International

World leaders and U.S. politicians reacted to news that former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who as president brokered peace between Israel and Egypt and later received the Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work, has died at age 100.PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AND FIRST LADY JILL BIDEN"Today, America and the world lost an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian.Over six decades, we had the honor of calling Jimmy Carter a dear friend. But, what's extraordinary about Jimmy Carter, though, is that millions of people throughout America and the world who never met him thought of him as a dear friend as well."US VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS"President Jimmy Carter was guided by a deep and abiding faith - in God, in America, and in humanity.Jimmy Carter's life is a testament to the power of service - as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy, the 76th Governor of Georgia, and the 39th President of the United States. He reminded our nation and the world that there is strength in decency and compassion."US PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP"The challenges Jimmy faced as President came at a pivotal time for our country and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans. For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude.Melania and I are thinking warmly of the Carter Family and their loved ones during this difficult time. We urge everyone to keep them in their hearts and prayers."PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH"Laura and I send our heartfelt condolences to Jack, Chip, Jeff, Amy, and the entire Carter family.James Earl Carter, Jr., was a man of deeply held convictions. He was loyal to his family, his community, and his country. President Carter dignified the office. And his efforts to leave behind a better world didn't end with the presidency. His work with Habitat for Humanity and the Carter Center set an example of service that will inspire Americans for generations."FORMER US PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON AND FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON"From his commitment to civil rights as a state senator and governor of Georgia; to his efforts as President to protect our natural resources in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, make energy conservation a national priority, return the Panama Canal to Panama, and secure peace between Egypt and Israel at Camp David; to his post-Presidential efforts at the Carter Center supporting honest elections, advancing peace, combating disease, and promoting democracy; to his and Rosalynn's devotion and hard work at Habitat for Humanity-he worked tirelessly for a better, fairer world."CHINESE PRESIDENT XI JINPING"Former President Carter was the driving force behind the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States, and made important contributions to the development of China-U.S. relations and the friendly exchanges and cooperation between the two countries," Xinhua state news agency cited Xi as saying in a message of "deep condolences" sent to U.S. President Biden.NOBEL PEACE PRIZE COMMITTEEFormer U.S. President Jimmy Carter should be praised for his "decades of untiring effort" to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts and to advance democracy and human rights, the body awarding the prize said.His work "will be remembered for another 100 years."U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL ANTONIO GUTERRES"President Carter's leadership contributed significantly to international peace and security, including the landmark Camp David Accords, the SALT II Treaty and the Panama Canal Treaties.President Carter's commitment to international peace and human rights also found full expression after he left the presidency. He played a key role in conflict mediation, election monitoring, the promotion of democracy, and disease prevention and eradication. These and other efforts earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 and helped advance the work of the United Nations.President Carter will be remembered for his solidarity with the vulnerable, his abiding grace, and his unrelenting faith in the common good and our common humanity."EGYPT PRESIDENT ABDEL FATTAH AL-SISI"In this moment of sorrow, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the family of former American President Jimmy Carter, as well as to the President and the people of the United States of America.His significant role in achieving the peace agreement between Egypt and Israel will remain etched in the annals of history, and his humanitarian work exemplifies a lofty standard of love, peace, and brotherhood. His enduring legacy ensures that he will be remembered as one of the world's most prominent leaders in service to humanity."INDIAN PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI"Deeply saddened by the passing of former USA President Mr. Jimmy Carter. A statesman of great vision, he worked tirelessly for global peace and harmony. His contributions to fostering strong India-U.S. ties leave a lasting legacy. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and the people of the US."GERMAN CHANCELLOR OLAF SCHOLZThe United States had "lost a committed fighter for democracy. The world has lost a great mediator for peace in the Middle East and for human rights."SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA"I am deeply saddened by the passing of former United States President Jimmy Carter who we remember as an outstanding, compassionate leader and champion of human rights and peace globally.Jimmy Carter was an outspoken critic of the apartheid state at a time when the regime was trying to ingratiate itself with influential economies around the world and justify its inhumane policies."HUNGARIAN PM VIKTOR ORBAN"The memory of President Jimmy Carter will always be cherished in Hungary. By returning the Holy Crown to the people of Hungary at the end of the 70's, he gave freedom-loving Hungarians hope in a hopeless time."US SECRETARY OF STATE ANTONY BLINKEN"Throughout decades of public service, President Carter embodied integrity, compassion, and a commitment to advancing the freedom, security, and welfare of others.He channeled that spirit in his foreign policy, from negotiating the return of the Panama Canal to its host nation, to developing arms control agreements with the Soviet Union..."BRITAIN'S KING CHARLES"It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of former President Carter. He was a committed public servant, and devoted his life to promoting peace and human rights.His dedication and humility served as an inspiration to many, and I remember with great fondness his visit to the United Kingdom in 1977."CANADA'S PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU"Jimmy Carter's legacy is one of compassion, kindness, empathy, and hard work. He served others both at home and around the world his entire life - and he loved doing it. He was always thoughtful and generous with his advice to me."PANAMA'S PRESIDENT JOSE RAUL MULINO"I offer my condolences to the family and to the people and Government of the United States on the death of former President Jimmy Carter. His stint in the White House was marked by difficult times, and were crucial for Panama in negotiating and signing the Torrijos-Carter Treaties in 1977, which transferred the (Panama) Canal into Panamanian hands and made our country truly sovereign. May his soul rest in peace."VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT NICOLAS MADURO"Former President Carter was a man of proven commitment to peace and dialogue. His contributions to global politics and his dedication to peace have left an indelible mark on the world."FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON"Throughout his life, Jimmy Carter has been a steadfast advocate for the rights of the most vulnerable and has tirelessly fought for peace. France sends its heartfelt thoughts to his family and to the American people."AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER ANTHONY ALBANESE"President Carter rose from humble beginnings to leave a remarkable legacy. Beyond being elected to the Presidency or being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, Jimmy Carter's legacy is best measured in lives changed, saved and uplifted."VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT JD VANCE"Jimmy Carter dedicated his life to serving this country. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his loved ones. May he Rest in Peace."UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY"We express our heartfelt condolences to the American people and to the family of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter on his passing. He was a leader who served during a time when Ukraine was not yet independent, yet his heart stood firmly with us in our ongoing fight for freedom.He devoted his life to promoting peace in the world and defending human rights. Today, let us remember: peace matters, and the world must remain united in standing against those who threaten these values."CUBAN PRESIDENT MIGUEL DIAZ-CANEL"Condolences to the people and the government of the U.S., and especially the family of President James Carter. Our people remember with gratitude his efforts to better relations, his visits to #Cuba and his speaking out in favor of the release of the Five."SENATE MAJORITY LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER"Today, we mourn the loss of one of our most humble and devoted public servants, President Jimmy Carter.President Carter personified the true meaning of leadership through service, through compassion, and through integrity."BRITISH PRIME MINISTER KEIR STARMER"I was very sorry to hear of President Carter's passing and I would like to pay tribute to his decades of selfless public service...Motivated by his strong faith and values, President Carter redefined the post-presidency with a remarkable commitment to social justice and human rights at home and abroad."US SENATOR MITCH MCCONNELL"President Carter served during times of tension and uncertainty, both at home and abroad. But his calm spirit and deep faith seemed unshakeable. Jimmy Carter served as our commander-in-chief for four years, but he served as the beloved, unassuming Sunday school teacher at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia for forty. And his humble devotion leaves us little doubt which of those two important roles he prized the most."US HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON"Today, the thoughts of Americans and the prayers of Congress are lifted up on behalf of the Carter family. President Carter's story was one of humble beginnings, and his life is a testament to the boundless opportunities available in this great nation. Because of his work in brokering the Camp David Accords and his advocacy with Habitat for Humanity, the world is a more peaceful place, and more Americans have a place to call home. No one can deny that President Carter led an extraordinary life of service to his country. May he rest in peace."

Beat Ford in 1976, lost by landslide to Reagan in 1980Egypt-Israel peace was top diplomatic accomplishmentIran hostage crisis consumed last 444 days of presidencyIn 1979, he bemoaned America's 'crisis of confidence'Won 2002 Nobel Peace Prize for peacemaker workJimmy Carter, the earnest Georgia peanut farmer who as US president struggled with a bad economy and the Iran hostage crisis but brokered peace between Israel and Egypt and later received the Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work, died at his home in Plains, Georgia, on Sunday. He was 100.US President Joe Biden directed that Jan. 9 will be a national day of mourning throughout the United States for Carter, the White House said in a statement."I call on the American people to assemble on that day in their respective places of worship, there to pay homage to the memory of President James Earl Carter," Biden said.Carter, a Democrat, became president in January 1977 after defeating incumbent Republican President Gerald Ford in the 1976 election. His one-term presidency was marked by the highs of the 1978 Camp David accords between Israel and Egypt, bringing some stability to the Middle East.But it was also dogged by an economic recession, persistent unpopularity and the Iran hostage crisis that consumed his final 444 days in office. Carter ran for re-election in 1980 but was swept from office in a landslide as voters embraced Republican challenger Ronald Reagan, the former actor and California governor.Carter lived longer than any US president and, after leaving the White House, earned a reputation as a committed humanitarian. He was widely seen as a better former president than he was a president - a status he readily acknowledged.World leaders and former US presidents paid tribute to a man they praised as compassionate, humble and committed to peace in the Middle East."His significant role in achieving the peace agreement between Egypt and Israel will remain etched in the annals of history," said Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in a post on X.The Carter Center said there will be public observances in Atlanta and Washington. These events will be followed by a private interment in Plains, it said.Final arrangements for the former president's state funeral are still pending, according to the center.In recent years, Carter had experienced several health issues including melanoma that spread to his liver and brain. Carter decided to receive hospice care in February 2023 instead of undergoing additional medical intervention. His wife, Rosalynn Carter, died on Nov. 19, 2023, at age 96. He looked frail when he attended her memorial service and funeral in a wheelchair.Carter left office profoundly unpopular but worked energetically for decades on humanitarian causes. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 in recognition of his "untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development."On Monday, the body awarding the Nobel Peace Prize repeated its praise for Carter's work."Earlier this fall, the Committee had the pleasure of congratulating him on his 100th anniversary, stating that his work in favour of peace, democracy and human rights will be remembered for another 100 years or more," it said.Carter had been a centrist as governor of Georgia with populist tendencies when he moved into the White House as the 39th US president. He was a Washington outsider at a time when America was still reeling from the Watergate scandal that led Republican Richard Nixon to resign as president in 1974 and elevated Ford from vice president."I'm Jimmy Carter and I'm running for president. I will never lie to you," Carter promised with an ear-to-ear smile.Asked to assess his presidency, Carter said in a 1991 documentary: "The biggest failure we had was a political failure. I never was able to convince the American people that I was a forceful and strong leader."Despite his difficulties in office, Carter had few rivals for accomplishments as a former president. He gained global acclaim as a tireless human rights advocate, a voice for the disenfranchised and a leader in the fight against hunger and poverty, winning the respect that eluded him in the White House.Carter won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his efforts to promote human rights and resolve conflicts around the world, from Ethiopia and Eritrea to Bosnia and Haiti. His Carter Center in Atlanta sent international election-monitoring delegations to polls around the world.A Southern Baptist Sunday school teacher since his teens, Carter brought a strong sense of morality to the presidency, speaking openly about his religious faith. He also sought to take some pomp out of an increasingly imperial presidency - walking, rather than riding in a limousine, in his 1977 inauguration parade.The Middle East was the focus of Carter's foreign policy. The 1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty, based on the 1978 Camp David accords, ended a state of war between the two neighbors.Carter brought Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin to the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland for talks. Later, as the accords seemed to be unraveling, Carter saved the day by flying to Cairo and Jerusalem for personal shuttle diplomacy.The treaty provided for Israeli withdrawal from Egypt's Sinai Peninsula and establishment of diplomatic relations. Begin and Sadat each won a Nobel Peace Prize in 1978.By the 1980 election, the overriding issues were double-digit inflation, interest rates that exceeded 20% and soaring gas prices, as well as the Iran hostage crisis that brought humiliation to America. These issues marred Carter's presidency and undermined his chances of winning a second term.On Nov. 4, 1979, revolutionaries devoted to Iran's Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini had stormed the US Embassy in Tehran, seized the Americans present and demanded the return of the ousted shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who was backed by the United States and was being treated in a US hospital.The American public initially rallied behind Carter. But his support faded in April 1980 when a commando raid failed to rescue the hostages, with eight US soldiers killed in an aircraft accident in the Iranian desert.Carter's final ignominy was that Iran held the 52 hostages until minutes after Reagan took his oath of office on Jan. 20, 1981, to replace Carter, then released the planes carrying them to freedom.In another crisis, Carter protested the former Soviet Union's 1979 invasion of Afghanistan by boycotting the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. He also asked the US Senate to defer consideration of a major nuclear arms accord with Moscow.Unswayed, the Soviets remained in Afghanistan for a decade.Carter won narrow Senate approval in 1978 of a treaty to transfer the Panama Canal to the control of Panama despite critics who argued the waterway was vital to American security. He also completed negotiations on full US ties with China.Carter created two new US Cabinet departments - education and energy. Amid high gas prices, he said America's "energy crisis" was "the moral equivalent of war" and urged the country to embrace conservation. "Ours is the most wasteful nation on earth," he told Americans in 1977.In 1979, Carter delivered what became known as his "malaise" speech to the nation, although he never used that word."After listening to the American people I have been reminded again that all the legislation in the world can't fix what's wrong with America," he said in his televised address."The threat is nearly invisible in ordinary ways. It is a crisis of confidence. It is a crisis that strikes at the very heart and soul and spirit of our national will. The erosion of our confidence in the future is threatening to destroy the social and the political fabric of America."As president, the strait-laced Carter was embarrassed by the behavior of his hard-drinking younger brother, Billy Carter, who had boasted: "I got a red neck, white socks, and Blue Ribbon beer."Jimmy Carter withstood a challenge from Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy for the 1980 Democratic presidential nomination but was politically diminished heading into his general election battle against a vigorous Republican adversary.Reagan, the conservative who projected an image of strength, kept Carter off balance during their debates before the November 1980 election.Reagan dismissively told Carter, "There you go again," when the Republican challenger felt the president had misrepresented Reagan's views during one debate.Carter lost the 1980 election to Reagan, who won 44 of the 50 states and amassed an Electoral College landslide.James Earl Carter Jr. was born on Oct. 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia, one of four children of a farmer and shopkeeper. He graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1946, served in the nuclear submarine program and left to manage the family peanut farming business.He married his wife, Rosalynn, in 1946, a union he called "the most important thing in my life." They had three sons and a daughter.Carter became a millionaire, a Georgia state legislator and Georgia's governor from 1971 to 1975. He mounted an underdog bid for the 1976 Democratic presidential nomination, and out-hustled his rivals for the right to face Ford in the general election.With Walter Mondale as his vice presidential running mate, Carter was given a boost by a major Ford gaffe during one of their debates. Ford said that "there is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe and there never will be under a Ford administration," despite decades of just such domination.Carter edged Ford in the election, even though Ford actually won more states - 27 to Carter's 23.Not all of Carter's post-presidential work was appreciated. Former President George W. Bush and his father, former President George H.W. Bush, both Republicans, were said to have been displeased by Carter's freelance diplomacy in Iraq and elsewhere.In 2004, Carter called the Iraq war launched in 2003 by the younger Bush one of the most "gross and damaging mistakes our nation ever made." He called George W. Bush's administration "the worst in history" and said Vice President Dick Cheney was "a disaster for our country."In 2019, Carter questioned Republican Donald Trump's legitimacy as president, saying "he was put into office because the Russians interfered on his behalf." Trump responded by calling Carter "a terrible president."Carter also made trips to communist North Korea. A 1994 visit defused a nuclear crisis, as President Kim Il Sung agreed to freeze his nuclear program in exchange for resumed dialogue with the United States. That led to a deal in which North Korea, in return for aid, promised not to restart its nuclear reactor or reprocess the plant's spent fuel.But Carter irked Democratic President Bill Clinton's administration by announcing the deal with North Korea's leader without first checking with Washington.In 2010, Carter won the release of an American sentenced to eight years hard labor for illegally entering North Korea.Carter wrote more than two dozen books, ranging from a presidential memoir to a children's book and poetry, as well as works about religious faith and diplomacy. His book "Faith: A Journey for All," was published in 2018.

