Aktau (Kazakhstan), Dec 25: A passenger plane carrying over 100 people crashed near Aktau Airport in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, according to reports from the country’s Emergencies Ministry.

Local media outlet Kazpravda.kz reported that the crash caused a fire at the site.

“A total of 52 rescuers from the Kazakh Emergencies Ministry and 11 pieces of equipment arrived at the scene. Upon arrival, they found the plane engulfed in flames. Firefighters are currently working to extinguish the blaze. Preliminary data suggests there are survivors,” the Ministry stated.

Initial reports indicate that at least 105 passengers and five crew members were on board. While the exact toll remains unclear, at least 25 survivors have been reported, with 22 hospitalised.

Rescue operations are ongoing, and details about the victims are being verified.

The plane, an Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer ERJ-190, was flying from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny in Russia’s Chechnya. It was rerouted to Aktau due to dense fog.

Online flight tracking website FlightRadar24 data shows the plane flying over the Caspian Sea and heading towards its destination, in Chechnya. As the plane entered Russia’s territorial borders, it started circling near the airport. Following this, it requested an emergency landing.

At 6:28 am local time, the plane crashed a few kilometres away from the airport.

According to FlightRadar24, the plane was exposed to “strong GPS jamming, which made the aircraft transmit bad ADS-B data.” Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the crash.

Unverified videos circulating on social media show the moment the plane crashed, bursting into flames, with thick black smoke billowing into the sky.

An operational headquarters has been established at the Command Center of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, with a hotline made available for inquiries.

Further updates on the incident are awaited.

Kabul, Dec 25: At least 15 people, including women and children, have been killed in Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan, with the death toll expected to rise further, according to local media reports.

The strikes carried out late on Tuesday, targeted multiple areas in the Barmal district of Paktika province, dismantling a Taliban training facility .

Seven villages were bombed, including Laman, where five members of a single family lost their lives, and Murg Bazaar village, which was completely destroyed.

The airstrikes have deepened Afghanistan’s ongoing humanitarian crisis, causing significant destruction and civilian casualties, further straining relations between the two nations.

Afghanistan care-taker government condemned the attack and pledged retaliation.

“The Barmal district of Paktika was bombed by the Pakistan Army yesterday. Most of the victims were civilians, including Waziristani refugees. Several were martyred or injured, including children,” the country’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in a statement.

Calling the incident a “barbaric act,” the MoD added, “This clear aggression is contrary to all international principles. The Pakistani side should understand that such actions will not solve any problems. The Islamic Emirate will defend its territory and consider this its inalienable right.”

Pakistan has yet to officially claim responsibility for the strikes, which have heightened tensions between the two neighbours.

The attacks come amidst deteriorating relations between Islamabad and Kabul over the presence of Pakistani militants in Afghanistan. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has intensified its operations against Pakistani forces in recent months, with Islamabad accusing the Afghan Taliban of sheltering the group.

While Pakistan has repeatedly called on the Afghan Taliban to take action against the TTP, Kabul denies harbouring the militants. The latest escalation adds another layer of complexity to an already fragile relationship.

Ramallah, Dec 24: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris had a phone conversation to discuss the latest developments in the Palestinian territories, according to the Palestinian official news agency.

During the phone call on Monday, Abbas highlighted the urgency of implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2735 to end the fighting in Gaza, provide humanitarian aid to the enclave, and ensure the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces.

He thanked Ireland and its people for their support for peace and stability in the region, and their commitment to resolving the Palestinian issue on the basis of the two-State solution.

Abbas also acknowledged Ireland’s support for the Palestinian people, which includes Ireland’s recognition of the State of Palestine, backing for the Palestinian government, contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, and efforts to host injured children from Gaza.

For his part, Harris expressed his sincere condolences and deep sadness over the significant loss of Palestinian lives, calling for an immediate ceasefire and emphasising the need to respect international law and legitimacy.

Harris reiterated Ireland’s commitment to strengthening its ties with the State of Palestine and its people, as well as advancing cooperation to foster peace and stability in the region.

He also reaffirmed Ireland’s continued support for the Palestinian people in building their state institutions and securing their full rights under international law.

Israel announced on December 15 that it will close its embassy in Ireland, attributing the decision to the Irish government’s “extreme anti-Israel policies.”