'Starve or freeze to death': Millions of elderly Brits fear a grim choice this winter as costs spiral

When she first started to shed some weight, Yvonne DeBurgo quipped that she could afford to lose it.

Many people feared trapped under multiple-story building collapse in Nigeria's Kano State

A multiple-story building has collapsed in the northwestern Nigerian city of Kano, leaving "many" people feared trapped inside, according to the local fire service.

Taiwan fires warning shots at unidentified drone near islands

Taiwanese soldiers on Tuesday fired flares at three unidentified drones that flew near Kinmen County, an offshore grouping of islands, before firing warning shots at one drone which re-entered the area above one of the islands, according to the Kinmen Defense Command.

The US economy had more job openings than expected in July

US employers aren't ditching their "help wanted" signs just yet, according to new data released Tuesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Lower gas prices push consumer confidence to highest level since May

Lower gas prices helped consumer confidence bounce back in August, breaking a three-month stretch of worsening sentiment. However this improvement, while welcome, is tempered by ongoing worries that the US economy may be heading toward a recession.

Mukesh Ambani prepares to hand $220 billion empire over

Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani has laid out plans to hand his sprawling business empire to his children, while insisting he has no intention of retiring any time soon.

Here's why Wendy's in Canada has given its iconic red-headed mascot gray hair

The Wendy's mascot has a new hairdo on its Canadian social media sites -- all in support of one of the nation's veteran journalists.

China and US sign deal that could avert mass stock delistings

The US audit regulator said on Friday it has signed an agreement with Chinese regulators, taking a first step toward inspecting and investigating registered accounting firms in China and Hong Kong.

The most expensive baseball card in history was just sold at an auction

Dig out your old baseball cards. They might just be worth eight figures at auction.

Today's Artemis I launch has been scrubbed after engine issue

The Artemis I launch has been scrubbed after the team was unable to work through an issue on one of the rocket's four engines.

Bolsonaro launches personal attack on female journalist during election debate

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and his main election rival and and former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva traded insults Sunday during a charged election debate which also saw Bolsonaro launching a deeply personal attack on a journalist who questioned his response to the coronavirus pandemic.

China charges dozens over brutal attack on women in restaurant

Chinese authorities have charged 28 people and detained eight police officials following a brutal assault on a group of women earlier this summer that shocked the country and provoked widespread anger.

The 'world's coolest' streets for 2022 revealed

When it comes to fashion, street style has as much cachet as runway style -- in fact, there are dozens of blogs and Instagram accounts dedicated to chronicling the best streetwear looks.

How Ukraine is using resistance warfare developed by the US to fight back against Russia

As the war in Ukraine has passed the six-month mark, US and European officials say Ukraine has successfully used a method of resistance warfare developed by US special operations forces to fight back against Russia and bog down its vastly superior military.

Three Dutch soldiers were wounded in a shooting outside an Indianapolis hotel, authorities say

Three Royal Netherlands Army soldiers were wounded in a shooting outside an Indianapolis hotel early Saturday, authorities said.

Hundreds of children among 1,000 people killed by Pakistan monsoon rains and floods

Severe rains and flooding have killed at least 1,033 people, including 348 children, and left 1,527 more injured in Pakistan since mid-June, officials said on Sunday.

China's worst heat wave on record is crippling power supplies. How it reacts will impact us all

For weeks now, a power crunch caused by a record heat wave and accompanying drought has wreaked havoc across Sichuan, a province home to 80 million people in southwestern China.

At least 14 police injured as supporters of Argentina's vice president protest

Police fired tear gas in the Argentine capital Saturday, as they clashed with supporters of vice president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, days after prosecutors sought a 12-year prison sentence against her for alleged corruption.

Why Singapore's gay sex law change is a double-edged sword for LGBTQ activists

When Singapore announced this week it would end a colonial-era law that criminalized sex between men, it looked like a big victory for gay rights advocates in the Southeast Asian country.

At least 23 people dead, 140 injured in violent clashes between rival militias in Libyan capital of Tripoli

At least 23 people have died and 140 injured in violent clashes between rival Libyan militias across the country's capital of Tripoli, the Libyan Ministry of Health said Saturday.

They once fought to defend South Korea. 70 years later, these foreign veterans are choosing to be buried there

For more than 30 years, British veteran James Grundy made an annual 5,500-mile journey to South Korea, to visit the graves of bodies he had recovered as a young man thrust into war.

US Navy is developing directed energy systems to counter hypersonic missile threats from China and Russia

The US Navy is developing directed energy systems as a potential defense against hypersonic missiles, the Navy's top admiral said, calling advances Russia and China have made in hypersonic weapon technology "a significant concern."

Families of miners trapped underground in Mexico reject new rescue strategy

The families of the ten miners trapped underground in Mexico since early August have rejected a new rescue strategy proposed by the government, Mexico's president Andrés Manuel López Obrador said on Friday.

Opinion: This British-French divide could not come at a worse time

Though Napoleon Bonaparte, Horatio Nelson and the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar are long-ago history, France and the United Kingdom are apparently still doing battle. In fact, Boris Johnson's likely successor as UK prime minister and assorted French politicos have recently been exchanging shots.

US asked Russia to release American Marc Fogel on humanitarian grounds, family says

The US State Department has asked Russia to release American citizen Marc Fogel on humanitarian grounds, his family and his lawyer told CNN.

Researchers identify at least 21 ​​'filtration​​​' sites in Russian-controlled ​​territory

Researchers at Yale University ​say they have uncovered 21 "​filtration" sites in the Russian-controlled territory of Donetsk ​in eastern Ukraine.

Germany's railways offered a month of unlimited rides for $9. Here's what happened

Walking from Brühl's town center to the train station, I passed a UNESCO World Heritage site. The 18th-century Augustusburg Palace -- one of Germany's earliest examples of Rococo architecture -- draws visitors from all over the world. Brühl itself, 11 miles south of Cologne, has a pretty pedestrianized main street, acres of parkland and the Max Ernst Museum -- the artist was born here.

Nicole Kidman flexes for latest cover shoot

Oscar-winning actor Nicole Kidman caught the Internet's attention this week with a new shoot for Perfect Magazine.

South Korea records world's lowest fertility rate -- again

South Korea has broken its own record for the world's lowest fertility rate, according to official figures released Wednesday, as the country struggles to reverse its years-long trend of declining births.

