Azerbaijan Airlines hold press briefing on plane crash

China

Azerbaijan Airlines hold press briefing on plane crash

2024-12-26 02:03 Last Updated At：15:07

Azerbaijan Airlines held a press briefing at Baku Airport Wednesday on its passenger plane crash that took place in Aktau, Kazakhstan earlier that day.

The Embraer 190 aircraft with flight number J2-8243 from Baku to Grozny crashed near Aktau Airport, Kazakhstan's Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) said.

Of all the 67 people on board, 38 were killed in the crash, the ministry updated on Wednesday.

"A medical team and necessary medical equipment have been sent to Kazakhstan by air. A hotline has been established for the family members of the passengers on board, and the public has been informed about it. Psychological support will be provided to the family members of all passengers, regardless of nationality, as well as to the injured passengers," said Farid Huseynov, Head of Press Service of Azerbaijan Airlines at the press briefing.

"Currently, the investigation process is ongoing in cooperation with the Prosecutor's Office of Kazakhstan. All versions are being explored in the criminal case. At this moment, we cannot provide any conclusions regarding the investigation. Expert examinations are being conducted, and an investigation group, led by the Deputy Prosecutor General of the Republic of Azerbaijan, is already at work," said Kenan Zeynalov, Senior Prosecutor of Press Service at the Prosecutor General's Office.

Zeynalov also announced that a criminal case has been initiated by the Prosecutor General's Office of Azerbaijan under the relevant articles of the Criminal Code regarding the facts of the crash.

According to Azerbaijan Airlines, among all the 67 people on board, 62 were passengers and five were crew members.

Kazakh media reports showed that the passengers on board included 37 citizens from Azerbaijan, 16 from Russia, six from Kazakhstan, and three from Kyrgyzstan.

China extends anti-dumping probe into EU brandy

2024-12-26 14:50 Last Updated At：15:07

China's Ministry of Commerce announced on Wednesday that it would extend the duration of an anti-dumping investigation into brandy originating from the European Union (EU).

According to the announcement, the ministry has decided to extend the investigation until April 5, 2025, given the complexity of the case and in accordance with relevant regulations.

The ministry initiated the investigation on Jan. 5 this year following a request from the China Alcoholic Drinks Association on behalf of the domestic industry.

The anti-dumping investigation looks at spirits obtained by distilling grape wine in containers holding less than 200 liters imported from Oct. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2023, the ministry said in its Jan. 5 statement.

It added that it would also investigate any damage done to the Chinese brandy industry from Jan. 1, 2019 to Sept. 30, 2023.

The ministry said on Aug. 29 that a preliminary assessment showed that the imported brandy from the EU involves dumping, and the domestic brandy industry is under substantial threat of damage.

The ministry said there is a causal relationship between the dumping and the substantial threat of damage.

Since Oct. 11, China has imposed temporary anti-dumping measures on brandy originating from the EU. Importers of brandy originating from the EU must place deposits with Chinese customs based on dumping margins of between 30.6 percent and 39 percent.