Jump to March 2011 archive page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 ... 17

  • Crazy upside down house in Germany

    By Mish Whalen

    The new attraction is open to public to give visitors a "totally new perspective on a familiar view." See more photos and information on the house here.

    Holger Hollemann / AFP - Getty Images

    The so-called "Crazy House" (Verrueckte Haus), a single-family house upside down can be seen in the northern German town of Bispingen on March 27, 2011.

    Holger Hollemann / AFP - Getty Images

    People check out the so-called "Crazy House" (Verrueckte Haus), a single-family house upside down can be seen in the northern German town of Bispingen on March 27, 2011.

    Holger Hollemann / AFP - Getty Images

    People check out the so-called "Crazy House" (Verrueckte Haus), a single-family house upside down can be seen in the northern German town of Bispingen on March 27, 2011.

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  • Childhood diary found amid Japan devastation

    By Mish Whalen

    Two weeks after the massive earthquake and tsunami, the official death toll from the disaster stood at over 10,000, with over 16,000 people listed as missing.

    Yasuyoshi Chiba / AFP - Getty Images

    Yukiko Umehara (C) reacts after finding her cousin's childhood diary from amongst a tsunami devastated house at Tanohata village, Iwate prefecture on March 27, 2011.

    Yasuyoshi Chiba / AFP - Getty Images

    Takako Konno smiles after finding her cousin's childhood diary from amongst a tsunami devastated house at Tanohata village, Iwate prefecture on March 27, 2011.

     

  • Oil firm projects showcased ahead of Nigerian poll

    By Mish Whalen

    According to the AP: Shell oil co. flew journalists in a helicopter over a cleared area in the delta where locals ran makeshift refineries turning stolen crude oil tapped from pipelines into diesel and kerosene. The company blamed nearly all of its oil spills in 2009 on sabotage from thieves and militants. Environmentalists and community activists routinely blame Shell for the spills, pointing at the company's aging pipelines and poor cleanup efforts. Full story.

    Sunday Alamba / AP

    Oil is seen on the creek water's surface near an illegal oil refinery in Ogoniland, outside Port Harcourt, in Nigeria's Delta region.

    Sunday Alamba / AP

    An illegal oil refinery is seen in Ogoniland, outside Port Harcourt, in Nigeria's Delta region.

    Sunday Alamba / AP

    Oil is seen on the creek water's surface near an illegal oil refinery in Ogoniland, outside Port Harcourt, in Nigeria's Delta region.

    Sunday Alamba / AP

    Smoke rises from an illegal oil refinery in Ogoniland, outside Port Harcourt, in Nigeria's Delta region.

     

  • More images of the Hindu festival Holi, but this time from Utah

    Jim Urquhart / Reuters

    A boy is hoisted up by the crowd during Holi, the festival of colors, at the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork, Utah March 26, 2011. Thousands packed the temple grounds to celebrate Holi, a spring Hindu festival celebrated by throwing coloured powder at each other.

    Jim Urquhart / Reuters

    Reveller Philip Ellis dances during Holi, the festival of colors, at the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple.

    Jim Urquhart / Reuters

    People throw colored powder during Holi, the festival of colors, at the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple.

    Jim Urquhart / Reuters

    A woman listens to chants at the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple.

    Jim Urquhart / Reuters

    Revellers Brandon Balaszi (R) and his wife Terrilyn break for lunch during Holi, the festival of colors, at the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple.

    You can see other pictures of Holi celebrated in India here.

  • Quiet scenes of Cyrene, an ancient Greek and Roman city in Libya

    Goran Tomasevic / Reuters

    Sheep graze at the ancient Greek and Roman ruined city of Cyrene in modern-day Shahaat, eastern Libya March 26, 2011. Founded in 4th century BC by Greeks and later Romanised, Cyrene was one of the principal cities in the Hellenic world. Near Cyrene, one of the most important cities of the Hellenic world, are the lush hills and cool climes of Jebel al-Akhdar, but no facilities for tourists.

