Connect with us
DAPA Banner
DAPA Coin
DAPA
COIN PAYMENT ASSET
PRIVACY · BLOCKDAG · HOMOMORPHIC ENCRYPTION · RUST
ElGamal Encrypted MINE DAPA
🚫 GENESIS SOLD OUT
DAPAPAY COMING

Politics

FIFA eases restrictions on bringing water into World Cup stadiums

Published

on

FIFA

FIFA

Following a widespread wave of criticism and objections from fan groups and health experts, FIFA was partially forced to backtrack on its controversial decision to ban water bottles in World Cup 2026 stadiums. It announced that spectators would be permitted to bring one soft, sealed plastic water bottle into matches held in the United States and Canada.

The new decision came just days after an amendment to the “Stadium Code of Conduct,” which FIFA had completely banned reusable bottles, justifying the move on security grounds related to the possibility of using bottles and solid objects as projectiles that could pose a danger to players or fans.

Under the new clarification, each fan will be allowed to bring in one soft, factory-sealed plastic water bottle with a capacity of up to 590 ml, while hard or reusable bottles will remain prohibited. Heimo Schirgi, Chief Operating Officer for World Cup 2026, affirmed that the decision is based on “safety and security considerations,” noting that concerns related to solid objects remain as reported by Reuters.

Widespread criticism due to heat

The original decision caused widespread anger among fan associations, particularly as the tournament will be held during the summer months in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, where some host cities are expected to experience high temperatures and harsh weather conditions.

Advertisement

Fan organizations warned that restricting access to water could increase the risks of dehydration and heat stress, especially in open-air stadiums. Critics also argued that the decision would have forced spectators to purchase water inside the venues, raising questions about the priority of fan health versus the commercial and organizational aspects of the tournament.

These concerns were compounded by climate reports indicating that a number of World Cup matches might be held in conditions where heat stress indices exceed safe limits, prompting experts to demand guaranteed easy access to water for fans throughout the matches and transit periods.

FIFA — Measures to combat hot weather

In an attempt to contain the criticism, FIFA confirmed that it is working in coordination with the host cities to provide drinking stations, cooling areas, fans, water mist, and dedicated tents to mitigate the impact of the heat around the stadiums. It also stressed that water prices inside the sports facilities will be similar to the prices adopted during other events hosted at those stadiums.

The controversy comes as the largest tournament in World Cup history is preparing to kick off, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches for the first time, which doubles the organizational, security, and health challenges facing FIFA and the local organizing committees.

Advertisement

Reversal under pressure

Despite FIFA initially adhering to the security justifications for imposing the ban, the swift amendment to the decision reflects the magnitude of the pressure it faced from fan groups, media, and health experts, in an issue that quickly became one of the most prominent points of contention ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Featured image via Joern Pollex/Bongarts/Getty Images

By Alaa Shamali

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

Politics

Zia Yusuf gives Henry Nowak’s family two fingers with unbelievable claim

Published

on

Zia Yusuf or Reform UK and Laura Kuenssberg

Zia Yusuf or Reform UK and Laura Kuenssberg

Reform — On 2 June, Nigel Farage stoked racial tensions in the UK by encouraging “pure, cold rage” from his followers. He made his speech in response to the sentencing of Henry Nowak’s murderer. And he said what he said despite Nowak’s family requesting the case not be used to sow division.

Reform — Unbelievable

Henry Nowak was a young white man who was stabbed to death by a young Sikh man. The case attracted attention because footage of the incident showed police officers had handcuffed Nowak despite the man explaining he’d been stabbed. Far-right politicians like Farage leaped on this to suggest anti-white bias within the UK police forces. As we’ve reported, however, the officers’ behaviour is in line with the many recorded instances of police incompetence — one which the right has been happy to ignore until now.

The right is also ignoring the many decades of documented racism such as that reported in the 2023 Casey Review. They want people to believe the Nowak case invalidates all the evidence demonstrating that the police are structurally incompetent and institutionally racist. And they want people to believe that because they capitalise on driving division.

Speaking to Zia Yusuf in the above clip, Laura Kuenssberg asked:

Advertisement

My question to you is, what was more important to you as a party – making that political argument or respecting the wishes of a grieving family?

And I would say we’ve talked to the family’s representatives this weekend, and they have said they would like to reiterate that they did not want this to cause division in the last few days.

So what was more important to you as a party, making this political argument, as Nigel Farage did, within 24 hours, recording what he called an ’emergency address’ – making a very political point on a very sensitive issue where he said ‘we’re living in a two-tier culture’ in this country where the rights and privileges of white people matter less than those of ethnic minorities.

So I’ll ask you the same question again What was more important to you respecting the family’s wishes or making a political argument?

