Latest news with #Miss
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Zozibini Tunzi to host Free State Fashion Week's Women's Day Business & Fashion Festival
The event aims to empower, uplift and celebrate women from all walks of life. Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi has been announced as the host of the Free State Fashion Week's Women's Day Business & Fashion Festival. The event will take place on Saturday, 9 August. 'This year's theme is excellence. We said this year is a year of excellence — and whatever we do, we do it in excellence. And I think that's where Zozi fits in so perfectly,' Free State Fashion Week CEO, Candy Smith, told The Citizen, explaining why Tunzi was chosen as the host. The festival serves as a build-up to the annual Free State Fashion Week, scheduled for 12–13 September. The Women's Day event promises meaningful conversations and electrifying performances, with appearances from celebrities such as Unathi Nkayi and Ami Faku. ALSO READ: WATCH: Makhadzi takes it back to where it all began 15 years ago ahead of December One Woman Show 'Not just an event – it's a movement' Smith emphasised that the festival is more than just a celebration, but a space for connection, reflection, and inspiration. 'We want to work with people who embody excellence so that we, as Free Staters, can evolve and learn from these powerful women,' she said. 'The Women's Day event is meant to empower women from all walks of life. It brings together creatives, professionals, and women in business. Whether you're a doctor, artist, or entrepreneur, this event is for every woman,' she added. Tunzi will also share her personal journey, contributing to the day's deeper conversations around women's experiences and challenges. In addition to the talks, the event will showcase local fashion designers from the Free State, along with exhibitions and live music performances. NOW READ: Khabonina Qubeka on Shaka iLembe role: 'My aim as an artist is to make you feel'
Straits Times
4 days ago
- General
- Straits Times
Singapore Poly club members sign on to engage deaf community
Find out what's new on ST website and app. The TL;DR: Students in Singapore Polytechnic's sign language CCA attend weekly lessons and participate in local community service events with the deaf community. Singapore Polytechnic's sign language club members after the annual SIGNature performance, which involves the performing of songs using sign language, in 2024. SINGAPORE – Miss Kua Ying En was working as a dental assistant in 2023 when she first encountered a deaf person. Upon realising that the patient could not hear, Miss Kua and the clinic staff – from the nurse, to the dentist – communicated with her via pen and paper. However, the process was slow-going. The incident stuck with her, and when the chance to join a co-curricular activity (CCA) in Singapore Polytechnic (SP) arose, the sign language club was her first choice. Learning sign language was important, she felt, to be inclusive. 'Texting and writing can really slow things down. It might not be a big issue in casual situations, but what if there's an emergency and they need help immediately?' Two years on, the 20-year-old banking and finance student is club president, and can sign complete sentences and hold non-verbal conversations. SP's club has been guided by coach Pet Tan, since it was founded in 2012. Ms Tan, who is hearing, has volunteered with The Singapore Association for the Deaf (SADeaf) for more than 27 years. She said that most students join out of interest and have almost no background knowledge, while a handful 'might have learnt a little' from lessons with SADeaf, online, or through friends. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore SMRT to pay lower fine of $2.4m for EWL disruption; must invest at least $600k to boost reliability Singapore MRT service changes needed to modify 3 East-West Line stations on Changi Airport stretch: LTA Singapore S'pore could have nuclear energy 'within a few years', if it decides on it: UN nuclear watchdog chief Asia 'Nothing like this has happened before': At least 16 dead as Thai-Cambodian conflict enters second day Life 'Do you kill children?': Even before independence, S'pore has always loved its over-the-top campaigns Singapore Lung damage, poor brain development, addiction: What vaping does to the body Singapore Tipsy Collective sues former directors, HR head; alleges $14m lost from misconduct, poor decisions Singapore Kopi, care and conversation: How this 20-year-old helps improve the well-being of the elderly Nonetheless, all members start at the basic stage – where they first pick up signing the alphabet, numbers, as well as common everyday words – before moving up to the intermediate and advanced levels. Learning sign language is 'not structured exactly like foreign language modules', she said. 