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June heat records broken in China

Latest News / By Ashley Cornell, email: [email protected]

Beijing on Thursday recorded the hottest June day on record, the national weather service said. Temperatures exceeded 40 degrees Celsius in large parts of northern China.

• Also read: China: More than 39 degrees in Beijing, record heat for mid-June

• Also read: Vietnam: Fishermen helpless in the face of drought

• Also read: Mexico: Heat wave kills eight people

Rising temperatures around the world – mostly caused by the use of fossil fuels – are leading to more and more extreme weather conditions, scientists say. Deadly heat waves and record temperatures have hit many Asian countries in recent weeks.

At the Nanjiao Meteorological Station in southern Beijing, which serves as a benchmark for temperatures in the Chinese capital, mercury reached 41.1 °C (106 degrees Fahrenheit) at 15:19 (07:19 GMT) Thursday, as of the Weather Service announced in a press release also published by the public broadcaster CCTV.

This is half a degree above the station’s monthly record of 40.6°C set in June 1961 and behind the 41.9°C set in July 1999.

“This station has only had temperatures above 41°C three times since records began,” the weather service said, adding that “this scorching heat in Beijing will continue for the next two days, with temperatures reaching 38°C and 39°C become.” .

Other weather stations around the capital recorded even higher temperatures on Thursday, including Tanghekou in northern Beijing, which reached 41.8C in the early afternoon and was becoming the hottest place in the country, according to state media.

Along Beijing’s canals, residents tried to escape the scorching heat by swimming and splashing in the water.

June heat records broken in China

AFP

In the nearby city of Tianjin, home to more than 13 million people, temperatures in the center have also risen sharply, with the western district of Xiqing recording the hottest June day on record at 40.6C.

Around 17 weather stations across the country recorded “extreme temperature records” on Thursday, according to the National Meteorological Center (NMC).

“Protect yourself from the sun”

“June has never been so hot, but now it’s so hot my hands are shaking,” wrote a user on Chinese social network Weibo.

“Are there three suns burning over Beijing right now? It’s hot enough to trigger depression,” said another.

The hot weather comes on the first day of the Dragon Boat Festival, a three-day celebration that sees many Chinese gather with family and friends.

High temperatures in northern China are expected to continue during the three holidays, particularly around Beijing and parts of Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang.

“These current high-temperature weather systems are affecting large areas and are long-lasting,” said a commentator on state broadcaster CCTV.

Authorities have urged people to limit the time they spend outdoors, warning of the increased risk of heat stroke and other health problems.

The Beijing Weather Bureau issued an extreme heat warning, urging people to “refrain from outdoor exercise for long periods of time… and to take effective measures to protect themselves from the heat of the sun.”

In Tianjin, which was also on alert, officials said “the general public (should) remain vigilant and take precautions” against heat stroke.

Last week, Beijing recorded its highest temperature in mid-June. Weather officials urged people to stay home as the mercury temperature hit 39.4C.

June heat records broken in China Read More »

What is the future of our television?

Entertainment News / By Ashley Cornell, email: [email protected]

Hardly a week goes by that I’m not asked what the future of our television looks like. As if the question were easy to answer.

This is all the more difficult as television in Quebec is exceptional. Nobody has the listening success like us. Considering the population, listening to New Year’s programs on Radio-Canada is an all-time record. The same goes for Révolution or Chanteurs Masques on Sunday nights on TVA. Viewership of our drama series has declined but still surpasses that of any western country. All in all, of course.

Can this phenomenon last? Without guessing, we can predict that interest in our television won’t be the same as baby boomers die out. For viewers who are in their 40s or younger, it’s quite different. Young households cannot do without the Internet, but are not very interested in the traditional channels that are broadcast via Hertz waves, cable, fiber optics or satellite. The kids watch YouTube, Disney+ or TikTok and spend the rest of their free time playing video games.

No television without subsidies

Today’s television was made possible by the creation of the Canada Television Fund in 1998. Funded by cable companies and the Ottawa government, the FTC (which became the Canadian Media Fund in April 2010) contributes a significant amount (about $100 million a year for French). (German-speaking television) to our dramas, documentaries, children’s programs and variety shows. As production costs continue to rise, the contribution of the fund (or any other organization that could replace it) must become increasingly significant to maintain the quality of the programmes.

With the passage of the Online Continuous Broadcasting Act, the digital giants, which are traditional television’s fiercest competitors, must also contribute to the creation of Québec programming. When he was Minister for Heritage, Steven Guilbeault estimated that the contribution from Netflix and the other giants would reach $800 million a year. This is twice the media fund’s current budget. Under the fund’s current allocation rules, such a sum would mean between 265 and 325 million more per year for Quebec television.

