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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.”

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.

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)

Kiara Grace is a staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. Her writing focuses on technology trends, particularly in the realm of consumer electronics and software. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for breaking down complex topics, Kiara delivers insightful analyses that resonate with tech enthusiasts and casual readers alike. Her articles strike a balance between in-depth coverage and accessibility, making them a go-to resource for anyone seeking to stay informed about the latest innovations shaping our digital world.

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‘The Apprentice,’ About A Young Donald Trump, Premieres In Cannes

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young Donald Trump
young Donald Trump | AP News Image

France’s Cannes  — A film that tells the narrative of Donald Trump’s beginnings and paints a harsh picture of the former president in the 1980s debuted at the Cannes Film Festival on Monday, concurrent with the start of the sixth week of the Republican nominee’s hush money trial in New York.

Sebastian Stan plays Donald in the Iranian-Danish film “The Apprentice,” which was directed by Ali Abbasi. The primary bond in the film is that between Donald and Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong), the defense lawyer who served as lead counsel for Joseph McCarthy during the Senate hearings in the 1950s.

young Donald Trump

young Donald Trump | AP News Image

‘The Apprentice,’ About A Young Donald Trump, Premieres In Cannes

According to the narrative, Cohn has been Donald’s longtime mentor, teaching him the cruelty of New York City politics and commerce. Cohn initially supported the Trump Organization during a federal government lawsuit alleging racial discrimination in housing.

“The Apprentice,” a show that claims to be based on actual events, presents Donald’s interactions with Cohn as a sort of Faustian bargain that aided in his ascent to prominence in both business and politics. Stan’s Trump is a more innocent real estate aspirant at first, but Cohn’s schooling quickly changes him.

One sequence in the movie that is particularly noteworthy shows Donald raping his wife, Ivana Trump (played by Maria Bakalova). Ivana Trump claimed that Donald had sexually assaulted her in her 1990 divorce deposition. Ivana Trump later clarified that she didn’t mean it literally but rather that she had felt violated after Trump refuted the accusation.

young Donald Trump

young Donald Trump | AP News Image

‘The Apprentice,’ About A Young Donald Trump, Premieres In Cannes

Amidst the US presidential race, “The Apprentice” is a potentially explosive big-screen drama thanks to this and other scenes. There has yet to be a release date for the movie because it is being sold at Cannes.

Variety reported the alleged behind-the-scenes conflict surrounding “The Apprentice” on Monday. The trade magazine said, citing unnamed sources, that billionaire Dan Snyder—a former Washington Commanders owner and “The Apprentice” investor—had pressured the film’s directors to change how Donald is portrayed. Snyder has contributed to Donald’s presidential campaign in the past.

Snyder and the movie’s representatives could not be reached for comment immediately.

Abbasi, whose last film “Holy Spider” portrayed a female journalist pursuing a serial killer in Iran, stated in the movie’s press notes that he wasn’t trying to make “a History Channel episode.”

Abbasi declared, “This is not a biopic of Donald Trump.” “Every aspect of his life from point A to point Z is not interesting. We hope to present a specific story through their friendship and Roy’s relationship with him.

young Donald Trump

young Donald Trump | AP News Image

‘The Apprentice,’ About A Young Donald Trump, Premieres In Cannes

No matter how it affects politics, “The Apprentice” will probably be discussed a lot as a possible Oscar contender. The film, which has a grungy ’80s look, follows Strong back to a wealthy and powerful New York one year after HBO’s “Succession” ended. Strong, who plays “An Enemy of the People” on Broadway, was absent for the Cannes premiere on Monday.

“The Apprentice” is a competitor at Cannes, where it can vie for the Palme d’Or, the festival’s highest honor. The day following a film’s world premiere at Cannes, actors and directors hold press conferences. Tuesday is the press conference for “The Apprentice.”

SOURCE – (AP)

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Jim Otto, ‘Mr. Raider’ And Pro Football Hall Of Famer, Dies At 86

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Jim Otto, ‘Mr. Raider’ and Pro Football Hall of Famer, dies at 86
Jim Otto | AP News Image

The organization announced on Sunday night the passing of Jim Otto, the Hall of Fame center dubbed “Mr. Raider” for his resilience in the face of several injuries. It was his 86th birthday.

It took some time to determine the cause of death.

“The Original Raider,” the team declared in a statement shared on the social media site X. Jim’s impact on the American Football League and professional football in general is impossible to overestimate, as he personifies consistency. His leadership and perseverance distinguished the successful Raider teams of the 1960s and 1970s.

Otto continued to be associated with the Raiders following their 2020 relocation to Las Vegas. After the Raiders defeated the Denver Broncos 27-14 in January to close the season, he was one of numerous former players in the locker room.

Jim Otto, ‘Mr. Raider’ and Pro Football Hall of Famer, dies at 86

Jim Otto | AP News Image

Jim Otto, ‘Mr. Raider’ And Pro Football Hall Of Famer, Dies At 86

The defense ended with the Las Vegas Raiders. Otto was a “complete legend & incredible person,” according to a post made by Maxx Crosby on X.

In 1960, Jim joined the Raiders during their initial season in the American Football League and remained a regular for the following fifteen years.

He had nine knee surgeries during his playing career, although he never missed a game due to an injury. He participated in 210 straight regular-season games and 308 straight overall. 2007 saw the amputation of his right leg.

Former Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon famously remarked, “He’s a warrior.” “Jim comes to mind when you think of the rugged, vintage Raider.”

Considered one of the AFL’s all-time greats, Jim was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980.

Hall of Fame President Jim Porter said, “Jim personified the aura and mystique of the Raiders.” He was known as “The Original Raider,” guiding a brand-new franchise from its birth through its initial golden age in the late 1960s and early 1970s. His renowned dependability—210 straight starts in the AFL and NFL—and the honors he has received bear witness to his commitment to the team and the sport.

Otto had reportedly undergone more than fifty surgeries, most of them for wounds sustained playing football. Those suffered from crippling neck and back issues, arthritis, and repeated joint replacements. 2007 saw the amputation of his right leg.

After his career, Jim also experienced two significant infections and prostate cancer.

He declared, “I can tolerate any kind of surgery in the world, with the exception of internal procedures.” Correcting your nose, knee, elbows, or anything else is insignificant if it is purely cosmetic.

Otto participated in nine AFL All-Star games and the first three AFC-NFC Pro Bowls while donning his renowned No. 00 jersey, a play on his name, “Aught-oh.” Jim was elected into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

“I always tried to stay one step ahead of everyone else in my career,” Otto once remarked. “I was the best center every day that I trotted onto the field. I desired to be that way. I kept playing at that caliber and according to those standards.

Otto played a crucial role as the Raiders rose to prominence as one of the top teams in the NFL. After losing to Green Bay in the 1967 Super Bowl, the squad finished with seven division victories in his remaining eight seasons.

Jim Otto, ‘Mr. Raider’ and Pro Football Hall of Famer, dies at 86

Jim Otto | AP News Image

Jim Otto, ‘Mr. Raider’ And Pro Football Hall Of Famer, Dies At 86

He played offensive line alongside fellow Hall of Famers Gene Upshaw and Art Shell during his last seasons. Those Raiders dominated their opponents on the physical level.

“Some intimidation was present,” he claimed. “The football team and Oakland’s fan base made it difficult for teams to visit.

The Raiders were known for their intense partying and impressive play. Players would reportedly arrive before bed check at 11 p.m. and then leave again.

“They were all at practice the next morning, regardless of what had happened the previous evening,” Otto remarked.

Otto was born in Wausau, Wisconsin, on January 5, 1938. He was raised in extreme poverty and briefly lived with his family in a chicken coop. He departed to play football at the University of Miami, where he excelled as a linebacker and center.

In 1959, he was not selected by the NFL, but instead, he signed with the Raiders of the newly formed AFL the following year. Of the players who participated in the AFL for all ten years, he was one of only twenty.

Otto most recently served as the group’s director of special projects. In addition to making public appearances for the team, he arranged get-togethers for past players and fan gatherings in the luxury boxes.

Jim Otto, ‘Mr. Raider’ and Pro Football Hall of Famer, dies at 86

Jim Otto | AP News Image

Jim Otto, ‘Mr. Raider’ And Pro Football Hall Of Famer, Dies At 86

He also significantly impacted the negotiations to return the franchise to Oakland from Los Angeles prior to the 1995 campaign. In 2020, the Raiders moved from the Bay Area to Las Vegas.

My wife Sally, son Jim Jr., daughter-in-law Leah, and fourteen grandchildren (Alice, Sarah, Amy, Amanda, Josiah, Hannah, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Jennifer, Avery, Noah, Aiden, Roman, and Ellie) survive Otto.

SOURCE – (AP)

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Kate Middleton, The Princess of Wales Gives Update on New Project

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Kate Middleton gives first update on new project
Kate Middleton gives first update on her new project: Getty Images

Kate Middleton updated her first project since her cancer diagnosis. The Princess of Wales, 42, announced her treatment in an emotional speech in March. After London abdominal surgery, the Express says she has taken time off public duty.

Kate stated in her address that pre-operative testing after surgery revealed her non-cancerous condition. For Mental Health Week, the Prince and Princess of Wales posted a short film trailer on their social media accounts.

The film emphasizes Britain’s farmers’ mental health issues and is her first project update since diagnosis.

Kate Middleton tweeted: “We’ve teamed up with Sam Stables from We Are Farming Minds and Farmer Will for a special film for #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek.

“Spending a day together on Sam’s farm in Hereford they chatted about mental health in the farming community, finding support and the Duchy of Cornwall’s Mental Health Strategy.”

Although Kate doesn’t appear in the YouTube video, she and Prince William produced it. Before Kate’s illness, GB News reported that the project was underway. One fan thanked Kate and William for raising mental health awareness in the video comments.

Says: “Can’t even begin to say how much I love the awareness HRH The Prince and Princess of Wales brings to the issues surrounding mental health.”

Another said: “I love that you’re focusing on rural mental health! Well done.”

 William said Kate “doing well” - Getty Images

Prince William said Kate “doing well” – Getty Images

Prince William ” Kate Middleton is doing well”

When asked about his wife Kate Middleton during a royal engagement on Friday, Prince William replied she is “doing well.”

The Prince of Wales went to St. Mary’s Community Hospital on the Isles of Scilly in southwest England. Tracy Smith, an administrator at the hospital, offered the king a tour of the facilities. “May I ask how Princess Kate is doing?” she responded. To which William replied that Kate is “doing well.” When questioned about his children (George, Charlotte, and Louis), William remarked, “The children are very jealous that I am here…” Perhaps we can come later in the year.”

The rare news comes after the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton revealed in a video message that she had been diagnosed with cancer following a scheduled abdominal operation. Kate stated in a video posted by Kensington Palace on March 22 that the news was a “huge shock.” She started “preventative chemotherapy” in late February, according to a Kensington Palace official.

“I am well and getting stronger every day,” Kate stated in the video message.

During the royal visit on Friday, hospital matron Lynda McHale presented Prince William with a card for his wife and father, King Charles III, who revealed his own diagnosis of an unidentified type of cancer in February and officially resumed public duties in late April.

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