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SINGAPORE - Mapletree Pan Asia Commercial Trust’s (MPACT) distribution per unit (DPU) fell by 9.1 per cent to 2.20 Singapore cents for its third quarter ended Dec 31, 2023.
Gross revenue was up 0.8 per cent to $241.6 million for the quarter, from $239.8 million previously, said the manager in a bourse filing on Jan 29.
Net property income grew 1.7 per cent to $182.4 million, from $179.4 million in the corresponding year-earlier period.
MPACT’s manager said the growth was primarily driven by Singapore’s “robust performance”, which delivered positive contribution despite higher utility expenses.
While Hong Kong and Japan delivered steady earnings in local currency terms, their contributions were dampened by a stronger Singapore dollar.
Distributable income declined 9.3 per cent year on year to $115.3 million, from $127 million previously.
The distribution will be paid out on March 14 after books closure on Feb 6.
Giving an outlook on the Singapore market, the manager said that the retail sector could face challenges, including persisting inflationary pressures, manpower shortages, and high operating costs.
The continued strength of the Singapore dollar could also encourage outbound travel, impacting local retail sales.
As for Singapore office rentals, the manager noted that approximately 3.9 million square feet of new office space is expected from 2024 to 2025, averaging 2 million sq ft per year, which is higher than the past five-year annual average of 1.1 million sq ft.
But ongoing global economic uncertainties are expected to dampen office demand and slow rental growth in 2024. “The build-up of shadow and secondary spaces, as well as new supply, could add further pressure.”
Overall, macroeconomic challenges including persistent geopolitical conflicts, high inflation rates, and protracted period of high interest rates remain. Amid these broad challenges, MPACT’s strategy focuses on “sustaining healthy occupancy levels and ensuring steady rental revenue, while managing cost efficiency”, said its manager.
In the long run, the Reit’s strength is underpinned by its core assets – the Mapletree Business City and VivoCity – combined with its manager’s operational expertise, it said. “These position MPACT to adeptly navigate current headwinds and seize emerging opportunities.”
Units of the Reit closed $0.02 or 1.4 per cent lower at $1.39 on Jan 29 before the announcement. THE BUSINESS TIMES
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https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/mapletree-pan-asia-commercial-trust-reports-91-drop-in-q3-dpu-to-22-cents
| 2024-01-29T14:13:49Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/mapletree-pan-asia-commercial-trust-reports-91-drop-in-q3-dpu-to-22-cents
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SINGAPORE - Starhill Global Real Estate Investment Trust’s (Reit) distribution per unit (DPU) fell 2.2 per cent to $0.0178 in the first half of FY2024 ended Dec 31, 2023, from $0.0182 a year earlier, its manager said on Jan 29.
The fall in DPU was in tandem with the fall in income available for distribution, which fell 3.8 per cent to $41.9 million in the first half of FY2024 from $43.6 million in the first half of FY2023.
This was driven by higher net finance costs and a one-off leasing commission fee for a master lease renewal with Toshin, the speciality store manager of Takashimaya at Ngee Ann City.
Gross revenue fell as well, by 0.1 per cent to $94.6 million in the first half of FY2024, from $94.7 million a year earlier.
Net property income, however, rose 0.3 per cent to $74.5 million, from $74.3 million in the first half of FY2023.
This increase was mainly driven by the Reit’s properties in Singapore and the Myer Centre Adelaide shopping mall in Australia. It was partially offset by net movement in foreign currencies and the loss of income arising from the divestment of a Tokyo property in December 2022.
As at Dec 31, 2023, the Reit’s committed portfolio occupancy was at 98.7 per cent, and its portfolio weighted average lease term expiry was extended to 7.9 years after the renewal of the master lease with Toshin.
“The renewed master lease will allow Starhill Global Reit to also participate on the upside with a new profit-sharing arrangement,” said Mr Ho Sing, chief executive of the Reit’s manager.
The Toshin renewal is for an initial term of 12 years commencing from June 8, 2025 to June 7, 2037, with an option for a renewal of another six years by either party, and a further three years by Toshin.
The agreement has an annual turnover rent component, comprising Toshin’s annual operating income over and above the agreed revenue and profit margin thresholds.
Starhill Global Reit’s gearing stands at 36.8 per cent as at Dec 31, 2023 with an average debt maturity profile of three years.
Units of Starhill Global Reit closed up 1 per cent or $0.005 to $0.51 on Jan 29, before the news. THE BUSINESS TIMES
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https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/starhill-global-reit-s-dpu-falls-22-in-first-half-of-fy2024
| 2024-01-29T14:13:59Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/starhill-global-reit-s-dpu-falls-22-in-first-half-of-fy2024
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SINGAPORE - The use of a newly proposed sentencing regime that could see serious sexual or violent crime offenders held in jail indefinitely will be decided by the Singapore courts and not the Government.
Minister for Home Affairs and Law K. Shanmugam said the period of continued incarceration will be assessed by a detention review board, which will decide if the offender is suitable for release.
Speaking to the media on Jan 22 on the proposed Sentence for Enhanced Public Protection (Sepp) law, Mr Shanmugam said there is potential for some misunderstanding on the Government’s role in the sentencing process.
“When a person is first convicted, the court can choose to impose either a normal sentence or Sepp sentence. So it’s complete discretion with the court,” said the minister.
He added that if the court decides the offender is a suitable case for Sepp, then he serves a minimum period. At the end of the minimum period, he is assessed by experts.
“We are talking about psychiatrists, psychologists, a detention review board, to see how much risk you pose to society at that point in time, when you are due to be released,” added Mr Shanmugam.
The offender can make written representations by himself or through a family member, or through a lawyer.
“That is then reviewed by the minister and if you’re no longer posing a high risk to society, you can be released. But if you still pose a high risk, then you can continue to be detained and your case will be reviewed every year,” said Mr Shanmugam.
Sepp was introduced as part of the Criminal Procedure (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill in Parliament on Jan 10. It is to prevent dangerous offenders from being automatically released from prison after their jail terms end, especially if they show signs of reoffending.
Sepp is limited to those who commit serious violent offences such as culpable homicide and attempted murder, and serious sexual offences such as rape and sexual penetration of a minor.
In a joint statement, the Ministry of Law and Ministry of Home Affairs said current sentencing options are inadequate to deal with such serious offences. They said Sepp will ensure serious offenders are detained for as long as is needed for public safety.
Meanwhile, the Home Affairs Minister will decide if a person sentenced under Sepp is to be released after serving his or her time, based on the advice of an expert panel.
Mr Shanmugam said that the new law involves a few dangerous offenders who have committed very serious crimes, to keep them from doing further harm to the rest of society.
“It is the court which decides the sentence, whether they impose the Sepp or not. So whether Sepp is more appropriate than a normal imprisonment term for this specific offender, that is for the court to decide.
“After that minimum period, the offender will be assessed by experts with a very simple objective. What is the risk he is posing to society? Is society better off? Then the decision will be made by the minister based on expert opinions,” he added.
Offenders sentenced under Sepp can be jailed for between five and 20 years. They will not be eligible for remission, which is a discount on the sentence.
Offenders deemed suitable to leave prison may be required to attend counselling, remain at home during certain hours and don an electronic tag. He will be assessed every two years for his suitability to be discharged unconditionally.
Offenders assessed as not suitable for release can be detained indefinitely, with the case reviewed annually.
Mr Shanmugam said the Government’s key duty is to protect the public.
He noted that Sepp is a step along the same lines as the corrective training and preventive detention prison regimes.
With corrective training, offenders can be sentenced to imprisonment of between five years and 14 years. In the case of preventive detention, the courts can order a person to be detained for a long period to protect the public.
In both instances, the Home Affairs Minister decides whether an offender should be released. For life imprisonment, the Home Affairs Minister decides on remission.
Mr Shanmugam said that with the Sepp prison regime, judges could mete out shorter sentences.
“With Sepp, the judge who is posing the sentence would have greater clarity and greater peace of mind because he can impose what he thinks is a shorter sentence, at least a certain minimum duration… knowing that at the end of the minimum duration, the offender can be released depending on if he is rehabilitated, or if experts assess he is still a risk, he may be kept in longer,” he added.
Some people may end up being detained for longer, said Mr Shanmugam.
“Let’s say the sentence is for 10 years, but at the end of 10 years, the medical experts say it’s too risky to release him now.
“During the 10 years, we will also attempt to rehabilitate the person, and we will look at the track record of his ability to rehabilitate. If you rehabilitate, you can be released,” said the minister.
He added that if it clearly shows that the offenders’ ability to rehabilitate is not there, and they pose a serious risk and the experts say so, then they may be detained longer.
The proposed amendment comes in the wake of more egregious cases, particularly involving serial sexual offenders, in recent years, said Mr Shanmugam.
In May 2022, a man was sentenced to the maximum 20 years’ preventive detention for sexually assaulting two of his grandnieces.
This came less than three years after he served a sentence of 19 years’ jail and 24 strokes of the cane for statutory rape of his six-year-old stepdaughter in 2001.
Mr Shanmugam said the court noted that his risk of sexual reoffending was high, and that he had disregarded the consequences of his actions.
However, under the existing legal framework, offenders who have finished their sentences must be released unconditionally even if they are likely to go on to reoffend, he said.
The minister said the Sepp prison regime is a response to such cases. It will apply to those aged 21 and above, and will not just be for recalcitrant offenders but for first-time offenders as well.
Forensic medical examinations
Proposed amendments to the Criminal Procedure (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill tabled in Parliament on Jan 10 will also see powers afforded to the police to subject accused individuals to forensic medical examinations.
Forensic medical examinations consist of physical medical examinations and collection of samples from any body part, as well as taking of photographs, casts and impressions of body parts, which may include intimate parts.
Under the Criminal Procedure (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, accused individuals who are required to take part in the examinations but refuse without reasonable excuse can be jailed for up to seven years, fined or both.
Mr Shanmugam said the police can proceed with examinations even if the accused is not cooperative, as long as it does not involve intimate parts or invasive procedures.
But those who are required to take part in forensic examinations involving intimate parts or invasive procedures and refuse to cooperate may be charged with an offence.
Consent will generally be required for forensic examinations on victims – with some exceptions.
Mr Shanmugam said the authorities can proceed with the examinations without the victim’s consent if the delay will result in the loss of evidence, and if the victim has a physical or mental condition that means he or she cannot give consent within a reasonable time.
“This is important because time is often very critical, especially for DNA evidence,” he said.
Such forensic examinations can even help solve cold cases, added the minister.
In 2002, a man, then 23, raped a 12-year-old near her home. Swabs were taken from the victim and an unknown DNA sample was found.
The case was solved 12 years later when the accused was arrested in 2014 for theft and a blood sample was taken from him and sent for DNA testing.
His DNA profile matched the one retrieved from the girl’s body.
In 2016, the man was sentenced to 16½ years’ jail and 18 strokes of the cane after pleading guilty to one count each of rape, outrage of modesty and criminal intimidation for his assault of the girl.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/courts-decide-use-of-new-law-to-hold-serious-sexual-crime-offenders-indefinitely-shanmugam
| 2024-01-29T14:14:10Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/courts-decide-use-of-new-law-to-hold-serious-sexual-crime-offenders-indefinitely-shanmugam
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SINGAPORE - A newly proposed sentencing regime, which may see offenders locked up indefinitely, has received mixed reactions from lawyers in Singapore, with some noting the potential impact on rehabilitation for the offenders.
The Sentence for Enhanced Public Protection (Sepp) law was introduced as part of the Criminal Procedure (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill in Parliament on Jan 10.
It is to prevent dangerous offenders from being automatically released from prison after their jail terms end, especially if they show signs of reoffending.
Sepp is limited to those who commit serious violent offences such as culpable homicide and attempted murder, and serious sexual offences such as rape and sexual penetration of a minor.
Mr Riko Isaac, a partner at Amolat & Partners, said the law may be detrimental to reintegration efforts.
Those charged under Sepp, who are later released on licence, may be subjected to curfews or an electronic tag for more than two years, he noted.
“This may be difficult for an ex-offender who is released on licence to incorporate into his or her working life on a long-term basis if they procure full-time employment,” he added.
Mr Isaac said the comprehensiveness of the assessment and criteria that an offender needs to meet to be unconditionally discharged are also unclear.
“The Sepp may, in theory, be applied to other offences in which public protection is one, or becomes one, of the key considerations in determining the sentence of an offender,” he added.
Mr Wong Kok Weng, Chief Public Defender at the Public Defender’s Office, said Sepp could have a positive impact on rehabilitation.
“From the defence’s perspective, the review at the end of the minimum term will provide a strong incentive for the offender to take his rehabilitation in prison seriously, so he can demonstrate that he has reformed and no longer poses a danger to others.”
He said that even with the proposed law, there has to be a balance between public protection and safety, and safeguards for offenders.
Mr Wong said this is to ensure that offenders are given a chance to reform themselves, but noted that Sepp will be limited to a small number of cases.
He added: “Given the strict legal conditions set out in the Bill, I expect that Sepp will be applied in only a small number of egregious cases, such as for serious sexual offenders. It should not affect the vast majority of cases.
“However, for the small number of cases to which Sepp will apply, it will be a useful sentencing option to better protect the public from dangerous offenders who are assessed by the court to pose a threat to public safety.”
Offenders who have finished serving their sentences under Sepp will be required to undergo an assessment to determine their suitability to be released.
Those who are deemed suitable to leave prison may still be required to attend counselling, or face curfews and be tracked by an electronic tag. They are then assessed again every two years for their suitability to be discharged unconditionally.
Those who are deemed unsuitable for release can be detained indefinitely, with their case reviewed annually.
Mr Sunil Sudheesan, director at Quahe Woo & Palmer, said senior members of the criminal justice system could be included in the detention review board.
Under the proposed law, the board will determine the level of risk an offender poses to society before his release.
“Certainly, the input of the prisoner and his or her lawyer must be sought, as well as must be thoroughly examined,” he said.
Mr Wong noted that the detention review board, which will assess the offender and advise the Home Affairs Minister, will comprise people with experience in forensic psychiatry or psychology, and those experienced with the criminal justice system.
“These may include retired judges and retired judicial commissioners, senior lawyers or senior psychiatrists and psychologists,” he added.
Mrs Stefanie Yuen-Thio, a joint managing partner at TSMP Law Corporation, said that to build trust in the new system, the review board should be made public. “If for operational reasons, certain people (like the psychiatrists) cannot be (made public), then a description of their job and qualifications (could be provided),” she said.
She added that for cases where offenders are deemed unsuitable for release, the authorities should be required to provide yearly public updates on the number of cases where convicts are detained under Sepp, with relevant details.
“This can be anonymised, but there should be clearly enough information so that there is public accountability,” she said.
Mr Isaac said the mandated assessments that come with Sepp could provide some comfort to society. “This would suggest that a dangerous offender has been thoroughly assessed to be unlikely to reoffend again in the future, given that psychiatric and psychological testing was done prior to his or her release.”
Meanwhile, Mr Justin Ng Cho Yang, a senior associate at Kalco Law, said the new Sepp regime does not amount to detention without trial. That alone makes the proposed law fundamentally different from detention orders under the Internal Security Act 1960, the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act 1955 and the Misuse of Drugs Act, he said.
Instead, Sepp stands as a new sentencing option that judges can utilise after an offender is found guilty in a court of law.
Said Mr Ng: “In this manner, an offender who is sentenced to Sepp is afforded the same due process as any other accused person that goes through our criminal justice system.”
Assistant Professor Benny Tan from the National University of Singapore’s law school said there could be concerns that an offender’s risk of reoffending is overestimated, resulting in the offender being detained for an unwarranted extended period of time.
To prevent that, the assessment methodology will need to be rigorous and based on up-to-date scientific research and knowledge, he said.
He added: “I would also strongly recommend that the standard of proof beyond reasonable doubt be applied for the reviews to decide whether to continue to detain an offender sentenced to Sepp after the end of the minimum term.
“In other words, an offender sentenced to Sepp should be kept incarcerated only if the evidence shows beyond reasonable doubt that the offender still poses a threat to the public.”
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/lawyers-mixed-on-assessment-to-determine-if-offenders-can-be-released-under-new-sentencing-regime
| 2024-01-29T14:14:20Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/lawyers-mixed-on-assessment-to-determine-if-offenders-can-be-released-under-new-sentencing-regime
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SINGAPORE - A man died while two others were taken to the hospital, following a five-vehicle collision at Choa Chu Kang on Jan 29 afternoon.
When contacted, the police and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said they were alerted to the accident along Choa Chu Kang Way at about 2pm. The accident involved three heavy vehicles and two cars, the police added.
A man was found trapped in the driver’s seat of a road tanker – a lorry that can carry liquids in bulk – and was freed by SCDF officers with hydraulic rescue equipment. The man, 56, was pronounced dead at the scene by a paramedic.
Police investigations are ongoing, they added.
In videos uploaded to the SG Road Chat Telegram group, a stationary grey sedan is seen perpendicular to a blue lorry in the rightmost lane of the four-lane road. Beside the lorry is a concrete mixer truck rear-ended by a green military vehicle.
Some distance behind the four vehicles is the road tanker on the second-leftmost lane, with the driver side of the cabin smashed in.
SCDF said two people were taken to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital and another two people had minor injuries and declined to be taken to the hospital.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/tanker-driver-dies-after-five-vehicle-collision-at-choa-chu-kang-two-taken-to-hospital
| 2024-01-29T14:14:31Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/tanker-driver-dies-after-five-vehicle-collision-at-choa-chu-kang-two-taken-to-hospital
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SINGAPORE - Young people in Singapore are interested and engaged in politics, and Singapore undersells itself if it thinks it is not politically mature, said Dr Janil Puthucheary, Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information, and Health.
He observed that young people ask questions, turn up at grassroots events and even send him messages to offer their views. There are also platforms like Forward Singapore sessions that engage young people.
“Well, who says we are not politically mature?” he said, responding to a question on how Singapore can develop into a politically mature and conscious society. “So what is the political maturity you are looking for?”
He was speaking to a 1,200-strong audience – many of them young people – at the closing of the Singapore Perspectives 2024 conference, organised by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre on Jan 29. Online sessions were held earlier on Jan 22.
“We listen to you because we do need to understand what are the issues that young people are concerned about... what would they do as they participate in the building of Singapore in the future,” he added in reply to a question about empowering young people to engage with politics.
The theme of this year’s conference was “Youth”, focusing on how today’s young are coming of age in a period of unprecedented change on many fronts – socio-economic, technological, demographic, and even the “nuclear family”.
While Singapore should never consider itself as having arrived, it should not start from the basis that it is not a politically mature society, Dr Janil said, adding that Singapore should not rate itself worse than other societies out there.
His comments followed a pre-conference survey by IPS, which showed that younger respondents tend to be more civically engaged compared with their older counterparts. This younger group participates in such activities both online and offline, and feels more empowered to create change.
The poll was conducted with 2,356 Singapore residents between November and December 2023. The respondents were divided in three age groups: 21 to 34, 35 to 49, and 50 to 64.
In the dialogue moderated by IPS senior research fellow Kalpana Vignehsa, who conducted the poll, Dr Janil said one of the issues that keeps him awake at night is the possibility of polarisation in Singapore society. This can be brought about by a number of structural incentives such as advertising money and audience drive on social media, he said.
“We are still a society where regardless of whatever party we voted for... we still find common ground,” he said. “But there are societies in this world where the opposite has happened, and where political affiliation has come along with ideological polarisation.”
He added that while Singapore has political contestation, there should not be ideological and social polarisation.
Asked about his role as the PAP’s party whip, he said parties have positions they take and values they espouse. His role is to bring together diverse issues and provide a platform to settle that divergence, so that they can drive the agenda forward and build a sense of cohesion.
Dr Janil was also asked about meritocracy and how it may propagate inter-generational inequality, where families of high socio-economic standing can fund the development of their children. In response, he said it is unworkable to absolutely ensure that there is no difference between every child.
What is being done is to have programmes that help those who do not have the benefit of intergenerational transfers, such as in pre-schools and early childhood education where the skills and expertise of educators and social workers are applied to those who do not have any advantage.
“Meritocracy is something that needs to be nurtured and grown, tended to carefully, (and) adjustments made along the way,” he said.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/who-says-we-are-not-politically-mature-janil-puthucheary
| 2024-01-29T14:14:41Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/who-says-we-are-not-politically-mature-janil-puthucheary
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DOHA - Jordan advanced to the Asian Cup quarter-finals after two stoppage-time goals secured a 3-2 win over Iraq, who had striker and tournament top scorer Aymen Hussein sent off late on for excessive goal celebrations on Monday.
With Iraq looking destined to move into the last eight when the clock struck 90 minutes, Jordan's Yazan Al-Arab equalised in the 95th before Nizar Al-Rashdan scored two minutes later with a glorious long-range effort to break Iraqi hearts.
Jordan went ahead on the stroke of halftime when Yazan Al-Naimat pounced on a sloppy pass and raced past the defence.
The 24-year-old chipped the ball over goalkeeper Jalal Hassan to score before celebrating with his team mates by sitting on the turf and pretending to eat a meal.
Iraq struck back in the 68th when Saad Natiq headed home from a corner before Hussein scored eight minutes later when he controlled a cross and fired into the bottom corner.
The joy of scoring his sixth goal of the tournament quickly turned to shock when the referee produced a second yellow card for excessive celebrations after the striker mimicked Jordan's players and sat on the turf, pretending to eat by himself.
While Iraq fumed, Jordan took full advantage of the extra man and when Mousa Tamari's stoppage time effort was parried by Hassan, Al-Arab was on hand to fire home the rebound.
The comeback was complete when midfielder Al-Rashdan was left unmarked outside the box and curled his shot past the keeper to set up a quarter-final with tournament debutants Tajikistan. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/jordan-leave-it-late-to-beat-iraq-3-2-and-reach-asian-cup-quarter-finals
| 2024-01-29T14:14:52Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/jordan-leave-it-late-to-beat-iraq-3-2-and-reach-asian-cup-quarter-finals
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Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe hopes to have several key players back in the squad including attacking midfielder Miguel Almiron as they look to end a four-match losing streak in the Premier League when they visit Aston Villa on Tuesday.
The Paraguay international, who has started 18 league games this season, has not played for two weeks due to illness.
However, central defender Jamaal Lascelles may miss the game due to a calf injury, Howe told reporters on Monday.
"We hope Miggy will be with us. Jamaal, I’m not so sure about. It's not a serious injury but I think it might be enough to keep him out of this game, it will be close," Howe said.
Newcastle have been without a number of regulars through injury in a run of six defeats over their last seven league games but Howe hopes some will return in the coming weeks.
"Harvey (Barnes) is getting closer. He's probably the closest, along with Callum (Wilson). Then you go a little bit further back to Joe (Willock) and a bit further again to Elliot (Anderson)," Howe said.
Newcastle thrashed Villa 5-1 at St James' Park in August but have been unable to maintain any momentum and are in 10th place with 29 points, while Villa are fourth, 14 points above them. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/newcastle-hope-to-have-key-players-back-in-bid-to-end-losing-run-howe
| 2024-01-29T14:15:02Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/newcastle-hope-to-have-key-players-back-in-bid-to-end-losing-run-howe
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SINGAPORE – The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) fired Lions coach Takayuki Nishigaya on Jan 29 as “recent performances and results of the national team have been below expectation”.
The national body, in a media statement, said the decision was “reached after careful consideration” and a successor will be announced in due course.
It thanked Nishigaya for his work here but added: “The recent performances and results of the national team have been below expectation, and the FAS believes an early transition to a fresh successor would re-energise the team and allow a longer runway for the national team to prepare for important matches in the next few months and the year-end AFF tournament.”
Tsutomu Ogura, 57, a former Japan national team assistant, is soon expected to be announced as the country’s next national coach.
That would make Ogura the third straight Japanese to take charge of the Lions.
Nishigaya, 50, was hired on a two-year contract in April 2022 as the replacement for Tatsuma Yoshida, who resigned and left his post in Dec 2021, a year before his contract was up.
The Lions’ next match will be back-to-back World Cup qualifiers against China on March 21 and 26. The first match will be played in Singapore, while the second will be an away fixture.
Nishigaya was appointed following a hiring process that took more than four months. He was recommended to FAS by the Japan Football Association technical committee, and appointed by a panel comprising then FAS president Lim Kia Tong, current president Bernard Tan, vice-president Teo Hock Seng, council member Goh Tat Chuan and general secretary Yazeen Buhari.
This was Nishigaya’s first international gig after spells in charge of J2 side Mito Hollyhock and Japan’s third-division club SC Sagamihara.
His tenure ends with eighth wins, eight losses and five draws in 21 matches as Lions coach. A particular low point of his spell in charge came in January 2023, when the Lions were trounced 4-1 by Malaysia before a meek exit at the group stage of the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Championship.
While there were three straight wins – over Guam, in a two-legged World Cup qualifier, and Chinese Taipei – last September and October, the Lions have largely looked dismal under Nishigaya.
His departure does not come as a surprise, given the discontent amongst fans and some players.
Sections of Lions supporters chanted for Nishigaya to be sacked after Thailand’s 3-1 win over Singapore in a World Cup qualifier at the National Stadium on Nov 21, with the sentiments spilling over to social media.
The Straits Times reported a few days after the defeat by the Thais, that the FAS had sounded out potential candidates to replace Nishigaya, with compatriot Ogura understood to be the front runner for the job.
Ogura was an assistant coach at Tokyo Verdy, who gained promotion to the Japanese top tier last season. Verdy announced on Jan 12 that Ogura had left the club.
Ogura was Japan’s assistant coach from 2006 to 2010 and was part of the Samurai Blue’s 2010 World Cup team who lost to Paraguay on penalties in the round of 16. He was then appointed assistant coach of Japan’s Olympic team from 2010 to 2012, when they finished fourth in London.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/singapore-national-football-coach-takayuki-nishigaya-leaves-role
| 2024-01-29T14:15:12Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/singapore-national-football-coach-takayuki-nishigaya-leaves-role
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SINGAPORE – As the football world digests the bombshell news of Jurgen Klopp’s departure, the debate has intensified on who should step into the German’s big shoes.
Former Liverpool star John Arne Riise believes his ex-teammate and current Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso fits the bill perfectly.
Klopp stunned the football world on Jan 26 when he announced that he would be stepping down as Liverpool manager at the end of this campaign, adding that he was running out of energy going amid his ninth season at Anfield.
Riise, who is in Singapore for the announcement of the April 20-21 StarHub Football Festival, told The Straits Times on Jan 29 that Liverpool need a “hungry manager, someone who wants to improve and someone who knows the club”.
“Xabi Alonso has been a player at the club, he knows the club, he knows the fans,” added the 43-year-old Norwegian. “He knows what is expected when it comes to results.
“At Liverpool... expectations are high and you need to have a good relationship with the fans. And he has that, so my pick will be him. He is hungry, he is young and he has already proven he is a good manager.”
Riise, a former left-back, knows what it takes to succeed on Merseyside.
He spent seven seasons at Liverpool, making more than 250 appearances from 2001 to 2008, during which he won the 2005 Champions League and 2006 FA Cup with Alonso.
The Spaniard is in his first role in senior management after being appointed as Leverkusen coach in October 2022.
He took over a team who were mired in the relegation zone and led them to a sixth-placed finish. This season, his Leverkusen side have set the Bundesliga alight. They are perched atop the table, two points above defending champions Bayern Munich, after staying unbeaten in 19 matches.
Alonso, who has played down speculation linking him to the Anfield hot seat, has also earned admirers for his work, with his team playing an exciting, attacking brand of football.
Riise is not surprised by his former teammate’s rise, adding that it was apparent from their days in the locker room that Alonso had an affinity with the tactical board.
“You could see it in the way he plays football, his character, how he trains. He is tactically smart, he is always looking around, he’s always taking in everything people said, he reads the game very well and he can change a play during a game. And that’s how you have to be as a manager,” said Riise.
Alonso has also honed his tactical acumen, having played under serial winners Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti (both Real Madrid) and Pep Guardiola (Bayern Munich), which puts him in good stead for a top coaching appointment, added Riise.
Riise himself had also coached. He was most recently in charge of top-tier Norwegian women’s side Avaldsnes IL from 2021 to 2023.
Fans in Singapore may get a chance to witness Riise’s ferocious left-footed rockets, when he laces up his boots for an exhibition match in the StarHub Football Festival at Our Tampines Hub on April 21.
He will be starring for the EPL legends as they take on the Singapore legends, led by former Lions forward Aleksandar Duric.
Riise is expected to line up alongside former Manchester United stars Dwight Yorke and Teddy Sheringham and former Reds such as Glen Johnson, Patrik Berger and Vladimir Smicer.
Tickets for the match, priced from $30 to $60, will be available exclusively on Movetix from Jan 30 to Feb 5 before also being made available on Sistic.
Organised by World Football Legends in collaboration with StarHub, the two-day festival will kick off on April 20 with coaching sessions for children and other activities such as workshops and meet-and-greet sessions with the legends.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/former-liverpool-star-john-arne-riise-picks-ex-teammate-xabi-alonso-as-jurgen-klopp-s-successor
| 2024-01-29T14:15:22Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/former-liverpool-star-john-arne-riise-picks-ex-teammate-xabi-alonso-as-jurgen-klopp-s-successor
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Welcome to the latest edition of ST Full-time Report, where the best sports content from The Straits Times is delivered to your inbox every Monday evening. Subscribe here for the weekly updates.
Dear ST reader,
Having filled her trophy cabinet with multiple shiny medals in 2023, Singapore sprint queen Shanti Pereira will be heading to Florida, United States, hoping that a two-month training camp in the Sunshine State will propel her into another glittering season.
Next, The Straits Times’ sports desk has launched a new series called Play of the Month. From January to December, an expert in each of the 12 sports will provide tips on how to play and get better at it. The January spotlight is on floorball.
Finally, our English Premier League columnist John Brewin examines the shock news that Jurgen Klopp will leave Liverpool at the end of the season and what the future holds for the Reds.
See you again next week. For the latest news on Singapore sports, check out ST Sport on Instagram.
Shanti Pereira to train in US and compete in Europe ahead of Paris Olympics
Her goal for this season is to further eclipse her national records of 11.20sec (100m) and 22.57sec (200m).
