US Soldier Among 29 Killed in Afghanistan

Three separate attacks killed twenty-nine people in Afghanistan, on Wednesday.

A car bomb struck a joint NATO Afghan base, in Ghazni. The explosion was followed by a militant attack on the base, which lasted several hours.

Between the bomb and the attack, ten militants, four policemen, three civilians, and a US soldier were killed. Ten Polish soldiers were wounded during the firefight.

In Farrah province, six truck drivers were killed and ten wounded when their convoy came under attack. Forty trucks, filled with fuel, caught fire and exploded.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for both of those attacks.

Four civilians were killed and fifteen wounded when a suicide bomber blew up his vehicle in Lashkar Gah.

No one has claimed responsibility for that attack.

Bubonic Plague Kills 15 Year Old in Kyrgyzstan

A fifteen year old boy died in Kyrgyzstan from the bubonic plague.

Officials believe that he was bitten by an infected flea.

The plague is often carried by wild rodents and can be transmitted to humans if they are bitten by an infected rodent or flea.

As a herder, the boy was quite often out in brush lands where wild rodents live.

Over one hundred people have now been quarantined, as a precaution, and two thousand have been tested.

The government has placed a ban on livestock travel and set up check points in the area, to further ensure nothing can be spread.

Rim Fire Burns Over 100 Buildings as it Reaches 180,000 Acres

One hundred and one buildings, including thirty homes, have now been lost to the Rim Fire.

Forty-five hundred homes and a thousand other buildings lie with a mandatory evacuation area, that is threatened by the blaze.

The fire has burnt one hundred and eighty thousand acres in California, including forty thousand in Yosemite National Park.

Nearly four thousand firefighters and two dozen aircraft have battled the flames to twenty percent containment.

Winds continue to help the fire expand and drown nearby towns in smoke, making breathing difficult.

Yosemite National Park has remained opened, the main part of the park lies more than twenty miles away and authorities say that it is not in any danger.

Most worries are focused on the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and the O'Shaughnessy Dam, which are now less than half a mile from the flames.

San Fransisco gets eighty-five percent of it's water from the reservoir and significant amounts of power from the dam.

City officials say that they have adequate emergency reserves, should the water become reached by the smoke.

They are also doing hourly checks of water quality to ensure that contaminants from the fire are not reaching people's drinking water.

Power supply has already been interrupted, as some power lines have fallen victim to flames. 

Montana Teacher Given 30 Days in Jail for Raping 14 Year Old Student

A Montana judge sentenced a former teacher to just thirty days in jail, after the teacher plead guilty to raping a fourteen year old student, who later committed suicide.

District Judge G. Todd Baugh stated that the victim had been "older than her chronological age" and "as much in control of the situation" as the teacher.

The full sentence was fifteen years, however the judge suspended all but thirty-one days, and then gave Stacey Dean Rambold credit for one day served.

The courtroom broke into mayhem as the sentence was announced, with most completely appalled that the fifty-four year old is being given such a light sentence for his crimes.

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2013/08/27/4440584/former-mont-teacher-gets-30-days.html#storylink=cpy

Sao Paulo Building Collapse Leaves 11 Missing in Brazil

A two story commercial building collapsed in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Tuesday morning.

Authorities believe that thirty-five people were in the building.

Thirteen escaped and eleven have been rescued.

The search is ongoing for the remaining eleven.

Surrounding buildings were also damaged, when the one collapsed.

Those buildings have been evacuated and are being investigated for any structural issues.

US, UK, and NATO Prepare for Likely Strike on Syria

As the world blames the Syrian regime for using chemical weapons on it's own people, they also decide what to do about it.

The US, UK, and NATO all have brought up the use of military force to punish Syria's government.

US and UK military forces have said that they are ready to go and could strike as early as Thursday.

Russia is demanding that no strikes happen and that any decisions be made in the UN, where they have vetoed any strict measures against the Syrian regime.

The Arab League strongly condemned the use of chemical weapons and demanded that the UN intervene, but did not specify how they should do so.

It is unclear if foreign military intervention would be limited to strikes on Syria's known chemical weapon sites or if the western governments are seeking to force the removal of Assad's government.

Syria's rebel forces have asked the west to strike at the country's air power, which has given the government a significant advantage in the civil war.

Any attempt to force regime change could very well see the war spread fully to Iran and Lebanon as Iran's government would likely back their ally and Hezbollah in Lebanon is already fighting on the side of the regime.

Iran and Syria have also made it clear that any strike could see them retaliate against Israel.

Israel has warned them against doing so, and on Tuesday began military exercises near the border with Syria.

Western involvement is also complicated by the fact their enemy Al Qaeda is an active participant in the civil war.

Al Qaeda is a possible suspect in the chemical weapons attack, but western governments seem very purposeful in their lack of discussing that possibility.

McDonalds to Spread Mighty Wings Across the US

For a few weeks, McDonald's has been testing a new menu item in the Atlanta area.

Now, with the success it has met, they are planning to spread it across the country, beginning September 9.

By September 24, all of the US will have mighty wings available.

Yes, McDonald's has entered the wing market.

They come in packs of three, five, or ten, and start at three dollars.

Nine different sauce choices are to come with them.

At this point, they are only supposed to be on menus through November, but they likely will be extended at least through football season.

Pikes Peak Highway Closing for Fast & Furious 7

Parts of Pikes Peak Highway will be closing for a week in September.

From Glen Cove to the summit will be closed in September 3 and 4.

The entire road, including the North Slope Recreation area will be closed September 5 through 10.

On those days filming will be underway for the latest Fast & Furious movie.

Fast & Furious 7; starring Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, and Tyrese Gibson; is scheduled to be released on July 11, 2014.

Nearly 4,000 Firefighters Battling California's Rim Fire

Nearly four thousand firefighters are now battling California's Rim Fire, which is up to fifteen percent contained.

The fire is closing in on one hundred and fifty thousand acres and has burnt twenty-three buildings, including four homes.

Forty-five hundred more homes have been ordered evacuated due to the threat they are under.

Twenty-two thousand of the burning acreage is in Yosemite National Park, but authorities say that the main part of the park is not in any danger as it lies more than twenty miles away.

Most worries are focused on the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and the O'Shaughnessy Dam, which are now less than half a mile from the flames.

San Fransisco gets eighty-five percent of it's water from the reservoir and significant amounts of power from the dam.

City officials say that they have adequate emergency reserves, should the water become reached by the smoke.

They are also doing hourly checks of water quality to ensure that contaminants from the fire are not reaching people's drinking water.

Power supply has already been interrupted, as some power lines have fallen victim to flames.

13 Killed by Landslides in Mexico After Fernand Makes Landfall

Tropical Storm Fernand struck central Mexico, on Monday, killing thirteen people.

Heavy rains caused landslides, killing people in three different towns in Veracruz.

Fernand is continuing up Mexico, as it moves north towards the US.

Since landfall, it has been downgraded to a tropical depression, as it's winds lose their strength.