Motor racing-I know I've still got it, says 'slow' HamiltonIn German folklore, doppelgängers are considered to be a bad omen whose presence brings about misfortune. It feels all the more fitting then, that amid today's geopolitical conflicts, increasing climate catastrophes and economic uncertainties, we're seemingly hooked on celebrity lookalike contests. It began with actor Timothée Chalamet. In October, hundreds of onlookers turned up at Washington Square Park to watch more than a dozen chocolate-haired 20-somethings jostle for the title of Chalamet's unofficial doppelgänger. The event, organized by YouTuber Anthony Po, ended in a handful of arrests, a $500 fine and an appearance from the Oscar-nominated actor himself. "It was insane," Reed Putman, a Chalamet lookalike contestant, told CNN after the competition . "People were flooding (around you), recording you and taking photos or asking quick questions." After that, things moved quickly. In Ireland, mulleted men compared thighs in 5-inch Gaelic Athletic Association shorts , hoping to have their likeness to Paul Mescal verified by a jumbo cheque for €20 ($21) (a second contest took place at a pub in London, apparently making Mescal the first actor to inspire two competitions). Days later, more young men, this time dressed in pussy-bow blouses and three-strand pearls, piled into London's Soho Square looking to be crowned the best Harry Styles lookalike. Then there was the search for actor Dev Patel's doppelgänger in San Francisco and singer Zayn Malik's in New York. And not since the taping of a "Top Chef" episode has so many apron-wearing men gathered in one place for the Jeremy Allen White competition in Chicago earlier this month. There were cigarettes, farmer's market flowers and yards of fake tattoos — all in reference to paparazzi shots of White as well as his character Carmy Berzatto in "The Bear." Just this past week, Zendaya — because who else? — became what appears to be the first female celebrity to have her own viral lookalike contest in Oakland, California, while one for actor Glen Powell was held over the weekend in Austin, Texas. Thanks to social media, a new competition poster seems to go viral each week, with many awarding a small cash prize and an item associated with the celebrity or celebrity's character (White's lookalike took home a pack of Marlboro Reds, while the organizers of Zendaya's contest threw in a bottle of shampoo and conditioner of a brand that the actor reportedly uses). Like a dog whistle for a particular type of online Gen Z or Millennial, these contests spread like wildfire. But the idea of a lookalike contest is, in fact, a time-honored form of entertainment. In his memoir, Charlie Chaplin Jr. wrote that his famous father had not only entered but came third in his own lookalike competition — held at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood sometime between 1915 and 1921. (Dolly Parton said she also participated in one held of her at a gay bar in Santa Monica decades later. She lost). There were Shirley Temple contests in the 1930s — including one in Sydney, Australia in 1934 and one in 1935 at the Cleveland Food Show, where more than 900 children entered. The event was so popular that the Cleveland organizers reportedly staged three more — one for femme fatale Myrna Loy, one for singer Alice Faye, and one for actor Katharine Hepburn. For the last 40 years, a bar in Key West, Florida, has been staging an annual Ernest Hemingway lookalike competition. But British sociologist and celebrity cultural critic Ellis Cashmore believes there's a reason we're seeing a resurgence of these types of contests now. "I don't think this is a vestige of the Golden Age of Hollywood," he told CNN over the phone. "I think (the most recent ones) capture something that we believe in the 21st century... That biology isn't destiny." To Cashmore, our current society is defined by the idea that "you can potentially do anything and be anything you want to be." "What (the audience) is looking at is a transition in process," he said. "They know this isn't really Harry Styles on stage, but if someone who looks so much like him, could even be him, you're giving someone an indication of just how malleable and changeable we are as human beings. Humanity isn't fixed." There's a chance to build a real community, too, he says. "These lookalike contests provide us with an opportunity to relate and form new relationships with people we might hitherto not know and would never cross paths with and wouldn't even say hello to them in a gym, in a club, in a bar, in a supermarket or anywhere," Cashmore added. "But the fact is, they share a common interest, and that is celebrity." Andy Harmer, professional David Beckham tribute act and founder of Lookalikes, one of the UK's top celebrity impersonator agencies, believes it's more to do with the fact that "humans are interested in all kinds of symmetry." Harmer, who is writing a book on the history of his unique industry, recounts examples of lookalikes in nature: "Stick insects use (similarity) to survive. And some flowers look like bees," he told CNN in a phone interview, referring to the bee orchid which mimics the appearance of a female bee to encourage pollination. "It's a natural thing," he said. His career as Beckham's double hasn't always been smooth sailing, however. "When he (Beckham) got sent off against Argentina (during the 1998 World Cup) everybody knew him, but everybody hated him," Harmer said. "Me and Victoria used to get so much abuse, death threats and stuff," he said, referring to a friend of his who looked like Victoria Beckham. "It was crazy." According to the 2020 Channel 4 documentary, "The World's Most Identical Strangers." it's estimated that one face will have at least seven doppelgänger matches. But Dr. Manel Esteller, the chairman of genetics at the University of Barcelona's School of Medicine, points out that doppelgänger is a relative term. "The perfect ones are the real ones, the monozygotic twins (split from the same embryo) with over 90% similarity," he said over email. "From that point on you can look 85%, 80%, 75% similar to someone. The cut-off point determines the number of so-called "virtual twins" in the world." In 2022, a study in the scientific journal Cell Reports found that lookalikes with no family connection shared genetic variants. If you are genetically blessed with a striking celebrity resemblance, Harmer assures it can become a lucrative career. He has supported himself as Beckham's dead-ringer for 20 years, working with the man himself on ads and even appearing in the 2002 film "Bend it like Beckham." The star of his agency is Denise Ohnona, a Lancashire-born Kate Moss lookalike who has walked the runway for Marine Serre and Vetements at Paris Fashion Week. "She's been very popular this year," he said. "A lot of brands are realizing that lookalikes are actually great... It's quite cost-effective. You're not paying for the amount you would pay for the real one." But is there a psychological impact of having your identity so tightly bound to someone else? There doesn't have to be, Harmer says. "Treat it like fancy dress," he advises. "And don't get too wrapped up in it." And for the latest cohort of victorious lookalikes, Harmer does have one more piece of wisdom: "Contact me because I can turn your looks into money."%�F?;�S��R�AVF�����~eE������lk�#�h`���e7�v��~m�s�c��m�`�ͳ��g�4。

ambitions in the boxing world have drawn plenty of attention, but isn't buying the hype. The president, known for his candid takes, dismissed the idea of stepping into the ring with boxing legend calling it a "30-second payday" for the Mexican superstar. Speaking on podcast, White didn't hold back in his assessment of recent challenges and victories, which include wins over fellow YouTubers and retired MMA fighters. Despite 11-1 record and his ability to draw fans to his matches, believes the social media star is entirely out of his depth when it comes to elite-level boxers like . Jake Paul's bold cllouts: ambition or attention-seeking? has built his boxing career by creating buzz, often calling out big names like to keep his name trending. While the tactic has earned him notoriety, sees no realistic scenario where can compete with a fighter of caliber. " fights real guys," added. "He keeps his credibility intact and still makes millions per fight. He doesn't need , and honestly, should stick to what he's doing. There's no shame in that, but stepping up to someone like is pure delusion." While some might view confidence as part of his strategy to stay relevant, others, like , see it as a misguided attempt to push the boundaries of his stardom. Dana White's verdict: stay in your lane clarified that he doesn't dislike but sees his dream of fighting as pure fantasy. " calling out is like someone dreaming of winning a gold medal without ever training," quipped. "It's entertaining to think about, but it's not grounded in reality." For now, may want to rethink his callouts. isn't just a name to chase for clout he's a pound-for-pound legend who, in words, would make quick work of any challenger not prepared for the top level of the sport.

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KYIV, Ukraine — NATO and Ukraine will hold emergency talks Tuesday after Russia attacked a central city with an experimental, hypersonic ballistic missile. escalating the nearly 33-month-old war. The conflict is “entering a decisive phase,” Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Friday, and “taking on very dramatic dimensions.” Ukraine’s parliament canceled a session as security was tightened following Thursday’s Russian strike on a military facility in the city of Dnipro. In a stark warning to the West, President Vladimir Putin said in a nationally televised speech the attack with the intermediate-range Oreshnik missile was in retaliation for Kyiv’s use of U.S. and British longer-range missiles capable of striking deeper into Russian territory. Putin said Western air defense systems would be powerless to stop the new missile. Ukrainian military officials said the missile that hit Dnipro reached a speed of Mach 11 and carried six nonnuclear warheads, each releasing six submunitions. Speaking Friday to military and weapons industries officials, Putin said Russia will launch production of the Oreshnik. “No one in the world has such weapons,” he said. “Sooner or later, other leading countries will also get them. We are aware that they are under development. “We have this system now,” he added. “And this is important.” Putin said that while it isn’t an intercontinental missile, it’s so powerful that the use of several of them fitted with conventional warheads in one attack could be as devastating as a strike with strategic — or nuclear — weapons. Gen. Sergei Karakayev, head of Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces, said the Oreshnik could reach targets across Europe and be fitted with nuclear or conventional warheads, echoing Putin’s claim that even with conventional warheads, “the massive use of the weapon would be comparable in effect to the use of nuclear weapons.” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov kept up Russia's bellicose tone on Friday, blaming “the reckless decisions and actions of Western countries” in supplying weapons to Ukraine to strike Russia. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts "The Russian side has clearly demonstrated its capabilities, and the contours of further retaliatory actions in the event that our concerns were not taken into account have also been quite clearly outlined," he said. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, widely seen as having the warmest relations with the Kremlin in the European Union, echoed Moscow’s talking points, suggesting the use of U.S.-supplied weapons in Ukraine likely requires direct American involvement. “These are rockets that are fired and then guided to a target via an electronic system, which requires the world’s most advanced technology and satellite communications capability,” Orbán said on state radio. “There is a strong assumption ... that these missiles cannot be guided without the assistance of American personnel.” Orbán cautioned against underestimating Russia’s responses, emphasizing that the country’s recent modifications to its nuclear deployment doctrine should not be dismissed as a “bluff.” “It’s not a trick ... there will be consequences,” he said. Separately in Kyiv, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský called Thursday’s missile strike an “escalatory step and an attempt of the Russian dictator to scare the population of Ukraine and to scare the population of Europe.” At a news conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Lipavský also expressed his full support for delivering the necessary additional air defense systems to protect Ukrainian civilians from the “heinous attacks.” He said the Czech Republic will impose no limits on the use of its weapons and equipment given to Ukraine. Three lawmakers from Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, confirmed that Friday's previously scheduled session was called off due to the ongoing threat of Russian missiles targeting government buildings in central Kyiv. In addition, there also was a recommendation to limit the work of all commercial offices and nongovernmental organizations "in that perimeter, and local residents were warned of the increased threat,” said lawmaker Mykyta Poturaiev, who said it's not the first time such a threat has been received. Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate said the Oreshnik missile was fired from the Kapustin Yar 4th Missile Test Range in Russia’s Astrakhan region and flew 15 minutes before striking Dnipro. Test launches of a similar missile were conducted in October 2023 and June 2024, the directorate said. The Pentagon confirmed the missile was a new, experimental type of intermediate-range missile based on its RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile. Thursday's attack struck the Pivdenmash plant that built ICBMs when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. The military facility is located about 4 miles southwest of the center of Dnipro, a city of about 1 million that is Ukraine’s fourth-largest and a key hub for military supplies and humanitarian aid, and is home to one of the country’s largest hospitals for treating wounded soldiers from the front before their transfer to Kyiv or abroad.

