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French screen icon Jean-Louis Trintignant dies aged 91

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Jean-Louis Trintignant, a well-known French actor who appeared in over 100 films, has died at the age of 91. Three Colors: Red, Z, The Conformist, and Amour – which won an Oscar and the Palme d’Or – starred Trintignant.

In 2003, after his daughter Marie was battered to death by her rock star boyfriend, the celebrity received widespread popular sympathy in France. His wife informed the AFP news agency that he died early Friday in the southern Gard region “surrounded by loved ones.”

Trintignant, who was born on December 11, 1930, grew up in the midst of the horrors of World War Two and was sent as a young conscript to Algeria, then a French territory.

Trintignant’s difficult childhood was supposed to explain his willingness to excel in difficult characters, such as thugs and criminals, during the course of a career that spanned more than six decades.

His first notable film role was alongside Brigitte Bardot, with whom he apparently had a brief and highly publicised romance while filming the 1956 romantic comedy And God Created Woman.

Trintignant was known for shunning the spotlight, stating in one of his final interviews with the French newspaper Nice-Matin that stardom “didn’t interest” him.

He was able to put his enthusiasm for motor racing to bear, most memorably as a driver in the 1966 film A Man and a Woman.

The death of Trintignant’s actress daughter Marie in 2003, as well as her musician boyfriend Bertrand Cantat’s murder conviction, shocked France, and Trintignant was seen sobbing at her funeral.

Trintignant had previously lost another child, Pauline, as a baby. A cancer-stricken Trintignant made his final appearance at the Cannes Film Festival in 2019 after a career that spanned more than six decades and included attempts at directing.

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EU has taken new legal action against the United Kingdom over revisions to the post-Brexit accord

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The EU has threatened the UK government with additional legal action over its plans to cancel elements of the post-Brexit Northern Ireland deal. On Monday, ministers unveiled a bill aimed at unilaterally altering trade, tax, and governance structures in the 2020 agreement.

Both sides agreed to the pact, but the United Kingdom claims it has disrupted trade and power-sharing in Northern Ireland. However, the EU claims that overriding aspects of the agreement would violate international law.

“There is no legal or political rationale whatsoever for unilaterally amending an agreement,” stated Maros Sefcovic, vice-president of the European Commission.

Mr Sefcovic stated, “Let’s call a spade a spade, this is illegal,” adding that the UK’s decision “left us with no alternative” but to pursue legal action. The Northern Ireland Protocol is a specific agreement that allows Northern Ireland to remain in the EU’s single market for goods while also avoiding a hard border with the Republic of Ireland. The agreement insured that free trade could continue across the Irish land border, which is a sensitive topic given Northern Ireland’s history of war.

The European Commission said it would resume legal proceedings against the United Kingdom for delaying checks on some products arriving in Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom, which had been paused since March 2021.

The Commission has opened two fresh investigations into allegations that the UK failed to meet its responsibilities to share trade data and establish border inspection stations. These legal actions may result in a fine being imposed on the United Kingdom as part of a dispute resolution process overseen by the European Court of Justice (ECJ).The UK government has stated that it would prefer to work with the EU on revisions rather than acting unilaterally to repeal portions of the treaty.

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Philip Baker Hall, who played Jerry Seinfeld, died at the age of 90

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Philip Baker Hall, a popular US character actor who appeared on the sitcom Seinfeld in a memorable guest role, has died at the age of 90. In a classic 1991 episode, Hall played a huffy librarian who accused Jerry Seinfeld of not returning a long-overdue library book.

The actor’s performance was so well received that he returned for the show’s finale. Hall also appeared in The Truman Show, Rush Hour, Magnolia, and Boogie Nights, all directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.

In Ben Affleck’s Oscar-winning film Argo, he portrayed a CIA detective, and he also appeared in Lars von Trier’s Dogville, Bruce Almighty, and The Talented Mr Ripley. Modern Family, The West Wing, and Curb Your Enthusiasm are among his other TV credits.

Holly Wolfle Hall, Hall’s widow, claimed the actor died in Glendale, California, surrounded by his family. Hall’s talent would be valued, according to the official Seinfeld Twitter account.

When he was cast in Paul Thomas Anderson’s first feature picture, Hard Eight, he began working with him. Hall was born in 1931 in Toledo, Ohio, and is survived by his wife, four kids, four grandsons, and brother.

Mark Ruffalo, who co-starred with him in the film Zodiac, tweeted: “Philip Baker Hall, rest in peace. One of the all-time greats. It’s been a pleasure to observe you. It was a pleasure to work with you on Zodiac. Kindness, compassion, humility, and remarkable talent are all qualities that stand out “.

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Russia introduces a ‘delicious’ McDonald’s alternative

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McDonald’s withdrew from Russia in protest of the invasion of Ukraine, selling more than 800 of its restaurants to Russian businessman Alexander Govor. The first rebranded restaurants in Moscow are reopening today. “Vkusno I Tochka,” which means “tasty and that’s it,” is the new name. The Golden Arches have been replaced with a stylized letter M made of two French fries and a dot (or perhaps a burger?) The Big Mac and McFlurry are no longer available.

