Latest news with #Mermaid
The Hindu
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Experience the thrill of Niagara Falls in Visakhapatnam
A slice of North America's natural wonder has made its way to RK Beach, as the Niagara Falls-themed exhibition at the Andhra University Grounds draws in crowds. Towering at 30 feet high and stretching 180 feet across, the artificial waterfall is the centrepiece of the month-long exhibition, offering visitors a chance to experience the thrill and majesty of the iconic falls right here in Visakhapatnam. Made at a cost of ₹40 lakhs, the elaborate set took nearly a month to construct. 'We use about four lakh litres of water every day, out of which 50,000 litres are recycled,' says Raja Reddy, proprietor of the exhibition. The flowing water, which falls into a four-feet-deep area, creates a continuous sprinkling and foam effect. On windy days, the foam gets carried into the air, adding to the excitement and offering a sensory experience to those standing nearby. The set has become a popular selfie point too. The waterfall isn't the only spectacle. A curated Mermaid Show featuring certified free divers from the Philippines has added a special touch to the exhibition. Dressed in mermaid costumes, the performers enchant audiences with their graceful underwater moves, capturing the imaginations of children and adults alike. In addition to this, a beautifully designed Kashmir set, complete with artificial snow, pine trees and scenic backdrops, offers a picturesque selfie spot for visitors. For thrill-seekers, the exhibition offers a variety of amusement rides that range from the heart-pounding to family-friendly. There are about 23 rides, including the Dropping Tower, Double Ranger, and Double Disc. 'Some of the rides use special equipment imported from Italy, which ensures both safety and enhanced performance,' says Rajay. More than 60 CCTV cameras have been installed to monitor crowd movement and ensure a safe environment for all visitors. The layout also includes ample walking space, shopping and snack stalls and resting areas for families looking to spend a leisurely evening by the seaside venue. The exhibition is open from 4pm to 10pm. Entry fee is ₹100.
GSM Arena
15-05-2025
- GSM Arena
Oppo Reno14 Pro unveiled with four 50MP cameras, Dimensity 8450 chip, Reno14 joins in
Today, Oppo unveiled two rugged mid-rangers that are designed to film 4K 60fps video out in the wild. Both have big batteries and are built for sustained performance, be it video recording or gaming. The Oppo Reno14 Pro is the larger and more capable of the two, but differences between it and the vanilla model aren't that big. The Pro is powered by the Dimensity 8450, which is so new that it isn't even on MediaTek's site yet, so we don't know CPU or GPU details yet. Oppo Reno14 Pro The Pro has four 50MP cameras, three of which are on the back – main (f/1.8, OIS), ultra-wide (116°, AF) and 85mm periscope (3.5x optical zoom with OIS). There's also a 50MP selfie camera with a 90° f/2.0 lens. Oppo Reno14 Pro camera details Both the front and back cameras are capable of 4K video recording at 60fps. The rear cameras can do it with the super stabilization feature enabled too, while the selfie camera does 4K 60fps without stabilization and 1080p 30fps with super stabilization. Interestingly, Oppo advertises the Reno14 Pro as a phone built for live video broadcasts. It has even designed an active cooler that clips on the back and a 20,000mAh power bank to keep the broadcast going for hours. The three onboard microphones promise 90% noise reduction. The color temperature sensor does automatic color correction. The phone's 6,200mAh battery can last up to 5 hours of live broadcasting. And if gaming is your thing instead, the phone can do up to 8 hours. There is a live recording feature that captures the previous 30 seconds of gameplay, so you'll have big moments in the game captured on video, even if you tap the record button after they happen. Back to the battery, 6,200mAh is the largest capacity on a Reno phone yet and it's fairly thin – 7.48mm for the Reef Black model (Mermaid and Purple are 0.1mm thicker). It weighs 201g too. The phone supports 80W wired and 50W wireless charging. The Oppo Reno14 is the smaller of the two – it has a 6.59' display (1080p+), compared to the 6.83' panel (1272p+) on the Pro. In both cases, it's a 10-bit 120Hz display with Oppo Crystal Shield Glass. The vanilla model is thinner and lighter too at 7.32mm (Reef Black, +0.1mm for Mermaid and Green) and 187g. Oppo Reno14 This is with a slightly smaller 6,000mAh battery that supports 80W wired-only charging. There are a few other features that were dialed back compared to the Pro model. The Reno14 has a 50MP main camera (f/1.8, OIS) and a 50MP periscope (80mm/3.5x, OIS), but the ultra-wide only has an 8MP sensor (still with a 116° AF lens, though). The 50MP selfie camera is the same too. Oppo Reno14 camera details The vanilla model is powered by the Dimensity 8350, a 4nm chip with four Cortex-A715 cores (one at 3.35GHz and three at 3.2GHz) and four A510 cores (2.2GHz), plus a Mali-G615 MC6 GPU. Both Reno14 models can be configured with 12GB/16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB/512GB/1TB of UFS 3.1 storage. Both phones are rated IP68/IP69 and have dedicated underwater photography and filming modes (up to 4K 30fps). Oppo Reno14 Pro in Mermaid, Purple and Reef Black Oppo Reno14 in Mermaid, Green and Reef Black The Oppo Reno14 and Reno14 Pro are currently on pre-order in China and will be released on May 23. Check out the pricing breakdown below: Reno14 Reno14 Pro 12GB/256GB CNY 2,800 CNY 3,500 16GB/256GB CNY 3,000 - 12GB/512GB CNY 3,100 CNY 3,800 16GB/512GB CNY 3,300 CNY 4,000 16GB/1TB CNY 3,800 CNY 4,500 Source 1 | Source 2 (in Chinese)
BBC News
04-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Isles of Scilly 'epic and fun' for gig rowing championships
This weekend's World Pilot Gig Championships, held annually in the Isles of Scilly, is much more than a showcase for the also provides a substantial boost to the local hospitality and tourism industries at the start of the summer Nick George, landlord of the Mermaid Inn beside St Mary's quay, the preparations include ordering extra supplies and making sure the drinks do not run George called the event "phenomenal" and said he ordered 120 kegs of beer and cider for the weekend - enough for more than 10,000 pints. "I tend to over-order supplies because the next boat isn't until Tuesday," Mr George said. "It's a bit of guesswork, but it's better to have more than run out."He said the event contributes nearly 10% of the pub's annual turnover over a six-day period. About 450 crews have been in the islands, 28 miles off Cornwall, taking part in the three-day event, with between 2,000 and 3,000 rowing is serious for many who have endured long winters of tireless training, and with highly coveted World Championship medals at compete in various categories over the weekend with the main men's and women's finals on Sunday afternoon - leading to a busy night in the island's George said: "The Mermaid on a Sunday night of gig weekend is unbelievable - Sunday night is epic."Carnage is more the word I'd use, but it's a good laugh with no trouble."It's my 11th or 12th year with the event, and I love it". Euan Rodger, executive vice chair of Visit Isles of Scilly said the championships were a "wonderful economic boost and a spectacle to enjoy"."Gig racing is worldwide now, with crews from America and Holland this year. "The reach is wide, and many gig rowers go home talking about the wonderful week they had," he helps attract new visitors and puts the Isles of Scilly on the map. "We're always looking for new visitors, and we hope this event plays its part in that," he also fosters a sense of community and celebration, making it a highlight of the year for both locals and visitors. "It's an incredible weekend, and everyone unwinds," he said."It's pretty good, to be honest." Sgt Al Jordan is the resident police officer for the islands and said it was a "fantastic" handle the influx of people he brings in more officers from the mainland "to ensure everything goes according to plan and everyone is safe and happy"."We just like to say, be sensible," he said."We're out on the street all day and evening, ready to help if needed." Isles of Scilly Chaplain Elizabeth Burke said the gig championships bring a "completely different atmosphere", to the islands where physical isolation from the mainland brings benefits but also problems, from loneliness to getting hospital treatment."It's really exciting," she said about the championships."There's a real buzz about it. It's important for the economy and for networking and coming together."
