After setting new milestones in North America, Disney’s “Avengers: Infinity War” nearly broke the all-time box office record in China. Its opening weekend haul in the Middle Kingdom is in excess of $200 million. The Marvel Comic Universe franchise title soared to $202 million, according to provisional data from Chinese researcher China Box Office at 11 p.m. local time in China on Sunday. Figures will be updated locally. Disney estimated a $200 million figure, which it said was the second-highest in Chinese-currency terms. “Infinity War” opened with $257 million in North America two weeks ago. The China debut points to the sixth-largest single territory opening of all time, on a par with the “Black Panther” debut in North America. In China, the “Infinity War” haul compares with the previous highest-opening score of $188 million, registered earlier this year by “Monster Hunt 2.” In 2017, “The Fate of the Furious” became the fastest-opening Hollywood film in China, with $184 million in three days. But Disney reported RMB1.266 billion in local currency for “Avengers,” compared with the higher RMB1.352 billion for “Fate of the Furious.” Data from Ent Group showed “Infinity War” playing an unprecedented 203,000 screenings on both Friday and Saturday. On Friday it earned a revised $61 million, according to Ent Group, after earning $9 million in Thursday previews and early Friday midnight screenings. The China total included $20.5 million from 514 IMAX screens. That was the biggest-ever opening weekend for IMAX in China, beating “The Fate of the Furious,” which earned $13.3 million.

Ron Howard reveals that a sequel to his '80s fantasy classic Willow is being discussed. It's been 30 years since the movie released, and the Solo: A Star Wars Story director may very well jump from one George Lucas creation to another. In 1988, Willow marked a change in tone for Lucasfilm, shifting from lightsaber duels and Jedi to sword fights and sorcerers. It followed Warwick Davis (who had starred as the Ewok Wicket in Return of the Jedi) as the titular character, who is inadvertently thrust into an adventure involving wizards, witches, two-headed dragons, and disturbing human-to-pig transformations; it also starred Val Kilmer, Joanne Whalley, and Kevin Pollack. In the movie, Willow is tasked with protecting a newborn baby named Elora Danan who has been prophesied to bring about the end of the evil Queen Bavmorda. Now, 30 years after its release, Howard is suggesting that a sequel may actually be in the works. In an interview with ComicBook, Howard mentioned that, despite there being no official confirmation, a sequel to Willow is being considered. While promoting Solo, he explained that "there is a little talk of Willow," though he doesn't "want to give away too much." He also added that if a film did ever get the go-ahead, it wouldn't necessarily be a direct sequel to the original movie but a spinoff, of sorts, following a grownup version of Elora Danan. That said, "Willow would have to be significantly involved." Howard even went so far as to explain that Willow doubled as a form of inspiration for Solo while it was in production. Despite existing in two very different universes, he explained there were certain scenes, elements, and even characters that drew parallels between both movies. Not only was "the humor around some of the action in Willow" something that Howard injected into Solo, but there was a character with traits to similar Val Kilmer's cocky Madmartigan, though he didn't specify which Solo character to whom he was referring. Though the movie never reached the level of success that other Lucasfilm properties had achieved, Willow has since become a cult classic. And following the recent trend of green-lighting sequels years after their predecessors were released (see: Mad Max: Fury Road and Blade Runner 2049), the nostalgia factor alone could potentially work to its benefit. What's more, the time jump would allow the sequel to explore elements merely suggested in the first movie, including an evolution of Willow's pursuit to become a sorcerer and the opportunity to see the sort of person that Elora has grown into, and whether or not she was as formidable as the prophecy foresaw.

Parmanu – The Story Of Pokhran, a movie on India’s nuclear test in 1998, is a pro-India, but not anti-Pakistan film, says actor-producer John Abraham, while the film’s director joked it will release across 300 screens in Pakistan. At the film’s trailer launch here on Friday, the team was asked about plans for the film’s release in Pakistan. ‘Parmanu’ is not anti-Pakistan: John Abraham “It’s coming in 300 screens in Pakistan,” director Abhishek Sharma quipped. It was clarified later that he was joking. On a serious note, John said: “To answer that question, this is not an anti-Pakistan film, it is a very pro-India film. So, we are very clear this is a film about India and we are going to celebrate this.” “If we start thinking about other markets, we would be compromising on our film. We wanted to tell the story as it is.” Written by Saiwyn Quadras and Sanyukta Shaikh Chawla, the film also features Diana Penty, Boman Irani and Yogendra Tikku.It will release on May 25.

Himesh Reshammiya tied the knot with long time girlfriend Sonia Kapoor last night in a traditional Hindu ceremony at the singer-actor’s residence. The ceremony was a close knit affair with just close family and friends, including Himesh’s parents and his son Swaym. Himesh Reshammiya gets hitched on 11th May, 2018 Himesh excited to embark on this new journey mentioned “I am really happy that Sonia and me have started this new journey , she is a lovely girl and I have loved her unconditionally and the same is with her” while his lovely bride in pink gushed “Himesh is a wonderful human being and my soul mate . He means the world to me and I am very happy to start this beautiful journey with him.”

Alia Bhatt has done it! Raazi has opened on a mind-blowing numbers and it’s her to take the majority of credit for this. Released yesterday, the movie is a cross-border spy drama and its trailer was well received by the audience. The buzz was good and advance on Friday was excellent. From the early trends flowing in, it seems the movie has exceeded all the expectations on its 1st day. Raazi Box Office Day 1 Early Trends: This Could Be HISTORIC! Highest women oriented movie is Vidya Balan’s The Dirty Picture which collected 9.35 crores released back in 2011. But has Raazi surpassed this to present this crown to Alia Bhatt? Because what early trends suggest is the movie has earned in the range of 8-10 crores on its first day. Anything in this range will be HUGE! Raazi, which released on Friday, is based on the book Calling Sehmat, and is set in 1971, the year when India and Pakistan fought a war. Alia Bhatt plays a young Kashmiri girl who gets married to a Pakistani Army officer — essayed by Vicky Kaushal and becomes an undercover agent to protect her own country. This is not the first time that Meghna is directing a film based on a real-life inspired account. Her last release Talvar was based on the Aarushi Talwar Noida double murder case that took place in 2008. While the film received a lot of praise for its performance and storytelling, it faced some criticism for not offering anything new beyond what was available in the public domain. Gulzar has written the lyrics for her new directorial venture Raazi, which has also marked the first time that Meghna has collaborated with the music director trio Shankar-Eshaan-Loy.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan replicates Aamir Khan’s Instagram strategy to mark her debut on the social networking platform with a series of 9 grid images. Bollywood Superstar Aamir Khan is well known in the country as a marketing maverick. It was no surprise when the actor created a frenzy as he marked his debut on Instagram in March 14th this year. Trust Aamir to do things differently, and the actor adopted a never seen before marketing Strategy for his Instagram debut. Aamir resorted to posting 9 grids of puzzles in a row baffling social media users. The idea comes to perspective as one visits Aamir’s Instagram page, only then can a user see the collage picture consisting of 9 grids. Known to be a trend setter in the Indian Film Industry, Aamir had Miss World Aishwarya Rai Bachchan copying his idea. Yes, you heard that right. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan marked her Instagram debut yesterday and the actress chose to follow the footsteps of Aamir Khan. Going the Aamir Khan way, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan made an Instagram debut a la Aamir Khan posting a series of 9 grids. Aishwarya took to Instagram to post a series of broken images with the caption, “And I was born…again…”

Baaghi 2 Box Office: This Tiger Shroff, Disha Patani starrer has achieved something only big league stars did till now. It released on 30th March and has completed its 6 weeks at the box office. Since Salman Khan’s Tiger Zinda Hai and the terrific trio’s Padmaavat, it’s Baaghi 2 which has truly churned out the maximum of the box office. We’ve had a very good year as far as box office is concerned and Baaghi 2 deserves a special mentioned for that. Baaghi 2 Box Office A huge surprise in Avengers: Infinity War continue to raise our hopes from well made, executed and mass-pleasing movies. The masala action genre could never be a passe ans Baaghi 2 has proved the same. It has collected over 165 crores at the Indian box office & this is humongous in every sense of the word. Tiger Shroff, with Baaghi 2, has expanded his fan base like anything. He has been getting love from every age group & this is the sign of an emerging superstar. Tiger is overwhelmed by the response. He says it was an exciting project. “I am positively overwhelmed by the response the movie has received from all the fans. The success seen by Baaghi 2 would not have been possible without them. To be a part of a production that has become the fastest Rs 100 crore grosser of 2018 is very exciting and I am grateful to be a part of it,” Tiger said in a statement. Baaghi 2 is helmed by Ahmed Khan and also stars Disha Patani. The film is a sequel to the 2016 film Baaghi.

