Latest news with #28
Euronews
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Euronews
Film of the Week: '28 Years Later' - Bold, brilliant and Brexity
When we left the 28 (pick your time span) Later franchise in 2007, the protocol-breaching actions of two misguided siblings led to the carpetbombing of London's no-longer-safe zone. Kids... What can you do? 28 Weeks Later, Juan Carlos Fresnadillo's surprisingly effective follow up to director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland's 2002 zombie genre revitalizing horror experience, ended with a devilish final stinger that had audiences saying 'Et, merde' at the sight of the Rage Virus-infected emerging from a Paris Métro. 18 years later (in the real world) and 28 years later (in the Rage-infested world), Boyle and Garland are back, and they're not keen to simply rest on their laurels. We quickly learn that the terrifying pandemic has been beaten back from mainland Europe (the French presumably shrugged off the infestation and dusted off the guillotines) and that Rage is contained to Blighty. They really can't catch a break... And in many ways, that's the point. While the infected are still out and about, there exists a safe space – an island within an island. Its name is Lindisfarne, aka: Holy Island, and it's in this isolationist community, only connected to the UK mainland via a causeway crossable at low tide, where we meet 12-year-old Spike (newcomer Alfie Williams). His scavenger father Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) is keen to make a man out of him and so decides to embark on a coming-of-age ritual of sorts: take him inland for the first time in search of his first kill. As Spike's bedbound and mysteriously sick mother Isla (Jodie Comer) foretells in a fit of expletives, it's a really dumb idea... 28 Years Later doesn't look or feel like 28 Days Later. Or 28 Weeks Later, for that matter. So those wanting more of the same may end up disappointed. Ditching the lo-fi, punk rawness of the first brush with sprinting nightmare fuel and the equally lean-and-mean feel of the second, 28 Years Later is crisper and more expensive-looking. While that may frustrate some audiences, what's clear is that Boyle and Garland didn't come back to simply cash in and play it safe. It couldn't be any other way. 28 Days Later breathed new life into a horror mainstay by having the sprinting Rage-infected replacing traditional reanimated corpses. More than two decades later, zombies have invaded the screens and become ubiquitous – to the point of exhaustion. From the big screen offerings of the Rec franchise, Shaun of the Dead, Zombieland and Planet Terror (to mention only the high points) to the zeitgeist-capturing small screen hits The Walking Dead and The Last Of Us, civilisation-threatening outbreaks featuring ravenous walkers, crawlers and biters have become mainstream. The only way was forward. And a lot has happened since 2007's 28 Weeks Later – namely Brexit and a worldwide pandemic. Both of these resonate in 28 Years Later, especially the self-inflicted isolationist wound. The nationalist and seclusionist subtext becomes text: Saint George's Cross flying above the community; the banner reading 'Fail we may but go we must'; the sea patrol keeping the infection contained to the UK; the 'us' and 'them'-ness of looking backwards to a past of the England that once was... It all makes for a simple but effective Brexit analogy. It's not particularly subtle; but then again, no allegory-infused zombie movie ever was. And neither was Brexit. The obviousness of certain thematical strands is countered by some far more surprising choices, like the teasing-and-ditching of The Wicker Man motifs and the Summerisle setting in favour of exploring the evolution of the infected. Of course, the introduction of various kinds of berserkers ('slow-lows' or the terrifying 'Alphas' with Predator penchants for spine-yanking) will lead to inescapable comparisons with The Last Of Us. But the script does enough to explore the potential of its ideas without toppling into déjà vu – particularly when one initially grating yet radical element is introduced... Then there are unpredictably profound moments in the second half of the film, culminating in the Memento Mori / Memento Amori dichotomy, which is brilliantly delivered by the show's last act MVP Dr. Kelson, played to perfection by Ralph Fiennes. His scenes with Spike have an emotional resonance that elevates the material and make it hard to fathom how Alfie Williams is so accomplished for a first-time actor. We'll hopefully be seeing both Boy Meets World and the iodine-covered Colonel Kurtz again soon, as 28 Years Later was filmed back-to-back with the first sequel in a planned new trilogy, titled 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, which is slated to hit theaters in January 2026. Let's pray Young Fathers return too, as their terrific soundtrack is not worth ignoring. From the Teletubbies opening to a heroically bizarre finale which scoffers will likely liken to The Village, via a three-act structure that makes a young hero's odyssey evolve from a father-son adventure to a mother-son rescue mission to a young father figure spreading his wings, 28 Years Later's strange verve is exhilarating. While there are some pacing issues, as well as surplus to requirement CGI moments involving swarms of birds and deer, Boyle and Garland have truly outdone themselves. Without skimping on the edge-of-your-seat tension and gruesome viscera that made the first two instalments so pant-browningly effective, their belated sequel is a radical revival that eschews the obvious at every turn. It may not satisfy everyone, but give us daring over safe any day / week / year of the Rage pandemic. 28 Years Later is out in cinemas now. "Wake up, wake up" is the chorus of the Felix Flavour music that Jeny BSG choreographed for the Dance4Refugees campaign on Instagram and at the Bozar arts venue in Brussels. It's also the call to action for people everywhere to speak out and show their support for refugees. "Everyone needs to wake up. It's time to talk about it, it's time to help, it's time to react. We can't stay silent, we have to speak out for the oppressed and that's what I'm doing," she told Euronews. Jenybsg (@jenybsg)'in paylaştığı bir gönderi The social media campaign challenges people to post their versions of the choreography on Instagram and donate funds. It is aimed primarily at young people, who Jeny works with at her dance school and when she travels abroad. 'I try to reach out to the younger generation because for me they are the change, they can make a difference in this world. Dance was, for me, a great way to bring attention and change the narrative, to celebrate the strength, potential and resilience of refugees,' Jeny said. The dancer and choreographer was born in Belgium, where her family sought refuge from the decades-long conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). A background that left its mark on the artist and led her to activism in collaboration with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). "My family fled violence in the 1990s. My elder brothers spent time in a refugee camp. My mother and my father have experienced displacement, violence, fear, struggle", she recalls. More than 6.9 million people are internally displaced across the DRC, with an additional one million refugees and asylum-seekers in neighbouring countries, according to the UNHCR. This 'legacy' brought additional self-imposed responsibilities for Jeny, who set herself the task of 'not failing' and being a voice for the Congolese diaspora: 'Today I am living proof that the origin of refugees does not define the limits of refugees, but rather their strengths.' Jeny uses her platform to promote marginalized voices, having founded the AfroHouseBelgium, a Brussels-based dance school. She's also been working with the UNHCR since last year to amplify the stories of those forced to flee. "Dance is universal and the refugee cause today is also universal. We know that refugees come from all around the world: Ukraine, Afghanistan, Syria, DRC and other countries. But they are not only statistics or numbers. Their lives matter, and they are like us", she says. The UN says there are currently 123 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, twice more than a decade ago. Almost 37 million of them are refugees. The organisation warns that recent drastic cuts in humanitarian aid funding are putting their lives at risk. Funding for the agency is now roughly at the same level as a decade ago, said Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, at the launch of the annual Global Trends Report on 12 June. 'We are living in a time of intense volatility in international relations, with modern warfare creating a fragile, harrowing landscape marked by acute human suffering", Grandi highlighted. The report found that, contrary to widespread perceptions in wealthier regions, 67 per cent of refugees stay in neighbouring countries, with low and middle-income countries hosting 73 per cent of the world's refugees.
Libya Herald
4 days ago
- Politics
- Libya Herald
Libyan Advisory Committee calls on Libyan stakeholders to work with UNSMIL to build unified, sovereign, and democratic Libya
The UNSMIL created Libyan Advisory Committee has called upon all Libyan stakeholders to work in good faith with UNSMIL to build a unified, sovereign, and democratic Libya. This came after the Committee submitted its final report to UNSMIL on 5 May 2025. UNSMIL is now sharing the options they presented with political actors, the wider spectrum of Libyan society, and regional and international actors for feedback. This feedback will inform the next steps of the UNSMIL-facilitated political process. Why was the Advisory Committee established? It will be recalled that the Committee was established against a backdrop of deepening political division, institutional fragility, deteriorating economic conditions and rising public dissatisfaction with the status quo. Libya's political stalemate is a threat to Libya's national unity and territorial integrity. The absence of legitimate permanent governance structures threatens the legitimacy of all institutions and their credibility. Public frustration is growing, with 2.8 million registered voters still awaiting elections. Political paralysis, resulting in dual government spending and a lack of transparency, accountability and oversight, is destabilizing Libya's economy. The focus of the Advisory Committee The Committee assessed the constitutional and legal framework underpinning Libya's electoral process, including the existing legal framework provided in Constitutional Amendment 13 and Laws 27 and 28 (2023). It sought to identify legal ambiguities, structural deficiencies, and political obstacles to holding national elections. Consultations included discussion with the 6+6 Committee and the High National Elections Commission (HNEC), as well as a review of national and international legal instruments. Key problems and proposed options The Committee identified and proposed options to address key contentious issues in the current electoral framework. 1. Linking parliamentary and presidential elections Problem: The law says parliamentary elections are only valid if presidential elections succeed. Solution: Delink the outcomes and remove the dependency of parliamentary elections on presidential elections. 2. Holding both elections at the same time Problem: Having both elections on one day raises political and logistical issues. Solution: Organize sequential presidential and parliamentary elections within a well-defined time frame. 3. Eligibility criteria All candidates with dual nationality must disclose their status. If they win, after the preliminary count and after exhausting the appeals period, they must provide evidence of starting the process to relinquish the second nationality. If the winning candidate fails to do so, a new presidential election will be called, the results of the parliamentary elections will be announced, and the head of the Senate will temporarily assure the president's prerogatives. If a presidential candidate is under investigation for a crime, they cannot be excluded unless there is a final verdict. Allow military personnel and senior government officials to participate as candidates under conditions regulated by law. 4. Second round requirement Problem: Even if someone wins a majority in the first round of presidential elections, in the current law, a second round of voting is still required. Solution: If a candidate wins more than 50 percent in the first round of voting, a second round isn't necessary for presidential elections. Additional recommendations Increase women's representation to 30 percent in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Ensure fair and proportional representation of cultural groups with at least 15 percent in the Senate. Require national ID numbers for voter registration to safeguard electoral integrity. Reconstitute the High National Elections Commission. Establish robust security protocols to ensure safe and inclusive elections. Improve electoral dispute resolution mechanisms to reduce space for contestation. Roadmap options The Committee presented four potential roadmaps toward ending the transitional period and holding elections. Presidential and legislative elections are to be conducted within two years, commencing once a political settlement is reached on the legal status and financial independence of HNEC, the necessary amendments to the constitutional and legal framework for elections, and a unified government. The political settlement should include provisions for adopting a permanent constitution for the country. A bicameral legislative council will be elected within two years, with the drafting and ratification of the constitution entrusted to the Senate. The new constitution will regulate all subsequent presidential and parliamentary elections. Adopt a constitution, prior to elections. This option involves examining the challenges associated with the 2017 draft constitution and exploring the feasibility of drafting a new constitution. Activate the dialogue mechanism and replace existing institutional stakeholders with a constituent assembly through LPA Article 64 dialogue process. Before any option can be adopted, the Committee recommended that a political settlement be reached among key actors to establish a conducive environment for elections, including: Reconstituting the HNEC board; Granting HNEC financial independence; Enacting a new amendment to the Constitutional Declaration; Amending electoral laws to ensure their implementability; and Reaching an agreement on a new executive authority with a defined mandate and timeframe. Guarantees and oversight mechanisms To ensure a credible process, the Committee recommended the following: Political recognition of the new government. A timebound mandate with a mechanism to assess the government's performance, allowing for its dismissal if it fails to prepare adequately for the elections. Restrictions on long-term financial or political commitments by the interim government. A national code of ethics for political conduct during elections. An independent national body to monitor the electoral process. A national arbitration mechanism for resolving disputes. Call for action In conclusion, the Advisory Committee affirmed that legislative reform alone will not secure a successful transition. Rather, a comprehensive political settlement is essential, underpinned by national consensus and inclusivity. The Committee called upon all Libyan stakeholders to work in good faith with UNSMIL to build a unified, sovereign, and democratic Libya. Tags: UNSMIL Advisory Committee Feb 2025
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
As A Millennial, Even I Was Surprised To Learn How 28 Days Later Got Its Title In The First Place
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. As the 2025 movie schedule pushes forward, there are still plenty of great titles to look forward to. One that particular piques my interest is Danny Boyle and Alex Garland's return to the 28 series by way of a long-awaited sequel that's a long time coming. Ahead of the film's release, I was able to attend 28 Years Later's footage presentation and was surprised to learn some new lore surrounding the first film, especially how it actually got its title. Being on hand for Sony's New York event that showed 28 minutes of 28 Years Later, I was able to hear an introduction from director Danny Boyle. Mixed in with the setup for what we saw of this new potential trilogy starter were some 28 Days Later trivia points that even I, a millennial, didn't know. Which included this story about that horror classic's title, as told to the audience that CinemaBlend was a part of: The title was based on … it used to be when you returned goods, that was what you always had. Now online shopping, it's all returned things. But [back] then it was like, you have 28 days in which to return this good, to get your money back, or stuff like that. It was a common usage [sort] of thing. It's sort of died out now, but that's where we got it from. Well now, that charming scene where Jim (Cillian Murphy) and his friends are gleefully looting the grocery store just might make more sense after learning this fact. Not to date myself, but I remember the run-up to the release of 28 Days Later rather well; which is part of why this random fact is so surprising to me. Fittingly enough, this tale came after a story I did remember, about how Danny Boyle needed to heavily disclaimer early screenings to festival audiences. The reason being that Fox Searchlight thought that audiences would mistake the origin film of the Rage Virus as a sequel to the Sandra Bullock rom-com 28 Days. Sadly, a lot of the news and marketing materials released from 2002 to 2003 are lost to the sands of time; much like tons of treasures from the era of Internet 1.0. So much like that Sandra Bullock story, any word on the title's origins is also buried in the digital wasteland. And, seeing as 28 Days Later's long out-of-print status has recently been remedied, this horror title (which belongs among the best 2000s movies) hasn't exactly been pushed as hard as some of its contemporaries. Much like a situation of confusing Hotel Artemis with a kids movie, this scenario could have left some people seriously bewildered. And, if you read some of the Amazon product reviews on the DVD for Ms. Bullock's movie, some still are. The good news is, much as Danny Boyle pointed out in his introduction to 28 Years Later's sizzle reel, you have more than a month to return said disc if you mistakenly bought it! I learned quite a bit that day about that 2002 franchise origin story, thanks to a one-on-one interview I took part in with the Slumdog Millionaire director. It was in that session that I found myself surprised to learn of some other actors who vied with Cillian Murphy for his eventual role in 28 Days Later. But, as some movie fans will tell you, sometimes the simplest facts from the past turn out to be the ones that give you the largest shocks. Speaking of shocks, we're closer to 28 Years Later than we've ever been; as the legacy-quel is about to debut in theaters on June 20th. And, if you're looking to revisit 28 Days Later or check it out for the first time, you can currently stream the film, free with ads, on PlutoTV.
Buzz Feed
04-06-2025
- General
- Buzz Feed
26 Items For Those Unexpected Problems We All Deal With
A pack of dual-sided SneakErasers if you didn't check the weather before leaving the house in your new, white then it led to walking in muddy led to stains. These portable sponges just need a little water to be activated, and then you can say buh-bye to scuffs and marks! A plant-based arnica bruise cream that's also formulated with vitamin K1, vitamin C, and horse chestnut extract, which could help lighten discoloration, brighten skin, and relieve inflammation. If you're a little accident-prone (or if you're like me, you just wake up with random bruises), this might be good to have on hand. A pack of cold sore healing patches containing hydrocolloids to help your skin heal faster. These discreet patches create a moist environment that could help relieve pain, reduce blistering, and prevent scabbing. A makeup-correcting stick because having to completely remove your makeup to correct a mistake wastes time you simply do not have. Plus, it's infused with anti-inflammatory vitamin E, which will help your face feel moisturized! A box of forest-inspired Band-Aids — these flexible fabric bandages will help you slay in one way after you've almost slain yourself in another. Each box contains bandages of three different sizes so you can perfectly adorn your wounds. An anti-bacterial butt acne-clearing lotion that contains tea tree oil to help prevent breakouts. It's especially helpful if the warmer temps give you swamp butt. Now, you may truly have a bottom as smooth as, well, a baby's bottom. A pack of bug bite patches designed with bug-magnet-y kids in mind. These patches contain hydrocolloid, aloe, and witch hazel to help with itchiness (but let's be real, they really just help make sure your little ones don't scratch themselves raw 😬). Or a mom-made, Shark Tank-famous bug bite suction tool because you're excited about tank tops and short shorts but not the fact that you'll be exposed to some nasty bloodsuckers. It pretty much sucks the irritant out from under your skin so you can live an itch-free life. A pair of portable USB-C cordless phone chargers if you're always on the go and don't always have access to an outlet when your phone drifts to a measly 15%. This little guy gives you at least one full charge, shows you how much battery it has left, AND can even prop your phone up for watching videos or shows. An aromatherapy roll-on migraine stick containing a blend of essential oils to help target headaches. Rumor has it that it's easier to get through the day if your head doesn't feel like it's being split in two. A Tower 28 daily facial spray for helping calm and relieve hot, sunburned skin. Designed with sensitive skin in mind, this pH-balanced toner can be used any time of day and can even be used over makeup! Still not convinced? Well, they've received approval from the National Eczema Association, National Rosacea Society, and National Psoriasis Foundation! A non-medicated herbal inhaler, because as much as you love the idea of road trips and cruise rides, the reality is that you never know when they're going to end up being nausea-inducing affairs. One side of this travel-sized must-have can be used as an inhaler, and the other side can be used to rub herbal oil onto your nose. A Puracy stain remover spray that'll provide a safe and effective way to get rid of those grass, blood, wine, chocolate, and makeup spots and smears from your clothes, carpet, and more. But if you wanna be prepared while on the go, here's a pack of three Tide stain remover pens you can keep in your purse for those uh-oh moments where you accidentally spill a little red wine or spaghetti sauce on yourself. A super sturdy yet lightweight compact umbrella you'll want permanently packed in your bag or car for any sudden storms (the weather app can't be trusted). It's designed to withstand winds up to 45 mph because nothing sucks more than having a flimsy umbrella flip inside out due to a not-so-gentle breeze. A pack of hydrocolloid acne patches for combatting those early-stage zits and hidden pimples. These patches each have 395 dissolving micropoints specifically targeting blemishes before they issue. An enzyme-activated pet odor and stain remover, because you never know when your new pup is gonna remember that their bathroom is outside. In addition to dealing with recent messes, you'll also be able to finally and fully reclaim your home from years-old dark spots on your couch and the scent of cat pee emanating from your rug. A pack of aluminum-free deodorant wipes if the warmer weather is causing you to sweat and smell while you're out socializing. These will remove odors and leave behind a coconut-y scent. Keep these handy wipes in your purse so you can freshen up anywhere! Some Listerine Cool Mint strips so you'll never be caught with less-than-minty breath, whether you're at an interview or have to mouth-breathe because you just walked up a hefty amount of stairs after eating garlic knots. A bottle of Poo-Pourri toilet spray in case you feel a rumble in your tummy when you're away from home. Now, when you do your business in a public bathroom, it'll *stay* your business. Just spray a few times into the bowl before you go, and leave the bathroom smelling like a spa since Poo-Pourri is actually made of essential oils! A set of electrolyte-rich Liquid I.V. hydration packets because sometimes you get so caught up in having fun on a scorching hot summer day that you forget to drink water and start to feel a good. These can help hydrate you lickety-split! A retractable lint roller if you left your place in a bit of a rush and didn't realize your black top is covered in your kitty's fur until you were on the train. Designed to be taken on the go, this lint roller also works on dirt, dust, crumbs, and more. You'll also get 90 extra-sticky lint roller tear-off sheets! A pair of period underwear so you don't have to make any unplanned pit stops in order to deal with your monthly guest. Pro tip: Sometimes, I'll put a pair on the night before I'm expecting my period so I don't potentially bleed onto my sheets (galaxy brain mode). These underwear are made of sustainable, comfortable, and super soft materials! An after-sex sponge for quick and easy cleanup when things don't exactly go according to plan. Plus, they're individually wrapped so you can keep one in your purse for those nights out where you don't end up in your own bed. ;) Either way, no need to penguin-walk to the bathroom and sit and wait for stuff out. Just insert, twirl, and toss the sponge in the trash! A pack of 30 individually-wrapped flushable wipes if you've ever gone to your office's coveted single-stall bathroom — finally glad to have a moment to yourself — just to be met with a toilet paper-less stall. These unscented and hypoallergenic wipes contain aloe, cucumber, and chamomile, so they will soothe as they clean. A 120-piece portable first aid kit filled with everything you'll need for knee scrapes, paper cuts, or any other small accidents that may occur. And it all fits inside a compact and waterproof case.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Super-magnetic dead star throws a violent temper tantrum as NASA X-ray spacecraft looks on
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Using NASA's Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) spacecraft, astronomers have made detailed observations of a highly magnetic dead star or "magnetar" as it threw a massive tantrum. The observations mark the first time that the polarization of X-rays from a magnetar, neutron stars possessing the most powerful magnetic fields in the known universe, have been measured during an outburst or "activation phase." The erupting magnetar observed by IXPE is known as 1E 1841-045, a neutron star located around 28,000 light-years from Earth in the supernova wreckage known as Kes 73, which shocked astronomers when it burst to life on Aug. 20, 2024. "This is the first time we have been able to observe the polarization of a magnetar in an active state, and this has allowed us to constrain the mechanisms and geometry of emission that lie behind these active states," team leader and National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF) researcher Michela Rigoselli said in a statement. "It will now be interesting to observe 1E 1841-045 once it has returned to its quiescent state to monitor the evolution of its polarimetric properties." Like all neutron stars, magnetars begin when the lives of stars with ten times the mass of the sun or greater run out of fuel for nuclear fusion. This ends the production of outward radiation pressure flowing from the cores of these stars that, for millions of years, has supported them against the inward pressure of their own a result of this, the cores of these massive stars crush down at a rapid rate, creating shock waves that ripple into the outer stellar layers of the star, triggering massive supernova explosions that send most of the mass of these stars hurtling into space, creating wreckage fields like Kes 73. What is left behind is the core of the star, crushed down to a width of around 12 miles (20 kilometers) but with a mass between one and two times that of the sun. This leads to material filling the neutron star that is so dense that if a teaspoon of it were brought to Earth, it would weigh 10 million tons, about equal to 85,000 adult blue whales. Another consequence of the collapse of the stellar core that births a neutron star is that the magnetic field lines of that star are squashed together. The closer together the magnetic field lines are, the stronger the magnetic field gets. As a result, neutron stars have the strongest magnetic fields in the known universe. Magnetars take this to the extreme, possessing magnetic fields that are up to 1 trillion times stronger than Earth's magnetosphere. The magnetic environments around these stars are unlike anything found anywhere else in the universe and way beyond anything we could generate on can get hints about these magnetic fields and the environments around magnetars by measuring the organized orientation or "polarization" of light emitted from them. Magnetars and the phenomena around them get even more extreme when they are in an active outburst phase. During these phases, magnetars can release as much as 1,000 times the energy they do when in a quiescent phase. Yet astronomers still aren't clear on the mechanisms that ramp up this energy output. Observations like this one could help change that. Related Stories: — What happens inside neutron stars, the universe's densest known objects? — James Webb Space Telescope finds neutron star mergers forge gold in the cosmos: 'It was thrilling' — The most powerful explosions in the universe could reveal where gold comes from What this team found was that X-rays from 1E 1841-045 become increasingly polarized at higher energy levels. Yet the X-rays kept the same polarization angle throughout this ramping up of energy levels. They reason that this means that the components behind the emissions are somehow connected. Additionally, the highest energy component, which is the most elusive and difficult to study, is strongly influenced by the magnetic field of the team's research was published on Wednesday (May 28) in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
