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Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,396

On Sunday, December 21, 2018, this is how things are going.

Fighting

    According to Ukrainian authorities, at least 30 people were hurt in a Russian missile attack on Ukraine’s port city of Odesa, up from seven to eight.

  • Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, accused Russia of trying to encroach on Kyiv’s territory by calling the situation in Odesa “harsh.”
  • In response to the Russian attacks on Odesa, the Ukrainian leader added that he is considering replacing Dmytro Karpenko as the Southern Air Command’s head.
  • Russian forces attacked the nearby port of Pivdennyi on Saturday, according to Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba, hitting several reservoirs.
  • On Friday, the Ukrainian military reported that its special forces attacked a Lukoil oil rig and the Okhotnik, a Russian military patrol ship, with drones in the Caspian Sea. The Filanovsky oil rig, which had been targeted twice this month, was also damaged, according to the military.
  • Svitle and Vysoke, which are located in the eastern Donetsk region and the northeastern Luhansk region, were taken over by Russia’s Ministry of Defense.

Talks of diplomacy and a ceasefire

  • According to Zelenskyy, the US suggested a new format for discussions with Russia that would involve three-way discussions with US national security advisers from Ukraine, Russia, and the US.
  • The Ukrainian leader said he thought the talks would produce “anything new,” but that he thought the US-led discussions had the best chance of succeeding.
  • He added that if trilateral discussions enabled progress in areas like prisoner swaps or a meeting of national leaders, he would support them. I cannot be opposed to a meeting that could be held right now to allow for the swapping of prisoners of war or if a meeting of national security advisers comes to an agreement on a leaders’ meeting. A US proposal like this would be welcomed by us. Let’s see how things turn out, he said.
  • Zelenskyy also retaliated against Ukraine holding elections as the conflict drags on, claiming that Russian-occupied areas cannot host elections and that security conditions must first be improved before voting can take place. Zelenskyy asserted that “it is not Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, who decides when and how the elections will be held in Ukraine.”
  • Zelenskyy urged European leaders to approve a plan to seize frozen Russian assets and use them to fund Ukraine’s war effort, claiming that doing so would increase Ukraine’s leverage at the table of negotiations. According to the International Monetary Fund, Ukraine will need about 137 billion euros ($161 billion) in 2026 and 2027 as the country’s economy struggles as a result of the conflict’s continued demands.
  • In Miami, Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev and his US counterpart Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son of US President Donald Trump, spoke.
  • “The discussions are going in a positive way. They started earlier and will continue both today and tomorrow,” Dmitriev said.
  • More than 50 countries took part in a summit held in Cairo, which was attended by the Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose goal was to strengthen cooperation between Russia and African countries. In terms of security and national sovereignty, Lavrov marketed Russia as a “reliable partner” for African nations.

Weapons

  • Oleksandr Kamyshin, the president of Ukraine, announced a deal with Portugal to jointly produce maritime drones, saying it would “defend Europe from the sea.”

Kate Winslet shares ‘regret’ over teenage eating struggles after drama teacher’s weight comment

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Kate Winslet, the star of Titanic, has opened up about the challenges she faced as a young actress, including body image issues and a dramatic teacher’s comment about her weight.

Kate Winslet has reflected on the moment she realised her acting dreams might come with conditions, revealing how a comment from a drama teacher about her weight stayed with her for years – and shaped the way she saw herself as a young performer.

The Oscar winner, who appeared on Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, recalls being early informed that she could pursue a career if “you’re happy to accept the fat girl parts.” But she added, “Look at me now,” with unwavering honesty.

Kate, now 49, admitted the words landed hard. “I didn’t aspire to play leading roles ever,” she said. “I was just Kate from Reading. I didn’t get film scripts.”

READ MORE: ‘I thought all my family was from Cheshire but a DNA test found a long lost cousin’

Born in Reading in 1975, the second of four children, Kate grew up in what she describes as a “good, chaotic, happy” household. There was lots of dressing up, playing and noise, all centred around a busy family kitchen. It was there, she believes, that she unknowingly taught herself how to act.

She said, “I think they would assume that someone was filming us because they were acting.” Because of how people act on television, they are just being.

