North Korea May be Preparing Missile Test

South Korean intelligence sources have stated their belief that the North will test a missile on or soon after Wednesday.

Such a launch could only serve to heighten tensions, in the region.

Any launch would definitely be highly watched by the international community.

If the North does make a test launch, naval forces may be ordered to shoot it down.

However, any act against the launch would be considered an act of war, by the North.

Kansas Passes Series of Abortion Related Laws

Late Friday night, Kansas' legislator passed three controversial bills.

One bill bans abortions, which are based on the sex of the baby.

A second ends tax breaks for abortion providers.

The third defined life as beginning at fertilization, but did not do anything to limit abortion.

Opponents of the bills say that they threaten access to abortions, while their supporters say they just clarify things.

However, some supporters are upset that the bills did not go further and do more to limit abortion.

Governor Sam Brownback is expected to sign all three bills, allowing them to go into effect on July 1.

Bird Flu Found in 2 More Chinese Markets

Chinese officials announced that two more live poultry markets will be closed, and the birds slaughtered.

They made the announcement after finding H7N9 at a market in Hangzhou and Shanghai.

On Thursday, twenty thousand birds were killed after the strain was found in a
market in Huhai.

The latest strain of bird flu has killed six and sickened ten more.

Authorities are trying to avoid a panic, by pointing out that Tamiflu can be used as a cure, as long as bird flu is caught early enough.

Other countries are beginning to react by banning imports of Chinese birds, as well as increased health checks at airports.

Airlines are already reporting a decrease in ticket purchases in the region.

Toll at India Building Collapse Rises to 72 Dead

Searchers continue to clear the rubble from a collapsed building, in Thane, India.

Seventy-two people were killed and seventy injured when the building came tumbling down, on Thursday.

Fifteen people were rescued from the rubble and at least twenty are still missing.

Authorities said the building was illegally constructed, and the faulty construction is to blame for the collapse.

22 Killed, Sixty Injured in Baquba Suicide Bombing

Twenty-two people were killed and sixty wounded when a suicide bomber struck in Baquba, Iraq.

A busy campaign event for Muthanna al-Jorani was the target, in Saturday's attack.

Jorani was unhurt in the attack, and has pledged to continue his campaign.

Al Qaeda has targeted various candidates, leading up to the elections.

So far, ten candidates have been killed, by the terrorist group.

The levels of violence has caused officials to delay the election, over security concerns.

6 Americans Amongst Dead in Qalat Car Bombing

Nasery

A car bomb exploded in Qalat, Afghanistan, Saturday morning.

At least seven people were killed in the attack.

Among the dead were six Americans, including three soldiers, a doctor, and two civilians.

Officials are unsure if the American convoy was the target or, if it was that of the provincial governor's, who was passing by in the other direction.

Governor Mohammad Ashraf Nasery was unhurt, in the attack, but two of his body guards were wounded.

US Air Force: Captain James M. Steel

US Air Force Captain James M. Steel, twenty-nine of Tampa, Florida, died on April 3.

His F16 crashed near Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.

He was assigned to the 77th Fighter Squadron out of Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina.

Steel graduated from the US Air Force Academy in 2006.

BEARD PAC Formed

BEARD PAC is now an official political action group in the United States.

The group filed their paperwork on Wednesday, with the Federal Elections Committee.

A non partisan organization, they will only support people with beards.

Candidates who shave off their bears, will automatically be kicked out of the PAC.

According to their press statement:

Bearded Entrepreneurs for the Advancement of a Responsible Democracy will act to independently support the candidacies of bearded candidates nationwide.

“With the resurgence of beards in popular culture and among today’s younger generation, we believe the time is now to bring facial hair back into politics” said BEARD PAC Founder Jonathan Sessions.  He added “We haven’t had a bearded major party candidate run for President since Charles Evans Hughes ran and lost in 1916, and there has been a recent wave of retirements amongst bearded Congressmen, including David Obey and Steve LaTourette. Our hope is that we can start to reverse this disturbing trend.”  

BEARD PAC is non-partisan, and will support candidates from across the political spectrum and across all levels of government, so long as they meet minimum facial hair requirements.  

“It’s been 125 years since our last bearded President, Benjamin Harrison, was elected” said BEARD PAC Communications Director Andy Shapero. “We’re hoping that with our support, bearded individuals will shrug off over a century of political irrelevance and start running for office again.”

Philippines and US Begin Annual War Games

Annual war games between the Philippines and the US began on Friday.

More than eight thousand troops are involved in the exercises, which will last for twelve days.

The exercises are focused on disaster relief training, as well as strengthening ties between the allied nations.

They also come at a time that sees the Philippines, and other countries in the region, arguing with China over ownership of islands, in the South China Sea.

Those disputes have been overshadowed by the world's issues with North Korea.

Building Collapse Leaves 41 Dead and 50 Injured

Forty-one people were killed and fifty injured when a building collapsed.

It happened Thursday night, in Thane, India.

Fifteen people were rescued from the rubble and at least twenty are still missing.

Authorities said the building was illegally constructed, and the faulty construction is to blame for the collapse.