Author Archive zhengerya.com

On October 15, local officials in Venezuela reported a fire that broke out at an oil storage tank operated by the state-owned oil company, PDVSA, at the La Salina oil terminal. The incident left at least 21 individuals injured, including workers, nearby residents, and firefighters.

According to reports, the fire ignited early in the morning and continued to burn throughout the night. The location is near the western city of CAVIMAS, along the shores of Lake Maracaibo, where PDVSA handles the transportation of crude oil and fuel between domestic ports.

Videos from the scene captured the collapse of the cylindrical structure of the oil tank. One source close to the situation mentioned that nearby residents heard explosions, followed by flames shooting higher into the sky.

“It was chaotic at the scene,” remarked another witness. “Just like what you see in the videos.”

CAVIMAS Fire Chief Mufied Jumedan stated, “Many individuals were exposed to extreme heat. So far, we have reported 21 minor injuries.” He also indicated that the number of injured could rise.

Earlier that day, firefighters from CAVIMAS expressed that they were working diligently to control and extinguish the blaze amidst thick clouds of black smoke.

As of now, PDVSA has not issued any statements regarding the incident.

On October 11th, during an exhibition match at the ATP Shanghai Masters, table tennis star Fan Zhendong faced off against singer Eason Chan and tennis legend Roger Federer, with Chan and Federer coming out on top with a 2-0 victory. After the match, Fan offered some words of comfort to his teammate Zhang Zhizhen, saying, “Losing to Federer isn’t embarrassing at all!” To which Federer humorously replied, “You aced me!”

According to reports from various media outlets, the exhibition was divided into two teams: Team Federer and Team Amazing. Team Federer was led by the tennis icon Federer, a 20-time Grand Slam champion, teamed up with the enthusiastic Chan. Unable to hide his excitement, Chan remarked, “Competing alongside Federer is a dream I never thought I would dare to have.”

Team Amazing featured Fan Zhendong, the upcoming champion of men’s singles at the Paris Olympics, paired with tennis player Zhang Zhizhen.

The match format was a best-of-three sets, with each set played as a tiebreaker. Each team needed to win two sets to claim victory. Federer showcased his timeless prowess, proving to be a scoring machine for Team Federer, while Chan displayed remarkable agility, executing multiple successful net intercepts and showcasing his powerful serves that reflected his training efforts.

Team Amazing also impressed, with Fan Zhendong skillfully applying his table tennis spin techniques to tennis, even scoring a signature spinning ace against Federer that drew enthusiastic applause from the audience.

These crumbly little biscuits are stuffed with praline and are less doughy than the traditional Turkish treat
Ravneet GillFri 11 Oct 2024 10.00 EDTLast modified on Fri 11 Oct 2024 10.21 EDTShareI first tried these biscuits at Selin Kiazim’s bakery in Fitzrovia, which has unfortunately since closed. Her baked goods were truly one of a kind, and these biscuits – slightly flat, crisp and filled with silky chocolate – became quite popular. This version is quite different to traditional izmir bomba; I wanted a dough that was easy to work with, quick to put together, and with a homemade filling. You need to be quick when wrapping the chocolate inside the pastry, though, but if a little seeps out, that’s OK; they’re meant to be rustic.
Izmir bombaPrep 10 min Rest 1 hrFreeze 2 hr 30 minCook 1 hr Makes 9150g plain flour A pinch of fine salt 30g caster sugar 65g unsalted butter, cold and cubed30ml olive oil
For the chocolate and hazelnut filling30g caster sugar 10g unsalted butter 70ml double cream 30g milk chocolate, chopped 10g cocoa powder A pinch of flaky sea salt 10g roasted hazelnuts, roughly choppedIcing sugar, for dusting
In a large bowl, mix the flour, salt and sugar, then rub in the butter until you have a breadcrumb texture and the butter disappears. Pour in the oil and one tablespoon of water, then mix quickly to make a dough. Knead until smooth, then cover with a damp cloth and put in the fridge to rest for about an hour, or until firm. Divide the dough into nine equal balls.
To make the filling, heat the sugar in a dry pan until it caramelises, then add the butter and cream. Once it’s bubbling, add the chocolate, then take the pan off the heat and stir until melted. Whisk in the cocoa powder, salt and chopped nuts, then leave to cool.
Scoop out nine small balls of the cooled chocolate spread (about one tablespoon each), arrange these on a baking sheet lined with greaseproof paper and freeze for about 30 minutes – this will make it easier to wrap the dough around them later. Make sure they aren’t rock solid, though, so you can still shape the biscuits.
Try this recipe and many more on the new Feast app: scan or click here for your free trial.Take one dough ball and press it flat in the palm of your hand. Put a frozen chocolate ball in the middle and quickly bring the edges up and over to seal. Carefully fold the dough around the chocolate balls, sealing them well and making sure there are no holes or gaps. Once sealed, use your palms gently to press the dough into a thick disc. Repeat with the remaining dough and chocolate balls.
Arrange the bombas seam side down on a baking sheet lined with greaseproof paper, then freeze for at least two hours or overnight.
Heat the oven to 180C (160C fan)/350F/gas 4 and bake the bompas from frozen for 18-20 minutes, until they are lightly golden brown. Leave to cool for half an hour, then dust with icing sugar and serve. Leftovers will keep in an airtight tin for up to three days.

