Presenters Amanda Holden and Alan Carr led the stars arriving at the 2024 Royal Variety Performance, hours after the Queen pulled out due to lingering symptoms from a chest infection. The King is scheduled to attend the show at London’s Royal Albert Hall on Friday which will see Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish present a musical number from their new show The Devil Wears Prada – based on the 2006 Oscar-nominated film. Cast members Vanessa Williams, who plays Miranda Priestly, and Matt Henry, who stars as art director Nigel, were among those posing on the red carpet ahead of the performance which showcases an original score by Sir Elton. The variety show will also see debuts from British singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor with her hit track Murder On The Dancefloor while Eurovision winner Nemo is also featured on the bill. Also posing on the carpet were US magicians and comedy duo Penn and Teller, whose performance marks their 50th anniversary. Comedy will come from Ted Lasso star Ellie Taylor, writer and comic Scott Bennett, Scottish comedian Larry Dean and political comic Matt Forde – who posed on the red carpet with a crutch after undergoing surgery for cancer on his spine. Among the arrivals was TV presenter Lorraine Kelly, who will make an appearance in this year’s show with her Change And Check Choir led by Wet Wet Wet singer Marti Pellow. The choir, made up of women from across the UK who detected their breast cancer through Kelly’s campaign, will perform Love Is All Around, which is being re-released to raise awareness of breast cancer early detection. It comes hours after Camilla insisted the “show must go on” after pulling out of attending the performance on Friday evening as doctors advised that she should prioritise rest. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “Following a recent chest infection, the Queen continues to experience some lingering post-viral symptoms, as a result of which doctors have advised that, after a busy week of engagements, Her Majesty should prioritise sufficient rest. “With great regret, she has therefore withdrawn from attendance at tonight’s Royal Variety Performance. His Majesty will attend as planned.” A royal source said the Queen was “naturally disappointed to miss the evening’s entertainments and sends her sincere apologies to all those involved, but is a great believer that ‘the show must go on'”. “She hopes to be back to full strength and regular public duties very soon,” the source added. The Royal Variety Performance will air on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player in December. Money raised from the show will go to help people from the world of entertainment in need of care and assistance, with the Royal Variety Charity launching an initiative to help those with mental health issues this year.
Not in basketball, though. Wemby was playing chess. Before the San Antonio Spurs left New York for a flight to Minnesota, Wembanyama put out the call on social media: “Who wants to meet me at the SW corner of Washington Square park to play chess? Im there,” Wembanyama wrote. It was 9:36 a.m. People began showing up almost immediately. Washington Square Park is a known spot for chess in New York — Bobby Fischer among others have famously played there, and it's been a spot used for multiple movie scenes featuring the game. Wembanyama was there for an hour in the rain, from about 10-11 a.m. He played four games, winning two and losing two before departing to catch the Spurs' flight. Wembanyama had been trying to get somewhere to play chess for the bulk of the team's time in New York — the Spurs played the Knicks on Christmas and won at Brooklyn on Friday night. The schedule never aligned, until Saturday morning. And even with bad weather, he bundled up to make it happen. He posed for photos with a couple of dozen people who showed up, braving a morning of cold rain to play chess with one of the NBA's biggest stars. “We need an NBA players only Chess tournament, proceeds go to the charity of choice of the winner,” he wrote on social media after his chess trip was over. Wembanyama is averaging 25.2 points and 10.1 rebounds this season, his second in the NBA after winning rookie of the year last season. AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBAB.C.'s Finance Minister Brenda Bailey Wednesday (Nov. 20) said British Columbia is "very interested in remaining competitive" when it comes to hosting film productions. Bailey made these comments following meetings with executives from Warner Bros Entertainment Inc and Netflix and before meetings with Hallmark. Bailey is part of a B.C. delegation that includes industry figures represented by Screen BC speaking for the provincial motion picture industry, as well as relevant political leaders. Joining Bailey is B.C.'s Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport Spencer Chandra Herbert (Vancouver-West End) and Parliamentary Secretary for Arts and Film Nina Krieger (Victoria-Swan Lake) -- all of them sworn in Monday. Bailey said the trip to California is not so much an elevator pitch to Hollywood executives about the benefits of filming in British Columbia, but ensuring that B.C.'s strong relationship with established partners continues. It comes as the provincial film industry is trying to recover from labour disputes in the film industry and a general pull-back in productions for economic reasons. The B.C. NDP campaigned on increasing the production services tax credit to 36 per cent from 28 per cent that B.C. offers to global film and TV production to help support an increasingly important industry. Premier David Eby reiterated that promise in late October after California had announced changes to its financial support for the film industry centred in Los Angeles, but long globalized. California Governor Gavin Newsom specifically proposed expanding that state's film and television credit program to US$750 million from US$330. Responding to Newsom's announcement, Eby said his government would work with the provincial film industry. "We know that if you are competitive, we can bring in the big productions," he said. "(We) are not going to be able to outbid the lowest common denominator bidders in the United States, but if we are competitive, combined with the amazing crews that we have, we can deliver some of the biggest productions available." Bailey, who has had a history of working with the film industry in her previous role as Minister for Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation, acknowledged California's financial commitment. But money night not be everything, she added. "It's important to note that it is not a strict competition on tax credits," she said. "There are many factors that go into placing a product (in a specific location)." Other jurisdictions outside of California have also recognized the economic potential of the film industry in courting productions of various sorts. They include Ireland, whose government has extended its low-tax approach in fields such as high technology and finance to film. So how much does this aspect concern Bailey? "We're really down here talking to studio heads about what the opportunities are to work together," she said. "We know that a decision to place a major project in British Columbia has just such incredibly positive outcomes for us and we are taking these meetings to have discussions about those future opportunities," she said. One such future opportunity could be developing tourism around film locations, she added, pointing to the community of fans that has sprung up around the show The Last of Us, which has filmed in British Columbia including Nanaimo as well as Alberta. Bailey's visit comes as a new U.S. administration said to be generally hostile toward international ties and trade prepares to take office. In other words, the political interests of California — historically a 'blue state' — and those of incoming U.S. president Donald Trump may find themselves in alignment, with B.C.'s film industry thus facing strong political headwinds. "It's interesting, that particular topic (protectionism) hasn't come up in the meetings that we have taken today," Bailey said. "The topics have been more around competitiveness and talent and opportunities in the future." Bailey's trip to California has not gone unnoticed. Vancouver-based journalist Bob Mackin called it the "(first) junket of the new" Eby cabinet on social media. So what's Bailey's reaction? "I think the point of this trip is to really communicate to (Hollywood) executives that British Columbia is very interested in their business....we are talking about 47,500 jobs," she said. "So yes, I'm very interested in defending these jobs and keeping these jobs in British Columbia." Bailey said the delegation arrived late Tuesday evening and is scheduled to return Thursday morning. "So it's a fast and important trip."
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THE Ministry of Youth Development and Sports recently organised a series of exciting road races to assess the resilience and skills of young athletes in a mini marathon format. Over the course of one week, the athletes engaged in fun-filled competitions, showcasing friendly rivalry while navigating challenging routes. Here are some of the key results from the Inter-Secondary School’s Road Race Competitions 2024: 1st Place – Isabella Emilien – Saint Lucia Sports Academy (SLSA) 2nd Place – Keihanna St. Juste – Micoud Secondary School (MSS) 3rd Place – Alana Alex – Vieux Fort Comprehensive Secondary School (VFCSS) 4th Place – Talia Taylor – Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC) 1st Place – Jousha Lubin – SALCC 2nd Place – Darvin Joseph – MSS 3rd Place – Ryhime Montoute – MSS 4th Place – Jershawn Mitchel – SLSA 1st Place – Kerrina Monero – VFCSS 2nd Place – Mc Kaylla Olivier – SALCC 3rd Place – Abigail Herman – Saint Joseph’s Convent (SJC) 4th Place – Sherelle Etienne – SLSA 1st Place – Benique Mann – Anse Ger – Institute School of Innovation and Technology 2nd Place – Alex Devaux – Saint Mary’s College SMC) 3rd Place – Omarion Edwin – SMC 4th Place – Tafari Martin – MSS 1st Place – Sheldon Willie – SLSA 2nd Place – Joshua Charles – SMC 3rd Place – Elias Auguste – Anse Ger – Institute School of Innovation and Technology 4th Place – Keshawn Olice – MSS 1st Place – Maiya Landers – VFCSS 2nd Place – Angelle Joseph – Clendon Mason Memorial Secondary School 3rd Place – Seraphine Williams – Beanefield Comprehensive Secondary School 4th Place – Aria Andrew – SLSA 1st Place – Aniya George – SJC 2nd Place – Kayleigh Landers – VFCSS 3rd Place – Najma Melchoir – SJC 4th Place – Aria Anotole – Castries Comprehensive Secondary School (CCSS) 1st Place – Tai Joseph – SLSA 2nd Place – Diallo Albert – SMC 3rd Place – Jaylan Mc Donald – SMC 4th Place – Donavan Pascal – Soufriere Comprehensive Secondary School
ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — Two former premiers of Newfoundland and Labrador say a draft energy agreement signed Thursday with Quebec shattered a political standoff that leaders had been trying to end for decades. Brian Tobin, a Liberal premier from 1996 to 2000, said the shift in political alignment will be good for the provinces, and for the entire country. “I think it is a long-awaited breaking of a gridlock in the relationship between Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec,” he said in an interview Friday. “I think that this is really important.” The tensions stem from a contract signed by the two provinces in 1969, which allowed Quebec to buy hydroelectric power from the Churchill Falls plant in Labrador for just 0.2 cents per kilowatt hour. The contract was set to expire in 2041, and there was no allowance for the price to change with the market. On Thursday, Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal Premier Andrew Furey literally tore up a copy of that contract as he sat beside Quebec Premier François Legault in St. John’s, N.L. They inked a new agreement in principle stipulating that Quebec will pay more, beginning with one cent per kilowatt hour in 2025, and increasing in subsequent years. The province will also shell out an average of $1 billion a year until 2041, with increases to follow, and pay a $3.5-billion fee to partner on new energy projects in the Churchill River. Ultimately, Quebec will pay an average of 5.9 cents per kilowatt hour for energy from all Labrador sources over the 50-year contract. The deal comes with stipulations that prices can change along with the market, officials said Thursday. Tobin dismissed questions about whether one cent per kilowatt hour in the first year was enough of an improvement. He pointed to Newfoundland and Labrador’s past unsuccessful attempts to challenge the 1969 deal in court, including in the Supreme Court of Canada. Under those rulings, Quebec has a legal right to continue paying next to nothing for Churchill Falls energy until 2041, Tobin said. Instead, after decades of bickering, they’ve chosen to turn the page. “One of the things that’s important in this agreement is that it was not done with Newfoundland and Labrador’s back to the wall,” he said. “Many other premiers, myself included, tried to address this issue. In my case, there was still 42 or 43 years left in the agreement. So not much incentive for Quebec to become too creative in trying to address our needs.” But Quebec needs energy, and new power projects take at least 10 years to build, so it was time for the province to act, he said. Former Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal premier Roger Grimes was also impressed by the end of the deal that has haunted the province since it was signed in 1969. “Every premier since then wished that they had found a partner in Quebec, like Premier Legault, who was willing to give some redress for (Churchill Falls),” said Grimes, who governed from 2001 to 2003. “And Premier Furey did. And thank God that he seized the moment.” The 1969 contract isn’t the only hydroelectric black eye in Newfoundland and Labrador’s past. The province is still deep in debt because of the Muskrat Falls development, which is also on the Churchill River. The project was approved in 2012 with a price tag of about $7.4 billion, but by the time it was finally commissioned last year after years of delay, the price had nearly doubled. Grimes said the agreement signed Thursday not only rights the wrongs of 1969, but it reflects lessons learned from Muskrat Falls. Under the deal, Quebec will manage the construction of the two new projects and it will absorb all cost overruns while Newfoundland and Labrador will be the majority owner, he said. The Progressive Conservative government under Danny Williams pushed for Muskrat Falls, and Grimes believes Williams was driven by an anger toward Quebec and a need to prove that Newfoundland and Labrador didn’t need them. Now, after Thursday’s agreement, the two provinces are willing partners, in an arrangement that benefits them both, he said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 13, 2024. Sarah Smellie, The Canadian Press
African Union chairperson candidates advocate for permanent UN Security Council seatsTop 10 Best Companies Offering Intellectual Property Services in India 2025(The Center Square) – Of the many costly security missteps uncovered at the rally site in Butler, Pa. where a would-be assassin nearly killed Donald Trump, one deterrent may have been relatively affordable. Rep. Pat Fallon said the U.S. Secret Service could have fashioned a rudimentary fence made of caution tape, signs, posts and stakes around the AGR building on July 13 for roughly $410. The agency’s decision to unman the outside of the building and exclude it from an overall security perimeter around the Butler Farm Show Grounds that day has drawn much criticism from lawmakers on the task force assembled to investigate both attempts on Trump’s life, the second occurring at a Mar-a-Lago golf course in September. During a heated seven-minute exchange with Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe Jr., the Republican congressman from Texas said the agency’s $2 billion funding increase seemed far in excess of what it would have cost to have functioning drones, more coordinated radio communications, agents on a nearby water tower and security deterrents available in Butler. “What sticks in our craw is when we report to our constituents, we have to say, ‘Hey, this federal agency failed epically, and then they wanted to almost double their budget,’” Fallon said. The conversation devolved into a shouting match after Fallon then accused Rowe of showing up at a 9/11 memorial ceremony in New York City for political purposes only. Rep. Pat Fallon, of Texas, questions Secret Service Acting Director Ronald Rowe Jr. during Congressional task force hearing on the attempted assassination of President-elect Donald Trump in Butler, Pa.