Prepare Now. 

There are Life Changing Events Coming to America

CURRENT (May 2024) DOMESTIC THREATS AND AREAS OF CONCERN: 

1. Cyber Attacks: Blackouts, Contaminated Water Systems, Banking Systems 

2. Conflict/War with Foreign Adversaries; WW3

3. Mass Spread of Deadly Disease 

4. Illegal Border Crossings; Invasion of the U.S.

5. Violent Mass Attacks & Shootings; Increase in Crime 

6. Severe & Extreme Weather

5/16/2024: Israel/Hamas War Update

• Military escalation in Rafah could bring humanitarian operations to a "standstill," WFP warns - On Thursday, UN emergency relief chief Martin Griffiths described the situation as “deeply tragic” as he warned about food running out in southern Gaza.

• ‘Just unacceptable’: US denounces lsrael’s land closures for Gaza aid - “It’s not enough getting in right now. This temporary pier is not enough all on its own to get the food, water, and medicine to the Palestinians in Gaza they so desperately need. We have to get those land crossings open as soon as possible. Clearly not enough is being done to open up the crossings. That’s just unacceptable,” said Kirby. He noted there are aid trucks waiting at three land crossings to get into Gaza, and “the Israeli military can do that without a significant footprint”.

• The Israeli military announced Friday it recovered the bodies of three hostages from a tunnel in Gaza. One of those identified is Shani Louk, a 23-year-old German-Israeli woman who was kidnapped on October 7 from the Nova music festival.

• The Israeli military said it has expanded its ground offensive in Jabalya, a refugee camp in northern Gaza, and officials say at least six were killed by an airstrike there.

• Another suspected Israeli air strike has made an apparent assassination attempt in southern Lebanon, hitting a vehicle.

• The Houthis in Yemen have released a video that shows how they tracked a US MQ-9 Reaper attack and surveillance drone and shot it down with a missile. This is the fourth US drone shot down over or near Yemen since the start of the war on Gaza. A third was downed in late April. The advanced US drones reportedly cost more than $30M.

5/16/2024: Russia & Ukraine War Update 

• Putin says capturing Ukraine’s Kharkiv is not part of Russia’s current plan - An air raid alert in Kharkiv lasted more than 16-and-a-half hours, Reuters reported, citing Ukraine’s public broadcaster Suspilne. It marked the longest recorded air alert since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

• There are Power outages in Crimea - Russian authorities on Friday said that a massive Ukrainian drone attack set a major Russian oil refinery ablaze and caused power outages in Crimea’s largest city of Sevastopol 

• Russia says it has captured 12 settlements in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region over the past week

• Russia’s Defense Ministry on Friday said it had captured 12 settlements in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region in the last week, before adding that it “continues to advance into the depths” of the country.

5/14/2024: Potential Conflict/War Watch

• China & Taiwan  

  • 5/14/2024: U.S. and Taiwan conducted drills involving "multiple military assets," including frigates and supply vessels. Video

  • 5/9/2024: Taiwan says 12 more Chinese ships detected in beefed-up presence; A U.S. destroyer has detected Chinese military planes and ships approaching Taiwan. Taiwan has reported similar instances every week in the last several with many believing China may begin a military confrontation. Related Article

• Guyana & Venezuela 

  • 5/9/2024: Venezuela and Guyana have agreed to a high-level meeting over the status of the disputed and oil-rich Essequibo region. Following a nationwide referendum last week, the Venezuelan government has threatened to move forward with plans to annex the densely-forested Essequibo region, which is roughly the size of Florida and makes up about two-thirds of Guyana’s territory. Venezuela has long insisted that it has a historical claim to the region, which Guyana rejects. Current borders were set in a 1899 ruling by international arbitrators. Related Article

5/17/2024:  Russia is conducting Missile Launches Off the Coast of California for the next 10 days - Warnings to avoid a “Russian Federation rocket firing impact area” sparked concerns about possible Russian activities near the U.S. mainland. Airspace over a swath of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Baja California is being closed for the next 10 days (5/16/2024 - 5/26/2024) because of the re-entry of a “Russian space launch booster,” two U.S. defense officials told The War Zone. Related Article

5/17/2024: Houston, Texas Tornado left 1 Million without Electricity and Sadly 4 People Perished - A line of severe thunderstorms swept through southeastern Texas and Louisiana on Thursday, blasting the Houston area with ferocious winds that left at least four dead - including a mother of a newborn - and more than 1 million power customers without electricity. Winds reported as high as 78 mph toppled trees, blew out windows of high-rise buildings and caused transmission towers holding power lines to crumble. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office and National Weather Service encouraged everyone to stay off the roads. Related Article

5/17/2024: Russia and China to sign Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline contract ‘in near future’, says Novak - Russia and China expect to a sign a contract “in the near future” on the Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline, which will carry Russian gas to China, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak was cited as saying by Interfax late on Thursday. Russia has been in talks for years about building the Power of Siberia-2 pipeline to carry 50 billion cubic metres of natural gas a year from the Yamal region in northern Russia to China via Mongolia. Novak, President Vladimir Putin’s top oil and gas point man, is part of the official Russian delegation currently on a visit to China, though Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller is not. Putin and China’s Xi Jinping have pledged a “new era” of strategic partnership on the trip as the Russian leader increasingly turns to China to support his wartime economy. Related Article

5/16/2024: The CDC has warned of the resurgence of MonkeyPox - formerly known as MonkeyPox, across the Democratic Republic of Congo. The escalating epidemic in Congo nevertheless poses a global threat, just as infections in Nigeria set off the 2022 outbreak, experts said. Related Article

5/16/2024: Israel/Hamas War Update

• House votes to require delivery of bombs to Israel in GOP-led rebuke of Biden policies

• Israel Says It Will Send More Troops to Rafah, Defying International Pressure;  Israel has renewed fighting in northern Gaza despite having previously said it had cleared the area of Hamas.

• The U.S. military installs a temporary pier in Gaza for humanitarian aid and aid will soon flow as Israel-Hamas war rages. The pier project — expected to cost $320 million — is designed to bolster the amount of aid getting into the Gaza Strip, but it is not considered a substitute for far cheaper deliveries by land that aid agencies say are much more sustainable.

• The top U.N. court hears new arguments from South Africa on Israel’s actions in Gaza.

• Heavy fighting continues in Jabalia, where Israeli forces have targeted residential buildings and an ambulance.

• Battles rage in Gaza’s north with Palestinian groups targeting invading Israeli troops in small-arms ambushes and with rocket fire and IEDs.

• Israeli tank mistakenly fires at IDF forces in northern Gaza, killing 5 Israeli soldiers

5/16/2024: Russia & Ukraine War Update 

• Russia says forces advancing ‘in all directions’ in Ukraine - Russia’s Defense Ministry said Wednesday that its forces had taken control of two more settlements in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, building on daily gains in the northeast as a new offensive builds momentum, and had taken full control of the settlement of Robotyne in Zaporizhzhia. Ukraine dismissed the claim about Robotyne.

• Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met in Beijing Thursday. China is Russia's top trade partner, and international sanctions over Moscow's war in Ukraine have driven the two economies closer. Russian President Vladimir Putin heaped praise on his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at the start of a two-day state visit to China.

• Denmark to send Ukraine $815 million aid package focused on air defense - The package will help fund an upcoming donation of F-16 fighter jets, additional air defenses, the maintenance of artillery pieces and the donation of additional artillery pieces, shells and anti-tank mines, the ministry said.

• China will shun the Switzerland peace conference and effectively reject Ukraine's "peace plan"

5/16/2024: Update on Shooting of Slovakia’s Prime Minister - Slovakia’s prime minister in stable but ‘very serious’ condition after assassination attempt

• 5/15/2024: Prime Minister of Slovakia has been shot multiple times in attempted assassination after a government meeting and is being treated in hospital. A suspect was in custody, the country’s president said in a televised statement. Related Article; 2pm Update: The emergency surgery of Slovak Prime Minister Fico after the assassination attempt was successful and he is in a stable condition; Just days ago Slovakia's Prime Minister Rejected the World Health Organization (WHO) Pandemic treaty.  

5/16/2024: Boeing 747-400 from Indonesia headed to Saudi Arabia makes an emergency landing after engine catches fire - treaks of flame were spotted shooting out the back of the 747-400 aircraft as it lifted off the runway with 468 passengers onboard. Related Article

5/16/2024: H5N1 Bird Flu Updates (The virus leapt from birds to cows once but is spreading back and forth among birds and mammals, and then to a human) 

• The CDC has released a new dashboard to track the spread of bird flu.

• The dashboard includes data on wastewater sampling sites that have tested positive for influenza A.

• The CDC is also monitoring 260 people who have been exposed to dairy cows infected with H5N1.

5/15/2024: Texas Bridge Collapse, Barge Strikes Pelican Island Bridge in Texas - A barge hit a bridge in Galveston, Texas, on Wednesday, spilling oil into surrounding waters and closing the only road to a small island. The Pelican Island Bridge is closed to all traffic at this time due to a barge strike. Electricity has been restored and additional updates will be provided as the situation unfolds. Related Article; Summary of Similar Incidents Recently: 

• 5/9/2024: Fort Madison Bridge struck by barge - The barge was resting partially submerged in the Mississippi River afterward. The bridge spans the Mississippi River and connects Fort Madison, Iowa, and Niota, Illinois. Built in the 1920s the bridge is 1,675 feet long and 23.5 feet wide. Related Article

• 4/15/2024: 26 barges broke loose from a towboat on the Ohio River in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania around 11:25 PM local time. The barges were owned and operated by the Campbell Transportation Company. 23 of which were loaded with dry cargo. None of the barges had hazardous materials on board. Related Article 

• 4/1/2024: Barge hits Oklahoma bridge - a bridge over the Arkansas River was struck by a barge. Troopers with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol closed a portion of U.S. Highway 59 south of Sallisaw at around 1:25 p.m. after the barge hit the bridge. Related Article

• 3/26/2024: Valley View Bridge, Ohio Fire breaks out under I-480 bridge in Valley View - In the early morning hours a spontaneous combustion situation raw wood products at a local landscaping company production facility on Canal Road in Valley View, OH. "While these kinds of occurrences are not uncommon due to the nature of the materials, rarely do they accelerate to the point they did today" - Related Article 

• 3/26/2024: Indian River Inlet Bridge in Delaware partially flooded due to Beach Erosion - The northbound lanes of Coastal Highway, just north of the Indian River Inlet Bridge, closed for several hours Tuesday. The ocean breached the dunes and spilled into the road at high tide. Related Article

• 3/26/2024: Baltimore Bridge Collapse - Around 1:30 a.m., Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed when a cargo ship lost power and crashed into it. Related Article

• 2/22/2024: Barge hits Bridge in China, causing a Collapse - a barge collided with the Lixinsha Bridge in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, causing a portion of the bridge to collapse. Two vehicles plunged into the river and three others fell onto the barge, leaving five dead and three others injured. Related Article

5/15/2024: Wildfire Approaches Canada’s Largest Oil-Producing Area. Again - The fire, near Fort McMurray, Alberta, has put the community, which is haunted by the costliest wildfire in Canadian history, on high alert. A wildfire near Canada’s largest oil producing region prompted the evacuation of about 6,600 people from Fort McMurray, Alberta. Several thousand other residents of the city were told to prepared to leave at any moment. Related Article

• 5/13/2024: Canadian wildfires trigger air quality alerts across 4 U.S. states - Winds have carried plumes of smoke over Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota. Hazy conditions blanketed parts of four U.S. states Monday, as smoke from wildfires in western Canada triggered air quality alerts and warnings. Canada has 146 active wildfires burning, including dozens in British Columbia and Alberta that are characterized as “out of control,” according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.

5/15/2024: Israel/Hamas War Update

• Israel's opposition leader Yair Lapid says, regarding the Netanyahu government, 'relations with the US are collapsing, the middle class is collapsing, they have lost the north' and 'we will not win with this government'.

• Gaza fighting intensifies, Israel asks why armed men were at UN site

• Israeli airstrike kills local journalist Hayel Al-Najar and three family members in Jabalia, medics and fellow journalists say

• Medics say Israeli strike hits a gathering of people outside a Gaza City shop providing an internet signal for customers to call and check on relatives and friends, killing at least three people and wounding more than 20.

• Netanyahu says Israel has to 'do what we have to do’ on Rafah offensive despite US 'disagreement' - Netanyahu says pointless to discuss 'day after' until Hamas is destroyed following Blinken call for 'concrete plan'

• Yemen's Houthi rebels claim attack on US destroyer and commercial vessel in the Red Sea

• Ireland's foreign minister confirms Ireland will recognize Palestine as a state this month

• Netanyahu says Israel rejects UN decision to promote recognition of Palestine as a state

5/15/2024: Russia & Ukraine War Update 

• US Secretary of State Blinken announced a $2 billion fund to bolster Ukraine's defense industrial base. The fund will help Ukraine get weapons and strengthen its own production capacity amid a new Russian ground incursion in Kharkiv. The aid includes $400 million of foreign military financing and draws from $61 billion appropriated last month.

• Russia Fires Grad Rockets from Belgorod Highway Shielded by Queuing Civilian Cars - Reports circulating on social media claimed the missiles were being fired at Ukraine’s Kharkiv region in Russia’s latest offensive. A Russian BM-21 Grad self-propelled rocket launcher could be seen firing a volley of rockets – presumably towards Ukraine – in the middle of a highway in the Belgorod region amidst numerous civilian cars, as seen in a video circulating on social media on Wednesday.

• Mass ATACMS Missile Strike by Ukraine Hits Russian Airfield in Crimea - Powerful explosions hit the main base of Russian military aviation in Belbek, Crimea in the early hours of Wednesday and set fires burning for hours, in long-range strikes. Local social media followed by regional officials reported more than twenty explosions of varying intensity audible in the vicinity of Belbek airfield beginning shortly before 2 a.m. Moscow time and lasting about ten minutes.

• Russia is considering striking with Tactical Nukes to avoid WWIII - Russia has put its submarine-launched Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile into service, a key element in the modernization of its nuclear arsenal. Putin has warned the West since the start of the war in Ukraine that direct intervention by NATO troops there could trigger a nuclear conflict. TASS said Russia's Northern and Pacific fleets now include seven Borei submarines and each carries 16 Bulavas. Solomonov is chief designer at the Moscow Institute of Thermal Engineering that also developed Russia's Topol-M and Yars intercontinental ballistic missiles. Related Article Related Article 2

• Putin masses half a MILLION fighters on the frontline of the war front, Europe and Britain prepare for WW3. Defying the West, Putin set to meet Xi Jinping in China

• The Ukrainian president has cancelled visits to Spain and Portugal after Moscow's forces began a new offensive in the northeast of the country. 

• Ukrainian officials suggested further gains by Russian forces on Wednesday in the Kharkiv region, as Moscow continues its push into northeastern Ukraine. 

• 8,000 evacuated from Kharkiv; Russian air strikes on the southern Ukrainian cities of Mykolaiv and Kherson have injured at least 17 people, according to local officials. Russian forces have taken control of two more settlements in the Kharkiv region and one in the Zaporizhia region, the Defence Ministry says.

• The United States will provide Ukraine an additional $2bn in foreign military financing, Secretary of State Antony Blinken says in Kyiv.

• A Russian air attack on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro has hit infrastructure, killing two civilians, according to the regional governor.

5/15/2024: Bird Flu Updates

• H5N1 bird flu found at 3 more dairy farms, including 2 in Michigan and 1 in Idaho. This raises the total to 49 across the U.S. Most are in Michigan (14) and Texas (13).

• CDC issues urgent warning against drinking raw milk as bird flu fears rise, 42 herds in nine states infected - The virus has been found in high levels in the raw milk of infected cows, and viral remnants have been found in samples of milk sold in grocery stores, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said. However, the FDA said those products are safe to consume because pasteurization has been confirmed to kill the virus. And consumers don’t seem to mind, as weekly sales of raw cow’s milk ticked up 21 percent to as much as 65 percent compared with the same period a year ago. Related Article

5/15/2024: Macedonia, Ohio Chemical Explosion - Three people were injured, one with critical burns, and Freeway Drive is closed in both directions near Royal Chemical following a chemical explosion this morning, according to fire officials. All three have been hospitalized, one with critical burn injuries. There are conflicting reports about the cause.  Related Article

5/15/2024: Biden plans executive order to shut down border once crossings reach 4,000 per day - The order would match a provision in the bipartisan border bill that failed to pass the Senate in February, which gave the president authority to expel migrants when border crossings reached the same daily average. The legislative proposal would have given the homeland security secretary discretionary authority to carry out removals — but would have made deportations mandatory when illegal entries surpassed 5,000 per day over a one-week period. Related Article 

5/15/2024: France declares state of emergency - France declared a state of emergency on the Pacific island of New Caledonia on Wednesday after three young indigenous Kanak and a police official were killed in riots over electoral reform. The state of emergency will give authorities additional powers to ban gatherings and forbid people from moving around the French-ruled island. Police reinforcements have been sent - and more are on the way - after rioters torched vehicles and businesses and looted stores. Schools have been shut and there is already a curfew in the capital. Related Article

• Rioting broke out over a new bill, adopted by lawmakers in Paris on Tuesday, that will allow French residents who have lived in New Caledonia for 10 years to vote in provincial elections - a move some local leaders fear will dilute the Kanak vote.

• "Since the start of the week, New Caledonia has been hit by violence of a rare intensity," said Prime Minister Gabriel Attal. "No violence will be tolerated," he said, adding that the state of emergency "will allow us to roll out massive means to restore order."

• France bans TikTok in New Caledonia after deadly riots

• France has deployed army personnel at ports

5/14/2024: Swedish PM open to hosting nuclear weapons on home soil in case of war - “If there is a war with us on our land, which Sweden is drawn into after an attack by others, then it is a completely different situation. Then the whole of NATO benefits from the nuclear umbrella that must exist in democracies as long as countries like Russia have nuclear weapons,” Kristersson said. Related Article

5/14/2024: Reports of 4.4 Earthquake in Russia - There were 5 earthquakes in the past 7 days, Developing Story 

5/14/2024: Israel/Hamas War Update

• UN Relief and Works Agency says that 'nearly 450,000 people have been forcibly displaced from Rafah since May 6' 

• World Court to hear South Africa’s demand to halt Israel’s Rafah offensive this week - ICJ was petitioned earlier this month to order Israel to ‘immediately withdraw’ from the southern Gaza city; court will hear from Pretoria Thursday followed by Jerusalem on Friday

• Talks on a ceasefire in Gaza and a hostage deal are "almost" at a stalemate over a "fundamental difference" between Israel and Hamas regarding halting fighting in the enclave, according to Qatar's prime minister — a key mediator in the negotiations.

• Tens of thousands of far-right protesters in the southern city of Sderot, in Israel, called for the construction of settlements in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, as right-wing rhetoric over Israel's military campaign in the enclave gains momentum.

• Convoy attacked in Rafah was ‘clearly marked,’ U.N. says

5/14/2024: Russia & Ukraine War Update 

• 7 Huge explosions reported in Kharkiv city centre in Ukraine, Situation in Kharkiv 'dire'

• A Ukrainian family desperately fights back against Zelensky's military recruiters attempting to arrest their 18 year old son

• Putin is set to visit China later this week

• Zelensky asks West to accelerate weapons supply amid new Russian offensive

5/14/2024: 8 dead, at least 40 injured as Illegal Immigrant farmworkers’ bus overturns in Central Florida - A Mass casualty incident has been declared after numerous people were killed on a migrant bus crash incident with over three dozen injured. Currently, numerous law enforcement and other emergency crews are on the scene of a mass casualty incident in Marion County, Florida, after a migrant bus carrying dozens of passengers crashed causing a significant accident with another vehicle. The bus is on its side in a horse farm, resulting in the death of up to 8 people on board and injuring 45 others, eight of whom are critically injured. In total, there were 53 patients involved in the crash. The incident occurred along Florida State Road 40 at Rainbow Springs Boulevard, approximately 45 miles south of Gainesville. The crash is under investigation this is still a developing story. Related Article 

5/14/2024: Bird Flu Updates

• Former CDC Director says bird flu will be the “Great Pandemic’  Video

• The bird flu threat to humans remains low, but potential mutations keep the CDC's top flu scientist up at night.

