Morning bird: The Czech initiative to save Radio Free Europe has already been supported by 12 countries. Forest fires are ravaging South Korea
Minister for European Affairs Martin Dvořák, after the US announced the cancellation of funding for Radio Free Europe, initiated support for the station, which is based in Prague, addressed other European ministers and also spoke about it at the EU Council for General Affairs. His steps have already been supported by 12 countries. Forest fires have hit South Korea. They have already killed 18 people, destroyed more than 200 buildings, and forced 27 thousand people.
Czechs initiate help to save Radio Free Europe
The Czech initiative to preserve the activities of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) has already been supported by 12 countries. The Minister for European Affairs Martin Dvořák (STAN) stated this on the X network. According to him, Finland and Denmark have recently joined the initiative. The radio had a financing agreement with the United States and the US Congress already promised the station money for operations until the end of the fiscal year. However, the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) announced on March 15 that it is cancelling the agreement and refuses to release the promised money. So far, the money is only for a period of two weeks. The RFE/RL is asking the court to release another approximately 77 million dollars, which Congress earmarked for the station's activities until the end of the fiscal year, wrote the server Ceskenoviny.cz.
Forest fires are ravaging South Korea, killing 18 people and forcing 27,000 to evacuate
Forest fires, which are among the historically worst in South Korea, have been ravaging southern parts of the country. They have already killed 18 people, destroyed more than 200 buildings and forced 27,000 people to evacuate, the AP agency reported. Among the buildings destroyed by forest fires, which burned 43,330 hectares and injured 19 people, was also an ancient Buddhist temple, houses, factories, and cars. The Korean Forest Service said that rescue work is ongoing. The national forest fire warning was raised to the highest "severe" level yesterday. As a result, restrictions on entering forests and parks have also been heightened.
Oscar-winning director released from custody
Palestinian director Hamdan Ballal, who contributed to the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, who was detained by the Israeli army after allegedly being attacked by settlers, has been released.
"After being handcuffed and beaten all night at a military base, Hamdan Ballal is now free and preparing to return home to his family,"
His colleague Yuval Abraham wrote on social network X.
Ballal himself then said that he was forced to sleep in the cold caused by the local air conditioning, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Flight to China turned around after pilot realized he forgot passport
The Boeing 787 United Airlines plane flying from Los Angeles to Shanghai had to turn around last weekend about two hours into the flight after one of the pilots realized that he had forgotten his passport, TV CNN reported. The plane was then redirected to San Francisco, where each passenger received two meal vouchers worth a total of $30 which they could use at the airport restaurant.
Sources: Ceskenoviny.cz, AP, CNN, Al Jazeera
