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Sir Keir Starmer warns world faces ‘once-in-a-generation moment’ for security as Nato future plunged into doubt

SIR Keir Starmer last night warned the world faces a “once-in-a-generation moment” for security as the very future of Nato has been plunged into doubt.

The PM vowed to act as a bridge between the US and Europe to try to broker a deal to secure Ukraine’s future and face down Russia.

Photo of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
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PM Sir Keir Starmer warned the world faces a ‘once-in-a-generation moment’ for security[/caption]
Volodymyr Zelensky standing before Ukrainian and European Union flags.
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Volodymyr Zelensky called for the creation of a new European army[/caption]

France is holding an emergency summit as early as Monday, where Sir Keir will join European leaders and the Nato Secretary General for crunch defence talks.

It comes after Volodymyr Zelensky called for the creation of a new European army to defeat Putin’s Russia, as he warned they can no longer rely on the US for protection.

Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary David Lammy said Britain might need to up its defence spending to Cold War levels in this new era of aggression.

Sir Keir said: “This is a once-in-a-generation moment for our national security where we engage with the reality of the world today and the threat we face from Russia.

“It’s clear Europe must take on a greater role in Nato as we work with the United States to secure Ukraine’s future and face down the threat we face from Russia.

“The UK will work to ensure we keep the US and Europe together. We cannot allow any divisions in the ­alliance to distract from the external enemies we face.”

Donald Trump stunned the world when he phoned Vladimir Putin to broker peace talks in Ukraine. It plunged Europe and Ukraine — who were not warned of the call — into crisis and raised questions over the future of Nato.

Sir Keir is planning to visit President Trump next week for crucial talks in ­Washington. He believes Britain can bring the US and Europe together to ensure Ukraine’s sovereignty is secured.

The PM will relay messages from the France summit to Mr Trump.

He will then return for another summit with Europe and Mr Zelensky where he will relay President Trump’s response.

In a blistering speech, Mr Zelensky said the “old days” of Europe relying on American military might to protect them “are over”.

The Ukrainian leader’s comments, in front of a stunned audience of world leaders in Munich, piled more pressure on Britain and Europe to ramp up ­military spending.

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Mr Zelensky said Europe had entered a new chapter in history and must take responsibility for its military defence.

He said: “As we fight this war and lay the groundwork for peace and security, we must build the Armed Forces of Europe so that Europe’s future depends only on Europeans, and decisions about Europe are made in Europe.”

The new US administration has told Europe it must start paying for its own defence after decades of under-investment.

The UK only spends 2.3 per cent of GDP on defence and will “set out a path” to hit 2.5 per cent within the next few months.

Government sources said the plan was to hit 2.5 per cent by 2032.

But senior figures are urging the PM to spend more.

We need to deter Putin in a way we failed to deter Hitler.

Lord Richard Dannatt

Hinting at the row, Mr Lammy told the conference: “All of us as foreign ministers have had detailed conversations with our Treasury departments.

“One of the messages we are deadly serious about is if Ukraine were to fail the costs would be considerably more.”

He pointed out countries were spending around seven per cent of GDP on defence in the Cold War. Former head of the British Army Gen Lord Richard Dannatt said defence spending should be ramped up to three per cent or higher.

He warned that PM Sir Keir will be consigned to the “bin of history” unless he finds more money for our military.

He added: “We need to deter Putin in a way we failed to deter Hitler.”

Tory former Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: “For too long, we’ve relied on America to shield us while some nations contribute next to nothing.”

But the answer was not in a Euro Army but in Europe spending more to protect its borders through Nato. “If we don’t wake up now, we’ll sleepwalk into disaster,” he added.

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Gutted Jack Catterall blows world title dream in split decision loss to Albert Barboza in front of ringside Luke Littler

JACK CATTERALL blew his world title dreams in front of darts world champ Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler with a loss to Arnold Barboza.

The 31-year-old Chorley southpaw – who was robbed of 2022 undisputed glory – looked like landing a home decision.

Boxers Jack Catterall and Arnold Barboza Jr. exchanging blows in a boxing match.
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Jack Catterall saw his world title dream crumble with defeat to Arnold Barboza[/caption]
Boxers Jack Catterall and Arnold Barboza Jr. in a boxing match.
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The ace lost via a split decision in Manchester[/caption]
Luke Littler and Eddie Hearn at a boxing match.
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Darts star Luke Littler sat ring-side with Eddie Hearn for the spectacle[/caption]
Arnold Barboza Jr. celebrates his WBO Interim World Super Lightweight Title victory.
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Catterall had plenty to say about Barboza’s controversial win afterwards[/caption]

But he failed to land anything explosive in front of the 18-year-old arrows ace and lost out on split decision.

