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North Korea fires suspected ballistic missile as its anti-US rhetoric intensifies

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North Korea
  • The missile was launched shortly after 11 a.m. local time.
  • The missile achieved a maximum altitude of roughly 50km.
  • The Japan Coast Guard advised all vessels to wait for further information.

North Korea launched a suspected ballistic missile on Sunday, the latest in a series of provocative measures condemned by its neighbors as endangering regional peace.

According to Japan’s Ministry of Defense and the South Korean army, the missile was launched shortly after 11 a.m. local time.

According to Japan’s defense ministry, the missile achieved a maximum altitude of roughly 50km (31 miles) and flew a distance of approximately 800km (497 miles). According to the South Korean military, it was launched from the Dongchang-ri area of North Pyongan province in North Korea and landed in the sea between the Korean Peninsula and Japan.

Upon its landing, the Japan Coast Guard advised all vessels to wait for further information, avoid approaching falling debris, and report anything unusual.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) of South Korea stated that the military had increased monitoring and vigilance in anticipation of additional launches “while maintaining a full readiness posture through close cooperation with the US.”

North Korea has conducted a series of missile tests, including the launch of a long-range ballistic missile on Thursday while leaders from South Korea and Japan convened in Tokyo, as well as the launch of two cruise missiles from a submarine and two short-range ballistic missiles days earlier.

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Why Roll the Dice again when ‘Lord of the Rings’ is the rare perfect trilogy?

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Lord of the Rings
  • It’s reasonable to assume that in today’s film industry, companies are seeking franchises.
  • Solo movies and television series are no longer regarded safe bets.
  • The Marvel Cinematic Universe, Harry Potter, and Star Wars have all been astronomical hits.

It’s reasonable to assume that in today’s film industry, companies are seeking franchises. Solo movies and television series are no longer regarded safe bets; instead, every new release should be part of a trilogy or cinematic universe, concentrating on the forest rather than the trees. The Marvel Cinematic Universe (and its counterpart the DC Universe), Harry Potter, and Star Wars have all been astronomical hits for their studios and everyone is now anxious for a piece of that franchise pie. But, it’s probable that none of these franchises would exist today if not for Peter Jackson’s original trilogy of The Lord of the Rings films, which are still watchable today and are the originators of the contemporary blockbuster trilogy made in a totally different way than these new kids on the neighbourhood may. Now that Warner Bros. is planning to return to the Middle-Earth setting for new films, it’s difficult to picture them reaching the same degree of distinctive excellence that the original trilogy established for the series.

‘Lord of the Rings’ Shows Appreciation for Its Setting

When one of the first big trailers for Spider-Man: No Way Home was published, one sentence sparked outrage among fans. As well-known supervillain Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina) reveals our main cast his name, one of them chuckles and inquires about his’real’ name. The statement isn’t particularly rare in the MCU, but it highlights a recurring issue: characters constantly act like movie characters. Characters can be overconfident in their surroundings and skills, and as a result, the audience doesn’t truly buy when anything important happens since it’s usually cut short by some self-aware joke that reminds them they’re watching a movie. If the audience is unable to become immersed, they will not care as much as they would otherwise.

Lord of the Rings recognises this, and it always treats Middle-Earth with a degree of care and attention that other big-budget films seem to lack. The idea may appear ludicrous at first (all evil is magically confined in a little golden ring in a community of “leaf” smoking, heavy-drinking farmers), yet there is not a single joke at the cost of the tale in any of the three films. The ring is a serious business, and by implication, Sauron and his forces of evil are as well. When our heroes are attacked by Ringwraiths, the picture is engulfed with evil chanting and choirs. If the Hobbits are apprehended, they will face death and servitude. Because the wraiths and Sauron are never made fun of, the audience comes to appreciate their existence. There’s a genuine palpable suspense in the sequence where a wraith appears to have discovered our four hobbits behind a root. You could find yourself, like the others, holding your breath. That kind of immersion has a lot of clout; the film is going into your skull in the greatest manner conceivable.

The movies successfully communicate not just dread to their audiences, but also the majesty of the site itself. The awe-inspiring landscapes of New Zealand give Middle-Earth the splendour it deserves, and every region feels dripping with history and a true feeling of spaciousness. The films also portray grief effectively, allowing for genuine misery when necessary. The audience is left in that vacuum when things are genuinely dismal. There are no quips or jokes that can save them from this sensation.That’s not to suggest there aren’t any jokes; they’re simply strategically spread out so that they don’t stomp on another emotion the viewer should be feeling. Even Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd), the Fellowship’s closest comedic relief figures, have dramatic moments and vital roles to play in the story’s events.

