Sunday Magazine - November 11, 2018

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Throughout our school lives, we were told that Remembrance Day, or Poppy Day as it is commonly known, is observed on the second Sunday of November to pay homage to the lives lost during World Wars I and II. Today, November 11, is the second Sunday and it is also a very special day since it marks the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. In Guyana, the day is observed with a whole host of activities organised by the Guyana Veterans Legion as well as the annual wreathlaying ceremony at the various cenotaphs around the country. In Georgetown, officials and relatives of the slain warriors would lay wreaths at the Cenotaph honouring those who fought diligently.

Following a tradition inaugurated by King George V in 1919, the day is also marked by war remembrances in many nonCommonwealth countries. Remembrance Day is observed on November 11 in most countries to commemorate the end of hostilities of World War I on that date in 1918. Hostilities formally ended "at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month", in accordance with the armistice signed by representatives of Germany and the Entente between 5:12 and 5:20 that morning. The First World War officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919. The first Remembrance Day was observed when King George V hosted a banquet in honour of the President of the French Republic on the grounds of

the Buckingham Palace. The Service of Remembrance in many Commonwealth countries generally includes the sounding of the "Last Post", followed by the period of silence, followed by the sounding of "Reveille" or sometimes just "The Rouse" (often confused for each other), and finishes with a recitation of the "Ode of Remembrance".

The "Flowers of the Forest", "O Valiant Hearts", "I Vow to Thee, My Country" and "Jerusalem" are often played during the Service. The Service also includes wreaths being laid to honour the fallen, a blessing, and national anthems.

A two-minute silence is observed at 11 am to remember the people who have died in wars. The first two-minute silence in Britain was held on November 11, 1919, when King George V asked the public to observe a period of silence at 11 am. This was one year after the end of World War I. He made the request so "the thoughts of everyone may be concentrated on reverent remembrance of the glorious dead".

Guyana, then British Guiana, became a part of the Second World War in 1939 after the United Kingdom’s declaration of war on Nazi Germany. Like all the other British colonies in the West Indies, British Guiana gave full support to the Allied war effort by providing personnel for the British Armed Forces, land for an American military base, and raw materials for war production.

Although the Guyanese economy initially suffered as a result of the war, largescale infrastructural projects were undertaken, in order to optimise the production of

goods for the war effort, and by the war's end in 1945, the economy had more than recovered. There were also significant changes in the country's political system during the same period, such as the legalisation of political parties and the enfranchisement of women.

Today, Guyanese still remember those fallen heroes who helped to end the war. There are about 15 World War II veterans still alive.

By Lakhram Bhagirat

“Iwas young back then and I was very vibrant. I would have done anything for my country and that is what made me go to join the Army and then went to enlist to fight in World War II. But when we were at the airport, them call and said to go back to Base, that the war is off. I was willing to lay down my life for my country because that is what was expected of me,” Benjamin Durant tells me.

Although he never made it to the battlefield, Durant is considered one of Guyana’s World War II veterans because he was enlisted at the time, guided by his willingness to head into battle. Durant will celebrate his 100th birthday on Thursday and tells me he considers himself lucky to be born a few days after the First World War ended on November 11, 1918.

He said this year’s celebration was going to be extra special, since it was also the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War. Despite the century milestone looming ahead of him, Durant is quite active although he has cataracts, which have impaired his vision and hence affected his mobility. Apart from that, he says, all his other faculties are intact, as our chat a few days ago demonstrated.

“After I left the Army

and went back to carpentry, I was working on the Salvation Army Church and we were putting on a door, but we had to chip it a bit and one of the greenheart chips went into my eyes. It was the

that he was just 22 when he decided to enlist and was immediately thrown into combat training. He received his training at a location in the Upper Berbice River area where he was exposed to various levels of battle training preparing him to join his colleagues in the Second World War.

“I was just married when I went to join the Army and before that I was a joiner, but I wanted to be a carpenter,” he said.

So, I asked him why did he choose the Army when he had already been making a career as a joiner to which he responded: “I was young

same day that (former President Linden Forbes Sampson) Burnham died and I didn’t pay no attention to it, because we were crying for the President. But after a week the chip come out my eyes and then when I went to the doctor they said I have infant stage cataract, but they can’t operate and slowly I lost my sight,” he tells me. Going back to his earlier days, Durant said

and we had the energy to do that. We were not going to skylark and wait for something to happen. I wanted to be a part of it, because I had an uncle name Joseph Durant and he was a part of the First World War and when he came back in his uniform and all his medals, it was then as a little boy I know I wanted to go and be like him.”

