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Ukraine's long-awaited counter-offensive to retake territory from Russia's occupying forces has started

Russian forces have fired cruise missiles at the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa and shelled the eastern Donetsk region killing at least six people and damaging dozens of homes Moscow has recently stepped up aerial strikes in their nearly 16-month war. Kyiv’s armed forces, meanwhile, have reported limited gains in the early stages of a counteroffensive to take back the nearly one-fifth of Ukraine's territory that is under Russian control. The grinding Ukrainian advance is pressing slowly ahead, Ukraine's deputy defense minister, Hanna Maliar, said. Western analysts and military officials say the effort to dislodge entrenched, powerfully armed and large numbers of Russian troops could take years. Ukrainian troops have advanced 200m to 500m (650ft to 1,600ft) at various sections of the front line around the Donetsk city of Bakhmut and 300m to 350m (980ft to 1,150ft) in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, Ms Maliar claimed. Ukrainian forces have managed to make gains despite the Russian edge in artillery and air power, she said. Ukrainian forces can expect to make slow progress in what will be a "hugely difficult" fight as the counteroffensive gains traction, according to a Western official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence. "Intense fighting is now ongoing in nearly all sectors of the front," the official said "This is much more than probing. These are full-scale movements of armor and heavy equipment into the Russian security zone." The official described the Ukrainian attacks as methodical and said that, broadly speaking, "Russian forces have put up a good defense." In Odesa, three food warehouse employees were killed in a strike that also damaged homes, shops and cafes in the city's downtown, the regional administration said on Facebook. An additional 13 people were injured. Search teams were looking for possible survivors under the rubble of the warehouse, it said. The attack on the port city, launched from the Black Sea, was the second in a week and involved four Kalibr cruise missiles, three of which were intercepted by air defenses, the administration said. In eastern Ukraine, Donetsk province governor, Pavlo Kyrylenko, wrote on Telegram that at least three people died after shelling destroyed seven homes and damaged dozens more in the cities of Kramatorsk and Kostiantynivka. Ten towns and villages along the front line in Donetsk were struck as Kyiv's troops slowly advance, according to Ukraine's presidential office. A missile hit the Ukrainian-controlled city of Kramatorsk, where Kyiv's forces are headquartered, killing two civilians and wounding two others while damaging 29 homes, the presidential office said. Russian shelling of Kostiantynivka killed one civilian, with 57 houses damaged, it added. Andriy Kovalov, a spokesperson for the General Staff of Ukraine's armed forces, said the Russian military increased missile and aerial strikes as Kyiv's forces intensify attacks along the war's 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line and claim some modest gains at the beginning of their counteroffensive. In a briefing, he said strikes on the Kharkiv, Donetsk and Kirovohrad regions, in addition to the Odesa region, involved Kh-22 cruise missiles, sea-launched Kalibr cruise missiles, and Iranian-made Shahed drones. Nine were intercepted. Mr Kovalov said Ukrainian forces had made advances in several sections and fighting was continuing in or near at least two Donetsk province communities. The UK's Defense MInistry, which has regularly issued updates on the conflict, wrote on Twitter that southern Ukraine "has often been more permissible for Russian air operations" compared with other parts of the front. Separately, the mayor of the central city of Kryvyi Rih, President Volodymyr Zelensky's hometown, said the death toll from a Russian strike that hit an apartment building a day earlier had risen to 12. Ukrainian authorities continued to rescue people from the flooded areas of southern Ukraine's partially Russian-occupied Kherson region following the destruction of the Kakhovka dam last week. A total of 28 settlements on the Ukrainian-held western bank of the Dnieper River remain under water, and nearly 2,800 people have been taken to safety so far, the presidential office said, adding that the rescue effort was taking place under relentless Russian shelling. A visit by Rafael Mariano Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant on Wednesday was postponed for security reasons. He met with Mr Zelensky on Tuesday to discuss the perils facing the nuclear plant, which grew more serious after the Kakhovka Dam burst last week. The plant has been in the crossfire repeatedly since Russia launched its war on Ukraine in February 2022 and seized the facility shortly after. The largest nuclear power plant in Europe faces "a relatively dangerous situation," the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog told journalists in Kyiv on Tuesday. The Ukrainian-controlled areas of the Kherson region came under artillery fire 57 times over the past 24 hours, the presidential office said. Rumors swirled Wednesday about a relative and close associate of the Kremlin-backed, strongman leader of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov. The reports said that MP Adam Delimkhanov had been wounded in Ukraine. After Russian state TV reported that the lawmaker had been wounded and Ukrainian Telegram channels suggested that he had been killed, Mr Kadyrov published a photo showing Mr Delimkhanov. In a photo caption, Mr Kadyrov said that Mr Delimkhanov was "alive and well" — adding that he knew this "from the very beginning," despite earlier requesting Ukrainian intelligence to provide information on what positions were hit so that he could locate his "dear brother." Associated Press Read More The Body in the Woods | An Independent TV Original Documentary The harrowing discovery at centre of The Independent’s new documentary FIFA official Fatma Samoura leaving after 7 years as pioneering woman in soccer In blow to Russian LGBTQ+ community, lawmakers weigh a bill banning gender transitioning procedures Recruiting criminals for Putin’s forces backed by Russian parliament – live

