South Korea: Jet hits mountain in fog; at least 119 people killed

Its passengers screaming in terror, a Chinese jet plowed into a fog-shrouded mountain in South Korea on Monday, killing at least 119 people. The plane caught fire and skidded 100 yards but somehow nearly 40 of those aboard survived.

The Air China Boeing 767-200, on a nonstop flight from Beijing, was approaching Kimhae Airport outside Busan, South Korea’s second largest city. There were no casualties on the ground.

Survivors said Flight CA-129 crashed shortly after passengers were told to buckle their seat belts and prepare for landing.

The plane hit one side of the mountain and then plowed toward the peak, catching fire and cutting a trail of fallen trees 100 yards long and 30 yards wide.

Dozens of people were rescued alive, but several died in hospitals. Police said 119 people were confirmed dead, seven missing and 38 alive. Most of the passengers were South Koreans.

Searchers renewed their task Tuesday morning as hundreds of rescue workers assisted by sniffer dogs looked for survivors.

Chicago: Panel recommends changes to death penalty

A panel formed after Gov. George Ryan halted executions two years ago recommended changes Monday aimed at keeping innocent people off death row, including videotaped police interrogations, a DNA database, and a ban on executing defendants convicted on testimony from a single eyewitness.

The panel did not call for an end to capital punishment, but a narrow majority of the 14 commission members said it should end because changes could not guarantee that innocent people would not be executed.

The report contains 85 recommendations. The panel said it would be up to lawmakers to make the recommended changes, and acknowledged they would be costly.

The report recommends cutting the 20 circumstances that warrant the death penalty to five: murdering more than one victim, killing a police officer or firefighter, killing an officer or inmate in a correctional institution, murdering to obstruct justice or torturing the victim.

The panel also recommended banning the death penalty for mentally retarded defendants and defendants convicted solely on testimony from a single eyewitness, informer or accomplice.

Afghanistan: 4 U.S. soldiers killed during attempt to defuse explosives

Four U.S. soldiers were killed and at least one was wounded Monday while trying to defuse explosives in the southern city of Kandahar, military officials said.

The soldiers were attempting to disarm discarded ordnance found near a compound occupied by the U.S. military, according to reports from officials at the Pentagon and in Kandahar.

About 10 U.S. soldiers were involved in detonating old rockets in a field near the former compound of the Taliban leader, Mohammad Omar. Kandahar has been occupied by U.S. troops since Omar fled in December.

About a half-dozen blasts were heard at midday, according to local reports. The injured soldier was flown to the main U.S. base outside Kandahar for treatment, and the Pentagon said he is expected to live. Some reports suggested that other soldiers may still be unaccounted for.