• The same subtype of bird flu is also spreading in other countries, in what experts are calling a “global pandemic for animals

5/14/2024: Red Lobster has abruptly closed nearly 100 locations across 27 states  - Red Lobster, which has about 700 restaurants, is reportedly looking for a buyer to avoid bankruptcy. At least 99 locations of Red Lobster are being auctioned off amid questions about the stalwart seafood chain's long-term future. On Tuesday, Restaurant Business Magazine reported 99 locations were closing. The closures represent about 15% of the company's approximately 700 locations, though it remains the largest seafood restaurant chain in the U.S. Related Article

5/14/2024: Airplane Explodes on Tarmac in Seattle Washington - A fireball exploded underneath the cockpit as the aircraft plugged into the terminal. The pilots quickly smelled smoke and evacuated the plane, with two-thirds of the passengers sliding down emergency equipment. Footage obtained by KOMO News showed a small fire breaking out under the cockpit of an Airbus aircraft while passengers disembarked a flight from Cancun, Mexico, on May 6. The video also showed passengers walking on the wing as they prepared to evacuate via emergency slides. Related Article 

5/13/2024: The United States has blocked a Chinese-backed crypto miner from owning land near Wyoming nuclear missile base - calling its proximity to the base a “national security risk.” he order forces the divestment of property operated as a crypto mining facility near the Francis E. Warren Air Force Base. MineOne Partners Ltd., a firm partly backed by Chinese nationals, and its affiliates are also required to remove certain equipment on the site. Related Article  

5/13/2024: UK PM warns the world is closer to a nuclear escalation than at any point since the Cuban missile crisis - as he refuses to set general election date. But he refused to say when he would call an election, instead saying it would be "at some point in the second half of this year". Related Article

5/13/2024: Bird Flu Updates

• Influencers promote raw milk despite FDA health warnings as bird flu spreads in dairy cows - Related Article

• On Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to unveil a public dashboard tracking influenza A viruses in sewage that the agency has been collecting from 600 wastewater treatment sites around the country since last fall. Related Article

  • 5pm Update: CDC's new dashboard for influenza A (including H5N1) in wastewater has been delayed. The dashboard was initially expected last Friday. Today it wasn't launched either. They're now aiming for tomorrow.

5/13/2024: Israel/Hamas War Update

• Biden Administration believes Israel has amassed enough troops on the edge of Rafah to launch a full-scale invasion

• U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CBS’s “Face the Nation” that any Israeli conquest of Rafah is “not sustainable” without a credible plan for postwar Gaza. “A lot of armed Hamas will be left no matter what they do in Rafah,” he said.

• The Gaza Health Ministry said Monday that the health system in the strip will collapse within “a few hours” due to a lack of fuel needed to power generators and ambulances, after similar warnings from aid agencies last week.

• Videos uploaded on Sunday and Monday show panicked civilians streaming from Jabalya refugee camp, against the noise of drones, gunfire and explosions. “They are coming for us, we are going to the other schools," one child said. Local authorities told Al Jazeera that “ambulances are having a hard time (evacuating) the dead and injured in the north.”

• At least 360,000 people have fled Rafah, according to the UN's agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA). Philippe Lazzarini, the UNRWA chief, warned Israeli claims of "safe zones" elsewhere in the Gaza Strip are "false and misleading." It came as Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken of a "precise operation" in Rafah, after Washington predicted dire consequences of a full-scale ground attack.

5/13/2024: Russia & Ukraine War Update 

• Ukrainian official says over 30,000 Russian troops are advancing in the northern part of the Kharkiv region

• Russia has begun tactical nuclear weapons drills in response to perceived Western threats surrounding the conflict in Ukraine. Recently, French President Macron expressed readiness to send troops if necessary, highlighting the significance of preventing a Russian triumph for European security. In addition, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron pledged $3.74 billion in military aid to Ukraine, affirming Ukraine’s right to use British-supplied weapons against Russia.

• Putin to replace longtime defense minister in surprise move - Russian economist Andrei Belousov is set to be Russia’s new defense minister, while Shoigu will replace Nikolai Patrushev, another long-standing Putin ally, at the Security Council. Patrushev will be given another role, the Kremlin said.

• Russia’s Defense Ministry on Sunday claimed more advances in the Kharkiv area of Ukraine after Russian forces launched a new offensive in the northeastern region.

• Ukraine says Russia attacking border in northern Kharkiv region and replaces commander on frontline

• Russian Air Forces have received a new squadron of Su-35S fighter jets with advanced 4th generation upgrades

5/9/2024: Potential Conflict/War Watch

• China & Taiwan - New Update: Taiwan says 12 more Chinese ships detected in beefed-up presence; A U.S. destroyer has detected Chinese military planes and ships approaching Taiwan. Taiwan has reported similar instances every week in the last several with many believing China may begin a military confrontation. Related Article

• Guyana & Venezuela - Venezuela and Guyana have agreed to a high-level meeting over the status of the disputed and oil-rich Essequibo region. Following a nationwide referendum last week, the Venezuelan government has threatened to move forward with plans to annex the densely-forested Essequibo region, which is roughly the size of Florida and makes up about two-thirds of Guyana’s territory. Venezuela has long insisted that it has a historical claim to the region, which Guyana rejects. Current borders were set in a 1899 ruling by international arbitrators. Related Article

5/13/2024: E-TRADE website is down - Reports are coming in, and Down Detector seems to confirm that the E-TRADE website is down [developing story]

5/13/2024: Bank of Canada - Brace Yourselves for a Financial Crash “Some indicators of financial stress have risen. At the same time, the valuations of some financial assets appear to have become stretched. This could increase the risk of a sharp correction that could generate system-wide stress. The recent rise in the use of leverage in non-bank financial institutions could amplify the effects of such a correction.” Related Article 

• Canada increases capital gains tax to 66% - Effective June 25, 2024

5/13/2024: Solar Storms are disrupting farmer GPS systems during critical planting time - The storms reportedly knocked “some GPS systems” offline temporarily, which messed with the accuracy of “Real-Time Kinematic” (RTK) systems. Tractors from John Deere and other brands use RTK for “centimeter-level positional accuracy” when carrying out farming work like crop-planting or fertilizing. Related Article

5/12/2024: 70 Colorado dairy farm workers are currently being monitored for possible symptoms of avian flu - workers were recently exposed to the virus while employed at two Colorado dairy farms as confirmed by  Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The U.S. Department of Agriculture first detected bird flu in a Colorado dairy herd on April 25. Related Article 

5/12/2024: Iranian lawmaker declares Tehran obtained nuclear bombs -  After the head of the United Nation’s atomic watchdog agency warned that Iran has enough uranium to produce "several" nuclear bombs, a firebrand Iranian lawmaker declared on Friday that the Islamic Republic of Iran possesses atomic weapons. Related Article

5/12/2024: A fire burns down a shopping complex housing 1,400 outlets in Poland's capital - A fire burns from a vast shopping complex in Warsaw, Poland, on Sunday, May 12, 2024. The fire broke out Sunday morning in a vast shopping complex in the Polish capital that housed some 1,400 shops and service outlets and where many of the vendors were from Vietnam. Related Article 

5/12/2024: Israel/Hamas War Update

• Israeli tanks push deeper into Jabalia - At least 300,000 Palestinians have fled Gaza’s Rafah, according to the United Nations, as Israel expands its offensive in the southern city and confronts Hamas fighters there. Israeli tanks are moving deeper into the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, witnesses said, after launching a series of intense air raids in the area.

• Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been forcibly displaced once again as Israeli forces push further into areas in both the north and south of the Gaza Strip.

• Leaflet instructs Palestinians to leave southern Gaza city - More than a hundred thousand Palestinians fled Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city, on Saturday, after Israeli warnings to evacuate before an imminent military assault that will open a bloody new phase of the seven-month-long conflict. Roads leading out of Rafah were choked with long columns of young and old, sick and healthy, riding in overloaded pick-up trucks and battered cars, in pony carts and on hand-pulled trolleys. Many walked, carrying their belongings, under a searing summer sun. Some were pushed in wheelchairs or even carried.

• Israeli forces are “carpet-bombing” Jabalia in northern Gaza, killing and wounding several Palestinians, media reports say. The attacks come as Israel launches a new ground assault there, months after announcing Hamas had been “dismantled” in the area.

• Officials from the European Union and the United Nations warn against a major ground assault on Rafah after the Israeli military expands evacuation orders for the city sheltering 1.4 million Palestinians.

• The US’s Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces destroyed three drones launched by Houthis over the Red Sea on Saturday and that the attack by the Yemeni rebels caused no injuries or damage. CENTCOM also said its forces “successfully engaged” another drone launched by the Houthis over the Gulf of Aden on Friday.

• Israeli forces have arrested 13 Palestinians in pre-dawn raids across the occupied West Bank, according to the Wafa news agency.

5/12/2024: Russia & Ukraine War Update 

• Ukraine’s military chief admits ‘difficult situation’ in Kharkiv region - General Syrskii says situation in northeastern oblast ‘significantly worsened’ this week as Russian forces continue to advance. “There are ongoing battles in the border areas along the state border with the Russian Federation.”

• With a surprise cross-border attack, Russia ruthlessly exposes Ukraine’s weaknesses - The town of Vovchansk in the northern Kharkiv region, liberated from Russian occupation more than 18 months ago, awoke Friday to intense shelling and aerial bombardment. Russia has found another way of stretching Ukraine’s already thin blue line.

• Ukrainian officials say intensifying fighting in contested border areas has forced more than 1,700 civilians to flee.

• Ukrainian strikes have killed three people and caused a large fire at an oil storage depot in Luhansk, the region’s Russia-installed governor, Leonid Pasechnik, has said in a Telegram message. Eight people were hospitalized.

5/11/2024: Cops took 150 pro-Palestinian protesters into custody on the Manhattan Bridge Saturday afternoon as they trekked from Brooklyn to Manhattan, blocking traffic, police said. The protesters met in front of the Barclays Center about 2 p.m. before splitting up into groups, with one group marching northwest to the bridge, according to demonstrators. More than one hundred protesters took over the bridge, blocking traffic on the upper-level west-bound lanes as they marched towards Manhattan, according to NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry and police. Related Article

5/11/2024: North Korea readies rocket launcher system targeting South Korean population centers which is part of its move to bolster its lineup of weapons targeting South Korean population centers. North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency said Friday’s test confirmed the “advantage and destructive power” of the 240-millimeter multiple rocket launcher and its guided shells. The agency said the system, which the North already tested twice this year, will be deployed to combat units from 2024 to 2026 to replace older weapons. Related Article

5/11/2024: JPMorgan Chase Suffers Data Breach Affecting Personal Information of 451,809 Customers - New filings with the Office of the Maine Attorney General show the banking giant recently found a software issue that’s been active since August 26th, 2021. Related Article

5/11/2024: JPMorgan Chase Warns Bank's Assets May Be Seized in Russia After $1,460,000,000 Write-Off: Report. JPMorgan Chase is preparing for the prospect that its assets in Russia will officially be seized, according to a new report. In a new filing, the bank says lawsuits in Russian and US courts may trigger an incoming seizure of the firm’s assets in the country Related Article

5/10/2024: Israel/Hamas War Update

• Cease-fire talks stall; Netanyahu says Israel can stand alone

• Benjamin Netanyahu vows Israelis are ready to "fight with their fingernails" after Joe Biden said he would halt weapon supplies if the country launched a full-scale offensive in Rafah. However, Israel's leader has stopped short of explicitly saying one would be ordered.

• Israeli extremists set fire to HQ of UN agency for Palestinian refugees - The UN's agency for Palestinian refugees has temporarily closed its East Jerusalem headquarters after "Israeli extremists" set fire to the perimeter following weeks of repeated attacks.

• Hamas has once again claimed Responsibility for the Second Rocket Attack just now on the City of Beersheba, IDF says five Gaza rockets were fired at Beersheba; damage caused to park.

5/10/2024: Russia & Ukraine War Update 

• U.S. announces $400 million in military aid to Ukraine, including air defense missiles and ammunition

• Russia opens up new front with major ground assault near Ukraine’s second-largest city - Russian Forces are believed, since the Operation began last night, to have Successfully Captured the Settlements of Strilecha, Krasne, Molokhovets, Pylna, and Borysivka to the Northeast of Kharkiv City; with some Russian Advances reaching over 2 Miles into Ukrainian Territory from Belgorod. Related Article

• Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has admitted that NATO troops are currently deployed and present in Ukraine

• Ukraine sends reinforcements to help beat back Russia’s Kharkiv push; drone downed near Moscow

• Russian attacks in eastern Ukraine have intensified in recent weeks, which analysts say likely reflects the Kremlin’s intent to secure tactical gains before the arrival of Western military aid to the front lines.

• Russia could open new front as Ukraine remains weapons-poor - Russian forces continued to exploit a window of opportunity to make small, tactical gains during the past week, as Ukraine began to receive parcels of long-delayed US military aid for the first time in weeks.

• Ukraine also reported that Russia was building up worrying numbers of troops on its northern border, and prepared to face a potential new front.

5/10/2024:  Rep. Cory Mills officially filed to Impeach Joe Biden - "In violation of his oath to faithfully execute the office of President and to uphold the Constitution, President Biden abused the powers of his office by soliciting a 'quid pro quo' with Israel while leveraging vital military aid for policy changes. This egregious action not only compromised the credibility of the United States but also undermined the interests of our longstanding ally, Israel. Therefore, President Biden's conduct warrants impeachment, trial, removal from office, and disqualification from holding any future office under the United States," Mills said in a statement. Related Article

5/10/2024: Global Warning Issued for Massive Geomagnetic Storm Today & Tomorrow (Warning in Effect for late 5/10-5/11) Officials warn that a rare and intense solar storm could strike today, marking the first event of its kind in nearly two decades. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued a Severe (G4) Geomagnetic Storm Watch, the first since 2005, when Earth experienced its most significant radiation surge in fifty years. NOAA indicates that this extraordinary event could interfere with electronic devices, including GPS systems and parts of the power grid. Related Article   Direct Source;  Emergency Checklist & Resources

5/10/2024: Tallahassee, Florida Tornado & Severe Storms Caused Power Outages - Downed powerlines were creating flames in Tallahassee this morning after a likely tornado moved through areas around the Florida State University campus. The city says 11 substations have been impacted, which may leave some without power through the weekend. A line of severe thunderstorms and a possible tornado roared through Tallahassee Friday morning leaving a large swath of damage – downed trees, tangled power lines and buildings with their roofs sheered off. Related Article

5/10/2024: H5N1 bird flu found at 6 more dairy farms, including 4 in Michigan, 1 in Idaho and 1 in Colorado. This raises the total number of outbreaks on dairy farms in the U.S. to 42. Farmers resist push for workers to wear protective gear against bird flu virus Related Article

• CDC says it's launching a public dashboard to track influenza A (which includes H5N1 bird flu) in wastewater samples. The wastewater dashboard will go live as early as Friday with data from different parts of the U.S.

• The FDA is gearing up for a bird flu pandemic in people that could kill one in four of those it infects, officials are drawing up plans to roll out tests, antiviral drugs and vaccines in the event the virus jumps to humans Related Article

5/10/2024: Naval tensions escalate: China reports 'driving away' of USS Halsey in the South China Sea -  China's military closely monitored and "drove away" USS Halsey that entered the territorial waters of Paracel Islands in the South China Sea on May 10, the Southern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army said in a statement on Friday. The U.S. move "seriously infringed on China's sovereignty and security," the military said. "It is yet another iron proof of its navigation hegemony and militarization of the South China Sea," it said, adding its troops would stay on high alert and safeguard national security. Related Article

5/10/2024: Saudi Arabia reports 4 new cases of MERS coronavirus, 2 of which were caused by human-to-human transmission in a hospital, 1 person death reported. MERS is different from COVID and first emerged in 2012. Most cases are linked to camels. There’s no vaccine or treatment for MERS although several vaccines and therapeutics are currently in development. Treatment is supportive and based on the patient’s symptoms. Cases of the deadly virus have been relatively low in recent years with only 5 cases reported in Saudi Arabia in 2023 Related Article

5/9/2024: Ascension Health, largest Catholic hospital chain in the U.S., hit by cyberattack, disrupting patient care - In a press release on its website, Ascension said the attack had caused "disruption to clinical operations" as access to some systems had been interrupted. "Our care teams are trained for these kinds of disruptions and have initiated procedures to ensure patient care delivery continues to be safe and as minimally impacted as possible," it said. Related Article

5/9/2024: Israel/Hamas War Update

• 10:05am EST - Reports of a Rocket Alert for Northern Israel (developing story)

• Non-stop Israeli artillery shelling in eastern Rafah overnight

• Kerem Shalom crossing closed for fourth consecutive day - New wave of displacement as Israel attacks Rafah, Tens of thousands of Palestinians attempt to flee Rafah as Israel shells eastern area of city sheltering some 1.5 million people. Israel’s continued closure of the Rafah border crossing is “choking off the entry of life-saving aid into Gaza”, says the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

• A Hamas official accuses Israel of carrying out incursions in Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah to block talks seeking a truce in the seven-month war in the Palestinian territory.

• Israel will ‘stand alone’ if it must, Netanyahu says - In an apparent message to Biden, who has opted to suspend some weapons deliveries to Israel, Netanyahu has posted a video of an address he delivered on Sunday to commemorate the Holocaust. In the speech, Netanyahu said, “No amount of pressure … will stop Israel from defending itself” and achieving its war objectives.

• Defense Minister Yoav Gallant tells Israel’s “enemies and friends” that it will do whatever is necessary to achieve its war aims in Gaza and on its border with Lebanon in an apparent response to US pressure to halt its operation in Rafah. “I turn to Israel’s enemies as well as to our best of friends and say, the State of Israel cannot be subdued,” he said, according to remarks released by his office. “We will stand strong. We will achieve our goals. We will hit Hamas. We will hit Hezbollah, and we will achieve security.”

• CIA director returns to US, after talks in Egypt and Israel - after spending most of the past week crisscrossing the Middle East to try to finalize a ceasefire deal in Gaza, a source familiar with his meetings told CNN.

5/9/2024: Russia & Ukraine War Update 

• Ukraine attacked an Oil processing plant in Russia’s Bashkiria region, the attack was done by a drone

• Russia and Belarus to carry out joint tactical nuclear weapons drills, Putin says - Russia has stationed tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus but retains control over the weapons. Russia said its decision to station such hardware in Belarus was no different to the U.S.′ positioning of non-strategic nuclear weapons in Europe. Putin says Russia ‘will not allow anyone to threaten us’ as Moscow revels in military might. 

• Russia’s leadership and military have been out in force for the annual “Victory Day” military parade on Thursday. The May 9 event commemorates the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II but the Kremlin keen to cast parallels between the Red Army’s victory in 1945 and the current conflict in Ukraine.

• Ukrainian air attack on Russia’s Belgorod region injured eight people and damaged scores of residential buildings and cars, the governor of the border region said Thursday. Among the wounded is an 11-year-old girl who was taken to a hospital, Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor said on Telegram.

• Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov warned Thursday that Moscow was inclined to bolster its nuclear deterrent because of what he described as the West’s “escalatory course” 

5/9/2024: Boeing 737 crashes during take-off in Senegal, 11 people injured - The pilot was slightly injured, but most of the 78 passengers on board were not hurt in the incident. Operations have since been halted at the airport. Emergency services at the airport have been mobilized to evacuate passengers, the airport's statement said. Related Article

5/9/2024: World tensions ‘coming to the boil’, warns UK Armed Forces head - Read More

5/9/2024: Emergency Weather Alerts (12:45am EST) 

• A tornado watch has been issued for parts of Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee until 3am

• Georgia Tornado Warning - including Trion GA and Center Post GA, LaFayette GA, Mount Carmel, dangerous situation, take cover! 

