Under threats from President Trump that included steep tariffs, President Gustavo Petro of Colombia has relented and will allow U.S. military planes to fly deportees into the country, after turning two transports back in response to what he called inhumane treatment. The two leaders had engaged in a war of words on Sunday after Colombia’s move to block Trump’s use of military aircraft in deporting thousands of unauthorized immigrants. But on Sunday night, the White House released a statement in which it said that because Petro had agreed to all of its terms, the tariffs and sanctions Trump had threatened would be “held in reserve.” Other penalties, such as visa sanctions, will remain in effect until the first planeload of deportees has arrived in Colombia, the statement said. “Today’s events make clear to the world that America is respected again,” it added. Colombia’s foreign ministry released a statement soon afterward that said “we have overcome the impasse with the United States government.” It said the government would accept all deportation flights and “guarantee dignified conditions” for those Colombians on board. Petro began the day by announcing that he had turned back U.S. military planes carrying deported immigrants. This set off a furious back and forth with Trump, who in turn announced a barrage of tariffs and sanctions targeting the country, which has long been a top U.S. ally in Latin America. Trump said on social media that the United States would immediately impose a 25% tariff on all Colombian imports and would raise them to 50% after a week. The Trump administration would also “fully impose” banking and financial sanctions on Colombia, apply a travel ban on Colombian government officials and their associates, and revoke their visas, the president said.<br/>
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A group of MPs have called on the government to delay the decision on expanding Gatwick Airport until current noise levels are monitored adequately at the site. The airport submitted a development consent order in 2023 to bring its northern runway, normally a taxiway, into regular use for routine flights. A final decision is expected by 27 February. Five MPs from Sussex, Surrey and Kent have asked transport secretary Heidi Alexander to delay that decision until the "true impact of noise" that the airport currently makes is understood. A spokesperson for Gatwick said the airport has a "network of state-of-the-art noise monitors" which provide "comprehensive coverage". Mike Martin and Tom Tugendhat, MPs for Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge respectively, have signed the letter, alongside Dorking and Horley's MP Chris Coghlan. Mid Sussex MP Alison Bennett and Horsham's John Milne have also added their names. They claim that an "informed decision" on the Northern Runway Project cannot be made until adequate monitoring is put in place.<br/>
India and China have agreed to resume direct air services after nearly five years, India's foreign ministry said on Monday, signalling a thaw in relations between the neighbours after a deadly 2020 military clash on their disputed Himalayan border. Both sides will negotiate a framework on the flights in a meeting that will be held at an "early date", the ministry said after a meeting between India's top diplomat and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Tensions soured between the two nations after the 2020 clash, following which India made it difficult for Chinese companies to invest in the country, banned hundreds of popular apps and severed passenger routes, although direct cargo flights continued to operate between the countries. Relations have improved over the past four months with several high-level meetings, including talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Russia in October. On Monday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in Beijing that the two countries should work in the same direction, explore more substantive measures and commit to mutual understanding. "Specific concerns in the economic and trade areas were discussed with a view to resolving these issues and promoting long-term policy transparency and predictability," the Indian foreign ministry statement said in a statement. Their meeting was the latest between the two Asian powers following a milestone agreement in October seeking to ease friction along their frontier.<br/>
Why the concrete mound housing the localizer at Muan International Airport was placed in such a hazardous location — and why it remained there for years — remains unanswered more than a month after the Dec. 29 Jeju Air crash. The "gravely mistaken" mound, linked to the high death toll in the deadly collision, has become a focal point of scrutiny, with neither the government, the Korea Airports Corporation, nor the construction companies involved providing clear explanations or disclosing findings about its placement and safety compliance. An executive from a contractor involved in upgrading the localizer — a navigation aid facility linked to the high death toll in the Dec. 29 Jeju Air crash — acknowledged the tragedy, calling it “heartbreaking and regrettable.” However, the executive offered no explanation for the facility’s flawed structure, stating only, “Our employees followed the regulations.” While the investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing, one undeniable fact remains: the improper structure of the concrete mount supporting the localizer contributed to the collision and subsequent tragedy. Minister of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport Park Sang-woo acknowledged during a parliamentary inquiry on Jan. 14, saying, “Placing a hazardous facility in an emergency preparedness area was a grave mistake.” Story has more.<br/>
Jewel Changi Airport continued its strong recovery in 2024, hitting a record footfall of more than 80m people in 2024 – the highest since its opening in 2019. Announcing this on Jan 27, the operator of the retail and entertainment complex at Changi Airport said it saw a 10% year-on-year increase in footfall from about 74m people in 2023. There was also a 5% increase in sales in 2024, though Jewel did not provide specific sales figures for 2023, having cited commercial sensitivities then. Jewel said the share of overseas travellers increased to 35% of total footfall in 2024, with travellers from China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Australia and the Philippines making up the top five markets. Singapore’s National Day, which fell on Aug 9, 2024, marked the busiest day for Jewel in 2024, when it achieved footfall traffic of 354,036 for the first time since 2020. Jewel added that it welcomed 1m people during the long National Day weekend from Aug 9 to 11, 2024, largely because of its celebrations and promotions. More specifically, the mall’s retail sales per sq ft grew by 6% in comparison with 2023.<br/>