Hello. The CEO of Jeju Air has held a press conference following the deadly plane crash at a South Korean airport in which 179 people died on Sunday. We take a look at what we know about the disaster, and the questions that remain unanswered. We also bring you the moment Ukrainian soldiers were reunited with their loved ones after hundreds of prisoners of war were exchanged with Russia, and delve into what the future for astronauts might look like in the age of AI. And as the world prepares to ring in 2025, we’ll be keeping you updated on the global celebrations. Happy New Year! 

TOP OF THE AGENDA

Aviation experts question wall position

The concrete wall's location, about 250m (820ft) off the end of the runway, is part of the investigation. Credit: Reuters

Jeju Air CEO Kim Yi-bae has spoken about providing support for staff and bereaved families during a press conference following the deadly crash. But a key issue remains unanswered. Video footage shows the harrowing moment the Jeju Air plane belly landed on the runway, crashing into a wall before bursting into flames. Aviation experts have raised questions about the location of the wall, including air safety expert David Learmount who said that, had the "obstruction" not been there, the plane "would have come to rest with most - possibly all - those on board still alive". 

• Watch: Family members told Seoul correspondent Jean Mackenzie they are frustrated with how long the process of identifying victims has taken.

• Safety investigation: A probe will examine whether a bird strike did lead to the crash, or if other factors could have been involved.

• Get the latest: Investigators have begun inspecting the plane's two black boxes - the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder.

WORLD HEADLINES

BEYOND THE HEADLINES

What the age of AI means for astronauts

Nasa's Curiosity rover on Mars autonomously performs some of its science without human input. Credit: Nasa

The role of robotics in space has long been a subject of science fiction. But the recent success of autonomous spacecraft, coupled with the rise of new advanced artificial intelligence, has spurred some scientists to question whether human astronauts are going to be needed in space exploration at all.

And finally...

The New Year has already started in parts of the world, with the island nation of Kiribati in Oceania becoming the first country to ring in 2025. It is 20 years since they changed the time zone across the international date line, which led to Kirabati’s New Year’s Eve in 1994 being celebrated on 30 December. The nation is now 26 hours ahead of neighbouring Baker Island. Follow celebrations around the globe in real time.