WORLD DIGEST || Explosion mars Hagel's first trip to Afghanistan

Hagel makes first trip to Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel arrived in AfghanistanFriday for his first visit as Pentagon chief, saying that there are plenty of challenges ahead as NATO hands over the country’s security to the Afghans.

Later, an explosion outside the Afghan defense ministry caused multiple casualties, Afghan officials reported.

Afghan police spokesman Hashmat Stanekzai said an apparent suicide attacker on a bicycle hit the main entrance to the defense ministry around 9 a.m. local time. Officials are still trying to determine the number of casualties.

Hagel was in a meeting at a coalition facility in Kabul and defense officials say he is in a safe location and unharmed. Reporters traveling with Hagel were in a briefing when they heard the explosion, and were moved to a lower floor of the same building. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly.

In his earlier remarks, Hagel said, "We are still at war,” and warned the U.S. and its allies to remain focused on the mission while noting that the U.S. never intended to stay in Afghanistan indefinitely.

“That transition has to be done right. It has to be done in partnership with the Afghans, with our allies,” said Hagel, who took over the Pentagon job a little more than a week ago. “Our country as well as Afghanistan, the region, and the allies have a lot at stake here. And our continued focus and energy and attention on Afghanistan is going to be very important.”

Simulated explosive reportedly got past NJ airport screeners

NEWARK, N.J.

A New York congressman called for an extensive security review at Newark Liberty Airport after a newspaper reported Friday that a simulated explosive got past screeners.

Rep. Peter King’s letter to Transportation Security Administration Administrator John Pistole followed a report in the New York Post. The newspaper said an undercover TSA inspector brought a mock improvised-explosive device stashed in his pants through two layers of security last month. One of the security checks that failed to catch the mock device was a pat-down.

King, a Republican who is a former chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, called for a “top-to-bottom” review of TSA operations at Newark.

Sanctions haven’t derailed N. Korea

SEOUL, South Korea

Seven years of U.N. sanctions against North Korea have done nothing to derail Pyongyang’s drive for a nuclear weapon capable of hitting the United States. They may have even bolstered the Kim family by giving their propaganda maestros ammunition to whip up anti-U.S. sentiment and direct attention away from government failures.

In the wake of fresh U.N. sanctions leveled at North Korea on Thursday for its latest nuclear test, the question is: Will this time be different?

Since 2006, North Korea has launched long-range rockets, tested a variety of missiles and conducted three underground nuclear explosions, the most recent on Feb. 12. Through it all, Pyongyang has been undeterred by a raft of sanctions — both multilateral penalties from the United Nations and national sanctions from Washington, Tokyo and others — meant to punish the government and sidetrack its nuclear ambitions.

Storm surprises New England

WHITMAN, Mass.

The late-winter storm that buried parts of the country was forecast to be little more than a nuisance for most of New England. Try telling that to Connecticut and Massachusetts residents who spent two days shoveling as much as 2 feet of snow.

“The forecast was 4 to 6 inches, and I think I’m looking at about 12 to 14 inches,” West Roxbury resident Mark Spillane said as snow continued to fall Friday. “I did not expect to have to bring out the snow blower.”

Associated Press