At least four people were shot dead by Sudanese security forces during anti-coup demonstrations near the capital Khartoum on Thursday, the civilian-allied Sudanese Central Doctors Committee (SCDC) said.
Friday, 31 December 2021
Mourners pay tribute to Archbishop Desmond Tutu as his body lies in state
Mourners flocked to St. George's Cathedral in Cape Town on Thursday to pay their respects to anti-apartheid hero Archbishop Desmond Tutu as he lay in state in a simple pine coffin.
Thursday, 30 December 2021
Biden to speak with Putin today at Russian leader's request
President Joe Biden will hold a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday afternoon "to discuss a range of topics, including upcoming diplomatic engagements with Russia," National Security Council spokesperson Emily Horne told CNN.
Former Afghan President was given 'no more than two minutes' to get ready to flee Kabul
The former President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani said he was given "no more than two minutes" to get ready to flee Kabul in August, during the Taliban's rapid takeover of the country's capital.
Lebanon's soul has been eviscerated by its financial crisis. Not even children want to play
I'm crouched down in front of a 10-year-old boy sitting hunched over himself in the Beirut office of my charity INARA, the International Network for Aid, Relief and Assistance. His dark brown eyes, fringed with impossibly long eyelashes, peer over his facemask.
Hong Kong authorities insist newsroom raids and arrests have 'nothing to do with media work'
Hong Kong authorities are defending the arrests of seven people linked to a pro-democracy publication in the face of growing international condemnation, with the city's leader insisting the police raids had "nothing to do with journalistic or media work."
As Omicron spreads in India, mass gatherings spark fears of another wave
Doctors in India are bracing for a potential third wave driven by the highly contagious Omicron variant, as cases rise and political leaders hold mass gatherings ahead of key elections.
Alleged Chinese smugglers publicly shamed for breaching Covid rules
Police in southern China paraded four suspects through the streets for allegedly smuggling people across sealed borders in breach of pandemic control measures -- a controversial act of public shaming that triggered backlash on Chinese social media.
Wednesday, 29 December 2021
Russian court shuts down Memorial Human Rights Center, day after sister group ordered closed
A court in Moscow ordered the closure of the Memorial Human Rights Center on Wednesday, in the latest blow to Russian civil society groups.
Save the Children staff confirmed dead in Myanmar Christmas Eve attack
Two Save the Children staff, missing in eastern Myanmar after a deadly attack on civilians allegedly carried out by government soldiers, have been confirmed dead, the non-profit organization said on Tuesday.
The cultural moments that defined 2021
Year two of the pandemic was, in many ways, just as challenging and weird as the first.
Indonesia says it will turn away Rohingya refugees in stricken boat
Indonesian authorities will help repair a stranded boat packed with more than 100 Rohingya refugees off its coast, but will not allow its passengers to seek refuge in the Southeast Asian country and will turn the vessel away, officials told Reuters on Tuesday.
Taliban bans women from solo, long-distance road trips in Afghanistan
The Taliban have banned women from taking long-distance road trips in Afghanistan on their own, requiring that a male relative accompany them for any distance beyond 45 miles, according to a Taliban official speaking to CNN.
Deadly flooding in Brazil kills at least 20 and displaces thousands, leaving Covid-19 vaccines submerged
The death toll from floods and heavy rain, which has blighted the Brazilian state of Bahia since November, rose to 20 after flooding intensified over the weekend, causing two dams to burst and the displacement of an estimated 62,800 people, state officials say.
Many Latin American countries now have higher vaccination rates than Europe and North America
Many countries in Latin America were hit with soaring Covid-19 death rates early in the pandemic, as coronavirus raged throughout the region. The tide is turning in many Latin American nations today, where vaccination rates are outpacing countries in Europe and North America and helping drive down deaths.
Tuesday, 28 December 2021
Drugs, violence and racism are creating a 'cocktail of neglect' in Marseille
The southern French port city of Marseille has made headlines in recent months over the deaths of several young people in drug-related shootouts, in what is often referred to as a "settling of scores."
Israel announces plan to double Golan Heights population, drawing condemnation from Syria
Israel said on Sunday that it intends to double the population of the contested area of the Golan Heights in the coming years, drawing the ire of the Syrian government.
Thousands left homeless and hungry at Christmas as Philippines faces up to climate crisis reality of super typhoon
Usually, Jay Lacia wakes at midnight on Christmas Day to start the festivities -- but this year, all he wished for was enough food to eat.
1,450 Afghan kids were evacuated to the US without their parents. Some are 'never going to be reunited with family'
An 8-year-old sobs every night after her aunt puts her to bed.
The pandemic pushed nearly 100 million people in poverty. They're struggling to escape
Dipali Roy couldn't afford to eat.
