Latest news with #AtYourService
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Podcast Corner: Dua Lipa turns cultural concierge with new book-club show
Dua Lipa brought her Radical Optimism tour to a sold-out Aviva Stadium in late June, delivering a wall-to-wall set of pop bangers — but music isn't the only thing occupying her this summer. At the start of June she launched the Service95 Book Club podcast, which ties into her newsletter of the same name — a 'global style, arts and society venture – the ultimate cultural concierge – at the service of the reader' — that's been running since 2022. It's not Dua's first appearance in Podcast Corner either. At Your Service ran for three seasons, concluding in 2023, with Dua cast as a genial host, talking to people as varied as Billie Eilish, Tim Cook, and Shuggie Bain author Douglas Stuart, an interview recorded at the Hay Festival of Literature & Arts, one of the world's most prestigious literary events. She explains: 'If you're anything like me, books aren't just something that you read and put down. They stay with you - they're passports, mirrors, escape routes, secret maps for finding yourself or getting completely lost in the best way. Wherever I go - tour buses, airports, studios - there's always a book in my bag or tucked into a jacket pocket.' A monthly series, the opening episode features Jennifer Clement talking about her 2014 book Widow Basquiat about the relationship between artist and painter Jean-Michel Basquiat and his 'muse', Suzanne Malouk, in New York City in the 1980s. 'There was so much going on in all of his pieces,' says Dua, pointing to classical history, African culture, black athletes and more. Clement explains that graffiti artists at the time never considered themselves artists, they considered themselves writers. It was the art critics that changed them into artists. It's just one of a number of insights gleaned in the 40-minute interview. The second episode - not counting the archive episodes with the likes of Ocean Vuong or Patrick Radden Keefe - is with Vincent Delecroix and his novel Small Boat, released in March 2025, inspired by the 2021 drowning of 27 asylum seekers in the English Channel in November 2021, and explains Dua, about haunting responsibility and the hard truths that we often ignore. 'I feel quite personally about this issue because my family comes from Kosovo, which was a warzone,' she says. We often hear about Oprah's Book Club or more recently Reese Witherspoon's book club - which has indeed recently launched as a podcast, though hosted by Danielle Robay rather than the actress. The first couple episodes feature Emily Henry ( People We Meet on Vacation) and Yulin Kuang ( How to End a Love Story); and the Ripped Bodice bookstore owners Bea and Leah Koch. Alongside them, Dua Lipa might be selling out stadiums around the world - but she's helping fill out bookshelves too.
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Blackpink Jennie talks managing health, addresses ‘lazy dancing' rumours and more – deets inside!
Time and time again, Blackpink member Jennie has faced a lot of accusations and targeted statements online. She has often been called out for her attitude and 'lazy dancing' on stage as well. Recently, the idol opened up about the accusations in an interview to set the record straight. Jennie from Blackpink opens up about 'lazy dancing' on stage In a recent interview with Dua Lipa , Blackpink's Jennie opened up about her performances and all the accusations against her as a 'lazy dancer'. During a podcast episode on 'Dua Lipa: At Your Service', Jennie opened up about her struggles of performing on stage and more. Jennie talked about her health and how gruesome performing on stage can be. She, however, also pointed out that after the experience she has gained, she has learnt to manage her health better and care for herself more. When Dua Lipa asked her about all she thought she could do differently during her time on stage, the idol shared that 'Over the pandemic and even up to right now I've learnt to take care of my body, and I've learnt a lot about myself with my health and how my muscles work, how bendy I am with my arms, like every detail, and it all started because I would constantly hurt myself during performances and lives compared to other girls. ' Jennie delves into how she did not know how to care for herself Jennie also detailed how during her performances, before her main focus used to be on her dancing rather than her well-being. She shared that not knowing how to care for herself properly ended up causing a lot of problems. She detailed the matter by saying that 'So I feel like I've disappointed my fans at some point in my life where it seemed like I wasn't giving my best, but I haven't had a moment to say this, but I want to say that I did not know how to control my body and use my body the way I should. ' Idol says she avoids heels to perform better Jennie also shared during the podcast that one of the things she does to prioritise her health better is to avoid heels while performing. She pointed out that they bring her a lot of pain and are not suitable for her if she wishes to perform well for everyone. 'Something like, I just don't do well in heels; some people are amazing in heels. I, being like one of the shortest girls in the group, cannot work with heels; my feet aren't built for heels. Even though I try, and sometimes when I'm feeling perfectly fine with my body [but] when I'm like travelling so much, and my body is all bloated, and my feet are so bloated, if I try to dance in heels, my stamina just goes down because I know it's uncomfortable for me,' the idol shared with Lipa. Jennie then continued, stating that 'Stuff like that, I've wanted to come clean – not come clean but share with my fans that I'm still at a point where I'm learning about myself, if anything, so let me be the person to share me from now on.'
Irish Examiner
03-05-2025
- Irish Examiner
Francis Brennan: 'Beautiful' Bali really disappointed me — it was filthy
One of Ireland's most recognisable hoteliers, TV presenter and all-round national treasure, Francis Brennan has been everywhere from the foothills of the Himalayas to the streets of San Francisco. As co-host of long-running RTÉ series At Your Service (he's currently filming season 14) and former proprietor of the famed Park Hotel Kenmare, Francis brings a seasoned traveller's eye to the world. Here, he shares his favourite escapes, most surprising trips, and why a world cruise is still on his wish list. My favourite childhood holiday memory My father was a grocer working seven days a week, so holidays were very scarce. We'd take a half-day on a Monday and go to the seaside. But the one I always remember was going down to Courtown and staying in a caravan with my cousins. I think we were about seven or eight, and it was the first time we were properly away from mam and dad. There were seven of us in the bed. Health and safety wouldn't allow it now! I'll never forget the chips we used to get from the chipper in Courtown with the salt and vinegar. I've never had chips that tasted like that since. My most memorable trip India. I've been there three times over the years and it's just a shake for the senses. The colour, the style, the sheer number of people. I first went over 30 years ago, and then again about five years ago filming At Your Service. The economic transformation in that time was incredible. The first time I went, the Taj Mahal was quiet — a few Indian families and mostly foreign tourists. When I went back, it looked like Croke Park on All-Ireland day. It was very encouraging to see so many Indian people now able to holiday. It was brilliant to see the economic life of India rising. They say it will be the biggest market for all of us in time. Most surprising destination All I ever heard about was how beautiful Bali was. But when I went there on the way back from Australia, I was really disappointed! It was filthy, the beaches weren't nice, and the towns were all shacks. The big hotels — Accor, Méridien and others — went in 35 years ago and built luxury resorts. People go there and think everything is magnificent because the hotels keep their beachfront pristine. But when you leave the hotel, it's a poor show. The sand is the same everywhere, it's what surrounds you that matters. For me, Bali was way below expectations. My favourite hotel Chewton Glen My favourite hotel is Chewton Glen in the New Forest. It was run by a couple called the Skinners, and they were the first people to have a proper country house hotel in England. They had 104 staff — with four painters on staff full-time just to fix scuffs from suitcases! The gardens were magnificent, with huge displays of flowers and a beautiful driveway. The weather in that part of southern England is lovely, and everything about the place was just perfect. My favourite city to visit I love Venice. It's mystical. The canals, the streets, the shops, the food, the opera — everything. It's brilliant for three or four days, and there's plenty to see. You can take the vaporetto out to Murano and watch them make glass, and maybe bring some home in 77 different colours. I was there once for a small luxury hotel conference, and we had the most magnificent dinner in a noble house along the canal. The whole city is like a dream. If you go in March or April, you miss the crowds and have a great time. Most beautiful country Honolulu is my favourite place for a holiday. It's very far from Ireland, which makes it feel even more special when you get there. There's a great atmosphere, always 85 degrees and a breeze. The beach is beautiful, and they keep it that way. Everything is compact, the hotels, shops, restaurants, and everything works well together. I've been twice. Once, I even went scuba diving in a cave and saw fin sharks and electric eels. I still remember feeling a tail flick against my toes! Favourite thing to do while travelling I always do a walking tour. I think it's the best way to orient yourself in a new place. I use companies like GuruWalk or Travel by Locals, and I've had some brilliant experiences, like walking tours of the tiled steps in San Francisco or Grand Central Station in New York. You learn so much. I always do the hop-on and hop-off bus to see everything and decide where to go back to. And I love the theatre. If I'm in London or New York, I'll go to a show every night if I can. My bucket list trip I want to do a world cruise. I've always wanted to, but I can never get the time. The cruises are long —180 days or more — and I can't commit because At Your Service might need me, or one of the shops might. But someday I'll do it. I usually get to eventually.
Ammon
06-04-2025
- Business
- Ammon
Government service centres in Jordan process 2.9 Million transactions by March
Ammon News - By the end of March, Jordan's integrated government service centres had completed 2.9 million transactions, offering 182 services—both in-person and digital—on behalf of 34 government entities. These centres have welcomed a total of 1,165,293 visitors to date. Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship Sami Samiratt underscored the central role these centres play in improving access to high-quality public services. He noted that they align with the government's vision of delivering citizen-focused services marked by efficiency, fairness, and transparency. By housing various services under one roof, the centres simplify processes and enhance convenience for the public. Samiratt also stressed ongoing efforts to expand the reach of these centres to ensure nationwide coverage and to promote digital inclusion as part of wider plans to modernise the economy and public services. Currently, 9 out of a planned 15 centres are up and running, with the remaining expected to open by the end of 2025. These centres are strategically placed to serve high-demand areas. For instance, the Al-Muqabaleen centre offers 137 services from 29 institutions, while the Queen Alia International Airport branch provides 66 services from 24 institutions. Other centres have been launched in Irbid, Tafileh, Aqaba, and Ma'an, each tailored to local service needs. As part of the ongoing rollout, additional services and institutions are being added. The Ministry continues to monitor and improve service delivery through feedback gathered via platforms like 'At Your Service,' public surveys, and social media. A dedicated Citizen Service Office analyses this input, focusing on customer satisfaction, staff performance, and the efficiency of service procedures.
