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    Richard Tandy dead: Electric Light Orchestra keyboardist dies aged 76 as Jeff Lynne pays tribute to ‘dear friend’

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    ELECTRIC Light Orchestra keyboardist Richard Tandy has died aged 76 – with Jeff Lynne paying tribute to his “dear friend”.Lynne announced his longtime ELO bandmate’s death in a Facebook post this evening.Richard Tandy has died aged 76Credit: RedfernsTandy (far left) with his Electric Light Orchestra bandmatesCredit: Getty – ContributorTandy at the Grammy Awards in 2015Credit: GettyThe keyboardist performing at Glastonbury in 2016Credit: Avalon.redELO star Jeff Lynne shared a tribute to Tandy on FacebookLynne said: “It is with great sadness that I share the news of the passing of my long-time collaborator and dear friend Richard Tandy. “He was a remarkable musician & friend and I’ll cherish the lifetime of memories we had together. “Sending all my love to Sheila & the Tandy Family.”Tandy joined ELO as a bassist in 1972 before becoming the band’s full-time keyboardist.Read More ShowbizHe first met his future bandmate Bev Bevan as pupils at the Moseley School in Birmingham.He and Lynne were especially close, reuniting in 2012 for a live set of ELO’s greatest hits.In 1985, Tandy formed the Tandy Morgan Band featuring Dave Morgan and Martin Smith.ELO announced a farewell tour last month, but it is not yet known whether it will now go ahead.Most read in ShowbizTandy is survived by his second wife Sheila and was said to have been living in Wales.In an online tribute, one fan said: “Richard was a nice guy who took the time to give me a couple of autographs. “He was so talented he could play three keyboards at the same time.” More

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      Furious Damon Albarn slams Coachella crowd in sweary rant telling them ‘you’re never f***ing seeing us again’

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      DAMON Albarn let loose on the Coachella crowd watching Blur on Sunday night – branding the crowd ‘embarrassing’ before vowing never to perform there again. The Charmless Man singer, 56, was left unimpressed by the Coachella crowd and their less-than-enthusiastic reaction during their set. Albarn’s patience ran thin with the Coachella audienceCredit: AFPThe band encouraged the audience to singalong and got radio silenceCredit: AFPAs the group rattled through some of Blur’s classics – including Song 2, Girls And Boys, and Tender – Albarn noticed the audience weren’t doing much to embrace the set. Despite Albarn’s attempts to motivate the crowd to sing and dance along, the festival-goers refused to budge, causing him to get irritated and eventually snap at the crowd. During Girls And Boys, where an attempt to get the crowd to sing along to the iconic chorus got no results, Albarn declared they could “do better” and asked them to try again.When that attempt also failed, with the request being met with near-silence, Albarn declared: “You’re never seeing us again, so you might as well f***ing sing it”. READ MORE COACHELLAAs livestream footage from the incident circulated online, fans online jumped to the defence of the beloved British group and slammed the audience for being ‘dead’. “i can’t believe how dead blur’s coachella crowd is … this is how i know living in the uk has formed me as a person bc even me i would be acting like a drunk bald white man in a pub if i was there,” wrote one. “most of these ppl at coachella don’t even know how lucky they are to see blur THAT SHOULD BE MEE,” added a second. While a third ranted: “WHAT THE F**K IS HAPPENING im convinced coachella has the worst vibes and people possible. it’s f**king Blur, show some respect!!!” Most read in MusicOthers claimed it was on the Coachella organisers for placing Blur in a timeslot and space that wasn’t a fit for their audience – noting they did not have the same US success as they did in the UK. “Love Blur, but Coachella set them up for an L,” one person noted, while another stated: “Blur were absolutely wasted on Coachella, that crowd was an embarrassment. Americans just don’t get it” Cheddar, Lancashire & Caerphilly… how to make the perfect cheese toastie by Blur star turned cheesemaker Alex JamesIt seems like Albarn and the band were somewhat prepared for a mixed reaction ahead of performing – albeit not one quite as disheartening. Speaking to KROQ radio ahead of their performance, Albarn and Alex James, the band’s bassist, had acknowledged they were expecting a “weird one”. “This was a wonderful opportunity, it’s the biggest festival on the planet,” said James. “If I wasn’t here I’d have FOMO to be honest.”I have no idea how it will go,” added Albarn. “It’s a weird one, Coachella when it comes to the audience. It’s hard to know sometimes, because they’re sort of on their own planet a bit.” Despite this the band tried to make the best of it, even paying tribute to the Mojave desert, where the festival is held, by bringing on stage the native Torres Martinez Cahuilla Bird Singers to close their set. Alex James said the band couldn’t pass up the chance to performCredit: AFPAlbarn later said they would never perform on stage again.Credit: AFP More

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      Who is Charles Withers wife Ashley McGuire, and what does the TV chef’s wife do?

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      A woman’s social media post has gone viral after attempting to find her husband.Ashley McGuire shared a post to see if the power of the internet could locate her TV chef husband Charles Withers, but who is she?Ashley shared a post to FacebookCredit: FacebookWho is Ashley McGuire?Ashley McGuire has become known over the last few days after sharing a post on Facebook looking for her husband.The mum-of-two took to social media to share a statement where she asked for people to help her locate Charles Withers.She explained that Charles had vanished without a trace last year – leaving her while she was pregnant with their second child.Ashley said that her husband could be anywhere but has probably not mentioned to anyone he is now close with that he has a family back in Massachusetts.Read more on showbizWhat does Charles Withers’ wife Ashley do?Ashley is a beauty bar owner.As well as being a mum, she works at her own business while also trying to track down her former partner.How long have Charles Withers and Ashley McGuire been married?It’s not known exactly how long Charles and Ashley have been married.However, Ashley mentions in her post that the pair have two children together.Most read in ShowbizShe also says in her post that she is trying to track him down in order to get a divorce.How long have Charles Withers and Ashley McGuire been married and do they have children?Ashley’s Facebook post went viral but has since been deleted.She said: “This is my husband, Charles Withers.”He loves to be the centre of attention but I’m not sure how much he’s going to like this.”Last year, when I was pregnant with our youngest baby, he decided being a husband and a dad wasn’t the lifestyle he wanted anymore and he ghosted, like gone without a trace.”Ashley continued: “He has one baby he hasn’t seen in over a year, and one he’s never met.”He’s moved somewhere out of state and changed his phone number.”She then went on to explain that “divorcing someone who’s completely unreachable is really tough and drawn out”.Ashley said the reason she shared the post was to track him down so he could sign the divorce papers and she could “finally close this chapter and move on with [her] life”.She added that Charles is English and works as a chef but is unlikely to have opened up to people in his new life about having a wife and children in Massachusetts.READ MORE SUN STORIESShe said that he is “charming AF” and could now be going by the name “Charlie” instead.Ashley concluded the post with: “All the girls out there, feel free to share. A friend of a friend has got to know where he is.” More

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      Sacha Baron Cohen’s bitter feuds left him wearing bulletproof vests to work & saw rock star threaten to STAB him in eye

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      HE’S the controversial comedy actor who has made an army of enemies during his three-decade-long career.Now Sacha Baron Cohen, 52, has been accused of being a “bully” by the Australian actress Rebel Wilson, who starred as his love interest in 2016 film Grimsby.Sacha Baron Cohen, who has been married to Isla Fisher for 14 years, is no stranger to very public fallingoutsCredit: RexAustralian actress Rebel Wilson branded the star a ‘massive a***hole’Credit: EnterpriseThe star, 44, revealed the London-born actor was the “massive a***hole” who, she claimed, had threatened legal action over sections of her upcoming memoir Rebel Rising that featured him.Yesterday, Rebel wrote on Instagram: “I will not be bullied or silenced with high priced lawyer or PR crisis managers. “The ‘a**hole’ that I am talking about in ONE CHAPTER of my book is Sacha Baron Cohen.”  Previously, she claimed Sacha – who has been married to Isla Fisher since 2010 – tried to pressure her to “go naked” in the film because it would be “hilarious”. READ MORE ON SHOWBIZIn a statement, Sacha’s rep said: “While we appreciate the importance of speaking out, these demonstrably false claims are directly contradicted by extensive detailed evidence, including contemporaneous documents, film footage, and eyewitness accounts from those present before, during and after the production of The Brothers Grimsby,”Sacha is no stranger to controversy having had more than his fair share of feuds over the decades – and has even had to resort to wearing a bulletproof vest to protect himself in the past.From his lengthy beefy with Donald Trump to a fiery clash with a Britpop star, we look at the growing band of A-list enemies the star has made.’Ruined marriage’Sacha’s first satirical film Borat ruffled a number of feathers when it was released in 2006 – including, unsurprisingly, the nation of Kazakhstan, who banned it immediately.  Most read in CelebrityBut one unexpected casualty of the flick, which followed a Kazakh TV reporter with outdated views on a trip to America, was the marriage of Pamela Anderson and US country star Kid Rock. In the film, Sacha’s character proposed to the Baywatch star before attempting to force the star into a “traditional marriage sack” to abduct her and chased her around a supermarket. Sacha Baron Cohen calls social media giants the greatest propaganda machine in history at Anti-Defamation League Leadership AwardsWhile fans found it hilarious, it’s claimed Kid Rock – real name Robert James Ritchie – was far from impressed and went on a furious rant after watching it.An insider told New York Post: “Bob started screaming at Pam, saying she had humiliated herself and telling her, ‘You’re nothing but a w****! You’re a s***! How could you do that movie?’ — in front of everyone. It was very embarrassing,”Sacha later claimed the film contributed to Pamela filing for divorce from Kid Rock, just four months after they had tied the knot. Their divorce was finalised in 2007.Sacha claims Pamela Anderson’s marriage to Kid Rock ended due to appearing in the film BoratCredit: Getty Images – GettyIn the comedy, Sacha’s character proposes to the Baywatch star and tries to kidnap herCredit: 20th Century FoxIn 2019, he told The Last Laugh podcast that he had texted the actress to find out how the screening went only for her to reply: “We’re getting divorced.”Sacha continued: “I was like, why? And she goes, ‘The movie.’ And I thought it was a joke, but then a few weeks later they got divorced and they put as a reason for divorce, Borat.”  Stabbing threatLiam Gallagher threatened to stab Sacha in the eyeCredit: GettySacha amusingly based the hair-do and fashion sense of footballer-hooligan character Nobby, from Grimsby, on Liam Gallagher – but even before then the duo had locked horns.The actor revealed a fiery argument with the ex-Oasis frontman at the 2012 GQ Awards because he didn’t tell a planned gag about the singer.“So Liam Gallagher comes over and says, ‘Why the f*** didn’t you take the p*** out of me tonight?” Sacha recalled on the US talk show Conan.“And I said, ‘I just didn’t get round to it’, and he said, ‘Do you know what? I’m going to stab you in the eye.’””I thought to myself, ‘I’ve never heard such a specific threat. That’s a good aim.’ Anyway, eventually he didn’t stab me.”When Liam’s agent was approached for comment about the claims, he replied: “Liam wants to clarify that it wasn’t just the one eye, it was both.”In 2018, when recalling the incident to Junkee, the singer said Sacha was “full of s***” and said he made the threat “because he was getting lippy”.  Liam added: “I think he doing the rounds, he was selling some f***in’ s*** film that he’d done. He was trying to bring me into the fray and that. “I think he’s more one of Noel’s mates, he’s over on Bono’s side. I think he’s over on that f***in’ [makes an illuminati sign]. Scientology f***ing, that side. He’s one of them isn’t he, thinks he’s all illuminati and that. F***ing k***heads, all of them.”Queen falloutQueen star Brian May wasn’t pleased with Sacha after discussions about Bohemian Rhapsody turned sourCredit: AFPSacha was branded “an arse” by legendary guitarist Brian May after they fell out over the Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. The actor, who was being lined up to play Freddie Mercury, said the band “wanted to protect their legacy” and planned to skip over “wild” scenes.“There are amazing stories about Freddie Mercury,” Sacha told US radio host Howard Stern. “The guy was wild. There are stories of little people walking around parties with plates of cocaine on their heads!”He’s a bad guy, he’s a moron… he would get no ratings, nobody cares about himDonald TrumpHe later added that while Brian was an “amazing musician” he was “not a great movie producer”, which led to him quit the film – which would later star Rami Malek.Brian disputed his account, telling the Mail on Sunday’s Event magazine: “Sacha became an arse. We had some nice times with Sacha kicking around ideas, but he went off and told untruths about what happened.