Catherine Elizabeth Middleton

Name and Titles.

Birth Name: Catherine Elizabeth Middleton 

Preferred First Name: Catherine 

Current Official Title: Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales 

Surname for official/legal documents if needed: Mountbatten Windsor.

Catherine, Princess of Wales, born Catherine Middleton (Jan 9, 1982), is a beloved member of the British Royal Family, known for her focus on early childhood development, warm repeatability, and style, rising from a middle class background to marry Prince William in 2011, becoming Princess of Wales in 2022, and recently making a resilient public comeback after a cancer diagnosis in early 2024, following abdominal surgery.

Kate Middleton’s office shared a meaningful message about love and harmony just hours after Meghan Marple posted a light heated update of her own. The Prince and Princess of Wales’ official Instagram account released a short clip accompanied by a reflective message, stating Love at this time of year means you take a profound interest in other people. Highlighting the festive spirit, the future queen drew attention to communities across the UK that have come together for Together at Christmas carol services. The local events, supported by The Royal Foundation, celebrate love in all its forms while recognizing the power of unity and compassion. A statement accompanying the post said Each year, these services spread the Together at Christmas spirit across the UK, honoring local champions and celebrating the bonds, kindness, and love that bring communities together.

Bondi Beach Hero Hailed in Syrian Hometown After Mass Shooting

Ahmed al Ahmed, who risked his life by wresting a gun from an attacker during a deadly mass shooting in Australia, has become a source of pride in his hometown in Syria. His act is a source of pride for us and for Syria, said his uncle Mohammed, a 60 year old farmer, speaking from the town of Al Nayrab. Ahmed, a fruit seller and father of two, emigrated to Australia from Syria in 2007, Mohammed said. On Sunday, the 44 year old intervened during an attack on a gathering marking the start of Hanukkah, confronting the gunman and attempting to stop the violence. Fifteen people were killed in the attack. Ahmed was shot several times in the shoulder during the struggle but survived, later being hailed as a hero for his actions.

I suspected that it was my nephew, so I called his father, and he confirmed to me that Ahmed was the one who took the weapon, Mohammed said. Footage of the attack showed Ahmed ducking between parked cars as gunfire erupted before confronting one of the assailants and wrestling the gun from his hands. This incident caused a global sensation, Mohammed said. He is from Syria, and he is a Muslim, and he had no motivation for doing this other than heroism and bravery. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told national broadcaster ABC that the attack appeared to be motivated by Islamic State ideology. During a visit to Ahmed in hospital, Albanese praised his actions, saying his bravery is an inspiration for all Australians. An online fundraiser has since raised more than A 1.9 million (1.2 million) to help cover Ahmed’s medical expenses.

Brave

                 According to Mohammed, Ahmed left Al Nayrab for Australia in 2007, initially working in construction before opening a fruit and vegetable shop in Sydney. His parents travelled to Australia more than two months ago and were still there at the time of the attack. Back in Al Nayrab, a town that endured heavy bombardment during Syria’s war, Ahmed’s grandmother prayed for him in her modest home. May God be pleased with him and grant him success, she said. Al Nayrab lies in Idlib province, much of which fell out of the control of ruler Bashar al Assad early in the conflict. As residents now rebuild their homes following Assad’s ouster in 2024, Ahmed’s name was on everyone’s lips. His own home, however, stands abandoned, with no doors or windows and a roof still scarred by bombing.

 

Christmas tree made from fishing creels in Scotland

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Each winter, volunteers spend two days stacking the creels around a central wooden frame, creating a tapering tower that resembles a traditional Christmas tree. Once in place, the structure is wrapped in strings of multi coloured lights and topped with a glowing crab shaped decoration a playful nod to the village’s fishing heritage. The annual switch on has become a cherished community event. Locals gather on the harbourfront as the Stornoway ferry sounds its horn, signalling the moment the tree bursts into colour against the dark Highland sky. For many in Ullapool, the creel tree is more than a festive ornament it is a symbol of community spirit, maritime tradition and the creativity of a village proud of its roots.

What is it and where 

• The tree is located in the small coastal village Ullapool, in the Scottish Highlands. 
• Instead of a typical spruce or fir, the tree is built from around 340 fishing creels traditional loaf shaped pots used for catching shellfish like crabs and langoustines.

How the tradition began & how it’s built 

• The idea came about about ten years ago when locals were looking for ways to brighten up the dark nights of winter. The suggestion was to celebrate the village’s fishing heritage by using fishing creels instead of a conventional tree.
• Initially they borrowed old creels but later, with lottery funding, volunteers were able to purchase their own set of creels for the tree.
• Building the tree takes about two full days, with volunteers doing the stacking and harbor staff providing heavy lifting equipment. The creels are arranged around a central timber frame, anchored on a disc shaped base, with weights to keep the structure stable especially important given the windy coastal conditions. 
• Once constructed, they drape the entire assembly in festive, multi colored lights. On top sits a star but instead of a star, it’s a lit outline of a crab, a nod to the village’s shell fishing heritage.

