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Spanish figure skater gets last-minute approval for Minions-themed Olympic program

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Spanish figure skater gets last-minute approval for Minions-themed Olympic program


Those mischievous Minions will have their Olympic moment after all.

Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate obtained the final approval he needed for his music on Friday, allowing the Spanish figure skater to perform his short program — set to a medley from the animated comedy of the same name from Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment — when the men’s competition begins at the Milan Cortina Games on Tuesday night.

Sabate had been performing the fan-favorite program all season, thinking he had the proper approval through a system called ClicknClear to use four cuts of music Minions. Last week, Universal Studios asked for him to provide more details on the music Sabate was using and the Minions-inspired outfit that he had been wearing.

He was able to quickly get approval for two cuts of music, and Sabate obtained a third by reaching out directly to the artist, a fellow Spaniard. The holdup was the song “Freedom” by the American musician and producer Pharrell Williams.

That approval finally came Friday, about two hours before the Olympic figure skating program opened with the team event.

Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate competes in the Men’s Short Program during the ISU European Figure Skating Championships 2026 on Jan. 15, 2026.

Yuan Tian/NurPhoto via Getty Images


“I’m so happy to announce that we’ve done it! We’ve secured the licenses for all four songs, and I’ll be able to skate the Minions at the Olympic Games,” Sabate wrote on social media. “It hasn’t been an easy process, but the support of everyone who has followed my case has been key to keeping me motivated and optimistic these past few days.”

At one point, Sabate’s situation had grown so dire that he began practicing his Bee Gee-inspired short program from last year. But as news of his plight came out, and he began to get approval for some of the music, his hopes of performing Minions began to grow.

He even practiced the program, which opens with peals of laughter from the characters, during an early session Thursday. By the next morning, the Royal Spanish Ice Sports Federation announced that the copyright issue had been resolved.

“I want to thank ClickClear and the RFEDH, as well as Universal Pictures, Pharrell Williams, Sony Music and Juan Alcaraz for managing the rights in such a short time so I can perform my program in Milan,” Sabate said.

The copyright issue has become a big problem in figure skating, where for years skaters could only use music without words, usually considered part of the public domain. But when the rules changed in 2014, and more modern music began to be used in competition, some artists began to object to their work being used without the proper permission.

ISU European Figure Skating Championships 2026

Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate competes at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships 2026 on Jan. 15, 2026 in Sheffield, England.

Joosep Martinson – International Skating Union/International Skating Union via Getty Images


Two-time world medalist Loena Hendrickx of Belgium also had copyright issues ahead of the Olympics.

The Belgian had been performing her short program to “Ashes” by Celine Dion from the film “Deadpool 2.” But after the European championships last month, her brother and coach, Jorik Hendrickx, and choreographer Adam Solya became concerned that the music would not be approved for the Olympics, and they decided to change the soundtrack at the last minute.

Hendrickx is now performing a slightly modified program to “I Surrender,” another song by Dion, which has the same rhythm and feel as “Ashes.” She was able to obtain permission for that piece because it is part of ClicknClear’s catalogue of licenses.

The 26-year-old Sabate is not considered a medal contender at the Olympics; he was 20th at the world championships last year. But after the past week, he figures to have plenty of support when he brings the Minions with him Tuesday night.

“Right now, I just want to give my all on the ice and perform a program worthy of the love I’ve received from around the world,” Sabate said. “I’m thrilled by the love that a small skater from a small federation has received.”

The opening ceremony time for the 2026 Winter Olympics is taking place on Friday, but some early rounds of competition began two days earlier. USA’s Madison Chock and Evan Bates rock-and-rolled their way to a world-best 91.06 points in the rhythm dance to open the team competition at the Olympics on Friday, cheered on by a crowd that included Vice President JD Vance and his family, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Olympic events are set to continue through the closing ceremony on Feb. 22, and the Paralympics will take place the following month, from March 6 to March 15.



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Zayn Malik shares personal video message on ‘Mind of Mine’ 10th anniversary

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Zayn Malik shares personal video message on ‘Mind of Mine’ 10th anniversary


Zayn Malik celebrates one decade of debut album ‘Mind of Mine’

Zayn Malik is celebrating 10 years of his debut solo album Mind of Mine with a heartfelt message.

Earlier this week, the former One Direction star took to his Instagram Stories to post a short video of himself sharing the milestone with his supporters.

Clad in a black leather jacket the Dusk Till Dawn hitmaker expressed his gratitude for all the love all this time.

“Zayn here,” he began in the brief clip. “It’s been exactly 10 years since the release of Mind of Mind, so I thought I’d just do a little video just to say thank you so much for all the support.”

Zayn Malik shares personal video message on ‘Mind of Mine 10th anniversary

“Love you guys,” the Die For Me singer continued. “It means the world.”

