Latest news with #Jonson
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Popular Canadian Asian grocery chain to open in Irvine next year
Canada's largest Asian grocery chain is continuing its expansion into California with plans to open a new location in Irvine early next year. It will be among the first storefronts in the state for T&T Supermarket, which has more than 33 stores in Vancouver, Toronto and other Canadian cities. The supermarket is popular in Canada for fresh produce and a variety of hot food cooked on site, including Asian street food and staples such as Peking duck. The store in Irvine will also offer Asian wines and spirits and T&T private label products. Its bakery will sell viral Asian treats, including lava mochi puffs and Napoleon Portuguese egg tarts. Orange County's 34,000-square-foot T&T Supermarket will anchor a new restaurant and retail development in the Great Park community called the Canopy at Great Park, according to a statement from the company. The Canopy, which is being built by Southern California real estate developer Almquist, will feature 90,000 square feet of shopping, dining and public space. Read more: Jonson and Alice Chen: The new generation for 99 Ranch The location is slated to open in winter of 2026, the chain said. The first U.S. location opened in Bellevue, Wash., in December 2024, and the company also has plans to open stores in San Francisco and San Jose by the end of next year. "Ever since we announced our U.S. entry, we have been getting customer requests all across the United States," T&T Chief Executive Tina Lee said in a statement. "I know T&T may not be well-known in Irvine, but we are excited to surprise our shoppers with a unique shopping experience." Irvine's T&T is likely to face competition, as popular Asian markets including H Mart and Mitsuwa Marketplace are already established in the area. Shoppers can also frequent 99 Ranch and Zion Market, both of which have stores in Irvine and other locations in Southern California. Irvine's population of more than 300,000 is nearly 45% Asian. T&T Supermarket first opened in British Columbia in 1993 and is currently run by the founder's daughter, Lee, who took over in 2014. Canadian retailer Loblaw Companies acquired the chain in 2009, though it is operated as an independent subsidiary. Sign up for our Wide Shot newsletter to get the latest entertainment business news, analysis and insights. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Guardian
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Poem of the week: A Sonnet to the Noble Lady, the Lady Mary Wroth by Ben Jonson
A Sonnet to the Noble Lady, the Lady Mary Wroth I that have been a lover, and could show it, Though not in these, in rithmes not wholly dumb, Since I exscribe your sonnets, am become A better lover, and much better poet. Nor is my Muse or I ashamed to owe it To those true numerous graces, whereof some But charm the senses, others overcome Both brains and hearts; and mine now best do know it: For in your verse all Cupid's armoury, His flames, his shafts, his quiver and his bow, His very eyes are yours to overthrow. But then his mother's sweets you so apply, Her joys, her smiles, as readers take For Venus' ceston every line you make. This tribute by the English poet and playwright Ben Jonson (1572-1637) to fellow poet Lady Mary Wroth (1587-1651), proclaims its intentions rather loudly and explicitly: A Sonnet to the Noble Lady, the Lady Mary Wroth. After the title, though, what struck me particularly was the choice of verb, 'exscribe', in line three. It means 'transcribe' and suggests Jonson's praise has a serious foundation of commitment and thought. By the time he printed the sonnet (1640-41) Jonson had, of course, read the published edition (1621) of the younger poet's magnum opus, her ambitious prose romance, The Countess of Montgomery's Urania. But his reference to transcription may suggest he had seen the earlier manuscript, a version that already included sonnets and songs for utterance by Wroth's major characters, Pamphilia ('all-lover') and Amphilanthus ('lover of two') Perhaps paying special attention to the sonnets spoken by Wroth's likely persona Pamphilia, Jonson had made sure to acquire his own copy. He may also have compared the earlier and later sonnets and noted down revisions. Jonson's sonnet begins with the assertion of his credentials: 'I that have been a lover, and could show it …' He moves on quickly to assure Mary Wroth he isn't writing as a lover or love poet here ('not in these … rithmes') and perhaps simultaneously admitting that he isn't himself a writer of love sonnets: 'these rithmes' could refer to the sonnet form in general. Nevertheless, Wroth's verse has made him a 'better lover, and much better poet'. The sonnets have taught him something about women and eroticism, but, more importantly, they have improved his poetic technique. It's a neat, tactful conclusion to a mildly flirtatious first quatrain. Those 'A' rhymes in his Petrarchan plan ('show it'/'poet'/'owe it'/'know it') are also nicely executed, and have a tone neither skittish nor over-solemn. They intensify as they progress from 'show it' to 'know it', and the sonnet's opening rationale is further developed. Neither the poet nor his 'Muse' are ashamed to be indebted to the 'true numerous graces' by which a poet does more than 'charm the senses' but can 'overcome / Both brains and hearts'. The rhyme-ending 'know it' asserts the lesson Jonson claims to have learned especially from Wroth: that a good sonnet demands intellectual sinew besides sensory and emotional appeal. Jonson takes advantage of the 'turn' in line nine to change key and heighten the rhetorical pitch, with familiar classical allusions as reinforcement. The addition of 'flames' to Cupid's armoury isn't a Jonson original: 'flames' were referenced by other poets, including Wroth herself, and represent the purification of love into gold, a finer material than flesh, and, of