
Osaka's World Expo is winning over grumpy Japanese
S EQUELS rarely live up to the original. So said Japanese who warned that the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, Japan's second city, might be a miserable failure. Cynics spied a bad cover version of an epoch-making exhibition held in the same city in 1970. Yet now that its doors are open, many grumpy Japanese are lightening up.
His vision for the country remains thankfully unrealised
The country's elites won't like it
The generals would be mad to try
The trial, with a plot stranger than detective fiction, has gripped the country
We're looking for a fluent speaker of Korean and English
But countries know their neighbour is a crucial partner

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Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
The grand city hotel that feels like going back in time after £50million makeover
We also explain how much rooms cost at the hotel BEST BRUM The grand city hotel that feels like going back in time after £50million makeover THE Grand Hotel in Birmingham has undergone a multi-million revamp in recent years, as well as welcomed some famous guests. We've explained everything you need to know from what to do at the hotel to the best thing to eat at the restaurant. Advertisement 3 Spacious bedrooms offering large bathrooms with walk-in showers Where is the hotel? Located on one of Birmingham's most esteemed business addresses on Colmore Row, this hotel is right on the doorstep of Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, and a great mix of nightlife. It has the perfect location of a 5-minute walk from New Street railway station and the city centre. There is no hotel car park, but guests can get a discount at Snow Hill car park, which is extremely close. What is the hotel like? The Grade II-listed property is a grand place inside out. Advertisement Having welcomed a number of rock stars in the past, guests can pretend to live like royalty in one of its 185 rooms. With £50million in refurbishments in recent years, this hotel takes a luxurious step back in time. The showpiece is the grand marble reception and ballroom with capacity for 300 people. What is there to do at there? Fancy some yoga? In-room yoga classes are available with mats for an early morning stretch or pop into the gym which has great equipment. Advertisement Between Wednesday and Sunday, you can enjoy their traditional afternoon tea (£35pp) in the Madeleine Bar. What is there to eat and drink there? To start, the full English breakfast is superb with all ingredients locally sourced. 3 The grand marble staircase The artistic Parisian-chic style strongly follows through with the Madeleine bar and its drinks menu. Advertisement And a cocktail at the hotel's plush bar is a must. I tried the Strawberry Bon Bon made with vodka, toffee and strawberry (£13.50) which was delightful. Around the corner is Isaac's, the hotel's New York-style brasserie, which has a great atmosphere with cracking burgers and an array of fresh seafood. What are the rooms like? The rooms have dark wood panelling, stylish lamps and tall windows overlooking the city feature, with an array of seven categories to pick from. Advertisement If you want to make it a night to remember, the Penthouse suite offers infinite qualities from in-room Yoga sessions to a walk-in wardrobe like no other. But with a double room, I still enjoyed the old-style rotary phone, fitting with the quirky look, as well as a spacious bathroom offering a huge bath and walk-in shower. Double rooms start at £159, including breakfast. Is the hotel family-friendly? There is a family package special offer which includes bathrobes and cuddly toys for your little or older ones, to family-friendly bars and activities for kids to create their own milkshakes. Advertisement Your pooch can also be brought along if it weighs less than 36kg. Don't forget to book their arrival in advance too. Is there access for guests with disabilities? Lifts are accessible at the main entrance and from meeting rooms to ensure ease of movement, alongside disabled toilets. There are 7 bedrooms equipped for guests with disabilities. Looking for a place to stay? For more hotel inspiration click here. Advertisement


Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
‘Superb' film with ‘the best cast ever assembled' is streaming free on BBC iPlayer
Fans say this unconventional murder mystery with an absolutely staggering cast of legends is well worth a watch A five-star period film with one of the best casts of British icons ever assembled will stream for free on BBC iPlayer this weekend. The channel's free streaming service has acquired the iconic drama from 2001 for five months, so cinephiles have plenty of time to watch. A logline for the cult classic reads: 'Period piece set in the early 1930s with an all-star cast. 'A weekend shooting party at a country mansion turns into a murder mystery when the host is found dead. 'It seems that everyone has a motive, from the guests upstairs to the staff downstairs. Among the gathering are cash-strapped relatives of the victim, a Hollywood movie mogul and songwriter Ivor Novello.' Featuring a long list of acting greats, the film boasts Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith, Helen Mirren, Richard E Grant, Charles Dance and Kelly Macdonald in the cast, just to name a few. From acclaimed director Robert Altman, the film in question is Gosford Park, a favourite amongst film fanatics and absolutely deserving of your attention soon. One rave review on Google reads: 'Easy 5 stars. Superb period piece black comedy/whodunit set in an opulent English country estate in 1932. 'The best ensemble cast ever assembled in a film, and directed by Robert Altman, it features a dazzling array of upstairs/downstairs characters split between the servants and the guests.' Including an intriguing piece of trivia, they went on: 'The brilliant cast was mic'd up for the group scenes so that, even when not the focus of attention, ad-libs could be used in the edit. 'Top shelf production value across the board, this is a ripping yarn told with tremendous style and relish. Enjoy!' Someone else gushed: 'Like many of [Altman's] films, it's a masterpiece. 'I can't think of any other film centered on this period / themes whose characters are rendered with this kind of sensitivity and nuance. There is so much emotion in their faces.' And a final fan added: 'A brilliant movie, with brilliant acting and, of course, brilliant direction.' Some reviewers have warned this is not your typical murder mystery, but still expect top-notch acting and a gripping narrative if you decide to add Gosford Park to your watchlist. Gosford Park is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.


Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Mirror's Daily Digest - top five stories you need to read tonight
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