All posts tagged: Joining

Mark Ballas gives his verdict on Maura Higgins joining Dancing with the Stars and his 3-word piece of advice — exclusive

Mark Ballas gives his verdict on Maura Higgins joining Dancing with the Stars and his 3-word piece of advice — exclusive

Published by Daniella Wilson

From the castle to the ballroom, Maura Higgins is set to make a splash in the upcoming season of Dancing with the Stars. After becoming a nationwide star during her run on season four of The Traitors, which saw her go all the way to the end as the very last Faithful standing (before being blindsided by Rob Rausch), the Irish TV star is set to put on her best dancing shoes. © Getty ImagesMark Ballas and Maura Higgins participated together on season four of “The Traitors” Maura, 35, was the first celebrity contestant announced to participate in the upcoming 35th season of Dancing with the Stars, joining fellow Faithful and longtime DWTS pro Mark Ballas in the ballroom. Speaking exclusively with HELLO! at the 79th Tony Awards on Sunday, June 7 in New York City, which he attended with wife BC Jean, Mark, 40, shared what piece of advice he’d given to Maura ahead of her DWTS debut, simply put: “Just enjoy it.” Recommended videoYou may also likeWATCH: The cast of season 4 of …

OpenAI Files Confidentially For IPO, Joining SpaceX and Anthropic In Capitalizing On AI Frenzy

OpenAI Files Confidentially For IPO, Joining SpaceX and Anthropic In Capitalizing On AI Frenzy

Published by Jenni Sidey

The rush by AI companies to go public before the window closes (i.e., “market conditions” emerge) entered its final lap late on Monday, when OpenAI joined its two mega peers in filing for a blockbuster IPO that could value the ChatGPT creator at more than $1tn as it races rival Anthropic to list its shares publicly, following an imminent offering by SpaceX. OpenAI said it had confidentially submitted a draft IPO prospectus to the US Securities and Exchange Commission, formally kicking off the process for one of the year’s most hotly anticipated debuts. The company is also planning to launch a tender sale of its shares to provide liquidity to employees in the coming weeks, before the company goes public, Bloomberg reported. Why employees would want to sell shares ahead of an IPO is not exactly clear, unless they fear the market reaction to the public offering would disappoint.  OpenAI’s listing announcement comes days before SpaceX is set to IPO in a deal that could raise a record $86bn and value Elon Musk’s rockets-to-AI conglomerate …

Love Island contestant quits villa for ‘private reasons’ just days after joining

Love Island contestant quits villa for ‘private reasons’ just days after joining

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Love Island contestant George Knight has abruptly departed the villa, citing “private reasons,” just days after his arrival as a bombshell. The 28-year-old professional footballer from Winchester entered the ITV reality show on Tuesday’s episode. He was tasked with a secret mission alongside fellow bombshell Yasmin Hadlow, 23, to dump two islanders within 24 hours. An ITV spokesperson said: “For private reasons, George has left the Love Island villa.” Bombshells are contestants who are brought into the villa after the series has begun. On Tuesday’s show, Knight got to know his fellow contestants and spoke about his life and dating preferences. Love Island contestant George Knight has left the villa for “private reasons” just days after joining the ITV reality show as a bombshell. (ITV) He made a move on quantity surveyor Robyn Langton, 21, and asked if she wanted to …

In Rare Phone Call, Macron Warns Belarus’ Lukashenko Against Directly Joining Ukraine War

In Rare Phone Call, Macron Warns Belarus’ Lukashenko Against Directly Joining Ukraine War

Published by Jenni Sidey

In their first direct contact since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, French President Emmanuel Macron telephoned Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to warn him against increasing his country’s engagement in the war, according to sources who spoke to AFP.   “[Macron] highlighted the risks Belarus will face if dragged into the war in Ukraine. He also called on Lukashenko to take necessary measures to improve relations between Belarus and Europe,” a source told AFP. Lukashenko let Russia use Belarus as a staging area for the 2022 invasion, and has continued to let Russia launch missile and drone strikes from Belarus over the more than three years of war.  Belarus let Russia use its territory as a staging ground for the 2022 invasion of Ukraine Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russia might be preparing to open a new front in the war, striking northern Ukraine and Kiev with heightened involvement of the Belarusian military. Zelensky’s warning came after Belarus announced its participation in three days of massive nuclear drills with Russia. Russia’s Defense Ministry said the exercise …

Rivals’ Emily Atack joining James Bond favourite in courtroom drama

Rivals’ Emily Atack joining James Bond favourite in courtroom drama

Published by Daniella Wilson

The BBC has announced that it has begun production on Reputation, a brand-new legal drama from writer Anya Reiss, which stars James Bond favourite Naomie Harris. Harris, who played Moneypenny opposite Daniel Craig’s Bond, will play Lena, a formidable lawyer who gets pulled into the celebrity case of a global pop star, Davina Knight, played by The Buccaneers actor Christina Hendricks. The six-part series, which is produced by The Forge, will also feature Rivals star Emily Atack in a key role, as well as Andor’s Kyle Soller, The Crown’s Alex Jennings and The Diplomat’s David Gyasi. The synopsis for the series says: “Reputation is an audacious and glossy new drama that shows what happens when a celebrity legal battle spirals out of control. “After Davina releases a provocative new song accusing her ex-husband, Billy (Soller), of abusive behaviour and he retaliates in kind, their private breakdown erupts into a very public libel battle.” Naomie Harris. Dave Benett/Getty Images for The Chancery Rosewood The synopsis continues: “The case is fought far beyond the courtroom, as PR machines …

Faith groups, others joining hands to help neighbors in celebration of America’s 250th

Faith groups, others joining hands to help neighbors in celebration of America’s 250th

Published by Sam Flores

(RNS) — On Saturday (May 16) in Bakersfield, California, volunteers are planning a community festival, offering attendees food, haircuts and household goods. “It’s in one of the most impoverished parts of our community,” said Wendell Vinson, president of CityServe International and co-senior pastor of an Assemblies of God megachurch in Bakersfield. “The church is really going to their neighborhood, and then we’re mobilizing churches from that neighborhood to really get to know their neighbors better.” The event is one example of how nonprofits and volunteers are coming together for Good Neighbor Day America, a nationwide initiative on Saturday supported by America250, the Congress-created nonpartisan organization marking the 250th anniversary of the country. School and community beautification projects involving religious and secular volunteers are among the events expected to occur in more than 1,500 sites across the nation, accompanying a “kindness challenge,” an initiative that began in recent months to encourage small acts of kindness. “We want to empower everyone to be a good neighbor and do good,” said Gabe Bahlhorn of Love Has No Limits, …

The Mandalorian & Grogu cast: Who’s joining Pedro Pascal?

The Mandalorian & Grogu cast: Who’s joining Pedro Pascal?

Published by Daniella Wilson

The Mandalorian and Grogu are back and this time their coming to the big screen alongside a few friends (and enemies). After three seasons on Disney+, Mando and his adoptive son are getting the theatrical treatment in a film that promises to welcome new and existing fans alike. The plot has largely been kept under wraps, however we do know that Mando and Grogu are working with the New Republic to hunt down and find Imperial warlords causing chaos across the galaxy. This journey brings the duo into conflict with the Hutts (of Jabba the Hutt fame), who are one of several parties vying for more power in this uncertain post-Empire time period. The film is directed by the shows creator Jon Favreau, who previously directed Iron Man, The Lion King and Chef, and is written by Favreau and new Lucasfilm co-president Dave Filoni. Want to see this content? This page contains content provided by Google reCAPTCHA. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as Google reCAPTCHA may use cookies and other technologies. …

The Voice switches gears with unexpected newcomers joining coaches panel — see who

The Voice switches gears with unexpected newcomers joining coaches panel — see who

Published by Daniella Wilson

The Voice is switching things up for its milestone 30th season. The 30th season of the beloved music competition is set to return to NBC in September, though no date has been announced yet. We do know however that we have two returning faces, founding coach Adam Levine as well as mainstay Kelly Clarkson, who will be joined by two other coaches completely new to The Voice universe. © Getty ImagesThe Voice featured a three-coach format this season On Tuesday, May 12, NBC revealed that none other than Queen Latifah, as well as country singer Riley Green will be joining Kelly and Adam on those famed judges chairs. To announce Riley, a four-time CMA and four-time ACM winner, as a new coach, NBC shared a clip of Kelly welcoming him to the crew, in which she is heard telling him over the phone: “I’m super stoked to work alongside you. Welcome to The Voice. I was stoked when I heard you were going to be a coach because I’m actually a super-fan of your music, …

Montenegro enters the endgame for joining the EU – POLITICO

Montenegro enters the endgame for joining the EU – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Podgorica has closed 14 of the 33 chapters that need to be provisionally closed before it joins the bloc. Rule of law remains the toughest hurdle, with Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos urging Montenegro to keep reforms going. The country of some 600,000 people became an EU candidate in 2010, four years after splitting from Serbia, and opened accession talks in 2012. It has set the goal of becoming a member by 2028, even putting ’28 by 28′ branding on its national airline. The Commission aimed to use Montenegro as a test subject for its plans to prevent another “Hungary 2.0,” a gradual, two-tier accession proposal designed to curb democratic backsliding after countries join, but one that has faced pushback from EU member countries in recent months. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte also met with Montenegro’s President Jakov Milatović on Wednesday during a visit to the country. Milatović wrote on X that they discussed “key factors we must work on as a country in the final stage of negotiations with the European Union,” including regional stability and …

Trump in China: Who’s joining him in Beijing – and who isn’t

Trump in China: Who’s joining him in Beijing – and who isn’t

Published by Sam Flores

A photo of Rubio aboard Air Force One released by the White House, which showed him lounging in a grey Nike track suit, drew online attention – with social media users comparing the outfit to what ousted Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro wore when US forces snatched him in January. Chinese officials said on Tuesday that Rubio would not be barred from entering China. “The sanctions target Mr Rubio’s words and deeds when he served as a US senator concerning China,” said Chinese embassy spokesman in the US Liu Pengyu. Other Cabinet members joining Trump on his visit to China include US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. TECH AND BIG FINANCE NAMES Adding to the line-up are Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Apple CEO Tim Cook, along with GE Aerospace CEO Larry Culp and Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg. Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, has also joined Trump’s delegation. Huang had not been on the White House’s initial list of travelling executives and was spotted boarding Air Force One …