Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 25th of December, covering the latest developments you need to know.
One year after AZAL plane crash near Aktau, investigation continues
One year after the tragic crash of Azerbaijan Airlines Flight J2‑8243 near Aktau, Kazakhstan, which claimed 38 lives, investigators are nearing the conclusion of their official inquiry. While Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted in October that Russian air defence missiles had inadvertently struck the aircraft during an interception of drones, the technical investigation remains ongoing, with a final report expected by early 2026. As relatives gather at the crash site to pay their respects, the flight crew—including Captain Igor Kshnyakin and Senior Flight Attendant Hokuma Aliyeva—have been posthumously honoured as National Heroes of Azerbaijan for their courageous efforts to manage the catastrophe.
Flash floods and evacuations hit Southern California
Torrential rains have unleashed widespread flash flooding across Southern California, prompting emergency evacuations and creating hazardous travel conditions over the Christmas holiday. Rescue crews in the mountain resort of Wrightwood have been deploying to assist stranded motorists, while authorities in Los Angeles have urged residents in mudslide-prone areas to shelter in place. The US National Weather Service has warned that life-threatening storm conditions are expected to persist through Christmas Day, bringing heavy snowfall to the Sierra mountains and further disrupting power and transport networks.
Explosion strikes mosque in Nigeria’s Maiduguri
A devastating explosion tore through a mosque in Maiduguri, the capital of Nigeria’s Borno state, during evening prayers on Wednesday, raising fears of significant casualties. Although no group has immediately claimed responsibility, the city has been a frequent target in the nearly two-decade insurgency waged by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Witnesses reported a chaotic scene in the aftermath of the blast, which serves as a grim reminder of the persistent security challenges facing the northeast despite ongoing military efforts to stabilise the region.
Thailand and Cambodia exchange fire ahead of border talks
Fresh artillery clashes have erupted along the Thailand-Cambodia border, causing injuries to civilians and significant property damage in the town of Poipet just hours before military officials were due to meet for de-escalation talks. Both nations have traded accusations regarding the source of the hostilities, with Bangkok reporting the destruction of buildings allegedly used for criminal operations and Phnom Penh citing unprovoked shelling near the Preah Vihear Temple. The escalating violence has reportedly displaced nearly one million people across the region, with dozens of military and civilian casualties confirmed since fighting intensified earlier this month.
Western allies condemn new West Bank settlements
A coalition of nations, including the UK, Canada, Germany, and France, has issued a joint statement condemning the Israeli security cabinet's approval of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank. The signatories warned that these unilateral actions violate international law and risk further destabilising the region, calling on the Israeli government to reverse the decision immediately. In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar rejected the criticism as discriminatory, asserting that the expansion is a necessary security measure and defending the right of Jewish citizens to reside in the territory.
The Iran-U.S.-Israel conflict is intensifying, with fresh strikes near Tehran, European calls for restraint, and Iran threatening to target U.S. fi...
A man previously convicted of spying on Türkiye has been arrested by Turkish and Syrian authorities after more than a decade on the run, Turki...
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Mines and Petroleum says around 25 kilometres of the TAPI gas pipeline have been laid in Herat province, as work co...
Three Armenian citizens have been charged following an alleged attempt to attack Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at St Anna Cathedral in Yerevan on ...
HHungary’s foreign minister has been drawn into controversy after an audio recording, released by ...
The Iran-U.S.-Israel conflict is intensifying, with fresh strikes near Tehran, European calls for restraint, and Iran threatening to target U.S. firms in the region, raising fears of a broader escalation across the Middle East.
Three Armenian citizens have been charged following an alleged attempt to attack Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at St Anna Cathedral in Yerevan on 29 March. Analysts say the incident reflects rising tensions between the government and the Church ahead of upcoming elections.
HHungary’s foreign minister has been drawn into controversy after an audio recording, released by an investigative outlet, appeared to show him discussing EU sanctions with his Russian counterpart days before an election that could shape Budapest’s relationship with Moscow, Reuters reports.
China and Kenya have agreed to revive a long-delayed railway project, signalling renewed momentum in infrastructure cooperation and a shift towards more sustainable financing models across Africa.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said that the U.S is in talks with the new Iranian regime. He said this in a post on his Truth Social account but warned that the U.S. will "Obliterate" Iran's electric and oil facilities if no deal is reached, especially regarding the Strait of Hormuz closure.
NASA is aiming to launch its Artemis 2 mission on Wednesday (1 April), sending astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon, officials confirmed. According to the Space Administration, the launch window is due to open at 23:24 GMT, with additional opportunities to 6 April if delays occur.
The Iran-U.S.-Israel conflict is intensifying, with fresh strikes near Tehran, European calls for restraint, and Iran threatening to target U.S. firms in the region, raising fears of a broader escalation across the Middle East.
The war in Iran has rapidly upended regional security, triggering spillover across the Middle East and raising fears of wider economic disruption that could threaten globalisation.
The Israeli military said on Monday that Iran launched multiple waves of missiles at Israel, and an attack had also been launched from Yemen for the second time since the U.S.-Israeli war began on Tehran. It said two drones from Yemen were intercepted early 30 March but gave no further details.
A Russia-flagged tanker carrying about 700,000 barrels of crude has arrived in Cuba’s Matanzas Bay, marking the first major oil delivery to the island since the Trump administration cut off its fuel supplies.
China and Kenya have agreed to revive a long-delayed railway project, signalling renewed momentum in infrastructure cooperation and a shift towards more sustainable financing models across Africa.
HHungary’s foreign minister has been drawn into controversy after an audio recording, released by an investigative outlet, appeared to show him discussing EU sanctions with his Russian counterpart days before an election that could shape Budapest’s relationship with Moscow, Reuters reports.
The European Union's top diplomat Kaja Kallas and several EU foreign ministers arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday to mark the fourth anniversary of the Bucha massacre and to voice their support for Ukraine, amid tensions within the bloc over blocked EU aid.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 31 March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment