Latest news with #vengeance
Telegraph
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Will Iran really try to assassinate Trump?
The news that an Iranian website has crowdfunded a 40 million dollar bounty to be paid to any assassin who manages to kill Donald Trump will not daunt a president who has already survived two assassination attempts. But the threat should be taken very seriously: the Islamic Republic has a long track record for taking vicious vengeance on those it deems to have harmed it. In 1988, the American warship USS Vincennes accidentally shot down an Iranian airbus, killing all 290 people on board. A few months later, in December 1988, a Pan Am flight en route from London to New York was brought down by a bomb over the Scottish town of Lockerbie. All 270 people on board from 21 different nationalities died. Although a Libyan official working for the now fallen Gaddafi regime was convicted and jailed for that crime, many people, including bereaved relatives of the Lockerbie victims, believe that the real culprits behind the bombing were the Iranians, taking a savage revenge for the Vincennes tragedy. The concept of vengeance plays a large role in cultures across the whole Middle East. For example, in April 1993, President George Bush senior was visiting Kuwait on the first anniversary of the liberation of that Emirate from Iraqi occupation in the first Gulf War. An American-led coalition had repelled an invasion of Kuwait by Iraq's dictator Saddam Hussein but left his regime in place. On the eve of Bush's arrival, Kuwaiti security police arrested 14 men and accused them of being Iraqi agents plotting to blow up the president with a bomb planted in a Toyota Land cruiser. Anger about that plot against his father is thought to have been a major motive prompting President George W. Bush's disastrous decision to invade Iraq and overthrow Saddam ten years later in 1993, ostensibly as punishment for 9/11, an atrocity for which Iraq bore no responsibility. Iranian agents have been accused of plotting to kill John Bolton, who briefly served as Trump's national security advisor during his first term in the White House, and is a foreign policy hawk who has called for the downfall of the Ayatollahs' regime. Tehran has a well documented record for fomenting terror against the West over many years; there is no reason why they should stop now. Indeed, by carrying out US bunker busting strikes against two of Iran's buried nuclear facilities, Trump has handed the Mullahs an added grievance to avenge. The president may yet come to regret imposing a premature ceasefire to stop last month's 12 day war before Israel had finished the job of destroying Tehran's terrorist beast has been wounded but not killed, and in that injured and resentful state is more dangerous to the world than ever.
Geek Vibes Nation
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Vibes Nation
'Saint Clare' Review - Bella Thorne Gives A Spell-Binding Performance In A Genre-Blending Thriller
Clare Bleecker (Bella Thorne) is nobody's fool. While living in a small town and reeling from tragedy, she spends her nights assassinating people of ill repute. A sole purpose drives her vengeful mission, and Clare finds herself haunted by voices that lead her to commit these gruesome acts. Saint Clare fashions itself as a mystery thriller brimming with subtext; however, the prospects become a little top-heavy, and the film never quite lives up to its outsized expectations. Still, a commanding performance manages to hold the movie together, making it a riveting watch. Driven by voices that lead her to kill ill-intended people, Clare attempts to live a quiet life with her grandmother in a sleepy town. Essentially friendless, she goes through life, shielding herself from the pain of her past. To the world, Clare appears shy but normal. What she hides is a vengeful killer on special orders. Be it from God or, at the very least, a higher power, she acts with righteous vengeance. When a recent kill sucks her down a rabbit hole, she finds herself tackling corruption, trafficking, and visions from the beyond. Saint Clare originates from the book 'Clare at Sixteen' by Don Roff. The film is a largely stripped-down version, giving us Clare's backstory through brief exposition and the use of flashbacks. The film establishes her as a modern-day Joan of Arc. However, there are attempts to make her into a real-life Cassandra, particularly as she channels her callings and becomes something of a symbol. As her only friend goes missing, Clare mounts a one-woman crusade that is both a mission of revenge and heroism. For much of the film, there is a clear prerogative that this is a gritty affair. The addition of a religious subtext to the intense subject matter of human trafficking makes this a white-knuckle thriller. Clare's tough, no-nonsense approach is applause-worthy, even as the film showcases the harsh reality of never-ending violence. On the one hand, this movie is a straightforward thriller with Clare acting as a vigilante or dark guardian angel. She is depicted as stalking the underbelly of society, moving through with a take-no-prisoners approach. Yet, the movie introduces another element. There's the religious subtext and design to construct Clare as both a Joan of Arc figure