Ukraine officials said two explosions that rocked an eastern town early Thursday were criminal acts, and that more bombings have been threatened.

Police say the two simultaneous, early-morning blasts near a coal company building and a central market in Makiyivka damaged nearby buildings, but that no one was hurt.

Ukraine's SBU security service said a note was found near the scene demanding $5.4 million and threatening five more bombings later in the day if the sum is not paid. The note said bombs already had been placed around the city.

The Arab world, in particular North Africa, has been riveted by the events in Tunisia, and many in the region see parallels to the stifling conditions they endure. But conditions vary greatly among the countries and could play a major role in how disgruntled citizens react.

Among those closely following events in Tunisia is Nadia, who works in tourism in Cairo and is well aware of the riches the region has to offer. But she adds Arab countries also have many other, unfortunate things in common.

China’s fast growing military might have made some of its neighbors uneasy about the security outlook in East Asia. Recently, Japan made significant changes to its defense posture with an eye on China.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates earlier this month stressed the importance of the U.S.-Japanese alliance in Asia’s security. Gates lauded Japan’s decision in December to shift military resources from the north near Russia to southwestern islands closer to China.

Three Afghan civilians, including one child, were killed and four wounded in an improvised explosive attack in Kandahar district, Kandahar province, Jan. 20.

Afghan National Police responded to the scene of the blast to evacuate the wounded to Mirwais hospital and look into the incident.

“Another unacceptable act of terror against Afghans that shows the inhumanity of the insurgents,” said U.S. Army Col. Rafael Torres, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command Combined Joint Operations Center director.

COMBAT OUTPOST RANKEL, Afghanistan — The CH-53 began a slow, downward loop, descending to a muddy field when the word was passed.

“Hot LZ!” announced the pilot, denoting the presence of enemy fighters in his landing zone.

With smiles on their faces and weapons loaded, the Marines of Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment commenced Operation Godfather, a three-day clearing operation in Durzay, Jan. 14.

Mobility Airmen supporting operations in Afghanistan airdropped 60.4 million pounds of cargo airdropped throughout the country, setting a record.

In all, the 60.4 million pounds is nearly twice the previous record year of 2009, where just over 32.2 million pounds of cargo was airdropped, Air Forces Central statistics show.

Experts attribute the increase to the surge of an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan between December 2009 and August 2010. In those nine months, AFCENT stats confirmed more than 40 million pounds of cargo were airdropped.

The only 3 individuals in the US (other than a joint Congressional request)
that have the authority to approve the burial of General Vang Pao in
Arlington National Cemetery are (1) President Obama, (2) Sec of Defense
Gates, and (3) Sec of the Army McHugh.

Please call, fax, write them immediately and ask that they authorize General
Vang Pao to be buried in Arlington. The only place a Hero like him should
be buried in America!

Tell all your friends and family and associates to do the same ŠNOW!

Thanks in Advance for your immediate action.

THE WHITE HOUSE:

Yesterday’s introduction of federal legislation to limit the capacity of ammunition magazines may have an impact on gun makes like the folks at Washington-based Olympic Arms — provided it passes, which industry odds-makers here at the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show don’t believe has a prayer — but it likely would not prevent a determined nutball from carrying out mayhem, as detailed in yesterday's Seattle Times.

http://www.examiner.com/gun-rights-in-seattle/proposed-magazine-ban-anot...

Article by Dave Workman

A Somali man accused of trying to kill a Danish cartoonist who caricatured the Prophet Muhammad has gone on trial Wednesday in Denmark. Danish intelligence police say they believe he is close to the Islamist movement al-Shabaab.

The prosecutor in the case, Kirsten Dyrman, spoke outside the court on Wednesday.

She said the defendant is accused of an attempted terror attack and attempted murder.

The defendant, 29-year-old Mohamed Geele, allegedly broke into the house of a Danish cartoonist in January last year.