By: Meredith Francis ~Campus News Editor~

Scottish independence vote approaches
Scotland will decide on Sept. 18 whether or not to vote in favor of independence from the United Kingdom. Polls reveal that the decision will be close, suggesting that the end of the 307-year-old partnership with England could be a reality. If Scotland votes in favor of independence, the international community has raised concerns about the stability of the Scottish economy on its own. British Prime Minister David Cameron has taken several trips to Scotland in an attempt to convince Scots to remain part of the United Kingdom.

President Obama unveils aid plan for Ebola outbreak
President Obama announced on Sept. 16 that the U.S. will create a military command center in West Africa, the region hardest hit by the Ebola outbreak. The command center, which will be stationed in Liberia, could involve as many as 3,000 U.S. troops and could cost as much as $500 million.

Car bomb kills seven near U.S. Embassy in Kabul
A car bomb that went off near the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, killed seven people, including three NATO soldiers on Sept. 16. The Taliban is claiming credit for the attack, which also wounded 20 other NATO soldiers and civilians. This violence, along with several other recent incidents, comes after
controversy still surrounds the recent presidential election, with some Afghanis disputing the results.

Volcanic eruption likely in the Phillipines
Scientific experts are warning that it is highly probable that the Mount Mayon volcano in the Phillipines will erupt in upcoming weeks. An alert was raised to “critical” after volcanic activity recently increased, including falling hot rocks and small earthquakes. This warning comes as the Bardabunga volcano system in Iceland is spewing lava and smoke and will also likely erupt.