Japan’s Bandai Namco looks for life after Gundam anime TOKYO — For decades, the sprawling entertainment universe of Japan’s Bandai Namco Holdings has relied on Gundam sci-fi anime and toy models as its main moneymaker. But after 40 years, Gundam’s star has dimmed and the group is trying to reinvent itself even as it releases new hits that continue to drive earnings to record levels. Gundam’s lost luster first surfaced at the end of fiscal 2017, when a senior executive told the board that Gundam sales for the year totaled 68.3 billion yen ($6.27 billion), less than revenue from the group’s ..read more

Kun alakulo iskee, kosovolainen tv-tähti kuuntelee Apulantaa – “Suomi teki minusta jotenkin vahvan” PRISTINA Tupakka palaa ketjussa ja hieman kärsimättömästi televisioyhtiö Klan Kosovan pihalla. Keskusteluohjelman isännällä Alaudin Hamitilla on pari tuntia aikaa ennen arkisin pyörivän Nin-ohjelman alkua. Avustaja käy tuon tuosta muistuttamassa ohjelman yksityiskohdista ja tuo sateenvarjon. Vaikka Hamitilla ei vielä ole esiintymisasua, kauluspaitaa ja pikkutakkia, läpimäräksi ei kannata kastua. Kosovon pääkaupungissa Pristinassa sataa kaatamalla. Lapsuutensa ja nuoruutensa 38-vuotias Alaudin ..read more

UK police identify suspect behind leaked envoy memos – Sunday Times LONDON (Reuters) – The suspect behind the leak of confidential memos from Britain’s Washington ambassador, which sparked a major diplomatic rift with the United States, has been identified, the Sunday Times newspaper reported. Last week, Britain’s Mail on Sunday newspaper published memos from Kim Darroch in which he described Donald Trump’s administration as “inept” and “dysfunctional”, prompting an angry response from the U.S. president and causing the envoy to announce his resignation. British officials have launched ..read more

21st birthday party venues Singapore: affordable ideas for intimate groups For a party of 20 people, you can get 2 picnic tables set up at $418. You’re free to bring in the food and drinks that you need, so budget an extra $200 or so to cater food for a party of 20. Throw in a nice cake for $50. All in all, your glam picnic party for 20 people will cost you around $668. You can rent bicycles or bring board games to play over some beer or apple cider – simple, good, clean, fun. If you want to experience glamping, try the largest Jumbo Tent, which fits 8. Each tent comes with 3 queen ..read more

Leo Varadkar warns Brexit will bring UK ‘decades of economic decline’ – Montserrat Reporter Posted on 13 July 2019. Irish Taoiseach says the UK is struggling to get to grips with its loss of global status Prime Minister Theresa May greets Ireland’s Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in Downing Street (Photo Getty Images) Ireland’s leader dramatically stepped up the war of words with Westminster yesterday after he predicted the UK would fall into economic decline for decades post-Brexit. Brexit is undermining 20 years of peace in Ireland, Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar says In a blistering atta ..read more

Wu Jinzi: The challenges of taking on big pharma Today, Ascletis is one of many Chinese biotech start-ups licensing drugs from big multinational pharmaceutical companies for use on the mainland. But if its founder, Wu Jinzi, has his way at some point in the (near) future, Ascletis, which is based in Alibaba’s home town of Hangzhou and was founded in 2013, will develop its own drugs to treat hepatitis and other liver diseases including liver cancer. “We have already had some success,” says Mr Wu, sitting in a lounge in Hong Kong’s Murray Hotel. “But that isn’t enough. I want to develop trea ..read more

Climate change compounds hunger, conflicts, German aid group says The world’s southern hemisphere poor were bearing the brunt of climate change caused by rich, fossil-fuel consumers of the global North, Welthungerhilfe President Marlehn Thieme said in Berlin on Wednesday. Presenting the Bonn-based organization’s annual report for 2018, Thieme said climate change amounted to a “question of justice” in ensuring that resources — still sufficient worldwide to feed everyone — reached the poorest. Hunger victims, often already cut off to outside help by conflict parties, no longer had livelihoo ..read more

Summer in Majorca At risk of sounding like Frank Leavers’ (far younger) grumpy little sister, I think summer in Majorca is there to be managed rather than simply enjoyed. The fierce heat and tourist onslaught is relentless, and both need to be taken into account before you even think about leaving the house. Let’s take Edwin for example. Edwin is my beloved border terrier and he is at his happiest gambolling in a mild muddy British woodland, preferably with some pheasants to mercilessly bother. To prevent him from wilting in a Majorcan summer, his day needs to be managed with military pre ..read more

Mallorca’s pre-season training begins After a week when Aussie cricketer David Warner was spotted coming out of Edgbaston B&Q store after the semifinal carrying sheets of sandpaper, questioned as to why he replied “You’ve got it all wrong, mate, these sheets aren’t for ball tampering – they’re maps of the desert, we’re going to need them when we get back home!!” – Real Mallorca begin pre-season tomorrow as they prepare for their first campaign back in La Liga for six years. It’s been another busy week of signings and only a trickle of footballers leaving, although Sergio Buenacasa and ..read more

Vietnam steelmaker keeps expansion plans warm amid tariff threat HANOI — Doubt has crept into Vietnam’s ambitious drive to become a global steel power: Does Formosa Ha Tinh Steel, which began operating the country’s first integrated steel plant a little more than two years ago, really want to go ahead with plans to build a third blast furnace? FHS, as the steelmaker is known, appears to be torn. The company wants to help the government achieve its goal of making Vietnam, now Southeast Asia’s most voracious steel consumer, a steelmaking nation that need not rely on imports. It also wants to ..read more