TAIPEI, TAIWAN — Kiribati President Taneti Maamau, who has led the Pacific Island nation to build closer ties with China in recent years, secured his third term in office on Saturday. He defeated two other candidates in an election closely monitored by countries around the world. Maamau won about 55% of the vote, while his…
Popular Nollywood actress Jumoke George recently opened up about why she disappeared from the movie industry for over a decade.
In an interview on Oyinmomo TV, she shared the tough choices she faced in her career that ultimately led to her 14-year absence.
Jumoke revealed that two main issues held her back: her dark skin and her refusal to exchange sex for roles. “My skin color was only part of the problem,” she explained. “Some directors said I was ‘too dark’ for the screen, and I told them they could use lighting to make me look lighter. But I was determined to stay true to myself.”
However, it wasn’t just about her looks. Jumoke faced pressure from powerful people in the industry who expected her to trade sex for roles. “At one point, around 20 to 30 executives wanted me to give in,” she said. “But I refused. I knew my worth and couldn’t go against my values.”
Her decision had real consequences. For three years, she didn’t get any movie offers. One day, she ran into a director and asked him why she hadn’t been called for roles. He told her honestly that directors had agreed to stop working with her because she refused to “play the game.”
Though heartbroken, Jumoke remained strong. “I went home and prayed, asking God for strength,” she said. Now, her story inspires fans and others in the industry, showing that true success doesn’t have to mean giving up your principles.
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The name of C.D Hollins’ new Longview restaurant pays homage to the woman who helped raise him and who taught him to cook. He and his siblings called his grandmother, Lillie Gates Ramey, “Madea.”Madea’s Famous Kitchen is at 1609 E. Marshall Ave., where Dudley’s Cajun Cafe previously was. “That’s what we always called her,” when he was growing up in Bastrop, Louisiana, but Hollins said he didn’t know why.#placement_588479_0_i{width:100%;margin:0 auto;}He said his mother was murdered when he was 4.”My grandmother taught me how to cook,” he said, along with his father. Eight years ago, Hollins owned five restaurants around East Texas. Then, he became seriously ill in 2022.Hollins also teaches at Wiley College in Marshall and preaches at New Mount Moriah Baptist Church in Marshall.After his illness, he said he was done running restaurants while also teaching.Madea’s Famous Kitchen is his first restaurant since his illness. “I love cooking. It’s one of my passions,” Hollins said.
The menu for Madea’s Famous Kitchen in Longview.
His restaurant features soul food favorites, including side dishes such as black-eyed peas, green beans, red beans and rice, dirty rice, macaroni and cheese, yams, collard greens and fried cabbage — all made fresh from scratch, he said.”It’s the African-American culture. It’s a lot of the foods that our ancestors cooked many, many years ago, and we just continued to cook it,” Hollins said.The regular menu also includes several kinds of hamburgers, catfish platters, shrimp, meatloaf, hamburger steak and pork chops. On Soul Food Sunday, the menu also includes Southern-style dressing, seafood dressing, smoked turkey legs and stuffed turkey legs.@import url(https://fonts.bunny.net/css?family=ibm-plex-sans:400,600);
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The restaurant has seating for for a couple of dozen people, and it was packed on Friday.”I want them to experience good, home cooking, with that soul food taste,” Hollins said. “We cook with our soul.”Madea’s Famous Kitchen hours are 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.
Nathan Le finishes he nails of longtime customer Lauren Braswell. (Jo Lee Ferguson/Longview News-Journal.)
Nail business opensNathan Le has opened his own nail salon after working at other salons in Longview for about 24 years. Le opened Oh My Nails! with his fiancée, Kim Pham, at 1721 W. Loop 281, in the North West Village shopping center. The full service nail salon also offers waxing, and Le said they are also looking for a lash technician to join the business.Le said his father was a Vietnam War refugee who assisted the U.S. Army. That’s how his family was able to come to the United States. He was 11 when he arrived in the country in 1994, he said. While he moved around some, he graduated from Longview High School.His sister gave him his introduction to the nail business, and he has stuck with it ever since.”I cannot stop doing nails. I have to do them,” he said.Some of his customers started using his services when they were children and have continued ever since. “A lot of my clients followed me from place to place,” Le said. The salon is decorated in shades of pink because Le said his customers like it.He plans to stage karaoke events in his salon as well.Oh My Nails! is open seven days a week — 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday.
