World Briefing: December 26, 2024
An Azerbaijani commercial jet which crashed yesterday killing 38 people may have been shot down by Russian defences, pro-Kremlin media and independent experts said. Images showing the fuselage of the Brazilian-built jet showed holes resembling shrapnel or bullet marks, casting doubt over the original official explanation - a bird strike, the Times of London reported. The Embrarer E190 was travelling from Baku in Azerbaijan to Grozny in the Chechen republic of Russia when it crashed and burst into flames in Kazakhstan. President Aliyev said it was too soon to speculate on the cause. Russian independent military analysts from the Conflict Intelligence Team concluded last night that the holes could be the result of a Pantsir S-1 air defense missile. Fifty Ukrainian drones had targeted parts of Russia, including southern regions shortly before, probably triggering defences. “Several drones were shot down over North Ossetia and neighbouring Ingushetia, Rybar, a pro-Kremlin Telegram channel said. The Kazakhstani authorities said that there were 62 passengers and five crew on board - mostly Azerbaijanis, but also Russians, Kazakhstanis and Kyrgyzstanis. The plane shows damage consistent with an air defense missile, detonating from the side and above, Yuriy Podolyaka, a pro-Kremlin blogger wrote. “Survivors recall a bang during its third foggy landing attempt at Grozny before redirection to Makhachkala. It may have been caught in a defense response to an attack on Grozny - Times of London
Osprey Flight Solutions, an aviation security company, said in a note to its clients on Wednesday that the plane had likely been struck by Russian air defenses “during an incident of misidentification.” - NYT
Separately, CNN reported that the crash came shortly after drone strikes hit southern Russia. “Drone activity has shut airports in the area in the past and the nearest Russian airport on the plane’s flight path was closed on Wednesday morning,” the network said.
Strong GPS jamming in the region, which has been linked to past incidents, may have further complicated navigation and contributed to the crash, according to FlightRadar24. “The aircraft was exposed to GPS jamming and spoofing near Grozny,” it said in a post.
Earlier, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev declared Thursday a day of mourning and cancelled a planned visit to Russia for an informal summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a grouping of former Soviet nations. Aliyev’s office said the president “ordered the prompt initiation of urgent measures to investigate the causes of the disaster” - Al Jazeera
Asma Assad, the former Syrian first lady and wife of deposed President Bashar al-Assad is reportedly under medical observation after being diagnosed with leukemia. According to several media reports, doctors have given her a '50/50' chance of survival. The British-born former first lady is reportedly undergoing treatment for acute leukemia. Reports suggest that she is in isolation to reduce the risk of infection and cannot interact with others. In May, the Syrian presidency announced her diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia, which came after her survival against breast cancer in 2019. The 49-year-old is reported to have arrived in Moscow for medical care before the Kremlin persuaded her husband to leave Syria earlier this month. This news follows reports that she is dissatisfied with life in Moscow and is considering a divorce. Asma Assad is reported to to have filed the request in a Russian court. However, the Kremlin has dismissed these reports - Times of India
Curbs to combat dangerous air pollution in New Delhi have been lifted after air quality in the Indian capital improved to ‘very poor’ following two successive ‘severe’ air days. However, most of the major restrictions - including a ban on construction and use of certain fuels - remain in place, The Times of India reported.
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump says he told Canadian hockey legend Wayne Gretzky during a Christmas Day visit that he should run for prime minister of Canada. "I just left Wayne Gretzky, 'The Great One' as he is known in ice-hockey circles," Trump posted on his Truth Social platform Wednesday afternoon. “I said, 'Wayne, why don't you run for prime minister of Canada, soon to be known as the governor of Canada — you would win easily, you wouldn't even have to campaign.' He had no interest," Trump wrote. His comment about being governor of Canada refers to Trump repeatedly suggesting the country become a U.S. state, which Ottawa insists is a joke. Trump added that it would be "fun to watch" if Canadians launched a movement to get the retired hockey player to seek office. The Canadian Press has tried to contact Gretzky through his agents - CP
De Beers Group has amassed a diamond stockpile worth approximately $2 billion, the largest since the 2008 financial crisis, due to weak demand in China, rising competition from lab-grown diamonds, and the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, reported the Financial Times. To stabilise the market, De Beers has cut production by about 20 percent compared to last year and reduced prices at recent auctions, said the FT report. With a 200,000-strong workforce, De Beers has been a dominant forces in the $80bn diamond jewellery market since it was founded in the late 19th century.
"Detour destinations" — oft-overshadowed places near perennial hotspots — will likely be one of 2025's hottest travel trends, Axios reports. These destinations are usually considerably cheaper than their more famous counterparts, but still close enough to offer a taste of the same attractions. Think Reims, France (detour from Paris); Brescia, Italy (detour from Milan); Cozumel, Mexico (detour from Cancun); Santa Barbara, Calif. (detour from Los Angeles); and Waikato, New Zealand (detour from Auckland). “Noctourism," or traveling to bask in the glory of a stunning night sky, is another 2025 travel trend to watch, per Booking.com's 2025 travel predictions.
