Police in South Korea raided Muan International Airport, Jeju Air’s office, and a regional aviation office following a plane crash that killed 179 people. Jeju Air flight 2216 from Thailand to South Korea crash-landed after its landing gear failed. Investigators retrieved the black boxes, but the flight data recorder will be analyzed in the US. Authorities are conducting emergency safety inspections of South Korea’s aviation operations, focusing on Boeing 737-800s. Interim President Choi Sang-mok urged immediate action if inspections reveal issues. The investigation is ongoing, considering bird strike and mechanical failure as possible causes. Ava Sinclair 02/01/2025 7:31 am
Protesters in Syria held a sit-in demanding justice for four activists, including Razan Zaitouneh, who were forcibly disappeared in 2013. The activists were abducted from the Violation Documentation Center in Douma. Despite the ouster of President Bashar Assad, their fate remains unknown. The new leadership under Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has aligned with activists seeking justice. Strong clues suggest the Army of Islam, a powerful rebel faction in Douma, was responsible. The disappearance highlights the deep wounds of Syria’s civil war. Noah Prescott 02/01/2025 7:31 am
Power was restored to 98% of Puerto Rico’s 1.47 million utility customers after a New Year’s Eve blackout, according to Luma Energy. The outage highlighted ongoing electricity issues on the island. While most services, including hospitals and water plants, are back online, Luma warned of potential temporary outages due to the grid’s fragility. Full restoration may take two days. The blackout, caused by a failure in an underground line, is under investigation. Governor-elect Jenniffer González Colón urged residents to conserve energy to aid recovery. Penelope Kingsley 02/01/2025 4:00 am
Police are searching for a burglar who stole over £10 million in bespoke jewelry from a home on Avenue Road, north-west London. The theft, one of the largest in a British home, occurred on December 7 when the intruder entered through a second-floor window. Stolen items include Hermes handbags, cash, and high-value jewelry from Graff and De Beers. The suspect is described as a white man in his late 20s to 30s, wearing a dark hoodie, cargo pants, and a baseball hat. Penelope Kingsley 02/01/2025 12:30 am
In his New Year’s address, Xi Jinping expressed confidence in China’s economic resilience despite external challenges and reiterated threats toward Taiwan. He acknowledged economic difficulties, including unemployment and a property crisis, but emphasized overcoming adversity. Beijing faces uncertainties like potential U.S. trade tensions and missed growth targets. To address economic issues, China introduced stimulus measures, including property sector support and a $1.4 trillion package for local government debt. The World Bank slightly raised China’s 2024 GDP growth forecast, indicating some positive impact from these efforts. Ava Sinclair 02/01/2025 12:30 am
Investigators in South Korea have retrieved initial data from the cockpit voice recorder of a Jeju Air plane that crashed, killing 179 of 181 onboard. The flight data recorder, damaged with a missing connector, will be sent to the US for analysis. Authorities hope the black boxes will reveal why the landing gear failed, leading to the crash. The plane, returning from Thailand, issued a mayday before belly-landing and bursting into flames. Two flight attendants survived. Converting the voice data to audio will take two days, while US analysis may delay further insights. Ava Sinclair 02/01/2025 12:30 am
In Cetinje, Montenegro, a gunman identified as Aleksandar Martinovic killed at least 10 people, including children, in a mass shooting. The 45-year-old suspect, with a history of illegal weapons possession, targeted multiple locations and remains at large. Police, using drones and special units, are actively searching for him. The incident is one of Montenegro’s worst mass killings. The suspect was reportedly intoxicated before the attack, which followed a brawl involving firearms. Ava Sinclair 02/01/2025 12:30 am
Umayyad Square in Damascus was filled with people celebrating the new year with hope after 13 years of civil war and the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December. Fireworks lit up the sky as Syrians expressed newfound freedom, waving “revolution” flags. Despite the festive atmosphere, soldiers patrolled the streets. The fall of Assad ended over 50 years of his family’s rule, allowing public freedoms to emerge. Citizens like Layane el Hijazi and Imane Zeidane expressed optimism and confidence in the new government under Ahmed al-Sharaa. Penelope Kingsley 01/01/2025 9:00 pm
London police are searching for a burglar who stole over £10.5 million ($13.2 million) in jewelry, handbags, and cash from a mansion. The owners, an Instagram influencer and her developer husband, were absent during the Dec. 7 break-in, but staff were present. The armed intruder narrowly avoided a housekeeper, as seen in surveillance footage. Stolen items include a 10.73-carat diamond ring and £150,000 ($189,000) in handbags. The homeowners are offering a £500,000 ($628,000) reward for information leading to the suspect’s arrest and conviction, plus 10% of recovered items’ value. Ava Sinclair 01/01/2025 9:00 pm
Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a rare apology to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for a plane crash in Russian airspace, but did not accept responsibility. The crash, which killed 38 people, may have been caused by a Russian missile during a Ukrainian drone attack. Putin’s apology aimed to maintain regional relations without admitting guilt, leaving Azerbaijan dissatisfied. Aliyev criticized Russia’s explanations and rejected a Russian-led investigation, citing bias. This incident highlights Russia’s declining regional influence and the Kremlin’s struggle to manage diplomatic fallout. Ava Sinclair 01/01/2025 9:00 pm