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By Tom Balmforth KYIV After a week of heavy fighting, the real tests of Kyiv's counteroffensive lie ahead,

Fashion lovers can now live out their Devil Wears Prada dream (or “nightmare”), as Vogue is hiring an assistant to none other than Anna Wintour. This week, Vogue publisher Condé Nast posted a job listing for Assistant to the Editor in Chief of American Vogue and Global Chief Content Officer in New York City. Much like Anna Hathaway’s character Andy Sachs in the 2006 film The Devil Wears Prada, Vogue is looking for a candidate to assist with coordinating meetings, managing events and engagements, and overseeing the overall flow of communication and information that comes in and out of Anna Wintour’s office. The ideal candidate is extremely organised, deadline-oriented, and able to multitask in a fast-paced environment. Perhaps knowing the difference between turquoise, lapis, and cerulean wouldn’t hurt, or where to pick up an advanced copy of the seventh Harry Potter book. Minimum requirements include a college education, one to two years of work experience in administrative support, and strong writing skills. The salary range is $60,000 to $80,000. “This is a tremendous opportunity for an ambitious, business-savvy professional who is passionate about culture, fashion, digital media, and content,” the listing reads. Unsurprisingly, the new job listing sparked many comparisons to the beloved movie The Devil Wears Prada, in which Meryl Streep stars as Miranda Priestly – an intimidating magazine editor largely inspired by Anna Wintour. The 2006 film was adapted from a book of the same name by Wintour’s own former assistant, Lauren Weisberger. Since it was posted, many people have shared their reactions to the job listing by posting memes and iconic moments from the film. “A million girls would kill for this job!!!!” tweeted author Matt Ortile, along with a screenshot of the job posting. “Y’all didn’t watch The Devil Wears Prada?” one person asked. “This sounds like a nightmare actually,” another user said. “Does it come with the makeover from Stanley Tucci,” someone else joked. Meanwhile, others couldn’t help but point out the annual job salary, which ranged from $60,000 to $80,000 per year. Some people believed it was too low of a pay day, considering some of the tasks Anne Hathaway’s character had to do for her boss throughout the film, while others felt it was an unsustainable salary for living in New York City – where monthly rent has soared to record-high numbers. “Salary is a f***ing travesty for vogue they should be ashamed,” claimed one user. “u can’t afford to live in nyc based off of this salary alone”. “If Andrea Sachs was actually paid the $80k (and in 2006, no less), I’d understand her sticking with Miranda for so long,” said someone else. Another person wrote: “The salary range on this is *interesting* but speaks to who gets to occupy space in fashion – oftentimes a demo [demographic] who do not need to work for a living. In turn, the way that demo approaches work + their coworkers/office is……” Anna Wintour has served as Vogue editor-in-chief since 1988 and global chief content officer for Condé Nast since 2020. Lauren Weisberger, one of Wintour’s two assistants from 1999 to 2000, wrote the novel The Devil Wears Prada in 2003 based on her experience working at Vogue. However, it seems that the fashion giant has no recollection of the former personal assistant who wrote the famed novel. In Amy Odell’s 2022 book, Anna: The Biography, she claims that Wintour didn’t know which of her assistants could have written the 2003 fiction novel. “On May 21, 2002, Women’s Wear Daily reported that The Devil Wears Prada had sold to Doubleday for a reported $250,000. When Anna learned about the book, she said to [Laurie] Jones, ‘I cannot remember who that girl is,’” writes author Amy Odell. Odell also claimed that a friend of Wintour’s, William Norwich, said she “didn’t really didn’t care” about The Devil Wears Prada, even after it spent six months on The New York Times best-seller list. “‘I don’t think Anna is as interested in the cultural phenomenon that she is as the rest of us are,’ he said. “Anna has said to friends, ‘I’m so bored by me’. This is one reason she doesn’t plan to ever write a memoir. Norwich explained, ‘She doesn’t want to stop working to reflect,’” Odell writes. However, the author noted that Wintour did attend the premiere of the film adaptation dressed in Prada, alongside her daughter, Bee Shaffer. “Anna had a seat at the end of the row and, though she had a habit of dashing out of plays that bored her, watched the whole movie,” Odell wrote. “At one point, Bee turned to her and said, ‘Mom, they really got you.’” Read More ‘Worst one ever’: ‘Art world family’ sparks backlash with personal assistant job ad Anne Hathaway explains why The Devil Wears Prada wouldn’t work today Anne Hathaway responds to her ‘accidental’ Devil Wears Prada outfit at NYFW: ‘It was kind of nuts’ Harry Potter star Miriam Margolyes makes British Vogue cover debut aged 82 Miriam Margolyes reveals the secret to her 54-year relationship Edward Enninful reflects on closeted upbringing and finding freedom in fashion