Showing his disdain for Nowak’s family and their wishes, Yusuf answered:

Advertisement

Respecting the family’s wishes, which is what we’ve done

Grim stuff

In the aftermath of Farage’s speech, Nowak’s family met with Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch. They did not meet with Nigel Farage. And we’d say the family will be increasingly unlikely to do so, given the way Reform is aggressively disrespecting their wishes.

Featured image via BBC

By Willem Moore

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Politics

Visa crisis threatens media coverage for the 2026 World Cup

Published

on

World Cup

World Cup

As FIFA continues to promote the 2026 World Cup as the most expansive and inclusive tournament in history, a new crisis has emerged that could overshadow the long-awaited event. The International Sports Press Association has warned of significant difficulties facing dozens of accredited journalists in securing visas to enter the United States.

In an official letter to FIFA media officials, the association revealed it has received an increasing number of complaints from accredited journalists—including a large group of Iranian journalists and those from various African nations—who have yet to secure the necessary visas, despite fulfilling all of the tournament’s media accreditation requirements.

FIFA accreditation is not enough

This issue highlights a recurring dilemma for media coverage of major sporting events in the United States: obtaining official FIFA accreditation does not automatically grant entry into the country. It remains subject to U.S. visa procedures and consular decisions.

The International Sports Press Association argues that this reality threatens the principle of equal opportunity for media outlets, particularly for news organizations from countries that already face travel restrictions or additional bureaucratic hurdles.

Advertisement

World Cup concerns over global coverage

The association warned that these ongoing obstacles could result in the absence of media voices from entire countries and regions at the world’s biggest football event. This would directly impact the diversity of media coverage and limit the ability of fans in certain nations to follow the tournament through their own local journalists and correspondents.

Furthermore, the association noted that the issue extends beyond administrative travel logistics, touching on a broader concern regarding free media access to global sporting events and ensuring that various nations are represented within the tournament’s media centers.

A call for urgent intervention

The AIPS has called on FIFA to intervene and engage with the relevant U.S. authorities to find practical solutions that ensure accredited journalists can obtain the necessary visas before the competition begins. The association emphasised that the success of the World Cup is measured not only by the number of participating teams or the size of the crowds, but also by the ability of media from all over the world to cover the event without hindrance.

These warnings come roughly a year before the start of the tournament — hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico—serving as an early indicator of potential organisational challenges for the largest edition of the World Cup in history, which will feature 48 teams for the first time.

Advertisement

Featured image via David Ramos/Getty Images

By Alaa Shamali

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Politics

US denies visas to 15 members of Iran’s 2026 World Cup delegation

Published

on

World Cup

World Cup

Preparations for the Iranian national team’s participation in the 2026 World Cup have escalated into a tense political issue, following a visa crisis that triggered a diplomatic spat between Tehran and Washington. Meanwhile, the team continues its technical training, focusing away from the administrative turmoil.

For a long time, there were doubts and continuous discussions about whether the Iranian national team would participate in or withdraw from the 2026 World Cup due to the US war against Iran since last February.

Visa crisis brings politics back to the World Cup

While the Iranian national team players and technical staff received US entry visas for the tournament, 15 members of the administrative and organizational staff remained without approval. This led the Iranian Football Federation to accuse Washington of “discrimination and political interference in sports.”

In contrast, The Athletic quoted an American official confirming that the granted visas included only the “necessary” players and staff members, emphasising that the US “will not allow the tournament to be used as cover to bring in individuals who pose a security threat.”

Advertisement

The Iranian embassy in Turkey responded with an escalating tone, describing the incident as “deliberate and discriminatory treatment” against the national team’s delegation. Concurrently, the Iranian Football Federation demanded that FIFA intervene and open a formal investigation into the matter.

The Iranian Federation called the situation “political interference in sports in its worst form,” affirming that it will pursue the matter with FIFA as the organizing body of the tournament.

15 officials banned from the US

According to Tasnim News Agency, 15 members of the administrative delegation were denied visas, including prominent federation officials such as the Executive Director, Secretary-General, and Media Director.

While Iranian media sources confirmed that these individuals will head to Mexico to join the delegation, the national team continues to manage its logistical affairs away from the United States, as part of an alternative accommodation plan for the tournament.

Advertisement

Technically, the Iranian national team has been holding its training camp in Antalya, Turkey, since May 18. During this period, they played two friendly matches, winning against Gambia (3-1) and Mali (2-0), indicating a relative readiness ahead of the finals.

The team is scheduled to later move to Tijuana, Mexico, which they have chosen as their main headquarters during the tournament, in an effort to minimize their presence on American soil amid the ongoing political controversy surrounding the issue.

A tough group awaits Iran

The Iranian national team will compete in Group 7, facing New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on June 15 and 21, respectively, before meeting the Egyptian national team in Seattle on June 26. This group appears to be among the most competitive in the tournament.

