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  • Russian Defence Spending To Surge As Kremlin Prepares For 'Multiple Years' Of War In Ukraine

    Ukrainian soldiers inspect the captured Russian positions during combat manoeuvres in the Kreminna Forest near Kreminna, Luhansk region. Russia is set to dramatically increase the amount of money it spends on defence as the country prepares for “multiple years” of war in Ukraine, according UK intelligence. The Ministry of Defence’s latest intelligence update on the war said documents apparently leaked from the Russian finance ministry shows its military spending will reach 30% of all public expenditure in 2024. “The ministry proposes a defence budget of 10.8 trillion roubles (£91.7 billion), equivalent to approximately 6 per cent of GDP and a 68 per cent increase over 2023,” the MoD said. To put that in context, the UK spends around 2% of its GDP on defence. In 2021/22, that worked out at…

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  • Senate Clears Bill To Prevent Government Shutdown

    With hours left to go on the eve of a government shutdown, Congress passed a stopgap bill to keep federal agencies funded and workers at their desks through mid-November. The price? About $6 billion in aid to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian invaders and new worries Russian dictator Vladimir Putin will be encouraged to continue the full-scale invasion he started in February 2022. On Saturday afternoon, the House voted 335 to 91 for a temporary funding bill to keep the government operating through Nov. 16 and also fund disaster assistance. Two hundred and nine Democrats joined 126 Republicans in voting for the package. Later that night, the Senate passed it 88 to 9, though only after some last-minute public misgivings by a few Democratic senators, including a brief hold on floor…

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  • 'Rich. Money. Wealth.' Rishi Sunak Shown What Voters Think Of Him During Toe-Curling Interview

    Sunak was shown the word cloud during his BBC interview Voters associate Rishi Sunak with wealth, money and greed, according to a survey carried out for the BBC. The multi-millionaire prime minister was presented with the public’s brutal verdict during a live interview as the Tory Party conference kicks off in Manchester. Appearing on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, the PM was shown a so-called “word cloud” outlining the answers voters gave when asked their opinion of him. It showed the most common was “rich people”, followed by “money” and “himself”. Other answers included “greed”, “elite” “wealth”, “upper class” and “prosperity”. However, some people answered “fairness”, “equality”, “stability” and “leader”. The word cloud setting out how people view the prime minister. Kuenssberg told hi…

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  • 'Do You Feel Humiliated?': Trevor Phillips Monsters Michael Gove Over HS2

    Trevor Phillips grilled Michael Gove on Sky News Michael Gove was asked if he felt “humiliated” as confusion continues to surround the government’s plans for HS2. Senior ministers - including Rishi Sunak - have repeatedly refused to say whether the next phase of the rail project, which would see the line run from Birmingham to Manchester, will still go ahead. That has led to a wave of criticism from opposition politicians and business leaders, as well as sparking a fresh Tory civil war. On Trevor Phillips on Sunday on Sky News this morning, Gove, the levelling up secretary, once again failed to give any guarantees about the multi-billion pound project’s future. Phillips pointed to criticism of the government by former prime minister Boris Johnson, who has insisted the Birmingham to Manche…

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  • Martin Scorsese Gushes Over Leonardo DiCaprio After 20 Years As Partners In Crime

    Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese in Cannes earlier this year Martin Scorsese couldn’t be more proud of longtime collaborator Leonardo DiCaprio. The iconic filmmaker said as much before Wednesday’s New York City premiere of Killers of the Flower Moon, which reunites the duo for the sixth time. In the movie, based on a nonfiction book of the same name, DiCaprio portrays a potential accomplice in the murders of Osage Nation members. “He has range, and he keeps growing,” Scorsese told ET. “He also has a lot of courage, and I know he’ll go to places that other people might pull back from.” He continued: “Working with him over the years, he’s been growing as a person — he’s maturing from a young kid to a young man. And so, as he changes in life, he’s changing on film.” The iconic director…

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  • 20 Behind-The-Scenes Facts You Probably Never Knew About Gilmore Girls

