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Unimaginable scenes as Baltimore bridge collapses

The tranquil waters of Baltimore's Patapsco River turned tumultuous in the early hours of Tuesday following a catastrophic event that shook the city to its core. The aftermath of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse has left a community reeling, with one confirmed fatality and six individuals still missing as rescue efforts persist amid harrowing conditions. The calamity unfolded when a mammoth container ship lost power, careening into the Francis Scott Key Bridge on the US East Coast. The impact tore through the bridge's supports, sending vehicles and people plummeting into the frigid river below. In the chaos that ensued, heroes emerged as authorities swiftly responded, managing to halt traffic on the bridge, averting further catastrophe. However, the toll was already significant, with one individual confirmed dead and six others, believed to be part of a construction crew, still unaccounted for. As the day wore on, Baltimore City Fire Department Chief James Wallace provided updates on the situation, indicating that one survivor had been rescued and rushed to a local trauma centre in critical condition. Meanwhile, the US Coast Guard initiated a relentless search for the missing individuals, leveraging sonar technology to scour the depths of the river. The vessel responsible for the devastation, known as the Dali, was under the management of Synergy Marine Group, navigating under the Singapore flag. Although the crew and pilots were reported safe, the repercussions of the collision have reverberated far beyond the immediate vicinity. US President Joe Biden has pledged federal support for the reconstruction efforts: "This is going to take some time," he said. "The people of Baltimore can count on us, though, to stick with them at every step of the way until the port is reopened and the bridge is rebuilt." The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge not only claimed lives but also severed a vital link in the region's infrastructure. The Port of Baltimore, a bustling gateway for maritime commerce, now faces significant disruption, with vessel traffic suspended indefinitely. The reverberations of this tragedy extend beyond Baltimore, with logistical challenges expected to ripple along the entire East Coast. As the day progressed, stories of resilience and compassion emerged. Retired Chief Donald Heinbuch, startled from his sleep by the rumbling impact, bore witness to the unimaginable destruction. "Never would you think that you would see physically see the Key Bridge tumble down like that - it looked like something out of an action movie," he said. "And you just think about, most importantly, which is what we all should be thinking about right now, nothing but those families and people that are impacted and those people who are risking their lives right now, for not just Baltimore City and Baltimore County but all over the state, to try to save lives. That should be our focus - the preservation of life. Because no one wants to see that happen, let alone someone in their family someone that they know, be injured in an incident like this." Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott echoed the sentiments of a community in shock, emphasising the paramount importance of preserving life above all else. Images: Streamlive | 9News

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Harrison Ford is back as an 80-year-old Indiana Jones – and a 40-something Indy. The highs (and lows) of returning to iconic roles

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ben-mccann-398197">Ben McCann</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-adelaide-1119">University of Adelaide</a> Saddle up, don the fedora and crack that whip: Harrison Ford is back as the intrepid archaeologist in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. The film premiered at Cannes, where Ford was <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/harrison-ford-honorary-palme-dor-cannes-1235495463/">awarded</a> an Honorary Palme d’Or in recognition of his life’s work. Reviews for the fifth film in the franchise <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/indiana-jones-5-review-roundup-1235495961/">have been mixed</a>, and it is the first Indy film not to be directed by Steven Spielberg (this time, it’s James Mangold, best known for his motor-racing drama Ford v Ferrari). But this is “event” cinema that combines nostalgia, old-school special effects and John Williams’ <a href="https://theconversation.com/from-jaws-to-star-wars-to-harry-potter-john-williams-90-today-is-our-greatest-living-composer-176245">iconic score</a>. So, Ford is back, aged 80. What draws actors back after all this time? <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eQfMbSe7F2g?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <h2>Role returns</h2> Ford first played Indy in 1981 and last played him in 2008. That is a full 15 years since the most recent film in the series, and 42 years since his first outing in Raiders of the Lost Ark. Ford has form in returning to celebrated characters. One of the great pleasures of watching The Force Awakens back in 2015 was seeing Ford play Han Solo again for the <a href="https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3j2j09">first time in over 30 years</a>. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0xQSIdSRlAk?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> Actors return to roles for numerous reasons: <ul> <li>financial (Ford was reportedly paid <a href="https://okmagazine.com/exclusives/harrison-ford-paid-indiana-jones-5-plagued-with-problems/">US$25 million</a> for Dial of Destiny)</li> <li>protection of their brand, image and star persona (Michael Keaton <a href="https://www.fortressofsolitude.co.za/the-flash-movies-biggest-hero-how-michael-keaton-saved-the-film/">returning to play Batman</a> after three decades and three other actors who have embodied the role)</li> <li>professional (Tom Cruise admitted over the 36 years between Top Gun films he wanted to make sure the sequel <a href="https://screenrant.com/top-gun-maverick-tom-cruise-return-how-explained/">could live up to the original</a>)</li> <li>personal (once-huge stars are working less and less, and only feel the need to return to a built-in fan base every few years – Bill Murray in the 2021 Ghostbusters sequel springs to mind).</li> </ul> It’s not always a successful endeavour. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone – two of the biggest action stars of the 1980s off the back of iconic roles as The Terminator, Rocky Balboa and John Rambo – have repeatedly returned to those roles, and critics have been <a href="https://screenrant.com/terminator-dark-fate-undermined-john-connor-storyline-franchise-bad/">particularly harsh</a>. It did not work for Sigourney Weaver in <a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/alien-resurrection-1997">Alien: Resurrection</a> in 1997, 18 years after her first time as Ripley; nor for Keanu Reeves in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/dec/21/the-matrix-resurrections-review-keanu-reeves">The Matrix Resurrections</a> in 2021, 23 years after the original. And still, I’m intrigued to see what Michael Mann could do with his long-rumoured sequel to Heat, his definitive 1995 crime film. Ever since Mann published his novel Heat 2 last year – a kind of origin story for Heat’s key protagonists – fans have been hoping a de-aged Al Pacino (now aged 83) <a href="https://deadline.com/2023/04/michael-mann-heat-2-warner-bros-adam-driver-young-neil-mccauley-1235316777/">might return</a> as LA cop Vincent Hanna. <h2>Undoing time</h2> “Digital de-ageing” first entered the Hollywood mainstream in 2019 with The Irishman and Captain Marvel. <a href="https://www.indiewire.com/features/craft/de-aging-actors-history-benjamin-button-dial-of-destiny-harrison-ford-1234863938/">Via this process</a>, older actors (Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Samuel L. Jackson have all been subject to the technology) move back and forwards in time without younger actors having to play them. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OF-lElIlZM0?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> Films still tend to cast two actors to play older and younger versions of the same character, a choice that dates back at least to 1974’s The Godfather Part II, in which a young Robert de Niro plays Vito Corleone, portrayed by the much older Marlon Brando in the first film. In 1989, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade features a delightful opening scene where River Phoenix plays the young version of Indiana Jones, before Ford takes over for the rest of the film. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AwH6-Yh7_SM?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> Actors used to just play characters of their own age when reprising earlier roles. Paul Newman finally won a Best Actor Oscar for his role as “Fast Eddie” Felson in The Color of Money (1986), a quarter of a century after first playing him in The Hustler. The sequel plays on Newman’s age, and his role as a mentor to an upcoming Tom Cruise, and bathes viewers in nostalgia and memories of <a href="https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/paul-newman-schooled-tom-cruise-the-color-of-money/">a younger Newman</a>. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k7gmrKAFshE?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> But actors no longer have to exclusively play their age. The first part of Dial of Destiny is an extended flashback, set in 1944, in which Ford has been digitally de-aged to appear in his 40s. This process used an AI system that scanned used and unused reels of footage of Ford from <a href="https://www.cbr.com/harrison-ford-de-aging-indiana-jones-dial-of-destiny/">the first three Indy films</a> to match his present-day performance. Here, it is as if we are getting two Fords for the price of one: the “younger”, fitter Indy and the older, more world-weary version. It makes for a powerfully emotional connection on screen. Yet there are some <a href="https://variety.com/2023/film/awards/indiana-jones-5-harrison-ford-de-aging-not-working-1235618698/">pitfalls to de-ageing</a>. Some viewers complain that the whole process is distracting and that the hyper-real visual look of de-aged scenes resembles a video game. Even so, de-ageing in Hollywood cinema is here to stay. Tom Hanks’s <a href="https://variety.com/2023/film/news/tom-hanks-robin-wright-digitally-deaged-robert-zemeckis-movie-1235507766/">next film</a> is using AI-based generative technology to digitally de-age him. Given its reduced cost, speed and reduced human input, AI-driven innovation might have <a href="https://filmstories.co.uk/news/new-ai-driven-de-ageing-tools-to-be-used-in-tom-hanks-project/">industry-changing ramifications</a>. <h2>The star of Ford</h2> Harrison Ford remains a bona fide “movie star” in an industry profoundly buffeted by COVID, the rise of streaming platforms, the demise of the monoculture, and the changing nature of who constitutes a star. In the midst of all this industry uncertainty, it seems there is no longer a statute of limitations on actors returning to much-loved characters. The next big ethical issue for the film industry as it further embraces AI is whether to <a href="https://collider.com/james-dean-digital-cgi-performance-in-new-movie/">resurrect deceased actors</a> and cast them in new movies. Still, I’m looking forward to seeing more actors de-aged as the technology improves and audiences acclimatise to watching older actors “playing” younger versions of themselves. We are only at the start of Hollywood’s next big adventure.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/202357/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ben-mccann-398197">Ben McCann</a>, Associate Professor of French Studies, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-adelaide-1119">University of Adelaide</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/harrison-ford-is-back-as-an-80-year-old-indiana-jones-and-a-40-something-indy-the-highs-and-lows-of-returning-to-iconic-roles-202357">original article</a>.