Hanging by a 'thread,' staff exodus risks safety at Ukraine nuclear plant

When Russian troops started shelling nearby towns from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant where she worked in southeastern Ukraine, Elena decided it was time to escape.

US mortgage rates jump

Mortgage rates jumped higher this week as investors tried to make sense of data that gave mixed signals about the health of the US economy.

China has lots to fix in its economy

China has unveiled 19 new measures to shore up its economy and "secure drinking water" supply as the country continues to struggle with its worst heatwave in 60 years and rigid Covld lockdowns.

Farmer shares video of livestock dying in heat

Across China, farmers are struggling to save their livestock and crops, as huge parts of the country bake under a record-breaking heat wave that has lasted more than two months. CNN's Kristie Lu Stout takes a look at the toll on farmers and local residents..

Pakistan rejects India's closure of missile firing incident into its territory

Pakistan rejected India's closure of the incident of the firing of a supersonic missile into Pakistani territory on March 9, and reiterated its demand for a joint probe, according to a statement Wednesday from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Pakistan monsoon rains and floods kill more than 900, including 326 children

At least 903 people have died in Pakistan from severe rains and flooding this summer, as the country sees its eighth cycle of monsoon rains, Pakistan's Minister for Climate Change told CNN Wednesday.

Japan turns back to nuclear power as fuel prices soar

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Wednesday Japan will restart idled nuclear plants and consider developing next-generation reactors, in a policy reversal that will see the nation turn back toward atomic energy as fuel prices soar worldwide.

Indian billionaire makes hostile bid for NDTV news channel

Asia's richest man has launched a hostile bid to take over an influential broadcaster in India and gain a firmer footing in the country's vibrant media space.

Whistleblower: Twitter is vulnerable to Russian and Chinese influence

Twitter is exceptionally vulnerable to exploitation by foreign governments in ways that threaten US national security, and may even have foreign spies currently active on its payroll, according to Peiter "Mudge" Zatko, the whistleblower at the center of a massive public disclosure effort reported Tuesday by CNN and The Washington Post.

Strategist explains why you should 'buy stocks when it feels terrible'

The stock market's summer rally has run into trouble recently. Despite the rumbles, Anastasia Amoroso, Chief Investment Strategist at iCapital, explains why long-term investors should buy stocks especially when the market feels terrible.

India's top court to hear petition against release of 11 men who gang-raped pregnant Muslim

India's Supreme Court will hold a hearing on a petition challenging the release last week of 11 Hindu men convicted of the gang rape of a pregnant Muslim woman during Hindu-Muslim riots in 2002 in the western state of Gujarat.

India fires three officers for accidentally launching missile into Pakistan

The Indian Air Force said on Tuesday the government had sacked three officers for accidentally firing a missile into Pakistan in March, an incident that the two nuclear-armed rivals handled calmly as there were no casualties.

Britain sees a record number of migrant crossings in the English Channel, according to report

A total of 1,295 people arrived in the United Kingdom after crossing the English Channel by boat Monday -- the highest daily total of migrants registered since records began in 2018, according to PA Media.

The 'world's smallest vineyard' is selling bottles for $5,000 apiece -- but doesn't want you to drink them

Tullio Masoni makes some of the most exclusive wine in the world, but he doesn't want you to drink it.

These Copenhagen designers are dressing A-list celebrities, but you've probably never heard of them

In March 2022, celebrity fashion counterculturalist Julia Fox arrived at the Vanity Fair Oscar After-Party dressed in a head-turning black leather gown with a halter-neck-turned-hand wrapped around her neck.

Supermodel Linda Evangelista opens up about disfiguring cosmetic procedure

Former supermodel Linda Evangelista has opened up about the mental health toll of her disfiguring cosmetic procedure, telling British Vogue that she struggled with depression and at one point even stopped eating. The 57-year-old also revealed she had been influenced by repeated TV commercials, saying she would have refused the fat-freezing treatment if she had known that "side effects may include losing your livelihood and (ending) up so depressed that you hate yourself."

'All of it is a lie': Russian paratrooper condemns his country's war in Ukraine

• Live updates: UN concerned Russia is preparing trials for Ukrainian POWs in Mariupol • Americans urged to leave Ukraine amid fears of renewed Russian attacks

Iran drops another key demand as prospects for revived nuclear deal increase

Iran has dropped another key demand related to nuclear inspections as negotiations continue over reviving the Iran nuclear deal, a senior administration official tells CNN.

Retired Col. Cedric Leighton joins CNN's Don Lemon to talk about the potential next moves for Ukraine as the US announces a new $775 million military assistance package for Kyiv.

Report: Japan considers deploying long-range missiles to counter China

Japan is considering the deployment of 1,000 long-range cruise missiles to boost its counterattack capability against China, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Sunday.

Russian paratrooper, Pavel Filatyev, tells CNN's Matthew Chance what he experience fighting the war in Ukraine and about feeling guilty for being used in "political games."

Qabale Duba reflects on receiving the inaugural Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award for her efforts to empower women and girls in rural Kenya. Mahali Hlasa helps expand health care delivery services throughout Lesotho with the non-profit, Riders for Health.

Audience Award - Be Part of the Jury!

All selected short films will participate in the competition for the Audience Award after they are uploaded on the Cittador International Film Festival´s website. The award is determined by Internet viewers using a voting tool. The film in each category with the highest number of voting will receive the Audience Award.

Be part of the public voting jury - visit our website, watch films and vote on: https://iff.cittador.com

You can submit your short film!

 

from Filmfestivals.com - Hollywood, Independent, Shorts, Videos, Documentary https://ift.tt/8NYwh4v
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'It's a hopeless situation,' says footballer Nadia Nadim a year since the Taliban's takeover in Afghanistan

With this week marking a year since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, football star Nadia Nadim is coming to terms with a "weird feeling."

Is this Nigerian teen the next women's golf prodigy?

A single moment can change the trajectory of our lives. For Nigerian Iyeneobong "Iyene" Essien, that moment came when she was just five years old. She remembers the day her dad took her to a golf course in Abuja, where she saw a boy teeing off. Intrigued by the sight, she asked her dad if she could pursue the sport.

Raila Odinga challenges presidential results in Kenyan Supreme Court

Presidential candidate Raila Odinga has formally filed a petition challenging the election results in Kenya's Supreme Court on Monday, according to one of Odinga's lawyers, Daniel Maanzo.

