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Netizens predict we are witnessing the fall of a “real man”

However, even the famous and popular are massively criticized online for these fashion choices. Netizens predict that we are witnessing the downfall of a “real man.” A real man, that is, one with a well-tailored suit.

Sports tailcoat

Commentators probably don’t realize that ideals regarding men’s and women’s clothing have changed dramatically over the centuries. As fashion historian and cultural anthropologist Zuzanna Żubka-Chmielewska explains, sober men’s clothing only became a trend at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries.

– The push for men to dress minimalist came from England and quickly spread throughout Europe, which was fascinated by all things English. What we now consider elegant menswear dates back to the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries. However, at that time it was classified as sportswear. A tailcoat or morning coat was worn when hunting and hiking. Shades of black, white, dove grey and navy blue also became fashionable – explains the expert.

The 19th century was also the time when makeup began to be associated with femininity. Once again, England played a big role in this. Queen Victoria, supported by representatives of the Anglican Church, believed that wearing makeup was vulgar and vain. So they were assigned to promiscuous women.

Killer powder

Previously, as Żubka-Chmielewska emphasizes, “men were not only inferior to women when it came to ornate clothing, but often wore clothes that were more decorative and expensive than women.” Their clothes shone in different colors and had striking cuts. In addition, there was avid use of makeup.

In ancient Egypt, it was considered a man’s style to paint large lines across the eyes – this was done to prove that the person wearing the makeup belonged to the elite. In fact, the lines made a comeback as a part of men’s appearance in the 1970s and 1980s, thanks to musicians like Prince and David Bowie. And then some rock bands. However, they never became as popular as they had been thousands of years earlier, on the banks of the Nile.

The Egyptians also created pigments that allowed them to paint their eyelids. Men voluntarily chose the color green, which was supposed to connect them to the god Re and thus increase their strength and fertility. In turn, the ancient Romans used pigment to make their cheeks rosy. They also painted their nails with a mixture of pig’s blood and fat.

In the countryside, long before the fiefdoms, the division into male and female clothing began to be observed.

In the 16th century, powders were used to enhance pale skin. It was also one of the most deadly makeup trends. Powders contained lead, and when used in abundance, they caused serious health problems and sometimes even death. However, powders had been used for hundreds of years, and in the 17th century, the trend was complemented by lush wigs that hid baldness or skin lesions resulting from poor hygiene.

Woman disguise

The first men’s clothing was a loincloth. At first it was made of animal skins, later also of wool. In ancient times, loincloths began to become more ornate. This was especially true in Asia, because in Europe they tried to keep the colors softer. However, they did not shy away from decoration. Thus, Greek chitons and their Roman counterparts, that is, tunics, were often fastened with gold clasps, heavy necklaces made of agate, amethyst and rock crystal were hung around the neck, and the wrists were decorated with bracelets. Men’s and women’s clothing did not differ much from each other, but there were certain rules regarding gender.

– Men’s clothing was shorter so they could comfortably ride horses and do physical work. In Greece, if a man wore a long tunic and had long hair, he could be ridiculed, explains Żubka-Chmielewska.

Significant changes in men’s clothing occurred at the end of the 11th century, when Byzantine fashion spread throughout Western Europe. As we read in the book “From Skirt to Trousers: The History of Men’s Fashion” by Krzysztof Łoszewski, “long cloaks with wide sleeves were a real novelty. The tunic ended in a kind of train that trailed along the ground.” The clothes of the elite were studded with precious stones, and the whole look was complemented by shoes with long, upturned toes.

The full development of the trend was blocked by the Catholic Church. According to the hierarchs, such rich clothing was inappropriate for men. They should have called it a woman’s disguise. However, this could not stop the fashion revolution. This does not mean that you could afford everything – on the one hand, fashion excesses were restricted by the Church. On the other hand, some rulers used anti-luxury laws that began to be introduced in many parts of Europe in the 12th century.

Their purpose was to prevent people from flaunting their wealth. Such behavior was seen as a manifestation of pride, greed, and sinful nature. The regulations specified maximum amounts for spending on robes. It was also determined which social classes had the right to wear precious clothes. Sometimes the maximum length of the dress was specified or additional decorations were prohibited. Historian Zuzanna Żubka-Chmielewska gives Florence as a vivid example of how absurd these laws could be. Men were not allowed to wear silk fabrics there. In Venice, gold buttons were banned.

