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From a music club sheltered underground in Ukraine’s capital, Mariana Navrotskaya cannot hear the air raid warnings sounding above her. It is her bandmate Anastasiia Khomenko who informs her after checking online that there is a nationwide warning in effect at the time of their Zoom call.

“It is very good you are in a shelter,” she tells her friend, concerned but not shocked by what is happening in her home country anymore. “It is my every day,” Mariana replies.

It’s 2pm in Kiev, 1pm for Anastasiia, now living in Barcelona, and 10.30pm for the third member of their trio, Nataliia Seryakova, who is currently in Adelaide, south Australia.

Across the time zones, thousands of miles apart, the three members of feminist punk trio Death Pill have reunited for their first UK news interview – which just happens to be, it turns out, also the first time all three have seen each other together, albeit on screen, since they were separated shortly after the start of Russia‘s war on Ukraine 10 months ago.

Ukrainian band Death Pill

While Nataliia, 25, was able to move temporarily to Australia for work, Mariana, 26, chose to stay in Kyiv. Anastasiia, 29, made the difficult decision to take her son Orest, who turned eight in November, to safety in Spain; leaving her husband Evgenij behind.

“When the war began, I didn’t want to leave Kyiv,” she tells Sky News. “But I know that I must because I have a child and I want him to be safe and have a better life.

“Every time when I think about children in the Ukraine, it’s very painful for me. They have air alerts, they’re [having to go] down in the shelters… it was a very difficult decision. I didn’t want to emigrate. I love my country very badly.”

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A hardcore punk trio, Death Pill in its current line-up began in 2021, when bass player Nataliia joined. Emerging from Ukraine’s diverse underground music scene, they recorded their self-titled debut album and were ready to take on the world.

“After all, rock is not only about brutal men with curly long hair, right?” states Mariana in their promo.

But then the war broke out. For the first month, Anastasiia and her family slept in their bathroom, the safest place. Now, she is separated from her husband and parents – her father is fighting for Ukraine – and she and her bandmates are spread across the world.

Despite the distance, they have managed to put the finishing touches to their album online since they have been apart.

Their releases so far have started creating buzz and they have been named among the 10 exciting new bands to watch out for in 2023 by Metal Hammer. Signed to London label New Heavy Sounds, the plan is to release it on 24 February 2023 – marking the first anniversary of the start of the war – and they are all hopeful that one day, hopefully soon, they will get to tour together.

While it was never meant to be this way, the aim now is to use their platform to keep raising awareness about what is happening in Ukraine.

“Right now we have a dream team, our golden trio,” says Anastasiia. “We’ve played in a lot of Ukrainian cities… now we have a lot of attention from Europe, America. And we appreciate that because we can spread the word about the war.

“We can share all this information from the people who are actually living this and going through it… we were waking up on 24 February from missile strikes. It’s not propaganda, it’s real life.”

‘A year ago, we had it all’

Ukrainian band Death Pill

In recent months, Russia launched attacks on power supplies, causing blackouts across Ukraine. It is the reason Mariana has placed herself in the music club, which has a generator, for this interview; she is not able to communicate from her home.

Despite everything, she is resilient. “It’s making me stronger and more powerful,” she says. “You can’t imagine this situation at all. At all.

“It’s a lot of hard work living now in Ukraine – in Kyiv, in any other city – because you need to find electricity, internet, water.

“One year ago, you have it all and you don’t think about it. And now… when you read the history of World War II, you think that’s very bad, but now is another time, it will never happen again… I can’t find the words to explain. It’s f***** up.

“But now, it’s very interesting to live here because you understand the importance of everything that you [thought] was…”

“Basic,” Anastasiia answers for her. They now appreciate the everyday things they took for granted.

Nataliia and Anastasiia tell their bandmate they think she is more positive now than before the war.

“I’m going through big changes, and that’s cool,” she replies. “You see how strong Ukrainians are?” Anastasiia says about her friend.

But they miss each other. Brought together by a mutual desire to make music with something to say, to stand out from the crowd, they are desperate to see each other in person once again.

I ask how they are feeling about not being able to play together at the moment. “You want to see our tears?” Mariana responds. “It’s a very sad question.”

“It’s s***,” says Nataliia. “You can’t plan. So I just know, like, half a year forward what I can do. But after that, I don’t know. It’s slow, but it’s as good as we can do. It is what it is.”

