Eritrean US detainee kills himself in Egypt airport cell

Eritrean US detainee kills himself in Egypt airport cell

CAIRO

Egyptian airport officials say an Eritrean detainee of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has died in an apparent suicide in an airport holding area.

The officials say Zeresenay Ermias Testfatsion was being held by authorities at Cairo International Airport, awaiting his return to Asmara, Eritrea. They say he was found dead Wednesday in a shower area and his remains were taken to a hospital.

The officials spoke Saturday on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media.

Afghan Taliban announce cease-fire for Eid holiday

KABUL, Afghanistan

The Afghan Taliban announced a three-day cease-fire over the Eid al-Fitr holiday at the end of the holy month of Ramadan, a first for the group, after an earlier cease-fire announcement by the government.

A statement released Saturday by the Taliban said that they would defend themselves in case of any attack. They say foreign forces are excluded from the cease-fire, and Taliban operations would continue against them.

The statement added that the leadership of the Taliban may also consider releasing prisoners of war if they promise not to return to the battlefield.

Magnitude 4.4 earthquake shakes part of Oklahoma

CHEROKEE, Okla.

The U.S. Geological Survey says a 4.4 magnitude earthquake shook parts of northern Oklahoma and neighboring Kansas.

Geologists say the earthquake was recorded Saturday about 16 miles east of Cherokee, about 100 miles northwest of Oklahoma City. The earthquake was recorded at a depth of five miles.

News outlets in Wichita, Kan., which is about 75 miles northeast of the earthquake’s epicenter, reported feeling the quake. Some residents more than 100 miles north of Wichita in Manhattan, Kan., also reported feeling tremors. No injuries or damage was reported.

Thousands of earthquakes recorded in Oklahoma in recent years have been linked to the underground injection of wastewater from oil and natural gas production. Regulators have directed producers to close some wells.

Report: Downed power lines sparked deadly Calif. fires

SAN FRANCISCO

A dozen wildfires that burned thousands of homes in California’s wine country and killed at least 15 people last October were started by Pacific Gas & Electric power lines and utility poles, state fire officials said.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection released its investigation for some of the wind-driven fires that ravaged Mendocino, Humboldt, Butte, Sonoma, Lake and Napa counties.

Falling trees and tree limbs hitting power lines were the most common cause, but one fire erupted after PG&E tried to re-energize a downed line, investigators found.

In eight fires there was “evidence of alleged violations of state law” by the utility, and those cases have been referred to county prosecutors for review, according to the forestry department.

“PG&E has been trying to duck responsibility for the fires, blaming everything from climate change to local fire departments and the state’s liability laws,” Patrick McCallum, co-chairman of a coalition of people affected by the wildfires, said in a statement.

Associated Press