Raazi Box Office Day 2: This Alia Bhatt starrer impressed everyone, when on its 1st day it collected 7.53 crores. A good day one was expected by the trade pundits but this has exceeded the expectations. But, told your breath because there is still more happiness in the house! Raazi was said to show growth on Saturday and Sunday; it has won half the game. Saturday has witnessed an amazing jump which will set the bar high for Sunday. Raazi Box Office Day 2 Early Trends: A Staggering Jump! As per early trends floating in, the movie has collected in the range of 10-12 crores. This is an outstanding figure to reach because even 7.53 crores were very good & to show 50% of growth needs to be applauded. Sunday is also expected to jump and this will take its first weekend in the range of 30 crores. Raazi, a cross-border spy drama, is based on the book titled Calling Sehmat. The film is set in Kashmir. “In the film, Kashmir is not depicted in a negative light. Kashmir is a beautiful place and I love it. It is really unfortunate that their tourism business, which is a big part of the revenue, is affected because of the incidents that took place. People think that Kashmir is not a safe place to go, but that is not true,” Alia said. Recently director Meghna Gulzar was asked what made her cast Alia as Kashmiri girl Sehmat, she told IANS: “From the time I learnt that I have to helm the film, Alia’s face popped up in my mind and that never changed. I am really thankful to Alia for agreeing to do the film. Otherwise I couldn’t have made the film. “I don’t think anybody else could fit in, with all due respect to the other actresses.” Meghna was clear from the start that she didn’t want Alia’s character to be like Lara Croft. Directed by Meghna Gulzar, the film also features Vicky Kaushal and Soni Razdan. It released on May 11.

All expectations have been surpassed by Raazi as it took a very good opening on Friday. Though the first few shows were on the opening lines as audiences started to settle in, it was a different scenario as the day progressed. The shows started going houseful at many venues and by the time it was the close of day, film had collected a hefty amount. The first day numbers read a solid 7.53 crore and that is far more than what was expected out of it in the first place. Though the predictions were for the Meghna Gulzar directed film to collect in the range of 4-5 crore, what actually transpired was on an altogether different level. The film has done at least 50% more than what was expected out of it and now the weekend is set to be hefty as well. Raazi Box Office Collections Day 1: Defies All Predictions, Opens Very Well! The good news for this Alia Bhatt film is that there is by and large appreciation from all quarters and that means word of mouth should add on to the critical acclaim. For a film of this scale, size and budget that has been put together by Junglee and Dharma, the success tag is already guaranteed. What has to be seen is that there does it go from here since an entire week is open right in front of it.

Remo D’Souza’s journey in this industry is the perfect example of a success story. The choreographer turned director left his studies after appearing for HSC exams to follow his passion and live his dream of becoming a choreographer. Born and brought up in Jamnagar (Gujarat), Remo’s struggle started in the late 80’s, an era when there was no social media that would make people star over-night. The young boy up initially for a night slept at Bandra Station in Mumbai as he didn’t have any shelter following which stayed with his friend’s brother at Mira Road. In those days, when not a lot of people took up dancing as a profession, D’Souza opened a dance class named Super Brats at Charni Road, and eventually opened two other branches in Borivali and Andheri. The hard-work helped him, and his team win a dance competition, which got him noticed by Ahmed Khan (Choreographer) and Ram Gopal Verma. This was the beginning of Remo D’Souza’s journey in the industry. He got a chance to feature as a background dancer in Rangeela following which he assisted Ahmed Khan. After assisting Ahmed Khan for one year, Remo decided to part off and start choreographing dances independently. His first independent assignment as a choreographer was the music video Deewana directed by Anubhav Sinha featuring Sonu Nigam. The music video was a huge hit and ever since then there was no looking back for Remo as far as choreography was concerned. The first song he choreographed for a Bollywood film was the song Ishq Samunder (Kaante) and even that song was a huge success. Kaante was followed by Tum Bin, and the choreography of that film was also praised. After the success of these two films, there was no looking back for Remo who ended up working on films like Dhoom, Lucky, Saathiya, Aksar, Love Story 2050, Kidnap, Boothnath, Rock On, Bajiaro Mastani, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Student of The Year, Any Body Can Dance, Any Body Can Dance 2, FALTU, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, 2 States, Robot to name a few. In-fact, Remo won the National Award for best choreographed song of the year – Deewani Mastani (Bajirao Mastani), a feat that is just a dream for most of the people in the industry. While working in the above-mentioned films was in itself a success story for a guy who came to Mumbai and spent a night at Bandra Station, Remo D’Souza decided to venture into film direction as well. Remo often believes that the success that he has attained in the industry is a result of his struggle, and being a good human is essential to be successful in this industry. His first directorial was FALTU starring Jacky Bhagnani, and it was a fairly successful venture at the Box-Office. Following FALTU was ABCD and ABCD 2 and both the films proved to be immensely successful at the Box-Office. This was followed by a hiccup in the form of A Flying Jatt, which was not only critically panned, but also tanked at the Box-Office. However, as they say good things often happen with good people. Despte the failure of Flying Jatt, the director is currently gearing up for his biggest assignment till date i.e. Race 3 starring Salman Khan in lead. Who would have thought that a person who at one point of time had no career in Mumbai, would end up directing one of the biggest Bollywood superstars of all time, Salman Khan. Well, the Box-Office result of Race 3 aside, here’s a big kudos to the struggle and achievement of Remo D’Souza in this industry. He managed to leave his mark in this industry without having any godfather, and this is something commendable. As mentioned in the headline, Remo D’Souza’s journey from staying at Bandra station to directing the Bandra boy, Salman Khan in remarkable.

Raazi is a success story. The film grew further on Saturday by collecting 11.30 crore, which is a very good jump considering the fact that even Friday was high at 7.53 crore. The film has collected as much on Saturday as would have been expected on Sunday in the best case scenario. The film is on a winning path already with 18.83 crore in its kitty. This is greater than the entire weekend collections of 102 Not Out [16.65 crore] and Hichki [15.35 crore]. The comparisons here are prudent since each of these films is in the same zone w.r.t. stage and setting along with the budget. Box Office – Raazi It is now a given that the film would have the best weekend amongst niche releases of the year, what with October [20.25 crore] set to be surpassed by a distance. As a matter of fact the Alia Bhatt starrer compares very well in comparison to Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety as well which had taken a lower start [6.42 crore] and still managed to register a very good weekend of 26.57 crore. The trending so far suggested that it would be a very good result for the Meghna Gulzar flick despite the fact that this one is not a quintessential Bollywood entertainer that promised to bring in such major numbers.

Without mincing with the words, in 2012 when Alia Bhatt made her acting debut with Student of The Year, I honestly felt should would end up being another actress who would play the side kick to most the big stars of the industry, without achieving anything substantial in her career. But she proved me wrong, right with her second film, Highway. Although I am not a huge fan of the Imtiaz Ali directorial, I was pleasantly surprised by Alia Bhatt’s mature performance in the scene especially her outburst in the climax. Highway made me believe that Alia Bhatt is here to stay. The film wasn’t a successful venture at Box-Office but played an essential role in establishing Bhatt as an ACTRESS. Highway was followed by two romantic comedies i.e. Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania and 2 States, and apart from looking extremely beautiful in the film, the actress had a substantial part to play in both the films. Her characters in the two films were written in such a way, that it had a lot of scope in terms of performance. Not just did the two films emerge extremely successful at the Box-Office, but also helped Alia strengthen her position in the industry. Raazi However, like it happens with everyone, the lead actors of the film ran away with the credit for success, and in a way deserving so, given the way this industry functions. But alas at that point of time, not many realized that the industry was slowly seeing the rise of an actress, who would end up having a tremendous pull at the ticket window. After the success of the two films, Alia faced a speed breaker in the form of Shaandaar. Not just did the film fail, but it was also critically panned for the over the top performance. Shaandaar was followed up with Kapoor and Sons, and despite not being the centre of attraction in that film, Bhatt won over the audience with her limited screen presence. The success of all the above mentioned film was slowly creating a goodwill around the actress and she started getting popular face for the audience, especially in the metros. After Kapoor and Sons was Udta Punjab, and Alia took a 360 turn with the film. Her performance in the film was one of the major highlights, and it left each and every viewer of the film by shock. The performance was another feather on Alia Bhatt’s cap, and further strengthened her following in the cities. This was followed up by Dear Zindagi. Again, personally, I am not a huge fan of this film as I had my own reservations taking the basic premise, but none the less the actress yet again delivered a power packed performance, thereby leaving a mark again. Like most of her films, even Dear Zindagi was targeted towards the audience in the cities, and worked till a certain extent with the target audience. Badrinath Ki Dulhania marked the return of Alia Bhatt in commercial space, and yet again apart from getting commercial success, she played a character with several dimensions. The success of above mentioned films in the metros helped Alia Bhatt gain a certain amount of credibility in the classes and the same was proved with the opening day collection of Raazi. The film was benefited by a largely accepted trailer backed up with the presence of a popular face for the audience in the metros, which was the target audience for Raazi. And what next? The two factors i.e. accepted trailer and Alia Bhatt’s presence helped the film open to phenomenal numbers. The film was riding on Alia Bhatt’s shoulders and she stood onto the expectations. After a series of successful films and opening a film like Raazi to Rs 7.53 crore proves that the actress has OFFICIALLY arrived and is on her course to become one of the most successful Bollywood actresses of our generation. In-fact, I have no doubts that in today’s time, Alia Bhatt is the second most successful actress of the industry after Deepika Padukone and if she continues her success streak with films like Kalank and Brahmastra, that day isn’t far when she attains the number one spot in this industry. Alia Bhatt’s formula for success is simple: Good Scripts + Author Backed Roles + Smart Budgeting. In-fact, 6 of the 10 films starring Alia Bhatt have been HITS at the Box-Office and two other films i.e. Dear Zindagi and Udta Punjab were successful, although not clean HITS. The only out right flop staring Alia Bhatt in lead till date is Shaandaar, and this is quite a commendable record. Here’s a look at hit films starring Alia Bhatt: Student of The Year: Hit 2 States: Super Hit Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania: Super Hit Kapoor and Sons: Hit Badrinath Ki Dulhania: Super Hit Raazi: Super Hit (Expected)

