Priests Stop Violence in Kiev

Three Orthodox priests brought a pause to three days of clashes between police and protesters in Kiev, on Tuesday.

The priests walked between the two sides praying and calling for peace.

Their bravery was enough to end the fighting, at least for now.

Fighting began Sunday, after parliament passed a heavily controversial law, on Friday.

Under the bill, any protest can be banned, freedom of speech is limited, freedom of the press is cut, the government is allowed to ban citizens from using the internet, and it classifies advocacy groups as "foreign agents" if they receive money from abroad.

Opposition leaders accused Yanukovych of trying to cement a dictatorship by following the ways of Russia and North Korea.

News of the bills passing was met with condemnation from much of the world, especially the European Union.

Hundreds have been injured, as protesters hurled rocks and fire bombs at police, who used water cannons to try and break the protesters into submission.

Tuesday morning saw the police move in to try and break the barricades, leading to some of the worst violence.

It was as police were clearly failing to break the protesters, that the priests appeared.

Continuous protests have been taking place in Kiev, and elsewhere in Ukraine, for several months now, with crowds as large as two hundred thousand, in Kiev's Independence Square alone.

Many Ukrainians worry that Yanukovych is taking their country back under Russian influence and fear a loss of their independence from their former Soviet masters.

The protests gained steam after three former presidents backed them.

Police were unable to clear out the protesters in December, and their failure had been followed by Yanukovych promising to get back to working on the deal with the EU.

However, his once again breaking his word only heightened the calls for his removal from office and led to many to call him a traitor and warn that he should never return to the country.

The opposition had called for the government to replace him, but their lack of movement on the issue has led to calls for their removal as well.

Thailand Declares State of Emergency for Bangkok

Thailand's government declared a state of emergency for Bangkok, on Tuesday.

Under the state of emergency security forces can impose curfews, detain citizens without pressing charges, censor the media, ban gatherings of more than five people, and declare public areas closed.

The government's move follows months of protest, which have begun to cripple the city.

Protesters are demanding that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra resign, with many demanding she and her family leave the country.

Dozens of government buildings have been occupied by the protesters, and police have been unwilling to commit to retaking the buildings.

With the emergency declaration, the police now have more legal ability to begin working on ending the protests.

The state of emergency lasts for sixty days.

2 Killed in Nebraska Plant Explosion

An explosion tore through a plant in Omaha, Nebraska, on Monday morning.

The explosion caused a partial collapse of the plant and killed two people.

Nineteen people are unaccounted for and four of the seventeen injured are in critical condition.

An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the explosion.

CAR Selects New Interim President

The Central African Republic's Transitional Council selected a new interim leader, on Monday.

Fifty-nine year old Catherine Samba-Panza won the second round of voting, to be named the first woman President of the CAR.

A self risen business woman she is seen as a neutral party who can bring unity.

She immediately called upon all Central Africans to lay down their weapons and bring peace to the war torn country.

Her predecessor, Michel Djotodia, resigned after failing to bring peace.

The violence began several years ago, but intensified after Djotodia was put into power by the National Transition Council.

In 2013, France and the African Union sent troops to try and force a ceasefire, within the CAR.

Djotodia's removal from office had been a key demand of the opposition and many of the rebel groups.

News of his resignation was met by cheering and celebration in the streets.


However, his resignation was not enough to stop violence.


It is hoped with Samba-Panza's filling the presidential spot that peace may finally be attained.

Protesters Clash With Police in Kiev

Protesters in Kiev clashed with police, on Sunday.

Over one hundred thousand protesters poured into Independence Square, joining thousands who've been camping there.

Organizers and opposition leaders are doing their best to maintain peace, but the protests have come increasingly closer to violence as anger continues to mount.

Police used water cannons against protesters who moved on the parliament and other government buildings.

During Sunday, thirty police were hurt and at least fifty protesters were injured.

Anger increased greatly after parliament passed a heavily controversial law, on Friday.