“Why would he go away and say that we didn’t want to make a gritty film? Are we the kind of people who have ever ducked from the truth? I don’t think so.”The musician sneaked in a further dig by saying he “wasn’t right the role for very good reasons” that were clear “if you watch what he’s done recently”.17-year feudSacha’s feud with Donald Trump dates back to an interview in 2003, while he was portraying Ali GCredit: Channel 4Later, Trump weighed in after Sacha dumped fake ashes over Ryan Seacrest at the 2012 OscarsSacha beef with Donald Trump began when the actor interviewed him as Ali G for his HBO show in 2003 and tried to flog him a glove that protects people from dripping ice cream cones.The future US President didn’t see the funny side, storming out after seven minutes, and later he claimed Sacha “misrepresented” the chat, which Trump thought was for the BBC.In 2016, Sacha claimed he was “the first person to actually realise that he’s a d***” and compared him to “this kind of villain in a bad Batman movie”.Trump also lambasted the comedian after he dumped pretend ashes over Ryan Seacrest on the 2012 Oscars red carpet as part of a stunt for his film The Dictator. He said: ​​“I can tell you if that happened to me, or if that happened to people I know, that guy would have been unconscious laying on the ground and nobody would have blamed us. “He’s a bad guy, he’s a moron… he would get no ratings, nobody cares about him”.In 2018, Sacha used recordings from Trump, where he described the comedian as a “third-grade character” who should “go to school” and “learn about being funny” in an amusing video online.In 2020, Trump was quizzed about Sacha again after his lawyer Rudy Giuliana appeared to be in a compromising position with an actor during a set-up in the sequel to Borat.When asked about his concerns over White House breaches, Trump raged: “I don’t find him funny. To me, he’s a creep.”In response, Sacha thanked the US President for “the free publicity” and added: “I admit, I don’t find you funny either. But yet the whole world laughs at you.”£75M lawsuitUS politician Roy Moore tried to sue Sacha for a stunt on the TV show Who is AmericaAlabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore tried to sue the actor for defamation in a £75million lawsuit after appearing on Who Is America back in 2018.During the skit, Sacha appeared as a fake counterterrorism instructor who demoed a ‘paedophile detecting wand’ and the fake device beeped repeatedly when it got closer to Mr Moore.Mr Moore, who had signed a non-disclosure agreement that prohibited legal claims from his appearance, lost the 2022 case after three judges ruled the segment was “clearly comedy”. Close scrapesSacha revealed he was lucky to escape from an angry mob of pro-gun activistsCredit: Amazon StudiosHe revealed a photo of him clinging to an ambulance door while fleeingCredit: TwitterSacha’s extreme characters have also put him in danger. He recalled being “fortunate to make it out in one piece” while filming with pro-gun activists at a rally in Washington State for the Borat sequel, where he performed as a right-wing singer. “When organisers finally stormed the stage, I rushed to a nearby get-away vehicle,” Sacha said. “An angry crowd blocked our way and started pounding on the vehicle with their fists. “Under my overalls, I was wearing a bulletproof vest, but it felt inadequate with some people outside toting semiautomatic weapons.”If Facebook were around in the 1930s, it would have allowed Hitler to post 30-second ads on his ‘solution’ to the ‘Jewish problem’.Sacha Baron CohenSacha also had a close shave while filming Bruno and had to escape through a trap door after angering MMA fans, in Arkansas. He said: “I posed as an ultimate fighter at a cage match and challenged anyone in the audience to take me on.“When my fake ex-boyfriend volunteered, we engaged in some heavy petting, triggering a near riot. “The crowd—including some recently paroled prisoners with swastika tattoos—erupted in homophobic slurs and started hurling metal chairs at us. “Had I not ducked into a trapdoor and out an escape tunnel, I think the crowd would have beaten me senseless.”Facebook rantsSacha laid into Mark Zuckerberg and other tech giants over misinformation and political advertisingCredit: ReutersIt’s not just celebrities and politicians who Sacha has taken aim at either, he branded tech platforms Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Google “the greatest propaganda machines in history”.He blamed a rise in hate crimes and “murderous attacks on religious and ethnic minorities” on a “handful of internet companies”, in a speech at The Anti-Defamation League in 2019. Sacha continued: “If you pay them, Facebook will run any ‘political’ ad you want, even if it’s a lie… if Facebook were around in the 1930s, it would have allowed Hitler to post 30-second ads on his ‘solution’ to the ‘Jewish problem’.”At the time, a spokesperson for Facebook said the actor had “misrepresented Facebook’s policies” and insisted it banned people who advocated for violence. One year later, when Mark Zuckerberg was questioned about misinformation on the platform by Congress, Sacha reignited his feud with the tech boss.On X, formerly Twitter, he wrote: “A good question for Mark Zuckerberg when he appears before Congress on Tuesday: Facebook says it does not allow a person who ‘advocates…acts of violence’.READ MORE SUN STORIES“Yet you’ve granted an exception to Steven Bannon, who advocates for the murder and beheading of Dr. [Anthony] Fauci. WHY?!”It followed Mr Bannon, Donald Trump’s former strategist, calling for the US government’s leading infectious disease expert Dr Fauci’s head to be put on a spike outside the White House. More

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      Vision and Voice: Meta unlocks social media evolution and innovation potential

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      What drives the future of social media?Emirates Woman taps Meta’s Group Director FMCG, Luxury, Retail & E-Commerce (MENA), Anna Germanos, to unlock social media’s evolution and innovation potential.What do the first 30 minutes of your day look like, your morning routine?My day begins with a glance at my phone, catching up on messages from friends and family sent overnight, and reading the latest headlines. The morn- ing hustle then begins – waking the kids up and preparing them for school, a daily marathon of its own. I drop them at the bus and hit the gym at 7am at least three times a week. The 7-8am hour is my only time for fitness.Tell us how you got your start in the industry.My journey in Consumer & Retail began with an internship at Booz & Company during my MBA year. I found myself captivated by industries closely connected to consumers, leading me to focus the rest of my consulting career on consumer and retail projects across the MEA region. In 2017, an opportunity presented itself in Google’s consumer team. Leveraging both my industry expertise and engineering background, I made the transition into the tech sector. Since then, I’ve been advising global and regional clients in Consumer, Retail, E- commerce, and Luxury on their digital marketing transformation journeys.Anna Germanos, Group Director FMCG, Luxury, Retail & E-Commerce (MENA) at MetaHow does your role impact innovation and tech at Meta?In my role at Meta, I directly engage with consumers and advertisers, translating their needs into actionable insights which helps bridge the gap between user requirements and our product teams. These insights also play a pivotal role in shaping Meta’s innovation roadmap, ensuring our products resonate with a diverse regional audience. I also oversee the adaptation of innovations to specific markets, leveraging local nuances for maximum impact. Naturally, any innovation undergoes rigorous testing before its global launch, and in our region, advertisers frequently participate in testing alphas and betas, which help shape the end-product development.“Innovation is also about making our technologies accessible to users of all backgrounds and abilities.”What are the key goals to lead the change in terms of innovation in the tech industry?Ultimately, innovation has to be centered around people. Everything we do at Meta is about breaking down barriers and connecting people, empowering them to create. The concept of the metaverse, for example, underscores the ability to facilitate profound connections through social presence and natural interactions using voice, facial expressions and gestures. Innovation is also about making our technologies accessible to users of all backgrounds and abilities. Whether through advancements in virtual and augmented reality or improved accessibility features, our goal is to ensure that everyone can participate in the digital revolution.How has the Middle East region changed in terms of interacting on Meta platforms – has there been a shift in the way content is consumed?There has been a noticeable shift in content consumption globally and our region is not an exception. It would come as no surprise that there has been a steady rise in the consumption of short-form video content, such as Reels, across all platforms. For instance, people spend more than half their time on Facebook and Instagram watching videos. As we have moved almost entirely to mobile first, when it comes to social media, brevity and shareability has become key. We are also seeing creators explore new frontiers through the use of AR and VR, experiment with new formats and tools, and find new ways to monetise their work. Another big shift is the growth of e-commerce on social media. While people have been using our apps to buy and sell things for years, the integration of e-commerce tools such as shoppable posts and branded content tools on Instagram, Facebook Marketplace, live shopping, product stickers and integrated chatbots for customer support has made the experience more natural and seamless. E-commerce in MENA is projected to reach $50 billion by 2025, 1.7x from 2021 with KSA and UAE leading.How do you aim to positively drive the platforms forward in the region?The Middle East is a hub of immense potential, both creatively and in the business realm, and we are enthusiastic about deepening our collaborations with regional partners to expedite the development of the local ecosystem. We are deeply invested in amplifying the influence of the vibrant local creator community in the region – a community rich in talent and diversity. Initiatives like Creators of Tomorrow, Creator Lab, and locally flavoured campaigns are a launchpad that celebrate these talents and we aim to continue this momentum. We’re also constantly expanding on ways creators can monetise their content on our platforms. As our creator community thrives, so do the opportunities for brands and advertisers on our platforms. The regional success stories are compelling; brands leveraging our platforms have witnessed a substantial boost in ad effectiveness and sales. For instance, with AI-driven ad solutions, Home Center, a prominent home furnishings retailer in the GCC, experienced a 40% lift in return on ad spend using our tools. Similarly, Level Shoes, a luxury multi-brand footwear retailer in the UAE and KSA, reported a remarkable 92% higher return on ad spend in KSA. In addition to growth, we are dedicated to making our platforms a safer space, especially for minors. We’ve recently announced a new bundle of protections to give teens more age-appropriate experience, and overall, we’ve developed over 30 different tools and resources to support teens and their parents.UX/UI is at the core of Meta. How does the company approach digital innovation to ensure the content is fresh and engaging?We want to make the most of people’s time, and we believe personalisation is the way to go about it. We prioritise content that generates authentic interactions and that people seek out and return to on a regular basis. We use a wide variety of AI algorithms to ensure users get a good mix of staying connected to their close friends, while being engaged with new content relevant to their interests. We do that by analysing different factors including history of interaction, location and the user’s activity to try and predict what they will enjoy the most. Another aspect is giving creators better tools and helpful guides to empower them to engage with their communities and produce trendy, entertaining content. Features like Reel templates, Remix, Collabs and many more are all there to ensure we keep the bar high for quality content on our platforms. We also provide global guides via @creators on Instagram and creators.instagram.com to help creators get inspiration, learn how to best monetise their content, and stay ahead of the curve. Meta is also experimenting with incorporating generative AI post creation elements.Do you believe AI will be the defining technology of our generation or is this a passing trend?While it’s still early days for generative AI, the visible impact it is making leaves us anticipating positive changes across various domains, from business and healthcare to the delivery of public services. Far from being a passing trend, I firmly believe that AI is a transformative force here to stay. For over a decade, Meta has been a trailblazer in AI innovation, utilizing it to curate personalised content and ads for our users while ensuring safer experiences on our platforms. We’ve actively collaborated on over 1,000 open-source AI projects, contributing to the broader AI community. The transformative potential of AI is evident in its application by researchers, accelerating anti-biotic discovery and enabling the creation of detailed MRIs with significantly less raw data. Now, Meta is extending its AI endeavors with the development of new generative AI experiences. These innovations aim to make our platforms more social, more useful, and more immersive, further solidifying AI as a driving force in shaping the technological landscape of our generation.With social media use at an all-time high, what type of content stands out to you?The content that truly resonates with me is usually unique and genuine. I gravitate towards creators and influencers who can either in- spire or entertain me with their authentic passion. I prefer to engage with content that is specialised in a specific genre, rather than spans multiple areas. More broadly, content such as sports, fashion and beauty typically dominate in terms of popularity, followed by music and comedy. However, in our region, cultural events often bring other genres to the forefront, such as food and entertainment shows during Ramadan. I am also very intrigued by the emerging new technology and AI generated content that truly boosts engagement, similar to what Tom Jauncey (@tomjauncey) and Murad Osmann (@muradosmann) are creating on Instagram. Ultimately, content that is crafted with sincerity and passion is the most impactful.This is The Tech Issue – what technology has been a game changer in your life and how so?To me, WhatsApp is a revolutionary tool. Its user-friendly interface allows even the least tech-savvy individuals to connect effortlessly; case in point: my 93-year-old grandma is on WhatsApp! It really simplified my personal life management as a working mother. Professionally too, WhatsApp’s prevalence has expedited tasks, making communication more efficient than other channels. The benefits I’ve reaped in terms of connectivity, time-efficiency, and effectiveness through WhatsApp are immense.February’s – The Tech Issue with Christiana Maxion  – Download Now– For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and InstagramImages: Supplied More

