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Janette Manrara has sent her own message to Tasha Ghouri as she praised her husband's 'vulnerability' following their latest Strictly Come Dancing performance. Viewers of the hit dance show saw former Love Island star Tasha and her professional dance partner Aljaz Skorjanec bag the first perfect score of the 2024 series during the latest live show on Saturday night (November 23). In week ten of the BBC One dance contest, the pair performed an elegant American Smooth, which they dedicated to Aljaz's one-year-old daughter, Lyra. Tasha, who is the show’s second deaf contestant, performed a series of high lifts and dips during their dance to Someone You Loved by Lewis Capaldi to secure the top score of 40. READ MORE: Stacey Solomon addresses 'estranged' Joe Swash relationship after heading out solo with kids Head judge Shirley Ballas praised it as the "Rolls-Royce" of the American Smooth while Craig Revel Horwood described it as "fab-u-lous". Motsi Mabuse hailed it as "perfection" and said Tasha had brought the poignant song to life. Anton Du Beke, who got emotional during the performance, added that this is why dancers perform because of "how it makes us feel". But as the last performer of the night, Tasha had to do a quick change out of her flowing silver gown with a sparkly bodice into a blue sparkly dress with tulle detailing for a second number, the long-awaited return of the Dance-A-Thon after six year. It saw the seven remaining couples perform the samba simultaneously while the judges looked on and eliminated the pairings one by one before they were left with two. Tasha picked up an additional six points as she was voted runner-up behind JLS star JB Gill, who was named the winner of the dance, landing seven points. It was then during Sunday night's (November 24) results show that Tasha and Aljaz's fututre was confirmed as they made it through to week 11 of the dance programme and will perform during the Musicals Week special. Following the news, Tasha took to social media to reflect on her and Aljaz's continued Strictly journey. Tasha and Aljaz during their latest performance in the Strictly ballroom (Image: PA) Alongside pictures of her and Aljaz in action on the dance floor over the weekend, she said: "QUARTER FINALS HERE WE COME!! Thank you so so much for your votes and support, seeing how much you all loved the dance has just warmed my heart. Now I have gathered myself this is what I want to say.. "@aljazskorjanec your vulnerability this week has been so admirable. growing a friendship with you has been so special and to do this for Lyra this week, I felt so honoured! It’s so special that youve come back as a father & your passion for this show is what strictly is about, you are what strictly is. You always have a positive, joyous attitude! Especially this week you beamed everyday and I felt that! You have such a beautiful gorgeous wife @jmanrara & family, you all made me feel so welcome, thank you. "A celebration of family, love, friendships. This dance is truly the one I will keep bottled up ! The beauty of this show is the dancing and the joy it brings. NOW WE ARGENTINE TANGOOOOOO!!!! This is the one dance style and week I’ve been buzzing to do and it’s to SIX THE MUSICAL! @gemflossi @lisadaveyhair @vickygilldesign thank you team for this beautiful look!! The whole set, band, production team who work so hard to keep the magic going, thank you." Responding to the post, It Takes Two host Janette, who is married to Aljaz with whom she shares daughter Lyra, simply said: "You are beautiful in every way." Meanwhile, Strictly co-star JB Gill commented: "Stunner," while his professional dance partner replied: "Just stunning."The Emotional Story Behind How Hannah Waddingham Ended Up Auditioning For Ted Lasso
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It's the time of the year to look back at our favorite brands and give our report cards. Samsung was the biggest smartphone maker in the world in 2024, which was a huge win. Its midrange and S series phones were very popular, but the foldables didn't have the best of times. Let's dig in. Winner: Samsung Galaxy A16 and A16 5G Samsung's entry-level Galaxy A16 and A16 5G are both tremendously popular and for good reason. Both phones have good displays, solid battery life, and 50MP main cameras. They also have IP54 dust and splash resistance. Starting at just under €200 they are already doing tremendously well in a number of markets. Winner: Galaxy A55 Samsung's Galaxy A55 is the joint-most popular Galaxy in our database. It starts at about €320 and has flagship killer specs. It has a 120Hz Super AMOLED display, a 4nm chipset, a 5,000mAh battery, and IP67 water and dust protection. Its cameras are also capable. It also has Samsung's proven One UI and a promise of 4 major Android updates - an unprecedented feat in its price range. This phone easily outsold any device not called an iPhone in most of Europe and North America. Winners: Galaxy S24 FE and Galaxy S24+ We argued in our Galaxy S24 FE review that the S24+ was arguably the better deal. But, the thing with Samsung and its unparalleled distribution network is that it covers so many markets that most of its devices end up finding their niche. So, it's either a non-issue or a win for Samsung. You're buying one of its phones anyway. The Galaxy S24 FE and S24+ are very similar in specs with a slight edge for the Plus. Yet, both are highly capable flagships and share Samsung's stellar commitment to seven years of OS updates. Either is a safe choice if you're looking