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Joan Chen Taiwan Thriller ‘The Evil Inside’ Boards Vorteks for Cannes

by Adhunik News May 6, 2026

written by Adhunik News

Vorteks, the genre arm of Dubai-based sales outfit Cercamon, has boarded international rights outside Taiwan for “The Evil Inside,” a psychological thriller directed by Lingo Hsieh and starring Joan Chen. The film, currently in post-production, will be shopped to buyers at the upcoming Cannes Film Market.

The acquisition marks the first Asian title for Vorteks, which focuses on horror, thriller, sci-fi, action, and fantasy projects. Drawn from real events in Taiwan, the story follows Ho Jen-Jen – a former entertainment figure once celebrated as “Golden Phoenix” – who abandoned her young daughter and vanished after racking up ruinous gambling debts. She awakens to find herself a captive in a sinister care facility where the remaining lifespans of terminally ill patients are staked in a grim contest called Death Bet, and must play to win her freedom and find her way back to her daughter.

“As Vorteks grows, we are continuing that legacy in genre with filmmakers like Lingo Hsieh, who has crafted a multi-layered thriller with an incredible performance by Joan Chen as you’ve never seen her before,” said David Kwok, partner, acquisitions and sales at Vorteks. “We are proud to join her journey as an international storyteller and to have ‘The Evil Inside’ as the first title from Asia under the label.”

Chen’s credits include “The Last Emperor,” “Twin Peaks,” and “Dídi.” She is joined in the cast by Golden Horse Award nominees Jason King and Eugenie Liu, and Taipei Film Award winner Zin Yang.

Jackol Kao produces for DaSun Pictures, a Taiwan-based genre production house. Kao and Hsieh have previously collaborated on “The Bride” and “Green Door.”

“She has crafted a film that is uniquely Taiwanese yet universally gripping. We are proud to partner with Vorteks to bring this achievement to the global stage,” Kao said.

“Though it is a thriller, the story comes from a very personal place, and I’m excited for viewers to connect with the film and the questions that it raises,” Hsieh added.

Source: variety.com

May 6, 2026 0 comments

Technology

Best Carry-On Suitcases (2026): Away, Rimowa, Tumi

by Adhunik News May 6, 2026

written by Adhunik News

Summer is right around the corner. We’re headed out on adventures and bringing our stuff with us. Here are all the tech and tips that WIRED Reviews recommends for your travels.

There is a surprisingly robust debate among frequent travelers about whether it’s best to carry on a suitcase or to check it. okay, checking a bag saves you from worrying about space restrictions and confusing security requirements, needing to tote your suitcase into a bathroom stall with you, and sweating about snagging overhead bin space once you board. But you need only one really bad experience with checking luggage to convince you to avoid doing so whenever possible in favor of being a carry-on purist. My version of that incident occurred at the Delta counter in Dulles International Airport and almost made me miss my flight. (In fact, I’d prefer to not even use a carry-on! But that’s another story entirely.)

I fly more often than I’d like—short work trips, cross-country flights to visit family, and international vacation hauls. I’ve tested countless carry-on suitcases and have now enlisted my family members to help as well. These are the best carry-on suitcases that we’ve found that will fit pretty much any traveler’s needs.

Don’t see anything you like? Check out our buying guides to the Best Travel Totes, the Best Laptop Backpacks, and the Best Toiletry Bags. Here’s our guide to packing your carry-on correctly.

Updated May 2026: I completely overhauled this piece with new picks, new write-ups for existing picks, and updated FAQs. I also checked links and prices to ensure the most up-to-date information.

Table of Contents

Best Overall

Does it surprise you that I didn’t pick the iconic Away polycarbonate carry-on, that gorgeous colorful unit that jump-started the whole direct-to-consumer luggage movement from one of the few affluent-millennial–coded companies to have weathered multiple scandals and economic storms successfully since its founding in 2015? Sometimes it surprises me, too. Multiple WIRED staffers own the hard-sided carry-on because it’s good-looking and reasonably priced. yet, I prefer the brand’s Softside Carry-On. In general, I prefer soft-sided luggage because it shows scuffs less easily, won’t crack, and is more flexible if I overpack.

With regard to this specific soft-sided case, it also has a little more flexibility than its hard-shelled cousin regarding organization options. It has exterior pockets, but they’re cleverly hidden. The straps compress a back panel over half the suitcase, so your stuff is squeezed down evenly. There’s a proprietary interior stabilizer to help keep it balanced—it never tipped over on its front, even when I was trying to slide tote bags or backpacks onto the handle while rolling it down a rickety aluminum gangway ramp. It has three exterior handles, not just two, so you can fling it about any which way. Also, the bag’s profile and hardware are pleasantly understated. There’s no giant shiny logos or ugly plastic zipper pulls, and all the available colors are attractive.

The nylon is also water-resistant; last year, I sat (sadly) with my Softside in the rain in the Philippines, waiting for a ferry, and it kept its contents dry. Unlike other carry-ons that falsely bill themselves as small enough for international carriers, the Softside’s dimensions are accurate. I’ve flown on multiple international flights with it to Europe and Asia without issue.

Best Value

Bagsmart

Getaway 20-Inch Carry-On

In all previous versions of this guide, I have recommended a Travelpro suitcase for this category. But this year, Bagsmart’s latest carry-on suitcase shocked me with its strong value. I picked the 20-inch version to test because it comes in a yellow mango color that’s just plain gorgeous. While this one may not pass the requirements for carry-on size on all budget or international airlines, it’s available in a 19-inch version that should work universally.

Travelpro

Maxlite Air V2 Compact Carry-On

Both my 8-year-old and my 11-year-old conducted suitcase-racing tests and commented on how smoothly the four-way spinner wheels rolled compared to much more expensive suitcases. The Getaway also never toppled forward off-balance, which Travelpro suitcases have an unfortunate tendency to do, in my experience. The storage options are identical to other, much more expensive suitcases, with several interior zip pockets and a compression panel. It’s expandable and has a TSA-combination lock. It also comes with a few fun accessories, like a luggage tag and a piece of nylon webbing that you can clip to the outside if you end up having to check it.

About my only complaint is that the telescoping handle is a bit wobbly, but its value is amazing for around the $150 mark. (It also comes in a slightly pricier front-opening version ($170) with a padded front compartment for your tech.) If you’re unwilling to ditch Travelpro, I recommend the Maxlite Air V2 ($160), which comes in at around the same price point but weighs about two pounds less. It’s also expandable, the wheels roll smoothly, my hand fits in the handle, and the interior is made from 100 percent postconsumer recycled plastic bottles.

Source: www.wired.com

May 6, 2026 0 comments

Entertainment

Kangana Ranaut Thriller ‘Bharat Bhhagya Viddhata’ Sets June Release

by Adhunik News May 6, 2026

written by Adhunik News

“Bharat Bhhagya Viddhata,” a true-story thriller starring Kangana Ranaut inspired by true events during terror attacks in India, will open in Indian theaters on June 12.

Written and directed by Manoj Tapadia, the film is set inside Cama Hospital, one of the sites targeted during one of the attacks, where nurses, ward boys, cleaners, lift operators, security personnel, and administrative workers kept 400 people alive while armed assailants struck the city around them. The project steers deliberately away from the spectacle of the violence itself to concentrate on the collective resolve of workers across every level of the hospital hierarchy.

Ranaut said: “We often celebrate loud heroism, but real courage is quieter – it shows up, stays back, and takes responsibility. ‘Bharat Bhhagya Viddhata’ is an untold story of courage, sacrifice, humanity, and unity – of ordinary people who stood between terror and life itself. This is desh bhakti (patriotism) in its purest form, where duty becomes action. I’m honored to be part of a story that salutes those who held the city together in its toughest moments, and I can’t wait for audiences to witness it on the big screen on 12th June.”

Alongside Ranaut, the ensemble cast includes Girija Oak, Smita Tambe, Amrutha Namdev, Esha Dey, Priya Berde, Asha Shelar, Suhita Thatte, Rasika Aghase, Aditya Mishra, and Zahid Khan.

Tapadia added: “I didn’t want to make a film only about terror – I wanted to make a film about courage, compassion, and sacrifice. ‘Bharat Bhhagya Viddhata’ is a tribute to the unsung heroes – the nurses, ward boys, cleaners, security staff, and administrators – ordinary people who, in the face of unimaginable fear, chose duty over safety and humanity over helplessness. They weren’t trained for war, yet they stood together, overcame fear, and saved lives. This film exists to celebrate their spirit, their unity, and their selfless courage.”

The film is presented by Dr. Jayantilal Gada of Pen Studios and produced by Pen Studios, Manikarnika Films, and Paramhans Creations, in association with Eunoia Films LLP and Floating Rocks Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. Distribution is handled by Pen Marudhar.

Gada said, “At Pen Studios, we believe the real strength of India lies with its people who work silently and tirelessly. ‘Bharat Bhhagya Viddhata’ is a tribute to the labor class – the real nation builders – who rose above fear to save lives. Kangana Ranaut brings emotional depth and integrity to this story, and we’re proud to bring this powerful true account to theaters on June 12.”

Source: variety.com

May 6, 2026 0 comments

Top Lists

Marc Lore says that AI will soon enable anyone open a restaurant

by Adhunik News May 6, 2026

written by Adhunik News

Marc Lore, the veteran e-commerce entrepreneur who sold his previous startups to Amazon and Walmart, has big plans to infuse AI into his current venture, Wonder.

The centerpiece of those plans is Wonder Create, an initiative that would let anyone — from food entrepreneurs to social media influencers — use AI to design and launch their own restaurant brand in under a minute. The virtual restaurant would then go live across Wonder’s growing network of tech-enabled kitchen locations, currently numbering 120 and expected to reach 400 next year.

Lore’s startup, a vertically integrated dining and delivery platform, has evolved from food trucks to fast casual restaurants with 10 to 20 seats. These are not normal restaurants, though; they are “programmable cooking platforms” capable of operating as 25 different types of restaurants based on cuisine, within their all-electric kitchens that are increasingly becoming robotic.

Speaking at The Wall Street Journal’s “Future of Everything” conference this week, Lore said these kitchens have a 700-ingredient library. The “restaurants” they house actually consist of many different brands that operate from within these locations.

In addition to a staff of up to 12 people in these kitchens, cooking tech, like conveyors and robotic arms, are involved in the cooking process. The company also just bought Spice Robotics, a maker of an automatic bowl-making machine previously used by Sweetgreen. Next year, it plans to offer an “infinite sauce machine” that can make bout 80% of all the sauces found in recipes on the internet today.

Wonder Create was announced earlier this year as a way for anyone to use Wonder’s software to launch their own restaurant brand and recipes.

Lore offered more details as how this would work by leveraging AI technology, describing the plan as something like a “Shopify front-end with an AI prompt.”

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“You type in what kind of restaurant you want to build. It builds the restaurant — AI does — in under a minute. It does the name, branding, description, pictures, pricing, health information, and all the recipes for your restaurant,” Lore explained during an interview at the WSJ event. The would-be restaurateur could then refine the prompt if changes were needed. When ready to go live, the restaurant would launch across all of Wonder’s locations.

The company currently has 120 of these “programmable cooking platforms” in operation, a number that’s expected to grow to 400 next year. As it adds robotics to the equation, the company won’t necessarily reduce headcount, Lore noted. Instead, it will increase the number of meals a kitchen can produce in a given period.

“We have about 7 million throughput capacity with 12 people,” he said. “We see a path to getting to 20 million throughput out of 2,500 square feet with just 12 people. The goal also is…I guess by 2035, to have 1,000 unique restaurants operating out of the 2,500 square feet,” Lore added.

The goal with these AI-created “restaurants” is to allow people to experiment with food in new ways. A restaurateur could test recipes to gauge customer reaction before adding dishes to his own brick-and-mortar locations, for example.

Lore sees other use cases for the platform, too, like letting influencers connect with their audience through their own “restaurant” brands without having to actually launch their own chains.

“It could be a mega-influencer, a micro-influencer — anyone that wants to monetize their following,” Lore said. “Or it could be a private trainer that wants to make specific bowls. It could be a not-for-profit. It could be Disney for [marketing] their new movie. Anybody can make a restaurant.”

Whether that many people actually want to is an open question. Ghost kitchens — a similar concept that promised to let brands sell food without owning a restaurant — had a rocky run in the early 2020s, with several high-profile operators scaling back or shutting down after struggling to build customer loyalty. Wonder’s added layer of automation and AI may address some of those pitfalls, but the model is still unproven at scale.

MrBeast Burger, a famous ghost kitchen experiments, vividly illustrated the challenge. The brand faced widespread complaints over inconsistent food quality — a consequence of relying on dozens of different contracted kitchens and staff. Wonder’s programmable, increasingly automated kitchens are designed to solve exactly that problem.

There are still limits to this idea, Lore admitted. Wonder’s team (including its robots) can’t do things like toss and stretch pizza dough or slice and roll sushi. Instead, Wonder’s focus is on simpler basics like burgers, chicken wings, fried chicken, and bowls.

The whole plan comes together with Lore’s other acquisitions — Grubhub for its 250 million-deliveries-per-year business and Blue Apron for its meal kit business. Now, Wonder is focused on buying restaurant brands, like New York City-based Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken, which it snapped up for $6.5 million in February.

“When you buy a brand — and you can buy a brand that has 10 locations, or even 50 locations — and then overnight put it in 1,000, there’s just an incredible arbitrage there,” Lore noted.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

Source: techcrunch.com

May 6, 2026 0 comments

Technology

LegalZoom Promo Code: Exclusive 10% Off LLC Formations

by Adhunik News May 6, 2026

written by Adhunik News

LegalZoom is one of those online legal services that in most cases can handle basic legal tasks for you. I recently tried it out to make an LLC for my cosmic country band, Steel Fringe (shameless plug), and it appears to have worked just fine (we’re still waiting on a full evaluation from legal experts for a future guide to these services). If you use a LegalZoom promo code right now, you will get a discount on the service.

I found it super easy to set up my LLC, and after about $500 and 30 minutes of my time, I was off to the races with an LLC for my band. I did make the mistake of spelling my co-bandleader’s middle name as his last name (I blame his wrongly named Instagram handle for this), so I had to toss them another $129 to fix that. My bad.

Save on top services at LegalZoom, like LLC registration, incorporation, estate plans, and more with coupons and deals from WIRED below.

Get 10% Off LLC Formation With Our LegalZoom Coupon Code

If you’re in need of basic legal services like establishing an LLC, estate planning, or other contract-based services, LegalZoom offers a very simple interface that is shockingly easy to use. I am a luddite when it comes to understanding legal jargon and steps in a process like establishing my band’s LLC, but LegalZoom’s simple interface made it shockingly easy to make sure everything was in order.

If you use our exclusive code for 10% off LLC Formations (found in the table above), you’ll get a nice chunk of change off the cost of setting up your small business. As you’ll read below, it’s not especially cheap to do this, even digitally, in many states. There are mandatory filing fees and other fees that can range from a few hundred to many hundreds of dollars. Take the discount!

LegalZoom Business Formation: Start Today Using Our LegalZoom Discounts

LegalZoom services expand well beyond just helping establish personal LLCs, there are also other business formations that LegalZoom can help with. Some of these include Limited Liability Company LLCs, which start at free, plus state filing fees. This is the simplest, flexible way to ensure your business protects any personal assets. There’s also Corporation (S corp or C corp), which starts at $149 plus state filing fees. This is a more complex structured formation, with the ability to issue shares, go public, or go global. There’s also help for Nonprofit (501c3) LLCs, which starts at $99 plus state filing fees. This one is designed to support a public or social benefit that’s eligible for tax breaks. And finally, Doing Business As (DBA) starts at $99 plus state filing fees. This is an efficient way to use a business name that removes the sometimes annoying upkeep of LLCs or corporations.

How Much Does It Cost to Set Up An LLC on LegalZoom?

The cost to properly set up an LLC in your state can range from $35 to $500, depending on various factors like local legislation and business registration laws. Most states charge between $50 and $200 for filing fees, so you can expect to pay somewhere in that range unless you’re from Montana ($35) or Massachusetts ($500). LegalZoom also shoves a bunch of options you probably don’t need in your face, so be sure to Google what you actually need in your state before paying extra money to … print all your documents and put them in a folder for you, or other such nonsense.

Use LegalZoom Promo Codes to Save on Estate Plans

even if it’s a little morbid, folks need to think about what will happen to their assets after they pass, and get a plan in place to protect their loved ones. LegalZoom offers estate plan services to create your will or trust easily online. There are several options available, so make sure you choose the right plan for you. Right now, if you choose the Premium Trust, you’ll get 10% off LegalZoom products, plus 25% off important attorney services. There are two will options and two trust options: the last will outlines how your assets should be distributed after death, and a living trust, a legal arrangement where a trustee manages assets. Make sure to read through the link above to know which plan is right for your needs.

Register a Trademark With Legalzoom

Registering a trademark is an important step in many business ventures, a necessary step that can be very confusing. Legalzoom wants to make it easier for you, by using one of their experienced trademark attorneys who can handle the oftentimes complicated process. They can perform a trademark search, provide legal advice, and prepare and file your application, so you can relax knowing you’re protected. Prices start at $899 plus federal fees for registering a trademark.

Get Online Legal Services and LegalZoom Pricing

Want to save money but also want peace of mind? Try LegalZoom’s attorney review. After you’ve completed your documents, you’ll be able to have unlimited revisions of your LegalZoom estate planning documents, with no page limit. This also includes an annual legal review with attorney help to ensure your estate plan is up to date (available after 6 months). Right now, the Personal Attorney Plan ranges from $20 for a 12-month service, or $17 for 6 months. Save 20% when you sign up today.

LegalZoom Healthcare Help

No one wants to imagine it, but it’s important and necessary to take steps to ensure you are protected and have a plan in place if and when a medical emergency happens. LegalZoom has options for affordable advance healthcare directives, starting at $39. With LegalZoom, you can complete an advanced healthcare directive easily and in advance, so that you can take control of your care when you can’t speak for yourself. LegalZoom’s healthcare directives include medical power of attorney and a living will, making it easy to ensure you’re protected in the future. Plus, you’ll be able to get guidance from experienced attorneys to ensure everything needed is in place.

Source: www.wired.com

May 6, 2026 0 comments

Business/Finance

Disney (DIS) earnings Q2 2026

by Adhunik News May 6, 2026

written by Adhunik News

Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences, speaks during the grand opening ceremony of Shanghai Disney Resort’s Zootopia-themed land on December 19, 2023 in Shanghai, China.

Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty Images

Disney will release its fiscal second-quarter results before the bell Wednesday. It will mark the first earnings call led by Josh D’Amaro since the former parks executive took over as CEO in March.

Under the new CEO, who replaced Bob Iger after his two turns at the helm totaling roughly 20 years, Disney has already been through a round of layoffs and has faced mounting political pressure surrounding its late night TV host Jimmy Kimmel.

“This earnings call marks Disney’s first real gut‑check under D’Amaro’s leadership, and a test of how his theme‑parks roots translate, or don’t, into the rest of the business,” said Mike Proulx, research director at Forrester. “Streaming is still the main event, but the market is consolidating. A potential combination of Paramount+ and HBO Max would reset the competitive calculus for Disney+.”

Streaming and TV results have gobbled up much of the focus for media investors across the board as the industry faces significant upheaval and consolidation.

Here’s how Disney is expected to perform in its fiscal second quarter , according to LSEG:

Earnings per share: $1.49 expected
Revenue: $24.78 billion expected

Last quarter Disney stopped reporting some details for the entertainment segment — which is comprised of its traditional TV, streaming and theatrical releases — including the breakdown of revenue and operating income for each segment. The company has also stopped reporting quarterly streaming subscriber numbers.

The consumer shift from pay TV bundles to streaming has weighed on media companies for years, with both distribution and advertising profits continuously decreasing. Still, traditional TV remains a cash cow, and investors have been keen to see how and when streaming can make up for the declines.

Updates on the state of Disney’s theme parks, which are part of its experiences unit and the profit driver of the company, will also be of particular interest on Wednesday.

In February, Disney provided second-quarter guidance that called for “modest” growth in operating income for the experiences division due to international visitation headwinds at domestic parks. That forecast was issued before the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran roughly two months ago, causing a surge in oil prices.

This story is developing. Please check back for updates.

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Source: www.cnbc.com

May 6, 2026 0 comments

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