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US President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday nominated Miami-Dade County Commissioner Kevin Marino Cabrera to serve as ambassador to Panama.
Trump described Cabrera as "a fierce fighter for America First principles" who he said has been instrumental in driving economic growth and fostering international partnerships.
Also read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/h1b-visas-us-far-right-goes-on-anti-india-drivel-over-trumps-pick-sriram-musk-wades-in-8566899" class="editor-rtfLink" rel="noopener">H1B visas: US far-right goes on anti-India drivel over Trump's pick Sriram;&nbsp;Musk&nbsp;wades&nbsp;in</a>
"Few understand Latin American politics as well as Kevin - He will do a FANTASTIC job representing our Nation&rsquo;s interests in Panama!" he said in a post on Truth Social.
The announcement of his pick for ambassador comes after Trump threatened to reassert US control over the Panama Canal, which it administered for decades before handing over to Panama in 1999.
Also read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/15000-devices-fail-to-detonate-in-israels-explosive-pager-operation-against-hezbollah-report-8567156" class="editor-rtfLink" rel="noopener">15,000 devices failed to explode during Israel's pager operation against Hezbollah: Report</a>
Trump said the Central American country, with whom the US has had diplomatic relations since 1903, is "ripping us off on the Panama Canal, far beyond their wildest dreams."
In a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump accused Chinese soldiers of illegally operating the canal and "always making certain that the United States puts in Billions of Dollars in 'repair' money but will have absolutely nothing to say about 'anything.'"
Also read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/passenger-captures-moments-before-and-after-azerbaijan-airlines-plane-crash-8566817" class="editor-rtfLink" rel="noopener">Video: Passenger captures Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash that killed 38</a>
Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino has said China had no influence on the canal's administration.
China does not control or administer the canal, but a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings (0001.HK), opens new tab, has long managed two ports located on the canal's Caribbean and Pacific entrances.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.

The announcement of his pick for ambassador comes after Trump threatened to reassert US control over the Panama Canal, which it handed over to Panama in 1999.

US President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday nominated Miami-Dade County Commissioner Kevin Marino Cabrera to serve as ambassador to Panama. Trump described Cabrera as "a fierce fighter for America First principles" who he said has been instrumental in driving economic growth and fostering international partnerships. Also read: H1B visas: US far-right goes on anti-India drivel over Trump's pick Sriram; Musk wades in "Few understand Latin American politics as well as Kevin - He will do a FANTASTIC job representing our Nation’s interests in Panama!" he said in a post on Truth Social. The announcement of his pick for ambassador comes after Trump threatened to reassert US control over the Panama Canal, which it administered for decades before handing over to Panama in 1999. Also read: 15,000 devices failed to explode during Israel's pager operation against Hezbollah: Report Trump said the Central American country, with whom the US has had diplomatic relations since 1903, is "ripping us off on the Panama Canal, far beyond their wildest dreams." In a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump accused Chinese soldiers of illegally operating the canal and "always making certain that the United States puts in Billions of Dollars in 'repair' money but will have absolutely nothing to say about 'anything.'" Also read: Video: Passenger captures Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash that killed 38 Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino has said China had no influence on the canal's administration. China does not control or administer the canal, but a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings (0001.HK), opens new tab, has long managed two ports located on the canal's Caribbean and Pacific entrances. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

US President-elect Donald Trump names 'fierce fighter' Kevin Cabrera as Panama ambassador

Azerbaijan Airlines crash: Footage of plane's fuselage showed holes

Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have claimed that they recently uncovered a spy network handled by Israeli intelligence agency Mossad and its American counterpart the CIA. The group released a statement, claiming the CIA and Mossad agents were tasked with the responsibility of identifying and monitoring key military installations, including its missile sites, drones and naval forces as well as weapons depots. The statement added that the agents were also tracking and monitoring senior Houthi leadership living in Yemen and those wanted by the US and Israel.
The Times of Israel reported that the spy network was led by a Saudi national, identified as Hamid Hussein Majali. The Houthis said he had been operating from Yemeni soil since Oct 7 last year, focusing on driving recruitments for the agencies. He had been drafting locals to do espionage activities and obstruct the Houthis as the Iran-backed rebels have been staging attacks against Israel and international shipping lanes in support of Hamas in Gaza.
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<div class="n0jPhd ynAwRc MBeuO nDgy9d" aria-level="3" role="heading">Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-vows-to-target-houthi-leaders-says-will-act-against-them-to-remove-threat-786542" rel="dofollow">Israel vows to target Houthi leaders, says `will act against them to remove threat`</a></div>
<h2 class="n0jPhd ynAwRc MBeuO nDgy9d" aria-level="3" role="heading">Israel to go after Houthis now</h2>
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The reports come amidst signalling by Israel that it may go after the Houthi rebels after significantly weakening other Iranian assets in the West Asian region, including Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. On Tuesday (Dec 24), Defence Minister Israel Katz said the Jewish nation will not allow missile and drone fire on Israel by Houthis to continue unchecked.
&ldquo;Just as we took care of (Yayha) Sinwar in Gaza, (Ismail) Haniyeh in Tehran and (Hassan) Nasrallah in Beirut, we will deal with the heads of the Houthis in Sana&rsquo;a or anywhere in Yemen,&rdquo; Katz said referring to the leaders of terror group Hamas and Hezbollah killed by Israel.
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Earlier on Tuesday, the IDF shot down a missile fired by Houthis as sirens in Tel Aviv caused widespread panic among the residents. If Israel now goes after the Houthi leadership, it will mark a serious escalation in the conflict.
(With inputs from agencies)

West Asia crisis | World news: The reports come amidst signalling by Israel that it may go after the Houthi rebels after significantly weakening other Iranian assets.

Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have claimed that they recently uncovered a spy network handled by Israeli intelligence agency Mossad and its American counterpart the CIA. The group released a statement, claiming the CIA and Mossad agents were tasked with the responsibility of identifying and monitoring key military installations, including its missile sites, drones and naval forces as well as weapons depots. The statement added that the agents were also tracking and monitoring senior Houthi leadership living in Yemen and those wanted by the US and Israel. The Times of Israel reported that the spy network was led by a Saudi national, identified as Hamid Hussein Majali. The Houthis said he had been operating from Yemeni soil since Oct 7 last year, focusing on driving recruitments for the agencies. He had been drafting locals to do espionage activities and obstruct the Houthis as the Iran-backed rebels have been staging attacks against Israel and international shipping lanes in support of Hamas in Gaza. Also read: Israel vows to target Houthi leaders, says `will act against them to remove threat` Israel to go after Houthis now The reports come amidst signalling by Israel that it may go after the Houthi rebels after significantly weakening other Iranian assets in the West Asian region, including Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. On Tuesday (Dec 24), Defence Minister Israel Katz said the Jewish nation will not allow missile and drone fire on Israel by Houthis to continue unchecked. “Just as we took care of (Yayha) Sinwar in Gaza, (Ismail) Haniyeh in Tehran and (Hassan) Nasrallah in Beirut, we will deal with the heads of the Houthis in Sana’a or anywhere in Yemen,” Katz said referring to the leaders of terror group Hamas and Hezbollah killed by Israel. AI FFeatured Image size is smaller than 1200px width Earlier on Tuesday, the IDF shot down a missile fired by Houthis as sirens in Tel Aviv caused widespread panic among the residents. If Israel now goes after the Houthi leadership, it will mark a serious escalation in the conflict. (With inputs from agencies)

Houthis ‘uncover’ Mossad, CIA spy network as Israel shifts focus to Yemen

The second season of the widely popular South Korean TV series Squid Games has been released. Taking inspiration from Squid Games, fraudsters in China are preying on indebted people with promises of prize money, debt restructuring and other schemes that are not always what is promised.
A report by the news agency Reuters on Wednesday (Dec 25) said that, unlike Squid Games, the Chinese players (those who are indebted) take on "isolation challenges" that do not risk their lives if they lose.
<h2>A look at the scam</h2>
News agency Reuters reported that in these isolation challenges- people pay hundreds of dollars to stay in a room for days, following prescribed rules in the hopes of winning as much as $140,000 (around 1 million yuan).&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pentagon-releases-annual-report-on-chinas-military-developments-a-look-at-the-key-facts-785627" rel="dofollow">Pentagon releases annual report on China's military developments showing disturbing rise in nukes</a>
Courts found that some of the participants were being scammed, and regulators were warning people about dodgy debt relief claims.&nbsp;
Isolation challenges, often advertised on Douyin, as TikTok is known in China, have risen in popularity this year as the world's second-biggest economy slows.&nbsp;
The long list of rules in the challenges include toilet breaks not exceeding 15 minutes and bans on touching the alarm clock more than twice a day.
Many players cry foul when they do not survive their first day for infractions caught on surveillance cameras, which they dispute.
<h2>A warning by the NFRA</h2>
On Tuesday, the National Financial Regulatory Administration (NFRA) warned the public not to fall for "debt intermediaries" claiming to help people restructure their borrowings or improve their credit profiles.
Touting their services through phone, texts, flyers and ads on social media, such intermediaries claim they can help secure new loans or provide temporary funds, but the NFRA warned the services came with a high fee.
(With inputs from agencies)

Isolation challenges, often advertised on Douyin, as TikTok is known in China, have risen in popularity this year as the world's second-biggest economy slows. 