National Health and Medical Research Council proposal lowers the limits for four PFAS chemicals in drinking water
What are PFAs? Everything you need to know Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastDonna LuSun 20 Oct 2024 21.12 EDTLast modified on Sun 20 Oct 2024 23.03 EDTShareAustralia could toughen the rules regarding the acceptable levels of key PFAS chemicals in drinking water, lowering the amount of so-called forever chemicals allowed per litre.
The National Health and Medical Research Council on Monday released draft guidelines revising the limits for four PFAS chemicals in drinking water.
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), a class of several thousand compounds, are sometimes referred to as “forever chemicals” as they persist in the environment for long periods of time and are more difficult to destroy than substances such as sugars or proteins. PFAS exposure is wide and not limited to drinking water.
Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email
The draft guidelines set out recommendations for PFAS limits in drinking water over a person’s lifetime.
Under the draft, the limit for PFOA – a compound used to make Teflon – would be lowered from 560 ng/L to 200 ng/L, based on evidence of their cancer-causing effects.
Based on new concerns about bone marrow effects, the limits for PFOS – previously the key ingredient in the fabric protector Scotchgard – would be cut from 70 ng/L to 4 ng/L.
In December last year, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified PFOA as cancer-causing to humans – in the same category as drinking alcohol and outdoor air pollution – and PFOS as “possibly” carcinogenic.
The guidelines also propose new limits for two PFAS compounds based on evidence of thyroid effects, of 30ng/L for PFHxS and 1000 ng/L for PFBS. PFBS has been used as a replacement for PFOS in Scotchgard since 2023.
There’s no need to be worried about forever chemicals in Sydney’s water catchment | Stuart KhanRead moreThe NHMRC chief executive, Prof Steve Wesselingh, said in a media briefing that the new limits were set based on evidence from animal studies. “We currently don’t believe there are human studies of sufficient quality to guide us in developing these numbers,” he said.
The proposed PFOS limit would be in line with US guidelines, while the Australian limit of PFOA would still be higher.
“It’s not unusual for guideline values to vary from country to country around the world based on different methodologies and endpoints used,” Wesseleigh said.
The US aims for zero concentrations of carcinogenic compounds, while Australian regulators take a “threshold model” approach.
“If we get below that threshold level, we believe that there is no risk of that substance causing the problem identified, whether they be thyroid problems, bone marrow problems or cancer,” Wesseleigh said.
skip past newsletter promotionSign up to Breaking News Australia
Free newsletterGet the most important news as it breaks
Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.after newsletter promotion
The NHMRC considered setting a combined PFAS drinking water limit but deemed it impractical given the numbers of PFAS chemicals. “There are very large numbers of PFAS, and we don’t have toxicological information for the great majority of them,” Dr David Cunliffe, principal water quality adviser for the SA health department, said. “We’ve taken this path of producing individual guideline values for those PFAS where there is data available.”
PFAS management is shared between the federal government and the state and territories, which regulate water supply.
Dr Daniel Deere, a water and health consultant at Water Futures, said Australians had no need to be concerned about PFAS in public drinking water unless specifically notified. “We are fortunate in Australia in that we have hardly any water that is affected by PFAS, and you should only be concerned if directly advised by the authorities.
Unless advised otherwise, there was “no value in using alternative water sources, such as bottled water, household water treatment systems, benchtop water filters, local rainwater tanks or bores,” Deere said in a statement.
“Australians can continue to feel confidence that the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines incorporate the latest and most robust science to underpin drinking water safety,” Prof Stuart Khan, head of the School of Civil Engineering at the University of Sydney, said in a statement.
NHMRC prioritised a review of the Australian guidelines on PFAS in drinking water in late 2022. The guidelines had not been updated since 2018.
The draft guidelines will remain out for public consultation until 22 November.

