Japan Airlines (JAL) announced on Thursday that its network had been targeted by a cyberattack, leading to delays of up to an hour for at least 14 domestic flights and disruptions to some international flights as well, reported news agency ANI. The airline reported that the issues began at approximately 7:25 am, prompting it to suspend ticket sales for all domestic and international flights for the remainder of the day. Passengers who had already purchased tickets were advised that their bookings remained valid. JAL said it was working to counteract the cyberattack and determine its source, adding that the attack may have a larger effect on its flights. The airline succeeded in temporarily shutting down the router believed to have been compromised. Investigative sources said the Metropolitan Police Department was contacted by JAL and is looking into the matter, reported ANI. Earlier, in a post on X, Japan Airlines said, "We identified and addressed the cause of the issue. We are checking the system recovery status. Sales for both domestic and international flights departing today have been suspended. We apologize for any inconvenience." It wrote, "We regret to inform you that our network systems are down. The cause is under investigation. This may potentially affect the operations of both domestic and international flights. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience." The Kyodo News Service reported that the airline told police that it may have been the victim of a distributed denial-of-service, or DDoS attack, in which networks are overwhelmed by data from multiple sources over a short period. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told a regular news conference Thursday that the transport ministry told JAL to hasten efforts to restore the system and to accommodate affected passengers. Television footage showed many passengers at Tokyo's Haneda airport held up by the attack that hit the year-end holiday travel season. Other Japanese airlines, including ANA Holdings, Skymark and Starflyer, were not affected. Japan's main travel season is just picking up, as offices close from this weekend for the New Year holidays, the biggest celebration of the year, when millions of people travel back to their hometowns from the cities. (With inputs from ANI)
26 December,2024 11:59 AM IST | Tokyo | mid-day online correspondentThe death toll has risen to 38 after an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane crashed near Kazakhstan's Aktau city on Wednesday, Al Jazeera reported. The plane, which had 62 passengers and five crew members on board, crashed after being forced to make an emergency landing about three kilometres from Aktau. "The situation is not very good, 38 dead," Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev said as quoted by Russia's Interfax news agency, Al Jazeera reported. The Embraer 190 aircraft was en route from Azerbaijan's capital Baku to Grozny, a Russian city in the North Caucasus. Azerbaijan's prosecutor general's office earlier said that 32 out of the 67 people on board survived the crash. "We cannot disclose any investigation results at this time. All possible scenarios are being examined, and the necessary expert analyses are underway," it said in a statement, as reported by Al Jazeera. Azerbaijan Airlines announced it would suspend all flights from Baku to Russia's Chechnya region until the investigation is concluded, Al Jazeera reported, quoting Russian state news agency TASS. Russia's aviation watchdog said in a statement that preliminary information suggested the pilots decided to make an emergency landing after a bird strike. Aktau is located on the opposite shore of the Caspian Sea from Azerbaijan and Russia. Preliminary reports show that the plane requested to land at an alternative airport before the accident due to heavy fog in Grozny. Passengers included citizens from Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, Al Jazeera reported. The airline has set up a hotline for family members of the passengers. Authorities in Kazakhstan said a government commission will investigate the crash and its members have been ordered to fly to the site and ensure that the families of the dead and injured were getting the help they needed. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
26 December,2024 10:38 AM IST | Aktau | ANIA man accused of using a knife to slash a man and a woman in Manhattan's Grand Central subway station faced assault and menacing charges Wednesday. The man was arrested on assault, reckless endangerment, menacing, harassment, disorderly conduct and a weapons charge after the attack at 10:15 p.m. Tuesday which left a 42-year-old man with an injured wrist and a 26-year-old woman with a neck injury, police said. Both victims were in stable condition at Bellevue Hospital after the attack and on Wednesday, police said. It was not immediately known who will represent the man in court. The attacks came amid heightened concerns about crime in the subways, particularly after the arrest Sunday of a man charged with setting a woman on fire on a subway car. The woman died from her injuries. Mayor Eric Adams told reporters in Harlem that the man had suffered from a history of mental illness. The New York Post reported that the woman who was slashed said she had just gotten off the No. 4 train and was heading to work when she was attacked. The newspaper quoted her as saying that she was punched to the ground as her assailant repeatedly yelled, ¿what's your problem?¿ before he lunged at her with a small knife, cutting through her throat. The attack came just hours after the man accused of burning a woman to death inside a New York City subway train appeared in Brooklyn criminal court to face two murder charges. Sebastian Zapeta, 33, who federal immigration officials said is a Guatemalan citizen who entered the U.S. illegally, was not required to enter a plea and did not speak at the hearing in Brooklyn criminal court. Zapeta, held at the city's Rikers Island jail complex, is expected back in court on Friday. So far, his lawyer has not requested bail. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
26 December,2024 10:35 AM IST | New York | APRussia launched a massive missile and drone barrage targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure on Wednesday, striking a thermal power plant and prompting Ukrainians to take shelter in metro stations on Christmas morning. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said over 70 missiles, including ballistic missiles, and over 100 attack drones were used to strike Ukraine’s power sources, in a statement on X. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said one Russian missile passed Moldovan and Romanian airspace. “Putin deliberately chose Christmas for an attack. What could be more inhumane?” Zelensky said. “They continue to fight for a blackout in Ukraine.” He said Ukraine has managed to shoot down at least 50 missiles and a significant number of drones. Ukraine’s biggest private energy company, DTEK, said Russia struck one of their thermal power plants on Wednesday morning, making it the 13th attack on Ukraine’s power grid this year. “Denying light and warmth to millions of peace-loving people as they celebrate Christmas is a depraved and evil act that must be answered,” Maxim Timchenko, CEO of DTEK wrote on his X account. Ukrainian state energy operator, Ukrenergo, applied preemptive power outages across the country, due to a “massive missile attack”, leading to electricity going out in several districts of the capital, Kyiv. At least seven strikes targeted Kharkiv, sparking fires across the city, regional head Oleh Syniehubov wrote on Telegram. At least three people were injured, local authorities said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
26 December,2024 07:34 AM IST | Kyiv | AgenciesA court in Changde city, located in China’s Hunan province, has sentenced a man to death for driving his car into a crowd outside a primary school last month, injuring over two dozen people. Huang Wen, who was detained at the scene, injured 30 people, including 18 children, during the incident on November 19. Further, the court also stated that after crashing his car into the crowd, Huang got out of his vehicle and attacked bystanders with a weapon before being apprehended. He was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve by the court. The attack was motivated by Huang’s frustration over financial losses and disputes with his family. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
26 December,2024 07:34 AM IST | Beijing | AgenciesPakistan’s airstrikes on eastern Afghanistan killed 46 people, mostly women and children, a Taliban government official said on Wednesday. Hamdullah Fitrat, the deputy spokesman for the Afghan government, said that six people were also wounded in the Paktika province bordering Pakistan. This comes a day after Pakistani security officials said that Tuesday’s operation was to dismantle a training facility and kill insurgents in the province of Paktika in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, in a statement, Mohammad Khurasani, the spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, claimed that 50 people, including 27 women and children, have died in the strikes. Residents in the area told an Associated Press reporter over the phone that at least 13 people were left dead, adding that the death toll could be higher. They also said the wounded were transported to a local hospital. The Pakistani military said 13 insurgents were killed in an intelligence-based operation in South Waziristan. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
26 December,2024 07:34 AM IST | Peshawar | AgenciesAn Azerbaijani airliner with 67 people onboard crashed on Wednesday in the Kazakhstani city of Aktau, leaving at least 32 survivors, according to officials. More than 30 people are likely dead. Kazakhstan’s Emergency Ministry said those on board included five crew. At least 29 have been hospitalised. Russian news agency Interfax quoted medical workers as saying that four bodies have been recovered and emergency workers at the scene as saying that both pilots, according to a preliminary assessment, died in the crash. The plane was originally scheduled to travel from the Azerbaijani capital of Baku to the Russian city of Grozny in the North Caucasus. According to Azerbaijan Airlines, 37 passengers were Azerbaijani citizens. There were also 16 Russian nationals, six Kazakhstani and three Kyrgyzstani citizens. Preliminary information showed that the pilot had chosen to divert to Aktau after a bird strike on the aircraft led to “an emergency situation on board”. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
26 December,2024 07:33 AM IST | Moscow | AgenciesThe bald eagle, a symbol of the power and strength of the US for more than 240 years, earned an overdue honor, officially becoming the country’s national bird. President Joe Biden signed into law a legislation sent to him by Congress that amends the US Code to correct what had long gone unnoticed and designate the bald eagle as national bird. US President Joe Biden The bald eagle has appeared on the Great Seal of the US, which is used in official documents, since 1782, when the design was finalised. Congress that same year designated the bald eagle as the the national emblem, and its image appears in a host of places. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