The judges at the Co-Op arena in Manchester called it: 115-113 Catterall, 115-113 Barboza and 115-113 Barboza.

Catterall banked the opener with clever counter combinations when the Mexican-American barged in.

The 33-year-old landed a pair of eye-catching rights in the third, when Catterall’s waiting game worked against him.

Catterall’s crisp one-twos cooled the visitor’s momentum at the start of the fourth.

But Barboza kept pressuring him and pushing the Brit backwards and nicked the fifth by being on the front foot.

Catterall had a mare in the seventh and was wobbled right at the end of the round and the tide started turning against him.

A left hook was Catterall’s best punch of round eight.

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Yet Barboza’s industriousness should have been impressing the judges.

El Gato’s crowd purred when a left backhand from their hero smacked right into the middle of Barboza’s forehead.

Barboza’s backside met the canvas with a thud in the tenth.

But referee Steve Gray rightly called it an accidental trip.

The final stanza was boxed on a knife edge and both tough men celebrated at the last bell before the officials added up the scorecards and Barboza landed the bullseye.

Catterall said: “Tricky fight, no complaints. I want to see him go on and win the world title now.

“But I’ll be back in the gym on Monday”.

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Inside Bafta bosses’ bid to stop run-in between Pamela Anderson & Sebastian Stan after she blasted Tommy Lee portrayal

BAFTA bosses acted to ­prevent an awkward run-in between Pamela Anderson and Best Actor nominee Sebastian Stan — after she blasted his portrayal of her ex Tommy Lee.

The Baywatch star will sit in the front row of tonight’s EE Bafta Film Awards in London after she was personally invited by event bosses.

Pamela Anderson wearing a green sweater and skirt outside the BBC studios.
BackGrid
Pamela Anderson will sit in the front row of tonight’s EE Bafta Film Awards in London[/caption]
Empty seats with headshots of nominees at an awards ceremony.
Sebastian Stan was originally just one row behind Pamela
Place cards with celebrity photos in empty theater seats.
He was then moved five rows behind to ensure there was no awkward run-in

Bafta posted a behind-the-scenes glimpse of a seating plan at the Royal Festival Hall on Instagram which shows a picture of Pamela at the front of the auditorium.

It also initially revealed The Apprentice actor Sebastian, 42, was seated behind Pamela — before a second plan saw his headshot moved several rows further back.

Pamela, 57, who is also set to present an award at the star-studded ceremony, previously described Sebastian’s transformation into her Motley Crue drummer ex as resembling a “Halloween costume”.

He starred alongside British actress Lily James, 35 — who played Pamela — in the 2022 Hulu TV mini-series, Pam And Tommy.

It detailed the whirlwind romance of Pamela and Tommy and their honeymoon sex tape leak in 1996.

But unhappy Pamela branded the show’s makers “a**holes”.

However, the US actress recently described the accolades she won for her role as Las Vegas performer Shelly Gardner in The Last Showgirl as “payback”.

Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson at an after-party.
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Pamela blasted Stan’s portrayal of her ex Tommy Lee[/caption]
Black and white photo of Sebastian Stan and Lily James portraying Tommy Lee and Pam Anderson.
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Sebastian Stan starred alongside British actress Lily James, 35, who played Pamela[/caption]

She earned a Golden Globe nomination and Screen Actors Guild Awards nomination for her efforts,

Pamela had said: ‘It’s just one of those things [the mini-series]. It happened and now I’m here and so this is the best payback. I’m being seen and recognised for my work and not these tawdry moments.”

A source said: “Pamela finally feels accepted in the film world and was honoured to be asked to present an award. She has made no secret of the fact the Pam And Tommy series resurfaced a lot of painful memories.

“Bosses have allocated her one of the best seats in the house and have made subtle arrangements to prevent her bumping into Sebastian.”

In an interview with Variety ­magazine, Pamela said she had not watched Pam And Tommy.

Asked about the makers of the series, she said they still owed her a “public apology” Lily James ­previously revealed that it took four hours every day to transform into Pamela — using prosthetics to achieve her ­famous hourglass figure.

Meanwhile, Sebastian was covered in fake tattoos and piercings to resemble the bad-boy drummer. Of the billboards advertising the series, Pamela said: “It just looked like a Halloween costume to me.”

In an interview on SiriusXM’s Andy Cohen Live radio show, she revealed the series was made without her permission. She said: “I didn’t know anything about it.

“I didn’t have any involvement. No one called me, which was so strange, and that was hurtful.

Illustration of a film award nominations list.

“But I mean, you’re kind of fair game. I remember people telling me that a long time ago, that you are basically public property and have no right to privacy.”

Speaking on Radio 2 yesterday, Pamela added: “Performers are constantly being eaten up and spat out.

“This industry is so much about rejection. The majority of it is ­rejection and just finding your way.”

On Friday, the stars were out in style at a glam pre-Bafta bash organised by cosmetics giant Lancôme.

Love Island winner and Strictly Come Dancing star Tasha Ghouri, 26, stunned at the event.

She was joined by The Last Of Us actress Nico Parker, 20, who is the daughter of Hollywood star Thandiwe Newton and filmmaker Ol Parker.

And on Thursday, it emerged that actor Joe Alwyn, 33 — star of The Brutalist — stayed till the end at a pre-Bafta party at the Newport Beach Film Festival Honours at Raffles London at The OWO.

An onlooker said: “He posed for photos with fans later.”

Nico Parker at a Lancôme event.
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British actress Nico Parker wowed in black halterneck[/caption]
Tasha Ghouri at a Lancôme BAFTA celebration.
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Model and dancer Tasha Ghouri stunned in a sheer gown[/caption]

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I inherited £75k from a long-lost family member I didn’t know existed – I thought it was a scam… but it’s bittersweet

A WOMAN has revealed how she was shocked to inherit a fortune from a long-lost family member she didn’t even know existed.

Conchita Boothman said she was “totally suprsed” when she received a letter saying she was the one of the heirs to a £75,000 estate that belonged to her dad’s dead cousin.

A person's hand signing a living will.
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Conchita Boothman said she was ‘totally suprsed’ to learn she was the heir toa £75,000 property (stock picture)[/caption]

Ms Boothman said she first thought it was a scam, but found it to be true when she reached out to Finders International – an organisation which helps find missing beneficiaries.

The property belonged to 82-year-old Angela Lewis who tragically died of dementia .

Ms Lewis was single and had no children – and not much was known about her extended family.

Finders International found that Ms Lewis had three distant cousins who died before her – and Ms Boothman was one of the cousins daughter.

She told MailOnline: “When I got the letter from Finders International I was totally surprised.

“I was a bit dubious at first but did my own research on Finders International and, while I had never heard of Angela Lewis, I decided I would call Finders.”

Ms Boothman revealed her parents got divreced so she didn’t know much about her paternal family.

She said: “I spoke with one of the researchers at Finders who explained that Angela was a first cousin of my late father. 

“It was astounding to hear this as I didn’t know very much about my own father or my father’s family.

“My parents divorced when I was very young and both had illnesses that prevented me from really knowing my father at all.”

Ms Boothman said she never expected to receive the inheritance – but may use it to do some home repairs.

She added: “It is sad that Angela was alone, and sad that I never met her [but] it completed a chapter of my family tree that I did not know even existed and for that I am very grateful.”

It comes after a woman revealed how she inherited a fortune from a complete stranger after first thinking she had been scammed.

Lorraine Gessel, 60, received a whopping £400,000 when an 85-year-old cabin crew member died with no next of kin or will.

The lucky mum, who lives half-way across the world in Canada, said she couldn’t believe she had inherited a fortune by a mystery benefactor.

Meanwhile, another woman revealed how was handed £17,00 by a stranger.

What happens when someone dies without a will?

IF someone in England or Wales dies without a will, their estate is given to their next kin in the following order:

  1. Husband, wife or civil partner
  2. Children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and so on
  3. Mother or father
  4. Brothers or sisters who share both the same mother and father, or their children (nieces and nephews)
  5. Half brothers or sisters or their children (nieces and nephews of the half blood or their children). “Half”’ means they share only one parent with the deceased
  6. Grandparents
  7. Uncles and aunts or their children (first cousins or their descendants)
  8. Half uncles and aunts or their children (first cousins of the half blood or their children). “Half” means they only share one grandparent with the deceased, not both

Note that once the highest related relative has claimed, it negates claims made by lower down relatives.

So if you are, for example, a first cousin, you would only be entitled a share in the estate if there are no relatives above you in this order. 

How can you find out if you could be due an inheritance?

You can search the list yourself and make a claim, but the process can be expensive and time-consuming.

To see the entire searchable list that is updated daily visit:
http://www.bonavacantialist.co.uk/

You’ll have to build a family tree, listing birth, marriage and death dates, and pay for copies of certificates for each person between you and the deceased.

An heir hunter, like Finders International, does the legwork for you, for a fee.

But bear in mind that you’re probably not the sole heir to an estate and around 95% of those listed are worth less than £1,000.

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