China flexes military muscles, then targets Taiwan's citrus fruits

For the last 18 years, Li Meng-han and his family have grown pomelos in a rural town near the southern Taiwanese city of Tainan.

China's July Russian coal imports hit 5-year high as West shuns Moscow

China's coal imports from Russia jumped 14% in July from a year earlier to their highest in at least five years, as China bought discounted coal while Western countries shunned Russian cargoes over its invasion of Ukraine.

Singapore to repeal colonial era law criminalizing sex between men, says prime minister

Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Sunday said the country will repeal the colonial-era Section 377A of Singapore's Penal Code, thereby decriminalizing gay sex in Singapore, but added that same-sex marriage will continue to be illegal in the city-state.

How to end the war on drugs in a country synonymous with drugs

It's the home of notorious drug trafficker Pablo Escobar, and the origin of legendary Santa Marta Gold -- once the most sought-after varieties of weed in the United States -- named after Colombia's Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range.

If North Korea has Covid beat, why buy 1 million face masks from China?

North Korea imported more than 1 million facial masks and 15,000 pairs of rubber gloves from China in July, shortly before declaring victory over Covid-19, Chinese trade figures show.

Mexican court issues 83 arrest warrants related to the disappearance of 43 students

A court in Mexico on Friday ordered the arrest warrants of 83 people allegedly involved in the 2014 disappearance of 43 students, the prosecutor's office said in a statement.

China must show it's not an 'agent of instability' on Taiwan, US Ambassador says

China needs to convince the rest of the world it is not an "agent of instability" and will act peacefully in the Taiwan Strait, US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns said in his first TV interview since taking up his post in Beijing six months ago.

Member of 'ISIS Beatles' sentenced for role in hostage-taking, killing of Americans

El Shafee Elsheikh, a British ISIS fighter and member of the execution cell dubbed "the ISIS Beatles" because of their British accents, was sentenced to life in prison Friday for his role in the hostage-taking and deaths of four Americans and several others.

Russia will once again shut off Europe's gas via Nord Stream 1 pipeline

Russia will halt gas supplies to Europe for three days at the end of the month via its main pipeline into the region, state energy giant Gazprom said on Friday, piling pressure on the region as it seeks to refuel ahead of winter.

Gunmen storm upscale hotel in Somalia's capital

Gunfire and explosions shook an upscale hotel in Mogadishu on Friday evening, as police responded to an attack by unidentified gunmen, according to local authorities and witnesses.

Russia's version of Starbucks reopens with a new name and logo

A restaurateur and rapper duo unveiled Stars Coffee on Thursday, reopening the chain of coffee shops in Russia formerly owned by Starbucks, the latest major company rebranding after a months-long Western corporate exodus from the country.

Brazilian President Bolsonaro tries to grab cell phone from YouTube heckler, video shows

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro got physical with a YouTuber who heckled him in the capital Brasilia on Thursday, according to video from Brazilian news station Globo.

North Korea rejects South's aid offer, calls President Yoon 'really simple'

North Korea has rejected South Korea's offer of economic support in exchange for denuclearization, saying the proposal suggests President Yoon Suk Yeol is "really simple," state media KCNA reported Friday.

The coworkers who fell in love when they shared a hotel room

When Ida Skibenes pulled up outside the Solstrand Hotel, her stomach was in knots, flipping between nerves and excitement.

Myanmar to import Russian oil, military says

Military-ruled Myanmar plans to import Russian gasoline and fuel oil to ease supply concerns and rising prices, a junta spokesperson said, the latest developing country to do so amid a global energy crisis.

Enter a serene 'pixel forest' in the heart of Hong Kong

In a dark room in the middle of Hong Kong, there's a new reprieve from the bustling city. It's a forest -- although it looks nothing like the dense greenery covering the nearby mountains.

Class-action lawsuit alleges sexual misconduct by prominent Quebec cardinal and priest

A class-action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of more than 100 victims of sexual assault dating back to the 1940s at the hands of members of Quebec's Roman Catholic Archiepiscopal Corporation and the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Quebec.

Africa's highest peak gets fast internet

Climbers ascending Mount Kilimanjaro can now document their ascents in real-time on Instagram, following a recent move by Tanzanian authorities to install high-speed internet around the mountain's slopes.

Sexual assault accuser wore 'provocative' clothing, Indian judge rules

A judge in southern India has ruled a woman wore "provocative" clothing, effectively dismissing her sexual assault complaint, causing public outcry in the country, where violence against women and girls make frequent headlines.

Outrage over Palestinian leader's '50 Holocausts' remark

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas struck a deep nerve on Tuesday when he said Israel has caused "50 Holocausts" against Palestinians, triggering outrage from world leaders and a social media storm.

Saudi activist sentenced to 34 years in prison for Twitter activity

Saudi women's rights campaigner Salma al-Shehab was sentenced to 34 years in prison on Monday for her activity on Twitter, according to court documents viewed by CNN.

The Rhine is shrinking, endangering Europe's top economy

Germany's Rhine river is getting too dry, snarling supply chains and creating more problems for its struggling economy.

Here's why a growing number of Americans are moving to Mexico

A growing number of Americans are crossing the southern border and making Mexico their new home. CNN's David Culver takes a look at the cause and effect of Americans settling in Mexico City.

Multiple bomb and arson attacks rock southern Thailand

Explosions and fires ripped through at least 17 locations in southern Thailand on Wednesday, authorities said, in what appeared to be multiple coordinated attacks that injured seven people.

UK inflation exceeds 10% as bread and milk prices soar

Inflation in the United Kingdom hit a new 40-year high last month, rising above 10% for the first time since 1982 and piling further pain on households already struggling to pay their bills.

North Korea fires two cruise missiles toward sea off its west coast, South Korean officials say

North Korea fired two cruise missiles early Wednesday morning, from the coastal town of Onchon into waters off its west coast, according to a South Korean Defense Ministry official.

President Yoon wants South Korea to become one of world's top weapons suppliers

South Korea plans to become one of the world's top four weapons suppliers, President Yoon Suk Yeol said Wednesday as he addressed reporters in a speech marking his first 100 days in office.

Analysis: Are talks over detained Americans slowing the fight for democracy in Venezuela?

A growing number of US citizens are being detained in Venezuela -- and though exactly how many is unknown, the detentions could give authoritarian leader Nicolas Maduro leverage in frosty relations with Washington.

