Paul Martin, a resident of south London, has received a three-year and three-month prison sentence. He was found guilty of encouraging terrorism by urging people to commit acts of violence during the pandemic. The court heard that Martin used an online chat group to call for attacks on UK infrastructure and shared messages denying the existence of Covid-19.
Key Facts
Paul Martin is from south London and is 60 years old.
He was active in a Telegram group named The Resistance UK.
Martin encouraged violent attacks on infrastructure during the Covid-19 pandemic.
He was found guilty of encouraging terrorism but not of gathering weapons for terrorist purposes.
Weapons found in his home included crossbows and pistols.
Martin denied wanting to carry out violent acts, claiming his messages were just talking.
He pleaded guilty to possessing a stun gun but denied terrorism charges.
The judge described his actions as highly reckless and his language as strongly negative.
A small plane crashed while landing at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina. Several people died in the crash, but the exact number is unknown. The Federal Aviation Administration is looking into the incident.
Key Facts
A small plane crashed at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina.
The crash happened while the plane was landing around 10:15 local time on Thursday.
Several people died in the crash, according to a local sheriff.
The exact number of people on the plane is not known.
The plane is a Cessna C550, and records link it to Nascar driver Greg Biffle.
It is unclear if Greg Biffle was on the plane.
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the crash.
Albania's parliament faced disruption during a vote for the new human rights ombudsman. Opposition politicians protested, claiming election fraud and corruption.
Key Facts
Albania's parliament held a vote for a new human rights ombudsman.
The session became chaotic and disordered.
Opposition politicians protested during the meeting.
The protest was about alleged election fraud.
Opposition members also claimed there was corruption involved.
Some local council elections in England may face more delays due to planned changes in how local governments are structured. Officials may postpone elections scheduled for next May to 2027 if local councils ask for it by mid-January. The government is planning to simplify local government by combining different types of councils into single authorities by 2028.
Key Facts
Elections in certain areas of England might be delayed again to 2027, originally scheduled for May 2025.
This delay is linked to the government's reorganization of local councils, moving to single authorities responsible for all local services by 2028.
Local Government Minister Alison McGovern said multiple councils requested postponements due to the resource demand of elections and transition.
Nine areas, including Suffolk, East Sussex, West Sussex, and Essex, have already had election delays.
Some criticize the changes as a way to serve political interests, leading to a debate between Labour, Conservatives, and Reform UK.
Nigel Farage accused major parties of colluding to prevent his party from gaining power.
The government plans might affect the democratic process, allowing some councillors to remain in power without elections for seven years.
Elections for new mayors in regions like Greater Essex and Norfolk have also been delayed to 2028.
The United States has placed sanctions on two International Criminal Court judges for their involvement in a war crimes probe in Gaza against Israeli nationals. This decision follows a ruling that rejected Israel's attempt to stop the investigation. These actions are part of a series of measures the U.S. has taken against the ICC under President Trump.
Key Facts
The U.S. sanctioned ICC judges Gocha Lordkipanidze from Georgia and Erdenebalsuren Damdin from Mongolia.
The sanctions relate to a court decision that supports investigating alleged war crimes in Gaza involving Israeli nationals.
U.S. Secretary of State Rubio stated the judges acted without Israel's consent.
The U.S. has been sanctioning ICC members who investigate Israeli and U.S. citizens.
The ICC criticized the U.S. for undermining its independence and pledged to continue its work.
The U.S. and Israel are not ICC members, which complicates the jurisdiction issue.
The Trump administration has also pressured the ICC to drop an investigation into U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
A plane crash in North Carolina killed retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and six others. The plane, which was registered to a company managed by Biffle, caught fire after crashing near Statesville Regional Airport. The accident is under investigation by aviation authorities.
Key Facts
Greg Biffle, a retired NASCAR driver, died in a plane crash along with six other people in North Carolina.
The crash occurred as the jet attempted to land at Statesville Regional Airport.
The plane was registered to a company run by Greg Biffle.
The crash resulted in a significant fire, making it hard to identify all the passengers immediately.
Witnesses, including golfers, described the plane flying extremely low before it crashed.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are investigating the accident.
AccuWeather reported drizzle and cloud cover at the time of the crash.
The aircraft had plans to fly from Florida to the Bahamas and return before the accident.
Representatives from Israel and Lebanon will meet in Naqoura, Lebanon, to discuss ongoing conflicts and monitor a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. The meeting involves officials from the United States, France, Israel, Lebanon, and the UN, aiming to ensure both sides stick to the ceasefire agreement. Despite the ceasefire, Israel has continued attacks on Lebanon, leading to ongoing tensions.
Key Facts
The meeting will take place in Naqoura, a town in southern Lebanon.
Representatives include officials from Israel, Lebanon, the United States, France, and the UN.
Israel has reportedly violated the ceasefire agreement regularly.
More than 4,000 people in Lebanon have died since the start of the conflict in October 2023, with over 300 killed after the ceasefire.
Lebanon claims it is sticking to the ceasefire terms, disarming Hezbollah in the south except where Israel still occupies land.
The United Nations peacekeeping force, UNIFIL, is involved in the talks.
Israel and Lebanon appointed civilian representatives to discuss non-military issues like possible economic cooperation.
A French anaesthetist named Frederic Pechier has been sentenced to life in prison for poisoning 30 patients, resulting in 12 deaths. The trial took place in Besancon, France, and lasted three months. Prosecutors argued that Pechier poisoned patients to harm his colleagues and boost his reputation.
Key Facts
Frederic Pechier, a 53-year-old anaesthetist, was found guilty of poisoning patients.
He worked at two private clinics in Besancon, an eastern city in France.
The incidents occurred between 2008 and 2017.
Pechier targeted patients treated by colleagues he had conflicts with.
The trial lasted 15 weeks and included technical medical testimony.
Pechier was accused of poisoning patients to discredit other doctors.
The victims were aged between four and 89 years old.
Pechier denied the accusations and plans to appeal the verdict.
Egypt has stated that its gas deal with Israel is a commercial transaction without political ties. The agreement involves private companies and aims to strengthen Egypt's role as a key gas trading hub in the region. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu highlighted the deal's significance as the largest in Israel's history.
Key Facts
Egypt's gas deal with Israel is described as a "purely commercial" arrangement.
Private energy companies made the agreement without government involvement.
Egypt aims to become the main gas trading hub in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu announced the deal as Israel's largest, valued at $34.7 billion.
The gas supply will come from the Leviathan natural gas field.
No political agreements are tied to the gas deal, according to Egypt.
The deal involves the American company Chevron and Israeli partners.
Tensions have risen between Egypt and Israel over military activities in the Sinai Peninsula.
A couple died in Tokyo after being trapped in a private sauna room during a fire. Investigators suspect a faulty doorknob and a non-functioning emergency alarm contributed to the incident. The sauna facility, where the fire occurred, has been closed, and an investigation is ongoing.
Key Facts
A couple, Yoko Matsuda and Masanari, died in a sauna fire in Tokyo's Akasaka district.
The sauna's doorknob was found on the floor, which might have trapped them inside.
The facility’s emergency alarm system was turned off and allegedly hadn't been active for two years.
Firefighters found the couple collapsed near the sauna door after receiving an alarm.
A burnt towel inside the sauna might have caused the fire by touching hot stones.
The Minato Public Health Centre inspected the sauna in April 2023 and found no major issues.
Sauna Tiger, the facility, is now closed and is cooperating with ongoing investigations.
The UK's Health Security Agency indicates that the current flu season may have peaked, with signs showing the virus's spread has stabilized. Hospital cases related to flu have slowed, and the expected high number of hospitalizations has not occurred. This flu season started earlier than usual, partially due to a specific flu strain, H3N2, being more dominant.
Key Facts
The UK's Health Security Agency reports that flu spread appears to have stabilized.
Around 3,000 patients in England are hospitalized with flu, lower than expected.
The flu season started earlier with an H3N2 strain causing more severe impacts.
Virologists suggest a lack of immunity to H3N2 because it hasn't been dominant for three years.
"Super-flu" is not a medical term and does not mean the virus is more dangerous.
Flu-related hospitalizations in people over 85 are significantly higher.
Historical flu seasons, like 2017-18, saw many deaths, which could be due to harsh weather.
Police in Sydney stopped two cars in a part of the city called Liverpool. They took several people into custody to prevent a possible violent act. The police stated that there is no connection between this incident and a recent shooting at Bondi Beach.
Key Facts
Australian police stopped two cars in Liverpool, an area in southwest Sydney.
The operation involved armed officers wearing fatigues.
Authorities described the incident as involving a potential "violent act."
Several people were detained during this operation.
Police say this event is not related to the Bondi Beach shooting.
Investigations into the event are still happening.
Officials are investigating a mass shooting at Brown University and another incident near Boston, looking for possible connections between them. Authorities have identified a person of interest in the cases and are actively searching for this individual. The shooter at Brown killed two students and injured nine others before leaving the scene.
Key Facts
A mass shooting occurred at Brown University, killing two students and injuring nine others.
The attack took place in a classroom within the university's engineering building.
Authorities are investigating a potential connection between this and another shooting near Boston, which killed a professor.
Officials have identified a person of interest and are searching for them.
The FBI initially noted no links between the two shooting cases.
There is public frustration as no clear image of the suspect has emerged.
Investigators have reviewed video footage but have not yet captured the shooter.
State and city officials are urging the public to provide any relevant information or footage to assist in the investigation.
