Latest news with #Victoria
Time of India
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Who is Ana de Armas? From Ben Affleck to Tom Cruise—Inside her most talked-about romances
Hollywood is abuzz with speculation about Ana de Armas and Tom Cruise, fueled by their frequent public appearances and collaborative projects like 'Deeper'. While neither has confirmed a romantic relationship, their chemistry has sparked dating rumors. De Armas, known for roles in 'Blade Runner 2049' and 'Blonde', values her privacy amidst the media frenzy. Ana de Armas has captivated audiences with her powerful performances and timeless beauty—but off-screen, her love life has often drawn just as much attention. From a quiet early marriage to headline-grabbing romances with high-profile men, the Cuban-born actress has seen her share of both admiration and scrutiny. Now, with growing speculation around her close bond with Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise—26 years her senior—Ana finds herself once again at the centre of media buzz. Here's a closer look at her dating history, from her first marriage to the much-watched Cruise connection. Global Star with Cuban Roots Ana de Armas, a Cuban-born actress with Spanish-American roots, has become a global star known for both her talent and beauty. Her love life has often drawn attention, and lately, she's been in the spotlight for her rumored relationship with 63-year-old co-star Tom Cruise . However, this isn't the first time her relationships have made headlines. A Marriage Before Hollywood Fame Few people know that Ana de Armas was once married to Spanish actor Marc Clotet. The two began dating in 2010 and got married in Costa Brava in 2011. However, they divorced in 2013, before Ana rose to Hollywood fame. Marc is now with actress Natalia Sánchez, and they have two children together. Rumours of Engagement After stepping into Hollywood, Ana de Armas briefly dated talent agent Franklin Latt between 2015 and 2016, with unconfirmed rumours of an engagement. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Victoria Principal Is Almost 75, See Her Now Reportingly Undo She later dated Cuban artist and photographer Alejandro Piñeiro Bello from 2017 to 2019—a period during which her global fame rose with roles in Blade Runner 2049 and Knives Out. They eventually parted ways in 2019. Public Romance with Ben Affleck Ana de Armas and Ben Affleck shared a whirlwind romance after meeting on the set of Deep Water. They began dating in 2019 and quickly became one of the most talked-about couples, often spotted together by paparazzi. Their relationship became Instagram official, and Ana even met Ben's mother and his kids. However, the couple split later that year, reportedly due to intense media attention and Ana's hesitation to settle in Los Angeles. Ana de Armas briefly dated tech entrepreneur Paul Boukadakis from 2021 to 2024 before they parted ways. Later that year, she entered a controversial relationship with Manuel Anido Cuesta, the stepson of Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel—a figure criticized for political oppression in Cuba. The relationship drew backlash, especially from Cuban-Americans. Ana and Manuel reportedly broke up in 2025. Growing Closeness with Tom Cruise Ana de Armas and Tom Cruise were first spotted together around Valentine's Day in 2025, sparking immediate dating rumours due to the timing. Since then, they've been seen together frequently—celebrating Ana's birthday, vacationing in Spain, and attending an Oasis concert. Their growing closeness coincides with Ana confirming she'll star opposite Tom in an upcoming film titled Deeper. Most recently, Ana de Armas and Tom Cruise were spotted holding hands during a casual walk in Vermont—an outing many see as a sign that their romance is real. However, the 26-year age gap between the 37-year-old actress and the 63-year-old actor has sparked debate. Tom's history of three failed marriages and his controversial connection to Scientology have also led fans to closely watch this new relationship, fueling both curiosity and concern.
The Guardian
an hour ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
An unlikely group of protesters fear Victoria's power bill is a threat to private landowners. Here's what we know
On Wednesday, an unlikely group of protesters gathered on the front steps of Victoria's parliament to oppose a piece of legislation that, at least on the surface, appears unremarkable. For this motley collective, which included farmers, prospectors, volunteer firefighters and animal advocates concerned about the plight of the wedge-tailed eagle, the National Electricity (Victoria) Amendment (VicGrid Stage 2 Reform) bill is a major concern. They fear the bill will give the government power to access their land without their consent to build transmission towers as tall as 85 metres. If they resist, they could be fined thousands. Sign up: AU Breaking News email Standing behind a makeshift cage made from farm gates, the rally organiser Andrew Weidemann slammed the bill, saying it made farmers and their families 'feel like we're behind bars'. He blasted the government's 'stupid push for this renewables agenda'. In another cage, a man stood holding a sign that read: 'I disagreed with Jacinta.' Also in attendance was the Victorian opposition leader, Brad Battin, who criticised the government for acting like a 'dictatorship' with 'draconian measures' that 'take away your rights'. When Battin said the Coalition would oppose the bill and repeal it if elected next year, the crowd cheered. So is this bill as alarming as some believe and what does it mean for Victorian property owners? Here's what we know. Introduced to parliament last month, the bill hands responsibility for planning the state's transmission network from the Australian Energy Market Operator (Aemo) to the government agency VicGrid. It also gives VicGrid the responsibility for developing renewable energy zones. The bill creates two new funding streams to support communities impacted by the construction of energy infrastructure and legislates financial incentives for landholders, who will receive $8,000 per kilometre of infrastructure on their land annually. But it also provides VicGrid and their contractors power to access private land without consent when required to construct energy infrastructure. The bill states authorised officers can 'use reasonable force to gain entry' to private land 'if it is reasonably necessary to do so'. It also prohibits landowners 'obstructing, hindering, or delaying the entry of the authorised officer'. Individuals who resist face fines of up to $12,000, while body corporates could be slapped with fines of up to $48,000. Refusing to provide your name or proof of ownership could result in fines up to $4,000, while interfering with a notice of entry could attract a fine of $1,221. Only authorised officers can access land and the bill sets strict rules for them. They must give written notice of entry to the landowner or occupier at least 30 business days before entry and again 48 hours before. If the officer can't find the owner of the land, the notice can be published in a newspaper and posted near the property entrance. Only if an officer has been blocked or disrupted from accessing a property are they able to use force, and only after applying to the magistrates court for an entry order. The court order allows the officer and other approved people to enter, use reasonable force if needed, bring equipment and be accompanied by police. If at this point you attempt to block their access, the larger fines apply. A government spokesperson said these powers are intended to be used as a last resort – only when all avenues to reach agreement for voluntary access have failed. The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, has defended the bill. She said the government and private companies already have the power to forcibly access and acquire land. 'Whether it's for transport projects, for energy projects, for other projects, there are already arrangements in place for access to land. What this is providing is landowners – through VicGrid – a place where they can work through the these issues,' Allan said. She conceded some private companies' dealings with landowners had been 'not up to scratch' but said the new legislation would improve coordination. Allan said more high-voltage transmission lines were needed to connect homes and businesses to 'reliable, cheaper and more secure renewable energy' as it comes online and ahead of the closure of 'ageing coal-fired plants'. Battin responded: 'We're not anti-renewable energy but you can't do it by bulldozing through people's properties.' Yes and no. All levels of government – local, state and federal – have the power to compulsorily acquire private property in certain circumstances. In New South Wales, the government similarly set up its own body, EnergyCo, to lead the development of renewable energy zones and the transmission infrastructure needed to support them. EnergyCo holds compulsory acquisition powers but they are only exercised after at least six months of attempted negotiations for voluntary acquisition. The Victorian government says NSW, South Australia and Tasmania have fines for landowners for denying entry to authorised officers. In late 2024, VicGrid released a draft plan that identified seven renewable energy zones in the state that could host renewable projects, including wind turbines, solar farms and battery storage. Several travel through agricultural areas, angering farmers, who have also been subject to an increased emergency services levy in recent weeks by the Allan government (though it has been paused this year due to drought). That levy has also been criticised by volunteer firefighters, who joined Wednesday's rally, as well as animal activists who say windfarms pose a deadly risk to endangered wedge-tailed eagles. The VicGrid plan will be finalised later this year and will also include proposed transmission line routes. It includes projects already committed to or expected by Aemo, such as the Victoria to NSW Interconnector West and the Western Renewables Link, a 190km transmission line from Bulgana in western Victoria to Sydenham in Melbourne's north-west. Both projects have faced substantial delays, in part due to community opposition. But the government appears determined for them to press ahead. The bill is expected to pass the lower house on Thursday and then move to the upper house next sitting week.
