North Korea Conducts Fire Exercises Near Disputed Border

On Tueday, North Korean artillery fired near the disputed border with South Korea.

Some fifty shells were fired during the exercise.

Unlike previous exercises, North Korea actually warned South Korea that they would be taking place.

They also kept their shells within their borders, rather than landing them in the disputed area.

As a precaution South Korean residents, on nearby islands, sought shelter

Adams County Sheriff Deputy Attacked and His Patrol Car Stolen Leading to Chase in Denver

An Adams County Sheriff Deputy was attacked and injured, Monday morning, near West 66th Avenue and Knox Court.

His assailant then stole the deputies car and led other officers on a chase which reached over one hundred miles per hour through parts of Denver.

At 72nd Avenue and Pecos Street, an unmarked Colorado State Police vehicle rammed the hijacked car.

The suspect then attempted to flee on foot, but was quickly subdued.

According to authorities, the injured deputy was taken to the hospital for treatment, but is expected to be released soon.

16 Killed by Tornadoes in Arkansas, Iowa, and Oklahoma

Sixteen people were killed by tornadoes, in the US, on Sunday.

Fourteen of the deaths took place in Arkansas, with one each in Iowa and Oklahoma. Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska also dealt with destruction and injuries from tornadoes.

Vilonia and Mayflower, Arkansas, just to the north of Little Rock, were extremely hard hit by a twister which was at least an EF3, if not higher.

Ten of the deaths happened in those towns and the surrounding area. Search and rescue efforts are underway, and officials expect the death toll will rise, while the rubble is explored.

In Quapaw, Oklahoma, one person was killed and six were injured by the tornado that struck there. Damage is "extensive" throughout the town.

That same tornado the crossed into Kansas and injured thirty-four people in Baxter Springs. Over one hundred homes and businesses were damaged there.

The damage in Iowa covered several towns, with a death in Kinross and injuries in Ottumwa.

Members of the National Guard are helping with cleanup efforts in both Arkansas and Kansas.

Powerful tornado producing storms continued to hit parts of the US, on Monday.

Sunday was also the third anniversary of three hundred and sixteen people being killed by tornadoes, in the southern US, during a day which saw one hundred and twenty-two tornadoes.

North Carolina University Put on Lockdown

North Carolina A&T State University, in Greensboro, was placed under lockdown, on Monday morning.

Police received a report of a man with a rifle in the General Classroom Building, just before 10:00 EDT.

That prompted a lockdown of the campus, which includes not just the university but two public high schools as well.

Campus police and the Greensboro Police Department responded and searched the campus, but found nothing.

The lockdown was lifted just before 13:00 EDT and classes resumed at 14:00 EDT.

Assad Applies For Candidacy in Syria's Next Election

With Syria's elections approaching on June 3, candidates have begun applying for candidacy.

On Monday, President Bashar al-Assad made his candidacy announcement, asking for the country's parliament to approve it.

He became the seventh candidate, for the elections, though it is unexpected for any of the others to actually show a real challenge to his third term.

This comes as the country is in it's third year of civil war, with the other side's main goal being the removal of Assad from power.

The Syrian National Coalition, the government in exile of the rebels, has declared the upcoming election to be illegitimate.

Assad's government has not yet made it clear how the elections will take place, as much of the country is not under their control.

2 Planes Collide Over San Fransisco Bay

Cessna 210, top, Hawker Sea Fury, bottom

Two planes collided over San Fransisco Bay, on Sunday afternoon.

Officials say that the collision involved a Cessna 210 and a Hawker Sea Fury TMK 20.

The pilot of the Hawker was able to successfully land at nearby small airport, without injury.

Unfortunately, the Cessna crashed into the Bay, and it's pilot is missing.

A search was conducted through Sunday evening, without success in finding the pilot.

An investigation is underway to determine what led to the collision.

OSCE Observers Seized in Ukraine by Pro Russia Separatists

A bus carrying members of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe was seized by Pro Russian separatists near Sloviansk, Ukraine.

Seven international observers belonging to the OSCE, five members of the Ukrainian military, and their driver were aboard the bus.

They have been taken to an undisclosed location, with the separatists accusing them of being spies.

International observer missions had been agreed to by the US, EU, Ukraine, and Russia, in Geneva, however not been agreed to by the separatists.

The detaining of the international observers is but one more addition to the high tensions in eastern Ukraine.

Separatists have seized several towns in the area, while Ukrainian troops have begun slowly reclaiming territory.

However, Russia continues it's threats to invade Ukraine if things aren't done peacefully.

Backing those threats are fifty thousand Russian troops who are conducting maneuvers just east of the border.

NATO nations are on increasing alert due to the deteriorating situation, which has not been helped by Russia's continued belligerence.

As part of the increased preparedness, US troops have arrived in Poland to take part in exercises with NATO nations.

25 Killed by 3 Explosions at Political Rally in Baghdad

Twenty-five people were killed when three explosions struck a political rally, in Baghdad.

Dozens more were injured.

Officials say that two truck bombs and a roadside bomb were used in the terrorist attack.

The explosions happened as the Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq rally was coming to a close.


The Shiite Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq party is backed by Iran and openly supports the Syrian regime.

Their international connections have angered Sunni opponents, and terrorists from that branch of Islam are likely to blame.

Iraqi elections are set to take place on Wednesday, April 30.

The country has faced some of it's worst violence, in years, as they approach.

5 Separatists Killed as Ukraine Liberates Slovyansk

Ukrainian troops pushed into Slovyansk, on Thursday, as part of an operation to liberate eastern Ukraine from Pro Russian militants.

Five separatists were killed during the operation.

Ukraine accuses Russia of backing and instigating the separatists.

Russia denies that they have any part in it, but have repeatedly stated their "right" to "defend" Ukrainians of Russian descent.

They used the same argument during their seizing of Crimea, in March.

As many as fifty thousand Russian troops are encamped just east of the border.

On Thursday, in response to the Slovyansk raid, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced that the Russian troops will conduct more military exercises.

US Troops Begin Arriving in Poland

US troops began arriving in Poland, on Wednesday.

One hundred and fifty of a planned six hundred troops, from the 173rd Airborne Brigade, were greeted in the Polish town of Swidwin.

They are to conduct exercises with the Polish military as well as the militaries of Estonia, Lativa, and Lithuania.

The goal of the exercises is further training for all those involved, as well as an assurance to the NATO nations that the US will defend them against any possibly Russian threats.

At this time the US plans to have an increased presence through out the rest of 2014.

It is yet unclear if that means restationing the 173rd from their normal base in Vicenza, Italy or if there will be a rotation of units.