Latest news with #Force
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Hastie heading to Force
Departing Highlanders halfback Nathan Hastie passes the ball against the Brumbies this season. Nathan Hastie's career resurgence will continue away from the Highlanders. The talented halfback is heading home — he was born in Perth — and will join the Western Force for the 2026 Super Rugby season after he has completed an NPC campaign with Otago. It could be a case of perfect timing for Hastie. While the Force have Nic White as their regular No 9, the former Wallaby has just turned 35. It might not be in the realms of fantasy to picture 24-year-old Hastie shining with a chance to play regularly in Super Rugby and knocking on the door of Australian selection at some stage. He will join Tom Donnelly, the former Otago coach and Highlanders assistant, at the Force. Hastie fans will be disappointed to see the combative halfback depart. The King's High School old boy and Harbour club representative had to be patient to really get his chance for the Highlanders thanks to a combination of niggling injuries and the presence of Aaron Smith and Folau Fakatava. That chance came this year, when he earned seven starts and was in outstanding form, playing with real spark and showing a willingness to trust his instinct and run with the ball. It came as something of a surprise when he then missed several match-day squads. Hastie was announced on a three-year deal at the Highlanders in early 2024, so either the club renegotiated his contract or they have reached a deal with the Force. The Highlanders, to be fair, appear loaded at halfback. Former All Black Fakatava recently signed a new deal, and pretty much everyone expects rising New Zealand under-20 star Dylan Pledger to graduate to a full contract. That presumably means Taranaki's Adam Lennox, who was in the wider squad this year and played several games, will be contracted as the third Highlanders halfback. Hastie, an Otago Daily Times Class Act recipient in 2019, finished with just 12 caps (one try) for the Highlanders, and he will add to his 16 caps for Otago when the NPC starts this weekend.
Business Upturn
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Business Upturn
Ahsoka Season 2: Latest updates on release date, cast and plot details
Hey, Star Wars fans! If you're as pumped as we are about Ahsoka Season 2, you're probably dying to know what's next for our favorite Togruta warrior. After that wild Season 1 finale, the Disney+ show has us all buzzing with questions. When's it dropping? Who's coming back? And what's the deal with those giant statues on Peridea? We've scoured the latest news from Star Wars Celebration 2025 and beyond to bring you the juiciest updates on release date, cast, and plot. Let's dive into the galaxy far, far away! When is Ahsoka Season 2 coming out? There's no set release date just yet, but cameras are rolling. Production kicked off in Spring 2025, and all signs point to a 2026 premiere. Given that the Mandalorian & Grogu movie is slated for May 2026, Ahsoka will probably arrive later—maybe in the summer or fall—to give both the space they deserve. At this year's Star Wars Celebration, Dave Filoni confirmed filming was underway, and fans got a sneak peek at some concept art that hinted at a much bolder direction. Ivanna Sakhno, who plays Shin Hati, even teased that the new season is 'bigger and even more in-depth,' which only adds to the hype. Ahsoka Season 2 expected cast Rosario Dawson is, of course, returning as Ahsoka Tano. She'll be joined by Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Sabine Wren and Eman Esfandi as Ezra Bridger, who finally made it back home in the Season 1 finale. Hayden Christensen is also returning as Anakin Skywalker. He'll likely have a more significant presence this time—think more Force ghost moments or World Between Worlds flashbacks. Christensen recently said he feels more 'connected' to the role now, which is exciting for longtime fans. In a sensitive but thoughtful move, Rory McCann (of Game of Thrones fame) will take over the role of Baylan Skoll following Ray Stevenson's passing. Ivanna Sakhno is also back as Shin Hati, with her character's journey expected to take on more emotional depth. Lars Mikkelsen returns as the menacing Grand Admiral Thrawn, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead is expected to be back as Hera Syndulla—though that hasn't been officially confirmed. Steve Blum is finally bringing Zeb Orrelios into Ahsoka , after his blink-and-you-missed-it cameo in The Mandalorian . And in a cool addition, Elden Bennett joins as Admiral Ackbar, who seems poised for a strategic clash with Thrawn. There are also whispers that we might see Ariana Greenblatt again as young Ahsoka, and maybe—just maybe—Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan in a vision or flashback. Nothing's confirmed, but hey, we can dream. Ahsoka Season 2 potential plot Plot details are being kept under wraps (because, of course), but based on where we left off, it's safe to say we're in for something wild. Ahsoka and Sabine are still stuck on Peridea, while Ezra and Thrawn have made it back to the main Star Wars galaxy. So we're looking at a dual storyline that spans two galaxies. That concept art from Celebration 2025? It showed Ahsoka and Sabine going up against massive, evil droids—so the action's definitely leveling up. More intriguingly, Season 2 is expected to dive into some of Star Wars' most mystical territory: the Mortis gods and the World Between Worlds. Baylan was last seen approaching those strange statues on Peridea, which strongly hints that the Force is about to get way weirder—and more powerful. Filoni called it 'a big mystery,' and we're all in on figuring it out. Thrawn, meanwhile, has teamed up with the Nightsisters and has an army of stormtroopers enhanced by dark magic. His clash with Admiral Ackbar is expected to be one of the season's highlights, bringing a high-stakes military showdown that could shape the future of the New Republic. And then there's Anakin. With Christensen back, his relationship with Ahsoka is far from over. Whether through visions, the Force, or the World Between Worlds, his influence will likely shape Ahsoka's choices moving forward. Ahmedabad Plane Crash
Al Etihad
4 days ago
- Al Etihad
Dubai Police extradite two wanted individuals to French authorities for attempted fraud and drug trafficking
25 July 2025 15:33 DUBAI (ALETIHAD)Dubai Police handed over two internationally wanted individuals to French authorities for their involvement in transnational organized crimes, including attempted fraud and trafficking in narcotics and psychotropic Force apprehended the suspects after international red notices were issued, as they were listed on the wanted lists of INTERPOL and the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol).Dubai Police highlighted that the wanted individuals have been handed over to French authorities as part of their ongoing efforts to combat crime under the Ministry of Interior, in cooperation with the Dubai Public Prosecution, to ensure that all necessary legal and judicial measures are taken. This follows the International Cooperation Department of the UAE Ministry of Justice receiving international arrest warrants for the suspects, which is the central authority for handling international cooperation this handover, the total number of wanted individuals extradited to France by Dubai Police in 2025 rises to ten. These individuals are involved in grave international crimes, including murder, leading criminal organizations, money laundering, armed robbery, and drug Police confirmed that this extradition aligns with their commitment to strengthening cooperation and collaboration with law enforcement agencies worldwide. Their objective is to combat transnational organized crime in all forms and establish a robust global security framework focused on crime prevention and the exchange of successful security practices, ultimately enhancing community safety and security. Furthermore, the Force stated, 'The search and investigation teams, alongside the raid units and specialised divisions within the General Department of Criminal Investigation, successfully apprehended all wanted individuals shortly after receiving the red notices. This success was achieved through dedicated field efforts and the application of advanced technology at the Data Analysis Centre, which enabled precise tracking, location identification, and ultimately ensured their handover to justice.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Argentina and Exeter lock Molina joins Western Force
Powerful Argentina lock Franco Molina penned a two-year contract with Western Force Friday, beefing up the Super Rugby side's tight-five stocks. The 27-year-old joins the Perth-based team from England's Exeter Chiefs, where he was a regular fixture last season. "Franco is a big powerful body, with a high work rate," said Force coach Simon Cron. "He's very, very driven to be the best he can be." Molina has 12 Argentina caps so far after debuting last year against France, including playing twice against the Wallabies. He was also in the starting Pumas line-up for last month's 28-24 win over the British and Irish Lions in Dublin ahead of Andy Farrell's team's departure for their Australia tour. Molina, who will complement Wallabies pair Jeremy Williams and Darcy Swain in the Force second row, said he was excited by the opportunity. "I can't wait to contribute to the team, help the club achieve its goals and be part of something special here," he said. He will arrive in Perth following the Rugby Championship from August to October where he is again expected to line-up for Argentina against Australia. mp/tym
France 24
5 days ago
- Sport
- France 24
Argentina and Exeter lock Molina joins Western Force
The 27-year-old joins the Perth-based team from England's Exeter Chiefs, where he was a regular fixture last season. "Franco is a big powerful body, with a high work rate," said Force coach Simon Cron. "He's very, very driven to be the best he can be." Molina has 12 Argentina caps so far after debuting last year against France, including playing twice against the Wallabies. He was also in the starting Pumas line-up for last month's 28-24 win over the British and Irish Lions in Dublin ahead of Andy Farrell's team's departure for their Australia tour. Molina, who will complement Wallabies pair Jeremy Williams and Darcy Swain in the Force second row, said he was excited by the opportunity. "I can't wait to contribute to the team, help the club achieve its goals and be part of something special here," he said. He will arrive in Perth following the Rugby Championship from August to October where he is again expected to line-up for Argentina against Australia.