THERE IS MUCH UNKNOWN

But that’s all theoretical. It is not yet known whether the cable companies and even the government will continue to contribute to the media fund. Since we don’t know if the digital giants will be able to draw on the fund’s money to produce programs whose content is Quebec. But to what extent Quebec?

Currently, to benefit from the media fund, a producer must be Canadian, which is not the case with the giants. That’s at least one rule that needs changing if they’re going to benefit from it, not to mention the point scales in place at the CRTC and Revenue Agency that determine whether the work is Canadian or not.

Traditional television will increasingly be reserved for news, public affairs and live events. Pretty much anything entertainment will be reserved for on-demand television, such as Netflix, illico, Crave, and the like.

As for the sports channels, it will be difficult for them to keep their rights to popular sports. The big leagues will prefer to broadcast them through their own paid channels.

Les eaux seront plus agitees pour le Canadien lan prochain

What is the future of our television? Read More »

1687449740 A Quebec company on TIMEs 100 Most Influential Companies in

A Quebec company on TIME’s 100 Most Influential Companies in the World

Business News / By Ashley Cornell, email: [email protected]

Quebec techno company WorkJam has joined the list of the 100 most influential companies in the world, according to the prestigious TIME magazine.

• Also read: WorkJam: 100% growth in one year and this is just the beginning

• Also read: The Fonds de solidarité FTQ invests in the digital world of work

This list, published for the third time, highlights companies that are making an exceptional impact or are characterized by their innovation, ambition and success. It brings together giants like Patagonia, Apple, Disney and OpenAI.

WorkJam

Screenshot time 100 twitter

WorkJam is a global leader in digital workspaces for frontline workers. Its platform enables workforce orchestration: appointment management, communication, task management and training. Companies like Couche-Tard, Shell and American Eagle Outfitters use it.

Founded in 2014, the Montreal-based company has a presence in approximately forty countries and earlier this year raised $68 million in funding to support its growth. It employs 300 people.

“We are incredibly honored,” said Steven Kramer, CEO of WorkJam. I am extremely proud of the WorkJam associates who work with our customers who are at the forefront of using technology to drive employee engagement, career advancement and personal economic development of their frontline workers.”

42 percent of the companies on the TIME list are SMEs with fewer than 500 employees. The field of artificial intelligence stands out with 12% of the companies mentioned, that of sustainable development with 15%.

To make the selection, TIME solicited nominations from all areas of activity, in addition to surveying its global network of collaborators and experts.

A Quebec company on TIME’s 100 Most Influential Companies in the World Read More »

Reynoso and his ironic message to the press that awaited him upon his arrival: "Nobody quoted them here"

Sports News / By Ashley Cornell, email: [email protected]

Reynoso and his ironic message to the press that awaited

The Peru team has completed their preparations for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and most of the squad and technical command have returned to the country to serve their clubs. In this sense, the coach of the Blanquirroja, Juan Reinosoleft a unique message to the media, who arrived at Jorge Chávez International Airport to collect their statements.

“We’re going to talk now, nobody called her here,” Reynoso hastily explained. “Well, excuse me. They have to give the team a level and then I’ll talk about how it was in a press conference,” concluded the Peru team’s DT.

What was the Peru team’s tour of Asia?

With the goal of getting the best possible start to qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, the Peruvian team agreed on two international friendlies in Asia against South Korea and Japan.

In the first game, the teams led by Juan Reynoso won thanks to Bryan Reyna’s only goal, but in the second game they were beaten 4-1 by a great performance by the Japanese. Now the Blanquirroja will face Paraguay in September’s qualifiers.

Reynoso and his ironic message to the press that awaited him upon his arrival: "Nobody quoted them here" Read More »

Weeping Charles and Camilla are overcome with emotion as they claim their first ever Ascot victory

Latest News / By Ashley Cornell, email: [email protected]

Charles and Camilla broke down in tears this afternoon as they clinched their first-ever Ascot win – before the King knocked over his trophy in an emotional moment on the podium.

The royal couple was overcome with emotion as they watched from the royal box as their horse Desert Hero won the King George V race.

After two defeats yesterday, Charles and Camilla celebrated their first win at Royal Ascot, the first since the Queen’s death last September.

Over the course of her 70-year reign, Queen Elizabeth claimed over 24 Ascot victories – and Zara Tindall said the moment was “bittersweet” for King Charles and Camilla.

