Arsenal overcame an early deficit to secure a pivotal 2-1 victory against Tottenham, trimming the gap with league leaders Liverpool to just four points. This win marked a significant turnaround for the Gunners, who had struggled in their recent outings, not securing a win in their last four matches across all competitions.

Despite the stiff competition and Liverpool holding a game in hand, Arsenal’s manager Mikel Arteta remains confident in his team’s ability to contend for the title. “Yeah, we are [title contenders]. There’s so much to play for, and we can see the challenges every team faces,” Arteta affirmed post-match.

The victory was especially sweet following a rough patch that included being ousted from the FA Cup by Manchester United and a disappointing loss to Newcastle in the League Cup. An earlier league draw against Brighton had further dampened their title hopes, leaving Arsenal as the underdogs in their quest for their first league title since 2004.

Arteta praised his team’s resilience and desire to rebound from their setbacks, emphasizing the importance of their response to adversity. “We were sensational. It was a big test after two disappointing games, and the boys showed they wanted more. They’ve proved it today, just 72 hours after a grueling 120 minutes against Manchester United,” he explained.

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice echoed his manager’s sentiments, feeling that the team could have won by a much larger margin. “The first half was pure domination. It felt like we could have scored 10, given our performance,” Rice commented.

Rice, who played through an injury, also addressed his critics, highlighting his commitment and the challenges of playing for a high-profile club like Arsenal. With an eye on Liverpool, Rice noted the importance of capitalizing on any slips by their rivals to keep their title hopes alive.

Arteta concluded by underscoring his unwavering confidence, which is rooted in his team’s daily performances rather than fluctuating with every match result. As Arsenal prepares for their next challenge against Aston Villa, the team remains hopeful and focused on maintaining their title chase momentum

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russian forces launched over 40 missiles in a morning assault and deployed more than 70 drones overnight.

Ukrainian air defences successfully intercepted 30 missiles and 47 drones, according to the air force. Additionally, 27 drones were accounted for as “lost,” indicating that Kyiv utilized electronic warfare to redirect them.

“This is another massive Russian attack. It’s winter now, and the Russians continue to target our energy infrastructure,” Zelenskyy stated in a social media post on the platform X. “Their objectives included gas and energy facilities vital for sustaining normal life for our people.”

The capital, Kyiv, also faced attacks, with hundreds of residents seeking refuge in underground metro stations, sleeping on yoga mats and sitting on folding chairs alongside their pets.

The governor of Ukraine’s western Lviv region reported damage to two energy facilities in the Drohobych and Stryi districts. In neighbouring Ivano-Frankivsk, the governor noted that air defences were actively repelling Russian strikes on various facilities.

The air force confirmed that gas infrastructure in the Kharkiv region, located in northeastern Ukraine, was also under attack.

In response, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed that its forces targeted Ukrainian energy infrastructure and successfully hit all assigned objectives.

Zelenskyy, who is scheduled to visit neighbouring Poland on Wednesday, reiterated his appeals to Western allies for enhanced support for Ukraine’s air defence systems. “We have discussed obtaining licenses for the production of air defence systems and their missiles, which could provide effective security guarantees for Ukraine. This is both realistic and necessary to implement,” he emphasized.

Amidst the attacks, Ukraine’s national grid operator, Ukrenergo, informed emergency power outages in multiple regions following what it described as a “massive” Russian airstrike on its installations. Affected areas include Kharkiv, Sumy, Poltava, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kirovohrad.

In a separate statement, Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko indicated that “preventative measures” regarding the country’s energy distribution were also being enacted.

Earlier that morning, authorities issued a nationwide air alert, warning of incoming Russian cruise missiles. The Air Force advised residents of Kryvyi Rig to take cover, stating, “A missile from the south is headed in your direction!” It also warned of a “group of cruise missiles” approaching the capital, Kyiv.

Throughout nearly three years of conflict with Ukraine, Russia has consistently targeted energy infrastructure, particularly during the harsh winter months.

As devastating wildfires swept through Los Angeles, firefighters encountered an unexpected challenge: a failing water supply system. With fire hydrants running dry and low water pressure hindering efforts, the city faced an infrastructure crisis that exposed vulnerabilities in its preparedness for large-scale emergencies.

According to a report by the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) struggled to meet unprecedented demands as firefighters drew vast amounts of water over extended periods. Former DWP general manager Martin Adams acknowledged the limitations of the system, stating, “The system has never been designed to fight a wildfire that then envelops a community.”

Water shortages in hard-hit areas
Pacific Palisades, one of the areas most affected by the fires, saw multiple hydrants fail or provide insufficient water. Gravity-fed storage tanks supplying the area, each holding about one million gallons, were rapidly drained during firefighting operations. High-elevation neighborhoods, such as Palisades Highlands, experienced dry hydrants as the demand surged to four times the usual rate for 15 continuous hours.

Further complicating matters, a nearby DWP reservoir was offline for maintenance, further straining water availability. While tanker trucks were deployed to address shortages, logistical delays impeded swift action.

In Altadena and Pasadena, where the Eaton Fire caused widespread destruction, water distribution faced additional obstacles. Power outages, implemented to protect firefighters from falling electrical lines, rendered pumps inoperable, leading to a Catch-22 situation.

Damage and calls for accountability
The fires left a trail of destruction. The Palisades Fire alone destroyed over 5,000 structures, while the Eaton Fire damaged another 4,000 to 5,000. Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered an independent investigation into the water supply failures, calling the situation “deeply troubling.” The review will examine the preparedness and response of agencies like DWP and local water utilities.

Los Angeles city leaders, including Mayor Karen Bass, have also faced criticism for budget cuts to fire department resources, which many argue weakened the city’s ability to manage large-scale emergencies.

Proposed solutions and challenges
Experts have suggested several strategies to prevent similar crises in the future. These include expanding water storage capacity in high-risk areas, upgrading pipelines to handle surges in demand, and investing in backup power systems for water pumps. However, these measures face significant financial and logistical hurdles.

Firefighters have historically turned to unconventional water sources, such as swimming pools and even ocean water, when hydrants fail. Yet, these methods underscore the need for a more robust and reliable water infrastructure.

The wildfires have exposed not just the immediate challenges of firefighting but also broader systemic issues that require urgent attention. As California continues to battle increasingly severe wildfires, strengthening the resilience of water supply systems has become a critical priority.