• Alabama tornado emergency has just been declared for a confirmed extremely large dangerous tornado doing catastrophic damage. Residents in the area should take shelter immediately, as this is a life-threatening situation. Once again, this is a tornado emergency for a confirmed, extremely large, and damaging tornado on that is ground, causing catastrophic damage

• Alabama Tornado Warning including Valley Head AL, Hammondville AL and Mentone AL until 11:45 PM

• Tennessee Flash flood emergency continues in Springfield, Tennessee 

• Tennessee Tornado Warning - Prospect & Spring Hill Tennessee tornado. Unwarned until it already passed through. 

• Floodwaters are inundating roads in Nashville, TN

5/8/2024: Extreme Weather this evening

• Columbia, Tennessee - Flooding & Tornados

• Orland Park, Illinois - Severe Hail Storm

5/8/2024: Widespread power outages in Mexico - power outages reported in multiple cities across Mexico after national energy company declared state of emergency. Mexico president says power outages 'exceptional', grid has enough capacity. Power supply disruptions continue to affect many states in Mexico as of early May 8. The National Energy Control Center has declared an emergency; reports indicate that excessive demand may be straining the national grid. It is unclear when power will be fully restored. Reports indicate the outage has affected some gas stations. Unplanned power outages may persist through at least May 8. Disruptions to business operations are likely. Blackouts could disrupt certain essential services such as municipal water distribution, ATMs, and fueling stations. Traffic disruptions are possible due to malfunctioning traffic signals. There is an increased security threat during power outages. Blackouts could adversely affect security protocols, including alarm systems and electronic fences; opportunistic criminal activity could increase during electricity outages.

5/8/2024: Israel/Hamas War Update

• Israel vows to eliminate Hamas in Rafah

• IDF and Hezbollah exchange artillery fire and counter battery fire in southern Lebanon

• US reveals it paused shipment of 3,500 bombs for Israel over Rafah concerns

• US State Department will not deliver report today on whether Israel violated international law

• The World Health Organization (WHO) said Wednesday that the closure of the Rafah border crossing meant health services in southern Gaza would run out of fuel in three days. “Without more aid flowing into Gaza, we cannot sustain our lifesaving support to hospitals,” said WHO Director;

• Israel closed the Kerem Shalom border crossing after a Hamas attack killed four Israeli soldiers there. Kerem Shalom is a key terminal for the entry of humanitarian aid. The U.N. says northern Gaza is already in a state of “full-blown famine.” 

• US base and pier in Gaza is now complete, reports US Central Command

5/8/2024: Russia & Ukraine War Update 

• Kremlin warns of 'huge danger' if NATO troops are sent to Ukraine, is watching the West closely

• French troops will be targeted by the Russian army if they are deployed on Ukrainian soil, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria

• EU foreign policy spokesman Peter is inciting terrorism with his statement about Ukraine's alleged right to attack the Crimean Bridge, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Maria Zakharova said

• Russia has finally  called the Ambassadors from Britain and France to tell them Moscow is ready to declare them active participants in the Ukrainian War. They have reached the point that they are ready to expand the war because of NATO’s continued expansion of the support for Ukraine’s attacks inside Russia. The U.S. Great Britain and France are now co-belligerents against Russia. 

• Russia hits power facility and other energy infrastructure in massive overnight attack - Russia has struck energy infrastructure and other targets inside Ukraine with over 50 missiles and some 20 drones, according to the Ukrainian air force and officials.

• 'Undeclared Russian military intelligence officer' expelled from UK “because he is an employee of the Russian military intelligence service. The UK will remove diplomatic status from a number of Russian-owned properties in the UK, including Secaucus House in Sussex, as well as the trade mission and the military attaché's office in Highgate in London, which we believe have been used for intelligence purposes". The UK considering throwing all Russian diplomats out of the country.

• Russian troops delivered a combined strike by precision weapons, including Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, on Ukrainian military sites in retaliation to Kiev’s attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure

• Russia 'developing nuclear power plant' for joint moon base with China

• Hungary: We're staying out of 'crazy' NATO Ukraine support plan

• NATO Began Intensive War Preparations in Lithuania - Lithuania to Implement Training Curfew for One Night overnight on Tuesday to Wednesday, May 8, as part of the training for Lithuania's army and other security forces. During this period, the participating security forces will engage in territory patrolling and traffic control. Additionally, checkpoints will be set up in these districts for vehicle stops and document checks. There will be no restrictions on citizens' movement along the city streets during this time. No Recording of Military Equipment and Exercise is not permitted. 

• Ukraine's parliament passes law allowing for selective drafting of prisoners into armed forces; bill to go to Zelensky for signature

• Russian Soldier Detained After Crossing Into Poland From Belarus

5/8/2024: Campus Protest Updates

• DC Police Break Up Protest Encampment at George Washington University - The action, with 33 arrests, came a few hours before Mayor Muriel Bowers of Washington was scheduled to testify on Capitol Hill about the city’s handling of the protest. The hearing was canceled. When asked about the timing of the operation, only a few hours before the scheduled hearing, Chief Smith said that the decision to clear the camp was made on Monday “based on public safety.” GWU Pro-Palentine protesters called for beheadings of school administrators in a chant - Related Article 1 ; Article 2 

• Pro-Palestine encampment at the University of Houston was torn down today just a few hours after it was erected

• The Hill: More than two-thirds of Americans fear pro-Palestinian demonstrations at college campuses will result in violent confrontations, according to a new poll. Related Article

5/8/2024: Global Vaccine Treaty Related Article

• Britain is refusing to sign the World Health Organizations pandemic treaty while it insists the UK would have to give away a fifth of its jabs

• The UK is firmly against such vaccine-related commitments and will not sign any form of the pandemic agreement that undermines Britain’s sovereignty.

• Backstory: At the peak of the Covid-19 emergency, nations planned to sign a legally binding document, informally known as the pandemic treaty, or pandemic accord, that would force countries to tackle the next global health emergency in a united way.

• Currently: Under the terms of the latest draft of the treaty, now in its ninth and final iteration, all member states, including the UK, would be obliged to give up 20 per cent of “pandemic-related health products” to other countries and would be prevented from stockpiling supplies. This would include therapeutics, PPE and vaccines.

5/8/2024: Lawmakers from the House of Representatives reveal bill to Ban "NON-CITIZENS" from voting in US elections - Republicans say the legislation would provide a needed mechanism to safeguard voting by requiring states to collect proof of U.S. citizenship before registering voters and to purge their voter rolls of noncitizens. Related Article

5/8/2024: House Democrats Voted Unanimously to give illegal immigrants representation in Congress & the Electoral College. House Seats and Electoral College votes will be added to areas with the most illegal immigrants unless Senate passes the bill. Source

5/8/2024: Airport in Brazil Under Water - Heavy rain and flooding submerged an airport in Porto Alegre, Brazil, swallowing runways and flooding planes. At least 90 people have lost their lives due to the disastrous flooding. Video

5/8/2024: Emergency Alert Test in Alberta, Canada - There's a test of the national emergency alert system in most of Canada Wednesday -  millions of smartphones will ring out in unison at 11:55 a.m., officials said. Ontario's test is scheduled for next week. Related Article 

5/7/2024: 17 Tornados Hit 7 States - At least 17 tornadoes were reported in seven states overnight into Tuesday morning. The twisters were reported in Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Tennessee and South Dakota. The most destructive storm appeared to have been in Barnsdall, Oklahoma, north of Tulsa, where major damage was reported. One person was killed in Barnsdall Related Article

5/7/2024: Israel/Hamas War Update

• Israel is now in Control of the Egyptian Border with the Gaza Strip for the First Time since the 2005 Israeli Disengagement from Gaza.

• Dramatic scenes unfolded in Athens as police used tear gas to disperse Hamas supporters who climbed the gates of the Egyptian embassy during protest. The incident occurred during a rally outside the parliament building, where over 300 rioters gathered.

• House Republicans prepare legislation to sanction International Criminal Court (ICC) officials as a "precaution" against potential arrest warrants of Israeli officials

• Israeli tourists in Greece are reporting they are hiding in their hotels as violent Arab mobs search for them

• Germany's foreign minister says 'I strongly caution against conducting a major offensive on Rafah'

• Israel has Launched Ground Offensive in Rafah, Gaza

• China's foreign ministry spokesperson 'strongly calls on Israel to heed the overwhelming demands of the international community' and 'stop attacking Rafah'

• Joe Biden warns of 'ferocious surge' of antisemitism in US and around the world during a Holocaust remembrance event on Tuesday.

• Pro-Palestinian rally at NY Public Library.

5/7/2024: Russia & Ukraine War Update 

• Assassination Attempt on Zelensky - Ukraine arrests two officials for treason over alleged Russian plot to kill Zelensky Related Article

• Conservatives on Tuesday voted in favor of restoring compulsory military service as the country aims to revive its army in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine Related Article

• Putin sworn in for fifth term in ceremony boycotted by US and UK

• Russia Summons U.S. Ambassador Lynne Tracy Over 'Meddling' in Domestic Affairs - Tracy left Russia for a certain period of time

5/7/2024: Campus Protest Updates

• California - UCLA Community Objects to Arrests of Pro-Palestinian Students and Other Observers

• California - Pro-Palestinian protesters set up encampment on Pomona College graduation stage

• New York - Columbia University - Demonstrators picketed outside the homes of Columbia University trustees 

• Chicago - University of Chicago - Police on Tuesday raided an encampment that had been set up on the main quad of the University of Chicago for at least a week, according to school officials. Video of the police response shows officers in riot gear tearing down posters and disassembling tents.

• Europe - Encampments at universities in Europe increasingly became the site of police action  

• Rhode Island - protesters at the Rhode Island School of Design continuing to occupy a building they took over on Monday. 

• Massachusetts - MIT, demonstrators remained at an encampment on Tuesday after it was mostly emptied out following an ultimatum from the university.

5/7/2024: Covid-19 Update - Fears newest Covid-19 strain is 'harder to stop' as cases surge around world Related Article

5/7/2024: Travel chaos at airports across UK - as London and Manchester confirm nationwide border issue .Passengers have been experiencing delays at a number of UK airports due to a nationwide “technical outage” Both Stansted and Gatwick airports said the issue was related to e-gates at passport control.

5/7/2024: Massive Tornado in Kalamazoo County, Michigan

• Fire department personal are being called to Portage, Michigan 

• Massive damage to FedEx facility in Portage, Michigan

• Possible tornado collapses part of building, downs power lines near Kalamazoo

5/7/2024: Baltimore Key Bridge - Body of sixth and final construction worker recovered from the Patapsco River more than a month after the Baltimore Key Bridge collapsed after being struck by container ship.

5/7/2024: 16-year-old boy shot in the head in Manhattan by a suspect on a Citibike. The shooting reportedly took place in Soho outside of a high-end hotel. Law enforcement has indicated that the shooting was "school-related" and said the victim was rushed to the hospital where he died. Police have made no arrests and are currently searching for two suspects. Related Article

5/7/2024: France Bans iPhone12 - Due to excess dangerous levels of EMF Radiation - France has banned the iPhone 12 Related Article

5/6/2024: New York Police have just Declare Level 3 Mobilization as Pro-Palestine Clashing Outside Met Gala Forcefully Tearing Through Barricades -  Currently nearly 1000 of pro-Palestine protesters and other activists are clashing with New York police law enforcement who have issued and declared a Level Three mobilization. As Protesters and activists can be seen forcefully tearing through barricades to access restricted areas outside the Met Gala event which taking place in Manhattan New York. Multiple Reports say that multiple arrests have been made law enforcement. Protesters describe this as the day of rage and the situation is still developing. Prior to trying to breach barricades, protesters set off flares and smoke bombs as they continue to march near the entrance to the #MetGala in NYC Related Article 

5/6/2024: Russia & Ukraine War Update

• Russia Preparing for Nuclear Drills - Russian defense officials announced plans for tactical nuclear weapons drills at an unspecified future date. The idea is “to practice the preparation and use of non-strategic nuclear weapons,” the Defense Ministry said Monday on Telegram. The Kremlin blamed the drills on “a new, unprecedented round of tension in Ukraine, which requires Moscow to respond

• Russia threatens to strike British military targets in Ukraine and abroad

• Russia's Response to the NATO Sending Troops to Ukraine - Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chair of the Russian Security Council, issued the stark warning after Macron said he would consider sending troops to Ukraine “if the Russians were to break through the front lines, if there were a Ukrainian request.”  “There is a kind of total degradation of the ruling class in the West. This class really does not want to logically connect elementary things. Sending troops to the territory of the former Ukraine will entail the direct entry of their countries into the war, to which we will have to respond.”

• U.S. Response to Russia Nuclear Drills - The United States on Monday slammed Moscow's "irresponsible rhetoric" after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered nuclear drills near Ukraine. "This is an example of the kind of irresponsible rhetoric that we've seen from Russia in the past.

• U.S. soldier detained in Russia - An American soldier, accused of stealing, has been detained in Russia over the weekend according to three U.S. officials. He has been stationed in Korea and traveled to Russia on his own [Update 5/7/2024: The U.S. Army solider who is detained in Russia, Staff Sergeant Gordon Black, travelled to Vladivostok through China without Pentagon clearance, the Army says.]

5/6/2024: Israel/Hamas War Update

• Israel has launched intense air strikes on Rafah (Approximate Time - 2:30pm EST) - Israeli military says it conducted over 50 airstrikes on targets in Rafah today; The Operation in Rafah will take 10 weeks starting today.

• White House holds a press briefing after Hamas agrees to ceasefire proposal - US State Department spokesperson says 'a major operation in Rafah is not something that we can support'

• Israeli army radio reports that Hamas accepting of ceasefire proposal, which is unacceptable to Israel, is an attempt to delay the Rafah operation.

• Israel's National Security Minister Ben Gvir calls for an order to occupy Rafah after Hamas accepted Egyptian-Qatari ceasefire proposal, which he calls a 'trick'

• Hamas says it has accepted a ceasefire proposal that was presented by Qatar and Egypt

• Israeli military begins issuing evacuation orders for parts of Rafah

• IDF says evacuation orders for eastern Rafah targets around 100,000 people

• Israeli military says it shot down a drone that was heading towards the country's airspace from the east 

• United States Senate issues warning to the International Court of Justice that if they issue an arrest warrant for Netanyahu and other Israeli war criminals, the US will move to sanction and destroy the court.

5/6/2024: A new group of COVID-19 variants called 'FLiRT' spreading across U.S - CDC admits bird flu has 'pandemic potential' as study shows H5N1 virus has mutated 300 Times.  Related Article

5/6/2024: Sky News reports that China has hacked the UK Ministry of Defense - MPs will be told on Tuesday of a massive data breach involving the Ministry of Defense, targeting service personnel. Related Article Update: UK Defense Ministry's payroll system hacked, exposing names of current and former service members 

5/6/2024: CDC asking states to provide farmworkers and slaughterhouse employees with personal protective equipment (PPE), to protect them against H5N1 bird flu Related Article

5/6/2024: 'Unconfirmed' Assassination Attempt on Saudi Arabia of leader Bin Salman.  Large number of Royal Guard killed or wounded, status of de-facto leader unknown. (No independent confirmation on mainstream media, yet.)

5/6/2024: Pro-Palestinian Campus Protest Update (Across the U.S. & Abroad)

• UCLA moves all classes online amid resurgence of protesters

• The president of George Washington University is calling for an end to the pro-Palestinian encampment on the school's campus, calling it “unlawful” and asking for help from police and the District in clearing protesters in a letter Sunday.

• Twenty-five people were arrested Saturday for trespassing at the University of Virginia after police clashed with pro-Palestinian protesters who refused to remove tents from campus. 

• Harvard University warned that protesters involved in the pro-Palestinian encampment face "involuntary leave" and may not be able to sit for exams and may not reside in Harvard housing.

• Columbia University canceled its university-wide commencement ceremony planned for next week and is focus on its smaller events instead due in part to security concerns

• At the University of Southern California, which had canceled its main commencement ceremony, police cleared out a protest encampment on Sunday but did not make any arrests.

• Pomona College, Southern California student protesters set up encampment in school's graduation venue

• Police clear out UC-San Diego protest encampment, classes held remotely Monday

• Emory University: Atlanta's Emory University on Monday announced it will scale back and relocate its commencement ceremony, also citing concerns for safety and security as the main reasoning for adjusting plans.

• Princeton hunger strike: Some students at Princeton University in New Jersey have launched a hunger strike until their demands are met, according to a student protest group. At least 17 undergraduate students were taking part as of Sunday, according to the Daily Princetonian. Princeton told CNN they "care about their well-being," and that physicians were monitoring the group. 

• Students set up pro-Palestine encampment in Bologna, Italy - Around 100 students have set up around 30 tents at the Piazza Scaravilli, the first pro-Palestine encampment at the University of Bologna on Sunday, according to Italian state police.

5/5/2024: Man arrested after pointing gun at pastor during sermon in suburban Pittsburgh church Related Article

5/5/2024: Israel/Hamas War Update

• United States put a hold on ammunition shipment to Israel [developing story]

• Israel, Hamas peace talks end today with no deal.

• Israel launches air strikes on Rafah, 16 people killed - Hamas health authorities claim 16 killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza's Rafah. Medics and first responders in Hamas-controlled Gaza claim 16 people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes in the southern city of Rafah, hours after Hamas rockets killed three Israeli soldiers. Related Article

• Three Israeli soldiers killed in rocket attack earlier today

• Israeli government votes to shut down Al Jazeera in the country - Israel moved on Sunday to shut down local operations of Al Jazeera, the influential Qatari-based news network, in an unusual step that critics denounced as anti-democratic and part of a broader crackdown on dissent over Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza. Related Article

• Netanyahu says 'we will defeat our genocidal enemies' and addressing the 'leaders of the world', says that no amount of pressure will 'stop Israel from defending itself'.

• CIA chief headed to Qatar to discuss Gaza truce negotiations

• NYC synagogue & Museum bomb threat - At least three synagogues and a museum in New York received bomb threats on Saturday but none were deemed credible by the New York Police Department, a city official and police said. Related Article

5/5/2024: Russia & Ukraine War Update

• Reports that NATO (French and German) troops entered the battle to defend Ukraine near the Chasov Yar, Ukraine 

• In the Black Sea port of Odesa, three people were wounded after Russia launched rocket attacks on “civil infrastructure”, officials say.

• Ukraine, meanwhile, said it downed 13 Shahed drones targeting Dnipro and Kharkiv, as well as a Russian Su-25 fighter-bomber over the eastern Donetsk region. An electrical substation in Dnipro was damaged in the drone attacks.

• Russia launched eight missiles and nearly 70 guided aerial bombs in total, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 

• Russian state agency RIA Novosti claimed troops struck a drone warehouse in Kharkiv that had been used by Ukrainian troops overnight.

5/4/2024: Russia & Ukraine War Update

• The Russia-Ukraine war reached day 800 on Friday, crossing another milestone in the ongoing conflict as the battle continues with no imminent signs of resolution.

• Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database. As of Saturday afternoon, both Zelenskyy and his predecessor, Petro Poroshenko, featured on the ministry’s list of people wanted on unspecified criminal charges. The commander of Ukraine’s ground forces, Gen. Oleksandr Pavlyuk, was also on the list.

• Drone footage shows Ukrainian village battered to ruins as residents flee Russian advance

5/04/2024: Israel/Hamas War Update

• Israel has briefed US on plan to evacuate Palestinian civilians ahead of potential Rafah operation -  Israel this week briefed Biden administration officials on a plan to evacuate Palestinian civilians ahead of a potential operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah aimed at rooting out Hamas militants, according to U.S. officials familiar with the talks.

