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  • Timothée’s shoutout for Kylie and other moments from Critics’ Choice Awards

    Timothée’s shoutout for Kylie and other moments from Critics’ Choice Awards

    The 2026 Critics’ Choice Awards ceremony witnessed emotional victories and fashion statements as Hollywood’s elite gathered at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica on Sunday. Hosted by comedian Chelsea Handler, the event celebrated exceptional achievements across film, television, and streaming content as determined by professional critics.

    Timothée Chalamet secured the Best Actor honor for his portrayal of an ambitious table-tennis player in ‘Marty Supreme,’ delivering a notably vulnerable acceptance speech. The 30-year-old actor expressed visible nervousness while acknowledging his collaborators before offering a heartfelt public declaration to partner Kylie Jenner: ‘Thank you to my partner of three years. Thank you for our foundation. I love you. I couldn’t do this without you.’ Cameras captured Jenner’s reciprocal ‘I love you’ response from the audience.

    Irish performer Jessie Buckley claimed Best Actress for her work in the historical drama ‘Hamnet,’ adapted from Maggie O’Farrell’s novel about William Shakespeare’s marriage. Buckley delivered an emotionally charged speech praising director Chloe Zhao and co-star Paul Mescal, whom she described as a ‘giant of the heart.’

    The evening’s major cinematic achievement belonged to Paul Thomas Anderson’s breathless action thriller ‘One Battle After Another,’ which secured both Best Picture and Best Director honors. The film now establishes itself as a formidable Oscars contender alongside other multiple-award winners including ‘Sinners,’ which collected four trophies including Best Casting and Best Ensemble.

    Television categories recognized outstanding limited series performances, with 16-year-old Owen Cooper winning Best Supporting Actor for Netflix’s psychological crime drama ‘Adolescence.’ Canadian actor Seth Rogen brought comedic relief while accepting Best Actor in a Comedy Series for ‘The Studio,’ joking that the award justified canceling his therapy appointments.

    The ceremony’s fashion elements showcased bold sartorial choices, from Chase Infiniti’s sleeveless yellow Louis Vuitton ensemble to Michael B. Jordan’s statement burgundy suit. Teyana Taylor opted for menswear-inspired Saint Laurent tailoring adorned with feathers, while Mia Goth selected a pristine white silk Dior gown for the occasion.

  • Ten found guilty of cyber-bullying Brigitte Macron

    Ten found guilty of cyber-bullying Brigitte Macron

    A Parisian judicial court has delivered a landmark verdict, finding ten individuals guilty of orchestrating a coordinated online harassment campaign against Brigitte Macron, the First Lady of France. The defendants faced charges related to the malicious dissemination of fabricated claims questioning Mrs. Macron’s gender identity and sexuality, alongside perpetrating derogatory commentary concerning the 24-year age difference between her and President Emmanuel Macron.

    The court’s ruling, which awaits full publication, resulted in predominantly suspended prison sentences, with most convicts receiving terms of up to eight months. One defendant received an immediate custodial sentence due to failure to appear in court. This case highlights a persistent conspiracy theory, which has circulated online since President Macron’s initial election in 2017, falsely alleging the First Lady is transgender.

    This domestic legal action coincides with a separate, ongoing defamation lawsuit filed by the Macron family in the United States. The suit targets right-wing media personality Candace Owens, who has repeatedly platformed and endorsed the same baseless theories. The Macrons’ legal complaint asserts that Owens deliberately ignored overwhelming credible evidence refuting the claims, choosing instead to amplify known conspiracy theorists.

    In a bold declaration on her podcast and social media platforms in March 2024, Owens staked her “entire professional reputation” on the veracity of the false allegation. The personal history of the Macron couple is well-documented; they first met when Brigitte was a teacher at Emmanuel’s secondary school. They later married in 2007, when he was 29 and she was 54.

  • Manchester United sack manager Ruben Amorim

    Manchester United sack manager Ruben Amorim

    In a decisive move signaling a new direction, Manchester United has terminated the contract of manager Ruben Amorim, concluding his turbulent 14-month tenure at Old Trafford. The club’s leadership announced the departure on Monday, characterizing it as a reluctant but necessary step to maximize the team’s potential for the remainder of the Premier League season.

    The decision follows a period of escalating tension, which culminated in a fiery post-match press conference after Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Leeds United. An evidently frustrated Amorim used the platform to publicly delineate his role, asserting he was the ‘manager’ and not merely a ‘coach,’ while issuing a pointed directive for the scouting department and sporting director ‘to do their job.’ This outburst highlighted the growing friction between the coaching staff and the club’s hierarchy over transfer strategy and internal operations, a point Amorim had alluded to in the days leading up to the match.

    Amorim’s time in Manchester was a tale of contrasting fortunes. Appointed in November 2024, he successfully guided the squad to the Europa League final in Bilbao last May, though they were ultimately defeated by Tottenham Hotspur. However, this European campaign was starkly overshadowed by a disastrous domestic performance that saw the historic club finish a dismal 15th in the Premier League last season. The current campaign has offered little respite, with the team languishing in sixth place, prompting the board to act in pursuit of a ‘highest possible finish.’

  • Xi meets Taoiseach of Ireland

    Xi meets Taoiseach of Ireland

    China Daily Information Co (CDIC) holds exclusive copyright protection for all content published on its digital platform, according to the site’s published terms. The comprehensive copyright notice specifies that all materials—including textual content, photographic images, and multimedia information—remain the intellectual property of CDIC since 1994.

    The organization explicitly prohibits republication or utilization of any content without obtaining prior written authorization. The notice further emphasizes that any form of unauthorized use constitutes a violation of CDIC’s protected rights.

    Technical recommendations accompany the copyright information, with the site advising visitors to utilize browsers set at 1024*768 resolution or higher for optimal viewing experience. The published notice also references official registration details, including License number 0108263 for multimedia online publishing and Registration Number 130349.

    Additionally, the footer section provides navigation to organizational information pages, including sections detailing company background, advertising opportunities, contact channels, and employment information for both general positions and expatriate opportunities. The notice concludes with social media engagement prompts, encouraging visitors to follow the organization’s digital channels.

  • Themed high-speed train of Harbin Ice-Snow World starts operation in NE China’s Heilongjiang

    Themed high-speed train of Harbin Ice-Snow World starts operation in NE China’s Heilongjiang

    HEILONGJIANG – A specially designed high-speed railway service showcasing the Harbin Ice-Snow World festival commenced operations from Harbin West Station on January 4, 2026. The G1276 bullet train embarked on its inaugural journey to Wuhan, Hubei Province, marking a significant development in regional tourism infrastructure.

    The visually distinctive train features comprehensive thematic decorations throughout both interior and exterior compartments, creating an immersive travel experience that celebrates northeastern China’s renowned winter festival. This initiative represents a strategic fusion of transportation technology and cultural tourism, designed to enhance passenger engagement while promoting regional economic development.

    Performers in ceremonial attire gathered at Harbin West Station for the launch event, commemorating the occasion with photographs alongside the newly deployed train. The vibrant livery and customized interior design elements transform the conveyance into a mobile ambassador for Heilongjiang’s winter tourism offerings.

    Transportation officials indicate this specialized service will operate throughout the winter season, connecting northern and central China while showcasing the cultural significance of the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival. The project demonstrates innovative approaches to boosting regional tourism through transportation infrastructure, potentially establishing a template for other seasonal tourism destinations.

    The themed train service arrives as China continues to expand its high-speed rail network while developing integrated tourism experiences. This initiative specifically supports the growth of the ‘ice and snow economy’ – a strategic priority for northeastern provinces seeking to capitalize on their winter climate and cultural assets.

  • Founder of Indonesian ride-hailing app Gojek stands trial over Chromebooks procurement

    Founder of Indonesian ride-hailing app Gojek stands trial over Chromebooks procurement

    JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesia’s Corruption Court commenced proceedings on Monday against Nadiem Anwar Makarim, the co-founder of ride-hailing giant Gojek and former Education Minister, in a high-profile corruption case centered on a massive school technology procurement project.

    The 41-year-old Harvard graduate, who served as Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology from 2019 to 2024, stands accused of orchestrating a scheme that allegedly caused significant state losses through the controversial purchase of Google Chromebooks for educational institutions. The investigation, led by Jakarta’s Attorney General’s Office, culminated in Makarim’s arrest on September 7th amid allegations of a $125 billion corruption scandal linked to the initiative.

    The procurement formed part of the government’s ambitious ‘digitalization of schools’ policy, designed to enhance digital infrastructure in remote educational facilities. However, prosecutors contend that Makarim deliberately favored Google’s Chromebook technology despite internal ministry research teams rejecting the model due to its incompatibility with regions lacking reliable internet connectivity.

    According to the indictment, Makarim manipulated the nationwide procurement process during 2020-2021 to serve personal business interests rather than educational needs. Prosecutors allege he pressured Google to invest approximately $787 million in PT Aplikasi Karya Anak Bangsa (PT AKAB), Gojek’s parent company, while personally receiving 809 billion rupiah ($48.2 million) in connection with the program.

    Lead prosecutor Muhammad Fadli Paramajeng told the three-judge panel that the procurement disregarded standard pricing benchmarks and technical requirements, particularly for under-resourced regions. The acquisition of over 1.2 million Chromebooks allegedly aimed to strengthen Google’s dominance in Indonesia’s education technology ecosystem while facilitating substantial investments in Makarim’s former company.