Customers, on the other hand, should not notice too many differences, according to the new owners. They held a press conference in the flagship restaurant on Pushkin Square, which opened 32 years ago as the first McDonald’s in Moscow. “Our goal is for our guests to notice no difference in quality or ambience,” said Vkusno I Tochka CEO Oleg Paroyev. One male protester, however, disrupted the event by shouting, “Bring back Big Mac!” I was in the long line in 1990, and it took me three hours to get in and be served. I recall being ecstatic. McDonald’s’ arrival was a symbol of Soviet Russia’s embrace of Western ideas, culture, and cuisine.

McDonald’s announced last month that it would leave Russia due to the war’s “humanitarian crisis” and “unpredictable operating environment.” Last year, Russia and Ukraine accounted for about 9% of McDonald’s global sales.

Since the invasion of Ukraine on February 24, international brands such as Starbucks, Coca-Cola, Levi’s, and Apple have left or suspended sales in Russia. Wide-ranging international sanctions have been imposed on Russia, disrupting its supply chains and raising unemployment.

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Russia’s new version of McDonald’s unveils logo

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As it prepares to reopen its restaurants on Sunday, the Russian fast food chain that was formerly known as McDonald’s in the country has unveiled its new logo.

A circle and two lines appear in the new branding, which are said to represent a burger and two French fries. Although a number of options have reportedly been considered, the company has not yet revealed the name of the chain. McDonald’s announced in May that it would leave Russia due to the conflict in Ukraine.

According to Russian state-owned news agency TASS, which cited Sistema PBO, the firm that manages the business previously owned by McDonald’s, the Russian chain is set to reopen 15 restaurants this weekend.

“The logo’s green background represents the high quality of products and service that our guests have come to expect,” a Sistema PBO spokesperson told TASS.

The new logo, according to social media users, still looks like a “M.” Others speculated that the new logo was inspired by Bangladesh’s flag, which has a dark green background and a red circle in shades similar to the new logo. Sistema PBO has submitted eight potential names for the new chain to Rospatent, the Russian government agency in charge of intellectual property, according to the newspaper Izvestia.

“Tot Samyi,” which means “the same,” and “Svobodnaya Kassa,” which means “available cash register,” are among the names reportedly being considered. McDonald’s, Sistema PBO, and Rospatent did not respond to requests for comment from the BBC right away.

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Berlin: One dead and others hurt as car drives into pedestrians

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A car slammed into a crowd on a busy Berlin street, killing at least one person and injuring eight others. It’s unclear whether the incident, which occurred around 10:30 a.m. local time (08:30 a.m. GMT), was intentional or unintentional, according to emergency officials.

The driver was arrested at the scene, according to a police spokesperson. The incident occurred in western Berlin, on one of the city’s busiest shopping streets. According to reports, the vehicle veered off the road and climbed the sidewalk before crashing into a storefront.

A silver Renault Clio crashed through a display window in a cosmetics store, according to images from the scene. There are also photos of what appears to be a body in the middle of the road, covered in blankets.

According to Berlin police, around 130 emergency workers are on the scene. Mayor Franziska Giffey of Berlin said on Twitter that she was “deeply affected” by the incident and that “police are working flat out to clarify the matter.”

“Throughout the day, I’ll get a sense of the situation on the ground. I’d like to express my gratitude to the more than 130 emergency services who responded quickly and provided care to those who were affected “she continued.

The actor John Barrowman tweeted that he was nearby when the incident occurred, and that the car had repeatedly mounted the footpath before crashing into the storefront, according to a video posted from the scene.

“The police presence is astounding. They’re removing the debris from the area “”, said the actor. “Right now, helicopters are flying in to airlift people.” The incident occurred near the busy intersection of Rankestrasse and Tauentzienstrasse in west Berlin.

The area is directly across from Breitscheidplatz, where a truck driver deliberately drove his lorry into a crowd of people at a Christmas market, killing 12 people.

The attack, which was carried out by an unsuccessful asylum seeker, was later claimed by IS. Italian police shot and killed the assailant later.

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Flight ban affects Russian foreign minister’s visit to Serbia due to Ukraine conflict

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Since three of Serbia’s neighbours have refused to let his plane use their airspace, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s visit to Serbia has been cancelled.

Bulgaria, North Macedonia, and Montenegro, all EU members, have imposed a flight ban, as have Serbia and North Macedonia. In February, the EU imposed an airspace ban in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Mr. Lavrov has blamed the latest move on “the Brussels puppeteers.” Serbia has remained friendly with Russia despite the EU’s broad sanctions against the country. Days after the invasion on February 24, the EU and the UK imposed a blanket flight ban on Russian planes, including oligarchs’ private jets.

Serbia, like many other European countries, is heavily reliant on Russian gas. On the 6-7 June, Mr. Lavrov was scheduled to meet with President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade.

He called the decision “unprecedented” and said that “no one will be able to destroy our relations with Serbia” in a statement broadcast on Russian state news channel Rossiya 24.

