Latest news with #Brave
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Stunning UK harbour town with 'haunting' castle home to breathtaking walk trail
Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire boasts some gorgeous scenery and even a castle (Image: Atlantide Phototravel via Getty Images) If you're looking for a sign to get outside and discover the UK's amazing landscapes, consider this your cue. A picturesque harbour town in the UK, boasting stunning coastal views and even a castle to explore, should be on your travel list, as there is so much to see and do there. Stonehaven, located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, is an ideal destination for a summer getaway. According to a recent study by CEWE experts, this charming location boasts one of the most scenic walks in the UK. If you've visited before, you'll understand why - the incredible landscape could easily have come straight from a postcard. Each spot on the list was evaluated based on star ratings, review count, and descriptive terms such as 'beautiful', 'stunning', 'amazing', and 'lovely' - words typically linked with photogenic locations that leave lasting impressions. The walk around Dunnottar Castle tied for second place overall with Powis Castle in Wales, surpassed only by Mount Stewart in Northern Ireland, reports the Express. Dunnottar Castle in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire stands as one of Scotland's most precious landmarks, having shaped the nation's story across 1,000 years of history. A walk around the grounds of Dunnottar Castle is a must (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto) Boasting dramatic clifftop panoramas, this remarkable fortress has welcomed legendary figures including Mary Queen of Scots throughout the centuries. The castle has also served as the backdrop for numerous Hollywood productions, including Disney's Brave and Mel Gibson's Hamlet, with its official website noting that the 'haunting' castle has featured on the big screen many times. They said: "Perched on a cliff-top amidst striking scenery with stunning seascape views, it's not hard to understand why the beauty of this outstanding location has been captured on the silver screen on numerous occasions." Positioned dramatically on a towering 160-foot precipice and encircled by sparkling waters, this magnificent structure truly must be seen to be believed. Visitors can venture to the Aberdeenshire coast to secure tickets for exploring the castle itself, or alternatively wander the surrounding grounds whilst admiring the view. Stonehaven is the perfect place to spend a summer staycation (Image: Getty) Dunnottar Castle is about 1.6 miles south of Stonehaven, so it's the perfect place to visit if you're in the area. But aside from the castle, there are so many brilliant things to do in this town. No trip to Stonehaven would be complete without dedicating time to the charming harbour area. There are so many places offering the perfect spots to dine, sip drinks and unwind, whilst there's nothing quite like observing the boats gently swaying in the water. During your stay, make sure to explore the Tolbooth Museum, which is the town's most ancient building and previously served as a jail many years ago. Many original elements remain intact, including the traditional prison cell entrance. And if you're in the mood for a bit of adventure, you could also give paddleboarding lessons a go out on the water. However, if you're not quite up for braving the sea, there's an outdoor swimming pool situated along the seafront that remains open until September.
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Two bumiputra companies targeted for listing on Bursa this year, says Ahmad Zahid
KUALA LUMPUR: At least two bumiputra companies are targeted to be listed on Bursa Malaysia this year, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. The Deputy Prime Minister announced that 15 high-performing companies will be shortlisted under the Bumiputera Rapid Acceleration and Value Enhancement (Brave) programme, with five receiving intensive guidance as part of preparations for listing. "My hope is that at least two of these companies will make it to Bursa by the end of the year. We must aim high," he said when launching the Brave programme here on Monday (July 28). Ahmad Zahid's speech was read by Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick. Ahmad Zahid noted that the Brave programme was launched to provide alternative financing of up to RM1 mil for high-performing Bumiputera companies. It will also introduce comprehensive capacity building to ensure the companies do not just stay afloat but can go a step further. "Brave is the game changer when it comes to rebuilding the Bumiputera entrepreneurship ecosystem," Ahmad Zahid said, adding this can help these companies move from just receiving aid to instead creating wealth. He acknowledged that it is not easy for a company to be publicly listed, however noting that support from the government and strategic cooperation with the private sector can make this process smoother. 'We have the tools and abilities. We only need to be brave and take the step forward. With the right strategies and open minds, BRAVE will not only create publicly listed companies but also icons that can inspire the next generation," he said. Also present was Deputy Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Minister Datuk Seri Ramanan Ramakrishnan.
