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Paveletzke's 23 lead Ohio past Morehead State 88-76
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Harry Kane becomes the fastest player to score 50 goals in the BundesligaPaveletzke's 23 lead Ohio past Morehead State 88-76
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Clothes seller has warned it will run out of cash in early 2025 unless it gets more funding. The struggling retailer said sales had been “disappointing” in the trading period and that its cash reserves are “less than previously anticipated”. It said the poor trading was partly because of the “impact of inflationary pressures on consumer confidence and spending”. But it also blamed “subdued consumer demand for the brand”. “As a result, the board anticipates that additional funding will be required by the group in early 2025,” it said on Friday. fashion retailer Quiz has been struggling for several months, and recently announced that it will delist from the London Stock Exchange to cut costs. The company operates 62 stores and 47 concessions across the UK and according to its website has about 1,500 staff. Earlier this month, it said it had suffered a poor trading period in November and had hired advisers as it neared running out of cash. Since then, demand has “shown signs of improvement” in December, with online revenues tracking similar with the previous year, it said. In-store sales caused the company particular headaches, it said, with sales trending “behind those achieved last year”. Chairman Peter Cowgill said the company needs to “substantially reduce” costs, which will likely see the closure of parts of the business. Beyond that, he wrote, “there exists substantial risks associated with the group’s ability to continue as a going concern”, meaning it could go bust. The company pointed to a potential extra annual cost of £1.7 million because of increases in the minimum wage and employer national insurance contributions. Those policies, announced by the Government in the autumn, will not take effect until April, before which Quiz needs fresh funding.Curl-Salemme, Michaela Cava each score twice, Frost beat Sceptres 6-3 in PWHL
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Harry Kane becomes the fastest player to score 50 goals in the BundesligaOne day, you’re an all-powerful CEO, star wife, and mother, and the next day you're eating out of your young intern’s hand, quite literally. How is this contradiction possible, if it is a contradiction at all? The answer for both Nicole Kidman’s character in Halina Reijn’s film Babygirl and for many others who identify as BDSM submissives lies in the elusive concept of subspace: a metaphorical space and altered state one submits to during a kink scene, thanks to arousal and exchange of consent. The notion is very new to Romy Mathis (Kidman, whose performance won her the Volpi Cup for Best Actress at this year's Venice Film Festival). She's the sharply dressed big boss with her hair always pinned up, until she meets Samuel (Harris Dickinson): a much younger, cocky, and borderline rude intern wearing a suit twice his size, filling it with ego. Romy finds herself trembling when Samuel controls a stray dog about to jump on her in the street with a mere whistle and a nod. From this seemingly passing interaction, the flows of her desire steer the narrative into the unknown waters of ambivalent wants and surrender, as Romy and Samuel begin an affair based on the exploration of dominance and submission. "Scene" and its double meaning Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson in "Babygirl." According to Lina Dune , kink educator and host of the Ask a Sub podcast , a Dominant/submissive (D/s) relationship affords "a ritual space," where equal, consenting adults negotiate, establish boundaries and safe words, and create "a container where things can transform and alchemize." The set-up is called a "scene" and within the kink scene, the submissive can experience subspace. In theatre, cinema, or kink, we associate the word "scene" with a curated experience and performance. Speaking to Mashable, director Halina Reijn champions this dual meaning, adding that for her, Babygirl is about performing. "Of course, in a BDSM setting, there’s a lot of performing," she says, "but sex in general can also be very performative." As a result, this theme informed the script and conversations with Kidman, becoming an instrument to explore the character's authentic self. "Romy thinks she has to perform the perfect mother, lover, wife, leader," says Reijn, "and we are all a little bit like that — what we forget to do is be ourselves and accept whoever we are." But what makes Babygirl stand out is that it shows dominance and submission as a process of negotiation, trial and error, rather than a textbook example or a polished act. Babygirl ’s kink scenes feel real and inviting because they lay bare the mechanisms in the inner workings of control exchange. In each scene, Samuel umms and