Featured image via Mohamed Farag/Getty Images

Advertisement

By Alaa Shamali

Source link

Continue Reading

Politics

Adrienne Bailon-Houghton Reflects On ’Cheetah Girls’ & Motherhood

Published

on

Adrienne Bailon-Houghton Reflects On ’Cheetah Girls’ & Motherhood

!function(n){if(!window.cnx){window.cnx={},window.cnx.cmd=[];var t=n.createElement(‘iframe’);t.display=’none’,t.onload=function(){var n=t.contentWindow.document,c=n.createElement(‘script’);c.src=”//cd.connatix.com/connatix.player.js”,c.setAttribute(‘async’,’1′),c.setAttribute(‘type’,’text/javascript’),n.body.appendChild(c)},n.head.appendChild(t)}}(document);(new Image()).src=”https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=19654b65-409c-4b38-90db-80cbdea02cf4″;cnx.cmd.push(function(){cnx({“playerId”:”19654b65-409c-4b38-90db-80cbdea02cf4″,”mediaId”:”1385bd8a-bf22-4eaf-9616-b8c4f25c8d38″}).render(“6a231114e4b0d8021c9fda85”);});

Source link

Continue Reading

Politics

JD Vance Blames Migrant Invasion For Henry Nowaks Murder

Published

on

JD Vance Blames Migrant Invasion For Henry Nowaks Murder

JD Vance has blamed “the mass invasion of migrants” for the murder of Henry Nowak.

The US vice-president said the teenager’s death “is as tragic as it is enraging” in a thinly-veiled attack on Keir Starmer’s government.

Eighteen-year-old Henry was handcuffed and arrested by police as he lay dying after being wrongly accused of racism by his killer, Vickram Digwa.

Digwa, who is a British-born Sikh, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years at Southampton Crown Court on Monday.

Advertisement

The case has sparked a furious political row, with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage being condemned by the PM and Kemi Badenoch for claiming it is proof of “two-tier policing” in the UK.

In a post on X, vance said: “Henry Nowak died the same way a civilisation dies: abandoned, handcuffed by authorities who neither trusted nor cared for him, and accused of hate crimes he did not commit.

“His murder is as tragic as it is enraging. He should still be alive today, and he would be if the last few generations of European elites had stood their ground against the politics of self-hatred and the mass invasion of migrants, many of whom despise the West and the people who love it.

“Henry was far from the first to so needlessly lose his life, and I fear he won’t be the last. Each time a life like his is lost, the proper response—the only response—is righteous anger.

Advertisement

“One of the most important things the Trump administration has proven to the world is that stopping the flow of mass migration and defending national sovereignty is a matter of political will and leadership. Anything else is an excuse.

“It is because we love the West that we want to preserve it. We love our civilisation. We love our country. We love our children. And nobody—nobody—should ever die the way that Henry Nowak died. May God comfort those who loved him, and may God rest his soul.”

Responding to Vance’s intervention, a Downing Street spokesperson said: “In recent days we have seen people trying to interfere in our democracy and seeking to stir up division on our streets.

Advertisement

″“The Nowak family are grieving after Henry’s horrific murder. They have said they do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension. We should be respecting their wishes.

“Our politics should bring people together even in the most terrible of circumstances. That is who we are as a country.”

Vance’s comments came after the US State Department also waded into the row.

In a post on X, they said: “Ideological conditioning and two-tiered policing are glaring symptoms of civilisational decline. They must be rejected across the West.”

Advertisement

Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesperson Calum Miller said the prime minister should summon the US ambassador to Downing Street to explain the State Department’s comments.

He said: “The Trump administration should not be using the tragic murder of Henry Nowak as a political football.

“This is flagrant foreign interference that seeks to fan the flames of division.”

Subscribe to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Politics

No 10 Accuses JD Vance Of Interfering In UK Democracy

Published

on

No 10 Accuses JD Vance Of Interfering In UK Democracy

Downing Street has accused JD Vance of “interference in our democracy” as an extraordinary war of words erupted over the murder of Henry Nowak.

No.10 hit back at the US vice-president after he said the teenager’s death was caused by “the mass invasion of migrants”.

Eighteen-year-old Henry was handcuffed and arrested by police as he lay dying after being wrongly accused of racism by his killer, Vickram Digwa.

Digwa, who is Sikh, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years at Southampton Crown Court on Monday.

Advertisement

The case has sparked a furious political row, with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage being condemned by Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch for claiming it is proof of “two-tier policing” in the UK.

In a post on X, Vance said: “Henry Nowak died the same way a civilisation dies: abandoned, handcuffed by authorities who neither trusted nor cared for him, and accused of hate crimes he did not commit.

“His murder is as tragic as it is enraging. He should still be alive today, and he would be if the last few generations of European elites had stood their ground against the politics of self-hatred and the mass invasion of migrants, many of whom despise the West and the people who love it.

