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India clinches historic first Women’s World Cup victory with win over South Africa

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Simeon Bateren
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NAVI MUMBAI, India (BN24)— India triumphed over South Africa by 52 runs to claim their first Women’s World Cup, delivering a historic victory in front of a packed, raucous crowd at the DY Patil Stadium on Sunday. The final, delayed by two hours due to rain, became a showcase of resilience, skill, and composure under pressure.

Batting first, India posted a competitive 298-7. Opener Shafali Verma led the charge with a dynamic 87 from 78 balls, while Deepti Sharma contributed a steady 58. The total set South Africa a record chase in Women’s One-Day Internationals.

South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt fought back with her second consecutive century, scoring a flawless 101 from 98 balls to keep her side in contention at 211-6. However, her dismissal via a juggling catch from Amanjot Kaur off Deepti Sharma in the 42nd over shifted momentum decisively in India’s favor. South Africa ultimately finished 246 all out, marking their third consecutive final defeat.

Verma, called up late to the tournament after an injury to Pratika Rawal, shone with the ball as well, finishing 2-36, but it was Deepti Sharma, the tournament’s leading wicket-taker, who ripped through the South African batting lineup with figures of 5-39. India’s performance capped an incredible turnaround, overcoming three consecutive group-stage defeats to march to glory.

The final was marked by intense moments, including a crucial run-out of Tazmin Brits by Amanjot Kaur and decisive wickets from Deepti Sharma, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Shree Charani. Despite a valiant effort from Wolvaardt and South Africa, India’s depth, composure, and tactical execution proved decisive.

For India, the triumph was historic not only for breaking the World Cup barrier but also for igniting a new era in women’s cricket. The Women’s Premier League has been instrumental in building the team’s depth and confidence to perform under the spotlight, as evidenced by the enthusiastic support from fans queuing hours before the match.

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur hailed the victory as a turning point: “After every World Cup, we came together as a team and discussed what we needed to do. This is just the beginning. We have so many big occasions coming up, and we want to make this our habit.” South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt praised India’s performance, acknowledging her team had been outplayed despite a brilliant campaign.

The win establishes India as a rising force in women’s cricket, signaling a potential shift in the sport’s global hierarchy and inspiring a new generation of players in a cricket-loving nation.

9 dead, dozens injured in temple crowd surge in Andhra Pradesh, India

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Simeon Bateren
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NEW DELHI (BN24) — A religious gathering at a Hindu temple in southern India turned tragic Saturday when a crowd surge left at least nine people dead and dozens injured, authorities said.

The deadly incident took place at the Swamy Venkateswara Temple in Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district, where thousands of devotees assembled to mark Ekadashi, one of Hinduism’s most sacred fasting days dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

Police said the tragedy began when an iron grille meant to control the line of worshippers collapsed, causing a sudden crush of people near the temple entrance. “The structure broke under pressure, and the crowd surged uncontrollably,” senior officer K. V. Maheswara Reddy told The Associated Press.

Local official Swapnil Dinkar Pundkar said initial reports of seven deaths later rose to nine as two victims succumbed to their injuries. Among the dead were eight women and a child, he said. Sixteen devotees remain hospitalized, while another 20 are under observation for shock.

Video clips aired on regional television showed chaotic scenes as worshippers struggled to breathe and others fainted amid the crush. Bystanders were seen fanning and helping those who collapsed on the temple grounds.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed condolences to the victims’ families. Modi described the incident as “heartbreaking,” while Naidu promised strict action against those responsible and ordered a formal inquiry.

Authorities said the temple sits on a 12-acre private property and is not managed by the state’s religious endowment department. The complex, which can accommodate about 3,000 people, was overwhelmed as an estimated 25,000 devotees arrived for the festival.

“Arrangements were not made accordingly, nor was information provided to the government by the concerned individual. This is the reason for the accident,” the Andhra Pradesh Fact Check Unit said on social media.

Crowd surges are a recurring risk during India’s major religious gatherings, where large numbers often exceed local capacity. In July, a similar incident at a northern temple left six dead and several injured.