India all-rounder Washington Sundar’s masterclass with the ball during the second Test against New Zealand in Pune proved to be enough to rewrite records in the history books. On his return to Test cricket after more than three-and-a-half years ago, Sundar burst into the scene out of nowhere and left a lasting impression on the game. Despite the presence of mainstays Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, Sundar found a way to make the headlines all about himself. His exploits in the first innings saw him end with 7/59, offering India a moment of reprieve from New Zealand’s aggressive approach against its spinners. In the second innings, he kept the tempo high and returned with 4/56 to lift India’s chances of keeping the series alive with a victory in the second Test. Sundar’s 11/115 is the fourth-best match figures for India produced in a Test against the Kiwis. His compatriot Ravichandran Ashwin’s 13/140 in Indore in 2016 still stands as the best match figures for India against the Black Caps. Sundar’s efforts with the ball played their part in restricting New Zealand to 255, setting a mammoth target of 359 for India to chase down with more than two days of play left. In the past 26 instances, India has only once managed to chase down a 300-plus total. The victory dates back to 2008 when India faced England in Chennai. Out of the 26 instances, India has lost on 14 occasions. While trying their hand at the mounting challenge, India lost captain Rohit Sharma early in the chase. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill kept the momentum in the hosts’ favour.A flurry of boundaries from Jaiswal, including a towering six, has kept the hopes alive of levelling the series. He employed his feet, danced around the crease to smoke the ball into the stands. Gill, on the other end, has used the sweep shot to its optimum use, picking holes in the field to find the fence for four. (ANI)
The NQCC is a new national laboratory dedicated to accelerating the development of quantum computing for the UK.
It will ensure that the UK remains internationally competitive in a critical and transformative technology set to underpin future economic prosperity and national resilience.
There are 12 quantum computers in development at the NQCC’s premises at Harwell, Oxfordshire including the new 4,000 square metre purpose-built site.
Eight are led by private companies and four by NQCC scientists.
Delivering strategic ambition
These will play a pivotal role in delivering the UK’s strategic ambition for quantum technologies.
Lord Vallance said:
The National Quantum Computing Centre marks a vital step forward in the UK’s efforts to advance quantum technologies. By making its facilities available to users from across industry and academia, and with its focus on making quantum computers practically useable at scale, this Centre will help them solve some of the biggest challenges we face, whether it’s delivering advances in healthcare, enhancing energy efficiency, tackling climate change, or inventing new materials.
The innovations that will emerge from the work the NQCC will do will ultimately improve lives across the country and ensure the UK seizes the economic benefits of its leadership in quantum technologies.
Harnessing quantum effects
Quantum computers operate in a fundamentally different way to conventional digital computers.
Quantum computing is based on harnessing effects that exist at the level of atoms, electrons and photons.
Its calculations involve encoding and processing information by controlling quantum states, relying on the uniquely quantum phenomena of superposition and entanglement.
Exponentially increased power
Quantum computers have the potential to meet challenges with an exponentially increased computational power beyond the reach of even the most advanced current supercomputers.
Potential applications include:
optimising energy distribution in power grids by improving efficiency and reliability
accelerating drug discovery
predicting climate patterns more accurately through advanced data analysis
improving use of artificial intelligence in fields such as medical diagnostics and fraud detection
Transformative new technology
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Chief Executive, Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser, said:
With our rich national heritage in quantum computing research the UK is well-placed to lead the development of this transformative new technology, which has such huge potential across society and the economy.
The UK National Quantum Computing Centre is central to this critical work, bringing together internationally-leading researchers and technologists from across academia and industry to ensure that the UK’s quantum computing ecosystem thrives, delivering benefits to people across the UK and beyond.
The NQCC is supported through an initial £93 million UKRI investment, delivered through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and Science and Technology Facilities Council.
UKRI has also invested a further £50 million to enhance the delivery of its mission, including investment through the UKRI Technology Missions Fund.
Leading vital research and development
Playing an integral role within the UK National Quantum Technology Strategy, the new facility will ensure that the UK continues to lead vital research and development on hardware, software and applications. These will be delivered through partnerships across government, industry and the research community.
The NQCC is designed to provide the necessary infrastructure and environment in which to design, build, operate and host a wide range of quantum computers.
