Gladiator sequel crew members injured in stunt sequence on set
Several crew members filming the Gladiator sequel in Morocco have been injured in a stunt accident on set.
The film's production company Paramount Pictures said the injuries were non-life-threatening and happened while shooting a planned stunt sequence.
The crew members were "all in stable condition and continue to receive treatment", the statement said.
Earlier this week, the Sun reported an explosion and six people went to the hospital.
"It was terrifying - a huge ball of fire flew up and caught several crew members in its path. In years of filming I've never seen an accident so scary," a source told the newspaper.
"Everyone involved, from the lowliest runners to the star names, has been shaken up by this," they added.
A Paramount Pictures spokesperson said: "The safety and full medical services teams on-site were able to act quickly so that those who were impacted immediately received the necessary care."
They said it has "strict health and safety procedures in place on all our productions" and would take "all necessary precautions as we resume production".
According to Variety, no cast members were injured but six people received treatment for burn injuries and four remain in hospital.
Sir Ridley Scott, who directed the original 2000 historical drama film, is returning to produce the second installment, which is scheduled to be released in November 2024.
No title has yet been announced for the sequel, which stars Normal People actor Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, and Connie Nielson.
The original film won five Oscars, including best actor for Russell Crowe, who played Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius alongside Joaquin Phoenix as Emperor Commodus.
The movie, set during the height of the Roman Empire, sees Maximus start out as a war hero before being forced to become a gladiator.
Gladiator made $457m (£355m) at the box office and revived the historical epic drama genre, which had been out of fashion for decades.
Source- BBC
Facebook owner Meta plans to create Twitter rival
Meta has shown staff plans for a text-based social network designed to compete with Twitter, sources have told the BBC.
It could allow users to follow accounts they already follow on Instagram, Meta's image-sharing app.
And it could potentially allow them to bring over followers from decentralized platforms such as Mastodon.
A Meta spokesperson confirmed to the BBC that the platform was in development.
"We're exploring a standalone decentralized social network for sharing text updates," they said.
"We believe there's an opportunity for a separate space where creators and public figures can share timely updates about their interests."
Meta's chief product officer Chris Cox said coding was underway on the platform. The tech giant aims to release it soon, although no date was given. Some speculation is that it could be as early as the end of June.
Screenshots have appeared online which were shown internally to employees, potentially giving an idea of what the app will look like.
Sources within the company have told the BBC that these leaked screenshots are genuine. If they are, the layout of this new platform will be familiar to anyone who has spent time on Twitter.
The text-based network - which has a working title of P92 - could turn out to be a greater rival to Elon Musk's Twitter than either BlueSky or Mastodon.
While both have attracted users disillusioned with Twitter, starting afresh on a new social network and rebuilding a community, is difficult.
But the Instagram community is enormous. Meta says it has around two billion users, which dwarfs the 300 million that are believed to use Twitter - although its figures can no longer be verified.
If even 25% of Instagram users can be coaxed into using P92 (it will undoubtedly have a sexier name when it launches), it will instantly become more prominent than its older rival.
Meta says it takes "inspiration" from other products, although others put it less kindly - Stories on Facebook was based on a Snapchat feature, and Reels on Instagram is unmistakably similar to TikTok.
Twitter has come under scrutiny over moderation on the platform in recent months, and in May withdrew from the EU's voluntary disinformation code.
Under Mr. Musk, Twitter moderation has reportedly been reduced - which critics say allowed an increase in the spread of disinformation.
But Mr. Musk says there is now "less misinformation rather than more" since he took over in October 2022.
Source- BBC
Old Buick City site is ready to rise again
Redevelopment of the Buick City site in Flint to provide in-demand industrial space has received Michigan Strategic Fund support, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation announced today. When fully completed, the project is expected to result in a 3.5 million square foot, state-of-the-art light industrial space and will represent the largest investment in North Flint in decades.
Altogether, this project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $300 million and consist of up to 3.5 million square feet of state-of-the-art, light industrial distribution space, and could eventually house between 2,000-3,000 jobs on the site.
“By investing in the Buick City site, one of the largest brownfields in the state, we are creating long-term economic opportunity in Flint, boosting the state’s inventory of industrial facilities, and securing future investments in Michigan for years to come,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “This project will transform an underutilized property into functional, available space that is vital for ongoing business attraction and expansion efforts in the region.”
The Flint Commerce Center, LLC, an entity of Ashley Capital, plans to redevelop the former Buick City Site in the city of Flint to prepare the site for a 275,000-square-foot industrial building that is expected to lead to further development at the site.
The proposed project will act as a catalyst to attract jobs to the area by providing critically needed, new speculative development as well as shovel-ready sites for future potential regional opportunities. In addition to cleaning up one of the largest and most significantly blighted and contaminated industrial sites in the state, the activation of the industrial space is critical in addressing the shortage of space in the city of Flint and the state.
“The redevelopment of Buick City is an important win for the Flint community and our state, and
signals our commitment to both growing our inventory of industrial sites and creating economic opportunity for our workforce,” said Quentin L. Messer, Jr., CEO of MEDC and President and Chair of the MSF Board. “We appreciate the hard work of Team Michigan, including our partners in the legislature, the Whitmer-Gilchrist administration, and our local partners to return the Buick City site to productive use and put businesses and residents in Genesee County on an even stronger path for future economic growth.”
Market analysis has repeatedly shown that large, move-in-ready sites are in demand. Supporting this type of property remains vital to retaining existing companies in the state as they grow and offers opportunities to attract new companies here to Michigan.
“Ashley Capital’s redevelopment of the Buick City brownfield is a game-changer for economic growth in the Flint community and the entire region,” Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley said. “This will have a transformational impact on economic opportunity and quality of life for Flint residents. We’re taking one of the largest brownfield sites in Michigan and transforming this liability into an asset for economic development.”
The cost of the site preparation, including the removal of underground utilities and concrete slabs and foundations, is estimated to be $17 million. Flint Commerce Center today received Michigan Strategic Fund approval of an $8.5 million MSF performance-based loan with the ability to be forgiven if construction milestones are met.
In addition to MSF support, $3.25 million in ARPA funds from Genesee County and $3.25 million in ARPA funds from the city of Flint will be reimbursed to the project for work as it is completed. The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation has also agreed to grant $2 million to the city to support the project.
“This project is a perfect example of the good things that can happen when the public, private, and charitable sectors work together,” said Ridgway White, president and CEO of the Mott Foundation. “I can’t wait to see the site cleaned up, steel rising and, ultimately, residents of Flint and Genesee County getting back to work at Buick City. The Mott Foundation is pleased to play a small role in making that happen.”
Established in 1984, Ashley Capital has a successful track record of utilizing available sites or remedying blighted properties to breathe life back into these sites, often before tenants are even secured to fill them. Learn more about Ashley Capital here.
“Ashley Capital is very excited about our plans to build a state-of-the-art industrial park on the former Buick City site. This development will be an economic driver for the area by increasing the economic base and providing employment opportunities,” said Ashley Capital LLC Senior Vice President Susan Harvey. “Construction activity will commence soon after the current property owner, RACER Trust, finalizes the necessary environmental agreements with EGLE. We are looking forward to getting started on this transformative project and becoming part of the Flint community.”
Today’s announcement builds on other recent MSF support for projects that create jobs and vibrancy in the Flint area. This includes recent support for Island Plastics, a plastics recycler that is building a state-of-the-art facility that will create 24 manufacturing jobs in the city and invest $8 million in the region. Meanwhile, in November 2021, Allegiant Air announced it was establishing a new operational base at Flint Bishop International Airport, which is expected to generate a total capital investment of $77 million and create 88 high-wage jobs as it brings new business and economic activity to the region.
Additionally, in July 2021, Governor Whitmer announced that a new co-op urban grocery store will soon be coming to the north side of Flint with support from the Michigan Strategic Fund. Intended to provide much-needed, affordable, healthy food options to area residents, the project is expected to revitalize a long-vacant building and help address health issues in the documented “food desert” of North Flint.
The Buick City site is one of the largest and most significantly blighted and contaminated industrial sites in the state. The property was the home of Buick Motor Company until 2010 when operations there ceased and the site sat vacant. Since then, redevelopment of the property has been a top priority for the state and the city of Flint.
In 2011, the RACER Trust took ownership and sold portions of the site to two companies; however, a large majority of the site remains vacant today. Ashley Capital, one of the largest privately held industrial real estate investment companies in the United States, has secured a purchase agreement with RACER for the remainder of the site. RACER is currently performing environmental clean-up activities at the site and Ashley expects to close on the property in early 2023.
“Buick City is important to not only the history of Flint but also its future,” said Tyler Rossmaessler, executive director of Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance. “The redevelopment of this site will allow our region to compete for new jobs and industry in the global marketplace and generate tax revenue that will be invested into our schools, public safety, and local infrastructure. The inter-governmental and public-private partnership supporting this project is innovative and can serve as a national model for effective economic development work.”
Source- City of Flint
GM aims to build EVs within existing factory footprint
However, automotive cybersecurity experts are still determining if digital keys are as secure as the industry claims.
Kent said a rash of recent car thefts in the U.K. targeting new cars with keyless systems that were hacked using relay attacks or “key cloning” demonstrates how the industry underestimates vehicle security.
Automakers have responded to key cloning attacks with keys that go into sleep mode. Vehicle owners have attempted a different strategy, such as keeping keys in a metal container like coffee cans or breath mint tins.
The Kia Boy attacks, which involve thieves popping off the steering wheel column of key ignition in Hyundai and Kia models and using a USB to hot-wire them, offer another example.
Kia and Hyundai — sibling companies — issued a software update to fix the problem, but Automotive News reported Hyundai Motor Group’s solution is not working perfectly.
“It’s not feasible or realistic to attack this key security head-on,” Tindell said.
Car thieves are moving on from key cloning because automakers such as Toyota are placing robust encryption systems between its keys and the smart key electronic control unit, a dedicated chip with software or firmware that controls security and access in its vehicles to authenticate the key, Tindell said.
He likened the hacks and countermeasures between car thieves, hackers, and automakers to an arms race.
Car thieves, for example, are developing an attack method called a controller area network injection, Tindell said. The CAN injection circumvents standard antitheft equipment by going around the back.
Car thieves and hackers must physically break into the internal network of a car, which they can do if it is somewhere easy to reach on the vehicle, Tindell said.
In a blog post, Tindell unwrapped how car thieves in the U.K. stole a Toyota RAV4 from Ian Tabor, a cybersecurity researcher and automotive engineering consultant for Switzerland’s EDAG Engineering Group.
Thieves broke into the RAV4’s CAN near the headlights to access its key security ECU for its engine and doors.
“In some ways, it’s like a castle with a drawbridge and portcullis and a barbican to secure the front entrance, and an unguarded back door with a cheap padlock,” Tindell said.
Automakers need to have authentication and encryption for the digital messaging between a car’s door and engine to defeat these CAN injection attacks, Tindell said. They need some sort of credential or token system.
“Having your phone say, ‘Are you trying to open the car’ is probably too much, but it’s leaning toward the direction I think it will go,” Kent said.
Source- World News Era
Twitch apologizes as streamers leave after adverts row
Twitch has apologised, after a backlash over new advertising rules.
The Amazon-owned live-streaming service had said it would restrict the size and type of ads used by streamers who create content on Twitch.
This would have substantially reduced the ways in which streamers generate income on the platform.
Twitch has now said it will rewrite the new policy after several prominent creators threatened to boycott the platform - and some moved elsewhere.
"Today's branded-content policy update was overly broad," it said in a tweet viewed 17.6 million times.
"This created confusion and frustration - and we apologize for that.
"We do not intend to limit streamers' ability to enter into direct relationships with sponsors - and we understand that this is an important part of how streamers earn revenue."
But UK streamer Marco, known online as Stallion, told BBC News he would still be leaving Twitch, following the original update.
"This is the push that I needed to get me off this platform," he said.
"This has been something that's been in my mind for the last two years... the problem with Twitch is it has next to no discoverability - it's one of those platforms where if you're not already at the top, you're not going to be.
"I get it that it's a business, but it's like there's no thought about the people who are on the platform... it just feels like it's all about the money now and nothing to do with us."
The new rules would have meant streamers were not allowed to embed ads, whether video, audio, or otherwise, directly into their streams, as well as limiting the size of any logos to just 3% of the screen size.
Streamers typically embed ads so they are visible at all times.
Twitch usually pays them 50% of the money it collects from its subscribers, though some of the biggest streamers receive a 70-30 "revenue split". But the platform receives none of the revenue streamers make from ads or donations.
In comparison, YouTubers receive 70% of the revenue from their subscriptions, known as memberships. But YouTube also takes a 30% cut of donations from fans.
The new rules also caused concern for charity events such as Games Done Quick, which in June announced it had raised $2.2m for Doctors Without Borders, as it relies heavily on logos that fill much of the screen.
Which of the new rules will now be rewritten remains unclear - but for some, the damage has been done.
"There's no thought about the people who are on the platform, whether they depend on it for their livelihood or not," Stallion said.
"This is a move I should have made years ago - but it's one that I've honestly been very scared to make because it's my full-time career.
"Long term, this is going to be the best thing for me."
Source- BBC
CNN chief Chris Licht out after just 13 months
The chief executive of CNN has stepped down after just 13 months in the job.
Chris Licht had been under pressure after a recent article about him in the Atlantic magazine, for which he provided an unusual level of access, raised questions about his leadership.
The news network has also seen falling ratings and was widely criticized for its handling of a town hall interview with former president Donald Trump.
Parent company Discovery said, "Things did not work out the way we had hoped".
Mr Licht was appointed head of the channel last year, when Discovery merged with WarnerMedia, home to CNN, HBO, and others.
Warner Bros Discovery boss David Zaslav said the company appreciated "Chris's efforts and dedication and [we] wish him all the best".
"This job was never going to be easy, especially at a time of great disruption and transformation, and Chris poured his heart and soul into it," he said announcing the change, which is effective immediately.
"Unfortunately, things did not work out the way we had hoped - and ultimately that's on me. I take responsibility."
Mr. Licht took over CNN as the Discovery takeover prompted big shake-ups, including the ousting of former chief Jeff Zucker, the abrupt cancellation of CNN+, a planned streaming service, and hundreds of layoffs.
Mr. Zaslav has also been pushing CNN to shift its tone, which he saw as having shifted to the left and become too combative during the Trump administration when the former president frequently dismissed it as "fake news".
Mr Zaslav had said that CNN should carve out a role distinct from rival news brands seen as being more partisan, such as Fox News on the right, and MSNBC on the left.
"Our view is there are advocacy networks on either side. We have the best journalists in the world. We need to show both sides of every issue," he said at an investor conference earlier this year.
But Mr. Licht's efforts to shake up programming - including the launch of a new morning show - had stumbled.
His standing had been in question after a new chief operating officer, seen as close to the Discovery boss, was named earlier this month.
Before CNN, Mr. Licht was an executive vice president of special programming at CBS and a showrunner for "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert". He had also worked for CBS News and was a co-creator of MSNBC's popular morning news show "Morning Joe".
Mr Zaslav said the channel would be led by an interim group of leaders, while the company searched for a replacement.
Source- BBC
Lionel Messi to join Inter Miami after leaving Paris St-Germain
Argentina legend Lionel Messi will join American side Inter Miami after his exit from French champions Paris St-Germain.
Messi, 35, had a more lucrative offer from the Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal while a return to Barcelona became an impossibility because of Financial Fair Play (FFP) limitations.
"I've taken the decision that I am going to Miami," Messi told newspapers Diario Sport and Mundo Deportivo.
"[I decided] to leave Europe."
He added: "It's true that I had offers from another European team but I didn't even think about it because, in Europe, my idea was only to go to Barcelona.
"After winning the World Cup and not being able to go to Barca, it's time to go to MLS to live football in a different way and enjoy my day-to-day life more.
"Obviously with the same responsibility and desire to win, and to do things well, but with more calm."
The ex-Barcelona forward was keen on a return to the Catalan club this summer but the FFP limitations that will be in place for next season in La Liga made any ambitious plan to bring him back an impossibility.
The Spanish club was unable to keep Messi in 2021, leading to a tearful news conference as he left the Nou Camp and signed for PSG.
"I was afraid that it would happen again," he said.
"I really wanted, I was very excited to be able to return [to Barcelona], but after having experienced what I experienced and the exit I had, I did not want to be in the same situation again - waiting to see what was going to happen.
"I heard that they had to sell players or lower players' salaries and the truth is that I didn't want to go through that, nor take charge of obtaining something that had to do with all that."
Barcelona later released a statement saying Messi had chosen a Miami move over an offer from the Catalan club.
"President [Joan] Laporta understood and respected Messi's decision to want to compete in a league with fewer demands, further away from the spotlight and the pressure he has been subject to in recent years," it added.
The Miami deal includes collaboration with brands like Adidas and Apple.
Messi won the Ballon d'Or award for the world's best player seven times and is expected to win it later this year after World Cup success.
This is the first time Barcelona icon Messi has played outside Europe.
With a Barcelona return failing to materialize, he had the straight choice between Inter Miami or Al-Hilal.
He was heavily tipped to be favoring a move to Saudi Arabia, where he would have joined Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema in the league in a deal that could not be matched financially.
But Messi was ultimately tempted to Major League Soccer (MLS) side Inter Miami for a variety of reasons including lifestyle, and a deal with big brands that extends beyond football.
He already owns a house in Miami, which he rents out.
Paris St-Germain won Ligue 1 in both his seasons at the club but went out in the Champions League last 16, which means his time in France was not seen as a huge success.
He netted 32 goals in 75 games for the club - and ended this season with 16 goals and 16 assists in Ligue 1.
Messi's two-year contract comes to an end this summer and both parties agreed to go their separate ways, with the forward suspended for two weeks in May for an unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia.
His legacy comes from his time at Barcelona and winning the World Cup with Argentina in December.
He left Barca in 2021, after 21 years with the club, because of the club's financial problems.
Messi is Barcelona's record scorer with 672 goals and won 10 La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues, and seven Spanish Cups.
Messi said he had chatted with close friend Xavi, the Barcelona manager, about returning to the club but "very little, once or twice at most" with president Joan Laporta.
"We were very excited because when something came out we would discuss if he really wanted me to come back, if it was good for the team and for him, and we kept in communication," Messi said.
"We never even got to talk about the contract. A proposal was passed over, but never a formal, written, signed proposal, because there was still nothing and we did not know if it was going to be possible or not.
"There was the intention, but we couldn't advance anything, we didn't even talk about money formally.
"If it had been a matter of money I would have gone to Saudi Arabia or elsewhere."
Source- BBC
Jodie Comer leaves Broadway matinee show over breathing problems due to poor NYC air quality
The matinee show of Broadway's "Prima Facie" was paused briefly on Wednesday afternoon when actress Jodie Comer began experiencing breathing problems due to New York City's poor air quality.
"Today's matinee of 'Prima Facie' was halted approximately 10 minutes into the performance after Jodie Comer had difficulty breathing due to the poor air quality in New York City because of smoke from the Canadian wildfires," the play's reps said in a statement obtained by ABC Audio. "The performance started again from the top with understudy Dani Arlington going on for Ms. Comer in the role of Tessa."
"Prima Facie" is a one-woman play by Suzie Miller. Comer stars in the show as Tessa.
The play has been nominated for four Tony Awards, including best actress.
Wildfires in Canada are currently creating poor air quality conditions in parts of the U.S., and smoke from the fires has engulfed the skies over much of the Northeast, prompting serious air quality alerts in at least 16 states.
