Chatter: Missing Russian jet found, wrecked

Need to know:
The Russian jet that went missing over Indonesia yesterday during a demonstration flight has been found, wrecked.

The Sukhoi Superjet 100 appears to have crashed into Mount Salak, a 7,200-foot high eroded volcano south of Jakarta. A helicopter team spotted it from the air this morning, and rescuers are now scouring the area for survivors.

None has yet been found. Around 45 people were onboard the jet, including the Russian crew, Indonesian airline representatives and journalists; according to one official, a number of bodies have already been recovered.

Want to know:
Barack Obama made history yesterday by becoming the first US president to endorse gay marriage. 

"At a certain point I've just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married," he said in an interview with ABC News.

The key word is "personally." Obama went on to stress that the statement was his own opinion, and states should be allowed to decide their laws on the issue on their own. In which case, the president – who said he was "disappointed" with North Carolina voters' decision this week to add an anti-gay marriage clause to their constitution – risks disappointment on this issue again.

Dull but important:
In Syria, at least 40 people are reported dead and 170 injured after two powerful explosions in the capital, Damascus. 

The first, smaller explosion occurred near a freeway during rush hour. It was apparently intended to draw crowds to the scene, after which a much larger blast followed.

State television has blamed the blasts on "terrorists." Meanwhile, the opposition Syrian National Council accused President Bashar al-Assad's regime of orchestrating the attacks in order to drive out UN monitors – some of whom narrowly escaped a roadside bomb just yesterday.

Just because:
The 2012 Olympic flame was lit this morning, amid much ceremony, in Olympia, Greece.

Amongst the ruins of the 2,600-year-old Temple of Hera, actresses dressed as ancient priestesses used a mirror and the rays of the sun to light the torch that will be carried by a total of more than 8,400 torchbearers around Greece and then the UK. Stray drafts permitting, it will arrive still burning in London for the opening ceremony of the Games on July 27.

Find the latest on all things Olympic on GlobalPost's new sports blog, World at Play.

Strange but true:
If you're wont to keep your phone in your back pocket, you may be an – unwitting – public menace.

A new report suggests that nearly 4 million of the 10 million calls made to New York City's 911 emergency service annually are the result of accidental dialling, or what's known as the "butt call."

Since emergency workers have better things to do than, you know, listen to the inside of your jeans, be a good citizen today – lock your phone's keypad and stop your derriere calling for help.