Thailand Sees $4 Billion from China Tourism After Visa Waivers
Thailand expects to attract 2.9 million arrivals and billions of dollars in revenue from a Chinese tourism boom
2023-10-01 13:49
Promoting tradition as well as beans, Ethiopian coffee shops find fans far from home
When Yared Markos moved to London a quarter century ago, he didn't see any Ethiopian coffee shops
2023-10-01 11:29
Naomi Campbell on the catwalk at Sarah Burton’s final Alexander McQueen show
Naomi Campbell played a starring role on the catwalk as Sarah Burton presented her last collection as creative director of Alexander McQueen. The British supermodel, 53, closed the spring/summer 2024 show wearing a stunning silver ensemble comprised of a strapless beaded corset and a draped skirt that shimmered as she walked. Cate Blanchett, who often wears McQueen at awards ceremonies, was on the front row at the Paris Fashion Week event. The Australian actor was dressed in a black suit with a huge pink bow on the back. American actor Elle Fanning – who stars alongside Campbell in the label’s autumn/winter campaign – was also in attendance, the 25-year-old wearing a full-skirted polka dot dress with a statement choker necklace. The spring/summer 2024 collection represents the end of 26 years at the British fashion brand for Burton. She was appointed to the role of creative director in 2010 following the death of Lee Alexander McQueen, having worked alongside the groundbreaking designer for 14 years. Burton was responsible for creating the wedding dress worn by the Princess of Wales when she married Prince William in 2011. Kaia Gerber – daughter of supermodel Cindy Crawford – opened the spring/summer show in a short black corset dress. With a keyhole cut-out on the chest, the long-sleeved dress hinted at the subversive designs that were to come. Lee Alexander McQueen was the master of gasp-inducing fashion and for Burton’s final collection she served up plenty of suggestive slits alongside her usual bold tailoring and glamorous gowns. “This collection is inspired by female anatomy, Queen Elizabeth I, the blood red rose and Magdalena Abakanowicz, a transgressive and powerfully creative artist who refused ever to compromise her vision,” Burton revealed in the show notes. “The show is dedicated to the memory of Lee Alexander McQueen, whose wish was always to empower women, and to the passion, talent and loyalty of my team.” Burton is the latest designer to take inspiration from roses for spring, following Simone Rocha at London Fashion Week and Balmain’s Olivier Rousteing in Paris. The queen of flowers featured repeatedly, first in the form of photorealistic scarlet stems blown up on black and white slip dresses. Later, a pair of ruffled pink and red ombre gowns resembled rose petals (as well as, it must be said, a certain part of the female body). Exploring shape and volume, the designer sent out curved leather corset tops with exaggerated hips, shaggy coats and draped dresses. Sharp-shouldered jackets were decorated with intricate crimson embroidery that looked like brushstrokes (or possibly blood stains), the ends of the threads hanging off to form flowing tassels. The floral theme continued with an elaborately woven cream jumper and an opulent golden lace dress teamed with thigh-high leather boots, before the show culminated with some sparkling stand-out looks. Burton has excelled at eveningwear throughout her time at McQueen, displaying almost couture-level craftsmanship, and this show was no exception. A white tulle gown with glittering gunmetal adornments cascading across one sleeve and a form-fitting jumpsuit covered in silver beading were highlights. Following Campbell’s star appearance, David Bowie’s Heroes played as the models took their final turn on the catwalk. The audience was already on its feet applauding as Burton appeared to receive her standing ovation and hug VIP guests. The house of McQueen has yet to announce who will take the take over as creative director. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live This is how your make-up needs change as you age Victorian dahlia show recreated at Stonehenge with thousands of flowers Daily activities could help lower heart attack risk, study suggests
2023-10-01 06:26
Disney, DeSantis legal fights ratchet up as company demands documents from Florida governor
The legal fights between Disney and Gov. Ron DeSantis ratcheted up this week
2023-10-01 02:16
Billy Connolly says ‘cruel’ Parkinson’s disease has made it difficult to walk
Billy Connolly has shared updates on how Parkinson’s disease has had a greater effect on his physical abilities over time. The actor and comedian, 80, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2013 and retired from his stand-up career in 2018 due to the illness. Parkinson’s is a brain disorder that causes unintended or uncontrollable movements, such as shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination. Often, the disease gets more severe over time. In an interview conducted by Connolly’s wife, the writer and psychologist Pamela Stephenson Connolly, the comedy figure gave insight into how his Parkinson’s disease has had a greater effect on his physical abilities. “It’s very difficult to see the progression exactly, because a lot of things come and go,” he began in the Guardian profile, published on Saturday (30 September). “Recently I’ve noticed a deterioration in my balance. That was never such a problem before, but in the last year that has come and it has stayed. For