The second season of the widely popular South Korean TV series Squid Games has been released. Taking inspiration from Squid Games, fraudsters in China are preying on indebted people with promises of prize money, debt restructuring and other schemes that are not always what is promised. A report by the news agency Reuters on Wednesday (Dec 25) said that, unlike Squid Games, the Chinese players (those who are indebted) take on "isolation challenges" that do not risk their lives if they lose. A look at the scam News agency Reuters reported that in these isolation challenges- people pay hundreds of dollars to stay in a room for days, following prescribed rules in the hopes of winning as much as $140,000 (around 1 million yuan). Also read | Pentagon releases annual report on China's military developments showing disturbing rise in nukes Courts found that some of the participants were being scammed, and regulators were warning people about dodgy debt relief claims. Isolation challenges, often advertised on Douyin, as TikTok is known in China, have risen in popularity this year as the world's second-biggest economy slows. The long list of rules in the challenges include toilet breaks not exceeding 15 minutes and bans on touching the alarm clock more than twice a day. Many players cry foul when they do not survive their first day for infractions caught on surveillance cameras, which they dispute. A warning by the NFRA On Tuesday, the National Financial Regulatory Administration (NFRA) warned the public not to fall for "debt intermediaries" claiming to help people restructure their borrowings or improve their credit profiles. Touting their services through phone, texts, flyers and ads on social media, such intermediaries claim they can help secure new loans or provide temporary funds, but the NFRA warned the services came with a high fee. (With inputs from agencies)

Real-life Squid Games?: Fraudsters in China take cue from South Korean TV series to prey on indebted

A Syria war monitor said 17 people were killed Wednesday in clashes in Tartus province after security forces sought to arrest an officer under deposed leader Bashar al-Assad who was linked to a notorious prison. Watch to know more.

Clashes Erupt In Syria's Tartus Province

On Tuesday (December 24) night, the Pakistani military reportedly bombed four locations of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Afghanistan's eastern Paktika province.
Security officials told Pakistani media that several suspected terrorists were killed and wounded in the strikes. Meanwhile, the ruling Taliban administration in Afghanistan said that a total of 46 people, including women and children, were killed in the strikes.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-taliban-government-spokesperson-claims-46-killed-in-pakistans-overnight-strike-786677" rel="dofollow">Afghanistan: Taliban government spokesperson claims 46 killed in Pakistan's overnight strike</a>
TTP pledges allegiance to, and gets its name from, the Afghan Taliban, but is not directly a part of the group that now rules Afghanistan.&nbsp;
This was the first cross-border strike inside Afghanistan in March. The strikes came hours after Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistan&rsquo;s special representative for Afghanistan, travelled to Kabul to discuss a range of issues, including how to enhance bilateral trade and improve ties.
<h2>Who is the TTP?</h2>
More commonly known as the Pakistani Taliban, the TTP is an alliance of formerly disparate militant groups which came together in 2007 following the Pakistani military's operations against Al-Qaeda in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.
The TTP is rooted along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. According to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the TTP's stated objective "is the overthrow of the elected government of Pakistan in order to establish an emirate based on its interpretation of Islamic law."
Since its formation, the TTP has carried out multiple attacks in Pakistan which has killed numerous military and law enforcement personnel, and civilians.
During a UNSC briefing last week, Pakistani diplomat Usman Iqbal Jadoon said, "The TTP, with 6,000 fighters, is the largest listed terrorist organisation operating in Afghanistan. With safe havens close to our border, it poses a direct and daily threat to Pakistan&rsquo;s security."
Islamabad has maintained that it repeatedly shared evidence with the Afghan Taliban regarding the TTP attacks but claims these concerns had not been adequately addressed by Kabul.&nbsp;
<h2>The notable attacks of the TTP</h2>
&gt; On December 14, 2014, six TTP terrorists attacked the Army Public School in Pakistan's Peshawar- killing 149 people including 132 students. More than 100 others were injured in the attack.
&gt; The attack in the Army Public School came just months after ten TTP terrorists disguised as members of the airport security force attacked the Jinnah International Airport on June 8, killing 34 people and wounding a dozen others.&nbsp;
&gt; On April 5, 2010, at least five TTP terrorists attacked the US Consulate in Peshawar, killing six people and wounding 20 others.
<h2>Pakistan faces deadly escalation in militant violence</h2>
According to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), 757 people were killed and nearly as many injured in the first eight months of 2024. Citing analysts, a report by DW said that 254 people were killed in August alone.
Islamabad has repeatedly accused the TTP of conducting operations inside Pakistan.
In July, a report by the UN described the TTP as "the largest terrorist group" in Afghanistan and said it receives immense support from Kabul's Taliban rulers to conduct cross-border attacks inside Pakistan.
The Pakistani military's strikes against the TTP in eastern Paktika province came after a major attack by the terrorist organisation in Pakistan's South Waziristan area - directly borders the location of the alleged camp targeted in Afghanistan - killed 16 security personnel on Saturday.
<h2>'Pakistan should understand that...'</h2>
In a post on X, Enayatullah Khowarazami, spokesperson for Afghanistan&rsquo;s defence ministry, said early Wednesday, "The Pakistani side should understand that such arbitrary measures are not a solution to any problem."
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/why-pakistan-bombed-four-afghan-locations-8567089" rel="dofollow">Why Pakistan bombed four Afghan locations</a>
&ldquo;The Islamic Emirate will not leave this cowardly act unanswered and considers the defence of its territory an inalienable right,&rdquo; he added.
<h2>'Strikes represent a clear warning to TTP...'</h2>
Speaking to the news agency Associated Press, Islamabad-based security expert Syed Muhammad Ali said on Wednesday that Tuesday's strikes represented a "clear and blunt warning to the TTP that Pakistan will use all the available means against the terrorist outfit both inside and outside its borders.&rdquo;
However, it is not an indiscriminate use of force and due care was taken by Pakistan in ensuring that only the terrorist bases were hit and no civilian loss of life and property took place, Ali added.
(With inputs from agencies)

World | The UNSC reports that the TTP aims to dismantle Pakistan's government to create an emirate governed by its Islamic law interpretation, posing a significant threat to stability.

On Tuesday (December 24) night, the Pakistani military reportedly bombed four locations of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Afghanistan's eastern Paktika province. Security officials told Pakistani media that several suspected terrorists were killed and wounded in the strikes. Meanwhile, the ruling Taliban administration in Afghanistan said that a total of 46 people, including women and children, were killed in the strikes. Also read | Afghanistan: Taliban government spokesperson claims 46 killed in Pakistan's overnight strike TTP pledges allegiance to, and gets its name from, the Afghan Taliban, but is not directly a part of the group that now rules Afghanistan. This was the first cross-border strike inside Afghanistan in March. The strikes came hours after Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistan’s special representative for Afghanistan, travelled to Kabul to discuss a range of issues, including how to enhance bilateral trade and improve ties. Who is the TTP? More commonly known as the Pakistani Taliban, the TTP is an alliance of formerly disparate militant groups which came together in 2007 following the Pakistani military's operations against Al-Qaeda in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. The TTP is rooted along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. According to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the TTP's stated objective "is the overthrow of the elected government of Pakistan in order to establish an emirate based on its interpretation of Islamic law." Since its formation, the TTP has carried out multiple attacks in Pakistan which has killed numerous military and law enforcement personnel, and civilians. During a UNSC briefing last week, Pakistani diplomat Usman Iqbal Jadoon said, "The TTP, with 6,000 fighters, is the largest listed terrorist organisation operating in Afghanistan. With safe havens close to our border, it poses a direct and daily threat to Pakistan’s security." Islamabad has maintained that it repeatedly shared evidence with the Afghan Taliban regarding the TTP attacks but claims these concerns had not been adequately addressed by Kabul. The notable attacks of the TTP > On December 14, 2014, six TTP terrorists attacked the Army Public School in Pakistan's Peshawar- killing 149 people including 132 students. More than 100 others were injured in the attack. > The attack in the Army Public School came just months after ten TTP terrorists disguised as members of the airport security force attacked the Jinnah International Airport on June 8, killing 34 people and wounding a dozen others. > On April 5, 2010, at least five TTP terrorists attacked the US Consulate in Peshawar, killing six people and wounding 20 others. Pakistan faces deadly escalation in militant violence According to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), 757 people were killed and nearly as many injured in the first eight months of 2024. Citing analysts, a report by DW said that 254 people were killed in August alone. Islamabad has repeatedly accused the TTP of conducting operations inside Pakistan. In July, a report by the UN described the TTP as "the largest terrorist group" in Afghanistan and said it receives immense support from Kabul's Taliban rulers to conduct cross-border attacks inside Pakistan. The Pakistani military's strikes against the TTP in eastern Paktika province came after a major attack by the terrorist organisation in Pakistan's South Waziristan area - directly borders the location of the alleged camp targeted in Afghanistan - killed 16 security personnel on Saturday. 'Pakistan should understand that...' In a post on X, Enayatullah Khowarazami, spokesperson for Afghanistan’s defence ministry, said early Wednesday, "The Pakistani side should understand that such arbitrary measures are not a solution to any problem." Also read | Why Pakistan bombed four Afghan locations “The Islamic Emirate will not leave this cowardly act unanswered and considers the defence of its territory an inalienable right,” he added. 'Strikes represent a clear warning to TTP...' Speaking to the news agency Associated Press, Islamabad-based security expert Syed Muhammad Ali said on Wednesday that Tuesday's strikes represented a "clear and blunt warning to the TTP that Pakistan will use all the available means against the terrorist outfit both inside and outside its borders.” However, it is not an indiscriminate use of force and due care was taken by Pakistan in ensuring that only the terrorist bases were hit and no civilian loss of life and property took place, Ali added. (With inputs from agencies)

Explained: Who is the TTP whose camps were struck by Pakistan in Afghanistan?

