The Silicon Valley Billionaires Steering Trump's Transition
Justin Thomas with big drives and a few big putts takes 1-shot lead over Scheffler in the Bahamas
SHE plays picture-perfect Good Witch Glinda in the big-screen adaptation of West End hit Wicked. But despite having a dream role in a hit Hollywood film, Ariana Grande has lifted the veil on her own path to stardom — revealing that she first saw a therapist at the tender age of eight. The Thank U, Next singer told how she struggled to “process things” after mum Joan Grande and dad Edward Butera ended their marriage in 2001. She said: “I first saw a therapist when I was eight after my parents’ divorce — but I don’t think I was really mature enough to process things. “But as I have gotten older, my therapist has been everything to me.” Ariana previously credited therapy with helping her process the aftermath of the terror bomb attack on the Manchester Arena which tragically killed 22 at her concert in May 2017. The pop star suffered further heartbreak when her rapper ex Mac Miller died from an accidental drug overdose in 2018. She added: “Therapy has saved my life. That is why I am so passionate about making therapy and mental health services available for all. "It shouldn’t just be for those that can afford it.” Meanwhile, the US singer also opened up about her close relationship with Wicked co-star and British actress Cynthia Erivo , who plays Elphaba in the film, which hit cinemas on Friday. She said: “We have become such criers — especially in the last few weeks. "As we have been able to see the final product of what we have done, as we have been able to see people’s reactions to the movie — it’s just been so emotional. “ Cynthia and myself just randomly burst out crying — but don’t worry, they are good tears! “Honestly, she has become my sister. "The first time we met we had what we thought would be a short conversation about what we wanted to achieve creatively — and it ended up with us talking for hours, bonding over so many things. “Creatively we wanted to do all we could — but we also decided early on that we would be there during shooting for each other — no matter what. “I am so proud of what everybody on Wicked has achieved — but the greatest thing for me is that I have gained a sister for life.” POP superstar Sabrina Carpenter is in the pink as she wraps the North American leg of her Short n’ Sweet Tour. The Espresso hitmaker glittered in a fuchsia bodysuit and matching suspenders as she posed backstage earlier this week. She said: “I have always dreamt of bringing this tour to life but it was even better than I could have imagined because of every crowd that showed up and gave 100 per cent of their energy and time.” Sabrina added: “Cry because it’s over for now, but we can’t wait to see you in the new year in Europe.” She kicks off in the UK on March 6 at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena. I cannot wait. LOTTIE MOSS plans to ditch her OnlyFans career to bag brand deals. It sounds like she is following the lead of her model half-sister Kate, who previously had deals with Diet Coke and been the face of Calvin Klein. Speaking to Biz on Sunday at Boohoo’s party at Kachette in Shoreditch, East London, Lottie, said: “I want to do brand deals to make the money that I’ll lose from OnlyFans.” FAMILY matters were on Adele's mind when her mum joined her on stage as her long-running Las Vegas residency drew to a close. Penny Adkins appeared alongside her daughter on Friday night at the singer’s penultimate show at Caesars Palace. Adele, who shares 12-year-old Angelo with ex-husband Simon Konecki, said: “My own motherhood has helped me see my mother as a person rather than as a mum. “My [social media] feed used to be about pets and nail results and the motivational meme was: ‘Go easy on your mother – it’s her first time living too.’ “And that really, really changed my perspective on everything to do with myself as a mum, her as a mum or all parents. “Because life is hard. Life sucks. It doesn’t matter what situation you’re in. The problems never, never disappear – they just come in different forms.” Adele, who completed her 100th show on Saturday night, said the residency has been the perfect “bookend” to her album 30, which she released in 2021. She said: “All I wanted to do was do some shows – I didn’t mean to do this many. “I wanted to do some songs from 30 and just fall in love with performing again. Adele revealed: “My last tour in stadiums f * g freaked me out”, adding that she performed before “so many people, it took me a long time to kind of wrap my head around it. “This [residency] felt perfect and was the bookend to this story and this album.” Las Vegas won’t be the same without her. HE famously sang about wooing a woman every day of the week, but Craig David is ready to settle down. The 7 Days hitmaker said: “I would have said I was commitment-phobic. I was all about the music. Now my heart is saying, ‘Open up’.” Craig, left, will kick off his aptly named Commitment tour in Leeds next year, with special guest Lemar joining him for 11 UK dates. ED SHEERAN has been spotted getting into the Christmas spirit. The Thinking Out Loud hitmaker was filming in Southwold, Suffolk, with Bridgerton star Claudia Jessie also starring in a video for his new festive track Under The Tree, earlier this month. The song is set to feature in a new Netflix animation film, That Christ-mas, directed by Love Actually and Notting Hill writer Richard Curtis. A fan filmed the pair sitting in a beach hut with their arms around each other as Richard gave them instructions. Claudia – best known as Eloise Bridgerton – could also be seen making cups of tea as pals stopped by to chat. Earlier this year, Ed said of Richard: “He came to me two years ago to play me the rough [version] of That Christmas. “It was just sketches and voices, but it blew me away. So emotional, yet so heartwarmingly funny.” The film is set in the fictional town of Wellington-on-Sea and tells the story of the worst snowstorm in history, which causes havoc for everyone – including Santa. Let’s hope Storm Bert doesn’t do the same... JAMES BOND actor Daniel Craig reckons 007 movie bosses gambled on him. He said: “They took a big risk and I am eternally grateful.” But the Brit star of five Bond films had to take the job. He said of franchise producer Barbara Brocolli: “If you ever tried to tell Barbara ‘no’, you may understand. SIMONE ASHLEY has swapped Bridgerton for Bastille in her latest project. The Netflix star, who rose to fame as Kate Sharma, in the hit regency series, is the star of the band’s short film for their track Eve and Paradise Lost. It sees Simone crying as she takes on the role of Eve with the lyrics delving into love, loss and betrayal. Lead singer Dan Smith, who worked with British director Dominic Savage, said: “I was totally blown away by Simone’s performance on the day which surpasses anything I could have imagined.” Simon added: “When I first heard this song, I immediately felt a connection to it. I loved working with Dan and Dominic and feel so proud of what we have created."
Insurgents reach gates of Syria's capital, threatening to upend decades of Assad rule
Thailand has made substantial progress in reducing carbon emissions and has set a target to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, says the Department of Climate Change and Environment (DCCE). Phirun Saiyasitpanich, DCCE director-general, said Thailand, as a party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), recently submitted its First Biennial Transparency Report (BTR1) to the UNFCCC secretariat. The report outlines Thailand's progress in combating climate change, highlighting actions taken to meet global climate commitments and enabling access to technology, expertise, and international funding. Thailand, the report said, emitted 278,039.73 kilotonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (ktCO2eq) of greenhouse gases, including emissions from forestry and land use, and 385,941.14 ktCO2eq excluding these sectors. The country reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 60.33 MtCO2eq in 2021 and 65.23 MtCO2eq in 2022, aligning with its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Thailand has achieved 30.4% of its NDC target compared to business-as-usual (BAU) projections, as stipulated under Article 4 of the Paris Agreement. Mr Phirun emphasised the need to raise this target to 40% in the near future to mitigate the risks of global warming. In a significant milestone, Thailand transferred 1,916 tCO2eq of international carbon credits, marking its first year of such transfers. The report also highlighted pilot projects in six fields across six provinces to combat climate change. To date, Thailand has received USD $1.1 billion (38.6 billion baht) in international financial support to develop and distribute climate-related technologies. To achieve its 2050 carbon neutrality goal and net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2065, Thailand must address emissions from key sectors such as energy, transport, industry, and agriculture.Timberwolves push back start time vs. Spurs because of issue with game court
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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Junior Kyla Oldacre matched her career best with 21 points on near perfect shooting, and No. 5 Texas routed Texas Rio Grande Valley 94-35 on Sunday. Oldacre, a 6-foot-6 backup center, converted all six of her field goal attempts and 9 of 10 free throws. She also had seven rebounds and three of the Longhorns’ 21 steals. Madison Booker had 14 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and three steals for Texas (13-1). Starting center Taylor Jones had 11 points, nine rebounds and three blocks. Kade Hackerott led Texas Rio Grande Valley (6-7) with seven points. The Vaqueros shot 27% from the field and committed 37 turnovers. Texas converted the turnovers into 47 points. Takeaways Texas Rio Grande Valley: The Vaqueros average 16 turnovers a game but matched that by midway through the second quarter. They committed 13 while falling behind 24-5 after the first quarter. Texas: Aaliyah Moore’s physical health is something to watch. Moore, a starting power forward, missed her first game this season on Sunday while resting because of tendinitis in her right knee. Moore played with that condition last season but it has been a struggle for her. Texas has only two centers and two power forwards on its roster. Key moment After Texas Rio Grande Valley sliced a 19-point deficit to 10 with less than four minutes remaining in the second quarter, Texas finished the half with a 13-1 push, eight from Oldacre, during the final 2:36. Key stat The Longhorns outscored the Vaqueros 54-12 in the paint and it could have been worse. The Longhorns missed 12 layups. Up next Texas Rio Grande Valley is at Southeastern Louisiana on Thursday, and Texas is at No. 9 Oklahoma on Thursday. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball Read more NCAA basketball at thestar.comThis image provided by FinaMill shows the FinaMill Ultimate Spice Grinder Set. The new FinaMill Ultimate Spice Grinder set elevates the pedestrian pepper and spice mill in both function and style. (FinaMill via AP) This image provided by QelviQ shows a wine bottle chiller. For friends who prefer stronger beverages, the QelviQ personal sommelier uses “smart” technology to ensure wine is served at its ideal temperature. (QelviQ via AP) This image provided by FUJIFILM North America Corporation and FUJIFILM Corporation Tokyo shows a smartphone printer. Fujifilm Instax’s Mini Link 3 smartphone printer offers a touch of nostalgia without sacrificing technology. Just load the printer with film and connect it to your Android or iOS device via Bluetooth to print wallet-size photos. (FUJIFILM North America Corporation and FUJIFILM Corporation Tokyo via AP) This image provided by FeatherSnap shows a female cardinal bird perched on a FeatherSnap Wi-Fi Solar Powered Camera Smart Bird Feeder. Equipped with an HD camera, the dual-chamber feeder enables up-close livestreaming of avian visitors, as well as species-logging via the free mobile app. (FeatherSnap via AP) This image provided by Nama shows the M1 plant-based milk maker. If you’ve got a no-dairy friend on your list, a plant-based milk maker could save them money while allowing them to avoid unnecessary ingredients like sugar, stabilizers, thickeners and preservatives. (Nama via AP) This image provided by Pull Start Fire shows the matchless fire igniter in use. Made of 89% recycled materials, the food-safe, eco-friendly, 3-by-2-by-1-inch fire starters will light a fire quickly without matches, lighters or kindling.(Pull Start Fire via AP) This image provided by Uncommon Goods shows a 2-piece LED Grilling Tool Set. Uncommon Good’s 2-piece LED Grilling Tool Set puts illumination into the handles of its stainless-steel spatula and tongs. (Uncommon Goods via AP) This image provided by easyplant shows a Marxii Calathea plant in a small, beige, self-watering pot. The appropriately named easyplant is one of the best gifts you can give your houseplant-loving friends, regardless of their experience level. (easyplant via AP) This image provided by Souper Cubes shows No Mess Utensils held upright on pot edges. The No Mess Utensil lives up to its name. The utensils, a serving spoon and a ladle, have innovative, S-shaped handles designed to rest on the edge of a pot. (Ashley Cuoco via AP) This image provided by FinaMill shows the FinaMill Ultimate Spice Grinder Set. The new FinaMill Ultimate Spice Grinder set elevates the pedestrian pepper and spice mill in both function and style. (FinaMill via AP) By JESSICA DAMIANO Finding the perfect gift can be daunting. The only way to truly ensure you get it right would be to ask the recipient what they want, but that wouldn’t be much fun for either of you. Luckily, there’s another tactic to help you earn a “gift whisperer” reputation: seeking out unique, practical, game-changing gifts that will truly surprise and delight. But that’s about as easy as it sounds, which is to say it’s not easy at all. So, we’ve done the legwork for you. Start making your list with this compilation of some of the most innovative, functional and fun gifts of 2024. There’s something for every budget. Bear with me: The new FinaMill Ultimate Spice Grinder set elevates the pedestrian pepper and spice mill in both function and style. Available in three colors (Sangria Red, Midnight Black and Soft Cream), the rechargeable-battery unit grinds with a light touch rather than hand-tiring twists. That’s easier for everyone and especially helpful for those experiencing hand or wrist issues such as arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome or tendinitis. And it’s fun to use. The set includes a stackable storage tray and four pods that can be easily swapped as needed: The GT microplane grater for hard spices, nuts and chocolate; the MAX for large spices and dried herbs; the ProPlus for smaller and oily spices; and the Pepper Pod for, well, pepper. $110. Campers and backyard firepit lovers who have experienced the heartbreak of wet wood will appreciate having a three-pack of Pull Start Fire on hand. Made of 89% recycled materials, including sanding dust, wax and flint, the food-safe, eco-friendly, 3-by-2-by-1-inch fire starters will light a fire quickly without matches, lighters or kindling. Just loop the attached green string around a log, incorporate it into a wood stack, and pull the attached red string to ignite. Each windproof, rainproof block burns for 30 minutes. $29.99. The No Mess Utensil Set from Souper Cubes , a company known for its portioned, silicone freezer trays, lives up to its name. The utensils — a serving spoon and a ladle — have innovative, S-shaped handles designed to rest on the edge of a pot, keeping them upright so they won’t slip in. The design also eliminates the need for a spoon rest or, worse, placing dirty utensils on the kitchen counter or stovetop between stirs. A silicone coating in a choice of Aqua, Charcoal, Cranberry or Blueberry keeps handles cool to the touch. $24.99. The FeatherSnap Wi-Fi smart bird feeder could turn anyone into an avid birdwatcher. Equipped with an HD camera, the dual-chamber feeder enables up-close livestreaming of avian visitors, as well as species-logging via the free mobile app. An optional premium subscription ($59.99 annually or $6.99 monthly) includes unlimited photo and video storage, AI identification with species-specific details, and the opportunity to earn badges for logging new visitors. Turn on notifications to get alerts sent to your phone whenever there’s activity at the feeder. $179.99. Fujifilm’s Instax Mini Link 3 smartphone printer offers a touch of nostalgia without sacrificing technology. Just load the 4.9-by-3.5-by-1.3-inch printer with Instax Mini instant film and connect it to your Android or iOS device via Bluetooth to print wallet-size photos. If you want to get fancy, you can adjust brightness, contrast and saturation, or apply filters, including 3D augmented-reality effects, via the free Instax Mini Link app. It can also make collages of up to six images, or animate photos to share on social media. Available in Rose Pink, Clay White and Sage Green. $99.95. The appropriately named easyplant is one of the best gifts you can give your houseplant-loving friends, regardless of their experience level. Select a pot color, size and plant (or get recommendations based on sunlight requirements, pet friendliness and other attributes) and fill the self-watering container’s built-in reservoir roughly once a month. Moisture will permeate the soil from the bottom as needed, eliminating the often-fatal consequences of over- or under-watering. It’s also a literal lifesaver come vacation time. $49-$259. Related Articles Things To Do | US airports with worst weather delays during holiday season Things To Do | The right book can inspire the young readers in your life, from picture books to YA novels Things To Do | Holiday gift ideas for the movie lover, from bios and books to a status tote Things To Do | ‘Gladiator II’ review: Are you not moderately entertained? Things To Do | Beer pairings for your holiday feasts If you’ve got a no-dairy friend on your list, a plant-based milk maker could save them money while allowing them to avoid sugar, stabilizers, thickeners and preservatives. The Nama M1 appliance both blends and strains ingredients, converting nuts, seeds, grains or oats into velvety-smooth milk in just one minute, with zero grit. And for zero waste, the pasty leftover pulp can be used in other recipes for added nutrients. The device also makes infused oils, flavored waters and soups. And, importantly, cleanup is easy. Available in white and black. $400. For friends who prefer stronger beverages, the QelviQ personal sommelier uses “smart” technology to ensure wine is served at its ideal temperature. Unlike traditional wine refrigerators, this device doesn’t take up any floor space. It also doesn’t chill wine to just one or two temperatures based on its color. Instead — paired with the free QelviQ app — the tabletop chiller relies on a database of more than 350,000 wines to bring a bottle to its specific recommended serving temperature in as little as 20 minutes. It also suggests food-wine and wine-food pairings. Plus, the appliance serves as a great icebreaker to inspire dinnertime conversation. Available in Exciting Red, Dashing Black and Dreamy White. $495. Grilling food after dark — and ascertaining its doneness — can prove challenging without outdoor lighting, and it’s nearly impossible to cook while holding a flashlight. But as is often the case, the simplest of solutions can make the biggest of impacts: Uncommon Good’s 2-piece LED Grilling Tool Set puts illumination into the handles of its stainless-steel spatula and tongs. After use, the lights can be removed and the utensils run through the dishwasher. $40.