MAFS UK’s Sacha heartbroken after husband Ross ‘dumps her two weeks after filming show and goes public with girlfriend’

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

MARRIED At First Sight UK star Sacha has been left heartbroken after her groom Ross dumped her two weeks after filming the show – and went public with his new girlfriend on Instagram.In a schoking twist Ross revealed he didn’t see a future with Sacha – after telling her that he loved her at a commitment ceremony in the E4 series.3MAFS UK couple Ross and Sacha broke up shortly after filmingCredit: Channel 43He told Sacha he loved her during the latest commitment ceremonyCredit: Channel 43Ross went public with his new girlfriend shortly after dumping SachaViewers saw Ross cuddling the former Miss Birmingham and saying “I’ve told her, I love her” with Sacha repeating the special words to him as their co-stars cheered.Days after completing the TV experiment that pairs up strangers at the altar, Ross dropped the bombshell on Sacha.His mystery girlfriend has already been revealed as a stunning blonde beauty business owner called Magda.Magda’s personal Instagram has been turned to private but she regularly posts on her work page.READ MORE ON MAFSRoss, who was the first deaf contestant on MAFS UK, and Magda started dating as early as June this year.He posted a screenshot of the couple, telling her: “You’re the best” and she replied, “you’re welcome, you can keep me forever”.He also added an ‘M’ initial to his Instagram account and she has reciprocated with an ‘R’ in her Instagram bio.Sacha was stunned to learn of his new romance so soon after their TV marriage.A source told MailOnline: “Sacha had an incredible experience filming Married At First Sight UK and she truly thought her marriage with Ross would work.”She moved to Manchester to be with him but after just two weeks he went cold and ended their romance for good.MAFS’ Polly lets slip at ‘new couple’ sparking chaos”Sacha was devastated and now watching their journey back as the show airs makes processing their breakup even harder.”Producers weren’t happy either… Ross gave away that he and Sacha were no longer together by posting photos with his new girlfriend – he had no problem flaunting his romance despite the fact it would hurt his ex-wife’s feelings.”The Sun has contaced E4 for comment.Sacha and Ross are no longer following each other on social media.Painter and decorator Ross won over viewers almost straight away and fans have loved watching his relationship with bodybuilder Sacha grow.Sacha revealed she was initially nervous to share a bedroom with Ross because she has been celibate for two years, but he made her feel at ease.The E4 programme was filmed earlier this year and the couples are expected to keep the outcome of their journey under wraps until the series comes to an end.Mafs couples that have stood the test of timeLoved-up Tayah Victoria and Adam Aveling of series six fame had the first Mafs baby.The pair couldn’t keep their hands off each other on the programme and quickly found their feet in the outside world, moving into Adam’s Doncaster home.Just 18 months after meeting, the couple welcomed their daughter Beau.Season five couple Michelle Walder and Owen Jenkins also managed to make their marriage work away from the cameras and had their first child in December.Teacher Michelle, 29, has no regrets about taking part in the experiment. She told us: “I just feel very lucky and thankful that it has worked out – and excited for everything to come.”Michelle and Owen were both sick of dating apps when they applied in 2019.Owen recalled: “I had been out for some drinks with a friend after work.”While he was out for a cigarette I was scrolling on Instagram waiting for him to come back in.“The MAFS advert was the last thing I saw, and I joked, ‘Wouldn’t it be funny if I signed up?’“A few beers later when I was back at home I sent in the application, and the rest is history.”Another couple to make Mafs UK history is Zoe Clifton and Jenna Robinson.Despite a slight rocky start, where they clashed over Jenna’s vegan lifestyle, the show’s first same sex pairing are still going strong.They even have a successful podcast together called Life With a Pod.Jenna shed light on being involved in the show earlier this year when she told us: “We’re not legally married, and I never felt like we were. I definitely feel the process makes you take the relationship a lot more seriously and having the help of the experts… if you can survive that process it sets a firm foundation for a long-lasting relationship.”

Right-Wing Activists Pushed False Claims About Election Fraud. Now They’re Recruiting Poll Workers in Swing States.

