Latest news with #Papa
Politico
4 days ago
- General
- Politico
D-Day veteran and TikTok star ‘Papa Jake' Larson dies at 102
'As Papa would say, love you all the mostest,' she wrote. Born Dec. 20, 1922, in Owatonna, Minnesota, Larson enlisted in the National Guard in 1938, lying about his age since he was only 15 at the time. In January 1942, he was sent overseas and was stationed in Northern Ireland. He became operations sergeant and assembled the planning books for the invasion of Normandy. He was among the Allied troops who stormed the Normandy shore on D-Day, June 6, 1944, surviving machine-gun fire when he landed on Omaha Beach. He made it unhurt to the bluffs that overlook the beach, then studded with German gun emplacements that mowed down American soldiers. After D-Day, he fought on through the Battle of the Bulge. In recent years, he made repeated trips to Normandy for D-Day commemorations. 'We are the lucky ones,' Larson told The Associated Press at the 81st anniversary of D-Day in June, speaking amid the immaculate rows of graves at the American cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach. 'They had no family. We are their family. We have the responsibility to honor these guys who gave us a chance to be alive.'
The Herald Scotland
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Experience a day in the life of a Smurf through Airbnb
The four-hour experience will see guests embark on a series of Smurf-inspired activities, where they will learn how to live like the characters. Airbnb adds: "From decorating your own hat and trying your aim at archery, to busting out the viral dance routine from the new movie, it will be a day of blue magic, where guests don't have to worry about Gargamel." An extra element to the experience will see host Nicolas Tytgat - grandson of The Smurfs creator Peyo - guiding guests through the activities. To be in with a chance to win the experience, guests will be able to book it from 11am on Wednesday, July 16 on the Airbnb website here. It is designed for up to four guests, is completely free of charge and will take place on Sunday, August 3. Airbnb adds: "Travel to the Experience is not included, and spots will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis." Guests will have the opportunity to customise their own Smurf huts as part of the experience (Image: ALIX MCINTOSH/Airbnb) What will the itinerary be for a day as a Smurf? The itinerary for the day in the life as a Smurf is as follows: Welcome : Guests will enter the forest and arrive outside Papa Smurf's mushroom house - where they will be greeted by the host. : Guests will enter the forest and arrive outside Papa Smurf's mushroom house - where they will be greeted by the host. Fuel with a smurfberry drink : To fuel themselves for the day, guests will have the first-ever taste of a Smurfberry drink, a delicious purple berry refreshment beloved by Smurfs and said to be their primary source of energy. : To fuel themselves for the day, guests will have the first-ever taste of a Smurfberry drink, a delicious purple berry refreshment beloved by Smurfs and said to be their primary source of energy. Make your own Smurf hat : Stepping inside the home to kick off the day's activities, guests will gather around Papa Smurf's table to customise their very own Smurf hats, which they'll wear throughout the day. Adventurous guests can even get a sneak peek at Papa's home while he's away. : Stepping inside the home to kick off the day's activities, guests will gather around Papa Smurf's table to customise their very own Smurf hats, which they'll wear throughout the day. Adventurous guests can even get a sneak peek at Papa's home while he's away. Try your hand at archery : Outside the mushroom and through the forest, guests will then explore their beautiful surroundings and practice woodland archery with the host. : Outside the mushroom and through the forest, guests will then explore their beautiful surroundings and practice woodland archery with the host. A feast fit for a Smurf : Guests will take a break from activities to feast on a wholesome and delicious Smurf-inspired picnic, from blue Smurfberry cakes to French fries - Smurfette's favourite snack. : Guests will take a break from activities to feast on a wholesome and delicious Smurf-inspired picnic, from blue Smurfberry cakes to French fries - Smurfette's favourite snack. Dance like a Smurf star : Once their food has settled, guests will take to an open-air forest stage, where a Smurf-trained choreographer will teach them a dance routine as featured in the new film, worthy of a Smurf Village celebration. : Once their food has settled, guests will take to an open-air forest stage, where a Smurf-trained choreographer will teach them a dance routine as featured in the new film, worthy of a Smurf Village celebration. Farewell: The experience ends on a sweet note with Smurfberry ice cream and a heartfelt farewell from the host. Each family will leave with their custom Smurf hats and memories to last a lifetime. Guests will have a Smurfs-inspired picnic on the day (Image: ALIX MCINTOSH/Airbnb) Clement Eulry, general manager of France and Benelux at Airbnb, said: 'We're so excited to bring The Smurfs back to the Belgian countryside - the place that inspired Peyo all those years ago - as part of our completely reimagined Experiences. "The experience is a unique way to showcase Belgium's beauty at a time when families are looking to unplug and connect with nature." Recommended reading: Nicolas Tytgat, Airbnb host, said: 'I grew up surrounded by the magic of the Smurfs, so to bring fans to Belgium, the birthplace of the Smurfs, and into the world that my Grandad created, is something truly special. "This is a one-of-a-kind experience and I cannot wait to share this moment and our family stories with Airbnb guests.' Smurfs will be released in UK cinemas on Friday, July 18.
