देश-विदेश

Twelve years after Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 disappeared without a trace, relatives of Chinese passengers returned to a Beijing court seeking answers they say they have been denied for more than a decade. The families insist that financial compensation alone cannot resolve their pain and are urging the court to focus on establishing the truth behind one of aviation’s greatest unsolved mysteries. The appeal comes after a Beijing court ruled in December that Malaysia Airlines should pay compensation of 2.9 million yuan to each of eight Chinese families. While the ruling acknowledged their loss, two families challenged the decision, arguing that it failed to address the airline’s responsibility or explain what happened to the aircraft and the 239 people on board. Flight MH370, a Boeing 777 travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014, disappeared from radar with 239 passengers and crew members. Nearly two thirds of those on board were Chinese nationals. Despite years of international search operations across the Indian Ocean, investigators have never located the aircraft’s main wreckage or recovered its flight recorders, leaving the fate of those on board unknown. The latest court hearing in Beijing was held behind closed doors, but family members gathered outside to express their frustration. Li Eryou, whose son was among the passengers, said the original court ruling left him feeling insulted because it focused only on financial compensation while ignoring the deeper questions surrounding the disappearance. Li said no one had apologized to the families during the past 12 years and argued that the case deserved to be treated as an international tragedy rather than a routine legal dispute. He believes the compensation awarded by the lower court does not reflect the seriousness of the disaster or the emotional suffering experienced by relatives who continue to live without closure. Over the years, aviation experts have proposed several possible explanations for the disappearance. Theories have included deliberate actions by the pilot, hijacking, a missile strike or a technical failure. Another widely discussed possibility suggests that a fire involving electronic equipment may have filled the cabin with smoke, causing everyone on board to lose consciousness before the aircraft continued flying on autopilot until it ran out of fuel and crashed into the Indian Ocean. However, none of these theories has been confirmed because investigators have never recovered enough evidence to determine exactly what happened. The absence of definitive findings has continued to fuel uncertainty and speculation, leaving many families convinced that important questions remain unanswered. Jiang Hui, whose mother was on the missing aircraft, said the appeal is not primarily about receiving more money. Instead, he said the families want the court to establish the facts surrounding the case and examine whether Malaysia Airlines responded appropriately after the aircraft disappeared. According to Jiang, determining responsibility and uncovering the truth are far more important than the compensation itself. People from 14 different countries were on board Flight MH370, including 50 Malaysian passengers and crew members. While legal proceedings continue in China, there are currently no similar cases pending against the airline in Malaysia. Last month, the Malaysian government announced that the search for MH370 would continue until June next year. The renewed operation is being carried out by private exploration company Ocean Infinity, which has previously led several unsuccessful search missions in the southern Indian Ocean. Although earlier efforts failed to locate the aircraft, relatives remain hopeful that new technology and expanded search areas could finally provide long awaited answers. Jiang welcomed Malaysia’s decision to extend the search and urged authorities to allow families to organize their own independent search missions alongside official efforts. For many relatives, discovering what happened to Flight MH370 remains their greatest priority, believing that only the truth can finally bring closure after more than a decade of uncertainty.

Oscar-winning Irish singer, songwriter and actor Glen Hansard has died following a motorcycle crash in Dublin. He was 56. Police said the single vehicle accident happened in the early hours of Wednesday on Lower Road in Lucan, west of the Irish capital, and have appealed for witnesses as investigations continue. Hansard rose to international fame as the lead singer of the rock band The Frames and later gained worldwide recognition through the independent film Once. He also appeared in the 1991 film The Commitments, where he played guitarist Outspan Foster. Before achieving success, he spent years performing as a street musician in Dublin, building a reputation for his powerful voice and heartfelt songwriting. His greatest international achievement came in 2008 when he and Czech musician Markéta Irglová won the Academy Awards for Best Original Song with Falling Slowly, written for the low budget film Once. The film, which tells the story of two musicians who form a creative partnership in Dublin, became a global success after winning the World Cinema Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival. Its Broadway adaptation later earned eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Hansard also performed as one half of the musical duo The Swell Season and released several solo albums during his career. His 2015 album Didn’t He Ramble received a Grammy nomination for Best Folk Album, further establishing him as one of Ireland’s most respected contemporary musicians. Away from the stage, Hansard was widely admired for his charitable work. In 2010, he launched Dublin’s annual Christmas Eve charity busk to raise funds for the Dublin Simon Community. The event became a yearly tradition, attracting well known artists including Bono, Sinéad O’Connor, Imelda May and Shane MacGowan while raising awareness and support for people experiencing homelessness. The charity paid tribute to Hansard following news of his death, describing him as a generous supporter whose compassion extended far beyond his music. It praised his dedication to social justice and said his work had made a lasting difference in the lives of vulnerable people across Ireland. Hansard is survived by his wife and their three year old son. In a BBC interview in 2023, he spoke about how becoming a father had transformed his life, describing the experience as something that changed his outlook completely and brought him immense happiness. His management company confirmed his death in a statement, saying his family was devastated by the tragic loss and requested privacy during this difficult time. Friends and fellow artists also shared heartfelt tributes. Actor Chris O’Dowd remembered Hansard as a musician whose songs deeply moved listeners, while fellow The Commitments actor Andrew Strong described his death as a heartbreaking and senseless loss. Waterboys frontman Mike Scott and Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin also honored Hansard’s contribution to Irish culture, praising his remarkable talent and expressing sympathy to his family, friends and fans. Hansard’s career spanned more than three decades, during which he became one of Ireland’s most recognizable musical voices. Through his songwriting, performances and charitable work, he left a lasting legacy that reached audiences far beyond his home country.

Thousands of residents have been allowed to return to their homes after authorities eased evacuation orders in several parts of Spain affected by devastating wildfires. However, officials are warning that a new heatwave expected to hit the country could reignite existing fires and create fresh emergencies as firefighters continue battling dangerous conditions. Restrictions have been lifted in areas across Toledo, Madrid, Ávila and Castellón, allowing many displaced families to go back home after days of uncertainty. In the Madrid region alone, around 24,000 people have been permitted to return, while lockdown measures affecting another 20,000 residents have also been removed. Despite the progress, several fires remain active. One of the biggest concerns is the wildfire near Burgohondo, about 150 kilometers west of Madrid, which has already burned more than 43,000 hectares of land. Authorities say it is now considered the largest wildfire ever recorded in Spain. Across the country, more than 207,000 hectares have been destroyed by wildfires so far this year. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the coming hours would be critical as firefighters work to bring the remaining blazes under control. He noted that conditions had improved but warned that rising temperatures, low humidity and strong winds could quickly reverse the progress made in recent days. Emergency crews remain on high alert as Spain prepares for its fourth major heatwave of the summer. Fire officials said the Burgohondo blaze had not spread overnight, but they remain concerned that extreme weather could cause new flare ups. Firefighters are focusing on securing a perimeter stretching about 180 kilometers to prevent the flames from spreading into nearby communities and forests. Among those returning home are residents of the towns of Navas del Rey and Chapinería, who had been evacuated earlier in the week. Many families have found damaged homes, destroyed property and lost livelihoods. Chapinería Mayor Lucía Moya said the community faces a long recovery, with many residents needing support to rebuild their lives after the disaster. Some evacuees are still unable to return. Around 300 people displaced from the nearby Tiétar Valley continue to stay in temporary accommodation provided by local authorities. Officials have pledged to maintain support services until it is safe for everyone to go home. While no deaths have been reported in the fires near Madrid or Castellón, authorities confirmed that a woman injured in an earlier wildfire in Almería has died in hospital. The Almería fires, which occurred earlier this month, claimed the lives of 14 people, including citizens of the United Kingdom, Belgium, the United States, France and Spain. Wildfires are also creating challenges elsewhere in Europe. In neighboring France, firefighters continue to monitor large blazes in the Gironde region, where several flare ups have occurred despite efforts to stabilize the fires. Authorities have warned that temperatures could reach 41 degrees Celsius, with dry winds increasing the risk of further outbreaks. Special protection measures have also been introduced around defense and aerospace facilities located in the affected area. Portugal and Greece are facing similar threats. Emergency crews in northern Portugal are working to contain an active wildfire near Valpaços while protecting nearby infrastructure, including a water treatment plant and a gas storage facility. In Greece, firefighters are responding to blazes on the island of Paros and in the southern mainland region of Trifylia. Scientists continue to warn that climate change is contributing to longer and more intense heatwaves across Europe. Rising temperatures, prolonged dry conditions and stronger winds have increased the frequency and severity of wildfires, making firefighting operations more difficult and placing greater pressure on communities across the continent. Authorities are urging residents in high risk areas to remain cautious as extreme weather conditions are expected to continue in the coming days.