ANN/THE STAR – In principle, the positioning of art and mirrors should correspond with the furniture or item below them. However, it’s common for people to hang these pieces too high, which often detracts from achieving an aesthetically pleasing appearance.
Optimally, positioning them so that the centre line falls within the range of 137-145 centimetres above the floor tends to yield the best results.
Below are some top tips for displaying art and mirrors effectively.
Do’s
• Do hang identical abstract pieces of art in a series.
• Do substitute artwork for mirrors along long walls and hallways.
• Do use classic or black-and-white prints to create interest.
• Do add mirrors in a windowless space to help give the illusion of windows.
• Do consider telling a colour story through the use of mirrors and artwork.
Don’ts
• Don’t forget to pay attention to what objects are reflected in mirrors.
• Don’t forget to add pops of colour into a room through artwork.
• Don’t hang artwork or mirrors that are too small, as it will visually clutter a space.
• Don’t overlook the opportunity to create vignettes with hanging artwork and mirrors.
• Don’t be afraid to frame travel prints captured during a favourite vacation or even children’s artwork.
Police and ambulances at the scene of an attack in Wuppertal, Germany. PHOTO: AP
BERLIN (AP) – Four students were wounded in a stabbing at a school in the western German city of Wuppertal and a suspect, believed to be a student himself, was arrested, authorities said.
The incident took place at the Wilhelm Dörpfeld high school in the city of some 350,000 people near Duesseldorf and Cologne. Police said four students were wounded, as was the suspect, German news agency dpa reported.
The top regional security official Herbert Reul said the attack was apparently carried out with a knife by a 17-year-old student. The interior minister of North Rhine-Westphalia state Reul said that at least two of the victims were seriously injured, as was the suspected assailant.
He told the state legislature’s home affairs committee that he had been told the suspect inflicted injuries on himself. There was no word on a possible motive, and the suspect was believed to be a lone assailant.
Other students were evacuated from the building after the attack.
Police and ambulances at the scene of an attack in Wuppertal, Germany. PHOTO: AP
AP/AFP – In a front row as starry as the simulated night sky above, audience witnessed a fashion ballet that transcended the traditional runway. Their presence underscored the collection’s appeal to a diverse audience, from royalty to pop culture icons.
Jones’ mastery in blending traditional codes with modernity was evident. Muted beiges and greys, signature to Dior’s palette, were enlivened with exuberant bursts of colour – saffron yellow socks, lilac blue sandals, and handbags, and vividly striped sweaters.
The pieces de resistance included a gleaming Renaissance cape-shawl with silver scallop fringe and woolen coats reinvented with double sleeves, cascading down poetically.
Echoing Jones’ own words, “The collection, or rather collections, are about contrast: the contrasts in the House of Dior in terms of ready-to-wear and haute couture. It’s the difference between onstage and backstage; the life of Nureyev theatrically and in reality.”
This sentiment was captured in contrasts between the subdued tones and tailoring of the first half of the show and the shimmer, gleam and sparkle that dominated the latter part in a dazzling crescendo.
The collection verged on the encyclopedic. A silver Uchikake kimono paid homage to Nureyev’s lavish style. Alongside this were modern silhouettes – sleek trousers and ribbed knits, each a testament to Jones’ contemporary flair.
As the show culminated, the audience was left half in awe and half grappling for their cameras as the neon stage rose up like a sci-fi movie carrying the models into the air. Thus it melded styles from the past with a futuristic, space-age edge.
Palestinians look at the destruction on residential buildings and a mosque in Rafah, Gaza Strip. PHOTO: AP
JERUSALEM (AP) – International efforts to broker a cease fire between Israel and Hamas appeared to gain new momentum as the White House said a visit by a senior envoy with Israeli leaders was “going well” and other mediators reported encouraging signs from the warring parties.
The new signs of progress came ahead of an expected summit this weekend in Paris, where mediators plan to present a new proposal.
The United States, Egypt and Qatar have been struggling for weeks to find a formula that could halt Israel’s devastating offensive in Gaza, but now face an unofficial deadline as the Muslim holy month of Ramadhan approaches.
White House Mideast envoy Brett McGurk held talks throughout the day with Israeli leaders and families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
Palestinians look at the destruction on residential buildings and a mosque in Rafah, Gaza Strip. PHOTO: AP
Employees checking a car that left the assembly line of German car maker Volkswagen's plant in Kaluga, Russia. PHOTO: AFP
DETROIT (AP) – Volkswagen (VW) is recalling more than 261,000 cars in the United States (US) to fix a potential fuel leak that can increase the risk of fires.
The recall covers certain Audi A3s and VW Golfs and GTIs from the 2015 through 2020 model years. Also included are 2015 through 2019 Golf Sportwagens, and 2019 and 2020 VW Jettas. All the recalled cars have front-wheel drive.
VW said in documents posted on Thursday by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that a problem with a pump seal can let fuel leak from a charcoal canister in the emissions control system.
The agency said leaking fuel increases the risk of a fire.
Dealers will replace the pump, which is inside the fuel tank, at no cost to owners. VW will send out notification letters starting April 12.
The recall is the second for many of the car owners. VW recalled about 110,000 cars for the same problem in 2016, but the company found that the replacement pumps from the previous recall also were failing.
US safety regulators opened an investigation into the problem last year after getting 79 complaints of fuel leaks from owners.
VW said in documents that it had 1,410 warranty claims with repair dates from May of 2016 through December of last year.
The documents say no fires related to the problem have been identified.
Employees checking a car that left the assembly line of German car maker Volkswagen’s plant in Kaluga, Russia. PHOTO: AFP
The logo of Toyota Motor is displayed at a company’s car showroom in Tokyo, Japan. PHOTO: AFP
DETROIT (AP) – Toyota is recalling about 280,000 pickup trucks and SUVs in the United States (US) to fix a transmission problem that can let the vehicles creep forward while in neutral.
The recall covers certain Toyota Tundra pickups and Lexus LX 600 SUVs from the 2022 through 2024 model years.
Also included are 2023 and 2024 Toyota Sequoia SUVs.
Toyota said on Wednesday that certain parts of the vehicles’ automatic transmissions may not immediately disengage when shifted into neutral. That can transfer some engine power to the wheels.
The vehicles could creep forward at low speeds on flat surfaces if the brakes aren’t applied, increasing the risk of a crash. The company wouldn’t say whether there have been any crashes or injuries.
The logo of Toyota Motor is displayed at a company’s car showroom in Tokyo, Japan. PHOTO: AFP
File photo of shoppers at a grocery shop in London, England. PHOTO: AFP
LONDON (AFP) – The price cap on energy bills for most United Kingdom (UK) households will drop to the lowest level for more than two years, regulator Ofgem said yesterday, easing the nation’s cost-of-living crisis.
Bills will start falling from April on lower wholesale energy prices, which had surged in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine, Ofgem said in a statement.
The annual amount suppliers are allowed to charge an average household consuming electricity and gas in England, Scotland and Wales will decline 12.3 per cent to GBP1,690 (USD2,140) from GBP1,928, it added.
“This will see energy prices reach their lowest level since the invasion of the Ukraine in February 2022 caused a further spike in an already turbulent wholesale energy market, driving up costs for suppliers and ultimately customers,” the watchdog said.
“However, despite reaching this welcome milestone, Ofgem recognises that the cost of living remains high and many customers continue to struggle with their bills.”
File photo of shoppers at a grocery shop in London, England. PHOTO: AFP
The Ukraine war and subsequent energy price spike fuelled rocketing UK inflation – which remains elevated – and a cost-of-living crisis for millions of Britons.
Yet energy prices remain stubbornly high while UK state assistance has now been fully withdrawn.
“Households have been battered by surging energy costs over the past couple of years and as government support fully comes to an end, there will be many people still terrified when temperatures outside plummet,” said head of financial analysis at AJ Bell Danni Hewson.
She added: “The price of keeping the lights on and rooms warm is still uncomfortably high.”
UK inflation has tumbled since striking a 41-year peak of 11.1 per cent in October 2022, though it held steady in January 2024 at 4.0 per cent, double the Bank of England’s official target level.
Campaigner Simon Francis, co-ordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, argued that energy prices remain 60 per cent higher than before the crisis began – even after the latest Ofgem announcement.
“Three years of staggering energy bills have placed an unbearable strain on household finances up and down the country,” noted Francis.
“Household energy debt is at record levels, millions of people are living in cold damp homes and children are suffering in mouldy conditions.”
People seen in front of the Amazon logo. PHOTO: AFP
DUBAI (AFP) – Online retailer Amazon said yesterday it had paid USD1.9 million to more than 700 contracted workers in Saudi Arabia as reimbursements for unlawful recruitment fees, among other alleged violations.
In October, Amnesty International accused Amazon of a range of abuses against workers in the oil-rich Gulf kingdom, prompting the United Stated (US)-based multinational to launch an investigation.
“We found instances where contracted workers were required to pay fees, including recruitment fees and other costs” by Saudi recruitment agents and labour supply companies, Amazon said in a statement posted on its website.
The investigation revealed other violations of its company policies including “substandard living accommodations, contract and wage irregularities, and delays in the resolution of worker complaints”, it said.
As a result, “Amazon paid USD1.9 million in reimbursements to over 700 contracted workers”, the statement added.
People seen in front of the Amazon logo. PHOTO: AFP
The Amnesty report drew on the accounts of 22 men from Nepal who worked in warehouses in Riyadh or the Saudi coastal city of Jeddah going back to 2021, according to the London-based human rights organisation.
It found that migrant workers employed in Amazon warehouses in Saudi Arabia suffered “appalling” living conditions, on-the-job safety risks and wage theft.
Amnesty accused recruitment agents and two Saudi labour supply companies of deceiving migrant workers who thought they would be employed directly by Amazon and took out steep loans to pay recruitment fees.
Labour supply companies have also threatened to impose steep fines for workers who want to cut short their contracts, effectively stranding them in the Gulf kingdom, the human rights group said.
Responding to the Amazon reimbursements, Amnesty’s head of economic and social justice Steve Cockburn, called the move a “vital step” but said more needed to be done.
“Remedy should also be extended to hundreds of other workers contracted by Amazon who have already left the company or country,” he said in a statement.
They “are likely to have faced similar abuses including deception, wage theft, and hefty recruitment fees. They too deserve justice and compensation”.
ABOVE & BELOW: Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker defended by Dallas Mavericks players; and Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving attempts a layup. PHOTO: AP
DALLAS (AP) – The longest winning streak of the season for the Dallas Mavericks coincides with a tie for the longest stretch of games together for the star pairing of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
Doncic scored 41 points, Irving had 29 and the Mavericks beat the Phoenix Suns 123-113 yesterday, extending their winning streak to seven in both teams’ return from the All-Star break.
Dallas pulled even with Phoenix in the standings at 33-23 and took the head-to-head tiebreaker with a 2-1 record in a pairing of teams battling for a guaranteed spot in the playoffs.
Doncic had 11 assists and nine rebounds matched against fellow All-Stars Devin Booker, who scored 35 points, and Kevin Durant, who had 23 on an ordinary shooting night for the 14-time All-Star. The Suns had won five of six before the break.
The Dallas surge started when Irving returned from a sprained thumb. The Mavs have been without Doncic or Irving, or both, in 27 games because of injuries. Their seventh straight together matched the previous long stretch this season, from the first month.
“I think it answers the questions that those two co-exist quite well,” coach Jason Kidd said.
ABOVE & BELOW: Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker defended by Dallas Mavericks players; and Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving attempts a layup. PHOTO: APPHOTO: AP
“I think it just shows again, our health, our energy, everything’s in a positive way right now. I think the guys are having fun. You can see that energy on the floor.”
Dallas kept its hot streak going through the break in the first visit from new majority owner Miriam Adelson. The deal between her company, Las Vegas Sands Corp, and Mark Cuban was approved by the NBA in December. Cuban is now the alternate governor.
Irving, who missed the first two meetings, scored 13 points in the first-quarter and restored a double-digit lead early in the fourth with a nifty behind-the-back dribble and spin move for a layup.
A smiling Doncic greeted Irving when the Suns called a timeout after Irving’s layup, and the star pairing provided the finishing blow when Irving passed after rising for a jumper and Doncic hit a three-pointer for a 128-113 lead. Both came out of the game at the next whistle.
The Suns were without guard Bradley Beal, who is dealing with left hamstring tightness. He scored 20 points in a 132-109 Phoenix victory in Dallas a month ago, when Booker scored 22 of his 46 points in a decisive third-quarter as the Suns rallied from 16 points down.
This time, it was Irving who sparked a Dallas rally.
“You just have to know that, especially after he makes one, that the next one is coming up,” Booker said. “He’s a great player and hard to guard. We definitely could have limited some of those transition looks.”
The Mavs scored the first 16 points of the second half to finish a 33-9 run that started after the Suns took their biggest lead at 54-43 midway through the second-quarter.
“We didn’t start the third-quarter with enough attentiveness,” Phoenix coach Frank Vogel said. “We did get a little too stagnant offensively. We had some breakdowns with what we were supposed to do. That led to some tough possessions.”
Tim Hardaway Jr and PJ Washington scored 12 points apiece for Dallas.
A cellular phone tower in Missouri, United States. PHOTO: AP
AP – AT&T said the hourslong outage to its United States (US) mobile phone network on Thursday appeared to be the result of a technical error, not a malicious attack.
The outage knocked out mobile phone service for thousands of its users across the US starting early on Thursday before it was restored.
AT&T blamed the incident on an error in coding, without elaborating.
“Based on our initial review, we believe that today’s outage was caused by the application and execution of an incorrect process used as we were expanding our network, not a cyberattack,” the Dallas-based company said.
Outage tracker Downdetector noted that outages, which began at about 3.30am ET, peaked at around 73,000 reported incidents. AT&T had more than 58,000 outages around noon ET, in locations including Houston, Atlanta and Chicago. The carrier is the country’s largest, with more than 240 million subscribers.
By 9pm ET, the reports on AT&T’s network were fewer than 1,000.
Cricket Wireless, which is owned by AT&T, had more than 9,000 outages at one point but the reports had also tailed off later in the afternoon. Users of other carriers, including Verizon and T-Mobile, also reported issues but those companies said their networks were operating normally and the problems were likely stemming from customers trying to connect to AT&T users.
During the outage, some iPhone users saw SOS messages displayed in the status bar on their mobile phones. The message indicates that the device is having trouble connecting to their cellular provider’s network, but it can make emergency calls through other carrier networks, according to Apple Support.
A cellular phone tower in Missouri, United States. PHOTO: AP