Somalia's electronic visa website has a security issue that could let people access personal information like passport details and full names from e-visas. Al Jazeera confirmed the problem and reported it to Somali authorities, who have not yet responded. A previous breach already exposed data from over 35,000 visa applicants last month.
Key Facts
Somalia's new e-visa system has a security flaw that could expose sensitive personal data.
The data at risk includes passport information, full names, and birthdates.
Al Jazeera confirmed the vulnerability after receiving a tip from a source with web development knowledge.
Despite reporting the issue, Somali authorities have not yet addressed the vulnerability.
Last month, a similar breach leaked data from over 35,000 e-visa applicants.
The leaked data included names, photos, birth details, and contact information.
Somalia's authorities have changed the e-visa domain and launched an investigation following previous breaches.
The e-visa system was praised for its role in preventing entry of ISIL fighters, according to Somalia’s Defense Minister.
Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, and their two children died in a plane crash while trying to land at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina. The crash, which happened at 10:20 a.m., is being investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Cristina had posted online about making the most of life just months before the accident.
Key Facts
Greg Biffle and his family died in a plane crash in North Carolina.
The crash took place around 10:20 a.m. at Statesville Regional Airport.
The Biffle family was on a trip to visit friends.
The plane involved was a Cessna C550 jet.
FAA and NTSB are conducting an investigation into the crash.
Cristina Biffle previously posted on Instagram about living life fully.
Greg Biffle was a famous NASCAR driver, winning titles in two racing series.
King Charles visited a new brewery in London's Covent Garden, where he poured and tasted a pint of Guinness as part of a public engagement. This was his first appearance since announcing positive news about his cancer treatment. During the visit, he engaged with the public and toured the brewery's facilities.
Key Facts
King Charles visited the Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Covent Garden, London.
The King poured and tasted a "perfect" pint of Guinness.
This visit marked his first public appearance following positive news about his cancer treatment.
During the visit, he interacted with the public, wishing them a Merry Christmas and shaking hands.
The brewery is a new visitor attraction with a £73 million investment.
King Charles received a tour of the brewery and participated in tasting sessions.
He was shown how to pour a pint at a 45-degree angle, letting it settle for 60 to 70 seconds.
Director Gurinder Chadha attended the event, and King Charles expressed interest in her new film.
Doctors in Gaza are using 3D printers to make medical devices because they lack proper medical supplies. They rely on solar energy to power these printers due to ongoing conflict in the area.
Key Facts
Doctors in Gaza use 3D printers to create medical devices.
3D printing helps treat injuries when medical supplies are scarce.
The printers run on solar energy due to limited resources.
This innovation aims to prevent patient amputations.
The situation results from ongoing conflict in the region.
Authorities are looking into a possible link between a shooting at Brown University, where two students were killed and nine were injured, and the death of an MIT professor, Nuno F.G. Loureiro. A person of interest has been identified, and investigators are trying to find this individual. Both incidents happened within a few days and about 50 miles apart.
Key Facts
A mass shooting occurred at Brown University, killing two students and injuring nine.
The shooting suspect is still at large.
An MIT professor, Nuno F.G. Loureiro, was shot at home and died later at a hospital.
The two events took place within about 50 miles of each other.
Authorities have identified a person of interest in connection with these incidents.
The investigation is ongoing, and details are still developing.
A judge has approved nearly £20 million in payments to children injured in the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing. Sixteen claims were settled in court, with further claims by adults also expected to be resolved. The attack resulted in 22 deaths and many injuries, with inquiries revealing security shortcomings.
Key Facts
Payments totaling nearly £20 million will be given to children injured in the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing.
Sixteen claims have been settled, with payouts ranging from £11.4 million to £2,770.
The attack happened after an Ariana Grande concert on May 22, 2017, resulting in 22 deaths.
The attack was carried out by suicide bomber Salman Abedi using a homemade bomb.
A public inquiry found missed chances to stop the attack and serious security failures.
The compensation will come from several organizations, including SMG Europe Holdings and Greater Manchester Police.
Further claims involving adult victims and families are expected to be settled outside of court.
All four organizations involved have apologized for their failings and promised changes to prevent future attacks.
Prosecutors in different areas have charged four people with serial killings this year. These individuals are accused of multiple murders in separate events. All four people have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
Key Facts
Jesse Calhoun has been charged with second-degree murder and abuse of a corpse related to four deaths from 2022 and 2023. He has pleaded not guilty.
Rockim Prowell is accused of two murders and has been charged with a special circumstance of multiple murders. He allegedly met the victims through a dating app and has pleaded not guilty.
Kevin J. Lino, already serving a prison sentence for two previous murders, has been arraigned for two additional murders committed in 2010 and 2012.
Antonio Reyes faces charges for five murders that happened in 2020 in Chicago. He has been in custody since 2021 and has pleaded not guilty.
The FBI defines serial murder as the illegal killing of two or more victims by the same person in separate incidents.
