Actor-filmmaker Osgood Perkins has been tapped by Lionsgate to write and direct its supernatural thriller "Incident at Fort Bragg".
According to Variety, the film is inspired by the true story of Irish priest Malachi Martin, who was brought in by the US government to perform a sanctioned exorcism on a young soldier at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Beau Flynn, who served as a producer on "The Exorcism of Emily Rose", will be backing the project via his Flynn Picture Company.
Meredith Wieck and Aaron Edmonds are overseeing development of the project for Lionsgate.
The original draft of the "Incident at Fort Bragg" was penned Evan Turner and Harrison Query, which was sold to Lionsgate.
Writer Jeff Buhler then worked on the latest draft of the script.

Osgood Perkins to direct, write Lionsgate's 'Incident at Fort Bragg'

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Thriller drama "Absentia" has been renewed by Amazon for third season.
According to Variety, actors Geoff Bell and Josette Simon have joined the cast of the third season, which also marks Will Pascoe's entry as showrunner and executive producer.
The Stana Katic-fronted series centers on her FBI agent Emily Byrne, and the upcoming season will open three months after the dramatic events of season two with Emily nearing the end of her suspension from the FBI and trying hard to be the best mother to her son.
Bell will play Colin Dawkins, a professional fixer for an international criminal organisation, while Simon will essay the role of Rowena Kincade, a former instructor at Quantico and career intelligence agent with MI5 and MI6.
Katic, Pascoe, Julie Glucksman, and Kasia Adamik are serving as executive producer on the show.
Adamik is also directing the season along with Greg Zglinski.
The series was created by Gaia Violo and Matt Cirulnick.

Amazon renews 'Absentia' for third season

Actors John Malkovich, Ben Schwartz, Tawny Newsome, and Diana Silvers have boarded Netflix comedy "Space Force".
Jimmy O Yang, Don Lake and Alex Sparrow have also joined the Steve Carell-fronted series as guest stars, reported Variety.
Carell is the show's co-creator and executive producer as well.
Paul King has been roped in to direct two episodes of the series, including the pilot.
The workplace comedy is centred around the people back on Earth tasked with creating a sixth branch of the armed services.
The show has received a 10-episode order and will premiere sometime in 2020.
Carell will star as Mark R Naird, a General appointed by the White House to lead a new branch of the Armed Forces with the goal of putting American "Boots on the Moon" by 2024.
Malkovich will play Adrian Mallory, the head science advisor, while Schwartz will essay the role of media consultant  F Tony Scarapiducci.
Greg Daniels co-created the series along with Carell and he also serves as the showrunner.

Netflix comedy 'Space Force' adds John Malkovich, Ben Schwartz to cast

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has decided to increase its visibility at cinema halls when "Joker" opens next week.
The decision has been taken amid heightened law enforcement concern about the violence in the Todd Phillips-directed movie, featuring Joaquin Phoenix in the titular role.
"The Los Angeles Police Department is aware of public concerns and the historical significance associated with the premiere of 'Joker'.
"While there are no credible threats in the Los Angeles area, the department will maintain high visibility around theaters when it opens," department spokesman Josh Rubenstein said in a statement to Variety.
The decision was taken after families of some of the victims of 2012 shooting, which killed 12 people and injured 70 others at a screening of "The Dark Knight Rises", raised concerns about "Joker".
Earlier this week, Warner Bros, the studio behind the movie, had said that the film is not an "endorsement of real-world violence of any kind".
The FBI had also 

LAPD plans to increase visibility for 'Joker' opening weekend

Pop divas Jennifer Lopez and Shakira will be headline the half-time show at the Super Bowl 2020.
Lopez announced on Twitter that she will be hosting the 2020 Super Bowl half-time show alongside Shakira at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.
"Going to set the world on fire @shakira #PepsiHalftime #SuperBowlLIV @pepsi," Lopez tweeted along side a picture of her with Shakira.

Jennifer Lopez, Shakira to headline Super Bowl 2020 half-time show

Abdullah Rasul has so little contact with his family in China that it took three months for him to find out that his father was dead.
Like other Uighur refugees from northwest China, Rasul, 35, who now lives in Istanbul, knows that making contact with relatives back home risks them coming under greater scrutiny from the authorities, or worse.
The snippets of news he manages to receive through the restricted communication channels are terrifying, he says.
Facebook is blocked in China, and relatives fear repercussions if caught using other apps such as WhatsApp.
"The last news I got was in May 2018. I was told my mother, two sisters and elder brother were all sent to a re-education camp," he told AFP.
It was also when he was told his father, a village elder in Turpan city prefecture, had died shortly after a meeting with local authorities.
"I don't have news on my other brothers and sisters." In recent years, China has cracked down on the Uighur community, a mostly Muslim and ...

