The government commission investigating the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane near Aktau has already commenced its work. The preliminary findings are expected within 30 days, stated commission member and Deputy Minister of Transport of Kazakhstan, Talgat Lastayev, according to Report.
“According to standards, preliminary or interim results of the investigation are typically announced within 30 days,” Lastayev stated.
He explained that the field phase of the investigation is currently underway, involving the collection of aircraft fragments, crash site imprints, and molds. Physical evidence is being gathered in a specially organized hangar at Aktau Airport, where experts will conduct further analysis.
Lastayev expressed confidence that the aircraft’s black boxes would provide a complete picture of the incident.
Airplane crash in Kazakhstan
On December 25, an Azerbaijan Airlines plane flying from Baku to Grozny crashed in Kazakhstan. It turned out that the plane was damaged by Russian air defense.
The Kazakh authorities are currently investigating the crash.
Earlier it became known that Kazakhstan would send the black boxes of the AZAL plane to Brazil.
The government commission investigating the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane near Aktau has already commenced its work. The preliminary findings are expected within 30 days, stated commission member and Deputy Minister of Transport of Kazakhstan, Talgat Lastayev, according to Report.
“According to standards, preliminary or interim results of the investigation are typically announced within 30 days,” Lastayev stated.
He explained that the field phase of the investigation is currently underway, involving the collection of aircraft fragments, crash site imprints, and molds. Physical evidence is being gathered in a specially organized hangar at Aktau Airport, where experts will conduct further analysis.
Lastayev expressed confidence that the aircraft’s black boxes would provide a complete picture of the incident.
Airplane crash in Kazakhstan
On December 25, an Azerbaijan Airlines plane flying from Baku to Grozny crashed in Kazakhstan. It turned out that the plane was damaged by Russian air defense.
The Kazakh authorities are currently investigating the crash.
Earlier it became known that Kazakhstan would send the black boxes of the AZAL plane to Brazil.
China recently showcased the public flight of its new fighter jet, previously known as the J-36. Its official designation is now J-50, Defense Express informs.
As noted by Defense Express, alongside its official name, J-50, some characteristics of the new fighter jet have been revealed. However, these are not official specifications, as the aircraft is still at the prototype stage. If these data are accurate, the Chinese J-50 appears to be a formidable opponent.
According to the information, the twin-engine aircraft measures 22 meters in length with a lambda-shaped wingspan and a wing area of 145 square meters. Its maximum takeoff weight is 40 tons, and it can achieve a top speed of Mach 2. The combat radius of the J-50 is approximately 2,200 km.
The J-50 is believed to feature several weapon bays, including a primary bay capable of holding four new Chinese PL-17 air-to-air missiles, which were introduced into the Chinese Air Force in 2022. These missiles are 6 meters long and have a flight range of 300 km, although some sources claim up to 500 km.
The main bay could also accommodate one YJ-12 anti-ship missile, which reaches speeds of up to Mach 3 and has a range of 400 km. This missile is substantial in size, measuring 6.3 meters in length with a diameter of over 0.4 meters.
Additional bays could house four more PL-17 missiles or their Chinese counterparts to the AIM-120, the PL-15.
Other capabilities of the aircraft, including its electronic warfare systems, remain undisclosed at this time.
China recently conducted a flight of another next-generation fighter jet. The aircraft, initially referred to as the J-36, has now been officially named the J-50.
RBC-Ukraine also reported that, according to Pentagon data, China has significantly accelerated the modernization of its armed forces and is expanding its nuclear arsenal.
China recently showcased the public flight of its new fighter jet, previously known as the J-36. Its official designation is now J-50, Defense Express informs.
As noted by Defense Express, alongside its official name, J-50, some characteristics of the new fighter jet have been revealed. However, these are not official specifications, as the aircraft is still at the prototype stage. If these data are accurate, the Chinese J-50 appears to be a formidable opponent.
According to the information, the twin-engine aircraft measures 22 meters in length with a lambda-shaped wingspan and a wing area of 145 square meters. Its maximum takeoff weight is 40 tons, and it can achieve a top speed of Mach 2. The combat radius of the J-50 is approximately 2,200 km.
The J-50 is believed to feature several weapon bays, including a primary bay capable of holding four new Chinese PL-17 air-to-air missiles, which were introduced into the Chinese Air Force in 2022. These missiles are 6 meters long and have a flight range of 300 km, although some sources claim up to 500 km.
The main bay could also accommodate one YJ-12 anti-ship missile, which reaches speeds of up to Mach 3 and has a range of 400 km. This missile is substantial in size, measuring 6.3 meters in length with a diameter of over 0.4 meters.
Additional bays could house four more PL-17 missiles or their Chinese counterparts to the AIM-120, the PL-15.
Other capabilities of the aircraft, including its electronic warfare systems, remain undisclosed at this time.
China recently conducted a flight of another next-generation fighter jet. The aircraft, initially referred to as the J-36, has now been officially named the J-50.
