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Sinners scooped the top prize at the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) gala in Los Angeles on Sunday, tightening the race to the Oscars with two weeks to go before Hollywood’s awards season finale.The honour at the newly rebranded Actor Awards recognises the ensemble cast of a film – a decision that sometimes, but not always, presages Academy Award best picture glory.Ryan Coogler’s vampire fable about America’s difficult racial history, has stormed through awards season, garnering a record 16 Oscar nominations.”We brought our hearts, we brought our souls, we brought our spirits to this endeavour,” said Delroy Lindo, who plays blues musician player Delta Slim, as he accepted the award on behalf of the cast. “This project is anointed. And from that standpoint, we are all anointed to be a part of this incredible journey created by the genius Ryan Coogler.”It was the first time Sinners seized a top prize at a pre-Oscars gala, which have so far been largely swept by One Battle After Another, including at the Producers Guild Awards on Saturday.Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle is a political thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio as a former revolutionary forced back into the game when his teenage daughter goes missing.Sinners may have had the upper hand with SAG-AFTRA, which represents more than 160,000 members – but that may not hold true in two weeks’ time for the Academy Awards.”I’m not as confident that it’s going to win the best picture Oscar,” Scott Feinberg, awards columnist for *The Hollywood Reporter, told AFP ahead of the gala, after predicting the SAG award win. “Those two awards have gone to different films just about as often as they have gone to the same film.”Voting for the Academy Awards does not close until Thursday, meaning Sunday’s results could be influential.For best leading male actor, Michael B Jordan pulled off a surprise win in a category that Timothee Chalamet (*Marty Supreme) has dominated all season.”I’m so honoured and privileged to be nominated in categories with people and actors and humans that I love,” he said. “This ride has been unbelievable.”For best leading female actor, there were no surprises when Jessie Buckley’s name was announced.The Irish actress, who plays the grief-stricken wife of William Shakespeare mourning their son in Hamnet has so far won nearly every prize on offer.”I have been categorically changed by so many people in this room and beyond,” an emotional Buckley said. “To get to work with my heart in my hand and stand beside my brilliant, daring friends who show me their heart – I mean, what a way to spend a life.”The race for the Oscar for best supporting performers became even cloudier after Sunday’s gala.Amy Madigan took home the statuette for best supporting actress for her role as the sinister aunt in horror flick Weapons, following her success at the Critics Choice Awards.”I wasn’t expecting this, but it does really mean a lot to me from my peers,” she said.The major awards in this category this season have gone to different people – the Golden Globe to Teyana Taylor in One Battle After Another, and the BAFTA to Wunmi Mosaku for Sinners.For the men, Sean Penn – who was not at the ceremony – won for his wild turn as Colonel Lockjaw in *One Battle After Another, following on from his BAFTA win.The Critics Choice Awards recognised Jacob Elordi for Frankenstein, and the Golden Globe went to Stellan Skarsgard in Sentimental Value, who did not even get a SAG nod.The television side of the awards was dominated by Apple TV’s Hollywood satire The Studio which won three statuettes, including a posthumous award for Catherine O’Hara, who died in January.Series co-creator Seth Rogen, who accepted the award on her behalf, said he felt fortunate to have spent time with the actress – a Hollywood stalwart known for her work in Home Alone and Schitt’s Creek.”Something that I’ve just been marveling at over the last few weeks was really her ability to be generous and kind and gracious, while never ever minimizing her own talents,” he said.The evening also honoured veteran Harrison Ford with a life achievement award for memorable roles that have included Han Solo in the Star Wars franchise and Indiana Jones.”I feel incredibly grateful for this kind attention. But to be clear, I also am quite humbled,” said Ford, whose big break came in George Lucas’s American Graffiti in 1973.”I’m in a room of actors, many of whom are here because they’ve been nominated to receive a prize for their amazing work, while I’m here to receive a prize for being alive,” the 83-year-old said to laughs. Related Story Source link
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on Sunday warned of the negative repercussions of the ongoing regional conflict, including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and its potential impact on the Suez Canal.Speaking during celebrations marking the anniversary of the October 6 victories, El-Sisi said Egypt is mindful of the consequences of the war, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and the effect on the Suez Canal.Since October 7, 2023, navigation has not returned to normal, and Egypt has suffered material losses. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz will affect oil flows and prices, he added.He added that the Egyptian state and government must consider all possibilities and scenarios, emphasizing that the current crisis and war in the region require careful attention. “Over the past months, Egypt has made sincere efforts to avoid escalation by mediating between the United States and Iran to reach an agreement, because wars always have negative impacts on both the countries involved and their neighbors, especially with the advancement of warfare technologies,” he said.El-Sisi also noted that he has been in contact with Gulf and Arab leaders to reaffirm Egypt’s rejection of aggression against states and to express support and solidarity in facing crises. Source link
Carlos Alcaraz puts his flawless start to the season on the line and fellow top seed Aryna Sabalenka aims to regroup from Australian Open disappointment as Indian Wells begins this week. Alcaraz arrives in the Southern California desert fresh off completing the career Grand Slam in Melbourne and carrying a 12-0 record for 2026. The 22-year-old Spaniard, already a two-times champion at the prestigious event, could be headed for another high-profile showdown with rival Jannik Sinner in what has become the sport’s most compelling match-up. “What’s interesting about Carlos and Jannik is that whenever one gains an edge, the other goes away, figures things out, and comes back better,” Tennis Channel analyst Prakash Amritraj told Reuters this week. Novak Djokovic, meanwhile, continues to defy expectations in the twilight of his career. The Serbian great stunned Sinner with a gritty five-set comeback win in Melbourne and remains a force at the biggest events. “Djokovic managed to move the unmovable mountain that is Jannik Sinner,” Amritraj said. “To come from behind in five sets, while also making the semis of all four majors last year, is hard to put into words.” Djokovic, a 24-times Grand Slam champion who has rewritten much of tennis history, could break his tie with Roger Federer for the most Indian Wells titles should he lift a sixth trophy.On the women’s side, Belarusian power-hitter Sabalenka returns to action for the first time since her bid for a third Australian Open crown was halted by Elena Rybakina. Despite several painful losses in title matches, Sabalenka has been the steadiest presence in a frequently unpredictable WTA landscape, reaching five of the past six Grand Slam finals. “Sabalenka has been the most consistent player at that level,” Amritraj said. “She hasn’t always crossed the finish line, but in my mind she is still the clear number one. Regardless of that loss to Rybakina in Australia, she’s my favourite here.” Source link
Polling officials carry ballot boxes and other materials at Damak in Jhapa district Monday ahead of parliamentary elections in Nepal. Nepal votes Thursday in the first elections since deadly youth-led anti-corruption protests toppled the government in September 2025.Key figures contesting for power include a former prime minister seeking a return to power, a rapper-turned-mayor bidding for the youth vote, and the newly elected leader of the Nepali Congress party.Here are three of the most closely watched candidates in the March 5 parliamentary polls — all central figures in an election that analysts say is unlikely to deliver an outright majority for any single party. Gagan Thapa, 49 Gagan Thapa presents himself as the face of generational change, arguing that the country can no longer be run by what he calls an “old age” club of revolving veteran leaders.Thapa led an internal revolt in January to be elected as head of the Nepali Congress, the country’s oldest and historically dominant party, which had been the largest member of the ousted coalition government.Born in 1976, Thapa was drawn into politics as a teenager during the 1990 pro-democracy movement against the then absolute monarchy.He rose through student activism, linked to the Nepali Congress, and became a prominent figure in the 2006 mass uprising that forced the king to abdicate.Jailed several times for street protests, he then entered parliament as one of its youngest members. He has since served multiple terms, and been health minister.”I am the right mix of energy and experience — the right mix which can deliver,” Thapa told AFP, pledging governance reform and job creation, while promising to work across party lines.KP Sharma Oli, 74Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli is one of Nepal’s most seasoned and polarising political figures.A veteran Marxist leader who has served four times as prime minister, he was ousted in September’s protests at his rule.Leader of the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML), Oli has spent nearly six decades in politics.He was drawn into underground communist activism as a teenager and was arrested in 1973 for campaigning against the monarchy. He spent 14 years in prison, including four in solitary confinement.He later rose through party ranks to become prime minister in 2015, returning to office multiple times in Nepal’s turbulent parliamentary landscape.Critics accuse him of an authoritarian streak and intolerance of dissent, while supporters credit him with strong leadership and nationalist resolve, particularly in navigating relations with India and China.Oli denies ordering security forces to fire on protesters during last year’s unrest, in which at least 77 people were killed and crowds torched parliament.Oli told AFP he blames “infiltrators” for the violence.Despite his dramatic fall, he won re-election as party chief in December and is seeking a comeback, framing the vote as a “competition between those who burn the country and those who build it”.Balendra Shah, 35Balendra Shah, widely known as “Balen”, has emerged as a symbol of youth-driven political change, after backing the protests that forced the government from power.Born in Kathmandu in 1990, he was a schoolboy during Nepal’s decade-long Maoist civil war.A former underground hip-hop artist whose songs railed against corruption and inequality, the 35-year-old civil engineer first shot to national prominence through music.He translated that online popularity into a shock political victory in 2022, when he was elected Kathmandu’s first independent mayor.Shah built a reputation as a blunt and often confrontational reformer, launching campaigns against tax evasion, traffic congestion and waste mismanagement.In December, Shah joined the centrist Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), positioning himself for national leadership.He has taken the unusual step of challenging former prime minister Oli in his home constituency, telling AFP that it shows he is “not taking the easy way out”.Advocating a liberal economic system with social justice, including free education and healthcare for the poor, Shah says Gen Z’s core demand is good governance — and insists music will remain part of his identity, even if he becomes prime minister. Related Story Source link
