Spanish Journalists Freed From Syria

Two Spanish journalists, who had been taken captive in Syria, have just been released to the relief of their family member. El Mundo correspondent Javier Espinosa and freelance photographer Ricardo Garcia Vilanova were captured by al-Qaeda linked militants on their way out of Syria. Many reporters, both foreign and native to Syria have gone missing. A group called Reporters Without Borders have called Syria the most dangerous country to visit. Free Syrian Army's political wing, the Syrian National Coalition, have said that they are committed to protecting the journalists and freeing the hostages.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-26812951

"Syria Crisis: Freed Spanish Journalists Back in Spain." BBC News. N.p., 30 Mar. 2014. Web. 30 Mar. 2014. <http://www.bbc.com/news/ world-asia-26812951>

Over 20 Dead in an Attempted Prison Break in Nigeria

21 people were killed in an attempted prison escape in Nigeria. The prisoners were being kept at the headquarters of the Nigerian secret police in the capitol, Abuja. It is unclear if all that were killed were prisoners. The many of the detainees were suspected members of Boko Harem, an Islamic group that has waged a violent campaign in Nigeria since 2009. Thousands have been killed in a result of this. The group wants northern Nigeria to become a radical Islamic state. The president has stated that the event has been labeled as an attempted jail break, and all was under control.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-26814376

"Nigeria 'Attempted Jailbreak' Leaves More Than 20 Dead." www.bbc.com. BBC News, 
     30 Mar. 2014. Web. 30 Mar. 2014. <http://www.bbc.com/news/ 
     world-asia-26814376>

U.S. Space Plane Beats The Longest Orbit Record

U.S Air Force's secretive X-37B space plane beat the orbit record on Wednesday. The aircraft had circled the earth 470 days on Wednesday, beating the past record for longest orbit which was 469 days. This aircraft was the airforce's first unmanned aircraft to renter orbit. The mini space shuttle was launched on December 11, 2012. It has been circling the earth on a mystery mission from the American military. The robotic plane may use NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida as a possible landing sight sometime in the future.

http://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/air-forces-secretive-x-37b-space-plane-shatters-orbit-record-n66231

David, Leonardo. "Air Force's Secretive X-37B Space Plane Shatters Orbit 
     Record." www.nbcnews.com. NBC News, 28 Mar. 2014. Web. 30 Mar. 2014.      <http://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/      air-forces-secretive-x-37b-space-plane-shatters-orbit-record-n66231>.

A New Ebola Outbreak Threatens Guinea's Capitol

A new outbreak of the Ebola virus has recently affected Guinea. So far 59 out of the 80 people that have been infected have died. There is no known cure or vaccination for the disease. Over the past few days the illness has spread between the communities of Macenta, Gueckedou, and Kissidougou, until it ended up in the capitol Conarky. The capitol houses about 2 million people. At the moment, isolation is key. The virus is spread by close personal contact with people who are infected so the doctors are trying to find and monitor anybody the patients have been in contact with over the past few days. Ebola typically occurs in remote villages in Central and West Africa, there has never been a recorded outbreak in Guinea before.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-26701733

"Deadly Ebola Virus Reaches Guinea Capital." BBC News. (March 23, 2014): n. page. Web. 23 Mar. 2014. <http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-26701733>.

Taiwan Students Protest New Trade Deal With China

Hundreds of students protested Taiwan forming a trade deal with China at government headquarters which lead to many arrests on Sunday. Over 30 people were arrested and many injured, as police let water cannons out to control the raging crowd. The students have also broken into the legislature as a sign of protest and have barricaded themselves in with furniture. They wanted more scrutiny with any further arrangements with China, including trade deals. Thousands of people rallied to support the students on Friday, and the opposing Democratic Progressive Party supports them as well. The students believe that a trade deal with China will further worsen their economy.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-26705779

"Clashes as Taiwan Students Storm Government HQ." BBC News. (2014): n. page. Web. 23 Mar. 2014. <http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-26705779>.

Turkey Downs A Syrian Warplane

Turkish fighter jets shot down a Syrian warplane on Sunday. Two planes had entered Turkey heading in the direction of the Turkish airspace. One of the planes had turned around about 10 nautical miles from the Turkish airspace after receiving warnings from the Turkish Air Force. The other plane was shot down with a missile from an F-19 plane that was on patrol. The plane that was shot down received 4 warnings over the course of the flight. The pilot was able to eject before the plane crashed, according to Syrian officials. Turkey and Syria have been at odds since 2011, when conflict first started to occur in Syria. Both countries have shot down other aircrafts from each other in the past few years.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/24/world/europe/syria.html?action=click&contentCollection=Europe&region=Footer&module=MoreInSection&pgtype=article

Arsu, Sebnem. "Turkey Downs Warplane From Syria After Warning." New York Times. (March 23, 2014): n. page. Web. 23 Mar. 2014.

U.S. Special Forces Seize a Tanker from Rebels in Libya

U.S. special forces seizes a tanker from a group of anti-government rebels in a Libyan port with a cargo full of oil. This order was approved by President Obama. No shots were fired and the tanker was taken in under 2 hours. The weak government makes the oil sector an easy and frequent target of rebel forces who use this control to make demands of the state. The seizure of the tanker will likely prevent any more attempts at illegal oil sales for a short time.

http://news.yahoo.com/u-navy-seals-board-tanker-hijacked-libya-pentagon-082427948--finance.html

Laessing, Ulf, and Feras Bosalum. "U.S. forces seize tanker carrying oil from Libya rebel port." Yahoo News. (2014): n. page. Web. 16 Mar. 2014. <http://news.yahoo.com/u-navy-seals-board-tanker-hijacked-libya-pentagon-082427948--finance.html>.