Latest news with #SNS
Glasgow Times
19 minutes ago
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Former Celtic star addresses 'weird' meeting with Donald Trump
Timo Weah and his Juventus teammates visited the White House, where they met with the politician. The recent video of the encounter became very popular on social media. In it, the footballers watched on as Trump discussed decisive issues such as transgender athletes and escalating tension in Iran. He said: "Could a woman make your team, fellas? "Tell me." To this, former Celtic player Timo Weah responded: "Yeah." The president's response was: "You're being nice." Former Celtic star addresses 'weird' meeting with Donald Trump (Image: SNS) READ NEXT: Date of first Rangers vs Celtic 2025/26 Scottish Premiership fixture confirmed Following the meeting, the right-winger told The Sun: "It was weird. I was caught by surprise, honestly, when he started talking politics, with Iran and everything. "I was kind of like, I just want to play football. "They just told us that we have to go, and I had no choice but to go. "So I guess it was a cool experience, obviously being in the White House for the first time, it's always wonderful. "But I'm not one for the politics, so it wasn't that exciting."
New Straits Times
17 hours ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
SNS Network poised for further gains after technical breakout — Rakuten Trade
KUALA LUMPUR: SNS Network Technology Bhd (SNS) may see further upside after breaking out of a bullish technical pattern, according to Rakuten Trade. The move is supported by rising trading volume and a recent bullish crossover in its exponential moving averages, a trend indicator that gives more weight to recent prices to help spot changes in a stock's direction more quickly. In its technical research note today, Rakuten Trade said SNS has completed a cup and handle formation, a chart pattern typically associated with continued upward momentum, and is showing signs of strengthening trend. The brokerage expects SNS to test its immediate resistance at 57 sen, with a higher target of 61 sen. Support levels are identified at 51.5 sen and 48 sen, with the latter also serving as the stop-loss level. SNS last traded at 54.5 sen. The counter has rebounded significantly from its 52-week low of 34 sen but remains below its 52-week high of 96 sen. Rakuten Trade classified the trend as bullish, while noting that the Relative Strength Index remains at a neutral level, suggesting further upside potential without entering overbought territory. The brokerage added that all trading decisions involve risk and advised investors to conduct their own assessments and seek professional advice where necessary.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How Big a Deal for Sabrina Carpenter Is ‘Manchild' Debuting at No. 1?
It's a highly static week in the Billboard Hot 100's top 10 — with one very notable exception, courtesy of pop superstar Sabrina Carpenter. Helped by an excellent start on streaming, an action-packed music video and a good amount of physical sales on vinyl, Carpenter's new single 'Manchild' bows atop the Hot 100 this week, marking Carpenter's second No. 1 (after 2024's 'Please Please Please') and first debut atop the chart. Below it, each of last week's top nine on the Hot 100 dutifully move down one spot to make room for it. More from Billboard Young Singer Wins Over 'AGT' Judges With Ed Sheeran Cover Ozzy Osbourne's DNA Will Be Sold in Limited Edition Liquid Death Cans Kneecap Launch London Billboard Takeover Ahead of 'Witch-Hunt' Court Appearance How big a deal is the No. 1 bow for Carpenter? And how long do we anticipate 'Manchild' lasting on top? Billboard staffers answer these questions and more below. 1. 'Manchild' debuts at No. 1, becoming Sabrina Carpenter's second No. 1 and first to debut atop the chart. On a scale from 1-10, how big a deal would you rate this achievement for her? Christopher Claxton: I'd rate this a 9. Debuting at No. 1 is a major milestone — and has been anything but stupid, slow or useless. Sabrina's fan engagement has been steadily growing since she dropped Emails I Can't Send in 2023, and her continued chart success proves her rising mainstream appeal and streaming power. This is a huge step forward, and Carpenter clearly knows it: 'I can't tell you how much this means to me!!!!' she wrote on her Instagram Story, sharing Billboard's post announcing her No. 1. The fact that this marks her second No. 1 and her first to debut at the top shows real momentum in her career — and it's clear Sabrina Carpenter is a star. Hannah Dailey: I'd say 8. It's obviously very exciting, but not at all unexpected for her considering how far she's come over the past year. Kyle Denis: Maybe around 7. It's kind of wild to call a No. 1 Hot 100 debut a footnote, but it does feel as such in a year that found Sabrina wrapping up her Short N' Sweet victory lap with her first two Grammy wins and an arena tour extension. While I doubt 'Manchild' commands the same cultural gravity as the first three SNS singles when it's all said and done, this No. 1 debut definitely confirms Carpenter is not a one-era wonder. Her commercial pull as a Main Pop Girl™ is solidified; she's at that post-2018 Ariana Grande phase where all she has to do is blink and a No. 1 hit is practically guaranteed. Jason Lipshutz: An 8. Regardless of how high this new single had debuted on the Hot 100, Sabrina Carpenter would still be an A-list pop artist with plenty of interest in her upcoming music; as a relatively new superstar, however, Carpenter had only scored top 10 hits from one album, last year's Short n' Sweet, and hadn't proven that her commercial power would transcend that project. Now she has: with 'Manchild' debuting atop the Hot 100, Carpenter has maintained her momentum from her breakthrough 2024, kicking off a quick-turn new era in the strongest possible fashion. She didn't need a No. 1 debut — but a No. 1 debut is really, really good for her. Andrew Unterberger: An 8.5. If you haven't noticed, we don't have a lot of songs debuting at No. 1 these days — 'Manchild' is just the third this year, after Travis Scott's '4×4' and Morgan Wallen's Tate McRae-featuring 'What I Want,' and the first from an artist who's never done that before. It's another big level-up for Sabrina Carpenter, in an 18-month period with more such level-ups than we can still really count. 2. 'Manchild' debuts atop of what is otherwise a static top 10 – with every one of last week's top nine sliding down one spot to make room for it on top. On another scale of 1-10, how much would you say the top 10 could use its infusion of new blood? Christopher Claxton: I'd give it an 8 out of 10 — the top 10 definitely needed some fresh energy. Stagnation starts to feel predictable, and the charts have been looking the same for far too long. Fresh entries keep things exciting, and artists might need to start rethinking their rollout strategies and how they're engaging with their fanbases in order to break through. Sabrina Carpenter's debut at No. 1 isn't just a personal win — it's a win for all of us. We finally get to see some real movement and a shake-up in the Hot 100. Hannah Dailey: I guess I'll give it a 10. I think everyone is still waiting for the undisputed song of the summer to present itself, so any new contender entering the chat is exciting. Kyle Denis: 10. Desperately. Please. I'm begging. Let's get 'Mutt' and 'Love Me Not' in there. 'Am I Okay?' too. Hell, I'll even take 'Blue Strips.' Jason Lipshutz: A 7. Sure, 'Manchild' and 'What I Want,' the Morgan Wallen-Tate McRae team-up that topped the Hot 100 three weeks ago, are both new hits that will likely receive plenty of pop radio play and millions of streams as summertime wears on. Outside of those two singles and Jessie Murph's 'Blue Strips' at No. 18, every other song in this week's top 20 has been on the chart for double-digit weeks. Just as 'Manchild' kicks off a new Carpenter era, the song that started her last one, 'Espresso,' is still at No. 17 on the Hot 100! Here's to hoping that we get some more new tunes to shake up the upper tier of the chart over the next month. Andrew Unterberger: Gotta be at least a 9. If 'Manchild' falls out of the top 10 before 'Lose Control,' 'Die With a Smile' or 'Beautiful Things,' it'll be a 10. 3. The new song is thought to be the advance single from Sabrina Carpenter's recently announced summer album . Does the song take her in any particularly exciting or interesting new directions to you, or is it more a consolidation of established strengths? Christopher Claxton: 'Manchild' is clever and catchy, but it feels more like a continuation of Sabrina Carpenter's current lane than a bold new chapter. She's leaning into what works with Jack Antonoff, but I'm hoping she pivots more fully into pure pop on Man's Best Friend, in the vein of tracks like 'Nonsense' and 'Feather.' There's still a hint of country in the delivery of 'Manchild' that feels like a leftover from her Short n' Sweet era — and at this point, she's more than ready to leave that behind. Hannah Dailey: Honestly, I don't think 'Manchild' shows us any side to Sabrina that we haven't seen before. From its flippant tone to its country influences and tongue-in-cheek lyrical themes, everything about 'Manchild' feels like a strong continuation of what she was honing on Short n' Sweet – which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Kyle Denis: 'Manchild' definitely feels like a purposeful extension of SNS's country-lite pop sound, which isn't particularly exciting or interesting, but probably necessary. Not to bring up Grande again, but 'Manchild' feels like a spiritual sibling of 'Focus,' the 2015 Hot 100 top 10 that initially served as the lead single for 2016's Dangerous Woman LP. While I highly doubt 'Manchild' faces the same fate as 'Focus,' it certainly feels like Carpenter is consciously retreading tried-and-true ground before offering something more markedly difficult on Man's Best Friend – much like 'Focus' reheated Grande's 'Problem' nachos. Jason Lipshutz: Whereas Short n' Sweet hits like 'Espresso' and 'Taste' offered up danceable pop, the single that Carpenter released in between them, 'Please Please Please,' was defined by a singular amalgamation of country, synth-pop, alternative and even disco. 'Manchild' functions similarly as a sonic gumbo — part '80s synths, part country-fried guitar, part modern pop hooks, and all imbued with Carpenter's quick-drip wit. Her ability to synthesize different styles, while still maintaining her sense of self, is part of the reason why Carpenter has broken through as a singer and songwriter. I can't wait to see how else she pulls that trick off on Man's Best Friend. Andrew Unterberger: The evolution to me is less in the song than in the music video, which feels like a continuation of the sort of surreal party videos that Diane Martel did for Miley Cyrus in the mid-'10s. It's Carpenter's best yet and feels like a new part of her superstar identity being unlocked. 