A video has emerged on social media showing Man City boss Pep Guardiola in a fiery confrontation with a fan in Manchester city centre.
The Citizens ended a seven-match winless run in midweek with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.
Man City are currently fourth in the Premier League table, two points behind Chelsea and Arsenal, and nine points adrift of leaders Liverpool, who are having a brilliant season under Jurgen Klopp’s successor Arne Slot.
When asked how he got his cut, Guardiola revealed. “I cut it with my finger.” He then jokingly said: “I want to hurt myself.”
And on Friday a video emerged of him being held back after being heckled by a Liverpudlian fan, who was heard saying “right mate, just cause you lost”.
Guardiola had to be restrained by two members of his entourage while saying “do you know what is lost?” before being led away.
There have been suggestions that is from Man City losing 2-1 to Man Utd in the FA Cup final back in May and not during their recent bad run of form.
A video of Pep Guardiola in an altercation with a fan is going viral currently… 😳 pic.twitter.com/FnelwLvsH1
Man City face Crystal Palace on Saturday and Harry Redknapp expects Guardiola to guide his side to a second successive victory in a 3-1 win.
Redknapp told BetVictor: “Are Manchester City out of the woods? Their performance against Nottingham Forest was far from perfect, with too many stray passes for my liking, so the jury is out on that one for the moment.
“Then there’s all the gossip about Kevin De Bruyne’s rift with Pep Guardiola before the game, and lo and behold, KDB goes and scores! Sometimes the pundits stir up stuff that isn’t there.
“There were goals galore in the week, and quite a few stunners. No less than Jean-Philippe Mateta’s match-winning chip against a gob-smacked Ipswich. To be fair, the game was seriously lacking in class up until that point.
“Oliver Glasner will be pleased with his side’s performance but will not relish a visit from Man City with the bit between their teeth.
“I had no doubt that City would turn up against Forest. That match will likely be their springboard back to winning ways.”
Russian Geran-2 drones massively fail due to poor-quality Chinese servomotors. New T-90M tanks are produced without laser sensors due to sanctions restrictions.
Western sanctions have led to massive disruptions in the operation of Russian Geran-2 drones (analogous to Iran's Shahed) and deprived modern Russian T-90M tanks of laser sensors.
This is reported by The Washington Post, reports UNN.
Details
According to the newspaper, earlier this year, Ukrainian Air Defense crews began to notice something strange in the unilateral drones that Russia regularly launches against Ukrainian cities.
The latest geranium-2 drones were more likely to get out of control when they entered a sharp turn. Some would have crashed harmlessly. The others leveled up, becoming easy prey for the air defense batteries. Still, drones kept popping up-sometimes up to 100 in one day. In the end, Western and Ukrainian military analysts attributed the higher failure rate to poor-quality components, in particular a small steering engine, not much larger than a pack of cigarettes. Russia recently switched to the Chinese engine after Western countries imposed sanctions to block Moscow's access to Western technology
– the article says.
The faulty drones marked a small victory for Western countries in the ongoing shadowy conflict, which is being waged in part by spy services to deprive Moscow of access to the high-tech components needed for modern weapons of war.
Three years of pressure from an unprecedented sanctions campaign have weakened the Kremlin's war machine, forcing it to skimp on quality and use old and outdated equipment, while seriously calling into question its long-term viability. But Russia still manages to get many important spare parts for Western weapons with the help of undercover operatives and criminal groups, and it buys the rest from China
– the publication notes.
Also, employees of the British analytical center Royal United Services Institute identified the probable cause of failures of Russian drones: a small mechanical device known as a servo motor, which helps regulate the movement of the drone during flight.
At the end of last year, the aircraft manufacturer began using a Chinese servo motor, a substitute for a South Korean product that Russia used to use, but now cannot easily obtain.
Another example of the impact of Western sanctions was the suspension of the installation of laser sensors on the barrels of modern Russian T-90M tanks (which help crews accurately fire).
These sensors have not been installed on new tanks since the end of last year, as a result of which the "crew survival rate" decreases. However, the deterioration in the quality of Russian drones is almost offset by an increase in production volumes and the intensity of shelling. In October alone, the invaders launched more than 2,000 attack UAVs in Ukraine.
recall
The US Treasury Department announced the imposition of sanctions on the international network TGR Group, which helped Russian elites circumvent US and international sanctions.
Canada has extended the ban on 324 models of firearms and is considering transferring them to Ukraine. Kiev has already expressed interest in such support to fight Russian aggression.