Daily Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Telegraph
Animal rights activists put AFL WAGs on notice for Brownlow Medal
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News. AFL WAGs have been put on notice ahead of the 2025 Brownlow Medal. The league's night of nights gives the partners behind the players the opportunity to shine bright as they stroll down the red carpet. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. But change could be on the way. In a letter penned to the AFL, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have called for the league to implement a ban for the ceremony in September. The activist group wants every single WAG to avoid wearing anything containing feathers or fur. 'The Brownlow Medal awards the fairest and best, but there's nothing remotely fair about birds being live plucked, factory farmed and killed for their feathers,' PETA's Senior Campaigns Advisor Mimi Bekhechi said. 'We urge the AFL to make real birds' feathers as unwelcome on the Brownlow red carpet as cheating is on the field.' PETA wants the AFL to make changes to the Brownlow Medal. Picture: NewsWire/ Michael Klein The activist group wants no more feathers or fur. (AAP Image/David Crosling) The letter also added that wearing gowns with feathers 'is a betrayal' to the animals of which several teams are named. 'Several AFL teams are named after birds. Allowing attendees of the Brownlow Medal Celebration to wear the cruelly obtained feathers of these sensitive, clever animals is a betrayal,' the letter from PETA stated. 'The most beautiful thing the belles of the (foot)ball can wear is compassion.' The red carpet may never be the same again. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images) The night has become the biggest night for AFL WAGs. (Photo by) The latest move from PETA comes after they called on the Brisbane Broncos to retire their long-time mascot, Buck. Since 2010 Buck has been a fan favourite, with pundits cheering and celebrating him every time he gallops onto the field with trainer and rider Natalie Siiankoski. In May they penned an open letter to the Broncos calling for his immediate removal stating it is simply wrong to put the horse through 'the stress of being a mascot'. Despite their hopes, the Broncos wasted no time in shutting down the request by stating Buck wouldn't be going anywhere. Buck the Broncos mascot isn't going anywhere, despite PETA's requests. Pics NRL 'Buck is an iconic, much-loved and much cared for member of the Broncos family and has been for a very long time,' the Broncos said in a statement to 'We have no plans to retire Buck, and our game day staff will continue, as we always have, to work with his rider Nat and the stadium to ensure the highest level of safety, for both Buck and our fans in stadia.' If it was up to PETA, the axing of Buck is not the only change the Broncos would make, with the non-profit organisation urging the NRL club to also change its name and badge to stop glorifying rodeos while also giving a nod to their indigenous roots. 'The team could even adopt the name the 'Brisbane Boomerangs' after the impressive Aboriginal weapon — a nod to the team's fostering of Indigenous talent and commitment to equality,' PETA's letter stated. Originally published as Animal rights activists put AFL WAGs on notice for Brownlow Medal
Daily Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Telegraph
The Block 2025 Episode 3 and 4 recap: Dan fires up at ‘dodgy' Han while teams are forced to rip tiles from walls
A last minute tiling disaster leaves two teams high and (not so) dry as one contestant is caught blue-handed breaking the rules. With just 40 hours left until tools down, Britt and Taz and Alicia and Sonny were informed that they would have to pull their freshly laid tiles off the wall. The reason? Both their tilers had used a slow-drying glue, which – as Foreman Dan foreshadowed earlier in the week when he spotted a tub of the stuff – is banned on The Block. A NEW START: Why The Block 2025 is different WINDFALL: How Daylesford is cashing in on The Block WON'T BE MISSED: Why Scott Cam doesn't care about big fish leaving the show In the normal renovation world, tiles can be left several days to dry on a wall or floor before they are grouted. On The Block, that window can be crunched to a matter of hours, hence the need for a fast-drying glue. The only exception to this rule is ceramic tiles, which are porous enough to allow even the slower-setting adhesive to dry. Taz's tiler, after putting in a valiant effort to defend his craftsmanship, was crushed to be told to start again. As was Taz. 'You put in a good shift, you put in the work and you see all your beautiful work up on the walls, and they tell you that have to tear it all off,' Taz said. Poor Alicia and Sonny faced an even worse situation. All of their tiles needed to be washed by hand before they could be reapplied. And some of their waterproof membrane lifted off with the tiles and would also need replacing. Channelling his inner football coach, Sonny gave his exhausted tradesmen a rousing pep talk, urging them to carry on. Meanwhile Mat and Robby were off shopping for bathroom decor, blissfully unaware of what was going down on site. There, Mat discovered Robby's indifference and indecision on soap dish selection was the kryptonite to his 'gay styling superpowers'. They may be the least experienced team on The Block, but Robby and Mat have proven they are a force with which to be reckoned. The pair were the first to pass their waterproofing inspection (despite having to blow dry their floor the day before). And they were the first to begin tiling. And now their potentially game-changing wine cellar plan has been approved, the boys have shown they are not just here to play. 