A passenger aircraft operated by Azerbaijan Airlines from Baku to Grozny, Chechnya crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau on Wednesday (Dec 25). In a post on X, Azerbaijan Airlines said that a total of 67 people were on board, including 62 passengers and five crew.
The Embraer 190 aircraft with flight number J2-8243 crashed near Aktau Airport. According to Kazakhstan's ministry of emergency situations (MES), 29 people survived the incident and rescue operations were going on.
The initial cause of the tragedy appears to be a bird strike.
<h2>A look at the aircraft in question</h2>
The aircraft involved in Wednesday's crash was Embraer's E190.&nbsp;
"Offering customers one of the most spacious interiors of all single-aisle aircraft, it also delivers impressive economics. Short hops or longer routes &ndash; the E190 has the versatility to go the distance," Embraer's website stated.
ALSO READ:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-who-is-the-ttp-whose-camps-were-struck-by-pakistan-in-afghanistan-8566893" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank"> Explained: Who is the TTP whose camps were struck by Pakistan in Afghanistan?</a> 
The aircraft is designed to carry between 96 and 114 passengers, depending on its cabin configuration. The aircraft can fly up to 4,500 kilometres.&nbsp;
Embraer also says that the E190 is built with the lowest possible operating weight so airlines can carry more passengers, increasing revenue.
Videos circulating on social media showed the Azerbaijan Airlines aircraft making a steep right turn, before hitting the ground and going up in flames.
<h2>Azerbaijan Airlines plane was over 11 years old</h2>
According to a report by the Aviation Week Network, the aircraft involved in Wednesday's crash was 11.5 years old and was delivered to Azerbaijan Airlines in July 2013.
The report said that the aircraft had clocked 9,474 hours in 6,296 flights.&nbsp;
Citing data from FlightAware, a report by the news agency Reuters said that the aircraft took off from Baku 11 minutes ahead of schedule.
The aircraft was unable to obtain permission to land in Grozny due to fog, forcing it to be redirected to Makhachkala of Russia's Dagestan and later to Aktau.
<h2>'Too early to say what caused the crash'&nbsp;</h2>
Addressing a press conference, Azeri prosecutor's office representative Kyanan Zeinalov said on Wednesday that it was too early to say what caused the crash.
"At present, the investigation is continuing in close cooperation with the Kazakh prosecutor's office. All possible versions are being investigated and all the necessary expertise is being conducted. At the moment, it is premature to speak about specific results of the investigation," Zeinalov said.
Farid Huseynov, who heads communications at Azerbaijan Airlines, told reporters that the list of the passengers was officially published, adding, that the lists of the dead and injured would be announced later.
"We have already established communication with the Kazakh side, and personnel of the Emergencies Service of Kazakhstan are providing operational assistance at the scene. According to available data, among the passengers on board there were 37 citizens of Azerbaijan, 16 citizens of Russia, 6 citizens of Kazakhstan and 3 citizens of Kyrgyzstan," Huseynov added.&nbsp;
Earlier, Azerbaijan's foreign ministry said that a state commission chaired by Prime Minister Ali Asadov had been established to investigate the cause of the crash.
<h2>Was the aircraft shot at?</h2>
As more and more developments started to emerge about the crash, certain reports claimed that the aircraft might have been shot at in Russia.
According to Russian media, a channel on Telegram named Fighterbomber published a video of the wreckage of the crashed E190.&nbsp;
ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/west-asia-crisis-houthis-uncover-mossad-cia-spy-network-as-israel-shifts-focus-to-yemen-8566732" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Houthis &lsquo;uncover&rsquo; Mossad, CIA spy network as Israel shifts focus to Yemen</a>
The video showed the tail section of the aircraft, with marks on the fuselage resembling traces of impact elements. The channel's author suggested that the cause of the crash might not have been a bird strike, as the official version states.
It had been earlier reported that several drones were shot down in Chechnya, where the aircraft was supposed to land.
As per a report by RBC Ukraine, a survivor of the crash shared that pilots attempted to land the plane in Grozny three times.&nbsp;
"On the third attempt, something exploded. There was an explosion &mdash; I wouldn&rsquo;t say it happened inside the plane. Where I was sitting, the fuselage nearby was torn off," the survivor said.&nbsp;

WORLD | Shocking footage reveals an Azerbaijan Airlines plane executing a sharp right turn before tragically crashing and erupting into flames, sparking widespread concern.

A passenger aircraft operated by Azerbaijan Airlines from Baku to Grozny, Chechnya crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau on Wednesday (Dec 25). In a post on X, Azerbaijan Airlines said that a total of 67 people were on board, including 62 passengers and five crew. The Embraer 190 aircraft with flight number J2-8243 crashed near Aktau Airport. According to Kazakhstan's ministry of emergency situations (MES), 29 people survived the incident and rescue operations were going on. The initial cause of the tragedy appears to be a bird strike. A look at the aircraft in question The aircraft involved in Wednesday's crash was Embraer's E190. "Offering customers one of the most spacious interiors of all single-aisle aircraft, it also delivers impressive economics. Short hops or longer routes – the E190 has the versatility to go the distance," Embraer's website stated. ALSO READ: Explained: Who is the TTP whose camps were struck by Pakistan in Afghanistan? The aircraft is designed to carry between 96 and 114 passengers, depending on its cabin configuration. The aircraft can fly up to 4,500 kilometres. Embraer also says that the E190 is built with the lowest possible operating weight so airlines can carry more passengers, increasing revenue. Videos circulating on social media showed the Azerbaijan Airlines aircraft making a steep right turn, before hitting the ground and going up in flames. Azerbaijan Airlines plane was over 11 years old According to a report by the Aviation Week Network, the aircraft involved in Wednesday's crash was 11.5 years old and was delivered to Azerbaijan Airlines in July 2013. The report said that the aircraft had clocked 9,474 hours in 6,296 flights. Citing data from FlightAware, a report by the news agency Reuters said that the aircraft took off from Baku 11 minutes ahead of schedule. The aircraft was unable to obtain permission to land in Grozny due to fog, forcing it to be redirected to Makhachkala of Russia's Dagestan and later to Aktau. 'Too early to say what caused the crash' Addressing a press conference, Azeri prosecutor's office representative Kyanan Zeinalov said on Wednesday that it was too early to say what caused the crash. "At present, the investigation is continuing in close cooperation with the Kazakh prosecutor's office. All possible versions are being investigated and all the necessary expertise is being conducted. At the moment, it is premature to speak about specific results of the investigation," Zeinalov said. Farid Huseynov, who heads communications at Azerbaijan Airlines, told reporters that the list of the passengers was officially published, adding, that the lists of the dead and injured would be announced later. "We have already established communication with the Kazakh side, and personnel of the Emergencies Service of Kazakhstan are providing operational assistance at the scene. According to available data, among the passengers on board there were 37 citizens of Azerbaijan, 16 citizens of Russia, 6 citizens of Kazakhstan and 3 citizens of Kyrgyzstan," Huseynov added. Earlier, Azerbaijan's foreign ministry said that a state commission chaired by Prime Minister Ali Asadov had been established to investigate the cause of the crash. Was the aircraft shot at? As more and more developments started to emerge about the crash, certain reports claimed that the aircraft might have been shot at in Russia. According to Russian media, a channel on Telegram named Fighterbomber published a video of the wreckage of the crashed E190. ALSO READ: Houthis ‘uncover’ Mossad, CIA spy network as Israel shifts focus to Yemen The video showed the tail section of the aircraft, with marks on the fuselage resembling traces of impact elements. The channel's author suggested that the cause of the crash might not have been a bird strike, as the official version states. It had been earlier reported that several drones were shot down in Chechnya, where the aircraft was supposed to land. As per a report by RBC Ukraine, a survivor of the crash shared that pilots attempted to land the plane in Grozny three times. "On the third attempt, something exploded. There was an explosion — I wouldn’t say it happened inside the plane. Where I was sitting, the fuselage nearby was torn off," the survivor said.

