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Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,354

By in News, World News

Here is how things stand on Sunday, November 9:

Fighting

  • Russian forces fired more than 450 drones and 45 missiles at Ukraine overnight on Saturday, targeting its energy infrastructure and killing seven people, according to Ukrainian officials.
  • Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha said that Russian forces targeted substations that power two nuclear power plants in Khmelnytskyi and Rivne, and condemned Moscow for “deliberately endangering nuclear safety in Europe”.
  • Energy facilities in Kyiv, Poltava and Kharkiv regions were also hit, disrupting the power and water supply for thousands of people, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said.
  • Ukrainian energy company Naftogaz said the attack on its gas infrastructure was the ninth since early October, according to the AFP news agency.
  • The Russian Ministry of Defence confirmed launching “a massive strike with high-precision long-range air, ground and sea-based weapons” on weapon production and gas and energy facilities in response to Kyiv’s strikes on Russia.
  • The ministry also said that Russian forces had taken more territory around the towns of Pokrovsk and Kupiansk, and captured the village of Volchye in eastern Ukraine.
  • Russia’s TASS news agency, citing the Defence Ministry, said that Russian forces had shot down 15 Ukrainian drones over Ukraine’s Crimea Peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014, the Black Sea and Russia’s Rostov region on Saturday night. It also said Russian forces downed two guided bombs and 178 drones over the past day.
  • TASS also reported another Ukrainian drone attack in Russia’s Belgorod region late on Saturday, and said at least 20,000 people were without power.

Politics and diplomacy

  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for Europe, the G7, and the United States to step up sanctions on Russia’s energy sector following its latest attack.
  • “So far, Russia’s nuclear energy sector is not under sanctions, and the Russian military-industrial complex still obtains Western microelectronics. There must be greater pressure on its oil and gas trade as well,” Zelenskyy wrote on X.
  • Sybiha, the Ukrainian foreign minister, meanwhile, called for the International Atomic Energy Agency to meet over the attacks on the substations supplying the nuclear power plants and address “these unacceptable risks”.
  • Sybiha also called for India and China to put pressure on Moscow to stop its “reckless attacks that risk a catastrophic incident”.
  • Hungary said it has secured an indefinite waiver from US sanctions on Russian oil and gas imports, as a White House official reiterated that the exemption was for only a period of one year.

US senators look for way out of shutdown at rare weekend session

By in News, World News

Democratic and Republican senators in the United States are working through the weekend to find a compromise and end the longest government shutdown in the country’s history.

But the bipartisan talks yielded few signs of progress on Saturday as the workday ended without a deal on reopening the government.

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The Senate is set to try again with a rare Sunday session.

The impasse has now lasted 39 days and is taking an increasing toll on the country as federal workers go unpaid, airlines cancel flights, and food aid has been delayed for millions of Americans.

Saturday’s session got off to a rough start when President Donald Trump made clear he is unlikely to compromise any time soon with Democrats, who are seeking a one-year extension on an expiring health insurance subsidy under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare.

Trump urged Republican senators on social media to redirect federal money used to subsidise health insurance premiums towards direct payments to individuals.

“I am recommending to Senate Republicans that the Hundreds of Billions of Dollars currently being sent to money sucking Insurance Companies in order to save the bad Healthcare provided by ObamaCare, BE SENT DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE SO THAT THEY CAN PURCHASE THEIR OWN, MUCH BETTER, HEALTHCARE, and have money left over,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, without offering details.

The ACA marketplaces allow people to buy policies directly from health insurers and mainly serve people who do not have coverage through employers or the Medicare and Medicaid government programmes.

Some 24 million people in the US use those subsidies.

For those enrolled in ACA exchanges, premiums, on average, are expected to more than double next year if Congress allows the enhanced subsidies to lapse.

Democrats demand that Republicans agree to negotiate an extension of federal healthcare subsidies before reopening the government. Republicans say the government must reopen first.

‘Another path forward’

Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat from New Hampshire, who is leading the talks among moderates, said on Friday evening that Democrats “need another path forward” after Republicans rejected the offer from Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York to reopen the government and extend the subsidies for a year.

Shaheen and others, negotiating among themselves and with some rank-and-file Republicans, have been discussing bills that would pay for parts of government – food aid, veterans programmes and the legislative branch, among other things – and extend funding for everything else until December or January.

The agreement would only come with the promise of a future healthcare vote, rather than a guarantee of extended subsidies.

It was unclear whether enough Democrats would support such a plan. Even with a deal, Trump appears unlikely to support an extension of the health benefits. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson also said this week that he would not commit to a health vote.

Republicans hold a 53-47 majority but need 60 votes to reopen the government.

Al Jazeera’s Mike Hanna, reporting from Washington, DC, described the Senate’s weekend session as “very unusual”.

“But no vote was taken in the course of the day. The Republicans are not wanting to hold a vote unless they are certain that they can get those 60 votes needed to pass a legislation or change the procedure,” Hanna said.

Trump, for his part, has once again urged the Republicans to end the filibuster, which requires agreement by 60 of the Senate’s 100 members to pass most legislation.

“The Republicans could do this with a simple majority,” Hanna said. “However, Republicans are concerned about doing this because they feared that the lack of an investor would act against them, if… the Democrats take power in the Senate.”

With the Republicans rejecting Trump’s call, Senate Republican Leader John Thune is eyeing a bipartisan package that mirrors the proposal the moderate Democrats have been sketching out. What Thune, who has refused to negotiate, might promise on healthcare is unknown.

The package would replace the House-passed legislation that the Democrats have rejected 14 times since the shutdown began on October 1. The current bill would only extend government funding until November 21.

A test vote on new legislation could come in the next few days if Thune decides to move forward.

Then the Democrats would have a crucial choice: Keep fighting for a meaningful deal on extending the subsidies that expire in January, while prolonging the pain of the shutdown; or vote to reopen the government and hope for the best, as Republicans promise an eventual healthcare vote but not a guaranteed outcome.

Schumer on Saturday persisted in arguing that Republicans should accept a one-year extension of the subsidies before negotiating the future of the tax credits.

Jeremy Clarkson claps back after his Quentin Willson tribute branded ‘not heartfelt’

By in Entertainment News, News
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Quentin Willson, who was one of the first hosts on the hit BBC motoring show, died “peacefully surrounded by his family” on Saturday November 8, a statement from his family said

Paige Ingram and Lauren Del Fabbro PA Entertainment Reporter

Motoring legend Jeremy Clarkson has led tributes to fellow broadcaster Quentin Willson, who has passed away at the age of 68 following a brief fight with lung cancer.

Television personalities James May and Tiff Needell, who both worked alongside Willson on the BBC’s iconic motoring programme, have also shared their condolences. The renowned television host and automotive journalist died “peacefully surrounded by his family” on Saturday, November 8, according to a family statement.

Clarkson expressed his sorrow in a message on X, writing: “I’m far away so I’ve only just heard that Quentin Willson has died. We had some laughs over the years. Properly funny man.” But one X user blasted Jeremy for his tribute saying : “Not exactly a heartfelt ringing endorsement.”

READ MORE: Jeremy Clarkson issues emotional Top Gear statement honouring his longtime pal

READ MORE: BBC Top Gear presenter dies aged 68 as family pay tribute

Jeremy clapped back and responded: ““Properly funny man” is literally the highest accolade you can bestow on someone.”

Ex-racing driver and presenter on Top Gear and Fifth Gear, Needell, said: “Oh Quentin how can you leave us so soon. So many memories of the @BBC_TopGear we built in the nineties that I wanted to remember with you again. Please upload the film of me with him and Jeremy in the Ford Puma that so wonderfully displays the times we had together… RIP Q”.

May, meanwhile, revealed that Willson offered him “proper advice and encouragement” whilst he was attempting to establish himself in the television world during the 1990s, describing him as a “great bloke”.

Willson was amongst the original presenters of the hugely popular BBC motoring programme, appearing alongside Clarkson and hosting the show from 1991 through to 2001, before moving on to front Channel 5’s Fifth Gear.

He also developed and fronted numerous automotive programmes, including Britain’s Worst Drivers and BBC Two’s The Car’s The Star. A family statement read: “A true national treasure, Quentin brought the joy of motoring, from combustion to electric, into our living rooms.

“Much-loved husband to Michaela, devoted father to Mercedes, Max and Mini, and cherished grandfather to Saskia, Xander & Roxana. Quentin will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all who knew him personally and professionally.

“The void he has left can never be filled. His knowledge was not just learned but lived; a library of experience now beyond our reach.”

The broadcaster was a passionate consumer champion, spearheading numerous campaigns including his FairFuel initiative which helped freeze fuel duty, and working relentlessly to make electric vehicles more affordable through his FairCharge campaign.

The statement continued: “Long before it was fashionable, he championed the GM EV1 and the promise of electric cars, proving he was always ahead of the curve.”

Willson penned weekly columns for The Mirror and Sunday Mirror for 15 years and contributed to Classic Cars Magazine for nine years. He was crowned motoring writer of the year at the British Press Awards in 2004, whilst working for the Sunday Mirror.

That same year the presenter made headlines after scoring just eight points on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing for his cha cha cha with professional partner Hazel Newberry. It remains the lowest score in the programme’s history. Ginny Buckley, chief executive of EV advice site Electrifying.com, also paid tribute, describing Willson as a “true national treasure”.

“I was lucky to get to know him in recent years through his excellent work with FairCharge, where his passion for making electric vehicles accessible to all really shone through,” she said.

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“He was warm, generous with his knowledge and unfailingly kind. He brought the joy of motoring – from petrol to plug – into our homes and hearts, and will be greatly missed.”

Willson served as a patron of the Hydrogen Trust and was also a Bafta film judge. His family have requested privacy and confirmed funeral arrangements will be revealed in due course.

‘Work hard’ – is Maresca’s message bringing back peak Garnacho?

By in News, Sports News

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Nizaar Kinsella

Football reporter at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea winger Alejandro Garnacho has started slowly but is beginning to show the kind of form that used to get Manchester United fans excited.

The Argentine, 21, got two assists during the 3-0 win over Wolves on Saturday, setting up the opening goal for Malo Gusto and the third for Pedro Neto, with Joao Pedro scoring the other after good work from livewire substitute Estevao Willian.

This was the first time Garnacho has had two Premier League assists in the same game, with the feat coming in his 99th appearance in the competition.

Yet it has taken time for Garnacho to play this well for Chelsea, having left under a cloud at Old Trafford.

Garnacho was exiled into the so-called ‘bomb squad’ by United manager Ruben Amorim and negotiations with Chelsea took a long time before his £40m move was completed in the final days of the summer transfer window.

That absence from competitive action left Garnacho looking short of fitness when arriving at Stamford Bridge, with no goals or assists in his first six matches.

However, Garnacho is now delivering, with two goals and two assists in his latest four matches.

When asked about Garnacho after the match, Maresca said: “He has had an open mind since we started. Last season he struggled a bit then got better and better. Garnacho has been very good on the left side.”

The advice to Garnacho that has drawn prime form from the youngster has been a simple one.

His Chelsea prospects depend on him adhering to it.

“Work hard – this has been the main message when he joined us,” Maresca said. “In terms of quality on the ball we know he is good; to play with us he has to work hard.

“On the ball he’s doing well, but also off the ball he’s working hard.

“He arrived from a club where he was not training 100% so his physical condition was not good. Slowly now he is better.

Laughing stock at Lincoln to lethal against Wolves

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Garnacho was ridiculed by supporters of League One side Lincoln City on his first start for Chelsea, lasting just 59 minutes during a poor display in the Carabao Cup.

The winger has been eased in at Stamford Bridge, without completing a match until playing the full 90 minutes in the win against Wolves.

It was an impressive performance, featuring fantastic link-up play with his compatriot Enzo Fernandez.

Garnacho won a free-kick with his first action of the game and Fernandez’s resulting shot was saved.

Midfielder Fernandez, captaining the team in the absence of regular skipper Reece James, later clipped a pass into Garnacho, whose shot was saved from close range and was the best attempt during the first half.

In the second half, Garnacho’s in-swinging cross was headed in by unlikely scorer Malo Gusto to break the deadlock and ease pressure on a team who had been booed off at half-time.

Garnacho sprinted into space to set up Pedro Neto’s goal that sealed victory.

The assists came after Garnacho spared Chelsea’s blushes with an equaliser against Azerbaijani side Qarabag in the Champions League on Wednesday, after he came on as a half-time substitute when his team were trailing.

Garnacho also performed strongly in the 1-0 win at Tottenham a week ago, having scored his first goal in a defeat at home to Sunderland two weeks ago.

Maresca’s best attack for the biggest matches now tends to feature Garnacho ahead of rival left-winger Jamie Gittens.

There remain further questions for Garnacho in his Chelsea career though.

His goals last season for United came against Southampton, Brentford and Leicester, and in a heavy defeat to Newcastle.

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‘Estevao lifted the energy’

Chelsea ended Saturday sitting second in the Premier League table.

The Blues have played one game more than Manchester City, Liverpool and Bournemouth, who all play on Sunday, but a win before the international break leaves a positive feeling around the club.

Chelsea are also the division’s top scorers with 21 goals from 11 games, but that would have been a difficult statistic to believe during a first half played at a lethargic pace.

“I was very worried before this game,” said Maresca. “These are the worst games, they’re tricky. Everyone is thinking it’s going to be easy.

“I can understand in the first half people were not happy because we didn’t score. Then when Estevao came on the energy raised because people love that kind of player.”

The 18-year-old Brazilian has largely been limited to substitute appearances in the Premier League as he acclimatises to English football.

Maresca said this week that the youngster, who moved from his homeland in the summer, had complained about the cold weather in London, and the manager warned him to expect it to get worse before it gets better on that front.

“You can see his talent,” said Maresca of Estevao. “We are trying to help him to adapt and give him the right minutes.

“He arrived from Brazil, he needs time to adapt, but he’s going to start games for us in the future.”

Chelsea next face a trip to Turf Moor after the international break to face Burnley on 22 November.

They remain in the EFL Cup, where they have had a seemingly favourable draw away to League One side Cardiff City in the quarter-final, and they have a glamour game at home to Barcelona in the Champions League coming up three days after the Burnley test.

Star attacker Cole Palmer is due back from injury in December, which could provide a further boost as Chelsea aim to qualify for the Champions League through at least a top-four or top-five finish this season.

Maresca’s “word hard” message to Garnacho is reflected in his wider view of how Chelsea can reach their targets.

Related topics

  • Chelsea
  • Premier League
  • Football

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