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  • Headed For The Future | Instep

    Headed For The Future | Instep

    Know What You Did Last Summer, slated for release later this month, is not a re-release of the same film, which caught the attention of critics and viewers (particularly teenagers) in 1997. Are you as excited as we are? The nineties generation certainly is. As fans of the original film or slasher cinema get excited for its return, here’s what we know about the upcoming film.

    The title is not exactly a misnomer for several reasons. For one thing, out of the franchise, the only film that had the audience hooked was the first film. The second film was a forgettable affair. And the less said about the one-season series from Amazon, the better. This idea to make a series without the original actors was so banal that even the streaming audience couldn’t stomach it. A second season never happened.

    However, after many wrongs, discussions began for a film with a new story featuring a cast comprising some of the original actors as well as newer ones.

    The major original cast members from the 1997 film were actors Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, and Freddie Prinze Jr.

    When negotiations began, it seemed improbable that anyone from the 1997 film would appear in the upcoming film, given that the film was announced in early 2023, but two out of the four actors confirmed their involvement in December 2024.

    According to Enterta inment Weekly, Jennifer Love Hewitt confirmed that she would reprise her role in an Instagram post. She wrote, “It’s never too late to go back. Julie James is returning. I know what you will be doing next summer!”

    The other actor who also agreed to reprise his role was Freddie Prinze Jr., who first said no but eventually agreed to return for the upcoming 2025 film.

    In an interview, the actor confirmed that, while his character would be playing a key role, the film will be led by younger actors.

    The actor said, “Ray has a bar that he runs. It’s kind of where he’s at in his life now. He’s not the active fisherman that he thought he was going to be. He’s managing and owning a spot of his own and trying to keep it afloat.”

    He continued, “I think what [director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson and I] both brought to Ray was a lot more vulnerability in this movie. When the s*** hits the fan again, so to speak, you kind of see how these characters absorbed all that trauma from the first two movies, and now they’re a sponge getting squeezed, and you get to see what comes out. And the amount of vulnerability we were able to put in there, I thought, was really honest and just organic. Nothing felt forced or fake or something that was a note from somebody that didn’t need to be given a note.”

    Director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson told EW, “Their relationship is a key part of the film’s emotional arc. It’s about both Ray and Julie finding catharsis through helping the younger cast in this film. I think they both have a lot of emotional stuff that they’ve kind of put band-aids on, and those band-aids are ripped off by our younger cast, and this movie is definitely about them. Each of them has a person in the younger cast that they are connected to, and it is about them helping all five of these kids move through this.”

    However, actor Sarah Michelle Gellar (wife of Freddie Prinze Jr.) was clear from the start that she would not return because she died in the first film. The director of this film did her best to get Sarah Michelle Gellar to appear in the film, but it didn’t work (because this isn’t Buffy the Vampire Slayer where she keeps dying and keeps coming back!).

    “I tried, okay? I harassed her! But she is dead,” Robinson said. “I tried to pitch some crazy ideas too. I was like, ‘What if it’s like you weren’t dead and you’re actually alive, but in hiding?’ And Sarah’s like, ‘I was on ice. I was the most dead a person could be. You can see my frozen body.’ I was like, ‘Yeah, but what if?’ And she said, ‘I am dead. I am Sarah Dead Gellar.’”

    I Know What You Did Last Summer will not be led by Jennifer Love Hewitt or Freddie Prinze Jr., though. A cast of younger actors will lead the film.

    Madelyn Cline (Outer Banks), Chase Sui Wonders (The Studio), Jonah Hauer-King (The Little Mermaid), Tyriq Withers (Atlanta), and Sarah Pidgeon (The Wilds) will make up the ensemble cast along with veteran actor Austin Nichols (One Tree Hill, Ray Donovan). And there you have it. I Know What You Did Last Summer is being released on July 18 in Pakistan in select cinemas, so watch out! 

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  • Director Rafay Rashdi Takes Pakistani Horror to New Heights with Deemak

    Director Rafay Rashdi Takes Pakistani Horror to New Heights with Deemak


    Rafay Rashdi is recognised for his innovative work in film and television, where he seamlessly weaves diverse narratives while keeping audiences engaged. His ability to combine substance with style has helped him carve out a distinctive space in Pakistan’s expansive media landscape.