    The prosecution argues that Makarim’s 2019 resignation from PT AKAB and Gojek constituted ‘strategic concealment’ to mask conflicts of interest, while he maintained indirect control through appointed associates. Makarim faces potential life imprisonment under Indonesia’s 2001 Corruption Law for causing state losses and misusing public funds.

    Makarim has vigorously denied all allegations, asserting through his defense team that he never personally received funds from the Chromebook procurement. His attorneys contend that Google’s investment predated his ministerial tenure and represented routine corporate activity unrelated to the laptop agreement. They further note that Makarim divested from PT AKAB upon taking office, experienced a more than 50% wealth reduction during his term, and delegated procurement decisions to technical teams rather than exercising ministerial authority.

    Defense lawyer Ari Yusuf Amir characterized the indictment as ‘unclear, inaccurate and incomplete,’ arguing it improperly conflated Makarim’s policy-making role with operational decisions made by other officials. Three additional individuals—two former education ministry officials and a technology consultant—face related charges, while another staff member remains at large.

  • Yemen govt forces retake Hadramout

    Yemen govt forces retake Hadramout

    In a significant military development, Yemen’s internationally recognized government has announced the complete recapture of the oil-rich Hadramout province following a decisive Saudi-backed operation against separatist forces. The offensive, which culminated on Saturday, successfully displaced fighters aligned with the Southern Transitional Council (STC) from key strategic positions across the southeastern region.

    According to statements from Rashad al-Alimi, head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, government security forces have been directed to secure all state institutions and protect public and private property throughout the reclaimed territory. The state-run Saba news agency confirmed that administration troops have assumed control over all military and security installations within the province.

    The provincial capital Mukalla, a critical port city, fell under government control after STC fighters withdrew under sustained aerial bombardment from Saudi warplanes. Military officials reported that troops entered the city without major resistance and immediately began securing government facilities. However, local residents described scenes of chaos and looting at several installations, including Al Rayyan airport, involving both civilians and newly arrived pro-government tribal fighters.

    Government forces also reclaimed Seiyun, Hadramout’s second-largest city, approximately one month after its capture by STC forces. Military sources indicated that separatist troops withdrew from Seiyun airport and other key institutions, enabling government forces to establish full control.

    In a parallel development, STC forces reportedly withdrew from government institutions in the eastern province of Al-Mahrah without engaging in combat. The Saba agency reported that STC-affiliated units evacuated Ghaydah airport and the presidential palace in the provincial capital, with Governor Al-Alimi tasking local authorities with restoring order and taking control of military camps.

    The STC responded to these developments by welcoming Saudi Arabia’s invitation to sponsor a southern dialogue conference, characterizing the initiative as a practical step toward addressing longstanding southern aspirations. The group expressed optimism that this could facilitate “serious dialogue” regarding the future of southern Yemen.

    The recent clashes erupted following a government offensive launched on Friday, with hundreds of Saudi-backed troops advancing toward Hadramout to expel STC forces and reassert central government authority. Local sources reported that intensified Saudi airstrikes in support of the operation resulted in more than 20 fatalities and dozens of injuries.

    This military confrontation occurred amid the STC’s announcement of a two-year transitional period to administer southern Yemen, to be followed by a referendum on independence. Tensions between the government and the separatist group escalated significantly last month when STC forces seized substantial territory in Hadramout and Al-Mahrah—regions Saudi Arabia considers strategically vital due to their proximity to its border and concentration of Yemen’s remaining energy resources.

    Yemen’s complex civil war, ongoing since 2014 when Houthi forces captured the capital Sanaa, has involved multiple factions with competing interests. The UAE-backed STC, formed in 2017 to advocate for southern independence, had nominally joined the Saudi-led coalition and the Presidential Leadership Council in 2022 but maintained persistent disagreements with the central government regarding power-sharing arrangements and control over territory and resources.

  • Research establishes brain normative references for Chinese population

    Research establishes brain normative references for Chinese population

    A groundbreaking study conducted by Chinese researchers has successfully established comprehensive normative references for brain structure across the entire lifespan of the Chinese population, marking a significant advancement in neurological diagnostics. The research, led by Professor Liu Ya’ou from the Department of Radiology at Beijing Tiantan Hospital, addresses critical gaps in neurological healthcare specific to Chinese patients.

    The research initiative emerged from two fundamental challenges in China’s neurological diagnostics landscape. First, existing brain normative standards predominantly derive from Western populations, creating potential inaccuracies when applied to Chinese patients due to distinct genetic backgrounds and environmental factors. Second, the medical community lacked sufficient data to differentiate between normal aging processes and pathological neurological changes, often resulting in delayed diagnoses and missed intervention opportunities.

