Australian Open semi-finalist Ben Shelton says some broadcasters conducting post-match interviews during the tournament have been disrespectful to players. Source link
Becky Morton Political reporter Jonathan Beale Defence correspondent Ministry of Defence HMS Somerset monitored Yantar near UK waters earlier this week The Royal Navy has been monitoring a Russian spy ship after it entered British waters earlier this week, the defence secretary has told MPs. John Healey said the vessel, Yantar, was used for gathering intelligence and mapping the UK’s critical underwater infrastructure. He said the incident was “another example of growing Russian aggression”. Healey added: “I also wanted President Putin to hear this message: we see you, we know what you’re doing and we will not shy away from robust action to protect this country.” Russia describes Yantar as an oceanic research vessel and it is operated by the country’s Ministry of Defence. Western nations have often tracked the ship operating in European waters and they suspect part of its mission has been to map undersea cables. They also believe Russia has been stepping up this activity since it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As well as surveillance equipment the ship can operate submersible drones capable of reaching the ocean floor. Undersea infrastructure is crucial for energy supply through power cables and pipelines, while more than 95% of internet traffic is also secured via undersea cables. Healey said Yantar was currently in the North Sea, after passing through UK waters and being detected 45 miles off the British coast in the English Channel on Monday. “For the last two days the Royal Navy has deployed HMS Somerset and HMS Tyne to monitor the vessel every minute through our waters,” he said. “I changed the Royal Navy’s rules of engagement so that our warships can get closer and better track the Yantar. So far, the ship has complied with international rules of navigation.” The defence secretary said it was the second time the vessel had entered British waters in recent months, with Yantar also detected “loitering over UK critical undersea infrastructure” in November. He said a Royal Navy submarine had been authorised to surface close to Yantar “strictly as a deterrent measure” and “to make clear that we have been covertly monitoring its every move”. “The ship then left UK waters without further loitering and sailed down to the Mediterranean,” he added. Healey said the government was strengthening its response to Russian naval activity with its Nato allies. He said the Royal Air Force would provide surveillance aircraft to join a Nato deployment to protect critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. It comes after an undersea cable between Estonia and Finland was damaged in December, with Finnish police investigating whether a Russian ship was involved. Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said the Conservative Party stood “shoulder to shoulder” with the government’s approach and its “transparency” over the Russian naval threat. He also welcomed the change to the Royal Navy’s rules of engagement, adding: “This sends a powerful signal to Putin that we will not be intimidated and that if his aim is to keep pushing the boundaries of malign activity in our waters, and those proximate to us, we will respond.” Cartlidge said the Russian activity showed why defence spending needed to be increased as soon as possible. Source link
“The key is to be in a state of permanent connectedness with your inner body—to feel it at all times. This will rapidly deepen and transform your life.” ~Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now “Relax your shoulders, keep your head high, stay grounded,” I cue myself as I walk through my morning Tai Chi. It’s still dark, but I know my moves, and my arms and legs move with confidence and ease. Most of my life, I was a person with anxiety. I didn’t know I had anxiety, even though it was trying to speak to me as tension in my body, shallow breathing, chaotic thoughts, and extreme emotions. To me, it was just my normal, baseline state of living. Until one day, when anxiety finally got my attention. On that afternoon, I collapsed on the floor with severe lower back pain and had to spend time in bed, unable to move my legs. The pain was excruciating and debilitating. The doctor said I had a herniated disc and suggested surgery. Surgery didn’t feel like the right thing to do, so I started researching other options. Miraculously, I came across Thomas Hanna’s book Somatics or Reawakening the Mind’s Control of Movement, Flexibility, and Health. In black and white, the book explained the root of my problem. I had chronically contracted muscles in my lower back. The book states