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November 2015
- Turkey says it has shot down a Russian warplane that violated its airspace. Russian jets, in the area to bomb neighboring Syria, have violated Turkish airspacepreviously. Tensions between Russia and Turkey have been rising in recent weeks.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged the shoot-down but says the plane was in Syria, 4 kilometers from Turkey's border. He described Turkey as "backstabbing" Russia and accused it of financing ISIS.
- Several videos have emerged that appear to show the body of the Russian pilot recovered from the plane.
- Turkey is a member of NATO, making it a military ally of the US and most of Europe. NATO has called an emergency meeting over the incident. The risk of a major escalation between Russia and NATO is very low, but this may nonetheless have serious repercussions.
Why Russia might send a warplane into Turkey's airspace
- A Russian Su-24 jet — the type of plane reportedly shot down over the Syria-Turkey border — on exercises in China.
It is certainly possible that if this Russian plane did cross into Turkish airspace, it was an accident; Russia has been bombing some targets along the Syria-Turkey border, after all. But Russian jets have committed enough such violations that it's also very possible this was deliberate.Russian jets first crossed into Turkey's airspace in early October, just a few days after Russia began bombing targets in Syria. Both the US and NATO publicly warned Russia that this was extremely dangerous: Turkey is a member of NATO, meaning that the US and European powers are at least theoretically obligated to defend it from attack.- RUSSIA AND TURKEY ARE ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SYRIA'S INCREASINGLY HEATED PROXY WAR. SOMETHING LIKE THIS MAY HAVE BEEN INEVITABLE.
- But there was every reason to expect that Russia's airspace violations would continue, in part because Russia had been doing the same for months against another set of NATO allies: the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in northeastern Europe. Those Russian flights began shortly after Russia covertly invaded eastern Ukraine, which prompted Western sanctions against Russia.When you ask Russia experts why Moscow would send its warplanes buzzing NATO airspace in Europe, they'll often point out that Russia's military is much weaker than America's and NATO's — and Moscow knows it. And indeed this military imbalance is something you hear Russian defense officials bring up constantly; this fact of their relative weakness is world-shaping for them.So one way Russia has dealt with its relative weakness is by being more provocative, by demonstrating its willingness to raise the stakes and toe ever closer up to the line of outright conflict. The intended message of such flights isn't that Russia will deliberately start a war with the West — it won't — but rather that it is more willing to take on risk, so if the West doesn't want the headache it should just back down.In terms of Syria, then, those flights may be about Russia finding a way to assert its military presence, and preempt any Western effort to chase it off, by taking pushy and provocative steps like buzzing Turkish airspace.That this was risky and dangerous may have been precisely the point: With its flights across NATO airspace in the Baltics, Russia was likely seeking to raise the stakes and hope that Western countries, wanting to avoid an incident like today's shoot-down, would take on the burden of deescalating. But that is not how things worked out with Turkey.
Why Turkey would shoot down the plane — and why this might surprise Russia
When Russian planes crossed into NATO airspace in the Baltics, as they did in several incidents last year and this year, NATO jets responded by scrambling to intercept the flights — and in one incident even came within mere yards of a collision — but never fired on them.Russian officials can tend to see all of NATO as a unified block, and they may have concluded from these Baltic flights that Turkey wouldn't fire on them, either.
