Name: UK Arrests Jewish Academic Haim Bresheeth For Pro-Palestinian Speech
Uploaded: 2024-11-05T17:40:58.000+05:30
Duration: T03M10S
Channel: Editorji News Desk
Description: UK Arrests Jewish Academic Haim Bresheeth For Pro-Palestinian Speech

The aircraft’s planned route was northwest along the western Caspian Sea coastline. However, it veered significantly off course, flying over the sea and circling near Aktau before crashing approximately three kilometres (1.9 miles) from the city.

Disturbing Footage Reveals Crisis in the Skies: Azerbaijan Airlines Flight Crash Near Aktau Kills 38

The aircraft&rsquo;s planned route was northwest along the western Caspian Sea coastline. However, it veered significantly off course, flying over the sea and circling near Aktau before crashing approximately three kilometres (1.9 miles) from the city.

On Wednesday, Azerbaijan Airlines Flight J2-8243, an Embraer 190 jet carrying 62 passengers and five crew members, tragically crashed near the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan. The flight, en route from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, was diverted due to dense fog and multiple other challenges, ultimately leading to the disaster.
A Journey Gone Awry
The aircraft&rsquo;s planned route was northwest along the western Caspian Sea coastline. However, it veered significantly off course, flying over the sea and circling near Aktau before crashing approximately three kilometres (1.9 miles) from the city.
Preliminary investigations suggest the crash may have been caused by a combination of factors, including adverse weather, a possible bird strike, GNSS disruptions, and fuel mismanagement.
Harrowing Moments Captured
Disturbing footage captured by passengers and rescuers has surfaced, shedding light on the horrifying final moments.
<blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEB6wxNCyIH/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14">
<div style="padding: 16px;">
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="padding: 19% 0;">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="padding-top: 8px;">
<div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div>
</div>
<div style="padding: 12.5% 0;">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;">
<div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: auto;">
<div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
<p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEB6wxNCyIH/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by editorji (@editorji)</a>
</div>
</blockquote>
In one video, a passenger can be seen praying, saying "Allahu Akbar," as cries of fear echo throughout the cabin. Yellow oxygen masks hang overhead, and passengers scramble amidst the chaos.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
The final moments of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane before its crash in Kazakhstan were captured by a passenger onboard. Aftermath also included in the footage. <a href="https://t.co/nCRozjdoUY">pic.twitter.com/nCRozjdoUY</a>
&mdash; Clash Report (@clashreport) <a href="https://twitter.com/clashreport/status/1871902804350308412?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2024</a></blockquote>
Another video shared by Russian media outlet RT shows injured passengers, including one bleeding from the head, attempting to escape the wreckage.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
A surviving passenger from the Aktau plane crash manages to capture footage of inside the cabin <a href="https://t.co/shIblEmV1d">pic.twitter.com/shIblEmV1d</a>
&mdash; RT (@RT_com) <a href="https://twitter.com/RT_com/status/1871885832250155318?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2024</a></blockquote>
Bodycam footage from Kazakh rescuers reveals firefighters rushing to extinguish the flames while scattered belongings, clothing, and debris paint a grim picture of the crash site.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Bodycam footage of the firefighters responding to the plane crash in Kazakhstan. <a href="https://t.co/57vGQJSwKc">pic.twitter.com/57vGQJSwKc</a>
&mdash; RT (@RT_com) <a href="https://twitter.com/RT_com/status/1871873219978035249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2024</a></blockquote>
Death Toll and Survivors
The crash resulted in the death of 38 individuals, with 29 survivors, including two children, being rescued and hospitalized. Officials cautioned that these numbers may change as investigations continue.
The Kazakh government reported that the victims included 37 Azerbaijani nationals, six from Kazakhstan, three from Kyrgyzstan, and 16 from Russia.
Initial Theories and Investigation
Azerbaijan Airlines initially suggested that a bird strike might have caused the emergency but later retracted the statement, emphasizing that all possibilities are being explored.
The Kazakh transport ministry stated that the flight crew attempted an emergency landing after encountering challenges, including dense fog at Grozny Airport and reported GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems) disruptions such as GPS jamming and spoofing.
Fuel mismanagement also emerged as a critical factor, with the aircraft running out of fuel before reaching its alternate destination.
Kazakhstan has formed a government commission to investigate the crash, with officials pledging collaboration with Azerbaijani authorities.
Witness Accounts
Eyewitnesses near the crash site described heartbreaking scenes. A Kazakh woman recalled helping survivors, including a girl pleading for her mother&rsquo;s rescue. "I&rsquo;ll never forget their look, full of pain and despair," she said.
Timeline of Events
<ul>
<li>Departure: The flight departed from Baku, Azerbaijan, heading toward Grozny, Russia.</li>
<li>Weather Conditions: Dense fog at Grozny forced the flight to divert.</li>
<li>Course Deviation: The plane crossed the Caspian Sea, veering significantly off its intended path.</li>
<li>Emergency Landing Attempt: Low fuel reserves led to an attempted landing near Aktau, Kazakhstan.</li>
<li>Crash: The aircraft crashed approximately three kilometres from Aktau, erupting into flames upon impact.</li>
</ul>
Official Responses
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev declared Thursday a national day of mourning and cut short a visit to Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov extended condolences. Kadyrov noted that some survivors were critically injured and urged prayers for their recovery.
Safety Measures and Helpline
In response to the tragedy, Azerbaijan Airlines suspended all flights from Baku to Chechnya pending the investigation.
Helpline numbers were also established for families of the victims:
<ul>
<li>AZAL: (+994) 12 5048280, 12 5048202, 12 5048203</li>
<li>Kazakh Emergency Services: +7 7172 559621, +7 7292 319091</li>
</ul>
Lessons for Aviation
The crash highlights the importance of robust safety protocols, including better planning for alternate airports, addressing GNSS vulnerabilities, and ensuring sufficient fuel reserves.
This incident underscores the complexities and vulnerabilities of modern aviation, prompting calls for more rigorous safety standards to prevent similar tragedies.
As investigations continue, the aviation industry awaits crucial findings that may help prevent future disasters, honouring the lives lost in this heartbreaking accident.
(With Input from Agency)

Russian missile and drone strikes disrupt Ukraine's power grid on Christmas Day. Global leaders condemn attacks as Ukraine fends off aerial assaults amid winter challenges.

