Middle East crisis: Israeli troops reach deepest point in Lebanon since invasion began – as it happened

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Another airstrike hit the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital Beirut around midday local time, according to AFP, after the area was hit earlier this morning.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported a raid by “enemy aircraft” in the neighbourhood of Chiyah.

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King Arthur left an ancient trail across Britain. Experts say it offers clues about the truth behind the myth – CNN

  1. King Arthur left an ancient trail across Britain. Experts say it offers clues about the truth behind the myth  CNN
  2. Historians Thought This Was a Medieval Site Linked to King Arthur. It Turned Out to Be a Mysterious Monument Built 4,000 Years Earlier  Smithsonian Magazine
  3. The Mysterious ‘King Arthur’s Hall’ is 4,000 years older than believed  ZME Science
  4. Mysterious Monument Linked to King Arthur is 4,000 Years Older than Long Believed, UK Archaeologists Say  ARTnews
  5. King Arthur’s Hall is actually 5 times older than previously thought  The Brighter Side of News
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Saoirse Ronan ‘absolutely right’ about women’s safety fears, says Gladiator combat trainer

Paul Biddiss, who trained Paul Mescal and Day of the Jackal star Eddie Redmayne, says streetwise women are more aware of surveillance and harder to follow

He has trained would-be assassins and marshalled invading hordes, Napoleonic forces and Roman regiments, but movie military adviser Paul Biddiss found himself in the midst of his biggest Hollywood skirmish last month when the actor Saoirse Ronan made a powerful intervention about women’s personal safety.

Ronan, a guest on Graham Norton’s BBC chatshow sofa, sparked a nationwide debate about women’s security fears when she interrupted fellow actors as they discussed techniques that Biddiss had taught the casts of both Gladiator II and the new drama series The Day of the Jackal.

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Democratic leaders across US work to lead resistance against Trump’s agenda

Democrats from California to Illinois prepare to ‘Trump-proof’ and ‘fight to death’ against his extreme proposals

After the November elections ushered in a new era of unified Republican governance in Washington, Democratic leaders across the country are once again preparing to lead the resistance to Donald Trump’s second-term agenda.

California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, said he would convene a special legislative session next month to “safeguard California values and fundamental rights”.

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Man arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle hundreds of tarantulas and centipedes on flight – The Hill

  1. Man arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle hundreds of tarantulas and centipedes on flight  The Hill
  2. Man caught trying to smuggle hundreds of tarantulas on a plane  The Washington Post
  3. Man Hiding Tarantulas, Centipedes and Ants Is Stopped From Boarding Flight  The New York Times
  4. Smuggler caught with hundreds of tarantulas strapped to body in Peru  BBC.com
  5. Smuggler caught with 320 tarantulas, 110 centipedes strapped to body at airport  WKRC TV Cincinnati
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Paint thrown over Georgia elections chief as ruling party victory confirmed

US and EU have called for investigation into alleged irregularities in pro-Russia ruling party’s election victory

The head of Georgia’s election commission was splashed with paint as the body confirmed the ruling party’s victory in the parliamentary elections.

David Kirtadze, a member of the former president Mikheil Saakashvili’s United National Movement (UNM), splashed black paint on the central election commission chair, Giorgi Kalandarishvili, on Saturday, resulting in an eye injury, a video broadcast on local TV channels showed. Hundreds of opposition supporters staged a rally outside the commission’s headquarters during the session.

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United Utilities refuses to hand over data on sewage discharges into Windermere

Water company claims information is not in the public interest despite widespread pollution of UK waters

• ‘It’s a national disgrace’: fury at sewage-filled Windermere over toxic algae and dead fish

One of the UK’s biggest water companies is fighting a legal battle to block public access to data on treated sewage it is discharging into Windermere in the Lake District.

United Utilities initially claimed that data from phosphorus monitors at sewage treatment works at the lake “was not environmental information”. It later claimed the information on phosphorus – which can pollute watercourses when at high levels – was “internal communication” and exempt from disclosure.

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Scholz call with Putin opens a ‘Pandora’s box,’ Ukraine’s Zelenskyy complains – POLITICO Europe

  1. Scholz call with Putin opens a ‘Pandora’s box,’ Ukraine’s Zelenskyy complains  POLITICO Europe
  2. Zelensky accuses German chancellor of opening ‘Pandora’s box’ with Putin  CNN
  3. Trudeau Indicates Support for Scholz Speaking with Putin  Bloomberg
  4. Putin Talks With German Chancellor, Breaking Ice With the West  The New York Times
  5. Ukraine-Russia war: Zelensky says Scholz has opened ‘Pandora’s box’ after Putin call  The Independent
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Scientists discover what caused the Roman Empire to collapse 1,500 years ago – Daily Mail

  1. Scientists discover what caused the Roman Empire to collapse 1,500 years ago  Daily Mail
  2. Decline of the Eastern Roman Empire Was Not Caused by Plagues and Climate Change in 6th Century AD, But Rather Experienced a Population Boom  LBV Magazine
  3. Byzantine Empire Did Not Decline Due to Plague, New Study Finds  Greek Reporter
  4. Is the West Heading for Civilisational Collapse?  Novara Media
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COP29: UN climate conference has become ‘broken’ and ‘unrealistic,’ ‘not fit for purpose’ – Washington Examiner

  1. COP29: UN climate conference has become ‘broken’ and ‘unrealistic,’ ‘not fit for purpose’  Washington Examiner
  2. Frustration grows at fossil fuel influence and structure of UN climate talks. Some call for reform  The Associated Press
  3. It’s high time to end this ludicrous COP jamboree – but it just won’t die  The Telegraph
  4. COP29 talks struggle in a year of climate stress and global bickering  Reuters
  5. COP climate talks aren't working and need an overhaul, climate leaders say in letter  CBC News
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