Turkey is different. Its foreign policy is, depending on your perspective, either unusually assertive or unusually reckless (or both). This is especially true in Syria, where it has long been involved in aiding the flow of rebels who are fighting Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad.Turkey is also at war with Kurdish groups at home, and has bombed Kurdish rebels in Iraq. It has bombed ISIS some, but only sparingly; while it does not support the group, it is not particularly focused on fighting it.All of this is to say that while Moscow may believe NATO controls Turkish military actions, in fact there has been significant disagreement between Turkey and its NATO allies over Middle Eastern military action, and Turkey has been more aggressive than its allies would like.Russia has been bombing ethnic Turkmen in Syria, enraging Turkey
- There's also another factor here. Russia has, in just the past week, been bombing Syrian rebels who are part of the Turkmen ethnic group. This enraged Turkey, whichsummoned the Russian ambassador to demand Russia stop its bombing. Turkey considers ethnic Turkmen to be something like unofficial Turkish citizens.Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu called the Russian-bombed Syrians "our Turkmen siblings" and said "we are condemning this barbarian attack in the strongest way." A statement by Turkey's foreign ministry warned the bombing "may lead to serious consequences."That is not to say that Turkey necessarily shot down the Russian plane in cold-blooded vengeance for Russia bombing ethnic Turkmens. But the bombings may have contributed to already-rising tensions between Turkey and Russia over Syria. And it's not just the flights: Russia intervened in Syria to support Bashar al-Assad, but Turkey has been involved in Syria for a few years seeking to topple Assad. They're on opposite sides of a deadly serious proxy war. Escalation was not out of the question.
What happens now? Not war, but this could still be significant.
- If you're worried about this spiraling into World War III, take a breath: There is every reason to believe that both Russia and NATO will seek to deescalate. Neither cares enough about enforcing Syria-Turkey border zone air rights to escalate much over this.Still, Russia and NATO are both taking this very seriously. Putin has already issued a public statement accusing Turkey of "backstabbing" Russia — and also saying publicly that Turkey finances and supports ISIS (this is not, as best we know, true). NATO is planning on holding an "extraordinary" meeting to discuss the incident at 4 pm GMT (11 am EST) on Tuesday.Relations between Turkey and Russia have previously been quite good, though they've been souring since Russia got involved in Syria. They may deteriorate further now. That's significant for both countries, especially economically. Turkey imports most of its energy from Russia — 60 percent of its natural gas imports are Russian — and Turkey had a $20 billion deal with a Russian state-owned firm to build a nuclear power plant.This doesn't mean that Russia is going to turn off the tap or that Turkey is going to cancel all its natural gas imports, but if there's going to be retaliatory escalation between them, it may well be in this economic sphere.The similarities between Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan may be among the most important factors here. Both are nationalists who rely on military power and who are seeking to cast ever-more-assertive involvement abroad — having two such escalation-prone leaders going head to head is dangerous.Both leaders are also deeply concerned with looking good at home, which means that neither wants to look like he's backing down. At the same time, both are canny and pragmatic. They'll both want to look tough here — and that makes them both more likely to escalate — but neither is crazy enough to let this spiral out of control.Mark Galeotti, a Russia expert who teaches at NYU, explained well why everyone involved is probably going to try to deescalate here:I suspect neither Moscow nor, at the very least, the other European NATO powers will want to let this go too far. Russia cannot fight hot diplomatic wars on too many fronts, and Europe clearly wants Moscow to be part of the solution in Syria and maybe Ukraine, too. And, frankly, there is in many capitals concern about Turkey, its agenda and its role in the region.Still, "I don’t imagine that will be the end to it," Galeotti says. "I would expect some uptick in ‘mischief’ – perhaps some support for the Kurds or other violent extreme movements, for example – as well as a more assiduous campaign to push back and stymie Turkish regional ambitions."
Russia was already showing hints that it considered its Syria intervention a mistake
- One important question is whether this will have any ramifications for the international peace talks to end Syria's war. Russia has been making ever-so-tentative signals that it might be willing to make some real concessions to end the war, maybe even help to nudge out Assad.This incident, then, could lead Russia to conclude that its Syria involvement is getting too costly.While Russian leaders don't really, as a rule, admit mistakes — that's not how they teach it in the Moscow school of diplomacy, as I heard one senior US official put it — there are indications that it was beginning to see its Syria intervention as a mistake.A number of Russians have reportedly died in the fighting, and they don't have much to show for it. In October, Russian and Iranian forces helped Assad's army launch a big military campaign to retake territory from the rebels — and it largely failed.Russia's Syria intervention is unpopular at home, and Putin is extremely sensitive to public opinion. A September poll by Moscow's Levada Center found that only 39 percent of respondents said they supported Russia's policy toward the Assad regime. When asked what Russia should do for Assad, 69 percent opposed direct military intervention. A tiny 14 percent of respondents said that Russia should send troops or other direct military support to Syria.That's a pretty sharp contrast to Russia's policy toward Ukraine, which has been enormously popular with Russians. Putin's first, second, and third concerns have always been to maintain his own rule at home. With the economy in shambles, public opinion is crucial for that. Now that footage is emerging of a dead Russian pilot, Russian public opinion could become even more skeptical of the Syria intervention. And Putin will likely respond to that.At the same time, this could lead Putin to harden his position on Syria — to seek to raise the stakes and make this about avenging Russian honor as a means to shore up public support for the war. That's probably not the most likely outcome, but it is a possibility.