ahhs, trails off, laughs in the middle of his commands, while Romy is shown to resist, back out, and change her mind. For the actors, this means an extra layer of performance that incorporates flippancy and respect for consent; for the viewer it means relatability. Not every scene is a "scene" but subspace is a space Subspace is a term used within the D/s and BDSM communities, according to Dune, to talk about "the altered state that comes about through the experience of submission." She insists that it is a wide category that encompasses individual experiences that may differ from one another, like that of intoxication or alcohol intake, for example. Scientifically , the state is a reaction to adrenaline, oxytocin, and endorphins rushing into the brain, but what does subspace feel like? Dune explains that for some people it may be "a floaty, dreamy, quiet disconnected feeling," while others might giggle or cry. "I like to refer to it as 'getting high on your own supply,'" she says, "because you're not on anything, but the experience of crossing over a taboo." Thinking of cinematic representations of liminal states — hallucinations ( Enter the Void ), drug-induced trips ( Queer ), or drunkenness ( Another Round ) — perhaps film is the most suitable medium to portray a subjective, heightened state of mind. The key is in the spatial metaphor: one "goes into" or "inhabits" a space. Unlike other films, Babygirl doesn’t rely on classical point-of-view shots showing a dizzy, spell-binding world seen through the protagonist's eyes. Instead, the handheld work of Reijn’s long-time collaborator, cinematographer Jasper Wolf is more subtle. Lights, camera, submission! Halfway through the film, Romy and Samuel decide to meet at a cheap hotel. No wonder, their affair belongs to clandestine spaces, the four walls of every office, bathroom stall, and hired bedroom swelling with desire. When it’s just the two of them, they can be free from the outside world’s demands. In that sequence, Romy storms out and comes back, Samuel wrestles her to the ground, and their power dynamics become a source of play: a scene begins. The camera sinks down with her, framing her face in a close-up, while Samuel becomes a blur in the background: where he touches her and how is not as important as Romy’s reactions. Discussing that part of the film, Wolf tells Mashable that the camera is like a third character in the room with them. Instead of story-boarding the shots, he would film long, single takes to capture the erotic flow of power exchange. The camera often remains still and fixed on Romy, letting the viewer accompany her throughout the cascade of emotions coloring her face with arousal: from surprise through shame to blissful release, we partake in her surrender. "It's like an honest and sometimes relentless gaze on what is going to happen between the two," he says. Coordinating subspace Why can’t words accurately describe subspace? "If we lived in a matriarchal utopia, perhaps we would have more words for it," jokes Dune. But in today’s individualistic Western world, she points out that people "are expected to actualize themselves in a way that’s masculine-coded. Submission, in contrast, is understood to be very vulnerable which is more female-coded." In cinema, pop culture, or daily life, the derogatory stereotype for men in power who want to be dominated and/or humiliated is often presented as a point of humor. Admitting a submissive desire costs a lot: "I'll receive at least one phone call per week from someone who says they want to be a sub, but stress on the fact that they are not submissive in their day-to-day life," says Dune. What’s novel about Babygirl is that not only does it show the characters’ vulnerability, but also how much they are willing to reveal to one another. In cinematographic terms, this exchange of consent is translated by panning movements linking Romy and Samuel's faces as they look at each other. "Put simply," says Wolf, "the camera is often a representation of her inner world: it becomes more free and fearless alongside Romy." On set, the cast and production team worked with intimacy coordinator Lizzy Talbot ( No Hard Feelings , Dead Ringers ) to ensure there were no surprises. Dickinson, who had previously worked with Talbot on the TV series A Murder at the End of the World , underscored the importance of clear communication. "If you approach [sex] scenes with too much trepidation and sensitivity, it can be anxiety inducing; you need an intimacy coordinator to be very direct and pragmatic about it," he tells Mashable's Anna Iovine . Reijn also brainstormed with Talbot when writing the intimacy scenes, saying that the work with a coordinator "goes much further than just being on set with her." Facing subspace Later in the film, there is a second hotel room scene, where Samuel "directs" Romy from across the lavish suite. He commands her to strip, tells her where to put her hands and how to pose. Even when both are naked, the camera doesn’t linger on