As there’s a strong buzz for Ryan Reynolds-starrer Deadpool 2” in India, the studio behind it has started the ticket bookings for the film early. Usually, the bookings start on Wednesday or Thursday depending on the screens. But for the Friday release of Deadpool 2, it will open on Sunday. The film is releasing in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. Deadpool 2 “Deadpool is one of the most favourite and unconventional superheroes from Marvel. Deadpool 2 has being generating tremendous buzz and the bookings are huge across portals and theatre windows. We have also received lots of early booking requests from fans and cinema owners,” Vijay Singh, CEO Fox Star Studios, said in a statement to IANS. “Given this exceptional buzz, we along with the exhibitors have decided to open ticket bookings earlier than usual to give the audiences a chance to block their seats,” Singh added. The film tells the story of an adult superhero with a twisted sense of humour. Based on Marvel Comics’ most unconventional anti-hero, Deadpool is the original story of a former Special Forces operative who turns into a mercenary. The sequel also features Josh Brolin, Morena Baccarin, Karan Soni, Zazie Beetz, Brianna Hildebrand, Stefan Kapicic and Leslie Uggam. Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh has lent his voice to the role of Deadpool for the Hindi version.

Actress and former beauty queen Aishwarya Rai Bachchan made a colourful statement with a dramatic butterfly gown by Dubai-based designer Michael Cinco for her first red carpet appearance at the 71st Cannes Film Festival here on Saturday. Aishwarya, who clocks her 17th year at the film jamboree this time as L’Oreal Paris brand ambassador, took a confident walk with the exquisite three meter train trailing behind and catching the attention of the crowd. Aishwarya Rai Steps Out In Butterfly Gown At Cannes Film Festival She walked the red carpet for the premiere of Eva Husson’s French drama Les filles du soleil, starring Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani. With her lips accentuated by a scarlet shade, and eyes done up with a smoky effect, Aishwarya kept her hair straight and simple with a neat middle parting. She kept her accessories minimalistic with just danglers and a couple of rings. In a pre-red carpet video shared on her newly launched Instagram page ‘aishwaryaraibachchan_arb’, Aishwarya is seen walking along with daughter Aaradhya who is dressed in a red ensemble. The actress is seen helping the little diva do a little twirl. “Circle of life,” Aishwarya captioned the image. Before she went for the red carpet, Aishwarya was welcomed with a loud cheer from the crowd. She waved out and signed autographs, apart from gesturing the traditional Indian namaste.

When it comes to make a movie trend from its first day, Alia Bhatt has done a pretty good job with the same. 8.75 crores to 64.44 crores (Dear Zindagi), 9 Crores to 76.81 crores (Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania), 11.75 crores to 104 crores (2 States) and there are much more examples of how her movies have transcended to emerge victorious at the box office. Raazi is on its course of doing the same. Raazi collected 7.53 crores which was solely because of Alia Bhatt’s star-power. A movie takes its opening because of the stars in it, content and director’s share comes after the word of mouth is spread. The trending is because of the content while the opening is because of the stars, trailer and songs. Alia Bhatt’s opening day lies in the range from 3 crores (Highway) to 13 crores (Shaandaar). Interestingly her highest opener Shaandaar was a dud at the box office. Though Raazi has found its place in the bottom 3 when it comes to opening, its trend is an indication of surpassing many films in her lifetime collection. After Kapoor & Sons’s 6.85 crores of day one, Raazi has collected 7.53 crores. It’s somewhere in the range of Dear Zindagi which is next with 8.75 crores. Check out the list of Alia Bhatt’s highest opening day below: Year Film Opening Day Collection Lifetime Collection 2015 Shaandaar 13.10 Cr 42.00 Cr 2017 Badrinath Ki Dulhania 12.25 Cr 116.60 Cr 2014 2 States 11.75 Cr 104.00 Cr 2016 Udta Punjab 10.05 Cr 59.60 Cr 2014 Humpty Sharmi Ki Dulhania 09.00 Cr 76.81 Cr 2012 Student Of The Year 09.00 Cr 70.00 Cr 2016 Dear Zindagi 08.75 Cr 64.44 Cr 2018 Raazi 07.53 Cr 18.83 Cr* 2016 Kapoor & Sons 06.85 Cr 73.03 Cr 2014 Highway 03.75 Cr 27.25 Cr Alia was recently asked about how tough it was too prepare for her role Sehmat in the film, she said “The closest I came to preparing this much was when I did Udta Punjab. For Raazi, I set aside a month before shooting. I cleaned up my Urdu language. I learnt how to drive a jonga (a jeep used by the Indian Army). I learnt some self-defence moves plus some techniques that spies have to learn before they are on their job. It was a lot of hard work and fun. But I think no amount of preparation can really prepare you for that moment when you finally face the camera.”

102 Not Out Box Office: What a run it has being for this Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor starrer till now. The movie opened to an average figure of 3.52 crores but it has trended amazingly well since then. Crossing the 30 crore mark, the movie on its 2nd Saturday has collected in a range similar to its 1st Friday. 102 Not Out completed its 1st week with a very good figure of 27.70 crores. Post this, there was another release in town, Raazi, which was expected to affect its proceedings. But with 1.85 crores on its 2nd Friday and an upward trend on its 2nd Saturday has only shown how 102 Not Out is unstoppable. 102 Not Out Box Office The movie has collected almost double on its 2nd Saturday as compared to its 2nd Friday. It has earned 3.05 crores, which is in the same range as its 1st Friday and that’s an outstanding feat to achieve. The movie now stands at the grand total of 32.60 crores.Not many films are made on senior citizens. Asked why there isn’t much representation of senior citizens in films, Amitabh, 75, recently said: “Senior citizens are very respectable people of our society. If they are not there, we are not there. Whenever we try to make a film on them, we treat them with dignity. I hope that through this film, we will be able to convey the message to our audience.” Adding to that, Rishi said: “He (Amitabh) did films like Piku and Pink. Yes, there are not many films made on senior citizens but there are not many Bachchans around, right?” 102 Not Out, directed by Umesh Shukla, released on May 4.

