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Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,383

By in News, World News

Here’s where things stand on Monday, December 8:

Fighting

  • Russian attacks on Ukraine’s Kharkiv region killed at least four people, including a 70-year-old woman, on Sunday, according to Ukrainian police and the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office. At least 10 others were also injured.
  • Russian forces also hit the Pechenihy reservoir dam in Kharkiv during the attack, with the Ukrainian military saying it was ready for the facility to be “critically damaged”. The reservoir supplies water to the city of Kharkiv, which is Ukraine’s second-largest metropolis.
  • Russian attacks also killed two others in Ukraine on Sunday, one in the city of Sloviansk in the Donetsk region and another in the Chernihiv region, according to regional governors.
  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian forces launched more than 650 drones and 51 missiles overnight into Sunday, causing injuries and destroying infrastructure across Ukraine, with energy being the “main target”.
  • In the central city of Kremenchuk, the attacks caused widespread power and water outages, according to Mayor Vitaliy Maletsky. He described the assault as a “massive combined strike” and said city workers were working to restore services.
  • The Russian Ministry of Defence said its forces have seized the Ukrainian villages of Kucherivka in the Kharkiv region and Rivne near Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region.
  • The ministry also said that its forces shot down 172 Ukrainian drones and four Neptune long-range guided missiles in a 24-hour period.

Politics and diplomacy

  • Zelenskyy said on Sunday that his conversation with United States representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on a peace plan for Ukraine had been “constructive, although not easy”. “The American representatives know the basic Ukrainian positions,” Zelenskyy added.
  • Keith Kellogg, US President Donald Trump’s outgoing envoy for Ukraine, told the Reagan National Defense Forum in California that a deal to end the war in Ukraine was “really, really close”, and that negotiations were continuing over Russia’s demand for Ukraine’s Donbas region and the future of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. “The last 10 metres” is always the hardest, said Kellogg, who is due to step down in January.
  • Russian President Vladimir Putin’s top foreign policy aide, Yury Ushakov, said that “territorial problems” were discussed at talks in Moscow between US and Russian officials last week, and that Washington would have to “make serious, I would say, radical changes to their papers” on Ukraine.
  • Zelenskyy is due to meet the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for talks in London on Monday.
  • Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state television reporter Pavel Zarubin on Sunday that Trump’s new national security strategy largely aligned with Russia’s positions. “The adjustments that we see correspond in many ways to our vision,” Peskov said of the new US strategy.
  • He also said it was encouraging that the new strategy pledged to end “the perception, and preventing the reality, of the NATO military alliance as a perpetually expanding alliance”.
  • Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni spoke with Zelenskyy on the phone and denounced what she called a new wave of “indiscriminate” Russian attacks on Ukraine. She also pledged to provide Italian generators to Ukraine in the coming weeks.

Selby holds off spirited Trump to win third UK title

By in News, Sports News

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Steve Sutcliffe

BBC Sport journalist at York Barbican
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Mark Selby held off a spirited Judd Trump fightback to win 10-8 as he claimed his third UK Championship title in York.

The four-time Crucible winner laid the platform for his first triumph in one of snooker’s prestigious Triple Crown events since 2021, and his 10th overall, in a scintillating first session on Sunday afternoon.

“I set my target every year to win one of these three [Triple Crown] tournaments. It’s not easy to do but that’s my goal – and if I pick up some other tournaments along the way, fantastic,” Selby told BBC Sport.

Selby was almost flawless as he established a 5-0 advantage, which defending champion Trump narrowed to 6-2.

However, when play resumed Selby’s progress towards a first UK title since 2016 was checked as Trump took three of the first four frames – including a controversial 11th, in which Selby was initially awarded a free ball by referee Olivier Marteel.

That decision was reversed after Selby agreed with his opponent’s protestations that it was not a free ball – which allows a player to nominate a ball when snookered after a foul – although subsequent television replays, and six-time world champion Steve Davis, suggested the referee’s initial judgement had been correct.

With Trump fluking the red he was snookered on and then constructing his first century of the match in the following frame, it felt like a pivotal moment.

However, Selby was not to be denied the £250,000 top prize on offer for winning the 25th ranking event of his career, despite some nervy moments.

While a break of 91 put him 8-5 up, he missed several routine pots as world number one Trump clawed his way back to 8-7 with runs of 125 and 55.

Selby close to brilliant best

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Only Ronnie O’Sullivan (23), Stephen Hendry (18) and Steve Davis (15) have now won more Triple Crown events than Selby, who overtook John Higgins this weekend.

And, having defeated Trump in consecutive finals, there are signs that he has rediscovered the form that made him such a dominant force in the game between 2012 and 2017.

During that period Selby topped the rankings and collected two UK crowns, one Masters title and won three times at the Crucible as his granite matchplay and ability to score heavily made him a fearsome opponent.

However, more recently he has considered retirement and battled to overcome well-documented mental health issues, and other personal struggles, away from snooker.

“I’ve always said the time I stop enjoying it is the time I stop playing and, for a while, I wasn’t enjoying it. I was performing poorly and not enjoying the challenge.

Questions for Trump as he ends 2025 without silverware

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Trump began the day looking to become only the fourth player to successfully defend the UK crown after all-time greats Davis, Hendry and O’Sullivan.

But by the end of it he had suffered his third defeat of the season in a final, having been pipped in a decider by Jack Lisowski at the Northern Ireland Open in October and by Selby at the Champion of Champions.

With him not being in action again until the Masters in January, it means that the 36-year-old’s record of having won a piece of silverware every year since 2013 comes to an end.

And, while Selby will be automatically installed as the favourite when the top 16 players in the world line-up at Alexandra Palace, there will be more question marks around Trump.

