分类： world

Turkish authorities have successfully recovered the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder from the crashed private jet carrying Libya’s armed forces commander, Lieutenant General Mohammed Al Haddad. The military aircraft went down near Ankara on Wednesday, claiming the lives of all eight occupants including General Haddad and four senior aides.

The Falcon 50 executive jet had departed from Turkey’s capital when it reported critical electrical system failure minutes after takeoff. The aircraft was returning to Tripoli following high-level military discussions between Libyan and Turkish defense officials. Contact was lost after the emergency landing request, with wreckage subsequently located across a three-square-kilometer area in Haymana district.

Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed recovery operations at the crash site, stating: “The examination and evaluation processes of these devices have been initiated.” A comprehensive investigation involving 408 emergency personnel from AFAD disaster agency, police, and medical services is underway, with drone surveillance providing real-time imagery of the operation.

Aviation expert Tolga Tuzun Inan from Bahcesehir University noted that multiple contributing factors likely combined with meteorological conditions to cause the tragedy. While analysis of the black boxes may require several months, the data is expected to reveal the precise sequence of events leading to the catastrophic failure.

The incident has drawn international attention to Libya’s fractured political landscape. General Haddad had served as army chief of staff since August 2020 under the UN-recognized government in Tripoli, led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah who expressed “deep sadness and great sorrow” over the deaths.

Turkey maintains significant strategic ties with Tripoli’s administration, providing both economic and military support. Recent diplomatic outreach to eastern commander Khalifa Haftar’s rival administration had suggested potential reconciliation efforts, though this tragedy may complicate regional power dynamics.

A 22-member Libyan delegation including relatives of the deceased has arrived in Ankara as investigation continues under the supervision of Ankara’s prosecutor office.

The ancient streets of Damascus’s Old City present a study in contrasts this Christmas season, where festive illuminations and holiday decorations coexist with heightened security patrols and pervasive anxiety. This uneasy atmosphere follows a devastating June attack on the Saint Elias church that claimed 25 lives and injured dozens, leaving Syria’s Christian community grappling with trauma while attempting to maintain traditional celebrations.

The newly established government has publicly recommitted to protecting religious coexistence and involving all sects in Syria’s transitional process. However, these assurances ring hollow for many citizens who have witnessed recent sectarian violence in Alawite regions and major clashes in Druze-majority southern territories.

Security measures have been substantially intensified throughout the capital, with Interior Ministry forces conducting pedestrian searches, stopping motorcycles, and establishing coordinated security perimeters around churches. An anonymous security official detailed the comprehensive protection strategy: “We’ve implemented a multi-district security plan to ensure safety for all citizens. Protecting both Christian and Muslim communities remains the state’s fundamental duty, particularly during religious observances.”

Complementing government efforts, civilian-led neighborhood committees comprising local Christians provide additional protective services through coordinated patrols using communication devices. These community-based security initiatives have reportedly increased some residents’ comfort levels regarding public celebrations.

Demographic shifts underscore the challenges facing Syria’s religious minorities. The Christian population has dramatically declined from approximately one million before the conflict began in 2011 to roughly 300,000 today, with many seeking refuge abroad despite the government’s proclaimed protection stance.

Amid the security concerns, symbolic acts of remembrance continue. At the site of June’s attack, mourners illuminated a memorial tree adorned with stars bearing victims’ images. Hanaa Masoud, who lost her husband and relatives in the attack, articulated the community’s anguish: “If we cannot find safety in our places of worship, where can we feel secure?”

Despite these tensions, some younger Syrians like university student Loris Aasaf maintain hope for cross-sectarian celebration and national rebuilding, asserting that “Syria deserves joy and the promise of a new future.”

A groundbreaking livestock technology initiative spearheaded by China in Mauritania has received international acclaim, being honored as one of the world’s most effective poverty alleviation programs. The recognition came during the 2025 International Seminar on Global Poverty Reduction Partnerships held in Beijing on December 10.

The award-winning project, operating through the Animal Husbandry Technology Demonstration Center in Mauritania, represents the second consecutive year that initiatives from China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region have been selected for the Global Solicitation on Best Poverty Reduction Practices. This prestigious recognition highlights the growing international appreciation for South-South cooperation models in addressing global development challenges.