Deadly U.S. strike in Caribbean kills 3 suspected narco-terrorists

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U.S. military forces launched a deadly strike on a suspected drug-smuggling vessel in the Caribbean Sea late Saturday, killing all three people aboard, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced. The Pentagon said the attack was part of the administration’s broader campaign to target narcotics traffickers that U.S. officials have labeled “narco-terrorists.”

Hegseth said in a post on X that U.S. intelligence had long tracked the vessel as part of an illicit smuggling route in the Caribbean. He identified the three men killed as members of a “Designated Terrorist Organization” but provided no evidence to substantiate the claims.

“This vessel — like EVERY OTHER — was known by our intelligence to be involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, was transiting along a known narco-trafficking route, and carrying narcotics,” Hegseth wrote. “We will continue to track them, map them, hunt them, and kill them.”

No U.S. personnel were injured in the operation, which marked at least the 15th strike since early September on vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific that the Trump administration has tied to narcotics trafficking. At least 64 people have been killed in those strikes, according to official estimates.

Hegseth described the attack as part of an effort to dismantle criminal networks that he said “poison Americans at home.” He vowed to continue targeting smugglers with the same intensity that U.S. forces once used against al-Qaida.

Last month, the Pentagon redeployed the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean to bolster U.S. naval operations in the region, according to Defense Department spokesman Sean Parnell.

The ongoing campaign, however, has sparked growing scrutiny in Congress. Lawmakers from both parties have demanded greater transparency about the intelligence behind the strikes and how the administration determines the alleged affiliations of those killed.

Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, criticized the administration last week for failing to include Democrats in a classified briefing on the Caribbean operations. “That’s not how two-party accountability is supposed to work,” Warner said.

Hegseth’s latest statement offered no details about the identities or nationalities of the three people killed, nor evidence linking them to any terrorist or criminal organizations. In earlier operations, the administration has released limited background on the targeted vessels and crews.

Fire and explosion at store in Northwestern Mexico leave at least 23 dead and a dozen injured

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HERMOSILLO, Mexico (BN24)— A fire and explosion at a convenience store in northwestern Mexico on Saturday killed at least 23 people, including children, and injured 12 others, state authorities said.

The blaze occurred in downtown Hermosillo, the capital of Sonora state, Sonora Gov. Alfonso Durazo said in a video posted on social media.

Sonora Attorney General Gustavo Salas Chávez provided the death toll and said the injured were transported to six hospitals throughout Hermosillo.

Salas Chávez said preliminary investigations showed the deaths were caused by “inhalation of toxic gases.”

“At this time we have no indication that leads us to presume the fire was intentional,” he said, noting authorities had not ruled out any line of investigation.

Images circulating on social media showed a massive fire engulfing the Waldo’s store in the heart of the city. One video showed a burned man collapsing onto the asphalt a few meters from the store entrance, illustrating the severity of the incident.

The tragedy struck the downtown commercial district of Hermosillo, a city of approximately 900,000 people located in northwestern Mexico near the border with the United States. The convenience store fire represents one of the deadliest such incidents in recent Mexican history.

The presence of children among the victims adds to the tragedy, though authorities have not released specific details about the ages of those killed or the circumstances that led to children being in the store at the time of the fire and explosion.

The distribution of injured victims across six separate hospitals in Hermosillo suggests the severity of the injuries sustained and the strain placed on local medical facilities in responding to the emergency. The nature and extent of injuries to the 12 survivors have not been publicly disclosed.

The finding that toxic gas inhalation caused the deaths indicates the fire produced dangerous fumes that proved fatal to those trapped inside or near the store. Such gases can include carbon monoxide and other combustion byproducts that quickly overcome victims in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces.

While authorities stated they have no current indication the fire was intentional, the attorney general’s comment that no line of investigation has been ruled out suggests investigators are examining multiple possible causes, including accidental ignition, equipment malfunction or other factors that could have sparked the blaze.

The explosion component of the incident raises questions about what materials or substances may have been present in the store that could have fueled such a violent event. Convenience stores typically stock various products, some of which may be flammable or combustible under certain conditions.

Emergency response teams faced the challenge of battling the massive fire while simultaneously attempting to rescue trapped individuals and provide immediate medical care to survivors. The scale of the response, involving multiple hospitals and emergency personnel, reflects the magnitude of the disaster.

Hermosillo residents and Mexican officials have not yet released information about memorial services or support for families of the victims. The investigation into the cause of the fire and explosion continues as authorities work to determine what sparked the deadly incident and whether any safety violations or other factors contributed to the tragedy.

The incident serves as a reminder of the dangers posed by fires in commercial establishments and the critical importance of fire safety measures, emergency preparedness and rapid evacuation procedures in protecting lives during such emergencies.

Missing 13-year-old girl from Louisiana found in sheet-covered box in basement of Pittsburgh home as man, 26, arrested

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A 13-year-old girl who vanished from Louisiana was discovered days later inside a box covered with a sheet in the basement of a Pittsburgh home, ending a multi-state search that began with a Snapchat message and led to allegations of kidnapping, trafficking and sexual assault.

U.S. Marshals said the girl, who was reported missing from East Baton Rouge Parish in October, was lured across several states before being found, leading to at least two arrests, according to WAFB.

Ki-Shawn Crumity, 26, was arrested Thursday at his home on Davis Avenue after a police SWAT team executed a search warrant and discovered the girl hidden in the basement.

A second man, Ronald Smith, 62, of New Orleans, was arrested in Columbus, Georgia, on charges of simple kidnapping and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile.

The week-long investigation began in Louisiana with the reported disappearance of the girl, who has not been publicly identified.

According to police documents, the girl met Crumity on Snapchat. He allegedly told her he “was to get her adopted by a trusted adult,” according to a criminal complaint obtained by CBS News. Smith and another man reportedly transported the girl from Baton Rouge to Georgia and then placed her on a Greyhound bus to Pittsburgh.

At the bus station in Washington, D.C., she encountered a woman who asked if she needed help. The girl agreed and messaged Crumity, informing him she was bringing a friend to Pittsburgh.

They arrived in Pittsburgh and, police said, the girl, the woman and Crumity all slept in the same bed in the basement of the Davis Avenue home.

The complaint alleges that Crumity provided the girl with edibles and alcohol and sexually assaulted her “at least once or twice a day” during the week she was held there.

She told investigators that Crumity admitted “he knew she was a runaway” and that “he would get in trouble,” according to court documents.

On Thursday, the FBI obtained a search warrant and the home was raided by a police SWAT team after the Pittsburgh Police Special Victims Unit received a report from the U.S. Marshals Service about a juvenile who went missing from Louisiana.

The girl later told authorities that being at the hospital after her rescue was “the safest she ever felt,” according to the criminal complaint.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill praised the investigative efforts that led to the girl’s recovery. “Very proud of my LBI agents in helping to locate this child,” Murrill said. “She was groomed, exploited, and then sexually abused by strangers who found her online. This is just one example of the dangers of social media and of human trafficking.”

Crumity faces an extensive list of charges, including trafficking in individuals, statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault and selling or furnishing alcohol to a minor. He remains held without bond at the Allegheny County Jail.

Officials said further arrests and additional charges are expected as the investigation continues.

The case highlights growing concerns about online predators using social media platforms to target vulnerable minors. Law enforcement agencies have repeatedly warned parents about the dangers children face on applications like Snapchat, where predators can establish contact with young people and gradually manipulate them through a process known as grooming.

The multi-state nature of the investigation required coordination among multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, Pittsburgh Police Special Victims Unit and local authorities in Georgia. The collaborative effort demonstrated the complexity of cases involving child exploitation and trafficking across state lines.

The discovery of the girl in a covered box in a basement underscores the severity of her captivity and the conditions she endured during her time away from home. Her statement to investigators about feeling safest at the hospital after rescue suggests the trauma she experienced during her ordeal.

Authorities continue to investigate the full scope of the alleged trafficking operation, including the roles of all individuals involved in transporting the girl across multiple states. The involvement of multiple suspects in different locations suggests a network that facilitated the girl’s movement from Louisiana through Georgia and ultimately to Pennsylvania.

