Train Collision Causes Massive Explosions in North Dakota

Two trains collided leading to massive explosions, in North Dakota, on Monday afternoon.

A westbound train carrying soybeans derailed near Casselton and was struck by an eastbound train.

The eastbound train had been carrying oil and five of it's cars exploded.

Another five cars and both of it's engines caught fire.

Authorities are worried that the fire will spread to the remaining fifty-six cars.

Residents in the area have been warned to stay indoors, to avoid the toxic smoke.

Once the fire is out, the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the initial derailment and the following crash and explosions.

Fourteen Killed in Suicide Bombing in Russia

For the second time in two days a suicide bomber attacked the Russian city of Volgograd.

Monday's target was a public trolley bus.

Fourteen people were killed, dozens more were injured, and nearby buildings were damaged by the force of the blast.

Again no one claimed responsibility for the attack, but suspicions have fallen on the city's Muslim population.

Officials did state that the bombs appeared to have been made by the same person, or at least in the same place.

The attacks are considered an attempt to scare people away from the Winter Olympics, which are set to take place in Sochi, in February.

21 Pepper Sprayed During Robbery in Colorado

Twenty-one people required medical treatment after they were pepper sprayed, on Sunday evening, in Littleton, Colorado.

Two men robbed a Verizon store at the Southwest Plaza Mall.

As they left, they pepper sprayed the customers and employees.

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office described the two suspects as Hispanic males, in their twenties, wearing dark clothing.

Chaparrastique Erupts in El Salvador

Mount Chaparrastique erupted on Sunday, in El Salvador.

The government ordered an evacuation of all people within ten miles of the volcano.

About five thousand people have been evacuated, due to the eruption.

Worries are that ash from the volcano will hurt local crops.

France Passes Millionaire Tax

France's Constitutional Council approved a millionaire tax, on Sunday.

This decision comes a year to the day after the Council had rejected a previous proposal for a millionaire tax.

The Council had felt the previous one "failed to recognise equality before public burdens", as it tax seventy-five percent of an individuals income, if they make more than one million euros a year.

The new proposal taxes companies fifty percent, that pay salaries over one million euros a year.

Four hundred and seventy companies and twelve soccer teams will be affected by the new tax.

Police Block Protesters in Ukraine

Thousands of Ukrainians continued to protest in Kiev, on Sunday.

The people are still demanding that President Viktor Yanukovych and much of the rest of the government resign.

Protesters attempted to march on his home, carrying a coffin, but were blocked by police officers.


On December 17, ignoring the opinion of the people, Yanukovych signed a trade agreement with Russia.


He did so after repeatedly pledging to sign an agreement with the EU.

Protests have been taking place for over a month now, with crowds as large as two hundred thousand, in Kiev's Independence Square alone.

Many Ukrainians worry that Yanukovych is taking their country back under Russian influence and fear a loss of their independence from their former Soviet masters.

The protests gained steam after three former presidents backed them.

Police were unable to clear out the protesters earlier this month, and their failure had been followed by Yanukovych promising to get back to working on the deal with the EU.

However, his once again breaking his word has only heightened the calls for his removal from office and led to many to call him a traitor and warn that he should never return to the country.

The opposition had called for the government to replace him, but their lack of movement on the issue has led to calls for their removal as well.

So far, the protests have been almost completely peaceful, but that could change as anger continues.

Suicide Bombing Kills 16 in Russia

Sixteen people were killed in a suicide bombing in Volgograd, Russia.

Sunday's bombing targeted a train station, injuring forty-three people.

Witnesses say that a woman approached the metal detectors and refused to go through them.

As a police moved towards her she blew herself up.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Saudi Arabia Announces $3 Billion in Military Aid for Lebanon

President Michel Suleiman

On Sunday, it was announced that Saudi Arabia is granting Lebanon three billion dollars in military aid.

They will be doing this partially by buying weapons from France, to give Lebanon.

Michel Suleiman, Lebanon's president, made the announcement and added that he hoped France would move quickly on shipping the weapons.

He also stated his hope that France would consider aiding in training Lebanon's forces.

French President Francois Hollande responded that he was sure his country would be willing to assist an ally.

Saudi Arabia's goal is to allow the Lebanese military to become more powerful than Hezbollah, within Lebanon's borders.

