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A Better Tomorrow review – firefights aplenty and unapologetic melodrama in John Woo’s blood-drizzled crime classic

Spectacular shootouts and even broad comedy are packed into this Woo’s fierce 1986 thriller of vengeance and loyalty

The title of this John Woo 1986 action classic is taken from the 1985 Taiwanese charity single Tomorrow Will Be Better, released in the spirit of the west’s Live Aid and a huge pan-Asian hit. It is poignantly performed in one scene by a choir of sweet schoolchildren; their innocence is, of course, in counterpoint to the blood-drizzled bad guys, but it also speaks to the yearning of some of these criminals to redeem themselves: “Let our smiles show off our pride of youth / Let us look forward to a better tomorrow.”

Perhaps, with the perspective of 40 years, we can now see more clearly why John Woo’s movies are so addictive. Not merely for the much discussed, much imitated “balletic” gunplay sequences, but for the fierce, unapologetic streak of melodrama and sentimentality. Family is everything, but that doesn’t mean endorsing crime families.

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To protect the Iran peace talks, will Trump finally restrain Netanyahu? | Mohamad Bazzi

As long as Israel continues its attacks on Lebanon, any deal between the US and Iran will be at risk

On 18 June, JD Vance stood in the White House press briefing room and tore into Israeli critics of the Iran deal that his boss, Donald Trump, had signed the previous day. The vice-president argued that Trump was the only world leader who was still sympathetic to Israel after nearly three years of wars and destruction across the Middle East. “If I was in the cabinet of the Israeli government,” Vance said, “I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left ‌in the entire world.”

Vance also pointed out that, during the recent US-Israeli war on Iran, two-thirds of the defensive weapons used to protect Israel from Iranian retaliation “have been built by American hands and paid for by American tax dollars”. Vance publicly scolded Israel’s leaders in a way they have rarely been criticized by a high-level US politician. And while Vance did not directly target his criticism at the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, the subtext was clear: the Trump administration is willing to call out the Israeli leader for sabotaging ceasefire agreements so that he could prolong regional wars and maintain power.

Mohamad Bazzi is a Guardian US columnist. He is also director of the Center for Near Eastern Studies and a journalism professor at New York University

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Puppy eyes, sad hair and a big boom box: John Cusack films – ranked!

As the former teen heartthrob turns 60, we look at his most intense, ironic, lovable roles – from a sympathetic scientist to a peevish puppeteer

It’s the Great Depression à la Disney when a tomboy, Natty, rides the rails in search of her lumberjack father. This marked the first time I saw Cusack, impressive as a wise young hobo, though not the first time I saw Natty’s wolf-dog companion: it’s Jed, sled-dog from The Thing!

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Hot or not: Barney Ronay's World Cup review so far – video

“It’s been really sparky and perky and a reminder that international football is something people actually do for passion,” says our chief sports writer Barney Ronay.

From Gianni Infantino’s heavy reliance on a private jet to attend multiple World Cup matches daily, to ‘the wretched and mendacious’ mid-half advert breaks – as well as the entertaining managers and lessons in history: Barney reveals his best and worst bits from travelling around the US.

Despite Fifa’s ‘horribly compromised’ World Cup, Barney looks at how the contest still has a way of inspiring joy and unity, whether that’s through American hospitality, multicultural teams, or simply just entertaining football.

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Rijnmond - Nieuws

Het laatste nieuws van vandaag over Rotterdam, Feyenoord, het verkeer en het weer in de regio Rijnmond

Files en hitte-maatregelen, maar niets houdt bezoekers Concert at SEA tegen

Concert at SEA-gangers laten zich niet stoppen door de aanhoudende hitte. Op de N57 richting de Brouwersdam staan al de hele dag files. Ook neemt de organisatie allerlei maatregelen, zodat het festival met deze tropische temperaturen gewoon door kan gaan.

Nu al flinke file en hitte-maatregelen, maar niets houdt bezoekers Concert at SEA tegen

Concert at SEA-gangers laten zich niet stoppen door de aanhoudende hitte. Inmiddels staat er bijna drie kwartier file op de N57 richting de Brouwersdam. Ook neemt de organisatie allerlei maatregelen, zodat het festival met deze tropische temperaturen gewoon door kan gaan.

Extreme hitte: meerdere scholen dicht vanwege hitte en zwemmer in Oude Maas gered

Klamme nachten, tropenroosters en de zoektocht naar verkoeling: het is bloedheet in onze regio. Vanaf woensdag 12:00 is het code oranje vanwege de aanhoudende hitte. Volg via dit liveblog de laatste ontwikkelingen over de hitte.

Extreme hitte: code rood uitgeroepen, zwemmer in Oude Maas gered en olifanten spetteren in het water

Klamme nachten, tropenroosters en de zoektocht naar verkoeling: het is bloedheet in onze regio. Vanaf woensdag 12:00 is het code oranje vanwege de aanhoudende hitte. Volg via dit liveblog de laatste ontwikkelingen over de hitte.

VK: Voorpagina

Volkskrant.nl biedt het laatste nieuws, opinie en achtergronden

Internationale hulp aan Venezuela komt op gang, Nederland stuurt reddingswerkers en speurhonden

And Then Let Go

Thomas Hawk posted a photo:

And Then Let Go