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Iran sets conditions for reopening Hormuz as US deal stalls
Iran has laid out tough conditions for reopening the strait of Hormuz, insisting the waterway will remain closed until the United States “corrects its behaviour”, even as the UAE reported that one of its oil tankers was struck by an Iranian missile. The standoff leaves the strait, a vital corridor for global oil and gas…
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The classic 1997 blockbuster Robert Redford turned down: “It was approaching a cartoon”
Robert Redford reportedly declined the lead role in the 1997 action blockbuster Air Force One because he felt the film was becoming too exaggerated, describing it as “approaching a cartoon”. The decision matters because the part became a major late-career success for Harrison Ford and helped define the film as a high-profile presidential thriller. Air…
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OpenAI acquires presentation startup NextSlide
OpenAI has acquired presentation-generation startup NextSlide, whose team has joined work on ChatGPT. The deal signals OpenAI’s interest in making its AI tools more useful for creating visual, editable business and communication materials. NextSlide’s product turned prompts, notes, documents and research into polished presentations, aiming to make visual communication easier. Financial terms were not disclosed;…
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Mason Mount injury overshadows Manchester United’s draw with PSG
Manchester United drew 1-1 with Paris Saint-Germain in a pre-season friendly in Gothenburg, but Mason Mount’s apparent foot injury dominated the occasion. The midfielder was substituted before 20 minutes had elapsed, renewing concerns over his fitness record since joining United in 2023 and potentially disrupting their preparations for the new season. PSG took an early…
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Premier League managers have never been less English, title-winning or secure in their jobs
Nine Premier League clubs will begin the 2026-27 season with a different manager from the one who finished the previous campaign, underlining an unprecedented lack of job security. With 11 coaches having been in post for less than a year, the division’s median managerial tenure is at its lowest at the start of a season,…
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Versatile Bruno Guimarães gives Mikel Arteta options to shuffle midfield pack | Ed Aarons
Bruno Guimarães has joined Arsenal from Newcastle United for £75m, giving Mikel Arteta a versatile and combative midfielder capable of playing in several central roles. The move matters because Arsenal want greater depth and flexibility in a midfield already regarded as among Europe’s strongest, particularly while Declan Rice’s fitness is managed after a demanding season…
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Brilliant Ballymena shock Blues to lay down early marker
Ballymena United began the Irish Premiership season with a commanding 3-0 win over Linfield at Windsor Park, signalling an impressive start to Oran Kearney’s first full campaign in charge. The result matters because Ballymena have substantially reshaped their squad and defeated one of the league’s expected title contenders, while exposing a troubling opening performance from…
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The 1995 movie Denzel Washington regrets turning down: “The script was too demonic”
Denzel Washington has said he regrets declining a role in David Fincher’s 1995 thriller Se7en, having initially considered its script too “demonic”. The film became a major critical and commercial success, and its bleak serial-killer story is now widely regarded as a landmark of 1990s crime cinema. Washington was reportedly offered the role of Detective…
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Inside the ‘Summer House’ Scandal That Turned Bravo’s Little Show Into a Big (Emmy-Nominated) Deal
Bravo’s Summer House became embroiled in a major off-screen scandal during its tenth season, after longtime cast members Amanda Batula and Kyle Cooke announced their divorce and Batula later revealed a relationship with fellow cast member West Wilson. The situation was complicated by Wilson’s previous relationship with Ciara Miller, a close friend of Batula’s, creating…