All 5 members of the Spice Ladies have reunited, simply maybe not as you’d anticipate.

On Saturday evening, Victoria Beckham, Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, Geri Horner and Melanie Chisholm, higher often known as Posh, Scary, Child, Ginger and Sporty Spice, got here collectively to have a good time Victoria’s fiftieth birthday in London.

The bandmates partied prefer it was 1997, performing their traditional tune, Cease.

David Beckham shared the second on Instagram, and was seen singing alongside.

“I imply come on,” Victoria’s husband, and former England captain, 48, wrote in his caption.

Victoria responded within the feedback, writing: “Greatest evening ever! Blissful Birthday to me! I really like you all a lot! #SpiceUpYourLife.”

The hashtag pertains to a tune of the identical identify, launched by the Spice Ladies throughout their Nineties heyday.

The celebration, which was reported to have taken place at Oswald’s non-public members membership in Mayfair, noticed superstar appearances from the likes of Tom Cruise, Salma Hayek, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Gordon Ramsay.

Forward of the celebration, Victoria shared a sequence of pictures on Instagram of her household, together with her husband and the couple’s 4 youngsters – Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz and Harper.

“Cannot wait to have a good time with my household and pals! I really like you all a lot,”the style designer wrote.

Beckham and his three sons had been all wearing tuxedos. Victoria opted for a lightweight inexperienced ball robe, whereas Harper wore a cream floor-length costume.

Victoria has not too long ago been pictured on crutches, though she wasn’t utilizing them within the photos she shared on social media.

The bandmates didn’t seem like utilizing microphones through the birthday efficiency, however had been seen singing alongside as they carried out the Cease dance routine collectively.

Samuel Zernig, a Spice Ladies “superfan” and comic, instructed BBC Information he “hasn’t stopped smiling” after seeing the video, including: “Christmas got here early.”

He continued: “It’s actually fantastic to see that it has been 30 years since they shaped, and simply this tiny, tiny video generated international headlines.”

Followers on social media had been overjoyed to see the 5 Spice Ladies again collectively for the primary time in years, with many commenting on Beckham’s put up.

“David, you’re the greatest social media supervisor on the market, thanks for giving the individuals content material,” wrote one.

“The second all the planet has been ready for,” wrote one other.

“How my daughter feels about Taylor Swift is how I really feel about these ladies,” a 3rd individual mentioned.

Different followers pleaded with the band to go on tour once more, with one asking: “Can we’ve got a phrase about transporting this to Glastonbury please?”

Bookmaker Coral has now slashed the percentages on an official Spice Ladies reunion in 2024 – and a Glastonbury efficiency and new album in 2025 – following the birthday bash efficiency.

The Spice Ladies got here collectively in 1994, after they responded to an advert for candidates to kind an all-girl group.

After the discharge of their chart-topping debut single Wannabe in 1996, “Spice mania” swept the planet, with their self-styled “Lady Energy” mantra – a model of feminine empowerment that made them a worldwide popular culture phenomenon.

In complete, they scored 9 UK primary hits, which additionally included Say You will Be There, 2 Turn out to be 1, Who Do You Suppose You Are, Spice Up Your Life and Viva Without end.

Geri Halliwell left the Spice Ladies in 1998 and the group lastly cut up up in 2001. However they reunited for excursions in 2007 and a efficiency on the London Olympics closing ceremony in 2012. A European tour passed off in 2019, however with out Victoria.

As we speak within the 55^th Earth Day – an annual commemoration that was, amazingly sufficient, conceived and launched in 1970 by an unlikely bipartisan pair of American politicians — Democratic U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin and Republican U.S. Consultant Pete McCloskey of California.

The “historical past” part of the Earth Day web site offers a strong reminder of each how completely different that period was in some ways from our personal – the anti-Vietnam Conflict motion, as an example, was integral to the launch of the occasion — but additionally in different methods, (as an period that was then suffering from “oil spills, polluting factories and energy vegetation, uncooked sewage, poisonous dumps, pesticides, freeways, the lack of wilderness and the extinction of wildlife” and wherein younger individuals had been deeply involved about their future wellbeing), how a lot our two occasions have in widespread.

That is from the web site:

The web site relates that below the management of Hayes and the employees he put collectively, the motion took off and by its launch on April 22, 1970, “20 million Individuals — on the time, 10% of the full inhabitants of america — [took to] the streets, parks and auditoriums to exhibit towards the impacts of 150 years of business growth which had left a rising legacy of great human well being impacts.”

What’s extra, the occasion instantly helped spark a flurry of progressive nationwide coverage change in Washington – a time wherein Republican Richard Nixon served within the White Home:

“By the top of 1970, the primary Earth Day led to the creation of america Environmental Safety Company and the passage of different first-of-their-kind environmental legal guidelines, together with the Nationwide Environmental Schooling Act, the Occupational Security and Well being Act, and the Clear Air Act. Two years later congress handed the Clear Water Act.”

As individuals all over the world commemorate Earth Day 2024, environmental degradation is, tragically, a vastly extra critical risk than it was in 1970. Whether or not it’s the local weather emergency and more and more extreme climate patterns it’s spurring, sea-level rise and desertification, international species extinction, water and air air pollution, the unfold of poisonous “endlessly chemical substances” like PFAS, the current technology has its work minimize out for it.

One particularly pressing concern to which the Earth Day web site devotes particular consideration in 2024 is the plague of plastics and the worldwide “60X40 motion” that seeks to cut back international plastic manufacturing 60% by the 12 months 2040.

Listed here are a number of the key details recognized:

9.1 billion – quantity in tons of plastic produced since plastic was first launched in 1950

79 – share of all plastic ever produced that also sits in landfills or the pure surroundings

50 billion – variety of plastic water bottles (about 156 bottles per individual) bought by Individuals every year

5 trillion – estimated variety of plastic luggage used globally yearly

25 billion – variety of Styrofoam espresso cups thrown away by American every year

14 million – quantity of plastic in tons that finally ends up on this planet’s oceans every year, a lot of it within the type of harmful microplastics that

75 to 199 million – estimated quantity of plastic in tons at the moment on this planet’s oceans

2050 – the 12 months at which it’s estimated the mixed weight of all plastic on this planet’s oceans will exceed the mixed weight of all fish within the oceans

Greater than 70,000 – common variety of microplastic particles that every American ingests of their ingesting water provide every year

As a lot as 23 occasions better – the quantity of terrestrial microplastic air pollution in comparison with marine plastic air pollution — air pollution that contaminates the soil and waterways and enters the meals chain when animals by chance ingest it

99.9% – estimated effectivity of biologically-active sluggish sand filters, that are utilized in some water therapy vegetation for decontamination functions, in eradicating microplastics from ingesting water

80% – quantity annual flows of plastic into the oceans may very well be diminished by 2040 by way of the applying of current approaches to cut back our consumption of single-use plastics and the adoption of eco-friendly options

For extra info on Earth Day and the above statistics, go to https://www.earthday.org/.

11 factors is an nearly insurmountable hole to breach for Barcelona, one thing Ancelotti may be very conscious of.

“It is a huge step in the direction of profitable the league,” he mentioned. “We have now a giant benefit now, however we have to win extra factors. And we’ve got to organize for the Champions League as nicely.”

He was then requested about Vinicius Jr’s sad response to being substituted within the second half.

“Vinicius did not like being changed as a result of he needed to proceed, however he has proven a giant effort,” continued Ancelotti. “We have now requested him to defend, to work for the group and so they (the forwards) are those that cowl extra floor.

“They’ve velocity, they run arduous, they all the time wish to assault so that they use a variety of power. I perceive that he needed to maintain enjoying, however we would have liked contemporary legs.”

CNN
 — 

Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on Sunday mentioned Home Speaker Mike Johnson “betrayed” Republican voters after the Home accredited new help to Ukraine, threatening to name a vote for his ouster if he doesn’t resign.

“Mike Johnson’s speakership is over. He must do the proper factor to resign and permit us to maneuver ahead in a managed course of. If he doesn’t achieve this, he will probably be vacated,” Greene mentioned on Fox Information’ “Sunday Morning Futures.”

After months of resisting placing a international help invoice on the Home flooring, Johnson joined with Democrats on Saturday to advance a $95 billion international help package deal, which comprises $61 billion for Ukraine and regional companions. The laws – which handed with the assist of 210 Democrats and 101 Republicans – now heads to the Senate, which is predicted to provide ultimate approval this week.

Ought to Greene and her supporters make good on their menace to drive a vote on ousting him as speaker, Johnson will nearly actually have to depend on Democrats to bail him out.

The Georgia hardliner is one among at the very least three Republicans who’ve mentioned they may assist a transfer to oust Johnson — whose majority is so slim he can’t afford to lose any Republicans on a party-line vote.

Johnson maintains that he has not requested any Democrats for his or her assist, however senior Republicans imagine they may be capable of rely on assist throughout the aisle to swiftly kill any movement to vacate the speaker’s chair – a sense which will have bolstered Johnson’s confidence in urgent forward along with his plans.

It’s nonetheless unclear whether or not Democrats will throw him a lifeline. However they’ve expressed a willingness to save lots of Johnson, particularly after he defied his proper flank to maneuver forward with a international help package deal that intently resembles a Senate-passed model.

Rep. Ro Khanna mentioned Sunday that he would vote in opposition to a movement to take away Johnson from the speakership. “I’m a progressive Democrat and I believe you’d have just a few progressive Democrats doing that,” Khanna mentioned on ABC’s “This Week.”

“I disagree with Speaker Johnson on many points and I’ve been very important of him, however he did the proper factor right here and he deserves to maintain his job until the tip of this time period,” mentioned the California Democrat, who added that “not all the things in politics must be transactional.”

Requested why she held off on the movement to vacate on Saturday, Greene claimed Sunday that she’s “been accountable with this your complete time” however steered that the transfer will occur.

“All of this was attainable due to the betrayals of Mike Johnson,” Greene mentioned.

Johnson, for his half, dismissed the prospect of an ouster effort Saturday evening. “I don’t stroll round this constructing worrying a couple of movement to vacate,” he mentioned after the international help package deal handed.

“I’ve to do my job. … I’ve finished right here what I imagine to be the proper factor to permit the Home to work its will. And as I’ve mentioned, you do the proper factor, and also you let the chips fall the place they might.”

CNN’s Annie Grayer, Melanie Zanona, Manu Raju and Rashard Rose contributed to this report.

Injury to Timberline Lodge was described as “considerably minimal” after a three-alarm fireplace on the historic website on Mount Hood late Thursday night time.

The ski space was closed Friday and the resort is closed till additional discover.

The fireplace was first reported at 9:30 p.m. within the headhouse attic and its exterior roof space, the lodge stated in a Fb publish. Visitors have been evacuated and fireplace crews have been capable of put out the blaze by 11 p.m. No accidents have been reported.

“There may be an ongoing investigation as to the trigger, however it’s suspected hearth embers ignited the roof,” the lodge stated in a press release. “At first look, the harm is considerably minimal with water contained in headhouse and foyer areas and no inside fireplace or smoke harm. Energy has been restored and company have been moved offsite.”

Resort officers credited Timberline staff, Hoodland Fireplace, Clackamas County and Gresham first responders with maintaining harm minimal.

“The method, communication and containment saved the Historic Timberline Lodge from what may have been a a lot worse final result,” the lodge stated.

Zach Urness has been an outside reporter in Oregon for 15 years and is host of the Discover Oregon Podcast. Urness is the creator of “Finest Hikes with Children: Oregon” and “Mountaineering Southern Oregon.” He will be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Discover him on Twitter at @ZachsORoutdoors.

Republican infighting over the US Home lastly approving $61bn in navy assist for Ukraine continued to roil the get together on Sunday because the far-right consultant Marjorie Taylor Greene renewed assaults on the Republican speaker, Mike Johnson.

Johnson had betrayed his get together and was working for the Democrats, and his speakership was “over”, the Georgia consultant mentioned, though it was not clear if and when Greene would file a movement to attempt to take away him, which she has threatened to do in current weeks.

The contemporary criticism from Greene got here after Johnson ended months of stalling on the help bundle for Ukraine’s determined defence towards Russia – in addition to billions for allies together with Israel and Taiwan – and at last pressured a vote on it within the Home of Representatives on Saturday, defying the far proper of his get together.

In a bipartisan vote, 210 Democrats and 101 Republicans joined to assist Ukraine, with 112 Republicans – a majority of the GOP members – voting towards.

“He’s completely working for the Democrats. He’s passing the Biden administration’s agenda,” Greene mentioned of Johnson on Fox Information’ Sunday Morning Futures With Maria Bartiromo. “Mike Johnson’s speakership is over. He must do the suitable factor to resign and permit us to maneuver ahead in a managed course of.

“If he doesn’t achieve this, he will probably be vacated.”

Johnson escalated the latest turmoil amongst his GOP colleagues final week after agreeing to the ground vote on the $95bn overseas assist bundle. The bundle, greenlit by the Senate in February, consists of $61bn for Ukraine, $14bn for Israel, and lesser sums for Taiwan and different allies within the Pacific.

The Senate is anticipated to start out weighing this Home invoice on Tuesday and it’s anticipated to cross this coming week, which might allow Joe Biden to signal it into legislation.

The speaker’s determination heightened the break up in his get together, with the suitable insisting any assist for overseas assist needed to embody concessions to their home priorities, together with border safety. The identical ultra-conservatives had orchestrated Johnson’s ascent to speaker in October by ousting his predecessor, the Republican Kevin McCarthy.

This group of Republicans have more and more expressed public antipathy towards serving to Ukraine, in step with their political chief, Donald Trump, who has lengthy proven admiration towards the Russian president, Vladimir Putin.

Johnson on Saturday stood by his determination, saying that the supply of navy assist was “critically essential”, in addition to “the suitable factor”, even within the face of political dangers from his get together’s far proper.