'Dark horse baby! Neigh, neigh b***h!' Mat declared. Upon their return to site, they learned their own tiler had also used the banned glue. But unlike the other teams, Mat's choice of undulating ceramic tiles had saved them from also having to start from scratch. They just had to remove the grout. 'Compared to everyone else, we got away with murder,' Robby said. While Robby and Mat dodged a bullet, Han found herself in Foreman Dan's crosshairs when she blatantly ignored his instructions and sneakily tried to make a start on the second coat of waterproofing without professional supervision. Caught roller in hand, blue waterproofing splattered all over her fingers, Han first claimed the plumber was with her when she was applying the second coat (even though he was nowhere to be seen) before then tearfully telling Dan she hadn't understood his instructions. 'I've lost trust because you've just gone behind my back,' was Dan's response. 'He thought I was being dodgy so that hit hard,' Han worried. 'You're just handy Han,' reassured Can. 'It's a really high pressure environment and she is a really hard worker who likes to get in there and get her hands dirty. 'At home we would be doing all of this by ourselves.' Han's can-do attitude paid off with Scotty Cam and Shelley Craft (who rolled into town in a red sports car to survey the sites). Deemed the hardest worker on site, Han was rewarded with five plants of her choice (as long as they were no taller than Shelley). Nonetheless the hosts had grave concerns the girls had bitten off more than they could chew with their ambitious design and one-man tiling crew. It wasn't to cut costs, the tiler is a perfectionist who insists on working solo. No mean feat when there's floor to ceiling tiles and a curved feature wall of finger tiles to complete in small space of time. But hey, at least he knew what glue to use!
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Car trouble! Carrie Bickmore is slapped with a $200 parking fine as she runs errands with a friend in Melbourne
Carrie Bickmore was trying to enjoy a day out in Melbourne with a gal pal, when she fell afoul of a parking inspector. The radio host's SUV was slapped with a parking ticket when she left the dark car parked near some shops on Wednesday afternoon. Parking fines in the Melbourne area range from $102 to $204. The ticket could be seen on Carrie's windshield as she strolled in a nearby shopping precinct with her friend. It was collected from under the windscreen wiper by the car's driver, who appeared to be ferrying Carrie around town. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Despite the hiccup, Carrie appeared relaxed as she walked along chatting with her pal dressed in a casually chic ensemble. Carrie kept warm in a fleece jumper in a cream tone, worn underneath a long, black coat. She added a sporty touch with some track pants and sneakers, and topped the look with a grey cap. The television personality wore a full face of warm-toned makeup and had her blonde hair down under her cap. She carried a designer tote over her arm and appeared to be running errands in the area. Daily Mail has reached out to Carrie Bickmore for comment. It comes after Carrie sparked rumours that she is dating Lee Elliott after his shock split with Georgia Love. According to Woman's Day, the radio host and the former Bachelorette star have been spending a lot of time together at Carrie's home in recent weeks. The publication claims the pair were introduced by mutual friends and the relationship is 'heating up quickly'. 'They've been trying hard to keep things under wraps. But there's definitely something romantic going on. They're a beautiful couple!' a source allegedly told the magazine. Daily Mail has reached out to Carrie Bickmore and Lee Elliott for comment. Lee is newly single after splitting from his wife, Georgia, earlier this year. He and Georgia, who first met on the 2016 season of The Bachelorette, announced their separation with identical posts to Instagram in May. 'After nine wonderful years together, including four as husband and wife, [we] have made the incredibly difficult decision to lovingly part ways,' they wrote. 'Our relationship has been so special and we will always cherish the memories, love, and laughter we've shared. 'There is no drama, no bad blood. Just two people who have grown in different directions while still holding deep respect and care for each other. 'We remain friends and we'd really appreciate our privacy as we navigate this next stage. Thank you.' Georgia and Lee had fuelled rumours they had split for some time, after having not been seen together for four months and ditching their wedding rings. Carrie, meanwhile, has long been linked to her Carrie & Tommy radio show co-star, Tommy Little. The pair, who share undeniable chemistry on their Hit Network radio show, have been at the centre of dating rumours for years. While they have never confirmed that they are a couple, fans continue to speculate about the true nature of their relationship. Romance rumours between the pair arose after Carrie's very public split from longtime partner Chris Walker in 2023. Just two weeks ago, Carrie and Tommy took a holiday to Hayman Island together, along with a group of their colleagues. Meanwhile, Tommy recently made a relationship confession which continued to fan the flames of romance rumours. The comedian confessed to Stellar he is very keen to start a family and settle down - even if he's not entirely ready to grow up yet.