The case serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities children face online and the sophisticated methods predators employ to exploit them. Law enforcement officials encourage parents to monitor their children’s social media activity and maintain open communication about online safety.

independent.co

Disgraced ex-Prince Andrew had 40 prostitutes brought to Thailand hotel on taxpayer-funded trip, biographer says

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LONDON (NYPost) — Disgraced Prince Andrew allegedly had 40 prostitutes brought to his five-star hotel during a taxpayer-funded trip to Thailand, according to explosive claims made by his biographer.

Prince Andrew allegedly once had 40 prostitutes brought to his five-star hotel during a taxpayer-funded, “famous trip” to Thailand, his biographer claims.Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

Andrew, who was officially stripped of his titles Thursday and evicted from his royal residence in a humiliating fall from grace, engaged with the large group of women over a four-day period, royal historian and author Andrew Lownie alleged.

“There was a famous trip to Thailand — for the birthday celebrations of the King. Andrew is representing his country and insists on staying in a five-star hotel rather than the embassy, which he always did,” Lownie told the Daily Mail’s “Deep Dive: The Fall of the House of York” podcast.

“Andrew had 40 prostitutes brought in the space of four days. This was all enabled by diplomats and others,” the biographer stated.

Lownie said multiple sources, including a member of the Thai royal family, had corroborated the allegation. The trip was allegedly one of numerous excursions Andrew exploited at taxpayer expense when he was serving as a Trade Envoy for the United Kingdom in the early 2000s.

“In 2001, Andrew is 41, he’s having his midlife crisis, and he basically starts chasing lots and lots of women,” Lownie said during the podcast interview.

“He uses the excuse of his role as Trade Envoy, paid for by the taxpayer, to go off on these trips,” the historian continued. “He always puts in two weeks of ‘private time.’ So, we pay for his holiday and then he goes off and does things.”

Lownie argued there exists a “conspiracy of silence” surrounding the since-shunned royal and called on the British government’s National Archives to release its files on Andrew’s tenure as Trade Envoy.

“Andrew was sending a list of people he wanted to meet for his own personal business interests,” Lownie alleged.

“All the files from his time as Trade Envoy between 2001 and 2011 remain closed. They should be in the National Archive,” the historian stated. “They remain closed, and that is part of the conspiracy of silence around Andrew that we need to break.”

Lownie’s remarks were recorded shortly before Buckingham Palace announced its bombshell decision to formally shun Andrew by removing his titles and evicting him from his residence of two decades amid ongoing fallout over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Multiple sources, including a member of the Thai royal family, had backed up the allegations of Andrew’s prostitutes, his biographer claims.AFP via Getty Images

The royal family has faced mounting pressure in recent months after revelations emerged that Andrew had maintained ties with Epstein years after he claimed to have severed communication with the late pedophile.

The controversy intensified following disturbing allegations leveled against the former prince by Epstein’s most prominent accuser, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, in her posthumous memoir. Giuffre, who died by suicide in April, had long maintained she was forced to have sex with Andrew when she was a teenager.

Andrew has repeatedly and categorically denied all allegations against him.

The biographer’s claims add another layer to the mounting allegations surrounding Andrew’s conduct during his years as a working member of the royal family. His tenure as Trade Envoy, which lasted from 2001 to 2011, was meant to promote British business interests abroad but has come under increasing scrutiny.

The allegations about Andrew’s behavior on official trips raise serious questions about oversight of royal engagements and the use of public funds. Lownie’s call for transparency regarding Andrew’s Trade Envoy files suggests there may be additional information about the former prince’s activities during this period that remains hidden from public view.

The timing of these revelations coincides with Andrew’s dramatic removal from royal life, marking one of the most significant downfalls in recent British royal history. His eviction from the royal residence where he lived for 20 years represents a complete severing of his official ties to the monarchy.

The allegations paint a picture of a royal who allegedly abused his position and taxpayer resources for personal pursuits while ostensibly serving his country in an official capacity. The claimed involvement of diplomats in facilitating such activities, if true, would raise further questions about institutional enablement of inappropriate behavior.

As calls grow louder for transparency and accountability, the British government faces pressure to address whether official files should be made public to provide a complete accounting of Andrew’s activities during his years as Trade Envoy.

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.

espn/aljazeera

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.

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