Latest news with #Amber
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Vogue Williams shows off her incredible physique during sunshine break in Spain as presenter models two bikinis while sharing 'big news' about her podcast
It was business as usual for Vogue Williams as she showed off her taut abs during another day in Spain on Wednesday. The TV and radio personality is currently enjoying a family holiday in coastal Sotogrande with husband Spencer Matthews and their children, but took time out to share more content with her social media followers. Taking advantage of an overcast morning on the Spanish coast, Williams, 39, showed off two different swimming costumes while revealing the Vogue & Amber podcast she hosts with her sister has been nominated for its first ever award at the upcoming Pod Awards. 'Really excited and absolutely delighted,' she told Instagram followers. 'Well done Amber, and well done everybody on the team.' The Irish star, a mother of three, showed off her toned physique in a black bikini top and shorts as she broke the news before filming the podcast's latest instalment from her hotel. She later accentuated her lithe figure by changing into a distinctive teal swimsuit for a second video as she prepared to hit the beach. The holiday comes after Williams admitted to suffering from 'mum guilt' whenever she is away from her children, Theodore, six, Gigi, four, and Otto, three. Speaking on The Life of Bryony podcast in May, she said that like many mums, she puts pressure on herself to 'do and be everything'. 'I suffer from mum guilt all the time', she admitted. 'I feel guilty when I am working, and I feel guilty when I am with my kids. 'I worry when I spend more time with one of them and not the others.' She added: 'I spend a lot of time with Theodore and Gigi because I take them places – so I have to create time to spend with Otto on his own. 'I think as women we put so much pressure on ourselves to be able to do and be everything. Going out there and working should be great for your children to see. 'Whether you're a working mum or staying at home, I think you're always going to feel some level of guilt. When realistically, you can't do it all.' Speculating about why Williams was putting so much pressure on herself as a parent, host Bryony Gordon, 45, admitted that her attitude may reflect the beliefs of a generation. She later accentuated her lithe figure by changing into a distinctive teal swimsuit for a second video as she prepared to hit the beach Williams appeared to be taking advantage of an overcast morning on the Spanish coast by filming content for her social media followers She said: 'Women of our generation were brought up with that notion – that you can have it all. Even the question itself – you see these high-profile women always get asked that question. 'No one is asking that question of men. 'I don't want to have it all – I don't need to be everything to everyone. Everyone just has to accept that sometimes, laundry is a nightmare, and we might forget to reply to an email or several.' To which Williams joked: 'I have 364 unread WhatsApps – It's terrible!'
Los Angeles Times
2 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Hiking and camping spiked during COVID. Then they kept going up
It took an invading contagion from the other side of the world to remind some of us: California is best experienced outdoors. Leaving screens, phones and Amber alerts behind, Californians enjoy, among other delights, the glory of America's most majestic coastline and its most spectacular mountain range. During those queasy days of 2020 when public health officials shut down most public gathering places in an attempt to control the COVID-19 pandemic, state and national park attendance skyrocketed. Stats from the state and feds show how the drive to be outside has only grown, even as the virus has receded and indoor spaces have become welcoming again. That trend has been demonstrated again, as the number of camping reservations for this summer at California state parks jumped 36% over the already elevated figures for June, July and August of 2024. Some parks have seen even bigger increases for that period, led by Henry W. Coe State Park near Silicon Valley-adjacent Morgan Hill, where nearly twice as many camp spots have been reserved; Half Moon Bay State Beach, up 75%, MacKerricher State Park in Mendocino County, up 71%, Bolsa Chica State Beach in Orange County, up 69%. The state's marquee outdoor space, Yosemite National Park, has experienced a similar boom, with attendance spiraling up 56% in four years, to more than 4.1 million in 2024. That's all fine and good, but the extra car and foot traffic is not easy to manage. And the government agencies that oversee those spaces will be straining to both welcome the influx and protect those beloved havens, with less help than they had before. State parks sustained a 7.95% budget reduction, a cut similar to those being absorbed by other California departments, in the just-approved state budget. The state's parks leaders have chosen to maintain the staffing, cleanup and maintenance that is 'visitor facing,' while postponing natural resource