Speaking to ITV, Princess Anne’s daughter said: “It’s bittersweet to think how proud and excited the Queen would have been.”

King Charles appeared emotional as he won his first Ascot race with Queen Camilla this afternoon

Pictured: King Charles and Camilla were so excited when their horse Desert Hero won the King George V race

King Charles accidentally knocked over the trophy at the awards ceremony this afternoon

The late Queen (pictured at Ascot in 2018) attended the annual racing event for almost 70 consecutive years

‘To have a winner for Charles and Camilla and to keep that dream alive.’ And besides, what a race!’

The couple’s coach, William Haggas, added: “They absolutely love it.”

“They’ve been looking forward to Ascot for a long time, it’s very important for horse racing, important for the king and queen to enjoy.”

During the award ceremony, King Charles accidentally knocked over the trophy and couldn’t hide his joy.

The late Queen had a lifelong love of horses – when she was four, her grandfather George V gave her a Shetland pony named Peggy.

According to her racing adviser, the late monarch, who passed away last September at the age of 96, “spoke to the end about her love for her horses”.

Mr Warren said he spent the weekend before the Queen’s death in Scotland talking about her horses as they had done so many times before.

“We sat for hours over the weekend strategizing and making plans for the future,” he said.

King Charles and Queen Camilla broke down in tears this afternoon as they secured their first-ever Ascot victory

King Charles couldn’t hide his delight when he was presented with the King George V Stakes trophy

Queen Camilla giggled when King Charles accidentally knocked over her trophy during the presentation

Charles and Camilla beamed as they were presented with the trophy at Ascot racecourse today

Tom Marquand riding Desert Hero and posing with the trophy after winning the King George V Stakes on day three of Royal Ascot 2023

Charles posed for a photo with Desert Hero and Tom Marquand after winning the King George V Stakes at 3:05 p.m

Pictured: King Charles and Queen Camilla spoke to their jockey after his win this afternoon

King Charles and Queen Camilla went to the racecourse to congratulate the jockey and desert hero

This year, Royal Ascot paid a heartwarming tribute to the Queen with a photo exhibition of her racing highlights.

After her coronation in 1953, the Queen traveled to Berkshire racecourses at least once a year to attend the event – only missing out in 2020 due to Covid lockdowns.

To mark the first festival of Ascot since her death, organizers have shared a heartwarming collection of photos from the Queen’s visits to Ascot over the years.

This includes a black and white photo of the royal horsewoman on the tracks in 1960 when she was 34.

The mother-of-four was pictured wearing a headscarf and riding boots as her horse galloped around the track.

The Queen took part in an unofficial race along with other members of her royal party and ended up finishing fourth.

In addition, the organizers also selected a photo of the beaming Queen at Ladies Day 2013.

The event proved to be one of the Queen’s most successful Ascots as her horse Estimate won the Gold Cup – making her the first monarch to win the award in 200 years.

King Charles led the procession for a third day today as he arrived at Royal Ascot with Queen Camilla.

The 74-year-old monarch opted for a traditional charcoal morning suit and pink tie, which he paired with a black top hat.

Queen Camilla, 75, looked appropriately elegant in a pale green V-neck coat dress by British designer Anna Valentine, which she also owns in pink.

The King appeared to have been congratulated by others in the Royal Box after his victory this afternoon

Charles and Camilla appeared to be in tears today as they responded to the crowd’s cheers

King Charles cheered with delight from the Royal Boxe at Ascot as his horse Desert Hero competed in the King George V race

King Charles roared as his horse raced in excitement – while Camilla also looked mesmerized

The royal couple turned to each other after claiming their maiden Royal Ascot victory this afternoon

The royal couple was overcome with emotion as they watched from the royal box as their horse Desert Hero won the King George V race

King Charles looked tearful as he made his way to the awards ceremony to collect his trophy

Camilla seemed completely overcome with emotion at that moment and tears filled her eyes

The royal couple appeared delighted as they beamed at each other after their horse’s victory

The royal couple seemed completely fascinated by the race as it started at Ascot on Ladies Day

Before the race, Charles was seen examining the booklet in the Royal Box at Berkshire Racecourse

The stylish queen paired it with a matching feather-trimmed hat by Phillip Treacy – who also designed her wedding headpieces.

Camilla also wore a diamond brooch from the late Queen, a five strand pearl necklace, a Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet and a pair of pristine white gloves.

The Earl of Snowdon, King Charles’ cousin, and his horse trainer Mark Prescott were also in the carriage with the royal couple.

