December 29, 2024

* Israeli attack on Gaza's Kamal Adwan hospital leaves it deserted — WHO The World Health Organization has confirmed that Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza is now empty after an Israeli military raid on Friday, which has forced the last major health facility in the area out of service. Expressing its outrage, the WHO stated, "Hospitals have once again become battlegrounds," condemning the attack as part of a systematic dismantling of Gaza's health system. The organisation warned that the 75,000 Palestinians remaining in northern Gaza face severe risks after over 80 days of siege, with critical healthcare no longer accessible. Dozens dead as plane bursts into flames following crash in South Korea *A Jeju Air plane from Bangkok to South Korea crashed upon landing at Muan airport, killing at least 120 people, the National Fire Agency said. Two survivors have been pulled from the wreckage as rescue efforts continue, according to the national fire agency. Footage broadcast by MBC showed the plane engulfed in flames shortly after landing, with smoke streaming from its engines. Officials believe a landing gear failure, possibly caused by a bird strike, may have led to the crash. * Over 112,000 missing Syrians probably killed in Assad prisons: rights group More than 112,000 Syrians forcibly disappeared under the Baath regime remain unaccounted for, with evidence pointing to widespread killings in detention, the Syrian Network for Human Rights reported. Following the collapse of the Baath regime on December 8, the scale of torture and extrajudicial executions in Syrian prisons has come to light. The group has documented about 136,000 cases of detention or forced disappearance during the regime's rule and reports that 24,200 prisoners have been released from detention facilities since its fall. * Over 21 killed in Sudan shelter attack by paramilitary forces At least 21 civilians were killed and 17 injured in a Rapid Support Forces drone strike on a shelter for displaced people in El Fasher, North Darfur, activists reported. The El Fasher Coordination of Resistance Committees said the attack targeted the Qouz Beina school, which housed many displaced individuals. Separately, the General Coordination of Darfur Displaced People and Refugees reported heavy artillery bombardment by the RSF on the Abu Shouk displacement camp in El Fasher, resulting in additional casualties. * Putin apologises to Aliyev over Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash tragedy Russian President Vladimir Putin has apologised to Azerbaijan's leader for a "tragic incident" after an Azerbaijani airliner crashed in Kazakhstan, killing 38 people. The Kremlin said that air defence systems were active near Grozny during a Ukrainian drone strike on Wednesday but did not confirm whether one caused the crash. On Friday, a US official and an Azerbaijani minister made separate statements blaming the crash on an external weapon.