7,500 for failing to stop those offences, said the Singapore Food Agency (SFA).
Licensed food importer Golden Ocean Seafood (S) was also fined $25,000 for failing to arrange for the inspection, examination and certification of its products by SFA.
It also sold imported consignments that had not been inspected, added SFA.
Its director Sakita Goichi was fined the same sum – $25,000 – for failing to prevent the offences committed.
During inspections of Hai’s Roasted Meat Supplier’s premises in January, November and December 2022, SFA officers found meat stored and cut outside the licensed area. Sauces were also being packed in the same unlicensed spot.
The floor of the chiller room and ceiling were assessed to be dirty too.
In the case of Golden Ocean Seafood, the firm had not arranged for SFA to inspect three live oyster consignments it imported from France in December 2022.
In Singapore, importers of fish products must arrange for their shipments to be inspected, examined and certified fit for consumption before they can be sold, distributed or exported. Seafood products found to be unfit for eating will be seized and disposed, added SFA.
Those who flout the requirement of inspection may be fined up to $10,000 or jailed for up to 12 months.
First-time offenders who sell uninspected and uncertified fish products may be fined up to $50,000, jailed for up to two years, or both.
Repeat offenders may be fined up to $100,000, jailed for up to three years, or both.
Food establishments should also ensure their premises are clean and well-maintained to prevent contamination of food, added SFA.
Operators who fall foul of food safety regulations may be fined up to $10,000 or jailed for up to 12 months.
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/roast-meat-and-seafood-suppliers-fined-over-20000-directors-penalised
| 2024-01-31T12:23:59Z
|
blocked_url
|
SINGAPORE – Cuesports Singapore has averted possible expulsion as a member of the Asian Confederation of Billiard Sports (ACBS) after reaching an amicable resolution with the governing body on Jan 23.
The local association has been suspended since February 2023 for hosting the 2022 World Billiards Championship and Singapore English Billiards Open without sanction from either ACBS or the International Billiards and Snooker Federation.
The ban also meant several Singapore players, including former world No. 1 Aloysius Yapp, were barred from competing in 2023 tournaments such as the Aug 28-Sept 2 Formosa Cup ACBS Asian Pool Championships and the World Pool-Billiard Association-sanctioned Maldives Open in April.
Cuesports Singapore president Christopher Chuah and vice-presidents Ivan Lim and Paul Pang reached an “amicable solution” with ACBS after meeting its officials in Jakarta on Jan 23. Chuah told The Straits Times: “Both parties proceeded on the basis that it was a misunderstanding from us on the requirements of holding the tournaments.
“ACBS understood that the decision to host the World Billiards Championship was made by the former board of Cuesports Singapore, with the current board taking over only from July 2023. We agreed that moving forward we will not hold unsanctioned tournaments and will continue to collaborate for the greater interest of the sport.”
He added that the reprieve was timely, given that an expulsion could mean a loss of its national sports association (NSA) status.
Last November, the International Sepak Takraw Federation terminated Singapore Sepak Takraw Federation’s (Perses) membership, which led to Perses losing its NSA status. The termination also meant Perses no longer qualified to be a Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) affiliate, rendering its athletes ineligible for competitions like the SEA and Asian Games.
Chuah said: “If we had got suspended again or expelled, we could be in serious problems given the potential loss of our standing as an NSA by SNOC. We are relieved and grateful this issue has been resolved.
“It has been the only blight on our record from the inception of Cuesports Singapore and its predecessors, but we will now focus again on improving our local game and raising standards here while working in line with ACBS policies and guidelines.”
In a statement on its website, ACBS said the decision will be ratified and endorsed at the annual general meeting in Doha in mid-February.
Its general secretary Michael Al-khoury said: “ACBS president Mohamed Salem Al-Nuaimi is always focused on the growth of billiard sports in the entire region.
“He is very keen that our sport flourishes in all parts of Asia. Hence, he was fully involved in resolving this long overdue matter with Cuesports Singapore. It was a top priority on the to-do list of ACBS for a long time.”
Al-khoury added: “As the only governing body of billiard sports in Asia, it is our responsibility to protect our rights and also to assist in the development of the sport in our member countries. The incident was the result of several communication errors and after clarification, the matter was resolved harmoniously.
“We now leave the past behind and move forward to support Cuesports Singapore in their future development in the region.”
For individuals like Yapp, however, there are still complications to navigate. The World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA), the international governing body for pool, and event promoter Matchroom Multi Sport Limited are still embroiled in an ongoing dispute. They had been partners for 20 years.
Yapp and other cue sports players have until March to choose between playing in either WPA or Matchroom events. Choosing the latter will mean they will lose ranking points and be barred from participating in national, continental and global competitions under the WPA.
Chuah said: “We sincerely hope that the current issues between them can also be amicably resolved.”
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/cuesports-singapore-s-suspension-by-asian-body-lifted-after-reaching-amicable-solution
| 2024-01-31T12:24:10Z
|
blocked_url
|
PARIS - The number of people estimated to be attending the opening ceremony of this year's Olympics has been reviewed and fell down to about 300,000, French Interior minister Gerald Darmanin said on Wednesday.
The opening ceremony will be a six kilometre parade along the River Seine on July 26, amid security concern as France is on high terrorism alert.
"The idea is that there will be 100,000 people on the lower quays (with paying tickets) and more than 220,000 people on the upper quays (with free tickets)," Darmanin told French TV channel France 2.
"Then there are all those who live there and who will be able to rent, have parties along the Seine."
The last time Darmanin made an estimate on the number of attendees was in May 2023, when he said up to 600,000 were expected at the opening ceremony. REUTERS
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/paris-2024-opening-ceremony-estimate-of-attendees-drops-down-to-300000
| 2024-01-31T12:24:20Z
|
blocked_url
|
BRUSSELS - The European Union is facing a dilemma over its remaining presence in Mali and the wider West African Sahel region, since it does not want to cooperate with Russia's expanding military forces, its top diplomat said on Wednesday.
The decision by junta-led Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger to withdraw from West African bloc ECOWAS has further complicated EU presence in the region, the bloc's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said ahead of a defence ministers meeting in Brussels.
"It is very significant that these three states, all of them with military dictatorships, decided to leave the regional body ... at the same time that we see the Russian influence increase," Borrell said.
"This creates a new geopolitical configuration of this area."
He added that Russia's presence was already strong in Mali and could be soon in Niger and Burkina Faso. The EU has until May 24 to decide whether or not to stay in Mali, Borrell said.
"We still have a couple of missions in Mali that have not been withdrawn, but... we don't want to cooperate with Africa Corps," he added.
Africa Corps is the name of the Russian military presence that has succeeded Wagner group, the mercenary force that deployed to Mali in 2021. Last week a contingent flew to Burkina Faso.
The democratic governments of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger were all overthrown in military coups since 2020. All face an Islamist insurgency that has killed thousands and displaced millions.
The junta-led states have distanced themselves from former colonial ruler France, kicking out its troops and turning toward Russia as an economic and security partner instead.
The EU already halted part of its training of Mali's armed forces in 2022, citing the risk of Russian interference.
It still has a training mission known as EUTM Mali and a civilian crisis management mission, EUCAP Sahel Mali.
In December, Niger's ruling junta revoked the country's military partnership with the European Union, known as EUCAP Sahel Niger. REUTERS
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/eus-top-diplomat-says-russian-influence-causing-dilemma-in-sahel
| 2024-01-31T12:24:30Z
|
blocked_url
|
PARIS/BRUSSELS - French and Belgian farmers set up dozens of blockades on highways and on access roads to a major container port on Wednesday to press governments to ease environmental rules and protect them from rising costs and cheap imports.
Protests have spread across Europe. Spanish farmers said they would join the movement, while 1,000 Italian farmers were planning to take part in rallies in Brussels on Thursday, to press EU leaders meeting in the capital to act. German and Romanian farmers with similar grievances have also taken action.
Farmers say they are not being paid enough, are choked by taxes and green rules and face unfair competition from abroad.
"If we keep on like this, the end of agriculture will mean the end of civilisation," 28-year-old Belgian farmer Adelin Desmecht said, blaming too much regulation and paperwork.
In France, long lines of tractors edged closer to Paris and its Rungis international food market, a hub for produce for France and beyond and a red line for the government, which has so far not intervened to remove the blockades.
In total, there are about 100 blockades, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said, warning protesters not to try to block airports, Rungis or the capital. BFM TV showed standoffs near the Loire river, with tractors stopped by police from getting closer to Paris.
In Belgium, farmers blocked access roads to the Zeebrugge container port. One of the protest organisers, Bruno, who had briefly gone back home to tend to his cows, said more than 100 tractors were taking part in the blockade. A major highway in Belgium was also blocked, according to local media.
French farmers have already won several concessions, including the government dropping plans to gradually reduce subsidies on agricultural diesel.
On Wednesday, European Commissioners proposed limiting agricultural imports from Ukraine and greater flexibility on rules on fallow land in a bid to quell protests.
Imports from Ukraine, on which the EU has waived quotas and duties since Russia's February 2022 invasion, and renewed negotiations to conclude the Mercosur trade deal with South American countries, have fanned farmers' discontent about unfair competition in sugar, grain and meat.
EU farmers must normally meet certain conditions including devoting 4% of farmland to "non-productive" areas where nature can recover, though there is already a temporary exemption in response to the Ukraine war and food security concerns.
GROWING DISCONTENT
The protests across Europe come ahead of European Parliament elections in June in which the far right, for whom farmers represent a growing constituency, is seen making gains.
In Italy, farmers have blocked traffic with hundreds of tractors near motorway access points near Milan, in Tuscany and elsewhere in recent days.
Farmers' lobby Coldiretti said in a statement that more than 1,000 of its members would travel to Brussels to take part in a demonstration on Thursday outside the European Parliament.
While a deal looks possible on fallow land, the question of talks on a major trade deal with the Mercosur group is more contentious.
French Finance Minister Le Maire repeated on Wednesday that Paris does not want the deal to be signed as it is now, due to a lack of guarantees that imported products would have to meet EU rules. But the European Commission has said it was still aiming to conclude a free trade agreement with the South American bloc.
Le Maire also said in an interview with French radio CNews/Europe 1 that he would step up checks on big French and European retailers to ensure they pay French farmers fairly under a law designed to safeguard farm-gate prices.
In another step to try to subdue farmer anger, the agriculture ministry announced 230 million euros in additional aid for French wine producers, who have been squeezed by declining consumption.
The authorities already offered subsidies last year to distil surplus wine stocks into industrial alcohol and to let Bordeaux producers pull up some of their vines. REUTERS
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/farmers-in-europe-step-up-protests-against-rising-costs-green-rules
| 2024-01-31T12:24:41Z
|
blocked_url
|
WASHINGTON - The chief executives of social media companies Meta, X, TikTok, Snap, and Discord will face tough questions Wednesday on efforts to combat online child sexual exploitation at a U.S. Senate hearing on Wednesday.
Senator Dick Durbin, the Judiciary Committee's Democratic chairman, said some tech firms had made some recent changes to protect children from online predators but had not done enough. "It's clear that we need legislation because the tech industry has failed on its own to protect our kids. They're protecting their profits, but they're not protecting our children," Durbin said Tuesday.
It will be the first appearance by TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew before U.S. lawmakers since March when the Chinese-owned short video app company faced harsh questions, including some suggesting the app was damaging children's mental health.
"We make careful product design choices to help make our app inhospitable to those seeking to harm teens," Chew's written testimony says, adding TikTok's community guidelines strictly prohibit anything that puts "teenagers at risk of exploitation or other harm -- and we vigorously enforce them."
Chew disclosed more than 170 million Americans used TikTok monthly -- 20 million more than the company said last year.Durbin said the platforms are being used by offenders to target children or trade child sexual abuse material.
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, X CEO Linda Yaccarino, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel and Discord CEO Jason Citron will testify.
"We’re committed to protecting young people from abuse on our services, but this is an ongoing challenge," Zuckerberg's written testimony says. "As we improve defenses in one area, criminals shift their tactics, and we have to come up with new responses."
Speigel said Snap's parental controls resemble "how we believe parents monitor their teens activity in the real world – where parents want to know who their teens are spending time with but don’t need to listen in on every private conversation."
The committee last year approved several bills including one that would remove tech firms' immunity from civil and criminal liability under child sexual abuse material laws that was first proposed in 2020. None have become law.
Senator Amy Klobuchar told Reuters it is time for legislative action. "For too long social media companies have turned a blind eye when young children joined the platforms, increased the risk of sexual exploitation, used algorithms that push harmful content, and provided a venue for dealers to sell deadly drugs like fentanyl,” she said. REUTERS
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/world/meta-tiktok-x-ceos-to-face-tough-questions-on-child-safety-at-us-senate-hearing
| 2024-01-31T12:24:51Z
|
blocked_url
|
LONDON - The European Union is working on its military mission to secure merchant shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
And, as is often the case with the EU, the effort comes late.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Read the full story and more at $9.90/month
Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month
ST One Digital
$9.90/month
No contract
ST app access on 1 mobile device
Unlock these benefits
All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com
Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device
E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/eu-naval-mission-to-secure-merchant-shipping-in-red-sea-gulf-of-aden-is-too-little-too-late
| 2024-01-31T12:25:02Z
|
blocked_url
|
HAMBURG – Attacks on cargo vessels in the Red Sea by Yemen-based Houthi rebels are unlikely to end soon, forcing shipping companies to avoid the route through the Suez Canal, the head of Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd told reporters on Jan 31.
“We don’t think it will be over the day after tomorrow,” chief executive Rolf Habben Jansen said at a news briefing in Hamburg. “Whether it’ll be one, three or five months, I don’t know.”
A political deal and a mission to protect freight vessels might bring a resolution within six months, he added.
Hapag-Lloyd, the world’s fifth biggest container liner, has joined other shippers in taking longer, costlier journeys around Africa, after one of its ships was attacked on Dec 15.
It was important that the European Union actively supported a multinational naval coalition to protect commercial traffic in the region, Mr Habben Jansen said.
Rerouting cargo ships around Africa adds two to three more weeks to the journey. This results in a drop of 150,000 standard containers (20-foot equivalent unit or TEU) being transported in December compared with original expectations, he said.
Hapag-Lloyd transports roughly one million TEU per month on its 264-strong fleet.
Mitigations have included buying more containers, adding 125,000 in TEU capacity at a cost of US$350 million (S$469 million), it said.
But using more ships to meet demand on time, and running those faster on more fuel, involved higher costs for customers.
On Jan 30, Hapag-Lloyd reported earnings before interest and tax for 2023 of €2.5 billion (S$3.6 billion), a fraction of 2022’s €17.5 billion.
It cited lower freight rates as global supply chains normalised following the pandemic. REUTERS
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/red-sea-shipping-crisis-unlikely-to-end-soon-hapag-lloyd-ceo-says
| 2024-01-31T12:25:12Z
|
blocked_url
|
Savannah Guthrie is getting to grips with the technical challenges of social media as she promotes her new book.
While she's delighted fans by finally figuring out how to post an Instagram Live, they're not so happy with the way she looks.
In her latest video, Savannah, 52, appears to have used a filter to smooth out her complexion, and although she looks as lovely as ever, her followers don't think she needs to alter her appearance.
Savannah explained her social media fail in the clip above, confessing her first 'live' did not go to plan but she hoped to deliver one on a weekly basis in the run up to the release date for Mostly What God Does.
The Today host and author wore a bright, red dress and accessorized with gold necklaces. She'd also added a filter to surround her with red and pink hearts.
Savannah wrote: "This week’s instagram live (attempt #2): three weeks until release of Mostly What God Does! Come for the latest book tour (where we sold out and where tickets are still available!!), stay for the dental metaphors as spiritual wisdom ;) + bonus quote from Richard Rohr. Still not quoting myself!! #MWGD #mostlywhatgoddoes. Link to preorder and tour in bio."
Fans were excited for her new book but urged her to show off her natural beauty.
"Turn off the filter, Savannah. You are beautiful and it hurts the rest of us," wrote one, while a second added: "I agree! You don’t need filters! It looks so fake," while a third quipped: "You look beautiful in red. You don't need the filter though."
The book has created a whirlwind of excitement for not just Savannah and her family but for her Today co-stars too.