At 11, she won a place at Redroofs Theatre School in Maidenhead and began working almost immediately, landing Sugar Puffs commercials and voiceover jobs that paid £65 a day – “a lot of money when you’re 11”. But success came with challenges. She faced jealousy at school and learned, she says, to develop a thick skin early on.

Kate’s first breakthrough came with Heavenly Creatures in 1994, where her performance earned critical acclaim and put her firmly on the acting map. But it was just two years later, in 1997, that she became a global superstar with Titanic, starring opposite Leonardo DiCaprio. The epic romance not only cemented her status as one of Hollywood’s brightest talents but also made her a household name around the world.

She also openly discussed her teen body image struggles. She started eating and cutting diets when she was 15 to 19 and by the time she was done eating, she was hardly able to eat. She claimed that it wasn’t healthy. “I’d worry about whether I looked fat when I woke up.” The only thing I truly regret about my life is it.

Kate, who is now at peace with herself, says she enjoys working on projects that depict real people and recognizable family dynamics, like her most recent film Goodbye June, which was directed by her 21-year-old son Joe. She claims that the narrative gave her a sense of the familiar family life and the people she was raised around. She continued, “I care deeply about how people are perceived and heard.”

Everything revolves around family, which is still present. Kate, who has been married to Ned Rocknroll since 2012, chuckles that his life is full of spontaneity and joy. The Winslet family celebrates Christmas with son Bear Blaze, which includes bringing the turkey, making a delicious vegan dish for Ned, long walks, visits to pubs, and “lots of silly games.”

Kate Winslet’s first filmmaking endeavor, Goodbye June, has just begun to appear in theaters. Four adult siblings reunite over Christmas when their mother’s condition worsens and they must take care of their father, according to the Express.

Winslet, Helen Mirren, Timothy Spall, Andrea Riseborough, Toni Collette, and Johnny Flynn make up the film’s stellar ensemble cast, which will have a limited theatrical run.

After working on the screenplay while studying at the National Film and Television School, Anders wrote the script. Anders chose to investigate a heartfelt episode based on his own experience after receiving a pen instruction to “something from the heart.”

He stated, “I lost my grandmother when I was 13 and I could never forget how wonderful and odd it was that everyone in my family was there and coordinated to send her off peacefully at the end of her life.”

Winslet’s second child, Sam Mendes, is a film director whose credits include American Beauty, Skyfall, and Empire of Light. He is also known for his roles in American Beauty, Skyfall, and Empire of Light. He made the decision to pursue a career with Joe Anders in 2022 after being born Joe Alfie Winslet Mendes.

This 21-year-old British-American actor and author was born in New York City. Following his parents’ split that same year, he moved to England with his mother and older half-sister Mia Threapleton, who he had raised in the United States.

Continue reading the article.

Anders has three half-siblings, including Alison Balsom, a trumpet player for his father’s second marriage, and Bear Blaze from Winslet’s third marriage to businessman Edward Abel Smith.

Top and bottom at Christmas – what does it mean?

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Wolves, Burnley, and West Ham will hang precariously on the bottom branches of the Premier League while Arsenal will spend Christmas Day on top of the tree this year.

The title contest

The team that won the title on Christmas Day has since won it in 17 of its previous 33 seasons, essentially by turning a chocolate coin.

The Gunners were only at this level twice before Mikel Arteta took over, but for the third time in four seasons.

Their supporters hope that Arteta’s men can finally defeat Manchester City and deliver the gift they’ve longed for since 2004 thanks to the wisdom they’ve learned from previous seasons.

However, Arsenal only has a slim lead of just two points, compared to the team’s typical lead of four on Christmas Day.

The Gunners themselves, two years ago, were the only table-toppers at Christmas with a smaller lead than Arsenal in the previous 12 seasons.

However, history suggests a two-point lead might be sufficient.

The only Premier League team to ever win it was when they were top at Christmas, which coincidentally coincides with the season when they all three titles were in pursuit of the leaders.

In 1997-98, they were sixth and 13 points ahead of Man Utd, second and three points ahead of Newcastle in 2001-02, and third and one point ahead of Man Utd at Christmas in 2003-2004.

Strangely, Manchester City won the title twice in the first two of the previous 17 seasons when the team finished second on Christmas Day.

Will Arsenal’s season change?

