Earthquakes killed at least 80 people in China

Rescue workers cleared roads Saturday so they could search for survivors and rush aid to a remote mountainous area of southwestern China after twin earthquakes killed at least 80 people.

More than 200,000 villagers were evacuated after Friday’s quakes toppled thousands of homes and sent boulders cascading across roads in a region of small farms and mines near the border between Guizhou and Yunnan provinces.

The official Xinhua News Agency quoted local officials as saying the death toll could climb further because the quakes seriously damaged roads and communications, making it difficult to collect information. The damage also slowed rescue efforts.

Source: Time

Kony 2012 "Invisible Children"

Invisible Children: Rough Cut is a 2006 American documentary film which depicts the human rights abuses by the sectarian Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda.

In the spring of 2003, the filmmakers Jason Russell, Bobby Bailey, and Laren Poole traveled to Africa to document the Darfur. Instead, they changed their focus to the conflict in northern Uganda , Africa's second longest-running conflict after the Eritre [Lost information] an Revolutionary War.

The three founders of Invisible Children

The documentary depicts the abduction of children who are used as child soldiers by Joseph Kony and his Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). This film centers around a group of Ugandan children who walk miles every night to places of refuge in order to avoid abduction by the LRA.

The story of children depicted in the film was the basis for a grassroots movement mobilizing thousands of American teens into action to raise money to rebuild war-torn schools in northern Uganda and provide scholarships to African youth.

After the film, Invisible Children Inc initiated a successful campaign, petitioning the United States Government for support, Invisible Children Inc in 2012 started a social media campaign to garner support and awareness of the LRA and Joseph Kony .

The campaign focuses on the website that features a roughly 30 minute video and sharing tools, and a plan for encouraging activism and bringing public awareness for the end goal of capturing Kony in 2012.

The 30 minute video was uploaded to YouTube on the March 5, 2012 and went viral immediately. After four days, the video received over 55 million hits on YouTube.As part of the campaign, 20 celebrity "Culturemakers" and 12 Policy makers were targeted as individuals to pressure to publicize the campaign.

Source : Wikipedia

Aljazair floods, 10 dead

Aljazair government said heavy rains in the region has killed 10 people and causing hundreds of houses were destroyed. Aljazair meteorological has warned heavy rain and storms will occur in the country starting on Saturday (1 / 10) through Sunday (2 / 10).

Algerian civil protection authorities said they had found eight bodies in the City of El Bayadth which lies 700 kilometers southwest of Algiers. Rescuers are still looking for a mother and her baby who is rumored lost. Two other bodies found in the northern region of Kita El Bayadh.

Iran Buy Nine aircraft without crew

Iran plans to equip the entire border with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in recent months. Iranian Police Chief Brigadier General Esmail Ahmadi-Moqaddam, Sunday (2 / 10), said that the reported English-language satellite television station, Press TV.

Ahmadi-Moqaddam told reporters in the Iranian capital, Tehran, as quoted by Xinhua, the nine-controlled unmanned aircraft from a distance has been purchased. About 10 more will be purchased in the near future.

Iranian police commander reportedly added that the police personnel undergoing flight training to operate the drones. Unmanned aircraft designed to conduct reconnaissance missions in the desert in eastern Iran, near the border with Afghanistan, as part of Tehran's actions against smuggling of narcotics and drugs.

Nude Scenes Prime Minister Of Australia On Drama TV

In one scene, the scene looks PM Gillard with the couple naked but covered with the Australian flag. The third episode of the satirical drama "At Home With Julia" that will be aired by television stations Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC), inviting criticism from officials and media.

They thought the show had insulted the Australian flag and the institutions PM. The drama consists of four series, it is considered not funny and shows the sexual harassment of the first female PM in the City of the Kangaroos.

But the PM Gillard himself refused to be involved in controversy this flag.

"I'm not going to watch this episode and do not intend to comment on it. I've got bigger problems to be solved," said PM Gillard told the Nine Network on Wednesday (09/21/2011).

Gillard, was initially enthusiastic about this television drama. In fact he gives the producer the drama of the event, to take pictures at his official residence in Canberra.

