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Salah’s 250th goal lifts Liverpool past Villa to end losing streak as United, Arsenal also share spotlight

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Mohamed Salah ended Liverpool’s four-match Premier League losing streak and reignited hopes of a title challenge with his milestone 250th goal for the club in a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa at Anfield on Saturday.

The Egyptian forward struck in first-half stoppage time after pouncing on a poor clearance from Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez. The finish not only calmed a restless Anfield crowd but also made Salah just the third player in Liverpool history — alongside Ian Rush and Roger Hunt — to reach 250 goals in all competitions.

Ryan Gravenberch sealed the win in the 58th minute when his long-range shot took a deflection off defender Pau Torres and beat Martínez. The victory lifted Liverpool to third place in the Premier League table with 18 points, seven behind leaders Arsenal, while Villa dropped to 11th on 15 points.

The win came as a huge relief for manager Arne Slot, whose team had lost four straight league matches and six of their previous seven in all competitions. “That’s almost unbelievable,” Slot said after the match. “If you score 250 goals for one club, it’s already unbelievable — you don’t see that much in football anymore.”

Salah, who tied Wayne Rooney’s record for most Premier League goal involvements for a single club (276), admitted his form had not been up to his standards this season. “It was very important,” he told TNT Sports. “We’ve had a few losses in the Premier League and Champions League, but I’m glad we’re coming back now. It’s a good result before important games against Madrid and City.”

Reflecting on his personal performances, the Egyptian star said, “No, I’m not happy, but I know football. It’s been a tricky season — we have new players who need time to adapt and we’ve lost a few key players. We just need time, and we’ll be fine.”

United Salvage Draw at Forest

Elsewhere, Manchester United fought back for a 2-2 draw at Nottingham Forest thanks to a stunning late volley from Amad Diallo. United took the lead through Casemiro in the 34th minute but collapsed early in the second half when Morgan Gibbs-White and Nicolo Savona struck twice in under two minutes.

Diallo’s 81st-minute strike rescued a point for United, who nearly grabbed a winner in stoppage time. The draw lifted Ruben Amorim’s side to fifth place, just ahead of rivals Manchester City, who play Sunday. Forest remained 18th in the standings.

Arsenal Extend League Lead

League leaders Arsenal continued their strong start to the season with a 2-0 win at Burnley, extending their lead at the top of the Premier League to seven points. Viktor Gyökeres opened the scoring in the 14th minute, finishing off a clever corner routine, before Declan Rice added a second with a powerful header in the 35th.

The Gunners cruised to a seventh straight clean sheet, while Burnley managed no first-half shots on goal. Arsenal now have 25 points from 10 matches, with Bournemouth in second on 18. Burnley remain 17th with 10 points.

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Messi’s late stunner not enough as Nashville beats Inter Miami to force decisive game 3

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Nashville (BN24) – Lionel Messi delivered another moment of magic with a thunderous late goal, but it wasn’t enough to save Inter Miami from defeat. Nashville SC held on for a 2-1 home win on Saturday night, forcing a decisive Game 3 in their MLS first-round playoff series.

Messi, who scored twice in Miami’s 3-1 victory in Game 1, found himself contained for much of the night at Geodis Park. First-half goals from Sam Surridge and Josh Bauer gave Nashville control, snapping a 10-match winless streak against Miami dating back to the Argentine star’s arrival more than two years ago.

The teams will now return to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, next weekend for the deciding match, with a place in the Eastern Conference semifinals at stake. Miami, still searching for its first-ever playoff series victory, now faces elimination after dropping Game 2 despite Messi’s brilliance.

Miami’s struggles began early when goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo brought down Surridge inside the box, conceding a penalty. Surridge, who finished the regular season second to Messi in the Golden Boot race, calmly converted from the spot to put Nashville ahead.

Despite creating several promising chances, Miami failed to capitalize. Messi shot wide after a rebound from Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis, while Luis Suárez struck the post moments later after rounding Willis but running out of angle.

Nashville punished those misses just before halftime when Hany Mukhtar’s corner kick slipped through traffic, allowing defender Josh Bauer to tap home from close range and double the lead.

Miami dominated possession after the break but couldn’t find a breakthrough until Messi’s 84th-minute strike — a trademark left-footed rocket into the top corner from the edge of the box — reignited hope. The goal was Messi’s eighth in four matches and his sixth against Nashville this season.

