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Fire at perfume depot in Northwestern Turkey kills at least 6, officials say

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Simeon Bateren
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ISTANBUL (BN24) — A fire that broke out early Saturday at a perfume storage depot in Turkey’s northwestern province of Kocaeli killed at least six people and left one person injured, authorities confirmed, marking one of the deadliest industrial incidents in the region this year.

The blaze erupted around 9 a.m. local time in the Dilovası district, an area known for its dense cluster of chemical plants and industrial warehouses. Witnesses reported hearing multiple loud explosions before the fire quickly spread through the facility, which stored highly flammable perfume and cosmetic products.

Videos shared by local media showed thick plumes of black smoke billowing into the air as firefighters battled the flames. Nearby residents said the explosions shook windows and triggered panic across the surrounding neighborhood.

Governor Ilhami Aktaş of Kocaeli told reporters that six workers lost their lives and one person sustained injuries during the blaze. The injured individual was transferred to a local hospital, where they were reported to be in stable condition.

“The cause of the fire has not yet been determined,” Aktaş said during a press briefing. “Teams from the fire department, police, and disaster response units are on site conducting cooling operations and an investigation into what caused the explosions.”

Emergency responders from neighboring districts joined the firefighting effort. Officials said the flames were brought under control within an hour, though cooling operations continued well into the afternoon to prevent reignition.

Local media outlets, citing preliminary reports from firefighters, suggested that the initial explosion may have occurred in a section of the warehouse used to store aerosol containers and alcohol-based perfumes. However, officials have not yet confirmed the source of ignition.

Industrial safety experts noted that Kocaeli province, located about 100 kilometers (62 miles) east of Istanbul, is one of Turkey’s most heavily industrialized regions. The area hosts dozens of factories that produce and store chemicals, plastics, and flammable materials, raising recurring concerns about workplace safety and fire regulations.

Past incidents in the province have drawn criticism from labor unions and safety advocates, who have called for stricter inspections and better enforcement of industrial standards.

By Saturday evening, investigators from the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) were on the scene to collect evidence and interview witnesses. Forensic teams were expected to identify the victims and determine whether negligence or safety violations contributed to the tragedy.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s office had not yet released a statement as of late Saturday, but Turkish media reported that government officials had been briefed on the situation. The Kocaeli fire adds to a string of recent industrial accidents in Turkey involving hazardous materials. Analysts say the growing number of such incidents underscores the need for improved fire preparedness and compliance with occupational safety protocols across the country’s manufacturing sector.

EPL: De Ligt rescues point for Manchester United with dramatic late equalizer against Tottenham

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Simeon Bateren
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LONDON (BN24) — Matthijs de Ligt scored a dramatic 96th-minute equaliser as Manchester United snatched a 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, extending their unbeaten run against Spurs to eight matches in all competitions.

Separated by only goal difference at kick-off, just as they were by four points at the end of last season, the two sides delivered an intense but cagey contest that mirrored their tactical stalemate in the UEFA Europa League final in May. Early exchanges offered little goalmouth action as both sides probed cautiously without managing a shot on target for the opening half-hour.

United broke the deadlock through Bryan Mbeumo, who continued his fine run of form by heading home Amad Diallo’s cross from the right wing. Spurs struggled to clear their lines after a sustained United attack, allowing Diallo to recycle the ball and deliver a perfectly measured cross to the far post, where Mbeumo powered a header beyond the helpless goalkeeper.

The goal was Mbeumo’s fifth in nine Premier League appearances this season and his fifth career goal against Tottenham, underlining his effectiveness in key fixtures. For Tottenham, it was another frustrating example of their defensive vulnerability before halftime six of their eight league goals conceded this season had come in the opening 45 minutes.

After the break, Spurs responded with greater attacking intent. United’s goalkeeper Senne Lammens was forced into two fine saves, first denying Cristian Romero’s close-range effort before turning away a fierce João Palhinha volley. The home fans briefly thought they had their equaliser on the hour mark when Brennan Johnson slotted home, but the goal was correctly ruled out for offside after a VAR review.

