Freddie Mercury bangle sets record for rock star jewelry in auction of his prized possessions
A Victorian-style silver snake bangle Freddie Mercury wore with an ivory satin catsuit in the “Bohemian Rhapsody” video has sold for the highest price ever paid for a piece of jewelry owned by a rock star
2023-09-07 02:56
At least 17 dead in Russian missile strike on market in eastern Ukraine – as US secretary of state visits Kyiv
At least 17 people have been killed and dozens more wounded after a Russian missile struck a crowded outdoor market in eastern Ukraine – the attack coming as Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, was in Kyiv for an unannounced visit. President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack in the city of Kostiantynivka, saying that a child was among the dead. Kostiantynivka – which had a pre-war population of around 70,000 – sits about 20 miles (30km) from the ruined city of Bakhmut, the scene for some of the bloodiest fighting of Russia’s invasion. Police said that nearly 30 stalls, a pharmacy, an apartment block, a bank, and a number of cars were damaged as the missile hit at 2pm local time. Officials said more than 30 people were injured. Video footage of the strike showed people looking up to the sky as they heard a missile approaching. Seconds later they are running for cover or falling to the ground after a huge explosion. Another video released by police showed rescuers searching through the kiosks and, as bodies were taken out in black sacks, people shouting: “Who have you found?” It also showed the floor of the pharmacy covered in blood, as a police spokeswoman can be heard saying: “At the moment of the strike civilians were here, they were buying medicines and this is what happened. People died here.” “This Russian evil must be defeated as soon as possible,” Mr Zelensky said on the Telegram messaging app. “When someone in the world still attempts to deal with anything Russian, it means turning a blind eye to this reality. The audacity of evil. The brazenness of wickedness. Utter inhumanity.” He later told a press conference in Kyiv that he believed it had been a deliberate attack on “a peaceful city”. Hours before the strike on Kostiantynivka, booms could be heard in the capital Kyiv as the train carrying Mr Blinken wound its way to the city, the Russians appearing to want to herald his arrival with a missile attack. No casualties were reported in the capital but local officials said one person was killed in the Odesa region where Russian missiles also fell. Mr Blinken’s two-day visit is a show of Washington’s continued support for Mr Zelensky and the Ukrainian war effort. The secretary of state is the first senior US official to visit Kyiv since its counteroffensive against Vladimir Putin’s forces began in early June. Mr Blinken met with Mr Zelensky on Wednesday and also held talks with foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba. Mr Blinken is also expected to announce a new package of US assistance. The total package will be worth up to $1 billion (£800 million), but may not all be announced by Mr Blinken in Kyiv. “We want to make sure that Ukraine has what it needs, not only to succeed in the counteroffensive, but has what it needs for the long term, to make sure that it has a strong deterrent,” Mr Blinken said standing alongside Mr Kuleba. A US State Department official said Washington wanted to discuss how the counteroffensive was going and assess battlefield needs as well as any steps that might be required to shore up Ukraine’s energy security before winter. “I think what’s most important is that we get a real assessment from the Ukrainians themselves,” the official told Reuters. “We want to see, and hear how they intend to push forward in the coming weeks.” When asked about Mr Blinken’s visit, Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for the Kremlin, said that Moscow believed Washington planned to continue funding Ukraine’s military “to wage this war to the last Ukrainian”. During his train ride to Kyiv, Mr Blinken held talks with Denmark’s prime minister Mette Frederiksen, who was conducting her own visit to Kyiv. The US secretary of state thanked Ms Frederiksen for Denmark’s donation of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine and its membership of a coalition of nations – including the UK – training Ukrainian pilots. Denmark and the Netherlands announced last month they would supply more than 60 US-made F-16s as soon as pilots are trained to fly them. They are the first countries to offer the jets. Also on Wednesday, Ukraine’s parliament approved the appointment of Rustem Umerov as the country’s new defence minister. Mr Umerov replaces Oleksii Reznikov, who helped secure billions of pounds of Western military aid, but was sacked by Mr Zelensky. Mr Reznikov’s ministry was dogged by a number of scandals involving corruption allegations. The former minister did not face corruption allegations himself, but says he is the victim of a smear campaign. Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report Read More The Body in the Woods | An Independent TV Original Documentary The harrowing discovery at centre of The Independent’s new documentary Russian missile turns Ukrainian market into fiery, blackened ruin strewn with bodies US lawmakers visiting The Hague say Russian President Putin is committing genocide in Ukraine Paul Whelan seen for first time in years in rare video inside Russia prison
2023-09-07 02:54
McConnell said he plans to stay as leader as he addressed his health in closed-door meeting
Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell addressed his colleagues behind closed doors on Wednesday about his health, telling them that his cognitive ability is not impaired and saying that he intends to stay atop the conference he has led for the past 16 years.
