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Canada Votes in Pivotal Election Shaped by Trump’s Impact on US-Canada Relations

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Canada Votes in Pivotal Election Shaped by Trump’s Impact on US-Canada Relations

TORONTO — Canadians are heading to the polls Monday in a high-stakes federal election that has been dramatically reshaped by the influence of US President Donald Trump, with tensions over tariffs and sovereignty dominating the political landscape.

At the beginning of 2025, the Conservative Party appeared poised for a decisive victory. However, Trump’s aggressive policies — including the imposition of 25% tariffs on Canadian goods and inflammatory remarks about making Canada the “51st state” — galvanized nationalistic sentiment across the country. The resulting political backlash has reinvigorated the Liberal Party under Prime Minister Mark Carney, setting the stage for a fiercely contested race.

Final polls suggest the Liberals have gained a narrow edge over the Conservatives, but the margin remains razor-thin. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre maintains his party has the momentum to prevail, making Monday’s vote one of the most unpredictable in recent Canadian history.

The final day of campaigning was overshadowed by tragedy. An SUV plowed into a crowd attending a Filipino cultural festival in Vancouver on Saturday night, killing 11 people and injuring several others. In response, Carney canceled a campaign stop in Hamilton on Sunday morning to address the nation, while Poilievre added a visit to Mississauga to meet with members of the Filipino community, highlighting the somber mood gripping the country.

Despite the tragedy, Carney pressed forward with campaign events across Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia, seeking to bolster Liberal support in the western provinces, traditionally strongholds for the Conservatives. Meanwhile, Poilievre concentrated his final efforts in Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, where 122 of Parliament’s 343 seats are up for grabs and could determine the election’s outcome. A party must secure at least 172 seats to form a majority government.

Trump’s actions have loomed large over the campaign. His decision to levy tariffs on Canadian goods, coupled with repeated remarks about annexing Canada, has shattered decades of friendly bilateral relations and stirred intense debate about national identity. Scenes of Canadian hockey fans booing the American national anthem became a potent symbol of the sudden strain between the two nations.

The election has effectively become a referendum on how Canada should navigate its future relationship with its southern neighbor during Trump’s second term. Carney, 60, has consistently warned voters about what he calls an “existential threat” posed by the US president, arguing that Trump seeks to “break us so the US can own us.”

Throughout his campaign, Carney has presented himself as uniquely equipped to steer Canada through this period of uncertainty, citing his experience leading Canada’s central bank during the Great Recession and serving as the Governor of the Bank of England during the Brexit crisis. Speaking in Saskatoon on Sunday, he urged Canadians to strengthen trade ties with “reliable partners” like the United Kingdom and the European Union, stating that the “old relationship” with the United States was effectively “over.”

In contrast, Poilievre has focused his campaign on domestic issues, lambasting what he calls the “lost Liberal decade” under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Poilievre has appealed to voters frustrated by soaring housing prices, rising costs of living, and growing concerns over crime.

“We need change so you can afford food and homes again,” he told supporters during a rally in Peterborough, northeast of Toronto.

The battle between the Liberals and Conservatives has squeezed smaller parties out of the spotlight. The left-wing New Democratic Party (NDP), led by Jagmeet Singh, is facing an uphill battle to retain its seats, particularly in the face of rising support for the separatist Bloc Québécois in Quebec.

Singh, visibly shaken by the Vancouver attack — which occurred shortly after he attended the same festival — canceled several events on Sunday. Throughout the campaign, Singh had positioned the NDP as a crucial check on Liberal or Conservative dominance in Ottawa.

The Bloc Québécois, despite initially showing signs of resurgence, has struggled to maintain momentum amid voter anxiety about Trump’s aggressive posturing toward Canada. Many voters have instead gravitated toward the two major federal parties, historically the only ones to govern Canada.

President Trump himself has refrained from commenting publicly on the Canadian election, though members of his administration have continued to fan the flames. Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated Trump’s controversial stance, saying, “The president has stated repeatedly he thinks Canada would be better off as a state.”

