Around the world in 60 seconds - 14 May 2010

This week’s events include:

• Plane crashes with 9-year old boy the only survivor
• Louisiana oil crisis continues
• Chinese kindergarten murders
• Los Angeles boycotts Arizona businesses over immigration law

Plane crash kills 103 with a Dutch boy the sole survivor

A plane from the Libyan airliner Afriqiyah Airways crashed in Libya’s capital Tripoli on Wednesday on its approach to the airport, killing 103 people.

The plane was travelling from Johannesburg in South Africa. Most of the people on board were taking connecting flights on to Europe, mainly to the Netherlands.

Miraculously, there was a survivor – a 9 year-old Dutch boy. He was taken to hospital with broken legs and moderate head injuries. His parents and sister were killed.

It’s understood that the plane broke up as it was coming into land in clear weather, but it’s unknown why. The plane was only delivered from the manufacturer Airbus in September last year.

Louisiana oil crisis continues as attempts to stop the leak fail

15 million litres of oil have so far leaked into the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana from the damaged oil well of April 20.

An attempt to seal the leak with a giant steel dome last weekend failed because ice crystals formed and blocked the exit pipe.

A smaller dome has been made and is currently sitting on the sea floor near the well. Officials hope to have this working by the end of the week.

Government investigators now believe the blowout preventer made by Cameron International (an American company) was faulty, meaning it didn’t have the power to seal the drill pipe after the explosion.

Chinese kindergarten murders following worrying trend

On Wednesday, a teacher and seven children were hacked to death and twenty more injured by a man with a cleaver knife. The man, who was the owner of the building, then committed suicide.

The incident occurred despite a “red alert” issued by the government on all schools after a spate of such attacks in the last two months.

Three attacks occurred on successive days in April, with the deadliest killing eight children. The speculated reasons for such attacks have included inequality, debt, job loss, relationship and mental health issues.

One of the offenders was shot by authorities on the spot while another was subsequently put to death.

Los Angeles boycotts Arizona businesses over new immigration law

The US state of Arizona is facing criticism from all angles since introducing a new law last month to combat illegal immigrants.

The law, which comes into force on July 29, requires police officers to question people they stop about their immigration status, if they have “reasonable suspicion” that the person is in the US illegally.

While Arizona officials say this is necessary to stop the inflow of illegal immigrants from Mexico, critics say it will result in more racial profiling – where ethnic minorities are unfairly targeted because of how they look.

Several cities have condemned the law and thousands have protested against it. Los Angeles city council has voted to ban official employee travel to the state and Arizona companies from getting their city contracts.

Nevertheless, a new poll shows that 59% of Americans approve of the law, while only 32% disapprove.

Photo – An Airbus Afriqiyah Airways plane identical to the one that crashed on Wednesday.