the nudity of their bodies, but their faces. When sharing subspace, they see each other anew, and their newfound intimacy translates into the visuals. To channel the ebb and flow, Wolf used a mix of camera lenses, shifting between spherical and anamorphic. As for the visible effect, "it’s not in your face and it shouldn’t be," he says, "but a slight change of perspective [makes you] suddenly see them with different eyes." The game of letting your guard down plays out on their faces. Unlike films like Steven Shainberg's Secretary, which relates submissive kink to trauma, Babygirl succeeds in telegraphing to a wider audience the message that these are real people, and their desires — even when dangerous to their status quo — don’t have to be as destructive or severely punished. "The BDSM community,” says Dune in relation to Secretary, "wants to see more empowered people portrayed as submissive and break that stereotype." But she is optimistic: "I think we’re getting closer to better representation of BDSM on screen. Obviously, I would be a lot more excited about films that hire sex workers as consultants, but for example, a film like Sanctuary had less research done into the BDSM community, but what I saw on screen rang true to me." Dune admits that she doesn’t expect education from cinema, or at least not the kind that sex and kink educators like herself offer, adding that "film should be about fantasy." By setting Babygirl’ s subspace explorations against a corporate, hetero-mono-normative backdrop, Reijn also makes a political point. However ephemeral, subspace is a consent-bound altered state that resists categorization. Perhaps a way for some of us to survive the capitalist hell is to surrender — to desires or to films like Babygirl — and take Dune’s advice: "Let the film dominate you." Babygirl is now showing in cinemas.
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Insider Reveals His Urgent Plan for Auston Matthews' Injury RehabVIEW FROM THE GALLERY BY MAHMUD JEGA We all thought, with the impending withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger Republic from ECOWAS at the end of January 2025 and the unlikelihood that they will utilise the six months period offered by ECOWAS leaders for them to have a rethink, “All will be quiet on the Northern Front,” to paraphrase from the title of Erich Maria Remarque’s 1928 novel about a German soldier’s life in World War One. Not so. Much like the German dictator Adolf Hitler, who opened a second, Eastern Front against the Soviet Union when his war against France and UK was not yet won, Nigerien military ruler General Abdourahmane Tchiani opened a Southern Front against Nigeria even when his battle to banish the French and Americans from his country was not yet won. Luckily this is not a shooting war; it is a political, diplomatic, economic, cultural, psychological and propaganda war that could however easily spin out of the Nigerien ruler’s control, much as Adolf Hitler lost control of events after launching Operation Barbarossa in June 1941. Last week, Tchiani gave a wide-ranging televised interview to a fawning journalist. Not only did the reporter not interrogate the soldier’s claims or demand for evidence, but he bent over backwards to nod in agreement at every one of Tchiani’s claims. On many occasions, he even completed his sentences for him. Critically, the interview was conducted in Hausa language. To some extent that is understandable because Tchiani probably speaks no English, only French, while most people of Niger Republic speak Hausa either as first or as second language, including Tchiani himself, who is an ethnic Zarma. But there was a more important reason. Hausa is the dominant language spoken in northern Nigeria, by tens of millions of people as first language and by some more millions as second language. Tchiani’s message is directed at them as well as at his countrymen, for two different but related reasons. Until the recent misunderstanding arose following last year’s coup in Niger Republic, the peoples of Northern Nigeria and Niger Republic see themselves as one due to deep historical ties and socio-cultural similarities. The response of ECOWAS and Nigerian government to the events in that country, especially the initial threat of military action to depose the coupists, was not well received in Northern Nigeria, where many people thought a war with Niger Republic is unthinkable. Many people in Nigeria do not really think that restoring democracy to a friendly neighbouring country is worth a war, or even sanctions that could disrupt their lives and also hurt our own border communities. ECOWAS has since backtracked from those threats, but Tchiani is intent on whipping up sentiment in the North, using the agency of Hausa language, to further upstage President Tinubu and if possible, win the support of millions of other Africans in his fight against France. And for a good reason. The soldiers who overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum, in a