English Premier League hit by record 103 Covid-19 cases between Dec 20-26
The English Premier League has reported a record 103 Covid-19 cases in the week leading up to Boxing Day.
Monday, 27 December 2021
'Massive tragedy' as heavy floods killed more than a dozen in Brazil
Heavy flooding has left at least a dozen people dead and more than 280 injured in the northeast region of Brazil, officials say. Journalist Stefano Pozzebon reports.
China's industrial profit growth tumbles as raw material prices fall
Profits at China's industrial firms grew at a much slower pace in November, the statistics bureau said on Monday, pressured by tumbling prices of some raw materials, a faltering property market and weaker consumer demand.
China will tighten rules on overseas IPOs, but won't ban them entirely
China is planning to tighten restrictions for Chinese companies that want to list overseas, but the government won't ban them from trading abroad altogether.
Deadly flooding in Brazil displaces thousands
Heavy flooding has left at least 18 people dead and more than 280 injured in the northeast region of Brazil, officials say.
Japan cancels dozens of flights due to snow
More than 100 domestic flights in Japan were grounded on Sunday due to heavy snow in the northern and western parts of the country, Japan's two biggest airlines said.
Desmond Tutu, anti-apartheid leader and voice of justice, dead at 90
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Anglican cleric whose good humor, inspiring message and conscientious work for civil and human rights made him a revered leader during the struggle to end apartheid in his native South Africa, has died. He was 90.
Sunday, 26 December 2021
Minnal Murali, Review: Two bolts from the blue
Minnal Murali, Review: Two bolts from the blue
Minnal Murali’s première at the Mumbai Film Festival, on 16 December, was a grand affair. The venue was the recently constructed Jio World Drive in Mumbai’s Bandra-Kurla Complex, and drinks and snacks were waiting for those who arrived early. The cast and crew were present too. Viewing the film came with an embargo that no reviews should be posted before December the 24th, the day of its release directly through the streaming platform Netflix. Originally made in Malayalam, the film has also been released in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi and English languages. Not being exposed to enough Malayalam cinema, I am going with the popular belief that this is the first super-hero film in that language. Let’s give it due credit for presenting a very rational and realistic superhero tale, but let us not forget that realism can often produce ordinary results.
Stitching together a story of two spurned lovers, both of whom get hit by super-charged lightning that gives them powers to move and bend things, the film bestows equal strengths to the two lightning charged individuals. Jaison (guess that is a Malayalam variant of Jason) is a junior tailor, unable to win over his beloved. Selvan is a mentally challenged ‘village idiot’, who nurses a strong desire for a girl who had been kind to him when he was a child, but who has since married, and has no memory of the childhood gesture. These two are hand-picked by the lightning god in a rare planetary configuration, when three planets get aligned. A scientist, who appears on a TV programme, predicts strange phenomena as a result of this three-in-one ‘offer’. Surely enough, lightning strikes them, but instead of being charred to death, they become larger than life figures.
Unaware of his special status, Jaison goes in for medical tests, which result in the measuring devices spinning like roulette tables. Gradually, through a series of humorous incidents, Jaison realises his powers, and begins to use them for the good of the people. He assumes the name Minnal Murali, the title of an unperformed play that his theatre actor father had written, and leaves his insignia wherever he goes, but keeps his identity a secret. On the other hand, Selvan, who cannot believe his luck, is hell-bent on wreaking havoc, if the apple of his eye is not handed over to him on a platter. Occasionally, he too leaves the insignia of Minnal Murali wherever he strikes, to confuse and confound the small town residents. Are there two Minnal Muralis? Or is it a case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde? Jaison is unaware that there is another lightning ‘victim’ in the same neighbourhood, who is going to be his nemesis. Inevitably, the two will meet, and clash - two bolts, one of them a nut. Who will win is a nutcracker of a guess.
Originally an idea propounded by Arun Anirudhan, the film is co-written by Justin Mathew. There is nothing unique about super-heroes and their exploits; it is only the novelty of the narrative and the level of special effects that distinguishes them. Here, the narrative has shades of novelty, with the two heroes being firmly grounded, and not involved in any inter-planetary or space odysseys. By making the two players humble and almost nobodies, Anirudhan and Mathew accord credibility to their main characters. However, this is partly undone by the fact that these two persons are co-incidentally hand-picked, in the whole world, and after the strikes, never fully examined, diagnosed or treated medically. It also tests your suspension of disbelief that both are jilted lovers. Moreover, the writers take too much time to bite into the action, which, in turn, bites into our patience.