The NQCC is aiming to showcase, demonstrate and evaluate the capabilities of the prototype quantum computers (‘testbeds’) currently being deployed at the new facility.
A key focus will be to identify and overcome critical challenges that stand in the way of developing scalable quantum processors that can run complex computational tasks.
Video credit: UK Research and InnovationVideo transcript and on-screen captions are available by watching on YouTube.
Important milestone
NQCC Director, Dr Michael Cuthbert, said:
The inauguration of the National Quantum Computing Centre is an important milestone for the UK that reinforces our commitment to advancing quantum technology and fostering collaboration.
This state-of-the-art facility will serve as a hub for innovation, bringing together researchers, businesses, and stakeholders to unlock the transformative potential of quantum computing for the future.
I am incredibly proud of our team and our construction partners who have worked tirelessly to create such an outstanding facility enabling this amazing technology.
Innovation hub
The NQCC will also act as a hub for innovation, training and technical support that can be made accessible to businesses across the UK.
It aims to foster a vibrant environment to promote collaboration between researchers and technologists, attracting visitors and industry interest from across the UK and internationally.
The NQCC’s user engagement programme, SparQ, is working across the UK economy to create a user community that can unlock the potential of quantum computing for practical applications in key priority sectors such as energy, climate, healthcare and financial services. It is also seeking new sectors.
Further information
The 12 quantum computers currently in development at the NQCC are:
seven testbeds (funded through NQCC)
one IDRA project with Nu Quantum
one Orca PT1 for Ministry of Defence and Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
three NQCC-owned ion-trap, superconducting and cold atom quantum computing
Top image: Credit: National Quantum Computing Centre
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There’s no doubting the mood among Britain’s business leaders. It’s sulphurous.Last week, I chaired a panel of hugely successful small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) bosses and to a person they were angry. Many felt betrayed and let down.For many months, Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves embarked upon a charm offensive, designed to woo Britain’s boardrooms. They’d got the support of the workers, now the Labour hierarchy wished to win over the industrial chiefs.But given the build-up to Wednesday’s Budget, they fear it might have been a con – designed to secure support for the idea that Labour could be trusted with other people’s money and the national purse. Despite repeated entreaties from Starmer and Reeves that their version of the Labour Party was capitalism’s friend, they are starting to believe the words were empty.If speculation is correct, Reeves is going to dish out a clobbering to the private sector and those who run it. If this chatter turns out to be wrong, anger could dissipate. But in which case, why risk losing the confidence of the business community in the first place? No, the signs are that reforms to capital gains tax, inheritance tax and employer’s national insurance will be in her sights – among measures aimed at hitting those Labour was busy trying to impress before the election.Then, of course, Labour won by a landslide. Perhaps the size of that victory has convinced Starmer and his colleagues they can shake off the need to embrace business.Perhaps the scale of the margin gave Starmer certainty. He’s in power for five years, no ifs or buts, and may be there for a second, or possibly a third, term.Businesses not only fear they will be hurt by the Budget but that measures are to be accompanied by new legislation protecting workers’ rights. A common refrain from the panel was, “Why now, why do it all at one go?” Starmer has plenty of time, there is no imperative to rush – but no, he’s hitting business with twin hammer blows.Starmer and Reeves courted Britain’s top firms
As per report ajith kumar, widely regarded for his dedication and versatility, is now making a racing comeback after a 15 year break. The valimai star has made the decision to balance his love for motorsports with his acting career by limiting his film commitments to one major project per year, according to sources close to the actor. A source revealed, “Ajith Kumar has decided to focus on quality over quantity when it comes to films. He’s not retiring from acting but will be more selective with his choices, taking on one film a year so that he can also pursue his passion for racing.”Perhaps Ajith’s strategic move comes after the announcement of his own racing team, with which he plans to participate in significant racing events. He will compete as a driver in the prestigious 24h dubai 2025 and the european 24H Series championship in the porsche 992 GT3 Cup class. This is a big moment for the actor as he returns to the racing circuit, ensuring that he continues to follow both his dreams acting and racing.Moreover on the movie front, ajith has two exciting projects slated for release in 2025. First is Vidaamuyarchi, directed by Magizh Thirumeni and produced by subaskaran allirajah under Lyca Productions, featuring an ensemble cast including trisha krishnan, arjun Sarja, Arav, and Regina Cassandra. Additionally, he will star in Good Bad Ugly, directed by Adhik Ravichandran and produced by Mythri movie Makers. With a well-rounded plan in place, ajith kumar is all set to conquer both the racing track and the silver screen, proving once again that he’s a man of many talents.
A popular European destination is planning to charge an entrance fee to the tourists desperate to have a look around inside.The French government may soon levy an entrance fee for Notre Dame Cathedral when it reopens, five years after being ravaged by a fire.Notre Dame Cathedral is one of the most famous buildings in France. However, on April 15, 2019, a devastating fire severely damaged Notre-Dame.The roof and the iconic spire collapsed, but many of its important features, such as the two front towers and much of the interior, were saved. Since then, a massive restoration project has been underway to repair and restore the cathedral to its former glory.Now, the French Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati has proposed an entrance fee in order to fund maintenance costs for other religious buildings, reports Euro News.In an interview with Le Figaro, published online on Wednesday, Rachida Dati claims that “charging admission to Notre-Dame would save all the churches in France”.Mr Dati has reportedly suggested to the Archbishop of Paris that tourists should be charged five euros to enter the cathedral.All of the money would be devoted to “a major plan to safeguard France’s religious heritage”, according to Dati. The minister hopes to raise €75 million a year.The proposal has also been backed by the French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.Rachida Dati also wants to modulate the pricing of national monuments and museums from 2026, saying that “visitors from outside the EU” could pay “more” than French visitors to “finance the renovation of our national heritage”.Notre-Dame de Paris is due to reopen on December 7, after nearly five years of reconstruction following the fire that ravaged it in 2019.France is confronting an escalating crisis with its aging religious buildings, many of which have been neglected due to inadequate funding.Hundreds of churches across the country are in urgent need of restoration and face the risk of partial collapse or demolition.Notable examples include Saint-Sulpice in Paris, Notre-Dame de l’Épine in Marne, and the Saint-Denis Basilica in Saint-Denis.
Travel advice has been updated for Brits heading to 18 countries, including winter sun hotspots Egypt, Tunisia, Dubai and Morocco, in the wake of Israel’s airstrikes on Iran.Britain’s Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for 18 countries after Israel struck Iran in the early hours of Saturday (October 26).The current advice says: “Ongoing hostilities in the region and between Israel and Lebanon could escalate quickly and pose risks for the wider region.”On October 1, Iran launched around 200 ballistic missiles at Israel. On October 26, Israel carried out military action against Iran.”Countries subject to the advice are Cyprus, Turkey, Bahrain, Egypt, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Tunisia, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Morocco, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Israel and Libya.Some of the countries listed are popular destinations for Brits looking for winter sun, such as Dubai, Tunisia and Egypt.Anyone planning to visit the countries listed should check the full details of the Foreign Office’s travel advice.The Foreign Office advises against travel to Iran and has also warned against visiting certain parts of Egypt, including North Sinai and the country’s border with Libya.Brits have already been advised against all but essential travel near Saudi Arabia’s border with Yemen as well as Algeria’s borders with Libya, Niger, Mali and Mauritania.The Foreign Office also advises against travel to Tunisia’s border with Algeria and Libya.Iran closed its airspace early on Saturday. The Associated Press analysed flight-tracking data showing that commercial airlines had broadly left the skies over Iran and across Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon.Israel’s attack ended just before sunrise in Tehran, with Tel Aviv saying it targeted manufacturing facilities used to produce the missiles that Iran fired at the state of Israel over the last year. It also said it hit surface-to-air missile sites and “additional Iranian aerial capabilities”.The attack came after Iran fired a wave of missiles and drones at Israel in April after two Iranian generals were killed in an apparent Israeli airstrike in Syria on an Iranian diplomatic post.Iran launched at least 180 missiles into Israel on October 1, sending Israelis scrambling for bomb shelters but causing only minimal damage and a few injuries.Tehran said the barrage was in retaliation for attacks in recent months which killed leaders of Hezbollah, Hamas and the Iranian military. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately said Iran had “made a big mistake”.
(Reuters) -Boeing is exploring the sale of some parts of its space business, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. The NASA business that Boeing is exploring a sale of includes the troubled Starliner space vehicle and operations that support the International Space Station, but excludes the unit building…