"Watchmen" actor Danielle Deadwyler will star in a recurring role in the HBO Max limited series "Station Eleven".
Based on the book of the same name by Emily St John Mandel, the show is a post-apocalyptic saga spanning multiple timelines.
The series will chronicle the stories of survivors of a devastating flu as they attempt to rebuild and reimagine the world anew while holding on to the best of what's been lost.
According to Variety, Deadwyler will play Miranda Carroll, the author of the titular graphic novel and former wife of Arthur Leander (played by Gael Garcia Bernal) who finds herself trapped in Malaysia as a flu pandemic sweeps the globe.
Japanese-American filmmaker Hiro Murai will direct and executive produce the 10-episode series, led by Mackenzie Davis and Himesh Patel.
Patrick Somerville is adapting the novel and will also serve as showrunner.
Deadwyler has also starred on acclaimed comedy drama series "Atlanta".

Danielle Deadwyler boards 'Station Eleven' adaptation

PTI Automatic

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ripped up her copy of Donald Trump's State of the Union address on Wednesday, in a pointed political gesture after listening tight-lipped to the president tout his achievements to Congress.
The tension between Trump and his Democratic nemesis was palpable from the outset, as Pelosi extended her extended her hand for a handshake -- and the president failed to return the favour.
Seated in silence behind the president in the House of Representatives, Pelosi frowned, repeatedly shook her head and smiled disbelievingly until he finished speaking and Republicans erupted in applause -- at which point she rose and very visibly tore up the papers in front of her.
Asked afterwards by a reporter to give a reason for her gesture, Pelosi replied: "Because it was the courteous thing to do, considering the alternatives."
And in a follow-up tweet, the 79-year-old Pelosi said Democrats would "never stop extending the hand of friendship to get the job done".
Trump was ...

Top Democrat Pelosi rips up Trump speech

In a reality TV moment during one of the United States' most formal occasions, President Donald Trump reunited a soldier with his family during the annual State of the Union speech on Tuesday.
The wife and two children of Army Sergeant Townsend Williams were among Trump's guests at the address to Congress, and he began to tell their story -- in Williams' absence.
"War places a heavy burden on our extraordinary military families, especially spouses like Amy Williams from Fort Bragg, North Carolina and her two children," Trump said, explaining that Williams' husband has been in Afghanistan on his fourth deployment.
"Amy's kids haven't seen their father's face in many months. Amy, your family's sacrifice makes it possile for all of our families to live in safety and in peace, and we want to thank you. Thank you, Amy," Trump said, prompting applause from the chamber.
Williams stroked her son's hair while her daughter clutched her arm.
"But Amy, there is one more thing. Tonight, we have a .

State of the Reunion! Tears of joy as Trump reunites army family

Hollywood actor Woody Harrelson has come on board the satire "Triangle Of Sadness", to be directed by acclaimed Swedish filmmaker Ruben Ostlund.
Ostlund is best known for Cannes Palme d'Or winner "The Square", and the upcoming project marks his full-fledged English language directorial debut.
According to Deadline, the film features international ensemble cast including Harris Dickinson, Oliver Ford Davies (the UK), Charlbi Dean (South Africa), Zlatko Buric (Croatia), Iris Berben and Sunnyi Melles (Germany), Henrik Dorsin (Sweden), Dolly De Leon (The Philippines) and Vicky Berlin (Denmark).
The film, also penned by Ostlund, is set against the world of fashion and the uber-rich.
Dickinson and Dean will star as a model couple are invited on to a luxury cruise. When the yacht sinks they become stranded on a desert island with a group of billionaires and a cleaning lady - the only one who know how to fish.
Harrelson will play an eccentric Marxist sea captain who spouts the Communist ...

Woody Harrelson to star in 'The Square' director's next

The United States evacuated more than 300 more people on two new flights out of Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the fast-spreading new coronavirus, the State Department has said.
The two flights left Wuhan on Tuesday US time after the passengers were screened, a State Department official said on Tuesday.
The official said that the United States has now brought home more than 500 passengers on three fights. A first flight, with 195 Americans on board, left Wuhan last week and landed in California.
The United States is preparing one or two additional planes to evacuate Americans on Thursday, after which it does not intend further flights, the official said.
The United States has been placing passengers under mandatory quarantine, the first time that the federal government has taken such a major step since the 1960s.
As stated in a travel advisory issued last week, "US citizens currently in China should attempt to depart by commercial means," the official said.
The United States has ...