Yoga In China by Videospot Over 100 people perform yoga on the 180-meter-high glass bridge in China's Hunan province.
Reports are coming in that on Monday France will invoke Article 5 of the NATO Mutual Defense Treaty. NATO’s collective defense clause compels all NATO members – including America – to fight alongside France against ISIS.
In response to Friday’s series of coordinated attacks across Paris, French President Francois Hollande declared on Saturday that France would respond with a “pitiless” war against the group responsible. Speaking from the Bataclan, the site of one of the attacks, he stated, “We are going to lead a war which will be pitiless.”
On Sunday, 10 French fighter jets pummeled the ISIS-held city of Raqqa with at least 20 bombs, according to the French defence ministry. Britain’s Mirror reported the jets hit a command and control center, jihadi recruitment center, munitions depot and a training camp.
ISIS is claiming responsibility for the Paris attacks. In an online statement in Arabic and French which authorities say appears to be genuine, the attacks are called a “miracle” carried out by “eight brothers wearing explosive vests and assault rifles.” The statement called Paris the “capital of abomination and perversion.”
What do YOU think? Did the Paris attacks by ISIS spark World War Three? Sound off in the WND Poll!
The Guardian reports security analyst Charlie Winter said he has seen huge amounts of ISIS propaganda and he believes the statement is definitely from the group, though it was “put together hastily” and it is not clear whether the attacks that killed 127 people were directly ordered by ISIS or only inspired by the group.
International Business Times notes: “NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Friday the alliance would stand with France and remain ‘strong and united’ against terrorism. Although France hasn’t announced whether it will invoke Article 5, Stoltenberg told the Journal NATO’s members stand ready to assist. ‘The important thing is we support French authorities in their determination to deal with the terrorist threat,’ he said.”
“The defense clause of NATO’s founding treaty stipulates that if invoked, each of the members will assist the party attacked,” continues IB Times. “NATO’s military resources include more than 3 million troops under arms, 25,000 aircraft and 800 oceangoing warships, according to Foreign Policy. Economically, the alliance is also an intimidating force, representing more than 50 percent of global GDP. … The only time Article 5 has been invoked was after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks on the New York and Washington, which prompted NATO’s participation in the Afghanistan military mission. Should France become the second country to do so, ambassadors of the 28 nations would need to convene for consultation to determine a plan of action. The last country to request such a consultation was Turkey after attacks by ISIS in 2014.”
“House of War: Islam’s Jihad Against the World” conveys what the West needs to know about Islam and the violent, expansionary ideology that seeks the subjugation and destruction of other faiths, cultures and systems of government
Security expert Bruno Tertrais, senior research fellow with the Paris-based Fondation pour la Recherche Strategique (FRS), in speaking with DW, said, “I believe it is now time for a united front in Europe and along with our NATO allies to see whether we can coordinate better and act more vigorously against the jihadi terrorist threat in all its components. One of the things that will be discussed in the coming hours and days is whether or not the clauses of solidarity which exist in EU treaties and in the NATO treaty’s Article 5 should be called upon and put into effect. Certainly on the French side, there is a hope that our European friends and allies will also contribute to the military action against ‘Islamic State’ in Iraq and Syria in a more proactive way.”
