Pushpa 2 Extended Cut: Allu Arjun’s movie to release with 20-minute-long unseen scenes; check when

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Pushpa 2 Extended Cut: Allu Arjun’s movie to release with 20-minute-long unseen scenes; check when | Today Newsvar _comscore = _comscore || [];_comscore.push({ c1:”2″, c2:”6035286″, options: {enableFirstPartyCookie: true, bypassUserConsentRequirementFor1PCookie:true }});( function() {var s = document.createElement(“script”), el = document.getElementsByTagName(“script”)[0]; s.async = true; s.src = “https://sb.scorecardresearch.com/cs/6035286/beacon.js”; el.parentNode.insertBefore(s, el);})();SubscribeSign in

Game Changer Box Office Collection Day 3: Did Ram Charan movie numbers bounce back on Sunday? Find out here

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Game Changer Box Office Collection Day 3: Did Ram Charan movie numbers bounce back on Sunday? Find out here | Today Newsvar _comscore = _comscore || [];_comscore.push({ c1:”2″, c2:”6035286″, options: {enableFirstPartyCookie: true, bypassUserConsentRequirementFor1PCookie:true }});( function() {var s = document.createElement(“script”), el = document.getElementsByTagName(“script”)[0]; s.async = true; s.src = “https://sb.scorecardresearch.com/cs/6035286/beacon.js”; el.parentNode.insertBefore(s, el);})();SubscribeSign in

Pushpa 2 Box Office Collection Day 39: Allu Arjun movie still running strong, mints THIS amount on Sunday

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Pushpa 2 Box Office Collection Day 39: Allu Arjun movie still running strong, mints THIS amount on Sunday | Today Newsvar _comscore = _comscore || [];_comscore.push({ c1:”2″, c2:”6035286″, options: {enableFirstPartyCookie: true, bypassUserConsentRequirementFor1PCookie:true }});( function() {var s = document.createElement(“script”), el = document.getElementsByTagName(“script”)[0]; s.async = true; s.src = “https://sb.scorecardresearch.com/cs/6035286/beacon.js”; el.parentNode.insertBefore(s, el);})();SubscribeSign in

New 2025 Book Releases

Arts & Culture, Books

by Claire Mirkowski-Purdy
Loveland, Ohio – 2025 has many great books to offer us this year, all from amazing and beloved authors for readers of all ages. Here are five great books getting released this year:
Up first, Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros is releasing on January 21st. This is the third and final fantasy book in the Empyrean series, finishing up the story for the bestseller Fourth Wing.
Next up, John Green is releasing another nonfiction novel: Everything is Tuberculosis. On March 18th, you’ll be able to read about Henry, a teenager struggling with tuberculosis, and Green learning how to advocate for the treatable yet impairing disease.
On March 25th, Suzanne Collins is releasing Sunrise on The Reaping, the newest addition to the beloved Hunger Games series. This book is all about Haymitch and his experience on being called into the fiftieth annual Hunger Games and his journey to become a victor, struggling with grief and heartbreak.
Tahereh Mafi, the author of the widely beloved YA dystopian Shatter Me Series is releasing another book in the series, Watch Me, on April 15th. This book takes place 10 years after the original Shatter Me Series and is in the POV of James, Adam’s younger brother from the original series.
On April 22nd, Emily Henry, one of the most currently acclaimed romance authors, is releasing yet another romance novel: Great Big Beautiful Life. In this book, Alice Scott, an aspiring writer, and Hayden Anderson, an award winning author, each write an autobiography for a 20th century tabloid princess, competing to get one of the books published under the princess’s name.
You can shop at our local bookstore, Bike Trail Books at 113 Karl Brown Way to pick up your favorite releases coming this year..

Interblock partners with Kangwon Land and KOMSCO to enhance casino gaming tech

Technology

Interblock Gaming, a global leader in luxury table gaming products, has announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Kangwon Land and the Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation (KOMSCO).

