What makes a great beach is highly subjective. For some it’s all about the quality of the sand: the finer and whiter the better. Others may just seek peace, quiet and seclusion.

Or you may be in search of a perfect little rum shack or beach cafe by tumbling dunes — a rustic retreat.

We’ve asked the world’s travel experts and industry insiders for their all-time favourites — and how best to enjoy them.

TURQUOISE TURKEY

The area around Dalaman in Turkey has been dubbed the Turquoise Coast, and it’s easy to see why when you feast your eyes on its pristine azure waters. There’s an abundance of beaches to enjoy, but one that really stands out for me is the Blue Lagoon at Oludeniz.

It sits in an emerald green national park and its wide bay, white sands, vibrant blue waters and mountainous backdrop make it the perfect place to unwind.

CHOSEN BY: Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays.

WHERE TO STAY: Doubles at Jade Residence, a boutique ten-room hotel, cost from £116 B&B (jade-residence.com).

EXOTIC MALAYSIA

The best beach has got to be the Datai in Langkawi. While the world has lots of gorgeous beaches, there are few sitting in rainforests with ­monkeys, exotic birds and colourful butterflies. And the view is more than just a line where the sea meets the sky. You’re looking out towards a sprinkling of green islands on the southern tip of Thailand.

CHOSEN BY: Peter Stephens, founder of DialAFlight.

WHERE TO STAY: Doubles at super-luxurious The Datai Langkawi hotel cost from £402 (thedatai.com).

CHILLY DIP IN IRELAND

I have taken part in a charity swim by the beach in Youghal in County Cork every year on Christmas Day since I was a teenager. With sea temperatures typically at a chilly 8C or 9C, you don’t stay in the water long, but you feel great afterwards.

CHOSEN BY: Sean Doyle, British Airways chairman and CEO.

WHERE TO STAY: Doubles at Abbey View House, a guest house in Youghal, cost from £89 B&B (abbeyviewtownhouse.com).

SOUTH AFRICAN SURPRISE

You’re unlikely to see anyone else on Walker Bay beach, just east of Hermanus on the southern coast of South Africa. It’s a wild stretch running for about ten miles, and is not somewhere to sit with a cocktail, but rather a place for strolling. You can look out to spot whales between June and December.

CHOSEN BY: Nikki Tinto, founder of i-escape.com.

WHERE TO STAY: Doubles at the Coot Club, by the beach, cost from £140 (cootclub.com).

CORNISH DELIGHT 

A few palm-fringed, tropical locations spring to mind, but I do love Harlyn Bay in Cornwall. It’s a perfect arc of sand, framed by rocky outcrops. While I don’t surf, I love to see the seal-like surfers from summer to winter.

I may be biased — with one of my Pig Hotels close by — but it’s the ideal English family beach for walkers, runners, families and toddlers, who can all enjoy this vast stretch of sand together.

CHOSEN BY: Robin Hutson, The Pig Hotels chairman.

WHERE TO STAY: Doubles from £285 at The Pig — at Harlyn Bay (thepighotel.com).

PERFECT IN PORTUGAL

CARVALHAL beach by the village of Comporta stretches in both directions. No blots on the landscape. It has a sublime beach club, meaning you can have an excellent lunch of fresh oysters; clams with garlic, olive oil and coriander (the Portuguese way); or grilled octopus without leaving the beach.

CHOSEN BY: Mary Lussiana, travel writer.

WHERE TO STAY: Doubles at the charming AlmaLusa designer hotel cost from £140 B&B (almalusahotels.com).

WHITE SAND PARADISE

Radhanagar beach on Havelock Island — part of the Indian Ocean’s Andaman Islands — is beautiful. You can walk along the white sand for miles, turning off into mango groves if you want shade. You’ll see very few people there, and you feel away from the world.

CHOSEN BY: Amrit Singh, co-founder of TransIndus.

WHERE TO STAY: Doubles at the luxurious Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Andamans, cost from £400 B&B (tajhotels.com).

CORKER IN MALLORCA

Son Bunyola has crystal-clear waters and authentic Mallorcan charm — in fact, I bought the Son Bunyola estate. It’s positioned on the island’s north-west coast in the spectacular UNESCO World Heritage-listed Tramuntana Mountains. Only reached by boat, or by hiking downhill, the coastline sweeps for three miles, with views out to the island’s famous Sa Foradada rock formation. The seclusion and tranquillity transports you to a world far removed from the everyday.

CHOSEN BY: Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group.

WHERE TO STAY: Doubles at Son Bunyola cost from £555 B&B (virginlimited edition.com).

BARBADOS BEAUTY

I have fond memories of holidays at the Coral Reef Club near Folkestone beach, and while I’m not one to talk about swaying palm trees, white sands and crystal blue waters, that’s what anyone ­visiting Barbados can expect.

CHOSEN BY: Sir Mike Gooley CBE, founder and executive chairman of Trailfinders.

WHERE TO STAY: Doubles at the Coral Reef Club cost from £231 B&B (coralreef barbados.com).

KENYA CLASSIC

Shela beach, just outside Lamu Town on the island of Lamu, is a quintessential Robinson Crusoe-esque deserted strand extending in a glorious seven-mile crescent. Here, sand dunes merge with the sky and spray from the breakers.

Nowhere on earth compares with the intense pleasure of planting one bare foot in front of the other as the monsoon-blown sea washes over you.

CHOSEN BY: Richard Trillo, East Africa manager at Expert Africa and author of The Rough Guide To Kenya.

WHERE TO STAY: Doubles at Peponi Hotel cost from £180 (peponi hotel.com).

ASIAN MIRACLE

Ngapali beach near Thandwe in Myanmar (Burma) is on the Bay of Bengal and the sea has the temperature and colour of the Indian Ocean, but the temperament of the Atlantic. The beach is one of thick, white, powdery sand that — miraculously — neither sticks to your suntan lotion nor blows around in the God-given breeze.

CHOSEN BY: Teresa Levonian Cole, travel writer.

WHERE TO STAY: For now, the Foreign Office advises against travel to Myanmar due to political unrest and volatile security.

