Friday, December 14, 2012

Israeli Foreign Minister Lieberman Resgins

Israeli Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Avigdor Lieberman resigned from both of his posts, on Friday.

He resigned after being charged with breach of trust in a financial scandal investigation.

Originally, police had been planning to press charges of money laundering and bribery.

Police say they switch to the lesser charge, due to lack of evidence.

Lieberman says he will fight to clear his name of the charges, and that he hopes to do so in time for the national elections, in which he is a candidate.

The elections are set to take place, January 22, 2013.

He leads the second largest party in Israel, Yisrael Beitenu, which is allied to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud.

Building in Englewood, Colorado Firebombed

An unidentified suspect has been arrested after they threw a Molotov cocktail into a building in Englewood, Colorado.

No one was injured in the fire, which took place at a HealthOne rehab hospital, Friday morning.

Police arrested the suspect, on the scene, before firefighters could even get there.

Firefighters were able to put the fire out, but not before it did an estimated fifteen thousand dollars worth of damage.

No motive was given by police, who did not release the identity of the suspect.

6.3 Quake off San Diego

A 6.3 earthquake struck off the Pacific coast, early Friday morning.

It was centered about eighty-eight miles from San Diego.

Residents along the coast, in California and Mexico, reported feeling it.

No damage was reported, and no tsunami warnings were issued because of it.


4 Injured in Denver Weed Sprayer Fire

Four people were injured in Denver, Thursday night, after one of them was lit on fire.

According to police two men knocked on the door of an apartment along the 4300 block of Lipan Street.

When the door was answered, one of the men used a weed sprayer to douse the woman with a flammable liquid and the second man threw a lit match.

The woman, who was sprayed, ended up in the hospital with serious injuries.

Three other people, who were in the apartment, suffered minor injuries.

Police are investigating if an attempted robbery, that happened near 32nd Street and Champa earlier Thursday, is related, as a weed sprayer was used to start a fire there, as well.

23 Injured in Knife Attack Outside Chinese Elementary School

Police officer guards the crime scene
Twenty-two children and one adult were injured when a man went on a slashing spree, on Friday.

Four seriously wounded children had to be transported to a more distant hospital, that has an intensive care unit.

The attack happened outside of Chenpeng Village’s Wanquan Elementary School, in China.

Thirty-six year old Min Yingjun is accused of the attack.

Police also say that he is mentally unstable.

27 Dead in Connecticut Elementary School Shooting

Twenty-seven people have been killed, more wounded in Newtown, Connecticut shooting.

A gunman walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School about 9:30 EST, with two guns and a bullet proof vest, and opened fire.

After shooting through the school, leaving at least twenty-six other people dead, the gunman, who was twenty years old, shot himself, committing suicide.

Police began searching the school as soon as they had arrived, calling for back up as soon as they entered the building.

Twenty of the dead are children, the rest were staff and visiting parents.

Teachers and emergency workers evacuated the children, as soon as possible, doing their best to keep them calm.

Police in full tactical gear spent part of the day searching the town, and roads out of it, for a possible second gunman, but eventually called that off.

Parents were sent a reverse 911 call, and were asked to pickup their children at the local fire house.

The fire house is now being used as a place for the families of the victims to gather.

Counselors have been made available for the families, first responders, and survivors.

Five hundred and seventy-five students go to Sandy Hook, with forty-two teachers and staff.

This is the second worst school shooting in US history.

The shooter's mother was found dead at her home, she was a teacher at Sandy Hook.

All three of the guns, one was found in the trunk of the shooter's car, belonged to his mother, who had legally obtained them.

We will continue to update as more information becomes available.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Boulder County Approves Fracking

On Thursday, Boulder County, Colorado became the latest county in the US to allow fracking.

The controversial issue was unanimously passed by the Boulder County Commissioners.

They did so despite a courtroom full of opponents, who thanks to a new security plan, remained calm and civil.

Opponents of fracking fear that it is an unsafe process, and will cause damage to the environment.

Supporters feel that with the right regulations in place, it is perfectly safe.


Fracking is expected to begin by the summer of 2013.

Death Star Petition Has Enough Signatures

Thanks to the White House's petitions, we now have another opportunity.

A petition calling for the building of a Death Star has received enough signatures for it to be considered.

"Those who sign here petition the United States government to secure funding and resources, and begin construction on a Death Star by 2016.

"By focusing our defense resources into a space-superiority platform and weapon system such as a Death Star, the government can spur job creation in the fields of construction, engineering, space exploration, and more, and strengthen our national defense."

The petition barely squeaked by with the necessary twenty-five thousand votes.

Almost sadly, the petition has no hope of becoming reality.

Canada, UK, and US Walk Out on UN Internet Treaty Talks

Discussions over a proposed United Nations internet treaty came to an end Thursday, after Canada, the UK, and the US walked out.

The proposed treaty would have given all country's equal rights to the internet.

It was progressing, slowly, til an African bloc of countries proposed that all countries have equal control of the world wide web.

An eventual vote showed seventy-seven in favor of that proposal, with thirty-three against it.

Most of Europe voted against it, but for Canada, the UK, and the US it was too much, and the three countries left the conference saying no treaty would now be possible.

1 US Soldier Killed in Afghanistan Suicide Bombing

Panetta (center) visiting the base
US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta visited a NATO airbase in Afghanistan, on Thursday.

Hours after he left, the base was attacked by a suicide bomber.

A car filled with explosives detonated itself as NATO vehicles drove past, just outside the base.

Three people were killed, one of whom was a US soldier, ten civilians were injured as well as three US troops.

The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack.

As Panetta had been gone for several hours, it is not thought that the attack was in connection with his visit.