Russia's Massive Christmas Strikes Target Ukraine's Energy System

Russia meanwhile said five people had died in Ukrainian strikes and from a falling drone in the border region of Kursk and in North Ossetia in the Caucasus.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denounced Wednesday an "inhumane" attack from Russia, which launched over 170 missiles and drones, knocking out power in several regions on Christmas Day and killing an energy worker.
The country woke up at 5:30 am (0330 GMT) to an air raid alarm, followed shortly by air force reports that Russia had launched Kalibr cruise missiles from the Black Sea.
"Putin deliberately chose Christmas to attack. What could be more inhumane? More than 70 missiles, including ballistic missiles, and more than a hundred attack drones. The target is our energy system," Zelensky said.
This was the 13th large-scale strike on Ukraine's energy system this year, the latest in Russia's campaign targeting the power grid during winter.
"Russian evil will not break Ukraine and will not ruin Christmas," Zelensky said.
Russia meanwhile said five people had died in Ukrainian strikes and from a falling drone in the border region of Kursk and in North Ossetia in the Caucasus.
Ukraine said its air force downed 58 out of 79 Russian-launched missiles. It did not, however, down the two North Korean-made KN-23 ballistic missiles launched by Russia.
US President Joe Biden called "outrageous" the strikes that cut off people's access to heat and electricity amid winter conditions.
"I have directed the Department of Defense to continue its surge of weapons deliveries to Ukraine, and the United States will continue to work tirelessly to strengthen Ukraine's position in its defense against Russian forces," he added in a statement.
Ukraine has been urging allies to send more aid to fend off aerial strikes and push back troops on the ground.
Earlier, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the strikes.
"I pay tribute to the resilience of the Ukrainian people, and the leadership of President Zelensky, in the face of further drone and missile attacks from Putin's bloody and brutal war machine with no respite even at Christmas," Starmer said.
Kyiv also said a Russian missile went through Moldovan and Romanian airspace, but Romania said it detected no such violation.
Moldova, which has expressed solidarity with Ukraine since the war, "confirmed a violation" of its airspace later Wednesday.
While its military radar did not identify the missile, "Russia deliberately flew these devices at a very low altitude to avoid detection", a presidency spokesperson told AFP.
&nbsp;
- 'Nothing sacred' -
Ukraine's DTEK energy company said the attack severely damaged equipment at thermal power plants.
"Denying light and warmth to millions of peace-loving people as they celebrate Christmas is a depraved and evil act that must be answered," the company's CEO Maxim Timchenko said.
The employee of a Ukrainian thermal power plant was killed in the central Dnipropetrovsk region, over which 42 missiles were shot down, governor Sergiy Lysak said.
Heating was cut in several parts of the city of Dnipro, said its mayor Borys Filatov, who added authorities were evacuating and transferring patients from a hospital.
"Christmas morning has once again shown that nothing is sacred for the aggressor country," Svitlana Onyshchuk, the head of the Ivano-Frankivsk region, which also temporarily lost power.
Ukraine is officially celebrating Christmas on December 25 for the second time.
The government last year changed the date from January 7, when most Orthodox believers celebrate, as a snub to Russia.
Nearly 200 people paraded through the centre of Kyiv, singing Christmas carols.
"With this march, we show that we will not be discouraged," 30-year-old Bogdana Kuevda, one of the participants, told AFP.
&nbsp;
- 'Won't ruin Christmas' -
The Christmas day attack also targeted Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, located near the Russian border.
The missiles had targeted the city's boiler houses, thermal power plants and electricity facilities, mayor Igor Terekhov said, temporarily cutting power to 500,000 people.
Kharkiv's governor Oleg Synegubov also said authorities had evacuated 46 people from the area of Borivske and Kupiansk.
Moscow's forces are aiming to recapture the town of Kupiansk, which was occupied in the first year of the war but later retaken by Ukrainian forces.
Outnumbered Ukrainian troops are now on the back foot across the front line in the Kharkiv and Donetsk region further south, ceding ground to better-equipped Russian troops.
Russia said it seized the small village of Vidrodzhennia, a few kilometres south of Pokrovsk, a vital rail hub and mining town.
Both sides are scrambling to gain an upper hand ahead of the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, who boasted he would quickly end the war, raising fears that Washington may force Kyiv into a deal on Moscow's terms.

An Azerbaijan Airlines flight carrying 67 passengers crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan. Thirty-two survivors have been reported, with 28 hospitalized. Investigations are ongoing, and leaders express condolences.

Azerbaijan Airlines Plane Crashes Near Aktau, 32 Survivors Reported

The plane was flying from the Azerbaijani capital Baku on the western shore of the Caspian to the city of Grozny in Chechnya in southern Russia.

An Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet with 67 people on board crashed on Wednesday in western Kazakhstan after veering from its scheduled route, officials said.
Azerbaijani authorities said 32 people had survived the crash of the Embraer 190 near the city of Aktau, an oil and gas hub on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea.
&nbsp;
&lt;blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DD_x4XoCBmX/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"&gt;&lt;div style="padding:16px;"&gt; &lt;a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DD_x4XoCBmX/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"&gt; &lt;div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"&gt; &lt;div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"&gt; &lt;div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="padding: 19% 0;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"&gt;&lt;svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"&gt;&lt;g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"&gt;&lt;g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"&gt;&lt;g&gt;&lt;path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"&gt;&lt;/path&gt;&lt;/g&gt;&lt;/g&gt;&lt;/g&gt;&lt;/svg&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="padding-top: 8px;"&gt; &lt;div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;"&gt;View this post on Instagram&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="margin-left: 8px;"&gt; &lt;div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="margin-left: auto;"&gt; &lt;div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"&gt; &lt;div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt; &lt;div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DD_x4XoCBmX/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank"&gt;A post shared by editorji (@editorji)&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt; &lt;script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"&gt;&lt;/script&gt;
&nbsp;
The plane was flying from the Azerbaijani capital Baku on the western shore of the Caspian to the city of Grozny in Chechnya in southern Russia.
"A plane doing the Baku-Grozny route crashed near the city of Aktau. It belongs to Azerbaijan Airlines," the Kazakh transport ministry said on Telegram.
Azerbaijan Airlines, the country's flag carrier, said the plane had 62 passengers and five crew on board.
It said the plane "made an emergency landing" around three kilometres (1.9 miles) from Aktau.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev cancelled a planned visit to Russia for an informal summit of leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States, a grouping of former Soviet nations.
The Kazakh transport ministry said the plane was carrying 37 nationals from Azerbaijan, six from Kazakhstan, three from Kyrgyzstan and 16 from Russia.
The office of Azerbaijan's prosecutor general said: "According to available data, 32 people survived the crash."
"We cannot disclose any investigation results at this time. All possible scenarios are being examined, and the necessary expert analyses are underway," it said in a statement.
"An investigative team, led by the deputy prosecutor general of Azerbaijan, has been dispatched to Kazakhstan and is working at the crash site."
&nbsp;
- Doctors flown to site -
The Kazakh emergency situations ministry said its staff put out a fire which broke out when the plane crashed.
The ministry earlier reported that "28 survivors including two children have been hospitalised."
It said 150 emergency workers were at the scene.
The health ministry said a special flight was being sent from the Kazakh capital Astana with specialist doctors to treat the injured.
Aliyev's office said the president "ordered the prompt initiation of urgent measures to investigate the causes of the disaster."
"I extend my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the crash... and wish a speedy recovery to the injured," Aliyev said in a social media post.
Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation with Aliyev and also "expressed his condolences in connection with the crash," his spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a news conference.
Azerbaijan's first lady Mehriban Aliyeva, who is also the country's first Vice President, said she was "deeply saddened by the news of the tragic loss of lives in the plane crash near Aktau."
"I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims. Wishing them strength and patience! I also wish a speedy recovery to the injured," she said on Instagram.
"I express my condolences to the relatives of the passengers of the Azerbaijan Airlines jet who died," Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov said on Telegram.
The plane's course on Flight Radar showed it crossing the Caspian Sea away from its normal route and then circling over the area where it eventually crashed.
Kazakhstan said it had opened an investigation.

Wazed accuses the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government of weaponizing the judiciary to target Sheikh Hasina, who faces arrest warrants for alleged crimes against humanity. 

Sheikh Hasina faces extradition as Wazed accuses Yunus regime of political persecution

Bangladesh's de facto foreign minister Touhid Hossain said Dhaka wants Hasina back to face the judicial process.

Sanjeeb Wazed, son of deposed Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina, has accused the Muhammad Yunus led interim government of &ldquo;weaponising the judiciary&rdquo; for carrying out a &ldquo;political witch hunt&rdquo; against the Awami League leadership.
Wazed's allegations, as a long post on X, came two days after the interim government on Monday said it has sent a diplomatic note to New Delhi seeking Hasina's extradition from India.
Hasina, 77, has been living in India since August 5 when she fled Bangladesh following a massive student-led protest that toppled her Awami League's (AL) 16-year regime.
Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has issued arrest warrants for Hasina and several former Cabinet ministers, advisers, and military and civil officials for &ldquo;crimes against humanity and genocide.&rdquo;
&ldquo;The judges and prosecutors appointed by unelected Yunus led regime to conduct farcical trial process through International Crimes Tribunal makes it a political witch hunt that forsakes justice and marks another ongoing onslaught to persecute Awami League leadership,&rdquo; Wazed said in his post on Tuesday.
An IT entrepreneur, Wazed is based in the US and has been an ICT adviser in Hasina's government.
&ldquo;The kangaroo tribunal and subsequent request for extradition comes while hundreds of leaders and activists are extrajudicially killed, framing of outrageous murder charges, illegal incarceration of thousands by law enforcement and violent attacks including looting vandalism and arson going on with impunity everyday fuelled by denial of the regime,&rdquo; he added.
On Monday, India confirmed receiving the 'note verbale' or diplomatic communication from the Bangladesh high commission in New Delhi but refrained from commenting on it.
Under the provisions of the India-Bangladesh extradition treaty, extradition may be refused if the offence is one of a &ldquo;political character.&rdquo;
Bangladesh's de facto foreign minister Touhid Hossain said Dhaka wants Hasina back to face the judicial process.
Wazed further accused that the chief prosecutor of ICT Tribunal Tajul Islam appointed by Yunus regime on December 22, despite proven records of defending war criminals, &ldquo;reportedly spread deliberate disinformation campaign&rdquo; against Hasina by claiming that Interpol issued red notice against her, and termed it as &ldquo;a desperate bid to extradite her and hold farcical trial to serve the interest of Dr Yunus.&rdquo;
&ldquo;But the very prosecutor later altered his statement following media exposure of the outright lie and now officially sent a request to India for the extradition,&rdquo; Hasina's son said.
&ldquo;We reiterate our position that every single incident of human rights violation between July and August needs to be investigated in a free and fair manner but the Yunus led regime weaponised the judiciary, and we express no confidence in the justice system,&rdquo; he alleged.
Last month, in an address to the nation on the completion of 100 days of the interim government, Yunus said Bangladesh will seek Hasina's extradition. &ldquo;We must ensure justice in every killing&hellip; We will also ask India to send back fallen autocrat Sheikh Hasina,&rdquo; he had said then.
Yunus, who assumed office on August 8, claimed that about 1,500 people, including students and workers, were killed while 19,931 others were wounded during the protest against the Hasina government.
India has expressed concern as there have been a spate of attacks on minorities including on the Hindu community in Bangladesh in the last few months.
In recent weeks, Hasina has accused the Yunus-led interim government of perpetrating &ldquo;genocide&rdquo; and failing to protect minorities, especially Hindus, since her ouster.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited Dhaka two weeks back during which he conveyed to the Bangladeshi side India's concerns, especially those related to the safety and welfare of minorities.

A massive missile attack rocked Ukraine's Kharkiv city, with Russian forces launching multiple strikes. Casualties are being assessed, and Ukraine's defense efforts intensify amid growing tensions in the eastern regions.

Massive missile attack strikes Kharkiv; Russian forces escalate in eastern Ukraine

Russia has accelerated its advance across eastern Ukraine in recent months, looking to secure as much territory as possible before US president-elect Donald Trump comes to power.

A "massive missile attack" pummelled Ukraine's northeastern city of Kharkiv, Mayor Igor Terekhov said on Wednesday morning.
"Kharkiv is under a massive missile attack. A series of explosions were heard in the city and there are still ballistic missiles heading towards the city," he wrote on Telegram.
The regional governor counted seven Russian strikes and said casualties were still being assessed.
Russia's defence ministry said Wednesday its forces had shot down 59 Ukrainian drones overnight while the Ukrainian Air Force reported the launch of Kalibr cruise missiles from the Black Sea, although it was not initially clear where they were headed.
Russia has accelerated its advance across eastern Ukraine in recent months, looking to secure as much territory as possible before US president-elect Donald Trump comes to power in January.
The Republican has promised to bring a swift end to the nearly three-year-long conflict, without proposing any concrete terms for a ceasefire or peace deal.
Moscow's army claims to have seized more than 190 Ukrainian settlements this year, with Kyiv struggling to hold the line in the face of man power and ammunition shortages.

Pakistan's airstrikes in Paktika, Afghanistan, have left 15 dead, including women and children, intensifying border tensions. The Taliban promises retaliation, citing sovereignty violations.

Pakistan Conducts Airstrikes in Afghanistan

While Pakistan has not officially confirmed the strikes, military sources claim the operation aimed to neutralize militant hideouts near the border.

Pakistan has reportedly conducted airstrikes in Afghanistan's Paktika province on December 24, targeting several villages in the Barmal district. The attacks resulted in the deaths of at least 15 people, including women and children, with local sources warning that the toll could rise. Among the hardest-hit areas was Murg Bazaar, which suffered significant destruction, compounding the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.
While Pakistan has not officially confirmed the strikes, military sources claim the operation aimed to neutralize militant hideouts near the border. Afghan officials, however, strongly condemned the attacks, with the Taliban's Ministry of Defence accusing Pakistan of targeting civilians, including Waziristani refugees. The Ministry declared the strikes a violation of Afghanistan&rsquo;s sovereignty and vowed to retaliate, asserting their right to defend their territory.
The airstrikes have further strained relations between the two nations, already fraught with tensions over the activities of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Islamabad has repeatedly accused Kabul of harboring TTP militants, who have intensified attacks on Pakistani forces in recent months. The Afghan Taliban denies these allegations, maintaining that their territory is not being used as a safe haven for militants.
The civilian toll of the strikes has sparked outrage, with reports of children among the victims and entire families displaced. Waziristani refugees, long uprooted by military operations in Pakistan&rsquo;s tribal regions, now face renewed suffering as they are caught in the crossfire of escalating hostilities.
This latest incident highlights the fragile state of Pakistan-Afghanistan relations and the growing risk of broader conflict. As both sides exchange blame and promises of further action, the region faces mounting instability and an uncertain future.

President Biden signed 50 bills into law, addressing issues like anti-hazing standards, youth care accountability, and federal death row sentences.

President Joe Biden Signs 50 Laws, Implements Key Changes

The flurry of activity comes as Biden is pushing his final priorities before handing power to President-elect Donald Trump on January 20.

President Joe Biden signed 50 bills into law on Tuesday that include making the bald eagle the country's official bird and one that stops members of Congress from collecting their pensions if convicted of crimes.
Biden also established the first federal anti-hazing standard to address violence and deaths occurring on higher education campuses around the country. He also signed a bill supported by reality-TV star and heiress Paris Hilton, which holds treatment centers and care facilities serving the youth accountable.
Earlier this month, Biden vetoed legislation to add 66 new judges to understaffed federal courts nationally, commuted the sentences for 37 out of 40 federal inmates on death row, converting them to life in prison without parole and issued a full and unconditional pardon for his son Hunter.
The flurry of activity comes as Biden is pushing his final priorities before handing power to President-elect Donald Trump on Jan. 20.
He is also wrapping up his time in office by getting money previously approved by Congress out the door for infrastructure projects at home and arms for Ukraine.

"Most Pakistanis are not anti-India. Unlike in India, politicians here do not need to criticise India to win elections," Hameed says.

'We should try again': Pakistan's Punjab Assembly Speaker on Vajpayee's failed India-Pak peace initiative

"Most Pakistanis are not anti-India. Unlike in India, politicians here do not need to criticise India to win elections," Hameed says.