Canada plans to transfer weapons to Ukraine, which it extends the ban to. This is reported by AP, reports UNN.
Details
Canada has announced a ban on 324 more firearms that, according to Public Safety Minister Dominique LeBlanc, "should be used on the battlefield, not in civilian life."
Ottawa is also considering transferring some of these weapons to Ukraine to help fight Russian aggression. Defense Secretary Bill Blair noted that the Canadian government has already been in contact with Kiev, which has expressed interest in supporting it.
The move continues Canada's gun policy. In 2020, 1,500 models were banned, and by the end of 2023, the number of banned weapons exceeded 2,000. The new restrictions are aimed at removing dangerous weapons that were not previously covered by previous bans.
Canada is also working on a program to buy these weapons from their owners in cooperation with local authorities and law enforcement agencies.
The ban coincided with the 35th anniversary of the mass shooting at the Polytechnic School of Montreal, when 14 women were killed. The weapons used by the attacker were banned in 2020.
Canada completes transfer of NASAMS air defense systems to UkraineNov 22 2024, 06:35 PM • 48578 views
Zelensky unveils new Ukrainian new missile-drone — 'Peklo'
Crimean Bridge closed after reported Ukrainian drone strikes on Kerch
Ukrainian partisans sabotage railway line linking Moscow to Kursk Oblast, group claims
Estonian company to test AI-guided anti-drone missiles in Ukraine, CEO says
Putin replaces Kursk Oblast governor due to management 'chaos' after Ukraine incursion, media reports
President Volodymyr Zelensky on Dec. 6 announced that the first batch of a new missile-drone hybrid called Peklo (Hell) had been delivered to Ukraine's Armed Forces.
In a post on social media, Zelensky did not reveal the number of the supplied weapons but said the aim now was to "scale up production and deployment," adding they already have "proven combat effectiveness."
Long-range domestic weapons are seen as critical to Ukraine’s defense strategy, providing the country's military with an alternative to Western arms whose use is often under restrictions.
While some details of Peklo's capabilities remain undisclosed for security reasons, Zelensky highlighted the weapon as a "fundamentally new type."
The Peklo has a range of 700 kilometers (430 miles) and a speed of 700 km/h (430 mph). During the unveiling, officials reportedly said that the system has already been successfully deployed five times.
The officials also noted that the missiles are cost-effective and rival some Russian cruise missiles in performance.
Ukraine's missile development program has gained momentum since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced on Dec. 4 that the Palianytsia, a lightweight missile-drone hybrid, has also entered serial production.
These advancements come as Western partners have only recently permitted strikes on Russia’s Kursk Oblast using foreign-made missiles, while attacks deeper into Russian territory remain restricted.
Crimean Bridge closed after reported Ukrainian drone strikes on Kerch
The Crimean Bridge was closed on the morning of Dec. 6 amid reports of Ukrainian drones targeting the area.
According to the pro-Ukrainian Crimean Wind Telegram channel, explosions were heard in the city of Kerch near the "Zaliv" shipyard, and air defense systems were reportedly activated in the Kerch Strait,according to Krym.Realii.
"Vehicular traffic on the Crimean Bridge has been temporarily suspended," the Crimean Bridge: Operational Information Telegram channel said.
Russia's Defense Ministry stated on Dec. 6 that air defense systems shot down one Ukrainian drone over Crimea overnight. The ministry also claimed that Russian Black Sea Fleet naval aviation destroyed two Ukrainian uncrewed boats heading toward Crimea in the Black Sea.
The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the claims.
Construction on the 19-kilometer-long bridge which links occupied Crimea with the Russian mainland, began after the illegal occupation of the peninsula in 2014, and was completed in 2018.
After becoming a critical supply route for Russian forces after the launch of Moscow's full-scale invasion, it has been attacked by Kyiv's forces on several occasions, and was heavily damaged by Ukrainian strikes in October 2022 and July 2023.
On Sept. 27, reports suggested Russia was strengthening defenses around the Crimean Bridge, including deploying underwater drone traps.
Russian proxy authorities in occupied Crimea regularly shut down traffic on the bridge amid reports of explosions and drone strikes.
The Crimean Bridge is the subject of a dispute between Ukraine and Russia at the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
Speaking there on Sept. 23, Ambassador-at-Large at the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Anton Korynevych, said Russia "wants to take the Sea of Azov and Kerch Strait for itself."