In his third directorial venture, Basil Joseph (Kunjiramayanam, Godha with Tovino Thomas), jumps into a genre that neither he nor his peers in Malayalam cinema have attempted. He has tried to be different, and to that extent, has succeeded. Special effects, when they do arrive, are in good shape, though they are largely confined to objects flying through the air and metals bending on call. His super-hero is the super-hero of the small-town villagers, not somebody empowered to save the world. He does not even venture out of his district, let alone state or country. He is a good-looker, but not one who sets hearts aflutter. Compared to Marvel and DC avatars, he just does not stand a chance. Should he then be weighed against Rakesh Roshan’s Hindi Krishh films and Mysskin’s Tamil film Mugamoodi? Let us not compare at all. Minnal Murali is a middle-of-the-road venture in more ways than one, and must be viewed with a clean slate. After all, this one is a path-breaker from Kerala.
Tovino Thomas is appealing as Jaison, his second pairing with director Joseph. When the underdog attains superpowers, and uses them with some élan, he draws applause. The film will definitely widen his fan-base. Guru Somasundaram plays Selvan, as confused and mentally challenged as the part requires. It is not a totally credible character, but he pulls it off. Femina (no connection to the women’s magazine) George makes a good and convincing Biji, Jaison’s love interest. Sneha Babu is a scene-stealer as Bincy, the martial arts teacher who also runs a travel agency.
Music by Shaan Rahman and Sushin Shyam is lilting and soothing. Cinematography by Sameer Thahir is above par. Film editing by Livingston Mathew could have done with a length of at least ten minutes shorter than the 2 hours and 38 mins. Art direction by Manu Jagadh should be commended for re-creating a small rural town that seems believable. Costume design by Melwy J. and make-up by Hassan Vandoor are in keeping with the tone and tenor of the film.
How grounded the film is can be judged by the fact the major chase in the film is a speeding auto-rickshaw versus the protagonist, on foot! How open are multiplex audiences across the country to this ‘two bolts from the blue’ kind of fare is something I shall avoid dwelling on, for trade pundits would have waxed eloquent on it, by now. Yet, I cannot help feeling that Minnal Murali is more for the hoi polloi, the single screen audiences, than for those who pay up to Rs. 1,000 for a ticket.
Rating: ***
Trailer: https://youtu.be/Vctn-pq6MEs
from Filmfestivals.com - Hollywood, Independent, Shorts, Videos, Documentary https://ift.tt/3sI3b4e
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Minnal Murali, Review: Two bolts from the blue
Minnal Murali, Review: Two bolts from the blue
Minnal Murali’s première at the Mumbai Film Festival, on 16 December, was a grand affair. The venue was the recently constructed Jio World Drive in Mumbai’s Bandra-Kurla Complex, and drinks and snacks were waiting for those who arrived early. The cast and crew were present too. Viewing the film came with an embargo that no reviews should be posted before December the 24th, the day of its release directly through the streaming platform Netflix. Originally made in Malayalam, the film has also been released in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi and English languages. Not being exposed to enough Malayalam cinema, I am going with the popular belief that this is the first super-hero film in that language. Let’s give it due credit for presenting a very rational and realistic superhero tale, but let us not forget that realism can often produce ordinary results.
Stitching together a story of two spurned lovers, both of whom get hit by super-charged lightning that gives them powers to move and bend things, the film bestows equal strengths to the two lightning charged individuals. Jaison (guess that is a Malayalam variant of Jason) is a junior tailor, unable to win over his beloved. Selvan is a mentally challenged ‘village idiot’, who nurses a strong desire for a girl who had been kind to him when he was a child, but who has since married, and has no memory of the childhood gesture. These two are hand-picked by the lightning god in a rare planetary configuration, when three planets get aligned. A scientist, who appears on a TV programme, predicts strange phenomena as a result of this three-in-one ‘offer’. Surely enough, lightning strikes them, but instead of being charred to death, they become larger than life figures.
Unaware of his special status, Jaison goes in for medical tests, which result in the measuring devices spinning like roulette tables. Gradually, through a series of humorous incidents, Jaison realises his powers, and begins to use them for the good of the people. He assumes the name Minnal Murali, the title of an unperformed play that his theatre actor father had written, and leaves his insignia wherever he goes, but keeps his identity a secret. On the other hand, Selvan, who cannot believe his luck, is hell-bent on wreaking havoc, if the apple of his eye is not handed over to him on a platter. Occasionally, he too leaves the insignia of Minnal Murali wherever he strikes, to confuse and confound the small town residents. Are there two Minnal Muralis? Or is it a case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde? Jaison is unaware that there is another lightning ‘victim’ in the same neighbourhood, who is going to be his nemesis. Inevitably, the two will meet, and clash - two bolts, one of them a nut. Who will win is a nutcracker of a guess.