'But just like learning a (spoken) language, you need to understand the dos and don'ts, misconceptions, and appropriate and inappropriate terms.' The club mainly uses Signing Exact English, which follows English grammar and word order, in their CCA sessions. Members who advance further may also use Singapore Sign Language, which is used by the deaf community in Singapore and has its own grammar and structure. Members of the club learn sign language weekly and also take part in local community service events, where they interact with the deaf community up to five times in an academic year. A typical CCA session begins with an icebreaker, followed by a segment on Deaf culture, Singapore Sign Language lesson, and an interactive activity that encourages the members to make friends while practising signs. PHOTO: COURTESY OF SINGAPORE POLYTECHNIC'S SIGN LANGUAGE CLUB Currently, 50 to 60 members regularly attend the two-and-a-half-hour basic stage lessons every Wednesday. Intermediate sessions are held after, with about 30 students at this level. Up to 12 student instructors, Ms Kua included, take turns to conduct the CCA sessions. They are supervised by Ms Tan, who teaches the advanced group – which has six students – on Tuesdays. At the end of the basic and intermediate levels, students keen on advancing sit for a test where they are assessed on their reading and signing skills in finger spelling and vocabulary. A question-and-answer session is sometimes included. Only after attaining a passing score can the members move up to the next level. Though the certificates given upon passing each level are not formal certifications, they acknowledge participation and proficiency within the CCA context, said Ms Tan. Meanwhile, advanced students, who are usually in their final year of polytechnic, are evaluated on their ability to interpret signs into written sentences, and voice to signs. These students learn how to communicate with the deaf and interpret for them. Among them is Ms Yue En Qi, a third-year applied artificial intelligence & analytics student who joined SP's sign language club in 2023. Her initial interactions with the deaf community – before she learnt more advanced sign language – left her frustrated at herself, the 19-year-old recalled. Feeling that she did not know enough signs to hold a conversation spurred her to improve her sign language proficiency. This year, she hit her 'biggest personal milestone' during a Chinese New Year event organised by the sign language club, guiding deaf participants on how to cook food like Chinese rice balls and rice cakes. Ms Yue added: 'I could sign to them without a script, unlike the very first time, and finally have more open conversations with them.' Second-year media, arts & design student Fin Loh, is also at the advanced level. The 22-year-old, who attended her first basic stage lesson in May 2023, said her biggest challenge is understanding what other people sign. 'The grammatical structure and expressions that we use when practising are familiar and specific to this group, and it takes more interaction with other people signing to be able to understand when they sign with different structures.' Outside of CCA sessions, she and her sign language club friends practised by finger spelling 'random words' found in MRT advertisements during their journeys home from school. 'Eventually, as we learnt more vocabulary, we could have whole conversations on the MRT without disrupting anyone because we're not making any noise!' In the future, she aims to be an interpreter working with teachers, children and parents. Education 'has opened up many doors for me', she said, adding: 'I believe all children deserve the same access to education and support in their growth.'
Telegraph
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
White female boss dressed as Whoopi Goldberg for Oscars-themed work party
A white female executive racially harassed her black colleague when she dressed up as Whoopi Goldberg from Sister Act at an Oscar-themed work party, a tribunal heard. Jerry Logo said he experienced an 'immediate rush of anxiety' when he saw Agnes Ganswindt wearing the costume from the 1992 comedy with her face painted black at the office Christmas get-together. The accounts manager told a tribunal that it made him think of the 'dehumanisation' of black people, which caused him to suffer a panic attack. A panel found that Miss Ganswindt, a customer service agent, was 'genuinely unaware' that a white woman dressing up as a black actress might be offensive to someone who is black. Mr Logo sued for racial harassment, but his case was dismissed because he had brought the case four years after the event took place. But after hearing how his employers themselves agreed the 'black-face' event did constitute harassment, an appeal judge has now ruled that the claim should be reheard. The employment appeal tribunal (EAT) heard that Mr Logo started working in the UK for German payments firm Payone in November 2016 as an accounts manager. Some four days after he started work, while at the company's Frankfurt office for induction training, the business held a Christmas party themed as Oscars night. The tribunal said: 'Miss Ganswindt, who is white, attended the event dressed as the character played by Whoopi Goldberg in the Sister Act films.' 'Immediate rush of anxiety' Mr Logo said he felt an 'immediate rush of anxiety' when he saw the person, who he later realised was Miss Ganswindt, in 'black face paint'. The earlier employment tribunal hearing, which took place in Watford in 2023, was overseen by employment Judge Judith George. She said that the panel accepted that not only had Miss Ganswindt chosen the costume before she met Mr Logo, but she was also not aware that he would be in attendance. The judge said the black-face did occur, adding: 'It is conceded by [PayOne] that this incident would amount to race-related harassment on the basis of the unwanted conduct causing the harassing effect, and we accept that it does. '[Mr Logo] argued that this incident was harassment because Miss Ganswindt had the purpose of creating the harassing effect. 'We accept, after careful consideration, that she was genuinely unaware that a black British person would be likely to associate a white woman dressed as a black actress with an offensive and demeaning portrayal of people based on race.'
