Passenger plane crashes at South Korean airport, killing 176
Most of the 181 people on board are presumably dead, making it one of the worst aviation disasters to hit South Korea.
Three drownings over weekend add to Australia’s growing toll as lifesavers plead for caution
Drowning deaths in 2024 were overwhelmingly male, accounting for 22 of the 29 lives lost
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Another three people have drowned in Australian waters as the summer death toll continues to climb during the festive period.
Police said on Sunday that two tourists were unable to be revived after a group of swimmers were pulled from a rip at a beach on Western Australia’s south-west coast.
Continue reading...Video captures moments before South Korea plane crash
The Jeju Air flight landing at Muan Airport had 181 passengers on board when it crashed off the runway.
London museum security guards urge public to stay away in strikes over pay
More walkouts planned in 2025 at V&A, Natural History and Science museums as workers demand living wage
Three of the UK’s biggest museums face the threat of strike action in 2025 by security guards over pay and conditions.
Guards at the Science Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Natural History Museum are in dispute with the external contractor, Wilson James. They want a basic pay rate of £16 an hour to cope with the cost of living crisis.
Continue reading...‘Authoritarian and heavy-handed’: call for investigation into vetting of experts by UK civil servants
Speakers banned after criticising government in social media posts
The information watchdog has been asked to investigate “authoritarian” government vetting that caused speakers to be banned from official events for criticising ministers.
Two experts, who discovered that civil servants had combed through years of social media posts to judge them “unsuitable” to address conferences, believe the practice was covert and unlawful.
Continue reading...Renewed bushfire warnings for NSW, Victoria and WA as heat forecast to return for new year
BoM says light winds are expected to temper the fire danger despite high temperatures, especially inland
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Scorching temperatures and elevated fire dangers are forecast for the coming week as Australia rings in the new year – but light winds could protect towns from blazes becoming too severe.
Perth was the first hit by the heatwave, with a high of 34C recorded on Sunday, and maximums above 32C forecast for every day until Friday.
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Continue reading...As Putin reaches 25 years in power, has he ‘taken care of Russia’?
Over a quarter of a century in power we've seen many different Putins, says the BBC's Russia editor.
As Putin reaches 25 years in power, has he ‘taken care of Russia’?
Over a quarter of a century in power we've seen many different Putins, says the BBC's Russia editor.
Pilot dies but passenger survives light plane crash in northern NSW
Sixty-year-old pilot dies but surviving passenger stable in hospital
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A man has died and another has been airlifted to hospital with serious injuries after their light plane crashed.
Emergency crews, including several ambulances and a rescue helicopter, were called to Palmers Island, about 8km west of Yamba, in the NSW northern rivers on Sunday following reports of a crash.
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Continue reading...Putin apologises over Azerbaijan plane crash, without saying Russia at fault
Russia's leader apologises over the downing of an Azerbaijani plane in Russian airspace - without directly taking blame.
Chad votes in first parliamentary election in over a decade: What to know
The Central African nation delayed elections citing financial challenges and the COVID pandemic.
Georgia’s outgoing president refuses to quit as successor sworn in
Former head of state Salome Zourabichvili agreed to leave the presidential residence, but vowed to fight on.
Toddler nearly runs off cliff at Hawaii volcano
The little boy wandered off from his family and "ran straight toward the 400ft cliff edge" of the Kilauea volcano.
Toddler nearly runs off cliff at Hawaii volcano
The little boy wandered off from his family and "ran straight toward the 400ft cliff edge" of the Kilauea volcano.
UK and EU look to 2025 for reset, but with little room for trade-offs
Sir Keir Starmer is invited to an EU summit in February - the first of its type since the Brexit negotiations.
UK and EU look to 2025 for reset, but with little room for trade-offs
Sir Keir Starmer is invited to an EU summit in February - the first of its type since the Brexit negotiations.
A year of extreme weather that challenged billions
Climate change caused 41 additional days of dangerous heat and extreme weather, say scientists.
Growth of women in power grinds to near-halt in a mega-election year
Out of 46 countries where elections were held, nearly two-thirds saw numbers of women elected fall - BBC finds.
How feminism, not Bollywood, drew global audiences to Indian cinema in 2024
Women-led Indian films have made a splash across the world this year, including at major festivals.
Lost city found by accident and rhino IVF breakthrough: 2024’s scientific wins
Moments to celebrate included a solar eclipse seen by millions and a lost city discovered by accident.