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Dawn French hits back at "shameful" weight loss comments

<p>Dawn French has hit back at hurtful comments about her drastic weight loss almost a decade ago, admitting she "never rejected" the size she was. </p> <p>In 2014, the British comedian and actress dropped over 45kg after undergoing a hysterectomy following a terrifying cancer scare. </p> <p>The dramatic weight loss came after French's surgeon said she would heal better from the procedure if she lost weight. </p> <p>At the time, dozens of articles were written about French's transformation, praising her weight loss. </p> <p>Now, the 65-year-old has taken umbrage with the comments, telling <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/id-never-felt-so-ugly-how-dawn-french-learnt-to-love-her-flaws-3z95kc823" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>The Times</em></a> how unfair it is that women are in the public eye are often “reduced” to descriptions of their appearance.</p> <p>“I have never rejected the bigger woman I have been. Lots of people do it and say, ‘Oh, you look so much better – now you look well.’ And I think, ‘F*** off! Don’t judge that other person who I loved,’” she said.</p> <p>“[British singer] Alison Moyet is a very good friend and so often she has been reduced to descriptions of her physicality.”</p> <p>“She’s this giant talent, why reduce her to that? I’m not taking any s*** from anyone about any of it,” she said.</p> <p>French went on to reflect on the early days of her career, which began in the late 1980s alongside Jennifer Saunders. </p> <p>Despite the success of their BBC show <em>French and Saunders</em>, they were often described by how they looked, something she says “never” happened to their male colleagues.</p> <p>“For many years Jennifer [Saunders] and I were always described by how we looked, especially me, because I was the bigger one.”</p> <p>“It was always about ‘running to fat’ or ‘plump’, and they never said that about any of the male comedians.”</p> <p>“I absolutely own whatever my size is and I will call myself whatever I want. But if I feel like the intent is to shame me, I will not have it,” French said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Body

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Dawn French tells all in candid interview

<p>Dawn French spills all in her latest interview with<em> 60 minutes</em>. </p> <p>The beloved British comedian revealed that being imperfect is perfect for her, in a world where unrealistic beauty standards are starting to dominate social  media. </p> <p>"I can't believe that we, especially women, have come this far to hand our daughters a life where they have to do selfies and be filtered to try to look perfect," she told 60 minutes reporter Tara Brown. </p> <p>"I don't know how to connect to all those perfect people. I'm in the anti-perfection league frankly."</p> <p>The comedian revealed that the secret to her happiness is finding joy in the simple things in life, an outlook that she gained following the devastating loss of her father when she was 18.  </p> <p>"I find joy in lots of tiny things. I'm the sort of person who doesn't need to be swimming with dolphins, I find happiness in the simple things," she added. </p> <p>French said that losing her father to suicide at such a young age shaped who she was, and that she was grateful for the love he showed and the lessons he taught her. </p> <p>"Now that I look back on it as an adult, I think he needed to give me some armour, he told me that I should value myself and that I deserved the very best," she said. </p> <p>"As a little chubby girl I could have grown up with all kinds of insecurities, but because of him I have never doubted that I'm not worth something."</p> <p>Her father's struggle with mental health gave her a deeper understanding of the complexity of depression and a greater appreciation for her own emotional stability.</p> <p>"He kept his depression very well hidden, so most of the time dad was very cheerful but he also had these black dog moments where he just couldn't cope," she said.</p> <p>"Then he would get stronger and he would be back on the horse again."</p> <p>"I've had sadness, but I haven't sunk to depths like that. I have worried that it's inherited, but I don't seem to have that, I've got too much to live for I think," she added. </p> <p>The French and Saunders actress is currently enjoying her life in a quaint village in the English countryside with her husband, therapist Mark Bignell.</p> <p>"I've got a love for life, and I love and am loved back by a lot of people, so I can't ask for more than that," she said.</p> <p>You can find the full episode <a href="https://www.9now.com.au/60-minutes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. </p> <p><em>Image: 60 minutes</em></p>

TV

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Australia’s ‘retirement age’ just became 67. So why are the French so upset about working until 64?

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/peter-whiteford-2016">Peter Whiteford</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/crawford-school-of-public-policy-australian-national-university-3292">Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University</a></em></p> <p>Since Saturday, Australians have been required to wait until the age of 67 until they can get the age pension.</p> <p>The original so-called “retirement age” of 65 for men dated back to <a href="https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-02/p2020-100554-ud01_outline.pdf">1909</a>.</p> <p>Women had their pension age lifted from 60 to 65 between 1995 and <a href="https://insidestory.org.au/work-till-you-drop/">2013</a>. And all Australians have had it lifted in stages from July 2017, in a process that ended on <a href="https://www.dss.gov.au/seniors/benefits-payments/age-pension">July 1 2023</a>.</p> <p>It has happened with little protest – a stark contrast to the demonstrations and riots that rocked France earlier this year, when President Macron proposed and passed laws to lift the French pension age from 62 to 64.</p> <h2>What’s so special about French pensions?</h2> <p>French strikes and demonstrations over the retirement age aren’t new.</p> <p>There were nationwide protests when France increased its retirement age from 60 to 62 in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/nov/10/french-retirement-age-reform-62">2010</a>, before that in <a href="https://www.etui.org/covid-social-impact/france/pension-reform-in-france-background-summary-an-overview-of-pension-reforms-since-the-1990s-updated-july-2019">2003</a>, and in <a href="https://theconversation.com/pension-reform-in-france-macron-and-demonstrators-resume-epic-tussle-begun-over-30-years-ago-198354">1995</a>, when France tried to increase the pension age for public sector workers.</p> <p>Just about anything you could want to know about public pension schemes in high-income countries can be found in the <a href="https://www.oecd.org/about/">OECD</a> report <a href="https://www.oecd.org/publications/oecd-pensions-at-a-glance-19991363.htm">Pensions at a Glance</a>, published every two years, most recently in 2021.</p> <p>Public pension spending in <a href="https://www.oecd.org/els/public-pensions/PAG2021-country-profile-France.pdf">France</a> is 13.6% of GDP, compared to 4% in <a href="https://www.oecd.org/els/public-pensions/PAG2021-country-profile-Australia.pdf">Australia</a>.</p> <p>In part, this is because France has an older population than Australia, but it is also because French pension payments are more generous than both Australia’s age pension and superannuation supports taken together.</p> <hr /> <p><iframe id="E0wpD" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: none;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/E0wpD/7/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe></p> <hr /> <p>The OECD finding that Australia provides a replacement rate of about 40% and France of about 74% is “forward looking”, in that it is based on what a worker on average earnings is estimated to be entitled to under the system applying in 2020, if she or he works from age 22 until that country’s normal retirement age.</p> <p>For low-paid workers, Australia’s means-tested age pension makes the payments about as generous as those in France.</p> <hr /> <p><iframe id="rJpy5" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: none;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/rJpy5/4/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe></p> <hr /> <p>A separate 2018 OECD calculation showed that the average after-tax income of a French household headed by someone 65 years or older was <a href="https://www.oecd.org/publications/oecd-pensions-at-a-glance-19991363.htm">99.8%</a> of the average income of all French households.</p> <p>In contrast, the average after-tax income of an Australian household headed by someone of that age was 75% of that of all households.</p> <p>Given that French households receive about the same disposable income while retired as working, it is easy to see why they are keen to retire.</p> <p>And the heavy tax contributions required to fund their retirement incomes give them little opportunity to save privately while working.</p> <p>The level of median private wealth in Australia (converted at prevailing exchange rates) is nearly <a href="https://www.credit-suisse.com/media/assets/corporate/docs/about-us/research/publications/global-wealth-databook-2022.pdf">twice</a> that in France.</p> <p>Yet French public pension wealth is substantial. Calculating the value of the future pension income streams using life expectancies, the net pension wealth of French retirees amounts to 14 years of average earnings, compared to just over seven in Australia.</p> <p>Because the value of these income streams is strongly influenced by how long the pensions are received, raising the French pension age by two years would cut the value of French pension wealth by around 8%.</p> <h2>Why was postponing pensions easier in Australia?</h2> <p>The phase-in of the Australian change after 2017 meant it didn’t affect the retirement incomes of Australian workers until many years after the change was first announced, and didn’t affect the incomes of those already retired at all.</p> <p>And the Australian change legislated in 2009 was part of a <a href="https://cdn.theconversation.com/static_files/files/2738/2009_budget_pension_changes.pdf">broader program</a> of reforms that included the biggest single <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs/Newstartrelatedpayments/Report/section?id=committees%2Freportsen%2F024323%2F72678">increase in age and disability pensions and carer payments</a> in Australian history.</p> <p>Yet it will have losers. Those losing the most will be those with the shortest life expectancies. Indigenous men have life expectancies nearly <a href="https://www.niaa.gov.au/resource-centre/indigenous-affairs/commonwealth-closing-gap-annual-report-2022">nine</a> years lower than non-Indigenous men and Indigenous women nearly eight years lower.</p> <h2>Which Australians will pay the highest price?</h2> <p>And the change has pushed a substantial number of Australians aged 65 and over who would have once received the pension on to the <a href="https://theconversation.com/top-economists-want-jobseeker-boosted-100-per-week-tied-to-wages-150364">much-lower</a> Jobseeker unemployment payment.</p> <p>The number of people aged 65 years and over receiving JobSeeker climbed from zero in 2017 to <a href="https://www.data.gov.au/data/dataset/dss-income-support-recipients-monthly-time-series/resource/05f06c42-e027-43aa-b83e-28292f683ede">40,300</a> by May this year – and will climb further because of this month’s change.</p> <figure class="align-right zoomable"><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <p>These people are severely disadvantaged by this change, as the level of payment for an older unemployed person is more than $300 a fortnight less than the age pension, a gap that will only be slightly reduced by the increases announced in the most recent Commonwealth budget.</p> <p>Relatively little attention has been paid to these people, who because of the low level of payment are among the poorest in the Australian population – with very limited prospects of being able to improve their circumstances.</p> <p>In contrast, the idea of boosting tax on the earnings of superannuation balances over <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/feb/28/albanese-government-lifts-tax-rate-on-superannuation-balances-over-3m">A$3 million</a> attracted <a href="https://www.firstlinks.com.au/mechanics-3m-dollar-super-tax-must-fixed">widespread criticism</a>.</p> <p>The very different institutional environments of Australia and France have created different lobby groups, with different interests to protect.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/208648/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/peter-whiteford-2016">Peter Whiteford</a>, Professor, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/crawford-school-of-public-policy-australian-national-university-3292">Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/australias-retirement-age-just-became-67-so-why-are-the-french-so-upset-about-working-until-64-208648">original article</a>.</em></p>