A recent report from California’s Employment Development Department highlights a significant growth in employment across the Bay Area, contributing nearly half of California’s overall job growth in September.

According to the San Jose Mercury News, the EDD’s report, published on the 18th, indicates that the Bay Area’s three major metropolitan regions—South Bay, East Bay, and San Francisco-San Mateo—each added jobs in September. Following an increase of 1,400 jobs in August, the Bay Area experienced a substantial gain of 6,700 positions last month.

Steve Levy, director of the California Economic Forecast, expressed optimism about these employment numbers, noting that lower interest rates and easing inflation could foster positive economic developments in the future.

The job growth in September for the Bay Area stands in stark contrast to the slight increases observed during the summer months. The California Labor Department’s report noted that the San Francisco-San Mateo region gained 2,800 jobs, the East Bay added 2,500 positions, and the South Bay saw an increase of 200 jobs.

State officials announced that California added a total of 14,700 jobs in September, with the Bay Area accounting for nearly half of that figure. This job growth is significantly below the average of 22,100 jobs created over the course of the year up until September.

Michael Bernick, an employment attorney with the Duane Morris law firm and former director of the EDD, pointed out that California’s employment growth figures have been declining for the past four months, indicating a sluggish trend. He noted that the Bay Area’s job opportunities in September represented nearly 46% of all new jobs created in California.

Russell Hancock, president of Joint Venture Silicon Valley, based in San Jose, emphasized that while the Bay Area remains stable with a long-term trajectory of continuous growth, it is still experiencing layoffs in the tech sector.

The statewide unemployment rate has remained steady at 5.3%. Since hitting a historic low of 3.8% in August 2022, California’s unemployment rate has been on the rise.

Jeff Bellisario, executive director of the Bay Area Economic Institute, cautioned that despite the increase in job opportunities, the region is not yet in a robust position. He stated that meaningful employment growth over several months is needed to confidently believe in a return to a growth trajectory.

When comparing the current job landscape with the pre-pandemic situation, the Bay Area has 51,300 fewer jobs than it did in February 2020.

Specifically, the East Bay saw a gain of 3,700 jobs, while the South Bay experienced a decline of 6,000 positions. The San Francisco-San Mateo region remains the most affected, with a job deficit of 46,000 opportunities.

Bellisario believes that there is still a significant gap to close in the Bay Area’s post-pandemic recovery. Other experts suggest that the region will need more time to address the challenges of uneven economic growth, noting that despite the advances in artificial intelligence technology, it remains uncertain whether AI companies will generate a substantial number of jobs.

Getty ImagesIlan Shor – pictured here while running for election in 2019 – fled the country before being sentenced in absentia for money laundering and embezzlementThe sniffer dogs at Chisinau Airport have been working extra hard in recent months, searching for money that might be evidence of Russian meddling in Moldovan politics.
Ami, a black retriever, gives every suitcase that rolls in on the baggage claim belts a good sniff on all sides. If she detects cash, she will freeze. Back in May she was doing that a lot.
That is when customs officers began finding large amounts of money on passengers arriving via connecting flights from Moscow. People who had never left Moldova before were returning from a few days in Russia with wads of notes.
“Almost everyone had money: 2,000, 3,000, 7,000 euros”, the head of customs at Chisinau Airport, Ruslan Alexandrov, remembers. The amounts themselves were not illegal but the patterns were suspicious.
“There were certain flights: Moscow-Istanbul-Chisinau, Moscow-Yerevan-Chisinau,” the customs chief explains. “Normally people don’t come in with that much money. Not from Moscow.”
Matthew GoddardAmi at work in Chisinau AirportSo police and prosecutors began seizing the cash. In one day alone they say they scooped $1.5m (£1.2m). No-one ever asked for their money back.
The authorities believe the cash mules were part of a major and ongoing operation to buy political influence run by a fugitive Moldovan oligarch named Ilan Shor. Convicted of major fraud in Chisinau, he is now resident in Russia which will not extradite him.
Ahead of two key votes this weekend, the capital’s airport is on alert. Flights from all "high risk" routes are met by sniffer dogs and at least half the passengers are pulled over for extra baggage scans.
Explained: Decision time for two countries on future role in EuropeOn Sunday, President Maia Sandu is running for re-election on a staunchly pro-EU platform, challenged by 10 other candidates. Many are openly sympathetic to Moscow; some see Moldova as a "bridge".
Voters will also get to cast their ballot in a referendum on whether to enshrine Moldova’s goal of EU accession in the constitution. In fact, membership talks have already begun but the country has been in a battle over its political direction for decades, ever since Moldova gained independence from Moscow as the Soviet Union fell apart.
That East-West tug has intensified since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. President Sandu – a former World Bank economist first elected on a promise to clean up corruption – then steered Moldova much more sharply towards the West. She began to openly identify Vladimir Putin’s Russia as a major security threat.
The Kremlin denies playing any role in Chisinau politics, but officials here accuse Russia of operating via proxies to disrupt and destabilise the country.
Matthew GoddardPresident Maia Sandu (right) is running for re-election“I’m not aware of anywhere else where we’ve seen such a brazen and open attempt to corrupt an election,” Moldova’s chief anti-corruption prosecutor, Veronica Dragalin, told me this week in her office in Chisinau.
Born in Moldova, she spent most of her life in the US – most recently as a prosecutor in Los Angeles – before returning to the country and a job in a small office on the fifth floor of a Soviet-era block with a broken lift.
What her team say they have uncovered, working with police, is a pyramid payments scheme openly run from Russia by Ilan Shor and his group.
“We’re talking about a foreign country sending money in an attempt to influence the election,” Ms Dragalin spells it out. She details evidence gained through wiretaps, police infiltrators and witnesses – some of which her office has made public.
“At the start they tried to make it look legitimate. Now it’s almost like they’re flagrantly flaunting all the laws… [and] openly influencing the decision to vote,” the prosecutor says.
“The primary goal is to have the referendum fail.”
According to her team, once the cash couriers were detected at the airport and that route made more difficult, payments began to be channelled via a sanctioned Russian bank, PSB.
By early October as many as 130,000 voters had received payment through this scheme – about 10% of the active electorate, according to Viorel Cernauteanu, the chief of police.
“In September alone, $15m (£12m) was transferred,” he told me, explaining how they could trace funds and recipients because they gave personal data to open a bank account.
Offering money or goods in return for votes is a crime with a possible five-year jail sentence. Last month, a new law made it an administrative offence to accept money, too.
But in one of Europe’s poorest countries it is not hard to find willing recipients of cash.
Matthew GoddardMoldova’s chief anti-corruption prosecutor Veronica DragalinMoldovan investigators admit they cannot identify the source of funds paid into PSB bank – whether it is Russian state money, private capital or the cash Ilan Shor was convicted of stealing in Moldova.
But he himself is very open about his actions and aims.
In a typical recent post on TikTok, Shor called for a “firm NO” to the EU. He then urged followers to choose “the president I decide on, as someone I can work with”.
In return he promised monthly top-up payments of 5,000 Moldovan lei to pensioners, or about £200.
Shor fled Moldova in 2019 and was later sentenced in absentia for money laundering and embezzlement. Last year, his party was banned and he is also under Western sanctions, accused of "malign influence campaigns" for Russia.
Media companies linked to him, Telegram channels and various political groupings have all been blocked. But his message – anti-EU, sympathetic to Moscow – still seeps through.
Some remain receptive to that, as well as the cash.
Matthew GoddardDeputy governor of Gagauzia spoke openly of his scorn for the EUIlya Uzun is one big fan.
The deputy governor of Gagauzia, a small autonomous region of southern Moldova, also happens to respect Russian President Vladimir Putin. He tells me that is because he likes strong leaders who he thinks "put their country first".
Russia’s war on neighbouring Ukraine changed nothing on that score.
He admires former US President Donald Trump for the same reason, whilst his scorn for the EU – which recently placed him under sanctions for "destabilising activities" – mainly focuses on LGBT rights, which he opposes virulently.
Later, when I ask passers-by in the regional capital Comrat about the EU referendum, several reply that they’ll vote "no" in order to keep "gay parades" from their town.
Matthew GoddardA sign for the pro-Russian Victory party in Comrat, GagauziaPro-Russian views and Kremlin-led narratives have always been strong in Gagauzia, where many still watch Russian state TV channels despite a national ban.
Lately, Shor has been investing heavily here. The deputy governor repeatedly refers to him as “our political leader” and shrugs off the criminal conviction as if it were political.
“Try and say a bad word here about Ilan Shor and people will spit at you!”, Uzun declares as we drive down Lenin Street past a statue of the Russian revolutionary, a little grubby but still intact.
Many shop signs, those not in the local Gagauz language, are in Russian.
I hear how Shor pays top-up pensions to 30,000 people in the region as well as re-tarmacking some 50 km (31 miles) of roads between remote villages, which we see.
“All he does is for the people,” Uzun enthuses.
The anti-corruption prosecutor later clarifies that using donations for social spending is not a crime. But channelling Shor’s funds to political parties is an offence – and Uzun’s boss, regional governor Evghenia Gutul, has been charged with that.
After a while we roll up to a children’s fairground.
“Look at Gagauziyaland, it’s beautiful!” Uzun beams, leading the way beneath a giant rainbow into a deserted but brand-new park.
Matthew GoddardGagauziyaland, a children's playground, was almost deserted during our visit
The wind is bitterly cold and the mini dragon roller-coaster and merry-go-round we are looking at both stand empty and still. But Uzun insists people in Gagauzia will vote “how Shor tells them” – not for money, but because they trust him.
“All the talk, that he’s an arm of the Kremlin, destabilising Moldova: that’s absolutely not true. This is the truth: what you see here,” he waves towards the frozen fairground.
EPAWomen in traditional Moldovan dress welcomed President Maia Sandu at a campaign event on FridayOn Friday, Moldova’s election campaign reached its climax.
Maia Sandu was met for her own final rally in the small town of Telenesti, where women in traditional dress sang and supporters clapped as she passed.
She has not taken part in election debates and did not want to speak to the BBC. But addressing a couple of hundred people through a microphone, Sandu urged Moldovans to vote for her and for the EU as the best path to peace.
“This has been a very difficult campaign with a lot of lies and dirty money,” she told them, asking voters to “put our country out of harm’s way” and prevent her opponents “derailing Moldova from its European path”.
That path has been a bumpy one for many years, with multiple diversions. Still, Moldova had already made its choice and opened accession talks with the EU.
Now a referendum that Sandu initiated in an attempt to reinforce that goal and bolster her own support has turned into a risky political move.
It looks like the presidential ballot is not the only vote she has to worry about on Sunday.