    Alexis Bledel and Lauren Graham in Gilmore Girls The weather is slowly getting chillier, Pumpkin Spice Lattes are back on the menu at Starbucks, and Strictly Come Dancing is on our screens once again. It can only mean one thing – autumn is in full swing.  And what better way is there to mark the occasion than by watching (or, indeed, rewatching!) Gilmore Girls? Despite first airing a staggering 23 years ago, the much-loved US series has become a seasonal favourite around this time of year, thanks to its initial October release date, storylines revolving around events such as Halloween and starting school and its all-round autumnal vibes. So, whether you’re settling in to watch Gilmore Girls for the first – or 51st! – time, then here are some little known facts about the series that will g…

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  • Here's Our Top Pick Of All The New Shows And Films Coming To Netflix In October 2023

    A selection of the original shows and films coming to Netflix in 2023 October is officially here, which means two things. First, it’s the start of spooky season. And secondly, we can all look forward to new original shows and films hitting the metaphorical shelves of streaming juggernaut Netflix. From films starring Hollywood’s finest to intriguing new erotic thrillers, everyone’s favourite hormone monsters to sci-fi epics, there’s a whole range of things to choose from in the month ahead. Here’s our top pick of what we think you’ll enjoy over the coming weeks... Beckham What’s it about? As the title suggests, this four-part documentary explores the game-changing career (and headline-grabbing personal life) of one of football’s biggest ever players. Netflix says: “It features a mixture of…

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  • This Is The Real Reason Millennial Mums Are Freaking Out Over The *NSYNC Reunion – And It’s Not Nostalgia

    Can you guess which NKOTB was my fave? Ever since it was revealed that the upcoming Trolls sequel, in which Justin Timberlake voices a character, is about a fictional boy band named Brozone, *NSYNC fans have been digging through social media for clues as to whether the ’90s boy band would reunite. Until earlier this month, when the group, who called it quits in 2004, basically broke the internet by appearing together on stage at the MTV Video Music Awards in an epic moment that had me and every millennial woman saying, “I Want You Back.” I’ve since seen social media posts that say if *NSYNC announces a reunion tour and your birth year doesn’t start with a 1, you need to sit it out so millennials can score tickets. I’ve also seen one of a wife telling her husband that an *NSYNC reunion con…

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  • Harry Potter Stars Share Heartfelt Tributes To Late Co-Star Michael Gambon

    Actor Michael Gambon, who played Albus Dumbledore in six of the eight Harry Potter movies, died after a bout with pneumonia this week. He was 82. Multiple actors from the Harry Potter film series are offering moving remembrances of their co-star Michael Gambon following his death at the age of 82. Tributes to the Irish-English actor, whose decades on stage and screen established him as one of Britain’s most venerated talents, arrived from Harry Potter cast members Emma Watson, Rupert Grint and Daniel Radcliffe, the latter of whom said the world is now “considerably less fun”. “Michael Gambon was one of the most brilliant, effortless actors I’ve ever had the privilege of working with,” Daniel told Variety in a statement. “But despite his immense talent, the thing I will remember most about…

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  • James Cameron Reveals He Nearly Died In Terrifying Accident While Making 1 Of His Films

    James Cameron James Cameron is opening up about the time he narrowly escaped death on the set of his 1989 film The Abyss. While appearing at Beyond Fest in Los Angeles on a panel after a screening of The Abyss: Special Edition, the filmmaker revealed that he nearly didn’t survive to see the film actually hit the cinemas due to an underwater mishap, according to Variety.   “We had the ‘angels,’ which were the safety divers that were right there, and each one was assigned to one or two of the actors and just kept them in sight the whole time. [But] they weren’t watching me,” Cameron said of the precautions his team had in place for everyone’s safety while filming.  Cameron explained that the movie was shot “30 feet down” under water, which meant he had to wear “heavy weights” around his fee…

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  • VAR officials guilty of ‘human error’ for Luis Díaz strike stood down from duties

    VAR Darren England and assistant Dan Cook dropped PGMOL issue apology after Liverpool denied goal at Tottenham The video assistant referee and assistant VAR guilty for the glaring error which prevented Liverpool from opening the scoring in their 2-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday have been dropped from matches this week, capping another humiliating weekend for the Professional Game of Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL). Darren England, the VAR, and Dan Cook, the AVAR, have been removed from duties at Nottingham Forest v Brentford on Sunday and Fulham v Chelsea on Monday respectively. England was due to be the fourth official at the City Ground and Cook the assistant referee at Craven Cottage. Continue reading...