The seminar was jointly convened by the International Poverty Reduction Center in China alongside multiple United Nations agencies, including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). This collaborative framework underscores the importance of multilateral partnerships in tackling poverty worldwide.

Under the leadership of expert Zhang Hong’en, the Mauritania project has introduced advanced juncao cultivation techniques and modern animal husbandry practices to local communities. These innovations have demonstrated significant potential in enhancing food security, creating sustainable livelihoods, and building resilience against climate-related challenges in the West African nation.

The recognition comes as global attention focuses on practical solutions that can deliver measurable results in poverty reduction, particularly in developing regions where agricultural development remains crucial to economic stability and food independence.

A deadly explosion rocked Moscow on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of three individuals including two police officers, in close proximity to where a high-ranking Russian general was assassinated just days earlier. The incident occurred when law enforcement personnel approached a suspicious individual near the site of Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov’s killing.

According to Russia’s State Investigative Committee, the explosive device detonated during the police intervention, claiming the lives of both officers and one additional individual whose identity remains unspecified. Criminal investigations have been initiated under statutes pertaining to the murder of law enforcement personnel and illegal explosives trafficking.

Unofficial Telegram news channels circulating within Russia suggest the suspected bomber was among the deceased, allegedly detonating the device when confronted by authorities. These reports remain unverified by independent sources.

The explosion’s proximity to Monday’s assassination of Lieutenant General Sarvarov—head of the Russian General Staff’s army operational training directorate—has raised significant security concerns. Russian authorities have pointed toward Ukrainian intelligence involvement in the general’s killing, though Ukraine has maintained official silence regarding both incidents.

Adding to the complex narrative, Myrotvorets, an unofficial Ukrainian database labeling individuals as war criminals or traitors, updated its records to indicate the 56-year-old general had been ‘liquidated.’ This development occurs amidst a nearly four-year conflict that has witnessed numerous assassinations of Russian military figures and prominent war supporters, with Ukrainian military intelligence claiming responsibility for several operations.

The recent occurrence of snowfall in Saudi Arabia has sparked widespread curiosity among UAE residents regarding the possibility of similar winter phenomena in their own country. Meteorologists confirm that while not impossible, snowfall requires exceptionally specific atmospheric conditions that rarely align in the region.

According to meteorological reports, several areas in Saudi Arabia experienced unusual snowfall on December 18th following the arrival of a cold air mass. The Saudi Press Agency documented snow accumulation in Al Majmaah and Al Ghat governorates north of Riyadh, with higher elevation areas including Jabal Al Lawz in the northwest similarly affected. The National Centre of Meteorology attributed this event to dramatically dropping temperatures—some falling below zero degrees Celsius—combined with precipitation-bearing thunderclouds.

Dr. Ahmed Habib from the UAE’s National Centre of Meteorology explained that snowfall demands particularly stringent conditions: “Snow formation necessitates very specific circumstances, primarily occurring in high elevation zones when atmospheric temperatures at upper levels decrease significantly. Within the UAE, such conditions remain uncommon, with hail representing the more typical winter precipitation.”

Historical records indicate that the UAE has witnessed actual snowfall on rare occasions. The most notable event occurred on January 24, 2009, when Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah experienced substantial snow accumulation following temperatures plunging to minus three degrees Celsius. Mountain peaks approximately 5,700 feet high were covered with snow extending over five kilometers, reaching depths up to 20 centimeters in certain areas. Another similar event was documented in December 2004, though with lesser intensity, and minor snowfall was again reported on Jebel Jais in 2020.

Recent winter conditions have produced visually similar phenomena across the UAE. Icy rains have deposited hail across desert landscapes, creating snow-like blankets of white, while temperatures in Al Ain and Ras Al Khaimah have approached freezing points. These conditions have inspired ‘ice chasing’ trends where residents visit mountainous areas to observe frost formations.

Meteorological authorities emphasize that current weather patterns predominantly generate rain, thunderstorms, and hail during winter months. While snowfall remains theoretically possible under precisely aligned conditions at high elevations, it continues to represent an exceptional meteorological occurrence rather than expected winter weather in the region.