Name: Watch: small plane crash lands in ocean off US beach
Uploaded: 2023-08-01T13:22:59.000+05:30
Duration: T00M26S
Channel: AP
Description: Beachgoers in New Hampshire were in for a shock when a small plane crashed in the ocean in front of them

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.)

Pakistan plans to procure 40 J-35A stealth fighter jets from China, marking the first global export of China's advanced military aircraft. The deal could significantly boost Pakistan's air defense capabilities.

Pakistan Seeks J-35A Stealth Jets from China

While Beijing has yet to officially confirm the sale, the acquisition of the J-35A would not only bolster Pakistan&rsquo;s air capabilities but also signify a deepening military alliance with China.

China is reportedly in discussions with Pakistan over the potential sale of 40 advanced J-35A stealth fighter jets, marking a significant development in military cooperation between the two nations.
If the deal goes through, Pakistan would become the first country outside China to operate these cutting-edge multi-role fighter jets, representing Beijing&rsquo;s first export of its most advanced military aircraft.
The J-35A, China's second fifth-generation stealth jet, is designed to rival the United States&rsquo; F-35 series.
&nbsp;
Key Features of the J-35A The J-35A is a twin-engine, single-seat supersonic fighter capable of land and sea missions. Its design is strikingly similar to the U.S. F-35, though it boasts twin engines compared to the F-35's single-engine configuration. With capabilities including stealth operations, counter-stealth combat, and interception of various hostile targets, the J-35A is positioned as a formidable player in modern aerial warfare. Beijing plans to deploy the aircraft across its Air Force and Navy in a manner comparable to the U.S. F-35 variants. 
&nbsp;
Pakistan&rsquo;s Strategic Gain
Pakistan, grappling with an ageing fleet of U.S.-made F-16s and French Mirage fighters, views the acquisition of the J-35A as a critical upgrade to its air defense capabilities. According to reports, Pakistan's Air Force has approved the purchase, with China prepared to deliver all 40 jets within two years. Such an acquisition would provide Islamabad with advanced stealth technology, potentially altering the regional balance of power. 
Financing Challenges Amid Economic Strain Despite Pakistan&rsquo;s severe economic crisis and reliance on IMF and World Bank bailout packages, the country seems determined to proceed with the deal. It remains unclear how Islamabad plans to finance the acquisition, though experts speculate that China may extend another loan, adding to Pakistan&rsquo;s mounting debt. Beijing has previously modernized Pakistan's military across all branches, including the co-development of the JF-17 Thunder fighter and the delivery of advanced naval frigates.
&nbsp;
Regional Implications and Sovereignty Concerns&nbsp; China&rsquo;s growing military and economic influence in Pakistan is underscored by the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Reports suggest that Beijing is pressuring Islamabad to permit Chinese security personnel deployment in Pakistan, raising sovereignty concerns. Pakistan has so far resisted this demand, deploying over 30,000 personnel to protect Chinese workers involved in CPEC projects. 
High-Level Talks Strengthen Military Ties
Recent high-level meetings between Chinese and Pakistani military officials, including a visit by General Zhang Youxia, Vice-Chairman of China&rsquo;s Central Military Commission, have focused on deepening bilateral defense cooperation. The discussions coincided with the unveiling of the J-35A, further fueling speculation about the impending deal.
While Beijing has yet to officially confirm the sale, the acquisition of the J-35A would not only bolster Pakistan&rsquo;s air capabilities but also signify a deepening military alliance with China, potentially reshaping South Asia&rsquo;s strategic dynamics.

In an interview with PTI in Dhaka in September, Yunus had said that Hasina's political remarks from India are an “unfriendly gesture", asserting that she must remain silent to prevent discomfort to both countries until Dhaka requests her extradition.

Bangladesh requests India to extradite Sheikh Hasina

In an interview with PTI in Dhaka in September, Yunus had said that Hasina's political remarks from India are an &ldquo;unfriendly gesture", asserting that she must remain silent to prevent discomfort to both countries until Dhaka requests her extradition.

