Myanmar Ceasefire Lasts Only Hours

A ceasefire in Myanmar proved to be yet another facade by the government.

Fighting only stopped for a few hours, as government troops strengthened and moved up their positions.

Kachin rebels say that only the air force has followed the cease fire, which was announced on Friday.

The government said that their troops only reacted to defend themselves.

However, independent sources have confirmed the rebels accounts of the situation.

Myanmar's government has a history of announcing ceasefires, but not living up to them.

Austria Votes to Keep Mandatory Service

A definite majority voted to keep Austria's mandatory service, on Sunday.

59.8% voted for keeping things as they are.

Austrian law requires that all males serve six months in the military, once they are eighteen.

If they do not wish to serve in the military, they then have to serve nine months in civilian service or twelve months in a social service.

Civilian service consists of such things as driving ambulances, working with seniors, hospitals, and the like.

Social service includes work in the Austrian Holocaust Memorial Service, the Austrian Social Service, the Austrian Peace Service, etc.

Much of Europe still utilizes compulsory service, though more and more often votes about it are coming up.

Bad Day for Al Qaeda in Yemen

At least six Al Qaeda fighters were killed, in Yemen, by US drone strikes, on Sunday.

Three more had been killed during a strike on Saturday.

Late Saturday night ten more were killed in an explosion, in al Bayda.

Authorities believe that they had been working on building bombs, when one went off.

The house was completely destroyed in the blast.

Despite Yemen regaining control of it's country, Al Qaeda is still very active in it.

Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula is one of the most active wings of the terrorist organization.

Diabaly Liberated by Malian and French Troops

Malian troops retook the strategic town of Diabaly, on Sunday.

The people of Diabaly came out to cheer on their own and French troops as they drove through town.

It had lain in the hands of Al Qaeda backed rebels, since last Monday.

French ground and air power backed the Malian military, in the retaking of the town, and all along the front lines.

Some see this as a sign that the war has now taking a definitive turning point.

However Al Qaeda is promising to make France regret their interference, and may begin sending fighters from other countries, to aid their fight in Mali.