"So it has built a great gate at their entrance, to keep international shipping out while allowing small Russian river vessels in," he said, adding: "The bridge is unlawful, and it must come down."
Ukrainian partisans sabotage railway line linking Moscow to Kursk Oblast, group claims
The Atesh partisan group sabotaged a key railway line linking Russia's Moscow and Kursk oblasts, disrupting Russian supply lines, the group claimed via Telegram on Dec. 6.
An operative burned down a relay cabinet near the village of Chekhov in Moscow Oblast, Atesh said, posting undated video footage of the alleged sabotage.
The Kyiv Independent could not verify the group's claims.
The operation aimed to disrupt Russian military logistics, Atesh reported. The targeted railway connected Moscow to Kursk Oblast, which has been partially occupied by Ukrainian forces since August.
"Deliveries of fuel and military equipment intended to supply Russian troops on the front line were delayed," the group said.
Ukraine launched a surprise incursion into Kursk Oblast in early August, seeking leverage against Moscow in future prisoner exchanges and peace negotiations. Russia has amassed tens of thousands of troops, including North Korean soldiers, in an effort to take back the border region.
The Atesh movement regularly commits sabotage attacks on Russian territory and in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine. The group reported a similar action against a railway in occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast on Nov. 16.
Estonian company to test AI-guided anti-drone missiles in Ukraine, CEO says
Estonian defense firm Frankenburg Technologies plans to begin testing its innovative anti-drone missiles in Ukraine in 2025, ERR reported on Dec. 6.
The company, recognized as a leading defense technology startup in Europe, has developed missiles designed to intercept Iranian Shahed drones at altitudes of up to two kilometers.
A key feature of the system is its artificial intelligence capability for autonomous targeting.
"The technology is promising, and we will start testing it in Ukraine in the new year," Kusti Salm, CEO of Frankenburg Technologies, told ERR.
Production will begin with a few dozen units per week and is expected to ramp up to hundreds by the third quarter of 2025.
The missile tests aim to confirm the system’s effectiveness under real combat conditions, the company added.
Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur emphasized supporting Ukraine's military production capabilities.
Speaking at the Halifax International Security Forum, Pevkur told The Hill that Ukraine can manage its defense effectively if adequately resourced.
"Ukrainians can handle all of this when we deliver everything they need to fight Russia," he said.
The need for anti-drone missiles is underscored by Russia’s surging use of Shahed-type kamikaze drones against Ukraine.
According to Ukraine's Air Force, Moscow deployed 2,576 drones in November, up from 2,023 in October.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced in September plans to boost drone production nearly tenfold, signaling continued nightly assaults on Ukraine.
Putin replaces Kursk Oblast governor due to management 'chaos' after Ukraine incursion, media reports
Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed Kursk Oblast Governor Alexei Smirnov due to management "chaos" following Ukraine's incursion, opposition outlet Verstka reported on Dec. 6, citing sources.
On Dec. 5, Putin appointed State Duma Deputy Alexander Khinshtein as interim governor of the oblast. According to Verstka, the Kremlin began seeking Smirnov's replacement in early November, but only finalized Khinshtein's appointment just a day before the announcement.
Ukraine launched a surprise offensive into Russia's Kursk Oblast on Aug. 6. While Russian forces have since reclaimed about half of the territory seized during the initial attack, the operation has inflicted significant losses on Russia.
During Smirnov's tenure, key issues reportedly included widespread discontent and protests among displaced residents from areas occupied by the Ukrainian army, and clashes with local municipal leaders.
Verstka cited claims that Smirnov's handling of defensive structures along the Ukrainian border contributed to his dismissal, with the fortifications proving ineffective.
Khinshtein, a former journalist and television presenter, has been a member of Russia’s State Duma since 2003, and is affiliated with Putin’s United Russia party.
Russia has ramped up pressure in Kursk Oblast to dislodge Ukrainian troops holding positions there since early August. Reuters reported on Nov. 23 that Ukraine had lost over 40% of territory previously captured during the incursion.
According to Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi last month, Russia had suffered 7,905 soldiers killed, 12,220 injured, and 717 captured over three months of fighting in Kursk Oblast.
As a result of the enemy strike on Kryvyi Rih, people were killed, 19 people were injured, including a 6-year-old boy. The administrative building and 11 residential buildings were damaged.
