2 Cargo Ships Sink Off China

In two separate incidents, two Chinese cargo ships went down off the coast of Shandong province.

Twenty-six sailors were aboard the two different vessels.

Three bodies have been recovered, while the other twenty-three are still missing.

A sudden strong storm is being blamed for the losses.

US Storm Kills 8

Eight people have been killed as a severe winter storm continues to strike the south western US.

The storm began dropping rain, snow, and freezing rain on Thursday.

Since then it has caused hundreds of accidents across five states.

Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas have all dealt with it, so far, as it slowly makes it way east.

Three people were killed in California, on Thursday, while one was killed in Arizona, on Friday.

On Saturday, one was killed in New Mexico and three in Texas.

China Once Again Tries to Claim Japan's Senkaku Islands

On Saturday, China once again made an illegal attempt to claim the Senkaku Islands, as theirs.

They announced a new East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone, along their possessions in the area, but went further and also placed it over Japan's Senkaku Islands.

Any aircraft which fly into the zone, must receive clearance from China, however the islands are Japanese airspace.

This could easily lead to conflicting air paths and directions.

Japan quickly protested the new zone, calling it "totally unacceptable".

China has made multiple attempts to claim the islands for their self, all of which have been rebuffed politically by Japan.

The islands are also claimed by South Korea and Taiwan, however Japan does have proof of ownership, which they gained by buying them from the private owners, who were Japanese citizens.

Aurora Police Involved Shooting Leaves Suspect and Officer in the Hospital

A police involved shooting left both the suspect and officer in the hospital, on Friday, in Aurora, Colorado.

Police pulled over a vehicle, near Alameda and I-225 that was believed to be connected to a shop lifting incident at Best Buy.

When an officer got to the driver's door, the driver took off, hitting the officer with his car.

The officer managed to get a shot off, hitting the driver.

A chase lasted only two miles when the suspect pulled his vehicle over at the Iliff off ramp.

He surrendered to police, who arrested him and transported him to the hospital for a bullet wound to the leg.

Charges against him include second degree assault, vehicular eluding causing injury, and shoplifting.

Officer Jason Pray, who was struck by the suspect's car, was taken to the hospital with non life threatening injuries.

As is required by procedure, a full investigation of the incident is now underway.

US Army: Staff Sergeant Alex A. Viola

Staff Sergeant Alex A. Viola, twenty-nine of Keller, Texas died on November 17.

He was killed by an improvised explosive device, in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Viola was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group Airborne out of Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.

His decorations include: Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Development Ribbon with Numeral 2, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Parachutist Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, Special Operations Dive Badge, Special Forces Tab.

Senate Democrats End Filibustering of Presidential Appointees

In a so called "nuclear" move, Senate Democrats blocked filibusters on presidential appointees.

Their new rule also changes the votes need to approve a nominee from sixty down to just fifty-one.

Senate majority leader Harry Reid made the announcement, saying it was to end gridlocks.

While the ruling limits Republicans from blocking appointees with a direct filibuster, there are other ways left open to them.

It could also force Republicans to take more drastic moves and block lower legislation as a bartering tool.

This means that the Democrat's move will most likely cause even more gridlocks within the Senate.

Supermarket Collapse Kills 6 in Latvia

At least 53 people have been killed and many missing in a supermarket collapse in Riga, Latvia.

The collapse happened in the evening, during one of the busiest times for the store.

As the ceiling came down it brought with it walls, shattered windows, and glass doors.

Twenty minutes later, as first responders were beginning to search for survivors, another section
of the roof collapsed, killing 3 firefighters.

Rescue efforts have continued since Thursday the 21st.  A third section of the roof collapsed on Saturday but no rescue workers were injured.

Latvia has declared 3 days of mourning for victims of the collapse and Pres. Andris Berzens has urged for an independent team of experts to investigate it.  http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/23/world/europe/latvia-roof-collapse-president/ 

Updated by blessinggiver on 11/24/13 at 09:14

Volcano Creates New Island for Japan

A new island has formed in Japan's Bonin Islands.

The island erupted out of the Pacific Ocean, with an ash plume of two thousand feet.

Officials say that the volcano is about a thousand feet long by six hundred and fifty feet.

It is located in the same chain as Iwo Jima, about six hundred and fifty miles south of Tokyo.

If it can stay above the waves, Japan plans to have a contest to give the island a name.

Ohio's House Passes Expanded Stand Your Ground Law

With a vote of sixty-two to twenty-seven, Ohio's house of representatives voted to pass an expanded stand your ground law.

Under the bill, an individual could legally use lethal force if they are defending a location that they are lawfully in.

Supporters say it is important to allow citizens to defend themselves, their property, and their families.

Opponents worry that someone will die because of the bill.

The bill also lowers the amount of training time needed to receive a concealed carry permit, allows for ten years between recertifications, and recognizes concealed carry permits from other states.

It now heads to Ohio's senate.

Sinai Suicide Bomber Kills 11 Soldiers in Egypt

Eleven Egyptian soldiers were killed in a suicide bombing, on Wednesday.

A suicide car bomber struck their bus convoy, in the Sinai Peninsula.

Another thirty-seven of the soldiers were wounded, in the attack.

In a separate incident, someone threw a grenade at a police checkpoint in northern Cairo, injuring four policemen.

No one has claimed responsibility for either attack.