United nearly punished that reprieve when Bruno Fernandes blasted over the bar from a counterattack, but Spurs finally found their breakthrough thanks to substitute Mathys Tel. Just five minutes after coming off the bench, the young French forward collected Destiny Udogie’s cross, turned sharply past De Ligt, and fired home via a deflection to level the match at 1-1.

Momentum swung Tottenham’s way, and they looked set to complete the turnaround when Wilson Odobert’s shot from the edge of the box was deftly redirected into the bottom corner by Richarlison, putting the hosts ahead in stoppage time. The late goal seemed to have sealed victory for Ruben Amorim’s men.

However, in the game’s dying moments, United mounted one final attack. After winning a corner, Fernandes delivered an inch-perfect cross to the far post, where De Ligt rose highest to head home and rescue a point for the visitors. The 96th-minute equaliser sparked wild celebrations among the traveling supporters and ensured United extended their unbeaten run to five matches in the Premier League.

The result leaves both teams tightly grouped in the top half of the table, with United maintaining their historical dominance in recent head-to-head encounters.

6 dead as Russia strikes energy and residential targets across Ukraine

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Simeon Bateren
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KYIV, Ukraine (BN24) — At least six people were killed and dozens wounded after Russia launched a massive overnight barrage of missiles and drones on energy infrastructure and residential buildings across Ukraine, officials said Saturday.

The strikes among the heaviest in recent weeks targeted 25 locations nationwide, including Kyiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, and other key urban centers. Large parts of the country were left without electricity and heating, deepening fears of another difficult winter as the war enters its fourth year.

In Dnipro, a strike on an apartment complex killed two people and injured 12, regional authorities said. In Zaporizhzhia, three people were confirmed dead. Officials also reported widespread damage to critical infrastructure in Poltava, Kharkiv, and Kyiv regions, with repair teams racing to restore power supplies.

Ukraine’s Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko wrote on Telegram that several major energy facilities had been hit but that work was “underway around the clock” to reconnect the grid. “Critical infrastructure facilities have already been reconnected, and water supply is being maintained using generators,” she said.

The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia launched more than 450 bomber drones and 45 missiles during the overnight assault. Ukrainian defenders shot down nine missiles and 406 drones, though several projectiles breached air defenses and caused significant destruction.

The Ukrainian Energy Ministry said emergency power cuts were in effect across Dnipropetrovsk, Chernihiv, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, and Kirovohrad regions. Engineers were working to restore electricity amid frigid conditions.

In Moscow, the Russian Defense Ministry said its forces had intercepted 79 Ukrainian drones overnight, continuing a pattern of tit-for-tat strikes between the two nations’ militaries. Russia maintains that its attacks on Ukraine’s energy grid are intended to weaken the country’s military supply lines.

However, Kyiv officials accused Moscow of deliberately targeting civilians and seeking to cripple Ukraine’s economy by destroying its energy network ahead of winter. “These attacks are not just about destroying power stations they are about breaking the will of the Ukrainian people,” said one government source.

President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the overnight barrage, urging Western governments to tighten sanctions on Russian energy exports. “Pressure must be intensified,” Zelensky said in a Telegram post. “For every Moscow strike on energy infrastructure — aimed at harming ordinary people before winter there must be a sanctions response targeting all Russian energy, with no exceptions.”

The attacks came only hours after the United States granted Hungary a one-year exemption from restrictions on importing Russian oil and gas, a move that raised concerns in Kyiv. The exemption was announced during a Washington visit by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a close ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Analysts say the timing of Russia’s latest wave of strikes may have been calculated to coincide with diplomatic developments surrounding Western sanctions. “If Russia can continue selling its oil to Hungary and other countries, it can use that revenue to build more drones and missiles the same weapons being used against Ukraine,” said one European energy expert.

This winter marks a pivotal test of Ukraine’s ability to withstand sustained energy attacks and maintain civilian morale. With much of the country already enduring blackouts, officials fear that Russia’s campaign could intensify as temperatures drop.

White House supports proposal to name Washington Commanders stadium after Trump

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admin
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Washington (BN24) – The White House said Saturday that naming the new home of Washington’s NFL team after President Donald Trump would be “beautiful,” following reports that the president has expressed interest in having his name attached to the facility.

An ESPN report revealed that an intermediary had informed the Washington Commanders’ ownership group of Trump’s desire for the new stadium to bear his name. The president could make his pitch in person Sunday, when he is expected to attend the Commanders’ game against the Detroit Lions at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland. The game will feature a halftime ceremony honoring American veterans.

“That would surely be a beautiful name, as it was President Trump who made the rebuilding of the new stadium possible,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt in a statement.

The Commanders declined to comment on the report, and the office of Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser also had no response.

The $4 billion stadium project—part of a landmark redevelopment agreement between the team and the District of Columbia—will be constructed on the historic site of RFK Stadium, where the franchise played for more than 30 years and claimed three Super Bowl titles during the 1980s and 1990s.

Under the terms of the deal announced in April, the team will contribute approximately $2.7 billion, while the city will invest around $1.1 billion toward the stadium, nearby housing, green spaces, and a sports complex along the Anacostia River. The D.C. City Council approved the plan in September, and demolition of the old RFK site has already begun.

The agreement followed a significant federal move last year when President Joe Biden signed legislation transferring the RFK Stadium land from the federal government to the city, clearing the way for the massive redevelopment.

President Trump, however, briefly threatened to derail the project in July, saying he would withhold his support unless the Commanders reverted to their previous name, the Redskins—a moniker long criticized as offensive to Native Americans. Despite the controversy, Trump has remained a vocal advocate of the team returning to Washington proper.

Known for his branding ventures, Trump has a long history of placing his name on high-rise towers, hotels, golf resorts, and consumer products ranging from cologne to Bibles. The idea of “Trump Stadium,” as floated by the White House, would mark his latest effort to leave a literal imprint on American culture.

Whether the Commanders will consider naming their new stadium after the sitting president remains uncertain, but the comment from the White House signals that the administration sees such a move as both symbolic and fitting.

Cristiano Ronaldo declares himself ‘Perfecto,’ says he has a better body than David Beckham in Piers Morgan interview

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Simeon Bateren
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LONDON (BN24)— Cristiano Ronaldo has reignited a long-running conversation about football, fame, and physical perfection, boldly claiming that his physique outshines that of English icon David Beckham. In a candid and humorous interview with British broadcaster Piers Morgan, the Portuguese superstar declared himself “perfecto,” calling his body the complete package.

Appearing on Piers Morgan Uncensored, the 40-year-old Al-Nassr forward was asked whether he believes he is better looking than Beckham a player long celebrated for his style, modeling career, and status as a global fashion figure.

Morgan, known for drawing headline-making quotes from his guests, posed the question directly: “You are compared to Beckham a lot, not least your looks. Do you think you are better looking than David Beckham?”

Ronaldo laughed before offering a measured response. “Depends,” he said. “For me, good looking is not only the face but the whole package.”

He then described a playful scenario to make his point. “Imagine Cristiano and a normal guy with red Speedos on the Copacabana, you think I am not going to have a chance with anybody?” he asked with a grin, prompting laughter from Morgan and the studio crew.

When the host pressed him further, asking who would attract more attention during a ten-minute walk on Brazil’s famous beach, Ronaldo didn’t hesitate. “Me, 100 percent,” he said, smiling confidently. “I knew it,” Morgan responded. “I was just trying to tease it out of you.”