Polling stations open at 8:30 a.m. local time in Newfoundland and Labrador (12:00 GMT), with voting taking place across six time zones. The final polls will close at 7:00 p.m. PST (03:00 GMT Tuesday) in British Columbia. A record-setting 7 million Canadians have already voted in advance polls, signaling high turnout in a nation grappling with its future identity.

The outcome of this pivotal election will not only determine Canada’s next government but could also redefine its place in a rapidly shifting global order — with its relationship to the United States under President Trump at the very heart of the debate.

68 African Migrants Killed in US Strike on Yemen Detention Center, Houthis Say

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68 African Migrants Killed in US Strike on Yemen Detention Center, Houthis Say

SAADA, Yemen — At least 68 African migrants were killed and another 47 critically wounded after a United States airstrike reportedly targeted a detention center in Yemen’s Houthi-controlled Saada province, according to Houthi-affiliated media outlets.

The devastating strike on Sunday night left the facility in ruins, with harrowing footage aired by Houthi-run Al Masirah TV showing mangled bodies beneath the rubble. Most of the victims were migrants from African nations who had been detained at the center, which was reportedly housing 115 individuals at the time of the attack.

There was no immediate response from the United States military regarding the incident. However, the reported bombing came just hours after US Central Command (Centcom) announced it had conducted over 800 airstrikes against Houthi targets since President Donald Trump ordered a heightened military campaign against the Iran-backed group on March 15.

Centcom said its strikes have eliminated “hundreds of Houthi fighters and numerous leaders,” particularly those involved in missile and drone operations. The US has intensified its military actions in Yemen in recent weeks, aiming to cripple the Houthis’ ability to disrupt international shipping lanes and to degrade their operational capabilities.

Despite US assurances that its campaign is focused on military targets, Houthi authorities claim civilians have borne the brunt of the attacks. They contend that dozens of civilian casualties have occurred, though they have provided minimal confirmation of deaths among Houthi combatants.

Sunday’s strike has amplified concerns from humanitarian groups already alarmed by Yemen’s dire situation. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the conflict has not deterred desperate migrants — primarily from the Horn of Africa — from crossing the treacherous Red Sea in hopes of finding work in neighboring Saudi Arabia. Many instead find themselves trapped in detention centers, facing exploitation, violence, and the hazards of ongoing conflict.

The IOM reports that nearly 60,900 migrants have arrived in Yemen in 2024 alone, despite the extreme risks. “Migrants often arrive with no means to survive and face severe human rights violations,” the organization said in a statement earlier this month.

Sunday’s tragedy follows another major incident earlier in April, when Houthi officials claimed that a US airstrike on the Ras Isa oil terminal on the Red Sea killed at least 74 civilians and wounded 171 others. Houthis have labeled the strikes “war crimes,” while Centcom maintains that attacks on Ras Isa were necessary to disrupt the Houthis’ revenue streams funding terrorism.

“The destruction of Ras Isa will severely impact the Houthis’ ability to conduct operations and finance their terror activities,” Centcom said following that strike.

The Trump administration, returning to a hardline stance against the Houthis, has vowed relentless pressure. After taking office in January 2025, Trump redesignated the Houthis as a “Foreign Terrorist Organization,” a classification the Biden administration had previously revoked in an effort to ease Yemen’s humanitarian suffering.

On Sunday, Centcom reiterated that the US mission would continue: “We will ratchet up the pressure until our objectives are met, which remain the restoration of freedom of navigation and American deterrence in the region.”

The Houthis, however, remain defiant. Since late 2023, they have launched dozens of attacks against merchant vessels traversing the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, claiming these strikes are acts of solidarity with Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. Despite their assertions that they only target ships linked to Israel, the US, or the UK, indiscriminate attacks have killed four sailors, sunk two vessels, and severely disrupted international shipping.

Western efforts to secure these critical waterways — including the deployment of warships and multiple retaliatory airstrikes — have so far failed to deter Houthi aggression.

