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Tottenham Stuns Manchester City 4-0, Ends Champions’ Historic Home Streak

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Tottenham Hotspur delivered a crushing 4-0 victory over Manchester City Saturday, ending the champions’ remarkable 52-game unbeaten home run and inflicting an unprecedented fifth straight defeat on Pep Guardiola’s struggling side.

James Maddison celebrated his birthday with a masterful double, opening the scoring with a cushioned volley from Dejan Kulusevski’s cross before adding a delicate chip following a clever exchange with Son Heung-min. The goals highlighted City’s vulnerability, marking the fifth time in six home league games they’ve fallen behind.

Former City player Pedro Porro deepened the hosts’ misery after halftime, converting Dominic Solanke’s assist with clinical precision, before late substitutes Timo Werner and Brennan Johnson combined for a fourth goal in stoppage time to complete the rout.

“We’ve witnessed something extraordinary today,” Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou said. “To come here and perform like this against the European champions shows our potential.”

City, clearly missing suspended Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, saw Erling Haaland denied multiple times by outstanding Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario. The Norwegian striker hit the crossbar in a second-half assault that also saw Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish introduced as desperate measures.

The defeat marks City’s worst run under Guardiola and first home league loss since November 2022, leaving them trailing Premier League leaders Liverpool by five points having played an extra game. A critical trip to Anfield looms next for the champions.

“This is unfamiliar territory for us,” Guardiola admitted. “We need to find solutions quickly before the gap becomes too large.”

Tottenham’s victory, sparked by Kulusevski’s man-of-the-match performance, lifts them to sixth place as they bounced back emphatically from their surprise midweek loss to Ipswich Town. Their makeshift center-back pairing of Radu Dragusin and Ben Davies proved remarkably resilient against City’s usually potent attack.

Israeli Strike Levels Massive Beirut Building, Killing 15 Amid Escalating Campaign Against Hezbollah

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A massive Israeli air strike destroyed an eight-story residential building in central Beirut early Saturday, killing at least 15 people and wounding more than 60 others, as Israel intensifies its campaign against Hezbollah despite ongoing peace negotiations.

The pre-dawn attack at 4:00 a.m. local time devastated the densely populated Basta district without warning, reportedly using a bunker-buster bomb, a weapon previously deployed to target senior Hezbollah leadership. Lebanese officials expect the death toll to rise as emergency workers sift through rubble and conduct DNA tests on recovered body parts.

“It was a very horrible explosion. All the windows and glasses were over me, my wife and my children. My home now is a battlefield,” said Ali Nassar, 55, whose nearby apartment was severely damaged. “Even if one person is hiding here… Should you destroy buildings where people are sleeping inside? Is it necessary to kill all the people for one person?”

Israeli media reported the strike targeted Mohammed Haydar, a senior Hezbollah official, though Hezbollah MP Amin Sherri denied any leadership presence in the building. The Israel Defense Forces has not commented on the operation, which came amid additional strikes on Hezbollah strongholds in southern Beirut’s Dahieh district and eastern Baalbek, where 15 others, including four children, were killed.

The escalation coincides with promising developments in U.S.-led peace negotiations. American envoy Amos Hochstein’s recent shuttle diplomacy between Lebanon and Israel has produced a draft agreement proposing a 60-day ceasefire and phased withdrawal of forces. The plan would see Israeli troops leave southern Lebanon while Hezbollah removes its presence, allowing Lebanese military reinforcements in the area.

However, key disagreements remain over withdrawal timelines and international monitoring mechanisms. Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem confirmed the group received the U.S. proposal and outlined conditions including “complete cessation of hostilities and preservation of Lebanon’s sovereignty,” while warning of readiness for prolonged conflict.

The violence has killed more than 3,500 Lebanese and displaced over one million since late September, according to Lebanese authorities. Israel says its campaign aims to enable the return of 60,000 northern Israeli residents displaced by Hezbollah attacks.

Any deal would likely center on UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war by requiring Hezbollah’s withdrawal from areas between the Blue Line border and Litani River. Israel maintains this was never fully implemented, while Lebanon cites Israeli military flights as violations.

bbc.com

Inter Milan Claims Serie A Lead With 5-0 First-Half Rout of Verona

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Inter Milan stormed to the Serie A summit Saturday with a devastating first-half performance, crushing Hellas Verona 5-0 at the Stadio Bentegodi to move two points clear at the top of the table.