On Monday, a day of mourning will be declared in the city of Kryvyi Rih . This is reported by the chairman of the Kryvyi Rih Defense Council Alexander Vilkul, reports UNN.
Recall
As a result of the enemy strike on Kryvyi Rih by the invaders, unfortunately, there are victims. In addition, 19 people were injured, including a 6-year-old boy, who, along with seven other wounded, is in the hospital. All have moderate injuries, doctors provide the necessary assistance. The fate of another person is still unknown, and a search and rescue operation is underway.
The impact damaged an administrative building, six apartment buildings and five private houses.
Vilkul confirmed the rocket attack on the cityDec 6 2024, 02:34 PM • 13929 views
French President Emmanuel Macron will receive his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Elysee Palace on Saturday, 7 December.
Source: The French leader's press service disseminated the information on Friday evening, 6 December, European Pravda reports, citing AFP
Details: The Elysee Palace said that Macron will receive US President-elect Donald Trump and then President Zelenskyy, after which he will attend the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral.
The French president will meet with Trump at 17:00 Kyiv time and with Volodymyr Zelenskyy at 18:00.
The press service did not specify whether there will be a meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy, as previously reported by the media, and whether Macron’s will meet with his counterparts in a bilateral or trilateral format.
Earlier, Trump publicly confirmed his participation in the reopening ceremony of Notre Dame Cathedral, where about fifty top officials from different countries were also invited.
Background:
Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Trump in New York this autumn and had a phone conversation with him after US Election Day.
This week, Ukrainian President's Office Head Andrii Yermak, and Trump’s Vice President J.D. Vance and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz met in Washington.
Prince William of Wales will attend the opening ceremony of Notre-Dame Cathedral after a 5-year restoration. The opening ceremony will also be attended by French President Macron and other world leaders.
Prince William of Wales will take part in the opening of Notre-Dame Cathedral after restoration this weekend, Kensington Palace announced, writes UNN with reference to the BBC.
Details
Prince William will travel to France on Saturday, where he will join the celebration of the restoration of the world-famous Gothic building, which was damaged by fire five years ago.
The prince will pay the visit "at the request of His Majesty's government on behalf of the United Kingdom," Kensington Palace said.
At the ceremony , he will join French President Emmanuel Macron and US President-elect Donald Trump, as well as other world leaders and heads of state.
Addition
The medieval cathedral has been closed since a major fire broke out in 2019, which destroyed the stained glass windows and wooden elements of the interior, and then caused the spire to collapse.
About 600 firefighters battled the fire for 15 hours.
The main structure of the 850-year-old building was salvaged, including two bell towers.
Shortly after the fire, Macron set a goal to restore the Catholic Church in 5 years.
An estimated 2,000 masons, carpenters, restorers, roofers, foundries, art historians, sculptors and engineers worked on the project, reportedly costing 700 million euros.
King Charles visited the cathedral to see the restoration during a state visit to France last year.
Last week, Macron toured the building live before its official opening ,giving the public the opportunity to look inside for the first time.
Russian forces attacked the city of Zaporizhzhia on Dec. 6, killing nine people and injuring 17, including two children, Governor Ivan Fedorov reported.
An air raid alert was issued in the oblast around 5:30 p.m. local time, with the first explosions reported in the city at about 6 p.m. Before the attack, Ukraine's Air Force had warned of Russian guided aerial bombs heading toward Zaporizhzhia.
The children sustained shrapnel wounds and head injuries but are not in critical condition, Fedorov said. Emergency services remain on-site responding to the strike.
The attack damaged a service station, and some areas in the region experienced power outages, local authorities reported.
Zaporizhzhia, home to approximately 710,000 residents before Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, is frequently targeted by Russian forces.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said that dialogue and negotiations are the only viable way to resolve the war in Ukraine. According to him, the international community should promote direct dialogue between the parties.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said that dialogue and negotiations are the only viable way to resolve the "Ukrainian crisis," as Beijing calls Russia's war against Ukraine, and the international community should promote direct dialogue between the parties. This was stated by Lin Jian at a briefing on December 6, writes UNN.
China's position on the Ukrainian crisis is consistent. We believe that dialogue and negotiation are the only viable way to resolve the crisis. The international community must create conditions for the resumption of direct dialogue between the two sides. Only when all major countries play a positive role can this conflict see an early prospect of a ceasefire
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said.
China reiterates call for calm and restraint after Russia launches new ballistic missiles at UkraineNov 22 2024, 01:58 PM • 17603 views
The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov
