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Where are the leading pro-democracy figures in Hong Kong now?

Jeffrey Bailey — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 11:47:05 +0000

In 2019, Hong Kong erupted in the most stunning display of public anger toward Beijing in decades. Protesters broke into and vandalized the legislature. They bought full-page advertisements in international newspapers criticizing the government. Lawmakers threw unsavory objects during meetings to protest unpopular bills.

In the years since, China has launched an extensive crackdown on Hong Kong to crush opposition. Beijing directly imposed a national security law on the city in 2020 that gave authorities a powerful tool to round up critics, including a prominent pro-democracy media mogul.

So when Hong Kong’s pro-Beijing lawmakers passed a new security law on Tuesday that expanded the authorities’ power even further, there was virtually no opposition in the vote. The most outspoken pro-democracy activists and lawmakers are now in prison or in self-imposed exile.

Chow Hang Tung, lawyer, in prison

Chow Hang Tung was a human rights lawyer who represented other activists on trial for national security violations until her own arrest in 2021.

Now, she says, she had no choice but to “become a columnist,” writing open letters from prison, which were then posted online by her friends. She has that too has filed various legal appealswhere she wrote statements by hand for the court because she did not have access to a computer or the internet.

Recently, Ms. Chow has focused on Hong Kong’s new security lawsaying that officials tried to attribute the turbulence it had experienced to ordinary people and vague “foreign forces.”

She faces multiple charges, including some under the 2020 National Security Law, related to her role in organizing a candlelight vigil to commemorate the victims of Beijing’s 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown .

Being in prison hasn’t stopped her from speaking out. Mrs. Chow has tried to use her many courtroom appearances as a platform from which we can criticize Beijing, including for its long-term repression of the Tiananmen Mothers, a group representing the victims of the massacre.

Ted Hui, ex-lawmaker, in exile in Australia

Ted Hui was known as a confrontational lawmaker.

In 2020, he threw a stinking rotting plant on the floor of the legislative chamber to protest a bill that would make it a crime to disrespect the Chinese national anthem. At street rallies he used his megaphone to warn riot police not to hurt demonstrators; one officer responded by shooting pepper spray in Mr. Hui’s eyes.

Mr. Hui was arrested in 2020 and charged with unlawful assembly and other charges. He managed to flee to Copenhagen with the help of two Danish politicians, and was later joined by his family.

Initially, authorities blocked his family’s bank accounts. But they later withdrew due to a protest, and Mr. Hui was able to get his family’s savings back.

Mr Hui is one of about a dozen high-profile pro-democracy activists considered “hidden” by authorities. The new security law now bans any attempt to help “hidden people” gain access to their belongings or property.

“Hong Kongers should be prepared to expect that what happened to me could become part of the daily lives of ordinary residents,” he said in a telephone interview from Adelaide, Australia, where he and his family have settled.

Claudia Mo, veteran parliamentarian, in prison

Claudia Mo was one of 47 pro-democracy leaders charged with “conspiracy to commit subversion” after taking part in an unofficial primary election.

Prosecutors cited television interviews and WhatsApp messages with journalists from The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times as proof against her. Ms Mo has been behind bars for more than three years and is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty.

According to a former legislator who visits Ms. Mo in prison, she has studied French and taught English to fellow inmates, including the finer details of figures of speech such as “tell me about it” and “over the moon.”

Ms. Mo, a former journalist, was known as a moderate in the pro-democracy camp. When masked young protesters stormed the Legislative Council with makeshift battering rams in 2019, Ms. Mo was among a number of veteran politicians who urged protesters to stop.

“Please ask if it’s worth it,” she told one protester. “Think of your mother.”

Jimmy Lai, media mogul, in prison

Jimmy Lai, one of the Chinese Communist Party’s most outspoken critics, is on trial on national security charges.

For years, Chinese state media have labeled him a “CIA agent.” Prosecutors have portrayed him as the master conspirator behind the 2019 protests that roiled Hong Kong. Mr Lai has pleaded not guilty.

Mr Lai, who was born on the mainland and moved to Hong Kong at the age of 12, made his fortune through clothing. But after the Tiananmen massacre, Mr. Lai became a publisher and launched the Apple Daily newspaper in 1995, which became a platform for pro-democracy voices.

