At least 37 people died in a collision between a bus and a truck in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The bus, carrying 45 passengers from São Paulo, blew a tire, causing the crash. Another car collided with the bus, but its passengers survived. The crash, which occurred around 4 a.m., resulted in the bus catching fire. Photos showed severe wreckage on highway BR-116. Governor Romeu Zema ordered full mobilization to assist victims and their families, expressing condolences and ensuring support during this tragic event. Ava Sinclair 21/12/2024 7:00 pm
Ukraine launched drone attacks on Kazan, Russia, damaging residential buildings and an industrial facility, with no casualties reported. Eight drones targeted the city, with one shot down over a river. Flights and mass gatherings in Kazan were suspended. This follows a Ukrainian missile attack on Russia’s Kursk region, killing six. In response, Russia sent 113 drones into Ukraine, with 57 shot down and 56 jammed. Ukrainian regions Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia also suffered drone attacks, wounding several people. Penelope Kingsley 21/12/2024 7:00 pm
A car attack at Magdeburg’s Christmas market killed five, including a child, and injured over 200. German leaders, including Chancellor Olaf Scholz, attended a memorial service. The suspect, a Saudi citizen with permanent residency in Germany, is in custody. Bishop Gerhard Feige urged unity against hate. US President Joe Biden expressed condolences and offered support, condemning the attack as a “despicable and dark event.” Ava Sinclair 21/12/2024 7:00 pm
France’s anti-terrorism court convicted eight individuals for their roles in the 2020 beheading of teacher Samuel Paty, who was killed by an extremist after showing cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad. The trial, held in a heavily guarded courtroom, concluded with emotional reactions from both Paty’s family and the families of the accused. Paty’s sister expressed relief at the guilty verdicts, while relatives of the convicted reacted with distress. The verdict marked the end of a significant trial that deeply affected France. Penelope Kingsley 21/12/2024 12:00 pm
French President Emmanuel Macron faced backlash for comments during his visit to Mayotte, following a devastating tropical cyclone. Macron told a resident that Mayotte would be “10,000 times” worse off without France, sparking accusations of neocolonialism. The cyclone, Chido, left 35 dead, with fears of higher casualties. Mayotte, France’s poorest region, struggles with water shortages and network outages. Macron’s remarks were criticized, and he was booed during his visit. Mayotte chose to remain French in a 1976 referendum, though the U.N. does not recognize French sovereignty. Ava Sinclair 21/12/2024 12:00 pm
A car-ramming at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, resulted in four deaths and numerous injuries. A 50-year-old Saudi man, living in Germany for nearly two decades, was arrested. Authorities are investigating his motives, with reports suggesting he had extremist views and sympathized with the far-right AfD party. The incident has intensified debates on security and migration amid Germany’s election campaign. The suspect, identified in media as Taleb A., was previously interviewed as an anti-Islam activist. The investigation is ongoing, with no official comments from intelligence agencies. Penelope Kingsley 21/12/2024 12:00 pm
Two Russian airports faced flight restrictions after alleged Ukrainian drone attacks, according to state-run agencies. Kazan and Gagarin airports were affected. Kazan, over 600 miles from Ukrainian territory, reported eight drone attacks with no casualties. Fires occurred in three districts, prompting selective school evacuations. Tatarstan’s head, Rustam Minnikhanov, confirmed a “massive UAV attack” and urged calm. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed to have downed six drones. Meanwhile, Ukraine reported shooting down 57 of 113 drones launched by Russia overnight. Penelope Kingsley 21/12/2024 12:00 pm
Cyclone Chido devastated Mayotte, destroying corrugated metal shacks and claiming at least 35 lives, with fears of more casualties. Residents have long complained of neglect by French authorities. The island, the poorest in the EU, struggles with migrant influxes from the Comoros. Water scarcity, worsened by mismanagement and climate change, has been exacerbated by the cyclone. Survivors face dire conditions, with limited access to water and basic services. Mayotte’s infrastructure and resources are severely strained, highlighting longstanding issues of neglect and vulnerability. Penelope Kingsley 21/12/2024 8:30 am
ICE reported a significant increase in deportations, removing 271,484 immigrants, including nearly 89,000 with criminal histories, marking the highest number since 2015. The agency prioritized noncitizens with criminal convictions or charges, with over 70% of those arrested being convicted or alleged criminals. Among the deported were 237 known or suspected terrorists. Sheriff Kieran Donahue criticized the Biden-Harris Administration for taking credit for addressing immigration issues. Immigration was a key election issue, with Trump pledging mass deportations and criticizing Biden’s border policies. Noah Prescott 21/12/2024 8:30 am
Dominique Pelicot, 72, was convicted in Avignon for drugging and raping his wife, Gisèle, over nearly a decade, and inviting strangers to do the same. He was caught in 2020 after being arrested for taking up-skirt photos, leading to the discovery of incriminating videos. Pelicot received a 20-year sentence, and 50 other men were also convicted. Historian Sara McDougall attended the trial to connect her research on historical sexual violence with contemporary events. Noah Prescott 21/12/2024 8:30 am