Originally an idea propounded by Arun Anirudhan, the film is co-written by Justin Mathew. There is nothing unique about super-heroes and their exploits; it is only the novelty of the narrative and the level of special effects that distinguishes them. Here, the narrative has shades of novelty, with the two heroes being firmly grounded, and not involved in any inter-planetary or space odysseys. By making the two players humble and almost nobodies, Anirudhan and Mathew accord credibility to their main characters. However, this is partly undone by the fact that these two persons are co-incidentally hand-picked, in the whole world, and after the strikes, never fully examined, diagnosed or treated medically. It also tests your suspension of disbelief that both are jilted lovers. Moreover, the writers take too much time to bite into the action, which, in turn, bites into our patience.
In his third directorial venture, Basil Joseph (Kunjiramayanam, Godha with Tovino Thomas), jumps into a genre that neither he nor his peers in Malayalam cinema have attempted. He has tried to be different, and to that extent, has succeeded. Special effects, when they do arrive, are in good shape, though they are largely confined to objects flying through the air and metals bending on call. His super-hero is the super-hero of the small-town villagers, not somebody empowered to save the world. He does not even venture out of his district, let alone state or country. He is a good-looker, but not one who sets hearts aflutter. Compared to Marvel and DC avatars, he just does not stand a chance. Should he then be weighed against Rakesh Roshan’s Hindi Krishh films and Mysskin’s Tamil film Mugamoodi? Let us not compare at all. Minnal Murali is a middle-of-the-road venture in more ways than one, and must be viewed with a clean slate. After all, this one is a path-breaker from Kerala.
Tovino Thomas is appealing as Jaison, his second pairing with director Joseph. When the underdog attains superpowers, and uses them with some élan, he draws applause. The film will definitely widen his fan-base. Guru Somasundaram plays Selvan, as confused and mentally challenged as the part requires. It is not a totally credible character, but he pulls it off. Femina (no connection to the women’s magazine) George makes a good and convincing Biji, Jaison’s love interest. Sneha Babu is a scene-stealer as Bincy, the martial arts teacher who also runs a travel agency.
Music by Shaan Rahman and Sushin Shyam is lilting and soothing. Cinematography by Sameer Thahir is above par. Film editing by Livingston Mathew could have done with a length of at least ten minutes shorter than the 2 hours and 38 mins. Art direction by Manu Jagadh should be commended for re-creating a small rural town that seems believable. Costume design by Melwy J. and make-up by Hassan Vandoor are in keeping with the tone and tenor of the film.
How grounded the film is can be judged by the fact the major chase in the film is a speeding auto-rickshaw versus the protagonist, on foot! How open are multiplex audiences across the country to this ‘two bolts from the blue’ kind of fare is something I shall avoid dwelling on, for trade pundits would have waxed eloquent on it, by now. Yet, I cannot help feeling that Minnal Murali is more for the hoi polloi, the single screen audiences, than for those who pay up to Rs. 1,000 for a ticket.
Rating: ***
Trailer: https://youtu.be/Vctn-pq6MEs
from Filmfestivals.com - Hollywood, Independent, Shorts, Videos, Documentary https://ift.tt/3syQRU0
via gqrds
Pope reflects on relationships in pandemic times
Pope Francis has dedicated a large part of his traditional Christmas message on Saturday to reflect on the pandemic and its impact on relationships.
Saturday, 25 December 2021
At least 16 people dead in Greek shipwreck
At least 16 people died when their boat overturned off the Greek island of Paros in the central Aegean Sea on Friday, in the third maritime disaster involving migrants this week, the country's coastguard said.
Arrival of Russian Wagner mercenaries in Mali condemned by European governments
Sixteen European governments have issued a statement to "firmly condemn the deployment of mercenary troops" in the west African state of Mali.
Friday, 24 December 2021
Japan says it won't send government officials to Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics
Japan will not send any senior officials or Cabinet ministers to the Beijing Winter Olympics in February, the government said Friday -- but stopped short of calling the decision a diplomatic boycott.
Qatar's ambitions to become 'the art Mecca of the Middle East'
The Middle East nation of Qatar has announced an ambitious plan to expand its public art program as it prepares to play host to the 2022 Fifa World Cup.
Thailand seizes $30 million of crystal meth hidden in boxing punch bags
Thai authorities have seized crystal methamphetamine with a street value of almost $30 million stuffed inside boxing punch bags bound for Australia, officials said on Thursday.
Afghanistan's first president wants the world to work with the Taliban
Former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai believes it is now time for the international community to work with the Taliban to prevent millions of people from starving to death.
US intel and satellite images show Saudi Arabia is now building its own ballistic missiles with help of China
• Opinion: France's $19 billion weapons deal is sweet revenge
A Chinese city found a Covid cluster. All 13 million residents are now under lockdown
• How long should you isolate if you're fully vaccinated but have Covid-19?
Thursday, 23 December 2021
13 million put into lockdown in Chinese city
On Tuesday, the central Chinese city of Xi'an recorded 52 new Covid-19 cases. By Wednesday, authorities had imposed strict lockdown measures on its estimated 13 million residents. CNN's Selina Wang has more.
She's nearly 3 but as small as an infant. This is the face of Afghanistan's hunger crisis
Kamila is almost 3 years old, but she weighs just 11 pounds (5 kilograms). Her wrinkled skin sags off her skeletal limbs and stretches around her distended belly.
Tunisia's former President sentenced to prison in absentia, state media reports
A Tunisian court has found former President Moncef Marzouki guilty of "undermining the external security of the State" and sentenced him in absentia to four years in prison, the state news agency TAP reported Wednesday.
Russia aims for January talks with NATO, US on security guarantees
Russia hopes to hold bilateral talks with NATO and the United States in January over security guarantees it is seeking from both, state media RIA Novosti reported Wednesday, citing Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Wednesday, 22 December 2021
What can we expect from US-China relations in 2022?
2021 saw the elevation of Chinese President Xi Jinping as the country grows stronger and richer but moves further away from western democracies in ideology. CNN's David Culver takes a tour around the city of Beijing and reflects on what 2022 may have in store for the country's relations with the US.
UN calls for investigation into allegations of rape during Sudan protests
The United Nations Human Rights Office said on Tuesday that it had received 13 allegations of rape and gang rape by security forces during protests in Sudan on Sunday, while opposition medics reported a second person killed.
Alleged 'koala massacre' prompts hundreds of animal cruelty charges
Australian authorities on Wednesday charged a landowner and two companies with more than 250 counts of animal cruelty over the deaths of dozens of koalas during a clearance operation last year.
Cruelty debate over zoo exhibition highlights complexities of elephant tourism in Thailand
An Asian elephant struts into the pool and dips its head beneath the surface, using the tip of its trunk like a snorkel.
UK Supreme Court backs Venezuela's Guaidó, bringing him closer to gold reserves
Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó is one step closer to securing control of more than $1 billion dollars in gold reserves stored at the Bank of England, after Britain's Supreme Court unequivocally recognized him as President of Venezuela on Monday evening.
Court orders Dubai ruler to pay his ex-wife $728M to cover security for the rest of her life
The ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum has been ordered to pay his ex-wife Princess Haya bint al-Hussein more than $728 million (£500 million), in one of the largest divorce settlements ever handed down by a UK court.
Putin says Russia has 'every right' to 'react harshly to unfriendly steps'
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said his country has "every right" to "react harshly to unfriendly steps" as the US and NATO continue to pressure Moscow over its aggression towards Ukraine.
US Special Envoy for Iran warns of 'escalating crisis' if talks fail to revive Iran nuclear deal
The time left to revive the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran is running out and raising the risk of an "escalating crisis," the United States Special Envoy for Iran, Rob Malley, told CNN's Becky Anderson on Tuesday.
Tuesday, 21 December 2021
Chinese 'live-streaming queen' hit with huge tax evasion penalty
Chinese live-stream shopping influencer Huang Wei, known as Viya, has received a $210 million penalty for tax evasion and has been kicked off social media. It's the largest penalty ever imposed on a live-streamer, according to the Chinese state tabloid Global Times, and a sign of the Chinese government's pressure campaign on internet celebrities.
English Premier League sees surge in Covid-19 cases with 77% of players double jabbed
The English Premier League has seen a sharp rise in new Covid-19 cases among players as the Omicron variant continues its rapid spread through Britain.
Monday, 20 December 2021
This 10-year-old asked Santa last year for a Covid cure. This year he has a new request
In their letters to Santa Claus, most kids ask for toys, dolls or maybe a new Xbox.
Teacher raises more than $100,000 for food to keep thousands of children from going hungry over winter break
Turquoise LeJeune Parker ends every class by telling each of her students she loves them.
Leftist Gabriel Boric, 35, wins Chile's presidential election
Leftist and former student leader Gabriel Boric, 35, will become Chile's youngest President after he won a presidential runoff election on Sunday.
Pope Francis says domestic violence against women is 'almost satanic'
Pope Francis has said that men who commit violence against women engage in something that is "almost satanic."
Why the mask mandate on planes is good for business
Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly stirred up some controversy Wednesday when he suggested that wearing masks on planes did little to prevent the spread of Covid.
International banks in UAE to switch to Monday to Friday work week
Deutsche Bank AG, JPMorgan Chase & Co and Societe Generale SA are changing to a Saturday-Sunday weekend from the New Year in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) which is aligning its working week with most global markets.
Science reporters say new Covid-19 surge is a 'collective issue'
A version of this article first appeared in the "Reliable Sources" newsletter.