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‘Lights Out,’ short film is creepier than its feature-length counterpart

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Lights Out
  • David F. Sandberg has made huge strides as a director in his first few years.
  • The original Lights Out short is a fantastic, bite-sized horror flick.
  • The short was first shown at the Bloody Cuts Horror Challenge before being posted on YouTube.

David F. Sandberg has made huge strides as a director in his first few years, with the recently released Shazam!, being his fourth feature film. Wrath of the Gods is his finest film, but Lights Out is his best. Sandberg’s horror debut was a major step for him after years of directing short films, but it wasn’t the first Lights Out picture. That would be the short film of the same name, directed by Sandberg in 2013. This early version, which is only two minutes and 24 seconds long, manages to be even scarier than the eventual feature-length adaption. While both films explore the general subject in intriguing ways, the first short video manages to retain more suspense, shocks, and mystery in less than 3 minutes than a full 81-minute feature.

What Is ‘Lights Out’?

The original Lights Out short is a fantastic, bite-sized horror flick. It follows a woman (Lotta Losten) as she prepares to go to bed, and when she turns off the lights in her house, someone comes in the shadows. Sandberg and his wife, Losten, filmed the film in their house on a shoestring budget, utilising equipment he had accumulated over the years. Sandberg was able to produce the picture without relying on others by using simple lighting and editing procedures, demonstrating his talents as a savvy, clever director. The short was first shown at the Bloody Cuts Horror Challenge before being posted on YouTube and Vimeo. Here, it became viral, attracting the interest of the film industry, resulting in the 2016 feature-length version.

David F. Sandberg’s horror flick Lights Out was released in 2016. Rebecca (Teresa Palmer) and Martin (Gabriel Bateman) are two siblings who are compelled to confront a supernatural figure who is tied to their mother and only emerges in the shadows. Now they must solve the enigma of this unseen presence before anyone is harmed. Lights Out is a mostly effective horror experience. Because it was created by James Wan of The Conjuring fame, you should expect a certain level of terror when watching this film. It’s a rather approachable popcorn horror film. Sure, there isn’t much blood and gore, the film looks about as gleaming as other James Wan productions, and the suspense isn’t overwhelming like in the most effective horror films. It is, nonetheless, entertaining and gives a nice experience for horror enthusiasts everywhere.

The ‘Lights Off’ Function Loses Its Mysteriousness

The film falters in what occurs with many short-film-turned-feature scenarios. In many cases, what was previously a straightforward notion must now be filled out over a considerably longer period of time. Lights Out begins intriguingly since you don’t know what’s going on with this mysterious thing or where it originated from. The opening sequence is its strongest, and it is essentially an extended replica of the 2013 short film. Esther (Lotta Lotsen playing a character eerily similar to hers in the short) is a factory worker closing up shop when she notices the shape of a long-haired human in the shadows. She then goes after her employer (Billy Burke), who is later pursued and slain by the monster. It’s an excellent scary set piece! This everything rapidly falls apart, with all of its mystical features getting over-explained. By the midway mark, there is little mystery left. It’s a letdown, but the remainder of the film is still enjoyable.

The original short film from 2013 tells a different narrative. Sandberg’s short film benefits from being a lean and harsh horror experience. Long periods of expository discussion, looking through papers that explain the villain’s past, or anything along those lines are not to be found here. The adversary in this story is simply a scary otherworldly presence! It’s fantastic. That is most effective the first time you see it. It’s simply standing there and lurking in the shadows, reappearing every time the main character switches the lights down. The picture is replicated in the 2016 feature film, but it is so high quality and polished that it lacks the spooky touch that only low-budget cinematography can provide. The shadows in this hallway scene are shot with a lower-quality camera in the short film, making them appear grainier and dirtier. When a horror picture is overproduced, the eerie element suffers.

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Thousands march in Israel against Netanyahu’s judicial reform

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Israel
  • People marched against the government’s plan to limit the Supreme Court’s authority.
  • The 11th week of protests has begun.
  • The growing protests have had an impact on the economy.

Tens of thousands of Israelis marched again in nationwide demonstrations against the government’s plan to limit Supreme Court authority.

The 11th week of protests has begun, with opponents of the reforms accusing right-wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of weakening judicial independence.

Mr. Netanyahu, who is facing corruption charges, has stated that his goal is to reestablish a balance of power between the government and Israel’s highest court.

The growing protests have had an impact on the economy and spurred some military reservists to threaten to ignore call-up orders.

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Season 1 of ‘The Last of Us’ was never about saving the world

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The Last of Us
  • Ellie and Joel set out to save humanity in Season 1 of  ‘The Last of Us.’
  • The story was always about something far more personal.
  • The Last of Us clears the air by demonstrating that Season 1 of this epic video-game adaptation.