The backdrop to these developments is Yemen’s protracted civil war, now stretching into its second decade. The conflict erupted in earnest when the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, and much of the country’s northwest from the internationally recognized government in 2014. A Saudi-led coalition, backed by the United States, intervened militarily in 2015 in an attempt to restore the deposed government’s authority.

Since then, the fighting has claimed more than 150,000 lives, according to estimates from international monitors. The United Nations reports that roughly 4.8 million Yemenis remain displaced, while 19.5 million — more than half the population — urgently require humanitarian assistance.

The latest tragedy underscores the profound dangers facing migrants and civilians trapped in Yemen’s ongoing war.

As of Monday, search and recovery efforts continued at the destroyed detention center, with authorities warning that the death toll could rise as critically injured survivors fight for their lives in overwhelmed local hospitals.

The US military has yet to address the specific allegations concerning the Saada strike, but the incident threatens to further inflame tensions in a conflict that shows little sign of abating.

Man Charged With Murder After Deadly Car Ramming at Vancouver Festival Celebrating Filipino Culture

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Man Charged With Murder After Deadly Car Ramming at Vancouver Festival Celebrating Filipino Culture

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — A man has been charged with multiple counts of murder after authorities say he deliberately rammed a vehicle into a crowd gathered for a Filipino cultural festival in Vancouver on Saturday evening, killing 11 people and injuring dozens more in what officials describe as a tragedy rooted in mental health issues rather than terrorism.

Police announced Sunday that Kai-Ji Adam Lo, a 30-year-old Vancouver resident, has been charged with eight counts of second-degree murder, with authorities signaling that additional charges are likely as the investigation continues. Lo was apprehended at the scene by members of the crowd and turned over to law enforcement.

“The charge assessment is ongoing and further charges are anticipated,” Vancouver police said in a statement Sunday evening, noting that the death toll could still rise as some of the injured remain in critical condition.

The attack unfolded at approximately 8:14 p.m. local time at the intersection of East 41st Avenue and Fraser Street during the city’s Lapu-Lapu Day celebrations, an annual festival honoring Filipino history and culture. Witnesses described scenes of horror as a black SUV accelerated into a pedestrian-only area lined with food trucks, turning a joyous block party into a scene of chaos and devastation.

Graphic videos circulating on social media and verified by NBC News captured the immediate aftermath: first responders attending to victims scattered across the street, distressed bystanders weeping and comforting one another, and the crumpled remains of food trucks and vendor stands. The suspect’s vehicle was seen wrecked in the middle of the street, having crashed after mowing down attendees.

“This was supposed to be a celebration of community, culture, and heritage,” said Steve Rai, Vancouver’s interim police chief, during a somber press conference on Sunday. “Instead, lives were senselessly stolen, and many others forever changed.”

Rai described the victims as diverse in age and gender, ranging from five to 65 years old. He also emphasized that there is no evidence suggesting the attack was an act of terrorism or motivated by hate, stating, “Mental health appears to be the underlying issue here.”

Mayor Ken Sim echoed that sentiment, expressing deep sorrow for the victims and their families. “I am shocked and deeply saddened by the horrific incident,” Sim said on social media, promising support for Vancouver’s Filipino community during this difficult time.

Officials confirmed that Lo had a well-documented history of mental illness and prior interactions with both police and health care services. However, authorities stressed that there had been no recent encounters with Lo leading up to Saturday’s tragedy.

At the time of the incident, no specific threats had been reported against the festival or the broader Filipino community. As a result, police determined that heavy security measures such as barricades and a substantial officer presence were not necessary. Rai said a full review of the event’s security planning would now be conducted.

More than 100 Vancouver police officers are actively involved in the investigation. Victims were rushed to nine area hospitals, including Vancouver General Hospital, the city’s primary trauma center, which confirmed it had received multiple patients in critical condition.

