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☆ Indiana Jones hits theaters for one last adventure, but box office prospects look shaky
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

It's Harrison Ford's final bow as the boulder-dodging, whip-wielding, Nazi-punching Indiana Jones. On Friday, "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" arrives in theaters, marking the fifth and likely final chapter in the Lucasfilm movie franchise. Previous Indiana Jones installments, released in the 1980s, saw significantly lower box office openings because tickets were significantly less expensive at that time and the films were released in fewer theaters. Despite a solid opening, the fourth Indiana Jones film tallied only $317 million domestically. The lackluster audience response resulted in a pause in future films, including the potential for a spinoff featuring Shia LaBeouf as Indiana Jones' son Mutt Williams.

Persons: It's Harrison, Indiana Jones, Steven Spielberg hasn't, John Williams, James Mangold, Logan, Ford, LaBeouf, Mutt Williams, Disney, Shawn Robbins, weren't, Robbins, we're, NBCUniversal Organizations: Lucasfilm, Disney, Cannes Film, Guardians, Galaxy, Ferrari, Indiana Jones, Paramount Pictures, Star, Ford, Hollywood, Comcast, CNBC, Rotten Locations: Nazi, Kingdom, North America, NBCUniversal

☆ Swedish embassy in Baghdad: Protesters break in after Stockholm Quran burning
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Mostafa Salem | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Demonstrators breached the perimeter of the Swedish embassy in Baghdad Thursday, a day after a protester burned a copy of the Quran in Sweden. Videos circulating on social media showed some protesters climbing over a barricaded wall outside the embassy. Muslim countries and Islamic organizations had condemned the burning of the Quran in Stockholm. On Thursday, the United Arab Emirates summoned Sweden’s ambassador to Abu Dhabi to protest the Quran burning incident, the UAE’s state news agency WAM said. In January early this year Iraqi protesters clashed with security forces outside the Swedish embassy for a separate incident of Quran burning in Stockholm.

Persons: Muqtada, Sadr, Al Sadr, Momika, ” Al Sadr, it’s, Sweden’s, Abu, WAM Organizations: CNN, Embassy, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, AFP, of Islamic Cooperation, Arab League, Gulf Cooperation Council, United Arab Emirates Locations: Swedish, Baghdad, Sweden, Muqtada al, Iraqi, Stockholm, Stockholm –, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi

☆ How audio startup PodCo is cashing in on Disney and Nickelodeon nostalgia with podcasts hosted by the stars of shows like 'Wizards of Waverly Place'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

PodCo produces podcasts themed around Nickelodeon and Disney Channel shows from the past two decades. Since their debut, several PodCo shows have ranked among the top 10 television and film podcasts on platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts, according to Chartable. Along with the hosts, other big-name alums have made appearances on PodCo shows, which are also recorded on video and viewable on YouTube. So when he heard Carlson Romano and Rooney's idea, he leapt at the chance to bring the show back in a new form. Some have written to him personally to say the "Ned's" podcast is leaving them feeling less isolated in their own lives, he added.

Persons: Stevens, Christy Carlson Romano, Brendan Rooney, Kim, Ned Bigby, Harper Finkle, PodCo, Rooney, Krystal Eve, Carlson Romano, Ren Stevens, Jenna Fischer, Angela Kinsey, Selena Gomez, Jennifer Stone, David DeLuise, Stone, Lee Citron, Stone —, California —, —, it's, wouldn't, Alyson Stoner, Zack, Cody, Devon Werkheiser, Werkheiser, Scott Simock, PodCo's, Reed Alexander Organizations: Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, Wizards, Marine Corps, Columbia University, American Film Institute, Apple, PodCo, Edison Research, Triton, Intelligence, Disney, Paramount, Netflix, YouTube, Social, Spotify Locations: Waverly, Hollywood, NBC's, California, TikTok, Texas

Italian premiers have been given state funerals in the past, but this is the first time a national day of mourning has been called for one. Italy is ruled by a right-wing coalition of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's party Brothers of Italy, Matteo Salvini's League and Berlusconi's former party Forza Italia. Bindi, a woman often targeted by Berlusconi's sexist jibes, said the national day of mourning was "disrespectful towards the majority" of Italians who opposed the late leader. WREATHS AND SOCCER BANNERS[1/9] People wait for the funeral of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, in Milan, Italy June 14, 2023. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was also confirmed, but few other senior European politicians were expected.