Ellie and Joel set out to save humanity in Season 1 of ‘The Last of Us,’ but the story was always about something far more personal.

As Joel (Pedro Pascal) beats a FEDRA soldier to death with his bare hands in the first episode of The Last Of Us, it serves as an introduction to the wrath and sadness Joel has harboured since the day he witnessed his daughter, Sarah, killed down by a scared soldier at the start of the fungal epidemic. Joel has been a man without a purpose ever then, as he confesses when he tells Ellie (Bella Ramsey) about his failed suicide attempt in the show’s dramatic Season 1 conclusion. By the time Joel decides to join Ellie in Episode 9, “Look for the Light,” it is clear that Joel has developed feelings for his adolescent partner-in-crime. During this period, The Last of Us also appears to be shifting away from the emotional hardships and tribulations of Joel and Ellie as individuals and towards a sci-fi narrative about rescuing the planet. But, The Last of Us clears the air by demonstrating that Season 1 of this epic video-game adaptation was never about rescuing the planet.

Season 1 of The Last of Us features Joel as a devastated father who refuses to believe that there is anything worth protecting in the world. Joel is shown throughout the season suffering from the painful memories of the night the Cordyceps chose to take over and he lost his only daughter. Nevertheless, as his adventure with Ellie came to a conclusion, we witnessed Joel’s optimism rekindled. For a brief moment, The Last of Us Season 1 leads the audience to believe that Joel has discovered his calling in life: to give mankind one final opportunity. Yet, Joel’s actions in the finale show that the only world worth saving is one with Ellie in it.

Via Ellie, Joel re-connects with Sarah

Joel has discovered Sarah in Ellie. Of course, not literally, but when Joel points out all the similarities between Ellie and Sarah in Episode 9, it’s apparent he feels she fills the void left in his life by Sarah’s absence. Joel’s emotional spectrum varied from one extreme to the other on the same scale from the beginning to the end of the season. He begins as a cold and stubborn guy who has grown accustomed to the harsh realities of life in a post-apocalyptic world. Joel will not even recognise his background, let alone express his fears. Every time Ellie attempts to delve into his past, Joel keeps her from entering experiences he never plans to discuss again.

Joel’s progressive change occurs throughout the season, as Ellie evolves from cargo for the Fireflies to a part of his life worth sacrificing everything for, very literally in this case. In Episode 9, he admits to Ellie that she has made the world worth rescuing for him, revealing his worries and embracing the father within him whom he had left behind in time. Ellie concludes, after her harrowing experience with David in Episode 8, that too many people have died around her for her to live, including her mother, Anna, and closest friend, Riley. Ellie believes that if her life is to have any significance, she must fulfil her destiny of rescuing the planet. When Joel suggests returning midway through the Season 1 finale, she makes this clear to him.

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Ukraine and Russia extend grain deal despite disagreement

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Ukraine

It is uncertain how long it will last. Russia has warned that it will not allow the agreement to continue. Ukraine’s access to Black Sea ports has been obstructed by Russian vessels since the invasion. A contract has been extended that allows Ukraine to ship millions of tonnes of grain through the Black Sea despite … Read more

Penn Badgley choose the ‘You’ season 4 moments he’s “Most Proud Of”

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Penn Badgley
  • Penn Badgley directed his first episode of ‘You,’ Season 4 Episode 9.
  • From the show’s launch in 2018, Badgley has played Joe Goldberg, a violent stalker.
  • Joe has a nightmare in which people from his past mock him.

Penn Badgley directed his first episode of ‘You,’ Season 4 Episode 9.

 

Penn Badgley appears to have had enough of being in front of the camera during the latest season of You, as the actor seized the chance to direct an episode of Netflix’s riveting serial murderer. From the show’s launch in 2018, Badgley has played Joe Goldberg, a violent stalker who tried all in his power to be a part of his victims’ lives. As the seasons continued, Goldberg shown a desire to change for the better; nonetheless, his murderous instincts remained a part of who he was, propelling the series’ storyline.

A memorable passage in the episode Badgley directed occurs towards the second half of season 4, in Episode 9, when Joe has a nightmare in which people from his past mock him. Beck (Elizabeth Lail) and Love represent these insecurities and regrets (Victoria Pedretti). The ladies from Joe’s past taunt him throughout the play about the reality behind his redemption arc, suggesting that no matter how hard he tries, he’ll always remain a cold-blooded murderer. Given Joe’s associations with Beck and Love, as well as their murders at his hands, it seems to reason that they would function as distorted mirrors of his thoughts.

