CHINA — United Nations Security Council efforts to calm tensions between North and South Korea, the United States and Japan were stalled as China refused to support a resolution condemning the North for a Jan. 9 attack on the South Korean capitol of Pyongyang, which left 340 dead and an unknown number more injured. China declined to join a majority of the Security Council members in condemning the North Korean attack, according to a diplomat present at the meeting who spoke with reporters on condition of anonymity. The Chinese mission to the UN didn't respond to a telephone message requesting comment.
Russia called an emergency session of the UN council today saying it feared "further escalation of tensions" on the Korean peninsula following the arrival of the nuclear aircraft carrier the USS George Washington to the waters between South Korea and Japan. The USS George Washington joined 12 Japanese naval vessels off the coast of South Korea in what Russian diplomats are calling, "an antagonizing show of force."
South Korea's intentions to return fire to North Korea over their demilitarized zone have been stalled by attempts to broker peace by the UN Security Council, said an official at South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff who declined to be named, citing military policy. South Korea's last artillery exchange with North Kora, where it fired shells into the sea off the Southern-held Yeonpyeong island, were met with a return barrage Nov. 23 that killed four South Koreans on the island.
Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso has called for a "united front" against the aggressions of North Korea against the South. Tensions in the region stem from a September 14th incident where three Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force warships in national waters were allegedly destroyed off of the northwestern shore of Hokkaido by Evolved military agents believed to be working with the Chinese government.
China has disavowed any involvement in the sinking of the Kirishima, Kongo and the Chokai.
ROME — Pope Bennedict the XVI has stated today that the Vatican will finally be reviewing and addressing whether acts by Evolved humans that meet the criteria for miracles will be classified as such by the Catholic church. Cardinal Bennicio Salvatore of the Roman Catholic Diocese in Chicago, Illinois remains at the heart of this heated debate.
Cardinal Salvatore was able to reverse the conditions of advanced Parkinsons disease on Mary-Elisabeth Montgomery in August of 2009, prompting the Cardinal to be nominated for Sainthood. However, the Roman Catholic Church's stance on the Evolved as a source of miracles and eligibility for Sainthood had never been established, leading to a now two-year long debate over the Cardinal's status and eligibility.
If the church votes to allow Cardinal Salvatore eligibility to Sainthood it could open floodgates on thousands of other cases of eligibility across the world. Concerns within the church continue to fail to properly address the relationship between superhuman abilities possessed by the Evolved and their relation to the hierarchy of the Catholic church.
Religious scholars in Spain criticized the church last month for taking so long to begin deliberations on this matter. This came in combination with allegations made by writer and professed Atheist Richard Dawkins that the role of the Catholic Church in relation to the Evolved was, "little more than a means by which men and women were led to a fiery death on a stake three centuries ago."
Dawkins criticism of the Holy See's inability to properly consider the Evolved is the topic of his latest book, The Genetics of Faith and Lies. In the book, Dawkins refers to Cardinal Salvatore as, "a brilliant, generous man who has an unfathomable ability for compassion that is limited only by his adherence to Bronze Age mythology."
The Roman Catholic church has made no comment on this criticism, and insists that a consensus on the status of the Evolved will be reached by year's end.
MADAGASCAR — Tragedy rocked the island nation of Madagascar today when newly appointed Prime Minister Botani Musawa was killed in the first terrorist violence in the nation since its liberation in 2009. During the indoctrination ceremony of Madagascar's first Prime Minister in nearly four years a rocket propelled grenade was fired at the stage from a nearby rooftop that was supposed to be secured by members of the United States military.
The rocket detonated on the stage, instantly killing Musawa and his chief of staff and critically injuring seventeen others, including hero of the people and leader of the Madagascar Liberation Front Dajan Dunsimi, who participated in the liberation of his homeland alongside American forces in 2009's military liberation of the country from military dictator Edmond Rasoul.
Immediately following the blast, US military forces converged on the site of the rocket attack's origin but were unable to apprehend the attacker, who had disappeared prior to the blast. Attendants in the crowd reported hearing two explosions, one that shortly followed the explosion on stage, while others claim that it was thunder from the storm clouds that had gathered over Mandritsara that morning.
General Timothy Moritz of the United States Army, commander of the Madagascar reclamation operation revealed that CIA analysis of the assassination indicates possible involvement by so far unknown anti-evolved insurgents that may be present within the country. The United States has begun a full investigation into the attack, and it is believed that Musawa's strong pro-evolved stance and push for an independent Madagascar is likely what prompted the attack.
Secretary of Urban Development Abero Domon, a member of Musawa's cabinet has been sworn in as acting Prime Minister until a proper election can be handled once the situation in the country has become more stable. In regards to the assassination, General Moritz explained that, "this is evidence that the situation in Madagascar may not be as stable as Musawa had wanted to believe. We feel that it is imperative that the US Military remain in Madagascar until the nation is able to stand on its own two feet again. It is our nation's responsibility after overthrowing General Rasoul to ensure liberty and security for the Malagasy people.
At current, the United States Military is scheduled to remain in Madagascar through 2016.