Latest news with #Tok
The Citizen
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Music was always my desire – 'Skylar Star'
SASOLBURG.- As part of Women's Month, Sedibeng Ster looks at the life and career of this upcoming and rising hip hop artist. Boitumelo Pitso, otherwise popularly known as 'Skylar Star' by her fans, is a young recording and performing artist who is eager to make a name for herself in the music industry. Regardless of the challenges, Pitso is determined to make her dream a reality, especially in hip-hop music. This multi-talented artist is not just a musician; she is also a composer and songwriter of her own music. Skylar Star is well-known for her unique melodic sound, blending and mixing it with culture, lifestyle, and life experience as R&B, hip hop, trap, rap, Afropop, house, and amapiano. Speaking to Sedibeng Ster, Pitso said she loves art and has always wanted to be a superstar since she was a little kid. She told Sedibeng Ster that she is also fond of drawing, painting, dancing, and modelling, but her desire has always been to become a musician. 'Growing up, I had inspiration from Hip Hop music, which resonated deeply with my role models Rihanna and Lil Wayne, among others. My dream right now is to be a well-recognised musician, model, fashionist, and entrepreneur. It is not easy to be a musician or DJ because our talent here at ground level is taken for granted. We are not treated like those so-called celebrities. But regardless of these challenges, I won't give up on my God-given talent. I will push until my dreams come true. The only thing I need is to promote myself, especially my music, to the world. I want the world to know who is 'Skylar Star', a young girl from Sasolburg,' she said. Skylar Star told Sedibeng Ster that she used to write poetry as she was expressing her emotions through writing. She wrote her own song back in 2020, and this is where she realised that she can create music from her life experiences. She has been invited to perform at high-profile events in Vaal and the Free State. Skylar Star recently released her first album called Butterfly. The album is already trending on all her digital platforms. Her music can be found on the following social media platforms. Tik Tok: Sylar Star SRA FACEBOOK: Sylar Star INSTAGRAM: Officialskylarstar EMAIL: [email protected]
Asahi Shimbun
5 days ago
- Business
- Asahi Shimbun
Why world's thinnest ‘washi' paper is a savior for museums
Hiroyoshi Chinzei, president of Hidakawashi Co., which produces what is reputed to be the world's thinnest 'washi' traditional paper. Photo taken in Hidaka, Kochi Prefecture, on June 11 (Ryuta Kameoka) HIDAKA, Kochi Prefecture--A small manufacturer of Japanese paper here has won a global following by producing what is reputed to be the world's thinnest traditional washi paper. With a thickness of just 0.02 millimeter, the paper is translucent. It is also incredibly light, making it ideal to repair old documents and books, even works of art. The company has become a savior for libraries, museums and galleries desperate to protect and preserve their treasures. Made from 'kozo,' a type of paper mulberry tree native to Asia, a single sheet of the ultrathin washi measuring 1 square meter weighs a mere 2 grams. 'We are in the era of digital transformation, but the importance of original written works can never be overlooked,' said the company's president, Hiroyoshi Chinzei, 56. Hidakawashi Co. was founded in Kochi in 1949 by Chinzei's great-grandfather using techniques for 'Tengujoshi,' another type of thin washi from Gifu Prefecture. The company has a dozen or so employees and chalks up around 120 million yen ($818,000) in annual sales. It moved to Hidaka in 1967. According to Chinzei, Hidakawashi initially won renown in 2009 after it developed the special washi using a machine introduced with subsidies from the central government. The same result would be difficult to achieve by hand, the traditional washi making method passed down in Japan for centuries. Hidakawashi was flooded with requests for consultation from the National Archives of Japan, researchers and others following a writeup by the Japan Society for the Conservation of Cultural Property about the paper used in repairing the Ungyo statue at the Hozomon gate of Sensoji temple in Tokyo. In the 2010s, it developed another ultrathin paper, which is pale yellow, in response to calls from museums and libraries desperate to repair pages in books that had become discolored or brittle. The paper with lighter weight of 1.6 grams per square meter is used in repairs of old masterpieces, and even Noh wardrobes. The primary emphasis is on cultural artifacts produced in and before the Edo Period (1603-1867). The paper is also used in repairs of old official documents and books. 'Modern paper is acidic, which makes the ink dry faster. It allows documents to be printed quickly and in quantity, but the paper fibers eventually break down because of the acid,' Chinzei explained. 'Modern paper is at such risk.' The company has also set its sights on expanding overseas. Chinzei traveled to China and the Philippines, as well as countries in Europe, the United States and Brazil, to drum up business. That led to Harvard University contacting the company in 2019 or thereabouts for help to preserve its original architectural drawings of Yoyogi National Stadium in the capital designed by Kenzo Tange for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. The drawings had turned yellow and brittle. Another call came from the Duchess Anna Amalia Library in Weimar, Germany. The World Heritage site, for which the German polymath Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once served as director, was gutted by a fire in 2004. Numerous books and materials were lost. Others were partially burned and their remaining pages were distorted due to heat. But the works were restored with washi from Hidakawashi. 'I was overwhelmed with emotion, thinking how our washi was being useful in faraway places,' Chinzei said. Hidakawashi now does business in more than 30 countries and regions. Sales for repair projects account for about 40 percent of its dealings, 90 percent of which originate overseas. 'My hope is that we can increase demand for use other than repairs, such as art and interior design,' Chinzei said.