"Even though the chance was missed, we should try again," says Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan when asked about Atal Bihari Vajpayee's 1999 &lsquo;bus yatra&rsquo;, a bold attempt by the then Indian prime minister to put India-Pakistan relations on the peace track.
Vajpayee took a bus ride to Lahore on February 19, 1999. He and Pakistan Premier Nawaz Sharif signed the Lahore Declaration after a historic summit here. The agreement signalled a breakthrough, but just months later a Pakistani intrusion led to the Kargil War.
Wednesday is Vajpayee&rsquo;s 100th birth anniversary.
"Vajpayee's visit to Lahore in 1999 was a defining moment. Even though the chance was missed, we should try again. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who follows Vajpayee's vision, leading India, and Shehbaz Sharif, Nawaz's brother, in charge in Pakistan, there is a real possibility of restarting the peace process," says Khan, who is a senior member of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
Khan says the future of the region depends on free trade and unrestricted movement between countries.
"Peace in the region is not just a good idea &ndash; it is necessary for growth and prosperity," the Punjab Speaker adds.
Another senior PML-N leader from Punjab, Mohammad Mehdi, describes Vajpayee's Lahore visit as historic. He believes the visit could have led to lasting peace if the Kargil conflict had not happened.
"The Western media paid a lot of attention to Vajpayee&rsquo;s visit because it came just months after both countries became nuclear powers," Mehdi says, referring to nuclear tests conducted by India and Pakistan in May 1998.
"There was excitement, especially within PML-N ranks, when Vajpayee arrived in Lahore in February 1999. His speech, saying 'Pakistan is a reality, and both countries now need to move forward and leave the past behind,' gave hope to many," Mehdi recalls.
Unfortunately, the Kargil conflict happened soon after, and the peace efforts were unsuccessful, he says.
Mehdi says Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) held protests during Vajpayee&rsquo;s visit, which many believe were organised by the military led by General Pervez Musharraf.
"Jamaat-i-Islami workers even attacked the Turkish ambassador&rsquo;s car near Lahore Fort, mistaking it for an Indian delegation," he says.
Mehdi believes back-channel talks between Pakistan and India are still happening.
"Right now, relations between the two countries are at their lowest point. Neither country has an envoy in the other's capital. However, businessmen on both sides desperately want to restore ties to improve trade and use shorter routes through Pakistan to reach Central Asia and Europe," he says.
Political expert Brig (retd.) Farooq Hameed says Nawaz Sharif should have involved the powerful Pakistan Army in the peace process.
"The initiative failed because the military was not consulted, which led to the Kargil conflict and ended the peace process. If Nawaz Sharif had taken the military on board before Vajpayee&rsquo;s visit, the chances of the peace talks being successful would have been higher."
Hameed says Nawaz has repeatedly shown interest in improving ties with India, including his desire to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi after returning to Pakistan last year from a four-year self-imposed exile in London. However, he pointed out, that Nawaz's younger brother, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has not made any recent public statements indicating a similar desire.
"Nawaz should first consult Shehbaz, who enjoys the military establishment&rsquo;s favour, to determine if he shares this vision for improved relations with India," he says.
He also notes the lack of progress after Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar visited Pakistan recently.
"Most Pakistanis are not anti-India. Unlike in India, politicians here do not need to criticise India to win elections," Hameed says.
However, terrorism remains a major obstacle to reconciliation, he says.
India has often accused Pakistan of supporting terrorism, while Pakistan now blames India for terror attacks in Balochistan.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Editorji News Desk and is published from a syndicated feed.)

A Russian cargo vessel, 'Ursa Major,' sank in the Mediterranean Sea between Spain and Algeria after an explosion in its engine room. While 14 of the 16 crew members were rescued and brought to Spain, two crew members remain missing.

Russian cargo ship 'Ursa Major' sinks in Mediterranean, two crew missing

The ship sank following an explosion in its engine room, but 14 of the 16 crew members were rescued and brought to Spain.

A Russian cargo ship called 'Ursa Major' sank in the Mediterranean Sea between Spain and Algeria and two of its crew are missing, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.
The ship went down after an explosion in its engine room and 14 of its 16 crew members have been rescued and brought to Spain, the ministry said in a statement.
Unverified video footage of the ship heavily listing to its starboard side with its bow much lower down in the water than usual was filmed on Dec. 23 by a passing ship and published on Russia's life.ru news outlet on Tuesday.
LSEG ship tracking data shows the vessel departed from the Russian port of Saint Petersburg on Dec. 11 and was last seen sending a signal at 2204 GMT on Monday between Algeria and Spain.
On leaving Saint Petersburg it had indicated that its next port of call was the Russian port of Vladivostok, not the Syrian port of Tartous which it has called at previously.
The operator and owner is a company called SK-Yug, part of Oboronlogistics, according to LSEG data. Oboronlogistics and SK-Yug declined to comment on the ship's sinking.
Oboronlogistics said in a statement on Dec. 20 that the ship was carrying specialised port cranes due to be installed at the port of Vladivostok as well as parts for new ice-breakers.
Two giant cranes could be seen strapped to the deck in the unverified video footage.

India is to provide Rs 315 million for education, Rs 780 million for health and Rs 620 million for agriculture under the arrangement.

India to fund development projects worth Rs 2371 million in Sri Lanka

India is to provide Rs 315 million for education, Rs 780 million for health and Rs 620 million for agriculture under the arrangement.

India is to provide Rs 2,371 million to Sri Lanka for 33 development projects in education, health and agriculture sectors in the eastern province, it was announced on Tuesday.
The cabinet has approved a proposal to sign an MoU to boost socio-economic development and bilateral ties between the two countries, cabinet spokesman and the Health Minister Nalinda Jayathissa told reporters here.
India is to provide Rs 315 million for education, Rs 780 million for health and Rs 620 million for agriculture under the arrangement.
These projects, among the slew of others, are aimed at enhancing infrastructure, growth and empowering local communities.&nbsp;
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Editorji News Desk and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Editorji is a popular short video news and information platform based in India. It was founded in 2018 by Vikram Chandra, one of India’s leading journalists, and has risen to prominence in the digital news space in a relatively short span of time. The platform is primarily designed for mobile devices, with applications available for Android and iOS.

