now to iraq, where curtis dan has moved a step closer to independence.e region has already gained its demands, extending territory by one third and taking in the key oil-rich town of kirkuk. they have asked parliament to prepare for a referendum on independence. this is opposed by washington and also the iraqi prime minister. pushing for independence, a crowd of kurds waving flags gathered outside of the region's parliament building. the regional president addressed inside,ts saying that now is the time for self rule. >> we need to establish a self government in curtis dan -- kurdistan. it is time to decide about our self-determination and require other people to decide for us. >> as the security situation in iraq continues to deteriorate, forces have been quick to fill the vacuum, shoring up the region's defenses and looking into oil-rich k irkuk before it could fall to militants. with the government bogged down by political squabble, many see no choice but to break away. >> we will support with our soul and money. staying with baghdad has become almost

. >> we need to hurry up and establishing an independent central commission in curtis dan. we will be in a better position and have better political weapons in our hands. ourt's time to decide about self-determination and not to wait for other people to decide for us. >> as the security situation in iraq continues to deteriorate, forces have been quick to fill the vacuum, shoring up the region's defenses and moving kirkukl-rich car kook -- before it could fall to militants. many and curtis dancy no choice to break away. >> we will support -- many in but toan see no choice break away. craig staying in baghdad is all but impossible. sometimes they are with us, and the next time they turn against us. >> with the borders drawn and fortified and kurds in control be one dayiraq could closer to splintering. passengers traveling to the united states from europe can expect tighter security with immediate effect. u.s. department of homeland security said it is in response to intelligence gathering. extremist areerns developing new explosives which could be harder to detect. >> be rea

since our last major event with guests from curtis dan -- kurdistan was our most highly watched live streamed event in history, we expect this event to break that record. [laughter] perhaps there is a presidential directive in kurdistan. we are here today because the topic of the future of kurdistan is at the top of the global agenda. it is one of the key issues that is swirling around the entire set of issues triggered by recent events in iraq. of course, the issues regarding the kurdish people are not new. they have been a subtext to politics in the middle east for many years. america's connection to the people of kurdistan is not new either. it is a story that has its ups and downs over the years. hopefully, our government and the government in northern iraq the government and the kurdish regional government, is now entering a new era of cooperation and perhaps even alliance. we will hear more about that from our guests. i do want to it knowledge -- acknowledge the guidance here at the institute of all things iraq related offered by ambassador jim jeffrey. we are delighted to have

curtis khemesik of lockport landed among farm fields more than a mile from the nearest road. fellow divers say he was spiraling down at a higher speed than normal. state treasurer danfired three senior aides in his office after an inspector general's accusation of trying to find ways to reduce speeding city for bicyclist and possession and boost transit rider ship. it will all happen at 1:00 p.m. in the drake hotel ballroom. reservists as it goes after hamas targets near the gaza border. andrew spencer has more. >> airstrikes ramp up overnight. the israel defense forces reported hitting about 50 targets including militant houses and military compound. meanwhile, claiming responsibility for 70 more rockets fired into israel. the escalation of military action follows the death of a palestinian teenager, even his cousin has been caught in the violence. >> i can't believe it happened. unfortunately it did happen and it's real. >> a video showed a man dressed in israeli security forces uniforms holding down and pummeling the young man. amid protests over his cousins murder. still recovering from his injuries and currently under house arrest, the palestinian american is