The Gossip Girl star follows the action in the featurette with his thought process behind the segment. As his favourite shot from the show, he chooses a scene in which Joe grabs for the key only to be transported to another room. As Joe discovers he is no longer where he thought he was, he has little time to understand what has just occurred because he is confronted by Love. Badgley also notes the fans’ overwhelming desire for Pedretti’s return, which they ultimately received in the form of a particularly violent dream sequence.

What is the fourth season of you about?

Joe’s journey continues with him settling in London following the events of the previous season, which saw him faking his death and fleeing the United States in pursuit of. Marienne (Tati Gabrielle) (Tati Gabrielle). But, danger is always around the corner for the show’s protagonist, as he predictably becomes engaged in a murder mystery in London. The hunt for the murderer causes Joe to ponder on his life’s errors and his inability to acknowledge his violent nature.

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The Little Mermaid trailer sets new record

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The Little Mermaid
  • “The Little Mermaid” has set a new record for the studio.
  •  The trailer has crossed over 108 million global views.
  • The teaser debuted on March 12 during the Academy Awards event.

Disney’s live-action remake of “The Little Mermaid” has set a new record for the studio, with over 108 million global views.

With almost 108 million global views of its first complete trailer in the first 24 hours of release, Disney’s live-action adaptation of “The Little Mermaid” has established a new milestone for the company. The teaser debuted on March 12 during the Academy Awards event, with Halle Bailey and Melissa McCarthy introducing the advertisement. McCarthy plays the wicked Ursula, while Bailey plays Ariel.

The film is directed by Rob Marshall and co-stars Javier Bardem, Awkwafina, Jacob Tremblay, and Jonah Hauer-King. The film depicts the story of a mermaid who wishes to join the human world and features updated versions of the original music as well as four new songs.

“The Little Mermaid” will hit cinemas on Memorial Day, with Alan Menken returning to update his score and write a new song with lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Bailey, well known as a member of the R&B duet Chloe x Halle, was cast in 2019, and this is her most significant part to date.

During the last decade, Disney has found enormous success with live-action remakes of its animation masterpieces, including “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin,” and “The Lion King,” which have all made more than $1 billion internationally. Other remakes in the works include “Snow White” and “Lilo & Stitch,” as well as “Mufasa: The Lion King,” a “Lion King” prequel directed by Barry Jenkins.

Following its Oscars appearance, “The Little Mermaid” became the night’s No. 2 trend on Twitter, and the teaser also became YouTube’s No. 1 Internationally Trending video.

Disney India will release ‘The Little Mermaid’ on May 26, 2023. Only in theatres

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Ex-US President Donald Trump urges fans to organize protest

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Donald Trump
  • Donald Trump urged his friends to organize the large-scale protest.
  • He will be the first former American president to face criminal charges.
  • It is unknown whether he will be prosecuted criminally this week, or even, in broad strokes.

Donald Trump has stated that he expects to be arrested on Tuesday and has urged his fans to organize large-scale protests.

His lawyer, however, stated that there had been no communication from law police and that the former president’s post was based only on media reporting.

Authorities have been considering indicting Mr. Trump. According to reports, it might happen as soon as next week.

If he is indicted, he will be the first former American president to face criminal charges.

This issue revolves around alleged hush money paid by Mr. Trump’s lawyer to porn star Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 presidential election.

It is one of the numerous incidents in which the 76-year-old is being investigated, though he has not been prosecuted in any of them and denies wrongdoing in all of them.

Mr. Trump has committed to continue his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination in the 2024 election, even if he is indicted.

Attempts to investigate him in the past, including two impeachment proceedings, the Russia inquiry, and the Mar-a-Lago raid, have tended to make him more popular among his supporters; an indictment may have a similar impact.

It is unknown whether he will be prosecuted criminally this week, or even, in broad strokes, what those charges would be.

Yet, with the former president anticipating an arrest and pushing for large protests, this is uncharted territory.

Mr. Trump has a devoted following, and the 6 January 2021 attack on the US Capitol by his supporters in response to his repeated calls to protest has demonstrated that a tense situation can swiftly turn violent.

Mr. Trump said on his social networking site Truth Social on Saturday that “illegal leaks” from the Manhattan district attorney’s office “suggest” he will be jailed on Tuesday.

The district attorney’s office has yet to respond. Susan Necheles, Mr. Trump’s lawyer, said her team had not heard from law enforcement officials.

“Since this is a political prosecution, the district attorney’s office has engaged in a practice of leaking everything to the press, rather than communicating with President Trump’s attorneys as would be done in a normal case,” she said.

The Republican Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, has blasted out at the inquiry, calling it “an outrageous abuse of power by a radical DA [district attorney]”.

