Column: Brady Corbet’s epic movie ‘The Brutalist’ came close to crashing down more than once
Recently, actor Jung Woo Sung has been at the center of drama involving his relationships. More details about his alleged private life have been revealed, starting with the revelation that he fathered a child with model Moon Gabi . However, as details came out quickly, some may be confused about the situation. On November 22, Moon Gabi returned from a four-year hiatus to share that she had given birth to a baby and went “ off the grid ” out of concern for the well-being of her child. She shared that while the child was completely unexpected, she embraced her new motherhood wholeheartedly. At the time, there were no reports of her being in a relationship, and she did not mention a father in the post, leaving his identity a mystery. This mystery ended just days later when a Dispatch report revealed that Jung Woo Sung was the child’s father, which his agency confirmed. The report said that the baby was born in March 2024 and that the pair originally met in 2022 but did not form an official relationship. A post shared by GABI MOON ☾ (@iamchocobi) Following the Dispatch report, an additional article from TenAsia claimed that Moon Gabi wanted to get married and start their life as a family together; Jung Woo Sung was strongly against the idea of marriage, instead sharing that he would do his best to help parent while being at a distance. This incited criticism from netizens who resurfaced the actors’ past comments on one-night stands and age-gap relationships. Jung Woo Sung Branded “Disgusting” As His Old Comments On Age Gaps Resurface On November 25, TenAsia reported that Jung Woo Sung allegedly had a long-term girlfriend, who was unaware of the situation with Moon Gabi. He and the alleged girlfriend had been together for over a year, meaning there is a possibility he cheated. Shortly after, a video of the actor and another unidentified woman, a non-celebrity said to have been born in 1998, went viral. The video shows the pair at a photobooth together. 정우성 일반인 여친이랑 돈룩업 ;;;;;;; pic.twitter.com/0euezVl2qu — 귀여운워눙이 (@svtbong001) November 25, 2024 Rumors on social media added clarity to the situation, alleging that he and the 98-liner had been dating at the time Moon Gabi got pregnant. It was also said that his long-term girlfriend, identified as an accountant who resembles his ex-girlfriend, actress Lee Ji Ah , had been in a relationship with him for over ten years. The netizen behind the new allegations also claimed that Jung Woo Sung had used his girlfriend in a plot to get custody of his child. This is a month’s worth of dopamine. She couldn’t go to a huge firm in case people recognized them. So she went to a small firm with a high success rate. But rumors were already rife at huge firms. That’s how I heard this too. Jung Woo Sung used to date Lee Ji Ah, and this accountant looks like her apparently. Jung Woo Sung is a middle-school graduate, so he has a complex about one’s education level, so he can’t give her up. And anyway, what’s the true love story here is that they lived together in a common-law marriage for ten years, but in order to take custody of the kid, they registered their marriage. He said that since he’s the biological father and has a family, he would take the kid. — Netizen The latest addition to this situation comes in the form of DMs shared by a woman that seem to show the actor giving out his phone number. With it being said that the actor avoided brand deals this year to avoid scandal repercussions and has reportedly canceled an awards show appearance following the news, only time will show the true effect it will have on his career.