US President Joe Biden mourned the passing of former President Jimmy Carter, who died on Sunday at the age of 100.In a statement, Biden said that America and the world had lost a leader, a statesman, and an extraordinary humanitarian. He also urged Americans to study Carter, who was described as "a man of principle, faith, and humility."Biden also announced that a formal funeral would be held for Carter, who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981.UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also expressed deep sorrow over Carters death, extending his condolences to his family, the American people, and the US government.In his Sunday statement, Guterres said that President Carter would be remembered for his solidarity with the vulnerable and his unwavering belief in the common good and our shared humanity. He added that his legacy as a peacebuilder, human rights champion, and humanitarian will endure.Carter, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, passed away at his home in Plains, Georgia.

Experts say many questions yet to be answeredThey see it as unlikely that a bird strike would cause landing gear malfunctionJeju Air says only that investigation is underwayDeputy transport minister says runway length not a contributing factorUncertainties surround the deadliest crash on South Korean soil, experts said on Sunday, questioning initial suggestions that a bird strike might have brought 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 visible landing gear before slamming into a wall in an explosion of flame and debris."Why didn't fire tenders lay foam on the runway? Why weren't they in attendance when the plane touched down? And why did the aircraft touch down so far down the runway? And why was there a brick wall at the end of the runway?" said Airline News editor Geoffrey Thomas.South Korean officials said they were investigating the cause of the crash of Jeju Air Flight 7C2216, including a possible bird strike. The crash killed 179 of the 181 people on board.A spokesperson for Jeju Air was not immediately available for comments. Jeju Air 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 United States where the plane was designed and built.The flight data recorder was found at 11:30 a.m. (0230 GMT), about two and a half hours after the crash, and the cockpit voice recorder was found at 2:24 p.m., according to South Korea's transport ministry."That gives you all the parameters of all the systems of the plane. The heartbeat of the airplane is on the flight data recorder," Thomas said. "The voice recorder will probably provide the most interesting analysis of what went on on this tragic crash."Experts caution that air accidents are usually caused by a cocktail of factors and it can take months to piece together the sequence of events in and outside the plane.In the space of a few minutes, the control tower issued a bird strike warning, pilots declared mayday and then attempted to land, officials said, although it was not clear whether the aircraft had hit any birds.Experts said it seemed unlikely a bird strike would have caused the landing gear to malfunction."A bird strike is not unusual, problems with an undercarriage are not unusual. Bird strikes happen far more often, but typically they don't cause the loss of an airplane by themselves," Thomas said.Australian airline safety expert Geoffrey Dell said, "I've never seen a bird strike prevent the landing gear from being extended."Australian aviation consultant Trevor Jensen said fire and emergency services would normally be ready for a belly-landing, "so this appears to be unplanned".A bird strike could have impacted the CFM International engines if a flock had been sucked into them, but that would not have shut them down straightaway, giving the pilots some time to deal with the situation, Dell said.It was unclear why the plane did not decelerate after it hit the runway, Dell and Jensen said.Typically in a belly-landing, "You are going to land on your engines and you're going to have a bumpy ride," Thomas said."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."After the control tower issued the bird strike warning and the pilots declared mayday, the pilots attempted to land on the runway from the opposite direction, a transport ministry official said."In the process of landing it hit a navigation safety facility called a localizer and collided with the wall," the official said.Joo Jong-wan, deputy transport minister, said the runway's 2,800-metre length was not a contributing factor, and that the walls at the ends had been built according to standards."Both ends of the runway have safety zones with green buffer areas before reaching the outer wall," he told a separate briefing. "The airport is designed according to standard aviation safety guidelines, even if the wall may appear closer than it actually is."The captain had worked at that rank since 2019 and had logged 6,823 flight hours, the ministry said. The first officer had worked at that rank since 2023 and had logged approximately 1,650 flight hours.The Boeing model involved in the crash, a 737-800, is one of the world's most flown airliners with a generally strong safety record and was developed well before the MAX variant involved in a recent Boeing safety crisis.

North Korea has declared its toughest response strategy toward the United States during a year-end plenary party meeting, asserting that the military cooperation among South Korea, the United States, and Japan is evolving into an invasive nuclear military bloc, state media reported Sunday.The strategy was adopted during the annual year-end general meeting of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, held from Monday to Friday and presided over by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.The United States is the "most reactionary" state, unwaveringly adhering to anti-communism as its national policy, the KCNA reported, adding that "the strongest response strategy toward the US" was declared in the interest of national security.During the meeting, Kim ordered the refinement of warfare tactics to meet the demands of modern warfare, while also calling for continued improvement in the warfare capacities of the army, the KCNA also said.During the session, Pak Thae-song, a party secretary, was appointed premier, replacing his predecessor Kim Tok-hun.

Video shows plane skidding without landing gear before explodingJeju Air flight was carrying 181 people from BangkokTwo crew members rescued from Boeing 737-800Deadliest South Korea airline crash since 1997 The deadliest air accident ever in South Korea killed 179 people on Sunday, when an airliner belly-landed and skidded off the end of the runway, erupting in a fireball as it slammed into a wall at Muan International Airport.Jeju Air flight 7C2216, arriving from the Thai capital Bangkok with 175 passengers and six crew on board, was attempting to land shortly after 9 a.m. (0000 GMT) at the airport in the south of the country, South Korea's transport ministry said.Two crew members survived and were being treated for injuries.The deadliest air accident on South Korean soil was also the worst involving a South Korean airline in nearly three decades, according to the transport ministry.The twin-engine Boeing 737-800 was seen in local media video skidding down the runway with no visible landing gear before crashing into navigation equipment and a wall in an explosion of flames and debris."Only the tail part retains a little bit of shape, and the rest of (the plane) looks almost impossible to recognise," Muan fire chief Lee Jung-hyun told a press briefing.The two crew members, a man and a woman, were rescued from the tail section of the burning plane, Lee said. They were being treated at hospitals with medium to severe injuries, said the head of the local public health centre.Authorities combed nearby areas for bodies possibly thrown from the plane, Lee said.Investigators are examining bird strikes and weather conditions as possible factors, Lee said.Yonhap news agency cited airport authorities as saying a bird strike may have caused the landing gear to malfunction.The crash was the worst for any South Korean airline since a 1997 Korean Air crash in Guam that killed more than 200 people, according to transportation ministry data. The previous worst on South Korean soil was an Air China crash that killed 129 in 2002.Experts said the bird strike report and the way the aircraft attempted to land raised more questions than answers."A bird strike is not unusual, problems with an undercarriage are not unusual," said Airline News editor Geoffrey Thomas. "Bird strikes happen far more often, but typically they don't cause the loss of an airplane by themselves."Under global aviation rules, South Korea will lead a civil investigation into the crash and automatically involve the National Transportation Safety Board in the United States where the plane was designed and built.Hours after the crash, family members gathered in the airport's arrival area, some crying and hugging as Red Cross volunteers handed out blankets.Many victims appeared to be residents of nearby areas returning from vacation, officials said.Families screamed and wept as a medic announced the names of victims identified by their fingerprints. Papers were circulated for families to write down their contact details.One relative stood at a microphone to ask for more information from authorities. "My older brother died and I don't know what's going on," he said. "I don't know."Another asked journalists not to film. "We are not monkeys in a zoo," he said. "We are the bereaved families."Mortuary vehicles lined up outside to take bodies away, and authorities said a temporary morgue had been established.The crash site smelled of aviation fuel and blood, according to Reuters witnesses. Workers in protective suits and masks combed the area while soldiers searched through bushes.The control tower issued a bird strike warning and shortly afterward the pilots declared mayday and then attempted to land from the opposite direction, a transport ministry official said.A passenger texted a relative to say a bird was stuck in the wing, the News1 agency reported. The person's final message was, "Should I say my last words?"The aircraft was manufactured in 2009, the transport ministry said.The two CFM56-7B26 engines were manufactured by CFM International, a joint venture between GE Aerospace and France's Safran, the transport ministry said.A CFM spokesperson said, "We are deeply saddened by the loss of Jeju Air flight 2216. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to the families and loved ones of those on board."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.The airline will cooperate with investigators and make supporting the bereaved its top priority, Kim said.No abnormal conditions were reported when the aircraft left Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, said Kerati Kijmanawat, president of Airports of Thailand.The passengers included two Thai nationals and the rest are believed to be South Koreans, according to the transportation ministry.It was the first fatal flight for Jeju Air, a low-cost airline founded in 2005 that ranks behind only Korean Air Lines and Asiana Airlines in terms of the number of passengers in South Korea.The accident happened only three weeks after Jeju Air started regular flights from Muan to Bangkok and other Asian cities on Dec. 8.Muan International is one of South Korea's smallest airports but it has seen the number of international passengers jump nearly 20 times to 310,702 from January to November from the same period in 2022, according to government data.The Boeing model involved in the crash, a 737-800, is one of the world's most flown airliners with a generally strong safety record. It was developed well before the MAX variant involved in a recent Boeing safety crisis.Boeing said in a emailed statement, "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."The US Federal Aviation Administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment.All domestic and international flights at Muan airport were cancelled, Yonhap reported.South Korean acting President Choi Sang-mok, named interim leader of the country on Friday in 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.Two Thai women were on the plane, aged 22 and 45, Thai government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub said.The Thai foreign ministry later confirmed both were among those killed. The embassy in Seoul was coordinating with the South Koreans and arranging for family members to travel from Thailand, the ministry said in a statement.Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra sent condolences to the families of the dead and injured in a post on X, saying she had instructed the foreign ministry to provide assistance.

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the Israeli occupation forces' siege on northern Gaza for more than 80 days is putting the lives of 75,000 Palestinians at risk.WHO expressed its astonishment at the raid that targeted Kamal Adwan Hospital, putting the last major health facility in northern Gaza out of service.The last of these crimes was the burning of Kamal Adwan Hospital and putting the last health facility out of service, in addition to Israeli occupation artillery shelling of the upper floor of the Baptist Hospital east of Gaza.

A passenger jet carrying 181 people erupted in flames after going off the runway and hitting a wall at an airport in South Korea's southwestern county of Muan on Sunday, likely leaving all but two dead, authorities said.The authorities confirmed 85 deaths from the accident so far.The accident happened when the Jeju Air flight veered off the runway while landing and collided with a fence wall at Muan International Airport in the Muan county, South Jeolla Province, about 288 kilometers southwest of Seoul, Yonhap News Agency reported.Except the two rescued from the accident, all the missing people are presumed to have been killed, firefighting authorities said, adding that they were switching to search operations to recover bodies.A total of 181, including six crew members, were aboard the plane that was returning from Bangkok.Most of the passengers were Koreans, except for two Thai nationals.Videos aired by local TV stations show the plane attempting to land without its landing gear deployed. The plane skidded along the ground, crashing into a concrete wall before exploding and being engulfed in flames.The plane was almost completely destroyed by the explosion.Officials believe the landing gear failure, possibly due to a bird strike, may have caused the accident. They began an on-site investigation to determine the exact cause.

Vladimir Putin admitted on Saturday Russian air defence was working when an Azerbaijani Airlines plane tried to land in Grozny before crashing, while stopping short of claiming responsibility.The Kremlin said Putin apologised to Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev over the “tragic incident” in a phone call, but did not say Russian air defence shot the plane.Moscow had hitherto said that Grozny, where the plane was due to land but instead crashed in western Kazakhstan, was attacked by Ukrainian drones that day.Baku, meanwhile, said Aliyev had “emphasised” to Putin the plan was hit by outside interference over Russia.And on the streets of Baku, several residents AFP spoke to said they expected an official apology from their Russian ally.Moscow said Putin had told Aliyev the plane had tried to land in Grozny “several times”.“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,” Putin said, according to a Kremlin transcript.It added that: “Vladimir Putin had presented his apologies that the tragic incident happened in Russia’s air space and again expressed his deep and genuine condolences to the families of the dead, wishing a quick recovery to those affected.”A statement from Aliyev’s office on the phone call appeared to show no doubt that the plane was hit over Russia.“President Ilham 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,” Baku’s presidency said.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.”Survivors have told the media about hearing an “explosion” as the plane attempted to land. Aliyev’s office said Baku wanted an investigation “ensuring those responsible are held accountable.”Putin also called his Kazakh counterpart Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and said Moscow was committed to taking part in an “objective and transparent” investigation into the crash.Speculation has swirled for days that Russia accidentally shot down the plane, with the US weighing in Friday saying it had “early indications” the plane was shot.Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky said he also spoke to Aliyev Saturday and called on “every country to put pressure on Russia to stop the lies about this disaster.”He accused Moscow of the “same lies that were told about MH-17” — the Malaysian Airlines plane, which international investigations have said was downed by a missile shot by Russian-backed rebels in east Ukraine in 2014.The EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas said the crash was a “stark reminder” of MH17 and called for a “swift, independent international investigation.”A series of airlines have this week been cancelling flights to Russia after the incident, including flydubai and Israel’s El Al.The vast majority of Western airlines have stopped flights to Russia since Moscow launched its Ukraine offensive.While Kazakhstan — a key Russian ally — has had a muted reaction to the crash and not blamed Moscow, some officials in Azerbaijan, which also has close ties to the Kremlin, called for an apology.On Friday, Azerbaijani lawmaker Rasim Musabekov urged Russia to “accept this, punish those to blame, promise that such a thing will not happen again.”This feeling was reflected on the streets of Baku on Saturday, where the mood was sombre. “Just look at the damage, how many people’s homes were filled with mourning just before the New Year,” said 64-year-old teacher Rafiga Mammadova.Others called for a public apology.“We could have had such an incident as well,” 41-year-old Teymur Mammadov said, in a country used to decades of conflict with neighbouring Armenia.“Such things happen. However, they should apologise.”Officials from Kyrgyzstan, meanwhile, visited three survivors of the crash in the city of Aktau where the plane crashed in Kazakhstan, releasing footage of men in hospital beds whom they said will be transported home soon.Several survivors and several bodies from the crash were brought to Baku late on Friday.

Russian energy giant Gazprom said on Saturday it would suspend gas exports to Moldova from 0500 GMT on January 1 due to unpaid debt by Moldova, which is bracing for severe power cuts.It said the company reserved the right to take any action, including terminating the supply contract with Moldova.Russia supplies Moldova with about 2bn cubic metres of gas per year, which is piped via Ukraine to the breakaway region of Transdniestria where it is used to generate cheap power that is sold to government-controlled parts of Moldova.Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean condemned the Russian decision, which is a precursor to a total shutdown of Russian gas exports via Ukraine and to Europe, where it flows further to Slovakia, Austria, Hungary and Italy, once a current transit deal with Ukraine expires on December 31.Moldova will be hit the hardest by the shutdown.“This decision confirms once again the intention of the Kremlin to leave the inhabitants of the Transdniestrian region without light and heat in the middle of the winter,” Recean wrote on Facebook, accusing Russia of using energy as a political weapon.Moscow has repeatedly dismissed those allegations.Russia, which is critical of Moldova’s West-leaning central government, has said Moldova should pay a debt on past supplies. According to Russian calculations, the debt stands at $709mn. Moldova has put the debt at $8.6mn.Gazprom has said previously it wants Moldova to pay the debt before it starts to pump gas to the country via alternative routes.Transdniestria and the government in Chisinau agreed in 2022 that all Russian gas received by Moldova would flow to the breakaway region, which traditionally does not pay for fuel.Without gas supplies, the power-generating plant could stop working and Moldova and Transdniestria would face hours-long blackouts similar to those experienced by Ukraine due to Russia’s attacks on its energy infrastructure in their war.The government of Transdniestria told businesses that from on Saturday, gas supplies would start to be switched off to commercial entities that were not considered critical.But it said supplies of gas, heating and hot water to households would continue as usual until January 1.Recean said Moldova had diversified sources of gas supply “in order to reduce dependence on a single supplier”.“Our country is prepared to handle any situation that arises following the Kremlin’s decision,” he added.Moldova’s population of 2.5mn has been preparing for long power cuts since Ukraine’s government said it will not extend its transit contract with Gazprom.Moldova and Transdniestria have both declared states of emergency over the threat of disrupted gas supplies, and Moldova said on Friday it will curb power exports and introduce measures to reduce consumption by at least a third from January 1.Moldovan President Maia Sandu has accused Gazprom of provoking an energy crisis, saying it was refusing to supply gas through an alternative route.

Elon Musk defended his support for Germany’s far-right AfD party in an opinion piece in the Welt am Sonntag newspaper on Saturday, prompting a senior editor to resign.The world’s richest man doubled down on his comments from December 20 that “only the AfD can save Germany”, writing that the anti-immigration AfD was the “last ray of hope for the country” at the “brink of cultural and economic collapse”.Despite various branches of the AfD being labelled “extremist” by Germany’s domestic security agency, Musk said the AfD’s classification as far-right was “clearly false” as party leader Alice Weidel “has a partner from Sri Lanka”.With Musk set to play a key role in US President-elect Donald Trump’s administration, the billionaire’s interventions have triggered accusations of meddling in Germany’s democracy.The country is set to head to the polls on February 23, with the AfD polling at around 19* of the vote.Musk’s guest opinion piece in the Welt am Sonntag provoked outraged reactions and the resignation of the conservative title’s opinion editor.“Today a piece by Elon Musk appeared in the Welt am Sonntag. Yesterday I handed in my resignation after it went to print,” Eva Marie Kogel wrote on the X social media platform Musk owns.Meanwhile the Greens’ campaign director Andreas Audretsch wrote: “We must not allow the Elon Musks of this world, the Chinese state or Russian troll factories to undermine our democracies in Europe.”The Association of German Journalists (DJV) protested against the “election advertising” allowed by the newspaper’s editorial staff.“The German media must not allow itself to be manipulated into acting as a mouthpiece for autocrats and their friends,” said DJV leader Mika Beuster.Even the *Welt’s new editor-in-chief Jan Philipp Burgard was compelled to disagree with Musk in the opinion piece, writing: “Even a genius can be wrong”.Arguing that the AfD “is a danger to our values and our economy”, Burgard pointed out that Bjoern Hoecke, the AfD’s leader in Thuringia state, “has been convicted several times for using a banned Nazi slogan”.*Die Welt belongs to Axel Springer, Germany’s most influential press group.Its lineup includes the Bild tabloid, the country’s most-read newspaper.

The head of the World Health Organisation said yesterday he only narrowly escaped death in fatal Israeli strikes on the airport in Yemen’s Houthi-held capital.WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told BBC radio his ears were still ringing following Thursday’s attack as he prepared to board a flight in Sanaa, and stressed that the protection for civilian installations under international law must be respected.Israeli air strikes hit Sanaa’s international airport and other targets in Yemen on Thursday. The attacks against what Israel’s military called Houthi “military targets” marked the second time since December 19 that Israel has hit targets in Yemen after fighters’ missile fire towards Israel.The UN health agency’s chief described the scene as the first strike hit.“We heard a heavy explosion nearby, and then I think repeated,” Tedros said.“The sound was so, so loud... So deafening, actually. Still my ear rings. It’s already more than 24 hours now. I don’t know if it affected my ear. The explosion was so heavy.“It was the departure lounge next to us that was hit, and later on the control tower.“It was very chaotic. People were in disarray and running everywhere and no shelter: we were completely exposed.“It’s a matter of luck. Otherwise, if the missile deviated just slightly, it could have been on our heads... my colleague actually said after all that, we escaped death narrowly.”‘VERY DANGEROUS’Houthi Deputy Transport Minister Yahya al-Sayani said four people were killed and 20 wounded in the strikes.Tedros was visiting Yemen on behalf of UN chief Antonio Guterres as part of a mission to seek the release of detained UN staff and assess the health and humanitarian situations in the war-torn country.As for whether Israel knew he was at the airport at the time, Tedros said: “Our flights and so on are internationally known. So I would assume that the people who like to know, know. I would assume that. But I think it would be good to ask Israel on this.“It doesn’t matter whether I am there or not...if it’s a civilian installation, it has to be protected, based on international law.“Whether they knew or not, it doesn’t matter...international law should be respected.” Tedros said he saw a departure lounge full of civilians and civilian aircraft parked on the apron.“What I know is that it’s a civilian airport. If there is anything else — I haven’t seen. But I know it was serving, at the time, civilian flights.” On X, Tedros posted video from the strikes and thanked colleagues and airport staff who tried to protect him during the “very dangerous attack”. He and his team flew to safety in Jordan.“My heart goes out to our colleagues on the front lines and the civilians who face such danger every day,” he added.

Olivia Hussey, who starred as a teenage Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 film Romeo and Juliet, garnering her a Golden Globe, died on Friday at age 73, her family announced.“Olivia was a remarkable person whose warmth, wisdom, and pure kindness touched the lives of all who knew her,” her family said in a statement posted to her Instagram account.Buenos Aires-born Hussey was 15 when she and her co-lead Leonard Whiting starred in the Oscar-winning adaptation of William Shakespeare’s tragedy.Born to an Argentine opera singer and a British legal secretary, Hussey moved with her family from Buenos Aires to London when she was seven years old.Hussey, who received a “New Star of the Year” Golden Globe for her performance, would later star in the 1974 slasher film Black Christmas and the 1978 adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile, among other projects.She is survived by her husband David Eisley, their three children and a grandchild. – AFP

Donald Trump has yet to move back into the White House and already fissures are opening in his coalition, amid squabbling between Elon Musk and his Silicon Valley “tech bros” and his hardcore Republican backers.At the heart of the internecine sniping is Trump’s central election issue – immigration – and the H-1B visas that allow companies to bring foreigners with specific qualifications to the US.The permits are widely used in Silicon Valley, and Musk – who himself came to the United States from South Africa on an H-1B – is a fervent advocate.The altercation was set off earlier this week by far-right activists who criticised Trump’s selection of Sriram Krishnan, an Indian American venture capitalist, to be an adviser on artificial intelligence (AI), saying that he would have influence on the Trump administration’s immigration policies.On Friday, Steve Bannon, a long-time Trump confidante, critiqued “big tech oligarchs” for supporting the H-1B programme and cast immigration as a threat to Western civilisation.Musk, the world’s richest man who bankrolled Trump’s election campaign and has become a close adviser, posted on X on Thursday that welcoming elite engineering talent from abroad was “essential for America to keep winning”.Vivek Ramaswamy, appointed by Trump as Musk’s co-chair on a new advisory board on government efficiency, suggested that companies prefer foreign workers because they lack an “American culture”, which he said venerates mediocrity.“A culture that celebrates the prom queen over the math olympiad champ, or the jock over the valedictorian, will not produce the best engineers,” he posted, warning that, without a change in attitude, “we’ll have our asses handed to us by China”.Musk has vowed to go to “war” to defend the H-1B visa programme.In a post on social media platform X, Musk said: “The reason I’m in America, along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla and hundreds of other companies that made America strong, is because of H1B.”“I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend,” he added.Musk, a naturalised US citizen born in South Africa, has held an H-1B visa, and his electric-car company Tesla obtained 724 of the visas this year.H-1B visas are typically for three-year periods, though holders can extend them or apply for green cards.Scepticism over the benefits of immigration is a hallmark of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) movement and the billionaires’ remarks angered immigration hawks who accused them of ignoring US achievements in technological innovation.Incoming White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller posted a 2020 speech in which Trump marvelled at the American “culture” that had “harnessed electricity, split the atom, and gave the world the telephone and the Internet”.The post appeared calculated to remind critics that Trump won November’s election on a platform of getting tough on immigration and boosting American manufacturing.However, it was Michael Faraday, an English scientist, who discovered that an electric current could be produced by passing a magnet through a copper wire and Ernest Rutherford, a New Zealander, who first split the atom.And Alexander Graham Bell may have died a US citizen but he was a British subject in Canada when he invented the telephone.Trump voiced opposition to H-1B visas during his successful first run for the White House in 2016, calling them “unfair for our workers” while acknowledging that he used foreign labour in his own businesses.The Republican placed restrictions on the system when he took office, but the curbs were lifted by President Joe Biden.Trump is known for enjoying the gladiatorial spectacle when conflict breaks out in his inner circle.He has been conspicuously silent during the hostilities that Politico characterised as “Musk vs MAGA”.Many MAGA figures have been agitating for a complete closure of America’s borders while the problem of illegal entries is tackled, and hoping for a steer from Trump that would reassure them that he remains firm in his “America First” stance.It remains to be seen whether these cracks can be smoothed out or if they are a portent of further strife, but critics point to the chaos in Trump’s first term as a potential indicator.“Looking forward to the inevitable divorce between President Trump and Big Tech,” said far-right conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer, a MAGA figure with so much influence that she had a seat on Trump’s plane during the campaign. “We have to protect President Trump from the technocrats.”She has subsequently complained of censorship after she was stripped of her paying subscribers on X, which is owned by Musk.“Full censorship of my account simply because I called out H1B visas,” she posted. “This is anti-American behaviour by tech oligarchs. What happened to free speech?” Page 9

US President-elect Donald Trump has filed a brief urging the Supreme Court to pause a law that would ban TikTok the day before his January 20 inauguration if it is not sold by its Chinese owner ByteDance.“In light of the novelty and difficulty of this case, the court should consider staying the statutory deadline to grant more breathing space to address these issues,” Trump’s legal team wrote, to give him “the opportunity to pursue a political resolution”.Trump was fiercely opposed to TikTok during his 2017-21 first term, and tried in vain to ban the video app on national security grounds.The Republican voiced concerns – echoed by political rivals – that the Chinese government might tap into US TikTok users’ data or manipulate what they see on the platform.US officials had also voiced alarm over the popularity of the video-sharing app with young people, alleging that its parent company is subservient to Beijing and that the app is used to spread propaganda, claims denied by the company and the Chinese government.Trump called for a US company to buy TikTok, with the government sharing in the sale price, and his successor Joe Biden went one stage further – signing a law to ban the app for the same reasons.Trump has now, however, reversed course.At a press conference last week, Trump said he has “a warm spot” for TikTok and that his administration would take a look at the app and the potential ban.Earlier this month, the president-elect met TikTok chief executive Shou Zi Chew at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.Recently, Trump told Bloomberg he had changed his mind about the app: “Now (that) I’m thinking about it, I’m for TikTok, because you need competition.”“If you don’t have TikTok, you have Facebook and Instagram – and that’s, you know, that’s Zuckerberg,” he added.Facebook, founded by Mark Zuckerberg and part of his Meta tech empire, was among the social media networks that banned Trump after attacks by his supporters on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.The ban was driven by concerns that he would use the platform to promote more violence.Those bans on major social media platforms were later lifted.In the brief filed on Friday, Trump’s lawyer made it clear the president-elect did not take a position on the legal merits of the current case.“President Trump takes no position on the underlying merits of this dispute,” John Sauer wrote in the amicus curiae – or “friend of the court” – brief.“Instead, he respectfully requests that the court consider staying the act’s deadline for divestment of January 19, 2025, while it considers the merits of this case, thus permitting President Trump’s incoming Administration the opportunity to pursue a political resolution of the questions at issue in the case.”A coalition of free speech groups – including the American Civil Liberties Union – also filed a separate brief to the Supreme Court opposing enforcement of the law, citing censorship concerns.“Such a ban is unprecedented in our country and, if it goes into effect, will cause a far-reaching disruption in Americans’ ability to engage with the content and audiences of their choice online,” the rights groups’ filing read, in part.The US apex court agreed last week to hear TikTok’s appeal against Biden’s move to force its owner to divest from it or face a ban.With oral arguments scheduled for January 10, the case would have to be heard at a breakneck speed.TikTok argues that the law, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, violates its First Amendment free speech rights.AFP, among more than a dozen other fact-checking organisations, is paid by TikTok in several countries to verify videos that potentially contain false information.TikTok has more than 170mn US users.Bytedance has previously said the Justice Department has misstated its ties to China, arguing its content recommendation engine and user data are stored in the United States on cloud servers operated by Oracle Corp while content moderation decisions that affect US users are made in the United States as well.

A Canadian parliamentary committee led by an opposition Conservative Party lawmaker will hold meetings during legislative recess in hopes of expediting the defeat of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government, the lawmaker said on Friday.The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee will begin meetings on January 7 to consider and vote on a motion of no-confidence in the Liberal government, committee Chair John Williamson said in a letter to panel members.The motion would have to ultimately pass in the House of Commons to defeat the government.Parliament will reconvene on January 27.Trudeau, in power since 2015, has been under increasing pressure to quit since his former finance minister Chrystia Freeland resigned on December 16.Williamson, a Conservative lawmaker, said he was prepared to hold meetings throughout January with the goal of holding a non-confidence vote as early as January 30.That would be weeks earlier than it would otherwise take an opposition party to propose such a motion.Trudeau’s options have narrowed since New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh, who has been helping keep the Liberals in power, said last week that he would move to bring down the minority Liberal government and trigger an election.“It is now clear that the Liberal Government does not have the confidence of Parliament. Conservative, Bloc Quebecois and NDP members – representing a majority of MPs – have all announced they will vote non-confidence in the Liberal Government,” Williamson said in a copy of the letter he posted on social media.Trudeau, however, could prorogue parliament, which would formally end the current session and prevent lawmakers from voting on a no-confidence motion.Singh has said he would present a motion of no-confidence after the House of Commons elected chamber returns from the winter break but he did not say how his party would vote on motions introduced by other parties.All opposition parties would need to back a single motion to bring down the government.The Williamson-led panel has five Liberal MPs, four Conservative MPs, and one each from the NDP and the Bloc Quebecois.Canadian governments must show they have the confidence of the House of Commons elected chamber.Votes on budgets and other spending are considered confidence measures and if a government loses one, it falls. In virtually all cases, an election campaign starts immediately.