ST Sports’ Play of the Month – Floorball
The new monthly series will have experts providing tips on how to play and get better in a sport.
Winging it on the water, wingfoiling picks up in Singapore
It combines elements of windsurfing, kitesurfing and foiling - the winger stands on a board while holding onto an inflatable wing.
A dream ends for bowler Jazreel Tan, who has retired after 21 years in the Singapore national team
Among her achievements are an Asian Games team gold in 2014 and a Masters silver at the World Women’s Championship.
Composure and character take Jannik Sinner to a first Grand Slam title
Italian world No. 4 recovers from two sets down to outlast Russian Daniil Medvedev in Australian Open final.
Goalkeeper Hazel Lim earns overseas stint while on holiday in Australia
She signed a contract till the end of the season with Melbourne-based side Southern United.
On The Ball: Jurgen Klopp’s departure leaves big shoes to fill for the likes of Xabi Alonso
Roberto de Zerbi is the other immediate front runner for Liverpool job, but both insist they are focused on current sides, writes John Brewin.
Singapore’s Zeanne Law named Wushu Taolu Rising Star of the Year by world body
She won the women’s taijiquan title at the World Wushu Championships in Texas last November.
Podcast: Outlining 2024 in Singapore sports with SportSG and SSI
Top Singapore sports administrators take the hot seat in our studio with Deepanraj Ganesan.
S’pore’s Chen Xingtong, 15, wins qualifier to earn debut at golf’s HSBC Women’s World C’ship
If you received this newsletter from someone, sign up here to get weekly updates right in your inbox.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/shanti-pereira-to-train-in-us-ahead-of-paris-2024-st-sports-launches-new-series-play-of-the-month
| 2024-01-29T14:15:33Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/shanti-pereira-to-train-in-us-ahead-of-paris-2024-st-sports-launches-new-series-play-of-the-month
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VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis on Monday joined the chorus of congratulations for Jannik Sinner, the first Italian to win a tennis Grand Slam trophy in 48 years.
Francis complimented Sinner and his compatriots while giving an audience to members of a tennis club from Barcelona, a Vatican statement said.
"We have to congratulate the Italians because they won in Australia yesterday," the 87-year-old pope, whose best known sporting passion is soccer, said in unscripted remarks.
Sinner, 22, beat Russia's Daniil Medvedev in the final of the Australian Open on Sunday, overcoming a two-set disadvantage to win 3-6 3-6 6-4 6-4 6-3.
The Italian hails from the German-speaking Alpine region of South Tyrol, and initially practiced skiing before switching to focus on tennis in his youth. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tennis/pope-francis-hails-italys-sinner-for-grand-slam-victory
| 2024-01-29T14:15:43Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tennis/pope-francis-hails-italys-sinner-for-grand-slam-victory
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SINGAPORE - Having trouble booking a badminton court? It could soon be as easy as telling a chatbot when and where you want to play badminton.
The People’s Association (PA) and the Government Technology Agency of Singapore have collaborated on onePA Facilities Booking Recommender, a tool that allows users to find available badminton courts and other PA facilities simply by typing in your preferred venue and dates in any of the Republic’s four official languages.
The tool, which will also recommend nearby facilities to provide users with more choices, will initially be trialled with community centre reception desk staff.
It is just one of the generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) solutions developed as part of an initiative to accelerate the adoption of the technology here.
After the AI Trailblazers initiative was announced in July 2023, 84 businesses and government agencies here have developed more than 100 GenAI solutions.
The initiative is a collaborative effort between the Communications and Information Ministry, Digital Industry Singapore, the Smart Nation Group and Google Cloud.
It aims to help organisations here use GenAI to solve real-world challenges, with government agencies and businesses gaining free access to Google Cloud’s AI toolsets for up to three months under the initiative.
Another solution, developed by Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP), uses AI to guide academic staff through the process of developing course content, such as teaching slides, allowing the school to offer new or updated courses more quickly for adult learners.
A total of 43 organisations, whose GenAI solutions were developed under the initiative, were highlighted during the Explore AI summit, held at Google’s Asia-Pacific campus at Mapletree Business City on Jan 29.
During the summit, Google Cloud South-east Asia managing director Mark Micallef announced an expansion of the initiative, dubbed AI Trailblazers 2.0, which aims to help up to 150 more organisations here.
“The sheer variety of Gen AI solutions that have been developed through AI Trailblazers reinforces this technology’s ability to help us make sense of the information and perform daily tasks in ways never before possible,” said Mr Micallef.
Organisations under the expanded initiative will be able to use new tools such as Gemini – a new multimodal large language model developed by Google – as well as Duet AI for Developers, an AI-powered tool that helps developers build applications faster.
This comes after Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in December announced the revised National AI Strategy, which focuses on ways to get the Republic’s economy to embrace and utilise AI, and expand on use cases within sectors such as healthcare and education.
Also announced during the summit were a slew of other programmes aimed at expanding the adoption of AI here.
They include a collaboration between Google Cloud and Enterprise Singapore, which aims to grow 100 “high-potential” AI start-ups over the next three years and allow them to expand into new markets.
In line with efforts to grow the AI skills of the Singapore workforce, Google also announced that it is offering an additional 3,000 Google Career Certificate scholarships locally, bringing its total commitment to 13,000 scholarships here.
Focused on upskilling mid-career professionals, the certificates are in areas such as cyber security and data analytics, and can be completed within six months through flexible online training.
In line with the Government’s aim to triple the number of AI practitioners here to 15,000 over the next three to five years, NYP will become the first institute of higher learning in Singapore to incorporate advanced industry training programmes from Google Cloud into its core curriculum.
This will benefit more than 1,000 full-time diploma students in its School of Information Technology, with the programmes including professional data engineer certification and courses on building and deploying AI solutions on Vertex AI, Google’s machine-learning platform.
Minister for Communications and Information Josephine Teo, who attended the event, said part of good governance in AI is partnering others to build the capabilities needed to support the sector.
“It means making sure that people not only have access to the tools, but are provided with the opportunities to grow the skills that will enable them to use these tools well,” said Mrs Teo.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/tech/tech-news/more-than-100-solutions-developed-as-part-of-generative-ai-initiative
| 2024-01-29T14:15:53Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/tech/tech-news/more-than-100-solutions-developed-as-part-of-generative-ai-initiative
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KORSOR NAVAL BASE, Denmark - Denmark on Monday sent a frigate to the Red Sea, where it will participate in a U.S.-led coalition to safeguard commercial traffic against attacks by Yemen's Houthi militants.
The Iran-aligned Houthi have launched waves of exploding drones and missiles at commercial and navy vessels since Nov. 19, in response to Israel's military operations in Gaza.
In response, shipping firms have since December diverted hundreds of vessels around southern Africa's Cape of Good Hope, a journey that takes 10-14 days longer and is more costly than the passage via the Red Sea and Suez Canal.
Denmark, home to shipping company Maersk, is sending the 139-metre Iver Huitfeldt frigate to the area as part of Operation Prosperity Guardian formed last month to protect merchant vessels.
“If you think that the answer to the Houthis is to simply allow them to terrorise free world trade, you are on the wrong track," Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen told reporters on board the frigate before it departed the Korsor naval base.
"That is also why we, together with the Americans and the British, are now showing responsibility and sending a signal that we will not tolerate what is happening,” the minister said.
The Houthi rebels last week fired three anti-ship ballistic missiles toward a U.S.-flagged container ship operated by Maersk.
The frigate carries U.S.-made Harpoon anti-ship missiles and ESSM surface-to-air interceptor missiles, but will not be able to defend itself or other ships against ballistic missiles, said head of the Danish Navy Command, Henrik Ryberg.
Denmark has for years planned to buy the more powerful and longer-range SM-2 and SM-6 missiles capable of defending against ballistic missiles but has not got delivery of those yet, he said.
Danish special operation forces, which have previously been used to combat pirates in the Gulf of Guinea, will not participate in this operation, Ryberg said.
The frigate with a crew of around 175 will begin operations in the Red Sea once the Danish Parliament approves a resolution to send the warship into the area, which is expected on Feb. 6.
It will not participate in U.S.-led offensive operations against the Houthis, the minister said.
Danish shipping companies annually send about 2,500 ships through the Red Sea, a route that accounts for about 15% of the world's shipping traffic.
"Right now, we have very few Danish ships sailing through the strait, simply because it is too unsafe. But in order to return, we need more security and that's what the coalition is all about," said Anne Steffensen, head of industry group Danish Shipping. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/danish-frigate-departs-for-the-red-sea-to-assist-us-led-operation
| 2024-01-29T14:16:04Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/danish-frigate-departs-for-the-red-sea-to-assist-us-led-operation
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PARIS - French farmers blocked major highways to Paris on Monday as they pursue protests over a range of grievances, despite several measures announced by the government.
Here are some of the issues that have prompted the protest movement and what the government could do next.
WHY ARE FARMERS PROTESTING?
Farmers in France, the EU's biggest agricultural producer, say they are not being paid enough and are choked by excessive regulation on environmental protection.
Some of their concerns, like competition from cheaper imports and environmental rules, are shared by producers in the rest of the EU while other issues such as food price negotiations are more specific to France.
COSTS
Farmers argue that a push by the government and retailers to bring down food inflation has left many producers unable to cover high costs for energy, fertiliser and transport.
A government plan to phase out a tax break for farmers on diesel fuel, as part of a wider energy transition policy, was also a flashpoint.
IMPORTS
Large imports from Ukraine, for which the EU has waived quotas and duties since Russia's invasion, and renewed negotiations to conclude a trade deal between the EU and South American bloc Mercosur, have fanned discontent about unfair competition in sugar, grain and meat.
The imports are resented for pressuring European prices while not meeting environmental standards imposed on EU farmers.
ENVIRONMENT, RED TAPE
Farmers take issue both with EU subsidy rules, such as an incoming requirement to leave 4% of farmland fallow, and what they see as France's overcomplicated implementation of EU policy, such as in restoring hedges.
Green policies are seen as contradicting goals to become more self-sufficient in production of food and other essential goods in the light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Rows over irrigation projects and criticism about animal welfare and pesticides have heightened feelings among an ageing French farmer population as being disregarded by society.
WHAT HAS THE GOVERNMENT DONE SO FAR?
The government is under pressure to defuse the crisis ahead of European elections in June and the annual Paris farm show in late February.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced on Jan. 26 the scrapping of diesel tax increases for farmers. He also set out steps to reduce red tape and offered extra aid including for farmers affected by a cattle disease in the south.
WHAT COULD HAPPEN NEXT?
The initial announcements drew mixed reactions and farmers' unions have called for protests to continue.
The government is maintaining a tolerant stance towards the protests, despite some violent incidents. It has ordered police, however, to protect Paris' airports and wholesale food market after calls for them to be targeted.
The government has promised further measures within days.
Further support for wine producers hit by falling consumption is being studied while additional measures for livestock are also expected.
With most agricultural policies and subsidies determined at EU level, Paris is seeking concessions from its partners, such as trying to build support for a waiver on the fallow land requirement, an issue President Emmanuel Macron could push at a leaders' summit on Thursday.
On trade, another area run at EU level, Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau called for measures to prevent imports from Ukraine destabilising EU markets, notably in sugar, poultry and eggs. That marks a shift by Paris, previously opposed to moves by eastern EU countries to limit flows of Ukrainian produce.
WHERE ELSE IN EUROPE ARE FARMERS PROTESTING?
Traffic around the Belgian capital was also disrupted by angry farmers on Monday and about a dozen tractors made it through to Brussels' EU area where they honked loudly.
Farmers stopped about five trucks with Spanish vegetables and dumped the produce near the distribution centre of Belgian retailer Colruyt near Brussels, Belgian media reported.
Germany has also faced tensions, with protests erupting after a government decision to phase out a tax break on agricultural diesel as it tried to balance its 2024 budget. Earlier this month Berlin was brought to a near standstill as one of its central avenues filled with trucks and tractors.
Farmers and truck drivers in Romania have also taken action this month with protests against high business costs blocking access to a border crossing with Ukraine. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/explainer-why-are-french-farmers-protesting
| 2024-01-29T14:16:14Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/explainer-why-are-french-farmers-protesting
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THE HAGUE - The United Nations' highest court will rule on Friday whether it will hear a case in which Ukraine has accused Russia of violating international law by saying its invasion was launched to stop an alleged genocide.
Ukraine brought the case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), also known as the World Court, days after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.
In hearings in September, lawyers for Moscow urged judges to throw out the case, saying Kyiv's legal arguments were flawed. The ICJ on Monday said a ruling on Russia's objections to the court's jurisdiction will be handed down on Friday.
Kyiv says Russia is breaching the 1948 Genocide Convention by saying the invasion was justified to stop an alleged genocide of Russian speakers in eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine says there was no risk of genocide in eastern Ukraine, where it had been fighting Russian-backed forces since 2014.
Moscow has said Ukraine is using the case as a roundabout way to get a ruling on the overall legality of Russia's military action.
The same court on Friday ordered Israel to take action to prevent acts of genocide as it wages war against Hamas militants in Gaza, and do more to help civilians. It stopped short of calling for an immediate ceasefire as requested by South Africa.
The court did not rule on the core of the case - whether genocide has occurred in Gaza. But it recognised the right of Palestinians in Gaza to be protected from acts of genocide.
If the ICJ does decide the Ukraine-Russia case can move forward, it could take many months before hearings on the merits are scheduled.
On Wednesday, the ICJ will rule in another case brought by Ukraine against Russia in which it accused Moscow of violating U.N. anti-terrorism and anti-discrimination treaties in relation to the downing of flight MH17 in July 2014. Russian has denied involvement in the incident. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/icj-to-rule-on-jurisdiction-in-russia-ukraine-genocide-case
| 2024-01-29T14:16:25Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/icj-to-rule-on-jurisdiction-in-russia-ukraine-genocide-case
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The wife of Russian dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza said on Monday that he had left the Siberian penal colony where he had been imprisoned since September, and she did not know where the authorities had taken him.
Evgenia Kara-Murza wrote on social media platform X that her husband, who suffers from a nerve disorder after surviving two poison attacks, had been in solitary confinement during the four months he had spent in the harsh-regime IK-6 colony in Omsk.
Convicted prisoners can disappear for long periods while being transferred by rail and prison car between far-flung points of Russia's penal system. In December, the family and lawyers of opposition leader lost contact with him for nearly three weeks while he was being moved to a penal colony in the Arctic.
The Russian prison service did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Kara-Murza's whereabouts.
The dissident was jailed for 25 years last April for treason and spreading "false information" about Russia's war in Ukraine. He denied the charges and compared the proceedings to Stalinist show trials of the 1930s.
Kara-Murza, 42, has a condition called polyneuropathy that
takes away the sensation in his limbs unless controlled by
medicines and exercise. His wife has voiced fears for his life in jail.
Poisoning episodes in 2015 and 2017 sent Kara-Murza into a coma both times. Navalny too survived an attempt to poison him with a nerve agent in 2020.
Kara-Murza, who holds Russian and British passports, is one of a small number of prominent opposition figures who stayed in Russia and continued to speak out against President Vladimir Putin after his February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/russian-dissident-kara-murza-transferred-to-unknown-location-wife-says
| 2024-01-29T14:16:35Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/russian-dissident-kara-murza-transferred-to-unknown-location-wife-says
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GAZA – Israel launched an assault overnight on Gaza’s main northern city weeks after pulling back from there, while Washington promised to respond to the first deadly strike on its forces in the Middle East since the Gaza war began.
Three US servicemen were killed and at least 34 wounded in a drone attack by Iran-backed militants in north-eastern Jordan near the Syrian border, US Central Command said on Jan 28, an escalation in the violence that has erupted beyond Gaza.
United States President Joe Biden said the attacks were carried out by radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq.
Iran denied any role, but the first fatalities in what have been scores of attacks on US forces in the Middle East since the Israel-Hamas war broke out prompted calls from US politicians for a direct response.
Mr Biden has ordered retaliatory attacks on Iranian-backed groups but has stopped short of attacking Iran directly for fear of igniting a broader war amid violence that has already hampered world trade through attacks on ships in the Red Sea.
“Have no doubt, we will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner of our choosing,” he said on Jan 28.
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis, behind regular attacks on shipping in the region, said on Jan 29 they fired a rocket at US warship Lewis B. Puller in the Gulf of Aden on Jan 28. There was no immediate response from Washington.
Inside Gaza, residents said air strikes on neighbourhoods across Gaza City killed and wounded many people. While tanks shelled the eastern areas of the city, naval boats fired shells and gun rounds at the beachfront areas in the west, they said.
Israel said late in 2023 that it had largely completed operations in northern Gaza. The push back into Gaza City, where residents reported fierce gun battles near the main Al-Shifa hospital, indicated that the war was not going to plan.
Among those killed were two Palestinian journalists, Mr Essam El-lulu and Mr Hussein Attalah, along with several members of their families, health officials and the journalist union said.
Israel ‘ignoring world court’
Gazans said the renewed violence made a mockery of a ruling by the United Nations’ International Court of Justice calling on Israel to do more to help civilians.
Health officials say 26,422 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, with thousands more bodies likely under the rubble of destroyed buildings across the coastal territory.
“The war continues in a dirtier manner,” said Gaza City resident Mustafa Ibrahim, a Palestinian human rights activist now displaced with his family in Rafah near the southern border with Egypt, along with more than a million other Gazans.
Israel, which blames Hamas for the deaths of civilians, ordered new evacuations of the most populated areas of Gaza City, but people said communications blackouts meant many would miss them.
Those who did flee had to run the gauntlet of Israeli tanks placed on the main north-south road, residents said.
People in the north have been grinding animal feed to make flour after flour, rice and sugar ran out, part of an aid crisis now exacerbated by a withdrawal of support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
The United States, Australia, Canada, Britain, Italy, Finland and Japan are among countries that have suspended aid to the agency since Jan 26, after Israel said 12 of UNRWA’s 13,000 staff in Gaza were involved in the Oct 7 Hamas attacks on Israel in which about 1,200 people were killed.
The UNRWA said it would have to end operations within a month if funding was not restored.
“What is the world waiting for? Animal feed has begun to run out of northern Gaza markets,” local journalist Anas Al-Sharif wrote on X. “What will people eat when animal feed runs out?” he said.
Air strikes also hit the southern city of Khan Younis. Israel said four among dozens of Palestinian gunmen it had killed in the past 24 hours had been preparing to ambush troops near Al-Amal hospital.
In the middle of Gaza, health officials said 13 Palestinians were killed in the Al-Rimal neighbourhood after Israeli forces stormed a shelter for displaced people there.
Significant gaps
Aware of the growing risks of a wider conflagration, Mr Biden and other leaders have been pushing for a new temporary ceasefire to allow for the release of hostages held by Hamas and get more aid into Gaza as a prelude to a permanent truce.
Talks on Jan 27 initiated by Qatar and involving US, Israeli and Egyptian intelligence chiefs were “constructive”, Israel said, while adding that “significant gaps” remain.
Hamas said any release of hostages would require a guaranteed end to Israel’s offensive in Gaza and full withdrawal. Israel rejects such a plan, although a Palestinian official close to mediation talks said implementation would not have to be immediate.
More than 100 people remain captive in Gaza, out of 253 seized when Hamas militants attacked Israeli bases and towns on Oct 7.
The Gaza war has also inflamed violence in the occupied West Bank. Five Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces in four different incidents there in the past 24 hours, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.
The Israeli military said two of the incidents came in response to attempted gun and knife attacks on them.
Within Israel, the military said a soldier in Haifa in the north was rammed by a motorist who then tried to attack with an axe. It said the assailant, who it did not identify, was shot.
Also on Jan 29, several explosions were heard near a shrine complex on the outskirts of the Syrian capital Damascus, according to news outlet Sham FM and one witness.
A source in Iran’s regional alliance said the strike had hit a location used by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps. An Israeli military spokesperson declined to comment. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/israel-charges-back-into-gaza-city-as-us-considers-response-to-killing-of-its-troops
| 2024-01-29T14:16:45Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/israel-charges-back-into-gaza-city-as-us-considers-response-to-killing-of-its-troops
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PARIS – The world’s top bottled water seller Nestle Waters used “food safety” treatments that infringe French law, the company said on Jan 29.
It said it passed some waters, such as Perrier and Vittel, through ultraviolet light and active carbon filters “to guarantee food safety”, confirming an initial report from business daily Les Echos.
Nestle said it “lost track of the importance of conforming to regulations”, but that all the brands concerned now fulfil French requirements.
It said it told the French authorities in 2021.
Nestle did not immediately make clear when it stopped treating water sold under the Perrier, Vittel, Hepar and Contrex brands.
French law bans any disinfectant treatment of mineral waters, which are supposed to be safe to drink when they emerge from their sources.
Tap water, by contrast, is disinfected before being classed as drinkable.
Nestle said there were “changes in the environment around its sources, which can sometimes make it difficult to maintain stability of vital characteristics” in the water, namely the absence of pollution and mineral composition.
Since stopping the treatments, Nestle has paused production at some wells in the Vosges department of eastern France due to their “sensitivity to climate hazards”, forcing it to slash production of Hepar and Contrex. AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/nestle-admits-treating-some-mineral-waters-to-guarantee-food-safety
| 2024-01-29T14:16:56Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/nestle-admits-treating-some-mineral-waters-to-guarantee-food-safety
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In a significant move to cater to the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, MLCommons, a nonprofit organization renowned for its cloud computing-based AI benchmarks, has announced the formation of a groundbreaking initiative. The MLPerf Client working group aims to set the gold standard for measuring AI performance on personal computing devices. As AI increasingly shifts from the cloud to local device processing, the benchmarks seek to provide valuable insights into the capabilities of desktops, laptops, and workstations, influencing consumers’ choices in a rapidly advancing technological era.
MLPerf client benchmarks – Unveiling the next frontier for AI performance
With the growing significance of artificial intelligence in various facets of our lives, MLCommons recognizes the need to extend its influence beyond cloud-based standards. The MLPerf Client working group, established with the primary goal of introducing benchmarks for local AI workloads, is set to revolutionize the way consumers evaluate the performance of their personal computing devices. Unlike conventional benchmarks, the new standards are envisioned to be scenario-based, focusing on real-world applications and drawing inspiration from feedback within the community.
The inaugural benchmark introduced by MLCommons concentrates on generative AI text-generation, a pivotal aspect of contemporary AI applications. This benchmark assesses the performance of laptops, desktops, and workstations running Meta Platforms Inc.’s Llama 2. The collaboration with industry leaders like Microsoft and Qualcomm indicates a concerted effort to optimize Llama 2 for Windows and specific mobile devices. The scenario-based approach ensures that the benchmarks are not just theoretical but grounded in the practical needs and experiences of users.
The participation of major companies such as Advanced Micro Devices, Arm, ASUSTek Computing, Dell Technologies, Intel, Lenovo, and Nvidia in the MLPerf Client working group underscores the industry-wide acknowledgment of the importance of local AI processing. With MLCommons steering the direction, these benchmarks are poised to become the go-to guide for businesses and consumers navigating the complex landscape of AI-capable personal computing devices.
Industry Perspectives – Shaping the future of AI performance
According to the executive director of MLCommons, David Kanter, he conveyed optimism about the initiative, emphasizing that large language models serve as a natural and exciting starting point for the MLPerf Client working group. The focus on client systems is timely, reflecting the increasing importance of AI in day-to-day computing experiences. Nvidia’s director of performance benchmarking, Jani Joki, highlights the crucial role MLPerf benchmarks have played in measuring advancements in machine learning within data centers and anticipates a similar impact on client systems.
Interestingly, Apple Inc. is notably absent from the list of collaborators, raising questions about the potential exclusion of MacBook devices from these benchmarks. As generative AI becomes a staple in the tech landscape, Apple might find itself compelled to participate in the future iterations of MLPerf Client benchmarks, especially if the ability to run generative AI locally becomes a decisive factor for consumers.
As MLCommons sets the stage for a new era in AI performance evaluation on personal computing devices, the notable absence of Apple Inc. prompts a critical question: How will the company respond to the evolving landscape of generative AI, and will it eventually join the ranks of those contributing to the establishment of client system benchmarks? In a world where the efficiency of AI on personal devices holds increasing importance, the trajectory of Apple’s involvement could significantly impact the choices available to consumers in the realm of AI-powered computing.
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https://www.cryptopolitan.com/ai-performance-standards-on-pcs/
| 2024-01-29T15:17:13Z
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https://www.cryptopolitan.com/ai-performance-standards-on-pcs/
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https://www.producthunt.com/posts/blox-6
| 2024-01-29T15:20:56Z
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https://www.producthunt.com/posts/blox-6
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As artificial intelligence (AI) technology continues to advance rapidly, questions arise regarding the potential impact on various professions. Among them, professional photography faces the challenge of evolving from a skill-based art to a technology-driven field. While some experts express concerns about the potential obsolescence of traditional photography skills, others believe in the enduring value of human creativity.
The evolution of photography in the age of AI
A recent report published on Medium suggests that AI and image processing are fundamentally transforming the field of photography. This transformation is shifting the focus from skill-based artistry to technology-driven solutions. As AI capabilities continue to improve, high-quality photography becomes more accessible to a wider audience. This shift challenges the traditional concept of professional photography as a unique skill.
AI’s impact on photography skills
The report emphasizes how AI’s ability to handle complex tasks is changing the landscape of photography. Tasks such as composition and post-processing, which previously required human expertise, are now being automated by AI. Consequently, the need for extensive professional training in photography is diminishing, making the field more accessible to novices.
Despite the promise of AI in enhancing photography, concerns have been raised by experts who believe that AI should not replace human creativity. Jake Denton, a research associate at the Heritage Foundation’s Tech Policy Center, highlights the distinction between AI-generated art and human artistry. While algorithms can replicate artistic styles and techniques, they lack the nuanced sensibilities, depth, and emotional resonance that human artists infuse into their work. Denton argues that true art requires insights, imagination, and a unique human perspective.
Preserving human perspectives in art
Denton underscores the importance of preserving human perspectives in art and creativity. While technological advancements offer impressive possibilities, they cannot replicate the depth of human-made creative works. He advocates for a critical approach to AI-generated art to ensure that human creativity remains central in the world of photography and other creative fields.
Diverse opinions on the role of AI in photography
Not all experts share the same concerns about AI’s impact on professional photography. Some argue that AI technology, particularly in smartphone cameras, has made it easier for individuals to capture high-quality photos. While AI can streamline certain aspects of photography, it cannot fully replace the ingenuity and perspective of human photographers. This perspective suggests that creative professions like photography may be more insulated from the threat of AI than others.
The consumer perspective
Phil Siegel, founder of the Center for Advanced Preparedness and Threat Response Simulation (CAPTRS), points out that AI’s role in photography may ultimately be driven by consumer preferences. People can choose to take their own photos or hire professional photographers, much like they can decide to cook their meals or hire chefs. In this context, AI’s impact on photography may lead to more choices for consumers, focusing on service, time, distribution, and cost rather than the quality or cost of equipment.
Professional photography’s future
Aiden Buzzetti, President of the Bull Moose Project, remains optimistic about the future of professional photography. He acknowledges that AI tools in cameras, especially on mobile phones, have made photography more accessible to the general public. While there may be short-term shifts as more people enter the field and edit their photos with AI tools, Buzzetti believes that professional photography will not become obsolete. Instead, he suggests that photography will continue to be valued for its real-world authenticity, and AI may support artistic endeavors rather than replace them.
The rapid advancement of AI technology has raised questions about the future of professional photography. While some express concerns about the potential obsolescence of traditional photography skills, others believe in the enduring value of human creativity. The role of AI in photography may evolve, but the unique perspectives and insights provided by human photographers are likely to remain central to the art form.
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https://www.cryptopolitan.com/ai-raise-concern-future-of-photography/
| 2024-01-29T15:21:34Z
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https://www.cryptopolitan.com/ai-raise-concern-future-of-photography/
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Dessert brand Sara Lee, best known for making frozen cheesecakes, pies and ice cream for 52 years, has been rescued out of administration, the Australian media reported on Jan 29.
The manufacturer was sold to former race car driver Klark Quinn and his partner Brooke Quinn for an undisclosed sum, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
In October 2023, Sara Lee went into voluntary administration after it faced high operating costs and supply chain issues.
Business consulting firm FTI Consulting was appointed by Sara Lee to keep operations running by selling or restructuring the business.
The business sale ensures that the brand’s 200-strong workforce at its manufacturing facility in New South Wales (NSW) will keep their jobs, said administrator Vaughan Strawbridge, as reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
“Staff and consumers have rallied behind the business during this tough time, and we are so grateful to the loyal workforce and management team who have made this process a success while they have continued to produce amazing products,” Mr Strawbridge said.
The sale is slated for completion in the coming weeks.
The Quinns said it was their tradition to have Sara Lee apple pie and vanilla ice cream every Sunday night.
“We could not be more proud to put the Aussie made and owned stamp on the Sara Lee brand,” they said.
Established in 1971 in NSW, Sara Lee also trades in New Zealand, the Middle East and South-east Asia.
This is not the first time the Quinn family has helped confectioneries stay afloat.
In 2012, Queensland-based tycoon Tony Quinn, who is Mr Klark Quinn’s father, saved chocolate brand Darrell Lea when it went into voluntary administration, according to the Daily Mail.
He bought the brand for A$11 million (S$9.7 million) and sold it at A$200 million in 2018.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/australianz/dessert-brand-sara-lee-to-stay-afloat-after-sweet-deal
| 2024-01-29T15:44:56Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/australianz/dessert-brand-sara-lee-to-stay-afloat-after-sweet-deal
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A Swiss man cut off his arm with a pocket knife after a bear bit into it at a wildlife foundation in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Mr Stefan Specogna, a wildlife volunteer, had stretched his right arm into a black bear’s cage to feed the animal when it suddenly chomped into his arm and refused to let go, reported Thai news outlets.
The 32-year-old man tried to free his arm but eventually resorted to cutting it off.
Witnesses rushed to give him first aid before taking him from the wildlife foundation in Chiang Dao district in the north of the province to a nearby hospital. His arm was damaged from the elbow down, reported the Bangkok Post.
Mr Specogna was later transferred to a private hospital in Chiang Mai for surgery.