He said as he was

preparing himself to go to war, he could have only thought about the three children that he had because they would have been fatherless had he not returned. Durant separated from his first wife and remarried, fathering another 11 children in that union. But he tells me that he has several other children with different women. When I asked him how many children he has, he could not have confined it to a specific number, but said about 16 to 20.

“They will all come next week for my birthday party. Most of them outside and they will come in for the party. You should come to the party too, so you can meet then,” he said, extending an impromptu invitation to join his celebration. One year after the end of the Second World War, Durant would leave the military and follow his dream of becoming a carpenter. He explained that he

would have stayed on in the Army, but they were offering a place as a Customs Officer with the Police Force, a job which he knew nothing of. So, he went back to carpentry where he made a name for himself.

Now he resides with one of his daughters in Goedverwagting on the East Coast of Demerara.

“Now I take everything easy and one day at a time. I am living

comfortably now and life is going on,” he says. I then concluded our chat by asking Durant for a little advice for the young people, and this is what he had to say “To live long you have to enjoy every day and be active. Put your country above anything else and always fight for it. Respect it and always be proud of Guyana, because without Guyana, we are nothing.”

By Lakhram Bhagirat

As a child, I remember the month of October bringing a different kind of competition. It was not the typical competition to see who was more academically inclined or who would perform the best at the annual Inter-House Sports competition but who could buy the most poppies and arrange them in the most intricate designs on their uniforms.

It was a competition that both male and female students tried to dominate, but more often than not, it was dominated by the females since they had more space on their kimonos to create more intricate patterns. As a student, I would spend a whole lot of money to make sure that I was decked out in the most poppies since it meant bragging rights for the entire month. The competition would see our trousers transformed into a sea of poppies before we went to classes in the morning and after school in the afternoons, since the teachers would “fret” if we covered our trousers with poppies.

The story behind the poppy is one that we were taught from a young age. I distinctly remember my nursery school teacher, Miss Leelawattie, telling us that the red poppy symbolises all the blood of the slain soldiers. She told us that during the wars the fallen soldiers were buried in a field of poppies and by sporting a single poppy, we would honour all those fallen soldiers.

I remember with her bright red canister in one hand with a transparent bag of red poppies, she would walk around collecting our shiny $10 coins and pinning our purchase to our chests. At that age, I was proud to wear it and proudly displayed my poppy every time I saw someone without one.

As time progressed, my pride increased and to date, I would still buy a poppy since we were always told that the proceeds would go to helping those war veterans. As I did some research on the poppy, I found out that the red poppy became familiar because of a poem titled “In Flanders Fields" written by Canadian physician Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae. After reading the poem, Moina Michael, a professor at the University of Georgia, wrote the poem "We Shall Keep the Faith", and swore to wear a red poppy on the anniversary.

As the years went by, the custom spread throughout the world, particularly Europe and the countries that were a part of the British Empire and the Commonwealth within a short time. Poppies were worn for the first time at the 1921 anniversary ceremony. At first, real poppies were worn. These poppies bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in World War I; their brilliant red colour became a symbol of the blood spilled in the war.

Today, the Guyana Veterans Legion still dispatches their bright red canisters with bags of poppies to the schools and the competition is still going strong. Only the price for the poppy has changed; this year, I paid $20 for mine at the La Grange Primary School.

The Guyana Veteran’s Legion has been recognized as the mother of all veterans organisations because of its exclusive membership to veterans of the two world wars but over the years that had changed when the Guyana Veterans Foundation was formed in 1995.

The Legion (then British Guiana Legion) was registered under the Friendly Societies Ordinance as a friendly society on April 26, 1926, according to its current General Secretary, Arno Solomon. He said that the aim of the Legion is to make sure that the memories of the men and women who lost their lives in battle are forever preserved. He added that they also host fundraising activities to make the lives of the veterans easier since their sacrifices for the Commonwealth is immeasurable.

“We have a membership of ex-GDF, GPM (Guyana People’s Militia), National Service and we have the 15 World War 2 veterans. We get money by having our monthly contributions from the members as well as several fundraising activities over the year. Like we would have our annual barbeque and so on. We also get a grant from the Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League that goes to the 15 veterans. They get that grant once per year and we also have another fund so if one of our members die we can be able to bury them or help with the funeral expenses,” Solomon explained.

He said that the Legion is a member of the Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League which was founded in 1921. He told the Sunday Magazine that the aim of the League is to ensure that every pre-independence Commonwealth military veteran is afforded they help they needed since their sacrifices are one that befits that treatment. During the two world wars, over 7.5 million Commonwealth Soldiers entered the battlefield. The casualties were far too many over 760,000 of them losing their lives.

According to Solomon the League Commonwealth charity with 56 member organisations in 48 Commonwealth countries. He said that the Legion has always been plagued by its small income and expenses in taking care of their veterans.

“Our membership fee, which I won’t disclose, does not amount to much. We have to have constant fundraisers to ensure that we get the money we need to function and meet our expenses. It can be tough but we does get through it,” Solomon said.

Going back to the construction of the present Headquarters at Carifesta Avenue, Solomon said that Irish-born Captain John Coghlan was very instrumental in getting the present location. He would have served as Legion President in 194243 and 1948-52 and was also a World War One veteran.

Coghlan was given a mandate by his colleagues to acquire suitable premises for meetings and to be used at the Legion’s main base of administrative operations since at that time the Legion occupied rented premises at South Road, Bourda. Coghlan, a Barrister at Law, was able to interest local business firms and others in contributing towards the headquarters project and with the Government’s assistance the Legion’s Headquarters was completed in 1948. The building was named

Coghlan House following a motion at the half-yearly General Meeting in August of 2009. Coghlan was also instrumental in getting the Demerara Harbour Bridge since he was the first person to move a motion calling for the bridge after he retired from the Public Service. The most important activity on the Legion’s calendar is Remembrance Day. The day’s activities include a ceremony at the War Memorial in Georgetown. They would also have a march past followed by a recognition ceremony at the Legion’s Hall. The Legion is also urging everyone to wear a poppy today to honour those who have given their lives for a free world.

Preserving our literary heritage

by Petamber Persaud

With the publication of her singular book, Aftermath of Empire: The Novels of A. K. Heath, Ameena Gafoor has sort of brought Roy Heath back home to his birthplace to be re-discovered, to be reappraised and to be re-appreciated, in a way rescuing him from self-imposed exile and also rescuing his work from obscurity (limited critical response) because Gafoor in this seminal publication was able to place Heath among the forefront of Guyanese Literature (his oeuvre of nine novels is only surpassed by Edgar Mittelholzer and Wilson Harris) by painstakingly revealing to us how ‘Heath has practically refined the introspective Guyanese antihero’ while finding occasion to ‘celebrate every one of his flawed fictional creatures: their humaneness, their eccentricities, their weaknesses, and their strengths, even if they are social misfits and psychological wrecks’.

Numbers (of books published) matter in context but in this instance the quality of content of Heath’s work far outweighs quantity. And it would be shown how his work was influenced and had evolved as he sojourned through life mainly those formative years in urban Guyana.

Gafoor also gives Heath his rightful place in the canon of Caribbean Literature by showing how he has ‘revolutionized the form of the regional novel…[n]o non-Indian writer has displayed such remarkable cultural knowledge and such psychological depth in depicting East Indian experience in the West Indian novel’. Heath’s The Shadow Bride would be essential reading here.

That is saying a lot but who is Roy Heath? Roy A. K. Heath was born in 1926 in Georgetown, the capital city of British Guiana. His father was a head teacher and his mother a teacher at St. Andrew’s Primary School. Heath’s father was born in St. Kitts and his maternal linage comes from the Dutch possession of St. Marteen and from Barbados. His formative years were replete with house moving. When he was two years of age, his father died, leaving four children: two sisters and an older brother. When Heath was four, the family resettled in Agricola, on the East Bank of Demerara, a few miles from the city. At eight, he was sent to live with an aunt in the heart of Georgetown. The next house move found him in Charlestown where he lived for fifteen years. Heath attended Central High School.

In 1950, he went to England where he was trained as a teacher and a lawyer. He taught French and German in a variety of London secondary schools. He was a member of the Princeton University class and later served as professor of psychology.

Heath’s first novel was published when he was almost fifty years of age. That novel, ‘A Man Come Home’, was published in 1974. He was in his 70s when his last novel, ‘The Ministry of Hope’, was published. Although Heath turned to novel writing late, he was able to produced nine well-written, well-received books in a period of two decades.