After Beijing imposed the 2020 security law, authorities raided the offices of Apple Daily and arrested Mr. Lai. The newspaper was forced to close in 2021 after several top editors and writers and a senior executive from Mr Lai’s media group were also charged with “conspiracy to commit collusion” with foreign forces. Those former employees did pleaded guilty.

“I believe that by delivering information in the media you are actually delivering freedom,” Mr Lai said in a 2020 interview with The Times.

Nathan Law, activist, in exile in London

Nathan Law was a student leader in the 2014 protests known as the Umbrella Movement, which called for freer elections. He became the city’s youngest elected lawmaker at the age of 23, but was soon disqualified. And in 2017, he was jailed on charges of inciting the 2014 street protests.

Mr Law escaped from Hong Kong shortly before the security law was passed and was granted asylum in Britain in 2021.

He is now one of the most prominent young Hong Kong activists abroad, often testifying before American and European lawmakers.

He recently organized Hong Kong March, a month-long cultural festival with film screenings, calligraphy classes and fairs in various cities across England. He is the founder of Hong Kong Umbrella Community, a non-profit organization focused on the Hong Kong diaspora.

“I think having independent cultural work is crucial to preserving our identity, history and sense of community,” he said in a telephone interview. “While we will undoubtedly be less connected to those in Hong Kong, we can at least be more connected to those abroad.”

Anna Kwok, activist, in exile in Washington, DC

Anna Kwok, a Washington activist, is one of 13 foreign dissidents that the Hong Kong government has placed a bounty of about $130,000 on and vowed to pursue “for life.” (The others include Mr Law and Mr Hui.)

She had helped educate the protesters remotely in 2019 hundreds of thousands of dollars anonymously as part of a crowdfunding campaign to pay for front-page newspaper advertisements criticize the government.

She later became executive director of the Hong Kong Democracy Council and urged the US government to ban John Lee, Hong Kong’s leader, from attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in San Francisco in November. She traveled to the summit to protest the presence of Xi Jinping, the Chinese leader.

In a telephone interview, Ms. Kwok said she was discouraged that the new security law had been passed without objection or protest. She worried that future generations would forget that many of the city’s residents had once fought hard for democracy.

“No matter how unfree the environment is, we can still keep our minds free,” she said. “And that is the freedom we must preserve.”

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British economic growth could approach US levels, Jeremy Hunt predicts ahead of inflation figures

Albert Elence — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 23:25:08 +0000

The British economy shrank by 0.3 percent in the last quarter of 2023
But Chancellor Jeremy Hunt remains optimistic the economy could grow to near US levels

By Harriet Line

Published: 6:41 PM EDT, March 19, 2024 | Updated: 6:57 PM EDT, March 19, 2024

British economic growth could approach US levels, the Chancellor predicted ahead of the publication of the latest inflation figures.

In a positive assessment of the economy, Jeremy Hunt said it was ‘absolutely possible’ that Britain could grow faster than Europe.

US GDP grew by 3.2 percent in the final quarter of 2023, figures show, while the British economy shrank by 0.3 percent. Economic growth in the eurozone was flat over the same period.

The U.S. economy defied fears of a recession, helped by a rate hike to curb inflation and a tight labor market that has kept wages high.

Appearing before colleagues on the Economic Affairs Committee yesterday, Mr Hunt spoke about efforts to increase productivity in the public and private sectors.

Jeremy Hunt speaks to Rishi Sunak after presenting the annual budget statement in the House of Commons on March 6

Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt take a break during a visit to a construction warehouse in London on March 6

He said: ‘If you look at our policy to increase private sector investment with the full tax breaks that we have announced, if you look at our nurturing of the technology sector, which I think is a great opportunity for Britain will be. moving forward.

“It is absolutely possible to healthily move our economic growth closer to U.S. growth levels compared to the growth levels of continental Europe.”

The Chancellor also said he does not believe the tax rate increases should be “irreversible.”

His comments come as inflation is expected to fall to a new low of almost two-and-a-half years today when official data for February is released.

Most economists expect Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures to show inflation fell to 3.5 per cent in February – down from 4 per cent in January and the lowest since September 2021, when this amounted to 3.1 percent.

It comes ahead of the Bank of England’s latest interest rate decision tomorrow, with policymakers expected to keep interest rates at 5.25 percent.

But another sharp decline in the consumer price index could strengthen expectations that the Bank is closer to a rate cut later this year.

