Iceland plan would grant Snowden citizenship
LONDON – Some Icelandic lawmakers have introduced a proposal in Parliament to grant citizenship to National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden, who admits to revealing key details of U.S. surveillance activities.
But the idea has received minimal support.
Snowden is believed to be stuck in a Moscow airport transit area, seeking asylum from more than a dozen countries. But to apply for asylum in Iceland, Snowden would have to reach the nation’s soil.
Granting Snowden citizenship would circumvent that issue.
However, the bill to grant Snowden citizenship received limited support Thursday. Six members of minority parties were in favor out of Parliament’s 63 members.
Airlines cancel Mexico flights due to volcano
MEXICO CITY – At least six U.S. airlines canceled more than 40 flights into and out of Mexico City and Toluca airports Thursday after the Popocatepetl volcano spewed out ash, steam and glowing rocks, airport officials said.
Mexico City airport spokesman Jorge Gomez said U.S. Airways, Delta, United, American and Alaska Airlines canceled 47 flights as a precaution. But he said the airport otherwise continues to operate normally and that by Thursday afternoon no ash had reached the area, about 40 miles from the volcano.
Gomez said that among the routes affected by the cancelations were flights to Houston, Dallas, Denver, Phoenix, Chicago and Los Angeles.
At nearby Toluca airport, Spirit Airlines canceled flights from Dallas and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., said spokesman Alejandro Munoz.
The airport, about 35 miles from Mexico City, also continued to operate normally, Munoz said.
Authorities registered several tremors Thursday at the 17,886-foot volcano, which has been spraying a fountain of hot rock and ash for the last 24 hours.
Federal civil protection authorities established a 7-mile safety radius around the Popocatepetl, which means no one can enter that area. They also are ensuring that no cars transit through the Paseo de Cortes, a mountain pass between the Popocatepetl and Ixtaccihuatl volcanoes.
An iconic backdrop to Mexico City’s skyline on clear days, Popocatepetl sits about halfway between Mexico City and the city of Puebla.
Police: Girl missing since 2007 may be alive
LONDON – British police say they have launched a full investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, and want to trace 38 “persons of interest” in the case.
Detectives say it’s possible that Madeleine, who vanished from a Portuguese holiday resort six years ago, is still alive.
Scotland Yard said Thursday that 12 of the people of interest are British, and the rest from a variety of European countries.
Madeleine vanished from a vacation home in Portugal’s Algarve region May 3, 2007, days before her fourth birthday. The case has generated intense media interest.
Associated Press