He has openly talked about needing to change his cue again in the intervening period and his practice regime has also suffered, while his brother has had visa issues that have prevented him joining Trump at his Dubai base.

“It’s been a struggle really. The whole tournament I didn’t play great and Mark was much the better player,” said Trump.

“I’ll definitely practice and be back to normal with my brother back in Dubai. I’ve not been as sharp going into events. I am still waiting for that one game, that one spark.

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Dianne Buswell shows off baby bump in see-through catsuit at Strictly Come Dancing

By in Entertainment News, News

Strictly Come Dancing star Dianne Buswell has shown off her blossoming baby bump in a series of raunchy photos backstage at the show ahead of the final

Strictly Come Dancing star Dianne Buswell showed off her growing baby bump in a see-through catsuit as she posed backstage at the show. The gorgeous Australian professional dancer, 36, looked positively glowing as she posed for a series of snaps behind-the-scenes at Elstree studios, where the BBC hit is filmed.

Explaining that the routine had been shot in advance she said: “Back when we filmed this number I hadn’t told any of the pros that I was pregnant yet it was my little secret …. last night I found my outfit on the rack and thought I would do a growth chart.” She added: “He’s certainly grown.”

Dianne tenderly placed her hand on her growing baby bump as she struck a pose in the sheer black outfit. Dianne’s Strictly co-star, Nadiya Bychkova, 36, matched with her in the same outfit as she showed off her toned figure and turned to the back to reveal the backless aspect of the look.

The pair wore the outfits for a performance from the professional dancers in the results show on Sunday. The routine saw the main case and the ensemble collaborate for The Cell Block Tango from the musical Chicago.

Viewers were left delighted at the routine as they took to social media to share their views on the performance. One wrote on X: “I’ve never seen a serve like that.” A second said: “Wow! That was incredible from the professionals.”

A third fans posted: “That pro number… omg absolutely incredible.” A fourth social media user wrote: “That routine from the pro’s was just stunning stunning stunning. What a beautiful performance.” A fifth added: “That group number ATEEEE obsessed.” Another awestruck viewer shared: “My jaw is on the floor, strictly female pros I love you.”

Musicals Week saw the five remaining celebrities in the hit BBC dance competition take to the dance floor on Saturday evening to perform their routines and try to impress both the judges and viewers. Former Love Island star Amber Davies and her dance partner Nikita Kuzmin topped the leader board on the night with a perfect score of 40.

Meanwhile, EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal and her pro Julian Caillon, actor Lewis Cope and his partner Katya Jones and influencer George Clarke and dancer Alexis Warr all tied with 35 points each.

Former Lioness Karen Carney and her partner Carlos Gu were at the bottom of the board having scored 34 points. But, the results show on Sunday left fans shocked as they saw favourites Lewis and Amber unexpectedly become the bottom two stars.

After performing in the dance off, the judges decided to save Amber, meaning Lewis and Katya were dropped from the competition. Viewers were left devastated by the decision as they took to social media to express their disappointment.

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One wrote on X: “Lewis was arguably the best dancer this show has seen in years so what the f**k.” A second commented: “I don’t understand what’s happening on #BBCStrictly right now but this is f*****g awful.” A third shared: “Well that ends my interest this year. Lewis, you were outstanding.”

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I’m A Celeb Jack Osbourne responds to sister’s claim Kelly Brook ‘bullied’ him

By in Entertainment News, News

I’m A Celeb star Jack Osbourne cleared up the claims that Kelly Brook was a ‘bully’ as he labelled her ‘awesome’ and said they had an ‘absolutely fine friendship in camp’

I’m A Celeb star Jack Osbourne has opened up on his relationship with fellow campmate Kelly Brook after his sister Kelly Osbourne previously shared her honest thoughts on Instagram. Jack, 40, left I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! on Friday evening and was the joint seventh to leave, exiting alongside actress Lisa Riley in a shock double elimination.

During his time in the jungle, Jack appeared to clash with campmate Kelly over cooking duties, and Jack’s sister labelled Kelly Brook a ‘bully’. Kelly Osbourne said: “You bring out my big‑sister vibes where I want to attack you because I feel like you’re a bit of a bully.”

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Now, Jack has opened up on the claims and told The Sun: “Kelly is not a bully at all. Kelly Brook is awesome. We had an absolutely fine friendship in camp. There was never anything, at least on my side. We were chill the whole time. We got on great, just like everyone.”

He added: “I think it was just the protectiveness. I haven’t seen the whole episodes yet, so I don’t know what went out there, what was said.”

Kelly Brook has also opened up on their friendship since leaving the jungle and told The Daily Mail that they ‘got on so well’. She added: “I probably got on with him the best out of everyone, like Jack, Martin and Vogue – they were my people in there.”

Upon leaving the Jungle, Jack also revealed that his wife is pregnant with their second child together. Aree is 28 weeks pregnant and was able to tell Jack’s father, Ozzy, that she was expecting a child before he died in July this year.

Jack told The Sun that it was “healing” to be expecting a child whilst dealing with the death of his father. “It’s awesome. I think it’s been partly a healthy distraction, partly healing.

Ozzy Osbourne died in July this year, after suffering a heart attack. He died just weeks after performing his final concert in Birmingham.

Some fans found Jack’s constant hovering in the kitchen whilst on I’m A Celeb difficult to watch, but others felt this was a symptom of Jack not coping too well. Alison Hammond shared this view, saying on Unpacked that she thought it was “too soon” after Ozzy’s death for Jack to be on the show.

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It comes as the final Bushtucker Trial saw the remaining celebs face their final challenge of the series. All celebs managed to take home all of their stars, which means they were rewarded with a banquet of their choice.

The final episode also saw Ginge be crowned as winner of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! 2025. Celebs Go Dating’s Tom Read Wilson placed second and EastEnders’ Shona McGarty places third.