“I actually imagine the intel and the briefings that we’ve gotten,” Johnson acknowledged. “I imagine that Xi and Vladimir Putin and Iran actually are an axis of evil. I believe they’re in coordination on this. I believe that Vladimir Putin would proceed to march by means of Europe.

“I’m going to permit a chance for each single member of the Home to vote their conscience and their will,” Johnson additionally mentioned. “I’m prepared to take a private threat for that, as a result of we now have to do the suitable factor. And historical past will choose us.”

As a way to even get the ground vote, Johnson needed to work with Democrats, whom he earlier wanted to advance different laws, akin to a big authorities funding invoice.

The fissure within the get together widened in March, when Greene revealed a movement to oust Johnson from the position of speaker. She has not but tried to pressure a vote on that situation, however the Home Republicans Thomas Massie, of Kentucky, and Paul Gosar, of Arizona, are actually co-sponsors.

Greene has not filed that movement, nonetheless, and any subsequent steps appear imprecise. Instantly after the Home vote on Saturday, Greene mentioned that she wouldn’t take any formal steps as well Johnson from speaker however, like her colleagues, needed to listen to from constituents first, the Washington Publish reported. “I’m trying ahead to them listening to from the oldsters again at house,” Greene mentioned, “however it is a sellout of America immediately.”

On Sunday, Fox Information’s Bartiromo pushed Greene on the seeming vagaries, saying on the talkshow: “Nicely, with respect, you didn’t give me a plan for the speaker’s position and once more, does this imply you will file that movement sooner or later?”

“It’s coming, no matter what Mike Johnson decides to do,” Greene mentioned. “We’ve three extra Republicans becoming a member of us for a particular election arising very quickly, so individuals must know this could occur.”

Not all Republicans are fearful about Johnson’s future as Home speaker, nonetheless.

“He’ll survive,” Tony Gonzales, a Texas Republican consultant, mentioned on Sunday on CNN’s State of the Union. “Look, the Home is a tough and rowdy place, however Mike Johnson goes to be simply fantastic.”

For Gonzales, Johnson’s ushering of this assist bundle was optimistic for Congress total.

“I believe Mike Johnson goes to keep away from the cannibals in his personal get together right here. He stood as much as them this weekend and the adults, we took management of the US Congress,” he mentioned. “I believe individuals obtained sick and drained – he’s one in every of them – of Marjorie Taylor Greene being accountable for their life they usually simply lastly mentioned ‘no’.”

The GOP division on Ukraine can also be enjoying out within the Senate, with the pro-aid Republican senator Linsdey Graham slamming the Ohio senator JD Vance’s seeming perception that the nation can not win.

In a New York Occasions op-ed final week, Vance wrote: “Ukraine’s problem will not be the GOP; it’s math. Ukraine wants extra troopers than it could actually subject. And it wants extra materiel than the USA can present.”

“That’s rubbish,” Graham mentioned on Fox Information Sunday, in response to Vance’s declare about manpower, per the Hill.

“Go … I simply obtained again, I used to be there two weeks in the past. They modified their conscription legal guidelines. They’ve all of the manpower they want. They want the weapons,” Graham mentioned. “It’s one factor to speak about Ukraine over right here; it’s one other factor to go.”

A hearth on the historic Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood, Oregon, Thursday night time seems to have brought on comparatively minor injury.

The U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives are investigating the trigger.

“Its suspected that embers from the hearth, the primary fire within the headhouse, ignited the roof,” mentioned John Burton, director of promoting and public relations for Timberline Lodge. “The fireplace didn’t penetrate to the inside of the resort.”

Talking on OPB’s “Assume Out Loud,” Burton mentioned firefighters doused the roof and chimney of the lodge for hours with water, leaving a moist mess for clean-up crews on Friday. The fireplace closed the ski resort, however Burton mentioned the plan was to reopen the ski space and day lodge on Saturday and the historic resort on Sunday, following structural inspections.

The lodge, devoted in 1937, is stuffed with artwork from that period. Burton mentioned a number of the paintings and furnishings was eliminated Thursday night.

“I don’t have an evaluation on these items but, however there might be some restoration required for certain,” he mentioned.

Clackamas Fireplace District officers mentioned lodge workers reported a hearth within the attic round 9:30 p.m.

Everybody contained in the constructing was capable of get out by the point hearth crews arrived. No accidents had been reported. The fireplace was extinguished by 2 a.m. Friday.

Crews from Clackamas, Gresham, Hoodland, Estacada and Portland all responded, with some 18 water, engine and ladder vehicles.

“Within the large image, it’s sort of benign, for lack of a greater description,” Burton mentioned. “We’re fairly fortunate.”