Latest news with #Speed
Hypebeast
19 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
Vans Hits the Courts with Setinn To Serve Up Two Tennis Sneakers
Name:Setinn x Vans Authentic; Setinn x Vans SpeedColorway:WhiteMSRP:¥13,200 ($89 USD); ¥14,300 ($96 USD)Release Date:August 9Where to Buy:Vans x Setinn Pop-Up For the first time,Vansis heading down to the tennis courts with the help of the Japanese tennis brand, Setinn. Vans Japanhas teamed up with the seasoned sporting imprint to present its first pair of tennis sneakers: the Setinn x Vans Authentic and the Setinn x Vans Speed. Guided by the concept of 'playing tennis with skate shoes,' Vans brings its design ethos to the uncharted terrain. Both the Authentic and the Speed, for the most part, maintain their original silhouette, reworked merely with minimalistic design elements throughout. To start, the Authentic model is simply dipped in a black-and-white grid-like print, emulating that of the tennis net. Vans' signature branded tag remains on the upper, with a Setinn stamp on the white midsole. As for the Speed, the more oversized sneaker similarly lands in an all-white colorway, accented with green branded hits landing on the tongue, heel, and outsole. Complementing the two sneakers comes a clean capsule of apparel and accessories, including co-branded graphic tees, athletic shorts, a bandana and a tennis cap. Peep the full Vans x Setinn footwear-fronted tennis capsule in the lookbook above and expect the range to drop for purchase on August 9. Find the full release details in the Instagram post below.
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
An American mega-influencer flew to Lithuania. Then the chaos began.
When the YouTube mega-streamer IShowSpeed walked shirtless recently off a private jet into the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, the nation's economy minister was waiting for him on the tarmac with shots of šaltibarščiai, a cold pink beetroot soup. A mob of chanting fans was waiting, too, so the streamer - a 20-year-old from Cincinnati named Darren Watkins Jr., who has 120 million followers across TikTok, Instagram and YouTube - piled with his security detail into a minibus to drive to the city's historic Palace of the Grand Dukes, where the mayor served him cheese and honey and a troupe of young Lithuanian women taught him a traditional folk dance. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. 'These lyrics are about stabbing someone in the heart,' one woman said, with a smile. Speed, as his fans call him, became famous during the pandemic for his hyperactive, hours-long broadcasts, where he'd rage about video games, leap over Lamborghinis and perform unprompted backflips. But lately, his real star power has come from his international tours, during which he blitzes into foreign countries to see the sights while surrounded by screaming teenagers, all of it live-streamed. Speed's TikTok-era travelogues often descend into chaos, but government officials have learned to love them nevertheless. His two-week trip through China this spring, where he fawned over the country's state-of-the-art phones and luxury cars, went so viral that the Chinese Communist Party's official newspaper hailed it as a 'digital-age Marco Polo journey.' 'The U.S. has spent billions on anti-China propaganda, only to be undone by … IShowSpeed,' one report by the state news agency Xinhua said, citing a YouTube comment. This month, it was Lithuania's turn. When the Baltic nation learned that Speed's next adventure would cross through northeastern Europe, local tourism officials scrambled to craft him an extraordinary itinerary, including throwing a discus with an Olympic silver medalist, swinging swords in 14th-century armor and walking along the crown of Lithuania's tallest tower. They also extended Speed an honorarium worth about $23,500 and spent an additional $8,000 on minibuses, snacks and 10 security guards supported by the Lithuanian police. 'We want teenagers to know, just like London and Barcelona, that Vilnius is really, really cool,' Akvilė Lesauskaitė-Hu, an official for the city's tourism agency, said in an interview. 'How else do we reach them? They don't watch CNN. They watch TikTok.' The stream was watched live by more than 115,000 people at one point, and its clips have been viewed millions of times. Speed's wild trip showcased how the business of social media influencers, known as the creator economy, has helped mint a new kind of celebrity, upending traditional hierarchies of culture, authority and fame. It also revealed how governments are focusing on creators' giant fan bases as a new strategy for soft power, pushing novel methods of attention-getting that could reshape how nation-states portray themselves to the rest of the world. Speed's lighthearted visits to China, Saudi Arabia and other countries have drawn criticism as propaganda exercises that promoted the countries in ways they wanted, rather than reckoning with their more complicated reality. And they have become a model for broader ambitions: China last month invited American influencers with more than 300,000 followers to a 10-day, expenses-paid nationwide tour, where they would work with Chinese influencers on videos and other kinds of 'collaborative storytelling.' Creators' 'emotional capital' with their fans has made them 'a scarce resource that many governments seek to harness,' said Jian Xu, an associate professor at Deakin University in Australia who researches digital celebrity and politics. Speed 'aimed to explore the lucrative Chinese market … [and] the government effectively capitalized on it as a 'laid on a plate' opportunity.' Crystal Abidin, an anthropologist who studies internet culture, said it only made sense that governments would tap influencers, whose fame now rivals that of movie stars, for their ability to churn out viral moments of spectacle and surprise. Speed's giddy reaction to China, she said, was just how he acted everywhere - and was what his fans wanted to see. 'This idea of glamorizing or popularizing China as a highlight reel, Speed does that with all countries,' she said. The question, she added, is whether that's 'propaganda, or simply good advertising.' Povilas Kondratavicius, a 25-year-old Vilnius native who worked as a sales manager at a military industry company, first saw Speed on TikTok three years ago and has watched him ever since, admiring his high-energy social interactions and feats of athletic talent. He remembered thinking while watching Speed's China videos that the country he'd been taught was 'underdeveloped and authoritarian' actually seemed pretty advanced and culturally rich. So when Speed announced on stream that he'd be heading to Lithuania, Kondratavicius emailed the national tourism development agency and encouraged them to 'follow China's example' by taking the visit seriously. He said he felt it was his duty 'as a patriot' to ensure that Lithuania looked great online. 'We're a really small country, we're in Eastern Europe, so we immediately have a bad reputation,' he said in an interview. 'And for my generation, and Gen Alpha, he's one of the most famous people there is.' After they got Kondratavicius's email, agency officials met with the tourism boards in Vilnius - as well as in Estonia and Latvia, the other Baltic countries on Speed's European tour - to pull together an emergency plan, Lesauskaitė-Hu said. Speed had promoted the tour with an online poster showing him on a throne near the Eiffel Tower, but officials didn't learn his exact visit date until it was only a week away, thanks to a tip from the manager of a popular Latvian TikTok star. Members of Speed's team did not respond to requests for comment. But on stream, Speed has said his security detail works to keep his plans secret until the last minute, in hopes of heading off public mayhem. Speed's plan, the officials learned, was to visit all three Baltic capitals in a single day, spending a few hours in each before racing to the next in a charter jet. So when he began the day in Estonia, Lithuanian officials watched his stream closely, expecting he'd get a meager reception; the fellow Baltic country's culture, Lesauskaitė-Hu said, is 'very Scandinavian … very reserved.' Instead, Speed was mobbed at every turn - so much so that a waterfront dock swarmed by onlookers collapsed. (Speed raced over dramatically on a water scooter, though no one appeared to be hurt.) When Speed landed in Vilnius later that afternoon, crowds had already amassed in the rain outside the airport and in the city center, half an hour's drive away. His videographer - a minor celebrity in his own right, known as Slipz - trailed Speed closely as he exited the jet, wearing only bulky slip-ons and shorts covered in the McDonald's logo. 'Lithuania, we are here,' he shouted, mispronouncing its name. Speed shook hands with Lukas Savickas, the country's sharply dressed minister of economy and innovation, and was given a tie-dye shirt like those the Grateful Dead gave to the country's bronze-medal-winning Olympic basketball squad in 1992, a source of national pride. Then he continued his whirlwind tour, first with the folk dancers, then some basketball, a medieval sword battle with members of the military, a meeting with a Lithuanian illusionist and a flight in a hot-air balloon. 'Yo, look at the whole of Lithuania, though,' he said from the top of the Vilnius TV Tower. 