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SINN FÉIN LEADER Mary Lou McDonald has said her party would have benefitted if the election campaign continued for one more week. She told reporters, in a packed media scrum, that she doesn’t want to see “another five years of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil” in government, she added that she thinks it will be “a bad outcome for our society”. Later, while speaking to RTÉ News, McDonald said voters were eager to cast a ballot for the “politics of change” during the final week of the election campaign and that Sinn Féin would have benefit if the campaign continued for an extra week. Sinn Féin members in many count centres have told that they are pleased with the results, in the context of opinion polling results earlier in this year and the party’s performance in the local elections in June. McDonald echoed this sentiment to reporters in Dublin this evening: “We have done very, very well.” Speaking at the RDS Count Centre in Dublin, McDonald thanked all who helped her and her party during the election campaign and said she will be speaking to parties on the left after all votes are counted. She said: “We went into this election operation from what was a historic high. I think it’s fair to say that we have now confirmed that we have broken the political hold here in this state and two-party politics is now gone.” She said that Sinn Féin will move Heaven and Earth to improve the lives of citizens and is eager to see the final results of the count. Asked if the party will have enough to go into government, McDonald said: “What we can say is that other parties of the left, others that are like us want change, similarly have secured a strong mandate.” Though no official pact was agreed upon before the election, it is likely McDonald’s party will pick up seats from other parties on the left. She asked her party’s supporters on Thursday to . Despite a tough competition nationwide, and , Sinn Féin are set to retain the majority of their seats in the Dáil – judging by early tally figures. McDonald’s vote share, according to tallies, was the highest in the very competitive constituency of Dublin Central at 19.4%. But the Sinn Féin leader has lost a quarter of her first-preference votes compared to the 2020 general election. Even while speaking to media, witnessed people attending the count in the RDS heckle the Sinn Féin leader as she claimed her victory. Someone could be heard shouting “oh are Sharia Féin doing well?”. And another person repeatedly calling her “Mary Mohammad” – a common reference used by those who are against the party’s pro-immigration stance. Some high-profile contenders are in the constituency, seeking to eat into the usual Sinn Féin base. , a veteran criminal, is one of them and has managed to pick up around 9% of first-preference votes. It is nothing short of extraordinary, according to , who is filming a programme about his campaign and rocked up to the RDS in Dublin this afternoon. He admitted to reporters that he was taken aback by the figures. Exit poll figures may have underestimated Fianna Fáil – meaning Sinn Féin could lose out on their position as the most-popular party in the country.One night last month, near the end of the Chicago International Film Festival, a particularly long line of moviegoers snaked down Southport Avenue by the Music Box Theatre. The hot ticket? This fall’s hottest ticket, in fact, all over the international festival circuit? Well, it’s a 215-minute drama about a fictional Hungarian Jewish architect who emigrates to America in 1947 after surviving the Holocaust. The film’s title, “The Brutalist,” references several things, firstly a post-World War II design imperative made of stern concrete, steel, and a collision of poetry and functionality. Director and co-writer Brady Corbet, who wrote “The Brutalist” with his filmmaker wife, Mona Fastvold, explores brutalism in other forms as well, including love, envy, capitalist economics and how the promise of America eludes someone like the visionary architect László Tóth, played by Adrien Brody. Corbet, now 36 and a good bet for Oscar nominations this coming January, says his unfashionable sprawl of a picture, being distributed by A24, is also about the “strange relationship between artist and patron, and art and commerce.” It co-stars Felicity Jones as the visionary architect’s wife, Erzsébet, trapped in Eastern Europe after the war with their niece for an agonizingly long time. Guy Pearce portrays the imperious Philadelphia blueblood who hires Tóth, a near-invisible figure in his adopted country, to design a monumental public building known as the Institute in rural Pennsylvania. The project becomes an obsession, then a breaking point and then something else. Corbet’s project, which took the better part of a decade to come together after falling apart more than once, felt like that, too. Spanning five decades and filmed in Hungary and Italy, “The Brutalist” looks like a well-spent $50 million project. In actuality, it was made for a mere $10 million, with Corbet and cinematographer Lol Crawley shooting on film, largely in the VistaVision process. The filmmaker said at the Chicago festival screening: “Who woulda thunk that for screening after screening over the last couple of months, people stood in line around the block to get into a three-and-a-half-hour movie about a mid-century designer?” He lives in Brooklyn, New York, with Fastvold and their daughter. Our conversation has been edited for clarity and length. Q: Putting together an independent movie, keeping it on track, getting it made: not easy, as you told the Music Box audience last night. Money is inevitably going to be part of the story of “The Brutalist,” since you had only so much to make a far-flung historical epic. A: Yeah, that’s right. In relation to my earlier features, “The Childhood of a Leader” had a $3 million budget. The budget for “Vox Lux” was right around $10 million, same as “The Brutalist,” although the actual production budget for “Vox Lux” was about $4.5 million. Which is to say: All the money on top of that was going to all the wrong places. For a lot of reasons, when my wife and I finished the screenplay for “The Brutalist,” we ruled out scouting locations in Philadelphia or anywhere in the northeastern United States. We needed to (film) somewhere with a lot less red tape. My wife’s previous film, “The World to Come,” she made in Romania; we shot “Childhood of a Leader” in Hungary. For “The Brutalist” we initially landed on Poland, but this was early on in COVID and Poland shut its borders the week our crew was arriving for pre-production. When we finally got things up and running again with a different iteration of the cast (the original ensemble was to star Joel Edgerton, Marion Cotillard and Mark Rylance), after nine months, the movie fell apart again because Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. We couldn’t get any of the banks to cash-flow the tax credit (for location shooting in Poland). It’s completely stable now, but at that time the banks were nervous about whether the war would be contained to Ukraine or not. And then we finally got it up and running in Budapest, Hungary. Q: That’s a long time. A: Every filmmaker I know suffers from some form of post-traumatic stress (laughs). It sounds funny but it’s true. At every level. On the level of independent cinema, you’re just so damn poor. You’re not making any money, and yet from nose to tail, at minimum, a movie always takes a couple of years. With bigger projects, you might have a little more personal security but a lot less creative security with so many more cooks in the kitchen. Either route you choose, it can be an arduous and painful one. Whether you’re making a movie for a million dollars, or $10 million, or $100 million, it’s still “millions of dollars.” And if you’re concerned about the lives and livelihoods of the people working with you, it’s especially stressful. People are constantly calling you: “Is it happening? Are we starting? Should I take this other job or not?” And you have 250 people who need that answer from you. Every iteration of the project, I always thought we were really about to start in a week, two weeks. It’s just very challenging interpersonally. It’s an imposition for everyone in your life. And then there’s the imposition of screening a movie that’s three-and-a-half-hours long for film festivals, where it’s difficult to find that kind of real estate on the schedule. So essentially, making a movie means constantly apologizing. Q: At what point in your acting career did you take a strong interest in what was going on behind the camera? A: I was making short films when I was 11, 12 years old. The first thing I ever made more properly, I guess, was a short film I made when I was 18, “Protect You + Me,” shot by (cinematographer) Darius Khondji. It was supposed to be part of a triptych of films, and I went to Paris for the two films that followed it. And then all the financing fell through. But that first one screened at the London film festival, and won a prize at Sundance, and I was making music videos and other stuff by then. Q: You’ve written a lot of screenplays with your wife. How many? A: Probably 25. We work a lot for other people, too. I think we’ve done six together for our own projects. Sometimes I’ll start something at night and my wife will finish in the morning. Sometimes we work very closely together, talking and typing together. It’s always different. Right now I’m writing a lot on the road, and my wife is editing her film, which is a musical we wrote, “Ann Lee,” about the founder of the Shakers. I’m working on my next movie now, which spans a lot of time, like “The Brutalist,” with a lot of locations. And I need to make sure we can do it for not a lot of money, because it’s just not possible to have a lot of money and total autonomy. For me making a movie is like cooking. If everyone starts coming in and throwing a dash of this or that in the pot, it won’t work out. A continuity of vision is what I look for when I read a novel. Same with watching a film. A lot of stuff out there today, appropriately referred to as “content,” has more in common with a pair of Nikes than it does with narrative cinema. Q: Yeah, I can’t imagine a lot of Hollywood executives who’d sign off on “The Brutalist.” A: Well, even with our terrific producing team, I mean, everyone was up for a three-hour movie but we were sort of pushing it with three-and-a-half (laughs). I figured, worst-case scenario, it opens on a streamer. Not what I had in mind, but people watch stuff that’s eight, 12 hours long all the time. They get a cold, they watch four seasons of “Succession.” (A24 is releasing the film in theaters, gradually.) It was important for all of us to try to capture an entire century’s worth of thinking about design with “The Brutalist.” For me, making something means expressing a feeling I have about our history. I’ve described my films as poetic films about politics, that go to places politics alone cannot reach. It’s one thing to say something like “history repeats itself.” It’s another thing to make people see that, and feel it. I really want viewers to engage with the past, and the trauma of that history can be uncomfortable, or dusty, or dry. But if you can make it something vital, and tangible, the way great professors can do for their students, that’s my definition of success. “The Brutalist” opens in New York and Los Angeles on Dec. 20. The Chicago release is Jan. 10, 2025. Michael Phillips is a Tribune critic.BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Robert Lewandowski converted a first-half penalty kick to become the third player to score 100 goals or more in the Champions League, behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Lewandowski calmly sent a low shot into the net from the spot in the 10th minute to give Barcelona a 1-0 lead against Brest. He scored his 101st goal from inside the area in second-half stoppage time to seal the Catalan's club 3-0 victory. Lewandowski trails the 129 goals of Messi and the 140 of Ronaldo, according to UEFA. Lewandowski needed 125 games to reach his milestone — two more games than Messi and 12 fewer than Ronaldo, who also scored once in the qualifying round. “I'm delighted, it's a nice number,” Lewandowski said. “In the past I didn’t think I could score more than 100 goals in the Champions League." Story continues below video It was Lewandowski's sixth and seventh Champions League goals this season. It's the ninth season in which the Poland striker has scored six or more goals. The 36-year-old Lewandowski is having a standout campaign, having scored 22 goals for Barcelona in 19 appearances. He is the Spanish league’s scoring leader with 15 goals from 14 matches. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
