Latest news with #MichellePhillips
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Why Michelle Phillips is OK with neighbor who rummages through her trash and takes her mail
It looked like every homeowner's worst nightmare: a man rummaging through trash cans and swiping a packet of papers. And for Mamas and Papas legend Michelle Phillips, 81, that was briefly the reality when the man swooped in shortly after she wheeled her garbage to the curb outside her Los Angeles home. But can reveal the seemingly sinister situation was actually nothing of the sort with Phillips saying the man is a neighbor on the hunt for discarded copies of the New York Times. 'He's perfectly harmless,' the singer told a Daily Mail reporter who showed her a photo of the man outside her home. 'It's nothing to worry about and I've known him since he was a teenager. He's very nice, and he was going through my trash to find my newspapers because he wants to read the New York Times. Thank you for checking – that's what neighbors are for,' Michelle added. But there may be more to the man's trash run than Michelle knows. He was clearly seen stuffing letters from her garbage into his back pockets before walking away. Shortly after her neighbor took off, Phillips clad in black pants, a black sweater layered under a Japanese-inspired red and blue kimono and oversized black sunglasses, was seen heading out to run errands. The incident marked Phillips's first public sighting since the death of Beach Boys icon Brian Wilson - a longtime acquaintance. Her daughter Chynna, 57, formed the successful 90s pop trio Wilson Phillips with Brian's daughters, Carnie and Wendy. Phillips gave birth to Chynna during her tumultuous marriage to The Mamas & The Papas' founder and chief songwriter, John Phillips. Their union – riddled with infidelity, substance abuse and the crushing weight of fame – lasted past the band's three-year career before ending in divorce in 1969. She is also the stepmother to actress Mackenzie Phillips, 66, and model Bijou Phillips, 45, through her late ex-husband's other relationships. When he was done looking through the last surviving member of The Mamas & The Papas's trash, he tucked a few envelopes in his back pocket before walking off Phillips wore black pants, a black sweater layered under a Japanese-inspired red and blue kimono and oversized black sunglasses John, who died in 2001 at age 65, notoriously had an affair with Cass Elliot, the group's other female vocalist, fueling deep tensions within the band. Phillips, meanwhile, had her own controversial affairs - including with bandmate Denny Doherty and director Roman Polanski, the latter while his partner Sharon Tate was pregnant with his child. But although their relationship was marred with controversy, she still defended her late ex-husband's character in 2009 when allegations emerged of incest made by her stepdaughter Mackenzie. At the time, her other stepdaughter Bijou said she knew her half-sister Mackenzie had a consensual sexual relationship with their father. Bijou, who was married to convicted rapist Danny Masterton till she filed for divorce in 2023, claimed she was 13 years old when Mackenzie told her about the relationship, calling the news 'confusing and scary'. Bijou added that it was 'heartbreaking' to think her family knew about the incest and still left her alone with her father. The band, which shot to stardom with hits 'California Dreamin',' 'Monday, Monday,' and 'Dedicated to the One I Love,' split in 1968 just three years after achieving mainstream success and winning a Grammy in 1967 for Best Contemporary (R&R) Group Performance, Vocal or Instrumental. Phillips still found success after the band split through acting where she starred alongside celebrities such as Martin Sheen, Audrey Hepburn and Sharon Stone. The singer-turned-actress was later cast in a biographical gangster film Dillinger in 1973 - which garnered her a Golden Globe nomination for Most Promising Newcomer. She also took on roles in films including Valentino (1977), The Covenant (1985) and Scissors (1991). Phillips additionally branched out to the world of television and starred in the series titled Knots Landing (1987-1993). Later in her career, she had guest roles in beloved shows such as Beverly Hills, 90210 and The Love Boat. At the height of her fame, Phillips had a whirlwind marriage to actor Dennis Hopper that lasted just eight days, as well as high-profile romances with Jack Nicholson and Warren Beatty. She divorced her third husband, radio producer John Burch, in 1979 after one year.