'This looks so beautiful, bro.' Speed's sprint through the Baltics drew frustration from some locals, including in Latvia, where he did a backflip at the Freedom Monument honoring soldiers killed in the country's 1918 war for independence and sang to fans from the balcony of the nation's ailing public radio station. One journalist there wrote that the moment - 'an unregulated content creator peacocking at the home of Latvian broadcasting' - offered a foreboding symbol of how modern media had changed. The biggest debates, however, centered on the cost. Lithuania had offered 20,000 euros (about $23,500) to Speed's team, and the other Baltic countries extended similar packages, sparking debates in the local press over whether the streamer and his entourage truly warranted public funds. A columnist for the Lithuanian newspaper, Kauno Diena, wrote that the money could have helped stimulate the economy but was instead spent on an event whose main audience was minors - 'economically inactive people with unformed views and sporadic needs.' Others argued that the cost was worth it, compared with the price of a travel-agency billboard or TV ad. Lithuanian journalist Andrius Tapinas wrote on Facebook that it was a bargain for that kind of global name recognition, particularly among a young generation for whom 'there's simply no other way to catch their attention.' 'Now parents have seen what drives their kids crazy,' he wrote, in Lithuanian, 'and maybe even had something to talk about with them over dinner last night.' Beyond branding, some in the Baltics argued that the money was an investment in national security, given their borders with Russia and Belarus. Gediminas Užkuraitis, co-founder of a consulting firm in Vilnius, told Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT that raising national awareness was critical given the country's 'image as a front-line state' to the war in Ukraine. 'If, for example, the American public had to decide whether Lithuania is worth defending, it helps if they've actually heard of us,' he said. After about 12 hours of streaming, Speed ended his Lithuania trip at Hotel Pacai, a converted mansion from the 17th century, bidding the country a live-streamed goodbye as young people ran alongside his car. He continued his European tour the next day with a visit to Poland, then Slovakia and France. By then, Vilnius's social media team had already posted their own video recap of the trip on Instagram. 'IShowSpeed caused minor chaos in Vilnius,' the post said. '10/10 worth it.' Related Content In a stressful human world, 'mermaiding' gains popularity in D.C. area 'College hazing' or training? Amid shortage, air traffic recruits wash out. A 100-year-old on a bike? Yes. 'The right to wind in your hair' Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
An American mega-influencer flew to Lithuania. Then the chaos began.
When the YouTube mega-streamer IShowSpeed walked shirtless recently off a private jet into the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, the nation's economy minister was waiting for him on the tarmac with shots of šaltibarščiai, a cold pink beetroot soup. A mob of chanting fans was waiting, too, so the streamer - a 20-year-old from Cincinnati named Darren Watkins Jr., who has 120 million followers across TikTok, Instagram and YouTube - piled with his security detail into a minibus to drive to the city's historic Palace of the Grand Dukes, where the mayor served him cheese and honey and a troupe of young Lithuanian women taught him a traditional folk dance. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. 'These lyrics are about stabbing someone in the heart,' one woman said, with a smile. Speed, as his fans call him, became famous during the pandemic for his hyperactive, hours-long broadcasts, where he'd rage about video games, leap over Lamborghinis and perform unprompted backflips. But lately, his real star power has come from his international tours, during which he blitzes into foreign countries to see the sights while surrounded by screaming teenagers, all of it live-streamed. Speed's TikTok-era travelogues often descend into chaos, but government officials have learned to love them nevertheless. His two-week trip through China this spring, where he fawned over the country's state-of-the-art phones and luxury cars, went so viral that the Chinese Communist Party's official newspaper hailed it as a 'digital-age Marco Polo journey.' 'The U.S. has spent billions on anti-China propaganda, only to be undone by … IShowSpeed,' one report by the state news agency Xinhua said, citing a YouTube comment. This month, it was Lithuania's turn. When the Baltic nation learned that Speed's next adventure would cross through northeastern Europe, local tourism officials scrambled to craft him an extraordinary itinerary, including throwing a discus with an Olympic silver medalist, swinging swords in 14th-century armor and walking along the crown of Lithuania's tallest tower. They also extended Speed an honorarium worth about $23,500 and spent an additional $8,000 on minibuses, snacks and 10 security guards supported by the Lithuanian police. 'We want teenagers to know, just like London and Barcelona, that Vilnius is really, really cool,' Akvilė Lesauskaitė-Hu, an official for the city's tourism agency, said in an interview. 