Savannah has enlisted the help of her colleagues including Jenna Bush Hager, Hoda Kotb, Craig Melvin and Carson Daly, on her tour to promote the publication after the book's release.
Mostly What God Does is described by Amazon as being "centered on the essentials of God's love, a love that is needed now more than ever. Savannah Guthrie turns her journalistic eye toward the power of faith in everyday life."
The Christian literature will share reflections on faith and life and aims to be an inspiring read.
She has been vocal about her beliefs in an essay for Today which was adapted from a speech she gave at a Catholic luncheon, she said: "Motherhood and faith go together," she wrote. "I couldn’t do one without the other. You need faith to get through motherhood. Wine helps. But faith is crucial."
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.
|
https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/512431/today-savannah-guthrie-52-urged-to-ditch-the-filtes-let-true-beauty-shine-through/
| 2024-01-31T12:54:08Z
|
blocked_url
|
Whenever Princess Sofia of Sweden steps out, we know we're going to receive a fashion masterclass in royal dressing.
On Tuesday, Sofia and Prince Carl Phillip joined Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel to attend a state banquet hosted by King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia, in honour of President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron of France.
The Swedish royal stunned in a custom blush champagne gown designed by Swedish designer Lars Wallin.
The dress featured elegant gathered material at the hip, flattering ruching across the body and long mesh sleeves. Her dress perfectly demonstrated how to add an air of modernity to a look that is still royally appropriate for the most exclusive of events.
Mesh dressing has been a huge trend over the last few years with A-listers and influencers alike both on and off the red carpet, but Sofia's dress nailed incorporating the trend in a subtle way to make a formal occasion outfit chic yet fashion-forward.
Not only was her dress a win for modern royal dressing, but her clutch bag of choice from Christian Louboutin was also bang on trend.
She wore 'Vanite' clutch - a silver metal suede bag adorned with crystal spikes. Diamante embellishments have had a major moment this winter - from mini dresses to bags to ballet flats, and Sofia's statement bag amped up the cool-girl glamour of her impeccable ensemble.
She paired the look with ivory stilettos from Charlotte Olympia and the tiara she received from King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia as a gift when she married Prince Carl Philip in 2015. For her wedding day the tiara was topped with emeralds, but she has since had it altered and replaced with pearls.
Her special occasion outfits are the gift that keeps on giving.
|
https://www.hellomagazine.com/hfm/fashion-trends/512429/princess-sofia-dazzling-gown-french-state-visit/
| 2024-01-31T12:54:14Z
|
blocked_url
|
The Princess of Wales has a close-knit relationship with her family, with Kate's parents Carole and Michael Middleton residing at the family home in Bucklebury – a short drive from the Waleses in Windsor.
Since their daughter began dating Prince William after meeting at university, the Middletons have remained respectful and have rarely given interviews about their royal connections.
Carole has shared some sweet anecdotes about being a grandmother to William and Kate's three children, including that they each get to decorate their own Christmas trees during the festive period.
Michael also enjoyed a father-daughter day out at Wimbledon with Kate in 2021.
Meanwhile, Kate is incredibly close to her younger siblings, having shared a flat in Chelsea with her sister Pippa Middleton before Kate's marriage to William.
The Princess's brother and entrepreneur James Middleton has also revealed how supportive his big sisters were when he was struggling with depression, telling of how Kate and Pippa attended therapy with him.
Here's everything you need to know about the Middleton family.
Carole Middleton
Born to Ronald and Dorothy Goldsmith on 31 January 1955 in Perivale, London, Carole grew up and was educated in Southall. She has a younger brother, IT recruitment consultant Gary Goldsmith.
After her A-Levels, Carole worked as a shop assistant for John Lewis before getting a job as a flight attendant at British Airways (BA), where she met flight dispatcher and her future husband, Michael Middleton.
Carole and Michael married in 1980 in a low-key ceremony, with Carole later revealing to The Telegraph: "I found the venue, organised the wedding breakfast, the bonfire and chilli con carne in the evening."
The bride wore an off-the-shoulder boho-style wedding dress, which she later lent to her daughter-in-law Alizee Thevenet for her nuptials to James in September 2021.
Carole and Michael welcomed eldest daughter and future royal Catherine two years later on 9 January 1982. Their second daughter Pippa arrived in 1983, followed by son James in 1987.
The Middletons lived in Amman, Jordan from 1984 to 1986, where Michael worked as a manager for BA.
Carole founded her party supplies business, Party Pieces, in 1987, with all three children helping out at the company through the years.
But Party Pieces was sold to entrepreneur James Sinclair in June 2023, after falling into administration.
Michael Middleton
Michael Francis Middleton was born on 23 June 1949 to Captain Peter Middleton and Valerie Middleton (née Glassborow) in Leeds. His father served as a RAF pilot during the Second World War and even flew alongside the late Duke of Edinburgh as a co-pilot on a two-month flying tour of South Africa in 1962.
His mother Valerie was a VAD nurse and code-breaker during the Second World War.
Michael's ancestry has connections to the aristocracy, with his grandfather Richard Noel Middleton and his wife Olive, moving in royal circles in the 1920s.
Following in his family footsteps, Michael attended Clifton College in Bristol and later attended the University of Surrey.
He began working at British Airways in the 1970s, where he met his future wife Carole. He later helped Carole to run the family business, Party Pieces, in 1989.
Pippa Middleton
Philippa Charlotte Middleton was born on 6 September 1983 at Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading.
Like her older sister Kate, Pippa was educated at St Andrew's School in Pangbourne, before moving to Downe House School and then Marlborough College.
She graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a degree in English Literature and in 2022, she earned her postgraduate master's degree in Physical Education, Sport and Physical Literacy from University of Wales Trinity Saint David.
Pippa briefly worked in public relations and wrote a fitness and wellbeing column for Waitrose's magazine. She also penned a book, Celebrate, a one-stop guide to entertaining, in 2012.
Like her sister Kate, she shares a passion for sport and has taken on a number of challenges, including a 3,000-mile cycling race across America, the Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swimming Race - a 6.5 km swimming competition in Istanbul and a 47-mile swim-run competition in Sweden.
She almost stole the show for her figure-hugging bridesmaid dress at William and Kate's wedding in 2011.
In May 2017, she married hedge fund manager James Matthews – older brother of Made In Chelsea star, Spencer Matthews.
After Pippa acted as Kate's maid of honour on her big day to Prince William in 2011, Kate got to return the favour and was pictured adjusting her little sister's veil as she arrived at the church on her wedding day. Prince George and Princess Charlotte had starring roles in the bridal party.
Since then, Pippa and James have become parents to three children – Arthur, Grace and Rose.
James Middleton
James William Middleton arrived on 15 April 1987 at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading. Like his older sisters, he was educated at St Andrew's School and Marlborough College.
After dropping out of university, James founded his own cake-making business as well as a mail-order personalised marshmallow company, boomf.
As well as being a mental health advocate, James credited his late dog Ella, who passed away in 2023, with helping him through his depression.
The entrepreneur regularly shares updates about his brood of dogs on his personal Instagram account and in 2020 he launched Ella & Co, a mail order dog food company that offers freeze-dried, raw, organic dog food.
James began dating French financial analyst Alizee Thevenet in 2018, later telling The Telegraph that he had his late dog Ella to thank for him meeting his future wife at the South Kensington Club in Chelsea.
He wrote: "Ella was lying at my feet under the table; realising she might want some water, I trusted her to take herself over to the water bowl across the terrace.
"However, she made a beeline for Alizée. Rather embarrassed, I went over to apologise and bring Ella back," he explained. "But Alizée thought I was the waiter and ordered her drink while continuing to stroke Ella, who at this point was on her back lapping up the attention.
"Little did I know, but I had just met my future wife, all thanks to Ella. If I hadn't trusted Ella, I wouldn't have brought her to the South Kensington Club and she wouldn't have been able to say hi to the woman who became my fiancée."
James and Alizee tied the knot in Bormes-les-Mimosas in 2021, having previously postponed their wedding twice due to the pandemic.
The couple welcomed a son, Inigo, in October 2023.
|
https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/512409/kate-middleton-family-carole-michael-middleton/
| 2024-01-31T12:54:20Z
|
blocked_url
|
Creating and managing a website's content has never been more intuitive, efficient, and aligned with your brand's voice and identity. Whether you're a small business owner, a digital agency, or a marketing team, SiteForge helps you create SEO optimized sites.
"I'm eager to hear your thoughts and feedback.
What features do you want to see (ie, more rich content outputs like wireframes)?
How do you feel about pricing?
Quality of generations?
Is there any features or product experiences you want improved?"
|
https://www.producthunt.com/posts/siteforge-io-seo
| 2024-01-31T13:04:00Z
|
blocked_url
|
Kylie Minogue looked knock-out when she made an appearance at the 2024 BMG pre-Grammy party at Bar Lis in Los Angeles on Tuesday night.
The 'Padam Padam' singer, 55, was seen wearing a sensational black mini dress with a thigh-split that had large diamantés up the side. The garment was strapless and adorned with a feathered trim along the neckline in a light green shade.
A bronzed Kylie styled the fabulous LBD with a pair of rhinestone-adorned strappy heels and she kept jewellery simple so as not to overpower the showstopping dress by simply opting for a single silver ring and silver earrings which were hidden amongst her mermaid waves.
The 'Can't Get You Out Of My Head' singer sported a classic but elegant makeup look. A warm-toned brown eyeshadow had been blended around her eye and a black winged liner was added for definition. A peachy pink lip with a darker 90s lipliner tied the look together seamlessly.
Kylie has built a career on not her back catalogue of catchy songs, but her array of dazzling outfits. The 'Spinning Around' songstress shared a video with her 2.9 million Instagram followers during her Vegas residency captioned: "Pre-show love with these amazing wonders. Making music and memories with this team is a dream. We’re on a #VEGASHIGH."
She stunned in a golden sparkling one-shoulder mini dress with a tasselled skirt and matching over-the-knee boots for an incredible look that could have been spotted from Mars.
The hitmaker also caught the eyes of her fans when she posted a stunning backstage shot where she rocked a killer skin-tight catsuit with a Bardot neckline that was covered in a black and red leopard print and dipped in glitter.
Kylie upped the ante on the makeup front, ditching her subtle winged liner and nude lip for a glamorous red lip to match her red manicure and a grungy grey smokey eye with her trademark glitter finish.
We also can't get her breathtaking red latex look from her Vegas residency out of our heads. The high-shine co-ord with the cut-out at the neckline was paired with a pair of killer red stilettos and a low-rise belt aptly adorned with the word 'Vegas'.
Kylie's post-show attire brings a totally different energy. She has been spotted wearing a classic white robe whilst unwinding in her dressing room surrounded by her own Kylie Minogue line of wines chilling on ice.
On a separate occasion, she had ditched her cinching stagewear in favour of slouchy black joggers and a coordinating black tee – a classic off-duty aesthetic. Though Kylie rocked the casual look she was clearly not quite ready to say goodbye to her incredible stage makeup as she was seen relaxing in her red lipstick and rhinestone-embellished eye makeup.
DISCOVER: Kylie Minogue looks ageless in show-stopping mini dress and incredible leather boots
The former Neighbours actress loves a mini dress. She opted for a modern take when she sported a black and white chevron print number with a black suit tie and black stockings.
|
https://www.hellomagazine.com/fashion/celebrity-style/512428/kylie-minogue-dazzles-glittering-feathered-mini-dress-pre-grammy-party/
| 2024-01-31T13:29:12Z
|
blocked_url
|
The Prince and Princess of Wales reportedly wanted to leave the 'goldfish bowl' of London in favour of the private countryside when they moved to Adelaide Cottage in September 2022, but it also has the added advantage of allowing Kate the space to recover from her abdominal surgery away from the watchful eyes of the world.
The couple and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, previously lived in Apartment 1A in Kensington Palace, along with a 50-strong team of staff including secretaries, press officers and security. With their new four-bedroom home no longer offering space for live-in staff, how have they ensured their family has adequate security?
The Waleses' home is located on the Windsor Home Park estate in Berkshire, not far from Windsor Castle, which means it is not only hidden but also set behind a special gatehouse and multiple security gates where their security team can monitor visitors. "There are seven gated entrances and exits to Windsor Castle," according to the Daily Mail.
Inside Adelaide Cottage
Built in 1831 for Queen Adelaide Consort and King William IV, the property was made using building materials from the Royal Lodge, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson's current home. It sits on 655 acres of land and while many snaps have shown its white exterior, some photos give the appearance that it has been painted a pastel pink.
The inside of the home has remained top secret, but William did allow fans to see a small glimpse inside during a video call, revealing an Apple Mac desktop sitting on a table with a glass cabinet full of beautiful chinaware and ornaments in the background. Take a peek inside…
The bedroom has been described by The Sun as featuring golden dolphins and ceiling rope decorations recycled from a 19th-century royal yacht, creating an interesting nautical-inspired theme.
A historic painting of the garden reveals what a botanical haven it once was, showing that it used to have an outdoor fountain and circular flowerbeds. Of course, we cannot know if it has changed since, but judging by what we've seen of royal gardens, we bet it is pretty beautiful.
Royal security
According to Catherine Grayson, home insurance expert at A-Plan Insurance, homes across the country tend to be more at risk of burglaries during the summer.
"The summer months provide more opportunity for thieves, as homeowners leave their properties vacant when heading off on holiday. Even for people staying at home, there’s an increased chance that thieves will take advantage of any windows left open in the heat," she said. Despite visitors going through several checks before even entering the grounds of royal residences, we imagine the royals are much more stringent with their security measures!
Prince William's brother Prince Harry also has dedicated security at his private home in the US, but the difference is that it is funded by Harry out of his own pocket as he is no longer a senior royal.
It was Harry's wife Meghan Markle's interview with The Cut which revealed they have an in-person security team. Journalist Allison P. Davies accompanied the Duchess on the school run, and it was divulged that the family had extra security on hand.
"At a stoplight, she reaches into the trunk and produces a brand-new black backpack and hands it to her security detail to give to an unhoused man on the corner," the writer said.
Meanwhile, the King's level of safety is unparalleled. King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla's countryside bolthole, Highgrove House, has a whole host of hidden security measures to keep the monarch safe, including a panic room, a no-fly zone and special laws that apply to the grounds.
There has been a lot of fierce speculation about what could be stored in the safe panic room space, anything from food to possible blood supplies that match the blood groups of Charles and Camilla!
LOOK: King Charles's botanical sanctuary at 'favourite' private residence is a post-operation haven
|
https://www.hellomagazine.com/homes/512430/princess-kate-fortress-style-security-features-private-home-with-three-kids/
| 2024-01-31T13:29:18Z
|
blocked_url
|
Despite the common view that corruption is the primary problem in Ukraine, European anti-corruption experts argue that this issue is significantly overstated. The exaggerated perception of corruption in Ukraine is largely due to its constant emphasis in media and public discussions.
In comparison to European countries, where corruption might not be as prominently highlighted, the continuous spotlight on this issue in Ukraine disproportionately intensifies the public’s perception of its severity.
This perspective was presented during the teleconference “Kyiv – Brussels,” organized by the European Union Anti-Corruption Initiative (EUACI) in collaboration with the Ukrainian media outlet European Pravda and the Brussels-based center CEPS, focused on the theme “Fighting Corruption: Ukraine’s Path to the EU.”
The roundtable included approximately 15 experts based in Brussels and Kyiv, comprising officials from the EU, national administrations of member states and Ukraine, representatives of international organizations, the private sector, civil society organizations, and experts from think tanks and academia.
Key topics discussed were Ukraine’s readiness in terms of anti-corruption and rule-of-law for EU membership, the current state of fighting corruption within the EU, and the best practices of EU member states in addressing corruption.
According to the international corruption perception index from Transparency International, Ukraine is one of the most corrupt countries in the region. However, this indicator does not necessarily reflect the actual state of affairs.
“The corruption perception index does not necessarily provide an accurate picture of the level of corruption. Perception is also shaped by the influence of media and social networks. In Ukraine, where there are free and critical media, cases of corruption occupy a prominent place in the information space compared to many other countries. Perhaps that is why the measurement of perception creates the impression that the level of corruption is higher than it actually is,” explains Allan Pagh Kristensen, head of the EU Anti-Corruption Initiative.