Bangladesh's interim government said on Monday that it has sent a diplomatic note to India to send back deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina to Dhaka.
Hasina, 77, has been living in exile in India since Aug 5 when she fled the country amid the student-led protests that toppled her 16-year regime. Bangladesh-based International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has issued arrest warrants for Hasina and several former Cabinet ministers, advisers, and military and civil officials for "crimes against humanity and genocide".
&ldquo;We have sent a note verbale to the Indian government saying that Bangladesh wants her back here for the judicial process,&rdquo; Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain told reporters at his office.
Earlier in the morning, Home Advisor Jahangir Alam said his office has sent a letter to the foreign ministry to facilitate the ousted premier's extradition from India.
&ldquo;We have sent a letter to the foreign ministry regarding her extradition. The process is currently underway,&rdquo; he told reporters in response to a query.
Alam said an extradition treaty between Dhaka and New Delhi already exists and Hasina could be brought back to Bangladesh under it.
Last month, in an address to the nation on the completion of 100 days of the interim government, Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus said it would seek the extradition of Hasina.
&ldquo;We must ensure justice in every killing&hellip; We will also ask India to send back fallen autocrat Sheikh Hasina,&rdquo; he said.
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.
In October, Law Adviser Asif Nazrul had reportedly said that Bangladesh would strongly protest if India tried to refuse Hasina's extradition by citing any provision in the treaty.
In an interview with PTI in Dhaka in September, Yunus had said that Hasina's political remarks from India are an &ldquo;unfriendly gesture", asserting that she must remain silent to prevent discomfort to both countries until Dhaka requests her extradition.
"If India wants to keep her until the time Bangladesh (government) wants her back, the condition would be that she has to keep quiet," he said.
In recent weeks, Hasina has accused the Yunus-led interim government of perpetrating "genocide" and failing to protect minorities, especially Hindus, since her ouster.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Editorji News Desk and is published from a syndicated feed.)

A polarised Security Council has failed to deal with current peace and security challenges, with Council members sharply divided on conflicts such as the Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas war.

India’s Call for UN Reforms: A Vision for Global Relevance

A polarised Security Council has failed to deal with current peace and security challenges, with Council members sharply divided on conflicts such as the Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas war.

As the United Nations prepares to celebrate its 80th anniversary next year, India stressed that reform is &ldquo;key&rdquo; to the organisation&rsquo;s &ldquo;relevance&rdquo; in addressing current and future global challenges, as world leaders signed off on an ambitious pact in 2024 to transform global governance and drive sustainable action.
When world leaders descended at the UN Headquarters in September for the high-level 79th session of the General Assembly, they adopted by consensus the landmark &lsquo;Pact of the Future&rsquo; &ndash; a document that covers themes from peace and security, sustainable development to climate change, digital cooperation, human rights, gender, youth and future generations, and transformation of global governance.
Underlining the need for reform, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, &ldquo;We don&rsquo;t need a crystal ball to see that 21st Century challenges require problem-solving mechanisms that are more effective, networked and inclusive. We can&rsquo;t create a future fit for our grandchildren with systems built for our grandparents.&rdquo;
India has been at the forefront of years-long efforts calling for reform of the Security Council, including expansion in both its permanent and non-permanent categories, saying the 15-nation Council, founded in 1945, is not fit for purpose in the 21st Century and does not reflect contemporary geo-political realities. Delhi has underscored that it rightly deserves a permanent seat at the horse-shoe table.
A polarised Security Council has failed to deal with current peace and security challenges, with Council members sharply divided on conflicts such as the Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas war.
Guterres noted that many of today&rsquo;s pressing issues were not foreseen when the UN&rsquo;s multilateral framework was created 80 years ago.
India&rsquo;s message to the international community was that reforms in global institutions are essential for global peace and development.
&ldquo;Reform is the key to relevance&hellip; Global action must match global ambition,&rdquo; Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his address to the UN&rsquo;s Summit of the Future, where the Pact was adopted.
Modi&rsquo;s clarion call for change from the UNGA lectern came amid ongoing global conflicts, including the Ukraine war entering its third year, the Israel-Hamas war, and escalating global threats like terrorism, climate crises, economic inequality, and attacks on women&rsquo;s rights.
Amid these global challenges, India consistently advocated dialogue and diplomacy to arrive at solutions and resolve conflicts. When Modi met Ukraine&rsquo;s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the Summit of the Future before wrapping up his three-day visit to the US, he reiterated India&rsquo;s willingness to play a constructive role in the quest for a peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri emphasised Modi&rsquo;s commitment to finding a way forward and contributing in any way possible to a resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The Modi-Zelenskyy meeting was the third in about as many months. Modi met the Ukrainian leader in Kyiv in August, just weeks after he met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in July. In June, Modi held a bilateral meeting with Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Italy.
Modi held bilateral talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, expressing concern over the Gaza crisis and advocating a two-state solution for sustainable peace in the region.
Modi also met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia in October amidst heightened tensions between Iran and Israel. Modi emphasized the need for dialogue and diplomacy to de-escalate tensions in the volatile region.
Terrorism continued to pose a significant threat to peace and security globally in 2024.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar&rsquo;s General Assembly address in September marked a strong stance, explicitly condemning Pakistan&rsquo;s &ldquo;cross-border terrorism policy&rdquo; for the first time in six years from the UNGA lectern while delivering the national statement at the high-level General Debate.
He asserted that terrorism is antithetical to everything that the world stands for. &ldquo;When this polity instils such fanaticism among its people, its GDP can only be measured in terms of the radicalisation and its exports in the form of terrorism,&rdquo; Jaishankar said.
&ldquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s cross-border terrorism policy will never succeed. And it can have no expectation of impunity. On the contrary, actions will certainly have consequences. The issue to be resolved between us is now only the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan. And of course the abandonment of Pakistan&rsquo;s longstanding attachment to terrorism,&rdquo; he said.
His statement echoed late External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj&rsquo;s 2018 address, which criticised Pakistan&rsquo;s continued glorification of terrorism.
&ldquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to terrorism as an instrument of official policy has not abated one bit&hellip; Pakistan glorifies killers; it refuses to see the blood of innocents,&rdquo; Swaraj had said in her powerful takedown of Pakistan from the UNGA podium.
The UN&rsquo;s ability to maintain peace and security remains under scrutiny as its Security Council grapples with polarization and fails to maintain international peace and security.
Pakistan, which has an &ldquo;all-weather ally&rdquo; in China, is set to sit at the Security Council horse-shoe table for a two-year term as an elected non-permanent member beginning January 1, 2025.
It should come as no surprise that Pakistan will use its UNSC tenure to raise the issue of Jammu and Kashmir and propose discussions at the multilateral forum on the bilateral issue, despite past failures to garner support from the wider UN membership.
Recalling the origins of the UN at Dumbarton Oaks in Washington DC 80 years ago, Jaishankar in his UNGA address stressed that reforming multilateralism is imperative to address today&rsquo;s dual crises of peace and prosperity.
&ldquo;The debates of that era centred around ensuring world peace, a prerequisite for global prosperity. Today, we find both peace and prosperity equally endangered,&rdquo; he said.
&ldquo;We see that vividly in every challenge and every crisis. Reforming multilateralism is, therefore, an imperative,&rdquo; Jaishankar said.
India&rsquo;s strong call for change resonates globally as the UN nears its 80th year, striving to remain relevant in a rapidly evolving world.
The world body also faces its litany of uncertainties with Donald Trump&rsquo;s return to the US President in 2025.
Known for his criticisms of the UN, Trump&rsquo;s first term from 2017-2021 saw the US withdraw from several UN agencies, including the Paris Climate Agreement, the UN Human Rights Council and UNESCO, and cut funding to the United Nations Population Fund, the organisation&rsquo;s reproductive health agency.
Following Trump&rsquo;s election victory, Guterres reaffirmed the importance of US-UN cooperation, expressing readiness to engage constructively with the incoming administration.
In his first term, Trump described the UN as hampered by &ldquo;bureaucracy and mismanagement&rdquo;, calling for reforms to advance its mission. The US remains the largest contributor to the UN, accounting for 22 per cent of the regular budget.
All eyes will be on how the relationship between the UN and the incoming Trump administration pans out given his past criticisms of the world body.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Editorji News Desk and is published from a syndicated feed.)

He also vowed to "keep men out of women's sports," adding that "it will be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female."

President-Elect Trump Pledges to ‘Stop Transgender Lunacy’ and End Migrant Crime

He also vowed to "keep men out of women's sports," adding that "it will be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female."

President-elect Donald Trump on Sunday pledged to "stop the transgender lunacy" on day one of his presidency, as Republicans -- set to control both chambers of Congress and the White House -- continue their push against LGBTQ rights.
"I will sign executive orders to end child sexual mutilation, get transgender out of the military and out of our elementary schools and middle schools and high schools," the president-elect said at an event for young conservatives in Phoenix, Arizona.
He also vowed to "keep men out of women's sports," adding that "it will be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female."
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
A beautiful morning in Phoenix, Arizona at <a href="https://twitter.com/TPUSA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TPUSA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AMFEST2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AMFEST2024</a>. THANK YOU! <a href="https://t.co/bMGsEBQGvl">pic.twitter.com/bMGsEBQGvl</a>
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1870914841101340759?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2024</a></blockquote>
Speaking to the AmericaFest conference in a border state he easily carried in the November election, Trump further promised immediate measures against "migrant crime," vowed to designate drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, and doubled down on his talk of restoring US control of the Panama Canal.
Transgender issues have roiled US politics in recent years, as Democratic- and Republican-controlled states have moved in opposite directions on policies such as medical treatment and what books on the topic are allowed in public or school libraries.
Last week, when the US Congress approved its annual defence budget, it included a provision to block funding of some gender-affirming care for the transgender children of service members.
In his speech Sunday, which amounted to something of a victory lap, Trump made expansive promises for his second term -- and drew a dark picture of the four years preceding it, under President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the latter of whom he defeated in the 2024 election.
"On January 20, the United States will turn the page forever on four long, horrible years of failure, incompetence, national decline, and we will inaugurate a new era of peace, prosperity and national greatness," Trump said, referring to his swearing-in.
"I will end the war in Ukraine. I will stop the chaos in the Middle East, and I will prevent, I promise, World War III."
He added: "The golden age of America is upon us."
The president-elect has yet to explain publicly how he plans to bring a quick end to the war in Ukraine or to bring peace to the Middle East.
But in the sort of bellicose language he sometimes used even against US allies in the past, Trump said Sunday that Panamanian authorities "haven't treated us fairly" in their operation of the Panama Canal.
He had said earlier that fees for use of the canal -- construction of which was begun by France and completed by the United States -- are "ridiculous."
And he added Sunday that if the principles behind the 1970s treaty that gave Panama full control of the canal are not followed, "then we will demand" that it be returned to the United States "in full, quickly and without question."
Thousands of ships transit the key Central American waterway every year, making it critical to US and international commerce.
The president-elect, who regularly blames migrants from Latin America for America's drug problems, renewed his vow to immediately begin "the largest deportation operation in American history" upon taking office, and later went further, saying he would "immediately designate the (drug) cartels as foreign terrorist organizations."
"This criminal network operating on American soil will be dismantled, deported and destroyed," Trump said.
During his first term in 2019, after the killing in Mexico of nine American citizens from a Mormon community, Trump vowed to apply the terrorist designation to Mexican cartels.
But he relented following a plea from then-Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Editorji News Desk and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Authorities have identified the suspect as a Saudi doctor who arrived in Germany in 2006 and had received permanent residency.

Germany Christmas Market Attack: Authorities received tipoffs last year about suspect

Authorities have identified the suspect as a Saudi doctor who arrived in Germany in 2006 and had received permanent residency.

German authorities said they received tipoffs last year about the suspect in a car attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg as more details emerged on Sunday about the five people killed.
Authorities have identified the suspect as a Saudi doctor who arrived in Germany in 2006 and had received permanent residency.
Police haven&rsquo;t publicly named the suspect, in line with privacy rules, but some German news outlets have identified him as Taleb A. and reported that he was a specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy.
Authorities say he does not fit the usual profile of perpetrators of extremist attacks. He described himself as an ex-Muslim who was highly critical of Islam and in many posts on social media expressed support for the far-right anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
He is being held in custody as authorities investigate him.
The head of the Federal Criminal Police Office, Holger M&uuml;nch, said in an interview on the German broadcaster ZDF on Saturday that his office received a tipoff from Saudi Arabia in November 2023, which led authorities to launch &ldquo;appropriate investigative measures.&rdquo; &ldquo;The man also published a huge number of posts on the internet. He also had contact with various authorities and made insults and even threats. However, he was not known to have committed acts of violence,&rdquo; said M&uuml;nch, whose office is the German equivalent of the FBI.
He said that the warnings, however, proved to be very unspecific. The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees also said Sunday on X that it received a tipoff about the suspect in the late summer of last year. &ldquo;This was taken seriously, like every other of the numerous tips,&rdquo; the office said. But it also noted that it is not an investigative authority and that it referred the information to the responsible authorities. It gave no other details.
Police in Magdeburg, the capital of the state of Saxony-Anhalt, said Sunday that those who died were four women aged 45, 52, 67 and 75, as well as a 9-year-old boy.
Authorities said 200 people were injured, including 41 in serious condition. They were being treated in multiple hospitals in Magdeburg, which is about 130 kilometres west of Berlin, and beyond.
The suspect was on Saturday evening brought before a judge, who behind closed doors ordered him to be kept in custody on allegations of murder and attempted murder. He is facing a possible indictment.
The horror triggered by yet another act of mass violence in Germany makes it likely that migration will remain a key issue as the country heads toward an early election on February 23. A deadly knife attack in Solingen in August pushed the issue to the top of the agenda and led the government of Chancellor Olaf Scholz to tighten border security measures. Right-wing figures from across Europe have criticised German authorities for having allowed high levels of migration in the past and for what they see as security failures now.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orb&aacute;n, who is known for a strong anti-migration position going back years, used the attack in Germany to lash out at the European Union&rsquo;s migration policies and described it as a &ldquo;terrorist act.&rdquo;
At an annual press conference in Budapest on Saturday, Orb&aacute;n insisted that &ldquo;there is no doubt that there is a link between the changed world in Western Europe, the migration that flows there, especially illegal migration and terrorist acts.&rdquo;
Orb&aacute;n vowed to &ldquo;fight back&rdquo; against the EU migration policies and alleged without evidence that &ldquo;Brussels wants Magdeburg to happen to Hungary, too.&rdquo;
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Editorji News Desk and is published from a syndicated feed.)

He held talks with Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, who led the Sunni Islamist rebels who swept into Damascus earlier this month and forced the younger Assad from power.

Prominent Lebanese leader visits Syria, hoping for post-Assad reset in troubled relations

He held talks with Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, who led the Sunni Islamist rebels who swept into Damascus earlier this month and forced the younger Assad from power.

A prominent Lebanese politician held talks on Sunday with the insurgent who led the overthrow of Syria&rsquo;s President Bashar Assad, with both expressing hope for a new era in relations between their countries.
Druze leader Walid Jumblatt was a longtime critic of Syria&rsquo;s involvement in Lebanon and blamed Assad&rsquo;s father, former President Hafez Assad, for the assassination of his father decades ago. He is the most prominent Lebanese politician to visit Syria since the Assad family&rsquo;s 54-year rule came to an end.
He held talks with Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, who led the Sunni Islamist rebels who swept into Damascus earlier this month and forced the younger Assad from power.
&ldquo;We salute the Syrian people for their great victories and we salute you for your battle that you waged to get rid of oppression and tyranny that lasted over 50 years,&rdquo; said Jumblatt, a key figure in Lebanon&rsquo;s Druze minority and the former leader of a leftist party.
He expressed hope that Lebanese-Syrian relations &ldquo;will return to normal.&rdquo;
Jumblatt&rsquo;s father, Kamal, was killed in 1977 in an ambush near a Syrian roadblock during Syria&rsquo;s military intervention in Lebanon&rsquo;s civil war. The younger Jumblatt was a critic of the Assads, though he briefly allied with them at one point to gain influence in Lebanon&rsquo;s ever-shifting political alignments.
&ldquo;Syria was a source of concern and disturbance, and its interference in Lebanese affairs was negative,&rdquo; al-Sharaa said, referring to the Assad government. &ldquo;Syria will no longer be a case of negative interference in Lebanon,&rdquo; he said, pledging that it would respect Lebanese sovereignty.
Al-Sharaa also repeated longstanding allegations that Assad&rsquo;s government was behind the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, which was followed by other killings of prominent Lebanese critics of Assad.
Last year, the United Nations closed an international tribunal investigating the assassination after it convicted three members of Lebanon&rsquo;s Hezbollah &mdash; an ally of Assad &mdash; in absentia. Hezbollah denied involvement in the massive February 14, 2005 bombing, which killed Hariri and 21 others.
&ldquo;We hope that all those who committed crimes against the Lebanese will be held accountable and that fair trials will be held for those who committed crimes against the Syrian people,&rdquo; Jumblatt said.
Iran&rsquo;s leader predicts trouble for new Syrian rulers: Separately, Iran&rsquo;s supreme leader said that young Syrians will resist the new government emerging after Assad&rsquo;s overthrow as he again accused the United States and Israel of sowing chaos in the country.
Iran had provided crucial support to Assad throughout Syria&rsquo;s nearly 14-year civil war, which erupted after he launched a violent crackdown on a popular uprising. Syria had long served as a key conduit for Iranian aid to Hezbollah.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in an address on Sunday that the &ldquo;young Syrian has nothing to lose&rdquo; and suffers from insecurity following Assad&rsquo;s fall.
&ldquo;What can he do? He should stand with strong will against those who designed and those who implemented the insecurity,&rdquo; Khamenei said. &ldquo;God willing, he will overcome them.&rdquo;
He accused the United States and Israel of plotting against Assad&rsquo;s government in order to seize resources, saying: &ldquo;Now they feel victory, the Americans, the Zionist regime and those who accompanied them.&rdquo;
Iran and its militant allies in the region have suffered a series of major setbacks over the past year, with Israel battering Hamas in Gaza and landing heavy blows on Hezbollah before they agreed to a ceasefire in Lebanon last month.
Khamenei denied that such groups were proxies of Iran, saying they fought because of their own beliefs and that the Islamic Republic did not depend on them. &ldquo;If one day we plan to take action, we do not need proxy force,&rdquo; he said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Editorji News Desk and is published from a syndicated feed.)

“The guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, which is part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, mistakenly fired on and hit the F/A-18,” Central Command said in a statement.

US Navy pilots shot down over Red Sea in apparent ‘friendly fire’ incident

&ldquo;The guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, which is part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, mistakenly fired on and hit the F/A-18,&rdquo; Central Command said in a statement.

