Filming for Gavin and Stacey‘s “finale” in Barry has wrapped up this week, with co-creator Ruth Jones having shared a special message for fans in the community on the last day. It was announced earlier this year that the BBC sitcom will return at Christmas for its first new episode since the last special aired…
AUSTIN, Texas — Get ready, book lovers! The highly anticipated lineup for the 2024 Texas Book Festival has just been announced.The festival will showcase over 275 esteemed and award-winning authors nationwide.This beloved literary celebration will occur in downtown Austin on November 16–17.MORE |Concerned parents and pastors rally to remove ‘inappropriate’ books from Leander ISDIt will offer a weekend packed with captivating programs and essential conversations about the latest works from some of today’s brightest literary talents.While attendance at the festival is always free, this year introduces two special ticketed events featuring headlining authors Malcolm Gladwell, known for his book Revenge of the Tipping Point, and Matthew McConaughey, discussing his bestseller Greenlights.ALSO |Matthew McConaughey on his new book, ‘Greenlights,’ and what he sees ahead for AustinAttendees are encouraged to secure their tickets early to ensure their spot at these exclusive events.For those eager to stay informed, the best way to receive the latest updates, including a detailed schedule this October, is to subscribe to the TBF newsletter at texasbookfestival.org/subscribe.
When I first got glasses, I remember feeling a sense of shock. Everything was so clear and crisp and at first it felt almost too much. Was this what the world really looked like?Well, I feel like that’s what’s happening with many of the people who want to ban books. It’s like they just got forced to put on a pair of glasses. Because the books they want banned are books that show heroes can be any race or gender, stories that tell the untold but true history of our country, stories that let kids feel and see their own world and the worlds outside of their own. And seeing all that so clearly is uncomfortable.But also very necessary.To kids, the books that are being banned are like the glasses I wear. Just like when I looked at a tree and could finally see every leaf, these books help kids look at their community and see every human. These books can give them a clear, truer view of the world all around us.The people who are trying to ban books are, in a sense, trying to withhold glasses from a whole generation of kids. Banning these books will permanently damage their perception of the world to the extent that they cannot — will not — recognize the humanity of their own communities.A couple of my books books have been pulled from some library shelves.Two years ago, in Jamestown, Michigan, because the library there would not censor LGBTQ+ themed books, residents voted to de-fund it. As of now, the library is dependent on outside donations. If a new measure is not passed this election, it’s possible the area will be without this community space. The ultimate heartbreaking message the original voters seemed to send is — we would rather sacrifice community than see that LGBTQ+ people are human.The refusal to see others hurts us all. I don’t have all the answers, but I know that we must not just push back against book banners. We must also push back our fear of them.We must not quietly choose different books because we are afraid someone might get upset, because it is easier or because we don’t want to make waves. We must instead support educators and booksellers who are under attack.And, most of all, we must try to get as many of these diverse books to as many kids as possible, so that they can see the world as it truly is. Children’s author and illustrator Grace Lin lives in Florence, Massachusetts and is a member of Authors Against Book Bans.
Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Saigontourist Group, one of Vietnam’s largest multi-service travel corporations, to drive tourism development in Thailand and Vietnam through strategic promotions, enhanced services, and the creation of innovative tourism products.
Under the terms of the MOU, Dusit International and Saigontourist Group will share technical expertise, experience, and best practices to help elevate the quality and effectiveness of tourism services in both countries. The two companies will also explore opportunities for joint hotel development and promote each other’s tourism offerings at major events, festivals, and travel fairs.
Thailand remains a significant source market for Vietnam’s tourism industry, and Saigontourist Group’s expansive portfolio of hotels, resorts, entertainment venues, and conference facilities across Vietnam welcomes thousands of Thai visitors each year. Likewise, Thailand is a popular destination for Vietnamese travellers. In 2023 and the first half of 2024, Saigontourist Travel Service Company arranged trips for approximately 15,400 Vietnamese tourists to experience Thailand’s top destinations, including Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, and Phuket, where Dusit Hotels and Resorts has a strong presence.
Alongside its fast-growing portfolio of global hotels and resorts, Dusit is also a key player in hospitality education, with Dusit Thani College, The Food School, and Le Cordon Bleu Dusit Culinary School developing top talent for Dusit Hotels and Resorts and the industry at large. Leveraging this, Dusit International and Saigontourist Group will seek to coordinate efforts in education and training for tourism operations to ensure their respective workforces remain at the forefront of industry standards.
“We are delighted to partner with Saigontourist Group to strengthen tourism ties between Thailand and Vietnam,” said Mr Gilles Cretallaz, Chief Operating Officer, Dusit International. “More than just a business agreement, this strategic alliance is a commitment to fostering mutual growth, cultural exchange, and sustainable development in the tourism sector. Our collaboration will undoubtedly lead to new opportunities and innovations, benefiting both our organisations and the tourism industries of Vietnam and Thailand.”
Mr Truong Duc Hung, General Director, Saigontourist Group, said, “I believe that through close collaboration and leveraging the growth potential of both groups, we will achieve outstanding success in tourism development, thereby contributing to the socio-economic advancement of both Vietnam and Thailand.”
Dusit’s portfolio now includes 301 properties operating across 18 countries, including 57 properties under Dusit Hotels and Resorts and 244 luxury villas under Elite Havens, the leading provider of luxury villa rentals in Asia, which Dusit acquired in 2018. In Vietnam, Dusit operates Dusit Princess Moonrise Beach Resort Phu Quoc and is set to open Dusit Le Palais Tu Hoa in Hanoi next year.
Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Saigontourist Group, one of Vietnam’s largest multi-service travel corporations, to drive tourism development in Thailand and Vietnam through strategic promotions, enhanced services, and the creation of innovative tourism products.
Under the terms of the MOU, Dusit International and Saigontourist Group will share technical expertise, experience, and best practices to help elevate the quality and effectiveness of tourism services in both countries. The two companies will also explore opportunities for joint hotel development and promote each other’s tourism offerings at major events, festivals, and travel fairs.
Thailand remains a significant source market for Vietnam’s tourism industry, and Saigontourist Group’s expansive portfolio of hotels, resorts, entertainment venues, and conference facilities across Vietnam welcomes thousands of Thai visitors each year. Likewise, Thailand is a popular destination for Vietnamese travellers. In 2023 and the first half of 2024, Saigontourist Travel Service Company arranged trips for approximately 15,400 Vietnamese tourists to experience Thailand’s top destinations, including Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, and Phuket, where Dusit Hotels and Resorts has a strong presence.
Alongside its fast-growing portfolio of global hotels and resorts, Dusit is also a key player in hospitality education, with Dusit Thani College, The Food School, and Le Cordon Bleu Dusit Culinary School developing top talent for Dusit Hotels and Resorts and the industry at large. Leveraging this, Dusit International and Saigontourist Group will seek to coordinate efforts in education and training for tourism operations to ensure their respective workforces remain at the forefront of industry standards.
“We are delighted to partner with Saigontourist Group to strengthen tourism ties between Thailand and Vietnam,” said Mr Gilles Cretallaz, Chief Operating Officer, Dusit International. “More than just a business agreement, this strategic alliance is a commitment to fostering mutual growth, cultural exchange, and sustainable development in the tourism sector. Our collaboration will undoubtedly lead to new opportunities and innovations, benefiting both our organisations and the tourism industries of Vietnam and Thailand.”
Mr Truong Duc Hung, General Director, Saigontourist Group, said, “I believe that through close collaboration and leveraging the growth potential of both groups, we will achieve outstanding success in tourism development, thereby contributing to the socio-economic advancement of both Vietnam and Thailand.”
Dusit’s portfolio now includes 301 properties operating across 18 countries, including 57 properties under Dusit Hotels and Resorts and 244 luxury villas under Elite Havens, the leading provider of luxury villa rentals in Asia, which Dusit acquired in 2018. In Vietnam, Dusit operates Dusit Princess Moonrise Beach Resort Phu Quoc and is set to open Dusit Le Palais Tu Hoa in Hanoi next year.
Batumi’s real estate market has significantly transformed over the past decade, closely tied to the city’s burgeoning tourism sector. This connection has, in turn, created unique opportunities in the residential apartment segment.
Tourism Growth and Its Impact
Batumi has had a remarkable evolution as a tourist destination over the last decade and a half. It attracted fewer than 1 million visitors in 2010, yet by 2016 the numbers surged to 3 million and grew to an impressive 4.2 million by 2019. Despite global tourism sector challenges in 2020, Batumi demonstrated resilience, with foreign visitor numbers increasing by 28% in 2023 compared to the previous year.
The tourism boom has directly influenced the real estate market. The influx of visitors has created a robust short-term rental market, while also driving long-term property value appreciation, and the demand for apartments started growing exponentially year to year.
Strategic Importance of Apartment Investments
Investing in Batumi’s apartment market has become increasingly attractive for several reasons:
1. Strong rental demand from tourists
2. Potential for year-round income as winter tourism and business travel grow
3. Capital appreciation in prime locations
4. Portfolio diversification opportunities in an emerging market
5. Relatively affordable entry points compared to other European coastal resorts
Key Considerations for Investors
When considering apartment investments in Batumi, investors should focus on:
1. Location: Proximity to the sea, boulevard, or city center
2. Property type: From studios to larger units with sea views
3. Quality and amenities: Higher-quality finishes can command premium rents
4. Legal framework: Georgia’s favorable laws for foreign property ownership
5. Property management: Options for self-management or using local companies
Apartments in Batumi at OKTO ART HOUSE were conceived with these markers in mind and are designed to offer all the major benefits of the evolving real estate market. Located 500 meters from the sea in the New Boulevard area, this elite residential complex offers over 1600 apartments across two blocks. It represents the trend towards high-quality, amenity-rich projects catering to both short-term rentals and long-term residences.
Future Outlook
Batumi’s apartment market keeps showing strong potential for continued growth. On top of it, the infrastructure is developing rapidly to support increasing tourist numbers and resident population. As the market matures, early investors are positioned to benefit the most from capital appreciation.
On the other hand, future developments will grow more constrained and the growth will need to be balanced with sustainability to maintain Batumi’s appeal. Economic trends in Georgia specifically, and the region as a whole, are bound to influence tourism flows and, consequently, the real estate market. Despite these considerations, currently, Batumi is one of the most attractive European destinations for both tourists and real estate investors and is highly likely to remain so.
Batumi’s real estate market, driven by tourism growth, offers exciting opportunities for apartment investors. The city’s trajectory as a tourist destination, combined with affordable entry points and a favorable investment climate, makes it attractive for domestic and international investors alike. However. success in this market is not a slam dunk and will depend on careful property selection, understanding local dynamics, and maintaining a long-term perspective.
Yet, as Batumi evolves into a world-class destination, timely and strategic apartment investments have a high potential to offer attractive returns while contributing to the city’s ongoing transformation.
Batumi’s real estate market has significantly transformed over the past decade, closely tied to the city’s burgeoning tourism sector. This connection has, in turn, created unique opportunities in the residential apartment segment.
Tourism Growth and Its Impact
Batumi has had a remarkable evolution as a tourist destination over the last decade and a half. It attracted fewer than 1 million visitors in 2010, yet by 2016 the numbers surged to 3 million and grew to an impressive 4.2 million by 2019. Despite global tourism sector challenges in 2020, Batumi demonstrated resilience, with foreign visitor numbers increasing by 28% in 2023 compared to the previous year.
The tourism boom has directly influenced the real estate market. The influx of visitors has created a robust short-term rental market, while also driving long-term property value appreciation, and the demand for apartments started growing exponentially year to year.
Strategic Importance of Apartment Investments
Investing in Batumi’s apartment market has become increasingly attractive for several reasons:
1. Strong rental demand from tourists
2. Potential for year-round income as winter tourism and business travel grow
3. Capital appreciation in prime locations
4. Portfolio diversification opportunities in an emerging market
5. Relatively affordable entry points compared to other European coastal resorts
Key Considerations for Investors
When considering apartment investments in Batumi, investors should focus on:
1. Location: Proximity to the sea, boulevard, or city center
2. Property type: From studios to larger units with sea views
3. Quality and amenities: Higher-quality finishes can command premium rents
4. Legal framework: Georgia’s favorable laws for foreign property ownership
5. Property management: Options for self-management or using local companies
Apartments in Batumi at OKTO ART HOUSE were conceived with these markers in mind and are designed to offer all the major benefits of the evolving real estate market. Located 500 meters from the sea in the New Boulevard area, this elite residential complex offers over 1600 apartments across two blocks. It represents the trend towards high-quality, amenity-rich projects catering to both short-term rentals and long-term residences.
Future Outlook
Batumi’s apartment market keeps showing strong potential for continued growth. On top of it, the infrastructure is developing rapidly to support increasing tourist numbers and resident population. As the market matures, early investors are positioned to benefit the most from capital appreciation.
On the other hand, future developments will grow more constrained and the growth will need to be balanced with sustainability to maintain Batumi’s appeal. Economic trends in Georgia specifically, and the region as a whole, are bound to influence tourism flows and, consequently, the real estate market. Despite these considerations, currently, Batumi is one of the most attractive European destinations for both tourists and real estate investors and is highly likely to remain so.
Batumi’s real estate market, driven by tourism growth, offers exciting opportunities for apartment investors. The city’s trajectory as a tourist destination, combined with affordable entry points and a favorable investment climate, makes it attractive for domestic and international investors alike. However. success in this market is not a slam dunk and will depend on careful property selection, understanding local dynamics, and maintaining a long-term perspective.
Yet, as Batumi evolves into a world-class destination, timely and strategic apartment investments have a high potential to offer attractive returns while contributing to the city’s ongoing transformation.
Paramount
There was never a time when Denzel Washington wasn’t on a hot streak. Not only does Washington have a talent for picking interesting or unique projects, but he also has the acting acumen to back up whatever he selects. Even when he’s decided to make a mainstream genre thriller, clunky crime flick, or brutal, brainless actioner, he is always present, bringing nuance and texture to his performances. It also helps that Washington has become a go-to collaborator for multiple talented directors, having worked with Spike Lee, Antoine Fuqua, Carl Franklin, Jonathan Demme, and both Ridley and Tony Scott multiple times apiece. He has also taken it upon himself to produce 10 movies based on August Wilson’s plays, two of which (“Fences,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”) have already been made.
Washington’s hot streak in the mid-1990s included, in a row, “Much Ado About Nothing,” “The Pelican Brief,” “Philadelphia,” “Crimson Tide,” Virtuosity,” “Devil in a Blue Dress,” “Courage Under Fire,” “The Preacher’s Wife,” and “Fallen.” That is a long string of amazing, or at least interesting/thrilling, movies. The only turkey might be “Virtuosity,” but I can’t accuse that sci-fi serial killer movie of not being entertaining.
It seems, however, that, in the middle of that hot streak, Washington still has regrets. There was a particular film that he was offered in 1995 that he turned down. The role was Detective David Mills, a cop investigating a particularly brutal serial killer in an unnamed American city. The film was David Fincher’s “Seven.” In a conversation Washington had with CTV in 2014, the actor noted that the screenplay was too intense for him. The role of Detective Mills ultimately went to Brad Pitt.
Detective David Mills
New Line Cinema
“Seven,” of course, was one of the bigger hits in the serial killer boom that followed the success of “The Silence of the Lambs.” Pitt and Morgan Freeman were pitted against a murderer who mutilated his victims to match one of the seven deadly sins. “Seven” is aggressively dour and bleak, taking place in a gray, filthy world of eternal rain. Freeman was the wise, too-tired cop, and Pitt was the feisty, impatient upstart. At the end of the film, the serial killer gets the drop on the two main characters, and the Pitt character is moved to horror by what the killer has put in a special little cardboard box …
Given the way Pitt played the role, it’s hard to see Washington playing Detective Mills. Mills is impulsive, immature, itching for action. Washington typically plays strong-willed people, resolute and confident, even if they’re evil; he’s not the actor one hires if they want a pathetic or sniveling character. He might have felt he had no way of playing a role like Detective Mills, a character who was ultimately manipulated by a serial killer. Washington was handed the script to “Seven,” read it, turned it down, and then later regretted it.
Washington was interviewed on the red carpet at TIFF in 2014, and revealed the following:
“I was like, man, it’s just too much. […] Then I saw it and I was like, ‘Oh God.’ Evidently it wasn’t for me, it was for Brad all the time. […] It was just too much when I read it, it was just different when I saw it.”
It’s also possible that Washington had already committed to the three other films he released in 1995 (“Virtuosity,” “Crimson Tide,” “Devil in a Blue Dress”) and he would have had to abandon one of them for “Seven,” something he wasn’t prepared to do. Washington is also keen to work with experienced directors, and “Seven” was only Fincher’s second film after the debacle of “Alien3.” He admitted to GQ that, in this one case, his career instincts were wrong.
Paramount
There was never a time when Denzel Washington wasn’t on a hot streak. Not only does Washington have a talent for picking interesting or unique projects, but he also has the acting acumen to back up whatever he selects. Even when he’s decided to make a mainstream genre thriller, clunky crime flick, or brutal, brainless actioner, he is always present, bringing nuance and texture to his performances. It also helps that Washington has become a go-to collaborator for multiple talented directors, having worked with Spike Lee, Antoine Fuqua, Carl Franklin, Jonathan Demme, and both Ridley and Tony Scott multiple times apiece. He has also taken it upon himself to produce 10 movies based on August Wilson’s plays, two of which (“Fences,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”) have already been made.
Washington’s hot streak in the mid-1990s included, in a row, “Much Ado About Nothing,” “The Pelican Brief,” “Philadelphia,” “Crimson Tide,” Virtuosity,” “Devil in a Blue Dress,” “Courage Under Fire,” “The Preacher’s Wife,” and “Fallen.” That is a long string of amazing, or at least interesting/thrilling, movies. The only turkey might be “Virtuosity,” but I can’t accuse that sci-fi serial killer movie of not being entertaining.
It seems, however, that, in the middle of that hot streak, Washington still has regrets. There was a particular film that he was offered in 1995 that he turned down. The role was Detective David Mills, a cop investigating a particularly brutal serial killer in an unnamed American city. The film was David Fincher’s “Seven.” In a conversation Washington had with CTV in 2014, the actor noted that the screenplay was too intense for him. The role of Detective Mills ultimately went to Brad Pitt.
Detective David Mills
New Line Cinema
“Seven,” of course, was one of the bigger hits in the serial killer boom that followed the success of “The Silence of the Lambs.” Pitt and Morgan Freeman were pitted against a murderer who mutilated his victims to match one of the seven deadly sins. “Seven” is aggressively dour and bleak, taking place in a gray, filthy world of eternal rain. Freeman was the wise, too-tired cop, and Pitt was the feisty, impatient upstart. At the end of the film, the serial killer gets the drop on the two main characters, and the Pitt character is moved to horror by what the killer has put in a special little cardboard box …
Given the way Pitt played the role, it’s hard to see Washington playing Detective Mills. Mills is impulsive, immature, itching for action. Washington typically plays strong-willed people, resolute and confident, even if they’re evil; he’s not the actor one hires if they want a pathetic or sniveling character. He might have felt he had no way of playing a role like Detective Mills, a character who was ultimately manipulated by a serial killer. Washington was handed the script to “Seven,” read it, turned it down, and then later regretted it.
Washington was interviewed on the red carpet at TIFF in 2014, and revealed the following:
“I was like, man, it’s just too much. […] Then I saw it and I was like, ‘Oh God.’ Evidently it wasn’t for me, it was for Brad all the time. […] It was just too much when I read it, it was just different when I saw it.”
It’s also possible that Washington had already committed to the three other films he released in 1995 (“Virtuosity,” “Crimson Tide,” “Devil in a Blue Dress”) and he would have had to abandon one of them for “Seven,” something he wasn’t prepared to do. Washington is also keen to work with experienced directors, and “Seven” was only Fincher’s second film after the debacle of “Alien3.” He admitted to GQ that, in this one case, his career instincts were wrong.
Earlyworks and CAICA DIGITAL Entered into a Business Alliance Agreement to Support the Expansion of Web3 Business – Business News Today – EIN Presswire