89 Dead After Chinese Quake

Eighty-nine people are dead, more than six hundred are injured, and hundreds more are missing after a 6.6 earthquake struck the Gansu province of China.

Monday morning's quake destroyed at least twelve hundred homes and damaged more than twenty-one thousand as it shook for over a minute.

After shocks as high as 5.0 have been felt since.

Thousands of  military and police joined emergency crews in search and rescue operations.

Adding to their troubles are heavy rains, which drenched the area over the weekend, and are expected back on Tuesday.

Philippe Becomes King of Belgium

Queen Mathilde, King Philippe, and their children

Crown Prince Philippe became King of Belgium, on Sunday, at the age of fifty-three.

He took his oath in all three of the the country's official languages: Dutch, French, and German.

Philippe swore to uphold the constitution and stressed the importance of Belgian solidarity, in the face of increasing threats of secession, by two areas.

His swearing in followed the abdication of his father, King Albert II, who had cited ill health.

LDP Wins Majority of Upper House in Japan

Japan's Liberal Democratic Party won a majority of seats in the upper house, during Sunday's elections.

This gives them a majority in both the upper and lower houses.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been working on reforming the economy and his programs have already seen positive results.

The people responded to it by giving his party more power, allowing the LDP to do even more.

Abe hopes to continue the economic reforms as well as amending the constitution to allow for a stronger less passive military.

6.5 Rattles Wellington, New Zealand

A 6.5 earthquake rattled Wellington, New Zealand, on Sunday afternoon.

The quake was centered just thirty-five miles away from the capital.

Roads buckled, water pipes burst, windows shattered, items fell off of shelves, and buildings, including the parliament building, reported structural damage.

Minor injuries were reported, mostly due to broken glass, but luckily no deaths.

New Zealand deals with nearly fifteen thousand quakes, every year.

Storms Could Spread Mountain Fire

Strong thunderstorms are approaching the San Jacinto Mountains, in Southern California, where the Mountain Fire is burning.

Winds from the storms could cause unpredictable spreading of the fire.

Twenty-seven thousand acres and twenty-seven buildings have already been burned by the blaze.

Several towns, campgrounds, and resort areas have been forced to evacuate, and the flames have caused worries that Palm Springs may have to evacuate as well.

Nearly thirty-five hundred firefighters and over thirty aircraft have battled the fire to twenty-five percent contaiment.

Protesters Meet Across US Over Zimmerman Acquittal

In cities across the US, protesters gathered to protest a Florida jury's acquittal of George Zimmerman in the death of Trayvon Martin.

In some cities a few thousand gathered, in others but a handful.

Some are demanding that the US Justice Department put Zimmerman on trial, despite his already being found not guilty of the charges.

Groups such as the Black Panthers have continued to call for Zimmerman to be killed, by any means necessary.

Many of the protesters feel that the incident and acquittal were both racially motivated.

Car Bombings Leave 46 Dead in Baghdad

Seven car bombs left forty-six dead and injured one hundred and thirteen in areas of Baghdad, on Saturday.

Bombs went off in the Shiite neighborhoods of al-Shurta, Baiyaa, Karrada, Muwasalat, New Baghdad, Tobchi, and Zaafaraniya.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks, however that they all happened in Shiite neighborhoods points to a Sunni group.


Some sources are blaming Al Qaeda for them, as they are the leading Sunni terrorist group.

7 Injured in Kashmir Violent Protests

Protesters in Kashmir defied a government imposed curfew and once again took to the streets in several cities.

They clashed with police who used tear gas, batons, and live rounds fired into the air to try and control the crowds.

Five protesters and two police officers were injured in the violence.

The latest round of protests began on Thursday, after a local imam was reportedly pushed around by security forces, on Wednesday night.

Disabled Man Explodes Bomb at Beijing Airport

A man in a wheelchair exploded a small homemade bomb in Beijing International Airport, on Saturday evening.

The explosion only harmed the bomber and caused a cloud of smoke in the terminal.

Thirty-four year old Ji Zhongxing was taken the hospital after the incident.

Once we recovered from his injuries, he will be arrested on charges of terrorism.

It is believed that his act was a protest of China's failed petitioning system for the disabled.

Circuit Judge Blocks Detroit's Bankruptcy

Aquilina

On Friday, Circuit Judge Rosemarie Aquilina blocked the filing of Detroit's bankruptcy.

She ruled that filing violated Michigan laws and the state constitution.

Aquilina also ordered that no further attempts at bankruptcy filing be made.

She also threatened Governor Snyder with being charged as in contempt of court for even trying to have bankruptcy procedures.

Attorney General Bill Schuette immediately appealed to the Michigan Court of Appeals and asked for a stay on her motions, while the appeals court decides.