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.

Gaza, Dec 25: The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said that one child gets killed every hour in the Gaza Strip.

“No place for children. Since the beginning of the war, 14,500 children have been reported killed in Gaza according to UNICEF. One child gets killed every hour. These are not numbers. These are lives cut short,” UNRWA said in a press statement.

“Killing children cannot be justified. Those who survive are scarred physically and emotionally. Deprived of learning, boys and girls in Gaza sift through the rubble,” it added.

“The clock is ticking for these children. They are losing their lives, their futures and mostly their hope,” it said.

Israel has been launching a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on October 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and about 250 taken hostage.

The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has risen to 45,338, Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Tuesday.

Earlier on Monday Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that “there has been progress” in efforts to secure a ceasefire-for-hostages deal with Hamas, but cautioned that the timeline for reaching an agreement remains unclear.

Speaking before the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, Netanyahu said, “I do not know how long it will take,” while vowing to “continue to act in every possible way until we bring everyone home.”

Earlier on Monday, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar outlined parts of the deal during a closed meeting of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, describing it as “a phased, gradual framework.”

Israeli and Palestinian media reported that efforts led by Qatari, Egyptian, and US mediators have shown progress, though a breakthrough remains elusive.

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.”