Hiding road signs for making petrol bombs IAN BIRRELL meets

Hiding road signs for making petrol bombs, IAN BIRRELL meets with Ukrainian DIY army ready to stop Russia

Chortkov is due to complete preparations for his 500th birthday this summer, but instead the small medieval town in the west Ukraine getting ready for war.

Road signs are being removed, street lighting is being turned off, checkpoints are being built at entry points, battle plans are being drawn up and hundreds of men are being recruited into military units.

Today, police plan to teach volunteers how to make and throw Molotov cocktails – although they call them kokteli shchastya (“cocktails of happiness”) because they do not want to get their mouths dirty with the name of the Russian Soviet-era politician.

Similar preparations in a historic city 300 miles from the Ukrainian capital Kiev, away from the Russian border and the fighting that erupted after the president Vladimir Putin lined up in his forces last week underscore the appalling speed with which the war changed this country.

“We are preparing to defend ourselves because we believe there is a high probability that we will be attacked,” said Mayor Vladimir Shmatko.

Chortkov has already seen missiles fly over them on their way to destroy an airport and fuel depot in Ivano-Frankivsk on the first day of Putin’s invasion – which Shmatko revealed to me were fired from the Russian enclave of Transnistria in Moldova.

Now the 30,000-strong city in western Ukraine, a region with close cultural and historical ties to Poland, has been warned to expect an attack by military forces from Minsk.

“If we face troops, I think they will be from Belarus,” Shmatko said.

Civil defense members prepare Molotov cocktails in a courtyard in Kiev, Ukraine on Sunday after fighting broke out in the country's second-largest city, Kharkiv

Civil defense members prepare Molotov cocktails in a courtyard in Kiev, Ukraine on Sunday after fighting broke out in the country’s second-largest city, Kharkiv

Vladimir Shmatko, Chortkov's mayor, says that

Vladimir Chmatko, Chortkov’s mayor, says there is a “high probability” the area will be attacked by Russian forces

Although Belarus is conducting joint military exercises with Russia, it would mean a significant expansion of the war if its troops cross the Ukrainian border.

Yesterday, the country’s dictator Alexander Lukashenko confirmed that they had fired rockets at Ukraine.

“We expect an attack from Belarus along the entire length of the border. They have everything ready for this – the equipment is in combat formations, refueled, “said Anton Gerashchenko, adviser to the Ukrainian Interior Ministry.

Entering Chortkiv on Saturday afternoon, I saw people removing the city’s name following a government order that day to remove all road signs to confuse Russian troops.

They also built a huge concrete checkpoint, sandbags and piles of tires at the main entrance to the road.

It was completed in one day by 80 locals, along with some bedrooms and kitchens in an abandoned sausage factory.

Shmatko, 36, a former army officer who fought against Russia in the Eastern Donbass region eight years ago, said they were building similar checkpoints at all of the city’s entrances to prevent saboteurs from entering and guard against the arrival of invading forces.

“If they see the tanks coming on the road, they are ordered to report their arrival and then withdraw, as this [the checkpoints] “It will be destroyed in one blast and it will kill everyone,” he said.

We met after the mayor, dressed in his old army uniform, concluded a meeting of the ten-member military council that was set up in the city after Ukraine imposed martial law four days ago.

He said they focus on protecting key infrastructure, strengthening defense, collecting medical supplies for the frontline forces and helping the thousands of refugees flooding the area to the border.

Chortkov, with its impressive 17th-century Gothic Catholic Church and synagogue, has a strong military legacy, as it was the site of a former Soviet air base and home to four military units. Many Russian officers remained there after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

I reached the familiar howl of air raid sirens, so I immediately joined the local families and some foreign students studying in the city basement. The sirens sounded four more times in the last 24 hours.

The city looked full of army and police in uniform, with dozens gathered around a recruitment service.

Dnieper locals gather in Rocket Park to prepare Molotov cocktails on Sunday.  Pictured: Empty bottles ready to be turned into explosive weapons

Dnieper locals gather in Rocket Park to prepare Molotov cocktails on Sunday. Pictured: Empty bottles ready to be turned into explosive weapons

A local is preparing to use a Molotov cocktail against a wall during an all-Ukrainian training campaign earlier this month

A local is preparing to use a Molotov cocktail against a wall during an all-Ukrainian training campaign earlier this month

During a short walk before curfew on Saturday night, I was twice asked to show my documents to the police, who told me not to stay on the street.

“We called on all the men to join the Territorial Defense Forces (Territorial Defense Forces) and gave them weapons and ammunition,” Shmatko said.

“These are trained men who have served in the army and know what to do with their weapons. There are about 500 of them.

“There are also volunteers who may be hunters who know how to handle a rifle, but do not know how to throw a grenade or shoot a Kalashnikov. We train them. So far there are 100, but there will be many more.

“We are now preparing a plan for all our units to know what to do if there is a tank attack. This will be a master plan for both military and civilian units.

Among those joining the defense force is 29-year-old Konstantin, a local science teacher who fought in Donbass against pro-Russian separatists in 2014 and signed up yesterday.

His wife and four-year-old son are trapped after visiting her parents in Kherson, a city near Crimea where the battle rages after the airport was taken over by Russia. “I’m worried about them, so I can’t stay indifferent,” he said.

“I will fight because I have the right experience.”

In the town hall I found 22 people who helped sort out donations of food for refugees and medical supplies for Kiev and the military.

A stream of locals came with everything from camp beds and pickled vegetables to drugs bought from the pharmacy.

Locals prepare Molotov cocktails to defend their city of Uzhgorod on Sunday

Locals prepare Molotov cocktails to defend their city of Uzhgorod on Sunday

In addition to using Molotov cocktails, residents have been asked to remove all road signs to confuse Russian troops.

In addition to using Molotov cocktails, residents have been asked to remove all road signs to confuse Russian troops.

Among the volunteers was 25-year-old Ina Dzindra, who fled Kiev on Friday with her boyfriend and immediately set up an online system to find drugs needed by people in the capital.

“They have food and clothes, but all the pharmacies are closed,” she said.

The couple had hoped to send supplies by train, but if that proved impossible, they would take them back to the war-torn city by car.

“We must all do our best, because the Russians want to besiege Kiev, and it is vital that it survives for all of us.”

Like many people I met here, Mayor Shmatko, a member of a local liberal party, sought to thank Britain for its “important and inspiring” support for Ukraine. “Putin is in the corner and his plan is not working, so he can do anything,” he said.

So Chortkov, like so many other cities in this nation, is preparing for the worst.

“Ukraine will pay a high price for democracy and we may not all survive. We did not want to fight, but we must keep the enemy away from our land and make them leave us alone.

Hiding road signs for making petrol bombs, IAN BIRRELL meets with Ukrainian DIY army ready to stop Russia Read More »

Jerry Seinfeld sells 11 bedroom 13 bath 26 acre ski lodge in Colorado

Jerry Seinfeld sells 11-bedroom, 13-bath, 26-acre ski lodge in Colorado for $ 14 million

Jerry Seinfeld sold his sprawling Telluride, Colorado a $ 14 million mountain retreat after winning it for just $ 7.55 million in 2007.

The sale came more than 10 years after he first tried to land the property for $ 18.25 million in 2011 after extensive renovations.

This time, the 67-year-old actor and his wife, Jessica Seinfeldt, 50, first demanded $ 14.95 million for a 12,260-square-foot ranch property on 27 acres with 11 bedrooms, 11 full bathrooms and two half-baths. .

According to the information, the deal was completed last month for 14 million dollars Realtor.com.

The house has a vaulted great room with a stone fireplace, a renovated kitchen with wooden countertops and many dining areas. The property also has a gym, yoga studio and four-car garage, and also includes a creek and a private hiking trail system.

Much of the couple’s furniture will be included in the sale.

Picturesque: The 67-year-old actor and his wife Jessica Seinfeld sold their 12,260-square-foot ranch-style mansion in Telluride, Colorado for $ 14 million

Picturesque: The 67-year-old actor and his wife Jessica Seinfeld sold their 12,260-square-foot ranch-style mansion in Telluride, Colorado for $ 14 million

The home is located on 27 acres and has 11 bedrooms, 11 full bathrooms and two half bathrooms.  Upstairs, spacious and bright living room

The home is located on 27 acres and has 11 bedrooms, 11 full bathrooms and two half bathrooms. Upstairs, spacious and bright living room

Breathtaking: The great vaulted room has floor-to-ceiling windows with mountain views.  The couple bought the home for $ 7.55 million in 2007

Breathtaking: The great vaulted room has floor-to-ceiling windows with mountain views. The couple bought the home for $ 7.55 million in 2007

The sale comes more than 10 years after Seinfelds first attempted to land $ 18.25 million in 2011, but quickly took it off the market.

The sale comes more than 10 years after Seinfelds first attempted to land $ 18.25 million in 2011, but quickly took it off the market.

Jerry and Jessica have often stayed at the home, which is 10 minutes from the Telluride ski resort, with their children Sasha (left), 20, Julian, 18, and Shepard, 15, (second from right) over the years.

Jerry and Jessica have often stayed at the home, which is 10 minutes from the Telluride ski resort, with their children Sasha (left), 20, Julian, 18, and Shepard, 15, (second from right) over the years.

Exact moment: The Seinfelds family announced the property in 2011 for 18.25 million dollars, but removed it from the market a few months later.  Now the couple has decided to sell the large property because their children are older and the market is hot

Exact moment: The Seinfelds family announced the property in 2011 for 18.25 million dollars, but removed it from the market a few months later. Now the couple has decided to sell the large property because their children are older and the market is hot

The Seinfelds also cited a four-bedroom guest house on a separate 17-acre plot for $ 2.775 million last year, although it is unclear whether the guest house was also sold.

The Seinfeld family bought the main house – built in 1991 – in 2007 for $ 7.55 million.

A year later, they bought the guest house for $ 2.3 million, which they reportedly used as a villa for spectators, according to the list’s agent.

Jerry and Jessica have often stayed at the home, which is 10 minutes from the ski resort of Telluride, with their children – Sasha, 20, Julian, 18, and Shepard, 15 – over the years.

Now that their children are older and the Colorado real estate market is hot, the couple decides it’s time to sell the vacation home.

Registry agent Bill Fandel of Compass said WSJ.com last year: “Recognizing the strong demand for real estate, they think it’s a good time.”

Designed to resemble a series of connected western ranch structures, the property is flooded with floor-to-ceiling windows in many of the rooms, offering stunning mountain views.

The property has a vaulted great room with a stone fireplace, as seen in the photo above

The property has a vaulted great room with a stone fireplace, as seen in the photo above

1646000453 143 Jerry Seinfeld sells 11 bedroom 13 bath 26 acre ski lodge in Colorado

“After the Seinfeld family bought the property, they remodeled and rethought the whole place,” said listing agent Bill Fandel.

The kitchen has stainless steel appliances, a large island and a white cupboard.  It is designed to resemble a series of connected western ranch structures

The kitchen has stainless steel appliances, a large island and a white cupboard. It is designed to resemble a series of connected western ranch structures

A fuller view of the kitchen shows the open concept, which includes plenty of dining space and more light coming from the many windows around it

A fuller view of the kitchen shows the open concept, which includes plenty of dining space and more light coming from the many windows around it

Relaxing privacy: The property is flooded with light thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows in many of the rooms, which keep things airy and bright.

Relaxing privacy: The property is flooded with light thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows in many of the rooms, which keep things airy and bright.

Ideal for outdoor adventurers: The property has a gym, yoga studio and a garage for four cars, and also includes a creek and a private hiking trail system.

Ideal for outdoor adventurers: The property has a gym, yoga studio and a garage for four cars, and also includes a creek and a private hiking trail system.

“After the Seinfelds bought the property, they remodeled and rethought the whole place,” Fandel added.

Fandel explained that Telluride sees bidding wars and record prices.

Tom Cruise listed his nearby home for $ 39.5 million last year, and director Barry Sonnenfeld ended up selling his $ 13 million property in the same area as Seinfelds.

Jerry and Jessica’s main home is an apartment overlooking Central Park in upper western Manhattan. They also have a large Hampton mansion, which they bought for $ 32 million from Billy Joel in 2000.

Jerry and Jessica have announced a four-bedroom guest house on a separate 17-acre plot for $ 2.775 million, although it is unclear whether it has also been sold.

Jerry and Jessica have announced a four-bedroom guest house on a separate 17-acre plot for $ 2.775 million, although it is unclear whether it has also been sold.

Fandel explained that Telluride is currently witnessing bidding wars and record prices

Fandel explained that Telluride is currently witnessing bidding wars and record prices

The property also has a gym, yoga studio and four-car garage, and also includes a creek and a private hiking trail system.

The property also has a gym, yoga studio and four-car garage, and also includes a creek and a private hiking trail system.

Seinfeld, whose net worth is estimated at 950 million dollars, became famous in the hit sitcom from the 90s of the last century Seinfeld, which he co-authored.  In 2020, he released his latest special stand-up, 23 Hours of Murder

Seinfeld, whose net worth is estimated at 950 million dollars, became famous in the hit sitcom from the 90s of the last century Seinfeld, which he co-authored. In 2020, he released his latest special stand-up, 23 Hours of Murder

The comedian, whose net worth is estimated at 950 million dollars, became popular with his hit sitcom from the 90s of the last century Seinfeld, who co-authored.

In 2020, he released his new special comedy Jerry Seinfeld: 23 Hours to Kill in May, starring at the Beacon Theater in New York City.

He also has his hit series “Comedians in Cars Who Get Coffee” on Netflix, making its 11th season debut in July 2019.

The comedy legend signed a multilateral production agreement with Netflix back in 2016, which includes two new specials and Comedians at Cars Getting Coffee.

1646000453 512 Jerry Seinfeld sells 11 bedroom 13 bath 26 acre ski lodge in Colorado

Holiday Home: Jerry and Jessica have often stayed at the home, which is 10 minutes from the ski resort of Telluride, with their children Sasha, 20, Julian, 18, and Shepard, 15, over the years.

Jerry Seinfeld sells 11-bedroom, 13-bath, 26-acre ski lodge in Colorado for $ 14 million Read More »

As scientists have discovered that pottery in the garden keeps

As scientists have discovered that pottery in the garden keeps women healthy … Easy ways to trim the waist

Did you spend an hour in the garden this weekend? Congratulations – you’ve completed a workout worthy of a gym session, and you’ve probably burned hundreds of calories.

Just 30 to 60 minutes spent on various tasks with green fingers can burn about 300 calories and train all the same muscle groups that you would use for swimming or rock climbing.

And there are smart ways to optimize this exercise. Read on to get the most out of your outdoor spring arrangement. . .

Annie Burdick reveals a selection of smart ways to optimize your garden workout, as it has been found that green finger tasks can burn about 300 calories (file image)

Annie Burdick reveals a selection of smart ways to optimize your garden workout, as it has been found that green finger tasks can burn about 300 calories (file image)

BREAK THE DAYS A LITTLE AND FREQUENTLY

Allocate your tasks so that you have something significant to do as often as you can.

Instead of reserving one afternoon a month for a huge gardening job, try dividing the work into 30-minute sessions several times a week. Weed one large spot at a time, then work in compost or scatter gravel in one day and do a planting project in another. You will get these 30 minutes in the garden for as many days as possible and you will feel better.

REPLACE THE WEIGHT WITH A WATERING MACHINE

To maximize calorie burning, these are the best exercises to focus on: garden waste collection, weeding, rowing, digging or turning the soil, and carrying full watering cans.

Increase your heart rate (the higher your heart rate, the more calories you burn). Focus on short, high-intensity activities – such as a minute or two of focused digging – and include rest periods to recover.

Landscaping, moving stones and pulling soil burns 400 to 600 calories per hour; grabbing and packing leaves is 350 to 450 calories per hour; and weed extraction is approximately 200 to 400 calories per hour.

Annie said pushing an old school mower engages key core muscles as well as your biceps and triceps (file image)

Annie said pushing an old school mower engages key core muscles as well as your biceps and triceps (file image)

PUSH IN THE FOLLOWING TIME TO TURN ON THE LAWNMOWER

Use an old school lawn mower that relies on manpower, not an engine or machine (this is also a benefit to the environment).

Pushing a lawn mower engages key core muscles, as well as your biceps and triceps. In half an hour you could burn up to 200 calories, although this varies depending on your weight and the mower you use.

KEEP POSITION WHEN RUNNING

Increase your flexibility and balance by making your movements methodical.

When you practice yoga, you build a posture by holding it for long periods of time and then move on to the next movement intentionally.

Do the same in your garden. As you lean forward to pick up some tools, bend over to pick weeds, or reach out to prune some branches of a bush, focus on how your body feels. Rely on movement and the muscles you work with for a useful stretching workout.

WEED TO BUILD ENDURANCE

Annie said try to build endurance over time with aerobic activities such as weeding (file image)

Annie said try to build endurance over time with aerobic activities such as weeding (file image)

Aerobic gardening tasks, which include movements such as pulling, pushing and carrying, will build endurance.

The World Health Organization recommends that exercise last at least ten minutes at a time to be considered aerobic. We should aim for 75 minutes of intense aerobic activity or 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity each week, or a combination of both.

If weeding for more than ten minutes in the beginning is too difficult, that’s fine. Start from there, then try for 15 minutes after about a week and build stamina over time.

DIG FOR VICTORY – AND STRENGTH

Different activities work for different muscles. Digging, for example, strengthens your back. If you pull a healthy weed, you will feel the effort in your hands.

Meanwhile, carrying a heavy watering can or moving a pot tests your forearms. When you squat to kill a flower, you can feel your hamstrings and buttocks stretch.

Choose exercises to focus on specific muscle groups – or switch them to hit them all.

NOW CONTINUE WITH STAR JUMPING

If you feel extra motivated, add short sets of other exercises between gardening tasks. For example, after you finish watering, you can do a set of squats. Weed a garden bed, then make a five-minute jump. Mow a strip of lawn and then make ten star jumps.

  • Adapted from Ciara Doset from Gardening for Mind, Body and Soul, by Annie Burdick (£ 12.99, Summersdale). © Annie Burdick 2022. To order a copy for £ 11.69, go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937. Free delivery in the UK for orders over £ 20. The offer price is valid until March 9, 2022.

As scientists have discovered that pottery in the garden keeps women healthy … Easy ways to trim the waist Read More »

The jeweler who can make you dazzle like a duchess

The jeweler who can make you dazzle like a duchess … for £ 120!

On Duchess of CambridgeDenmark’s solo tour last week, she won applause for her combination of high class and high street fashion, combining a gray dress with a Catherine Walker coat (£ 3,000) and a Mulberry bag (£ 1,095), for example, with a stunning but relatively modest pearl necklace. Monica Vinader (£ 120).

Monica Vinader jewelry is what is known as “semi-fine” – somewhere between ultra-expensive fine jewelry and cheaper jewelry – and for a duchess who could be draped from head to toe with “correct” jewelry every day of the week. it felt a lot like a statement. Stylish, but not scary.

This isn’t the first time Kate has shown her appreciation for the Norfolk-based jewelry designer. In 2014, she wore Monica Riva’s diamond earrings and necklace to an evening gala at the Natural History Museum.

Monica Vinader prepares to boost demand for pearl necklaces after the Duchess of Cambridge (pictured) wore her brand during a solo tour of Denmark last week

Monica Vinader prepares to boost demand for pearl necklaces after the Duchess of Cambridge (pictured) wore her brand during a solo tour of Denmark last week

Wire earrings for £ 125 Nura necklace £ 120

Kate’s Denmark effect: Nura necklace for £ 120 and £ 125 wire earrings

Rather sweet, Monica had no idea until the next day. “I was sitting in a cafe in Florence, and my friend said, ‘Oh, the Duchess of Cambridge looks amazing in the papers. Isn’t this your necklace? Naturally, the earrings and necklace sold out right away. “It was an amazing moment,” she tells me.

Thanks to the “Kate effect” – and, Monica insists, that of other celebrities – sales have increased. Without a doubt, Monica is now preparing for a trip to Denmark in search of pearl necklaces.

Although she heads a very successful company – with sales of £ 57 million in the year to July 2021 – 53-year-old Monica has always followed her instinct and not slavishly to follow fashion trends. She creates designs for busy modern women who know their own tastes and are not bound by tradition – a bit like Kate.

“As an independent working woman, I wanted to be able to buy jewelry for myself,” says Monica. I didn’t expect anyone to buy it for me.

In fact, her pieces – ranging from £ 42 for a neat ring to £ 895 for a diamond-encrusted cuff – often function as a secret weapon for wealthy women who want to look modest and affordable. Claudia Schiffer often wore cheaper items during school, and Kate wears the brand over and over again, from Zoom calls to public engagements and family days. In Denmark, the pearl pendant necklace reappeared during a visit to the Center for Early Intervention and Family at the University of Copenhagen, used to brighten up another elegant casual outfit – a Balmain-inspired red Zara tweed blazer paired with a pie cut.

Monica explained that her jewelry was designed with busy modern women buying their own jewelry.  Pictured: The Duchess of Cambridge wearing the stamp

Monica explained that her jewelry was designed with busy modern women buying their own jewelry. Pictured: The Duchess of Cambridge wearing the stamp

Riva diamond earring £ 745 Bib necklace from £ 2000 in 2014

Elegant: Wear Riva diamond earrings for £ 745 and a £ 2,000 necklace in 2014.

For Monica, the fundamental principle was to find a way to make the pieces look condescendingly authentic, but without the price of a small car. This meant giving up pure gold and silver and still somehow reproducing the same gorgeous color and tone.

“Women didn’t want to ask their husbands for permission to buy anything,” she said. “But that rich gold was the kind they wanted.”

Her masterful stroke reminded her of a 19th-century technique called gold vermeel, which used a thick gold plating to give silver the same luster as the real thing.

My city friend thought we were crazy, starting in a recession

Following a goldsmith in Spain with the right equipment, she began experimenting. “I realized that I was able to reach many women without compromising on quality and design,” she said. “It’s a more democratic way of looking at jewelry.”

Fans of her rose gold cocktail rings with semi-precious stones, diamond earrings and bib necklaces today include models Bella Hadid and Elle McPherson, Poldark actress Eleanor Tomlinson, Gwyneth Paltrow and Megan, Duchess of Sussex. Even England football manager Gareth Southgate is wearing his friendship bracelet with the “lucky” MV (£ 140, best-selling for Monica) at the 2021 European Championships.

Monica (pictured), who launched her brand in 2008, took out a £ 250,000 loan against her parents' house after banks refused to grant money.

Monica (pictured), who launched her brand in 2008, took out a £ 250,000 loan against her parents’ house after banks refused to grant money.

In her light and spacious studio, wearing a navy blue blazer and jeans and her trademark necklaces, Monica looks seamlessly stylish. She, alas, is extremely discreet (she never spoke publicly about Kate). Friendship – and sisterhood, literally – are at the heart of the business.

She started at the kitchen table in the teeth of the recession in 2008. Monica had a new baby – Scarlett, now 14 – and sold at craft fairs and from her living room.

Her sister Gabby, meanwhile, was head of Amazon’s consumer electronics department and helped with the strange VAT refund. But as the fledgling venture began to grow, Gabby agreed to work for the brand full-time. “Having a women’s company run by women was important to us,” says Monica.

When banks refused to give them money in 2009, she took out a £ 250,000 loan against her parents’ house (which she later repaid). “My friends in town thought we were crazy when we started in recession, but we had a beautiful product at an affordable price. And people still needed a treat.