If France involkes Article 5, it is essentially declaring war, not just an authorization for the use of military force.
However the situation is complicated by the fact that ISIS is based in Syria.
“Russia is defending Syria to assist Syrian President Bashar Assad,” notes SuperStation95. “When NATO goes to get ISIS, they will necessarily have to go into Syria … where Russia is defending. Will Russia relent and let NATO attack? Or will Russia decide this NATO action is a thinly disguised effort to unseat Bashar Assad, and cause Russia to battle NATO?”
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Tertrais noted that Paris-style attacks could happen in every major Western city.
“It does not really come as a surprise,” he said. “All the intelligence services and police knew that a major attack of the kind we had [on Friday] was not only possible, but almost likely. It is the kind of attack that police has tried to prevent for several years now, but it was absolutely not a surprise. Of course, it was a huge shock, especially because of the simultaneous nature of the attacks and the fact that for the first time ever, we had suicide bombers operating on the national territory.
“It’s the combination of a new modus operandi, the suicide attack, with the number and coordination of the attacks which is particularly troubling and shocking. But that is not even the worst thing. The worst thing is that they could be testing us for an even bigger attack; at least that is a hypothesis that some of the intelligence services are working on right now. This tells me that there is both the intent and the capability to try to do serious harm to the French republic. And if they were able to do that yesterday night, they unfortunately are able and likely to do it again. And I am certain that the French government is also working on that hypothesis.”
Speculation is strong that France’s declaration will usher in World War III.
According to SuperStation 95, currently high-level discussions are taking place in Congress about whether to intern all Muslims in America, similar to the way the Japanese were interned during World War II after the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941.
“According to well-placed sources in the Defense Department,” writes SuperStation 95, “inquiries have been made by staff from the congressional leadership, asking if the camps created under the REX-84 program in the mid-1980s are available for use? When told ‘Yes’ the congressional staff revealed that discussions are taking place among the highest levels of U.S. congressional leadership about possibly interning ALL Muslims in the United States. … The prevailing thinking is that Muslims of today represent a much more dangerous threat than the Japanese during World War 2 and if the U.S. is going to declare war upon ISIS, it may be necessary to control the Muslim population within the USA.”
Speculation about whether to intern Muslims in America go back as far as July, in the wake of the Chattanooga, Tennessee, shootings in which four Marines and a Navy petty officer were killed by a 24-year-old Muslim man.
Paris Islamist Attack Helped By The Migrant Crisis by Videospot PARIS—Seven people, including one man who was previously flagged as a security risk by French authorities because of his radical beliefs, killed 129 people over half an hour on Friday evening in multiple attacks around the French capital, Paris prosecutor Francois Molins said on Saturday. On Saturday, Belgian authorities arrested three people because they were suspected of having helped provide a car used in one of the attacks, said Mr. Molins, who described the first findings of the investigation he is leading. The authorities found a Syrian passport near the body of one of the attackers, Mr. Molins said, though the name in the passport was not known to French security services. Mr. Molins said the attacks, which killed at least 129 people and injured at least 352, began at the Stade de France during a match between the national soccer teams of France and Germany. Two attackers set off suicide vests at the stadium, killing themselves and one other person. At around 9:30 p.m, gunmen in a black SEAT car drove around eastern Paris, firing on the customers at several restaurants. The car arrived at Le Bataclan at 9:40 p.m., where three gunmen entered the theater and killed dozens of people. All the gunmen wore suicide vests containing the explosive TATP, a chemical used in other major terrorist attacks such as the London bombings of 2005, Mr. Molins said. All the attackers either killed themselves by detonating their vests, or were shot by police, Mr. Molins said. Earlier Saturday, French President François Hollande vowed a “merciless” response to Islamic State, claiming the extremist group was responsible for the well-coordinated attacks and left the French capital in a state of shock. “It is an act of war that was waged by a terrorist army, a jihadist army, by Daesh, against France,” Mr. Hollande said, using an Arabic name for Islamic State. “This act of war was prepared and planned from the outside, with accomplices inside,” he added, saying France would respond to the attacks. Religion doesn't cause wars.Humans Do. Every religion is peaceful and no religion promotes violence. I am Muslim And I Am Against Terrorism .