Here is a list of Heath’s novels:

A Man Come Home, 1974

The Murderer, 1978

From the Heat of the Day, 1979

One Generation, 1981

Genetha, 1981

Kwaku, 1982

Orealla, 1984

The Shadow Bride, 1988 –winner of the Guyana Prize 1989

The Ministry of Hope, 1997

Heath is better known for his magisterial novel The Shadow Bride followed by the Georgetown Trilogy consisting of ‘From the Heat of the Day’, ‘One Generation’ and ‘Genetha’; these three books were also published in an omnibus volume, The Armstrong Trilogy, 1994. A lot of attention is now on The Murderer with a hint of making it into a movie.

In 1978, his novel, ‘The Murderer’, won the Guardian Fiction Prize. In 1989, his novel, ‘The Shadow Bride’, won the Guyana Prize for Literature.

Heath has written a number of short stories, some of which were aired on the BBC. The story, ‘Miss Mabel’s Burial’ was aired on the Guyana Broadcasting Service in 1973 and included in Seymour’s ‘New Writing in the Caribbean’, 1972. He has written one play, ‘Inez Combray’, which was staged at the Theatre Guild in Georgetown. Poems like ‘The Peasants’ found its way

into Kyk-over-Al as early as 1953 and ‘The Wind and the Sun’ was published in Savacou. ‘Shadows Round the Moon’ is an incomplete autobiography giving access to the first part of his life. He could not bring himself to write the other part which would include England - a place of perpetual exile for him.

What’s happening:

Sasenarine Persaud has just released his fourteenth book, Monsoon on the Fingers of God, and was honoured with HAF Award (https://www.hafsite.org/) for the Advancement of Dharmic Arts and Humanities. Part of the citation reads: ‘to recognize your significant yet humble contributions towards enlightening and educating others through your many inspiring literary works of dharmic values and traditions’.

The Soldier

If I should die, think only this of me: That there’s some corner of a foreign field That is forever England. There shall be In that rich earth a richer dust concealed; A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware, Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam, A body of England’s, breathing English air, Washed by the rivers, blest by the suns of home.

And think, this heart, all evil shed away, A pulse in the eternal mind, no less Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given; Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day; And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness, In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.

By Rupert Brooke

At some point in our lives we all would have wondered what Guyana looked like from the sky. We would have wondered if the confusion we see on the ground is visible from over 3000ft above or if our prized architecture would stand out. Well, Photographer Deopaul Somwaru recently took a tour of certain parts of the Coastland from up above. He decided to share some of those images with the Sunday Magazine. Here are some of those images. (Photos by Deopaul Somwaru)

If you are on a budget or if you just love a good old DIY project you’ve come to the right place! We at the Sunday Magazine absolutely love good homemade beauty products. They are inexpensive and most of the items required to make them are already in our cabinets at home. So here are a few of our favourite products.

Lip Scrub

Lip scrubs are a way to exfoliate our lips, they are quick and easy to use, not to mention how delicious they could be.

We have a simple lip scrub that works wonders for your lips. All you need to do is mix a tablespoon of coconut oil and a tablespoon of honey. Stir until they form a homogenous mixture and then add two teaspoons of brown sugar. Mix everything together and if you need to you can add some more coconut oil to smooth out and blend the mixture better. Now you’ve done that you just need to transfer the mixture into a clean jar and voila – your organic scrub is ready to use. The honey and the coconut oil are well known for their moisturizing properties and the brown sugar helps gently remove the dead skin.

Uplifting Oil Cream

Ingredients

4 teaspoons avocado oil

2 teaspoons calendula oil

2 teaspoons rosehip oil

½ teaspoon cornstarch or corn flour (the white one)

2 teaspoons melted beeswax (or 10g/0.3oz)

1 vitamin E capsule

3 drops lemon essential oil

Instructions

Using a double boiler or a stainless steel bowl sitting in a pan. Allow the water in the saucepan or base of the double to boil gently.

Add all the ingredients, except for vitamin E and essential, to the stainless steel bowl (or top of the double boiler) and stir gently, ideally with a whisk, until well and truly melted.

Take off the heat and off the water.

Stir in essential oil and vitamin E.

Pour into sterile jars.

Put the lids on once the cream is set and cool.

All-Natural DIY Teeth Whitening Paste

Ingredients:

1 tsp aluminum-free baking soda

2 tsp 3% food grade hydrogen peroxide

1 drop peppermint essential oil

*Food grade hydrogen peroxide differs greatly from the run-of-the-mill hydrogen peroxide found in the drugstore, which is not safe to ingest as it contains many heavy metals.

Directions:

Mix the baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and essential oil into a smooth paste.

Dip your toothbrush in the paste and brush *gently* for about 2 minutes before brushing with regular toothpaste.

Use no more than once a week, since baking soda is an abrasive and you don’t want to damage that enamel!

Facial wipes

Ingredients

2 cups distilled water

1 tablespoon melted coconut oil

5 drops

Malealuca essential oil

5 drops

Grapefruit essential oil

Optional: Few drops of vitamin e or aloe*

Old, clean t shirt or towel

Directions for making Cleansing

Facial Wipes

Cut up an old clean t shirt or towel into small squares. Set aside. Pour the melted or fractionated coconut oil in a large bowl. Add essential oils and vitamin e/ aloe if using, and stir to combine. Add distilled water and mix again.

Lay your cut squares in the bowl to soak up the solution and then transfer to a jar of choice to store. Pour any remaining solution over towels. Store at room temperature or in the refrigerator if you’d like a nice and cool little experience removing your makeup. Use like any other regular facial cleansing wipes.

Zit Zapper

Ingredients

Coconut Oil Tea Tree Essential Oil

Lip Balm

Tubes

Directions On the stove top, melt 1/8 cup of coconut oil. Add in just a few drops of tea tree oil (no more than 5). Mix to blend and then use an eye drop dropper to add the mixture into the lip balm tubes. It should only take a few minutes for the coconut oil to set up. Store the tubes in the fridge so they don’t melt and use as needed as a homemade zit zapper spot targeting treatment.

LEMON COCONUT SHAMPOO

All you need is three ingredients: Organic Shampoo Base, organic coconut oil, and lemon essential oil. Use about one cup of the shampoo base and add one tablespoon coconut oil followed by about 20 drops of the essential oil. Mixed until all the ingredients come together and put in an airtight jar.

Coffee Face Wash

1/2 cup brewed coffee

1/2 cup liquid castile soap

In a bowl, add brewed and cooled coffee. Add in castile soap and give it a quick stir. Pour the mixture in a pump bottle and use it as a regular shampoo.

You can use it all over the face and body while in shower for a soft, smooth skin. It exfoliates, moisturizes and gives your skin a radiant glow.

Olive Oil and Honey Conditioner WHAT YOU’LL NEED

1 Tbsp honey

3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

DIRECTIONS

Mix the ingredients into a bowl until they make a paste

Lightly shampoo and use a light condition if you need to detangle knots

Work the paste though your hair from roots to tips

Wrap up in plastic and leave it for 10-15 minutes

Rinse in the shower

Home & Cooking

We went hunting for some new, cool and super awesome DIY room decor ideas, ones you can actually make and want to proudly display in your room. From wall art to fun accessories, rugs, lighting and bedding ideas, you are sure to find the perfect creative craft for your room. Try out the easy to follow step by step tutorials for simple room decor and make your room different.

FRINGE PHOTO GARLAND

Materials

photos

fringe trim

scissors washi tape

yarn

clothespins

Step 1: Cut the fringe trim to the exact width of each photo.

Step 2: Use Washi tape to attach the fringe to the bottom of each photo.

Step 3: Attach the photos with clothespins to a long strand of yarn.

Shabby Chic Lampshade

- glue gun & glue sticks

- 3 yards of PINK MUSLIN GAUZE

- LAMPSHADE

- Lamp Base

How to make fabric roses:

1. Cut a small slit into the fabric in the same direction as the seams in the fabric run

2. Tear the fabric into 1 inch strips, this allows the fabric to have a frayed edge on both sides

3. Twist the fabric strips as if you would do when you twirl your hair

4. After you have twisted the strip of fabric, place it on a table, with your hands on either end of the strip. With your left finger, hold the end of the left side of the strip down. With your right hand, wrap the remainder of the strip of fabric around the center starting point (while keeping it twisted). This should create a cinnamon bun effect. To hold the flower securely together, place dots of glue using a hot glue gun every so often while assembling it together.

5. Once you come to the end of the fabric, glue the excess amount onto the back of the rose, holding it all together & giving it a more finished look

POUF

SEATING

1 yard of fabric

Scissors

Cube footstool

Instructions

Measure faces of cube. Cut 6 pieces of fabric measuring 1” larger in length and width than each face of the cube.