A bankruptcy judge on Monday ordered a new hearing in conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' effort to stop the satirical news outlet The Onion from buying Infowars and turning it into a parody. Jones alleges fraud and collusion marred the bankruptcy auction in which The Onion was named the winning bidder on Nov. 14 over a company affiliated with him. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez had been scheduled to hear an emergency motion to disqualify The Onion's bid, but decided to put it off until either Dec. 9 or Dec. 17. That's also when the judge will hear arguments on a request to approve the sale of Infowars to The Onion. Lopez said similar arguments are being made in both requests. Lopez could ultimately allow The Onion to move forward with its purchase, order a new auction or name the other bidder as the winner. At stake is whether Jones gets to stay at Infowars’ studio in Austin, Texas, under a new owner friendly to him, or whether he gets kicked out by The Onion. The other bidder, First United American Companies, runs a website in Jones’ name that sells nutritional supplements. Regardless, Jones has set up a new studio, websites and social media accounts that would allow him to keep airing his show. And his personal account with 3.3 million followers on the social platform X was not part of the sale, although Lopez will be deciding whether it should be included in the liquidation and sold off later. In a new court filing Monday, lawyers for X objected to any sale of the accounts of both Jones and Infowars, saying X is the owner of the accounts and that it has not given consent for them to be sold or transferred. Jones has praised X owner Elon Musk on his show and suggested that Musk should buy Infowars. Musk has not responded publicly to that suggestion and was not among the bidders. Jones' bankruptcy and the liquidation of his assets came about after he was ordered to pay nearly $1.5 billion to relatives of victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. Jones was found liable for defamation and emotional distress damages in lawsuits in Connecticut and Texas for repeatedly calling the 2012 shooting that killed 20 first graders and six educators a hoax staged by actors to increase gun control. Proceeds from the liquidation are to go to Jones' creditors, including the Sandy Hook families who sued him. Jones alleges The Onion’s bid was the result of fraud and collusion involving many of those families, the humor site and a court-appointed trustee who is overseeing the liquidation. First United American Companies submitted a $3.5 million sealed bid, while The Onion offered $1.75 million in cash. But The Onion's bid also included a pledge by Sandy Hook families to forgo some or all of the auction proceeds due to them to give other creditors a total of $100,000 more than they would receive under other bids. The trustee, Christopher Murray, said that made The Onion's proposal better for creditors and he named it the winning bid. He has denied any wrongdoing. Jones and First United American Companies claimed that the bid violated Lopez’s rules for the auction by including multiple entities and lacking a valid dollar amount. Jones also alleged Murray improperly canceled an expected round of live bidding and only selected from among the sealed bids that were submitted. Jones called the auction “rigged” and a “fraud” on his show, which airs on the Infowars website, radio stations and Jones' X account. He filed a counter lawsuit last week against Murray, The Onion's parent company and the Sandy Hook families in the bankruptcy court. In a court filing on Sunday, Murray called the allegations a “desperate attempt” to delay the sale of Infowars to The Onion and accused Jones, his lawyers and attorneys for First United American Companies of a “vicious smear campaign lobbing patently false accusations.” He also alleges Jones collaborated with First United American Companies to try to buy Infowars. Lopez’s September order on the auction procedures made a live bidding round optional. And it gave broad authority to Murray to conduct the sale, including the power to reject any bid, no matter how high, that was “contrary to the best interests” of Jones, his company and their creditors. But at a Nov. 14 hearing Lopez said he was concerned about the process and transparency. “We’re all going to an evidentiary hearing and I’m going to figure out exactly what happened,” he said. “No one should feel comfortable with the results of this auction.” The assets of Infowars' parent company, Free Speech Systems, that were up for sale included the Austin studio, Infowars' video archive, video production equipment, product trademarks, and Infowars' websites and social media accounts. Jones is appealing the $1.5 billion in judgments citing free speech rights, but has acknowledged that the school shooting happened . Jones has brought in millions of dollars a year in revenue by hawking nutritional supplements, clothing, survival gear and other merchandise, including more than $22 million this year through Sept. 30 from his Infowars Store website, according to court documents. Many of Jones’ personal assets, including real estate, guns and other personal belongings, also are being sold as part of the bankruptcy. Documents filed in court this year say Jones has about $9 million in personal assets, while Free Speech Systems has about $6 million in cash and more than $1 million worth of inventory.