As their horse-drawn carriage pulled into the royal grounds, the group was greeted with great cheers from the crowd.

Princess Anne – dressed in a chic green lace dress and white hat – and her husband Sir Timothy Laurence followed in the second carriage.

Meanwhile, the royal princess’ daughter Zara Tindall and her son-in-law Mike skipped the royal procession and headed straight to the races.

Also present was Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani, a member of the Qatari royal family and also a horse owner.

David Armstrong-Jones, Viscount Linely, also known as Earl Snowdon, is the son of the late Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon.

His sister, Lady Sarah Chatto, and her husband, Daniel Chatto, also attended the procession, along with Lord Nicolas Soames, a former Conservative MP and grandson of Winston Churchill.

Camilla’s friends, Colin Chisholm and Baroness Chisholm von Owlpen, as well as horse trainers Rachel and John Gosden, Lady Carolyn Warren and John Warren also attended the procession.

King Charles and Queen Camilla looked in high spirits as they arrived at Royal Ascot this afternoon

The 75-year-old Queen looked dapper at the races in a lime green coat dress and matching plumed hat

Jamie Oliver reveals the reason he renewed his vows with

Queen Camilla pictured wearing a green coat dress by Anna Valentine and a hat by Phillip Treacy for Ascot

King Charles wore a gray suit, black top hat and pink printed tie on the third day of Royal Ascot

The newly crowned King and Queen were greeted with great cheers upon their arrival at Royal Ascot today

It looks set to be a busy day for King Charles – after he attended a Windrush service at St George’s Chapel to mark the 75th anniversary of the historic migration of Caribbean and Commonwealth citizens to Britain.

The British royal family attended the event in large numbers this week, including King Charles, Camilla, Princess Anne, 71, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, as well as Princess Beatrice, 33, and Edoardo Mapelli-Mozzi, 38.

Zara and Mike Tindall are leading the royal arrivals today and more from The Firm is expected to be seen today.

Sabrina Elba, the actress and wife of superstar Idris Elba, led the glamor today in a Kate Middleton-inspired white selfie suit and beret costing £710.

Zara stunned in a short-sleeved French lace dress by Scanlan Theodore, which she paired with an Emily London hat with pretty floral details.

Princess Anne’s daughter – who was styled by Annie Miall – wore nude heels by Julia Mays and jewelry by Lauren Coste, Sif Jakobs and Astley Clarke.

Many of the female dressmakers made the most of the relaxed new rules – which allow people to dress to male and female dress codes regardless of gender – and women in trousers and three-piece suits.

Pictured: King Charles beams at the crowds as he arrives at Royal Ascot with his wife Queen Camilla

The Earl of Snowdon, King Charles’ cousin, and his horse trainer Mark Prescott were also in the carriage with the royal couple

Princess Anne seen arriving at Ascot with husband Sir Timothy Laurence in a carriage behind Charles and Camilla

Zara and Mike Tindall led the Ladies Day arrival of the royal family as they arrived for the third day of Royal Ascot

Zara opted for a summery white lace dress for the occasion, while her rugby ace husband Mike paired them in neutral tones

Others, however, opted for plunging necklines and rocking heels, which will no doubt be revealed as the celebrations unfold.

Yesterday was a hot day as the champagne flowed freely and the guests were very merry well into the night.

As the drinks increased and the revelers began to celebrate their victories, they began to relax and fool around with each other, in good spirits on a sunny day.

Among the scenes of revelers heading home after a day of partying were smart women who had ditched their heels in favor of sensible flats to travel home, and a gentleman grabbing some snacks had to bridge it the evening.

The stylish contestants made for a colorful and glamorous spectacle as they arrived at the track early for another day of exciting racing and plenty of partying.

Many opted for wild and wonderful outfits for the occasion, some taking advantage of this year’s updated dress code that allows women to wear pants.

Pictured: The Queen appeared in high spirits when she arrived at Royal Ascot in June 2021 in what was to be her final visit to the races

Pictured: The Queen’s Racing Highlights exhibition, shown at Ascot this year

The glamorous scenes at the start of day two, where white seemed to be the color of the moment for early visitors, follow hilarious antics captured last night as the festival’s opening day drew to a close.

Before the queen’s vase went off, the queen was seen swaying nervously with anticipation.

Frankie Dettori was celebrated as he won the Queen’s Vase and celebrated his trademark by jumping out of the saddle onto the ground.

Despite their losses at the racecourse, the royal couple appeared in high spirits as they met up with other family members.

King Charles and Queen Camilla abandoned Zara Tindall earlier in the afternoon.

As Royal Ascot opened in 2023, royalty flocked to the racecourse to celebrate King Charles’ first event as monarch.

The royal roster included King Charles and Queen Camilla, Princess Anne, Zara and Mike Tindall, and Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.

The two appeared to be enjoying the sunshine of the event as they arrived ahead of the royal procession

Sir Clive Alderton and his wife Lady Alderton, private secretary to King Charles III. and Queen Camilla, also joined in the racing fun

Glamorous racegoers flaunted their splendor as they arrived for Day 3 of Royal Ascot today – many donned sky-high headpieces and form-fitting dresses for the event

Guests were photographed in stunning outfits in a rainbow of colors today while making the most of the sun on Ladies Day

This year, race organizers paid tribute to Royal Ascot’s “biggest fan”, Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away last September.

During her 70-year reign, Her late Majesty attended almost every single Royal Ascot festival save for last year.

This year organizers have shared a heartwarming collection of photos of the Queen having visited Ascot over the years.

Below is a black-and-white photo of the royal woman riding a horse on the tracks in 1960, when she was 34.

The mother-of-four was pictured wearing a headscarf and riding boots as her horse galloped around the track.

The Queen took part in an unofficial race along with other members of her royal party and ended up finishing fourth.

In addition, the organizers also selected a photo of the beaming Queen at Ladies Day 2013.

In the pink! A woman opted for a stunning, colorful dress as she arrived at the Berkshire event ahead of Ladies Day

Strike a pose! A couple of friends appeared in good spirits as they arrived at the event in Berkshire this morning ahead of the big day

A flowery feeling! A woman presented an incredible hat with a huge flower on her arrival at the event in Berkshire

Yesterday, day two of Royal Ascot 2023 got hot as the winnings rolled in and the champagne was on hold

The event proved to be one of the Queen’s most successful Ascots as her horse Estimate won the Gold Cup – making her the first monarch to win the award in 200 years.

In the picture, the late Queen was seen beaming over her trophy, presented to her by her son Prince Andrew.

The Queen wore one of her signature coat dresses in a pretty shade of purple.

Under her jacket, the monarch wore a pretty floral dress – which matched the flowers on her hat perfectly.

Pictured is the Queen with a three strand pearl necklace – which she also wore to her last Ascot race in June 2021.

Weeping Charles and Camilla are overcome with emotion as they claim their first ever Ascot victory Read More »

IDF changes rules in West Bank with drone strike in response to increased terrorism – The Times of Israel

Latest News / By Ashley Cornell, email: [email protected]

The fact that the military twice deployed air forces in the West Bank this week after two decades without doing so suggests that Israel is trying to change the game in the fight against Palestinian terror. This appears to have happened after Palestinian armed groups initially changed the rules by stepping up terrorist attacks and putting up more resistance to Israeli operations.

The northern West Bank, and in particular the city of Jenin and its environs, has long been considered a hotbed of terrorism for Israeli forces, as evidenced by a series of attacks in early 2022, many perpetrated by residents of the region. Several of Israel’s targeted airstrikes in the West Bank during the second Palestinian Intifada in the early 2000s also took place in Jenin, as did a major battle during Operation Defensive Shield in 2002.

While Jenin has never been considered entirely off-limits to Israeli military attacks, the IDF has faced greater resistance from Palestinian gunmen in the city over the years, with much heavier gunfire compared to other West Bank cities, particularly in recent months. This was made even clearer during an IDF attack on Monday, when a large roadside bomb detonated near a convoy of military vehicles.

The explosive device severely damaged a Panther infantry fighting vehicle and caused minor to moderate injuries to seven soldiers. Gunmen from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the dominant terrorist group in Jenin, opened fire on the disabled vehicle while the army worked to evacuate the wounded IDF soldiers to hospitals. In the clashes that ensued, seven Palestinians were killed and nearly 100 injured.

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Such explosive devices have not been an uncommon sight in the West Bank in recent months, but the extent of the damage to the APC and the high number of Israeli casualties has been. To help evacuate the wounded soldiers under fire, an Apache helicopter fired missiles into open areas near the roadside bomb site to deter Islamic Jihad gunmen.

The use of Apache was not typical for such operations. In the early 2000s, during the Second Intifada, the IDF used attack helicopters in the West Bank, but only under special circumstances and not routinely.