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Miriam Margolyes has hit the headlines for, well, hitting the headlines. The actor appeared on the cover of Vogue for their Pride edition and broke the internet with her iconic shoot and the article that went with it in which she discussed her life, her sexuality and more. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter It is not the first time Margolyes has shown the world just how iconic she is and it won't be the last. Here are 10 of her best moments. 1. Her Vogue cover Let us begin, then, with that Vogue photoshoot which saw Margolyes using delicately placed cherry bakewell tarts to cover her breasts. Aside from that, Margolyes offered some interesting insights about what it means to be gay and seemed like a very entertaining interviewee indeed. 2. When she farted on This Morning In November 2021, The Harry Potter star let one rip during an advert break, which caused Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby to crack up. Willoughby slapped her then co-host as he wheezed: “I can’t. I can’t act professionally, I should pull myself together but Miriam has just had the most enormous fart.” Willoughby also chuckled silently and wiped a tear from her eye. Laughing along, Margolyes said: “You outed me.” “You outed it,” Schofield quipped back. 3. When she had no idea who Harry Styles was Like many celebrities, Margolyes sometimes does the odd Cameo for fans. On one occasion, she went very off-script during a birthday message in which she was supposed to reference the famous singer. “Forgive me, who is Harry Styles?" she asked. "Should I know him? Is he a singer? Or is he your boyfriend?" @bycopie Reply to @rjdhul here’s the full version. She went slightly off script ??? #fyp #foryou #miriammargolyes #cameo #funnyvideos Awkward stuff. 4. When she taught everyone how to wash their genitals Ever the educator, Margolyes shared some wisdom about how to keep yourself clean. She shared the words of wisdom backstage on This Morning, where she advised scrubbing your 'bits under, over, and in-between.' "It's very important," she laughed with a straight face, in the clip which was posted to the show's TikTok. 5. When she called Leonardo DiCaprio "smelly" Last year, Margolyes joked that Leonardo DiCaprio was "smelly" when they met on the set of Romeo and Juliet in 1996. "He was a bit smelly because it was very hot in Mexico," she defended. "Young boys...and he was very young at the time...they don't make themselves fragrant." 6. When she swore about Jeremy Hunt on live radio In October 2022, Margolyes did not hold back when sharing her thoughts on the new chancellor Jeremy Hunt while live on the Today Programme on BBC Radio 4. Talking about bumping into him, she told the presenters: "When I saw him there, I said, ‘You’ve got a hell of a job, best of luck.’ And what I really want to say was, ‘F*** you, bastard.’ But you can't say that." Seems like even Margolyes has a filter - sort of. 7. When she said what we were all thinking about Matt Hancock In November 2022, the actress appeared on The Six O'Clock Show where she was asked to give her views on the former health secretary Hancock joining I'm A Celebrity, something that led him to having his Tory whip suspended from him. Immediately, she unleashed a tirade of criticism about the politician, and even questioned why a person would want to be his "lover". "What a vile personality!" she said. "What an appalling adulterous creep." "And why we have him on our televisions I don't know" she continued. "I don't know why he was thought of a proper person to entertain. "He's a vile human being. He nearly destroyed our national health service, he sent loads of people with Covid, old ladies, back into their care homes. "I think he's a detestable, vile, puny individual. How anybody can let him be their lover I don't know. I think he's vile and I think the same of most of that government". Say what you really think, Miriam. 8. When she explained how Lawrence Olivier turned her on Someone who she has a warmer feeling to is Olivier. Margolyes appeared on Graham Norton with a story about meeting the actor that turned quite graphic. She started her story by saying: "I used to collect autographs at the stage door." Miriam then began to get more graphic by describing how she became sexually aroused when she saw the star. 9. When she got told off by the Queen In 2020, Margolyes recalled an awkward encounter she had with the late Queen. Watch below to find out why the Queen shouted "be quiet" to Margolyes. 10. When she described having 'a w**k' In a video message recorded and sent to a fan, Margolyes revealed all about a wank she had which she "thoroughly enjoyed". At the end of the video, she said she had a fart coming and she delivered it before signing off. Thanks for the share... Miriam Margolyes - absolutely iconic. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

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By Pavel Polityuk KYIV (Reuters) -U.N. nuclear chief Rafael Grossi delayed a trip to the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station

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