Under the bill, any protest can be banned, freedom of speech is limited, freedom of the press is cut, the government is allowed to ban citizens from using the internet, and it classifies advocacy groups as "foreign agents" if they receive money from abroad.

Opposition leaders accused Yanukovych of trying to cement a dictatorship by following the ways of Russia and North Korea.

News of the bills passing was met with condemnation from much of the world, especially the EU.

Continuous protests have been taking place in Kiev, and elsewhere in Ukraine, for several months now,with crowds as large as two hundred thousand, in Kiev's Independence Square alone.

Many Ukrainians worry that Yanukovych is taking their country back under Russian influence and fear a loss of their independence from their former Soviet masters.

The protests gained steam after three former presidents backed them.

Police were unable to clear out the protesters in December, and their failure had been followed by Yanukovych promising to get back to working on the deal with the EU.

However, his once again breaking his word has only heightened the calls for his removal from office and led to many to call him a traitor and warn that he should never return to the country.

The opposition had called for the government to replace him, but their lack of movement on the issue has led to calls for their removal as well.

US Army: Specialist Andrew H. Sipple

Specialist Andrew H. Sipple, twenty-two of Cary, North Carolina, died on January 17.

He was killed in Kandahar City, Kandahar province, Afghanistan.

Sipple was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division out of Fort Hood, Texas.

His decorations include: Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal with campaign star, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal.

Ukraine Strikes Against Free Speech and Other Civil Rights

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych signed into law a heavily controversial law, on Friday.

Mere hours before, the bill passed through a parliament which saw fights break out as the debate over it carried on.

Under the bill, any protest can be banned, freedom of speech is limited, freedom of the press is cut, the government is allowed to ban citizens from using the internet, and it classifies advocacy groups as "foreign agents" if they receive money from abroad.

Opposition leaders accused Yanukovych of trying to cement a dictatorship by following the ways of Russia and North Korea.

News of the bills passing was met with condemnation from much of the world, especially the EU.

Continuous protests have been taking place in Kiev, and elsewhere in Ukraine, for several months now,with crowds as large as two hundred thousand, in Kiev's Independence Square alone.

Many Ukrainians worry that Yanukovych is taking their country back under Russian influence and fear a loss of their independence from their former Soviet masters.

The protests gained steam after three former presidents backed them.

Police were unable to clear out the protesters in December, and their failure had been followed by Yanukovych promising to get back to working on the deal with the EU.

However, his once again breaking his word has only heightened the calls for his removal from office and led to many to call him a traitor and warn that he should never return to the country.

The opposition had called for the government to replace him, but their lack of movement on the issue has led to calls for their removal as well.

So far, the protests have been almost completely peaceful, but that could change as anger continues, and this new bill will only fuel that.

US Army: Sergeant Daniel T. Lee

Sergeant Daniel T. Lee, twenty-eight of Fort Wright, Kentucky, died on January 15.

He was killed during combat in Parwan province, Afghanistan.

Lee was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group Airborne out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

It was his second deployment, between Afghanistan and Iraq.

Among his completed courses were: Basic Combat Training, Basic Airborne Course, Warrior Leaders Course, Advanced Leaders Course; Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape Course; Special Forces Qualification Course.

His decorations include: Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, Globral War on Terrorism Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Basic Parachutist Badge, Special Forces Tab.

Wyoming National Guard: Chief Warrant Officer Andrew L. McAdams

Chief Warrant Officer Andrew L. McAdams, twenty-seven of Cheyenne, Wyoming, died on January 10.

He and another soldier were killed when their airplane crashed at Bagram Airfield, Parwan province, Afghanistan.

McAdams was assigned to Detachment 53, Operational Support Airlift Command, Joint Force Headquarters out of Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Hawaii National Guard: Sergeant Drew M. Scobie

Sergeant Drew M. Scobie, twenty-five of Kailua, Hawaii, died on January 10.

He and another soldier were killed when their airplane crashed at Bagram Airfield, Parwan province, Afghanistan.

Scobie was assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 487th Field Artillery out of Wahiawa, Hawaii.