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Sad! 96 die in South Korea plane crash

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A Jeju Air plane carrying 181 people from Bangkok to South Korea crashed on arrival Sunday, colliding with a barrier and bursting into flames, with only two survivors rescued so far and 96 confirmed dead.

A collision with birds and adverse weather conditions were cited by the authorities as likely causes of the crash that flung passengers out of the plane and left it “almost completely destroyed”, according to fire officials.

Video showed the Jeju Air plane landing on its belly without wheels at Muan International Airport, skidding off the runway as smoke streamed out from the engines, before crashing into a wall and exploding in flames.

“Passengers were ejected from the aircraft after it collided with the barrier, leaving little chance of survival,” a local fire official told families at a briefing, according to a statement released by the fire brigade.

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“The plane is almost completely destroyed, and identifying the deceased is proving difficult. The process is taking time as we locate and recover the remains,” he was quoted as saying.

“So far, two people rescued — both are flight attendants — 96 dead,” the fire department said, revising an earlier statement that said one of the survivors was a passenger.

A photo showed the tail section of the plane — a Boeing 737-8AS according to Flight Radar — engulfed in flames on what appeared to be the side of the runway, with firefighters and emergency vehicles nearby.

“The cause of the accident is presumed to be a bird strike combined with adverse weather conditions. However, the exact cause will be announced following a joint investigation,” Lee Jeong-hyun, chief of Muan fire station, said during a briefing.

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A response team officer at the local fire department, Lee Hyeon-ji said rescue authorities had evacuated passengers from the rear section of the jet.

The Muan International Airport is in Muan county, which is about 288 kilometres (179 miles) southwest of Seoul.

The fire agency said it had mobilised 32 fire engines and scores of fire fighters to the scene.

The accident took place at 9:03 am (0003 GMT) on Sunday during the landing of Jeju Air Flight 2216, the Ministry of Land said.

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“A total of 175 passengers — including two Thai nationals — and six crew members were onboard,” it said.

The initial fire was extinguished and a search and rescue operation was “under way at the crash site”, it said in a statement at around 11:00 am local time.

Low-cost carrier Jeju Air apologised and vowed to do all it could to help.

“We at Jeju Air will do everything in our power in response to this accident. We sincerely apologise for causing concern,” the airline said in a statement posted on its social media channels.

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– Engulfed in flames –
Acting President Choi Sang-mok called for the mobilisation of all resources to save the passengers.

“All related agencies… must mobilise all available resources to save the personnel,” he instructed officials in a statement.

Choi convened an emergency meeting with cabinet members to discuss rescue operations and response before heading to Muan, his office said.

“I believe no words of consolation would suffice for the bereaved families who have suffered this tragedy,” said Choi, who took office only on Friday.

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“The entire government is working closely together to manage the aftermath of the accident, dedicating all available resources, while making every effort to ensure thorough support for the bereaved families,” he added.

It is the first fatal accident in the history of Jeju Air, one of South Korea’s largest low-cost carriers, which was set up in 2005.

On August 12, 2007, a Bombardier Q400 operated by Jeju Air carrying 74 passengers came off the runway due to strong winds at the southern Busan-Gimhae airport, resulting in a dozen injuries.

South Korea’s aviation industry has a solid track record for safety, experts say.

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Last year, a passenger opened an emergency exit on an Asiana Airlines flight as it was preparing to land, with the aircraft landing safely but several people hospitalised.

A number of fatal aviation accidents have occurred globally due to bird strikes, which can cause a loss of power if the animals are sucked into the air intakes.

In 2009, a United States Airways Airbus A320 famously landed in New York’s Hudson River after bird strikes on both of its engines, in an incident widely known as the “Miracle on the Hudson” because there was no loss of life.

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Anambra Traditional Ruler Implicated in Community’s Insecurity Scandal

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There is brewing tension in Enugwu-Agidi community over the arrest of a suspected kidnapper Chukwudi Tansi by Soludo’s Agunechemba team.

Recently , the Social media was awash with news about the arrest of Chukwudi Tansi, a member of the Enugwu-Agidi Community Vigilante, apprehended with a cache of firearms, which exposed his alleged involvement in criminal activities that have long plagued Enugwu-Agidi community.

What adds more fuel to the fire is the implication of the traditional ruler of the community in the unfolding drama, as revealed by the President General (PG) of the community, Hon Chukwuebuka Onuorah

Speaking to journalists, the PG, Mr. Onuorah, expressed vindication . He pointed fingers at the traditional ruler for nominating Tansi to the community Vigilante despite prior warnings from the PG about Tansi’s possession of firearms.

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Speaking further, Onuorah said he went as far as writing to the Inspector General of Police, citing threats to his life and the illegal possession of weapons by Tansi, a willing tool in the hand of the traditional ruler.

Part of his letter to the Inspector-General of Police reads:

“After my inauguration, I have received series of threats from the Traditional Ruler of Enugwu-Agidi HRH Mike Okekeuche of Umuakwuelo-Etiti village, Enugwu-Agidi in Njikoka LGA of Anambra State, Nigeria, ranging from forceful invasion of my residence and privacy and restriction of my free movement.

On Friday, 29th March, 2024 at exactly 11:07am, my residence was surrounded and invaded by heavily armed unknown faces who later introduced themselves as members of the Nigeria Police Force, claimed to be acting on the instructions of HRH Mike Okekeuche, took me to an unknown destination, but I return glory to God, that the unknown gun men vehemently warned me to denounce my position as the President General of Enugwu-Agidi Brotherly Union Nigeria (EBU-NIG) so that Igwe’s choice will be installed and later released me unhurt.

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“The Igwe HRH Mike Okekeuche, through one Chukwudi Tansi and Okonkwo Clement Ugochukwu, well-known members of outlawed IPOB, who parade themselves as soldiers and moving around the community with AK47 rifles have on several occasions attacked me with their guns, threatening to kill me, except I resign and step down from my position as the President General of my Community, and Igwe’s choice installed, that even the local Police are afraid of them. The confidence reposed on me by the good people of Enugwu-Agidi, I do not wish to give away; hence I had to run away for my dear life.

“Sir, in this circumstance, I am writing this petition with hope of consolation vis-a-vis calling attention of Police IRT, Abuja whose track record in tackling heinous crimes is visible to the blind and audible to the deaf in Nigeria, to arrest, and prosecute the above named unscrupulous criminal elements and all that are involved no matter whose ox is gored. Peradventure my complaints get to you late, and my life taken away, you should at least know my killer for I do not wish to join the long list of unresolved murders”.

Corroborating the PG’s account, a social media user from Enugwu-Agidi, Ezeobi, raised pertinent questions about influential figures aiding Tansi’s evasion of justice despite his involvement in serious criminal activities.

In light of these revelations, the PG is now urging for a thorough police investigation to expose the support network shielding individuals like Chukwudi Tansi.

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UK woman in court for sending videos of herself farting to lover’s ex

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A judge has expressed frustration with a woman who admitted to sending videos of herself passing wind to her boyfriend’s ex.

Rhiannon Evans, 25, is believed to be the first person ever to face charges for cyber-farting, an act she carried out over the Christmas period.

Evans sent the videos to Deborah Prytherech, who claimed they caused her significant distress and anxiety. Prosecutor Diane Williams outlined Evans’ actions, saying that the videos showed her “proceeding to pass gas by placing the camera on her bottom and passing the gas.”

Evans sent three videos on December 22 and four more over the following days, including on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Each video featured Evans smiling at the camera while passing wind.

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The police were alerted to the situation and proceeded with an arrest, bringing Evans before the court in Caernarfon.

Evans explained her actions, stating that she felt her partner was being unfairly treated in a dispute with his ex. Her defense lawyer, Harriet Gorst, explained the situation, saying: “There are some issues going on between Miss Evans’s partner and his ex-partner (Ms Prytherech) with regard to child contact.

“At the time she sent these videos, she had some drinks and sent them, understanding now this has caused the victim some distress. She sent them without malicious intent.”

However, Prosecutor Williams argued that the videos were “purely malicious,” pointing out that Evans appeared to be “smirking throughout” and found the situation “hilarious,” while the victim clearly did not.

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Delta govt suspends five head teachers for extortion

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The Delta State Government has suspended five primary school headteachers for extorting pupils through illegal levies.

The action, announced in a statement from the State Ministry of Information, Asaba, and signed by the Permanent Secretary, Theresa Adiabua-Oliko, was made public on Friday, January 31, 2025.

Copies of the statement were distributed to journalists in Warri.

The statement noted that this decisive move was to end corruption in the education sector.

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According to the statement, the suspensions followed “an investigation and an on-the-spot visit carried out recently by the Commissioner for Primary Education, Dr. Kingsley Ashibogwu, to schools across the state.”

The statement further disclosed that a formal request was made to the State Universal Basic Education Board for disciplinary action against the affected school heads, who were found guilty of imposing unauthorised levies on pupils taking the 2025 Cognitive and Placement Examination.

It further noted that the schools involved include: “Asamala Primary School, Ugiliamai (Ndokwa West LGA); Abraka Model Primary School, Abraka (Ethiope East LGA); Ekrejeta Primary School, Abraka (Ethiope East LGA); and Origin Primary School, Orogun (Ughelli North LGA).”

The government’s swift response underscores its unwavering zero-tolerance policy on corruption and its commitment to ensuring that the state’s educational resources are properly utilised.

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“This administration will not condone any form of exploitation in our schools,” the statement warned, emphasizing that further punitive measures await any official found guilty of malpractice.

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