ABOUT US:

about us editorji

Latest Video News: Editorji provides the latest news video headlines, latest videos clip from India and the World. Get all breaking news videos on Entertainment, Business, Coronavirus, Elections, Politics and more.

Latest Video News, Breaking News, Bollywood, Political, Sports, Business News | Editorji

+91 11 4035 6666 / info@editorji.com
3rd floor, Plot B, Khasara no 360, Sultanpur, New Delhi, Delhi 110030
<a title="mail to us" href="mailto:info@editorji.com">Send Feedback</a>
<a title="Contact Us" href="mailto:info@editorji.com">Contact Us</a>

REACH US

Contact for any questions, suggestions, comments, feedback or advertisement on Editorji.com, we are always looking forward to hearing from you.

Contact Us for Feedback, Suggestions and Advertising 

Editorji content is better experienced in our app.

UK Arrests Jewish Academic Haim Bresheeth For Pro-Palestinian Speech

UK Arrests Jewish Academic Haim Bresheeth For Pro-Palestinian Speech

Pakistan's military courts have convicted 60 civilians for their involvement in the May 9 violence, including Imran Khan's nephew, who received a 10-year sentence.

Pakistan Convicts 60 Civilians Over May 9 Violence, Including Imran Khan's Nephew

The army also said that with the latest verdict, the trial of May 9 accused under military custody, &ldquo;has hereby been concluded under the relevant laws&rdquo;.

Pakistan's military courts have convicted and sentenced another 60 civilians to prison terms ranging from two to 10 years for their involvement in attacks on army installations during violence on May 9 last year, the army said on Thursday.
The announcement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) - the media wing of the military - came a week after the army announced the conviction of 25 individuals for involvement in attacks on military facilities on May 9, 2023, when supporters of Imran Khan resorted to vandalism and violence during a protest against his arrest.
"Sequel to the announcement of the May 9 punishments in light of the Supreme Court's decision, the Field General Court Martial has promulgated the punishments to the following remaining 60 culprits after examining all evidence, ensuring the provision of all legal rights to the convicts, completion of due process and the appropriate legal proceedings,&rdquo; the army said.
Top on the list of new convicts is Imran Khan's nephew Hassan Khan Niazi, who was awarded 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in the attack on the Jinnah House residence of Lahore Corps commander.
The army also said that with the latest verdict, the trial of May 9 accused under military custody, &ldquo;has hereby been concluded under the relevant laws&rdquo;.
&ldquo;All convicts retain the right to appeal and other legal recourses, as guaranteed by the Constitution and law,&rdquo; it said.
The army announced that the nation, government, and the armed forces remain steadfast in their commitment to upholding justice and ensuring that the inviolable writ of the state is maintained.
Earlier, the government last year handed over more than 100 suspects to the military authorities for trial under the army regulation for their involvement in the attacks on military facilities.
The announcement of their verdict was delayed due to petitions filed in the Supreme Court against the trial of civilians. Though the final adjudication is still pending, the top court allowed the army to issue verdicts in the cases which have been completed.

In his 2024 Christmas broadcast, King Charles III pays tribute to the sacrifices of Commonwealth service men and women during WWII, particularly recalling the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

King Charles commemorates Commonwealth soldiers in Christmas message

According to Buckingham Palace, the "living Christmas tree" shown in this year&rsquo;s broadcast was decorated with sustainable decorations including pinecones, metal bells, twisted glass and glass baubles.

Britain&rsquo;s King Charles III commemorated the sacrifices of service men and women from across the Commonwealth during World War II in his annual Christmas Day broadcast.
Opening his customary address with a reference to the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings this year, which laid the foundations for the victory of the Allied Forces against Nazi Germany in 1944, the 76-year-old monarch said such examples of &ldquo;service and selflessness&rdquo; continue to inspire.
&ldquo;Earlier this year, as we commemorated the 80th Anniversary of D-Day, the Queen (Camilla) and I had the enormous privilege of meeting, once again, the remarkable veterans of that very special generation who gave of themselves so courageously, on behalf of us all,&rdquo; said Charles.
&ldquo;Listening to these once-young service men and women touched us deeply as they spoke of their comrades, drawn from across the Commonwealth, who never returned and who now rest peacefully where they made the ultimate sacrifice. Their example of service and selflessness continues to inspire, across the generations,&rdquo; he said.
The King went on to strike a personal note in his message, filmed earlier at the Fitzrovia Chapel in London and aired on Wednesday evening, as he thanked the medics who cared for him and daughter-in-law Kate Middleton as they underwent cancer treatment.
&ldquo;From a personal point of view, I offer special, heartfelt thanks to the selfless doctors and nurses who, this year, have supported me and other members of my family through the uncertainties and anxieties of illness, and have helped provide the strength, care and comfort we have needed. I am deeply grateful, too, to all those who have offered us their own kind words of sympathy and encouragement,&rdquo; he said.
The broadcast marked the first time that a British monarch&rsquo;s Christmas message has been filmed outside a royal residence since 2006, when Charles&rsquo; mother &ndash; the late Queen Elizabeth II &ndash; filmed her message at Southwark Cathedral in London.
According to Buckingham Palace, the "living Christmas tree" shown in this year&rsquo;s broadcast was decorated with sustainable decorations including pinecones, metal bells, twisted glass and glass baubles.
The King said: &ldquo;I am speaking to you today from the Chapel of the former Middlesex Hospital in London &ndash; now itself a vibrant community space &ndash; and thinking especially of the many thousands of professionals and volunteers here in the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth who, with their skills and out of the goodness of their heart, care for others &ndash; often at some cost to themselves.
&ldquo;On our recent visit to the South Pacific to attend the Commonwealth summit, I was reminded constantly of the strength which institutions, as well as individuals, can draw from one another. And of how diversity of culture, ethnicity and faith provides strength, not weakness.&rdquo;
Reflecting upon the anti-immigrant riots that flared up across the UK in August, the royal said he felt a &ldquo;sense of pride&rdquo; when communities came together in its aftermath with a spirit of harmony and to "repair".
&ldquo;To repair not just buildings, but relationships. And, most importantly, to repair trust; by listening and, through understanding, deciding how to act for the good of all,&rdquo; he said.
&ldquo;But, on this Christmas Day, we cannot help but think of those for whom the devastating effects of conflict &ndash; in the Middle East, in Central Europe, in Africa and elsewhere &ndash; pose a daily threat to so many people&rsquo;s lives and livelihoods...The example that Jesus gave us is timeless and universal. It is to enter the world of those who suffer, to make a difference to their lives and so bring hope where there is despair,&rdquo; he added.
Earlier on Wednesday, the King and Queen Camilla were joined by Prince William and Kate and their three children &ndash; Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis &ndash; and other senior royals for the Christmas Day service at Sandringham in Norfolk, eastern England.
Excited crowds gathered as the family made the customary walk to St. Mary Magdalene Church on the royal estate.