Ronaldo went on to clarify that while he respects Beckham’s appearance, he considers himself in a league of his own when it comes to physical fitness. “He knows that,” Ronaldo said. “His face is beautiful, yeah, a handsome face. The rest is normal, like it’s normal. I’m not normal. I’m perfecto.”

The Portuguese captain then softened his tone, adding that he has great admiration for Beckham. “He’s looking good,” Ronaldo said. “I like him, he’s a guy who speaks well, I like him.”

The exchange quickly went viral, with fans debating the two legends’ enduring appeal both on and off the field. Beckham, who transitioned from footballer to global brand ambassador, has often been cited as one of the most stylish men in sports history. Ronaldo, however, has built his own empire around athletic perfection, maintaining a famously rigorous fitness routine, lean physique, and a self-assured persona that has become part of his brand identity.

In the same interview, Ronaldo also touched on his fame and global recognition, suggesting that his popularity surpasses even that of political figures. “We’ll do a debate for the world,” he told Morgan. “Who’s the most famous, me or President Donald Trump? I think, even in small islands, they know me more than him.”

Ronaldo’s comments reflect the confidence and showmanship that have long defined his career. From his early days at Manchester United to his time at Real Madrid and Juventus, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has embraced his image as both athlete and celebrity.

His self-proclaimed title of “perfecto” adds another memorable moment to his long list of public remarks that blend humor, pride, and undeniable charisma. Whether or not fans agree with his assessment, Ronaldo once again proved that he remains one of football’s most captivating personalities on and off the pitch.

Nigeria’s army chief vows to crush insurgents amid U.S. pressure over religious violence

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Simeon Bateren
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ABUJA, Nigeria (BN24) — Nigeria’s new army chief, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, pledged on Friday to escalate military operations against Islamist insurgents in the northeast, following heightened international pressure after attacks on Christian communities.

Shaibu made the comments during his first operational visit to Borno State, the epicenter of a 16-year insurgency that has left tens of thousands dead and displaced millions. The northeastern state has been a longtime stronghold for Boko Haram and its splinter group, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

“The Nigerian Army under my command will leave no stone unturned,” Shaibu said in Maiduguri while addressing troops. “We will pursue this fight with renewed energy, clear focus, and absolute dedication to end this menace once and for all. Every soldier must remain vigilant, disciplined, and committed to protecting our communities.”

His visit comes amid a surge in militant attacks targeting military bases and civilian populations. Despite gains by the Nigerian Armed Forces in recent years, both Boko Haram and ISWAP have stepped up operations in 2025, exploiting gaps in intelligence and logistical support.

The announcement follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” last week, citing repeated violations of religious freedom. Trump warned that Washington could take military action if Nigeria fails to curb the killings of Christians. On Saturday, he said the Defense Department was preparing for possible “fast” intervention if Abuja does not strengthen protections for vulnerable communities.

Shaibu, who assumed office earlier this month, said his immediate priority is enhancing operational readiness and troop welfare. He promised increased logistical support, improved equipment, and better combat supply chains to sustain prolonged counterinsurgency efforts.

He also urged the soldiers to maintain continuous pressure on insurgent groups. “This fight requires persistence, intelligence-led operations, and collaboration with local communities,” Shaibu said. “Our goal is to restore peace and security to all affected areas, leaving no insurgent safe in the region.”

Nigerian soldiers patrol on October 12, 2019, after gunmen suspected of belonging to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) group raided the village of Tungushe, killing a soldier and three residents. – Four civilians and three soldiers have been killed in attacks in northeastern Nigeria blamed on jihadist fighters, local residents and militias said on October 12, 2019. (Photo by – / AFP)

President Bola Tinubu recently directed the military to revitalize counterterrorism strategies across the northeast, focusing on intelligence gathering, rapid response units, and cooperation with neighboring countries facing spillover threats. Security analysts say that Borno State remains critical, as militant groups use remote areas as bases for attacks on towns, villages, and military convoys.

Civilians in Borno continue to face a humanitarian crisis. Local authorities report that thousands of families are living in displacement camps with limited access to food, water, and medical care. Security experts warn that a failure to decisively confront insurgents could allow Boko Haram and ISWAP to regroup and expand their reach across northern Nigeria.

Analysts say Shaibu’s visit signals a renewed determination by the Nigerian Army to consolidate prior gains and address persistent security gaps. “The operational and logistical support promised by the army chief is key to sustaining pressure on insurgents,” said Musa Abdullahi, a defense analyst based in Abuja. “It also sends a message to both domestic and international audiences that Nigeria is serious about defeating terrorism and protecting religious freedoms.”

Shaibu’s remarks mark the first high-profile commitment by Nigeria’s military leadership following the U.S. warning, highlighting the growing international scrutiny of Nigeria’s handling of religious and regional violence.

UK police arrest 10 at Europa League clash between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv

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Simeon Bateren
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LONDON (BN24) — British police said Friday that 10 people were arrested during and around Thursday night’s Europa League match in Birmingham between Aston Villa and Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv, an event marked by tight security and political tension.

West Midlands Police confirmed that the game at Villa Park, labeled high-risk due to potential clashes between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli groups, concluded without major disruptions. Five of the 10 individuals arrested remain in custody, including two men accused of racially aggravated public order offenses and another suspected of attempting to throw fireworks into the stadium.

More than 700 officers were deployed to secure the area surrounding Villa Park. Ahead of kickoff, a large pro-Palestinian protest gathered outside the stadium, with hundreds displaying Palestinian flags and banners denouncing Israel. Tensions briefly spiked when a woman carrying an Israeli flag passed by the demonstrators but was swiftly escorted away by police.

On the opposite side of the stadium, a smaller counter-protest supporting Israel displayed signs urging an end to antisemitism in football. Several vehicles circled the ground with digital billboards carrying messages such as “Ban hatred not fans,” and one quoting French soccer star Thierry Henry: “Football is not about goals but bringing people together.”

The match, which Aston Villa won 2-0, came under intense scrutiny after Birmingham officials decided to ban visiting Maccabi fans from attending. The move drew criticism from Prime Minister Keir Starmer but was defended by those citing safety concerns and past violence involving Maccabi supporters.

Police said the decision followed intelligence linked to previous incidents, including unrest during Maccabi’s Europa League game against Ajax in Amsterdam last season. In response, Maccabi Tel Aviv declined its away ticket allocation.

The ban unfolded amid growing concerns about antisemitism in Britain, heightened by a deadly attack on a Manchester synagogue last month and calls from pro-Palestinian activists for a sports boycott of Israel. Despite a recent ceasefire in Gaza, tensions remain high both on and off the field.

Cornell University agrees to $60 million settlement with Trump administration to restore frozen research funds

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Simeon Bateren
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ITHACA, N.Y. (AP) — Cornell University has agreed to pay $60 million in a settlement with the Trump administration to restore federal research funding that had been frozen for months during a dispute over alleged civil rights violations, the school announced Friday.

Under the three-year agreement, Cornell will invest $30 million into U.S. agricultural research and send another $30 million directly to the federal government to end pending claims brought against the university. The deal follows months of negotiations with federal officials and marks one of the administration’s largest settlements with an Ivy League school over alleged violations related to diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.

The Education Department froze Cornell’s federal funding in April, alongside suspensions at Northwestern University and several other elite institutions. The administration said the action was part of a broader effort to eliminate what it described as unlawful DEI practices in higher education.

Cornell reported that the freeze affected more than $250 million in federal research funds, halting or delaying numerous faculty and student research projects across its campuses.

University President Michael Kotlikoff said the settlement allows Cornell to move forward after “good faith” discussions with the administration. He emphasized that the agreement enables the school to resume its academic and research operations while reaffirming its right to institutional independence.

