Peanut Butter News

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(CNN) — Syed Jafry was preparing for his plane to land in Detroit, Michigan, after a long flight from Amsterdam, Netherlands, when he heard a noise that startled him.

“There was a little bit of light, a little bit of — kind of flamish light and there was fire,” Jafry told CNN. “And people began to panic.”

For a couple of seconds on Northwest Flight 253, nobody knew what was going on, he said.

That pop, officials say, came from a Nigerian man who ignited a small explosive device as the flight descended into the Detroit, Michigan, area. The White House described the incident as an attempted terrorist attack. The suspect was eventually subdued by passengers and crew.

Full Story at  CNN.com

(CNN) — A U.S.-flagged ship that played a central role in a bloody hijacking drama last spring was attacked again Wednesday, a busy day for piracy in the dangerous waters off the east coast of Africa.

It was the first time a security team aboard a major merchant ship repelled a pirate attack, a top U.S. Navy officer said.

But a defensive weapon that emits a loud noise did not work, Vice Adm. Bill Gortney said in a briefing.

“They tried to employ [a long-range acoustical device] and it did not have the effect,” said Gortney, the commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, which is responsible for the area favored by pirates. He said he did not know why the device did not work.

Full Story At  msnbc.com

MOMBASA, Kenya – A cargo ship loaded with humanitarian aid was headed to Kenya under Navy escort Wednesday after evading pirates firing grenades and automatic weapons, the second unsuccessful hijacking attempt of a U.S. freighter in a week, officials said.

In defiance of President Barack Obama’s vow to halt their banditry, pirates have seized four vessels and some 60 hostages off the Horn of Africa since Sunday’s rescue of an American freighter captain from the drifting lifeboat where he was held hostage.

Full Story At news.yahoo.com

NAIROBI, Kenya – U.S. warships are trying to stop Somali pirates from sending reinforcements to a lifeboat where an American captain is being held hostage as the high-seas standoff off Africa’s eastern coast entered a fourth day Saturday.

Underscoring the high stakes involved, France’s navy on Friday freed a sailboat seized off Somalia last week by other pirates, but one of the hostages was killed, along with two bandits. Three pirates were captured.

Full Story At nbcsports.msnbc.com

LEARWATER, Fla. – The Coast Guard received no distress signal from a fishing boat that disappeared off Florida’s Gulf Coast while carrying two NFL players and two former college players.

The Coast Guard is searching a wide area for the 21-foot vessel carrying Corey Smith, a Detroit Lions free-agent defensive end, and Marquis Cooper, an Oakland Raiders linebacker. Will Bleakley and Nick Schuyler, both former University of South Florida players, were also aboard.

Full Story At  msnbc.com

SEOUL, South Korea – Hillary Rodham Clinton has a new campaign and message: The United States wants to listen.

To that end, on her first overseas trip as secretary of state, Clinton is talking a lot. Her schedule is packed with so many town halls, ceremonial events, television shows and meetings with community leaders that it has the feel of a presidential visit — or even a presidential campaign.