Daily Brief: Top 5 science stories making headlines
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 18 September 2026. These are the top five stories making headlines in the field of science....
South Korean police raid Jeju Air and Muan Airport following a deadly crash that killed 179 people, as investigators probe the cause and focus on aircraft maintenance and airport safety.
South Korean police raided Jeju Air and Muan International Airport as part of the investigation into a crash that killed 179 people, the worst aviation disaster in the country's history.
Jeju Air flight 7C2216, en route from Bangkok to Muan, belly-landed and overshot the runway, exploding after hitting an embankment. Two crew members survived, though one was critically injured.
Investigators are examining documents related to the aircraft's operation and the airport's maintenance. The airline's CEO and another official have been banned from leaving the country as potential witnesses.
Questions regarding the crash have focused on the rigid embankment supporting a localizer antenna, which experts believe contributed to the disaster. South Korean officials, alongside the NTSB, FAA, and Boeing, are investigating the cause of the crash, including why the plane's landing gear failed to deploy and the pilot's rushed second landing attempt.
The cockpit voice recorder's audio files will remain private for the investigation.
The South Korean government is also conducting checks on all Boeing 737-800 aircraft in the country. The acting president has urged immediate action if issues are found and called for assistance to the victims' families while cracking down on fake news related to the incident.
Saudi Arabia said its air defences destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it could enter prohibited airspace over the holy city, as attacks by the Iran-aligned group deepen regional tensions.
Russian air strikes injured 13 and damaged buildings in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and in the Black Sea port city of Odesa in the early hours of Thursday, officials said on the Telegram messaging app.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine was carrying out tests on a new weapon to intercept drones and had recorded a successful hit overnight.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is outlining the EU's priorities in her annual State of the Union address, covering security, support for Ukraine, trade with China, migration, climate and artificial intelligence.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he hoped the war against Iran was nearing its end and that Tehran wanted to reach a deal, but Iran dismissed his comments as “mixed signals” as the conflict approaches its seventh month.
The European Union will disburse €3.3 billion ($3.8 billion) to Ukraine for missiles and drones, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Russian air strikes injured 13 and damaged buildings in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and in the Black Sea port city of Odesa in the early hours of Thursday, officials said on the Telegram messaging app.
An Afghan national linked to an Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan has been sentenced to 20 years in prison in connection with the 2021 Kabul airport suicide bombing that happened during a chaotic scene as the Taliban retook the country.
The European Parliament on Wednesday adopted an amendment condemning the mass migrant flows into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta in late July, and demanded a thorough, independent investigation to clarify who is responsible for the incident.
Rivers around the world experienced one of their driest years in decades in 2025, according to the World Meteorological Organization, which warned that declining water reserves could threaten future supplies.
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