Sergiy Sydorenko, the editor of European Pravda, who moderated the video conference from Kyiv, notes that Ukraine’s successes in combating corruption were widely acknowledged by the experts.
“Ukraine is already ahead of the EU in many respects,” said Roland Papp, a Senior Policy Officer specializing in Illicit Financial Flows at Transparency International EU.
In particular, Ukraine has satisfied all seven of the anti-corruption prerequisites established by the European Union for starting accession negotiations.
This achievement is evidenced by the Verkhovna Rada passing the latest legislative requirements with a constitutional majority, followed by immediate presidential approval. The accomplishment is also recognized by Ukrainian anti-corruption activists, who are typically critical of the government’s actions, Sydorenko notes.
Ukraine passes anti-corruption laws to advance EU integration
However, the perception of corruption among Ukrainians paints a significantly worse picture. Even those who have not encountered corruption in recent years may say in surveys that they definitely know about the ‘total corruption’ in Ukraine, says Sydorenko.
“We have a paradoxical situation,” says Olena Halushka, a board member of Ukraine’s Anti-Corruption Action Centre. “When NABU (National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine) and SAP (Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office) show good results and detain someone, it is often perceived not as a positive sign – ‘the anti-corruption infrastructure is working well,’ but as a confirmation of worry – like, ‘oh my God, look how much corruption there is in Ukraine, how can one work here?'”
The lack of trust among Ukrainians in state institutions can be traced back to the traumatic experiences under the totalitarian Soviet regime. In the Soviet Union, unlike democratic systems, state institutions didn’t serve the interests of the citizens; therefore, for an average Soviet citizen, survival often entailed finding ways to circumvent the restrictive state policies. As a result, after 70 years of living under the totalitarian regime, the concept of the state as a beneficial entity is not fully ingrained, particularly among the older generations of Ukrainians.
The experts participating in the video conference agree that Ukraine has no other option but to continue fighting corruption until there is societal trust in the work of NABU and SAP as well as in the verdicts for corruption-related cases.
While arrests play a role in corruption prevention, the true key to effectively combating corruption lies in establishing a robust and efficient state system. Therefore, Ukraine should not focus to much on high-profile arrests. This view was expressed by Alina Mungiu-Pippidi, a Romanian and European expert in anti-corruption, known for her involvement in Romania’s anti-corruption “miracle” that led to the arrest of top corrupt officials, including a prime minister.
Mungiu-Pippidi highlighted the challenges of building an anti-corruption system through verdicts. If the judicial system is part of the problem with corruption, it can’t be part of the solution. She suggests a long-term commitment to judicial reform and using non-judicial (but legal) methods to combat corruption, like administrative measures, which might be more effective than lengthy criminal processes.
“Primarily use administrative, not criminal, levers. How many people have you seen lose their jobs due to suspicion of corruption? Dismissal is a simple step that doesn’t require a lengthy criminal process,” suggested Mungiu-Pippidi. “This can be more effective than finding someone who conducted corrupt procurement and then spending four, five or six years to put them behind bars.”
Mungiu-Pippidi also criticizes the EU for measuring Ukraine’s success by the number of anti-corruption verdicts against significant political figures, warning against the negative consequences of such an approach, like the practice of selective persecution.
“Instead of genuinely fighting the causes of corruption, such arrests help establish a practice of selective prosecution. Perhaps with the ‘good guys’ in power, you manage to arrest a prime minister – but then the people in power may change,” she explained.
“Ukraine is doing everything to strengthen the fight against corruption,” EU official says
The criteria used to assess corruption, which focus on the perception of corruption rather than the actual state of corruption, have been criticized. Still, Transparency International does not intend to revise the methodology of their research. “The reality is that this is still the best indicator we have,” says Allan Pagh Kristensen.
“The Corruption Perceptions Index does not reflect reality – but it will be used, including by investors, because there is no alternative,” agrees Zydrunas Bartkus, former head of the Lithuanian Special Investigation Service (analogous to NABU).
Altering the perception of corruption in Ukraine hinges on two pivotal factors:
- fostering a deeper trust in the state among Ukrainians;
- persistently carrying out anti-corruption measures.
Why Ukraine’s wartime anti-corruption quest gives ground for cautious optimism
“Sometimes it may seem to you that the course is shorter, that the finish is close, but no, it is 42 kilometers, and you have to think about the perspective… After all, in this marathon, you are now somewhere in the first 10 kilometers,” says Asier Santillan Luzuriaga, diplomat of the EU Representation in Ukraine, head of the specialized department dealing with issues of the rule of law in Ukraine.
The good news is that Ukraine is moving fast.
“In a marathon, it is important not only how much time you have left, but also how fast you run. In recent months, Ukraine has been running quite fast. We can see this by the growing number of open criminal cases, by the growing number of sentences. Ukraine adopts important political and legislative decision,” Kristensen points out.
Iryna Shyba, deputy head of EUACI believes that accession to the EU is definitely not the finish line of this “race”. “After all, there is not a single country in the EU that has completely gotten rid of corruption,” she adds.
Related:
- Poll: Corruption still major concern for Ukrainians despite war
- Ukraine’s key anticorruption body finally gets a chief
- National Anti-Corruption Bureau, News from Ukraine
- Anti-Corruption Court, News from Ukraine
- How can Ukraine make anti-corruption institutions more
- Wartime anti-corruption quest in Ukraine
- Ukraine passes anti-corruption laws to advance EU
|
https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/31/corruption-problem-in-ukraine-is-exaggerated-european-experts-assert/
| 2024-01-31T13:32:51Z
|
blocked_url
|
An explosion rocked the Nevsky Mazut oil refinery in the Baltic Sea port of St. Petersburg, Russia early on 31 January, according to Russian Telegram channels and local authorities. Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) was behind the attack, according to Ukrainska Pravda’s intelligence sources.
Russian outlets such as Fontanka claim a Ukrainian drone struck oil tanks at the facility around 4:50 a.m. local time, additionally damaging some cars. Earlier air traffic restrictions were imposed at Pulkovo Airport between 3:53 a.m. and 5:11 a.m. due to the presence of an unknown object in the area’s airspace. According to Ukrainska Pravda’s HUR source, Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile systems tried to shoot down an incoming drone but failed. The oil refinery is approximately 850 km from the Ukrainian border.
St. Petersburg Governor Beglov claims no casualties or significant property damage from the incident, while local media outlets are reporting fires at oil storage tanks.
Previously, Ukraine successfully attacked one of the largest St. Petersburg oil depots with an indigenous drone on 18 January. The recent events continue a series of strikes across the Russian oil facilities in the Krasnodar, Leningrad, Tambov, and Bryansk oblasts, disrupting Russian logistics and industrial operations.
Media: Ukrainian drones strike oil depot in Saint Petersburg
Russian oil infrastructure in the Baltic Sea ports is crucial to the country’s oil exports, responsible for nearly 60% of the sea-transported international oil shipments. According to Bloomberg, Russia’s net oil revenues of $11.3 billion in October 2023 accounted for 31% of the nation’s overall net budget revenue for the month.
The attacks aim to deprive the Kremlin of the revenue it uses to finance the war. Another goal of such Ukrainian attacks is to incapacitate essential infrastructure involved in the war effort, as Russian refineries are actively providing their products to meet the demands of their military forces.
Read more:
|
https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/31/explosion-rocks-st-petersburg-oil-refinery-in-reported-ukraine-intels-attack/
| 2024-01-31T13:33:31Z
|
blocked_url
|
Late on 30 January, Pentagon spokesman Patrick Ryder confirmed that Ukraine would receive the ground-launched bombs (GLSDB) from the US. However, he explicitly stated that he would not confirm specific timelines. A media report indicated that Ukraine was scheduled to receive the first batch of the GLSDB on 31 January.
Referring to four unnamed sources, Politico stated that Ukraine was set to receive the first batch of Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bombs (GLSDB) on 31 January, a novel long-range weapon not yet in the US arsenal capable of hitting targets 150 km away.
“As we acknowledged last year, we will provide Ukraine with the ground-launched small-diameter bomb as part of our USAI-funded security assistance efforts. However, due to operation security reasons, we are not going to confirm specific timelines,” Ryder said at a briefing.
Politico stated that the Pentagon completed successful tests of the long-range precision bomb, and the GLSDB was set to reach the battlefield by 31 January, as reported by two US officials and sources familiar with the discussions.
When supplied, the bomb would enhance Ukraine’s long-range capabilities, used for targeting Russian logistics and Crimea targets, supplementing existing stocks, including the Storm Shadow/SCALP and US Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), as Ukraine’s munitions deplete.
The US announced an aid package containing the GLSDB in February 2023, long before Congress started to delay the approval of new funds for Ukraine in the fall of 2023.
Read also:
- Politico: Ukraine to receive first GLSDB rocket-propelled bombs with 150 km range on Jan. 31
- What long-range weapons Ukraine can get in the wake of Ramstein-18 meeting
- Reuters: US postpones supply of long-range bombs to Ukraine until 2024
- US aid package includes HIMARS launcher, possibly for GLSDB use
- Ukraine to receive Ground-launched Small Diameter Bomb missiles this winter
- US announces USD 2.175 bn worth aid for Ukraine, confirms it includes longer-range rockets
- US readies $2 billion-plus Ukraine aid package with longer-range weapons – Reuters sources
- US considers supplying 150-km range weapon to Ukraine – Reuters
|
https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/31/pentagon-confirms-glsdb-supplies-to-ukraine-avoids-confirming-timelines/
| 2024-01-31T13:34:11Z
|
blocked_url
|
On 31 January, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Ukraine managed to return home 207 captives in a POW swap with Russia. Multiple sources indicate that Ukraine exchanged them for 195 Russian prisoners of war.
“Our guys are at home. 207 guys. We keep returning them no matter what. We remember each and every one of them in captivity. Soldiers and civilians. We have to return everyone. We are working on it,” Zelenskyy’s message on the Telegram messenger reads.
The President’s Office reported that among those released from Russian captivity are the “soldiers of the Armed Forces, the National Guard, the State Border Guard Service, and the National Police – privates, sergeants, and officers.”
“A lot of Mariupol defenders, soldiers who were at Azovstal, Zmiinyi Island, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Kherson, and Sumy directions,” the report reads.
It is the second large prisoner exchange after a few-month-long pause. Earlier, on 3 January, the largest POW swap since the outset of Russia’s full-scale invasion occurred, as Kyiv returned home 230 Ukrainians – 225 men and five women – from captivity, exchanging them for 248 Russians.
|
https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/31/ukraine-returns-home-207-pows-photos/
| 2024-01-31T13:34:51Z
|
blocked_url
|
The new voluntary recruiting campaign and the new law on compulsory mobilization rules are expected to provide soldiers with more help from the rear, rotations, and, most importantly, justice.
The Ukrainian government submitted the final draft of the new mobilization law to the parliament on 30 January 2024. The law will replace the previous law adopted back in the 1990s, which included an extended list of categories except from mobilization and, at the same time, didn’t provide the end term for those serving during martial law. This created a division between the frontline and the rear and led to a shortage of personnel as the war dragged on.
Why is full-scale mobilization necessary?
“No great war has ever been won by so-called volunteers alone,” explains Yevhen Dykyi, Ukrainian scientist leading the National Antarctic Research Center, veteran of the war, and activist advocating the new mobilization approach.
“I emphasize the word ‘so-called’ as a volunteer. Do you think we wanted to go to war? We did not want this at all, but we understood that letting the enemy here is a much worse evil than going to war. Not wanting to go to war is natural. But we must help people make an effort and make this unnatural choice. We have only two alternatives – mobilization or occupation.”
Dykyi says that from his experience, many people in the rear are ready to join the army. However, they are not doing this right now because of injustice.
On the one hand, virtually everyone around them, including them, has legal reasons to avoid the service. On the other hand, joining the army means an endless commitment without fixed end terms.
In particular, the current law allows one to be exempt from service if he has ill parents, a child or wife with a disability, or works in state institutions or so-called “critical infrastructure” even if not related to the military, teaches at schools and universities. And even if one doesn’t belong to any of these categories, he still would receive only a moderate fine for not visiting a military enlistment office upon a call in most cases. This creates favorable conditions for draft dodgers.
At the same time, leaving the service once one was mobilized bears criminal responsibility, unlike failure to visit the enlistment office upon a call.
All these factors create conditions when many civilians, even if ready to fight, are not going to the army.
On the other hand, some current servicemen feel frustrated given that they have already served two years in difficult conditions without any perspective to return home. This turns into general skepticism towards the government.
“Guys, by the way, do you believe that all of us/you will be swapped or demobilized after 36 months?”
asked a serviceman and businessman, Andriy Mochurad, who often comments about mobilization on Facebook.
The post mainly received skeptical comments, such as “If I live until that moment,” or “Hardly. Mobilization is going nowhere. Nobody will change us.”
The government proposed 36 months as a term of service during martial law, after which service members are freed from mobilization duty for two years. This norm, however, is yet to be adopted by the parliament and, first of all, requires the mobilization of enough reserves.
“Let’s be honest. In no country in the world was a large-scale mobilization ever popular,” said Dykyi. “It simply cannot be popular because going to war is against human psychology. And the percentage of those who can explain to themselves that going to war is not the worst possible evil is not that large in all nations.“
He recalls that at the early stage of the war, many enthusiastically joined the army in a dash of self-sacrifice to give others and the state time to prepare and adjust to the war reality. Dykyi describes how many Ukrainians returned from abroad in February-March 2022 to fight, including half of the researchers in Ukraine’s Antarctic research Station “Academic Vernandskyi,” whom he knew and with whom he used to work.
Two of them didn’t even wait for a regular change of personnel at the Antarctic station and, using tourist yachts passing by, abandoned the Antarctic to be in the trenches just three weeks later. Another of his friends abandoned PhD studies in Sweden, to which he was going for ten years, and returned to Ukraine to serve.
But now is another stage of the war, Dykyi emphasizes, when the system’s organization determines success. Full-scale mobilization is part of this effort.
He summarizes that the people who donned fatigues almost two years ago are physically unable to fight this war to victory. They can hold the front for a while longer and provide Ukrainians in the rear with a few more months of quiet life, but no more.
“Then they will simply run out, and if we don’t replace them before then, a horde will come,” he says. “During 2023, the Russian army was replenished with half a million contract soldiers, and after the fall of 2022, they recruited 450,000 mobiks. Recruitment in Russia continues… Our numbers should be, if not equal, then at least proportional.“
How many additional soldiers should Ukraine mobilize?
Speaking with a journalist from the German TV channel ARD in Kyiv, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine has 880,000 servicemen in the army. In turn, Russian President Vladimir Putin said 617,000 Russian troops are currently deployed in Ukraine. It is impossible to verify these numbers.
At the same time, according to Ukrainian Intelligence, Russia is currently recruiting and mobilizing nearly 1,100 troops every day, which means almost 400,000 per year. This is more than official statistics of Russian losses according to Ukraine’s General Staff, and definitely more than Ukraine is currently mobilizing.
During his press conference on 19 January 2023, Zelenskyy said that the military asked to mobilize nearly 500,000 troops. Later, Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, rejected this number, saying that the scope of mobilization depends on Ukrainian plans and enemy actions. He, however, highlighted the need for the new mobilization rules given the growing number of Russian troops and the need for reserves.
“The publicly announced number of half a million recruits for the Armed Forces is not too much. It is not enough. I don’t see in this figure either a reserve for compensating for the demobilization of those who have already served for three years, or even more reserves for creating an advantage over the enemy,” Dykyi commented.
He believes that, if mobilized steadily, half a million, e.g. 40-50,000 per month, is okay for a defensive war. It is enough to firmly hold the front, replace losses, and ensure regular rotations between the front and the rear. But no more.
“If we manage to recruit half a million in one big wave, in three to four months, to put them in the ranks of the Armed Forces in the spring, and then quietly recruit another 40-50,000 every month, then it is a different story – a story about the approach of our victory,” he believes.
Ukraine has a total mobilization reserve of nearly 4 million men. Given the current proportion of losses, this is more than enough to compete with Russia. But only If recruits are mobilized quickly enough and adequately trained.
Are Ukrainians in the rear motivated to fight?
