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Israel expanding presence in Lebanon, officials say, as BBC visits occupied areas
The BBC has visited occupied areas of southern Lebanon alongside a UN peacekeeping humanitarian mission, finding evidence that Israel is consolidating and expanding its military presence there rather than withdrawing, despite a ceasefire announced in June. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has instructed the military to prepare for a “long-term presence” in the region, which…
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Aussie state locks in pill testing at festivals despite fierce opposition over ‘mixed signals’ on drug policy
New South Wales will roll out pill testing at up to 15 music festivals from October, after the state government pledged AU$4.3 million to continue the service following a successful year-long trial. The move follows a March report finding the scheme reduced drug-related harm at festivals, and has been welcomed by harm-reduction advocates and by…
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Hasan Piker cheerleads progressives as 80-year-old senator wins six more years
Twitch streamer and left-wing activist Hasan Piker celebrated after Senator Ed Markey, 80, defeated Representative Seth Moulton in the Massachusetts Democratic Senate primary, framing the result as a win for progressive politics over generational change. Moulton, 33 years Markey’s junior, had campaigned on the need for fresh leadership, but Markey positioned himself as the more…
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Architect of British government’s AI strategy joins Anthropic
Matt Clifford, the tech investor who drafted the UK government’s AI action plan and advised both Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer, has joined US AI firm Anthropic as managing director for international affairs, a year after leaving his Downing Street role. In the new post he will lead Anthropic’s engagement with governments outside the US,…
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Hyun Bin and Woo Do-hwan Turn Against Each Other in Hulu and Disney+’s ‘Made in Korea’ Season 2
The Korean political thriller “Made in Korea” returns for a six-episode second season on Hulu and Disney+ from 9 September, continuing the KRW70 billion ($51 million) two-season production that ranks among the most expensive K-dramas made. The new season jumps forward nine years from Season 1’s 1970s setting to depict the chaos of 1979, including…
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Progressive push hits wall against conservative Democrat in deep-blue district
Democratic Rep. Stephen Lynch has fended off a well-funded progressive primary challenge from attorney Patrick Roath in Massachusetts’s heavily Democratic 8th Congressional District, underscoring the limits of the party’s left flank in unseating established moderates. The contest was closely watched as a proxy battle in the wider struggle between the Democratic Party’s progressive and moderate…
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One of Congress’ most powerful Democrats just survived a progressive primary revolt
Democratic Representative Richard Neal has fended off a progressive primary challenge in Massachusetts’ 1st Congressional District, defeating high school teacher Jeromie Whalen. The result matters beyond the district itself because Neal, 77, is the senior Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee, which oversees tax policy and major economic legislation, and his win preserves…
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Biden-Harris favorite gets second shot at Congress, beats Squad-backed candidate
Dan Koh, a former Biden administration aide backed by both Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, has won a crowded six-candidate Democratic primary in Massachusetts to succeed Rep. Seth Moulton in the state’s 6th Congressional District. The seat is rated safely Democratic, giving Koh a clear path to Congress in November and marking a comeback after…
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15 Years Later, Gerard Butler’s Gritty Action Sleeper Hit Is Taking Over Streaming
Fifteen years after its release, Gerard Butler’s 2011 action thriller *Machine Gun Preacher* has found a second life on streaming, sitting among the top 10 most-watched films on Paramount+ and also available free on Pluto TV. The film blends Butler’s action-star credentials with his classical acting background, resulting in what the article calls one of…
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House Democrat survives left-flank challenge as Bernie volunteer mounts insurgent bid
Democratic Representative Jake Auchincloss won his party’s primary in Massachusetts’ 4th Congressional District on Tuesday, seeing off his first Democratic challenger since taking the seat in 2021. He was contested from the left by Jason Poulos, an AI policy researcher and former Bernie Sanders campaign volunteer, whose defeat suggests limited appetite among the district’s Democratic…