An Israeli Air Force AH-64 Apache attack helicopter overflies during an Israeli army attack in Jenin in the West Bank June 19, 2023. (Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP)

Then on Wednesday there was a drone attack on a car carrying three Palestinian gunmen from Jenin – two from Islamic Jihad and the third a member of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, a coalition of armed groups loosely affiliated with the ruling Palestinian Fatah party Autonomous Authority connected. According to the IDF, this was the first such deadly airstrike on Palestinians in the West Bank since 2006.

According to military officials, the attack was not a targeted killing, as is common in the Israeli Gaza Strip. The three gunmen were not senior officials and had gone months before an assassination attempt. Instead, they were unlucky enough to attempt an attack just as Israel was trying to regain deterrence in the region after a series of gunfire. To that end, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant had authorized the military to conduct a drone strike on terrorist cells engaged in shootings, circumstances permitting.

The trio had driven from Jenin to the nearby Jalameh checkpoint and opened fire. Moments later, an Artillery Corps Elbit Hermes 450 drone struck her vehicle, killing her.

An Elbit Hermes 450 drone lands at Palmachim Air Force Base during Operation Breaking Dawn in early August 2022. (Israeli Defense Forces)

Over the past year, Palestinian gunmen have repeatedly attacked forces conducting arrest raids, military posts and checkpoints, Israeli settlements and civilians on roads, particularly in the northern West Bank. Generally, such gunmen are either killed during the attack by ground forces, or later apprehended or killed during army raids.

In recent weeks, terrorists in the northern West Bank have apparently stepped up their attacks, killing 32-year-old Meir Tamari near the settlement of Hermesh on May 30; A civilian wounded near the Palestinian town of Huwara on June 6; One civilian and four soldiers wounded near the Palestinian town of Yabed on June 13; and the killings of 17-year-old Nachman Mordoff, 17-year-old Elisha Anteman, 21-year-old Harel Masood and 64-year-old Ofer Fayerman near the settlement of Eli on Tuesday.

Israeli security forces at the scene of a deadly terrorist attack near the West Bank settlement of Eli, June 20, 2023. (Flash90)

Military officials say they have realized that Palestinian terrorists are increasingly using highways in the northern West Bank for their attacks and then fleeing deep into Palestinian cities, often without being caught. One of the Hamas-affiliated terrorists who carried out the attack near Eli managed to flee about 70 kilometers (43 miles) in a stolen car before being shot dead by special forces in a Palestinian town.

For this reason, according to military officials, the drone attack late on Wednesday was carried out to prevent the gunmen from fleeing and later carrying out further attacks. According to the IDF and the Shin Bet intelligence agency, the trio have been behind numerous similar attacks in the northern West Bank.

The IDF also reinforced the West Bank with additional forces to better secure highways after Tuesday’s shooting near Eli.

An explosive device left by Palestinians detonates near an Israeli armored vehicle during an Israeli army raid in Jenin in the West Bank June 19, 2023. (Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP)

Palestinian terrorists are changing the rules, with an increase in shooting attacks in the northern West Bank, increased resistance to Israeli incursions in Jenin, and even some unsuccessful attempts to manufacture rockets to be fired at Israel or Israeli settlements. Now Israel, too, is beginning to use new or long-unexploited tactics to combat Palestinian terror.

If drone strikes on gunmen become a regular occurrence, it will likely impact the way terrorist groups operate in the region. It remains to be seen whether the military air force threat will prompt the organizations to scale back their operations, at least in the short term, or whether it will instead trigger an even worse spiral of escalation with Israel.

In the long term, Palestinian terrorist groups are expected to continue to adapt to Israel’s methods, change their modus operandi and continue to challenge the military.

IDF changes rules in West Bank with drone strike in response to increased terrorism – The Times of Israel Read More »

Accenture’s earnings and revenue estimates beat estimates. Why the stock falls. – Barrons

Business News / By Ashley Cornell, email: [email protected]

Accenture shares fell Thursday after the IT services company lowered its revenue growth forecast for the fiscal year.

Accenture (Ticker: ACN) said it expects revenue growth in the range of 8% to 9% for fiscal 2023. So far, the company was expecting revenue growth of between 8% and 10%.

Accenture reported third-quarter adjusted earnings per share of $3.19 on revenue of $16.56 billion. Analysts polled by FactSet were expecting earnings of $3.01 per share on sales of $16.49 billion.

“Our third quarter results reflect solid bookings and revenue and very strong adjusted operating margin, earnings per share and free cash flow, demonstrating the rigor and discipline with which we conduct our business,” said CEO Julie Sweet in the earnings report.

WIlliam Blair’s analyst Maggie Nolan was upbeat about the results. She wrote in a research note that she believes “performance is a positive impact on IT services peers and faster-growing IT services companies… as the results indicate the demand environment is not deteriorating significantly any further.”

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Other IT consulting firms have been under pressure lately as clients cut budgets due to higher inflation and economic uncertainty.

Accenture shares fell 3.7% on Thursday to $301.54. The stock is up 13% this year.

The earnings came after the company earlier this week announced artificial intelligence collaborations with some of the top tech companies, including Amazon.com (AMZN), Microsoft (MSFT) and Alphabet (GOOGL).

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Accenture announced Wednesday that it is expanding its collaboration with Amazon Web Services to help clients “reap the value of big language models and generative AI for faster business transformation.” The company announced similar collaborations to help Microsoft and Alphabet customers navigate AI.

In the company’s earnings announcement, management said that Accenture is “well positioned to be the premier trusted AI partner for the company as it moves from exploration to experimentation to reinvention.”

Write to Angela Palumbo at [email protected]

Accenture’s earnings and revenue estimates beat estimates. Why the stock falls. – Barrons Read More »

Raunchy comedies attempt a comeback in theaters

Entertainment News / By Ashley Cornell, email: [email protected]

From left: R-rated comedies Joy Ride, Strays and No Hard Feelings hope to hit the box office this summer.

Ed Araquel/Lionsgate; Images by Macall Polay/Sony; Chuck Zlotnick/Universal Pictures

In the first trailer for Sony’s sex comedy No Hard Feelings, which hits theaters June 23, star Jennifer Lawrence comforts an ex by declaring she hasn’t forgotten him: “Last night I thought : ‘I miss that bastard.’ “Movie-goers may share a similar nostalgia, recalling a not-so-distant era when studio films that focused on lewd jokes were regularly shown in theaters—before they disappeared.

This summer portends a possible tide shift. As audiences return to theaters in the wake of the pandemic, studios appear to be using the next few months as a testing ground for the R-rated comedy’s return to theaters. “No Hard Feelings” is about a clumsy teenager whose parents hire Lawrence’s character to date him. He will later be joined by Lionsgate’s “Joy Ride” (July 7), Universal’s “Strays” (August 18), and MGM’s “Bottoms” (August 25). Such projects are similar to horror films in that they offer viewers the experience of sharing shocking moments with a group of like-minded strangers. But unlike the horror genre, it’s been a while since raunchy comedy fans had a headline-grabbing cinematic title to rally around.

“It’s not an easy genre at all,” Jim Orr, president of Universal’s domestic theatrical distribution, tells of raunchy comedy. “We still think it’s an important genre. We still think it makes sense theatrically – but is difficult to execute.”

After touching the zeitgeist in the late ’90s with There’s Something About Mary and American Pie, the gritty comedies thrived in the decade that followed (think 40-Year-Old Virgin, Wedding Crashers, Superbad “). But while later hits like “The Hangover” (2009), “Bridesmaids” (2011), “Ted” (2012) and “22 Jump Street” (2014) all ranked among the top 15 domestic grossing titles of their respective years , viewers crave big laughs and bad words, and horny leads have largely had to rely on streaming deals from the couch for the past several years.

Just as Disney’s decision to release Pixar titles direct to Disney+ may have impacted viewership habits en route to Elemental’s disappointing box-office debut, No Hard Feelings is targeting an opening price of nearly $12 million, which means that it takes legs to be a hit. A typical selling point for comedies is the low budget, but this one was expensive, as Lawrence was reportedly hoping for a $25 million payday when Sony outbid streamers in 2021.

R-rated comedies to stream instead of theaters since 2022 include Netflix’s Rebel Wilson film Senior Year, Kevin Hart with Me Time and You People with Eddie Murphy, although the latter tops those titles with 3.86 billion Viewer minutes and four weeks were among the streamer’s top 10, according to Nielsen.

“Many genres have disappeared from being produced so aggressively in the streaming space,” said Sanford Panitch, president of Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group. “Studios aren’t going to make Christmas comedies when there are six Christmas comedies on one streaming platform. So it’s partly about finding spaces that feel theatrical and not about feeling like there’s something that someone can get for free at home.”

For filmmakers, it remains just as difficult to know what gives a comedy project a boost as the genre tries to break the doldrums. “The message I’m getting from studio execs is that they want big event comedy and racy R-rated comedy that people will talk about,” said Tracy Oliver, the screenwriter behind Lionsgate’s horror comedy The Blackening, which will be released over the course of the year Opened in theaters in 2017 and grossed $7 million Juneteenth Holiday – who also wrote 2017’s popular Girls Trip and is working on its sequel. “Movies like ‘Girls Trip 2’ and ‘The Blackening’ pass the theatrical litmus test because they are considered event comedies intended to be enjoyed in large groups.”