Hezbollah, which is recognized as a terrorist group by several countries, currently wields much greater power than the military can.

This often allows the group to control national policy.

Israel Struck by Rockets From Lebanon

A Lebanese soldier inspects a shell remnant

Four rockets flew out of Lebanon and two of them struck Israel, on Sunday morning, with one falling near the town of Kiryat Shmona.

The other two rounds failed to cross the border, and fell into Lebanon.

Israel responded by firing thirty-two artillery rounds into the area that the rockets came from.

No injuries were reported from either incident.

Lebanese troops later found the remnants of the rocket launchpads, which were fired at Israel.

After bring relatively quiet, Israel's border with Lebanon has had several incidents of attacks on Israel, during December.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Bangladesh Cracks Down on Protesters

Hundreds were arrested in Dhaka, Bangladesh on Sunday as the government cracked down on opposition protests.

Opposition leaders had planned a large protest to take place today, but police blocked leaders from leaving their homes.

Water cannons and tear gas were used against their supporters who tried to break through police lines, to get to them.

The government also closed down public transportation to make it difficult for people to come in large numbers.

One protester was killed in the clashes with police, on Sunday.

The opposition is demanding that the government step down, accusing them of trying fix elections scheduled for January 5.

US Air Force: Captain David I. Lyon

Captain David I. Lyon, twenty-eight of Sandpoint, Idaho, died on Decmber 27.

He and two other NATO troops were killed when their vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device, in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Lyon was assigned to the 21st Logistics Readiness Squadron out of Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.

3 Killed in Clashes in Egypt

Three people were killed in clashes in Egypt.

Protesters demanding that Mohammed Morsi be returned to power clashed with police.

In a dramatic change, the military turned to militia groups and asked them to protect buildings which are often targeted by Islamist groups.

Most of the protesters are supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood, which was officially listed as a terrorist organization, on Wednesday.

3 NATO Troops Killed in Afghanistan

A suicide bomber struck a military convoy, just outside of Kabul, on Friday.

Three NATO soldiers were killed and six civilians wounded, in the blast.

At this time, NATO has not released the nationality of the soldiers lost.

The Taliban quickly claimed responsibility for the attack, though as usual they exaggerated the destruction it caused.

USMC: Sergeant Daniel M. Vasselian

Sergeant Daniel M. Vasselian, twenty-seven of Abington, Massachusetts, died on December 23.

He was killed during combat in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Vasselian was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Egypt Declares Muslim Brotherhood a Terrorist Organization

Egypt moved another step against the Muslim Brotherhood on Wednesday.

They once again declared the Brotherhood to be an illegal organization.

On top of that, the Egyptian government has announced that the Muslim Brotherhood shall from now on be known as a terrorist organization.

Despite having been illegal for much of it's history, the group had never before been considered terrorists.

The announcement came the day after a car bombing struck in Mansoura, killing fifteen.

US Embassy Attacked in Afghanistan

Four Taliban rockets struck in Kabul, early Wednesday morning.

Two of them struck the US embassy, chasing everyone into bunkers, for Christmas.

One of the rockets failed to explode on impact, but exploded while police were trying to deuse it, wounding three officers.

None of the explosions caused any damage to their surroundings.

USPS Announces Price Increases

On Tuesday, the United States Postal Service announced a rise in shipping prices.

First Class stamps will rise three cents to forty-nine cents a piece.

Post cards will go up a penny, to thirty-three cents.

Bulk mail, magazines, and packages will see a six percent increase in their costs.

All changes will take place on January 26.

The postal service only was able to get authorization for the price increase to last two years.

However, by that time, inflation could make the increases permanent.

3 Killed in The UK as Storm Strikes Western Europe

Three Britons were killed, on Tuesday, as a storm tore though the United Kingdom.

Much of Western Europe was also touched by the storm.

Travel services were disrupted, across the region.

Naval forces from several nations carried out sea rescues as several vessels were damaged or sailors were swept overboard.

Much of England and Wales is under flood warnings.

Car Bombing in Egypt Kills 15

Fifteen people were killed when a car bomb exploded in Mansoura, Egypt, early Tuesday morning.

Another one hundred and thirty-four people were injured when the blast occurred outside of the police station.