that when, due to chronic stress, our muscles contract repeatedly over a long period of time, the tension can become so severe that the muscles can’t relax themselves anymore. The tension squeezes and presses the nerves, and we feel pain. I began an exercise program described in the book, which helps relax the muscles in the body. The exercises are based on developing somatic awareness. I also continued practicing yoga and deep breathing and finally decided that I needed therapy to address the root of my stress, which was living with emotional abandonment and neglect as a child. In therapy, I did family-of-origin work and forgiveness work. I also worked on my confidence and self-esteem by taking on challenging professional tasks, learning public speaking, and traveling the world for my job. Anxiety was still always there, but now I felt it and knew its signals and was able to respond with somatic awareness exercises and deep breathing. In 2016, I walked into a Tai Chi class. Not knowing what I was doing and just moving to the cues of the kind instructor, I experienced something amazing. I felt like I walked into myself. The unusual movements connected my body and my brain, and I felt the freedom of movement, which I didn’t remember experiencing before. Right there and then, I knew I would do this strange and powerful dance of freedom forever. It takes time to learn Tai Chi forms, and I began learning, little by little, watching Florinda, our instructor, in class like a hawk and practicing the movements I remembered at home. I also asked a few women from my group if they wanted to practice together outside of the class. We danced together the ancient Tai Chi moves under the ancient oaks near Lake Pontchartrain in southern Louisiana. Over time, I began feeling freer and more connected to myself and the world, the way I did as a very young child in my early childhood memories. On an average day, I started feeling less anxious. Tai Chi originated from Asian traditions of martial arts and is translated from Mandarin Chinese as Supreme Ultimate, Cosmic Mind, or the Universe. It’s over 2000 years old. Tai Chi movement is beautiful and unusual, asymmetric and rhythmic, centered and grounded. Practicing TC, we move left and right, forward and back, sometimes in a circle, rarely standing on both feet, mostly balancing on one foot or the other. The best way I can describe TC is that within all that movement, somehow, we are able to relax and move and breathe in sync with the breath and rhythm of Life. Or, perhaps, when we relax, we become one with life, and life holds us, moves us, and rocks us like a baby to the rhythm of her breath. Tai Chi is based on the principles of yin and yang, which represent the opposite yet inseparable qualities of life, such as darkness and light, joy and sorrow, material and spiritual. Practicing Tai Chi, we learn that the opposites of life are inherently connected and that we have to try and accept it in its wholeness. We may even relax our resistance to adverse situations in life. Tai Chi is a powerful self-care tool, and the phenomenon called Sung, or internal tension release, is at the heart of it. Peter Wayne, in his book The Harvard Medical School Guide to Tai Chi, calls it “rocking the baby.” Because of the gentle, rhythmic, flowing movement and deep breathing, we literally rock our body like a baby, soothing and comforting every system—nervous, muscular, digestive, respiratory, endocrine, etc. The internal dialogue turns off, the thoughts slow down, and emotions subside. Suddenly, we are in a calm inner space, relaxed, alert, confident, and true, moving like a “stealthy cat,” as a TC practitioner in one of my groups said. Another amazing thing about Tai Chi is that a group of practitioners move together, synchronically. Each person’s movements are uniquely individual, yet invisibly connected. There is a sense of belonging and support, and for the duration of the form, the group becomes interconnected in a calm, shared space, like a cohort of cranes, flying together in a beautiful configuration. What about my anxiety? It is still with me often, but now I think of it as a friend who came to remind me to take a break, breathe, do Tai Chi, and relax. About Lana Bird Lana Bird is a certified Tai Chi and Yoga instructor, w/ATCQA and Yoga Alliance, ERYT-500. She created a YouTube channel to help everyone who wants to learn and practice Tai Chi, at YouTube.com/@smallstepstaichi See a typo or inaccuracy? Please contact us so we can fix it! https://cdn.tinybuddha.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Tai-Chi.png 2025-01-22 16:04:54
