Naomi Osaka Set to Warmup in Melbourne Summer Set, Play Australian Open

Naomi Osaka via personal IG for Tag Heurer.

Naomi Osaka, currently ranked No. 13 in WTA rankings, is on track to return to playing professional tennis. The four-times Grand Slam champion Osaka returned to the practice court in early November, after leaving the US Open with the announcement that she needed to step away from the game. Osaka also took a two-month mental health break before the Open.

As of Christmas, Naomi Osaka is scheduled to return to professional tennis at the Melbourne Summer Set, the first week of 2022. Melbourne is a warm-up tournament for the Australian Open, playing January 17-30. Osaka defeated Jennifer Brady in the 2021 Open — her second Melbourne trophy — and is a narrow favorite to win in January 2022, with Brady ranked No. 2.

Emma Raducanu, bringing momentum from her shocking US Open victory in September, is ranked third to win in Australia. Tennis great Serena Williams has confirmed that she will not be playing in Australia.

"While this is never an easy decision to make, I am not where I need to be physically to compete," Williams said in confirming her not playing the Open. "Melbourne is one of my favorite cities to visit and I look forward to playing at the AO every year. I will miss seeing the fans, but am excited to return and compete at my highest level."

The Australian Open 2021 was delayed due to COVID and eventually took place February 8 to 21. Omicron has exploded in Australia in recent days — although Delta continues to hospitalize more Aussies. Almost 20 percent of Christmas Eve flights were cancelled today, writes Reuters.

Jeano Edwards at Monkey Island Estate for WSJ Magazine November Stellar Market Report

Jeano Edwards at Monkey Island Estate for WSJ Magazine November Stellar Market Report AOC Fashion

Brooklyn and London-based photographer Jeano Edwards [IG] and stylist Chloe Grace Press raise the bar on what defines a market report, packing up models Ajayi Temitope and Baba Chogwu and heading for the gardens of the Monkey Island Estate hotel. WSJ Magazine’s November 2021 issue is not playing at fashion dress-up — not even in a standard market report. A little muscle-flexing, perhaps?

Situated on a private island in England’s River Thames. the recently-restored Monkey Island Estate hotel is located in Bray, a mere spec on the map village beloved of international gourmands for its four Michelin-starred restaurants.

Hannah Ferguson Is 'The Horse Whisperer' for Harper's Bazaar Greece

Hannah Ferguson Is 'The Horse Whisperer' for Harper's Bazaar Greece AOC Fashion

American IMG model Hannah Ferguson channels her San Angelo, Texas roots styled by Rafael Linares in elegant countrywoman style. Photographers Caleb & Gladys [IG] photographed Ferguson as ‘The Horse Whisperer’ for Harper’s Bazaar Greece October 2021./ Makeup by Kelly McClain; hair by Lisa-Marie Powell

Natalia Vodianova Keeps Inspiring by Nicolas Valois in Harper's Bazaar Spain

Natalia Vodianova Keeps Inspiring by Nicolas Valois in Harper's Bazaar Spain AOC Fashion

Supermodel Natalia Vodianova is styled by Beatriz Machado in Swan-Lake inspired, modern whites elegance. Photographer Nicolas Valois [IG] captures Natalia for Harper’s Bazaar España January 2022. Harper’s calls Vodianova — the supermodel, philanthropist, UN ambassador and Guerlain muse — “one of the industry's greatest forces of change.”

Taylor Hill Joins Vogue Arabia's December 2021 Celebration of UAE's Golden Jubilee

Taylor Hill Joins Vogue Arabia's Celebration of UAE's Golden Jubilee Lensed by Mazen Abusrour AOC Fashion

Top model Taylor Hill poses in the third — and only model — cover of Vogue Arabia’s December 2021 issue celebrating 50 years of the UAE. The cover highlights the region’s love of gold — especially on a Golden Jubilee — and was put together by an entirely UAE-based team featuring UAE labels styled by Amine Jreissati./ Hair by Kiril Vasilev; makeup by Toni Malt

Photographer Mazen Abusrour [IG] shot Hill in Sharjah, the UAE’s third-most populous city after Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Sharjah is considered to be the arts capital of the United Arab Emirates and the focus of this issue of Vogue Arabia.

Txema Yeste Flashes a Digital World Vilma Sjöberg for Vogue Russia January 2022

Txema Yeste Flashes a Digital World Vilma Sjöberg for Vogue Russia January 2022 AOC Fashion

Photographer Txema Yeste [IG] blasts onto fashion radar in a superb editorial for Vogue Russia’s January 2022 issue. Studied and not gimmicky for the same of looking ‘cool,’ Yeste captures model Vilma Sjöberg, styled by Olga Dunina. / Makeup by Hugo Villard; hair by Sophie Jane Anderson

Valeria Chenskaya Channels 2000s Fashion by Luca Meneghel in Numéro France December 2021

Valeria Chenskaya Channels 2000s Fashion by Luca Meneghel in Numéro France December 2021 AOC Fashion

Model Valeria Chenskaya is styled by Clement Lomellini in ‘Pourquoi on n'échappera pas au revival des années 2000’, reminding fashionistas that a revival of the 2000s is inevitable. Luca Meneghel [IG] captures Chenskaya for Numéro France December 2021./ Makeup by Megumi Itano; hair by Ludovic Dupuis

Coco Capitán Captures Bucolic Beauty for Vogue Espana January 2022

Coco Capitán Captures Bucolic Beauty for Vogue Espana January 2022 AOC Fashion

Models África García, Alicia Gutiérrez, Bikoko and Tina Diedhiou unite in a beautiful pastoral fashion story ‘CORAZÓN DE OLIVA’, styled by Esther Matilla. Spanish-born, London-based artist and photographer Coco Capitán [IG} captures the quartet in the land of olives and the abundance of nature./ Hair by Elisa Serrano; makeup by Adrian Rux

Marisa Tomei, aka Spider-Man's Aunt May, by Michael Schwartz in Vogue Greece December 2021

Actor Marisa Tomei is styled by Nicholas Georgiou and Ryan Young in the pages of Vogue Greece December 2021. Photographer Michael Schwartz [IG] captures Tomei — who plays Maybelle "May" Parker-Jameson, aka Aunt May, in Marvel Comics Spider-Man series — timed with the release of 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' in global theaters.