Persons: Silvio Berlusconi, Berlusconi, Giuseppe Conte, Rosy Bindi, Giorgia, Matteo Salvini's, Donald Trump, Tomaso Montanari, Nardi, Lucia Adiele, Sergio Mattarella, Elly Schlein, Mario Draghi, Mario Monti, Paolo Gentiloni, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, Mohammed Shia, Al Sudani, Viktor Orban, Cristiano Corvino, Angelo Amante, Alvise Armellini, Federico Maccioni, Alexandra Hudson, Gavin Jones Organizations: MILAN, Italian, Reuters, Matteo Salvini's League, Forza Italia, European Commission, Siena's University for Foreigners, REUTERS, Democratic Party, Thomson Locations: Milan's Cathedral, Milan, Italy, Altamura, Thani

The funeral homily by Milan's Archbishop Mario Delpini appeared to acknowledge his excesses as well as his qualities. "What can we say about Silvio Berlusconi? [1/9] People wait for the funeral of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, in Milan, Italy June 14, 2023. These included Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. "Final farewell to Silvio Berlusconi.

Persons: Silvio Berlusconi, Berlusconi, Silvio, Marta Fascina, Marina, Donald Trump, Milan's, Mario Delpini, Lucia Adiele, Sergio Mattarella, Giorgia Meloni, Brothers, Matteo Salvini's, Giuseppe Conte, Rosy Bindi, Tomaso Montanari, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, Mohammed Shia, Viktor Orban, Orban, Vladimir Putin, Putin, there's, Cristiano Corvino, Angelo Amante, Alvise Armellini, Gavin Jones, Federico Maccioni, Alexandra Hudson, Nick Macfie Organizations: MILAN, Wednesday, AC Milan soccer, Reuters, Forza Italia, Police, Italian, REUTERS, Matteo Salvini's League, European Commission, Siena's University for Foreigners, Thomson Locations: Milan, Italian, Altamura, Italy, Thani, Iraqi, Hungarian, Ukraine, Kyiv

☆ Iraq launches $17 billion road and rail project to link Asia and Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-27 | by ( Timour Azhari | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"The Development Road is not just a road to move goods or passengers. This road opens the door to development of vast areas of Iraq," Farhan al-Fartousi, director general of the General Company for Ports of Iraq, told Reuters. The Grand Faw Port, which was devised over a decade ago, is halfway to completion, Fartousi said. Passenger transport between Iraq and Europe harkens back to grand plans at the turn of the 20th century to create a Baghdad to Berlin express. But officials say the Development Road is based on something new: a period of relative stability since late last year that they hope can be maintained.

☆ Iraq says Iran blames reduced gas exports on 'technical' matter
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An Iraqi delegation led by the electricity minister will travel to Iran next week to discuss the issue, Iraqi state media reported on Tuesday, noting gas imports had decreased by 20 million cubic meters at the time. Iraq usually imports between 50 million to 70 million cubic meters of gas, according to Iraq's electricity ministry spokesperson Ahmed Moussa. Iraq imports electricity and gas from Iran that in total makes up between a third and 40% of its power supply, especially crucial in the sweltering summer months when temperatures can top 50 degrees Celsius (122°F) and power consumption peaks. During Friday's phone call, Amirabdollahian thanked Iraq for trying to resolve the issue of financial transfers with Washington, the statement said. Iraq spends roughly $4 billion per year on imports of Iranian gas and power while at the same time burning massive quantities of natural gas as a byproduct of its hydrocarbons sector.