Movies

“It means the world to me”: Harrison Ford’s emotional take on final Indiana Jones film

Harrison Ford, the actor best known as the face and heart of some of Hollywood’s most iconic characters, has opened up about his final appearance as Indiana Jones. In an interview with BBC Radio 1 with his Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny co-star Phoebe Waller-Bridge about their upcoming film, the 80-year-old actor confessed that his time spent as Jones, and the love of his fans all around the world, means everything to him. Ford has been portraying Jones since 1981, when the series' first film, Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, was released. And while they all might hold a special place in his heart, it’s his fifth and final film - set to release June 2023 - as Jones that has resonated with him. As he told host Ali Plumb, “I think the thing that I most admire about them is the depth and subtlety of the emotion, and the importance of emotion in these films. “As this last one concerns age and frailty and [the] changing nature of life, it was especially compelling to me, because I am of that age and I wanted it to feel real for the audience. “I wanted them to see the complexity of that experience with someone they've spent 40 years with.” Plumb then took the opportunity to tell an emotional Ford that “it’s been such an adventure”, and thanked him on behalf of fans all over for everything he’d put into the character and his various adventures. “We love you so much,” he added. “I don’t want to make you blush or anything, but you mean the world to us and thank you.” Ford appeared moved by the sentiment, but gathered himself to offer his own sincere thanks to his supporters, before sharing that “it means the world to me.” It isn’t the first time that Ford has addressed his final venture in Jones’ hat - though it’s the first not to be directed by Steven Spielberg - or what it means to him, with the star previously having shared with Told Film that he had been “able to deliver amazing films developed by Steven and George [Lucas] over a 40-year period. “And to end it not with a whimper, but a bang, has been my greatest ambition for this excursion.” Images: BBC Radio 1 / Youtube

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“That is my face”: Harrison Ford takes pro-de-ageing stance

Harrison Ford has come to the defence of the de-ageing technology used in the upcoming fifth instalment in the Indiana Jones series: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. The film drew criticism from reviewers over its application of the technology, with many wondering why the studio hadn’t opted to instead support younger actors and cast them in the role, while others simply questioned the “believability” of the tech. But Ford, who has been the face of Indiana Jones since the professor’s first film in 1981, is having none of that. During a press conference at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, the actor moved to silence critics, telling them “I know that that is my face. “It’s not a kind of Photoshop magic - that’s what I looked like 35 years ago. Because Lucasfilm has every frame of film that we’ve made together over all of these years. “This process, this scientific mining of this library, this was put to good [use] … It’s just a trick unless it’s supported by a story, and it sticks out like a sore thumb if it’s not honest, it’s not real… I mean, emotionally real. “And so I think it was used very skillfully.” And for those concerned that the 80-year-old’s take might carry across into his stance on the process of ageing itself, he was quick to note that when it comes to growing older, he is “very happy with it, but I don't look back and say, 'I wish I was that guy again,' because I don't. "I'm real happy with age. I love being older. It was great to be young, but s***fire I could be dead, and I'm still working." Despite this, Ford has confirmed that this film will be the last time fans can expect to see him in the iconic role, and he’ll be hanging up Jones’ hat for good. And when asked why, Ford’s answer was simple, with the actor confessing “I need to sit down and rest a little bit. I love to work, and I love this character, and I love what it brought into my life, and that's all I can say.” Fans of the star and the franchise have come out in support of his decision, most recently during a standing ovation at the same festival he’d spoken at - applause that had moved Ford to tears. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Harrison Ford with tears in his eyes during the standing ovation for ‘INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY’. <a href="https://t.co/mJtRv4wLKk">pic.twitter.com/mJtRv4wLKk</a> — DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) <a href="https://twitter.com/DiscussingFilm/status/1659294979485757486?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2023</a></blockquote> However, as one user pointed out, that didn’t necessarily mean smooth sailing for fans, with the fifth film likely to get them talking - de-ageing technology aside. “Oh my god. no bc if HE is crying it means the movie is really gonna be something special,” one wrote. “i'm gonna be sick”. “Thanks for the last adventure,” another said. “Surreal that this moment in cinema is here. The last time we will ever get an Indiana Jones film with Harrison Ford.” And as someone else put it, “seeing him get emotional for getting praise for a role that he loves so dearly has me emotional too.” “And there is proof Harrison Ford loves what he does,” one other declared. “A proper movie star who just wants to act. That's genuine pride.” Images: Lucas Film Ltd

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Pope Francis hospitalised

Pope Francis, 86, was hospitalised in Rome's Gemelli hospital on Wednesday with a respiratory infection that requires him to remain under observation for a few days. "In recent days Pope Francis has complained of some breathing difficulties," Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement. The pope was taken to hospital for medical checkup, which then revealed the respiratory infection. Bruni added that tests have shown it was not Covid, but the infection “will require a few days of appropriate hospital medical treatment". “Pope Francis is touched by the many messages received and expresses his gratitude for the closeness and prayer,” Bruni added. The statement comes after the Italian media questioned whether the pope was unexpectedly hospitalised, or if he actually went for a scheduled checkup, as a TV interview scheduled with the pope Wednesday afternoon had been cancelled at the last minute. Earlier that day, the pope appeared to be in good spirits as he greeted the general audience at the Vatican in his popemobile. A Vatican source has also confirmed that the pope’s activities on Thursday were cancelled, and others were likely to follow, in what is his busiest period with Easter Sunday coming up on April 9. Pope Francis has had part of his lungs removed in his early 20s after almost dying when he developed pleurisy, so he is generally more exposed to respiratory problems. He also suffers from diverticulitis, which is a condition that can infect or inflame pouches in the digestive tract, and has had surgery for it in 2021. In January, he said that the condition had returned and did not elaborate further. The pope also has a problem with his knee, which has led him to cancel or limit activities last year and alternates between using a cane and a wheelchair in public. Despite all of his health issues, the pope has said that he has no plans to resign soon, unless his health deterred him from doing his job. Image: Getty