There are cases when men are trying to flee Ukraine in an attempt to avoid mobilization despite the official ban for men to leave the country during martial law. Such mobilization dodgers are mostly being stopped on the border, although some use forged documents or even illegally swim across the Tysa River to Romania. Some sign education contracts to formally enroll in university for a second or third education or even pay a bribe for a forged disability certificate.
In total, nearly 7 million Ukrainians left the country since the war began, most of whom are women and children. Still, it is estimated that nearly 200,000 Ukrainian men of conscription age are currently in Germany. Many of them had legal grounds to leave Ukraine, according to the current mobilization law, but others were also dodgers.
The majority of Ukrainians are simply doing their job in the rear. They often say they want rules equal to all. Some also repeat populist calls that they “want to see more MPs and local governors serving,” even though such cases also exist.
Ukraine moves to plug loopholes, demand equal sacrifice in mobilization
Finally, there is still a quite significant group that joins the army voluntarily these days. Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense launched a new recruitment campaign in November 2023 in cooperation with job search services, inviting people to choose a unit and desired position voluntarily in advance instead of waiting for mobilization. Recruits sign official contracts with the best and most prestigious military units, guaranteeing they will serve only in these units.
The results were inspiring, demonstrating there are still enough motivated Ukrainians in the rear. Only in the first two months of the project more than 50,000 Ukrainians submitted their applications for various units and positions, with nine CVs for one position on average. One of the most prestigious Ukrainian job search platforms, Lobby X, received 19,907 applications for nearly 900 military positions only in November and December 2023.
The success of recruitment is also explained by the ability to join units that, in the opinion of the recruit, have excellent and responsible commanders. They don’t fear being added to some less professional units with higher losses.
In the end, mobilization is essential not only to staff the ranks of the armed forces but also to connect the rear and the front, making people in the rear work harder towards victory, either by paying taxes and contributing with donations for the military or by being mobilized to the defense industry. After the frontline stalled, people in the rear became somewhat relaxed, even though the intensity of the fighting on the front never decreased.
A successful recruitment campaign can work only in pair with regular mobilization
The new mobilization law, making mobilization inevitable for larger categories of men, can, in this way, also motivate them to participate in the recruitment campaign. Instead of waiting to be compulsively mobilized, they would prefer to choose Azov, Third assault brigade, 93rd Brigade of the Cold Ravine, or some other units that became the most popular among the recruits.
Ukraine’s third assault brigade, for example, has more recruits than available places in its ranks, and not everyone passes the training challenge.
Bot, the commander of the 1st mechanized battalion of the 3rd assault brigade, said that training is the key to successful mobilization and motivation. As soon as recruits come, they are sent for rigid training, and fear vanishes after they see they already know how to fight.
“Many are afraid to go because they don’t know anything at all. And, because they believe in the myth that there is nothing in the army, and they won’t be taught anything… But if a person wants to learn and become a specialist – they will find the way. The army provides opportunities.“
Bot also says that the contemporary culture is “ill” because it encourages people to think only about their rights, not cultivating responsibility and readiness to fulfill duty:
“We have a disease in society – everyone demands their rights. Everyone is completely focused on their rights… but there must also be responsibilities. Or how? Are we just anarchists: we got together, everyone has rights, while duties are unnecessary? Citizens must protect their state,” Bot says.
Petro, deputy battalion commander from the Avdiivka direction, also explains another simple way to help recruits overcome fear and raise their motivation. He says newcomers should be added to already combat-experienced units, where experienced soldiers will uplift their spirit and advice on practical matters. It is better than the unification of mobilized in completely new units.
“The effective method is when a newcomer gets into the personnel who have been fighting for a relatively long time. The combat environment, the guys who engage in clashes with the enemy every night, every day – this is the best school. In particular, motivational. There are, of course, those who cannot overcome their fear in any way. We try to find some practical application for them as well; for example, we instruct them to work with documents because someone also needs to do paperwork. But in most cases, it works. People adapt quite quickly,” Petro says.
There are numerous cases when Ukrainians, who initially were afraid of war, became good fighters, Dykyi also adds, recalling stories of his friends. And even under the current outdated law, mobilization continues, albeit not rapidly enough.
Although soldiers on the frontline and partially even civilians are tired of the long war, they are not ready for any concession and want to continue the fight. According to the polls, 80% of Ukrainians strongly deny any possibility of giving up territories for Russia in exchange for a ceasefire, understanding that this peace would be only a break before another war. They also believe in victory. Yet, it requires everyone’s commitment. The new rules are designed precisely to make mobilization at least a little more equal and fair.
Read more:
- The future is being decided in Ukraine: key takeaways from YES forum 2023 in Kyiv
- Ukraine passes law to enhance military readiness and veteran welfare
- Intel: Russia intensifies forced mobilization in occupied territories of Ukraine
- Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief addresses mobilization and frontline situation in briefing
- Zelenskyy: Military proposes to mobilize up to 500,000 more people
- Russian authorities seek to suppress small-scale dissent among soldiers’ wives – UK intel
- Danilov warns of possible total mobilization in Russia after 2024 presidential election
|
https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/31/we-must-help-people-make-this-unnatural-choice-ukraine-fighters-on-mobilization/
| 2024-01-31T13:35:32Z
|
blocked_url
|
A tortoise in Brazil has received a new lease of life thanks to a one-of-a-kind 3D-printed prosthesis. Filó the 25-year-old Chelonoidis carbonarius – or jabuti, as the species is known locally – had been left unable to walk following surgery to correct a severe reproductive condition, yet now zips around on wheels.
Veterinary doctor Giuliano Setem told IFLScience that he had “never had a [tortoise] patient with such a bad injury” prior to encountering Filó. Weighing 20 kilograms (44 pounds), the reptile was placed in Dr Setem’s care after developing complications from an operation to treat egg retention.
This occurs when poor diet, lack of sunlight, or other lifestyle factors disrupt a tortoise's ability to produce calcium. This, in turn, results in weak-shelled or misformed eggs that break inside the animal’s reproductive system, releasing their contents and creating the ideal conditions for bacterial infection.
When egg retention is diagnosed, vets usually carry out a routine operation to remove the eggs along with the entire reproductive system. Unfortunately for Filó, her surgery was conducted by a veterinarian who was not a reptile specialist.
After the operation, the tortoise suffered necrosis of the plastron bone, which forms the bottom of the shell and protects the abdomen. Part of the plastron then broke off, exposing the coelomic membrane.
“In addition to the loss of a portion of her shell, Filó has also developed paresis [partial paralysis] of the pelvic limbs, which has become more critical in recent months,” explained Dr Setem. “This makes it difficult for her to move around and obtain food, and she frequently becomes soiled.”
It’s currently unclear if the hind leg mobility problem was caused by nerve compression due to egg retention or “some carelessness by the surgeon during the procedure”. Regardless of the cause, Dr Setem knew that he would have to think outside the box to find a solution, and called upon the services of 3D designer Cícero Moraes.
Having previously created the world’s first 3D-printed tortoise shell, Moraes studied computerized tomography (CT) scans of Filó’s injury before designing a prosthetic that both protects the wounded region and enhances the tortoise’s mobility. Describing the contraption to IFLScience, Moraes explained that “it is a base that attaches, in a non-retentive way, to the defect caused by the surgical procedure, in order to protect the region from external elements, [and] at the same time four structures [that] come out, each with a wheel rotating, which allows Filó to walk without putting all her weight on [her] paws.”
As can be seen in the above video, Filó has been testing the limits of the device, which stands up well to everything she throws at it.
|
https://www.iflscience.com/injured-tortoise-zooms-around-on-new-wheels-thanks-to-3d-printed-prosthesis-72711
| 2024-01-31T13:54:11Z
|
blocked_url
|
Baleen whales have paired blowholes, while toothed whales have just one. This has led scientists to suspect that baleen whales, like humans and many land creatures, can use subtle differences in the strength of a scent to detect the direction it’s coming from. It’s not an easy hypothesis to test, however, given that the largest creatures on Earth don’t make great lab animals. A study reveals some baleen whales are more suited to stereo sniffing than others, offering a path for further investigation.
Whales and dolphins have paired nasal passages, but these come together as a single blowhole in species such as orcas and dolphins. When you’ve got sonar, presumably a hint of directional smelling capacity just isn’t that useful for detecting large prey.
Things are different for baleen whales, which feed on vast quantities of krill and other small prey. They require enormous quantities of food to maintain their vast body size, which requires finding their prey first. The water is wide, and random hunting seldom works.
When small animals known as zooplankton feed on the photosynthesizing organisms at the base of the ocean food chain, the phytoplankton release the gas dimethyl sulfide (DMS). Perhaps this is their way of calling for help, because sea birds are known to detect DMS to find food, sometimes from more than 20 kilometers (12 miles) away with a favorable wind.
Scientists have speculated that baleen whales may also use DMS to home in on food, since their diet is also attracted to phytoplankton. To do so, however, they would need to come to the surface, and be able to detect the direction from which the DMS comes. Attempts to test this have provided some support but have ultimately proven inconclusive.
Conor Ryan of the Scottish Association for Marine Science and colleagues reasoned that the separation of the two blowholes, known as nares, in different baleen whales might provide a clue. Widely separated eyes and ears provide better depth perception and directional hearing. Likewise, the larger the gap between nares, the better an animal can tell where a smell comes from. They also reasoned that whales that feed on surface zooplankton would benefit more from such capabilities than those baleen whales such as humpbacks that feed further up the food chain on small fish, or dive deep for their prey like gray whales.
Rather than trying to lure whales in a particular direction through the release of DMS, as others have done, the team filmed 14 whale species at sea to measure the relationship between nare separation and preferred prey.
The findings match their expectations. The closer the prey to the phytoplankton level in the food chain, the wider the whale’s nare-gap, relative to its body width. To confirm the stereo-smell hypothesis the authors propose future studies focus on whales that rely most on plankton for prey.
The study authors note this does not prove whales use DMS specifically to find patches of krill, but it does suggest that those that hunt closer to the bottom of the food chain use smell of some sort.
There’s more practical significance to the work than might first meet the eye (or nose). Just as our sounds are interfering with whales’ capacity to communicate, human-produced smells are making the ocean a more confusing place. Growth colonies on floating plastic produce DMS, and if this really is what whales are using to hunt, they’re probably at more risk of ingesting fatal quantities of plastic. It’s s already thought this is a factor in seabirds’ plastic consumption.
The study is published in Biology Letters.
|
https://www.iflscience.com/some-baleen-whales-may-smell-in-stereo-just-like-us-but-bigger-72706
| 2024-01-31T13:54:17Z
|
blocked_url
|
Observing the most energetic events in the universe is not an easy task. They are so energetic that they are excellent at penetrating matter, so the traditional approach of telescopes – mirrors and detectors – has to be adapted to catch the powerful light of X-rays and gamma rays. Now, astronomers have revealed the most accurate of a neutron star's gamma ray beam – the most accurate gamma ray image ever taken.
This breakthrough image is of the Vela Pulsar, a well-known gamma-ray source. A pulsar is a degenerate stellar object not much bigger than a city, and we are seeing it from 800 light-years away. The resolution is 40 times better than the previous best image, and it is quite incredible.
The observations were taken by a new telescope designed for gamma rays. A stack of photographic film can trace gamma rays with high precision. The films are not stopping the powerful gamma rays but being stacked one over the other, they can record the direction of the gamma rays.
To remove the interference of the atmosphere, the stack was attached to a balloon that lifted it to an altitude of 35 to 45 kilometers (22 to 28 miles). The wind was moving the balloon and the telescope around, so cameras were used to understand the motion of the system. But there was a final issue.
The pancake stack is like a long-exposure but the film itself doesn’t record the time, so the team made sure that the bottom layers of the pancake would move at a precise speed. This allowed precise measurements between the camera-recorded motions and the tracing in the pancake. The result speaks for itself: the highest-resolution gamma-ray image.
"We captured a total of several trillion tracks with an accuracy of 1/10,000 millimeters. By adding time information and combining it with attitude monitoring information, we were able to determine ‘when’ and ‘where’ the events originated with such precision that the resulting resolution was more than 40 times higher than that of conventional gamma-ray telescopes," Shigeki Aoki from Kobe University said in a statement.
The new approach can allow different and complementary approaches to gamma-ray observations, both on the ground and in space. Although it's early days, it has great potential.
"By means of scientific balloon-borne experiments, we can attempt to contribute to many areas of astrophysics, and in particular to open up gamma-ray telescopy to 'multi-messenger astronomy' where simultaneous measurements of the same event captured through different techniques are required," Aoki added.
"Based on the success of the 2018 balloon experiment these data were generated with, we will expand the observation area and time in upcoming balloon flights and are looking forward to scientific breakthroughs in the field of gamma-ray astronomy."
The study is published in The Astrophysical Journal.
|
https://www.iflscience.com/the-highest-resolution-gamma-ray-image-ever-has-been-taken-72705
| 2024-01-31T13:54:23Z
|
blocked_url
|
A new species of giant deep-sea isopod has been identified in the Bahamas after researchers with OceanX deployed traps on the seabed. A cousin of the much beloved terrestrial roly-poly pill bugs, they serve a similar ecological role in the nutrient cycle, making them a vital part of the ecosystem.
These alien-like critters have see-through bodies and big buggy eyes that help them search for prey in the gloomy depths. If you’re wondering what a roly-poly on steroids eats 600 meters (1,969 feet) below the sea, they’re partial to sea cucumbers, sponges, and nematodes, but will also scavenge any morsels that rain down from above.
The new species was discovered during a 2019 mission led by OceanX and the Cape Eleuthera Institute that deployed baited eel traps and light traps in the Exuma Sound at depths between 540 and 656 meters (1,172 and 2,152 feet). At sizes between 4 and 6 centimeters (1.5 and 2.4 inches), they’re described as large compared to other species in their genera, most of which are less than 3 centimeters (1.2 inches).
The chonky boi has been named Booralana nickorum, named after two family members of study senior author Edward Brooks. It joins two other species from the marine Cirolanidae to be discovered in the Caribbean region since 2010: Bathynomus maxeyorum and Bathynomus yucatanensis.
Its segmented body is protected by a hardened exoskeleton which is white at a push, but nearing translucent. There’s no need for flashy coloration when you live in a habitat that’s almost completely devoid of light.
You can see its guts and things," study co-author Nicholas Higgs told Live Science. According to Higgs, who is director of research and innovation at the Cape Eleuthera Institute, it was clear to the team that the new species was “definitely different from anything we've seen before" when they first observed it onboard the research vessel.
The isopod’s discovery comes as part of an OceanX mission that was focused on identifying both deep-sea and mid-water species, testing 3D models of little-known organisms, investigating the expansion and feeding state of sargassum falls (seaweed on the ocean floor), and satellite tagging bluntnose six-gill sharks at depth.
And if you get a new-to-science species of giant see-through isopod to boot? As they say, there are many benefits to being a marine biologist.
The study is published in Zootaxa.
|
https://www.iflscience.com/this-freaky-deep-sea-creature-has-been-hunting-in-the-dark-for-300-million-years-72708
| 2024-01-31T13:54:29Z
|
blocked_url
|
LUCKNOW, India - An Indian court on Wednesday ruled that Hindus can offer prayers in a 17th century mosque in the holy city of Varanasi, a lawyer for the Hindu petitioners said, days after a survey said the mosque was built after the destruction of a temple there.
The fight over claims to holy sites has divided India, which has a Hindu majority but also the world's third-largest Muslim population, since independence from British rule in 1947.
The court in Varanasi, which is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's parliamentary constituency in northern Uttar Pradesh state, said Hindus can offer prayers in the Gyanvapi Mosque.
The mosque abuts a temple of Hindu Lord Shiva and is one of the most prominent mosques that Hindu groups say was built over demolished temples.
"The judge has allowed the priest's kin to worship Hindu deities in the cellar of the Gyanvapi mosque," said Vishnu Shankar Jain, the lawyer representing Hindu petitioners.
He said last week that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had determined that the mosque had been built over a destroyed Hindu temple and that remnants of statues of Hindu gods were found in the basement of the mosque.
The ASI did not respond to a request for comment.
Akhlaq Ahmad, the lawyer representing Muslim petitioners, said the order would be appealed in a higher court.
Jain added that the court asked the district administration to make arrangements for Hindus to be able to pray there within seven days.
Hindu claims on contentious sites have been in the spotlight, with Modi this month opening a grand temple to Hindu Lord Ram in Ayodhya, built on the site of a 16th century mosque that was destroyed by a Hindu crowd in 1992 claiming it was the birthplace of the god-king.
The razing of the Ayodhya mosque led to riots across India that authorities say killed at least 2,000 people, mostly Muslims.
The consecration of the Ram temple by Modi fulfilled a 35-year-old pledge of his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party and has been portrayed by the party and its affiliates as a Hindu reawakening.
Critics accuse Modi of pushing a pro-Hindu agenda and promoting discrimination against Muslims, but he says his government does not do so.
The temple inauguration came months ahead of a national election due by May and is expected to boost Modi's chances of winning a rare third term.
Ahmad, the Muslim petitioners' lawyer, said of the court ruling on the Varanasi site: "We object to it and we will challenge the decision at the earliest in the high court." REUTERS
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/indian-court-allows-hindus-to-pray-in-varanasi-mosque-lawyer
| 2024-01-31T13:54:49Z
|
blocked_url
|
THE HAGUE – The United Nations’ top court will rule on Jan 31 whether Russia violated an anti-terrorism treaty by funding pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine, including those who shot down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in 2014.
Kyiv says Russia also violated a human rights treaty by discriminating against ethnic Tatars and Ukrainians in Crimea, the peninsula which Russia declared annexed from Ukraine in 2014.
Ukraine had asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to find Russia guilty of breaching obligations under the two UN treaties, which both countries have signed, and to order it to pay reparations.
In June 2023, in a hearing at the court in The Hague, Russia dismissed Ukraine’s allegations as fiction and “blatant lies”.
Lawyers for Moscow denied systematic human rights abuses in Ukrainian territory that it occupies and rejected the accusation that it violated the UN treaty against the financing of terrorism.
Kyiv took Russia to the UN’s highest court in 2017, before Russia’s full-scale invasion on Feb 24, 2022.
In the case, which has taken almost seven years, Russia is accused of equipping and funding pro-Russian forces, including rebels who shot down Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in July 2014, killing all 298 passengers and crew.
In November 2022, a Dutch court sentenced two Russians and a Ukrainian in absentia to life imprisonment for their role in the disaster.
In Crimea, Ukraine said Russia was trying to erase the culture of ethnic Tatars and Ukrainians.
The court’s judgments are final and without appeal, but it has no way to enforce its rulings.
A ruling finding Russia responsible for funding the pro-Russian fighters in Ukraine, could, however, boost separate cases against Russia at the European Court of Human Rights and the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
On Friday, the ICJ will rule in another case in which Ukraine has accused Moscow of falsely applying the 1948 Genocide Convention to justify its invasion. REUTERS
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/world-court-to-rule-on-whether-russia-violated-international-treaties-in-ukraine
| 2024-01-31T13:55:00Z
|
blocked_url
|
UBS Group is looking to cut about 90 jobs in Asia private wealth and investment banking in March as China’s stock market rout and a slump in dealmaking have eroded revenue, people familiar with the matter said.
The Zurich-based lender is weighing a plan to cut about 70 jobs at the private bank and 20 at its global banking division, one of the people said, asking not to be identified because the matter is confidential.
The jobs to be eliminated in the wealth division may include about 25 relationship managers and supporting roles in the investment and solutions teams, mostly in Greater China and Singapore.
The cuts are not finalised as the bank expects more voluntary departures after bonus payouts, the people said.
The scale of the retrenchment in private banking is one of the biggest seen in Asia, and comes as wealth from the Greater China region has tumbled amid a property crisis and the faltering economy.
Global banks have been cutting investment banking jobs in Asia and are slashing pay as firms seek to cut expenses amid one of the worst deal droughts ever seen.
A Hong Kong-based spokesperson declined to comment.
The bank plans to start the cuts as early as March after bonus discussions with staff this week.
The reductions would include bankers who have joined from Credit Suisse as part of the integration after the takeover by UBS, one of the people said.
The wealth management workforce is more than double the size of its nearest rival post merger.
Goldman Sachs Group, JPMorgan Chase & Co and Citigroup have already made several rounds of job cuts in Asia over the past 18 months.
Asia stock offerings outside Japan plunged 30 per cent in 2023, compared with a 45 per cent jump in the US, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
Bank of America last week cut more than 20 investment banking jobs in Hong Kong.
Outside Asia, UBS cut several senior banker jobs as the financial giant continues to reduce headcount following the takeover of Credit Suisse in 2023, according to people with knowledge of the matter.
UBS’ workforce jumped to about 120,000 when the Credit Suisse deal closed in June, and the bank has said it aims to save around US$6 billion (S$8 billion) in staff costs in the coming years. BLOOMBERG
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/business/banking/ubs-weighs-cutting-about-90-jobs-at-asia-wealth-banking-teams
| 2024-01-31T13:55:10Z
|
blocked_url
|
SINGAPORE – With a new bus stop in front of the Plantation Grange project in Tengah, administrative assistant Chan Si Hui no longer has to walk 15 minutes around a construction site to the nearest bus stop.
It now takes about five minutes for Ms Chan and her parents, both 75, to reach the new bus stop which opened on Dec 24, 2023, in front of Block 132B in Plantation Grange. From there, bus service 992 connects residents to amenities in Bukit Batok, as well as the bus interchange.
“It feels much safer than walking through the construction site for the Jurong Region MRT Line (JRL) to get to the bus stop at Plantation Acres,” said the 39-year-old, who has been living in Plantation Grange since November.
Another new bus stop directly opposite the Plantation Village Build-To-Order (BTO) project, which is served by bus service 870 that goes to Jurong Town Hall bus interchange, was also opened in December, the Housing Board said on Jan 31.
A new signalised pedestrian crossing linking residents to this bus stop was introduced on Jan 26, it added.
These stops are in addition to an existing bus stop at Block 111 of Plantation Acres, which is served by both 870 and 992.
Another Plantation Grange resident, Mr Dinesh Sailan, 37, said he does not have to worry about rain with the new bus stop as the walk between it and his home is fully sheltered.
In comparison, the path to the Plantation Acres bus stop can get muddy after it rains due to the ongoing construction for the JRL, the compliance manager added.
While sales coordinator Jeanette Goh, 36, welcomed the new bus stop, she noted that it is only served by service 992, which goes to Bukit Batok bus interchange. From there, she has to switch train lines at Jurong East MRT station to get to her workplace at Boon Lay.
“It would be good if the bus stop has a bus going directly to Jurong East,” she said.
The Tengah residents that The Straits Times spoke to also highlighted waits of up to 20 minutes for buses, particularly during non-peak periods.
Mr Chan Yuke Man, 58, said it takes about 30 to 45 minutes to travel to and from Bukit Batok bus interchange on service 992 as it passes through the Bukit Batok West estate.
“If you add the waiting time of 20 minutes, the travelling time would be about an hour,” said the stay-at-home father. He added that he hopes for more bus services going directly to the bus interchange.
Mr Dinesh said the 20-minute wait is “one of the biggest pain points” as it adds to his 1 hour and 20 minute commute to his workplace in Dhoby Ghaut in the morning.
The keys to 2,908 units – about 77.5 per cent of the 3,753 units in the first three BTO projects in Tengah – were collected by Jan 18, HDB said.
HDB also said that two vending machines selling snacks and drinks have been added to the Plantation Acres estate in January, in addition to the three machines introduced in December.
A mobile grocery providing essential items such as bread, canned food and toiletries has been serving residents three days a week since November, it added.
It will operate until the second quarter of 2024, when the supermarket in the Plantation Plaza neighbourhood centre is expected to open.
There are another 20 BTO projects still under construction in Tengah, HDB said.
From the third quarter of 2024 to the fourth quarter of 2027, about 19,100 units will be delivered progressively to flat buyers.
HDB said it will take time to build up amenities and major transport facilities in a new town like Tengah.
Residents can look forward to the same level of convenience as existing HDB towns as Tengah is progressively built, it added.
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/housing/tengah-residents-welcome-new-bus-stops-hope-for-more-bus-services-to-be-added
| 2024-01-31T13:55:20Z
|
blocked_url
|
SINGAPORE - For Ms Sarasvathi Ramasamy, how she looked was the least of her concerns after having a stroke in February 2023.
She recounted the shock of the stroke and how the psychological struggle began when her condition had stabilised in hospital.
“I began to fight it mentally. It’s just that one part of my life came to a standstill. I thought, ‘I need to survive this.’”
On top of stopping work, she “drastically” changed her diet – having oats for breakfast – gave her all in rehabilitation and saw a psychologist to help with her anxieties about recovery.
But beauty took on a new meaning for the 57-year-old after she attended a make-up workshop, held specially for stroke survivors, on Jan 31.
“Today’s session revived my spirit because I didn’t wear make-up for more than 10 months,” she said, tearing up.
“That was very important for me. Being a woman, being well-dressed and having proper care for the face brings a good impression for others.”
Ms Sarasvathi, who worked as a childcare teacher before her stroke, is still undergoing weekly active rehabilitation.
The first women-only make-up workshop by non-profit Stroke Support Station (S3) was held to help stroke survivors regain confidence through self-care.
The workshop at S3’s centre in Jurong Point, conducted by Ms Violet Chan, co-founder of coaching agency Style Atelier, saw nine participants aged 41 to 79.
Strokes lead to weakness, paralysis or coordination difficulties in the arms, making precise movements challenging.
Ms Chan taught participants techniques such as using their affected hand as a make-up palette, or to hold down the eyeshadow palette while dipping into it with the other hand.
“Emphasising the use of the affected hand during this workshop reinforces a positive and empowering message, indicating that this hand has value,” said Ms Ng Rei Na, executive director of S3.
Other options for stroke survivors include using pump dispenser products instead of those with screw caps and using smaller products for easier handling.
Ms Chan worked with S3 to design the workshop and others on dining etiquette, social media content creation, and wardrobe colour analysis to explore what colours suit participants.
These classes, which will be held in February and March, are open to all stroke survivors, male or female, with up to 15 participants per class. The next series of classes will be held in the third quarter of 2024.
Ms Chan said having such fun workshops motivates stroke survivors to take care of themselves.
“Instead of punishment, they think of coming here to have fun and be good to themselves,” she added.
Glowing in their make-up, the nine women were seen beaming and snapping pictures after the 2½-hour workshop.
The idea for the session came from Ms Suzilawati Mohamad Rais, a stroke survivor who previously worked as a paralegal in various firms.
“I was very hard on myself because I used to be really ‘on’. I was feeling so useless in a wheelchair, looking so ugly,” said the 51-year-old, who used a wheelchair for more than four years after her stroke in 2018.
But in 2022, she attended a workshop on communication and met the instructor, Ms Chan, who inspired her to learn a more valuable lesson: to love herself.
After that, she was determined to walk again. Within months of rehabilitation, she did, with the help of a walking stick. She also began hitting an inclusive gym, which has machines with adaptable features such as removable seats for wheelchair users.
She told S3 about the encounter, and the organisation approached Ms Chan to discuss a potential initiative.
Ms Suzilawati brings friends she meets at S3 to the gym. One of them is housewife Zhang Miaoyi, who was only 36 with children aged three and five when she got a stroke in 2019.
“I told her that we’re all mothers here, we need to fight for our kids and be better,” said Ms Suzilawati.
Ms Zhang, who attended the make-up workshop on Jan 31 with Ms Suzilawati, said: “This workshop makes me feel like make-up is not difficult and increased my confidence. In the future, I can complete simple make-up at home.”
Encouraging participants to practise a five-minute self-care ritual every day in the morning or at night, Ms Ng told them: “If you care for yourself, you heal in other ways.”
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/it-revived-my-spirit-stroke-survivors-get-help-with-self-care-at-new-workshop
| 2024-01-31T13:55:31Z
|
blocked_url
|
SINGAPORE - Those looking to own an electric vehicle (EV) or want to work on maintaining and repairing them now have an opportunity to have hands-on experience, with the launch of an EV training simulation centre at NTUC LearningHub’s training facility in Pioneer.
The training services provider has partnered Chinese EV manufacturer BYD to launch the new centre, which will be used in courses, including the National EV Specialist Safety (Ness) certification programme.
Ness is a national-level certification programme launched by the Land Transport Authority in May 2022 to equip the workforce to handle EVs, as Singapore pushes for their adoption. It is open to trained mechanics and anyone keen to learn about EV technology.
Launched on Jan 31, the six simulators housed in an air-conditioned training room at NTUC LearningHub’s centre in Benoi Road were developed by BYD using components from actual EVs.
These training aids take the place of presentation slides and are designed to replicate common troubleshooting issues relating to the batteries, electric motors and the communication system that links the various electric components of an EV.
One of the simulators explains the working principle of the EV’s motor and how it works with the transmission. Trainees also get to understand the motor’s components, how the parts come together and what happens when a fault occurs.
The nine-day, full-time course, with theory lessons and practical training, costs $2,000 before goods and services tax. Each class will have between 10 and 20 participants. Government agency SkillsFuture Singapore will subsidise up to 70 per cent of the course fee for eligible applicants.
Mr Tay Ee Learn, NTUC LearningHub’s chief sector skills officer, told the media at the launch that the course fee is not affected by the enhanced training set-up, and that the simulators were donated by BYD as part of the partnership. BYD Singapore declined to say how much the equipment cost.
Besides the simulators, BYD also provides an electric car on site for practical training.
While the training equipment is from BYD, Mr Chan Cher Leong, BYD Singapore’s aftersales director, said the training given is applicable to other EV brands and vehicle types, encompassing passenger cars, vans and buses.
Ness is applicable to all types and brands of EVs, including cars, trucks and buses.
Addressing guests and the media at the launch, Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment, as well as Transport, said the simulation centre will allow participants to operate in a safe and controlled environment, enabling them to “hone practical response instincts and strategies that are applicable in real life”.
She added that more than 1,000 participants have undergone training for Ness certification since the programme was launched in 2022.
NTUC LearningHub, which started offering the Ness course in March 2023, has trained more than 250 participants so far. It wants to serve 500 trainees in 2024.
Besides NTUC LearningHub, the Ness course is also available through Institute of Technical Education College West, ComfortDelGro Engineering and three polytechnics – Singapore, Ngee Ann and Republic.
Mr Gan Chee Hiong, who left his role as head of products of a company that built autonomous robots, took up the Ness course in September 2023.
The 52-year-old was surprised that there was only one auto mechanic in his cohort of 15 trainees. His other coursemates were keen on EV technology but did not work in an EV-related role.
Although his current car, a previous-generation Nissan Serena, is a hybrid and not an EV, Mr Gan said a key lesson he learnt from the course was how to disable the car’s electrical system in an emergency, so that he will not run the risk of electrocution.
The population of EVs, which includes cars, taxis, motorcycles, trucks and buses, grew 45.8 per cent to 13,262 in 2023, from 9,093 in 2022.
Right now, land transport accounts for 15 per cent of Singapore’s carbon emissions.
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/new-simulation-centre-to-boost-training-in-maintenance-of-electric-vehicles
| 2024-01-31T13:55:41Z
|
blocked_url
|
SINGAPORE - Bus and train ridership continued its recovery in 2023, rebounding to 93.5 per cent of the pre-pandemic peak. It was at 83.1 per cent in 2022.
On average, there were 7.19 million bus and train rides each day in 2023.
This is 12.6 per cent higher than the 6.39 million daily rides in 2022, but 6.5 per cent below the peak of 7.69 million rides a day in 2019.
According to figures released by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on Jan 31, there were 3.45 million daily MRT and LRT rides in 2023, a 17.6 per cent increase from 2.93 million rides in 2022.
Buses registered a more moderate rise of 8.3 per cent to 3.75 million daily rides in 2023, compared with 3.46 million in 2022.
Separately, ridership on taxis and private-hire cars also increased, albeit at a slower pace than before.
On average, there were 606,000 such point-to-point rides daily in 2023, a 4.1 per cent increase from the 582,000 rides in 2022. In 2021, there were 553,000 such rides a day.
In 2023, there were 397,000 private-hire car rides a day, up 14.4 per cent from 347,000 in 2022. Taxi ridership receded 11.1 per cent from 235,000 to 209,000 rides a day the same year.
Associate Professor Walter Theseira, head of the urban transportation programme at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, said how public transport ridership levels will stabilise in 2024 is “anyone’s guess”.
