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Wales milestone for Callender as Metcalfe sisters start
Alex Callender will captain Wales in her 50th international when they face Japan in Saturday’s WXV Global Series match in Tokyo. The milestone follows her return from a series of injuries, and head coach Sean Lynn says her leadership and all-round play are important to the side. Wales have made three changes to the starting…
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Starbucks China to require purchases before café seating opens nationwide
Starbucks China will require customers to make a purchase before sitting in its cafés, introducing the policy across all 8,000 stores from Thursday. The company says the change is intended to improve the in-store experience as it competes with cheaper local coffee chains. The rule follows complaints about people occupying seats without ordering, and many…
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‘Petal Dance’ Director Ishikawa Hiroshi Ends 13-Year Feature Hiatus With ‘The Blue We Touch’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Japanese director Ishikawa Hiroshi is returning to feature films after 13 years with “the blue we touch”, an ensemble drama now in post-production. The film explores difficult-to-name feelings between people and is set for a 2027 release in Japan, marking Ishikawa’s first feature since “Petal Dance”. Nao plays Mitsu, a 29-year-old contract web designer who…
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Ranbir Kapoor, Yash Epic ‘Ramayana: Part One’ Sets Pay-Per-View Release on JioHotstar After Theatrical Run
“Ramayana: Part One”, directed by Nitesh Tiwari and starring Ranbir Kapoor and Yash, will be sold as a separate on-demand purchase on JioHotstar in India after its cinema run. The companies call it the first pay-per-view offering of its kind on the platform, extending access to the film beyond cinemas. The film opens worldwide on…
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Tom Holland’s Failed Indiana Jones Replacement Officially Resurfaces on Streaming
Tom Holland’s video game adaptation *Uncharted* has returned to HBO Max’s global top 10, highlighting its continued popularity with streaming audiences despite mixed reviews. The film follows Nathan Drake, a street-smart thief recruited by treasure hunter Sully to find a fortune lost by Ferdinand Magellan. Directed by Ruben Fleischer, *Uncharted* earned $407.1 million worldwide against…
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Vietnamese Whodunit ‘Karaoke Murder’ Sets Record With Same-Weekend Opening on Four Continents (EXCLUSIVE)
“Karaoke Murder” is set to open in Vietnam and cinemas across North America, Europe, Australia and Asia on the same weekend, which its backers describe as a first for a Vietnamese film. The coordinated release, timed for Halloween, aims to build international momentum alongside the film’s home launch. The film opens nationwide in Vietnam on…
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Hur Jin-ho Thanks Singapore Festival for Protecting Freedom of Expression as ‘The Assassin(s)’ Opens, SGIFF Chair Boo Junfeng Says: ‘We Refuse to Show Anything That Has Been Censored’
South Korean director Hur Jin-ho thanked the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) for standing by his political thriller, “The Assassin(s)”, which opened the festival’s 37th edition. The screening went ahead despite a request from South Korea’s conservative People Power Party to withdraw the film, renewing debate over artistic freedom and how cinema can interpret contested…
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Trump’s green card curbs test Indian tech workers’ American dream
The US has frozen new and pending green card applications through the PERM programme for eight technology firms, including Microsoft and major Indian companies. The move adds uncertainty for Indian workers on temporary H-1B visas who have spent years in the US hoping to gain permanent residency, although analysts expect a limited effect on the…
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Japan is known for world-class events – but the Asian Games were chaotic
The Asian Games in Nagoya and Aichi were disrupted by accommodation and transport problems, diplomatic errors and confusion over volunteer tickets. The incidents matter because they inconvenienced participants and raised concerns about Japan’s ability to organise future international sporting events. Organisers planned rooms for 15,000 delegation members, but late additions brought the total to 17,000,…