India yesterrday accorded former premier Manmohan Singh, one of the architects of the country’s economic liberalisation in the early 1990s, a state funeral with full military honours, complete with a gun salute. Singh, who held office from 2004-2014, died at the age of 92 on Thursday, after which seven days of state mourning were declared.The honours were led by President Draupadi Murmu with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in attendance, along with the country’s top civilian and military officials. Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck also attended the ceremony.Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, who called the former prime minister his mentor and guide, joined Singh’s family as they prayed before his cremation.Earlier, mourners gathered to pay their respects to Singh. His coffin, draped in garlands of flowers, was flanked by a guard of honour and carried to his Congress Party headquarters in New Delhi. It was then taken through the capital to the cremation grounds, accompanied by guards of soldiers and accorded full state honours. Modi called Singh one of India’s “most distinguished leaders”.US President Joe Biden called Singh a “true statesman”, saying that he “charted pathbreaking progress that will continue to strengthen our nations - and the world - for generations to come”. The former prime minister was an understated technocrat who was hailed for overseeing an economic boom in his first term.Singh’s second stint ended with a series of major corruption scandals, slowing growth and high inflation. Singh’s unpopularity in his second term, and lacklustre leadership by Nehru-Gandhi scion Rahul Gandhi, the current opposition leader in the lower house, led to Modi’s first landslide victory in 2014. Born in 1932 in the mud-house village of Gah in what is now Pakistan and was then British-ruled India, Singh studied economics to find a way to eradicate poverty in the vast nation. He won scholarships to attend both Cambridge, where he obtained a first in economics, and Oxford, where he completed his doctorate.Singh worked in a string of senior civil service posts, served as a central bank governor and also held various jobs with global agencies including the United Nations. He was tapped in 1991 by then Congress prime minister P V Narasimha Rao to serve as finance minister and reel India back from the worst financial crisis in its modern history.Though he had never held an elected post, he was declared the National Congress’ candidate for the highest office in 2004. In his first term, Singh steered the economy through a period of nine percent growth, lending India the international clout it had long sought. He also sealed a landmark nuclear deal with the United States that he said would help India meet its growing energy needs.President Murmu said Singh would “always be remembered for his service to the nation, his unblemished political life and his utmost humility”.

Air travellers in the UK faced further disruption on Saturday, as fog that has blanketed much of the country in recent days grounded flights and hampered landings and take-offs. Disruption grew through the day at London’s Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports, as well as at Manchester and Belfast, according to Flightradar24, which tracks plane movements in real-time.Hundreds of flights were delayed into and out of Heathrow - the country’s busiest hub - and Gatwick, while both each saw more than a dozen departures cancelled, the site reported. More than half of Heathrow’s departing flights were showing as delayed, according to Flightradar24.The same airports also saw disruption on Friday due to the foggy conditions. “As widespread fog continues to affect some UK airports today, temporary air traffic restrictions remain in place at locations with low visibility,” the air traffic control authority NATS said yesterday. It said the restrictions were to maintain safety and that its teams were working closely with the airports and airlines to minimise disruption. In some areas, thick fog patches could reduce visibility down to just 100m, Britain’s weather agency, the Met Office, said.A spokesperson for Gatwick airport had earlier said the temporary air traffic restrictions in place due to fog causing poor visibility could lead to delays “throughout the day”. The disruption comes at one of the busiest times of the year for air travel.

South Korea’s suspended president Yoon Suk-yeol authorised the military to fire their weapons if needed to enter parliament during his failed bid to impose martial law, according to a prosecutors’ report seen by AFP yesterday.The 10-page summary from former defence minister Kim Yong-hyun’s prosecution indictment report, which was provided to the media, also says Yoon vowed on December 3 to declare martial law three times if necessary.Yoon, who was stripped of his duties by the National Assembly this month, is under investigation for his short-lived attempt to scrap civilian rule, which plunged the country into political turmoil and led to his impeachment. Yoon’s lawyer Yoon Kab-keun dismissed the prosecutors’ report, telling AFP it was “a one-sided account that neither corresponds to objective circumstances nor common sense”.As lawmakers rushed to parliament on December 3 to vote down Yoon’s martial law declaration, heavily armed troops stormed the building, scaling fences, smashing windows and landing by helicopter. According to the prosecution indictment report, Yoon told the chief of the capital defence command, Lee Jin-woo, that military forces could shoot if necessary to enter the National Assembly. “Have you still not got in? What are you doing? Break down the door and drag them out, even if it means shooting,” Yoon told Lee, according to the report.Yoon also allegedly told the head of the Defense Counterintelligence Command, General Kwak Jong-keun, to “quickly get inside” the National Assembly since the quorum for the martial law declaration to be lifted had not been met.“So quickly get inside the National Assembly and bring out the people inside the chamber, and break down the doors with an axe if necessary and drag everyone out,” the report quotes Yoon as saying at the time.After lawmakers rushed inside parliament and voted 190-0 to nullify Yoon’s declaration in the early hours of December 4, the report says Yoon told Lee, “Even if it’s lifted, I can declare martial law a second or third time, so just keep going.”The report also included screenshots of senior defence officials’ messages from the day of the martial law declaration.It said there was evidence that Yoon had been discussing declaring martial law with senior military officials as early as March. The declaration followed a budget tussle between Yoon’s party and the opposition.Days later, Yoon in a speech apologised for the “anxiety and inconvenience” and promised there would not be a second declaration of martial law. Ex-defence minister Kim was arrested over his role in the failed martial law bid.Opposition Democratic Party lawmaker Kang Sun-woo said in a statement on Saturday that “the prosecution has laid bare the undeniable ugly truth about Yoon Suk-yeol, the treasonous ringleader”, adding that he must be “arrested immediately”.South Korea’s Constitutional Court held its first preliminary hearing on the validity of Yoon’s impeachment on Friday.The court will also decide the fate of Yoon’s replacement, Han Duck-soo, who was impeached Friday over his refusal to complete Yoon’s impeachment process and bring him to justice. Tens of thousands of Yoon supporters and opponents held rival mass rallies in central Seoul on Saturday.“The martial law was legal, and president Yoon did it because of the insurrectionary opposition Democratic Party,” said 31-year-old Danny Ko, holding the slogan “Legal martial law, Invalid impeachment!” “The Democratic Party will impeach (acting president) Choi Sang-mok like Han, and the country will go mad.”An anti-Yoon crowd was gathered nearby holding signs such as: “A new leader for the new year” and “Arrest Yoon Suk-yeol”, with many singing along to K-pop songs and John Lennon’s “Imagine”. “I felt so relieved when Han was impeached, he was also part of the insurrection” Kwak Min-jeong, 25, told AFP.Holding a glow stick, Kwak said she would keep protesting until “democracy was achieved”. “We are holding it to show our commitment, and unlike a candle, it will never go off,” she said.

A Mega Millions ticket holder in California woke up much richer on Saturday after they matched all six numbers in the lottery hours before to win an estimated $1.3 billion, the fifth largest jackpot in the game's history.The winning ticket that matched the numbers 3, 7, 37, 49 and 55, plus the gold Mega Ball 6 during Friday's drawing was sold in Cottonwood, California, about 200 miles north of San Francisco, Mega Millions said in a statement."What an amazing present this holiday season! At an incredibly special time of year, this is both an incredibly special moment for our winner," Joshua Johnston, lead director for the Mega Millions Consortium.The lottery reached the $1.269 billion mark after no one matched all six numbers in the previous 30 drawings. Odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 302,575,350.The largest ever in U.S. lottery jackpot history came in November 2022 when a single ticket holder in California won a $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot.