Current events: 2024-12-05

[Wikipedia Current Events]

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Syrian civil war
  • Northwestern Syria offensive
    • 2024 Hama offensive
      • The Syrian Army says it has withdrawn from the city of Hama to "protect the lives of civilians" after rebel forces enter the city. (MSN)
      • Rebel forces begin releasing hundreds of prisoners from Hama's central prison. (Ynet)
      • A helicopter is shot down after taking off from Hama Air Base as pro-government forces evacuate the airbase. Another helicopter makes an emergency landing after being hit. The airbase is later fully captured by the rebels. (Al Jazeera) (YeniSafak)
      • Rebel forces enter the city of Salamiyah, Hama Governorate, reportedly facing no resistance. (SOHR)
      • Rebels capture Qamhana and Jabal Zayn al-Abidin in Hama Governorate. (SOHR)
    • 2024 Homs offensive
      • Syrian rebel forces capture and take military vehicles and ammunition from a Syrian military engineering battalion facility on the outskirts of al-Rastan, Homs Governorate. (SOHR)
      • A Russian jet launches an airstrike on the Rastan Bridge over Orontes River in an attempt to impede the rebel advance over the city. (Pravda)
      • Rebel forces take control of Talbiseh as they advance south towards the city of Homs. (SOHR)
• Israel–Hamas war, Gaza genocide
  • Amnesty International accuses Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. (Reuters) (Amnesty International)
• Piracy off the coast of Somalia
  • The European Union's anti-piracy mission says heavily armed Somali pirates have hijacked a Chinese fishing vessel off the coast of Puntland. The vessel has 18 crew members who are being held hostage and the situation is ongoing. (Reuters)

Business and economy

• The value of a Bitcoin passes US$100,000 for the first time, after rising 130% in the past year. (CNN) (NBC News)

Disasters and accidents

• Winter of 2024–25 in the Gaza Strip
  • Heavy winter rainfall causes extensive flooding across Gaza, resulting in nearly half of all tents in Asdaa and Ard Fayyad refugee camps being destroyed. (IRC)
• Eight people are killed when a cargo truck loaded with fertilizers hits pedestrians and crashes into a house in Makilala, Cotabato, Philippines. (Philippine News Agency)
• 2024 Cape Mendocino earthquake
  • An offshore 7.0 magnitude earthquake strikes near the northern coast of the state of California prompting tsunami warnings. (Weather Channel)

Politics and elections

• 2024 French political crisis
  • Michel Barnier resigns as Prime Minister of France following the collapse of the Barnier government. (Sky News)

Continue reading...