A time of splendor

At the beginning of the Renaissance, anti-luxury laws began to be questioned, the violation of which was rarely punished. In turn, with the advent of the Baroque, men completely stopped limiting themselves when it came to fashion. As we read in the aforementioned book “From Skirt to Trousers”, Baroque men paid a lot of attention to their appearance. As the author explains, “the time spent getting dressed took up half the day”.

We learn that men wore pearl earrings, curled their heads in curls, and sprinkled perfume on their collars. Their clothes were said to be so rich that “women seemed modest in comparison.” – If we look at the household accounts of England from the late 16th and early 17th centuries, we can see that women’s clothes prepared for an audience with Queen Elizabeth I cost less than men’s, notes Żuzanna Żubka-Chmielewska.

The first ties also appeared in the 17th century, although they were later made of lace and spread across the chest. They were not hung on a single strip as they are today. Kings Louis XIV and Frederick V probably loved them as much as high-heeled shoes. This solution came to Europe from Persia and was mainly of practical importance.

As Żubka-Chmielewska explains, “the heel helped to stay in the stirrups and at the same time indicated the status of the man wearing them.” Lower-class gentlemen, who had to travel a lot on foot rather than by horse or carriage, could not afford such extravagance.

The 18th century brought a revolution in the textile industry. Sewing became faster and faster, not only because of technical progress, but also because new markets opened up in the colonies. Fashion magazines helped people find their way through the flood of fabrics and patterns.

Men, though still dressed formally, abandoned their baroque splendor. Their wigs became smaller and their fabrics became less colorful. The upper classes began to abandon stockings in favor of trousers, which had been introduced two centuries earlier (their ancestors were medieval trousers). Fashion began to move toward modern divisions—what is masculine is simple and understated, what is feminine is sophisticated and colorful.

Women can do more

Żubka-Chmielewska emphasizes that when we talk about clothing, we usually focus on the upper classes. The lower classes had slightly different – ​​more conservative – rules. In the countryside, long before the feudal lords, the division into men’s and women’s clothing began to be observed.

– A country woman, even if she had the financial means, would not wear a long dress with a train, as it would hinder her field work. But she also could not dress completely comfortably. In the Middle Ages, men could work in just a shirt and pants, and women in a dress or long skirt, says the historian.

This rigid division spread across all social classes in the 19th century. Today, conservative fashion rules apply mainly to men. This is one of the few areas of life where women can afford much more. Research by sociologist Emily Kane shows that we are conditioned to do this even as children – parents are much more accepting of daughters than of sons who dress in a way that is incongruent with their gender. Parents are particularly sensitive to any manifestations of feminization in their sons. The researcher sees the sources of these reactions in patriarchy and patterns of toxic masculinity, which make us think that the greatest insult for a man is to be compared to a woman. This, in turn, may explain the strong reactions on the Internet to photos of men dressed in “feminine” clothes. And this despite the fact that such feminized clothes would already have been considered very masculine. For some, this is undermining the paradigm in which they have operated until now – they treat it as a threat.

This is a difficult change also because there has always been some division – more or less clear – about what is appropriate to wear depending on gender. This despite the fact that cultural and social norms and fashion are constantly changing.

Given the visible resistance to this mix of orders today, Żubka-Chmielewska does not predict that men will soon start wearing skirts en masse. But she adds: – On the other hand, the world is changing very quickly. Just a dozen or so years ago, a strong tan was popular, but now it is frowned upon. Trends also tend to come back, so perhaps men’s clothing will become a little feminized.

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“I got to try Popeye’s new menu – it was so much more, I wanted more”

Popeyes UK has announced the return of fan favorite Louisiana BBQ flavor to the menu nationwide.

The popular restaurant chain is bringing back the Louisiana BBQ Sandwich and launching the brand new Louisiana BBQ Saucin’ Wings.

Following the success of Popeyes’ Louisiana BBQ Sandwich last year, the cult classic is back by popular demand after fans raved about the flavor combination of chicken and sauce.

It was so popular that almost 10,000 sandwiches were sold in its first week of release.

The restaurant chain has also announced the launch of Box Meals with four options – including the Louisiana BBQ Sandwich Box Meal.

The launch of customizable meals means BBQ fans can add even more chicken to their sandwich for £10.99.

Available for a limited time only, the Louisiana BBQ Sandwich from £6.99 brings a mouth-wateringly sweet and smoky twist to Popeyes’ iconic sandwich selection, after we got to taste some of the menu items for ourselves.

The Louisiana BBQ sandwich pleases the taste buds with its sweet and smoky taste. Again, it’s so dark you can’t help but want more.

Packed full of Louisiana flavors, the sandwich features a fried chicken breast drizzled with a flavorful BBQ sauce and topped with smoked cheese, fresh pickles, BBQ sauce and mayo, all on a soft brioche bun. What more could you ask for?

Also fresh to the UK scene is the launch of Louisiana BBQ Saucin’ Wings starting at £5.75. It’s drenched in Popeyes’ house-developed, sweet and smoky sauce with a bit of a Southern twist.

Louisiana BBQ Saucin’ Wings are a treat you can’t miss. The bold, morsh flavor will keep you wanting more thanks to sweet and savory southern spices and fall-off-the-bone chicken.

Available in five, eight or 12 wings or as part of a meal including fries and a drink, these wings are a must-try for fans looking to spice up their order.

Popeyes has also announced the launch of its Box Meals programme, which means for the first time fans can get a Mixin’ Munchin’ Combo Crunchin’ with their favorite menu items for just £9.99.

Box Meals are available in four variants:Chicken Sandwich Box Meal (Classic or Spicy)Chicken Sandwich Deluxe Box Meal (classic or spicy)Signature Louisiana Chicken Box MealLouisiana BBQ Sandwich Box Meal

With each Box Meal, fans can choose a Popeyes Sandwich, including the newest Louisiana BBQ Sandwich paired with a side of two Chicken Tenders or three Hot Wings.

Or they can ditch the sandwich and opt for a combination of three Chicken Tenders and three Hot Wings with the Signature Louisiana Chicken Box Meal.

Each meal also comes with standard fries and a standard drink – meaning a mouth-watering saving of over £7 (all depending on your location) when fans order their favorite items as a boxed meal.

In addition, Popeyes fans can spice up their orders with Cajun Fries instead of regular fries for just 1 puma.

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Polsat new series of programs scheduled for autumn 2024. how much does it earn from advertising

In the second quarter of 2024, Telewizja Polsat recorded PLN 361 million in revenues from TV advertising and sponsorship, 4.8% higher than last year. more than a year ago. The entire market grew stronger – by 5.7%. up to PLN 1.286 billion. This resulted in a slight decrease in Telewizja Polsat’s share: from PLN 28.3 million to PLN 28.1 million.

Over the first half of the year, the changes were similar: Polsat’s advertising revenues increased by 6.2%. to PLN 668 million, and the entire market grew by 7.2%. to PLN 2.378 billion.

Polsat wants to continue to be a leader in television

Telewizja Polsat management believes that it is difficult to achieve significant growth in the television market. – Television is in a very difficult situation globally because everyone has a portable TV with them, Polsat CEO Piotr Żak said during a video conference on Thursday, showing off his smartphone.. Żak has been running the broadcaster since January this year and was appointed permanent chairman in early July.

– Therefore, our most important task is to maintain our position as a leader in the Polish television market. So that as many people as possible can simply come and watch us as often as possible – added Żak.

How will the broadcaster manage to do this in 2024? In the last quarter, the share of its broadcasters (excluding those broadcast in the partner model) in the audience market was 22 percent, just like last year. TVN Warner Bros. Discovery recorded from 23.5 to 23 percent, and Telewizja Polska – from 19.9 to 18.3 percent, mainly due to the decline in the audience of TVP Info (data from Nielsen Audience Measurement).

However, channels outside the three largest broadcasters benefited. The total audience share of stations available via satellite and cable networks increased from 26.5 to 28 percent (including thanks to a sudden increase in viewership for TV Republika, which appeared on terrestrial television in mid-July), and of channels available on digital terrestrial television – from 8.3 to 8.6 percent.

Cyfrowy Polsat has raised its forecast for annual growth in the television advertising and sponsorship market. The company expects its value to increase at a mid-single-digit ratewhereas previously she expected low single-digit dynamics.

What happens after the next TVN sale?