His severed arm was found in a shredded condition.
The Sun, a British newspaper, quoted a local who praised Mr Specogna for having a kind heart as he would rather cut off his own arm than hurt the bear.
Custody of the Asiatic black bear was transferred to the wildlife foundation from Doi Pha Daeng National Park in Chiang Dao, according to Thai news outlets.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/swiss-man-cuts-off-arm-to-escape-bear-attack-in-chiang-mai
| 2024-01-29T15:44:56Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/swiss-man-cuts-off-arm-to-escape-bear-attack-in-chiang-mai
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LONDON - Britain on Monday imposed sanctions on Iranian officials it said were involved in threats to kill journalists on British soil, and others it said were part of international criminal gangs linked to Iran.
The sanctions, imposed in coordination with the United States, target seven individuals and one organisation, Britain's Foreign Office said.
The sanctioned Iranian officials are members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Unit 840, which an ITV investigation in Britain said was involved in plots to assassinate two television presenters from news channel Iran International in the UK.
“The Iranian regime and the criminal gangs who operate on its behalf pose an unacceptable threat to the UK’s security," British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said.
“Today’s package exposes the roles of the Iranian officials and gangs involved in activity aimed to undermine, silence and disrupt the democratic freedoms we value in the UK."
Earlier, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was concerned about tensions in the Middle East and urged Iran to de-escalate after an attack that killed three U.S. service members in northeastern Jordan near Syria's border.
Police and security officials have warned about Iran's growing use of criminal proxies.
"Why would you do it yourself when you can procure an organised criminal to take the action on your behalf and provide distance and deniability," Assistant Commissioner Matt Jukes, Britain's head of counter-terrorism policing, told media earlier this month. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/uk-sanctions-iranian-officials-over-plot-to-kill-journalists
| 2024-01-29T15:44:57Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/uk-sanctions-iranian-officials-over-plot-to-kill-journalists
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WASHINGTON - The United States and Britain are taking action against a network of people who targeted Iranian dissidents and opposition activists for assassination at Iran's direction, the U.S. Treasury Department said on Monday.
The network is led by Iranian narcotics trafficker Naji Ibrahim Sharifi-Zindashti and directed by Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS), Treasury said.
The Treasury statement said Zindashti’s network has carried out assassinations and kidnappings across a number of jurisdictions, aiming to silence Tehran's perceived critics.
"The Iranian regime’s continued efforts to target dissidents and activists demonstrate the regime’s deep insecurity and attempt to expand Iran’s domestic repression internationally," said Brian Nelson, Treasury's under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence.
Treasury said its action was being taken in conjunction with the unsealing of an indictment by the Justice Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/us-uk-taking-action-against-network-that-targeted-iranian-dissidents-us-treasury
| 2024-01-29T15:44:59Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/us-uk-taking-action-against-network-that-targeted-iranian-dissidents-us-treasury
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SINGAPORE - OUE Reit’s distribution per unit stayed flat year on year at $0.0104 for its second half ended Dec 31, 2023, its manager reported on Jan 29.
This was even as the revenue of the real estate investment trust (Reit) rose 16.4 per cent on the year to $146.3 million, from $125.7 million previously.
Net property income for the half year grew 15.9 per cent on the year to $119.7 million, from $103.3 million.
The manager attributed the higher revenue and net property income to the strong operational performance of its Singapore portfolio, driven by the full-room inventory of Hilton Singapore Orchard.
“Stable occupancies and rental growth achieved at OUE Reit’s other commercial properties also contributed to the growth,” said the manager.
Distributable income climbed 10.8 per cent year on year to $57.7 million, from $52.1 million in the corresponding year-ago period.
The distribution will be paid out on Feb 28, after the books are closed on Feb 6, 2024.
Meanwhile, for the full year ended Dec 31, 2023, DPU was lower at $0.0209, from $0.0212 the previous year; distributable income grew 3.3 per cent to $115.3 million.
Revenue was 18 per cent higher at $285.1 million, and net property income rose 19.3 per cent to $235 million for the full year.
As at Dec 31, 2023, the valuation of the Reit’s properties increased 1.7 per cent year on year to $6.3 billion, mainly driven by higher valuations for its hotel properties, which benefited from the significantly improved hospitality sector post-pandemic.
The valuation of its Singapore offices remained stable, supported by positive rental reversion achieved during the year, said the manager.
Macroeconomic uncertainties continue to weigh on Singapore’s economy, but the manager of the Reit remains confident that OUE Reit’s prime portfolio of hospitality and commercial assets will continue to clock a “stable performance” for unit holders.
In the commercial sector, OUE Reit plans to leverage the prime locations and well-diversified tenant mix of its green-certified, core Grade-A office assets to capitalise on the continued demand for green-certified buildings.
And with global air travel volume expected to make a full recovery early this year, OUE Reit’s hospitality assets are “well-positioned to capitalise on the anticipated increase in tourists and business travellers in 2024 and beyond”, said its manager.
Units of OUE Reit traded flat at $0.28 on Monday before the announcement. THE BUSINESS TIMES
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https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/oue-reit-s-dpu-stays-flat-at-104-cent-for-second-half-despite-higher-revenue
| 2024-01-29T15:45:00Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/oue-reit-s-dpu-stays-flat-at-104-cent-for-second-half-despite-higher-revenue
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LONDON – Despite slipping to mid-table, Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe believes his side remain in the hunt to finish in the English Premier League top four, saying a “run of form can change everything”.
The Magpies recent run of form has been poor, with six defeats in their last seven league matches, but they will hope to turn that around on Jan 30 at Aston Villa, who occupy the final Champions League spot in fourth.
Unai Emery’s side are 14 points ahead of the Magpies, who are on 29 points. Both teams have 17 league matches left to play.
Asked about Newcastle’s top-four prospects, Howe said on Jan 29: “The gap is not big, and a run of form can change everything.
“We are not looking at our season being over or being negative. It is all to play for and we still have the FA Cup.”
Much has changed since the sides met in their opening fixture of the season in August, when Newcastle repeatedly exploited Villa’s high defensive line in a 5-1 romp at St James’ Park.
Said Howe: “It will be a very difficult game. They’re in very good form, so we need to get our game plan right. It seems a long time ago (since the 5-1 win on opening day).
“I think we were at our best from an attacking sense that day. We grew in confidence as the game went on and we scored some great goals.
“The squad looked healthy and we had options – it was a difficult team to pick. I think that showed what we’re capable of.”
At Villa Park, the Magpies will be missing the injured Joelinton, Nick Pope, Matt Targett, Joe Willock, Elliot Anderson and Harvey Barnes.
Sandro Tonali remains suspended, Callum Wilson is a doubt, while Miguel Almiron, Jamaal Lascelles and Jacob Murphy face late fitness tests.
Villa’s injury list features Emiliano Buendia, Tyrone Mings and Jhon Duran, while Pau Torres, Lucas Digne and Jacob Ramsey are doubts.
Meanwhile, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said speculation linking him with the Barcelona job is “totally untrue”.
Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez made the shock announcement last weekend that he would be leaving his post, saying “the club need a change of dynamic”.
He added: “Being Barca manager is cruel... people don’t value your work. It’s terrible wear and tear.”
Like his Spanish compatriot Xavi, Arteta is a product of Barcelona’s famed La Masia youth academy.
However, unlike club legend Xavi, he never made the grade at the Catalan giants and found his fortune elsewhere, playing for Rangers, Real Sociedad, Everton and Arsenal.
Speaking on Jan 29, ahead of his team’s Premier League trip to Nottingham Forest a day later, Arteta responded to questions linking him to the Barca job by saying: “Who, me? No. That is totally fake news.
“What you read, I’m really upset about it. I couldn’t believe it. It has no sources.
“I’m in the right place with the right people and feel really good about it.
“I’m embracing a beautiful journey with this club and there’s still a lot to do. I have a strong relationship with the board.
“Things come in a natural way. When the time is right we will have those (contract) discussions and find the best way to deal with it.”
Arteta’s Arsenal contract runs till the summer of 2025.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/eddie-howe-still-bullish-about-newcastle-united-s-top-four-hopes
| 2024-01-29T15:45:17Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/eddie-howe-still-bullish-about-newcastle-united-s-top-four-hopes
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DOHA – Jordan advanced to the Asian Cup quarter-finals after two stoppage-time goals secured a 3-2 win over Iraq, who had striker and tournament top scorer Aymen Hussein sent off late on for excessive goal celebrations on Jan 29.
With Iraq looking destined to move into the last eight when the clock struck 90 minutes, Jordan’s Yazan Al-Arab equalised in the 95th minute before Nizar Al-Rashdan scored two minutes later with a glorious long-range effort to break Iraqi hearts.
Jordan went ahead on the stroke of half-time when Yazan Al-Naimat pounced on a sloppy pass and raced past the defence.
The 24-year-old chipped the ball over goalkeeper Jalal Hassan to score before celebrating with his teammates by sitting on the turf and pretending to eat a meal.
Iraq struck back in the 68th when Saad Natiq headed home from a corner before Hussein scored eight minutes later when he controlled a cross and fired into the bottom corner.
The joy of scoring his sixth goal of the tournament quickly turned to shock when the referee produced a second yellow card for excessive celebrations after the striker mimicked Jordan’s players and sat on the turf, pretending to eat by himself.
While Iraq fumed, Jordan took full advantage of the extra man and when Mousa Tamari’s stoppage time effort was parried by Hassan, Al-Arab was on hand to fire home the rebound.
The comeback was complete when midfielder Al-Rashdan was left unmarked outside the box and curled his shot past the keeper to set up a quarter-final with tournament debutants Tajikistan.
On Jan 28, Tajikistan upset the United Arab Emirates 5-3 in a penalty shoot-out to advance to the last eight and keep their dream run alive after the game ended 1-1 after extra time at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium.
Tajikistan took the lead through Vahdat Hanonov’s first-half goal before Khalifa Al Hammadi forced extra time with a stoppage-time header.
In the shoot-out, UAE’s Caio Canedo had his effort saved by goalkeeper Rustam Yatimov before Tajikistan’s Alisher Shukurov scored the decisive spot kick.
Tajikistan are now only the second tournament debutants since Australia in 2007 to reach the quarter-finals but this was a much bigger upset for the minnows compared to an established Australian team who made the switch to the Asian Football Confederation.
Ranked outside the top 100, the Central Asian side coached by Petar Segrt sit 42 rungs below UAE, a team that had reached the semi-finals in both the 2015 and 2019 editions.
“Nobody will sleep in Tajikistan tonight,” a grinning Segrt said after the upset win.
“We are now the dark horses in this tournament. Nobody knows how far we can go. I have no limits for my players, they’ve surprised me again...
“But my biggest win has been the unity that now exists in the team, as nothing is more important to me than harmony among teammates.” REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/jordan-leave-it-late-to-beat-iraq-3-2-and-reach-asian-cup-quarter-finals-0
| 2024-01-29T15:45:27Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/jordan-leave-it-late-to-beat-iraq-3-2-and-reach-asian-cup-quarter-finals-0
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Scotland have called up prop Javan Sebastian and flyhalf Ross Thompson to their squad in preparation for their opening Six Nations clash with Wales in Cardiff on Saturday but front row WP Nel is out of contention with a neck injury.
Scotland are training in Spain ahead of the fixture with Sebastian, who was part of their World Cup squad in France last year, filling the void left by Nel.
Thompson is a replacement for Adam Hastings, who dropped out of the squad last week with a knee injury that will leave him sidelined for the duration of the Six Nations.
Uncapped Euan Ferrie, who can play at lock or in the back row, and scrumhalf Jamie Dobie are also training with the group, officials said on Monday. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/scotland-call-up-sebastian-thompson-ahead-of-six-nations-opener-v-wales
| 2024-01-29T15:45:38Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/scotland-call-up-sebastian-thompson-ahead-of-six-nations-opener-v-wales
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LAUSANNE – Teenage Russian skater Kamila Valieva received a four-year ban from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Jan 29 for failing a doping test before the 2022 Winter Olympics.
The three-member panel in sport’s highest court said: “A period of four years ineligibility is imposed on Ms Valieva, starting on Dec 25, 2021.
“All competitive results of Ms Valieva from Dec 25, 2021 are disqualified, with all the resulting consequences (including forfeiture of any titles, awards, medals, profits, prizes, and appearance money).”
Valieva was just 15 when she tested positive, raising questions not just about her guilt and the Russian Olympic system after the Sochi Winter Games of 2014 but how she was treated as a minor, the way the test was conducted and the value of the drug involved for enhancing performance.
The case came to CAS following Valieva’s exoneration by Russia’s anti-doping agency (Rusada).
The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) and the International Skating Union (ISU) then appealed Rusada’s ruling, as did Rusada itself.
Three CAS judges met in Lausanne in September to hear the case, with Valieva and some of the experts and witnesses taking part via videoconferencing.
At the Beijing Games, Valieva became the first female skater to land a quadruple jump in Olympic competition, helping Russia secure gold in the team event. The United States took silver, with Japan getting the bronze and Canada placing fourth.
The next day, she was told she had tested positive for trimetazidine, a drug used to treat angina but banned for athletes.
Her team have said the positive test, collected at the Russian national championships in December 2021, could have been due to a mix-up with her grandfather’s heart medication.
Under the pressure of suspicion and attention, Valieva cracked in the individual event in Beijing, stumbling four times in the long programme and finishing in tears as she tumbled from first to fourth.
At the end of the year, Rusada ruled that Valieva bore “no fault or negligence” for the positive test.
From the start, the case has presented a dilemma. Valieva’s age, 15 at the time, should have guaranteed her confidentiality under Wada rules for “protected persons” younger than 16. But her display in the Olympic team event had already drawn worldwide attention.
The ISU is raising the lower age limit for its senior category from 15 to 17 from 2024, citing the “physical, mental and emotional health” of competitors. AFP, REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/russian-figure-skater-valieva-banned-for-doping-roc-loses-olympic-gold-cas
| 2024-01-29T15:45:48Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/russian-figure-skater-valieva-banned-for-doping-roc-loses-olympic-gold-cas
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LONDON - Britain's King Charles left hospital on Monday after a three-night stay following treatment for an enlarged prostate, television footage showed.
The king, 75, who was admitted for a planned procedure on Friday, waved at crowds as he headed home from the London Clinic accompanied by his wife Queen Camilla.
He left hours after his daughter-in-law, Kate, the Princess of Wales, also left the same hospital following her two week recovery from abdominal surgery. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/britains-king-charles-leaves-hospital-after-prostate-treatment
| 2024-01-29T15:45:58Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/britains-king-charles-leaves-hospital-after-prostate-treatment
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LONDON - Schools could be mothballed in London because of falling pupil numbers caused by high living costs, an exodus of families after Brexit and a declining birth rate, a new report warned on Jan 29.
Some 8,000 fewer children are predicted to require places over the next four years, creating significant budget shortfalls for schools across the capital, the London Councils group said.
“There are a number of localised factors which have led to families moving away from London, including the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the increase in the cost of living, the UK’s exit from the European Union and the lack of affordable housing available in London,” the report states.
“These factors are continuing to be significant in determining where families choose to live, particularly in central London.”
A 17 per cent fall in the birth rate in the city – 23,225 live births – between 2012 and 2021 is another main reason for the decrease in demand for school places, said the group, which represents the 32 councils covering Greater
London.
As more people choose not to raise a family in the capital, the birth rate in London has decreased, the report says, warning that the situation is unlikely to change.
In some cases, the decline will worsen, leading to more reductions in pupil numbers in schools and “potential school closures”, the report warns.
Schools, which are funded by government according to the number of pupils, will have to make “difficult decisions” to balance their budgets, the councils warn.
This could include cutting teachers, narrowing the curriculum or offering fewer extracurricular opportunities.
“The drop in the child population is creating challenges for schools, many of whom are already in deficit, and face further budgetary reductions due to fewer pupils on their school roll,” the report says.
“There is an imminent risk that falling rolls and stretched budgets will lead to a drop in standards which will impact children’s long-term educational attainment.”
Falling numbers of pupils have already seen several schools shut their doors.
The Guardian newspaper reported in 2023 that an “urban exodus” of young families because of rising housing and childcare costs had created a similar situation in towns and cities across England. AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/london-schools-under-threat-from-cost-of-living-councils
| 2024-01-29T15:46:09Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/london-schools-under-threat-from-cost-of-living-councils
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Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to allow organisations the authorities deem economically significant to avoid disclosing information about their activities as Moscow seeks to limit its exposure to Western sanctions.
Russia started withholding some data shortly after its troops entered Ukraine in February 2022. Certain oil and gas statistics and federal budget details are hidden, while banks were ordered to limit disclosures.
The new decree, dated Jan. 27, widens the pool of entities that can avoid scrutiny by giving "economically significant organisations" and their owners the right to stop disclosing information.
The "economically significant" definition first appeared in Russian legislation in 2023 and was described by officials as applying to companies that are of significant importance to ensuring Russia's economic sovereignty and security.
The list of companies judged to qualify for the designation has not yet been made.
Under the decree, companies and persons deemed economically significant will have to notify regulators of their right not to disclose information and give some details to the authorities, but this data will not be made public. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/putin-lets-economically-significant-entities-limit-information-disclosures
| 2024-01-29T15:46:19Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/putin-lets-economically-significant-entities-limit-information-disclosures
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ROME - The Italian government unveiled at a summit on Monday details of a long-awaited project aimed at boosting development in Africa, hoping it will help spark economic growth that will curb irregular immigration to Europe.
Here are the main points of the "Mattei Plan" - named after the late Enrico Mattei, who founded state oil company Eni - as outlined by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
AREAS OF INTERVENTION
The Italian plan will be developed along five main policy pillars: education and training; agriculture; health; water; and energy - which is the most significant for Rome.
The aim is to make Italy an energy hub to transport natural gas supplies from Africa to the rest of Europe, with Italian energy major Eni set to play a key role in the initiative.
The government said it wanted to strengthen energy efficiency and promote the use of renewable energies.
Meloni listed an array of small pilot projects in the various segments, including a centre for training on renewable energy in Morocco, redevelopment of Tunisian schools, improving primary care for mothers and children in Ivory Coast, supporting farmers in northern Egypt, developing the biofuels sector in Kenya, an agriculture monitoring project in Algeria and work on water networks in the Congo Republic.
The prime minister said education was key to success, because Africa needed to train its own professionals to build schools, hospitals and infrastructure. She also said agriculture was crucial to development, and that Italy would aim to offer technology to increase the amount of cultivatable land.
FUNDING
Meloni said Italy would set aside an initial 5.5 billion euros ($5.95 billion) for the Mattei plan, including public guarantees for investment projects and 3 billion euros from a climate fund set up in 2021 to promote international environmental projects.
She said Rome was also looking to involve international financial institutions, the European Union and other nations in the financing of the plan.
Meloni said her government would also work with state-lender Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) on a new financial tool to lure private investment into the Mattei plan.
CDP and state investment agencies SACE and SIMEST, will open new offices in Africa, including in Morocco and Egypt. The Foreign Ministry said it had prepared a new package of subsidised financing for Africa totalling 200 million euros. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/what-we-know-about-the-italian-development-plan-for-africa
| 2024-01-29T15:46:30Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/what-we-know-about-the-italian-development-plan-for-africa
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As climate-fuelled disasters destroy more American homes, the crowdfunding platform GoFundMe has exploded in popularity.
Its appeal is simple: People can provide cash directly to survivors, which is quicker than insurance and often more generous than government aid.
But new research suggests that cash sent through GoFundMe disproportionately benefits the wealthy rather than those who most need help.
Researchers examined donations to hundreds of people who lost their homes in the 2021 Marshall Fire in Colorado, which destroyed more than 1,000 dwellings near Boulder, Colorado. They found that those with household incomes above US$150,000 (S$201,400) received 28 per cent more money, on average, than those with incomes below $75,000.
The authors concluded that the explanation largely revolves around social networks: Wealthier disaster survivors tend to be connected to more people, and those people often have more money to give.
“Crowdfunding gives higher-income survivors a bigger leg up,” said Assistant Professor Emily Gallagher, who teaches finance and real estate at the University of Colorado Boulder and is one of the study’s authors. “We cannot count on this form of private charity to fill funding gaps.”
Prof Gallagher and her colleagues said they plan to submit the paper to a peer-reviewed journal in March.
The data comes as traditional sources of funding for disaster recovery buckle under the strain of climate shocks.
Weather-related disasters pushed more than 3.3 million American adults out of their homes in 2022, census data show. Of those, at least 1.2 million people were out of their homes for a month or longer; more than 500,000 of them never returned, fueling a growing diaspora of domestic climate refugees.
Federal disaster aid already disproportionately helps the wealthy, data shows. The Federal Emergency Management Agency recently conceded that its disaster programmes often fail survivors, and pledged to overhaul them “to reach more people, provide more benefits and help them recover faster,” said Ms Jaclyn Rothenberg, a Fema spokeswoman.
And insurers, facing growing disaster costs, have restricted coverage and raised prices, leaving more Americans underinsured.
Crowdfunding is filling more of that gap. In 2013, US disaster recovery campaigns on GoFundMe raised a little more than US$3 million, according to the company. By last year, that figure had jumped to more than US$106 million. That’s about one-seventh of the amount that Fema spent on grants for individual disaster aid – US$765 million.
The growing role of crowdfunding can be seen in the aftermath of the Marshall Fire. Home owners who got Fema aid for property damage received an average of US$2,564, the researchers estimated. By contrast, the average GoFundMe campaign for Marshall Fire survivors raised US$23,744, they found. Among home owners whose homes were destroyed in the fire, the average was US$31,422.
Those donations were unevenly distributed.
Mr Josh R. Engel, a 46-year-old engineering manager who lost his home in Louisville, Colorado, was lucky compared with other survivors. His insurance paid about US$775,000 to rebuild his ruined house. (Mr Engel instead decided to rebuild and expand his house for about $1.4 million).
He and his wife, a director at a home health care company, received about US$60,000 through two GoFundMe campaigns that were set up by friends.
“Stuff just came in from around the world,” said Mr Engel, who recently moved into his newly rebuilt home. “We’re on the fortunate side of this.”
Mr David Leedy, a vice-president at a financial services company who lost his house in the same fire, raised more than $30,000 on GoFundMe.
He said the money helped pay for immediate needs – buying clothing and meals right after the fire, and then getting supplies for the rental house that he and his wife moved into as their home was being rebuilt.
“When you’ve got nothing, you need everything,” Mr Leedy said.
Others who lost their homes were less successful.
A man who identified himself on GoFundMe as Don Wieser wrote that he had escaped the fire with only his clothing and wallet. “I am currently on disability,” he wrote on his campaign page. “I would seriously appreciate any help I can get from the community to help me rebuild my life.”
Mr Wieser set his campaign goal at $15,000. He raised $8,183, according to his GoFundMe page.
Another disaster survivor, Mr Adam Kucera, said on his GoFundMe page that the fire destroyed the converted school bus he had been living in. He wrote that he had been unable to navigate the requirements for getting help from Fema or the American Red Cross.
“I am facing homelessness for the first time in my life,” Mr Kucera wrote. “Please help me get my life back.” He raised $4,575.
Neither Mr Wieser nor Mr Kucera responded to messages seeking comment.
In an interview, Ms Margaret Richardson, chief corporate affairs officer at GoFundMe, said this was the first time she had seen data examining the link between wealth and donations through the site. She said it was not surprising that wealthy survivors have access to others with money.
“We’re really a reflection of what’s happening in society,” Ms Richardson said. NYTIMES
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/gofundme-is-remaking-disaster-aid-it-largely-helps-the-wealthy
| 2024-01-29T15:46:40Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/gofundme-is-remaking-disaster-aid-it-largely-helps-the-wealthy
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LONDON - Ikea is investing in price cuts on some products across a range of countries, including Belgium, Canada and India, as the furniture retailer aims to unwind increases it introduced in 2022.
The main Ikea retailer said it has cut costs and sees decreasing raw material prices, enabling it to bring prices down on some products, which will in turn boost sales volumes.
“Every country is sitting and looking at where are the opportunities for us to, by lowering the prices, sell more pieces,” said Mr Tolga Oncu, Ingka retail manager at Ingka Group, the biggest owner of Ikea stores. “When you lower the price you also need to see a volume increase.”
Ikea is already selling more of the cut-price products, like Kallax storage cubes, in some countries, Mr Oncu said.
The aim is to bring prices back to “inflation-adjusted” pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2025, Ingka Group said.
Ingka Group is investing €55 million (S$80 million) to cut prices in Canada on more than 1,500 products, while in Belgium it is lowering prices on 2,600 products from Feb 1. It also plans price cuts in India on hundreds of products.
In the United States, for example, Ikea’s Billy bookcase cost US$69 (S$93) in 2016. The price fell to $59 in 2019 and increased to $89 by 2022, and is now back at $69.
The retailer has already announced price cuts in Germany – its biggest market by sales – as well as Sweden and Britain.
Ingka Group has invested more than €1 billion in price reductions across its markets from September to November.
Red Sea disruptions to global freight, which have pushed up shipping rates, are unlikely to impact Ikea’s plans to cut prices, Mr Oncu said.
“So far when it comes to the Red Sea disruptions, with the facts we know today it is not impacting the pricing direction that we have at Ikea.”
Ingka Group is the main global franchisee of Ikea. The brand is owned by a separate company, Inter Ikea, which manufactures all Ikea products. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/ikea-cuts-prices-to-boost-sales-as-raw-material-costs-ease
| 2024-01-29T15:46:50Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/ikea-cuts-prices-to-boost-sales-as-raw-material-costs-ease
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MEXICO CITY - The presidential candidate from Mexico's ruling leftist party has the support of 48% of voters, a 16-point lead compared to the main opposition coalition hopeful, about four months ahead of the election, according to a new poll released on Monday.
Still, support for Claudia Sheinbaum, the candidate for the MORENA party of outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, dipped 6 points compared to the previous survey published by newspaper El Financiero.
Her main opponent Xochitl Galvez, the candidate representing a three-party coalition of ideological diverse parties, has 32% support in the poll, up 2 points since the previous survey in December.
A third candidate from a smaller opposition party, Jorge Alvarez, had 10% support, up from 7% last month, while another 10% were undecided.
Mexican voters will head to the polls on June 2 to pick a successor to the popular Lopez Obrador, who by law is limited to one six-year term, as well as scores of other elected positions across the country.
Mexico would see its first woman president if Sheinbaum, the former mayor of the capital, or Galvez, a senator who has stepped down to run, were to win.
The poll also showed that MORENA is favored by 40% of voter intentions for the lower chamber of Congress which will also be up for grabs, down 5 points from December, while the three main opposition parties - the conservative PAN, centrist PRI and leftist PRD - would win an accumulated 31%.
Polls in Mexico have a checkered record of predicting election results, and have diverged significantly from final results in some past elections.
The El Financiero survey polled 1,000 adults via phone calls, both landlines and mobile numbers, on Jan. 12-13 and Jan 26-27, with a margin of error of 3.1%. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/mexicos-ruling-party-presidential-hopeful-holds-16-point-lead-poll
| 2024-01-29T15:47:01Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/mexicos-ruling-party-presidential-hopeful-holds-16-point-lead-poll
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Groups backed by Iran have been waging attacks on Israeli and U.S. targets since war erupted between its Palestinian ally Hamas and Israel on Oct. 7, a campaign that has regionalised the Gaza conflict and fuelled fears of wider escalation.
In one of the latest such attacks, three U.S. servicemen were killed and at least 34 wounded in a drone attack by Iran-backed militants in northeastern Jordan near the Syrian border, U.S. Central Command said on Sunday.
Following are key groups involved in attacks.
THE ISLAMIC RESISTANCE IN IRAQ
An umbrella group of hardline Shi'ite Muslim armed groups close to Iran, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed an attack near the Syrian-Jordanian border around the same time U.S. officials said their troops were targeted.
They have claimed more than 150 attacks on bases housing U.S. forces in Syria and Iraq since October, leading to dozens of mostly minor injuries and drawing several rounds of U.S. strikes in response.
Iranian-backed Shi'ite groups emerged as powerful players in Iraq after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, with tens of thousands of fighters.
Shi'ite armed groups played a leading role in battling the ultra-hardline Sunni Islamist Islamic State group, fighting as part of the Hashid Shaabi, or the Popular Mobilisation Forces.
While members of these armed groups receive state salaries and are technically under the authority of the prime minister, they often operate outside the chain of command.
Those targeting U.S. forces in recent months include Kataib Hezbollah and the Nujaba group, both of which are closely linked to Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards. Their arsenal includes explosive drones, rockets and ballistic missiles.
Their statements have declared their operations as part of an effort to "resist American occupation forces in Iraq and the region", and carried out in "response to the massacres" committed by Israel against Palestinians in Gaza.
The groups are designated terrorist organisations by the United States.
YEMEN'S HOUTHIS
The Houthi movement, which controls large parts of Yemen, announced it had entered the conflict on Oct. 31, firing drones and missiles at Israel more than a thousand miles from their seat of power in Sanaa.
In November, the Houthis expanded their role by attacking shipping in the southern Red Sea, saying they were targeting vessels belonging to Israelis or heading to Israeli ports - though some of the targeted ships had no known Israeli links.
The campaign prompted the United States and Britain to launch air strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen in January. The Houthis declared all U.S. and British ships and warships taking part in "the aggression" would be targets for the group.
The attacks have disrupted international commerce on the shortest shipping route between Europe and Asia, leading some shipping companies to reroute their vessels.
The United States believes Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) have been helping to plan and carry out the Houthi missile and drone attacks. Iran denies involvement.
Sources told Reuters earlier this month that commanders from the IRGC and Hezbollah are on the ground in Yemen helping to direct and oversee Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping. The Houthis denied any Hezbollah or Iranian involvement.
The United States returned the Houthis to its list of designated terrorist groups in response to the shipping attacks.
LEBANON'S HEZBOLLAH
The heavily armed Lebanese group Hezbollah has been mounting near daily attacks on Israeli targets at the Lebanese-Israeli border since Oct. 8, prompting the heaviest exchanges of fire between the enemies since they waged full-scale war in 2006.
Hezbollah says its attacks have helped to stretch the Israeli army while also uprooting tens of thousands of Israelis who have fled homes near the border. Israeli air and artillery strikes have also forced tens of thousands of Lebanese to flee.
