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Kosovan police sealed off the area around the monastery in Banjska Kosovo and Serbia have traded accusations over a deadly stand-off between ethnic Serb gunmen and police in northern Kosovo. One policeman and three of the gunmen were killed during a siege of a Serbian Orthodox monastery in Banjska village on Sunday. Kosovo's PM Albin Kurti accused Serbia of supporting the armed group. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said Kosovo officials bore ultimate responsibility for the deaths. He said the three gunmen killed were Kosovo Serbs. Sunday's clash marks one of the gravest escalations in Kosovo for years, and follows months of mounting tension between the two sides. Kosovo declared independence in 2008 but Serbia - along with Belgrade's key allies China and Russia - does not recognise it. Many Serbs consider it the birthplace of their nation. But of the 1.8 million people living in Kosovo, 92% are ethnic Albanians and only 6% are ethnic Serbs. An armed man could be seen with a priest inside the monastery in Banjska on Sunday The shooting began at about 03:00 local time (01:00 GMT), after Kosovan police said they arrived in Banjska, where about 30 heavily armed gunmen had earlier barricaded themselves in the monastery near the Serbian border. Three of the gunmen were killed in battles through the day as police mounted what Kosovo's interior minister Xhelal Svecla described as a "clearance operation". "We put this territory under control. It was done after several consecutive battles," he said. The local authorities said six people were arrested, and a significant number of weapons was seized. The authorities did not say whether those detained took part in the attack. Meanwhile, the Serbian Orthodox Church said the gunmen had left the monastery by night, Reuters news agency reported. The Kosovan police officer was killed before the occupation of the monastery. Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti blamed "Serbia-sponsored criminals" for the incursion, saying they were "professionals, with military and police background" who were financed and motivated by Belgrade. Serbia's President Vucic hit back, blaming Mr Kurti for months of "provocations". While describing the death of the Kosovo police officer as "absolutely reprehensible", he said Mr Kurti bore responsibility for the incident. "His only wish is to drag us into a war with Nato and that's the only thing he does all day". Mr Vucic said there would have been fewer victims had Nato-led KFOR peacekeepers intervened. There are currently about 4,500 peacekeepers in Kosovo. The EU's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, condemned what he called the "hideous attack", saying those responsible must be brought to justice. Tensions have run high in Kosovo, after violent clashes followed disputed local elections in May Kosovo Albanian mayors were installed in majority-ethnic Serb areas, after local residents boycotted the polls. Mr Borrell blamed Mr Kurti for failing to set up the association of Serb-majority municipalities which would give them more autonomy. Nato deployed an additional 700 troops to Kosovo to deal with unrest in the northern town Zvecan following the elections. Some 30 Nato peacekeepers and more than 50 Serb protesters were hurt in the ensuing clashes. Link

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Nick movie: Monsters, Inc. Time: November 2, 2001 Netflix / Amazon / HBO: N/A Duration of the movie: 92 M Trailer:

Audi’s compact electric SUV gets a new motor and a new max range of 339 miles Audi has been fiddling with the Q4 e-tron ahead of the 2024 model year, and it has managed to make it more efficient, more powerful and able to accept faster charging. Decent effort that. Future Q4 e-tron and Q4 Sportback e-tron models will still have 77kWh batteries (it looks as though the smaller 52kWh ‘35’ version has been dropped), but the cell chemistry has been optimised so that max charging capability is up from 125kW to 135kW for single-motor, rear-wheel drive models and 175kW for twin-motor, all-wheel drive versions. And no matter which powertrain you pick, you’ll now get a more efficient permanently excited synchronous motor powering the rear axle. That means more power – 282bhp for the single-motor and 335bhp for the twin-motor quattro, up from 201bhp and 295bhp respectively. It also means slightly better range, with the slippery Sportback in single-motor form able to get you the furthest – that’s up from 328 miles to 339 miles on one charge. Oh, and the names of the specs has changed to reflect this update. Whereas before you had ‘40’ and ‘50’ versions, you now have ‘45’ and ‘55’ and a choice between the SUV and the Sportback. Get it? But that’s not all, because Audi has also added new driver assistance systems (including an auto lane change function) and retuned both suspension setups (there’s standard suspension or a sport setup that’s 15mm lower). We’re told that has improved steering response, sportiness and agility. In the UK you’ll be able to order these updated Q4 e-trons from next week, with the range kicking off at £49,915 for the 45 SUV in Sport trim. Prices then creep all the way up to the top spec 55 Sportback in Black Edition trim. That’ll set you back a cool £62,595. Link

The outing comes seven months after Jimmy Carter entered hospice care at his home following a series of brief hospital stays. Former President Jimmy Carter. Former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn Carter, were spotted Saturday at a festival in his hometown of Plains, Georgia. The Carter Center re-shared a video of the former President, 98, and former first lady, 96, riding in a black SUV at the Plains Peanut Festival. "Beautiful day for President & Mrs. Carter to enjoy a ride through the Plains Peanut Festival! And just a week before he turns 99," the center wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. "We’re betting peanut butter ice cream is on the menu for lunch! #JimmyCarter99." Carter Center CEO Paige Alexander said in statement that the former president and first lady “care deeply about their hometown, and it’s great to see them feeling the love from their neighbors and friends in Plains.” The outing comes seven months after the longest-lived U.S. president entered hospice care at his home following a series of brief hospital stays. He said at the time that he was going to stop further medical intervention and spend the remainder of his life at home. Carter did not disclose an illness. A few months later, in May, it was revealed that the former first lady was diagnosed with dementia. Jason Carter, chairman of the Carter Center’s Board of Trustees, told USA Today last week that the couple is happy. They marked their 77th wedding anniversary in July. "They are together. They are at home. They’re in love, and I don’t think anyone gets more than that," he said. "I mean, it’s a perfect situation for this time in their lives." "They’re both doing as well as can be expected," Jason Carter continued. The former president has had his share of health complications. In August 2015, he was diagnosed with melanoma cancer that had spread to his liver and brain — but was later declared cancer-free. In 2019, he suffered a black eye in a fall and was later hospitalized with a fractured pelvis from a separate fall. Link

French rapper MHD has been given a 12-year jail term for the murder of a young man in Paris in 2018. A court in the capital found the 29-year-old MHD, real name Mohamed Sylla, guilty of involvement in the gang-related killing of Loic K, 23. The victim was knocked down by MHD's Mercedes, then beaten and stabbed to death by a crowd of about 12 people. MHD, who is known for blending trap and West African music to get "Afro trap", pleaded not guilty to the charges. "From the beginning, I have maintained my innocence in this case and I will continue to maintain my innocence," he told the packed court in Paris, AFP news agency reports. He denied being at the scene of the murder, arguing that the case against him was based on rumours. However, a local resident filmed the incident in the summer of 2018 from his window, and the car was quickly identified as belonging to MHD. Other witnesses identified him by his haircut and a jumper, AFP reports. Five of MHD's co-defendants were also given prison terms ranging between 10 and 18 years. Another three were acquitted. It was not immediately known if those sentenced to jail were planning to appeal. MHD, who has a huge following on social media, was working as a pizza delivery boy in Paris before turning to music professionally. Five years ago, he spoke to BBC's What's New? programme about how he came up with the idea of "Afro trap". Link

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Nick movie: Monsters University Time: June 5, 2013 Netflix / Amazon / HBO: N/A Duration of the movie: 104 M Trailer:

“The practice of equine tail docking was discontinued earlier this year,” said Budweiser's parent company, Anheuser-Busch. “The safety and well-being of our beloved Clydesdales is our top priority.” Anheuser-Busch introduced its horse-drawn beer wagon in the 1930s to celebrate the repeal of Prohibition. Anheuser-Busch says it has ended its practice of cutting the tails of the famous Clydesdale horses used in Budweiser commercials and at events after it faced backlash from animal rights advocates. "The practice of equine tail docking was discontinued earlier this year,” Anheuser-Busch said in a statement. “The safety and well-being of our beloved Clydesdales is our top priority." Over the past year, the beverage giant has faced mounting backlash over the practice known as “docking,” which can involve cutting through a horse’s tailbone for cosmetic reasons. The animal rights organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said an investigation found that Budweiser horses' tails were docked for cosmetic purposes. Budweiser Clydesdale horses with shortened tails in Houston in 2014. Tailbone amputation for cosmetic reasons is banned in at least 10 states and several countries, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, which condemns the practice. The American Association of Equine Practitioners has also condemned tailbone amputation for cosmetic reasons. PETA asserts that the docking procedure can be painful. The American Veterinary Medical Association has said welfare concerns appear to relate less to the pain equine docking might cause and more to the surgery’s being unnecessary, while also limiting a horse's ability to fend off flies and biting insects using its tail. In a news release, PETA welcomed Anheuser-Busch's announcement, saying its staff was celebrating by "cracking open some cold ones." "This victory comes after dozens of PETA protests, nationwide ad campaigns, and pleas from more than 121,000 concerned consumers, and it sends a message to other companies that animal abuse doesn’t sell," the organization said. Anheuser-Busch, whose sales plunged following its partnership with the transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney, introduced its horse-drawn beer wagon in the 1930s to celebrate the repeal of Prohibition, according to its website. Since then, the Clydesdale horses have become synonymous with the Budweiser brand. “From the Prohibition era to Super Bowl commercials, there is perhaps nothing more iconic in Budweiser’s storied history than its team of Clydesdale horses,” Anheuser-Busch says on its website. “More than just a mascot, the Clydesdales have been an integral part of Anheuser-Busch for more than 80 years.” Link

Special dampers, big brakes and some paint mark out a Japan-only 86 special Toyota is celebrating 40 years since the original AE86 entered stage right, mostly sideways, through a series of tweaks to its RWD hero. And as befits a 40th anniversary gift, there is a ‘ruby’ present. Because it’s red. One of them, anyway. The other one’s white, but both cars get an interesting suite of upgrades that should sharpen up the already-really-very-good base GR86 coupe. Said upgrades include a shiny new set of Sachs dampers said to “achieve both comfort and stability”, along with a shiny new set of rather large ventilated Brembo brake discs said to offer “stable braking power even under difficult conditions”. Frankly, all this talk of ‘stability’ is unnerving considering it pays homepage to a famously unstable drift hero. Still, it looks the part, complete with black detailing, new wheels and tyres, and the option of some anniversary decals and a neat rear spoiler to finish off the exterior finish. Inside it’s as before, only with more black and red detailing, and you should definitely spec the optional anniversary floor mats. Only 200 of these special GR86s will be built, and they’re all being kept for Japan, available via lottery that you can enter from 25 Sept through to 9 October. So it won’t matter to consumers outside of Japan that the manual GR86 costs 3,822,000 yen, or that the automatic car costs 3,920,000 yen. Yeah, happy anniversary. Link

New York fundraisers told NBC News that dissatisfaction with the president’s handling of the migrant issue was a recurring issue. NEW YORK — The Biden administration’s announcement Wednesday granting temporary protected status to hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan migrants who crossed the border without legal documentation came after heavy lobbying from New York’s top Democratic officials, particularly New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul. But President Joe Biden and his staff also faced mounting pressure behind the scenes from some donors and supporters, as well as former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Biden attended several fundraisers this week while attending the United Nations General Assembly meeting, and the issue came up at those events, sources told NBC News. President Joe Biden during the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute 46th Annual Gala in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. Kathryn Wylde of the Partnership for New York City, the preeminent advocacy group for the New York City business community, was involved in negotiations between the White House and the city’s government and business leaders. She said the fact that the president received an earful from donors about the humanitarian crisis in the city was impactful. “Hearing from donors at his fundraisers about how much damage was being inflicted on the city and state budgets as a result of the failure of the federal government to act, the humanitarian issues associated with people being in a federal process for years without being able to work and support themselves, I think that had to be pretty compelling,” Wylde said. “Absolutely. It worked,” a Democratic source involved in fundraising for the president at an event this week said. “We made enough noise and have enough money to have a big influence,” the source said, adding that a number of donors and CEOs engaged in calls with Biden campaign staffers and wrote letters to the White House in recent weeks about the issue — specifically asking him to extend temporary protected status. “So now those people are more committed to him,” the person added. The Biden campaign declined to comment for this story, but when asked if New York donors and fundraisers had an impact on the decision to expand temporary protected status for Venezuelans, a Biden administration official replied, “No, that is not how the administration makes decisions.” A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said the decision on migrants was “based on extraordinary and temporary conditions in Venezuela that prevent their nationals from returning in safety.” “This Administration has called on Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform since day one,” the spokesperson added in an emailed response. “As a result of Congress’ failure to enact the reform, the DHS has been using the limited tools it has available to secure the border and build a safe, orderly, and humane immigration system while leading the largest expansion of lawful pathways for immigration in decades.” Temporary protected status gives the affected individuals a faster path to work authorization and the ability to live in the country without fear of deportation. New Yorkers have been frustrated with the lack of federal government assistance for dealing with 60,000 migrants living in the city’s shelter system. Two sources involved in fundraisers during Biden’s visit said the reluctance was pervasive enough that the Biden campaign distributed a list of talking points on the administration’s migrant policies to event organizers to use in conversations with donors. A third person not involved in the fundraisers also shared the talking points. The document included notes that Biden inherited a broken immigration system, and that the administration is “working collaboratively with partners in NY to solve the crisis,” according to a copy obtained by NBC News. One of the sources said they were not aware of the campaign distributing them on any other issues, but another organizer said they had also seen a second set of campaign talking points on the president’s infrastructure bill and child care policies. The three sources also described phone conversations between donors in recent weeks during which they discussed withholding their contributions as a strategy to get the Biden administration to use the powers it has to put migrants to work more quickly. Last week, one of the individuals, who was involved in hosting a “Lawyers for Biden” event in the city Wednesday, said that organizers were struggling to sell tickets and that some donors had curtailed or backed off on previous commitments to the campaign. It’s not yet clear what the final numbers were from the event, but a Biden campaign official pushed back at the time and said the event was exceeding expectations for the number of expected attendees. “The campaign has been told by the people who are major donors in the New York area that this is a problem for fundraising efforts,” the Democrat organizer said. “The immigration problem in New York City is impacting the ability to raise money in this quarter.” A Siena College poll released in late August found that 82% of New Yorkers said the recent influx in migrants is a “serious problem.” The Biden campaign maintained that it has seen no dip in enthusiasm from New York area donors. Campaign spokesperson Kevin Munoz cited "four fundraisers on top of a very busy official schedule in New York City, including a sold out, 1,500-seat Broadway event on a Monday night." "Objectively, that schedule speaks to high donor interest and a strong fundraising schedule," he said. The federal government has allocated more than $140 million in aid to New York City and has announced plans to send another $100 million to help New York City public schools absorb migrant children. But Adams has said the city could be facing $12 billion in costs as a result of the crisis. He praised the Biden administration’s decision Wednesday as an “important step” but hopes to see it “extend Temporary Protected Status to the tens of thousands of other migrants in our care from other countries.” Link

