New York’s LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal B was evacuated Saturday morning due to unspecified police activity, forcing passengers outside and disrupting flight operations before returning to normal service an hour later.
The airport announced the disruption through its social media channels, warning passengers that flights might be affected. “DUE TO POLICE ACTIVITY AT TERMINAL B FLIGHTS MAY BE DISRUPTED,” the airport posted on X, formerly Twitter.
Travelers reported being forced to exit the terminal building, with many posting about their experiences on social media. Airport officials announced the resumption of normal operations at Terminal B around 1:30 p.m.
The nature of the police activity that prompted the evacuation has not been disclosed by authorities.
North Korea has disrupted GPS signals from its border areas for the second consecutive day, affecting dozens of civilian aircraft and vessels, South Korean military officials said Saturday, marking the latest escalation in tensions between the rival nations.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that North Korean operations to manipulate GPS signals were detected from the western border city of Kaesong and nearby Haeju on Friday and Saturday. While military officials did not specify the technical methods used or detail the full extent of disruptions, they confirmed multiple civilian transportation systems were impacted.
“We urge North Korea to stop GPS interference provocations immediately and strongly warn that it will be held fully accountable for any resulting consequences,” the Joint Chiefs said in a statement.
South Korea’s military support ship Soyang participates in the “International Fleet Review”, held by Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force with some 12 other countries, at Sagami Bay off Kanagawa Prefecture, on November 6, 2022. (Photo by JIJI Press / AFP) / Japan OUT / JAPAN OUT
The electronic warfare comes amid heightened regional tensions as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un continues to showcase his advancing nuclear and missile programs. Recent provocations have included launching thousands of balloons carrying trash and anti-South Korean propaganda leaflets across the border.
South Korean authorities have issued warnings to aircraft and vessels operating near western border areas but have not disclosed specific numbers of affected craft or the severity of the disruptions.
Major General Pavel Klimenko, 47, a Russian commander accused of operating torture camps in occupied Ukraine, was killed in a reported drone strike while riding a motorcycle near the eastern front, according to multiple sources Thursday.
Anton Gerashchenko, former adviser to Ukraine’s interior minister, said the general died at a checkpoint near Krasnohorivka when a drone targeted his motorcycle group. Klimenko’s death was confirmed by his sisters to the Astra news agency and in Telegram posts, though the exact circumstances remain unverified.
As head of the Fifth Separate Motor Rifle Brigade in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, Klimenko faced accusations of running torture facilities for dissenting Russian soldiers. His unit was implicated in the death of American blogger Russell Bentley, 64, known as “the Donbas Cowboy,” who was allegedly tortured and killed at the Petrovskaya mine after being mistaken for a U.S. spy.
Bentley, who had spent a decade supporting pro-Moscow separatists in occupied territories, was reportedly killed by brigade members who later attempted to conceal evidence by destroying his body.
The general’s death comes as Russian forces reportedly advance toward capturing the strategic town of Kurakhove, with military bloggers reporting Russian troops entering the village of Sontsivka. Ukrainian authorities, while not confirming the village’s capture, acknowledged intense fighting around Kurakhove and Pokrovsk, a crucial logistics hub.
Nigeria announced Thursday a groundbreaking initiative to provide free emergency Caesarean sections for “poor and vulnerable” women, addressing one of the primary factors behind the nation’s staggering maternal mortality rate of 1,047 deaths per 100,000 live births — the fourth highest globally.
“No woman should lose her life simply because she can’t afford a C-section,” Health Minister Muhammad Pate said while unveiling the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative. The program will cover emergency procedures in public hospitals for women registered under the country’s public health insurance scheme.
The initiative aims to eliminate financial barriers in a country where Caesarean sections typically cost around 60,000 naira ($36; £28), an insurmountable sum for many in a nation where over 40% of the population lives below the international extreme poverty line of $2.15 per day, according to 2023 data from Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics.
Tashikalmah Hallah, a communication adviser to the health minister, told the BBC that social welfare units in public hospitals will determine eligibility based on financial need. The program specifically targets emergency situations where Caesareans are essential for preventing obstructed labor, addressing complications from small pelvises, breech positions, or oversized babies.
World Bank representative Trina Haque called the initiative a “game-changer,” while WHO country representative Kazadi Mulombo pledged support, stating, “If implemented right, this initiative will deliver. We’re here to support every step of the way.”
Healthcare advocates have welcomed the program while calling for its expansion. “This will improve maternal and child health outcomes in the country, especially for women from low-income communities who might resort to alternative and often unsafe care options,” said Rhoda Robinson, executive director of HACEY, a healthcare access advocacy group.
Mabel Onwuemena, national coordinator of the Women of Purpose Foundation, urged the government to extend coverage to include free drugs and ultrasound services for pregnant women.
Maternal deaths in Nigeria result from various complications including severe hemorrhage, high blood pressure conditions, unsafe abortions, and obstructed or prolonged labor — many of which can be prevented with proper medical intervention.
Newly inaugurated Botswana President Duma Boko announced plans Friday to legalize thousands of undocumented Zimbabwean immigrants through temporary work and residence permits, marking a dramatic shift in the diamond-rich nation’s immigration policy.
“They do jobs that would otherwise not get done,” Boko, 54, told the BBC Africa Daily podcast before his historic inauguration, which ended 58 years of rule by the previous governing party. The decision targets Botswana’s significant Zimbabwean population, the world’s second-largest community of economic refugees from that country.
Government statistics reveal Zimbabweans constitute 98% of Botswana’s “irregular migrants,” with 13,189 of 13,489 recorded cases between 2021 and 2023 involving Zimbabwean nationals. Daily deportations currently occur across the country as authorities apprehend those without proper documentation.
“What we need to do is to formalize, have a proper arrangement that recognizes that people from Zimbabwe are already here,” Boko said, acknowledging the challenges posed by the porous border between the two countries. He argued that undocumented status limits access to amenities and can drive people toward crime, fostering resentment.
The president’s initiative includes plans to leverage Zimbabwean workers’ skills for national development. “In any and every construction site in Botswana the majority of people with those skills are from Zimbabwe,” he said, proposing a program combining legal work authorization with skills transfer to local citizens.
The policy shift comes despite public opposition to increased Zimbabwean immigration. Last year’s proposal to allow identity cards instead of passports for cross-border travel sparked significant backlash from Botswana citizens.
Boko, a human rights lawyer who founded the Umbrella for Democratic Change party in 2012, frames the immigration reform as part of broader economic revitalization plans. He aims to create 100,000 jobs annually over five years to address Botswana’s 30% unemployment rate, which he describes as “a ticking time bomb” for the nation of 2.4 million.
The president also announced plans to renegotiate agreements with diamond giant De Beers and promote entrepreneurship among young Botswanans. “What they need from government is access to affordable finance and access to markets, and government should facilitate these,” he said.
Zimbabwean migration to Botswana surged following Zimbabwe’s economic collapse and hyperinflation two decades ago. Many immigrants work in domestic service, agriculture, and construction, often providing labor for jobs local citizens avoid.
Senior U.S. officials have informed Qatar that Washington will no longer accept Hamas’s presence in the Gulf state, marking a significant shift in regional diplomacy as the Biden administration intensifies efforts to broker peace in Gaza before leaving office in January, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation.
The demand, first reported by Reuters citing anonymous U.S. officials, indicates Qatar agreed 10 days ago to tell Hamas to close its political office, which has operated in Doha since 2012. Hamas officials denied these reports to the BBC, while Qatari authorities have not commented on the situation.
The potential expulsion of Hamas from Qatar, which hosts America’s largest regional military base, could dramatically reshape diplomatic channels in the Middle East. Qatar has served as a crucial intermediary in negotiations involving Iran, the Taliban, Russia, and most recently, attempting to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
“I think we’re in the last phase before Hamas is forced to relocate,” said Dr. H A Hellyer, senior associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute. “The writing on the wall has been there for months.”
Should Hamas leave Doha, Turkey emerges as a likely alternative base. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hosted former Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Istanbul last April, discussing humanitarian aid to Gaza and regional peace prospects. Iran presents another option, though the July assassination of Haniyeh in Tehran raises security concerns about operating from there.
The pressure on Hamas comes amid growing U.S. frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s approach to ending the conflict. Recently fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant accused Netanyahu of rejecting a peace deal against security chiefs’ advice. Meanwhile, Hamas has rejected short-term ceasefire proposals, demanding a complete end to hostilities and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
The timing of this diplomatic maneuver appears influenced by the upcoming U.S. presidential transition. While Donald Trump, who leads in polls, has said Israel should “finish what they started” in Gaza, reports suggest he wants fighting concluded before his potential inauguration. During his previous term, Trump took several pro-Israel stances, including relocating the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem.
“By setting red lines and allowing Netanyahu to cross them without consequence, the Biden administration effectively encouraged further impunity,” Hellyer said. “I don’t think any of this will change in the next 10 weeks.”
The European Council of Foreign Relations reports Hamas has adopted a “temporary model of collective leadership” following Israeli assassinations of key figures, including Yahya Sinwar in Gaza, who orchestrated the October 7 attack on Israel.
As humanitarian conditions in Gaza deteriorate, with UN officials warning of “apocalyptic” conditions and imminent famine in northern areas, pressure mounts on all parties to find a resolution. The success of this latest U.S. diplomatic gambit may depend on Qatar’s willingness to comply, testing the limits of a historically reliable alliance.
A businessman was killed and three others were wounded Friday in what appears to be a targeted shooting at São Paulo’s Guarulhos International Airport, according to Brazil military police.
Approximately five assailants emerged from a black vehicle and opened fire on Antônio Vinicius Gritzbach outside the terminal, CNN Brasil reported. Police later discovered an abandoned vehicle matching the description near the airport and are investigating its connection to the attack.
The shooting sent travelers scrambling for cover inside the terminal, according to eyewitness accounts. Guarulhos Airport officials confirmed that police and medical teams responded immediately to the incident.
Multiple law enforcement agencies, including military police, civil police, and highway patrol, converged on the scene. The São Paulo Homicide and Personal Protection Department is leading the investigation.
The São Paulo Secretary of Public Security said authorities are investigating the circumstances of the killing and will release additional details once the incident report is complete.
A suicide bomber struck a crowded railway station in southwestern Pakistan Saturday morning, killing at least 25 people and wounding 53 others, as the separatist Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack.
The explosion ripped through a platform at Quetta’s main railway station around 9 a.m., when the area was bustling with passengers, according to Senior Police Superintendent Muhammad Baloch. The casualties included passengers, railway employees, and security personnel.
“There was a lot of chaos. People were running back and forth, people were lying martyred, some without legs and arms and hands,” witness Fareed told reporters at the scene.
Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat confirmed the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber. Security forces have cordoned off the area as investigations continue, and provincial Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti has ordered an inquiry into the incident.
The attack marks the latest escalation in Balochistan’s long-running insurgency, which has intensified since China leased the province’s deep-water Gwadar port as part of Beijing’s Belt and Road infrastructure initiative in Pakistan. The BLA has carried out several deadly attacks this year, including an October assault on Chinese engineers and investors in Karachi that killed two Chinese citizens.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack in a statement.
Real Madrid face a critical test Saturday afternoon at the Bernabeu against fifth-placed Osasuna, as Carlo Ancelotti’s side attempts to recover from consecutive home defeats that have intensified pressure on the defending champions.
Madrid’s recent stumbles — a 4-0 league defeat to Barcelona and Tuesday’s 3-1 Champions League loss to AC Milan — have left them nine points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona, albeit with a game in hand. The situation has begun to raise questions about Ancelotti’s position, despite the club’s league and European double just five months ago.
Team News:
Real Madrid’s challenges are compounded by fresh injury concerns, with Aurelien Tchouameni ruled out for approximately a month due to an ankle injury sustained against Milan. He joins Thibaut Courtois, Dani Carvajal, and David Alaba on the sidelines. Federico Valverde is expected to recover from a back problem to start in midfield.
Osasuna, meanwhile, arrive in excellent form with three straight victories, including two consecutive league clean sheets. Head coach Vicente Moreno has a fully fit squad and could maintain the same lineup that defeated Real Valladolid, with 17-goal striker Ante Budimir leading the attack.
Probable Lineups:
Real Madrid (4-3-3): Lunin; Vazquez, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy; Valverde, Camavinga, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius
Osasuna haven’t beaten Real Madrid in any competition since January 2011, with their last Bernabeu victory coming in April 2004. However, they’ve earned draws in two of their last three visits and remain the only team to defeat Barcelona in La Liga this season.
The match kicks off at 4:15 p.m. local time (10:15 a.m. ET) at the Santiago Bernabeu, where Madrid seek to avoid a third consecutive home defeat that could plunge the club into crisis ahead of the international break.
Premier League leaders Liverpool welcome Aston Villa to Anfield on Saturday, with Arne Slot’s side seeking to build on their midweek Champions League triumph while Villa aim to snap a three-game losing streak across all competitions.
The Reds enter the fixture in commanding form after a 4-0 dismantling of Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday, highlighted by Luis Diaz’s hat-trick, which maintained their perfect Champions League record. Liverpool also lead the Premier League by two points following last weekend’s 2-1 comeback victory over Brighton.
Villa, meanwhile, arrive following a bizarre 1-0 Champions League defeat to Club Brugge, where captain Tyrone Mings’ confusion over a goal kick led to a decisive penalty. The Lions sit sixth in the Premier League after a 4-1 loss to Tottenham last weekend.
Team News:
Liverpool remain without several key players through injury, including Harvey Elliott (foot), Federico Chiesa (fitness), Alisson Becker (thigh), and Diogo Jota (abdominal), none of whom will return before the international break.
Villa manager Unai Emery cannot call upon Matty Cash (calf) or Ross Barkley (unspecified), while Mings is likely to be rested following his midweek Champions League appearance as he continues recovery from an ACL injury.
Probable Lineups:
Liverpool (4-3-3): Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Nunez
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Konsa, Torres, Carlos, Digne; Onana, Tielemans; McGinn, Rogers, Ramsey; Watkins
Historical Context:
Villa’s struggles against top opposition continue to haunt them, having lost their last nine away matches against teams in the Premier League’s top two. Their winless run against Liverpool extends to eight matches across all competitions, though it includes May’s thrilling 3-3 draw at Villa Park.
The match kicks off at 5:30 p.m. local time (12:30 p.m. ET) at Anfield, where Liverpool have won six straight home games in all competitions, scoring at least twice in each victory.
