Egypt Deploys in Sinai

Egypt has deployed at least twenty M-60A3 battle tanks into the Sinai peninsula, near the border with Israel and Gaza.

Avenger air defense systems and YPR-765 APCs have been sent along with the tanks, with F16s flying air cover.

Egypt says the move is part of a continued effort to protect the border from insurgents, who three weeks ago killed sixteen Egyptian border guards.

However the deployment is in direct violation of Egypt's 1979 peace treaty with Israel, which does not allow any Egyptian military forces inside the Sinai.

Israel was asked for permission for the troops to enter the region, but did not give it.

Accusations have been made that the brand new Islamist government of Egypt is plotting against Israel, and that the incidents at the border were staged.

US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton is involved in negotiations between Israel and Egypt, in hopes of keeping the situation in control.

Feeding off Puerto Rico's Iguana Problem

Iguanas have become so numerous in Puerto Rico that they now outnumber humans on the island.

An estimated four million of the lizards have become an actual problem, as the non native species doesn't really have any predators to control it's population.

The government has officially declared them a nuisance, as the animals began tearing up crops, roads, dikes, and have been the cause of several power outages.

For awhile now hunting has been allowed on the animals, but it has not helped much.

Now Puerto Rico has a new idea that is taking hold, adding jobs, and bringing in money for the economy.

Several meat factories have opened, which capture iguanas, kill them, process the meat, and then sell the meat to Central American countries which consider the meat a delicacy.

Even oil from the lizards is used in this growing industry, as it can treat arthritis and bruising.

The Spread of Pussy Riot

Pussy Riot should have remained a relatively unknown ban, except they pissed off the Russian government.

After five of the seven staged an anti Putin protest inside a Russian Orthodox church, three of them were identified and put on trial.

The trial gave them global attention, as the band became one of the faces of the international anger with government.

The three who were placed on trial ended up receiving two year jail terms.

Four days after that, the band released a brand new anti Putin protest song, which was sent straight to the whole world.

Now the other two members who took part in the protest have fled the country, as police seek them out.

The band stated that they are going to spread through Europe, spreading their message.

Floods in Niger Kill Sixty-Five

At least sixty-five people have lost their lives to the flooding in Niger.

More than 125,000 people have been displaced as the Niger River overflows it's banks.

Niger's government is pleading for international aid, saying it's the worst flooding in almost a hundred years.

An estimated seven thousand fields of crops have been destroyed by the waters.

Earlier in the year saw record drought, which had already hurt projected food crops.

Police Injured in Belfast Riot

A parade in Belfast, Ireland turned into a riot Saturday as parts of the seventeen thousand strong crowd began attacking police.

Near the end of the parade, police who had been separating protesters from the main crowd started being assaulted by rocks and bottles.

Seven officers were sent to the hospital, for non life threatening injuries.

Police in full riot gear moved in breaking the disturbance up, in some cases forced to strike rioters to rescue downed officers.

The government is now debating whether or not to allow future parades.

Explosion at Venezuelan Refinery Kills 26

Twenty-six people were killed and at least eighty were injured when a refinery blew up in Venezuela.

Seventeen of the dead were from a nearby small military base, that was completely leveled.

The explosion was caused by a natural gas leak and knocked out windows and power in the area, as well as damaging or destroying some structures and knocking items off shelves that were further away.

The Amuay refinery is the largest in the country, and one of the biggest in the world.

Venezuela's government has pledged to have production going again, sometime Monday, and told people not to worry as there are enough stockpiles to keep the country supplied.

President Hugo Chavez declared a mourning period to last three days.

Ballistics Out in NYC Shooting

In New York City, on Friday, a man walked into his former place of employment and shot a former coworker three times, killing him.

He then left the scene, but pulled his gun when approached by police.

The two officers were forced to shoot him in self defense, and he died from his wounds.

Unfortunately, in the gunfire nine other people were wounded in the gunfire, luckily they are all expected to recover fully.

On Saturday, ballistics came out, showing that all nine were hit by fragments and bullets from the officer's weapons.

Both officers are fifteen year veterans of the force, and neither of them had ever fired their weapons on patrol.

For now the officers are suspended, during the investigation.

New York City and the NYPD are both likely to be sued over the incident.

The officer's actions were by the book, and in self defense, making any judgment the more complicated.

Daniella Mangoes Being Recalled

Mangoes distributed by Daniella are being recalled by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Fruit with the sticker PLU. 4959 is under the recall due to salmonella contamination.

Several people have fallen ill due to mangoes.

North American Produce Sales of Vancouver was responsible for bringing the fruit from Mexico.

Mexican Police Attack US Embassy Vehicle

Friday a vehicle with US Embassy plates was attacked by four other vehicles, south of Mexico City, near Cuernavaca.

The occupants, two embassy employees and a Mexican navy captain, radioed for help.

Over a hundred Mexican soldiers and federal police descended upon the scene.

When reinforcements arrived they surrounded the attacking vehicles and arrested the twelve occupants.

It was then discovered that all twelve were federal police, all of whom are being held in custody whilst the incident is investigated.

Both Americans and their escort were injured in the assault, but are expected to make full recoveries.

Local Mexican forces are often corrupted by drug cartels, but the government has also bragged that the federal police are untainted.

Friday's attack would clearly show that this isn't exactly true, and that the problems are much larger than had been thought.

Neil Armstrong; Dead at 82

Following complications from heart bypass surgery, that he underwent earlier this month, Neil Armstrong has died at the age of eighty-two. He was born August 5, 1930, in Wapakoneta, Ohio.

At the age of six he had his first plane ride and was obsessed with flight from then on, even getting his pilot license before his driver license. High school saw him excel in science and mathematics, and winning a UD Navy scholarship to Purdue University in Indiana. After two years there, he joined the Navy as a fighter pilot, where he flew in the Korean war and was awarded three medals.

Returning to Purdue in 1955, he graduated with a degree in aeronautical engineering and joined the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics, which later became NASA. From 1955 til 1962 he was a test pilot at Edwards Air Force Base, in the California High Desert. Leaving Edwards in September of 1962, he became an astronaut and commanded Gemini 8 and backed up Gemini 11.

He became truly famous on July 20, 1969 when, as commander of Apollo 11, he became the first man to step on the surface of the moon, saying, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind". After Apollo 11 he retired to teach engineering at University of Cincinnati, where he spent most of the rest of his life.
  
Repeatedly asked to serve in politics, he always declined, with his most political moments being during the last few years as he spoke out against President Obama's end to the US space program. He very strongly felt that the US should not pay other countries for the ability to reach space, and that returning to the moon should be a priority, calling it a necessity.

When an interviewer once asked what it was like to stand on the moon, Armstrong replied, "It's an interesting place to be. I recommend it". His family expressed the hope that his memory would encourage others to dream, and strive to reach those dreams.