conservation and endangered species management, in places where 'the impacts are not going to be permanent,' said Adrien Contreras, assistant deputy director for state park operations. The National Park Service has also been underfunded for decades, and reduced staffing 16.5% since 2023, according to the National Parks Conservation Assn., a leading nonprofit advocating for public lands. That amounts to 3,600 fewer rangers and other personnel across the country. In order to keep basic services in place, workers have been reassigned. That maintenance man cleaning your toilet just might be a trained biologist. So thank the workers when you crowd into a park this summer. They mostly took these jobs to serve the public, not to get rich, said Contreras, who began as a 19-year-old seasonal employee and remains with the state parks agency, almost a quarter of a century later. 'These are very important places for people to go out and find solace,' Contreras said. 'It's a very stressful time, with everything going on right now, so we want to make sure we are there for the public.' Today's great photo is from Alejandro Cegarra. It depicts a Stryker armored vehicle patrolling the border area dividing Juárez, Mexico, from El Paso, Texas, after Trump's tariff threats. Jim Rainey, staff writerDiamy Wang, homepage internIzzy Nunes, audience internKevinisha Walker, multiplatform editorAndrew Campa, Sunday writerKarim Doumar, head of newsletters How can we make this newsletter more useful? Send comments to essentialcalifornia@ Check our top stories, topics and the latest articles on
UPI
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- UPI
Movie review: 'Sketch' exemplifies childlike magic and emotion
1 of 5 | A girl's drawings come to life in "Sketch," in theaters Aug. 6. Photo courtesy of Angel Studios LOS ANGELES, July 30 (UPI) -- Sketch, in theaters Aug. 6, is a clever and poignant original family adventure. It delivers on magic and wonder but also imbues those elements with relevant themes. The live-action film stars Bianca Belle as Amber, a young girl who draws pictures in a sketch book to express her emotions. When her notebook falls into a magical pond, her drawings come to life. Amber and her brother, Jack (Kue Lawrence), live with their father, Taylor (Tony Hale). They're all grieving the death of Taylor's wife and the kids' mother, after which Amber's art turned more aggressive. Using art to cope with emotions is a healthy practice. It is not a total cure, however, so the movie is a metaphor for that anger and sadness getting out. Writer/director Seth Worley actually deals with children's feelings. Sketch does not pander to the characters or try to distract them like the cinematic equivalent of jangling keys. Both the child and adult characters are forced through this crisis to talk about real issues, though the kids do it in a simple, childlike way that doesn't feel unrealistically mature. Jack keeps trying to fix things, clearly a habit learned from his father, while Amber is begging them to just let her be emotional. Taylor's sister, Liz (D'Arcy Carden), forces him to admit he's suppressing his children's grief as well as his own. Taylor is still pretty great as movie fathers go. He corrects himself immediately after he snaps due to the understandable exhaustion of being a single parent to two children. Of course, the discovery of a pond that brings things to life leads the children to think of ways to bring their mother back. The idea is too logical to ignore, though it would be irresponsible for the film to literally undo a natural death. Without spoiling the specifics, Worley has a solution to this that is both narratively satisfying and emotionally rewarding. The film is about accepting grief, not undoing it. The movie is also a creative adventure. Worley keeps Amber's creatures mysterious at first, initially just showing the marks they leave on a window or their reflections as the characters see them for the first time. When they fully appear, the creatures actually look unique from the usual spiny tentacle beings in most movies. They still have a papery texture like Amber's drawings even in three dimensions. Amber and Jack, along with their classmate Bowman (Kalon Cox), come up with creative solutions like playing a lullaby to make a monster sleep. Knowing the magical properties of the pond, the trio continues to use creativity and ingenuity to solve problems. The kids also get bona fide action hero moments, like Jack crawling under the seats of a bus before a monster gets in, or Amber and Bowman wielding weapons of their own design in hero poses. Sketch works as an appealing kids movie because who wouldn't want to see their original artwork come to life? Beyond the whimsy, fantasy movies stand the test of time for their depth, and Sketch has depth to match its creativity. Fred Topel, who attended film school at Ithaca College, is a UPI entertainment writer based in Los Angeles. He has been a professional film critic since 1999, a Rotten Tomatoes critic since 2001, and a member of the Television Critics Association since 2012 and the Critics Choice Association since 2023. Read more of his work in Entertainment.