They started selling at The Conran Shop, Paul Smith and Liberty. Gabby designed the website and in 2009 they opened their first store on South Molton Street in London.

Monica said cutting their own stones gives the brand a very handmade feel.  Pictured: The Duchess of Cambridge wearing the brand in 2016

Monica said cutting their own stones gives the brand a very handmade feel. Pictured: The Duchess of Cambridge wearing the brand in 2016

Pendant of £ 70 Cheese earrings for £ 120

Understated: Kate wears Siren earrings for £ 120 with a £ 70 pendant in 2016.

Monica’s studio is housed in a converted barn complex at Holcomb Hall, the seat of the Earl of Leicester in the 18th century. It is not far from Anmer, where Kate and William live in Norfolk. Today, there are Monica Vinader boutiques in London, Hong Kong, New York and Singapore, and it is stocked with Selfridges, Liberty, John Lewis and Farfetch.

However, she still uses the same family gemstone cutters in Jaipur. “We cut our own stones from the beginning – this gives our jewelry a feeling of being very handmade. It is literally touched by 1000 thumbs. My sister and I swore that we would never compromise on integrity, no matter how great we were.

Many songs have a story behind them. Her Alta Capture bracelet, £ 295, with its tightly knit chains, is inspired by the thick harness chains she saw in Seville, for example. “We are really sweating from the details. “Will anyone notice a millimeter in the bracelet, up or down?” But I believe in proportion.

Although online sales are now ahead of stores, it was important for her to launch a new flagship store in Duke of York Square on London’s iconic King’s Road last year with an ear piercing studio.

She loves to see different generations wearing the same songs. Her teenage daughter, “who has 20 piercings on almost every ear,” loves to wear her thick gold-plated Doina bracelet just as much as working mothers and ladies who dine. Or even future queens on this issue.

The jeweler who can make you dazzle like a duchess … for £ 120! Read More »

Sophie Turner proudly shows off her bikini belly amid the

Sophie Turner proudly shows off her bikini belly amid the noise of a Miami pregnancy holiday with Joe Jonas

Sophie Turner showed what looked like a growing baby while playing on the sand with her husband Joe Jonas.

The 26-year-old actress shone positively, dressed in a modern plaid two-piece swimsuit as she basked in the sun on a holiday on the East Coast.

Turner and Jonas are now proud parents of a daughter named Willa, who will turn two in July.

Beach Babe: Sophie Turner showed off what looked like a growing baby while playing on the sand with her husband Joe Jonas Weekend: The 26-year-old actress shone positively, dressed in a modern plaid two-piece swimsuit, soaking in the sun on a holiday on the East Coast

Beach Babe: Sophie Turner showed off what looked like a growing baby while playing on the sand with her husband Joe Jonas

The sun came out: Sophie looked perfectly calm as she combed the beach, dressed in a sports bra with lilac and a white plaid

The sun came out: Sophie looked perfectly calm as she combed the beach, dressed in a sports bra with lilac and a white plaid

Sophie looked perfectly calm as she combed the beach in a sports bra with a lilac and a white plaid.

Her changing figure was proudly displayed as she wore a pair of matching underpants that sat just below her thighs.

She walked along the beach and showed off several of her tattoos, including ink on her biceps and thighs.

The Game of Thrones star parted her auburn hair in half and tied it in a tight bun.

Mom and Dad: Turner and Jonas are now proud parents of a daughter named Willa, who will turn two in July

Mom and Dad: Turner and Jonas are now proud parents of a daughter named Willa, who will turn two in July

Tattooed: She walked along the beach and showed off several of her tattoos, including a little ink on her biceps and thigh

Tattooed: She walked along the beach and showed off several of her tattoos, including a little ink on her biceps and thigh

Swimsuits: Her changing figure was proudly displayed as she wore a pair of matching underpants that stood just below her thighs. Breezy: The Game of Thrones star parted her auburn hair in half and tied it in a tight bun

Swimsuits: Her changing figure was proudly displayed as she wore a pair of matching underpants that stood just below her thighs.

Stylish: She shielded her eyes from the bright South Florida sun with a pair of rectangular frames with light blue lenses

Stylish: She shielded her eyes from the bright South Florida sun with a pair of rectangular frames with light blue lenses

She shielded her eyes from the bright South Florida sun with a pair of rectangular frames with light blue lenses.

Sophie was playing with a few friends on the sand who seemed to be luring her into the water.

Joe ran barefoot on the beach, battling the hot sand to jump into the refreshing ocean.

Fast legs: Joe ran shirtless on the beach and struggled with the hot sand to jump into the refreshing ocean

Fast legs: Joe ran shirtless on the beach and struggled with the hot sand to jump into the refreshing ocean

Walking: She used a clear plastic nail clip to hold her hair, and wore a purple bracelet around her wrist

Walking: She used a clear plastic nail clip to hold her hair, and wore a purple bracelet around her wrist

Having fun: Sophie was playing with a few friends on the sand who seemed to be luring her into the water

Having fun: Sophie was playing with a few friends on the sand who seemed to be luring her into the water

Good times: Once in the water, the couple played on the waves with their friends

Good times: Once in the water, the couple played on the waves with their friends

Once in the water, the couple played the waves with their friends as they beat the heat in Miami.

Jonas and Turner welcomed Will’s daughter to the world in July 2020 and have been thriving as parents ever since.

Back in March 2021, Sophie wrote on Instagram that being a mother is “my favorite job I’ve ever had.”

This new job takes some time to get used to the singer and actress. In June, Joe admitted that his busy touring schedule made it difficult to balance family and work.

Good at what they do: Jonas and Turner welcomed daughter Willa to the world in July 2020 and have been thriving as parents ever since

Good at what they do: Jonas and Turner welcomed daughter Willa to the world in July 2020 and have been thriving as parents ever since

Back in March 2021, Sophie wrote on Instagram that being a mother is

Back in March 2021, Sophie wrote on Instagram that being a mother is “my favorite job I’ve ever had.”