    Goran Tomasevic / Reuters

    Sheep graze at the ancient Greek and Roman ruined city of Cyrene in modern-day Shahaat, eastern Libya.

    Goran Tomasevic / Reuters

    People walk in the ancient Greek and Roman ruined city of Cyrene.

    Here's more about Cyrene, and also the latest news from Libya.

  • Jose Luis Magana / AP

    A visitor takes a picture of a cherry tree during the Cherry Blossom festival at the Tidal Basin in Washington on Saturday, March 26. Peak blooming period for 2011 is predicted to be from March 29 through April 1 according to the National Park Service.

    National Cherry Blossom Festival kicks off in D.C.

    Click here for more information about the two-week National Cherry Blossom Festival.

  • London demonstrators clash with police in budget protest

    Carl Court / AFP - Getty Images

    Police clash with protesters outside the Topshop store in central London, during a mass demonstration against government financial cuts on Saturday, March 26. Tens of thousands marched through London today in a demonstration against the government's austerity measures, amid a heavy police presence that failed to stop outbreaks of violence.

    Dylan Martinez / Reuters

    Demonstrators break windows of the Ritz Hotel, during a protest organized by the Trades Union Congress, called 'The March for the Alternative,' in central London on March 26.

    Reuters reports:

    A quarter-million mostly peaceful demonstrators marched through central London on Saturday against the toughest cuts to public spending since World War II, with some small breakaway groups smashing windows at banks and shops and spray painting logos on the walls.

    Another group of black-clad protesters hurled paint bombs and ammonia-filled light bulbs at police.

    Organizers of the March for the Alternative said people from across the country were peacefully joining in the demonstration, the biggest protest in London since a series of rallies against the Iraq war in 2003.

    Commander Bob Broadhurst of the Metropolitan Police confirmed that more than 250,000 people had marched peacefully, but said around 500 had caused trouble in London's main shopping streets.

    He said nine people had been arrested, for public disorder and criminal damage. Police said 28 people had been injured during the demonstration, and seven were admitted to hospitals for a range of problems, including shortness of breath and a suspected hip fracture. Five police officers were also injured and one of those had to be treated in hospital for a groin injury.

  • Patrick Baz / AFP - Getty Images

    A Libyan rebel holds the Kingdom of Libya flag as he walks past a burning wrecked tank at a site bombed by coalition air force in the town of Ajdabiya on March 26 as forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi were retreating after rebels recaptured the key eastern town in their first significant victory since the launch of the Western-led air strikes a week ago.

    Libya revolt: Rebels recapture Ajdabiya from Gadhafi forces

    By Elena Grothe

    Latest news on Libya here. Slideshow here.

  • Mourners pay respects to Rapper Nathaniel Dwayne Hale AKA Nate Dogg

    Toby Canham / Getty Images

    Mourners come together to pay their respects to rapper Nathaniel Dwayne Hale AKA Nate Dogg on March 25.

    According to AP: Singer Nate Dogg, whose near monotone crooning anchored some of rap's most seminal songs and helped define the sound of West coast hip-hop, died at age 41.

    Nate Dogg, whose real name was Nathaniel D. Hale, died Tuesday of complications from multiple strokes, said Attorney Mark Geragos.

    Nate Dogg wasn't a rapper, but he was an integral figure in the genre: His deep voice wasn't particularly melodic, but its tone — at times menacing, at times playful, yet always charming — provided just the right touch on hits including Warren G's "Regulate," 50 Cent's "21 Questions," Dr. Dre's "The Next Episode" and countless others.

    Toby Canham / Getty Images

    Mourners come together to pay their respects to Rapper Nathaniel Dwayne Hale AKA Nate Dogg on March 25.

    While Nate Dogg provided hooks for rappers from coast to coast, the Long Beach, Calif., native is best known for his contributions to the West Coast soundtrack provided by the likes of Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Tha Dogg Pound and more. Nate Dogg was even part of a "supergroup" featuring Snoop Dogg and Warren G, called 213.

    Nate Dogg, who had suffered at least two strokes since 2008, also put out his own solo projects but was best known for his collaborations with others.

    Toby Canham / Getty Images

    Mourners come together to pay their respects to Rapper Nathaniel Dwayne Hale AKA Nate Dogg on March 25.

     Read more here.

  • Nicholas A. Groesch / Reuters

    Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan conduct a counter-measure wash down on the flight deck to remove potential radiation contamination while operating off the coast of Japan while providing humanitarian assistance in support of Operation Tomodachi, March 22, 2011.

    Sailors aboard the USS Ronald Reagan wash the flight deck to safeguard against radiation during their humanitarian mission to Japan

    AP reports:
    ABOARD THE USS RONALD REAGAN — When U.S. Navy helicopters returned from a humanitarian mission on the first weekend following Japan's earthquake and tsunami, Lt. j.g. James Powell felt a slight unease.

    Powell, the radiation health officer aboard the USS Ronald Reagan, knew there was a chance the choppers could have been exposed to radiation from the damaged Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant as they ferried relief aid to northeastern Japan, and even though "the Japanese had told us we'd be fine," he still wanted to be sure.

    "I was kind of nervous about it," the 30-year-old nuclear engineer said. "So I said, 'Let's just go check them, just in case. ... Let's just go check it out.'"

    That was Sunday, March 13 — two days after the earthquake and tsunami had hit the coast and one day after the first explosion from the nuclear plant.

    Thus began three days of mostly sleepless nights for Powell as he and others worked to contain contamination to the $4.5 billion nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and calm the nerves of its crew of about 4,500.

    Powell's first examination showed a level of radiation on the nose of a helicopter 50 times higher than the ship's standard. Further checks showed that helicopter crew members themselves were coming in contaminated.

    "I'd never seen it on a nuclear-powered ship before, I'd never seen any skin contamination, never seen any sort of contamination anywhere that it wasn't supposed to be," Powell said Wednesday in an interview with The Associated Press on the deck of the carrier as sailors cleaned the expansive surface to try to strip it of any residual radioactivity.

    Click here to read the full story.

  • Day of Rage spreads across the Mideast

    By Robert Hood

    It's difficult to keep track of everything that's happening in the Mideast. We've been producing multiple  stories and slideshows to provide a record of what is being reported in Libya, Bahrain, Yemen and Syria. See links to our slideshows below.

    AFP - Getty Images

    Hundreds of Syrians march from the Omayyed Mosque in the center of Damascus' Old City towards Souk Al-Hamadiyeh Street on March 25, 2011 chanting "Daraa is Syria" and "We will sacrifice ourselves for Syria," as protests spread in Syria from the opposition's southern epicenter of Daraa to Damascus and a town south of the capital, where authorities moved to arrest at least five demonstrators. Click here to read more.

     

    Ammar Awad / Reuters

    Anti-government protesters shout slogans during a rally to demand the ouster of Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh outside Sanaa University on March 25, 2011. Saleh said on Friday he was ready to cede power to prevent more bloodshed in Yemen but only to what he called "safe hands" as a massive "Day of Departure" street protest against him began. Click here to see our “Political unrest in Yemem” slideshow.

     

    Manu Brabo / EPA

    Libyans shout anti-government slogans during a protest following Friday prayers in Benghazi, Libya on March 25, 2011. NATO is planning to take control of all United Nations-mandated military operations against Libya, fully replacing the United States-led coalition that has carried out airstrikes so far, officials in Brussels said Friday. Click here to see our “Conflict in Libya” slideshow.

     

    Hasan Jamali / AP

    Hundreds of residents of the western Shiite Muslim village of Karzakan, Bahrain, march against the Bahraini government after Friday prayers on March 25, 2011. Opponents of the regime, most of them Shia, attempted coordinated large-scale protests Friday, but government forces were prepared with checkpoints around most villages and a heavy police and tank presence. Fighter jets were heard flying over villages. Click here to see our "Bahrain uprising" slideshow.