‘We smash the patriarchy, now we smash Russia’

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Zelenskyy’s Christmas message

One positive to emerge from the war is the underground music community coming together to support their country.

“Because we have a lot of people who are artists, musicians, great people of our nation [who] are now with weapons protecting their country, to protect all Europe,” says Anastasiia.

Nataliia says Russian artists with any sort of platform, those who are elsewhere in the world and able to see what is really happening – rather than the “propaganda” – should also be standing up for Ukraine.

“Even a lot of famous artists from Russia say nothing about it, and this is s***,” she says. “[People say] they were just born in Russia, but they have mouths to speak.”

She says she has lost contact with some of her own family members in Russia as they do not believe the truth about what is happening in Ukraine.

“When the war started… there were a lot of explosions not far from me,” she says. “I saw explosions in the window, it was like five kilometres from my house.”

Read more:
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Russia has “taken everything” from us, says Anastasiia. “I miss being carefree because I don’t have it anymore. When I see [in Spain] a lot of people, they are so happy, carefree. I’m very glad for every one of them, and for you that you never, ever have what we have in our life.

“But in another way I feel very angry because we also had this in our life. We also were carefree and did silly things and were just hanging out together and [making] music in Ukraine. And now people in Ukraine need just to survive…

“For all people who are supporting Russian terrorists, I want them to see how it is. I want them to open their eyes, in a horrible way. It’s true and it’s our life. We don’t want it and we don’t deserve it.”

Having travelled back to Ukraine in the summer to see her husband, Anastasiia has plans to do so again next year. “I will see Mariana,” she says. “We will play together, maybe do some songs.”

“We smashed the patriarchy together and now we smash Russia together,” says Mariana.

“Right now for us, it’s our life,” says Anastasiia. “For me, it’s like I’m living in a movie. But I don’t choose to live in a horror film. I want a movie where we are rock stars.”

Death Pill release their self-titled debut album through London label New Heavy Sounds on 24 February 2023

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Donald Trump launches attack on Rob Reiner, found stabbed to death, as director’s son is arrested

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Donald Trump launches attack on Rob Reiner, found stabbed to death, as director's son is arrested

Donald Trump has launched an extraordinary attack on film director Rob Reiner, who was found stabbed to death with his wife on Sunday, as it is revealed his son has been arrested on homicide charges.

The US president said in a post on Truth Social that Reiner was “a tortured and struggling, but once very talented movie director and comedy star”.

Mr Trump said Reiner and his wife died “reportedly due to the anger he caused others through his massive, unyielding, and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME, sometimes referred to as TDS”.

“He was known to have driven people CRAZY by his raging obsession of President Donald J. Trump, with his obvious paranoia reaching new heights as the Trump Administration surpassed all goals and expectations of greatness, and with the Golden Age of America upon us, perhaps like never before. May Rob and Michele rest in peace,” Mr Trump wrote.

Meanwhile, Reiner’s son, Nick, 32, has been “booked for murder” and is being held on $4m bail in connection with the deaths of his parents, Los Angeles Police chief Jim McDonnell said.

Rob Reiner, Michele Singer Reiner, Romy Reiner, Nick Reiner, Maria Gilfillanaknd  Jake Reiner.
Pic: JanuaryImages/Shutterstock
Image:
Rob Reiner, Michele Singer Reiner, Romy Reiner, Nick Reiner, Maria Gilfillanaknd Jake Reiner.
Pic: JanuaryImages/Shutterstock

Mr McDonnell said the department’s robbery and homicide division is handling the investigation.

“They worked throughout the night on this case and were able to take into custody Nick Reiner, a suspect in this case,” he said, calling the deaths “a very tragic incident”.

Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner apparently died of stab wounds, US media reported.

The Los Angeles Fire Department said a 78-year-old man and a 68-year-old woman were found dead inside a property in the Brentwood neighbourhood, without identifying the victims. Other officials confirmed the victims were Reiner and his wife.

Rob Reiner arrives with his wife Michele and children Jake, Romy and Nick (right to left). Pic: Reuters
Image:
Rob Reiner arrives with his wife Michele and children Jake, Romy and Nick (right to left). Pic: Reuters

Nick Reiner has spoken publicly of his struggles with addiction after he had cycled in and out of treatment facilities by the age of 18, with periods of homelessness and relapses in between.

Reiner and his son explored their difficult relationship and Nick Reiner’s struggles with heroin addiction and homelessness in a 2016 film called Being Charlie, which they co-wrote.

Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene referred to Nick Reiner’s “drug addiction and other issues” in a statement on X.

“This is a family tragedy, not about politics or political enemies,” Ms Taylor Greene said.

“Many families deal with a family member with drug addiction and mental health issues. It’s incredibly difficult and should be met with empathy especially when it ends in murder.”

A police officer places tape around the investigation scene near Rob Reiner's in the Brentwood section of Los Angeles.
Pic: AP
Image:
A police officer places tape around the investigation scene near Rob Reiner’s in the Brentwood section of Los Angeles.
Pic: AP

Reiner was a celebrated director whose work included some of the most memorable movies of the 1980s and ’90s.

He directed such classics as This Is Spinal Tap, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, A Few Good Men and Stand By Me.

He also acted, starring in Sleepless In Seattle and The Wolf Of Wall Street among others. His most recent high-profile work was a recurring guest role in the hit show The Bear.

He met Michele Singer in 1989, while directing When Harry Met Sally. They have three children together.

Rob Reiner with Billy Crystal (left) and Meg Ryan (right). Pic: THA/Shutterstock
Image:
Rob Reiner with Billy Crystal (left) and Meg Ryan (right). Pic: THA/Shutterstock

Michele used to work as a photographer and took the photo of Donald Trump that appears on the cover of his book Trump: The Art Of The Deal.

Former US president Barack Obama has led the tributes. He wrote on X that “Michelle and I are heartbroken by the tragic passing of Rob Reiner and his beloved wife, Michele. Rob’s achievements in film and television gave us some of our most cherished stories on screen.”

Harry Shearer, who collaborated with Reiner on This Is Spinal Tap, said in a statement: “Rob was a friend and collaborator through much of my life. He was funny, he was smart, he was a mensch.”

Reiner on the set of This Is Spinal Tap. Pic: Authorized Spinal Tap LLC/Shutterstock
Image:
Reiner on the set of This Is Spinal Tap. Pic: Authorized Spinal Tap LLC/Shutterstock

He said Reiner’s wife Michele was a “very good friend” to his own wife, Judith, adding: “This is unspeakable, the stuff of Greek tragedy.”

Christopher Guest, who starred in Reiner’s films This Is Spinal Tap and The Princess Bride, and his wife Jamie Lee Curtis said in a joint statement that they were “numb and sad and shocked about the violent, tragic deaths of our dear friends Rob and Michelle Singer Reiner”.

The couple said: “There will be plenty of time later to discuss the creative lives we shared and the great political and social impact they both had on the entertainment industry, early childhood development, the fight for gay marriage and their global care for a world in crisis. We have lost great friends. Please give us time to grieve.”

Read more: Reiner spoke to Eric Idle about future before death

Rob Reiner on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1999. Pic Reuters
Image:
Rob Reiner on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1999. Pic Reuters

Reiner was a champion of liberal causes and a political activist.

In the 2004 presidential election, he backed Democratic candidate John Kerry and featured in advertisements taking aim at incumbent President George W Bush.

Reiner also supported Democratic presidential hopefuls Al Gore and Hillary Clinton.

“This is a devastating loss for our city and our country. Rob Reiner’s contributions reverberate throughout American culture and society, and he has improved countless lives through his creative work and advocacy fighting for social and economic justice,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said.

Rob Reiner with Hillary Clinton. Pic: Reuters
Image:
Rob Reiner with Hillary Clinton. Pic: Reuters

California governor Gavin Newsom paid tribute to Reiner’s activism as he said he was “heartbroken” over the director’s death.

“Rob was a passionate advocate for children and for civil rights – from taking on Big Tobacco, fighting for marriage equality, to serving as a powerful voice in early education,” Mr Newsom said in a statement.

“He made California a better place through his good works. Rob will be remembered for his remarkable filmography and for his extraordinary contribution to humanity.”

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Former House speaker, Democrat Nancy Pelosi, said: “Personally, Rob cared deeply about people and demonstrated that in his civic activities – whether by supporting the First 5 initiative or fighting against Prop 8 in California.

