Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 263 - Al Jazeera English

Here is the situation as it stands on Sunday, November 13.

Fighting

• Residents of the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson celebrated Russian troops’ withdrawal – one of the biggest military achievements for Kyiv since Moscow invaded nearly nine months ago.
• Russian forces destroyed critical infrastructure – including communications, water, heat, and electricity – in Kherson before their withdrawal, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
• Ukraine’s National Police chief Ihor Klymenko said 200 officers were at work in the city, setting up checkpoints and documenting evidence of possible war crimes.
• About 70 percent of the Kherson region remains under Moscow’s control, with Russian troops fortifying their battle lines on the eastern bank of the Dnieper River.
• Russia said the Ukrainian city of Henichesk, located on the Sea of Azov, is now the Kherson region’s temporary administrative capital.

Diplomacy

• Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart President Ebrahim Raisi discussed deepening cooperation on political, trade and economic matters in a phone call.
• Russia said there was no agreement yet to extend a deal allowing Ukraine to export grain through the Black Sea, repeating its insistence on unhindered access to world markets for its own food and fertiliser exports.
• Turkey is committed to seeking peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said. “We are working on how to create a peace corridor here, like we had the grain corridor.”
• Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen called for unity at the East Asia Summit, telling the gathering – including Russia, China and the United States – that current global tensions have taken a toll on everyone.
• Renowned British street artist Banksy appears to be behind the artwork that recently appeared on a destroyed building in Ukraine.

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2022-11-13 07:47:55Z
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US midterm results: Why Democrats winning control of Senate matters - BBC

Reuters

By Anthony Zurcher

North America correspondent

@awzurcher

The Republican midterm flameout is now official. Democrats have retained control of the US Senate. Here's why that matters.

Four days after tens of millions of Americans went to the polls, Catherine Cortez Masto's narrow victory in Nevada late on Saturday finally delivered a decisive result in the national political battle.

The Democrats now lead 50 seats to 49 in the upper chamber of the US Congress. Even if Republicans win the remaining Senate race in Georgia, Vice-President Kamala Harris will be able to cast a tie-breaking vote.

That's been the case for the past two years, of course - and it paves the way for President Joe Biden to spend two more years filling the federal courts with his nominees and staffing his administration largely the way he sees fit.

• Reaction as Democrats win US Senate
• Why Trump is attacking his Republican rivals

Most significantly, should a Supreme Court seat become vacant due to an unexpected retirement or death of a justice, the Republicans would not be able to block Mr Biden's choice. Democrats remember how back in 2016, then-Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell prevented Barack Obama's nominee from getting a hearing at all.

The win in Nevada means the Georgia Senate run-off on 6 December is no longer a pivotal contest to determine control of the chamber. Mr Biden, however, said "it's simply better" for Democrats to get to 51 seats. The extra cushion certainly makes it easier to manage a majority and it will also help in 2024 when the party will have more at-risk seats to defend.

There is still a likelihood, although not certainty, that the Republicans will control a slim majority in the House of Representatives, bringing a variety of headaches for the president.

His legislative agenda is dead, and more aggressive Republican oversight is in store, but even that has a silver lining - if his political opponents are unable to effectively govern due to internal discord.

The consequences of this history-defying midterm election result are still being revealed.

Donald Trump's political future has been damaged, although how enduringly remains to be seen. Joe Biden's standing within his party has been bolstered. The political world in the US looks considerably different than it did just a week ago.

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2022-11-13 07:35:38Z
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Dallas air show crash: Two World War Two planes collide in mid-air - bbc.co.uk

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By George Wright

BBC News

Two vintage World War Two-era planes have collided and crashed at an air show in the US state of Texas, killing at least two.

Footage shows the aircraft striking each other at a low altitude, breaking one of the aircraft in half. A fireball can be seen as it hits the ground.

The planes - one of them a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress - were taking part in a commemorative air show near Dallas.

It was not immediately clear how many people were in the two aircraft.

The Allied Pilots Association, which represents American Airlines pilots, said Terry Barker and Len Root - two of its former members - were among people who died in the collision.

Other media reports suggest as many as six people may have died in the collision.

Eyewitness Chris Kratovil - who was one of between 4,000 and 6,000 who had gathered to watch the Wings Over Dallas Airshow on Saturday - told the BBC he had "never seen a crowd grow more quiet or more still in just a blink of an eye".

"It went from being a fairly excited, energetic crowd... to complete silence and stillness, and a lot of people, including myself, turned their children towards them and away from the airfield because there was burning wreckage in the middle of the airfield."

The Federal Aviation Administration said it will investigate the crash at the three-day event, which describes itself as the US's premiere WW2 air show and was being held in honour of Veterans Day,

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson called it a "terrible tragedy".

"The videos are heart-breaking," he tweeted. "Please, say a prayer for the souls who took to the sky to entertain and educate our families today."

The number of casualties are not yet confirmed, he said, but added that nobody on the ground had been reported injured.

The event's website states that several planes had been scheduled to do a flyover demonstration on Saturday.

The B-17 bomber played a major role in winning the air war against Germany in WW2.

The second plane, a P-63 Kingcobra, was a fighter aircraft used in the same war, but used in combat only by the Soviet Air Force.

The B-17 usually has a crew of about four to five people, while the P-63 has a single pilot, said Hank Coates, from the Commemorative Air Force which organised the event - but he could not confirm any fatalities.

"This was a WW2 flight demonstration type air show where we highlight the aircraft and their capabilities," he told reporters.

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2022-11-13 07:25:01Z
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US midterms: Senate race neck and neck as Democrat Mark Kelly wins Arizona - BBC

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By Jude Sheerin in Washington & George Wright in London

BBC News

US President Joe Biden's Democrats have inched closer to keeping control of the Senate, with a projected win in Arizona following the midterm elections.

Three days after Americans voted, the BBC's US partner CBS estimates Democrat Mark Kelly has beaten Republican challenger Blake Masters.

That would leave the Senate at 49 Democratic seats and 49 Republican seats.

Just Nevada and Georgia are yet to be decided.

The vote count in Nevada is neck and neck, while Georgia's race will be settled by a run-off election next month.

If Democrats win either of the two remaining races they will remain in control of the upper chamber of Congress because the US vice-president can cast a tie-breaking vote on their behalf.

Republicans could still take control of the US House of Representatives as votes continue to be tallied from a handful of districts after Tuesday's elections.

If the Republicans win either or both chambers of Congress they could thwart much of Mr Biden's agenda.

Mr Kelly, a former astronaut whose wife, Gabby Giffords, survived an assassination attempt when she was a US lawmaker, was first elected two years ago to serve out the remainder of the late John McCain's Senate term.

In a statement, Mr Kelly said: "From day one, this campaign has been about the many Arizonans - Democrats, Independents, and Republicans - who believe in working together to tackle the significant challenges we face.

"That's exactly what I've done in my first two years in office and what I will continue to do for as long as I'm there."

Mr Masters, a 36-year-old venture capitalist, had been endorsed by former President Donald Trump without political experience. He had refused to accept the 2020 election results and repeated false claims of election fraud.

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The Masters campaign did not immediately acknowledge the defeat, while various Republicans have alleged that vote-counting was marred by fraud and incompetence.

However, election official Bill Gates, himself a Republican, called for all those involved to "calm down a little bit and turn down the rhetoric".

The result is another blow to the Republicans, who were hoping for a "red wave" - an electoral rout which would deliver a harsh rebuke of President Joe Biden and the Democrats.

While the party has made modest gains and remains favoured to win the House of Representatives, the Senate remained hotly contested and the Democrats have performed better than expected.

Mr Biden has said the election was a "good day" for US democracy.

• Why a Republican 'wave' never happened
• How Republican Ron DeSantis conquered Florida
• Why Trump is attacking his Republican rivals

The midterm elections are for Congress, which is made up of two parts - the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Congress makes nationwide laws. The House decides which laws are voted on while the Senate can block or approve them, confirm appointments made by the president and, more rarely, conduct any investigations against him.

These votes are held every two years and when they fall in the middle of the president's four-year term of office.

Each state has two senators, who sit for six-year terms. Representatives serve for two years, and represent smaller districts.

All the seats in the House of Representatives were up for election in the midterms, alongside one-third of the Senate.

Several major states also have elections for their governor and local officials.

• Results in maps and charts
• Why results take so long
• More female governors win office
• How many 2020 election deniers won?

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2022-11-12 12:37:52Z
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Democrat Mark Kelly wins in Arizona senate race, with overall control still in the balance - Sky News

Fromer astronaut Mark Kelly has defeated his republican rival in Arizona's senate race, with just two more seats left to be decided.

In a statement, the 58-year-old Mr Kelly, the incumbent senator, said: "Thank you to the people of Arizona for re-electing me to the United States Senate.

