AU Troops Take Jowhar From Al Shabaab

African Union forces once again pushed Al Shabaab further back, in the fight for Somalia.

They took the town of Jowhar from the terrorist group, which is Al Qaeda's wing in Somalia.

It was the biggest town remaining under Al Shabaab's Shariah law rule.

Al Shabaab is increasingly pushed into the country side, and out of towns, by the African Union's forces.

The group pledges to fight on, to establish an Islamist state, in the area.

Since the AU began pushing against them, they have picked up terrorist acts in neighboring countries, especially in Kenya, where suicide bombings have become a weekly occurrence.

Kidnapped American Doctor Rescued in Afghanistan

US forces joined by Afghan allies rescued an American doctor who had been kidnapped, by the Taliban.

Dr. Dilip Joseph, of the Morning Star Development aid group, and two of his Afghan colleagues were kidnapped on Wednesday.

Their kidnappers eventually released the two Afghans, on Saturday, after negotiations, but refused to release Joseph.

It was decided a military operation was necessary, due to the imminent threat upon the doctor's life.

No information was released on the actual events of the operation, other than that Joseph was rescued safely, and that seven of his captors were killed.

Joseph is set to under go medical checkups, and then will be headed home to Colorado Springs, by Tuesday.

Bopha Striking Philippines Again

Tropical storm Bopha is coming back around to hit the Philippines again.

This time the storm is hitting the northern part of the country.

Winds of up to thirty-five miles per hour are expected, as well as several inches of rain.

Last week the storm struck the south of the country, whilst it was a typhoon.

Five hundred and forty people were killed during it's several day pounding.

Over a thousand people were injured and eight hundred and fifty are still missing.

In some areas, as much as ninety percent of housing was destroyed, causing nearly four hundred thousand people to need shelter.

President Benigno Aquino declared a state of national calamity in the typhoon hit areas, on Saturday.

Eagle Hits Plane Landing in Colorado

A Cessna 172 suffered damage when coming into land at Centennial Airport, in Colorado.

As it was landing an eagle struck the plane at it's windshield.

Both the pilot and passenger suffered minor injuries, from the breaking glass, but were released after treatment.

No word has been released on the eagle's condition, after the collision, but it apparently made it's escape.

Centennial Airport has recorded 108 wildlife strikes, since 1990, but this was the first eagle.

Since opening in 1995, Denver International Airport has recorded 4,121 bird and wildlife strikes, but never an eagle.

Gun Found in Package of Meat

Roswell, New Mexico has become accustomed to unusual sightings, but this one stood out, even for them.

On Wednesday, while stocking the shelves, an Albertsons' worker found a gun and seven rounds of ammunition inside a box of meat.

The semi automatic Rock Island Armory .38 Super has not been reported missing, and police are checking to see if it was ever used in any crimes.

If it's ground beef, they might want to double check that it's all beef.

Authorities did track the box of meat to Swift Packing Plant in Greeley, Colorado.

But, here comes the best or worst part of the story.

The meat is marked with the packaging date of June 8, 2011.

Guess Albertsons' meat really is fresh.

Gaza Celebrates 25 Years of Hamas

Thousands of people gathered in Gaza City, on Saturday, to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of Hamas being founded.

During the celebrations Hamas leaders pledged to continue refusing to recognize Israel, or her right to exist.

They also pledged that soon the leadership of Palestine would be united.

At this point Hamas is not part of the PLO, which is the only body recognized by the UN as a representative for Palestine.

If Hamas does actually join the PLO, it would significantly unify the people they represent.

A model of an M75 rocket, the type most commonly fired at Israel, stood as a back drop for the speakers stand.

Hamas' charter states that it's very reason for existing, is to see Israel destroyed, and to establish an Islamic state in it's ruins.

Kurds and Iraq Continue Stand Off

Kurdish and Iraqi forces continue their stand off, in north eastern Iraq.

Both sides continue to bring troops to the area, but fighting is continuing to become less likely.

Tensions flared up after Iraq set up a military command, specifically for regions which are disputed.

Politicians, from both sides, are trying to ease the tensions, but they are also enjoying the boost in support it is gaining them.

Because of that, neither side is really attempting to push for an agreement, nor do they actually want it to turn to fighting.

The Kurds have a mostly autonomous area in Iraq and many call for the formation of their own country, Kurdistan.

Kurdish people cover an area not just in Iraq, but Iran, Turkey, Syria, and Armenia as well.

Calls have come for their country to be formed out of areas from each of the countries.

For Iraq and Iran it would mean giving up some oil rich areas, while Turkey would be giving up the largest amount of land.

Turkey regularly has armed conflict, with the PKK, one of the most militant groups of the Kurdish separatist forces.

Syrian Rebels Name Head General as Video of Rebel Nerve Gas Surfaces

Syria's rebel groups have announced the selection of a new top general.

Brigadier Selim Idris was chosen from among hundreds of officers, who have defected, to lead Syria's rebel military.

His selection took place in Turkey, amid the heavily Islamist leaders of the opposition, backed by the Muslim Brotherhood.

Damascus continues to be a scene of extremely heavy fighting. Rebel forces claim to have taken a military base full of tanks, on Saturday.

As the international community warns the national government to not use the nerve gas they've begun preparing, a video has surfaced claiming to be from the rebel forces.

In the graphic video we see a lot of bottles labeled with names of chemicals. During the entirety of it Islamist chants can be heard. Then we see two rabbits in a glass cage, a man puts a substance, and then seals the cage. 

Within minutes the rabbits are dead after suffering through convulsions, apparently caused by a nerve agent. A voice then states, "You saw what happened? This will be your fate, you infidel Alawites, I swear by allah to make you die like these rabbits, one minute only after you inhale the gas."

Again this is a graphic video, you may not want children seeing.

Morsi Surrenders Extra Powers After Egypt's Military Gives It's Suggestions

On Saturday, Egypt's President Morsi held talks for discussion over the political troubles that are crippling the nation. However, the opposition boycotted the talks, sticking with their demands that he resign.

The military responded to this by releasing a statement on what the country needs to do, in order to avoid civil war.

"Serious" dialogue must take place between the two sides. Both sides must live by and heed "legitimacy and the rules of democracy". Morsi must completely take back his decrees, in which he took near absolute power. The new Constitution must be rewritten, so that it isn't so full of Shariah law. 

A spokesman for the Muslim Brotherhood said that an edited Constitution was an impossibility, and that this was the only one the Egyptian people would see. Other Morsi supporters have been heard saying they should mobilize and attack their opponents, driving them from the streets, until they were too scared to show their faces.

Word has just come that Morsi has canceled the decree in which he took powers. He has also offered to hear suggestions on how to amend the constitution. Now it remains to be seen if that will be enough for his opposition. Or is it too late for his government.

Second Preview: Star Trek: Into Darkness

Star Trek fans at least get a teaser now, as the first teaser for Into Darkness has been released.


The Enterprise returns to Earth only to find it in chaos as an evil force has risen from the ranks of Starfleet, and only they can stop him.

From the teaser it looks like at least some of the battle will take place on Earth, though hopefully Earth won't suffer the same fate as Vulcan did in the first movie.

Other than that, not a lot is known.
 
We can confirm that most, if not all, of the main characters will return with the same actors playing them.

Benedict Cumberbatch is playing the villain, and it's rumored to be someone named Khan.

If you wish to see more, beginning on December 14, you can see the entire first nine minutes of the film.

All you have to do is go see a movie at one of five hundred IMAX 3D screens.

Star Trek: Into Darkness hits theaters May 17, 2013.