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Fire Breaks Out On Air Busan Plane In South Korea, One Injured

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An Air Busan passenger plane caught fire at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, South Korea on Tuesday, forcing the evacuation of 176 people on board, Yonhap News Agency reported.

The incident occurred at around 10:30 p.m. local time (1330 GMT) as the aircraft, which was bound for Hong Kong, ignited near its tail section.

A total of 169 passengers and seven flight attendants were evacuated using inflatable slides, Yonhap reported.

SEE ALSO: South Korean Court To Decide Fate Of Detained President Yoon Suk Yeol

One person sustained injuries during the evacuation, but no further details about the injury or the fire’s cause were immediately available.

South Korea’s Busan fire authorities were not reachable for comment, according to AFP.

This incident comes just weeks after South Korea’s worst aviation disaster in decades.

Recall that on December 29, a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crash-landed and exploded after striking a concrete barrier at Muan International Airport.

The crash killed 179 of the 181 passengers and crew on board.

According to Flightradar24, Air Busan’s fleet is composed entirely of Airbus aircraft.

The cause of Tuesday’s fire is under investigation.

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Mexico Threatens Legal Action Against Google Over Gulf of Mexico Renaming

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Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum announced on Monday that her government is prepared to take legal action against Google if the tech giant insists on renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America” for Maps users in the United States.

Sheinbaum stated that the Mexican government had sent another letter to Google, arguing that an executive order issued by former President Donald Trump regarding the renaming only applies to the part of the Gulf located within U.S. territorial waters.

According to Sheinbaum, the letter emphasized that “under no circumstances does Mexico accept the renaming of any geographic area that includes part of its national territory and that is under its jurisdiction.”

READ MORE: Mexico To Raise Minimum Wage By 12% In 2025

Sheinbaum added that Mexico is awaiting Google’s response, but if the company refuses to reconsider, legal action will follow.

“If necessary, we will file a civil suit,” Sheinbaum said, referencing the earlier announcement that her government was weighing legal measures against the tech company.

The controversy stems from a 2021 executive order by Trump that called for renaming the Gulf of Mexico for U.S. users of mapping services.

While Google announced that its Maps application would show “Gulf of Mexico” in Mexico and other countries, U.S. users would see both “Gulf of Mexico” and “Gulf of America,” in compliance with the order.

In a playful but pointed response, Sheinbaum suggested that the United States could be renamed “Mexican America,” referencing a historical map from before 1848 when large portions of Mexico were ceded to the U.S. in the aftermath of the Mexican-American War.

Apple has also renamed the Gulf of Mexico to “Gulf of America” for U.S. users of its mapping service, following the same directive issued by Trump.

 

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Ex-Mauritius PM, Pravind Jugnauth Arrested For Money-Laundering

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Former Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth has been arrested in connection with a money-laundering investigation, authorities confirmed on Sunday.

The 63-year-old politician, who led the country from 2017 to 2024, was detained alongside his wife, Kobita Jugnauth, as police conducted searches at multiple locations, uncovering large sums of cash, luxury watches, and incriminating documents.

The arrests followed a directive from the island’s Financial Crimes Commission, which had issued a notice barring the Jugnauths and two other suspects from leaving the country.

READ ALSO: Ex-IMF Chief, Rodrigo Rato Jailed For Money Laundering, Fraud

Police sources told AFP that the couple was questioned for several hours on Saturday before Kobita Jugnauth was released, while Pravind Jugnauth was placed under formal arrest in the early hours of Sunday.

Jugnauth’s lawyer, Raouf Gulbul, maintained his client’s innocence, stating, “He gave his version of events and denied the allegations made against him.” The former prime minister is expected to appear before a judge later on Sunday.

Meanwhile, raids on the homes of other suspects led to significant discoveries.

A local leisure company employee was found in possession of documents bearing the Jugnauths’ names, stacks of various currencies, and high-end timepieces.

Another suspect, a real estate executive, reportedly had suitcases filled with cash.

Jugnauth’s arrest comes just months after his Militant Socialist Movement (MSM) suffered a major defeat in the November elections, ceding power to centre-left rival Navin Ramgoolam, who became prime minister for the third time.

His administration has since reopened negotiations with Britain regarding the Chagos Islands, aiming for greater financial compensation and revised lease terms for the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia.

The case has sent shockwaves through Mauritius, where political dynasties like Jugnauth’s have long dominated the country’s leadership.

While the island nation boasts strong economic growth, the new government faces mounting pressure to address the rising cost of living.

 

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HIV-Positive Ugandans Protest USAID Closure Amid Trump-Era Purge

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Kano Reports Alarming Surge With 4,728 New HIV Infections In 2023

Thousands of Ugandans living with HIV are protesting the abrupt suspension of USAID programs in the country, calling it a “death sentence” for those dependent on the agency’s support.

The move follows a controversial decision by the Trump administration to place USAID’s global staff on leave as part of a broader political purge.

For Mike Elvis Tusubira, a Ugandan taxi driver who has lived with HIV since 2022, the USAID shutdown is devastating.

READ MORE: How Democrats Used USAID To Ferment Crisis, Sponsor Terrorists – Congressman, Perry

“The suspension of all USAID activities has affected me deeply. I don’t know what to do next. What will happen to me?” Tusubira lamented.

“My doctor told me he left the hospital I was going to. What will happen to my child and my partner?”

His wife, who remains HIV-negative thanks to preventative medication, is now at risk due to the disruption in care.

Since the USAID program’s suspension, they have been unable to access critical treatment, condoms, or counseling services—leading to rising anxiety and tension in their relationship.

Uganda receives 70% of its HIV treatment from foreign aid, making the loss of USAID’s support particularly catastrophic.

The country is among the top ten African nations that rely on USAID funding, with $295 million allocated for health programs in 2023.

The agency plays a crucial role in supporting HIV treatment, malaria prevention, tuberculosis care, and maternal and child health programs.

However, with its withdrawal, healthcare services are crumbling.

“The health sector in Uganda is highly dependent on aid,” said a senior official at the Ministry of Health, who requested anonymity. “Without USAID, we are looking at a catastrophic increase in HIV infections and deaths.”

Activists argue that the U.S. decision to suspend USAID’s work will reverse decades of progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Uganda.

Some have taken to the streets, demanding the reinstatement of funding and warning that thousands of lives hang in the balance.

With no clear resolution in sight, people like Tusubira face an uncertain future. “There’s no medicine, no shelters, no condoms—nothing,” he said. “I’m worried. And there’s no future in reality.”

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