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Larry (born c. January 2007) is a British domestic tabby cat who has been Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office at 10 Downing Street since 2011. He is cared for by Downing Street staff, and is not the personal property of the prime minister of the United Kingdom. Larry has lived at 10 Downing Street during the premierships of six prime ministers: David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak, and Keir Starmer. Larry was born as a stray cataround January 2007 and later came into the possession of the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. In 2011, he was adopted by Downing Street staff, initially intended to be a pet for Cameron’s children. He was described by Downing Street sources as a "good ratter" and as having "a high chase-drive and hunting instinct In 2012, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home said that Larry's publicity had resulted in a 15% increase in cat adoptions. Soon after he was taken in at Downing Street, a story circulated in the press purporting ...

  THE PARTS OF SPEECH POEM Every name is called a noun, As field and fountain, street and town. In place of noun the pronoun stands, As he and she can clap their hands. The adjective describes a thing, As magic wand or bridal ring. The verb means action, something done, As read and write and jump and run. How things are done the adverbs tell, As quickly, slowly, badly, well. The preposition shows relation, As in the street or at the station. Conjunctions join, in many ways, Sentences, words, or phrase and phrase. The interjection cries out, "Hark! I need an exclamation mark!"

 As Chinese supreme leader Xi Jinping deals with “complicated challenges” presented by his top military brass, he is likely leaning more on a longtime aide, his wife, Peng Liyuan. Two developments point to this. The first involves the expulsion of two former defense ministers from the Chinese Communist Party and the appointment of a new defense chief. The dismissals of Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu had long been anticipated; both disappeared from the public eye last year. When Xi assumed his roles as China’s president and the party’s general secretary 12 years ago, Wei became a member of the Central Military Commission (CMC), the top organ supervising the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Wei served two five-year terms, while Li, who succeeded Wei as defense minister in 2023, was also a CMC member. Wei’s and Li’s expulsions are part of a series of purges by Xi targeting the military. However, unlike previous purges, these men were personally chosen by Xi, reflecting his ongoing struggle ...

  Uniqlo to apply European 'select few' strategy worldwide Fast Retailing differentiates itself from fast-fashion sellers like H&M, Zara TOKYO -- Uniqlo is shifting its focus to larger stores around the world, as the affordable fashion retailer hopes to build on its success by opening flagship stores in Europe. The Japanese brand's owner, Fast Retailing, is expanding its European business. In April, it opened new flagship stores in Rome and Edinburgh in the U.K. It also added locations in London, Milan in Italy, and Nice in France this spring, bringing the total number of stores in Europe to 76 out of 2,469 worldwide. Uniqlo's business in Europe differs from that of its more established operations in Japan and China. In Europe, flagship stores in big cities account for half of store sales. With many well-known labels competing on the continent, Fast Retailing decided that having more flagship stores was the best way to communicate the brand concept by showcasing the...

  Embracing Ikigai for a Fulfilling Life Introduction Ikigai is a Japanese term that blends two words: “iki” meaning “to live,” and “gai” meaning “reason,” which translates to “a reason to live.” This concept encourages people to discover what truly matters to them and to live a life filled with purpose and joy. Originating in the Heian period, ikigai is particularly famous as a cultural practice in the Okinawa Islands of Japan. Today, it is becoming popular among both the elderly and the younger generation in Japan and worldwide. The Concept of Ikigai Ikigai can be found at the intersection of what you love (your passion), what you are good at (your vocation), what the world needs (your mission), and what you can be paid for (your profession). These overlapping circles lead to your passion, profession, mission, and vocation. To explore your ikigai, you can sketch the Ikigai diagram and label each circle, spending 5-10 minutes reflecting on and writing down the strongest ideas for ...

  1  Pushing a walker through a television studio in central Tokyo earlier this week,  Tetsuko   Kuroyanagi  slowly climbed three steps onto a sound stage with the help of an assistant who settled her into a creamy beige Empire armchair. 2  A stylist removed the custom-made sturdy boots on her feet and slipped on a pair of high-heeled mules. A makeup artist brushed her cheeks and touched up her blazing red lipstick. A hairdresser tamed a few stray wisps from her trademark onion-shaped hairstyle as another assistant ran a lint roller over her embroidered black jacket. With that, Ms.  Kuroyanagi , 90, was ready to record the 12,193rd episode of her show. 3  As one of Japan’s best-known entertainers for seven decades, Ms.  Kuroyanagi  has interviewed guests on her talk show, “ Tetsuko’s  Room,” since 1976, earning a Guinness World Record last fall for  most episodes hosted by the same presenter.  Generations of Japanese celeb...

  The Plastic Tide: Southeast Asia’s Burden and the Global Waste Trade Earth Day, celebrated annually on April 22nd, serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges facing our planet, particularly in regards to environmental protection. Amidst the picturesque coastlines of Labuan, western Java, lies a troubling narrative of environmental degradation that echoes across Southeast Asia. Otin, now a 42-year-old resident and housewife, reminisces about a childhood spent on pristine beaches, where the sand glistened under the sun. However, today, she stands amidst a landscape marred by the relentless invasion of plastic waste. The once paradisical shores have vanished beneath heaps of colorful plastic debris, washed ashore daily by the tides. Plastic items ranging from shopping bags to food wrappers now dominate the coastline, with the majority too weather-beaten to trace back to their origins. Otin points towards a nearby market, speculating it as a source of the garbage influx, but the...

Regarded as one of the best baseball players of our generation, Shohei Ohtani’s net worth is about to increase so much with his new contract. Ohtani is currently the pitcher, outfielder, and designated hitter for the MLB’s Los Angeles Angels. However, whoever will have him next on their team is about to spend a lot of money.  Born in  Ōshū, Iwate, Japan, Ohtani rose to fame after becoming the pitcher and outfielder for Japan’s Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. He signed with the Los Angeles Angels in 2017 and earned the 2018 American League Rookie of the Year Award. He suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament that led him to have Tommy John surgery the same year. Nevertheless, he still persisted and was awarded the American League Most Valuable Player Award in 2021 and 2023. Ohtani announced that he would be a free agent once the 2023 MLB season is over. His season abruptly came to an end when he suffered from an ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) tear in his right elbow. Ohtani was...

  Prosecutors Say Ohtani’s Interpreter Stole $16 Million From Star The interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, was charged with bank fraud, after prosecutors said he stole money to pay his gambling debts. April 11, 2024. Prosecutors said that the money taken by Ippei Mizuhara, left, came directly from an account where Shohei Ohtani’s baseball salary was paid. Richard Vogel/Associated Press Federal prosecutors said on Thursday that Shohei Ohtani had been the victim of a “fraud on a massive scale,” releasing a detailed complaint that claimed Ippei Mizuhara, the baseball star’s former interpreter, exploited his access and the fact that Ohtani did not speak English to steal $16 million from him to feed his gambling addiction. The account provided by the authorities largely confirms what Ohtani told the public in late March, shortly after reports first surfaced that $4.5 million had been transferred from Ohtani’s account to Mizuhara. At that time, Ohtani explained how he believed Mizuhara had stol...