Retirement Life

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Fans fume as classic film undergoes censorship treatment

<p>Film fanatics are in outrage after discovering an unannounced edit in William Friedkin’s 1971 classic movie, The French Connection.</p> <p>The scene causing the trouble comes just 10 minutes into the drama, when two characters - Gene Hackman’s ‘Popeye’ Doyle and Roy Scheider’s Buddy ‘Cloudy’ Russo - are having a conversation, and one of them uses a racial slur. </p> <p>The sequence was removed, and the new edited version cuts to the latest in the conversation, omitting the part with the slur. </p> <p>Disney has been the subject of blame for the move - as the company took over Fox in 2019 and subsequently the rights to the film - with fans accusing them of censoring the scene in the United States, while in the United Kingdom and Canada, the unedited version of the film is still available for streaming on Disney+.</p> <p>Most took to social media to share their complaints, with the majority in agreement that Disney had missed the mark, and The Film Magazine’s Joseph Wade even calling it “corporate vandalism”.</p> <p>“In cases such as this, ‘Censor’ takes the place of ‘Vandalise’,” he tweeted. “They have vandalised a piece of art.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Disney Censor 'The French Connection' (1971)</p> <p>In cases such as this, "Censor" takes the place of "Vandalise".</p> <p>They have vandalised a piece of art. This is corporate vandalism no matter how said corporation spins the language. <a href="https://t.co/yxl1o2RsMU">pic.twitter.com/yxl1o2RsMU</a></p> <p>— Joseph Wade (@JoeTFM) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeTFM/status/1666327940072722434?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>“At the risk of being like ‘nooo, my precious n-word,’ the uncensored FRENCH CONNECTION should be the only one in circulation, whether on TV or in theatres,” one user said. “I don't think it's a stretch to say that Friedkin knew exactly what having his detective protagonist use it said about him.”</p> <p>One user went on to share a clip of Hackman discussing the scene - and slur - in question, in which the actor claimed he “protested somewhat”, before sharing his belief that it was part of “who the guy is”. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Gene Hackman speaking in 2012 about the controversial line from French Connection. <a href="https://t.co/l45DBP9DvD">pic.twitter.com/l45DBP9DvD</a></p> <p>— oneilla (@oneilla828) <a href="https://twitter.com/oneilla828/status/1666439477403811840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>“The censorship of The French Connection is shameful if true,” another agreed.</p> <p>“Thank God,” a frustrated - and sarcastic - fan added, “now I can finally show my 6 year old child The French Connection without any worries”.</p> <p>One Twitter user wrote of how “it speaks badly for film preservation that even a Best Picture winner isn't immune from the clutches of Disney”, and how they’d prefer to watch the film “the way it was intended to be watched, thank you very much.”</p> <p><em>Images: Twentieth Century Fox</em></p>

Movies

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Coronation quiche? Not if the French have anything to say about it

<p dir="ltr">When the British royal family revealed Charles’ ‘Coronation Quiche’, the internet was sent into a frenzy. </p> <p dir="ltr">From concerns for the nation’s crippling egg crisis to complaints over the entirely uninspired choice, <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/food-wine/king-charles-signature-coronation-dish-mercilessly-mocked">people had a lot to say</a>. </p> <p dir="ltr">And now, the French have chimed in, though their issue isn’t necessarily with the dish itself, but instead with its name. </p> <p dir="ltr">They claim that the celebratory dish has been given an incorrect label. The recipe for the Coronation Quiche - released by Buckingham Palace - calls for broad beans, tarragon, spinach, and absolutely no meat in line with Charles’ environmental concerns. The ingredients are considered by many to be traditionally English, although fresh tarragon is often included in various French dishes. </p> <p dir="ltr">But according to French quiche enthusiasts, there can only be one kind of quiche, and that’s the 'lorraine'. The dish is named after the northeastern Lorraine region that it comes from, and is made from shortcrust pastry, eggs and cream with nutmeg, and small bits of bacon.</p> <p dir="ltr">Although, to sidestep that particular issue, Twitter user @RebeccaCNReid used a little red, white, and very blue language to suggest an alternative name that comes close enough to ‘lorraine’ to get it over the line ...</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">what fucking idiot didn't call it quiche le reign? <a href="https://t.co/EFbCZ52UZN">https://t.co/EFbCZ52UZN</a></p> <p>— Rebecca Reid (@RebeccaCNReid) <a href="https://twitter.com/RebeccaCNReid/status/1648087895025041409?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Evelyne Muller-Derveaux, president of the Quiche Lorraine Guild, explained to<em> The Times</em> that “they called it a quiche, but I would rather say it's a savoury tart.</p> <p dir="ltr">"When you say quiche, you automatically imply it is from the Lorraine region."</p> <p dir="ltr">Evelyne’s associate, Laurent Miltgen-Delinchamp had similar thoughts, quipping that, “I think it would have anyway better reflected the British spirit if they had called it a tart.”</p> <p dir="ltr">However, the two don’t intend on taking their particular gripes any further, and were even willing to admit that in France the term “quiche” is already quite misused. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Frankly,” Laurent said, “it shocks me less when Anglo-Saxons do that than when the French do it.”</p> <p dir="ltr">And as <em>The Times </em>reported, Evelyne took pride in knowing that the humble quiche had been elevated to such royal heights - even if it wasn’t exactly the most authentic. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I was surprised when I found out,” she admitted. “I said to myself, ‘this is a banal, common, popular dish, and to think that it is being served at a coronation’.”</p> <p dir="ltr">She went on to note that the first mention of a quiche - on record - dates all the way back to the reign of another Charles III: the 16th century’s Duke of Lorraine. </p> <p dir="ltr">And even then, they were a simpler dish enjoyed by those who weren’t rolling around in wealth, and consisted of whatever ingredients they happened to have around. </p> <p dir="ltr">Quite unlike the <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/food-wine/coronation-quiche-anyone-you-ll-need-to-fork-out-a-38-here-are-cheaper-and-healthier-options">$38 grocery price tag</a> behind Charles’, it seems. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Food & Wine