Two US Navy pilots were shot down Sunday over the Red Sea in an apparent &ldquo;friendly fire&rdquo; incident, the US military said, marking the most serious incident to threaten troops in over a year of America targeting Yemen&rsquo;s Houthi rebels.
Both pilots were recovered alive after ejecting from their stricken aircraft, with one suffering minor injuries. But the shootdown underlines just how dangerous the Red Sea corridor has become over the ongoing attacks on shipping by the Iranian-backed Houthis despite US and European military coalitions patrolling the area.
The US military had conducted airstrikes targeting Yemen&rsquo;s Houthi rebels at the time, though the US military&rsquo;s Central Command did not elaborate on what their mission was and did not immediately respond to questions from The Associated Press.
The F/A-18 shot down had just flown off the deck of the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, Central Command said. On December 15, Central Command acknowledged that Truman had entered the Mideast, but hadn&rsquo;t specified that the carrier and its battle group was in the Red Sea.
&ldquo;The guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, which is part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, mistakenly fired on and hit the F/A-18,&rdquo; Central Command said in a statement.
From the military&rsquo;s description, the aircraft shot down was a two-seat F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet assigned to the &ldquo;Red Rippers&rdquo; of Strike Fighter Squadron 11 out of Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia.
It wasn&rsquo;t immediately clear how the Gettysburg could mistake a F/A-18 for an enemy aircraft or missile, particularly as ships in a battle group remain linked by both radar and radio communication.
However, Central Command said that warships and aircraft earlier shot down multiple Houthi drones and an anti-ship cruise missile launched by the rebels. Incoming hostile fire from the Houthis has given sailors just seconds to make decisions in the past.
Since Truman&rsquo;s arrival, the US has stepped up its airstrikes targeting the Houthis and their missile fire into the Red Sea and the surrounding area. &nbsp; &nbsp; However, the presence of an American warship group may spark renewed attacks from the rebels, like what the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower saw earlier this year. That deployment marked what the Navy described as its most intense combat since World War II.
On Saturday night and early Sunday, US warplanes conducted airstrikes that shook Sanaa, the capital of Yemen that the Houthis have held since 2014. &nbsp;Central Command described the strikes as targeting a &ldquo;missile storage facility&rdquo; and a &ldquo;command-and-control facility,&rdquo; without elaborating.
Houthi-controlled media reported strikes in both Sanaa and around the port city of Hodeida, without offering any casualty or damage information. In Sanaa, strikes appeared particularly targeted at a mountainside known to be home to military installations. The Houthis later acknowledged the aircraft being shot down in the Red Sea.
The Houthis have targeted about 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones since the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip started in October 2023 after Hamas&rsquo; surprise attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and saw 250 others taken hostage.
Israel&rsquo;s ground offensive in Gaza has killed more than 45,000 Palestinians, local health officials say. The tally doesn&rsquo;t distinguish between combatants and civilians.
The Houthis have seized one vessel and sunk two in a campaign that has also killed four sailors. Other missiles and drones have either been intercepted by separate US- and European-led coalitions in the Red Sea or failed to reach their targets, which have also included Western military vessels.
The rebels maintain that they target ships linked to Israel, the US or the United Kingdom to force an end to Israel&rsquo;s campaign against Hamas in Gaza. However, many of the ships attacked have little or no connection to the conflict, including some bound for Iran.
The Houthis also have increasingly targeted Israel itself with drones and missiles, resulting in retaliatory Israeli airstrikes.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Editorji News Desk and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Russian missiles targeted Kyiv at sunrise on Friday, killing at least one person and damaging six diplomatic missions and a university in the centre of the Ukrainian capital.

Russian Missiles Target Kyiv in Retaliatory Strike, Killing One and Damaging Diplomatic Buildings

The strikes killed a 53-year-old man and wounded 12 people, most suffering from shrapnel injuries, the city's administration said.

