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The Guardian;Donald Tusk’s Polish revival masks deeper divisions with German neighbours;https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/30/donald-tusk-polish-revival-masks-deeper-divisions-with-german-neighbours;2024-12-30T05:00:26Z

Germany’s chancellor appears to be heading for defeat; France’s president is mired in crisis. But while Europe’s traditional power duo are in the doldrums, there is a strong, stable and pro-EU leader east of Paris and Berlin – Poland’s prime minister, Donald Tusk. For European officials, it’s a helpful gift of the calendar that Poland takes charge of the EU Council rotating presidency from 1 January. Tusk, a former European Council president, returned as Poland’s prime minister in 2023, leading a broad coalition that defeated the rightwing populist party Law and Justice (PiS). One of his first acts was to end a long-festering dispute with Brussels with a pledge to restore constitutional norms, which unlocked billions of frozen EU funds. Tusk later showed his influence inside the European Council of EU leaders, helping to orchestrate the return of his centre-right ally Ursula von der Leyen as European Commission president. An EU presidency is a technical business: chairing hundreds of meetings, setting agendas. Tusk has no formal role. But symbolism matters. The presidency logo, a Polish flag entwined with the letters “E” and “U”, is intended to project Poland’s return to the European mainstream. Tusk’s government, which has pledged to prioritise security during its six-month stint, is an especially welcome contrast after the Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán’s rogue diplomacy during his country’s presidency. Michał Wawrykiewicz, a centre-right MEP, affiliated to the governing Civic Coalition, said: “We are just after the presidency of Hungary, which is the biggest violator of all of the fundamentals of the European Union. So it is a good time slot for my country to prove that we are one of the leaders of the European Union.” But the image of harmony regained is not quite what it seems. First, Poland’s democratic restoration is incomplete. As many as a third of Poland’s 10,000 judges are so-called “neo judges”, according to the Council of Europe – ie politicised appointees who took office through processes introduced by PiS that were widely deemed to violate the rule of law. Tusk’s government faces a legal minefield in restoring independent judges, while the PiS-aligned President Andrzej Duda is blocking many reforms. “It shows how difficult it is to reverse the country on the democratic path after such a huge devastation,” said Wawrykiewicz, a lawyer who campaigned to restore the rule of law before he was elected as an MEP in 2024. Duda is nearing the end of his term limit, so presidential elections likely in May will be critical in determining whether Tusk’s government can fulfil its promise to restore the rule of law in Poland. That could affect how Poland runs its presidency. Some EU insiders contend that Poland’s government is playing it safe by avoiding putting controversial topics on the EU agenda, such as 2040 carbon reduction targets. Before Duda stands down, he could be a helpful bridge to Donald Trump’s White House. Anna Wójcik, of Kozminski University in Warsaw, said Tusk’s government could use the “surprising card of President Duda, who has good relations with the president-elect of the United States”. More broadly, Warsaw has a good story to tell Trump, who has fiercely criticised Nato allies for “not paying their bills”. Poland, already the biggest defence spender in GDP terms in Nato, is expected to spend 4.7% of its economic output on defence in 2025. This will be an advantage in Washington and “a way of proving that Europe can well commit and even over-commit” to Nato goals, Wójcik said. During its EU presidency, Poland is expected to make the case for more European defence spending, including via EU financing, which could entail joint borrowing. The European Commission has put the cost of boosting EU defences at a minimum of €500bn and has promised an options paper on how to raise these funds early in 2025. Any agreement on European defence spending will have to go through Europe’s largest contributor to the EU budget, Germany, where political opposition and legal constraints make common borrowing deeply problematic. More broadly, despite the return of a pro-EU government in Warsaw and the epoch-making “turning point”, the Zeitenwende, in Germany, German-Polish relations are weighed down by mistrust and recrimination. Under the previous PiS government, Poland waged a long-running campaign for reparations for damage caused by the Nazi invasion and occupation. Germany, meanwhile, was one of Warsaw’s toughest critics on the politicisation of its courts, helping to broker an agreement in 2020 that meant EU funds could be frozen over rule-of-law violations. In theory, Tusk’s election should have improved relations, but the mood remains sour. Berlin was exasperated when in May Tusk joined forces with the Greek prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, to call for a European air defence shield to protect EU airspace against all incoming threats, described as “a bold initiative that will send a clear and strong message to our friends and foes”. Germany dismissed the plan as a nonstarter, objecting to its vast cost and apparent emphasis on it being made in Europe. For Tusk, facing smears from his PiS rivals of being pro-German, that refusal closed down a positive, future-looking project that could have put relations on a better path. “There is no agreement on how to solve this conundrum in the Polish-German relations,” said Piotr Buras, the head of the European Council on Foreign Relations’ office in Warsaw. “This is a major problem for Tusk because he is the one who faces accusations that he is too pro-German, so he needs to make himself more credible to the Polish public opinion by being tough on Germany.” Buras thinks the rest of the EU underestimates how far PiS “redefined the parameters of the Polish European debate”. Polish support for the EU remains high but has fallen back from the stratospheric enthusiasm of the recent past: a survey for the Warsaw-based pollster CBOS showed 77% of respondents in favour of the EU in April 2024, down from 92% less than two years earlier. Opposition to Ukrainian refugees in Poland is growing. “Tusk is very much under pressure from the opposition, from the PiS, and he needs to be very, very cautious and he is very cautious,” Buras said. “That sets limits for some major pro-European, courageous initiatives.”

The Guardian;Authorities in South Korea seek arrest warrant for impeached president Yoon;https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/30/south-korea-seek-arrest-warrant-yoon-suk-yeol-ntwnfb;2024-12-30T03:38:19Z

South Korean law enforcement officials have requested a court warrant to arrest impeached president, Yoon Suk Yeol, as they investigate whether his short-lived martial law decree amounted to rebellion. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, which is leading a joint investigation with police and military authorities into the power grab that lasted only a few hours on 3 December, confirmed it requested the warrant from a Seoul court. They plan to question Yoon on allegations of abuse of authority and orchestrating a rebellion. Yoon has dodged several requests by the joint investigation team and public prosecutors to appear for questioning and has also blocked searches of his offices. It was not clear whether the court will grant the warrant or whether Yoon can be compelled to appear for questioning. The application by investigators marks the first attempt in the country’s history to forcibly detain a president before the impeachment procedure is complete. Under the country’s laws, locations potentially linked to military secrets cannot be seized or searched without the consent of the person in charge, and it’s unlikely that Yoon will voluntarily leave his residence if he faces detainment. Yoon’s presidential powers were suspended after the National Assembly voted to impeach him on 14 December over his imposition of martial law that lasted only hours but has triggered weeks of political turmoil, halted high-level diplomacy and rattled financial markets. Yoon’s fate now lies with the Constitutional Court, which has begun deliberations on whether to uphold the impeachment and formally remove him from office or reinstate him. Yoon has defended the martial law decree as a necessary act of governance, describing it as a warning against the liberal opposition Democratic Party, which has been bogging down his agenda with its majority in the parliament. Parliament voted last week to also impeach prime minister Han Duck-soo, who had assumed the role of acting president after Yoon’s powers were suspended, over his reluctance to fill three Constitutional Court vacancies ahead of the court’s review of Yoon’s case. The country’s new interim leader is deputy prime minister Choi Sang-mok, who is also finance minister.

The Guardian;Ukraine war briefing: Russia vows to retaliate after state media reportedly blocked on Telegram in EU;https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/30/russia-vows-to-retaliate-after-state-media-reportedly-blocked-on-telegram-in-eu;2024-12-30T00:39:21Z

Russia has vowed to retaliate after the channels of its state media were apparently blocked on the popular Telegram social media platform in the EU. On Sunday the channels of Ria Novosti news agency, Rossiya 1, Pervyi Kanal and NTV television, and Izvestia and Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspapers were not accessible in several countries, including France, Belgium, Poland, Greece, the Netherlands and Italy, according to media reports. Neither Telegram nor EU sources have yet commented on the disruption. Moscow called the move “an act of censorship”. “The systematic cleansing of all undesirable sources of information from the information space continues,” foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, said. The EU had previously banned Russian state media such as Ria Novosti, Izvestia and Rossiyskaya Gazeta from being distributed in the bloc, accusing them with disseminating propaganda. Azerbaijan’s president, Ilham Aliyev, said on Sunday that the Azerbaijani airliner that crashed last week was shot down by Russia, albeit unintentionally, as he criticised Moscow for trying to “hush up” the issue. “We can say with complete clarity that the plane was shot down by Russia … We are not saying that it was done intentionally, but it was done,” he told Azerbaijani state television. Aliyev said that the airliner, which crashed in Kazakhstan on Wednesday and killed 38 of the 67 on board, was hit by fire from the ground over Russia and “rendered uncontrollable by electronic warfare.” Aliyev accused Russia of trying to “hush up” the issue for several days, saying he was “upset and surprised” by versions of events put forward by Russian officials. The Kremlin said that air defence systems were firing near Grozny, the regional capital of the Russian republic of Chechnya, where the plane attempted to land, to deflect a Ukrainian drone strike. Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said on Monday that Jimmy Carter, who died aged 100, served as US president when Ukraine was not yet independent but “his heart stood firmly with us in our ongoing fight for freedom”. “We deeply appreciate his steadfast commitment to Christian faith and democratic values, as well as his unwavering support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s unprovoked aggression,” Zelenskyy said on X. “Today, let us remember: peace matters, and the world must remain united in standing against those who threaten these values.” A probe of the sabotaged Baltic Sea power cable has uncovered a drag trail stretching dozens of kilometres on the seabed, Finnish police said on Sunday. On Christmas Day, the Estlink 2 submarine cable that carries electricity from Finland to Estonia was disconnected from the grid, just over a month after two telecommunications cables were severed in Swedish territorial waters in the Baltic. Finnish authorities have been investigating the Eagle S oil tanker that sailed from a Russian port over suspected “sabotage”. The investigation has revealed a “dragging track” on the seabed, police said on Sunday, adding the trail had been identified “from the beginning to the end”. The cable’s disconnection was the latest in a spate of incidents western officials believe are acts of sabotage linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Aleksei Bugayev, a former member of Russia’s national soccer team who played at Euro 2004, has been killed in the 34-month-old war in Ukraine, Russian media quoted his father and agent as saying on Sunday. “Unfortunately, the news about Aleksei’s death is true. It happened today,” TASS news agency quoted the player’s father Ivan Bugayev as telling the Sport24 news outlet. RIA news agency quoted Bugayev’s agent, Anton Smirnov, as saying intense fighting had made it impossible to retrieve Bugayev’s body for burial. In September, Bugayev was sentenced by a court in southern Russia to nine and a half years in prison on drug trafficking charges. He later declared his intention to sign up to fight in the Ukraine war. Russian authorities actively recruit in prisons for the conflict. Georgia inaugurated a far-right governing party loyalist, Mikhail Kavelashvili, as president on Sunday, ratcheting up a months-long political crisis that has seen huge pro-European Union demonstrations. Kavelashvili, a former professional footballer, is backed by the Georgian Dream party, which has accused the West of trying to drag Tbilisi into the Ukraine conflict.

The Guardian;Disgruntled police in Northern Ireland responsible for IRA leaks after Good Friday agreement;https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/30/disgruntled-police-in-northern-ireland-responsible-for-ira-leaks-after-good-friday-agreement;2024-12-30T00:01:23Z

Parts of the British government and disgruntled members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary were responsible for a series of major leaks during and after the establishment of the 1998 Good Friday agreement in Northern Ireland, according to claims in newly released Irish government archives. An Irish department of foreign Affairs official focusing on justice and security created a report and list of the leaks in October 2002. They included attempts to undermine Sinn Féin, the republican political party linked to the IRA, and expose the position of the then Northern Ireland secretary, Mo Mowlam. In a reminder of the fragile situation in the wake of the historic peace deal, the report described how “disgruntled Special Branch officers in Northern Ireland” were blamed by the British government for a series of releases about the IRA that were designed to damage Sinn Féin in the 2001 general election in Northern Ireland. Details of an IRA intelligence database containing the names of leading Conservative politicians – described at the time as a “hit list” – was also passed to the BBC in April 2002 and, the briefing note continued, this was followed “days later by a leak to the Sunday Telegraph which alleged that senior IRA commanders bought Russian special forces rifles in Moscow last year”. Special Branch leaks were also said to be associated with the 2002 IRA break-in at the RUC headquarters in Castlereagh in east Belfast. Other leaks included the disclosure in February 1998 of papers related to preparations for the Drumcree Orange Order march on 6 July 1997, which had been plagued by standoffs and clashes as nationalists opposed the procession down Garvaghy Road in Portadown. The gameplan document showed that Mowlam, who was publicly expressing a desire for a negotiated solution to the 1997 parade, advocated “finding the lowest common denominator for getting some Orange feet on the Garvaghy Road”. In 1997, a large number of security forces were sent to the area to allow the march to proceed. The incident sparked heightened tension and a wave of rioting. Elsewhere in the newly released Irish archives, papers emerged showing how the UK government was lobbied to do more to assist former paramilitaries to get jobs and integrate back into society months after being released from prison in 1998 after the Good Friday agreement. The Northern Ireland office minister, Adam Ingram, resisted the pressure by stating society was “not yet at the stage where all of the shutters could go up”, expressing concerns that ex-prisoners could end up teaching the children of their victims. There were details of an embarrassing affair when a piece of moon rock gifted to the Irish president by Nasa after an Apollo mission and kept at the Dunsink Observatory was destroyed in a fire in 1977. And in 2002, when the queen was celebrating her golden jubilee, a unionist minister in the Stormont government rebuffed a suggestion that there could be an extension of pub opening hours. Correspondence showed that lord lieutenants in Northern Ireland – representatives of the queen – were not pushing for the more celebratory licensing hours either. “Lady Carswell in particular believes that it would be difficult for Lord Lieutenants to encourage such activities without appearing political,” one newly released email showed.

The Guardian;Dense fog expected to cause flight delays at Gatwick till end of Sunday;https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2024/dec/29/dense-fog-expected-to-cause-flight-disruption-at-gatwick-till-end-of-sunday;2024-12-29T22:15:29Z

Disruption caused by dense fog was expected to continue at Gatwick airport until the end of Sunday – its busiest day of the holiday period. Nats, the UK’s main air traffic control provider, said temporary air restrictions were in place for the remainder of the day because of low visibility in airfields affected by fog. Earlier easyJet said a number of flights had been delayed or cancelled due to the knock-on impact of delays caused by the weather. It follows two days of disruption at the UK’s busiest airports, with Saturday’s flights at Stansted affected by the murky conditions while live departure boards showed delays at Heathrow, Luton, Gatwick and Manchester airports. On Sunday morning, a spokesperson for Gatwick said temporary air traffic restrictions remained in place because of poor visibility caused by fog and warned that some flights could be delayed throughout the day. A total of 769 flights were planned at the West Sussex airport on Sunday, making it the busiest day of the Christmas holiday period. Passengers were urged to contact their airlines for updated information. A Nats spokesperson said: “While the weather conditions have improved, fog continues to affect some airports in London today. “Temporary air traffic restrictions are therefore in place at airfields with low visibility to maintain safety. “Our teams are working closely with the airports and airlines to minimise disruption but passengers should check the status of their flight with their airline.” Patches of thick fog could reduce visibility to just 100 metres in some areas, the Met Office said. Heathrow, Luton and Stansted airports said flights had not been affected by the weather. A spokesperson for easyJet said: “We are doing all we can to minimise the impact of the weather for our customers, providing options to rebook or a refund for cancelled flights, as well as hotel accommodation and meals where required. “We advise customers due to travel to and from London Gatwick today to check our flight tracker for the latest information on their flight. “The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is our highest priority and, while this is outside of our control, we are very sorry for the inconvenience caused by the weather.” Passengers on flights delayed for more than two hours may be entitled to assistance, including food and drink or overnight accommodation if necessary. Kiera Quayle, from Colchester, Essex, was due to fly from Isle of Man airport to Gatwick on Friday evening with her husband after visiting his family. But their flight was delayed by three hours before finally being cancelled at around 10pm, with the next one not available until Sunday. “Our five days has turned to seven, it looks like,” Quayle, 30, told the PA news agency. “It’s frustrating and stressful but I overheard a few families who are now missing holidays and work who have it worse at this point.”

The Guardian;Air traffic controllers warned of bird strike minutes before Muan airport accident – as it happened;https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/dec/29/south-korea-plane-crash-casualties-reported-after-jeju-air-flight-veers-off-runway-at-muan-airport-live-updates;2024-12-29T21:39:44Z