Still, Nashville’s defense held firm through a tense final stretch to secure its first win over Inter Miami in more than two years. For Messi and his star-studded teammates — including Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba — it now all comes down to Game 3 in Fort Lauderdale, where Miami must win to avoid another early playoff exit.

Newly released emails reveal Prince Andrew suggested meeting Jeffrey Epstein after his prison release

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LONDON (BN24) — Newly unsealed court documents reveal that Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor suggested meeting with Jeffrey Epstein months after the financier was released from prison for sex offenses involving minors. The revelation has reignited scrutiny over Andrew’s long-standing ties to Epstein and renewed calls for a full investigation from the family of Virginia Giuffre, who accused the royal of sexual abuse.
The emails, disclosed in court filings from a 2023 lawsuit between the U.S. Virgin Islands and JPMorgan Chase over the bank’s alleged dealings with Epstein, show an exchange between the Duke of York and the disgraced financier in April 2010. Epstein, who had been released from jail the previous year, invited Andrew to meet American banker Jes Staley during a visit to London. Andrew replied that he would be out of the country at the time but suggested he might “drop by” New York later in the year, writing, “It would be good to catch up in person.”
Later that year, in December 2010, the two men were photographed together in New York’s Central Park — an encounter Andrew later claimed was intended to end their friendship. The documents also reveal Epstein forwarded the message to Staley, who was later banned by the U.K.’s Financial Conduct Authority from senior finance positions for misleading regulators about his relationship with Epstein. JPMorgan settled the Virgin Islands case in 2023.
The renewed attention comes as Virginia Giuffre’s family is calling for an investigation into Andrew’s alleged involvement. Giuffre, who accused Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell of trafficking her as a teenager, claimed she was forced to have sex with Andrew on multiple occasions. The Duke has consistently denied the allegations, and the case was settled out of court in 2021 for a reported £12 million.
Andrew’s email to Jeffrey
Giuffre’s brother, Sky Roberts, speaking to Sky News, praised King Charles III for stripping Andrew of his royal titles and privileges but said the action “is not enough.” Roberts called for law enforcement to investigate Andrew and urged transparency over Epstein’s network of associates. “He’s still walking around a free man,” Roberts said. “We need to fully investigate them and release the Epstein files.”
A YouGov poll conducted after the release of the emails found that 79% of respondents agreed with King Charles’s decision to remove Andrew’s titles, while 58% believed the monarch acted too slowly in doing so.
Andrew is expected to vacate the Royal Lodge in Windsor after Christmas, where he has been living with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson. Reports indicate that he will move to the Sandringham estate, traditionally used by the royal family for Christmas gatherings. The move is said to be part of the King’s broader efforts to distance the monarchy from ongoing controversies linked to Epstein.
Buckingham Palace confirmed that the late Queen Elizabeth II’s corgis, Muick and Sandy, who had been in Andrew and Sarah’s care, will “remain in the care of their family.” However, the palace did not specify whether the Duke, Duchess, or their daughters — Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie — would take responsibility for the dogs following Andrew’s relocation.
The release of the correspondence adds another layer to the controversy surrounding Prince Andrew’s association with Epstein — a scandal that continues to shadow both the royal family and the broader web of powerful figures tied to the late financier.
Source: Skynews

2 killed, 10 injured in Crete shooting linked to family vendetta on popular tourist island

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Two people were killed and at least ten others wounded in a brutal shooting on the Greek island of Crete on Saturday, in what authorities believe is the latest outbreak of a long-running feud between rival families.

The attack unfolded shortly after 11 a.m. in the village of Vorizia, a popular area for tourists near Heraklion. Police said a 39-year-old man and a 56-year-old woman were fatally shot, while four of the injured were rushed to local hospitals. Two of the wounded are suspected of being directly involved in the shooting, though their roles remain under investigation.

According to Greek authorities, the gunmen were armed with AK-47 assault rifles and shotguns. They opened fire before reportedly fleeing into a nearby ravine. Police have yet to make any arrests, but extensive manhunts are underway in the mountainous region surrounding the village.

The deadly exchange came less than 24 hours after an explosion at a nearby construction site on Friday night. The blast, believed to have been caused by an improvised explosive device, caused structural damage but no injuries. Police are investigating whether the two incidents are connected.

Officials suspect the shooting is part of an escalating vendetta between two local families, a phenomenon not uncommon in Crete’s rural areas. Such feuds, often rooted in disputes over land or honor, can last for generations and occasionally erupt into violence.

Local reports suggest the families involved had previously clashed over grazing rights and land ownership but had reached a temporary truce. Tensions reportedly reignited after one family member began constructing a home on land claimed by the other — the same site targeted in Friday’s explosion.