4. Considering we're not even a year removed from her LP and that songs from that album era are still populating the Billboard Hot 100, some might have wondered if this was a little soon for Carpenter to launch an entirely new album campaign. Does the initial 'Manchild' success refute any such notions, or is it still way too early to make any judgments there? Christopher Claxton: It's a fair question. 'Manchild' has seen quick success, but that doesn't necessarily mean it wasn't too soon to launch a new album rollout. Sabrina Carpenter is clearly striking while the iron's hot — and so far, it's working. She's everywhere right now, fresh off major collaborations with Dunkin', Fortnite and more. The momentum she's built over the past year hasn't slowed down, and while Short n' Sweet is still producing Hot 100 hits, it seems like she's aiming to add even more to that list. The real question is whether introducing new tracks will push her older songs off the charts — or if she'll simply claim even more spots. You could view this new rollout in two ways: either it's premature, or it's a savvy move that leverages her current visibility and cultural relevance. Right now, I'd say it's the latter, but ultimately, it's too early to make a definitive call: Whether 'Manchild' is just a flashpoint or the beginning of a sustained new era depends on what follows. But all signs point to Sabrina understanding the moment — and running with it. Hannah Dailey: I personally would have liked to see her take more time to develop a more solidified next chapter and evolve artistically before launching a new album, but I do agree with her when she says there's no real reason to slow down if the inspiration is still flowing. My only holdup is that 'Manchild' is so Short n' Sweet-coded – it would truly fit so effortlessly on the tracklist – which could dampen Man's Best Friend's chances of standing out on its own and cast it more as a Short n' Sweet Part 2. But is that such a bad fate if the success of 'Manchild' is any indication of the numbers MBF will pull regardless? Perhaps not. Kyle Denis: I would say it's not too soon for a new SC album campaign – and the initial 'Manchild' success backs me up. While SNS was a massive album era, it feels finished. We got three gargantuan singles, several tracks had quasi-viral moments across socials, and she's currently on a break before the final leg of her accompanying tour. Between the 'Manchild' success and the already mind-numbing discourse inspired by the Man's Best Friend album artwork, I think people have genuinely – and gladly – bought into a new Sabrina Carpenter album campaign. Jason Lipshutz: Carpenter coming back so quickly is a stroke of brilliance for an artist trying to establish herself as one of the defining pop voices of the 2020s. Instead of taking a break in 2025 and resting on her laurels following the Short n' Sweet success, Carpenter has come roaring back with a new hit for the summer, a new album for the fall and (hopefully) plenty of follow-up singles to take her into 2026. Her ambition and release strategy reminds me a bit of her pal Taylor Swift, who, every time you think she's going to take a breather, has instead stomped on the gas pedal, and gotten even bigger. Andrew Unterberger: It's definitely still a risk — even with the early success of 'Manchild,' and the fact that it doesn't look to be falling apart in its second week. It still comes down to whether she can bring enough new on this album era to not feel like she's repeating herself or spinning her wheels. But if she can do that, the potential upside is enormous: Becoming one of the biggest pop stars in the world in your breakout year and then matching (or even topping) that in year two is the kind of stuff that legendary careers are built from. 5. Make a prediction: How many total weeks will 'Manchild' spend atop the Hot 100? Christopher Claxton: I give it 3-5 weeks. Hannah Dailey: It's splashy, catchy and taking off on TikTok – all good signs that 'Manchild' will spend at least two weeks at the top, maybe even more. My official prediction is four. Kyle Denis: Less than five total weeks. Or maybe forever since the top 10 is so relentlessly stagnant. Jason Lipshutz: Let's say 4. 'Manchild' is competing with songs like 'Ordinary,' 'Luther' and 'Die With a Smile' that have a lot more radio buy-in… but as Carpenter proved last year, she can dominate at radio, too! As 'Manchild' grows across platforms, I think it'll ultimately log a nonconsecutive month at No. 1. Andrew Unterberger: I'll say two. But I think it'll stay in the top 10 for a very long time. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
The Herald Scotland
12-06-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
How Russell Martin reshuffle will aid Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers
However, Kris Boyd, who spent two spells at his boyhood heroes and knows just how demanding his fellow Light Blues fans can be, believes the criticism of the £4m centre forward has been unjustified. Read more: He is confident that new manager Martin can help the man who was the leading scorer in the Premiership last term despite often cutting an isolated figure up front by himself if he commits more men forward. Speaking at a McDonald's Fun Football session at Hampden, Boyd said, 'Russell has said he is looking forward to seeing which members of his squad surprise him once pre-season starts – but I don't think Cyriel needs to surprise anyone. (Image: SNS/SFA) 'He's scored over 50 goals during his two seasons at Rangers He is not the problem. There are other strikers in there who should be doing more and who cost a lot more money. Danilo should be doing more for me, there's no getting away from it. 'Hamza Igamane has shown what he is capable of in spells. He's come in and he's done well at times, but then his form hasn't been at the same level. But I get that. It was his first real season in this environment so you're probably going to get little spurts where he goes on a run and then times when he struggles.' Read more: He added, 'There's one thing about Dessers. He's always there. He's always available. He's like every other striker, he'll miss chances from time to time. But it doesn't seem to faze him. He'll always go back for more. 'So for me Russell has already got someone there who's shown he can score goals. In Scotland, we are quick to criticise people for virtually anything. But Cyriel always goes back for more when he misses. 'I think Russell will be looking to see if he can get players closer to Cyriel, to have players more in contact with him. If he can do that then you might see a better level of performance on a more consistent basis from Dessers.' Boyd is hopeful the long-standing McDonald Fun Football programme will produce a few more players who are capable of following in his footsteps and leading the line for Rangers in the years to come. 'Programmes like McDonald's Fun Football are important for communities across Scotland,' he said. 'They give children a safe, positive place to just play the game and have fun. 'McDonald's are offering more free sessions this summer across Scotland and it's brilliant to see. I wish I had this when I was a youngster, I would've loved it. I'd encourage every parent to not miss out and to get their child signed up to their nearest free session.' Kris Boyd was celebrating the latest free wave of McDonald's Fun Football sessions this Summer, available to all children aged 5-11 across the UK. You can sign up now for your nearest free session at
DW
10-06-2025
- Politics
- DW
Local election results deepen Serbia's political crisis – DW – 06/10/2025
Local elections were held in two Serbian towns on Sunday amid high tension and accusations of irregularities. With the ruling SNS and the opposition both claiming victory, it is not clear what will happen next. "Let it echo through the skies — SNS meets its demise!" chanted citizens on the streets of two Serbian towns, Zajecar and Kosjeric, after polls closed in local elections on Sunday evening. They were convinced that after 13 years of rule by the governing Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), change was about to happen. "May the Serbian people experience freedom the way we are feeling it tonight in Kosjeric," declared Slavica Pantovic, the opposition candidate for municipal president. But then, just a few hours later, the ruling SNS declared victory. "We managed to win because the people chose the state. You can shout, block the streets, but when we step behind the curtain, we vote for our country — not against it," said President Aleksandar Vucic. First election since Novi Sad For the past month, all eyes in Serbia have been on Zajecar and Kosjeric. These were the first elections to be held in Serbia since the collapse last November of the canopy at the entrance to Novi Sad railway station, which killed 16 people. Voter turnout in the local election in Kosjeric, a town of about 10,000 in western Serbia, broke records Image: Oliver Bunic/AFP The tragedy, which is widely seen by Serbian citizens as the result of deep-seated corruption, sparked months of protests that have put increasing pressure on populist President Aleksandar Vucic. 'We won't let you steal the votes' Preliminary results show that the SNS won 27 seats in Zajecar compared to the opposition's 23, and 14 seats to the opposition's 13 in Kosjeric. But the opposition refuses to acknowledge the outcome, and it is possible that there will be a recount in both towns. "We won't let you steal the votes. You'll have to explain every bag, every sheet of paper — even the ones you've stolen," said Ugljesa Djurickovic of the opposition list Change We Believe In in Zajecar on election night. The opposition leaders in both towns are backed by students who have already organized post-election protests in Kosjeric to "defend the will of the people." The students also announced that they would monitor any recount closely. "If necessary, we'll call all of Serbia — and there won't be enough room here for everyone. We're defending the electoral will, because Kosjeric is free," said student Milica Maksimovic at a protest on Sunday. NGO claims election irregularities The monitoring mission of the NGO Center for Research, Transparency and Accountability (CRTA) has claimed that there were serious irregularities in the election. Indeed, the CRTA's assessment after the polls was unequivocal: "These elections do not reflect the free will of the citizens." According to the CRTA report, problems began during the campaign itself, which the center says was marred by the misuse of public resources and violence. The elections were watched closely because they were the first to be held in Serbia since the Novi Sad train station tragedy last November Image: Jelena Đukić Pejić/DW The center also says that there were numerous irregularities on election day itself. "These include the illegal presence of third parties at polling stations, suspicious gatherings near polling sites, vote-buying, parallel records being kept in and outside polling stations in connection with vote-buying, individuals who were not on the voter list attempting to vote, the photographing of ballots, voting without identification, and threats to and pressure on observers," CRTA's program director Rasha Nedeljkov told a press conference. Tension and unease Students, citizens and opposition politicians were also active on the ground in Zajecar, claiming that they were "defending the electoral will." They told of "Bulgarian trains" (a form of vote-buying to rig elections) and the organized transportation of voters from other areas, parallel voter lists and direct vote-buying. "In a village called Salac, about 30 kilometers from Zajecar, there were about 1,600 thugs with metal rods. At Josif Pancic Primary School, they were bused in — in large buses, minibuses — they were carrying in and out bags, people filmed it and reported it immediately," Maja Djinovic, who had come to Kosjeric from Belgrade to support the opposition, told DW. The atmosphere in both towns on election day was extremely tense and seemed to be on the verge of confrontation. Citizens reported the presence of unknown individuals they suspected of being thugs. A large police presence further heightened the tension. "I was terrified by how much police and gendarmerie there were. Why? There's no violence, no threats — we just want a better future for this town," one Zajecar resident told DW. 'A shift has taken place in society' The atmosphere surrounding the elections in Zajecar and Kosjeric clearly reflects the unequal conditions under which elections in Serbia are held, political scientist Dusan Spasojevic told DW. Spasojevic also pointed out that these two local elections reveal changes in the structure of the electorate and the strength of the opposition. The death of 16 people following the collapse of the canopy at the entrance to Novi Sad railway station was widely attributed to corruption and triggered seven months of anti-graft, anti-government protests Image: Jelena Đukić Pejić/DW "One important takeaway from these elections is the realization that there is now an articulated bloc made up of students, citizens, the opposition and civil society — which is now relatively equal to the ruling bloc and capable of competing with them in elections," said Spasojevic. "That shows that a certain shift has taken place in society, but it's not as large as some opposition supporters believe, who think Vucic's approval has collapsed after the recent crisis," he said. Can the opposition defeat the ruling SNS? After the elections, students reiterated their demand for early parliamentary elections. They believe this could be the opportunity to push the SNS into opposition. But how realistic is that now? "What we saw on election night — both sides declaring victory — is probably the same scenario we'll see after the next parliamentary elections. In other words, both sides will go into the elections hoping that their win will be significant enough that it can't be challenged. Will that happen? Probably not, but that's the political reality here, and I don't think it will change much," said Spasojevic. Will an early parliamentary election be called? After claiming victory in both elections, how likely is it that the president will call an early election? So far, the ruling party has rejected the idea, claiming there is no reason for an early poll. President Aleksandar Vucic has previously stated that elections will be held, but not for another year and a half. The ruling Serbian Progressive Party declared victory in both elections — a result the opposition contests Image: Jelena Đukić Pejić/DW "Once the preparations for EXPO are complete, I'll call early elections. And in those elections, I'm afraid they've made a big mistake. I used to think the odds were even, but not anymore. We will defeat them — convincingly," Vucic said confidently. EXPO is due to take place in Belgrade from May to August 2027, which would mean that elections could be almost two years away. Impact on other elections in Serbia Following the local elections in Kosjeric and Zajecar, SNS leader and former prime minister Milos Vucevic stated that not only are early parliamentary elections uncertain, but the party may reconsider holding upcoming local elections as well, accusing the opposition and students of creating a near-conflict atmosphere. "In this kind of atmosphere, we won't go to elections — not in Negotin, not in Mionica. What happened now should never happen again," Vucevic said. Political scientist Dusan Spasojevic, however, believes that elections are the only viable way forward. "Maybe they're not the solution to the crisis, but they're a step toward resolving it. We saw, based on the police presence yesterday and the incidents that occurred, that this crisis cannot resolve itself under the current political and social conditions," he said. Edited by: Aingeal Flanagan