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BOONE, N.C. (AP) — South Carolina offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains has been hired as head coach at Appalachian State and will receive a five-year contract, athletic director Doug Gillin announced Saturday. The 44-year-old Loggains replaces Shawn Clark, who was fired Monday after the Mountaineers finished 5-6 for their first losing season since 2013. Loggains was South Carolina's offensive coordinator for two seasons and an assistant at Arkansas, his alma mater, for two seasons before that. He spent 16 years in the NFL as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Tennessee, Cleveland, Chicago, Miami and the New York Jets. “He brings experience as a leader and play-caller at the highest levels of professional and college football," Gillin said. "He is a great recruiter and believes strongly in building relationships. He is aligned with our core values of academic integrity, competitive excellence, social responsibility and world-class experience. This is a great day for App State.” Loggains' offense at South Carolina featured LaNorris Sellers, one of the nation's top dual-threat quarterbacks, and running back Raheim “Rocket” Sanders. Sellers and Sanders led the Southeastern Conference's third-ranked rushing offense. Loggains spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons as Arkansas' tight ends coach, and he worked with Sam Darnold, Jay Cutler, Mitchell Trubisky, Brian Hoyer and Vince Young during his time in the NFL. The Mountaineers, the preseason favorites in the Sun Belt Conference's East Division, tied for fifth with a 3-5 record in league play. App State was 40-24 under Clark, but the Mountaineers have failed to reach a bowl game two of the past three seasons. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

Just like people, dogs can suffer from epilepsy. This seizure disorder is characterized by uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain resulting in abnormal movements, altered behavior and/or loss of consciousness. Seizures can have many causes, such as trauma, infection, metabolic disturbances, brain tumors and more. When no specific cause can be pinpointed, it’s known as idiopathic epilepsy. Idiopathic epilepsy is the most common medical neurologic disorder of dogs and is reported to affect 1 in every 100 dogs. Diagnosis, often made in young to middle-aged dogs, involves a full medical work-up to rule out underlying causes and treat any concurrent diseases. This may include bloodwork, imaging such as MRI or CT scans, and cerebrospinal fluid analysis. The condition requires lifelong management, creating a significant financial and emotional burden for affected dogs and their families. Treatment for idiopathic epilepsy involves avoiding or managing seizure triggers such as anxiety, stress or certain foods. If seizures are severe or occur frequently enough, anti-seizure medications are prescribed. There are numerous anti-seizure drugs approved for use in dogs. They must be taken as prescribed and should not be stopped without consulting a veterinarian, as doing so may trigger more seizure activity. Multiple medications may be needed to adequately control a dog’s seizures, and a good relationship with the veterinary team is critical for successful outcomes. Additional treatment options include nutritional supplements, dietary therapy and traditional Chinese veterinary medicine. All treatments should be given under the guidance of a licensed professional to avoid dangerous side effects and medication interactions. Despite appropriate anti-epileptic therapy, about one-third of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy will continue to have seizures. If we better understand exactly what, where and how the brain malfunctions in epileptic dogs, we might be able to discern different subtypes of epilepsy, create more accurate diagnostic tests and develop more effective treatments for this challenging disease. Thanks to funding from the AKC Canine Health Foundation (www.akcchf.org), a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the health of all dogs through scientific research, veterinary scientists are actively searching for these answers. Since its founding in 1995, the Canine Health Foundation and its donors have invested more than $3 million to study canine epilepsy, resulting in significant progress: Dietary supplements: Genetic research: CBD oil efficacy: Additional research has demonstrated CBD oil is an effective treatment for canine epilepsy, providing critical scientific evidence for the use of this popular remedy. Ongoing Canine Health Foundation-funded studies are building on these findings to provide new diagnostic and treatment options for epileptic dogs. Anyone interested in learning about these opportunities and supporting this critical canine health research can visit www.akcchf.org/epilepsy for more information. Brain imaging: Biomarkers: CBD oil dosing: Advanced technology: Cluster-seizure management: Finally, another clinical trial is examining in-home treatment protocols for cluster seizures, a dangerous condition in which seizures occur frequently. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

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We must acknowledge the bravery of survivors who told their stories to the Royal CommissionTHE Philippine Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) recognized five higher education institutions (HEIs) – three in the secondary level and two in the elementary level, as top performing schools in the September 2024 Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (LEPT) as released on Dec. 13, 2024. For the secondary level, Cebu Normal University (CNU) topped the schools with 300 or more examinees with 797 passers out of 845 takers or 94.32 percent passing rate; Philippine Normal University Manila (PNU-Manila) topped those with 100 to 299 examinees with 97.75 percent; and Bohol Wisdom College (BWC) for schools with 50 to 99 examinees or 98.31 passing percentage or 58 passers out of out 59 takers. Register to read this story and more for free . Signing up for an account helps us improve your browsing experience. OR See our subscription options.None

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