Morning Briefing: Dec. 26, 2024

By Seda Sevencan

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news you need to start your Thursday with, including a deadly Azerbaijani passenger plane crash, Afghanistan’s interim Taliban administration claim of bombing by Pakistani fighter jets in the eastern Paktika province and hundreds of prisoners fleeing during violent protests in Mozambique.

TOP STORIES

- 38 killed as Azerbaijani passenger plane crashes near Kazakh city of Aktau

At least 38 people were killed when an Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) flight crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau on Wednesday.

Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev said during a news conference in Aktau that 38 people died and 29 were rescued.

According to a statement by AZAL on Telegram, 62 passengers and five crew members were on board the Embraer 190 aircraft, which crashed about 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) from Aktau as it was heading from the Azerbaijani capital Baku to the city of Grozny in the Russian Republic of Chechnya.

The carrier later suspended flights between Baku and Grozny as well as those between Baku and the city of Makhachkala, the capital city of the neighboring Russian republic of Dagestan.

- Pakistani bombing inside Afghanistan killed 46, says Taliban administration

Afghanistan’s interim Taliban administration claimed that at least 46 people were killed in a bombing by Pakistani fighter jets in the eastern Paktika province.

Mullah Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman for the interim Taliban administration, said that Pakistani jets bombed four locations in Paktika’s Barmal district on Tuesday night, killing 46 people and injuring six, besides destroying houses, the state-run Bakhtar news agency reported.

According to Kabul, this is Pakistan’s second airstrike inside Afghanistan, after the first in March, which was formally protested by the Taliban administration.

- Hundreds escape from prison amid violent protests in Mozambique

Hundreds of prisoners escaped from two correctional facilities in Mozambique's capital Maputo, according to local media reports.

“There have been prison escapes from two correctional institutions both in the Machava neighborhood. In terms of the figures, we are yet to confirm but as far as I have seen, it’s about 150 who have escaped,’’ Mozambican journalist Clemente Carlos told the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).

He said one of the escapees — still handcuffed — was seen in video footage, saying they were among protesters who marched against disputed election results in the Southern African country.

Carlos suggested that the escapees likely took advantage of the Christmas holiday season, when fewer guards are on duty compared to regular working days.

NEWS IN BRIEF

- A Palestinian was killed and four others injured after Israeli forces opened fire on the Tulkarem refugee camp in the northern occupied West Bank.

- Palestinian resistance group Hamas said Wednesday that a Gaza cease-fire and prisoner swap has been delayed due to new Israeli conditions.

- At least 23 more Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip, pushing up the overall death toll since last year to 45,361, the Health Ministry in the enclave said.

- Deadly protests in Syria, triggered by claims of damage to a religious shrine, were the result of "provocations" by elements of the deposed Bashar Assad regime, the country’s interim government said.

- The Yemeni Houthi group announced the arrest of several spies in Yemen who were allegedly working for the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad and the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

- Ukraine accused Russia of launching “inhumane” Christmas Day airstrikes across the country, injuring at least six people.

- An explosion at a shopping mall in Vladikavkaz, Russia, killed one person and injured nine others, the Ministry of Emergency Situations said.

- Israeli rights group the Physicians for Human Rights said that it petitioned the High Court to halt army attacks on the Kamal Adwan Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip.

SPORTS

- Valencia appoint Carlos Corberan as new manager through 2027

Valencia appointed West Bromwich Albion manager Carlos Corberan their new head coach through 2027.

"Carlos Corberan has been appointed as coach of Valencia CF, signing a contract through to 2027," Valencia said in a statement.

"A buyout option in his contract with West Bromwich Albion was taken up to allow him to leave."

Corberan, 41, formerly served as a manager for Huddersfield, Olympiacos, and West Bromwich Albion.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

- Russia starts using Bitcoin for international payments

Russian companies have started using Bitcoin and other digital assets in international payments, the Russian finance minister said.

In a statement to the Russian state channel Rossiya-24, Anton Siluanov said that Bitcoins mined in Russia can be used in the experimental process for international payments, and such payments have begun.

Siluanov noted that this payment method should be developed and expanded.

- Capacity utilization rate of Türkiye’s manufacturing sector stable in December

Türkiye’s manufacturing capacity utilization rate was stable at 75.6% in December, according to data the country’s Central Bank released.

The rate was unchanged from November’s rate, while the seasonally adjusted figure fell 0.3 percentage points to 75.8%.

The capacity utilization rate is a key indicator of how much of an industry’s productive potential is being used, providing insight into overall economic activity.