In today’s Daily Mail – four years after the furlough scheme was introduced – the Prime Minister says the economy is ‘showing strong signs of recovery’.

Rishi Sunak says the plan has ‘successfully saved thousands of businesses from collapse and millions of jobs have been lost’, and that ‘we have now really turned a corner’.

‘The furlough protected jobs and, thanks to our success in bringing stability to the economy, controlling inflation and reining in spending, we are well on our way to sustainably lower taxes.

‘We started that journey in the autumn with a 2p National Insurance discount worth £450 for the average worker on £35,400 a year. And the Chancellor has cut taxes again for this month, which now means 27 million workers will get an average tax cut of around £900 a year.”

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Meghan Markle will ‘make six figures’ within weeks of launching American Riviera Orchard, brand experts claim – adding it was ‘no coincidence’ the glossy lifestyle business launched at the same time as the Diana Legacy Awards

Sabir Ansary — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 18:41:39 +0000

Meghan Markle is likely to make six figures within weeks of officially launching American Riviera Orchard, a brand expert claims.

After the 42-year-old Duchess of Sussex’s explosive return to social media last night, where she opened the account for her lifestyle and cooking brand, royal fans have gone into panic mode.

And while little information has been released about what American Riviera Orchard has to offer, brand expert Hayley Knight says the anticipation for the products and content will serve the company well in the early months.

She added that it was “not coincidental” that the Duchess launched the brand on the same day her husband Prince Harry was due to appear via video message at the Diana Legacy Awards, teasing fans with a “glitter” of information , she built anticipation for what the brand has to offer.

Hayley also said it “makes sense” that the Duchess has decided to launch a lifestyle brand following the success of rival A-list brands such as Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop and Kourtney Kardashian’s Poosh, adding that the Duchess “wants to position herself among celebrity counterparts places’ .

The Duchess of Sussex, 42, will ‘make six figures’ within weeks after the first American Riviera Orchard products are released, a brand expert claims

Speaking to FEMAIL, Hayley said: ‘We have seen in the past that everything Meghan wears, promotes and sells out immediately, and there are websites dedicated to ‘What Meghan Wears’ demonstrating her brand power.”

She added that Meghan had “incredibly strong” instincts when it came to PR and marketing, and “wouldn’t have launched this if she didn’t think it would work.”

So far, little has been shared about what American Riviera Orchard will look like when it officially launches, but Hayley thinks it’s safe to assume it will target “the mid-to-upper market,” with Meghan’ leans on the brand and her personal style’. .

American Riviera Orchard was officially launched Thursday evening on Instagram and via a website

The Duchess’s new lifestyle and cooking brand was launched on Instagram last night with a glossy Instagram video

Hayley predicted: ‘I’m sure we can expect homely, yet stylish, unique, modern designs for the stylish and contemporary home, with undertones of spirituality and mindfulness.’

The branding expert admitted that it is difficult to say how much the Duchess will earn from the American Riviera Orchard as no products or prices have been released yet.

But she predicted: ‘Meghan will definitely see rapid success once the store launches. We have seen in previous celebrity launches that demand is incredibly high and the products sell quickly.”

She added that Meghan will likely start selling her “own range” of products that she claims she will use herself, which will be “a popular selling point.”

“I can’t imagine Meghan making less than six figures within the first few weeks of opening, if not in the first week of selling globally,” she said.

As for brand collaborations on social media, Hayley said Meghan is unlikely to make money through paid partnerships, as the Sussexes will likely only use social media to promote the brand, rather than returning to platforms with their own accounts.

However, she added, “There’s a chance she could do interviews, though, and IG lives with other people in the industry, and if they get paid opportunities, she could make over $1 million per post.”

American Riviera Orchard was launched on Instagram and via the new website on Thursday evening with a slick video for the brand, in which Meghan mixed batter in a bowl in her kitchen.

An ‘authentic fit’ for Meghan

Ben Austin, founder of celebrity partner agency RollerSix, said: “If I were to lead the whiteboard session with Meghan on what product suite she could bring to market, my gut feeling is that this could be a compelling piece as it is an area that not many celebrities have moved to and it fits well with Meghan’s brand.

“Not just because of style and positioning, but there are many existing retail partners that align with the Meghan brand and would be behind the distribution of this type of product range. It feels like an authentic place in an unsaturated space, and celebrity brands need to: 1. Be authentic. 2. In a space you can own and that isn’t in a sea of lookalikes. We just facilitated a partnership with Gwyneth Paltrow and a meditation platform, as she is the Queen of Wellbeing, so it was a very natural fit

“To understand how successful this will be, we need to look at the entire business from production, supply chain, margin, operations and then distribution. Retail always takes a large share (but gives it reach) and then there’s direct-to-consumer (which is all its revenue, but requires a machine to finance, iterate and scale ). She’s currently keeping her cards close to her chest, so we’ll be curious to see how she plays this one.”

Another frame showed her picking plush roses from a posy.

Insiders told the Daily Mail that the company would become a “lifestyle and cooking brand” that would focus on things Meghan holds dear.

It’s fitting that the Duchess’s venture includes cooking and food, something she has shown a passion for in the past.

In 2018, while living in Britain as a working royal, Meghan bonded with Grenfell Tower fire survivors when she joined a community kitchen in the area and had no qualms about helping out preparing meals.

The Sussexes’ explosive Netflix series revealed that Meghan remains in touch with the community today, despite now living in California.

The Duchess has also previously contributed recipes to charity cookbooks, including a lemon tart in The World Central Kitchen Cookbook: Feeding Humanity, Feeding Hope, published last year.

Brand expert Emily Austen advised Meghan to ‘remove herself from the brand’.

“It should come as no surprise that Meghan Markle has jumped on the wellness brand bandwagon, despite her apparent aversion to neutral tones during her time in Britain,” she told FEMAIL.

“Meghan and Harry have encouraged a family story as a couple, and Meghan has delved into kitchen-based brand moments, such as her cookbook; Together. She famously woke up at 5am to practice yoga at Buckingham Palace, and wrote in The Tig (her former blog and lifestyle website) about taking Ashwaganda in the early days of her relationship with Harry to keep her calm.

‘The LA, clean living aesthetic has been thoroughly thought through by wellness titans like Jessica Alba, Gwyneth Paltrow and Poosh. Less than 24 hours after her new brand announcement, the dedicated Instagram page had just under 350,000 new followers, although there were no product teasers yet.

“Instagram is a hugely lucrative platform for celebrities, and it is widely predicted by brand experts that Meghan will find her way onto it. In the US in particular, the home goods category has exploded, especially since Covid. Baking, table decorating, flower arranging and other healthy household activities have dominated social media and become lucrative additions to high street stores such as Zara and H&M.

“Meghan is a divine character and public opinion lands differently depending on your geographical location. The success of her brand will likely depend on the positioning of the products and the price. The initial branding suggests that the price point for these products is trending towards the higher end. The market is incredibly competitive, with many brands taking ownership of specific categories, rather than the entire house. Success stories include Our Place, which recently collaborated with Selena Gomez. Markle can expect a lot of interest in her brand initially, but the reality of achieving long-term success will take considerably more than a press release and an Instagram sneak peak.

‘It is understood that Meghan will be selling her own products on the website, rather than other brands, but she can expect to see a lot of interest from brand collaborations and partnerships. This will come at a high cost, but will also dilute the purity of the message about its own brand. My advice, which I will give despite not being asked, would be to remove Meghan from the visual language and brand as much as possible.

“Whatever you think about her, she is incredibly divisive and not universally loved. It’s risky to integrate yourself so intrinsically with a brand, given the relationship it has with its audience.

‘I would also change the name; it’s hard to spell, long-winded and looks like a country club wedding invitation. Maybe she got the inspiration from sitting in the Rosewood in Montecito, which is also home to a permanent Goop store…

‘Celebrity is without a doubt a huge driver of short-term success; Kylie Cosmetics, Skims, Rhode by Hailey Bieber. However, it does not guarantee long-term success. Celebrities like these can make millions of pounds from posting on social media, and generate huge sales as a result of their cult status.

“For Meghan to make money on Instagram, she needs an engaged, interested audience, with purchasing power. A product that is really needed, powerful images and messages that actually connect with those who look at it, instead of an inauthentic attitude.

‘I wouldn’t expect a company like this to make a profit certainly in the first twelve months, but it is unclear at this stage whether there has been any external investment, who actually runs the company and what the launch plan is. e.g. D2C through to website.

‘A smart move would be to partner with the established people in this space, to ensure audience share and increase credibility. Whether or not others are up for this remains to be seen,” she added.

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Tabcorp CEO Adam Rytenskild is forced to resign ‘after allegedly making offensive and sexual comments about female racing figures’

Albert Elence — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 09:22:59 +0000

Do you know more? Email tips@dailymail.com

By the Australian Associated Press

Published: 04:00 EDT, March 14, 2024 | Updated: 05:09 EDT, March 14, 2024

The CEO and managing director of Tabcorp is stepping down after using inappropriate and offensive language, allegedly referring to a female racing figure.

Adam Rytenskild, who is paid more than $2 million a year and also owns $3.36 million in stock, has resigned and will step down immediately, Tabcorp said Thursday.

The betting giant said its board became aware of “inappropriate and offensive language used by Mr Rytenskild in the workplace” and felt it was inconsistent with his continued leadership.

The comment was said to have been offensive and sexual in nature and referred to a woman in the racing industry who was not present in the room, the Daily telegram reported.

His resignation will cost him as much as $10 million in unvested stock and options.

Adam Rytenskild has submitted his resignation and will step down immediately, Tabcorp said on Thursday. He is pictured with David and Candice Warner

“I do not recall making the alleged comment and it is not language I would normally use, but I have unfortunately agreed to resign,” Mr Rytenskild said in Tabcorp’s announcement.

The company did not specify what the language was and said it would make no further comment regarding the conduct to protect the privacy of those involved.

Mr. Rytenskild will receive only the severance benefits required by law and his contract and will forfeit any unvested short- and long-term incentive awards, Tabcorp said.

Adam Rytenskild is pictured presenting a trophy to trainer Annabel Neasham

Tabcorp chairman Bruce Akhurst will take on additional duties as executive chairman, effective immediately, while the company conducts a search for a new CEO and managing director.

‘The board regrets that Mr Rytenskild’s employment has ended in this way and recognizes his commitment to the growth of Tabcorp for more than twenty years, including the last two years as MD and CEO, and his contribution to the transformation of the company,” said Mr Akhurst.

Mr Rytenskild said Tabcorp had been a big part of his life for many years and he believed in the journey the company was on.

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Staggering extra taxes Brits will have to pay by 2030 compared to 2010 figures

Jeffrey Bailey — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 00:19:06 +0000

Britain will pay £104 billion in extra taxes by the end of this decade compared to the last, experts have warned.

Even if Jeremy Hunt cuts levies in next week’s budget, this will only offset part of the record rise in tax revenue.

Britain will have to pay a further £104 billion in taxes by the end of this decadeCredit: Getty

Despite recent cuts to National Insurance, analysis shows that taxes this year will be £66 billion higher than if revenues had remained at 2018-19 levels.

Forecasts show that, with a number of previous tax increases still to be implemented, revenues as a percentage of national income will total £104 billion greater in 2028-29 than they were a decade earlier.

Expert Carl Emmerson of the Institute for Fiscal Studies said: “Have we now raised taxes as a share of national income because we didn’t in the 2010s?”

The increase is fueled by the freezing of the thresholds in direct taxes on private individuals, the IFS says.

Tory MP Kevin Foster said: “A higher tax burden gives workers less incentive and reward.”

A Treasury spokesperson said: “Total departmental spending after inflation between 2028 and 2029 will be £85 billion higher than at the start of this Parliament.”

Meanwhile, cuts in stamp duty for homebuyers must be Chancellor Hunt’s priority to help boost budget growth, the IFS has warned.

The duty ‘heats the market’ and prevents new people and young people from getting on the ladder.

Tax cuts indicate ‘nonsense’ from Chancellor and £6m Sadiq – Today’s 60-Second Briefing

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The rising cost of liquor may have contributed to a surprising increase in the new inflation figures

Jeffrey Bailey — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 00:03:15 +0000

THE rising cost of spirits may have contributed to a surprise rise in today's latest inflation figure.

Economists expect the consumer price index to rise from 4 percent in December to 4.2 in January.

The rising cost of liquor may have contributed to a surprising increase in the latest inflation rateCredit: Cris Canton

Some of that increase will be due to rising prices of favorite drinks, with so-called gin inflation set to almost double in the six months to December.

The price of spirits rose five percent over the year to July, but by December liquor inflation had risen to 8.9 percent for the year.

Beverage makers said the price increases were due to the 10.1 percent excise tax hike imposed by the government in August.

British spirits such as gin and Scotch whiskey are the most highly taxed category of alcohol in Britain, with 80 percent of the price of a bottle claimed by the Treasury.

The liquor industry said it was time for a duty cut.

Co-founder of Copper Rivet Distillery and spokesperson for the UK Spirits Alliance, Stephen Russellf, said: “The Chancellor must cut duty in the March Budget to avoid further unnecessary pressure on household budgets.

“Reducing excise duties would be good news for consumers struggling with rising costs, but also good news for a hospitality sector that deals almost daily with news of locations closing with few visitors.”

He added that this would be good news for distillers after last year's record tax increase.

More than £12 in duty is charged on the average price of three UK one-litre bottles of spirits, but in France it is £6.45. and in Spain it is only £3.32.

Brand new anti-theft measure catches thieves who simply use their phone in store – and all customers will be affected

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White dress for the bride? A tiered cake with figures of the happy couple on it? How Queen Victoria Was Britain's First Wedding Influencer…

Sabir Ansary — Sat, 10 Feb 2024 11:05:20 +0000

She was probably the most happily married monarch in British history, enjoying 21 years of blissful union with her beloved husband Prince Albert.

So it's fitting that Queen Victoria was the first wedding influencer, who not only changed the face of bridal fashion, but also changed royal weddings forever.

On this day, February 10, 1840, the 20-year-old queen's wedding set off new trends that continue to this day, including wearing white and having a huge cake.

She also started the tradition of the royal family traveling to the ceremony in a carriage, past well-wishers lining the streets.

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were married at St James's Palace on February 10, 1840

Victoria did not intend to have an elaborate ceremony and preferred to marry privately. But the then Prime Minister convinced her otherwise

Victoria bucked convention by choosing to wear a white satin and lace dress designed by William Dyce

Yet the young Victoria – who had only been on the throne for three years when she married her beloved cousin Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha – had not wanted a public wedding at all.

She had hoped to follow the usual royal style and say her vows privately in a small evening ceremony, as so many kings and queens before her had done.

But her Prime Minister Lord Melbourne had other ideas and convinced her that a bigger affair allowing her subjects to take part in the celebrations would boost her – already considerable – popularity.

Her wedding even became a national event, with even Charles Dickens commenting on the excitement.

“Society here has been disrupted by Her Majesty's marriage, and I am sorry to say that I have fallen hopelessly in love with the Queen,” he joked in a letter to a friend.

The Chapel Royal of St James's Palace was chosen for the ceremony and Lord Melbourne convinced her to ride in a carriage from Buckingham Palace so that her subjects could catch a glimpse of the royal bride-to-be, while the police pushed back any rowdy spectators.

And as if the sight of their monarch being transported in a golden carriage wasn't exciting enough, Victoria caught their attention for other reasons: she was dressed in white and wore no crown or tiara.

Most women at the time wore brightly colored dresses on their wedding day that could be recycled for other occasions because white was impractical and required cleaning.

Brides who did choose white usually came from wealthy families. “Before bleaching techniques were mastered, white was a rare and expensive color, more a symbol of wealth than of purity,” says her biographer Julia Baird.

But Victoria chose the color because she wanted to emphasize the delicate lace trim, which she had commissioned and handmade in Honiton, Devon, to boost the British bobbin lace industry.

White wedding dresses soon became the norm after her marriage, and interest in lace increased after Victoria demonstrated their skills (although Victoria's lace pattern was said to have been destroyed so the template could not be copied).

She also requested that no one else – apart from her twelve bridesmaids – wear the color, so as not to detract from the impact of her appearance and the etiquette we still follow today.

The dress itself was partly designed by the Pre-Raphaelite artist William Dyce and is made from cream-coloured satin woven in Spitalfields, the historic center of London's silk industry.

The veil, which matched the flounce of the dress, was four meters long and almost one meter wide.

She also opted for a 21-foot white satin court train instead of the crimson velvet state robe, a romantic gesture that appealed to the public's idea of her as less of a monarch and more of an adoring and innocent bride.

Victoria completed her outfit with flat white satin slippers, goat gloves and, instead of wearing a crown, she opted for an orange blossom and myrtle wreath – the latter of which has been included at every British royal wedding since.