'How else do we reach them? They don't watch CNN. They watch TikTok.' The stream was watched live by more than 115,000 people at one point, and its clips have been viewed millions of times. Speed's wild trip showcased how the business of social media influencers, known as the creator economy, has helped mint a new kind of celebrity, upending traditional hierarchies of culture, authority and fame. It also revealed how governments are focusing on creators' giant fan bases as a new strategy for soft power, pushing novel methods of attention-getting that could reshape how nation-states portray themselves to the rest of the world. Speed's lighthearted visits to China, Saudi Arabia and other countries have drawn criticism as propaganda exercises that promoted the countries in ways they wanted, rather than reckoning with their more complicated reality. And they have become a model for broader ambitions: China last month invited American influencers with more than 300,000 followers to a 10-day, expenses-paid nationwide tour, where they would work with Chinese influencers on videos and other kinds of 'collaborative storytelling.' Creators' 'emotional capital' with their fans has made them 'a scarce resource that many governments seek to harness,' said Jian Xu, an associate professor at Deakin University in Australia who researches digital celebrity and politics. Speed 'aimed to explore the lucrative Chinese market … [and] the government effectively capitalized on it as a 'laid on a plate' opportunity.' Crystal Abidin, an anthropologist who studies internet culture, said it only made sense that governments would tap influencers, whose fame now rivals that of movie stars, for their ability to churn out viral moments of spectacle and surprise. Speed's giddy reaction to China, she said, was just how he acted everywhere - and was what his fans wanted to see. 'This idea of glamorizing or popularizing China as a highlight reel, Speed does that with all countries,' she said. The question, she added, is whether that's 'propaganda, or simply good advertising.' Povilas Kondratavicius, a 25-year-old Vilnius native who worked as a sales manager at a military industry company, first saw Speed on TikTok three years ago and has watched him ever since, admiring his high-energy social interactions and feats of athletic talent. He remembered thinking while watching Speed's China videos that the country he'd been taught was 'underdeveloped and authoritarian' actually seemed pretty advanced and culturally rich. So when Speed announced on stream that he'd be heading to Lithuania, Kondratavicius emailed the national tourism development agency and encouraged them to 'follow China's example' by taking the visit seriously. He said he felt it was his duty 'as a patriot' to ensure that Lithuania looked great online. 'We're a really small country, we're in Eastern Europe, so we immediately have a bad reputation,' he said in an interview. 'And for my generation, and Gen Alpha, he's one of the most famous people there is.' After they got Kondratavicius's email, agency officials met with the tourism boards in Vilnius - as well as in Estonia and Latvia, the other Baltic countries on Speed's European tour - to pull together an emergency plan, Lesauskaitė-Hu said. Speed had promoted the tour with an online poster showing him on a throne near the Eiffel Tower, but officials didn't learn his exact visit date until it was only a week away, thanks to a tip from the manager of a popular Latvian TikTok star. Members of Speed's team did not respond to requests for comment. But on stream, Speed has said his security detail works to keep his plans secret until the last minute, in hopes of heading off public mayhem. Speed's plan, the officials learned, was to visit all three Baltic capitals in a single day, spending a few hours in each before racing to the next in a charter jet. So when he began the day in Estonia, Lithuanian officials watched his stream closely, expecting he'd get a meager reception; the fellow Baltic country's culture, Lesauskaitė-Hu said, is 'very Scandinavian … very reserved.' Instead, Speed was mobbed at every turn - so much so that a waterfront dock swarmed by onlookers collapsed. (Speed raced over dramatically on a water scooter, though no one appeared to be hurt.) When Speed landed in Vilnius later that afternoon, crowds had already amassed in the rain outside the airport and in the city center, half an hour's drive away. His videographer - a minor celebrity in his own right, known as Slipz - trailed Speed closely as he exited the jet, wearing only bulky slip-ons and shorts covered in the McDonald's logo. 