The day begins with news that a passenger jet from Yemen carrying 153 people has crashed in the Indian Ocean as it was trying to land on the island nation of Comoros. A Comoros immigration officer, Rachida Abdullah, has told the Associated Press that a child around the age of 5 was rescued from the sea, but no other survivors have yet been found.

On Morning Edition today, aviation writer Matt Wald of The New York Times spoke with NPR's David Greene about another recent crash at sea — that of an Air France jet flying from Rio de Janeiro to Paris — and the search for that plane's black box. In both crashes, the jets were manufactured by Europe's Airbus:

We also start the day with celebrations in Iraq, where U.S. combat troops today handed over security in cities to Iraqi forces. NPR's David "Quil" Lawrence spoke to Morning Edition's Renee Montagne from Baghdad. He said there was a festive mood in the city last night. And, he added, Baghdad already looks much different — American troops are no longer on the scene:

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Khalid Mohammed/AP

Some Iraqis celebrated in Baghdad today.

Also on Morning Edition, NPR's Tom Gjelten reported about the bids that foreign companies are making on Iraqi oil licenses:

From a related story this morning by the Associated Press — Oil Licensing Effort Has Shaky Start: "Iraq's long-awaited licensing round to develop some of its massive oil reserves stumbled Tuesday as oil and gas companies dug in their heals, demanding more money for their efforts than the government was willing to pay."

As for other stories in this morning's headlines, they include:

— BBC News — "Ousted Honduran Head 'To Return' ": "The ousted president of Honduras, Manuel Zelaya, has said he will return home later this week, after being forced into exile on Sunday. Addressing a meeting of leaders from the Organization of American States (OAS) in Nicaragua, Mr Zelaya invited other leaders to accompany him. Earlier, U.S. President Barack Obama described his removal as a 'coup'. Mr Zelaya was removed by the army in a power struggle over plans for constitutional change."

Related story by The New York Times — "In A Coup In Honduras, Ghosts Of Past U.S. Policies."

— The Washington Post — "Obama Aims To Reassure Gays": "President Obama opened the doors of the White House to hundreds of gay and lesbian leaders yesterday, continuing his cautious outreach to a constituency that has loudly criticized his efforts on its behalf. ... The excitement among many of the several hundred guests invited to the White House was tempered by frustration among some who say they think the president has moved too slowly to make good on his campaign promises."

— The Wall Street Journal — A Michael Jackson Will From 2002 Is "In Spotlight": "A will drafted by Michael Jackson in 2002 which divides the singer's estate among his mother, three children and one or more charities could play a central role in determining how his tangled financial relationships will be unwound. Several people close to the late Mr. Jackson said that a lawyer for the pop singer could submit the will, believed to be his last, to Los Angeles Superior Court as soon as Thursday."

Related story by the Los Angeles Times — "LAPD Interviewing Doctors Who Prescribed Medications To Jackson."

— USA TODAY — "Consumers Hit Again As Some Banks Raise Credit Rates, Fees": "The ink has barely dried on credit card reform signed by President Obama in May, and already, issuers are raising prices again. Most issuers have raised rates or fees for certain borrowers."