China announces plans for the world's largest hydropower dam on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet, raising environmental and strategic concerns while promising significant energy and economic benefits.

China Approves $137 Billion Brahmaputra Hydropower Project

China has already Operationalised the USD 1.5 billion Zam Hydropower Station, the largest in Tibet in 2015.

China has approved the construction of the world's largest dam, stated to be the planet's biggest infra project costing USD 137 billion, on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet close to the Indian border, raising concerns in riparian states - India and Bangladesh.
The Chinese government has approved the construction of a hydropower project in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, the Tibetan name for the Brahmaputra, according to an official statement quoted by state-run Xinhua news agency on Wednesday.
The dam is to be built at a huge gorge in the Himalayan reaches where the Brahmaputra river makes a huge U-turn to flow into Arunachal Pradesh and then to Bangladesh.
The total investment in the dam could exceed one trillion yuan (USD 137 billion), which would dwarf any other single infrastructure project on the planet including China&rsquo;s own Three Gorges Dam, regarded as the largest in the world, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported on Thursday.
China has already Operationalised the USD 1.5 billion Zam Hydropower Station, the largest in Tibet in 2015.
The Brahmaputra dam was part of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) and National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035 adopted by Plenum, a key policy body of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2020.
Concerns arose in India as the dam besides empowering China to control the water flow, the size and scale of it could also enable Beijing to release large amounts of water flooding border areas in times of hostilities.
India too is building a dam over Brahmaputra in Arunachal Pradesh.
India and China established the Expert Level Mechanism (ELM) in 2006 to discuss various issues related to trans-border rivers under which China provides India with hydrological information on the Brahmaputra river and Sutlej river during the flood seasons.
Data sharing of trans-border rivers figured in the talks between India, China Special Representatives (SRs) for border question, NSA Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, held here on December 18.
The SRs &ldquo;provided positive directions for cross-border cooperation and exchanges" including data sharing on trans-border rivers, a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs said.
The Brahmaputra Dam presents enormous engineering challenges as the project site is located along a tectonic plate boundary where earthquakes occur.
The Tibetan plateau, regarded as the roof of the world, frequently experiences earthquakes as it is located over the tectonic plates.
The official statement on Wednesday sought to allay concerns about earthquakes, saying that the hydropower project is safe and prioritises ecological protection.
Through extensive geological explorations and technical advancements, a solid foundation has been laid for the science-based, secure, and high-quality development of the project, it said.
The Brahmaputra flows across the Tibetan Plateau, carving out the deepest canyon on Earth and covering a staggering vertical difference of 25,154 feet before reaching India, the Post report said.
The dam will be built in one of the rainiest parts of mainland China bringing bountiful flows of water.
According to a 2023 report, the hydropower station is expected to generate more than 300 billion kWh of electricity each year &ndash; enough to meet the annual needs of over 300 million people.
In 2020, Yan Zhiyong, then chairman of the state-owned Power Construction Corporation of China, was quoted in the media as saying the location on the Yarlung Tsangpo was one of the most hydropower-rich areas in the world.
&ldquo;The lower reaches area features a vertical drop of 2,000 metres over a 50km distance, representing nearly 70 million kilowatts of resources that could be developed &ndash; that is more than three Three Gorges Dams with an installed capacity of 22.5 million kilowatts,&rdquo; the Post quoted him as saying.
To harness the hydropower potential of the river, four to six 20km-long tunnels must be drilled through the Namcha Barwa mountain to divert half of the river&rsquo;s flow at about 2,000 cubic metres per second, according to the report.
Yan said that the hydropower exploitation of the Yarlung Zangbo River downstream is more than a hydropower project.
It is also meaningful for the environment, national security, living standards, energy and international cooperation.
"It is a project for national security, including water resources and domestic security," he said, noting that the project will also smooth cooperation with South Asia.
The hydropower station could generate income of 20 billion yuan (USD three billion) annually for the Tibet Autonomous Region, he said.
An official statement on Wednesday defended the project, saying it will play a positive role in accelerating the country's efforts to create a new development pattern and pursue high-quality development.
It is also of great importance to advancing the country's strategy for carbon peaking and carbon neutrality and to coping with global climate change, it said.
The hydropower project is a green project aimed at promoting low-carbon development. By harnessing the abundant hydropower resources of the Yarlung Zangbo River, the project will also spur the development of solar and wind energy resources in surrounding areas, thus creating a clean energy base featuring a complementary mix of hydro, wind and solar power, it said.
It will directly stimulate the rapid growth of such industries as engineering, logistics and trade services, and create new jobs, it said.
Once completed, the project will further improve infrastructures of electricity, water conservancy and transportation. It will strengthen the synergy of development between Tibet and other regions, it said.

