Month: February 2026

Women of a Promiscuous Nature by Donna Everhart

Women of a Promiscuous Nature by Donna Everhart

Discover Women of a Promiscuous Nature by Donna Everhart—a gripping historical novel exposing the American Plan’s unjust detention of women in 1940s North Carolina. Read our in-depth review of this powerful, researched work about institutional oppression and women’s resilience. The post Women of a Promiscuous Nature by Donna Everhart appeared first on The Bookish Elf. Source link

Serbians pushed out as China takes over a mining empire – POLITICO

Serbians pushed out as China takes over a mining empire – POLITICO

In northeastern Serbia, the town of Bor rose around some of Europe’s most significant copper and gold deposits. From the 1940s, the region quickly drew workers from all over Yugoslavia. Majdanpek, located just 70 kilometers away, expanded around another massive reserve, estimated at more than 600 million tons of ore. For decades, these mining centers sustained Yugoslav heavy industry, but today that legacy is increasingly fragile. Since 2018, the mining complex has been taken over by Chinese state-owned group Zijin Mining, which has invested €2.3 billion to increase production. The expansion goes far beyond industry — it is transforming the land and the lives of its inhabitants. Whole families are watching their homes, properties, and memories disappear as settlements are engulfed by the mine. The Serbian government has failed to provide meaningful alternatives for resettlement. The environmental toll is profound: forests and rivers are being destroyed, wildlife is under threat, and residents endure some of the most polluted air in Europe. Meanwhile, a growing Chinese workforce — now numbering in the thousands — remains largely …

Wordle today: The answer and hints for February 1, 2026

Wordle today: The answer and hints for February 1, 2026

Today’s Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you like textured things. If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you. SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for February 1, 2026 Where did Wordle come from? Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.  Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing. What’s the best Wordle starting word? The best Wordle starting …

Holly Ramsay showcases her abs on honeymoon in Australia with Adam Peaty

Holly Ramsay showcases her abs on honeymoon in Australia with Adam Peaty

Holly Ramsay is making the most of newlywed life – and the Australian sunshine – as she and husband Adam Peaty continue their lavish honeymoon Down Under. The 26-year-old showcased her incredibly toned abs while soaking up the Queensland lifestyle, sharing snaps from an early-morning hike that kicked off at 5am. Holly looked effortlessly sporty-chic in a skimpy black-and-white crop top and matching shorts, proving that even on honeymoon, fitness remains a priority for the couple.  Holly looked relaxed and in great shape on her honeymoon After their sunrise walk, the newlyweds settled in for an alfresco breakfast before Adam headed off for a training session in a nearby pool. Never one to miss an opportunity to lean into his athletic roots, the 31-year-old Olympic swimmer later shared a photo of himself poolside wearing tiny budgie smugglers, proudly displaying his muscular, tattooed physique. “First session in Australia done, can’t beat this place,” he wrote – a sentiment clearly echoed by his bride. © InstagramHolly enjoyed a sunrise walk Holly also revealed the couple are staying …

Lily Collins shares emotional birthday tribute to music legend dad Phil amid his health battle

Lily Collins shares emotional birthday tribute to music legend dad Phil amid his health battle

Lily Collins has shared a deeply personal birthday tribute to her father, music legend Phil Collins, as he marked his 75th birthday – a milestone that comes after years of serious health challenges. The Emily in Paris star, 36, took to Instagram on Saturday to honour her dad with a touching post featuring a recent photo of the pair together, as well as a nostalgic throwback showing Phil carrying her as a young child. In the present-day snap, Lily beamed as she cuddled close to her father, radiating warmth and gratitude. © InstagramLily Collins and her famous dad Phil “Yesterday Dad turned 75 and I feel so grateful to have celebrated together,” Lily wrote. “For all you’ve accomplished, all the joy you’ve brought so many all over the world for all these years… all the lessons we’ve learned, all the memories we’ve shared, and all the new ones to come, thank you.” She continued with an emotional reflection on their bond, adding: “I count myself so lucky to have hugged you, laughed with you, and reminisced …

Molly Ringwald Says John Hughes’ ‘Didn’t Want’ Films to Be Remade

Molly Ringwald Says John Hughes’ ‘Didn’t Want’ Films to Be Remade

Molly Ringwald doesn’t want to see any remakes of John Hughes‘ movies. During an interview with People magazine at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, The Breakfast Club actress was asked her thoughts of a potential remake of a film originally helmed by the late director. “Well, they can’t be [remade] because they can’t be made without the permission of [the late] John Hughes, and he didn’t want the films to be remade,” she said. “And I don’t think that they should be really.” Hughes died of a heart attack at 59 in 2009. He wrote and directed a myriad of beloved ’80s films, including Sixteen Candles (1984); The Breakfast Club (1985); and Pretty in Pink (1986), all of which Ringwald starred in. While the actress isn’t interested in a direct remake of the 1985 film, she said she wouldn’t mind a new “take” on The Breakfast Club‘s story. “I feel like if somebody does something, I would prefer that they do something … that takes from Breakfast Club and then builds on [it], and represents this generation’s issues …