Summary of developments: One hundred and seventy-nine people are confirmed to have died in the catastrophic plane crash, which occurred on Sunday when a Jeju Air flight crash landed at Muan international airport. The plane appeared to land without landing gear before colliding with a concrete embankment and exploding. The cause of the crash is under investigation. Two members of the flight’s crew have survived, including a man who was awake and speaking to doctors today. Joe Biden offered his condolences and said the US was ready to provide “any necessary assistance”. The Korean government is offering funeral services and temporary housing to families of the victims of the crash. The country is in a seven-day national mourning period. The passenger plane crash that killed 179 in South Korea comes at a time of political upheaval in the country, testing the government’s ability to administer a rapid disaster response, report the Guardian’s Raphael Rashid and Justin McCurry: The incident has highlighted the potential risks that instability at the highest level of government poses to disaster response. There were encouraging signs in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy. South Korea’s rival political parties launched separate initiatives in response to the disaster, apparently setting aside the animosity of recent weeks. The opposition Democratic party leader, Lee Jae-myung, left for Muan, where he plans to stay indefinitely to support rescue efforts, the Hankyoreh newspaper said, although he will stay away from the crash site while recovery operations continue. The ruling People Power party, meanwhile, formed a taskforce focused on investigating the crash and supporting victims’ families. The party’s acting leader, Kweon Seong-dong, will visit Muan on Monday with taskforce members to “review accident response measures and prevention strategies” and meet bereaved families. Joe Biden said in a statement on Sunday that he was “deeply saddened” to learn of the South Korea plane crash that killed all but two of the 181 passengers onboard. “As close allies, the American people share deep bonds of friendship with the South Korean people and our thoughts and prayers are with those impacted by this tragedy,” the statement said. “The United States stands ready to provide any necessary assistance.” The father of a passenger who died in the Jeju Air crash in South Korea called the disaster “unbelievable”. Reuters reports: Jeon Je-young keeps playing the video of the plane with his daughter and another 180 people on board slamming into a wall and bursting into flames at a South Korean airport. His daughter Mi-sook died on board. He still can’t believe it. ‘When I saw the accident video, the plane seemed out of control,’ said 71-year-old Jeon. ‘The pilots probably had no choice but to do it. My daughter, who is only in her mid-40s, ended up like this. This is unbelievable.’ Mi-sook was a warm-hearted child, he said. She brought some food and next year’s calendar to his house on Dec. 21, which became his last brief moment with her. ‘She is much nicer than my son, sometimes asking me to go out for a meal,’ Jeon recalled, showing his last exchanges with his daughter on his mobile phone. The Korean health ministry is reportedly providing counseling services to the families of the passengers who died in the catastrophic plane crash in Muan. The government has also offered temporary housing and help with funeral services to those families. The National Transportation Safety Board is leading a team of US investigators to help South Korea’s aviation authority in its investigation of the Jeju Air crash in Muan, Reuters reports. Boeing, the maker of the plane, and the Federal Aviation Administration are participating, NTSB said on Sunday. A survivor of the deadly crash is awake and speaking with doctors, according to Yonhap News Agency. The 33-year-old flight attendant is one of two passengers who reportedly survived the Jeju Air crash that killed nearly all 181 people on board on Sunday. The director of the Seoul hospital where the survivor is being treated told reporters that the patient is able to communicate and is not displaying memory loss or other cognitive symptoms. The other survivor, also a flight attendant, is reportedly in stable condition at a separate hospital. Aviation experts question the theory that a bird strike caused the Jeju Air crash in South Korea that killed almost all of the 181 passengers on board, Reuters reports: Uncertainty surrounds the deadliest plane crash on South Korean soil, aviation experts said on Sunday, questioning how much impact a potential bird strike cited by authorities could have had in bringing down the Jeju Air flight. The apparent absence of landing gear, the timing of the twin-engine Boeing 737-800’s belly landing at Muan International Airport and the reports of a possible bird strike all raised questions that could not yet be answered. The single-aisle aircraft was seen in video broadcast on local media skidding down the runway with no landing gear deployed before hitting a wall in an explosion of flame and debris. “At this point there are a lot more questions than we have answers. Why was the plane going so fast? Why were the flaps not open? Why was the landing gear not down?” said Gregory Alegi, an aviation expert and former teacher at Italy’s air force academy. South Korean officials are investigating the crash of Jeju Air Flight 7C2216, including the impact of a potential bird strike and the weather. 179 of 181 people on board died. Deputy Transport Minister Joo Jong-wan said the runway’s 2,800-metre length was not a contributing factor, and that walls at the ends were built to industry standards. A spokesperson for Jeju Air was not immediately available for comment. Jeju Air declined to comment on the cause during news conferences, saying an investigation is under way. Christian Beckert, a flight safety expert and Lufthansa pilot, said the video footage suggested that aside from the reversers, most of the plane’s braking systems were not activated, creating a “big problem” and a fast landing. Beckert said a bird strike was unlikely to have damaged the landing gear while it was still up, and that if it had happened when it was down, it would have been hard to raise again. “It’s really, really very rare and very unusual not to lower the gear, because there are independent systems where we can lower the gear with an alternate system,” he said. The probe should paint a clearer picture, he added. 179 people were killed in South Korea’s worst domestic civil aviation disaster on Sunday after a plane – flying from Bangkok - crashed while landing at Muan international airport shortly after 09:00 local time (00:00 GMT). Four crew members and all 175 passengers, including five children under the age of 10, were killed. Two people, both crew members, were rescued from the wreckage and taken to hospital. They suffered “mid to severe” injuries, authorities said. Most passengers were South Koreans, apart from two Thai nationals, thought to be aged 22 and 45. According to authorities, the youngest passenger was a three-year-old boy and the oldest was a 78-year-old. Investigators are examining bird strikes and weather conditions as possible factors behind the crash. Yonhap news agency cited airport authorities as saying a bird strike may have caused the landing gear to malfunction. The plane involved in the crash was a Boeing 737-800 flown by Korean budget airline Jeju Air. The runway at the airport is expected to be closed until 1 January. Jeju Air said it “sincerely” apologised - with top officials shown bowing deeply at a press conference in Seoul - and vowed to do all it could to help. South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, named interim leader of the country on Friday amid an ongoing political crisis, arrived at the scene of the accident and said the government was putting all its resources into dealing with the crash. A transport ministry official said workers had retrieved the flight data and cockpit voice recorders of the plane’s black box. They will be examined by government experts, but it could take up to a month to decode the flight data as it was damaged in the crash. The country declared a seven day national mourning period effective from Sunday, with memorial altars to be set up nationwide. Rebecca Ratcliffe is the Guardian’s south-east Asia correspondent Thai media outlet Khaosod has spoken to Thiraphat Cha-ue, the uncle of Sirithon Cha-ue, 22, who is one of two Thai women killed in the crash. Sirithon, known by the nickname Mei, had been travelling to visit her mother, Suthinee, who has lived in South Korea for 10 years, Thiraphat said. Sirithon’s mother had been waiting to collect her at the airport. When Thiraphat saw the news on social media, he was too afraid to call her, he said. Thiraphat described Sirithon as the pride of the family. She had won a scholarship to study airline business management at Bangkok University and was in the fourth year of her course, he said. She dreamed of being an air hostess. “There were only three months left before she graduated,” he said, adding the family, from Chiang Rai province in northern Thailand, had been discussing going to her upcoming graduation ceremony in Bangkok. Tomorrow he would travel with Sirithon’s two younger brothers to South Korea, he said, to bring back her remains. Thailand’s ministry of foreign affairs said in a statement that South Korean authorities had confirmed two Thai passengers were among the fatalities. In the statement, the ministry said: The ministry of foreign affairs has already contacted the relatives of the deceased Thai nationals, while the Royal Thai Embassy has coordinated with the South Korean authorities and Jeju Airlines who are now facilitating the relatives’ travel from Thailand to South Korea. The ministry of foreign affairs would like to express its deepest condolences to all of the families of the deceased for their immense loss, particularly during this holiday season when families are traveling to reunite with loved ones. Among the 177 bodies so far found, officials have so far identified 88 of them, the fire agency said. The passengers were predominantly South Korean, as well as two Thai nationals. Many of the passengers were reportedly returning from a Christmas spent in Thailand. Raphael Rashid is reporting for the Guardian from Seoul South Korea’s suspended president, Yoon Suk Yeol, whose impeachment trial is pending following his failed martial law declaration earlier this month, wrote on Facebook a message expressing “deep condolences to those who lost their precious lives and to the bereaved families who lost their loved ones”. “I am devastated and heartbroken,” Yoon said. “I believe the government will do its best to manage the accident and support the victims. I will stand with the people to overcome this difficult situation as soon as possible.” Japanese prime minister Shigeru Ishiba has said he was “deeply saddened by the loss of many precious lives” in a message released through Tokyo’s foreign ministry. It follows similar messages of condolences, including from China, the UK and Ukraine. One of the two survivors of a plane crash that killed 179 others Sunday has told doctors he had “already been rescued” when he awoke in hospital reports the Yonhap News Agency. The 33-year-old survivor, known as Lee was working as a flight attendant on the Jeju Air plane that crashed Sunday morning. Emergency services initially took Lee to a hospital in the nearby city of Mokpo, south of Seoul, but later transferred him to Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital in the capital city. “When I woke up, I had already been rescued,” he told doctors at the hospital, according to its director Ju Woong. “He’s fully able to communicate,” Ju said. “There’s no indication yet of memory loss or such.” Lee is currently in intensive care after doctors diagnosed him with multiple fractures and risk of paralysis. One of the two black boxes retrieved from the Jeju Air plane that crashed in South Korea on Sunday had sustained partial damage, reports the Yonhap news agency in South Korea. The damage will likely delay analysis to identify the cause of the accident, land ministry officials said. “Decoding the FDR alone could take about a month,” the official added. “If we have difficulty decoding it here, then we may have to send it to the NTSB,” the second official said. “They have cases from all over the world to analyze, so it could take quite a bit of time.” The UK foreign secretary, David Lammy, says he is “deeply saddened” by the fatal Jeju Air plane crash in South Korea. In a post on X, Lammy wrote: “My heartfelt condolences go out to the people of South Korea and Thailand, and all those that have lost loved ones.” The cousin of a Thai passenger, 49-year-old Jongluk Doungmanee, who flew on the fatal Jeju Air plane says she is “saddened” and “shocked”. Pornphichaya chalermsin, from Nong Wua So District, Udon Thani, told the BBC that her cousin Jongluk was residing in South Korea for five years with her two children, aged 7 and 15. She worked in agriculture with her Korean husband, whom she married three years ago. In an interview with BBC Thai, she said she had “only ever seen such news from other countries and never thought it would involve Thai people”, adding that “watching the video footage made me feel even more distressed. “I was shocked, I had goosebumps. I couldn’t believe it… when the news said one of the victims was from Udon Thani, I was even more surprised.” Before her flight on Jeju Air Flight 7C2216, Joungluk was in Thailand visiting her family and traveling in Chiang Mai with her husband. Her husband returned to South Korea before she departed. Jeju Air has declined to comment on the cause of the accident during news conferences, saying an investigation is under way. Under global aviation rules, South Korea will lead a civil investigation into the crash and automatically involve the National Transportation Safety Board in the US where the plane was designed and built. Here are some of the latest images being sent over to us from the newswires: 179 people have died and two people were rescued from the plane carrying 181 people that crashed at the Muan international airport this morning, the Yonhap news agency reported, citing rescue authorities. This means that officials have now confirmed that all of the plane’s 175 passengers were killed in the crash, along with four flight staff. “Of the 179 dead, 65 have been identified,” South Korea’s fire agency said. The two surviving crew members were rescued from the tail of the aircraft and had suffered “mid to severe” injuries, authorities said. It is the deadliest air crash to occur in South Korea, surpassing the 1993 Asiana Airlines crash in Mokpo that killed over 60 people. Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent his condolences to South Korea’s acting president Choi Sang-mok, regarding the deadly Jeju Air crash. Xi expressed shocked regarding the significant number of casualties and expressed deep mourning for the victims, condolences to the bereaved families, and wishes to the injured for a speedy recovery. South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, has declared a period of national mourning until 4 January over the plane crash at Muan international airport that killed at 1east 177 people. “We extend our deepest condolences and sympathy to the bereaved families of those who lost their lives in this unexpected tragedy,” he was quoted as saying. Flags at government offices will be lowered and civil servants will wear black ribbons, the BBC reports. The incident is the first major test for Choi, who assumed office on Friday after South Korea’s parliament voted to impeach the previous acting president, Han Duck-soo. At least 177 people were killed in South Korea’s worst domestic civil aviation disaster on Sunday after a plane – flying from Bangkok - crashed while landing at Muan international airport shortly after 09:00 local time (00:00 GMT). 181 people were on board the plane at the time of the crash - including six crew members. Two people, both crew members, were rescued from the wreckage and taken to hospital. They suffered “mid to severe” injuries, authorities said. Officials have suggested the rest on board are presumed dead. 84 women, 82 men and 11 others whose genders weren’t immediately identifiable died in the fire, the South Korean fire agency reported. Two people remained missing nine hours after the incident. According to authorities, the youngest passenger was a three-year-old boy and the oldest was a 78-year-old. Five of the people who were killed in the crash were children under the age of 10. A local fire official said the crash could have been caused by a bird strike and weather conditions, but the exact cause is not yet known. The plane involved in the crash was a Boeing 737-800 flown by Korean budget airline Jeju Air. A transport ministry official said workers had retrieved the flight data and cockpit voice recorders of the plane’s black box. They will be examined by government experts. The runway is expected to be closed until 1 January. Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae apologised for the accident, bowing deeply during a televised briefing. He said the aircraft had no record of accidents and there were no early signs of malfunction. Over 1,500 emergency personnel have been deployed to the site and a special disaster zone has been enforced. You can read more of the latest developments here. Raphael Rashid is reporting for the Guardian from Seoul Airport staff have revealed that an unusually large flock of birds was spotted over Muan International Airport’s runway on Sunday morning, hours before the crash. “Staff members all said they had never seen so many birds before. They suddenly flew in from outside the airport,” an anonymous airport official told OhmyNews, adding that such a concentration of birds was never seen before. The sighting raises questions about the adequacy of the airport’s bird control measures. While South Korean law requires airports to maintain year-round bird deterrent activities with dedicated personnel and equipment, it remains unclear what specific actions were taken in response to Sunday morning’s bird activity. The transport ministry has previously confirmed that air traffic controllers warned the Jeju Air flight about bird strike risks at 08:57, with the pilot declaring a mayday one minute later. Footage taken as the aircraft approached the airport appears to show unusual flames coming from its right engine. The Jeju Air flight 7C2216 from Bangkok had 175 passengers, including two Thai nationals, and six crew onboard. According to authorities, the youngest passenger was a three-year-old boy and the oldest was a 78-year-old. Five of the people who were killed in the crash were children under the age of 10, authorities said, citing the passenger manifest. Most of the passengers were in their 40s, 50s and 60s, South Korean Yonhap news agency reports. Here is a video of the moment the Boeing 737-800 skidded along the runway before hitting what appeared to be a concrete barrier and bursting into flames at South Korea’s Muan airport (this video may be distressing to some people): At least 177 people - 84 women, 82 men and 11 others whose genders weren’t immediately identifiable – died in the fire, the South Korean fire agency has said in its latest update. Emergency workers pulled two people, both crew members, to safety. Health officials said they are conscious and not in life-threatening condition. Germany’s chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has sent condolences to the families of those killed in the deadly plane crash. “We have received terrible news of a plane crash in South Korea with many fatalities. Our condolences go out to the families of those killed in the crash and we wish the injured a speedy recovery,” he wrote in a post on X. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said: On behalf of the Ukrainian people and myself, I extend heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, the people of Korea, and Acting President Choi Sang-mok. We share your sorrow and stand with the Korean people in this time of grief. The death toll from Sunday’s Jeju Air crash has climbed to 176, with three people still missing, South Korea’s fire agency has announced. Search teams will continue working through the night to locate the remaining three missing persons. Only two crew members are understood to have survived. According to the transport ministry, investigators have recovered both black boxes from the wreckage: the cockpit voice recorder at 11:30 and the flight data recorder at 14:24. Eight aircraft accident investigators and nine aviation safety inspectors are conducting initial investigations at the scene. More than 1,500 personnel have been mobilised for the rescue and recovery operation, including 490 firefighters, 455 police officers, and 340 military personnel. The airport’s runway will remain closed until 05:00 on 1 January 2025, though this timeframe may be adjusted. A temporary morgue has been set up at the airport, with authorities working with families to arrange transfers of identified victims to external facilities. Raphael Rashid is reporting for the Guardian from Seoul A bird strike has emerged as a possible factor in Sunday’s crash, after officials revealed that air traffic controllers warned the aircraft about bird strike risks minutes before the accident and one of the surviving crew members reportedly mentioned a bird strike after being rescued. While the exact cause remains under investigation, the incident has drawn attention to Muan International Airport’s history with such incidents, reports Yonhap News. The airport has recorded the highest rate of bird strikes among South Korea’s 14 regional airports, with 10 incidents reported between 2019 and August this year, according to data submitted to parliament by the Korea Airports Corporation. Though the absolute number is small, making it difficult to generalise into meaningful statistics, the strike rate of 0.09% of flights is significantly higher than other major airports like Gimpo (0.018%) and Jeju (0.013%). Aviation experts say bird strikes can be catastrophic. The risk is particularly high at Muan due to its location near fields and coastal areas. Nationwide bird strike incidents have been steadily increasing, from 108 in 2019 to 152 last year. Some suggest this rise could be linked to climate change, with migratory birds becoming permanent residents and shifts occurring in both the timing and species of birds appearing at airports. Airports employ various countermeasures including sound deterrents and monitoring systems, while some are now exploring AI and radar technology to track bird movements. All flights arriving at South Korea’s Muan international airport have been cancelled on Sunday, the Korea Airports Corporation said this morning. Hours after the crash (the plane was attempting to land shortly after 9am local time/00.00 GMT)), family members gathered in the airport’s arrival area. They could be heard screaming and crying as medics announced the names of 22 victims so far identified by their fingerprints, according to Reuters. Papers were circulated for families to write down their contact details. Two flight staff (one male and one female) were found alive and transported to hospital, the fire agency said. The rest of the 181 people aboard are presumed to have died, though this has not been officially confirmed yet. As we have mentioned in previous posts, fire authorities have reportedly said all but two of the 181 people aboard the Boeing 737-800 that veered off a runway and hit a wall at South Korea’s Muan international airport are presumed to have died. More than 1,500 emergency personnel have been deployed for the huge recovery effort, including 490 fire employees and 455 police officers, according to the BBC. Emergency rescue workers are trying to locate the remains of those who remain unaccounted for, while the bodies of those recovered so far are being housed in a temporary mortuary close to the crash site, the Korea JoongAng Daily newspaper is reporting. Authorities are searching nearby areas for bodies possibly thrown from the plane, Muan fire chief Lee Jung-hyun has told journalists in a media briefing. “Only the tail part retains a little bit of shape, and the rest of (the plane) looks almost impossible to recognise,” he said. As a reminder, no cause for the plane crash has been officially confirmed yet, but the fire service has suggested it could have been because of a collision with birds and poor weather conditions (see post at 07.00 for more details). Transport ministry officials have said their early assessment of communication records show the airport control tower issued a bird strike warning to the plane shortly before it intended to land and gave its pilot permission to land in a different area. The pilot sent out a distress signal shortly before the plane went past the runway and skidded across a buffer zone before hitting the wall, the officials said. Senior transport ministry official Joo Jong-wan said workers have retrieved the flight data recorder from the plane’s black box and are still looking for the cockpit voice recording device. He said government investigators arrived at the site to investigate the cause of the crash and fire. South Korea’s rival political parties have each launched separate initiatives to respond to the disaster, apparently shifting focus from their ongoing political animosity. The opposition Democratic party leader, Lee Jae-myung, has departed for Muan where he plans to remain indefinitely to support rescue efforts, reports Hankyoreh, though he plans to stay at the party’s provincial office rather than visit the crash site while recovery operations continue. The party has established an emergency response committee led by Joo Cheol-hyeon, who chairs their South Jeolla provincial chapter. Meanwhile, the ruling People Power party has formed a task force focused on investigating the crash and supporting victims’ families. The party’s acting leader, Kweon Seong-dong, announced he would visit Muan on Monday with task force members to “review accident response measures and prevention strategies” and meet with bereaved families. Both party initiatives come amid unprecedented political turmoil in South Korea. The country’s president was suspended earlier this month after declaring martial law, and his acting replacement was then impeached by the opposition-controlled parliament last week, leaving the finance minister as the current acting president. The rapid-fire impeachments reflect the bitter political battle between the ruling and opposition parties that has paralysed much of the country’s governance. A Jeju Air flight from Bangkok carrying 181 passengers and crew crashed shortly after 9am local time (00:00 GMT) while attempting a landing at Muan international airport in south-western South Korea on Sunday morning. All but two of the people onboard Flight 7C2216 are presumed dead, according to local fire authorities. Two survivors, both reportedly crew members, were pulled from the tail section and are receiving treatment for “moderate to severe” injuries at a nearby hospital. Rescue workers have retrieved 120 bodies; a further 59 are missing. Among the 175 passengers aboard the flight, 173 were Korean nationals and two were Thai nationals, officials have said. The Boeing 737-800 attempted a belly landing at about 9.03am local time after its landing gear reportedly failed to deploy. The aircraft was seen skidding along the runway before hitting the airport’s perimeter wall, breaking into two pieces at the front and tail sections and bursting into flames. The cause of the crash is yet to be confirmed, though a bird strike and weather conditions have been pointed to as possibilities. Local broadcaster MBC aired footage that appears to show a bird strike incident as the plane was descending, and one of the two survivors reportedly told rescue workers that the aircraft had experienced a bird strike. Witnesses reported hearing loud “bang” noises before the aircraft struck the wall. Officials have also said weather conditions may have played a role. Investigators have recovered the flight data recorder, while the cockpit voice recorder is still being sought. If the death toll is confirmed, it would be South Korea’s worst domestic civil aviation disaster and marks the first major casualty incident involving a low-cost carrier in the country’s history. South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, has arrived at the scene approximately 300km south-west of Seoul and has ordered “all available equipment and personnel to be mobilised” for the rescue operations at the airport. ‘“No words of consolation will be enough for the families who have suffered such a tragedy,” he said at the scene. Jeju Air chief executive, Kim E-bae, has issued official apology saying: “Above all, we express our deepest condolences and apologies to the families of the passengers who lost their lives in this accident. At present, the cause of the accident is difficult to determine, and we must await the official investigation results from the relevant government agencies. Regardless of the cause, as CEO, I feel profound responsibility for this incident.” A spokesperson for Boeing told the Guardian: “We are in contact with Jeju Air regarding flight 2216 and stand ready to support them. We extend our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones, and our thoughts remain with the passengers and crew.” Kerati Kijmanawat, president of Airports of Thailand, the country’s main airport operator, said in a statement he expressed deepest condolences for this incident. He said there were no reports of any abnormal conditions, either in relation to the aircraft and the runway, when the flight departed from Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. At that time, relevant agencies made no reports of bird strikes or obstacles on the runway, he said. "AOT places the highest importance on the safety of its aircraft and passengers by continuously inspecting the runway, lighting systems, bird repellent systems, and maintaining them, while complying with international safety standards,” said Kerati. Heartbreaking scenes unfolded at Muan International Airport as more than 100 family members gathered in a meeting room to receive updates about their loved ones, reports Yonhap News. When Lee Jeong-hyeon, the chief of Muan fire station, told families that most passengers were presumed dead, the room erupted in wails of grief. “Is there absolutely no chance of survival?” one family member asked, to which the fire chief could only bow his head and reply, “I’m so sorry, but that’s what it’s looking like”. Some families expressed anger at what they saw as delayed responses from authorities and the airline. They had pleaded to be allowed near the crash site since this morning, but were denied access due to the restricted nature of the airport zone. When the acting president, Choi Sang-mok, visited the airport, families reportedly surrounded him demanding real-time updates and pleading: “Please think of the families first”. Choi could only bow repeatedly while saying, “I understand”. Transport ministry officials have revealed a critical six-minute sequence before the crash, reports Yonhap News. At 08:57, air traffic controllers warned the approaching aircraft about bird strike risks. One minute later, at 08:58, the pilot declared a “mayday”. The plane attempted to land at 09:00 and crashed at 09:03. One of the two surviving crew members has reportedly corroborated initial theories about the cause, telling rescue workers immediately after being pulled from the wreckage that the aircraft had experienced a bird strike, according to fire officials. The transport ministry has confirmed that investigators have recovered the flight data recorder, while the cockpit voice recorder is still being sought. The National Police Agency has deployed 169 forensic investigators to help identify victims. Separately, 579 officers have been deployed to assist with search operations and escort emergency vehicles at the crash site. Witnesses who have spoken to Yonhap News have described seeing flames in the jet’s engine and hearing explosions before the crash. Yoo Jae-yong, 41, who was staying near to the airport, said he saw a spark on the plane’s right wing before the incident. “I was telling my family there was a problem with the plane when I heard a loud explosion,” Yoo said. One witness said he saw the plane descending and thought it was about to land when he noticed “a flash of light”. “Then there was a loud bang followed by smoke in the air, and then I heard a series of explosions,” he said. Another witness, Kim Yong-cheol, 70, said the plane failed to land in the first attempt and had circled back for another attempt. Kim said he heard the sound of “metallic scraping” twice about five minutes before the crash. He saw the plane rising after failing to make a landing, before he heard a “loud explosion” and saw “black smoke billowing into the sky.” Fire authorities have recovered 120 bodies from the Jeju Air crash site at Muan International Airport, with 59 people still missing, according to South Korea’s national fire agency. Officials say the death toll so far includes 54 men, 57 women, and nine victims whose gender could not be immediately determined. Rescue teams have divided the crash site into three zones as they continue to search for the remaining victims. However, fire officials told families at a briefing in the airport terminal that survival chances for the missing passengers are “virtually none” due to the severity of the crash and subsequent fire. Only two people have reportedly survived the crash after being rescued from the aircraft’s tail section. They were rushed to a nearby hospital with “moderate to severe” injuries. The aircraft, a Boeing 737-800 operating as flight 7C2216 from Bangkok, was attempting what officials described as a “belly landing” after experiencing landing gear problems. The plane struck airport perimeter structures and broke apart, with most of the fuselage being consumed by fire. According to local media reports, many of the passengers were families returning from Christmas package holidays in Thailand. The flight was carrying 175 passengers (173 South Koreans and two Thai nationals), along with six crew members. Ambassadors from around the world have offered messages of condolence. Philip Goldberg, the US ambassador to South Korea, said on social media: “I was heartbroken to hear about the tragedy at Muan Airport this morning. My sincerest condolences go out to the victims and their loved ones, and my thoughts are with the people of Korea during this difficult time.” German ambassador to South Korea Georg Schmidt also offered condolences, writing: “Very best wishes for the injured and all involved in the rescue efforts. Our thoughts and prayers are with South Korea.” British Ambassador to South Korea Colin Crooks wrote: “Deepest condolences to the families of those who perished in this morning’s dreadful air accident at Muan.” Acting president Choi Sang-mok has designated Muan as a special disaster zone, reports Yonhap News. This declaration triggers a range of emergency relief measures and special administrative, fiscal, and financial support from the government to assist regions and residents affected by large-scale natural or man-made disasters. South Korea’s national rail operator has announced a special train service to help families reach Muan, reports News1. A KTX bullet train will depart Seoul Station at 3pm local time and arrive at Mokpo. The railway company says bereaved families can use these services free of charge and additional trains will be arranged if needed. Mokpo station is the closest rail terminal to Muan International Airport. South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, arrived at Muan International Airport at 12:55 PM local time to oversee the response to the disaster. Choi said at the crash site: No words of consolation will be enough for the families who have suffered such a tragedy He promised full government support for bereaved families. Choi, who became acting president just days ago amid South Korea’s ongoing political crisis, activated the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters earlier in the day. His visit to the crash site marks the government’s highest-level response to what is becoming one of South Korea’s worst aviation disasters, and the worst to have occurred on South Korean soil. The aircraft involved in the crash was a Boeing 737-800, operated by Jeju Air. A spokesperson for Boeing told the Guardian: We are in contact with Jeju Air regarding flight 2216 and stand ready to support them. We extend our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones, and our thoughts remain with the passengers and crew. Jeju Air chief executive, Kim E-bae, has issued official apology (unofficial translation): First, we bow our heads in apology to everyone who has trusted Jeju Air. At approximately 9:03 AM on 29 December, flight 7C2216 from Bangkok to Muan caught fire while landing at Muan International Airport. Above all, we express our deepest condolences and apologies to the families of the passengers who lost their lives in this accident. At present, the cause of the accident is difficult to determine, and we must await the official investigation results from the relevant government agencies. Regardless of the cause, as CEO, I feel profound responsibility for this incident. Jeju Air will do everything possible to promtly manage this accident and support the families of those aboard. We will also do our utmost to determine the cause of the accident in cooperation with the government. Once again, we pray for those who lost their lives in this accident and offer our deepest apologies to their bereaved families. Thailand’s prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra has expressed her condolences to the families of the deceased and injured on social media platform, x. Shinawatra has asked the ministry of foreign affairs to investigate whether there were any Thai passengers on this plane and what the current situation is, according to the post. Earlier reports from Yonhap news agency indicated two passengers onboard the Jeju Air flight were Thai nationals. According to Newsis, the Jeju Air aircraft was carrying many holidaymakers returning from a five-day Christmas package tour to Bangkok. The Muan-Bangkok route has only been operating four times per week since 8 December, as part of a seasonal schedule set to run until 23 March next year. Authorities are working to confirm the identities of victims by cross-referencing the passenger manifest with seating positions on the aircraft. Fire officials have now shifted from rescue operations to recovery, saying the aircraft’s fuselage is damaged beyond recognition except for the tail section, reports News1. Some victims were reportedly ejected from the aircraft during impact. Jeju Air has updated the message on the landing page of its website: Jeju Air deeply bows in apology to all those affected by the Muan Airport accident. Our first priority is to do everything possible to manage this incident. We sincerely apologise for causing concern. Fire authorities say that among the 181 people aboard the Jeju Air flight from Bangkok, all but two are presumed dead after the aircraft crashed during an emergency landing at Muan International Airport in South Korea on Sunday morning, according to Yonhap News. Rescue teams continue to search the wreckage where more bodies remain inside the fuselage. Two survivors, one passenger and one crew member, were pulled from the tail section and are receiving treatment at a nearby hospital. The Boeing 737-800 attempted a belly landing at around 9:03am local time after its landing gear reportedly failed to deploy. Witnesses reported hearing loud “bang” noises before the aircraft struck the airport’s perimeter wall, breaking into two pieces and bursting into flames. Local broadcaster MBC aired footage that appears to show a bird strike incident as the plane was descending. An investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing. If the death toll is confirmed, this would be South Korea’s worst domestic civil aviation disaster and marks the first major casualty incident involving a low-cost carrier in the country’s history, reports the JoongAng Ilbo. Previous major accidents on Korean soil include the 1993 Asiana Airlines crash in Mokpo that killed 68 people, and a 2002 Air China crash near Gimhae Airport that killed 129 of 166 passengers. South Korea’s land, infrastructure and transport ministry has issued a statement on social media site, X, which said (unofficial translation): The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is dedicating all efforts to managing the Jeju Air flight 2216 incident. At approximately 09:03 on Sunday, 29 December, Jeju Air Flight 2216 (Bangkok-Muan) was involved in an accident during landing at Muan International Airport. The Ministry has activated its Central Accident Management Headquarters (09:30) and is concentrating all efforts on managing the aircraft accident at Muan Airport. The aircraft was carrying 175 passengers (including 2 Thai nationals) and 6 crew members. The exact number of casualties is currently being determined. Investigators from the Aviation Accident Investigation Committee arrived (10:10) and are currently investigating the cause. Safety operation directives have been issued to all airlines and airports. The Ministry’s Central Accident Management Headquarters remains operational and plans to respond with full organisational capacity to minimise loss of life. Transport Minister Park Sang-woo has urged all parties to do their utmost in rescue operations and accident management. Jeju Air has switched its website to a minimalist, black background layout in response to the crash. In its official notice, the airline confirmed flight 7C2216 from Bangkok to Muan was carrying 175 passengers and 6 crew members when it collided with structures at the end of the runway. The company says it has “activated company-wide emergency protocols” and established a dedicated team to support bereaved families. The website provides emergency contact numbers and states: “Jeju Air will do everything possible regarding this accident. We deeply apologise for causing concern”. A least 62 people have died after an airliner carrying 175 passengers and six crew veered off a runway and smashed into a wall at an airport in South Korea. Footage of the incident showed the Boeing 737-800 skid along the runway on Sunday morning before striking what appeared to be a concrete barrier at high speed and bursting into flames as parts of the fuselage flew into the air. The accident occurred at around 9am local time, shortly after the plane, Jeju Air flight 7C2216, landed at Muan international airport about 300km south-west of Seoul, at the end of a flight from Bangkok, the Yonhap news agency reported. Read more on this story from our reporters Justin McCurry and Raphael Rashid: Fire authorities have identified 62 deaths from the Muan airport crash, according to Yonhap news agency and News1, with officials warning the death toll could rise as bodies remain inside the aircraft’s fuselage. Two survivors, one passenger and one crew member, have reportedly been rescued and are receiving treatment at a nearby hospital. The crash occurred when the Jeju Air flight from Bangkok, carrying 181 passengers and crew, attempted an emergency landing at around 9:03 am local time after reporting problems with its landing gear. Rescue teams continue to search the wreckage. Fire authorities have identified 47 deaths from the Muan airport crash as of 11:40am local time, according to Newsis and Yonhap news agency, with officials warning the death toll could rise as bodies remain inside the aircraft’s fuselage. Two survivors, one passenger and one crew member, have reportedly been rescued and are receiving treatment at a nearby hospital. The crash occurred when the Jeju Air flight from Bangkok, carrying 181 passengers and crew, attempted an emergency landing at around 9:03 am local time after reporting problems with its landing gear. Rescue teams continue to search the wreckage. Further images from Muan airport show firefighters and rescue workers responding. The Muan-Bangkok route was part of the airport’s first international services in 17 years, launched just three weeks ago on 8 December. The expansion was part of a broader revival that would see the regional airport operate routes to 18 international destinations across nine countries this winter season, according to Yonhap News. According to Newsis, witnesses reported hearing loud “bang” sounds during the failed landing attempts, with the aircraft’s landing gear reportedly failing to deploy properly. The plane then veered off the runway and struck the airport’s perimeter wall, breaking into two pieces at the front and tail sections and bursting into flames. Emergency services have set up a temporary morgue at the site. Yonhap News reports that three people have been rescued so far, with the search underway for additional casualties, while News1 reports that among those rescued are one passenger and one crew member. Local authorities say they are coordinating with major hospitals in Gwangju to handle potential casualties. The crash presents the first major test for the acting president, Choi Sang-mok, who assumed office on Friday after South Korea’s parliament voted to impeach the previous acting president, Han Duck-soo. Han had been serving as interim leader following the impeachment of then president Yoon Suk Yeol earlier this month over his controversial martial law declaration. The short-lived declaration has roiled the country, with mass protests on Saturday calling for Yoon’s removal. Among the 175 passengers aboard the flight from Bangkok, officials say 173 were Korean nationals and two were Thai nationals. There were six crew members. The National Fire Agency sayst the initial fire was brought under control at 9.46am, 43 minutes after the first emergency call was received at 9.03am. Dozens are feared dead after a plane skidded off the runway while attempting a landing without landing gear at Muan international airport in South Korea on Sunday morning The exact casualty figures have not yet been tallied, though authorities are provisionally reporting that 28 people are believed to have died, according to news agency Newsis. Fire officials have warned that given the severe damage to the aircraft, the number of casualties could rise. Jeju Air flight 2216 from Bangkok to Muan was carrying 181 people – 175 passengers and six crew – when it came down, skidded along the runway and hit fencing and a wall around the perimeter before catching fire. Rescues are underway, with two people brought out of the wreckage so far. Emergency services are continuing their search operation. The Boeing 737-800 may have suffered a bird strike that caused the landing gear to fail, according news agency Yonhap. The flight had reportedly attempted one landing before being forced to “go-around” when the landing gear failed to lower normally. South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, has ordered “all available equipment and personnel to be mobilised” for the rescue operations at Muan international airport in the country’s south-west and is heading to the crash site, about 300km from the capital, Seoul. The pilot of Jeju Air flight 2216 from Bangkok appeared to be attempting a belly landing after the plane’s landing gear failed to deploy properly, Yonhap is reporting. During the emergency landing attempt, the plane was unable to reduce its speed sufficiently as it approached the end of the runway, according to officials at the scene. The aircraft then struck airport structures at the runway’s end, resulting in severe damage to the fuselage and triggering a fire. The Jeju Air flight had reportedly attempted one landing before being forced to “go-around” when the landing gear failed to lower normally. A go-around is a standard aviation manoeuvre where pilots abort a landing attempt and circle around for another try. A bird strike is suspected to have caused the landing gear malfunction, though this remains under investigation. The plane came down at Muan international airport, in south-western South Korea: Some images are now coming in from the site at Muan international airport, where a Boeing 737 has crashed on landing. The acting president, Choi Sang-mok, arrived at the Central Disaster Management Headquarters in Seoul at 9.50am and ordered all available equipment and personnel to be mobilised for rescue operations, reports Yonhap. Choi, who is also finance minister and deputy prime minister, emphasised the need to ensure the safety of firefighters during rescue operations. After issuing the orders, Choi departed for the crash site at the airport in south-west of the country, approximately 300km from the capital, Seoul. Local fire authorities say they have brought the initial fire under control, and rescue operations are focusing on passengers in the tail section of the aircraft. Emergency services were dispatched to the scene after the Jeju Air flight 2216 from Bangkok crashed at 9.03am. Fire officials warned that given the severe damage to the aircraft, the number of casualties could rise. South Korean news agency Yonhap is reporting that a bird strike may have affected the plane’s landing gear. Footage circulating online appears to show a Jeju Air plane attempting to land without its landing gear down. The footage has not yet been verified. Rescue authorities are now evacuating passengers from the rear section of the jet, Yonhap said, citing the fire department. A photo showed the tail section of the jet engulfed in flames on what appeared to be the side of the runway, with firefighters and emergency vehicles nearby. The acting president, Choi Sang-mok, has ordered “all available equipment and personnel to be mobilised” for rescue operations at Muan international airport. South Korean news agency News1 reports that approximately 28 people are feared dead in the crash, according to fire authorities. Two people have been rescued, with emergency services continuing their search operations. The aircraft, a Boeing 737-800, was carrying 175 passengers and six crew members when it struck a perimeter wall during landing, breaking apart and catching fire. Fire services have issued their highest level-3 emergency response. Casualties are being reported after an aircraft carrying 175 passengers and six flight attendants veered off the runway and crashed into a fence in South Korea, the Yonhap news agency reported on Sunday. The agency said 23 casualties had been reported so far and that rescues were under way from Jeju Air flight 2216 from Bangkok. Large plumes of smoke could be seen rising into the sky in early unverified images emerging on social media. Emergency services received the call at Muan international airport in South Jeolla province at around 9am. We will bring you more news as it emerges.

The Guardian;US sends investigators to help establish cause of South Korea plane crash;https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/29/south-korea-plane-crash-us-investigation;2024-12-29T21:03:00Z

The US is sending air accident investigators to South Korea to help determine what went wrong with the Jeju Air plane that crash-landed at Muan airport and skidded into a barrier early on Sunday, killing 179. The team of investigators includes the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Boeing, which manufactured the 17-year-old aircraft. “The NTSB is leading a team of U.S. investigators (NTSB, Boeing and FAA) to assist the Republic of Korea’s Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB) with their investigation of the Dec. 29 Jeju Air accident at Muan International Airport in Muan, Republic of Korea,” the NTSB Newsroom account posted on X. The Boeing 737-800, operated by the discount airline Jeju Air, had departed from Bangkok, Thailand and arrived in Muan, South Korea, at approximately 9am local time. Air safety experts have questioned why the plane had not been able to lower its undercarriage after being hit by an apparent bird strike despite having multiple redundancy systems onboard. As of Sunday evening, local time, 179 of 181 people onboard the plane were confirmed dead. The two survivors were both crew members who were rescued from the back of the plane during the initial search, according to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency. In a briefing on Sunday, South Korea’s ministry of land, infrastructure and transport reported that the control tower had warned of birds in the area just before the plane landed, Yonhap reported. The pilot then sent out a “mayday” signal and made one attempt to land. On the second attempt, the plane landed on its belly, and skidded before hitting a barrier and and going up in flames. “It is presumed to have been a bird strike. Smoke came out of one of the engines and then it exploded,” a surviving crew member said in a witness report, Yonhap reported. Joe Biden issued a statement while on vacation in St Croix in the Virgin Islands. “Jill and I are deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life that occurred as a result of the Jeju Airlines accident in Muan, Republic of Korea,” the US president said. “As close allies, the American people share deep bonds of friendship with the South Korean people and our thoughts and prayers are with those impacted by this tragedy. The United States stands ready to provide any necessary assistance.” Jeju Air flight 2216 had 181 people onboard, including 175 passengers, four flight attendants and two pilots.

The Guardian;Israel orders remaining residents of Beit Hanoun to leave;https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/29/israel-orders-remaining-residents-of-beit-hanoun-to-leave;2024-12-29T19:01:37Z

Israel has issued new evacuation orders for all remaining civilians to leave Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza as part of a blistering three-month-old campaign that Israel denies is aimed at depopulating a third of the Palestinian territory, amid reports Israeli attacks have damaged two more struggling hospitals in Gaza City. The Israeli army forcibly evacuated Kamal Adwan hospital in Beit Lahia on Friday, leaving the northern third of the strip, which is cut off from the rest of Gaza, with just one small functioning medical centre, al-Awda, in nearby Jabalia. On Sunday, everyone remaining in Beit Lahia was ordered to leave after Palestinian militants launched five rockets from the area that targeted Israeli territory. Some patients were taken to the nearby Indonesian hospital, which is without water or electricity and is not in service. Medics were prevented by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from joining them there, the local health ministry said. The World Health Organization said it would send an emergency mission to the Indonesian hospital on Sunday “to safely move patients to southern Gaza for continued care”. Israel’s military said Kamal Adwan was being used as a base for Hamas operations, and that it would not allow services to resume there. The Palestinian militant group denies using medical infrastructure as cover for its activities. The IDF said it interrogated 950 people during the Friday raid on the hospital and claimed that 240 were found to be militants. Thirteen had pretended to be patients and attempted to flee on stretchers or in ambulances, it added. Most of the medical staff detained have since been released but the hospital’s director, Hussam Abu Safiya, was still unaccounted for. Nurses and doctors told local media they had been beaten, stripped and then forced to walk towards southern Gaza, reports that were corroborated by the WHO. Sunday’s evacuation order for Beit Hanoun triggered a new wave of displacement for the relative safety of areas below the Israeli-enforced Netzarim corridor, which has cut off Gaza City and satellite towns to the north from the rest of the strip. The WHO estimates that 75,000 people remain in Beit Lahia, Beit Hanoun and Jabalia; approximately 325,000 people have fled since Israel began a new offensive and tightened sieges on the area in early October, cutting off almost all aid. The Palestinian Civil Emergency Service said it had lost communication with people still trapped in Beit Lahia and it was unable to send teams into the area because of Israeli forces on the ground. Later on Sunday, an Israeli airstrike killed seven people in a house in the town, said a relative, Said al-Zaaneen. There was no immediate Israeli comment. Israel denies carrying out a deliberate “surrender or starve” campaign, saying the new offensive is necessary to stop Hamas fighters regrouping, although Israeli media reports suggest that the government aims to annex the area as a military buffer zone. Palestinian health officials said Israeli military strikes across the territory killed at least 23 people on Sunday, including a direct hit on Gaza City’s al-Wafa hospital that killed seven. The Israeli military said the strike was aimed at members of Hamas’s aerial defence unit, which it said operated from the compound. The top floor of a building at al-Ahli, another hospital in Gaza City, was destroyed by Israeli tank fire on Sunday, residents said. There were no reported injuries. In Deir al-Balah, a central town, a fourth infant died of hypothermia, as almost all of the strip’s population of 2.3 million struggles to survive in squalid makeshift accommodation and tents amid the onset of freezing and wet winter weather. Twenty-day-old Jomaa al-Batran was found with his head as “cold as ice” when his parents woke up on Sunday, his father, Yehia, told the Associated Press. The baby’s twin brother, Ali, was moved to the intensive care unit of Deir al-Balah’s al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital, which like the rest of Gaza’s medical infrastructure is suffering from a lack of medicine and supplies and overwhelmed by people in need of care. Israel’s 15-month-old war on Gaza has killed at least 45,300 people and caused a devastating humanitarian crisis, amid accusations from the international court of justice and aid organisations that Israel has deliberately strangled food and aid supplies to the Palestinian territory. Israel says humanitarian agencies are to blame for slow deliveries, and that Hamas is siphoning off aid. About 1,200 people were killed and 250 taken captive in Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack on Israel that triggered the conflict. An estimated 100 hostages remain in Gaza, a third of whom are believed to be dead. A new Israeli government report expected to be delivered next week to the UN special rapporteur on torture has compiled grim testimonies from freed hostages, including of physical, sexual and psychological abuse of adults and minors. On Sunday, Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, had his prostate removed in a routine operation after a urinary tract infection stemming from the benign enlargement of the prostrate. The procedure raises fresh questions about the 75-year-old premier’s health: he was taken to hospital in July 2023 for an emergency operation to fit a pacemaker, at which time it emerged he had a chronic heart condition that had not been disclosed to the public. He underwent hernia surgery earlier this year. The justice minister, Yariv Levin, a close Netanyahu ally, is serving as acting prime minister while Netanyahu is incapacitated. The premier’s hospital visit comes as Israel faces fronts in the Palestinian territories, Lebanon and Syria, and a new escalation with the Iran-allied Houthi movement in Yemen. Netanyahu is also facing a personal battle in the form of an ongoing corruption trial.

