Kurdish government, ExxonMobil ink oil search deal

SULAIMANIYAH, Iraq (AP) — The Kurdish regional government has signed a deal with ExxonMobil to explore oil fields in northern Iraq, Kurdish officials said Sunday, putting them in sharp conflict with Iraq's national government.

The government in Baghdad wants to control all energy contracts signed in Iraq. With the deal, ExxonMobil becomes the first oil major to do business in the Kurdish region in defiance of the central government's wishes.

The deal was announced Sunday by Kurdish officials at an oil and gas conference in Irbil in comments carried on Kurdish television. Details of the deal were published on Friday by the Financial Times newspaper.

The Kurdistan Regional Government has clashed with Baghdad over who has the right to sign deals with international oil companies to develop Iraq's vast energy resources.

Obama caps summit diplomacy in Hawaiian home state

KAPOLEI, Hawaii (AP) — President Barack Obama on Sunday tied the hopes of a faster American economic recovery to the booming Pacific Rim region, saying "we're not going to be able to put our folks back to work" unless the Asia-Pacific region is successful as an engine for the world.

"We consider it a top priority," Obama said of the region where his administration is pouring in time and political capital to expand exports and business ties.

The president spoke as he dove into a day of summit diplomacy, proudly using his home state of Hawaii as the American foothold to the Pacific. The meeting brought together leaders of 21 nations of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, whose members span from Chile to China and account for roughly half the world's trade and economic output.

In the midst of a tough re-election bid, Obama kept his message on jobs, even as he privately lobbied for help on containing the Iranian nuclear threat.

He was to cap the summit with a solo news conference in which topics on and off his scripted agenda were likely to emerge.

Born in Hawaii, Obama reveled in having the world stage on his home turf, while back east the Republicans seeking to oust him from the White House assailed his foreign policy record.

Obama used his moment to signal to business executives and Asian leaders that the United States has shifted from a post-Sept. 11 war focus to re-engagement all across the Pacific.

"We represent close to 3 billion people, from different continents and cultures," Obama told his APEC partners on Saturday, ahead of some Hawaiian luau entertainment. "Our citizens have sent us here with a common task: to bring our economies closer together, to cooperate, to create jobs and prosperity that our people deserve so that they can provide for their families."

Dubai speed machine defies slowdown

DUBAI (Reuters) - Boeing savoured an order worth at least $18 billion for 50 wide-body 777 jetliners from host airline Emirates as the Dubai Air Show entered a second day beating the drum for growth despite widespread economic gloom.

The largest single order by value in Boeing's history boosted the Middle East's largest industry event and pushed talk of global recession to the sidelines -- though analysts said getting aircraft financing was proving an increasing challenge.

Qatar Airways looked set to step in with a possible Boeing order on Monday and was expected to give its final verdict on a long-awaited Airbus order that sources said would include A380 superjumbos on Tuesday, but talks appeared to be continuing.

Sources familiar with the matter said Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways was ready to buy an extra 12 Boeings including 10 787 Dreamliners and two more 777s, but may not announce at the show.

The Gulf's big three are buying wide-body aircraft to serve Asia and the United States and redraw the world's transport and logistics map with the Gulf at the center, thanks to its ability to reach most of the world's population in one long-haul hop.

Kuwaiti lessor Alafco plans to boost an order for 30 Airbus A320neo passenger aircraft, probably on Monday.

Economist Monti to quickly form new Italian govt

ROME (AP) — Economist Mario Monti accepted the monumental task Sunday of trying to form a new government that can rescue Italy from financial ruin, expressing confidence that the nation can beat the crisis if its people pull together.

His selection came a day after Silvio Berlusconi reluctantly resigned as premier, bowing out after world markets pummeled Italy's borrowing ability, reflecting a loss of faith in the 75-year-old media mogul's leadership. Berlusconi quit after the Italian parliament approved new reform measures demanded by the European Union and central bank officials — but even those are not considered enough to right Italy's ailing economy.

"There is an emergency, but we can overcome it with a common effort," Monti told the nation, shortly after Italy's president formally asked him to see if he can muster enough political support to lead the country out of one of its most trying hours since World War II.

'Super Mario' tapped to cure Italy's economic ills

MILAN (AP) — The man tapped to be Italy's next premier earned the moniker "Super Mario" in the halls of the European Commission, stopping such corporate giants as Jack Welch and Bill Gates in their competitive tracks.

Elegantly attired with a formal demeanor, Mario Monti proved his mettle as a tough negotiator when he blocked the merger of General Electric and Honeywell and levied a euro500 million fine against Microsoft for abusing its dominant position.

"He moves with caution and speaks with nuances. But he moves," said Carlo Guarnieri, a political scientist at the University of Bologna.

A leading economist, Monti is among the most respected men in the country and the most admired Italians 

in Europe.

That will be no guarantee for success in the Herculean task before him: building a majority large enough to push painful structural reforms through a fractured Parliament to prevent Italy from being dragged into the burgeoning debt crisis.

Reading the North

By Katie Mangelsdorf (Publication Consultants, $19.95)

The blurb: This biography tells the story of Joe Redington and how he would go on to become the "Father of the Iditarod."

Excerpt: "The Redingtons now had their first Alaska winter under their belt. Spring was poking its nose around the corner and Joe had made a decision. Time to build a new cabin. This new cabin would have only one stove to stoke this time. And no running water. The first batch of mosquitoes made its grand and noisy entrance. Though their bite was weak, their size foretold the next wave of vicious and voracious mosquitoes. What the second wave lost in size, they sure made up in numbers. But as most Alaskans do, the Redingtons learned to overlook those noisome insects and tune in only to the work at hand. Joe learned that 'if you don't make a fuss at them, they won't make a fuss at you.'

"Vi added with a smile, 'When people fuss about mosquitoes now, I just kinda laugh.'

"Joe had a house to build."

UAA anthropology found rewrite Aleutian social history

UAA anthropology found rewrite Aleutian social history

Diane Hanson can look back and laugh — right now.

More than 25 years have elapsed since she was young, and reported to the Alaska Anthropological Association as a graduate student in anthropology at Adak in the usual place, about 1. archeological site — Aleutian-coastline She and fellow workers found it very far inland, along the coast.

This is common. Since the 1950s, anthropology coastal communities was all that mattered was claimed in the Aleutians. Villagers hunting, wildlife need access to the island and most of all, there are no mammals just no reason to go hunting inland. The island interior were simply natural barrier between the marginal coastal communities. They were related.

Anthropology graduate student research results, kind of a young audience. "Cross" Hanson was how to remember the experience.

But later in the year, Hanson, now a Professor of anthropology, her hair to UAA. As it turns out, she was found in 1983, the site is independently confirmed by another anthropologist, 1993 and 2005, the National Science Foundation grant in the end $ 430000 help her win a $ 10,000 grant from the UAA's Secretary of graduate and undergraduate students with Hanson, she was discovered in 1983 near the site were excavated and Adak again one.

And guess what? She was right.

Oysters, King crab can soothe the winter blahs

Oysters, King crab can soothe the winter blahs

For people who love the winter is the time to celebrate.

Sympathy for the people who hate the winter time.

One way to do one with a good meal.

10 amp; M lot in Anchorage Dannon Southall seafood fresh from the sea have options.

"This is such a cool temps and deep snow, the perfect way to spoil yourself," he said.

Southall both spoiling suggests options for:

First, you can use this for $ 9.95 Alaska oysters live 12 weeks. Southall oysters, halibut is still available, including some fresh fish will pair well but will be in short supply as soon as possible.

Halibut fish or fillets ($ 19.95 per pound).

"Halibut season is soon, and how to take advantage of this fresh handling of last week, along with the weather turning there is expected to be finalized," said Southall.

Second, fresh Jumbo Red King crab, you will be able to on Friday.

Fresh from the Southall Southeast will be limited to the cluster, and he suggested to make a reservation call ahead.