More than 150 Hezbollah fighters and at least 25 Lebanese civilians have been killed, in addition to at least nine Israeli soldiers and a civilian.
A U.S. envoy has been engaged in efforts to prevent the violence from spiralling into an even bigger conflict.
Founded by Iran's Revolutionary Guards in 1982, Hezbollah has served as a model for other Tehran-backed groups across the region, and has also advised or trained some of them.
Hezbollah is widely regarded as more powerful than the Lebanese state and shares Iran's Shi'ite Islamist ideology.
The United States designates Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/what-is-iran-s-axis-of-resistance-which-groups-are-involved
| 2024-01-29T15:47:11Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/what-is-iran-s-axis-of-resistance-which-groups-are-involved
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GENEVA - Major donors to the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) have suspended funding after allegations emerged that around 12 of its tens of thousands of Palestinian employees were suspected of involvement in the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel by Hamas.
Here are some facts about UNRWA:
WHAT DOES UNRWA DO?
UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) was established in 1949 by a U.N. General Assembly resolution, following the war surrounding the founding of Israel, when 700,000 Palestinians fled or were driven from their homes.
Today it directly employs 30,000 Palestinians, serving the civic and humanitarian needs of 5.9 million descendants of those refugees, in the Gaza Strip, West Bank and in vast camps in neighbouring Arab countries. In Gaza, it employs 13,000 people, running the enclave's schools, its primary healthcare clinics and other social services, as well as distributing humanitarian aid. Its services in Gaza have increased in importance since 2005, when Israel and Egypt imposed a blockade causing an economic collapse with one of the highest unemployment rates in the world.
Since Israel launched its war following the Oct. 7 attacks, around a million Gazans, or nearly 45% of the enclave's population, have been sheltering in UNRWA schools, clinics and other public buildings.
Nearly the entire Gazan population now relies on UNRWA for basic necessities, including food, water and hygiene supplies.
More than 150 UNRWA staff have been killed since the start of the conflict, making it the deadliest conflict ever for U.N. employees.
WHO ARE ITS MAIN DONORS?
Contributions from United Nations member states, including regional governments and the European Union, account for more than 89% of the agency's funding. It also receives funding from the regular U.N. budget and financial contributions from other U.N. bodies.
In 2022, its top government donors were the United States, Germany, the European Union, Sweden, Norway, Japan, France, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland and Turkey.
Countries including the United States, Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Switzerland have suspended their funding of the agency in the wake of the allegations.
WHAT ARE ISRAEL'S ALLEGATIONS?
A six-page Israeli dossier shared with the United States and reviewed by Reuters says 12 UNRWA staff members took part in the Oct. 7 attacks, including nine who worked as teachers in the agency's schools. Ten of them directly participated in the raid into Israeli territory, during which fighters killed 1,200 people and captured more than 240 hostages, and two others were summoned to assist the raid.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the number of UNRWA staff that participated in the raid was 13.
The dossier says Israel also has wider evidence that UNRWA has employed 190 Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants.
WHAT DOES UNRWA SAY ABOUT THE ISRAELI ACCUSATIONS?
UNRWA says it acted swiftly to fire staff after being alerted of Israeli evidence that they participated in the Oct. 7 attacks. It believes the cuts to its funding now could jeopardise its entire mission and dramatically worsen an already catastrophic humanitarian emergency in Gaza.
"It is shocking to see a suspension of funds to the agency in reaction to allegations against a small group of staff, especially given the immediate action that UNRWA took by terminating their contracts and asking for a transparent independent investigation," UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said.
A spokesperson for the agency said on Monday that UNRWA would not be able to continue operations in Gaza and across the region beyond the end of February if funding did not resume.
UNRWA has been under financial strain for years. In January 2023, it appealed for $1.6 billion in funding, saying its operations were at risk.
WHAT HAS ISRAEL SAID ABOUT UNRWA OVER THE YEARS?
Israeli authorities have long called for the agency to be dismantled, arguing that its mission is obsolete and it fosters anti-Israeli sentiment among its staff, in its schools and in its wider social mission. UNRWA strongly disputes this characterisation.
UNRWA is "perforated with Hamas", Netanyahu said on Monday. "In UNRWA schools they've been teaching the doctrines of extermination for Israel - the doctrines of terrorism, glorifying terrorism, lauding terrorism".
Netanyahu has in the past called on the United States, Israel's top ally and the agency's biggest donor, to roll back its support. He praised the Donald Trump administration for defunding the agency.
UNRWA has also faced other controversies in the past. In 2019, the head of the agency resigned amid a misconduct inquiry. In 2014, the head of the United Nations expressed alarm after rockets were found at a vacant UNRWA school and later went missing. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/what-is-unrwa-the-un-palestinian-refugee-agency
| 2024-01-29T15:47:22Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/what-is-unrwa-the-un-palestinian-refugee-agency
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My whole world turned upside down when my two-year-old son William was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumour.
It was the start of lockdown in 2020 and we spent an agonising five months in hospital while he was being treated. Unfortunately, William was left with life-changing disabilities, leaving him unable to walk and talk.
I became his full-time carer and nurse, providing around-the-clock care for him, meaning that I needed to step away from my career as a bridal hairstylist. The only positive of the awful situation was that due to lockdown, all the weddings I was booked for were cancelled for 12 months, meaning I could focus on his recovery without stressing about work.
As William got stronger and started going to a specialist school, my mind turned back to my career, and I wondered what my next step would be.
The next step
I knew I couldn’t go back to being a hairstylist. It would no longer work for us as a family, so I was forced to come up with a new plan so if the children needed me or there was a hospital or physio appointment, I could easily step away.
The obvious answer was to work for myself. Before William fell ill, we were never brave enough to take the plunge, but going through such an awful time gave us a completely different outlook on life. I thought, 'What have we got to lose?'
I came up with the idea for The Boujee Bride, to offer luxury bridal loungewear, accessories and gifts that you'll want to keep for years after your wedding. We design our products to be classy and timeless, whilst also reducing the impact of bridal fast fashion.
The sustainability angle was important to us because the National Wedding Survey by wedding planning website Hitched showed that almost a fifth of couples want to ensure their weddings are good for the environment as well as enjoyable for their guests. Making the products sustainable and affordable has been one of the biggests problems I’ve had to overcome, but my positivity and easy going nature keeps me on the right track.
In addition, to give back to the charities who helped us when William was unwell, we pledged to give 10% of all profits from the company to the Brain Tumour Charity.
Working for myself provides flexibility, and I often find myself doing admin and packing orders until midnight. It's crazy busy but it makes for an interesting life!
A leap of faith
When my world got turned upside down, any vision I had of what our future would look like fell off a cliff. It was totally unknown but I am so proud that I got myself out of that giant canyon. Having William at the front of my mind gave me a focus to create something not just for my future, but for his.
READ: I totally changed my life in 30 days - here’s how
To have a family business available for him to step into should he wish one day makes it all worthwhile and to be able to give back to a charity at the same time is so rewarding.
I am so excited about where this little business will take us. I hope to one day be a highly recognised name within the bridal industry and dream that brides-to-be such as Nicole Scherzinger or Millie Bobby Brown will be seen wearing a Boujee item or two on their hen!
If I were to give other women advice on how to step out of their comfort zone and start something news, I'd recommend that they surround themself with positive people. My close friends and family have been my biggest supporters and it really helped my mindset.
Also, don't let work take over your life! Family will always come first and you never get those years back, so where possible find a work/life balance. Life really is too short and you never know what's round the corner. I certainly didn't!
See the Boujee Bride range here and read more inspiring stories onn HELLO!'s Happiness Hub.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/brides/512273/shock-diagnosis-life-outlook-changed/
| 2024-01-29T16:16:51Z
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/brides/512273/shock-diagnosis-life-outlook-changed/
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As Laura Tobin and her daughter Charlotte arrived at the London premiere of Migration, it was clear the mother-daughter duo were enjoying the chance to glam up for the special event
Good Morning Britain star Laura and her husband Dean Brown took five-year-old Charlotte to the event in London’s West End, where the mum and her mini-me perfectly matched each other in blue outfits. Whilst Laura stunned in a chequered blue mini skirt and a matching long-sleeved top, Charlotte looked adorable in a tulle Phase Eight dress - which retails at £69 - and silver cowboy boots.
Upon arrival at Leicester Square’s Vue cinema, Laura and Charlotte beamed as they posed alongside the film’s adorable duck, Gwen, before joining other guests in the foyer. There, Charlotte and many other kids were treated to several fun activities, including themed “Migration” glitter tattoos, painting, and an incredible selection of drinks and snacks.
“Such a cute movie,” Laura wrote on her Instagram alongside several photos of her and her daughter before adding that Charlotte had “loved meeting Gwen”.
Many other stars descended into London’s West End, including Giovanna and Tom Fletcher, who treated their three boys, Buzz, Buddy and Max, to a fun morning and Tamara Ecclestone, who proudly posed alongside her two daughters, Fifi and Serena.
The film screening was a great success with the stars and other attendees who broke into applause once the credits began to roll at the end.
What can viewers expect from the fun animated adventure? The synopsis of the film reads: “A family of ducks decides to leave the safety of a New England pond for an adventurous trip to Jamaica. However, their well-laid plans quickly go awry when they get lost and wind up in New York City. The experience soon inspires them to expand their horizons, open themselves up to new friends, and accomplish more than they ever thought possible.”
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/512266/gmbs-laura-tobin-makes-ultra-rare-appearance-with-mini-me-daughter-charlotte/
| 2024-01-29T16:16:57Z
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/512266/gmbs-laura-tobin-makes-ultra-rare-appearance-with-mini-me-daughter-charlotte/
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Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake's relationship is the hottest topic in music once again, thanks to Justin releasing his newest single "Selfish" this past weekend.
The 42-year-old actor and musician's latest track was met with mixed reviews, particularly from ardent Britney fans, who used it as an opportunity to pit the exes against each other on the charts.
However, in the midst of all of that, the 42-year-old pop star made a big move by taking to social media and showing her appreciation for her former Mickey Mouse Club co-star and ex-boyfriend. Learn more about their romance below...
On her Instagram, Britney shared a video from Justin's latest appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where the entire musical crew performed Justin's 2006 hit "SexyBack."
Alongside it, she penned a message apologizing to those who had been hurt by the revelations made in her 2023 memoir The Woman In Me. One of the biggest bombshells to come out of the best-selling book was the fact that during their romance, Britney stated that she had become pregnant with Justin's child but underwent an abortion after the "Cry Me a River" singer reportedly stated he was not ready to become a father.
Britney wrote on Instagram: "I wanna apologize for some of the things I wrote about in my book. If I offended any of the people I genuinely care about I am deeply sorry…
"I also wanted to say I am in love with Justin Timberlake's new song 'Selfish'. It is soo good and how come every time I see Justin and Jimmy together I laugh so hard???" She even shouted out his follow-up single, adding: "Ps 'Sanctified' is wow too."
After the release of "Selfish" on January 25, fans of the "Toxic" singer started an online campaign to drive up sales and streams of her own song of the same name from her 2011 album Femme Fatale.
MORE: Britney Spears reveals new bombshell about Justin Timberlake relationship
Originally a bonus track that came out when the album was released, "Selfish" quickly took over the iTunes chart over the weekend, and eventually became the number one song on US iTunes, overtaking "Selfish."
While both songs have since been dethroned by Tom MacDonald and Ben Shapiro's controversial rap track "FACTS," on the worldwide iTunes chart, Britney's "Selfish" still sits at number one.
SEE: Justin Timberlake's wife Jessica Biel's double denim outfit has fans saying the same thing
After debuting the first two singles off his upcoming album on Saturday Night Live last weekend, Justin announced that he would be embarking on a new world tour, his first since 2018-19's The Man of the Woods Tour.
The Forget Tomorrow World Tour will support his album Everything I Thought I Was (releasing March 15) and begins on April 29 in Vancouver, Canada. It is currently scheduled to conclude on July 9, 2024 in Lexington, Kentucky.
RELATED: Why did NSYNC split up? Real reason explored amid reports of comeback
Britney, on the other hand, stated at the start of this year on her social media that she was effectively retiring from the music industry, though did add that she had written 20 songs for other artists in the past two years.
"They keep saying I'm turning to random people to do a new album… I will never return to the music industry!!! When I write, I write for fun or I write for other people!!!" she penned.
Get the lowdown on the biggest, hottest celebrity news, features, and profiles coming out of the U.S. Sign up to our HELLO! Hollywood newsletter and get them delivered straight to your inbox.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/512278/britney-spears-very-surprising-message-justin-timberlake-amid-music-battle-support/
| 2024-01-29T16:17:03Z
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/512278/britney-spears-very-surprising-message-justin-timberlake-amid-music-battle-support/
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Rihanna looked nothing short of sensational when she attended the Yellow Pieces Gala and concert as part of Paris Fashion Week over the weekend.
While the superstar's many outfits over the past week have caught attention, including one which featured a baseball cap and diamonds in abundance, the skintight dress she wore on Friday went somewhat under the radar – and your jaw will be on the floor when you see it.
The Umbrella singer was pictured backstage at the event in the French capital wearing a black floor-length gown which featured a low-cut bust and ruched material down the middle, highlighting the superstar's stunning physique.
Rihanna opted for a strappy gown but for an extra layer of warmth, she draped a fur-like coat over her shoulders, adding dimension and even more chicness to the ensemble.
The award-winning singer also wowed with her honey-hued locks, opting for a sleek straight style, with her makeup dazzling with hints of gold and bronze tones – no doubt from her hugely popular cosmetics line, Fenty Beauty.
Rihanna's jewellery was no less dazzling. The star chose to wear Messika jewelry, specifically the Divine Enigma oval cut diamond choker, mixed with the Exotic Charm and Groove bracelets and the Disco Pulsation and Magnetic Love rings.
MORE: Rihanna's outfit is giving 'rich mom' thanks to a Victoria Beckham signature
MORE: Rihanna just broke this golden rule with her blonde hair transformation
The singer was in attendance to support the gala's charitable endeavours as well as her partner, A$AP Rocky who took to the stage to perform. Other artists who donned the stage included Pharrell, J Balvin and more.
Rihanna and the Fashion Killa rapper share two sons together, RZA, one, and Riot Rose, who they welcomed in August 2023, and the day after the Yellow Pieces concert, the family of four enjoyed a night out dining at a fancy Italian restaurant in Paris.
Find out more about Rihanna and A$AP Rocky's family life in the video below...
A$AP and Rihanna were photographed leaving The Cesar Restaurant, with Rihanna holding their eldest, RZA, in her arms while looking every inch the fashion mom in a merlot-hued lace dress with a trendy hood and Gucci shades.
The father-of-two followed closely behind carrying Riot in a car seat as he wore a leather jacket adorned with studs paired with dark blue jeans and tan Timberland boots.
It's clear the superstar couple are keeping things positive despite the Problems hitmaker undergoing legal trouble are dealing with a civil lawsuit filed by former friend and collaborator, A$AP Relli following an incident in November 2021.
Relli filed the case citing assault and battery after alleging that Rocky had used a firearm during the altercation. Relli is seeking more than $25,000 in damages. Rocky is pleaded Not Guilty to the charges.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/fashion/celebrity-style/512271/rihanna-leaves-jaws-on-the-floor-with-skintight-dress-you-might-have-missed/
| 2024-01-29T16:17:09Z
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/fashion/celebrity-style/512271/rihanna-leaves-jaws-on-the-floor-with-skintight-dress-you-might-have-missed/
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It's been more than two decades since the Princess of Wales stepped into the royal spotlight, and yet her sartorial prowess has never been more admired.
From gracing the stage as St Andrews University It-girl to eventually becoming Prince William's beautiful royal bride, the nation quickly developed an obsession with the way the Princess dressed - a phenomenon we now refer to as 'The Kate Effect'.
"Women around the world wanted to be Kate Middleton, and in the early days when Kate mostly favoured high street brands, her fans were able to emulate her, even if it was just a token nod," explains royal style expert, Miranda Holder.
"Kate manages to tread that awkward line between fashion and the restrictive etiquette limitations of the working royal perfectly - and all this makes utterly compelling viewing, keeping us hooked."
Inspired by thrifty Princess Anne, Kate has followed suit in becoming one of the most prolific outfit repeaters in the royal family, often choosing to rewear clothes from her twenties, and even recycling most-memorable gowns for red carpet appearances.
In 2023, the mother-of-three surprised the nation when she attended the BAFTAs wearing the same dress she had worn to the event four years earlier. In November, she sparked joy in a bow-adorned hat on Remembrance Sunday that had first been worn to Prince William's graduation from Sandhurst in 2006 before they were married.
MORE ROYAL STYLE
From rocking reworked Alexander McQueen to upcycling former flattering fits, Kate's stance on sustainable fashion continues to position her as an icon of environmental dressing.
Here, see her best outfit repeats of the last twenty years.
Princess Kate's garden party outfit
Recycling one of her most famous outfits formerly worn to Ascot in 2019, the Princess looked stunning at King Charles' garden party in 2023 in a coordinating blouse and skirt designed by Elie Saab, which she paired with a fabulous Philip Treacy hat.
Princess Kate's polka-dot peplum dress
Recycling one of her most-famous Alessandra Rich dresses, the royal chose to rewear her £1,335 peplum-bodice, fit-and-flare frock that she first debuted at Wimbledon in 2022 to an engagement in Southampton last summer.
Princess Kate's wedding guest glittering gown
A dress so nice, she wore it twice. Princess Kate was captivating in pink at the wedding of Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan and his bride Rajwa Al Saif, looking beautiful in a shimmering pink gown by Jenny Packham. The Princess later wore the same dress just months later at a Diplomatic Reception held at Buckingham Palace.
Princess Kate's power suit
The Princess of Wales never met a trouser suit she didn't like. In 2022, the royal defied expectations in the most eye-catching Alexander McQueen two-piece for the King's Coronation celebrations, which she originally wore to a Shaping Us event in January of that year.
Princess Kate's bejewelled Alexander McQueen dress
The Princess of Wales beguiled in this bejewelled Alexander McQueen dress at the BAFTAs in 2020 - an occasion she always uses to showcase British designers.
In keeping with the awards' commitment to sustainability, both William and Kate opted to rewear garments they already owned, with the Princess choosing an opulent gown she first debuted in Malaysia in 2012.
Princess Kate's eco Barbie moment
The Princess of Wales opted for a stunning pink tea dress from Beulah London to officially open the Young V&A (formerly known as the V&A Museum of Childhood) in 2023. The 'Ahana' dress, which she first debuted at Wimbledon in 2021, is crafted from wool crepe and boasts a flattering fit-and-flare silhouette.
Princess Kate's billowing BAFTAs gown
The royal opted for an ethereal one-shoulder piece, a white layered gown that flowed elegantly as she walked alongside her husband at the BAFTAs in 2023.
The design was cinched in at the waist with a waistband that flattered her silhouette and featured a cascade of drapery over her left shoulder. Showing off her commendable eco credentials, Kate's choice of gown was actually a repeat wear that she wore previously to the prestigious awards ceremony in 2019.
Princess Kate's red mini skirt suit
The Princess of Wales set a record by recycling her beloved red skirt suit by Luisa Spagnoli for a fourth time for her 2017 Place2Be Big Assembly engagement.
The royal first wore the stylish ensemble back in 2011 during a visit to St Andrews University with Prince William, then again in 2014 on her royal tour of New Zealand. Kate was photographed wearing the scarlet outfit again on her way to the late Queen's pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace in 2015.
Princess Kate's lace Temperley dress
Kate looked stunning in this black lace Temperley dress on the eve of her 30th birthday, so it is no surprise that she opted to wear it for a second time. Nearly a year later, she stepped out in the romantic gown again to host a dinner in London.
Princess Kate's Jenny Packham gown
Jenny Packham is one of the Princess' favourite designers. The royal has worn this beautiful ruched gown a total of three times now, twice in London and once in New York City in December 2014. It looks sublime both with a cascade of diamonds and without.
Princess Kate's ruby red moment
Kate made her first appearance in the Jenny Packham gown that features cap sleeves, a sweeping train and embellished details during her first-ever state banquet in October 2015. In December 2016, the Princess brought back the look for the annual Diplomatic Reception at Buckingham Palace, this time wearing her late mother-in-law's Cambridge Lover's Knot Tiara.
Princess Kate's butter-yellow dress
As she touched down in Bhutan in 2015 with Prince William, Kate donned a buttermilk yellow coat dress from one of her favourite designers, Emilia Wickstead. The last time Kate wore the garment was back in 2012 when she attended the Order of the Thistle ceremony in Edinburgh.
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| 2024-01-29T16:17:15Z
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Welcome to the Daily Lowdown podcast from HELLO!. In this episode, we're chatting about Adele hinting to her fans that she will put on a world tour, but there's a catch.
Not only that, but Taylor Swift could be set for an appearance in the crowd at the upcoming Super Bowl after Travis Kelce's team won big in Baltimore, and Nicki Minaj fuels flames after releasing a track called Big Foot, which many are convinced is a "diss track" about Megan Thee Stallion.
Listen to the episode in full below…
Adele has insisted with her fans that she will put on a world tour – but before fans get excited, there's a catch. While performing in Las Vegas recently as part of her ongoing residency, the Easy On Me hitmaker said that when she releases a new album she promises to tour to see her fans around the globe, but we are going to be waiting a while.
Adele said she isn't heading back into the studio anytime soon to record new material, and instead wants to take a well-earned break after more than six months performing in Sin City, adding that she won't be putting pen to paper for quite some time. The Grammy-winner, who is famously not the biggest fan of performing live, previously told the crowd in Vegas that she'll be spending quality time with friends and family. Adele's residency, which she extended at the end of 2023, will run until June.
MORE: The Daily Lowdown: Taylor Swift's stalker is arrested and Justin Timberlake confirms his comeback
MORE: The Daily Lowdown: Ariana Grande shares big news with fans after 'hitting back' at critics
It looks like Taylor Swift is heading to the Superbowl. No, not to grace the stage for the half-time show, but instead she'll likely be appearing in the crowd to support her boyfriend Travis Kelce after his team The Kansas City Chiefs beat the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, securing their spot in the huge NFL match. Taylor and Travis were spotted embracing after the game finished in Maryland in a rare PDA moment, which Swifties loved witnessing. Travis and the team will head to Las Vegas for the Superbowl, where they will play the San Francisco 49ers. Meanwhile, Usher will be the musical guest for the Half Time Show when the Superbowl takes place on February 11.
Jay Z has put to bed rumours of a new album. The legendary rapper and boss of Roc Nation was at the centre of reports that began circulating over the weekend suggesting he was due to put out a new album, however, the official accounts for Jay's business on social media retweeted a story saying it was 'news' to them, meaning it's not looking like we'll be getting new music from Beyonce's husband anytime soon. We'll be here patiently waiting…
Nicki Minaj has sparked controversy after the rapper began lashing out at fellow artist Megan Thee Stallion online over the weekend. It all started when Megan dropped her new song, Hiss, which seemingly had a line aimed at Nicki in it. This then prompted the Super Bass hitmaker to release her song, Big Foot, which is labelled a diss track at Megan. In the new song, fans are speculating that Nicki refers to Megan's 2020 altercation with Tory Lanez which saw her getting shot in the foot. Tory has since been found guilty and has been sentenced to ten years in prison. Meanwhile, Megan is yet to comment on the very public beef but Nicki's fans seem to be divided by the public fallout.
But Nicki seems to be keeping booked and busy away from the fallout, as it's been announced that she will be taking to the stage at Wireless festival this summer in London. The rapper, who is also going on a world tour this year, will head to Finsbury Park to headline the festival alongside other big names that have been announced such as Doja Cat, 21 Savage and British grime rapper, J Hus.
Wireless takes place across three days in July and tickets will be available from Wednesday.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/512275/adele-delights-fans-as-she-hints-at-world-tour-but-theres-a-catch/
| 2024-01-29T16:17:21Z
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/512275/adele-delights-fans-as-she-hints-at-world-tour-but-theres-a-catch/
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Michael Strahan's Good Morning America colleagues know that when duty – aka football – calls, he has to deliver.
While the ABC mainstay left the NFL world as a player over ten years ago in 2008 – following a Super Bowl win with the Giants – he has remained close to his roots by way of consistent sports correspondence when football season picks up.
Now, with the Super Bowl teams officially set and only two weeks left before the season-ending championship, the former defensive end's schedule is busier than ever, but good thing he has his GMA colleagues to back him up.
On GMA's Monday, January 29 program, Michael was absent from his usual seat next to longtime co-stars Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos, who instead had fellow GMA mainstay Rebecca Jarvis anchoring by their side.
Michael, at least as of Sunday night, was instead across the country in Santa Clara, California, where a nail-biting, unexpected game between the Detroit Lions and the San Francisco 49ers took place.
He was pictured at the end of the game in conversation with 49ers stars Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, and George Kittle, among others, as they celebrated their impressive victory.
Just hours before the game, he had also sat down to interview Lions head coach Dan Campbell, who was previously his teammate on the Giants in the early 2000s, and this year led his team through a historic season.
MORE: Michael Strahan's daughter Isabella stuns in gorgeous bikini-clad photos with twin sister
MORE: Michael Strahan enjoys well-deserved spa break as he shares new family photos with heartfelt message
"Had a great time sitting down with my former teammate Dan Campbell," Michael wrote on Instagram, adding: "A great teammate and a great leader for Detroit."
Though up until halftime the game was turning out to be in the Lions' favor – they are one of only four teams in the NFL to have never made it to the Super Bowl – the 49ers took everyone by surprise when they cinched a last minute advantage, eventually defeating the fan-favorite underdogs 34-31.
They are now headed to the Super Bowl to face off, once again, against the Kansas City Chiefs, with hopes of redeeming their loss to them from the 2020 Super Bowl. The 49ers last won a Super Bowl in 1995 when they defeated the San Diego Chargers in a 49-26 game; meanwhile, this will be the fourth time the Chiefs, who won last year, head to the Super Bowl in the last five seasons.
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| 2024-01-29T16:17:27Z
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/512285/michael-strahan-misses-gma-momentous-night/
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A couple of years ago, Emma Willis, 47, noticed the appearance of her skin had changed. “You take it all for granted in your 30s – you don’t think about how quickly your skin texture will change,” The Voice UK host tells HELLO! "The minute I turned 45, the skin on my neck changed. Your collagen is decreasing so it’s less plump – a bit stringy looking."
Ever positive, Emma added that she tries not to focus on the negatives. "I’m not the only one who is self-conscious," she laments. "The more you talk about it, the more people say, 'I know exactly what you mean.' Everyone is worrying about something. We’ve all got insecurities and that’s lovely because that makes us all feel human together."
That said, Emma admires makeup-free trailblazer Pamela Anderson for her recent decision to go barefaced at events. "The one thing I’ve learnt with getting older is that less is more," Emma says. "Look at Pamela Anderson at Paris Fashion Week. I thought that was amazing. Helen Mirren looks phenomenal. She is ageing beautifully and looks incredible."
Emma of course looks gorgeous all the time and attributes this to looking after her skin since a young age.
"My profession is about how you look, so my skin has always been a consideration. I’ve been lucky to learn about good products because if you look after it early on it will serve you later. I’ve always had pretty decent skin apart from puberty when I had what are considered normal breakouts."
Emma's skincare routine
“I always double cleanse. I start with the Dr Dennis Gross Marine cleanser. Then I use the Keren Bartov micellar water, just to make sure everything’s off. She’s an amazing facialist. I saw her recently and had some lovely treatments. I get quite bad pigmentation in the summer so she blitzed all of that for me. Then I put on the Absolute Collagen Deep Lift Night Cream. It makes my face look lovely and plump and nice.
“I also use SPF every single day. I use the Dermaceutic factor 50 on my face and I wear a hat on holiday – I don’t tan my face. I’ll sit there with my body [in the sun] for as long as possible and I just fake-tan my face to make it match. I add the Tan-Luxe oil to my moisturiser and slap it on.”
Of her husband, Matt Willis' love of skincare, Emma laughed: "Matt’s got more products than me! He will nick mine if he’s run out, but he’s quite particular. Matt has struggled with his skin from a really young age and he has had acne for years. It really flared up again in his 20s so he has to be super careful with products."
INSIDE: Emma and Matt Willis' £1.7m family home is a haven of fun
Feeling strong
Emma is known for her intense exercise regime, but she shared her strongest moments had nothing to do with lifting weights. "I think my strongest was actually at my most vulnerable and that was when I had my kids. There’s nothing like giving birth to teach you how you can achieve something that you absolutely do not want to do at that moment in time. You can grow, birth and raise a human. It makes you feel capable of absolutely anything."
READ: Emma Willis shares the collagen supplement she takes for smooth and plump skin
Of how she makes time for herself amid a stellar career and parenting three children, Emma says working out is key. “My favourite way to take a moment for myself is normally a form of exercise, which I used to feel like I didn’t have time for because there were other important priorities. But when I started prioritising that for myself, it made me turn up in a much better way for my family, rather than running around like a headless chicken, trying to achieve everything and feeling like I was going to combust. I learnt it from Matt – he’s really good at it.
“I love Pilates, boxing or getting a pedicure, but I only ever did them on holiday. Also, meeting a mate for lunch. I’ve realised that I don’t really do anything socially. There’s that guilt that I should be at home with my kids, putting them to bed, but actually, there’s nothing wrong with going out occasionally.”
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/512269/emma-willis-shares-shes-self-conscious-but-its-not-a-bad-thing/
| 2024-01-29T16:17:33Z
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/512269/emma-willis-shares-shes-self-conscious-but-its-not-a-bad-thing/
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The youngest Kardashian-Jenner sister has done it again, taking out first place for the most stylish family member just moments ago at the Jacquemus show in Saint-Paul-De-Vence, France.
It’s been one heck of a few weeks for Miss Kylie, serving look after look at Paris Haute Couture week. Just when we thought she had packed up her Louis Vuitton trunk and jet-setted back to Calabasas, she steps out in the South of France donning a fiery red mini dress.
Seated in the front row next to French fashion editor Carine Roitfeld, Kylie kept things seriously on trend, wearing a skin-tight silhouette, complete with wrap-around, draped sleeves and a subtle chest cut out. The 26-year-old mother of two and fashion and beauty mogul matched her red mini with a pair of patent slingback heels in the same shade, topping the whole look off with a simple pair of black sunglasses and gold sphere earrings.
This is the socialites most daring and definitely most colourful look from the past few weeks on the PFW guest list.
She previously donned a strapless, corset mini dress with a sheer overlay in a dusty nude hue to attend the Jean Paul Gaultier show designed by guest designer Simone Rocha.
Walking hand in hand with daughter Stormi Webster to the Valentino show, Kylie opted for a slim-fitted black strapless gown and oversized fluffy cape. Stormi matched her mum’s ensemble with a tiny replica of the exact outfit.
Her final (well, what we thought was her final) look of the week was a dreamy silver-toned, scoop neck, slim-fitting midi dress. She paired the striking dress with white heels and a wet hair look, perfect for the Maison Margiela show she was about to witness.
We’re only just nearing the end of January and Kylie has already made a very stylish start to the year, leaving me readily awaiting in anticipation for the next 11 months.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/hfm/fashion-trends/512270/kylie-jenner-red-mini-dress-jacquemus-paris-fashion-week/
| 2024-01-29T16:17:39Z
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/hfm/fashion-trends/512270/kylie-jenner-red-mini-dress-jacquemus-paris-fashion-week/
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King Charles has been discharged from hospital following treatment for an enlarged prostate, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.
The palace said in a statement: "The King was this afternoon discharged from hospital following planned medical treatment and has rescheduled forthcoming public engagements to allow for a period of private recuperation.
"His Majesty would like to thank the medical team and all those involved in supporting his hospital visit, and is grateful for all the kind messages he has received in recent days."
Charles, 75, was pictured leaving the London Clinic in Marylebone alongside his wife, Queen Camilla, after spending three days in the private hospital.
The monarch was dressed in a dark coat over a white shirt and a patterned, while Camilla wore a black caped coat over a blue dress.
The couple smiled and waved before departing in a waiting car to return
The exact nature of the King's treatment for an enlarged prostate has not been disclosed by the palace.
Charles was diagnosed with the benign condition on 17 January while staying at Birkhall, Aberdeenshire, 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.
It comes after the King's daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales, was discharged from the same London hospital on Monday after 14 days following abdominal surgery.
Kensington Palace said in a statement: "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."
Charles visited his daughter-in-law’s bedside after being admitted himself on Friday 26 January, on the 11th day of Kate's stay.
The exact details of the Princess's condition have not been revealed but the palace said previously it was not cancer-related.
LISTEN: Why King Charles is the ‘happiest’ he has been despite royal dramas
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/512277/king-charles-leaves-hospital-after-enlarged-prostate-surgery/
| 2024-01-29T16:17:46Z
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/512277/king-charles-leaves-hospital-after-enlarged-prostate-surgery/
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Queen Mary enjoyed a nail-biting match between Denmark and France's national Handball teams as she made her first trip outside Denmark since King Frederik's accession.
The mother-of-two, who turns 52 on 5 February, attended the Men's EHF Euro 2024 final at Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany on Sunday.
Mary looked elegant in a burgundy Alexander McQueen suit with a cream blouse and wide-legged black trousers for her sporty outing.
Sharing a snap from inside the arena from her seat, Queen Mary said in an Instagram post: "It was a very close game. The picture here was taken just before the second half started.
"What a final… Well fought Denmark. It was close and nerve wracking to watch. It has been an impressive effort put in by all of you at the European Championship. Congratulations on the silver medal which I had the honor to present."
Reigning Olympic champions France defeated the Danes 33-31 and claimed their fourth European men's handball title.
It marked first Queen Mary's solo engagement since her husband King Frederik's reign began on 14 January.
The Danish monarch, 55, who is known for his love of sport, did not join his wife in Germany.
It has been announced by the Danish royal palace that Frederik will head up a Danish business delegation in Poland from 31 January to 2 February.
In a new memoir that was last released last week, the King spoke about his marriage to Mary, ahead of their 20th wedding anniversary in May. Frederik worked with author Jens Andersen on the book The King's Word.
In the book, he reveals his complicated relationship with his late father, Prince Henrik, who passed away in 2018, saying: "As previously mentioned, my father was very patriarchal, and he tried to pass that pattern on to his two sons.
"Here, however, I have learned a lot from having a wife who, from time to time, reminds me that of course I am not always right, and that my words are not automatically believed, just because I am the man of the house."
Frederik said that he and Mary had reached a "stable point" in their relationship, adding: "I love marriage, my wife, our children and the whole happy base that arises for the people who manage to stay together and persevere."
The couple, who married in 2004, are parents to Crown Prince Christian, 18, Princess Isabella, 16, and 13-year-old twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine.
Frederik succeeded his 83-year-old mother, Queen Margrethe, to the Danish throne following her abdication.
Margrethe made the shock decision to step down after reigning for 52 years.
LISTEN: How King Frederik really feels about Queen Mary's popularity
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/512287/queen-mary-travels-germany-handball-final/
| 2024-01-29T16:17:52Z
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/512287/queen-mary-travels-germany-handball-final/
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The Council of the European Union has renewed economic sanctions against Russia for its aggression against Ukraine.
The sanctions imposed by the EU against Russia were extended for six months, until 31 July 2024.
These sanctions, first introduced in 2014 in response to Russia’s actions destabilizing the situation in Ukraine, were significantly expanded since February 2022 in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
“As long as the illegal actions by the Russian Federation continue to violate the prohibition on the use of force, which is a serious breach of obligations under international law, it is appropriate to maintain in force all the measures imposed by the EU and to take additional measures, if necessary,” the communiqué of the European Council stated.
The EU’s sanctions currently consist of a broad spectrum of sectoral measures, including restrictions on trade, finance, technology and dual-use goods, industry, transport, and luxury goods. The sanctions also include a ban on the import or transfer of seaborne crude oil and certain petroleum products from Russia to the EU, restriction of access to the SWIFT banking system for several Russian banks, suspension of the broadcasting activities and licenses of several “Kremlin-backed disinformation outlets.”
Additionally, specific measures were introduced to strengthen the ability of the EU to counter sanctions circumvention. In December 2023, the European Union implemented its most recent 12th sanctions package, which involved prohibiting the import of Russian diamonds, tightening controls on Russia’s procurement of military-use goods, and imposing stricter regulations on the $60-per-barrel price limit for oil.
The EU is preparing the next package of sanctions against Russia to mark the second anniversary of the outbreak of the Russian all-out war against Ukraine in February. Further restrictions may be applied to Russian aluminum exports. This would impact the Russian energy sector if the restrictions are approved. However, the EU’s stance on aluminum sanctions remains uncertain.
Related:
- EU to approve 13th sanction set on Russia ahead of Ukraine invasion two-year mark
- EU adopts 12th package of economic and individual sanctions against Russia
- EU imposes sanctions on Russia’s Alrosa, world’s largest diamond mining company
- NYT: Russia bypasses sanctions for Western electronics via Morocco
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/29/eu-extends-sanctions-against-russia-over-ukraine-invasion/
| 2024-01-29T16:35:55Z
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/29/eu-extends-sanctions-against-russia-over-ukraine-invasion/
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Zelenskyy talked with Mitsotakis at noon on Monday, 29 January 2024. According to the press release, they discussed the latest developments in Ukraine in the context of the extraordinary meeting of the European Council in Brussels.
“The Ukrainian president expressed his gratitude to Kyriakos Mitsotakis for Greece’s support in starting Ukraine’s accession negotiations with the EU last December. The prime minister emphasized that Greece will continue to support Ukraine both bilaterally and within the framework of the EU and NATO.“
The official statement doesn’t mention the topic of arms transfers.
As was reported, on 27 January 2023, Blinken notified the Greek PM of proposed arms F-35 sales, paired with various items of military aid, including up to $200 million in extra US military financing for Greece to enable Greek arms provisions to Ukraine. In a letter sent to Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis on 27 January, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken outlined the steps to expand cooperation between Athens and Washington in the security field, according to the Greek newspaper Kathimerini.
US offers up to $ 200 mn boost in military aid to facilitate Greece’s arms transfers to Ukraine
Read more:
- Zelenskyy meets with leaders of US defense companies
- Biden: “Failure to support Ukraine is just absolutely crazy”
- Counteroffensive success hinges on these factors, says Zelenskyy
- Borrelllll says support for Ukraine must remain a priority for EU
- The future is being decided in Ukraine: key takeaways from YES forum 2023 in Kyiv
- Zelenskyy: “We have 880,000 fighters in the army”
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| 2024-01-29T16:36:35Z
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/29/greek-pm-talked-to-zelenskyy-after-blinken-proposed-greece-transfer-equipment-for-ukraine-in-exchange-for-us-supplies/
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Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, his Hungarian counterpart Péter Szijjártó, and Ukraine’s Head of Presidential Office Andriy Yermak met in the Ukrainian border city of Uzhhorod, 20 km to the Hungarian border on 29 January 2024.
“The purpose of the visit is to normalize bilateral relations between the two countries by strengthening dialogue at the community level and addressing a number of topical issues,” the Ukrainian press release states.
Péter Szijjártó arrived in Ukraine at the Ukrainian side’s invitation. Head of Ukraine’s Zakarpattia Regional Military Administration, Viktor Mykyta, also participated in the talks. Szijjártó praised Mykyta for “bringing a completely new approach to Zakarpattia: a culture of reconciliation so that Ukrainians and Hungarians can live side by side in peace and harmony.
“We would like to improve the cooperation between Ukraine and Hungary, so it is good that the head of the Oblast Administration joined the Ukrainian delegation at the border in Zahon,” Szijarto wrote.
As was previously reported, Hungary claimed more rights for the Hungarian minority, comprising nearly 10% in Ukraine’s Zakarpattia region, while the leader of the Hungarian parliamentarian far-right party Mi Hazank (Our Homeland), even said it would claim Zakarpattia region if Ukraine loses its statehood due to the war with Russia.
During the negotiations, Szijjártó said he wanted Hungarians in Zakarpattia to have rights that they had before 2015. However, Ukraine has already adopted the key law on education in 2023 which returned such rights for Hungarians, in particular, the right to receive entire school education in Hungarian and not only during the first four years.
Before the negotiations, officials also paid tribute to the fallen defenders of Ukraine from the Zakarpattia region. Andriy Yermak, Dmytro Kuleba, and Péter Szijjártó placed icon lamps at the monument to the fallen defenders at the Kalvaria cemetery. They also visited the graves of the servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine of Hungarian nationality who perished in the war with the Russian aggressor.
Before the negotiations, Minister @DmytroKuleba, Head of the Office of the President @AndriyYermak & the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary Péter Szijjártó paid tribute to 🇺🇦 soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the sovereignty & territorial integrity of Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/ExunJjjEfW
— MFA of Ukraine 🇺🇦 (@MFA_Ukraine) January 29, 2024
Earlier, it was reported that the meeting of the Ministers of the Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and Hungary is aimed at preparing the meeting between the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and the Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban.
Hungary has vetoed numerous EU decisions on Ukraine. In particular, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban threatened to block the vast € 50 billion aid package to Ukraine once again on 1 February 2024. However, the EU and Ukraine sought leverage to normalize relations with Hungary.
As it was reported, Budapest sent troops to Ukraine’s border in February 2022, at the beginning of the Russian invasion, raising speculations that Hungary was posed to occupy Ukraine’s westernmost Zakarpattia Oblast immediately after Putin took Kyiv. However, the Hungarian expert András Rácz, who until recently worked for Hungary’s state Institute for Strategic and Defence Studies and is currently a Senior Fellow at the German Council on Foreign Relations, said these speculations are groundless, saying that Hungary’s military presence was not meant for attacking Ukraine, but rather as part of a contingency plan in the event of a humanitarian crisis and massive refugee wave.
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/29/ukrainian-and-hungarian-foreign-ministers-meet-in-a-border-city-to-normalize-bilateral-relations/
| 2024-01-29T16:37:15Z
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/29/ukrainian-and-hungarian-foreign-ministers-meet-in-a-border-city-to-normalize-bilateral-relations/
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On 29 January, general inspectors from the US Department of Defense, State Department, and Agency for International Development (USAID) arrived in Kyiv to help audit Ukraine’s usage of American military assistance, US Ambassador Bridget Brink said on X.
Pleased to welcome back to Kyiv three Inspectors General from the Departments of Defense, State, and USAID: @DOD_IG, @StateOIG and @USAID_OIG. Their meetings with implementers, partners, & the Ukrainian government support oversight & accountability for U.S. assistance to Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/etejesazIA
— Ambassador Bridget A. Brink (@USAmbKyiv) January 29, 2024
The visit comes after the Pentagon created a new team last fall to monitor security aid to Ukraine, following calls for more oversight from Republicans. Diana Shaw, the State Department Inspector General, says the team is “continuing their mission to provide robust, coordinated oversight of taxpayer funds.”
Continuing their mission to provide robust, coordinated oversight of taxpayer funds in the Ukraine response, @StateOIG, @DoD_IG, and @USAID_OIG have arrived in Kyiv. Jointly, the 3IGs are on the ground to promote accountability and transparency of U.S. assistance for Ukraine… pic.twitter.com/6FPEZW3TpH
— State OIG (@StateOIG) January 29, 2024
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense initiated a self-reporting concept on aid usage last November. A plan for joint physical inspections in the first half of 2024 has already been agreed upon. On 20 January, MoD’s Internal Audit Service, Armed Forces, and US embassy representatives held their first joint check of arms and equipment given by American partners. The audit’s results are currently being processed. There were no comments from US representatives during the collective work.
At the 18th Ramstein Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting on 23 January, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin confirmed the US has “seen no credible evidence” of misuse or illicit diversion of provided equipment. “The United States continues to work hard to monitor and account for US security assistance delivered to Ukraine,” he said.
Read more:
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/29/us-inspectors-arrive-in-kyiv-to-oversee-military-aid-usage/
| 2024-01-29T16:37:55Z
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/29/us-inspectors-arrive-in-kyiv-to-oversee-military-aid-usage/
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Speaking with a journalist from the German TV channel ARD in Kyiv, Zelenskyy said Ukraine has almost a 1-million-strong army. At the same time, only 30 million Ukrainians are living in Ukraine and paying taxes, down from the pre-war level of at least 37 million.
Answering the question about the new mobilization law, Zelenskyy said it is first of all about justice. The army needs additional recruits to ensure the rotation of those who have been fighting since the first days of the war.
“In the issue of mobilization, the moment of demobilization is important. Many people fought for many days. There are people who have been on the battlefield for 700 days. I am grateful to them for protecting our state, like every Ukrainian. Gratitude is not enough from society. I think we need fair rotations. We need to give extended vacations. Money cannot cover everything. Although wages are high, but, nevertheless, justice is needed in this direction. I expect the law on fair mobilization from the military,” Zelenskyy said.
The journalist also noted that nearly 200,000 Ukrainian men of military age left Ukraine for Germany. She asked whether the German government should think about reducing social assistance for such men so that the money that would be saved could be used to support Ukraine.
Zelenskyy said that it would be better if that money were redirected to Ukraine so that the country could allocate it only for those who had legal grounds to leave in the first days of the war because “the law should work.” He also noted that those men should return to Ukraine but it doesn’t mean they should necessarily go directly to the army. They also should stay in Ukraine for the time of the war to work and pay taxes, which are then allocated for the military.
Zelenskyy explained that part of Ukraine’s money now remained in Europe because when people fled their homes from the war, they took the money away. Then, Europe began to support Ukrainians in Europe, and all the money that went to support Ukrainians remained abroad in the economies of other states.
“And in the end, our money left, and European money remained where the citizens of Ukraine remained. Outside the territory of Ukraine. I have no questions to this. I would just like us to pay attention to this, to where the money stay when we are talking about the support [for Ukraine].”
Zelenskyy also said it is wrong when representatives of military enlistment offices are visiting people’s homes to take recruits, saying that this process should be digitized and that the new law should designed to address this issue in particular.
As was reported earlier, Ukraine’s government submitted to the parliament the new law on mobilization to limit the categories exempt from duty and ensure long rotations for soldiers in the condition of war for exhaustion.
Read more:
- Zelenskyy warns of “world redistribution” and Putin’s war against EU if the West stops military aid for Ukraine
- Zelenskyy, Duda discuss Ukraine-Poland defense cooperation, Ukraine’s EU aspirations
- Zelenskyy meets with leaders of US defense companies
- Biden: “Failure to support Ukraine is just absolutely crazy”
- Counteroffensive success hinges on these factors, says Zelenskyy
- Borrellll says support for Ukraine must remain a priority for EU
- The future is being decided in Ukraine: key takeaways from YES forum 2023 in Kyiv
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/29/zelenskyy-we-have-880000-fighters-in-the-army/
| 2024-01-29T16:38:35Z
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/29/zelenskyy-we-have-880000-fighters-in-the-army/
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Back in 2012, I went through a trainwreck divorce after my marriage completely broke down. It was awful – the costs spiralled out of control and it cost me £80,000 in legal fees. I was left emotionally and financially devastated.
The divorce could be described as two sides at war in a fight to the death. After a lengthy two-year divorce battle, we both lost and damaged our family in the process. This is something we still bear the scars of.
I went through absolute hell. I’d spend the whole weekend wondering where I’d get the money from to pay the solicitor’s bill that was delivered every Friday. At the time, I thought that legal help was essential because I had given up my job to look after our children while my ex-husband was a high earner in advertising.
We argued through solicitors for two years over how to split our finances and deal with childcare, eventually going to a family court, where a judge had to decide for us.
Much like the Netflix film ‘The Marriage Story’, which received widespread acclaim for its depiction of divorce, we were drawn into conflicts because each lawyer wanted the best result for their client. My solicitors even advised me not to get a job because then I’d be demonstrating that I could earn an income — when the focus was getting me some sort of maintenance from their perspective.
After this awful experience, I came out licking my wounds. But as I started to talk to other people, I realised it wasn’t just me who had come out of divorce in a worse state – lots of people had.
I began to wonder whether the system and the process we’d been through had made its own contribution to the toxic outcome we found ourselves in.
A divorce is often referred to as the second most traumatic life experience after the death of a loved one. Too many families emerge from divorce damaged and scarred. But while divorce is ultimately a sad thing, it doesn't have to be a bad thing. People shouldn’t be punished for coming to, what no doubt is, a really difficult decision.
After months of reflecting on my own traumatic experience, I became passionate about rewriting the narrative around divorce, separation and co-parenting.
READ: How my husband and I navigated the minefield of menopause
Changing the narrative
I decided to quit my job as a counsellor and after a year of hard work and dedication, I set up amicable, a couples divorce service that helps people divorce in a kinder and more affordable way, prioritising their children.
A new approach
The most rewarding part of my job is talking to people in need at the start of their divorce journey. I can feel a connection to them, and while we can’t take the pain away, I do passionately believe that we can reduce the fear, stress and confusion around divorce and separation.
Closing the chapter
Since launching the company in 2015 with my co-founder Pip Wilson, we have helped over 10,000 people untie the knot, amicably.
INSPIRATION: I changed my entire life at 54 – here's what happened
A father of three children once told me that our service helped him close a chapter in his life and open new possibilities for their future, all while prioritising their children and finding closure.
I’m so proud that my own disastrous experience in divorce has helped transform the end of relationships - one that is much kinder and focuses on the people involved. amicable has shown me that you can come back from anything and that, just like the cliché, sometimes it makes you stronger!
Kate Daly is co-founder of amicable, the couples divorce service, and host of The Divorce Podcast.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/brides/512289/trainwreck-divorce-what-i-learned/
| 2024-01-29T17:00:42Z
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/brides/512289/trainwreck-divorce-what-i-learned/
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Kourtney Kardashian has shared a new photo of her baby son Rocky, and fans have had a lot to say about it!
The Poosh founder proudly posted a picture of herself cuddling her three-month-old, dressed in a tiny white outfit, coordinating with his famous mom. "blisss," she captioned the image.
Along with many responses doting over baby Rocky, many other followers couldn't quite get over how young Kourtney looked in the image, with a lot going as far to say that they thought it was a throwback of the star with her firstborn, Mason, now 14.
"I thought this was a throwback with Mason," one wrote, while another commented: "Why does this look like a throwback picture?" A third added: "Are you sure this isn't a throwback with Mason? You look so good!"
Kourtney is also mom to Penelope, 11, and Reign, eight, and shares her three oldest children with ex Scott Disick.
Kourtney and Scott co-parent their kids, and live near each other in Calabasas. Scott was on parenting duty over the weekend, and shared a fun video of daughter Penelope dancing with her friends, and cousin North West.
The reality star was praised for being a fun father, and many fans urged him to share more glimpses into his family life.
Kourtney's parenting style has naturally changed over the years, and the star is keeping youngest Rocky out of the spotlight a lot more than when she was a first time mom, when Mason featured regularly on the family's reality show, Keeping Up with the Kardashians.
Both Mason and Penelope's births were featured on the show. Discussing Kourtney's parenting style, parenting expert Lucy Shrimpton (expert at The Baby Show and founder of The Sleep Nanny) chatted to HELLO! about her takeaways.
"Kourtney Kardashian-Barker is a devoted mum, evidently wanting to give her children the very best start in life. She adopts a 'gentle' and 'loving' approach," she explained to HELLO!.
"While her sister confesses that she is the stricter of the two, tending to get more ‘frazzled’, Kourtney tends to take things in her stride, particularly since having therapy. She is a mindful parent, aware of the time and effort she puts into becoming the best parent she can be, attempting to be present as much as possible. She’s said that she is more 'lenient' with her children allowing them to skip school if they’ve had a 'hard day', showing that she really listens to her children when they need a break, especially during difficult times.
"Now, with her youngest, Rocky 13, she has chosen to use the attachment style with a strong emphasis on emotional responsiveness and physical touch, creating secure emotional bonds that will allow her children to flourish in the future."
According to The Blast - who obtained a copy of the baby's birth certificate - Rocky Thirteen Barker was born on November 1, 2023, at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Travis explained the inspiration behind his son's unique name during a conversation with his daughter, Alabama, for Complex's GOAT Talk video series in July. At the time Travis explained: "Rocky George played guitar for [the band] Suicidal Tendencies and 13 is just the greatest number of all time… And Rocky, the greatest boxing movie of all time."
Kourtney and Travis live with their family in Calabasas, and are near the rest of the star's famous siblings and mom, Kris Jenner.
The pair were good friends for years before getting together in 2021. They went on to get married the following year, and welcomed their first child together a year after that.
Read more HELLO! US stories here
Get the lowdown on the biggest, hottest celebrity news, features and profiles coming out of the U.S. Sign up to our HELLO! Hollywood newsletter and get them delivered straight to your inbox.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/512293/kourtney-kardashian-confuses-fans-with-appearance-new-photo-baby-rocky/
| 2024-01-29T17:00:48Z
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/512293/kourtney-kardashian-confuses-fans-with-appearance-new-photo-baby-rocky/
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Okay, I admit it - I got influenced. After seeing an SKIMS bodysuit lookalike on TikTok and noting that it had over 22,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, I had to check it out.
Bodysuits continue to be a fashion hot trend for 2024 and I love the way that they're so easy to style. Just throw on jeans or a skirt and you have the perfect base for an outfit. Since I’ve been known to shop SKIMS, especially when the hottest pieces are discounted in the SKIMS sale, I can understand why the brand's looks are so popular. But not everyone is a fan - or has a bodysuit budget to splash out on the more expensive SKIMS bodysuits.
That could be why this versatile Amazon bodysuit by Reoria (£19.99 / $19.99) with clever built-in support has gone viral: it's so similar to the Kim Kardashian brand's top selling Fits Everybody High Neck Bodysuit ($60 / £60) but with a much lower price tag.
Plus, the Reoria suit comes in more colours than the Skims' 14 colourways – and it’s earning solid ratings. So I bought one to find out what all the fuss is about.
So since I was looking for an alternative to try, the Amazon bodysuit on paper was the perfect choice. And of course, if you're not convinced, you can always shop the SKIMS Fits Everybody, which also gets top reviews: a 4.7 overall score from verified shoppers.
Amazon's SKIMS lookalike: First impressions
The Reoria bodysuit arrived in an envelope inside a zippered plastic bag - but so did my SKIMS purchases, so no points gained or lost there. The bodysuit felt weightier than I expected, with soft, double layered fabric, and, although my expectations were low, I thought it was surprisingly well made, with no loose stitches, or uneven seams.
Putting the bodysuit on for the first time, my biggest curiosity was whether, as someone with a bigger bust, I could wear this affordable bodysuit without a bra, as Amazon reviewers had claimed. Short answer: shockingly, yes. The longer answer is: yes, but on a cold day I’d probably look like I was rocking one of Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS nipple bras.
Amazon's trending bodysuit vs SKIMS Fits Everybody High Neck Bodysuit
But how do the two bodysuits compare? Well, here's a list of Reoria bodysuit pros and cons that I put together from experience to help guide you.
Pros:
If you are looking for a SKIMS lookalike, this one is so similar. I compared it to the description of the SKIMS Fits Everybody High Neck Bodysuit ($60) and found it literally shares many of the same details...
- High neck (front and back), YES
- Fabric double layered, YES
- Sporty neckline, YES
- High cut leg opening, YES
- Thong back remains invisible under clothing YES
- Snap closure YES (The Reoria bodysuit has three silver metal snaps)
- It feels like a light compression garment, giving a shapewear effect
- Can be worn without a bra - as well as a strapless bra, racerback bra, boob tape or covers.
- I also wondered if the Amazon bodysuit would hold up wash after wash (both the Reoria and SKIMS bodysuits are Hand Wash Only) but after a few months of washing, it still looks great, and has kept its shape.
Cons:
- The Reoria bodysuit does go up to XXL, but isn't as size inclusive as SKIMS, which runs up to a size 4X.
- Unlike the SKIMS bodysuit, the Amazon bodysuit doesn’t feature a cotton gusset.
- The Reoria bodysuit has a bothersome tag, which I ended up cutting out.
- SKIMS’ Fits Everybody High Neck Bodysuit is 76% polyamide / 24% elastane; the Reoria bodysuit is 84% polyester / 16% spandex, which means it’s soft, but not quite as soft as a SKIMS look.
- It’s long in the crotch area, as Amazon reviewers had pointed out. I’m on the taller side (nearly 5`9”) so it actually worked out for me but could see that it might be more of an issue for someone who is petite.
Overall: Was the SKIMS bodysuit lookalike worth the money?
Short answer: Yes, it was. I bought it in black but am seriously considering buying more colours. The cut of the top is so flattering, and the fabric having a bit less stretch means it is very form fitting, holding you in almost like shapewear.
Will it stop me from buying SKIMS? Absolutely not! My SKIMS loungewear dress (£78 / $78) is hands down the most comfortable piece of clothing I own. So I’m making room in my closet for both.
What Amazon shoppers are saying
I'm not the only one who noticed the quality of this affordable wardrobe staple. One verified reviewer who compared the look to SKIMS wrote: "Wow wow wow!!! BUY THIS NOW! Where do I even start... This is absolutely stunning. It's true to size. The material is buttery soft.. the color is beautiful. And my 38 DDD chest is surprisingly supported by the stretchy material."
They continued: "There is a panel underneath the chest area but it does not have any type of support so it's hard to explain how exactly it supports.. but.. it just does! It's beautiful and smoothing. The thong is perfectly comfortable.... straps with the buttons are well made. I am literally ordering all the colors! So so worth it!!!!!"
Only about 18% of shoppers who rated the Amazon bodysuit gave it less than four stars. Those that didn't like it cited it being "too long" or too revealing from the side and a few reviewers complained that bodysuit's lining is only in the bust area.
Meanwhile, fans who might not have the fashion budget for SKIMS are saying the Reoria bodysuit is the next best thing.
“Amazing,” said another. “Look, I want Skims but I can’t afford that just yet. This is PERFECTION! It fits like a glove and makes me feel amazing.”
“LOVEEEEEEEEE THIS BODYSUIT,” raved one shopper. “I love the way this body suit fits! It’s sooo flattering and the material is really nice spandex feeling. It’s buttons on the bottom of the suit thankfully. I want to buy every color now! The look of Skims but way cheaper.”
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/shopping/512265/viral-skims-bodysuit-dupe-tried-and-tested/
| 2024-01-29T17:00:54Z
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/shopping/512265/viral-skims-bodysuit-dupe-tried-and-tested/
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BEIJING – One of the Chinese government’s top political institutions has removed a prominent rocket research chief, adding to the number of apparent purges in Beijing over the past several months.
The Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference revoked the membership of Mr Wang Xiaojun during a meeting on Jan 29, the official Xinhua News Agency reported, without specifying a reason.
Mr Wang led the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology from June 2019 through at least mid-2023, but that group now lists someone else – Mr Zhang Zhongyang – as its chief.
The institute, affiliated with China Aerospace Science and Technology, touts itself as the nation’s oldest and largest base for the development, testing and production of missile weapons and launch vehicles, according to its official website.
Mr Wang’s removal from the CPPCC marks the latest sign of turmoil in China’s broader defence establishment.
Beijing has now unseated at least 16 senior military figures – including the highest-level defence official since 2017 – in the past six months. Their ousters have been left unexplained by China’s leadership, but come amid reports of graft probes in the People’s Liberation Army, and the Rocket Force, in particular.
Mr Wang, who obtained a doctorate in rocket engine from the National University of Defence Technology, had received multiple awards for his contribution to the space sector.
In an opinion published by the Communist Party’s mouthpiece People’s Daily last February, Mr Wang vowed that his institute would “forge the soul of loyalty” and “more closely rally” behind the party’s leadership with President Xi Jinping at the core. BLOOMBERG
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/top-china-political-advisory-body-ousts-senior-rocket-researcher
| 2024-01-29T17:17:18Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/top-china-political-advisory-body-ousts-senior-rocket-researcher
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LONDON - Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said on Monday he was upset about reports that he would leave to take over at Barcelona, whose coach Xavi plans to quit at the end of the season.
The Barca links emerged on Sunday a day after Xavi announced he would be stepping down, saying the club needed a change.
"What you read yesterday ... it's totally untrue. I'm really upset about it," Arteta told reporters on the eve of Tuesday's Premier League game at Nottingham Forest.
"I could not believe (it). I don't know where it's coming from. It's got no source, it's got nothing. And I think we have to be very cautious when you talk about personal things.
"There is a lot to do (at Arsenal) and we all share that ambition. We want more, we aren't satisfied and the club wants another push to go to another level. We have everyone on board to achieve it," he added.
Arteta also said he hoped to have midfielder Declan Rice and defender Gabriel Magalhaes back in the squad. Both players left the field with injuries during Saturday's 5-0 home win over Crystal Palace, with Gabriel scoring twice.
"We had some issues at the end of the last game so we will assess those players," he said. "Rice is one of those players. He has done some work but he has missed some work as well. Hopefully he will be ok. Gabriel is another one."
Arsenal, who were top in December, have slipped to third on 43 points, five behind leaders Liverpool. Forest, who have won two of their last three league matches, are in 16th place. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/arsenals-arteta-upset-about-reports-linking-him-with-barcelona
| 2024-01-29T17:17:29Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/arsenals-arteta-upset-about-reports-linking-him-with-barcelona
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LONDON - Aston Villa were docked three points on Monday for fielding an ineligible player in a women's FA League Cup group stage game but still went through to the quarter-finals at Manchester United's expense.
United reacted by saying they were very disappointed with the outcome of the independent tribunal and did not understand the rationale.
"We feel that it undermines the integrity of the competition and of the women's game. We are considering our options in response," they added.
Villa admitted Swiss defender Noelle Maritz was ineligible for the Jan. 24 game at Sunderland, because she had played in the competition for a former club, and acknowledged the breach. Maritz joined Villa earlier in January from Arsenal.
The FA said the independent tribunal ordered the points deducted from Aston Villa be awarded to Sunderland and the 7-0 scoreline expunged from the record.
Sunderland ended up as Group A winners with the extra points while Villa went through as one of two best-placed runners-up with Tottenham Hotspur. United finished second in Group B but trailed Villa on goal difference. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/villa-docked-points-but-stay-in-womens-league-cup-at-man-utds-expense
| 2024-01-29T17:17:39Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/villa-docked-points-but-stay-in-womens-league-cup-at-man-utds-expense
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TIRANA - Albania's constitutional court ruled on Monday in favour of a deal with Italy that will allow the Italian government to set up reception centres to host migrants trying to come ashore.
The Albanian parliament has still to ratify the deal before it enters into force.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni agreed with her Albanian counterpart Edi Rama in November to set up centres that would initially host some 3,000 people as Italy tries to bring down numbers of migrants that nearly doubled last year. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/albania-s-highest-court-rules-in-favour-of-migrant-deal-with-italy
| 2024-01-29T17:17:49Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/albania-s-highest-court-rules-in-favour-of-migrant-deal-with-italy
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WASHINGTON - US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin vowed on Jan 29 that the United States would take "all necessary actions" to defend its troops after a drone attack by Iran-backed militants that killed three US troops and wounded dozens more.
The attack on Jan 28 was the first deadly strike against US forces since the Israel-Hamas war erupted in October, and marks a major escalation in tensions that have engulfed the Middle East.
"Let me start with my outrage and sorrow (for) the deaths of three brave US troops in Jordan and for the other troops who were wounded," Austin said at the Pentagon.
"The president and I will not tolerate attacks on US forces and we will take all necessary actions to defend the US and our troops," Austin added at the start of meeting with Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
US troops have been attacked over 150 times in Iraq, Syria, Jordan as well as on warships in the Red Sea, where Houthi fighters in Yemen have been firing drones and missiles at them.
The attacks are piling political pressure on President Joe Biden to deal a blow directly against Iran, a move he's been reluctant to do out of fear of igniting a broader war.
Biden's response options could range anywhere from targeting Iranian forces outside to even inside Iran, or opting for a more cautious retaliatory attack solely against the Iran-backed militants responsible, experts say.
"Iran continues to destabilise the region, this includes backing terrorists who attack our ships in the Red Sea," Stoltenberg said. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/austin-vows-all-necessary-actions-after-us-troop-deaths
| 2024-01-29T17:18:00Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/austin-vows-all-necessary-actions-after-us-troop-deaths
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BUDAPEST - Hungarian opposition parties submitted a motion on Monday calling for an extraordinary session of parliament on Feb. 5 to ratify Sweden's application to join NATO.
Hungary is the only country in the 31-member Atlantic alliance yet to ratify Sweden's application. Turkey completed its approval last week, some 20 months after Stockholm applied to join NATO following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
"Our motion has been sent to the speaker... Now the question is whether 135 men will be brave enough to show up," Zita Gurmai, an opposition lawmaker, told Reuters.
Gurmai was referring to whether members of parliament from the governing Fidesz party and their small Christian Democrat allies will vote for the motion, which would boost its chances of succeeding.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has friendly relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin despite Moscow's war in Ukraine, said last week he would urge lawmakers to approve Sweden's accession at the first possible opportunity.
But parliamentary speaker Laszlo Kover said there was no urgency for any extraordinary move to ratify Sweden's NATO accession and suggested that opposition attempts at an extra session would be likely to fail.
Hungary's parliament is not currently in session, but NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said last Friday he expected the assembly to ratify Sweden's accession at the end of February after it reconvenes.
Despite Orban holding an iron grip on Fidesz, government ministers have repeatedly blamed the delays on grievances about Sweden's bid among ruling party lawmakers.
The Swedish and Hungarian prime ministers will meet on Thursday at a summit of European Union leaders in Brussels. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/hungarian-opposition-seeks-extraordinary-session-of-parliament-on-sweden-nato-bid
| 2024-01-29T17:18:10Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/hungarian-opposition-seeks-extraordinary-session-of-parliament-on-sweden-nato-bid
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GENEVA - Nearly 100 migrants have died or disappeared in the central and eastern Mediterranean since the beginning of 2024, more than double the toll recorded last year during the same period, the U.N. migration agency said on Monday.
The comment was made during an Italy-Africa Conference in Rome attended by more than two dozen African leaders and European Union officials to discuss economic ties and ways to curb undocumented migration to Europe.
"The latest record of deaths and disappearances is a stark reminder that a comprehensive approach that includes safe and regular pathways... is the only solution that will benefit migrants and states alike," said Amy Pope, director general of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
IOM's Missing Migrants Project found that 3,041 migrants were dead or went missing in the Mediterranean last year - a significant increase over the 2,411 toll in 2022.
Earlier this month, some 40 Tunisian migrants went missing after setting off in a boat toward the Italian coast.
Tunisia has replaced Libya as a main departure point for Mediterranean crossings for people fleeing poverty and conflict. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/nearly-100-dead-or-missing-migrants-in-mediterranean-so-far-in-2024-iom
| 2024-01-29T17:18:20Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/nearly-100-dead-or-missing-migrants-in-mediterranean-so-far-in-2024-iom
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LONDON - Prince Harry wants London's High Court to resolve the remainder of his lawsuit against Britain's Mirror Group Newspapers as soon as possible following the ruling in his favour at the end of last year, his legal team said on Monday.
In December, the High Court ruled that Harry had been a victim of phone-hacking and other unlawful acts by journalists on the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and Sunday People tabloids with the knowledge of their editors.
The prince, the first British royal for 130 years to give evidence in court when he appeared as a witness last June, was awarded 140,600 pounds (around $180,700) in damages.
Judge Timothy Fancourt ruled that about half the stories about the Duke of Sussex examined in court were the result of unlawful acts. However, the trial only considered 33 of 147 articles Harry argues were obtained unlawfully.
"Although the Duke is certainly prepared to attempt to resolve the remainder of his claim through agreement, it is necessary to list ... the trial of the remainder of his claim as soon as is practicable," his legal team said in a written submission.
Harry's lawyer, David Sherborne, said the directions for trial should be made as soon as possible, while MGN's lawyers said in their written submission that offers, whose sum was not disclosed, had been made to the prince to settle.
The bulk of Monday's hearing was taken up with arguments about legal costs for last year's seven-week trial which heard evidence from Harry and three others who were chosen as test cases from about 100 claimants.
While Harry's individual costs will not be dealt with until his lawsuit is concluded, lawyers representing Harry and other claimants asked for almost 2 million pounds to cover the fees for the generic action taken against the publisher.
Sherborne argued that the lies and cover-ups by MGN, owned by Reach, meant it was liable to cover these costs.
However, MGN's lawyers argue the claimants had only been partly successful, and said three others whose cases went to trial should pay all the costs, as two were ruled to have made their claims too late and the third had received less in damages than it had offered in a pre-trial settlement.
Fancourt said he would give his ruling at a later date. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/prince-harry-wants-case-against-mirror-resolved-as-soon-as-possible-lawyers
| 2024-01-29T17:18:31Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/prince-harry-wants-case-against-mirror-resolved-as-soon-as-possible-lawyers
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UNITED NATIONS - The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor told the U.N. Security Council on Monday "there are grounds to believe" both Sudan's regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are committing war crimes in Darfur at present.
War erupted in Sudan on April 15, 2023 between the Sudanese armed forces and the RSF. ICC prosecutor Karim Khan launched an investigation in July last year into the surge of hostilities in Sudan's Darfur region.
The ICC's founding treaty, the Rome Statute, gives the court jurisdiction over four major crimes - genocide, crimes against humanity, the crime of aggression and war crimes - that are grave breaches of the Geneva conventions. The conventions set the internationally accepted rules of armed conflict.
"It's my clear finding, my clear assessment, that there are grounds to believe that presently Rome Statute crimes are being committed in Darfur by both the Sudanese armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces and affiliated groups," Khan said.
"The alleged atrocities that have taken place in El Geneina form a central line of investigations that my office is pursuing at this current moment," he told the 15-member Council. "We are collecting a very significant body of material, information and evidence that is relevant to those particular crimes."
Reuters last year chronicled ethnically targeted violence committed in West Darfur. In hundreds of interviews with Reuters, survivors described horrific scenes of bloodletting in El Geneina and along the 30-km (18-mile) route from the city to the border with Chad as people fled.
Between 10,000 and 15,000 people were killed in El Geneina last year in ethnic violence by the RSF and allied Arab militia, according to a U.N. report seen by Reuters earlier this month.
In December the United States formally determined that warring parties in Sudan committed war crimes, and that the RSF and allied militias had also perpetrated crimes against humanity as well as ethnic cleansing.
The war has left nearly half of Sudan's 49 million people needing aid, while more than 7.5 million people have fled their homes. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/icc-prosecutor-believes-warring-parties-committing-war-crimes-in-darfur
| 2024-01-29T17:18:41Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/icc-prosecutor-believes-warring-parties-committing-war-crimes-in-darfur
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LONDON - The International Monetary Fund will allow Argentina to defer the last review of its $44 billion loan by two months, giving the government more time to apply reforms and potentially negotiate a new program, according to people with direct knowledge.
Government and IMF officials have agreed that the last review of the current package, initially set for September, will be postponed to November, said three sources, who asked not to be named because the information is not public.
The IMF and countries are subject to a schedule of reviews on progress, that once signed off by the Fund's executive board, trigger disbursement of tranches of financing.
In Argentina's case, this is the first time the date of the last review on a loan agreed in 2022 changes.
The government and IMF staff recently agreed on the seventh review of the program, which was delayed amid a change of government as President Javier Milei took office on Dec. 10.
The Fund's executive board is expected to sign off on the extension as well as $4.7 billion in funding at a meeting on Wednesday.
An IMF spokesperson did not immediately reply to a request of comment. A spokesperson for Argentina's economy ministry confirmed that the government expected the IMF board to meet on Jan. 31 to discuss the program, but declined to comment further.
The additional time is to "ensure that the program delivers on its objectives," one of the sources said. The quantity of total reviews has not changed, the source said, adding that the extension does not imply any fresh financing.
The remaining three reviews from May onwards are set to trigger around $1.9 billion in disbursements.
"The country could always negotiate a new program before the current loan ends, but now it has more breathing room until the end of the year to decide what it wants to do," another source said.
GOALS MISSED
The latest staff report is set to express again that the program with South America's second-largest economy went "significantly off track," two sources said, after goals such as international reserves accumulation and reduction of the primary fiscal deficit were missed.
Milei's administration aims to reach fiscal balance and build up $10 billion in net international reserves by end-2024.
The IMF expects the country to complete public hearings for energy prices, buy back government debt held by central bank and solve external commercial debt, one of the sources said.
Economy Minister Luis Caputo said on Friday the government withdrew major spending reforms from a sweeping "omnibus" bill in Congress to facilitate its approval, because the government did not have enough support to push through measures such as tax reforms.
"While so far no announcements have been made, discretionary transfers to provinces should lay at the forefront of the savings roadmap," according to a JPMorgan report by economist Diego Pereira.
"While waiting for the measures to be deployed, we maintain in our central scenario a primary (not headline) fiscal balance for this year."
Milei, a political outsider who rode to power on the back of voter anger at the worsening economic situation, is looking to employ tough austerity measures to bring down inflation, reduce a deep fiscal deficit and rebuild government coffers. The country's annual inflation rate sped past 211% in December.
The grains exporter, the largest debtor to the Fund, struggled in 2023 to pay back the IMF, resorting to deals with China and with Qatar to make ends meet. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/imf-argentina-to-defer-final-44-billion-loan-review-to-november
| 2024-01-29T17:18:51Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/imf-argentina-to-defer-final-44-billion-loan-review-to-november
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KFAR AZA, Israel - An Israeli woman who spent 55 days in Hamas captivity in Gaza said on Monday that every second of that time felt like eternity and she feared for the resilience of the more than 100 remaining hostages abducted on Oct. 7.
Returning to the ruins of the Kfar Aza kibbutz, her former home where she was seized by Hamas gunmen during their deadly rampage across southern Israel, Amit Soussana was campaigning in support of the captives alongside some of their relatives.
"I was under an emotional and physical terror the entire 55 days I was held in captivity, feeling like every moment can be my last. Every second felt like eternity," said Soussana, 40, wearing a sweatshirt with the slogan "Bring them home NOW".
She said it was hard to imagine how those still held in Gaza must feel 115 days into their ordeal, with no end in sight.
"I hope that the remaining hostages there are able to keep their faith alive and stay strong. But even the toughest souls can't hold on for such a long time," she said.
Hamas killed 1,200 people in Israel and abducted 253 on Oct. 7, according to Israel, which responded with a military assault on Gaza that has killed more than 26,600 Palestinians, according to health officials there. It has also displaced most of the strip's population and caused widespread hunger and disease.
Almost half of the hostages were released by Hamas during a brief truce in November, while Israel released hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Diplomatic efforts are ongoing to secure another truce that would allow more hostages to be freed.
Monday's public statement by Soussana at Kfar Aza was part of a relentless campaign by families and supporters of the remaining hostages to focus attention on their plight.
CCTV footage of Soussana's abduction, released after she was freed, shows her resisting her seven abductors by kicking and writhing as they try and drag her across a field towards Gaza.
At one point, one of the men lifts Soussana off the ground and attempts to carry her over his shoulder, but she kicks and writhes so strongly that the man falls to the ground, whereupon one of the other kidnappers is seen beating her.
"I kept resisting until they eventually tied me up by my arms and legs and dragged me on the floor. It took them over an hour to take me to the border. I was beaten up really badly. My entire face and body were bruised and swollen," she said.
Soussana said that while in Gaza she was moved from location to location, always under guard by heavily armed men from Hamas, given little to eat, supervised even when using the bathroom and subjected to physical and psychological violence.
One of the places where she was held was a dark, damp tunnel 40 metres underground where it was hard to breathe. Being there felt like being buried alive, she said.
"When you're in Hamas captivity, everything is just so fragile. You're constantly on the edge. Things can go drastically wrong every second. You're not allowed to speak, not allowed to cry, not even allowed to comfort each other when times get really bad," she said. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/freed-israeli-hostage-fears-for-resilience-of-those-still-held-in-gaza
| 2024-01-29T17:19:02Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/freed-israeli-hostage-fears-for-resilience-of-those-still-held-in-gaza
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TEL AVIV - Stores have reopened. There are picnics in the park. Surfers have even returned to the beach. But things are far from normal in Tel Aviv.
Nearly four months have passed since Hamas burst across the Gaza border and rampaged through southern Israel, sparking the devastating war in the Gaza Strip.
The rocket barrages that crippled Tel Aviv, on Israel's Mediterranean coast north of Gaza, at the outset of the war have largely petered out as Israel's military made gains in its fight against Palestinian militant groups. A semblance of normality has returned, but palpable tension remains.
Military reservists walk the street in uniform on their way to or from their bases. Civilians, worried about Palestinian street attacks, are carrying guns in much greater numbers than before the war.
Street corners are plastered with posters of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza. And almost every day, the hostage families and their supporters gather to protest, blocking traffic as they voice demands for their loved ones' return.
After weeks of relative quiet, a huge barrage of rockets was fired on Monday at major cities in central Israel, including Tel Aviv, sending residents running for shelter. Explosions echoed across the city as air defenses shot down incoming rockets. There were no immediate reports of casualties. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/tel-aviv-adjusts-to-wartime-with-hostage-photos-and-guns-on-streets
| 2024-01-29T17:19:12Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/tel-aviv-adjusts-to-wartime-with-hostage-photos-and-guns-on-streets
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WASHINGTON DC - As many as one in 10 hate crimes in the US take place at schools - from kindergarten through college - according to an FBI report released on Jan 29, with Black students the most frequent targets, followed by Jewish and LGBTQ victims.
Schools were the third most frequent location for hate crimes - after residences and roadways or alleys - from 2018 to 2022, even though most schools experienced months of closures during the 2020-2021 academic year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The US has seen a marked increase in hate crimes - defined by the FBI as an offense motivated by bias against race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, disability or gender - in recent years. The FBI’s compilation of crime data shows the number of reported bias crimes went from around 8,500 in 2018 to more than 13,300 in 2022, a record high.
The number of reported hate incidents in schools rose even more rapidly, nearly doubling over the five-year period from 700 in 2018 to 1,336 in 2022. The latter figure represented 10 per cent of all hate crimes reported in the country.
Nearly two-thirds of the offenses took place in kindergarten-through-12th grade schools.
Most experts say hate crimes are typically undercounted, since they rely on subjective evaluations by law enforcement agencies as to whether there was a discriminatory intent. In addition, many victims choose not to report their experiences to police for fear of reprisal, experts say.
The war in Gaza, which began in October after Hamas militants attacked Israel, has led to a spike in both antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents across the US, according to advocacy groups. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/one-in-10-us-hate-crimes-occur-at-schools-fbi-says
| 2024-01-29T17:19:22Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/one-in-10-us-hate-crimes-occur-at-schools-fbi-says
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GENEVA - The World Health Organization said on Jan 29 that nearly half the world’s population was now covered by solid rules limiting trans fat in foods and urged lagging countries to catch up.
The WHO appealed in 2018 for industrially produced fatty acids in foods to be eliminated worldwide by 2023, amid evidence they caused 500,000 premature deaths every year.
The target was not met and was pushed back to 2025.
But 53 countries covering 46 per cent of the world’s population are now implementing best practice policies on the toxic substance – up from 11 countries and six per cent in 2018.
The WHO estimates that about 183,000 lives a year are being saved.
“Trans fat has no known health benefit, but huge health risks,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement.
“We are very pleased that so many countries have introduced policies banning or limiting trans fat in food,” he said.
Seven countries implemented best practice policies in 2023: Egypt, Mexico, Moldova, Nigeria, North Macedonia, the Philippines and Ukraine.
Clogging the arteries
The solidified oil that clogs up arteries around the heart is often used in packaged foods, baked goods, cooking oils and spreads like margarine.
Food producers use trans fat because they allow a longer shelf life and are cheaper than some alternatives.
Best practice on eliminating trans fat means either a mandatory national limit of two grammes of industrially-produced trans fat per 100 grammes of total fat in all foods; or a national ban on the production or use of partially-hydrogenated oils, which are a major source of trans fat.
On Jan 29, Tedros awarded the WHO’s first-ever certificates validating progress in eliminating industrially produced trans-fatty acids, during a ceremony at the UN health agency’s headquarters in Geneva.
The recipients were Denmark, Lithuania, Poland, Saudi Arabia and Thailand.
To be eligible, countries must implement best practice, and then back it up with rigorous monitoring and enforcement systems.
Certified countries will have to submit updated data every three years to retain their status.
Tedros urged other countries to follow their lead, and called for talks to keep the food industry onside.
‘Harmful’ and ‘unnecessary’
Danish ambassador to the UN in Geneva Ib Petersen said policies adopted in Denmark are thought to have reduced coronary heart disease in the country by 11 percent.
“It is the most financially disadvantaged groups who will benefit the most,” he told the ceremony.
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally. An estimated 17.9 million people died from such diseases in 2019, of which 85 percent were due to heart attacks and strokes.
Getting rid of trans fats is seen as an easy way to reduce the numbers.
“Trans fat elimination is economically, politically, and technically feasible and saves lives at virtually no cost to governments or consumers,” said Tom Frieden, president of the non-profit organisation Resolve to Save Lives, which is partnering with the WHO on trans fat.
“This harmful compound is unnecessary, and no one misses it when it’s gone.”
Frieden, a former director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, warned though that countries without regulations risked becoming trans fat “dumping grounds”. AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/who-urges-more-countries-to-get-tougher-on-trans-fat
| 2024-01-29T17:19:33Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/who-urges-more-countries-to-get-tougher-on-trans-fat
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Five people with Alzheimer’s disease developed the condition as a result of a medical procedure decades earlier, a new study reports. While the procedure that has been implicated is no longer in use, the findings could provide important insights into how the disease progresses, and represent the first evidence of Alzheimer’s being transmitted to living people in this way.
Eight cases of patients in the UK who were treated with human growth hormone derived from cadavers (c-hGH) were reviewed by a team from University College London (UCL) and University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH). This practice was used between 1959 and 1985, and at least 1,848 patients are known to have received c-hGH – usually during childhood ؘ– to treat various causes of short stature. The cadaver-derived product was withdrawn globally after there were some reports of recipients being infected with prions, and ultimately dying of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD).
Prions are misfolded proteins that can spread within and damage the brain by causing other neighboring proteins to also become misfolded. In most cases, prion diseases arise sporadically, with no obvious cause. Outbreaks of prion diseases have also arisen when tainted brain matter enters the diet, as was the case with kuru (caused by ritual cannibalistic funerary practices among the Fore people of Papua New Guinea), and human cases of CJD from meat contaminated with “mad cow disease”.
In these cases, though, the disease resulted from a medical procedure, which is termed “iatrogenic” transmission.
Once the risk of iatrogenic CJD became clear in the mid-1980s, all use of c-hGH in medical procedures was stopped, and the National Prion Clinic at UCLH has continued to monitor numerous affected patients.
Through post-mortem analysis, it began to emerge that there could be something else going on in the brains of those who died of CJD. There was evidence of amyloid-beta pathology, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. However, the symptoms of CJD would have masked any signs of Alzheimer’s in these people when they were alive, so medics could not be sure what the effect of this pathology would have been.
This latest study focuses on eight individuals who did not develop CJD after their c-hGH treatment. Five of them started displaying symptoms consistent with Alzheimer’s-related dementia between the ages of 38 and 55, which progressed and became more severe over time. Of the remaining three, one had no symptoms at all, one had some minor cognitive symptoms, and one met the criteria for a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment, which can sometimes develop into dementia.
Since the patients with Alzheimer’s were so young when they began to show symptoms, it was unlikely they had the usual form of the disease that occurs in old age. Five of the patients were able to provide samples for genetic testing, which also allowed the team to rule out the rarer inherited type of Alzheimer’s disease.
That only left one logical conclusion for the team: that amyloid-beta proteins were transmitted to the patients when they received their c-hGH treatment as children, leading to them developing Alzheimer’s-like brain pathology in midlife.
Previous research with animal models provides a precedent for this theory, which the team has been developing since as far back as 2015. A study in mice in 2018 confirmed the possibility that amyloid-beta can act like a prion, and that injecting it can lead to the buildup of harmful protein deposits in the brain.
But, and this is very important to stress, all this does not mean that Alzheimer’s is contagious.
“The transmission probably requires direct contact with the brain or the presence of circulating pathogenic forms of the proteins in the bloodstream,” professor of neuropathology Seth Love previously explained to IFLScience.
This was echoed by Professor John Collinge, the lead author of the new study and director of the UCL Institute of Prion Diseases, in a statement: “There is no suggestion whatsoever that Alzheimer’s disease can be transmitted between individuals during activities of daily life or routine medical care. The patients we have described were given a specific and long-discontinued medical treatment which involved injecting patients with material now known to have been contaminated with disease-related proteins.”
What it does mean is that we have more evidence than ever that Alzheimer’s could progress in a similar way to CJD, at least in some cases.
While true iatrogenic cases of Alzheimer's are likely to be very rare, the team does say that it is important we take a fresh look at medical procedures that could come with a heightened risk of transmission. Primarily, though, in light of the challenges in treating and preventing Alzheimer's, the findings could help scientists better understand its progression and develop new therapies, which will surely be welcomed.
The study is published in Nature Medicine.
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https://www.iflscience.com/alzheimers-disease-likely-transmitted-to-5-patients-via-banned-medical-procedure-72668
| 2024-01-29T18:03:05Z
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https://www.iflscience.com/alzheimers-disease-likely-transmitted-to-5-patients-via-banned-medical-procedure-72668
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Astronomers at The Virtual Telescope Project have captured incredible footage and images of asteroid 2024 BJ as it made a close encounter with Earth on Saturday.
The asteroid whizzed past the Earth, making its closest approach of 353,000 kilometers (220,000 miles), just 10 days after its discovery. At its closest approach, the asteroid was around 92 percent of the average distance between the Earth and the Moon. As well as the distance involved, the Earth was not at huge risk from the object, which is around five giraffes wide. If that figure doesn't make sense to you, IFLScience staff member Eleanor Higgs calculates that that's between 16 and 17 Ariana Grandes.
The Virtual Telescope Project followed the asteroid as it made its closest approach, live-streaming it as well as photographing the object.
If you're here because of the funny name, first we must congratulate you on turning 13 years old, but here is the answer you're looking for. The rock was one of the 156 asteroids that have been discovered by a sky survey in January 2024, hence the "2024" part of its name. The rest of the asteroid's name also gives clues as to when exactly it was discovered.
"The provisional designation includes the year of its discovery followed by two letters that give the order of its discovery during that year," the European Space Agency (ESA) explains. "Objects, discovered between 1 and 15 January, are designated in order of their discovery, AA, AB, AC, and so on. Those discovered between 16 and 31 January are given the letters BA, BB, BC, and so on."
Being the tenth discovered asteroid after January 16, it earned the slightly unfortunate name 2024 BJ.
The name isn't permanent, however. Were later observations to show it is not 2024 BJ after all (for example) but another asteroid which has already been spotted before, the asteroid would be renamed for what it really is. If the asteroid is new, eventually it will be given a permanent name.
"The astronomer who first provides enough observations to calculate the orbit with precision, has the privilege of choosing the name because they are the discoverer," the ESA added.
For now, however, we hope you like the livestream of 2024 BJ.
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https://www.iflscience.com/astronomers-just-captured-incredible-footage-of-2024-bj-72669
| 2024-01-29T18:03:09Z
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https://www.iflscience.com/astronomers-just-captured-incredible-footage-of-2024-bj-72669
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This article first appeared in Issue 16 of our free digital magazine CURIOUS.
A dramatic sight awaits anyone drifting near the shores of the Isle of Staffa where a unique sea cave is carved into the rugged coastline. Known as Fingal’s Cave, its name comes from an Irish myth in which Fionn MacCumhaill, nicknamed Fingal for “white stranger”, migrated to Scotland from Ireland. Fingal was believed to be the creator of the Giant’s Causeway, which boasts a similarly hexagonal esthetic.
The Isle of Staffa is small and uninhabited, but it attracts lots of tourists each year who are drawn to its peculiar, hexagonal-shaped basalt columns. Most of the columns are true hexagons with six sides, but five-sided and seven-sided columns can also be found, according to the Scottish Geology Trust.
Fingal’s hexagons were stacking up around 60 million years ago at a time when the Atlantic Ocean was still taking shape. They’re the result of what unfolds when molten lava cools and contracts, breaking apart in an orderly fashion – which is more than can be said for us under pressure.
“Imagine a huge flow of hot, liquid magma that is settling,” posits Arizona State University. “The outer layer is starting to cool and darken in color from orange to black. As it cools, it needs to shrink a bit, as hot materials usually take up more space than cooler ones. Because of this shrinking, the surface of the lava starts to crack. But this cracking isn’t always random. In this case, the lava starts to crack into regular shapes.”
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Hexagons are just one of the many patterns that we see in nature, and the uniform magic of Fingal’s Cave is a reminder that you can’t hide from math – not even in a decaying shrub.
Resembling a giant honeycomb, the gridded geometric pillars stretch to heights of 22 meters (72 feet). Some say it also resembles a cathedral, which leads us to another quirk of Fingal’s Cave.
It has a funky sound as well as appearance thanks to its remarkable acoustic properties. The unique shape of its columns means sound reverberates unusually, creating an otherworldly auditory experience that’s earned the cave the nickname “nature’s cathedral”. It’s also known in Gaelic as “An Uamh Binn”, meaning “the cave of music”.
Fingal’s Cave inspired “Hebrides Overture” by composer Felix Mendelssohn, who visited the cave in 1829. As it happens, there are a few natural caves that have proven to be a hit with musicians, just ask the glow worms in New Zealand’s Waitomo Cave.
How to get there: You can explore Fingal’s Cave by boat from Oban, or as part of a swimming tour that’ll take you into its mouth. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a basking shark, but you should stay out of theirs.
CURIOUS magazine is a digital magazine from IFLScience featuring interviews, experts, deep dives, fun facts, news, book excerpts, and much more. Issue 19 is out now.
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https://www.iflscience.com/fingals-cave-natures-60-million-year-old-cathedral-is-brimming-with-hexagons-72679
| 2024-01-29T18:03:09Z
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https://www.iflscience.com/fingals-cave-natures-60-million-year-old-cathedral-is-brimming-with-hexagons-72679
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Despite weighing around 25 tons each, the enormous sarsen stones of Stonehenge were somehow transported over incredible distances when the monument was constructed almost 5,000 years ago. The majority of these colossal monoliths came from a spot known as the West Woods, around 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) from the site itself, yet new research has identified fragments of sarsen stone that originate an incredible 123 kilometers (76.4 miles) away in East Sussex.
Sarsens are silicified sandstone boulders that are found in the open chalk hills of southern England. They are the building blocks of several of the most iconic structures at Stonehenge, including the Trilithon Horseshoe, the Sarsen Circle, and the Station Stone Rectangle.
While the smaller (yet still massive) ‘bluestones’ that make up the inner circle are well known to have come from the Preseli Hills in Wales, the sarsens’ origins weren’t confirmed until 2020, when the chemical composition of all but two of the gigantic rocks was matched to source material in the West Woods. Interestingly, the two anomalous sarsens - known simply as Stones 26 and 160 - are yet to be traced.
To gain more insight into the provenance of these huge stones, the authors of a new study analyzed the chemical composition of 54 samples of sarsen debris retrieved from excavation trenches at Stonehenge in 2008. Using techniques such as X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (pXRF) and inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), the researchers discovered that none of these fragments matched entirely with the West Wood sarsens.
Comparing their findings with data from sarsen outcrop areas across southern England, the study authors were able to link 15 of their samples with specific locations.
“Eleven of these were likely sourced from Monkton Down, Totterdown Wood and West Woods on the Marlborough Downs (25–33 km north of Stonehenge),” write the researchers. “Three fragments likely came from Bramdean, Hampshire (51 km southeast of Stonehenge), and one from Stoney Wish, East Sussex (123 km to the southeast).”
These results indicate that the fragments were not produced during the processing of the main West Wood sarsens, although it’s unclear if they represent material removed from the outer surfaces of Stones 26 or 160. The debris may also have belonged to other sarsen stones that once stood at Stonehenge but have since been removed or dismantled.
“At this stage, we can only speculate on the reasons why sarsen stone from such diverse sources is present at Stonehenge,” write the study authors. Among the many possible explanations is that these fragments were once pieces of hammerstones that were used in the construction of the famous landmark.
Alternatively, these foreign stones may have been part of small rocks that were brought to the site for ceremonial purposes.
The study has been published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.
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https://www.iflscience.com/iconic-sarsen-stones-of-stonehenge-may-have-come-from-120-kilometers-away-72667
| 2024-01-29T18:03:10Z
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https://www.iflscience.com/iconic-sarsen-stones-of-stonehenge-may-have-come-from-120-kilometers-away-72667
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While investigating the many microbes that have colonized the human body, a team of researchers stumbled upon something strange: a previously unrecognized class of virus-like objects, which they have dubbed “Obelisks”. The newly described entities are thought to inhabit human mouth and gut bacteria and have circular RNA genomes, sequences of which have been found all over the world.
The researchers came across almost 30,000 different Obelisks, with examples from all seven continents, while trawling through over 5 million datasets of published genetic sequences.
“It’s insane,” Mark Peifer, a cell and developmental biologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who was not involved with the research, told Science Magazine. “The more we look, the more crazy things we see.”
The work, which is yet to be peer-reviewed, found Obelisks in 7 percent of the analyzed stool samples, and 50 percent of oral samples. Their sequences were also found to be distinct depending on where they were found in the body.
They bear no sequence or structural similarity to known biological agents, and so “comprise a class of diverse RNAs that have colonised, and gone unnoticed in, human, and global microbiomes,” the team write in their preprint.
Obelisks are named after the rod-like structures predicted to encompass their entire genomes, which resemble the monument of the same name.
The virus-like entities’ genomes are just 1,000 bases long, which likely sets them apart from RNA viruses as they tend to have much longer sequences.
Obelisks also include genes encoding a novel protein superfamily called “Oblins”, which the researchers suspect may be involved in RNA replication. This distinguishes them from simpler RNA loops called viroids that do not code for proteins.
So, Obelisks are like viruses but they’re not viruses, and they’re also not viroids. They might not even behave that much like viruses: “these elements might not even be ‘viral’ in nature,” the researchers explain, as it is currently “not possible to assign transmission mode, host impact, or replication mode.” Instead, they might more closely resemble RNA plasmids, the team conclude.
Because of these unknowns, Obelisks' effect on human health also remains up in the air.
Still, the findings help to flesh out what we know about viral evolution, something that is still shrouded in a lot of mystery. “This is one of the most exciting parts of being in this field right now,” Simon Roux of the DOE Joint Genome Institute at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, also not involved in the research, told Science. “We can see the picture of the long-term evolution of viruses on Earth start to slowly emerge.”
The study, which has not been peer-reviewed, is available at bioRxiv.
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https://www.iflscience.com/obelisks-new-class-of-virus-like-entity-discovered-in-human-gut-microbes-72670
| 2024-01-29T18:03:10Z
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https://www.iflscience.com/obelisks-new-class-of-virus-like-entity-discovered-in-human-gut-microbes-72670
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With 200 billion trillion stars (ish) stars in the universe and the 13.7 billion years which have elapsed since it all began, you might be wondering where all the alien civilizations are at.
This is the basic question of the Fermi paradox, the tension between our suspicions of the potential for life in the universe (given planets found in habitable zones, etc) and the fact that we have only found one planet with an intelligent (ish) species inhabiting it.
One solution, or at least a way of thinking about the problem, is known as the Great Filter. Proposed by Robin Hanson of the Future of Humanity Institute at Oxford University, the argument goes that given the lack of observed technologically advanced alien civilizations, there must be a great barrier to the development of life or civilization that prevents them from getting to a stage where they are making big, detectable impacts on their environment, that we can witness from Earth.
"You start with billions and billions of potential germination points for life, and you end up with a sum total of zero extraterrestrial civilizations that we can observe," Nick Bostrom, also of the Future of Humanity Institute, explains. "The Great Filter must therefore be powerful enough – which is to say, the critical steps must be improbable enough – that even with many billions of rolls of the dice, one ends up with nothing: no aliens, no spacecraft, no signals, at least none that we can detect in our neck of the woods."
Hanson proposed stages that life may have to get through (or conditions that need to be satisfied for life to occur and continue) in order to get to where we are now and beyond. These were:
- The right star system (including organics)
- Reproductive something (e.g. RNA)
- Simple (prokaryotic) single-cell life
- Complex (archaeatic & eukaryotic) single-cell life
- Sexual reproduction
- Multi-cell life
- Tool-using animals with big brains
- Where we are now
- Colonization explosion
"The Great Silence implies that one or more of these steps are very improbable; there is a 'Great Filter' along the path between simple dead stuff and explosive life," Hanson wrote in the original paper. "The vast vast majority of stuff that starts along this path never makes it. In fact, so far nothing among the billion trillion stars in our whole past universe has made it all the way along this path."
Searching the galaxy for star systems amenable to life, stars for planets, and planets for biospheres and technosignatures could tell us more about where the Great Filter lies. Could it be that the conditions for even simple life are rare (which doesn't seem likely given organic compounds found in asteroids, for example) or that civilizations hit different barriers later on, such as an oxygen bottleneck preventing intelligent species from ever leaving the Stone Age? Or is the Great Filter somewhere between where we are now, and colonizing civilizations? If that is the case, it means the filter (most likely our own extinction, unless there is another reason why colonizing civilizations remain quiet to us) lies in our future.
The good news is that finding life on other planets could tell us about where we are in relation to the Great Filter, or our own extinction.
"Searching for technosignatures alongside biosignatures would provide important knowledge about the future of our civilization. If planets with technosignatures are abundant, then we can increase our confidence that the hardest step in planetary evolution – the Great Filter – is probably in our past," as one paper explains. "But if we find that life is commonplace while technosignatures are absent, then this would increase the likelihood that the Great Filter awaits to challenge us in the future."
It could be that common threats, such as asteroids, wipe out civilizations before they have a chance to begin colonizing their galaxies, or that at some point in a technological species' development, they inevitably learn about some technology (such as nuclear weapons, or another concept we have not discovered yet), or that some other threat lurks out there for species that are technologically advanced and unwise enough to broadcast that fact. One way or the other, we guess we'll find out.
The original paper on the Great Filter "The Great Filter - Are We Almost Past It?" is available on the George Mason University website.
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https://www.iflscience.com/the-great-filter-alien-life-and-what-it-all-means-for-our-own-extinction-72665
| 2024-01-29T18:03:25Z
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https://www.iflscience.com/the-great-filter-alien-life-and-what-it-all-means-for-our-own-extinction-72665
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In recent years, the once-hypothesized landmass in the Southern Hemisphere, now known as Zealandia, has become increasingly popular for scientific research. In fact, as of the end of 2023, Zealandia became the first continent to be completely mapped out, even though 95 percent of the newly identified continent is underwater. And yet Zealandia is not the only submerged continent out there and now scientists understand them better than ever. So why is it that some continents go “missing” only to be rediscovered later?
Drowned worlds
Part of the explanation here relates to how we think about “continents”. In many school systems, these landmasses are defined by their geography, but in reality, this is only part of the picture. Instead, geology plays an important role in our understanding of what makes a continent. This includes how thick it is, what rocks it is made of, and where it is below sea level. Continental crust, for instance, differs from oceanic crust in that it is it is typically older, thicker, less dense, and has a more varied composition.
As such, continental crust tends to float higher on the mantle, which makes up the bulk of the Earth’s interior. Then, through the power of tectonic movement over the years, some landmasses can drop below the surface of the water and therefore off the map.
However, advances in imaging software, seismography, and centuries of mapping efforts are now providing new insights into continents that were lost to the depths long ago.
Greater Adria
While Zealandia has become famous for being submerged below the waves, there is another continent that has not only sunk below the surface, but has also vanished into the Earth’s mantle. Today, the only visible remnants of the continent, known as Greater Adria, are limestones and other rocks found in the mountain ranges of southern Europe.
About 240 million years ago, around the Triassic period, a chunk of continental crust separated from North Africa. The landmass was roughly the size of Greenland.
After it’s separation from Africa, Greater Adria gradually sank beneath the waters, where it became the home to tropical coral reefs. Then, sometime around 100 or so million years ago, it started to slide under Europe and into the mantle.
During its descent, parts of Greater Adria remained above the surface. Through a process called “offscraping”, the top layers of sedimentary rock came free and created the mountain ranges that cut through Italy, Turkey, and Greece today. So while there are now rocks from Greater Adria scattered across 30 different countries, there is also a part of the lost continent that remains, stretching from the north of Italy, down to its “boot”. This region is known as Adria.
Argoland
Clearly, 100 million years ago was the time for all the cool movers and shakers. At the same time that Greater Adria was getting familiar with the edge of Europe, a large chunk of land broke away from Western Australia. This piece was about the size of North America, which then drifted into the Indian Ocean. Argoland, as it is known, then broke apart and disappeared from the map.
Unlike Zealandia, which settled under the sea, or Greater Adria that crashed into the mantle, Argoland was mostly conspicuous for the void it left behind – what is called the Argo Abyssal Plain.
However, recent research has potentially located (parts of) Argoland in an unexpected place: the jungles of Southeast Asia.
The explanation is that Argoland probably broke up into smaller islands a lot earlier than previously thought. Then, its pieces all moved northwards towards Southeast Asia during the Late Jurassic era. Over time, parts of the drift were eaten by the Sunda Trench subduction zone, while others became part of the seafloor or other areas of Southeast Asia. Now, it seems, there are chunks of this long-lost continent in parts of present-day Myanmar and Indonesia.
[H/T: Popular Mechanics]
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https://www.iflscience.com/what-makes-a-lost-continent-and-how-are-they-found-again-72682
| 2024-01-29T18:03:31Z
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https://www.iflscience.com/what-makes-a-lost-continent-and-how-are-they-found-again-72682
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This article first appeared in Issue 16 of our free digital magazine CURIOUS.
Were you to stare into the eyes of a tiger, you might clock that it has round pupils – just like ours – moments before it severed your carotid. It could be assumed it’s a predatory adaptation, then, but look into the peepers of domestic cats and you’ll see they have vertical slits. What’s up with that?
We interviewed principal investigator Marty Banks of the Banks’ Lab, UC Berkeley’s visual space perception laboratory, to find out more about how and why pupil shape varies among terrestrial animals. It turns out there are some general rules, but the mongoose has no time for them.
How do pupils vary among animals?
MB: We looked at terrestrial animals, and there are three prominent shapes. One is circular, another is a vertically elongated slit, and finally, the horizontally elongated pupil.
Are they associated with certain lifestyles?
MB: Absolutely. The horizontal pupil – with only one exception we could find – is associated with prey animals. It was very clear that these animals tend to almost always have eyes on the side of their head instead of frontal eyes like we do.
How does that influence how they see the world?
MB: The fact that their eyes are on the side of their head allows them to see almost 360 degrees around them. Something we can’t do, obviously. The elongated pupil benefits that panoramic vision by letting in more light, so the left eye can see behind the animal on the left, and the longer pupil allows more light to get into that direction so they can see better.
Interestingly, the fact that the pupil is narrow vertically, has the effect of sharpening horizontal contours the animal might see. And they might well need that for placing their feet on the ground as they try to run away from a predator.
Subscribe to our newsletter and get every issue of CURIOUS delivered to your inbox free each month.
What about the vertical slit?
MB: Many of those animals have frontal eyes, not eyes on the side of the head, and they are very likely to be predators – quite likely ambush predators. These are predators that don't run down their prey but rather wait and hide and then pounce when the prey comes close to them. The domestic cat is an example of that.
We also found a correlation between the animal’s height and whether they had a vertical slit pupil or not. Taller animals in the predator family tend to have circular pupils, like the lion and the tiger. And shorter animals like the domestic cat tend to have vertically slit pupils. We did a complicated analysis to show that actually makes sense.
We think these animals use blur as a cue to distance, helping them to judge the distance of the prey that they're going to pounce on. That cue is more useful if the eye is close to the ground, and less useful if the eyes are above the ground and the animal is larger.
How does that work?
MB: Any photographer knows this, if they want to take a picture with a sharp image at one distance and a blurry background, or a blurred foreground, they open the aperture of their camera. That provides a very useful cue that the blurry things are farther away than the sharp things in the foreground.
Photographers do that with a circular aperture, these animals appear to do it through a vertical swing aperture. So, their vertically extended pupil is large, which creates a nice blur signal. The horizontal extend to the pupil is small, and our argument is that that's useful for another depth cue called stereo offsets.
Are there animals that don’t fit the mold?
MB: There’s one very clear exception for which we have no explanation: the mongoose. It’s a small carnivorous mammal that has eyes on the front of its head. So, you’d expect them to have either a vertical slit pupil or a round pupil, but they have horizontal pupils. That animal does not fit our account at all.
CURIOUS magazine is a digital magazine from IFLScience featuring interviews, experts, deep dives, fun facts, news, book excerpts, and much more. Issue 19 is out now.
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https://www.iflscience.com/why-do-animals-have-different-pupil-shapes-72678
| 2024-01-29T18:03:37Z
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https://www.iflscience.com/why-do-animals-have-different-pupil-shapes-72678
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An X (Twitter) thread has been widely-shared over the weekend, in which Radiolab host Latif Nasser explained how he investigated the mystery of a moon labeled "Zoozve" on his 2-year-old's astronomy poster.
Having noticed the label, he of course Googled it, and found the NASA-confirmed fact that Venus has no moons.
Further Googling found no references to any "Zoozve", and a friend at NASA had no idea what it was referring to either. Nasser called the illustrator, who swore that he took the name from a list of moons of the Solar System.
To cut a long (but enjoyable!) story short, Nasser's NASA friend (Liz Landau) realized what had happened. The planet was not Zoozve, but object 2002 VE 68. When space objects are first seen, they are given a provisional name based on when they were discovered. The first number part, as you might have guessed, relates to the year.
"The provisional designation includes the year of its discovery followed by two letters that give the order of its discovery during that year. Objects, discovered between 1 and 15 January, are designated in order of their discovery, AA, AB, AC, and so on. Those discovered between 16 and 31 January are given the letters BA, BB, BC, and so on," the European Space Agency explains, adding that J is not used. "The final discoveries of the year, between 16 and 31 December, have designations in the series YA, YB, YC."
The object is a lot more interesting than your standard space rocks, being as it was the first of its kind ever discovered, due to its unusual orbit.
"Like all asteroids, its orbit takes it around the Sun, with asteroids closer to the Sun circling more rapidly and completing a 'year' in a shorter time. The 'year' for VE68 is shorter than the Earth year, clocking in at a little under 225 days," the Tuorla Observatory explained in a 2004 press release.
"This is almost exactly the same as the 'year' of the planet Venus – and it turns out that like synchronised divers in the olympic games, both VE68 and Venus are travelling around the Sun nearly in lock-step."
Tracking the orbit of 2002 VE, they had discovered the first quasi-moon, or quasi-satellites, in the Solar System. Quasi-moons, as the name suggests, are not quite moons. They orbit the Sun, but are also influenced by the planets along their path.
Since the discovery of 2002 VE, other quasi-moons have been discovered. Though these moons can come and go, Earth has two which have been officially recognized.
2002 VE has been orbiting the Sun and encountering Venus for quite a while, but the team who first described its orbit think it may have come from elsewhere.
"Our computations show that it has been in its present orbital state for about seven millennia and will stay there for five more centuries to come," the team wrote in their paper. "Very close approaches with Venus and Mercury are excluded within the interval of time of reliable numerical computation of the orbit, but repeated encounters with the Earth do occur. From the evolution of the orbit of this object, we conclude that it may have been a near-Earth asteroid, which, some 7,000 yr ago, was injected into its present orbit by the action of the Earth."
A later paper, when more observations had been carried out, found possible close encounters with Earth, as well as a very complicated orbital path.
"We find that 2002 VE68 will remain as a quasi-satellite of Venus for about 500 yr more and its dynamical evolution is controlled not only by the Earth, with a non-negligible contribution from the Moon, but by Mercury as well," the team wrote. "2002 VE68 exhibits resonant (or near-resonant) behaviour with Mercury, Venus and the Earth. Our calculations indicate that an actual collision with the Earth during the next 10 000 yr is highly unlikely but encounters as close as 0.04 au occur with a periodicity of 8 yr."
[H/T: Radiolab]
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https://www.iflscience.com/why-everyone-is-talking-about-zoozve-the-solar-systems-first-quasi-moon-72677
| 2024-01-29T18:03:43Z
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https://www.iflscience.com/why-everyone-is-talking-about-zoozve-the-solar-systems-first-quasi-moon-72677
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The term zero-G has been, for a long time, a popular way to explain the apparent lack of gravity in space. But it is an incorrect term. There’s nowhere in the universe where there is zero gravity. The term microgravity is actually what is now being used to more correctly describe what is going on. Still, it doesn’t exactly capture why astronauts float in space.
What is gravity?
We are not going to answer the question of what gravity is in full, since even the greatest minds of our species are still struggling with it. That said, we can discuss some important CliffsNotes to get an idea of why there is no such thing as zero-g.
Gravity is one of the four fundamental forces of the universe. The other three are the electromagnetic, the strong nuclear, and the weak nuclear force. Gravity is by far the weakest, but we don’t notice because gravity simply adds up. The more massive a body is, the higher its gravitational pull.
The gravitational force scales as the inverse square of the distance. This is math jargon meaning that the gravitational pull goes down pretty rapidly the further you are from said object. If one planet is twice as far from the Sun as another, for example, it will feel a quarter of the force (since two squared is four). But even though gravity might get smaller and smaller the further you are from an object, it never goes to zero. As long as there is mass (even your own or that of your instruments) there is gravity.
The International Space Station (ISS) orbits about 400 kilometers (250 miles) over the surface of the Earth. It does experience less gravity than us on the surface, but only a tiny bit less. The gravitational pull of the Earth is still very strong. If this were not the case, satellites couldn’t stay in orbit, and they and the Moon would simply fly off into space.
How do you get weightlessness in space?
The best explanation for this belongs to Douglas Adams. In his The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series, he explains that flying is the art of throwing oneself to the ground and missing. This funny remark is 100 percent the correct explanation for the feeling of weightlessness in space.
Satellites and the Moon stay in orbit around the Earth because they are moving very fast. The International Space Station moves at about 8 kilometers (5 miles) per second. The ISS goes around the Earth in just 90 minutes and it is constantly being pulled towards our planet by gravity. If it were just magically placed on its orbit, without any lateral motion, it would simply come vertically down.
But the ISS and other stuff in orbit is moving. As it comes down towards Earth it is also moving laterally, always missing our planet – at least, until its retirement. The balance between the gravitational pull and the motion around the Earth gives rise to the "free fall". The forces experienced by the astronauts are roughly balanced, so they are weightless.
Gravity is still there, under their feet or their heads depending on their orientation, but they have learned to throw themselves at the ground and miss many times every day.
All “explainer” articles are confirmed by fact checkers to be correct at time of publishing. Text, images, and links may be edited, removed, or added to at a later date to keep information current.
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https://www.iflscience.com/why-there-is-no-such-thing-as-zero-g-72680
| 2024-01-29T18:03:50Z
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https://www.iflscience.com/why-there-is-no-such-thing-as-zero-g-72680
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A donkey-ass hybrid from Bronze Age Mesopotamia is the earliest known example of a hybrid animal bred by people. The bones of the horse-like creatures date back 4,500 years and put to bed decades of dispute surrounding the ancient equids' identity.
After meticulous DNA sequencing, the team from the Institut Jacques Monod (CNRS/Université de Paris), believe that the bones belong to a kunga – a cross between a female domestic donkey and a male wild ass.
The bones of 25 animals – now known to be kungas – were discovered in Tell Umm el-Marra, a royal tomb in northern Syria, in 2006. The complete skeletons looked like horses, but they had different proportions, which puzzled archaeologists, as did the fact that horses weren’t introduced in the area until 500 years later.
The enigmatic equids are also seen in ancient texts and icons from Mesopotamia, where they are depicted being used in “diplomacy, ceremony, and warfare”. Larger kungas were used to pull vehicles, while their smaller friends were used in agriculture, pulling ploughs, for example.
But it wasn’t until the team behind the new study compared their genomes with those of other species that they were able to determine what exactly these mysterious animals were. The skeletons didn’t belong to horses, asses, or onagers – Asian wild asses – leading the researchers to hypothesize they could be a hybrid.
To confirm this, they sequenced DNA from an 11,000-year-old equid bone found in Turkey and 19th-century teeth and hair from the last-surviving Syrian wild asses. They found the skeletons in Syria had the maternal lineage of the domestic donkey (Equus africanus) and the paternal lineage of the Syrian wild ass (E. hemionus).
Researchers believe this mix might have provided the perfect combination of donkey temperament and wild ass speed. The resulting kunga would have been stronger and faster than a donkey, but more easily tamed than an ass. They are also thought to have cost up to six times as much as a donkey.
A savvy little scheme from an early Syro-Mesopotamian civilization that clearly had an advanced understanding of breeding.
“It is surprising to see that these ancient societies envisioned something so complex as hybrid breeding, since this was an intentional act: they had the domestic donkey, they knew they cannot domesticate the Syrian wild ass, and they did not domesticate horses,” co-author Eva-Maria Geigl told Gizmodo.
“So, they intentionally developed a strategy to breed two different species to combine different characters that they found desirable in each of the parent species.”
This was no mean feat, as hybrid animals – the sturddlefish and whaluga, for example – are mostly (but not always) sterile, meaning each kunga must have been intentionally bred into existence.
The extra hassle may explain the eventual extinction of the kunga. The arrival of the domestic horse 4,000 years ago provided Mesopotamian societies with a similarly strong and fast animal to utilize, and one that was much easier to reproduce.
In the millennia since the kunga's creation, humans have bred all sorts of weird and wonderful hybrids into existence, from the chonky Beefalo to tasty Iron Age pigs – but it all started with this now-extinct equid, the world's first human-bred hybrid animal.
The study is published in the journal Science Advances.
An earlier version of this article was published in January 2022.
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https://www.iflscience.com/worlds-first-animal-hybrids-were-created-by-ancient-mesopotamians-4500-years-ago-72681
| 2024-01-29T18:03:56Z
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https://www.iflscience.com/worlds-first-animal-hybrids-were-created-by-ancient-mesopotamians-4500-years-ago-72681
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If you’ve ever dreamed of going on safari to see Africa’s big five, allow us to present a different kind of opportunity. The government in the Indian state of Odisha has announced the world’s first black tiger safari in a bid to provide tourists with a chance to catch a glimpse of the only black tigers in the world.
Black (or pseudomelanistic) tigers have been reported in the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) since the middle of the 1970s and the area is believed to be the only habitat for these specific tigers across the world. They are not a separate species, but rather Bengal tigers (Panthera tigris tigris) with a genetic mutation.
The new safari is to be located near Baripada in the Mayurbhanj district of the state, according to an announcement on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) by the Chief Minister of the Odisha Government, Naveen Patnaik. This is just 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) away from the STR. The new area is approximately 200 hectares and is adjacent to National Highway 18, according to Indian Express.
According to Scientific American, one in three tigers in the STR are black. These tigers are a result of a genetic mutation that typically causes the animal to become black due to the excess of the pigment melanin in their cells. Melanistic animals (such as lynx and seals) have been seen, as well as the opposite effect known as albinism, and even leucitic animals, which all show variation in color patterns because of genetic differences in melanin quantities.
Technically, the tigers of the STP are what is known as pseudomelanistic, with a variation in their coat that causes their stripes to be unusually large or even merged. In 2021, a paper traced the mutation to a single gene called Transmembrane Aminopeptidase Q or taqpep that was present in 10 out of 12 of the tigers tested in the study. None of the 395 tigers that lived outside the STR had a single copy of the gene mutation, suggesting that this population did not breed with tigers outside of their range. This is what is known as an autosomal recessive trait.
According to the paper, this could suggest not a chance to see an ultra-rare black tiger but an indicator of a bigger problem - inbreeding due to low population diversity likely caused in this species by habitat fragmentation by humans.
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https://www.iflscience.com/worlds-first-black-tiger-safari-is-set-to-open-in-india-72673
| 2024-01-29T18:04:02Z
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https://www.iflscience.com/worlds-first-black-tiger-safari-is-set-to-open-in-india-72673
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It might not be as cute as most baby animals, but the suspected first-ever images capturing a newborn great white shark could be highly scientifically significant.
Great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) are the largest surviving fish that prey on anything larger than krill, and the inspiration for films such as Jaws and Sharknado. Scientists refer to them merely as white sharks, animal hierarchies being out of fashion, but they’ll always be great to us. Technically even the white part is debatable, since their top half is gray, following a similar camouflage plan to penguins’ approach of looking dark when seen from above, and white against the sky.
Despite their major role in the ecosystem (and our psyche) little is known about great whites’ reproduction and the lives of their young. While using a drone to film sharks (the safest, as well as the fastest, way to find them) off Carpinteria, California, filmmaker Carlos Guana and of California Riverside PhD candidate Phillip Sternes spotted a young great white. At an estimated 1.5 meters (5 feet) long, the shark was about the expected length for a newborn. This one lived up to its name, being truly white.
Subsequently, however, they saw that this was no albino. “We enlarged the images, put them in slow motion, and realized the white layer was being shed from the body as it was swimming,” Sternes said in a statement.
The pair provide two interpretations of what they have seen: This is a newly born white shark with intrauterine substances sticking to its body or a slightly older shark has an unknown skin disorder “resulting in shedding, discharge, or possibly a microbial growth over the dermal layer.”
The first suggestion in particular would support a long-standing claim that large sharks use the area off Santa Barbara, California to north Baja California in Mexico to give birth. This idea was proposed based on multiple reports of young white sharks in these waters. Nevertheless, most of these were too big to be newborns, leaving open the possibility births occur elsewhere before the young congregate in this region.
Further evidence for the first interpretation is that the drones captured images of large sharks in the area, which may have been about to give birth, both that day and the day before.
“Where white sharks give birth is one of the holy grails of shark science," said Gauna, who is responsible for the videos you may have seen of sharks swimming uncomfortably close to heedless swimmers.
"No one has ever been able to pinpoint where they are born, nor has anyone seen a newborn baby shark alive. There have been dead white sharks found inside deceased pregnant mothers. But nothing like this.”
“This may well be the first evidence we have of a pup in the wild, making this a definitive birthing location,” Sternes added. If so, it could settle a long-standing debate as to whether great whites give birth far out to sea, or in more protected waters close to shore. This one was sighted only about 300 meters (1000 feet) from a beach.
The impossibility of studying captive great whites, particularly pregnant ones, means we don’t know much about their gestation. However, lamniform sharks, the order to which great whites belong, have been observed practicing the unique behavior known as oophagy, where embryos feed on eggs while inside their mother’s uterus.
It may not be quite the ruthless predatory behavior for which the adults are known, but it’s probably good practice, as well as maximizing the size of the embryo prior to birth. Some, such as grey and tawny nurse sharks, take it further, with the first embryo to develop eating other embryos as well as eggs.
Pregnant great whites produce a yellowish fluid called “uterine milk”, possibly to prevent the pups from consuming each other entirely. Guana and Sternes think the material coming off this one might be the milk, or something related, that got stuck on its skin rather than being consumed.
Great whites may rank one step above mosquitoes on a list of many people’s priorities to save, but unlike most insect vampires they’re recognized as endangered and essential for healthy oceans. “Further research is needed to confirm these waters are indeed a great white breeding ground,” Sternes said. “But if it does, we would want lawmakers to step in and protect these waters to help white sharks keep thriving.”
The study is published in Environmental Biology of Fishes.
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https://www.iflscience.com/worlds-first-sighting-of-a-newborn-baby-great-white-shark-off-california-72675
| 2024-01-29T18:04:08Z
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https://www.iflscience.com/worlds-first-sighting-of-a-newborn-baby-great-white-shark-off-california-72675
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CARACAS - Venezuelan opposition candidate Maria Corina Machado on Monday said she would not move aside in favor of a substitute despite a decision by the country's supreme court last week to uphold a ban barring her from holding office.
The Friday ruling bars Machado, a 56-year-old industrial engineer, from registering for presidential elections scheduled for the second half of this year, with the court saying she supported U.S. sanctions, had been involved in corruption and had lost money associated with Venezuela's foreign assets.
"There is no retreat. We have a mandate and we will complete it," Machado told a press conference in Caracas. "A substitute candidate is the plan by those who don't want change and our plan is change, period."
The ruling was "judicial crime" she said, adding there will be many obstacles still to overcome but there will be elections this year.
The United States had conditioned a continuation of sanctions relief - granted in October as part of an electoral deal signed in Barbados - on Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro freeing prisoners including "wrongfully detained" Americans, and making progress toward removing bans on a number of opposition figures.
Venezuela in December released 24 of its own citizens and 10 Americans in exchange for freedom for a Maduro official and the extradition of a Malaysian businessman wanted by the U.S.
The U.S. is reviewing its sanctions policy, the State Department said on Saturday.
Machado, who won an October primary by a landslide, has never backed the idea of appointing a successor. She had also asked for a representative at talks between the opposition and Caracas.
The U.S. may partially reinstate sanctions following the ruling, analysts said.
"We anticipate a partial reinstatement of the sanctions regime," BancTrust & Co said in a Monday note, adding that a full reinstatement was unlikely because sanctions have proved ineffective at promoting political change.
Relaxations on bond trading are likely to remain, JPMorgan economists said, though the outlook for oil sanctions relaxation was more uncertain because of economic benefits to both countries, high migration of Venezuelans to the U.S. and war in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/venezuelas-machado-rejects-possibility-of-substitute-opposition-candidate
| 2024-01-29T18:49:40Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/venezuelas-machado-rejects-possibility-of-substitute-opposition-candidate
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AL KHOR, Qatar - Defending champions Qatar survived a scare to beat Palestine 2-1 and advance to the Asian Cup quarter-finals thanks to goals from Hassan Al-Haydos and Akram Afif at Al Bayt Stadium on Monday.
Despite Qatar starting as firm favourites on home turf in front of nearly 64,000 fans, it was an industrious Palestine side who looked more promising in attack in the first half and they were rewarded for their perseverance in the 37th minute.
Palestine stole the ball off Qatar high up the pitch before Oday Dabbagh embarked on a solo run and shot past keeper Meshaal Barsham into the bottom corner for his third goal of the tournament and the country's first ever in the knockout stage.
But Qatar skipper Al-Haydos equalised with the last kick of the half when he latched onto Afif's low cross from a corner and fired it home through two defenders and keeper Rami Hamadeh.
Qatar then took the lead minutes after the break when Almoez Ali was brought down by a late sliding tackle from Mohammed Saleh and Afif stepped up to score his fourth goal in as many games at the tournament.
Palestine had a few chances to equalise but lacked the finishing touch as Qatar held on. They will return to Al Bayt for a quarter-final against either Uzbekistan or Thailand. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/holders-qatar-knock-palestine-out-of-asian-cup-to-secure-last-eight-spot
| 2024-01-29T18:49:50Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/holders-qatar-knock-palestine-out-of-asian-cup-to-secure-last-eight-spot
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LONDON - Luton Town captain Tom Lockyer paid an emotional visit to his team mates at the club training ground on Monday as he continued his recovery from a cardiac arrest during a Premier League match last month.
The 29-year-old Wales international was discharged from hospital on Dec. 21 after having an ICD (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator) device fitted.
He had collapsed in the 59th minute of a subsequently abandoned match at Bournemouth on Dec. 16.
"I've really enjoyed coming in and seeing all the lads. I haven't seen them since what happened, so it's really nice to see them all and be back in the building," said Lockyer.
"Being so active for all my life, not just football but everything else in general, to then be told you can't really do anything has been quite difficult."
Luton manager Rob Edwards said it had been "a really good morning.
"I managed to hold it together but it was emotional. It’s been a really difficult time for his family first and foremost, but for us it was great to see him," he added.
"He’s such an impressive and focused person. There’s a rehabilitation process but he’s taking it slowly, he’s got a baby on the way and that’s his main focus."
Luton, 18th in the league, play at home against Brighton & Hove Albion on Tuesday. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/lutons-lockyer-visits-training-ground-after-cardiac-arrest
| 2024-01-29T18:50:01Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/lutons-lockyer-visits-training-ground-after-cardiac-arrest
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SAN PEDRO, Ivory Coast - Morocco must do without Sofiane Boufal and could be missing another key attacker in Hakim Ziyech when they take on South Africa in their Africa Cup of Nations last-16 clash on Tuesday, coach Walid Regragui said on Monday.
Boufal, who was part of Morocco’s team that reached the World Cup semi-finals in Qatar 14 months ago, was injured in training over the weekend.
“I think his Cup of Nations is over, and so we’ve lost an important player," Regragui told a press conference.
"It happened in training, as it could happen in a match. It's a muscle injury that will prevent him from finishing the tournament, apart from a miracle. We'll see, but as it stands right now, it’s very complicated for Sofiane.”
Ziyech scored the first-half winner in Morocco’s 1-0 win in their last Group F game against Zambia in San Pedro on Wednesday but went off at halftime with a sore ankle.
“The decision for Ziyech will be made at the last minute or last second,” Regragui added on the eve of the match.
“He was kicked in the ankle against Zambia. We will do our best to get him on the pitch and if we have to take a risk, we will take it because we want our best players on the pitch.
"I think it would be disrespectful to South Africa and to football to say that we can do without Hakim Ziyech and think we could still get to the quarter-final,” he said.
Morocco were among the pre-tournament favourites and topped their section. South Africa were runners-up in Group E.
They are the only team to have beaten Morocco in their 12 matches since the World Cup. The two countries shared the same qualifying group for the tournament in the Ivory Coast. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/moroccos-boufal-out-ziyech-doubtful-at-cup-of-nations
| 2024-01-29T18:50:11Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/moroccos-boufal-out-ziyech-doubtful-at-cup-of-nations
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LONDON - Red Bull's former AlphaTauri Formula One team, now renamed Visa Cash App RB, announced three top technical hires on Monday to help move Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda up the grid.
The Italy-based team said in a statement they had signed former Alpine sporting director Alan Permane, ex-FIA technical director Tim Goss and Guillaume Cattelani from Red Bull Technology.
Goss will join in October as chief technical officer while F1 veteran Permane takes the role of racing director with immediate effect and reports to new team principal Laurent Mekies who has replaced Franz Tost.
Permane, a stalwart at Alpine's Enstone factory since the title-winning days of Benetton and Renault, left the Renault-owned team last July in a major shake-up.
Cattelani has joined as deputy technical director with a focus on aerodynamics, vehicle performance and technology and will work with technical director Jody Egginton.
"These appointments represent a strong step forward for Visa Cash App RB," said new CEO Peter Bayer.
"The appointments of Guillaume and Alan will boost capability in design and development of our cars and in performance at the track.
"Then, with Tim’s arrival in October, we will have put in place the key elements of a structure designed to take us on the next phase of our journey and ensure the long-term success of the team."
AlphaTauri finished last season eighth out of the 10 teams but hope to move up the field with closer ties, as far as the rules permit, with reigning champions Red Bull.
"Guillaume’s focus on aerodynamics and vehicle dynamics will allow us to hone and develop this year’s car and add capability going forward," said Egginton.
"While Tim’s arrival will absolutely give us the structure we need to create cars that will elevate the team’s performance even further in the coming years." REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/formula-one/goss-and-permane-join-red-bulls-renamed-rb-team
| 2024-01-29T18:50:21Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/formula-one/goss-and-permane-join-red-bulls-renamed-rb-team
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MADRID - Several hundred migrants seeking asylum are in limbo at Madrid airport, sleeping in crammed spaces with poor conditions, Spanish rights groups said, describing the situation as "unsustainable".
Spain's Commission for Assistance to Refugees (CEAR) told Reuters on Monday the number of people requesting international protection upon landing at Madrid's international airport, Barajas, has been increasing since last summer.
"In December, the situation became unsustainable," said CEAR spokesperson Elena Munoz. "People sleep on mattresses on the floor, sometimes several per mattress ... There are bed bugs and cockroaches."
There were up to 400 people stuck at the airport last week, and "more and more arrive every day", according to Munoz, who could not provide a precise number as of this week.
A Spanish interior ministry spokesperson would not give any estimates either, saying the number of migrants "fluctuates" with flight arrivals.
According to the ministry, there are three rooms equipped with bathrooms set aside for migrants seeking asylum, with a fourth to be opened imminently.
It has increased surveillance of airport facilities, upped the number of police, border officers and cleaning staff, while working with the foreign ministry to issue more transit visas.
Most of the migrants were from African countries such as Senegal, Mali, Equatorial Guinea and Morocco, but also from Colombia and Venezuela, CEAR said. It said they arrive without a visa or lack some of the required documents and have to wait for their entry to be granted or refused.
Illegal immigration and asylum have become contentious political issues in Europe, the United States and other nations in the past decade as more migrants have taken dangerous journeys across the Mediterranean and to the U.S.-Mexico border.
CEAR said some of the issues causing the problem at Madrid airport included a shortage of interpreters and long waiting times of 10-20 days for the applications to be processed.
The Red Cross has also raised concerns and decided to temporarily stop providing services at the airport.
"There comes a time when there is no point in continuing to do a job if we cannot take care of these people as they deserve," Jose Sanchez of the Red Cross told Onda Cero radio. "All these people are fleeing from very difficult situations." REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/asylum-seekers-limbo-at-madrid-airport-unsustainable-rights-groups
| 2024-01-29T18:50:32Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/asylum-seekers-limbo-at-madrid-airport-unsustainable-rights-groups
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RAFAH, Gaza Strip - Palestinian mother Mazouza Hassan stood aghast at the potential threats to the work of the U.N. agency that handles most aid in Gaza after some Western states suspended funding to it over allegations employees took part in the Hamas attack on Israel.
"We are thrown into tents and our children need to be vaccinated and pregnant women need to give birth ... Where will these people go?" said Hassan, one of the 85% of Gaza residents made homeless by Israel's military campaign in Gaza.
The war has plunged Gaza into a humanitarian catastrophe, leaving its shelled-out population at risk from famine and disease with the medical system in collapse, schools turned into shelters and much of the population living in tents.
For many of Gaza's 2.3 million Palestinians, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) was already critically important even before the latest Israel-Hamas war began on Oct. 7.
UNRWA ran Gaza's schools, primary healthcare clinics and other social services. As the main conduit for aid in the tiny, crowded enclave it now stands to many Palestinians as a last barrier between them and total disaster.
An UNRWA spokesperson said the agency would not be able to continue such operations after February if funding were not resumed. More than 10 countries including major donor the United States have suspended funding.
"UNRWA is our future and our life from the beginning until today. Who will support us?" Hassan said, standing near her children in Rafah at the southern end of the Gaza Strip.
The agency employs about 13,000 people in Gaza, part of a total workforce of about 30,000 working with Palestinian refugees around the Middle East.
Israel has alleged that 13 of UNRWA's Gaza employees took part in the surprise Hamas incursion into Israel that killed more than 1,200 people and triggered the conflict. A dossier Israel has produced says a total of 190 UNRWA staff have also been militants with Hamas or Islamic Jihad.
The agency has said it has fired some staffers and is investigating Israel's allegations.
Israel's assault on Gaza since Oct. 7 has killed at least 26,600 people, say health authorities in the Hamas-run enclave, prompting a South African charge of genocide, denied by Israel, at the International Court of Justice.
'DEATH SENTENCE'
At an UNRWA aid distribution point in Rafah, a city on the border with Egypt swollen by displaced people, men toted heavy sacks of flour as Palestinians stood in line for supplies.
Former UNRWA spokesperson Chris Gunness said the organisation had long faced funding problems as it worked to provide core services such as education. However, it was UNRWA's emergency humanitarian work that he now feared for most.
"Its emergency programme now is most important. You can't procure food if you have no money to pay suppliers," he said.
"The real risk is that the most desperate people, women with newborn babies turning up for food and medicine and water and hygiene products, will face the worst impact."
One man waiting at the distribution centre, Ahmed al-Nahal, called the funding halts "a death sentence", saying people would starve in the streets if aid supplies were halted.
"If it were not for God and then the UNRWA agency, we would be dead," he added.
UNWRA was founded in 1948 to carry out relief operations for Palestinian refugees from the war which accompanied the foundation of the state of Israel. Israel has long called for it to be dismantled, arguing its mission is obsolete and that it fosters anti-Israeli sentiment among its staff, which the agency denies.
"It is about time to dissolve UNRWA and to think about other ways to support the Palestinians," said Israeli lawmaker Danny Danon from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party.
Cooking flat bread with UNRWA-supplied flour in a homemade oven next to the tent where she now lives, Umm Hassan al-Masry said she relied on the agency for everything.
"We are waiting for their aid by the hour," she said. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/palestinians-in-gaza-see-unrwa-funding-cuts-as-death-sentence
| 2024-01-29T18:50:42Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/palestinians-in-gaza-see-unrwa-funding-cuts-as-death-sentence
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JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) said on Monday it had suspended the membership of former president Jacob Zuma after he announced he would vote for another party in this year's general election.
Zuma, whose nine years in office from 2009 were marked by corruption scandals and sluggish economic growth, said last month he would campaign for the new uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party in the vote, which is expected between May and August.
His suspension reflects deep-seated divisions in the party of liberation hero Nelson Mandela that has governed South Africa since the end of apartheid.
Analysts say this year's election could see the ANC lose its parliamentary majority for the first time since 1994, after its worst result to date in municipal elections in 2021.
"The formation of the MK party is not an accident," the ANC said in a statement. Forces were converging "to encourage rebel break-away groupings to erode the support base of the ANC," it added.
Zuma's suspension was necessary "to protect and preserve (the ANC's) integrity and prevent further damage to its reputation," the statement read.
There was no immediate comment from Zuma.
The MK party is named after the ANC's former armed wing, in a challenge to the long-dominant movement.
Zuma has been at odds with the ANC's leadership since he was forced to quit as party leader in 2018.
He has lashed out repeatedly against his successor, current President Cyril Ramaphosa, whose allies engineered Zuma's ouster.
Zuma retains a loyal following, especially in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal.
His jailing in 2021, for defying a court order to give evidence at a corruption inquiry, triggered protests, looting and unrest the left more than 300 people dead. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/south-africas-ruling-anc-suspends-membership-of-ex-leader-zuma
| 2024-01-29T18:50:53Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/south-africas-ruling-anc-suspends-membership-of-ex-leader-zuma
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WASHINGTON - A former US Internal Revenue Service contractor was sentenced on Jan 29 to five years in prison for leaking the tax records of former President Donald Trump and thousands of other wealthy Americans to media organizations, with a judge calling his actions a threat to democracy.
Charles Littlejohn, 38, pleaded guilty in October to a charge of disclosing income tax return information without authorisation.
US District Judge Ana Reyes, who handed down the sentence in federal court in Washington, linked Littlejohn’s actions to broader attacks on elected officials in the United States.
“What you did in targeting the sitting president of the United States was an attack on our constitutional democracy,” Reyes said during the sentencing hearing. “It cannot be open season on our elected officials.”
Federal prosecutors had sought a five-year sentence, the maximum allowed under US law, arguing that Littlejohn was motivated by a political agenda and compromised the security of sensitive personal information. Littlejohn, according to prosecutors, sought a position at a consulting firm that works with the IRS in 2017 in hopes of accessing and disclosing records on Trump, who was president at the time.
Littlejohn apologised for his actions.
“I acted out of a sincere, if misguided, belief that I was serving the public interest,” Littlejohn told the court.
Littlejohn’s lawyers said he was motivated by a “deep, moral belief” that the public had a right to know the information he shared. Littlejohn’s legal team did not request a specific sentence, but sought a punishment comparable to prior government leakers.
Littlejohn secretly downloaded years of Trump’s tax records in 2018, later sharing them with reporters from the New York Times, according to court documents. The newspaper published a series of articles in 2020 revealing that Trump paid no income tax in 10 of the 15 years before he was elected president.
Trump became the first major US presidential candidate in decades not to release his tax returns when he ran for the White House in 2016. A US House of Representatives panel released six years of his tax records in 2022 after a court battle.
Littlejohn later leaked tax information on “ultra-high net worth taxpayers” to the investigative news outlet ProPublica. He was motivated by concerns about economic inequality and wanted to spur reforms to the US tax system, his defense team wrote in court documents.
ProPublica published nearly 50 articles based on the information, revealing how the wealthy evade income taxes in the United States.
The nearly 6,000 pages of records released by the House panel in 2022 included more than 2,700 pages of personal returns from Trump and his wife Melania Trump, plus more than 3,000 pages of returns from his businesses. They showed that Trump’s income and tax liability fluctuated dramatically from 2015 through 2020 and that he and his wife claimed large deductions and losses, and paid little or no income tax in several of those years. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/ex-irs-contractor-sentenced-to-5-years-for-leaking-trump-tax-records
| 2024-01-29T18:51:03Z
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/ex-irs-contractor-sentenced-to-5-years-for-leaking-trump-tax-records
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Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton are affirming to their fans that despite speculation of "marriage trouble," all is good in their world.
The 54-year-old No Doubt frontwoman and 47-year-old country star put on their best united and lovey-dovey selves for a new photo shared on Instagram.
The picture features a bouquet of flowers next to a polaroid of the couple cozying up to each other, with the phrase "never knew a love like this" written in marker below.
Fans immediately began questioning whether they were teasing a musical collaboration or duet of some kind and quickly began taking to the comments section to gush over their love.
"OMG NEW DUET TELL US MORE!!!!!" one wrote, with another saying: "Oooo she's teasing something," and a third adding: "I'm screaming with excitement and I don't know why," and a fourth sweetly commenting: "What is this cuteness happening on a Monday. I'm loving it. Thank you."
The two stars have collaborated on four singles together, the most recent being 2020's "Happy Anywhere" from Blake's album Body Language, which was a top-40 hit.
The former co-coaches on The Voice (who met on the show and have been married since 2021) have kicked their careers into high gear this year already, having spent a majority of the last month balancing between their many commitments while also finding time to spend together.
Blake announced that his long-awaited Ole Red bar and restaurant in Las Vegas was finally open for business, while Gwen was inducted into the Orange County Hall of Fame (with Blake by her side).
Most notably, Gwen also revealed that the iconic ska band No Doubt will finally be reuniting this year to perform not only at a pregame show ahead of Super Bowl LVIII this February, but also as special guests at Coachella in April.
The star spoke with People about the reunion and revealed that the prospect of getting back together was an easy "yes" for the group, which also comprises of Adrian Young, Tom Dumont, and Tony Kanal.
RELATED READ: What happened to Gwen Stefani's ex Tony Kanal as No Doubt prepare for reunion?
"It just happened so fast, and that's my favorite kind of thing to happen," Gwen shared. "We haven't really figured out the next steps of how we're going to do this, but we're just all so excited.
"And I think really just watching the internet blow up [with] how excited that the fans are? It's inspiring us."
It's the first time the group will be performing together live since 2015. "It's just going to be cool," Gwen continued. "It's just going to be: get up there and do what we always do, which is play our music and try to connect and be so grateful that we got this amazing career that we never expected to have.
"You've got to remember, we were in No Doubt for nine years before 'Just a Girl' got on the radio. We weren't doing it to make it. And so now to be here in 2024 and have that excitement of the announcement? It's beyond!"
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/brides/512304/gwen-stefani-blake-shelton-new-loved-up-photo-leaves-fans-with-questions/
| 2024-01-29T19:16:32Z
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/brides/512304/gwen-stefani-blake-shelton-new-loved-up-photo-leaves-fans-with-questions/
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Paul Mescal and Phoebe Bridgers were once the internet's favourite couple, but after an ultra-private romance, the duo decided to call it quits. We're taking a closer look at their relationship timeline…
It was back in April 2020 that Paul was propelled into the spotlight. Starring alongside Daisy Edgar-Jones in the hit romantic drama, Normal People, the actor gained an overnight fanbase, which included Phoebe.
After tuning into the series, the 'Kyoto' singer penned her admiration on Twitter, sparking a flirty exchange with Paul. A month later, the pair were asked to interview one another for Wonderland Magazine, and while they weren't thought to be dating, their chemistry was off the charts.
"I think it's well documented that I love your music," Paul gushed. "Well, that makes me blush," replied Phoebe.
While it's unclear when they became an item, by July the Lemon Leaf Cafe in Cork had posted photos of the duo on Twitter. "Fan- Tas- Tic day thanks to @mescal_paul and @phoebe_bridgers for calling to our café this morning for breakfast. Such amazing talented young people," read the caption.
Notoriously private, Phoebe and Paul kept fans guessing for a year, although the Normal People star did mention his "girlfriend" in a November interview with GQ. Describing his mystery woman as "a lifesaver," the actor shared how grateful he'd been for her support.
"To have someone to lean on through such a mad, mad time has been invaluable. Really, I don't know where I'd be without her," he said.
Adding further fuel to the fire, Paul went on to star in the music video of Phoebe's hit song, 'Savior Complex', which was released in December 2020. But, it wasn't until the following year that they made their first red carpet appearance as a couple.
Pictured in Los Angeles, Phoebe and Paul attended the 2021 LACMA Art + Film Gala in November, where they cuddled up together and shared a few laughs. Following the outing, Phoebe began posting photos of the two on social media, making their relationship Instagram official in December 2021.
They later attended the 2022 Met Gala together, where they put on another loved-up display.
While Phoebe and Paul appeared to go from strength to strength, by December 2022, fans began speculating that they'd broken up. After contributing an emotional verse to SZA's 'Ghost in the Machine', it was thought that Phoebe's lyrics – which referred to an explosive fight – could have been inspired by an incident with Paul.
While Phoebe and Paul each remained tight-lipped about their relationship and subsequent breakup, by February 2023, the latter remarked to Vanity Fair, that addressing rumors doesn't "serve" him.
MORE: Jennifer Hudson's boyfriend Common teases marriage amid blossoming romance: 'Why not?'
"Moving forward as much as I can, that's going to be my life that is private," he said. "That's a difficult thing to achieve. But giving strangers an answer about my life doesn't actually help me. It's like a quick boost of serotonin, being like: 'I've said what I need to say.' And then it's just Twitter fodder."
That same month, The Hollywood Reporter questioned Paul about the alleged breakup. Refraining from commenting, he simply replied: "Maybe at some point. But just not now. It's just difficult territory. Yeah."
Following the split, Phoebe has found love with American comedian and musician, Bo Burnham, while Paul appears to be single.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/512297/paul-mescal-and-ex-girlfriend-phoebe-bridgers-relationship-and-split-explored/
| 2024-01-29T19:16:38Z
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/512297/paul-mescal-and-ex-girlfriend-phoebe-bridgers-relationship-and-split-explored/
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It has been a big month for Mariska Hargitay already, who rang in both her milestone 60th birthday and the 25th anniversary of Law & Order: SVU.
As the momentous month for the Olivia Benson actress wraps up, she's not letting January end without celebrating with arguably the two most important men in her life: first and foremost, of course, her husband Peter Hermann, but also with the legend behind her iconic tenure on NBC, Law & Order creator Dick Wolf.
Following the recent premiere of SVU's 25th season, the three stepped out for a celebratory lunch, and fans had nothing but praise for the sweet moment.
On Sunday, Mariska took to Instagram and shared a star-studded selfie with fans featuring both her husband and the veteran producer.
In the snap, the three are smiling at the camera, wrapping up what seemed to be a champagne-filled Sunday lunch. Mariska is donning clear, aviator-shaped glasses and a sage-hued knit sweater, plus eagle-eyes fans pointed out she and Dick have matching orange bands for their respective watches.
"Sunday family lunch. So very very much to celebrate…" she wrote in her caption, and the comments section under the post was quickly flooded with fans commending her for the impressive milestone.
"25 seasons in of playing such a powerful character on one of the most popular shows is the highest achievement of all," one wrote, as others followed suit with: "You deserve all your flowers for being such a great role model," and: "Highest achievement in TV and a wonderful new year ahead. Love Law & Order. Thank you for 25 years," as well as: "Congratulations once again on being the record breaking, record setting badass you are! You, Dick Wolf and the entire cast and crew are some absolute talented human beings!"
MORE: Mariska Hargitay welcomes new addition to the family – with a Taylor Swift approved name
Mariska's character Olivia Benson, who she has starred as for over 500 episodes, is officially the longest-running character in a primetime drama in television history.
She was cast in 1999, and it was on the very same set just two years later in 2001 that she met her future husband Peter, when he guest starred on the beloved police procedural as defense attorney Trevor Langan.
During a recent interview with People, she reflected on the show's 25th anniversary, and explained that there are two ways she sees the milestone: "One is I can't believe it's been 25 years, a quarter of a century! And the other is, I can't see it any other way.
"I can't imagine the show ending, and can't imagine not going on this journey with my cast, my crew. I have so much to look forward to. And I'm still growing. I like that you can be so many things at one time."
Though Dick hasn't been active on Instagram since 2020, when celebrating the show's 21st season in 2019, he wrote in a post at the time: "One of the biggest thrills of my life has been working on @nbcsvu. I couldn't ask for a better group than this to make history with. Feeling grateful today."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/512298/mariska-hargitay-sweet-selfie-celebratory-date-peter-hermann-plus-legendary-guest/
| 2024-01-29T19:16:45Z
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/512298/mariska-hargitay-sweet-selfie-celebratory-date-peter-hermann-plus-legendary-guest/
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Former Gogglebox star Pat Webb has died aged 75 following a 'long illness'. The sad news was announced on Monday via the show's official social media pages.
They issued a statement which read: "We are deeply saddened to announce that Gogglebox star Mummy Pat Webb passed away this weekend at the age of 75 after a long illness.
"Pat was a much loved cast member on the show from series 10 -12 alongside her son Stephen. Mummy Pat will be remembered and missed by her children Stephen, Denise, Sharon, Beverley and the extended family. Our thoughts are with the family who have requested privacy at this sad time."
Pat's son Stephen Lustig-Webb, was also quick to post a touching message on Instagram alongside a carousel of heartwarming throwback images. In a moving tribute, he wrote: "Mummy Pat, you were one in a million, took everyone at face value, would share your last fiver with a stranger, the salt of the earth and the absolute centre of our world!"
He finished by adding: "Rest in peace mum" followed by a red love heart.
Stephen's fans were quick to send messages of condolences in the comments section. Former Gogglebox star Lisa Baggs wrote: "Oh Stephen I'm so sorry ! Your mum was so funny when you were both on Gogglebox. Sending you, Daniel and your family so much love", while Izzi Warner sweetly added: "Sending you lots of love, she was one of a kind".
The sad news comes after Stephen and his husband Daniel announced their departure from Gogglebox in September last year. In a statement released on social media, they said: "After careful consideration, Daniel and I have decided we will not be returning for the new series of Gogglebox.
"We would both like to thank Channel 4 and Studio Lambert for letting us be part of this amazing, funny and heartwarming show. We are also extremely thankful to the cast and crew, or Gogglebox family as we call them and of course the fans, thank you for all of your love and support over the years."
Stephen, who made his debut on the show back in 2013 on the very first series, explained the reason behind his exit whilst chatting to Lorraine.
"I think Gogglebox is going to roll on forever and I thought, I could be on it for another ten years and then I'll be 60. But I've been offered a few opportunities and I thought life's too short," he said.
Stephen was due to take on Dancing On Ice this year, however he was forced to pull out of the show after he sustained a painful ankle injury during training.
At the time, he told his Instagram followers: "On Wednesday last week during my training session for Dancing on Ice I fell and broke my left ankle. I've had surgery and will be on crutches for a few months meaning, I've had to leave the competition which I’m absolutely gutted about."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/512303/gogglebox-star-pat-webb-dies-aged-75-following-long-illness/
| 2024-01-29T19:16:51Z
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/512303/gogglebox-star-pat-webb-dies-aged-75-following-long-illness/
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Michael Jackson's youngest son, Bigi Jackson, best known to the public by his nickname, Blanket, has made a very rare appearance on social media alongside his famous family.
Bigi stole the show after featuring in a new group picture posted by Norwegian rapper Omer Bhatti on Instagram over the weekend, which saw the 21-year-old pose with several of his famous cousins, including Randy Jackson Jr., 32, Donté Jackson, Royal Jackson and Jermajesty Jackson, 23.
Omer is close with the entire Jackson family, and in another post from the same upload, captioned 'Lately', Paris Jackson made an appearance.
The talented singer was seen shaving Omer's hair while at home. When she was done, Omer asked the star: "You're not going to bless me?" to which she responded by kissing him on the back of his head.
Fans were quick to respond to the upload, with many making comments about Bigi and Paris. "Omg Bigi is a mini Michael," one wrote, while another commented: "I wish Bigi had social media." "Paris is the best barbour!" one fan observed, while another follower added: "I love seeing Paris and you together." "Best family ever!" another remarked.
Omer has a close bond with the Jackson family, as his mom, Pia, worked as Prince, now 26's nanny shortly after he was born. In an episode of Paris' former Facebook series, Unfiltered, Omer opened up about his relationship with the Jackson family.
He explained: "Being on TV and having these appearances later led me to Michael Jackson, where he, in a way, adopted me and became like a mentor and a father figure for me.
"As a little kid, looking up to him, the way I did back then, it’s like everything that I saw, it’s like I was like a sponge, just taking up everything. "He would later say that I was like a mini-version of him, and I ended up going on tour with him. I would have a seat, like, right on stage…"
Meanwhile, Bigi, who was born Prince Michael Jackson II but was known by his nickname Blanket, changed his name in 2015, tends to keep a low profile the majority of the time.
He was just seven when his father died in 2009. Missing from the posts was Paris and Bigi's older brother Prince, who tends to also keep a low profile, but occasionally shares posts on social media, usually in tribute to their late father.
Prince has a degree in business administration, earned at Loyola Marymount University, and he used his skills to co-found the charity Heal Los Angeles Foundation.
Paris, meanwhile, has found success as a singer, and has a huge fanbase, boasting over 4.5M followers on Instagram alone.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/512306/michael-jackson-son-blanket-rare-photo-sparks-reaction-sister-paris-also-features/
| 2024-01-29T19:16:57Z
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/512306/michael-jackson-son-blanket-rare-photo-sparks-reaction-sister-paris-also-features/
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