A BORDERS BELTER

No point pretending this is the Caribbean, as the bracing North Sea rolls in and out of Coldingham Bay in the Scottish Borders. But it’s a glorious crescent of beach with all the hallmarks of the British seaside: a row of beach huts; a cafe (which opens sporadically); rock pools (perfect for crabbing) and enough wave action for surfing. I played here as a child, as did my children. The beauty is mixed in with the memories.

CHOSEN BY: Mark Palmer, Daily Mail Travel Editor.

WHERE TO STAY: Doubles at the luxury Schloss Roxburghe in Kelso cost from £157 (schlosshotel-roxburghe.com).

TOP TIP FOR OZ

It’s not hard to find beaches in Australia with miles of pale sand, turquoise-blue waters and crashing surf — and no people. Cabarita Beach, or ‘Caba’, in northern New South Wales, has all that, but also boasts the southern hemisphere’s coolest motel — Halcyon House.

CHOSEN BY: Mark Jones, former editor of BA’s High Life magazine.

WHERE TO STAY: Doubles from £450 at super-slick Halycon House (halcyon house.com.au).

MALDIVIAN MAGIC

I was lucky enough to have celebrated an anniversary in Landaa Giraavaru in the Maldives with those who mean the most to me in the world. Landaa Giraavaru is home to Blu beach, where everything is idyllic, from the warmest white sand, the bluest ocean and the most captivating sunsets I have ever seen.

CHOSEN BY: Simon Cooper, founder of On The Beach.

WHERE TO STAY: Doubles at the plush Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa ­Giraavaru cost from £2,529pp B&B (fourseasons.com).

BEST OF BEQUIA

Palm trees fringe Princess Margaret Beach on Bequia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, a lovely ribbon of white sand. After a day lazing on the quiet beach, swimming and snorkelling, you can head to Jack’s Beach Bar for cocktails, where hummingbirds hover within arm’s reach. No wonder Princess Margaret would take a yacht from nearby Mustique.

CHOSEN BY: Lesley Bellew, Daily Mail cruise correspondent.

WHERE TO STAY: Doubles at the elegant Bequia Plantation Hotel cost from £143 (bequiaplantationhotel.com).

KANGAROOS CALLING

Hyams beach in Jervis Bay, New South Wales, Australia, is nearly three hours south of Sydney and has the whitest sandy beaches, surrounded by a national park teeming with wildlife. Kangaroos are often seen on the beach, as well as koalas, kookaburras and cockatoos. It’s common to see dolphins as well as whales between May and November.

The beach is often deserted and there are beautiful places to stay nearby, as well as some fabulous local restaurants and cafes. My idea of heaven.

CHOSEN BY: Lisa Fitzell, managing director of Elegant Resorts.

WHERE TO STAY: Safari-style luxury tents at Paperbark Camp cost from £385 (paperbarkcamp.com.au).

HELLO JAMAICA

On the north-east coast of Jamaica, Frenchman’s Cove is a superb little arc of golden beach surrounded by thick jungle.

A freshwater stream flows from the Blue Mountains and enters into the sea here, creating an eddying swirl of cool and warm. There’s a good nearby bar/grill. Sheer joy.

CHOSEN BY: Tom Chesshyre, travel writer.

WHERE TO STAY: Doubles at Frenchman’s Cove Resort cost from £140 (frenchmans cove.com).

NICE IN NICARAGUA

Playa Arenas Blancas is a sandy beach adjoining Morgan’s Rock, a 4,000-acre eco-lodge in Nicaragua. It faces west for incredible sunsets. Nesting turtles regularly visit and the surrounding jungle reserve is home to sloths, macaws and anteaters.

CHOSEN BY: Jonny Bealby, founder of Wild Frontiers.

WHERE TO STAY: Doubles at Morgan’s Rock cost from £323 (morgansrock.com).

DREAMY DOWN UNDER 

Johanna beach in Victoria, Australia, offers the most wild and violent seascape, where the surf from the Southern Ocean surges and slams against the naked sand.

It’s a pain to get there: you must go through the dense redwoods and fern gullies of the Great Otway National Park rainforest. Big skies open up, and the horizonless sea has surf so magnificent it’s there for watching, not swimming.

CHOSEN BY: Fiona McIntosh, travel writer.

WHERE TO STAY: Doubles in one of the Johanna Seaside Cottages overlooking the ocean cost from £144 (johannaseaside.com.au).

MARVELLOUS MENORCA

Cala Macarelleta on Menorca is a small beach hidden away between the rocks, with pristine, fine, white sand and inviting turquoise water.

Access by car is prohibited during the summer months so you have a 20-minute approach on foot through the forest, meaning it stays pretty well preserved.

CHOSEN BY: Michael Edwards, managing director of Explore.

WHERE TO STAY: Doubles at the Artiem Audax hotel cost from £70 (artiemhotels.com).

BRAZILIAN DREAM

Praia Mole in Florianopolis on Santa Catarina island combines vibrant beach culture with natural beauty. The soft golden sands, surrounded by lush green hills and the rhythmic Atlantic, make it a perfect blend of relaxing idyll and surfers’ paradise.

CHOSEN BY: Geoffrey Kent, founder of Abercrombie & Kent.

WHERE TO STAY: Doubles at Cabanas Praia Mole Florianopolis cost from £61 (praia-mole.hotelsantacatarina.com).

MAD FOR MAADHOO

The beaches on Maadhoo in the southern Male Atoll of the Maldives are fantastic. There’s a stretch where you invariably swim with (safe) reef sharks. Snorkelling is wonderful, too.

CHOSEN BY: Andrew Dunn, founder of Scott Dunn and chairman of The PC Agency.

WHERE TO STAY: Doubles at Ozen Life Maadhoo cost from £933 all-inclusive (theozencollection.com).

The current predicament was brought about by the retirement of former election commissioners — Anup Chandra Pandey, who left office on February 14 when he reached the age of 65 — and the shock resignation of Arun Goel, who resigned on Friday morning.

Lok Sabha elections 2024: Two election commissioners are expected to be appointed by March 15 in the wake of the departure of former officer holders, Anup Chandra Pandey and Arun Goel, from the Election Commission of India recently.