“The trajectory for public transport has been rebounding to pre-Covid levels,” he said.
“But the structure of work and the economy have shifted somewhat due to the normalisation of some levels of flexible work and also the much greater take-up of deliveries as a replacement for in-person retail and dining.”
He noted that it would be necessary to look into peak loads – passenger numbers during rush hours – and the distribution of travel to provide a more accurate projection, as these factors determine the costs needed for the public transport system to provide the capacity for high peak loads.
Transport analyst Terence Fan from the Singapore Management University said public transport ridership is still “somewhat below” what is expected, based on commuting patterns in 2019.
Assistant Professor Fan noted that there are more MRT lines operating in 2023 than in 2019, with the addition of the Thomson-East Coast Line. The third stage of the MRT line, which started operating in 2020 and is being rolled out in five stages, opened in November 2022.
But he said the decline in the number of bus rides from 4.1 million in 2019 to 3.75 million in 2023 did not correspond to an increase in MRT rides, which also fell over the same period, from 3.38 million in 2019 to 3.24 million in 2023.
“This is evidence that commuters in general are not all back at their workplace to the same extent as in 2019.
“We are close but not quite there (in terms of recovery),” he added.
The experts attributed the continued increase in private-hire car rides to lower demand for street-hail services, which are offered only by taxis, and shrinking taxi fleets.
Prof Theseira said taxis are less favoured from an investment standpoint, as they cannot be converted to private cars or rented out to private drivers, unlike private-hire vehicles.
As such, taxi fleets are shrinking, contributing to the fall in ridership, he added.
Prof Fan said that based on his calculations, point-to-point transport ridership has exceeded pre-Covid-19 levels slightly, after taking a population increase into account.
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/public-transport-ridership-hit-935-of-pre-pandemic-levels-in-2023
| 2024-01-31T13:55:52Z
|
blocked_url
|
SINGAPORE – Thirty-six workers lost their lives as a result of accidents at the workplace in 2023 – a 21.7 per cent drop from the 46 workplace deaths recorded in 2022.
For comparison, there were 37 such deaths in 2021, 30 in 2020, and 39 in 2019. The previous peak was in 2016, when 66 workers died on the job.
The improvement in workplace fatality numbers in 2023 came after a slew of measures, including tougher penalties for safety breaches, were put in place to curb a worrying spate of worker deaths in 2022.
A heightened safety period was also imposed between September 2022 and May 2023, and a multi-agency task force was formed to strengthen safety practices, especially in higher-risk sectors like construction and manufacturing.
Overall, Singapore’s workplace fatality rate in 2023 fell to 0.99 death per 100,000 workers, said Senior Minister of State for Manpower Zaqy Mohamad on Jan 31.
This is down from 1.3 deaths per 100,000 workers in 2022, he told attendees at a National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) event on workplace safety and health, held at the Devan Nair Institute for Employment and Employability in Jurong East.
It is the first time that the national workplace fatality rate has fallen below the one per 100,000 worker mark, aside from 2020.
That year, the workplace fatality rate here was 0.9 death per 100,000 workers. But this was an exception in the light of the significant disruptions to work that were caused by Covid-19.
Singapore’s goal since 2017 has been to reduce its annual workplace fatality rate to less than one death per 100,000 workers on a sustained basis before 2028.
This was a target set by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and something only the Netherlands, Sweden, Germany and Britain have consistently attained, Mr Zaqy said.
Noting that Singapore’s workplace fatality rate has more than halved over the past 10 years, he hailed the improvement made in 2023 as a significant achievement, attributing it to hard work on the ground and collaboration between employers, workers and the Government.
But he warned that it is by no means “mission accomplished” for Singapore.
“Whether we can maintain it... depends on all of us not letting up our recent efforts. This will require all of us to stay the course, remain laser-focused on our objective, and reinforce a strong and pervasive culture of workplace safety excellence.”
Proper risk assessment and management need to be in place here, and when a safety incident occurs, it must be thoroughly investigated so that the underlying causes are identified and mistakes are learnt from and avoided, he added.
“If we can do this, I am confident that we will entrench our improvement, and keep the number down over a longer period,” Mr Zaqy said, adding that unions play a critical role by advocating better working conditions, proper safety protocols and access to necessary training.
Further measures to reduce workplace accidents, including a compulsory safety course for chief executives, will kick in later in 2024.
The 2023 workplace fatality figure was released by the Ministry of Manpower on Jan 31 in response to queries from The Straits Times. It will release the full set of workplace safety and health statistics for 2023 in a few months.
At the NTUC event on Jan 31, a total of 21 unions and companies received awards for upholding high workplace safety standards.
NTUC also gave an update on its “Spot, Stop and Report” campaign, which was launched in September 2023 and focused on promoting a reporting culture where workers feel empowered to speak up about safety.
It said the campaign received a good response, citing the example of bus operator Tower Transit, which now receives feedback related to workplace safety and health three to four times each month, compared with once every three months previously.
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/workplace-deaths-in-2023-fall-by-22
| 2024-01-31T13:56:02Z
|
blocked_url
|
England lock Maro Itoje has signed a new long-term contract at Saracens, the Premiership club announced on Wednesday, and has also been offered an enhanced Elite Playing Squad contract by the Rugby Football Union.
The 29-year-old, who has 76 caps for England, has spent his entire playing career at Saracens, making 175 appearances for the club having made his debut in 2013, winning five Premiership titles and three European Champions Cups.
"Saracens is my home and I couldn't be happier to be staying here," Itoje said.
"Looking back I am very proud of what we have achieved over the last 10 years and it is the best place for me to keep progressing."
Itoje made his first appearance for England during the 2016 Six Nations, the year in which he was named European Player of the Year, and has been involved in three Six Nations championship wins.
He was on the England side which lost the 2019 Rugby World Cup final to South Africa, and played in six games at last year's World Cup where England finished in third place, and was named in Steve Borthwick's squad for this year's Six Nations.
His announcement is good news for England, as Itoje had been linked with a move to France, but will now remain available for selection unlike his former Saracens team mate Owen Farrell who recently joined Racing 92. REUTERS
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/englands-itoje-commits-future-to-saracens
| 2024-01-31T13:56:12Z
|
blocked_url
|
BERLIN - Borussia Dortmund's Jadon Sancho is doubtful for Friday's Bundesliga match at Heidenheim after missing team training for the past days with an adductor muscle problem, coach Edin Terzic said on Wednesday.
The England international joined Dortmund on loan from Manchester United earlier this month after being sidelined following a row with United boss Erik ten Hag.
He had left Dortmund after four years for Old Trafford in August 2021 but failed to hold down a regular spot and had made just three appearances this season before his move back to Germany.
"Jadon Sancho could not train with the team in the past two days because of some adductor muscle problems," Terzic told a press conference.
"It is not surprising really given his long break. We will not be taking any big risk and we will see before taking the decision whether to include him for the trip to Heidenheim."
Sancho has made an instant impact, delivering an assist on his debut, and helping his team to three consecutive wins since the restart of the season earlier in January.
Julian Brandt, Marco Reus and keeper Gregor Kobel are also doubtful, Terzic said.
"They are all improving and we will see the developments until Friday."
Dortmund's winning run in 2024 has lifted them to fourth place in the Bundesliga on 36 points, one behind VfB Stuttgart in third.
They also face PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League last 16 next month. REUTERS
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/dortmunds-sancho-doubtful-against-heidenheim-coach-terzic
| 2024-01-31T13:56:23Z
|
blocked_url
|
SAN PEDRO, Ivory Coast - Another African Cup of Nations calamity for Morocco keeps up a consistent sequence of failure in the tournament that contrasts starkly with their performance at the last World Cup.
Morocco became the first African side to reach the World Cup semi-finals some 14 months ago and went into the Cup of Nations finals as favourites.
Prior to the tournament, they had one loss in 12 games and invested heavily in their preparations, including arriving a week before kick off in the Ivory Coast to adjust to the severe heat and suffocating humidity.
But their hopes ended on Tuesday with elimination in the last 16, keeping up their poor record in the Cup of Nations, which they have won only once some 48 years ago.
They were beaten 2-0 by South Africa in another of the upset results that have characterised the tournament.
Morocco were making a 19th finals appearance but their win in 1976 remains their single tournament triumph, contrasting with six World Cup finals appearances from 1970 when Africa had limited representation.
Over the last decade, Morocco have gone into the Cup of Nations highly fancied and with many key players based at top European clubs, as well as resources that almost all African countries can only dream of.
But the Cup of Nations remains an unfathomable bogey for them, as coach Walid Regragui said.
“For us Morocco, the reality is that the Cup of Nations is always a complicated tournament,” he told Reuters.
“This is not the first time Morocco arrived as favourite and a potential winner. Before almost every finals, we are among the favourite nations for the title. But unfortunately, we have not managed to be regularly among the last four in this tournament. Our last final was in 2004.”
Morocco’s record in the knockout stage is poor. They have not got past the quarter-final stage in their last eight Cup of Nations finals, and of the 15 knockout matches they have contested at the tournament they have won four.
“We are sad for ourselves, and all the Moroccans who expected a lot from us,” added captain Romain Saiss.
“This Cup of Nations is a bit crazy, we should have done better. You have to be able to kill matches, especially when you have the opportunity. We will have to raise our heads and stop making this kind of mistake.” REUTERS
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/morocco-s-cup-of-nations-calamity-contrasts-with-world-cup-heroics
| 2024-01-31T13:56:34Z
|
blocked_url
|
KYIV - European Union countries are due to meet on Thursday to try to agree on extending billions of euros in economic aid to Ukraine, as well as replenishing a military fund to arm Kyiv as it fights Russia's almost two-year-old full-scale invasion.
Here are some facts and figures about the assistance Ukraine hopes to receive.
WHAT SUPPORT HAS UKRAINE RECEIVED AND HOW IS IT SPENT?
Ukraine relies heavily on economic assistance from the West and has received more than $73.6 billion in budgetary support since Russia's February 2022 invasion, finance ministry data shows.
Ukraine spends nearly all of its domestic revenues on the defence sector and army, while budget sector overheads have been largely covered by Western aid. A single day of fighting costs about $136 million, Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko has said.
This year the government will again need massive injections of financial support to disburse social payments, wages for budget workers, and pensions for millions of Ukrainians.
The government expects a budget deficit of about $43 billion in 2024 and plans to cover it with domestic borrowing and financial aid from its Western partners.
Finance ministry officials have previously said they expect to receive about $41 billion in international aid in 2024.
The government is worried by uncertainty over the financing. Ukraine has yet to receive aid this year from its biggest financial backers, the European Union and the United States.
WHAT IS EUROPE'S UKRAINE FACILITY?
Last summer, the European Commission announced a 50 billion euro ($54 billion) multi-year support package named the Ukraine Facility that would be delivered through 2027.
Kyiv officials have said they hope to receive 18 billion euros of budgetary support from the facility in 2024, financing that would be crucial for covering the budget gap this year.
But there is still no agreement on granting the aid among the bloc's members, with Hungary voicing persistent opposition. Hungary vetoed the package in December and EU leaders will try again to reach agreement at their summit on Thursday.
WHAT ABOUT U.S. ASSISTANCE?
Ukraine is in talks with the U.S. government to receive economic assistance this year. Kyiv is seeking $8.5 billion in aid to help cover its budget deficit, senior lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak said.
U.S. President Joe Biden's administration asked Congress in October for nearly $106 billion to fund plans for Ukraine, Israel and U.S. border security, but Republicans who control the House with a slim majority rejected the package.
WHAT SUPPORT FROM INTERNATIONAL LENDERS?
Ukraine's cooperation with the International Monetary Fund is important for its macroeconomic and financial stability. In 2023 the IMF approved a new 48-month lending programme worth some $15.6 billion.
Ukraine received about $4.5 billion last year. In 2024 the government hopes to receive another $5.4 billion but each tranche is linked to a series of reform targets and economic indicators.
Ukraine also expects about $1.5 billion from other international financial institutions, including the World Bank.
ANY OTHER AID?
Ukraine has agreed on financial support packages from Britain and Japan for 2024. It is also in talks with the governments of Canada, Norway, South Korea and others to secure other funds. REUTERS
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/will-western-aid-plug-ukraines-gaping-budget-deficit-in-2024-1
| 2024-01-31T13:56:44Z
|
blocked_url
|
JAKARTA – Indonesia’s top security affairs minister and vice-presidential candidate Mahfud MD has announced his resignation on Jan 31.
The move was described by his chief campaign spokesman as a protest against partiality committed by parties who are openly taking sides for the Feb 14 general elections.
Indonesia is gearing up to hold a three-way presidential election, contested by Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, who is pairing up with Mr Widodo’s elder son, Mr Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
The other two pairings are former Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo, who is on the same ticket with Prof Mahfud, and former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan, who is running with Mr Muhaimin Iskandar, chairman of a popular Islamic party.
Local media has criticised Mr Widodo for allegedly making moves to support his son and Mr Prabowo, and highlighted alleged intimidation by the police and the military in various cities directed at supporters of the two rival presidential pairs. Both the police and the military have denied the allegations.
Mr Widodo was widely pictured having a bowl of meatball with Mr Prabowo on Jan 29 at a roadside stall in Magelang, Central Java. The picture of them together amid the heated election campaign drew flak from political analysts, including political commentator Arifki Chaniago, who said it was meant to convey Mr Widodo’s endorsement of Mr Prabowo.
Mr Widodo has said that the sitting president and vice-president are allowed to participate in election campaigns.
Under the prevailing law, they and other state officials are allowed to engage in campaign activities, but are prohibited from using state facilities and are required to take leave when participating in such activities.
Speaking out from Lampung province on Wednesday, Prof Mahfud said he and Mr Ganjar had agreed that anyone running for the nation’s top office should resign from his Cabinet post. Mr Prabowo has not indicated that he would be stepping down from his defence post.
“I have spoken to Mr Ganjar, leaders of the political parties that support our ticket... This letter I will hand to the president once I get a chance to meet him. I will report to the president that I am done,” said Prof Mahfud in a YouTube broadcast, holding up a letter to the camera.
Prof Mahfud said he hopes to see Mr Widodo on his return from out of town trips on Feb 1.
Asked by reporters on Wednesday about Prof Mahfud’s resignation, Mr Widodo told reporters: “That is his right and I much respect that.”
Mr Ari Dwipayana, coordinator of presidential special staff, said Mr Widodo was expected to arrive in Jakarta late on Thursday, adding that Prof Mahfud’s intention to meet the president to hand in his resignation letter is appreciated.
Following the resignation, Mr Karaniya Dharmasaputra, chief spokesman of the Ganjar-Mahfud ticket, told reporters: “The state apparatuses have abused their authority openly and blatantly to help a certain pair of presidential-vice presidential candidates win. It is committed by those at the top through the bottom levels.
“This triggered the resignation of Prof Mahfud. This is a form of moral protest. This is to voice the concerns of the majority of the Indonesian people.”
Mr Kara added: “Look and open your eyes to what has been happening around us every day to see how intimidation (and) misuse of social aid for the transient political interest were committed for the interest of a certain pair of presidential and vice-presidential candidates.”
While Mr Widodo was on a working visit on Jan 30 to Gunungkidul, Central Java province, local residents unfurled a banner that read they supported Mr Ganjar, as the presidential motorcade drove by. These supporters were shoved aside by several local security officers.
An amateur video showing the incident made its rounds on social media.
One of the residents claimed he was taken away by security officers and beaten up, causing his nose and gums to bleed, local news site Detik.com reported, citing Ms Endah Subekti Kuntariningsih, head of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle’s (PDI-P’s) Gunungkidul chapter.
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/world/indonesia-senior-minister-resigns-to-protest-against-partiality-ahead-of-2024-elections
| 2024-01-31T13:56:55Z
|
blocked_url
|
WASHINGTON – TikTok will pledge to spend US$2 billion (S$2.7 billion) in 2024 on protecting children and other viewers on the video service, as it crosses 170 million monthly active users in the United States.
Chief executive Shou Chew is set to unveil that plan during a testimony before the Senate judiciary committee on Jan 31, joining counterparts from Meta Platforms, X, Snap and Discord at a hearing focused on examining what social media firms are doing to safeguard youth online.