“Henry was far from the first to so needlessly lose his life, and I fear he won’t be the last. Each time a life like his is lost, the proper response—the only response—is righteous anger.”

Advertisement

His comments echoed those of Farage, who called for “pure, cold anger” in response to Henry’s death.

Hours later, police were pelted with missiles by protesters after violence erupted outside Southampton Police Station.

Starmer has also accused X owner Elon Musk of trying to “trying to whip up division” over his comments on the Henry Nowak case.

Responding to Vance, a No.10 spokesperson said: “In recent days we have seen people trying to interfere in our democracy and seeking to stir up division on our streets.

Advertisement

“The Nowak family are grieving after Henry’s horrific murder. They have said they do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension. We should be respecting their wishes.

“Our politics should bring people together even in the most terrible of circumstances. That is who we are as a country.”

The row is the latest example of the ill-feeling that exists between the Trump administration and the UK government.

Deep splits have erupted in recent months over the Iran war, after Starmer initially refused American jets permission to launch attacks from RAF air bases.

Advertisement

Subscribe to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Politics

How To Help Teens Cut Their Phone Time This Summer

Published

on

How To Help Teens Cut Their Phone Time This Summer

Parents are revealing their tips and tricks for keeping tweens and teens off their phones – or at the very least, not so glued to them – over the summer holidays.

It comes after one parent said their 15-year-old would, if “left to his own devices”, be on his phone “all day, every day”.

“We want to create some boundaries around phone / screen use for the summer but I’m not even sure what’s realistic, let alone ‘fair’,” they shared on Reddit’s r/parentingteenagers forum.

“He’s a good kid, gets great grades, and will have a part time job this summer. Are any of you planning to limit phone availability?”

Advertisement

Here’s what other parents suggested…

1. Keep them busy with chores, camp, etc.

“Starting at age 13 or so, my strategy was to keep them busy rather than impose boundaries and limits,” said Raised_by, although they caveated 15 might be “too old for that”.

“You say he has a part time job, does he do anything else? Chores, camp, meeting up with friends? If yes, I’d let him be, even if he’s going overboard. It’s summer break after all,” they added.

Advertisement

Another user, Accurate-Neck6933, chimed in: “Jobs, camp, swimming lessons, sports, as much as you can.”

2. Set screen time limits

Another parent said they’ve set screen time limits so their kid’s phone is unavailable from evening wind down until 10am the next day. “Set time limits for individual app usage,” MoonlightMystique suggested.

They also keep their teen busy with chores and opportunities for activity: “Lawn needs to be mowed once a week, is part of the dishwashing rotation, and helping out with tasks as requested without attitude. Make exercise (biking) a morning priority before phone is available.”

Advertisement

3. Educate them about screen time effects

Another parent who works in the tech industry said they constantly try to educate their 15-year-old on the reasons why they limit social media use to two hours a day.

“What dopamine is, how we seek it, the quick hit of social media, the memory and cognition effects it has to scroll or watch 10-20 second clips, on and on,” said littlepaw_littlepaw.

They added that their son can still FaceTime his friends and girlfriend as much as he wants, or text as often as he wants, but they have a two-hour daily limit for using social media.

Advertisement

One study suggested using social media sites for more than three hours per day is linked to increased likelihood of children experiencing depression and anxiety symptoms.

“We take the phone at midnight in summer, 10pm on school nights. He will be working this summer as well, so he will not have as much screen time,” they continued, “but the 2 hr limits for social will remain.”

4. No-phone-zones in the home

BeeDefiant8671 noted they have a rule that, at dinner time, they all have to be present. They also discuss the importance of good sleep (and not letting phones scupper that). But aside from that, they don’t limit phone usage.

5. Let them impose their own limits

Advertisement

One parent noted they’re going to give their teen son the chance to regulate his own phone time, “otherwise I might have to put on some limits”.

Another parent suggested they do the same. “Basically I told him there weren’t any limits as long as it didn’t affect his school work, his attitude, or his responsibilities at home (chores and such),” said Destroyer-Marauder.

“So far, he’s been really responsible. We have a really strong bond and mutual respect and he does try his best to please me. Also, he doesn’t spend heavy amounts of time on his phone, games, PC, and stuff. He plays hockey with me, rides dirt bikes, and does a lot of other physical activities.”

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Politics

What’s New On Netflix In June 2026? 11 Best Shows And Films

Published

on

What's New On Netflix In June 2026? 11 Best Shows And Films

A new month means a whole new catalogue of original TV shows and films to watch on Netflix.

Sure, the days are getting warmer, but that isn’t going to stop us from sitting in front of our televisions and exploring all of the new titles the streaming service has for us in the coming weeks.

This June, Netflix has once again got something for everyone, including a new Jennifer Lopez rom-com, a Harlan Coben thriller and a chilling drama that true crime are going to love.

Here are 11 films and TV shows to get your teeth into this June…

Advertisement

The Witness (Streaming now)

Tell me more: The streamer starts the month with an intriguing and tragic tale for true crime fans. The Witness is a three-part dramatisation of the harrowing, real-life events of Rachel Nickell’s murder on Wimbledon Common in 1992, which was witnessed by her two-year-old son.

Rather than exploring the crime itself, the new drama focusses on the impact the tragedy and subsequent trial had on Rachel’s child and partner.

Advertisement

The cast features Claire Rushbrook, Kerry Godliman and James Bradshaw, and has the blessing of Rachel’s now 36-year-old son, Alex.

“We can never express how indebted we are to everyone that’s been a part of this, for the kindness and generosity they’ve extended to us, for the chance they took with us in bringing our story to the screen, and for the care they have taken,” he told Netflix.

Netflix says: “With their two-year-old as the sole witness to her murder, Rachel Nickell’s partner fights to protect him amid a flawed investigation.”

Mexico 86 (Streaming now)

Advertisement

Tell me more: Mexico 86 is one of the many World Cup-themed additions coming to Netflix this month, to get you in the mood for the upcoming tournament.

In the new sports comedy, Andor’s Diego Luna takes the lead as Martín de la Torre, a Mexican bureaucrat who helped his country host the World Cup for a second time, using political manoeuvring and unorthodox tactics, when Colombia could no longer host the event in 1986.

Netflix says: “When a last-minute chance to host the ’86 World Cup appears, a cunning Mexican bureaucrat, armed with nothing but guts and audacity, cons his way through FIFA to beat the United States, but in a country of power games, every victory has a price.”

Advertisement

Office Romance (Streaming now)

Tell me more: Ted Lasso’s Brett Goldstein wrote and stars in this new rom-com, alongside the queen of the genre, Jennifer Lopez.

In Office Romance, J-Lo plays a CEO who falls for a bumbling lawyer, played by Brett. The workaholic pair must try to work out if their tryst has any long-term potential, while also hiding the affair from their colleagues.

Advertisement

Amy Sedaris, Jodie Whittaker and Betty Gilpin play supporting roles in this classic rom-com setup, directed by OI Parker, who previously helmed the second Mamma Mia! Movie.

Speaking to People, the filmmaker teased that his new R-rated comedy “pushes the envelope slightly for what people might expect from a Jennifer Lopez movie”, while the star claimed that the film’s script “felt instantly special”.

“[It’s] a new kind of romantic comedy that really speaks to the times,” she enthused, describing Office Romance as more of “a com-rom”. “It’s a classic romance, with modern edgier humour.”

Netflix says: “Jackie Cruz, President and CEO of Air Cruz, runs a tight ship in her business, including a rigid anti-fraternisation policy for all her employees. When a new sexy employee named Daniel Blanchflower begins working for her, that policy becomes very tested.”

Advertisement

The Rest Is Football (10 June)

Tell Me More: Coinciding with the World Cup, football pundits and national treasures Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards will deliver daily updates on the tournament.

Filmed in a studio in the heart of New York, the show will feature special guests, interviews with experts, footballers and fans and insights into the world’s biggest sporting event.

Advertisement

Based on the popular podcast, The Rest Is Football is Gary’s first return to TV punditry since his 2025 exit from the BBC.

The ex-Match Of The Day host said he’s glad to be “liberated” from the BBC and told iPaper he’s happy to “be there, in New York, rather than sitting in a green box”.

What Netflix Says: “Football royalty Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards deliver a daily fix of banter, analysis and hot takes from NYC during the 2026 World Cup.”

Sweet Magnolias (11 June)

Advertisement

Tell me more: Netflix’s feel-good drama returns for a fifth season, and this time the three lifelong friends Helen, Maddie and Dana Sue have their sights set on taking Manhattan.

In the new episodes, Maddie turns her New York dreams into reality, even if it means spending more time away from her family in the Southern town of Serenity.

Helen also plans her dream wedding to Erik, and Dana Sue pursues her goal of opening a teaching kitchen.

Advertisement

“We are thrilled to let the Magnolias take Manhattan,” showrunner and executive producer Sheryl J. Anderson told Tudum. “Not only is this adventure huge fun, it’s also an opportunity to explore the facets of their relationships in a new context.

“While it’s crucial to have true friends in day-to-day life, it’s priceless to have them supporting you when you leap out of your comfort zone.”

Netflix says: “Season five shifts part of its focus away from Serenity as the lifelong friends spend time in New York City. While the titular trio – Maddie, Dana Sue and Helen – will still anchor the show, the new setting brings fresh challenges to their dynamic.”

I Am Frankelda (12 June)

Advertisement

Tell Me More: Stop-motion fable I Am Frankelda promises to be a visually stunning journey through 19th-century Mexico and the deepest, darkest corners of a writer’s subconscious.

The dark fantasy musical follows an aspiring writer who, struggling with societal sexism and family pressures, discovers that the fictional monsters she’s created are actually real.

When the animated film debuted at film festivals last year, it received rave reviews, earning comparisons to family classics Coraline and The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Advertisement

The film even has Guillermo Del Toro’s seal of approval, with the Frankenstein director mentoring the young Mexican filmmakers Arturo and Roy Ambriz.

“[Del Toro] saved us, because we had a lot of doubts and a lot of debts. He has been helping us to become better filmmakers,” Roy told Page Six.

What Netflix Says: “In 19th-century Mexico, Frankelda is a gifted writer whose dark tales are ignored and dismissed. Forced to suppress her voice, she refuses to give up, even as many try to silence her.

“But when she is thrust into her subconscious, the very monsters she created come to life.”

Advertisement

I Will Find You (18 June)

Tell me more: The man behind Netflix hits Missing You, Fool You and Run Away, Harlan Coben is back with another twisty, binge-watch.

I Will Find You is the crime author’s first US-set crime drama adaptation and sees Avatar’s Sam Worthington play a father who is imprisoned for the murder of his son.

Advertisement

One day, he receives evidence that his son may still be alive, so he breaks out of prison and sets out on a mission to find the truth.

Co-starring Severance’s Britt Lower and This Is Us’ Milo Ventimiglia, I Will Find You sees the prolific writer pen the book in conjunction with the TV series.

“I came to [showrunner] Robby Hull with this idea, and we brought it to Netflix as a possible TV show while I was writing the novel, which I’ve never done before,” Harlan told Netflix.

“We shared a vision in how we wanted to tell I Will Find You so it will grip you, and not just grip you and move you, but really get emotional at the end.”

Advertisement

Released just in time for Father’s Day, I Will Find You promises tense chase scenes, shocking twists, and an exploration of how far a dad will go for his son.

Netflix says: “An innocent father serving life for the murder of his own son receives evidence that his child may still be alive — and he must break out of prison to uncover the truth.”

Voicemails For Isabelle (19 June)

Advertisement

Tell me more: Netflix doesn’t just have one original rom-com coming up this month, it has two! Voicemails For Isabelle stars Zoey Deutch as a woman who copes with her sister’s death by leaving voicemails chronicling her chaotic life in San Francisco.

Based on the book by Leah McKendrick, one day Zoey’s Jill finds herself connected to Nick Robinson’s Wes after he is reassigned her sister’s number.

Co-starring the likes of Nick Offerman, Lukas Gage and Harry Shum Jr, this rom-com has been compared to cosy classics like You’ve Got Mail and Sleepless In Seattle.

“Voicemails cannot be edited or rewritten,” writer-director Leah McKendrick told Netflix. “They’re usually messy, awkward, inarticulate – sometimes confessional. Like a stream of consciousness, they always go a little off the rails.”

Advertisement

Netflix says: “Voicemails For Isabelle centres on Jill, an aspiring pastry chef, who copes with the death of her little sister Isabelle by continuing to leave her voicemails.

“But when Isabelle’s phone number gets reassigned to an enigmatic real estate agent, Wes, things get a little complicated.”

In The Hand Of Dante (24 June)

Advertisement

Tell me more: After premiering at last year’s Venice Film Festival, Julian Schnabel’s star-studded drama In The Hand Of Dante is finally being released on Netflix.

Based on Nick Tosches’ 2002 novel of the same name, the movie tells the story of an author in modern-day New York who is recruited by a mafia don to steal Dante’s The Divine Comedy.

This 21st-century tale runs parallel to the story of Dante’s creation of the 14th-century masterpiece.

Beef’s Oscar Isaac will play both Dante and the thief, alongside an all-star cast including Gal Gadot, Gerard Butler and John Malkovich.

Advertisement

While the film earned mixed reviews, it was praised for its ambition, stunning cinematography and unique blend of crime thriller and historical epic.

Netflix says: “In The Hand Of Dante follows the parallel lives of a New York author in the 21st century who embarks on a violent journey after he is recruited by a mafia don to steal Italian poet Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy written in the poet’s own hand, and Dante in the 14th century seeking inspiration to write his most important work – each man unknowingly connected through time and their obsessive quest for love, beauty, and the divine.”

Avatar: The Last Airbender (25 June)

Advertisement

Tell me more: Avatar: The Last Airbender returns for a second season because the war against the Fire Nation is not over yet.

In the epic second chapter, Aang learns earthbending and travels deep into the Earth Kingdom, ultimately venturing to the mysterious city of Ba Sing Se.

The upcoming series will see Princess Azula and Suki’s roles expanded, as well as finally introducing fan-favourite earthbending prodigy, Toph Beifong.