The Guardian;Manmohan Singh obituary;https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/29/manmohan-singh-obituary;2024-12-29T16:37:51Z

The distinguished economist Manmohan Singh, who has died aged 92, was one of India’s longest serving prime ministers (and the first Sikh to hold the office), yet he never won a direct parliamentary election. After nearly two decades as an economic bureaucrat, Singh was often seen as more of a civil servant than a politician. Unlike India’s more charismatic leaders, he humbly admitted to being a poor public speaker. Yet, as India’s finance minister (1991-96) this unlikely politician played a crucial role in the economic reforms that led to the rapid growth of India’s GDP. Then, as prime minister from 2004, he forged a new relationship with the US, ended India’s nuclear isolation and passed groundbreaking social legislation. In all this, he was bolstered by his reputation for absolute honesty, a considerable asset in the world of Indian politics. The son of Amrit Kaur and Murmuk Singh, and one of 10 children, he was born in the village of Gah, in the North West Province of what is now Pakistan. His father dealt in dried fruit imported from Afghanistan. At partition, the family made the perilous journey through the Muslim-dominated West Punjab to the Sikh holy city of Amritsar. Singh graduated from Punjab University and went on to study in the UK, at St John’s College, Cambridge, where he received a first in economics – the only student to achieve this distinction in his final year. Later he would return to Britain for a DPhil at Nuffield College, Oxford. At Cambridge, he was influenced by two renowned economists and socialists, Joan Robinson and Nicholas Kaldor. Both held Singh in high regard. Robinson, his supervisor, described him as “very quiet and gentle in manner ... [with] a determined resistance to bunkum of all kinds”. Kaldor, similarly impressed, recommended Singh to India’s finance minister for a position. Singh had other ideas: becoming first an academic before working for the UN. Eventually he ended up in India’s finance ministry. During his civil service career, including a tenure as governor of the Reserve Bank of India (1982-85), Singh implemented the Congress party’s leftwing economic policies. While civil servants are expected to remain impartial, Singh agreed with some government decisions, later telling his daughter Daman, a journalist and author, that nationalising India’s banks was “a good idea at the time”. Yet his own thinking – articulated decades earlier in his Oxford thesis – was essentially liberal, emphasising the importance of foreign trade and greater openness to the world economy for India’s development. Such an analysis became a virtue in 1991 when the then prime minister, Narasimha Rao, in the midst of an economic crisis, decided to accept IMF conditions for a massive loan in order to prevent India defaulting on its payments. The conditions included the end of India’s infamous web of bureaucratic controls and an across-the-board reduction of import tariffs as well as severe cuts in welfare spending and subsidies. Rao appointed the apolitical Singh as finance minister, thinking no politician would risk his future by implementing the unpopular IMF conditions. The reforms that followed were one reason for the defeat of the Congress party in 1996. While Congress was out of power, Singh was leader of the opposition in the upper house of parliament. In the 2004 election Congress, under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi, widow of the assassinated prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, won enough seats to form a coalition government and she, instead of taking the role herself, nominated Singh to be prime minister. It was clear that ultimate power rested with Gandhi. However, Singh did defy her when he insisted on ratifying an agreement with the US intended to end the international ban on selling civilian nuclear equipment and technology to India. Gandhi feared opposition to the agreement would split the coalition and the government would fall. But Singh pressed ahead, pushing it through parliament by a narrow majority. His reputation for honesty was a factor in Congress’s improved performance in the 2009 general election. However, during his second term, corruption in the preparations for hosting the 2010 Commonwealth Games and in the allocation of licences to run mobile phone networks (the “2G spectrum scam”) led to questions about whether Singh was tolerating dishonesty in his government. Throughout his two terms in office, Singh’s position was weakened by his dependence on the support of smaller parties in the coalition. As prime minister he made his disapproval of the plan to allocate the phone network licences clear, but the telecommunications minister was allowed to go ahead because his party threatened to pull out of the coalition. Pressure from coalition parties delayed economic reforms that Singh favoured, which would have introduced more foreign competition in banking, insurance, retail, and other businesses. He had to go slower than he wanted on privatising nationalised industries. He also had reservations about Gandhi’s pro-poor policies, which she insisted were necessary to combat the impression that the economic reforms only benefited the prosperous. In particular, he was concerned about the cost and effectiveness of a scheme guaranteeing employment to the jobless in rural India. But he did not oppose it. His former press adviser wrote of the Gandhi-Singh diarchy that “while power was delegated, authority was not”. For 20 years as a bureaucrat and more than 30 years as a politician, Singh played a vital role in India’s economic history. As a bureaucrat he was never an out-and-out socialist; as a politician he did not fall head over heels for the market. His partnership with Gandhi, and it was more of a partnership than was generally realised, kept two fractious coalition governments in power, governments that passed important social and economic legislation. But Singh did not acquire his own power base and remained a Congress party loyalist. Although he announced he would not remain India’s PM after the 2014 election, in opposition he continued to serve as a member of the upper house of the Indian parliament until April this year. Indian politics is a rough trade, and Singh was known more as a thinker than a brawler. The last decade, however, was marked by acrimonious exchanges between Singh and his successor Narendra Modi. Modi, a Hindu nationalist strongman, questioned his predecessor’s honesty in a “corrupt government” and even claimed that he had “colluded” with India’s arch-rival Pakistan. Both allegations were met by blistering denials. In return Singh was critical of his successor’s economic policies, describing Modi’s 2016 overnight decision to render worthless 86% of Indian banknotes “a case of organised loot, legalised plunder of the common people”. He also attacked Modi’s silence in 2018 when one of his party’s elected representatives was accused of raping a teenager. Singh, who came from a religious minority, was aware of the need for mutual respect in India and was appalled by Modi’s rhetoric. During this year’s Indian elections, Singh said of Modi that “no [Indian] prime minister in the past has uttered such hateful, unparliamentary and coarse terms, meant to target either a specific section of the society or the opposition”. Singh was a transformative figure in Indian history. Not only was he the architect of India’s economic reforms, but in 2009 he became the first sitting prime minister in almost half a century to have completed a full term and seen his party re-elected with a bigger majority. He is survived by his wife, Gursharan Kaur, whom he married in 1958, and their daughters, Upinder, Daman and Amrit. • Manmohan Singh, economist and politician, born 26 September 1932; died 26 December 2024

The Guardian;Cause of South Korea plane crash unclear as officials focus on bird strikes;https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/29/cause-of-south-korea-plane-crash-unclear-bird-strikes-landing-gear;2024-12-29T16:37:04Z

No one knows for certain what caused Jeju Air flight 2216 to crash, killing all but two of its 181 passengers and crew. As darkness fell at Muan international airport in South Korea and officials fielded questions from distraught relatives of the dead, the most likely explanation was that the plane had been struck by one or more birds, triggering a sequence of events that prevented the pilot from deploying the landing gear. Aviation officials focused on bird strikes – and, to a lesser extent, the weather – as the most probable cause, even as some experts said the relatively common phenomenon would not have been enough to cause a catastrophic failure of the landing gear. It has been reported that the control tower at Muan issued a bird strike warning shortly before the pilot made a mayday call. “Staff members all said they had never seen so many birds before. They suddenly flew in from outside the airport,” an anonymous airport official told the South Korean news site OhmyNews. More will be known once officials have inspected flight data retrieved from the debris of the Boeing 737-800, but aviation experts said a bird strike alone probably would not have carried the impact needed to disable the landing gear. “A bird strike is not unusual, problems with an undercarriage are not unusual,” said Geoffrey Thomas, the editor of Airline News. “Bird strikes happen far more often, but typically they don’t cause the loss of an airplane by themselves.” Other experts echoed Thomas’s scepticism. “I’ve never seen a bird strike prevent the landing gear from being extended,” said Geoffrey Dell, an Australian airline safety expert. Trevor Jensen, an Australian aviation consultant, said fire and emergency services would normally be ready for a belly landing, “so this appears to be unplanned”. Marco Chan, a senior lecturer in aviation operations at Buckinghamshire New University in England, said: “Bird strikes are a significant risk to aircraft, and the danger depends on factors like the bird’s size, the aircraft’s speed, the location of the strike and the engine design.” Birds weighing up to 1kg “rarely cause catastrophic failures but can damage engine blades or other critical parts”, Chan said, adding that the Boeing 737-800, equipped with CFM56-7B26 engines manufactured by CFM International, was designed to handle many bird strike scenarios. Birds weighing more than 3kg, such as geese or swans, posed the highest risk, especially if ingested into an engine, he said. “Even smaller birds can cause significant problems at high speeds, particularly if they strike multiple systems. While engines and airframes undergo extensive testing to manage these risks, rare and extreme scenarios remain a challenge in aviation safety.” Dell said that if a flock of birds had been sucked into the engines, that would not have shut the engines down immediately, giving the pilots time to react. Footage of Sunday’s crash shows the plane travelling at speed when it made contact with the tarmac. It did not appear to slow down as it careered along the runway and across a buffer zone directly in front of the perimeter wall. In a typical belly landing, Thomas said, “you are going to land on your engines and you’re going to have a bumpy ride. You come in with minimum fuel, you have fire tenders in attendance, covering the runway with foam, and you land at the furthest end of the runway and usually it ends up being an OK situation.” Bird strikes typically occur during landing and takeoff and are one of the most common threats to aircraft. A recent study by the US Federal Aviation Administration and the US Department of Agriculture found that 296,613 “wildlife strikes” were reported worldwide between 1990 and 2023, 98.3% of them in the US and mostly birds. The study found that the number of incidents had risen almost every year. Over the 33-year period, 83 bird strikes had resulted in the destruction of an aircraft, the report said. About 70% of the incidents occurred at or below 500ft above ground level, while those occurring above 500ft were more likely to cause damage. The location of Muan international airport, where Sunday’s crash occurred, could turn out to be significant. It sits near three major bird sanctuaries that serve as wintering grounds for migratory birds. A survey this month by South Korea’s National Institute of Ecology recorded nearly 19,000 migratory birds in these sanctuaries. The airport has recorded the highest rate of bird strikes among South Korea’s 14 regional airports, with 10 incidents reported between 2019 and August this year, according to data submitted to parliament by the Korea Airports Corporation. A 2020 environmental impact assessment for the airport’s planned runway expansion specifically warned of the risks, noting that “the outer airport area has wide farmland and tidal flats” and that the nearby area was “particularly rich in bird food sources and rest areas”. Transport ministry regulations require airports with one runway to maintain four dedicated bird control staff, or two staff for airports with fewer than 5,000 flights annually, like Muan. Nationwide, bird strike incidents have been increasing, from 108 in 2019 to 152 last year. Some suggest the rise could be linked to climate change, with migratory birds becoming permanent residents and shifts occurring in the timing and species of birds appearing at airports. Airports employ various countermeasures including sound deterrents and monitoring systems, and some exploring the use of AI and radar technology to track bird movements.

The Guardian;Letter: the Rev Donald Reeves obituary;https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/29/letter-the-rev-donald-reeves-obituary;2024-12-29T16:00:18Z

While he was vicar of St Peter’s, St Helier, Morden, in south London, the Rev Donald Reeves collaborated with Ripon Hall theological college in Oxford in establishing the Urban Ministry Project (UMP). This sought to reinvigorate the Church of England’s understanding of “left behind” places and to encourage clergy working in the inner city and outer estates in their commitment. Students on UMP certainly found “the Plunge” – 48 hours in London with only 15 shillings – tested their personal resourcefulness.

The Guardian;Italian journalist’s arrest in Iran alleged to be reprisal for detention of suspected arms dealer;https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/29/italian-journalists-arrest-in-iran-alleged-to-be-reprisal-for-detention-of-suspected-arms-dealer;2024-12-29T14:10:48Z

The arrest of a renowned Italian journalist in Iran is reportedly in retaliation for the detention of a Swiss-Iranian businessman and suspected arms dealer in Italy three days earlier, according to media reports quoting the US state department. Cecilia Sala, 29, a war correspondent and reporter who works for the Italian newspaper Il Foglio and the podcast company Chora Media, was detained on 19 December while reporting in the Iranian capital, Tehran, and held in solitary confinement for a week. She was in the country on a regular journalist visa and had published several reports on the shifting landscape in Iran after the fall of the Assad regime in Syria. Italy’s government said it was working to try to bring her back to Italy. The foreign ministry said Sala had been allowed to make two phone calls to her relatives. The Italian ambassador, Paola Amadei, visited Sala in prison on Friday, and Antonio Tajani, Italy’s foreign minister, said the journalist was “in good health condition”. On Sunday, in an interview with la Repubblica, a US state department spokesperson said her detention was allegedly a reprisal for the 16 December arrest at a Milan airport on a US warrant of a Swiss-Iranian businessman and alleged arms trafficker with ties to the Iranian regime. “Unfortunately, the Iranian regime continues to unjustly detain citizens of many other countries, often using them as political leverage,’’ said the US spokesperson. “There is no justification for this, and they should be released immediately. Journalists do crucial work in informing the public, often under dangerous conditions, and must be protected.’’ “We are aware of the arrest in Iran of the Italian journalist Cecilia Sala,” the US state department added. “Her arrest comes after an Iranian citizen was arrested in Italy on 16 December for smuggling drone components. We once again call for the immediate and unconditional release of all arbitrarily detained prisoners in Iran without just cause.” Three days before the arrest of Sala in Tehran, Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi, a 38-year-old Swiss-Iranian businessman, was arrested at Milan’s Malpensa airport on a US warrant over charges of the illegal sanction-busting export of electronic devices that could be used in drones. The man is accused of criminal association with the purpose of terrorism and is being detained in a prison in Milan. Najafabadis’ lawyer, Alfredo De Francesco, told Italy’s state agency Ansa that his client rejected all charges against him. “From the analysis of the documents in my possession, although the charges brought are formally serious, in reality the position of my client appears to be much less serious than it may seem,’’ De Francesco said. “He rejects the charges and is unable to understand the reasons for the arrest.” Najafabadi, wanted by the US for violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and providing material support to a foreign terrorist organisation, is accused of trafficking drones, some of which were reportedly used during a deadly attack in Jordan. His arrest has led to a diplomatic spat, with Tehran summoning ambassadors from Switzerland and Italy. Questioned about Najafabadi’s arrest, Tajani said: “There is a Swiss-Iranian prisoner who was arrested in Malpensa before Cecilia Sala in Tehran because there was an international arrest warrant issued by the US.’’ “The prisoner, since he has not yet been convicted, is being treated with all the rules of guarantee that we must provide,’’ Tajani added. “He received a consular visit, his lawyer had the opportunity to learn the charges, but they are charges that come from an international arrest warrant, it is not an Italian choice, Italy is not competent for the criminal proceedings of this Iranian. Then we will see about extradition. For the moment he is being held in prison with all the guarantees that are owed to a non-Italian prisoner.” Sala has nearly half a million followers on Instagram and is a regular guest on Italian talkshows. She has covered among other topics the fall of Kabul and the return of the Taliban in Afghanistan, the crisis in Venezuela, the war in Ukraine and the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, is closely following the case and all efforts are being made to bring Sala home, her office at Palazzo Chigi said. The European Commission’s foreign policy spokesperson, Anouar El Anouni, has confirmed close monitoring of the Italian journalist’s “sensitive” situation. Iran has not acknowledged detaining Sala and her charges remain unknown.

The Guardian;Georgia’s pro-west president says she remains ‘only legitimate president’ as new leader sworn in;https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/29/georgia-president-sworn-in-protests-zourabichvili-kavelashvili;2024-12-29T12:52:22Z

Georgia’s pro-western president, Salome Zourabichvili, has said she will leave the palace but remain the country’s legitimate officeholder, after refusing to hand over the keys to her successor in the wake of a controversial general election. Zourabichvili spoke as thousands of protesters gathered in the capital, Tblisi, to demonstrate against the inauguration of Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former football player turned far-right politician backed by the ruling pro-Moscow and increasingly authoritarian Georgian Dream (GD) party, who was sworn in as president at a parliamentary ceremony. The inauguration of Kavelashvili – which for the first time in Georgia’s history was held behind closed doors in the plenary chamber inside parliament – is likely to further escalate a months-long political crisis during which there have been large pro-European Union demonstrations. At least 2,000 pro-EU protesters had gathered outside parliament before the disputed presidential inauguration. Addressing the protesters moments before the inauguration, Zourabichvili, who has become a rallying figure for those opposed to GD, declared: “I remain the only legitimate president. I will leave the presidential palace and stand with you, carrying with me the legitimacy, the flag and your trust.” After taking the presidential oath in parliament, Kavelashvili said: “Our history clearly shows that, after countless struggles to defend our homeland and traditions, peace has always been one of the main goals and values for the Georgian people.” The GD party has presented itself as the sole guarantor of stability in the country, accusing the west of trying to drag Tbilisi into the Ukraine conflict. Kavelashvili, known for his far-right views and derogatory comments against LGBTQ+ people, went on to praise “our traditions, values, national identity, the sanctity of the family, and faith”. The standoff between Zourabichvili and GD had plunged the country into a political crisis following the contested election in October that GD had won but many Georgians believe was rigged with Russia’s help. Zourabichvili and protesters have declared Kavelashvili “illegitimate”, demanding a rerun of the October general elections. As Zourabichvili vacated the 19th-century Orbeliani presidential palace and addressed protesters nearby, as a symbolic gesture she wore the same white-and-red attire – the colours of the Georgian flag – that she wore during her inauguration six years ago. She reiterated that rerunning the “illegitimate” election would be the “formula to resolve such a crisis”. Following her address outside the presidential palace, thousands of protesters moved toward parliament, with some holding up red cards in a clear nod to Kavelashvili’s football career. They dispersed shortly afterward, vowing to stage another protest later in the evening. Giorgi Mamatelashvili, a 34-year-old protester, told Agence France-Presse he initially expected Zourabichvili to remain in the palace, but it would have led to a too “dramatic standoff”. But “she still remains our president”, he said. Zourabichvili, whose role as president is ceremonial but has made her a symbolic leader of the opposition, has emerged as the most popular politician and a last hope for protesters who accuse Georgian Dream of steering Tbilisi away from the west and toward Moscow. “We trust her, we follow her, and for now, she’s our guide,” 42-year-old Shorena Aleksaia, who attended the demonstration, told AFP. “I’m sure she wants only the best for Georgia, and we have faith in her.” Georgia has been in political turmoil since October’s disputed parliamentary elections and the government’s decision to shelve EU membership talks. Thousands of Georgians have taken to the streets daily for a month, accusing the increasingly repressive government of derailing Tbilisi’s EU ambitions. Many protesters said they intended to keep demonstrating as tension escalated in the small nation nestled in the Caucasus mountains that has a turbulent history of swinging between democratic aspirations and periods of harsh repression. “We will keep fighting. We will keep protesting,” said David, a 22-year-old programmer who stood outside the presidential palace earlier Sunday. “It’s too late for backing down.” Opposition parties have refused to enter parliament since the October elections, and Zourabichvili has declared the newly elected legislature, the government and president-elect “illegitimate”. Weighing in on the crisis, US Republican congressman Joe Wilson has said that Zourabichvili is invited to attend Donald Trump’s inauguration next month “as the only legitimate leader in Georgia”. He announced a bill “which will prohibit US recognition of the illegal dictatorial regime in Georgia and recognise Zourabichvili as the only legitimate leader in Georgia”. But the prime minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, of the GD party, has ruled out calling fresh elections. He had had said that Zourabichvili would face legal consequences if she chose to stay in office. In the first 10 days of protests after the contested vote, riot police used teargas and water cannon to disperse demonstrators, some of whom threw fireworks and stones. More than 400 people have been arrested during the protests, many saying they have been beaten. The reported police brutality has drawn international condemnation, with Washington and several European countries imposing visa bans on GD officials. Agence France-Presse contributed to this report • This article was amended on 30 December 2024 because an earlier version referred to Zourabichvili wearing white and black attire whereas she wore white and red.

The Guardian;Three people die and 48 rescued near Calais attempting to cross Channel;https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/29/people-die-near-calais-attempting-to-cross-channel;2024-12-29T12:52:11Z

Three people have died after falling from an overcrowded small boat trying to cross from France to the UK, as 2024 became the deadliest year on record for perilous sea crossings. The boat ran into trouble at about 6am on Sunday near Blériot-Plage, a public beach in Sangatte close to the French Channel port of Calais, emergency services said. Several people fell into the water trying to board the overcrowded vessel. The Calais prefect’s office and French maritime authorities said 48 people were rescued and 45 needed urgent medical help – the majority for hypothermia, four of whom were urgently transferred to hospital. A rescue mission, by sea and helicopter, was launched from the French coast as soon as the boat was seen in difficulty. A French naval helicopter recovered the three people from the water who were pronounced dead by medical services. An investigation has been opened by the Boulogne-sur-Mer prosecutor’s office. Operations continued along the French coast on Sunday morning to identify any other small boats in danger. Attempted boardings of other small boats and dinghies were spotted at several locations. The mayor of Sangatte, Guy Allemand, told AFP: “It never stops. It’s crossing after crossing, without any letup.” After a lengthy gap in crossings due to bad weather conditions, 1,485 people crossed by sea from the northern French coast to the UK between 25 and 28 December. Dozens more are understood to have made the crossing successfully earlier on Sunday and have arrived in Dover. The large number of recent crossings calls into question the UK government’s claim of disrupting the smugglers’ supply network in other European countries such as Germany by seizing dinghies destined for the French coast. Favourable winds since last weekend have encouraged people seeking asylum in the UK to attempt the dangerous crossing. Sunday’s deaths mean at least 76 people have died trying to cross the Channel to Britain this year, according to the Pas-de-Calais authorities, making 2024 the deadliest year on record for the crossings. In October, a baby died after an overloaded boat started to sink off the French coast. In September, six children and a pregnant woman were among 12 people who died after a boat carrying dozens of people was “ripped open” in one of the worst Channel tragedies since the small boats crisis began. French maritime authorities carried out 12 rescue operations along the coast of northern France on Christmas Day, rescuing 107 people in distress from small boats trying to cross to the UK. Charities in France had warned of a growing number of attempted departures at the end of December when the sea can appear calm, but water temperatures are dangerously low and small inflatable boats are overloaded. One asylum seeker from Lebanon said on Christmas Eve that, due to the poor weather and the harsh conditions in the makeshift camp in northern France that he was living in, with evictions by the French police every 48 hours, he had decided to abandon his plans to reach the UK. “I have travelled to Germany and am planning to claim asylum there,” he said. “The conditions in northern France are too bad.” Based on the numbers who have crossed the Channel in recent days, many others chose to wait in camps in Calais and Dunkirk until the weather improved. More than 150,000 people have crossed the Channel in small vessels since records began in January 2018, with more than 36,000 so far this year – a 23% increase on last year, but a 21% reduction since 2022. The UK government has pledged to crack down on people-smuggling gangs. In November, Keir Starmer called for greater international cooperation against the gangs, which he described as a “global security threat similar to terrorism”.

The Guardian;Jeju Air crash: all but two presumed dead in South Korea’s worst domestic civil aviation disaster;https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/29/south-korea-plane-casualties-reported-181-onboard-jeju-air;2024-12-29T10:59:46Z

All but two of 181 people onboard a plane that crashed while landing at an airport in South Korea are presumed to have died, in the country’s worst domestic civil aviation disaster. Officials said they had confirmed that 177 people died in the crash on Sunday at Muan international airport in the country’s south-west, while two crew members – a man and a woman – had been rescued. Two people remained missing nine hours after the incident. Footage of the crash showed the Boeing 737-800 skid along the runway and veer off across a buffer zone before striking a concrete barrier at high speed and bursting into flames as parts of the fuselage flew into the air. A local fire official said the crash could have been caused by a bird strike and weather conditions, but the exact cause was not yet known. Transport ministry officials said an early assessment of communication records showed that the airport control tower had issued a bird strike warning to the plane shortly before it intended to land and gave its pilot permission to land in a different area. The pilot sent out a distress signal shortly before the plane went past the runway and skidded across a buffer zone before hitting the wall, the officials said. “The cause of the accident is presumed to be a bird strike combined with adverse weather conditions,” Lee Jeong-hyun, the chief of Muan fire station, told a media briefing. “However, the exact cause will be announced following a joint investigation.” Joo Jong-wan, a transport ministry official, said workers had retrieved the flight data and cockpit voice recorders of the plane’s black box. They will be examined by government experts, Joo said, adding that the runway would be closed until 1 January. There were heartbreaking scenes at the airport as more than 100 family members gathered in a meeting room to receive updates about their loved ones. When Lee told families that most passengers were presumed dead, the room erupted in wails of grief. “Is there absolutely no chance of survival?” one family member asked. The fire chief could only bow his head and reply: “I’m so sorry, but that’s what it’s looking like.” Lee later said the tail section was the only part of the plane to have retained “a little bit of its shape. The rest is almost impossible to recognise.” Some families voiced anger at what they saw as a delayed response from authorities and the airline. They had pleaded to be allowed near the crash site since the morning, but were denied access because of the restricted nature of the airport zone. One relative used a microphone to plead for more information. “My older brother died and I don’t know what’s going on,” he said. “I don’t know.” The accident occurred at about 9am local time, shortly after the plane, Jeju Air flight 7C2216, landed at the airport about 186 miles south-west of Seoul, at the end of a flight from Bangkok. Thick plumes of smoke could be seen rising into the sky after the crash. Some photos showed fire engulfing parts of the aircraft. Yoo Jae-yong, 41, who was staying near the airport, told the Yonhap news agency he saw a spark on the plane’s right wing before the incident. “I was telling my family there was a problem with the plane when I heard a loud explosion,” Yoo said. Another witness, Kim Yong-cheol, 70, said the plane failed to land in the first attempt and had circled back for another attempt. Kim said he heard the sound of “metallic scraping” twice about five minutes before the crash. He saw the plane rising after failing to make a landing, before he heard a “loud explosion” and saw “black smoke billowing into the sky”. The crash was the worst on South Korean soil and one of the deadliest in its aviation history. The last time South Korea suffered a large-scale air disaster was in 1997, when a Korean Air plane crashed in Guam, killing 228 people onboard. In 2013, an Asiana Airlines plane crashlanded in San Francisco, killing three people and injuring 200. Marco Chan, a senior lecturer in aviation operations at Buckinghamshire New University, speculated that damage from a bird strike involving the right-hand engine could have caused a hydraulic system failure that left the pilot unable to deploy the landing gear. “The Boeing 737-800 is a reliable and widely used aircraft, and this crash appears to result from an unfortunate chain of events rather than a systemic design flaw,” Chan said. Jeju Air, one of South Korea’s largest low-cost carriers, switched its website to a minimalist, black background in response to the crash. In a statement, it said: “Jeju Air deeply bows in apology to all those affected by the Muan airport accident. Our first priority is to do everything possible to manage this incident. We sincerely apologise for causing concern.” A company official told Yonhap that the aircraft involved in Sunday’s crash had been in operation for 15 years and had no history of accidents. The two surviving crew members were rescued from the tail of the aircraft and had suffered “mid to severe” injuries, authorities said. Local authorities said they were coordinating with major hospitals in the nearby city of Gwangju to handle the casualties. Officials said 173 of the passengers were Korean nationals and two were Thai nationals. The Muan-Bangkok international route was launched three weeks ago, on 8 December, as part of a revamp in which the regional airport would operate routes to 18 international destinations across nine countries this winter season, according to Yonhap News. The national fire agency said the initial fire in the wreckage of the plane was brought under control at 9.46am, 43 minutes after the first emergency call was received at 9.03am. South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, ordered “all available equipment and personnel to be mobilised” for the rescue operation and was heading to the scene of the crash. The incident is the first major test for Choi, who assumed office on Friday after South Korea’s parliament voted to impeach the previous acting president, Han Duck-soo. Philip Goldberg, the US ambassador to South Korea, said on social media: “I was heartbroken to hear about the tragedy at Muan airport this morning.” The UK ambassador, Colin Crooks, wrote: “Deepest condolences to the families of those who perished in this morning’s dreadful air accident at Muan.” Experts said South Korea’s aviation industry had a solid track record for safety, and this was the first fatal accident that Jeju Air had experienced since it was founded in 2005. Previous major accidents on Korean soil include the 1993 Asiana Airlines crash in Mokpo that killed 68 people, and a 2002 Air China crash near Gimhae airport in which 129 of 166 passengers died. On 12 August 2007, a Bombardier Q400 operated by Jeju Air carrying 74 passengers came off the runway as a result of strong winds at the southern Busan-Gimhae airport, causing a dozen injuries. Sunday’s crash came almost a year after a Japan Airlines plane struck a coastguard aircraft and burst into flames as it landed at Haneda airport in Tokyo. All 379 passengers and 12 crew managed to exit the aircraft before it was engulfed in flames. Five crew members of the coastguard plane died in the accident.

The Guardian;South Korea plane crash tests political unity amid leadership crisis;https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/29/south-korea-plane-crash-tests-political-unity-amid-leadership-crisis;2024-12-29T10:26:20Z

As the year draws to a close, South Koreans must have hoped for respite from the political chaos visited on their country in recent weeks. It was going to take something out of the ordinary to overshadow Friday’s impeachment of Han Duck-soo, the second South Korean leader to be removed from office by parliament in a fortnight. On Sunday morning, the country was forced to confront the horrifying sight of a passenger aircraft careering along the tarmac before smashing into a wall and bursting into flames, reportedly killing all but two of the 181 people onboard. The two events that will come to define 2024 for a country hitherto celebrated for its economic and cultural prowess are unrelated, of course, but it is impossible to ignore the political backdrop to Sunday’s tragedy on the runway at Muan international airport. The incident has highlighted the potential risks that instability at the highest level of government poses to disaster response. There were encouraging signs in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy. South Korea’s rival political parties launched separate initiatives in response to the disaster, apparently setting aside the animosity of recent weeks. The opposition Democratic party leader, Lee Jae-myung, left for Muan, where he plans to stay indefinitely to support rescue efforts, the Hankyoreh newspaper said, although he will stay away from the crash site while recovery operations continue. The ruling People Power party, meanwhile, formed a taskforce focused on investigating the crash and supporting victims’ families. The party’s acting leader, Kweon Seong-dong, will visit Muan on Monday with taskforce members to “review accident response measures and prevention strategies” and meet bereaved families. Within hours of the crash, the acting president, Choi Sang-mok, arrived at the scene to support emergency workers and offer words of comfort to more than 100 relatives desperate for news about their loved ones. Some surrounded him, demanding updates and pleading with him to put the families first. Choi could only bow repeatedly while saying: “I understand”. There was anger, too, at what some saw as a slow response from authorities and the airline. The families had pleaded to be allowed near the crash site since Sunday morning, but were denied access because of the restricted nature of the airport zone. When Lee Jeong-hyeon, the chief of Muan fire station, told families that most passengers were presumed dead, the room erupted in wails of grief, according to the Yonhap news agency. “Is there absolutely no chance of survival?” one family member asked. Lee bowed and replied: “I am so sorry, but that’s what it’s looking like.” Choi’s presence was a reminder that the worst aviation disaster on Korean soil occurred at a time of unprecedented political turmoil, coming just two days after he replaced the impeached Han. The flames that swept through the fuselage of the Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 had barely been extinguished when concerns were raised over Choi’s ability to respond effectively while serving both as acting president and in his existing roles as finance minister and deputy prime minister. The political uncertainty extends to the interior ministry – a vital coordinating body in response to situations such as the Muan crash – which is being led by an acting minister after his predecessor stepped down in the aftermath of this month’s martial law debacle. Choi acknowledged the gravity of the situation in remarks he made at the airport. “No words of consolation will be enough for the families who have suffered such a tragedy,” he said, pledging that “the government will spare no effort in supporting the bereaved families”. The joyless game of political revolving doors that catapulted an unwilling Choi to the presidency 48 hours earlier began when Yoon Suk Yeol was suspended from the presidency after attempting to impose martial law on 3 December. His replacement, Han, was impeached by parliament on Friday over his refusal to appoint judges to the constitutional court – the body that will decide Yoon’s fate. Beyond managing Sunday’s aviation disaster, Choi has also inherited a number of other immediate challenges: a currency that has plunged to its lowest level since the 2009 financial crisis, and heightened security concerns after several military commanders were arrested over their alleged involvement in the martial law plan. The response to the Muan disaster has drawn scrutiny from civic groups, including the families of the 159 people killed in the 2022 Itaewon crowd crush in Seoul – a tragedy compounded by the government’s inadequate emergency response. On Sunday, the Itaewon group’s representatives called for proper support for victims’ families, including counselling and translation services for the relatives of the two foreign victims onboard the Jeju Air flight – both Thai nationals. The group said in a statement: “Given the political chaos of the insurrection situation and presidential impeachment, acting president Choi must do his utmost to ensure there are no failures in the government’s control tower role in responding to and managing this disaster.” As the families of the Jeju Air victims attempted to comprehend what had happened, the Muan tragedy was quickly turning into a test of whether South Korea’s fractured political landscape could find unity and compassion amid the devastation.

The Guardian;Somerset House to reveal the restored ‘Salt Stair’ after fire renovations;https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/29/london-somerset-house-to-reveal-salt-stair-after-fire-renovations;2024-12-29T10:00:05Z

A potent symbol of empire that has been hidden for decades at one of London’s landmarks will be open to the public from February. The restored Salt Stair at Somerset House will be home to an exhibition exploring the pivotal role played by the Salt Office, which collected colonial taxes on the commodity. “It is a good way to show the entangled history of the building and of the nation,” said Cliff Lauson, exhibitions director at Somerset House. “So we have invited artists to come in and explore the impact the salt tax once had on India, where the colonial occupation controlled resources and even movement.” Famously, Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violent march in 1930 in protest at the salt tax in India sparked the biggest act of civil disobedience against British rule, a milestone on the road to independence and later an inspiration to America’s civil rights movement in the 1960s. The renovation of the Salt Stair, once the five-storey spine of the Salt Office, means it takes its place as an attraction alongside two other historic stairwells at Somerset House. It joins the neighbouring Stamp Stair, once central to the Stamp Office, which became the Inland Revenue, and the more famous, grandly sweeping Nelson Stair, in the building formerly occupied by the Navy Office. Opening up this part of the building, which has loomed over Waterloo Bridge from the north bank of the Thames since the late 1700s, comes four months after fire ravaged the roof of one wing. Plumes of smoke were visible across London last August, but the damage was limited. “Luckily, the staff were very fast to raise the alarm, but the shock of the fire actually gave people a chance to voice a tremendous outpouring of affection for the building,” said Lauson. Visitors will be invited into the newly restored area to celebrate 25 years since the site was handed over to more than 3,000 artists, entrepreneurs and cultural organisations. A battle for ownership had been waged for two centuries between the fiscal demands of empire and the rival claims of the arts and sciences. While Somerset House previously housed both the Royal Academy of Arts and the Royal College of Art and is now the home of the Courtauld Gallery, the building also notoriously once hauled money into the exchequer from around the world, as the headquarters of the Inland Revenue and of Customs and Excise. That history can now be confronted head on as the Salt Stair, an emblem of divisive colonial taxation in India, becomes the focus of thenew exhibition, Salt Cosmologies, by artists Himali Singh Soin and David Soin Tappeser, known as Hylozoic/Desires. “This duo of artists have researched the complex history of salt, and the stairwell will become a pop-up gallery for the show, with sound installations,” said Lauson. Another major artwork will go up in Somerset House’s courtyard, the site of a popular ice rink each Christmas, to represent the troubled legacy of the Great Salt Hedge, a monumental 2,500-mile long barrier built by the British East India Company to prevent salt smuggling. The Salt Office managed the production, movement and taxation of British salt from Somerset House in the late 1700s, operating from offices on all floors. It oversaw the main source of production in Cheshire’s salt mines, as well as in north-east England and around the coast. Overseas, the office controlled and extracted large amounts of salt and wealth through taxation from the colonies, notably the Indian subcontinent and around the Caribbean. A valuable commodity, salt was mainly used as a preservative but also had medicinal, gastronomic, agricultural and chemical worth. Salt was used by the navy too. The Salt Office closed in 1798 when it was taken back into the Excise Board, and the salt tax was finally abolished in Britain in 1825. Divisions and departments of HMRC remained until March 2013, when Somerset House’s 224-year association with tax came to an end. “It hasn’t been a straight line in terms of our development as a space for artists and innovators, but it’s been tremendous bringing it back into public life over the last 25 years,” said Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House. “As offices for the civil service, it was obviously not purpose-built for this, but we’ve enhanced what is special about the architecture. London often boasts to the world that it’s a creative capital, but that is a bit hollow unless you have something innovative going on at its heart.” The three stairwells have faced bigger threats than the recent fire. The Blitz almost destroyed a run of offices, including the Nelson Room and the handsome rotunda that houses the Nelson Stair in the South Wing. The stairwell was rebuilt by the architect Sir Albert Richardson in 1952 at a cost of £84,000.

The Guardian;Welcome to the femosphere, the latest dark, toxic corner of the internet… for women;https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/29/welcome-to-the-femosphere-the-latest-dark-toxic-corner-of-the-internet-for-women;2024-12-29T10:00:04Z

