Connect with us

Sport

As gaza faces blackout israel intensifies ground campaign against hamas in second stage of war

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Israelis to expect a “long and hard” campaign but stopped short of calling the current incursions an invasion, while the Gaza Strip faces a near-total communications and Internet blackoutIsraeli forces waged ground operations against Hamas in Gaza on Sunday in what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the second phase of a three-week-old war aimed at crushing the Palestinian militant group.Gaza’s besieged residents faced a near-total communications and Internet blackout as Israel’s warplanes dropped bombs and its troops and armour pushed into the Hamas-ruled enclave, with Israeli military chiefs signalling they were gearing up for an expanded ground offensive.Speaking at a press conference in Tel Aviv on Saturday, Netanyahu warned Israelis to expect a “long and hard” campaign but stopped short of calling the current incursions an invasion. Some of U.S. President Joe Biden’s aides have advised Israeli counterparts to hold off on an immediate all-out assault, U.S. officials have said.Even as initial ground operations appeared limited for now, Netanyahu pledged to spare no effort to free the more than 200 hostages, including Americans and other foreigners, held by Hamas.“This is the second stage of the war whose goals are clear – to destroy Hamas’ governing and military capabilities and to bring the hostages home,” Netanyahu told reporters.“We are only at the start,” he said. “We will destroy the enemy above ground and below ground.”Israel has tightened its blockade and bombarded Gaza for three weeks since the Islamist group Hamas’ devastating Oct. 7 attack. At least 1,400 Israelis were killed in the deadliest day of the nation’s 75-year history, Israeli authorities said.Western countries have generally backed what they say is Israel’s right to self-defence. But there has been a mounting international outcry over the toll from the bombing and growing calls for a “humanitarian pause” to allow aid to reach Gaza civilians and ease the humanitarian crisis.Medical authorities in the Gaza Strip, which has a population of 2.3 million people, say 7,650 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s campaign to obliterate the Iran-backed militants.President Mahmoud Abbas, whose Palestinian Authority governs parts of the occupied West Bank while Hamas rules Gaza, said, “Our people in the Gaza Strip are facing a war of genocide and massacres committed by the Israeli occupation forces in full view of the entire world.”With many buildings reduced to rubble and shelter hard to find, Gazans are short of food, water, fuel and medicines. Their plight got worse from Friday night when phone and internet services were cut – followed by heavy bombing through the night. The communications outage persisted into Sunday.“God help anyone under the rubble,” said one Gaza journalist, who spent a terrifying night in a building stairway as bombs fell and Israeli forces appeared to exchange fire with Palestinian fighters.Israel’s chief military spokesperson declined to say whether Israel was behind the telecommunications blackout in Gaza but said it would do what it needed to protect its forces.TARGETING MAZE OF HAMAS TUNNELSIsrael sent troops and tanks into Gaza on Friday night, focusing on infrastructure including the extensive tunnel network built by Hamas, the Israeli military said. It provided no details on the size of the deployment.Netanyahu on Saturday reiterated Israel’s call for Palestinian civilians to evacuate the northern Gaza Strip where Israel was focusing its attack on what it was were Hamas hideouts and other installations.But Palestinians say nowhere is safe, with bombs also smashing homes in the south of the densely populated territory.“A humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in front of our eyes,” U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. The U.N. Security Council plans to meet on Monday on the Israel-Gaza crisis, diplomats said.Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk offered his SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network to support communications in Gaza for “internationally recognised aid organisations.” Israel responded that it would fight the move, saying Hamas would “use it for terrorist activities.”Netanyahu, who met with hostages’ families on Saturday, said contacts to secure their release would continue even during a ground offensive and that military pressure on Hamas could help bring them home. He did not elaborate.Qatar-mediated negotiations between Israel and Hamas continued but at a much slower pace than before Friday’s escalation in Gaza, a source briefed on the talks said.Hamas’ armed wing said its fighters battled Israeli troops in northeastern and central Gaza. “Al-Qassam Brigades and all Palestinian resistance forces are fully prepared to confront the aggression with full force and thwart the incursions,” it said.The United States and other Western countries had urged Israel to hold off on launching a major ground offensive for fear of high Palestinian casualties and a widening conflict, as well as to give more time for hostage negotiations. But U.S. officials said it was up to Israel to make its own decisions.Amid fears that the Israel-Hamas war could spiral into a regional conflict, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told reporters Israel had no interest in expanding the fighting beyond Gaza but is prepared on all fronts.The crisis brought hundreds of thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators out in cities around Europe, the Middle East and Asia on Saturday.Reporting by James Mackenzie, Nidal al-Mughrabi; Additional reporting by Emily Rose, Riham Alkousaa, Omar Abdel-Razek, Ari Rabinovitch, Adam Makary, Ali Swafta, John Davison, Michelle Nichols; Writing by Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Cynthia Osterman.