some reason, I thought it would go away, because a lot of symptoms have come and gone away… just to defy the symptom spotters.” He added that the shaking had reappeared, as well as “the inability to get out of certain types of chairs”. Stephenson added that balance had been the most significant factor to affect the star’s health, and had resulted in “a couple of serious falls”. “It’s funny, that fall I had when I landed on my jaw reminded me of a thing I used to do on stage,” Connolly replied. “I used to say: “I fell out of bed, but luckily my face broke my fall…” “It wasn’t so funny when you broke your hip,” Stephenson said in response. The What We Did on Our Holiday star noted that his declining ability to control his body movements is one factor “added to the list of things that hold me back”. “I feel like I want to go for a walk, but I go for 50 yards and I want to go home, because I’m tired. I’m being encroached upon by this disease. It’s creeping up behind me and stopping me doing things. It’s a cruel disease.” Elsewhere in the interview, the couple discussed the changes to their relationship as a result of his changing health. Connolly praised Stephenson for her ability to care for him. “It’s lovely. I found a new you. I found a new Pamela. And it’s worked out great. I never thought that you’d be able to look after me the way you do. “I thought it would annoy you terribly,” he continued. “You were such an independent “look after yourself” kind of person. But you’ve rallied round to looking after me. And it suits you great. And it sure suits me lovely.” Read More Lorraine Kelly shares the career advice she got from Billy Connolly Fred Sirieix shares details of medical procedures to ‘investigate’ recent blood tests David Beckham explains why he never sought therapy after 1998 World Cup match left him ‘depressed’ Fred Sirieix shares details of medical procedures to ‘investigate’ recent blood tests David Beckham explains why he never sought therapy after 1998 England match Climbing 5 flights of stairs a day could cut risk of heart disease, study suggests
2023-10-01 00:54
What’s the Kennection? #82
All five answers to the questions below have something in common. Can you figure it out?
2023-10-01 00:17
David Beckham explains why he never sought therapy after 1998 World Cup match left him ‘depressed’
David Beckham has explained why he never sought out therapy despite suffering from depression after his expulsion from an England game in 1998. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid footballer is one of the sport’s biggest-ever stars and is considered a national treasure to many. In 1998, however, Beckham was subject to widespread criticism after he received a red card during England’s World Cup match against Argentina. Beckham’s exit from the pitch was considered a major reason for the team losing the game and getting eliminated from the tournament. The footballer was met with a huge amount of public disdain, which included an effigy of him being hung outside a pub. The incident is covered in the athlete’s forthcoming Netflix documentary, Beckham, and includes his wife Victoria Beckham stating her belief that David was suffering from depression as a result of the public reaction. In a new interview with The Telegraph, Beckham agreed that he was depressed at the time, explaining that he did not feel as though he could acknowledge his mental health struggles openly. “It’s something I would never admit, because I was brought up by a dad who, if I said, ‘Dad, I’m feeling a bit low today,’ he’d have said, ‘Boy, get on with it,’” he said. “But I was [depressed]. I wasn’t eating, I wasn’t sleeping. I was living day to day thinking about what was coming next. People were saying I should leave the country. It was tough.” Beckham went on to say that he didn’t seek therapy at the time – and hasn’t sought it out in the years that followed – mostly due to his East End upbringing. “People have mentioned it, and I think therapy is a good idea – in this day and age you hear more about sports stars going to have therapy, and how much it helps. “But I was brought up in the East End of London. If I’d said to my dad, ‘I need therapy’, he’d have said, ‘What for?!’ So I put my head down and worked harder.” Beckham has been an advocate for mental health for many years. He first spoke out about his struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a condition that causes a person to have obsessive thoughts and/or compulsive behaviours, in 2006. He speaks candidly about the condition in his documentary. In one scene, Beckham explains that he will spend hours tidying after his family go to bed. “I clean it so well, I’m not sure it’s actually appreciated so much by my wife, in all honesty,” he says. “The fact that when everyone’s in bed I then go around, clean the candles, turn the lights on to the right setting, make sure everywhere is tidy. I hate coming down in the morning and there’s cups and plates and, you know, bowls.” Beckham will be available on Netflix from Wednesday 4 October. Read More David Beckham shares secret to successful 24-year marriage to Victoria Beckham David Beckham kisses daughter Harper on the lips after previously defending displays of affection Victoria Beckham refutes claims she ‘stalked’ David Beckham before they met David Beckham shares secret to successful 24-year marriage to Victoria Beckham David Beckham kisses daughter on the lips after defending displays of affection Why are there no good celebrity couples anymore?