Telegraph
02-05-2025
- Telegraph
The best pubs and bars in Cornwall
The Cornish are sniffy about lager. Why would anyone drink something so tasteless when there's such a good choice of proper ales from long-established micro breweries (including Korev's Cornish lager), not to mention the chilled ciders and array of home-grown gins. Thanks to tourism, the county's age-old granite pubs set high on clifftops or tucked away beside estuaries can turn a decent living. Many pubs have upped their food game, buying direct from farmers and fishermen, instead of from a supplier's freezer, and introducing dishes that owe more to Ottolenghi than KFC. For further Cornwall inspiration, see our guides to the region's best hotels, restaurants, beaches, cream teas, things to do and how to plan the perfect holiday. West Cornwall Tinners Arms The main bar at the Tinners Arms with its roaring fire is little changed from its origin as a dorm for the builders of the medieval church next door. It's a sociable pub, a mix of locals and visitors back from a sunset walk out to the headland (a 30-minute round-trip). There's a slew of real ales – Tinners or Mermaid are the beloved classics – and local handcrafted gins, including one made using rock samphire. The food is tasty farmhouse fare. Blue Anchor Inn There has been a working brewery at the Blue Anchor Inn for 600 years. Originally a resthouse for monks, the interior of this thatched, town-centre pub with its flagstone floors is full of character. Its most popular brew, Middle, a traditional sweet bitter, was originally made to welcome home soldiers from the First World War. It even has a skittle alley that hosts live music sessions on Thursdays. At the rear there's a large garden. Halzephron Inn Steeping in smuggling history, this medieval freehouse on a remote clifftop on the Lizard has the best sunset view in Cornwall. You can sit outside and bask in the last warm rays of the sun before it sets over Land's End. Inside there's a choice of cosy bars with high-backed chairs as well as separate dining room that serves traditional pub fare. Expect a good choice of Cornish beers on tap, plus local gins and vodkas. A short walk away is Church Cove which featured in the BBC's Poldark. The Old Success Inn The perfect place to grab a pint and watch the sun set into the Atlantic after stretching your legs on the clifftop walk to Land's End. Owned by St Austell Breweries, this historic pub has open fires in winter and outdoor seating with panoramic sea views in summer. There are 16 small batch brewed beers to cover all tastes from IPA to lager including a new AI-generated recipe called Hand Brewed by Robots. The South Coast The Shipwrights Arms This lovely old waterside pub nearly closed a few years ago before the local community banded together to buy it. The main bar areas are low-beamed and cosy but the key reason to come here is to drink good beer or a local gin and tonic out on the terrace that is just feet from the water. This is a beautiful stretch of the Helford, one of those places that makes you feel that's all's well in the world. There's a good choice of comfort food too. Check the website for live music nights, usually a folk or jazz band. Pandora Inn This thatched pub has a gorgeous waterside setting in a creek off the River Fal with tables set out on a long pontoon jutting out into the water. Inside, there are old ship's timbers, low ceilings and flagstone floors. It's popular with locals and sailors who moor their boats alongside, and there's a good selection of St Austell ales, locally brewed lager and ciders, and a decent wine list with a wide choice of wines by the glass. As for food, picture a traditional pub menu, that's very well executed and based around locally sourced produce. The car park is small; park back up the road on summer evenings. The Blue Peter Inn Tucked away in the absurdly photogenic fishing village of Polperro, this is a Grade-I listed free house, rated for its well-kept beers from up-and-coming West Country breweries including the Cornish Crown, Otter, Bays and Fish Key brews. The chatty welcoming staff will also mix you a mean bloody Mary and, in winter, a mulled rum cider. There's live music every Friday and Saturday from March to November, usually local solo performers. It's a 10-minute stroll from the car park as no cars are allowed in the village centre. The North Coast Blue Bar, Porthtowan On summer evenings surfers and families gather at picnic tables on the terrace overlooking this popular surfing beach to watch the sun set into the sea. Parking isn't a problem as there's a large car park nearby. Inside it's a large barn of a place but the friendly efficient crew run a tight ship. Order a pint of Sharp's Doom Bar ale brewed in Rock and a plate of spicy chilli nachos. The Watering Hole The Watering Hole claims to be the only bar that is actually on a beach in Britain and often finds itself in the paper after storms when it teeters on the edge of a sand cliff high above the sea. It sits on three-mile Perranporth Beach, which is a great place to watch the sun go down in a blaze of glory into the sea on a summer's evening, and it's one of the liveliest places for a drink on this coast. There's also a wide-ranging programme of regular live music and plenty of space to get up and dance. The St Kew Inn This 15th-century inn deep in the countryside near Port Isaac has a wonderful atmosphere, and food and drink to match. Fires crackle on winter days and in summer there is plenty of space in its garden. The ales are from the nearby St Austell Brewery, there's Cornish Rattler cider from Healeys Farm near Newquay and wines are sourced from Camel Valley vineyard down the road. The food has won awards, using local produce where possible and the Sunday roast is legendary. How we choose Every bar, venue or experience in this curated list has been tried and tested by our destination expert, who has visited to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets and styles, from casual pubs to exquisite cocktail bars – to best suit every type of traveller – and consider the service, drinks, atmosphere and price in our recommendations. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up to date recommendations. Gill Charlton is a regular writer in the Telegraph's travel pages. She has lived in Cornwall for 25 years and loves to walk along the coastal path and reward herself with a proper steak pasty and a pint of Betty Stogs ale.
Daily Mail
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
How Meghan wormed her way into the Montecito fem-mafia - and relegated Harry to a life on the sidelines: JAN MOIR reveals Duchess's brazen tactics to break into elite sisterhood which includes Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston and Oprah
Oh, to be in Montecito, now that spring is here. The bougainvillea is in lush bloom along the sun-dappled lanes of this jewel box of a town, the sunlight glints on the blue waves down at Butterfly Beach and word has spread that the strawberry gazpacho is back on the menu at the San Ysidro Ranch, praise be to the bountiful gods of organic produce and zero-calorie soups. Meanwhile, fashion shop The Other has just taken a fresh delivery of its unique, hand-stamped Birkenstocks (£260 for a pair of Boston clogs painted with flowers, so darling) and the Juice Ranch on Coast Village Road has stocked up on its popular Mermaid 'mylk' shots, power-packed with chlorella, spirulina and a promise to 'flush mucus out of the body'. I don't doubt it for a second. The air here is clean and fresh, the vibe is stealth wealth meets ultra-exclusive – and the Alpha Women of Montecito wouldn't have it any other way. What is remarkable about this glittering billionaire's bolthole on the Californian coast is not just that it boasts one of the highest concentrations of wealth in the whole of America, it is that it has become home to such a fantabulous conflux of rich, powerful and invariably famous women, all living in the same postal district and all of whose lives are becoming increasingly enmeshed as they bounce higher and higher together on this golden trampoline of cachet and privilege. Katy Perry Katy Perry has two properties in Montecito including a 1930s-era, 9,285-square-foot compound that sits among the Santa Ynez foothills and has eight bedrooms, 7.5 bathrooms, a tennis court, two guesthouses and a pool. Business mogul Carl Westcott, who founded flower delivery company 1-800 Flowers, previously owned it. Perry fought and won a bitter legal battle against him when the 85-year-old tried to pull out of the deal. His family called her 'entitled and unforgivable'. Within a few miles of each other, you've got Oprah, Gwyneth, Meghan and Jen. As in Winfrey, Paltrow, Sussex-not-Markle and Aniston. Then you've got Cameron, Katy, Zoe, Ariana and Ellen. As in Diaz, Perry, Saldana, Grande and DeGeneres. The latter has temporarily moved out, taking refuge in the English countryside with her wife Portia de Rossi to escape what she sees as the 'dangerous' Trump regime. Yet with Ellen's deep roots in the area, along with her multiple properties and business interests, you can bet that she will be back. For who could resist the power and the glory that comes with being part of the new Montecito fem-mafia? The neighbourhood is heaving with the kind of girlboss women who either do not need a man or have husbands and partners who are happy to stay out of the limelight. Don't be fooled by the tradwife pantomimes of Gwyneth on Instagram making 'boyfriend breakfasts' or Meghan on Netflix making jam, the Alpha Women of Montecito (AWOM) are the ones who wear the trousers. Usually the Fran Jeans (£172) or the Saturday Sweatpants (£132) from the local cedar-scented Jenni Kayne shop – the California lifestyle brand that is a must-buy for every AWOM worth her pink Himalayan salt. Oprah She calls her main £75 million Montecito estate The Promised Land. Situated on 40 sprawling acres above the town, it features a neo-Georgian mansion with 23,000 square feet of living space, six bedrooms, 14 bathrooms and grounds with a pool, stables and pond. Oprah runs her life and her business from here. Gwyneth Paltrow lives in a custom-built Montecito mansion overlooking the ocean where she makes paleo snacks and sweet potato smoothies for husband Brad Falchuk in her dreamy kitchen. Yet as is the AWOM way, the Goop boss keeps him in the background, like a hunky pet. A recent Instagram post to her 8.7 million followers caught the mood. 'Hi guys, this is my husband Brad,' said Gwyneth, as the multi-award-winning television writer, producer and director meekly shuffled into shot behind her. 'Hi,' said Brad, waving a timid hand. 'I was doing a special podcast on step-parenting,' continued Gwyneth, 'and I asked Brad to join me.' 