☆ The Taliban promised to provide security to Afghans. New data shows threat from ISIS is growing
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Eliza Mackintosh Ehsan Popalzai Antonio Jarne Lou Robinson | Eliza Mackintosh | Ehsan Popalzai | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +19 min

“Currently we don’t have security in Afghanistan at all, whenever we go out we don’t know if we will come home alive or not,” he added. Taliban security forces guard a checkpoint near the foreign ministry in Kabul on March 27, after an ISIS-K suicide bomber struck the site. The data, which is available in a live map, includes 367 pieces of open-source evidence — largely videos and images shared on social media — about 70 ISIS-K attacks since August 2021. As the Taliban try to minimize the threat ISIS-K poses, attacks on civilians continue. Taliban security forces have been waging ongoing operations and night raids against ISIS-K.

☆ Inside PodCo, the startup cashing in on Nickelodeon and Disney nostalgia, drawing hundreds of thousands of listeners, and scoring brand deals with stars of shows like 'Wizards of Waverly Place'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

"Even Stevens" star Christy Carlson Romano and her husband, Brendan Rooney, founded the startup. Since their debut, several PodCo shows have ranked among the top 10 television and film podcasts on platforms like Apple Podcasts, according to Chartable. Along with the hosts, other big-name alums have made appearances on PodCo shows, which are also recorded on video and viewable on YouTube. So when he heard Carlson Romano and Rooney's idea, he leapt at the chance to bring the show back in a new form. Some have written into him personally to say the "Ned's" podcast is leaving them feeling less isolated in their own lives, he added.

[1/5] Iraqi residents walk along Mutanabbi Street in Baghdad, Iraq, May 14, 2023. "This push to develop the capital Baghdad is the most extensive undertaking of its kind," he told Reuters in an interview. 'BAGHDAD COMING BACK'Iraqi-Canadian artist Iyad Al-Mosawi fled Baghdad as a child amid war with Iran in the 80s and did not return until 2019. "I find that Baghdad is coming back," Mosawi said, noting he had attended eight exhibition openings in just two weeks. Reporting by Timour Azhari and Amina Ismail in Baghdad; Writing by Timour Azhari; Editing by William MacleanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

LOS ANGELES, May 9 (Reuters) - The Paramount Pictures “Transformers” film franchise has switched gears in its latest installment by adding more diversity to its lead roles, namely “In the Heights” actor Anthony Ramos and “Swarm” TV series actor Dominique Fishback. "Right, like people around the world can feel somebody in all parts of the world can watch this and go 'Yo, that's me. Problems arise when the two, who barely know one another, are thrown together with the shape-shifting robots. He's (Director, Steven Caple Jr.) like, yo, yo, yo, this is the first time you all are meeting, so it was an exercise to try and detract from our real relationship in real life,” Ramos added. Reporting by Rollo Ross and Danielle Broadway; Editing by Mary Milliken and Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Summer movie preview 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Dan Heching | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —Most moviegoers can pinpoint one summer movie – or perhaps, a summer of movies – in their formative years that really and truly cemented their love for going to the cinema, whether it be 1975’s “Jaws,” “E.T. And while streaming has clearly siphoned off part of the audience, particularly for more serious films, what we think of as “summer movies” still have the potential to rake in cash just like the old days. (CNN and DC are both part of the same parent company, Warner Bros. Courtesy Warner Bros. PicturesInitially meant for streaming platforms, this vehicle will herald the cinematic arrival of DC Studios’ first Latino superhero, played by Xolo Maridueña of “Cobra Kai” and “Parenthood” fame. If the fast-paced trailer is any indication, the movie looks sure to whisk those dog days of summer doldrums away quite nicely.

CNN —Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei decried the presence of the US military in Iraq during a meeting with Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid in Tehran on Saturday. “The presence of even one American in Iraq is too much,” Khamenei said, Iranian state media outlet IRNA reported. “The United States will continue to strengthen and broaden our partnerships in support of Iraqi security, stability and sovereignty,” Austin said during his Baghdad visit. Growing tensionsIraq plays a crucial role for the United States in containing Iran’s influence in the region. Tensions between the United States and Iran are also growing over Tehran’s actions in Syria.

☆ Saudi Arabia and Iran met in China to start thawing their fierce rivalry — a striking victory for Xi and a potential humiliation for the US
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Saudi Arabia and Iran's foreign ministers held a historic meeting in Beijing on Thursday. While China has maintained close ties with both countries, the US and Iran have not had diplomatic relations in decades. The meeting between Prince Faisal bin Farhan of Saudi Arabia and Hossein Amirabdollahian of Iran was the first of its kind since 2016. They also discussed visas, as well as a visit to Saudi Arabia by Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi, per The Guardian. CIA director William Burns was in Saudi Arabia this week to discuss mutual intelligence cooperation and counterterrorism, Al-Arabiya reported.

☆ Iraqi prime minister inaugurates Karbala oil refinery
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-01 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

FILE PHOTO: Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani signs the guest book during a reception at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, February 09, 2023. Mohamed Al Hammadi/UAE Presidential Court/Handout via REUTERS(Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has inaugurated the Karbala oil refinery which has a production capacity of 140,000 barrels per day (bpd), his office said in a statement on Saturday. In January, a source at the refinery told Reuters commercial production will start with a test run at 60% capacity. The country is aiming for the refinery to operate at full capacity by July, the source added.

☆ Lebanon wakes up in two simultaneous time zones as government can't agree on daylight saving change
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

On Sunday, the Mediterranean country of roughly 6 million was scheduled to turn its clocks back an hour for daylight saving, as it does every year along with much of the wider region and Europe. Daylight saving would mean that sunset falls around 7 p.m. rather than 6 p.m., making practicing Muslims go an additional hour before they can break their fast and eat and drink again. For the first time ever, millions of people in one small country are suddenly going by two different time zones. Importantly, however, people's clocks did not change automatically; the government expects people to change their own clocks manually. Even Apple and Google can't seem to agree on what time it is in Lebanon — on iPhones and iPads, Apple has Lebanon's time zone as unchanged and not aligned with daylight saving.

☆ Lebanon wakes up in two simultaneous times zones as government can't agree on daylight savings change
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

On Sunday, the Mediterranean country of roughly 6 million was scheduled to turn its clocks back an hour for daylight savings, as it does every year along with much of the wider region and Europe. Daylight savings would mean that sunset falls around 7 p.m. rather than 6 p.m., making practicing Muslims go an additional hour before they can break their fast and eat and drink again. For the first time ever, millions of people in one small country are suddenly going by two different time zones. Importantly, however, people's clocks did not change automatically; the government expects people to change their own clocks manually. Even Apple and Google can't seem to agree on what time it is in Lebanon — on iPhones and iPads, Apple has Lebanon's time zone as unchanged and not aligned with daylight savings.

☆ Iraq, OPEC stress need to coordinate to stabilise prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

CAIRO, March 19 (Reuters) - Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais stressed the need to coordinate among oil-exporting nations to ensure prices do not fluctuate and impact both exporter and consumer countries, the Iraqi government said in a statement. Iraq is one of the founding members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Reporting by Omar Abdel-Razek; Editing by Hugh LawsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Iraq and Iran sign deal to tighten border security
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( Ahmed Rasheed | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani looks on as Iraq's National Security Adviser Qasim al-Araji and Iran's Supreme National Security Council secretary Ali Shamkhani sign the security agreement that includes coordination in protecting the common borders between the two countries, in Baghdad, Iraq, March 19, 2023. The joint security agreement includes coordination in "protecting the common borders between the two countries and consolidating cooperation in several security fields", a statement from the Iraqi prime minister's office said. Iran's Supreme National Security Council secretary Ali Shamkhani signed the deal with Iraq's National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji, in the presence of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani, the prime minister office said. "Under the signed security deal, Iraq pledges it would not allow armed groups to use its territory in the Iraqi Kurdish region to launch any border-crossing attacks on neighbour Iran," said an Iraqi security official who attended the signing. Iran has also accused Kurdish militants of working with its arch-enemy Israel and has often voices concern over the alleged presence of the Israeli spy agency Mossad in the autonomous Iraqi Kurdish region.

☆ Arch-rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia agree to revive ties, reopen embassies in China-brokered deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

"As a result of the talks, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to resume diplomatic relations and re-open embassies ...within two months," Iran's news agency IRNA reported Friday. Saudi Arabia's state Saudi Press Agency confirmed the announcement in its own statement. The Saudi statement profusely thanked Beijing for its leadership in the talks. The Saudi statement also expressed thanks to Riyadh's neighbors Iraq and Oman, which it said had hosted "rounds of dialogue that took place between both sides during the years 2021-2022." Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran in 2016, after Iranian protesters stormed the Saudi embassy in Tehran in response to Saudi authorities executing 47 dissidents, including a leading Shia cleric.

☆ Palestinians living in refugee camps are being paid $350 to fight for Russia in Ukraine: report
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Palestinians living in Lebanese refugee camps are being recruited to fight for Russia in Ukraine. The Jerusalem Post reported that some 300 refugees have already been deployed. The majority of Palestinians being deployed to Ukraine come from the largest Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon, Ein El Hilweh Camp, the report said. But it is known that Russia has previously recruited Syrian volunteers to fight in Ukraine. Riad Kahwaji, a Dubai-based security analyst, told The Media Line that Russia recruiting Palestinian refugees to fight in Ukraine wouldn't be surprising.

☆ Steven Spielberg's latest film 'The Fabelmans' could win Best Picture at this month's Academy Awards. Here are his top 10 most popular films.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Paramount Pictures Worldwide box office: $603.9 million ($925 million, adjusted for inflation) Total domestic box office: $234.3 million Domestic opening weekend: $64.9 million Budget: $132 million 9. Paramount Studios Worldwide box office: $474.2 million ($1.1 billion, adjusted for inflation) Total domestic box office: $197.2 million Domestic opening weekend: $29.4 million Budget: $48 million 7. Paramount Pictures Worldwide box office: $790.7 million ($1.1 billion, adjusted for inflation) Total domestic box office: $317.1 million Domestic opening weekend: $100.1 million Budget: $185 million 6. Universal Worldwide box office: $618.6 million ($1.15 billion, adjusted for inflation) Total domestic box office: $229.1 million Domestic opening weekend: $72.1 million Budget: $73 million 5. Universal Worldwide box office: $792.9 million ($2.5 billion, adjusted for inflation) Total domestic box office: $437.1 million Domestic opening weekend: $11.8 million Budget: $10.5 million 1.

☆ Egypt reopens newly restored historic mosque
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

CAIRO, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Egypt's historic mosque of al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, named after the sixth Fatimid caliph and located in old Cairo, was reopened for visitors on Monday, Feb. 27 after renovations. The renovation project for Egypt's fourth oldest mosque and its second largest began in 2017 with a budget of 85 million Egyptian pounds ($2.8 million). The renovation, done in collaboration between Egypt’s antiquities authority and Bohra Shia sect, included architectural restoration as well as maintenance to protect the walls of the mosque from the effects of moisture and salts. Reporting by Amr Abdallah Dalsh, Writing by Farah Saafan, Editing by Ed OsmondOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Before Sudani formed his government he struck a deal with the KDP, which dominates the administration in Erbil, capital of the semi-autonomous region in northern Iraq. Under the Iraqi constitution, the Kurdish region is entitled to a portion of the national budget. A spokesman for the KRG, Jotiar Adil, said the "politically motivated" court was trying to spoil the deal between Erbil and Baghdad. A source with knowledge of the meetings said Erbil and Baghdad remained far apart on the hydrocarbon law. Additional reporting by Ali sultan in Sulaimaniya; Editing by Michael Georgy and Hugh LawsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ 'Even Stevens' star on the pitfalls of childhood fame and money: 'I don't know if I'll ever not be able to think of life in a transactional way.'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Eboni Boykin-Patterson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Romano's content rings true to that sentiment, most notably when she described how she "blew" her Disney money and shared her "salty" feelings about her former costar Shia Labeouf's success. Romano said her lack of understanding about money management was generational, saying of her parents, "I acquired their ignorance." "Something about being a child actor really made me very transactional. I don't know if I'll ever not be able to think of life in a transactional way." Romano is determined to use her experiences to benefit others and also build on her income as a social media influencer.

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