with the clairvoyance of a Cassandra, so it should come as no shock that there's a ghostly injection, too. We meet the character of Bob (Frank Whaley), who acts as a ghostly sidekick to Clare. In addition to being her connection to the great beyond and acting as an advisor, we also learn that he is a past victim of Clare. This angle is unique as it adds a touch of color to the movie's otherwise grim pallor. That being said, it does create a jarring tone. The conflation of thriller and supernatural elements is handled deftly, although at times, the movie seems undecided about which tone to fully embrace. For the quirks and minor shortcomings, this film allows Bella Thorne to shine. She delivers a brilliant, unhinged performance that showcases tremendous strength. Thorne maneuvers those comedic elements with grace and showcases a raw power. She is like a flickering candle throughout the film. Grasping at the foothold between the light and dark. Once the wick is gone and the flame dies out, the darkness rises. This power is magnetic, transforming Clare into a dark angel heroine, unrelenting and seemingly unstoppable. Thorne balances the duality of the character. Yet, she never overplays it in either direction, instead allowing her performance to breathe even as the action accelerates all around her. Saint Clare is far from the typical revenge thriller, though it does not shy entirely away from the genre. Where the movie truly finds its calling is in the blending of mysticism and action. When coupled with the showstopping performance by Thorne, this film feels like the opening act to what could, at the moment, be the first of a series. Saint Clare will debut in select theaters and on digital platforms on July 18, 2025, courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lamar Jackson's ‘vengeance' warning will strike fear in AFC opponents
The post Lamar Jackson's 'vengeance' warning will strike fear in AFC opponents appeared first on ClutchPoints. Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens are still feeling the sting of their playoff exit from last season. The star quarterback made that pretty clear on Tuesday at the Ravens mandatory minicamp as he reflected on the tough 27-25 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Divisional Round. 'When we come back, I feel like we're going to have vengeance on our mind,' Jackson told reporters, turning that frustration into fuel for the 2025 season. Advertisement That postseason defeat still hurts. Jackson had a rough first half, turning the ball over twice, while tight end Mark Andrews faced his struggles with a costly fumble and a dropped two-point conversion that could have tied the game in the final moments. Despite the backlash from fans and analysts, Jackson stood firmly by Andrews: 'He's done so much for us. He's still Mark, for sure,' he said. The bond between Jackson and Andrews is as strong as ever after seven seasons together, with both earning multiple Pro Bowl nods and All-Pro selections. While the Buffalo game revealed some weaknesses, Jackson chose to focus on growth rather than blaming anyone. He took the time to review all six of the team's losses from 2024 during the offseason, and he's determined to cut down on turnovers in an effort to raise the Ravens' postseason potential. Lamar Jackson has an impressive regular-season track record—70-24 as a starter and two MVP awards—but his playoff performance (3-5) continues to be a topic of discussion. He's thrown 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions in his postseason career, which is a stark contrast to his regular-season TD-INT ratio of 166:49. Right now, he's all about eliminating those costly mistakes when the pressure is on. Baltimore's roster still gives fans plenty of reasons to be optimistic. Andrews remains one of Jackson's favorite targets, and on Tuesday, they connected on several long completions during practice. New addition DeAndre Hopkins also made a splash, fulfilling a long-held wish of Jackson's. Advertisement Jackson was not one to hold back when it came to asking for more. When the topic of reuniting with his old college buddy, cornerback Jaire Alexander, came up, Jackson didn't hesitate to share that he's been trying to bring the former Packer on board. 'Go get him, Eric,' he joked, with a hint of seriousness. The 2025 season kicks off with a bit of poetry: a return to Buffalo in Week 1 for Sunday Night Football. For Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, there might not be a better way to start rewriting their postseason story. Related: Ravens sign Jaire Alexander right after Lamar Jackson's demand Related: Ravens' DeAndre Hopkins talks forming chemistry with Lamar Jackson
Reuters
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Pope Leo appeals to Iran and Israel not to pursue vengeance after war
VATICAN CITY, June 25 (Reuters) - Pope Leo appealed to Iran and Israel on Wednesday not to pursue vengeance after 12 days of war, which the U.S. joined with airstrikes in support of Israel to target Iran's uranium-enrichment facilities. "May all logic of oppression and revenge be rejected, and may the path of dialogue, diplomacy, and peace be chosen with determination," the pontiff said in remarks at the end of his weekly audience in St. Peter's Square.
Geek Vibes Nation
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Vibes Nation
'Ballerina' Review - Ana de Armas Is A Bona Fide Badass
It doesn't matter how good you are or how qualified you are on paper; if you don't fit their mold, they will undoubtedly underestimate you. But you know what? Let them. Let their presumptions be their downfall. Obliterate the box they want to fit you in, redefine the archetype, and no need to prove them wrong, prove yourself right. Make them question the status quo, which in turn makes them question themselves. Win on your terms. Furthermore, define yourself before your narrative becomes dictated by others. If all else fails, call Eve. 'Does she know who her parents really were?' If you thought the chaos that ensued after John Wick's dog was killed was a wild ride, wait until you experience the wrath of over a decade of hate, animosity, and pain being unleashed. Directed by Len Wiseman, From the World of John Wick: Ballerina is a vengeance-driven body count bonanza. As the film nestles cozily between John Wick 3 and 4 , Eve firmly plants her flag within this universe, solidifying two things: the franchise just got better, and Ana de Armas is a bona fide badass. From utilizing the same neon and cold color aesthetic, interacting with familiar faces, along with a somewhat similar story format, I can't remember a spinoff being this good. Not to mention, our ballerina, Eve, lets more bodies hit the floor than playing the Drowning Pool song on repeat for hours. With arguably more grit than the films that bore it and featuring the same level of hypnotic magnetism, Ballerina is sure to dazzle audiences. With endless guns, a myriad of blades, and enough vengeance for multiple films, fans are treated to a buffet of violence and the cold smolder of Eve's eyes. While the plot may be simple and the story uncomplicated, there's a visceral understanding and relatability to what is unfolding. Motivated by tragedy, Eve has pushed past her limits in training and is prepared to hunt down those who have taken from her. The only problem is that doing so goes against the rules held by the Ruska Roma. And as we know, if you break the rules, you've just initiated your own demise. 'If you deal in blood, there must be rules.' The film thrives in its authentic feel as it details Eve's size disadvantages and how, to succeed as an assassin or Kikimora (protector), she'll have to be unorthodox, being told to 'Fight like a girl'. This aspect is where the film separates and stands out from JW . Not only does it highlight the beginning of her grueling training, but you can see her progression with each deadly encounter. She has no contacts or support system and no bulletproof suit, only a heart full of fire and the ability to end a life with almost anything. The story features about the same amount of dialogue as Keanu Reeves' first assassin outing, however, de Armas' Eve Macarro has a lot more to say as their circumstances differ. High-octane action may be what's on the surface and what audiences fawn over, but what is at its core is highlighting and thwarting cultism and dangerous indoctrination. And Eve unknowingly takes on a task that even John Wick would have trouble with. Speaking of John, yes, he is in the film, and fortunately, not as much as you'd think. His presence is only needed in the moments presented, as Ana de Armas does a fantastic job leading the story. Instead of believing lore, we're seeing the birth of it. The fight choreography is top-tier, as expected, and the camerawork works in perfect tandem with each action sequence. Moreover, the craft team did an amazing job with the aesthetics. I think I can confidently say that there will be a sequel. Its rewatchability is high. Ana de Armas as Eve in Ballerina. Photo Credit Murray Close/Lionsgate © 2025 Lionsgate Not unlike the rest of the John Wick franchise, the pacing of this film is relentless yet steady as the action comes early and often. What popped for me was the unspoken progression of Eve's confidence, fighting style, and ability. The visual storytelling is horrific for those who stand in her way, but exhilarating for the viewer. Keanu Reeves as John Wick in Ballerina. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate © 2025 Lionsgate Starring: Ana de Armas, Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Lance Reddick, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Norman Reedus, with Ian McShane, and Keanu Reeves Ana de Armas crushes this performance. Who would've thought that after 2015's Knock Knock, that de Armas and Keanu Reeves would be standing across from each other as the most prolific professional killers. As Eve, she matches John Wick's brooding demeanor, exceeds his intensity, and ultimately is a perfect fit for the Wick Universe. She harbors the ideal balance of killer and care, and the combination makes for an exciting experience. Ballerina releases in theaters on June 6, 2025. Stay safe and RIP Lance Reddick. Rated: R Runtime: 2h 5m Director: Len Wiseman Writer: Shay Hatten Producer: Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee, Chad Stahelski Executive Producers: Keanu Reeves, Louise Rosner, Kevan Van Thompson, Kaley Smalley Romo, Shay Hatten Director of Photography: Romain Lacourbas, AFC, ASC Production Designer: Phil Ivey Editers: Nicholas Lundgren, Jason Ballantine ASE, ACE Costume Designer: Tina Kalivas Music by: Tyler Bates and Joel J. Richard Stunt Coordinator: Jackson Spidell Supervising Stunt Coordinator: Stephen Dunlevy