2023-09-30 21:28
Dollar Baby: Why Stephen King Sells the Rights to His Work to Up-and-Coming Filmmakers for Just $1
The Dollar Baby contract is Stephen King’s way of helping film students adapt his stories without financial barriers.
2023-09-30 20:23
TSA reminds travelers to not put their pets through airport X-rays
When it comes to packing for a flight, some travelers are checking off an extra furry box on their carry-on checklist, and it's not their sherpa blanket!
2023-09-30 19:59
Woman with two vaginas opens up about what she uses each one for
A woman who has two vaginas has opened up about what she uses each one for. Evelyn Miller discovered she had two wombs, two uteruses and two vaginas when she was 20. She explained the condition has impacted her dating life and has required experimentation to work out what she likes. Now, she has said she uses one side of her vagina for her husband, who also works on OnlyFans and the other for sex work and she has been trolled for doing so. "My right vagina is my favourite so I keep that for my husband," she said. She explained on trolls: “They can say some really nasty comments – judging me as a mother putting me down calling me a sl*t, saying ‘I wonder what it's like to have your husband not interested in you anymore’ and 'I just feel sorry for your kids’.” She also gets criticism from family. Her husband Tom’s sister Emma was sent to discuss the situation on behalf of his parents. “She was initially very reserved about meeting Evelyn, especially knowing what her background was and how we're getting into online work together,” Tom told Love Don't Judge. I Have 2 Uteruses - One For My Husband & One For Work | LOVE DON'T JUDGE www.youtube.com Emma recalled: “When I found out she was an OnlyFans model I was quite shocked. Tom also took a while to tell me and we don't really have secrets between each other." She asked Evelyn what she thought, after learning that Tom’s family “had some pretty negative feelings” about the relationship. Evelyn tried to challenge the idea that she was “sleeping around” as part of her OnlyFans work, explaining that “it’s actually him getting to sleep with all of my girlfriends”. But there was “definitely some judgment from dad's side of the family”, Emma said. Evelyn said he'd be more likely to come around to accepting his son’s choices once he realised that it’s a professional career, and learned quite how much money they can make out of it. She added that working together as they do, they have more time for each other and for their kids. “In the start it felt unnatural, but over time we've learned to ease up and and it's been a lot of fun exploring our relationship in a different way…” Tom added. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-09-30 19:16
Why are online coaches suddenly having a social media boom?
To say the online coach industry is having a moment is an understatement given its continued popularity since the spike in searches during the pandemic. The sudden move to online completely transformed the way we live, from shopping to communicating with friends and family, to the hospitality sector and education. It didn't take long for qualified professionals to re-package their services to meet society's requirements, and while online coaching was by no means a new concept, the unpredictability of daily restrictions forced many to take the leap. This was mostly because they had no other option due to the inaccessibility of in-person meets. Many people believed online coaches would be a temporary novelty – similar to banana bread's 15 minutes of fame – but, they are seemingly here to stay and flourishing in their own right. From spiritual and career guidance to mental health and relationships, every corner of the online coach sphere is seemingly covered. But, arguably one of the most popular remains to be online personal trainers. Kim Weston, 26, remains one of the highly-regarded online coaches on social media, having helped over 500 women achieve their desired results. One client called Kim's coaching "one of the best decisions they ever made" when they fell ill with Covid. "Being able to message you for everything – whether it is to help with a workout, general advice, or even to tell you how I've felt – you've picked me up," they wrote, adding that they "couldn't be happier with the plan." Another gushed about how Kim had helped them gain confidence and "love the skin they're in, which I never thought was possible." Kim's coaching, soon to be rebranded to The New You Movement, catapulted to success when she kickstarted her online journey in April 2020. Currently known as Kim Weston Fit, the rebrand epitomises everything Kim stands for to "create a healthier, happier & better version of yourself." "I want to help women understand that it is possible to have a social life and sustainably achieve their fitness goals," she told indy100. Kim believes the online shift is here to stay, as she suggests "online clients get much better results," which people have learned for themselves. Kim finds it offers more flexibility to all, with a catalogue