US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the United States had destroyed nine Iranian navy ships and significantly damaged the Iranian naval headquarters.Trump, in a post on his Truth Social account, stated that the attacks, carried out in coordination with Israel, are proceeding “faster than planned.”Since Saturday morning, the US and Israel have conducted a large-scale joint assault on Iran, with explosions reported in Tehran and several other cities, including Qom, Isfahan, Kermanshah, and Karaj.Iranian air defense systems and missile launch platforms were targeted, with official Iranian sources reporting more than 200 dead and around 800 injured.In response, Tehran launched a wave of missile attacks targeting various areas within Israel and other parts of the region. Source link
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and Arsenal counterpart Mikel Arteta share a common goal in their battle for Premier League supremacy but are going about achieving it in very different ways. While leaders Arsenal have become kings of the set piece this season, scoring 33% of their 58 goals from such situations, including 16 from corner routines, City have largely shunned the Premier League’s new obsession. This season, 27% of all Premier League goals have come from set pieces, more than any other league in Europe and the highest percentage in England’s top flight since 2009-10.Corners have led to 138 goals, already more than in the whole of the previous campaign. Guardiola brought his famed tika-taka style to the Premier League when he arrived at City in 2016 and has remained faithful to an intricate possession-based style during a glittering reign that has delivered six English titles and provided a blueprint that many others tried to follow. The signing of goal-machine Erling Haaland led to a slightly more direct style in recent seasons, but City’s essence remains intact, evidenced by the fact they are second-bottom of the table based on goals scored from set plays at 10.5%. “Set-pieces have started to be important. It was different when I started as a manager,” Guardiola told reporters ahead of his side’s crucial home clash with Nottingham Forest which they need to win to keep the pressure on Arsenal. “When I was a young boy we said the people in England celebrate corners and free-kicks like a goal. I remember perfectly, so nothing has changed in that way.” Arsenal are not lacking for flair players and usually dominate possession but were labelled “ugly” by pundit Chris Sutton after a 2-1 win over Chelsea on Sunday in which both goals arrived via headers from corners. The sight of players grappling, holding and blocking like wrestlers before corners was a feature of the derby but it is what enticed millions across the world to tune in. Liverpool manager Arne Slot said games are no longer “a joy” while Chelsea’s Liam Rosenior has demanded a review to control the rugby-like scrums at corners. City will aim to keep the pressure firmly on Arsenal by beating struggling Forest, but do not expect to see Guardiola demanding long throws or for his side to play for corners. Not that he was being drawn too deeply into the debate about Arsenal’s methods as he addressed the media. “It is the business I am in. I am a manager. I can’t say ‘I don’t like set-pieces’. I adapt and do it,” Guardiola said. “Football has been played in so many ways since it was created. How it is played in England is different in the way it is played in Spain or Italy. Every manager plays in different ways. How boring would it be if all the managers played in the same way. I have to adapt. If I don’t like, I don’t watch but I have to adapt.” Arsenal, who are five points clear having played one game more than City, travel to Brighton & Hove Albion, whose manager Fabian Hurzeler knows what is coming. “It is definitely a big strength from Arsenal, they do it in an impressive way this season,” he said. “They have a lot of good takers, they have a lot of physicality, so it is definitely something we have to take care of, but we will stick to our principles.” Source link
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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos met South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Manila Tuesday, where they discussed ways to deepen economic and security ties.Lee was in Manila on a state visit.Marcos said both sides ‘recognise growing uncertainty in geopolitical developments,’ and agreed on the need to uphold a rules-based international order, including in the maritime domain.The Philippines and South Korea agreed to expand cooperation in shipbuilding, nuclear energy and artificial intelligence.Lee said the two countries will also cooperate in infrastructure and defence industries.Lee added that South Korea and the Philippines plan to work together on critical minerals and supply chains.The two leaders also discussed the situation in the Middle East during their talks.South Korean companies will help the modernisation of the Philippine military, Lee saidThe countries signed MoUs in various sectors, including digital technology, procurement of specific defence equipment, agriculture, intellectual property, foreign language education, culture, and police investigations. Source link
The Kingdom of Bahrain reported on Sunday that an offshore facility near Salman Port was targeted in an Iranian attack.The Bahraini Ministry of Interior said the Civil Defense has initiated procedures to control a fire caused by the strike.On Saturday, the National Communication Center confirmed that Bahrain intercepted several missiles detected in its airspace, noting that the Bahrain Defense Force’s air defense systems successfully engaged the threats.The center added that the relevant authorities continue to monitor developments to ensure the protection of Bahrain’s airspace and the safety and security of citizens and residents. Source link
Iran have been drawn in Group G with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand and are due to play two games in Los Angeles and one in…