“The agreement explicitly recognizes Cornell’s right to independently establish our policies and procedures, choose whom to hire and admit, and determine what we teach, without intrusive government monitoring or approvals,” Kotlikoff said in a statement to the Cornell community. “In short, it recognizes our rights, as a private university, to define the conditions on our campuses that advance learning and produce new knowledge.”

Kotlikoff will certify the university’s compliance with the terms of the settlement repeatedly. Cornell will also provide anonymized admissions data, continue conducting campus climate surveys, and maintain federal reporting of foreign gifts and contracts.

While reaffirming Cornell’s autonomy, the agreement ends a prolonged standoff between the Ivy League institution and the administration. Officials said the restoration of funding would allow federally supported research from agriculture to engineering and medical science to resume without further interruption.

The deal mirrors recent settlements between the Trump administration and other Ivy League schools, including the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, and Brown University, all of which faced similar allegations.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon celebrated the Cornell agreement in a post on X, calling it a “transformative commitment” to merit-based education.

“These reforms are a huge win in the fight to restore excellence to American higher education and make our schools the greatest in the world,” McMahon wrote.

Kotlikoff maintained that Cornell had not violated any federal civil rights laws, describing the resolution as a pragmatic outcome that protects the university’s academic mission while preserving its research partnerships.

The settlement brings an end to months of uncertainty for Cornell’s faculty and students, who rely on federal support for a wide range of research initiatives. The university said it expects all previously halted projects to restart immediately under the new agreement.

Supreme Court temporarily allows Trump administration to withhold $4 billion in SNAP payments

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admin
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Washington (BN24) – The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday granted a temporary reprieve to President Donald Trump’s administration, allowing it to withhold roughly $4 billion in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits that a lower court had ordered to be paid in full by the end of the day.

The emergency order, issued by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, temporarily blocked a directive from U.S. District Judge John McConnell of Rhode Island that required the administration to release the full monthly food aid despite the ongoing government shutdown. The order effectively gives the Trump administration more time to argue its case before the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which had earlier said it would act “as quickly as possible” on the matter.

The decision comes after a day of confusion for states and millions of Americans who rely on SNAP, commonly known as food stamps. Hours before the Supreme Court’s order, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) had informed states in a memo that it would proceed with making full November payments. Patrick Penn, deputy undersecretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, told states that the USDA “will complete the processes necessary” to issue full benefits “for the time being.”

But the administration quickly reversed course, petitioning the Supreme Court to intervene. The Justice Department argued that Judge McConnell’s order violated constitutional limits on judicial power by compelling the executive branch to spend unappropriated funds.

Solicitor General D. John Sauer warned in the administration’s filing that paying the full benefits would deplete funds needed for other vital nutrition programs, such as school lunches. “Once those billions are out the door, there is no ready mechanism for the government to recover those funds — to the significant detriment of other critical social programs whose budgets the district court ordered the government to raid,” Sauer wrote.

Nearly 42 million Americans depend on SNAP benefits each month. Under normal circumstances, the program provides up to $300 per individual and around $1,000 for a family of four. Because of the shutdown, the Trump administration had previously authorized $4.65 billion in contingency funds—enough to cover about 65% of benefits for November—but declined to draw from a separate $4 billion reserve tied to child nutrition programs known as Section 32 funds.

Earlier this week, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins confirmed that partial payments had already been distributed to states, which oversee the process of loading benefits onto electronic cards. The administration argued it had met its obligations by releasing those partial funds.

However, Judge McConnell rebuked that position Thursday, saying the administration’s delays were “simply unacceptable.” In a strongly worded order, he chastised officials for allowing Americans to go hungry during the shutdown. “People have gone without for too long. Not making payments to them for even another day is simply unacceptable,” McConnell wrote. “This should never happen in America.”

The ongoing dispute over SNAP funding marks the first time in the program’s 61-year history that benefits have been disrupted due to a federal government shutdown. Advocacy groups, including Democracy Forward, have filed lawsuits challenging the administration’s handling of the payments, arguing that withholding food aid during a shutdown violates federal law and puts millions of vulnerable households at risk.

Attorney General Pam Bondi celebrated Friday’s Supreme Court order, writing on X that “The Supreme Court just granted our administrative stay in this case. Our attorneys will not stop fighting, day and night, to defend and advance President Trump’s agenda.”

For families dependent on SNAP, however, the ruling means continued uncertainty. Reports from across the country indicate that many households have already begun skipping meals or surviving on what little food remains in their pantries. In cities like Detroit, Atlanta, and Newark, families have turned to food banks to fill the gap while awaiting word on when—or if—their full November benefits will arrive.

As the case moves forward in the appeals court, millions of Americans remain in limbo, anxiously watching the legal and political battle unfold over the very aid that keeps food on their tables.

Trump administration asks Supreme Court to block order for full SNAP payments

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President Donald Trump’s administration has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to halt a lower court order requiring the federal government to issue full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments for November, escalating the legal fight over food aid during the ongoing government shutdown.

The appeal came Friday after an appellate court refused to suspend the order, which directed the administration to release the full monthly benefits despite limited contingency funds. The Trump administration argued that complying with the directive would unlawfully compel it to spend money not appropriated by Congress.

In its Supreme Court filing, Solicitor General D. John Sauer warned that several states were “trying to seize what they could of the agency’s finite set of remaining funds, before any appeal could even be filed,” adding that “once those billions are out the door, there is no ready mechanism for the government to recover those funds.”

The SNAP program, which provides food assistance to about one in eight Americans, has become the latest flashpoint in the broader budget standoff between the White House and congressional Democrats. A federal judge had ruled Thursday that the administration must pay the full November benefits, rejecting its plan to issue only 65% of the monthly allotment.

Despite the pending appeal, some states moved swiftly to distribute the full benefits. Officials in California, Wisconsin, Oregon, and Hawaii confirmed that payments were already being processed for millions of residents. Wisconsin released over $104 million in food aid to roughly 337,000 households shortly after midnight Friday.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek said state employees “worked through the night” to ensure families could access food by Friday. Hawaii also submitted its payment requests early to avoid a potential freeze by the Supreme Court. “We moved with haste once we verified everything,” said Joseph Campos II of Hawaii’s Department of Human Services.

Other states, including New York, Colorado, and Massachusetts, announced that full SNAP benefits could be available by the weekend, while North Carolina and Illinois issued partial payments as they awaited further guidance. Delaware’s Gov. Matt Meyer said his state used its own funds to provide emergency weekly food assistance.

The administration’s Supreme Court request follows weeks of uncertainty for millions of low-income households. SNAP recipients can receive up to nearly $300 monthly for individuals and around $1,000 for a family of four, depending on income. For many, those funds are essential.

In Newark, New Jersey, single mother and college student Jasmen Youngbey said she was down to a zero balance before her SNAP benefits arrived late Friday. “Not everybody has cash to pull out and say, ‘OK, I’m going to go and get this,’ especially with the cost of food right now,” she said. Another resident, Tihinna Franklin, said she had only nine cents left on her card. “If I don’t get it, I won’t be eating,” she said.

The administration had initially said SNAP funds would not be available in November due to the shutdown, but two judges ruled otherwise, ordering it to use an emergency reserve fund containing more than $4.6 billion and other available funds to make full payments costing between $8.5 billion and $9 billion.

Calling the rulings unconstitutional, the Justice Department argued that the judiciary had “made a mockery of the separation of powers” by forcing the executive branch to spend unappropriated funds. Attorneys for cities and nonprofits challenging the administration disagreed, saying the government had the money and should not delay critical food aid.

As the legal battle reaches the nation’s highest court, millions of Americans remain caught in the middle—waiting for clarity on whether they will continue to receive the food assistance that helps them get by.

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