Ukraine Soldier Killed in Attack by Crimea Militia

On Tuesday, armed pro Russian militias attacked a Ukrainian military base in Simferopol. A Ukrainian soldier was killed, two more were injured, and a fourth was kidnapped. The incident marked the first military causality of the Crimea conflict.

In response to the attack, Ukraine's government authorized troops to fire their weapons in self defense. Previously, they had not been allowed to, as the country tried to avoid heightening tensions.

Sunday saw a vote pass for Crimea to leave Ukraine and join Russia. Russia praised it as a sign that Crimeans wished to rejoin Russia, bragging about it's ninety-seven percent yes votes. However, with only a fifty-six percent turnout it would seem the vote wasn't truly that successful.

The international community has condemned the vote, calling it illegal. Only Russia is accepting the vote as having any bases. Much of the world notes that as many as fifty thousand Russian troops were in Crimea, for the vote. It is also noted that pro Russian militias stationed themselves inside most polling posts.

Sanctions were announced, on Monday, by the US, EU, and other nations. However, the sanctions are severely limited and do nothing to make Russia even pause from keeping Crimea.

On Saturday, Russian forces went north of Crimea and seized the village of Strilkove for a time. They eventually pulled back, but set up shop around and inside the village's natural gas production buildings. Ukrainian troops have since made entrenchments and other defense inside the village to block any further Russian incursions.

Ukraine has called up all of it's reserves, in case Russia attempts to push further into the country. Nearly two thousand Russian troops are setup right on the eastern border. Around two hundred thousand more are conducting maneuvers just a few hours further east. No military aid is expected from Europe, should Russia advance.

Suicide Bomber Kills 17 in Afghanistan

Seventeen people were killed when a suicide bomber struck in Afghanistan, on Tuesday.

Another thirty-six were wounded in the attack.

The bomber targeted a busy marketplace in Meymenah.

No groups have claimed responsibility for the attack.

Crimea Votes to Leave Ukraine and Join Russia

On Sunday, Crimea voted to leave Ukraine and join Russia.

Ninety-five percent of the votes cast recorded a yes, though turnout was only at fifty-six percent.

Many Crimeans considered the outcome fixed and so didn't bother trying to vote against it.

Witnesses also tell us that pro Russian militias were stationed inside of many polling stations.

The vote has been called illegal by Ukraine and much of the international community.

However, with as many as fifty thousand Russian troops, in Crimea, there's little that can be done to keep the vote from counting.

Russia is finally admitting that it is their troops in Crimea, though they are staying a much lower number than has been witnessed.

Their acknowledgement comes after Russian forces went north of Crimea and seized the village of Strilkove for a time, on Saturday.

The Russian troops eventually withdrew from most of the village, but set up shop around and inside the village's natural gas production buildings.

Ukrainian troops have since made entrenchments and other defense inside the village to block any further Russian incursions.

North Korea Fires 18 Rockets During US and South Korea Maneuvers

North Korea fired eighteen rockets into the sea, on Sunday.

The "tests" took place while the US and South Korea are conducting maneuvers.

None of the projectiles came near allied forces.

It is the fourth time during the maneuvers that North Korea has fired weaponry.

They conduct the "tests" as a form of protest against the US's continued support of South Korea.

Dole Italian Blend Salad Recalled

Dole has announced a recall of their Italian Blend salad.

The recall is being made due to a possible listeria contamination.

Ten ounce salad bags sold in Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick, with a best before date of 14-MR-12 are under the recall.

Other products are considered fine and are not being recalled.

At this time, there have been no reports of illness in connection with eating the salad.

900,000 Honda Odyssey Minivans Recalled

Nearly nine hundred thousand Honda Odysseys have been recalled.

A fuel pump could crack and leak fuel, which could cause a fire.

Models from 2005 to 2010 are included in the recall.

The recall effects vans built at the Linclon, Alabama plant from June 23, 2004 to September 4, 2010.

Honda will contact customers in April, and then inspect and replace fuel pumps for free.

Clashes Leave 2 Dead in Kharkiv as Russia's Troops Enter Mainland Ukraine

For the second time in two days competing protests turned violent and deadly in eastern Ukraine. Two people were killed when pro Russian groups attacked a pro Ukrainian rally, in Kharkiv. At least two dozen more were injured in the incident.

Protests from both sides have taken place for the past couple weeks. On Saturday, they were joined by protests in Russia itself. Tens of thousands marched in Moscow, in protest of their government's occupation of Crimea.

For two weeks, Russian troops have controlled Crimea. With as many as fifty thousand in the region. Several thousand more have placed themselves on the eastern border, while at least two hundred thousand more conduct maneuvers a few hours away.

On Saturday, eighty Russian troops backed by armored vehicles and helicopters moved north into mainland Crimea and seized the village of Strilkove. The move was countered by Ukrainian forces, but not in time to keep the village from falling. It was the first time that Russia openly admitted that the forces in Crimea are theirs.

Ukraine and Russia are still not technically in a state of war. Russia says their forces are there to protect ethnic Russians, in the region. They are also threatening to invade eastern Ukraine, for the same purposes. Ukraine continues to promise to defend it's territory, but they are severely out gunned and are understandably reluctant to enter into a war they can't win. However, as Russia continues to push Ukraine's leadership is under increasing pressure to defend the country.

International condemnation of the occupation of Crimea continues. The US, EU, and other countries have pledged to sanction Russia for it's actions. However, other than NATO patrolling it's eastern borders with AWACs no military response is likely to be seen from other nations.

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.