Lithuania shuts airports, Belarus border crossings after balloon sightings

Helium weather balloons descended into Lithuania’s two biggest airports and closed crossings with Belarus, marking the third such incident to occur in the Baltic nation this month.

In recent weeks, drone sightings and other airborne incursions have caused chaos in European aviation, including at airports in Copenhagen, Munich, and the Baltic region.

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Authorities said the airports in Vilnius and Kaunas were closed until 2 a.m. (23:00 GMT), while the border crossings in Belarus will remain closed until Sunday, midday, for safety reasons.

Lithuania has claimed that balloons are being sent by smugglers to transport illegal cigarettes, but it also points fingers at Belarus’ Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Vladimir Putin, for failing to stop the practice.

According to Lithuania’s Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene, “The National Security Commission will meet next week to assess what can be done in the short-term that would hurt the smugglers and Lukashenko’s regime, which allows them to thrive.”

“Twounds of balloons” were discovered by radar on Friday, according to Lithuania’s National Crisis Management Centre.

Authorities reported that the Vilnius airport was closed on Tuesday of this week and on October 5 when smuggler balloons entered the city’s airspace.

Two Russian military aircraft briefly entered Lithuania’s airspace in what appeared to be a new incident coming from Moscow.

When the two aircraft flew 700 meters (0.43 miles) into Lithuania on Thursday at 6pm local time (15:00 GMT), the Lithuanian military said in a statement that they may have been carrying out refueling exercises in the nearby Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.

In response to that incursion, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda stated on X that his nation would immediately summon Russian ambassador representatives in protest of reckless and dangerous behavior. “This is a blatant violation of international law and territorial integrity of…

The Russian government’s Ministry of Defense, however, refuted the claim that an incursion had occurred.

According to the statement, the flights were carried out “in strict compliance” with regulations and “did not deviate from their route and did not infringe on the borders of other states.”

In recent weeks, Russian aircraft and drones have reportedly stricken Estonia and Poland’s airspace.

Katie Price shocked by extent of latest procedure as she says she feels ‘so ugly’

Katie Price has revealed her most recent procedure, admitting she was feeling “ugly” before the procedure and joked it wasn’t a “facelift.”

Katie Price has underwent another cosmetic procedure and candidly confessed to feeling “so ugly”. The mum-of-five, 47, took to social media on Friday to showcase he latest work.

Posting to her Instagram Stories, the former glamour model revealed she was ready for her latest round of Botox. She went on to joke it was not yet another facelift following her recent surgeries.

Katie was spotted getting her areas for injections marked out in pen while speaking from the salon’s chair. As she described the events that were about to occur, she kept frowning at the camera. She continued, “So here I am, not Botox, but a facelift.”

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She frowned as she showed the amount of movement in her forehead before being injected, “Look, that’s me frowning.” I am aware that I need to remove my eyebrows.

The star seemed unimpressed with how she looked as the specialist instructed Katie to raise her brows as the marks were being discovered.

How many needles are you putting in there, my girl, F***ing Hell? She exclaimed. She then admitted to having the procedure without using numbing cream.

Before adding, “But I will look good in a few days,” she said as she grinned for the camera.

The confession comes just one day after she made people confused by her most recent appearance. After revealing a dramatic new hairstyle on social media, she caused a tidy sensation in her fans.

The change in appearance was so dramatic that some of her followers confused her for former Little Mix star Jesy Nelson. She appeared to have ditched her signature jet black locks for a voluminous curly brown hair-do.

However, it turns out that Katie has a temporary new appearance. The new wig was actually a custom-made wig, not the original. Fans praised the transformative new look and claimed it was her best appearance to date despite the revelation.

Celebrity hairstylist Dominic Ackah-Amihere was the person behind the look. The skilled hairstylist covered the star’s bold new look on Instagram on Friday, revealing both the process and the results.

We had three minutes to apply this and cover up 26 inches of hair, the hairstylist said in a caption. One stunned fan said, “OMG, I genuinely thought this was a picture of Jesy Nelson, and as fans flocked to let their feelings be known, they said.

Wow, Katie looks incredible in person. She’s always had curly hair, and now it’s nice to see her embrace that, another person said. Thirdly, “I did not believe that was Katie at first sight,” she continued.

The entrepreneur is happy to share any new looks with her fans as Katie’s changing appearance continues to catch people’s attention. She recently underwent surgery in Turkey, and she continues to make hints that it won’t be her last.

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Two Killed In Israeli Strikes In South Lebanon

Two people were killed by Israeli airstrikes on Friday in southern Lebanon, according to state media and the ministry of health, while Israel’s military claimed that they had targeted Hezbollah members.

One man was “targeted by an Israeli drone with a guided missile while he was driving” along the road to the village of Toul, not far from Nabatieh, according to Lebanon’s official National News Agency (NNA).

Abbas Hassan Karky was the slain persona, according to the report.

The Israeli army referred to Karky as the logistics head of Hezbollah’s Southern Front headquarters in a statement released by the Israeli army.

Following last year’s conflict with Israel, Karky claimed to have led efforts to “rebuild Hezbollah’s combat capabilities” and that he had also been in charge of “managing the transfer and storage of weapons in southern Lebanon.”

Later, the health ministry learned that another “Israeli strike targeting a car” had resulted in the death of one person and the injury of another, both close to Nabatieh.

A “terrorist who was involved in efforts to reestablish Hezbollah’s military capabilities,” the Israeli military announced a strike in the same area.

Despite the truce in November 2024, which sought to end more than a year of hostilities with Hezbollah, which led to two months of open war, Israel has repeatedly bombed Lebanon.

The most recent attacks come a day after an elderly woman was killed in Israeli airstrikes in southern and eastern Lebanon.

The Israeli army reported on Thursday that it had “struck a number of terrorist targets,” including a Hezbollah training facility.

Hezbollah was to withdraw from southern Lebanon as part of the ceasefire agreement, and Hezbollah was to retreat north of the Litani River, and destroy any military installations in the south.

The Lebanese government has begun disarming Hezbollah, a plan the movement and its allies oppose under US pressure and fearing an increase in Israeli strikes.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated at a meeting on Thursday with US General Joseph Clearfield, the group’s head, that Lebanon is “committed to completing the arms monopoly process south of the Litani River by the end of the year.”

He pleaded in return that Israel “to fulfill its obligations to withdraw from occupied Lebanese territory and stop its ongoing attacks.”

Israel has maintained troops in five strategic border locations despite the truce’s terms.

Four African countries taken off global money-laundering ‘grey list’

South Africa, Nigeria, Mozambique, and Burkinabe are all now included on the “grey list” of nations that are being monitored more closely, according to a global watchdog for money-laundering.

Following “successful on-site visits” that demonstrated “positive progress” in addressing shortcomings within agreed timeframes, the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF), a financial crimes watchdog based in France, announced on Friday that it would remove the four nations.

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Countries that the FATF has identified as not meeting its standards are listed on “grey” and “black” lists. It views grey list nations as those whose anti-money laundering policies have “strategic deficiencies,” but which are still working with the organization to address them.

Elisa de Anda Madrazo, president of FATF, described the removal of the four as “a positive story for Africa’s continent.”

She said that South Africa improved its methods for identifying money laundering and terrorist financing, Nigeria improved coordination between organizations, Mozambique increased sharing financial intelligence, and Burkinabe strengthened its oversight of financial institutions.

In 2023, Nigeria and South Africa were added, followed by Burkinabe in 2021, Mozambique in 2022, and Burkinabe in 2021.

Officials from the four nations welcomed the decision, which means the organization will no longer have to monitor them more closely.

The country’s Financial Intelligence Unit, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, added that the delisting represented a “major milestone in Nigeria’s journey toward economic reform, institutional integrity, and global credibility,” and that it had “worked resolutely through a 19-point action plan” to demonstrate its commitment to improvement.

The South African Revenue Service’s commissioner, Edward Kieswetter, praised the update, saying that “removing the designation of grey listing is not a finish line but a milestone on a long-term journey toward building a robust and resilient financial ecosystem.”

Although Mozambican officials had been expressing for several months that they were optimistic about being removed, the leaders of Mozambique and Burkinabe refused to comment right away.

When the FATF’s assessment in 2030 is done, Mozambique will find a completely different situation from the one found in 2021, according to Finance Minister Carla Louveira in July.

More than 200 nations around the world have pledged to uphold the FATF’s standards when it evaluates their efforts to stop money laundering, as well as terrorist and weapons financing.

Strictly star Thomas Skinner devastated as he announces death of friend

Thomas Skinner, a star of Strictly Come Dancing, has revealed that he has been devastated by the sudden passing of a close friend who had already killed himself.

Strictly Come Dancing star Thomas Skinner has been left heartbroken following the tragic death of his close friend. The star, 34, who shot to fame after appearing on The Apprentice in 2019, opened up about his pain after finding out his close pal “took his own life” following a battle with his mental health.

Taking to social media, the larger than life star, who was the first to be eliminated from the BBC dancing show, wrote: “The last couple of weeks I’ve been trying to get hold of an old mate of mine who I ain’t seen face to face in a couple of years. Always the odd message or text but haven’t got round to catching up.”

We all are aware of how busy life is with our children and work, and we consistently promise to get together soon. Because I couldn’t get to him to get his advice on something, I needed to reach out to people who knew him right now. I recently learned that he had recently committed suicide.

He continued, “I’m absolutely gutted,” in his emotional post. For him and his family, I’m devastated. I was completely unaware.

Recently, the reality TV star appeared to have a meltdown online as he claimed Strictly Come Dancing made him a “target”, which led to “constant abuse.”

Some of the TV personality’s close friends have alleged that some of them have dismissed him because of “the abuse and lies about him.”

This comes after he admitted to a fling with a woman named Amy-Lucy O’Rourke just weeks after his wedding to Sinead.

He said to The Sun at the time, “I’m just so fortunate that she forgave me. I fully comprehended what I had just told my wife when we spoke. You’re just shown that ten minutes can completely ruin your life.

In his post, Thomas continued, “This happens to men my age all the time, talking about suicide and mental health. We bottle it up, crack on like nothing is wrong, and struggle inside.

If you’re reading this and are having a bad time, he continued, “So be it.” Talk to someone, please. Don’t sit still. Even if you can’t see it right now, there is always a way out.

He continued, “Things may take time, but things do improve.” Although it may take a week, a month, or a year, things will get better. I’ll keep you a promise. I’m so devastated that I didn’t know, in truth. Someone’s life can be changed by a phone call.

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A chat and a pint might save someone’s life, he continued. People who are tough don’t stay tough forever. Take good care of one another. For my friend, I’m going to have a pint. RIP, mate.

If you’re struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit their site to find your local branch

Four-try Freeman stars as Saints beat Saracens

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Franklin’s Gardens are cinching Franklin’s Gardens.

Northampton (17) 43

Tries: Hendy, Pearson (2), Freeman (4) Cons: Smith (4)

Saracens (19) 31

With four tries, Northampton Saints winger Tommy Freeman kept his side’s record as the nation’s top player as they won against Saracens.

George Hendy’s full-back and flanker Tom Pearson scored the opener, but Saints went up 19-17 at the break when Fergus Burke, Jack Bracken, and Juan Martin Gonzalez crossed for Saracens.

Before Northampton resurrected themselves, Hugh Tizard extended the lead, and Pearson and Freeman both added their second goals to retake the lead.

After Max Malins sliding over for Saracens’ fifth try, Freeman scored his fourth try after taking Rory Hutchinson’s pass to make his hat-trick.

Hendy, Freeman, Hutchinson, Dingwall (c), Todaro, Smith, Mitchell, Fischetti, Smith, Davison, Lockett, Van Der Mescht, Coles, Pearson, Pollock, and others

Replacements: Litchfield, McParland, Belleau, Green, Green, Prowse, Chick, Wright, Iyogun, Green, Iyogun, and Litchfield

Pearson (41): “yellow card”

Saracens: Malins, Caluori, Tompkins, Farrell, Bracken, Burke, Bracken, Mawi, Dan, Riccioni, Itoje, Tizard, Gonzalez, Onyeama-Christie, Willis,

Replacements: Hall, McFarland, Earl, Carre, Street, Isiekwe, McFarland, and Hadfield.

Riccioni (54): “Yellow card

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