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- The Irish Sun
‘Discontinue use immediately' – Urgent warning as finger-painting kit sold on Amazon recalled over ‘toxic substances'
A FINGER-painting kit sold to Irish parents on Amazon is being recalled over "toxic substances". SN Commerce LLC is carrying out a recall of TheKiddoSpace Finger Painting Kit for Kids. Advertisement 2 The finger-painting kit was sold to 149 Irish customers 2 The item was available on Amazon Credit: Getty The Competition & Consumer Protection Commission said: "The product presents a chemical risk. "The paint contains substances that are toxic. "This may pose a health risk if ingested while in use or when absorbed through the skin. "The brand is TheKiddoSpace. Advertisement READ MORE IN MONEY "There are approximately 149 affected products in the Republic of Ireland. "This product was sold online via "Customers are advised to stop using the product immediately and dispose of it safely. "Once disposed of, please contact TheKiddoSpace to receive either a full refund of your original purchase or a voucher of equal value to use on their online store. Advertisement Most read in Money "For any further queries regarding this recall, please contact TheKiddoSpace at info@ If purchased via Amazon, you may wish to contact Amazon to see if there are any remedies available to you. This can be done via your user account on Amazon. Meanwhile, an urgent recall notice has been issued to parents as a The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has said a number of Jainco UK Limited items sold at Next have been pulled. Advertisement The Miss Dresses and Knitted Top, Shorts and Headband Outfit Set was purchased by Irish customers using the retailer's website. The notice reads: "The product poses a strangulation and choking hazard due to excessively long decorative cords that do not comply with safety standards. "The brand is Miss. The item numbers are the following F83773, F83782, F83775, F83781 and F85623. "There are approximately 11 affected products in the Republic of Ireland. Advertisement "The product was sold online via retailer Next Retail Limited. "If you purchased one of these products, please discontinue use immediately and keep it out of the reach of children. "If customers have given any of these items as a gift, please ask the recipient to dispose of the item safely."
The Irish Sun
7 days ago
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Major warning as popular bikes sold in Ireland recalled due to injury risk as users advised to ‘stop using' immediately
A NUMBER of bikes have been urgently recalled due to injury fears - as owners are urged to "stop use immediately". The Competition and 3 Numerous models have been pulled off shelves Credit: CCPC 3 The CCPC advised to bike users to stop using these models immediately Credit: Lapierre Some 19 models of the Lapierre Aircode DRS and Lapierre Xelius SL bikes have been pulled off shelves. The CCPC said: "Product Safety Information notice on Lapierre Aircode DRS and Lapierre Xelius SL Bicycles. "The risk reported to the CCPC is that of injuries. The aluminium shim may leave indentations on the fork steerer tube. "Over time, these indentations could develop into cracks. This could cause the fork to fail during use, potentially leading to injuries. Read more in Money "Please note Lapierre Xelius SL3 bikes equipped with a Lapierre carbon cockpit are not affected." The products were sold by the following: Cycle Superstore, The Hub For Life, Barrow Bikes ,Bike Clinic, Castle Cycles, McCarthy Cycles, Spun Cycles, Quay Cycles, Westport Bike Shop, Mikes Bikes, OE Bikes, The Bike Rack, KGC Cycles, Clarkes of Cavan, The Big Little Bike Shop, Barrys Bikes, Ring of Gullion Cycles and Hollingsworth Cycles. LAPIERRE MODEL YEARS The model years are the following: E439 – AIRCODE DRS 5.0 LAANA – AIRCODE DRS 5.0 LAAPB – AIRCODE DRS 5.0 Di2 E441 – AIRCODE DRS 6.0 LABNA – AIRCODE DRS 6.0 LXAPB – XELIUS SL 5.0 Di2 E442 – AIRCODE DRS 7.0 LACNA – AIRCODE DRS 7.0 LXKPB – KIT CADRE XELIUS SL E443 – AIRCODE DRS 8.0 LADNB – AIRCODE DRS 8.0 LXKPC – KIT CADRE XELIUS SL MINERAL GREY 041AIK – AIRCODE DRS FRAMESET LAENC – AIRCODE DRS 9.0 041AIF – AIRCODE DRS FDJ FRAMESET LAEND – AIRCODE DRS ALPINE SPECIAL EDITION LAKNA – AIRCODE DRS FRAMESET LAKNB – AIRCODE DRS FDJ FRAMESET LXANA – XELIUS SL 5.0 LXBNA – XELIUS SL 6.0 LXCNA – XELIUS SL 7.0 LXCNB – XELIUS SL 7.0 LXDNA – XELIUS SL 8.0 LXENA – XELIUS SL 9.0 LXKNA – XELIUS SL FDJ FRAMESET LXKNB – XELIUS SL FRAMESET LXKNC – XELIUS SL 75th FRAMESET The CCPC said that bike users should stop using these models immediately. They added: "Owners of a bike should stop using it immediately and contact an authorised Lapierre dealer. Most read in The Irish Sun "The dealer will check if your bike is affected and if so, replace the fork. "You can also contact Lapierre by completing the online form or by emailing Separately, an urgent warning has been issued to Irish parents after The affected kids clothes, made by the brand Miss, were sold online through Miss dresses, knitted top, shorts and headband outfits were included in the The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission alerted parents of the recall due to choking and strangulation concerns today. The affected items have been found to feature excessively long decorative cords. According to The products do not meet the required The affected products were sold online via retailer Next Retail Limited. There are approximately 11 affected products in the Republic of Ireland. The brand is Miss and the item numbers are F83773, F83782, F83775, F83781 and F85623. 3 A number of bikes have been urgently recalled due to injury fears Credit: Getty Images - Getty
