Freeze Continues in Canada and the US

Subzero temperatures continue to scathe Canada and most of the US.

Some areas have set new record lows and some places have seen as much as two feet of snow.

Sixteen people have died as a result of the super cold storm that's been striking the two countries for the last several days.

In Indiana and New York state of emergencies were declared for multiple hard hit counties.

Schools have been closed, in what would normally have been the first week back from Christmas break.

More than ten thousand flights have been canceled, since the storm began, with tens of thousands more delayed.

The storm will continue to bring much of North America to a stand still, as the storm is expected to last at least a couple more days.

US Army: Sergeant First Class William K. Lacey

Sergeant First Class William K. Lacey, thirty-eight of Laurel, Florida, died on January 4.

He was killed in combat, in Nargarhar province, Afghanistan.

It was his second tour in Afghanistan, following three in Iraq.

Lacey was assigned to the 201st Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division out of Fort Knox, Kentucky.

1 Dead, 2 Injured After Airplane Crash in Aspen

A plane crash in Aspen, Colorado left one person dead and two injured, on Sunday afternoon.

The private flight originated in Mexico, stopped in Tucson, Arizona, and then crashed at the Aspen airport.

Witnesses say that the plane flipped over and  burst into flames, after landing.

Weather is not thought to be a factor in the incident.

The airport remained closed through Monday, due to the crash.

Both the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Agency are taking part in the investigation.

Pope Francis to Visit Israel

On Sunday, Pope Francis announced that he is planning a trip to Israel.

His plans will include stops in Bethlehem and Jerusalem as well as a visit to Jordan.

The Pope stated that the trip will take place over May 24-26.

While in Jerusalem, he will meet with Orthodox Christian Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and other Christian leaders in Jerusalem.

Francis is also expected to make a trip through Asia, at some point in 2014.

Election Day Clashes Kill 18 in Bangladesh

Eighteen people were killed during election day clashes in Bangladesh, on Sunday.

Extremely low turnout was reported, following months of protests against the government.

With the opposition boycotting the election, those who turned out had no actual choice of who to vote for.

Around the country, clashes broke out between opposition protesters and supporters of the government.

In at least two cases, police opened fire on protesters, killing four.

According to the government, more than two hundred polling locations were burned down over the weekend.

With every seat now in the hands of the current government, the opposition has lost the ability to work within the laws of the constitution.

They are pledging to continue their protests, but to what avail is unclear.

Deadly Storm Plunges Temperatures in the US and Canada

Fourteen people are dead due to the frigid storm hitting most of the US and all of Canada.

Eleven of those died in accidents, caused by the storm, while three froze to death.

Subzero temperatures are currently being felt in seven states, with windchills making it feel that way in a dozen more.

Only Florida, Hawaii, and Louisiana have so been able to stay above freezing.

Some states are expecting to break their record low temperatures, as the coldest storm in decades freezes the country.

The storm is expected to last several more days, bringing snow to most of the states and ice to others.

Dozens of flights have been cancelled, with many others delayed, thanks to the storm.

Syria's Rebels Declare War on Al Qaeda Forces

Syria's civil war has officially gone three sided.

After two days of fighting between rebel forces and Al Qaeda's Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant a new war has been declared.

Rebel forces have joined under the banner of the Army of Mujahideen and declared a new revolution against the ISIL.

The ISIL, which is active in Iraq as well, is known for having an extremely violent form of shariah law.

Leaders of the Army of Mujahideen say that they can no longer tolerate the ISIL's violence and intolerance.

It is unclear how the new war will alter the war against the Assad regime.

Al Qaeda Takes Control of Fallujah

Al Qaeda forces have conquered the city of Fallujah, in Iraq, as well as most of Ramadi.

They have already begun enacting an extremely harsh version of shariah law.

The Al Qaeda resurgence seems to have caught the government off guard.

Military forces have surrounded both cities, but have yet to fight for the cities.

Reports of artillery being used against Al Qaeda positions, in Fallujah, are the only ones coming of the military actually taking action.

In Iraq, Al Qaeda forces mostly consist of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

The ISIL also is active in the Syrian civil war.

NATO Soldier Killed in Afghanistan

A NATO soldier was killed on Saturday morning, in Afghanistan.

Six Taliban suicide bombers attacked a NATO base in Nangarhar province.

Five of them were shot and killed before they could explode themselves.

However the sixth was successful in detonating his explosives and killed a NATO soldier.

The nationality of the soldier was later announced to be American.

USMC Sergeant Jacob M. Hess

Sergeant Jacob M. Hess, twenty-two of Spokane, Washington, died on January 1.

He was killed during combat in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Hess was assigned to the Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 26, Marine Aircraft Group 26, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, II Marine Expeditionary Force out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.