The highest homeowners insurance rates in the nation belong to ZIP code 33050, home to Conch Key, Florida, according to Insurance.com's analysis of average rates for nearly every ZIP code in the country. ZIP codes in Venice, Louisiana and Pascagoula, Mississippi rank second and third, respectively, behind Conch Key. Homeowners can enter a ZIP code in Insurance.com's average home insurance rates tool to see the average premium for the location, as well as the highest and lowest rates from among six insurers. You can get a customized rate by choosing from among 75 coverage levels, so you know what to expect to pay and can see how much you can save by comparing home insurance companies. Rankings for the priciest ZIP codes were determined by identifying the ZIP code with the highest average rate for home insurance in each state and then listing them in descending order. For the cheapest ZIP codes, rankings were determined by identifying the ZIP code with the least expensive average rate for home insurance and then listing them in ascending order. Insurance.com's analysis showed a national average rate of $1,228 for $200,000 dwelling coverage with a $1,000 deductible and $100,000 in liability. “If you don't compare rates, you can wind up overpaying by hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars,” said Michelle Megna, managing editor of Insurance.com. “Let's look at Indianapolis, India, ZIP code 46220 as an example, because it has the same average rate as the nation. The difference between the highest ($1,710) and lowest rate ($848) among six insurers is $862. So if you don't shop around, and take the policies priced on the higher end of the range, you can be out more than $800. In Conch Key, the most expensive ZIP code in the country, the savings is $17,656. ” Most expensive Florida ZIP code 33050, Conch Key, average annual premium: $11,702 Louisiana ZIP code 70091, Venice, average annual premium: $11,151 Mississippi ZIP code 39593, Pascagoula, average annual premimum: $7,922 Alabama ZIP code 36561, Gulf Shores, average annual premium: $7,850 Texas ZIP code 77550, Galveston, average annual premium: $7,105 Least expensive Hawaii ZIP code 9681, Honolulu, average annual premium: $332 New Jersey ZIP code 07920, Basking Ridge, average annual premium: $485 Idaho ZIP code 83729, Boise, average annual premium: $498 Vermont ZIP code 05404, Winooski/Burlington, average annual premim: $525 Oregon ZIP code 97003, Beaverton, average annual premium: $532 There are many variables to consider when buying homeowner insurance, but you typically start by deciding the coverage amount for the following: dwelling deductible liability medical payments The limits of your coverage for the following are typically a set percentage of your dwelling coverage limit as shown below: other structures - 10 percent personal property - 50 percent (you choose between replacement value or actual cash value) loss of use - 20 percent How much dwelling coverage do I need? When buying homeowners insurance, you should get enough dwelling coverage to match the full replacement cost of your home. The cost to repair damage to your home or rebuild it completely at equal quality - at current prices - is the replacement cost. Figuring out how to calculate home replacement cost can be a challenging task, but can be done by making a thorough inventory of building materials used for your home, using online calculators, or, you can hire an appraiser to do it for you. How much liability coverage do I need? © iStockphoto/Getty Images Liability insurance provides a financial safety net for the household. It pays out when you and your family members are legally responsible for others' injuries or property damage. That's to say, it covers the medical expenses of people who are hurt while in your home or on your property, as well as damage caused to neighbors' property. Personal liability also covers legal fees if you are sued, as well as any resulting judgments from a lawsuit, up to your policy limits. Most home insurance policies come with $100,000 in personal liability insurance but this is rarely enough coverage. The cost to defend a lawsuit or to pay for medical expenses for a serious injury can easily exceed that amount. Most experts recommend upping your limits to at least $300,000. What is medical payments for others and how much do I need? Medical payments coverage pays for injuries to guests in your home, regardless of who is at fault. Medical payments differs from liability insurance in significant ways, primarily in that it is for minor incidents and comes in very low limits of $1,000 or $5,000. The latter amount of $5,000 is recommended. What deductible amount should I choose? © iStockphoto/Getty Images The deductible your share of the repair cost when you file a claim. Your home insurance rate will be lower if you choose a high deductible. If you have a $500 deductible, you're going to pay more on your premiums than if you have a $2,000 deductible. Going with a higher deductible will save you money. It will also reduce your home insurance claims. That's why it's important to know the trade-off you're making - and be comfortable with it -- when choosing a home insurance deductible. How home insurance rates are set, and why they vary by location Home insurance companies assess many factors when setting rates. Rates can fluctuate significantly from state to state, or even neighborhood to neighborhood, depending on how insurers assess the various things they look at to calculate your rate. The biggest factors influencing the cost of homeowners insurance are: Your home's location, which reflects its exposure to hazards, such as storm damage, wild fires, burglaries and so on Your home's value The cost to rebuild your home if it were completely destroyed Local construction costs, which account for building materials availability and price, building regulations, among other factors. Your home's age Risk exposure on your property, for instance, from a swimming pool, trampoline, guest house or aggressive dog breed Your neighborhood's fire protection rating, or, how close your home is to a fire station Your personal and neighborhood claims history, as well as the previous homeowner's claim history Your insurance score, which is based, in part, on your credit score (only two states don't allow this - Maryland and Hawaii)

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) -- The Winnipeg Jets were in rhythm and the Vegas Golden Knights looked rusty. Or, maybe the Jets are just that good. BOX SCORE: JETS 4, GOLDEN KNIGHTS 2 Dustin Byfuglien scored about a minute after the puck dropped and Winnipeg built a three-goal lead early in the first period and went on to beat Vegas 4-2 on Saturday night in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. While the Jets played at home less than 48 hours after advancing past top-seeded Nashville on the road, the Golden Knights were off for nearly a week after eliminating San Jose in the second round. "We didn't have much of a rest," Byfuglien said. "We're still in game mode." Patrik Laine and Joel Armia had goals 46 seconds apart to put the Jets up 3-0. Mark Scheifele gave Winnipeg a 4-1 lead midway on a power play through the second period with his 12th goal this postseason. Brayden McNabb scored midway through the first and William Karlsson had a power-play goal late in the second period to pull Vegas within two, but the expansion team couldn't get closer. "We were chasing the game all night," Golden Knights coach Gerard Gallant said. Winnipeg's Connor Hellebuyck made 18 saves. Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 22 shots for the Golden Knights, whose Stanley Cup-winning goalie has given up at least three goals for the fifth time in six games. "He's the best goalie in the playoffs as far as I'm concerned," Gallant said. Fleury and the Golden Knights will have to be at, or near, their best when the Jets host Game 2 on Monday night before the series shifts to Las Vegas. "Next game, no excuses," Golden Knights center Jonathan Marchessault said. "Everybody needs to come and be ready to play our best game of the playoffs. "We're going to show what kind of team we are." Winnipeg, which is making its deepest playoff run in franchise history, started strong and fast. Vegas, meanwhile, didn't appear anything like the team that took the league by storm in its record-breaking inaugural season. The Jets' fast, deep and talented team had 114 points this season and trailed only the Predators' league-high total by three points. Their success has carried over into the postseason, winning all three Game 1s and avoiding trailing a series. The hard-charging, smooth-passing Jets put the Pacific Division champions on their heels right from the start and didn't relent. "We did take advantage of being game ready," Winnipeg coach Paul Maurice said. White-clad, towel-twirling raucous fans in the arena -- and packed on surrounding streets -- were fired up before the game started. And, they were given plenty of opportunities to celebrate in the opening minutes. Byfuglien's slap shot 1:05 into the game off a drop pass from Scheifele put Winnipeg up 1-0. That ignited the party-like atmosphere in a relatively cozy arena with just 16,345 seats and a low ceiling. "That was huge for us," Jets center Paul Stastny said. "Early in the game, too. And then all of the sudden it gave life to everyone, everyone on the bench, the crowd." Fleury had no shot to stop Laine's one-timer from the left circle off Wheeler's cross-ice pass on a power play at the 6:49 mark of the first. Armia had a goal waved off less than a minute later only to have it restored by a challenge, which overturned the goaltender interference call on the ice. "Sometimes getting your legs a little bit under you takes a few minutes here and they took advantage of it," Fleury said. After the flurry of goals early, the Jets were able to play conservatively to cut down on Vegas' comeback chances. "We were getting the puck deep," Scheifele said. "We weren't fooling around with it in the neutral zone." The Golden Knights pulled Fleury to add an extra skater late in the game, but had to put him back on the ice because there was a faceoff near him. They sent him to the bench again and had some chances to pull within one, but the shot-blocking Jets didn't let the puck get to Hellebuyck much. NOTES: The last time two teams were in the NHL conference finals for the first time was 2003 when Anaheim swept Minnesota. ... Scheifele has four more goals than any player still in the postseason. ... Fleury, a former Pittsburgh Penguin, has four shutouts this postseason and has allowed four goals in three games.

JALALABAD, Afghanistan, May 13 (Reuters) - Afghan security forces battled a group of attackers who stormed a government building in the eastern city of Jalalabad for hours on Sunday after a coordinated assault that killed at least nine people and wounded dozens, local officials said. After a car bomb was detonated at the entrance to the state accounts office, a group of about four gunmen, armed with machine guns and rocket propelled grenades, rushed the building, the officials said. There were multiple blasts as they fought off security forces in a gunbattle that lasted much of the day. The attack took place in a busy area of the city with many other official buildings nearby, including a school in which around 1,000 girls were trapped as the fighting raged. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. It was the latest in a series of high-profile attacks that have killed and wounded hundreds of civilians in Afghanistan this year and put heavy pressure on the Western-backed government of President Ashraf Ghani. Most have been in the capital Kabul, but in January gunmen attacked an office of aid group Save the Children in Jalalabad, killing at least five people and wounding 25. That attack, claimed by Islamic State, followed much the same pattern as Sunday's incident. After several hours of fighting which sent plumes of smoke rising into the sky above the accounts office, Attahullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the provincial governor, said Sunday's clash had ended with all the gunmen killed. Public health officials said at least nine people, including a child, had been killed and 36 wounded. Witnesses said the explosions had caused carnage among passers-by. "I saw two rickshaw drivers on the ground with their arms blown off," said Khan Mohammad, a local resident who saw the initial blasts and the start of the gunbattle. Violence has escalated across Afghanistan since the announcement of the Taliban's annual spring offensive last month and there have been heightened security fears around preparations for elections in October. Dozens of people have been killed in voter registration centres in recent weeks, leading to fears that people could stay away from the elections, seen as a major test of the government's credibility. At the same time, Taliban fighters have stepped up the pressure on government forces across the country, from Baghlan province in the north, where they seized a district centre last week, to Farah in the southwest or Ghazni, south of Kabul. Last year, the United States increased its support to struggling Afghan forces, announcing plans for thousands of additional advisers and more air strikes in a bid to force the Taliban to enter peace negotiations.

China's first domestically built aircraft carrier began sea trials on Sunday, a historic step in the country's mission to build a navy capable of rivaling the world's leading maritime powers. The new aircraft carrier, temporarily named Type 001A, sailed out at around 7 a.m. in Dalian, in the northeast province of Liaoning, according to reports in Chinese state media. The ship will become the country's second aircraft carrier, and the first to be entirely built and designed inside of China, when it joins the navy as early as the end of this year. The carrier's maiden sea trials follows a speech given by Chinese President Xi Jinping on April 12, in which he announced plans to build a "world-class" navy under the banner of the Chinese Communist Party. China's first carrier, the Liaoning, a retrofitted Soviet-era Ukrainian vessel, was hailed as the fulfillment of a "70-year dream" of the Chinese nation when it launched to much celebration in 2012. But experts said while the new aircraft carrier will dramatically boost China's military power in the Asia region, its technology was still outdated and lagged far behind the world's naval superpower, the United States. "This is, in and of itself, not designed to be some frontal challenge to US power in the Asia Pacific, because it simply isn't in the class of America's aircraft carriers," Sam Roggeveen, senior fellow at Sydney's Lowy Institute, told CNN. Bigger and better © China Ministry of National Defense China's second aircraft carrier was launched at a ceremony on April 26, 2017 China's second aircraft carrier will be "modernized" compared to its first, experts said, with a design that's bigger and heavier to allow it to carry more planes. The basic design for the new aircraft carrier is clearly modeled heavily on the Liaoning, including the signature ski-jump inclination at the front from which aircraft lift off. Speaking to CNN, RAND Corporation senior international defense research analyst Timothy Heath described the design as generally easier to build and to operate aircraft from. But expert analysis of pictures and satellite images of the new China-built vessel reveals it has been altered in subtle ways, possibly allowing it to accommodate up to eight additional aircraft. By comparison, the Liaoning is thought to currently carry around 30 warplanes, including fixed wing aircraft and helicopters. According to Peter Layton, visiting fellow at the Griffith Asia Institute, the Liaoning was intended to act as more of a training vessel, whereas the new ship is likely to be deployed in real world missions. © ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP/AFP/Getty Images China's sole aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, arrives in Hong Kong waters on July 7, 2017. As of this year, the United States Navy fields 11 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, more than any other nation in the world. The US ships feature "catapult" technology, in which a gear attached to a steam-powered piston or an electromagnetic rail gets aircraft up to flight speed as they leave the deck. Aircraft launched by catapults can get airborne and with greater quantities of fuel and ammunition, giving them an advantage over Chinese planes, which rely on their own power when lifting off from the Liaoning's ski-jump. Still more sea trials needed Once an aircraft carrier passes its sea trials, that doesn't mean it's ready for combat. Although the type 001A has successfullyleft the ship yard,plenty of problems can, and most likely will, arise. In late 2017, the United Kingdom's new aircraft carrier, the HMS Queen Elizabeth, embarrassingly sprung a leak during sea trials and needed repairs. In the United States, the USS Gerald R Ford, the US Navy's newest carrier and the most expensive warship ever built at $13 billion, has a host of problems. The Ford was commissioned into the fleet in July 2017, however, a January 2018 report from the Pentagon's Operational Test and Evaluation Office says the 100,000-ton warship is plagued with troubles in critical systems, including its catapults that launch planes, the arresting gear which catches them upon landing, and its radar. Those deficiencies "make the ship more vulnerable to attack, or create limitations during routine operations," the report said. Other problems are more mundane, but show just how many things have to be ironed out in a new warship: The test office report says the Ford is expected to be short of spaces for its crew to sleep. Future of the Chinese navy China may still be a long way from presenting a global challenge to the US Navy, but as a regional power its military program is moving fast. With a military budget in 2018 of $175 billion dollars, up 8% on the year before, the Chinese military is pushing ahead rapidly with its modernization drive. Between 2010 and 2017, the Chinese Navy increased its complement of ships from 210 to 320, Boston College professor of political science Robert Ross told CNN, including another 18 in 2016 alone. By comparison, the active US fleet currently sits at approximately 272 ships, he said. Meanwhile, the PLA has begun work on its third aircraft carrier, according to the South China Morning Post, which is rumored to employ a more advanced launch system different from the ski-jump. "The US Navy and the capability for the US Navy will still be superior to the Chinese Navy in 10 years, but the size of the Chinese fleet will be larger and they'll have closed the gap in technology and training," Ross said. China has made no secret of its desire to build a modern, "blue-water" navy which could operate around the world. "If you look at China's acquisitions of facilities in the Indian Ocean and in Eastern Africa, they're quickly developing the capability to maintain a naval presence in distant waters," Ross said. Still, the main focus of the PLA Navy in the near future is expected to be dominating the waters around the Chinese mainland, including the South China Sea. China is fortifying islands in the region with facilities that could host military aircraft, creating what some experts have called "unsinkable aircraft carriers." Last week, US intelligence assessed that there is a high probability the Chinese military had deployed anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles to three artificial islands there during recent military drills. Compared to the rest of the Asia region, Ross said, only Japan can currently equal the Chinese navy and even then they probably only had about five years before they too would be surpassed.

JERUSALEM — Israel is preparing a series of festivities Sunday to celebrate the opening of the new U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, a move that has ignited Palestinian protests and raised fears of a further outbreak of violence. As Israel marks Jerusalem Day, the 51st anniversary of what it refers to as the city's "unification" following the 1967 war, it will also be hosting a gala reception for Monday's embassy dedication that will include members of a delegation led by President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka, his senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Secretary of Treasury Steven Mnuchin. Dozens of foreign diplomats are expected, though many ambassadors of European nations who oppose the move will skip it. Hungary, the Czech Republic and Romania have reportedly blocked a joint EU statement on the issue. Israel captured east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed it in a move not recognized internationally. The Palestinians want east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state, and view the relocation of the embassy from Tel Aviv to the contested city as a blatantly one-sided move that invalidates the U.S. as a Mideast peace broker. Trump's decision in December to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital ignited months of protests in the Palestinian territories. The weekly protests along the Israel-Gaza border are expected to culminate Monday in parallel to the celebrations in Jerusalem. Since Mar. 30, 42 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the weekly protests aimed primarily against the decade-long blockade of Gaza. More than 1,800 have been wounded. Gaza's Hamas rulers have led the protests, which are aimed to peak this week with the 70th anniversary of what the Palestinians call the "nakba," or catastrophe, referring to their mass uprooting during the Mideast war over Israel's 1948 creation. Organizers have indicated they may try to breach the border with Israel. Israel says it has a right to defend its border and has accused Hamas of using the protests as a cover for attacking it. On Saturday, it destroyed the sixth Hamas attack tunnel it has uncovered in as many months. Rights groups say the use of potentially lethal force against unarmed protesters is unlawful. A high-ranking delegation of Gaza's Hamas rulers headed to Egypt on Sunday, amid diplomatic efforts aimed at containing the mass rally. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meanwhile said Israel would be celebrating Trump's decision. "President Trump promised to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and he did so. He promised to move the American Embassy to Israel and he is doing so. Of course we will all celebrate this day, a real celebration, tomorrow," he said at a weekly Cabinet meeting. Most countries have traditionally kept their embassies in coastal Tel Aviv rather than the contested holy site of Jerusalem. But after Trump's move both Guatemala and Paraguay announced that they planned to follow suit.

Among recent pilgrims to the Arizona ranch of Senator John McCain was Joe Biden. The Republican, who has an aggressive form of brain cancer, urged the former vice-president to “not walk away” from politics, Biden told the New York Times. It did not take much imagination to see this as a metaphorical shove – into the next race for the White House. Related: ‘John McCain is not fighting a losing battle’: a senator defends his legacy Biden has the desire, the pedigree – and the rage. On Friday, incensed by reports that a White House aide had dismissed McCain with the terse comment “he’s dying anyway”, the 75-year-old Democrat let rip, declaring that decency in the administration had finally hit “rock bottom”. It was just the latest evidence that Biden is spoiling for a fight with Donald Trump. Whereas Barack Obama has maintained a zen-like calm even as his legacy is eviscerated, Biden has taken the gloves off, hammering the president’s policies and personal conduct, even suggesting that he would like to “beat the hell out of” Trump over his crude remarks about women. But in 2020 he would be up against the most competitive and crowded Democratic field in many years. The point will be brought home on Tuesday, when the Center for American Progress in Washington hosts potential contenders including senators Cory Booker, Sherrod Brown, Kirsten Gillibrand, Amy Klobuchar, Chris Murphy, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, as well as the former housing secretary Julián Castro and New York mayor Bill de Blasio. Bill Galston, a former policy adviser to Bill Clinton, said: “There are three lanes to look at. In lane one, there is ‘Bernie-lite’, which could be Bernie himself. In lane two, there are people who think, for a variety of reasons, that’s not the right way for the Democratic party to go and we ought to be 21st-century reformers. “Lane three is the Biden lane. He’s really sui generis. If people are looking for a unifier and don’t want to shed internecine blood, the argument for Biden could be potent. On the other hand, he has always underperformed as a presidential candidate in the past.” Biden made unsuccessful bids for the presidency in 1988 and 2008. He did not run in 2016 after the death of his son Beau. But he has repeatedly not ruled out a shot at 2020. He published a book, Promise Me, Dad, and has been travelling the country, a tour extended beyond its original schedule. This week, at an event organised by his own foundation and the Brookings Institution, he expressed indignation at the plight of the middle class, offered a preview of a nascent manifesto and frequently veered off script for dramatic effect. “I love Bernie but I’m not Bernie Sanders,” he said. “I don’t think 500 billionaires are the reason why we’re in trouble … We have not seen this huge concentration of wealth. The folks at the top aren’t bad guys. I get in trouble in my party when I say wealthy Americans are just as patriotic as poor folks. I’ve found no distinction, I really haven’t.” But then, in what some might find a contradiction, he went on: “This gap is yawning. It’s gaping and it’s having the effect of pulling us apart. You see the politics of it. And the country’s not going to stand for it forever so we have to deal with the tax code. It’s wildly skewed toward taking care of those at the very top. It overwhelmingly favours investors over workers and it’s riddled with unproductive expenditures.” The paradoxical comments illustrated Biden’s dilemma – or opportunity. On the one hand, he is a centrist and having spent 36 years as a senator and eight years as vice-president can hardly be described as an outsider. On the other, he has faced criticism over links to the financial services industry, a major presence in his home state, Delaware. A New York Times report three years ago noted that Biden supported a bill in 2005 that would have made it more difficult for consumers to seek bankruptcy protection. Obama voted against it. Executives and employees of the credit card issuer MBNA contributed roughly $200,000 to Biden campaigns from 1989 to 2010, the paper said. Warren was among those who called him out on it. Related: The Restless Wave review: John McCain on Trump, duty and Putin's 'evil' Still, as Democrats tack left on issues such as healthcare, Biden may seek to tap into the economic populism that propelled Sanders to run Hillary Clinton close in 2016. Many pundits have speculated that straight-talking Biden would have done better than Clinton at appealing to blue-collar voters and neutralising Trump in the ultimately decisive states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. In his speech at Brookings, there was a glimpse of how Biden might attempt to play both sides. “If you listen to Barack, you’d think I climbed out of a coalmine with a lunch bucket from Scranton in my hand,” he said of his Pennsylvania origins, prompting laughter. “It’s not true.” His father was “a white-collar worker, a salesperson”, he said, who moved the family in search of greener pastures. Biden portrayed himself as an everyman. He said his own three children each graduated from university with six-figure debts despite working 30 hours a week and financial support from their parents. He distanced himself from political action committees and the curse of money in politics. “You may remember,” he said, “that when I filed my financial disclosure as vice-president the front page of the Washington Post said it’s probable no man has ever assumed the office of vice-president with fewer assets than Joe Biden. “My net worth was between $50-150,000. When I left [public office] after 44 years it was still between $50,000-150,000 because I said I’d never own a stock or bond for fear of conflict, I would never engage in a business enterprise, even those that were legal and appropriate, and I would never accept an honorarium. So I got the dubious distinction but I also had absolute independence my whole career.” His policies offer a blend of pragmatism and progressivism. He proposed fixing the tax code so that it no longer favours investors over workers and free community college funded by eliminating the stepped-up basis tax expenditure that allows heirs to reduce the capital gains taxes they pay on inherited assets. “Every state university should be free,” he said, in an echo of Sanders. “We can afford it.” Biden demanded the removal of workers’ barriers to fair pay – “Give me an economic reason why a sandwich maker has to sign a non-compete clause” – a massive infrastructure rebuilding programme – “I got in trouble as vice-president when I landed in La Guardia and I said this is a third-world airport” – and a scheme that would encourage investment in innovation and entrepreneurship beyond the usual major cities. There was also an audition for the role of candidate willing to go toe to toe with Trump. “There has been such a fertile ground for this phony populism that we are living through now, and it is a phony populism as my friend John McCain would say,” said Biden, earthy and pugnacious. “It’s all about making room for the abuse of power.” ‘The audacity of grope’ For all the efforts at triangulation, and his liberal credentials on abortion and gay marriage, the former vice-president has counts against him. They include his age, his Clinton-like association with the party establishment and copious video footage of him touching women, dubbed “the audacity of grope” by Comedy Central’s The Daily Show – hardly a message the party wants to promote, even if Trump has been accused of worse. Related: Promise Me, Dad review – moving Biden memoir that wonders: could he have beaten Trump? Henry Olsen, a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and author of The Working Class Republican, said: “We’re in the MeToo era. He has a reputation for being more tactile than is socially appropriate. There is energy in the feminist wing of the Democratic party and part of that is driven by the sexual misconduct allegations against Trump.” Olsen added: “Joe Biden has wanted to be president for decades. I’d be really surprised if he didn’t go for it this time. This is his last chance. In the polls last time, he was clearly drawing from the right of the Democratic party. That isn’t going to change. The hardline progressive isn’t going to say, ‘Joe’s our man.’ That means he has the weaker hand.” Biden may have to jostle for position with Harris, Sanders and other senators, former attorney general Eric Holder, ex-Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe, former New Orleans mayor Mitch Landrieu and Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti. Even so, Bob Shrum, a Democratic strategist and senior adviser to past presidential campaigns, said: “The most likely person, in my view, is Joe Biden. He has the broadest support in the party. He can speak across the constituencies and he’s well liked. That’s important.”

In a battle of Brazilian legends, it was Lyoto Machida who proved victorious over Vitor Belfort. The middleweight bout opened up the main card of today's UFC 224 event at Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro. It aired on pay-per-view following prelims on FX and UFC Fight Pass. Machida set up in the center to start, bouncing lightly as he looked to counter, but Belfort was patient in the early going. Both men were wary of the other, leading to some caution that frustrated the fans in the first few minutes. Machida eventually reached forward with a sneaky kick that saw the heel touch the chin, but Belfort retreated before his opponent could follow. Machida was clearly the more active fighter, and he appeared the quicker man, as well. Belfort opened up briefly in the latter stages of the frame, but it was Machida's kicks from range that proved the best offense in the first. Machida continued to use kicks to keep his opponent at distance, before a front kick landed clean to the face, sending Belfort crashing to the canvas. Machida didn't bother to follow the devastating blow, which ended the fight in spectacular fashion reminiscent of Anderson Silva's famed 2011 knockout of "The Phenom." "I trained a lot for this fight, but I did not train the front kick that much," Machida said after the fight. "But when you are well-trained and well-prepared, you can see the fight more clearly and be able to do things that you did not even train. I know it was a lot like the kick I got in Randy Couture when he retired, with the difference that his was right and that was left, so maybe it is the history repeating itself. "Let's wait for the next opponent the UFC is going to give me. I would like to fight Michael Bisping. It's another fight that could have happened and did not. I want to fight a few more times this year." After a frustrating three-fight losing streak, Machida (24-8 MMA, 16-8 UFC) now owns back-to-back victories. Belfort (26-14 MMA, 15-11 UFC), at 41, kept to plan and announced his intention to end his fighting days following the contest.

