Tens of Thousands Protest in Moscow Against Crimea Occupation

Tens of thousands protested in Moscow against their country's occupation of Crimea.

The rally, led by opposition leaders, was the largest in over a year.

Meanwhile, near the Kremlin, a few thousand showed up to support the occupation.

Some there called for Russia to invade the rest of Ukraine and bring the entire country into Russia.

As many as fifty thousand Russian troops have taken control of Crimea, where tomorrow a vote is to be held on whether the region should leave Ukraine and join Russia.

Another twenty thousand Russian troops have set up along the border, with Ukraine, while two hundred thousand more are involved in maneuvers a couple hours from the border.

Syria's Civil War Reaches Third Anniversary

As Syria's civil war hits it's third anniversary, fighting continues going strong.

As many as two hundred and fifty thousand people have been killed, with two million displaced.

With the Assad regime on one side and two different main rebel groups, which fight each other as well, the war does not look to have an end coming any time soon.
Peace talks still have not achieved anything substantial in the three way civil war.

However, some forward motion has been noted, as earlier in 2014, for the first time refugees were allowed out of besieged cities, as two of the sides attempt to improve their humanitarian face.

International focus continues to wain as time goes on and other events distract from it.

Malaysia's Prime Minister Declares Flight 370's Disappearance Was Deliberate

In a press conference, on Saturday, Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak declared that the disappearance of Flight 370 was deliberate.

The plane disappeared from radar, last Saturday morning, and was never heard from again.

No distress call was ever received, nor has any wreckage been found.

Investigators were able to track the plane using satellites, for a time, even after it left radar, but were not able to determine where it ended up.

Officials from the US, Britain, and elsewhere in the world aided Malaysia in their investigation.

Razak stated that, "Evidence is consistent with someone acting deliberately from inside the plane".

It is believed that someone purposefully disable the plane's transponder, which helps track the plane.

Flight 370 would have had enough fuel to fly on for seven more hours, after it disappeared.

Authorities believe that it's most likely route was south into the Indian Ocean, as other routes would have put it in range of radar systems that would have picked it up.

Two hundred and thirty-nine people were aboard the plane.

GM Recalls 1.6 Million Vehicles

General Motors has announced a massive recall of over one and a half million vehicles.

Faulty ignition switches could turn off the ignition, while the vehicles are being driven.

Airbags could also be disabled by the faulty switches.

The recall covers 2005-07 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2006-07 Chevrolet HHR, 2007 Pontiac G5, 2006-07 Pontiac Solstice, 2003-07 Saturn Ion, and 2007 Saturn Sky.

Dealers will inspect and replaces faulty switches for free.

Donetsk Clashes Leave 2 Dead in Ukraine as Russia Masses Troops at The Border

Violent clashes took place in Donestk, Ukraine, Thursday night, between pro Russian and pro Ukrainian groups. Two people were killed and at least twenty-eight injured in the fighting. Witnesses say that the pro Russian groups started the fighting.

Russia is once again saying it will move troops into Eastern Ukraine, to "protect ethnic Russians from the violence". They have warned Ukraine's military to stand down and not interfere, should they cross the border.

Over two hundred thousand troops are conducting maneuvers not far from the border. On Thursday,  some of the units came right up to the border and parked, making it clear they are prepared to cross. Ukraine has promised to defend itself against any further Russian intrusions.

On Tuesday, Ukraine announced the formation of a new National Guard, which will be compromised of their veteran troops and the best equipment. The government called upon the US, UK, and NATO to aid them militarily as they are outmatched by the Russian forces. 

Around fifty thousand Russian troops have already occupied Crimea. The region has since declared itself independent from Ukraine and is holding a referendum, on Sunday, to decide whether or not to join Russia.

Russia continues to deny it is their troops in Crimea, noting that they do not have any kind of Russian insignia or unit markings, and claims that they are militia from within the Crimea. Despite their attempts at denial, it is clear they are Russian due to the numbers, weaponry, quality of training, and that they speak Russian. Various news sources have also caught them crossing over from Russia. Monday saw the troops begin clearing out besieged Ukrainian bases, which had previously been disarmed.

Militias are still maintaining a presence along the region's border, keeping international observers and everyday Ukrainians out. However, reports have come that in some cases they are kidnapping Ukrainian activists and reporters who attempt to cross over. In all known cases they were women in their twenties.

Hundreds of Boko Haram Fighters Attack Maiduguri, Nigeria

Hundreds of members of Boko Haram attacked the Nigerian city of Maiduguri, on Friday.

They targeted the military barracks, prison, university, and a housing development for the city's government workers.

Military forces were able to defeat the attack, but not before dozens of the city's citizens had been murdered by the terrorists.

According to the government, nearly one hundred Boko Haram fighters were killed, in the attack.

2 Bombs in Pakistan Leave 18 Dead

Quetta

Two separate bombings left eighteen dead, in Pakistan, on Friday.

Ten people were killed in Quetta, when a remote controlled bicycle bomb exploded.

Dozens more were injured in the blast, which struck a busy street.

The explosion just missed a convoy of security personnel, believed to be the intended target.

In the Sarband market of Peshawar eight people were killed when a suicide bomber attacked an armored personnel carrier.

More than thirty other people were injured, some critically.

No one has claimed responsibility for either of the attacks.

Mumbai Building Collapse Kills 7

A seven story building collapsed and fell onto neighboring houses, in Mumbai, India, on Friday.

Seven people are confirmed dead and five injured, with an unknown number still trapped under the rubble.

Rescue efforts are underway to save as many as they can.

The building had been condemned months ago, but a court battle was ongoing, which had kept it from being demolished.

6 Killed in Market Stabbing in China

Six people died as the result of a stabbing in Changsha, China, on Friday.

An argument broke out in a market, between a bread salesman and a customer.

The customer eventually pulled a knife and stabbed the vendor repeatedly, killing him.

The knife wielding man then stabbed several other people, killing four of them.

When police showed up he charged at them, with the knife, so they shot and killed him.

Tropical Cyclone Lusi Kills 3 in Vanuatu Islands

The Vanuatu Islands were roughed up on Friday, by tropical cyclone Lusi.

Three people were confirmed dead, with another six missing.

Lusi caused flooding and did damage to the country's crops.

The storm headed for New Zealand, losing strength as it went, and is expected to make landfall on Saturday.