Illegal gun ownership remains widespread on Crete, where firearms are also traditionally used in celebrations such as weddings and festivals. The island has seen a rise in violent incidents in recent months, including the fatal shooting of a 52-year-old man in western Crete last week and the killing of Polish academic Przemysław Jeziorski, 43, in Athens in July.

Authorities have urged residents to remain calm as investigations continue into the latest bloodshed to shake one of Greece’s most visited tourist destinations.

21 dead, over 30 missing following massive landslide in Western Kenya

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NAIROBI, Kenya (BN24) — At least 21 people have died and 30 others remain missing after a devastating landslide struck Kenya’s western Rift Valley region Saturday, where days of heavy rainfall have caused widespread destruction during the country’s ongoing short rains season.

More than 1,000 homes were destroyed by mudslides in the hilly area of Chesongoch in Elgeyo Marakwet County in western Kenya. The disaster struck Machember Sub-location in Mukurtwo following intense rainfall that began Friday night, October 31.

According to a statement from Kenya’s Interior Ministry, search and rescue operations are continuing as emergency teams work to navigate treacherous mudslides that have rendered key access roads impassable. The government has deployed aerial support and first responders to assist with evacuation, medical care and surveillance in the affected areas.

Rescue teams have pulled 19 survivors from the debris, while several injured persons are receiving treatment at Chesongoch Mission Hospital. The government airlifted 30 survivors with serious injuries to a hospital in Eldoret City as the severity of casualties became apparent.

The Kapsowar-Chesoi Road has been completely severed, significantly complicating rescue efforts in the mountainous terrain. Rescue operations continued through Saturday despite persistent heavy rains as disaster agencies searched through debris for missing residents.

Local resident Stephen Kittony described the terrifying moments when disaster struck, telling Citizen Television station that he heard a deafening sound and, together with his children, rushed out of their house and ran in different directions to escape the approaching mudslide.

Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen said the government is working to identify an alternative settlement area for those displaced by the catastrophe.

The hilly Chesongoch area has a history of deadly landslides, with separate incidents claiming dozens of lives in 2010 and 2012. In 2020, raging floods washed away a shopping center in the same region.

Beyond the landslide, flooding has wreaked havoc across multiple counties throughout Kenya. In a separate incident, a 15-year-old boy drowned after being swept away by floodwaters along River Obonyo in Kapounja, Kisumu West Sub-county.

Tana River County has experienced severe flooding, with 67 households submerged in the communities of Dhuhush, Lebille, Bultobanta and Bangale. Livestock losses in that county include at least 170 sheep and goats and one camel. In Garissa County, approximately 300 goats have been lost to flash floods in the Gutho area of Shimbirey Location.

Kisumu Central and East sub-counties have seen massive displacement, with more than 340 households forced from their homes in the areas of Kaputhe, Nanga, Dunga, Onjweru, Kanyawade, Kaloo, Kodie, Alar and Kowuore. In Laikipia County, 89 households around Lobere Dam were compelled to evacuate after multiple dams overflowed following heavy overnight rain.

Mombasa has experienced localized flooding in the Mburukenge and Kaa Chonjo informal settlements, which authorities linked to incomplete drainage and stormwater management projects.

The ministry reinforced warnings from the Kenya Meteorological Department, cautioning that heavy rainfall is expected to persist across several regions. The forecast heightens concerns about additional flash floods and landslides, especially in hilly and riverine areas already saturated from days of continuous precipitation.

A multi-agency response team comprising the National Government Administration Officers, the National Police Service, the Kenya Red Cross and other government agencies is coordinating relief, evacuation and humanitarian efforts across affected counties.

The Interior Ministry issued an urgent appeal to the public to exercise extreme caution during this dangerous period. Authorities warned residents to avoid flooded roads and rivers and to relocate from slopes and low-lying areas prone to landslides.

“We also advise wananchi to follow official updates from the Kenya Meteorological Department, the Ministry of Interior, and County Disaster Units to avert potential danger and ensure their safety during this period,” the ministry statement read.

The ongoing short rains season, which typically occurs from October through December in Kenya, has proven particularly intense this year, overwhelming infrastructure and displacing thousands of residents across the East African nation. Weather forecasters indicate the heavy rainfall pattern is likely to continue in the coming days, raising fears of additional casualties and displacement.

