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NZ Herald
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
The Good Life: Presents of greatness
Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech. Sqweaky: She of the magnificent whiskers. Photo / Greg Dixon Greg Dixon is an award-winning news reporter, TV reviewer, feature writer and former magazine editor who has written for the NZ Listener since 2017. Come July, it is always the same: what the hell should I buy myself for my birthday? The Victorian artist and poet William Morris famously said, or is said to have said, that one should have nothing in one's house that one does not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful. With this as my creed, I have given myself, at various times, a chainsaw and a book about firewood. I will leave it to you to decide what category those fell into. This business of self-gifting has arisen not because I do not trust Michele to get me something beautiful or useful for my annual celebration of not dying for another year. It's just that for one birthday about a quarter of a century ago she bought me a deep fat fryer. I was not sure, and remain completely mystified, what this said about me. Was I oily? Was I hot? Did I smell of chips? We used the thing, which looked like a toy version of what you encounter at a dodgy suburban fish and chippy, only once. It required what seemed like 40 gallons of cooking oil, splattered hot grease about like some sort of weapon of mass destruction and left Michele, the cat and the house smelling of chips, just like me. The deep fat fryer eventually went to the tip, but not before I had quietly determined that it might be best for me to buy my own gifts then give them to Michele to give to me, like the aforementioned chainsaw and the book about firewood. But not this year. This year, I couldn't think what I wanted, other than a bit of peace and quiet and a lunch involving more of the delicious dumplings they serve at the White Swan in Greytown. Fortunately, Michele had an idea – a secret idea. When our old cat Arnold died back in 2010, we commissioned the Auckland artist Kirstin Carlin to paint the dear dead fellow. Pretentious? Pas nous! Anyway, Kirstin's study is a wonderful, amusing work, a bright oil that she decided to paint in the style of a Hans Holbein the Younger portrait of Henry VIII. Though Arnold is now 15 years gone, he continues to be present in our lives because he hangs in the dining room in an enormous gold frame. And just like when he was alive, he appears to spend his days considering whether we should keep our heads. Michele's secret idea for my birthday this year was to commemorate Sqweaky, who we lost in February, with a similar memorial, this time a sculptural ceramic by her friend, the Auckland artist Bronwynne Cornish. To arrange it, I understand a series of secret squirrel phone calls took place over several weeks, usually after I had gone to bed. Cunning! Actually, given my bedtime is similar to that of a preschool child's, it wasn't as difficult as it might sound. Come my birthday I thought, after I'd unwrapped it, that the highlight this year was a little book titled Twelve Poems About Chickens. They are all odes to how beautiful but also how maddening chooks can be, with my favourite a rant about a rooster from one Sir Charles Sedley (1639-1701), titled On A Cock At Rochester: 'Thou Cursed Cock, with thy perpetual Noise/May'st thou be Capon made, and lose thy voice/Or on a Dunghil may'st thou spend thy Blood/And Vermin prey upon thy craven Brood …' Quite right, Sir Charles, quite right. However the Cursed Cock with his perpetual noise was not the highlight after all. That was inside a box couriered from Auckland. We have a number of Bronwynne's pieces about the house, but the one I will now treasure most of all is her wonderful and playful ceramic of Sqweaky, something that is beautiful, but also useful, at least for me. I think, should I be spared, I will leave my birthday gifts to Michele from now on.
India.com
07-07-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Why India's Tu-160M ‘White Swan' Bomber Deal With Russia Has Pakistan On Edge
New Delhi: A quiet airbase in Kazan. Massive steel wings under tarp. A shadow cast across two borders. India wanted those wings. Months ago, New Delhi reached out to Moscow with a specific ask – lease the Tu-160M. The 'White Swan'. A machine with speed that breaks clouds, range that crosses oceans and a payload heavier than a city bus. Twelve thousand kilometers. Forty tonnes. Two thousand two hundred kilometers per hour. Russia listened. The deal moved. Paperwork, plans and promises. Along with it, a bold idea. Equip the bomber with India's BrahMos – the world's fastest cruise missile. One aircraft and one missile. Together, a message. But the skies changed. Ukraine struck. Drones buzzed deep into Russian bases. Tu-160Ms, parked and vulnerable. Suddenly, these bombers were no longer export dreams. They were frontline shields. Moscow looked inward. Priorities flipped. In Kazan, the plant slowed. Sanctions hit. Electronics dried up. Production shrank. Russia started needing what India wanted. Now the 'White Swan' waits. India's security officials see the pattern. Pakistan rattles sabres on one end. China steps up pressure on the other. Long-range bombers could change posture. Current Indian squadrons – Su-30MKIs and Rafales – fly far, but not far enough. They strike hard, but within limits. A bomber like the Tu-160M flies without refuelling. It stays out of radar range. It carries missiles to targets deep inside enemy territory without crossing a line. Pakistan does not have one. Neither does China. India's version would have flown with BrahMos under its wing. That pairing had no match in Asia. One was muscle and the other was sting. Russia had agreed to integrate them. The package included training, tech and transfer. It fit into Delhi's new doctrine. Self-reliance. Reach without dependence. Strike without provocation. But the war complicated things. Russia fears gaps in its own defense. Even friends get pushed to the waiting list. A bomber promised is now a bomber paused. India watches closely. Behind the scenes, the calculus is changing. Western partners are watching too. Washington. Paris. Tel Aviv. Tokyo. All eyes on India's military purchases. A deal like Tu-160M could tip diplomatic scales, especially when Moscow faces global pressure. Still, the need does not vanish. Indian analysts flag it often – there is no true long-range bomber in the air force. A vacuum exists. One that rivals could exploit. BrahMos alone cannot fill it. Jets cannot replace it. The 'White Swan' was meant to do that. For now, the skies stay quieter. But they will not stay that way for long.
Business News Wales
03-07-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
£11.4m Programme Boosts City Centre Housing and Commercial Space
Developer Jordan Evans, of Sixx Group Dozens of new city centre homes are being created with the help of Swansea Council funding support. They are part of an £11.4 million, two-year programme delivered by the council to boost homes and commercial spaces. More than £7 million of the funding came from the Welsh Government Transforming Towns scheme, with £4.3 million coming from private investment. The grants and loans have also helped bring new homes to other Swansea locations, the council said. Council cabinet member Robert Francis-Davies said: 'As Swansea's £1 billion regeneration continues at pace, it's great to see us helping deliver new homes for private individuals and families. 'This is bringing more life to key retail areas, meaning new opportunities for businesses.' City centre buildings with new homes – above existing or new commercial premises – include: 1-3 Dillwyn Street – nine apartments at and next to the former Singleton Hotel 86 High Street – nine apartments above the ground floor at the former White Swan pub 19 Kingsway – two apartments on the upper floors 22-23 High Street – six new apartments on the upper floors above new commercial space 263-265 Oxford Street and 9 Portland Street – 11 new apartments on upper floors above the new Principality Building Society branch 266-267 Oxford Street – 10 new apartments on the upper floors above Shoezone 61 Kingsway and 26 Park St – six apartments on upper floors above ground level 2 Castle Gardens – nine apartments on the upper floors above the former XP Gaming A similar transformation is taking place at Morriston's former St Johns Church, with four apartments. Developer Jordan Evans, of Sixx Group, said: 'Swansea's city centre is undergoing real transformation, and we see strong potential in delivering high-quality homes in such a central, connected location. 'Converting the former Singleton Hotel into nine contemporary apartments is both a commercially sound investment and a meaningful contribution to the city's regeneration. 'By repurposing a well-known building, we're adding long-term value to the area while meeting the growing demand for modern, city-based living.' Developer Suki Kullar, of Kullar Property, said: 'The redevelopment of the former White Swan into nine high-quality apartments and three commercial units is a key step in bringing life back to this part of High Street. 'Projects like this are essential to regenerate the city centre and to create much-needed homes and local business opportunities.' Developer Nick Founds, of Trinity Landmark, said: 'The regeneration of the Kingsway over recent years has transformed the area; it's been the catalyst for a number of larger projects including 71/72 The Kingsway and the Coppergate student complex. 'We're excited to redevelop 19 The Kingsway. This will provide a contemporary building with a commercial unit on the ground floor and two large executive apartments on the upper floors. There'll be secure parking. 'The property is in a prominent position; we hope to bring this corner of The Kingsway back to life and to make a positive impact on the area.'
India.com
20-06-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Lightning like speed, power, destruction, White Swan wreaks havoc on enemies, it is called the 'emperor of the sky' due to..., developed by...
(Images: Wikimedia Commons) New Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin is yet to recover from the sense of defeat suffered by his military at the hands of Ukraine through Operation Spider's Web. That is why he is now deploying one killer weapon after another to protect his borders. A deadly supersonic bomber has now been added to Russia's weapons display, whose name makes even NATO countries sweat. Tu-160 bomber deployed at Anadyr airbase near Alaska, US Recently it was claimed that Russia has deployed its nuclear-capable Tu-160 supersonic bomber at Anadyr airbase near Alaska, far from the Ukrainian border. Ukrainian defense analysis website Defense Express claimed on June 4, based on satellite images of the European Space Agency, that Tu-160 has been seen at Anadyr airbase in Chukotka region. However, this has not been confirmed yet. Let us tell you that this bomber is called 'White Swan' in the Russian army, which in local parlance means destruction. White Swan unleashes destruction on enemy The Tu-160 is called 'White Swan' in Russia and 'Blackjack' in NATO. It is the world's heaviest and fastest supersonic bomber aircraft. It was built in the 1970s during the Soviet Union era. However, it has been updated for modern wars and is an important part of Russia's nuclear triad. Features of White Swan This bomber was designed in the 1970s in response to the American B-1 Lancer. Its length is 54 meters, while the wingspan goes up to 55.7 meters (at full extension). The engine of this bomber is 4 powerful NK-32 turbofans. Each one gives more than 25 tons of thrust. Its maximum speed is Mach 2.2 (2695 kmh) i.e. 2.2 times faster than sound. Its flying range is more than 12,300 km (without refueling). Its biggest feature is its variable geometry wings, which can change the angle according to the speed and distance of flight. It is a craft with heavy weapon capacity. It can be equipped with nuclear and conventional missiles. Ukraine on high alert The long range and heavy weapon capacity of the Tu-160 i.e. White Swan makes it perfect for Arctic patrols and operations near NATO borders. It is a symbol of Russia's military power. On Friday, 20 June 2025, Kiev's/Kyiv's air force claimed that Russia attacked with missiles and drones overnight using the Tu-160. In total, more than 400 drones, 6 ballistic missiles and 38 cruise missiles were fired. Operation Spider's Web angered Putin Ukraine's undercover Operation Spider's Web led to huge loss for Russian military. The FPV drones were smuggled into civilian trucks and transported to several airbases deep inside Russia and then carried out a surprise attack. The attack targeted Russia's Tu-95, Tu-22M3 and A-50 aircraft, which were valuable and scarce. The headquarter of this operation was located near a regional headquarter of Russia's domestic security agency FSB.
Bloomberg
30-05-2025
- General
- Bloomberg
How China's One-Child Policy Led to a Wave of Forced Adoptions
One morning in the late 1990s while on a reporting trip in China, I went down for breakfast in my hotel, the White Swan. It was the swankiest in Guangzhou, the bustling capital of Guangdong province, and was usually jammed with foreign and Chinese businessmen. But when I stepped into the café, I seemed to have been teleported to a Howard Johnson's in Toledo, Ohio. Instead of besuited businessmen doing deals over eggs and congee, the room was packed with middle-aged Caucasian couples wearing New Balance sneakers and jeans. Even more surprising, many of them were carrying tiny Chinese babies.