"From day one, this campaign has been about the many Arizonans - Democrats, Independents, and Republicans - who believe in working together to tackle the significant challenges we face.

"That's exactly what I've done in my first two years in office and what I will continue to do for as long as I'm there.

"It's been one of the great honours of my life to serve as Arizona's senator.

"I'm humbled by the trust our state has placed in me to continue this work."

Mr Kelly is a former US Navy captain and retired astronaut who made four trips into space, including missions delivering equipment, supplies and crew to the International Space Station.

More on Arizona

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His Republican rival for the Arizona seat was Blake Masters, a 36-year-old venture capitalist.

Image: Mr Kelly and his Republican challenger Blake Masters. Pic: AP

Read more:
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Midterms are a very unreliable way of predicting the next president | Adam Boulton
Surge of support for Trump's Republicans fails to take off

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If Mr Kelly's victory leaves the senate tied at 49-49, with control hinging on contests in Nevada and Georgia.

The Democrats need one more seat, as Democrat Vice President Kamala Harris can cast a tie-breaking vote.

In Nevada, incumbent Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto is within 800 votes of the Republican state attorney general Adam Laxalt.

The outcome in Georgia could be weeks away, with Democrat incumbent Raphael Warnock to face Republican Herschel Walker in a 6 December run-off.

Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts

In the fight for control of the House of Representatives, Republicans are edging closer to taking the majority - a move that would end four years of Democrat rule.

Read more:
Donald Trump may soon be yesterday's news as America's right-wing media turns to Ron DeSantis
Could Florida governor Ron DeSantis thwart Donald Trump's fresh run for the White House?

Republicans had at least 211 of the 218 seats they needed on Thursday, according to Edison Research projections.

The Democrats had won 199, with many of the undecided races in Arizona, California, and Washington state.

If the Republicans do cement a House victory, they would be able to veto President Joe Biden's agenda, severely limiting any progress he might have hoped to make between now and the 2024 election.

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2022-11-12 05:23:56Z
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Banksy unveils Ukraine gymnast mural on building shelled by Russia - BBC

Ed Ram/Getty Images

By Adam Durbin

BBC News

Renowned graffiti-artist Banksy has unveiled his latest work on a building devastated by shelling in Ukraine.

Banksy posted a picture on Instagram of the artwork, a gymnast doing a handstand amid debris, in Borodyanka.

Murals spotted in and around Ukraine's capital Kyiv had led to speculation the anonymous artist was working in the war-torn country.

Another, not officially claimed, depicts a man resembling Vladimir Putin being defeated at Judo by a child.

The graffiti artist posted three images of the gymnast mural in the wreckage left by Russian shelling, with a caption merely stating "Borodyanka, Ukraine".

Borodyanka was one of the places hardest hit by Russia's bombardment of Ukraine in the immediate aftermath of the 24 February invasion.

Russian soldiers occupied the town - located around 30 miles (48km) north west of Ukraine's capital Kyiv - for weeks in the initial phase of the war, before it was eventually liberated by Ukraine in April.

A second piece in Borodyanka, which has not been confirmed to be by Banksy, depicts a man resembling Vladimir Putin being flipped during a judo match with a young boy. The Russian president is a judo black belt and noted admirer of the martial art.

Ed Ram/Getty Images

After the town was recaptured, the BBC News international editor Jeremy Bowen - a veteran war correspondent - said the destruction wrought by the Russian shelling of Borodynaka was the worst he had seen in Ukraine at the time.

Several witnesses said that Russian troops stopped attempts to dig survivors out of wrecked buildings, threatening people who wanted to do so at gunpoint.

BBC News has also heard the story of a local police officer who lost six family members - his mother, father, brother, grandmother, wife and one-year-old daughter - in a single Russian strike.

The third artwork that appears to be painted by Banksy shows a female rhythmic gymnast, wearing a neck brace, performing with a ribbon on top of a gaping hole in the side of a building in Irpin.

Ed Ram/Getty Images

The town, which is on the outskirts of Kyiv, was the site of a notorious massacre of hundreds of civilians by occupying Russian troops.

A fourth work, which also resembles Banksy's signature spray-painted style, portrays two children sitting on a metal tank trap and using it as a seesaw spray painted onto a concrete defensive block in Kyiv.

Banksy is one of the world's most famous artists - while also remaining completely anonymous.

He rose to fame with stencilled designs around Bristol in the early 1990s. But over the years, examples of his work have popped up in Paris, New York and Park City, in Utah

Often described as "elusive" and "secretive" by the press, the "guerrilla street artist" has a legion of fans that includes A-list celebrities.