The difficult situation in the television market can be seen in the recent moves by US giants. Warner Bros. and Discovery, which has been experiencing declines in its television segment for several quarters, showed this in its results for the second quarter of this year. made 9.39 billion dollars in amortization and impairments (of which 9.1 billion dollars were related to the TV division), as a result, its net loss widened year-on-year from 1.24 to 9.99 billion dollars. Paramount also decided to make a multibillion-dollar write-down of its television assets.

Warner Bros. Discovery has also been struggling with high debt for more than two years, which, together with the deteriorating results of the television division, has significantly reduced the company’s share price and forced it to restructure. Some content has been sold, HBO productions have been limited in many European countries, including Poland. In early August, the Financial Times reported that the company was considering selling the TVN group.

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READ ALSO: Who could take over TVN? Here’s a list of potential buyers

What does Polsat say about this? – We are primarily focused on what we do to make our viewers happy and have as many viewers as possible. We do not know what the competition will do after the acquisition. Maybe it’s better, maybe it’s worse, but we’re absolutely doing our part: we maintain cost discipline, we offer great content to our viewers. – said PiotrŻak.

No record budget for the schedule

Two weeks ago, Telewizja Polsat channels changed their autumn schedules. As we have already described, the main broadcast will feature, among others: the breakfast show “Halo tu Polsat”, the reality show “My Mom and Your Dad” with Katarzyna Cichopek and the military series “Special Forces Poland”.

How much did the broadcaster spend on this? – If we take into account the inflation that has affected us in recent years, this autumn calendar is absolutely not the most expensive in history – admitted Piotr Żak.

– However, it is absolutely true that we are investing and trying new things. This is exactly for the purpose I mentioned earlier: to acquire as many viewers as possible, to maintain our position in this market – he noted.

READ ALSO: Polsat corrects programming. Night band earlier

In the last quarters the entire media division of Telewizja Polsat, including revenues from station distribution, content sales and advertising on online platforms (including Interia), recorded a decline in profitability. In the second quarter of 2024, its EBITDA margin decreased y/y/ by 2.6 percentage points. to 21.9 percent, and EBITDA profit – by 7 percent. up to PLN 145 million.

TRUE quarterly revenues increased by 4%. up to PLN 663 million (the company reported that revenues from advertising and cable and satellite operators increased, while those from the sale of licenses and sublicenses decreased), but operating costs (excluding depreciation, impairment and liquidation) increased most significantly – by 8%. up to PLN 522 millionamong others as a result of higher expenses with own production, marketing and remuneration.

Polsat continues with cost discipline

The Polsat president emphasized that cost discipline is part of the broadcaster’s long-term strategy. – Our costs are adjusted to the effect and our expectations. We will never spend money on content that people do not watch or do not want. We will monitor this cost disciplinemaintain high levels of EBITDA and retain our customers – he announced.

>>> Praca.Wirtualnemedia.pl – thousands of media and marketing ads

The entire Cyfrowy Polsat capital group in the second quarter of 2024 with an increase in revenue by 5%. to PLN 3.45 billion (despite the decrease in the number of television service customers) recorded an increase in net profit by PLN 8.1 to PLN 175.5 million. This was facilitated by, among other things: reducing debt service costs.

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Harris defends Israel’s right to defend itself, says Gaza situation ‘heartbreaking’

Vice President Kamala Harris gave a full-throated defense of Israel in her annual convention speech Thursday night, echoing President Joe Biden’s language that has drawn criticism from pro-Palestinian protesters.

Harris, who spoke for a long part of his acceptance speech about the war in Gaza, also expressed his sympathy for the innocent lives lost and called for a ceasefire agreement.

The war caused tension in the meeting. Pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrated outside the congress hall every night. Delegates in the arena, elected “non-aligned” in a protest vote against Biden’s support for Israel, had tried to bargain for speaking time but were denied. Several protested silently at different points of the week.

“Let me be clear, I will always defend Israel’s right to defend itself and I will always make sure that Israel has the ability to defend itself because the people of Israel will never again have to face the horror that was inflicted on October 7 by a terrorist organization called Hamas, including unspeakable sexual violence and a massacre of young people at a music festival,” Harris said.

Kamala Harris at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Thursday.

He continued: “At the same time, what has happened in Gaza over the last 10 months is devastating. So many innocent lives lost. Desperate, hungry people fleeing for safety again and again. The scale of the suffering is heartbreaking.”

Harris said he and Biden are working to end the war in Gaza so that “Israel is safe” and the hostages are freed, and that “the suffering in Gaza ends and the Palestinians can realize their right to dignity, security, freedom and self-determination.”

His comments came as he faced pressure from some members of the Democratic Party who wanted him to break with Biden over his support for Israel.

On Wednesday night, the parents of an American hostage still held by Hamas spoke about their son, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, whose arm was blown off by Hamas before he was loaded into a pickup truck and taken to Gaza.

“That was 320 days ago,” said his mother, Rachel Goldberg-Polin. “Since then we have been living on another planet. Anyone who is a parent or has had a parent can try to imagine the pain and misery that Jon and I and all the hostage families are going through.”

Earlier this week, Foreign Minister Antony Blinken said that Israel had accepted a US proposal to move forward with negotiations on a possible ceasefire. However, he warned that it was “probably the best, maybe the last chance to get the hostages home, get a ceasefire and get everybody on a better path to lasting peace and security.”

Biden also addressed the conflict in his convention speech Monday night, saying his administration is trying to “prevent a wider war.”

“We are working around the clock – Secretary of State – to prevent a wider war and reunite the hostages with their families and get humanitarian health and food aid to Gaza now to end the civilian suffering of the Palestinian people and finally, finally, finally, let’s have a ceasefire and end this war.”

He added: “These protesters in the street have a point. A lot of innocent people are being killed on both sides.”

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com

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They will not receive compensation for coal. The Ministry of Assets will not pay money to PKP Cargo

Let us recall: at the end of July, PKP Cargo and trade unionists sent a letter to Donald Tusk regarding the payment of compensation for the costs incurred by the national giant in transporting 4.5 million tons of coal.

As reported in the letter, the correct and timely execution of the indicated transportations resulted in the need for significant resource commitment by PKP Cargo and the cancellation of some of the existing contracts, which resulted in material damage – loss of significant revenues and expected benefits.

The compensation payment was intended to complete the restructuring and protect “a significant number of jobs at PKP Cargo and its subsidiaries”.

The Ministry of State Assets is responsible for PKP Cargo

Despite everything, the Ministry of State Heritage did not agree to pay compensation.

“Both the Sanitation Administrator and the Board of Directors of PKP Cargo SA under restructuring note with regret the position of the Ministry of State Assets regarding the lack of a legal basis for the payment of compensation to PKP Cargo SA for the implementation of the so-called coal decision,” we read in the statement.

In a press release sent to the Polish Press Agency, MAP announced that there are no grounds for the Minister of State Assets to sign an agreement with PKP Cargo based on the decision issued by the Prime Minister on July 25, 2022. According to the Ministry of State Assets, it should be stated that the transport costs referred to in the decision were fully covered by PKP Cargo.

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“On 25 July 2022, then Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki issued a decision instructing PKP Cargo to transport by rail coal purchased and imported to Poland by PGE Paliwa and Węglokoks. The coal transportation costs incurred by PKP Cargo were fully paid by the purchasing companies. PKP Cargo also confirmed that it had earned revenue in this regard – MAP stressed”, reads the PAP statement.

As reported in “DGP”, the company’s situation deteriorated rapidly due, among other things, to the aforementioned decision on coal.

– The implementation of this idea by the then management was worse than terrible. Existing customers who, for example, ordered the transport of aggregates were not served and lucrative contracts were abandoned almost overnight, switching almost exclusively to coal. The company lost lucrative and promising contracts, and customers were permanently offended by PKP Cargo. As a result, the company lost tens or even hundreds of millions of zlotys. – said Marcin Wojewódka, interim president of PKP Cargo.

PKP Cargo board of directors names culprits

In the statement regarding MAP’s negative decision, the board of directors of PKP Cargo indicates who caused the company’s “tragic situation”.

“The employees of PKP Cargo SA and their families were cruelly deceived by activists of the Law and Justice party, namely Mr. Mateusz Morawiecki, Mr. Jacek Sasin, Mr. Dariusz Seliga and Mr. Marek Olkiewicz and others who, with their extremely irresponsible decisions, brought our Company to the brink of bankruptcy”, reads the statement.

Meanwhile, at the same time, United Right politicians comment on the X website that PKP Cargo will be sold to the German railways.

