the one who has the answers for us."December 26, 2011: This
photo provided by the Allen County Sheriff's Department shows Aliahna Lemmon.
ian civil aviation since the 1960s, with more than 800 planes built.
It also has remained in service with many post-Soviet carriers.In recent years,
Russia and other former Soviet nations have had some of the world's
worst air traffic safety records. Experts blame poor maintenance of the aging
aircraft, weak government controls, insufficient pilot training and a cost-cutting mentality.
BAGHDAD An oil exploration deal between U.S. oil giant Exxon Mobil
and Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region is fueling political tensions in a country
where a post-U.S.-troop withdrawal spike in violence and political turmoil is clouding
the climate for foreign investments sorely needed by Iraq.Baghdad's anger over the
deal highlights the long-simmering power struggle between the Kurdish and central governments.
The dispute is building momentum as Iraqi Premier Nouri al-Maliki faces criticism
over his stewardship of a country where, years after the 2003 U.S.-led
war to topple Saddam Hussein, development remains a distant dream for millions.The
deal "will certainly contribute to further complicating the relationship" between the Kurds
and Baghdad, said Gala Riani, Middle East and North Africa Regional Manager
at the London-based IHS Global Insight.It "may also raise tensions in border
areas which have already become more restive as a result of the
withdrawal of the
BEIJING A long-awaited government report said design flaws and sloppy management
caused a bullet train crash in July that killed 40 people and
triggered a public outcry over the high cost and dangers of China's
showcase transportation system.A former railway minister was among 54 officials found responsible
for the crash, a Cabinet statement said Wednesday.The crash report was highly
anticipated by the public. Regulations required the government to release the report
by Nov. 20. When that date passed, the government offered little explanation,
drawing renewed criticism by state media, which have been unusually skeptical about
the handling of the accident and the investigation.The Cabinet statement cited "serious
design flaws and major safety risks" and what it said were a
string of errors in equipment procurement and management.The report affirmed earlier government
statements that a lightning strike caused one bullet train to stall and
a sensor failure allowed
APDec. 24, 2011: U.S. Army 1st Cavalry 3rd Brigade soldiers march onto
the parade grounds upon their return home from deployment in Iraq, at
Fort Hood, Texas.WASHINGTON Americans probably will not be seeing a huge
ticker-tape parade anytime soon for troops returning from Iraq, and it is
not clear if veterans of the nine-year campaign will ever enjoy the
grand, flag-waving, red-white-and-blue homecoming that the nation's fighting men and women received
after World War II and the Gulf War.Officials in New York and
Washington say they would be happy to help stage a big celebration,
but Pentagon officials say they haven't been asked to plan one.Most welcome-homes
have been smaller-scale: hugs from families at military posts across the country,
a somber commemoration by President Obama at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.With
tens of thousands of U.S. troops still fighting a bloody war in
Afghanistan, anything that looks like a big victory celebration could be seen
as
ion, Borcina was registered for a brief time more than 10 years
ago, but neither Borcina nor his company are currently registered to perform
home improvement work in Connecticut.Property records show Badger bought the five-bedroom Victorian
home for $1.7 million last year. The house was situated in Shippan
Point, a wealthy neighborhood that juts into Long Island Sound.Most of the
second floor was being renovated, and Badger was awaiting a final inspection,
said Ernie Ogera, director of operations for the city of Stamford.According to
the city's zoning ordinances, he said, the family should have been living
only in the unrenovated sections of the house. Investigators do not yet
know whether anyone was staying in renovated sections that had not been
approved.City building inspectors last examined the work in July and did not
find any problems, he said.There were plans for hard-wired smoke alarms, but
they had not been hooked up, Ogera said. Officials did not know