2023-09-07 02:53
Top US diplomat Blinken visits McDonald's in Kyiv
Top US diplomat Antony Blinken stopped at a McDonald's with his counterpart Dmytro Kuleba in Kyiv Wednesday, as part of a trip to shore...
2023-09-07 02:52
Donald Trump's Georgia trial expected to take four months
Prosecutors estimate that approximately 150 witnesses will be called in the election fraud case.
2023-09-07 02:47
Astellas withdraws lawsuit challenging Medicare drug price negotiation plans
Japan-based Astellas Pharma on Wednesday withdrew a lawsuit filed against the U.S. government, days after its prostate cancer
2023-09-07 02:26
When is Los Angeles Lakers Media Day?
Media day is an annual tradition, building hype and good vibes for all 30 NBA teams as training camp opens. When will the Lakers Media Day be held?
2023-09-07 02:23
Honorary Oscars event celebrating Angela Bassett, Mel Brooks pushed back amid Hollywood strikes
Angela Bassett is going to have to wait a little bit longer to get her Oscar
2023-09-07 02:21
Georgia prosecutors predict four-month trial and 150 witnesses for Trump’s election interference case
Georgia prosecutors estimate a four-month trial with more than 150 witnesses for the 19 defendants in a sweeping racketeering indictment targeting an alleged criminal enterprise to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in the state. Prosecutors offered an early glimpse of the courtroom arguments against Donald Trump and 18 of his co-defendants during the first-ever televised hearing connected to the case on 6 September. Fulton County prosecutors shot down arguments from attorneys for Kenneth Chesebro and Sidney Powell, who have sought to be tried separately from the 16 others wrapped up in the indictment, which charges the defendants under the state’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations, or RICO statute, alleging 40 separate crimes and 161 different acts connected to an alleged criminal conspiracy to unlawfully reject election results. That four-month timeline does not include jury selection, prosecutors said. Attorneys for Mr Chesebro, among the chief architects of an allegedly fraudulent scheme to enlist Trump loyalists as presidential electors for the state won by Joe Biden, and Ms Powell, who is accused of leading an effort to unlawfully breach voting machines, have alleged that the allegations against them have nothing to do with dozens of other acts involved in the case. By comparison, in 2014, Ms Willis served as the chief prosecutor in a similarly sweeping RICO case targeting corruption within the Atlanta Public Schools system. Eleven of the 12 defendants were convicted in April 2015, roughly seven months after the beginning of the trial. One of the defendants died before the end of the trial. In arguments before Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee on Wednesday, attorneys for Mr Chesebro and Ms Powell argued that their clients would be wrapped up in hours, days or weeks of testimony and evidence presentation that would unfairly wrap them up with crimes they had nothing to do with. But Fulton County prosecutor Will Wooten argued that their involvement in those incidents showed that the criminal enterprise “existed, and “that the enterprise was working.” This is a developing story Read More Trump hearing underway in Georgia election case as lawsuit seeks to bar him from 2024 race - live
2023-09-07 02:19
Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner's best relationship moments as they confirm divorce
Joe Jonas has filed for divorce from wife of four years, Sophie Turner, and as the internet mourns, they're remembering the duos best moments together. During lockdown, the pair, who share two children, would often find themselves being silly on Instagram livestreams, playing around with filters. Most notably, they were propelled into the spotlight thanks to their lavish Vegas wedding that was suppose to be secret, but ended up being live-streamed by Diplo. Jonas has reportedly requested joint custody of their young children. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter
2023-09-07 02:16
Atlanta ‘Cop City’: Dozens face racketeering charges for protests
Atlanta officials claim that "anarchists" conspired to illegally occupy a planned police training site.
2023-09-07 01:59
Braves Rumors: Cody Bellinger buzz, major Soroka concern, Kyle Wright return
Braves Rumors: Cody Bellinger buzz for the Braves in free agency, Soroka hitting the IL is a huge worry, Kyle Wright's rehab giving positive vibes.
2023-09-07 01:57