*Abuja summit will showcase FCT to investors, says Wike
Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja
Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, yesterday, said if all Nigerians wear Made-in-Nigeria clothes, no less than five to 10 million jobs would be created from textiles.
He said this yesterday, at the Abuja Business and Investment Summit 2024.
The former CBN Governor, who was the keynote speaker at the occasion, said it was a collective destiny to make Nigeria great by investing in and patronising Made-in-Nigeria.
“I want to share a simple point with you, that the biggest way to promote massive investments in all sectors in Nigeria is to buy, eat, drive, and drink made in Nigeria.
“Yes, I drove to this conference with my Innoson Vehicle made in Anambra State. I am wearing Akwete, made by women of Akwete in Abia. And my shoe, probably there, we will come and show you around Ogbunike and all of that. I’m wearing my nationalism on my head, that’s the green eagle.“I am Nigerian, and God didn’t make a mistake to make me a Nigerian,” Soludo said.
The governor said visitors to Anambra government house, are either offered food made in Anambra or in Nigeria, as well as drink made in Anambra or in Nigeria.
He urged Nigerians to intentionally mainstream the agenda and philosophy of “Nigeria First” considering that in the new world order, neo-nationalism and neo-capitalism are projected in many countries.
He said doing that, “would require us to intentionally nurture national champions for sustainability. If you see the companies that have pulled out of Nigeria, how many of them are national companies? None. “But the foreign companies, they have itchy feet, they are very opportunistic, extremely opportunistic, there is no emotion to it.
“So for long-term sustainability, we must intentionally nurture the domestic capital and build them. It is a very big topic, for latecomer industrialists, the government must have to de-risk certain strategic investment for the private sector.”
Soludo also charged Nigerians to deliberately promote African capital and trade, saying nationals have a higher risk appetite to invest in Nigeria.“Capital is not just blind; it is not colour blind. It knows where it wants to go. It goes where it would call home. We could be preaching about foreign investment to come and finance African investment in infrastructure from now till thy kingdom come. It won’t come.
“So you can wait till thy kingdom comes, we must build the African capital as the frontier capital that would lead even the other foreigners to come in.“Everybody else fights for their own country because no matter how you think about globalisation and all of that, populations are still confined within the nation-states.
“And the government must provide jobs for those people. And so you see where the tension comes in terms of the competitive thing. And we must mainstream African Continental Free Trade Agreements, while keeping an eye on the global emergence,” he said.
Also FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, who was the Special Guest of honour at the occasion has said the Abuja investment summit was designed to showcase to stakeholders and potential investors in Nigeria and worldwide the investment opportunities that abound in the FCT.
The minister said the platform was to initiate collaborations to enhance economic growth, cultural exchange, and sustainable development.
“I want to emphasise that the FCT is open for business. We have streamlined our processes to make it easier for investors to set up and operate. The Abuja Investment Company Limited and the Abuja Enterprise Agency have facilitated partnerships and supported investors, ensuring you receive the necessary guidance at every step of your investment journey,” Wike said.
Meanwhile the GMD Abuja Investments Company Limited, Amb. Maureen Tamuno, assured of AlCL’s commitment to build on the summit for a generous and innovative future.

Eighteen years ago, Drew Crecente’s daughter, Jennifer, was tragically murdered by her ex-boyfriend while she was in high school. On October 2nd, Drew received an alarming notification from Google informing him that Jennifer’s name and photograph had resurfaced online. An AI chatbot platform called Character.AI had reimagined her as a “knowledgeable and friendly chatbot.” He described his reaction as overwhelming, saying he felt “blood rushing to his head” and wished there was a large red stop button that could halt everything in its tracks.

Drew expressed his shock that Character.AI allowed users to create a chatbot using the profile of a murdered teenager without the consent of her family. This incident has raised serious questions about whether the AI industry is equipped to protect individuals from potential harm arising from its services.

According to Drew, the chatbot’s profile described Jennifer in vivid terms, portraying her almost as a living person—depicted as a gaming expert and journalist who was “in tune with the latest trends in technology and culture.” This digital version of Jennifer was created by users of the Character website, and several individuals have interacted with this chatbot.

After Drew and his family posted about the situation on the platform X, Character.AI responded by stating that they were in the process of deleting the chatbot. Kathryn Kelly, a spokesperson for Character, expressed that the company had removed the chatbot for violating their terms of service and emphasized their commitment to improving safety measures to protect their community.

Character recently signed a $2.5 billion agreement with Google to license its AI models. The company provides various chatbots and allows users to create and share their AI companions through photo uploads, audio recordings, and written prompts. These chatbots can serve as friends, mentors, and even romantic partners, which has attracted a growing online audience. However, this technology has sparked controversy; for instance, in 2023, a man in Belgium died by suicide after being encouraged to do so by a chatbot.

Jen Caltrider, a privacy researcher at the nonprofit Mozilla Foundation, criticized Character for being too passive in moderating content that clearly violates its terms of service. Rick Claypool from the consumer advocacy organization Public Citizen echoed this sentiment, stating, “We urgently need lawmakers and regulators to pay attention to the real impacts these technologies have on the public.”

At 55, Academy Award-winning actress Cate Blanchett stars in her new series “Disclaimer,” receiving positive reviews. With a career spanning many years, Blanchett made a striking appearance in a daring deep-V gown that highlighted her confidence. While she has visible wrinkles compared to her earlier days, she embraces aging, stating, “As women, we often feel the need to control everything as we get older, but what we really need to do is let go of it all.”

Married to playwright Andrew Upton for 27 years and a mother of four, Blanchett has managed to maintain her figure and balance her family life. In a recent interview with Reviewjournal, she shared, “As I age, I’ve come to realize that many things are beyond my control.” Blanchett mentioned that she has moved past the anxiety that often accompanies aging and now makes it a priority to carve out time for relaxation amidst her work and family commitments.

Blanchett also chooses not to engage with social media, humorously suggesting that it makes her feel “ten years younger.” She enjoys walking and swimming, and sometimes genuinely does nothing at all. “I turn off my phone for 20 minutes to completely clear my mind and give my eyes a break,” she explained. When discussing social media, she expressed concern about the pervasive criticism in today’s society, remarking, “We live in a world where everyone thinks they know the truth and hastily jumps to conclusions.”

“Disclaimer,” directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón, was a project he envisioned with Blanchett in mind from the very beginning. She recounted that after reading the script, she tossed it across the room, realizing, “I absolutely have to take on this incredibly challenging role.” The series is currently streaming on Apple TV+.

★★★☆☆ / ★★★★★Levit/Vienna PO/Thielemann(Sony Classical, three CDs)It’s hard to think of a better recording of Brahms’ late solo works for piano, even if the two concertos they are packaged with here are less convincing
Andrew ClementsThu 10 Oct 2024 11.46 EDTLast modified on Thu 10 Oct 2024 11.48 EDTShareAt first sight it seems odd to package Igor Levit’s glossy performances of the two Brahms piano concertos, with Christian Thielemann and the Vienna Philharmonic, with his exceptional disc of the four sets of late piano pieces. For while the concertos belong to separate phases of Brahms’s career – the D minor First was finished in 1858 and the Second, in B flat, 23 years later – the solo pieces belong to another musical world altogether. Dating from 1892 and 1893, those collections of intermezzi, capriccios and rhapsodies contain some of his most beautiful and introspective music. They are unlike anything else in the 19th-century piano repertoire.
View image in fullscreenCover art for Igor Levit’s Brahms releaseLevit’s utterly compelling accounts of the late sets are the more impressive element in this collection. He does not put a foot wrong in any of them; each piece is perfectly shaped, its subtly varied emotional charge instantly identified. It’s hard to think of many better recordings of these 20 gems, and certainly not of all four opus numbers together.
Alongside them, though, the concertos are much less convincing. The performances of both works naturally contain striking moments; Levit is too intelligent a pianist and Thielemann too attentive and thoughtful a conductor not to bring some fresh ideas to these much-recorded works. But the tone of the D minor concerto is set in the opening tutti, where the playing of the Vienna Philharmonic seems limp and unresponsive. Things pick up a little when Levit enters, yet he can’t dispel the sense of routine that does not disappear until the finale, when Levit takes the lead with real muscularity.
There’s the same contrast between the soloist and the orchestra in the second concerto, too – Levit authoritative from the very start, Thielemann moulding the strings in a rather cloying, un-energised way, though both the opening horn solo and the cello in the slow movement are beautifully shaped. It’s disappointing; alongside the finest versions available – Nelson Freire with Riccardo Chailly on Decca, and Emil Gilels with Eugen Jochum on Deutsche Grammophon, to mention just a couple – these just aren’t competitive.
</iframe>","caption":".","isTracking":true,"isMainMedia":false,"sourceDomain":"embed.music.apple.com"}”>Allow content provided by a third party?This article includes content hosted on embed.music.apple.com. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as the provider may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click ‘Allow and continue’.
Allow and continueListen on Apple Music (above) or Spotify