In New York City, a dense blanket of smoke swept the area, casting the region in a hazy orange glow on Wednesday. Cities such as Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Columbus, Ohio, have also suffered poor air quality due to the fires.
Source- ABC News
Historical Wins at the 56th Annual South Caicos Regatta Festival: Miss Regatta and Miss Teen Regatta
The 56th Annual South Caicos Regatta Festival, held on May 25th and 26th, witnessed extraordinary victories in both the Miss Regatta and Miss Teen Regatta pageants, marking a significant milestone in the festival's history. Miss Amskaj Antoine, sponsored by Ellise KK Ltd., won the first-ever Miss Teen Regatta, while Miss Tinell Garland, sponsored by BOTCI, triumphed in the Miss Regatta competition after not placing in last year's event.
The inclusion of Miss Teen Regatta in the festival this year brought a new wave of excitement and meaning to the event. Traditionally, Thursday night was allocated to the Little Miss Regatta pageant, but the Committee decided to revamp the pageant and introduce Miss Teen Regatta. This change presented a major benefit by providing a platform for young women to express themselves, showcase their talents, and become ambassadors for their community and culture. The Committee recognized the importance of empowering the youth and believed that Miss Teen Regatta would be the ideal opportunity to do so.
Reflecting on her incredible journey, Miss Tinell Garland, who returned after not placing in last year's pageant, expressed, "Re-entering Miss Regatta was nothing short of a great opportunity to display my integrity, drive, and passion for country and culture." Speaking about her aspirations as the newly crowned Miss Regatta, Ms. Garland emphasized her main focus on uniting the South Caicos community and giving back to the island.
In a groundbreaking moment, Miss Amskaj Antoine emerged as the first-ever Miss Teen Regatta. Hailing from South Caicos and a student at Marjorie Basden High School, Ms. Antoine shared her plans for her reign, stating, "During my reign as Miss Teen Regatta, I plan to focus on the youth and elderly people on the island of South Caicos." With her name forever etched in the Regatta history books, she has pledged to undertake the challenging task of bridging the gap between these two groups.
The Committee extends its heartfelt appreciation to all the contestants who participated in the pageants and their respective sponsors; Adriauna Williams (Taste Bud TCI), Madelon Donatien (LLT VIP Services), Faith Bowens (Subtronic Sound Reinforcement), Monica Julien (Basic Essential), Ketchnaydine Thomas (Maxs Beauty), Jennie Louis (Omars Beach Hut), and all other participants for their incredible support.
The Committee would also like to acknowledge the generosity of the companies and individuals who donated to this year's pageant, including Honorable Rachel Taylor, Honorable Arlington Musgrove, Bay Road Development, Deveraux Malcolm, Dameko Dean Group of Companies, Jais, Gold Smith, Kostcho, Classy Fashions, Lovano Forbes, Best Price Supermarket, Anonymous Donor, Ministry of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development, InterCaribbean, IGA Supermarket, Building Materials, Global Capital, Danny Bouys, Grace Bay Car Rentals, Seven Stars Resort, Flow TCI, Caicos Drip Department, Turks and Caicos Hotel Association, Villa Del Mar, and Ekfraseis by Ariella Missick.
Looking forward, the South Caicos Regatta Festival pageants will continue to grow as the Committee explores further opportunities for the queens to enhance their skills and character development. The Committee is excited to announce that Regatta 57 is tentatively scheduled to take place from May 23rd to 27th, 2024.
One dead, two injured in motor vehicle accident in St Mary
A motor vehicle accident on the Rosend main road in St Mary on Wednesday left one man dead and two others nursing injuries.
Dead is Leroy Jones of an unknown address.
Jones was sitting in his Honda Stepwagon, which was parked along the Rosend main road in a westerly direction when a Honda Civic motor car traveling in the opposite direction collided in the back of the parked vehicle. Jones and his passenger, and the driver of the Honda all suffered injuries.
They were taken to the Annotto Bay Hospital where Jones was pronounced dead and the two others admitted. The Annotto Bay police are investigating. Speeding is believed to have led to the accident.
Source- Jamaica Observer