Sky News AU
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
ABC could be stripped of public funding as result of key recommendation by antisemitism envoy Jillian Segal
The ABC could be stripped of public funding if the Albanese government implements a key recommendation of antisemitism envoy Jillian Segal. Ms Segal handed down a major report on Thursday, just one year after the well-known business executive was appointed as Australia's Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism. The report outlines a series of measures needed in order to combat antisemitism, which it claimed had 'reached a tipping point that threatens social harmony, undermines trust in institutions and marginalises Jewish Australian citizens'. Among the key recommendations are for the federal government to ensure cultural institutions – including public broadcasters – are not 'used to support or implicitly endorse antisemitic themes or narratives.' 'Culture shapes perception. Publicly funded institutions like arts festivals, galleries and public broadcasters must uphold antidiscrimination values and be accountable for the narratives they promote,' the report states. To ensure this does not occur, the antisemitism envoy called on the federal government to draft funding agreements and enabling legislation to 'ensure that public funding can be readily terminated where organisations or individuals engage in or facilitate antisemitism'. 'Include terms in all public funding agreements with cultural institutions or festivals to allow for the efficient termination of funding where the institution or festival promotes, facilitates or does not deal effectively with hate or antisemitism,' the recommendation states. If implemented, the recommendation could be used to strip public funding from the ABC, which has come under fire over its coverage of the growth of antisemitism and Israel's conflict with Hamas since the October 7 terrorist attacks. In February, former ABC director Joe Gersh accused the public broadcaster of being 'part of the problem' when it came to the growth of antisemitism. And in May, the ABC was forced to issue an embarrassing correction after it repeated an 'absurd' claim that thousands of babies were at risk of dying of starvation in Gaza over a 48-hour period. The UN's Tom Fletcher had claimed during an interview with the BBC that '14,000 babies would be at risk of dying in Gaza within a 48-hour period due to starvation'. The claim was picked by the ABC, despite the BBC shortly after the original report confirming the assertion overstated an IPC report which found there could be 14,100 cases of severe malnutrition of children up to the age of six months across a 12-month period, not 48 hours. The ABC did not issue its own correction until Wednesday, May 28 – a full week after the BBC's correction. The public broadcaster was then forced to issue an additional correction on June 4, after the same claim was broadcast on its Planet America program. In the last month, the ABC has also apologised over its coverage of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla. 'A social media story on Instagram and Tik Tok on 9 June 2025 about the interception by the Israeli military of a boat carrying activists headed for Gaza included video posted by the Gaza Freedom Flotilla group,' the ABC's correction states. 'The video included an on-screen caption written by the group which identified the Israeli Defence Forces, IDF by the acronym, IOF (meaning Israel Occupation Forces)." Prime Minister Anthony Albanese went out of his way to call out the ABC by name during his press conference announcing the antisemitism envoy's plan. Asked whether he believed the anti-Israel protest movement was fuelling antisemitic attacks, Mr Albanese said protesters crossed the line when they targeted people because they were Jewish, before citing the ABC's coverage of the storming of a Jewish restaurant in Melbourne last Friday. 'I saw on the ABC the other night, a woman who participated in the trashing and violence that occurred at the restaurant in Melbourne, justifying that,' the Prime Minister said. 'There is no justification for that whatsoever. And what's more, the idea that somehow the cause of justice for Palestinians is advanced by behaviour like that is not only delusional, it is destructive and it is not consistent with how you are able to put forward your views respectfully in a democracy.' The recommendation to enable governments to strip funding from cultural institutions could also impact higher education institutions, with Ms Segal's report stating that antisemitism was 'evident within schools and universities and has become ingrained and normalised within academia and the cultural space'. Sydney University, in particular, has been the scene of major cases antisemitism in the past few years. According to a preliminary report by SafeWork NSW, released under freedom of information laws in June, the university failed to take adequate actions to protect Jewish staff and students in the 11 months following Hamas' attacks on in 2023. The report found harassment and intimidation of Jewish students and staff was commonplace at the university, with students forced to put up with antisemitic posters, banners, graffiti and flyers, as well as activists holding rallies and disrupting classes. But Sydney University is far from the only higher education institution under fire for failing to address antisemitism. In September last year a lecturer at Melbourne's RMIT told the Herald Sun they were threatened by a student after they removed a poster, adding they were 'genuinely scared for the first time in my life'. RMIT also came under fire over an exhibition by visual arts academic Leslie Eastman, which included a symbol adopted by Hamas The exhibit, titled 'The Cave, The Flood', uses a red LED floodlight and a wooden frame to depict an inverted red triangle – a symbol adopted by Hamas. The Jewish Independent reported that a statement on the exhibit explained it explored the cave and rock beneath the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem. 'The Cave, The Flood is a response to the complex history and meanings of this charged geological and spiritual pivot point, considering it from both religious and political perspectives. So much is clouded in Western reportage. So little of the context is appreciated by Western eyes,' the statement read. Nationals Senate leader Bridget McKenzie backed the antisemitism envoy's report, describing it as a 'comprehensive and holistic report' 'It's been appalling to see our universities, some ofour media providers, public intellectuals, our arts community really target Australian Jewish community in the way they have,' Ms McKenzie said. The ABC was contacted for comment.