This strategic partnership focuses on the joint development of innovative casino game cards and electronic shoes designed to enhance gaming operations and expand the reach of South Korea’s gaming industry on a global scale.

The agreement, signed at the Conrad Hotel in Seoul on December 27, 2024, represents a milestone in the localization and technological advancement of casino gaming equipment. The collaboration will combine the expertise of the three organizations to produce casino game cards and cutting-edge electronic shoes capable of recognizing unique card identifiers. These advancements aim to improve game security, prevent dealer errors, and mitigate fraud, ensuring a more seamless and trustworthy gaming experience for casinos worldwide.

Interblock will lead the development and marketing of the electronic shoe, bringing its extensive expertise in advanced gaming technology to the partnership. Kangwon Land will manage the assembly and production of the electronic shoe hardware, while KOMSCO will develop and manufacture the high-quality casino game cards. The products will be integrated into Kangwon Land’s operations and distributed to domestic and international markets, establishing South Korea as a significant player in the global gaming equipment industry.

Commenting about the partnership, John Connelly, Interblock’s Global CEO, said: “This deal marks an exciting opportunity to bring innovative solutions to the global casino market. By combining our technological capabilities with the expertise of Kangwon Land and KOMSCO, we are confident in our ability to deliver products that set new standards for security, efficiency, and reliability in the gaming industry.”

The global casino market is currently dominated by electronic shoe and card production from major manufacturers in Japan and the United States. This partnership aims to shift the paradigm by localizing production in South Korea and positioning the country as a leader in the casino equipment sector. Kangwon Land’s annual usage of approximately 660,000 decks of cards highlights the opportunity to reduce costs, prevent the outflow of foreign currency, and generate revenue through exports.

“This MOU is more than a partnership; it is a vision to transform the casino gaming equipment manufacturing sector,” the three parties stated jointly. “Together, we aim to be game-changers in the global market, delivering innovative and reliable products that redefine the standard for gaming operations.”

Interblock remains committed to driving innovation and advancing the gaming industry through strategic collaborations. This partnership underscores the company’s dedication to fostering cutting-edge technology and creating value for its global partners and customers.

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Minnesota school district removes LGBTQ children’s book with nudity, despite objections

Arts & Culture, Books

A Minnesota public school district defended its decision to pull an LGBTQ children’s book from its elementary school shelves, despite facing objections from some parents and school librarians.Rochester Public Schools said it pulled the 2022 book, “The Rainbow Parade” by Emily Neilson, from its elementary school media center last month after a Franklin Elementary School parent raised concerns about nude illustrations in the book.The book tells a story about a young girl going to her first Pride parade with her two moms. Several pages within the book have illustrations depicting full or partial public nudity, including two men in bondage gear.  Participants hold a rainbow flag during a Pride Parade in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 4, 2023.  (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)VIRGINIA MOTHER DECLARES ‘VICTORY’ AFTER SCHOOL SYSTEM QUIETLY REMOVES ‘X-RATED’ LGBTQ GRAPHIC NOVEL”The sidewalk outside is filled with people waiting for the parade to start. Everyone is wearing whatever makes them feel most like themselves. Even if that means wearing hardly anything at all,” the text reads.After concerns were raised by a parent, the book was reviewed by a committee comprised of librarians, community members and teachers, who ultimately recommended the district keep the book on the shelves, according to a report in The Minnesota Star Tribune.”Not all books are for everyone, but our goal is to have books that represent all students in our school district,” said Tammy Van Moer, library media specialist at Rochester Public Schools, according to the report.  SF Pride grand marshal public poll choice Vinny Eng greets the crowd during the 52nd Annual San Francisco Pride Parade and Celebration on June 26, 2022, in San Francisco, California.  ((Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images))CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER CAUGHT IN PROFANITY-LACED RANT AGAINST TRUMP PUT ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVEHowever, Superintendent Kent Pekel decided to remove the book from elementary school libraries, saying the nudity shown was inappropriate for younger children. “My decision to direct the removal of the book The Rainbow Parade from our elementary media center shelves is not based upon restricting student access to a viewpoint, message, idea, or opinion. It is based solely upon the depiction and celebration of public nudity in illustrations on two pages of the book. I believe that the depiction of public nudity makes the book inappropriate for the open shelves of a media center in an elementary school where students as young as kindergarten can access the book without adult supervision or guidance,” he wrote.School board members expressed mixed opinions on the superintendent’s decision, with some members wondering aloud if removing the book would take the district down a “slippery slope” and set a “precedent” for removing other LGBTQ books from school libraries.The board ultimately approved sending the superintendent’s recommendation to the Minnesota Department of Education, the Tribune reported. GLSEN’s “Rainbow Library” program offers free LGBTQ+ affirming literature to schools across the U.S. (GLSEN Arizona/YouTube)PARENTS AND TEACHERS BATTLE IN MARYLAND COUNTY OVER ‘SEXUALLY EXPLICIT’ BOOKS IN SCHOOLAfter the topic was brought up at the January 7 school board meeting, Superintendent Pekel vowed there would be “no backtracking” on their schools’ commitment to LGBTQ students and families, after repeated outbursts from one parent angry about the district’s decision.”There will be no slippery slope on backtracking on books that celebrate the lived experiences of LGBTQ students and families,” he pledged.He also clarified that the nudity alone was the reason for his decision and not other content in the book some might find objectionable, such as two men dressed in bondage gear or a protest sign reading “Silence equals death.”When reached for comment, Rochester Public Schools provided Fox News Digital with Pekel’s previous memo to the board.The district’s decision comes at a time when books with explicit content in school libraries are being challenged by parents. The issue of sexually explicit LGBTQ books in public schools has brought parents on both sides of the issue out to school board meetings to express their opinions on the matter. (David McNew/Getty Images)CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPThe American Library Association (ALA), the oldest and largest library nonprofit in the world, has been an outspoken champion for “banned” books in children’s libraries. In 2023, the top ten challenged books were all challenged due to explicit sexual content. During National Library Week last year, the ALA claimed that the “censorship” of sexually explicit books in children’s libraries is discriminatory to the LGBTQ+ community.Fox News’ Jamie Joseph contributed to this report.

Zuckerberg calls on US to protect Tech Companies from EU Fines

Technology

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the U.S. government under President Donald Trump should step in to prevent the European Union from fining U.S. tech companies for antitrust and other violations.“I think the strategic advantage of the United States is that we have some of the most powerful companies in the world, and I think part of the U.S. strategy should be to protect them,” Zuckerberg said on “The Joe Rogan Experience.”
He added that he believes Trump, as the new president, supports that approach. “I think he just wants America to win,” Zuckerberg said.
Multi-billion dollar fines

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Zuckerberg has criticized the EU for the fines it has imposed on U.S. tech giants over the past two decades, saying they totaled “more than $30 billion.” In November last year, Meta was fined 797 million euros for violating EU antitrust rules, which included imposing unfair terms on advertising providers.
He called such penalties “almost like a tariff” on American tech companies, criticizing President Joe Biden’s administration for inaction.
“If another country were disrupting an industry that’s important to us, the U.S. government would probably find a way to put pressure on us,” he said. “But here we got the exact opposite result — the U.S. government led the crackdown on companies, giving the EU a free hand to do whatever it wanted with American companies.”
Changes in Meta Policy
Zuckerberg’s appearance on Rogan’s podcast comes just days after he announced the end of Meta’s fact-checking program, moving to a “community notes” model. The move is seen by many as an attempt to bring the company closer to the Trump administration, which has previously criticized its content moderation policies as censorship with a left-wing political slant.
Meta also announced on Friday that it was ending its diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) programs, citing changes in the “legal and policy landscape” as a key factor, Politico reported.
Photo: Wikipedia