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Israelis to expect a “long and hard” campaign but stopped short of calling the current incursions an invasion, while the Gaza Strip faces a near-total communications and Internet blackoutIsraeli forces waged ground operations against Hamas in Gaza on Sunday in what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the second phase of a three-week-old war aimed at crushing the Palestinian militant group.Gaza’s besieged residents faced a near-total communications and Internet blackout as Israel’s warplanes dropped bombs and its troops and armour pushed into the Hamas-ruled enclave, with Israeli military chiefs signalling they were gearing up for an expanded ground offensive.Speaking at a press conference in Tel Aviv on Saturday, Netanyahu warned Israelis to expect a “long and hard” campaign but stopped short of calling the current incursions an invasion. Some of U.S. President Joe Biden’s aides have advised Israeli counterparts to hold off on an immediate all-out assault, U.S. officials have said.Even as initial ground operations appeared limited for now, Netanyahu pledged to spare no effort to free the more than 200 hostages, including Americans and other foreigners, held by Hamas.“This is the second stage of the war whose goals are clear – to destroy Hamas’ governing and military capabilities and to bring the hostages home,” Netanyahu told reporters.“We are only at the start,” he said. “We will destroy the enemy above ground and below ground.”Israel has tightened its blockade and bombarded Gaza for three weeks since the Islamist group Hamas’ devastating Oct. 7 attack. At least 1,400 Israelis were killed in the deadliest day of the nation’s 75-year history, Israeli authorities said.Western countries have generally backed what they say is Israel’s right to self-defence. But there has been a mounting international outcry over the toll from the bombing and growing calls for a “humanitarian pause” to allow aid to reach Gaza civilians and ease the humanitarian crisis.Medical authorities in the Gaza Strip, which has a population of 2.3 million people, say 7,650 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s campaign to obliterate the Iran-backed militants.President Mahmoud Abbas, whose Palestinian Authority governs parts of the occupied West Bank while Hamas rules Gaza, said, “Our people in the Gaza Strip are facing a war of genocide and massacres committed by the Israeli occupation forces in full view of the entire world.”With many buildings reduced to rubble and shelter hard to find, Gazans are short of food, water, fuel and medicines. Their plight got worse from Friday night when phone and internet services were cut – followed by heavy bombing through the night. The communications outage persisted into Sunday.“God help anyone under the rubble,” said one Gaza journalist, who spent a terrifying night in a building stairway as bombs fell and Israeli forces appeared to exchange fire with Palestinian fighters.Israel’s chief military spokesperson declined to say whether Israel was behind the telecommunications blackout in Gaza but said it would do what it needed to protect its forces.TARGETING MAZE OF HAMAS TUNNELSIsrael sent troops and tanks into Gaza on Friday night, focusing on infrastructure including the extensive tunnel network built by Hamas, the Israeli military said. It provided no details on the size of the deployment.Netanyahu on Saturday reiterated Israel’s call for Palestinian civilians to evacuate the northern Gaza Strip where Israel was focusing its attack on what it was were Hamas hideouts and other installations.But Palestinians say nowhere is safe, with bombs also smashing homes in the south of the densely populated territory.“A humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in front of our eyes,” U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. The U.N. Security Council plans to meet on Monday on the Israel-Gaza crisis, diplomats said.Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk offered his SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network to support communications in Gaza for “internationally recognised aid organisations.” Israel responded that it would fight the move, saying Hamas would “use it for terrorist activities.”Netanyahu, who met with hostages’ families on Saturday, said contacts to secure their release would continue even during a ground offensive and that military pressure on Hamas could help bring them home. He did not elaborate.Qatar-mediated negotiations between Israel and Hamas continued but at a much slower pace than before Friday’s escalation in Gaza, a source briefed on the talks said.Hamas’ armed wing said its fighters battled Israeli troops in northeastern and central Gaza. “Al-Qassam Brigades and all Palestinian resistance forces are fully prepared to confront the aggression with full force and thwart the incursions,” it said.The United States and other Western countries had urged Israel to hold off on launching a major ground offensive for fear of high Palestinian casualties and a widening conflict, as well as to give more time for hostage negotiations. But U.S. officials said it was up to Israel to make its own decisions.Amid fears that the Israel-Hamas war could spiral into a regional conflict, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told reporters Israel had no interest in expanding the fighting beyond Gaza but is prepared on all fronts.The crisis brought hundreds of thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators out in cities around Europe, the Middle East and Asia on Saturday.Reporting by James Mackenzie, Nidal al-Mughrabi; Additional reporting by Emily Rose, Riham Alkousaa, Omar Abdel-Razek, Ari Rabinovitch, Adam Makary, Ali Swafta, John Davison, Michelle Nichols; Writing by Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Cynthia Osterman.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Sport

Good news for Skënderbeu: The white and reds against Laçi…

The white and red team is actively preparing for their upcoming match against Laçi. Recent training sessions have revealed encouraging news: all players are healthy and training together, with no injuries reported. Moreover, the newly signed players are nearly ready to join the lineup, demonstrating that they’ve reached an acceptable level of physical fitness during their time at Skënderbeu.

Although these players may not start the match, they are prepared for any situation that arises on the field. The team’s depth is an asset, and even without any suspensions, they are confident heading into Saturday’s game. With a full squad and a positive atmosphere in training, the white and red team is looking forward to the challenge ahead, aiming for a strong performance against Laçi. The combination of teamwork and readiness bodes well for their prospects in the match. The players are eager to showcase their progress and secure a favorable result.

EDITED by: “KORÇA BOOM”

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Sport

Randi Dumfor shares the reasons of his return to Skënderbeu…

Randi Dumfur couldn’t secure a move during the summer transfer window, so he was forced to return to Skënderbeu, where he has an ongoing contract.

Randi expressed his gratitude: “I want to thank Skënderbeu for reopening the door for my return, and I’m very happy about it.” Although he was approached by a club in Arabia, that opportunity fell through. He provided details: “There were several reasons the transfer didn’t happen, primarily related to documentation issues.”

It seems that objective reasons were at play, but what matters now is that Skënderbeu has strengthened its defense. Randi stated, “I’m ready to play in the next match, as I’ve been training individually.”

Team officials also confirmed that Randi is in very good physical condition.

Advertisement

Edited by: “KORÇA BOOM”

Continue Reading

Sport

Laçi has been a “black cat” for Skënderbeu, as the white-and-reds haven’t won in Korçë for 5 years!

On Saturday at 17:00, Skënderbeu will host Laçi in the 6th match of the Superliga. In the first five weeks, Skënderbeu has recorded 1 win, 1 draw, and 3 losses, placing them 9th in the standings with 4 points. Laçi, sitting at the bottom with 3 points from 3 draws and 2 losses, is just one point behind.

This match will feature a showdown between the two bottom teams, and today we bring you the statistics and facts surrounding the Skënderbeu-Laçi clash at the “Skënderbeu” stadium.

In the last 10 encounters between these teams, the statistics favor Laçi. Skënderbeu hasn’t defeated Laçi in the southeastern city for 5 years, making Laçi a “black cat” for them in recent times.

In those 10 matches, Skënderbeu has managed just 1 win, with 5 draws and 4 losses against their rivals.

Advertisement

The last victory for Skënderbeu against Laçi was in February 2019, meaning it has been over 5 years since they celebrated a home win against the Kurbinas.