for a good upmarket smartphone from an A-list phone maker. And both will likely sell well. Winners: Galaxy S24 Last year's Galaxy S23 was outsold by both the S23 Ultra and the S23+. This year the smaller Galaxy S24 outsold the Plus model. That's a win for Samsung and it means there's still hope for the compact phones of the world. Winner: Galaxy Watch Ultra Samsung's Galaxy Watch lineup is a bit confusing. There's the regular model, the Classic (with the rotating bezel), we had one Pro in 2022, and in 2024 we got an Ultra. A direct Apple Watch Ultra rival, the Galaxy Watch Ultra fills that spot for the Wear OS lineup and will likely be the Android default for a while. It brings rugged credentials alongside an excellent smartwatch experience. And it has a unique design with a square body and a circular sapphire watchface. Loser: Galaxy Watch7 (no Watch7 Classic) But while the Ultra was a win, fans of the Classic model with a physically rotating bezel were left with last year's Galaxy Watch6 Classic as the only option. The Galaxy Watch7 didn't bring much in terms of improvements over the Galaxy Watch6 - you have twice the storage at 32GB, and a 30% more efficient processor, but the displays are identical, and so are the health-tracking features. Winners: Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra and S10+ Samsung's top-tier tablets did well and Samsung maintained its second position in slate shipments only behind Apple. Its Galaxy tablets are versatile with superb Super AMOLED displays and S Pen support. Loser: Galaxy Z Fold6 Samsung has enjoyed an unimpeded run with the book-style foldables in markets outside of China for a few years. But that's all changing and fast. Devices like the OnePlus Open and Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold have wider cover displays than the Galaxy Z Fold6 , making them better to use folded and challenge it on all fronts. But the Honor Magic V3 simply makes the Galaxy Z Fold6 look pedestrian with a far slimmer body and superior camera system. Now that the competition is also catching up in the software department, Samsung needs to reenergize its Fold lineup and it needs to do it in 2025. Winner: Galaxy Z Flip6 The Galaxy Z Flip6 , on the other hand, stood out as meaningfully better than its predecessor. It improved upon the battery life and zoom shots and was the easier choice of flip-foldable in a lot of global markets this year. It sure helped that competition isn't paying as much attention to this segment just yet, too. Winner: Galaxy S24 Ultra Every year, Samsung's biggest winner is its Galaxy S Ultra and 2024 is no different. Samsung's most popular phone in 2024 and its most profitable, the Galaxy S24 Ultra added a 50MP 5x telephoto camera and the newest chipset. The changes proved all that was needed - the phone sold tremendously and is one of the most popular flagships in people's hands. The Galaxy S24 Ultra isn't without rivals - Chinese flagships in the second part of the year have it beaten on the camera and battery side - but still few of those make it to the global markets to challenge Samsung. Still, Samsung may need to step up its flagship game before it starts looking vulnerable like the Z Fold6.The U.S. Navy is transforming a costly flub into a potent weapon with the first shipborne hypersonic weapon, which is being retrofitted aboard the first of its three stealthy destroyers. The USS Zumwalt is at a Mississippi shipyard where workers have installed missile tubes that replace twin turrets from a gun system that was never activated because it was too expensive. Once the system is complete, the Zumwalt will provide a platform for conducting fast, precision strikes from greater distances, adding to the usefulness of the warship. The USS Zumwalt is seen at the Huntington Ingalls shipyard Nov. 21 in Pascagoula, Miss. “It was a costly blunder. But the Navy could take victory from the jaws of defeat here, and get some utility out of them by making them into a hypersonic platform,” said Bryan Clark, a defense analyst at the Hudson Institute. The U.S. has had several types of hypersonic weapons in development for the past two decades, but recent tests by both Russia and China have added pressure to the U.S. military to hasten their production. Hypersonic weapons travel beyond Mach 5, five times the speed of sound, with added maneuverability making them harder to shoot down. Last year, The Washington Post reported that among the documents leaked by former Massachusetts Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira was a defense department briefing that confirmed China had recently tested an intermediate-range hypersonic weapon called the DF-27. While the Pentagon previously acknowledged the weapon's development, it had not recognized its testing. One of the U.S. programs in development and planned for the Zumwalt is the “Conventional Prompt Strike." It would launch like a ballistic missile and then release a hypersonic glide vehicle that would travel at speeds seven to eight times faster than the speed of sound before hitting the target. The weapon system is being developed jointly by the Navy and Army. Each of the Zumwalt-class destroyers would be equipped with four missile tubes, each with three of the missiles for a total of 12 hypersonic weapons per ship. In choosing the Zumwalt, the Navy is attempting to add to the usefulness of a $7.5 billion warship that is considered by critics to be an expensive mistake despite serving as a test platform for multiple innovations. The USS Zumwalt is seen at the Huntington Ingalls shipyard Nov. 21 in