Although it is not known whether Victoria wore something borrowed, her dress and veil were new and she certainly wore something blue: a large sapphire brooch surrounded by diamonds that Albert had given her as a wedding gift and was later worn by the late Queen Elizabeth.

She also wore earrings and a necklace made of diamonds given to her by the Turkish sultan in 1838.

After the ceremony, the royal newlyweds returned to Buckingham Palace, where they stole half an hour alone together before the wedding breakfast. Victoria gave Albert a ring and he told her that they should never keep secrets from each other.

Victoria also swapped her wedding dress for a white swan dress for the wedding banquet.

The centerpiece was their wedding cake, a three-tiered tour de force weighing 300 pounds, measuring 10 feet in diameter and 18 inches high.

The scale of Victoria's cake was new, and adding to the spectacle were some of the first cake toppers – figures representing Britannia and the royal newlyweds themselves in classical costume. This led to a trend among couples to add bride and groom figures to their cakes.

At four in the afternoon, the Queen and her new husband left for Windsor Castle, where they would honeymoon for a total of two days.

Their wedding night got off to an inauspicious start when Victoria sat down on the couch with a pounding headache.

But it seems she was revived enough to write in her diary later. “I have NEVER, EVER spent an evening like this! MY DEAR DEAR Albert sat on a footstool beside me, and his excessive love and affection gave me feelings of heavenly love and happiness such as I could never hope to have felt before.

An artistic representation of the couple on their wedding day. After the ceremony, a wedding breakfast was held at Buckingham Palace – but not before the newlyweds stole half an hour to be together

The bride put on her second dress of the day the day before the party

The wedding cake was huge, weighing 300 pounds and measuring 18 inches high. It was decorated with figures of Britannia plus the bride and groom, surrounded by cupids

'He took me in his arms and we kissed again and again! His beauty, his sweetness and gentleness, how can I ever be grateful enough to have such a husband! Oh! This was the happiest day of my life!'

The couple, who had nine children, was happily married until his death on December 14, 1861.

Victoria has recycled her wedding wardrobe many times over the years, wearing her lace flounce and veil for her children's baptisms and her Diamond Jubilee portrait.

And when Victoria died, her bridal veil was placed over her face for the funeral.

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Inflation figures Australia: Major development in the battle for the cost of living in the country

Albert Elence — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 01:11:05 +0000

Inflation fell to 4.1 percent through December
This represented a large drop from 5.4 percent in September
Consumer price index now at its lowest level in two years

By Stephen Johnson, economics reporter for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 7:38 PM EST, January 30, 2024 | Updated: 8:06 PM EST, January 30, 2024

Inflation has fallen significantly to a two-year low, just months before Australians are due to receive their tax cuts.

The consumer price index fell to 4.1 percent in the year to December, down from 5.4 percent year-on-year in September.

This was the lowest headline inflation rate since December 2021, when it stood at 3.5 percent after lockdowns in Sydney and Melbourne but before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which sent petrol prices soaring.

Headline inflation has delivered a downward surprise, with price pressures easing after the Reserve Bank of Australia raised rates for the 13th time in 18 months in November, taking the cash rate to a 12-year high of 4.35 percent to stand.

An easing of the CPI could also potentially mean rate cuts in 2024, should the RBA revise its forecasts for inflation to return to the top of its 2 to 3 percent target before December 2025.

Inflation has fallen significantly just months before Australians are set to receive some generous tax cuts (pictured is a Sydney Woolworths shopper)

The latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics has been released a week after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that Labor would review his Liberal predecessor Scott Morrison's phase three tax cut policy, bringing more relief to low- and middle-income earners from July 1 flow.

Prices for some items even fell in 2023, with clothes and shoes 1.1 per cent cheaper over the year as Australian consumers flocked to November's Black Friday sales rather than leave their Christmas shopping until December.

The latest inflation data was released a day after official data showed retail sales fell 2.7 percent in December.

But some items are still a lot more expensive, as tobacco prices rose 7 percent last year.

This was the lowest headline inflation rate since December 2021, when it stood at 3.5 percent after the lockdowns in Sydney and Melbourne, but before Russia's invasion of Ukraine sent petrol prices soaring (pictured is a Sydney petrol station in August 2023).

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I rake in 6 figures a YEAR from a bedroom gig catering to celebrities

Jeffrey Bailey — Sat, 27 Jan 2024 21:36:00 +0000

AN ENTREPRENEUR who launched his side hustle seven years ago is now in charge of three companies.

David Soffer started freelance writing at the age of 23 and has now built an impressive six-figure empire with his small, self-funded business at the age of 31.

David and his team now see the company making six figures a yearCredit: David Soffer

The company's founder discovered his passion for digital marketing and in 2016 created a platform to promote startups in a way the industry had never done before.

TechRound was born from David and the vision of a previous co-founder, but it only served as a “loss maker” before growing into the success it is today – working with big names like Pelaton, Amazon and Uber.

Founder and editor-in-chief David told The Sun Online: “It was a side hustle that started in 2016 and lasted until about 2020, but now it's a business in its own right.

“It used to not be a team, it was just me and a former co-founder, but now there's a team of four or five people.

“It's a side issue that went well. Originally it was just going to be a way to make some money on the side.

“I started freelancing when I was about 23 and didn't go on holiday very often, friends did and I only earned about £200-£300 a month.

“I just thought I had to work and work to make this happen.”

David explained that it has been a long and difficult road for his company to achieve its goals.

“It was a loss maker for a while, it was a side project and we tried to keep losses down,” he said.

“When it started making a profit, it was a few hundred here or there. Then it was a few thousand here and there.”

And the hard work paid off: David and his team now see the company raking in six figures a year.

“It's doing six figures a year. It's 100 percent profitable now,” he said.

“It's been a very nice success story so far, no one really talks to start-ups and discovers them like we do.

“We've done stuff for Pelaton, Amazon, Toyota, Axa, Uber and some really big brands. That was never the intention when we started.

“Once we were able to hire some more staff, it grew and grew and grew. In 2020, because of Covid, I made the decision to pay more attention to it.”

Speaking of TechRound, the founder described what he likes about the work.

“There are all kinds of startups that don't get the attention they deserve, and they can find them through TechRound. National Press collects them from us.

“People contact me and say we changed their lives.

“My favorite part of the job is reporting on the sector in a way that is not done.

“And also growing a profitable business, it's not easy.”

BUSINESS TIPS FOR FELLOW SIDE HUSTLERS

David gave his golden advice to potential entrepreneurs like himself.

The businessman also runs another successful company called GlobMed – a medical startup.

“Growing a company and seeing the growth is incredibly fun,” he said.

“It's easy to get distracted, everyone is fighting for attention, so my advice is to stay focused on something.

“It's easy to say that there are so many things happening that you spend a little bit of time on each one, and it's just as easy to say that you put everything into something.

“But both approaches run the risk of doing nothing at all. The balance between saying I'll focus but spreading my bets a bit is very valuable.”

Running three businesses means the 31-year-old doesn't find much time to relax – a scam he warned other side hustlers about.

He confessed: “I don't get much time to relax, not enough and that's a problem.

'Unless you have someone who just finances you without any obligations, that is the reality.

“I am proud of the fact that TechRound has never had any funding, it is all self-funded and self-sustaining.

“There is sacrifice. You may see people on social media saying they grew their business in six months to a year, but there are things they don't tell you.

“It's a long, uphill battle to really start it from scratch, but once it starts playing, it's worth it.”

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The number of Covid cases has fallen by two-thirds in a month, encouraging figures show

Jeffrey Bailey — Sat, 27 Jan 2024 11:45:08 +0000

Figures show that the number of COVID cases has fallen by two-thirds in a month.

There were 31,933 positive tests counted in the UK yesterday – a fall of 66 per cent from 94,326 on January 25.

The number of Covid cases has fallen by 66 percent in the past monthCredit: Alamy

Cases in England, where restrictions have been lifted, have also fallen by a third from last week.

The number of Covid hospital admissions is also falling. The average is now below 1,000 per day, after peaking above 2,000 in January.

And the UK daily death average, calculated over a week, is 121.

That is the lowest since the 110 on New Year's Eve. On February 8 there were 257.

Prof. Steven Riley of the UK Health Security Agency confirmed the falls, but warned: “The virus is still with us and remains a threat.”

The Office for National Statistics estimates there are around 290,000 new infections per day.

The much lower official figures indicate that many people do not get sick or test at home.

It comes as the UKHSA said the spin-off BA.2 variant has overtaken Omicron as England's dominant strain.

Experts do not expect this to cause additional problems, because it is very similar.

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