of workouts, nutrition advice, meal plans and much more all under one app. She also delivers advice and conducts weekly check-ins with all her clients taking part in her one-to-one programme. Kim, who spent years as a personal trainer in the UK before relocating to Dubai, finds that people tend to ask more questions and are more accountable during their online coaching programme. While Kim believes that in-person training is "essential" for gym newbies to learn the ropes and become familiar with gym equipment, she also feels it can sometimes result in the client becoming "reliant on a personal trainer to push them through the session." Not to mention, physical PTs are often much more expensive – especially several times a week. Instead, "online coaching teaches self-motivation, use of equipment and understanding towards fitness by doing it all themselves," she continued. "They are given the necessary tools but have to find the drive in them to do it themselves." Online coaches are seemingly having a social media boom, with the masses taking over social media with savvy content. Kim advises those looking for a coach to seek someone "who has a lifestyle they want to live." "If they want to be a bodybuilder or someone who competes a lot they will get a restrictive and firm trainer," she explains. "If they want to enjoy life and don’t want to give up their social life, they should find someone who is enjoying that whilst training alongside." Online coaching brings a lot of personal responsibility too, as for Kim, it's important that clients feel comfortable talking about anything. She also encourages women to go with female trainers, as they understand "how women’s bodies work," and helps tailor workouts and check-ins around PMS symptoms and cycles. "There will be a lot of things in life that come and can affect your training and you need to be able to open up to your coach about this to ensure they understand why in particular you may not have been able to follow something that week," she says. "It can be difficult to stay motivated 24/7 and if you can tell your trainer when you’re feeling low they can be there to pick you up." Kim continues: "Communication is key and I always tell my clients to treat it like a relationship." Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-09-30 17:17
Man storms out of date after woman behaves 'disrespectfully' but not everyone agrees
A man has questioned whether he was wrong for storming out of a date after he says the woman behaved "disrespectfully" towards him - but people are divided on this matter. In a post to Reddit's "Am I the A**hole?" forum, the 34-year-old man has noted he was on a second date with the 31-year-old woman and "things seemed to be going great" until he left to go to the bathroom. "We went to a local bar and we were kissing, hugging, dancing, holding hands. Next thing you know I get up to go to the bathroom and when I come back she's at another table sitting with a guy and talking to him," he wrote. "We make eye contact, doesn't signal to tell me she needs five minutes and she doesn't wave me over." Time passed and the man had enough of waiting around for his date. "I wait for what felt like 10 minutes, sitting alone at the table. I finally decide to get up and leave. "I had picked her up so I'm not sure how she got home. I text her the next day to tell her it bothered me she started talking to other guys while we were on a date. No reply." To conclude, the man asked Redditors if he wrong for ditching his date after being left to sit on his own, and many people have weighed in with their thoughts. One person said: "What she did was rude. She SAW you, chose to ignore you and leave you alone for 10 minutes while she talked to another man. It wasn't on you to go up and introduce yourself to whomever she decided to chat with. You dodged a bullet." "It was a second date, you didn't lose much anyways. Let the trash take itself out," another person wrote. Someone else added: "NTA great job standing up for yourself by leaving. How rude of her to do that. Even if it was an old friend I knew, I'd leave them right away and simply say I'm on a date, good chat, gtg." While others believed he was in the wrong for his actions and that he jumped to conclusions. One person wrote: "YTA. Like you wrote in your other post and in comments, you ASSUMED the worst (that she was flirting with a stranger) instead of talking to a friend or someone she knew because in your words, your insecurity. "You said you didn’t see any body language that they were flirting." "YTA. [...] As a woman who has actually been in similar situations multiple times, what I do is I walk over and introduce myself to gauge the situation before jumping to conclusions," another person said. Someone else added: "YTA. Why not just walk over? She was probably waiting for you and then found it super weird that you just left. She could have been chatting with a friend or coworker. Even if it’s a random dude, she’s there with you and you said it was going well." Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-09-30 16:26