Richard Rogers, Pritzker Prize-winning British architect, dies aged 88
Pritzker Prize-winning architect Richard Rogers, whose landmark buildings include the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the 3 World Trade Center tower in New York and London's Millennium Dome, has died aged 88. Rogers "passed away quietly" on Saturday evening, his representative Matthew Freud of Freud Communications confirmed to CNN on Sunday.
20 astonishing facts about the A380 superjumbo
Beloved by passengers for its spaciousness and comfort, but disliked by airlines because of its running costs, the Airbus A380 has already entered its sunset years, even though it debuted commercially just 14 years ago.
Analysis: Xi Jinping has been taking on China's capitalists. That will change in 2022
One year ago, Chinese leader Xi Jinping pledged to spend 2021 reining in "disorderly" private businesses that were growing too powerful and taking on too much risk.
Fearing torture and possible execution, Iranian powerlifter quit team in Norway and ran for his life
Athletes who are good enough to compete in the world championships are among the very best in their field. They dedicate their lives to the pursuit of their craft, they are proud to represent their countries, and they all dream of returning home with medals around their necks.
Hong Kong sees record low voter turnout
Hong Kong's first "patriots only" legislative election witnessed a record low turnout on Sunday, reflecting a steep decline in civic and political engagement following Beijing's overhaul of the city's electoral processes.
Watch: Spider interrupts Australian news conference
A huntsman spider interrupted Queensland's health minister as she held a briefing on the Covid-19 situation across the state.
Death toll from Super Typhoon Rai climbs to at least 75 people in the Philippines
The death toll from Super Typhoon Rai has climbed to at least 75 people, local officials reported Saturday, after the storm wreaked havoc across the Philippines late last week.
Sunday, 19 December 2021
Saturday, 18 December 2021
Retiring Boomers, not lazy Millennials, are driving the labor shortage
Editor's Note: A version of this story appeared in CNN Business' Nightcap newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free, here.
The market may be ignoring risk of Omicron shutdowns
Wall Street is getting nervous about what will happen to the economy next year.
Opinion: Our device-driven lives depend on tragedy in the Democratic Republic of Congo
November in the Democratic Republic of Congo's southern region means one thing -- the rains are coming. Storms explode with biblical fury across the land, transforming desiccated bush into lush green forests, and clearing the thick haze of grit that has suffocated the mining provinces for months.
Friday, 17 December 2021
As Cuba reopens to the world, many of its own look to leave
Hours before the airline offices open for the day, hundreds of Cubans wait in line, hoping to snag a hard-to-find ticket off the island.
Miss World 2021 postponed hours before finale amid Covid-19 outbreak
This year's Miss World competition, scheduled to take place Thursday in Puerto Rico, has been postponed after multiple people linked to the event -- including 23 of the 97 contestants -- tested positive for Covid-19.
'Extremely rare' 17th-century painting of Black woman with White companion placed under export bar
A 17th-century painting showing a Black woman with her White companion has been placed under a temporary export bar to reduce the risk of the artwork leaving the United Kingdom.
Bill to clamp down on products from China's Xinjiang passes Congress, will head to Biden
The US Senate passed legislation on Thursday to ban imports from China's Xinjiang region over concerns about forced labor, part of Washington's continued pushback against Beijing's treatment of the country's Uyghur Muslim minority.
Five children dead and four injured after wind lifts bouncy castle into the air
Five children died and four suffered serious injuries when they fell 32 feet (10 meters) from a bouncy castle lifted into the air by wind at a school event in Australia on Thursday.
9 reasons to visit Chengdu when China reopens
While China still hasn't announced solid plans to reopen its border to international leisure travelers, there's no harm in starting to dream about your next visit now.
Remaining missionaries kidnapped in Haiti released by gang, says justice minister
The remaining 12 hostages kidnapped by an armed gang in Haiti two months ago were released Thursday, according to the country's justice minister.
Thursday, 16 December 2021
More Premier League game postponed
Manchester United announced on Thursday that their Premier League home fixture against Brighton, to be played on Saturday, has been postponed due to "the number of players and support staff having to isolate due to Covid-19".
Bank of England hikes interest rates to tackle prices
The Bank of England is hiking interest rates in an effort to fight surging prices even as the Omicron variant engulfs the United Kingdom and threatens to put the economy into reverse.
France shuts out UK tourists over Omicron concerns
UK travelers are to be banned from traveling to France for tourism and will instead be required to present a "compelling reason" to enter the country.
Nine killed in Dominican Republic private jet crash
Nine people were killed on Wednesday after a private aircraft crashed while making an emergency landing at Las Americas Airport in the Dominican Republic's capital Santo Domingo, according to the plane's operator.
France to ban plastic bottles in stadiums to protect players and staff
The sale and carrying of plastic bottles is to be banned in French stadiums from July 2022, the French government announced Thursday in a statement.