The manosphere, the misogynist internet world populated by influencers such as Andrew Tate, is widely recognised as a toxic space where young men are at risk of radicalisation. Now, say researchers, women and girls are being sucked into potentially dangerous online spaces of their own: the femosphere. It is a term used by Dr Jilly Kay, an expert in feminist media and cultural studies at Loughborough University, in a paper published earlier this year. Kay has been researching a reactionary turn among young women, and how a backlash against mainstream feminism has created new spaces online. In the femosphere, instead of “incels” – male involuntary celibates – there are “femcels”, and instead of pickup artists there are female dating strategists and so-called “dark feminine” influencers who encourage women to find men to support them financially. Most corners of the femosphere explicitly describe themselves as feminist, so Kay said she was surprised to see that their values seemed conservative, and their philosophy mostly anti-gender equality. She said: “The logic that they adhere to is that men and women are fundamentally different.” In the femosphere, as in the manosphere, there’s an overarching belief that life is about survival of the fittest, that men will always hurt women and that will never change, so strategies are needed to conquer the opposite gender. Kay looked at Female Dating Strategy, which started as a Reddit forum (with more than 250,000 members) and expanded into social media and a podcast. It has a six-point ideology for members to subscribe to, which includes ideas such as: men should always pursue women, women should seek financial contributions from men, and the majority of men have no value. Mainstream feminism in recent decades has been “very consumer-oriented, all about individual empowerment, emphasising things like women being confident, successful, and women having all the things that men can have”, said Kay. In other words: “girlboss feminism”. But since about 2018, Kay said, there has been a growing rejection of that idea. Kay saw beliefs discussed and shared in online forums and via social media influencers that echoed the logic of the manosphere – particularly when it came to dating and relationships. “Ideas like men are the gatekeeper of relationships and women are the gatekeepers of sex,” she said. “So women’s currency in the sexual marketplace resides in her withholding sex from men, and you diminish your value if you have casual sex.” Or the idea that, to counter women’s lesser earning power (the gender pay gap in the UK was 14.3% last year), rather than fighting for pay equality, a man should provide for a woman financially, and women must “embrace feminine energy” to secure a husband. Kay said: “It’s incredibly conservative, but it’s trying to reframe it as being this empowering strategy.” Kay also looked at “dark feminine” influencers such as Kanika Batra and Thewizardliz. In recent years, Batra has criticised liberal feminism. In one post, she explained why she had “left feminism behind” and said: “The manosphere is incredibly loyal to everybody within it.” In another, Batra laments the state of modern dating and the ways it has changed men and women’s roles. “I used to be a feminist before I saw the effects of third wave feminism,” Batra said. “This has forced women into masculine roles where they are pursuing men.” Batra added: “This is not natural, and it seems that there are more and more people not starting a family.” Thewizardliz , meanwhile, makes videos with titles such as “How to become more beautiful”, “How to become rich”, “How to become extremely seductive”. On the “Princess Treatment”, the influencer advises followers who want to be “spoiled” to say to their male partner: “I would appreciate it if you gave me some money, like an allowance.” There are clear reasons why women and girls might be drawn to this thinking, said feminist theorist Dr Sophie Lewis, whose upcoming book, Enemy Feminisms will explore moments in history when feminists have aligned with unlikely groups such as colonial regimes, and even the Ku Klux Klan. Of the femosphere’s ideas, she said: “There’s an actual offer, an actual promise that should not be sniffed at. There’s a promise to deliver women from what political economists have called the double shift.” After liberal feminism’s vision that women could have it all, now “women are saddled with both productive and reproductive labour”, she said. Lewis has studied some areas of the femosphere, particularly “tradwife” influencers. “The so-called trad life is genuinely seductive to women who rightly hate the endless grind,” she said. “That’s something that liberal feminism needs to recognise it hasn’t provided a solution to.” She is discouraged by the lack of hope, and “anti-utopian” thinking in these spaces, with ideas about new ways of living often disparaged as foolish. Kay and Lewis are not the only ones interested in this growing corner of the internet. Prof Emiliano de Cristofaro and Prof Jeremy Blackburn are two of the authors of a data-driven analysis of “toxic” women’s communities online. They had already worked on the manosphere and other “dark corners” of the internet. They noted some of the same patterns as Kay, and found “sort of analogues of the manosphere”. Some communities even mirrored the manosphere in the advice given to members. “The narratives with respect to dating strategy are very similar – it’s a game and you try to outsmart the other gender and win,” said de Cristofaro. Some of the language used is also similar. Being “redpilled” is often discussed in the manosphere – the idea, based on the plot of the Matrix film, of suddenly being able to see reality – and “blackpilled” is used by incels to describe the idea that their situation, being, as they believe, undesirable to women, is inescapable. In the femosphere, these have been reframed as the “pink pill”. Accusations of toxic language and hate speech have led to some female groups, including femcel groups, being banned from Reddit. Just like manosphere groups before them, they then set up independent platforms of their own. “Usually that community reduces in size, but becomes more radicalised and more toxic, because of a lack of moderation and less exposure to more moderate positions,” said de Cristofaro. The researchers noted that, among some femosphere members, “feminism is a key part of their identity”, but, as Kay noted, this doesn’t necessarily mean they hold progressive views. Some more traditionally feminist groups have aligned with non-feminist groups who share some of the same views – most notably, the union of Christian fundamentalists and far-right figures with some gender-critical feminists. This is something we’ve seen throughout the history of feminism, said Lewis. “You might almost call this anti-feminist feminism. That’s what I see in the femosphere a lot,” she said. “It’s important to understand a long lineage of women, especially middle-class white women, making a calculation that they might be able to individually find a foothold within patriarchy by accommodating themselves to a certain set of disciplines in exchange for provisional protection, while throwing other women under the bus.” Kay sees parallels with Naomi Klein’s recent work on the digital world, where she identified that many of these new communities contain a mix of ideas from both the left and right of the political spectrum. “In this case, certain ideas from left feminism seem to be getting mixed up with reactionary conservative ideas,” Kay said. “It’s part of broader reactionary politics, the role that digital culture is playing in rearranging traditional coordinates of left and right.” This aligns with other research, such as that of Dr Alice Evans, a senior lecturer at King’s College London, who showed earlier this year that Gen Z is extremely progressive on some issues, and extremely conservative on others, with a gulf particularly forming between young men and young women. There’s no evidence to say that the femosphere is radicalising its members in the same way as the manosphere, which has seen members committing shocking acts of real-world violence and fuelling populist political movements. But there are reasons to be wary. De Cristofaro said more research was needed, but “exposure to toxic content has been shown overall to increase radicalisation”. Kay said: “It’s important that people understand it and recognise it, partly because at first glance it can seem quite appealing, especially to feminists. “Liberal feminism has been rejected for good reason – it has failed to deliver gender equality, so it makes sense that you’d want to find an alternative. But just because something is the enemy of liberal feminism, does not necessarily mean it’s good for women.”

The Guardian;South Korean plane crash: what we know so far;https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/29/south-korea-plane-crash-what-we-know-so-far;2024-12-29T05:42:33Z

A Jeju Air flight from Bangkok carrying 181 passengers and crew has crashed while attempting a landing at Muan international airport in south-western South Korea on Sunday morning. All but two of the people onboard Flight 7C2216 are presumed dead, according to local fire authorities. Two people were pulled from the tail section and are receiving treatment at a nearby hospital. Among the 175 passengers aboard the flight, 173 were Korean nationals and two were Thai nationals, officials have said. The Boeing 737-800 attempted a belly landing at about 9.03am local time after its landing gear reportedly failed to deploy. The aircraft was seen skidding along the runway before hitting the airport’s perimeter wall, breaking into two pieces at the front and tail sections and bursting into flames. Witnesses reported hearing loud “bang” noises before the aircraft struck the wall. Local broadcaster MBC aired footage that appears to show a bird strike incident as the plane was descending. Officials have also said weather conditions may have played a role. If the death toll is confirmed, it would be South Korea’s worst domestic civil aviation disaster and marks the first major casualty incident involving a low-cost carrier in the country’s history. South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, has arrived at the scene approximately 300km south-west of Seoul and has ordered “all available equipment and personnel to be mobilised” for the rescue operations at the airport. ‘“No words of consolation will be enough for the families who have suffered such a tragedy,” he said at the scene. Jeju Air chief executive, Kim E-bae, has issued official apology saying: “Above all, we express our deepest condolences and apologies to the families of the passengers who lost their lives in this accident. At present, the cause of the accident is difficult to determine, and we must await the official investigation results from the relevant government agencies. Regardless of the cause, as CEO, I feel profound responsibility for this incident.” A spokesperson for Boeing told the Guardian: “We are in contact with Jeju Air regarding flight 2216 and stand ready to support them. We extend our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones, and our thoughts remain with the passengers and crew.” South Korea’s national rail operator has announced a special train service to help victims’ families reach the disaster site. A bullet train will depart Seoul at 3pm local time and arrive at Mokpo. The railway company says bereaved families can use these services free of charge and additional trains will be arranged if needed. Mokpo station is the closest rail terminal to Muan international airport. The Muan-Bangkok route was part of the airport’s first international services in 17 years, launched just three weeks ago, on 8 December. Experts said South Korea’s aviation industry has a solid track record for safety, and this was the first fatal accident Jeju Air, one of South Korea’s largest low-cost carriers, had experienced since it was launched in 2005.

The Guardian;Ukraine war briefing: Russia must give clearer explanation of Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash, Zelenskyy says;https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/29/ukraine-war-briefing-russia-must-give-clearer-explanation-of-azerbaijan-airlines-plane-crash-zelenskyy-says;2024-12-29T04:06:13Z

Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has called on Russia to provide a clearer explanation of the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash as he expressed condolences to his Azeri counterpart. “The key priority now is a thorough investigation to provide answers to all questions about what really happened. Russia must provide clear explanations and stop spreading disinformation,” Zelenskyy said on X after the call with Ilham Aliyev. On Friday, the White House spokesperson John Kirby said the US had seen “early indications” that Russia might have been responsible for the crash that killed 38 people. The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, on Saturday apologised to Azerbaijan’s leader for what the Kremlin called a “tragic incident that occurred in Russian airspace”. Although the Kremlin statement did not say Russia had shot down the plane, it said Russian air defence systems were active at the time, repelling Ukrainian drone attacks. A Ukrainian strike on a depot for long-range Shahed drones in Russia’s Oryol region has “significantly reduced” Moscow’s ability to launch mass drone attacks, Kyiv has said. Ukraine military’s general staff said in a statement on Telegram on Saturday its air force carried out the attack on Thursday. “As a result of the strike, a depot for storage, maintenance and repair of Shahed kamikaze drones, made of several protected concrete structures, was destroyed. This military operation has significantly reduced the enemy’s potential in terms of conducting air raids of strike drones on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure,” it said. Ukraine’s air force said earlier on Saturday it had downed 15 out of 16 drones launched by Russia overnight, with the other one disappearing from radars. Russia’s Gazprom announced on Saturday it will halt gas supplies to Ukraine’s neighbour Moldova from 1 January over a debt dispute. The cessation of gas will stop supplies to the Kuciurgan power plant in the separatist pro-Russian Transnistria region, a sliver of land between Moldova and Ukraine. The plant powers a significant portion of Moldova proper. The country’s prime minister, Dorin Recean, accused Russia of using “energy as a political weapon”. He said his government does not recognise the debt cited by Gazprom, which has been “invalidated by an international audit”. Earlier this month, Moldova’s parliament voted in favour of imposing a state of emergency in the energy sector over fears that Russia could leave the country without sufficient energy this winter. Several eastern European countries are bracing for an end to Russian gas supplies, as Kyiv will block the flow of Russian gas via its territory in several days. Russia’s foreign ministry said on Saturday it had responded to a new package of EU sanctions by significantly expanding a list of EU and EU member state officials banned from entering Russia. The EU on Monday imposed a 15th package of sanctions against Russia, including tougher measures against Chinese entities and more vessels from Moscow’s so-called shadow fleet. Russia’s foreign ministry said in a statement it had responded by adding more unnamed “representatives of security agencies, state and commercial organisations of EU countries, and citizens of EU member states responsible for providing military aid to Kyiv” to its stop list. Finnish police on Saturday moved a ship connected to Russia held over suspicions it sabotaged an undersea power cable between Finland and Estonia to help with their investigations. Since Thursday, Finnish authorities have been investigating the Eagle S tanker, which was carrying Russian oil, as part of an investigation into the “aggravated sabotage” of the Estlink 2 submarine cable in the Baltic Sea. That cable’s disconnection on Christmas Day was the latest in a spate of incidents western officials believe are acts of sabotage linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Finnish police said the Cook Islands-flagged tanker was moved under escort on Saturday from the coast to an inner anchorage 40km east of Helsinki because “the new location offers a better option for carrying out investigative measures”.

The Guardian;Putin apologises over Azerbaijan plane crash; Russia’s Gazprom announces it will halt gas supplies to Moldova – as it happened;https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/dec/28/russia-ukraine-war-live-updates-latest-putin-zelenskyy;2024-12-28T20:00:26Z

Belarus’ authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko pardoned 20 more people that rights activists describe as political prisoners, a statement on the president’s website said Saturday. The announcement came amid persistent oppression in the runup to presidential elections next month that are likely to extend Lukashenko’s decades-long rule. Vladimir Putin on Saturday apologised to Ilham Aliyev, the president of Azerbaijan, for what the Kremlin said was a “tragic incident” involving an Azerbaijan Airlines plane. The Kremlin said: “At that time, Grozny, Mozdok and Vladikavkaz were being attacked by Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, and Russian air defence systems repelled these attacks.” The Kremlin added that “civilian and military specialists” were being questioned. In the conversation with Putin, Aliyev “emphasised that the Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane encountered external physical and technical interference while in Russian airspace, resulting in a complete loss of control”. Zelenskyy says Russia “must provide clear explanations” for the plane crash. Posting on X, he said: “The key priority now is a thorough investigation to provide answers to all questions about what really happened. Russia must provide clear explanations and stop spreading disinformation.” The EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, has called for a “swift, independent” probe into the Azerbaijan Airlines crash. Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) says it has foiled a plot by Ukraine to kill a high-ranking Russian officer and a pro-Russian war blogger with a bomb hidden in a portable music speaker. Germany said the suspected sabotage of an undersea power cable linking Finland and Estonia this week was a “wake-up call” that demanded new EU sanctions against Russia’s “shadow fleet”, Agence France-Presse reports. Russia’s SVR foreign intelligence service accused American and British spies of trying to provoke attacks against Russian military bases in Syria in a bid to force the evacuation of the bases, the state-run RIA news agency said on Saturday. The SVR gave no evidence for its allegation. Ukraine said on Saturday it had struck a storage and maintenance depot for long-range Shahed drones in Russia’s Oryol region, adding that this had “significantly reduced” Russia’s ability to launch mass drone attacks on Ukraine. Russia’s state-owned Gazprom energy corporation has announced that it will halt gas supplies to Moldova from 1 January due to a debt dispute during a state of emergency over energy security in the tiny country. The move comes as several eastern European countries brace for an end to Russian gas supplies, Agence France-Presse reports. North Korean troops deployed in Russia’s Kursk region are suffering heavy losses and being left unprotected by the Russian forces they are fighting alongside, according to Ukraine, while the US says Russian and North Korean generals see the soldiers as “expendable”. The United States is expected to announce on Monday that it will send $1.25bn (£994m) in further military assistance to Ukraine. The Biden administration is pushing to get as much aid to Kyiv as possible before the US president, Joe Biden, leaves office on 20 January and is succeeded by the Republican president-elect Donald Trump, who appears to be resistant to such spending to help Ukraine. Russia’s foreign ministry said it had responded to a new package of EU sanctions by significantly expanding a list of EU and EU member state officials banned from entering Russia. Italian police said on Saturday that they were investigating cyberattacks claimed by a pro-Russian group targeting several websites including Milan’s airports and the foreign ministry. Regular flights between Ashgabat and Moscow are to be suspended for a month from 30 December after an Azerbaijan Airlines jet crashed in Kazakhstan, the state-run Tass news agency reported on Saturday citing Turkmenistan’s national air carrier. Russia has lost 784,200 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022, the general staff of Ukraine’s armed forces reported. This number includes 1,690 Russian casualties over the past day. The Biden administration pledged to approve fresh military aid to Ukraine, including crucial air defence systems. John Kirby, the US national security communications adviser, said the promised US security assistance package was expected to be announced “in the next couple of days”. Slovakia has confirmed its readiness to host any peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, despite Kyiv’s accusation that it is playing into the hands of Vladimir Putin. The Slovak prime minister, Robert Fico, said on Facebook late on Friday: “If someone wants to organise peace talks in Slovakia, we will be ready and hospitable.” In case you missed it earlier, Vladimir Putin has apologised for a “tragic incident” in which an Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashed on Christmas Day, but stopped short of admitting Russia was responsible. The Kremlin said in an official statement that Putin had spoken to Azerbaijan’s president, Ilham Aliyev, on Saturday by phone in his first comments since the crash, which killed 38 of the 67 people onboard. “Vladimir Putin apologised for the tragic incident that occurred in Russian airspace and once again expressed his deep and sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured,” the statement said. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, meanwhile, said he had expressed condolences to President Aliyev and called on Russia for a clearer explanation of the crash. Belarus’ authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko pardoned 20 more people that rights activists describe as political prisoners, a statement on the president’s website said Saturday. The announcement came amid persistent oppression in the runup to presidential elections next month that are likely to extend Lukashenko’s decades-long rule. Belarusian officials did not provide the names of those released, but the statement posted on the president’s website said all of them had been convicted of “crimes of an extremist nature.” The statement said the group included 11 women and 14 of those pardoned suffered from chronic illnesses. “All of those released repented for their actions and appealed to the head of state to be pardoned,” the presidential administration said in a statement, using wording familiar from a series of previous group pardons in the past six months. Saturday’s announcement marks the eighth such pardon by Lukashenko since the summer. In all, 207 political prisoners have been freed, according to Belarus’ oldest and most established human rights group, Viasna. The United States is expected to announce on Monday that it will send $1.25bn (£994m) in further military assistance to Ukraine. The Biden administration is pushing to get as much aid to Kyiv as possible before the US president, Joe Biden, leaves office on 20 January and is succeeded by the Republican president-elect Donald Trump, who appears to be resistant to such spending to help Ukraine. The large package of aid includes a significant amount of munitions, including for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems and the HAWK air defence system. It also will provide Stinger missiles and 155 mm- and 105 mm artillery rounds, officials said and Reuters reported. The officials, who said on Friday that they expect the announcement to be made on Monday, spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details not yet made public. Earlier this month, senior US defence officials acknowledged that that the Defence Department may not be able to send all of the remaining $5.6bn in Pentagon weapons and equipment stocks passed by Congress for Ukraine before Trump is sworn in. Russia’s state-owned Gazprom energy corporation has announced that it will halt gas supplies to Moldova from 1 January due to a debt dispute during a state of emergency over energy security in the tiny country. The move comes as several eastern European countries brace for an end to Russian gas supplies, Agence France-Presse reports. Kyiv will block the flow of Russian gas via Ukraine in several days. Moldova, sandwiched between Ukraine’s south-western border and Romania’s east, earlier this month introduced a 60-day state of emergency before the expected cut. Gazprom will introduce a restriction on natural gas supplies to the Republic of Moldova to zero cubic meters per day from 0500 GMT [Greenwich Mean Time] on January 1, 2025,” the Russian company said in a statement, accusing Chisinau [the Moldovan capital] of failing to settle debts. Gazprom accused Chisinau of not fulfilling its side of contracts and said it “reserved the right” for further action, including terminating a gas supply contract with Moldova. Russia supplies Moldova with gas piped to the separatist region of Transnistria. Moldova gets most of its electricity from a power station based in Transnistria that uses Russian gas. Vladimir Putin has phoned Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, his counterpart in Kazakhstan, to express his condolences over the loss of life in the plane crash that occurred on 25 December in Kazakhstan, the Kremlin said. The Russian president made the call on Saturday, Reuters reports. Flight J2-8243, en route from Baku to the Chechen capital Grozny, crashed on Wednesday near Aktau in Kazakhstan after diverting from southern Russia, where Ukrainian drones were attacking several cities. At least 38 people were killed. Some survivors were pulled from the wreckage. The Kremlin said that the two presidents had agreed to stay in constant contact over the investigation into the crash. Vladimir Putin on Saturday apologised to Ilham Aliyev, the president of Azerbaijan, for what the Kremlin said was a “tragic incident” involving an Azerbaijan Airlines plane. The Kremlin said: “At that time, Grozny, Mozdok and Vladikavkaz were being attacked by Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, and Russian air defence systems repelled these attacks.” The Kremlin added that “civilian and military specialists” were being questioned. In the conversation with Putin, Aliyev “emphasised that the Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane encountered external physical and technical interference while in Russian airspace, resulting in a complete loss of control”. Zelenskyy says Russia “must provide clear explanations” for the plane crash. Posting on X, he said: “The key priority now is a thorough investigation to provide answers to all questions about what really happened. Russia must provide clear explanations and stop spreading disinformation.” The EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, has called for a “swift, independent” probe into the Azerbaijan Airlines crash. Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) says it has foiled a plot by Ukraine to kill a high-ranking Russian officer and a pro-Russian war blogger with a bomb hidden in a portable music speaker. Germany said the suspected sabotage of an undersea power cable linking Finland and Estonia this week was a “wake-up call” that demanded new EU sanctions against Russia’s “shadow fleet”, Agence France-Presse reports. Russia’s SVR foreign intelligence service accused American and British spies of trying to provoke attacks against Russian military bases in Syria in a bid to force the evacuation of the bases, the state-run RIA news agency said on Saturday. The SVR gave no evidence for its allegation. Ukraine said on Saturday it had struck a storage and maintenance depot for long-range Shahed drones in Russia’s Oryol region, adding that this had “significantly reduced” Russia’s ability to launch mass drone attacks on Ukraine. North Korean troops deployed in Russia’s Kursk region are suffering heavy losses and being left unprotected by the Russian forces they are fighting alongside, according to Ukraine, while the US says Russian and North Korean generals see the soldiers as “expendable”. Russia’s foreign ministry said it had responded to a new package of EU sanctions by significantly expanding a list of EU and EU member state officials banned from entering Russia. Italian police said on Saturday that they were investigating cyberattacks claimed by a pro-Russian group targeting several websites including Milan’s airports and the foreign ministry. Regular flights between Ashgabat and Moscow are to be suspended for a month from 30 December after an Azerbaijan Airlines jet crashed in Kazakhstan, the state-run Tass news agency reported on Saturday citing Turkmenistan’s national air carrier. Russia has lost 784,200 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022, the general staff of Ukraine’s armed forces reported. This number includes 1,690 Russian casualties over the past day. The Biden administration pledged to approve fresh military aid to Ukraine, including crucial air defence systems. John Kirby, the US national security communications adviser, said the promised US security assistance package was expected to be announced “in the next couple of days”. Slovakia has confirmed its readiness to host any peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, despite Kyiv’s accusation that it is playing into the hands of Vladimir Putin. The Slovak prime minister, Robert Fico, said on Facebook late on Friday: “If someone wants to organise peace talks in Slovakia, we will be ready and hospitable.” Here are some images coming to us over the wires: The European Union’s top diplomat on Saturday called for a “swift, independent” probe into the Azerbaijan Airlines crash, after the US suggested the incident may have been caused by a Russian anti-aircraft missile. Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign affairs chief posted on X: Reports that Russian fire could have caused the Azerbaijan Airlines plane are a stark reminder of #MH17. I call for a swift, independent international investigation. Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the victims. I wish for a speedy recovery to the injured. Here is the response from Azerbaijan. Regarding the phone call with Putin, Baku’s presidency said in a statement: President Ilham Aliyev emphasized that the Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane encountered external physical and technical interference while in Russian airspace, resulting in a complete loss of control. It added Aliyev: …highlighted that the multiple holes in the aircraft’s fuselage, injuries sustained by passengers and crew due to foreign particles penetrating the cabin mid-flight, and testimonies from surviving flight attendants and passengers confirm evidence of external physical and technical interference. Russia’s foreign ministry said on Saturday it had responded to a new package of European Union sanctions by significantly expanding a list of EU and EU member state officials banned from entering Russia, Reuters reports. On Monday, the European Union imposed a 15th package of sanctions against Russia, including tougher measures against Chinese entities and more vessels from Moscow’s so-called shadow fleet. Russia’s foreign ministry said in a statement it had responded by adding more unnamed “representatives of security agencies, state and commercial organisations of EU countries, and citizens of EU member states responsible for providing military aid to Kyiv” to its stop list. Just as a reminder, the White House said yesterday that the US had seen early indications that the jet was possibly brought down by Russian air defence systems, echoing claims by Ukrainian officials and sources in Azerbaijan. The Embraer EMBR3.SA passenger jet had flown from Azerbaijan’s capital Baku to Grozny, in Russia’s southern Chechnya region, before veering off hundreds of miles across the Caspian Sea. Summary Vladimir Putin on Saturday apologised to Ilham Aliyev, the president of Azerbaijan, for what the Kremlin said was a “tragic incident” involving an Azerbaijan Airlines plane. The Kremlin said as the aircraft attempted to land in Grozny, Ukrainian drones were attacking Russia and Russian air defence forces repelled the attacks. Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) says it has foiled a plot by Ukraine to kill a high-ranking Russian officer and a pro-Russian war blogger with a bomb hidden in a portable music speaker. Germany said the suspected sabotage of an undersea power cable linking Finland and Estonia this week was a “wake-up call” that demanded new EU sanctions against Russia’s “shadow fleet”, Agence France-Presse reports. Russia’s SVR foreign intelligence service accused American and British spies of trying to provoke attacks against Russian military bases in Syria in a bid to force the evacuation of the bases, the state-run RIA news agency said on Saturday. The SVR gave no evidence for its allegation. Ukraine said on Saturday it had struck a storage and maintenance depot for long-range Shahed drones in Russia’s Oryol region, adding that this had “significantly reduced” Russia’s ability to launch mass drone attacks on Ukraine. North Korean troops deployed in Russia’s Kursk region are suffering heavy losses and being left unprotected by the Russian forces they are fighting alongside, according to Ukraine, while the US says Russian and North Korean generals see the soldiers as “expendable”. Italian police said Saturday that they were investigating cyberattacks claimed by a pro-Russian group targeting several websites including Milan’s airports and the foreign ministry. Regular flights between Ashgabat and Moscow are to be suspended for a month from 30 December after an Azerbaijan Airlines jet crashed in Kazakhstan, the state-run Tass news agency reported on Saturday citing Turkmenistan’s national air carrier. Russia has lost 784,200 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported. This number includes 1,690 Russian casualties over the past day. The Biden administration pledged to approve fresh military aid to Ukraine, including crucial air defence systems. John Kirby, the US national security communications adviser, said the promised US security assistance package was expected to be announced “in the next couple of days”. Slovakia has confirmed its readiness to host any peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, despite Kyiv’s accusation that it is playing into the hands of Vladimir Putin. The Slovak prime minister, Robert Fico, said on Facebook late on Friday: “If someone wants to organise peace talks in Slovakia, we will be ready and hospitable.” We are getting more from Reuters on the conversation between Putin and Ilham Aliyev, the president of Azerbaijan. In a statement, the Kremlin said: (President) Vladimir Putin apologised for the tragic incident that occurred in Russian airspace and once again expressed his deep and sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. It was noted in the conversation that the Azerbaijani passenger aircraft, which was travelling according to its schedule, repeatedly tried to land at Grozny airport. At that time, Grozny, Mozdok and Vladikavkaz were being attacked by Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, and Russian air defense systems repelled these attacks. Aliyev told Putin the passenger plane was subjected to extraneous physical and technical intereference in Russian airspace, completely lost control and was diverted to Aktau, Reuters adds. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday apologised to Ilham Aliyev, the president of Azerbaijan, for what the Kremlin said was a “tragic incident” in Russian airspace involving the Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed in Kazakhstan on 25 December. The Kremlin said as the aircraft attempted to land in Grozny, Ukrainian drones were attacking Russia and Russian air defence forces repelled the attacks. “During this time, Grozny, (the town of) Mozdok and Vladikavkaz were being attacked by Ukrainian combat drones and Russian air defence was repelling these attacks,” the Kremlin said Putin told Aliyev, without saying that Russian air defence hit the plane. Italian police said on Saturday that they were investigating cyberattacks claimed by a pro-Russian group targeting several websites including Milan’s airports and the foreign ministry. The websites of the ministry, Malpensa and Milan-Linate airport, and the transport systems in Siena and Turin were hit, according to national cybersecurity police spokesman Marco Valerio Cervellini, Reuters reports. The pro-Russian hacker group NoName057(16) claimed responsibility for the attacks in a Telegram post, Cervellini said on LinkedIn. The group is known for targeting public institutions and strategic sectors in Nato countries that have supported Ukraine in its struggle against the Russian invasion. We have more from Reuters on the Eagle S boat (see 10.56 GMT post) Finnish authorities said on Saturday they are moving the vessel closer to port. The Cook Islands-registered ship was boarded on Thursday by a Finnish coast guard crew that took command and sailed the vessel to Finnish waters, a coast guard official said. “The police begin an operation to transfer the Eagle S tanker from the Gulf of Finland to Svartbeck, an inner anchorage near the port of Kilpilahti,” the Helsinki police department said in a statement on Saturday. This would be a better place to carry out investigations, it added. Ukraine said on Saturday it had struck a storage and maintenance depot for long-range Shahed drones in Russia’s Oryol region, adding that this had “significantly reduced” Russia’s ability to launch mass drone attacks on Ukraine. Ukraine military’s general staff said in a statement on Telegram the attack took place on Thursday and was conducted by Ukraine’s air force. The statement said: As a result of the strike, a depot for storage, maintenance and repair of Shahed kamikaze drones, made of several protected concrete structures, was destroyed. This military operation has significantly reduced the enemy’s potential in terms of conducting air raids of strike drones on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure. Moscow has not made any comment on the attack. Ukraine’s air force said earlier on Saturday it had downed 15 out of 16 drones launched by Russia overnight, with the other one disappearing from radars. Regular flights between Ashgabat and Moscow are to be suspended for a month from 30 December after an Azerbaijan Airlines jet crashed in Kazakhstan, the state-run Tass news agency reported on Saturday citing Turkmenistan’s national air carrier. A passenger jet operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, which had been due to land in Russia, crashed near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan on Wednesday killing 38 people. The plane was flying from the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, to the Russian city of Grozny in Chechnya when it crashed in a field near Aktau, hundreds of miles off its planned route. Twenty-nine people survived. Germany said on Saturday the suspected sabotage of an undersea power cable linking Finland and Estonia this week was a “wake-up call” that demanded new EU sanctions against Russia’s “shadow fleet”, Agence France-Presse reports. The Estlink 2 cable that carries electricity from Finland to Estonia was disconnected from the grid on Wednesday, just over a month after two telecommunications cables were severed in Swedish territorial waters in the Baltic. In a statement to the Funke media group, German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said: Almost every month, ships are damaging major undersea cables in the Baltic Sea. Crews are leaving anchors in the water, dragging them for kilometres along the seafloor for no apparent reason, and then losing them when pulling them up. It’s more than difficult to still believe in coincidences. This is an urgent wake-up call for all of us. Baerbock urged “new European sanctions against the Russian shadow fleet”, ships that transport Russian crude and oil products despite embargoes imposed over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. The fleet is “a major threat to our environment and security” that is used by Russia “to finance its war of aggression in Ukraine”, she said. Finnish authorities said on Thursday they were investigating the oil tanker, Eagle S, that sailed from a Russian port, as part of a probe into “aggravated sabotage” of the Estlink cable. Nato will bolster its military presence in the Baltic Sea in response, the Western alliance’s secretary general, Mark Rutte, said on Friday. Can Europe switch to a ‘wartime mindset’? Take it from us in Ukraine: here is what that means Day 1,024 of the invasion. Kyiv, 7am. Friday the 13th. In a former life, someone would have observed that this is a day that portends bad luck. But in a country where shelling is a daily occurrence, it has become irrelevant. I wake up to the sound of an app on my phone warning me of an increased missile threat. While my partner and I are hiding in the corridor, I read the news that the Nato chief, Mark Rutte, has called on members of the US-led transatlantic alliance to “shift to a wartime mindset”. With the first bang of the air defence system, a thought strikes me: for those who have not already been living with it for nearly three years, how would you explain this mindset? What is this wartime thinking? Let’s start with the basics. Try to accept the thesis that Russia is your enemy. Everything Russian is your enemy. I know this is complicated. But Russia has been using literally everything as an instrument of hybrid warfare: sports, ballet, classical music, literature, art – these are all platforms for promoting its narratives. Even your neatest Russian Orthodox church could conceal Russian intelligence officers, just waiting for the command to put down their incense burners and take up arms. Don’t forget that for advocates of the political doctrine known as “the Russian world”, this world is potentially limitless; it exists wherever the Russian language is spoken and monuments to Pushkin have been plonked down. Read the full report here. Here are some images coming to us over the wires from Ukraine: Russia has lost 784,200 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported. This number includes 1,690 Russian casualties over the past day. Russia has also lost: 9,651 tanks 19,970 armored fighting vehicles 21,408 artillery systems 32,328 vehicles and fuel tanks 1,256 multiple launch rocket systems 1032 air defence systems 369 aircraft 329 helicopters 21,013 drones 28 ships and boats 1 submarine On 8 March 2023, International Women’s Day, Russian soldiers were handing out tulips and boughs of mimosa to women and girls in the city of Melitopol, southern Ukraine – a move designed to promote friendly relations between the occupiers and the inhabitants. But the night before, someone had been discreetly sticking posters to walls and lamp-posts. They bore the image of a young Ukrainian woman, dressed in a traditional embroidered shirt, smashing a bouquet over a Russian soldier’s head. “I don’t want flowers,” read the slogan. “I want my Ukraine.” This was one of the earliest acts of a women’s resistance movement in Russian-occupied Ukraine that claims hundreds of members, from Crimea in the south to the Luhansk region in the east. The movement is called Zla Mavka, which, when roughly translated, means “wicked forest spirit”. The mavky of Ukrainian mythology are female supernatural beings who tempt men to their doom. Read the full report here. Hello and welcome to the Ukraine live blog. We start with news that Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) says it has foiled a plot by Ukraine to kill a high-ranking Russian officer and a pro-Russian war blogger with a bomb hidden in a portable music speaker. According to the FSB, the main successor to the Soviet-era KGB, a Russian citizen had established contact with an officer from Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence agency through the Telegram messaging app. On the Ukrainian intelligence officer’s instructions the Russian had then retrieved a bomb from a hiding place in Moscow, the FSB claimed. The bomb, equivalent to 1 1/2 kg of TNT and packed with ball bearings, was concealed in the portable music speaker, the FSB said. The FSB did not name the officer or the blogger who was the target. Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence agency could not be immediately reached for comment. Ukraine says Russia’s war against it poses an existential threat to the Ukrainian state and has made clear it regards targeted killings - intended to weaken morale and punish those Kyiv regards guilty of war crimes - as legitimate. Russia has said they amount to illegal “acts of terrorism”. In other news: Russia’s SVR foreign intelligence service accused American and British spies of trying to provoke attacks against Russian military bases in Syria in a bid to force the evacuation of the bases, the state-run RIA news agency said on Saturday. The SVR gave no evidence for its allegation. North Korean troops deployed in Russia’s Kursk region are suffering heavy losses and being left unprotected by the Russian forces they are fighting alongside, according to Ukraine, while the US says Russian and North Korean generals see the soldiers as “expendable”. Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday that said Russian troops were sending the North Koreans into battle with minimal protection and that the North Koreans were taking extreme measures to avoid being taken prisoner. “Their losses are significant, very significant,” the Ukrainian president said in his nightly video address. The Biden administration pledged to approve fresh military aid to Ukraine, including crucial air defence systems. John Kirby, the US national security communications adviser, said the promised US security assistance package was expected to be announced “in the next couple of days”, though it was unclear how much it will include. Slovakia has confirmed its readiness to host any peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, despite Kyiv’s accusation that it is playing into the hands of Vladimir Putin. The Russian president on Thursday called it “acceptable” for the country to become a “platform” for dialogue over the conflict. The Slovak prime minister, Robert Fico, said on Facebook late on Friday: “If someone wants to organise peace talks in Slovakia, we will be ready and hospitable.” Ukraine has received its first batch of liquefied natural gas from the US, a deal that Kyiv says will boost Ukrainian and European energy security as a major gas transit deal with Russia ends. “Dtek, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, has today taken delivery of its first cargo of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States,” the company said on Friday. The consignment was of about 100m cubic metres of gas, it told Agence France-Presse. A Russian court has sentenced a singer who burned his passport in protest against Moscow’s Ukraine war to five-and-a-half years in prison. Eduard Sharlot, 26, was found guilty of “publicly insulting” the religious feelings of believers and “rehabilitating nazism” by a court in the Volga city of Samara in a case over videos he published online, the state news agency RIA Novosti reported.

The Guardian;Ukraine war briefing: ‘Human wave’ of North Korean troops being sent to their deaths, says US;https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/28/ukraine-war-briefing-human-wave-of-north-korean-troops-being-sent-to-their-deaths-says-us;2024-12-28T07:57:24Z

North Korean troops deployed in Russia’s Kursk region are suffering heavy losses and being left unprotected by the Russian forces they are fighting alongside, according to Ukraine, while the US says Russian and North Korean generals see the soldiers as “expendable”. Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday that said Russian troops were sending the North Koreans into battle with minimal protection and that the North Koreans were taking extreme measures to avoid being taken prisoner. “Their losses are significant, very significant,” the Ukrainian president said in his nightly video address. “We see that neither the Russian military nor their North Korean overseers have any interest in ensuring the survival of these North Koreans.” Zelenskyy said “several” wounded North Korean soldiers had died after being captured by Ukrainian forces. In Washington, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said troops sent by Pyongyang were killing themselves rather than risking capture. A “human wave” of North Korean soldiers were being sent to their deaths in “hopeless” attacks by generals who saw them as expendable, he said, estimating that Pyongyang suffered more than 1,000 killed or wounded in just the past week, which confirms similar figures reported by South Korea. The Biden administration pledged to approve fresh military aid to Ukraine, including crucial air defence systems. Kirby said the promised US security assistance package was expected to be announced “in the next couple of days”, though it was unclear how much it will include. The aid surge comes weeks after the national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, met the head of the Ukrainian president’s office, Andriy Yermak, in Washington to pledge extensive support including a planned delivery of hundreds of thousands of artillery rounds, thousands of rockets and hundreds of armoured vehicles by mid-January. Slovakia has confirmed its readiness to host any peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, despite Kyiv’s accusation that it is playing into the hands of Vladimir Putin. The Russian president on Thursday called it “acceptable” for the country to become a “platform” for dialogue over the conflict, which US president-elect Donald Trump has said he could end after he takes office in January. That prospect has raised concerns in Kyiv that a settlement could be imposed on terms favourable to Moscow, as Ukraine struggles on the battlefield. The Slovak prime minister, Robert Fico, said on Facebook late on Friday: “If someone wants to organise peace talks in Slovakia, we will be ready and hospitable.” Ukraine has received its first batch of liquefied natural gas from the US, a deal that Kyiv says will boost Ukrainian and European energy security as a major gas transit deal with Russia ends. Despite the war, Moscow has continued to pump gas across Ukraine to Europe under a multibillion-euro deal, an agreement Kyiv has long said it will not renew when it expires at the end of this year. “Dtek, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, has today taken delivery of its first cargo of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States,” the company said on Friday. The consignment was of about 100m cubic metres of gas, it told Agence France-Presse. Russia’s state security agency claimed on Saturday it had foiled a plot by Ukraine to kill a high-ranking Russian officer and a pro-Russian war blogger with a bomb hidden in a portable music speaker. According to the Federal Security Service (FSB), a Russian citizen had established contact with an officer from Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence agency through the Telegram messaging app. On the Ukrainian intelligence officer’s instructions, the Russian had then retrieved the bomb from a hiding place in Moscow, the FSB claime. It did not name the officer or the blogger who was the target. Ukraine’s GUR could not immediately be reached for comment. A Russian court has sentenced a singer who burned his passport in protest against Moscow’s Ukraine war to five-and-a-half years in prison. Eduard Sharlot, 26, was found guilty of “publicly insulting” the religious feelings of believers and “rehabilitating nazism” by a court in the Volga city of Samara in a case over videos he published online, the state news agency RIA Novosti reported. The singer had posted a video in June 2023 in which he burned his Russian passport in protest against the military campaign. In another video he nailed a photograph of Patriarch Kirill, the head of Russia’s Orthodox church that has staunchly backed the offensive, to a crucifix. Sharlot initially left Russia for Armenia after the offensive but was arrested at St Petersburg airport in November 2023 upon his attempted return to Russia.

NPR;Former President Jimmy Carter: The 'Fresh Air' interviews (Part 1);https://www.npr.org/2024/12/30/g-s1-40405/former-president-jimmy-carter-the-fresh-air-interviews-part-1;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 10:29:19 -0500

The 39th president spoke with Terry Gross in 1993, '95, '96 and '98 about growing up on a Georgia farm, entering politics and his advocacy for human rights and peace. Carter died Dec. 29 at age 100.

NPR;A look at Jimmy Carter's legacy. And, rules for regifting unwanted presents;https://www.npr.org/2024/12/30/g-s1-40382/up-first-newsletter-remembering-jimmy-carter-south-korea-plane-crash-regifting-rules;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 08:16:28 -0500

Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the U.S., died in Plains, Ga. on Sunday at age 100. Here's a look back at his legacy during and after his presidency. And, the rules of regifting and returns.

NPR;Egyptian and Israeli leaders send condolences for Carter, who brokered their peace treaty;https://www.npr.org/2024/12/30/g-s1-40384/egyptian-and-israeli-leaders-send-condolences-for-carter-who-brokered-their-peace-treaty;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 07:36:13 -0500

One of the crowning foreign policy achievements of Carter's single term as U.S. president was brokering a series of agreements that later came to be called the Camp David accords in 1978.

NPR;Jimmy Carter had an early ally in the Senate: a young Democrat named Joe Biden;https://www.npr.org/2024/12/30/1161050106/jimmy-carter-biden-relationship;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0500

When they met in the mid-1970s, Jimmy Carter and Joe Biden were both political underdogs. They forged a strong friendship that lasted more than 50 years.

NPR;For seniors with hoarding disorder, a support group helps with stigma and isolation;https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2024/12/30/nx-s1-5241837/seniors-hoarding-disorder-support-group-ocd-dsm-stigma-isolation;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Concern is growing about the prevalence of hoarding disorder among seniors, and the lack of access to effective treatments. Some have found coping strategies — and community — in a support group.

NPR;Four years after the Capitol riot, why QAnon hasn't gone away;https://www.npr.org/2024/12/30/nx-s1-5230801/qanon-capitol-riot-social-media;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0500

QAnon followers played an outsized role in the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol. While the online conspiracy community is less prominent now, it still draws attention from GOP politicians.<br /><br />

NPR;10 essential books about Jimmy Carter;https://www.npr.org/2024/12/30/1160041101/president-jimmy-carter-books;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Throughout his lifetime, Jimmy Carter took on many titles: 39th President of the United States, Nobel Peace Prize winner, philanthropist, humanitarian, artist – and writer.

NPR;Bird flu Q&A: What to know to help protect yourself and your pets;https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2024/12/30/nx-s1-5239924/bird-flu-q-a-what-to-know-to-help-protect-yourself-and-your-pets;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Each week some revelation about bird flu seems to flutter through the news cycle. Here's what the latest research is saying about how it is spreading and how to keep yourself and your pets safe.