With fabric inside out, sew fabric pieces together leaving 1/2” seams. Next, sew one end of the top piece of fabric to the base. Remove zipper from cube cover. Sew zipper on new fabric.

Turn fabric right side out. Place cube without cover into your new and improved cube cover, and pouf you have a stylish pouf for about 1/4 of the price!

Ingredients

1 ½ lbs boneless chicken thighs cut into bite sized pieces

1 medium onion, chopped

1 red pepper, sliced

1 green pepper, sliced

1 orange pepper, sliced

2 tsp salt

2 tbsp chopped parsley

1 tsp oregano

1 tsp basil

½ tsp black pepper

1 tbsp crushed garlic

1 tsp oil

2 tbsp tomato paste

3 tbsp ketchup

¾ cup water

1 tbsp sugar

3 cups pasta

Fresh basil to garnish(optional)

Instructions

Cook pasta making sure it’s just a bit undercooked; the pasta will cook until done in the sauce. While pasta cooks, mix chicken pieces with salt, black pepper, oregano, basil and parsley. Heat oil over medium heat, in a pot large enough to hold pasta. Add seasoned chicken and cook until the pieces are brown. Next add onion, peppers, and garlic and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add tomato paste, ketchup, sugar and water and cook until the sauce reduces and thickens. Add strained pasta to the pot with the chicken and stir to combine. Cook for an additional 3-5 minutes until the pasta soaks up the sauce. Add fresh basil to garnish.

PINEAPPLE ADE

Ingredients skin of 1 pineapple

6 cups hot water

1/2 cup sugar

6 cloves

1 stick cinnamon

Place all ingredients in a pitcher. Allow to sit for 24 hours. Strain, add more sugar if need. Chill before serving.

SOURSOP ICE CREAM

Ingredients

2 cups half and half

2/3 cup sugar

1/8 tsp salt

6 egg yolks

1 cup soursop pulp(if frozen, defrost) pureed

1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk

Pinch of nutmeg

Directions

In a small pot over low heat, add half and half, sugar and salt and simmer until the sugar dissolves. In a heat safe bowl whisk egg yolk then slowly pour the milk into the egg yolk mixture while vigorously stirring. Pour slowly to raise the temperature of the eggs; if you pour too quickly the eggs will scramble from the heat.

Return to the stove and cook over medium low heat until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove from heat and mix in pureed soursop pulp, sweetened condensed milk and nutmeg. Allow it to cool completely to room temperature then place in the fridge and let it chill for at least 4 hour or overnight. Churn in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s directions.

RULES

Can

First launched back in March, Pinterest’s friend feed provided a dedicated section of the service where you could follow posts from other users. Now, this feed is getting a redesign, removing the tiled images in favor of a simpler single column of posts, Instagram-style. There are even horizontal rows of Pinterest-recommended accounts that you can follow.

Aside from the change in layout, the chronological feed still works more or less the same way as it did before. You can tap on a red “Save” button below an image to save it to a board, or tap on the image directly to

be linked out to a piece of content.

It would be easy to look at this and see it as evidence that Pinterest is losing its distinctly Pinterest-y style, but giving each individual

post more real estate seems like a sensible move, especially when you’re browsing an image-based service on a smartphone screen. The redesign was launched on Friday. (The Verge)

Starting with the release of Chrome 71 in December, your browser will warn you about sites that might try and bill you without your full knowledge or consent. Specifically, the measures are targeting mobile billing services, where little more than your phone number is needed to place additional charges on your monthly bill. According to Google, millions of Chrome users encounter pages with unclear or insufficient mobile subscription information every month.

In order to not get flagged, sites will have to make sure they’re being upfront about any charges that may hit Chrome users. That means making billing information obvious, not trying

to obscure it by placing gray text on a white background, for example, and not using a fee structure that obscures the true cost. Chrome 71 users will receive a warning when visiting unclear billing pages on sites that don’t comply.

Samsung has been teasing its foldable smartphone for weeks, and now the company unveiled it for the first time on Thursday.

Samsung calls its foldable phone technology the Infinity Flex Display, and the phone itself has a tablet-sized screen that can be folded up to fit into a pocket.

Samsung demonstrated a “disguised” device during its developer conference today, and dimmed the lights to protect elements of the design. “There’s a device inside here,” said Justin Denison, SVP of mobile product marketing. “And it is stunning.” Denison then showed a device that folded out into a tablet and back up into a candybar-like form factor. The device includes a cover display that acts as a phone, and a main 7.3-inch tablet display.

Up to three apps will be able to run simultaneously, using something Samsung calls multi active window. Samsung says it will be able to start mass production of the Infinity Flex Display in a “matter of months,” according to Denison. Samsung isn’t saying exactly when we can expect to see more than

just this concept device.

Google is also officially supporting these new foldable devices with Android, and it’s working closely with Samsung for the launch of this phone next year. Google is providing guidance for developers to start using existing features that are built into Android to support these foldable displays.

Samsung isn’t the only phone maker working on foldable devices, though. Huawei reportedly plans to release a foldable handset next year. Lenovo and Xiaomi have also started teased their own prototypes, and LG is also working on flexible OLED displays and TVs that roll up into a box.

Microsoft is even working on a multiscreen device, which could be a modern take on the old Courier concept. Microsoft Surface chief Panos Panay previously revealed that a pocketable Surface device is “absolutely my baby.”

Phone makers you’ve probably never heard of are also experimenting with tabletlike devices that fold into a phone form factor, so expect to see a lot more of these handsets in 2019. (The Verge)

(The Verge)

Bollywood/Hollywood

They make an entire nation of fans jealous of their love but Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli still do not get to spend enough time together.

The actor and her cricketer husband have been married for almost a year but she says that it doesn’t feel any different.

Anushka appeared on the cover of Elle magazine’s November issue and said in an interview that even staying together in their home feels like a vacation to her.

“Marriage doesn’t feel different. Virat and I have been working around the clock, we hardly spend time together, we both have very hectic lives. So, we are living in a house and we have spent barely any time in it.

For us, home is, like, wow! It’s a vacation,” she said.

Anushka wished Virat on his birthday through an Instagram post on Monday.

“Thank God for his birth,” she captioned two pictures in which she is seen hugging

Virat at his midnight birthday celebrations.

She was asked about her married life on promotional tours of her recent movie Sui Dhaaga. She said they are two simple people who don’t see themselves as a ‘power couple.’ “I think we are both not so attached to what we do. The other day someone asked me a question you know ‘power couple and two powerful people from your own industry. You know when you are together, how do you manage this and all’. And I thought to myself and I told them also, we don’t see

ourselves like that. We start to see ourselves that way then there is something really wrong in the nature of our relationship. If someone really wants to have an insight into our lives, we are very simple people, wanting to do normal, very simple things,” she told film critic Anupama Chopra in an interview.

Anushka will soon be seen with Shah Rukh Khan and Katrina Kaif in Aanand L Rai’s Zero. She will play a scientist with cerebral palsy in the film. (Hindustan Times)

Aamir Khan said Sunday that he suggested Shah Rukh Khan's name for the biopic on astronaut Rakesh Sharma as he thought his contemporary would be an apt choice for the project.

Reportedly titled Saare Jahaan Se Achcha, the film was first offered to Aamir and Priyanka Chopra. It was Priyanka who had confirmed Aamir's name for the biopic earlier. When asked the reason why he dropped out of the project, Aamir said he had his reasons.

"It is a great script. I loved the script and the story of Mr Sharma is fascinating. It is true that I called up Shah (Shah Rukh). I said, 'Shah you should hear the

ACrossword Solution

make of Telugu hit film, Temper staring Jr NTR will see Ranveer Singh don the khakhi for his role.

Sara wrapped up shoot for the film and she took to Instagram to confirm the same

She wrote, “And that’s a picture wrap. Thank you so much @itsrohitshetty sir for all your warmth, patience, advice, direction, concern, compassion and lots more. Working with you has been a total blast!

And @ranveersingh you truly are a star. Your energy is contagious, your passion is palpable and your positivity is incomparable.

Seeing you two work with this laser sharp focus and undying dedication made me realise why and how you both are where you both are. I really thank my lucky stars that I could work with both of you! #simmba #gratitude #boss.”

Simmba will see Ranveer play the role of a rowdy cop, Sangram Bhalerao and Sara would play his lady love. The film is slated to release on December 28. In the meanwhile, Kedarnath’s teaser was released recently and the film is expected to release on December 7 and will mark Sara’s debut.