IOL News
09-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Lessons from DRC private partnership at state-owned ports
After the concession for the Durban Container Terminal Pier 2 was awarded, ICTSI's bid was subject to a further independent review. By Hans-Ole Madsen The ability of International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) to successfully meet its R12 billion tender commitment to the Durban port has been underscored by its recently announced financial results for the quarter ending 31 March. The company posted revenue from operations of $745 million (R1.3 billion) – a 17% increase year on year. The results highlight its financial muscle and ability to operate South Africa's largest container port in partnership with Transnet and to help unlock South Africa's economic potential. In an affidavit filed at the Durban High court, Transnet CEO Michelle Phillips also admitted 'ICTSI plainly had and continues to have the necessary financial capacity.' Yet the partnership between ICTSI and Transnet has been delayed by losing bidder Maersk who have stalled the process by pursuing a spurious legal action. Maersk's legal case hinges on their own narrow interpretation of a non-material single accounting measure, despite the tender process being thorough, fair and transparent. Independent auditors oversaw the process. After the concession for the Durban Container Terminal Pier 2 was awarded, ICTSI's bid was subject to a further independent review. ICTSI's financial clout to deliver on its commitment to Durban is further revealed when it estimates its capital expenditure for 2025 would be approximately $580m, a significant part of which will be channelled into expansions to port projects in the Philippines, Mexico, Brazil and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In addition to serious financial flows, ICTSI has experience in upgrading and managing ports in a range of economies and developing nations. ICTSI currently runs 32 ports in 19 countries. The Port of Matadi in the DRC is one such a success story that should be noted by those concerned about South Africa's struggling export and import economies. When ICTSI partnered with the government of the DRC to develop the port, it had been beset by years of congestion, inefficiencies, and ageing infrastructure. Matadi is located on the Congo River and serves as the country's primary gateway for containerised and general cargo. Within two years of the public-private partnership with ICTSI, Matadi had undergone a remarkable transformation: a new terminal was built, vessel turnaround times were slashed, and trade flows into Kinshasa and the interior dramatically improved. What had once been a chokepoint in the country's logistics chain became a symbol of what well-executed public-private partnerships can achieve, even in challenging environments. This turnaround in the DRC is not an isolated success. It reflects the broader value that private sector participation can bring to state-owned assets - particularly in sectors like transport and logistics, where operational efficiency, technical expertise, and capital investment are crucial. Across the globe, and especially in developing economies, public-private partnerships have proven to be a catalyst for infrastructure renewal, service improvement, and long-term competitiveness. In South Africa, where state-owned enterprises face mounting pressure to deliver under tight fiscal conditions, now is the time to lean into these partnerships. ICTSI sees immense potential for South Africa's trade economy – and the Durban Container Terminal Pier 2 is the economy's beating heart. It handles 46% of all SA's port traffic and handles over 70% of the container throughput at the Durban harbour. And, as has been noted by many observers, the infrastructure of DCT2 has basically remained the same since 1963. That is why ICTSI jumped at the opportunity to become the private partner of Transnet when the concession was first announced. However, after almost two years, South African exporters and importers are still frustrated with the lack of progress at the Durban port. ICTSI has not been able to implement its agreement with Transnet, due to Maersk's court action. Bottlenecks and backlogs are still causing costly delays in loading and unloading ships, as well as in processing cargo for onward transportation. Despite efforts to improve operations, inefficiencies persist. Such delays come at a financial cost. Ships stuck at anchorage or slow-moving cargo means higher port and transport fees, increased fuel costs, and lost productivity for trucking companies waiting at terminals. These inefficiencies also create ripple effects throughout the economy, as this burden is passed onto on consumers. Essential commodities, from electronics to food and medical supplies, become more expensive, reducing affordability and hampering economic growth. Addressing these challenges is critical, and a partnership with an experienced private operator will provide the expertise, investment, and efficiency needed to modernise port operations and drive economic recovery. ICTSI is more than able to deliver on its R12bn commitment to partner with Transnet. It is also noteworthy that Maersk's bid for the Durban tender came in at R2bn below ICTSI's. All parties involved now await the court's judgement. It is a sobering thought that, were it not for Maersk's spurious case, DCT2 would by now have been well on its way to offer efficient services to shipping lines and South Africa's importers and exporters, contributing substantially to the country's economy.
CBC
06-02-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Veteran Yukon musher wins 2nd Yukon Quest in a row
Michelle Phillips and her dog team crossed the finish line in Teslin, Yukon, at 9 p.m. Wednesday, marking her second Yukon Quest 450 victory in a row. As soon as her sled stopped, the veteran musher walked down her line of dogs — giving each a cuddle. She said she's grateful for them. "It was challenging for sure, but it was good. They did really good," she said. Her husband and business partner, Ed Hopkins, was the first to greet her at the finish line. Together, they own Tagish Lake Kennels just outside Carcross. Veteran musher Michelle Phillips wins Yukon Quest He said he's proud of his wife for her work ethic. "She's trained really hard this year," said Hopkins. Hopkins said Phillips and Ben Simard, another musher, spent six weeks on the Canol Road training for the event. Annie Johnston, a member of the Teslin Tlingit Council, is another one of the winner's cheerleaders. "She's almost like a champion of ours. It makes me proud it's someone from the Yukon." Johnston said she's glad to see the race happening in her backyard. "It's just amazing that it happened here, there's quite a few people here from Teslin." Thinking of a hot meal Phillips held on to the lead for a good chunk of the race, at times leap-frogging with other competitors. Jessie Royer from Seeley Lake, Montana, came in second place and Jesse Terry from Sioux Lookout, Ontario, arrived shortly after midnight, claiming third. The route started and ended in Teslin for the first time this year. Race organizer Sarah Tomlin said she's happy the way everything turned out. "There were some times that I was like, I didn't see how it was going to come together, but the team of volunteers, when everybody starts showing up, it just flows." After three and a half days on the trail and covering more than 659 kilometres, Phillips said all she was thinking about at the end of the race was eating a hot meal. Her next race, the Iditarod, will take place in less than a month and cover twice the distance. It kicks off March 2.