It takes two full days to build with help from volunteers and the harbor provides us with lots of the equipment, said Gordon. The tree is constructed on a disc shaped base, with a timber frame running up through the center and heavy weights to keep everything secure vital in the often blustery Highland weather. We had a storm last week which caused a wee bit of damage, Gordon added. Once the frame is in place, the creels are stacked carefully around it before the entire structure is wrapped in multi colored Christmas lights. The final flourish is the star a glowing outline of a crab picked out in white lights, paying tribute to the village’s shell fishing traditions.

 

Diamond facials Dior and lipstick pendants

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Summary of the Passage Luxury brands are increasingly merging jewelry and beauty into single hybrid creations. Dior’s standout example At Chateau DE La Cole No ire, a Dior model wore a spectacular pendant designed by Victorville DE Castellated. Though it looked like a gem studded jewel, it opened with a click to reveal a hidden lipstick compartment a collaboration with Dior’s makeup creative director Peter Philips. Dior framed it as embodying the “obvious connections between jewelry and beauty.” Other brands experimenting: American jeweler Suzanne Kazan partnered with skincare brand Nature Bissau to create a luxury facial treatment using her rose cut diamonds, placed on facial Chandra points to promote relaxation. Priced at 600 to 796, it debuted exclusively at The Dorchester in London, with plans to expand. Overall, the passage highlights a rising luxury trend beauty products elevated through haste jewelry craftsmanship, creating novel, ultra premium experiences and objects.

Inside Uzbekistan’s New Multi Million Dollar Cultural Center

Inside Uzbekistan’s New Center of Islamic Civilization 

After eight years of planning and construction, the Center of Islamic Civilization (CISC) in Tashkent is finally preparing to open its doors in early 2026. Conceived as both a museum and a research institution, the center is designed to celebrate, preserve, and revive Uzbekistan’s deep legacy of Islamic scholarship a legacy shaped by figures like Ibn Sina, Al Biruni, Al Khwarizmi, and countless artisans, astronomers, mathematicians, and historians who emerged from the region.

The Grand Entrance Hall 

A vast marble atrium welcomes visitors beneath a 65 meter dome, decorated with geometric tile patterns inspired by Samarkand and Bukhara. Four monumental portals echo traditional madrasa façades, creating a symbolic gateway into centuries of learning.

Four times taller than the Hollywood sign and around seven times larger than the White House, Uzbekistan’s newest cultural center is a monument of epic proportions. Part museum, part academic research facility, the three-story, $150 million Center for Islamic Civilization (CISC) in Tashkent will be open to the public in March 2026, and is intended to celebrate and revive Uzbekistan’s historical role as a center of Islamic scholarship. “This region has been home to many ancestors who influenced world civilization,” said Firdavs Abdukhalikov, director of CISC.

 “The big question was how to present their influence to the world, to younger generations, in an engaging and modern way.”

The Manuscript Treasury One of the center’s crown jewels is its climate controlled manuscript vault 7th 13th century Qurans, including pages traditionally attributed to the era of Uthman Illuminated manuscripts from the Timurid courts Rare works in astronomy, medicine, mathematics, and philosophy Recovered artifacts returned from international auctions and private collections Interactive displays allow visitors to zoom in on calligraphy, pigments, and notes made by scholars

Restoration Laboratories 

CISC houses Uzbekistan’s most advanced restoration labs, where experts treat. 

• Ancient paper and bindings 
• Textiles and prayer rugs 
• Metalwork and ceramics 
• Archival documents

What’s inside: Museums, Libraries & High-Tech Exhibits 

• The building features four grand portals rising 34 m high and a central dome reaching 65 m a striking blend of traditional Islamic architecture with modern museum design.
• There's an interactive educational zone using virtual reality, augmented reality, and AI, where visitors including children can “talk to” living portrait renditions of historic scholars and thinkers. 
• On the second floor sits a library/research wing housing over 200,000 books, providing scholars (local and international) a space to study Islam, history, science, theology, and cultural heritage. 
• Among exhibits ancient Qurans (including a 7th century manuscript often described as the “Quran of Uthman”), rare handwritten manuscripts produced over centuries by rulers and calligraphers, and artifacts highlighting contributions to astronomy, medicine, literature, and art.

Reviving the past 

While Uzbekistan is a secular nation, Islam is a key part of its history and cultural identity. Arab conquests brought Islam to Central Asia in the 7th century, replacing earlier Zoroastrian and Buddhist traditions, and between the 9th and 12th centuries, the region experienced a golden age of science, literature, and architecture. Medieval Uzbekistan, and the wider Central Asian region, was “a globalized world before globalization,” said historian Farhan Ahmad Nizami, founding director of the Oxford Center for Islamic Studies at the University of Oxford, who’s not connected to the CISC. Uzbek cities like Bukhara and Samarkand were important stops on the Silk Road, a cross continental trade route that stretched from Venice to Xi’an for 1,500 years (130 BCE to 1453 CE), and became a confluence of culture and ideas from both the East and West.

Tremendous potential

While Nizami said the center has “tremendous potential,” he cautioned that “the building is a platform what happens on the platform is entirely different,” stressing that its success depends on long term research, education and cultural engagement.There are criticisms of the center, relating to its cost, the sources of its funding, and the limited religious freedom in the country.