Source: Myanmar court sentences former leader Aung San Suu Kyi to 6 more years

A court in military-run Myanmar on Monday sentenced ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi to six more years in prison after convicting her on four extra counts of corruption, according to a source familiar with the matter and local media reports.

Iranian adviser suggests nuclear deal is 'closer' than ever as Tehran responds to EU proposal

Iran has sent its response to a European Union proposal to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, state news agency IRNA reported, as the country's chief adviser to negotiations tweeted that an agreement was closer than ever, but not yet done.

How Iran exploited Salman Rushdie's Satanic Verses

Nearly 10 years after he was driven underground, Salman Rushdie believed he was free. The author had been living under heavy security and highest secrecy in London. But in 1998, the Iranian government of President Mohammad Khatami publicly distanced itself from the religious fatwa calling for his murder.

Selected Film in the Category Feminist Short: "Doxxed" by Otto Logan - Watch the Film and Vote for the Audience Award

Selected film in the category "Feminist Short": "Doxxed" by Otto Logan - 8 min., USA, 2022.

The filmmaker is also presented on our website with an interview.

☞ You can watch the film and vote as a jury member for the Audience Award.

Be a part of the jury, watch the film for free and vote here: Doxxed

☞ You can submit your own short film via FilmFreeway

from Filmfestivals.com - Hollywood, Independent, Shorts, Videos, Documentary https://ift.tt/9GIt2YT
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Inflation, explained: Why prices keep going up and who's to blame

Confused about inflation? You're not alone.

Who owns your credit score? Not you

Credit agencies know a lot about Americans. The agencies accumulate information, such as Social Security numbers, birthdays, how much savings people have, how much debt they're in and how late they pay their bills.

Brazilian woman swindled mother of more than $100 million in art, police say

Brazilian woman Sabine Coll Boghici, 48, was arrested on Wednesday on allegations she was part of a bizarre scheme to defraud her 82-year-old mother, Genevieve Boghici, the wife of the late art collector Jean Boghici, out of money, artwork and jewelry totaling some 724 million reais ($142.42 million).

in photos: 75 years of independence: India and Pakistan

In August 1947, the Indian subcontinent won its independence from the British, and two nations were born.

Five Americans among injured in Jerusalem shooting attack

At least eight people, including four US tourists, were wounded in a shooting attack targeting a bus near the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City early Sunday morning.

75 years on: How India went from impoverished British colony to emerging giant

At the stroke of midnight on August 15, 1947, India became an independent nation after nearly 200 years of British colonial rule, redeeming her "tryst with destiny" in the words of its first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.

Children among dozens killed in Egypt church fire

At least 18 children were among the dozens of people known to have died after a fire broke out at a church in Giza's Imbaba neighborhood in greater Cairo on Sunday, according to hospital documents seen by CNN.

India's 'Warren Buffett,' Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, dies at 62

Indian billionaire Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, sometimes called "India's Warren Buffett," died Sunday at age 62, according to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

She fled Afghanistan with her law degree sewn into her dress. Many of her colleagues were left behind

When Fawzia Amini worked as a senior judge in Afghanistan's Supreme Court, she presided over cases of violent crimes against women, hearing harrowing and heart-breaking accounts of child marriage, sexual assault and femicide.

Liz Truss is a political shape shifter. Now she's set for her toughest transformation yet as Britain's likely next prime minister

The person most likely to replace Boris Johnson as leader of Britain's governing Conservative Party and Prime Minister of the UK is a political chameleon who has gone from radical abolitionist to flag-bearer of the Euroskeptic, Conservative right. 

Taiwan blames politics for cancellation of global Pride event

Taiwan on Friday blamed "political considerations" for the cancellation of WorldPride 2025 Taiwan after it said the organizers had insisted the word "Taiwan" be removed.

'Lives torn asunder.' The children of Indian Partition, 75 years on

A small girl is woken in the night. The family is to travel immediately from their idyllic home near Lahore, in what is current-day Pakistan, to India.

The Rhine river is drying up, making it hard for cargo ships to travel

Germany's Rhine river is getting too dry, snarling supply chains and creating more problems for its struggling economy.

'Anti-memorials' honor Indian Partition's unseen victims, 75 years on

Through quiet but searing installations, artist Pritika Chowdhry reckons with violence that ripples through generations: mass displacement, rape and riots tracing back to the snaking borders that split a nation. For 15 years, she has made artworks based on the partition of British India into an independent India and Pakistan in 1947, as well as the bloody nationalist conflict that followed in East Pakistan, which cleaved off to become Bangladesh in 1971.

State media: 11 killed, including 2 children, in Montenegro gun attack

At least 11 people were killed, including two children, in a deadly mass shooting in Montenegro's southern city of Cetinje on Friday, according to state media RTCG.

Can You Refinance With $0 Out Of Pocket?

UK recession looms as households feel pain of soaring energy bills

Britons are bracing themselves for more tough times ahead as the economy starts to shrink and a new forecast suggests average annual energy bills could exceed £5,000 ($6,000) next year.

Parts of England officially fall into drought after months of scant rainfall

Large swaths of England have officially descended into drought, authorities announced Friday, following several months of low rainfall and relentless waves of extreme heat.

Hong Kong suffers biggest ever population drop as exodus accelerates

Hong Kong has recorded its sharpest annual drop in population, with experts blaming the decline on strict Covid control measures and a political crackdown that have taken the shine off a financial hub long advertised as "Asia's world city."

Seoul vows to move families from 'Parasite'-style basement homes after flooding deaths

Seoul has vowed to move some of the city's poorest families out of underground and semi-subterranean homes after 13 people were killed in flooding caused by record-breaking rainfall this week, sparking public horror and calls for government accountability.

They survived lockdown in Shanghai, only to be trapped again in Hainan

"I chose to come to Sanya because the Covid restrictions are more relaxed than (in) Shanghai," said Li Zefeng, an engineer who lives in China's biggest city.

Eight police officers killed in Sierra Leone during anti-government protests, minister says

Eight police officers were killed during violent anti-government protests in Sierra Leone on Wednesday, the country's youth minister told CNN on Thursday.

China's leading #MeToo figure loses appeal in sexual harassment case against star TV host

A Chinese court on Wednesday rejected an appeal by a former state television intern against the dismissal of her long-running landmark #MeToo case accusing a star presenter of sexual harassment.

Russia turns to convicts in desperate effort to replenish losses in Ukraine

• Live updates: US tracks Russian aircraft entering Alaska defense zone twice in a day • This airline is restarting flights to Russia

North Korea's Kim Jong Un declares victory against Covid

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared victory in the battle against the novel coronavirus, ordering a lifting of maximum anti-epidemic measures imposed in May, state media said on Thursday.

Trump's shadow looms over Iran nuclear deal

After yet another round of talks on reviving the Iran nuclear deal last week, the country's negotiators are now consulting with the leadership in Tehran on how to proceed. European Union officials say they have presented a "final," take-it-or-leave it text for the US and Iran to consider.

Curfew declared in Sierra Leone's capital Freetown amid violent anti-government protests

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Freetown, Sierra Leone on Wednesday, protesting inflation and the rising cost of living in the West African country, according to people that CNN spoke to.

6,000 people evacuated overnight as new wildfire rages in France

Thousands of hectares have been destroyed as a new fire rages in the Gironde area of southwestern France, barely two weeks after two major blazes destroyed more than 20,000 hectares of forests in the same region, according to official data.

Price hikes took a breather in July, fueling hopes that inflation has peaked

Runaway inflation took a breather in July, with consumer prices increasing by 8.5% year over year, a slower pace than the 9.1% increase in June, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday.

Europe's most beautiful towns

Paris, Rome, Barcelona... Europe's cities are bucket list destinations, and rightly so. But the continent's small towns are a dream, too, with all the beautiful architecture and much of the culture you'll find in the big hitters, only with fewer crowds to share them with.

Russians have begun training on Iranian drones, US believes

The US believes Russian officials have begun training on drones in Iran over the last several weeks, the latest sign that Russia intends to purchase the systems as the war in Ukraine continues.

Cuba's worst ever fire brought under control after burning for 5 days at oil depot, officials say

Firefighters on Tuesday finally overcame what officials described as the worst fire in Cuba's history that over five days destroyed 40% of the Caribbean island's main fuel storage facility and caused massive blackouts.

Gangs gain the upper hand in war with Haitian police

The rounds bounced off the armored vehicle, as police carried a limp civilian to the sidewalk -- another victim of the brutal, daily shootings that plague the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince and the surrounding area. Here, inside the gang-held territory of Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti's SWAT team has driven into a gunfight that has already torn up a civilian bus.

Toni Minichiello, former coach of Olympic gold medalist, handed lifetime ban

Toni Minichiello, the athletics coach known for helping Jessica Ennis-Hill to gold at the 2012 London Olympics, was handed a lifetime ban by UK Athletics on Tuesday for repeated instances of alleged sexually inappropriate conduct, emotional abuse and bullying.

Priceless treasures recovered from 350-year-old shipwreck

Stories of buried treasure and ancient shipwrecks have captivated for centuries, from pirate tales to Hollywood blockbusters. For one team of explorers, however, legend became reality when they uncovered a trove of artifacts from a 350-year-old sunken Spanish galleon -- including coins, gemstones and priceless jewels once belonging to seafaring knights.

Unexploded WWII bomb revealed in Italy's dried-up Po River

Heatwaves sweeping Europe this summer have brought not just record high temperatures and scorched fields: The drought-stricken waters of Italy's Po River are running so low they revealed a previously submerged World War II bomb.

British boy dies after life support stopped at end of long legal battle between his parents and doctors

This small Japanese town is a vintage vending machine paradise

There's a reason Sagamihara, Japan, isn't in travel guides. It's a sprawling commuter city for nearby Yokohama and Tokyo; a mix of main roads, light industrial estates and quiet towns people go through rather than stop.

Why Hamas stayed out of the latest Gaza conflict

One of the most important aspects of the weekend's short but violent conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) was what didn't happen: Hamas' involvement.

EU official: Final text to revive Iran deal is ready

A "final text" to revive the Iran nuclear deal is ready to be signed in Vienna, according to the European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. However, the text must still be approved by Iran and the US, he said on Monday.

UN soldiers have come under attack in the DRC from locals who want them out. Here's why.

Two decades ago, a UN force landed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to keep the peace in a volatile territory almost overrun by armed militias. But with the insurgents still on the prowl, locals say the peacekeepers have outstayed their welcome.

Amnesty regrets 'distress' caused by report on Ukrainian military, but stands by findings

Amnesty International said it "deeply regrets the distress and anger" caused by a report the group published on the Ukrainian military's fighting tactics, but added that it "fully" stands by the findings, which concluded those tactics violated international humanitarian law.

BKK DOC 2022, documentaries competing for an Official Selection

 

The competition is on for a selection, and an award, at the 2022 edition of BKK DOC, Bangkok International Documentary award and film festival.
Hundres of submissions have been received since January, the call for entries for features closing late July. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Facing an increasing a large amount of submissions for short documentary categories, the management team has decided to create another competition dedictaed to this specific art form that is the Short documentary film: BKK short DOC. It acts as a qualifier for BKK DOC main competition.

(submit a short doc here: www.filmfreeway.com/bkkshortdoc)
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The 4 BKK short DOC award winners will be automaticaly nominated to the Bkk Doc Best Short Documentary category with a chance to win over a BKK DOC award in addition to the BKK short DOC awards !

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Covid-positive Australia cricketer helps team win Commonwealth Games gold

Australia all-rounder Tahlia McGrath was allowed to play in the gold medal win over India in the Commonwealth Games women's T20 cricket final on Sunday despite testing positive for Covid-19 only hours before the toss.

Shirtless Adam Driver goes viral for Burberry. Again

As we enter August, there is one definitive accessory making summer headlines: an enviable set of sculpted abs.

Israel, Islamic Jihad, say Gaza ceasefire agreement reached

Israel says an agreement to restore a ceasefire for Gaza will come into effect at 11:30 p.m. local time (4:30 p.m. ET), following up a similar announcement from Islamic Jihad a short while earlier.

Hundreds of Haitian and Cuban migrants in custody after landing on or near Florida coast, US official says

Hundreds of Haitian and Cuban migrants using 16 different vessels were taken into custody after making landfall or reaching the US coast off Florida from Friday to Saturday, US Customs and Border Patrol said.

Leading Taiwanese weapons developer found dead in hotel room

The deputy head of Taiwan's government-controlled weapons developer has died after suffering a heart attack on a trip to the south of the island.