5 dead, including 2 adults and 3 children, in Paterson, New Jersey house fire

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PATERSON, N.J. (BN24) — Five people, including two adults and three children, were killed in a fast-moving house fire Friday night in Paterson, New Jersey, authorities said.

Paterson Fire Chief Alex Alicea confirmed the tragic toll after the blaze broke out at around 9:54 p.m. in a residential building on the city’s east side. The fire, which spread quickly throughout the structure, was exacerbated by strong winds that were blowing through the area at the time.

“The fire was under heavy wind, which contributed to the rapid spread of the fire onto the second floor,” Alicea told WABC, the New York ABC affiliate. “Unfortunately, five victims, two adults and three children, were found in the home.”

While the identities of the victims have not been released pending notification of family members, Alicea indicated that the five fatalities were found inside the building, which had been quickly engulfed in flames. The fire also left 11 other residents displaced. These individuals survived the fire but have been forced to find temporary housing as they recover from the traumatic event.

“The Red Cross is on the scene assisting with the displaced families,” Alicea said, confirming that relief efforts were underway to support those affected by the tragedy.

Firefighters were able to contain the blaze, but the damage to the building was extensive. It is unclear whether the structure will be habitable again in the near future.

The cause and origin of the fire are still under investigation by local authorities. Fire officials noted that the wind played a significant role in how quickly the fire spread, raising concerns about fire safety in areas prone to high winds.

While the cause of the fire remains undetermined, the tragic incident highlights the potential danger posed by severe weather conditions and their ability to rapidly intensify a fire. Local officials are urging residents to exercise caution and be aware of fire hazards, especially during windy conditions.

The fire comes as Paterson continues to recover from several recent fires in the area. Fire safety experts are expected to review the case and provide recommendations on how similar incidents can be prevented in the future.

The Paterson Fire Department, along with local police and emergency responders, is continuing to investigate the incident. Authorities have yet to release further details about the victims or provide any indication of foul play.

This deadly fire marks one of the worst tragedies in Paterson in recent years, as the city grapples with a rising number of fire-related incidents. Local officials have expressed their condolences to the families of the victims and urged residents to stay alert and follow fire safety precautions.

Two men arrested after multiple people stabbed on train in Cambridgeshire, UK

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HUNTINGDON, England (BN24) — Two men were arrested by armed police Saturday evening after multiple people were stabbed on a train traveling through Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom, prompting a massive emergency response and bringing rail services to a standstill across a major transportation corridor.

British Transport Police responded to the incident on a London North Eastern Railway train bound for Huntingdon after receiving emergency calls at 7:39 p.m. GMT. Armed officers stopped the train at Huntingdon station, located approximately 50 miles north of London, where they arrested two suspects.

More than 30 officers were deployed to the scene as part of what authorities described as a large-scale emergency response. Cambridgeshire Police confirmed that a number of people have been transported to hospitals, though authorities have not released specific details about the total number of victims or the severity of their injuries.

The East of England Ambulance Service mobilized extensive resources to respond to the emergency, according to a spokesperson for the service. The response included numerous ambulances, tactical commanders, the Hazardous Area Response Team and critical care teams from both the East Anglian Air Ambulance and Essex and Herts Air Ambulance.

“We can confirm we have transported multiple patients to hospital,” the ambulance service stated, directing further inquiries to British Transport Police.

Witnesses aboard the train provided harrowing accounts of the attack, which reportedly began approximately 10 minutes after the Doncaster to King’s Cross service departed from Peterborough. Passengers activated the emergency alarm as the violence unfolded.

A passenger who identified himself as Gavin told Sky News he witnessed someone moving through his carriage warning others about the attack. “They’ve got a knife, I’ve been stabbed,” the injured person said, according to Gavin’s account. “They were making their way through the carriage to get away from the suspects. They were extremely bloodied.”

Gavin described how the victim had collapsed on the floor by the time the train reached the station and was immediately taken to an ambulance. He said passengers were evacuated from the train and saw multiple stabbing victims making their way down the platform.

In a particularly alarming detail, Gavin reported that one of the suspects had also exited the train and was “running rampant” while “waving a large knife” before armed officers subdued him with a taser.

Video footage shared on social media, apparently filmed from a railway bridge, showed a substantial police presence with armed officers running along the platform toward the train carriages.

The incident has caused major transportation disruptions across the East Coast Mainline. LNER issued urgent warnings to passengers, stating on social media that emergency services are dealing with the incident at Huntingdon station and all lines are blocked. The railway operator advised passengers not to travel and to defer their journeys where possible, with major disruption expected to continue through the end of the day.