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“More than 4,000 people are losing their jobs at PKP Cargo, and the entire operation is probably a prelude to the liquidation of the company and to make way for German railways. We recall that PKP Cargo carries out, among other things, transports to Poland, Army and NATO troops,” wrote Mariusz Błaszczak.

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Adam Bodnar on the arrest warrant for Michał K.: Morawiecki’s intriguing words

On Thursday, it emerged that the court had allowed the application of pre-trial detention against the former head of the Government Agency for Strategic Reserves, Michał K., which will allow the issuance of an arrest warrant. Bodnar was asked whether such actions were not excessive.

Adam Bodnar: Application in the case of Michał K. due to the fact that his place of stay cannot be determined

– This is not an exaggeration, because first of all: the decision was made by the court at the request of the public prosecutor’s office. This request has not been pending for a day, it has been two weeks since it was filed. It was not possible to determine the place of residence and stay of Michał K. on the territory of the Republic of Poland, therefore these requests and the court agreed with them. This means that the commission of the act was substantiated and these allegations were taken into account by the court. The issuance of such a decision by the court provides the basis for the public prosecutor’s office to issue an arrest warrant, Bodnar explained.

– In this case, the method of action is for the Public Prosecutor’s Office to present a whole set of information that someone is not in Poland or that their whereabouts cannot be determined – he added.

Michał K. is accused of operating in an organized criminal group, exceeding his powers and failing to fulfill his duties for financial gain. Charges have also been brought against Paweł Sz., a manufacturer of patriotic clothing. In his case, the court did not agree with the provisional arrest (the public prosecutor’s office will appeal this decision). Paweł Sz.’s lawyers – as Bodnar reported – have requested a so-called safe conduct that would allow their client to return to the country.

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“There will be a lot of therapy bills to pay”

New Delhi:

Parvathy Thiruvothu who won the Best Actress award Ullozhukku at the Melbourne International Film Festival (IIFM), has opened up about how the film affected him emotionally. In an interaction with NDTV’s Abira Dhar, Parvathy shared her “first thought” for the psychological drama when director Christo Tomy narrated the script. “The first thought I had when I listened to Christo’s story, the first time, I think in late 2018, was that I heard it and he left and I was like ‘oh this is going to be a lot of therapy bills.’ ‘. That was one of my first thoughts. If I had to put it on and it didn’t result in therapy bills, it was definitely one of those experiences where even if I wanted to, I couldn’t sit back and relax,” she said. Ullozhukku premiering June 21.

Ullozhukku revolves around a family unable to bury their loved one due to flooding. The situation forces the members to face lies and secrets, which threatens their unity.

Meanwhile, Parvathy Thiruvothu has reacted to the Justice Hema Committee report released by the Kerala government on Monday. Parvathy Thiruvothu told NDTV’s Abira Dhar, “The feeling of accomplishment is extremely bittersweet for us, mainly because the first landing happened sometime in 2018 and the report was submitted sometime in 2019. It took so many years to come out. The edited version of it. These years our have had to really beg, swim and fight. It was the public and the media that had to join this fight and say, ‘Wait, why are you hiding it from us? Why isn’t it coming out?’

Work-wise, Parvathy Thiruvothu was last seen in director Pa Ranjith’s film To Thangala featuring Vikram.

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Xiaomi posts revenue and profit growth on strong smartphone sales in Q2 2024

Xiaomi Corporation released its second-quarter 2024 financial results, which showed an increase in total revenue and profit thanks to strong mobile phone sales.

In this report, Xiaomi released sales figures for its SU7 electric car for the first time. Since the model went on sale in April, 27,307 units have been sold.

Xiaomi Corporation Q2 2024 Results

Smartphone sales revenue in the April-June period was CNY46.5 billion (USD6.5 billion), up 27% from the same period last year. Xiaomi sold 42.2 million units, including its Redmi and Poco sub-brands.

Premium smartphones accounted for 22.1% of total shipments, also a year-over-year improvement for Xiaomi. This segment includes models sold in mainland China that cost more than CNY 3,000 ($420); some of them, such as the Xiaomi 14 Pro or Xiaomi Mix Fold 3, are still unavailable outside the domestic market.

Xiaomi Corporation Q2 2024 Results

Xiaomi remains the world’s third-largest smartphone company for the 16th consecutive quarter, behind Apple and Samsung. However, it was in the top two in Latin America and the Middle East region, with 18.6% and 21.2% market share, respectively.

The total number of users in the Xiaomi ecosystem now stands at 676 million, up 11.5% year-on-year. This number is even more impressive when you consider that the number of users in mainland China stands at 164 million, meaning three out of four users are located outside the domestic market.

Xiaomi Corporation Q2 2024 Results

During a press conference following the earnings report, Lu Weibing, founder and chairman of Xiaomi, revealed that the company is on track to deliver 120,000 cars by the end of 2024, with factories now running double shifts to meet demand.

Xiaomi reported CNY6.4 billion ($900 million) in revenue from its Smart EV business, but is still losing CNY1.8 billion ($252 million) in the red. As orders pick up, the automotive business’ profitability is expected to improve over time.

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Shopping Sundays: Will stores be open on August 25th?

Notebooks, crayons, backpacks – the start of the school year is fast approaching and that means parents have to dig deep into their pockets. These are the last days to prepare the school supplies. So, shall we go shopping this Sunday, August 25?

(illustrative photo)

/Shutter

The Sejm is working on a draft amendment to the regulations, allowing two trading Sundays per month.

However, before this happens, the March 2018 law gradually introduced the ban on trading on Sundays came into force. From 2020 onwards, the trading ban will no longer apply to the seven Sundays of the year: the last Sundays of January, April, June and August, as well as the Sunday before Easter and the two Sundays before Christmas.

So next Sunday will be commercial. On August 25th the stores will be open!

So this year, stores will open on Sunday, December 15th, and then on December 22nd.

The law restricting trade on Sundays provides for a catalogue of 32 exclusions. The prohibition does not include, among others: postal activity, provided that the revenues from this activity constitute at least 40 percent; revenues from the sale of a given facility. In addition, it does not apply to confectioneries, ice cream parlors, liquid fuel stations, florists, newsagents or cafes.

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Mukesh Chhabra on Bollywood’s New Approach: ‘More Information, Less Entertainment’

New Delhi:

Mukesh Chhabra wears many hats – actor, filmmaker and casting director. He is always open about his views on Bollywood. Appearing on Ranveer Allahbadia’s podcast, Mukesh discussed how Bollywood has moved towards more “to gya [knowledge]“and less entertainment. When asked about Bollywood’s gradual comeback, he said:Hoga yarr. Entertainment value ko kam karke zaada gyaan Dene me Chale Gaye hai. Stir ho sakta hai yaar. [It will happen. But we have moved towards giving more knowledge and less entertainment. It can be a mix.]”

Mukesh Chhabra continued:Matlab aap dekhlo 3 Idiots dekho 12th Fail dekhlo, kya hai vo Matlab uske andar. I also felt that Bajrangi Bhijaan ithe whole commercial picture. But there is a very interesting message in that movie – insaan to insaan hi hota hai. Aur itne Bade level pe commercial movie bnaai hai, aur uska message choti si ek line ka hai. [I mean, just look at 3 Idiots or 12th Fail and see what they convey. I also felt that Bajrangi Bhaijaan is a fully commercial film, but it carries a very interesting message — ‘a human is just a human.’ They have made a big-level commercial film with a message that can be summed up in a single line.]”

During the same podcast, Mukesh Chhabra talked about the time when his mother Kamal Chhabra suffered from heart problems. He said that Akshay Kumar helped him during that time. The actor recalled how filmmaker Anand L Rai told him that the doctor he should contact knew Akshay Kumar. He continued, “So, I sent Akshay Kumar a message and he immediately called. He arranged everything in that hospital, he called me almost every day, continuously for 15 days. He asked, ‘How is your mother? How are you?’ He also talked to the doctor constantly. He doesn’t talk about it; I never talked about it either.”

“Despite being so busy, he asked every morning:Mom da ki haal hai? [How is mummy now?]’ I can’t forget it at all. He even met my mother. We don’t even have regular contact because you take that step to help someone when you know them on a personal level, yet he did. We started talking after that but I can’t forget that moment,” added Mukesh Chhabra. His mother passed away in April 2023.

Mukesh Chhabra has done casting direction for films like Rockstar, Dangal, Jawan and Dunk.

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