Russian missiles targeted Kyiv at sunrise on Friday, killing at least one person and damaging six diplomatic missions and a university in the centre of the Ukrainian capital.
Moscow said it attacked Ukraine as retaliation for a strike using Western missiles on a chemical plant in Russia earlier in the week.
Russian aerial attacks regularly target the capital but rarely cause damage of that scale as Kyiv is well protected by air defence, nearly three years into Russia's invasion.
"There were explosions after explosions in a row," said 45-year-old Ksenia, who was staying at a hotel near the site of a wreckage.
The air force said it downed all five Iskander missiles Russia launched at the capital, but that debris caused damage in several districts.
The strikes killed a 53-year-old man and wounded 12 people, most suffering from shrapnel injuries, the city's administration said.
They also damaged a building housing the diplomatic missions of Albania, Argentina, Palestine, North Macedonia, Portugal and Montenegro, the Ukrainian foreign ministry said.
"Another heinous Russian attack against Kyiv," European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen posted on X. "Putin's disregard for international law reaches new heights."
In the absence of the Russian ambassador in Lisbon, the charg&eacute; d'affaires of the Russian Federation has been summoned to be presented with a formal protest, the Portuguese government said.
"These are barbaric attacks on diplomatic institutions, this is crossing all possible red lines and international rules," foreign ministry spokesman Georgiy Tykhy was quoted as saying by Ukrainian agency Interfax.
The building of the Kyiv National Linguistics University was also impacted, according to the institution's Instagram account, which posted photos of a main campus building whose windows had been completely blown out, glass shards covering the floor.
&nbsp;
- 'People start running' - &nbsp;
Victoria, a 35-year-old doctor, had come out to look at the charred cars and buildings with blown-out windows at the site of an attack.
"Russians should burn in hell," she said.
Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ignat said Ukraine Patriot air defence systems had been deployed to shoot down the missiles.
The Ukrainian think tank Defence Express said: "All the missiles were successfully intercepted, but in one case, the warhead failed to be destroyed and it exploded near a business centre in the city centre."
Moscow claimed responsibility for the overnight attack on Ukraine, carried out a day after Russian leader Vladimir Putin threatened to strike Kyiv.
"You know that such strikes on Russian territory have been carried out, and you know that the president has said that every time there will be a response," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
His comment came soon after the Russian defence ministry said that "in response to the actions of the Kyiv regime, supported by its Western handlers, a combined strike with long-range precision weapons was launched today".
The ministry said it had targeted an office of the SBU security service and a defence industry site, and that "all the targets have been struck".
&nbsp;
- 'Dumbass' - &nbsp;
Putin at a press conference on Thursday had suggested a "high-tech duel" over Kyiv to test his claims that Russia's new hypersonic ballistic missile, dubbed Oreshnik, is impervious to air defences.
"Let them set some target to be hit, let's say in Kyiv," he said.
"They will concentrate there all their air defences. And we will launch an Oreshnik strike there and see what happens."
Zelensky hit back, saying: "People are dying and he thinks it's 'interesting'... Dumbass."
Russian attacks also killed two people in Ukraine's southern city of Kherson Friday.
"Today Kherson woke up from numerous strikes of the Russian army. The occupants have created hell in the city," governor Oleksandr Prokudin said.
Prokudin also said shelling had left 60,000 homes without electricity in the Kherson region, which has been under daily strikes since Ukraine liberated the city in November 2022.
Russian forces were then pushed back to the other side of the Dnipro river, putting Kherson well within reach of Russian artillery stationed on the opposite bank.
A Russian sabotage group tried but failed to cross the Dnipro during the shelling of Kherson, spokesman for the Southern Defence Forces Vladyslav Voloshyn told state-run Suspilne media.
Russian troops are on the offensive again, especially in the eastern Donbas region, where they captured two small villages near the city of Pokrovsk.

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Beachgoers in New Hampshire were in for a shock when a small plane crashed in the ocean in front of them

Watch: small plane crash lands in ocean off US beach

A small plane towing an advertising banner landed in the ocean off a crowded New Hampshire beach on July 30. 

Beachgoers in New Hampshire were in for a shock when a small plane crashed in the ocean in front of them

A small plane towing an advertising banner landed in the ocean off a crowded New Hampshire beach on Saturday. Authorities say lifeguards rescued the pilot, who was unhurt.
The single-engine Piper PA-18 plane landed about noon off Hampton Beach, according to witnesses.
The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement that the pilot was the only person on board.
Also Watch: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/india-news/crane-crashes-at-construction-site-in-thane-15-workers-killed-1690857069432">Crane crashes at construction site in Thane, 15 workers killed</a>

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.)

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