For Uighur refugees, freedom means losing family

Saudi Arabia urged the world to apply "utmost pressure" on Iran, while Tehran dismissed that policy as already having failed.
Saudi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Assaf took the stage Thursday at the U.N. General Assembly and urged world leaders to cut off Iran's financial resources. But across town, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani insisted that would kill all chances of successful negotiations.
Saudi Arabia insists Iranian weapons were used in a September 14 missile and drone attack on Saudi oil facilities, which jolted global oil prices. Iran denies involvement.
Gulf tensions took center stage again on the third day of debate at the U.N. General Assembly. Two more adversaries will face off Friday, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan take the stage in the morning.

Saudi Arabia urges pressure on Iran, which says that failed

/ -- Two global energy leaders will deliver the Opening Keynote Addresses at the 12th Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW). Francesco La Camera, Director General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and Cedrik Neike, Member of the Managing Board and Chief Executive Officer of Smart Infrastructure, Siemens AG will share their perspectives on this year's theme, "Accelerating Energy Transformation". They will focus on the growing role of renewable energy and technology in transitioning to a sustainable energy future. Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing will deliver the SIEW Opening Remarks.
2. The Singapore Energy Summit this year will feature distinguished energy stakeholders discussing ways to accelerate energy transformation, fuel electrification, and embrace digitalisation; and on creating an enabling regulation and financing infrastructure to facilitate this transition. Keynote speeches will be delivered by H.E. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Executive .

Energy Leaders IRENA, Siemens to Deliver Opening Keynotes at 12th SIEW

Fed up with finding yourself next to a screaming child on a long-haul flight? On some Japanese airlines a seat map will warn you where potentially bawling babies are sitting.
The facility, offered as part of Japan Airlines' "Smile Support" travel service for those with infants, is not new, but lit up the internet after a Twitter user praised it.
"Thank you, @JAL_Official_jp for warnings me about where babies plan to scream and yell during a 13 hour trip. This really ought to be mandatory across the board," venture capitalist Rahat Ahmed tweeted.
A somewhat bemused JAL spokeswoman confirmed the feature, pointing out it was not a novel offering.
At least one other Japanese airline does the same: All Nippon Airways (ANA), where a spokeswoman confirmed its seat maps have shown where children are sitting "for a while."
JAL's maps indicate where infants under two are sitting, with a child icon to let "other passengers know." The relevation caused an internet firestorm, with supporters and ..

No kidding: Japan airlines offer seat maps to avoid tots

A group of 66 African refugees and asylum-seekers arrived in Kigali late Thursday, the UN said, the first of what could be thousands relocated from Libya under a new programme.
Earlier this month, Rwanda signed a deal with the African Union (AU) and the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR agreeing to take in African refugees and asylum-seekers stranded in Libya.
The Rwandan government has said it is prepared to accommodate as many as 30,000 evacuees, although the plan is for the programme to unfold in batches of 500 to prevent the country of 12 million from feeling overwhelmed.
"Just landed!" the United Nations refugee agency wrote on its Twitter account as a first group of unaccompanied minors, single mothers and families landed in the Rwandan capital.
The youngest passenger was a two-month old girl born to Somali parents in Libya.
A UN official told AFP Wednesday that a subsequent flight carrying 125 people was planned for "between 10-12 October".
They will be housed in a transit ...

Rwanda welcomes first group of African refugees from Libya

Facebook on Friday said it began hiding the number of "likes" for posts in Australia, a trial designed to ease social pressure that could be rolled out worldwide.
Account holders across the country will also be blocked from viewing the number of reactions and video views on other people's posts from Friday, but will still be able to see how people respond to their own.
"We don't want Facebook to feel like a competition," the company said in a statement.
"This is a test to see how people engage with this new format." "We hope to learn from this over time in order to see if we will roll this out more broadly." More than one billion people use Facebook worldwide, but the social media giant has come under pressure to combat the platform's impact on mental health.
In Australia, one in five children report experiencing cyberbullying, according to the country's eSafety commissioner.
The problem received national attention last year when a 14-year-old girl -- who starred in adverts of an ...

Facebook hides 'likes' in Australia trial to ease anxiety

The death toll from a powerful earthquake that rocked Indonesia's remote Maluku islands has risen to 23, the disaster agency said Friday, as more than 15,000 people were evacuated to shelters.
Terrified residents ran into the streets as buildings fell in around them with the 6.5-magnitude tremor sparking landslides that buried at least one victim on Thursday. Among the confirmed dead was an infant, with many killed by falling debris in and around quake-struck Ambon city.
"The total number of people who died is 23," national disaster mitigation agency spokesman Agus Wibowo said in a statement.
More than 100 people were also injured and at least 15,000 people had to evacuate because their houses were damaged by the strong jolt, Wibowo said.
Hundreds of houses, offices, schools and public facilities have also been damaged in the disaster. Authorities have set up emergency tents and public kitchen for the evacuees in several districts.
The US Geological Survey said the quake struck about .

Indonesia quake death toll rises to 23: official

Skipper Andrea Belotti's quick-fire second-half double, including a sensational overhead kick in front of goal, sealed a 2-1 comeback win in Serie A over AC Milan.
Polish striker Krzysztof Piatek had put AC Milan ahead from the spot after 18 minutes in the clash between midtable rivals in the Olympic Stadium on Thursday.
But in four-minute spell, Belotti sealed all three points for Walter Mazzarri's side who had suffered back-to-back losses in their previous two games.
Torino move up to sixth in the table, equal on nine points with Napoli and Cagliari after five games, but six points behind leaders Inter Milan.
AC Milan drop to 13th, following on from last weekend's 2-0 derby defeat.
"We didn't want to lose a third in a row," said Belotti.
"They made us dance in the first half but when we returned after the break we were a different side."
Both northern Italian rivals were desperate to get back to winning ways with Milan going ahead early after a penalty awarded when Lorenzo De ...

Belotti double inspires Torino comeback win over AC Milan

FIFA is weighing sending a delegation to Tehran to make sure women fans are admitted to the World Cup qualifying match between Iran and Cambodia on October 10.
Former French World Cup winner Youri Djorkaeff told AFP on Thursday that he would be part of any delegation.
"Iran is a hot topic and I am organising myself to be there on October 10," Djorkaeff said.
It was his first interview since his appointment a week ago as Chief Executive Officer of the FIFA Foundation, whose objectives include making football more accessible to women in the Middle East.
The presence of a delegation is important "to show that FIFA intervened there with conviction," said the former midfielder.
On Sunday, Gianni Infantino, president of the governing body of world football, said he had been "assured" by Iran that women could attend the match.
There had been calls to ban Iran from international competitions following the death of a female fan, Sahar Khodayari, who set herself on fire following her arrest for 

FIFA considering delegation to ensure Iran allows women fans into match

A top Qatari World Cup official has said that transgender and gay fans would be welcomed to the 2022 tournament but stressed that visitors would have to respect Qatari customs.
Homosexual acts are banned in Qatar but the law around transgender people is unclear and the issue is seldom addressed in public life or by the authorities.
"I would like to assure any fan, of any gender, (sexual) orientation, religion, race to rest assured that Qatar is one of the most safe countries in the world -- and they'll all be welcome here," said chief executive of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Nasser al-Khater.
He was responding to media questions on Wednesday about the position of transgender fans who might want to attend the World Cup but are unclear what legal and human rights protections they will have.
"The safety and security of every single fan is of the utmost importance to us," Khater said at the al-Janoub stadium, adding that he expected "a little over one million fans" to visit Qatar during 

Transgender fans 'welcome' at World Cup, says Qatar

Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid have each averted a mini-crisis already this season and one of the rewards for the winner of the derby on Saturday would be to stall their rival's recovery.
In a press conference last week, Zinedine Zidane was asked six questions about his future as coach of Real Madrid, one of them whether he was irritated by Jose Mourinho's very public hankering for the job.
"I know how it works," Zidane said. "It's not about whether it bothers me or doesn't bother me. If you lose, things have to change."
A few hours later, Atletico were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Celta Vigo, a blunt display that raised familiar concerns about the threat of their attack and made it two draws and a defeat in a week.
"Atleti fans are demanding so I am not surprised by the criticism at all," said Diego Simeone. "Coaches are always to blame when you lose."
Yet at the Wanda Metropolitano this weekend, it will be La Liga's first against third, even if the ascendancy of Madrid's two ...

Recoveries at stake as Real Madrid face Atletico in La Liga derby

Liverpool and Manchester City are again threatening to streak clear in the Premier League title race with their main challengers looking ill-equipped to keep up.
Both teams were irresistible last season, with runners-up Liverpool finishing 25 points ahead of third-placed Chelsea, and they look a class apart again in this campaign.
The two front-runners will each expect to pick up another three points this weekend despite being on their travels as Liverpool go to Sheffield United and City visit Everton.
Leicester, Arsenal and West Ham are their closest challengers and early leaders in the fight for the final two Champions League places despite just three wins apiece after six rounds of matches.
Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester United, all of whom have struggled badly, are under pressure to get back on track on home soil this weekend.
Sweet 16 for Liverpool?
=======================
City showed no mercy against Watford last weekend, hammering the Hornets 8-0 in a staggering display of ..

Spurs and Chelsea seek home comforts as top two threaten to pull away

North Korea said Friday it wants President Donald Trump to make a "wise option and bold decision" to produce a breakthrough in stalled nuclear diplomacy, in an escalation of pressure on the US ahead of an expected resumption of talks.
The statement by Foreign Ministry adviser Kim Kye Gwan came days after Trump said another meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un "could happen soon" without elaborating.
Kim Kye Gwan says he doubts another summit could make any breakthrough because of what he describes as prevailing opinions in Washington that North Korea must first disarm before getting major concessions and that US-led sanctions brought the North to a negotiating table.
He accused the US of not acting to implement a joint statement issued after the first summit between Kim and Trump in Singapore last year.
He said North Korea, for its part, made "sincere efforts" to build mutual trust and carry out the Singapore statement, citing the repatriation of three American detainees and ..

N Korea urges Trump to make bold move to revive diplomacy

A Spanish court will on Friday attempt to untangle a bitter multi-million-euro contract dispute between Brazilian star striker Neymar and his former club Barcelona.
Although a court spokesman said the 27-year-old was obliged to show up person, his lawyers have said nothing although Spanish newspapers published videos of him arriving at Barcelona airport on Thursday.
His return to the city is far from the triumphant homecoming the Spanish club had hoped for after a summer locked in futile talks with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to bring back the world's most expensive player.
On Friday morning, the two parties will attend a private half-hour session with the judge at a labour court in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, a Barcelona suburb, before the hearing begins at 10:00 am (0800 GMT).
The session is open to the public.
The dispute began when Neymar made a shock transfer to PSG in 2017, less than a year after signing a new contract with Barca which would have seen him staying there until ...

Spain court takes on Neymar-Barca contract dispute

Accessing everything from Wikipedia to Google Maps in Myanmar is about to get a lot easier when it finally adopts the universal code underpinning phone and online communication next week.
Tech experts say the move to bring the country more in step with the rest of the digital world is crucial, but will cause "chaos" in a rocky transition period.
Myanmar is the last nation to embrace unicode that has significant numbers of people online. Without it, most users see international content -- and a lot from within the country -- as lines of meaningless symbols.
Household name websites can be impossible to read while translation and voice recognition software do not work.
October 1 is "U-Day", when Myanmar officially adopts the new system. From then on, all electronic communication from government offices, telecoms companies, banks and media must be in Unicode by law.
Myanmar became a global code anomaly due to isolation under its former military junta.
Microsoft and Apple helped other ...

Code War: Myanmar's final digital battle ends

Jamaican sprint legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has already battled her way from abject poverty to a level of relative riches that will allow her to give her son Zyon a more comfortable upbringing than she experienced.
Yet the engaging 1.52 metres (5 foot) 32-year-old  'pocket rocket' is not done yet.
The enduring Fraser-Pryce won the first of her two Olympic 100 metre titles in 2008. She has four individual World Athletics Championships golds. In 2013, in Moscow, she became only the third woman to achieve a sprint double and could repeat the historic feat in Doha.
Her main rivals for the 100m, which gets underway on Saturday, are likely to be compatriot Elaine Thompson and Briton Dina Asher-Smith.
Yet Fraser-Pryce is fortunate even to even be running after missing the 2017 season with a difficult pregnancy.
"Honestly, I think my son kind of put things in perspective, where I can say, 'I'm OK, I have my son, now I've achieved so much, but I still want more,'" she told sports and pop ...

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