A Ukrainian missile strike has hit the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea Fleet in Crimea. A serviceman is missing after the missile attack, according to Moscow. Footage on social media shows plumes of smoke over the building in Sevastopol. The fleet is an important target for Kyiv and is seen as the best of Russia's navy. Ukraine has hit several targets in Crimea recently, including an air-defence system and two naval vessels. Against the backdrop of the attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the Canadian parliament to give a speech in which he thanked Canada for being an "example for others around the world" in its support of his country. Canada is home to a large Ukrainian diaspora. Mr Zelensky, who was given multiple standing ovations, said "people will be the winners, not the Kremlin", and insisted Ukraine could call on support as it was about "saving lives of millions of people". Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged additional support worth 650m Canadian dollars ($482m, £394m), including 50 armoured vehicles and training for F-16 fighter jet pilots and engineers. Is Ukraine trying to retake Crimea? A Ukrainian military source told the BBC that Friday's attack on Crimea was carried out using Storm Shadow missiles, which are supplied by Britain and France, highlighting the importance of Western weaponry to Kyiv. Russia's defence ministry said five missiles were shot down by its air defences, while the Ukrainian military-linked StratCom Ukraine said Ukraine had "successfully" hit the naval base. Ukraine's air force commander Gen Mykola Oleshchuk said on Telegram "we told you there'd be more". Kyiv's forces have recently been launching near-daily strikes against Russian forces based in Crimea. Last week, Ukraine's navy claimed to have knocked out an S-400 air defence missile battery covering the peninsula, degrading Russia's ability to defend against fresh attacks. A day earlier, a large Russian landing ship and submarine were damaged in an attack which Ukraine said also made use of Storm Shadow missiles. The attacks on Crimea are strategically and symbolically important. As well as being a platform from which to attack Ukraine, the Black Sea fleet is a major symbol of Russia's centuries-old military presence in the region. It was based in Crimea under a leasing deal even before Russia illegally annexed the peninsula in 2014. President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia had to take control of Crimea to stop it from falling into Western hands. Russia has also repeatedly threatened to use the fleet to block shipping routes used by Ukraine to export grain. The Ukrainian president is visiting North America, where he has been urging world leaders to continue to support Ukraine. On Thursday, he met President Joe Biden in Washington where there is growing scepticism - particularly among Republicans - over the level of funding for Kyiv. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky was visiting Canada for the first time since Russia's invasion But speaking at a news conference in Ottawa on Friday, Mr Zelensky said Russia was "spreading disinformation, spreading its narratives all around the place" to try to divide the unity of the rest of the world. Asked about reports in the US media that President Biden had agreed to supply Ukraine with a small number of long-range missiles, Mr Zelensky did not directly answer the question but said the two countries were discussing "all the different types of weapons", including long-range weapons, artillery shells and air defence systems. "I believe that [on] the majority of what has been discussed yesterday with President Biden, I think will be able to reach agreement." He said it was a matter of time but added "quite frankly the sooner, the less people we will lose". The US already provides far more financial aid and weapons to Ukraine than any other country. Link

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Nick movie: Doctor Strange Time: October 13, 2016 Netflix / Amazon / HBO: N/A Duration of the movie: 115 M Trailer: