AP 10:12 JST, December 30, 2024 SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A jetliner skidded off a runway, slammed into a concrete fence and burst into flames Sunday in South Korea after its landing gear apparently failed to deploy. All but two of the 181 people aboard were killed in one of the country’s worst aviation disasters, officials said. The Boeing 737-800 operated by Jeju Air plane arrived from Bangkok and crashed while attempting to land in the town of Muan, about 290 kilometers (180 miles) south of Seoul. Footage of the crash aired by South Korean television showed the plane skidding across the airstrip at high speed, evidently with its landing gear still closed, and slamming into the wall, triggering an explosion and generating plumes of thick, black smoke. The crash killed 179 people, the South Korean fire agency said. Emergency workers pulled two crew members to safety. They were conscious and did not appear to have any life-threatening injuries, health officials said. The chief of the Muan fire station, Lee Jeong-hyeon, told a televised briefing that the plane was completely destroyed, with only the tail assembly still recognizable in the wreckage. Officials were investigating the cause of the crash, including whether the aircraft was struck by birds, Lee said. The control tower issued a warning about birds to the plane shortly before it intended to land and gave the crew permission to land in a different area, Transport Ministry officials said. The crew sent out a distress signal shortly before the crash, officials said. Investigators retrieved the jet’s flight data and cockpit voice recorders, said senior Transport Ministry official Joo Jong-wan. He said it may take months to complete the probe into the crash. The runway will be closed until Jan. 1, the ministry said. Video of the crash indicated that the pilots did not deploy flaps or slats to slow the aircraft, suggesting a possible hydraulic failure, and they did not manually lower the landing gear, suggesting they did not have time, said John Cox, a retired airline pilot and CEO of Safety Operating Systems in St. Petersburg, Florida. Despite that, the jetliner was under control and traveling in a straight line, and damage and injuries likely would have been minimized if not for a barrier being so close to the runway, Cox said. “It’s all in one piece. Everything is coming along fine until it hits that wall, at which point it disintegrates into a catastrophe,” he said. Another aviation expert said videos showed the aircraft had used up much of the runway before touching down. With little braking ability, the aircraft skidded atop its engine cowlings, said Ross “Rusty” Aimer, CEO of Aero Consulting Experts. “It’s basically like skidding on ice,” he said. The Boeing 737-800 is a “proven airplane” that belongs to a different class of aircraft than the Boeing 737 Max jetliner that was linked to fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019, added Alan Price, a former chief pilot at Delta Air Lines and now a consultant. More than 4,500 of the planes are in service around the world, according to the aviation analytics company Cirium. One of the survivors was being treated for fractures to his ribs, shoulder blade and upper spine, said Ju Woong, director of the Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital. Ju said the man, whose name was not released, told doctors he “woke up to find (himself) rescued.” Details on the other survivor were not immediately available. The passengers were predominantly South Korean and included two people from Thailand. Officials identified 88 of them in the hours after the crash, the fire agency said. Thailand’s prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, expressed condolences to the families of those aboard the plane in a post on X. Paetongtarn said she ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide assistance. Boonchuay Duangmanee, the father of a Thai passenger, told The Associated Press that his daughter, Jongluk, had been working in a factory in South Korea for several years and returned to Thailand to visit her family. “I never thought that this would be the last time we would see each other forever,” he said. Kerati Kijmanawat, the director of Thailand’s airports, confirmed in a statement that Jeju Air flight 7C 2216 departed from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport with no reports of anything abnormal aboard the aircraft or on the runway. Jeju Air in a statement expressed its “deep apology” over the crash and said it will do its “utmost to manage the aftermath of the accident.” In a televised news conference, the company’s president, Kim E-bae, bowed deeply with other senior company officials as he apologized to bereaved families and said he feels “full responsibility” for the crash. He said the company had not identified any mechanical problems with the aircraft following regular checkups and that he would wait for the results of government investigations. Family members wailed as officials announced the names