On a sunny morning near Muan International Airport, Lee Geun-young was preparing to open his restaurant when Jeju Air Flight 7C2216 crashed, killing all but two of the 181 passengers. Lee, who witnessed the low-flying plane and heard loud noises, captured videos of the crash and the subsequent firefighting efforts. The disaster, South Korea’s worst air tragedy, left Lee grappling with the shock of the event. His interview with The New York Times provided firsthand insights into the incident. Ava Sinclair 31/12/2024 10:00 am
Sila, less than three weeks old, was found unresponsive by her mother, Nariman, in their tent on a Gaza beach. The family, displaced over 10 times during a 14-month war, struggles with poor conditions in the al-Mawasi “humanitarian area.” Nariman’s husband, a fisherman, is unemployed, adding to their hardships. The area suffers from inadequate infrastructure and harsh weather, making life unbearable. Nariman and her husband, Mahmoud, endure the cold and mourn the loss of family members, describing their existence as “hell” due to the war’s impact. Ava Sinclair 31/12/2024 10:00 am
German government spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann stated that Elon Musk is attempting to influence the upcoming German election by supporting the far-right AfD party. She emphasized that elections are decided by German voters and downplayed Musk’s potential impact, highlighting freedom of expression. Hoffmann noted the AfD is under investigation for extremism. Musk’s opinion piece in Die Welt, calling the AfD “the last spark of hope,” led to a senior editor’s resignation. Hoffmann clarified that Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s office had no comment on the publication. Penelope Kingsley 31/12/2024 10:00 am
Jeju Air’s CEO apologized for the crash, prioritizing support for bereaved families, but families criticized the press conference location as media-focused. They demand immediate compensation. Identifying remains is difficult due to severe charring; DNA tests are used. Muan is a special disaster zone, with government aid available. All flights at Muan Airport are canceled. Meanwhile, South Korea faces political turmoil with an arrest warrant for suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol. Penelope Kingsley 31/12/2024 6:30 am
A South Korean court issued warrants to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol and search his office over alleged rebellion linked to his martial law declaration. This marks the first warrant for a sitting president, but experts doubt detention or searches will occur unless Yoon is removed from office. Yoon, impeached by the National Assembly, claims his actions were legitimate governance. The Constitutional Court will decide his fate. Despite the warrants, Yoon is expected to ignore them, having previously evaded questioning and blocked searches citing state secret laws. Penelope Kingsley 31/12/2024 6:30 am
Trinidad and Tobago declared a state of emergency following a surge in killings, marking 2024 as the deadliest year since 2013. Emergency powers allow police to search and detain without warrants, but no curfew is imposed. The murder toll reached 623, with December alone seeing 61 homicides. The violence, largely gang-related and involving high-caliber weapons, prompted military assistance. The US State Department links much of the crime to gangs and narcotics trafficking. The situation is part of a broader regional concern in the Caribbean. Ava Sinclair 31/12/2024 6:30 am
A South Korean court issued an arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol over his brief martial law declaration, marking a historic first. The warrant, approved by Seoul Western District Court, follows investigations into Yoon for insurrection and abuse of power. Authorities have yet to attempt his arrest, facing resistance from Yoon’s security detail. Yoon’s lawyer and political allies criticized the warrant as illegal. Yoon, facing severe penalties, was impeached on December 14. The political crisis deepened as the opposition impeached acting president Han Duck-soo, transferring authority to Deputy PM Choi Sang-mok. Noah Prescott 31/12/2024 3:00 am
A passenger on Jeju Air flight 2216 texted about a bird strike before the crash, which is South Korea’s deadliest since 1997. The cause remains undetermined, with US and South Korean officials investigating. Despite the incident, the Boeing 737-800 has a strong safety record, unlike the 737 Max. South Korea’s aviation safety is generally excellent, with effective safety management systems and positive audit results from the International Civil Aviation Organization. Penelope Kingsley 31/12/2024 3:00 am
WHO head Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged an end to attacks on Gaza hospitals, highlighting severe threats to the health system. His call followed Israeli military raids on Kamal Adwan hospital and attacks on two others, claiming they were Hamas sites. Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, Kamal Adwan’s director, was detained, accused of being a Hamas operative, which Hamas denies. MedGlobal condemned his detention as a violation of international law. WHO delivered supplies to the damaged Indonesian hospital and transferred critical patients, with some detained during the process. Noah Prescott 30/12/2024 11:30 pm
Dominique Pelicot, convicted of drugging and orchestrating the rape of his wife Gisèle by dozens of men, will not appeal his 20-year sentence. However, 17 of the 49 men convicted plan to appeal. Pelicot’s lawyer stated he chose not to appeal to avoid further distress to his wife. A new trial will occur within 12 months, judged by three magistrates and a nine-member jury. Despite the potential for harsher sentences, the jury’s decision may be influenced by media coverage and public sentiment. Gisèle Pelicot intends to confront the appellants in court. Penelope Kingsley 30/12/2024 11:30 pm