There will be a sense of deja vu for many Arsenal supporters. The Gunners are a little bit used to playing in the Premier League at Christmas before being eaten up by a ferocious Pep Guardiola side.

They won’t be particularly confident either when a seven-point lead over Manchester City is reduced to two in five games.

“We’re back in the top of the table, but we’re not watching City or the other teams too much,” Saka said. “We now have complete control.” We are aware that if we are successful each week, we will continue.”

We are aware of how difficult this league will be and how much of it our own performance and results are. That’s it”.

Manchester City are undoubtedly a history club. The Premier League has been won by Guardiola six times, three times by Bayern Munich, and three times by Barcelona. As a manager, Arteta has not won any league titles.

None of the Arsenal squad has won a Premier League, but they have lost leads over the past few seasons, whereas Guardiola’s squad is full of Premier League winners who know what it takes to end a campaign strong.

But why isn’t this season different? Manchester City have lost four games this campaign, compared to Arsenal’s two losses, but they are far from their relentless counterpart in previous years.

“We’ll be there,” the promise. We’ll be there if they follow me, but we must continue to improve, Guardiola said.

“I am aware of the competition level in Europe, the Premier League, Arsenal, and the other teams, and how difficult they are.” It is insufficient.

The spirit is present, but last season, they did not have the spirit, nor did they have aggression, or hunger, all of which they needed. There is something about the Club World Cup that comes from within, not just the highlights and how good the actions are.

The battle against relegation

Only four of the 33 Premier League seasons have sides that have survived on Christmas Day, with Wolves having the most recent exception being in 2022-23.
However, to survive once more on only two points won and a record 16 points from safety, it would require a New Year’s, Valentine’s, and Easter miracle.

Nearly half of the teams in their position at Christmas have kept up, but Eddie Howe’s Newcastle’s 11th season was the only instance to come up against them in 2021-22. This gives second-bottom Burnley a chance to win.

One of West Ham, Burnley, and Wolves will likely stay, as it has happened more than twice in the past, with two teams remaining in 12 of the 33 seasons.

Norwich in 1994-1995, who were seventh with 30 points and 11 points above the drop, was the team that had the most points at Christmas but ultimately fell.

However, that was during a 42-game season. Blackpool were the best team in a 38-game campaign against the relegation on Christmas Day in 2010-11, which finished 19th with 39 points but was 10th with 22 points.

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Williamson drops Simpson four times in stoppage win

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Troy Williamson triumphed in a spectacular way over Callum Simpson to win the British, Commonwealth, and European supermiddleweight titles.

Simpson was the First Direct Bank Arena home hero on Saturday, but he struggled to deal with the smaller man’s overhand right hands for much of the fight.

In the tenth round, Simpson was repeatedly knocked down and forced to defend the assault without a mouthguard, which was how it was felt.

After the fourth knockdown, the referee abruptly stopped the game, and Simpson’s enthusiastic Williamson won.

Nobody has faith in me other than myself. Williamson stated that this is my weight division, which I displayed tonight.

“This is very deep.” Every single day in my car, I read this piece of paper to myself four or five times. Tonight, I put it in my sock.

On December 20, I signed the agreement, which read “I will become British, Commonwealth, and European champion.” Callum Simpson will win it all over.

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After suffering three defeats in his previous five fights, Williamson, 34, clinches the title of two-weight champion after also claiming the belt at light-middleweight.

Simpson, however, suffered his first professional defeat in 19 fights, and he quickly jumped on the microphone to quell any potential trouble in the audience after being serenaded for most of the night by a raucous crowd with “Yorkshire, Yorkshire, Yorkshire.”

After losing, the Barnsley native paid tribute to his fans by selling the majority of his tickets on his own.

When Simpson was stopped in the 10th, he was ahead on the judges’ scorecards.

“I believed I was winning the majority of the rounds. He said that Troy always would be in a difficult situation, and he let me get caught with a very good shot.

“I want to thank everyone who showed up tonight and is still here.”

Everyone is still cheering my name and saying “I’ve just been put down.” That will never be forgotten.

“We’re going to have a rematch.” I’ll return to work and make the necessary corrections. I appreciate you sticking with me. I’ll return.

In 2026, Williamson said he would welcome “all comers” in the new year, so a rematch might be in order.

Williamson said, “This one is for my home-born boy.”