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
There's always someone watching
Life is always going to throw a number of challenges at you, it's how we navigate the highway of everyday living that counts. 'In my hotels, there is always someone watching.' These are famous words of Terry Benedict to Danny Ocean from the movie Ocean's Eleven. What Terry does not realise at the time is that it is his hotel's own cameras that catch him saying he is willing to give up his girlfriend, Tess, to get his stolen money back, which ultimately leads to her being taken by Danny. 'You of all people should know, Terry, in your hotel, there's always someone watching,' Tess says. While this is a fictional movie, it contains an element of truth and reality. Someone is always watching us, there are people and cameras everywhere, this is the reality of living in a connected world. Then there's social media. Every post, every tweet, every video is seen by someone. There's no escaping it, no matter how hard you try. 'Disconnect', you say, easy when you are not a journalist. Social media has become an ocean for news. But it has inherent dangers, and like Terry, sometimes you don't see it coming. ALSO READ: I don't hate Jews or Muslims I've had my fair share of vitriolic rants, threats and expletive-filled posts directed at me on many platforms. I must be honest, it used to faze me, throwing me into episodes of cowering into corners and under the blankets, trying to hide away from the work. It didn't work. You can only take so many blows until you no longer feel the pain and become immune to it. With the Almighty's mercy and benevolence, I've developed such a thick skin that nothing ugly can get through. But there are days when a fracture appears, and that hate seeps in and stinks up your entire day. While I've learnt to handle the challenges that come with my job, no matter how painful at times, and earned me a few Brave Awards from Adcock Ingram Sponsors of Brave, my family has always been the target, with no mercy from any community, irrespective of race or religion. 'Your wife, mother and daughter are w**res', one person splashed on a Facebook page with thousands of members from various communities, including Lenasia South, where I reside. It is heartbreaking to watch the pain and tears flow from those who have become targets because of the work that I do. Harassment at school for my daughter and sons, ugly anonymous messages late at night for my wife, was a front row seat for me as hundreds of daggers pierced that tough skin I had developed. It was really heartbreaking to feel and watch the pain they were going through, and I begged them to get off social media. But they had resolve and would not be intimidated by someone hiding behind a screen. When the attacks happened in public spaces and shopping malls, I saw that women have courage and the tenacity to hold their own and protect their homes and loved ones. Social media is dangerous in the wrong hands. We see it on a daily basis, from ordinary trolls to racists, bigots and even the current president of the United States. Social media has the potential to cause harm and destroy, and I have been fighting a battle for years to clear up misconceptions about me and my name after a horrendous fake tweet. People are quick to believe, 'yes, yes, it must be true,' they say, causing so much pain, until you ask for proof, which is the duct tape that shuts their mouths. Broken and lost friendships, colleagues looking at you with 'you are guilty' eyes is a tremendous and tenacious task to overcome. I've climbed that mountain and reached the peak. As I looked down, I saw the rising sun, the dawn of a new day that overshadowed my nemesis claims, and I breathed for the first time in many dark years. It was not easy, and while there are still some small embers of that dark flame, the warmth of true friendship has returned, accompanied by an aura of trust and happiness. My message is simple. Life is always going to throw a number of challenges at you; it's how we navigate the highway of everyday living that counts and makes a difference. While it's not easy to navigate the roads, hills, and valleys of this connected world of technology and artificial intelligence, staying true to yourself and who you really are will flush out the artificial souls whose task is to attempt to destroy the lives they so envy. Like Terry Benedict said, someone is always watching, so be careful and always verify before you amplify, because you could lose it all or even hurt someone and their family in the process. But there is also someone watching, God, first and foremost among other true individuals who have your back and are willing to defend you during the darkest periods of your life. All you need is faith. ALSO READ: Fathers' Day: After 17 years I finally get to spend the day with my son
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Business Standard
Brave and AdGuard join Signal in blocking Microsoft's Recall feature
Microsoft's controversial Recall feature in Windows 11 that takes automatic screenshots on Copilot Plus PCs is facing growing criticism from privacy-focused app developers. According to a report by The Verge, both Brave and AdGuard have now joined messaging app Signal in blocking the Windows AI-powered feature. Following the lead of messaging app Signal, both Brave and AdGuard have now taken steps to block the AI-powered tool from accessing user content, citing serious privacy risks. AdGuard, an ad-blocking and privacy tool, shared its reasoning in a recent blog post, calling Recall a privacy concern. The post stated, 'The very idea of background screen captures is unsettling. At any given moment, the system could snap a screenshot of a private chat window, an online form where you're entering your credit card, or simply something personal you didn't want saved.' Brave web browser also confirmed that it will block Recall by default on Windows 11 and newer systems. 'Starting in version 1.81 for Windows users, Brave browser will block Microsoft Recall from automatically taking screenshots of your browsing activity,' said the company in a blog post. They further stated that it will disable it by default for Windows 11+ users, but they will also provide an option to turn it back on for users who want Recall. Brave also noted that they were partly inspired by Signal's blocking of Recall. Signal Desktop now includes a 'Screen security' setting to block screenshots on Windows, aimed at protecting chats from Microsoft's Recall feature. Messaging app Signal began blocking Recall in May using a Digital Rights Management (DRM) flag that prevents screenshots and accessibility tools from capturing its content. The messaging app also criticised Microsoft for not offering fine-tuned settings to let developers manage how Recall interacts with their apps. 'Microsoft has launched Recall without granular settings for app developers that would enable Signal to easily protect privacy, which is a glaring omission that limits our choices,' Signal noted. However, Brave was able to restrict Recall without blocking all screenshot and accessibility functions. Microsoft allows browsers to selectively disable Recall, and Brave hopes this level of control is extended to all types of applications. 'While it's heartening that Microsoft recognises that Web browsers are especially privacy-sensitive applications, we hope they offer the same granular ability to turn off Recall to all privacy-minded application developers,' Brave said.
Gizmodo
4 days ago
- Gizmodo
Tech Companies Are Blocking Microsoft's Creepy ‘Recall' Feature
Microsoft's much-maligned Recall feature, which automatically screenshots everything you do on your Copilot+ PC to create a 'photographic memory,' is not making many fans across the app developer community. According to a report from The Verge, ad blocker AdGuard and privacy-minded browser Brave have decided to block Recall and its prying eyes. Brave announced its plans to block Recall in a blog post published earlier this year, in which it tipped its cap to Signal, the encrypted messaging app that first revealed it would keep Recall from screencapping user activity back in May. Per Brave, Recall will be blocked by default starting with the release of version 1.81 of the browser. It'll offer a toggle for users who want to turn Recall back on and let it screencap their browsing activity, which definitely doesn't feel super vulnerable and invasive to have someone else see. AdGuard joined the chorus of blocking, announcing Friday in a blog post that it'll add a feature that will allow users to disable Recall. The feature, which will appear in version 7.21 of the app, seems to provide a system-wide block of Recall rather than just blinding its eyes from a single app. AdGuard offers a number of other settings to block other Windows tracking features, including the collection of telemetry data. While AdGuard's block is the most wide-ranging, Brave has managed to iterate on Signal's approach in a way that allows users to take their own screenshots while keeping Recall from taking its own snapshots. Signal took a more blunt-force approach, using a Digital Rights Management (DRM) flag to block screenshots entirely, so even the user cannot capture an image of their chats. These companies almost certainly will not be the last to go out of their way to keep Recall from working as intended. Microsoft has had nothing but trouble and pushback since introducing the feature last year. It was set to launch with the introduction of Microsoft's Copilot+ PCs—Windows machines designed to maximize the company's AI features—but was delayed in June, probably because people were creeped out by it. Since then, the company has slowly tried to integrate the feature back into the fold. It started offering Recall to members of the Windows Insider Program first, and has introduced some features meant to quell concerns over privacy violations, including turning Recall off by default, requiring a PIN to access the contents of the feature, and storing screenshots locally and with encryption. And yet, it still feels pretty damn weird. If nothing else, Recall now serves as a useful marketing tool for privacy-focused app developers who want to signal that they're protecting users by blocking it.