    He holds an undergraduate degree in Commerce and Information Technology from Ryerson University in Canada. A postgraduate degree in Business Systems Analysis and Design from City, University of London has further shaped his cinematic perspective. His journey in media has seen both notable successes and inevitable challenges.

    In his latest directorial effort, Deemak, Rafay explores themes of trauma, mental health, and family—all under the broader umbrella of horror. Although he initially announced a project titled Yakin, production delays led him to fully commit to the genre he’s most passionate about.

    A proud inductee of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 411 of Motion Pictures and

    Television in Toronto, Rafay has also contributed significantly to Canadian media—particularly through his advocacy for the Princess Margaret Cancer Research fundraising programme.

    He served as producer and hospitality manager for the inaugural Pakistan International Film Festival, which featured over 50 films and attracted filmmakers from the USA, Southeast Asia, and India. He also played a key role on the managing committee for the festival’s Women’s Edition 2021. His podcast Behind The Curtain with Rafay Rashdi holds the distinction of being the first Pakistani podcast to appear on Amazon Prime Video.

    Rafay’s past works include Jamun Ka Darakht (Java the Plum Tree)—an exceptional film that won 15 international festival awards and was screened at the Oscar-qualifying South Asian Tasveer Film Festival. While some projects found greater success than others, his work consistently engages with pressing social themes. Collaboration has played a central role in Rafay’s growth as a filmmaker—especially his two-year partnership with author Ayesha Muzaffar to adapt her book Jinnistan into a psychological thriller.

    The resulting script probes

    familial bonds—mother/son, husband/wife, and daughter-in-law/mother-in-law—while exploring societal issues like domestic abuse.

    In an exclusive conversation with Instep, just before travelling to China for Deemak’s screening at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Film Festival from July 3 to 7—Rafay opened up about the film’s concept and production journey.

    With Deemak, he is pushing creative boundaries and achieving remarkable box office success.

    Instep: What is the core concept behind Deemak, and what motivated you to set the film during the COVID-19 pandemic?

    Rafay Rashdi (RR): Deemak draws inspiration from the displacement of jinn following the earthquake in Harnai, Balochistan. The idea of jinn seeking refuge in a human household fascinated me—it allowed for an exploration of possession while remaining grounded in cultural lore. To ensure relevance, I placed the narrative during the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought global mental health struggles to the forefront. It was important to depict how these invisible challenges ripple through families.

    Instep: How did your collaboration with writer Ayesha Muzaffar come about?

    RR: Working with Ayesha felt incredibly intuitive. I connected deeply with her book Jinnistan, and our collaboration transformed it into a story that blends intimate relationships with bro-ader societal critique.

    Instep: Can you tell us about the themes explored?

    RR: Certainly. The film addresses family relationships while highlighting sensitive issues like domestic abuse. We aimed to handle these subjects with authenticity and care, ensuring that the supernatural components complemented rather than overshadowed the emotional core.

    Director Rafay Rashdi Takes Pakistani Horror to New Heights with Deemak

    Director Rafay Rashdi Takes Pakistani Horror to New Heights with Deemak

    Filmmakers have a duty to respect both their message and their audience. Cinema-going can be expensive, so we must ensure that films are thought-provoking yet engaging. While festival films can embrace gravity, mainstream releases benefit from accessible storytelling.

    Instep: How has the audience responded to diverse content in Pakistani cinema?

    RR: Audiences in Pakistan are becoming more open to genre diversity, especially with the rise of digital platforms. They value good storytelling, but the execution must resonate with their lived realities and cultural context.

    Instep: Your film has been selected for competition at the SCO Film Festival. What are your thoughts on this opportunity?

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  • AbstRaL: Teaching LLMs Abstract Reasoning via Reinforcement to Boost Robustness on GSM Benchmarks

    AbstRaL: Teaching LLMs Abstract Reasoning via Reinforcement to Boost Robustness on GSM Benchmarks

    Recent research indicates that LLMs, particularly smaller ones, frequently struggle with robust reasoning. They tend to perform well on familiar questions but falter when those same problems are slightly altered, such as changing names or numbers, or adding irrelevant but related information. This weakness, known as poor out-of-distribution (OOD) generalization, results in notable accuracy drops, even in simple math tasks. One promising solution is to create synthetic variations of reasoning problems, helping models learn to focus on the underlying logic rather than surface details. Strengthening reasoning in this manner is crucial for developing more general and reliable AI systems.