While streaming is a relief for consumers, creatives across the board want a theatrical release. Such was the case with screenwriter Dan Perrault – whose live-action Strays follows a dog voiced by Will Ferrell who seeks revenge on his careless owner – and Cherry Chevapravatdumrong, Teresa Hsiao and Adele Lim, the writers of Joy Ride ‘, about a woman traveling through China to find her birth mother. (“Huge, high priority – absolute goal,” Chevapravatdumrong says of the theatrical release.)

“There seems to be an idea, ‘Let’s get these $15 million comedies streaming instead of in theaters,'” says LP, director of the 2020 Netflix comedy Desperados. She commends the film’s support through the platform set up prior to her stint at Universal, but concedes that bringing a film to theaters “would be a dream”. However, Helmerin points out that going to the cinema during the opening weekend could add some pressure, and jokes about her film’s memorable set design: “When you go to the cinema, does the dolphin penis stay? Maybe not.”

It’s not just the studios monitoring audience interest in this summer’s options. “Joy Ride is going to be a very good test, and if it’s successful, people are going to be like, ‘Oh my god, the great comedy is back,'” says Girls Trip director Malcolm D. Lee. “Everyone is risk averse, especially in the theater field, so it will be very interesting to see what happens.”

Another factor is that the Peak TV era has enticed studios to make series out of ideas that previously might have deserved feature film treatment. Take Ted, for example, which grossed a whopping $218 million domestically in 2012 ($289 million today, adjusted for inflation) before a 2015 sequel underperformed; A prequel series is coming to Peacock soon. Filmmaker Nick Stoller (Neighbors) ranks his new Apple TV+ show Platonic, starring Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne, in a similar category, saying of the show’s team, “We’d talk about doing a version of this before 10 would have been a movie years ago.” , but it’s easier to just do this on the small screen.”

Filmmakers emphasize that theater is important to the lifespan of a feature film, especially a comedy. “If I ran the studios, I would put all my comedy money into R-rated comedies,” says Paul Feig (“Bridesmaids,” “The Heat”). While Feig’s more recent projects, including last year’s Netflix’s The School for Good and Evil, have strayed from that space, he’s soon returning with R-rated Grand Death Lotto and has his sights set on a 2024 release . It’s from Amazon Studios, but Feig sees the possibility of a theatrical release as one of the perks of working with the company that recently brought Air to theaters: “I’m very, very committed to getting it a theatrical release because it’s so is.” a group experience.”

Jeremy Garelick, who co-wrote the screenplay for The Hangover and has directed films including Netflix’s recent Adam Sandler film Murder Mystery 2, is so confident in the R-rated teen comedy that he wrote the founded production company American High, which acquired a high school in Syracuse, New York in 2013 to make low-cost films. Garelick, who was working at CAA when the original American Pie script was passed around, reckons that pop culture follows a roughly 20-year cycle in which adolescents become new gatekeepers. Of teenage sex films, he says, “It’s going to come back — it’s just a matter of time.”

In Hollywood’s increasingly IP-driven era, the studio’s risk-taking required to support original comedy ideas has declined, although the superhero craze is showing signs of audience fatigue. One franchise preparing for its long-awaited return is Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool films, which have managed to inject f-bombs and penis jokes into sizzling action.

“When I saw Deadpool, I was like, ‘Damn, I should have made that movie,'” says Kevin Smith, the Clerks director and comic book fanatic who has recently shunned the studio system and follows a model in which he his films takes on a nationwide theater tour. He commends Fox for initially taking a risk with the borderline Deadpool: “The studio wasn’t interested at first, and then they did and were rewarded for going all out.”

However, Jordan VanDina, director of It’s a Wonderful Binge on Hulu and writer of Dodgeball 2, notes, “I think that’s all it takes to bring a top-notch, R-rated comedy to theaters to make a whole.” launching a new series of irreverent theatrical comedies.” .”

As for the studios, No Hard Feelings and Strays are eyeing them, though the failure of a connection doesn’t necessarily mean like-minded projects are shelved. “The genre is certainly not dependent on the next two films,” says Orr. “But you always see patterns at the box office and imitation when you figure out what works.”

A version of this story first appeared in the June 21 issue of magazine. Click here to login.

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