Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev accused Russia of shooting down Azerbaijan Airlines Flight J2-8243, which crash-landed in Aktau, Kazakhstan, on Christmas Day. The incident claimed the lives of 38 passengers and crew out of the 67 onboard. Aliyev alleged that evidence points to Russian surface-to-air missiles as the cause, though he clarified there is no indication the attack was intentional.
Ahmad al-Sharaa, leader of the rebel group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, stated that producing a new constitution and holding elections in Syria could take several years. In an interview with Saudi Arabian outlet Al Arabiya on Sunday, al-Sharaa explained that drafting a new constitution or amending the current one would require significant time and expertise, possibly taking two to three years or longer.
As Illinois lawmakers prepare for the start of the 2024 legislative session on January 4, all eyes are on the potential for new gun control measures to be passed during the lame duck session. This session follows the contentious decisions made in early January 2023, when legislators approved a ban on certain semi-automatic firearms and magazines, a measure that remains under legal challenge.
The Middle East stands at a pivotal crossroads. Iran, emboldened by its nuclear advancements, poses an existential threat not just to Israel but to global stability.
Haitian gang violence claimed the lives of two journalists and a police officer during a press conference on Tuesday at Haiti’s largest public hospital, highlighting the ongoing instability in the nation’s capital.
Phoenix police are investigating a violent altercation involving both a shooting and stabbing at Sky Harbor Airport’s Terminal 4 on Christmas evening. While the incident caused alarm for travelers, airport operations have since returned to normal.