Sean Coughlan Royal correspondent Reuters Has Prince Harry achieved “accountability” with his settlement? The settlement between Prince Harry and News Group Newspapers is a dramatic, high stakes, turnaround. But it’s courtroom drama without the court. Prince Harry’s team hailed the deal that stopped the trial as a “monumental victory”, receiving an undisclosed amount of “substantial damages” and an “unequivocal apology”. They say he’s been vindicated – but will there also, deep down, be some mixed feelings. Was this really “slaying dragons” of the tabloid press, as he’d celebrated after a previous win when he’d given evidence in court against Mirror Group Newspapers? While on the other side of the scrapped case, NGN says the agreement “draws a line under the past” and they reject the claims that would have been made in court about a corporate cover-up. When NGN has spent £1bn on previous claims, they might think any extra spent on staying out of court was a win for them too. PA Media The apology for Princess Diana would have been very important for Prince Harry Why did Prince Harry strike a deal now? It seems a change from Prince Harry being adamant that this was about “accountability”. “The goal is accountability. It’s really that simple,” Prince Harry told a media event in New York last month, about why he was taking on the Murdoch press. “The scale of the cover up is so large that people need to see it for themselves,” he said. He was fully aware of the financial risks built into such civil disputes, but seemed determined to press on, not just for himself but for 1,300 claimants who he said had settled but had “no justice”. Reuters Lawyer David Sherborne read a statement outside court where the case would have been held “Accountability” was mentioned again in a statement read out on behalf of Prince Harry and his co-claimant Lord Watson. “The time for accountability has arrived,” but it meant in terms of calling on Parliament and the police to pursue what they called the “unlawful activity now finally admitted” and “the perjury and cover ups along the way”. There was a similar call for a follow-up when Prince Harry won against the Mirror group newspapers, but there has been no imminent sign of action. Perhaps it shouldn’t have been a surprise that there was a deal. There has always been immense pressure for a settlement, because the curve of civil law bends so strongly in that direction. Even if a claimant wins a case, they could end up paying the costs of their opponents, if the damages award is less than they have been offered. The legal costs and damages at stake in this case could have been £10m. That’s a big poker hand decision for anyone. Plus the unknown jeopardy of what might happen in the court case and what questions Harry might have faced on the witness stand. He might have had his case ruled out of time or had his claims rejected. The psychological cards would all have been stacked towards doing a deal. Does everyone have a price? Even when they’re seen as the last man standing? In terms of the amount of damages paid to Prince Harry, or what he might do with the money, that hasn’t been made public. But what Prince Harry’s team have seized upon is the skyscraper scale of the apology – seeing it as a “collapse” of the NGN’s denials. They might argue that even if he had fought the court battle and won, there wouldn’t be any more to be gained. This has always been a very personal battle for Prince Harry, the battle with the tabloids touching on his childhood as well as his adult life. So it’s significant that the apology includes an admission of a “serious intrusion” into the “private life of Diana, Princess of Wales”. That could mean more to him than any financial deal. EPA Media gathered outside the court to hear details of the agreement Prince Harry’s team also repeated the claim that “the Sun, the flagship title for Rupert Murdoch’s UK media empire, has indeed engaged in illegal practices”. This references the apology’s mention of “unlawful activities carried out by private investigators working for the Sun”. NGN’s statement emphasises that this applies to the activities of external private investigators, “not by journalists” on the Sun. But it narrows some of the fastidious distancing that there’s between what had happened at the shut down News of the World and the Sun. While the statement from Prince Harry’s team lambasts those presiding over a “toxic culture” in parts of the media, past and present, and repeats its claim about a corporate cover-up, these are attack lines from a court case that will now never happen. NGN rejects the claims of a cover-up and the destruction of evidence. But the overall tone of the response is relief at the end of arguments over old battles, and that this now draws a line under all these disputes over front pages from decades ago. “Indeed the judge made it clear in remarks in court at the end of the hearing that these cases are likely to be the last liable to go to trial,” said NGN. The bombshell case that was going to see Prince Harry giving evidence against his tabloid tormentors is over before it began. Who, in the end, will be more pleased about that? Source link
Lily Jamali North America Technology Correspondent Reporting fromLas Vegas, NV Getty Images Jensen Huang said Nvidia’s new AI technology could transform how robots are trained The boss of US chip giant Nvidia has unveiled the firm’s next-generation of gaming chips and pledged the “ChatGPT moment for general robotics is just around the corner”. The announcements were part of CEO Jensen Huang’s keynote address at CES, the major annual technology show in Las Vegas. The new family of gaming chips will use Nvidia’s Blackwell artificial intelligence (AI) technology to create movie-quality images, he told a packed arena. The chips will range in price from $549 (£438) to $1,999, and are twice as fast as their predecessors, he added. He also introduced an AI model, called Cosmos, which he said could generate video that can be used to train robots and self-driving cars at a much lower cost than current methods. By creating what is known in the industry as “synthetic” training data, the model can help robots and cars better understand the physical world. Users will be able to give Cosmos a text description that can be used to generate video of a world that obeys the laws of physics. “All of the enabling technologies that I’ve been talking about is going to make it possible for us in the next several years to see very rapid breakthroughs, surprising breakthroughs in general robotics,” he predicted, though he added much more training data would be needed. Mr Huang carried out a real-time demonstration of the new gaming chip that showed off highly detailed graphics featuring an array of textures and manoeuvres. “It was awesome that they can do this in real time,” said Gary Yang, a graduate student in robotics at the California Institute of Technology. “Previously we’d think of these graphics as pre-rendered.” The new chips will start making their way to consumers starting in late January. “I thought it was incredible,” said Scott Epstein of technology start-up Agenovate AI. “They are continuing to innovate.” Mr Yang and Mr Epstein were among thousands of people who watched the speech both in person and virtually on the eve of the official opening of CES. Getty Images Jensen Huang holds Nvidia’s new GeForce RTX 50 series graphics cards and a Thor Blackwell robotics processor during the 2025 CES event in Las Vegas. The convention is expected to draw more than 150,000 attendees and over 4,500 exhibitors over the next week. Nvidia’s shares touched a new record high on Monday in the run-up to Mr Huang’s highly anticipated address. He spent the first part of his speech talking about the company’s history. Founded in 1993, Nvidia was originally known for making the type of computer chips that process graphics, particularly for computer games. Thirty-one years later, Nvidia now stands at the forefront of the development of chips that power AI, with a market value of more than $3tn. However, Nvidia still faces some significant challenges, including from regulators around the world who have raised concerns about its growing dominance of the AI chip market. Last year, the company said it had been contacted by watchdogs in the US, UK, European Union, South Korea, and China. Additional reporting by Graham Fraser Source link
Colon cancer screening: Weighing the options Colon cancer screening is an important part of routine health care. If you’re not sure which colon cancer screening test is best for you, ask yourself these questions. By Mayo Clinic Staff If your doctor has recommended colon cancer screening, you might be able to choose from various colon cancer screening tests. If you’re reluctant to make a decision, remember that any discomfort or embarrassment from colon cancer screening is temporary — and detecting problems early could save your life. Screening tests are used only if you don’t have bowel symptoms. If you have signs and symptoms — such as abdominal pain, a change in bowel habits, bleeding, constipation or diarrhea — then you’ll need other tests to address these problems. If you don’t have bowel symptoms, consider the following questions to help choose the colon cancer screening test that’s best for you. What preparation is involved? Preparing for colon cancer screening can be uncomfortable or inconvenient, but it’s necessary for the test to be effective. As part of your decision, consider your willingness or ability to follow the preparation instructions for specific colon cancer screening tests. This may — to varying degrees — include avoiding solid