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Harrison Ford’s childhood Tudor home hits the market

The childhood home of Indiana Jones star Harrison Ford has hit the market for the third time in four years for just $USD 749,000 ($NZD 1.21 million). The 1922-era Tudor house in Park Ridge, Illinois, was home to the Ford family in the 1950s, per <a href="https://www.realtor.com/news/celebrity-real-estate/harrison-ford-remodeled-childhood-home-on-the-market/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Realtor.com</a>, though it has been significantly renovated since. After nearly 50 years off the market, the home was listed for sale in 2018 with its original windows, plumbing, and electrical, with interior spaces that needed a serious refresh. Selling in February 2019 for $USD 350,000 ($NZD 566,000), its new owners undertook some major changes, replacing the dated wallpaper with a neutral grey and white colour scheme and transforming the avocado-green kitchen into a space filled with stainless steel appliances, a butcher block island, a tiled backsplash, and a breakfast nook. A formal dining area that connects to the large family room with views of the backyard now features pendant lighting, while in the living room, the built-ins and fireplace remain, with the wall-to-wall carpet being ripped out to show the original, refinished hardwood floors. Other updates include new windows, recessed lighting, baseboard heaters, and a completed basement, which features a bar and rec area, a home office, and a laundry. After the renovations were complete, the 198-square-metre home was sold for $USD 600,000 ($NZD 970,000) in July 2020. With the current owners looking to upsize, it’s back on the market with a 25 percent price bump, according to listing agent Peter Bellert of @properties Park Ridge. Bellert says the home is basically move-in ready, with just the driveway needing to be repaved. He also notes that the home’s style is unusual for the area. “English Tudors are not common. There are not too many in Park Ridge,” Bellert says. Other features of the two-storey home include a powder room on the first level and four bedrooms on the second, with an original balcony connected to the bedroom that reportedly belonged to a young Ford. Images: Getty Images / Realtor.com

Real Estate

Kennedy and Ford's former estate hits the market

A gorgeous mid-18th century mansion previously owned by Henry Ford II has hit the market for £18.75 million ($33 million). Henry Ford II, the grandson of the founder of the Ford Motor Company, is one of the few famous people who have lived in the stunning two-storey estate known as Turville Grange. He purchased the home from former US President John F Kennedy’s sister-in-law, Princess Lee Radziwill in 1974. Among those who have lived in the beautiful home are President Kennedy and his wife Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis - Radziwill’s sister, Sir Evelyn de Rothschild and Michael Caine The five-bedroom home located just an hour away from London has been constantly renovated over the years to help create an “ideal family home”. Boasting a lavish lifestyle, the estate has four reception rooms, a beautiful marble kitchen, luxurious bedrooms, and offices to work in. To get to the backyard is one walks under a covered walkway to the courtyard where there is a one bedroom apartment perfect for staff or guests with its own kitchen and bathroom. Outside also includes a swimming pool for a cheeky dip during the warmer weather, a spa, as well as a gym. Images: Knight Frank

Real Estate

“I am one of the group”: Francis Coppola reflects as ‘The Godfather’ turns 50

American writer and director Francis Ford Coppola has made dozens of films and gone on to win five Academy Awards and six Golden Globes, but The Godfather may just be his crowning achievement. With the first film in the trilogy celebrating its 50th anniversary, the acclaimed director shared the dramatic effects its success had on his life in an exclusive interview with <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/francis-ford-coppola-godfather-at-50-changed-my-life-exclusive/" target="_blank">Empire</a> magazine. “Well, it’s odd, of course. To think that 50 years has gone by since the adventure of The Godfather, and when that changed my life so dramatically,” he told the publication. “Because now the Coppola family is considered synonymous with [the film by] many people, [but] when I came to LA, to UCLA Film School, I just dreamed to get a peek inside a studio. “Movies were an exotic fairyland.” While making the film and in the leadup to its initial release, Coppola was under financial pressure to support his wife and kids. But, its debut in 1972 - prompting lengthy queues just to buy tickets - saw Coppola’s fortunes change drastically. “I went from having zero money at all and a family to support, to having several million dollars, which was astonishing,” he recalled. “No one in my family had that kind of money. I went from being unknown and poor with a lot of family responsibilities - I was married young and I loved my kids and my family - to having some money and acclaim. I was famous, everyone knew about The Godfather and everyone knew about me.” Though The Godfather certainly provided Coppola with fame and wealth, the 82-year-old says it gave him something else he had always wanted: a sense of belonging. “The way I look at it, I always wanted to be one of the group,” he said. “As first, I was an outsider, and I wasn’t included in the group because I was a new kid, or I was poor. Then I became famous, and a success, so I still wasn’t one of the group. “In my heart, all I ever really wanted was to be considered one of the group, which I am now because when they talk about all the big directors of the ‘70s, they say George Lucas and Francis Coppola and Marty Scorsese and Steven Spielberg and Brian De Palma and Paul Schrader. “So I have what I want - I am one of the group.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Trailer for the 50th anniversary of Francis Ford Coppola's masterpiece ‘The Godfather’, which will be released in select theatres on February 25 <a href="https://t.co/7vgsBADsF1">pic.twitter.com/7vgsBADsF1</a> — Lost In Film (@LostInFilm) <a href="https://twitter.com/LostInFilm/status/1481648113307701259?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2022</a></blockquote> To celebrate the film’s milestone, Paramount Pictures and Coppola’s production company American Zoetrope have restored the trilogy - which will be released in 4K Ultra HD for the first time in March this year. “We felt privileged to restore these films and a little in awe every day we worked on them,” <a rel="noopener" href="https://thelatch.com.au/the-godfather-50th-anniversary-australia/" target="_blank">said</a> Andrea Kalas, the senior vice president of Paramount Archives. “We were able to witness first-hand how the brilliant cinematography, score, production design, costume design, editing, performances, and, of course, screenwriting and direction became famously more than the sum of their parts. “It was our commitment to honour all of the filmmakers’ exceptional work.” The Godfather 50th Anniversary will be released in select cinemas from February 25, 2022. Image: Vivien Killilea (Getty Images) / Silver Screen Collection (Getty Images)

Movies

Pope unveils strongest language yet on vaccination

Pope Francis has shared his strongest views on the Covid vaccine, describing it as a "moral obligation", simultaneously denouncing those who have been persuaded by "baseless information" to refuse a life-saving measure. Francis shared his views for the first time in a speech to ambassadors accredited to the Holy See: an annual event that discusses the Vatican's foreign policy goals for the upcoming year. Pope Francis, 85, has previously held back from sharing views on the vaccine, though his Covid-19 advisory body has referred to it as a "moral responsibility". Now however, he has deemed vaccination as "an act of love" and that refusing to get jabbed was simply "suicidal". During his speech, he said that individuals had a duty of care to consider which "translates into respect for the health of those around us". “Health care is a moral obligation,” he said. “Frequently people let themselves be influenced by the ideology of the moment, often bolstered by baseless information or poorly documented facts,” he said, calling for the adoption of a “reality therapy” to correct this distortion of human reason. “Vaccines are not a magical means of healing, yet surely they represent, in addition to other treatments that need to be developed, the most reasonable solution for the prevention of the disease,” he added. Some Catholics, including conservative US cardinals and bishops, have claimed that vaccines were immoral and have refused to get the jab, based on research that claims vaccines used cells derived from aborted foetuses. However, the Vatican's doctrine office has said that is "morally acceptable" for those in the Catholic faith to get the jab. Francis repeated his call for universal vaccines and health care availabilities for all, especially in parts of the world with low vaccination rates, while also calling for governing bodies to let these countries develop their own vaccines. “It is appropriate that institutions such as the World Trade Organisation and the World Intellectual Property Organisation adapt their legal instruments lest monopolistic rules constitute further obstacles to production and to an organised and consistent access to health care on a global level,” he said. Image credits: Getty Images

Caring

Pope labels couples choosing pets over children as selfish

Pope Francis has called couples who have pets instead of children selfish while speaking to a general audience on Wednesday. The Pope also argued that forgoing parenthood "takes away our humanity" and poses risks to wider society. He made the comments while speaking about Saint Joseph, Jesus' earthly father. While lauding Joseph's decision to raise Jesus as "among the highest forms of love", the Pope veered onto the topics of adoption, orphaned children, and couples that opt for animals over children. "We see that people do not want to have children, or just one and no more", he <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/opting-for-pets-over-children-is-selfish-and-takes-away-our-humanity-says-pope-francis/fc15279d-cfdb-4b58-85d0-5bdcef68bdfe" target="_blank">said</a>. “And many, many couples do not have children because they do not want to, or they have just one - but they have two dogs, two cats … yes, dogs and cats take the place of children. “Yes, it’s funny. I understand, but it is the reality. And this denial of fatherhood or motherhood diminishes us, it takes away our humanity. And in this way civilisation becomes aged and without humanity, because it loses the richness of fatherhood and motherhood. And our homeland suffers, as it does not have children.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Dear Pope Francis I’m a catholic who chose dogs over children but I don’t consider myself selfish. Probably doing this over populated world a favour <a href="https://t.co/9AMFs2JS9p">pic.twitter.com/9AMFs2JS9p</a> — dominic dyer (@domdyer70) <a href="https://twitter.com/domdyer70/status/1479116896867794948?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2022</a></blockquote> Though it may be surprising as the Pope is considered quite progressive, these comments echo the Catholic Church’s teachings about the importance of couples bearing or raising children. Pope Frances said couples who cannot biologically have children should consider adoption. “How many children in the world are waiting for someone to take care of them?” he said. “Having a child is always a risk, either naturally or by adoption. But it is riskier not to have them. It is riskier to deny fatherhood, or to deny motherhood, be it real or spiritual.” His statements have since drawn criticism on social media, with some calling out his comments about childless couples while the church continues to face allegations of sexual abuse against children. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Worry about all those sexual abuse allegations against the church instead of childless people <a href="https://t.co/5ggoAJTpGr">pic.twitter.com/5ggoAJTpGr</a> — Enter The Void (@killl_the_rich) <a href="https://twitter.com/killl_the_rich/status/1478832192591695874?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2022</a></blockquote> The Christian leader has made several controversial statements relating to animals in the past. He made similar comments about couples choosing pets over parenthood in 2014, while comments he made in 2016 that appeared to claim that animals go to heaven were analysed and later called into question. But, he has had plenty of positive interactions too, having been photographed petting dogs, holding birds, and carrying a lamb over his shoulders. Image: Getty Images