Yoseb Vardeh, co-owner of one of the food trucks stationed at the event, recounted the horror to the Vancouver Sun. “I got outside my food truck, I looked down the road, and there’s just bodies everywhere,” Vardeh said, describing how he heard the engine revving moments before the SUV barreled through the crowd.

“It’s the kind of thing you hear about happening in the States, not here,” Vardeh added, still visibly shaken by the night’s events.

The annual Lapu-Lapu Day commemorates the victory of Indigenous Filipino leader Lapu-Lapu over the forces of Ferdinand Magellan in 1521, a historic event celebrated as a symbol of resistance to colonialism. British Columbia officially recognized Lapu-Lapu Day in 2023, highlighting the rich contributions of the Filipino community to Canadian society.

Canada is home to nearly one million people of Filipino descent, according to the 2021 census, making them one of the largest immigrant communities in the country.

Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed the nation on Sunday morning, offering condolences and solidarity. He described the attack as “every family’s nightmare” and urged Canadians to support the Filipino community through unity and compassion. Carney referenced the Filipino concept of bayanihan, a spirit of communal cooperation and support, as a guiding principle for the nation’s response.

British Columbia Premier David Eby also expressed grief, assuring residents that his government was coordinating with Vancouver officials and offering all necessary assistance.

Jagmeet Singh, leader of Canada’s New Democrat Party, wrote on social media that he was “horrified” by the tragedy and voiced his support for the victims and the grieving Filipino community.

A vigil was planned for Sunday evening at a community center in Vancouver, where Mayor Sim and other officials were expected to meet with members of the Filipino community and offer condolences. The gathering was scheduled from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. local time.

Police have asked witnesses and those with video footage of the incident to come forward as the investigation remains active. Rai said identifying all the victims continues to be a priority and pledged transparency in updates moving forward.

“This is a dark moment for Vancouver, but together, we will heal,” Sim said, urging the community to stand united against hatred and division.

Liverpool Crushes Tottenham 5-1 to Clinch Record-Equalling Premier League Title

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Liverpool Crushes Tottenham 5-1 to Clinch Record-Equalling Premier League Title

LIVERPOOL, England — Liverpool sealed their place in English football history on Sunday, thrashing Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 at Anfield to secure the Premier League title with four matches to spare.

Needing only a single point to clinch a record-equalling 20th top-flight championship, Liverpool momentarily stumbled when Tottenham took a surprise early lead. Dominic Solanke, a former Liverpool player, stunned the home crowd in the 12th minute by rising highest to head the visitors ahead against the run of play.

However, the initial shock barely slowed Liverpool’s relentless march toward glory. The hosts quickly regained composure and responded in emphatic fashion, putting on a breathtaking attacking display to turn the match around before halftime.

Luis Diaz leveled the score with a close-range tap-in, setting off celebrations that grew louder as Alexis Mac Allister unleashed a thunderous strike from outside the box to put Liverpool ahead. Cody Gakpo added a third, coolly slotting past Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario to all but confirm Liverpool’s grip on the Premier League trophy by the break.

The second half only deepened Tottenham’s misery. Mohamed Salah, enduring a rare scoring drought that had stretched to six matches, found the net in the 63rd minute with a low, composed finish. The Egyptian forward, a cornerstone of Liverpool’s title campaign, celebrated his 28th league goal of the season in memorable fashion by snapping a selfie with a supporter at the edge of the Anfield stands.

Tottenham’s Destiny Udogie compounded the visitors’ dreadful afternoon by inadvertently bundling the ball into his own net, completing Liverpool’s dominant five-goal performance.

While Liverpool basked in the adulation of their home crowd, Tottenham were left to contemplate another disappointing result in a turbulent season. Sunday’s defeat marked their 19th loss in the Premier League this campaign, highlighting the vast gulf in quality between the two sides.

The victory lifted Liverpool to 82 points after 34 matches played, leaving them far ahead of their closest challengers, Arsenal, who sit second with 67 points. Liverpool’s achievement means they have now matched Manchester United’s long-standing record of 20 English league titles, cementing their status as one of the country’s most successful clubs.

Under the guidance of manager Jürgen Klopp, Liverpool showcased the flair, resilience and firepower that have been hallmarks of their season. Klopp, who previously led Liverpool to a Premier League title in 2020, praised his team’s character and determination to bounce back after falling behind early.

“This team is incredible,” Klopp said during the post-match celebrations. “To come from behind, to play with such bravery and intensity — it shows what Liverpool is all about. I couldn’t be prouder.”

Anfield was a sea of red throughout the afternoon as thousands of fans sang, waved scarves, and celebrated a triumph that few will forget. The title was Liverpool’s second of the Premier League era and a fitting reward for a team that has consistently dazzled with their attacking prowess and defensive solidity.

Liverpool will now turn their attention to completing the season on a high note, with an eye on setting new records for points and goals, while Tottenham face questions about their direction after another sobering defeat.

Shooting at North Carolina’s Elizabeth City State University Leaves 1 Dead, 6 Injured

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Shooting at North Carolina’s Elizabeth City State University Leaves 1 Dead, 6 Injured

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — A shooting at Elizabeth City State University, a small historically Black college in eastern North Carolina, left one person dead and six others injured early Sunday, prompting a campus-wide lockdown, university officials said.

The violence erupted at the heart of the university’s campus just after the conclusion of Yard Fest, the final event of Viking Fest, a weeklong celebration of school spirit and culture at Elizabeth City State University. The university described the shooting as a “senseless act” in an initial statement released Sunday morning.

The victim, a 24-year-old man who was not enrolled as a student at the university, was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have withheld his identity pending notification of his family.

Four other individuals, including three current students, sustained gunshot wounds during the incident, according to university officials. Additionally, two other students were hurt amid the chaos that followed the shooting. Officials stated that none of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening. All the injured parties were transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.

The incident drew a swift response from campus police and local law enforcement agencies. However, efforts to obtain further comment from university police were unsuccessful Sunday, as calls were directed to a university spokesperson who did not immediately return messages seeking additional information.

“The university is deeply saddened by this senseless act,” officials reiterated in a later statement Sunday afternoon.

Following the shooting, Elizabeth City State University immediately placed the campus on lockdown to ensure the safety of students, faculty and staff. The lockdown was later lifted, though access to the center of campus remained restricted throughout the day Sunday as an added precaution. University officials also announced an increased police presence across campus.

The shooting marred what had been a celebratory weekend at the university, where students, alumni and community members had gathered for Viking Fest, a cherished tradition at the 2,300-student institution. Elizabeth City State University is located roughly 50 miles south of Norfolk, Virginia, and is part of the University of North Carolina System.

As of late Sunday, no arrests had been announced, and authorities have not yet disclosed a potential motive for the shooting. It remains unclear whether the gunman was affiliated with the university. Investigators urged anyone with information about the incident to come forward.

The shooting at Elizabeth City State University underscores ongoing concerns about gun violence on college campuses nationwide. In recent years, historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have increasingly found themselves confronting safety threats, prompting renewed calls for enhanced security measures and support for students.

University officials pledged to continue offering counseling services to students affected by the incident and to keep the campus community informed as the investigation progresses.

More Than 100 Immigrants Detained in Raid on Illegal Colorado Nightclub

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More Than 100 Immigrants Detained in Raid on Illegal Colorado Nightclub

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — More than 100 immigrants suspected of being in the United States illegally were taken into custody early Sunday following a federal raid on an illegal after-hours nightclub in Colorado Springs, according to authorities.

Footage released by the Drug Enforcement Administration showed agents outside the building announcing their presence and ordering patrons to exit with their hands raised. Additional video captured the chaos as dozens of people fled through the nightclub’s entrance after federal agents shattered a window to gain access. Later, dozens of handcuffed suspects were seen standing along a sidewalk awaiting transportation.