Top editor at nationalist Chinese state tabloid retires
The longtime editor of one of China's most outspoken and nationalistic state media outlets says he's stepping down.
Tens of thousands evacuate as Super Typhoon Rai makes landfall in the Philippines
Tens of thousands of people have evacuated their homes in the Philippines as the archipelago braces for Super Typhoon Rai, known locally as Odette, which is expected to pass through the southern and central portions of the country on Thursday afternoon.
Bali only received 45 international tourists in 2021 despite reopening
Destinations around the world have faced significant tourist reductions amid the coronavirus pandemic. But few have taken a harder hit than Bali, the Indonesian island long beloved of global travelers.
Spiderman - No Way Home, Review: Spidermen
Spiderman - No Way Home, Review: Spidermen
Indian release today, American release tomorrow. How exciting! Shot during the Covid 19 Coronavirus pandemic. How daring! Third part of a Trilogy – Homecoming (2017) and Far from Home (2019). How challenging, if you are not a die-hard fan and do not remember the previous homings well-enough! A cast that consists of Tom Holland, Zendaya, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jacob Batalon, Jon Favreau, Jamie Foxx, Willem Dafoe, Alfred Molina, Benedict Wong, J.K. Simmons, Marisa Tomei, Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire. How impressive! Three Spidermen, five arch villains, a magician, his Chinese mentor, a girl friend, an aunt, a pal, a hostile TV reporter, a universe, a multiverse, 148 minutes. Too much to digest! Spiderman-No Way Home loses track in some of the earlier scenes, but comes back with a bang!
Former special effects artist and a super-hero enemy, Mysterio, real-name Quentin Beck, is attacked by drones of Stark Industries, on London Bridge, but, before dying, he exposes the identity of Peter Parker. This leads to a massive outcry as opinions are divided on his vigilante activities as Peter Parker, even as a TV reporter paints him as a public enemy. His friend Ned and girl-friend MJ’s applications for admission to MIT are rejected on account of their ‘complicity’ in his misdeeds. Moreover, Peter is hounded by the public and media alike. Desperate, he meets in Dr. Stephen Strange in the Sanctum Sanctorum, asking him to wipe out all knowledge of his identity from the minds of the masses. Strange warns him that this will also wipe out his identity from his Aunt May, his girl-friend MJ and pal Ned. Strange’s mentor, Wong, cautions that such a move might open the multiverse, and wreak havoc. Peter decides to bid last good-byes, while Strange begins the spell. The spell goes wrong.
From the open multiverse, five arch-villains land on earth and target Spiderman: Electro (Max Dillon), Willem Dafoe as Green Goblin (Norman Osborn), Dr. Octopus (Otto Octavius), Sandman (Flint Marko) and Lizard (Curt Connors). A battle royale begins to capture the super-villains. When they are just about captured, Spiderman prefers to ‘cure’ them, rather than kill them, and then send them back to their respective universes. Even as he is debating this issue, some of them cut loose and kill Aunt May. Strange and Spiderman find it difficult to battle so many powerful evildoers. Just then, Ned accidentally performs a spell that is part of Strange’s oeuvre and summons two most unexpected warriors from alternate realities to join forces with Spiderman. Now, the battle looks more equally balanced – Spiderman, his two allies and Dr. Strange v/s a handful of dark forces.
Stan Lee and Steve Ditko’s legacy lives on, adapted for the screen once more by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers. McKenna co-wrote Spider-Man: Homecoming, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Spider-Man: Far from Home and Spider-Man: No Way Home, with Erik Sommers. So, it is a tried and trusted duo that Marvel Comics Universe (MCU) has retained for its 27th movie. Having worked together a lot, the duo best enjoys doing comedy, but finds the multi-genre format of Spiderman equally exciting. Sadly, there is not enough humour in this outing.
There is, palpably, a sense of overkill, with four protagonists and five villains, so much so that one could have expected someone from the Avengers to land-up as well, to balance it at 5:5! Perhaps the writers believe that you cannot have too much of Peter Parker and Dr. Stephen Strange, so their names are mouthed endlessly, repeated every few minutes, sometimes every few seconds. Judging by the whistles at the preview, you, know, they might be right! And then, somebody had to die, so they zeroed in on Aunt May. She was the oldest of the quartet of Peter, MJ, Ned and her. Her death scene brought tears to the viewers and MJ’s recue from a fall, though not spectacular by any yard-stick, struck the right chord among the select audience.