Explosions near Russian-occupied nuclear plant spark fears of a potential disaster

Ukrainian officials and international experts have been warning for months of the risk that fighting poses to a sprawling nuclear power plant on the banks of Dnipro River in southern Ukraine. Earlier this week, the global nuclear watchdog said the situation was becoming increasingly perilous.

China launches long-range airstrike drills around Taiwan on fourth day of military exercises

Chinese forces took part in drills focused on land attacks and long-range airstrikes around Taiwan on Sunday, its military said, on what was expected to be the final day of extensive exercises rolled out in response to a visit to the island by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Odd Couple, Review: Tying the not

Odd Couple, Review: Tying the not

It’s nice to be taken by surprise, especially if the film is not a suspense thriller. And Odd Couple does just that. Borrowing its title from the 1965 Neil Simon comedy play, The Odd Couple, made into a film (1968) starring Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon, in which one of the two bosom friends does all the household chores that you would normally associate with a woman, this film has the man, of a man-woman couple, doing the laundry and the cooking, and the woman doing pretty much nothing. Weighed down by an easy, odd title (they could have come up with something better), the makers have not one but two…three…no, four couples, and the word ‘odd’ can apply, very broadly, to all of them. The film did not need the add-ons and the side-tracks that are padded on, for its basic premise is strong enough. Having taken a very bold stance, it then leaves everything open. That is a let-down, as are the numerous co-incidences that act as crutches for an able-bodied work. Worth a watch.

Due to a clerical or typographical error, the wives of Piyush (26) and Yogesh (42), a painter have been swapped. Both are named Nivedita, though the surname of one is Verma and the other’s, Rao. Nivedita Rao (24)’s pet-name is Navi, and she is in a live in relationship with entrepreneur, Piyush, who wants to launch a food-start-up that will supply lakhs of Mumbai residents with lunch tiffins at the low, low price of Rs. 26. He is the woman of the house, and Navi enjoys being spoilt, being the daughter of a billionaire. Yogesh and Nivedita (39, a translator of literary works) were married, till, eight years ago, when, one night, Yogesh packed his bags and inexplicably left for Berlin. Seven years later, they were legally divorced, since the law states that if a spouse is absent or missing for seven years or more, the marriage is declared null and void.

Both these couples decide to get married on the same day. In the case of Piyush and Navi, it is the logical step, since they have had a long courtship. For Yogesh and Nivedita, it is a bit complex. Yogesh wants to acquire a piece of property, for nostalgic reasons, but cannot, because he is now a German citizen. Re-marrying Nivedita will get him the property, which he will purchase in her name. Moreover, it appears that Nivedita’s anger has thawed and Yogesh has mellowed down too. That is how these two couples land-up in the Marriage Registrar’s office, after completing due formalities, and sign the Marriage Certificates. They fail to spot the bloomer, which pairs Piyush with Nivedita and Yogesh with Navi. And the only way they can reverse the act is by spending some time as the mis-matched husbands and wives, and then asking for divorce.

Web searches do not show any previous efforts of story-writer Praneet Verma, and his co-writer, Prashant Johari. Screenplay and dialogue come from the pen of Johari, who is also the director. For a debut, Odd Couple is promising indeed. Lyrics are meaningful. The dependence on co-incidences and the insertion of facetious sub-plots was quite unnecessary, though that would mean a reduction in length by at least 22 minutes, which rather than mar, would enhance the overall effect of the film. I mention the figure because the duration of the film is indicated as 121.56 minutes in one place and 118 minutes in another. 100 minutes would have been ideal. Perhaps the makers have made voluntary cuts of 3 min. 56 sec. in order to get a UA certificate. Honestly, the film should have been given and A certificate, for Adults only, with all the content intact. A case is made for Biharis, who are very often stereo-typed and pigeon-holed by non Biharis. But what about the Sardarjee (Sunny) who plays the advocate? He is as type-cast as can be.

Language has a generous dose of double entendre and surrogate sexual innuendo, mainly from Piyush and the Sunny. In fact, the entire Sunny and his wife track is in bad taste and a joke carried too far, playing on 11 o’clock, which might be another surrogate reference. On the other hand, the apparent inability of Piyush to intonate certain sounds in Hindustani has a very clever twist, one of the surprises that catches you off-guard. Except for Navi’s father, no family-member of any of the other main characters is either shown or referred to. Two Niveditas living in the same building and getting married on the same day, in court, is very hard to digest. The cat-fight between Navi and her friend Reet, on the street, is not justified enough by the reasons advanced later.

Judge, advocate and tea-boy are seen more often as caricatures than realistic, and so is the case in Odd Couple. That the Marriage Registrar, who got the couple married, is promoted to a Judge of the Family Court, and is officiating when the couples’ divorce case comes-up, is another co-incidence that takes some believing. But the twist given to the basic premise of the story, in the second half, and leading-up to the end, is worth applauding, and enough to carry the film on its own. One shot that Johari takes of Navi, late at night, in bed, with camera slowly panning, is worth remembering. And just for the record, there is nothing titillating about it.

Divyenndu as Piyush has grown as an actor, even in comparison to Shukranu, though both were made at the same time. Yet, a few characteristics remain: his slightly shrill, loud voice and a general monotone of dialogue delivery. This helps in attaining clarity but does not help modulation. Getting him to speak with the accent heard in certain parts of Bihar, and then having him speak perfectly clear Hindi, when the situation arises, is a tour de force. Singer-actress Suchitra Krishnmoorthi plays Nivedita Verma, and it was nice to see the rarely seen actress on screen, essaying a carefully studied role, though largely uni-dimensional. This is only her second role in since 2011. The amply talented Vijay Raaz is cast as Yogesh Pant, and he proves that all the forgettable voice-overs he does are purely for the moolah. Brooding and introverted, a man of few words, he is in his element. Model Pranati Rai Prakash is Navi, the confused, 24- year-old, impulsive girl, who is unable to comprehend what is going on around her. She has done three web series and this is her third feature film. Gifted with beauty/modelling pageant credentials, including Miss Beautiful Legs, not to mention the rest of her figure, she shows limited acting potential. More comfortable in English, she has an infectious laugh.

Stocky Manoj Pahwa is named Chautala and is first the Marriage Registrar and then a Judge at the Family Court. This role is exactly up his street, comic, bordering on the ludicrous. As Sunny, Chirag Singla has the most double-meaning lines, and does not convince as an advocate. Leaving an impression in a role that begins well but slips into poor writing, Saharsh Kumar Shukla as Sudhir, the taxi driver, does a good job. Over-the-top is Sumit Gulati, who we see as a property broker. He seems hardly the person Yogesh would deal with. Another poorly written role. Also in the cast are Neha Negi as Reet, Pradeep Singh Adhikari as the Postman, Vinay Kumar as a waiter, Chunmun Yadav as the tea boy-cum-court ‘agent’ and Satyakam Anand as the Embassy Officer. Name of the actor who plays Navi’s father was not available.

There is a name in the credit tiles that is the same as a senior film-maker’s: editor Prakash Jha, though I doubt it could be him. Both Prakash and Jha are common names in Bihar. A lot of footage is spent on street shots and establishing Mumbai, time and again. Moreover, the film is definitely too long. Music by Jay Rajesh Arya is of an acceptable standard while cinematography by Srijit Basu makes good use of lighting. The film was produced under the banner of Nipram Creations, rights were bought by Shemaroo Entertainment and its digital distributor is Panorama studios. It was seen on a Vimeo link provided by Ashwani Shukla of Altair Media, the Public Relations Agency of the film. Odd Couple is already being shown on the OTT platform Amazon Prime Video. It was first seen at the Jagran Film Festival in 2019, which makes it three years old. Never mind. The film has not really aged.

Nor many would dare to make films on Freudian (Sigmund Freud was an Austrian neurologist who propounded an extensive theory about sexuality, based on several case studies; he died in 1939) concepts. The closest they got was in When Harry Met Sally. Odd Couple goes one step further and raises a very pertinent question: are men and women monogamous by definition, or, is it possible to feel attracted, both mentally and physically, to another person, after having been married or in love with one? Though the Odd Couple only examines a situation where tying the (k)not does not necessarily mean that you will never fall in love again, that too in a slightly comic vein, it is a revolutionary step. That it does not have the guts and gumption to go the whole hog is evident by the ending, but the bravado must be welcomed.

Rating: ***

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3O7cBiKUQM

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US will defend Philippines if attacked in South China Sea: Blinken

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken assured the Philippines on Saturday that the United States would come to its defense if attacked in the South China Sea, seeking to allay concerns about the extent of the US commitment to a mutual defense treaty.

Desperate Yemeni families are watching their children die

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Taiwan says multiple Chinese aircraft and vessels spotted in possible simulated attack

Taiwan says it detected "multiple" Chinese aircraft and naval vessels taking part in military drills around the Taiwan Strait on Saturday, in what could be a possible simulated attack against the island.

Flash floods kill 550 in Pakistan in heaviest rains in decades

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William and Kate's kids step in as school shuts for summer

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Nancy Pelosi says US will not allow Taiwan to be isolated as China holds military drills

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South Korea launches first lunar orbiter as space program advances

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At least 13 killed, dozens injured as fire engulfs Thai nightclub

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Rescuers race to free miners trapped in flooded mine in Mexico

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Japan says 5 Chinese missiles were believed to have landed within its Exclusive Economic Zone

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US postponed missile test due to heightened tensions with China over Pelosi's visit to Taiwan

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Analysis: Biden's fist bump with MBS fails to pay off

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French government orders laser weapon prototype for Paris Olympics

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Starbucks sales falter in China because of Covid restrictions

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TikTok's ties to China are once again under fire in Washington. Here's why

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Stunning image shows result of two galaxies colliding

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BP profits triple as UK customers face even higher energy bills

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Bullet Train, Review: Brad luck Pitt

Bullet Train, Review: Brad luck Pitt

A Japanese book adapted into an American film, with Brad Pitt in the leading role, set on a high speed train, with armed and dangerous Mafia agents and gangsters on board, seems to be the menu for a high-octane entertainer. And for once, a film delivers most of what it promises. It is a quaint mix of mayhem, mirth and thrills. Bullet Train re-works the gangster genre with a twist that is so obvious that you wonder why did nobody think of it before. And that novelty is the speed at which dialogue is delivered, or, rather, rattled off. What better vehicle to try out such an experiment than a film called Bullet Train? If the train can clock 320 kms per hour, why can’t the characters speak at 320 words per minute? Leave aside the fact that intelligible speech has to be around 150-160 w.p.m. That rule applies to English. What rule should apply to a version dubbed in Hindi?

Trained American killer Ladybug, who believes he is one of the unluckiest men on earth, wants to give up the life but is pulled back in by his handler, Maria Beetle, in order to collect a briefcase on a bullet train, heading from Tokyo to Kyoto. He is unaware that on-board the train are an assortment of gangsters and criminal-minded characters: the Son of a Mafia Don called White Death, two ruthless killers called Tangerine and Lemon, who have rescued the son from a gang that held him for ransom, after killing 17 persons in the process, a young woman called Prince who poses as a schoolgirl but has a blood-curdling agenda. On board the train, Ladybug and other competing assassins discover their objectives are all connected.

Tangerine and Lemon have the brief-case, and they are supposed to deliver the Son and the briefcase to White Death. They have kept it where luggage is stored in the train, and to pinch it is a cinch. Before you can say Ladybug, the lady has been bugged. In other words, the brief-case has been taken. If the case was so brief, the film would have ended here, but the theft is discovered, and not wanting to face the wrath of White Death, Tangerine and Lemon (who is extra conscious of his name, which, in all probability, is a code name) are out get the thief. There also arrives Yuichi Kimura, son of an ex criminal organisation member, Kimura the Elder, who was removed from his position by White Death and whose daughter was flung off a building by Prince. Now wants to settle scores, both with Prince and with White Death. Prince too wants to settle scores, with…? And where is Kimura? A lot is going to happen between Tokyo and Kyoto, both in the front end and the back end of the Bullet Train.

Kōtarō Isaka is a Japanese writer, much decorated, whose works have been published in Chinese, French, Korean, Taiwanese, Thai, English, Italian, Russian and German (Hindi, anyone?). This is the first time his work has been made into a film, with a screenplay by Zak Olkewicz. Originally titled Maria Beetle, a character who is only seen in the climax, the screen version comes with a new name, Bullet Train, the title under which its English edition was published. Zak, who is ZOlkewicz on Twitter, has co-written written Fear Street Part II (1978) before Bullet Train. Whereas Fear Street was horror, this one is black comedy that unfolds at an express pace, with most characters getting into funny situations with deadpan looks.Bullet Train pays tribute to Dame Agatha Christie by turning Murder on the Orient Express on its head, and gets awy with it.