A massive fire broke out at the Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka, damaging important official documents and raising suspicions of sabotage. Authorities have formed a high-powered investigation committee to determine the cause and source of the fire.

Massive fire breaks out at Bangladesh Secretariat, official documents damaged

The probe panel has been tasked with finding out the source and cause of the fire, uncovering whether anyone had personal or professional responsibility for it.

A massive fire broke out at a major building of the Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka on Thursday, damaging official documents that prompted authorities to form a high-powered investigation committee amid suspicions that it could be an act of sabotage.
The fire broke out in Building 7 of the Bangladesh Secretariat and it was brought under control after nearly six hours of firefighting efforts.
According to officials, the fire broke out Thursday early morning in the nine-storey building housing seven ministries inside the high-security complex.
However, no casualties were reported.
&ldquo;The fire broke out in three spots (of the building) simultaneously hours after midnight yesterday,&rdquo; fire service chief Brigadier General Zahed Kamal told newsmen indicating it might not be an accidental inferno.
Officials said a power outage caused by the fire forced as well other ministries apart from the building to halt their normal work while security agencies restricted entry inside the complex preventing many staff and officials from entering into the complex at the central part of the capital.
They said most rooms on the sixth, seventh and eighth floors of building no 7 were severely damaged while a huge volume of documents from the local government and post &amp; telecommunications ministries were burnt alongside the furniture.
&ldquo;The water used to douse the fire also damaged many documents...pigeons which made different parts of the building were seen dead and window spans were broken,&rdquo; an official said after visiting the building.
Local government adviser or de facto minister Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan, a leader of the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement that led the ouster of ex-prime minister Sheikh Hasina&rsquo;s regime on August 5 said, &ldquo;The conspirators have not stopped their activities&rdquo;
He said the documents which were damaged included papers and proofs of corruption of millions of dollars during the ousted Awami League regime.
&ldquo;But no one will be given a single inch pace to escape (punitive actions) if found involved to fail us,&rdquo; said Bhuiyan.
Meanwhile, authorities formed a seven-member committee comprising senior civil bureaucrats, fire service and police officers.
The committee, headed by Additional Secretary (district and field administration) Mohammad Khaled Rahim, was asked to submit its report within seven working days.
The probe panel has been tasked with finding out the source and cause of the fire, uncovering whether anyone had personal or professional responsibility for it, and making recommendations to prevent such accidents, said an office order of the Cabinet Division.

The tsunami was triggered by the longest faultline rupture from an earthquake ever observed, seconds before 7:59 am on December 26, 2004.

2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami: What to know 20 years on...

The tsunami was triggered by the longest faultline rupture from an earthquake ever observed, seconds before 7:59 am on December 26, 2004.

Survivors and victims' relatives will this week mark the 20th anniversary of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, which killed more than 220,000 people across more than a dozen countries.
A 9.1-magnitude earthquake off the western coast of Indonesia's Sumatra island triggered huge waves that swept into coastal areas of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and nine other nations around the Indian Ocean basin.
Here is a look back at the impact of the deadliest tsunami in history.
Faultline rupture
The tsunami was triggered by the longest faultline rupture from an earthquake ever observed, seconds before 7:59 am on December 26, 2004.
The ocean floor opened at least 1,200 kilometres (750 miles) in length between the Indian plate and the Burma microplate.
It created waves more than 30 metres (100 feet) high, releasing energy equivalent to 23,000 Hiroshima atomic bombs and causing widespread destruction.
The magnitude was initially recorded at 8.8 before the United States Geological Survey gave its official magnitude of 9.1 and depth as 30 kilometres (18.6 miles).
The epicentre was located 150 miles from Sumatra's coast.
Indonesia is a vast archipelago nation on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", an arc of intense seismic activity stretching from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin.
Huge death toll
A total of 226,408 people died as a result of the tsunami, according to EM-DAT, a recognised global disaster database.
The worst affected area was northern Sumatra, where more than 120,000 people were killed out of a total of 165,708 dead in Indonesia.
The huge waves travelled around the Indian Ocean, hitting Sri Lanka, India and Thailand hours later.
At their fastest, the waves travelled at over 800 kilometres an hour (500 mph), more than twice the speed of a bullet train.
More than 35,000 were killed in Sri Lanka, with 16,389 killed in India and 8,345 in Thailand, according to EM-DAT.
Nearly 300 were killed in Somalia, more than 100 in the Maldives, as well as dozens in Malaysia and Myanmar.
Displaced, reconstruction
The tsunami displaced more than 1.5 million people and sparked disaster relief of around $14 billion pledged from the international community, according to the United Nations.
Hundreds of thousands of buildings were destroyed, leaving in some cases entire communities homeless.
A splurge in reconstruction has transformed the worst-hit city of Banda Aceh.
More than 100,000 houses were rebuilt in the westernmost Indonesian province of Aceh alone, according to the Indonesian government.
Warning systems
The tsunami also forced a reckoning about the preparedness of coastal communities around the Indian Ocean basin.
At the time of the earthquake, there was no warning system in place in the Indian Ocean.
But now, 1,400 stations globally cut warning times to just minutes after a tsunami waveforms.
Experts said the lack of a properly coordinated warning system in 2004 had made the disaster's impact worse.
Ocean scientists say we are more prepared than ever thanks to millions of dollars being invested into tsunami warning systems, but warn that the impact of a catastrophic tsunami can never be completely prevented.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Editorji News Desk and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Highlights

Latest news

UK Arrests Jewish Academic Haim Bresheeth For Pro-Palestinian Speech

Up Next

More videos

Categories