Saif Ali Khan’s daughter Sara was set to make her debut with Sushant Singh Rajput starrer Kedarnath earlier this year, however, there were delays due to conflict on the production side. It was after this that she signed Dharma Production’s project Simmba, directed by Rohit Shetty. (Hindustan Times)

script, it is fantastic. It will be right for you, if you like it'. I am glad he liked the script and he is doing it," he said in an interview.

Mahesh Mathai will direct the film from Anjum Rajabali's script. The film will be produced by Siddharth Roy Kapur and Ronnie Screwvala under their banners Roy Kapur Films and RSVP Films, respectively. There were reports that Bhumi Pednekar has been signed opposite Shah Rukh in the film, but Screwvala recently told PTI that an official announcement on casting will be made soon.

Jand also using the author's funds to buy thousands of pounds worth of gifts.

The ex-employee, Amanda Donaldson, has denied the claims in the writer's £24,000 ($31,450) lawsuit, and says Rowling has "not suffered any loss and is not entitled to damages" from her, the BBC reported on Wednesday. In the documents, Rowling, 53, says that Donaldson, 35, was fired in 2017 for gross misconduct after working for her for three years.

She claims that Donaldson used a business credit card to make more than £10,000 ($17,000) in unauthorized payments, including £1,636 ($2,145) at Starbucks, £3,629 ($4,758) at the cosmetic firm Molton Brown, and £1,200 ($1,573) to buy two cats, the report said.

Rowling also claims in her lawsuit that Donaldson, who controlled Harry Potter memorabilia requests from fans, used her position to steal a motorized Hogwarts Express worth about £467 ($613), a wizard collection worth £2231 ($2,926) and a Tales of Beedle The Bard set worth £395 ($518). Rowling also accuses Donaldson of stealing £7,742 ($10,156)-worth of foreign money from a safe. (EOnline)

Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade have welcomed a healthy baby girl. The actress revealed she and the Miami Heat basketball player welcomed their first child together via surrogate on Instagram on Thursday. Union made the announcement by sharing a candid picture of the duo holding the newborn at the hospital. Alongside the photo, she wrote, "We are sleepless and delirious but so excited to share that our miracle baby arrived last night via surrogate and 11/7 will forever be etched in our hearts as the most loveliest of all the lovely days. Welcome to the party sweet girl!"

She also captioned the sweet moment with the song

lyrics for "Lovely Day" by Bill Withers. This is Gabrielle's first child and Dwyane's fourth. Their sweet little girl will join half-brothers Zaire, Xavier and Zion, two of which Dwyane shares with ex-wife Siohvaughn Funches. The happy news

comes after the pair struggled to conceive for many years. Last year, Union candidly revealed in her book that she suffered over eight miscarriages in recent years as she and Dwyane attempted to welcome a child with the help of IVF. (EOnline)

Fun Times

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

GEMINI (MAY 28June 20)

(June 21July 22)

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Look for the positive in everything and everyone. Your cheerful attitude will ward off negativity and people who tend to put demands on others. Personal improvements and romantic encounters are encouraged.

Learn all you can before you make a decision that could affect an important relationship or your reputation. It's up to you to stand up for your rights and beliefs.

Don't share too much information with people you don't know. Concentrate on the personal changes you want to make. A physical outlet will help ease stress. Do things that help build confidence.

Share your thoughts and plans, and discuss your feelings and ideas with a loved one. Positive change will begin only when you are ready to let go of the past.

Socialize with others and take part in activities that challenge you mentally and physically. The stimulation you get from a competitive event will exhilarate you. Romance will enhance your life.

Listen to others and respond with common sense. Don't offer anything that isn't reasonable or within your means. Emotional manipulation and false information will be used to sway your opinion.

Visiting old friends and talking about the old days will bring back fond memories that prompt you to reconnect with someone from your past. Romance is on the rise.

A slight change will make a big difference. Handle your personal affairs yourself. The less you let others interfere, the easier it will be to excel.

Be smart, think matters through and decide for yourself if someone is being honest with you. When in doubt, ask questions and take appropriate action. Romance is highlighted.

Consider how to best deal with the changes that are happening around you. Take your time and be discreet. Keep your personal information a secret. Trust must be earned.

AQUARIUS

(Jan. 20Feb. 19) (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

PISCES

(Feb. 20Mar. 20)

Look for the best way to use what you have and what you know to your advantage. A chance to make personal improvements should not be ignored. A change will do you good.

Rely on people you have helped or confided to in the past to help you get things done. A financial gain or gift will unexpectedly come your way.