In the Sidama region, a truck carrying passengers fell into a river, killing 71 people. Among the dead are 68 men and 3 women, and five more are in critical condition.
South Korea's acting president, Choi Sang-mook, has initiated an emergency safety inspection of the country's entire air transportation system. The decision was made after the crash of the Jeju Air Boeing 737-8AS, which killed 179 passengers.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to undergo surgery to remove his prostate gland. The politician was diagnosed with a benign prostate enlargement that caused a urinary tract infection.
Azerbaijan Airlines claims “external interference” as the cause of the Embraer 190 crash. On December 28, the company suspends flights to 10 cities in Russia due to possible security risks.
Azerbaijan Airlines flight JS-8432 was shot down by the Russian Pantsir-S1 air defense system over Russian territory. According to sources, after the missile hit, the plane was not allowed to make an emergency landing in Russia.
Brent and WTI oil prices rose by 0. 5-0.6% due to China's plans to issue $411 billion in bonds. An additional factor was a 3.2 million barrel reduction in US oil reserves.
Asma al-Assad, the wife of the former Syrian president, is battling a severe form of leukemia with a 50% chance of survival. She is in isolation in Russia and plans to divorce her husband to receive treatment in London.
Brent crude rose to $73. 58 and WTI to $70.10 per barrel due to expectations of a reduction in supplies. Analysts predict stable prices and rising demand in the coming months amid Chinese stimulus.
The trial of Ryan Root, a suspect in the attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Florida, has been postponed until September 2025. Judge Eileen Cannon rejected the defense's request for a one-year delay as excessive.
French authorities have applied strict controls imposed for the Olympics to visitors to Christmas fairs. Human rights activists and lawyers have criticized the increased use of administrative surveillance of people without criminal records.
China has imposed sanctions on two Canadian organizations and 20 individuals who defend the rights of Uyghurs and Tibetans. Restrictions include asset freezes and travel bans.
A Houthi ballistic missile hit the Jaffa neighborhood of Tel Aviv, where military facilities are located. As a result of the attack, 14 people were injured, all of whom are in stable condition.
Evacuations have been announced in Victoria due to uncontrolled wildfires near Grampians National Park. About 500 residents of the village of Halls Gap are forced to urgently leave their homes due to the threat of fire spread.
The SBU has collected evidence against Russian Colonel General Alexei Kim, who ordered the Iskander strike on a hotel in Kramatorsk. The attack killed a Reuters journalist and injured 10 others.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhiy Tykhyi announced that Ramstein's meeting is scheduled for January. Ukraine expects important announcements on military support during the meeting.
Nine Americans of Palestinian descent have filed a lawsuit against the US government over the improper evacuation of Gaza. The plaintiffs accuse the State Department of discrimination and inaction to rescue them and their relatives.
The court found Dominic Pelico guilty of systematically raping his wife for ten years. The crimes involved 50 accomplices who were also found guilty.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces inflicted significant losses on the DPRK military near Kursk: more than 100 killed and about 1,000 wounded. The reason for the losses was the unpreparedness of North Korean units for modern warfare.
European countries are discussing the possibility of deploying up to 100,000 troops to Ukraine after a ceasefire or peace agreement. France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and the United Kingdom could form the basis of a coalition.
Keith Kellogg, Trump's new special envoy for Ukraine, will visit Kiev and European capitals in January. The visit is aimed at gathering information to quickly end the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
US President-elect Trump's team understands Ukraine's importance to global security. Trump has announced progress in efforts to stop the war and is ready to receive Zelenskyy.
A mass grave with the bodies of at least 100,000 people killed during the rule of Bashar al-Assad has been found in Syria. According to human rights activist Muaz Mustafa, this is one of five mass graves discovered near Damascus.
Judge Juan Merchant denied Trump's lawyers' request to overturn the 2016 bribery conviction of a porn star. The defense's arguments about presidential immunity and obstruction of the executive branch were rejected.
Bashar al-Assad said that he remained in Damascus until the evening of December 8 and had no plans to flee the country. Reuters and Bloomberg claim that the escape was organized by Russian intelligence without warning his family.
Norway will provide 2. 7 billion kroner to strengthen Ukraine's navy and deter the Russian fleet. The funds will be used to protect the population, infrastructure, and maritime exports.
Syrian Christians held their first Sunday services after the overthrow of the Assad regime. The new Islamist government has promised to protect the rights of religious minorities, although Christians remain concerned.
On Friday, China lodged a claim against the Philippines, accusing it of provocations in the disputed waters of the South China Sea.
Donald Trump plans to issue more than 25 executive orders on his first day in office. The orders will concern immigration policy, border control, and the energy sector.
At the 35-minute meeting, Trump expressed his desire for an immediate cease-fire in Ukraine. Zelensky and Macron stressed the need for security guarantees and US support.
Donald Trump has appointed his future daughter-in-law Kimberly Guilfoyle as ambassador to Greece. This is the third appointment of members of the Trump family to diplomatic positions, including appointments to embassies in France and the Middle East.