"All who know me would know, if I have a good sense of humor. So of course will be full of laughter while watching the show," said Gillard before the play begins.

Inevitably, word of criticism came from the Labor Party he leads and the opposition. They denounced the controversial flag scene. See nude scenes of actress who plays Gillard and her life partner are wrapped in the flag of Australia, of course, infuriated many.

People trust Gillard, Bill Shorten rate, there are some funny episodes, but he thought differently when national flags are involved.

"We are using the prime minister and the national flag as a joke, personally it is not something that is funny," Shorten said.

While opposition officials John Forrest insisted that ABC pull the episode.

While ABC's own defense of this episode, which they value rather than the form of humiliation. "When some of them wrapped in the flag on several occasions, we judge it is not an issue do to the prime minister (Gillard) as a form of love," ABC statement.

Gillard is getting attention in the world of Australian politics. He became Australia's first female PM, and unmarried. Gillard became the only PM who lived at the official residence of prime minister with his life partner Tim Mathieson.

Yahoo CEO Fired,

Tenure as CEO Carol Bartz Yahoo ended on Tuesday (6 / 9) yesterday, for he declared no longer CEO of the giant Internet company.

As quoted from Mashable, Wednesday (07/09/2011), Bartz also send an email to all Yahoo employees via the iPad, announcing that his resignation was not voluntary action, but was sacked by the head of Yahoo's directors.

News dismissal Bartz was first reported by the All Things Digital, which also reported that Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Tim Morse, referred to as the new CEO of Yahoo.

Bartz into Yahoo in January 2009, to turn things around after Yahoo rejected Microsoft's bid for the purchase of USD44, 6 billion. Bartz worked hard since then to reinforce the position of Yahoo, including closing some business divisions such as Zimbra Yahoo, Geocities and Delicious.

Then on Tuesday night, the Yahoo officials had received an official announcement of their companies on the pullback Bartz.

Greece Plans Oil Refinery

The Greek government immediately sell its stake in the largest oil refinery in the country, Hellenic Petroleum, in the near future, or faster than the previous plan. This sale is part of the bailout measures the exchange of policies undertaken by the International Monetary Fund or IMF and the European Union worth 110 billion euros to minimize the impact of financial crisis in the region.

"Our plan is to Hellenic Petroleum to sell ownership shares in the first quarter of 2012 or sooner," said Environment Minister George Papaconstantinou told Greek newspaper in Athens Greece on Saturday (09/03/2011), such as Reuters news agency reported.

Greece target income of 50 billion euros from privatization until 2015. One source of income is the privatization of 35.5 percent stake in Hellenic Petroleum.

Hellenic Petroleum operates a refinery in Greece and the Macedonian region. Hellenic Petroleum market capitalization is 1.8 billion euros.

In addition to selling Hellenic Petroleum, other privatization programs that have been entered into the list of the Greek government is selling 55 percent stake in the company's natural gas fathoms.

In addition, the sale of shares in miner operator of natural gas as much as 31 percent DESFA. Both are expected to be sold in the fourth quarter of 2011.

New boss of Al Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri!

Let's look at the record number of pages of jihad today. There, officially has emerged a new name which occupies the highest helm of Al Qaeda. He is Ayman al-Zawahiri.

Announcement stating in 2011 that also mentions that al-Zawahiri was instrumental in the leadership of Al Qaeda. Indeed, Al-Zawahiri is the deputy aka Osama bin Laden's deputy. So, it's normal to replace al-Zawahiri Osama bin Laden who was killed in the attack on the United States (U.S.) in May in Abotabbad, Pakistan. "We announced Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Abu Ayman al-Zawahiri was in charge of command of Al Qaeda," read the question a general command of al Qaeda's jihad in the page.

Note CNN on Thursday (06/16/2011) shows al-Zawahiri came from a family in Cairo, Egypt. As a physician, Al-Zawahiri is a founding member of the organization Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EIJ). The organization is classified as militant and opposed the secular Egyptian government under the leadership of Hosni Mubarak.

Like the late Osama, Al-Zawahiri joined in the war against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. Her presence in the land of the Mullahs as a health professional.

In 1998, when the EIJ merged with Al Qaeda, Al-Zawahiri sent a fax warning for U.S. citizens to the newspaper Al-Hayat. Three days later, on August 7, 1998, suicide bomb placed in a truck struck the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi (Kenya) and Der es Salaam (Tanzania). The incident killed 224 people.

Furious because of his actions, the U.S. was hunting down al-Zawahiri. Through the FBI, the official head of Al-Zawahiri is worth 25 million U.S. dollars. Same price for the hunt for Osama bin Laden.

Kompas.com

Ryan Dunn Killed In An Accident

Ryan Dunn's name was suddenly so Trending Topic on Twitter. Probably not many people who know Ryan Dunn Jackass but for lovers of this name must be familiar. Ryan Dunn is rumored to have died after a car accident in West Goshen, Philadelphia.

According to news reported by NBC Philadelphia, Ryan Dunn was involved an accident on Route 322 in West Goshen, Philadelphia on Monday, at 3:30 am local time. So far the cause of this accident is not clear but sources say NBC, Ryan confirmed dead.

Other sources had said that if Ryan Dunn was seen drinking with some friends, but so far no confirmation whether this is the cause of the fateful event. Reportedly there are witnesses who saw Ryan Dunn driving at high speed shortly before the accident. In the same car was also found other victims who have not been identified.

In a short time, Twitter was the flood of condolences fan of Ryan Dunn. Music magazine, Kerrang, too condolences over the death of Ryan Dunn. "RIP Jackass star Ryan Dunn," writes @ KerrangMagazine via Twitter.

Ryan Dunn Ryan Dunn was born with the name Goofed on June 11, 1977. His name began to soar since he played in the series Jackass on MTV in 2000 ago. He had starred in several movies including Jackass 3D in 2010. Finally Ryan starred in Jackass 3.5, released on DVD and Blu-Ray June 14 last

Kapanlagi.com

Israeli fighter jet machine Stolen

Israel military police opened an investigation into the disappearance of some combat aircraft engine parts, on Monday (6/13/2011). The weight of the engine reaches several tons and can only be transported by truck. Therefore, there is the suspicion that theft involving insiders.

While acknowledging there are cases of lost it, the military police did not give confirmation about the information that mentions eight aircraft lost engine.

"The military police are still investigating the case," he said without confirming the reports that loss occurred in the military air base near Tel Aviv Tel November.

Some Israeli air force officials, quoted by the newspaper Maariv, said the missing were eight types of aircraft engine F-15 and F-16 and taken from the Tel Nof air base.

They did not reveal when the theft occurred, but simply stating the machines obsolete. Maariv report, the machines were stolen because it is considered scrap metal. Citing investigators, Maariv reported, the weight of the engine can reach several tons and can only be transported by truck. Therefore, there is the suspicion that theft involving insiders.

Some military officials quoted by the daily HaYoum mention the theft case "very seriously."

Acer Data Consumen Stolen

Hacker attacks the network infrastructure to a number of leading companies and government institutions in various countries still tersu progress. In addition to Sony and Nintendo, a Taiwanese company, Acer, also reported there have been attacks to its network in Europe.

As reported by Cio.com, players break down the digital security system and try to steal consumer data Packard Bell, one of the company unit that is now under Acer. List of consumer names, addresses, phone numbers, email, and serial number of purchased products copied attacker. However, a database of consumer credit card numbers safe.

Reports of these attacks actually been delivered earlier this month. The group mengtasnamakan Cyber ​​Pakistan Army claimed he had stolen the identity of the server data 40 000 Acer in Europe. However, at that time, Acer was in no hurry to comment until the investigation is completed.

There is no recognition of what the motive behind the attack. So far no information has leaked from the hit squad and the only glimpse of a screenshot of a successful stolen identity data.

Pakistan Cyber ​​City has several times claimed as the perpetrators of attacks against a number of sites. In December 2010, the group claimed the hack site belongs to the Central Bureau of Investigation of India in retaliation for similar attacks against the Pakistani government-owned sites.

Recently, attacks to the virtual world endemic to various parts of the world. Sony is the company's most lots have sernangan that could have closed the PlayStation Network service. Nintendo also had an attack but not until there is customer identity data theft. Site IMF, Lockhead Martin, and institutions under the FBI is also under attack recently.

China Floods Kill 34 People

Beijing - Heavy rain in two Chinese provinces hit by drought has triggered landslides and dragging the houses which resulted in at least 34 people dead and 30 missing, state media writes, Friday, June 10, 2011.

More than 60 thousand people were evacuated after heavy rain swept Xianning City in Hubei Province on Thursday night, reported China News Service. While 19 people were killed and five missing when the water rose to two meters.

In Yueyang, Hunan Province, 15 people were killed and 25 people missing, Xinhua news agency said.

Both the province worst hit by drought in recent months. Drought damage to millions of hectares of agricultural land in China, exactly around the center and south of the Yangtze River.

Over the weekend, two other provinces expected to be affected by tropical storms that brought heavy rain and high winds, reports Xinhua.

The storm is expected to hit the coast near the border of Guangdong and Fujian Provinces, and can affect shipping in the Strait of Taiwan, the report said.

Drought destroyed crops and worsening energy shortages caused a reduction of power supply generated hydroelectric power.

North Korea Military Action Set

North Korea vowed to launch "retaliatory military action" against South Korea on Friday (06/03/2011). The threat comes days after South Korea said its military had used pictures of Kim Jong Il's family as target practice shooting.

From now on, the North will launch a military action that is more practical and thoroughly to remove the traitor in one sweep.

Strong statements that North Korea aimed at South Korea's conservative government under the leadership of President Lee Myung-bak. Lee is known attitude harder than its predecessor government.

Pyongyang saw "no point in sitting opposite with a group of traitor Lee" and believe that the only way to resolve differences with Seoul is "by force of arms." The statement asked North Korean armed forces spokesman.

"From now on, the North will launch a military action that is more practical and thoroughly to remove the traitor in a single sweep," the statement said.

Since the ruling, Lee often targeted North Korean criticism. Lee also cut off aid to North Korea unconditionally and linking the South with the help of North Korea's nuclear project disarmament efforts. Pyongyang has called Lee as a traitor reunification of Korea.

North gres threat seemed most related to the use of photo Kim Jong Il, his father Kim Il Sung, and his oldest son Kim Jong-un as a practice target shooting South Korean military units. The use of such targets that began after the North's artillery attacks to the island borders November 2010. Last week, South Korean Defense Ministry ordered the military re-use standard target boards.

Kim family cult in North Korea. The photos they must be respected and protected. In emergency conditions, photos Kim Jong Il and Kim Il Sung had to be rescued first. Though dead, Kim Il Sung had become "eternal president" communist country.

South Korea did not comment on North Korean statement. Instead the United States (U.S.), which reacts. "We expect North Korea put its relationship with South Korea on a more positive path. But it did not seem to happen," said Mark Toner, a spokesman for the U.S. State Department in Washington.

(source:Kompas)

Ammunition Warehouse Explosion in Yemen, 28 killed

An ammunition warehouse owned by Al-Ahmar strong interest exploded in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, killing 28 people, the defense ministry said in a news page 26sep.net on Wednesday (25 / 5).

"Twenty-eight people were killed in an explosion at an ammunition warehouse owned by Hamid al-Ahmar" in Sanaa, said 26sep.net in a text message.

Earlier, clashes between supporters and opponents of the President of Yemen Ali Abdullah Saleh raging in the capital Sanaa, on Thursday (26 / 5), killing four civilians again, the official Saba news agency said.

The death toll since Monday at least 48 people, according to AFP count based on reports of medical personnel, government and tribal sources.

The clashes exposes security forces loyal to the powerful clan chieftains Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahmar who rallied to the opposition in March and centered at the airport, north of the district Arhad.

The fighting sparked the airport will be closed on Wednesday night and diverted flights, airline sources said, and the tribes.

Airport director Naji al-Marqab insisted the facility is operating normally on Thursday, according to Saba.

Meanwhile, from Washington, United States ordered all diplomats are not too important and family members to leave Yemen embassy amid rising violence between loyalists and opponents of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, the Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.

"The level of threat to security in Yemen is very high due to terrorist activity and civil unrest. There is ongoing civil unrest throughout the country and the massive protests in major cities," said State Department.

United States, March, told its citizens to avoid traveling to Yemen and said they are already in Yemen should consider leaving the country due to deteriorating security situation in Yemen

Military Aircraft Boeing 707 crashes in California

A military plane Boeing 707 crashed in Point Mugu Navy base, California, United States, during take off. The plane was immediately burned. Military aircraft was carrying about 150 thousand pounds of fuel and three crew.

The three flight crew managed to escape. All three were taken to a nearby hospital for minor injuries. The three crew consists of pilot, copilot and navigator.

Said Ventura County Fire Department as reported by the Los Angeles Times on Thursday (05/19/2011).

The firefighters aided by a helicopter are working to extinguish the huge fire that occurred Wednesday, May 18 evening local time.

The incident comes as Boeing is trying to take off from the main runway at Point Mugu. It is said Vance Vasquez, a spokesman for Point Mugu base, when to take off, the plane skidded out of control.

As a result of fire, thick black smoke visible and can be seen soaring up to miles and miles away.

Philip Roth Man Booker International Award

U.S. novelist Philip Roth won the Man Booker International Prize. He beat 12 other potential winners announced at the event Sydney Writers' Festival on Wednesday (18/05/2011).

Previously, Roth has several times been nominated as the winner of the Nobel Prize for literature. In 1998, his novel 'American Pastoral' get a Pulitzer Prize. One of his novels that have been filmed is the 'Human Stain' (2003).

Man Booker is an award for fiction writers worldwide who write in English. There are two types of awards, the Man Booker Prize which assess one's work from a writer, and the Man Booker International which ranked based on the overall work of a novelist who has written.

Man Booker International held once every two years, and this time Roth got rid of its competitors, such as children's writer Philip Pullman of England, Chinese writers Su Tong, author of America Anne Tyler and Marilynne Robinson, and the Australian writer David Malouf.

The author of the world has ever won this award, among others, Chinua Achebe of Nigeria, Ismail Kadare (Albania) and the Canadian short story writer Alice Munro. This award prize money of 60 thousand pounds.

When announced, the jury chairman Rick Gekoski said Roth who has been writing for 50 years has been "moved, influence, and entertain a lot of people" through her books.

Roth has written about the life of the Jewish people, but he will not just be judged successful "reshape our ideas about Jewish identity." More than that, Roth is successfully creating fiction in new ways, not just America but the world of fiction.

Roth's novel was first published in 1959, entitled "Goodbye, Columbus', and throughout his career has written 31 novels. His latest work entitled 'Nemesis' (2010).

United States Return Five Skull Dayak Tribe

The United States government dismantle human smuggling of five carved skull believed to belong to the Dayak tribe in Kalimantan and derived from the 18th century and 19th. The skull had been submitted to the Government of Indonesia. The skulls on Monday (5/16/2011) submitted by the U.S. Government to the Indonesian Government in a ceremony at the Consulate General in New York.

Signatories submission made by the Deputy Special Agent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)-Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) in New York Mona B. Forman, representing the U.S. Government, and the Acting Consul General in New York Zahermann Muabezi, representing the Government of Indonesia.

Efforts smuggling five archaeological objects Dayak tribe's foiled after the official U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to follow up their suspicions of a package that they check at the post office in Newark, New Jersey, August 2010.

The package includes Bali, Indonesia, as the sender address. A statement attached to the suspicious package was mentioned that the goods contained in the package value is not more than 5 U.S. dollars.

The agents HSI New York then sought to investigate the origin of shipment and to check the approximate value of skulls, each of which has a carving with its own characteristics. Estimate is needed because, according to the U.S. import duty regulations, each sending objects with values ​​of more than 2,000 U.S. dollars must be accompanied by a clear statement.

Specialists buying and selling art objects HSI appointed to conduct an independent assessment of the five skulls were said to be far different value. Each skull with unique carving was mentioned has a value of 3,000 dollars and 4,800 U.S. dollars.

The skulls were eventually confiscated by the HSI because the total value of about 20,000 U.S. dollars. HSI also decide fifth cranial submitted to the Government of Indonesia.

The return of archaeological objects, says Mona B Forman, the U.S. effort in showing respect for the cultural heritage belongs to the people of Indonesia.

"The return of art objects are unique, artistic merit, and very valuable for the people of Indonesia will again remind us the importance of historic objects and objects of cultural heritage, namely that the value is far greater than the price that can be stated in dollars and cents, "Forman said.

Forman said the current investigation is still underway in an effort to uncover the parties responsible in the case of archaeological goods shipping to the U.S.. Flown to Jakarta

Zahermann Muabezi after the signing of the handover convey praise for their hard work and cooperation presented by ICE and CBP HSI. He reveals, the fifth cranial Dayak tribes will immediately flown to Jakarta on Monday night.

Ancient objects would be shown by the Consul of Protocol and Consular Affairs Consulate General-New York Abraham FI Lebelauw using the aircraft carrier Singapore Airlines, which is scheduled to arrive in Jakarta on Wednesday (05/18/2011).

Five skulls Dayak will then be handed over next day (5/19/2011) from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. After that, to be determined whether the skulls will be handed over to the community of the Dayak tribe in Borneo or will be stored at the museum.

According to Mona B Forman, delivery on Monday is the first time by ICE HSI New York concerning ancient objects smuggled from Indonesia. ICE is a U.S. government agency that often play a major role in various criminal investigations related to the importation and distribution of cultural heritage illegally, as well as illegal trade in art objects, especially art items reported lost or stolen.

Since 2007, ICE has repatriate more than 2,100 cultural heritage, art objects and antiques to more than 15 countries. Through 70 offices in 40 countries attache, ICE office of International Affairs to cooperate with foreign governments to carry out joint investigations to uncover cases of smuggling and trafficking of cultural heritage.

In the U.S., illegal trafficking of cultural heritage, art objects and antiques punishable by imprisonment up to 20 years, also fine and the possibility of paying compensation to the return of goods.

Source: Kompas

Iraq Bombs At Police Station

Twin bombs that appeared timed to lure policemen out of their fortified headquarters in a northern Iraqi city killed 27 people on Thursday, most of them police officers.

Scores were wounded in the double blasts in Kirkuk, and a third explosion 45 minutes later on a road to a city hospital brought the number of injured to at least 70, said provincial health director Siddiq Omar. See pictures of Iraq's revival.

The ethnically mixed city of Kirkuk, claimed by Arabs, Kurds and Turkomen, is one of the more politically volatile parts of the country. U.S. officials have long worried about what will happen in the city and region when American forces pull out of Iraq, as they're scheduled to do by the end of this year.

Eyewitness Adnan Karim described "a chaos of terror and fear" at a parking lot outside the police compound in central Kirkuk where the first two bombs went off.

"I saw a lot of dead bodies, burned dead bodies," said Karim, who owns a small shop about 100 meters (yards) from the police building and ran to the parking lot after the first explosion. The second one came about three minutes later, he said, and then "ambulances began to evacuate casualties of dead bodies and injured people."

At one hospital, bloodied and bandaged victims lay on the floor because the beds were already filled with patients. A patient blackened by the smoke from one of the explosions sat on a hospital bed, his head bandaged and bloodied. Around him a chaotic scene unfolded as doctors and nurses tended to patients and security officials brought in more victims.

A police truck pulled into the hospital driveway with four bodies laying in the bed of the truck. It was not clear whether they were alive or dead.

Kirkuk police Capt. Abdul Salam Zangana said the first explosion around 9 a.m. was a bomb stuck to a car in the parking lot, which sent policemen rushing outside their secure headquarters compound to investigate. That's when the second blast hit, Zangana said.

The double blasts killed 27 people, most of them policemen, and wounded more than 62, he said. It also blew out the windows of the police headquarters, where officials frantically tried to evacuate workers and find victims.

In the parking lot of the police station, vehicles were pockmarked with shrapnel and the carcass of one vehicle lay over a fence. Bloodied pools of water dotted the parking lot.

The third bomb, planted on a road, set cars and trucks ablaze when it exploded about 550 yards (500 meters) away, targeting a police patrol near a mosque, said Zangana, who oversees security units at the hospital where the dead and wounded were brought. Zangana said eight people were wounded in that blast.

Together, the explosions marked the worst strike in Kirkuk since early February, when a suicide bomber at the city's Kurdish security headquarters set off a series of rapid-fire attacks that killed seven and wounded up to 80 people.

Located 180 miles (290 kilometers) north of Baghdad, Kirkuk has been an ethnic flashpoint for years among Kurds, Arabs and Turkomen who each claim the oil-rich city as their own. Tensions directed at the mostly Arab national police and predominantly Kurdish peshmerga forces have been especially rife.

The Kurdish government, which has a separate president and parliament, sent thousands of its troops into positions around Kirkuk on Feb. 24. It said it needed to protect the city from planned demonstrations that it thought might turn violent due to efforts of al-Qaeda-linked insurgents and allies of the outlawed Baath Party, which used to rule Iraq under Saddam Hussein.

But the incursion scared many of the city's Arab and Turkomen residents, who thought it was a thinly veiled attempt to encircle the city with Kurdish forces. The Kurdish forces have since pulled out and the crisis passed without bloodshed. But attacks like Thursday's are likely to raise questions about whether the city is ready for American forces to leave.

Source: Time.com

Patagonia Plane Crash

A Sol Air Lines plane carrying 22 people crashed and exploded Wednesday in Argentina's southern Patagonia region, killing all on board.

Sol Air Lines said its Flight 5248 carrying three crew members and 19 passengers, including a baby, communicated an emergency while flying from Neuquen near the Andes to Comodoro Rivadavia along the coast of Patagonia. The company confirmed that the wreckage was found about 25 kilometers (15 miles) southwest of the town of Los Menucos, and that local firefighers and police found no one alive.

"Unfortunately there are no survivors. We see burnt remains, everything burned," Ismael Ali, who directs the hospital in the nearest town of Los Menucos, told the Todo Noticias channel.

Sol spokesman Horacio Darre in Buenos Aires said the plane took off normally and that it's impossible to know the cause, which will be determined by accident investigators.

"It's important to clarify that right now there is no information about the cause of the crash, which will be clarified by the relevant authorities," an airline statement stressed.

Sol said it received an emergency communication from the plane at 8:50 p.m. local time, nearly halfway into the flight from Neuquen near the Andes to Comodoro Rivadavia along the coast of Rio Negro province.

The plane crashed and exploded on the rural property of a man who drove into the town of about 4,000 people to alert authorities. Los Menucos Mayor Mabel Yahuar said they would make the town's gymnasium available to support investigators and family members.

Earthquake Hits Costa Rica

(SAN JOSE, Costa Rica) — The magnitude 6.0 quake was felt in most parts of the country and temporarily interrupted cellphone coverage in many areas. The epicenter was located in Santiago de Puriscal in the Central

A magnitude 6.0 earthquake rattled the country afternoon at 4:50 p.m. and lasted for 15 to 20 seconds. According to the Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of Costa Rica (Oviscori), based at the National University (UNA) in Heredia, north of San José, the epicenter of the quake was located six kilometers north of Santiago de Puriscal, a mountain town about 45 km southwest of the capital.

According to the Costa Rican Red Cross, no deaths have been reported. The quake was felt in most parts of the nation, and minor damage and injuries have been reported in communities around the country. Freddy Román, a spokesman for the Red Cross, told The Tico Times that several small landslides had occurred in various parts of the country, though no causalities had been reported.

Cellphone coverage was also temporarily interrupted in many areas of the country. After the earthquake subsided, the Costa Rican Electricity Institute, the country's state-run telecom monopoly, was inundated with more than 100,000 phones calls, according to reports. The inundation of phone calls caused the cellular network to collapse.