desperate search for legitimacy, found, whipped up and rode on anti-French sentiment like an Argentine polo pony. Sure, French colonial and post-colonial record in Africa is sordid, hence the relative ease with which it was easy to whip up feelings against it and chase its troops and military bases out of a long swathe of West Africa all the way from Chad, Niger Republic, Burkina Faso, Mali and most recently, Senegal. However, Tchiani and the soldiers did not just promise to oust the French and Americans. They also promised that their country will oust terrorists, enjoy peace and security and also experience an economic boom, allegedly because France will no longer be stealing its resources. To boot, they sought to bring in the Russians to assist with both security and economic prosperity. A year down the road, neither prospect is on the cards. Trade with Nigeria, not to mention smuggling of petrol and food, has always been a major factor in Niger Republic’s economy. Even without ECOWAS sanctions, Nigeria’s government is trying to stem the flow of subsidised petrol to our neighbours, hence Niger will feel the heat. Expected Russian help on the security front was not forthcoming either. Tchiani must have wished it was the old Soviet Union, which had global reach and power, and deep commitment in those days to strategic alliances as well as the “Brezhnev Doctrine,” which the Communist Party defined as “defending the gains of socialism worldwide.” Matters were not helped by the mysterious death of Wagner Group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin, the arrow head of Russian military intervention in Africa. He was killed in a plane crash in August last year, immediately after he returned to Russia from a visit to Niger Republic. Russia itself is so mired in its war in Ukraine that it needs help from Iran, China and North Korea. That Russia couldn’t render help recently when its most prized strategic Middle East ally, Syrian President Hafiz al-Assad, was overthrown by rebels was the best pointer yet that a Sahelian African ally should hardly rely on it to help pull any chestnuts out of a domestic fire. Most probably, it was the recent bombing of the Niger-Benin Republic oil pipeline, allegedly by the Lakurawa terrorist group, that drove General Tchiani to desperation and he began his frantic search for a scapegoat. Nigeria came in handy. Not the whole of Nigeria, but specifically the Tinubu Administration, which he hopes to destabilise by inciting the Hausa speaking section of Nigeria’s population against it. How that will bring either security or economic prosperity to his country, I am yet to figure out. The most important allegations that Tchiani made are that the Nigerian government is working to destabilise Niger Republic, that it created and sponsors the Lakurawa terrorist group, and that there are French military bases in Nigeria. With respect to the first allegation, since I am not a government official in Nigeria, I have no access to secret planning files. However, three people who have access to those files and will be privy to any such plans if they exist, namely National Security Adviser Malam Nuhu Ribadu, Information Minister Mohammed Idris and Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa, have all denied that there is such a plot. I believe them. Why because, what can Nigeria possibly gain by destabilising Niger Republic? Last year, the initially stated goal of both Nigeria and ECOWAS in adopting a hostile attitude towards Tchiani and the coupists was to restore democratic rule, and if possible, restore President Bazoum to power. Those aims are all but abandoned now because neither Nigerians nor Nigeriens have exhibited a hunger for restoring democratic rule in that country. A possible reason for the Nigerian government’s initial response was the fear that a successful military coup in Niger Republic could have a contagious effect in neighbouring countries, including Nigeria. I don’t think there is a good reason for that fear now. Besides, if chaos were to envelop Niger Republic, millions of its citizens could flee to Nigeria, as happened during the 1973-74 Sahelian drought. Luckily General Yakubu Gowon is still around; we only have to ask him how he grappled with the mass inflow. Nigeria created Lakurawa terrorist group in order to destabilise Niger Republic? To begin with, all the Lakurawa men are of Nigerien and possibly Burkinabe and Malian origin, as attested to by people of northern and western Sokoto and Kebbi states who encountered them. These people know a Nigerien when they see one, from his looks, dress, accent, tribal marks, manners and ways of speaking, greeting and praying. We have 200 million plus people in Nigeria, many of them in desperate search for employment and adventure, including a lot of ex-servicemen and veteran Boko Haramists, ISWAPists and bandits. We don’t have to go very far in a search for recruits. More seriously, if Nigerian security agents created the Lakurawa army, why was it unleashed against communities in Nigeria, why is it causing so much mayhem, such that Nigerian Air Force has to drop bombs on its suspected camps, with image-damaging collateral damage on hapless villagers? Tchiani’s most specific allegation was that there are French military camps in Nigeria. He even mentioned a place, Banga, which he said is in Silame Local Government of Sokoto State, and another place in Borno State. Well, there were reports in the newspapers yesterday where communities in northern Sokoto State denied that there were any foreign military bases in the area. If there are, they will know. Even a Nigerian Army Forward Operating Base will be very visible in a local community. A foreign military base will be known to everyone. For one, white French soldiers will stand out in a local Nigerian community like an archbishop in a brothel, to borrow a French saying. Tanks, armoured vehicles, huge radars and even aircraft will be all over such a base. Tchiani knows best what a foreign military base looks like because there were several of them in his country during his 13-year stint as Head of the Presidential Guard. As NSA Nuhu Ribadu stated, we never had foreign military bases in Nigeria, but during my primary and secondary school days, I read much about the American Clark Air Base and Subic Naval Base both in the Philippines, before they were closed down in the 1990s. We also read much about America’s strategic bomber base in Diego Garcia, its Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, its naval base in Guantanamo, Cuba, as well as bases in Munich, South Korea and its Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan. A foreign military base cannot be innocuous. Tchiani alleged there are such bases in Nigeria and locals say there are none. A judge who is judging over this case will invoke the legal principle of falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus. That is, “False in one, false in all.” If you tell one lie, all your other testimony is thrown out. How times change. In the 1960s, Nigerian university students staged protests against French testing of nuclear weapons in the Sahara Desert in southern Algeria, slightly to the north of Niger Republic. Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa even went to London to protest. Did Niger Republic lodge a protest? See who is now accusing the other of acquiescing in French military machinations.
Another checkered flag
When Paul Grattan thinks about holiday travel, he gets nervous. And for good reason. As a retired New York Police Department sergeant — most of it spent with the city's Transit Bureau — he's seen what happens during the busy period between Thanksgiving and New Year's. And as they say in New York — it ain't a pretty sight. At the height of the holiday shopping season last December, grand larceny incidents rose 1.5 percent from 2022. "Law enforcement has also seen upticks in organized retail theft and the subsequent sales of stolen property online," says Grattan, who spent years supervising a plainclothes team in the NYC subway system. In other words, you better watch your back if you're traveling this holiday season. And that's true beyond the city limits of New York. The holidays can be the most dangerous time of the year to travel Travel safety is a hot topic this holiday season, according to experts. "This upcoming holiday season may differ in terms of travel safety primarily due to the anticipated increase in travelers, which could surpass pre-pandemic levels," says Tim Dodge, vice president of marketing at Arch RoamRight . "High travel periods can lead to increased incidents of loss or theft." And that's not the only difference. "Travelers face an increasingly complex safety landscape," explains Frank Harrison, regional security director for the Americas at World Travel Protection . "Several factors are poised to make this year different, including unpredictable weather, rising social unrest, and an uptick in faith-based violence and extremism. Migration challenges and refugee movements add further layers of complexity, particularly with petty crime becoming more prevalent in destinations where resources are stretched." So how to stay safe? Know what you're getting yourself into Experts warn that travelers make easy targets during the holidays. Even a small amount of research should allow you to figure out ways to avoid large crowds and minimize security risks. This is particularly true if you're traveling abroad, where criminals target Western visitors. "Travelers should be mindful of political unrest or heightened security threats in specific areas," warns John Rose, chief risk and security officer for ALTOUR , a global travel management company. "Stay informed through travel advisories and be prepared for last-minute changes or restrictions on particular destinations." (Here are the State Department travel advisories .) Keep your eye on the weather Holiday weather is notoriously unpredictable in the Northern Hemisphere. "You can