It is a bit odd that 80% of the characters in the film are Caucasian, including the main hero and the arch-villain, and all are aboard a Japanese train. At one point, the screenplay tries to justify this anomaly by letting you know that someone has bought all the tickets for this train beyond a point, and so no one will board the train anymore. But what about before that? The only three Japanese-looking humans on the train are a cleaner, a bar-trolley girl and a ticket checker. And all of them appear either unaffected or unaware of the goings on, that include bullets being fired, throats being slashed, blood dripping from faces and an enterprising man jumping on the train’s engine room, shattering the glass and entering as if nothing had happened at all. Then there is the joker, dressed in an inflated costume, ostensibly to entertain the commuters, until the costume comes off. One Caucasian lady commuter is bugged by Ladybug, and the other bugs, and keeps giving everybody a piece of her mind, till her mind…she herself disappears. There is a lot of philosophy doled out, including a piece about how a ladybug is one of the noblest creatures on earth.

Action is a highlight of the film, and some pieces of continuity have been sacrificed towards that end. Bullet Train is directed by a stuntman-turned-director, David Leitch (John Wick, Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2, Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw). Atomic Blonde did not really deliver, so he has gone slow on the sexual content here, which is only present in the dialogue. To his credit, Leitch does not fix his lens on Pitt, but trains it on other train passengers too. Besides, he gives you several flashbacks to explain the equations between the characters, perhaps one too many. One does wonder why, in the days of video-calling, Maria Beetle and Ladybug communicate only through audio calls.

A Japanese film…well, a film set in Japan… cannot be complete without sword-fighting, samurai style, and there is a generous dose of that too. A mixture of various genres – action, crime syndicates, comedy, black comedy, thriller, and so on – the movie manages to blend them well. There are several twists and turns, emanating almost at the pace of the train, and they are evenly paced too. Leitch often holds back the obvious reaction, in the classic Chaplin theory, which is on these lines, “Comedy is not a man falling in an open sewer. It is comedy when the man notices the open sewer, jumps across safely, slips on a banana peel, slides back, and then falls in the sewer.” Many of the punches in Bullet Train follow this principle. AS far as the motor-mouth dialogues go, I am not totally convinced it is a good idea. However, the generation that has grown up listening to ratatat Radio Jockeys on private FM stations in India, might find it perfectly normal. 

Brad Pitt once again proves that he is not a mere good-looker, but can go through a whole set of emotions, given the chance. And there are plenty of chances on offer in Bullet Train. Maybe his constant whining about his bad luck is a bit much, prompting the headline for this review, but he has given his role a lot, including 95% of the stunts done in person. Joey King as Prince, the British assassin posing as a schoolgirl, was signed for a cameo, though her role is a little more than a cameo. Her looks lend themselves to the schoolgirl pretence and the deadpan mayhem that she unleashes when she comes out of the schoolgirl mode. It is worth noting that there is no heroine in the film, and nobody is paired with Brad Pitt.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Tangerine, a British assassin and Lemon's associate and Brian Tyree Henry as Lemon, a British assassin and Tangerine's associate, are cast as twins, though it is impossible to accept them as a such, Lemon being black notwithstanding. Henry has a better role, though Taylor-Johnson (or his double) gets to do the best stunts in the film. Andrew Koji as Yuichi Kimura, a Japanese assassin, whose daughter was thrown off the terrace of a building, has been moulded in the classic Akira Kurosawa/Toshiro Mifune school, even more so Hiroyuki Sanada as The Elder, a Japanese assassin and Kimura’s father.

Michael Shannon as White Death, the leader of a criminal organization, who appears only in the climax, does a fair job. Benito A. Martínez Ocasio as The Wolf, a Mexican assassin with a vendetta against Ladybug, is more funny than dangerous. Sandra Bullock plays Maria Beetle, Ladybug's contact and handler, and the reference to Moneypenny from James Bond cannot escape you. Zazie Beetz as Hornet, an American assassin posing as a train crew member, Logan Lerman as The Son, White Death's son, and Karen Fukuhara as a train crew member are others in the cast.

A film of this nature has to depend a lot on three other departments, besides screenplay, direction and acting: cinematography, editing and stunts. Bullet Train scores high overall in all three heads, though I wish the film was at least 15 minutes shorter than the 128 that it clocks. Credit for cinematography goes to French lens-man Jonathan Sela (a Leitch regular), editing is by Elisabet Ronaldsdóttir (who is from Iceland and worked with Leitch in Deadpool 2 and Atomic Blonde; the breakneck pace is partly due to her sharp scissors), and the stunts must have had the personal supervision of the director. Music by Dominic Lewis remained unobtrusive and un-noticeable, with a hark-back to a couple of retro pop numbers of the 70s. The Hindi dubbing leaves something to be desired, resorting to local street lingo while translating American dialectics.

While India awaits its first bullet train, Japan has had them for ages. Getting Brad Pitt and Co. on it might be both a coup and questionable supplanting, but the adrenaline does flow, and Pitt’s luck holds. Whether it is 320 kms per hour or 320 w.p.m., matters little in the end. Buy your billet…er…ticket and get on. It’s a rollicking, throat slitting, bullet pumping, face blowing ride.

Rating: ***

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IOsk2Vlc4o

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Pakistan election agency rules former Prime Minister Imran Khan's party got illegal funds

Pakistan's election commission ruled on Tuesday that former Prime Minister Imran Khan's political party received millions of dollars in illegal funds from foreign countries, including the United States, the United Arab Emirates, the UK, and Australia.

Cannabis cafes the latest addition to Thailand's tourism offerings

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White House warns China against escalations over Pelosi's potential trip to Taiwan

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Watch Will Smith's apology to Chris Rock

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UN brigade in Congo opened fire at border post, killing two

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Kosovo starts issuing extra documents to Serbian citizens as protesters block roads

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'Win hearts and minds' in Taiwan and Hong Kong, Chinese leader Xi urges Communist Party

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China's gambling hub Macao to ease Covid-19 restrictions

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Fidel Ramos, former Philippine leader who helped oust Marcos, dies at 94

Former Philippine President Fidel Valdez Ramos, who died on Sunday, was a fighter during wars in Korea and Vietnam and a survivor in the political arena, emerging from a high-ranking security role during the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. to win the vote for the nation's highest office. He was 94.