Explained- Azerbaijan Airlines crash: A look at the E190 plane involved in incident that killed 38

London, United Kingdom: A teen, Grayson Whitaker, from Leeds in the UK, has never in his life sat down with his family to enjoy Christmas dinner as he suffers from a rare condition called 'misophonia'.
<meta>
"I have never had Christmas dinner with my family, so I don't have those nice memories," Grayson said.
This neurological condition triggers extreme emotional reactions to every day sounds like breathing, yawning, sniffing, and chewing. These noises irk Grayson and make him angry, which makes it feel like swallowing a hard pill for him to enjoy Christmas dinner with his family.&nbsp;
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-rare-disease-day-challenges-in-protect-newborns-from-rare-growth-affecting-conditions-695195">Rare Disease Day: Challenges in protecting newborns from rare growth-affecting conditions</a>
<h2 dir="ltr">A life with struggle&nbsp;</h2>
"I have never had Christmas dinner with my family, so I don&rsquo;t have those nice memories," he told a British tabloid, The Sun. "I&rsquo;d love to be downstairs with them, but the overwhelming rage keeps me away. I don&rsquo;t want to take it out on them," he said.&nbsp;
Although he has tried many treatments, including private therapy and hypnotherapy, seeking a cure remains uncertain.&nbsp;
His parents, Alex, 51, and Dawn, 54, had let go of his reactions at times, considering it childhood frenzy.&nbsp;
"I didn&rsquo;t know how to explain my emotions back then, so they thought I was being a brat," he said. "It wasn&rsquo;t until I started scratching my legs that they realised something was wrong."
"My dad once tried to explain my condition to someone, and they accused me of making it up to get benefits," he said. "That&rsquo;s been one of the hardest things&mdash;people just don&rsquo;t understand."
Watch |&nbsp;Celebrities who've been diagnosed with rare diseases &amp; more
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe width="560" height="350" style="width: 100%; max-width: 560px;" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" autoplay="autoplay" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/03/02/eclub_full-1709376009-00000003.jpg&videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/eclub_full.mp4/index.m3u8&duration=1256&tags=Amy Schumer,Gigi Hadid,celebrities"></iframe></div>
<h2 dir="ltr">'Misophonia' effects&nbsp;</h2>
&gt; Sounds such as chewing, breathing, sniffing, yawning, and even repetitive noises like pen clicking or keyboard tapping are some of the triggering sounds.&nbsp;
&gt; A soft or low-volume trigger can cause emotional and physical symptoms in an individual who is affected by this.&nbsp;
&gt; The ones who are affected often have difficulty breathing, palpitations, muscle pain, or losing control. It hits in childhood or even adolescence but the extremity varies from one person to another person.&nbsp;
The main cause of this condition is unclear presently, but the researchers feel it involves the abnormal connection between the emotional and auditory processing centres of the brain.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">Efforts for awareness&nbsp;</h2>
Respective of the fact that the condition is getting recognised, it is clearly not understood well, and there is no standardised treatment for it. However, the management aid is there to control it, like sound therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and the use of noise-cancelling devices used to reduce the triggers.&nbsp;
Grayson comes with the hope that sharing his story will bring great impact to awareness of misophonia, a condition that remains misunderstood.
"I&rsquo;d love to be able to suck it up one day and have Christmas dinner with my family and partner. That would mean everything to me," he said.
(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

This neurological condition triggers extreme emotional reactions to every day sounds like breathing, yawning, sniffing, and chewing.


London, United Kingdom: A teen, Grayson Whitaker, from Leeds in the UK, has never in his life sat down with his family to enjoy Christmas dinner as he suffers from a rare condition called 'misophonia'. "I have never had Christmas dinner with my family, so I don't have those nice memories," Grayson said. This neurological condition triggers extreme emotional reactions to every day sounds like breathing, yawning, sniffing, and chewing. These noises irk Grayson and make him angry, which makes it feel like swallowing a hard pill for him to enjoy Christmas dinner with his family. Also Read: Rare Disease Day: Challenges in protecting newborns from rare growth-affecting conditions A life with struggle "I have never had Christmas dinner with my family, so I don’t have those nice memories," he told a British tabloid, The Sun. "I’d love to be downstairs with them, but the overwhelming rage keeps me away. I don’t want to take it out on them," he said. Although he has tried many treatments, including private therapy and hypnotherapy, seeking a cure remains uncertain. His parents, Alex, 51, and Dawn, 54, had let go of his reactions at times, considering it childhood frenzy. "I didn’t know how to explain my emotions back then, so they thought I was being a brat," he said. "It wasn’t until I started scratching my legs that they realised something was wrong." "My dad once tried to explain my condition to someone, and they accused me of making it up to get benefits," he said. "That’s been one of the hardest things—people just don’t understand." Watch | Celebrities who've been diagnosed with rare diseases & more 'Misophonia' effects > Sounds such as chewing, breathing, sniffing, yawning, and even repetitive noises like pen clicking or keyboard tapping are some of the triggering sounds. > A soft or low-volume trigger can cause emotional and physical symptoms in an individual who is affected by this. > The ones who are affected often have difficulty breathing, palpitations, muscle pain, or losing control. It hits in childhood or even adolescence but the extremity varies from one person to another person. The main cause of this condition is unclear presently, but the researchers feel it involves the abnormal connection between the emotional and auditory processing centres of the brain. Efforts for awareness Respective of the fact that the condition is getting recognised, it is clearly not understood well, and there is no standardised treatment for it. However, the management aid is there to control it, like sound therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and the use of noise-cancelling devices used to reduce the triggers. Grayson comes with the hope that sharing his story will bring great impact to awareness of misophonia, a condition that remains misunderstood. "I’d love to be able to suck it up one day and have Christmas dinner with my family and partner. That would mean everything to me," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

'I never had Christmas dinner with family', says teenager with rare condition called 'misophonia’

At least 15,000 devices failed to detonate on Hezbollah militants during the final activation phase of the pager attack in Lebanon, according to a report by Israeli news outlet i24NEWS on Wednesday (December 26).
The report revealed that the attack was carried out in mid-September at the last possible moment, due to fears that Israel's method of execution might be exposed. Initially, the operation was supposed to be carried out earlier, at the beginning of the war. A security source was cited saying by i24NEWS that doing so at that stage could have resulted in greater success.
Also read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/west-asia-crisis-houthis-uncover-mossad-cia-spy-network-as-israel-shifts-focus-to-yemen-8566732" class="editor-rtfLink" rel="noopener">Houthis &lsquo;uncover&rsquo; Mossad, CIA spy network as Israel shifts focus to Yemen</a>
<h2>Idea for the Lebanon pager attack was conceptualised by Mossad over a decade ago: IDF</h2>
On Wednesday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) shared new details about its involvement in the pager and walkie-talkie blast attacks targeting Hezbollah. According to the military, the idea for these attacks was first thought of by Mossad over a decade ago.
Reports indicate that once Mossad developed the concept, the military's intelligence and operations units took the lead in turning the idea into a functional plan and deployable weapon. The IDF also made up strategies to analyse the best timing for the explosions to ensure maximum impact.
Also read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/impossible-to-reach-deal-without-it-hamas-still-hasnt-sent-list-of-living-dead-hostages-to-israel-report-786735" class="editor-rtfLink" rel="noopener">'Impossible to reach deal without it,' Hamas still hasn't sent list of living, dead hostages to Israel: Report</a>
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier suggested that some security officials opposed the use of these explosive devices, but he overruled their objections and authorised the operation. However, IDF&rsquo;s insights on Wednesday indicated that it did not oppose the attack but had recommended delaying the attacks until the northern front, involving Hezbollah, became the primary focus of the war, rather than launching them earlier when Gaza was still the main battlefield.
Also read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/former-israeli-hostage-held-in-gaza-dies-a-year-after-her-release-786651" class="editor-rtfLink" rel="noopener">Former Israeli hostage held in Gaza dies a year after her release</a>
On Sept. 17, at precisely 3:30 pm, thousands of pagers simultaneously exploded across Lebanon. The following day, the decade-old walkie-talkies exploded in the same way. Two months later, Israel's Netanyahu officially took responsibility for the attack.
Combined, these operations resulted in approximately 30 deaths, including two children, and left around 3,000 people injured.
Disclaimer: WION takes the utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq, and non-state actors like the Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos, and videos.
(With inputs from agencies)

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Wednesday shared new details about its involvement in the pager and walkie-talkie blast attacks targeting Hezbollah. 

