50jili
50jili
Strictly Come Dancing’s Fleur East has lifted the lid on one major judging moment on the BBC show that fans don’t get to see on camera. The beloved It Takes Two host – who is set to host the National Lottery’s New Year’s Eve Big Bash at the OVO Wembley Arena – has lifted the lid on some of the dance competition’s biggest secrets. The mum-of-one, 37, competed on the long-running competition back in 2022 alongside her co-star Vito Coppola. After making it all the way to the live final, the radio host teamed up with Janette Manrara when Rylan Clark stepped down from the BBC spin-off show after four years hosting the show. One year after stepping into the hotseat, the brunette beauty has opened up about some of the programme’s best-kept secrets that fans don’t see behind the scenes on the ballroom show. In an exclusive interview with Express.co.uk, the Hits Radio presenter reflected on what it’s been like to follow the show as a presenter rather than as a contestant. She told us: “I do miss the performance side of it, like I loved dancing in the ballroom on a Saturday night. I missed that element of being in the competition. “But I do love now being able to just watch all of it happen and see the magic come to like. What I enjoyed most is seeing all the rehearsal and training footage before the live show. “It's one of my most favourite things, because we get to see everything before the live show on Saturday, before anyone else sees it. And being a big fan of the show, it’s just really fun.” It was at this point that Fleur revealed that the star-studding judging panel also get to watch the contestants perform during their dress rehearsals hours before they compete on the live show. She explained: “I think they see the dress run on the day, but that’s the only thing they get to see ahead of time.” When the TV presenter was quizzed as to which judge future contestants should try to impress the most, she quickly revealed it is Shirley Ballas. Fleur warned contestants that the 64-year-old head judge notices everything when you perform and will even bend over the desk to look at contestant's feet during their performance. The doting mum went on: "Shirley's the one you really want to impress because she’s the head judge and she’s legendary in the Latin and Ballroom game. "I remember when I was on the show and I was partnered with Vito [Coppola], he would show me videos of Shirley back in the day doing competition choreography. So she’s someone that as soon as you get up there, you really want to impress. "I remember when I did my samba in my year and she said, ‘Those are some of the best samba walks I’ve ever seen, even in competitions’. "And I was like, ‘Wow’. When you get a compliment like that from her, it means a lot. So I feel like that’s why everyone wants to impress her." It comes as Fleur East prepares to host the star-studded New Year's Eve party alongside her co-host Vernon Kay. Fans will see performances from musicians including Craig David, Perrie Edwards, Ella Henderson and Olly Alexander to name a few. Speaking about the show, she reflected on all the amazing work that was done over the past 12 months. Fleur gushed: "It was just nice to look over all the amazing moments we've had through the year and celebrate some of the people that have been doing some amazing work for their communities as well. "Because it's not just a party for everyone for New Year's Eve, it's actually looking over at the organisations and the people that have done amazing with with the funding that the National Lottery gives out to charities and organisations. "So it was cool to learn about that because you don't think when you buy a lottery ticket about that side of it. There's actually a lot of people that it helps." The National Lottery's New Year's Eve Big Bash is set to air on ITV1 from 5.45pm or catch up on ITVX.Hyperconnected employees experiencing ‘dark side’ of digital work
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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday threatened 100% tariffs against a bloc of nine nations if they act to undermine the U.S. dollar. His threat was directed at countries in the so-called BRIC alliance, which consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Turkey, Azerbaijan and Malaysia have applied to become members and several other countries have expressed interest in joining. While the U.S. dollar is by far the most-used currency in global business and has survived past challenges to its preeminence, members of the alliance and other developing nations say they are fed up with America’s dominance of the global financial system. Trump, in a Truth Social post, said: “We require a commitment from these Countries that they will neither create a new BRICS Currency, nor back any other Currency to replace the mighty U.S. Dollar or, they will face 100% Tariffs, and should expect to say goodbye to selling into the wonderful U.S. Economy.” At a summit of BRIC nations in October, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the U.S. of “weaponizing” the dollar and described it as a “big mistake.” “It’s not us who refuse to use the dollar,” Putin said at the time. “But if they don’t let us work, what can we do? We are forced to search for alternatives.” Russia has specifically pushed for the creation of a new payment system that would offer an alternative to the global bank messaging network, SWIFT, and allow Moscow to dodge Western sanctions and trade with partners. Trump said there is “no chance” BRIC will replace the U.S. dollar in global trade and any country that tries to make that happen “should wave goodbye to America.”
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After starting 2-0 in its inaugural Atlantic Coast Conference schedule, SMU looks to make the month even more special on Sunday, hosting Longwood in Dallas, Texas. The Mustangs seek a seven-game win streak in their final nonconference test before welcoming No. 4 Duke to Dallas on Jan. 4. In recent victories over Alabama State, Virginia, LSU, and Boston College, SMU (10-2) averaged 85.3 points per game, allowed just 66.0 ppg, and climbed to No. 30 in the NET rankings. "We're a different team right now than we were earlier in the season," SMU head coach Andy Enfield said at the beginning of December, his words ringing even truer as the season progresses. "They'd never been under pressure together until recently, so they're starting to learn and figure things out." Longwood (11-3) enters its third consecutive road game, having won five of its last six overall. That includes a major 82-67 win at North Carolina Central on Dec. 20. It was only the sixth nonconference home loss for NCC since 2016, and Longwood head coach Griff Aldrich saw it as a result of his team's growing cohesiveness. "We got great contributions from so many players," Aldrich said. "We have been working to play more and more connected, and this team has really taken positive steps this week." The Mustangs' Matt Cross is among the biggest threats to Longwood's defense, which allows just 66.6 points per game. A 6-foot-7 forward, Cross had 36 points over SMU's last two wins, including a 16-point, 16-rebound double-double against LSU. What Cross does with the ball in his hands is impressive -- he is averaging 13.5 ppg in December -- but it is also what he does off the ball that increases his value. "He's extremely tough," Enfield said after Cross' performance against LSU. "His wall up in transition, where (Corey) Chest came down, was going to dunk the ball, and he stood there and took the contact. ...That's a big-time basketball play." Longwood is paced by Michael Christmas, a veteran forward in his fourth year in the program. A hard-nosed wing who can score at all three levels, Christmas is Longwood's only returner who started at least 30 games on last year's NCAA Tournament team. He is averaging a team-high 11.9 points per game. "(He) loves this university, loves this town and community," Aldrich said of Christmas. "He opted to come back here to really invest in the program." --Field Level MediaTrinamool Congress underlines two key points of opposition to Waqf (Amendment) Bill
Chennai: Residents, activists and NGOs, including Arappor Iyakkam and Poovulagin Nanbargal, petitioned Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) to shelve its proposed waste-to-energy incineration facility at Kodungaiyur, citing health and pollution risks. In their plea to GCC commissioner J Kumaragurubaran on Tuesday, the group criticised the corporation for prioritising incineration of 2,100 tonnes of waste daily over other strategies such as source-segregation, recycling and waste processing. GCC floated tenders months ago to establish the 1,263-crore plant, expected to generate 31MW of power daily. However, petitioners pointed to environmental violations at New Delhi's Okhla incineration plant, warning that burning plastics could emit carcinogens such as dioxins and furans, posing severe health threats. The group highlighted GCC's underutilisation of its waste-processing plants, which operate at just 26% capacity. "Against a capacity of 2,460 tonnes a day, GCC processes only 636 tonnes. Maximising this capacity could divert 1,800 tonnes from landfills," the petition noted. Activists accused GCC of flouting its 2019 solid waste management by-laws mandating 100% source segregation and decentralised waste management. They also cited Tamil Nadu's Chennai climate action plan, which opposed the incineration plant due to environmental, social, climate and livelihood impacts. They called the project an expensive method to generate power, comparing it to solar power projects costing 5 crore per MW and thermal plants at 8 crore per MW, against the incineration plant's 33 crore per MW. Geo Damin, a former member of Tamil Nadu's solid waste management committee and one of the signees, pointed out the lack of carbon capture technology in the project. "We should prioritise natural waste processing methods and send only non-recyclable waste to landfills," he said, adding that Chennai's 60% biodegradable waste renders the waste-to-energy model unviable. However, Kumaragurubaran said contractors would receive work orders soon. "We are adhering to environmental approvals and safety precautions. With limited options for processing, this is necessary," he told TOI. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .
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