'So I did,' he said, obligingly. Just up the road on the Riven Rock gated estate, where the Duke and Duchess have lived in rosy splendour since 2020, Harry is a furtive presence in Meghan's busy, busy life. He turned up clutching a glass at the party in the final episode of her With Love, Meghan Netflix series. He was once seen juggling balls though a window as she was making a broadcast from their home – a more apt metaphor for his post-royal life would be hard to find. Just like a sprinkle of edible flowers on an iced doughnut, Harry – like so many Montecito husbands – appears to be surplus to needs. Note that it is Meghan, not Harry, who was invited to speak at the influential Time 100 Summit in New York yesterday. 'I am so proud of everything she does,' he said recently. He better be. He doesn't have much choice. Duchess of Sussex The Duke and Duchess of Sussex purchased their home – the Chateau of Riven Rock – for £11 million in 2020. Featuring a main house, a guest cottage and a swimming pool. Due to the property boom in the area, it is now estimated to be worth more than £21 million. Alongside the glossy celebrities in this Montecito-based vector of uber vixens there is a sub-stratum of lesser-known but perhaps even richer and more formidable she-financiers, entrepreneurs, businesswomen and socialites. Women such as Victoria Jackson, a cosmetics specialist whose No Makeup Makeup company is one of the reasons she is worth £380 million. 'I'm an entrepreneur, cosmetics pioneer, medical research catalyst, author and philanthropist,' says Victoria. 'But above all, I'm a woman whose journey is proof that everything we experience, even in the mix of pain and debilitating fear, can be repurposed and harnessed to achieve our most impossible goals.' A very Montecito sentiment – even if her cosmetic range issues a more modest promise to make you 'feel good from the inside out' and charges £42 for a small compact. Then there is Whitney Wolfe Herd, the 35-year-old founder of dating app Bumble and co-founder of Tinder. Whitney is the youngest female self-made dollar billionaire in the US and will be played by Lily James in an upcoming biopic. She was the very first guest on the Duchess of Sussex's new podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder, where the Bumble boss opined that businesswomen should 'cut through the noise and be vulnerable' and to 'bottle your essence' – whatever that might mean. Near neighbours in Montecito, Meghan and Whitney call each other 'beauty' and told of how they bonded very quickly, even though they only met a few years ago. 'She is one of my closest friends,' said Meghan. I bet she is! Zoe Saldana Oscar-winner Zoe Saldana The original period details include a library with a barrel-vaulted ceiling. Should we be surprised at the speed with which the Duchess has established herself within this elite citadel of sisterhood, strategically gifting her jars of jam to the great and the good? Perhaps not. As Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos has pointed out; 'Meghan is underestimated in terms of her influence on culture.' He has also publicly noted that consumer goods associated with the duchess ' sell out all over the world '. Sarandos, who also has a weekend home in Montecito with his wife Nicole Avant, is well placed to understand that underneath the local glitz, everything is transactional. It is little wonder that Meghan is also tight with Victoria Jackson, who loaned the Duchess her opulent house for a magazine interview photoshoot in 2022 and also provided her home as the venue for Meghan's 41st birthday. In return, the grateful Duchess invites Victoria around for her girls' night games of mahjong – and recently listed her No Makeup Makeup foundation among her beauty recommendations on her ShopMy page. It's quid pro quo in this world – with the emphasis on the quid. And the girl bonding does not stop there. Jennifer Aniston Jennifer Aniston bought her lavish Mediterranean-style farmhouse from Oprah in September 2022. Her new weekend home, which was not publicly listed, changed hands for £11 million in an off-market deal. The Friends star also has a £15 million mansion in Bel Air. Victoria is also one of the founders of the Godmothers bookshop in nearby Summerland – three miles along the coast from Montecito. Prince Harry helped name the shop when he was promoting his embittered memoir Spare in 2023. He thanked Oprah, Victoria and literary agent Jennifer Rudolph Walsh (Oprah's agent and another member of Meghan's mahjong gang) for their support, calling them his trio of 'fairy godmothers'. Oprah remembered the tribute and said there could only be one name for the book shop. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex even attended the store launch last summer, along with Glee actress Jane Lynch, who moved to Montecito following the pandemic. 'This is the most community I've ever had in my life, Lynch told Town & Country magazine. 'We all know each other. We know each other's dogs!' And if that closeness is boosted by the kind of mutual benefits that only wealth and celebrity can bring, who is complaining? Just look at these girls go. They are on each other's podcasts, they are in each other's kitchens, they loan out their private jets to their pals like bicycles or cardigans. They are recommending each other's products, they are on each other's shows, name-checking pet causes alongside major projects with equal enthusiasm. Cameron Diaz Cameron Diaz and husband Benji Madden live on a £9.5 million estate in the Ennisbrook community of Montecito, California. The house has six en-suite bedrooms, seven full bathrooms, and ocean views. Cameron once contributed a recipe for popcorn to one of bestie Gwyneth's cookbooks. Of course, the reigning queen of the Montecito scene remains St Oprah of Winfrey. Oprah's got the biggest house. She's got the most money. She exudes the most power and her tentacles spread over the area like a great, munificent octopus. It is no secret that she helped Meghan and Harry relaunch themselves in America. Nor that her best friend Gayle King was recently on the Blue Origin space flight with her near Montecito neighbour Katy Perry, who lives in the area with husband Orlando Bloom and daughter Daisy. Oprah also just sold a Montecito property to Jennifer Aniston, who is busy renovating her new home and installing a swimming pool. Jen is just another famous face among the jet set flotsam that washes in and out of this glittering enclave. The actress Natalie Portman has just moved out of Montecito, relocating to Paris. Seinfeld and Veep actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus recently sold the £21 million beach house – complete with thermal chimney and retractable roof – where she spent holidays for over 20 years. Gwyneth Paltrow After her two children left home for university, Gwyneth sold her Los Angeles home for £17 million, then she had husband Brad moved full-time into her 'forever' house in Montecito. The original house was purchased in 2016 for £3.7 million. Construction and landscaping took seven years to create a hidden paradise complete with nine bedrooms, 16 bathrooms and a basement with full spa facilities including steam room, massage room, sauna, Jacuzzi, plunge pool, full bar, arcade and wine cellars. And fresh from her triumph at the Oscars this year – where she won Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film Emilia Perez – Zoe Saldana only recently moved into the Spanish Colonial-style Montecito mansion she bought for £13 million in 2023. She can expect a mahjong invite in the post any day now. Jam incoming. In 2020, Ariana Grande bought a house from arch local property flipper Ellen DeGeneres (Ellen has bought and sold over 20 properties in the area over the years), got married there, sold it in 2022, but apparently is moving back into Montecito. Fashion designer Tracy Robbins, who invited Harry and Meghan to Jamaica last year for the premiere of the Bob Marley biopic One Love – made by her CEO husband's company Paramount Pictures – is also part of the Montecito matrix, this powerful group of fem-allies who have bonded together so beautifully – and lucratively. Remarkable to think it all happens in a small town of only 8,400 inhabitants nestled between the ocean and the hills amid beautiful scenery. Situated only 70 miles north of the city, Montecito is to Los Angeles what the Cotswolds are to London; a zoom town currently enjoying a real estate boom but with the kind of property prices only the famous and the very, very rich can afford. And that is just how the Alpha Women of Montecito want it to stay.