Mr Chew intends to say the company will spend more than US$2 billion in 2024 on trust and safety globally, via a team of more than 40,000 people working on those efforts, according to prepared testimony reviewed by Bloomberg News.
The disclosure underscores the ByteDance unit’s rapid growth in the US, and its ability to draw both people and advertising dollars away from rivals Facebook, Instagram and Alphabet’s Google.
Its users in the US, which Mr Chew says are on average more than 30 years old, are up sharply from more than 150 million in 2023.
It’s Mr Chew’s second time testifying before Congress. In 2023, he was called to a hearing in the House focused on the potential national security threats stemming from its Chinese ownership.
This time, he will share the witness table with some of his closest competitors in the industry.
Mr Chew also plans to highlight a number of policies regarding teen users that he says are unique to TikTok.
For example, users under the age of 16 cannot send messages on the app, and their videos cannot be downloaded or recommended to people they are not already connected to. Those aged 17 and younger have a pre-set screen limit of 60 minutes before a password is required to continue watching.
When it comes to potential sexually explicit images of children, TikTok uses technology to review public content for prohibited material, according to the testimony.
Direct messages are moderated using third-party tools like PhotoDNA and Take It Down, Mr Chew intends to say. BLOOMBERG
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/tiktok-ceo-pledges-27b-in-2024-to-protect-170m-users-in-us
| 2024-01-31T13:57:05Z
|
blocked_url
|
WASHINGTON – The House Homeland Security Committee approved two articles of impeachment on Jan 31 against Mr Alejandro Mayorkas, the homeland security secretary, over his handling of the south-western border, as Republicans raced forward with a partisan indictment of President Joe Biden’s immigration policies.
In an 18-15 party-line vote, the panel endorsed a resolution charging Mr Mayorkas with refusing to uphold the law and breaching the public trust by failing to choke off a surge of migrants across the United States border with Mexico.
It set the stage for a House vote as soon as next week on an impeachment that would be an extraordinary escalation of a political feud between Republicans and Democrats over immigration, further elevating the issue at the start of an election year in which it is expected to be a main focus.
The GOP was ploughing forward without producing evidence that Mr Mayorkas committed a crime or acts of corruption, arguing instead that the Biden administration border policies he implemented ran afoul of the law. Legal scholars, including prominent conservatives, have argued that the effort is a perversion of the constitutional power of impeachment, and Democrats remained solidly opposed.
If impeached, Mr Mayorkas would become only the second Cabinet secretary to be indicted by the House of Representatives in US history, and the first in nearly 150 years.
The charges would be all but certain to collapse in the Democratic-controlled Senate, where a two-thirds majority would be required to convict and remove Mr Mayorkas. But they would force an election-year trial that would fuel what promises to be a charged political debate this year over how to handle a surge of migration into the US, and who should be blamed for what both parties’ leaders now consider an immigration crisis.
An all-day meeting of the Homeland Security Committee on Jan 30 that dragged into the wee hours of Jan 31 offered a glimpse of the bitter tenor of that fight. Republicans laid out their case against the secretary, and Democrats used every tool at their disposal to halt the impeachment or amend the charges, failing repeatedly on a series of party-line votes.
Republicans contend that the Biden administration’s policies – and Mr Mayorkas’ decisions in particular – have attracted waves of migrants to the country and admitted individuals who could pose a danger to national security. NYTIMES
|
https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/us-house-panel-approves-impeachment-charges-against-homeland-secretary-mayorkas
| 2024-01-31T13:57:16Z
|
blocked_url
|
AR Ruler app uses augmented reality technologies to tape measure the real world with your smartphone’s camera. Measure any object using 17 tools in the ARuler app! We've improved the app so that you can easily measure objects even in hard-to-reach places.
|
https://www.producthunt.com/posts/ar-ruler-3d
| 2024-01-31T14:35:27Z
|
blocked_url
|
Products
Coming soon
Check out launches that are coming soon
Product questions
Answer the most interesting questions
Launch archive
Most-loved launches by the community
Newsletter
The best of Product Hunt, every day
Popular products in...
AI
No Code
Social Media
E-Commerce
Analytics
All topics
Web3
Design Tools
Developer Tools
Marketing
Finance
Categories
Community
Discussions
Ask questions, find support and connect
Stories
Tech news, interviews and tips from Makers
Changelog
Release notes from the Product Hunt team
Visit streaks
The most active community members
Hall of Fame
Golden Kitty Awards finalists through the years
Launch Guide
Checklists and pro tips for launching
Collections
Products curated by the community
Marketplace
Advertise
About
About us
Careers
Apps
FAQs
Legal
Sign in
Sign up
Home
→
Product
→
Free Character Design By Museclip
Ranked #5 for today
Free Character Design By Museclip
Transform character designs in real-time with AI
Visit
Upvote 147
Free
Discuss
Collect
Embed
Share
Stats
Transform 3D base models into realistic characters in real-time. Unleash creativity with elements drag-and-drop, magic brush and smart text-prompt editing. Your imagination, now instant.
Launched in
Design Tools
Marketing
Photography
by
Free Character Design By Museclip
About this launch
Free Character Design By Museclip
Transform character designs in real-time with AI
0
reviews
188
followers
Follow for updates
Free Character Design By Museclip by
Free Character Design By Museclip
was hunted by
Markk Tong
in
Design Tools
,
Marketing
,
Photography
. Made by
Markk Tong
. Featured on January 31st, 2024.
Free Character Design By Museclip
is not rated yet. This is Free Character Design By Museclip's first launch.
Upvotes
147
Comments
67
Day rank
#5
Week rank
#31
Report
|
https://www.producthunt.com/posts/free-character-design-by-museclip
| 2024-01-31T14:35:33Z
|
blocked_url
|
Products
Coming soon
Check out launches that are coming soon
Product questions
Answer the most interesting questions
Launch archive
Most-loved launches by the community
Newsletter
The best of Product Hunt, every day
Popular products in...
AI
No Code
Social Media
E-Commerce
Analytics
All topics
Web3
Design Tools
Developer Tools
Marketing
Finance
Categories
Community
Discussions
Ask questions, find support and connect
Stories
Tech news, interviews and tips from Makers
Changelog
Release notes from the Product Hunt team
Visit streaks
The most active community members
Hall of Fame
Golden Kitty Awards finalists through the years
Launch Guide
Checklists and pro tips for launching
Collections
Products curated by the community
Marketplace
Advertise
About
About us
Careers
Apps
FAQs
Legal
Sign in
Sign up
This is the latest launch from Pagemaker
See Pagemaker’s previous launch →
Home
→
Product
→
Pagemaker
Ranked #3 for today
Pagemaker
Build converting landing pages in just 10 minutes
Visit
Upvote 214
80% OFF for 1 month
•
Free Options
Discuss
Collect
Embed
Share
Stats
Craft conversion-optimized, mobile-first landing pages effortlessly with Pagemaker's Plug and Play editor – no coding skills needed! Explore 85+ templates and enhance your page with 500+ modules.
Launched in
Design Tools
Freelance
Marketing
+6 by
Pagemaker
Launch discussions
Reviews
About this launch
Pagemaker
Landing page builder for high conversions
7
reviews
706
followers
Follow for updates
Pagemaker by
Pagemaker
was hunted by
Rohan Chaubey
in
Design Tools
,
Freelance
,
Marketing
. Made by
Harsh Kansagara
,
Kaushal Gajjar
,
Hemratna Bhimani
and
Seth Goyes
. Featured on January 31st, 2024.
Pagemaker
is rated
5/5 ★
by 7 users. It first launched on December 12th, 2023.
Upvotes
214
Comments
44
Day rank
#3
Week rank
#24
Report
|
https://www.producthunt.com/posts/pagemaker-2
| 2024-01-31T14:35:39Z
|
blocked_url
|
Creating and managing a website's content has never been more intuitive, efficient, and aligned with your brand's voice and identity. Whether you're a small business owner, a digital agency, or a marketing team, SiteForge helps you create SEO optimized sites.
"I'm eager to hear your thoughts and feedback.
What features do you want to see (ie, more rich content outputs like wireframes)?
How do you feel about pricing?
Quality of generations?
Is there any features or product experiences you want improved?"
|
https://www.producthunt.com/posts/siteforge-io
| 2024-01-31T14:35:45Z
|
blocked_url
|
"As every startup says, we're just getting started as well. What do you think about our automations? What else should we automate for you?"
|
https://www.producthunt.com/posts/timeular
| 2024-01-31T14:35:51Z
|
blocked_url
|
Tarek El Moussa is finally opening up like never before about the incident involving a gun that led to his separation and eventual divorce from wife Christina Hall.
The 42-year-old real estate investor is getting more candid than ever in his upcoming book Flip Your Life: How to Find Opportunity in Distress — in Real Estate, Business and Life, and spoke with People about the day that kicked off a downward spiral in his marriage.
Christina, 40, had maintained that after a huge fight with her then-husband, he'd been found by the police with a gun and was reportedly suicidal, but Tarek disputes that being the case.
He shares that after their fight, he "went out to our backyard in Yorba Linda and hopped over the fence," but says that he wanted to get some exercise and intended to explore the trails near their home.
Tarek carried with him a .38 caliber pistol, which he dubbed an "insurance policy," due to the high population of wildlife in the area, and maintained that he had obtained his California concealed-carry license weeks earlier.
A police helicopter then appeared, and it was not long before Tarek realized that they were looking for him. He writes in his book: "A police officer leaning out of the helicopter pointed a rifle at me. Dust swirled around me from the spin of the blades, and a loudspeaker crackled, 'Get your hands in the air!'
"I heard an officer shout, 'Tarek?' I screamed back, 'Yes! I'm the guy from TV! What are you guys doing?'"
While the tension dipped for a bit, the TV star cites it as being the start of a series of low points in his life. "For the next several hours, I sat on a cooler on my driveway, handcuffed. That was the very last time we were together as a family: with Christina walking down the driveway, crying, and me sitting there in handcuffs, asking myself, 'What in the world is going on?'"
He told the outlet that the weeks leading up to the divorce were "physical and emotional hell," describing bouts with alcohol and struggling with his addiction to testosterone.
"Everybody gave up on me: the magazines, the outlets, the network, nobody believed in me," he stated. Tarek eventually received the help of friends, who took him to rehab, and stepped away from the spotlight. In 2017, he held out hope for a reconciliation with Christina and their family (they shared daughter Taylor, now 13, and Brayden, now eight).
However, that fall, he realized that "she had moved on" discovering that she was dating English presenter Ant Anstead (who she was married to from 2018-2022). "I would say devastating would be an understatement." Christina and Tarek filed for divorce in late 2017, and it was finalized the following year.
Tarek holds no ill will against the Christina on the Coast star, however, and talks about having moved on with their lives and their current partners (Christina is now married to realtor Josh Hall, while Tarek married real estate agent Heather Rae Young in 2021).
"I hold nothing against Christina. I understand why she did what she did. We had a lot of hard years through my sicknesses and my mental health struggles from the testosterone… I've never said any of this, ever." Discover more of Tarek and Heather's relationship in the video below...
He shared that the relationship between Christina and Heather was also solid, as their efforts lay on putting on a united front for their children. He deemed their bond "better than it's been ever since the separation. We all communicate well, even Heather and Christina."
Get the lowdown on all the celebrity news, features, and profiles coming out of the U.S. Sign up to our HELLO! Hollywood newsletter and get them delivered straight to your inbox.
|
https://www.hellomagazine.com/brides/512438/christina-hall-ex-tarek-el-moussa-shares-raw-details-gun-incident-divorce-first-time/
| 2024-01-31T14:48:05Z
|
blocked_url
|
Netizens certainly had questions when a certain Michael Cera was spotted writing his name on bottles of CeraVe skincare. Despite the brand denying any connection with the Superbad actor, he's gone on to further insist otherwise.
TikTok home explorer Caleb Simpson's latest video took him inside the Barbie actor's movie trailer, where he was surprised to discover a secret lab fit for a mad professor.
The TikToker had bumped into an assistant on a movie that Michael is set to feature in, who gave him a sneak peek inside his trailer on the condition that they were cut out of the clip.
Caleb was shocked to discover a microscope and some lab equipment, as well as what looked like a lifetime supply of skin lotion and creams. There was a piece of paper hanging up that said: "Seeking skincare advice? Just ask me, Michael Cera Developer of CeraVe", with his contact details written on tearable pieces of paper. They found a tag for "Developer of CeraVe" with the tagline "skincare is my passion" underneath.
"Wait, is he really?" The assistant said, shocked, as they found a whole fridge full of creams and lotions.
"Well he does have nice skin", Caleb admitted. "It's like baby soft."
As the camera panned around the trailer, Caleb sounded utterly bemused as he said: "there's cream everywhere".
Although shocked by the sheer volume of lotion in the trailer, as well as the amount of lab equipment, the video gave an insight into the curious mind of Michael Cera.
The walls of the van were covered in various personal post-it notes that said "has Ted Talk called me back yet???" and "call back mom".
"What's this movie about, that you're making?" he asked the assistant, to which she affirmed it definitely wasn't about skincare. But the plot thickened as they spotted the actor, who played Allan in the Barbie movie, outside.
Michael was found handing out tubs of the cream to random passersby on the streets of New York, in his classically quirky fashion.
"Is he slinging cream right now?" Caleb asked, shocked. The assistant suggested they leave before they get into further trouble.
Already fans have taken an interest in the deeply private actor's connection with the skincare brand, as he launched his own website to affirm the fact he 'is' CeraVe.
The skincare brand responded to his unusual behaviour with a statement that said: "CeraVe is and always has been developed with dermatologists. We reiterate this as we've heard rumors surrounding Michael Cera's involvement here at CeraVe, and we deny such claims."
They continued: "We are flattered to share Mr. Cera's passion for moisturizer, and wish him well. Thank you."
|
https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/512367/michael-cera-doing-everything-convince-fans-mastermind-behind-cerave-skincare/
| 2024-01-31T14:48:11Z
|
blocked_url
|
Kim Kardashian has had a lot to say about her daughter North's impressive artistic skills, particularly when it comes to special effects makeup. But only now has the 10-year-old given fans a glimpse of her impressive skills.
Taking to TikTok, the daughter of the SKIMS entrepreneur and Kanye West showed off an extravagant makeup look with absolute pride as she exhibited her artistic side.
North's face was bright pink and glittery from the neck upwards, with thick false eyelashes and even pink eyebrows. Her lips were a darker, glittery mauve color. She even managed to contour the incredible pink look, with a sculpted nose and jawline for a completed look.
This isn't the first time North's artistic skills have come into the spotlight, as she made her love of art clear in an interview for i-D magazine. But as Kim recently hyped up her daughter's interest in makeup, this is the first time she has really revealed her makeup talents.
"She's so skilled at special effects makeup," Kim told PEOPLE. "And I love that this is what she is into right now."
North also was sure to give her thoughts on her mom's new cosmetics line, SKKN, on their shared TikTok account. She swatched all the shades and even trialled some of the colors.
It's a far cry from 2019 when Kanye banned North from wearing makeup until she was a teenager, where Kim explained that despite it being a "big fight in the household", it was "what's best".
As well as her love for makeup, North is also a painter with Kim showing off - and defending her daughter's artwork.
Back in 2021 Kim proudly exhibited her daughter's incredible paintings online, which received backlash as people just simply couldn't believe a seven-year-old might be able to paint like that.
Kim responded to the naysayers in 2023, as she told GQ: "I got into it with people on the internet about this."
"Everyone said it was fake. Even I posted a sunset she just did. She's been painting for years, and she loves it, and she has an amazing art teacher. She's talented and it's not the craziest concept. She definitely didn't get it from me, I will say that."
|
https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/512436/north-west-looks-unrecognizable-shows-off-incredible-talent-makeup-look/
| 2024-01-31T14:48:17Z
|
blocked_url
|
Lorraine Kelly has revealed her surprise over Phillip Schofield's exit from ITV in May 2023, months before Holly Willoughby's shock decision to quit This Morning.
Phillip, 61, left ITV after he admitted to an "unwise, but not illegal" relationship with a junior member of staff – and has yet to reveal what the future lies ahead of him.
"If you'd told me at the start of [last] year that Holly and Phil wouldn't be [on This Morning], I wouldn't have believed you," the ITV chat show host told Woman & Home magazine. "But you know what? The show will continue. She'll be fine. He'll be fine. Eventually. It will all be OK."
