Colombia Plane Crash Kills 15, Including Congressman
A small passenger plane crashed in northern Colombia on Thursday, killing all 15 people on board, including a member of the House of Representatives. Rescue crews located the crash site in the mountainous rural area of Norte de Santander, near the Venezuelan border, and confirmed there were no survivors, according to Colombia's transportation ministry.
The deceased included Diogenes Quintero, 36, a congressman for Catatumbo, and Carlos Salcedo, who was running for Congress, Sky News reported. Two crew members were also among those killed in the crash.
The cause of the crash is currently under investigation. The plane went down in a remote area, making rescue efforts challenging.
Santander to Close Branches, Cutting Jobs
In other news, Santander announced it would close 44 branches, putting 291 jobs at risk. The Spanish-owned bank, like others on the high street, is reducing its physical presence as customers increasingly move online, according to a report by BBC Business.
Last year, Santander announced plans to close 95 branches, a quarter of its total, affecting 750 workers. Lloyds Bank is also planning to shut more than 100 branches by March as part of a previously announced closure scheme.
Ministers have criticized the closure of bank branches, arguing it restricts access to cash for elderly and vulnerable people. Santander stated that 96% of its transactions are now conducted digitally.
WASPI Compensation Rejected Again
The UK government has again rejected calls for compensation for women affected by changes to the state pension age. Ministers reconsidered the case after a new document came to light, but concluded that no compensation should be paid, according to BBC Business.
Campaigners say 3.6 million women born in the 1950s were not properly informed of the rise in their state pension age, which brought it into line with men. The Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) group said the latest decision demonstrated "utter contempt" for those affected. Angela Madden, who has been leading the Waspi campaign for years, expressed her disappointment with the decision.
Bangladesh Approves Shooting Team's India Tour
Bangladesh has approved its shooting team's tour to New Delhi for next month's Asian Shooting Championships, days after the cricket team's refusal to play in India due to safety concerns cost them a place at the Twenty20 World Cup, Al Jazeera reported.
Bangladesh has been replaced by Scotland in the T20 World Cup, which runs from February 7 to March 8, after they insisted they would not tour India, highlighting security concerns following soured political relations between the neighbours.
Arijit Singh Reportedly Retires
Indian singer Arijit Singh has reportedly announced his retirement as a playback singer in Indian films, marking the end of a defining chapter in contemporary Bollywood music, according to BBC World. Fans have been paying tribute to Singh, with some describing his voice as "the sound of our heartbreaks and celebrations," while others called it "a presence in every corner of our lives." In Indian cinema, playback singing refers to studio recordings of songs that actors lipsync on screen, a bedrock of Bollywood storytelling.
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