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Allison Janney on Playing the President in ‘The Diplomat,’ Her Broadway ‘Seven-Year Itch’ and the One Genre She’s Never Tried
Allison Janney has spoken to Variety about playing Grace Penn, a US president, in Netflix’s political thriller “The Diplomat,” a role she says came as a genuine surprise as her character rose from vice president to commander-in-chief over the course of the show. The interview coincides with her seventh Emmy nomination, this time for supporting…
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Ben Jones, ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ actor and former congressman, dead at 84
Ben Jones, the actor best known for playing mechanic Cooter Davenport in the television series “The Dukes of Hazzard,” has died at the age of 84. He appeared in the show, which followed the escapades of the Duke family in the fictional Hazzard County, from 1979 until 1985, becoming one of its most recognisable cast…
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Senate Democrats unveil cybersecurity bill after attacks on water infrastructure
Democratic Sens. Adam Schiff (Calif.) and Amy Klobuchar (Minn.) unveiled a new cybersecurity bill dubbed the Water Cyber Shield Act on Monday in an effort to prevent attacks on water infrastructure. The legislation would increase the drinking water and clean water state revolving funds by $300 million annually for cybersecurity improvements, and it would allow…
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Blanche formally sworn in as attorney general
President Trump’s former personal attorney Todd Blanche was sworn in as attorney general on Monday, making him the second official to hold the top law enforcement position during the second Trump administration. Trump’s aide Margo Martin posted a video of Blanche’s swearing in from the Oval Office on Monday afternoon. The Senate confirmed Blanche in…
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Trump bets economic pressure can squeeze Iran as regime’s own failures deepen the pain
President Donald Trump is signalling a preference for sustained economic pressure over immediate military escalation against Iran, betting that the country’s crumbling economy will force concessions without further US strikes. Speaking to Axios in a phone interview, Trump said the US was “only semi-negotiating” with Tehran, pointing to Iran’s soaring inflation and depleted finances as…
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Trump admits ‘contractor error’ with Reflecting Pool renovation as former Olympian threatens to SUE him for ‘harassment’
Donald Trump has acknowledged a “contractor error” during renovation work on the National Mall’s Reflecting Pool, amid a wider row involving a former Olympic athlete who is threatening to sue him over alleged harassment. The admission comes as the president faces scrutiny over infrastructure works being carried out around Washington DC landmarks, adding another awkward…
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Previously released Fauci Covid texts reportedly mention pregnant women
Reports claimed that further text messages from Dr Anthony Fauci’s phone during his time as the United States’ top infectious disease official had been made public, with the headline suggesting they included a striking admission about pregnant women and concerns over vaccine-related miscarriage risk. However, the underlying material made available for this story consisted solely…
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Joanna Cherry takes swipe at Nicola Sturgeon over sexuality (and lack of real job)
Joanna Cherry, the SNP MP for Edinburgh South West, has criticised Nicola Sturgeon, taking aim at the former first minister over her sexuality and questioning whether she has held a “real job”. The comments mark the latest sign of tension between Cherry and Sturgeon, who have clashed publicly in the past over gender recognition reform…
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Labour ‘bonfire of patient safety’ rips up key NHS safeguards and removes protections for whistleblowers, Lib Dems warn
The Liberal Democrats have accused the Labour government of presiding over a “bonfire of patient safety” by dismantling key NHS safeguards, including protections for whistleblowers. The party warns that scrapping these measures could leave staff less able to raise concerns about poor care and patients more exposed to risk, reigniting long-standing debates about how well…
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Jerry Katzman, television executive, dies aged 89
Jerry Katzman, a former William Morris president and influential television packager behind hits including “Roseanne,” “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “The Cosby Show” and “Murphy Brown,” died on 9 August aged 89 after living with Parkinson’s disease for several years. He rose through the agency from business affairs to become head of worldwide television and…