Rescue workers spent much of Tuesday morning sifting through the rubble for survivors and victims.

No one has claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack.

Gaza Sniper Kills Technician in Israel

An Israeli technician was killed on Tuesday as he made repairs on the fence that lies on the border with the Gaza Strip.

According to witnesses and officials he was shot by a sniper, from Gaza.

Israeli Defense Forces rushed to his aid, but were unable to save his life.

Other troops, including the air force, returned fire at six known terrorist meeting locations.

Protests Continue in The Ukraine

Protests continued in Kiev and other Ukrainian cities, on Sunday.

Hundreds of thousands are demanding that President Viktor Yanukovych and much of the rest of the government resign.

On Tuesday, Yanukovych signed an economic treaty with Russia, despite the mass protests against even the idea of his doing so.

He did so after repeatedly pledging to sign an agreement with the EU.

Protests have been taking place for over a month now, with crowds as large as two hundred thousand, in Kiev's Independence Square alone.

Many Ukrainians worry that Yanukovych is taking their country back under Russian influence and fear a loss of their independence from their former Soviet masters.

The protests gained steam after three former presidents backed them.

Police were unable to clear out the protesters earlier this month, and their failure had been followed by Yanukovych promising to get back to working on the deal with the EU.

However, his once again breaking his word has only heightened the calls for his removal from office and led to many to call him a traitor and warn that he should never return to the country.

The opposition had called for the government to replace him, but their lack of movement on the issue has led to calls for their removal as well.

So far, the protests have been almost completely peaceful, but that could change as anger continues.

US Personnel Evacuated Out of South Sudan

US armed forces successfully completed an evacuation of American personnel from Bor, South Sudan, on Sunday.

The successful operation came a day after US aircraft came under fire as they attempted to approach the city.

According to officials, all factions in South Sudan were made aware that the flights would be occurring today, and so warned they held fire.

Several other nations used the same means to get their citizens out of the city, as well.

President Obama warned that the is considering military action, if the factions do not stop fighting.

However, the White House quickly stated that no escalation was expected.

South Sudan's government has lost control of most of the country, with many different groups rising up against each other, mostly along ethnic lines.

It seems very unlikely that civil war will be avoided.

Al Qaeda Apologizes For Attack on Hospital in Yemen

A video released on Sunday shows the leader of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula apologizing for an attack that they carried out.

Qassim al-Raimi states that Al Qaeda is sorry for attacking a hospital in Sanaa, Yemen, on December 5.

The attack killed fifty-two and wounded one hundred and sixty-seven.

Al-Raimi said that the bombers were ordered not to target the building, but mistakenly did so anyways.

He further said that the attack, "wronged us and pained us, because we do not fight in this manner".

The terrorist organization often attacks civilian targets, but is trying to reband themselves as a defender of Islam.

Bomb Explodes on Bus in Israel

A bus driver in Tel Aviv, Israel is being called a hero after he evacuated his bus before a bomb exploded on it.

The driver was informed that a package had been left abandoned on the rear seat and immediately pulled the bus over and ordered everyone out.

Just minutes after they evacuated, the bomb exploded, blowing out the windows on the bus.

Officials say that the force of the blast likely would have killed the driver and all twelve of his passengers, had he not evacuated them.

Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Claire Davis, Dead at 17

Seventeen year old Claire Davis, died on the afternoon of Saturday, December 21.

Claire had been wounded in the shooting at Arapahoe High School, in Centennial, Colorado, on Friday, December 13.

After under going major surgery, she had been in a coma ever since.

With her family at her side, the girl know for her love of horses left this world.

Her family released a statement saying, "Although we have lost our precious daughter, we will always be grateful for the indelible journey she took us on over the last 17 years -- we were truly blessed to be Claire's parents. The grace, laughter and light she brought to this world will not be extinguished by her death; to the contrary, it will only get stronger."

Tornadoes Injure 5 in Arkansas

Five people were injured by two separate tornadoes, on Saturday.

Both occurred in Arkansas, one near Dermott, the other near Hughes.

Twenty-three homes and several dozen cars were damaged by the tornadoes.

Outside Hughes, Interstate 40 was shutdown for a time, as crews had to clear several accidents caused by the storm.

US Aircraft Attacked in South Sudan

US aircraft came under fire, while in South Sudan, on Saturday.

The aircraft were part of an attempt to evacuate Americans from out of the country.

Three US Air Force CV22 Ospreys were damaged in the attack and four US military personnel were wounded.

All of the aircraft were diverted to Entebbe, Uganda, and then the wounded were transported to Nairobi, Kenya.

Because of the attack, the evacuation was halted, while other options are considered.

US Army: Staff Sergeant Jesse L. Williams

Staff Sergeant Jesse L. Williams, thirty of Elkhart, Indiana, died on December 17.

He and five others were killed when their Blackhawk helicopter crashed in Now Bahar, Afghanistan.

Williams was assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, Regimental Support Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment out of Vilseck, Germany.

US Army: Chief Warrant Officer 2 Joshua B. Silverman

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Joshua B. Silverman, thirty-five of Scottsdale, Arizona, died on December 17.

He and five others were killed when their Blackhawk helicopter crashed in Now Bahar, Afghanistan.

Silverman was assigned to the 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division out of Fort Riley, Kansas.

US Army: Specialist Terry K. D. Gordon

Specialist Terry K. D. Gordon, twenty-two of Shubuta, Mississippi, died on December 17.

He and five others were killed when their Blackhawk helicopter crashed in Now Bahar, Afghanistan.

Gordon was assigned to the 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division out of Fort Riley, Kansas.

US Army: Sergeant First Class Omar W. Forde

Sergeant First Class Omar W. Forde, twenty-eight of Marietta, Georgia, died on December 17.

He and five others were killed when their Blackhawk helicopter crashed in Now Bahar, Afghanistan.

Forde was assigned to the 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division out of Fort Riley, Kansas.

US Army: Sergeant Peter C. Bohler

Sergeant Peter C. Bohler, twenty-nine of Willow Springs, North Carolina, died on December 17.

He and five others were killed when their Blackhawk helicopter crashed in Now Bahar, Afghanistan.

Bohler was assigned to the 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division out of Fort Riley, Kansas.

US Army: Chief Warrant Officer 2 Randy L. Billings

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Randy L. Billings, thirty-four of Heavener, Oklahoma, died on December 17.

He and five others were killed when their Blackhawk helicopter crashed in Now Bahar, Afghanistan.

Billings was assigned to the 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division out of Fort Riley, Kansas.

76 Injured by Collapsing Ceiling at London's Apollo Theater

Seventy-six people were injured when the ceiling of the Apollo Theater collapsed, in London.

Thursday night's accident occurred during a packed performance.

Seven of the injured were hurt seriously.

From the outside, no damage was visible.

The cause of the collapse is under investigation.

2 Killed in Atlanta Plane Crash

Two people were killed when a plane crashed just outside of Atlanta, on Tuesday evening.

The Raytheon 390 Premier I had just minutes before taken off from Fulton County Airport.

It had been headed for New Orleans.

The cause of the crash is under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.

Ukraine's President Signs Economic Treaty With Russia

Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych signed an economic treaty with Russia's Vladimir Putin, on Tuesday.

Yanukovych signed the economic agreement, despite mass protests, in Ukraine, against his doing so.

He also had twice pledged to sign an agreement with the EU.

Protests have been taking place for about a month now, with crowds as large as two hundred thousand, in Kiev's Independence Square alone.

Many Ukrainians worry that Yanukovych is taking their country back under Russian influence and fear a loss of their independence from their former Soviet masters.

The protests gained steam after three former presidents backed them.

Police were unable to clear out the protesters last Tuesday, and only partially successful on Wednesday.

Their failure had been followed by Yanukovych promising to get back to working on the deal with the EU.

However, his once again breaking his word has only heightened the calls for his removal from office and led to many to call him a traitor and warn that he should never return to the country.

6 US Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan

Six US soldiers were killed when their helicopter crashed in Afghanistan, on Tuesday afternoon.

A seventh soldier was injured in the Blackhawk crash, in Zabul province.

The cause of the crash is under investigation, but it is believed to have been engine failure.

One hundred and fifty-six NATO troops have been killed, during 2013, in Afghanistan.

Only thirty of those were not American troops.

3 Alarm Fire Destroys Denver Apartment Complex

A three alarm fire tore through an under construction apartment complex, late Saturday night, in Glendale, Colorado.

The fire destroyed the new complex and jumped a road damaging another apartment complex and some condos.

Firefighters fought to keep the flames contained, but eventually did knock the fire out.

Extreme heat, from the flames, partially melted more than twenty nearby cars.

Flames nearing fifty feet could be seen across the Denver metro area.

Amazingly, no one was injured in the fire, which began around 23:00 MST and burned well into the early morning hours.

An investigation is underway to determine what caused the blaze.

200,000 Protest in Kiev as Ukraine's President Plans Trip to Russia

Over two hundred thousand people protested in Kiev, on Sunday, as their president once again backed away from promises to treat with the EU.

Instead, President Viktor Yanukovych is now planning a trip to Moscow, scheduled for Tuesday.

His announcement comes after weeks of continuous protests have shaken the country.

Many Ukrainians worry that Yanukovych is taking their country back under Russian influence and fear a loss of their independence from their former Soviet masters.

The protests gained steam after three former presidents backed them.

Police were unable to clear out the protesters on Tuesday, and only partially successful on Wednesday.

Their failure had been followed by Yanukovych promising to get back to working on the deal with the EU.

However, he is once again breaking his word, and the calls for his removal are louder than ever.

Sunday's protests were the largest yet, as people braved freezing temperatures to hear opposition leaders speak.

US Senator John McCain joined the speakers, telling the people of Ukraine that they were on the right side and that the world was behind them in the fight for freedom.

Israel Defense Forces Soldier Killed

A member of the IDF was killed on Sunday night, near Rosh Hanikra.

He was shot and killed while patrolling on the Israeli side of the border, with Lebanon.

According to officials, the weapons fire came from the Lebanese side of the border.

Israeli helicopters rushed to the area, seeking the attacker, but were not successful in their search.

Lebanon has upped their alert status, in the area, as a result of the Israeli activity.

USMC: Lance Corporal Matthew R. Rodriguez

Lance Corporal Matthew R. Rodriguez, nineteen of Fairhaven, Massachusetts, died on December 11.

He was killed during combat in Helmand, Afghanistan.

Rodriguez was assigned to the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force out of Camp Pendleton, California.

His decorations include: National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NATO Medal.

Shooting At Arapahoe High School Leaves 1 Student Dead, 1 Wounded in Colorado

Friday saw a shooting at Arapahoe High School, in Centennial, Colorado.

An eighteen year old student walked into the school, carrying a shotgun, and began asking for the whereabouts of one of the school's staff members.

Word quickly reached the staff member and, following active shooter protocols, he left the building.

When the student realized his target was gone he fired two or three shots, from the shotgun, seriously wounding a seventeen year old student.

Police arrived within minutes and as they closed in the shooter took his own life.

Officers found his body as well as two Molotov cocktails, one of which had been detonated, causing smoke issues for the first responders.

At this time it has not been confirmed what the student's motive was in wanting to kill the staff member, or why he shot the female student.

The wounded seventeen year old student was taken to Littleton Adventist Hospital, where she underwent surgery, and is in critical condition.

Mexico Ends Full Nationalization of Oil

With a vote of three hundred and fifty-three to one hundred and thirty-four, Mexico's congress voted to partially denationalize their oil industry.

The industry was nationalized back in 1938, but has recently struggled to stay economically afloat.

Congress's vote allows for private financiers to buy into the national oil company.

This leaves the country as the majority owner, but brings in outside money as well.

Mexico hopes to use investment money to search for new fields, further explore known ones, and utilize their resources to a greater level.

They are already the tenth largest oil supplier, in the world.

Catalonia Sets Date For Independence Referendum

On Thursday, Catalonia's regional government set a date for a referendum on independence from Spain.

They set a date, nearly a year from now, of November 9, 2014.

By placing it a year from now they hope to ensure that international observers will have ample time to see that their votes were free and that the voters were informed.

Voters will simply be asked if they wish for Catalonia to be an independent state.

However, the national government, in Madrid, pledged to keep any such referendum from happening.

At this time, it is unclear how the national government can actually keep the vote from taking place.

Ukraine's President Listens to Protesters and Moves to Sign With EU

President Viktor Yanukovych has reannounced his intention to sign a trade agreement deal with the European Union.

His announcement comes after weeks of protests took place in all the cities of Ukraine, especially in Kiev.

As many as one hundred and thirty thousand protested each day in the capital city.

Police were unable to clear out the protesters on Tuesday, and only partially successful on Wednesday.

Their failure forced the administration to face the reality of the people's anger over Yanukovych attempting to back out of the deal.

Yanukovych had instead decided to seek closer ties with Russia.

Many Ukrainians worry that Yanukovych is taking their country back under Russian influence and fear a loss of their independence from their former Soviet masters.

The protests gained steam after three former presidents backed them.

Kim Jong Un's Uncle Executed in North Korea

A North Korean military tribunal ordered the death of Jang Song Thaek, on Thursday.

Thaek, the uncle of Kim Jong Un, was executed early Friday morning.

Until a few days ago Thaek had been the second most powerful man in the country.

When Un first took over, after his father's death, Thaek had acted as regent.

However, earlier this week, he was arrested and charged with treason and plotting to overthrow his nephew.

The death of Thaek seems to symbolize Un's complete control of the country.

Opposition in Thailand Demands Meeting With Military and Police

Suthep Thaugsuban, the leader of protests in Thailand, is now demanding that police and military leaders meet with him by Thursday evening.

If they don't, then the opposition says they know they can't rely on them.

Til this point, the military has stayed completely neutral in the mostly political conflict, offering to mediate.

The police have done their best to stay neutral as well, while still defending government buildings from the protests.

Members of the opposition have forced a new election, after they resigned in mass.

However, this is not enough, for the opposition, who are demanding that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra resign.

Protests have been taking place for over a month.

Ukraine's Police Fail to Clear Protests in Kiev

Thousands of Ukrainian riot police massed and twice attempted to end the largest protest in Kiev, on Tuesday.

As police advanced the call went out and thousands more citizens rushed to the square.

Both times the protesters were successful in pushing back the police who tried to remove them from Independence Square.

Dozens, on both sides, were injured, including opposition lawmakers and one Orthodox priest.

It is unclear how the government will respond to the police's failure.

On Monday, the police cleared out many smaller protests in Kiev and other cities.

Protests have been going for most of a month and Sunday saw the biggest yet, with over one hundred thousand in the capital city.

The people are demanding that President Viktor Yanukovych resign.

He angered the public when backed out of signing a trade agreement with the European Union, and instead announced that he would seek closer ties with Russia.

Many Ukrainians worry that Yanukovych is taking their country back under Russian influence and fear a loss of their independence from their former Soviet masters.

The protests have gained steam since three former presidents backed them, last week.

Riot Police Breakup Protest Camps in Kiev

Riot police stormed opposition party offices, in Kiev, on Monday.

The heavily armed police forced entry into the offices of the Fatherland Party, and then left taking computers with them.

Led by former prime minister, Yulia Tymoshenko, the party is the largest and most vocal in it's opposition to President Viktor Yanukovych.

Other groups of police cleared out small protest camps, while more yet lined up near the bigger camps.

Protests have been going for most of a month and Sunday saw the biggest yet, with over one hundred thousand in the capital city.

The people are demanding that Yanukovych resign.

He angered the public when backed out of signing a trade agreement with the European Union, and instead announced that he would seek closer ties with Russia.

Many Ukrainians worry that Yanukovych is taking their country back under Russian influence and fear a loss of their independence from their former Soviet masters.

The protests have gained steam since three former presidents backed them, last week.

Putin Dissolves Russia's State News Agency

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin dissolved the state news agency, RIA Novosti.

In it's place he has created Rossiya Segodnya, or Russia Today.

Officially, the move was made to "save money" and "improve news service".

However, it was very clear that the new service will be a propaganda machine, similar to the Soviet Era APN.

In an outgoing statement, RIA's website said that, "The move is the latest in a series of shifts in Russia's news landscape which appear to point towards a tightening of state control in the already heavily regulated media sector."
  
RIA had more often been allowing statements and editorials critical of Putin and his government.

It now seems that doing so made them a target of the regime.

Putin now controls every single major Russian media outlet.