He also promised to investigate whether federal funds were being used to influence elections “with politically motivated prosecutions” in a tweet.

Any indictment would make it difficult for Mr. Trump’s Republican Party opponents to determine whether to escalate their attacks on the former president while he is potentially distracted or to keep their heads down and hope for the best.

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Southern Ecuador: 12 people killed in earthquake

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earthquake
  • The earthquake struck at 12:00 local time.
  • At least 12 people died.
  • There have also been reports of earthquakes being felt in other places.

A massive earthquake slammed Ecuador‘s southern coast, killing at least 12 people.

Structures in various cities have been damaged as a result of the 6.7 magnitude earthquake, which struck at 12:00 local time (17:00 GMT).

The southern region of El Oro was the most hit, with emergency services reporting that individuals are still trapped inside collapsed houses.

Eleven people were killed in El Oro and one in Azuay province, according to police.

Buildings and vehicles were damaged in Machala and Cuenca as emergency personnel hurried to assist residents.

The epicenter was near Balao, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) from Guayaquil, Ecuador’s second-largest city, which has a population of about three million people.

“I went out into the street because I saw people starting to run in panic, getting out of their cars,” Magaly Escandon, a business owner in Cuenca, told the AFP news agency.

President Guillermo Lasso asked Ecuadoreans to remain calm as officials assess the damage.

“Emergency teams are mobilizing to offer all their support to those who have been affected,” he said.

Mr. Lasso’s office also verified that injured people were being treated in hospitals, but provided no other information.

Many roads have been closed due to landslides, and some homes, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities have been destroyed, according to authorities.

One person was killed when a wall collapsed over their automobile in Cuenca, while three individuals were killed when a security camera tower collapsed on Jambel Island.

There have also been reports of earthquakes being felt in other places, including Manabi, Manta, and Quito.

This is the largest quake to hit Ecuador since 2016 when almost 700 people perished and hundreds were injured.

According to Peruvian officials, the quake was felt in the country’s northern areas, but there were no early reports of injuries or damage.

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Lance Reddick, John Wick actor died at the age of 60

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Lance Reddick
  • Lance Reddick died of natural causes at the age of 60.
  • Reports has confirmed this with his agent.
  • Reddick most recently appeared as Albert Wesker in Netflix’s short-lived series ‘Resident Evil.’

Lance Reddick, who participated in prominent TV shows such as ‘The Wire,’ ‘Fringe,’ and ‘Bosch,’ as well as films such as the ‘John Wick‘ trilogy, which is due to premiere ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ next week, died of natural causes at the age of 60.

Reports has confirmed this with his agent. According to reports, who broke the story first, he was discovered dead at his Studio City home in Los Angeles on Friday morning. Reddick reprises his role as Charon, the concierge at the Continental Hotel in New York City who appears in all four entries, in the upcoming ‘John Wick: Chapter 4′, which is due to hit theatres on March 24.

Charon collaborated with Keanu Reeves’ unretired hitman, most notably caring for John’s new puppy in the second chapter and joining in on the gun-toting action in the third. Reddick was also set to appear in Ana de Armas’ forthcoming ‘Ballerina’ spinoff. Reddick was born in Baltimore on June 7, 1962, and is most known for portraying tough police officers and other men of power.

He got a Bachelor of Music in music composition from the University of Rochester. He relocated to Boston in the 1980s and graduated from Yale with a Master of Fine Arts in 1994.

His first notable television appearance was in Season 4 of the prison drama ‘Oz,’ in 2000. He portrayed Detective Johnny Basil, an undercover detective who seeks to stop the drug trade but gradually becomes addicted himself and kills a corrupt cop by shoving him down an elevator shaft. After being taken to Oz, Basil is stabbed to death by Clayton Hughes, played by Seth Gilliam. In 2002, he was cast as Baltimore police lieutenant Cedric Daniels, one of the show’s stars.

He had previously auditioned for the parts of Bubbles (which went to Andre Royo) and William ‘Bunk’ Moreland (which went to William ‘Bunk’ Moreland) (Wendell Pierce). Daniels was in command of the drugs section and gradually progressed through its ranks over the course of the show’s five seasons, regularly clashing with his superiors.

In the series conclusion, he resigned as commissioner and went into criminal defence practise.

After ‘The Wire’ finished in 2008, Reddick joined ‘Fringe’ the following year as Phillip Broyles, a Homeland Security special agent and chief of the Fringe section. The committee looked at instances involving fringe science, pseudoscience, and alternate timelines.

He was cast as another police commander in 2014, this time on Amazon’s ‘Bosch,’ which ended in 2021. After receiving two nominations for ‘Fringe,’ he was nominated for a Saturn Award for his performance as deputy chief Irvin Irving.

Reddick most recently appeared as Albert Wesker in Netflix’s short-lived series ‘Resident Evil,’ an adaptation of the classic zombie computer game. He also contributed to Season 2 of Amazon’s ‘The Tale of Vox Machina,’ which debuted in January. His other voice appearances include the villain Sylens in two famous PlayStation games published last year, ‘Horizon: Zero Dawn’ and ‘Horizon: Forbidden West,’ as well as Commander Zavala in the long-running ‘Destiny’ franchise.

Reddick was cast as the Greek deity Zeus in Disney+’s highly anticipated ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ series, based on Rick Riordan’s famous preteen books. His other forthcoming appearances include Hulu’s version of ‘White Guys Can’t Jump,’ which will be released on May 19, Danny DeVito’s ‘St. Sebastian,’ Netflix’s Shirley Chisholm biopic ‘Shirley,’ ‘The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial,’ and the space drama ‘Apteros.

He also starred in ‘Lost,’ ‘CSI: Miami,’ ‘American Horror Story: Coven,’ ‘The Blacklist,’ ‘One Night in Miami,’ ‘Angel Has Fallen,’ and ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ during the course of his nearly 30-year career.

His wife, Stephanie Reddick, and children Yvonne Nicole Reddick and Christopher Reddick survive him.

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Japan: Kishida to announce new Indo-Pacific strategy, seek India’s support

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Japan
  • The proposal will expand Japan’s support for growing economies, particularly those in the area.
  • Japan will seek India’s backing to work with Tokyo to counter China’s expanding influence in the region.
  • He believes that India’s crucial geopolitical location will play a significant role.

Japan‘s Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, will launch a new plan for an open and free Indo-Pacific in New Delhi on Monday and will seek India’s backing to work with Tokyo to counter China’s expanding influence in the region.

According to Japanese officials, the proposal, which will be presented during Kishida’s two-day visit to India, will expand Japan’s support for growing economies, particularly those in the area.

While both face risks from a dominating China, India, and Japan have been deepening their connections, particularly in defense and strategic matters.

Kishida’s choice to present his new strategy during the two countries’ annual meeting underscores Tokyo’s regard for New Delhi as a significant actor in the Indo-Pacific region.

According to Japanese authorities, Kishida believes that India’s crucial geopolitical location in the Indian Ocean, as well as its status as the world’s largest democracy, will play a significant role in realizing his vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

India and Japan, along with the US and Australia, are members of the so-called Quad, which aims to balance China’s growing clout in the area.

Members of the Quad claim they are not a military alliance, but they will participate in the annual Malabar naval wargaming exercise in Australia this year, which will also host the Quad summit in May.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had a tight relationship with Modi, and Japanese sources say Kishida is eager to form a similar bond.

Kishida is likely to seek India’s support for the new plan, which will include efforts Japan will take to improve cooperation in nations that adhere to the values of peaceful resolution of disputes and freedom of navigation, during his talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

According to officials, this is also in the backdrop of Russia’s war in Ukraine and China’s strong maritime posture.

While Japan has been pressing for harsher sanctions against Russia, India, which is chairing the G20 this year, has been attempting to keep the meeting from being used for such an announcement.

India has refused to blame Russia for the war, instead seeking a diplomatic settlement and increasing its purchases of Russian oil.

Kishida also wants to boost the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries’ maritime warning and surveillance capabilities, and he expects that India will actively collaborate with Japan to create infrastructure such as ports in Asia and Africa.

Modi and Kishida met three times in 2022, including during Abe’s funeral, and will meet three more times on the margins of the G20, G7, and Quad summits in 2023.

The two nations enjoy a comprehensive economic connection, with the trade of $20.57 billion in 2021-2022, with India importing $14.49 billion in Japanese goods.

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Maharashtra state employees protest for higher pension benefits

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pension benefits
  • Haryana and Nagaland began demanding greater pensions.
  • Employees are advocating for the reinstatement of a pension scheme.
  • Over 1.7 million employees have been on strike in Mumbai.

Hundreds of state employees protested in the western Indian state of Maharashtra on Friday, joining workers in other states who are demanding higher pension benefits.

Following the increase in pension benefits in opposition-controlled states, government employees in other states, particularly those ruled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s party, such as Haryana and Nagaland, began demanding greater pensions.

Employees are advocating for the reinstatement of a pension scheme that was suspended nearly two decades ago.

In 2004, the federal government and the majority of states repealed a program that provided employees with a state-funded life-long pension equal to nearly half of their pay. It was replaced with a program funded by employee and government payments.