5 Windows apps I always install on new PCs, and why I can’t recommend them enough

5 Windows apps I always install on new PCs, and why I can’t recommend them enough

Windows 11 comes with its own screen capture app, the Snipping Tool. It’s perfectly serviceable for its purpose, but ShareX is better in just about every way. Like the Snipping Tool, ShareX supports various image capture methods. You can capture the entire screen, a specific window, or a certain region among other areas, as well as record videos. But what makes ShareX so much better is its powerful editing tools. With this set, the app is almost like having a mini-Photoshop at your disposal. Download: ShareX You can add shapes, text, crop areas, slap on emoji stickers, and blur or pixelate key areas of a screenshot. Once you’ve finished, you can upload your finished content onto a variety of third-party platforms, like Google Drive and Imgur, directly. I remember using ShareX for the first time back in 2021, and it vastly improved my workflow.  Source link

UK’s top 100 taxpayers revealed – and who has contributed the most to a record £5.7bn? | UK News

UK’s top 100 taxpayers revealed – and who has contributed the most to a record £5.7bn? | UK News

Anthony Joshua, JK Rowling and Mo Salah have been named among the UK’s 100 biggest taxpayers. The billionaire brothers behind gambling giant Betfred topped the rankings of The Sunday Times Tax List 2026 for the first time, surpassing musicians, entrepreneurs and sports stars. Fred and Peter Done, who founded the Warrington-based business in 1967, paid out an estimated £400.1m in tax over the past year, according to the annual list. It came after their tax bill climbed by almost half from £273.4m a year earlier. Image: JK Rowling. Pic: Reuters Financial trading entrepreneur Alex Gerko ranked second on the list with £331.4m in tax, followed by hedge fund boss Chris Rokos, who paid £330m. Elsewhere, Harry Styles was among the new entries to the list, in 54th place, paying £24.7m in tax. The former One Direction member-turned-solo artist is set to release his fourth studio album in March. Read more from Sky News:Riz Ahmed hopes his ‘visceral’ Hamlet will be shown in schoolsYellow warning for parts of England already hit by severe rain Billionaire businessman …

Paris Jackson, Olivia Dean and Rose Gray lead the style pack at Spotify’s Best New Artist party

Paris Jackson, Olivia Dean and Rose Gray lead the style pack at Spotify’s Best New Artist party

Spotify’s Best New Artist party delivered a fashion-forward red carpet, with music’s most exciting names turning the event into a high-style showcase. Paris Jackson, Olivia Dean and Rose Gray set the tone early, blending bold silhouettes with individual edge, while rising stars like Adela brought modern polish. Zara Larsson leaned into high-glam confidence, Addison Rae delivered pop-star sex appeal, and Rita Wilson added veteran elegance with a playful twist. From sheer gowns and sculptural cut-outs to minimal tailoring and statement boots, the night was less about uniform glamour and more about personality – proof that the next generation of music stars is dressing entirely on their own terms. Paris Jackson Rock royalty Paris Jackson leaned fully into her bohemian signature style, wearing a sheer black embellished dress that balanced fragility with attitude. The intricate detailing skimmed the body while keeping the overall look undone and edgy, a styling sweet spot she’s mastered in recent years. Known as a model, musician and the daughter of the late Michael Jackson, Paris has carved out a creative identity that …

You’re using the wrong cable for your soundbar (and it’s killing the audio quality)

You’re using the wrong cable for your soundbar (and it’s killing the audio quality)

Your soundbar should always sound better than a flat-panel TV’s built-in speakers, but I’m willing to bet it’s not working at its peak potential. If your audio still feels flat, compressed, or underwhelming, instead of bigger, clearer, and more cinematic, the issue might not be your speaker at all, but the cable that connects it. Plenty of people I know still rely on optical (TOSLINK) audio cables for their soundbars. This is perfectly understandable, as for years it was the standard for soundbar connections, and many TVs still feature an optical port. However, technology has moved on. Now that streaming services deliver immersive audio formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X an optical connection becomes congested with all that extra data. The answer? Opt for an HDMI ARC (or eARC) connection and prepare to be amazed at the difference it makes. Optical audio is a dying format TOSLINK cables physically can’t carry modern surround formats Digital connectivity is continually expanding, and as devices and services become more advanced, they require more bandwidth to function. Optical cables …