'Lithuania, we are here,' he shouted, mispronouncing its name. Speed shook hands with Lukas Savickas, the country's sharply dressed minister of economy and innovation, and was given a tie-dye shirt like those the Grateful Dead gave to the country's bronze-medal-winning Olympic basketball squad in 1992, a source of national pride. Then he continued his whirlwind tour, first with the folk dancers, then some basketball, a medieval sword battle with members of the military, a meeting with a Lithuanian illusionist and a flight in a hot-air balloon. 'Yo, look at the whole of Lithuania, though,' he said from the top of the Vilnius TV Tower. 'This looks so beautiful, bro.' Speed's sprint through the Baltics drew frustration from some locals, including in Latvia, where he did a backflip at the Freedom Monument honoring soldiers killed in the country's 1918 war for independence and sang to fans from the balcony of the nation's ailing public radio station. One journalist there wrote that the moment - 'an unregulated content creator peacocking at the home of Latvian broadcasting' - offered a foreboding symbol of how modern media had changed. The biggest debates, however, centered on the cost. Lithuania had offered 20,000 euros (about $23,500) to Speed's team, and the other Baltic countries extended similar packages, sparking debates in the local press over whether the streamer and his entourage truly warranted public funds. A columnist for the Lithuanian newspaper, Kauno Diena, wrote that the money could have helped stimulate the economy but was instead spent on an event whose main audience was minors - 'economically inactive people with unformed views and sporadic needs.' Others argued that the cost was worth it, compared with the price of a travel-agency billboard or TV ad. Lithuanian journalist Andrius Tapinas wrote on Facebook that it was a bargain for that kind of global name recognition, particularly among a young generation for whom 'there's simply no other way to catch their attention.' 'Now parents have seen what drives their kids crazy,' he wrote, in Lithuanian, 'and maybe even had something to talk about with them over dinner last night.' Beyond branding, some in the Baltics argued that the money was an investment in national security, given their borders with Russia and Belarus. Gediminas Užkuraitis, co-founder of a consulting firm in Vilnius, told Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT that raising national awareness was critical given the country's 'image as a front-line state' to the war in Ukraine. 'If, for example, the American public had to decide whether Lithuania is worth defending, it helps if they've actually heard of us,' he said. After about 12 hours of streaming, Speed ended his Lithuania trip at Hotel Pacai, a converted mansion from the 17th century, bidding the country a live-streamed goodbye as young people ran alongside his car. He continued his European tour the next day with a visit to Poland, then Slovakia and France. By then, Vilnius's social media team had already posted their own video recap of the trip on Instagram. 'IShowSpeed caused minor chaos in Vilnius,' the post said. '10/10 worth it.' Related Content In a stressful human world, 'mermaiding' gains popularity in D.C. area 'College hazing' or training? Amid shortage, air traffic recruits wash out. A 100-year-old on a bike? Yes. 'The right to wind in your hair'
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Sandra Bullock turns 61: Revisiting once Keanu Reeves' crush's best roles
Sandra Bullock's birthday: Hollywood darling Sandra Bullock turns 61 today, July 26. Fans across the globe are celebrating the powerhouse performer who has graced every genre imaginable. From sharp-tongued beauty queens to stoic astronauts floating in space, Bullock's filmography showcases an actor unafraid to evolve, experiment, and emotionally connect with the audience. Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock in Speed On Sandra Bullock's birthday, here are some of her most celebrated films you should definitely add to your watch list. ALSO READ| Ballerina movie review: Ana de Armas is a worthy successor to Keanu Reeves' John Wick in splendid, jaw-dropping actioner Speed (1994) Bullock's breakout moment came through this adrenaline-fueled thriller where she played Annie Porter, a passenger forced to drive a bus rigged to explode if it is slowed below 50 mph. Alongside Keanu Reeves, Bullock proved she could handle action thrillers and this catapulted her into stardom. Gravity (2013) Sandra's raw and haunting performance as Dr Ryan Stone, a medical engineer stranded in space, earned her an Oscar nomination. The role demanded not just physical endurance but emotional resilience as well since she carried much of the film solo. Also Read: Speed stars Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock to work together after 20 years in a romantic thriller Miss Congeniality (2000) Bullock, after winning over audiences in action films, appeared in Miss Congeniality as tough-as-nails FBI agent Gracie Hart, who