Pope Francis urges talks on Ukraine in Christmas message, despite Zelensky rejecting holiday ceasefire
Speaking from St. Peter's Basilica, the Pope called for "the boldness needed to open the door to negotiation" to end the bloodshed in "war-torn Ukraine."
This plea comes despite the backlash from Ukrainian officials over his earlier calls for peace talks and Zelensky's firm rejection of an Orthodox Christmas truce.
#Vatican #Ukraine
Migrant charged with murder after setting woman on fire on NY subway
Sebastian Zapeta, a 33-year-old illegal immigrant from Guatemala, was charged with first- and second-degree murder and arson after horrifyingly setting a woman on fire aboard a NYC subway.
The migrant approached the sleeping woman, whom he didn't know, set her clothes ablaze, and then casually fanned the flames with a shirt, watching her burn from a bench on the platform.
Zapeta, who was deported in 2018 but returned to the US under the Biden administration, had no explanation for his actions, claiming he didn't even know what happened.
#US #NYC
Israeli actions influenced Hamas to kill six hostages – IDF
A military investigation has revealed that Israeli actions played a "circumstantial role" in Hamas's decision to execute six hostages in Gaza back in August.
The bodies of these hostages, including one American-Israeli, were discovered in September, leading to protests in Israel calling for a hostage deal with Hamas.
Talks are currently ongoing for the release of the remaining 100 hostages.
#Israel #Gaza
Sinaloa cartel pilots drop leaflets accusing governor of aiding rival faction
Leaflets dropped over several Mexican cities accusing Governor Rubén Rocha Moya and other officials of complicity with the Chapitos – a group led by the sons of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán.
The leaflets call Moya the "Godfather" of the faction, alleging his involvement in extortion, election rigging, and crimes against civilians.
This is part of the ongoing turf war between the Sinaloa Cartel and the Chapitos, which has already led to thousands of deaths and abductions.
#Cartels
Donald and Melania Trump wish Americans a Merry Christmas
DJT thanked "God for sending us His Son" at Christmas, while Melania, in her signature accent, expressed gratitude to the "brave and selfless Americans who keep us safe."
What an AI-perfect picture…
#Trump
Shadow of its former self?: Biden signs bill designating bald eagle as America’s ‘national bird’
The bill, passed unanimously by Congress, amends Title 36 of the US Code to officially recognize the bald eagle as a national symbol.
#US
< Warning graphic footage >
Video from inside the crashed plane in Aktau recorded by one of the survivors
#Kazakhstan
❗️Share of national currencies in transactions between CIS members already exceeds 85% – Putin
#Putin #CIS
Vladimir Putin arrives at the informal CIS summit in Saint Petersburg
#Putin #CIS
❗️Türkiye to open consulate in Aleppo, Syria, following militants' takeover — Erdogan
#Syria #Türkiye
Ukraine deploys an army of phone scammers against civilians
Unwitting Russians, many of them elderly, have been made into saboteurs after being duped by Ukrainian scammers. These victims have so far targeted police cars, government buildings, and banks.
RT senior correspondent Murad Gazdiev investigates.
#SMO
❗️Azerbaijan Airlines publishes list of passengers on board the plane that crashed in Aktau
#Kazakhstan
❗️Moment explosion rips through Vladikavkaz mall
One person was killed, and two others were injured.
#EMERCOM
❗️Some of what we know so far: Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashes en route to Grozny
Rosaviatsia has confirmed that an AZAL Embraer 190, en route from Baku to Grozny, crashed near the eastern Caspian coast at approximately 9:30 am Moscow time while attempting to land at Kazakhstan’s Aktau Airport.
Preliminary investigations suggest a bird strike led to an emergency that forced the crew to divert to Aktau.
Kazakh emergency services are currently conducting search and rescue operations, while Rosaviatsia remains in contact with AZAL, as well as Azerbaijani and Kazakh aviation authorities.
RIA Novosti reports that survivors of the crash have been taken to the hospital - 67 people are alleged to have been on the plane.
#AZAL
❗️‘We pray to the almighty for their recovery’: Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov offered condolences following the Grozny-bound plane crash
According to the Kazakh Ministry of Transport, the plane that crashed in Aktau carried 37 Azerbaijani citizens, 16 Russians, six Kazakhs, and three Kyrgyz citizens.
#Kazakhstan
Christmas message from stranded astronauts sparks conspiracy theories
Astronauts stranded on the ISS fueled conspiracy theories with their festive Christmas decorations, as skeptics questioned if they were even in orbit at all. Many wondered how they packed Santa hats for an initially eight-day June mission, while others boldly claimed it was all Hollywood fakery.
NASA, however, tried to shut down the speculation, explaining the holiday cheer came courtesy of a SpaceX resupply mission in November.
#ISS #NASA
Yemeni Houthis say Mossad-CIA plot thwarted
Speaking to local media, Yemen’s Houthis claimed that their security services have identified and arrested several spies part of a joint Mossad-CIA operation.
The spies allegedly tried to find the Houthis’ drone launch sites, as well the locations of the group’s top leaders.
#Yemen #Israel #US
Video: Ukrainian homeowner drives off authorities with a gun
A Ukrainian man had to fire off a rifle in order to get law enforcement officials and government contractors off his property. The video of the incident purports to show the ever-draconian Ukrainian authorities’ attempt to cut off the man’s access to gas in the city of Kovel, in the Volyn region.
#Ukraine
❗️Russian cargo ship sank by terrorist attack in Mediterranean, the vessel’s operator Oboronlogistics told the media
#Russia
❗️Breaches of unknown origin seen on exterior of Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashed in Kazakhstan
Reportedly 35 people died in the crash.
#Kazakhstan #Azerbaijan
❗️Cause of Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash remains unknown – Azerbaijan president
#Kazakhstan #Azerbaijan
❗️Intense footage captures immediate aftermath of Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash in Kazakhstan
#Kazakhstan
Move over Elon: Russia unleashes fifth Earth-observation satellite into orbit
Roscosmos has successfully launched its high-tech Resurs-P satellite atop the Soyuz-2.1b rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
The satellite is now in orbit, ready to track natural resources, monitor environmental disasters, assess ice conditions, and execute a range of crucial missions.
#Roscosmos
❗️Ukrainian military shells civilian targets in Russia’s Kursk region
At least three civilians have been killed according to local authorities.
#Kursk
Russian rocket launchers smash Ukrainian positions
The Grad MLRS crews unleashed precision strikes, obliterating platoon strongholds and wiping out enemy manpower clusters along the Kursk border.
#SMO
❗️Moscow deeply sympathizes with those who lost their loved ones in the plane crash in Aktau — Dmitry Peskov
The Kremlin spokesman wished the victims of the tragedy a speedy recovery and reported that President Putin has already spoken with Azerbaijan’s Aliyev to express his condolences.
#Moscow
Mile-high horror: Oxygen tank on board exploded, passengers lost consciousness before plane crash — Reports
It's claimed the oxygen tank blew out after the aircraft had hit a flock of birds.
#Kazakhstan
❗️Kazakhstan President Tokayev orders a special commission to investigate the Aktau plane crash - which will be headed by Deputy PM Bozumbayev
Latest figures have 28 survivors of the accident so far.
#Kazakhstan
❗️Victims of Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash transported to Aktau Hospital
#Kazakhstan
❗️Video allegedly shows survivors moments after the crash
#Kazakhstan
