Five Palestinian journalists from Al-Quds Today were killed in an Israeli airstrike on their press-marked vehicle in Gaza. Israel claimed the strike targeted an Islamic Jihad cell. Concurrently, Israel conducted airstrikes in Yemen, targeting Houthi-controlled areas, including ports and Sana’a airport. The World Health Organization reported infrastructure damage and casualties at the airport. The Houthis have attacked Israel since the Gaza conflict began in October 2023. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate reported 195 journalists killed in the Israel-Hamas war, with Israel denying targeting media workers. Ava Sinclair 26/12/2024 6:00 pm
Finnish police boarded the Eagle S oil tanker, suspected of damaging undersea cables, part of a Russian shadow fleet evading sanctions. The Estlink 2 cable, crucial for electricity between Finland and Estonia, was cut, alongside four data cables. Recent undersea cable disruptions raise fears of Russian sabotage against NATO nations supporting Ukraine. Russian ships have been spotted near critical infrastructure, with tankers using different flags to bypass sanctions. Finnish authorities labeled the incidents as “aggravated vandalism.” Noah Prescott 26/12/2024 6:00 pm
In Aceh, Indonesia, people commemorated the 20th anniversary of the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which killed over 230,000 people across multiple countries. Survivors gathered in prayer, visited mass graves, and placed flowers in memory of the victims, including over 170,000 Indonesians. Many, like Muhamad Amirudin, who lost two children, continue to grieve. The disaster, triggered by a magnitude 9.1 earthquake, displaced 1.7 million people, primarily in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand. Sirens marked the earthquake’s time, and prayers were held at Banda Aceh’s Baiturrahman Mosque. Ava Sinclair 26/12/2024 2:30 pm
Azerbaijan mourned 38 victims of an air crash involving an Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190, which crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan. The flight, diverted from Baku to Grozny due to weather, crashed after a possible bird strike. Speculation includes theories of a Russian air-defense system shooting it down amid Ukrainian drone attacks. President Aliyev urged caution in speculating about the cause. The crash involved 42 Azerbaijani, 16 Russian, six Kazakh, and three Kyrgyz nationals. Osprey Flight Solutions suggested a Russian military system might have downed the plane. Penelope Kingsley 26/12/2024 11:00 am
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) claimed to have thwarted Ukrainian intelligence plots to assassinate high-ranking Russian officers in Moscow using bombs disguised as power banks or document folders. The FSB detained four Russian citizens allegedly recruited by Ukraine. On December 17, Ukraine’s SBU killed Lieutenant General Kirillov in Moscow with a bomb on an electric scooter. Russia labeled the act a terrorist attack and vowed retaliation. Ukrainian intelligence did not comment. Russian state TV aired footage of suspects admitting recruitment by Ukraine. Ava Sinclair 26/12/2024 11:00 am
Hundreds attended Midnight Mass at the Church of Nativity in the West Bank, amid the absence of decorations due to the Gaza war. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Head of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, visited Gaza for a pre-Christmas Mass, emphasizing hope and unity despite divisions. The war has severely impacted Bethlehem’s tourism, usually a major economic boon. Pizzaballa expressed hope for a return of pilgrims next year, noting the incomplete feeling without them. Pope Francis criticized Israel’s actions in the ongoing conflict. Penelope Kingsley 26/12/2024 7:30 am
Pope Francis urged negotiations between Ukraine and Russia to end the war, emphasizing the need for bold dialogue for a just peace. His Christmas Day address followed a major Russian attack on Ukraine’s energy facilities. Previously, Ukraine rejected the Pope’s call for negotiations. Addressing global conflicts, he also called for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages by Hamas, highlighting the dire humanitarian situation. The Pope encouraged unity and peace, urging individuals and nations to become “pilgrims of hope” and silence the sounds of arms. Noah Prescott 26/12/2024 7:30 am
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser urged the far-right AfD not to exploit the recent Christmas market attack in Magdeburg, where five were killed and over 200 injured. Faeser condemned any attempt to use the tragedy for political gain, calling it “despicable.” The AfD held a rally in Magdeburg, attended by 3,500 people. Germany faces snap elections in February, with the AfD polling second. The suspected perpetrator, Taleb A., a Saudi national living in Germany since 2006, is in pre-trial detention as police investigate his motives. Noah Prescott 26/12/2024 7:30 am
President Biden condemned Russia’s missile and drone attack on Ukraine, calling it “outrageous” for targeting energy infrastructure to cut off heat and electricity. He emphasized the need for international support for Ukraine against Russian aggression. The attack involved 78 missiles and 106 drones, causing power outages. Ukrainian President Zelensky labeled the attack “inhumane,” noting it targeted energy systems during Christmas. Biden highlighted U.S. support and promised more aid to Ukraine. Penelope Kingsley 26/12/2024 7:30 am
On Boxing Day 2004, while on a ferry to Havelock in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, I witnessed the devastating tsunami triggered by a 9.1 magnitude earthquake. As we departed Port Blair, the jetty crumbled into the sea, followed by a watchtower and an electricity pole. Fortunately, the jetty was deserted, preventing casualties. The quake was the third most powerful ever recorded globally and the most destructive in Asia. Ava Sinclair 26/12/2024 4:00 am