Mom knows best: she enjoys the chance to be the best mother to her daughter Willa

Mom knows best: she enjoys the chance to be the best mother to her daughter Willa

Make it all work: In June, Joe admitted that his busy touring schedule made it difficult to balance family and work

Make it all work: In June, Joe admitted that his busy touring schedule made it difficult to balance family and work

“It’s definitely a new experience now that we’re all back. “I’m going on tour, she’s starting a project,” he told E !’s DailyPop. “It will be a lot of flying back and forth on the weekends, at least for me. This is something like new territory.

Joe and Sophie were married for the first time during a surprise wedding in Las Vegas in May 2019, which was broadcast live on Diplo’s social media, and was soon followed by a family affair in France two months later.

The couple confirmed the news of their new arrival in a statement published in July 2020, which said they were “happy to announce the birth of their baby.”

Joe’s younger brother, Nick Jonas, and his wife, Priyanka Chopra, also recently became parents for the first time, as they welcomed their daughter through surrogacy.

Unconventional: Joe and Sophie were married for the first time during a surprise wedding in Las Vegas in May 2019, which was broadcast live on Diplo's social media, and soon followed a family affair in France two months later

Unconventional: Joe and Sophie were married for the first time during a surprise wedding in Las Vegas in May 2019, which was broadcast live on Diplo’s social media, and soon followed a family affair in France two months later

Sophie Turner proudly shows off her bikini belly amid the noise of a Miami pregnancy holiday with Joe Jonas Read More »

Mystery as the road is torn by unexplained underground traffic

Mystery as the road is torn by “unexplained underground traffic” near Leinham, Wiltshire

Mystery as the road is torn and twisted by “unexplained underground traffic” – as drivers continue to use it despite millions of pounds of damage

  • Part of B4069 near Lyneham in Wiltshire is heavily distorted
  • Parts of the distorted asphalt are broken and even aimed at 45 degrees
  • The damage was caused by hitherto unexplained underground movements
  • Earthquake-like damage has damaged the road since February 17

The repair of a torn road could cost millions after mysterious underground movements left it so distorted that it looked as if it had been hit by an earthquake.

Part of B4069 near Lyneham in Wiltshire is so badly damaged that the asphalt is completely broken or at a 45 degree angle.

The Wiltshire Council says the road has been closed since February 17, but police say some drivers are still trying to use it.

The earthquake-like damage was caused by unexplained underground movements, which will now be investigated.

Locals say the landslide has worsened in the past year and a landslide is inevitable.

A distorted section of B4069 near Lyneham in Wiltshire has left residents wondering exactly what underground processes could cause earthquake-like damage.

A distorted section of B4069 near Lyneham in Wiltshire has left residents wondering exactly what underground processes could cause earthquake-like damage.

Experts will investigate the cause of the heavy landslide, which left parts of the road cracked and protruding at an angle of 45 degrees

Experts will investigate the cause of the heavy landslide, which left parts of the road cracked and protruding at an angle of 45 degrees

The section of road has been closed since February 17, although the Wiltshire council says some drivers continue to use it

The section of road has been closed since February 17, although the Wiltshire council says some drivers continue to use it

The Wiltshire Council said it was now awaiting a report from geotechnical experts before taking further action.

Dr Mark McClelland, a member of the cabinet of the Wiltshire Transport Council, told BBC Radio Wiltshire: “It could cost hundreds of thousands or even millions. [to fix].

“There is significant damage on the road. In total it can be up to 12 months. This is not something that can be resolved in a few days or weeks.

Dr McClelland added that in some places the road was “curved” to four feet and the descriptions of what looked like an earthquake were accurate.

Repairing the damage could cost millions of pounds, leaving drivers to stray for a year, according to Dr Mark McClelland, a cabinet member of the Wiltshire Transport Council

Repairing the damage could cost millions of pounds, leaving drivers to stray for a year, according to Dr Mark McClelland, a cabinet member of the Wiltshire Transport Council

Wiltshire Council awaits report from geotechnical experts before proceeding with repairs so they can understand what led to the distorted topography

Wiltshire Council awaits report from geotechnical experts before proceeding with repairs so they can understand what led to the distorted topography

He added: “The main base has slipped and we need to understand why this happened.

“The police were very adamant that it was very dangerous for drivers to ignore the signs.”

Notable damage also affected local businesses, with local pubs such as Peterborough Arms suffering huge losses on bookings after closing.

Advertising

Mystery as the road is torn by “unexplained underground traffic” near Leinham, Wiltshire Read More »

Former CIA chief says Russia has overstrained its military lacks

Former CIA chief says Russia has “overstrained” its military, lacks troops to “subdue” Ukraine

A former senior CIA officer says Russia has “overstrained” its military amid its full-scale invasion of Ukraine and lacks the labor force to “submit” to the former Soviet republic.

“Russia has strained,” Daniel Hoffman said in an interview with Fox News Saturday on the ongoing occupation by Russian troops, reportedly behind schedule due to sanctions imposed by other countries and unexpected resistance from Ukrainian troops and citizens.

Vladimir Putin took a big risk here. He is dealing with extended supply lines, which is having an impact – negatively affecting the ability of his troops to move, “Hoffman, a former stationmaster and senior secret service officer, told interviewer Lawrence Jones and Medalist Dakota Meyer. .

“There are big rivers in Ukraine that are also challenging,” he continued, “and there are big cities – and Russia just doesn’t have the troops to conquer them.”

“The time is on Ukraine’s side,” said the 30-year-old CIA vet.

Scroll down for video:

Daniel Hoffman, a 30-year-old CIA veteran who has served three times as head of the federal service and chief executive of the faction undercover, helped the secret service on Saturday that Russia had

Daniel Hoffman, a 30-year-old CIA veteran who has served three times as head of the federal service and chief executive of the faction undercover, helped the secret service on Saturday that Russia had “overstrained” its military amid a full-scale invasion of Ukraine and a lack of manpower to “conquer” Ukraine

During an interview focusing on the unexpected repulse of more than 150,000 of Putin’s troops during four days of military operations bordering Ukraine, Jones asked Hoffman, who closely followed the Kremlin king during his CIA tenure, to speculate on Putin’s current thinking.

