Emperor

cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/20808219

Labour is considering capping political donations by individuals and private companies amid reports Elon Musk will hand a $100m donation to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.

The Tesla tycoon is said to be plotting the £79m donation, which would be by far the largest in British electoral history, via the British arm of his social media firm X.

According to The Sunday Times, leading businessmen and Conservative Party officials believe Musk could hand over the cash as a “f*** you Starmer payment” in his ongoing feud with the prime minister.

It would give Mr Farage’s insurgent Reform a significant financial advantage over Labour and the Conservatives and be enough to fund a near-endless barrage of attack ads against the government.

But the government is considering recommendations in an upcoming report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) think tank that would cap individual and corporate political donations at £100,000 a year.

The Guardian reported that officials have asked for more details on the proposals, though work is at an early stage and any changes would unlikely be made until late in the parliament.

...

The potential donation cap comes as Mr Musk and Mr Farage grow increasingly close, with the Reform leader describing the billionaire Trump ally as “my new friend” last week.

Labour is considering capping political donations by individuals and private companies amid reports Elon Musk will hand a $100m donation to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.

The Tesla tycoon is said to be plotting the £79m donation, which would be by far the largest in British electoral history, via the British arm of his social media firm X.

According to The Sunday Times, leading businessmen and Conservative Party officials believe Musk could hand over the cash as a “f*** you Starmer payment” in his ongoing feud with the prime minister.

It would give Mr Farage’s insurgent Reform a significant financial advantage over Labour and the Conservatives and be enough to fund a near-endless barrage of attack ads against the government.

But the government is considering recommendations in an upcoming report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) think tank that would cap individual and corporate political donations at £100,000 a year.

The Guardian reported that officials have asked for more details on the proposals, though work is at an early stage and any changes would unlikely be made until late in the parliament.

...

The potential donation cap comes as Mr Musk and Mr Farage grow increasingly close, with the Reform leader describing the billionaire Trump ally as “my new friend” last week.

Sir Chris Wormald will become the new head of the civil service and Cabinet Secretary later this month.

The career civil servant, who has headed the Department for Health and Social Care since 2016, will be the most senior official adviser to the prime minister and Cabinet.

...

The prime minister said delivering the government's priorities would mean "re-wiring" the British state to deliver reform, and said Sir Chris's brought "huge experience" to the role.

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He will take up the post on 16 December, when the PM said he would be responsible for the government's "five missions", which are at the heart of Labour's plan for reform.

The PM said he brought huge experience to the role, adding: "From breaking down silos across government to harnessing the incredible potential of technology and innovation, it will require nothing less than the complete re-wiring of the British state to deliver bold and ambitious long-term reform."

Sir Chris said that work would mean civil servants learning new skills in order to match the government's ambition, adding: "That will require each and every one of us to embrace the change agenda in how the British state operates."

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Some civil servants responded with incredulity at the appointment, especially given the prime minister’s claim that Sir Chris would drive the “complete re-wiring of the British state to deliver bold and ambitious long-term reform.”

One said he had “failed upwards” after he led the department for health through not only the Covid pandemic but years of preparation beforehand. Another said it was a “farcical” appointment. Several officials involved in NHS reform said they were “baffled”.

cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/20784965

A man has experienced a terrifying moment after almost dying when his pet hamster clamped down on his hand and would not let go.

Nathan Halliday, 34, from Kirkby, Merseyside, sat down peacefully with Mochi, his Syrian hamster, when she suddenly attacked him and left him for dead.

He then experienced a anaphylactic shock and moments after she bit him Nathan’s body swelled up, he couldn’t breathe and was covered in hives.

His partner Rebecca Kidd struggled to get Mochi off him but once she did she thought the worst was about to happen so called 999.

Mochi had been looking frail for the last few days before this incident and once she was taken off Nathan she took her last two breaths and died.

In the ambulance Nathan was on death’s door and was given two shots of adrenaline, an antihistamine and put on oxygen.

...

‘One of the paramedics asked me if I was Freddie Starr.

‘Mochi is now in a fancy cracker box in the garden – I don’t blame her.

‘We rescue hamsters from people who otherwise wouldn’t want them and I’d never say no to another one.’

A man has experienced a terrifying moment after almost dying when his pet hamster clamped down on his hand and would not let go.

Nathan Halliday, 34, from Kirkby, Merseyside, sat down peacefully with Mochi, his Syrian hamster, when she suddenly attacked him and left him for dead.

He then experienced a anaphylactic shock and moments after she bit him Nathan’s body swelled up, he couldn’t breathe and was covered in hives.

His partner Rebecca Kidd struggled to get Mochi off him but once she did she thought the worst was about to happen so called 999.

Mochi had been looking frail for the last few days before this incident and once she was taken off Nathan she took her last two breaths and died.

In the ambulance Nathan was on death’s door and was given two shots of adrenaline, an antihistamine and put on oxygen.

...

‘One of the paramedics asked me if I was Freddie Starr.

‘Mochi is now in a fancy cracker box in the garden – I don’t blame her.

‘We rescue hamsters from people who otherwise wouldn’t want them and I’d never say no to another one.’

cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/20711688

A new horror film described as 'haunting' and filled with "suspense" and "unexpected twists" is currently being shot in a well-known seaside village in Cornwall. The Cull, produced by Red 3 Films Ltd, is said to explore themes of redemption and the unshakeable hold of the past.

The film, set against the backdrop of Mawgan Porth, follows the turbulent journey of Niall, a man attempting to start afresh after serving time in prison. In The Cull, Niall inherits a secluded cabin in the woods from a will upon his release from prison.

Keen to put his troubled past behind him and make a fresh start, he hopes the peaceful surroundings will offer the tranquillity he so desperately needs. However, as the days pass, haunting memories and unresolved issues begin to resurface, pulling him back into the dark world he tried to leave behind

...

The cast is led by Craig Russel, who has been described as bringing "depth to the complex character of Niall". Supporting roles are played by Ollie MacFarlane, Tim Cartwright, Richard Hainsowrth, Rory Wilton, Kate Edney, Sally Geake and Sarah White.

Outrage over Gregg Wallace’s alleged conduct has intensified after he dismissed his accusers as “middle-class women of a certain age”, following revelations that the BBC received multiple complaints about him over a period of 12 years.

The corporation and other broadcasters are facing growing questions about how the MasterChef presenter was allowed to remain on screen despite a series of allegations of inappropriate behaviour dating back to at least 2012.

Vera Baird KC, the former victims’ commissioner for England and Wales, accused the BBC of being “in the dark ages” for “tolerating” allegedly sexually inappropriate conduct by its male stars.

“It is shocking that repeatedly we see this kind of behaviour being tolerated by the BBC who do seem to disregard the obligations they have to protect people who go on television,” Baird told the Guardian.

...

He said in an Instagram video: “Look, this is important to me. Twenty years of doing Celebrity MasterChef, amateur, professional, Eat Well for Less?, Inside the Factory. Do you know how many staff, all different sorts of staff, you imagine the people I’ve worked with. Do you know how many staff complained about me in that time? Absolutely none. Zero. Seriously.”

cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/20734791

Before developing his penchant for crime thrillers and high-octane films like Heat and Ferrari, director Michael Mann took an unexpected dive into the realm of horror and fantasy with his 1983 film The Keep. His second theatrical feature, after his 1981 project Thief, is widely known for being an unmitigated disaster in post-production, suffering from the death of its special effects supervisor and studio meddling that cut Mann's original 210 minutes of footage down to just 96. For a time, the director himself even disowned the film. Its problems haven't stopped it from becoming a cult classic though. Now, the war horror is finally coming home with a long-overdue upgrade thanks to a 4K Ultra HD release from Vinegar Syndrome which is now available for purchase.

At the time, Mann's cursed film was widely panned, and, to this day, it still holds a 39% score from critics and a 43% score from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. However, it has managed to generate a following in the years since, with plenty of fans calling for a release of a director's cut showing the over 100 minutes of lost content. Regardless of the final result, it benefitted from an excellent cast. Joining the Das Boot breakout Prochnow and Lord of the Rings star McKellen were Scott Glenn, Gabriel Byrne, Alberta Watson, Michael Carter, and Robert Prosky, among others. Adding to the ambiance was a soundtrack by the German electronic band Tangerine Dream, who also lent their talents to Mann's Thief, Risky Business, and Grand Theft Auto V.

...

Vinegar Syndrome's 4K restoration of The Keep comes in either a standard release or a special edition limited to only 12,000 units that comes with a creepy new spot gloss hard slipcase and slipcover combo designed by Edward Kinsella highlighting the monstrous Molasar. In addition to the 4K/Blu-ray discs, it also comes packed with a 40-page bound book for collectors who want even more content from the film. Rounding out the collection is a wide array of special features delving into the creation of the film with the author Wilson, film historians, and others who worked on the project. One featurette also appears to honor the unfinished work of late special effects supervisor Wally Veevers​​​​​​.

Before developing his penchant for crime thrillers and high-octane films like Heat and Ferrari, director Michael Mann took an unexpected dive into the realm of horror and fantasy with his 1983 film The Keep. His second theatrical feature, after his 1981 project Thief, is widely known for being an unmitigated disaster in post-production, suffering from the death of its special effects supervisor and studio meddling that cut Mann's original 210 minutes of footage down to just 96. For a time, the director himself even disowned the film. Its problems haven't stopped it from becoming a cult classic though. Now, the war horror is finally coming home with a long-overdue upgrade thanks to a 4K Ultra HD release from Vinegar Syndrome which is now available for purchase.

At the time, Mann's cursed film was widely panned, and, to this day, it still holds a 39% score from critics and a 43% score from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. However, it has managed to generate a following in the years since, with plenty of fans calling for a release of a director's cut showing the over 100 minutes of lost content. Regardless of the final result, it benefitted from an excellent cast. Joining the Das Boot breakout Prochnow and Lord of the Rings star McKellen were Scott Glenn, Gabriel Byrne, Alberta Watson, Michael Carter, and Robert Prosky, among others. Adding to the ambiance was a soundtrack by the German electronic band Tangerine Dream, who also lent their talents to Mann's Thief, Risky Business, and Grand Theft Auto V.

...

Vinegar Syndrome's 4K restoration of The Keep comes in either a standard release or a special edition limited to only 12,000 units that comes with a creepy new spot gloss hard slipcase and slipcover combo designed by Edward Kinsella highlighting the monstrous Molasar. In addition to the 4K/Blu-ray discs, it also comes packed with a 40-page bound book for collectors who want even more content from the film. Rounding out the collection is a wide array of special features delving into the creation of the film with the author Wilson, film historians, and others who worked on the project. One featurette also appears to honor the unfinished work of late special effects supervisor Wally Veevers​​​​​​.

When a would-be burglar broke in to a California church on Thanksgiving day, he encountered an unexpected obstacle: A pastor, trained in martial arts and determined to defend his house of worship.

Pastor Nick Neves came to First Family Church in Antioch early on Thursday morning after an alarm went off, he told CNN.

When he arrived, he discovered “a smashed window and a door propped open.” A man had used an axe to break a church window and access the building, the Antioch Police Department said in a Facebook post.

“As I was going into the door, the perpetrator came out with a handful of our goods, and I stopped him, and I told him he was essentially under citizen’s arrest, that the police would be there, and he needs to stop and wait for them,” Neves, who has been involved with the church since 2005, told CNN.

“And he wasn’t having that,” the pastor said. “So he tried to run, and I restrained him, and he began to fight with me. And so we tussled for quite a while before the cops were able to get there.”

Neves told CNN he has practiced martial arts, particularly Brazilian jiu-jitsu, since he was in high school. But he never expected he would have to use his skills in the real world.

cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/20711688

A new horror film described as 'haunting' and filled with "suspense" and "unexpected twists" is currently being shot in a well-known seaside village in Cornwall. The Cull, produced by Red 3 Films Ltd, is said to explore themes of redemption and the unshakeable hold of the past.

The film, set against the backdrop of Mawgan Porth, follows the turbulent journey of Niall, a man attempting to start afresh after serving time in prison. In The Cull, Niall inherits a secluded cabin in the woods from a will upon his release from prison.

Keen to put his troubled past behind him and make a fresh start, he hopes the peaceful surroundings will offer the tranquillity he so desperately needs. However, as the days pass, haunting memories and unresolved issues begin to resurface, pulling him back into the dark world he tried to leave behind

...

The cast is led by Craig Russel, who has been described as bringing "depth to the complex character of Niall". Supporting roles are played by Ollie MacFarlane, Tim Cartwright, Richard Hainsowrth, Rory Wilton, Kate Edney, Sally Geake and Sarah White.

A new horror film described as 'haunting' and filled with "suspense" and "unexpected twists" is currently being shot in a well-known seaside village in Cornwall. The Cull, produced by Red 3 Films Ltd, is said to explore themes of redemption and the unshakeable hold of the past.

The film, set against the backdrop of Mawgan Porth, follows the turbulent journey of Niall, a man attempting to start afresh after serving time in prison. In The Cull, Niall inherits a secluded cabin in the woods from a will upon his release from prison.

Keen to put his troubled past behind him and make a fresh start, he hopes the peaceful surroundings will offer the tranquillity he so desperately needs. However, as the days pass, haunting memories and unresolved issues begin to resurface, pulling him back into the dark world he tried to leave behind

...

The cast is led by Craig Russel, who has been described as bringing "depth to the complex character of Niall". Supporting roles are played by Ollie MacFarlane, Tim Cartwright, Richard Hainsowrth, Rory Wilton, Kate Edney, Sally Geake and Sarah White.