food the day before the exam, adjusting your medications, and drinking a laxative solution or using enemas to empty your colon. How convenient is the test? In addition to test preparation, consider: How long the test will take How often you need to repeat the test Whether you’ll need sedation How much follow-up care you’ll need The possible need for follow-up testing to investigate a false-positive finding or to remove tissue What about cost and insurance issues? Find out how much each colon cancer screening test costs, as well as which tests your insurance company covers. Consider whether you’re willing to pay out of pocket if necessary. What’s your attitude toward screening tests? The more thorough the colon cancer screening test, the more likely it is to detect any cancer or precancerous polyps. Conversely, a more thorough test might also mean more-inconvenient or more-uncomfortable preparation, a slightly higher risk of serious complications, or both. Ask yourself: Will you feel best if you know you’ve chosen the most thorough screening test possible? Will you worry or doubt the results if you choose a less sensitive test? How concerned are you about convenience, preparation or the possibility of serious complications? What’s your doctor’s approach to screening tests? Make sure that you’re comfortable with the colon cancer screening test your doctor recommends. If your doctor specializes in a particular test, but you’d rather have another test, express your wishes. Your doctor might offer a referral to someone trained in the test with which you feel most comfortable. What’s your risk level? Your risk of colon cancer might influence your choice of screening tests. If you have an increased risk of colon cancer, your doctor might recommend more-frequent colon cancer screening with colonoscopy. Talk to your doctor about your colon cancer risk if you: Have a personal history of colon cancer or precancerous polyps Have a parent, sibling or child who has had colon cancer Carry a gene for a hereditary colon cancer syndrome Have a history of inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease What are the pros and cons of each test? Here’s an overview of the most common colon cancer screening tests. Colonoscopy During a colonoscopy exam, a long, flexible tube (colonoscope) is inserted into the rectum. A tiny video camera at the tip of the tube allows the doctor to detect changes or abnormalities inside the entire colon. Colonoscopy takes about 30 to 60 minutes and screening is generally repeated every 10 years if no abnormalities are found and you don’t have an increased risk of colon cancer. The pros: Colonoscopy is one of the most sensitive tests currently available for colon cancer screening. The doctor can view your entire colon and rectum. Abnormal tissue, such as polyps, and tissue samples (biopsies) can be removed through the scope during the exam. The cons: The exam might not detect all small polyps and cancers. A thorough cleansing of the colon is required before the test. Diet changes are needed before the test, and medications may need to be adjusted. Sedation is almost always used, and it can take several hours to wear off. Because of the sedation, you’ll need someone to drive you home. Rare complications may include bleeding from the site where a biopsy was taken or a polyp or other abnormal tissue was removed, or bleeding from a tear in the colon or rectum wall. Cramping or bloating might occur afterward. Stool DNA test The stool DNA test uses a sample of your stool to look for DNA changes in cells that might indicate the presence of colon cancer or precancerous conditions. The stool DNA test also looks for signs of blood in your stool. For this test, you collect a stool sample at home and send it to a laboratory for testing. Stool DNA testing is typically repeated every three years. The pros: The test doesn’t require bowel preparation, sedation or insertion of a scope. You can eat and drink normally, and take your normal medications, before the test. The stool can be collected at home, avoiding disruption of work and daily activities. The cons: The DNA stool test is less sensitive than colonoscopy at detecting precancerous polyps. If abnormalities are found, additional tests might be needed. The tests can suggest an abnormality when none is present (false-positive result). Fecal occult blood test or fecal immunochemical test Fecal occult blood test (FOBT) and fecal immunochemical test (FIT) are lab tests used to check stool samples for hidden (occult) blood. The tests usually are repeated annually. The pros: Stool sample collection can be done at home. There’s no need to empty the colon ahead of time. There’s no need for sedation. The cons: The tests fail to detect some polyps and cancers.
Presenting the video song “Coca Cola” from the upcoming bollywood movie Dinesh Vijan presents “Luka Chuppi”. The Movie features Kartik Aaryan, Kriti Sanon along with Pankaj Tripathi, Aparshakti Khurrana and Vinay Pathak. ►Luka Chuppi releases in cinemas on 1st March 2019. Starcast: Kartik Aaryan, Kriti Sanon, Pankaj Tripathi, Vinay Pathak, Aparshakti Khurana. Produced by: Dinesh Vijan Directed by: Laxman Utekar ♪ Full Song Available on ♪ iTunes : http://bit.ly/Luka-Chuppi-Full-Album-iTunes Hungama : http://bit.ly/Luka-Chuppi-Full-Album-Hungama JioSaavn : http://bit.ly/Luka-Chuppi-Full-Album-JioSaavn Gaana : http://bit.ly/Luka-Chuppi-Full-Album-Gaana Apple Music : http://bit.ly/Luka-Chuppi-Full-Album-Apple-Music Amazon Prime Music : http://bit.ly/Luka-Chuppi-Full-Album-Amazon-Prime-Music Google Play : http://bit.ly/Luka-Chuppi-Full-Album-Google-Play Wynk : http://bit.ly/Luka-Chuppi-Full-Album-Wynk _______________________________________ For Caller Tunes : Coca Cola https://bit.ly/2SiEFWK Coca Cola – Tu Meri https://bit.ly/2WQrGKj Coca Cola – Gym Shim Karta https://bit.ly/2GwpkdV Coca Cola – Na Samaj Tu https://bit.ly/2WPNwhe Set as Caller Tune: Set “Coca Cola” as your caller tune -sms LUKA4 To 54646 Set “Coca Cola – Tu Meri” as your caller tune – sms LUKA5 To 54646 Set “Coca Cola – Gym Shim Karta” as your caller tune – sms LUKA6 To 54646 Set “Coca Cola – Na Samaj Tu” as your caller tune -sms LUKA7 To 54646 ________________________________________ ________________________________________ Song – Coca Cola Singers – Tony Kakkar Neha Kakkar Lyrics – Tony Kakkar, Mellow D Rap by Young Desi Music – Tony Kakkar Music Recreated by – Tanishk Bagchi Mix & Mastered by Eric Pillai @ Future Sound of Bombay Assistant Mix Engineer – Michael Edwin Pillai Music Label – T-Series ________________________________________ Operator Codes: 1. Coca Cola Vodafone Subscribers Dial 53711006263 Airtel Subscribers Dial 5432116794306 Idea Subscribers Dial 5678911006263 Tata DoCoMo Subscribers dial 54321111006263 BSNL (South / East) Subscribers sms BT 11006263 To 56700 BSNL (North / West) Subscribers sms BT 7234776 To 56700 Virgin Subscribers sms TT 11006263 To 58475 MTNL Subscribers sms PT 11006263 To 56789 2.Coca Cola – Tu Meri Vodafone Subscribers Dial 53711006271 Airtel Subscribers Dial 5432116794804 Idea Subscribers Dial 5678911006271 Tata DoCoMo Subscribers dial 54321111006271 BSNL (South / East) Subscribers sms BT 11006271 To 56700 BSNL (North / West) Subscribers sms BT 7234779 To 56700 Virgin Subscribers sms TT 11006271 To 58475 MTNL Subscribers sms PT 11006271 To 56789 3.Coca Cola – Gym Shim Karta Vodafone Subscribers Dial 53711006264 Airtel Subscribers Dial 5432116794817 Idea Subscribers Dial 5678911006264 Tata DoCoMo Subscribers dial 54321111006264 BSNL (South / East) Subscribers sms BT 11006264 To 56700 BSNL (North / West) Subscribers sms BT 7234777 To 56700 Virgin Subscribers sms TT 11006264 To 58475 MTNL Subscribers sms PT 11006264 To 56789 4.Coca Cola – Na Samaj Tu Vodafone Subscribers Dial 53711006266 Airtel Subscribers Dial 5432116794669 Idea Subscribers Dial 5678911006266 Tata DoCoMo Subscribers dial 54321111006266 BSNL (South / East) Subscribers sms BT 11006266 To 56700 BSNL (North / West) Subscribers sms BT 7234778 To 56700 Virgin Subscribers sms TT 11006266 To 58475 MTNL Subscribers sms PT 11006266 To 56789 ___ Enjoy & stay connected with us! 👉 Subscribe to T-Series: http://bit.ly/TSeriesYouTube 👉 Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tseriesmusic 👉Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tseries 👉 Follow us on Instagram: http://bit.ly/InstagramTseries source
Cardiff City manager Omer Riza has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association (FA) after being sent off against Welsh rivals Swansea City. Riza was shown a red card in the final moments of Cardiff’s 3-0 Championship win after an altercation with Swansea midfielder Goncalo Franco on the touchline. He is also accused of encroaching the pitch. An FA spokesperson said: “Cardiff City’s Omer Riza has been charged with misconduct following their EFL Championship match against Swansea City on Saturday, 18 January. “It’s alleged that the manager acted in an improper and/or confrontational manner around the 92nd minute and after being sent off.” Riza has until Friday, 24 January to respond. Source link