course, the desired product of the alchemist's crucible. Jonson's compliments catch fire, though, and come dangerously close to hyperbole. Wroth's verse can 'overthrow' Cupid, and even blind him. Moreover, Venus's softer power ('his mother's sweets') is included in her poetic strategy. Jonson closes with a particularly large-gestured generalisation: it's Wroth's 'readers' – himself included, but not only himself – who are empowered by Venus's 'ceston', the girdle which gave a wearer the ability to elicit love. And this is an effect Mary Wroth produces in 'every line'. Jonson's heart, if not his brain, seems to have been 'overcome'. When she published her 1621 version of Urania, Wroth added a further, independent song-and-sonnet sequence, Pamphilia and Amphilanthus. This no doubt was further fuel to the outbreak of disapproval that greeted the book. Among a number of charges against it were the allusions to certain non-fictional court scandals, including the relationship between the writer and her lover, William Herbert. Perhaps more shocking still was the fact that a woman had written a secular erotic sonnet sequence, trampling both on male poetic territory and the religious proprieties expected of female poets. Jonson's long-term support for Wroth (he also dedicated his 1610 play The Alchemist to her) may well have been influenced by self-interest. William Herbert had been his patron. He naturally wished to to keep on the right side of the nobility, the Sidneys and Pembrokes who were Wroth's close family members. But, from the overall tone and context of the sonnet, it seems most likely that, while he indulged in flights of flattery, genuine admiration and affection were also present. As an equally intelligent and complex reader, Mary Wroth, I expect, would have recognised the nuances, and found herself not displeased by Jonson's fundamentally sympathetic display.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Swarms of military drones will be part of NATO's arsenal soon if this country gets its way
Sweden's defense minister said his country is "laser-focused" on making swarm drones quickly. It's a huge capability that has not yet been seen in drone warfare between Russia and Ukraine. Sweden is trying to learn from Ukraine's defense, as Europe worries about a future Russian attack. A NATO member has rushed the production of swarm drones — a technology not seen even in Ukraine — as part of an effort to learn from Russia's invasion and prepare its own defenses. Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson told Business Insider that his country identified the capability while watching Russia's invasion of Ukraine, where drones have been used more than in any other conflict in history. Jonson said it was "a project that we developed very quickly, in less than a year," where traditionally it "might have taken five years." He said it would be tested in a NATO-led exercise, and that one soldier could autonomously control up to 100 drones. Swarm drones allow operators or artificial intelligence systems to get a host of drones to work together, either to surveil or attack. While groups of drones can be pre-programmed to work collectively, swarm drones are different and can be much more powerful: They are interconnected and can use AI to react in real time to moving targets or incoming enemy defenses. In January, Sweden unveiled new swarm drone technology developed by its armed forces and Swedish company Saab. Saab told Defense News that each drone has a different capability, like having sensors, a payload, or communication tech. Swarm drones "operate as one," James Patton Rogers, a drone expert at the Cornell Brooks Tech Policy Institute, told BI. This, he said, opens up "a whole world of tactics and strategies that we've not even thought of yet." Russia's invasion of Ukraine has raised concern across Europe that Russia could attack elsewhere on the continent, prompting soaring defense spending and reflections on what militaries need to do to be more ready. Western militaries have taken a host of lessons from the war, with drones being a key one. Both Russia and Ukraine have leaned heavily on drone tech and tactics, with Ukraine producing naval drones that have damaged Russian warships, drones that use AI, and drones that don't rely on GPS, in order to sidestep Russian jamming. But swarm drones have not been seen — at least not yet. Zachary Kallenborn, a drone warfare expert at King's College London, told BI he was not aware of any drones truly collaborating together. It's notable, then, that Sweden has identified this as a key takeaway. Jonson said swarming drones came from a review by Sweden's defense commission, which was tasked with finding lessons from the war that Sweden should adopt. "This was something that we identified from the ministry in close dialogue with the armed forces: that we needed to invest into the capability of drones," he said. Jonson said Sweden's swarm drone development has taken place so fast because it was done "in a slightly unconventional way," with closer collaboration than usual between the Swedish Armed Forces, Sweden's defense procurement agency, and the Swedish Defense Research Agency. It's not clear when the drones could be ready to be deployed. Rogers said it would be "unprecedented" to fully develop the capability in around a year. "I'm wary of any claims that anyone is able to deploy a true, effective, tested drone swarm within 18 months of standing up a project," he said. "But it's certainly a gap in the European arsenal and the NATO arsenal." Mauro Gilli, a senior researcher in military technology at ETH Zurich, added that "even if they do it in two years, it will be really, really remarkable." Swarm drones are a technology that other NATO members are working on. Kallenborn, the King's College London drone expert, said the challenge for swarm drone makers is "getting it right on the battlefield," where getting technology to work in a complex space "can be a challenge." Many warfare experts say drone technology moves so fast that the West should not pump out tons of drones too quickly, as they could soon be outdated. Instead, said Kallenborn, Western countries should focus on learning what capacities they need and their ability to make them at scale, "but actually doing so does seem quite premature." While swarm drones have not been seen in Ukraine, Gilli told BI that the success of regular drones in military situations likely justified the investment. He said that drones have allowed Ukraine — with far less manpower than Russia, and with notable artillery shortages — to slow Russia's attack. According to Rogers, Ukraine has likely not fielded swarm drones yet because it's faster and cheaper to focus on increasing and innovating existing drone types, rather than on entirely new technology. But they could be in Ukraine's future. Mykhailo Fedorov, the head of Ukraine's Ministry of Digital Affairs, said in February that Ukraine was pushing to create swarms of drones controlled by artificial intelligence. The need to make weapons fast has been a key lesson from Ukraine, and many Western leaders and experts have warned that the West is making them too slowly. Jonson said the war shows the West must work on "strengthening our defense industrial production." He called it an area where Sweden likes to think "we punch above our weight because we have a very strong and sizable defense industrial base." Samuel Bendett, a drone technology and Russian defense expert at the Center for Naval Analyses, told BI that swarm drones are advantageous for militaries with smaller populations, or that invest a lot into training each soldier — something Western militaries typically do more than Russia. They would let militaries field "multiple types of robotic systems in place of a single soldier," he said. Meanwhile, Jonson advised any Swedish allies who do not have drone programs — or are not investing in drones — to do so, because "this is an aspect of contemporary warfare that has become very clear, has a very significant role on the battlefield in Ukraine." Read the original article on Business Insider
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sweden presents its largest aid package for Ukraine to date
Sweden has announced its largest military aid package for Ukraine to date, valued at almost 16 billion Swedish kronor ($1.6 billion), Defence Minister Pål Jonson said at a press conference on Monday. This 19th aid package brings Sweden's total military support for Ukraine this year to around 29.5 billion kronor. Since 2022, the total aid has amounted to nearly $8 billion. Jonson's ministry emphasized the importance of Europe increasing its support for Ukraine, stating that ongoing and increased assistance is crucial for European security. Ukraine has said that it has significant requirements for the battlefield, requesting support in areas such as air defence, artillery, satellite communication and naval forces. In response to these needs, Jonson stated that approximately 9 billion kronor of the new package will be used to procure defence goods from Swedish and other European arms manufacturers, which will then be supplied to Ukraine.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sweden sends military aid package worth US$1.6bn to Ukraine
Sweden has announced the transfer of its largest military aid package to Ukraine, worth almost US$1.6 billion. Source: Swedish Defence Minister Pål Jonson, as reported by European Pravda Details: Jonson said that the package includes support for Ukraine's air defence, artillery, satellite communications, and maritime capabilities. The government intends to authorise the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) to purchase defence equipment from the Swedish, Scandinavian and European defence companies for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, based on Ukraine's needs. The selection of equipment will be based on FMV's ongoing analysis of the market's ability to produce the required equipment with short delivery times. Jonson added that as part of this package, Sweden would purchase new equipment worth about US$912 million from the defence industry. "Much of the international military support goes through multilateral initiatives, coalitions within the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, and purchases from Ukrainian defence industries for donations. Sweden will donate about US$465 million to these funds and initiatives," he said. The support package envisages strengthening cooperation with Denmark within the established model of support for the Ukrainian defence industry. The support package also includes the delivery of equipment from the Swedish Armed Forces. In particular, the following equipment will be handed over to Ukraine: Medical vehicles; Training weapons for firing M86 armour-piercing projectiles; Machine guns of the M58 type; Small calibre ammunition; About 100 vehicles of various types for maintaining the airbase; Basic and skilled equipment to support the airbase activities; Medical equipment and vehicles; Individual equipment; Equipment and provisions. As part of the support package, funds are allocated to identify and utilise technical innovations that require additional funding to complete and launch production. The FMV is tasked with identifying, testing and financing solutions that are in demand in Ukraine but need to be refined for use in wartime. The work will be based on specific demand and a short timeframe. Background: Last week, the Swedish government instructed the Swedish Armed Forces to make payments to coalitions of forces and assets in the areas of demining and unmanned aerial vehicles under the Ramstein format. On 13 March, Sweden announced that it would purchase Archer self-propelled artillery systems and Arthur counter-battery radars for Ukraine as part of the 18th military support package. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