“You know him, you know what he’s capable of,” Jones asked the former CIA chief.

“What’s on his mind right now as the Ukrainians retaliate?” The host asked. “It was supposed to end in hours, but it lasts for days.”

Hoffman then offered the interviewer his attitude to the conflict, as well as a look “through the crooked eyes” of the famous Russian head of state.

The Fox News interview focused on the unexpected repulse of more than 150,000 of Vladimir Putin's troops during his four days of military operations on the border with Ukraine.

The Fox News interview focused on the unexpected repulse of more than 150,000 of Vladimir Putin’s troops during his four days of military operations on the border with Ukraine.

The dubious military cunning of Russian officials led to the failure of her army to capture the country due to unexpected resistance from the 250,000-strong Ukrainian side.  Pictured here are members of a pro-Russian militia in front of the Territorial Defense Headquarters in Stanitsa Luhanska.  So far, troops have failed to capture important cities such as Kiev and Kharkiv

The dubious military cunning of Russian officials led to the failure of her army to capture the country due to unexpected resistance from the 250,000-strong Ukrainian side. Pictured here are members of a pro-Russian militia in front of the Territorial Defense Headquarters in Stanitsa Luhanska. So far, troops have failed to capture important cities such as Kiev and Kharkiv

Speaking of Putin’s dubious military strategy, which led to his army’s failure to capture important cities of Kiev and Kharkiv due to unexpected resistance from Ukraine’s 250,000-strong force, which has since been backed by civilian volunteers eager to repel Russian invaders, Hoffman said. His experience of formation was serving in the KGB as an intelligence officer.

“He never served in the army, but intelligence was his job; and intelligence would be key to him in determining Ukraine’s capacity and will to fight, Hoffman said, listing some of the obstacles to a policy that was largely successful with past military campaigns in Georgia in 2008, Ukraine in 2014. and Syria since 2015 – clashed during its last conquest.

Interviewer Lawrence Jones (center) asked Hoffman (right), who followed the King of the Kremlin closely during his CIA tenure, to speculate on Putin's current thinking and his army's largely unsuccessful military campaign.  The couple was joined by Marine Veterinarian and Honorary Medalist Dakota Mayer (left).

Interviewer Lawrence Jones (center) asked Hoffman (right), who followed the King of the Kremlin closely during his CIA tenure, to speculate on Putin’s current thinking and his army’s largely unsuccessful military campaign. The couple was joined by Marine Veterinarian and Honorary Medalist Dakota Mayer (left).

Hoffman offered his vision of the conflict, as well as a look

Hoffman offered his vision of the conflict, as well as a look “through the distorted eyes” of the famous Russian President Vladimir Putin, who led the operation and whom Hoffman followed closely throughout his career.

Hoffman added: “And [you have] Ukraine, as you stressed, is led by the president [Volodymyr] Zelenski, boldly demonstrating how committed they are, defending their freedom and independence. “

“And now we’re getting stronger,” Hoffman said at the time, referring to foreign aid in the form of funding and weapons that countries like the United States have since provided to the country as it struggles to repel Russia’s invasion – including signed $ 350 million weapons from Biden. in Friday.

“The longer they stay there, the more we can get in terms of humanitarian and military aid,” Hoffman said, including high-tech anti-tank and thermal missiles such as Javeleins and Stingers.

Members of pro-Russian militias in Ukraine on Sunday.  Russia's military occupation of Ukraine is hampered by supply and geographical barriers, as well as by passionate Ukrainian forces

Members of pro-Russian militias in Ukraine on Sunday. Russia’s military occupation of Ukraine is hampered by supply and geographical barriers, as well as by passionate Ukrainian forces

Hoffman, a Fox News contributor, went on to say that Ukrainians “boldly demonstrate how committed they are to fighting for their freedom and independence” through their successful efforts to repel the Russian uprising.

Zelensky posted a video on Facebook on Friday from the capital, Kiev, which Russian forces failed to capture despite coordinated attacks and bombings that began on Thursday, brazenly declaring, “We are all here.”

The President announced: “Our military is here, our citizens and society are here. We are all here defending our independence, our country and it will be so. ”

1645977607 489 A prominent Putin propagandist is furious on television over the

Russian military car seen set on fire in Kharkiv on Sunday morning after troops entered an eastern Ukrainian city

View of a residential building damaged by the recent shelling in Kharkiv on February 26th.  Russia has ordered troops to advance into Ukraine

View of a residential building damaged by the recent shelling in Kharkiv on February 26th. Russia has ordered troops to advance into Ukraine “from all directions” as the Ukrainian capital Kiev imposed a full curfew and officials reported 198 civilian deaths.

1645977608 48 A prominent Putin propagandist is furious on television over the

This map shows the strikes that Russia has so far been known to have inflicted on Ukraine, with more explosions rocking the country in the early hours of Sunday morning.

After more fighting on Saturday night and Sunday morning, Russian forces still failed to take the city – although this was the first stop on Putin’s path to the conquest of the nation, which the Kremlin testified was “liberating” from oppressive, “neo-Nazi”. “Fascist” government.

Speaking at the ABC Sunday, Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova said Zelensky was “as safe as our country” and would “lead the nation in this very difficult time”.

According to a report by Aljazeera last week, officials in Ukraine said more than 3,000 Russian soldiers had been killed so far in four days of conflict. The Ukrainian army reportedly suffered about 250 casualties. Another 350 Ukrainian citizens were reportedly killed.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ready to participate in preliminary peace talks on potential with Putin on Sunday afternoon

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ready to participate in preliminary peace talks on potential with Putin on Sunday afternoon

Those losses and the continuing failure to take over Kiev have angered Vladimir Putin, according to former Estonian defense chief Riho Terras.