Need a New iPhone or Android Phone? Consider These Factors Before You BuyRudy Giuliani in a courtroom outburst accuses judge in assets case of being unfair, drawing a rebukeDaniel Jones is free to sign with any NFL team after clearing waivers on Monday, which also means the team that signs the former New York Giants quarterback won't be on the hook for the nearly $12 million that was remaining on his contract this year or his $23 million injury guarantee. Jones was released at his request by the Giants on Saturday after the former first-round pick was benched last week. He reportedly wants to join a contender, and there are expected to be multiple teams interested. The two teams reported to have the most initial interest in Jones are also being offered as the most likely to sign him by one sportsbook. The Baltimore Ravens currently have journeyman backup Josh Johnson behind starting quarterback Lamar Jackson. Jones would potentially provide a third option, and one whose mobility could make him an intriguing fit in offensive coordinator Todd Monken's system The Ravens were installed as the 2/1 favorites to land Jones ahead of the Minnesota Vikings (5/2), who have veterans Nick Mullens and Brett Rypien behind starter Sam Darnold. They would likely view Jones as an upgrade. "I really can't get into too much about any short-term or long-term," Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said Monday when asked about Jones, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. "I can just say that I've been a big fan of Daniel's for a long time and I hope wherever his next step takes him, it's a good opportunity for him." The Las Vegas Raiders (5/1) don't fall into the category of contenders after falling to 2-9 amid a seven-game losing streak. However, they could provide the most immediate opportunity to play with Gardner Minshew suffering a season-ending broken collarbone on Sunday that is expected to end his season. Second-year quarterback Aidan O'Connell is close to returning from a thumb injury, but coach Antonio Pierce acknowledged after Sunday's game that, "We're going to need somebody, right?" If O'Connell isn't ready to face the Kansas City Chiefs on Black Friday, Desmond Ridder is expected to get the start. The Dallas Cowboys (7/1) would fall into a similar category, with Dak Prescott out for the season following hamstring surgery and being replaced by Cooper Rush. Another intriguing possibility lies with Detroit, where the 10-1 Lions' offense is rolling with Jared Goff at the helm. However, should he go down to injury the only other quarterback on the roster is rookie Hendon Hooker. That has contributed to the Lions having 7/1 odds to sign Jones. DANIEL JONES NEXT TEAM ODDS* Baltimore Ravens (2/1) Minnesota Vikings (5/2) Las Vegas Raiders (5/1) Dallas Cowboys (7/1) Detroit Lions (7/1) Miami Dolphins (7/1) San Francisco 49ers (8/1) Carolina Panthers (10/1) Seattle Seahawks (16/1) Indianapolis Colts (20/1) New England Patriots (25/1) New Orleans Saints (25/1) New York Jets (25/1) Tennessee Titans (25/1) Atlanta Falcons (28/1) Arizona Cardinals (33/1) Chicago Bears (33/1) Cleveland Browns (33/1) Denver Broncos (33/1) Jacksonville Jaguars (40/1) Los Angeles Chargers (50/1) Los Angeles Rams (50/1) Pittsburgh Steelers (50/1) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (50/1) Washington Commanders (50/1) Cincinnati Bengals (66/1) Green Bay Packers (66/1) Houston Texans (66/1) Philadelphia Eagles (66/1) Buffalo Bills (75/1) Kansas City Chiefs (75/1) Any CFL Team (80/1) Any XFL Team (80/1) *Odds provided by SportsBetting.ag are for entertainment purposes only. --Field Level Media