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“It pains me”: Tennis star shares sad news

<p dir="ltr">Emma Raducanu has revealed that she will have to miss the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open, as she undergoes three “minor” surgeries on both of her hands and left ankle.</p> <p dir="ltr">The twenty-year-old posted the update to Instagram on Wednesday, revealing that she has kept the severity of her injuries private for some time.</p> <p dir="ltr">Raducanu shared a snap from her hospital bed with a cast on her right hand, after undergoing the first of her three planned procedures.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It is safe to say the last 10 months have been difficult as I dealt with a recurring injury on a bone of both hands,” she wrote in the handwritten statement.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I tried my best to manage the pain and play through it most of this year and end of last year by reducing practice load dramatically, missing weeks of training as well as cutting last season short to try heal it, unfortunately it’s not enough.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m disappointed to share that I will be out for the next few months and while I am at it will have another minor procedure that is due on my ankle.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It pains me that I will miss the summer events and I tried to downplay the issues so I thank all my fans who continued to support me when you did not know the facts.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Looking forward to seeing you all back out there,” she ended the note with a hand drawn heart.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 2021 US Open champion has been struggling with a string of injuries as she tried to adjust to the demands of being a professional tennis player.</p> <p dir="ltr">Her most recent hand injury forced her to withdraw from the Billie Jean King Cup finals at the end of the last year. At the beginning of this year, she rolled her ankle mid-match in a tournament in Auckland.</p> <p dir="ltr">Raducanu is set to have the operation on her left hand this month after getting surgery for her left ankle in the coming weeks.</p> <p dir="ltr">She hopes to train on the tennis court again by the end of the summer, but her team has refused to predict an exact return date.</p> <p dir="ltr">Many fans and fellow tennis players have commented their support and well wishes for the star.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Rest up, Emma, and come back stronger 💜💚,” commented the official Wimbledon Instagram account.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Speedy recovery ❤️,” wrote Ukrainian tennis player, Marta Kostyuk.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Surgery is never nice, always a little scary, well done,” commented one person.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Get well soon Emma and you have many fans around the world supporting you and having your back,” wrote another.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Get well soon Emma!, we will be waiting for you when the moment is right, wishing you the best,” commented a third.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

News

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Lionel Richie’s daughter Sofia ties the knot in lavish French wedding

<p dir="ltr">Sofia Richie, 24, has officially tied the knot with British record executive Elliot Grainge, 30, in a lavish ceremony in the south of France.</p> <p dir="ltr">The wedding took place over the weekend at the ultra exclusive Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes, which boasts stunning views of the Mediterranean, and was attended by various celebrities including Cameron Diaz, Benji Madden, Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie, and Joel Madden.</p> <p dir="ltr">The socialite walked down the aisle with her famous dad, and has shared intimate details of the moment.</p> <p dir="ltr">“My father has always been the most comforting figure in my life, and he’s kept me grounded,” Sofia told <a href="https://www.vogue.com/slideshow/sofia-richie-and-elliot-grainge-wedding" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Vogue</em></a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Sofia also said that she was really nervous and high on adrenaline before walking down the aisle, but her father’s words comforted her before the big moment.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I was really nervous before I was going to walk down the aisle—it was like I had stage fright, my adrenaline was so high. We had over seven minutes to chat though, and he said: ‘You’re the love of my life, and I’m so happy for you.’”</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was very emotional, and I feel so lucky that I have my parents. I’m very grateful,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">In another touching post, Lionel shared some sweet photos of him walking his youngest daughter down the aisle.</p> <p dir="ltr">“My little girl is all grown up and starting her own journey with the love of her life. You'll always be my little bird, but I'm so proud of the woman you've become. Endless Love to you and Elliot. 🤍” he captioned the post.</p> <p dir="ltr">Sofia stunned the crowd in a custom Chanel halter gown with a long veil embellished with resin water droplets which glistened as she walked down the aisle.</p> <p dir="ltr">Sofia had also added subtle details to represent the couple’s love, including an embroidered heart and a blue embroidered S&amp;E on the inside of her dress.</p> <p dir="ltr">For her rehearsal dinner and after-party Sofia also donned custom Chanel dresses which allowed her to dance and move more freely.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram and TikTok</em></p>

Family & Pets

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French tourist arrested in Japan for punching woman in the face

<p dir="ltr">A 23-year-old French man Charlie Evan was arrested on suspicion of punching a woman in the face and leaving her on the streets of Tokyo.</p> <p dir="ltr">Local reports said Evan and his friends collided with the woman in her 20s, leading to her dropping her lunch box and prompting a fight.</p> <p dir="ltr">The video of the incident, which went viral on social media shows the woman grabbing Evan’s shirt as he backs away. Evan can then be seen punching the woman in the face, causing her to fall to the ground before he runs away.</p> <p dir="ltr">People are heard screaming and cursing at Evan in English and another man runs after him. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="fr">🔴 Un Français se rendant au Japon a été arrêté, après avoir frappé une femme au visage dans les rues du quartier Minato de Tokyo.</p> <p>C’est Charlie Evan, un ressortissant français de 23 ans, qui a été arrêté<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Japon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Japon</a> <a href="https://t.co/mnm7KzqgfN">pic.twitter.com/mnm7KzqgfN</a></p> <p>— Click Actu (@ClickActu) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClickActu/status/1648676032684146689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">It was reported that the woman’s injuries will take three weeks to fully heal.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to the Metropolitan Police Department, Evan denied all allegations against him. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I don't remember,” he reportedly claimed.</p> <p dir="ltr">It is unknown whether Evan was intoxicated at the time of the incident.</p> <p dir="ltr">It is also unknown whether he was formally charged in Japan as suspects there can be held for up to 23 days before charges are filed. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credit: Twitter</em></p>

Legal

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French Dispatch: four artists whose work was shaped by mental illness

<p>Wes Anderson’s film The French Dispatch is about the final issue of a magazine that specialises in long-form articles about the goings-on in the fictional town of Ennui-sur-Blasé. The film is an anthology of shorts representing three of the articles. </p> <p>A piece by the magazine’s art critic (Tilda Swinton) explores the life and late success of the abstract artist Moses Rosenthaler (Benicio Del Toro). Talented from a young age, Rosenthaler pursued art with a dogged determination that drove him to slowly lose his mind. In a fit of rage he commits a triple homicide that lands him in jail, where, after a long time away from art, he creates his best work aided by his prison guard and muse Simone (Léa Seydoux).</p> <p>Artists, like Rosenthaler, burdened with too great a <a href="https://youtu.be/WRjKDxdmdU0">lust for life</a>, or a <a href="https://youtu.be/4MUZ_UHJZGo">tragic taste for alcohol</a>, or even intense and murderous desires, are familiar figures in film and fiction. In some films <a href="https://youtu.be/XdAR-lK43YU">art itself is demonic</a>. </p> <p>Like everything else, mental illness is understood within the context of its time. In their study of melancholy and genius <a href="https://www.nyrb.com/products/born-under-saturn?variant=1094929357">Born Under Saturn</a>, the art historians Margot and Rudolf Wittkower show how Renaissance artists embraced mental alienation. This was shown by a <a href="https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/336228">withdrawn, slothful gloom</a>. Such heavy sadness was considered both the symptom and the price of divine inspiration. It was a means to distinguish their inspiration from the mere “know-how” of craft. A brush with madness was good PR.</p> <p>So well established did this association become, that if you look up “artist” in the index of writer Robert Burton’s 1620 compendium <a href="https://www.nyrb.com/products/the-anatomy-of-melancholy?_pos=1&amp;_sid=ffbb60c34&amp;_ss=r&amp;variant=1094931585">The Anatomy of Melancholy</a>, you will find one entry. It reads: “ARTISTS: madmen”. </p> <p>Today, the association of creativity and mental illness often implies regression from an adult and orderly state of mind to one that is primal, impulsive, or infantile. The artist in Anderson’s film is such an example: he is noisy, impetuous, and extravagantly mad. And it is while he is at his “maddest” that he paints his best work.</p> <p>Here I explore the work of four painters whose work has been shaped by various mental illnesses, highlighting how the idea of the “mad artist” need not be tied up with a loss of control but rather a bid to gain it. It is not always loud. It can be quiet, highly detailed or restrained – as the work of these artists shows.</p> <p><strong>Richard Dadd</strong></p> <p>One parallel to Rosenthaler is the Victorian painter <a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/richard-dadd-130/richard-dadd-artist-and-asylum">Richard Dadd</a>. The career of this brilliant young artist was destroyed by a mental breakdown that today would probably be diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenia. </p> <p>Dadd killed his father, imagining him to be the devil incarnate. He was incarcerated in the criminal lunatic department of Bethlem Hospital. It was as a patient that he painted many of his obsessively detailed masterpieces, such as <a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/dadd-the-fairy-fellers-master-stroke-t00598">The Fairy Feller’s Master-Stroke</a>, (1855-64). The painting contains hidden details that not everyone can see. For instance, in the middle of the painting, I see a figure with a pallid face, wearing a purple cloak, and standing at right angles to the rest of the painting.</p> <p>It is the work of this period that Dadd is remembered for.</p> <p><strong>Edvard Munch</strong></p> <p>A less painful example can be found in the Norwegian painter, Edvard Munch.</p> <p>Munch’s famous work The Scream (1893) depicts a vision the artist had of “blood and tongues of fire” rising over a fjord. In the foreground, a cadaverous figure clasps his cheeks in agonised shock. A handwritten message on the top left-hand corner of this painting was recently shown to be in the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-56127530">artist’s hand</a>. It reads: “Can only have been painted by a madman.” </p> <p>Munch saw it as a sign of health that he could express sickness and anxiety in art, and he embraced the idea that madness was a gift that granted him insights denied to others.</p> <p><strong>Mary Barnes</strong></p> <p>A striking example of “creative regression” can be found in the artist and poet <a href="https://spacestudios.org.uk/events/mary-barnes/">Mary Barnes</a>. Diagnosed with schizophrenia and refusing to take basic care of herself, Barnes was the first resident of Kingsley Hall, an experimental therapeutic community founded by the psychiatrist RD Laing. She started making images when she was there, initially using her excrement. As one of her <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/260398.pdf?refreqid=excelsior%3Af2d35a75183622c49dcd9c2746bcd14d">psychotherapists described, "</a>Mary smeared s**t with the skill of a Zen calligrapher. She liberated more energies in one of her many natural, spontaneous and unself-conscious strokes than most artists express in a lifetime of work. I marvelled at the elegance and eloquence of her imagery, while others saw only her smells."</p> <p>Barnes went on to have a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2001/jul/13/guardianobituaries.books">successful career</a> as an artist.</p> <p>The phrase “natural, spontaneous and unself-conscious” is a window into the belief that expressive creativity lies in primal regression. As the last example shows, this is certainly not necessarily the case.</p> <p><strong>Agnes Martin</strong></p> <p>The American painter Agnes Martin went through <a href="https://youtu.be/902YXjchQsk">two decades of experimentation</a> to achieve the lucid abstraction that she is known for. In her notes for a talk at the University of Pennsylvania in 1973, <a href="http://thecheapestuniversity.org/en/ressource/on-the-perfection-underlying-life/">she wrote, "</a>The work is so far from perfection because we ourselves are so far from perfection. The oftener we glimpse perfection or the more conscious we are in our awareness of it the farther away it seems to be."</p> <p>Martin suffered from auditory hallucinations and was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. Her calm and methodical paintings, such as <a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/martin-faraway-love-ar00178">Faraway Love</a> (1999), depict abstract states of existence: innocence, happiness, and the sublime. They are as much meditations as visual experiences. </p> <p>“Sometimes”, she continued, “through hard work the dragon is weakened.”</p> <p>The example of Martin’s <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/may/22/agnes-martin-the-artist-mystic-who-disappeared-into-the-desert">thoughtful and devoted life</a> is in stark contrast to the noisy stereotype of the impulsive and primal genius. </p> <p>While the paintings of the fictional Rosenthaler and the real Martin are both highly abstract, they sit in stark contrast to each other. Martin’s has a reserved, ordered quality while Rosenthaler’s is bold and unrestrained, splashing across whatever he is using as his canvas. Away from the romantic notions of the great artist expounded in film, as these artists show, most art is about gaining rather than losing control.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/french-dispatch-four-artists-whose-work-was-shaped-by-mental-illness-170302" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </em></p>

Art

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How Stoicism influenced music from the French Renaissance to Pink Floyd

<p>Have you ever turned to music when struggling with a difficult emotion, like sadness, anxiety or anger? </p> <p>Most people believe that music has some therapeutic power, and that confidence is increasingly backed by <a href="https://www.musictherapy.org/research/sound_health_initiative/">empirical evidence</a>. However, there remains little consensus on precisely how or why music has an ability to influence our emotional, physical and mental well-being.</p> <p>Since ancient times, physicians and philosophers have explored the power of music in human life. Although the writings of Plato and Aristotle are more famous, another ancient school of philosophy, <a href="https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/stoicism/">Stoicism</a>, cultivated an interest in music’s therapeutic potential. </p> <p>Given that the word “<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stoic">stoic</a>” is mostly used to describe a rigid, emotionless person, Stoic musical practices would seem doomed to the boring or bizarre.</p> <p>But Stoicism – the capital “S” kind – is a school of thought that’s really more about managing turbulent emotions in everyday life. This casts their connection to music in a different light, and it helps explain how Stoicism positively shaped the course of intellectual and music history. </p> <h2>Control what you can</h2> <p>Founded in ancient Athens and peaking in popularity in first century Rome, Stoicism was developed by philosophers like <a href="https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/seneca/">Seneca</a>, <a href="https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/epictetus/">Epictetus</a> and the Roman emperor <a href="https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/marcus-aurelius/">Marcus Aurelius</a> to manage destructive emotions such as anxiety, anger and grief through exercises that shift perspective. The question of control forms the core of this method. The Stoics taught that it is only by recognizing and accepting what is beyond a person’s control that a person can exert maximal control over what is within their power. </p> <p>Importantly, the Stoic approach does not seek to directly suppress bad emotions but focuses instead on reshaping a person’s worldview, so that when they encounter difficulty or trauma, they will be prepared to experience emotions less destructively. </p> <p>This strategy of putting things in perspective may seem familiar; the founders of cognitive behavioral therapy, <a href="https://theconversation.com/cbt-dbt-psychodynamic-what-type-of-therapy-is-right-for-me-171101">one of the most popular forms of psychotherapy today</a>, <a href="https://www.routledge.com/The-Philosophy-of-Cognitive-Behavioural-Therapy-CBT-Stoic-Philosophy/Robertson/p/book/9780367219147">directly borrowed from Stoicism</a>. </p> <p>In recent years – and especially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic – interest in Stoicism <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2020/apr/16/how-stoics-are-speaking-to-locked-down-readers">has surged</a>, with people from diverse political and economic backgrounds recognizing the efficacy of this ancient system to address afflictions like anxiety and addiction.</p> <h2>In turbulent times, Neostoicism emerges</h2> <p>So where does music fit into all of this?</p> <p><a href="https://tufts.academia.edu/MelindaLatour">As a historical musicologist</a>, I have done <a href="https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-voice-of-virtue-9780197529744?q=voice%20of%20virtue&amp;lang=en&amp;cc=us">extensive research</a> on musical practices inspired by the revival of Stoicism in late-16th and 17th-century France, a movement known as Neostoicism.</p> <p>Emerging in the wake of the violent <a href="https://explore.lib.virginia.edu/exhibits/show/renaissance-in-print/frenchwarsofreligion">French Wars of Religion</a>, Neostoics looked to Stoicism as a remedy for social and political instability. They developed a vocal music repertoire to teach the principles of the system, guiding singers and listeners to “rehearse” Stoic techniques of emotional regulation through informal musical gatherings in people’s homes. </p> <p>These songs illustrated Stoic principles through musical “<a href="https://youtu.be/HaQTq6LsggA">text painting</a>,” in which specific words, actions or concepts were musically conveyed through sound – and, sometimes, visuals – in the score.</p> <p>Take an example from 1582 – “L’eau va viste,” a poem by Antoine de Chandieu that was set to music by Paschal de L’Estocart.</p> <p>Numerous Stoic writings, such as Seneca’s “<a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/On-the-Brevity-of-Life">On the Brevity of Life</a>,” evoke similar imagery of running water to warn against placing one’s happiness in external comforts and securities, which, like a current, quickly pass. </p> <p>L’Estocart’s musical arrangement for “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYKsBPxmenc">L’eau va viste</a>” picks up on this quality of motion. A snowballing rhythm gains momentum with each new example of quick passing. </p> <h2>The river of time</h2> <p>Zoom ahead almost four centuries, and the English rock band Pink Floyd composed a strikingly similar musical reflection in their iconic song “Time” from their 1973 album, “<a href="https://www.loc.gov/static/programs/national-recording-preservation-board/documents/DarkSideOfTheMoon.pdf">Dark Side of the Moon</a>.” </p> <p>The album outlines all the major forces and concerns that can drive people insane: aging, death, fear, greed and violence. </p> <p>Mental health held particular salience for the band. Their founding frontman, Syd Barrett, <a href="https://www.pastemagazine.com/science/psychedelics/was-syd-barrett-an-acid-casualty/">had a mental breakdown</a> only a few years prior. According to Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters, the album is about “life with a heartbeat,” and the band signals this by opening and closing the album with a slow, simulated heartbeat that sounds somehow both mechanical and profoundly human.</p> <p>Developing this rhythmic symbolism further, the single “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgXozIma-Oc">Time</a>” uses numerous musical strategies to draw attention to the fragility of human life.</p> <p>The track opens with a meandering two-and-a-half minute instrumental introduction, slowly building from a breathy synthesizer drone to the disorienting sound of numerous ticking clocks. Then there’s a cacophony of alarms before listeners hear a mechanical bass click that sounds like a metronome or a mechanical heartbeat.</p> <p>The entrance of the electric guitar and increasingly regular musical phrases finally set up the arrival of <a href="https://genius.com/Pink-floyd-time-lyrics">the vocals in the first verse</a>: “Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day / fritter and waste the hours in an off-hand way.” </p> <p>This unusual extended instrumental introduction destabilizes a listener’s expectation of musical time and demands greater attention to the moment-by-moment sensations of its passing. The lyrics throughout the song reinforce this initial musical warning –that listeners must pay close attention to the flow of time and to make sure it’s used with purpose and meaning. </p> <p>“The time is gone. The song is over,” <a href="https://genius.com/Pink-floyd-time-lyrics">the lyrics conclude</a>, “Thought I’d something more to say.” </p> <h2>An internal store of power</h2> <p>These two musical examples, composed nearly 400 years apart, model a core element of Stoic therapy: By meditating on the fragility of time, Stoics seek not to instill dread, but to reveal death and transience as natural aspects of the human experience that can be faced without anxiety. This calm acceptance offers a release from destructive emotions like fear and yearning that pull our attention to the future and the past. <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/6367/meditations-by-marcus-aurelius-a-new-translation-by-gregory-hays/9781588361738">As Marcus Aurelius recommended</a>, “Give yourself a gift – the present moment.”</p> <p>Stoicism and its abundant artistic echoes are easily misread as pessimistic because of this relentless focus on human mortality and fragility. This negative reading misses Stoicism’s profoundly optimistic and empowering message, which is that our mental freedom remains in our control, regardless of our external circumstances. </p> <p>Waters highlighted exactly this point in his defense of the humanism of “Dark Side of the Moon,” <a href="https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Rough_Guide_to_Pink_Floyd.html?id=yHsZAQAAIAAJ">explaining that</a> “Despite the rather depressing ending … there is an allowance that all things are possible, that the potential is in our hands.”</p> <p>Music, from this perspective, offers a way to learn about the therapeutic method of the Stoics in a way that goes beyond the contemplation of philosophical lyrics. These examples – and many others in the Stoic tradition that so thoughtfully unite words and sounds – transform helpful Stoic advice into a therapeutic practice guided through the twists and turns of song.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-stoicism-influenced-music-from-the-french-renaissance-to-pink-floyd-181701" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.</em></p>

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Celebrate Bastille Day with the height of French luxury

<p dir="ltr">As freezing winter months set in around Australia, many Aussies are trekking overseas to escape the cold and breathe in a new atmosphere after two years of stalled travel plans. </p> <p dir="ltr">A top destination for most is France, with many people’s social media pages being flooded with pictures of loved ones living their best life in Paris, Provence, Nice or Bordeaux with a glass of wine in their hand. </p> <p dir="ltr">While it's easy to be overcome with jealousy, you too can enjoy a taste of French luxury in your own way, without having to leave the comfort of your home. </p> <p dir="ltr">With the help of opulent products from L'Occitane, you can take your skin on a little French getaway with Bastille Day just around the corner. </p> <p dir="ltr">The people of France celebrate Bastille Day, or the National Day of France, on July 14th to mark the unity of the French people at the end of the revolution in the late 1700s. </p> <p dir="ltr">Just in time for this day of revolution is a series of L'Occitane products that are guaranteed to take your skin on a trip to Provence that will transport you to the lavender fields and beyond. </p> <p dir="ltr">First up is the luxurious <a href="https://au.loccitane.com/lavender-collection">Lavender Foaming Bath</a> that will leave your skin feeling soft and supple. </p> <p dir="ltr">Sit back and soak it up while enjoying the most opulent bubble bath, as the scent calms and relaxes you while the formula helps you stimulate both your mind and senses. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CCVjOeiHW0h/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CCVjOeiHW0h/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by L'OCCITANE en Provence (@loccitane)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Another must-have for the ultimate relaxation is the <a href="https://au.loccitane.com/almond-shower-scrub-29GE200A21.html">Almond Shower Scrub</a>, to help buff and scrub away dry, dull skin with this gel formula scrub. </p> <p dir="ltr">Almost as delicious as an Almond Croissant, this scrub will gently exfoliate to leave your skin smooth and even. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B-gkWebDzeF/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B-gkWebDzeF/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by L’Occitane en Provence | AU (@loccitaneaus)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">For the ultimate rejuvenation, the L'Occitane <a href="https://au.loccitane.com/immortelle-divine-eye-balm-27DB015I20.html">Immortelle Divine Eye Balm</a> will have you looking like you’ve been relaxing in the south of France for a month. </p> <p dir="ltr">Apply the Immortelle Divine Eye Balm morning and night for a rich dose of nourishment under the eye area, while also fighting the visible signs of ageing. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CMd-Y9kDNLt/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CMd-Y9kDNLt/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by L’Occitane en Provence | AU (@loccitaneaus)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Lastly, for a daily dose of radiance, the <a href="https://au.loccitane.com/shea-butter-ultra-light-body-cream-01CL175K22.html">Shea Butter Ultra Light Cream</a> will help even and nourish the body with this indulgent and hydrating body moisturiser.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CcznBaMPb3Z/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CcznBaMPb3Z/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by L’Occitane en Provence | AU (@loccitaneaus)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">With the help of these L'Occitane products, you’ll feel as if you have experienced the ultimate French getaway without ever having to leave your home. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Tennis player’s violent act leaves little boy in tears

<p dir="ltr">A little boy was left startled and in tears after a Romanian tennis player’s racquet ended up in the crowd at the French Open on Thursday.</p> <p dir="ltr">Irina-Camelia Begu was 2-0 down in the third set of her second round match when she threw her racquet against a water box, according to <em><a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/18697836/french-open-controversy-begu-child-throwing-racket/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sun</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, the racquet bounced violently off the box and into the stands, leaving the young boy distraught and startled.</p> <p dir="ltr">Though the World No. 63 wasn’t defaulted, she did receive a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct after a tournament supervisor was consulted.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-aa7a87f0-7fff-c016-b814-0e79465e318e"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Begu later apologised to the little boy in question, posing for a photo with him and his parents.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="und"><a href="https://t.co/GnTbQ4w31V">pic.twitter.com/GnTbQ4w31V</a></p> <p>— Sharapova Family (@MySugarpova) <a href="https://twitter.com/MySugarpova/status/1529794311487107073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“It’s an embarrassing moment for me. I just want to apologise,” Ms Begu said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“In my whole career I haven’t done something like this and I feel really bad and sorry. Sorry for the incident.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was a difficult moment because I didn’t want to hit that racquet.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You hit the clay with the racquet but you never expect to fly that much.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Ekaterina Alexandrova, who Ms Bega went on to defeat 6-7 6-3 6-4 in that match, said she was “disappointed” to leave the competition “like that”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I was trying to do my best but seems like the rules were against me,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This shouldn’t be happening.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I hope after today’s match rules will be improved for everyone’s safety. We are responsible for our racquet.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Journalists and viewers of the match quickly took to social media to question how Ms Begu avoided disqualification over the incident. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Folks, why are we still allowing this?” the New York Times’ Ben Rothenberg tweeted.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Begu didn’t throw the racquet especially hard but the consequences of her action shouldn’t be shrugged off by officials.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-c3b0bc39-7fff-d9c5-daa8-a1ab578eb3b4"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Photographer Ella Ling wrote: “I was there (I’m in that shot). Absolutely beggars belief how she was allowed to continue playing. Horrible.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Video: obviously it wasn’t intentional but I just can’t see how this is not a default. Kid started crying, mom and dad were concerned. A mess. <a href="https://t.co/ljQlkYckwu">https://t.co/ljQlkYckwu</a></p> <p>— José Morgado (@josemorgado) <a href="https://twitter.com/josemorgado/status/1529793948507688962?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The incident comes after Russian Andrey Rublev also escaped major punishment earlier on in the French Open after he slammed a ball in anger and it rebounded, flying past a tournament court assistant.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Seeing the Begu incident and Rublev incident from the other day, tennis officials really need to step up their game,” former world double No. 1 Rennae Stubbs said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I think both should have been defaults.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We MUST start making players accountable for stupid decisions and those were both stupid decisions and could have been a lot worse.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-324ab83a-7fff-f60f-3f2e-0fcdd60e2de3"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

News

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Chloé: how a 19th-century French nude ended up in a Melbourne pub – and became an icon for Australian soldiers

<p>Chloé, the French nude by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jules_Joseph_Lefebvre">Jules Joseph Lefebvre</a>, is an Australian cultural icon. </p> <p>Chloé made its debut at the 1875 Paris Salon and won medals at the 1879 Sydney and 1880 Melbourne international exhibitions. In December 1880, Thomas Fitzgerald, a Melbourne surgeon, bought Chloé for his private collection. </p> <p>Two years later, when Fitzgerald loaned Chloé to the National Gallery of Victoria, a furious debate erupted in the press. Public opinion was <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/224814361">sharply divided</a> over the propriety of displaying a French nude painting on the Sabbath.</p> <p>Chloé spent the next three years at the Adelaide Picture Gallery, before Fitzgerald <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/94392855">removed her</a> from the public gaze.</p> <p>After the surgeon’s death in 1908, Henry Figsby Young bought Chloé for £800 and hung the famous nude in the saloon bar of Young and Jackson Hotel, opposite Flinders Street Station in Melbourne. </p> <p>Enjoying a drink with Chloé at the hotel has been a good luck ritual for Australian soldiers since the first world war. </p> <h2>Longing for her lover</h2> <p>According to the 1875 Paris Salon catalogue, Chloé depicts the water nymph in “Mnasyle et Chloé” by 18th century poet martyr <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9_Ch%C3%A9nier">André Chénier</a>. Toes dipped in a puddling stream, longing and heartache etched on her lovely features, she listens for the voice of her lover. </p> <p>Chloé was created in the winter of 1874-75. France was still rebuilding after its defeat in the <a href="https://www.kcl.ac.uk/the-franco-prussian-war-150-years-on">Franco Prussian War</a> and the Versailles government’s brutal repression of the revolutionary <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWrnGZ_975I">Paris Commune</a>. </p> <p>Newspapers in France and around the world described women who supported the Commune as lethal <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C3%A9troleuses">pétroleuses</a>, or petrol carriers. The women were often blamed for destructive acts of arson carried out by Versailles troops during <a href="https://www.historytoday.com/miscellanies/paris-communes-bloody-week">The Bloody Week</a>.</p> <p><a href="https://index-journal.org/issues/identity/evanescence-of-an-artist-s-model-by-katrina-kell">Jules Lefebvre claimed</a> his working class model for Chloé was involved with former Communards. She may have fought alongside other girls and women, and witnessed the widespread bloodshed that stained the streets of Paris red in 1871. </p> <p>This volatile chapter in French history has been absent from <a href="https://index-journal.org/issues/identity/evanescence-of-an-artist-s-model-by-katrina-kell">Chloé mythologies</a>. But Chloé was painted in the wake of war and revolution and of women’s inspiring activism, as women challenged the class and gender barriers that had limited their opportunities.</p> <h2>Chloé and the Australian soldier</h2> <p>The ritual of having a drink with Chloé at Young and Jackson Hotel, opposite <a href="https://heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/get-involved/tours/melbourne-at-war-hidden-histories-1914-18-audio-tour/melbourne-at-war-stop-2a/">Melbourne’s busiest railway station</a>, began after <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article89096318">Private A. P. Hill</a>, who was killed in action, put a message in a bottle and tossed it overboard. </p> <p>When the bottle was found in New Zealand in January 1918, his message read, "To the finder of this bottle. Take it to Young and Jackson’s, fill it, and keep it till we return from the war."</p> <p>The <a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article148561880">hotel and Chloé</a> proved irresistible for returning soldiers.</p> <p>By the start of the second world war, Chloé and Young and Jackson’s were so enmeshed in military mythology they were included in the 2/21st Australian Infantry Battalion’s <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11305333">official march song</a>: "Good-by Young and Jackson’s, Farewell Chloé too, It’s a long way to Bonegilla, But we’ll get there on stew."</p> <p>Tragically, on February 2 1942, the B and C Companies of the 2/21st Australian Infantry Battalion were massacred by Japanese forces at Laha Airfield on the Indonesian island of Ambon. Those who weren’t killed became prisoners of war. </p> <p>After Japan’s surrender in 1945, the Australian prisoners’ hopes for liberation were frustrated when Japanese officers refused to give them radio access. </p> <p>When they finally got a radio transmitter their SOS message was received on the neighbouring island of Morotai. The men were asked questions to prove they were “dinki-di Aussies”. </p> <p>One of the first questions Melbourne soldier John Van Nooten <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23494802-ambon">was asked was</a> “how would you like to see Chloé again?” </p> <p>When Van Nooten replied “Lead me to her”, the operator asked “where is she?” </p> <p>Van Nooten responded with Young and Jackson’s, finally convincing the operator he was Australian.</p> <h2>A soldier’s consolation</h2> <p>In his 1945 article <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/38559150">Seein’ Chloé</a>, West Australian journalist Peter Graeme claimed, "Chloé is to Melbourne what the Bridge is to Sydney. From the soldier’s point of view of course. All over Australia you meet men who have seen her […] Chloé belongs to the Australian soldier."</p> <p>Graeme recalled meeting a soldier at Young and Jackson’s who drained three drinks in front of Chloé. When he asked the soldier why he drank the beers in quick succession, the soldier said he was honouring a promise he and two mates had made to Chloé. </p> <p>The three of them had pledged to have a drink with her when they returned to Melbourne. His two friends never returned, buried at Scarlet Beach in New Guinea.</p> <p>As Graeme concluded in his poignant tale, Chloé may have been, "the symbol of the feminine side of his life. That part which he puts away from him, except in his inarticulate dreams."</p> <p>The soldier’s grief for the mates he lost, and the comfort drinking with the painting gave him, seems to resonate with the longing in Chloé’s melancholy expression, and the war-torn history behind this celebrated Melbourne icon.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared in <a href="https://theconversation.com/chloe-how-a-19th-century-french-nude-ended-up-in-a-melbourne-pub-and-became-an-icon-for-australian-soldiers-180032" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation. </a></em></p>

Art

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French billionaire snaps up famed Parisian mansion

<p dir="ltr">One of Paris’ most famous homes has <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/french-billionaire-pays-qatari-prince-314-million-for-famous-parisian-mansion-1120916/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sold</a> for an eye-watering $314 million ($NZD 387 million).</p> <p dir="ltr">The Hôtel Lambert, a luxe mansion owned by Qatari Royal Prince Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani, has been bought by Xavier Niel in an exchange that would likely be a small spend for the French tech founder, who has an estimated worth around $12.2 billion.</p> <p dir="ltr">Though most would expect that Niel would be living in his new palatial home, the <em><a href="https://nypost.com/2022/02/22/xavier-niel-buys-property-from-qatari-prince-in-227m-deal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York Post</a></em> reported that a source close to Niel said he is planning to use it as the headquarters of his cultural foundation instead.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-23a98d3c-7fff-7e46-f8a7-2240601a8b56"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Prior to its sale, the prince bought the UNESCO World Heritage-listed property from the Rothschilds for a reported $150 million back in 2007 - but sunk even more cash into it over the 15 years.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/03/castle1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="1080" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Wikimedia Commons</em></p> <p dir="ltr">According to reports, the Middle Eastern royal gained ownership of the Hôtel Lambert when it was in a bad way, and invested a further $200 million into structural renovations.</p> <p dir="ltr">Just a stone’s throw away from cultural icons including the medieval Notre-Dame, the Hôtel Lambert is a cultural landmark in its own right.</p> <p dir="ltr">Constructed in the 1640s and designed by Louis de Vau, a favourite architect of King Louis XIV who assisted in designing Versailles, the structure features extensive frescoes by Charles le Brun - who decorated Versailles’ Hall of Mirrors - and other works of art.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-44c3630b-7fff-b5c3-e59b-58debe0556ef"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Wikimedia Commons</em></p>

Real Estate

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French star goes viral for amazing sheer dress

<p dir="ltr">Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, the actress behind<em> Emily in Paris</em>’ Sylvie Grateau, has challenged what it means to be fashionable in a now-viral photo.</p><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-839c87bc-7fff-072c-cb80-31aa039568d7"></span></p><p dir="ltr">The 58-year-old actress turned heads at Paris Fashion Week’s Ami Fall 2022 show, posing in a sheer, forest green midi-length dress paired with a slouchy black coat, metallic heels, glittering earrings and scarlet nails.</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF;border: 0;border-radius: 3px;margin: 1px;max-width: 540px;min-width: 326px;padding: 0;width: calc(100% - 2px)" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CZCxmLWuIvF/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"><div style="padding: 16px"><div style="flex-direction: row;align-items: center"><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 50%;flex-grow: 0;height: 40px;margin-right: 14px;width: 40px"> </div><div style="flex-direction: column;flex-grow: 1;justify-content: center"><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 4px;flex-grow: 0;height: 14px;margin-bottom: 6px;width: 100px"> </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 4px;flex-grow: 0;height: 14px;width: 60px"> </div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0"> </div><div style="height: 50px;margin: 0 auto 12px;width: 50px"> </div><div style="padding-top: 8px"><div style="color: #3897f0;font-family: Arial,sans-serif;font-size: 14px;font-style: normal;font-weight: 550;line-height: 18px">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0"> </div><div style="flex-direction: row;margin-bottom: 14px;align-items: center"><div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 50%;height: 12.5px;width: 12.5px"> </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;height: 12.5px;width: 12.5px;flex-grow: 0;margin-right: 14px;margin-left: 2px"> </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 50%;height: 12.5px;width: 12.5px"> </div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px"><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 50%;flex-grow: 0;height: 20px;width: 20px"> </div><div style="width: 0;height: 0;border-top: 2px solid transparent;border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4;border-bottom: 2px solid transparent"> </div></div><div style="margin-left: auto"><div style="width: 0px;border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right: 8px solid transparent"> </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;flex-grow: 0;height: 12px;width: 16px"> </div><div style="width: 0;height: 0;border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left: 8px solid transparent"> </div></div></div><div style="flex-direction: column;flex-grow: 1;justify-content: center;margin-bottom: 24px"><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 4px;flex-grow: 0;height: 14px;margin-bottom: 6px;width: 224px"> </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4;border-radius: 4px;flex-grow: 0;height: 14px;width: 144px"> </div></div><p style="color: #c9c8cd;font-family: Arial,sans-serif;font-size: 14px;line-height: 17px;margin-bottom: 0;margin-top: 8px;overflow: hidden;padding: 8px 0 7px;text-align: center"><a style="color: #c9c8cd;font-family: Arial,sans-serif;font-size: 14px;font-style: normal;font-weight: normal;line-height: 17px;text-decoration: none" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CZCxmLWuIvF/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by The Cut (@thecut)</a></p></div></blockquote><p dir="ltr">Though many fans of the show have compared her to her fictional role as the former matriarch of Savoir, the actress says her style doesn’t reflect Sylvie’s at all.</p><p dir="ltr">“I loved being overdressed in Emily, because I don’t do it in real life,” Leroy-Beaulieu said in a 2020 interview with <em><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/09/style/sylvie-emily-in-paris.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The New York Times</a></em>.</p><p dir="ltr">“I wouldn’t wear those heels on Paris sidewalks. But it doesn’t matter. The idea was to push all the fashion higher than real.”</p><p dir="ltr">But, the risque photo has also sparked discussions around the relationship between ageing and fashion.</p><p dir="ltr">In a recent interview with <em><a href="https://www.glamour.com/story/philippine-leroy-beaulieu-drops-her-skin-care-routine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Glamour</a></em>, Leroy-Beaulieu said we should feel “no guilt or shame around ageing”.</p><p dir="ltr">“A world where people cannot age is a dangerous world,” she told the publication.</p><p dir="ltr">“I had a talk with my daughter who’s 30 about this recently. She said, ‘Mum, I don’t want to live in a world where women cannot age’.</p><p dir="ltr">“I think it’s important to really own this ageing thing and not make it a problem, not make it something we can’t talk about. There’s no guilt or shame around ageing. This is something that happens to everyone, you know?” she said.</p><p dir="ltr">“I understand the insecurity, the pressure that we get, especially in our business. But if somebody doesn’t start saying, ‘This is my age, this is who I am, my wrinkles are my wrinkles, I own my wrinkles, this is my whole life…’ it’s kind of sad.” </p><p dir="ltr">Having landed her first big break at 52, Leroy-Beaulieu knows what it means to be an older woman in an industry that prioritises youth above almost everything else.</p><p dir="ltr">But she wants to pass on this message that getting older doesn’t mean you need to quietly disappear.</p><p dir="ltr">“You know how hard it is when you pass 45 or even 40 and people start thinking, ‘Just get out of the scene’. But there’s so much we can do and transmit,” she told <em><a href="https://graziamagazine.com/us/articles/philippine-leroy-beaulieu-touched-people-love-sylvie/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Grazia</a></em>.</p><p dir="ltr">“We have a lot to teach the younger girls.”</p><p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e77209c7-7fff-2fc9-f3fd-e165f83ee348"></span></p><p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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The vaccine loophole that could see Novak defend his title

<p>Novak Djokovic could be allowed to defend his winning title at the French Open under new Covid-19 restrictions, even if he is not vaccinated. </p> <p>After Djokovic's high-profile deportation from Australia when he didn't meet the country's vaccine rules, his future at the French Open was also thrown into jeopardy. </p> <p>It initially appeared that the Serbian tennis star would not be welcomed at <span>Roland-Garros under a new law that intended to ban unvaccinated people from stadiums, bars, restaurants and other public places. </span></p> <p><span>French Sports Minister Roxana Maracineanu previously said that as soon as the law was passed, France's vaccine pass would be compulsory "for all spectators, practitioners, French or foreign professionals" to enter stadiums, theatres or exhibition centres. </span></p> <p><span>However, thanks to a loophole in the vaccine pass, Novak could be allowed to still </span>compete.</p> <p>The vaccine pass is not limited to Covid-19 vaccinations, as anyone who has tested positive to Covid within the last six months is exempt from having to display the pass. </p> <p>This rule suggests Djokovic could still compete in the French Open in May and June, due to the fact that he tested positive in mid-December 2021. </p> <p>The French sports ministry and French Open organisers have said its too early to comment on Djokovic's future at the event, saying restrictions may change between now and May depending on the virus situation. </p> <p>Novak has yet to make a comment on the situation, with his team claiming he will not give any public statements until the end of the Australian Open on January 30th. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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French film star dead at just 37

<p dir="ltr">Perhaps best known to English-speaking audiences for playing Hannibal Lecter in<span> </span><em>Hannibal Rising,<span> </span></em>Ulliel was set to star as Midnight Man in Marvel’s upcoming<span> </span><em>Moon Knight<span> </span></em>series alongside Oscar Isaac and Ethan Hawke.</p> <p dir="ltr">At home in France, he starred in numerous highly-acclaimed films, including<span> </span><em>Saint Laurent<span> </span></em>as Yves Saint Laurent<em>, It’s Only The End of The World,</em><span> </span>for which he won a César for Best Actor, and<span> </span><em>A Very Long Engagement.<span> </span></em>French Prime Minister Jean Castex tweeted on Wednesday, "Gaspard Ulliel grew up with cinema and cinema grew up with him. They loved each other madly. It's with a heavy heart that we will rewatch his most beautiful performances and catch his unique gaze. We have lost a French actor."</p> <div class="embed"><iframe class="embedly-embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2Fx7Krla_UxRg%3Ffeature%3Doembed&amp;display_name=YouTube&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dx7Krla_UxRg&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2Fx7Krla_UxRg%2Fhqdefault.jpg&amp;key=5b465a7e134d4f09b4e6901220de11f0&amp;type=text%2Fhtml&amp;schema=youtube" width="450" height="253" scrolling="no" title="YouTube embed" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div> <p dir="ltr">Ulliel died on Wednesday in a hospital in Grenoble, a city in southeastern France, following a skiing accident on Tuesday. He was skiing in the Savoie region when he collided with another skier and suffered serious brain trauma. Local authorities have opened an investigation into the accident.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Hannibal Rising<span> </span></em>director Peter Webber<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://twitter.com/PeterWebber/status/1483836257637736452" target="_blank">tweeted</a><span> </span>about Ulliel, writing, “Shocked and saddened to hear about the death of Gaspard Ulliel at such a young age in a skiing accident. I have such fond memories of working with him all those years ago on Hannibal Rising. Rest in peace, dear friend.”<span> </span><em>It’s Only The End of The World<span> </span></em>director Xavier Dolan also posted about the actor, writing on Instagram, “It’s unbelievable, absurd, and so painful to even think of writing these words. Your discreet laugher, your caring gaze. Your scar. Your talent. Your listening skill. Your whispers, your kindness. All these personality traits that emanated from a shining softness. Your whole being transformed my life, a being that loved deeply and that I will always love. I can’t say anything more. I feel drained, shaken by your (death).”</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CY6xzYyrk45/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CY6xzYyrk45/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Xavier Dolan (@xavierdolan)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">French Culture Minister Rosalyne Bachelot described Ulliel as “an exceptional actor” in a tweet, adding, "Today the world of cinema lost a huge talent. send my condolences to his family and my loving thoughts to all those who grieve for him today."</p> <p dir="ltr">Thierry Fremaux, director of the Cannes Film Festival, said of Ulliel, "Gaspard belonged to this new generation of actors who were making tomorrow's French cinema. He knew how to select his roles and shaped his career which filled every promise.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Each appearance on the red carpet, from La Princesse de Montpensier to It's Only The End of the World illustrated his presence, both discreet and full of kindness. He was equally brilliant and talented. He gave a lot and we'll always remember him."</p> <p dir="ltr">Ulliel is survived by his 6-year-old son Orso and girlfriend Gaelle Petri.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Foc Kan/FilmMagic</em></p>

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First look at James Middleton’s French wedding

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Just a week after saying “I do”, photos </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.nowtolove.com.au/royals/british-royal-family/james-middleton-alizee-thevenet-wedding-photos-69133" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">have emerged</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> from James Middleton and Alizée Thévenet’s secret French wedding.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">James and Alizée were wed in the French village of Bormes-les-Mimosas on Saturday, September 11.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In an exclusive with </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hello! Magazine</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, which shared the first snap from the ceremony, the newlyweds opened up about their big day.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUAl8EYMtBj/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUAl8EYMtBj/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by HELLO! Magazine (@hellomag)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“There are three important things for a good party: good music, good food and wine, and wonderful people,” James told </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.hellomagazine.com/brides/20210919121951/james-middleton-alizee-thevenet-wedding-pictures/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">the outlet</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We were lucky enough to have all three.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the photo shared on the outlet’s Instagram page, James and Alizée are shown beaming while posing together in a classic white car decorated with dried flowers.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">James wore a cream suit, paired with a blue suit and tie, while Alizée chose a chic, off-the-shoulder white dress that  featured a fitted bodice and delicate lacework along the neckline.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As her “something borrowed”, the dress was worn by her new mother-in-law Carole Middleton at her own wedding in 1980.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It fitted me perfectly and was exactly what I wanted,” Alizée told </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.hellomagazine.com/brides/20210920121962/james-middleton-wife-alizee-thevenet-wedding-dress-borrowed-carole-middleton/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">HELLO</span></a></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It always troubled me that wedding dresses are only worn once so it was amazing to give such a beautiful dress a second lease of life.”</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CT44ywAMAo0/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CT44ywAMAo0/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Alizée Thévenet Middleton (@alizee.thevenet)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The couple also revealed that two of their beloved dogs - Ella and Mabel - joined in the ceremony as flower girls.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">HELLO</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> confirmed that James’ sister Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, attended the ceremony with Prince William and their three children.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">James told the outlet that he couldn’t be happier to be married, especially after having to postpone the wedding twice due to the pandemic.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It was wonderful to finally celebrate with family and friends despite the challenges of a global pandemic,” he said.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Images: alizee.thevenet / Instagram</span></em></p>

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Angelina Jolie selling iconic French Chateau for $61 million

<p><span>Angelina Jolie is selling her estate in Provence, France, after several legal issues.</span></p> <p><span>The actress filed for divorce from fellow actor Brad Pitt over five years ago, yet the couple remain linked due to the glorious French Chateau that was once a blessing, but now a plague for them.</span></p> <p><span>The pair purchased the estate back in 2008, for a reported €45 million (AUD $72 million).</span></p> <p><span>The incredible property includes several residential and non-residential structures, from a rundown, adorable chapel to a high-functioning farm.</span></p> <p><span>What gave the chateau a firm reputation, other than its high-profile owners, was its glorious pink wine which won them Wine Spectator’s award for best rosé in the world, back in 2013.</span></p> <p><span>Jolie claims since the couple split back in 2016, Pitt has prevented her from selling the estate.</span></p> <p><span>In June, the mother-of-four even went so far as to file a petition to ask the judge to lift the order that prevents a transfer of assets so she could finally be rid of the property.</span></p> <p><span>Considering the couple purchased the estate prior to their nuptials in 2014, Jolie’s lawyers say the glorious French chateau should solely be considered hers.</span></p> <p><span>“After all these years of trying to extricate herself from being business partners with her ex-husband on acceptable financial terms, Ms. Jolie is extremely desirous of closing the pending agreement for the sale of Nouvel, LLC, and requests that the Court issue an order lifting the ATROs and specifying that they shall not apply to Ms. Jolie’s sale of Nouvel, LLC,” the actress’ legal team stated in a document that was obtained by <em>Us Weekly.</em></span></p> <p><span>The rumour mill has claimed the actress has plans to sell it to a willing buyer for an estimate of USD $61 million.</span></p>

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