Lorraine added: "They're good people. I miss them. They're smashing, they made me laugh a lot and every time I was on This Morning as a guest, they were a delight."
Phillip had been a firm favourite for many years. He joined This Morning in 2002 where he presented the show with Fern Britton until her departure in 2009, with Holly becoming his co-presenter.
Holly, 42, announced her decision to leave This Morning in October shortly after a kidnapping plot against her was uncovered. Gavin Plumb, 36, from Harlow, Essex was accused of soliciting to murder and incitement to kidnap the presenter. As a result, Holly made the difficult decision to quit her day job for the sake of her family.
"I have let ITV know today that after 14 years, I will not be returning to This Morning," she said in a statement. "To everyone who has ever worked on the show over the years, thank you so so much.
"This is such a difficult goodbye, you are incredible and I forever will be proud of what we've done together. Thank you to everyone at ITV for being supportive."
She added: "To every guest who has sat on our sofa, thank you. Most of all, thank you to the wonderful viewers. You've been so loyal, so supportive and the very best company every day."
The mum-of-three concluded the message with: "It's been an honour to just be part of its story and I know this story has many chapters left to go. Sadly, however, I now feel I have to make this decision for me and my family. I will miss you all so much."
Although she is no longer presenting This Morning, Holly returned to our TV screens at the start of the year to host Dancing on Ice alongside Stephen Mulhern.
|
https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/512442/lorraine-kelly-surprise-phillip-schofield-holly-willoughby-exits/
| 2024-01-31T14:48:23Z
|
blocked_url
|
Bryce Dallas Howard had all eyes on her again when she rocked up for another day of promotional duties in New York City wearing a stunning dress.
The 42-year-old is currently promoting her new film, Argylle, and she certainly made an unforgettable entrance when she arrived for an appearance on LIVE with Kelly and Mark on Tuesday morning.
The actress looked phenomenal in a figure-skimming, red and purple striped dress that accentuated her incredible curves.
The sweater dress fell to her ankles and boasted two, thigh-high slits. The color-block design featured a high neck, and long sleeves, and made Bryce's waist look tiny!
The vivid hue popped against her porcelain complexion and auburn hair, which was worn down in bouncy waves.
She added another pop of color with a pair of red pumps that elongated her slender legs and drew attention to her pearly whites with glossy lips.
Her striking dress wasn't her only enviable look of the day. On Tuesday morning, she also made an appearance on Good Morning America wearing another figure-flattering outfit.
The Jurassic World star looked stunning in a bright red pantsuit that consisted of wide-legged pants and a matching jacket that cinched in her waist.
In Argylle, Bryce plays Elly Conway, an introverted cat lady and spy novelist who is enticed into the activities of a sinister underground syndicate.
She stars in the film alongside Samuel L Jackson, Bryan Cranston, Ariana DeBose, and John Cena – but it was another co-star that Bryce raved about working with.
"[My cat co-star] was perfect to work with," she told LIVE hosts Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos.
"Sometimes people have, like, allergies to cats or something and they don't ever, like, give the cat the benefit of the doubt," she continued. "I sometimes have this argument where they're like, 'Cat was a diva. Cat wouldn't come out of the trailer. The temperature wasn't right. The cat wasn't working.'
"And I was like, 'Exactly. That's what the cat deserves. Like, just you know, treatment beyond any of us of course!'"
Bryce's furry co-star, Chip, wasn't just any cat either – it belongs to Argylle director Matthew Vaughn and his wife, Claudia Schiffer.
The feline star stole the show at the London premiere last week when Claudia brought Chip along in an argyle yellow print backpack in homage to the movie.
Speaking about her character on The Graham Norton Show on Friday, Bryce said "She is a cat lady. She’s got this awesome backpack with a cat in, that she walks around with.
"She loves a good argyle sweater, and there is a sort of unapologetic dorkiness about her. That's a little bit like what my character is like."
Some reports claimed cat-obsessed Taylor Swift had secretly authored the book that inspired the movie, but Bryce explained that isn't the case.
She said: "We can’t pretend she was involved. The reality is [Taylor] was in many ways a great inspiration."
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.
|
https://www.hellomagazine.com/fashion/celebrity-style/512432/bryce-dallas-howard-wows-endless-legs-thigh-split-dress-photos/
| 2024-01-31T14:48:29Z
|
blocked_url
|
Idris Elba may have ruled himself out of the running to play the next James Bond, but that didn't stop his breathtaking wife Sabrina from conveying serious Bond girl glamour at the premiere of Bob Marley: One Love at the BFI IMAX in London on Tuesday.
The Luther star, 51, looked sharp in a geometric print coat from Labrum London, teaming his vibrant outerwear with khaki trousers and polished leather loafers. His wife Sabrina, 34, who is a Canadian model, stole the spotlight in a stunning monochromatic black ensemble.
Joining her beau on the red carpet, Sabrina donned a silky black slip dress complete with a dramatic plunging neckline, delicate straps and a sophisticated full length.
The model added a luxurious black fur shrug and a pearl choker, channelling an Audrey Hepburn 'Breakfast At Tiffany's' aesthetic.
Idris and Sabrina tied the knot in 2019 in a thrilling three-day extravaganza in Marrakesh. The couple, who found love at a jazz bar in Vancouver two years prior, revealed to Vogue that they were "inseparable" ever since they met.
The couple shared their wedding photos in British Vogue's bridal issue in June 2019. In the accompanying interview, they opened up about their three-day celebrations, with Sabrina telling the magazine: "We want the guests to leave remembering the importance of love. Behind all the glitz and the flowers, that's what matters."
Idris also revealed how meeting Sabrina had changed his mind about marriage. He was previously married to Sonya Nicole Hamlin in 2006, and Hanne Norgaard from 1999 to 2003.
"You know, I'm 47 this year, been married, and lived a full life before I even met Sabrina. It wasn't something that I wanted to do, get married again. But…" Idris told Vogue, before sharing how she has changed his life.
"Sabrina has deepened friendships with people I've known longer than [her], nurturing the best side of me to make me connect to my friends more."
The new Bob Marley: One Love biopic that celebrates life of reggae singer and songwriter Bob Marley has seen a fleet of stars celebrate its debut across the globe, including Idris' close friends, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made a rare red carpet appearance at the Carib 5 theatre in Kingston, Jamaica earlier this week for the film's world premiere.
Acting as royalty's Bond girl, Meghan looked sublime in a strappy black ball gown by Carolina Herrera which she paired with the black ‘J Box’ clutch by Jimmy Choo and the 'Large 18-carat Gold Hammered Disc Earrings' by Jennifer Meyer.
|
https://www.hellomagazine.com/fashion/celebrity-style/512443/idris-elba-wife-sabrina-red-carpet-appearance-bond-girl-dress/
| 2024-01-31T14:48:35Z
|
blocked_url
|
At the helm of her sell-out brand, Trinny London, and with 1.3 million followers on Instagram alone, Trinny Woodall has amassed a following that’s ready to hang off her every word, but she’s still managed to maintain her relatability.
After spending the morning with her, it’s entirely possible to believe that she does what she does because she genuinely gets a boost out of making other women feel their best.
“I’ve been helping other females since I was about six at boarding school. I would stay there on the weekends and help girls out with what to wear. I was the one they would come to for advice. Because I had bad skin from age 13, I had every lotion and potion (within my budget back then) to help my skin, so they would come to me for that and it made me feel good and it gave me a sense of self worth to help other women.
“I still love connecting with women and with a large following, you get an insight into how women think and feel around the world.
“No matter how much money they have or how old they are, it’s amazing how the same questions come up. It’s challenging when women send you DMs that you know you can answer but it’ll take an entire paragraph. But I’m very good at picking up where people’s messages have come from and the pain they are in and if I feel I can help, I will do my best to respond.”
On easing the pressure
“I’m under a lot of pressure at work so sometimes I just have to psyche myself up. I’ll do hopping bunny, which is when you relax your shoulders and gently jump on the spot - it gives you a rush.”
READ: I tried Trinny Woodall's new BFF All Day Foundation during the heatwave and here's my honest opinion
On self-belief
“You never know what’s behind a closed door. When I was trying to get Trinny London funded, I thought it might not happen, but you never know what email might land in your inbox. I sent hundreds of emails - it’s about perseverance and keeping that belief.”
On her morning ritual
I listen to the Calm app, pick up my phone to look at my emails and I have hot water and lemon and then brush my teeth.
“When it comes to unwinding, I love hanging out with my daughter Lyla, 20. I love her company and we are very good travel buddies. We love travelling. She’s calm when I’m stressed and I’m calm when she’s stressed, so we balance each other out.”
Subscribe to HELLO!'s Beauty Collective newsletter for exclusive content straight to your inbox.
|
https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/512294/trinny-woodall-beauty-interview/
| 2024-01-31T14:48:41Z
|
blocked_url
|
Despite getting divorced over two decades ago, Demi Moore and Bruce Willis maintain a close relationship as co-parents and members of the blended family they share with Bruce's current wife Emma Heming Willis.
The actress, 61, appeared on Good Morning America to discuss her highly-anticipated new FX series Feud: Capote vs The Swans and talked about life as "swan" Ann Woodward and on the road with her dog Pilaf the "little mouse."
Host George Stephanopoulos asked her about her ex-husband's health as well, given his battle with frontotemporal dementia that resulted in his retirement from acting and the spotlight.
Demi shared: "I think, given the givens, he's doing very well," and also revealed the advice she had for their daughters, Rumer, 35, Scout, 32, and Tallulah, 29.
"I'll share what I say to my children…it's important to just meet them where they're at and not hold on to what isn't but what is. Because there's great beauty and sweetness and loving and joy out of that."
Previously, the Brat Pack star spoke with E! News about learning how to prioritize and deal with life in the face of hardships and challenges, whether personal or in the family.
"I had this illness at 18 that really pushed me to focus on following a different path," she told the publication. "And it is a journey of finding what's right. And I think that consciousness around what we want has really elevated on a more mass level, which is very exciting."
In 2022, the ladies of the Willis-Moore family (which also includes Bruce and Emma's two young daughters, Mabel, 11, and Evelyn, nine) revealed that the Die Hard star, 68, had been diagnosed with aphasia and would be effectively retiring from acting.
MORE: Rumer Willis reflects on spending 'precious moments' with father Bruce Willis amid declining health
In February 2023, they shared a new update on his diagnosis, revealing that it had progressed to frontotemporal dementia, which was affecting his communication and language skills.
"Our family wanted to start by expressing our deepest gratitude for the incredible outpouring of love, support and wonderful stories we have all received since sharing Bruce's original diagnosis," their statement read.
After sharing more about the disease, it continued: "Unfortunately, challenges with communication are just one symptom of the disease Bruce faces. While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis."
Emma, in particular, has been a vocal advocate for research on the disease and has been tremendously open about life as a caregiver, spreading awareness, making time for physical and mental health, and the importance of family and community support.
Looking back on 2023, she shared on Instagram recently that over the past year, she'd built that "inner circle" that helped the couple find their healing.
SEE: Emma Heming Willis cozies up to Bruce Willis in rare photo as they celebrate during challenging time
"People from all walks of life [are] sharing the same unfortunate thread that connects us," she penned. "I receive countless messages of love and support because Bruce is so beloved.
"That showers on him and I am fortunate enough to stand below that to catch those sprinkles that yet, feel like a waterfall of kindness. I wish I could answer all the messages because they are deep, raw and poetic but please know that I appreciate them so very much. It also makes me feel less alone."
Get the lowdown on the biggest, hottest celebrity news, features, and profiles coming out of the U.S. Sign up to our HELLO! Hollywood newsletter and get them delivered straight to your inbox.
|
https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/512447/demi-moore-reveals-advice-for-daughters-with-bruce-willis-amid-new-health-update/
| 2024-01-31T14:48:47Z
|
blocked_url
|
David Muir has become very successful thanks to his lucrative TV roles – so it's not surprising he has used some of his hard-earned cash to purchase a luxury home for himself.
The 20/20 host, 50, prefers to keep his private life away from the spotlight, but he has given his fans the occasional glimpse inside his spectacular New York home that he spent years restoring.
The TV star purchased his home on Skaneateles Lake, New York, for a whopping $7 million, according to records filed with the Onondaga County Clerk’s office in 2019.
David previously said that it was a "lifelong dream" to own a historic home near his family, who still reside in Central New York, and he has spent the last couple of years turning it into the jaw-dropping property it is today.
"This job takes me all over the world, and I can't think of a better place to catch my breath," he said at the time, even opening up in an earlier interview with Kelly Ripa that he'd spent a majority of his 2022 summer upstate, restoring his home. Take a look inside...
David Muir's New York home
Lake life
The journalist doesn't share much about his home on social media but it's clear David is a huge fan of the open water as he often posts sweet photos of him and Axel enjoying a morning boat ride on the lake outside his property.
Living room
David previously shared a photo of Axel lounging in the living room, and his ornate fireplace can be seen in the background.
Commanding attention, the lavish marble fireplace serves as the focal point of the room, thanks to its intricate molding, statement coving, and contrasting black screen.
Natural light
The living room is flooded with natural light, and bright white walls and dark gray furnishings make up the space.
Front lawn
Another photo showed Axel standing by a doorway with a pristine front lawn and driveway in the background surrounded by woodland.
Backyard
A photo believed to have been taken at David's lakeside home shows him once again cuddling up to Axel, and in the reflection of the windowed doors is a gorgeous swimming pool surrounded by perfectly cut grass and a tiled pathway.
Neutral décor
Making a rare admission about his home life in a 2020 interview on Live with Kelly and Ryan, David couldn't help but smile as he recalled how having Axel helped him get through the pandemic.
"I actually do think that pets are like the unsung heroes because they still want to chase the birds," he said.
"This dog particularly – [he's a] bird dog, squirrel dog, frog dog. If you find a frog in the pool he's good for like three hours just staring at the frog. But, don't you think they've helped us during this time?"
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.
|
https://www.hellomagazine.com/homes/512434/abc-david-muir-new-york-home-inside-photos/
| 2024-01-31T14:48:53Z
|
blocked_url
|
Queen Camilla has revealed the King is "getting on" and “doing his best" following treatment for an enlarged prostate.
Charles, 75, was discharged from the London Clinic on Monday after a three-night stay in hospital.
He smiled and waved as he left the private hospital with his wife Camilla by his side and could be away from public duties for up to a month.
The Queen gave an update as she officially opened a new Maggie’s cancer support centre at the Royal Free Hospital in northwest London on Wednesday.
On arrival, she was introduced to donors including Sir Gerald Ronson, who asked after the King's health.
“He’s getting on, doing his best,” she replied.
When Dori Dana-Haeri, who led the fundraising effort for the new centre, said she was “so pleased” Charles was well, the Queen nodded as she said: “Thank goodness.”
Meanwhile, supporter Sir Michael Pakenham said: "All best wishes to His Majesty for the very best recovery."
Camilla replied: "Thank you very much, that’s very kind. I’ll pass it on."
The Queen's outing comes ahead of World Cancer Day on Sunday 4 February. It marked her 17th visit to a Maggie's centre, a charity of which she has been president since 2008.
Maggie's Royal Free is the 24th centre in the UK providing support for people with cancer, from treatment side effects to financial concerns. The team at each centre also runs groups and activities, all designed to make coping with cancer easier.
Camilla, wearing an emerald green coat, quipped: "I try and get around [the centres] but every time, another one pops up so I never quite catch up."
The King was diagnosed with the benign condition on 17 January while staying at Birkhall in Scotland, after going for a check-up because he was experiencing symptoms.
He is understood to have wanted to share the news to encourage other men to get themselves checked.
Buckingham Palace confirmed the news just 90 minutes after Kensington Palace announced that the Princess of Wales had undergone abdominal surgery.
Charles visited his daughter-in-law at the London Clinic last Friday as he was admitted for his own treatment.
Kate was discharged on Monday after a 13-day stay at the hospital and is now recovering at her home in Windsor. She is not expected to return to public duties until after Easter.
LISTEN: Why King Charles is the ‘happiest’ he has been despite royal dramas
|
https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/512437/queen-camilla-shares-king-charles-health-update/
| 2024-01-31T14:49:00Z
|
blocked_url
|
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.