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  • Women’s Super League clockwatch: all the latest from the season openers – live

    WSL updates as Aston Villa v Man Utd gets season underway Enjoy the World Cup? WSL brings stars up close to ignite new season Hello and welcome to live coverage of the opening day of the WSL season. England’s triumphant World Cup (in the Italia 90 sense) and the rapid growth of women’s football makes this the most keenly anticipated season of all. We’ll be covering all six games in a special, marathon, pressure-sore-inducing opening-day clockwatch. The most intriguing is probably at Villa Park, where Aston Villa, easily the best of the rest last season, host title-chasing Manchester United. Aston Villa v Man Utd (12.30pm) Everton v Brighton (1pm) Bristol City v Leicester City (1pm) Arsenal v Liverpool (2pm) West Ham v Man City (3pm) Chelsea v Tottenham (5.30pm) Continue reading...

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  • Bolivian ex-president to pay damages to victims of military in landmark US case

    Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada and former defence minister agree to pay for 2003 violence in which 60 protesters were killed A former Bolivian president and his defence minister have agreed to pay damages to the families of people killed by the military during their government, in a landmark settlement that sets a precedent by which other foreign leaders could face accountability for human rights abuse in US courts. The settlement concerns events in 2003, when massive protests broke out over then president Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada’s plan to export Bolivia’s natural gas. The army was sent to clear blockades in the largely Indigenous and working-class city of El Alto, killing more than 60 protesters and injuring hundreds. Continue reading...

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  • Heart of stone: turning a remote scottish barn into a stylish, comfy family home

    Architect Lily Jencks inherited a 19th-century ruined shell in the wilds of Dumfriesshire and has transformed it with empathy and flairSitting in a magical position upon a Dumfriesshire hillside, the ruins of a 19th-century barn and adjacent farmhouse formed part of Lily Jencks’s childhood. The ruins are not far from the family estate where Lily spent many of her school holidays and which is also the site of the Garden of Cosmic Speculation, created by her late father, the landscape designer and writer Charles Jencks. The farmstead itself was bought many years ago by Lily’s mother, the artist and garden designer Maggie Keswick Jencks, who was captivated by the quiet beauty of the surroundings and the open vista across the Borders landscape. Continue reading...

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  • Group Portrait in a Summer Landscape review – Chekhovian take on the Scottish referendum

    Pitlochry Festival theatreAn impressive ensemble makes the most of Peter Arnott’s new country house play, set during Scotland’s 2014 independence vote Adaptations of the plays of the pre-revolutionary Russian naturalist Anton Chekhov are nothing new. For example, in London’s West End, Andrew Scott is delivering a bravura one-man version of Uncle Vanya, which in 2011 was renamed Dear Uncle by Alan Ayckbourn and relocated to 1930s Cumbria. Ten years later, Thomas Kilroy brilliantly transposed The Seagull to late 19th-century Ireland. Here, though, the prize-winning playwright Peter Arnott is attempting something less usual: a brand new play that he describes as “Scottish Chekhov”. An impressive, nine-strong ensemble establishes various Chekhov-style tropes: a country house party (in Perthsh…

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  • Turkey explosion: suicide bomber detonates device near ministry in Ankara, say officials

    Government says one ‘terrorist’ died in explosion and other was ‘neutralised’ after attack in front of interior ministry The Turkish government has said that two terrorists carried out a bomb attack on Sunday in front of the interior ministry buildings in Ankara, adding that one of them died in the explosion and the other was “neutralised” by authorities. The blast was the first in the Turkish capital since 2016 and took place less than a mile from Turkey’s parliament building, hours before lawmakers were due to return for the reopening of parliament after a three-month summer break. Continue reading...

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