Simone Inzaghi’s defending champions scored all five goals in a remarkable opening 45 minutes, led by Marcus Thuram’s double and a resurgent Joaquin Correa, who marked his return to prominence with his first Serie A goal in over two years and two assists.

Correa, who had played just 38 minutes this season before replacing flu-stricken captain Lautaro Martinez, opened the scoring in the 17th minute with an elegant chip following an exchange with Thuram. The 30-year-old Argentine went on to hit the woodwork twice and set up Thuram for the first of his two goals, both scored within three minutes after the French forward rounded Verona goalkeeper Lorenzo Montipo.

Defenders Stefan de Vrij and Yann Bisseck completed the first-half onslaught with unexpected strikes, the latter also assisted by Correa, prompting angry home supporters to jeer their team with chants demanding more effort.

“Correa showed his quality today when given the opportunity,” Inzaghi said. “To score five goals in one half away from home shows the team’s attacking potential, even without our captain.”

Inter’s leadership could prove brief, as Atalanta can claim top spot on goal difference with a win over promoted Parma in Saturday’s late match. The title race remains tight with Juventus facing AC Milan at the San Siro later Saturday, while defending champions Napoli host Roma Sunday in Claudio Ranieri’s return to top-flight management.

The defeat leaves Verona in growing danger, having lost nine of 13 league matches this season. The club sits 14th, just three points above the relegation zone.

Arsenal End Premier League Drought with Commanding 3-0 Victory Over Forest

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Arsenal ended their longest Premier League winless run of the season in emphatic fashion Saturday, dispatching Nottingham Forest 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium with a collection of spectacular goals to mark Mikel Arteta’s 250th match as manager.

Bukayo Saka broke the deadlock in the 15th minute with a masterful left-footed strike into the top corner after Martin Odegaard’s delicate setup, igniting a dominant performance that saw Arsenal control 66% of possession and prevent Forest from registering a single shot on target.

Thomas Partey, introduced at halftime for Jorginho, doubled the advantage in the 52nd minute with a sublime 25-yard strike into the bottom corner, connecting with Saka’s layoff to effectively seal Arsenal’s historic 2,000th top-flight victory.

The afternoon’s memorable moments weren’t finished, as 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri came off the bench to become Arsenal’s second-youngest Premier League goalscorer behind Cesc Fabregas, converting Raheem Sterling’s cutback with a precise finish in the 86th minute.

“We showed the response we needed after a difficult period,” Arteta said. “The quality of our finishing today made the difference, and it’s especially pleasing to see young Ethan get his first goal in such an important match.”

The victory, Arsenal’s first in the league since early October, cuts their deficit behind leaders Liverpool to six points. Forest dropped to sixth place following their second consecutive league defeat.

Saka, named man of the match for his goal and assist, exemplified Arsenal’s renewed energy following the international break. The Gunners had earlier seen Jurrien Timber’s early goal disallowed for a marginal offside before taking complete control, outshooting Forest 19-7 and earning eight corners to the visitors’ one.

“The team showed great character today,” Saka said. “We knew we needed this result, and the way we achieved it, with three beautiful goals and a clean sheet, makes it even more special.”

Chelsea Secures 2-1 Victory at Leicester Despite Late Drama

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Chelsea controlled proceedings from start to finish at the King Power Stadium Saturday, securing a 2-1 Premier League victory over Leicester City despite a late Jordan Ayew penalty that created moments of tension in stoppage time.

Nicolas Jackson opened the scoring early after capitalizing on Wout Faes’ defensive error, with Enzo Fernandez providing the assist before later adding Chelsea’s second goal in a commanding performance that earned him player of the match honors.

The Blues dominated the opening phase so completely that Leicester failed to complete a single pass in the final third during the first 25 minutes. The home side’s frustrations showed when Wilfred Ndidi escaped with only a yellow card for a lunging challenge on Cole Palmer that Chelsea’s bench vigorously protested.

Chelsea appeared to double their lead through Noni Madueke before the half-hour mark, but VAR ruled out the goal after detecting Marc Cucurella marginally offside in the build-up. Leicester’s first shot didn’t come until the 38th minute when Kasey McAteer, making his Premier League debut, curled an effort just wide.

The visitors’ control continued after halftime, though they squandered a golden opportunity when Palmer’s seemingly certain goal was inadvertently blocked on the line by teammate Madueke. The second goal finally came in the 75th minute when Fernandez headed home after Jackson’s initial effort was saved by Mads Hermansen.

Leicester’s late appeals for a penalty were waved away when Stephy Mavididi went down under pressure from former Fox Wesley Fofana, but they did convert from the spot through Ayew in the 95th minute. The goal came too late to prevent Chelsea from securing all three points.

“We showed great control throughout the match,” Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino said. “Even when Leicester pulled one back, we managed the final moments well and deserved the victory.”

The result marked a successful return to the King Power Stadium for Leicester manager Enzo Maresca, who guided the Foxes back to the Premier League last season before joining Chelsea.

9 Dead, Including 7 Children from One Family, in Congo Landslide

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A devastating landslide triggered by heavy rainfall killed at least nine people, including seven children from a single family, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo late Friday, highlighting the growing impact of extreme weather on vulnerable communities.

The disaster struck Kabulu village in South Kivu province, where one resident lost his wife and all seven children when their home was swept away, according to territorial administrator Thomas Bakenga. Another child died elsewhere in the village, with officials warning the death toll could rise as search operations continue.

A local civil society group reported that seven homes were completely destroyed and 31 others damaged in the disaster, placing their casualty estimate at 10 deaths. The discrepancy in reported deaths reflects the ongoing nature of recovery efforts.

The tragedy underscores Congo’s increasing vulnerability to extreme rainfall, which climate experts say is becoming more intense and frequent across Africa due to rising temperatures. Poor urban planning and weak infrastructure throughout the country leave communities particularly exposed to such weather events.

Similar disasters have plagued Congo in recent months. A ravine collapse onto a river in the southwest killed at least 12 people in April, following numerous deaths in comparable circumstances last December.

Al Qaeda Affiliate Claims Killing of Seven Russian Mercenaries in Mali

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At least seven Russian mercenaries were killed in central Mali during an attack claimed by al Qaeda’s North African affiliate, SITE Intelligence Group reported Friday, marking the latest blow to Moscow’s military presence in the volatile Sahel region.

The attack, which targeted what local officials identified as members of the Africa Corps, a Kremlin-controlled paramilitary force that has largely replaced the Wagner Group in Africa, comes months after Russian mercenaries suffered significant casualties in a July battle with Tuareg rebels near the Algerian border.

SITE Intelligence, which monitors extremist activities, said the al Qaeda-affiliated JNIM (Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin) claimed responsibility for Thursday’s assault. Reuters reviewed video footage showing at least five white men in military fatigues lying dead around a military vehicle, though it could not independently verify the footage’s authenticity.

A Malian army source confirmed seeing seven bodies, including Russian fighters, while local administrators provided varying casualty counts, with one reporting five Wagner casualties. A regional security consultant specified that Katiba Macina, a JNIM subgroup, conducted the attack, killing at least six Russians.

The incident underscores the mounting challenges facing Russian military contractors supporting West African military governments struggling to contain various militant groups. Mali, along with neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger, has battled Islamic State and al Qaeda offshoots that have controlled significant territory across the Sahel for over a decade.

Mali’s government, which has consistently characterized Russian forces as trainers rather than mercenaries, assisting local troops with Russian-supplied equipment, could not be reached for comment. JNIM released photos purporting to show dead soldiers and captured weapons caches from the attack.

Brazil’s Top Prosecutor to Delay Bolsonaro Coup Case Indictments Until 2025, Sources Say

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Brazil’s Prosecutor General Paulo Gonet plans to delay indictments of former President Jair Bolsonaro and his alleged co-conspirators in an attempted coup plot until 2025, opting to merge three separate Federal Police investigations into a single comprehensive case, according to four sources familiar with the matter.

The decision comes after Federal Police on Thursday formally accused Bolsonaro and 36 others of attempting a coup d’état, violently seeking to abolish democratic rule, and participating in a criminal organization. The 884-page police report, headed to the Supreme Court before reaching Gonet’s office next week, details an alleged conspiracy that included assassination plans following Bolsonaro’s 2022 election defeat.

“Gonet is very technical. In addition to the investigation itself, there is all the legal basis for the indictments to be analyzed. This will take time,” one source with direct knowledge told Reuters. Another source close to the prosecutor indicated the criminal indictments would come “all at once” to present a more solid case.

The delay encompasses two additional Federal Police investigations completed earlier this year, accusing Bolsonaro and associates of COVID-19 vaccination card tampering and embezzling Saudi-gifted jewelry while in office. The combined approach reflects the complexity of cases that could take years to reach final judgment in Brazil’s court system.

The latest police report culminates a nearly two-year investigation into Bolsonaro’s role in election denial efforts that peaked with his supporters’ January 2023 riots in Brasilia, just days after President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s inauguration.

Despite mounting legal challenges, Bolsonaro maintains significant political influence. His party holds the largest bloc in Congress’s lower house and showed strength in recent municipal elections, demonstrating the resilience of the right-wing movement he has led for six years.

Federal Judge Rejects SEC Request for Sanctions Against Musk Over Missed Testimony

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A federal judge denied the Securities and Exchange Commission’s request Friday to sanction Elon Musk for missing court-ordered testimony, ruling that the Tesla CEO’s subsequent compliance and reimbursement of travel costs rendered the matter moot.

U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley determined that sanctions were unnecessary after Musk, the world’s richest person with a net worth of $321.7 billion according to Forbes, testified on October 3 and agreed to pay the SEC’s $2,923 travel expenses. “Because the present circumstances forestall any occasion for meaningful relief that the court could grant, the SEC’s request is moot,” Corley wrote.

The SEC had sought a formal declaration that Musk violated a May 31 court order when he failed to appear for testimony on September 10, arguing that merely requiring travel cost reimbursement would not deter future noncompliance, “much less someone of Musk’s extraordinary means.” Musk had cited his presence at SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission launch at Cape Canaveral for his absence.

The regulator is investigating whether Musk violated securities laws in early 2022 by delaying disclosure of his Twitter stock accumulation, potentially allowing him to acquire shares at lower prices before revealing his 9.2% stake and subsequent $44 billion takeover bid. Musk acknowledged in July that he had misunderstood SEC disclosure rules, saying “all indications” suggested he made a “mistake.”

This case follows Musk’s previous SEC settlement in 2018 over tweets about taking Tesla private, which resulted in a $20 million fine, his resignation as Tesla chairman, and an agreement to have company lawyers review certain social media posts.

Diddy Returns to Jail as Judge Takes Time to Consider $50 Million Bail Package

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Sean “Diddy” Combs returned to his cell in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center Friday after a U.S. federal judge delayed ruling on the music mogul’s ambitious $50 million bail proposal, extending his 10-week imprisonment while new allegations of witness tampering emerged.

“I will rule promptly,” U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian said following a nearly two-hour hearing in Manhattan, where prosecutors revealed Combs had attempted to orchestrate a social media campaign from behind bars and used unauthorized channels to communicate with his lawyers.

The 55-year-old music producer, who appeared in court wearing standard-issue beige prison attire, blew kisses to family members before being led back to custody by U.S. Marshals. His legal team had proposed a bail package secured by his $48 million Florida mansion and including round-the-clock security monitoring.

Prosecutor Christine Slavik opposed release, unveiling evidence that Combs had previously attempted to bribe hotel staff to delete surveillance footage of him assaulting former girlfriend Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura in 2016. “The defendant here has demonstrated that either he cannot or will not follow rules,” Slavik argued. “The defendant, simply put, cannot be trusted.”

The Bad Boy Entertainment founder faces charges of using his business empire to facilitate sexual abuse, with prosecutors alleging he organized recorded sexual performances involving male sex workers transported across state lines. He has pleaded not guilty and been denied bail three times, with multiple judges citing witness tampering concerns.

Earlier this week, Judge Subramanian ordered prosecutors to destroy copies of Combs’ jailhouse notes, photographed during a facility sweep, pending review of attorney-client privilege claims. The case has drawn comparisons to that of former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries, though prosecutors note Combs’ criminal history and the discovery of rifles with defaced serial numbers at his residences as factors against release.

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