Pascagoula, Miss. The Zumwalt was envisioned as providing land-attack capability with an Advanced Gun System with rocket-assisted projectiles to open the way for Marines to charge ashore. But the system featuring 155 mm guns hidden in stealthy turrets was canceled because each of the rocket-assisted projectiles cost between $800,000 and $1 million. Despite the stain on its reputation, the three Zumwalt-class destroyers remain the Navy’s most advanced surface warship in terms of new technologies. Those innovations include electric propulsion, an angular shape to minimize radar signature, an unconventional wave-piercing hull, automated fire and damage control and a composite deckhouse that hides radar and other sensors. The Zumwalt arrived at the Huntington Ingalls Industries shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi, in August 2023 and was removed from the water for the complex work of integrating the new weapon system. It is due to be undocked this week in preparation for the next round of tests and its return to the fleet, shipyard spokeswoman Kimberly Aguillard said. A U.S. hypersonic weapon was successfully tested over the summer and development of the missiles is continuing. The Navy wants to begin testing the system aboard the Zumwalt in 2027 or 2028, according to the Navy. The U.S. weapon system will come at a steep price. It would cost nearly $18 billion to buy 300 of the weapons and maintain them over 20 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Critics say there is too little bang for the buck. “This particular missile costs more than a dozen tanks. All it gets you is a precise non-nuclear explosion, some place far far away. Is it really worth the money? The answer is most of the time the missile costs much more than any target you can destroy with it,” said Loren Thompson, a longtime military analyst in Washington, D.C. The U.S. Navy intercepted Houthi missiles and drones targeting two warships and three merchant vessels in the Gulf of Aden. But they provide the capability for Navy vessels to strike an enemy from a distance of thousands of kilometers — outside the range of most enemy weapons — and there is no effective defense against them, said retired Navy Rear Adm. Ray Spicer, CEO of the U.S. Naval Institute, an independent forum focusing on national security issues, and former commander of an aircraft carrier strike force. Conventional missiles that cost less aren’t much of a bargain if they are unable to reach their targets, Spicer said, adding the U.S. military really has no choice but to pursue them. “The adversary has them. We never want to be outdone,” he said. The U.S. is accelerating development because hypersonics have been identified as vital to U.S. national security with “survivable and lethal capabilities,” said James Weber, principal director for hypersonics in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Critical Technologies. “Fielding new capabilities that are based on hypersonic technologies is a priority for the defense department to sustain and strengthen our integrated deterrence, and to build enduring advantages,” he said. Image Credit: Jacob Lund / Shutterstock The financial challenges facing U.S. military households are a significant concern throughout the year. Holidays such as Memorial Day, Armed Forces Day, or Veterans Day highlight the ongoing struggles that service members face, particularly amid rising costs for everyday essentials. Recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey shows a troubling trend: Military personnel and their families are finding it more difficult to cover basic household expenses such as food, housing, and transportation than the average American. Our analysis examines how service members are faring in today’s economy compared to civilian households, highlighting the states where military families report the greatest challenges in managing their finances. As we enter Giving Season, we’ve also highlighted meaningful ways to support service members and their families through charitable contributions, offering an opportunity to make a direct impact on those who serve our nation. Service members are struggling more financially than the average American. Image Credit: Upgraded Points According to recent Household Pulse Survey data, members of the armed services are experiencing financial strain at higher rates than the general U.S. population. Over 40% of service members report difficulty covering their usual household expenses, compared to 36.6% of all U.S. adults. The data also shows heightened anxiety among service members regarding rising prices. Nearly 80% of military personnel express stress about recent price increases, significantly higher than the 71.8% of all U.S. adults who share similar feelings. Furthermore, 81.8% of service members are concerned about future price hikes, reflecting widespread uncertainty about inflation’s long-term impact on household budgets. More than half of service members in certain states have difficulty covering basic household expenses. Image Credit: Upgraded Points Across the U.S., the financial burden on service members varies significantly from state to state, primarily influenced by local economic conditions. According to the most recent data, Utah leads with 53.7% of service members reporting difficulty covering basic household expenses, closely followed by Louisiana (52.9%) and Alaska (52.8%). Other states where over half of service members are struggling include Indiana (52.0%), Tennessee (51.2%), New York (50.8%), and Florida (50.3%). A key issue service members frequently raise is that their Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) has not kept pace with the rapidly rising cost of housing. In states where service members face the greatest financial difficulties, such as Utah, Indiana, Tennessee, and Florida, home price increases have far exceeded the national average, exacerbating the strain on household budgets. Another critical factor affecting military families is the employment challenges military spouses face. According to the Department of Defense, the military spouse unemployment rate was 21% in 2023, compared to a national rate of 3.6% that year. Many military bases are located in rural or remote areas, limiting job opportunities for spouses, particularly in specialized fields. Additionally, frequent relocations make it difficult for spouses to sustain long-term careers, especially for those in professions requiring state-specific occupational licenses that can be difficult to transfer. Service members are also more likely to report financial struggles in states with higher-than-average unemployment rates, such as Louisiana, Alaska, and New York. Conversely, the state unemployment rate is below average in 9 of the 10 states where service members report the least financial difficulty. This suggests that strong local employment opportunities, particularly for spouses, significantly ease the financial burden on military households. Photo Credit: Bumble Dee / Shutterstock One of the most impactful ways to support service members, veterans, and their families who are facing financial hardships is through donations to reputable charities. These organizations are dedicated to addressing the unique challenges faced by military families and veterans, providing vital assistance in areas like housing, medical expenses, scholarships, and career training. To help guide your generosity, we’ve compiled a list of top-rated charities based on scores from Charity Navigator , CharityWatch , and GuideStar , which assess organizations on criteria such as impact, efficiency, accountability, and transparency. Here are some of the best charities supporting military families and veterans in need: 1. USO For over 80 years, the USO has provided crucial support to active-duty service members and their families. From financial assistance programs to community-building initiatives, the USO helps service members stay connected to loved ones while addressing their most pressing needs during deployments and transitions. 2. Homes For Our Troops This charity is focused on providing specially adapted homes for severely injured post-9/11 veterans. It helps veterans regain independence. Homes For Our Troops also provides financial planning and household budgeting to ensure long-term stability for the recipients. 3. Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) Dedicated to advocating for veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, IAVA works to improve government policies and programs that support military families. Its advocacy ensures veterans have access to financial resources, healthcare, and education opportunities. 4. Fisher House Foundation This foundation builds “comfort homes” near military and VA medical centers, allowing families to stay free of charge while a loved one is hospitalized. By reducing travel and lodging expenses, Fisher House eases financial stress during difficult times. 5. Hope For The Warriors Offering a range of programs focused on financial stability, wellness, social support, and education, Hope For The Warriors provides critical support to service members, veterans, and their families. Its services include direct financial assistance for transitioning service members and veterans in need, career training and job placement, and scholarships for spouses. 6. Semper Fi & America’s Fund Semper Fi & America’s Fund assists wounded, ill, and injured service members and their families through direct financial assistance and case management during hospitalization and recovery. The organization also provides educational support, career assistance, and health and wellness services. 7. Wounded Warriors Family Support (WWFS) WWFS supports families of those wounded or killed in combat through programs like medical travel grants, meal and housekeeping assistance, in-home care services, and family retreats. By addressing these families' immediate and ongoing needs, WWFS alleviates the financial burdens of those suffering from recent tragic events. For more information, a detailed methodology, and complete results, see Rising Costs Hit Military Families Hard: Here’s How You Can Help on Upgraded Points . Photo Credit: Jacob Lund / Shutterstock Upgraded Points conducted the analysis using the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey Phase 4.0–4.2 , covering the period from January 9, 2024, to September 16, 2024. Service members were defined as adults currently serving in the U.S. armed forces (Active Duty, Reserve, or National Guard) and their spouses. This analysis focuses on 3 key questions from the survey: Statistics with fewer than 50 survey responses were omitted from the analysis. Additional statistics on home prices were sourced from Zillow’s Home Value Index , and unemployment rates were sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates . For complete results, see Rising Costs Hit Military Families Hard: Here’s How You Can Help on Upgraded Points. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Get local news delivered to your inbox!Indian Bull Run: Markets Surge as Foreign Investors Buy In
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