Pauline McLean BBC Scotland arts correspondent EPA Alan Cumming took over at Pitlochry Festival Theatre in 2024 He’s best known for TV shows like the Traitors US, The Good Wife or Schmigadoon. But it was another show entirely which brought actor Alan Cumming back to his roots in Highland Perthshire, to begin a brand new chapter in his life – running Pitlochry festival theatre. “I was filming an episode of Channel 4’s All Aboard Scotland’s Poshest trains, and we came to the theatre and spoke to Elizabeth Newman about the work they were doing and afterwards, she asked if I’d ever thought about running a theatre,” he recalls. In 2024, filming for the Traitors and two film projects meant even more time in Scotland so when Elizabeth Newman resigned in July, he quietly applied for the job. Although Alan grew up a few miles away in Aberfeldy, his work on Broadway and in film and television had long ago taken him to New York, where he lives with his husband Grant Schaffer. In the last decade, he’s been here more and more, thanks to TV work such as hosting the Traitors American version and shows like Burn, Macbeth and The Bacchae with the National Theatre of Scotland. “I have been living partly here for years and in recent years trying to split my time more evenly between Scotland and New York”, he says. “I was very honest with the recruitment people about what I could offer. I have other things going on, but I can do a lot remotely. “What really excited me was the theatre’s mantra to “share Pitlochry with the world and the world with Pitlochry”. “I thought I can do that. I’m from here. I can go out into the world and bring the world back here.” Cumming says he now wants to not only create great theatre but make the theatre itself part of the whole community The news came as a huge surprise and Cumming insisted the announcement should be made ahead of the Emmy awards, for which he and the rest of the team involved with the Traitors won Outstanding Reality Competition Programme. Wrapped in his trademark tartan plaid, he was able to bring the world’s attention to Pitlochry, something he hopes his appointment will continue to do. “I know I have experience, I’m quite talented, and I know a lot of people but being well known is also important. This helps raise profile, and it’ll help with fundraising.” Like the appointment of Nicola Benedetti as director of the Edinburgh International Festival, it also gives the theatre, and the wider theatrical community a stronger voice when it comes to lobbying for support. Like Benedetti, he plans to appear on his own stage, as well as continuing with his own projects. His first season won’t be announced until later this year, but he’s already in discussions, and says he hopes to “be in, or direct shows in every season”. Peacock Alan is often back in Scotland to film the American version of The Traitors, which he hosts The three day Winter Words festival which he has programmed from 21 February gives a sense of what might be to come in 2026. Liz Lochhead, Douglas Stuart and Andrew O’Hagan are among those taking part, in a line-up which combines known and unknown. “It’s got some big bold names and newer and more diverse and slightly outside the box things going on as well. It’s my ethos for the first season in microcosm. “Theatre is entertaining but it’s also about being challenging and provoking. We will have musicals, but they might be ones you don’t know. We might also have Shakespeare and classics. “It’s exciting for me as I want to do things I like but also bring new people in. I’m kind of like the Pied Piper of Pitlochry.” Alan and regular collaborator Forbes Masson cut their teeth at Glasgow’s Tron Theatre Having made the leap from Highland Perthshire to Broadway himself, he’s confident he can do the same with the shows they create. “One of the things I was asked was what I hoped people would think of my tenure here. “I hoped they had fun and enjoyed the experience of being there but I also hope they think wasn’t it amazing that we saw that show at Pitlochry and then it went to Broadway. And why not?” His “to do” list since he started the job officially last week includes getting to know the staff and consulting with the community. He is keen the town and the wider community in Highland Perthshire make better use of the theatre – and not just for plays. Cumming uses the example of the Tron Theatre in Glasgow, where he and Forbes Masson regularly performed as drama students. “We’ve lost that sense of theatres being a community centre, where people can talk, and drink and gather.” Sitting in the theatre café, looking out on Ben Vrackie, there’s no need for the digital presentation he’s prepared for curious Americans – but he’s ready to spread the word. “People are so excited about coming here,” he enthuses. “A huge part of Pitlochry’s allure is the setting. “It’s a magical bubble which I want to share with the world.” Source link
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