Ukraine holds out as Russia steps up relentless assault on Avdiivka: ‘The enemy does not stop’
The Ukrainian military continues to hold its ground in the face of Russia’s relentless assault on the eastern city of Avdiivka, Volodymyr Zelensky, as the battle intensified for a third day. Russia has moved a large armoured column of three battalions, including some 2,000 troops, dozens of armoured vehicles and jets into the northern flank of the Avdiivka front for what has been described as the biggest military offensive in months. The Ukrainian forces said they repelled more than 20 attacks by the Russian army in Avdiivka and the surrounding regions in the past 24 hours, in what was described as a blow to Moscow’s attempts to use the offensive to show the tide of the war turning in its favour. Mr Zelensky said: “Avdiivka. We are holding our ground. It is Ukrainian courage and unity that will determine how this war will end. We must all remember this.” Municipal officials said the Russian attacks were relentless and the enemy was attacking from all sides. Vitaliy Barabash, head of the city military administration, told Ukrainian television: "The enemy does not stop storming, they come from all directions." Ukrainian Special Operations Forces said Kyiv’s troops had "foiled the plans of the crazed enemy, repelled all attacks and held their positions". Avdiivka holds significant strategic importance for Russia, serving as the crucial gateway to Donetsk, the primary communication hub within the occupied territories. To gain a foothold in occupied Donbas, the Kremlin aims to shift the front line away from Donetsk. In 2022, Russian forces initiated an offensive against Avdiivka, attempting to encircle the city deeply from both sides. This offensive was halted and the region has become a symbol of resistance, holding out against Russian troops ever since. "On average, there are 50-60 instances of intense shelling with artillery and rockets targeting the town," said Mr Barabash. "As for military positions, they get hit at least 500-600 times a day." Oleksandr Shtupun, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s southern group of forces, said Russia saw Avdiivka as an opportunity to win a significant victory and "turn the tide of fighting". "Today the capture or encirclement of Avdiivka is probably the most it can achieve at this stage," he said. Geolocated footage of the area showed Russia had advanced in some villages southwest and northwest of Avdiivka this week, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), an American non-profit research group and think-tank. Around 64 clashes have been reported in the last 24 hours involving 4 missile attacks, 65 airstrikes and around 54 attacks using multiple launch rocket systems on Ukrainian troops and various settlements, the general staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in an update on Facebook. In the latest overnight attacks, Russia intensified strikes on Danube River ports in the southern Odesa region that have become Kyiv’s main route for food exports since Moscow quit a deal allowing shipments via the Black Sea in July. A military spokesperson said Russia had hit a grain storage facility in the Odesa region and some grain had been damaged but did not say how much. It comes amid fears that Moscow will intensify attacks on power infrastructure to freeze Ukrainians as winter sets in in the repeat of events from last winter. Read More IOC bans Russian Olympic Committee for including annexed Ukraine territories French police probe ‘poisoning’ of TV journalist who denounced Putin’s war live on air Ukraine-Russia war – live: IOC bans Russian Olympic Committee for including annexed territories The Body in the Woods | An Independent TV Original Documentary The harrowing discovery at centre of The Independent’s new documentary
2023-10-13 15:53
People 'discover they're colour blind' thanks to viral TikTok
A TikTok that has a filter on to show what the world looks like to people who are colour blind has caused people to ponder whether they themselves are too after believing the filter to be "normal". Colour vision deficiency (CVD) is believed to affect 300 million worldwide, and around three million people in the UK (about 4.5% of the the country's population). The condition where people struggle to tell various colours apart affects approximately 1 in 12 men (8 per cent) and 1 in 200 women. Yellow, red and green are the colours which those with CVD struggle to distinguish and are known as 'red-green' colour vision. While 'blue-yellow' deficiency does too exist where blue, greens and yellows are trickier to differentiate, this is less common. A recent viral TikTok by Tess (@tessromie) used a filter that could filter that demonstrate how colourblind people view the world. In text captions she wrote: "Discovering how my colour blind husband sees the world." “I’m in shock and I’ll never recover," she added. @tessromie I’m in shock and I’ll never recover #colorblind #husband #dogvision Since sharing the video, it now has over 3.6m views with people flocking to the comments section where they realised they too may be colourblind. One person said: "...it literally looks normal to me." "Yo that’s how I see," another person wrote. Someone else added: "Yeah I seriously don’t notice a thing that's different, colorblind gang." "I'm colorblind and I literally watched the video over and over trying to figure out what they were talking about," a fourth person commented. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-10-13 15:49
China central bank seen keeping medium-term policy rate unchanged on Monday - poll
SHANGHAI/SINGAPORE China's central bank is expected to keep borrowing costs unchanged but ramp up liquidity support when it
2023-10-13 15:47
Agnetha Faltskog was 'suspicious' of ABBA Voyage show
ABBA star Agnetha Faltskog has admitted she was 'suspicious' of the band's ambitious virtual concert residency which features avatars of the group members performing their hits
2023-10-13 15:29
Baz Luhrmann expands Australia into TV series using unseen footage
Director Baz Luhrmann has expanded his movie epic Australia into a six-part TV series TV series using unseen footage rescued from the cutting room floor
2023-10-13 15:22
'You've had enough of us': Steps won't be back for FOUR years
Steps have no plans to work together again until their 30th anniversary in four years time.
2023-10-13 15:22
Jeymes Samuel's Book of Clarence 'littered' with Easter eggs for next film
Jeymes Samuel's 'The Book of Clarence' is "littered" with clues about his next movie, a prequel to his debut 'The Harder They Fall'.
2023-10-13 15:21
Aussie lender ANZ loses case over troubled 2015 share placement worth $1.6 billion
Australia's ANZ Group acknowledged a Federal Court decision that said the bank should have advised the market of
2023-10-13 15:20
Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Zaniolo leave Italy camp over Public Prosecutor Office investigation
Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali and on-loan Aston Villa forward Nicolo Zaniolo are returning to their clubs from Italy’s training camp after it emerged they were being investigated by the Turin Public Prosecutor’s Office. The Italian Football Federation said the decision was taken because the players “are not in the necessary condition” to be involved in the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and England, as well as “for their protection”. The statement from the FIGC did not specify the nature of the investigations which Tonali and Zaniolo, who is on loan at Villa from Galatasaray, were facing. Reports in Italy claim it is relation to an investigation into illegal betting. On Wednesday, it was reported that Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli was under investigation for alleged betting breaches. The FIGC statement on Thursday read: “The federation announces that this afternoon the Turin Public Prosecutor’s Office has conducted investigations into players, Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Zaniolo, who are currently training with the national team at the Coverciano Federal Training Centre. “Regardless of the nature of the events, considering that the two players are not in the necessary condition to face the matches scheduled for the next few days, the federation has decided, also for their protection, to allow them to return to their respective clubs.” Italy, the reigning European champions, host Malta in Bari on Saturday before travelling to Wembley to face England next Tuesday in a repeat of the Euro 2020 final. England are currently top of Group C on 13 points, six ahead of second-placed Italy who have played a game less. Newcastle and Aston Villa have been contacted for comment. Read More Respect matters says Unai Emery after late goal gives Villa an important win John McGinn rescues Aston Villa from Europa Conference League embarrassment What do Scotland need to qualify for Euro 2024?
2023-10-13 15:20
Is England v Australia on TV? Channel, start time and how to watch friendly online tonight
England are in action on Friday night in an increasingly rare international friendly - and their first game since being confirmed as co-hosts of Euro 2028 - taking on Australia at Wembley as a warm-up for next week’s Euro 2024 qualifier. That match against Italy might have the greater meaning but manager Gareth Southgate will look to use the team’s opening fixture as an opportunity to try out new partnerships, welcome a few less-familiar faces back into the fold and perhaps even try out a new formation at some stage. Levi Colwill and Eddie Nketiah are the two uncapped players in the Three Lions’ squad, but a further nine players have won fewer than ten caps apiece, meaning it’s still a group with a large section of inexperience at international level, despite a core of the group seeming to be ever-presents. Australia reached the round of 16 at the Fifa World Cup, losing to eventual winners Argentina, but they have only won once since then from four matches, all friendlies. England, quarter-finalists in Qatar, have won five and drawn one of their six games in 2023. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the game; get the latest odds and tips on England vs Australia here. When is England vs Australia? The Three Lions face the Socceroos on Friday 13 October 2023 at Wembley, with kick-off set for 7:45pm BST. Where can I watch it? All of England’s fixtures outside of international tournaments are for now screened free to air on Channel 4, and can be streamed on the Channel 4 website and app. If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch major sporting events then you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN roundup is here to help: get great deals on the best VPNs in the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are and also with the terms of their service provider. What is the team news? Southgate might opt to shuffle the pack before the Italy match but he has habitually kept a fairly consistent core and just altered a few players around them. As such, the in-form Jarrod Bowen will be one hoping to get a chance, while Trent Alexander-Arnold may get another run-out in midfield in a non-competitive environment having missed out on the last international break through injury. Levi Colwill has impressed for Chelsea so could get a look-in in defence, be it centrally or on the left given no natural left-backs are in the squad. Australia are without a host of regulars including Ajdin Hrustic, Mathew Leckie, Jamie Maclaren and Bailey Wright - plus Aaron Mooy, who has retired. Predicted line-ups ENG: Pickford, Walker, Guehi, Colwill, Trippier, Rice, Alexander-Arnold, Bellingham, Bowen, Kane, Maddison AUS: Ryan, Miller, Rowles, Burgess, Behich, Irvine, Luongo, Baccus, O’Neill, Duke, Mabil Odds England 1/5 Draw 11/2 Australia 11/1 Get the latest odds on all markets here. Prediction Perhaps the game might get a bit more spicy than some previous friendlies have been noted for, on account of the natural sporting rivalry that occurs between these two nations, but ultimately the gap in quality should prove significant. England 3-1 Australia. Read More FA confirms plans to remember victims of conflicts in Israel and Palestine Ollie Watkins: ‘I used to shop in Sainsbury’s ... I came to Villa and I couldn’t’ Former chairman David Bernstein condemns FA’s response to Israel terror attacks James Maddison says timing of international break is ‘annoying’ for Tottenham Maguire reveals Beckham reached out during difficult England moment Harry Kane: ‘Ronaldo and Messi got better after 30 – my career is only at half-time’
2023-10-13 14:58
Chevron Australia, LNG unions make progress in talks, more planned for Monday
By Lewis Jackson SYDNEY Negotiations over a pay and conditions deal between Chevron and unions at its liquefied
2023-10-13 14:51
As good as it gets at the Cricket World Cup: India vs Pakistan before 100,000-plus spectators
Tens of millions of sports fans in south Asia and the rest of the cricket world will have their eyes and ears focused on one thing Saturday — the much-anticipated World Cup match between hosts India and regional rival Pakistan
2023-10-13 14:48
