Russia’s aviation authorities report Kazan’s airport has resumed operations following a Saturday morning Ukrainian drone attack that temporarily disrupted air traffic. The Defense Ministry confirmed three waves of drones targeted the city, located 800 kilometers east of Moscow, between 7:40 and 9:20 a.m.
Russian officials claim their forces neutralized six drones, with three destroyed by air defense systems and three disabled through electronic warfare. While local authorities reported no casualties, unverified footage from the security services-linked Baza Telegram channel showed a drone striking a high-rise building, creating a large explosion.
The incident prompted temporary airport closures in Izhevsk and Saratov, though operations have since resumed at all affected facilities. Kazan’s mayor announced the cancellation of weekend mass events and offered temporary accommodation to evacuees.
Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova characterized the attack as Ukraine “taking out its impotent anger for real military defeats on the peaceful population of Russia.”
A missile launched from Yemen struck the Tel Aviv-Jaffa area early Saturday after Israel’s military failed to intercept it, resulting in 14 people suffering minor shrapnel injuries. Israeli emergency services confirmed the casualties were transported to local hospitals.
The Iran-aligned Houthi movement claimed responsibility, stating they had targeted a “military target” in Jaffa. Israeli police confirmed reports of a missile impact in a Tel Aviv-area town, though specific location details were not disclosed.
This attack follows a pattern of Houthi strikes against Israel, which the Yemen-based group describes as solidarity actions with Palestinians in Gaza. Israel responded Thursday with strikes on Houthi-controlled ports and energy facilities in Yemen, warning of further retaliation.
Billionaire Elon Musk, slated to advise U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, on Friday demanded German Chancellor Olaf Scholz step down following a deadly car-ramming attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg.
“Scholz should resign immediately,” Musk posted on his social media platform, X, adding: “Incompetent fool.”
Musk’s comments came in response to reports of the attack, where a vehicle plowed into a crowd of holiday revelers, killing at least two people and injuring dozens, according to local officials.
Earlier in the day, Elon sparked controversy by intervening in Germany’s election campaign, endorsing the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. “Only the AfD can save Germany,” Musk wrote on X.
The AfD, currently polling second, has gained traction with its anti-immigration platform. However, Germany’s mainstream parties have ruled out forming coalitions with the AfD at the national level.
The German government acknowledged Musk’s remarks but declined to comment further during a press briefing.
Musk, the world’s richest individual, has previously supported anti-immigration movements in Europe. Last year, he criticized Germany’s migration policies and voiced approval for the AfD.
In recent weeks, Musk has also criticized Italy’s judiciary, calling for the removal of judges who questioned measures to curb irregular immigration.
Additionally, Musk has been seen aligning with other European right-wing leaders. This week, British Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage shared a photo of himself with Musk at Donald Trump’s Florida residence, noting ongoing discussions about financial backing.
Ukrainian drones targeted the Russian city of Kazan on Saturday, prompting temporary airport closures and cancellations of public events, according to Russian media and aviation authorities.
State news outlets reported that three waves of drones attacked a residential complex in Kazan, located approximately 500 miles (800 km) east of Moscow. The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the attacks occurred between 7:40 a.m. and 9:20 a.m. (0440-0620 GMT).
No casualties were reported, officials said. Kazan Mayor Ilsur Metshin announced via Telegram that all planned mass events in the city would be canceled over the weekend. Authorities are providing temporary accommodation for affected residents.
The Baza Telegram channel, which has ties to Russia’s security services, shared unverified footage showing an aerial object crashing into a high-rise building, resulting in a large fireball.
Following the attack, Kazan Airport suspended all flight arrivals and departures temporarily, Russia’s aviation regulator Rosaviatsia confirmed via Telegram.
Rosaviatsia also imposed temporary restrictions at two other airports: Izhevsk, northeast of Kazan, and Saratov, located 400 miles (650 km) to the south. Restrictions at Saratov were later lifted.
A car-ramming attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg on Friday evening left at least five people dead and more than 200 injured, officials said. Authorities arrested a 50-year-old Saudi national, suspected of driving the car into the crowd, in connection with the incident.
The attack, which occurred as market visitors celebrated the festive pre-Christmas season, has heightened security concerns and reignited debate over migration policies amid an election campaign in Germany, where far-right parties are gaining ground in opinion polls.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed sorrow and outrage during a visit to the city in the former East Germany. “What a terrible act it is to injure and kill so many people with such brutality,” Scholz said after laying a white rose at a local church to honor the victims. He confirmed that over 200 people were injured, with nearly 40 in critical condition.
German authorities are investigating the suspect, identified in local media as Taleb A., a Saudi doctor who has lived in Germany for almost two decades. Police searched his home overnight, but the motive for the attack remains unclear.
A Saudi official told Reuters that the kingdom had warned German authorities about the suspect after he reportedly posted extremist content on his X account, threatening peace and security.
The suspect is also alleged to have shown sympathy for Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, according to a report by Der Spiegel. However, the magazine did not specify the source of this information.
Germany’s domestic intelligence agency declined to comment on the ongoing investigation, while FAZ newspaper noted that it had interviewed the suspect in 2019, describing him as an anti-Islam activist. “People like me, who have an Islamic background but are no longer believers, are met with neither understanding nor tolerance by Muslims here,” he was quoted as saying.
Andrea Reis, who was at the market with her daughter Julia on Friday, recounted their narrow escape. “I said, ‘let’s go and get a sausage,’ but my daughter wanted to keep walking. If we’d stayed, we might have been in the car’s path,” she said, tearfully recalling the chaos. “Children screaming, crying for mama. You can’t forget that.”
The attack has added urgency to Germany’s heated political climate ahead of snap elections on February 23. Scholz’s Social Democrats are trailing the far-right AfD and the leading conservative opposition in the polls.
AfD leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla condemned the attack in a joint statement. “The terrible attack on the Christmas market in Magdeburg during the peaceful pre-Christmas season has shaken us,” they said.
Dirk Wiese, a prominent Social Democrat lawmaker, cautioned against jumping to conclusions about the suspect’s motives. “Now we have to wait for the investigations. It seems that things are different here than was initially assumed,” Wiese told the Rheinische Post newspaper.
A court on Friday acquitted Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini of charges of kidnapping over 100 migrants aboard a humanitarian rescue vessel he blocked at sea for nearly three weeks in 2019. The case centered on Salvini’s policy to curb irregular migration during his tenure as interior minister.
After a three-year trial, judges rejected the prosecutor’s request for a six-year prison sentence for Salvini, who leads the far-right League party and currently serves as transport minister in Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government.
“I’m happy. After three years, common sense won, the League won, Italy won,” Salvini said outside the court. He defended his actions, stating that protecting Italy’s borders “is not a crime, but a right.”
The acquittal comes amid ongoing legal and political tensions over Italy’s approach to migration. The decision follows another court case questioning the legality of a government plan to relocate asylum seekers to Albania, which is now under review by the European Court of Justice.
The charges against Salvini stemmed from a 2019 standoff involving the Spanish charity Open Arms, which had rescued 147 migrants from the Mediterranean Sea near Libya. Salvini refused to grant the vessel entry into Italian ports, forcing it to remain offshore for nearly three weeks. Prosecutors argued that Salvini exceeded his authority, as no national security concerns justified the decision to block the ship.
Prime Minister Meloni, a staunch ally of Salvini, welcomed the verdict, calling the accusations “unfounded and surreal.” On social media, she reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fighting illegal immigration and human trafficking, and to defending Italy’s sovereignty.
The defense argued that the Open Arms ship could have docked elsewhere, including Spain, the NGO’s home country. Defense attorney Giulia Bongiorno, a League senator, stated that Italy was under no obligation to allow the migrants to disembark.
The high-profile trial attracted international attention, with support for Salvini coming from far-right leaders across Europe, including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. In the United States, billionaire Elon Musk also voiced his approval, aligning with his recent advisory role to President-elect Donald Trump.
The Open Arms incident highlights broader migration challenges in the Mediterranean. Over the past 12 years, more than 1 million migrants have reached Italy by boat, often fleeing conflict or poverty in Africa and the Middle East. The crisis has fueled the rise of far-right parties like the League, which prioritize strict immigration controls in their political agendas.
Magistrates eventually seized the Open Arms vessel in 2019, allowing the migrants to disembark in Italy. The charity had argued that the migrants were too exhausted for extended travel and required urgent care.
The verdict is likely to embolden Salvini and his allies as they continue their hardline stance on migration policies, a cornerstone of their political platform.
Sixteen Pakistani security personnel died in a pre-dawn militant attack Saturday in South Waziristan, as Islamist fighters intensify their campaign against security forces. Police deputy superintendent Hidayat Ullah reported that eight additional personnel were wounded when militants struck a security post at 2 a.m., using both light and heavy weapons.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistan Taliban, claimed responsibility for the assault, though they alleged a higher casualty count of 35 dead and 15 injured. Security forces have launched a search operation in the area following the attack.
The incident marks another escalation in TTP’s recent campaign of increased violence against Pakistani security forces. The militant group, while separate from Afghanistan’s Taliban, maintains allegiance to the Kabul regime that took power following the 2021 U.S. withdrawal.
The TTP, an umbrella organization of Sunni Islamist militant groups, continues its longstanding mission to overthrow Pakistan’s government and implement strict Islamic governance, intensifying operations in recent months primarily targeting security personnel.
Saturday’s Premier League clash between Crystal Palace and Arsenal at Selhurst Park promises a thrilling sequel to their midweek EFL Cup encounter. Just days after Arsenal edged out Palace 3-2 to secure a place in the semifinals, the two London rivals face off once again, with both teams aiming for crucial points.
Gabriel Jesus stole the show during the cup tie, ending a year-long goal drought at the Emirates Stadium with a spectacular hat trick. However, controversy lingered, as his second goal might have been ruled offside if VAR had been in operation. The victory marked a much-needed response from Mikel Arteta’s side following frustrating draws with Everton and Fulham in the league.
Arsenal remains six points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, who hold a game in hand. The Gunners are unbeaten in their last nine matches across all competitions, including seven wins and two draws in London derbies this calendar year. No Premier League team has gone an entire year without losing a capital clash since Chelsea in 2005, a feat Arsenal is on the brink of matching.
For Crystal Palace, Wednesday’s loss extended their struggles against Arsenal, who have won their last five meetings, including back-to-back doubles in the previous two seasons. However, the Eagles showed promise in the cup match, keeping Arsenal at bay in the first half before succumbing to the pressure.
The defeat ended a five-match unbeaten run for Palace, which included a convincing 3-1 victory over Brighton last weekend. While Palace sits 15th in the Premier League table, they remain just four points above the relegation zone. Manager Oliver Glasner will hope to inspire another spirited display at Selhurst Park, where the Eagles have managed only one league win this season, a triumph over Arsenal’s North London rivals, Tottenham Hotspur.
Declan Rice, who missed the midweek clash with a minor knock, is expected to return for Arsenal. Mikel Arteta also indicated that Riccardo Calafiori and Oleksandr Zinchenko could feature, though Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu remain sidelined with knee injuries. Kieran Tierney, who made his first appearance in over a year on Wednesday, is unlikely to start again so soon.
For Palace, the injury woes continue, with Eberechi Eze ruled out after aggravating a foot problem. Daniel Munoz is suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards, leaving Nathaniel Clyne as the likely replacement. Caleb Kporha started in the EFL Cup but is expected to make way for the more experienced Clyne. Joel Ward might also return from a calf injury to bolster the Eagles’ defense.
Both teams will have fresh memories of each other’s strategies after Wednesday’s match. While Crystal Palace can pose a threat, especially to an Arsenal defense that has conceded in six straight away league games, the Gunners’ superior quality and rested key players should tip the balance. Expect Arsenal to claim another hard-fought victory and keep the gap to Liverpool in check.
Manchester City travel to Aston Villa Saturday desperately seeking to end their worst run under Pep Guardiola, having won just once in their last 11 matches across all competitions. The champions face a Villa side eager to leapfrog them in the Premier League standings with a victory at Villa Park.
City enter the 12:30 GMT kickoff reeling from last weekend’s Manchester derby defeat, their eighth loss in this miserable stretch. Villa, despite their own recent setback in a 2-1 loss to Nottingham Forest, have an opportunity to compound City’s struggles and continue their impressive home form.
Team news suggests Villa will be without Jacob Ramsey and Leon Bailey due to hamstring injuries, though Ollie Watkins is expected to return to the starting lineup. City’s Ruben Dias joins Oscar Bobb and Rodri on the injury list, while Manuel Akanji could return and Mateo Kovacic is available after appearing as a substitute last week.
The hosts have won one of their last five meetings with City, though that victory came in this fixture last season. City claimed a 4-1 win in their most recent encounter in April, but their current form crisis has made them vulnerable as they attempt to remain in touch with the title race.
Villa Park is expected to provide an intimidating atmosphere as the home side looks to capitalize on City’s defensive errors and attacking struggles. The champions’ fight to maintain their place in the top four faces another stern test against Unai Emery’s well-organized Villa squad.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has urged the European Union to significantly increase its imports of U.S. oil and natural gas or face sweeping tariffs on key exports, including cars and industrial machinery.
Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, warned Friday that failure to address what he called the EU’s “tremendous trade deficit” with the United States could result in severe penalties. “I told the European Union they must make up their tremendous deficit with the United States by the large-scale purchase of our oil and gas,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. “Otherwise, it is TARIFFS all the way!!”
The European Union already sources a significant share of its energy imports from the U.S., including 47% of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) and 17% of its crude oil in the first quarter of 2024, according to data from the EU’s statistics office, Eurostat.
The EU, committed to phasing out energy reliance on Russia, has steeply increased purchases of U.S. oil and gas since 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, U.S. exports have reached capacity, leaving limited scope for additional shipments unless production expands.
The European Commission acknowledged Trump’s comments and expressed willingness to collaborate on strengthening energy ties. “The EU is committed to phasing out energy imports from Russia and diversifying our sources of supply,” a spokesperson said.
The bloc has taken steps to secure alternative energy sources but faces constraints as most European refiners and gas firms are privately owned, meaning purchase decisions are driven by cost and efficiency rather than government policy.
Trump’s proposed tariffs, which could quadruple the current 2.5% levy on European cars exported to the U.S., come amid a broader push to overhaul U.S. trade policy. Trump has also threatened tariffs on top trading partners such as China, Canada, and Mexico over issues ranging from illegal border crossings to drug trafficking.
Trade experts suggest the EU could negotiate increased energy purchases to avoid tariffs. However, analysts caution that U.S. energy companies may hesitate to make significant infrastructure investments, such as new LNG export terminals, due to uncertainties surrounding long-term demand as Europe transitions to renewable energy.
The United States remains the world’s largest oil and gas producer, with crude oil exports to Europe reaching 2 million barrels per day and LNG exports to Europe comprising 66% of the total in 2023.
Despite these record numbers, expanding U.S. energy exports will require substantial investment in production capacity. According to the International Energy Agency, U.S. oil production growth is expected to slow through 2030, though natural gas output may rise to meet growing domestic and global demand.