Hindustan Times
10-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- Hindustan Times
Fashion spaces you'll want to visit for the interiors alone
There are stores that serve a purpose. You enter, browse, buy and leave. And then there are stores that stop you in your tracks. You look around. You take photos. You feel something. These are the spaces that blur the lines between shopping and storytelling. Papa Don't Preach store in New Delhi From minimalist temples to full-blown maximalist fantasies, today's most thoughtfully designed stores are no longer just about what's on the shelf. They are moodboards in real life, curated with intention, imagination and layers of detail. Whether it's a quiet colour palette or a riot of texture, each one on this list invites you to pause and take it in. Here are five outlets that stand out from different parts of the world. Sabyasachi, Mumbai This store in South Mumbai looks and feels like a royal home. It's built inside a 1920s building with high ceilings, chandeliers, wooden furniture and art everywhere. Each floor has its own mood. Sabyasachi, Mumbai There are carpets, vintage mirrors and dim lighting that make the space feel rich and dreamy. You feel like you're walking through a museum filled with stories, not just shopping. Raw Mango, New Delhi Raw Mango's store in Lodhi Colony Market is quiet and peaceful. The building is made from natural stone, and the walls are painted white. Simple wooden furniture and soft sunlight make the space feel calm. The clothes, made from handwoven fabric, stand out in the open and airy rooms. There is no clutter. Everything is neat and beautiful. It feels like a mix of old India and modern style. Papa Don't Preach, New Delhi The Papa Don't Preach boutique in Dhan Mill is bold and playful. The store is filled with bright colours, heart-shaped mirrors, shiny surfaces and bubble-like chandeliers. Papa Don't Preach, New Delhi Pink floors and marine-inspired walls match the brand's loud and fearless fashion. Every detail is fun and full of personality. It feels like stepping into a fashion dream where everything sparkles and surprises you. Chanel, 31 Rue Cambon, Paris This is the original Chanel boutique where Coco Chanel lived and worked. The building still holds her famous mirrored staircase where models once walked during fittings. Chanel, 31 Rue Cambon, Paris The rooms are elegant and layered with history. Beige carpets, black lacquered walls and crystal chandeliers create a space that feels classic and eternal. The boutique offers ready-to-wear on one floor and couture on another, with small salons in between. It is more than a store. It is Chanel's world, preserved and still alive. Louis Vuitton, Via Montenapoleone, Milan Set inside the restored Palazzo Taverna, the Louis Vuitton store on Via Montenapoleone is a study in Italian elegance. The interiors are lined with noble materials sourced from local Lombardy workshops. Soft stone and warm wood guide you through sunlit galleries and sculpted staircases. Louis Vuitton, Via Montenapoleone, Milan The sweeping stairs take cues from Villa Necchi Campiglio. A glass skylight above the central courtyard filters in natural light, casting quiet shadows across the floors. Classical columns, textured walls and contemporary artworks are placed with precision.
New Straits Times
05-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Employment association: Prolonged freeze forcing firms to hire undocumented workers
KUALA LUMPUR: Prolonged government restrictions on the hiring of foreign workers are forcing many Malaysian businesses to turn to undocumented foreign workers as a last resort, the Association of Employment Agencies Malaysia (Papa) said. Its president, Datuk Foo Yong Hooi, said employers unable to meet stringent requirements or who missed the narrow quota application window are now struggling to keep their operations afloat. He said the foreign worker quota application process, which was last reopened between July 2022 and March 2023 before being frozen again, has left many employers in limbo. "Many foreign workers' contracts last only two to three years. With the freeze in place for over two years, those who did not secure quotas during the brief window between July 2022 and March 2023 have seen their workers return to their home countries. "Even employers who hired during that window are facing shortages as workers leave. The prolonged freeze has severely worsened the situation," he said when contacted today. The Immigration Department today said it had detained 1,005 employers for allegedly hiring or harbouring undocumented migrants between Jan 1 and July 3 this year. Its director-general, Datuk Zakaria Shaaban, said the arrests involved employers from various sectors, including restaurants, factories and retail shops, with most being locals found sheltering foreign nationals without valid documents. During the same period, the department conducted 6,913 operations nationwide, screened 97,322 foreigners and arrested 26,320 individuals for suspected immigration offences. In January last year, the cabinet agreed to continue the freeze on the foreign workers quota introduced in March 2023. Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said lifting the freeze was unnecessary as the total approved quota was already sufficient. In October, he said the freeze on foreign worker employment quota applications would continue until a date to be announced later. Commenting further, Foo said many employers struggle to secure quotas due to seemingly minor compliance issues, such as accommodation standards under the Workers' Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act, or insufficient company sales figures. He said the situation had also been compounded by the government's 15 per cent cap on foreign workers in the national workforce. With around 900,000 undocumented workers recently legalised under the Workforce Recalibration Programme, Foo questioned whether including them within the cap was fair to law-abiding employers. "This cap penalises those who have followed the rules. Employers who missed the quota window are now locked out, while others are allowed to legalise undocumented workers within the same limit," he said. Foo also said that inaction would fuel further abscondment, as documented workers abandon jobs in search of higher wages, often becoming undocumented themselves in hopes of another legalisation programme. As such, he urged the government to consider a temporary liberalisation of quotas for employers facing acute worker shortages since the freeze. He also proposed that those who have hired undocumented workers be offered a quota exchange mechanism, allowing them to declare these workers and replace them with legal hires, on the condition that the original workers leave the country and re-enter legally. "This approach will ease pressure on the Immigration Department, protect jobs, and prevent another influx of undocumented labour," he said.
The Star
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Sean Lau says his perspective on fatherhood changed after starring in 'Papa'
Despite having no children of his own, Hong Kong actor Sean Lau Ching-wan delivers one of his most emotionally gripping performances yet as a father in the true crime film Papa . Directed by Philip Yung, the movie – which premiered at the 37th Tokyo International Film Festival in October 2024 – is based on a 2010 murder case in Tsuen Wan, where a mentally unstable teenager stabbed his mother and younger sister before turning himself in. But unlike the typical murder drama, Papa – now screening at cinemas nationwide – doesn't dwell on the horrific crime. 'It focuses more on the emotional wreckage left behind rather than the crime itself. 'It's not a murder tale but a story about emotional survival,' the 46-year-old told StarLifestyle in a recent roundtable interview alongside Lau on Zoom. Having previously directed Port Of Call (2015), another movie based on a real-life murder, Yung was careful to avoid sensationalism. Instead, he spent over 10 years developing the script and even met with the real father at the centre of the case to understand the emotional layers behind the tragedy. 'He has now moved on from the case. I don't know if he watched the movie. 'I learned about his emotions, his late wife and daughter, as well as his mentally ill son. 'Sadness doesn't have to be loud... The father cares for his son but he keeps his grief internal and his emotions well-hidden – that's what makes it more heartbreaking,' he said. A role that demands heart In Papa , Lau plays Nin – a humble cafe owner wrestling with intense survivor's guilt after his son Ming (Dylan So) murders his own mother (Jo Koo) and sister Grace (Lainey Hung). After being diagnosed with schizophrenia, Ming is sentenced to indefinite psychiatric care. Still, Nin continues to visit him twice a month, carrying his grief silently. In the film, Lau (right) plays Nin, a father struggling with survivor's guilt after his son murders his mother and his sister. For Lau, 61, the role marked a turn from the stoic personas he's often portrayed, pushing him to delve into a more emotionally raw and vulnerable territory. To embody Nin, he immersed himself fully in the character's quiet turmoil. 'I believe no man is born knowing how to be a father. 'You learn through life experiences – getting married, having kids and growing with them. 'I carried that mindset while filming and learned how to be a father along the way,' he said. That approach paid off as Lau's performance struck a chord with both audiences and critics, earning him his fourth Best Actor win at the 43rd Hong Kong Film Awards earlier in April. Lau was named Best Actor at the 43rd Hong Kong Film Awards on April 27, 2025, for his performance in 'Papa' . Photo: AP He had previously taken home the honour for Detective Vs Sleuths (2022), Overheard 3 (2014) and My Name Is Fame (2006). 'It's rare for my movies to have such a strong emotional impact on others. 'I was shocked because it wasn't impactful to just movie- goers – even friends who watched the film connected deeply with it. 'It made me realise my profession carries more weight than expected,' added the actor, who's married to former Miss Hong Kong winner Amy Kwok. Shifting perspective Yung praised Lau's performance, revealing that the latter had always been his first choice for the role of Nin. 'Kids feel close to him. I wanted the father in Papa to be loving, wise and grounded... Sean brought that out with great realism,' he said. Lau shared that prior to filming Papa , his understanding of fatherhood was fairly simple as he didn't share a close bond with his father and has no children of his own. However, his perspective has since shifted. 'It feels like I've gained some insight on fatherhood after filming, but at the same time, I feel like I haven't fully understood it. 'It's strange how something so simple carries so much weight,' he said. As for whether he had ever considered reaching out to the real father behind the case once more to personally thank him, Lau replied that he didn't want to disturb the man or risk reopening old wounds. 'I don't think we should pry too much into the father's life. I'm grateful for his tolerance. It was his patience that allowed us to complete this story.'