Two more planes evacuate Americans from virus-hit Wuhan

Actor Emily Blunt says her younger daughter Violet likes Hollywood veteran Julie Andrews' portrayal of Mary Poppins more than hers.
Andrews played the titular magical nanny in the 1964 Disney classic, and Blunt was cast in the role for 2018 movie "Mary Poppins Returns".
Blunt is married to actor-director John Krasinski.
"The other night, I overheard Violet (four) telling John that she wanted to watch 'Mary Poppins'. He said, 'Do you want to watch mummy's one?'
"She said, 'No, Julie Andrews'. Julie Andrews reigns supreme in our house," Blunt told Harper's Bazaar magazine.
The actor and Krasinski also share daughter Hazel, six.

Emily Blunt's daughter prefers Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins

"I have survived several attempts to kill me," former South African president Jacob Zuma had claimed in one of many his rants against the corruption allegations which forced him to resign in 2018.
His words drew little sympathy and inspired bestselling thriller novelist Deon Meyer to hit out at the scandal-plagued former president and other corruption-tainted officials in his last book.
Published in 2018, "The Last Hunt" follows detectives Benny Griessel and Vaughn Cupido as they investigate the disappearance of an ex-member of South Africa's elite police unit.
They enter the treacherous world of high-level government corruption and uncover a conspiracy against the president, who is modelled on Zuma.
Zuma is accused of orchestrating a systematic plunder of government coffers during his nine-year administration -- a scandal known as "state capture".
He is also suspected of taking kickbacks from a multi-million-dollar arms deal during the late 1990s, for which he has been criminally ...

S.African writer Deon Meyer targets Zuma in latest book

The United States is working with a pharmaceutical company to develop a treatment for the 2019 Novel Coronavirus, using a class of drug that has boosted survival rates among Ebola patients, officials said.
The partnership between the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Regeneron will develop monoclonal antibodies to fight the infection, a different line of treatment to the antiretrovirals and flu drugs that have also emerged as possible defences against the disease.
Nearly 500 people have died as a result of the virus since it emerged in a Chinese live seafood and wild animal market at the end of last year.
"Emerging infectious diseases can present serious threats to our nation's health security," said Rick Bright, an official at the HHS.
"Working as public-private partners like we have with Regeneron since 2014, we can move rapidly to respond to new global health threats."
Monoclonal antibodies are lab-produced copies of a single type of antibody and are a form of ...

US working with drug firm on new coronavirus treatment

At least 10 people on a cruise ship quarantined off the coast of Japan have tested positive for the new coronavirus, Japan's health minister said on Wednesday.
Japan quarantined the vessel carrying 3,711 people and began testing those on board for the virus after a former passenger who disembarked in Hong Kong was diagnosed with the illness.
Meanwhile, hundreds of travellers on board a cruise ship that docked in Hong Kong on Wednesday will be allowed to leave the vessel after health checks, the operator said, despite three recent passengers testing positive for coronavirus.
More than 20 countries have confirmed cases of the virus, which has killed nearly 500 people and infected more than 24,000 in mainland China.
The outbreak has prompted the World Health Organization to declare a global health emergency, several governments to impose travel restrictions, and airlines to suspend flights to and from China.
Japan's Health Minister Katsunobu Kato told reporters that specimens were ...

At least 10 on Japan cruise ship have new coronavirus: minister

"Fast and Furious" star Michelle Rodriguez says if given a chance, she would love to play DC superhero Catwoman.
The actor, 41, said Catwoman was her favourite from the comic book franchise as she is both "bad and good".
"I would love to be a superhero. I think DC has my favourite superhero, which is Catwoman. I like her because she's bad and good and I'm in the middle when it comes to being good.
"I'm pretty bad and good so I would go the DC route 'cause there aren't a lot of really great female superheroes in general and so I need a little edge or I can't play and so Catwoman I think is my favourite," Rodriguez told MTV International.
The actor will next reprise her role of Letty Oritz in "Fast and Furious 9".