     

  • Newly released: more dramatic images of tsunami hitting Sendai, Japan

    (Hiroshi Kawahara / Getty Images)

    This combo picture taken by Sendai city official Hiroshi Kawahara on March 11 and released through Jiji Press on March 25 shows (top to bottom) muddy tsunami water swallowing vehicles and houses at a bridge and finally coming to rest in Sendai city in Miyagi prefecture. Two weeks after a giant quake struck and sent a massive tsunami crashing into the Pacific coast, the death toll from Japan's worst post-war disaster topped 10,000 and there was scant hope for 17,500 others still missing.

    By John Makely, NBC News

     For the more images of the tragedy in Japan and recovery efforts click here.

  • Man rescued from eight-story blaze in Kathmandu

    Navesh Chitrakar / Reuters

    Krishna Bahadur Bashnet, 63, hangs on to a crane as he is rescued from the roof of the eight-story Quality Feed Industry building in the Balaju Industrial District of Kathmandu on March 25. According to the Nepalese Deputy Superintendent of the Police (DSP) Dibesh Lohani of Balaju Police Station, the fire was caused by a welding accident at the building that was under construction, but no casualties were reported. Bashnet was successfully rescued and the fire was eventually put out.

     

  • Firefighters cover police officers in foam in friendly protest

    Yves Herman / Reuters

    Firefighters spray foam over police officers during a protest at the Minister-President's office in Brussels, Belgium on March 25. Members of Brussels' fire brigade are demanding clearer rules with regards to nominations and promotions.

    Yves Herman / Reuters

    Belgian police officers react to being covered with foam sprayed by firefighters during a labor protest at the Minister-President's office in Brussels on March 25.

    Geert Vanden Wijngaert / AP

    A firefighter hands out apples to police after they were sprayed with a foam water hose during a firefighters' demonstration in Brussels on March 25.

    At least 100 firefighters spray foam at police guarding government offices in Brussels demanding staffing, training and better working conditions. TODAY.com's Dara Brown reports.

    By David R Arnott, NBC News

     It looks like both sides took part in this protest in good spirits.

  • New images show immediate aftermath of tsunami striking Fukushima nuclear plant

    Reuters

    Further waves approach the Fukushima nuclear power plant immediately after a tsunami struck, about 40 minutes following a magnitude 9 earthquake in Tomioka, Fukushima prefecture, Japan in this still image taken from a March 11, 2011 video released by the Ministry of Transport Tohuku Regional Bureau via Reuters TV.

    Reuters

    Waves accompanying a tsunami approach the coastline and the Fukushima nuclear power plant in this still image taken from a March 11, 2011 video released by the Ministry of Transport Tohuku Regional Bureau via Reuters TV.

    Reuters

    An aerial view shows the immediate aftermath at the Fukushima nuclear power plant after it was hit by a tsunami, in this still image taken from a March 11, 2011 video released by the Ministry of Transport Tohuku Regional Bureau via Reuters TV.

    By David R Arnott, NBC News

    Follow the latest developments at the Fukushima plant and see more images of the disaster in Japan in our slideshow.

  • A wide-eyed baby panda takes in his surroundings

    Norbert Potensky / AP

    This photo provided by the Schoenbrunn Zoo shows seven month old panda cub Fu Hu exploring the outdoors for the first time in Vienna, Austria on March 24. Fu Hu, who was born on Aug. 23, is a sensation because he was conceived naturally. He follows in the footsteps of his older brother, Fu Long, who charmed Austrians before leaving for China in 2009.

    Norbert Potensky / AP

    Seven month old panda cub Fu Hu exploring the outdoors for the first time at Schoenbrunn Zoo in Vienna, Austria on March 24.

    By David R Arnott, NBC News

    I hereby propose Fu Hu for Cutest Thing Ever status. For more great animal photos, see our Animal Tracks slideshow.

  • Kyodo News via AP

    Workers, who stepped into radiation-contaminated water during Thursday's operation at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant, are shielded with tarps before receiving decontamination treatment at a hospital in Fukushima, northeastern Japan on March 25. Later the men were transferred to a radiology medical institute for further treatment.

    Japan nuclear plant workers hospitalized after stepping in highly radioactive water

    A suspected breach in the reactor core at one unit of a stricken Fukushima nuclear plant could mean more serious radioactive contamination, Japanese officials said Friday, revealing what may prove a major setback in the mission to bring the leaking plant under control.

    The uncertain situation halted work Friday at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear complex, where dozens had been working feverishly to stop the overheated plant from leaking dangerous radiation, officials said.

    Suspicions of a possible breach were raised when two workers waded into water 10,000 more radioactive than normal and suffered skin burns, the Nuclear and Industry Safety Agency said. Continue reading.

  • Chaichan Chaimun / EPA

    A Thai Buddhist monk beside a collapsed 800-year-old pagoda at Wat Chedi Luang temple, Chiang Saen district, Chiang Rai province near the Thai-Myanmar border in northern Thailand, on 25 March after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck the region.

    800-year-old pagoda collapses after earthquake hits Thai-Myanmar border region

    YANGON, Myanmar — The 6.8-magnitude earthquake that hit Myanmar on Thursday has killed more than 50 people and injured 40, with the death toll expected to rise. The quake was centered about 69 miles north of the Thai town of Chiang Rai. One person was confirmed dead in Thailand. Continue reading.

  • Jae C. Hong / AP

    Duke's Kyle Singler battles for a loose ball with Arizona's Derrick Williams during the first half of a West regional semifinal in the NCAA college basketball tournament Thursday, March 24, 2011, in Anaheim, Calif.

    Arizona knocks out Duke

    From AP: Derrick Williams scores 32 points and leads No. 5 seed Arizona to a 93-77 come-from-behind upset of defending champion Duke to advance to the Elite Eight.

    Read the full story here. Also, see top images from the tournaments in our slideshow.

  • Crematoriums overwhelmed as Japan struggles with disaster dead

    Paula Bronstein / Getty Images

    Keiko Miura and her brother Masahiko Oyama grieve over the coffin of their mother Katsuko Oyama killed by the tsunami during a cremation March 24, 2011 in Minamisanriku , Japan. The family lost three family members from the earthquake and tsunami. Under Japanese Buddhist practice a cremation is the expected traditional way of dealing with the dead but now with the death toll so high crematoriums are overwhelmed and there is a shortage of fuel to burn them. Local municipalities are forced to dig mass graves as a temporary solution.

    Paula Bronstein / Getty Images

    Police and family members carry the coffin of Masaichi Oyama, who was killed by the tsunami, during a cremation ceremony March 24, 2011 in Kurihara , Japan.

    Paula Bronstein / Getty Images

    A crematorium worker gets ready to close the door with the coffin of Katsuko Oyama, who was, killed by the tsunami into the oven during a cremation March 24, 2011 in Kurihara , Japan.

    Paula Bronstein / Getty Images

    Family members and relatives transfer the bones of Masaichi Oyama, who was killed by the tsunami, by chopsticks into an urn the during a cremation ceremony March 24, 2011 in Kurihara , Japan. The family lost three family members from the earthquake and tsunami. Under Japanese Buddhist practice, a cremation is the expected traditional way of dealing with the dead, but now with the death toll so high, crematoriums are overwhelmed and there is a shortage of fuel to burn them. Local municipalities are forced to dig mass graves as a temporary solution.

    By James Cheng

     

     For the latest images of the recovery efforts in Japan click here.

  • Aerial images show illegal oil refineries in Nigeria's delta region

    Akintunde Akinleye / Reuters

    A view of an illegal oil refinery is seen in Ogoniland outside Port Harcourt in Nigeria's Delta region March 24, 2011.Crude oil thieves -- known locally as "bunkerers" -- have been a fact of life for years in Africa's biggest oil and gas industry, puncturing pipelines and costing Nigeria and foreign oil firms millions of dollars in lost revenues each year.

    Akintunde Akinleye / Reuters

    Smoke rises from an illegal oil refinery in Ogoniland outside Port Harcourt in Nigeria's Delta region.

    Akintunde Akinleye / Reuters

    Oil surfaces on water near an illegal oil refinery in Ogoniland outside Port Harcourt in Nigeria's Delta region March 24, 2011.

     Here's an article that provides some context for the existence of "bush refineries."

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