Finally, a Movie Blockbuster

‘No Way Home’ clocked the third-highest preview result on the Hollywood history books last week at $50 million , behind “Avengers: Endgame” ($60 million) and “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” ($57 million).

In a world that needs a winner right now, ‘No Way Home’ lit up the skies over the weekend, remaining in third place in movie releases box office history. ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Is Even More Amazing With $601M Global Debut For 3rd Biggest WW Bow Ever; $341M Snared Overseas – International Box Office.

Stars Zendaya and Tom Holland are flying high with these box office results. ‘Spider-Man’ producers Kevin Feige and Amy Pascal talked to the New York Times on the Future of ‘Spider-Man’ and the M.C.U.[Marvel Comics Universe].

“No Way Home,” directed by Jon Watts, marks the end of a trilogy starring Tom Holland as Peter Parker and Zendaya as MJ, his plucky romantic counterpart. But the $200 million sequel also represents the culmination of nearly 20 years of Spider-Man movies — eight in total — because it draws in characters unseen since “Spider-Man 3” in 2007 and “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” in 2014.

Maine and Oregon Make Business Pay Cost of Packaging Waste | EPR Is Center Stage

Maine and Oregon Make Business Pay Cost of Packaging Waste | EPR Is Center Stage AOC Sustainability

Most consumers don’t pay much attention to the packaging that their purchases come in, unless it’s hard to open or the item is really over-wrapped. But packaging accounts for about 28% of U.S. municipal solid waste. Only some 53% of it ends up in recycling bins, and even less is actually recycled: According to trade associations, at least 25% of materials collected for recycling in the U.S. are rejected and incinerated or sent to landfills instead.

Local governments across the U.S. handle waste management, funding it through taxes and user fees. Until 2018 the U.S. exported huge quantities of recyclable materials, primarily to China. Then China banned most foreign scrap imports. Other recipient countries like Vietnam followed suit, triggering waste disposal crises in wealthy nations.

Some U.S. states have laws that make manufacturers responsible for particularly hard-to-manage products, such as electronic waste, car batteries, mattresses and tires, when those goods reach the end of their useful lives.

Now, Maine and Oregon have enacted the first state laws making companies that create consumer packaging, such as cardboard cartons, plastic wrap and food containers, responsible for the recycling and disposal of those products, too. Maine’s law takes effect in mid-2024, and Oregon’s follows in mid-2025.

These measures shift waste management costs from customers and local municipalities to producers. As researchers who study waste and ways to reduce it, we are excited to see states moving to engage stakeholders, shift responsibility, spur innovation and challenge existing extractive practices.

Lauren Ernwein in 'Light Years' by PJ Lam for Vogue Portugal December 2021

Lauren Ernwein in 'Light Years' by PJ Lam for Vogue Portugal December 2021 AOC Fashion

Model Lauren Ernwein appeared in Vogue France’s November 2021, kitchy fashion story ‘Miss Normandie’. In the December 2021 pages of Vogue Portugal’s fashion story ‘Light Years’, Ernwein remains a free spirit but with a more sophisticated persona. PJ Lam [IG} is behind the lens, with styling by Anais Kevorkian./ Makeup by Aurelia Liansberg; hair by Tomoko Ohama

Elodie Christ Horsewoman by Sven Baenziger for Grazia Italia No. 52 2021

Elodie Christ Horsewoman by Sven Baenziger for Grazia Italia No. 52 2021 AOC Fashion

Model Elodie Christ reminds us that horses have a ‘Spirito Libero’, and she’s here for the ride. Photographer Sven Bänziger [Baenziger] [IG] captures the noble origins luxury fashion story styled by Tamara Gianoglio for Grazia Italia No 52 2021.

Alicia Medina In New Year Beauty 2022 by Fernando Gomez for Vogue Ukraine

Alicia Medina In New Year Beauty 2022 by Fernando Gomez for Vogue Ukraine AOC Fashion

Model Alicia Medina is lensed by Fernando Gomez [IG] in ‘How to get ready for NYE’, winter beauty looks for Vogue Ukraine December 2021./ Makeup by Rosa Matilla

Lee Wei Swee Flashes 'Be Our Guest, Raise A Glass' for Vogue China December 2021

Lee Wei Swee Flashes 'Be Our Guest, Raise A Glass' for Vogue China December 2021 AOC Fashion

Vogue China December 2021 cover girls Karen Elson, Suzi De Givenchy, Tianna St. Louis and Tindi Mar add two more members to the fashion story cast: Lisa Lu and Precious Kevin.

Audrey Hu and Rogelio F. Burgos styles the sextet in ‘Be Our Guest, Raise A Glass’, lensed by Lee Wei Swee [IG] at The Pagoda Paris. / Hair by Chiao Chenet; makeup by Fanny Maurer