Tunisian Political Parties Haggle Over Government

Tunisia's top political parties are arguing over what to do with the government.

Ennahda, the leading Islamic party, which basically controls the government, has refused to allow for it's replacement.

However, the leading secular party, the Congress for the Republic, has threatened to withdraw from the government, by next week.

If they do so they will likely be joined by most, if not all, of the other secular parties.

The CPR has offered Ennahda a compromise.

They will stay in the government if the justice and foreign ministers, both members of Ennahda, resign their posts.

Secular politicians feel that if they can fill those spots the balance of power will become equal.

Pope Benedict Announces Resignation

Pope Benedict XVI has shocked the world, by announcing he will retire.

On Monday, he announced that he will resign his office, effective on February 28 at 20:00.

"Before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise."

Benedict, now eighty-five, was elected to the office in 2005.

He will become the first pope in nearly six hundred years to resign, rather than die in office.

Gregory XII, was the last to do so, in 1415.

Now comes the debate and rumor mill of who will replace Benedict.

With Easter coming on March 31, expectations are high that the new pope will be in place for the holy day.

Frozen Beef Replaced With Horsemeat

Six French supermarket chains have pulled certain beef products from their shelves.

Various frozen beef meals made by Findus and Comigel were found to have horse meat, not beef, in them.

Findus, out of Sweden, says that it's supplier mislead the company, and that they had no idea.

Romania, where the supplier is based, is investigating the matter.

Beef meals, made by Findus, are also sold in the UK and Sweden.

Battle For Gao Ignites

French troops inMali

The battle for Gao has now truly begun.

French and Malian troops may have walked into the city two weeks ago, but now the Al Qaeda backed rebels are fighting back.

Sunday afternoon Islamists used boats to launch a surprise attack into the city.

Fighting lasted on into the night, with no stop in sight.

Riverside Police Department: Officer Michael Crain

Thirty-four year old Michael Crain of the Riverside Police Department was shot and killed on February 7, 2013 at about 01:35. He and another officer were stopped at a stoplight when someone opened fire on them. His partner was wounded in the incident.

Born in Anaheim, on April 9, 1978 Crain was a lifelong Southern California resident, who graduated from Redlands High School in 1996. He joined the United States Marine Corps, in 1997.

Crain served two deployment tours in Kuwait as a rifleman in the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, 3rd Battalion 1st Marines. He was a squad leader, and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He was then stationed at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, California, where he taught Military Operations in Urban Terrain.

During his military service, Michael was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with 1 star, a Certificate of Commendation, and the Rifle Marksmanship Badge.

After being honorably discharged he joined the Riverside Police Department, graduating from the Riverside Sheriff's Academy on August 24, 2001. During his eleven years there, he served as a patrol officer, member of SWAT, a Helicopter Observer, a Field Training Officer, a Firearms Instructor, and had been assigned to the University Neighborhood Enhancement Team (UNET).

Michael left behind his wife, son, and daughter. He loved attending dance recitals with his daughter and coaching his son's baseball team. He also loved his classic 1970 Chevy Nova, which he spent his spare time restoring. Mike's family and friends knew his usually straight face hid a huge personality. He made an unforgettable impression on everyone he met.

Officer Crain's funeral will be held on February 13, at 10:30 PST. Services will be held at The Grove Community Church in Riverside.

Million Dollar Reward For Dorner

The man hunt for Charles Dorner continues, into it's fourth day.

Police are searching throughout Southern California, for Dorner.

Sunday afternoon, a million dollar reward was announced for any information that leads to his capture and conviction.

Authorities reminded the public that Dorner is to be considered armed and extremely dangerous.

People that were singled out by Dorner, as targets, are being kept under as close a watch as possible.

The reward is believed to be the largest ever offered by a local jurisdiction.

Most of the money came from police unions, cities, and private donors.

The Riverside Police Department released the identity of the third victim, that Dorner is accused of killing.

Michael Crain, thirty-four, and another officer were shot while at a stoplight, in what has been called an ambush.

5 Killed in Cruise Line Accident

Five people were killed during a training accident aboard the Thompson Majesty.

The cruise ship was docked in the Canary Islands and underwent routine safety exercises.

During testing of the lifeboats, cables on one of them snapped dropping the lifeboat sixty-five feet.

It landed upside down, killing five of the eight aboard.

Everyone aboard was crew members.

Thompson Cruise Lines is now working to figure out ways to test the cables, without dropping the lifeboat.

Colorado District Allows Armed Staff

The school board for Dolores County, Colorado decided to allow the superintendent and one principal to carry a firearm on campuses.

With a unanimous vote, the seven person board decided that district Superintendent Bruce Hankins and Principal Ty Gray of Dove Creek High School could double as security officers.

The board felt that as each already had the necessary licenses they would need no further training.

Both of them will be given a one dollar raise.

If other principals complete the necessary concealed carry course and receive a permit from the county sheriff, then they too could be considered at later meetings.

Liberty Leading the People Defaced in French Museum

A famous French painting from 1830 was defaced, on Friday.

Liberty Leading the People which commemorates the July Revolution of 1830, was on display at the Louvre Lens museum.

A woman walked up to the Delacroix painting and sprayed a graffiti tag on it.

A restorer is going to examine the painting and determine if it can simply be cleaned.

Police have not released the identity of the woman, but said she had a French sounding name, suggesting she might not be French.

Witnesses said that the graffiti referenced a 9-11 conspiracy.

Belgian Airplane Crash Leaves 5 Dead

Five people were killed when their single engine plane crashed at Charleroi Airport, in Belgium.

Officials say that the plane had just taken off and tried to make an emergency landing, but was unsuccessful.

All five people aboard were from the same family.

Saturday's accident closed the international airport for six hours as the crash was investigated and cleared from the runway.

Several flights were canceled and others delayed, by the closure.

Charleroi is Belgium's second busiest airport.