is turned into a reluctant beauty pageant contestant. Bullock showed off her impeccable comic timing and endearing awkwardness in the film, which became a pop-culture staple and cemented her status as a leading lady in rom-coms. The Proposal (2009) This fan-favorite romantic comedy saw Bullock play a no-nonsense editor who fakes a relationship with her assistant (Ryan Reynolds) to avoid deportation. Their undeniable chemistry and some unforgettable scenes in Alaska made this a major hit. Two Weeks Notice (2002) Reuniting with her wit and charm, Bullock starred alongside Hugh Grant as an overworked lawyer tired of being treated like a personal assistant. The film blends workplace comedy with romantic tension to delightful effect. The Blind Side (2009) In a role that won her an Academy Award, Bullock played Leigh Anne Tuohy, a wealthy Southern woman who adopts a homeless African-American teen and helps him become an NFL star. Her grounded, heartfelt performance resonated deeply with audiences. Also Read: Sandra Bullock warns fans about imposters posing as the actor on social media: 'It is my deep concern' Sandra Bullock's birthday: Honorable mentions you should not miss The Lost City: A lighthearted adventure comedy starring Channing Tatum and Daniel Radcliffe. Bird Box: A dystopian horror-thriller featuring Sandra Bullock stars as a mom just trying to get her kids through a deadly, unseen threat. Ocean's 8: As Debbie Ocean, Sandra carries out an all-lady heist of the Met Gala with charm, glitz and glamor. FAQs Q: What ethnicity is Sandra Bullock? A: Sandra Bullock is of mixed ethnicity: her father was of German and English descent, and her mother was German. Q: Who is Sandra Bullock's real-life partner? A: Sandra Bullock was in a long-term relationship with photographer Bryan Randall until his passing in 2023. Q: Is Jennifer Aniston friends with Sandra Bullock? A: Yes, the two actors are known to be friends and have shared warm moments at public events. Q: Do Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock like each other? A: Yes, they share a great friendship and mutual respect, with strong on-screen chemistry in The Proposal. Q: Did Matthew McConaughey date Sandra Bullock? A: Yes, Sandra Bullock and Matthew McConaughey reportedly dated briefly in the late 1990s.
STV News
5 days ago
- Politics
- STV News
Watchdog clears former Angus Provost over outburst that left colleague in tears
A watchdog has cleared the former Angus Provost Brian Boyd following an outburst which left a fellow councillor in tears. A Standards Commission hearing was held earlier this month regarding his conduct towards fellow councillor Lois Speed last June. The exchange unfolded when Cllr Speed began to ask a question before being interrupted by Mr Boyd, who stood up and said: 'Cllr Speed, when I stand up, everyone here sits down,' before reading out the standing orders. He added: 'When the convener starts to speak, any member who is standing will resume his or her seat. 'No other member will stand and the convener will be heard without interruption. 'Have I made myself clear?' Cllr Speed attempted to return to her question but was visibly emotional and left the room. Mr Boyd had resigned as Provost following the incident, which came during a discussion regarding the removal of early years practitioner posts from primary one classrooms. Councilor Speed had called an emergency motion at a full council meeting aiming to reverse this. However, the motion was ruled not competent by Mr Boyd. A report from the Standards Commission panel details that 'on the face of it' Mr Boyd breached section 3.1 of the Councillors Code of Conduct. This dictates that elected members should treat everyone with 'courtesy and respect'. However, the report added that having taken into account Mr Boyd's right to freedom of expression under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, a formal finding of breach could not be made. The panel also concuded that Mr Boyd's outburst was not sexist in nature. The report said: 'The Panel considered that in, essentially, reprimanding her so publicly in circumstances where such action was not warranted, the respondent was disrespectful and discourteous towards Councillor Speed. 'The Panel nevertheless wished to make it clear that it accepted the respondent's position that his conduct towards Councillor Speed had nothing whatsoever to do with her sex.' However, the written decision also reveals that an Ethical Standards Commissioner (ESC) representative had argued that the conduct in question could have a 'chilling effect' on Councillor Speed. It added: 'While the ESC's representative accepted that the erspondent's reaction did not relate to Councillor Speed's sex, she contended nevertheless that it could have the effect of discouraging women from participating in politics.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