5/4/2024: Tuberculosis Outbreak in California, 1 Deceased, Long Beach, CA declared a Health Emergency - A California hotel housing homeless people is experiencing a tuberculosis outbreak that has left one dead and several hospitalized. Investigators said around 170 people have likely been exposed to the illness. Health officials are in contact with any guests or individuals who were at the hotel during the time the infected people were present. Related Article

• What to Know: Tuberculosis is a serious illness that mainly affects the lungs, according to the CDC. The bacteria is spread through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes or speaks. More Info

5/4/2024: Trade Completely Halted Between Turkey and Israel - Turkey said on Friday it will not resume trade with Israel, worth $7 billion a year, until a permanent ceasefire and humanitarian aid are secured in Gaza, becoming the first of Israel's key commercial partners to take such a step. Related Article

5/3/2024: Russia & Ukraine War Update

• Russia's Warning: "I would like to once again warn Washington, London, Brussels that any aggressive actions against Crimea are not only doomed to failure but will also prompt devastating retaliatory strikes," Zakharova stated. This warning comes amid heightened tensions following recent incidents in Crimea.

• France would consider sending troops to Ukraine if Russia breaks through front lines, Macron says. Russia calls France leader Macron refusing to rule out troops for Ukraine "very dangerous" - Related Post

5/3/2024: Israel & Hamas War Update

• Unconfirmed Reports US Base Attacked In Omar Oil Field In Eastern Syria. Iranian and Russian state-run media reporting seven missiles hit the U.S. base in the Omar oil field in eastern Syria 

• Russian troops have entered an air base in Niger that is hosting U.S. troops, a senior U.S. defense official told Reuters, a move that follows a decision by Niger's junta to expel U.S. forces from the country. Related Article

• Saudi Arabia to start arresting anyone who comments against Israel on social media - Saudi Arabia has stepped up the arrest of citizens for social-media posts related to the Israel-Hamas war as the kingdom signals a readiness to agree to diplomatic relations with the Jewish state. Anyone who dares to insult Netanyahu goes to jail. Related Article

• Students at Princeton University are going on a hunger strike until the college board meets their demands for Palestine

5/3/2024: Bird Flu and Covid-19 Updates

• CDC says bird flu viruses "pose pandemic potential". A handful of variants with potentially worrying mutations have also since been spotted in cows, the USDA analysis found. If those variants become dominant, it could change the disease caused by H5N1 or make spread to other animals or humans more likely. Reports by a local veterinarian that other workers on Texas dairy farms had symptoms of flu or conjunctivitis are true, said Anton on April 30. "It's likely there were other people with symptoms who did not want to be tested so we cannot say with absolute certainty that no one else contracted H5N1. We can say for sure that there were people sick with other respiratory viruses working on dairy farms," Anton said in a statement. Related Article

• A US farmworker who caught bird flu after working with dairy cattle in Texas appears to be the first known case of mammal-to-human transmission of the virus, a new study shows. The dairy worker sought care in late March after developing painful red, swollen, weeping eyes with burst blood vessels. He had no fever, however, and his lungs were clear, according to a letter about the case that was published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Friday. Related Articles

• The U.S. has two vaccines ready should the strain of bird flu circulating in dairy cows begin spreading easily to people, federal health officials said Wednesday. They could begin shipping doses widely within weeks, if needed Related Article

• New Covid-19 Variant (KP.2) defies vaccines with higher spread - Related Article

• U.S. ends mandatory reporting of COVID hospitalizations, making it more difficult to monitor the spread of the virus. Related Article

5/3/2024: Illegal immigrants storm Michigan capitol to demand driver's licenses - The rally took place just outside the Michigan House floor on Wednesday as illegal immigrants chanted in Spanish and English, “What do we want? Driver’s Licenses! When do we want them? Now!” The rally was in support of Democrat-backed legislation, which is currently stuck in committees, that would grant driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants, The Midwesterner reported. Related Article

5/2/2024: Taiwan detects 26 Chinese aircraft and five ships around island -  Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said on May 3 it had detected 26 Chinese aircraft and five naval vessels around the self-ruled island in the previous 24 hours. The sorties come weeks before the May 20 inauguration of new Taiwan president, Mr Lai Ching-te, whom China regards as a dangerous separatist. Related Article

5/2/2024: Unrest & Protesting Across US College Campuses Updates

• UCLA - The encampment disbanded around 6am EST; Excessive trash, property damage and vandalism was evident once the campus was cleared by protestors

• GW University - Three Men have Unfurl A Massive American Flag After Pro-Palestine Protesters Replace it with Palestinian Flag at George Washington University

05/01/2024: Russia/Ukraine War Update

• Russia used ‘chemical weapon’ against Ukrainian forces - The United States on Wednesday accused Russia of having used "the chemical weapon chloropicrin against Ukrainian forces" in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention. In addition, Russia has used "riot control agents (tear gas) as a method of warfare in Ukraine, also in violation of the CWC," a statement from the State Department said. Related Article

• Russian crowds are flocking to see a new exhibition in Moscow of NATO military hardware that was captured by Russian forces in Ukraine. The display features a range of “trophies,” ranging from U.S.-made armored fighting vehicles to state-of-the-art tanks and European armored personnel carriers, from 12 countries including the U.S., U.K., France, Sweden, South Africa, Turkey, Australia and Germany.

• Russian forces appear to be shifting their operational focus on to Chasiv Yar, a key strategic target as they look to occupy more territory in Donetsk, in eastern Ukraine.

5/01/2024: Israel/Hamas War Update

• Hamas Resists Israel’s Latest Cease-Fire Offer

• Colombia cuts diplomatic relations with Israel

• Fifteen people were injured during the UCLA confrontation last night, including one person who was hospitalized, according to the president of the University of California system. UCLA canceled classed for May 1, 2024.

05/01/2024: Firefighters are battling a massive 5-alarm fire which has spread to multiple structures including a supermarket grocery store - Firefighters and other emergency crews are on the scene battling a massive five-alarm fire in Bushwick, Brooklyn, New York. The fire has grown significantly and has further escalated as it spread to multiple structures. Officials are reporting that it has now engulfed five buildings, including a grocery store. Heavy flames and smoke can be seen miles away no injuries have been reported so far as this situation is still developing - Related Article

05/01/2024: 4.1 magnitude earthquake hits Southern California - Source:  USGS

4/30/2024: Pro-Palestinian Protest Across the Country Update:

11pm-11:30pm Updates: 

• Currently: NYPD are Arresting Protesters at City College of New York in Manhattan

• Over 100 Protestors Arrested at Columbia University, NYPD has authority until May 16th to ensure order is Maintained at the University.

9:30pm Updates

• NYPD Enter Columbia University Building through 2nd Floor window via a ladder truck - Video -  New York police receive request from Columbia University to clear protester encampment, Police are fully equipped in riot gear.

• NYU President's Home Covered in 'Blood' - Pro-Palestinian activists allegedly splattered pig's blood on NYU President Linda Mills' residence, protesting the university's ties with Israel. Related Article

DayTime Updates

• University of North Carolina Protestors Fly Palestinian Flag on Campus - Anti-Israel agitators at the University of North Carolina fly Palestinian flag in spot reserved for the American flag as riots ramp up on campus. Related Article

• Tear Gas deployed at the University of South Florida - 75-100 protesters, including some not affiliated with the university, arrived at the Tampa campus in the morning with items like wood shields, umbrellas and tents. Throughout the day, university staff and police reportedly maintained contact with the group about expectations for maintaining a peaceful demonstration. Related Article 

• Columbia University is threatening to expel student protesters against Israel’s handling of the war in Gaza who took over a campus building on Tuesday. Related Article

• Columbia University protester waves Palestinian flag atop occupied Hamilton Hall - An occupier waving a Palestinian flag at Columbia University emerged onto the roof of Hamilton Hall Tuesday and was met with cheers and chants from the crowd below protesting off campus.

• Dozens of Columbia students are occupying Hamilton Hall, one of the campus buildings also occupied during 1968 student protests, according to a social media post early Tuesday from Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine. Protesters made their way from the West Lawn encampment to Hamilton Hall overnight, just hours after the university said it had begun suspending students who refused to leave the encampment before 2 pm ET Monday.

• The last day of classes at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are canceled for the rest of the day and pro-Palestinian protesters on campus were being detained Tuesday morning after the university sent them a demand to vacate their encampment.

• Brown University student protesters reached an agreement to disband their encampment after the university agreed to hold a vote on divestment from companies that support Israel, according to the protest organizers.

• Honors Scholar Suspended - Student who received a letter of suspension from University of Georgia after participating in campus protest was an honors scholar

4/30/2024:  Israel/Hamas War Updates  

• Biden Administration is 'considering bringing certain Palestinians to the U.S. as refugees'

• Lloyd Austin says US troops building Gaza aid pier can return fire if attacked by Hamas - Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told House lawmakers Tuesday that US forces helping to construct a floating humanitarian pier along the Gaza Strip’s coast may return fire if attacked from the Hamas-run Palestinian enclave — causing an uproar among both Democrats and Republicans. “As many as 1,000 US uniformed officers are going to be involved in setting up here; a smaller number will be resident there,” she said. “If we are shot at – if more artillery is shot at us – who is responding and with what operating procedures is that military responding?” Related Article

•  Israel will invade Rafah with or without hostage deal - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Tuesday that Israel will invade Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, even if Hamas agrees to the latest Israeli proposal for a cease-fire. “The idea that we will halt the war before achieving all of its goals is out of the question,” Netanyahu said, at a meeting with representatives of families of people taken hostage by the Palestinian militant group. “We will enter Rafah and we will eliminate the Hamas battalions there — with or without a deal, in order to achieve the total victory,” he added. Related Article

• Secretary of Defense Austin warned Netanyahu that if Israel goes into Rafah without a plan to protect civilians, the U.S would oppose it, and Biden would “determine the consequences” for him. “We are concerned about the lack of plans to protect civilians in Rafah. I doubt that the Israelis will be able to transfer all the civilians in Rafah. We oppose any Israeli military operations in Rafah without a clear plan that ensures the safety of civilians.” Related Article

• Members of Congress have warned the International Criminal Court they will retaliate if arrest warrants are issued against Netanyahu and other senior Israeli officials. Speaker Mike Johnson: “If unchallenged by the Biden administration, the ICC could create and assume unprecedented power to issue arrest warrants against American political leaders, American diplomats, and American military personnel, thereby endangering our country’s sovereign authority.” Members of Congress from both parties are reportedly preparing legislation to sanction ICC officials unless they back down. Related Article

4/30/2024: Russia/Ukraine War Updates

• Poland has officially requested that NATO Nuclear Weapons be deployed on its soil thus cheating its nuclear targeting by Russia. Its F35s will be certified to use and carry B61-12 nuclear bombs. Warsaw will gain nuclear strike capabilities, a breath away from Russian borders, and this will not go without reaction from Moscow. Related Article

• Flight Chaos in NATO Countries Amid GPS Jamming - Finland's national airline Finnair has paused its flights to the city of Tartu in fellow-NATO member Estonia because of GPS (global position system) disturbances in the region, which have been blamed on Russia. Karoliina Ainge, former head of Estonian cybersecurity policy, said NATO must act after Finnair suspended flights to her hometown because GPS interference prevented its planes' approach. "I have no doubts that this will escalate if it receives no response," she told Newsweek. Related Article

• Russia says shot down Six US-made missiles launched by Ukraine - Russia said Tuesday it had shot down six US-supplied tactical missiles launched by Ukraine, with officials in annexed Crimea saying some were downed over the Black Sea peninsula. Related Article

4/30/2024: Emergency & military rescue recovery crews are responding to an F-16 fighter jet has crashed outside Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. Emergency and military Air Force rescue recovery crews are  responding to an F-16 fighter jet that has crashed outside Holloman Air Force Base near White Sands National Park in New Mexico. It's currently unclear how the crash happened, but reports indicate that the pilot has safely ejected from the aircraft and has been transported to a hospital for treatment of minor to non-life-threatening injuries. Crash recovery operations are underway, and the incident will be investigated. Related Article

4/30/2024: Mass Casualty Incident in Las Cruces, New Mexico - A total of fifteen individuals sustained injuries, one of whom is in critical condition, following an SUV ramming into a Savers store in Las Cruces. Related Article

4/29/2024: Charlotte, North Carolina: 8 law-enforcement officers shot, 3 US Marshals Deceased; The violent confrontation resulted in eight law enforcement officers being shot, with three U.S. Marshals confirmed dead. The incident started when they were met with a hail of bullets while trying to serve a warrant in Charlotte, North Carolina. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Chief Johnny Jennings said Tuesday called it the bloodiest day for law enforcement he’s seen in his 32 years on the job. Authorities reported that one of the suspects was armed with a high-powered assault rifle. The hospital is currently on lockdown where multiple law enforcement officers have been shot. Related Article; 7pm Update: One suspect is deceased, two persons of interest are being questioned

4/29/2024: Russia/Ukraine War News Update 

• Russia threatens to sink Britain under nuclear tide with Satan 2 missiles if NATO intervenes in Ukraine, vows top Putin stooge. Russia has been stocking nuclear warheads in Belarus and Kaliningrad, right in the heart of Europe

• US eased sanctions on at least 10 Russian banks, including the Central Bank, to allow energy-related operations as energy costs soar, Bloomberg reports

• NATO’s secretary general says the alliance’s member countries have failed to deliver in time what they promised to Ukraine.

• Russian President Vladimir Putin said he plans to visit China in May, in what could become the first foreign trip for the Russian leader after he extended his rule by six more years in an election that offered voters little real choice.

4/29/2024: Israel/Hamas War & Protest Update

• Columbia University has begun suspending student protesters who defied orders and have refused to abide by a deadline to vacate encampment. Columbia University faculty create a human chain to block off the "Gaza Solidarity Encampment" as teachers and students defy order to disperse by 2 pm. 200 students remained in the encampment, refusing to comply with Columbia's demands. President Minouche Shafik said students must negotiate a settlement or else they would be faced with suspension. According to the New York Post, NYPD was seen at the Morningside Heights campus as the deadline approached. It is unclear at the moment if the police will be taking action.

• Law enforcement moving in at the University of Texas campus in Austin to clear an impromptu encampment. Governor Abbott had this to say  “No encampments will be allowed. Instead, arrests are being made. Video; 7pm Update: Chaotic scenes unfolding as tear gas and flash bangs are being deployed as clashes as break out with police and protesters. Currently, tensions are rapidly escalating in Austin, Texas, as hundreds of students, pro-Palestine protesters, and other activists have gathered in large numbers, clashing with the Austin Police, who are in riot gear. A tense standoff is underway as protesters push police back. Austin police have deployed multiple rounds of tear gas, flash bangs, and pellet balls while facing thrown bottles and other items. The situation is intensifying, with both sides engaging in increasingly confrontational behavior. Multiple injuries have been reported, and police have made numerous arrests so far

• Hamas to consider ceasefire-hostage release proposal that Israeli sources say could avert Rafah invasion - Hamas is considering a new framework proposed by Egypt that calls for the group to release as many as 33 hostages kidnapped from Israel in exchange for a pause in hostilities in Gaza, an Israeli source familiar with the negotiations and a foreign diplomatic source told CNN.

4/29/2024: Texas Grid Issues Notice Ahead of Potential Emergency Next Week - The Texas electrical grid operator warned of a possible emergency early next week because of a potential shortfall of power reserves. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas said Friday the grid may have deficient reserves from April 29 at 7 p.m. Central time through May 1 at 9 p.m. Ercot may delay or cancel planned power-plant outages and may need to shore up available supplies by about 2,800 megawatts. Related Article 

4/29/2024: Murder suspect accused of EATING VICTIM'S FACE near Las Vegas Strip - Colin Czech, 29, has been charged with open murder. Documents reveal that just before 5 a.m. on Sunday, a caller alerted police to an incident on Las Vegas Boulevard near Charleston Boulevard, where a man was seen forcefully taking another man to the ground. Approximately 45 minutes later, another call was made to the police reporting a distressing scene at a bus stop where one man was observed "eating" the face of another man. Related Article

4/29/2024: TD Bank files to shut down 20 branches this month with others slated to close and customers must make financial changes. They're not alone in moving away from in-person banking locations. Locations with closures on the list include New York, Maine, South Carolina, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and New England. Related Article

4/29/2024: Major Banks Closing More Branches - The list of banks include Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Chase, Citibank, Citizens, US Bank and Liberty Bank in California Related Article

4/29/2024: Train Derailments in the U.S.

• A train derailment shuts down the historic Steel Bridge that carries cars and trains in Portland, Oregon. The bridge was shut down Monday morning after a train car derailed and leaned against one of the bridge’s support columns. Related Article 

• Derailment of the BNSF Railway train near Lupton, Arizona, which occurred on the New Mexico side of the tracks, or during the subsequent firefighting operation. Related Article 

• Train derails in Unity Village, injuring 2 Lee's Summit firefighters determined there was no fire danger or a release of hazardous materials. Related Article

4/28/2024: Mass Shooting in Florida, 16 year old shoots ten people - at a venue in Sanford, Florida, suspect arrested. Deputies in Seminole County were called to the Cabana Live in Sanford just after midnight for a crowd outside the bar. Witnesses told law enforcement the shooting started after a fistfight broke out at the venue, about 20 miles north of Orlando. Someone who wasn’t involved in the melee drew a handgun and began firing toward a crowd of people. A security guard tackled and disarmed the shooter almost immediately, and a second guard handcuffed him until sheriff’s deputies arrived.  Related Article

4/28/2024: 5 People Shot (including 3 Cops) in Louisiana - Multiple law enforcement and other authorities are on the scene in tactical gear responding to an active shooter situation beneath Airline Highway in Kenner, Louisiana. Multiple shots have been reported, targeting both civilians and police, resulting in three law enforcement officers and two other individuals being injured. The extent of the officers injuries is unknown, and this remains a very active scene. Police are urging everyone to avoid the area as the situation continues to unfold. Related Article

4/28/2024: Major Devastation in Multiple Cities in Oklahoma after a massive tornado ripped through parts of the state. The National Weather Service (NWS) has reported several large tornados hitting the state, with the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management reporting injuries, damage to property and downed power lines in some areas. Related Article

• A tornado ripped through Marietta, Oklahoma, destroying a Dollar Tree distribution center and flipping semis. Video

• Violent and extremely dangerous tornadoes repeatedly hit the same towns, including Ardmore, Dickson, Millcreek, and Sulphur. Reports indicate people are trapped inside buildings and homes, and heavy flooding has been reported in areas affected by these tornadic thunderstorms search and rescues are underway

4/28/2024: China is Preparing for War with America by selling US Bonds to buy gold. The National Bank of China has added more than 300 tons of gold to its reserves since October 2022. As analysts write, the National Bank also buys gold secretly. Its total reserves exceeded 5,300 tons, which is more than 2.5 times higher than official data."-Pravda

4/28/2024: Israel/Hamas War & Protest Updates 

• The New York Times reports that Israeli and foreign officials believe the International Criminal Court is preparing arrest warrants against top Israeli and Hamas officials

• Reuters reports that pro-Palestinian protests at 🇺🇸 American universities are showing 'no sign of slowing as they spread coast-to-coast over the weekend'; A group of three pro-Palestinian protesters hung the Palestinian flag over the John Harvard statue in the Yard where the American flag normally hangs Monday-Friday. Harvard Police Officers called Harvard Yard Operations to remove the flag hours after it was hung. 

• Hamas mem­bers to meet Qatar, Egypt of­fi­cials for cease­fire talks in Cairo. Hamas says it is reviewing a new Israeli proposal for a cease-fire in Gaza. And Egypt is intensifying efforts to broker a deal to end the war and stave off a planned Israeli ground offensive into the southern city of Rafah.

• World Central Kitchen Will Return to Gaza

• French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné has arrived in Lebanon as part of diplomatic attempts to broker a de-escalation in the conflict on the Lebanon-Israel border.

• Yemen’s Houthi rebels have claimed shooting down another of the U.S. military’s MQ-9 Reaper drones. They aired footage Saturday of parts that corresponded to known pieces of the unmanned aircraft.

• Egypt says revenues from the Suez Canal have plunged by 50% due to tensions in the Red Sea

4/28/2024: Ukraine/Russia War Updates 

• Ukraine army commander says situation ‘worsened’, Russia has had ‘tactical successes

• United States M1A1 Abrams tanks have been "pulled" from Ukrainian front lines because, Ukraine says, the tanks are "weak and vulnerable." 

• Ukraine pulls back from three villages in east as Russia claims gains

• US to provide Patriot missiles to Ukraine as part of $6bn defense aid

• Russia and Ukraine target each other’s energy sectors

• In Ukraine, low hopes for the liberation of lands occupied by Russia

• Ukraine’s Zelensky says Russian strike collapsed Kharkiv TV tower

4/28/2024: Military Base Entrance in Norfolk, VA was rammed: According to U.S. Navy Officials; this Morning at roughly 3:40am a Vehicle attempting to enter Expeditionary Base Little Creek–Fort Story in Norfolk, Virginia ran the Front Gate causing Security Forces to place the Base on Lockdown and raise the Hydraulic-Access Barriers, which the Vehicle subsequently Collided with and caught Fire before Exploding. The on Base Fire Service was Activated and the Fire was Extinguished, however the Driver was declared Dead at the Scene. The Incident is currently being Investigated by NCIS and other Federal Agencies. Related Article

4/28/2024: Los Angeles Nuclear detonation workshop next week. A coalition of federal, state, local and military agencies will come together in the Los Angeles area to learn strategies to manage a nuclear detonation. National security analyst, Hal Kempfer, will be in attendance. Video

4/28/2024: Volcano erupts in eastern Indonesia, spews miles-high ash tower A volcano in eastern Indonesia erupted on Sunday morning, spewing an ash tower more than two miles into the sky and prompting officials to warn people to keep away. Related Article

4/27/2024: 6.5-magnitude earthquake hits Indonesia, no tsunami alert issued - The tremors of the quake were also felt in nearby Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, and the nearby province of Banten, as well as the provinces of Central Java, Yogyakarta and East Java. 

4/27/2024: Massive hail storm in Guangdong, China - A powerful tornado struck Guangzhou, China's southern mega-city, on Saturday afternoon, resulting in the loss of five lives and injuring 33 individuals. The severe weather, accompanied by heavy rain and hailstorms. Authorities classified the tornado as level three in intensity, indicating significant destruction but lower than the highest level of five. Related Article

4/26/2024: Taiwan hit by several earthquakes, strongest reaching 6.1-magnitude - Taiwan was hit by a series of at least 10 earthquakes in the early hours of Saturday, with the strongest reaching 6.1 magnitude, according to the island's Central Weather Administration Related Article

4/26/2024: Philadelphia-based Republic First bank has failed, Closed & Seized by Regulators - As of April 26, 2024, Republic First Bank has been seized regulators are preparing to sell it to another lender. This would be the fourth high-profile bank failure since the spring of 2023. Related Article

4/26/2024: Massive tornado strikes cities in Nebraska -  A severe tornado outbreak has unleashed chaos across Nebraska, with at least 23 confirmed tornadoes and 2 funnel clouds reported. Significant damage includes roof destruction, power line failures, and commercial building impacts. Specific incidents include train derailments near Waverly and vehicle turnovers on Highway 15 in Butler County. Related Article   Video; Eppley Airfield has been closed after the tornado touched down, Omaha Airport Authority Chief Information Officer Steve McCoy said. Some damage occurred the east side of the airfield where the general aviation area is. “We’re still doing damage assessment,” McCoy said. “The terminal is relatively unaffected. But the airport is closed while we do damage assessment. We hope to reopen soon.” Related Article

4/26/2024: A tornado has been confirmed north of Waco in West, Texas. The storm is reportedly moving towards Central Texas. Related Article; Severe weather forecasted in North Texas through the weekend Strong to severe storms are possible in parts of North Texas, capable of producing isolated tornadoes, large hail, damaging winds and heavy rain. In fact, parts of North Texas are under a Level 2 Risk (slight) for severe storms to develop, including the Metroplex. Related Article

4/26/2024: Massive tornado on the ground near Minden, Iowa Read More

4/26/2024: Scientists considering raising hurricane intensity level to Category 6 for “mega-hurricane era” With catastrophic storms regularly blowing past the 157-mph threshold, some scientists argue, the Saffir-Simpson scale no longer adequately conveys the threat the biggest hurricanes present. Related Article

4/26/2024: Massive floods in Kenya, 70 people perished - Earlier Friday, a truck carrying people in Makueni County, southern Kenya, “was swept away by raging waters,” according to the Kenyan Red Cross, which described it as “a distressing incident.” More than 13,300 households have been displaced in the flooding, which has destroyed 22 roads, and affected 26 schools. The Red Cross says it has rescued 302 people since the onset of the heavy rain in March. Related Article Video

4/25/2024: Pro-Palenstine Protesting at Colleges Across The U.S. Continues

• Chaos has Unleashed at Emory University as Georgia Police Deploy Tasers, Rubber Bullets, and Tear Gas Against Protesters - Hundreds of people protesting the Israel-Hamas war and Atlanta’s planned public safety training center set up camp at Emory University’s quadrangle Thursday morning, prompting violent clashes with law enforcement and the arrests of several activists. The encampment mirrors a growing number of college protests across the country. Related Article

• Pro-Palestinian protesters have stormed the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York

• Students at George Washington University have created an encampment in University Yard in support for Gaza Video 

• National Guard soldiers have been deployed to the University of Texas Austin campus as protests continue there. Additional troops are on standby to head out if necessary 

• Snipers have been spotted on top of roofs at Ohio and Indiana universities as pro-Palestine protests causing a uproar Video

• Map for Reference on locations of Protests

4/25/2024: Russia is Preparing to Seize US Assets - "Russia now has the right to confiscate all Western assets in Russia, worth more than $288 billion." -Russian Parliament Speaker Related Article

4/25/2024: Southwest closing operations at four airports, fire 2,000 employees - Airlines are dealing with higher labor costs and delays in getting new planes from Boeing, which is limiting their ability to add more flights at a time of high demand for travel. Related Article

4/24/2024: Russia Seize  $440M from JP Morgan Chase - A  Russian court has ordered the seizure of funds in JPMorgan Chase (JPM.N), opens new tab bank accounts in Russia, court filings showed on Wednesday, in a lawsuit filed by state-owned bank VTB (VTBR.MM), opens new tab as it seeks to regain funds blocked abroad. JP Morgan Chase last week sued VTB in New York to halt its efforts to recover $439.5 million from an account that was blocked after Russia dispatched its army to Ukraine in 2022 and VTB was hit with sanctions. Related Article

4/24/2024: Chase Bank App Down - Thousands of people reported Chase bank app and website outages Wednesday afternoon, according to Downdetector. The outage peaked just before 2 p.m., with over 7,000 people reporting issues accessing the website and mobile app. By 3:10 p.m., that number had dropped to around 3,000, Downdetector shows. Just before 5 p.m., just over 1,500 people had reported issues. Related Article

4/24/2024: US To Convert Pacific Oil Rigs Into Military Bases - The US Navy will convert its surplus oil rigs in the Pacific into active mobile military bases to counter China's growing influence in the region. The initiative was unveiled by contractor Gibbs & Cox during the recently concluded Sea Air Space Expo in Washington DC. Related Article

4/24/2024: H5N1 Bird Flu Update: Bird flu virus found in grocery store milk, but no risk to customers, FDA says "USDA has identified spread between cows within the same herd, spread from cows to poultry, spread between dairies associated with cattle movements, and cows without clinical signs that have tested positive." In 1 case, H5N1 was found in a lung tissue sample. Related Article

4/23/2024: We chose to be loud': Pro-Palestinian students demonstrate at American U, UMD - Students at American University held in a walkout Tuesday, protesting against the war in Gaza, and at University of Maryland College Park, students staged a sit-in on campus. D.C.-area college students are standing in solidarity with students from Columbia and New York universities who have been staging encampments and demonstrations against Israel’s war with Hamas. Related Article

• Columbia University has announced classes will be remote for the rest of the year as anti-Israel protests rock the school. 

4/23/2024: 2 military helicopters crash after mid-air collision in Malaysia, killing all 10 people on board. Malaysia’s navy says two military helicopters collided and crashed during a training session, killing all 10 people on board. The navy said in a brief statement that the helicopters were rehearsing Tuesday at a naval base in northern Perak state for the navy’s 90th anniversary celebration next month when the crash occurred Related Article

4/23/2024: Russia has moved its Iskander-M tactical nuclear missile systems to the border with Finland - Capable of striking targets up to 500 kilometers away, Russia has deployed a brigade of Iskander-M missile launchers along the Finnish border. As confirmed by the Izvestia news platform, the move comes as Vladimir Putin seeks to reinforce the newly formed Leningrad Military District (LMD) Related Article

4/23/2024: North Korea issues nuclear 'warning signal' to US, South Korea - Kim Jong Un reportedly oversaw the country's nuclear counterattack posture. North Korea’s missile test on Monday was in fact a drill to test nuclear force preparedness, according to local media. Related Article

4/23/2024: FTC Voted to Ban Non-Compete Clause - The Federal Trade Commission issued a final rule to promote competition by banning noncompete nationwide, protecting the fundamental freedom of workers to change jobs, increasing innovation, and fostering new business formation. Related Article

4/23/2024: Orange sky - African dust blanketing Greece created an eerie image that made Athens look like a colony on Mars, Greek meteorologist reportedly says Video Here

4/22/2024: New York City Pro-Palestine Encampment Raided, Protesters Clash with Law Enforcement; Similar Protests at other Universities include Yale, Columbia University, University of Michigan, Harvard University  (developing story)

• Reports indicate that the situation at NYU is rapidly escalating, with protesters attempting to march alongside the buses and rushing into another intersection. Massive numbers of officers in riot gear pepper spraying people with massive arrests taking place

• Pro-Palestinian protesters are clashing with police as officers arrest at least a dozen NYU faculty members and dismantle dozens of tents 

• Hundreds, possibly thousands, of pro-Palestine protesters have gathered outside New York University (NYU) located in Midtown Manhattan, leading to clashes with the New York Police. 

• Major Pro-Palestine Protests at Cal Poly Humboldt Provoke Massive Police Response; Protesters Occupy Siemens Hall; Reports of Violent Force Between Activists and Law Enforcement

• Dozens of students were arrested at Yale earlier in the day while Columbia cancelled in-person classes. 

• Similar "encampments" have sprung up at Berkeley, MIT, California State Polytechnic University and other colleges across the country.

4/22/2024: West Virginia Reports Case of Measles (first case in 15 years) - The Monongalia County Health Department said WVU Medicine alerted officials Sunday that an adult patient living in the county tested positive for the viral infection. Health officials have not pinpointed exactly where and how the patient was exposed but said the person had recently traveled abroad. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention documented 113 cases as of April 5. Nationwide, measles cases this year already are nearly double the total for all of 2023. There have been seven outbreaks and most U.S. cases — 73% — are linked to those flare-ups. Related Article

4/22/2024: Taiwan was hit with a magnitude 6.1 earthquake - The earthquake struck about a mile from Shoufeng Township, Hualien County, the USGS said, and is the latest in a series of earthquakes that had been shaking the island since Monday afternoon. There was no tsunami threat, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. Related Article 

4/22/2024:  Massive Fire at Virginia Data Center - Emergency teams are battling a major fire at a warehouse data center in Sterling, Virginia - mere miles from Washington DC / Dulles Airport.  The fire, likely started by a ruptured gas line, has produced extensive black smoke visible from miles away. Hazmat crews are on site; no current threat to the public has been reported. Virginia State Police troopers evacuated nearby businesses and warehouses. Related Article 

4/22/2024: Poland "ready" to host NATO nuclear weapons, President Andrzej Duda say.  Poland is ready to host nuclear arms if NATO decides to deploy the weapons in the face of Russia reinforcing its armaments in Belarus and Kaliningrad. Poland, a NATO member and staunch supporter of Ukraine, shares a border with both Russia's Kaliningrad exclave and with Belarus, Moscow's ally. Moscow in response warned it would take steps to "ensure its security" if Warsaw got the weapons. Related Article

4/22/2024: North Korea fires ballistic missile towards the Sea of Japan -  North Korea fired "several" short-range ballistic missiles on Monday toward the sea off its east coast, South Korea's military said, drawing a swift condemnation from Seoul, which called it a grave threat to stability on the Korean peninsula. A Japanese government alert and its coast guard also said North Korea had fired what appeared to be a ballistic missile. The projectile appeared to have landed outside Japan's exclusive economic zone area, the NHK broadcaster said. Related Article

4/22/2024: Toxic smoke from burning garbage mountain blankets India’s capital - Ghazipur landfill receives 2,000 tons of garbage daily and may soon grow taller than Taj Mahal. One of India’s largest rubbish mounds is on fire, continuing to burn after almost 24 hours and spewing toxic fumes into the air of a densely populated area on the outskirts of the capital Delhi. The Ghazipur landfill, which takes up more than 40 football fields and rises to a height of 65m, caught fire on Sunday evening amid soaring temperatures in the region. Related Article

4/21/2024: N.J. earthquake aftershocks now number 120 (from the Earthquake on April 5th) - The occasional shaking during the past two weeks has been caused by smaller earthquakes, known as aftershocks, and the number of those has now grown, according to data from the U.S. Geological Survey, the government agency that monitors earthquake activity around the world. Related Article

4/21/2024: Five rockets fired from Iraq towards US military base in Syria -  At least five rockets were launched from Iraq's town of Zummar towards a U.S. military base in northeastern Syria on Sunday, two Iraqi security sources told Reuters. The attack against U.S. forces is the first since early February when Iranian-backed groups in Iraq stopped their attacks against U.S. troops. It comes a day after Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani returned from a visit to the United States, where he met with President Joe Biden at the White House. Related Article

Related News: Israel/Iran War

• Iraqi Hezbollah announces the resumption of operations against American forces.

• Israeli strikes on southern Gaza city of Rafah kill 22, mostly children, as US advances aid package

4/21/2024: Facility Plant Fire Releasing Toxins - Firefighters are battling a massive fire at a cold storage facility plant prompting evacuations as hazardous toxic smoke rises. At this time Numerous firefighters, law enforcement, and other authorities are on the scene in Finley, Washington as they are battling a massive three-alarm fire at a cold storage facility warehouse plant where chemicals have been stored. A level 3 evacuation has been ordered within a mile from the site as heavy thick black hazardous smoke from the cold storage facility can be seen for miles. A shelter-in-place has also been ordered. The cause of how the fire started is still unknown at this time this is still developing and ongoing. Related Article

4/21/2024: The Red Heifer Sacrifice is expected to occur on Monday, April 22nd in Israel. More details to come

4/21/2024: Landslides Injure 6 As Southern China Braces For 'Once A Century' Floods - The national weather office imposed weather alerts across central Guangdong and warned of major storms in coastal areas through Sunday evening and into Monday. Citing the provincial hydrology bureau, CCTV said three monitored locations in the Bei River basin would "experience flooding seen around once a century... due to the impact of heavy precipitation". Floods of up to 19 feet above the warning limit would strike the areas starting early Monday morning, according to CCTV. Related Article

4/20/2024: Mass Shooting in Memphis, TN - Police confirm 16 people shot, at least 2 killed, at a block party (last update 11pm EST) Related Article

4/20/2024: Chinese Government Poses 'Broad and Unrelenting' Threat to U.S. Critical Infrastructure, FBI Director Says these threats are “upon us now”—and that U.S. critical infrastructure is a prime target. “[China’s] plan is to land low blows against civilian infrastructure to try to induce panic and break America’s will to resist.” Related Article

4/20/2024: HR 7888: Legislation to renew Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act into law on today. Congress extended controversial warrantless surveillance law for two years. U.S. spy agencies regard the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act as one of their most valuable intelligence-collection tools, but critics say it intrudes on Americans’ privacy. Related Article

4/20/2024: The USA confirms it will pull out of Niger. 1000 soldiers will leave after having been told to get out by the new Russian-friendly military. They will leave the $110M airbase built a few years ago from which the US has been running its drone operations against AQ & ISIS. Related Article

• This move comes after Niger suspended a military agreement with the U.S. and is part of a broader realignment in the region, where countries like Mali and Burkina Faso have also expelled European forces and sought Russian support. The withdrawal underscores the changing geopolitical landscape in West Africa and the growing influence of Russia in the area.

4/20/2024: House Approves $95 Billion Aid Bill for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. After months of delay at the hands of a bloc of ultraconservative Republicans, the package drew overwhelming bipartisan support, reflecting broad consensus. In four back-to-back votes, overwhelming bipartisan coalitions of lawmakers approved fresh rounds of funding for the three U.S. allies, as well as another bill meant to sweeten the deal for conservatives that could result in a nationwide ban of TikTok. Related Article

4/19/2024: Fire at Canadian Airport, Explosives Present - Emergency crews are responding to an uncontrolled structure fire at the old airport tower of Goose Bay Airport (YYR) in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, as of late April 19. Authorities have declared a state of emergency after several explosions occurred due to the presence of explosive materials near the blaze. Crews have closed several nearby roads, namely Halifax, Toronto, Winnipeg, and London streets, and Ottawa Avenue. The cause of the fire is not immediately clear. Related Story

4/19/2024: [DEVELOPING STORY] Reports of Multiple Explosions in Iranian-Affiliated Cities in Iraq 

8pm EST Update

• There are reportedly 8 fatalities so far (stay tuned for more updates)

• The U.S. confirmed it was not involved in the strike in Iraq

6pm EST Update

• Large columns of smoke following strikes on sites belonging to Iran-affiliated Iraqi militias

• The Armored Headquarters and a Major Base of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in the Babylon Governorate of Eastern Iraq to the South of Baghdad has reportedly been Targeted by several Unknown Airstrikes causing an Massive Munitions Cook-Off; Damage to Base is claimed to be Extremely Significant.

4/19/2024: H5N1 strain of bird flu is found in Milk for first time in 'very high concentrations,' World Health Organization (WHO) warns - it was found in raw milk from infected animals, how long the virus can survive in milk is unknown. Related Article

4/19/2024: Mass Shootings in Washington, D.C. and Greenbelt, MD 

• 4 individuals with gunshot wound injuries in N.E. D.C. in Broad-daylight Related Article

• 5 individuals shot (2 were teens) at Senior Skip Day, all transported to a local trauma center. Related Article

4/19/2024: Man Sets Himself on Fire Near Courthouse Where Trump Is on Trial - NYPD identified the man as Max Azzarello, 37, of St. Augustine, Florida. He arrived in New York earlier this week. Azzarello described himself as an "investigative researcher" and explains in 2,648 words his reasons for setting himself ablaze. Related Article

4/18/2024: BREAKING - Confirmed Reports of Israel Retaliating Against Iran 

• Tonight, multiple reports and U.S. officials have confirmed that the IDF has hit multiple sites (approximately 7) inside of Iran. Moments later, Iran cleared the entire airspace and redirected all planes away from missile launch sites, likely in preparation to launch a response.

• Explosions reported in Isfahan Province in Central Iran. Near-simultaneous reports of blasts in Iraq and southern Syria. Iranian state-linked media confirm explosion in Isfahan. Israeli News 12 now reporting Israel has also struck in Iraq and Syria, not just Iran

• Iran IRGC States that Iran will Target Israeli Nuclear Sites with Counterattack 

• Significant re-routing of commercial planes amid closure of key parts of Iranian airspace

• Oil price surges by nearly 4% amid concerns of further escalation

• Iran has promised an intense and brutal response to any attack on Iranian soil by Israel. Iran claims its air defenses were able to intercept at least three hostile targets tonight

4/18/2024: The FBI says that Chinese hackers are preparing to attack US infrastructure - - Chinese government-linked hackers have burrowed into U.S. critical infrastructure and are waiting "for just the right moment to deal a devastating blow," FBI Director Christopher Wray said on Thursday. An ongoing Chinese hacking campaign known as Volt Typhoon has successfully gained access to numerous American companies in telecommunications, energy, water and other critical sectors, with 23 pipeline operators targeted, Wray said in a speech at Vanderbilt University. Related Articles

4/18/2024: Southwest Airline and Jet Blue Airline Planes nearly Collided this Morning at DC Airport on the runway. A “near-miss” was reported at Reagan National Airport this morning, when a Southwest and JetBlue flight came dangerously close to crossing the same runway according to the FAA. There was some confusion with air traffic control. Air traffic controllers can be heard yelling "STOP! STOP!" on audio that was posted to YouTube. Related Article

4/18/2024: Major Delays at Sacramento Airport After AT&T Cable Is Slashed - The authorities said the cable had been cut intentionally, halting check-in services for at least two major airlines for several hours. Amar Gandhi, a spokesman for the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, said that the cable — which is about the width of a garden hose and attached to a telephone pole — had been cleanly slashed in one place about four or five feet from the ground in a manner that he said appeared to be “very precise” and “very targeted.” - Related Article

4/18/2024: New Updates with the Israeli and Iran Conflict

• 5pm Updates 

  • United States is pushing for a deal that presses Israel to accept Palestinian statehood in exchange for diplomatic recognition by Saudi Arabia; America has vetoed Palestine's request to become a full member of the UN.

  • Benjamin Netanyahu has told western diplomats that he will go ahead with a ground offensive on Rafah in southern Gaza, and has also suggested that Israel’s anticipated reprisal for Iran’s missile and drone salvo will be aimed at Iranian interests rather than Tehran’s proxies.

As of 2pm EST

• Iran's Foreign Minister warned that Tehran would make Israel “regret” any attack on his country

• Rocket sirens sound in northern Israel (reported within the hour, 1pm EST)

• UN chief warns Mideast on brink of of ‘full-scale regional conflict’

• Iran warns Israel against attacking nuclear sites

• Israel's finance minister says retaliatory strikes should 'rock Tehran so everyone there will realize they shouldn’t mess with us'.

• Reports from local Israeli media suggest that the Dimona nuclear complex may have sustained damage as a result of an attack originating from Iran.

• Insights from air defense analysts reveal a lower rate of attack interception than initially claimed by IDF officials, with an estimated repulsion rate of around 84% (vs. 99% initially reported) according to Israeli newspaper Maariv 

• The U.S. has vetoed Palestine's request to become a full member of the UN.

4/18/2024: Top Earthquakes Today

• 4.3 magnitude earthquake hits southern California

• 5.1 magnitude earthquake hits West China 

• 5.6 magnitude earthquake hits Loreto, Mexico

4/18/2024: The government of Chad is threatening to 'kick out US troops as Russia expands influence in Africa' - Related Article

4/18/2024: Mystery flu spreading in Argentina ‘similar to Covid’ - In the past 30 days, there appears to have been an increase in severe atypical pneumonia requiring critical care in Buenos Aires. The affected individuals are mostly young people without major risk factors." Doctors are on high alert over a mystery flu-like illness - with similarities to Covid-19 - that has people critically ill in Argentina. While no official statements have been made by Argentinian officials, it's reported that patients have needed mechanical ventilation to help them breathe. Related Article

4/18/2024: Pro-Palestine Protest in NYC - Police in riot gear are lined up around Columbia University with handcuffs. NYPD placed a freeze zone on surrounding streets, it appears that raid and Arrests of 'Liberated Zone' Pro-Palestine encampment inside may be imminent. After nearly 36 hours, it appears NYPD has been called to finally begin arresting students participating in the pro-Hamas occupation of  Related Article 

4/18/2024: Multiple States Report 911 Services Down (12:30pm Update)

• Services were restored for states reporting outages

• It is still unclear how this service disruption occurred (story developing)

(Last Update 12:15am) Related Article - States impacted are listed below. The cause of the outages are unknown at this time, this is a developing story. There was a warning issued yesterday about potential Cyberattacks on emergency services, however, we are not confirming the cause of the current outage at hand. 

• Texas

• Florida

• Minnesota 

• Nebraska

• Nevada

• South Dakota

• Iowa

• Kentucky

• Wisconsin

4/18/2024: Russian Order Immediate Evacuation of Kurgan - Authorities order urgent evacuation of areas downstream of river in city of Kurgan due to leaks appearing in dam as water levels rise Related Article

4/18/2024: Argentina applies to be NATO “Global Partner” - The Argentinian Minister of Defense, Luis Petri, has announced that Argentina has submitted an application to become a NATO ‘Global Partner’. Within his announcement, Petri stated Argentina’s intention to “modernize and train our forces to NATO standards.” A global partner of NATO is not a full member of the organization, but rather a nation which NATO cooperates with on a regular basis. Nations such as Japan, Australia, and South Korea (among several others) are all NATO global partners. Related Article

4/18/2024: Risk of bird flu spreading to humans is ‘enormous concern’, says WHO. Chief scientist voices fears about H5N1 variant that has ‘extraordinarily high’ mortality rate in humans. So far, there is no evidence that H5N1 is spreading between humans. But in the hundreds of cases where humans have been infected through contact with animals over the past 20 years, “the mortality rate is extraordinarily high”, Farrar said, because humans have no natural immunity to the virus. Related Article

4/17/2024: United States Loads Nuclear Bombs onto B-52's - Three days ago, Minot Air Force Base practiced the loading of Nuclear Bombs onto B-52's. The planes are now armed with external wing mounted nuclear cruise missiles. Related Article

4/17/2024: Synagogue in Rockland County Destroyed by Fire. There was an unusual rescue mission Wednesday after a fire destroyed a synagogue in Rockland County. Three sacred Torah scrolls were buried in the rubble of the collapsed building and were safely recovered. Related Article

4/17/2024: Magnitude 6.3 earthquake hits western Japan - Tsunami warnings were issued Related Article; 

• !Update 4/18/2024

  •  The volcano has erupted at least 5 times since Tuesday, forcing thousands to evacuate

  • Indonesia's Ruang Volcano by the numbers:

    • • 48- Hour Earthquakes: >1,000

      • 24-Hour Lightning Strikes: >4,000

      • Island Population Evacuated: >800 (100%)

      • Last eruption: Sept. 2022

4/17/2024: Indonesia as volcano erupts, 11,000+ people evacuated - Exclusion zone extended, flights disrupted as Ruang sends ash and smoke more than two kilometers into the sky. Mount Ruang, located in in North Sulawesi Province, first erupted at 9:45pm (13:45 GMT) on Tuesday sending billowing clouds of smoke and ash high into the sky. Related Article

4/17/2024: Mutated strain of mpox with ‘pandemic potential’ found in DRC mining town. Researchers call for ‘swift action’ to halt the outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo as experts warn virus is ‘not over’. Now a mutated strain of this clade 1 virus has been discovered in Kamituga – a poor and densely packed gold mining town with a highly itinerant population just 170 miles from the Rwandan border – where a sudden and unusual mpox outbreak has raised “alarm bells”.  Related Article

4/17/2024: FAA issued ground stop advisory on all Alaskan Airline's flights - over aircraft system issue. The ground stop, which halted all Alaska Airlines departures as well as for Horizon Air, a regional carrier owned by Alaska Air Group, was instituted at approximately 7:50 am PT (1450 GMT), the airline said. It lasted for about an hour. Related Article

4/17/2024: The United States is re-imposing oil sanctions on Venezuela - after broken election promises. Biden administration says Maduro has ‘fallen short’ on pledge of free and fair presidential race. New sanctions on Venezuela might push up oil prices in a US election year. Related Article

4/16/2024: Iran/Israel Conflict Key Updates  

• Israel's War Cabinet meeting has ended, and the cabinet decided to strike inside Iran, which should begin "as soon as possible,"; US believes Israel planning 'limited strike' inside Iran as White House announces sanctions plan Related Article 

• US imposes sanctions on Iran - US announces it will impose new sanctions on Iran, particularly its missile and drone programs. Related Article

• Iran continues to block nuclear inspectors - Iran Nuclear Monitors are Still Operating Amid Israel Retaliation Threats. The presence of International Atomic Energy Agency monitors is significant because they inspect some of the facilities that could be targeted by Israel. Related Article

4/16/2024: Dubai Major Flooding Today, Roads turned into Rivers - A year’s worth of rain plunges normally dry Dubai underwater. Homes and businesses are flooded and floodwaters trap cars throughout the city. The airport ceased all operations for nearly a half hour and continue to be significantly disrupted. There is major flooding on access roads around Dubai leading to the airport. Related Article 

• !Update 4/18/2024 - Dubai’s airport, one of the world’s busiest, witnessed major disruption for the third day in a row on Thursday after the heaviest rains on record drenched the desert UAE

4/16/2024: Illegal Immigrants gather at NYC City Hall - Hundreds, possibly thousands, of undocumented immigrants have gathered outside New York City Hall for a meeting centered on their experiences after they were falsely promised green cards and work visas Related Article

4/15/2024: URGENT - The world is bracing for Israel's Response to Iran's most recent attacks 

!New Updates - Last Updated 7:45pm EST

• Major GPS Disruptions in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon - Apparently Israel's attack has begun.

• IAEA director says there is ongoing concern that Iran's nuclear facilities might be struck

• White House spokesperson says the US is working to 'further isolate Iran internationally and increase economic and other forms of pressure

• Russian Defense Minister announced in a letter to the US Department of Defense that if Israel launches a retaliatory strike against Iran, Russia will also participate in the Iranian attack on Israel (unconfirmed, developing story)

Updates Prior to 5pm EST

• The Israeli Air Force has completed its preparation for an imminent attack against Iran

• Official from Iranian parliamentary national security commission says his country is ready to use a 'weapon we have never used before' if Israel launches retaliatory attack

• Iran threatens to unleash 1,500 missiles if Israel launches revenge attack

• KLM Airlines cancelled all flights to and from Tel Aviv, Israel until Tuesday, a spokesperson for the Dutch arm of Air France says.

• United Airlines said it has canceled its flight to Tel Aviv, Israel for Monday.

• UK airline EasyJet says suspends flights to and from Tel Aviv

• US Secretary State A. Blinken states "U.S. doesn’t want ‘escalation’ with Iran but will defend Israel"

• Israel army confirms troops wounded inside Lebanon territory; Israel army chief tells soldiers Iran attack 'will be met with response'

• Saudi Arabia acknowledges helping defend Israel against Iran 

4/15/2024: Pro-Palestinian Protesters Disrupt Cities Nationwide including California, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New York, and California. !NEW: Seattle Washington

!New Updates - Last Updated 7:45pm EST

• Pro-Palestinian Protesters have Shut Down the entrance Tacoma International Airport Causing Significant Traffic Congestion

Updates prior to 5pm EST

• Protesters shut down and are blocking both sides of the Golden Gate Bridge in California

• Protesters block I-880 in Oakland, California

• Protesters block traffic into Chicago O'Hare Airport (roads re-opened at the 2pm hour)

• Protesters block traffic in Center City in Philadelphia; The Philadelphia Police Department reported approximately 68 arrests. 

• Protesters block and shut down Brooklyn Bridge 

• Protesters stopped westbound traffic on the Hamilton Fish Newburgh-Beacon Bridge over the Hudson River in New York 

4/15/2024: Fire at Scranton Army Ammunition Plant, Scranton, PA - The Scranton Army Ammunition Plant (SCAAP) is a United States Army Joint Munitions Command (JMC) facility that manufactures large-caliber metal projectiles and mortar projectile and is operated by General Dynamics-Ordnance and Tactical Systems, it's a crucial producer of various munitions, including 155mm and 105mm artillery projectiles, as well as naval gun projectiles. Related Article

4/15/2024: Acres burned in Miami due to brush fire - A raging brush fire burned next to a highway in the Miami metro area on Sunday. The fire consumed more than 150 acres as of Monday. Source

4/15/2024: Protests against military contractors underway in Crystal City

4/15/2024: Missouri Police respond to standoff as shooter holds hostages in St. Charles City Hall Parking - The man surrendered to police at about 12:10. Police confirmed that the man and woman knew each other, but did not say how.  Related Article

4/15/2024: The National Weather Service (NWS) experienced a widespread radar outage event, with half of its radars down. This outage is affected multiple National Weather Service stations across the region. Despite the disruption, there was no significant severe weather ongoing during the outage.  Most of all the National Weather Service weather radars have been restored and are now fully functional, returning to normal operation. This outage was likely caused by a network issue, which led to the widespread disruption. Source:  Note: There was also a NWS outage on April 2, 2024

4/14/2024: Israel/Iran Conflict is Escalating - Israel will strike against Iran as early as tonight. 

• Iran's president says that 'any new adventure against  the interests of the Iranian nation will be met with a heavier and regrettable response'

• Iran's attack on Israel was a "declaration of war", Israel's president tells Sky news

• Israel's ambassador to the United Nations says Iran's attack 'crossed every red line' and his country has the 'legal right to retaliate'.

• ABC News reports that Israeli military officials have submitted a 'wide range of options' to respond to Iran’s attack

• ABC News reports that five Iranian ballistic missiles hit Israel's Nevatim Air Base, causing damage to a 'C-130 transport aircraft, an unused runway and empty storage facilities'

• Brent crude oil rises to $91 at open

• US Destroyed Over 80 Drones, 6 Ballistic Missiles Launched From Iran, Yemen Toward Israel. The interceptions were carried out by US Central Command with the support of US European Command destroyers

4/13/2024: Iran has launched a massive multi-front attack with hundreds of drones and rockets. The entire country of Israel appears to be impacted by this assault. Currently, the skies over the West Bank and central Israel are being hit.

• President Joe Biden is set to address the nation from the Oval Office; UPDATE: The White House has called a press lid just before 5:13 PM today, indicating that President Biden will not be seen or heard from for the rest of the day making no statements tonight.

• Former president Trump will address the nation tonight regarding the Iran's against Israel. Trump is expected to speak at his rally tonight.

• The Israeli Governments "Doomsday plane" has taken off and is the only plane leaving Israel. Potentially carrying Netanyahu and cabinet. 

• Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that Russia will support Iran if the United States attacks Iran's soil in support of Israel.

• Iran Seizes Israeli-Owned Merchant Ship in Strait of Hormuz

• Jordan Shuts Down airspace for entire country

• British jets shoot down Iranian drones over Syrian border 

• Unconfirmed Reports indicate U.S. Forces at Erbil International Airport in Northern Iraq and Al-Asad Airbase in Western Iraq have been attacked.

• United States and British fighter jets are now scrambling intercepting Iranian drones as the first wave of Iranian ballistic missiles is expected to enter Israeli airspace in roughly 15 minutes, according to reports

4/13/2024: First units of French Foreign Legion have been deployed to Slavyansk, Ukraine - According to preliminary information, the first group of 100 people consists of specialists in artillery reconnaissance, while the specialization of the engineering group is fortification and the construction of field fortifications. The French troops, apparently, who only move around in the city when accompanied by Ukrainian forces, will help the Ukrainian Army defend Slavyansk when the front line shifts towards the city. Related Article

4/12/2024: Massive Drone attacks in Northern Israel by Hezbollah - Dozens of rockets launched, numerous drone interceptions have activated rocket sirens in towns along the Galilee Panhandle, near the Lebanon border. This follows earlier alerts of suspected drone infiltrations in the area.  [developing story]

• U.S. moves forces into the Middle East to prepare for 'imminent' Iranian strike on Israel

• Iran reportedly has prepared more than 100 cruise missiles for their retaliation strike against Israel

• The US is deploying additional warships and military aircraft to the Middle East

• The U.S. restricts staff travel in Israel amid probable attack on Israeli Soil. 

• Reports that Israeli fighter jets are airborne near Lebanon-Syria border

• Blinken calls on China, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey to pressure Iran not to attack Israel

• Canada's foreign minister says Middle East security situation is 'highly volatile' and 'could escalate without notice'

• CNN reports US officials saying their military will attempt to intercept any weapons that are launched at Israel

• Qatar and Kuwait Forbid US From Using their Bases to Attack Iran

• Turkey informed the United States that it cannot use its airspace against Iran.

• France Evacuates Families of Diplomats from Israel; UK Tells Citizens to Leave Israel

• United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are ordering their citizens to leave Israel and Iran immediately.

• Gold, Silver, and Oil all Spiking; Investors Believe Serious Conflict Israel-Iran is Imminent 

• India Issues Travel Warnings for Israel and Iran

• Germany calls on its nationals to leave Iran

• Austrian airlines suspends flights to Iran

• About 40 missiles were launched from #Lebanon into #Israel. IDF: Some of the missiles were intercepted. Two Hezbollah explosive UAVs also crossed from Lebanon into Israeli territory.

4/12/2024: Financial News Highlights (weekly round up)

• Nasdaq 100 falls by 1.7%, worst performance since early March. 

• Dow loses nearly 500 points as inflation woes meet an uneasy earnings start

• Stocks slumped after an underwhelming showing from the banking sector

• Big banks warn of uncertain year ahead after mixed financial performances in the first quarter

• US Imposes Sanctions on Use of Russian Metals on Exchanges, Restrictions on aluminum, copper, nickel made after April 13; Washington aiming to cut revenues that fund war in Ukraine

• Biden Administration increases cost of oil and gas drilling on public lands, raising royalty rates for the first time in a century.

• Global investors dumped equity funds for the second consecutive week in the week ended April 10, amid persistent inflation worries and diminishing expectations for a U.S. Federal Reserve rate cut in June.

• The Wall Street Journal reports Americans are turning to social services helpline 211 in economic emergencies. 

• Energy prices soar almost 30 percent under Biden — 13 times faster than previous 7 years

• US inflation jumps by 3.5% as fuel and housing costs rise dining out and clothing drove the increase. Prices rose 3.5% over the 12 months to March, up from 3.2% in February. Price rises will force the US central bank to keep interest rates higher for longer.

• FDIC Chief Says US Ready If Big Wall Street Bank Ever Failed. FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenberg on Wednesday laid out a blueprint for how regulators would deal with such a failure and seek to minimize costs.

4/12/2024: South Dakota reported its first dairy farm infected with H5N1 bird flu, bringing the total number of affected states to 8. According to USDA, four more dairy farms have become infected, bringing the total to 24. Other states impacted are North Carolina, Michigan, Idaho, Ohio, Texas, Kansas, and New Mexico. Related Article

• Pennsylvania (PDA) has issued an out of state Dairy Cow Quarantine it requires avian flu testing for any dairy cows coming to Pennsylvania from another state after several cases were detected in herds in the west and Midwest. Read More

4/12/2024: A Massive crane has collapse at the Samsung facility in Taylor, Texas - law enforcement and other emergency personnel are on the scene in Taylor, Texas, after a massive crane has collapsed at a Samsung facility. [developing story]

4/12/2024: Warrantless surveillance authority bill passed - The House has voted 273-147 to extend FISA Section 702 warrantless surveillance authority until 2026. The House voted to pass a bill Friday to reauthorize a powerful surveillance authority, apparently capping off a bruising months long debate over national security concerns and privacy protections for Americans. Americans will now be spied on without the need for a warrant, thanks to a push by Speaker Mike Johnson and White House. Related Article 

4/12/2024: Georgia health officials link third measles case to unvaccinated international traveler - US measles cases have surged in 2024 thanks to unvaccinated international travelers, according to the CDC. Health experts are concerned by an alarming increase in measles outbreaks in the U.S., which are already double the total of all last year. Related Article

4/11/2024: Russia Attacks Ukraine Gas Storage Sites - Driving Prices Higher. Ukraine’s facilities are linked to EU’s gas networks. This is propelling Europe's prices higher and providing a reminder of the threats to the country's energy infrastructure. Russia achieved the largest strategic strike in Ukraine in history. The attack came from three different sides there were more than 80 missiles and drones used. Related Article

• Russia’s Army now 15% LARGER then when it began it’s Ukraine offensive.

• Russia’s army has grown much larger despite initial losses.

• Over the past year Russia increased its Frontline troop strength from 360,000 to 470,000.