Over 1.7 million employees have been on strike in Mumbai, the state capital, and other cities since Tuesday, according to union leaders, who have rejected a government invitation to convene a panel to address workers’ requests.

“The perils of the new pension scheme are visible,” Vishwas Katakar, organizer of a committee of 35 protesting unions, told sources, adding employees faced a bleak future without adequate pension benefits.

According to him, the new pension program, which invests in stocks and state bonds, offered an employee with a monthly pension of 2,000-5,000 rupees ($24-$60), which was less than a fourth of the benefits under the old scheme.

The state finance minister, Devendra Fadnavis, told MPs earlier this month that the existing pension program was no longer viable due to fiscal limitations.

Experts believe that demand for increased pension benefits will be a major electoral issue in the next state assembly and general elections next year

“This is a genuine demand of employees. The federal government should find a way within fiscal constraints,” said N.R. Bhanumurthy, an economist and the vice chancellor at B.R. Ambedkar School of Economics University, Bengaluru.

On Friday, the government of Himachal Pradesh, a northern Himalayan state where the main opposition Congress party took power from Modi’s party earlier in December, reinstated the old pension program for state employees.

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Egyptian & Turkish officials meet in Cairo for the first time in decade

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Egypt
  • Egypt’s government said that Turkish firms had pledged $500 million in new investments in Egypt.
  • The next year, Sisi was elected president.
  • Consultations between senior foreign ministry officials in Ankara and Cairo began in 2021.

Egypt’s foreign minister said talks with Turkey about resuming ambassadorial ties will take place at “the proper moment,” during Turkey’s top diplomat’s first visit to Cairo since ties were severed a decade ago.

At a joint press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu stated Turkey will strengthen its diplomatic relations with Egypt to ambassador level “as soon as possible”.

“I’m very glad that we are taking concrete steps for normalising relations with Egypt… We will do our best not to rupture our ties again in future,” Cavusoglu said.

Shoukry said: “We will come to talks (on restoring ambassadors) at the appropriate time, depending on the positive results it brings”.

Turkey-Egypt relations were severely strained when Egypt’s then-army chief, Abdul Fattah Al Sisi, led the removal of Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammad Mursi, an Ankara ally, in 2013.

The next year, Sisi was elected president.

Shoukry visited Turkey last month as a display of sympathy following the massive earthquakes that killed over 50,000 people in Turkey and Syria.

In recent years, the two nations have clashed over Libya, where they backed opposite forces in an unresolved conflict, as well as maritime borders in the gas-rich Eastern Mediterranean.

Consultations between senior foreign ministry officials in Ankara and Cairo began in 2021, as Turkey seeks to reduce tensions with Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, and Saudi Arabia.

As part of that fragile rapprochement, Ankara requested that Egyptian opposition TV outlets broadcasting in Turkey temper their criticism of Egypt.

Mursi died in Egyptian jail in 2019. Several key members of the Muslim Brotherhood are imprisoned or have fled Egypt, and the organisation remains illegal.

Last month, Egypt’s government said that Turkish firms had pledged $500 million in new investments in Egypt, despite the country’s severe cash shortage.

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Tigray region of Ethiopia appoints new interim leader

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Ethiopia
  • Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) fought Ethiopian forces and their supporters.
  • If the federal government approves Getachew’s nomination, he will succeed TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael.
  • It is unclear when the federal government will make a decision.

The dominant party in Ethiopia‘s northern Tigray area has nominated its spokesman Getachew Reda to lead a regional interim administration called for in a peace agreement that ended a two-year war in the region, according to party-run media on Saturday.

In a battle that murdered tens of thousands of people, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) fought Ethiopian forces and their supporters. After a string of battlefield successes by federal forces, a truce was achieved last November.

If the federal government approves Getachew’s nomination, which was reported by the TPLF-controlled Tigrai TV, he will succeed TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael, who has headed Tigray since 2018.

It is unclear when the federal government will make a decision on Getachew’s nomination or when the temporary administration will be established.

Legesse Tulu, an Ethiopian government spokesperson, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

According to charity workers, the lack of an interim administration has hampered the humanitarian response across Tigray, where millions are in desperate need of assistance.

Wages for civil officials and medical professionals have not been paid, and humanitarian organizations have reported a lack of a clear interlocutor.

Getachew’s nomination came just days after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Ethiopia and complimented the country’s leaders for making progress in implementing the peace treaty while cautioning that more work was needed.

During that visit, Blinken emphasized the significance of establishing the temporary administration with Getachew and Ethiopian officials.

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Poliovirus generated from vaccine discovered in Burundi and DRC

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Seven-day anti-polio campaign begins across country
  • The Burundian authorities declared the viral identification a national public health emergency.
  • Infections were verified in an unvaccinated four-year-old kid.
  • Burundi aims to begin a polio vaccine campaign for all eligible children aged up to 7 years.

The World Health Organization and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative reported incidences of vaccine-derived poliovirus in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

According to the WHO, the Burundian authorities declared the viral identification a national public health emergency after infections were verified in an unvaccinated four-year-old kid in the Isale district of western Burundi, as well as two other children who were his contacts.

The presence of circulating poliovirus type 2 was confirmed in five additional samples from environmental surveillance of wastewater in Burundi, according to the WHO.

Circulating poliovirus type 2 differs from wild poliovirus in that infections arise when a weakened strain of poliovirus contained in the oral polio vaccination circulates for long periods of time among under-immunized populations.

The findings are significant because they are the first to be connected to the administration of a new vaccination, the novel oral poliomyelitis vaccine type 2 (nOPV2), which was created expressly to lower this risk.

According to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 was discovered in six children in the DRC’s eastern Tanganyika and South Kivu provinces.

Burundi aims to begin a polio vaccine campaign for all eligible children aged up to 7 years in the next weeks, with assistance from the WHO and GPEI, according to the WHO.

“While detection of these outbreaks is a tragedy for the family and communities affected, it is not unexpected with wider use of the vaccine,” said the GPEI, a partnership made up of the WHO, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other global health bodies.

It stated that 600 million doses of the new vaccine had been provided in 28 countries since March 2021, and that the vaccination was both safe and effective.

According to the GPEI, the DRC has scheduled a vaccine programme for April.

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Saudi Arabia introduces new amendment to granting citizenship

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  • Saudi Arabia declared that some persons would be granted citizenship.
  • The judgement was posted on the Emirate of Mecca Province’s official Twitter account.
  • The decision will take effect on the date it is published.

Saudi Arabia declared that some persons would be granted citizenship based on a decision to be issued by the Prime Minister and approved by the Ministry of Interior.

The judgement was posted on the Emirate of Mecca Province’s official Twitter account.

The decision, which was published in the official gazette “Um Al Qura” on Friday, amends Article Eight of the Saudi Nationality Law.

According to the ruling, Saudi nationality may be awarded by order of the Prime Minister based on a proposal from the Ministry of Interior.

This is a significant departure from prior rules, since Article 28 of the Saudi Nationality Law’s Executive Regulations, which required the Minister of Interior to take appropriate judgements to award nationality in line with Article 8 of the Law, has been repealed.

The decision will take effect on the date it is published, and it will be conveyed to those who must accept it and act in compliance with it.

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Hajj 2023: Saudi Arabia opens registration for domestic pilgrims

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Saudi Arabia
  • Muslims in Saudi Arabia have until the 10th of Ramadan to register for this year’s Hajj trip.
  • Ramadan, the lunar month of fasting, is set to begin on Thursday.
  • The ministry announced opening electronic registration for Saudi nationals and Muslim.

Muslims in Saudi Arabia have until the 10th of Ramadan to register for this year’s Hajj trip, according to the kingdom’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.

The ministry said on Twitter that applications for Hajj by Saudi nationals and foreigners resident in the country who have not previously performed the annual pilgrimage will be accepted until Ramadan 10.

Registration will start the next day for Saudis and expatriate residents who conducted Hajj at least five years ago, until all places are filled, according to the government.

Ramadan, the lunar month of fasting, is set to begin on Thursday.

Registration is done using the website https://localhaj.haj.gov.sa or the Nusuk app.

In January, the ministry announced opening electronic registration for Saudi nationals and Muslim expats living in Saudi Arabia who intend to conduct Hajj this year.

After being permitted to do Hajj, one of Islam’s five essential tasks, domestic pilgrims are chosen at random using an online lottery method.

The ministry has revealed four Hajj plans for domestic pilgrims, with prices ranging from SR3984 to SR11,841.

Domestic pilgrims can also pay Hajj payments for this year’s journey in three installments, rather than all at once, as was previously the case.

The third and final installment is due by 10/10/1444, which is less than two months before the start of the Hajj ceremonies in late June this year.

The monarchy has announced that there would be no restrictions on the number of pilgrims from all over the world for the 2018 Hajj season, overturning prior restrictions imposed in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Saudi Arabia has reduced the number of Muslims permitted to undertake Hajj in the last two years in order to avoid the spread of COVID-19.

In the pre-pandemic era, around 2.5 million Muslims would perform Hajj each year.

Muslims who are physically and financially capable of doing Hajj must do it at least once in their lives.

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