    To overcome these limitations, the collaborative team from Beijing Tiantan Hospital and Beijing Normal University analyzed an extensive dataset comprising magnetic resonance imaging scans from 24,061 healthy Chinese individuals and 3,932 patients with neurological disorders. Their comprehensive analysis established standardized reference ranges for 228 critical structural indicators specifically tailored to the Chinese population.

    Published in the prestigious international journal Nature Neuroscience, the findings demonstrate how individual brain deviation scores calculated from these normative references can rapidly quantify structural abnormalities and facilitate precise disease identification. The research reveals distinct neurological patterns: Alzheimer’s disease manifests through widespread deviations across multiple brain structures, Parkinson’s disease primarily affects deep gray matter, while multiple sclerosis predominantly involves white matter and thalamus volume alterations.

    This innovative framework, currently undergoing clinical pilot testing at Beijing Tiantan Hospital, enables earlier screening and diagnosis of neurological disorders while supporting more targeted treatment strategies. The research team is expanding collaborations with medical imaging corporations to integrate multi-modal imaging, blood biomarkers, and genetic testing data, further advancing precision medicine approaches for brain health and major neurological conditions.

  • Holocaust survivor Eva Schloss, stepsister of Anne Frank, dies at 96

    Holocaust survivor Eva Schloss, stepsister of Anne Frank, dies at 96

    Eva Schloss, a prominent Auschwitz survivor who became the stepsister of diarist Anne Frank and dedicated her life to Holocaust education, has passed away at age 96. The Anne Frank Trust UK, where she served as honorary president, confirmed her death in London on Saturday.

    Born Eva Geiringer in Vienna in 1929, Schloss fled with her family to Amsterdam following Nazi Germany’s annexation of Austria. There she formed a friendship with Anne Frank, another Jewish girl whose diary would later become one of history’s most significant Holocaust documents.

    Like the Frank family, Schloss’s family spent two years in hiding after the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands before being betrayed, arrested, and transported to Auschwitz. While Schloss and her mother Fritzi survived until the camp’s liberation by Soviet forces in 1945, her father Erich and brother Heinz perished in the death camp.

    Following the war, Schloss relocated to Britain, marrying German Jewish refugee Zvi Schloss and establishing her life in London. In a poignant post-war connection, her mother married Otto Frank in 1953, making Eva the stepsister of the legendary diarist Anne Frank, who had died of typhus in Bergen-Belsen at age 15.

    For decades, Schloss remained silent about her traumatic experiences, describing herself as withdrawn and emotionally disconnected due to wartime trauma. Her transformation began in 1986 when she addressed an Anne Frank exhibition opening in London, sparking a lifelong mission to educate generations about Nazi atrocities.

    Schloss became an indefatigable advocate, speaking in schools, prisons, and international conferences while authoring several books including ‘Eva’s Story: A Survivor’s Tale by the Stepsister of Anne Frank.’ Her advocacy continued well into her nineties, including a 2019 meeting with California teenagers photographed making Nazi salutes and a 2020 campaign urging Facebook to remove Holocaust-denial content.

    King Charles III expressed profound admiration, stating he felt ‘privileged and proud’ to have known Schloss and praising her dedication to ‘overcoming hatred and prejudice through courage, understanding and resilience.’

    In her final public message earlier this year, Schloss emphasized: ‘We must never forget the terrible consequences of treating people as ‘other.’ We need to respect everybody’s races and religions and live together with our differences. The only way to achieve this is through education.’

    Her family remembered her as ‘a remarkable woman: an Auschwitz survivor, a devoted Holocaust educator, tireless in her work for remembrance, understanding and peace.’ Schloss is survived by three daughters, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

  • Arrest after man in his 60s dies in suspected assault

    Arrest after man in his 60s dies in suspected assault

    A homicide investigation is underway in County Donegal following the death of a man in his 60s during an apparent assault. The incident occurred in a residential property near Ardara in the early hours of Monday morning.

    Irish law enforcement, An Garda Síochána, responded to an emergency call at approximately 3:50 AM local time. Upon arrival at the scene, medical personnel pronounced the victim deceased. The location has been secured for forensic analysis by the Garda Technical Bureau, with the State Pathologist’s office notified to determine the exact cause of death.

    In a significant development, police have taken a man in his 30s into custody following his arrest at a separate location. The suspect is currently detained at a County Donegal Garda station for questioning regarding the fatal incident.

    Law enforcement authorities have established a dedicated incident room at Ballyshannon Garda Station to coordinate the investigation. A senior investigating officer has been appointed to lead the case, demonstrating the seriousness with which authorities are treating this matter.

    The human impact of this tragedy is being addressed through the assignment of a family liaison officer to support the deceased’s relatives during this difficult time. Investigators are appealing to the public for any information that might assist their inquiry into this devastating event.