The raid came amid President Donald Trump’s renewed immigration crackdown during his second term in office. His aggressive approach to immigration enforcement has expanded executive power and repeatedly clashed with efforts by federal judges to impose limits. Trump’s hardline policies have led to the detention of more than 1,000 international college students—some of whom have since had their legal statuses temporarily restored—and significantly reduced immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border.

“Colorado Springs is waking up to a safer community today,” one official said. Colorado Springs, the state’s second-largest city, sits about 70 miles south of Denver.

Authorities said more than 300 law enforcement officers and agents from multiple federal, state and local agencies participated in the operation. The nightclub had been under investigation for several months for alleged criminal activities including drug trafficking, prostitution and other violent crimes, according to officials. Cocaine was among the narcotics discovered inside the establishment.

“When the cops showed up at the door, most of the drugs hit the floor,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge David Pullen during a news conference.

Investigators also seized an undisclosed number of firearms during the operation, Pullen said.

Trump posted the DEA’s raid footage on his social media platform, Truth Social, writing, “A big Raid last night on some of the worst people illegally in our Country — Drug Dealers, Murderers, and other Violent Criminals, of all shapes and sizes.”

Pullen estimated that more than 200 people had been inside the nightclub at the time of the raid. Among those detained were a dozen active-duty military members, who authorities said were either patrons or working as armed security. Several other patrons were arrested on outstanding warrants, though officials did not immediately disclose the nature of those charges.

Pullen did not identify the nationalities of those detained.

Earlier this month, a federal judge in Colorado temporarily blocked deportations of immigrants facing removal under Trump’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act, an 18th-century law that the administration has used in its efforts to accelerate expulsions.

The nightclub raid underscores the heightened intensity of immigration enforcement actions under Trump’s second term, as federal authorities continue aggressive crackdowns on illegal activity tied to undocumented immigrants across the country.

 Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe and Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa Win 2025 London Marathon Titles

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 Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe and Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa Win 2025 London Marathon Titles

Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe delivered a sensational performance to win the 2025 London Marathon on Sunday, clocking an impressive time of 2 hours, 2 minutes, and 27 seconds under blazing sunshine. The 29-year-old distance runner, who had previously triumphed at the Valencia Marathon last December, surged ahead of a world-class field to claim his latest title, finishing comfortably ahead of Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo, the world half-marathon record holder.

Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe

Sawe executed a perfectly timed move just past the 90-minute mark, breaking away at a drinks station where he chose not to take refreshment. That decision caught his rivals off guard, particularly Kiplimo, who had fallen toward the back of the leading pack. From that moment, Sawe never looked back, maintaining his lead and appearing remarkably fresh as he crossed the finish line on the Mall, near Buckingham Palace.

Behind him, defending champion Alexander Mutiso Munyao of Kenya narrowly secured third place in a thrilling photo finish against Dutch runner Abdi Nageeye. Four-time London Marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge, considered one of the greatest marathoners of all time, finished in sixth place after losing contact with the leaders before the decisive move.

At the halfway mark, the leading pack—which also featured Olympic champion Tamirat Tola—posted a split of 1:01:30, well outside world record pace. Yet it was Sawe’s bold attack and sustained pace that ultimately decided the race, firmly establishing him as one of the new dominant forces in long-distance running.

In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa claimed a commanding victory, setting a new world record with a time of 2 hours, 15 minutes, and 50 seconds. After finishing second in last year’s London Marathon, Assefa returned determined to rewrite history and did so with a performance of supreme control and endurance.

Assefa

Assefa led a fierce early pace alongside Kenya’s Joyciline Jepkosgei and the Netherlands’ Sifan Hassan, who had gained significant weight after a four-month break following her Olympic triumph in Paris last year. Hassan initially stayed within reach but began to lose contact with the leaders before the halfway point at Tower Bridge, where Assefa and Jepkosgei pulled away with the assistance of the final pacemaker.

Despite her valiant efforts to close the gap, Hassan’s form began to deteriorate past the 30-kilometer mark, leaving her firmly in third place while Assefa and Jepkosgei exchanged leads at the front. Cheered along the route by fellow runners and spectators, Hassan maintained her position but was unable to threaten the leading duo.