Terrace wrote on Twitter: “Putin is furious, he thought the whole war would be easy and everything would be done in 1-4 days.

“The Russians are shocked by the fierce resistance they have encountered.”

The defense expert went on to say that Russia was failing because it had failed to implement a “tactical plan” and also expected the attack to “cause panic among civilians and the armed forces and force (Ukrainian President Vladimir) Zelensky to flee”.

Terras shared an image on a piece of paper that is said to be a defense document, declaring: “Putin is furious. He was sure it would be a cake walk.

President Zelensky and Putin will join preliminary peace talks Sunday afternoon.

Former CIA chief says Russia has “overstrained” its military, lacks troops to “subdue” Ukraine Read More »

The dead mother 35 was found Friday in a plastic

Cousin accused of killing woman crammed into container dumped near Bronx warehouse

A 35-year-old single mother from East Harlem, whose murdered body was packed in a plastic container on the sidewalk in the Bronx, was killed by her cousin, police said.

Nisaa Walcott, a beautician and mother of a 15-year-old boy, was discovered on February 25, just blocks from Yankee Stadium, more than a week after she was reported missing.

Police on Saturday charged her 21-year-old cousin, Khalid Barrow, with murder and concealment of a human corpse. Walcott’s decaying body was dumped in a container near the Deegan Highway in Melrose, not far from a warehouse.

Cops detained the prime suspect after reviewing Walcott and Barrow’s surveillance footage, which they entered together at her apartment on February 16. Only he reappeared from the building, sources told the New York Post.

Barrow was also filmed removing a plastic container from the building, the Post reported.

A neighbor told the publication that the young cousin lived with Walcott and her son at the time of the murder.

– How do you do it to your cousin? said the unidentified neighbor. “She gave you shelter, gave you a place to live. In fact, she held out her hand and that’s how you repay her?

Nisa Walcott, 35, was found murdered and crammed into a plastic storage container last Friday

Nisa Walcott, 35, was found murdered and crammed into a plastic storage container last Friday

Her death shattered her close-knit family, with her brother Eugene Butler saying the murder victim “loves everyone unconditionally.”

He told the New York Daily News: “Nisaa loved family and friends and would do anything for them.”

The victim’s daughter-in-law, Angnette Butler, said Walcott’s killer was “cruel to put her in such a container.”

She told Daily news: “Nisaa was a very nice young lady and she helped everyone, she wouldn’t hurt a soul. We don’t know what would make someone do something so cruel. Nisaa had no enemies and was a good man with a good heart.

The man who found Walcott’s body often visited the site across 950 University Avenue on the Deegan Highway to find and resell items dumped there by people using the self-storage facility.

He noticed a chest of drawers that had been left there around 11 a.m. and returned in the afternoon to pick it up. An unpleasant odor caught his eye, and he saw a human foot sticking out of a plastic container he didn’t think had been there before. WABC TV reported.

Walcott's friend described her as a

Walcott’s friend described her as a “handsome man” and a “single mother and hard-working entrepreneur.”

New York City police officers take pictures of Walcott's body in a body bag at the scene

New York City police officers take pictures of Walcott’s body in a body bag at the scene

The man who found Walcott's body noticed a chest of drawers left there at about 11 a.m. Friday morning and returned in the afternoon to pick it up.  An unpleasant odor drew his attention to a human foot sticking out of a plastic container he said he hadn't been there before.

The man who found Walcott’s body noticed a chest of drawers left there at about 11 a.m. Friday morning and returned in the afternoon to pick it up. An unpleasant odor drew his attention to a human foot sticking out of a plastic container he said he hadn’t been there before.

It is unclear how long her body remained undetected, but police sources said NBC New York that it has begun to decompose. The bin containing Walcott’s body does not appear to be connected to the warehouse.

It is common for furniture and rubbish to be lined up on this sidewalk, shop neighbors said – but after Friday they want the dumping to stop.

Stephanie Nunes, a neighbor of Melrose, said her father parked next to a dresser a few minutes earlier.

“He just got out of the car and didn’t notice anything,” Nunes said.

Another neighbor, who identified herself as DeeDee, told reporters that “this is crazy.”

“A woman was found decomposed.” I am a woman – a single, black woman and I have children, “she said.

Walcott's aunt, Bernadette Butler Colon, begs anyone who knows her niece's whereabouts to post on Facebook just hours before the body is found.

Walcott’s aunt, Bernadette Butler Colon, begs anyone who knows her niece’s whereabouts to post on Facebook just hours before the body is found.

Norma Menedes, a 15-year-old friend of Walcott's who hired her at the Live on Lexington barber shop, told the New York Daily News on Friday night that

Norma Menedes, a 15-year-old friend of Walcott’s who hired her at the Live on Lexington barber shop, told the New York Daily News on Friday night that “she has no idea who would do such a cruel thing to her.”

Norma Menedes, a 15-year-old friend of Walcott’s who hired her at the Live on Lexington barber shop, told the New York Daily News on Friday night that “this is something you read about on a cardboard box of milk or watch at SVU.”

“It’s not a reality. She had a family that loved her, “she said at the exit.

“She was a beautiful person. She had a lot of life. She was an entrepreneur. She was a nice person. She was a great woman.

Walcott’s aunt, Bernadette Butler Colon, has begged anyone who knows where her niece is to post on Facebook just hours before the body is found.

“This is my niece Nisaa Walcott. She has been missing for a week, “Colon wrote.

“She has a wonderful son and many families and friends who are waiting for her safe return home. This is strange, because she would never abandon her beloved son.

Menedes told the Daily News that

Menedes told the Daily News that “everything [Walcott] do for her son “

Menedes told the Daily News that “everything he did was for his son.”

“She was a great mother. She was always there for him, “she said. “We have no idea who would do something so cruel to her. ‘

Another friend, Luz Droz, told NBC New York that Walcott “didn’t deserve it.”

“She was a beautiful person, hardworking, a single mother, an entrepreneur, she worked hard,” Droz said.

Cousin accused of killing woman crammed into container dumped near Bronx warehouse Read More »