26 December,2024 07:33 AM IST | Washington | AgenciesPilgrims lined up early on Wednesday to walk through the great Holy Door at the entrance of St. Peter’s Basilica, as Christmas marked the start of the 2025 Holy Year celebration that is expected to bring some 32 million Catholic faithful to Rome. Traversing the Holy Door is one way that the faithful can obtain indulgences, or forgiveness for sins during a Jubilee, a once-every-quarter-century tradition that dates from 1300. On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis knocked on the door and was the first to walk through it, inaugurating the 2025 Jubilee that he dedicated to hope. Pilgrims submitted to security controls before entering. Many paused to touch the door as they passed and made the sign of the cross upon entering the basilica dedicated to St. Peter, founder of the Roman Catholic Church. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
26 December,2024 07:33 AM IST | Vatican City | AgenciesDenmark has announced plans to enhance Greenland's defence capabilities following United States's (US) President-elect Donald Trump's controversial comments about purchasing the Arctic territory. In response, the Danish government revealed a significant investment in upgrading Greenland's security, news agency ANI reported. Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen stated Denmark would invest a "double-digit" billion amount in Danish kroner to strengthen its defence systems, though he did not specify the exact figure. The investment could range between 1.34 billion Euros and 13.27 billion Euros, according to a news media house. Trump's comments, made on social media platform Truth Social on Sunday, reignited tensions. He suggested that the US should seek ownership of Greenland for "purposes of national security and freedom throughout the world," while announcing the appointment of former US Ambassador to Sweden, Ken Howery, as the new envoy to Denmark. Greenland's Prime Minister, Mute Egede, rejected Trump's proposal, firmly stating that "Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland" and that the country "is not for sale and will never be for sale". According to ANI, he also emphasised the importance of preserving Greenland's long-standing struggle for independence. Although Greenland has its own government, it remains part of Denmark under the Danish Crown. The territory was a Danish colony until 1953, after which it became a district of Denmark and was fully integrated into the Danish state, granting Greenlanders Danish citizenship. Trump had previously expressed interest in the US gaining control of territories such as Canada and Panama, citing economic and strategic reasons, including the significance of the Panama Canal. His statements regarding Greenland sparked further controversy, with leaders in Denmark, Panama, and Canada expressing sharp rebukes, ANI reported. Eric Trump, the president-elect's son, further stoked the controversy with a social media post, which depicted a picture of his father purchasing Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal, writing: "We are so back!!!" We are so back!!! pic.twitter.com/PvybVULeAz — Eric Trump (@EricTrump) December 24, 2024 In response to Trump's remarks, Rasmus Jarlov, a Member of Parliament in Denmark's opposition Conservative Party, condemned the idea, stating that "dictators" threaten to take control of other countries' territories. Jarlov added, "Not sure whether it is a joke or not. But certainly not funny. One week Canada is threatened. Now Denmark. Greenland is Danish. It has been since 1380 and it will continue to be. This is undisputed, signed in rock in treaties and not open for negotiation at all. Dictators threaten to take control over other countries' territory. Free democratic countries do not." (With ANI inputs)
25 December,2024 10:46 PM IST | Copenhagen | mid-day online correspondentAn Azerbaijani airliner has crashed in the Kazakhstani city of Aktau with Kazakhstan's emergency ministry saying 42 people have been declared dead. As per the ministry, the aircraft was carrying 72 passengers. Official passenger charter or the number of souls on board is not yet released by the airline to confirm the final number of passengers on board. According to the primary data from the aircraft transponder and ADS-B data, the aircraft made several circles above Aktau airport before it crashed. A passenger plane en route from Baku to Grozny crashed near Kazakhstan’s Aktau airport on Wednesday. The incident occurred after the aircraft reportedly requested an emergency landing. A passenger plane flying from Baku to Grozny crashed near Kazakhstan’s Aktau airport after requesting an emergency landing. The country's emergency ministry reports survivors, and crews are working to extinguish the fire at the crash site. Details on casualties are still being… pic.twitter.com/Pq6Gw6cB90 — Mid Day (@mid_day) December 25, 2024 "The number of casualties is still being confirmed; however, preliminary reports indicate there are survivors," stated the country's emergency situations ministry. It added that personnel were actively working to extinguish the fire at the site. "The Embraer 190 aircraft operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, flight numbered J2-8243 on the Baku-Grozny route, made an emergency landing approximately 3 kilometres near the city of Aktau. Additional information regarding the incident will be provided to the public," Azerbaijan Airlines said in a post on X. “Azərbaycan Hava Yolları” aviaşirkətinin J2-8243 nömrəli Bakı-Qroznı reysini yerinə yetirən “Embraer 190” təyyarəsi Aktau şəhərinin 3 km yaxınlığında qəza enişi edib.Hadisə ilə bağlı ictimaiyyətə əlavə məlumat veriləcək.The Embraer 190 aircraft operated by Azerbaijan… pic.twitter.com/BSct0jgHgz — AZAL - Azerbaijan Airlines (@azalofficial) December 25, 2024 According to inbuilt Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data of the aircraft, the aircraft took off from Baku at 03:55 UTC and was flying to Grozny.
25 December,2024 04:00 PM IST | Mumbai | Prasun ChoudhariADVERTISEMENT