An African woman and her children were kicked off a United Airlines flight after a fellow passenger complained that she had a “pungent” odor, according to a racial discrimination lawsuit filed against the company. The incident involving the passenger, a white male, happened two years ago, when Queen Obioma, a Nigerian citizen, and her two children were boarding a flight from Houston to San Francisco. The family had flown from Lagos, Nigeria, and were on the second leg of a three-flight journey to Ontario, Canada. Obioma saw that the other passenger had sat in her assigned seat in the business-class cabin, according to the lawsuit, which was filed Friday in federal court in Houston. The passenger refused to move, so a flight crew member, instead, asked Obioma to sit elsewhere in business class. Later, before takeoff, Obioma went to use the bathroom. On her way back to her seat, the same passenger was standing in the aisle and blocking her from getting to her seat, the lawsuit says. She said “excuse me” three times, but was ignored. After several minutes, Obioma managed to squeeze her way to her seat. But just after she sat down, a crew member told Obioma to go outside the aircraft, where another employee told her that she will be removed from the flight. The lawsuit says the pilot had personally requested that she be removed because the male passenger, who was not identified, had complained that her smell was “pungent,” and he was not comfortable flying with her. “At that point Ms. Obioma was lost, confused and disoriented. Her mind went blank and she was utterly befuddled,” according to the complaint. Obioma explained that she was taking her children to school in Canada for the first time, and that they had appointments they could not miss. Despite her situation, crew members refused to let Obioma back onto the aircraft and removed the entire family from the flight. “Ms. Obioma watched her minor children marched out of the aircraft like criminals, confused and perplexed … She sobbed uncontrollably for a long time,” the complaint says, adding that the children, who were seated in the economy cabin, were humiliated. United Airlines’s media office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday. In a statement to the Houston Chronicle, a spokesman said the company has not been served with the lawsuit and is unable to comment because of the pending litigation. The lawsuit alleges that United Airlines discriminated against Obioma and her children during the incident on March 4, 2016 at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston because they were black. It also accuses crew members of singling out Obioma, not because she was being disruptive, but because a white man — who refused to sit in his own assigned seat — did not want to share a plane with her. The mother and her children waited for five hours before they could get on another flight and missed their scheduled appointments. Obioma also incurred more expenses, the lawsuit says. The lawsuit is just the latest black eye for United when it comes to customer service issues. In April 2017, a viral video showed Chicago airport security officers forcibly dragging a passenger from a flight. The removal of David Dao, who was seen with a bloodied mouth in the video, resulted in the firing of two airport security officers and suspension of two others. Dao reached an undisclosed settlement with United a few weeks after the incident, according to the Associated Press. Last month, one of the fired security officers, James Long, sued United and the city of Chicago, claiming he wasn’t properly trained to deal with the situation and that he had been defamed, CBS reported. Then in July, a passenger had to hold her 2-year-old son in her lap for four hours because the airline had sold his seat to a standby passenger. And in March, a passenger’s 10-month-old puppy suffocated to death after a flight attendant forced the owner to place it in an overhead compartment.

SAN FRANCISCO -- You probably know where your Social Security card, birth certificate and other sensitive information is being stored, but what about your genetic material? If you or your child was born in California after 1983, your DNA is likely being stored by the government, may be available to law enforcement and may even be in the hands of outside researchers, CBS San Francisco's Julie Watts reports. Like many states, California collects bio-samples from every child born in the state. The material is then stored indefinitely in a state-run biobank, where it may be purchased for outside research. State law requires that parents are informed of their right to request the child's sample be destroyed, but the state does not confirm parents actually get that information before storing or selling their child's DNA. KPIX has learned that most parents are not getting the required notification. We've also discovered the DNA may be used for more than just research. In light of the Cambridge Analytica-Facebook scandal and the use of unidentified DNA to catch the Golden State Killer suspect, there are new concerns about law enforcement access, and what private researchers could do with access to the DNA from every child born in the state. The Lifesaving Test It all begins with a crucial and potentially lifesaving blood test. The Newborn Genetic Screening test is required in all 50 states, and is widely believed to be a miracle of modern medicine. Nearly every baby born in the United States gets a heel prick shortly after birth. Their newborn blood fills six spots on a special filter paper card. It is used to test baby for dozens of congenital disorders that, if treated early enough, could prevent severe disabilities and even death. It's estimated that newborn screening leads to a potentially life-saving early diagnosis each year for 5,000 to 6,000 children nationwide. The California Department of Public Health reports that from 2015-2017 alone, the Newborn Screening test diagnosed 2,498 babies with a "serious congenital disorder that, if left untreated could have caused irreparable harm or death." But, unless you or your child is diagnosed with one of these disorders, the test is often lost in the fog of childbirth. We randomly selected six new moms and asked what they knew about their child's genetic test. Three of the moms remembered the heel prick, while the other three say they think they knew about the test. But, like most parents, none knew what happened to their baby's leftover blood spots after the test. They were shocked when KPIX reporter Julie Watts explained it to them. Your rights after the test The lab generally only needs a few of the blood spots for the baby's own potentially lifesaving genetic test. They use to collect five blood spots total from each child in California, they've now increased that to six. Some states destroy the blood spots after a year, 12 states store them for at least 21 years. California, however, is one of a handful of states that stores the remaining blood spots for research indefinitely in a state-run biobank. Even though the parents pay for the lifesaving test itself, the child's leftover blood spots become property of the state and may be sold to outside researchers without the parent's knowledge or consent. "I just didn't realize there was a repository of every baby born in the state. It's like fingerprints," new mom Soniya Sapre responded. Amanda Feld, who had her daughter 15 months ago, was concerned in light of recurring data breaches. "We know that companies aren't very good at keeping data safe. They try," she said. New mom Nida Jafri chimed in, "There should be accountability and transparency on what it's being used for." "Blood is inherently or intrinsically identifiable,"added Sapre. Some states allow parents to opt-in or give informed consent before they store the child's sample. In California, however, in order to get the potentially lifesaving genetic test for your child, you have no choice but to allow the state to collect and store the remaining samples. You do have the right to ask the biobank to destroy the leftovers after the fact, though the agency's website states it "may not be able to comply with your request." You also have the right to find out if your child's blood spots have been used for research, but you would have to know they were being used in the first place and we've discovered that most parents don't. Samples used to save more lives Dr. Fred Lorey, the former director of the California Genetic Disease Screening Program, explained that blood spot samples are invaluable to researchers. "They're important because these samples are needed to create new testing technology," Lorey said. He explained that they're primarily used to identify new diseases and improve the current tests, ultimately saving more babies With nearly 500,000 births a year, California's biobank is, by far, the largest and is crucial for research nationwide. According to the Department of Public Health, more than 9.5 million blood spot samples have been collected since 2000 alone. The state has stored blood spots since 1983. As a result, California can now test newborns for more than 80 different disorders, more than any other state. The standard panel nationwide is around 30 disorders. But researchers with the California Genetic Disease Screening Program aren't the only ones with access to samples stored in the biobank. Blood spots are given to outside researchers for $20 to $40 per spot. Regulations require that the California Genetic Disease Screening Program to be self-supporting. "It has to pay for itself," Lorey noted. Allowing outside researchers to buy newborn bloodspots helps to recoup costs. According to biobank records, the program sold about 16,000 blood spots over the past five years, totaling a little more than $700,000. By comparison, the program reported $128 million in revenue during the last fiscal year alone, mostly generated by the fees parents pay for the test. Parents are charged around $130 on their hospital bill for the Newborn Screening Test itself. Making money off your DNA But while the state may not be making money off your child's DNA, Lorey admitted that there is the potential for outside researchers to profit off your child's genetic material. "Do any of those studies result in something that the company can make money from?" reporter Julie Watts asked Lorey in a recent interview. "Could they create a test or treatment that they ultimately profit from?" "Theoretically, yes," Lorey admitted. "I'm not aware of any cases that that's happened because virtually all, not all, of these researchers that have made requests are scientific researchers." He explained that researchers who request the spots must meet specific criteria. Their studies must first be approved by a review board. They're also supposed to return or destroy remaining blood spot samples after use. However, privacy advocates point to the Cambridge Analytica-Facebook scandal where third-party researchers were supposed to destroy data, but instead used it for profit – and untimely to attempt to influence a presidential election. Watts pressed Lorey on that point. "So there is no possibility a researcher may request blood spots for a specific research experiment … but then keep blood spots without the department's knowledge to be used for other purposes?" she asked. "I want to say no" he said. "But I'm not ready to say no because I know how humans can be sometimes." "De-identified DNA" However, Lorey stressed that the blood spots cards, stored in the state biobank, are "de-identified." There is no name or medical information on the card, just the blood spots and a number. Lorey explained the identifying information is stored in a separate building and after a few years is microfiched so it's not even kept on a server. Samples do need to be re-identified for various reasons, but Lorey says, in those cases, parents are notified. And to be clear, he stressed, there is also no genome database. The state does not sequence or extract the DNA from the blood spots collected, although a researcher might, depending on the study. Privacy advocates, like Consumer Watchdog's Jamie Court insist DNA is inherently identifiable. "There is no such thing as de-identified DNA," Court said. "The very nature of DNA is that it identifies you and your genetic code specifically." Court points to the recent case of the Golden State Killer. Investigators used public ancestry sites to identify a murder suspect using decades-old unidentified DNA from a crime scene. And we've learned, researchers aren't the only ones with access to the blood spots. Law enforcement access A public records request revealed coroners often use blood spots to identify bodies, and at least one parent requested blood spots to prove paternity. Law enforcement also can — and does — request identified blood spots. We found at least five search warrants and four court orders, including one to test a child's blood for drugs at birth. According to the Department Of Public Health, "Only a court order can provide a third-party (including law enforcement) access to an identified stored specimen without parental consent." "I think the storage of DNA for purposes other than medical research without informed consent clearly is violating a duty and a trust that the state has to the public," Court said. "What are they trying to hide?" State law says parents should know -- they don't According to the Department of Public Health, it's not hiding anything. The agency points to page 13 of the Newborn Screening brochure which does disclose that the blood spots are stored. "In addition to being available on the Internet in multiple languages, healthcare providers give the brochure to parents prenatally and at birthing centers and hospitals," the Department of Public Health stated. We asked the six new moms to bring in all the paperwork they collected from the hospital. Only one of the six women actually had the required newborn screening pamphlet and she admitted that between delivering a baby and learning to raise a tiny human, she hadn't found the time to flip to page 13. "I feel like that's something that should have been discussed with us in person, not on whatever page in a document," another new mom, Lesley Merritt, responded. Argelia Barcena added that they were not told the pamphlet was crucial or mandatory reading material. "I saw it as reference material, to refer to if needed, they dont tell you 'you must read it,'" she pointed out. Keep in mind new parents are generally sent home with folders full of paperwork including a variety of medical testing forms and pamphlets with information ranging from breastfeeding and vaccines, to sudden infant death and CPR. "Everyone who came into our room gave us another pamphlet," New Mom Amanda Feld pointed out. In the case of the Genetic Screening Pamphlet, the moms agreed they wouldn't have thought it was relevant to read after the fact unless their child was actually diagnosed. And they're not alone. We conducted an exclusive Survey USA news poll of parents with kids born in California over the past five years. While a majority of parents reported that they did know about the life-saving test, three-quarters said they didn't know the state would store the leftover blood spots indefinitely for research, and two-thirds weren't sure they ever got the newborn screening information. When we read the six moms that portion of page 13 that disclosed the blood spots could be used for outside research, they noted that it's not clear the blood spots are stored indefinitely, available to law enforcement, nor that using blood spots for "department approved studies" means giving them to outside researchers." P.13 states: "Are the stored blood spots used for anything else? Yes. California law requires the NBS program to use or provide newborn screening specimens for department approved studies of diseases in women and children, such as research related to identify-ing and preventing disease." Lorey helped draft previous versions of the pamphlet. He agreed that the portion on page 13 "could be clarified," but he said he believed the information included provides "adequate disclosure." He was surprised, however, when Watts showed him all the forms she was sent home from the hospital with and he acknowledged it could be difficult for parents to digest it all while also learning to care for a newborn. He was also surprised to see the version of the newborn screening brochure that Watts was given. Instead of the required 14-page pamphlet with the storage disclosure on page 13, she had a one page, tri-fold hand-out with no mention of storage, or a parent's right to opt out of it. Instead there was a web link where parents could go "For more information…" Required disclosure State regulations say that parents are supposed to get the full 14 page pamphlet twice, once before their due date, and again in the hospital before the heel prick test. But in practice, most parents say they didn't even see the pamphlet until after the test, if they got it at all. While the state says it "distributes more than 700,000 copies of the booklets to health providers each year," it admits that it doesn't track whether doctors are giving them out. It also does not confirm parents are informed of their rights to opt out of storage before storing or selling the child's DNA. Federal law Under federal law, blood spots are currently defined as human subjects, and therefore require informed consent for federal research. But, that doesn't apply to private researchers, and even that protection is about to expire when a new federal policy, known as the Common Rule, takes effect this year. Following strong opposition from the research community, proposed protections for unidentified bio-specimens were stripped from the final rule. This means researchers won't need consent to use de-identified blood spots, and, in some cases, can even use identified blood spots without consent. It's ultimately up to each state to develop their own policies on disclosure. Parents in Texas successfully sued the state, ultimately forcing their biobank to destroy samples taken for research without consent or disclosure. State law In California, the newborn screening law doesn't actually authorize the state to store a child's leftover blood spots after the test, or give it to outside researchers, it only authorizes the life-saving genetic test itself. However, the newborn screening law does say that state may store samples of the mother's prenatal blood, which is taken early in the pregnancy, but only if the mother opts in. Parents don't get to opt in to storing their baby's DNA however and that was not decided by voters or lawmakers. While the newborn screening law was enacted by the state legislature, the authorization to store every child's DNA and sell it to researchers is actually in a separate regulation enacted by the Director of California Department of Public Health. It says that a child's "blood specimen and information," collected during a test paid for by the child's parents, becomes "property of the state." "Any tissue sample that is given in a hospital or any medical facility, once it's given, is no longer your property," Lorey explained. "You can agree with that or disagree with that, but it happens to be the law." In 2015, former California Assemblyman Mike Gatto introduced a law that would have initially made both the test and storage opt-in. It was strongly opposed by the powerful hospital and research lobbies, and after several revisions, it died in the Senate Health Committee. Health advocates said their primary opposition at the time was due to the fact that Gatto's bill would have made both the test and storage opt in, and since the test itself is crucial to saving lives, they said the test should not be optional. Researchers, on the other hand, oppose letting parents opt in to the storage too because they believe they would get fewer samples if parents had a choice. But, that doesn't seem to be the case in California. Calif. moms opt in to prenatal Along with newborn blood spots, the California Genetic Disease Screening Program also tests mothers' blood in the first and second trimesters, and they're allowed to opt in. About 90 percent of pregnant women do opt in to letting the state store their own blood for research. And, unlike the newborn screening test, a majority of moms said they do remember the disclosures and pamphlets about their own genetic test, because they got them early in the pregnancy. Eighty four percent of parents surveyed said they think they should get information about their child's genetic screening at the same time they learn about their own. That would give them time — several months without the distraction of a newborn — to process the information and understand their rights before the child is born. Many said they also should have the right to opt out of storage before their child's DNA is stored, or at least give informed consent before it is sold for research. The problem with opting in Critics of the opt-in option point to Texas. Following a lawsuit by parents, the biobank was forced to destroy blood spots that were taken without consent to store them for research. Now Texas allows parents to opt-in to storage. When the potentially life-saving screening test is given in Texas, a storage consent form with a matching ID number is given to the parents to take home from the hospital and review. Blood spots are not stored in the biobank unless parents sign and return the consent form. As a result, a significant percentage of samples are destroyed. Critics note that many parents never return the form, likely in part due to the distractions of a new baby. Ultimately, that hurts the biobank and researchers because they get fewer samples, and more importantly, fewer samples from certain communities. This means that research performed with those samples may not be valid for the entire population. In contrast, research performed with samples from California's biobank is considered very strong and applicable to all babies. A Calif. opt-in solution Parents and advocates we spoke with in California would like to see the informed consent given out early in the pregnancy, long before the due date, which may lead to a higher opt-in rate than in Texas. An opt-in early in the pregnancy would require a system in place to match the mothers' consent forms, collected in the first trimester, with the babies' blood spots, collected months later by hospital staff. Lorey said California already has a similar matching system in place for the prenatal genetic test so it does seem feasible. Court believes parents should have the right to opt-in before their baby's genetic material is collected and stored indefinitely by the state, though that would be fought hard by the powerful hospital and research lobbies in Sacramento. "Informed consent basically means we should know what we're donating a sample for," Court said. "If hospitals and the medical complex is so concerned that if we knew that we might not donate our samples, than we absolutely need to know what they're doing with them because it suggests there is a purpose beyond what we know." Meanwhile, a majority of parents surveyed said they would have opted-in to storage if given the chance. Additionally, they said they're more likely to destroy their child's sample now than they would have been if they had been notified of their rights to begin with. Both the California Hospital Association and the March of Dimes, which opposed previous legation that would have allowed parents to opt-in, say they are now open to improving the way the state informs parents that their child's samples will be stored and "may be used to advance research." However, neither has an official position on allowing parents to opt-in to storage. Short of an opt-in, Court said he thinks there should at least be a tracking mechanism to ensure every parent is getting complete and accurate information about the storage early in the pregnancy, before the DNA samples are stored. Since state law already requires prenatal doctors to provide the information, Court notes, it wouldn't be a stretch to require they also get a signature from moms, allowing the state to track whether or not parents are actually getting the information. What next? So the questions remain: Should parents have the right to know that their child's DNA will be stored indefinitely in a state-run biobank and may be available to law enforcement? Should the state have to confirm that parents are informed of their rights before it stores and sells the child's DNA? Who has the power to make that happen? Karen Smith, appointed by Governor Brown, is the current Director of the Department of Public Health. She has the power to adopt new regulations. Though, for a more permanent fix, lawmakers in Sacramento would need to pass new legislation. We've shared our findings with several state lawmakers on the Assembly Privacy Committee. Many were shocked to learn that the state was storing DNA samples from every baby born in the state and selling them to outside researchers without parents' knowledge or consent.