PERM, Russia - A Russian passenger plane that caught fire as it fell from the sky on Sunday likely suffered engine failure before it crashed, killing all 88 people on board, investigators said.
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The head of the Investigative Committee said examination of the site showed the crash "apparently was connected to technical failure and a fire in the right engine," the ITAR-Tass news agency reported.
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Among those killed was Gennady Troshev, 61, an army general who commanded troops in Chechnya. Human rights activists had accused him of tolerating rampant abuses in the war-ravaged republic.
Troshev, who was dismissed in 2002 during a power struggle within Russia's armed forces, was traveling to Perm to attend a wrestling competition, news agencies said.
Hmm.
TROSHEV OUSTER AND THE CHECHNYA POLICY
On December 17, Troshev briefed journalists on the Defense Ministry's plans to rotate various MD commanders and announced his own refusal to move to a new district. "This is my third year as commander of the North Caucasus MD. There have been no complaints about the district or about me as commander. I cannot understand why I am being moved. Now, with the republic preparing for a referendum, is not the time for such an appointment. The Chechen people have trusted me to complete the counterterrorist operation. I cannot betray the Chechen people." Some observers speculate that Troshev took this extraordinary step because he intends to run for president of Chechnya in the elections planned for this fall.
The next day, Putin relieved Troshev of his duties in the North Caucasus MD and replaced him with Vladimir Boldyrev, the commander of the Siberian MD. Boldyrev, who has never before led any military operations, is a protégé of the current Ground Forces C-in-C, Deputy Defense Minister Nikolai Kormiltsev. Troshev was assigned to the Defense Ministry's reserve, and the
vacant post of commander in Siberia was later filled by General-Colonel Nikolai Makarov, chief of staff in the Moscow MD.
Such rotation of regional military commanders was highly unusual. Typically, when a commander is promoted or retired, he is replaced by his first deputy, the chief of staff. Nearly all movement of generals up the career ladder occurred within the confines of their own MDs.
Ah, nope, nothing to see here.
After Orissa, it’s Karnataka
Two pastors and six others were injured in simultaneous attacks carried out on 14 churches and prayer halls by suspected Bajrang Dal activists in coastal districts of Mangalore, Udupi and the neighboring district of Chikmagalur, on Sunday.
Eyewitnesses told the police that some motorcycle-borne miscreants barged into prayer halls and ransacked them.
Conversion fire engulfs Karnataka, seven churches vandalized
MANGALORE/UDUPI/CHIKMAGALUR: After Kandhmal, it is the turn of Christians in Karnataka to face the ire of right-wing Hindu mobs.
Suspected Bajrang Dal activists vandalized seven churches and a house in Mangalore, Udupi and Chikmagalur districts on Sunday, protesting alleged conversions of Hindus to Christianity.
Some preachers and parishioners were assaulted and church property damaged in the attacks. The police in the three districts are yet to arrest anyone.
Hackers claim there’s a black hole in the atom smashers’ computer network
Hackers have broken into one of the computer networks of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC).
A group calling itself the Greek Security Team left a rogue webpage describing the technicians responsible for computer security at the giant atom smasher as “schoolkids” — but reassuring scientists that they did not want to disrupt the experiment.
The hackers gained access to a website open to other scientists on Wednesday as the LHC passed its first test, sending its protons off on their dizzying journey through time and space, close to the speed of light.
Chevron confirms attack on Nigeria oil platform
ABUJA (Reuters) - U.S. oil major Chevron confirmed one of its oil platforms in Nigeria was attacked by militants on Sunday, but production was already shut down due to previous pipeline problems, a company official said.
McCartney warned against Israel show
Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney's decision to perform in Tel Aviv has made him the target of a terror attack following a threat made against the singer by extremist Islamic leader Omar Bakri. His planned participation in a concert celebrating Israel's 60th anniversary has made him the enemy of all Muslims, British tabloid Sunday Express quoted Bakri as saying.
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McCartney, who was apparently shocked by the threat, was determined to perform in Israel and refused to cancel his show. His spokesman responded by saying that McCartney intended to come with a "message of peace". On Saturday, McCartney said he was approached by several political groups who asked him to cancel the trip, but he declined.
Good on him!
Georgian Artists Battle Moscow With Music
TBILISI -- The war in August between Tbilisi and Moscow over Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia was fought on more than the military front.
In Georgia, artists and singers joined forces, producing songs and programs they said were meant to encourage the nation and demoralize the enemy.
"Georgia, Georgia! Be strong in times of hardship, defy your enemy, and fight for the truth."
Five days into the Russia-Georgia war, with anger and despair reaching its peak in Tbilisi, this song -- recorded by 44 of Georgia's top musical artists -- was performed live during a rally outside the Georgian parliament building.
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