After years of planning and weeks of anticipation, an Army win was the culmination of the 124th Army-Navy game.

Foxborough - America's Game came to Gillette Stadium on Saturday, as the 124th Army-Navy football game descended upon Foxborough for an unforgettable day that took college football's centerstage and culminated with a last-second win by the Cadets of West Point.

"I've never seen anything like this," Patriots owner Robert Kraft told ESPN's College GameDay early in the day from the stage outside the stadium. "We had a gala last night and people are coming together in a way that is unique and the gravitas of this game is something, yeah, maybe when you get to the Super Bowl and you win it's a similar kind of feeling, but you can't replace it. It's what's great about America

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick also joined the GameDay stage as the week's celebrity guest picker and not surprisingly, Navy was Belichick's pick as he donned the team's vintage 1962 helmet, one emblazoned on the front with a Jolly Roger.

Belichick grew up largely in Annapolis while his father Steve was a long-time assistant for the Midshipmen from 1956-1989, and was grateful the Patriots own schedule, coming off a victory on Thursday Night Football over the Steelers, coincided so favorably for the head coach to truly enjoy the historic game for the first time in a long time.

"This is awesome, it's a unique experience," Belichick told the GameDay crew, which included Lee Corso, who coached with Belichick's father at Annapolis in the 1960s. "I'm thrilled that the game is here and I'm thrilled to be here. It's great for New England, great for our fans and our stadium and hopefully, both academies."

Belichick also relayed his memories of the 1967 Army-Navy game to Corso, recalling how Corso's offense closed out a Navy win with aggressive play calling, something that stuck with Belichick.

Fans packed the stands many hours before kickoff as there was plenty else to see in the pregame lead-up, including the March-On of both schools and the finale of the Patriot Games that presented an obstacle course finale for participants. The two school's parachute teams, the Leap Frogs and Golden Knights, executed pinpoint landings on the field, and then two flyovers, featuring a fleet of jets for Navy and a collection of helicopters for Army, buzzed overhead as the teams took the field and the energy in the stadium built to a crescendo for the opening coin toss.

Both teams executed a run-heavy approach as the contest started, with some downfield shots mixed in at key times. The game's first big play came as Navy took one of those passing shots down the field, but Army safety Max DeDomenico read the play all the way and picked off the pass at the five-yard-line and returned it out to Army's 35-yard line.

Army would then go on a 12-play, 65-yard scoring drive that ate up over seven minutes of game time. Quarterback Bryson Daily fired a quick pass to tight end Tyson Riley from four yards out for the touchdown that gave Army a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter.

Navy made a quarterback change after four unsuccessful first-half drives, inserting Tai Lavatai and the senior provided a spark as the Midshipmen put together their best drive of the day. It lasted nine plays, 45 yards until Army stopped Lavatai short on a quarterback run on fourth down at the Army 37-yard line.

Army would make the most of their last possession of the half, using six plays to go 34 yards, setting up a 47-yard field goal by Quinn Maretzki that gave the Cadets a 10-0 lead at halftime.

The teams would continue to trade punts into the third quarter as neither could find a sustained rhythm for their respective offenses. Navy's offense went three-and-out on their first possession of the second half but on their second Lavatai took a keeper for 25 yards to break their funk and provide a late-third-quarter spark for the Midshipmen with their biggest play of the day. They'd add a 37-yard field goal to cap off the drive and cut the Army lead to 10-3 early in the fourth quarter.

Navy was driving again late in the fourth, crossing into Army territory and looking to tie the game up with a touchdown when the game took a dramatic turn. Army linebacker Kalib Fortner stripped Lavatai of the ball and returned the fumble 44 yards for a Cadet touchdown.

The big play made it 17-3 Army with just under five minutes left, however, Navy would respond, executing a seven-play, 59-yard touchdown-scoring drive but a failed two-point conversion. It was a gutsy drive at a critical time that made it yet another Army-Navy classic that came down to the very end with a one-score game, 17-9.

 

 

The United States' isolated stand reflected a growing fracture between Washington and some of its closest allies over Israel's monthslong bombardment of Gaza.

Israeli warplanes targeted parts of the Gaza Strip overnight into Saturday in relentless bombardments, hitting even the small remaining parcels of land that Palestinians had been told to evacuate to in the territory’s south.

The latest strikes came a day the United States utilised its veto power to block a United Nations resolution backed by almost all other Security Council members and dozens of other nations demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza.

Advocates of the resolution characterised the US veto as a regrettable development, expressing concerns about the potential for increased civilian casualties and destruction as the conflict entered its third month. The vote in the 15-member council resulted in a 13-1 outcome, with the United Kingdom choosing to abstain.

“Attacks from air, land and sea are intense, continuous and widespread,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said before the vote.

He further added that Gaza residents “are being told to move like human pinballs – ricocheting between ever-smaller slivers of the south, without any of the basics for survival.”

Guterres told the council that Gaza was at “a breaking point” with the humanitarian support system at risk of total collapse, and that he feared “the consequences could be devastating for the security of the entire region,” news agency AP reported.

The US’ stand reflected a growing fracture between Washington and some of its closest allies over Israel’s monthslong bombardment of Gaza. France and Japan were also among those supporting the call for a cease-fire.

Israel’s military campaign has killed more than 17,400 people in Gaza — 70% of them women and children — and wounded more than 46,000, according to the Palestinian territory’s Health Ministry, which says many others are trapped under rubble.

 

Here’s a round-up of the latest developments so far:

1.      01

Israeli military round up Palestinian men in northern Gaza as UN warns aid operation is 'in tatters'

Israel said on Friday that the military was rounding up Palestinian men in northern Gaza for questioning in its search for Hamas militants.

Israeli government spokesman Eylon Levy said Friday that those detained in northern Gaza were "military-aged men who were discovered in areas that civilians were supposed to have evacuated weeks ago." Military spokesman Daniel Hagari said that in the past 48 hours, some 200 people have been detained.

The United Nations expressed concerns about the state of its aid operation, describing it as "in tatters." These detentions highlight Israeli efforts to secure control over northern Gaza as the conflict entered its third month. Intense urban fighting persisted in the north, revealing Hamas' determined resistance, with tens of thousands of residents believed to still be in the area six weeks after Israeli troops and tanks entered.

2.      02

US denies it forbade Palestinian official from speaking to reporters

The US State Department denied allegations on Friday that it had prohibited Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki from speaking to reporters in Washington during a joint mission with Arab and Turkish counterparts. The denial came after a Saudi official claimed the US had imposed visa restrictions preventing Malki from responding to media questions. The State Department refuted this, stating, "We have imposed no restrictions that prohibit individuals from speaking to the press."

3.      03

Rocket fired from Gaza lands in Tel Aviv

A rocket fired from the Gaza Strip landed in central Tel Aviv on Friday, causing damage to a parked car, news agency AP reported. Police and forensic teams were on the site to clear the road from debris and any remnants of the rocket. There were no reports of injuries. Hamas militants have fired thousands of rockets into Israel during the two-month war.

The rocket fire has continued, despite a fierce Israeli ground offensive inside Gaza.The rocket barrages have displaced tens of thousands of people in southern Israel from their homes and set off air-raid sirens as far away as Tel Aviv, some 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of Gaza.

4.      04

Israel says attempt to rescue hostages failed

The Israeli military said that a rescue mission aimed at freeing Israeli hostages in Gaza resulted in two soldiers sustaining serious injuries. The operation, carried out overnight, successfully eliminated several militants, but no hostages were rescued. Hamas, on the other hand, asserted that its fighters thwarted the rescue attempt and engaged in clashes with Israeli special forces.

Additionally, Hamas claimed that an Israeli soldier held hostage was killed by Israeli air fire during the withdrawal. As of now, Israel's military has not provided any comments on this particular claim.

5.      05

Four killed in Israeli airstrike in Syria

An Israeli drone strike hit a car in southern Syria on Friday, killing four people, two Syrian pro-government media outlets reported. A Hezbollah official in Beirut said three of the dead were members of the Lebanese militant group.

Over the past decade, Hezbollah has positioned its fighters in various regions of Syria, collaborating with government forces in the ongoing conflict, which has entered its 13th year. The latest deaths raise to 93 the number of Hezbollah fighters killed during battles with Israeli troops since the Israel-Hamas war started two months ago, as per AP.

6.      06

EU puts two Hamas leaders on terrorist list

On Friday, the European Union took action by adding two senior members of the militant group Hamas to its terrorist list in connection with the October 7 attack on Israel. The EU headquarters announced the freezing of funds and other assets in Europe belonging to Mohammed Deif, the commander general of Hamas' military wing, and Marwan Issa, the deputy commander.

 

 

 

India's parliament has expelled an opposition lawmaker who was accused of taking bribes in exchange for asking questions.

Mahua Moitra, who has denied the allegations, said she was expelled "without proof".

She has the option to challenge the decision in court.

Friday's expulsion followed a resolution passed by lawmakers in the Lok Sabha - lower house of parliament - after a voice vote.

Earlier in the day, an ethics panel report that recommended Ms Moitra's expulsion was tabled in the house. Opposition lawmakers had asked for more time to study the almost-500-page report before debating it, but the speaker did not agree to this.

"Heavens would not have fallen had we been given three-four days to take cognisance of this report and then keep our opinions before the house because it is going to make a decision on a very sensitive matter," Congress MP Manish Tewari said during the debate.

Ms Moitra is from the Trinamool Congress, which is in power in West Bengal state. She is known to be a fierce critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has a majority in the Lok Sabha.

Her party colleagues had held a protest in the house on Friday, raising slogans in Ms Moitra's defence. The session was adjourned for an hour before lawmakers reassembled for the debate.

Trinamool Congress leaders called the report an "eyewash" and repeated their stance that the bribery allegation was unfounded. They and other opposition leaders have alleged that Ms Moitra was targeted for her criticism of Mr Modi's party.

Speaker Om Birla did not allow Ms Moitra to speak in the house on Friday, saying that she had been given the chance to defend herself in front of the ethics committee. Ms Moitra had walked out during questioning by the committee, accusing them of "unethical, sordid and prejudiced behaviour".

The controversy began in October when BJP MP Nishikant Dubey filed a complaint against Ms Moitra, alleging that she had asked several questions targeting the Adani Group - a conglomerate owned by one of Asia's richest men, Gautam Adani - in exchange for gifts and cash from a businessman called Darshan Hiranandani.

Mr Adani is perceived as being close to Mr Modi and has long faced allegations from opposition politicians that he has benefited from his political ties, which the businessman and the BJP deny.

Earlier this year, a US-based short-seller Hindenburg had accused Mr Adani of engaging in decades of "brazen" stock manipulation and accounting fraud. The Adani Group has denied these allegations, calling the report "malicious".

In his complaint, Mr Dubey claimed that "until quite recently", 50 of 61 questions Ms Moitra asked in the Lok Sabha were focused on the Adani Group and accused her of accepting bribes adding up to 20m rupees ($240,542; £197,700) from Mr Hiranandani. Ms Moitra has strongly denied this.

The BJP leader alleged he had received "irrefutable evidence" against Ms Moitra from an advocate named Jai Anant Dehadrai - whom Ms Moitra has described as a "jilted ex".

Mr Hiranandani also submitted an affidavit before the ethics committee, accusing the TMC leader of targeting Mr Adani "for becoming famous". Ms Moitra questioned the authenticity of the affidavit, but Mr Hiranandani said he had signed it "voluntarily".

Mr Dubey's complaint also accused Ms Moitra of sharing her parliamentary login credentials with Mr Hiranandani so that he "could post questions directly on her behalf when required".

Ms Moitra admitted that she had given her login details to the businessman, but said that she had not violated any rules in doing so.

She has filed defamation cases against Mr Dubey and Mr Dehadrai in the Delhi high court.

 

Election Results: This year's assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Rajasthan and Mizoram are seen as the semi-finals before Lok Sabha polls in 2024.

New Delhi: 

The results for the assembly elections 2023 in four states - Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Rajasthan are set to be announced today. Trends suggest that the BJP is set for a win in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. 

In Telangana, however, the Congress is leading over Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's BRS, the trends show. 

Five states - Mizoram, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana went to polls this year, which is being viewed as the semi-final to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The Election Commission of India has, however, revised the date for counting of votes for Mizoram where voting was conducted on November 7.

While voting was held in Madhya Pradesh on November 17. Rajasthan and Telangana voted in a single phase on November 25 and November 30 respectively.

Chhattisgarh voted on November 7 and November 17.