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THE shock departure of heart-throb dancer Giovanni Pernice left Strictly Come Dancing with a vacancy for a “smouldering womanising hunk” in urgent need of filling. But luckily, Beeb producers catering to women of a certain age did not have to travel to Italy to find a replacement — they just had a short drive down the A13 to Essex. 6 Pete Wicks has filled a vacancy for a 'smouldering womanising hunk' that was in urgent need of filling Credit: PA 6 Pete with Strictly pro Jowita Przystał Credit: BBC 6 Heart-throb dancer Giovanni Pernice left Strictly Come Dancing Credit: Getty Pete Wicks, the heavily-tattooed former bad boy of reality show The Only Way Is Essex, has been billed “the new Giovanni” by Strictly bosses — and it is not because of his dance moves. Indeed, Gio 2.0 Pete, who at 36 is just two years older than his counterpart, has become a huge hit with middle-aged female viewers. He is the new “bit of rough” they can gawp at on a Saturday night — and he has certainly been up for the task. From gyrating in tight pink PVC trousers to thrusting his schlong in a George Of The Jungle leopard-print outfit and choosing risqué songs, like Right Said Fred’s I’m Too Sexy, Pete has been hamming it up. Read more on Pete Wicks PRIVATE DANCE Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystal together after Maura Higgin' 'single' comment brutal Strictly Jowita reveals ban she’s put Pete Wicks on as they fuel romance rumours A show insider said: “Strictly have turned Pete into the new Giovanni, there’s no doubt about that. It’s been quite deliberate. “Women are swooning over him and it’s keeping him in the competition, week after week. “It wouldn’t be wrong to say many viewers had no idea who Pete was before this series. They certainly do now. “With their matching brooding looks, tanned, rugged features , chiselled physiques and muscles on display, Pete has been a like-for-like swap for Gio. Most read in News TV BEACH BABE Jean Johansson flaunts incredible toned figure & endless legs on Barbados beach HOST'S PAIN BBC's Glenn Campbell makes shock admission as he gives tumour battle update COMIC'S CASTLE Still Game star takes £150,000 hit to offload luxury £4m Scots castle chased away Bradley Walsh brands The Chase star 'ridiculous' in shock on-screen outburst “He has even amassed an entirely new fanbase. Plus there are no dark tales of bad behaviour or bullying.” Strictly bosses, who consist of mostly women, have been clever in moulding Pete into Giovanni and they share many parallels — even when it comes to their romances. Strictly in new fix row as show legend reveals bosses ‘have a way of getting rid of stars’ - and they’ve tried it with Pete Wicks Pete currently has an on-off relationship with Irish Love Island beauty Maura Higgins, a contestant on the new series of I’m A Celebrity , who also happens to be Gio’s ex after the pair dated in 2021. He also had a relationship with former Towie co-star Jess Wright, who Giovanni dated in 2018. Plus, Pete is growing increasingly close to his current dance partner Jowita Przystal , 30, who was linked to Gio last year. Of course, when Giovanni stepped down earlier this year — amid the bullying investigation into his treatment of former dance partner and actress Amanda Abbington , 50 — the biggest outcries came from his army of middle-aged female fans. 6 Pete and Jowita take to the dancefloor Credit: BBC 6 Pete in leopard print, as an insider reveals he's 'up for anything' Credit: BBC 6 Pete’s outfits have certainly been the most 'eye-catching' out of all the male stars Credit: PA Amanda became the target of trolls and even received death threats. As with Giovanni in previous series, Pete’s outfits have certainly been the most eye-catching out of all the male stars’. Namely, the barely-there leopard-print outfit for his samba routine in Movie Week, which made a lasting impression on judge Craig Revel Horwood, and last weekend’s Cha Cha costume, featuring the tightest (hot pink) PVC trousers the dance series has ever seen. He even appealed to acid-tongued Craig with a fake tattoo of the judge’s face on his body and proudly flashing his abs to the cameras. Those who know Pete well will appreciate he has stepped out of his comfort zone to embrace his risqué fashion choices, which has pleased show bosses. The insider added: “Pete made it clear he’s up for anything. He would never have dreamed of wearing outfits such as these previously Pete insider “He knows he’s not the best dancer, but is well aware voters appreciate a trier. “Bosses have deliberately assigned Pete as this year’s hunk in Giovanni’s absence and want to dress him as sexy as possible. “He would never have dreamed of wearing outfits such as these previously, but Pete’s just got on with it — no questions asked. “Albeit he does joke he’s been made to look outrageous at times, but that’s just part of his ‘moody’ character. “He knows what he’s doing.” Pete’s signing to Strictly came as a surprise to those in the industry. He has only ever been associated with reality shows, which is usually a Strictly no-no, and has no real previous connection to the BBC. But his likeness to the controversial Italian and willingness to step out of his comfort zone secured his place on the show. Newfound love And his progression to the latter stages of the competition should not come as a surprise to those who follow Pete outside of Strictly. His association with I’m A Celebrity 2023 winner Sam Thompson, who he met on E4 show Celebs Go Dating, has been a career booster of epic proportions. The best friends’ Staying Relevant podcast is so popular that they sold out a UK tour, and their TikTok videos bag millions of viewers. And it is their vocal young fanbase, who voted in their droves to secure Sam’s jungle win, coupled with Pete’s newfound love from middle-aged Strictly fans, which has kept him away from the dreaded dance-off. Pete’s chemistry with his dance partner Jowita is also a contributing factor to their success. The pair have sparked romance rumours, with one source saying: “Pete loves Jowita, he has the utmost respect for her.” Whether it is enough to secure him a spot in the final remains to be seen, but he has certainly made his mark on the hearts of millions. BLIND comedian Chris McCausland has revealed he calls pro partner Dianne Buswell “Nicole Kidman”. Read more on the Scottish Sun FESTIVE FIZZ Coca-Cola Christmas truck in Scotland: Dates, locations & all you need to know AND RELAX Scots seaside hotel with outdoor hot tub and firepit named UK's top spa resort The 47-year-old said that he and Australian dancer Dianne, 35, are always swamped by fans when they are seen in public, leading him to compare the experience to socialising with another famous Aussie red-head – Hollywood actress Nicole, 57. Speaking on the Graham Norton Show about popping out with Dianne for lunch, he said: “It has got to the point that, for two months, I have been saying, ‘Come on Nicole, let’s go get some spaghetti bolognese’.” Tight pants a stretch, Jo MONTELL Douglas has joked that pro partner Johannes Radebe’s bum is too big for PVC trousers like the ones worn by Pete Wicks. The 38-year-old, aka Fire on BBC’s Gladiators, said she would love to see him in skin-tight bottoms like the pink ones fans believe helped save Pete on last week’s show. It came after Montell and Johannes, 37, inset, ended up in the dance-off while Pete and Jowita Przystal sailed through as fans swooned over his revealing strides. Asked if she and Johannes need a pair of pink pants to win extra votes, Montell said: “They’re not going to fit Johannes’s behind. But we all want to see it though, right? “We would pay to see that! I would, I would just stand there and watch.” Meanwhile, the former Team GB athlete said she has dropped two dress sizes training for up to ten hours a day. She added: “I’m shredded and I’m 38 years old. I haven’t looked like this since I was 20, before my first Olympic Games. “I’ve dropped two dress sizes. I’ve lost a stone – it’s wild. It’s changed my whole physique. “Even the Gladiators have mentioned it and said, ‘Oh, my gosh, you look insane’. “Legend was like, ‘Mate, you look shredded’. It’s a different body type. But it’s been nice because I still feel really strong. “Usually, if you would lose that muscle tone and mass as a Gladiator, you would feel it. But I still feel like I could take someone on right now. “I will be going back to the gym after Strictly.”Waterloo, Ont.-based BlackBerry has unloaded its Cylance cybersecurity business in a deal with Arctic Wolf. Cylance became a signature part of BlackBerry’s efforts to rebrand itself in the cybersecurity space after buying the company six years ago in a US$1.4-billion deal. On Monday, Arctic Wolf acquired Cylance, which uses artificial intelligence to help users detect malware and prevent cyberattacks, for just $US160 million. The deal also includes about 5.5 million common shares of Arctic Wolf, a privately-held American security software and services company. “[BlackBerry] is selling it at a significant reduction from what they originally paid for it,” said cybersecurity tech analyst Ritesh Kotak. “The fact that they’re actually getting rid of it from their portfolio and is giving it to another organization makes me think, what is the future of BlackBerry?” CTV News reached out to BlackBerry to ask that exact question, as well as how the $US160 million valuation was determined and whether any jobs will be lost because of the Cylance sale. Those questions were not answered directly, but a spokesperson for BlackBerry said they are “incredibly pleased” with the outcome. As for Arctic Wolf, the sale is an opportunity to build their growing cybersecurity toolbelt. “We’re going to leverage the technology from BlackBerry [and] Cylance into the technology we already have. That allows us to detect threats faster and more efficiently,” said Dan Deeth, the senior director of communications for Arctic Wolf. While the company is headquartered south of the border, Arctic Wolf’s first office was actually in the Region of Waterloo and the Cylance acquisition will have a local benefit. “We have almost 800 employees working within the region and, probably within the next 12 to 18 months, we’ll have over 1,000,” said Deeth. The move will also help in retaining local tech talent. Several Arctic Wolf employees previously worked at BlackBerry or the Waterloo-based Sandvine, prior to accusations the company supplied technology that was used to inject spyware into the devices of government critics in Egypt. “We’ve seen this time and time again,” Kotak said. “How do we retain Canadian talent, Canadian IP without shipping it across the border and across the world? Canada is known for having some of the best AI, or some of the best cybersecurity professionals, in the world.” That’s exactly what Arctic Wolf plans to capitalize on – using local minds and tech with local roots to stay one step ahead of threat actors across a space that knows no boundaries.
The leaders of the ruling NDA alliance are scheduled to meet at BJP president JP Nadda's residence on Wednesday to attend the prayer programme to commemorate former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's birth centenary year. ET Year-end Special Reads Top 10 equity mutual funds of the year. Do you have any? How India flexed its global power muscles in 2024 2024 was the year India became the talk of America The BJP, like previous years, has requested all its NDA allies to attend the prayer programme. The BJP has been holding prayer meetings on the birth anniversary of its stalwart leader every year. The meeting at Nadda's residence is being termed as a regular feature of the NDA allies but it assumes importance as it is happening at a time when the Opposition is trying to corner the BJP on Union home minister Amit Shah's remarks on BR Ambedkar. Sources in NDA said the BJP may also discuss several other issues, including future course of action on two crucial draft legislations - Waqf Amendment Bill and the Constitution Amendment Bill for 'One Nation, One Election'. Sources in the BJP said these meetings are a regular feature to keep strengthening the coordination among the allies and also that the allies should be on the same page on crucial political issues. Entrepreneurship Building Your Winning Startup Team: Key Strategies for Success By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Web Development Intermediate Java Mastery: Method, Collections, and Beyond By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Pam Moore By - Pam Moore, Digital Transformation and Social Media Expert View Program Office Productivity Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By - Study At Home, Quality Education Anytime, Anywhere View Program Web Development A Comprehensive ASP.NET Core MVC 6 Project Guide for 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Entrepreneurship Boosting Startup Revenue with 6 AI-Powered Sales Automation Techniques By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Entrepreneurship Validating Your Startup Idea: Steps to Ensure Market Fit By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Astrology Vastu Shastra Course By - Sachenkumar Rai, Vastu Shashtri View Program Web Development Advanced C++ Mastery: OOPs and Template Techniques By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Data Analysis Animated Visualizations with Flourish Studio: Beginner to Pro By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Marketing Performance Marketing for eCommerce Brands By - Zafer Mukeri, Founder- Inara Marketers View Program Design Microsoft Designer Guide: The Ultimate AI Design Tool By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Generative AI for Dynamic Java Web Applications with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Basics of Generative AI: Unveiling Tomorrows Innovations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Data Science SQL Server Bootcamp 2024: Transform from Beginner to Pro By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass By - CA Himanshu Jain, Ex McKinsey, Moody's, and PwC, Co - founder, The WallStreet School View Program Data Analysis Learn Power BI with Microsoft Fabric: Complete Course By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Finance Crypto & NFT Mastery: From Basics to Advanced By - CA Raj K Agrawal, Chartered Accountant View Program Finance A2Z Of Finance: Finance Beginner Course By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Data Science MySQL for Beginners: Learn Data Science and Analytics Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI for Everyone: Understanding and Applying the Basics on Artificial Intelligence By - Ritesh Vajariya, Generative AI Expert View Program TDP supremo and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, a crucial constituent of NDA, has reached the national capital and would attend the NDA meeting on Wednesday. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
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The government will require banks and mobile phone network operators to take more responsibility for preventing online scams. Deputy Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong said on Thursday that an executive decree will be announced in the Royal Gazette, requiring banks and mobile phone network operators to take more care when it comes to helping prevent their customers from losing money to online scammers. "After the New Year, we expect to see, for instance, mobile phone messages suspected to contain clickbait to be promptly removed by the mobile phone network operators, or else they will be held responsible if such a message leads to a loss of money to scammers," Mr Prasert said. This kind of legal mechanism, he said, has been used in other countries such as Singapore, where the government can freeze a bank account where necessary. Mr Prasert said the government also expects the decree to help speed up tracking and freezing money which a victim loses in an online scam and returning it to promptly the victim. With this legal mechanism, the process should take no longer than six months, an improvement from the current one or two years, said Mr Prasert, who is also the digital economy and society minister. News of the decree follows a vow made by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to help wipe out online scamming gangs operating in neighbouring countries. He was speaking while helping a Pheu Thai Party candidate canvassing for votes in a local election in Chiang Mai on Tuesday. Thaksin hinted at the election campaign event that he had information that a major call centre gang was operating from the 25th floor of a building in Cambodia's Poipet. He also claimed to have told the Myanmar and Cambodian governments to do more with the online scam problem, which affects many people in Thailand. And if these countries aren't capable of stamping out those gangs operating on their land, he would volunteer to bring forces from Thailand to deal with the gangs for them, he said without going into detail. Prime Minster Paetongtarn Shinawatra on Thursday stressed to the Royal Thai Police (RTP) the importance of keeping the public informed about its launch of an online platform designed to help counter online scams. The PM was paying a visit to the RTP's headquarters, where she was briefed on the police's "Cyber Check" online platform. It is equipped with technology that allows users to check with the police first whether a telephone number used by someone to call them or a bank account they are asked to transfer money to is on a police black list.
Walmart Walmart CFO, John David Rainey , has outlined the company's bold vision for a transformation in the retail landscape, following a year of navigating the challenges because of rising inflation in the US economy. Despite these economic pressures, Rainey revealed that Walmart successfully attracted a broader consumer base, marking a shift in its strategy to appeal to a more diverse demographic than ever before. Speaking to Fox Business, Rainey painted a picture of a revamped Walmart, one that contrasts with its past image. "appeal to a much broader demographic than what we have historically," he said. The retail giant has unexpectedly become a destination for affluent shoppers this year, prompting significant changes such as sleek store designs and large-scale remodels. Walmart has consistently renovated around 700 stores annually, but Rainey noted plans to increase these efforts moving forward. "When you walk into one of these remodeled stores, it's a very, very different experience from what you've thought about historically," he stated. Investment in customer experience has been a key focus, with revamped layouts, modernised checkout areas, and advanced support technology enhancing the shopping environment. However, Rainey reassured loyal customers that these updates aim to serve all shoppers, not just upscale ones, as per The Mirror US. Some regulars may already have noticed the addition of premium products, including Apple gadgets and Bose audio equipment. "If you're a supplier or a vendor, you actually want to sell your product where the people are, where the eyeballs are coming. And so that's really helping us right now," Rainey explained, highlighting Walmart's ongoing efforts to expand its product range in response to shifting consumer demand. Despite these positive strides, Walmart acknowledged that it will miss its environmental goals for 2025 and 2030, particularly regarding emissions reductions. Rainey attributed this shortfall to challenges posed by energy policies and technological limitations. While the store remodels and new products may not be the most environmentally friendly initiatives, Walmart continues to maintain a lower carbon footprint per sales unit than more polluting competitors. Nevertheless, the company faces hurdles in reducing emissions amid its ongoing store expansions and the growing volume of goods it ships.
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