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2022-11-12 04:57:30Z
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Ukraine war: Celebrations as Kyiv takes back key city Kherson - BBC

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By Paul Adams and James FitzGerald

BBC News

Ukrainian soldiers have been welcomed into Kherson by jubilant residents, after Russia said it had fully withdrawn from the key southern city.

Video showed locals on the streets, flying Ukraine's national flag and chanting as Kyiv's troops arrived.

Some sang patriotic songs around a large camp fire well into the night.

Kherson was the only regional capital taken by Russia after February's invasion. The retreat has been seen as one of its biggest setbacks of the war.

Moscow said 30,000 personnel had been taken out of the area - as well as around 5,000 pieces of military hardware, weaponry and other assets.

The White House hailed what it called an "extraordinary victory", while Ukrainian President Zelensky called it an "historic day".

But Ukraine's foreign minister said the "war goes on". Speaking in Cambodia on the sidelines of a summit of Asian countries, Dmytro Kuleba said: "We are winning battles on the ground. But the war continues."

An evening update on Friday from the Ukrainian side said troops had pushed as far forwards as the western bank of the Dnipro river.

Images also emerged showing that the main river crossing - the Antonivsky Bridge - had partially collapsed. It remains unclear how the damage was caused.

The Russian troops who occupied Kherson are thought to be taking up new positions on the eastern side of the river.

A Kherson resident described his "overwhelming" emotions as people emerged singing and dancing onto the streets.

Alexei Sandakov revealed his full name to the BBC, having previously referred to himself only as "Jimmy". He said Kherson was "free now. It's different. Everyone is crying since this morning".

He added that "everybody wanted to embrace" the arriving Ukrainian soldiers.

The city's change of control followed a rapid Ukrainian counter-offensive in recent months, in which Kyiv said it had recaptured 41 settlements near Kherson.

In his evening address, President Zelensky said the people of Kherson "were waiting" and "never gave up on Ukraine".

He added that residents had been working to remove "any traces of the occupiers' stay" from the streets, including Russian symbols.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin denied the move represented a humiliating defeat.

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For weeks, the Kremlin has regarded Kherson and its locality as its own territory, after running so-called "referendums" in four occupied provinces of east and south Ukraine.

These votes were widely discredited by the international community, and Ukraine kept up its efforts to take back the affected land.

Russia's withdrawal from Kherson was announced on Wednesday by the country's commander in Ukraine, who said it was no longer possible to supply the city.

Although there was little evidence of any Russian retreat on Thursday, Ukraine claimed advances of up to 7km on two axes as its troops pushed forwards.

Events continued to move quickly on Friday. Initial reports that the Russians had abandoned Kherson came from locals.

Crowds of flag-waving civilians were later filmed in Freedom Square, greeting Kyiv's soldiers and chanting: "Glory to the Armed Forces of Ukraine!"

On Friday afternoon, Alexei Sandakov appeared to be still adapting to the new situation on the ground, commenting: "No-one is going to sleep tonight."

The local television service in Kherson was also reconnected to Ukrainian broadcasts.

• Steve Rosenberg: Putin can't escape fallout from Russian retreat
• We will not negotiate with war criminals - Ukraine

Shortly after 16:00 local time (14:00 GMT), a Ukrainian official said his troops were "almost fully in control" of Kherson, as well as the wider tranche of land to the west of the Dnipro river.

Troops were treading carefully amid fears of Russian traps, said Yuriy Sak, an adviser to the defence minister.

Mr Sak told the BBC that some enemy soldiers were believed to be lingering in the city, had cast off their uniforms and were trying to disguise themselves as civilians. He urged them to surrender.

He hailed Kherson's recapture as a major win comparable to his side's successful efforts earlier in the war to drive Russian troops away from other urban centres - namely Kyiv, Chernihiv and Kharkiv.

But he said he remained "cautious", citing the possibility of Russian retaliations, and referring to a missile attack in Mykolaiv earlier in the day, which allegedly killed at least seven people.

Mr Sak vowed to retake further territory from Russia, including land that has been occupied by the neighbouring country since 2014.

In Russia, the exit from Kherson has been played down by officials and styled as a "redeployment" - despite criticism from pro-war commentators on social media.

Mr Putin was notably absent from Wednesday's announcement by the military that Russian forces were leaving the city they had snatched, virtually unopposed, in the early stages of the war.

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2022-11-12 04:39:08Z
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