While Pandey retired last month on February 14, Arun Goel announced a surprise resignation on Friday, currently leaving only Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar as the sole member of the poll panel.

Citing sources, a PTI report said that the two vacancies are likely to be filled by March 15 and new election commissioners will be appointed by President Droupadi Murmu by that date.

How are election commissioners chosen?

As per the current setup, a search committee will be formed under the leadership of Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, which will consist of a Home Minister and a Secretary of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).

The search committee will first prepare two separate panels with five names each for the two posts.

Later, a selection committee headed by the Prime Minister and comprising Union Minister and Congress Party leader in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury will nominate two persons for appointment as Election Commissioners.

The election commissioners are appointed by the president.

The selection committee could meet on March 13 or 14 depending on the convenience of the members and the appointments are likely to be made on March 15, the PTI report said, citing sources.

Appointment of CEC and ECs

Before a new law on the appointment of CEC and ECs came into force recently, the election commissioners were appointed by the President on the recommendation of the government, and as per custom, the eldest was appointed CEC.

Clause 2 of Article 324 of the Constitution provides that the Electoral Commission shall consist of the Chief Electoral Commissioner and such number of other Electoral Commissioners, if any, as the President may from time to time determine.

Arun Goel resigned

The current predicament was triggered by the retirement of former election commissioners — Anup Chandra Pandey, who resigned on February 14 when she reached the age of 65 — and the shock resignation of Arun Goel, who resigned on Friday morning, days before the elections. panel is expected to announce the schedule for the Lok Sabha polls,

Goel’s resignation was accepted by President Murmu on Saturday and the Ministry of Justice issued a notice announcing it.

Responding to questions about the reasons behind Goel’s resignation, the sources said, according to PTI, that he may have resigned due to personal reasons.

They also rejected the suggestion that there were disagreements between Goel and Kumar, saying records of internal communications, minutes and decisions show that Goel had not registered any dissent.

“When seasoned bureaucrats brainstorm on a topic, differences in opinion and perception are bound to arise. These cannot be described as differences,” they noted.

Notably, Goel was not present at the crucial meeting between the European Commission, the top ministry of home affairs and railway officials to strengthen the deployment and movement of central forces across India for election duties.

Goel was an IAS officer of the Punjab cadre in 1985. He had joined the Election Commission in November 2022. His term would expire on December 5, 2027, and he would have become Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) after incumbent Rajiv Kumar retired in February next year.

Ashok Lavasa had resigned as election commissioner in August 2020. He had made dissenting comments on several decisions on model code violations taken by the European Commission in the last Lok Sabha polls.

Members of the election committee

Originally, the Election Commission only had a CEC. It currently consists of the CEC and two election commissioners.

Two additional commissioners were first appointed on October 16, 1989, but they had a very short term of office until January 1, 1990. Later, on October 1, 1993, two additional election commissioners were appointed.

The concept of a multi-member EC has been in force since then, with the decision being taken by majority vote.

(With PTI inputs)

The Maracana, Wembley and the Azteca are among the iconic stadiums to have played host to football’s biggest match: The World Cup final.

Just 20 venues have had the honour of providing the stage for final, with the Maracana and the Azteca doing so on two occasions.

On Sunday FIFA are set to confirm the AT&T Stadium in Dallas will become the 21st, staging the finale of the 104 match tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The venue emerged as the winner in a two-way battle against the MetLife Stadium in New York.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino had lauded the stadium when he visited back in September, appearing to hint that the venue was set to be chosen.

‘The stadium is absolutely fantastic,’ Infantino said.

‘It’s incredible to be here… it’s important to see all the stadiums, it’s important to see what is done for the fans.

‘I have to say in America, you are light years ahead compared to the rest of the world.

‘So, we’re here to learn, we are here to check and we are here to make, and organise, the biggest, biggest World Cup ever.’ 

The Swiss official made the comments as he watched the Dallas Cowboys earn a 30-10 win over the New York Jets. It proved to be an omen with Dallas beating New York again to secure 2026 final. 

Clearly, Infantino did not take too much offence to being booed when his face appeared on screen at the venue.

FIFA has described the venue as a ‘jaw-dropping example of stadium architecture’, adding that it provides a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ visitor experience.

Another factor contributing to stadium’s selection is its capacity. While typically boasting a capacity of 80,000 – less than the MetLife’s 82,500 – the bid book says the venue will house 92,967 fans during the World Cup.

The capacity will be the highest of all the 16 stadiums selected for the expanded 48-team tournament, with the potential for a further expansion to over 100,000 seats.

The stadium has been the home to the Dallas Cowboys since 2009 after the near £1billion project was completed.

Initially known as the Cowboys Stadium, a naming rights agreement with the telecommunications company AT&T was reached in 2014. The stadium has also been dubbed as Jerry World and The Death Star after Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.

Under FIFA’s policy of World Cup venues remaining unsponsored, the venue is expected to be known as Dallas Stadium or revert to Cowboys Stadium for the duration of the tournament.

The stadium boasts over 300 luxury suites, ten premium clubs, and club seating on multiple levels, which typically offer premium hospitality during NFL matches and will provide similar during the World Cup.

This includes the Touchdown and Field suites which offer guests unique views from either behind each endzone during matches or from the north or south sidelines. The latter also includes a lounge which lets fans watch players enter and level the field of play via a Draftkings Club.

The stadium also includes Hall of Fame, Owners and Optum Club suites, with the latter claimed to be the best experience in the NFL.

The suite features an all-inclusive Legends club, where chefs serve five-star catering and a bar with service from the city’s top mixologists. Each suite includes granite countertops, plush stadium seating, in-suite private restrooms, while the sightlines are considered to be the best in the venue.

Prices of the private suites are claimed to range from between £4,700 to £70,000, according to the Suite Experience Group. In their bid book to FIFA, organisers said the stadium can host 10,000 people in luxury suites, as well as a further 15,000 in club seats.

The stadium notably has two arches which support a retractable roof, offering the prospect the World Cup final can be held indoors for the first time in history. 

A closed roof and climate control would enable organisers to play the final on July 19 in a cooler temperature, with Dallas capable of reaching as high a 36°C during the month.

‘We have over three million air-conditioned square feet inside the stadium,’ Jones said when pitching to host the final.

‘The stadium has complete flexibility as to its weather conditions. We can basically have perfect weather.’

Beneath the roof, the stadium boasts a giant HDTV, measured at 160 feet wide and 72 feet tall. The video display was the biggest in the world when the stadium opened.

The giant screen, suspended 28 metres above the pitch, cost a reported £31.5million and took Mitsubishi over one year to construct and four months to install.

The screen is not the only excess at the stadium, which also boasts a world class collection of contemporary art. More than 50 pieces from an international array of curated artists are displayed on walls and public spaces at the venue.

The stadium typically hosts NFL events and staged the 2011 Super Bowl, but has repeatedly hosted major events and concerts.

This includes hosting the 2010 NBA All-Star Game, as well as boxing fights featuring the likes of Manny Pacquiao and Canelo Alvarez. Alvarez’s fight with Billy Joe Saunders in 2021 achieved a record 73,126 crowd for a boxing match indoors in the United States.

Increasingly the stadium has welcomed football matches, with Barcelona, Real Madrid and Chelsea among the leading clubs to have been hosted, as well as the Mexican national team.

Key matches at the CONCACAF Gold Cup have been staged at the venue, while the stadium will also host matches at this summer’s Copa America.

The Dallas bid team had stressed these matches showed their experience in switching between turf and grass pitches, with the latter required by FIFA for the World Cup.

‘We’ve done this on multiple occasions, modified the boundaries in the stadium, basically cleared out some of the infrastructure at the field level,’ Jones said.

‘The stadium was built to do that. Not only do we have the flexibility [to install natural] grass, but we also have the ability to configure the actual field size.’

The comment was backed up by Dan Hunt, chairman of Dallas’ World Cup bid and FC Dallas President. Hunt’s late father and businessman, Lamar Hunt, was a key figure in the growth of the professional game in the United States in the 1990s and helped deliver the 1994 World Cup.

‘We’ve proven we can put a grass field in the stadium, and stadium modifications will be minimal,’ Hunt said.

‘I think a number of venues are struggling with what their modifications will have to be.

‘I know a lot of these stadiums well, being in the NFL business, and AT&T looks like it’ll be on the low side of renovations.’

Dallas is also seeking to host the World Cup’s Broadcast Centre and host the referee headquarters during the tournament. 

FIFA previously placed its tournament headquarters and the IBC in the Texan city during the 1994 FIFA World Cup, when Dallas hosted six matches at the Cotton Bowl.

Globe Life Field and Choctaw Stadium, the current and former homes of the Texas Rangers baseball team, have been earmarked to host major fan festivals during the World Cup.

‘You could cordon off this whole area and do a ticketed event of 200,000+ people, something that has never ever been seen at a World Cup, especially a World Cup final before,’ Hunt said in October.

‘This would be something that I think would set the record.

‘FIFA wants to continue to innovate and by doing this, we’re doing something that I’m not sure we’ll ever be done again.’

One potential issue facing fans is that the AT&T is not currently accessible through public transport, but Dallas organisers have insisted they are on top of planning.

The stadium is now poised to join the iconic Rose Bowl in California in becoming the second venue in the United States to stage the FIFA Men’s World Cup final.

Joshua Ritchie is set to shake up the Love Island villa as he makes his bombshell arrival in Thursday night's episode.

In upcoming scenes, the islanders gets a surprise when Hannah Elizabeth excitably announces she's got a text to the group.

Hannah, Georgia Steel and Georgia Harrison, who is Joshua's ex-girlfriend, will get a chance to leave the villa to date the newbie.

But while they are still unaware who the new bombshell is, will Georgia H be happy to see her ex?

Hannah says: 'I've got a text…I'm shaking, I've got a text!'

The message reads: 'Islanders, Georgia S, Hannah, Georgia H, you have all been picked to go on a date, please get ready to leave the Villa. #NewBoyEnergy #GoGetItGirl'.

Meanwhile, Luis Morrison-Derbyshire, 29, continues to be torn between Kaz Kamwi and Demi Jones.

As he continues to explore a connection with both girls, Kaz makes a bold move and asks to talk on the terrace.

But Luis decides to make his move and instead pull Demi for a private chat, and things soon heat up.

Demi asks: 'How was your chat with Kaz?'

Luis replies: 'It was nice, she's a nice girl.'

Later in the evening, the islanders will immediately be asked to gather around the firepit for an announcement.

Joshua was one of the original Islanders in 2015 and has since made a name for himself on reality TV shows including Ex on the Beach and Celebs Go Dating – and because of his highly publicized romances.

He dated fellow All Stars contestant Georgia, who admitted she would be keen to couple up with him if he made an appearance, and Geordie Shore star Charlotte Crosby, 33, for two years between 2017 and 2019.

Producers are hoping that Georgia will hit it off with Joshua after Chris Taylor, who she fans, continues to pursue new arrival Molly Smith – and Josh will happily step on the toes of his fellow Islanders when it comes to finding love, declaring: 'If somebody's in a couple it definitely won't stop me. I always get what I want.'

But many fans were left baffled at the end of Wednesday's episode as they didn't know who Joshua was.

One person asked on Twitter: 'I didn't watch season 1. How's Josh like?'

While someone else posted: 'Who TF is Josh.'

Another person wrote: 'HOW do some of you not know who Josh is. Even from ex on the beach???'

Georgia was forced to deny speculation she was expecting her first baby with Joshua in 2022 after she was photographed at an event holding her stomach and joked on social media about becoming a mum.

A TV source told MailOnline: 'Joshua is the latest bombshell signing.

'He has come on board very much at the last minute, which is exactly how the show works, the producers are constantly reacting to what's happening in the villa.

'It's clear from their past that Georgia and Joshua have a spark… the hope is now they're able to explore their feelings for each other on the show.'

Speaking ahead of the All Stars series, Georgia called Joshua 'good looking' and admitted that he would pique her interest.

She said: 'Joshua Ritchie… I've dated before, he's good looking and my usual type.'

Joshua starred on the very first season of Love Island alongside All Star contestants Hannah Elizabeth and Luis Morrison-Derbyshire.

He came third on the series with Lauren Richardson, who was the ex-fling of One Direction star Zayn Malik.

Jessica Hayes and Max Morley were the first ever winners, but they didn't stay in a relationship.

LOVE ISLAND: ALL STARS CONTINUES TONIGHT AT 9PM ON ITV2 AND ITVX

Former WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh boasted that ‘(his) dominance will continue’ after his close aide Sanjay Singh was elected as the new head of the federation on Thursday.

New Delhi: “Dabdabaa tha, Dabdabba rahega” (domination was there, dominance will remain!), BJP MP and former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh emphatically boasted after his close aide Sanjay Singh was elected as the new president of the WFI on Thursday.

“This is not my personal victory, this is the victory of the wrestlers of the country. All wrestling activities were halted for 11 months. I hope that after the formation of the new federation, the wrestling events that were suspended for the past eleven months will resume,” Brij Bhushan, who was forced to resign as WFI president after being accused of sexual harassment by wrestlers, told the media.

VIDEO | Celebrations abound at Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s residence in Delhi after his loyalist Sanjay Singh is elected as the new WFI president. pic.twitter.com/Wgt07PIijT

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 21, 2023

‘Dabdabaa rahega’

“A message has been given. Every akhaada in the country bursts with fireworks. Dabdabaa tha, dabdabaa rahega!. I want to give the honor of victory to the country’s wrestlers and the voters. I would also like to thank the government,” he said.

#WATCH | Newly elected president of the Wrestling Federation of India Sanjay Singh arrives at the residence of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh says, “This is not my personal victory, this is the victory of the wrestlers of… pic.twitter.com/JaIJ6XLz1G

— ANI (@ANI) December 21, 2023

“The elections were held on the orders of the Supreme Court and the Center had filed the PIL for the same. Elections were held by the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the Center ensured that elections were held and an impartial person was elected as President. This ‘grahan’ of 11 months of struggle is over. In ten days, the landscape of wrestling will change again and we will perform at the Olympics the way people want,” the former WFI president added.

Sakshi Malik quits in protest

Meanwhile, following the announcement of Sanjay Singh as the new WFI president, Olympian Sakshi Malik quit in protest. With tears in her eyes, Rio Olympic bronze medalist Sakshi Malik put her wrestling boots on the table and announced her retirement from the sport as a mark of protest against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh loyalist Sanjay Singh winning the WFI elections.

#WATCH | Delhi: Wrestler Sakshi Malik breaks down as she leaves after a press conference.

Former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s aide Sanjay Singh has been elected the new president of the Wrestling Federation of India. pic.twitter.com/Rc85nAkvgy

— ANI (@ANI) December 21, 2023

Sakshi Malik is among one of the top wrestlers who leveled allegations of sexual abuse against Brij Bhushan and launched an agitation earlier this year demanding action against the BJP leader.

“We fought from our hearts, but if a man like Brij Bhushan, his business partner and close aide is elected president of WFI, I will give up wrestling. From today onwards, you will not see me on the mat,” said a tearful Sakshi, keeping her shoes on the table during a dramatic announcement at a press conference in the national capital.

#WATCH | Delhi: Wrestler Sakshi Malik says, “We slept on the roads for 40 days and many people from different parts of the country came to support us. If Brij Bhushan Singh’s business partner and a close aide is elected president of WFI, I would stop struggling…” pic.twitter.com/j1ENTRmyUN

— ANI (@ANI) December 21, 2023

Malik said wrestlers had made demands for a female president as it would ensure no harassment took place.

“We have made demands for a female president. If the president were a woman, there would be no harassment. But earlier there was no participation of women and today you can see the list, not even a single woman got a position. We had fought with all our might, but this fight will continue. The new generation wrestlers have to fight,” said the 31-year-old, who is also a Commonwealth Games gold medallist.

Winning a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Games was the highlight of Sakshi’s 13-year career, during which she won three CWG medals, including gold in the 2022 edition, and four Asian championship medals.

Sakshi had become India’s first female wrestler to win an Olympic medal.

‘Government goes back on word’

Olympic medalist Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat also addressed the media.

“It is unfortunate that the government has not kept its word that no Brij Bhushan loyalist will contest the WFI elections,” Bajrang said, adding that he is not sure whether he will continue to pursue competitive wrestling.

The wrestlers had managed to mobilize huge support from various sections of society during their protest, but the agitation subsided on the day they planned a march to the new Parliament building on May 28, when the Delhi Police cleared all the protesters out of Jantar Mantar removed due to riots.

The wrestlers had officially stopped their protest on June 7 when Sports Minister Anurag Thakur assured them that none of Brij Bhushan’s family members or close associates would be allowed into the WFI election fray.

“With Sanjay Singh becoming president, I don’t think women wrestlers will get justice because the backdoor politics are still working to break their resolve. About 15 to 20 girls met with the Sports Minister and told him about the exploitation. Today there are only six and they too are being forced to withdraw,” Bajrang claimed.

Bajrang said the ministry has gone back on its word that no Brij Bhushan loyalist would be allowed to contest the elections.

“After our protest in January, a monitoring committee was formed by the ministry. Several women wrestlers had deposed before the panel following which the Sports Minister told the media that persons associated with Brij Bhushan will not join the WFI.

“We waited three months for the outcome of the monitoring committee before starting the protest again. We fought for the truth and honor of our sisters and daughters,” said 29-year-old Bajrang.

The Tokyo Games bronze winner said it was a long battle and two to three generations may have to suffer before justice is achieved.

“The struggle we have had, I think the next one or two generations will have to continue the struggle to get justice. We fought with all our might, but the promise the government had made could not stand there. It’s very sad to have to say that,” he added.

‘Female wrestlers not safe under Sanjay Singh’

World Championships and Asian Games medalist Vinesh Phogat alleged that female wrestlers could face more exploitation under Sanjay Singh.

“Bajrang and I had also met the Home Minister and we clearly told him the names of the women wrestlers and what had happened to which wrestler. We urged him to look into it. He assured us he will look into it. But after waiting for three to four months, we started the protest at Jantar Mantar,” Vinesh said.

“It feels sad that people like Sanjay Singh are getting the top position. By making him president, the next generation of women could become victims of exploitation. What happened behind the curtain will now happen in the open. I don’t know how we will get justice in our country. The future of wrestling in this country looks bleak.”

Sakshi said the demand of the protesting wrestlers was to have a female member on the governing body to ensure the rights of the female wrestlers but unfortunately this came to nothing on Thursday.

“We demanded a female president. If there is a woman president, there will be no exploitation, but today there is not a single woman in the new governing body,” Sakshi lamented before putting her wrestling boots on the table.

Sanjay Singh elected as WFI chief

Sanjay Singh, a close associate of the outgoing WFI chief, became the new president and his panel won 13 of the 15 posts in the elections – a result that brought disappointment to the top three wrestlers – Malik, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia – who had aggressively pushed for a change of guard at the federation.

Sanjay Singh had served as joint secretary of the WFI since 2019 and was previously on the federation’s executive council.

VIDEO | Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh loyalist Sanjay Singh receives a warm welcome from his supporters in Delhi after being elected as the new WFI president. pic.twitter.com/JBxxZr8gGN

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 21, 2023

“National camps (for wrestling) will be organised. Wrestlers who want to do politics can do politics, those who want to do wrestling will do wrestling,” a jubilant Singh told reporters.

The WFI elections were originally scheduled to take place on August 12. However, the Punjab and Haryana High Court, while holding a hearing on a petition in August, extended the postponement of the WFI elections till September 25. wrestling in the country, were initially scheduled for June this year.

(With input from agencies)

Women of Britain, your votes have been counted, and here we have the brilliant Bargain Beauty Awards champions of 2023.

You, the real experts, voted en masse to come up with the 15 cosmetics that will get you through 2023, cost of living crisis be damned.

The weekly column that I write for you – and with you – always contains a mix of affordable and more expensive beauty purchases. However, British women live for a bargain, and this year we all relied on them, so it felt good to celebrate this on our roll of honour.

I am my mother’s daughter – and my even more price-conscious grandmother. And while I’ll never love chatting to Chanel, Guerlain or Sisley, I’m just as devoted to the budget brands I grew up with: Vaseline, Rimmel, Boots No 7 and Batiste.

I especially love that Batiste – appropriately born the same year as the Glastonbury Festival, in 1970 – has taken us from teenagers with oily hair to fifty-somethings with thin hair, via the winner of your hair hero award: Batiste Dry Shampoo & Volume (now £2.83, boots.com). Half a century after that first dirty Glasto, this great British booster is the world’s No. 1 dry shampoo, selling three cans every second.

Tweezerman and Maybelline arrived on these shores in the early 1990s thanks to entrepreneur George Hammer’s groundbreaking Beautique catalogue, to which my mother, sisters, friends and I were all utterly addicted. At the same time, L’Oreal began to transform into the big, price-conscious juggernaut it is today.

More recently, discounted wonders such as Kiko Milano, elf Cosmetics and Superdrug’s fantastic Studio London range have arrived. Studio London wasn’t one of your award winners, but I’ll put my money on it for next year. The Flaunt Flawless blusher (£5, superdrug.com) can be found in every Christmas stocking I put.

L’Oréal Paris scores as high as you would expect from a cosmetic colossus. Mail readers showed their acumen by admiring L’Oréal Age Perfect Collagen Expert Retightening Night Cream (£12.99, boots.com) – an anti-sagging hit. The French giant can afford to democratize its “scientific business,” which means we all qualify as “worthwhile.”

CeraVe, the maker of your top cleanser, and Maybelline are also L’Oréal brands. I agree with you on the brilliance of it.

Maybelline Colossal Curl Bounce Mascara (£11.99, superdrug.com) opens my disappearing, midlife eyes like nothing else. Then I swipe Rimmel Scandal’eyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal (£4.99) across the inner lid and I almost look human. Swipe a little into the top lash for even more emphasis.

The creamy, oil-free texture of Maybelline Fit Me Concealer (£5.99, boots.com) is so famously similar to that of last year’s winner, Nars’ excellent Radiant Creamy Concealer (£25), that the word ‘dupe’ being thrown around. Maybe that’s why you chose it?

During the day, Boots No 7 Future Renew Serum (from €34.95) is your favorite facial care product, and that makes sense.

The Future Renew range, which launched in April to a record-breaking response, features a ‘superpeptide’ blend that has been in research for 15 years. This will be most powerful in the serum, which is known as one of the most effective and tolerated products on the market. Just add SPF.

Kiko’s eyeshadows are top-notch, while Tweezerman’s worthy win reminds me to send my old pair in for sharpening as a cost-cutting exercise in January. I won’t be alone. The brand refurbishes more than 5,000 tweezers every month for free.

Apart from the global giants, one of the elements of the 2023 line-up that I enjoy most is the presence of the small, but no less big, British brand Messiah and Eve’s Body Cleanser 02 (£21, messiahandeve.co .uk).

This is not just because I chose to, but because founder Sarah Sklavenitis deserves credit for launching her amazing company in the wake of the last Covid lockdown in late 2021.

Sarah, a fragrance obsessive, was determined to make our body wash the same quality as our facial care: scented with refinement, joyfully tactile to use and our skin cared for.

Body Cleanser 02 is infused with niacinamide and alpha hydroxy acids to brighten and smooth the face without the mess of a scrub.

Her bespoke aromas are created by a French perfume house and then tailor-made depending on the type of product in which they appear.

They are edited and reworked until Messiah and Eve achieves the olfactory nuance and longevity that gives it its cult status.

My beloved cleanser 02 uses the Modern Unity scent – ​​an extraordinary concoction of blackberry, birch tar and guaiac wood that smells ten times more expensive than it is.

When I breathe it in, life becomes memorable, magical even – worth not just staggering through, but living to the fullest.

And that is ultimately the great beauty of beauty.

It accompanies us through high days and holidays, dark days and mundane things, as we progress femininely. Because glamor is our superpower.

Ruby Hammer MBE

Make-up artist and brand founder Ruby, 62, has been a household name in the beauty world since the 1980s and launched her own range, Ruby Hammer, in 2019.

It’s always nice to see that the things you recommend resonate with readers, and I’m glad they love my favorites as much as I do.

When it comes to foundation, it should match your skin tone perfectly and feel weightless when you wear it. L’Oréal’s True Match Foundation (£11, tesco.com) ticks all the boxes. It has an extensive color range and is delicious, so if you’re not feeling well you can still get a good result.

The same goes for the Kiko Green Me Eyeshadow Palette (£14.99, kikocosmetics.com). Don’t be put off by the word ‘green’; it refers to the natural characteristics of the formulations and not the shades, which are highly wearable.

There are nine in matte, pearl and metallic finishes, making the palette so versatile whether you want an everyday look or something more glamorous.

And finally, it’s no surprise to me that readers have embraced the No 7 Future Renew Serum. We all know that the effects of skin care are cumulative, so while it’s nice to get something as a one-time treat, if you really want results you need something that you can easily buy again and again.

Not only is this serum effective, it’s also affordable, which is what we all want.

Millie Kendall OBE

Millie, 56, is the CEO and founder of the British Beauty Council and has been in the industry for almost 40 years.

It is interesting to note that many of this year’s winners are heritage brands with a legacy behind them. And I think when money is tight, while we like to experiment with smaller, niche brands, they simply can’t compete on price with the economies of scale that more established brands offer.

These bigger brands have the money to spend on research, so they don’t trade on reputation alone. Consumers know that what they buy will work.

And while that’s hard when you’re a smaller brand, I’d much rather people go this route instead of buying questionable dupes or, worse, knockoffs. This can be tempting when times are tight.

I’m thrilled to see Tweezerman getting the Mail readers’ seal of approval: I have tweezers in every handbag and bathroom, by the bed and even in the car. Hold the point together and you can’t see the light of day. That’s why they are so good at grabbing every hair. You can’t get that with tweezers that haven’t been filed by hand.

At a time when people are very price and environmentally conscious, I can see why these are a well-deserved winner.

Emma Gunavardana

Beauty journalist Emma, ​​46, hosts the podcast The Emma Guns Show, which has had more than 15 million downloads worldwide (instagram.com/emmaguns).

I know from my Instagram followers how important accessibility is: we want products that we can get our hands on during the weekly shop or on the shopping streets.

Equally important is value for money, and the results of this year’s awards reflect that.

But I think it’s important to note that while we’re talking about affordable beauty for the masses, it doesn’t mean second-rate beauty. Each individual product can compete with its more prestigious counterparts.

I really think Maybelline makes some of the best mascaras on the market that easily rivals YSL’s.

And elf is one of the best beauty brands out there. It’s just the slightly cheaper packaging that indicates you’re not buying a luxury item, but blindly test the range with products three or four times the price and I think it would come out on top.

Ten years ago, no one really cared about their eyebrows. You formed them by removing hairs and that was about it.

But model Cara Delevingne’s brows and Benefit’s huge range of brow products changed all that, and now we’re obsessed.

I love the whole L’Oreal Paris Brow Artist collection, but the Xpert pencil (from £2.55, amazon.co.uk) is my favourite. The spoolie is strong enough to really define the brow; the pencil is thin enough to draw individual hairs and fill in gaps; and the pigment lasts all day.

Lip products have also disappeared from the market in terms of price lately, so it’s great to see a tribute to good old Vaseline.

It could all have been so different. Maybe!

Just a few months after her marriage to Charles, Princess Diana put her foot down. She would NOT continue to live at Highgrove House – she wanted their family home to be a place the couple had chosen together.

And certainly NOT in Royal Gloucestershire. The further away, the better actually.

Why? Her reasons were almost too many to count: Highgrove, the home of former minister Maurice Macmillan, had been suggested to Charles by Camilla as the perfect country house to get away from it all.

Camilla had helped him, while he was romancing Diana, to decorate the place.

And conveniently enough, it was a discreet 30-minute drive from her home Bolehyde Manor in Wiltshire. It was her house, not Diana’s.

According to her family, the princess wanted to take Charles away from his one true love – and she tried to distance him from the temptation.

Through her sister Lady Sarah McCorquodale, who lived nearby, she heard that Belton House in Lincolnshire – the palatial former home of the 6th Lord Brownlow – was vacant and would be put up for sale.

Brownlow had close royal ties: he was a Lord-in-Waiting for King Edward VIII and was the man who led the Duchess of Windsor out of Britain when Edward abdicated.

His house, Belton, had been in the family since the 17th century. King William III had slept there.

Just the right place for Diana to raise her children – as she had become accustomed to the 15,000 acres surrounding her family home Althorp, rather than the meager 348 acres that Charles had around Highgrove.

Belton covered almost 5,000 acres and the house was filled with Old Masters, exquisite silverware, fine antique furniture and countless rooms.

The library, with 6,000 books, overlooked extensive formal gardens. Ideal!

Highgrove was no problem – and Diana wanted to get away anyway.

She encouraged Charles to view the site, and in early 1982 the couple drove there to view the mansion.

Along the way she argued that Belton was a comfortable drive from the royal estate at Sandringham, very close to her sister Sarah, and far more imposing than the frumpy little Highgrove with just nine bedrooms.

So determined was she that her children would grow up in Belton that, according to Lord Brownlow’s cousin Peter Hoos, the couple visited the house three times.

But Charles could not be convinced and eventually put his foot down to stay in Highgrove.

There Camilla’s shadow hung over the house – as far as Diana was concerned – and Highgrove proved an unhappy home indeed for the royal couple.

Who knows, if Diana could have put just a few hundred miles between her husband and his mistress, she might (but only maybe) have been able to hold him.

Struggling to stay on Gen Z’s ever-changing list of slang words? You’re probably not alone.

This morning, Oxford Languages ​​​​has announced that ‘rizz’ has been crowned ‘word of the year’ for 2023.

The term, which was popularized by actor Tom Holland in an interview with Buzzfeed in may is internet slang for “romantic attraction” or charm.

Other contenders for the coveted title were ‘Swiftie’, ‘beige flag’, ‘situationship’ and ‘de-influence’.

As a result of these terms suddenly skyrocketing in popularity, other more well-known slang terms have since fallen out of fashion – as the vernacular of older generations is slowly phased out by Gen Alpha.

And just when you get used to a phrase — whether it’s “slay,” “yeet” or “bet” — it suddenly falls out of favor.

Here, FEMAIL looks at which words to remove from your vocabulary if you want to interact with children – and what to incorporate into a conversation…

WHAT’S OUT?

Using the words ‘slay’, ‘bet’ and the laughing emoji makes you look old, according to Generation Alpha.

The slang terms popular with Generation Z (ages 13 to 26) are “out” and newer terms including “GYAT”, “preppy” and the crying emoji are in.

Influencer Nicole PellegrinoThe 31-year-old New Jersey native recently shared a clip on Tiktok of herself talking to her “Gen Alpha” sister and her “bestie.”

Gen Alpha, those who are currently 13 and under, believe that when you text laugh, you should send the crying emoji instead.

“If something is funny, you do the crying emoji, no one laughs by laughing,” Nicole’s sister explains in the video.

‘You use the skull when you insult someone, as a joke,” she adds.

Here, FEMAIL listed the words that the girls and commenters claim are being overhauled, as well as other beloved Gen Z staples likely on the chopping block:

Kill: A broad term that can casually mean “good work” or can also refer to the flashy and/or fantastic quality of something.

Stake: A term of agreement, meaning ‘OK’ or ‘sure’.

Candle: This means that you are dressed in a chic or sophisticated way and live a chic lifestyle.

Yes: To throw something with violence and force.

Additional: Over the top, and deeply dramatic.

Shook: Shocked, stunned, surprised

WHAT’S IN?

Experts from Oxford University Press say this year’s shortlist of eight words and phrases was chosen to best capture the mood, ethos or concerns of 2023.

Although Rizz’s popularity is believed to have skyrocketed after Holland used the term, it is widely believed that the word was introduced by YouTuber and Twitch streamer Kai Cenat, who uses it with his friends.

Meanwhile, online language learning platform To prepare published their research earlier this year on the most used slang in 2023 in the US.

The terms below are a combination of results from both, as well as terms considered important by Gen Alpha on social media:

Rizz: Internet slang for romantic charm or attraction

Swiftie: An avid fan of singer Taylor Swift

De-influence: The practice of discouraging people from purchasing certain products, or of encouraging people to reduce their consumption of material goods, esp. through social media.

Beige flag: A character trait that indicates that a partner or potential partner is boring or lacks originality; (also) a quality or habit, in particular. of a partner or potential partner, seen as extremely characteristic, but not clearly good or bad.

Heat dome: A persistent high-pressure weather system over a particular geographic area, trapping a mass of hot air below.

Fast: An instruction given to an artificial intelligence program, algorithm, etc., that determines or influences the content it generates.

Parasocial: Denoting a relationship characterized by the one-sided, unrequited feeling of intimacy that a viewer, fan or follower feels for a well-known or prominent figure (usually a media celebrity), in which the follower or fan comes to (falsely) feel) that they know the celebrity as a friend.

Situation: A romantic or sexual relationship that is not considered formal or established.

Like this: Short for ‘suspicious’, popularized after the game Among Us that was often played during Covid lockdowns

Salty: Indignant or offended

Cap: Implying a lie or untruth

Commercial: Delicious

Sheesh: An expression of validation and joy when you see something impressive or cool. It has also been used to express surprise, more similar to the traditional interpretation of the word.

Drip: Exceptional style.

Sul: Usually refers to a man in a relationship with a woman, where he is deeply submissive to his significant other.

Gyat: A term used to describe someone’s curvaceous behind (girl, you’re so fat)

Rizzler: Someone who is good at picking up women

Skibidi: Derived from the YouTube animated series Skibidi Toilet, used in games to describe someone who is bad or evil

Fanum tax: Someone Stealing Your Food comes from a creator named Fanum, who often took snacks from his friends’ meals

Preppy: Wear pink or pastel

Vanilla girl: Wearing collegiate attire

Crying emoji: There’s something funny

Skull emoji: Something is funny in a funny, mean way

HOW TO CONNECT WITH YOUR GEN Z EMPLOYEES

What does it mean when the office work experience cringes at a ‘plain L’? And where exactly is a funny joke someone made by ‘sending’ them?

If you’re not sure what the younger clan in your office is saying, communications experts at Movchan Agency have shared a guide to some of the terms you need to know.

Delulu – delusional

Example: “You’re overjoyed when you think the company will increase your salary after you’ve worked here for three months.”

Common W or L – common gain/loss (a way to agree or disagree with someone’s point or action)

Example:

– And then my boss said she trusts me enough not to micromanage me!

– Well, that’s a usual W for her.

To serve – to look good

Example: ‘Her new outfit looks great on her, she is serving’.

It sends me – it’s very funny

Example: “The meme you sent to our group chat sent me.”

Slap (adj) — something is very cool

Example: “Your performance is poor this year, so I decided to give you a bigger bonus.”

It is giving – comparison with something

Example: “This idea is plagiarism, honey. Do you have anything else?’

Dupe – duplicate

Example: ‘With this workload it is impossible for me to go on holiday. I’m just going to take a bath, have a cocktail and do some skincare – this is my holiday dupe’.

Menty b – nervous breakdown

Example: ‘If you don’t take a break from work, this will lead to burnout. We don’t want menty b’s, do we?’

Side eye – a judgmental look that you express by saying “side eye.”

Example: ‘Gossip about colleagues? Really… side eye!’

The brain is not up to the brain – something doesn’t make sense logically, I don’t understand it.

Example: “I literally don’t have the ability to process what you just said. My brain doesn’t have brains.