All posts tagged: Sparks

Football meme sparks boycott calls in Malaysia; Indonesian grooming brand apologises

Football meme sparks boycott calls in Malaysia; Indonesian grooming brand apologises

Published by Sam Flores

KUALA LUMPUR: An Indonesian men’s grooming brand faced controversy in Malaysia after a meme that appeared to celebrate Indonesia’s victory at a recent regional football tournament sparked calls for a boycott of its products. After Indonesia beat Thailand to win the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup on home soil at Gelora Bung Karno stadium in Jakarta on Oct 5, the brand, Kahf, shared on its Threads account a meme with the words “hati-hati beda level”. It translates to “be careful, different levels”. The words separated the Indonesian flag from that of other countries including Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. Malaysia came in third in the ASEAN Cup while Singapore was knocked out after a 0-6 defeat by Malaysia and placing third in Group A. Kahf’s post sparked outrage among Malaysians, who felt the brand was belittling Indonesia’s neighbours. Netizens questioned the brand’s messaging and called for a boycott of Kahf in Malaysia. The Indonesian brand’s products are sold at major health and beauty retail stores in Malaysia as well as on online platforms. Kahf issued a public …

Jackie Chan, 72, sparks fan reaction with photos from rare public appearance with David Beckham

Jackie Chan, 72, sparks fan reaction with photos from rare public appearance with David Beckham

Published by Daniella Wilson

Jackie Chan made a rare public appearance ahead of the weekend in China. The actor, 72, was spotted courtside at the NBA Global Games on October 9, watching the Houston Rockets take on the Dallas Mavericks (and win 135-117) at the Venetian Arena in Macau. Jackie wore a white matching set with a brown turtleneck sweater and sneakers for his courtside appearance, joined by Alibaba co-founders Joseph Tsai and Jack Ma, plus football legend and friend David Beckham. © Getty ImagesJackie Chan made a rare public appearance at the NBA China Games 2026 between Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks David, 51, shared a photo from the game with Jackie on his Instagram page, captioning it: “Back with the legendary @jackiechan… Night one of the @nba China Games,” and fans couldn’t agree more with his description of the star. “Omg! 2 legends!” one commented on the photo, with another saying: “Living legends,” and a third similarly adding: “Two legends in one picture.” While Jackie continues to work, most recently tied to the fourth film in the …

OpenAI sparks ‘mathpocalypse’ as it publishes full or partial solutions to 372 outstanding problems | US News

OpenAI sparks ‘mathpocalypse’ as it publishes full or partial solutions to 372 outstanding problems | US News

Published by skeptic

OpenAI has published full or partial solutions to 372 outstanding mathematical problems, stunning mathematicians and forcing them to question the future of the field. The announcement – which has been described as the “mathpocalypse” – took place on Tuesday. It comes a month after OpenAI announced a proposed proof for the Navier-Stokes equation, one of seven Millennium Prize Problems which mark the peak of human ambition in the field. Mathematicians have been taken aback by the speed of mathematical progress in AI, which struggled with GCSE-level maths problems less than two years ago. The proposed proofs, which are described in 722 papers, are so complex and so numerous that even understanding them poses a gigantic problem for mathematicians, and many have not been verified. “If you want some sense of what things feel like now in maths, imagine a hunter-gatherer who’s spent his entire life learning to survive deep in an unforgiving rainforest, then a giant resort hotel springs up right next to him with a helipad and heated pools and Airbnbs,” wrote Scott Aaronson, …

Pedro Sanchez calls snap election in Spain after pensioner eviction sparks fury | World | News

Pedro Sanchez calls snap election in Spain after pensioner eviction sparks fury | World | News

Published by Sam Flores

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called a snap election as the country is in the midst of a housing crisis. Sánchez, 54, has come under increasing pressure in recent weeks after parliament rejected a housing plan last week that his government had hoped would ease growing social unrest. The legislation included the suspension of evictions of vulnerable tenants until 2030 and tax increases on tourist apartments. Sánchez, who has been in office since 2018, confirmed in a televised Madrid address this morning that Spain will be heading to the polls on November 29. The next vote was originally scheduled for the summer of 2027. He said the Spanish people must decide what role they wish Spain to play “in this era”. “It’s time you, the Spanish people, decide which future you want for yourselves and for the country”, said Sánchez. The PM went on to defend his government’s tenure and admitted it had made mistakes, but insisted it was time to let the Spanish people have their say. “It’s up to you now,” he …

Our Minds Have Sparks of the Divine

Our Minds Have Sparks of the Divine

Published by Jenni Sidey

The literary, dramatic genre of Absurdism (in particular, Theatre of the Absurd) is an assault on the mind of rational creatures who seek logic (Logos). However, the genre intrigues me and many more of its followers, especially the plays of Samuel Beckett and Eugene Ionesco. From a strange, artistic perceptive, I find such plays quite entertaining and unwittingly revealing in a theological way. At the core of these plays is the absurd condition that some fictional characters find themselves trapped, in a life without meaning, despite there being a meaning in such a condition (boredom), which makes it all the more bizarre and paradoxical. (To say ‘life is meaningless’ would have to include the meaning of that sentence.) For readers unfamiliar with this strange genre, of which my own works of fiction touches on, the Theatre of the Absurd emerged in Paris during the 1950s, after the Second World War. For many anti-Christian Godless artistic intellectuals, the conflict had exposed the “fragility of the moral, political, and rational structures upon which European civilisation had claimed …

Megan Fox Stars in Campaign for Erectile Dysfunction Pill Ro Sparks

Megan Fox Stars in Campaign for Erectile Dysfunction Pill Ro Sparks

Published by Daniella Wilson

Megan Fox has a new role that has her looking like a character pulled from a superhero film. But the veteran actress slipped into the all-red ensemble to help Ro promote its erectile dysfunction pills. “Hi, I’m not Viagra,” Fox says in a new campaign clip that debuted Thursday morning. “I’m Ro Sparks, a prescription medication for men.” She then goes on to describe how it works as a prescription-only, 2-in-1 ED treatment combining sildenafil and tadalafil (active ingredients used in ED pills like Viagra and Cialis), and is dissolved under the tongue for faster absorption in 15 minutes. It can also last up to 36 hours. Per Ro, the company says that its research found that men are most receptive to messaging when it comes from a woman. Expect to see Fox, Ro Sparks’ first-ever celebrity partner, in the new campaign on linear TV, streaming, paid social and out-of-home like a Times Square takeover. Next week, there will be tear-away posters popping up across New York City. Telehealth company Ro has drafted celebrity partners …

Earl Spencer issues major Prince Harry bombshell as controversial book sparks chaos | Royal | News

Earl Spencer issues major Prince Harry bombshell as controversial book sparks chaos | Royal | News

Published by Sam Flores

Earl Spencer has revealed that he did not talk to any members of the Royal Family before the publication of his controversial new book, including Prince Harry. The Earl said nobody knew he was writing his memoir, “Swan Song: Diana, My Sister,” except for his wife and the publishers. Speaking to CBS mornings, he said: “I didn’t tell any of the family until just before it was released publicly as a thing. I didn’t want anyone to think, particularly with Harry, who people know I had to stay in the summer, that he was in any way involved in this.” The earl added: “It was important to me that they weren’t,” he added. The book was released on 22 September and Earl Spencer says he has spoken with William and Harry since it hit the shelves. Next year marks the 30th anniversary of Princess Diana’s death. The princess tragically died in a car crash in Paris in 1997. Spencer said he hopes the book will “celebrate Diana.” “I wanted people to realize she was someone …

Milania Giudice has ‘significant psychological trauma’ as airport incident sparks concern, mom Teresa says

Milania Giudice has ‘significant psychological trauma’ as airport incident sparks concern, mom Teresa says

Published by Daniella Wilson

Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Membership today. Join today Already a member? Log in Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Teresa Giudice has spoken out about her daughter Milania after a series of concerning incidents. The Real Housewives of New Jersey star’s daughter, 20, has experienced significant challenges and loss in recent months. Milania was arrested in May and charged with simple assault over an alleged domestic violence incident. She pleaded not guilty and is due back in court Tuesday, according to Page Six. Milania’s childhood friend, Victoria Zardoya, then tragically died after sustaining a fall during a July vacation in Tampa, Florida. More recently, Milania was involved in an incident at Tampa International Airport last week that required …

Eviction of 87-year-old sparks protests in Madrid over housing crisis : NPR

Eviction of 87-year-old sparks protests in Madrid over housing crisis : NPR

Published by Sam Flores

Protesters camp during a protest following the eviction last Wednesday of 87-year-old Maricarmen to demand stronger laws to protect renters at Sol square in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. Manu Fernandez/AP hide caption toggle caption Manu Fernandez/AP MADRID — Protesters outraged by the eviction of an 87-year-old woman camped overnight in Madrid’s historic Puerta del Sol plaza, where more demonstrators — including multigenerational families — joined them on Sunday for a second day of protests over Spain’s housing crisis. Tens of thousands marched through Madrid on Saturday to protest the eviction of María del Carmen Abascal from the apartment in the upscale Retiro neighborhood where she had lived for more than seven decades. The demonstrators are demanding stronger tenant protections, measures to combat fraud and a ban on evictions when alternative housing is unavailable. Many refused to leave after Saturday’s march and pitched tents in Puerta del Sol for the night. “The housing situation is unsustainable,” said Natalia Navarro, a 27-year-old actress who was among those camping out at the plaza. “We are all …

San Francisco Giants’ ‘mom of the year’ defends husband after clip sparks online backlash

San Francisco Giants’ ‘mom of the year’ defends husband after clip sparks online backlash

Published by Sam Flores

A woman Giants announcers dubbed “mom of the year” after cameras caught her carrying a baby and an armful of food back to her seat while a man beside her began eating is saying the viral clip didn’t show the whole story. “Before you decide what our marriage looks like, I would like you to hear from the woman you’re defending,” she wrote. The woman, who identified herself as Erika, described what happened at Tuesday’s San Francisco Giants game in a Substack post Friday. She said she had taken their daughter to the restroom and offered to pick up food for her husband, Ramses, on the way back. He told her to get him whatever had the shortest line. When she returned, Ramses asked whether she wanted to eat first, Erika wrote. She told him to go ahead because she had eaten before the game and knew he had not had a full meal that day. He also offered to take the food containers off her lap and share his sandwich, but she declined. Giants …