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      Jonnie Irwin’s heartbroken A Place in the Sun co-star Danni Menzies in touching tribute after cancer death

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      DANNI Menzies has posted a heartbreaking tribute to her A Place In The Sun co-star Jonnie Irwin after his death.Jonnie, 50, tragically passed away after a gruelling battle with cancer.
      Danni Menzies paid tribute to her co-presenterCredit: Instagram
      Jonnie Irwin tragically died after a battle with cancerCredit: Instagram/@jonnieirwintv
      Heartbreaking tributes have poured in for Jonnie after his family today confirmed he sadly passed away.
      His former co-presenter on A Place In The Sun Danni posted to her Instagram story paying tribute to Jonnie.
      The Perthshire-born star, 31, reshared a post with a poem by Ida Banks.
      It read: “When we die I want to believe that we are scattered throughout all the people that have ever loved us.

      “That we will continue to exist in them, in their bloodstreams, for generations, for lifetimes.”
      Danni shared the touching tribute saying: “You will Jonnie xxx”.
      Jonnie was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in 2020 – just one week after filming the property show in Italy.
      He revealed the heartbreaking news in 2022 that the cancer had spread to his brain and he had just months to live.
      Most read in Celebrity
      Jonnie’s family released a statement announcing his tragic passing.
      It read: “It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of Jonnie’s passing. 
      “A truly remarkable soul, he fought bravely against cancer with unwavering strength and courage. Jonnie touched the lives of so many with his kindness, warmth, and infectious spirit.
      “At this time, we kindly ask for the privacy of Jonnie’s family as they navigate through this profound loss. Their grief is immeasurable, and your thoughts, prayers, and support are deeply appreciated.
      “As we remember the beautiful moments shared with Jonnie, let us celebrate a life well-lived and a legacy that will forever be etched in our hearts. Jonnie may be gone from our sight, but his love, laughter, and memories will live on.
      “Rest in peace, dear Jonnie. You will be dearly missed, but never forgotten.”
      Jonnie first joined A Place In The Sun in 2004 and presented over 200 episodes of the show.
      he went on to front BBC property shows Escape to the Country and To Buy or Not to Buy.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      He also hosted Escape to the Perfect Town and Sky1 show Dream Lives for Sale in 2011, which saw him help people leave their lives in the UK behind to set up a business.
      Despite his TV fame, Jonnie still worked as an adviser to clients on business and property and ran a consultancy agency.
      She shared a touching tribute on her Instagram storyCredit: Instagram More

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      Jonnie Irwin death: Tributes flood in for ‘remarkable’ A Place in the Sun star as friends praise a ‘life well lived’

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      TRIBUTES are flooding in for A Place in the Sun star Jonnie Irwin after he passed away aged 50. The dad-of-three’s family announced his death today – following his four-year fight against lung cancer.
      The presenter filmed over 200 episodes of A Place in the SunCredit: Instagram
      Jonnie with Fellow Place in the Sun presenter Jasmine Harman
      His family revealed he passed away with a touching Instagram postCredit: Instagram
      He chose not to tell his children about his diagnosisCredit: Instagram
      The 50-year-old was given six-months to live after his diagnosis in August 2020 but determinedly defied the odds to carry on working.
      Tributes from fellow stars, friends and family are now flooding in.
      Fellow Place in the Sun presenter Jasmine Harman posted a touching photo of the pair on Instagram – saying “the world is a little darker today.
      She added: “Jonnie, you’ve taught me so much in our time as work colleagues and as good friends.
      “I have never admired you more than over the last few years as you’ve faced life with cancer with positivity, determination and bloody mindedness.
      “I’ve never known anyone as strong as you. You have done yourself, your loved ones and all of us proud.”
      Meanwhile ITV star Nicki Chapman wrote: “Heart broken. Sending love to Jess and the family.
      “And escape from the country’s Sonali Shah: I feel so lucky to have known Jonnie.”
      Most read in Showbiz
      A spokesperson for A Place in the Sun added: “We are heartbroken. Jonnie was a much loved part of the A Place in the Sun family and for more than 18 years he brought joy, wit and bundles of energy to the show.
      “We will miss him terribly. Our thoughts today are with Jess and the boys and the rest of Jonnie’s family.”
      His death was announced on Instagram today by his family.
      The post reads: “It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of Jonnie’s passing. 
      Terminally ill A Place in the Sun star Jonnie Irwin shares huge health update as new treatments have ‘bought him months’
      “A truly remarkable soul, he fought bravely against cancer with unwavering strength and courage. Jonnie touched the lives of so many with his kindness, warmth, and infectious spirit.
      “At this time, we kindly ask for the privacy of Jonnie’s family as they navigate through this profound loss. Their grief is immeasurable, and your thoughts, prayers, and support are deeply appreciated.
      “As we remember the beautiful moments shared with Jonnie, let us celebrate a life well-lived and a legacy that will forever be etched in our hearts. Jonnie may be gone from our sight, but his love, laughter, and memories will live on.
      “Rest in peace, dear Jonnie. You will be dearly missed, but never forgotten.”
      The Place in the Sun and Escape to the Country star had previously told The Sun of his sorrow at not being able to see his children grow up.
      He said last March: “I think they’re not going to remember me, they’re really not.
      “They’re too young and if I die this year there’s no chance they will have memories. And someone else is going to bring them up.
      “I’ve done the hard yards with them and someone else will get the easy bit.”
      Jonnie revealed how he was left heartbroken after being ditched as a presenter for A Place in the Sun after 18 years.
      The firm behind the show Freeform Productions claimed it couldn’t cover Jonnie’s travel because of his cancer.
      It led him to keep his cancer secret for two years, fearful he would lose more work.
      Wife Jess, 41, was left devastated by her husband’s illness but told of his will to live for her and the boys
      She previously said: “He’s stubborn and determined and he’s a scrapper.
      “If I ever think about the reality it absolutely breaks my heart, for the boys and for Jonnie.
      “It’s just very unfair and I’m angry at how much it’s ruined the last couple of years, how much it’s taken away from us enjoying having a new family.
      Jonathan James Irwin was born in November 1973 and grew up on a small farm in the village of Bitteswell, Leicestershire.
      He attended Lutterworth Grammar School and went on to get a degree in estate management at Birmingham City University.
      LUNG CANCER SYMPTOMS Experts at Cancer Research UK warn there are nine common symptoms of the disease.

      Having a cough most of the time
      Having a change in a cough you have had for a long time – it may sound different or be painful when you cough
      Getting out of breath doing the things you used to do without a problem
      Coughing up phlegm (sputum) with blood in it
      Having an ache or pain in the chest or shoulder
      Chest infections that keep coming back or a chest infection that doesn’t get better
      Losing your appetite
      Feeling tired all the time (fatigue)
      Losing weight

      Jonnie worked for Christie & Co as a business transfer specialist, then joined commercial real estate firm Colliers
      A keen sportsman, he played rugby for local union clubs Lutterworth RFC Rugby Lions RFC before he broke his back, taking six months to recover.
      In 2004 he and co-star Jasmine Harman fought off hundreds of applicants to land presenting roles on A Place in the Sun.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      He also presented BBC property shows Escape to the Country and To Buy or Not to Buy.
      Jonnie met wife Jess through mutual friends in summer 2015 and both said they knew they had met ‘The One’.
      The star had bravely spoken about his battle with cancerCredit: Instagram More

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      Taylor Swift at war with tech bosses after AI images of her in intimate positions viewed millions of times online

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      TAYLOR SWIFT is fighting back after explicit fake pictures of her were posted online – and the gloves are well and truly off.The American superstar is currently waging war on social media bosses after truly grim AI-created images of her in intimate positions were shared on social media.
      Taylor Swift is currently waging war on social media bosses after AI-created images of her in intimate positions were sharedCredit: Getty
      One of the deepfake pics was viewed 47million times on X/Twitter before it was removed.
      To put that into context, that’s like the entire population of Spain seeing completely fake, but still absolutely mortifying, pictures of you.
      I’d want to crawl into a hole if that was me. But luckily Taylor has more guts, and more money, to try to stop them spreading.
      She has so far managed to get X — which has been accused of ­inadequately policing content since billionaire Elon Musk took it over — to remove the ability for people to search her name.
      READ MORE IN SHOWBIZ
      But because of the exhaustive scope of the internet, the sick shots are still popping up on other social media apps owned by another billionaire, Mark Zuckerberg.
      Taylor’s fight has gone global, with US President Joe Biden’s press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre calling on social media bosses to clamp down on the spread of these kinds of fake images.
      Sophie Campbell-Adams, from leading criminal defence law firm Britton & Time, told me it was not just Taylor at risk, but every ­famous face.
      She said: “The malicious use of deepfakes poses profound threats”. Too right it does.
      Most read in Celebrity
      I hope that whatever Taylor does to shut this down inspires a sea change, not only across the music industry but in society as a whole.
      Online bullying of kids is rife, so how long will it be before the tech is so easy to use that some grotty teenager with an axe to grind can torment someone they know with it?
      Last night, X’s head of business ops, Joe Benarroch, said a block on searching for Taylor’s name was a “temporary action” to prioritise safety.
      On Friday, the site said posting non-consensual nudity is “strictly prohibited”, adding: “We have a zero-tolerance policy towards such content.
      “Our teams are removing all identified images and taking appropriate action against the accounts responsible.”
      Taylor isn’t just fighting for the rich and famous here, she’s fighting for all of us.
      And I’ll be first in line to cheer her when she wins. More

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      Who is SheRa Seven?

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      SHERA Seven is an online personality, influencer and author who specialises in advising women on how to woo wealthy men.Here we look at her questionable take on relationship advice — as well as her husband.
      SheRa Seven’s videos have been viewed around 20billion times on TikTokCredit: instagram/@sheraseven
      Who is SheRa Seven?
      SheRa is a self-styled “financial adviser”, social media influencer and author.
      Her field of expertise is counselling women over the age of 25 on how to manipulate older, wealthy men into dating them.
      She contends that once her followers have tricked these affluent men into dating them — using tactics including reverse psychology and barefaced lies — they should insist that they pay all of their household bills.
      Seven refers to men without vast amounts of money to spend on their partner’s expenses as “dusties” — these guys should be avoided at all costs, she teaches.
      READ MORE ON INFLUENCERS
      Her advice includes hiding any insecurities you may have from your potential partners.
      For example, if you are feeling jealous because a man you are dating won’t answer the phone, SheRa says you should pretend you were calling because you had a flat tyre, but tell them that as they weren’t available, you had to get another man to help you.
      She also argues that women don’t need to take on domestic chores such as cooking and cleaning in exchange for this financial support, because a man with money can pay for people to do such menial tasks.
      The woman’s job is to be worshipped and look their best, according to SheRa.
      Most read in Showbiz
      Sprinkle sprinkle!SheRa Seven
      However, she argues that the appearance of any potential male you might be looking to date is entirely unimportant — what matters is his bank balance.
      Seven follows all of her most sage advice with her catchphrase: “Sprinkle sprinkle!”
      What is SheRa Seven’s real name?
      According to her Instagram and Facebook profiles, SheRa’s real name is Leticia Padua.
      She is also often referred to by her fans as “the Sprinkle Sprinkle Lady.”
      Although she is very upfront about sharing her ‘financial advice’ with her followers, she mostly keeps her personal life out of the public spotlight.
      When did SheRa Seven first rise to fame?
      SheRa has been making YouTube videos since 2014.
      Seven currently has 582,000 followers on YouTube, and her videos have been viewed around 20billion times on TikTok.
      Her first book, which is titled Too Pretty to Pay Bills: Keys to Gold Digging Success: Tips on How to Have the Life You Deserve as a Woman!, was published in 2017.
      Is SheRa Seven married?
      Yes, SheRa is married to James Scott.
      According to his LinkedIn profile, James graduated from the University of Maryland’s Business School in 1980 and works for a tech company as a developer and integration specialist.
      SheRa has mentioned in her live streams that her husband is several years older than she is and also explained how they met.
      She said: “I was sitting there sipping on whatever I was drinking and my husband walks over to me, you know, and by this time I’m sick and tired of guys not being able to meet my standards, I’m just gonna be rude. Okay?
      “First of all, I didn’t want to talk to him because he wasn’t my type at all. He was not my type. Ladies, that’s why I say don’t get hung up on looks because that could be your husband.”
      SheRa went on to tell James he had two minutes to buy her a drink, which he did, but she said she couldn’t go out with him because she had work later that day.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      But not taking no for an answer, he paid her the money she would have earned that day, which changed her mind.
      Following some high-end wining and dining, SheRa was suitably impressed, and the rest is history. More