He says, “and the new, I don’t even have to tell him. He comes up to me every day.”

I promised to return the belts to him in the hotel tonight, and I’m a million bucks.

Williamson continued, “This fight has completely altered my life.” I’ve always wanted my kids to grow up in a better manner than I did.

Troy Williamson knocks Callum Simpson down Boxxer
Troy Williamson celebrates with his titles with Callum Simpson in the backgroundBoxxer
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Price vs. shields Shalom lists three fights he wants to watch in 2026.

Ben Shalom named the three fights he wants to make in 2026 after it was announced that Adam Azim would headline on BBC Two on January 31 in London against Gustavo Lemos from Argentina.

Boxxer promoter Shalom wants to hold three massive match-ups before the end of the year as a new year presents new opportunities.

Shalom wants to compete with Dalton Smith and light-welterweight Azim.

The Sheffield fighter has long been linked with a fight with Azim and will fight for his first world title at the end of January.

Shalom also wants to see Chris Eubank Jr. face three-weight champion Claressa Shields, a legend from Mexico, Saul ‘Canelo ‘Alvarez, and Welsh star Lauren Price.

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Isak injury in chaotic Liverpool win gives Slot more problems

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It was intended to be the season-ending moment for Alexander Isak.

The £125m signing from Liverpool had scored brilliantly past Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario on the bench to give Arne Slot’s side the lead.

After seeing Isak and Florian Wirtz, who had received his first Premier League assist after signing for £116m in the summer, Slot was thrilled to see them both play.

Here is a preview of Liverpool’s future with Mohamed Salah on Africa Cup of Nations duty and Cody Gakpo out injured. And it’s the first indication that both Liverpool’s record signings are connected.

However, as Micky van de Ven’s tackle left Isak lying on the floor in agony, that joy quickly turned into concern. As his team-mates began to gather around him, it became clear that Isak would not be able to continue.

“We’ll have to wait and see,” Slot said. However, it’s typically not a good thing if a player scores and then gets injured before making an effort to return to the field.”

It appears to be very unfavorable.

The issues continue to arise for Liverpool, who have seemingly turned the tables and are currently unbeaten in six. Isak and Conor Bradley are both facing suspension.

After receiving a knock on Isak, Bradley was taken off at half-time to sum up their misfortune in a nutshell. Isak made a final-minute save for Jeremie Frimpong, who was playing his first game since October.

In the 90th minute, Frimpong was replaced by Federico Chiesa, despite Slot’s insistence that the full-back would be fine and that he simply didn’t want to play for 30 seconds with 10 men. In any case, the two players Slot subbed on did not succeed in the game.

In the end, Hugo Ekitike’s goal put Liverpool in control of yet another crucial victory, but they almost blew it away to Tottenham’s nine men, who sent off Xavi Simons and Cristian Romero.

Jamie Redknapp’s opinion on Sky Sports was “Masterclass on how to manage the final 10 minutes.” Even Slot himself acknowledged that it wasn’t ideal.

“It’s unbelievable if you play against nine men, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they had the ball for eight and a half for the ninety minutes of extra time.” That’s not what you’d anticipate, and perhaps that indicates where we’re headed in this season, Slot told BBC Match of the Day.

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More questions than answers

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Only a fortnight ago, Liverpool conceded an injury-time equalizer to Leeds in the second half after squandering a two-goal lead.

They essentially survived because Spurs threw the kitchen sink at the visitors, with Richarlison being one of the key players.

It would not be an understatement to say that Liverpool appeared to have two fewer players on the pitch in the latter stages.

a significant improvement over the control they displayed for the most of the previous season.

When we had the ball, we didn’t keep it. They received a few free kicks, throw-ins, and corners from us after we kicked it away. “It became very chaotic and hectic,” Slot continued.

After a torrid run of nine defeats in 12, Liverpool’s season has been chaotic and hectic, but the title holders can take some satisfaction from knowing that they will end the year on the same level as Chelsea, who are 4th.

Overall, Slot claimed that the game was in good hands.

“Six games have been won, two have lost,” he declared. Although we still have two top nines, we are definitely not perfect. There are still some benefits to the game.

Positives to take no prisoners after Liverpool won three games, but this time, it was demonstrated once more that this side has far more questions than answers.

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