Family & Pets

Indiana Jones 5 crew member reportedly found dead

A crew member on the fifth Indiana Jones film has died during an already trouble-plagued production. Industry veteran and second unit grip Nic Cupac was found dead in his hotel room in the city of Fes, Morocco, while working on the as-yet-untitled fifth film in the Indiana Jones franchise. Walt Disney Studios confirmed his passing to the <a rel="noopener" href="https://nypost.com/2021/11/04/indiana-jones-5-crew-member-dies-on-location-in-morocco/" target="_blank">New York Post </a>on Thursday, with a representative telling the Post, “Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Nic Cupac, an incredibly talented colleague and member of the film community who will be greatly missed. “His sudden passing was not production related. Nic was a grip on 2nd unit.” The 54-year-old’s cause of death has not been released to the public, but The Sun reported that he is thought to have died of natural causes. Cupac had also worked on films in the Jurassic Park, Harry Potter and Star Wars franchises, and had only recently arrived in Morocco to work on the fifth Indiana Jones film starring Harrison Ford and Phoebe Waller-Bridge. The production has faced numerous problems since it began. In June, residents of Hackney in London revealed that production was making life “a living hell” for them; one resident had been paid $75,000 for the opportunity to film in their home, but the entire street was blocked off for days as a result. Just last week, Morocco banned flights to and from the UK because of rising COVID-19 cases in the UK. Plus, production had to be halted for three months during the summer after Ford suffered a severe shoulder injury in June, returning to set in Italy just two weeks ago. The fifth film in the Indiana Jones franchise will serve as a sequel to 2008’s Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. It is the first film in the franchise that will not be directed by Steven Spielberg, with Spielberg stepping back in 2020 to serve as producer while handing over directing responsibilities to James Mangold. Mangold has previously directed films such as Ford v Ferrari, Logan, and Walk the Line. <a rel="noopener" href="https://ew.com/movies/indiana-jones-5-delayed-2023-marvel-movie-premieres/" target="_blank">Initially scheduled to premiere </a>in 2022, the film now has a June 2023 release date. Image: Robino Salvatore/GC Images

Movies

Meet the British woman tipped to replace Indiana Jones

Images: Getty Rumour has it British actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge may replace Harrison Ford as lead in the fifth Indiana Jones movie. The Fleabag star is tipped to step into Ford’s shoes and take the lead in the next upcoming instalment of the popular franchise, which is set to hit cinemas next year. According to the Daily Mail, Hollywood producer Kathleen Kennedy – the bigwig behind the franchise is looking to make “Big, Bold” changes and that could mean replacing the lead character with a woman. “It would be a huge statement, and a great role for Phoebe”, the source said of Waller-Bridge, winner of multiple awards for her starring role in British comedy Fleabag. Should the 36-year-old actress take the lead, it would make her the first ever female lead since the first movie, Raiders Of The Lost Ark, which premiered in 1981. Although it remains unclear who Phoebe will portray in the upcoming movie. “The gossip on set is that this character will slot into the leading role” said the source. During an interview in 2019 on the US Today Show, Ford – who played the iconic role in all four previous films – said there’s really no replacing his character, per se. “Nobody else is gonna be Indiana Jones! Don’t you get it? I’m Indiana Jones. When I’m gone, he’s gone. It’s easy” the 79-year-old said, before joking, “This is a hell of a way to tell Chris Pine this”. This was said at the time surrounding rumours Pine was set to be the new Indiana Jones.

Movies

Would you climb a 47-metre tower for a free car lease? In Norway, you can

At 47 metres high, the tallest free-standing climbing tower in the world has opened in Norway, and car company Ford’s new campaign has brought it additional attention. After opening in June this year, professional climbers were invited to try and reach the top of the tower, with the fastest climber taking home a free two-year lease on a Ford Explorer PHEV. The company even crane-lifted their newest model onto the top of the tower, sitting on top of a special platform that supports the weight of the plug-in hybrid car. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CR8cy0XgSIy/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CR8cy0XgSIy/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Ford Norge (@fordnorge)</a> </div> </blockquote> Ford’s Explore New Heights challenge saw 14 climbers compete after successfully completing a qualifying test. Sharing the footage to their Instagram page, Ford eventually found a winner. In the clip, many of the climbers can be seen losing their grip and combating the jumps and obstacles designed by champion climber Martin Mobråten. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CSG0pIUAPUZ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CSG0pIUAPUZ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Ford Norge (@fordnorge)</a> </div> </blockquote> Eventually, Leo Ketil Bøe, 21, managed to score the free lease with a time of three minutes and 33 seconds. Any who made it to the top alongside Leo were rewarded with breathtaking views across the Skagerrak, a strait running between Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Image: Visit Norway

International Travel

Diana’s car up for sale after decades in hiding

The Princess of Wales’ old car, given as an engagement gift from Prince Charles, will soon be sold after being kept in hiding for 20 years. The anonymous owner says she bought the vehicle because she is a “big fan” of Diana, and kept the 1981 Ford Escort Ghia Saloon as a second car, only driving it around her local town for years. The woman also says she refused to tell locals and neighbours who the vehicle originally belonged to. A car given to Princess Diana as an engagement present from Prince Charles will soon be sold at auction after its origins were kept secret for 20 years. Prince Charles gifted the car to his future bride in May 1981, and Diana drove it around until August 1982. It is expected to fetch between $54,000 - $73,000 when it goes under the hammer at the Reeman Dansie's Royalty, Antiques and Fine Art Sale in Essex on June 29. The car still holds its original registration WEV 297W, 83,000 miles (133,575 kilometres) on the clock and has meticulously retained its original paintwork and upholstery. A silver frog mascot given as a gift to the Princess of Wales by her sister, Lady Sarah Spencer still sits on the hood of the car, but is sadly just a replica. It was reportedly meant to represent the fairy tale of the girl who kisses a frog that later turns into a prince. Diana chose to keep the original frog when she sold the car. The woman who currently owns the car bought it for $10,000 in 1995 by an antiques dealer as a birthday present for his daughter, before it was passed on to the Diana-crazed fan. "Of course I knew when I bought it that it once belonged to Princess Diana, that is why I wanted it," the woman said to The Sun. "I was a big fan of hers. "I have driven it around as a second car ever since. A lot of people ask me why I had it and I used to tell them that it was my first car I passed my test in and that I was attached to it. "I felt that its history and provenance were so unique and I didn't want many people knowing."

Money & Banking

Pope Francis shows support for same-sex marriage for the first time

Pope Francis has defended the right of gay couples to enter into a legally recognised civil union in a documentary that premiered at the Rome Film Festival on Wednesday. In the film, Fransesco by Evgeny Afineevsky, the religious leader says that gay people have the right to be in a family. “These are children of God, they have the right to a family,” Francis says in the film, speaking in Spanish. “What we have to create is a law of civil union, they have the right to be legally protected. I have defended that.” According to biographer Austen Ivereigh, the future pope backed civil unions for gay couples while he was still the archbishop of Buenos Aires and known as Jorge Bergoglio. But Francis has been vocal about his stance of gay marriage in the past, saying that marriage should only be between a man and a woman. “‘Marriage’ is a historic word,” he told French sociologist Dominique Wolton in a 2017 book of interviews. “Always among human beings, and not only in the Church, it has been between a man and a woman. You can’t just change that like that.” “Since the beginning of the pontificate the Pope has spoken of respect for homosexuals and has been against their discrimination,” Vatican expert Vania de Luca told RaiNews. “The novelty today is that he defends as pope a law for civil unions.” After becoming pope in 2013, Francis welcomed homosexuals with his now famous phrase, “Who am I to judge?” and has invited gay couples to the Vatican on multiple occasions. The two-hour documentary looks back at the last seven years pf his pontificate and travels. One of the most heartfelt moments in the film os when the Pope called a gay couple, parents of three young children, after they sent him a letter saying they felt ashamed to bring their children to the parish. Francis invited them over regardless, saying to not be concerned of other people’s judgements. In the past, he has regularly said gay people should be accepted in their parishes and urged parents not to reject their gay children. Chilean Juan Carlos Cruz, an activist against sexual abuse within the Church, accompanied the director to the film screening on Wednesday. “When I met Pope Francis he told me he was very sorry about what happened. Juan, it is God who made you gay and he loves you anyway. God loves you and the Pope loves you too,” says Cruz in the film.

Relationships

Pope Francis falls ill a day after supporting coronavirus victims

Pope Francis has cancelled a planned service in Rome due to a “slight ailment”, just a day after he expressed support for coronavirus sufferers around the world. “Due to a slight ailment, [the pope] preferred to stay in the vicinity of Santa Marta,” his residence within the Vatican, spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement on Thursday. The 83-year-old pontiff was supposed to lead a Lenten service in the Basilica of St John’s in Lateran. The announcement came amid fears of coronavirus outbreak in Italy. As of Thursday, 528 cases have been confirmed and 11 towns have been placed under lockdown. The day before, Francis expressed solidarity for the victims of the public health crisis during his general audience in St Peter’s Square on Ash Wednesday. “I wish, again, to express my closeness to those who are ill with coronavirus and to health care workers who are caring for them,” he said. He was seen coughing and blowing his nose during the Ash Wednesday mass.

Body

Pope Francis apologises for slapping woman’s hand

Pope Francis has apologised for slapping the hand of a woman who grabbed him during a New Year’s Eve appearance, saying he provided a “bad example”. The head of the Catholic church was greeting pilgrims at the Vatican on Tuesday night when a woman in the crowd seized his hand and yanked him toward her. In a video footage of the incident, Francis could be seen hitting her hand before pulling his hand free. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> Visibly disgruntled Pope Francis pulled himself away from a woman in a St. Peter's Square crowd after she grabbed his hand and yanked him towards her <a href="https://t.co/2nap3RhTHC">https://t.co/2nap3RhTHC</a> <a href="https://t.co/nrvpxJcEob">pic.twitter.com/nrvpxJcEob</a> — Reuters (@Reuters) <a href="https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1212171579276152834?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2020</a></blockquote> “So many times we lose patience, even me, and I apologise for yesterday’s bad example,” the 83-year-old pontiff said at the end of the traditional New Year Mass in St Peter’s Square on Wednesday. In the service at St Peter’s Basilica, the pope also condemned violence against women, saying the “rebirth of humanity began with a woman”. “All violence inflicted on women is a desecration of God,” he said. “By how we treat a woman’s body, we can understand our level of humanity.” In March, Pope Francis also went viral after a clip showed him repeatedly withdrawing his hand away from being kissed by worshippers. The tradition of kissing the papal ring is seen as a sign of respect to the pontiff. “The Holy Father told me that the motivation was very simple: hygiene,” Vatican spokesman Alessandro Gisotti told reporters at the time. “He wants to avoid the risk of contagion for the people, not for him.”

International Travel

Where did he go? Pope Francis rescued after 25-minute scare

While thousands of eager churchgoers gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the usual traditional Sunday service, the main attraction was nowhere to be found. Usually, the service starts specifically at the dot-of-noon, and involved the Catholic leader sharing a few words and giving his blessing, but after seven minutes of waiting the same question began to buzz around the square: where is the pope? After 25 minutes, he appeared and said: "First of all I must excuse myself for being late. I was blocked in an elevator for 25 minutes." Francis explained the electric power had a “drop in tension,” which caused the elevator to become stuck. "Thank God the firefighters intervened," he said in reference to the on hand Vatican City State’s own fire department. The influential Catholic church leader concluded his announcement by asking the audience to give his “rescuers” a round of applause for he shared the news of 13 new churchmen of becoming new cardinals. The Vatican has not confirmed if the pope was alone or accompanied by any of his aides in the elevator.

Travel Trouble

A rare glimpse inside the real Titanic

When the Titanic sunk in 1912, not only did hundreds of passengers die but it also destroyed any evidence on life onboard the historic ship. However, one passenger, Francis Browne, was the only person whose photographs survived the tragic shipwreck. Browne was an Irish Jesuit priest who sailed on the Titanic from Southampton, England, to Cobh, Ireland. Browne would have stayed onboard the Titanic for the remainder of the journey, after receiving a ticket from wealthy family he met, but was called back to his station immediately from his clerical superior. Brown obeyed the orders and left the ship, bringing with him the only photos of the Titanic at sea that survived the disaster. The photos of his time aboard the Titanic are now in the Irish Picture Library. Scroll through the gallery above to see the historic photographs. Image credit: The Bridgeman Art Library

Cruising

Rowan Atkinson’s shock baby news

Rowan Atkinson is set to become a dad for the third time at the age of 62. According to The Mirror, the Mr Bean actor and his 33-year-old partner, actress Louise Ford, are expecting their first child together. “Rowan and Louise are over the moon and can’t wait for their new arrival,” a close friend said, after Ford was photographed with a sizeable baby bump. “It’s a very happy time for them both.” <img width="498" height="500" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/45638/pay-sundaymirrorpeople-prod-rowan-atkinsons-girlfriend-louise-ford_498x500.jpg" alt="PAY-SUNDAYMIRRORPEOPLE-PROD-Rowan -Atkinsons -girlfriend -Louise -Ford" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> Atkinson already has two adult children, 23-year-old Ben and 21-year-old Lily, with ex-wife Sunetra Sastry. They separated in early 2014 before divorcing in November 2015 after 24 years of marriage. The Blackadder star met Ford in 2012 while performing together in the West End and the pair began dating in 2014, shortly after Atkinson separated from Sastry. They moved in together just four weeks after Atkinson’s divorce. “Sunetra was deeply upset to be replaced by such a younger woman,” a friend of the couple told The Sun at the time.

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