I would love to play Catwoman: Michelle Rodriguez

/ -- Sandvik, a developer and producer of advanced stainless steels, special alloys, titanium and other high-performance materials, adds a new cold finishing tube manufacturing line at its Mehsana Mill, in Gujarat, western India.
Sandvik Mehsana is a high-tech tube mill that produces advanced corrosion-resistant tube, pipe and hollows for heat exchangers and process equipment across a wide range of industries, including petrochemical, oil and gas, chemical and fertilizer.
With the addition of this new high-tech line, Sandvik aims to increase the availability of its high-quality seamless stainless tube, add flexibility for introducing new grades and strengthen regional service.
The new line is mainly aimed at the production of heat exchanger tubing and for other demanding industrial applications, and will double Mehsana's cold-working capacity, thus allowing swifter delivery times across the Asia Pacific (APAC) region.
The cold forming process, which involves drawing and shaping of the 

Sandvik Adds New Tube Line at Indian Steel Mill to Boost Capacity and Local Service

Actor Ashton Kutcher says he still shares a close bond with the children of his former wife, Hollywood star Demi Moore.
The actor was married to Moore for eight years between 2005 and 2013 and said he helped raise her children from her prior marriage with action star Bruce Willis - Rumer, 31, Scout, 28, and Tallulah, 26.
"It was eight years. Tallulah was eight or nine, she was the youngest. Rumer was 12 or 13 when we first started dating. When we were getting divorced, Tallulah was graduating high school.
"I was helping raise teenage girls through their adolescence. I love them. I'm never going to stop loving them, respecting them, honouring them and rooting for them to be successful in whatever they are pursuing," Kutcher, 41, said in an appearance on Marc Maron's 'WTF' podcast.
He is now married to actor Mila Kunis and the couple are parents to daughter Wyatt, five, and two-year-old son Dimitri.

Ashton Kutcher will 'never stop loving' Demi Moore's children

Wrestler-turned-actor John Cena will be returning to the WWE ring for the professional wrestling event WrestleMania 36.
The 42-year-old star said he is unsure whether he will enter the ring.
"Performing at WrestleMania this year would be a gift. I haven't been intertwined in the machine of the WWE. I know those WrestleMania spots are few and far between. I've expressed that I'm off.
"But I've also expressed that I live in Tampa. I will for sure be at the event and I have great trust in the process and I have great faith in (WWE head) Vince McMahon not only as a boss, but as so much more than that. As a friend, as a mentor," Cena told Sports Illustrated magazine.
The actor, whose next outing will be "Fast and Furious 9", said he is happy being part of the WWE in any capacity.
"If he were to tell me that he needs me, I would absolutely be active in whatever capacity, whether it would be like last year in New York rapping my way to the ring or the year before being a fan in the stands. ..

John Cena to appear on WrestleMania 36

Lucasfilm's Kathleen Kennedy has promised that the future of the "Star Wars" franchise is female.
Kennedy revealed that the studio is planning to bring in a woman director to helm a "Star Wars" feature film going ahead.
"We've already got (women directors). On 'The Mandalorian', we've got two or three fantastic women working with 'Star Wars'. And we just brought in Deborah Chow who is doing the 'Obi-Wan' series. We're cultivating a lot of great talent," Kennedy told BBC on the Bafta red carpet.
Three episodes of the season one of "The Mandalorian" series were directed by women. Deborah Chow helmed two and the third marked the directorial debut of actor Bryce Dallas Howard.
When quizzed further if a woman director would helm a "Star Wars" movie, she replied, "Oh absolutely. Without question."
Kennedy was honoured with the 2020 BAFTA Fellowship at the Sunday ceremony.

Woman-directed 'Star Wars' film absolutely happening: Kathleen Kennedy

Zoos where large, iconic animals like rhinos, tigers, and bears reside see more visitors, according to a study which suggests housing peculiar species can be an alternative for zoos to attract more people, and help conserve biodiversity.
The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, noted that it is usually difficult for zoos to accommodate large animals since they take up a lot of space and resources, meaning relatively few can be housed.
According to the researchers, including those from Trinity College Dublin in Ireland, alternative strategies to encourage visitor attendance include the housing of unusual animals.
"While having big charismatic animals is one way to gather an audience, having a more unusual collection of species is an alternative way to drive gate receipts and with them conservations fund," said Kevin Healy, co-author of the study from the National University of Ireland, Galway.
Citing an example, the researchers said a collection of many different ...

Zoos housing large, iconic animals see more visitors: Study

Quinton de Kock made an ideal start to his full-time captaincy of South Africa's one-day international team on Tuesday when he hit a century as his side beat England by seven wickets in the first ODI at Newlands.
De Kock made 107 and Temba Bavuma hit 98 as South Africa chased down an England total of 258 for eight with 14 balls to spare.
De Kock and Bavuma shared a second wicket partnership of 173 off 170 balls, dominating an England team which included only five of the side that won the World Cup last year.
De Kock made his 107 off 113 balls with 11 fours and a six, while Bavuma faced 103 deliveries, hitting five fours and two sixes.
"It was a good night. It feels good to get back to winning ways," said De Kock.
"We had one or two chats about how we want to take this ODI team forward.
Today was a good start -- but it's only one game." South Africa's team also had an experimental feel, featuring only six of the squad who had a dismal World Cup.
"We were way off the mark," admitted ...

