AP News Summary at 10:31 p.m. EST
By AP
Pope calls for nations to overcome divisions in Christmas address as communities celebrate worldwide
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis in his traditional Christmas message has urged “all people of all nations” to find courage during this Holy Year “to silence the sounds of arms and overcome divisions” plaguing the world, from the Holy Land to Ukraine, Africa to Asia. The pontiff’s “Urbi et Orbi” — “To the City and the World” — address serves as a summary of the woes facing the world this year. Pilgrims lined up early to walk through the great Holy Door at the entrance of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome as Christmas marks the start of the 2025 Holy Year celebration.
Azerbaijani airliner crashes in Kazakhstan, killing 38 with 29 survivors, officials say
An Azerbaijani airliner with 67 people onboard has crashed near the Kazakhstani city of Aktau and an official says 38 people were killed and 29 survived. The Embraer 190 was en route from the Azerbaijani capital of Baku to the Russian city of Grozny in the North Caucasus when it was diverted and attempted an emergency landing near the city of Aktau. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said that it was too soon to speculate on the reasons behind the crash, but said that the weather had forced the plane to change from its planned course. Russia’s civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, said that preliminary information showed that the pilots diverted to Aktau after a bird strike led to an emergency on board.
Fate of Trump’s Cabinet picks unclear as Republicans prepare to take power in Senate
WASHINGTON (AP) — The fate of President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet is still unclear after Republican senators spent much of December carefully dodging questions. Scrutiny is being focused on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s views on vaccines, accusations of sexual misconduct against Pete Hegseth and Tulsi Gabbard’s 2017 meeting with then-President Bashar Assad of Syria. Some GOP senators have indicated they are all-in for all of Trump’s picks. But others have withheld their support for now, especially on some of his more controversial nominees. That injects uncertainty into the process as Republicans are set to take the Senate majority with a four-seat margin. Trump has challenged them to confirm his Cabinet immediately.
Trial of man accused in Trump assassination attempt in Florida pushed back to September
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A man accused of attempting to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump in South Florida won’t be tried until September 2025. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon said in an order released on Monday that Ryan Routh’s trial will begin Sept. 8 instead of the previously scheduled Feb. 10 start date. Routh has pleaded not guilty. Routh’s attorneys had asked the judge to delay the trial until next December, saying they needed more time to review the evidence against him and decide whether to mount an insanity defense. Routh’s charge of attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate carries a potential life sentence in the event of a conviction.
A baby froze to death overnight in Gaza as Israel and Hamas trade accusations of ceasefire delays
JERUSALEM (AP) — A baby girl froze to death overnight in Gaza, while Israel and Hamas accused each other of complicating ceasefire efforts that could wind down the 14-month war. The 3-week old baby was the third to die from the cold in the enclave’s tent camps in recent days. The deaths underscore the squalid conditions in Gaza’s sprawling camps, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are crammed after fleeing Israel’s bombardment and offensives. Meanwhile hopes of a ceasefire looked complicated on Wednesday. Israel and Hamas traded accusations over delaying an agreement. The sides had appeared to be inching toward a deal in recent weeks. It would have brought home dozens of hostages held in Gaza but differences have emerged.
An Israeli soldier who died 417 days after his Oct. 7 wounds has become a symbol of sacrifice
MODIIN, Israel (AP) — An Israeli soldier who died more than 400 days after being wounded in the attack that sparked the war in Gaza now symbolizes the sacrifice of fallen fighters. Yona Brief was a combat medic when his unit was ordered to join the fight against insurgents on Oct. 7, 2023. He was shot 13 times but dragged himself and a fellow soldier to safety. He later lost his legs. His determination to live was a source of inspiration for medical staff and many others in Israel. But while his parents said his spirit never wavered, his liver finally failed.
US census data shows how Middle Eastern and Hispanic residents differ in racial identity
The U.S. Census Bureau currently is getting public feedback about how it should tally responses from people into new race and ethnicity groups. Under the revisions, questions about race and ethnicity that previously were asked separately on forms will be combined into a single question. A Middle Eastern and North African category also was added. New research released this month by the Census Bureau shows that around 80% of people who wrote that their background was Middle Eastern or North African identified as white on the 2020 census questionnaire. About 16% identified themselves as “some other race.”
Russia targets Ukrainian energy infrastructure on Christmas Day
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian officials say Russia has launched a massive missile barrage targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Ukraine’s air force said Wednesday strikes on Ukrainian fuel and energy infrastructure included 78 air, ground, and sea-launched missiles as well as 106 Shaheds and other types of drones. At least one person was killed and Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba said that heating was disrupted for 155 residential buildings. He also said 500,000 people in the Kharkiv region were without heat. In Russia meanwhile one woman died and three people were wounded after falling debris from a downed drone sparked a fire in a shopping mall in the city of Vladikavkaz.
Taliban say Pakistani airstrikes killed 46 people in eastern Afghanistan, mostly women and children
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — A Taliban government official says Pakistan’s airstrikes on eastern Afghanistan killed 46 people, mostly women and children. Hamdullah Fitrat, the deputy spokesman for the Afghan government, said those killed in the strikes that targeted four locations in Barmal, a district in the province of Paktika, were refugees. This comes a day after Pakistani security officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity in line with regulations, told The Associated Press that Tuesday’s operation was to dismantle a training facility and kill insurgents. Pakistan has not commented on the strikes. However, on Wednesday, the Pakistani military said security forces killed 13 insurgents in an overnight operation.
Blake Lively’s claims that movie co-star launched smear campaign gets support in publicist’s suit
NEW YORK (AP) — Blake Lively’s claims that “It Ends With Us” director and co-star Justin Baldoni unleashed a smear campaign against her have gained support from a new lawsuit that Baldoni’s former publicist filed against him. The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in New York state court in Manhattan by Stephanie Jones, who represented Baldoni for seven years. The lawsuit alleged that Baldoni last August secretly teamed up with publicists, including one of her own, to try to “bury” and “destroy” Lively amid fears that allegations of misogynistic and toxic on-set behavior as the romantic drama was filmed might harm his reputation and career.