At least 15,000 devices failed to detonate on Hezbollah militants during the final activation phase of the pager attack in Lebanon, according to a report by Israeli news outlet i24NEWS on Wednesday (December 26). The report revealed that the attack was carried out in mid-September at the last possible moment, due to fears that Israel's method of execution might be exposed. Initially, the operation was supposed to be carried out earlier, at the beginning of the war. A security source was cited saying by i24NEWS that doing so at that stage could have resulted in greater success. Also read: Houthis ‘uncover’ Mossad, CIA spy network as Israel shifts focus to Yemen Idea for the Lebanon pager attack was conceptualised by Mossad over a decade ago: IDF On Wednesday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) shared new details about its involvement in the pager and walkie-talkie blast attacks targeting Hezbollah. According to the military, the idea for these attacks was first thought of by Mossad over a decade ago. Reports indicate that once Mossad developed the concept, the military's intelligence and operations units took the lead in turning the idea into a functional plan and deployable weapon. The IDF also made up strategies to analyse the best timing for the explosions to ensure maximum impact. Also read: 'Impossible to reach deal without it,' Hamas still hasn't sent list of living, dead hostages to Israel: Report Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier suggested that some security officials opposed the use of these explosive devices, but he overruled their objections and authorised the operation. However, IDF’s insights on Wednesday indicated that it did not oppose the attack but had recommended delaying the attacks until the northern front, involving Hezbollah, became the primary focus of the war, rather than launching them earlier when Gaza was still the main battlefield. Also read: Former Israeli hostage held in Gaza dies a year after her release On Sept. 17, at precisely 3:30 pm, thousands of pagers simultaneously exploded across Lebanon. The following day, the decade-old walkie-talkies exploded in the same way. Two months later, Israel's Netanyahu officially took responsibility for the attack. Combined, these operations resulted in approximately 30 deaths, including two children, and left around 3,000 people injured. Disclaimer: WION takes the utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq, and non-state actors like the Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos, and videos. (With inputs from agencies)

15,000 devices failed to explode during Israel's pager operation against Hezbollah: Report

On Tuesday (December 24) night, Pakistani fighter jets carried out airstrikes on four locations in Afghanistan&rsquo;s eastern Paktika province, targeting camps linked to the banned group, Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). According to security officials, several suspected militants were killed or injured in the operation. The Afghan defence ministry, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), confirmed that Pakistani forces had carried out the airstrikes. However, the Afghan Taliban claimed that the attack also caused casualties among civilians, including children.&nbsp;
Sources revealed that the airstrikes targeted TTP camps in the Murgha and Laman areas of Bernal district. One of the camps was reportedly used by key figures, including Sher Zaman, also known as Mukhlis Yar, Commander Abu Hamza, Commander Akhtar Muhammad and the head of TTP&rsquo;s media wing, Umar Media.&nbsp;
This was reportedly the second time since March that Pakistan had carried out an attack targeting what it claims are hideouts of the Pakistani Taliban, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), in areas along the Afghan border. Pakistan often accuses the TTP of using Afghan territory as a base to plan and launch attacks on its soil. However, Afghanistan&rsquo;s government has denied these allegations.&nbsp;
The airstrikes happened on the same day that a Pakistani delegation, led by Special Representative Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq, visited Kabul. They met interim Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani and Foreign Minister Amir Muttaqi to restart diplomatic talks after a year-long break.&nbsp;
Pakistan has faced a rise in violence since the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), an ally of the Afghan Taliban, ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022. In 2023 alone, over 700 attacks claimed nearly 1,000 lives.&nbsp;
The Pakistani government blames the Afghan Taliban for giving shelter to the TTP. Over the years, Pakistan has tried different ways to control the TTP, such as holding talks, building a border fence with Afghanistan and urging the Afghan government to stop supporting the group. In October 2023, Pakistan expelled over 500,000 Afghan refugees and, in July 2024, a second phase began to expel another 800,000.&nbsp;
Pakistan has little control over the violence in its border areas with Afghanistan. It can no longer use its past support for the Taliban during the US war to stop the TTP. Pakistan is, thus, stuck in a problem it created itself. The Taliban leaders it supported during the 20-year war in Afghanistan are now protecting militant groups that attack Pakistan.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pakistan-launches-airstrike-in-afghanistan-civilians-suffer-no-official-confirmation-from-islamabad-786628" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Pakistan launches overnight airstrike on Afghanistan, targets Taliban hideouts</a>
<h2>Cause of Conflict Between Former Allies&nbsp;</h2>
Pakistan and Afghanistan have had a troubled relationship in recent years, but the main issues&mdash;disputes over the border and violence across it&mdash;have been problems for a long time. Since Pakistan became independent, no Afghan government, including the current Taliban leadership, has accepted the official border, says Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center. Both countries have also accused each other for years of hiding militants who launch attacks across the border, according to TIME.com.&nbsp;
The Durand Line, a border drawn during colonial times, spans over 1,640 miles (2,640 km) and officially separates Pakistan from Afghanistan. However, Afghanistan has never accepted this border and the Taliban have taken an even tougher stance on the issue. This has led to several clashes between Taliban fighters and Pakistani soldiers working on border fencing, often causing the closure of key border crossings.&nbsp;
Border tensions have worsened because the Taliban have taken a more forceful stand on the issue, says Kugelman. The border runs through tribal areas mostly populated by Pashtuns, the largest ethnic group living on both sides. Pakistan has promised to finish building a barbed-wire fence along the internationally accepted border, but the Taliban argue that it divides families.&nbsp;
Now that the war in Afghanistan is over, the Taliban no longer rely on Pakistan for safe havens or wartime help. Instead, it is focussing on gaining more support within Afghanistan, where many people have always been suspicious of Pakistan&rsquo;s government. According to Kugelman, by criticizing Pakistan, the Taliban hope to win some favour from among the Afghan people.&nbsp;
<h2>Pressure From China Cause of Operation?&nbsp;</h2>
Officials from Pakistan told BBC that the country&rsquo;s new military operation is being carried out because of pressure from China. Many Chinese workers are involved in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects under the &lsquo;Belt and Road&rsquo; initiative. In March, a suicide bomber, who Pakistan claimed was an Afghan citizen, attacked their convoy in northwest Pakistan, killing five Chinese engineers.&nbsp;
China has a lot of influence over the Taliban because it can invest in Afghanistan, which is struggling under sanctions. Kugelman explains that, if China uses the promise of investment to persuade the Taliban to reduce militant activities both inside Afghanistan and across the border in Pakistan, it would benefit both China and Pakistan.&nbsp;
<h2>Pakistan&rsquo;s Ongoing Battle for Stability&nbsp;</h2>
The TTP was formed in 2007 as a group that brought together several hardline Sunni Islamist factions operating in Pakistan. This happened after Pakistan&rsquo;s military launched operations against al-Qaeda-linked militants in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).&nbsp;
Before merging with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2018, FATA covered 27,220 square kilometres along Pakistan&rsquo;s border with Afghanistan. The region was home to about 5 million people, mostly Pashtun tribes. It spanned a long, narrow strip with varying widths and included seven tribal agencies and six frontier regions. The region operated under a separate administrative system governed by colonial-era laws called the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR), which gave significant authority to tribal elders while limiting the role of Pakistan&rsquo;s central government.&nbsp;
Known for its rugged terrain, tribal traditions and strategic location, FATA was historically challenging to govern due to its remote geography and the independence of its tribal communities. Following the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, the region became a hub for such militant groups as the Taliban and al-Qaeda. In 2018, FATA was merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), a province in Pakistan, to integrate it into the country&rsquo;s mainstream legal and administrative system. This merger aimed to improve governance, boost development and strengthen security in the region.&nbsp;
The TTP was formed under the leadership of Baitullah Mehsud, who is no longer alive. The group is based along the Pak-Afghan border. It is estimated that the TTP has a membership of around 30,000 to 35,000 fighters. While the TTP operates in regions populated by Pashtuns, it does not represent the Pashtun people as a whole. In fact, many Pashtuns oppose the TTP and have been victims of their violence.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-taliban-government-spokesperson-claims-46-killed-in-pakistans-overnight-strike-786677" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Afghanistan: Taliban government spokesperson claims 46 killed in Pakistan's overnight strike</a>
The United Nations states that the main goal of the TTP is to overthrow Pakistan&rsquo;s elected government and replace it with an emirate&mdash;a government led by a religious leader or ruler under Islamic law&mdash;based on their strict interpretation of Islamic principles. The TTP has tried to weaken Pakistan by targeting the army and assassinating politicians. They have carried out many attacks, including suicide bombings, which have killed hundreds of soldiers, police officers and civilians.&nbsp;
The group has carried out some of the deadliest attacks in Pakistan, targeting such places as churches and schools. They were also behind the 2012 attack on Malala Yousafzai, who was shot for speaking out against their attempts to stop women from getting educated. Despite the attack, Malala survived and continued her campaign for education rights.&nbsp;
After the Afghan Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, it gave new confidence to the TTP, whose leaders and fighters are hiding in Afghanistan. Since November 2022, when the TTP broke a ceasefire with the Pakistani government, attacks on Pakistani soldiers and police have increased. The ceasefire had been agreed upon during talks hosted by Afghanistan&rsquo;s government in Kabul, but the discussions failed. In recent months, the TTP has carried out numerous attacks in Pakistan, killing and injuring many soldiers.&nbsp;
<h2>Roots of Conflict &amp; Strategic Advantage&nbsp;</h2>
The main demand of the TTP is to undo the merger of FATA with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. This issue has remained a key focus for the group and they continue to push for it for several reasons. Although the TTP is not a single, unified group, its most influential faction has been the Mehsud group, mainly made up of Pashtuns, an ethnic community largely found in the FATA and KP regions of Pakistan.&nbsp;
The TTP uses the FATA regions to strengthen its operations and recruit new members because many local and migrant Pashtuns live in these areas. The TTP takes advantage of their unique political problems and dissatisfaction to gain support. Second, the FATA region gives the TTP a strategic advantage because of its location near the Afghan border. This allows the group to carry out cross-border operations and use Afghanistan as a safe hiding place. They also work with other militant groups, such as the Haqqani Network, taking advantage of shared ethnic and militant ties.&nbsp;

Pakistan has faced a rise in violence since the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), an ally of the Afghan Taliban, ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022. In 2023 alone, over 700 attacks claimed nearly 1,000 lives.

On Tuesday (December 24) night, Pakistani fighter jets carried out airstrikes on four locations in Afghanistan’s eastern Paktika province, targeting camps linked to the banned group, Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). According to security officials, several suspected militants were killed or injured in the operation. The Afghan defence ministry, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), confirmed that Pakistani forces had carried out the airstrikes. However, the Afghan Taliban claimed that the attack also caused casualties among civilians, including children. Sources revealed that the airstrikes targeted TTP camps in the Murgha and Laman areas of Bernal district. One of the camps was reportedly used by key figures, including Sher Zaman, also known as Mukhlis Yar, Commander Abu Hamza, Commander Akhtar Muhammad and the head of TTP’s media wing, Umar Media. This was reportedly the second time since March that Pakistan had carried out an attack targeting what it claims are hideouts of the Pakistani Taliban, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), in areas along the Afghan border. Pakistan often accuses the TTP of using Afghan territory as a base to plan and launch attacks on its soil. However, Afghanistan’s government has denied these allegations. The airstrikes happened on the same day that a Pakistani delegation, led by Special Representative Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq, visited Kabul. They met interim Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani and Foreign Minister Amir Muttaqi to restart diplomatic talks after a year-long break. Pakistan has faced a rise in violence since the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), an ally of the Afghan Taliban, ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022. In 2023 alone, over 700 attacks claimed nearly 1,000 lives. The Pakistani government blames the Afghan Taliban for giving shelter to the TTP. Over the years, Pakistan has tried different ways to control the TTP, such as holding talks, building a border fence with Afghanistan and urging the Afghan government to stop supporting the group. In October 2023, Pakistan expelled over 500,000 Afghan refugees and, in July 2024, a second phase began to expel another 800,000. Pakistan has little control over the violence in its border areas with Afghanistan. It can no longer use its past support for the Taliban during the US war to stop the TTP. Pakistan is, thus, stuck in a problem it created itself. The Taliban leaders it supported during the 20-year war in Afghanistan are now protecting militant groups that attack Pakistan. Also read | Pakistan launches overnight airstrike on Afghanistan, targets Taliban hideouts Cause of Conflict Between Former Allies Pakistan and Afghanistan have had a troubled relationship in recent years, but the main issues—disputes over the border and violence across it—have been problems for a long time. Since Pakistan became independent, no Afghan government, including the current Taliban leadership, has accepted the official border, says Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center. Both countries have also accused each other for years of hiding militants who launch attacks across the border, according to TIME.com. The Durand Line, a border drawn during colonial times, spans over 1,640 miles (2,640 km) and officially separates Pakistan from Afghanistan. However, Afghanistan has never accepted this border and the Taliban have taken an even tougher stance on the issue. This has led to several clashes between Taliban fighters and Pakistani soldiers working on border fencing, often causing the closure of key border crossings. Border tensions have worsened because the Taliban have taken a more forceful stand on the issue, says Kugelman. The border runs through tribal areas mostly populated by Pashtuns, the largest ethnic group living on both sides. Pakistan has promised to finish building a barbed-wire fence along the internationally accepted border, but the Taliban argue that it divides families. Now that the war in Afghanistan is over, the Taliban no longer rely on Pakistan for safe havens or wartime help. Instead, it is focussing on gaining more support within Afghanistan, where many people have always been suspicious of Pakistan’s government. According to Kugelman, by criticizing Pakistan, the Taliban hope to win some favour from among the Afghan people. Pressure From China Cause of Operation? Officials from Pakistan told BBC that the country’s new military operation is being carried out because of pressure from China. Many Chinese workers are involved in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects under the ‘Belt and Road’ initiative. In March, a suicide bomber, who Pakistan claimed was an Afghan citizen, attacked their convoy in northwest Pakistan, killing five Chinese engineers. China has a lot of influence over the Taliban because it can invest in Afghanistan, which is struggling under sanctions. Kugelman explains that, if China uses the promise of investment to persuade the Taliban to reduce militant activities both inside Afghanistan and across the border in Pakistan, it would benefit both China and Pakistan. Pakistan’s Ongoing Battle for Stability The TTP was formed in 2007 as a group that brought together several hardline Sunni Islamist factions operating in Pakistan. This happened after Pakistan’s military launched operations against al-Qaeda-linked militants in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). Before merging with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2018, FATA covered 27,220 square kilometres along Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan. The region was home to about 5 million people, mostly Pashtun tribes. It spanned a long, narrow strip with varying widths and included seven tribal agencies and six frontier regions. The region operated under a separate administrative system governed by colonial-era laws called the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR), which gave significant authority to tribal elders while limiting the role of Pakistan’s central government. Known for its rugged terrain, tribal traditions and strategic location, FATA was historically challenging to govern due to its remote geography and the independence of its tribal communities. Following the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, the region became a hub for such militant groups as the Taliban and al-Qaeda. In 2018, FATA was merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), a province in Pakistan, to integrate it into the country’s mainstream legal and administrative system. This merger aimed to improve governance, boost development and strengthen security in the region. The TTP was formed under the leadership of Baitullah Mehsud, who is no longer alive. The group is based along the Pak-Afghan border. It is estimated that the TTP has a membership of around 30,000 to 35,000 fighters. While the TTP operates in regions populated by Pashtuns, it does not represent the Pashtun people as a whole. In fact, many Pashtuns oppose the TTP and have been victims of their violence. Also read | Afghanistan: Taliban government spokesperson claims 46 killed in Pakistan's overnight strike The United Nations states that the main goal of the TTP is to overthrow Pakistan’s elected government and replace it with an emirate—a government led by a religious leader or ruler under Islamic law—based on their strict interpretation of Islamic principles. The TTP has tried to weaken Pakistan by targeting the army and assassinating politicians. They have carried out many attacks, including suicide bombings, which have killed hundreds of soldiers, police officers and civilians. The group has carried out some of the deadliest attacks in Pakistan, targeting such places as churches and schools. They were also behind the 2012 attack on Malala Yousafzai, who was shot for speaking out against their attempts to stop women from getting educated. Despite the attack, Malala survived and continued her campaign for education rights. After the Afghan Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, it gave new confidence to the TTP, whose leaders and fighters are hiding in Afghanistan. Since November 2022, when the TTP broke a ceasefire with the Pakistani government, attacks on Pakistani soldiers and police have increased. The ceasefire had been agreed upon during talks hosted by Afghanistan’s government in Kabul, but the discussions failed. In recent months, the TTP has carried out numerous attacks in Pakistan, killing and injuring many soldiers. Roots of Conflict & Strategic Advantage The main demand of the TTP is to undo the merger of FATA with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. This issue has remained a key focus for the group and they continue to push for it for several reasons. Although the TTP is not a single, unified group, its most influential faction has been the Mehsud group, mainly made up of Pashtuns, an ethnic community largely found in the FATA and KP regions of Pakistan. The TTP uses the FATA regions to strengthen its operations and recruit new members because many local and migrant Pashtuns live in these areas. The TTP takes advantage of their unique political problems and dissatisfaction to gain support. Second, the FATA region gives the TTP a strategic advantage because of its location near the Afghan border. This allows the group to carry out cross-border operations and use Afghanistan as a safe hiding place. They also work with other militant groups, such as the Haqqani Network, taking advantage of shared ethnic and militant ties.

Why Pakistan bombed four Afghan locations

Fire brigades battling the flames in Chile's Metropolitan region also faced temperatures reaching almost 36 degrees Celsius on Monday. Watch this report for more details!



Wildfire rages in Chile and Australia

A heart-wrenching video taken by a passenger onboard the Azerbaijan Airlines flight that crashed in Kazakhstan on Wednesday (Dec 25) has surfaced on social media. Out of 67 people including five crew members, only 29 survived.
The Embraer 190 flight that was travelling from Azerbaijan's Baku to Grozny in Russia turned out to be ill-fated when it was forced to make an emergency landing in Aktau in Kazakhstan. However, as soon as it touched the runway, it crashed as flames burst.&nbsp;
The footage that is circulating on social media captures moments before the crash. In the video, the passenger can be heard repeating prayers as the plane descends towards the runway near Aktau, an oil and gas hub on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea. Yellow oxygen masks can be seen hanging above the seats.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/azerbaijan-airlines-plane-carrying-62-passengers-crashes-in-kazakhstan-watch-video-786683">42 killed as Azerbaijan Airlines plane bursts into flames after emergency landing in Kazakhstan</a>
Some passengers can be heard screaming and crying, along with the seatbelt indication sound, warning people to keep wearing seatbelts.
At the end, another video clip shows the interior of the plane upside down after the crash. Debris can also be seen all around as people scream for help.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m54z4fqh-zydypwia-c69qkfm0">
The final moments of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane before its crash in Kazakhstan were captured by a passenger onboard. Aftermath also included in the footage. <a href="https://t.co/nCRozjdoUY">pic.twitter.com/nCRozjdoUY</a>
&mdash; Clash Report (@clashreport) <a href="https://twitter.com/clashreport/status/1871902804350308412?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2024</a></blockquote>
<h2>Investigation underway</h2>
According to the Kazakh transport ministry, the plane was carrying 37 Azerbaijan nationals, six from Kazakhstan, three from Kyrgyzstan and 16 from Russia.
&ldquo;We cannot disclose any investigation results at this time,&rdquo; the office of Azerbaijan's prosecutor general said in a statement. &ldquo;All possible scenarios are being examined, and the necessary expert analyses are underway.&rdquo;
<h2>&lsquo;Pain and despair&rsquo;</h2>
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences during a phone conversation with Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev.
"Unfortunately, Azerbaijan's President Aliyev was forced to leave St Petersburg. Putin has already called him and expressed his condolences in connection with the crash of the Azerbaijani plane in Aktau," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
(With inputs from agencies)

The footage that is circulating on social media captures moments before the crash. Passengers can be heard screaming and crying as the plane descends.