Facebook users the world over are showing their solidarity with the people of Paris by overlaying the colours of the French flag on their profile pictures.
The site is encouraging Facebook users to customise their profile pictures to 'support France and the people of Paris' after the sickening terror attacks last night.
If you wish to pay your respects and show your support, all you have to do is find a friend using the 'causes' feature in Facebook to customise their profile picture in your Facebook news feed.
All you have to do is click the 'Try it' button, located on the bottom right hand side of the box.
Facebook will then allow you to select your cause - currently, France is the only one listed - and customise your profile picture by changing its size and repositioning the image underneath the flag colours.
Use the drop-down menu to select the length of time you want your profile picture to last, then click 'Use as profile picture' and Facebook will automatically update.
The site has also activated its safety check feature, which has been used during previous disasters, allowing users living in Paris to let their friends and family know that they are safe in one easy click.
Last night, CEO Mark Zuckerburg posted a message of support to the city on his own page, saying: "My thoughts are with everyone in Paris tonight.
"Violence like this has no place in any city or country in the world".
Nice Guys by Videospot The video starts off with Ryan and Kevin entering a class called "How to Hit On Girls" taught by Chester See. The two learn how be asses to their girlfriends according to a theory "nice guys finish last". The plot turns towards Kevin as he is dining with his girlfriend (Kina Grannis) at a restaurant, he raps about ignoring her comments and refuses to "open the door" or "pull out a chair" for her, along with not giving her his jacket for warmth outside, claiming that "I'd be cold too if I gave you my jacket". Kevin also refuses to let her sit up front, which he says is "for homies", and lets her sit in the trunk, afterwards he comments "I never answer my phone, whenever you call it, and when the waiter brings the bill I never reach for my wallet." The story goes back to the classroom where Ryan learns to call girls fat, win in everything and to make them stay home. The only thing he doesn't want to do is go shirtless, as shirts are "optional". Ryan then raps about he beats his girlfriend (Cathy Nguyen) "in every competition", and makes her stay home because "House is on tonight and that's my favorite show". When she asks if the dress she was wearing made her look fat, Ryan replies "Hell yeah you do! Wait let me speak your language, cows go MOO!" The audience's attention is pulled back and forth from Kevin to Ryan as their girlfriends dump them. They both mention afterwards how their girlfriends mean the world to them, and go back to Chester See telling him that they quit. The both of them then try to apologize to their girlfriends: with Ryan presenting flowers, and Kevin playing the guitar. The couples are reunited as Ryan and Kevin go back to being "nice guys". The story then goes back to Chester See, who had been watching this the whole time, sunk to rock bottom as he has lost all his students. Then D-trix makes a cameo appearance as a nerd asking "Is this the class where you learn how to pick up girls?", and Chester starts the whole song over again.
EuroMillions winning couple who landed £1m prize for SECOND time in 2 years beating odds of 283 BILLION to 1 will now finally leave their simple pre-fab - for a home with 'games room and a bar'
- Scunthorpe millionaires David and Kathleen Long have won jackpot again
- Couple will move from their bungalow but may also go on a five-star cruise
- Former lorry driver and his wife have also been given a new Jaguar car
- The Longs, who married last year, will donate to Lindsey Lodge Hospice
- He said: 'I always knew I'd win, even the first time. I just had a feeling'
- They first won in 2013, threw ticket in the bin, but fished it out to check it
A British couple have won £1million in the EuroMillions lottery for the second time in 20 months - beating odds of more than 283 billion to one - and will finally move out of their static caravan.
Millionaires David and Kathleen Long from Scunthorpe will leave their small Lincolnshire bungalow and buy a mansion, as long as it has a bar and games room.
Last time the couple decided against moving and bought a new home for Mr Long's 81-year-old mother Joan instead.
iPad Pro - A Great Big Universe by Videospot There's a great big universe in the new iPad Pro. It's the largest iPad ever and takes your creativity and productivity to an epic scale. http://apple.co/1SpP7S8 Sound & Color by Alabama Shakes https://itun.es/us/2oMz5?i=963011520
Jem and the Holograms is a 2015 American musical fantasy drama film based on the toy line and 1980s animated television series of the same name. Directed by Jon M. Chu and written by Ryan Landels, the film was released on October 23, 2015.
Teenage songwriter Jerrica Benton becomes an Internet sensation after her sister, Kimber, puts a video on YouTube of her singing one of her songs. Together with their foster sisters Aja and Shana, they embark on a quest to become music superstars, signing with Starlight Records and its megalomaniac owner Erica Raymond.In the process, they come across a robot called S1N3RGY built by the Benton sisters' deceased father, Emmett, which leads them on a scavenger hunt.
Cast
Aubrey Peeples as Jerrica Benton/Jem
Isabella Rice as young Jerrica
Stefanie Scott as Kimber Benton
Hayley Kiyoko as Aja Leith
Aurora Perrineau as Shana Elmsford
Wynter Perrineau as young Shana
Juliette Lewis as Erica Raymond
Ryan Guzman as Rio Pacheco
Molly Ringwald as Aunt Bailey
Nathan Moore as Zipper
Barnaby Carpenter as Emmet Benton
Ryan Hansen as Stephen the Guard
Quddus as VJ
Adelaide H. O'Brien (uncredited) as Asling
Nicholas Braun (uncredited) as Brad
Christy Marx (cameo) as Lindsey Pierce
Samantha Newark (cameo)[8] as Hairstylist
Britta Phillips (cameo) as Stage manager
Djoir (cameo)
Kesha (mid-credits scene) as Pizzazz
Hana Mae Lee (mid-credits scene) as Roxy
Eiza González (mid-credits scene) as Jetta
Katie Findlay (mid-credits scene) as Stormer
Development
With the recent successes of G.I. Joe and Transformers, Hasbro was rumored to be considering a live-action film with Universal Studios, with which Hasbro had signed a six-film contract in 2010, or a new incarnation of the animated series. On March 20, 2014, a live-action, motion-picture adaptation of Jem and the Holograms was announced, to be directed by Jon M. Chu. Chu has said he had spent ten years developing the film with producer Jason Blum.
Although holographic disguises were an integral part of the 80s cartoon version of the franchise, they were left out of the film. Early drafts of the film did include it however Chu noted that this made the film too confusing and took away from the central message, as such the element was eventually dropped with Jerrica using more traditional means to transform herself.
Creator reaction
It was later revealed that the original Jem writer Christy Marx was not involved in any part of the film's production. In response to her having no part or consultation on the film, Marx defended Chu's sense of ambition for the project via Facebook and has left it to the fans to decide whether or not the project was a "smart decision".
Casting
In April 2014, it was announced that Aubrey Peeples had been cast as Jem, with Stefanie Scott as Kimber, Hayley Kiyoko as Aja, and Aurora Perrineau as Shana.Peeples had admitted being initially unfamiliar with the franchise although she subsequently became familiar with it and became a fan quickly. Other parts were announced throughout the next couple of months with actor Ryan Guzman cast as Rio announced on April 30 Juliette Lewis's involvement on May 19. and Molly Ringwald on May 20.
Filming
Principal photography began on April 22, 2014 in Van Nuys, later on May 19, shooting was underway in Los Angeles. Shooting ended on May 24, 2014.
Release
On October 16, 2014, Universal and Blumhouse announced the film to be released on October 23, 2015. On November 10, 2015, approximately two weeks after the film premiered, Universal pulled Jem from over 2,000 theaters for poor box office performance, as it was only able to gross $2.5 million.
Marketing
On February 25, 2015, the first official image from the film was released, featuring Peeples as Jem, Scott as Kimber, and Kiyoko as Aja performing on stage.
On May 12, 2015, director Chu revealed the first official film poster. The next day, on May 13, a trailer was released online. On August 11, a second trailer was released, this time featuring the robot 'synergy' (stylized as 51n3rg.y) which was based on the original cartoon series' computer program that projects the band's images and creates their special effects during their performances.
Critics responded negatively to the May 2015 trailer for the film, noting that the reboot seems to share little with its animated predecessor. Hillary Crosley Coker of Jezebel commented that the film "looks like a less interesting version of Beyond the Lights". Uproxx noted the trailer's low rating on its official YouTube page, while The Huffington Post in Canada wrote that the changes to the original plot have "disappointed '80s kids everywhere", then highlighted multiple negative fan reactions. Williesha Morris, also writing for The Huffington Post, criticized the film's re-imagining of the Jerrica character, stating that the original cartoon "represented female empowerment, not angst".
Actress Scott, who plays Kimber, and producer Blum have both addressed the negative reactions by asking fans to reserve judgment until the film is released. Scott stated that "I think that they have to see the movie to understand that things that they think are missing are in there." Blum has described the film as being "a hundred percent true to the spirit of Jem".
Reception
Box office
The film was released in North America on October 23, 2015, alongside The Last Witch Hunter, Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension, and Rock the Kasbah, along with the wide release of Steve Jobs. It was originally projected to gross $5 million in its opening weekend, but after only grossing $34,000 during its Thursday night previews ($36 per theater average), projections were lowered to $3 million. It ultimately opened in 15th at the box office with $1.4 million, the worst opening of 2015 and the fourth worst opening ever for a film playing in more than 2,000 theaters.
The film ended its North American theatrical run on November 5, 2015, two weeks after opening. Its final domestic gross is $2,184,640 with overseas takings of $7,815 for a worldwide total of $2,192,455.
The film's international rollout began on October 22, where it debuted to a fourth-place finish in Slovenia. It debuted in 9 screens and had a weekend gross of $2,064. The movie's total is $3,046.
The film was pulled from theaters after only 14 days.
Critical response
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a rating of 20%, based on 55 reviews, with an average rating of 3.5/10. The site's consensus reads, "Jem and the Holograms ignores its source material's goofy charm in favor of bland by-the-numbers drama." Metacritic gives the film a score of 42 out of 100, based on 15 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". On CinemaScore, audiences gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale.
Geoff Berkshire of Variety praised Peeples' performance as Jem, noting that she "keeps the film watchable", as well as Lewis as "a nonsensical bitch-on-wheels caricature with offbeat line readings and live-wire energy", and noted that "a generally unremarkable tech package" - cinematography, sound, costuming & makeup, etc. - "at least provides a modest showcase for costume designer Soyon An, makeup head Mary Klimek and hairstylist Vanessa Price, who come the closest to channeling the vibrant spirit of the "Jem" cartoons that originally made fans fall in love."
A ninja (忍者?) or shinobi (忍び?) was a covert agent or mercenary in feudal Japan. The functions of the ninja included: espionage, sabotage, infiltration, assassination and guerrilla warfare.Their covert methods of waging irregular warfare were deemed "dishonorable" and "beneath" the samurai-caste, who observed strict rules about honor and combat.The shinobi proper, a specially trained group of spies and mercenaries, appeared in the Sengoku or "warring states" period, in the 15th century, but antecedents may have existed in the 14th century,and possibly in the 12th century (Heian or early Kamakura era).
James-Alexander-Ellis-Fitness by Videospot In the unrest of the Sengoku period (15th–17th centuries), mercenaries and spies for hire became active in the Iga Province and the adjacent area around the village of Kōga, and it is from the area's clans that much of our knowledge of the ninja is drawn. Following the unification of Japan under the Tokugawa shogunate (17th century), the ninja faded into obscurity.A number of shinobi manuals, often based on Chinese military philosophy, were written in the 17th and 18th centuries, most notably the Bansenshukai (1676). By the time of the Meiji Restoration (1868), the tradition of the shinobi had become a topic of popular imagination and mystery in Japan. Ninja figured prominently in folklore and legend and it is often difficult to separate fact from myth. Some legendary abilities purported to be in the province of ninja training include invisibility, walking on water and control over the natural elements. As a consequence, their perception in western popular culture in the 20th century is often based more on such legend and folklore than on the spies of the Sengoku period.[citation needed]
James-Alexander-Ellis-Fitness by Videospot In the unrest of the Sengoku period (15th–17th centuries), mercenaries and spies for hire became active in the Iga Province and the adjacent area around the village of Kōga, and it is from the area's clans that much of our knowledge of the ninja is drawn. Following the unification of Japan under the Tokugawa shogunate (17th century), the ninja faded into obscurity.A number of shinobi manuals, often based on Chinese military philosophy, were written in the 17th and 18th centuries, most notably the Bansenshukai (1676). By the time of the Meiji Restoration (1868), the tradition of the shinobi had become a topic of popular imagination and mystery in Japan. Ninja figured prominently in folklore and legend and it is often difficult to separate fact from myth. Some legendary abilities purported to be in the province of ninja training include invisibility, walking on water and control over the natural elements. As a consequence, their perception in western popular culture in the 20th century is often based more on such legend and folklore than on the spies of the Sengoku period.[citation needed]
The British Government has pledged action to help tackle Asia's cruel dog meat trade.
The promise came during a passionate debate on the issue in the UK Parliament during which MPs condemned the trade as "inhumane" and "disgusting."
The government has pledged to write to UK embassies in countries where dog meat is consumed urging them to step up efforts to push for an end to the trade.
This is an important step in building global pressure to stop this cruelty.
The promise came during a passionate debate on the issue in the UK Parliament during which MPs condemned the trade as "inhumane" and "disgusting."
This is an important step in building global pressure to stop this cruelty.
Halloween, or Hallowe'en (/ˌhæləˈwiːn, -oʊˈiːn, ˌhɑːl-/; a contraction of All Hallows’ Evening),[5] also known as Allhalloween, All Hallows' Eve, or All Saints' Eve, is a celebration observed in a number of countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows' Day. It begins the three-day observance of Allhallowtide, the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed.
Halloween Prank by Videospot According to one view, All Hallows' Eve is a Christianized observance influenced by Celtic harvest festivals, with possible pagan roots, particularly the Gaelic festival Samhain.Other scholars maintain that it originated independently of Samhain and has solely Christian roots. Halloween activities include trick-or-treating (or the related guising), attending Halloween costume parties, decorating, carving pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns, lighting bonfires, apple bobbing and divination games, playing pranks, visiting haunted attractions, telling scary stories and watching horror films. In many parts of the world, the Christian religious observances of All Hallows' Eve, including attending church services and lighting candles on the graves of the dead, remain popular, although elsewhere it is a more commercial and secular celebration. Some Christians historically abstained from meat on All Hallows' Eve, a tradition reflected in the eating of certain foods on this vigil day, including apples, colcannon, potato pancakes and soul cakes.
Halloween Prank by Videospot According to one view, All Hallows' Eve is a Christianized observance influenced by Celtic harvest festivals, with possible pagan roots, particularly the Gaelic festival Samhain.Other scholars maintain that it originated independently of Samhain and has solely Christian roots. Halloween activities include trick-or-treating (or the related guising), attending Halloween costume parties, decorating, carving pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns, lighting bonfires, apple bobbing and divination games, playing pranks, visiting haunted attractions, telling scary stories and watching horror films. In many parts of the world, the Christian religious observances of All Hallows' Eve, including attending church services and lighting candles on the graves of the dead, remain popular, although elsewhere it is a more commercial and secular celebration. Some Christians historically abstained from meat on All Hallows' Eve, a tradition reflected in the eating of certain foods on this vigil day, including apples, colcannon, potato pancakes and soul cakes.
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