Cambridgeshire Police closed the A1307 road on the approach to the town center as the incident remained ongoing Saturday evening.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer characterized the violence as an “appalling incident” that is “deeply concerning.” In a statement posted on social media, Starmer said his thoughts are with all those affected and thanked emergency services for their response. He urged anyone in the area to follow police advice.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she was “deeply saddened” by the incident and cautioned the public to “avoid comment and speculation at this early stage.” Mahmood confirmed she is receiving regular updates on the investigation and noted that two suspects have been immediately arrested and taken into custody.

Ben Obese-Jecty, the member of Parliament representing Huntingdon, said he was aware of the incident and working to establish further information. “My thoughts are with the victims and those involved,” he wrote on social media.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp described the scenes as “horrific” and characterized the incident as “what seems to be a brutal mass attack by two perpetrators.” Philp called on police and government officials to provide updates on what happened and who has been arrested as soon as possible. His thoughts, he said, are with all those injured or affected and the emergency services responding to the crisis.

Conservative Party Chairman Kevin Hollinrake also weighed in, describing the scenes as “horrifying” and expressing support for victims and emergency responders.

Eddie Dempsey, general secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, said he was “deeply concerned” to hear reports of the stabbings. “The thoughts of everyone at RMT are with the victims, train crew and all the emergency services dealing with this unfolding incident,” Dempsey stated.

Paul Bristow, mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, referenced “horrendous scenes” in a social media post, confirming that Cambridgeshire Police were at the scene and two people had been arrested.

Huntingdon is part of the East of England region in Cambridgeshire, which also includes the areas of Cambridge and Peterborough. The investigation into the stabbing incident remains ongoing.

Trump threatens US military action in Nigeria over treatment of christians

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WASHINGTON (BN24) — President Donald Trump threatened Saturday to deploy American military forces to Nigeria with “guns-a-blazing” if the West African nation fails to address what he characterized as the systematic killing of Christians by Islamist groups.

In an incendiary post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he has directed the Pentagon to develop potential attack plans, escalating rhetoric he initiated a day earlier when he warned that Christianity faces “an existential threat in Nigeria.” The Republican president, who unsuccessfully sought the Nobel Peace Prize during campaign season, issued stark warnings about potential military intervention in Africa’s most populous country.

“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities,” Trump wrote in his Saturday statement.

The president added that he has instructed what he termed “our Department of War” to prepare for possible military operations. “If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians,” Trump stated, concluding with an explicit warning to Nigerian leadership to act quickly.

The threats represent a dramatic escalation in Trump’s posture toward Nigeria, where complex security challenges have resulted in violence affecting both Christian and Muslim populations, according to regional experts. Nigeria faces multiple ongoing conflicts that analysts say do not target religious groups exclusively.

On Friday, Trump announced he was designating Nigeria as “a country of particular concern” regarding religious freedom, claiming without providing evidence that “thousands of Christians are being killed” and asserting that “Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter.” He said he would task several lawmakers with investigating the situation and reporting their findings to him.

“The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria, and numerous other Countries,” Trump declared Friday. “We stand ready, willing, and able to save our Great Christian population around the World!”

Nigeria’s government has rejected assertions that Christians are being specifically targeted in the nation’s security crises. The country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement Saturday responding to Trump’s designation, emphasizing the government’s commitment to combating violent extremism while celebrating the nation’s religious and ethnic diversity.

“Like America, Nigeria has no option but to celebrate the diversity that is our greatest strength,” the ministry stated. “Nigeria is a God-fearing country where we respect faith, tolerance, diversity and inclusion, in concurrence with the rules-based international order.”

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu

The ministry affirmed that Nigeria remains “committed in our resolve to tackle the violent extremism” affecting the country.

Allegations of Christian persecution have gained traction among some groups within Nigeria, where deep-seated ethnic, religious and regional divisions have historically sparked deadly violence and continue to influence the nation’s contemporary political landscape. Nigeria’s population is roughly evenly split between a predominantly Muslim northern region and a largely Christian southern region.

Trump previously designated Nigeria as a country of particular concern during his first presidential term, though that classification was reversed under former President Joe Biden’s administration. The renewed designation and accompanying military threats mark a return to Trump’s earlier hardline approach toward the Nigerian government on religious freedom issues.

The president’s latest statements raise questions about potential shifts in United States policy toward Africa and the administration’s willingness to consider military intervention in response to perceived religious persecution abroad.

