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Helen Mirren Visits Jerusalem For New Film ‘Golda,’ Says She Is Inspired By Anti-Government Protests

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(JERUSALEM) – Helen Mirren, who plays Israel’s first female prime minister in her upcoming film, says she was inspired by the country’s current prime leader’s huge demonstrations.

In “Golda,” Mirren plays the late Golda Meir during the 1973 conflict between Israel and a coalition of Arab governments. She is visiting Israel, which is also in trouble, with widespread protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s intention to alter the country’s judicial system.

Mirren stated at a press conference before the Jerusalem Film Festival that the protests motivated her.”When I see these massive demonstrations, I’m personally very moved and excited,” she remarked. “I believe it is a watershed moment in Israeli history.”

Netanyahu’s coalition administration, which entered office in December, is the most ultranationalist and ultra-Orthodox government in Israel’s 75-year history.

Hundreds of thousands have flocked to the streets to oppose the proposed judicial change for more than six months. Netanyahu’s supporters argue that the plan is necessary to limit the powers of an unelected judiciary. His opponents argue that a blatant power grab will destabilize the country’s frail system of checks and balances.

Mirren contrasted Meir’s leadership — who frequently offered coffee to her military aides while they met in her kitchen to deliberate strategy — with Netanyahu’s, who has a reputation for being haughty and out of touch with ordinary Israelis.

“She had enormous power, but she was perfectly content to toddle around the kitchen, making everyone coffee and being the grandmother,” Mirren explained. “It’s a very different attitude towards power — from the male, Netanyahu type of power to the female, Golda Meir kitchen power.”

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Helen Mirren, who plays Israel’s first female prime minister in her upcoming film, says she was inspired by the country’s current prime leader’s huge demonstrations.

Mirren’s visit also coincides with Netanyahu’s government’s efforts to strengthen its grip on the West Bank. His administration has approved plans for thousands of new homes in West Bank settlements, raising tensions with Palestinians.

This year, Israeli fire has killed over 150 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, and Palestinian attacks against Israelis have killed at least 25 people. According to Israel, most Palestinians slain were militants, while stone-throwers and individuals who were not participating in violence were also killed.

Some of Netanyahu’s supporters are West Bank settlement leaders who have pushed to undermine Palestinians’ national ambitions, a view Meir memorably voiced in 1969.

“There was no such thing as Palestinians,” Meir told the Sunday Times. Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s far-right Finance Minister, recently repeated Meir, saying, “There is no such thing as a Palestinian people.”

Lior Ashkenazi, the Israeli actor who plays the Israeli army’s commander in the film, believes Meir would support moves to annex the West Bank.

“Even though she was a socialist,” Ashkenazi explained, “I think she would definitely support the settlers.”

The film, directed by Guy Nattiv and written by Nicholas Martin, concentrates on Meir’s leadership during the 1973 Mideast war when an Arab coalition led by Egypt and Syria attacked Israel on Yom Kippur, the Jewish calendar’s holiest day.

mirren

Helen Mirren, who plays Israel’s first female prime minister in her upcoming film, says she was inspired by the country’s current prime leader’s huge demonstrations.

Israel emerged triumphant from the battle under the leadership of Meir and Israeli military officers, with its forces within 70 miles (120 kilometers) of Cairo, Egypt’s capital. The outcome of the conflict set the framework for a deal between Israel and Egypt.

However, Israel suffered severe casualties during the war, and Meir was chastised for the government’s lack of preparation and refusal to act on intelligence signaling an impending invasion. Meir resigned the following year, and the national trauma caused by the war triggered a process that brought the right-wing Likud party, which Netanyahu now heads, to power in 1977.

Mirren, a British-born actor, has received both Oscar and Emmy nominations for her roles as Queen Elizabeth II in “The Queen” and Sofia Tolstoy in “The Last Station.”

SOURCE – (AP)

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Taylor Swift Watches Travis Kelce’s Chiefs Take On The Jets At MetLife Stadium

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EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey — Taylor Swift could not pass up another opportunity to observe Travis Kelce play football.

The 12-time Grammy Award winner arrived at MetLife Stadium approximately forty minutes before Sunday night’s kickoff to witness Travis and his Kansas City Chiefs defeat the New York Jets 23-20.

Swift, wearing blue jean shorts, a black long-sleeved top, and a leather jacket, entered the stadium’s security area with actors Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, and Hugh Jackman, as captured by SNY. NBC’s broadcast cut to Swift multiple times during the game, including a shot of the pop star with her arm around Donna Kelce, who was donning her son’s No. 87 jersey.

Swift’s appearance comes a week after she attended Arrowhead Stadium, dressed in red and white, to witness the Chiefs’ 41-10 home victory over the Chicago Bears with Donna Kelce. Swift accepted the All-Pro tight end’s invitation to observe the game and had to see more of Travis and the Chiefs in action.

Taylor Swift is on a break from her Eras Tour, which resumes on November 9 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Travis acknowledges Swift’s daring appearance at the Chiefs game but remains tight-lipped about their relationship. Twenty minutes before commencement, NBC aired a tour advertisement.

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Taylor Swift could not pass up another opportunity to observe Travis Kelce play football.

Swift is familiar with MetLife Stadium, having performed three sold-out concerts there in May. Two of those performances were attended by Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who returned to the team this past weekend after tearing his left Achilles tendon on the fourth play of his September 11 debut.

Rodgers attended a squad meeting on Saturday evening and was at the stadium to observe player warmups on Sunday evening.

Swift and Kelce have not disclosed details about their relationship. Kelce stated on his podcast “New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce” earlier this week that Swift “looked amazing” at the contest.

Regarding her time spent in the suite, Kelce stated, “Everyone was speaking positively about her.” “Moreover, the day proceeded flawlessly for Chiefs fans. Naturally, we plan everything, ladies and gentlemen.”

Kelce invited Swift to that game after failing to present her a friendship bracelet during the Kansas City stop of her Eras Tour.

SOURCE – (AP)

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Andretti Global Clears First Hurdle To Join Formula One As An 11th Team With FIA Expansion Approval

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Monday, the FIA announced that American Michael Andretti satisfies all requirements to expand the world’s premier motorsports series to 11 teams, removing a significant obstacle in his bid to launch a Formula One team.

The FIA decision does not guarantee Andretti will get the two-car team he desires. Andretti Global and its associate Cadillac must still demonstrate their commercial value to F1 rights holder Liberty Media and the existing teams, who adamantly oppose expanding the grid to twenty cars. However, the teams have no say in the expansion of the grid.

F1 said in a statement, “We note the FIA’s conclusions regarding the first and second phases of their process and will now conduct our own evaluation of the remaining application’s merits.”

The FIA’s approval was a crucial first step in Andretti’s three-year mission to restore one of auto racing’s most storied names to the pinnacle of the sport. His son Michael competed in 13 races during the 1993 season. Mario Andretti earned the F1 championship in 1978.

Father and son are among the most successful open-wheel racers in American history and rank third and fourth on IndyCar’s all-time tally of winners. They have been attempting to reintroduce the Andretti name to F1 for years and have cleared an impediment by securing Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s support for the effort.

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Monday, the FIA announced that American Michael Andretti satisfies all requirements to expand the world’s premier motorsports series to 11 teams.

Ben Sulayem stated, “The FIA is obligated to approve applications that meet the Expression of Interests application requirements, and we followed this procedure in deciding that Andretti Formula Racing LLC’s application would advance to the next stage of the application process.”

“Andretti Formula Racing LLC was the only entity that met the established selection criteria in all material respects. I commend Michael Andretti and his team for their comprehensive submission.”

After Andretti petitioned for the grid to be expanded to enable new entrants, Ben Sulayem, who assumed leadership of the FIA in late 2021, oversaw the opening of an “expression of interest” process for potential new teams this year. Andretti’s action followed an abortive 2021 attempt to acquire an existing team.

In the initial phase, seven applicants were received by the FIA. Five made it to the second round, which required a $300,000 fee and a thorough investigation by the F1 governing body. Andretti, whose engines would be General Motors-branded under the Cadillac banner, was considered the only worthy applicant out of four who completed the process.

The applicant had to satisfy FIA’s sporting, technical and financial requirements to be recommended as a future team. Ben Sulayem stated on Monday that “our goal, after rigorous due diligence during the application phase, was to only approve prospective entries that met the established criteria and demonstrated they would enhance the sport.”

andretti

Monday, the FIA announced that American Michael Andretti satisfies all requirements to expand the world’s premier motorsports series to 11 teams.

Most existing teams have publicly opposed expanding the grid for anyone, including a General Motors-sponsored American. This year, there will be three F1 races in the United States and five in North America. The series has targeted a new sponsorship market by capitalising on the popularity of the European racing series in the United States.

But the existing teams, namely Red Bull and Mercedes, argue that they need to invest more heavily in F1 for anyone to buy their way in. Any new entrant must pay a $200 million anti-dilution fee, but the teams have argued that expansion reduces their financial share.

And if Andretti desires a team so badly, they say, he should buy one.

In 2016, Gene Haas founded the only American-owned team. Andretti has stated that his team will be the true American squad with an American driver, GM’s support, and an American sponsor.

Ben Sulayem has backed the Andretti effort and stated that the Andretti name and General Motors contribute too much to the series to be rejected outright for future teams. Furthermore, Andretti does not have a financial stake in F1’s profits like Liberty and the existing teams do.

Ben Sulayem said opening the procedure for new teams to join “also attracted further commitment from Audi, Honda and Ford and interest from Porsche and General Motors.”

This was the third time the FIA had solicited expressions of interest from prospective teams. The first, in 2009, resulted in four teams joining the series, but they all subsequently declared bankruptcy and left the sport. As a result, the requirements to join F1 and the application procedure have become extremely stringent.

Haas obtained his team in a 2014 expression of interest and continues to compete in Formula One.

SOURCE – (AP)

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2023: A Second UK Police Force Is Looking Into Allegations Of Sexual Offenses Committed By Russell Brand

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LONDON brand,  British media reported on Monday that a second British police force is investigating sexual offenses purportedly committed by the actor and comedian Russell Brand.

According to the BBC and PA news agency, Thames Valley Police is reexamining harassment and surveillance allegations made by a woman against Russell between 2018 and 2022.

As is customary in the United Kingdom for individuals who have not been charged, the police refused to identify Russell but stated in response to news reports.

“In the past two weeks, Thames Valley Police have received new information regarding harassment and stalking allegations dating back to 2018,” it stated. As such, it would be inappropriate to comment on an ongoing investigation involving this information.

As a result of a television documentary and newspaper investigations, London’s Metropolitan Police stated last week that it was investigating “a number of allegations of sexual offences” involving Russell.

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A Second UK Police Force Is Looking Into Allegations Of Sexual Offenses Committed By Russell Brand

Russell, 48, denies sexual assault allegations brought by four women in a Channel 4 documentary and The Times and Sunday Times newspapers. One of the unnamed accusers claims she was sexually assaulted during a 16-year-old relationship with the defendant. In 2012, a second victim claimed Brand raped her in Los Angeles.

The brand was a prominent U.K. celebrity in the early 2000s, hosting radio and television programs and starring in several Hollywood films. Between 2010 and 2012, he briefly married the pop singer Brandy Perry.

They have largely vanished from mainstream media but has amassed a substantial online following through videos that combine wellness and conspiracy theories. YouTube has stated that due to the “serious allegations” against Brand, he will no longer be able to monetize his 6,6 million subscribers on the video streaming platform.

Source – Ap

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