In a summer festival that combines sacred ritual and seaside spectacle, hundreds of residents gathered at a beach in Yokosuka city’s Kurihama neighborhood over the weekend to pray for marine safety.
The audience erupted as a portable shrine called mikoshi, which was carried on bearers’ shoulders and was adorned with Shinto ornaments.
The mikoshi was paraded through neighborhood alleyways after it had departed from Sumiyoshi Shrine. The priests of the shrines paused to offer blessings and wish the well-being of those gathering outside their homes.
The priests chanted and danced as the procession approached the beach. The bearers’ sweaty faces were splattered with seawater as they entered the water, which was at its highest point.
The mikoshi was escorted onto a vessel for prayer for its safe passages before making a final stop at the nearby ferry terminal.
The Kurihama Neighbourhood Association’s head, Shuji Shimizu, said, “Everyone has been anticipating this day all year.” It celebrates our collective strength and unity, the author writes. Stay safe and enjoy every moment, everyone.
As her relationship with Russian masseuse, David Putman, heats up, this Morning star Alison Hammond has undergone an incredible body transformation.
According to reports, Alison Hammond is feeling “sexier than ever.”
Alison Hammond is reportedly feeling “sexier than ever” after her recent weight loss as her relationship with toyboy lover, David Putman, heats up.
The This Morning star, 50, met the 27-year-old in 2023 after booking in for a massage therapy session with the Russian masseur, who is said to be a huge fan of Alison’s incredible new look.
The bubby Brummie, who shot to fame on Big Brother, recently admitted she was once close to 30 stone, but is now in the “17- 16 ½ range” after hiring a personal trainer and hitting the gym as she thinks about walking down the aisle with David.
READ MORE: This Morning’s Dermot O’Leary ‘sad’ as Alison Hammond bids farewell
Alison Hammond, the star of This Morning, has undergone a remarkable body transformation.
Talking to Closer about the star’s stunning makeover and future wedding plans, a source said: “People think maybe Alison’s achieved her weight goal, but she’s going to keep going and get as fit and slim as she can, because she wants to look the best she can for her wedding day. It’s the new-look Alison, and David thinks she looks sensational.
Alison lost 13st two months ago, and her friends now believe she’s a 14st grader. She appears smaller as a result. Allison has never experienced happiness. She is thrilled with her appearance and feels fulfilled at work and love. She feels happier and sexier than ever after watching it on television, and it has improved her confidence.
The bubbly Brummie recently admitted she was once close to 30 stone, but is now in the ’17- 16 ½ range’(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images for Primark)
Aiden, 20, has not addressed the wedding rumors directly, but Alison, who is a proud mother of son, did say she would not reject David’s marriage.
The Bake Off actress revealed in May that she had hired a personal trainer after having a gastric band put on in 2007 but having it removed three years later because her body rejected it.
Alison added that she keeps to herself and that she only eats what is consumed in moderation.
So cute!(Image: Instagram)
On the weekend, the presenter shared a loved-up snap of and her and David on her Instagram Stories, snuggled up together, sporting matching baseball caps with the caption: “Happy holidays to you all. Remember, always choose love.”
Alison avoids David from frequently appearing on her Instagram page because she prefers to keep her relationship private. She did, however, post a number of photos of him online with him in April 2024.
Alison described how David has been very patient with her and her TV career in a previous interview about their relationship.
She’s hired a personal trainer (Image: Instagram)
He loves it, she told Heat magazine. He only helps me. Anybody who enters my life will back up what I do. They are so happy for me.
Because it’s my private life and I want to respect his as well, I don’t like to go into great detail about him. But everyone is aware that I’m loved-up, but you’re too!
The Mirror wants to speak with Alison’s representative about this story.
Continue reading the article.
READ MORE: 71-year-old ‘looks forward’ to anti-ageing treatment that’s like a ‘£221 spa facial’
As Garry Ringrose recovers from a head injury, he will not play for the British and Irish Lions’ third Test against Australia on Saturday.
After experiencing concussion-related effects in training on Thursday, Ringrose withdrew from Andy Farrell’s starting XV for the second Test.
Due to a head injury, the 30-year-old missed out on a potential selection for the first Test after being replaced by Huw Jones for the Lions’ stunning 29-26 series victory in Melbourne.
As you can tell, he’s as disappointed as you can imagine. Through this tour, Garry was playing some incredible rugby, according to Lions assistant coach Andrew Goodman.
It’s been a dream of his for so long to represent the Lions, and he’s succeeded in doing that. However, he wanted to play in a test match, which is devastating. Garry is a fantastic worker and team player.
He says, “The boys have all been disappointed for him, and he has also been disappointed himself, but he’s getting along with everyone and making sure he helps prepare them as much as he can.”
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Goodman confirmed that Joe McCarthy, Sione Tuipulotu, and Mack Hansen all participated in a brief training session on Tuesday.
Due to a foot injury, Hansen, 27, who was expected to start the opening game against the Wallabies in Brisbane, was unable to play the first two Tests.
Ireland lock McCarthy, 24, had plantar fasciitis, a foot condition that causes pain in the heel and arch of the foot, before the first Test.
Tuipulotu, 28, has recovered from a strain on his hamstring since the start of the first Test.
Following his depressing passing a week ago, Ozzy Osbourne will be laid to rest on July 30. A special procession will follow his memorial.
A procession will be held for Ozzy Osbourne ahead of his funeral tomorrow. The Black Sabbath star died last week and will be laid to rest on Wednesday July 30 at a private family funeral.
A special procession will take place tomorrow morning down Broad Street and Black Sabbath Bridge and Bench, where floral tributes for the rocker will be laid out for the fans who want to pay their last respects to Ozzy.
Ozzy will be followed by his family in the special procession down Broad Street at 1pm, where he will be accompanied by a live brass band – Bostin’ Brass – as the city can take time to remember the Black Sabbath star.
Ozzy will be laid to rest tomorrow(Image: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
Councillor Zafar Iqbal, the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, stated that “Ozzy was more than just a music legend; he was also a native of Birmingham.” It was important to the city that we supported a fitting, dignified tribute ahead of a private family funeral because he recently received the Freedom of the City and made a celebratory appearance at the Back to the Beginning concert earlier this month. We are aware of how important this event will be for his supporters.
Ozzy died earlier this month(Image: Mirrorpix)
We’re proud to host it together with his loving family in the location where it all began, and we’re grateful that they generously offered to pay for this endeavor and that the city is honoring him with his best wishes.
Buses and trams will be diverted while Broad Street is closed to traffic starting at 7am tomorrow morning. The road will reopen following the event and the procession is scheduled to begin at 1pm. The Osbourne family has covered the procession and the associated costs, and the council has assisted with the road closure.
Floral tributes are left on the Black Sabbath Bridge bench on Broad Street in Birmingham(Image: PA)
For those who can’t make it in person, the rocker can watch a live stream of Black Sabbath Bridge, where floral tributes have been left. Flowers will also be displayed on the bench and bridge, where the cortege will be located.
Ozzy has been given a book of condolence at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery in addition to Sharon Osbourne’s Working Class Hero exhibition, which Sharon Osbourne inaugurated last month.
Ozzy the Bull at New Street Station and The Station pub, where Black Sabbath first performed live in 1968, are located on Navigation Street and Ozzy the Bull at New Street Station.
Ozzy adored Birmingham and longed to return home for one final performance at Villa Park. He and Black Sabbath performed an incredible performance that he and Black Sabbath both knew would be his last to perform.
Birmingham, England July 22, 2025″ was the heartfelt announcement that Ozzy had made it home for one last time, which was written in the caption “Alsowhere.” Sharon and Ozzy had discussed moving from Los Angeles back to the UK.
He claimed that despite his battle with Parkinson’s and the numerous surgeries he had to have for a spinal injury, he was “distant to return home.” He broke down in May and declared, “It’s time for me to spend some time with my grandkids.” I don’t want to pass away somewhere in a hotel room. The rest of my life should be spent with my family.
He even said, “Everything’s f***ing ridiculous]in America,” and that he wanted to go back to the UK. He stated in 2022, “I’m sick of people killing everyone. God is aware of the number of school shootings that have occurred. Additionally, that concert’s mass shooting occurred in Vegas. … it’s f***ing crazy. “
Unfortunately, Ozzy passed away shortly after his final performance, surrounded by his family, who paid him a heartfelt tribute in a statement. Our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning, according to them, with more sadness than words can express. He was surrounded by love and his family. At this time, we ask that everyone respects our family’s privacy.
Details of the proces
It will descend from Black Sabbath Bridge to Broad Street for those who want to watch the procession. Fans will follow the cortege as the procession moves forward at 1pm, and the procession will start at 1pm.
Stewards will be present to assist those who have assembled in honoring the music icon. The event, which is anticipated to draw sizable crowds, has been made accessible to those who want to travel by public transportation.
Road closures
On Wednesday, July 30th, Broad Street will be closed from 7am to allow for the procession’s preparations. At 1pm, the road will be opened once the cortege passes through the road.
Is it possible to watch from home?
The live stream from Black Sabbath Bridge and Bench will remain live throughout the entire event, as has been confirmed for those who are unable to attend the procession in Birmingham in person.
Continue reading the article.
The cortege will pass the bridge and so fans wanting to see some of the procession from home may be able to catch a glimpse of it through this livestream. The floral tributes cover the bridge and bench.
Just a few blocks and three hours before the Devil Wears Prada sequel, Hollywood stars Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, and Stanley Tucci were filming scenes there.
Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway filming scenes just minutes from NYC shooting(Image: Getty)
Hollywood icons Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway had been filming the sequel to the Devil Wears Prada just three hours before the New York City mass shooting which claimed the lives of four innocent people. Streep and Hathaway were just a mere 15-minute walk away from where the tragedies took place.
A man with a rifle killed an off-duty police officer and three other people before taking his own life on Monday.
The gunman – named in a press conference as Shane Tamura – struck at an office block in Manhattan, New York City, home to large companies such as banks and the National Football League.
Law enforcement is currently looking into the circumstances surrounding the incident and how this location might have been taken advantage of in the Big Apple.
Anne Hathaway had been filming the sequel to the Devil Wears Prada just three hours before the New York City mass shooting (Image: GC Images)
Streep and Hathaway have been filming the sequel to the 2006 blockbuster sequel a few blocks away from the horrific shooting.
The Hollywood duo and fellow actor Stanley Tucci spent just 15 minutes walking to the tragedy’s site, which is located just 15 minutes away. Just three hours prior to the shooting, the three actors were filming scenes.
The city had recently announced it was on pace to have its fewest people hurt by gunfire than any year in recent decades. However, it is now mourning those killed, including “hero brother” police officer Didarul Islam.
Meryl and Anne filmed scenes 15 minutes away from the shooting (Image: GC Images)
Last night at a press conference, colleagues paid tribute to the 36-year-old man whose wife is expecting their third child. On Monday night, Tamura reportedly walked toward the building after leaving a double-parked BMW with an M4 rifle.
At a news conference on Monday night, police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that the NYPD officer quickly opened fire on the officer as he entered the building before fatally shooting a woman who tried to hide. Then, he began “spraying” the lobby with gunfire.
According to Ms. Tisch, the man shot a security guard who was hiding behind a security desk and another man in the lobby.
A crazed gunman with a vest and bulletproof vest opened fire inside a chic Midtown skyscraper.
One person was shot and killed on the 33rd floor of a real estate management company when the man took the lift there. She claimed that afterward, he shot himself in a hallway.
A short walk north of Grand Central Terminal and about a block east of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the shooting took place at 345 Park Avenue, a commercial office building in a busy area of midtown.
Continue reading the article.
The building’s tenants include the NFL and Rudin Management, as well as finance companies KPMG and Blackstone. It also includes the consulate general of Ireland.
Ukraine, Kiev – Last week, hundreds of Ukrainians gathered in various cities to protest the government’s plan to obstruct anticorruption watchdogs’ independence.
A bill that would revoke the independence of key authorities, such as the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), was signed into law by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on July 22.
The country’s renowned protests led to the president of Ukraine to introduce a new draft bill to reauthorize the NABU and SAPO, which have been established to investigate high-level corruption and are widely regarded as a sign of democratic reforms.
Why, then, did Zelenskyy attempt to enlarge anticorruption agencies, and will his actions undermine public confidence in the government, which is crucial in a Russian-Russian conflict?
In response to Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine, Ukrainians protest near the presidential office in Kyiv.
Ukrainians are protesting, but why?
Following the vote on July 22 in the lower house of parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, the country’s parliament, to approve the bill giving the prosecutor general the authority to oversee the two anticorruption agencies, protests erupted nationwide.
The president elects and approves the Verkhovna Rada, Zelenskyy’s Public Servant party, which is in control of the majority.
The two organizations, which were established in response to the pro-democracy Euromaidan protests in 2013 and 2014, were seen as a government effort to control them. Many consider it to be a fall from the years of reforms that came after Viktor Yanukovych was ousted in 2014.
The protesters carried banners with the slogan “Sham” on them! The new bill is praised by corruption supporters who say, “Don’t make a step back, there’s an abyss there.”
The rallies took place in both Kyiv and major cities like Lviv, which is known as Ukraine’s cultural capital, Odesa, which are both port cities.
Numerous senior officials and lawmakers, including those from Zelenskyy’s Public Servant party, have been the subject of investigation by NABU.
Oleksiy, who enlisted in the army in 2022, has a question about why he should continue fighting on the front lines of eastern Ukraine as officials practice corruption.
What’s the point of returning home if my family is encircled by corruption, the 42-year-old construction manager told Al Jazeera.
According to him, “Judges, officials, and even school teachers all say, “Give, give, give,” while requesting that his last name and details of his military service be kept confidential, in accordance with the wartime protocol.
Oleksiy, who is taking a break from his job to visit his two young children and ailing mother, participated in the largest anti-government demonstrations in Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
Zelenskyy supported the bill, why?
The prosecutor general’s office could access their information, transfer cases, and close down investigations under the new law, which also included executive control over NABU and SAPO.
According to NABU, the bill “could ultimately undermine the Ukrainian anticorruption system.”
Human Rights Watch deputy director for Europe and Central Asia, Rachel Denber, said the new law “risikos weakening Ukraine’s democratic foundations and its integration with Europe in the future.” She demanded that the law be repealed.
Zelenskyy, a former comedian and political novice who came to power in 2019 on an anticorruption ticket, argued that NABU and SAPO must “get rid of Russian influence.”
His claim came after two NABU employees were detained and charged with the wrongdoing anti-corruption campaigner Vitaly Shabunin.
Nearly 60 anticorruption and nongovernmental organizations filed joint appeals in Shabunin’s defense after his supporters claimed he had “evaded military service.”
People protest in Kyiv against the implementation of the draft law, which regulates the activities of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, [Danylo Antoniuk/Anadolu].
There are two widely accepted theories as to why Zelenskyy introduced the bill, according to a political analyst in Kyiv.
One is that NABU’s head of the Penta think tank Volodymyr Fesenko claimed to have “closed in on Zelenskyy’s inner circle.”
In a deal that cost the government $ 24 million, NABU accused deputy prime minister Oleksiy Chernyshov, Zelenskyy’s closest ally and lifelong friend, of taking kickbacks worth $ 346, 000 from a real estate developer.
Zelenskyy’s press office didn’t respond to Al Jazeera’s texts and phone calls.
Or is it an attempt to control NABU’s actions to avoid stoking them with overt politicisation and to end domestic political hostilities in the conflict with Russia, Fesenko said.
However, I believe it has to do with the NABU’s activism on political issues that might have sparked suspicion in Zelenskyy’s inner circle. He claimed that Zelenskyy’s political attack was more a political attack than a fight against corruption.
According to an anticorruption expert, Zelenskyy’s standing among local political parties has declined as a result of the protests. According to Tetiana Shevchuk from the Kyiv-based Anti-Corruption Action Center, “there was a belief in his high and stable rating.”
She continued, noting that “he no longer can demand anything from the parliament.”
Zelenskyy fears NABU, which she claims is the only law enforcement agency that has the power to concentrate on him, because it won’t launch or end an investigation following a phone call from his administration.
Shevchuk remarked, “NABU is the only organization that doesn’t do that.”
According to Fesenko of the Penta think tank, the politicians “underestimated” the bill’s “negative consequences.” They “didn’t believe that the general public would respond so harshly.”
The top anti-corruption investigator in the country has praised Zelenskyy’s decision to submit the new bill.
However, NABU director Semen Kryvonos predicted that corrupt individuals would launch a “dirty information campaign” against anti-graft organizations.
Meanwhile, protest leaders promise to hold rallies only tentatively until later this week if the bill is passed.
Attempts have been made to eradicate endemic corruption since the 2014 pro-democracy revolution or Revolution of Dignity.
There are many administrative procedures that are less time-, money-, and nerve-intensive.
However, corruption continues to permeate the justice system. In Transparency International’s corruption index, Ukraine is ranked 105 out of 180.
A corrupt judge may revoke his work, according to a criminal investigator who spent months compiling a number of lawsuits against a fraudster who duped several lawmakers.
Under the condition of anonymity, the investigator stated, “We can’t guarantee any judge’s honesty.”
Meanwhile, corruption has increased as a result of Europe’s worst armed conflict since World War II.
Some officers extort bribes from service members for allowing them to leave or visit a hospital, and they also steal foreign aid, such as clothes and shoes that end up on store shelves rather than the front lines, from employees.
According to serviceman Oleksiy, who participated in the protests, “if someone reports such an officer, they may end up in a suicide squad on zero position.” These positions are most likely to be attacked by enemy drones.
Protesters in Kyiv are holding signs opposing the new law that strips the NABU and SAPO anticorruption bodies of their independence. The Ukrainian government pledged to revise the bill in response to widespread protests and EU pressure [Tetiana Dzhafarova/AFP]
Officers charged with carrying out the conscription campaign are accused of accepting bribes to mug people out of the country. Conscription officers have been detained, and some have cash holdings worth millions of dollars, euros, or even gold bullion.
After scandals involving exorbitant prices for military products like ammunition, food, medical supplies, and winter clothing, Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov was fired in 2023.
Rustem Umerov’s replacement, according to NABU, is the subject of an investigation into alleged power abuse.
Will foreign aid be impacted by the restrictions on anticorruption organizations?
Due to the new law, the European Union announced on Sunday that it would freeze $1.7 billion, or a third of its most recent aid package for Ukraine.
However, Lt. Gen Ihor Romanenko, former deputy head of Ukraine’s general staff of armed forces, believes that military aid from the EU and the US is unlikely to be cut.
However, the demonstrations reveal a shocking contrast between the corrupt officials who continue to thrive on corruption and the hundreds of thousands of front-line service members who dodge the draft.