De Kock guides South Africa to seven-wicket ODI win over England

Tokyo Olympics organisers on Wednesday said they are increasingly concerned about the disruption the fast-spreading virus in China is causing ahead of the games, which open in just under six months.
Chief Executive Officer Toshiro Muto sounded a grave note speaking at a meeting with officials of the International Paralympic Committee.
"I am seriously worried that the spread of the infectious disease could throw cold water on the momentum toward the games," Muto said, speaking in Japanese.
"I hope that it will be stamped out as soon as possible."
Saburo Kawabuchi, the mayor of the Athletes Village where 11,000 Olympians will stay, showed his apprehension.
"I truly hope that the infectious disease will die down somehow so that we will be able to operate the Paralympics and Olympics smoothly," he said.
"In the worst case  we will do our utmost for the athletes so that they will be able to concentrate on performing their best."
Tokyo organisers have repeatedly said there are no plans to ..

Tokyo Olympics CEO: "I'm seriously worried" over China virus

Headed into the election year, President Donald Trump told lawmakers that in three years of his presidency, the US has moved forward at a pace that was unimaginable just a short time ago.
Making a strong pitch for his re-election and confident of his acquittal from impeachment, Trump, in his joint address to the US Congress told Congressmen that the American dream is back - bigger, better, and stronger than ever before.
Three years ago, we launched the Great American Comeback. Tonight, I stand before you to share the incredible results, he said as he listed his achievements of the three years and giving his vision for the next term.
Trump said that the US administration is strongly defending the national security and "as we defend American lives, we are working to end America's wars in the Middle East."
Stressing that his administration has undertaken unprecedented effort to secure the southern border of the US with Mexico, Trump said that the country "should be a sanctuary for ...

US has moved forward at an unimaginable pace: Trump

Severe flooding forced thousands of residents in New Zealand's South Island to flee their homes on Wednesday and left hundreds of tourists stranded at the remote Milford Sound beauty spot.
The Southland region declared a state of emergency after being deluged with more than 1,000 mm of rainfall in 60 hours, triggering landslides on major roads and causing rivers to burst their banks.
Authorities told residents in the low-lying areas of Gore and Mataura to evacuate immediately early on Wednesday as floodwaters in the Mataura river peaked, warning those further downstream in Wyndham to prepare to leave.
"We have issued notices to evacuate and to prepare to evacuate to 6,000 people across the region," an Emergency Management Southland (EMS) spokeswoman told AFP.
Residents were advised to grab medication, clothing and identification documents, then head to higher ground.
Power to affected areas was cut off as a precaution and evacuation centres were set up in local churches and ...

Thousands flee severe flooding in New Zealand

The World Anti-Doping Agency sent a letter to U.S. Senators explaining how a bill designed to deter drug cheats in international sports would, instead, "have the unintended consequences of shattering the anti-doping system" if it is passed without changes.
The document, obtained by The Associated Press, was sent this week at the request of a Senate committee that is holding a hearing Wednesday in which it will hear testimony about the Rodchenkov Act.
The House passed the bill last year, and WADA has hired a lobbying firm to engage Congress for changes in the legislation triggered by a Russia cheating scheme that has shaken the global Olympic movement for the past five years.
WADA director general Olivier Niggli told AP that "WADA favors governments using their legislative powers to protect clean athletes in the fight against doping and this Act is no exception."
The six-page WADA letter does, in fact, say the agency "supports the overall objectives of the legislation."
The letter also 

WADA: US bill could 'shatter the anti-doping system'

Lionel Messi has hit back at Barcelona sporting director Eric Abidal after the Frenchman blamed slackness in the dressing room for the departure of recently-fired coach Ernesto Valverde.
In an interview with Spanish daily Sport Abidal said that under Valverde, who was sacked in mid-January, many players had been unhappy, hadn't worked hard enough nor communicated properly.
Now Argentine ace Messi has fired a salvo at across his own ranks just as the club are trying to get him to sign a contract extension.
"Sincerely I don't like doing this kind of thing but everyone has to be made responsible for their actions and what they say," Messi said on Instagram.
"We the players in the dressing room are the first to admit it when we haven't played well. The directors need to take their responsibilities too.
"I believe that if you talk about the players (in this way) you should name names instead of worrying everyone and encouraging rumours that are far from certain."
Earlier Tuesday Abidal had 

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