4/11/2024: Water Rationing in effect today for Bogota, Columbia - Bogotá and dozens of surrounding towns have been divided into nine different zones with domestic running water cut off for 24 hours in each zone on a rotation that will reset every 10 days. The measures will affect approximately 9 million people. Related Article 

4/11/2024: 100,000 people to evacuated in Russia due to flood - Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said the flooding “might be the biggest disaster in terms of its scale and impact in more than 80 years.” In Russia’s Orenburg region, nearly 13,000 residential buildings were flooded. The Ural River, which flows from Russia’s Ural Mountains through Kazakhstan to the Caspian Sea, was swelled this week by snow melt, causing a deluge in dozens of towns and cities along the border. Related Article

4/10/2024: Mass Shooting in NE, Washington, DC - 6 shot, including 2 children, in Washington, DC; suspect vehicle sought. One person was killed and five have non-life-threatening injuries. The incident occurred shortly after 6 p.m. ET in the Carver Langston neighborhood in Northeast D.C., on the 1100 block of 21st Street, NE, police said. Based on preliminary information, the suspects exited a vehicle and "began shooting into the crowd" outside. Related Article

4/10/2024: Mass Shooting in Philadelphia at Ramadan Event  Three people were shot and five people are in custody after gunfire erupted in a Philadelphia park where an Eid al-Fitr event, to mark the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, was taking place. Gunfire erupted around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday near Clara Muhammad Square in the area of 48th Street and Girard Avenue in the Parkside section as an estimated 1,000 people were at the celebration. Related Article

4/10/2024: Severe Tornado in Louisiana - [Update 4/11/2024: As of Thursday morning, more than 19,000 Slidell residents remain without power] Widespread damage was reported across Slidell and eastern St. Tammany Parish after a tornado ripped through the area Wednesday morning. Winds as high as 140 mph were detected in the area, Lucie said. Several buildings were severely damaged, and power lines and trees were toppled across the area. Slidell Police Chief Randy Fandal said the damage from the storm is the worst he has ever seen in the city. Slidell Fire Chief Chris Kaufmann said he believes three separate tornadoes touched down across the area, although that has not been confirmed by the NWS. Related Article  

4/10/2024: Immediate Evacuation Orders for Yazoo County, Mississippi - Levees are in danger of breaking. Mississippi residents in a Yazoo County neighborhood with an "elevated threat" for flooding Wednesday were told to leave immediately, as inches more rain are expected to fall today. Yazoo County is located nearly an hour northwest of Jackson. NWS preliminary reports show tornados, hail and severe wind struck Gulf Coast states Tuesday, downing trees and damaging buildings.  As of Wednesday morning, more than 150,000 people were without power across Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Related Article 

4/10/2024: Bird Flu Detected at NYC Parks - Health officials are growing more concerned about the disease and warn New Yorkers to keep their distance from wildlife. Philip Meade, a postdoctoral fellow at Icahn School of Medicine, says bird flu has been found in several geese, a peregrine falcon, a red-tailed hawk and a chicken in Marcus Garvey Park in Manhattan. Related Article

4/10/2024: Oil Prices Spike After Recent Israeli Strike on Gaza Strip - Oil prices settled up $1 on Wednesday after three sons of a Hamas leader were killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip, feeding worries that ceasefire talks might stall. Brent crude futures settled up $1.06, or 1.2%, to $90.48 per barrel while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures settled up 98 cents, or 1.2%, to $86.21.  Related Article

4/10/2024: 8 Dead After Cargo Ship Collides With Boat Near China's Hainan - The Panamanian container ship is docked at Sanya port, Hainan, and is under investigation over the accident. - Related Article

4/9/2024: Foreign terrorists targeting US 'increasingly concerning': FBI director - The warning comes as experts predict ISIS will try to carry out a U.S. attack. "Foreign terrorists, including ISIS, al-Qaida and their adherents, have renewed calls for attacks against Jewish communities here in the United States and across the West in statements and propaganda," Wray said. "The foreign terrorist threat and the potential for a coordinated attack here in the homeland, like the ISIS-K attack we saw at the Russia Concert Hall a couple weeks ago, is now increasingly concerning. Related Article

4/9/2024: CDC Issues New Alert After Human Case of Bird Flu in the U.S. - 6 Symptoms includes red eyes, fatigue, fever, flu-like symptoms, gut problems, seizers. Related Article

• Egg Prices are Rising - An outbreak of the bird flu is responsible for the culling of more than 1.6 million chickens at a large Texas producer. Read More

4/9/2024: Rising Gas Prices - The increase this year, prompted by geopolitical worries and supply constraints, has sent gasoline prices higher and could hamper efforts to tame inflation. Related Article

4/9/2024: Elon Musk - Musk warns of terrorist threat to US, a terrorist attack on the scale of September 11, 2001 could take place in the US unless the crisis at the southern border and the uncontrolled influx of migrants is addressed. Related Article

4/9/2024: Grenade found outside Chase Bank in Queens - Traffic was halted in the area for hours because of a flurry of NYPD activity. A bomb squad truck and other emergency vehicles were seen parked under an elevated subway track. The MTA said trains on the A line were bypassing that station as a precaution for more than an hour. Law enforcement sources said investigators were trying to determine just how the device got to the location. Related Article

4/9/2024: Biden Examining Options to Shut Down the Border - President Joe Biden said in an interview broadcast on Tuesday that he and his administration are trying to determine whether he has the authority to act on his own to shut down the U.S.'s southern border with Mexico to migrants, should it be deemed necessary. Related Article

4/9/2024: Anti-Israeli Protesters Shut Down Senate Cafeteria - Dozens of anti-Israel protesters were arrested Tuesday after storming through a Senate office building and briefly causing the cafeteria to be shut down, according to Capitol Police. The mob of demonstrators marched inside the Dirksen Senate Office Building at around 12:30 p.m. while chanting phrases such as “Senate can’t eat until Gaza eats!” - Related Article

4/8/2024: Netanyahu vows to carry out Rafah, Egypt invasion, which US says would be a mistake. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has escalated his pledge to invade Rafah. In a video statement Monday, he declared: “It will happen. Related Article

4/8/2024: Iran’s foreign minister accuses U.S. of giving Israel ‘green light’ to attack consulate in Syria - Hossein Amirabdollahian reiterated Tehran’s vows that it will respond to the attack, widely blamed on Israel, that appeared to signify an escalation of Israel’s targeting of military officials from Iran, which supports militant groups fighting Israel in Gaza, and along its border with Lebanon. Related Article

4/8/2024: Total Solar Eclipse - On Monday, April 8, 2024, there will be a total Solar Eclipse known as the "Great North American Eclipse" and it will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Note - The full story and video is now available via the Archives.

4/7/2024: Engine cover on a Southwest Airlines plane rips off, forcing the flight to return to Denver. A Southwest Airlines jet returned to Denver Sunday morning after the engine cover fell off and struck the wing flap during takeoff, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Related Article

4/7/2024: CDC Sends New ‘Health Alert’ Over Bird Flu in the US, Isolation Recommended - In a “health alert network” advisory, the federal agency said that health care providers should be aware of its “updated recommendations” on “instructions for infection prevention and control measures, using personal protective equipment (PPE), testing, antiviral treatment, patient investigations, monitoring of exposed persons” such as individuals who have been “exposed to sick or dead wild and domesticated animals and livestock with suspected or confirmed infection” with H5N1 avian influenza. Related Article

4/7/2024: Heavy Movement of Military Helicopters in Philly & New York on Sunday and Monday -  The United States Military has informed Scranton, PA Airport there will be several large movements of military helicopters from Rome, NY toward "the Philadelphia Area" today and Monday.  Won't say why. Related Article

4/7/2024: Massive Container Ship Loses Power near NYC’s Verrazzano-Narrow Bridge -  An enormous shipping container lost its power in New York harbor on Saturday.  The 1,100' container lost its propulsion as it traversed the Kill Van Kull waterway. The shipping container in Baltimore also lost its propulsion before the big crash. Related Article

4/7/2024: Anti-American Rhetoric at Protest in Michigan: “Death to America!” chant at pro-Palestinian rally in Dearborn, Michigan.  54% of residents in the city are Muslim with the city being dubbed the ‘Jihadi Capital of America.’ Video Via X

4/7/2024: Mexico withdraws diplomats from its embassy in Ecuador after raid. Ecuador’s raid on the Mexican embassy to arrest ex-Vice President Jorge Glas has severed ties between the two countries. Related Article 

• Mexico suspends ties with Ecuador after police raid embassy

• Latin American countries condemn Ecuador raid on Mexico embassy

• Mexico cuts ties with Ecuador after police raid embassy

4/6/2024: Biden could face issues getting on Ohio ballot over scheduling conflict related to the timing of the Democratic National Convention. The Ohio secretary of state’s office sent a letter to Ohio Democratic Chair Liz Walters on Friday asking for clarification of an “apparent conflict” in the state’s law regarding the deadline by which the party’s presidential nominee must be certified to Ohio’s secretary of state’s office and Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) nominating process. Related Article

4/5/2024: 4.8M earthquake hits NJ, felt in NYC, CT, Philly & Maryland - Figures indicated that more than 42 million people might have felt the quake. Check out the USGS interactive map to see if your area was affected. Aftershocks are still being reported in New York City at 6 p.m. EST - Related Article

• 4.4 Magnitude Earthquake strike Northern California - Related Article 

4/4/2024: Iran Notifies US of Intent to Bomb Israel [urgent/developing story] -  The Islamic Republic of Iran notified the United States of America, via the Swiss Embassy, of its decision to bomb targets inside Israel. (more updates coming soon)

4/4/2024:  Bird flu pandemic could be ‘100 times worse’ than COVID, scientists warn  after a rare human case was discovered in Texas, experts have warned. The H5N1 avian flu has spread rapidly since a new strain was detected in 2020, affecting wild birds in every state, as well as in commercial poultry and backyard flocks. (see related post below from 4/3/2024) Related Article

4/4/2024: Israel evacuating embassies around the world fearing Iran's reaction. Related Article

• Biden tells Netanyahu US Gaza policy dependent on “measurable” steps Israel takes to address “civilian harm, humanitarian suffering and the safety of aid workers” in Gaza. Residents of northern Gaza have been forced to survive on an average of 245 calories a day since January, international charity says. 

• The Israeli military halts leave for all combat units, calls up reservists, and blocks GPS coordinates in the country as Iran threatens retaliation for deadly strikes on its consulate in Damascus, Syria. 

• World Central Kitchen founder says Israeli’s army “systematically” destroyed the three vehicles carrying seven aid workers and demands nations involved to launch an independent investigation into the killings.

• At least 33,037 Palestinians have been killed and 75,668 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. The death toll in Israel from Hamas’s October 7 attack stands at 1,139 with dozens still held captive.

4/4/2024: Israel received intel on potential Iran attack - Senior Israeli officials say that Israel has obtained intelligence indicating that Iran may attack Israel from its territory using long-range ballistic missiles, drones and cruise missiles. The officials say that Israel has notified the United States that they would respond forcefully to any Iranian attack on Israeli territory. The attack is expected to come tonight or tomorrow night - Related Article

4/3/2024: Iran vows revenge on Israel within 48 Hours - Iran said on Tuesday it would take revenge on Israel for an airstrike that killed two of its generals and five military advisers at its embassy compound in Damascus, raising the risk of further escalation in conflict in the Middle East. The strike marked one of the most significant attacks yet on Iranian interests in Syria, where Israel has stepped up a long-running military campaign against Iran and groups it backs as the Gaza war has rippled around the Middle East. Related Article

• 8pm EST / 3am in Israel - heavy traffic leaving the city of Haifa, roads are jammed. Israelis are fleeing as they're scared of potential Iranian retaliation. 

• The Iranian government has blamed the U.S. for the airstrike on its consulate in Syria that left 7 key figures of the IRGC dead. The U.S. authorities are now beginning preparations to counter an Iranian offensive on their troops in the Middle East. Program director for the Middle East Institute, Charles Lister: "What the Iranians have always done for years when they have felt most aggressively targeted by Israel is not hit back at Israelis, but Americans."

• Iranian airspace cleared of commercial flights today

4/3/2024: Israel Communications Jammed by NATO - Some cities evacuated - Covert Intel, Developing Story; Iran to Attack Israel within the next 48 hours 

4/3/2024 - H5N1 Bird Flu - Dairy cows in Ohio have tested positive for H5N1 bird flu - Related Article

• Other states reporting cases: Texas, Michigan, Idaho, Mississippi, Iowa, Kansas

• Tests confirm avian flu on New Mexico dairy farm; probe finds cats positive - Related Article

• Human Case of Bird Flu (Rare) in Texas - Related Article

• Bird flu that infected Texas man has mutated to spread more easily, CDC reveals — as three pet cats die from virus and biggest egg producer in US is hit with outbreak 

4/3/2024: Taiwan hit with 7.7 Earthquake - Strongest in 25 years  (subsequent aftershocks from 7.0 to 5.0 and progressively lowering), 9 Dead 900 injured. Multiple buildings collapsed, tsunami warning issued, the internet is down in parts of Taiwan, highway was swaying, some roads split open due to the magnitude of the earthquake (developing story). Related Article 

4/3/2024: A bolt of lightning strikes the Statue of Liberty's torch - Related Article 

4/3/2024: Flight Diverted due to Engine Issue A United Airlines (Boeing 777-200) flight from San Francisco to Paris diverted to Denver due to an engine issue Read More - Additional Recent Airline Incidents Summarized Below 

• 4/3/2024: Alaska Airlines Boeing jet experiences flooding, turns around during flight from Hawaii to Anchorage - Read More 

• 4/1/2024: Cracked windshield forces United Airlines 777 to land in Chicago Read More

• 3/31/2024: Pilot on United Boeing 777 forced to return to airport after ‘poo from broken toilet flows into cabin Read More

• 3/21/2024: Man boards Delta flight using photo of another passenger’s ticket Read More

• 3/15/2024: A United Airlines plane that flew from San Francisco to Oregon was found to be missing an external panel upon landing. Read More 

• 3/14/2024: A plane from Dallas-Fort Worth arrived at San Francisco with a hydraulic leak and a "small amount of smoke. Read More

• 3/11/2024: A flight bound for San Francisco had to return to Sydney, Australia, because of a maintenance issue. Read More

• 3/9/2024: A United plane heading for Salt Lake City, Utah, was forced to return to Chicago O'Hare International Airport because of a maintenance problem. Read More 

• 3/8/2024: Wheel falls off a United Airlines jet after takeoff at San Francisco International Airport. The wheel came off the Boeing 777-200 jet seconds after takeoff and landed on vehicles parked in a nearby lot, causing significant damage. Read More

• 3/8/2024: A United Airlines Holdings Inc. aircraft ran off the taxiway into a grassy area after landing at Houston Read More

• 3/8/2024: A flight from San Francisco to Mexico City was forced to make an emergency landing in Los Angeles because of a hydraulics problem. Read More

• 3/4/2024: United flight out of Houston to Florida caught fire after bubble wrap was sucked into engine causing a fire. Read More

• 2/21/2024: Man on American Airlines tried to open emergency exit mid-flight Read More

• 2/20/2024: A man managed to board a flight at a London airport without a ticket by tailgating through checkpoints. Read More 

• 2/15/2024: Passenger allegedly boards flight from Nashville to Los Angeles without a ticket, went through all security check points. FBI Investigating. Read More

• 12/13/2024: FBI investigating how Russian man flew from Europe to LAX with no ticket, passport Read More

4/3/2024: Meta is DOWN: Instagram, WhatsApp and Facebook outage hits thousands of users worldwide due to issues with company's ads transparency tools; A heat map of user complaints at 3pm, as compiled by DownDetector, showed clusters of reported outages for Instagram, located across New York; Los Angeles; and Chicago. Related Article

4/3/2024: Man posing as T-Mobile worker climbed Miami cell tower, refused to come down. "The whole street was blocked, and then suddenly we see this person up there climbing and disconnecting cables," said Zandy. For four hours, police negotiated with Smith until he finally decided to come down around 11 a.m. - Read More

4/2/2024: Israel Attacked Damascus Embassy - Israel’s bombing of an Iranian Embassy building in Damascus, which killed senior Iranian military and intelligence officials, is a major escalation of what has long been a simmering undeclared war between Israel and Iran. Related Article 

4/2/2024: Taiwan detects 30 Chinese military aircraft, 9 navy vessels around nation - Related Article

4/2/2024: Measles Outbreak in U.S. in 17 states - California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington; “Measles, a serious respiratory disease caused by a virus, is one of the most contagious diseases,” the news release stated. “It is so contagious, that if one person has it, 9 out of 10 people who are around that person will also become infected if they are not protected either by immunization or prior illness.” Related Article

4/2/2024: US Cancels Latest Oil Reserve Refill Plan Amid High Prices - The Biden administration has abruptly canceled a plan announced last month to purchase up to three million barrels of oil as part of its effort to refill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). Currently contains 363.6 million barrels of oil [Official down to 17 days of supply in case of war], a 43% decline from January 2021 when President Biden took office, federal data shows. Related Article

4/2/2024: Joint Base Charleston in Position for Conflict - Over the course of several days, almost 1,500 pieces of equipment were loaded onto the USNS Charlton. The ship will be strategically positioned at sea for rapid deployment of a brigade combat team, ensuring a quick response in the event of any possible contingency. This is a quarterly event that allows the Army to place everything a unit would need, from tents to vehicles and concertina wire, at a forward location in the event of a contingency.

4/2/2024: Cicada-geddon - The "Cicada-geddon" insect invasion will be biggest bug emergence in centuries; Billions Of Cicadas From 2 Broods To Emerge In Maryland In 2024. A rare event that hasn't happened since 1803 will unfold in MD and elsewhere (Maryland to Oklahoma, Illinois to Alabama) two broods of cicadas will descend creating quite the noise. Cicadas should start tunneling toward the surface this spring when soil temperatures reach about 64 degrees. In Maryland, that should be sometime in late April through mid-May. Read More

• Tips for Repelling Cicadas: Use essential oils - spray trees and plants with smells that cicadas dislike, such as peppermint, vinegar, or eucalyptus.

3/30/2024: Part of California’s iconic Highway 1 collapses into ocean - The collapse occurred near Rocky Creek Bridge about 17 miles (27 kilometers) south of Monterey after the result of heavy rain, and traffic backed up for miles in both directions. Related Article

3/28/2024: NYC Putting Body Scanners In Subway in 90 Days - New York City plans to test weapons detection technology in the subway system in response to an increase in transit crimes, the mayor announced Thursday. The announcement comes after the city surged 1,000 officers and the state deployed National Guardsmen into the subway system in recent weeks as part of security measures after several high-profile crimes. Related Article

3/28/2024: Russian warships have entered the Red Sea - Russian Navy Enters Warship-Crowded Red Sea Amid Houthi Attacks; The Houthis have vowed to continue their attacks in the Red Sea as long as Israel continues to commit "crimes against Palestinians. Related Article

3/28/2024: Michigan Nuclear Power Plant to Restart - The Biden Administration will provide a $1.5 billion loan to restart a nuclear power plant in Michigan, which would be the first time a nuclear plant has been re-opened in the United States. But now the emphasis is on restarting it by late 2025, following support from the state of Michigan and the Biden administration. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said it would be the first nuclear power plant to be reopened in the U.S. It still faces hurdles, including inspections, testing and the blessing of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, known as the NRC. Related Article

3/28/2024: Whooping Cough Spreads in San Francisco, “highly contagious respiratory infection” spreading in San Francisco and in schools. 65 cases reported. Advisory issued. Related Article

• Alberta, Canada - Reporting a surge in cases over recent months. The provinces has already recorded 120 cases in 2024 read more

• People diagnosed with whooping cough should stay home for 21 days after coughing begins or for five days after the start of antibiotics.

3/27/2024: Puerto Rico Public Health Emergency - Dengue Fever is now a public health emergency in Puerto Rico, more than 500 cases reported. there have been 549 cases reported with the plurality occurring in San Juan, according to the island's health department. There has been a 140% increase this year in cases from Jan. 1 to March 21, compared to the same period last year, the department said Related Article

3/27/2024: Bill Gates Mosquito Farm - [Video] Related Information on BG Global Program

3/26/2024: (updated 4/15/2024) Baltimore "Francis Scott Key" Bridge Collapse - Shortly before 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, a Singaporean-flagged container vessel called Dali struck one of the 47-year-old bridge’s pillars. Just minutes before (hitting) the bridge, there was a total blackout on the ship, meaning that the ship lost engine power and electrical power. The ship is about 984 feet long – almost the length of three football fields. At the time of the crash, the Dali weighed 95,000 gross tons – or 213 million pounds; A massive cargo ship plowed into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday, causing the 1.6-mile structure to crumble like a pile of toothpicks – plunging cars and people into the frigid water below. Six construction workers filling potholes on the bridge vanished. The bodies of two were recovered Wednesday after they were found trapped in a red pickup in the Patapsco River, Maryland State Police said.  Related Article

• !Update: 4/15/2024: A fourth body has been recovered at the Key Bridge incident site in Baltimore, authorities confirm. The victim's identity has not been released

3/26/2024: More than 1,600 planes are hit by mysterious GPS jamming across Europe - with Russia feared to be responsible. Dr Melanie Garson (UCL Political Science) suggests Russia's dominance in the electronics war should be a 'wake-up call' for the UK's military; Since Sunday, aircraft operating over and in the vicinity of the Baltic Sea in northern Europe have experienced technical disruptions due to jamming, with reports from 1614 aircraft, predominantly civilian, indicating issues since the occurrence began. Although the majority of these incidents seem to be concentrated in Polish airspace, there are reports from OSINT blogs indicating that aircraft in the airspace of Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Latvia, and Lithuania have also encountered interference issues.    Related Article

3/24/2024: Deadly flesh-eating infection spreading at record levels in Japan, puzzling health officials - The NIID reported recorded 941 confirmed cases of STSS in 2023. In the first two months of 2024, 378 cases have already been recorded, infecting patients in all but two of Japan’s 47 prefectures; Related Article

3/22/2024: Crocus City (in Russia) Hall Terror Attack - The attack lasted about 20 minutes and in that time, at least 137 people were killed and at least 60 others critically wounded. Gunmen burst into the concert venue and fired automatic weapons at the crowd before setting a massive blaze to Crocus City Hall. Related Article

3/22/2024: Russia attacks Ukrainian electrical power facilities, including major hydroelectric plant causing widespread outages and killing at least three people. The attacks caused a fire at the Dnipro Hydroelectric Station, which supplies electricity to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe’s largest nuclear power installation.

• US has urged Ukraine to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries. The US has urged Ukraine to halt attacks on Russia's energy infrastructure, warning the drone strikes risk driving up global oil prices  Related Article

3/21/2024: DMV services disrupted nationwide by system outage - The American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators said the outage was due to “a loss in cloud connectivity” Thursday. Multiple states reported disrupted services at department of motor vehicles offices Thursday in a "national outage" that halted license-related transactions due to "a loss in cloud connectivity." The American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, a nongovernmental group that provides software to DMV offices, said Thursday: “The network that connects motor vehicle agencies across the United States to each other and to various verification services experienced an outage due to a loss in cloud connectivity.” Related Link

3/21/2024: Instagram Down — Instagram is down for several users worldwide, users report accounts getting logged-out automatically Related Article

3/21/2024: Police in Eastern Shore Suspended - A small town on Maryland’s Eastern Shore suspended its entire police force. Pending the results of an investigation by state prosecutors, a largely unexplained decision that has left residents shocked, skeptical and on edge. Related Article

3/21/2024: Texas Border Breach & Hundreds Invade - Currently happening due to a breach in the border fencing in El Paso, Texas, hundreds of illegal immigrants can be seen making a mad dash as they scramble across to cross into the United States. After Earlier, hundreds were pushed south of the concertina wire in the middle of the night by the Texas National Guard, but later they again breached the concertina and made a rush for the border wall; According to the New York Post, a total of 600 migrants gathered at the international border where the Texas National Guard tried pushing them back. Related Article

3/21/2024: Russia Announces Two New Armies - With his re-election accomplished, Russian President Vladimir Putin is now getting serious about the harm being done to Russia by the petulant and crazed collective West.   Defense Minister Shoigu has announced the creation of two new Army's for Russia, including fourteen (14) New Divisions of 10,000-15,000 troops each and sixteen (16) new divisions of 3,000-5,000 troops each. To put these two new armies in perspective, what Russia is now creating - above and beyond its present armed forces - is larger than the armies of: Germany, Britain (UK), France, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Czech Republic, Croatia, Finland, Sweden COMBINED. Related Article

3/21/2024: Israel to Invade Rafah, Egypt - A top Israeli official said his country's military is ultimately going to invade the southern Gaza city of Rafah and defeat Hamas “even if the entire world turns on Israel, including the United States.” - Related Article

• Update: Blinken Says Major Israeli Operation In Rafah Would Be 'Mistake' - Related Article

3/21/2024 - Taiwan & China Potential Conflict - Taiwan's defense ministry said Thursday that 32 Chinese military aircraft were detected around the island in a 24-hour window -- the second-highest number this year. Related Article

3/21/2024: [updated] Florida recorded three cases of leprosy so far in 2024, through March 26, out of a population of nearly 23 million people, according to U.S. Census data — one leprosy case each in Polk, Sumter and Volusia counties, all in the Central Florida region. Related Article 

3/20/2024 - President Biden warns states of cyberattack threat to water - The Biden administration warned governors Tuesday that “disabling” cyberattacks are targeting drinking water and wastewater systems throughout the country and urged them to help identify and address any vulnerabilities. Water and wastewater systems can represent an “attractive target” for cyberattacks because of their essential nature and frequent lack of “resources and technical capacity to adopt rigorous cybersecurity practices,” said Michael Regan, EPA Related Article 

3/19/2024 - US Military in Taiwan - Taiwan has confirmed there are U.S. troops stationed on its islands in the Taiwan Strait on a permanent basis, including an island just over a mile off China's southeast coast. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in 2023 paved the way for their arrival to conduct training programs for troops on Taiwan's front line.  Related Article 

3/18/2024: Total Solar Eclipse - On Monday, April 8, 2024, there will be a total Solar Eclipse and it will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada

3/13/2024: Avoid Tap Water for Nasal Rinsing - CDC issues warning against nasal rinsing using tap water after 10 patients contracted deadly brain-eating amoeba - Related Article 

• There was a fatal case of issue in Florida in March 2023 - Related Article

3/13/2024: Putin warns the West: Russia is ready for nuclear war -  President Vladimir Putin told the West on Wednesday that Russia was technically ready for nuclear war and that if the U.S. sent troops to Ukraine, it would be considered a significant escalation of the conflict.

3/13/2024: Ukraine hit 3 Russian oil refineries - Ukraine has launched drone attacks on at least three oil refineries deep inside Russia, as Kyiv intensifies its cross-border strikes days before President Vladimir Putin’s anticipated re-election (March 15-17, 2024 election which is certain to give him another six years in power) - Related Article

3/13/2024: Major Measles Outbreak - Reported In 17 US States As Migrant Shelters Become Infectious Disease Breeding Grounds. States Affected: AZ, CA, FL, GA, IN, IL , LA, MD, MI, MN, MO, NJ, NY, OH, PA, VA, WA. CDC data shows 45 measles cases were recorded in the first two months across 17 states. Related Article

3/13/2024: Pentagon alerted to potential 'maritime mass migration' from Haiti amid Caribbean nation's spiraling conflict. Florida monitoring possible surge in Haitian illegal migrants. Miami border officials have been instructed to brace for an influx of migrants from Haiti in the wake of the country's seizure by violent gangs, according to the NY Post. Gangs have released thousands of inmates from the country’s prisons. Lawlessness now prevails across the country. The streets of Port-au-Prince are covered with bodies. Early numbers reveal roughly 15,000 people have been internally displaced in recent days due to the gang takeover of the country, this number is expected to grow immensely. Related Article

• Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is deploying 250 law enforcement officers and an air-and-sea fleet to Florida’s southern waters to help curb a potential wave of Haitian immigrants. 

3/12/2024 - FBI director warns of Potential Terror Attacks on the scale of 9/11 - posed by ISIS organizations and illegal immigrants - Related Article

3/8/2024: Bubonic Plague - There has been one Human Plague Case in New Mexico in 2024; The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) announces a Lincoln County man has died of plague after being hospitalized for the disease. The case is the first human case of plague in New Mexico since 2021 and the first death since 2020. Related Article

3/4/2024: Middle East Incident - Three underwater data cables through the Red Sea are cut amid Houthi rebel attacks in the area. Related Article

3/4/2024: Texas Border Update - Judge blocks Texas law that gives police broad powers to arrest migrants who illegally enter US. And that’s because Biden filed an emergency motion with the Supreme Court demanding that they PERMANENTLY BLOCK Texas from protecting itself from the invasion. Texas will not be allowed to arrest or deport illegals until the Supreme Court issues a final ruling on the issue. Related Article

3/3/2024: Russia will cut oil production by almost half a million barrels per day in the second quarter of 2024, Russian government says. Related Article

2/14/2024: National Security Threat: White House to brief lawmakers on 'serious national security threat' related to Russia - The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee warned of a serious threat without providing details ahead of a White House briefing on Thursday. Four sources said it is related to a Russian military capability. Related Article [Developing Story]

• Internal House Meeting - Within the offices of the US House of Representatives is a SCIF: Segmented, Compartmentalized, Information Facility.  Anyone entering the SCIF is searched for any electronic devices, which are forbidden.  Entrants are also barred from taking any notes.   They are "read-in" on the Classified Material and when they depart the facility, they are reminded they are forbidden to talk to anyone about what they have learned under Penalty of prison. Read Full Article Here [Opinion]

2/14/2024: Defcon Threat Level Raised to Level 2 in the United States. Related Article [Developing Story]; 

2/14/2024: Ukraine Sinks Russian Navy Warship in Black Sea - Related News Article/Video

2/14/2024: Iran Gas Pipeline Explosion: Iran condemns ‘terrorist’ attack on gas pipelines. The explosions took place on the south-north gas pipeline, reportedly cutting off gas supply to industries and offices. Related Article

2/13/2024: Iran Says It Launched Ballistic Missile From Warship For The First Time Allowing It To Hit Any Location In The World - Iran claims that the ability to launch a ballistic missile from a warship gives it the mobility it needs to hit any location in the world. Related Article 

2/12/2024:  Fungal infection Candida Auris that causes severe illness spreads into Massachusetts   Related Article 

• Colonization People can get C. Auris on their skin and other body sites without getting sick or having an infection. You may hear healthcare providers refer to this as ‘colonization.’ Someone who is colonized can still transmit the disease onto surfaces or objects that they contact, which can then spread it to other patients. 

• Treatment: Unknown. This illness is multidrug resistant. 

• Cases in Washington State Recorded - Related Article 

2/12/2024: 13 Earthquakes Hit California within 25 minutes - The USGS recorded 13 earthquakes in 25 minutes and dozens more throughout the night and morning, including at least 20 registering more than 3.0 magnitude. A 4.5-magnitude quake hit at 12:42 a.m., the agency said. Related Article

2/7/2024: Chinese hackers have access to Key U.S. Infrastructure (& have had access for 5 years) which includes the water system, energy, communications, transportation and waste systems. Get Prepared Now! Hackers can shut down and infiltrate key infrastructure essential to our every day lives. Related Article

2/6/2024: National Sheriffs Conference - advised terror attack in the U.S. is imminent - “It’s gonna happen here,” Sheriff Jones said Tuesday. “It’s going to be all hands on deck. We want you to be concerned now. You are a fool if you don’t listen to the chatter.” Related Article

2/2/2024: The US carried out over 125 air strikes and hit 85 targets in Syria and Iraq, these are terrorist groups tied to Iran. This is retaliation for the American Troops harmed and killed by Iran backed terrorist groups. This is a multi-day event. Related Article

1/30/2024: America will respond to drone attack by Iran backed terrorist groups according to White House and statements released by Biden. Related Article

1/28/2024: 3 U.S. Service Members Killed, 40 or more others Service Members Injured in Jordan Following Drone Attack by Iran backed Terrorist Groups. - Related Article

1/26/2024: Governor Abbott & President Biden Standoff: Texas Border Issue - Abbot is not allowing illegal immigrants to entry, 25 States backing Texas; Will this lead to Civil War and if it does are you prepared? If this situation escalates, martial law may be declared. - Related Article

1/11/2024: URGENT - U.S. & Allies Hits Several Targets in Yemen. Houthi Leader says Response will be Severe Source: AP News

1/11/2024: American Red Cross declares emergency blood shortage as nationwide donors hit all-time low. This week, the Red Cross announced the number of nationwide blood donors hit an all-time low in the past 20 years. Related Article

1/09/2024: Explosion at historic Texas hotel  - injures 21 and scatters debris in downtown Fort Worth.  Authorities said they believe a gas leak caused the explosion — which happened in the middle of the afternoon at the start of the workweek — and said the hotel had been undergoing construction. Related Article

us debt clock 

Current US National DEBT AS OF 4/12/2024: 

$34 Trillion (& counting)

Recent Cyber Attacks

5/14/2024 Update

4/12/2024: 

• Emergency services communication system in Kansas were down due to cyber incident

• Cyber incident at North Bay VacaValley hospital - Vacaville, California

• Ransomware at New Mexico Highlands University - Las Vegas, Nevada

• Cyber attack on Hernando County Government in Brooksville, Florida

• Cyber attack on Swinomish Casino & Lodge - Anacortes

1st Quarter Review: On average, the weekly number of cyberattacks per single organization stood at 1,308, which was the highest ever. The most affected industries are education and research, which were targeted by 2454 attacks per organization weekly on average. Government and military organizations were attacked 1692 times each week on average, the number for healthcare was at 1605.

03/31/2024:

• March 31, 2024: Traverse City Area Public Schools - Cyber attack on a school district in Michigan

• March 29, 2024: East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana

• March 29, 2024:  Omni Hotels & Resorts - Dallas, Texas

• March 25, 2024: Ransomware at a city government in St. Cloud Florida

• March 14, 2024: Roku - more than 500,000 accounts impacted in cyberattack

• March 15, 2024: International Monetary Fund

• March 15, 2024: Fujitsu 

• March 18, 2024: Nations Direct Mortgage

• March 2024: Ransomware at Gilmer County government in Ellijay Georgia 

02/29/2024:

• February 16, 2024: University in Oklahoma

• February 28, 2024: Lurie Children's Hospital

• February 26, 2024: Mechanical engineering company in the Netherlands

• February 2024: Insomniac Games

• Cyber attack on a school district Groton, Connecticut, Groton Public Schools 

01/30/2024:

• Fulton County, Georgia has been hit with a cyberattack - An unexpected outage has downed the county’s phone systems and brought certain online transactions to a halt, including those filing property tax, firearms and marriage licenses, the county said in a statement posted on its website. Most offices were also unable to accept phone calls, officials said, Bloomberg reports 

Recent Economic News - Layoff Summary 

As of 5/01/2024

• CNBC reports that Google has started laying off hundreds of 'core' employees and has begun hiring for the same roles in countries such as India and Mexico;  

• Barely two weeks after initiating layoffs for at least 14,000 staffers, Tesla is now reportedly laying off hundreds more — including senior executives and the majority of its Supercharging team. 

As of 4/12/2024

• Apple has laid off over 600 employees in California

• Checkr, a background-screening platform, laid off 32% of its staff or 382 workers. 

• Amazon announced it would be laying off several hundred employees in its Sales, Marketing and Global Services

• ChowNow, an online food ordering platform, laid off 20% of workers or about 60 people. 

• Best Buy lays off some Geek Squad, phone support workers amid shift to AI

• Genentech is laying off 265 workers

• Family Dollar to cut over 250 jobs in Ohio.

• Ted Baker to close 15 stores and cut 245 jobs

• Quaker Oats factory in Illinois city is closing permanently, laying off more than 500 employees. 

• Hartford Public Schools will cut nearly 400 positions next school year due to a massive budget deficit.

As of 3/21/2024: March 2024 Lay off Summary

• Unilever: Cuts 7,500 jobs to save costs and spins off ice cream unit on March 19

• UCars: Lays off staff and replaces CEO on March 18 after being served legal notice for debts

• Paytm Payments Bank: Lays off 20% of employees on March 15

• Metro Bank: Cuts 1,000 jobs and cancels seven-day branch openings on March 14

• IBM: Begins layoffs amid a push toward AI on March 13

• 150 John Deere employees: Placed on "indefinite layoff" on March 12

• Deadspin's Entire Staff: Laid off as G/O Media sells sports news site to European Startup on March 11

• Council on the Environment, Inc. d/b/a GrowNYC

• The Arena Group Holdings, Inc.

• API Heat Transfer Inc. d/b/a Airtech

• Jindal Films Americas LLC - 98 staff

• Velan Studios Inc. 

• SWISSPORT CARGO SERVICES LP - 235 staff 

• Summit Hill Foods dba Whole Foods - 46 staff

• Social Development Commission - 28 staff

• Zoomlion Heavy Industry NA, Inc. - 31 staff

• Vascular Management Consultants, LLC and K&H Medical, PLLC

• K & H Medical, PLLC d/b/a Mobile Vascular Physicians

• FedEx Supply Chain, Inc. - 326 staff

• ABM General Services - 102 staff

• Hollingsworth LLC - 74 staff

• Bose Corporation - 68 staff

• Amsive LLC - 60 staff

• TuSimple, Inc. - 8 staff

• Stanley Black and Decker - 127 staff

• Signify North America Corporation - Genlyte Thomas LLC - 109 staff

• Charles River Laboratories - 14 staff

Note: There have been more than 46,000 layoffs in the tech industry in the first two months of 2024, according to online tracker Layoffs (as of 3/12/2024)

As of 2/15/2024: February 2024 Lay Off Summary

• Morgan Stanley Is Laying Off Several Hundred in Wealth-Management Division

• Cisco to lay off 5% of workforce

• Paramount Global to lay off 800 employees 

• Instacart lays off 250 employees, or 7% of its workforce

• Fort Worth ISD to undergo layoffs soon

• Blackbird Interactive confirmed layoffs  

• Amazon (Amazon Pharmacy and One Medical Staff)

• Astarte Medical

• BillGO

• DocuSign

• Drizly

• Fireblocks

• Getaround

• Grammarly

• Impact.com

• Meetup

• Nomad Health

• Pure Storage

• Tenable

• Zwift

• LianBio laying off more than 50 full-time employees,

• Roche will be cutting 345 jobs

• Sandoz will be shutting down one of its sites in North Carolina and axing 213 positions

• Synlogic will be cutting 90% of its staff, including CEO Aoife Brennan

• Rallybio Corporation is laying off nearly half of its workforce—19 people

As of 1/30/2024: January 2024 Lay Off Summary 

• PayPal Announce Company Wide Layoffs, 2,500 jobs; approx. 9% of its workforce

• UPS cutting 12,000 jobs 

• Wall Street Journal Plans Layoffs 

• Block (including Cash App, Square), 1,000 jobs

• Northwest Texas Healthcare System announces layoffs

• Los Angeles Times Announced at least 115 reporters would be let go, roughly 20% of its staff

• Time Union laid off 15% of unit members, with additional layoffs in edit and business

• National Geographic laid off all staff writers, 17 positions total, as the paper makes a digital shift.

• Business Insider will be cutting approximately 8% of its workforce, 

• Forbes will layoff 3% of its workers. 

• Microsoft cuts +1,900 roles

• - Twitch cuts 35% of workforce 

• Unity Software 25% 

• Brex 20% 

• Discord 17% 

• Wayfair 13% 

• Riot Games 11% 

• Duolingo 10% 

• Rent the Runway 10% 

• eBay 9% 

• Blackrock 3% 

• Citigroup cuts 20,000 roles 

• Google cuts +1,000 

• Amazon cuts several hundred roles