Daniel Jones is free to sign with any NFL team after clearing waivers on Monday, which also means the team that signs the former New York Giants quarterback won't be on the hook for the nearly $12 million that was remaining on his contract this year or his $23 million injury guarantee. Jones was released at his request by the Giants on Saturday after the former first-round pick was benched last week. He reportedly wants to join a contender, and there are expected to be multiple teams interested. The two teams reported to have the most initial interest in Jones are also being offered as the most likely to sign him by one sportsbook. The Baltimore Ravens currently have journeyman backup Josh Johnson behind starting quarterback Lamar Jackson. Jones would potentially provide a third option, and one whose mobility could make him an intriguing fit in offensive coordinator Todd Monken's system The Ravens were installed as the 2/1 favorites to land Jones ahead of the Minnesota Vikings (5/2), who have veterans Nick Mullens and Brett Rypien behind starter Sam Darnold. They would likely view Jones as an upgrade. "I really can't get into too much about any short-term or long-term," Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said Monday when asked about Jones, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. "I can just say that I've been a big fan of Daniel's for a long time and I hope wherever his next step takes him, it's a good opportunity for him." The Las Vegas Raiders (5/1) don't fall into the category of contenders after falling to 2-9 amid a seven-game losing streak. However, they could provide the most immediate opportunity to play with Gardner Minshew suffering a season-ending broken collarbone on Sunday that is expected to end his season. Second-year quarterback Aidan O'Connell is close to returning from a thumb injury, but coach Antonio Pierce acknowledged after Sunday's game that, "We're going to need somebody, right?" If O'Connell isn't ready to face the Kansas City Chiefs on Black Friday, Desmond Ridder is expected to get the start. The Dallas Cowboys (7/1) would fall into a similar category, with Dak Prescott out for the season following hamstring surgery and being replaced by Cooper Rush. Another intriguing possibility lies with Detroit, where the 10-1 Lions' offense is rolling with Jared Goff at the helm. However, should he go down to injury the only other quarterback on the roster is rookie Hendon Hooker. That has contributed to the Lions having 7/1 odds to sign Jones. DANIEL JONES NEXT TEAM ODDS* Baltimore Ravens (2/1) Minnesota Vikings (5/2) Las Vegas Raiders (5/1) Dallas Cowboys (7/1) Detroit Lions (7/1) Miami Dolphins (7/1) San Francisco 49ers (8/1) Carolina Panthers (10/1) Seattle Seahawks (16/1) Indianapolis Colts (20/1) New England Patriots (25/1) New Orleans Saints (25/1) New York Jets (25/1) Tennessee Titans (25/1) Atlanta Falcons (28/1) Arizona Cardinals (33/1) Chicago Bears (33/1) Cleveland Browns (33/1) Denver Broncos (33/1) Jacksonville Jaguars (40/1) Los Angeles Chargers (50/1) Los Angeles Rams (50/1) Pittsburgh Steelers (50/1) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (50/1) Washington Commanders (50/1) Cincinnati Bengals (66/1) Green Bay Packers (66/1) Houston Texans (66/1) Philadelphia Eagles (66/1) Buffalo Bills (75/1) Kansas City Chiefs (75/1) Any CFL Team (80/1) Any XFL Team (80/1) *Odds provided by SportsBetting.ag are for entertainment purposes only. --Field Level Media
Victor Wembanyama: From NBA Star to Chess Enthusiast
This was the best part, when you think about it: The Columbia Lions were unimpressed with themselves. Here they were, dying moments of a basketball game that would soon be the source of bewilderment for college basketball fans everywhere — “Wait, that score’s backward, isn’t it?” — and the least surprised people inside Finneran Pavilion were the Lions themselves. “Honestly,” Geronimo Rubio de la Rosa says, “it wasn’t that big a surprise to us.” Everywhere else? Yes. Columbia 90, Villanova 80, that was a surprise. That was a stunner. Maybe Villanova isn’t where it was a few years ago under Jay Wright, but this was still a Big East team vs. an Ivy League team, still inside the Cats’ lair, and the Lions seized a 10-point lead midway though the second half and simply eased on home. That was Nov. 6.
Article content The Saskatchewan NDP Opposition is lamenting the price at the pump for Wednesday’s morning commute after it was “blocked” from tabling a motion to suspend the gas tax for six months. “It will remain the highest in the Prairies after the Sask. Party today blocked the Saskatchewan NDP’s emergency motion to suspend the provincial gas tax and give drivers some much-needed relief,” the NDP said in a news release Tuesday afternoon. Leading up to the first session of the 30th legislature, which began Monday, Opposition Leader Carla Beck said her caucus planned to introduce an emergency motion Tuesday in the Legislature that would drop gas prices by 15 cents per litre starting Wednesday. An attempt by Opposition finance critic Trent Wotherspoon to do just that failed Tuesday after members of the Sask. Party denied leave to table it. During question period, Finance Minister Jim Reiter made it clear the Sask. Party would not support calls for a temporary suspension of the tax. Reiter said the government is prioritizing permanent, long-term tax relief that it argues will have a greater effect on affordability. The government announced Monday that its first piece of legislation will be the Saskatchewan Affordability Act. The bill is to enact the Saskatchewan Party’s election campaign commitments to address affordability issues, including personal tax relief to save a family of four more than $3,400 over four years. The province also plans to continue not charging the federal carbon levy on home heating, introduce a home-renovation tax credit and increase benefits for people with disabilities and families with kids in sports and arts. “Hardworking people who have never struggled before are cutting back on the essentials,” Beck clapped back in Tuesday news release. “They can’t wait until tax season next year to find out if they’ll even benefit from the government’s programs.” The NDP says pausing the gas tax before the holidays would save families hundreds of dollars over the next course of the suspension. The issue was a major part of Beck’s campaign leading up to last month’s provincial vote; similar motions have already been passed in Alberta, Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador. The governing United Conservative Party in Alberta and the Manitoba NDP have paused provincial fuel taxes this year, though Alberta’s came back into force in April. Manitoba has decided to extend its pause while Ontario has budgeted a pause until the end of 2024. The NDP has been calling for a pause on the gas tax for months and even forced a vote in early May during the last session of the legislature to suspend the tax; it also failed. “It’s something that would save Saskatchewan families hundreds of dollars at a time when they desperately need it,” Beck said when the party continued calls for a suspension later that month. — with files from Jeremy Simes, The Canadian Press The Regina Leader-Post has created an Afternoon Headlines newsletter that can be delivered daily to your inbox so you are up to date with the most vital news of the day. Click here to subscribe. With some online platforms blocking access to the journalism upon which you depend, our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark leaderpost.com and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed. Click here to subscribe. Share this Story : Sask. NDP 'blocked' from tabling emergency motion to suspend gas tax Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr
Trump has promised again to release the last JFK files. But experts say don’t expect big revelationsPutri Rafidah stresses that every prized piece manufactured by Mariwasa is a symbol of an individual’s contributions and services to the nation and the community, and awarded only to those deemed worthy. — Bernama photo PUTRI Rafidah Megat Noh beams with pride and satisfaction each time she looks at the gleaming honorary medals proudly adorned by recipients during an investiture ceremony. She has every reason to feel that way as the decorations are produced by her company Mariwasa Kraftangan Sdn Bhd, designed and crafted by her team of dedicated artisans. Their skilled workmanship is evident in the smallest detail etched into each medal right up to the perfectly finished product. This is why Putri Rafidah feels frustrated whenever she comes across reports of individuals receiving fake titles or awards through improper channels. “The honorary medals (conferred during investiture ceremonies) are not easy to produce and are not meant for just any person. “They are symbols of individuals’ contributions and services to the nation and their communities, and awarded only to those deemed worthy,” said the Mariwasa chief executive officer (CEO) during an interview with Bernama at its factory in Kuala Kangsar recently. Two factories Putri Rafidah said Mariwasa was set up in 1975 and was taken over by Megat Mohamad Abdul Wahab Megat Abu Bakar – the current owner of the company – 10 years later when the company ran into financial problems. Megat Mohamad Abdul Wahab managed to turn the company around after receiving orders for honorary medals and decorations from the federal and state governments. Mariwasa, now a leading manufacturer of awards and decorations for the federal government and nearly all state governments in Malaysia, also became a subcontractor for a prominent brand in England, producing decorations for the governments of Oman and Kuwait. It also supplies decorations to the Maldives government. Photo shows the sculpting process of an elaborately-designed piece. — Bernama photo From its humble beginnings when it operated out of a shop lot, Mariwasa now has two well-equipped factories, both located in Kuala Kangsar. “Over the years, the company has also diversified its offerings to include uniform accessories, handicrafts, silverware, jewellery and various metal-based products including souvenirs and specially-commissioned gift items made from costly metals such as gold and silver. “We are also collaborating with companies from England, Germany, Austria and Italy to supply premium banqueting items and interior decorations (produced by Mariwasa), catering to clients such as royal palaces and dignitaries,” said Putri Rafidah. She added that Mariwasa had also designed and produced uniforms and accessories such as badges, collar badges and buttons for several government departments and agencies. “We have also been entrusted with managing various royal ceremonies at palaces, ranging from engagement and wedding events to birthdays and even funerals,” she said, adding Mariwasa had 110 employees, all Malaysians, whom she described as the ‘lifeblood of our company’. Photo shows several pin badges manufactured by Mariwasa, including one that depicts the ‘Coat of Arms of Malaysia’. — Bernama photo She said most of their employees started with zero skills, but had become skilled workers through the training provided to them. “We encourage our employees to continue working even after reaching retirement age, as long as they are capable of contributing to the company. “Some of them are 75 years old and are still able to contribute their energy and skills,” she added. Putri Rafidah says most of Mariwasa employees started with zero skills, but now, they have become skilled workers through the training provided to them. — Bernama photo Production process According to Putri Rafidah, every item produced by the company is bespoke – specially-crafted to suit the tastes and needs of its clients. The company also provides after-sales services to ensure customer satisfaction. Every item produced by the company is bespoke – specially-crafted to suit the tastes and needs of its clients. — Bernama photo “For example, for medals and decorations (for investiture ceremonies), we take the measurements of the sash for each recipient on rehearsal day. “We do this because each award recipient has a different measurement... and we take pride and satisfaction in ensuring that the medal fits perfectly on the wearer.” She said the company staff also provided assistance on the day of the award ceremony, adding: “I believe this service is only offered by our company.” The production process for the medals begins with the preparation of the moulds for various designs, as well as 3D drawings in software and 3D metal modelling, followed by medal stamping, laser-cutting, polishing and finally, packaging the finished products. While the medals are hand-crafted and hand-finished, the more complex part of the production work is carried out with the help of high-technology tooling and cutting techniques, with the machines imported from Germany at a cost of RM1.4 million. The medals undergo the final process of manufacturing, which is drying. — Bernama photo Putri Rafidah also said that the medal designs and decorations were based on the specifications and identity of the state concerned, as well as special requests from clients. “For example, a recent Pahang honorary medal that we crafted was inspired by Her Royal Highness Tengku Ampuan Pahang Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah, who requested the inclusion of elements like the coffee flower and symbols of the state’s previous sultans. “For Kedah, the honorary medal features the ‘bunga padi’ symbol, while for Perak, the medal has nine points to represent the nine districts of the state when the medal was first introduced,” she said. Putri Rafidah also said the metal or type of precious stone used to produce and embellish the medals would depend on clients’ requests. Usually, gold or diamonds would be requested for the highest-ranking medals, and copper or rhodium for lower-ranking medals. “A new order takes at least three months to complete. However, if there is a request to speed up the process, we accept the challenge. “For example, for a recent investiture ceremony in Pahang, we had only 30 days to complete the design and production from scratch. But, with the commitment of our staff, we were able to finish it on time.” A Mariwasa artisan shows the latest gold- and silver-coated medals made at its factory in Kuala Kangsar. — Bernama photo As for the company’s future plans, Putri Rafidah said they planned to transform Mariwasa into an innovative company, utilising advanced technology while preserving traditional craftsmanship values and safeguarding the nation’s heritage. “And, as skilled artisans are becoming increasingly rare, we plan to establish training centres to help them hone their skills, and (open) job opportunities to ensure they have a good future,” she added. — Bernama