On February 2, 2019, Skënderbeu defeated Laçi 2-1, with goals from Krasniqi and Pervan from the penalty spot in the second half, while Selmani scored the only goal for the visitors from the spot. Since that day, Skënderbeu has faced only draws and losses against Laçi. Fans hope that this Saturday will break the curse and that Skënderbeu can return to winning ways against Laçi at the “Skënderbeu” stadium.

Last 10 matches at the “Skënderbeu” stadium:

08.05.2024 Skënderbeu-Laçi 1-1

17.12.2023 Skënderbeu-Laçi 0-1

Advertisement

14.05.2022 Skënderbeu-Laçi 1-2

15.01.2022 Skënderbeu-Laçi 0-0

13.03.2021 Skënderbeu-Laçi 0-2

05.12.2020 Skënderbeu-Laçi 1-1

15.06.2020 Skënderbeu-Laçi 1-1

Advertisement

02.11.2019 Skënderbeu-Laçi 1-4

11.02.2019 Skënderbeu-Laçi 2-1

31.08.2018 Skënderbeu-Laçi 1-1

Edited by: “KORÇA BOOM”

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Sport

“Abissnet Superiore”: Week 6 will be played on Saturday and Sunday, featuring the standout derby of the capital, Partizani vs. Tirana

The sixth week of the “Abissnet Superiore” championship will take place on Saturday and Sunday. The first match of this week features Skënderbeu vs. Laçi, set to be held at the Korçë stadium at 17:00.

Saturday evening will culminate in the capital derby, Partizani vs. Tirana. This high-stakes clash of Week 6 will take place at the “Air Albania” stadium at 20:00, promising to be one of the hottest encounters of the “Abissnet Superiore,” where excitement is guaranteed.

Three more matches of Week 6 will be played on Sunday. Vllaznia will face Bylis at “Loro Boriçi” stadium at 17:00. In the evening, two final matches will kick off at 20:00: AF Elbasani will host Egnatia, while Teuta will take on Dinamo City at “Niko Dovana.”

All matches of the “Abissnet Superiore” championship will be broadcast live on RTSH channels.

Advertisement

Edited by: “KORÇA BOOM”

Continue Reading

Sport

Changes at Skënderbeu…

The coach and staff of the Korçë team are preparing for changes in the upcoming match. Recent training sessions indicate that nearly all players acquired during the transfer window have adapted well, signaling a moment for transformation.

Given the team’s lack of points, despite some solid performances, it’s essential to establish a different rhythm. Recently, Randi, a crucial addition to the defense, has joined the squad and is expected to start in Saturday’s match. His presence could bring a fresh dynamic to the team’s strategy.

As the team works to address these issues, the coaching staff is actively planning adjustments to the starting lineup. These changes aim not only to improve performance on the field but also to boost morale among the players. With the pressure mounting, the upcoming match presents an opportunity for Skënderbeu to turn their fortunes around and secure vital points in the league.

Edited by: “KORÇA BOOM”

Advertisement

Continue Reading

Sport

The club officially signs Liridon Balaj for 3 years in the white and red colors

Meanwhile, it was our portal “Korça Boom” that revealed Liridon Balaj as the latest signing yesterday, and today the club has officially announced the acquisition.

In a post, the white and red club states that Balaj has signed a 3-year contract, which is certainly a long-term deal.

Since yesterday, Liridon has been training with the team, and now fans are eagerly awaiting his debut in the Skënderbeu jersey in the Superleague matches.

Here is the club’s latest announcement:

Advertisement

Liridon Balaj officially joins Skënderbeu!

The 25-year-old, who came through the Besa Pejë academy, has signed a contract with the club for the next three years after spending several years playing in Switzerland and Belgium.

EDITED by:

“KORÇA BOOM”

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Sport

SUPER LEAGUE / Week 6 in two days / Here are the matchups, including Skënderbeu vs. Laçi!

The fifth week of the Superleague has now faded with Skënderbeu’s defeat, which drops them to the bottom of the league. The white and reds don’t have time to dwell on their recent loss, as they need to focus on the sixth week of the Superleague.