“We’re looking forward to working with all of our actors again and digging into the deeper, more complicated relationships that develop as their journey continues in season two,” executive producers Christine Boylan and Jabbar Raisani told Tudum. “We are going to show the real-world versions of iconic scenes from the original, and explore some of the stories that the animation didn’t.

Advertisement

“Mainly, we’re looking forward to seeing our gang all together again.”

Netflix says: “In season two, after a bittersweet victory saving the Northern Water Tribe from the invading Fire Nation, Aang, Katara and Sokka regroup and set off on a mission to convince the elusive Earth King to aid in their battle against fearsome Fire Lord Ozai.”

Little Brother (26 June)

Advertisement

Tell me more: John Cena, Eric André, and Michelle Monaghan put family love to the test in this new comedy original.

John plays a famous real estate agent whose perfectly curated life is upended when his eccentric brother, played by Eric, reappears.

Eric described the film to Entertainment Weekly as “kind of like What About Bob? meets Parasite.”

“My heart’s in the right place,” Eric said of his little brother character, Marcus. “But over and over again, my whole life, I’ve been abandoned and orphaned by families and foster families.”

Advertisement

The last time the duo shared the screen, the former WWE star threw the comedian through a bookcase on a 2020 episode of The Eric André Show, hospitalising the funnyman.

Netflix says: “A famous real estate agent’s life is disrupted when his eccentric little brother unexpectedly reappears.”

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Politics

Will The Four Seasons Get A Season 3? What We Know About The Netflix Show’s Future

Published

on

Marco Calvani as Claude and Colman Domingo as Danny in the latest iteration of The Four Seasons

Netflix’s The Four Seasons is the perfect comfort watch, following a group of lifelong friends over the course of one year in their lives.

Starring Tina Fey (who also co-created the show), Kerri Kenney-Silver, Colman Domingo, Will Forte and Marco Calvani, the series has been a huge hit for Netflix since it premiered last year.

And while some questioned whether the show could survive past the death of Steve Carell’s character, Nick, it came back with a triumphant second series last month that was just as loved by critics and audiences alike.

After season two ended with an intriguing cliffhanger, we can’t wait to meet up with the central group again – that is, if Netflix decides that the show should get a third season.

Advertisement

Here’s everything we know about the future of The Four Seasons…

Will The Four Seasons get a season 3?

Currently, Netflix has not announced whether The Four Seasons will return for a third run of episodes.

However, considering the dramedy has not budged from Netflix’s Top 10 since season two’s release just over a week ago, in addition to its rave reviews, things look promising for fans hoping to reunite with the old friends.

Advertisement

In an interview with ScreenRant, series co-creator Tracey Wigfield confirmed that she wants the series to run and run.

“This is only the second season, so I think we’ll know when it feels like it’s coming to a natural stopping point. I would love to do another season, if we could,” she explained, adding that she’s hoping for at least four.

Speaking to Today, Tracey also teased that “they also have ideas and conversations that are interesting for all the characters that we hope we get to do more.”

Marco Calvani as Claude and Colman Domingo as Danny in the latest iteration of The Four Seasons
Marco Calvani as Claude and Colman Domingo as Danny in the latest iteration of The Four Seasons

Emily V. Aragones/Netflix

Meanwhile, despite there being no official confirmation about a third season, co-creators Lang Fisher and Tracy Wigfield told ComingSoon that they have already opened up the show’s writer’s room, and are now coming up with ideas for future instalments.

Advertisement

What will season 3 of The Four Seasons be about?

The end of season two of The Four Seasons saw the group healing their past rifts.

Kate and Jack reached a more comfortable place in their marriage, Ginny was seen thriving in motherhood and Danny and Claude came to an agreement about where they are going to live.

The character with the most exciting arc going forward is Anne, who struggled with widowhood and living alone in the latest episodes.

Advertisement

At the end of the second season, Anne decided to move to Italy, where she finally met a new man who caught her eye, played by David Tennant.

No one is more excited for this plot to potentially be explored deeper than Kerri Kenney-Silver, who plays Anne.

“I lost my mind,” she admitted to Decider. “There were a lot of ideas thrown around there, I mean, just on paper. I was like, ‘Oh my God.’ I laughed out loud when he said his name was Gianpiero, when I read the script — I didn’t see it coming. I’m also not that bright, but I didn’t see it coming.”

The most recent Four Seasons finale ended on quite a cliffhanger
The most recent Four Seasons finale ended on quite a cliffhanger

Emily V. Aragones/Netflix

Hopefully, David will be back to join in the fun and the many getaways in season three.

Advertisement

“That surprise new friend is in the group now,” Tracey claimed during her ComingSoon interview. “So we were very excited to have him appear, yeah, that’s kind of our big cliffhanger in it.

“It’s another way that, like this group that’s been together forever, is now changing up with a little bit of new blood.”

Will the main cast return to season 3 of The Four Seasons?

Based on season two’s conclusion, it looks like the “core group” will return for more bittersweet drama.

Advertisement

It’s not certain if David is returning to reprise his role just yet, but the writers hope the Doctor Who star will be back, with Tina admitting that she always had the Rivals actor in mind to play this charming new love interest.

“The way we pitched it to David was, ‘What would happen if Anne chose someone who was similar to her?’” she explained.

“Anne has been with someone who’s very much her opposite. Nick took care of the money, and she was the creative one. When you have a relationship later in life, you’re not choosing a father for a baby. You’re just having a relationship.”

The Four Seasons is available to stream on Netflix.

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Politics

Trump set to shackle US economy to failing AI industry

Published

on

Donald Trump looking tired on Air Force One

Donald Trump looking tired on Air Force One

As we reported on 4 June, the AI bubble is inching ever closer to being popped. It may survive another week, however, because US president Donald Trump is talking about bailing out these failing AI companies:

It’s a move which runs the risk of shackling the US economy to the most expensive deadend in technological history.

Trump — Crash and burn

The latest issue for companies like OpenAI and Anthropic is that they’ve had to change their business model. These companies are looking to go public, which means they’ll have to give investors a better look at their underlying financials. This was a worry, because said companies have grossly under-charged their customers to try and get them hooked on AI.

Since increasing their prices, however, customers have been forced to analyse the benefits they’re getting from this suddenly expensive technology, and the answer has been ‘none whatsoever‘ or ‘we’re not even sure‘.

Advertisement

This has created a situation in which CEOs have had to compare hard-to-quantify benefits against suddenly astronomical charges:

Advertisement

Clearly, AI CEOs like Sam Altman hoped:

Advertisement
  • They could jack up the prices.
  • Businesses would absorb the costs.
  • They’d be able to show investors a path towards mega-profits.

That didn’t happen, so now they’re having to act like they don’t know what’s going on:

If you’re unfamiliar with AI beyond the noise, it’s important to remember that the technology we’re discussing – ‘generative AI’ – has failed to live up to the hype. Billionaire tech bros claimed they were on the verge of creating a digital god, and a compliant and un-curious media obediently repeated this nonsense.

Advertisement

Statistician Dr Kareem Carr summarised the issues with AI:

It’s not that AI can’t be used to do knowledge work. It’s that it’s wildly unreliable in bizarre and incomprehensible ways. Things you’d never think it could be possible to mess up are the things that it messes up.

Like you ask it download some data and do an analysis, and instead it just completely fabricates a fictional dataset for no reason, and gives you results based on that.

Fine if you catch it, but potentially career-ending if you don’t.

It inserts its own ideas without telling you. It deletes critical paragraphs.

Advertisement

These actions would be psychopathic in a colleague, but we’re just supposed to accept it because it’s a machine.

The path to profitability

Bugs and faults are one thing, but the truly important thing for our business overlords is that this tech isn’t increasing profitability. If anything, it’s achieving the opposite effect:

CEOs went all-in on AI because it sounded impressive, and the job of a CEO is to sound impressive. The reality is none of these people knew what they were doing, and now that AI is shown to be a curse on profitability, they’re going to drop AI as fast as they can.

And now we get to Trump.

Speaking on Air Force One, the president said:

Advertisement

There’s a concept out there, there’s so much money, and it’s so big that there are concepts where pieces could be given to the American public, where the American public essentially becomes a partner with the companies.

There’s certainly been a lot of money invested, but the AI companies receiving it have failed to turn a profit. And this was true even before they started shedding customers for being too expensive.

Trump added:

There’s something very interesting about it, where it almost becomes a partnership with the American public. We’ll look into that. We are looking. I actually have a meeting scheduled… with all of the companies. And we’re talking about it where the American people can benefit from the success of AI. And by doing that, they’re going to like it better. Which companies? All of them. All the big ones, yeah… They’re all coming to the White House, probably next week.

We talk about nationalising key utilities all the time; we don’t talk about nationalising AI, because it’s a novelty technology which is primarily useful for generating images of SpongeBob SquarePants doing crime:

Advertisement

Bailonomics

What Trump is proposing isn’t nationalisation; it’s a bailout.

Advertisement

It’s easy to see why the AI companies would want backing from the US government, given that they’re trying to make themselves look stable in the runup to going public. It’s less easy to see why the US public would want to own shares in an industry which could be worth nothing 12 months from now.

The thing to bear in mind is that Trump is surrounded by figures who stand to profit from AI going public, including Elon Musk and David Sacks. In other words, it looks very much like Trump is going to use the power of the White House to bail out his rich buddies.

Featured image via Samuel Corum (Getty Images)

By Willem Moore

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2025