RBC-Ukraine also reported that, according to Pentagon data, China has significantly accelerated the modernization of its armed forces and is expanding its nuclear arsenal.
The supervisor regularly “assigned the Trackworker to flag for him” and she provided “flagging protection for his nightly assignments on the roadbed,” the report said.
Plenty of Soup Joumou will be consumed on Jan. 1, 2025, when Haitians gather in Brooklyn to commemorate the 221st anniversary of independence.
Not only will the first day of the new year mark a new beginning for nationals, but the date signals a reason for a festive event marking the celebration of a historic triumph.
Slated to begin at 3 p.m. at 3116 Clarendon Road, a feast and festival will mark the occasion hosted by Eritye Papa Desalin (The children of Jean Jacques Dessalines).
The names of Haitian heroes Toussaint Louverture, Dutty Boukman, and Jean Jacques Dessalines will resound with gratitude.
Regardless of threats made by President-elect Donald Trump to purge nationals from the Caribbean Republic, the exalted trio will be regaled for stopping French leader Napoleon Bonaparte’s attempts to create a French empire in the Western Hemisphere.
Because the heroes also scared Britain into abolishing the capture of Africans for sale, halting the transatlantic slave trade, two centuries and almost a quarter will be time-honored.
Truth be told, Africans sold into slavery won independence for their new territory by emerging heroes of the “only successful large-scale slave revolt in modern history.”
They also established the very first independent Black state in the world.
That 1804 event still irks the sensibilities of European colonials. Among others still fuming from the victory may be America’s next president. Yearning for retribution, Trump wants vindication.
But despite constant first-day promises to deport and exile undocumented immigrants, particularly those from Black territories, many from the Black Republic are standing firm.
“We are not afraid,” Dahoud Andre, host of “Haiti: Our Revolution Continues,” a one-hour talk program aired on Saturdays on WBAI-FM, said.
Andre, in association with Flanbwayan Haitian Literacy Project, recently promoted the annual, promising plenty of squash soup in addition to lauding its storied history.
For the uninitiated, back in the day, only slave masters and their ilk could imbibe the delicacy. Reserved only for the elites, since the revolution, Haitians have been flaunting their victory by openly drinking pumpkin-like soup to signify their freedom from French colonial dictates.
Military parades, fireworks, and other celebratory methods usually mark the milestone in the capital city of Port-au-Prince and wherever nationals reside; however, with turmoil on the island, diasporans throughout will gather in numbers to regale.
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter smiles during a book signing event for his new book ‘Faith: A Journey For All’ at Barnes & Noble bookstore in Midtown Manhattan, March 26, 2018 in New York City. Carter, 93, has been a prolific author since leaving office in 1981, publishing dozens of books.Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Auld Lang Syne To A Monitor of Free & Fair Elections
Farewell to Centenarian former President Jimmy Carter. He departed peacefully at 100 on a warm December 29 in Plains, Georgia. My fondest memories of the southern Commander-in-Chief will be the year he traveled to Jamaica to oversee fair elections on that embattled island.
How he maneuvered diplomacy was textbook instruction that resonated with non-partisans.
Another memory is inscribed when he vowed to turn over the Panama Canal to its people.
My colleagues in the USAR maligned his decision.
I was elated. We argued the controversy.
Then, there was a time when Mayor Edward I. Koch and I almost disrespected each other when he said the former leader was the worst ever.
Koch and I had become friends by then; he had left office, and we often shared emails.
I recall how defiant Hizzoner became just talking about the one-term president.
I defended the former president whose legacy is now that he won a Nobel Peace Prize, is revered as a humanitarian, built houses for the poor through Habitat for Humanity, brokered a peace agreement for the Middle East, won three Grammy Awards, lived to be the oldest ex-president in history, pardoned Vietnam evaders, and is being dubbed the best ex-president in history for all the goodwill he extended after leaving the White House.
President Carter epitomized a life well lived. He was a Christian who exemplified charity, love, and dedication. His example should stand as a template for all to pattern. His legacy will endure. I pray he rests well.
Farewell To A Challenging Leap Year
Like the pandemic period of yesteryears, some of us survived the Leap Year challenges of 2024.
Although billionaires prospered then and now, the average American railed against inflationary grocery bills, healthcare, and domestic policies. A majority expressed disapproval by voting for change in government and a MAGA agenda. History shows that the national election proved historic, with Donald Trump returning to the White House after a four-year hiatus, making him the second president to win the privilege.
Needless to say, in the end, the rich seem to be the biggest winners, as it has already been proven that their bounty has increased since his reelection. Not much change is expected from Republican proposal administrators.
The hope is that time will be the healing pacifier. In other Leap Year changes, actor Denzel Washington finds salvation by baptizing his Christian faith in a Church of God ceremony.
The Academy Award and box office attraction later claimed he saw God in the sky.
Equally sobering was pop icon Beyonce‘s Christmas Day NFL halftime performance. She flaunted country swag to impress fans and skeptics. In the end, she hinted at an announcement that will be revealed on Jan. 14, 2025.
By the way, just in case this Insider did not mention the biggest news of the year — Republicans dominated the political arena, sweeping victoriously to win majorities in every aspect of government.
One last consolation is that British reggae group Steel Pulse is Slated to close out the year with a duo of concerts at Brooklyn Bowl on Dec. 30 and New Year’s Eve.
Another plus credits Tyler Perry for his enlightening tribute to the oft-forgotten women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the all-Black and all-female World War II military outfit.
Featuring actress Kerry Washington, Oprah Winfrey, Milauna Jackson, Ebony Obsidian, and other stellar celebrities, the film has been getting much kudos during its Netflix run, which began on Dec. 6, 2024.
Ukrainian soldiers have had the opportunity to operate both Soviet-era and American tanks in combat. They believe that the Abrams tank surpasses both Soviet and contemporary Russian military vehicles, according to Business Insider.
Ukraine has a limited number of Abrams tanks. Even though Ukrainian defenders have not been provided with the best modification of American tanks, they highly appreciate this equipment.
“It’s better than T-72, T-62, and even Russian T-90,” a Ukrainian tank commander recently told Business Insider.
Advantages of Abrams tanks
The media outlet notes that the Abrams tanks were specifically designed to counter Soviet military hardware, featuring superior armor and a layout that enhances crew survivability.
Tankers who fought in Iraq describe how enemy T-72 rounds bounced off Abrams, demonstrating their durability and continued effectiveness even after repeated hits.
Moreover, the depleted uranium rounds used by Abrams are far more effective in penetrating enemy armor, a capability not widely available to most Russian tanks.
The Abrams’ powerful gas turbine engine is capable of accelerating the 60-ton tank to 72 kilometers per hour, providing it with sufficient maneuverability.
It is also important that the ammunition in Abrams is stored behind the turret and is separated from the crew by a protective door. In contrast, Soviet-style tanks store ammunition directly in the turret, which leads to instant death in the event of an accurate hit.
On October 17, Australia announced the transfer of 49 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, earmarked for disposal.
Firefighters rescued one person and one canine companion from an all-hands apartment fire in Midwood on Monday morning.
The fire broke out on on the fourth floor at 1233 East 19th St. around 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 30, according to the FDNY. As firefighters searched the building, they discovered a semi-conscious person inside the apartment where the blaze had begun.
Roughly 60 firefighters battled the blaze. Photo by Lloyd Mitchell
That person was swiftly rescued and transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. One other tenant was injured, per the FDNY, but their injuries were also minor.
Firefighters also removed a pooch in peril, and brought the dog — who was in good spirits — down to the street, where it waited to reunite with its owner.
A dog was rescued from the building. Photo by Lloyd MitchellThe fire was brought under control just after 12 p.m. Photo by Lloyd Mitchell
Roughly 60 firefighters from 12 units brought the fire under control just after 12 p.m. The FDNY’s fire marshal will work to determine the cause of the blaze.
It was not immediately clear how severely damaged the unit was, or if any residents had been displaced. Records show that the building has 20 open violations from the city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development, 12 of which have been issued since August 2024. Those violations include issues with broken windows and cabinets and missing carbon monoxide and smoke detectors.
The German Federal Prosecutor’s Office has charged three men with espionage for Russia, Spiegel reports.
The accused reportedly hold both German and Russian citizenship. They face charges of “espionage on behalf of intelligence services,” among other offenses.
The charges were filed on December 9 in the State Security Senate of the Munich Higher Regional Court.
The main suspect, 40-year-old Dieter S. from Bayreuth, is also accused of “sabotage agent activities,” “taking photographs of military facilities compromising security,” and conspiring to interfere with railway traffic.
His alleged accomplices are 38-year-old Alexander J. and 43-year-old Alex D., who reportedly scouted potential targets in Bavaria.
According to the investigation, these targets included the US military training ground in Grafenwöhr, where Ukrainian soldiers are trained, and a tool manufacturing plant near Bayreuth producing weapons.
Additionally, Dieter S. is alleged to have spied on the freight station in Parsberg, Upper Palatinate, which handles military vehicles.
German authorities began monitoring the suspects in the winter and spring of 2024. The investigation concluded that the men may have considered sabotaging military infrastructure in Germany, including explosions and arson.
These acts were allegedly intended to “undermine” Germany’s military support for Ukraine.
The main suspect reportedly had “excellent connections” with Russian intelligence services and is said to have previously fought on behalf of the so-called DNR (Donetsk People’s Republic).
Earlier, we reported that a Lithuanian politician is suspected of espionage for Russia.
In Slovenia, a court sentenced a Russian couple to 19 months in prison each after they confessed to espionage. They were also ordered to leave the country upon serving their sentences and are barred from returning to Slovenia for five years.
