Adele

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin The Italian resort town of Porto Cervo sits at the center of Costa Smeralda, a moneyed tourist destination in Sardinia known for its beaches, golf courses and upscale hotels. Adele stopped in recently with her beau Rich Paul for a hotel stay while on a cruise vacation. Superyachts line the pier. Lamborghini is once again presenting a pop-up lounge complete with cars and test drives. Throughout the year, the celebrity-magnet hosts such draws as a sailing regatta, a film festival, polo matches and a vintage car event. Among the architects to have contributed to the development of the area is Savin Couelle. He also oversaw the redesign of this private residence, Villa Evelina , which sits on a hilltop overlooking the marina and the Maddalena Archipelago – the group of islands between Italy and France. The French-born architect, who described himself as a gypsy due to his world travels, implemented his organic … [Read more...] about Architectural Villa Overlooks A Celebrity Popular Town In Sardinia, Italy

The author (right) with Gerard Salonga June 28, 2022. A day that we won’t soon forget. This was the day I would hold my solo concert at the Royal Albert Hall, with my brother Gerard at the podium waving his baton. With our usual band (but instead of Gerard at the piano, it was Ellie Verkerk, who’s the musical director of the West End production of “Six”) and back-up singers, plus a gang of amazing string players, the stage was set for us to get up on that storied stage and do our thing. This wouldn’t be my first time in this amazing venue; that distinction remains with playing Eponine in the 10th anniversary concert of “Les Misérables.” It’s been 27 years in between these two Albert Hall performances, so it’s fair to say that it all felt very new. Gerard had a head start with rehearsing the new musicians early in the afternoon. When I arrived much later, I headed right to the stage and looked out into the house. This was a view I enjoyed so many years ago, but it still filled … [Read more...] about Return to Royal Albert Hall

The US announced the killing of Ayman al-Zawahiri in an airstrike on Kabul on July 30. On August 1, US President Joe Biden announced the killing of al-Qaeda (AQ) Amir Ayman al-Zawahiri in an airstrike on Kabul on July 30. The US military used Hellfire R9X missiles to execute a “precise tailored airstrike” targeting Zawahiri, who was staying at the upscale Sherpur locality in the Afghan capital. A key conspirator of the 9/11 attacks, he was heading the AQ since a US military raid killed Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan in May 2011. Zawahiri’s death is important on several counts. First, his death underscores the symbiotic relationship between the AQ and the Afghan Taliban. The incident comes when the Taliban is about to complete a year of its Afghanistan takeover on August 15. Last year, the counter-terrorism (CT) community had warned about the country re-emerging as a terror hub, and Zawahiri’s presence in Kabul confirms it. The United Nations’ Analytical Support … [Read more...] about Terrorism | Ayman Al-Zawahiri’s killing won’t halt al-Qaeda’s receding relevance

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Topline Critics, charts and even former President Barack Obama have weighed in on their picks for this year’s song of the summer, nominating hits from Harry Styles, Beyoncé, Kate Bush and Bad Bunny, among others. Key Facts “As It Was,” Harry Styles: This April single is leading Spotify’s Song Of The Summer chart for the week ending August 1, and has led Billboard’s chart for all eight weeks of the season; It was also mentioned by Esquire , PopSugar and Pitchfork as one of of the best songs of the season, and by Quartz , USA Today and The Daily Beast as a contender. “Break My Soul,” Beyoncé: A surprise June release, Esquire , Pitchfork, The Guardian , PopSugar and Obama all selected the song as one of the top hits of the summer; it’s also No. 19 on this week’s Billboard chart, and it was named as a contender by Quartz and NPR . “Running Up … [Read more...] about 2022 Song Of The Summer Tracker: Harry Styles Leads, But Can Beyonce Or Lizzo Catch Up?