    Abstracting the Core Logic of LLM Reasoning Failures

    LLMs have demonstrated impressive reasoning capabilities, yet they often falter when exposed to distribution shifts, such as changes in phrasing, numerical values, or the introduction of distractions. This vulnerability is evident across benchmarks in logic, mathematics, and commonsense reasoning. Prior solutions have relied on data augmentation to expose models to a broader variety of inputs, improving robustness but increasing computational demands. Researchers have also explored formats such as abstraction-of-thought and chain-of-abstraction to teach abstract reasoning, while planning techniques like chain-of-thought and tree-of-thought aid step-by-step problem-solving. Reinforcement learning and preference-based methods provide additional support for reasoning skill development beyond pattern memorization.

    AbstRaL’s Symbolic Learning Method to Improve Reasoning Consistency

    Researchers from Apple and EPFL propose AbstRaL, a method that teaches LLMs to understand abstract reasoning patterns rather than memorizing surface details. Instead of generating many varied training examples, which is computationally costly, AbstRaL helps LLMs learn the underlying structure of reasoning problems using reinforcement learning. This method connects these abstract patterns to symbolic tools, enabling more reliable problem-solving. Tested on GSM benchmarks, AbstRaL significantly improves LLM performance, especially when faced with input changes or distracting information. It outperforms models trained only with supervised learning by promoting more consistent and context-independent reasoning.

    Four Steps to Abstract Symbolic Reasoning via AbstRaL

    AbstRaL is a four-step framework designed to teach LLMs to reason abstractly rather than rely on surface patterns. First, it identifies key variables in a question and replaces them with symbolic placeholders. Then, using specially crafted data (GranulAR), the model learns to reason step-by-step with these abstract symbols. Next, it retrieves the general reasoning structure (abstraction) from the symbolic answer. Finally, it uses this abstraction with the original values to compute the correct answer. Reinforcement learning with two rewards, one for correctness and another for symbolic similarity, further improves the model’s ability to generate accurate, context-independent reasoning patterns.

    GSM8K Variations Reveal AbstRaL’s Robustness Across LLM Sizes

    The researchers evaluate AbstRaL on math reasoning tasks using models such as Llama-3 and Qwen2, training them with a dataset called GranulAR that rewrites math problems in an abstract symbolic form. This helps models focus on structure rather than surface details. They test robustness using altered versions of GSM8K problems, changing numbers, names, and phrasing. Compared to baselines like standard Chain-of-Thought prompting, AbstRaL shows stronger consistency and less accuracy drop on these variations. Especially for smaller models, it improves reliability across reworded inputs. The results suggest that teaching models to reason abstractly makes them more adaptable and less reliant on memorized patterns.

    Teaching LLMs Abstract Thinking through Reinforcement Yields Robust Reasoning

    In conclusion, AbstRaL is a method designed to enhance abstract reasoning in LLMs, making them more resilient to superficial changes in problems. Unlike traditional fine-tuning or data augmentation, AbstRaL uses reinforcement learning to train models on GranulAR rationales that mix Socratic chain-of-thought with detailed abstraction. This approach helps models strip away surface-level distractions and better connect with symbolic tools. Tested on challenging GSM8K perturbation benchmarks, AbstRaL notably reduces performance drops under distribution shifts, particularly in smaller models. The study shows that learning to abstract improves reasoning robustness more effectively than relying solely on direct supervision.

    Check out the Paper. All credit for this research goes to the researchers of this project. Also, feel free to follow us on Twitter, Youtube and Spotify and don’t forget to join our 100k+ ML SubReddit and Subscribe to our Newsletter.


    Sana Hassan, a consulting intern at Marktechpost and dual-degree student at IIT Madras, is passionate about applying technology and AI to address real-world challenges. With a keen interest in solving practical problems, he brings a fresh perspective to the intersection of AI and real-life solutions.

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  • Microsoft shuts down operations in Pakistan after 25 years, former country head calls it a ‘sobering signal’ – Hindustan Times

    1. Microsoft shuts down operations in Pakistan after 25 years, former country head calls it a ‘sobering signal’  Hindustan Times
    2. Microsoft ‘quits’ Pakistan after 25 years; founding country manager of Microsoft Pakistan says: This is m  Times of India
    3. Microsoft shuts down operations in Pakistan after 25 years  The Express Tribune
    4. THIS company shows Shehbaz Sharif his place, takes a big step to collapse Pakistan’s economy  India.Com
    5. ‘Pakistan In A Whirlpool…’: Ex-President Links Microsoft Deal Collapse To Regime Change  News18

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  • Big Improvements For Qualcomm GPU Driver With Linux 6.17 – Especially For Snapdragon X

    Big Improvements For Qualcomm GPU Driver With Linux 6.17 – Especially For Snapdragon X

    Sent out today by longtime Freedreno/MSM open-source Qualcomm GPU driver developer Robin Clark are the main set of MSM kernel graphics/display driver updates targeting the upcoming Linux 6.17 merge window. There are several exciting feature additions coming to this next kernel version for those relying on Qualcomm graphics capabilities.

    First up, the MSM kernel graphics driver is landing VM_BIND support. VM_BIND can help with lowering CPU overhead for the user-space Mesa drivers to deliver better performance. Additionally, VM_BIND is needed for Vulkan sparse requirements. The VM_BIND support for the Qualcomm MSM driver has been in development for a while and amounts to dozens of patches with the main focus on being supporting the Vulkan sparse memory needs by the TURNIP Mesa driver.

    Snapdragon X Elite laptop

    Another notable feature addition is providing Qualcomm Adreno X1-85 GPU “speedbin” support. Speedbin is important for reaching the maximum performance capabilities on Snapdragon graphics processors. The Adreno X1-85 is interesting for being the graphics found on the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite laptops. Long story short, with Linux 6.17 the graphics performance will hopefully be nicely improved thanks to the speedbin functionality now in place.

    This open-source driver code also has Snapdragon X1-45 GPU support for that graphics processor found within the Snapdragon X Plus SoCs.

    The MSM driver changes for Linux 6.17 also now provide a single source of truth for Universal Bandwidth Compression (UBWC) configuration handling, further decoupling between the GPU and KMS code, SM8750 support in the DPU and DSI and MDSS code, and various fixes.

    More details on these pending Qualcomm MSM DRM driver improvements slated for Linux 6.17 via today’s pull request to DRM-Next. I’ll be working on some new Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite benchmarks with the Acer X1E laptop once the Linux 6.17 cycle is underway.

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  • Sabrina Carpenter tones down show

    Sabrina Carpenter tones down show

    Annabel Rackham

    Culture reporter

    Reporting fromHyde Park, London
    Getty Images Sabrina Carpenter sits on the floor. She is wearing a sparkly black blazer dress. Her blonde hair is styled in loose curls and she is smiling while waving her hands in the air. Getty Images

    A file photo of Sabrina Carpenter performing at the Grammy Awards earlier this year

    Sabrina Carpenter brought her signature sugary pop sound to a crowd of 65,000 at London’s BST Festival on Saturday night.

    The 26-year-old has built a brand around sexual confidence and racy lyrics, which were noticeably toned down as the US singer embraced a more family friendly show in London’s Hyde Park.

    At one point a graphic flashed up on screen advising “parental discretion” as Carpenter launched into album track Bed Chem. She ditched her usual sexually suggestive performance on song Juno and instead used a cannon to fire t-shirts into the crowd.

    Despite these changes she was still at her best, storming through a 17-song tracklist that comprised her biggest hits, charming the crowd with her Hollywood smile and incredibly bouncy hair.

    Getty Images Sabrina Carpenter speaks into a microphone wearing a pink topGetty Images

    Carpenter broke UK chart records in 2024 after becoming the first artist in 71 years to spend 20 weeks at the top of the singles chart

    Carpenter writes music for women of the dating app generation and her songs are filled with the type of anecdotes you’ve heard over Friday night drinks with the girls – from the anger over not getting closure to the fear of a man embarrassing you when they meet all your friends.

    Perhaps that is what makes her so relatable. She’s a talented singer and dancer who shot to fame on the Disney Channel, but she could also so easily be your mate who brings over ice cream when you’re going through a break-up.

    Her ability to switch from a sassy upbeat dance number to a vulnerable, acoustic solo performance is also impressive.

    She’s an accomplished performer for someone whose breakout hit, Espresso, is little over a year old. But much to the surprise of many, she’s been in this game for a very long time.

    The Pennsylvania-born star began posting videos of herself on YouTube at the age of 10 and came third in a competition to find the next Miley Cyrus a year later.

    After starring in a few small acting roles, the singer became a bona fide Disney star in 2013 when she was cast in TV series Girl Meets World.

    She began releasing music the following year and has released six albums to date, but has only recently received global recognition.

    Carpenter became the first female artist to hold both the number one and number two positions on the UK singles chart for three consecutive weeks in 2024 and she also became the first artist in 71 years to spend 20 weeks at the top of the charts with Espresso.

    Picture of stage with Sabrina Carpenter on it

    Carpenter performed the first of two sold out shows at London Hyde Park’s BST Festival

    From watching her live, it appears she’s been waiting patiently for this moment for quite some time, to perform on the biggest stages around the world and to thousands of fans – something she references a few times between songs.

    She told the crowd she was “so, so grateful” that the audience had chosen to spend their Saturday evening with her, gushing that “London is so fun and there’s so much to do here”.

    Much of the cheekiness she has built her brand on was weaved in throughout her performance, including 1950s style infomercials advertising sprays that erase no-good men from your life and mattresses that are perfect for “activities”.

    But aside from a racy rendition of Bed Chem and a snippet of Pony by Ginuine (one for the Magic Mike fans) the show was more PG than expected.

    Perhaps it was due to the large volume of young children stood in the crowd amongst us Gen Zs and millennials.

    Or perhaps the pop princess needs a break from making headlines.

    The first was back in March, when her Brit Awards opening performance was criticised for being too racy for pre-watershed television.

    Media watchdog Ofcom received more than 800 complaints, with the majority relating to Carpenter’s choreography with dancers dressed in Beefeater outfits.

    Then in June this year she was once again under fire for sharing artwork for her new album, Man’s Best Friend, which showed her on her hands and knees in a short dress whilst an anonymous man in a suit grabbed her hair.

    Carpenter then revealed alternative artwork she said was “approved by God” and shows her holding the arm of a suited man.

    Criticism for the original artwork came from charities including Glasgow Women’s Aid which supports victims of domestic abuse. It said Carpenter’s album cover was “regressive” and “promotes an element of violence and control”.

    Heather Binning of Women’s Rights Network, also told the BBC that violence against women should “never be used as satire”.

    But what Saturday’s performance showed is that Carpenter is a true professional, someone who can easily adapt both her style and setlist to cater to different audiences.

    She ended the show perfectly, taking to a crane that panned across the huge mass of people, thrilling fans and giving them the opportunity for a close-up video to post on their social media.

    “Damn nobody showed up,” she joked, adding: “London thank you so much for having us tonight, this has to be one of the biggest shows I’ve played in my entire life.”

    She wrapped up with Espresso, marking the end of the show by downing some in martini-form from a crystal glass.

    There were a few mutters from the crowd, who perhaps were expecting a special guest or two, but it was clear from the offset that this would be a defining moment in the popstar’s career and one where she only wants the spotlight on her.

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  • China’s EV price war reaches Thailand

    China’s EV price war reaches Thailand

    Listen to article


    BANGKOK:

    Hyper-competition in China’s electric vehicle sector is spilling over to its biggest market in Asia, Thailand, as smaller players struggle to compete with dominant BYD, putting ambitious local production plans at risk.

    Neta, among the earliest Chinese EV brands to enter Thailand in 2022, is an example of a struggling automaker finding it difficult to meet the requirements of a demanding government incentive programme meant to boost Thai EV production.

    Under the scheme, carmakers are exempt from import duties, but were obligated to match import volumes with domestic production in 2024.

    Citing slowing sales and tightening credit conditions, carmakers asked the government to adjust the scheme and the 2024 production shortfall was rolled over into this year.

    Neta has said that it cannot produce the required number of cars locally and the government has withheld some payments to the EV maker, said Excise Department official Panupong Sriket, who received a complaint filed last month by 18 Neta dealers in Thailand seeking to recover over 200 million baht ($6.17 million) of allegedly unpaid debt.

    The complaint, a copy of which was reviewed by Reuters, also detailed missed payments by Neta related to promised support for building showrooms and after-sales service. “I stopped ordering more cars in September because I sensed something was wrong,” said Neta dealership owner Saravut Khunpitiluck. “I’m currently suing them.”

    Neta’s parent company, Zhejiang Hozon New Energy Automobile, entered bankruptcy proceedings in China last month, according to state media.

    Neta’s share of Thailand’s EV market peaked at around 12% of EV sales in 2023 when the industry was growing, according to Counterpoint Research data, with BYD having a 49% share that year.

    The number of Chinese EV brands has doubled in the last year to 18, placing pressure on those that lack the reach of BYD. In the first five months of this year, new registration of Neta cars – a proxy for sales – slumped 48.5% from the prior year and its share of EV registrations was down to 4%, according to government data.

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  • How Meghan Markle has ‘intelligently’ influenced Prince Harry

    How Meghan Markle has ‘intelligently’ influenced Prince Harry

    How Meghan Markle has ‘intelligently’ influenced Prince Harry 

    Prince Harry has been called out for being under the influence of his wife.

    The Duke of Sussex, who is currently living with the Duchess of Sussex in California, is mocked for coming under the influence of his wife.

    Royal expert Esther Krakue told The Sun: “We know that King Charles said something about him being whipped.

    “We keep hearing things consistently coming out from courtiers and people that are close to the Royal Family.”

    She said: “The Queen’s opinion of Meghan involved, and it’s much like how the country’s opinion evolved.

    “And much like the public, I think  the Queen thought Meghan was a breath of fresh air.

    “Very intelligent, very well-spoken, obviously from her acting background.

    “And she worked, she welcomed her. I think, like much of the country with open arms, I think where things went wrong was clearly the cultural clash.”

    She added: “And I think in some ways Meghan thought she was marrying a billionaire, but was marrying a millionaire with like sort of a reduced status.

    “So that might have been not appealing eventually.

    “But also I just I don’t think she fully understood or was even interested in what the role was supposed to become,” she said.


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  • Historic 500th Win for All Blacks in Tight Clash with France

    Historic 500th Win for All Blacks in Tight Clash with France

    Three disallowed All Blacks tries, relentless French defence, and TMO interventions throughout all combined to continue the special rivalry between the two sides before New Zealand achieved its 500th Test victory in the first Lipovitan-D series clash in Dunedin on Saturday.

    The unfancied French belied all the controversy surrounding their selection for the tour with a gutsy display that was not quelled until the final moments of the game.

    It was a reminder that the French in the mood can cause problems for any All Blacks side, and they took advantage of the home side’s first Test of the year to unsettle their chances of making combinations. And they gave the All Blacks a reminder of their need for better execution in the air.

    There was satisfaction in the introduction of new players, with lock Fabian Holland making his mark as the All Blacks dominated the lineouts 19-5. No8 Christian Lio-Willie made some powerful runs with ball in hand, while prop Ollie Norris and flanker Du’Plessis Kirifi got a taste of how torrid Test matches can be during the final quarter especially.

    France had their heroes with fullback Theo Attissogbe who under pressure, especially from the All Blacks kicking, pulled off some remarkable saves that contributed to the effectiveness of the French defence, who made 224 tackles to 121 by the All Blacks, while captain and second five-eighths Gael Fickou was a constant presence in the backline.

    There was disappointment for the All Blacks 15 minutes into the game when they appeared to have scored after a break by halfback Cameron Roigard and a link with second five-eighths Jordie Barrett, who crossed. But the TMO ruled the ball had been knocked on earlier when prop Fraser Newell appeared to have completed a catch.

    From the scrum, France moved the ball when Attissogbe made ground on the outside before the ball was moved inside to centre Emilien Gailleton and Fickou, who went close to scoring before No8 Mickael Guillard picked it up to cross in the 17th minute.

    The response was immediate. In attempting to clear their line from the restart, French halfback Nolann Le Garrec had his kick charged down by lock Scott Barrett. The ball was moved to the left before it came back right, where Beauden Barrett threw a long ball to Will Jordan on the wing, and he crossed for his 39th try.

    He was moved to the wing after Sevu Reece failed an HIA after a first-minute head knock when attempting a tackle.

    The All Blacks got back into the French 22m area and built pressure before the ball emerged for replacement Damian McKenzie, who tap-danced his way through five tackles and, while finally put down, quick ball was moved by Roigard to flanker Tupou Vaa’i, who scored under the crossbar.

    Capping their improved second quarter, the All Blacks made the most of some burrowing, bullocking running by flanker Ardie Savea, who gave the attack momentum. The ball was released, and while the French defence affected the fluidity, the combination of Beauden Barrett and Jordan got the ball to Jordie Barrett, who had to take a low pass and work his way around a tackle attempt to ground the ball in the corner for a 21-13 lead at the break.

    A mistake at the restart by the All Blacks gave France a sniff, which they took, with Fickou taking the ball to the line before it was released to wing Gabil Villiere to score to get France back within a point.

    However, the All Blacks burst back after Roigard broke to the line to create a 46th-minute chance, which saw Beauden Barrett feed the ball to Jordan running from depth to break through two tackles to score his second.

    The French struck back when they made five changes for immediate effect, with Jacobus van Tonder breaking into space and only being pulled down by Roigard’s chasing tackle. However, in the goalmouth assault, it was fellow replacement Cameron Woki who scored.

    After Villiere was sin-binned for a deliberate knockdown, the All Blacks looked to have scored when Billy Proctor touched down, but a knock-on was ruled and the try scrubbed.

    However, within five minutes, the pain increased when the obstruction was ruled against Pasilio Tosi, which resulted in a third try being denied to Jordan.

    The win broke the run of three consecutive losses to France, while their 500th win lifted their overall Test percentage success rate of 76.80

    New Zealand 31 ( Will Jordan 2, Tupou Vaa’i, Jordie Barrett tries; Beauden Barrett 4 con, pen) France 27 (Michael Guillard, Gabil Villiere, Cameron Woki tries;     Joris Segonds pen; Nolann Le Garrec 3 con, pen). [HT: 21-13]

    New Zealand: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 5 Fabian Holland, 4 Scott Barrett (captain), 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot.

    Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Samipeni Finau, 20 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Quinn Tupaea, 23 Damian McKenzie.

    France: 15 Theo Attissogbe, 14 Tom Spring, 13 Emilien Gailleton, 12 Gael Fickou (captain), 11 Gabin Villière, 10 Joris Segonds, 9 Nolann Le Garrec, 8 Mickael Guillard, 7 Killian Tixeront, 6 Alexandre Fischer, 5 Tyler Duguid, 4 Hugo Auradou, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Gaetan Barlot, 1 Giorgi Beria.

    Replacements: 16 Pierre Bourgarit, 17 Paul Mallez, 18 Regis Montagne, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Cameron Woki, 21 Jacobus van Tonder, 22 Baptiste Jauneau, 23 Antoine Hastoy.

    Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)

    Assistant referees: Christophe Ridley (England), Takehito Namekawa (Japan)

    TMO: Damon Murphy (Australia)

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  • Scarlett Johansson, Ryan Reynolds past resurfaces amid Blake vs Justin

    Scarlett Johansson, Ryan Reynolds past resurfaces amid Blake vs Justin



    Scarlett Johansson, Ryan Reynolds past resurfaces amid Blake vs Justin

    Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds are back in the news years after their quiet divorce, as the actor’s current wife Blake Lively deals with a legal fight with her co-star Justin Baldoni.

    While Ryan and Lively are now seen as one of Hollywood’s most stable couples, some fans are revisiting his past with Johansson. 

    The two actors were once married, though their time together was short and mostly kept away from the spotlight.

    The Jurassic World actress and the Deadpool & Wolverine actor began dating in 2007, not long after Reynolds ended his engagement to singer Alanis Morissette. 

    And by May 2008, the former couple were engaged and later held a private wedding ceremony in Vancouver Canada.

    But the marriage did not last as work kept them away too often and that became too much to handle. 

    However, Scarlett was the one who ended things in 2010 and their divorce was finalised in 2011.

    Years later, the actress said that she was only 23 and Ryan was 31 at the time and did not really know what marriage meant back then.

    An insider revealed at that time: “They are being very civil about it. The big problem with their relationship is the distance. They spent a lot of time apart when they are working… She’s been unhappy for a while.”

    Scarlett and Ryan are back in the buzz as Blake Lively sues Justin Baldoni. She claims he entered her trailer while she was topless and crossed the line during a kiss scene in their film It Ends With Us.

    Justin then hit back with a lawsuit against both Blake and Ryan, claiming their team tried to ruin his name and demanded 400 million dollars in damages. 

    The legal fight is still far from over and for now, all eyes are on how this battle will play out.

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