Daily Record
09-07-2025
- Daily Record
This is how early you should get to Glasgow Airport before your flight
Being at the airport in plenty of time will make sure your holiday gets off to a stress free start. This time of year is one of the busiest for airports across the country as millions head off for sunnier climates and make the most of a break from school and work. Getting to the airport with plenty of time to navigate check ind and security without being far too early is key to a straightforward start to your holiday. But just how early should you be at the airport is the question. A recent Tik Tok trend the 'airport theory', where people test whether they can arrive at the airport very close to their departure time and make it through security and to their gate in time to board, has been slammed by airline and travel experts over its riskiness. Instead there is a sweet spot time to arrive at the airport to help avoid any last minute dashes to the gate. Glasgow Airport said as a general rule passengers should be at the airport three hours before a flight to a European destination. For a long haul flight that time rises to four hours. And if you are travelling on a domestic flight you should be at the airport two hours before. Glasgow Airport also advise checking with your airline too. They add: "Many airlines offer an online check-in option which will save you time when you are at the airport, giving you plenty of time to enjoy some food or shopping before you fly." They also offer guidelines for the time you should check in for your flight. They say: "Check-in times can vary depending on your type of flight, so please arrive with sufficient time to pass through check-in and security. "Check-in times can usually be found on your individual ticket or itinerary, or alternatively by contacting your airline directly." And their website reiterates: "You should arrive at the airport two to three hours before your flight departs and allow enough time for your journey to the airport. This should include any traffic delays, particularly if you have a longer journey to the airport. "At each of the arrival areas there will be a help phone if you require special assistance, such as a wheelchair." Edinburgh Airport don't advise specific times but say that your arrival time at the hub depends on the type of traveller you are. They say: "Some people like the time to get through security and enjoy a pre-flight refreshment, maybe browse duty-free, while others like to arrive, go through security, and straight to the gate. "However there are a few things to consider, most importantly the time your airline's check-in desk opens." And they added: "Word of advice. Time your arrival at the airport for this opening - don't arrive too early! "We know that sounds silly but there's no point being here at 0400 if your check-in desk opens at 0600 as it'll only mean a longer wait for you and others. "There's no harm in factoring in some additional time but there's no need to be here hours before you have to be." Scotland's biggest and busiest airport also says it's important to factor in your journey to the airport. They said: "One of the first things to think about is how you are getting to the airport. Are you being dropped-off? Are you parking? Getting the bus or tram? "This will impact your journey time so plan ahead, check with your provider for any route or network issues, and allow yourself plenty time to get here."
IOL News
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
From Jozi's umngqusho to Cape Town's bagel dogs, Siya Kolisi takes fans on a culinary trip
Siya Kolisi began the culinary journey with fellow Sharks playerAphele Fassi in Joburg and ended it in Cape Town. Image: Tik Tok and supplied Siya Kolisi brought down the house in Cape Town this afternoon when he did a quick pit stop at a local eatery to get a take away. One person, who sent us a short video clip, said South African's favourite captain asked what he should order and a man suggested the chicken-schnitzel bagel. in the end, he got that and a bagel dog. This Sunday the Springboks will start their preparation in Cape Town for next Saturday's highly anticipated Qatar Airways Cup clash, where the Barbarians face the Springboks for the first time on South African soil. Kolisi will be in the city for this and likely spotted more around town making fans' days for them. The South African rugby hero was greeted with applause and shouts of praise from lunch-time diners at New York Bagel in the east part of the city shortly after midday today when he ran on to get a take away. 'People were cheering for him, and ululating. It really was something to see,' said another person. 'He is such a humble amazing man - a true hero." Kolisi just a day ago posted videos on his Tik Tok enjoying traditional African food including umngqusho with fellow Sharks player Aphelele Onke Okuhle Fassi in Johannesburg. The two were enjoying the home-style food at Zoo Lake's Sakhumzi restaurant . 'I'm in Jozi. I needed a little bit of African food. I just want to go home. Trotters, veggies and samp. Fasi what are you eating?' Kolisi said in the video. Fassi was enjoying some samp and tripe at the restaurant at the Zoo Lake.