With just over two hours elapsed, Assefa made her decisive move, pulling away from Jepkosgei with apparent ease. By the 40-kilometer marker, Assefa had extended her advantage to more than a minute, leaving Jepkosgei trailing in second and securing her own place in the record books with a dominant, historic finish.

The 2025 London Marathon showcased both the emergence of new champions and the ongoing evolution of elite distance running, as Sawe and Assefa stamped their authority with performances that will be remembered for years to come.

Russia Arrests Suspect in General’s Killing, Blames Ukraine for Moscow Car Bomb Attack

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Russia Arrests Suspect in General’s Killing, Blames Ukraine for Moscow Car Bomb Attack

Russia’s domestic intelligence service, the Federal Security Service (FSB), announced Saturday that it had detained a man suspected of assassinating a senior Russian general in a car bombing outside Moscow, an act officials are attributing to Ukrainian operatives. The arrest follows Friday’s deadly explosion in Balashikha, a city near the capital, that killed Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik, deputy head of the Main Operational Directorate of the Russian military’s General Staff.

In a statement released to Russian media, the FSB identified the suspect as Ignat Kuzin, a Ukrainian national born in 1983, whom authorities accuse of carrying out the fatal attack on behalf of Ukraine’s intelligence services. According to the FSB, Kuzin retrieved a homemade explosive device from what officials described as a Ukrainian intelligence weapons cache located in the Moscow region. He allegedly planted the device inside a Volkswagen Golf vehicle, which was detonated remotely from within Ukraine, resulting in the general’s death.

Footage released by the FSB showed what appeared to be Kuzin’s arrest along a remote forest road. The video included scenes of the bomb components and what officials claim is a confession from Kuzin. However, it remains unclear under what conditions the confession was obtained, and human rights groups have previously raised concerns about forced statements in politically sensitive cases.

If convicted, Kuzin could face life imprisonment under Russia’s anti-terrorism laws, the FSB said. No official response has yet been issued by Ukraine regarding the allegations, although similar attacks in recent years have often been attributed by Moscow to Kyiv amid the ongoing war between the two nations.

The killing of Moskalik, a high-ranking officer intimately involved in the operational planning of Russia’s military activities, marks one of the most significant targeted attacks against Russian leadership figures since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In recent years, a series of bombings and assassinations have struck military officials, intelligence operatives, and prominent Kremlin supporters inside Russia, incidents that authorities have consistently blamed on Ukrainian forces.

The death of General Moskalik comes at a time of heightened security tensions inside Russia, as the war’s toll continues to mount and Ukrainian operations increasingly target not just military positions but also symbolic figures of Moscow’s war effort.

As of Saturday evening, Russian officials had not provided independent evidence linking Ukraine directly to the attack beyond Kuzin’s reported confession and the alleged retrieval of bomb-making materials tied to Ukrainian intelligence.

Russia Launches 150 Drones Against Ukraine as Trump Casts Doubt on Putin’s Peace Intentions

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Russia Launches 150 Drones Against Ukraine as Trump Casts Doubt on Putin’s Peace Intentions

Russia launched a massive drone assault across Ukraine overnight into Sunday, striking numerous regions as President Donald Trump publicly cast new doubts over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s willingness to bring an end to the ongoing war. The Ukrainian military reported that 149 drones and decoys were deployed in the offensive, describing it as one of the most extensive air assaults to date. Of those, Ukrainian forces said 57 drones were intercepted and another 67 were jammed before reaching their targets.

In the Dnipropetrovsk region, Russian strikes killed one person and wounded a 14-year-old girl in the industrial city of Pavlohrad, which has now endured three consecutive nights of bombardment, according to regional Governor Serhii Lysak. Additional attacks in the southern Odesa region and the city of Zhytomyr also left civilians injured, local officials said. Meanwhile, a Russian airstrike in Kherson early Sunday wounded four more people, underscoring the continuing toll on civilian populations as the conflict grinds into its fourth year.

The surge in violence came just hours after Russia claimed to have reasserted full control over parts of the Kursk region, territory that had been seized by Ukrainian forces during a surprise counteroffensive last August. However, Ukrainian officials disputed Russia’s assertion, saying fierce fighting in the contested areas was still underway.

As the battlefield situation intensified, President Donald Trump offered a stark reassessment of the prospects for peace. Speaking Saturday as he returned to the United States after attending Pope Francis’ funeral at the Vatican, Trump said he doubted Putin’s sincerity about ending the war. In a social media post, Trump noted the recent Russian missile attacks on civilian areas, saying, “There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities, and towns over the last few days.” The comment came less than a day after Trump had indicated optimism that Ukraine and Russia were “very close to a deal,” highlighting the shifting dynamics as diplomatic efforts falter.

Trump also hinted at the possibility of imposing additional sanctions on Russia, suggesting that pressure on Moscow could intensify if peace efforts continue to stall. His remarks followed a brief but significant meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the Vatican funeral—the first face-to-face conversation between the two leaders since their tense encounter during a White House meeting in February.

In response to Ukraine’s continued pressure on Russian positions, Moscow’s Defense Ministry reported that its air defenses shot down five Ukrainian drones over the Bryansk border region and three others over the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014. Meanwhile, in the Russian-occupied city of Horlivka in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, five civilians were wounded when Ukrainian forces shelled the area, according to Russian-installed Mayor Ivan Prikhodko.

The developments highlight the escalating cycle of military actions and counteractions between the two nations, while political tensions between Kyiv, Moscow, and Washington continue to complicate the search for a negotiated end to one of Europe’s bloodiest conflicts in decades.

12 Niger Soldiers Killed in Attack Near Tri-Border Region, Army Reports

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12 Niger Soldiers Killed in Attack Near Tri-Border Region, Army Reports

Twelve Nigerien soldiers were killed and two suspects arrested following a deadly attack in western Niger near the country’s unstable tri-border region with Mali and Burkina Faso, the army said in a statement reviewed by Reuters on Saturday.

The assault occurred on Friday about 10 kilometers (approximately six miles) north of the village of Sakoira, a location often at the center of violence stemming from the West African jihadist insurgency linked to groups aligned with al Qaeda and Islamic State. According to the military’s statement, the soldiers were conducting a mission when armed men launched what was described as a “surprise offensive,” targeting the unit with force. The statement referred to the attackers as terrorists but did not specify an exact affiliation.

Though the Nigerien military refrained from immediately identifying the group responsible, suspicions are likely to fall on Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (EIGS), a group that has been blamed for numerous recent attacks in the region. Just last month, authorities in Niger attributed the massacre of at least 44 civilians at a mosque near the tri-border zone to EIGS militants.

The Sahel region has been engulfed by a growing insurgency since 2012, when a Tuareg rebellion erupted in northern Mali. That conflict soon gave way to a broader Islamist militancy, which spread into neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger and, more recently, reached the northern fringes of coastal West African countries such as Benin. Over the past decade, jihadist violence has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands and displaced millions across the region. Armed groups have repeatedly attacked villages, military outposts, police stations and convoys, destabilizing national governments and plunging communities into chaos.

The inability of Sahelian governments to restore security and stability has fueled a wave of political upheaval. Between 2020 and 2023, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger all experienced military coups, driven by public dissatisfaction over escalating insecurity. Despite international and regional pressure to transition back to democratic governance, military juntas remain in control in all three nations.

Following the coups, Niger, along with its Sahelian neighbors, severed ties with traditional Western partners, including France and the United States. In a shift of allegiance, these military-led governments have increasingly turned to Russia for support in combating jihadist groups, signaling a significant geopolitical realignment in West Africa.

Friday’s attack underscores the ongoing and lethal threat posed by jihadist movements across the Sahel, even as new alliances and security strategies are reshaped in the aftermath of political upheaval.

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