UN PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN DR CONGO EXTENDED BY ONE YEAR AS FIGHTING RAGES. (PHOTO)

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 UN peacekeeping mission in DR Congo extended by one year as fighting rages The UN Security Council has extended the UN peacekeeping mission in DR Congo, known as MONUSCO, for a year, as fighting in the region escalated despite a US-mediated peace deal. The UN’s most powerful body renewed the peacekeepers' mandate, keeping about 11,500 military personnel in the country, in a unanimously adopted resolution. The Security Council also condemned an offensive by the M23 rebels, demanded Rwanda stop supporting the rebels and withdraw its troops. The resolution comes as M23 claimed Wednesday to have withdrawn from Uvira, a strategic city in eastern Congo it seized last week, after pressure from the US. DR Congo's government said the withdrawal was “staged” and that the rebels were still in the city. US deputy ambassador Jennifer Locetta told the Security Council on Friday that M23 must immediately withdraw at least 75 kilometers (47 miles) away from Uvira. M23 took control of the city...

UPDATE: INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED INTO PLANE CRASH THAT KILLED NASCAR DRIVER BIFFLE AND SIX OTHERS. (PHOTO).


 Investigation launched into plane crash that killed NASCAR driver Biffle and six others

  Federal investigators are examining why a business jet carrying retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and six others crashed shortly after takeoff in North Carolina, killing everyone on board. The Cessna C550 struck light poles and trees before hitting the ground about a third of a mile from the airport runway, erupting into flames. The jet had departed Statesville Regional Airport, north of Charlotte, and crashed while attempting to return less than 10 minutes later.

Flight records show the plane was registered to a company run by Biffle. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recovered the cockpit voice recorder and are probing why the aircraft returned in drizzle and cloudy conditions. The flight carried three pilots: Dennis Dutton, his son Jack, and Biffle. Biffle, 55, was rated to fly helicopters and single- and multi-engine planes but was not qualified to serve as a co-pilot on this jet. Dutton was rated for the aircraft but was required to fly with a co-pilot. Jack Dutton was licensed for single-engine planes only, raising questions about the crew configuration.

Also on board were Biffle’s wife, Cristina, and their children Ryder, 5, and Emma, 14. Cristina reportedly sent her mother a text before the crash saying, “We’re in trouble.” The plane’s speed and altitude fluctuated dramatically, suggesting the crew encountered a serious issue and attempted to return to the airport. At one point, the jet climbed from 1,800 to 4,000 feet before descending rapidly, ultimately striking obstacles only a few hundred feet from the runway.

Biffle was a celebrated NASCAR driver, with more than 50 wins across the sport’s three major series, including a Truck Series championship in 2000 and an Xfinity Series title in 2002. He was also recognized for humanitarian efforts, including delivering aid by helicopter after Hurricane Helene in 2024.

The Statesville airport will remain closed for at least several days as the NTSB continues its investigation into the crash, which aviation experts note occurred in a model of jet known for reliability, with most accidents in this series historically linked to pilot error. Memorials for Biffle have appeared in his hometown of Mooresville, North Carolina, honoring his racing career and contributions to the community.

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