It is now official that week 6 will take place on Saturday and Sunday, meaning it will be spread over two days. Skënderbeu will kick off this week with their match on Saturday.

Skënderbeu vs. Laçi will be played on September 21 and will start at a different time than usual, at 17:00. The first day, Saturday, will conclude with the capital derby, Partizani vs. Tirana, which will begin at 20:00.

On Sunday, three remaining matches will be played. Vllaznia vs. Bylis will be the first match of the day at 17:00, while the last two matches will kick off at 20:00 in the evening.

Advertisement

SIXTH WEEK OF THE SUPERLEAGUE

Saturday, September 21, 2024

17:00 SKËNDERBEU-LAÇI

20:00 PARTIZANI-TIRANA

Sunday, September 22, 2024

Advertisement

17:00 VLLAZNIA-BYLIS

20:00 ELBASANI-EGNATIA

20:00 TEUTA-DINAMO

EDITED by:

“KORÇA BOOM”

Advertisement

Continue Reading

Sport

The Cup of Albania starts on September 25 / Here is the schedule and when Skënderbeu plays!

The Cup of Albania will kick off on September 25 for the 2024/2025 season. Unlike last season, which featured 44 teams, this edition will have 42 teams—two fewer than the previous season—from the “Abissnet Superiore,” Kategoria e Parë, Kategoria e Dytë, and the champion team of Kategoria e Tretë from the 2023-2024 season.

The 2024-2025 Cup of Albania will consist of a preliminary round and an elimination phase. The teams ranked from first to eighth in the “Abissnet Superiore” for the 2023-2024 season will compete starting from the round of 16.

In the preliminary round, four teams will play. Naftëtari (ranked 9th in Group A of Kategoria e Dytë) will face the team from Basania (the champion of Kategoria e Tretë in the 2023-2024 edition). The winning team will proceed to B16 in the round of 32. The other match in this round will feature Murlani (ranked 10th in Group A of Kategoria e Dytë) against Albanët (ranked 11th in Group A of Kategoria e Dytë). The winning team will proceed to B15 in the round of 32.

The matches in the round of 32 will take place on October 25, involving the teams ranked 9th and 10th in Abissnet Superiore for the 2023-2024 season, along with the 12 teams participating in Kategoria e Parë in the same season, 16 teams ranked in the top eight positions of Kategoria e Dytë groups A and B for the 2023-2024 season, and the two teams that qualify from the preliminary round.

Advertisement

To determine the quarterfinal and semifinal matchups, a free draw will take place, and the matches will be played in a home-and-away format over two legs.

EDITED by:

“KORÇA BOOM”

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Sport

World football is in mourning/ Salvatore “Toto” Schillaci, the former striker of Juventus, Inter, and the Italian national team, has passed away

Former Juventus, Inter, and Italy striker Salvatore “Toto” Schillaci has passed away at the age of 59.

Schillaci won the hearts of Italians and many Albanian fans during the 1990 World Cup. A father of three daughters, he had been suffering from a serious illness for some time and ultimately could not win the most important match of his life.

Edited by:

“KORÇA BOOM”

Advertisement

Continue Reading

Sport

EXCLUSIVE / See who is signing with Skënderbeu. Coming from Belgium and joining the training session!

Skënderbeu has closed the transfer window with yet another signing.

The player in question is Liridon Balaj, a 25-year-old midfielder who, starting today, has joined the training sessions with Skënderbeu and is expected to sign a two-season contract with the club.

It is official that Balaj is now part of Skënderbeu. He grew up in Kosovo with Besa of Peja until 2019, after which he moved to teams such as Aarau in Switzerland, Deinze in Belgium, and then to Schaffhausen in Germany. Recently, as part of the Belgian team Deinze, Liridon has now joined Skënderbeu.

Today, Balaj has started training with Skënderbeu and will now be part of the white and red squad, filling the gaps in the midfield.

Advertisement

During his career, he has managed to score 22 goals and is a player with significant value, but now we are expecting to see him on the field, possibly even in this Saturday’s match.

Welcome Liridon Balaj to the white and red family!

EDITED by:

“KORÇA BOOM”

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Flash News