2 United Airlines planes collide at LaGuardia Airport, Chicago, amid shutdown-induced staffing chaos

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Two United Airlines planes collided Friday evening on the tarmac at New York City’s LaGuardia Airport, capping off a day of widespread flight delays and cancellations caused by severe staffing shortages linked to the ongoing government shutdown.

A United Airlines jet arriving from Chicago struck the tail of another United aircraft preparing for departure to Houston, the airline confirmed. No injuries were reported, and both planes returned to the gate where passengers safely disembarked. United said it is working to rebook affected travelers.

Passengers on board the arriving flight described feeling a sudden “bump” before learning they had hit another aircraft. “We all felt a bump during taxi to the runway but didn’t know it was another plane until the captain said it was,” one traveler told the New York Post.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey referred all inquiries to United Airlines, which is cooperating with investigators.

LaGuardia was among several major airports across the country facing extensive disruptions on Friday due to unpaid FAA and TSA employees amid the shutdown. Data from FlightAware showed more than 570 flight delays and 130 cancellations at LaGuardia alone.

New York City’s three main airports—LaGuardia, JFK, and Newark—were under ground delays and wind alerts throughout the day, worsening the gridlock. The FAA reported that nearly half of its key facilities are experiencing staffing shortages, with almost 80% of air traffic controllers in the New York area absent.

“After 31 days without pay, air traffic controllers are under immense stress and fatigue,” the FAA said in a statement, calling for an end to the shutdown to restore safety and efficiency to the skies.

Nationwide, more than 5,700 flights were delayed and nearly 500 canceled by Friday evening, marking one of the most chaotic travel days since the shutdown began.

Source: independent.co

Ukraine claims strike on key fuel pipeline supplying Russian Forces near Moscow

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Ukraine’s military intelligence agency said Saturday that its forces struck a major fuel pipeline near Moscow that provides gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel to the Russian army, calling the operation a “serious blow” to Russia’s military logistics.

The strike, carried out late Friday, targeted the Koltsevoy pipeline near the Ramensky district of the Moscow region, Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) said on Telegram. The 400-kilometer (250-mile) pipeline connects refineries in Ryazan, Nizhny Novgorod, and Moscow, supplying millions of tons of fuel annually to Russian forces.

HUR said the operation destroyed all three lines of the pipeline, which was capable of transporting up to 3 million tons of jet fuel, 2.8 million tons of diesel, and 1.6 million tons of gasoline each year. “Our strikes have had more impact than sanctions,” said HUR chief Kyrylo Budanov, referring to international sanctions on Russia since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The attack marked one of the most significant Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure in recent months and came amid Moscow’s continued wave of drone and missile assaults on Ukraine’s energy grid. Ukrainian officials described the strike as part of a broader effort to undermine Russia’s logistical capacity to sustain its war effort.

Meanwhile, on the eastern front, Russia claimed advances in the heavily contested city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk province. The Russian Defense Ministry said its forces had defeated a Ukrainian special forces unit sent to reinforce the city and later released videos allegedly showing two captured Ukrainian soldiers. The authenticity of the footage could not be independently verified.

Ukrainian officials denied Russia’s claims of encirclement, insisting that their troops continue to hold defensive positions and conduct counterattacks. “A comprehensive operation to destroy and push out enemy forces from Pokrovsk is ongoing,” said Ukraine’s army chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi. “The situation remains the hardest for our forces, but there is no blockade.”

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged on Friday that Russian units had entered parts of Pokrovsk but said Ukraine’s forces were actively fighting to expel them. He estimated that Russia had deployed about 170,000 troops in Donetsk as part of its latest offensive.

As fighting raged in the east, Russia continued its overnight bombardment across Ukraine. A ballistic missile strike on the southern Mykolaiv region killed one person and injured 19 others, including a 9-year-old girl, local officials said. Another strike ignited a fire at a gas plant in the central Poltava region, while drone and missile attacks damaged energy facilities in multiple regions, leading to power outages.

Ukraine’s air force reported that it shot down 206 of the 223 drones launched overnight, though 17 managed to hit targets in seven regions. In Russia, officials said they intercepted 98 Ukrainian drones, including six approaching Moscow, while a large-scale blackout affected the city of Zhukovsky, southeast of the capital. Local authorities blamed the outage on an “automatic equipment shutdown.”

The latest wave of strikes underscored the intensifying cross-border assaults between the two nations as winter approaches, with Ukraine aiming to disrupt Russian supply lines and Russia seeking to cripple Ukraine’s energy system.

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