Spiderman - No Way Home Directed by Jon Watts his name? who helmed Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far from Home and Spider-Man: No Way Home, and will direct the upcoming Fantastic Four. He co-wrote a script for Spider-Man: Homecoming with Christopher Ford. Watts takes his time to narrate the earthly, American story of Spiderman, and the consequences of the great Revelation. Then, he changes gears, and lets the villains loose. There is too much similarity in the magic, villainy and fight scenes, but the ace, where Spiderman becomes Spidermen, dealt in the second half, swings the game in favour of the webmaster. The writers and the director seem to know their fandom well, and cater to their taste time and again, between bouts of humongous special effects. Fan service is never found lacking. As endearing and loving as Peter Parker, MJ, Ned and Aunt May are, the scum of the multiverse are their hateful, hideous, opposite counterparts, making it a battle between white and black, with one shade of grey, when Parker wants to cure the sick ogres and send them back, rather than kill them.
Not new to the body-hugging suit, Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man retains his 17 year-old innocent charm, which includes a hint of a lisp. Your heart goes out to him he goes through the tribulations of dealing with the unmasking of his identity, letting the whole world – including MJ, Ned and Aunt May - forget who he is, the death of Aunt May, the near death of MJ, and the dilemma of choosing between killing the villains and curing them. With so much going for him, he can’t go wrong, though the role is in sharp contrast to the one he essayed in Cherry.
Michelle Jones Watson (MJ) is Maree Stoermer Coleman, known professionally as Zendaya. You might have seen her in Spider-Man: Homecoming and Spider-Man: Far from Home too. All of 25 years, she carries her age lightly. Not projected as a stunner, her relationship with Peter appears more of a real love rather than an attraction. And just for the record, for those who had their hearts in their mouths when she was hurtling downwards from the Statue of Liberty, she has no fear of heights.
As both a singer and an actress, Zendaya earned stardom at a very young age, thanks to her leading role on the children's sitcom Shake It Up! The talented young actress modelled for Macy's, Old Navy, and Sears, before appearing in the music video of Kidz Bop cover of Katy Perry's Hot n Cold (2009). She launched her music career with the singles Swag it Out (2011) and Watch Me (2011). In 2014, Coleman was chosen to play the late singer and actress Aaliyah in a biopic, but following a social media outcry over the light-skinned Coleman portraying the darker-complexioned Aaliyah, the actress bowed out of the production, claiming creative differences and worries over the film's music rights. After starring in the TV film Zapped (2014), she made her big-screen debut in the superhero blockbuster, Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), followed by a supporting role in P.T. Barnum, biopic The Greatest Showman (2017).
One cannot but help observing that Benedict Cumberbatch (Dr. Stephen Strange, a neurosurgeon who became a Master of the Mystic Arts) was cut out to do better stuff. This is cake-walk for him, almost like Marlon Brando playing Superman’s father. Jacob Batalon, as Ned, lost 102 pounds (46 kg) for his role in this film, which gets due weightage to compensate for his loss.
Jon Favreau as Harold "Happy" Hogan, The Head of Security for Stark Industries and former driver and bodyguard of Tony Stark, who looks after Parker, has little looking after to do here. Jamie Foxx as Max Dillon/Electro reprises his role from Webb's The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014). Willem Dafoe plays Norman Osborn/Green Goblin, the stubbornest of the dirty five.Dafoe reprises his role from Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy. Alfred Molina as Otto Octavius/Doctor Octopus is recalled from Raimi's Spider-Man 2. Benedict Wong as Wong (originality of nomenclature apart), A Master of the Mystic Arts and Strange's mentor. Mother-figure Aunt May Parker is performed by Marisa Tomei. J. K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson, the host of TheDailyBugle.net is just right for the role, avoiding the temptation to go overboard, but unrelenting in his thrust. Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire are the two spoilers, which are, by now, common knowledge, yet this writer prefers not to dwell upon their roles.
Cinematography is as smooth as it comes, courtesy Mauro Fiore. Various top angles are well executed. The film is edited by Jeffrey Ford and Leigh Folsom Boyd, who impart to the film a breakneck pace for the major part, and yet land up with 148 minutes. A lot of material must have been left on the floor, and some more needed to be dropped there, especially from the first half. Music by Michael Giacchino is partly lost in the loud battle sounds, but creeps in quietly when it gets a chance.
A sure-shot for the fans of MCU and Peter Parker, Spiderman – No Way Home just misses the mark when analysed as a whole. There are too many clichés, convenient options and stock situations. There isn’t enough humour, something that is sorely missed. Moreover, the battles with the villains are largely repetitive and too-fast-paced for one to grasp and applaud the moves and counter-moves. And these form the long-drawn climax. At the end, however, the writers and the director have left their options open, as evidenced in their two post credit scenes. With a multiverse, the sky is not the limit. Nor is, obviously, the universe. So heroes and anti-heroes can be called and recalled from the entire Marvel Comics Universe, for as many subsequent films as they like. Isn’t it time the company re-christened itself Marvel Comics Multiverse?
Rating: ***
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rt-2cxAiPJk
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