A heart-wrenching video taken by a passenger onboard the Azerbaijan Airlines flight that crashed in Kazakhstan on Wednesday (Dec 25) has surfaced on social media. Out of 67 people including five crew members, only 29 survived. The Embraer 190 flight that was travelling from Azerbaijan's Baku to Grozny in Russia turned out to be ill-fated when it was forced to make an emergency landing in Aktau in Kazakhstan. However, as soon as it touched the runway, it crashed as flames burst. The footage that is circulating on social media captures moments before the crash. In the video, the passenger can be heard repeating prayers as the plane descends towards the runway near Aktau, an oil and gas hub on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea. Yellow oxygen masks can be seen hanging above the seats. Also read | 42 killed as Azerbaijan Airlines plane bursts into flames after emergency landing in Kazakhstan Some passengers can be heard screaming and crying, along with the seatbelt indication sound, warning people to keep wearing seatbelts. At the end, another video clip shows the interior of the plane upside down after the crash. Debris can also be seen all around as people scream for help. The final moments of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane before its crash in Kazakhstan were captured by a passenger onboard. Aftermath also included in the footage. pic.twitter.com/nCRozjdoUY — Clash Report (@clashreport) December 25, 2024 Investigation underway According to the Kazakh transport ministry, the plane was carrying 37 Azerbaijan nationals, six from Kazakhstan, three from Kyrgyzstan and 16 from Russia. “We cannot disclose any investigation results at this time,” the office of Azerbaijan's prosecutor general said in a statement. “All possible scenarios are being examined, and the necessary expert analyses are underway.” ‘Pain and despair’ Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences during a phone conversation with Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev. "Unfortunately, Azerbaijan's President Aliyev was forced to leave St Petersburg. Putin has already called him and expressed his condolences in connection with the crash of the Azerbaijani plane in Aktau," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said. (With inputs from agencies)

Video: Survivor captures moments of horror before and after Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash

Japan Airlines said its systems were up and running again after a cyberattack on Thursday caused delays to domestic and international flights.
"We have identified the cause and scope of the malfunction, and the system has been restored," said the airline, Japan's second biggest after All Nippon Airways (ANA).
The "large data attack" did not leak any customer information and safety was unaffected, Japan Airlines (JAL) said in a post on social media platform X.&nbsp;
Japanese media said it may have been a so-called DDoS attack aimed at overwhelming and disrupting a website or server.
Ticket sales for domestic and international flights departing on Thursday were suspended during the incident but have now resumed, JAL said.
Although the cyberattack did not cause major disruption, the airline earlier said that 24 domestic flights had been delayed by more than half an hour.
Problems with the carrier's baggage check-in system caused delays at several Japanese airports, local media said.
JAL shares fell as much as 2.5 per cent in morning trade after the news emerged, before recovering. Its stocks were down 0.2 per cent in the afternoon.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/body-found-in-united-airlines-landing-gear-of-chicago-hawaii-flight-8566777" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Body found in United Airlines landing gear of Chicago-Hawaii flight</a>
<h2>'Human error'</h2>
Separately, a transport ministry committee tasked with probing a fatal January 2024 collision involving a JAL passenger jet released an interim report on Wednesday blaming human error for the incident that killed five people.
The collision at Tokyo's Haneda Airport was with a coast guard plane carrying six crew members &ndash; of whom five were killed &ndash; that was on a mission to deliver relief supplies to a quake-hit central region of Japan.
According to the report, the smaller plane's pilot mistook an air traffic control officer's instructions to mean authorisation had been given to enter the runway.
The captain was also "in a hurry" at the time because the coast guard plane's departure was 40 minutes behind schedule, the report said.
The traffic controller failed to notice the plane had intruded onto the runway, oblivious even to an alarm system warning against its presence.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/passenger-captures-moments-before-and-after-azerbaijan-airlines-plane-crash-8566817" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Video: Passenger captures moments before and after Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash</a>
All 379 people on board the JAL Airbus escaped just before the aircraft was engulfed in flames.
Japan Airlines is just the latest Japanese firm to be hit by a cyberattack.
The country's space agency JAXA was targeted in 2023, although no sensitive information about rockets or satellites was accessed.
The same year one of Japan's busiest ports was hit by a ransomware attack blamed on the Russia-based Lockbit group.
In 2022, a cyberattack at a Toyota supplier forced the top-selling automaker to halt operations at domestic plants.
And more recently, the popular Japanese video-sharing website Niconico came under a large cyberattack in June.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The "large data attack" did not leak any customer information and safety was unaffected, Japan Airlines (JAL) said in a post on social media platform X. 

Japan Airlines said its systems were up and running again after a cyberattack on Thursday caused delays to domestic and international flights. "We have identified the cause and scope of the malfunction, and the system has been restored," said the airline, Japan's second biggest after All Nippon Airways (ANA). The "large data attack" did not leak any customer information and safety was unaffected, Japan Airlines (JAL) said in a post on social media platform X. Japanese media said it may have been a so-called DDoS attack aimed at overwhelming and disrupting a website or server. Ticket sales for domestic and international flights departing on Thursday were suspended during the incident but have now resumed, JAL said. Although the cyberattack did not cause major disruption, the airline earlier said that 24 domestic flights had been delayed by more than half an hour. Problems with the carrier's baggage check-in system caused delays at several Japanese airports, local media said. JAL shares fell as much as 2.5 per cent in morning trade after the news emerged, before recovering. Its stocks were down 0.2 per cent in the afternoon. Also read | Body found in United Airlines landing gear of Chicago-Hawaii flight 'Human error' Separately, a transport ministry committee tasked with probing a fatal January 2024 collision involving a JAL passenger jet released an interim report on Wednesday blaming human error for the incident that killed five people. The collision at Tokyo's Haneda Airport was with a coast guard plane carrying six crew members – of whom five were killed – that was on a mission to deliver relief supplies to a quake-hit central region of Japan. According to the report, the smaller plane's pilot mistook an air traffic control officer's instructions to mean authorisation had been given to enter the runway. The captain was also "in a hurry" at the time because the coast guard plane's departure was 40 minutes behind schedule, the report said. The traffic controller failed to notice the plane had intruded onto the runway, oblivious even to an alarm system warning against its presence. Also read | Video: Passenger captures moments before and after Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash All 379 people on board the JAL Airbus escaped just before the aircraft was engulfed in flames. Japan Airlines is just the latest Japanese firm to be hit by a cyberattack. The country's space agency JAXA was targeted in 2023, although no sensitive information about rockets or satellites was accessed. The same year one of Japan's busiest ports was hit by a ransomware attack blamed on the Russia-based Lockbit group. In 2022, a cyberattack at a Toyota supplier forced the top-selling automaker to halt operations at domestic plants. And more recently, the popular Japanese video-sharing website Niconico came under a large cyberattack in June. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Japan Airlines hit by cyberattack, flights may be affected

Amidst the increasing debate over the H1B visa regime in the US, the American far-right internet has gone on an anti-India and racist post spree. The storm was triggered by the appointment of Indian-American businessman Sriram Krishnan as a White House senior policy advisor. Some of the US conservative extremists severely criticised the decision, citing Krishnan&rsquo;s support for legal immigration from India.
One user, The Chad Reinhard, termed Krishnan&rsquo;s appointment as a &ldquo;disgrace&rdquo;, saying, the Indian techie &ldquo;wants to end H1B country caps and flood the US with Indian H1B workers.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Nothing America first about this scu*bag. Elon Musk, Marc Andreessen and David Sacks pushed for him to be appointed,&rdquo; the user wrote. He also added that Musk, the billionaire who has emerged as a top ally of President-elect Donald Trump, is an &ldquo;enemy&rdquo; of the America First idea.
Project for Immigration Reform, a nonprofit, also accused Krishnan of only "helping serve India."
<h2>Anti-India post storm</h2>
But the discourse of the discussion soon drifted to overall legal immigration from India, inviting racial slurs, and insensitive, racist and outrageous comments from the supporters of Donald Trump.
Laura Loomer, an American extremist, wrote on social media platform X, &ldquo;Our country was built by white Europeans, actually. Not third-world invaders from India.&rdquo; Loomer then posted a picture of a messy riverside in India, showing people taking a holy dip in river with garbage overflowing around. &ldquo;PS: why are people in India still shitting in the water they bathe and drink from?&rdquo; she wrote in the caption.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-sriram-krishnan-chennai-born-techie-tapped-by-trump-for-top-ai-adviser-role-786068" rel="dofollow">Also read: Who is Sriram Krishnan, Chennai-born techie tapped by Trump for top AI adviser role?</a>
Loomer was responding to a post made by a user Sidharth who passionately defended the importance of high-skilled immigration to the US. Sidharth earlier wrote to Loomer on X, &ldquo;Sorry, your racist a** got kicked out by Trump,&rdquo; citing how the extremist was not offered any role in the new administration. Many users in the reply section responded by condemning Loomer&rsquo;s use of the term &ldquo;cheap labour&rdquo; and accusing her of promoting xenophobic rhetoric.
Another user, Josiah Lippincott, who wrote &lsquo;Trump Supporter&rsquo; in his bio, wrote, &ldquo;The average Indian man is physically weaker than the average White woman. You're not on top of anything.&rdquo;
<h2>Musk wades in</h2>
But Elon Musk himself waded into the whole H1B debate soon after and criticised posts targeting Sriram. Musk wrote, &ldquo;The &lsquo;fixed pie&rsquo; fallacy is at the heart of much wrong-headed economic thinking. There is essentially infinite potential for job and company creation. Think of all the things that didn&rsquo;t exist 20 or 30 years ago!&rdquo;
(With inputs from agencies)

H1B visas | Trending | World: The storm was triggered by the appointment of Indian-American businessman Sriram Krishnan as a White House senior policy advisor.

Amidst the increasing debate over the H1B visa regime in the US, the American far-right internet has gone on an anti-India and racist post spree. The storm was triggered by the appointment of Indian-American businessman Sriram Krishnan as a White House senior policy advisor. Some of the US conservative extremists severely criticised the decision, citing Krishnan’s support for legal immigration from India. One user, The Chad Reinhard, termed Krishnan’s appointment as a “disgrace”, saying, the Indian techie “wants to end H1B country caps and flood the US with Indian H1B workers.” “Nothing America first about this scu*bag. Elon Musk, Marc Andreessen and David Sacks pushed for him to be appointed,” the user wrote. He also added that Musk, the billionaire who has emerged as a top ally of President-elect Donald Trump, is an “enemy” of the America First idea. Project for Immigration Reform, a nonprofit, also accused Krishnan of only "helping serve India." Anti-India post storm But the discourse of the discussion soon drifted to overall legal immigration from India, inviting racial slurs, and insensitive, racist and outrageous comments from the supporters of Donald Trump. Laura Loomer, an American extremist, wrote on social media platform X, “Our country was built by white Europeans, actually. Not third-world invaders from India.” Loomer then posted a picture of a messy riverside in India, showing people taking a holy dip in river with garbage overflowing around. “PS: why are people in India still shitting in the water they bathe and drink from?” she wrote in the caption. Also read: Who is Sriram Krishnan, Chennai-born techie tapped by Trump for top AI adviser role? Loomer was responding to a post made by a user Sidharth who passionately defended the importance of high-skilled immigration to the US. Sidharth earlier wrote to Loomer on X, “Sorry, your racist a** got kicked out by Trump,” citing how the extremist was not offered any role in the new administration. Many users in the reply section responded by condemning Loomer’s use of the term “cheap labour” and accusing her of promoting xenophobic rhetoric. Another user, Josiah Lippincott, who wrote ‘Trump Supporter’ in his bio, wrote, “The average Indian man is physically weaker than the average White woman. You're not on top of anything.” Musk wades in But Elon Musk himself waded into the whole H1B debate soon after and criticised posts targeting Sriram. Musk wrote, “The ‘fixed pie’ fallacy is at the heart of much wrong-headed economic thinking. There is essentially infinite potential for job and company creation. Think of all the things that didn’t exist 20 or 30 years ago!” (With inputs from agencies)

H1B visas: US far-right goes on anti-India drivel over Trump's pick Sriram; Musk wades in

A female drug dealer has gained fans over the internet after police shared her &lsquo;glam&rsquo; mugshot. Kirsty Sansum, 30, was caught while attempting to bring three kilograms of cocaine into UK&rsquo;s Gloucestershire along with three others and given a suspended sentence.
<h2>Social media users react to &lsquo;glamourous&rsquo; mugshot</h2>
According to the New York Post, social media users swooned over Sansum and her partner&rsquo;s mugshot pictures, which the police shared. In the picture, she could be seen dressed in a grey hoodie with tattoos and piercings, her blonde hair tied up in a bun as she looked at the camera with a bold look.
&ldquo;She&rsquo;s a looker,&rdquo; a user wrote on social media. While another said, &ldquo;A really attractive bunch &ndash; and easily recognisable. A happy ending for Xmas.&rdquo; Some users called her &ldquo;glamorous&rdquo;.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nyc-subway-fire-accused-illegal-guatemalan-immigrant-was-deported-in-2018-but-he-snuck-back-786572" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">NYC subway fire: Accused illegal Guatemalan immigrant was deported in 2018, but he snuck back</a>
<h2>Police arrest four in drug bust</h2>
According to Gloucestershire Constabulary, four arrests have been made following the drug bust: Sansum, along with 29-year-old John Rogers, 28-year-old Kingsley Williams, and 30-year-old Aaron Russell. After an investigation by the Gloucestershire Constabulary's Serious and Organised Crime Unit, all four of them have pleaded guilty to supplying cocaine.
Sansum and Rogers were arrested by the police for having three large blocks of cocaine in their car. Further investigation and their mobile data revealed the involvement of Russell and Williams, who were arrested as well. The police have estimated the street value of the drugs of between &pound;240,000 and &pound;300,000 ($300,998 and $376,248).
Rogers received a five years and three months prison sentence, Williams is to serve six years and nine months and Russell will be in jail for six years.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wanted-drug-smuggler-sunil-yadav-shot-dead-in-us-lawrence-bishnoi-gang-claims-responsibility-786452" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Wanted drug smuggler Sunil Yadav shot dead in US, Lawrence Bishnoi gang claims responsibility</a>
According to the police statement, &ldquo;Sansum was sentenced to 32 months reduced to two years suspended sentence, with drug rehabilitation order for nine months and 100 hours unpaid work.&rdquo;
&ldquo;This was a significant conspiracy to bring thousands of pounds worth of drugs into our county,&rdquo; Detective Inspector Matt Phillips, of the Serious Organised Crime Unit, said. &ldquo;These drugs would have eventually ended up on our streets, bringing misery to the lives of our communities.&rdquo;
He added, &ldquo;Considering no drugs were found on Russell or Williams, the level of investigation and the length of their sentences demonstrates that we will work tirelessly to bring those involved in the drugs trade to justice.&rdquo;
(With inputs from agencies)

According to Gloucestershire Constabulary, four arrests have been made following the drug bust:  30-year-old Kirsty Sansum, along with 29-year-old John Rogers, 28-year-old Kingsley Williams, and 30-year-old Aaron Russell.

A female drug dealer has gained fans over the internet after police shared her ‘glam’ mugshot. Kirsty Sansum, 30, was caught while attempting to bring three kilograms of cocaine into UK’s Gloucestershire along with three others and given a suspended sentence. Social media users react to ‘glamourous’ mugshot According to the New York Post, social media users swooned over Sansum and her partner’s mugshot pictures, which the police shared. In the picture, she could be seen dressed in a grey hoodie with tattoos and piercings, her blonde hair tied up in a bun as she looked at the camera with a bold look. “She’s a looker,” a user wrote on social media. While another said, “A really attractive bunch – and easily recognisable. A happy ending for Xmas.” Some users called her “glamorous”. Also read | NYC subway fire: Accused illegal Guatemalan immigrant was deported in 2018, but he snuck back Police arrest four in drug bust According to Gloucestershire Constabulary, four arrests have been made following the drug bust: Sansum, along with 29-year-old John Rogers, 28-year-old Kingsley Williams, and 30-year-old Aaron Russell. After an investigation by the Gloucestershire Constabulary's Serious and Organised Crime Unit, all four of them have pleaded guilty to supplying cocaine. Sansum and Rogers were arrested by the police for having three large blocks of cocaine in their car. Further investigation and their mobile data revealed the involvement of Russell and Williams, who were arrested as well. The police have estimated the street value of the drugs of between £240,000 and £300,000 ($300,998 and $376,248). Rogers received a five years and three months prison sentence, Williams is to serve six years and nine months and Russell will be in jail for six years. Also read | Wanted drug smuggler Sunil Yadav shot dead in US, Lawrence Bishnoi gang claims responsibility According to the police statement, “Sansum was sentenced to 32 months reduced to two years suspended sentence, with drug rehabilitation order for nine months and 100 hours unpaid work.” “This was a significant conspiracy to bring thousands of pounds worth of drugs into our county,” Detective Inspector Matt Phillips, of the Serious Organised Crime Unit, said. “These drugs would have eventually ended up on our streets, bringing misery to the lives of our communities.” He added, “Considering no drugs were found on Russell or Williams, the level of investigation and the length of their sentences demonstrates that we will work tirelessly to bring those involved in the drugs trade to justice.” (With inputs from agencies)

Female drug dealer gains fans over internet after police shares ‘glamourous’ mugshot

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