count on it being a factor this holiday season," says Jen Moyse, a vice president at TripIt and SAP Concur, a travel expense management company. "We’re continuing to see storms at unpredictable scale and timing, so travelers need to be prepared for everything and pay attention to weather reports." There are ways to monitor the weather before and during your trip. For example, TripIt Risk Alerts notify you when potential disruptions like weather events may affect your trip, even before they result in a flight delay or cancellation. Be ready for anything Preparation is key, says Carrie Hartman, president of global corporate travel and relocation platform 3Sixty . "Make sure to have comprehensive travel insurance that covers not only weather-related delays but also medical emergencies and travel disruptions," she says. "If you’re driving, pack an emergency kit with essentials like blankets, food, water, a first-aid kit, and a power bank. If you're traveling on business, check with your employer or client to make sure it has a strong duty of care in its policies that covers everything from vetted accommodations to real-time support in case of an emergency. Dodge, the Arch insurance executive, recommends travelers consider a policy that covers trip cancellations, interruptions, and delays caused by weather or other covered reasons. "This can alleviate the stress of unexpected expenses and complications," he says. Know what you have Joe Cronin, CEO of International Citizens Insurance , says people often overlook a key step when it comes to protecting their valuables. "Make a list of everything in your luggage," he recommends. "This is increasingly important if carrying valuable gifts in your luggage. If your suitcase is lost, you have a full breakdown of everything that was lost." Cronin also recommends taking a photo of everything in your suitcase laid out flat for ease of reference. This can also help if you have to file a travel insurance claim. If you have to travel during a busy time, take extra precautions "Stay extra alert in busy places like airports, train stations, and shopping centers since they're prime spots for theft, especially during the holidays," advises Jeff Ketelaars, co-founder of Security Guards Only . How so? Keep your valuables in a secure, hidden spot, like a money belt or a crossbody bag that's zipped up and close to your body. And always keep an eye on your belongings. Practice better hygiene during the holidays One of the biggest dangers may be the threat to your health. “With flu season approaching, you can follow a few tips to protect yourself and others from getting sick," advises Eugene Delaune, Allianz Partners ’ senior medical consultant. "Use proper hand hygiene like soap and water or an anti-microbial alcohol-based sanitizer. Wipe down common areas like tray tables, seat backs and armrests with anti-microbial sanitizing wipes." Delaune, a former ER physician, also recommends covering your mouth when coughing and covering your nose when you sneeze. If you are coughing when you travel, wear a mask. "Avoid travel if you are ill, as you’re exposing others around you to an illness or infection," he adds. In other words, be a considerate traveler. Slow down That's always good advice, but particularly during the hectic holidays, it can actually save your life. Driving fast on icy roads can be deadly. "Driving on bad roads is stressful enough," says Jeremy Murchland, president of Seven Corners Travel Insurance . "Build in a buffer and you can remove the worry about whether you’ll reach your destination on time." What about those pickpockets? As to those petty criminals roaming the city during the holidays, Grattan has a few strategies. Especially during the holidays, you should avoid displaying recently purchased items — especially high-value items or in packaging that suggests they are from high-priced retailers. "If you see something you like, consider buying it online, or carrying it discreetly," he says. Related tip: Consider making more significant purchases as you end your day and return directly home or to lodging. Better yet, have them shipped and won't have to lug them around town. (Here are a few more tips for keeping your valuables safe .) "But remaining alert is a tried and true method of reducing the likelihood of becoming a victim of theft while traveling," he says. "Bad actors prefer to prey on easy, inattentive, and unsuspecting people." Keep your personal belongings — your phone, your wallet, your handbag — close, he says. This will drastically reduce your chances of being a victim. It's no secret that the holidays can be a chaotic time to travel, but don't let that deter you from having a safe and enjoyable journey. Whether you're navigating crowded airports or battling winter weather, preparation is important. Make sure to invest in comprehensive travel insurance, pack appropriately, and remain cautious in public spaces. With a little foresight, you can embark on your holiday adventures with confidence.None