NPR;2024 in photos: NPR station photographers share memorable moments;https://www.npr.org/sections/the-picture-show/2024/12/30/g-s1-39441/2024-in-photos-npr-station-photographers;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 03:00:00 -0500

NPR's member and affiliate station photographers share memorable moments from throughout 2024.

NPR;Carter made the decision to establish relations with China;https://www.npr.org/2024/12/29/g-s1-40361/carter-made-the-decision-to-establish-relations-with-china;Sun, 29 Dec 2024 22:15:00 -0500

Carter helped make ties between Washington and Beijing, ushering in an era of engagement that brought China out of isolation and underpinned its meteoric economic rise.

Al Jazeera;Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers say will close all NGOs employing women;https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/30/afghanistans-taliban-rulers-say-will-close-all-ngos-employing-women?traffic_source=rss;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 16:29:47 +0000

Ministry of Economy warns that any NGO that does not comply will have its activities suspended and its licence revoked.

Al Jazeera;2024 was a year of anti-Palestinian censorship and active art rebellion;https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2024/12/30/2024-was-a-year-of-anti-palestinian-censorship-and-active-art-rebellion?traffic_source=rss;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 14:40:56 +0000

For 12 months, artists and art workers across the world stood up in solidarity with Palestine and against repression.

Al Jazeera;Gaza Kamal Adwan Hospital chief Abu Safia held at Israeli army base: Report;https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/30/gaza-kamal-adwan-hospital-chief-abu-safia-held-at-israeli-army-base-report?traffic_source=rss;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 14:18:23 +0000

Hussam Abu Safia, who documented Israeli abuses, reportedly detained at Sde Teiman base known for ‘brutality, torture&#039;.

Al Jazeera;Russia accused of shooting down passenger jet;https://www.aljazeera.com/program/newsfeed/2024/12/30/russia-accused-of-shooting-down-passenger-jet?traffic_source=rss;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 14:15:23 +0000

Azerbaijan’s President has directly accused Russia of shooting down an Azerbaijan Airlines plane that crashed.

Al Jazeera;Inflation down, poverty up as Milei takes chainsaw to Argentina’s economy;https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/30/inflation-down-poverty-up-as-milei-takes-chainsaw-to-argentinas-economy?traffic_source=rss;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 14:13:29 +0000

Reduced government spending brings significant changes to Argentina&#039;s economy under Milei’s leadership.

Al Jazeera;How did South Korea’s Jeju Air plane crash? Here’s what we know;https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/30/how-did-south-koreas-jeju-air-plane-crash-heres-what-we-know?traffic_source=rss;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 14:07:49 +0000

Acting President Choi Sang-mok orders an extensive probe into the crash and the country&#039;s airline safety systems.

Al Jazeera;‘Global silence and abandonment’ as Gaza’s Kamal Adwan Hospital destroyed;https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2024/12/30/global-silence-and-abandonment-as-gazas-kamal-adwan-hospital-destroyed?traffic_source=rss;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 13:31:05 +0000

Northern Gaza&#039;s last operational major health facility is being destroyed by Israeli forces.

Al Jazeera;As Pakistan, Afghanistan attack each other, what’s next for neighbours?;https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/30/as-pakistan-afghanistan-attack-each-other-whats-next-for-neighbours?traffic_source=rss;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 13:24:18 +0000

Experts say both sides need to reset their approach towards the other — even as mounting tensions have eroded trust.

Al Jazeera;The end of fear in Syria;https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2024/12/30/syria-end-of-fear-assad-damascus-aleppo?traffic_source=rss;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 13:06:25 +0000

Al Jazeera&#039;s Justin Salhani recounts his experiences in the first days after al-Assad.

Al Jazeera;Mourners pay respects to South Korean air disaster victims;https://www.aljazeera.com/program/newsfeed/2024/12/30/mourners-pay-respects-to-south-korean-air-disaster-victims?traffic_source=rss;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 13:05:20 +0000

Investigators are searching for evidence into the cause of South Korea’s worst air crash in decades.

Al Jazeera;Syria and Ukraine seek ‘strategic partnerships’ as senior officials meet;https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/30/syria-and-ukraine-seek-strategic-partnerships-as-senior-officials-meet?traffic_source=rss;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 12:55:20 +0000

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha visits Damascus to strengthen ties after years of Russian influence.

Al Jazeera;Why has Russia rejected Trump’s Ukraine truce plan?;https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/30/why-has-russia-rejected-trumps-ukraine-truce-plan?traffic_source=rss;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 12:40:59 +0000

Vladimir Putin and top Russian diplomat Sergey Lavrov have said a deferral in Ukraine&#039;s NATO entry won&#039;t be enough.

Al Jazeera;Sixth baby dies from severe cold in Gaza as Israel raids hospitals;https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/30/sixth-baby-freezes-to-death-in-gaza-as-israel-raids-hospitals?traffic_source=rss;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 12:30:15 +0000

One-month-old Ali al-Batran dies a day after twin brother as enclave suffers bitter temperatures under Israeli bombs.

Al Jazeera;NYT ‘investigates’ genocide, uncovers nothing but ‘loosened standards’;https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2024/12/30/nyt-investigates-genocide-uncovers-nothing-but-loosened-standards?traffic_source=rss;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 12:19:36 +0000

According to the US paper of record, Israel never intended to &#039;erase the Gaza Strip from the face of Earth&#039;.

Al Jazeera;Last video of Kamal Adwan Hospital director before arrest;https://www.aljazeera.com/program/newsfeed/2024/12/30/last-video-of-kamal-adwan-hospital-director-before-arrest?traffic_source=rss;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 12:16:50 +0000

Israeli military video shows the last time the director of Gaza’s Kamal Adwan Hospital was seen before being detained.

Al Jazeera;Serbia charges 13, including ex-minister, in train station roof collapse;https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/30/serbia-charges-13-including-ex-minister-in-train-station-roof-collapse?traffic_source=rss;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 11:40:29 +0000

Fatal collapse of railway station roof in the city of Novi Sad killed 15 people and prompted protests last month.

Al Jazeera;Palestinian Authority’s raid on Jenin appeals to Israeli, Western interests;https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2024/12/30/the-pa-crackdown-on-palestinians-appeals-to-israeli-western-interests?traffic_source=rss;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 10:42:39 +0000

The Palestinian Authority is fighting armed groups in Jenin in hopes of winning favour with Israel and the US.

Al Jazeera;China court hands schoolboy a life sentence for murder;https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/30/china-court-hands-schoolboy-a-life-sentence-for-murder?traffic_source=rss;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 10:32:41 +0000

Two teenagers in Hebei given prison sentences over the killing of their 13-year-old classmate in March.

Al Jazeera;Salah says new Liverpool deal is ‘far away’;https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2024/12/30/salah-says-new-liverpool-deal-is-far-away?traffic_source=rss;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 10:03:18 +0000

Egypt forward Mohamed Salah says he is a long way from extending his contract at Liverpool, which expires in the summer.

Al Jazeera;How the world voted in 2024;https://www.aljazeera.com/news/longform/2024/12/30/how-the-world-voted-in-2024?traffic_source=rss;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 09:54:26 +0000

The super-cycle of elections in 2024 had nearly 1.8 billion people globally vote for their leaders.

Al Jazeera;Australia beat India in ‘one of the best’ Tests to take series lead;https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2024/12/30/australia-beat-india-in-one-of-the-best-tests-to-take-series-lead?traffic_source=rss;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 09:41:34 +0000

Australia beat India by 184 runs in the fourth Test to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match Border-Gavaskar series.

Al Jazeera;No privacy, constant struggles for women in Gaza’s crowded tent camps;https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2024/12/30/no-privacy-constant-struggles-for-women-in-gazas-crowded-tent-camps?traffic_source=rss;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 09:18:54 +0000

With much of Gaza levelled by Israel, Palestinian women try to preserve their modesty and dignity in displacement camps.

Al Jazeera;Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,040;https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/30/russia-ukraine-war-list-of-key-events-day-1040?traffic_source=rss;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 08:51:34 +0000

Here are the key developments on the 1,040th day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Al Jazeera;Three foreigners die in Bangkok hotel fire, authorities say;https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/30/three-foreigners-die-in-bangkok-hotel-fire-authorities-say?traffic_source=rss;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 08:42:01 +0000

Fire broke out on fifth floor of hotel near popular Khao San Road, fire department says.

Al Jazeera;Video: US President Joe Biden pays tribute to Jimmy Carter;https://www.aljazeera.com/program/newsfeed/2024/12/30/video-us-president-joe-biden-pays-tribute-to-jimmy-carter?traffic_source=rss;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 08:25:30 +0000

Joe Biden remembered former US President Jimmy Carter, who has died aged 100.

BBC News;Hogmanay celebrations cancelled as UK-wide weather warnings take hold;https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c785k44yj12o;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 16:25:02 GMT

High winds, rain and snowfall are expected to bring disruption to parts of the UK from New Year's Eve.

BBC News;Anger as families wait for victims' remains after South Korea plane crash;https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2kx2pn3x18o;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 15:36:23 GMT

Some 179 people were killed in the Jeju Air crash on Sunday - authorities say the delay is because the bodies have been badly damaged and identification is taking time.

BBC News;Russia and Ukraine exchange hundreds of prisoners of war;https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c938x3v148yo;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 16:27:43 GMT

Moscow said 150 Russians were released while Zelensky said 189 Ukrainians had returned home.

BBC News;Gisèle Pelicot rape case: 17 men appeal against convictions;https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg1plx12x2o;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 16:45:22 GMT

More could follow before the window to lodge appeals closes at midnight on 30 December.

BBC News;Five charged in connection with Liam Payne's death;https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8dq8n1jn26o;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 13:13:55 GMT

The One Direction star died in October after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires.

BBC News;Replacement 'green' ferry emits more CO2 than old diesel ship;https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy87e72yg3o;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 06:14:24 GMT

One transport expert tells the BBC it might be better to run the new CalMac ferry on diesel.

BBC News;Jewellery worth £10m stolen from north London home;https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdxzd6nexnvo;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 16:57:56 GMT

The stolen items include two De Beers butterfly diamond rings and a Van Cleef diamond necklace.

BBC News;Briton, 18, hands himself in to Dubai jail over sex with girl, 17;https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czr32zmyz6ro;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 10:40:53 GMT

Londoner Marcus Fakana was arrested after a romance with a British girl, 17, on holiday in Dubai.

BBC News;Trinidad and Tobago declares emergency as murders soar;https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgnzg40p7eo;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 17:04:51 GMT

The country has one of the highest homicide rates in the region, with more than 620 killed this year.

BBC News;Parents of teenage Belgrade school shooter jailed;https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c17d2j7qrrdo;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 13:48:10 GMT

Vladimir Kecmanoviæ and Miljana Kecmanoviæ will serve jail terms of 14 and three years respectively.

BBC News;Baby sling danger warning after child's death;https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy8y2zzggxko;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 10:57:33 GMT

Six-week-old James Alderman died after he was breastfed within a baby sling worn by his mother.

BBC News;What we know so far;https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgzprprlyeo;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 09:33:14 GMT

Officials are investigating the cause of the deadliest aircraft crash in South Korean history, which killed 179 people.

BBC News;What is happening at the scene of the plane crash in South Korea?;https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/c0rn2lwnlkko;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 10:25:11 GMT

The BBC's Asia correspondent visited the scene, where investigators are sifting through the fuselage.

BBC News;Could a bird strike be the cause?;https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8rj8nrky3do;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 10:40:28 GMT

Moments before the plane crash landed, air traffic control issued a warning about bird activity.

BBC News;Video captures moments before disaster;https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/cz0r2lj5p8eo;Sun, 29 Dec 2024 07:00:05 GMT

The Jeju Air flight landing at Muan Airport had 181 passengers on board when it crashed off the runway.

BBC News;Problems that plagued Carter have also troubled Biden;https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpvv2p96erxo;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 10:42:09 GMT

From Afghanistan to climate change, Carter's presidency charted the course for future US presidents.

BBC News;After three years of fighting, can Ukraine face another year of war?;https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c047x7gwdvzo;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 05:22:26 GMT

Many of its soldiers are tired and exhausted after three years of fighting. The question – can the country endure another year of war?

BBC News;Sporting highlights to look forward to in 2025;https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/c9wl8v44k2wo;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 08:35:07 GMT

Euro 2025, the Women's Rugby World Cup, two Ashes series, and a British and Irish Lions tour all feature in the new sporting year.

BBC News;The driver who 'jumped' his bus over the Tower Bridge gap;https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn7m8dmkglxo;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 06:09:43 GMT

Albert Gunter was driving a bus over Tower Bridge when it opened - what split-second decision did he make?

BBC News;Chess champion to rejoin competition after jeans dispute resolved;https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce8npkrey66o;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 09:46:06 GMT

The world champion quit the tournament on Friday after being told he had breached the dress code.

BBC News;Dozens die in Ethiopia after lorry with wedding guests falls into river;https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y47lz0g82o;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 11:16:19 GMT

It is thought the truck, which was reportedly carrying several wedding guests, was overloaded.

BBC News;Mum of man missing in Sardinia 'living in limbo';https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2w45d084xo;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 06:06:39 GMT

Cristina Pittalis is urging a British woman from Jersey to come forward over her missing son.

BBC News;Wonder Woman actress tells of 'terrifying' blood clot during pregnancy;https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp31pk53k8lo;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 11:16:23 GMT

Gadot says youngest daughter born during emergency surgery after blood clot found in actress's brain.

BBC News;Birmingham Six member Paddy Hill dies aged 80;https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj90pm0r0k7o;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 17:04:09 GMT

Paddy Hill was one of six men wrongly convicted of the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings.

BBC News;Four killed as tornadoes rip through southern US;https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyd20z5p8lo;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 15:51:06 GMT

Dozens of tornadoes also cause extensive property damage and leave tens of thousands without power.

BBC News;Cliff collapse blocks beach on Jurassic Coast;https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn4xpej37yeo;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 13:24:07 GMT

The beach between West Bay and Freshwater is blocked following the cliff collapse.

BBC News;The death of Jimmy Carter;https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0kfq4k5;Sun, 29 Dec 2024 23:56:00 GMT

Carter went on to become an international statesman and human rights campaigner

BBC News;Australia win thriller to take series lead over India;https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/articles/ckg3pvw5ke3o;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 06:52:06 GMT

Australia bowl India out for 155 in a dramatic final session of the fourth Test and will take a 2-1 lead into the final match of the series.

BBC News;Referees to announce VAR decisions to fans in semi-finals;https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c3e32e0dx1go;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 15:22:30 GMT

Referees will announce any video assistant referee decisions to fans inside stadiums for the first time during the upcoming Carabao Cup semi-finals.

BBC News;Aspinall cruises into quarter-finals at Worlds;https://www.bbc.com/sport/darts/articles/cqx8px9xwz2o;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 16:55:40 GMT

Nathan Aspinall cruises into the PDC World Championship quarter-finals after dramatic wins for Chris Dobey and Callan Rydz.

BBC News;Wales Six Nations blow as hooker Lake out for up to 12 weeks;https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/articles/cd0ep183erro;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 16:17:47 GMT

Wales have injury hooker problems for the Six Nations with injured captain Dewi Lake ruled out until the end of the tournament.

BBC News;Salah 'far away' from new Liverpool deal;https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cgq1p5ve4n0o;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 08:37:32 GMT

Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah is 'far away' from signing a new deal at the club.

BBC News;Celebrating a world title with McDonald's - Ditcheva's golden year;https://www.bbc.com/sport/mixed-martial-arts/articles/ckgn239574yo;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 09:12:25 GMT

Celebrating with a McDonald's and a trip to Disneyland - Dakota Ditcheva talks to BBC Sport following her historic PFL flyweight world title victory.

BBC News;Australia get key man Jaiswal via controversial review;https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/videos/cd0epx3e3m1o;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 08:02:04 GMT

Key batter Yashasvi Jaiswal is given out caught behind on review despite ultra-edge technology not showing a spike as India lose the fourth Test to Australia on the final day.

Le Monde;Viols de Mazan : un procès en appel est prévu à la fin de 2025, 17 accusés ont fait appel du verdict;https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2024/12/30/viols-de-mazan-un-proces-en-appel-est-prevu-a-la-fin-de-2025-17-accuses-ont-fait-appel-du-jugement_6473540_3225.html;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 17:52:57 +0100

Le nouveau procès se tiendra toutefois, à la fin de l’année 2025.

Le Monde;Fréquences télé : le Conseil d’Etat rejette les recours en référé de C8 et NRJ12;https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2024/12/30/frequences-tele-le-conseil-d-etat-rejette-les-recours-en-refere-de-c8-et-nrj12_6474220_3234.html;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 17:49:30 +0100

Le Consel d’Etat a estimé que la condition d’urgence nécessaire à un référé n’était « pas remplie ». L’affaire sera examinée sur le fond « dans les prochaines semaines ».

Le Monde;En Guinée, la transition à rallonge du général Mamadi Doumbouya;https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2024/12/30/en-guinee-la-transition-a-rallonge-du-general-mamadi-doumbouya_6474184_3212.html;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 17:00:00 +0100

Après son putsch, en 2021, le tombeur d’Alpha Condé s’était engagé à rendre le pouvoir aux civils avant le 31 décembre 2024 et à ne pas se présenter à l’élection présidentielle. Il est aujourd’hui certain que la première promesse ne sera pas tenue. Et la seconde ?

Le Monde;Mayotte : rétablissement de l’électricité « fin janvier », engagement pour empêcher la reconstruction des bidonvilles... Les annonces de François Bayrou;https://www.lemonde.fr/outre-mer/live/2024/12/30/en-direct-cyclone-chido-a-mayotte-francois-bayrou-poursuit-sa-visite-il-prendra-la-parole-vers-16h30_6473266_1840826.html;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 14:44:12 +0100

Le premier ministre, en visite dans l’archipel, a présenté lundi après-midi

Le Monde;Ukraine : Joe Biden annonce une aide militaire massive à Kiev, à moins d’un mois de son départ;https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2024/12/30/ukraine-joe-biden-annonce-une-aide-militaire-massive-a-kiev-a-moins-d-un-mois-de-son-depart_6474180_3210.html;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 16:53:19 +0100

Ce dernier volet massif d’aide militaire, d’un montant total de 2,5 milliards de dollars, survient à trois semaines de la passation de pouvoir entre Joe Biden et Donald Trump.

Le Monde;En direct, Syrie : d’anciens rebelles, dont des djihadistes étrangers, promus officiers dans l’armée;https://www.lemonde.fr/international/live/2024/12/30/en-direct-syrie-en-syrie-d-anciens-rebelles-dont-des-djihadistes-etrangers-promus-officiers-dans-l-armee_6470810_3210.html;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 15:37:33 +0100

Selon un décret analysé par des experts de l’Observatoire syrien des droits de l’homme, publié dimanche soir sur le compte Telegram du nouveau dirigeant du pays, Ahmed Al-Charaa, 49 anciens rebelles ont été nommés à des grades d’officiers au sein de la future armée syrienne.

Le Monde;En direct, guerre en Ukraine : les Etats-Unis lancent un programme d’aide à la sécurité de 2,5 milliards de dollars, avant l’investiture de Donald Trump;https://www.lemonde.fr/international/live/2024/12/30/en-direct-guerre-en-ukraine-les-etats-unis-lancent-un-programme-d-aide-a-la-securite-de-2-5-milliards-de-dollars-avant-l-investiture-de-donald-trump_6472121_3210.html;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 14:20:26 +0100

Washington s’efforce de fournir une aide à Kiev avant l’entrée en fonction du président élu, le 20 janvier. Début décembre, des responsables de la défense ont reconnu que les Etats-Unis pourraient ne pas être en mesure d’envoyer la totalité des 5,6 milliards de dollars restants en armes et en équipements approuvés par le Congrès.

Le Monde;En Ethiopie, un accident de la route fait plus de 70 morts;https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2024/12/30/en-ethiopie-un-accident-de-la-route-fait-plus-de-70-morts_6474012_3212.html;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 13:51:02 +0100

Un véhicule utilitaire est tombé dans un ravin de la rivière Gelana, dans l’Etat de Sidama, dimanche soir, a précisé la police. Le bureau de la santé a présenté ses condoléances et assuré que de plus amples informations seraient communiquées ultérieurement.

Le Monde;LeBron James a 40 ans, une longévité hors du commun;https://www.lemonde.fr/sport/article/2024/12/30/lebron-james-a-40-ans-une-longevite-hors-du-commun_6474011_3242.html;Mon, 30 Dec 2024 13:47:01 +0100

La star du basket mondial, qui dispute sa 22ᵉ saison en NBA, célèbre, lundi, ses 40 ans. Si son jeu a évolué depuis ses débuts, en 2003, le quadruple champion NBA continue de performer.