He wrapped up the personal video message, joking, “hopefully I don’t look too old,” flashed a bright smile and waved at his admirers.

For the unversed, Zayn, now 32, released Mind of Mine, his debut solo studio album on March 25, 2016.

It came out exactly one year after his departure from the boy band, consisting of Liam Payne (late), Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson.

The lead single, Pillowtalk, debuted at number one in both the UK and US, making Zayn the first British male artist to achieve this with a debut single.

He dropped Like I Would as the second official single, which leaned more toward an uptempo, dance-pop sound.

A collaboration, titled Wrong, with American singer Kehlani served as the final single from the album.

Moreover, a notable track is Intermission: Flower, a Sufi devotional sung in Urdu, reflecting Zayn’s British-Pakistani heritage.





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Antonio Banderas opens up on ethnic stereotyping in Hollywood

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Antonio Banderas opens up on ethnic stereotyping in Hollywood


Antonio Banderas opens up on ethnic stereotyping in Hollywood

Antonio Banderas has spoken candidly about the ethnic stereotyping he faced when he first arrived in Hollywood, recalling being told bluntly that his Hispanic background limited him to villainous roles, and explaining why breaking out of that box still means so much to him.

“They said, you are here, like the blacks and the Hispanics, to play the bad guys,” the Oscar-nominated actor told The Times

The irony of what came next is something he clearly savours. 

“The problem was a few years later I had a mask, hat, sword and cape and the bad guy was Captain Love, who was blond and had blue eyes.”

That role was, of course, Zorro, the gutsy hero Banderas played in The Mask of Zorro in 1998 and The Legend of Zorro in 2005. 

But it was a cat, not a swordsman, that he considers the most culturally significant step forward. 

Puss in Boots, the character he first voiced in Shrek 2 in 2004, reached an audience that nothing else could quite match. 

“Even more important is Puss in Boots, because it’s for young kids. They see a cat that has a Spanish, even an Andalusian accent and he’s a good guy.”

He has now voiced the character across five films, including the critically lauded Puss in Boots: The Last Wish in 2022, which earned an Oscar nomination. 

However, the 65-year-old confirmed last year that he has not yet been approached for Shrek 5, due in cinemas on 30 June 2027. 

“I’m not so far, and I’m not being called for that,” he told Parade

Puss in Boots did very well. Number two got a nomination for the Oscar, and the movie behaved beautifully at the box office. But I am totally satisfied with the five Puss in Boots that I did. I don’t know what is going to happen in the future. Maybe they [will] call me tomorrow.”





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Kerosene hiked to Rs433.40 per litre, petrol, diesel held steady as PM intervenes

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Kerosene hiked to Rs433.40 per litre, petrol, diesel held steady as PM intervenes


A worker holds a fuel nozzle to fill fuel in a car, after the government announced the increase of petrol and diesel prices, at a petrol station in Karachi, September 16, 2023.— Reuters
  • Govt to pay OMCs Rs95.59 on petrol, Rs203.88 on diesel under PDC.
  • PM blocks petrol, diesel hikes, bears Rs56bn to protect consumers
  • Highlights diplomacy, says Pakistan leading talks with Iran, Gulf.

KARACHI: The federal government has increased the price of kerosene oil by Rs4.66 per litre, bringing it to Rs433.40 per litre, effective from March 28, according to a notification issued by the Petroleum Division. 

Petrol and diesel prices, however, remain unchanged at Rs321.17 and Rs335.86 per litre, respectively, despite significant increases in the global oil market.

The Petroleum Division said petrol and diesel prices were held steady to shield consumers from international price shocks. 

The government will pay oil marketing companies Rs95.59 per litre on petrol and Rs203.88 per litre on diesel under the Petroleum Development Cess (PDC), as per the notification.

This latest adjustment follows a March 21 revision, when kerosene prices had surged to Rs 428.74 per litre, marking a sharp increase earlier in the month. 

The repeated revisions reflect ongoing pressure on domestic fuel pricing amid volatile global markets and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Consumers and businesses continue to feel the ripple effects of rising fuel costs, making this latest hike in kerosene closely watched across the country.

Meanwhile, a few hours before the March 28 announcement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressed the nation on the fuel crisis. 

PM Shehbaz revealed that he had rejected a summary to raise petrol by Rs95 per litre and diesel by Rs203 per litre, keeping the prices of both fuels unchanged for now, despite global surges. 

“The government will bear the additional cost, estimated at Rs56 billion, to protect consumers,” the premier said during the televised address.

He also highlighted Pakistan’s diplomatic role in the Middle East, including ongoing talks with Iran and Gulf countries, with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar leading the negotiations. 

Shehbaz vociferously credited CDF Field Marshal Asim Munir and stressed Pakistan’s active diplomacy day and night to promote peace.





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