Deaths in Russia lead to security sweep

Six suspicious deaths and at least one car explosion throughout the week about 150 miles away from Sochi, the site of the Winter Olympics, have prompted enhanced security. Currently, Anti-terrorism sweeps are being conducted. On Jan. 8 a vehicle containing a body was found in Tambukan and two other bodies were found in a different vehicle in Zolskaya, according to the Investigative Committee. On Jan. 9 the bodies of three men along with  explosive material was found in another vehicle in Maryinskaya in Stavropol province. At the end of December there were twin bombings on public transit in Volgograd. Last month three people died in a car bombing in Pyatigorsk. No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks. On Jan. 9 about 400 Cossacks were deployed to assist the police during the Olympics to provide security for athletes and tourists. Security analysts have been warned that terrorists targeting the games may try to strike in other places throughout Russia against more discreet targets, other than Sochi.

Helicopter crash kills four

On Jan. 7 a military helicopter crashed during a training flight near Cley on the coast of England. The four U.S. Air Force personal died on the crash. Removing the bodies of the men from the crash is extremely difficult, because the process could possibly damage the evidence of the crash. Specialists from the Royal Air Force, the U.S. Air Force and investigators from Norfolk Constabulary were all working together to figure out the cause of the crash. It is unknown if the families of the men were notified.

Protesters aim to shut down Bangkok

The People’s Democratic Reform Committee protest group launched its “Bangkok shutdown” on Jan. 13; they intend for their shutdown plan to last a month and remove Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra from office. Protesters plan to close seven main intersections, surround the house of Yingluck and other ministers as well as cut off water and electricity supplies to various government offices. Eight people have died and at least 470 injured since the protests began in November.

International correspondents demand Egypt release detained journalists

On Jan. 13 almost 40 correspondents and editors representing 29 international media organizations sent a letter to the Egyptian authorities to demanded that Egypt release the three journalists, Peter Greste, Mohamed Fadel Fahmy and Baher Mohamed, that have been said to have been detained for two weeks. Egyptian authorities say that the journalists had been holding illegal meetings involving the Muslim Brotherhood, which was declared a terrorist group in December. They also demanded the release of other journalists who have been detained in Egypt; some they say have been detained for over five months.