2024 Election

This article was produced for ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network in partnership with Wisconsin Watch. Sign up for Dispatches to get stories like this one as soon as they are published. Reporting Highlights Recruiting Poll Workers: Ahead of the 2024 election, activists who have promoted debunked claims about election fraud are recruiting poll workers to serve…

‘Support and commitment’ not enough to save long steel business, urgent action needed – AMSA

Business News

Government’s support for, and commitment to, addressing the removal of export tax on scrap metal, resetting the price preference system (PPS) mechanism at an appropriate level, implementing trade measures and reducing logistics and energy costs are insufficient and more urgent action is needed to save steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa’s (AMSA’s) long steel business, the company said in a voluntary trading update on October 16.After initially saying it would close its long steel business, AMSA announced in July that the longs business would continue to operate.
At the time, the company said that “. . . despite progress being slower than anticipated and with some instances of disappointment, the board and management have decided that the longs business will continue to operate to allow an opportunity for the short-, medium- and longer-term initiatives aimed at securing its sustainability, to be fully explored”.
In its latest update, AMSA acknowledges that there has been support by government and stakeholders to tackle the issues affecting the viability of the longs business, noting that the process to implement trade measures is progressing, although slower than anticipated.
The steelmaker acknowledges that there has also been extensive engagement with State-owned Transnet in this regard.
Also, government has engaged with industry associations, notably the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa), regarding these issues, and the steps needed to revive the steel industry and the economy.
Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau has also acknowledged the need for effective collaboration and urgent intervention to revive the economy and the steel industry as a strategic sector to enable the national priority of industrialisation.
However, AMSA is not satisfied that progress is being made fast enough.
“There is a need to act expeditiously and, as a result, the company has once again approached government and has requested urgent intervention on [several] issues to ensure a level playing field and allow for the longs business to continue operating,” AMSA said.
Among the issues referred to are a reduction of the export tax on scrap to zero, the resetting of the PPS mechanism; the implementation of trade measures; addressing circumvention; and a reduction in electricity, rail and port prices to address the current overcharge relative to global competitors.
“The company has taken steps to avoid the closure of the longs business thus far as it will have far-reaching effects, including a negative impact on the downstream, direct and indirect job losses, an increase in imports and a loss of critical local manufacturing and opportunities for localisation and beneficiation, [and] having a profound impact on the national and local economies within our footprint areas,” the company says.
AMSA warns, however, that if these issues are not addressed as a matter of urgency, it will only be a matter of time before the viability of the entire business will be at risk and that the company will need to take steps to ensure that this does not happen.
“A viable and sustainable primary steel industry has the potential to make a significant contribution to national priorities, including employment and the 3% economic growth target; infrastructure development; export-led growth with innovative, greener steel opportunities; and a significant contribution to government’s decarbonisation objectives,” the company says.
AMSA says its board and management will continue to assess the viability of the longs business and that, whatever decision may be reached, it will be unlikely to dramatically affect the company’s earnings trends for the remainder of the financial year.
The steelmaker’s share price on the JSE fell by more than 12% following the publication of its business update on October 16.

Many of the small business owners Harris is targeting say they’ve never heard of a key economic proposal

Business News

Politics

Many of the small business owners Harris is targeting say they’ve never heard of a key economic proposal

Alice Tecotzky

2024-10-16T10:19:01Z

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Harris has made appealing to small businesses a key part of her economic plan.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Harris has proposed expanding the small business tax deduction ten-fold, from $5,000 to $50,000.Five female entrepreneurs told BI that many small business owners aren’t aware of the plan.Congress would need to approve the plan, but experts told BI there’s room for bipartisan support.

Local author’s books are a family affair

Arts & Culture, Books

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KL Thompson has been encouraging her children to follow their dreams. One day, they challenged her. What was her childhood dream? Did she follow it?Touché. A year ago, she took her own advice and lived her dream.The result is the first three books in the “The Adventures of Squishy and Boo” series, the 27-page “On the Wild Side.” 

“I told my children I wanted to be a writer growing up,” the Tucson resident said. “They asked why I never pursued it. They started giving me ideas.”In Thompson’s self-published debut, her children, nicknamed Squishy and Boo, face an adventure-filled day with jungle animals.“The Adventures of Squishy and Boo: On the Wild Side” series continued with “Let’s Go Camping” and “Around the Globe.” The common thread of the series is the strength and unconditional love of Squishy and Boo’s parents.The children — whose real names Thompson preferred to keep private — called the first book too “momcentric.” “They wanted to know why dad wasn’t in book one,” she said. “The second and third books — ‘Let’s Go Camping’ and ‘Around the Globe’ — mix it up.” “Around the Globe” has its roots in her relationship with her husband. “When Nick and I were first dating, we went to Paris together,” she said. “The one thing I wanted to do was go to Sacré-Cœur (Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre) and have a picnic lunch overlooking the city.”Once the Thompsons married and had children, together they traveled to a mummy exhibit in Utah. Just like in the third book, their son wasn’t a fan, but it worked out in the end: Thompson took the worldwide adventures and spun them into “Around the Globe.” 
“The kids love seeing their ideas come to life,” she said.“I thought all these moments would make a great travel book.”The University of Arizona graduate is thrilled that she listened to her children. Writing the books is a family affair.Nick is the editor and “Squishy” and “Boo” serve as a test market for Thompson’s book as well. “I figure if they like it, other kids will, too,” Thompson said. “For me, it’s about having books that inspire kids to read.  I’ve even been helping neighborhood kids write their own. “Life happens and I ended up joining my brothers in their construction company, Tucson-based Cutting Edge Fabrication.”As her career advanced, she put her dreams on the back burner. “I realized it didn’t matter how old I was, I would still follow my dreams,” she said. “I just had to be willing to put in the work. As an indie author, I don’t make much money on the books, but it’s about more than that for me.” For Thompson, it’s more of a hobby than a job, but she currently has five more books in the lineup. “It’s been a very fun adventure.”  

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World’s largest book fair increases share of Russian publications represented

Arts & Culture, Books

The stand of the Russian book giant at the Frankfurt Book Fair. Photo: Viktor Kruhlov
One of Russia’s largest publishing houses, Exmo, which had previously been sanctioned in Ukraine, has been allowed to present their stand at the International Frankfurt Book Fair (FBF).
“For two years in a row, the administration of the world’s largest trade fair has refused to allow publishers from Russia to participate. The President of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution [Thomas Heldenwang – ed.] pointed to the “influence operations” of the Russian special services, which spread Russian disinformation and propaganda in Germany. It is weird to see a stand from the aggressor country saying that “not everything is so clear”,” Kruhlov wrote.
The Ukrainian Book Institute confirmed to UP.Kultura that five Russian publishing houses are taking part in the world’s most prestigious book fair in Frankfurt this year.Advertisement:

The Ukrainian Book Institute has already sent a letter to the director of the Frankfurt Book Fair, Juergen Boos, explaining the danger of increasing the participation of Russian publishing houses in such an influential international event.
The head of the Institute, Oleksandra Koval, said that she found out about Exmo’s participation last night, on 15 October.
However, she says that there will be no official Russian book stand in Frankfurt: “The event organisers of this and several other fairs are sticking to their own decision not to allow the Russian stand to participate. But individual stands of Russian publishing houses are present everywhere. However, last year there were three Russian stands at FBF, including the Memorial stand, and it didn’t seem to pose a threat. This year there are already five of them. And among them is the stand of the largest Russian publishing house, Exmo, which is notorious for publishing anti-Ukrainian content, which is why the publishing house was under sanctions in Ukraine for several years.”
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Koval does not know why the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine did not extend the sanctions against the Russian publishing house Exmo. ‘If they had, it would have been a strong argument in negotiations with the organisers of international fairs to prevent such publishing houses from participating,’ says the director of the Ukrainian Book Institute.
Koval says the Ukrainian Book Institute will continue to participate in the world’s most important book fairs. “The appearance of the Russians seems to be legitimised, because, as they say, war is war, and money doesn’t smell. There are probably many publishers who would like to return to the vast Russian market,” says Koval. 
“We have to unite even more and keep explaining to “naive” foreigners that every licence sold to the Russians to publish a translation of their books is a missile that kills civilians, and every Russian book they buy is a time bomb. Because now they are in Ukraine, and tomorrow they will be in Europe. The poison of their ideology has long since spread around the world, and only together can we stop and neutralise it.
More about the Frankfurt Book Fair
The Frankfurt Book Fair is the largest book fair in the world. It has become a platform for writers and publishing houses to promote international collaborations, inform about global publishing trends and refine their own ideas.
The slogan of this year’s event is Read. Reflect. Relate. The focus theme of the Ukrainian stands is Reclaiming the voice.
Ukraine will be represented by the national stand of the Book Institute, as well as the stand of the Mystetskyi Arsenal, UA Comix, and a separate stand will be set up for the publisher Oleksandr Savchuk as the winner of the Chitomo Prize.
The organisers have prepared a programme of discussions, presentations and public interviews for the Frankfurt Book Forum. The participants will talk about literature during the war, about deceased writers, and about Ukrainian poetry.
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Emma Watson’s empowering book selections”

Arts & Culture, Books

Simplifying…
Inshort

Emma Watson, known for her advocacy for women’s rights, has recommended a selection of empowering books.

These include ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ by Margaret Atwood, a dystopian novel about women’s autonomy;

‘Persepolis’ by Marjane Satrapi, a graphic memoir depicting life in Iran;

‘Mom & Me & Mom’ by Maya Angelou, an autobiography celebrating mother-daughter bond;

‘Half the Sky’ by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, a book highlighting global women’s issues;

and ‘Women Who Run With The Wolves’ by Clarissa Pinkola Estes, a collection of myths about women’s strength and creativity.

Was a long read? Making it simpler…

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Refer to this list of books

Oct 16, 2024

01:18 pm

What’s the story

Emma Watson, known for her role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series, has also made a name for herself as an advocate for women’s rights and literacy.

Over the years, she has recommended a variety of books that have inspired her, and hopes they inspire others too.

This article explores some of those empowering book selections.

‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ by Margaret Atwood

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, chosen by Emma Watson for Our Shared Shelf, is a dystopian novel exploring power, gender, and control.

It portrays a totalitarian society where women are deprived of their rights and forced into servitude.

This narrative serves as a potent reminder of the vital importance of advocating for women’s autonomy and freedom.

Graphic memoir

‘Persepolis’ by Marjane Satrapi

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi is a graphic memoir that narrates her childhood and early adult years in Iran, during and after the Islamic Revolution.

This book offers insights into the complexities of life under oppressive regimes, emphasizing the resilience of the human spirit.

Emma Watson praised Persepolis for its honest portrayal of Iranian life, highlighting its ability to foster empathy and understanding among readers.

Autobiography

‘Mom & Me & Mom’ by Maya Angelou

In Mom & Me & Mom, Maya Angelou recounts her journey with her mother, Vivian Baxter. The book delves into themes of love, forgiveness, and reconciliation.

Emma Watson admires Angelou’s ability to share deeply personal stories with grace and wisdom.

This autobiography not only celebrates the bond between mother and daughter but also showcases Angelou’s growth as an individual.

Global issues

‘Half the Sky’ by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl Wudunn

Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn offers a compelling look at the adversities women encounter globally.

It also spotlights the inspiring stories of women who have overcome these challenges to make significant impacts in their communities.

Emma Watson champions this book for its powerful narrative on empowering women, aiming for global progress.

‘Women Who Run With The Wolves’ by Clarissa Pinkola Estes

In Women Who Run With the Wolves, Clarissa Pinkola Estes embarks on an exploration of myths and stories from a variety of cultures.

Her goal is to uncover universal truths about the strength and creativity inherent in women.

Emma Watson was deeply captivated by Estes’ insightful interpretations, viewing these narratives as vital tools for better understanding oneself while navigating through life’s myriad challenges.