“It appears that the Brussels puppeteers did not want to give us a platform so that we could confirm Russia’s position on the Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina problems in the capital of Serbia,” he added.

Serbia’s refusal to recognise Kosovo’s independence is backed by the Kremlin. The NATO bombing campaign against Serbia during the Kosovo war in 1999 enraged Russia.

Mr. Lavrov accused Nato and the EU of wanting to “turn the Balkans into their own project called closed Balkans” in a statement released on Monday. “Our diplomacy has yet to master teleportation,” a Russian foreign ministry source said of the decision to bar Mr Lavrov’s flight.

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‘Don’t humiliate Russia,’ Macron says, inciting outrage in Ukraine

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Ukraine’s foreign minister has slammed French President Emmanuel Macron for stating that Russia must not be humiliated as a result of its invasion. Mr. Macron stressed the importance of President Vladimir Putin having a way out of a “fundamental error.”

Allies, on the other hand, should “better focus on how to put Russia in its place” as it “humiliates itself,” according to Dmytro Kuleba. Mr Macron has spoken with Mr Putin on the phone several times in an attempt to broker a ceasefire and negotiations.

The French efforts to maintain contact with Putin contrast sharply with the US and UK positions. “Calls to avoid humiliating Russia can only humiliate France and every other country that would call for it,” Foreign Minister Kuleba said in a tweet.

Ukraine must not give Russia territorial concessions, according to Kyiv, because Russia’s invasion has been condemned internationally as a brutal aggression. Mr Macron had previously told French regional media that Russian President Vladimir Putin had “isolated himself.”

“I believe, and I told him so,” he said, “that he made a historic and fundamental error for his people, for himself, and for history.” “Isolating oneself is one thing,” he continued, “but getting out of it is a difficult path.”Mario Draghi, Italy’s prime minister, has sided with Mr Macron, saying Europe wants “some credible negotiations.”

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Palme d’Or: Triangle of Sadness wins top prize in Cannes for Ruben Ostlund

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On Saturday, Ruben Ostlund’s Triangle of Sadness won the Palme d’Or, a film in which models and the ultra-rich have their status questioned by unexpected events.

The award is the second for the Swedish director, who previously won it in 2017 for The Square. Park Chan-wook of South Korea took home the award for best director. Park, who is best known for the 2003 thriller Oldboy, took home the award for his erotic crime film Decision to Leave.

The best actor award went to Song Kang-ho for Broker, capping off a strong night for South Korea. Song gained international acclaim for his role in the Oscar-winning film Parasite in 2019. Ostlund, dubbed the “King of Cringe,” told reporters that he wanted to make a film that would make people laugh.

“I think we had one goal when we started making this film – to really, really try to make an exciting film for the audience and bring thought-provoking content,” Ostlund said, adding, “We wanted to entertain them, we wanted them to ask themselves questions, we wanted them to go out and have something to talk about after the screening.”

During its premiere, his film elicited a strong reaction from the audience, with news agency AFP reporting that one scene in particular “left viewers either howling with laughter or turning green.” The story of Triangle of Sadness revolves around two models, played by British actor Harris Dickinson and South African Charlbi Dean, who embark on a luxury cruise.

However, unexpected events have left them stranded, and the need to survive has thrown the social order into disarray.

While the film “makes you laugh,” Ostlund “also makes you think,” according to the entertainment magazine Variety. “We’re bound to see the world differently no matter what sphere he tackles,” it says in its review.

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Severodonetsk: Ukrainian man rides his bike through the besieged city while dodging Russian shells

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By cycling and dodging Russian shells and warplanes, a Ukrainian man managed to escape the heavily bombed eastern city of Severodonetsk unharmed.

Arif Bagirov, 45, told BBC Newshour that it was his “craziest journey.” He described his 70-kilometer (43-mile) bike ride to Bakhmut as “a lot of firing and at least two air strikes near me.”

The editor and blogger predicted that if one shell landed close by, the Russians would most likely avoid hitting the area again. Using these strategies, he was able to reach Bakhmut unharmed. “There were holes in the road, and everything, including cars, was smashed up,” Mr Bagirov said.

“And there was a lot of debris strewn about.” It is, after all, a frontline road. Thankfully, there were no bodies, but it was clear that people had died there.”
Mr Bagirov claimed that avoiding Russian warplanes was easier because he could hear them approaching from afar.
“I found a ditch to lie down in and stayed there until they passed.”
When he finally arrived in Bakhmut, a Ukrainian-controlled city further west, he said it was a huge relief. “When I was riding my bike, it wasn’t so much a sense of fear as it was a sense of anger: ‘This is my land, this is my country!’

And whether you like it or not, I’m going to finish this journey!’ He describes the sensation as “sporting anger, a positive anger” that kept him going. Mr Bagirov, a seasoned cyclist, added, “It was definitely my craziest journey on a bike.” “I’d travelled great distances before, but never in such adverse conditions.”

“I don’t know at the moment,” he said simply when asked about his future plans. I’m just on my way to Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, and once there, I’ll get some rest.” “As soon as the opportunity presents itself, all I want to do is help my home town again,” he added.

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