Al Qaeda Disowns Extremist Wing in Syria and Iraq

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has found itself disowned by Al Qaeda.

On Tuesday, Al Qaeda announced that they do not support the group's actions and said that they are no longer part of their terrorist network.

ISIL fights mostly in Syria and Iraq, and is responsible for splitting the rebel front in Syria, by repeatedly attacking non Islamic troops and villages.

Their shariah laws are more extreme than even Al Qaeda wants to be connected to.

Al Qaeda recognizes the Nusra Front as their official wing in Syria, and claims that they ordered ISIL to not even form.

It is unclear if this will lead to direct conflict between the factions, but it is likely.

Bangkok Hampered by Violence the Day Before Elections

A gun battle broke out in front of a polling station, in Bangkok, on Saturday.

The battle took place in the Laski area between protesters who were blocking the polling station and government supporters who were trying to get the ballot papers.

Six people were wounded in the violence, including one who is in critical condition with a bullet wound to the neck.

Afterwards, government officials announced that no voting would take place in the Laski area, due to the shooting and the blockade of the poll station.

Protesters are expected to have success blocking other polling stations throughout Bangkok and the south of Thailand.

In the north and east, where support for the government is strong, there is not expected to be much hampering of the voting, when the election takes place on Sunday.

The protests began in November, with demands that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra resign, with many demanding she and her family leave the country.

Her party is expected to win the election, and gain more in it.

Opposition hopes had been to delay the election til later in the year, when they felt they could gather more support, however they have been unable to accomplish that.

Sinabung Eruption Kills 16 in Indonesia

Sixteen people were killed when Mount Sinabung erupted, on Saturday.

Four people were injured, including one who is in critical condition after suffering extensive burns.

Another fifty more people are missing.

On Friday, government officials had lifted an evacuation order, saying that volcanic activity was decreasing.

Over thirty thousand people had been evacuated in November, when activity increased.

Ukraine's Prime Minister and Cabinet Resign

Azarov

In efforts to bring peace and an end to protests, Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has resigned. His cabinet also joined him in resigning. Shortly before, parliament voted to repeal controversial anti protest laws and afterwards passed an amnesty bill for anyone who protested.

In a further offer to the opposition, President Viktor Yanukovych also offered up constitutional changes which could take power away from his position. Unconfirmed reports also state that he said he would give the opposition anything they wanted, as long as he could stay in office.

A key demand, of the protesters and opposition, has been his removal from office. However, stripping him of power may be enough to end the protests. If the opposition accepts the terms, only time will tell if the protesters will leave the barricades for home.

Tuesday also saw the news that a police officer had died, after succumbing to injuries he received during fighting with protesters, over the weekend. His death brings the total up to five killed in the violence. Over two thousand protesters and two hundred police were injured.

Protests began, in November, when the president backed away from a deal to join the EU, and instead turned to Russia. Multiple police attempts to clear out Kiev's Independence Square have failed, with injuries mounting since last Sunday, and deaths occurring on Wednesday. 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.

Colorado High School Student Lights Himself on Fire in Suicide Attempt

A Colorado high school student lit himself on fire in a suicide attempt, on Monday morning.

The incident happened in the cafeteria of Standley Lake High School, in Westminster, just after 07:00 MST.

A teacher was able to douse the flames using a fire extinguisher.

The boy is in critical condition, with burns to over eighty percent of his body.

Officials canceled school for the rest of Monday and Tuesday, though it will be open Tuesday morning for counseling efforts.

Mexico Brings Vigilantes Under Army Authority

Mexico's government has finally decided what to do about the large amount of vigilante groups in the country.

The groups rose during 2013 and took over many towns, throughout the country, in order to combat drug cartels.

Earlier in January, Mexico had attempted to disband the groups, but that ultimately failed after several shoot outs between vigilantes and federal troops.

Now, Mexico has resurrected old laws that allowed for Rural Defense Groups, under which the vigilantes become part of the army.

The government will require the groups to register with them and list their members, in exchange they will be provided with "all the means necessary for communications, operations and movement".

Members of the vigilante groups are thought to number more than twenty thousand, so they're addition will bring a lot of man power to the government's forces.

It also brings about a much more determined attitude to ensure the job of eliminating the cartels is accomplished.

Negotiations Continue in The Ukraine

Yanukovych, left center, meets with opposition leaders, right.

Negotiations continued in the Ukraine, on Monday, between President Viktor Yanukovych and opposition leaders.

During Monday's talks, the president offered to repeal anti protest laws, grant amnesty to protesters, and have a vote of no confidence put forth in parliament against the government.

The opposition is unlikely to accept this second set of offers, as they still don't meet their main demands of a new election and the removal of Yanukovych from office.

His first set, which offered government positions to some opposition leaders and leniency towards protesters, were declined for not going far enough.

However, it is considered a good sign that negotiations continued and the Yanukovych offered more in the latest round.

Protests began, in November, when the president backed away from a deal to join the EU, and instead turned to Russia.

Multiple police attempts to clear out Kiev's Independence Square have failed, with injuries mounting since last Sunday, and deaths occurring on Wednesday.

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.

US Army: Chief Warrant Officer Edward Balli

Chief Warrant Officer Edward Balli, forty-two of Monterey, California, died on January 20.

He was killed in combat in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.

It was his fourth tour of duty, between Afghanistan and Iraq.

Balli was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, US Army Europe out of Vilseck, Germany.

His decorations include: Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Combat Action Badge.

Protests Continue in Ukraine as Opposition Rejects Yanukovych's Offer

Protests continued throughout the Ukraine, on Sunday, as opposition leaders rejected offers made by President Viktor Yanukovych.

On Saturday, in an attempt to end the protests, the president had offered government positions to two of the opposition's leaders.


He also offered to meet several other conditions that the opposition is demanding.

However, he failed to offer new elections or his resignation, both of which are key demands being made by protesters.

The ball is now back in Yanukovych's court, and Monday will see whether he'll try another offer or if that was the only one he would make.

Protests began, in November, when the president backed away from a deal to join the EU, and instead turned to Russia.

Multiple police attempts to clear out Kiev's Independence Square have failed, with injuries mounting since last Sunday, and deaths occurring on Wednesday.

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.

Shooting in Maryland Mall Leaves 3 Dead

Three people were killed in a shooting at the Mall in Columbia, Maryland, on Saturday morning.

Four other people were wounded in the incident, but all are listed in good condition.

Police believe that one of the bodies belongs to the shooter, as it was found with a shotgun and ammunition.

They closed the entire mall and are searching it room by room to ensure that everything is secure.

At this time no known motive is known in the shooting.