Time of India
20 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Why companies are using algorithms to spark dialogue on performance, not decide careers
Advt Advt By , ETHRWorld Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals. Subscribe to Newsletter to get latest insights & analysis in your inbox. All about ETHRWorld industry right on your smartphone! Download the ETHRWorld App and get the Realtime updates and Save your favourite articles. A joint report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the European Commission describes Algorithmic Management (AM) in today's workplaces as a double-edged to the report, while AM improves monitoring and provides measurable productivity metrics, it also fosters micromanagement , which can lead to a decline in overall job performance—particularly in emerging economies such as India and South report highlights how countries like China and Spain are prioritising fairness and transparency in revealing algorithmic patterns. Recently, the United States introduced the Algorithmic Accountability Act 2023 to regulate the use of personal data and automated intensive monitoring initially drives efficiency, reduces labour costs and offers clearer productivity benchmarks, the report warns that within six months, many organisations experience rising resignation rates and employee complaints of being treated in a 'robotic' challenges HR leaders to think not just about productivity, but also about the responsible design and governance of AM Gorur, Head - HR, Fujitsu India GDC, said no algorithmic outcome is directly applied at Fujitsu; every recommendation passes through a neutral panel that evaluates its impact holistically across employee experience, fairness and contextual relevance.'We believe in using data to make life better for our people, not to box them into one-dimensional outcomes. Strategic communication channels, ranging from dashboards to manager-led conversations, ensure employees understand both the intent and the implications of data-driven insights,' Gorur Pande, Group CHRO, Sterlite Electric , mentioned advanced analytical methods such as Regression Analysis to identify key competencies that shape leadership effectiveness alongside team performance. These insights support the company in designing sharper development journeys and succession further emphasised, 'Tools like Amber enrich our understanding with its AI-powered conversational interface that shares authentic employee sentiment and flags emerging issues, allowing our leaders to act proactively and empathetically.'Pande said that at Sterlite Electric, all AI-generated insights are reviewed within a 'human-in-the-loop' framework, supported by fairness audits and constant reviews.'Decisions on promotions, performance or scheduling always remain with our people leaders, backed by context and compassion. Finally, we have created both formal and informal mechanisms for employees to raise concerns or appeal decisions, which ensures that data becomes a tool for dialogue, not a final decision,' added Bhattacharyya, Chief Talent Officer, RPG Group , expressed a similar view. He said, 'RPG has consciously chosen not to use AI in performance evaluations or promotion decisions.''These are high-stakes, career-impacting calls that require context, judgement and a level of human discretion that AI simply doesn't offer today,' said Sterlite Electric, employees are clearly informed—not only about what data is collected and when, but also why.'We obtain explicit consent every time their data is used, and at any point, employees are empowered to manage their own profiles: they can view, update or delete their information, and no one can access anyone else's private data without permission,' said Fujitsu, employee data are collected to enhance wellbeing, improve personal experiences and promote fairness, said Gorur.'Importantly, we do not use data to micromanage but to identify opportunities that help employees grow and thrive. We complement this with digital ethics education so employees feel empowered, not monitored,' claims Gorur.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Indian electronics manufacturer Amber Group acquires Israel-based Unitronics; company says: No governmental or ...
India's contract manufacturer for consumer durables and electronics Amber Group has announced in an exchange filing that it will acquire a controlling stake in Israel-based Unitronics , which operates in Industrial Automation and Control Systems, for over Rs 400 crore in an all-cash deal. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The electronics manufacturer has signed definitive agreements to take a 40.24% stake in Unitronics. Amber's electronics manufacturing subsidiary ILJIN Electronics will acquire 5,624,591 shares at NIS 27.75 per share for 156 million NIS (around Rs 403 crore) in an all cash-deal. Post the acquisition, ILJIN, together with Joint Chairman of Unitronics will own a 45.13% stake in the company. The company said that no governmental or regulatory approvals are needed for the deal. According to the company, the deal is with a "cash consideration" and expects it to be complete "within 60 business days from the effective date". The acquisition comes as the Amber group looks to expand its product portfolio in industrial applications. The acquisition will also help Amber with backward integration, enhancing competitiveness, and gaining access to global markets like US and Europe amid rising demand for industry 4.0 applications. Nearly Rs 7,000 crore Amber Group makes consumer durables, hearable and wearable devices, telecom equipment, automotive solutions, energy meters, and defence solutions. What are terms of Amber Group-Unitronics deal According to the terms of the acquisition, Unitronics will leverage ILJIN's extensive electronics manufacturing expertise to enhance operational synergies, accelerate innovation, and strengthen its product position in India. The executive will continue to serve on the board, and work closely with the Amber leadership, the joint statement added. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Following the execution of shareholders' agreement and proposed acquisition, Unitronics Joint Chairman Haim Shani will continue to serve on the board and closely work with the Amber leadership after the deal. What the deal means for Amber Group "This transaction will significantly strengthen Amber's Electronic Division by providing a strong foothold in the rapidly growing sector of Industry 4.0 solutions and real-time data-driven technologies," said Jasbir Singh, executive chairman and CEO, Amber Group said. Unitronics offers a range of industrial automation products designed to meet the unique requirements of different applications including design, development, manufacturing, marketing, sale and support of products such as PLCs (Programmable logic controllers), HMIs (Human-Machine Interface), PLCs with integrated HMIs, VFDs (Variable Frequency Drives), Servo Drives, SaaS solutions like UniCloud, and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) with built- in business intelligence, supported by its all-in-one software for machine and process control across various industries, Amber said in a statement. 'This strategic partnership with Amber Group represents a pivotal moment in our journey. Driven by a shared vision, this collaboration aims to unlock powerful synergies and scale the business to new heights," said Haim Shani, Joint Chairman of Unitronic.