of some victims at a lounge in the Muan airport. Boeing said in a statement on X that it was in contact with Jeju Air and was ready to support the company in dealing with the crash. The crash happened as South Korea is embroiled in a political crisis triggered by President Yoon Suk Yeol’s stunning imposition of martial law and ensuing impeachment. South Korean lawmakers on Friday impeached acting President Han Duck-soo and suspended his duties, leading Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok to take over. Choi, who traveled to the site in Muan, called for officials to use all available resources to identify the dead as soon as possible. The government declared Muan a special disaster zone and designated a weeklong national mourning period. Yoon’s office said his chief secretary, Chung Jin-suk, presided over an emergency meeting between senior presidential staff to discuss the crash and reported the details to Choi. Yoon expressed condolences to the victims in a Facebook post. In Rome’s St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis said he joined in “prayer for the survivors and the dead.” U.S. President Joe Biden said the United States was ready to offer “any necessary assistance.” The Muan crash is one of the deadliest disasters in South Korea’s aviation history. The last time South Korea suffered a large-scale air disaster was in 1997, when a Korean Airlines plane crashed in Guam, killing 228 people on board. In 2013, an Asiana Airlines plane crash-landed in San Francisco, killing three and injuring about 200. Sunday’s accident was also one of the worst landing disasters since a July 2007 crash that killed all 187 people on board and 12 others on the ground when an Airbus A320 slid off a slick airstrip in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and hit a nearby building, according to data compiled by the Flight Safety Foundation, a nonprofit group aimed at improving air safety. In 2010, 158 people died when an Air India Express aircraft overshot a runway in Mangalore, India, and plummeted into a gorge before erupting into flames, according to the safety foundation.BLACKBURN'S Nick Papadakis has taken out the Bendigo and District Cycling Club's Lindsay Harrington Wheelrace for 2024. or signup to continue reading The annual Lindsay Harrington Wheelrace (2000m) was among the feature events at the club's Christmas Carnival meeting at the Tom Flood Sports Centre on Sunday. Papadakis raced off a mark of 130m to win from defending champion Blake Agnoletto of Bendigo off scratch. Agnoletto was one of five Bendigo and District Cycling Club members to contest the 20-rider final, along with Toby McCaig (7th), Nathan Brain (12th), Josh Thomson (18th) and Matt Jones (DNF). Sunday's Christmas Carnival action featured both a junior and senior program. Senior winners included: Mckenzie Milne (Brunswick) Kiaan Watts (NZL) Mckenzie Milne (Brunswick) Sam Gallagher (Blackburn). Mckenzie Milne (Brunswick). Kiaan Watts (NZL). Your regular daily newspaper returns in print - and to the Today's Paper section online - on Thursday, January 2, 2025. We wish our readers a Happy New Year. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? 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While mega-cap tech stocks have led the to record highs, the market now hovers at valuations some consider to be extremely over-priced. That might be a pointless worry, a ProShares Advisors strategist said. "It comes down to the following surprise: there is a lot less leverage in the stock market than there was just 20 years ago," Simeon Hyman told on Friday. In a published last week, the global investment strategist acknowledged that stocks were expensive. Typically, a stock's trailing multiple would trade between 18x to 20x amid current Treasury yield levels — instead, the ratio hovers at around 25X. Other indicators further highlight that market valuations have . Despite these conditions, Hyman outlined that low market debt levels can diminish risks associated with an elevated P/E multiple. Compared to 20 years ago, the S&P 500 net debt/EBITDA has fallen from 5x to 1x. The note also found that today's equities are raking in high returns from assets, and not from debt-fueled growth. This indicates underlying profitability, Hyman said. "The significant decline in leverage of the S&P 500 and the robustness of today's profitability (due in part to the technology sector) suggests that at least some of the exuberance that drove expanding multiples may, in fact, be rational," Hyman wrote. Still, overstretched market conditions have increasingly unsettled investors this year, catching the attention of Wall Street heavy-hitters such as David Einhorn. In October, the billionaire hedge fund manager warned that traders were fueling the . That's not to say the market is in a bubble, he wrote, and analysts largely agree that investors should stay exposed to the US market. However, calls for a correction have amplified this month, especially if the top "Magnificent Seven" tech stocks . Given the heavy concentration in these mega-cap names, a 2025 earnings miss could "turn the market," Matt Powers, managing partner at Powers Advisory Group, told . Therefore, investors should emphasize diversification next year, even if tech growth remains strong. Even without a correction, traders may need to brace for weaker returns if Mag 7 momentum Generally, Wall Street institutions expect the S&P 500 to keep climbing, with an . Read the original article on
On the Monday after a recent loss, Carolina Panthers guard Robert Hunt held a group of players captivated by his locker. The 6-foot-6, 323-pound lineman, who signed a five-year, $100-million deal in the offseason, wasn’t talking about football. He was telling a life story, one of many that make him the heart of the Panthers’ locker room. A Locker Room Favorite Rookie center Andrew Raym , whose locker is next to Hunt’s, couldn’t hide his admiration. “Robert is probably the greatest personality we have in here,” Raym said. “He’s nothing but love, nothing but happiness all the time. People love talking to him. He’s always got a smile on his face, always has something funny to say. “It’s always about us and hanging out with the crew.” Hunt’s vibrant personality has been a stabilizing force for the Panthers during a challenging 4-12 season. His leadership has helped young players like Raym and veterans like left tackle Ikem Ekwonu stay motivated through struggles. On-Field Impact Hunt’s arrival significantly improved the Panthers’ offensive line, which had been a major concern. Last season, quarterback Bryce Young was sacked an NFL-high 62 times. This year, that number has dropped to 24, thanks in large part to Hunt’s presence. “He loves the game,” said do-it-all lineman Brady Christensen . “You can tell by the way he plays, that energy and excitement. And we feed off of him. He’s one of the best guards in the NFL.” While Hunt has been dominant in the run game, there’s room for improvement in pass protection. The Panthers’ offensive line ranks last in pass block win rate, holding blocks for 2.5 seconds just 51% of the time. Hunt ranks 44th out of 64 guards in pass block win rate, a decline from his 2023 performance with the Miami Dolphins when he had the lowest pressure rate (1.3%) among guards. Ekwonu, the team’s left tackle, also ranks near the bottom in pass and run block win rate. Upgrades in the offseason, particularly at left tackle, could further solidify the line. Leadership Beyond the Field Hunt’s energy extends beyond his play. Offensive coordinator Brad Idzik praised his infectious enthusiasm, highlighting moments like Hunt celebrating downfield in Las Vegas or during Chuba Hubbard ’s big runs in Germany. “His energy,” Brad Idzik said. “It’s infectious. The plays you see, like [at Las] Vegas where he’s celebrating downfield ... in Germany he’s celebrating when Chuba is breaking free, that’s infectious. “You feel that in practice every day. He’s just loose and playing confident. ... And your personality comes through on tape.” Quarterback Bryce Young echoed the sentiment. “He represents somebody we want to be as an offense,” he said. “And he’s super cool to be around, funny to talk to.” “You can definitely see the non-verbal, the intensity he has, coming back saying little things like, ‘Let’s finish this,”’ Young said. “We all feel that energy, that intensity. We all play off that.” A Storyteller and Mentor Off the field, Hunt is known for his storytelling. Whether after a win or loss, he’s the same jovial presence, lifting spirits and keeping the team grounded. “I’m a good storyteller,” Hunt said with a grin. “I make you interested, reel you up, and then I give you the punchline. It may not be a good one, but I get you excited for it.” Hunt’s work ethic, however, is what inspires his teammates the most. “Being a dawg, being hungry in the run game, just working no matter what—that’s Rob,” said Hubbard, the NFL’s seventh-leading rusher with 1,195 yards. Ekwonu added, “That’s a little less obvious on the field, but it’s definitely cherished in the locker room. “He definitely keeps it light, and that’s always good. But he flips that switch when he’s on the field. It’s fun to watch.” No Regrets After the Dolphins made an offer Hunt felt undervalued his talent, he entered free agency. The Panthers moved quickly to sign him, addressing a glaring need after their guard-center combination allowed 35 sacks last season. Now 28, Hunt embraces his role as a veteran mentor and locker-room leader. He’s optimistic about the team’s future with Young developing into a franchise quarterback, but he remains focused on staying true to himself. “When I came here, I called one of my good friends that I look up to as a mentor,” Hunt said. “He’s like, ‘Just be you.’ And that’s what I’ve always done. If people gravitate to me, they do. If somebody thinks I’m some kind of different cat, they can think that. “But I’m gonna be me ’til the day I die.” This report used information from ESPN . This article first appeared on The Forkball and was syndicated with permission.Premier League: Arsenal 1 (Havertz 23') Ipswich UNCONVINCING ARSENAL did just enough with a first-half Kai Havertz goal to move up to second place in the Premier League table and narrow the gap to the end of year pace setters, Liverpool, to six points. The leaders go into the New Year with a game in hand, too, and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be hoping for more than his side showed in a match they dominated without ever really impressing. The result is all that really matters to Arteta amid a busy run of fixtures and without their most creative player Bukayo Saka, who sat out the first match of what is expected to be a couple of months out injured. Ipswich have now lost five in six and remain rooted in the relegation zone. Arsenal remain in the title hunt, but will face a tougher test, surely, away at Brentford on New Year’s Day and it was an improved return on their last home game. Arsenal’s air of superiority possibly cost them in their goalless draw against struggling Everton last time out in the Premier League here and there was a similar sense of entitlement going into this match. The club’s pre-match preview said how they were looking to extend a 16-game unbeaten home run against a side who had not won in London N5 since 1979. That, for those of us with long enough memories, remember it was the season after Ipswich shocked them in the FA Cup final too and know the Suffolk side are never to be underestimated. Then, as if on cue while Arsenal fans were still confidently belting out their North London Forever anthem as the match kicked off in an eerie fog, Ipswich nearly scored through Sammie Szmodics with less than a minute gone. It was the first and last time Kieran McKenna’s side touched the ball in the other half of the pitch for some time. Not that the Fermanagh manager had come excepting anything else with his five-man defence and safety-first time-wasting tactics. Ipswich were in League One just two years ago and fresh from a thrashing by Newcastle so their approach was understandable. Winless after the first 10 games they have since picked up a couple of victories and played with purpose despite being locked in the relegation zone. There is only so long Arsenal can have the ball without being dangerous, however and their 23rd minute lead was wholly deserved. Leandro Trossard, called up in the absence of injured Bukayo Saka, clipped in a cross from the left and Havertz wriggled clear of a defensive pack to nonchalantly side-foot in a right foot volley. Trossard is not always a match winner but is the only outfield player to feature in every single Premier League game for Arsenal this season. German forward Havertz is not always man of the match either, but his contribution is never under-estimated here. He is also his side’s leading scorer with 12 goals so far in all competitions. Now, the onus was on McKenna’s men to come out and play or think about damage limitations. They managed to find a happy medium, despite conceding an all-time Premier League high 84 per cent possession, and keep the match alive, going into half-time only one goal down. They also started the second half with some attacking intent and Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya was scrambling back to cover his goal – only for an Ipswich shot never to materialise. They did, however, look like a match for Arsenal for a prolonged spell. They could and should have been two goals down after 63 minutes as we witnessed that rarest of events – Gabriel missing a free header from a Declan Rice corner. No wonder the usually clinical Brazil defender howled in horror. The major miss also gave Ipswich a further injection of purpose, ever more alert they were still in this. match. How Arsenal could have done with the midfield magic of their watching former player Santi Cazorla. The Spaniard used to make Arsenal tick like few other players and they badly needed someone to regain their grip on the game as their stranglehold loosened and Ipswich played with increasing freedom. Arteta responded by withdrawing Gabriel Jesus for Mikel Merino as McKenna sent on Jack Clarke for Szmodics with around 20 minutes to go. The changes instantly lifted Arsenal as Martin Odegaard, Rice and Havertz all went close to scoring moments later. They kept pressing for a second goal but ran out of energy and ideas as Ipswich finished looking like they might steal a point. That would have been harsh on Arsenal but since when has football been fair? Arsenal: Raya 6, Timber 6, Saliba 6, Magalhaes 6, Lewis-Skelly 6, Rice 7 (Partey 87), Odegaard 6, Havertz 7, Martinelli 6, Trossard 7, Jesus 6 (Merino 72). Subs: Neto, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Calafiori, Nwaneri. Ipswich: Muric 6, Johnson 6 (Broadhead 80), O'Shea 6, Greaves 6, Davis 6, Woolfenden 6 (H.Clarke 90), Cajuste 6 (Taylor 80), Phillips 7, Hutchinson 6, Szmodics 6 (J.Clarke 72), Delap 5 (Al-Hamadi, 80). Subs: Walton, Burns, Chaplin, Townsend. Ref : Darren England 6
Jimmy Carter: Many evolutions for a centenarian ‘citizen of the world’