“Civically, he was a champion for the First Amendment and the creative rights of artists. And professionally, he was an iconic figure in film who made us laugh, cry and think with the movies he created.”

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US director and actor Rob Reiner and wife found dead ‘with stab wounds’ at their LA home

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US director and actor Rob Reiner and wife found dead 'with stab wounds' at their LA home

US director and actor Rob Reiner and his wife have been found dead at their home in Los Angeles.

Reiner and wife Michele Singer Reiner apparently died of stab wounds and a family member is being questioned, US media reported.

The Los Angeles Fire Department said a 78-year-old man and a 68-year-old woman were found dead inside a property, without identifying the victims. Reiner turned 78 in March.

Pic: AP
Image:
Pic: AP

Detectives from the LAPD Robbery Homicide Division have been assigned to the case, the force said in a statement.

LAPD Captain Mike Bland said they were investigating an “apparent homicide”.

A large police presence gathered at the house.

Pic: AP
Image:
Pic: AP

‘Celebrated director’

Reiner was a celebrated director whose work included some of the most memorable movies of the 1980s and ’90s.

He directed such classics as This Is Spinal Tap, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, A Few Good Men and Stand By Me.

 With Tom Cruise at the premiere of courtroom drama A Few Good Men in 1992. Pic: Reuters
Image:
With Tom Cruise at the premiere of courtroom drama A Few Good Men in 1992. Pic: Reuters

He also acted, starring in Sleepless in Seattle and The Wolf of Wall Street among others. His most recent high-profile work was a recurring guest role in the hit show The Bear.

He met Michele Singer in 1989, while directing When Harry Met Sally. They have three children together.

Michele used to work as a photographer and took the photo of Donald Trump that appears on the cover of his book Trump: The Art Of The Deal.

Rob Reiner on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1999. Pic Reuters
Image:
Rob Reiner on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1999. Pic Reuters

A spokesperson for the Reiner family said: “It is with profound sorrow that we announce the tragic passing of Michele and Rob Reiner. We are heartbroken by this sudden loss, and we ask for privacy during this unbelievably difficult time.”

Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass said Reiner’s death was a devastating loss for the city.

“Rob Reiner’s contributions reverberate throughout American culture and society, and he has improved countless lives through his creative work and advocacy fighting for social and economic justice,” she said.

“An acclaimed actor, director, producer, writer, and engaged political activist, he always used his gifts in service of others.”

Hollywood mourns a legend

A group of two dozen journalists are gathered behind a police cordon at the end of a street in Brentwood, usually a quiet and secure suburb of LA, an enclave of multimillionaires.

Beyond the yellow tape is the home of acclaimed Hollywood film director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele.

Stationed outside the house is a trailer being used by a forensic team gathering evidence from inside. The bodies of Rob and Michele were found with apparent stab wounds.

Every so often, local people wander past the house, expressing shock at what has happened. In this part of LA, home to many in show business, Rob Reiner is incredibly well-regarded. Even if you don’t immediately recognise his face, you know his work.

He is the director behind iconic films like The Princess Bride and Stand By Me. But it was while filming When Harry Met Sally, one of the most iconic rom coms of all time, that Rob met Michele, a photographer.

Their relationship persuaded him to change the ending of the film to ensure the main characters, played by Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal, ended up together.

‘Creative, funny, and beloved’

Reiner was a champion of liberal causes and a political activist.

In the 2004 presidential election, he backed Democratic candidate John Kerry and featured in advertisements taking aim at incumbent President George W Bush.

Reiner also supported Democratic presidential hopefuls Al Gore and Hillary Clinton.

Rob Reiner with Hillary Clinton. Pic: Reuters
Image:
Rob Reiner with Hillary Clinton. Pic: Reuters

Former US president Barack Obama has led the tributes. He wrote on X that “Michelle and I are heartbroken by the tragic passing of Rob Reiner and his beloved wife, Michele. Rob’s achievements in film and television gave us some of our most cherished stories on screen.”

Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi said: “It’s hard to think of anyone more remarkable and excellent in every field and endeavour they pursued.

“Rob was creative, funny, and beloved. And in all of their endeavours, Michelle was his indispensable partner, intellectual resource, and loving wife.

“Personally, Rob cared deeply about people and demonstrated that in his civic activities – whether by supporting the First 5 initiative or fighting against Prop 8 in California.

“Civically, he was a champion for the First Amendment and the creative rights of artists. And professionally, he was an iconic figure in film who made us laugh, cry and think with the movies he created.”

Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner. Pic: AP
Image:
Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner. Pic: AP

Actress Kathy Bates, who starred in Reiner’s film Misery, told NBC News: “I’m horrified hearing this terrible news. Absolutely devastated. I loved Rob.

“He was brilliant and kind, a man who made films of every genre to challenge himself as an artist. He also fought courageously for his political beliefs.

“He changed the course of my life. Michele was a gifted photographer. She shot my beautiful photos for the Misery campaign. My heart breaks for them both. My thoughts are with their family.”

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Sir Cliff Richard says he has been treated for prostate cancer

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Sir Cliff Richard says he has been treated for prostate cancer

Sir Cliff Richard has revealed he has been treated for prostate cancer during the past year.

The 85-year-old singer said his cancer had “gone at the moment” and backed calls for a national screening test for men.

In an interview with Good Morning Britain, he said: “I was about to embark on a tour… I was going to Australia and New Zealand, and the promoter said ‘well we need your insurance, so you’ll need to be checked up for something’.

“They found I had a prostate with cancer, but the good fortune was, it was not very old. And the other thing is that it had not metastasized. It hadn’t moved into bones or anything like that.

“And the cancer’s gone at the moment, I don’t know whether it’s going to come back. I mean you can’t tell with those sort of things, but we need to absolutely, I’m convinced, get there, get tested, get checked.

“I think we as men… we’ve got to be seen as human beings who may die of this thing.”

Sir Cliff made the revelation in conversation with former Sky News presenter, Dermot Murnaghan, who has himself been diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer.

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Former Sky News presenter Dermot Murnaghan
Image:
Former Sky News presenter Dermot Murnaghan

Mr Murnaghan asked the singer whether he backed calls for a national prostate cancer screening programme, given that the disease is “the most prevalent cancer amongst men”.

Lending his support, Sir Cliff replied: “We have governments to look after our country and those who live in that country. We all deserve to have the same ability to have a test and then start the treatments really early.

“It’s only been one year now I’ve been in touch with cancer, but in point of fact, every time I’ve talked with anybody, this has come up, and so I think our government must listen to us.”

It comes after King Charles revealed he had reached a “milestone” in his own fight with cancer, and would be able to reduce his schedule of treatment in the new year.

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His message on Friday was broadcast at 8pm in support of Stand Up To Cancer, a joint campaign by Cancer Research UK and Channel 4.

He credited the “personal blessing” to early diagnosis when he announced the news on Friday.

He said: “Early diagnosis quite simply saves lives.

“Now, I have heard this message repeatedly during my visits to cancer centres across the country. I know too what a difference it has made in my own case, enabling me to continue leading a full and active life, even while undergoing treatment.

“Today, I am able to share with you the good news that thanks to early diagnosis, effective intervention and adherence to ‘doctors’ orders’, my own schedule of cancer treatment can be reduced in the new year.”

He continued: “This milestone is both a personal blessing and a testimony to the remarkable advances that have been made in cancer care in recent years; testimony that I hope may give encouragement to the 50% of us who will be diagnosed with the illness at some point in our lives.”

Read more:
King ‘deeply touched’ by reaction to cancer ‘good news’
NHS to offer same-day prostate cancer diagnosis

Buckingham Palace has not revealed what kind of cancer the king has, though it is confirmed not to be prostate cancer.

Mr Murnaghan asked Sir Cliff whether his own charitable efforts could be co-ordinated with the king’s on the issue of early screening.

Cliff Richard. File pic: PA
Image:
Cliff Richard. File pic: PA

The pop icon replied: “I’m sure! I mean, why not? I’ve been involved with many charities over the years, and if the king is happy to front it for us, I’m sure loads of people… I certainly would join him, I’m sure you would.

“If the king is listening, then I’m sure most of us would say, yeah, we’re available.”

Last month the UK National Screening Committee decided not to recommend mass screening for prostate cancer, saying the measure was “likely to cause more harm than good”.

Instead, it proposes a targeted screening programme every two years for men with specific genetic mutations, known as BRCA-1 and BRCA-2, between the ages of 45 and 61.

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