WORLD NEWS
Hurricane Beryl strengthens into a Category 4 storm as it nears the Caribbean!
Hurricane Beryl strengthened into a Category 4 storm on June 30, becoming the first hurricane to form during the 2024 season.
Located about 250 miles southeast of Barbados in the Caribbean, Beryl had 130 mile-per-hour winds, the National Hurricane Center said in a 5 p.m. EDT advisory. The storm is expected to hit the Windward Islands on July 1 as a major Category 3 hurricane or higher before it hits part of Jamaica in the coming days.
Hurricane warnings were in effect for Barbados, St. Lucia, Grenada, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. A tropical storm warning was in effect for Martinique, and a tropical storm watch was issued for Dominica and Trinidad.
Beryl is expected to pass just south of Barbados early this morning and then head into the Caribbean Sea as a major hurricane on a path toward Jamaica. It is expected to weaken by midweek but still remain a hurricane as it heads toward Mexico, according to the center.
Other forecasting models suggest that Beryl could instead pass into the Gulf of Mexico between Cuba and Mexico before reaching the mainland United States.
However, other models show that the storm could hit Mexico before its remnants pass into parts of Texas, and more models suggest that the storm could pass through southern Mexico or other Central American countries before its remains reach the Pacific Ocean.
U.S. military bases in Europe put on heightened security alert!
Several U.S. military bases in European countries such as Germany and Italy were placed
on an increased security alert over the weekend.Bases such as the U.S. Army Garrison in Stuttgart, Germany, the U.S. Army’s Rheinland-Pfalz base, and the U.S. Army’s Ramstein Air Base were among the bases that were placed on a threat level of “Charlie,” according to Stars and Stripes. This came after the U.S. European Command (EUCOM), which is headquartered in Stuttgart, issued an increased threat level to “Charlie.”
Other U.S. military bases such as the U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz’s base in Baumholder, Germany, and other military bases in Romania, Bulgaria, and the Aviano Air Base in Italy also increased their threat level to “Charlie.”
The outlet noted that another base in Germany, the Spangdahlem Air Base, directed military members not to wear their uniforms off base, or even when commuting to work.
According to the U.S. Army’s website, Charlie is one of five security levels in the Force Protection Condition (FPCON).
The lowest threat level is, “Normal,” which is followed by threat level “Alpha,” which applies when “there is an increased general threat of possible terrorist activity against personnel or facilities,” according to the U.S. Army’s website.
Bravo is the third threat level, which “applies when an increased or more predictable threat of terrorist activity exists.”
After the Bravo threat level is Charlie, the second highest threat level, which “applies when an incident occurs or intelligence is received” that indicates “some form of terrorist action or targeting against personnel or facilities is likely.”
The “Delta” threat level, which is the highest, “applies in the immediate area where a terrorist attack has occurred or when intelligence has been received that terrorist action against a specific location or person is imminent,” according to the U.S. Army’s website.
EUCOM explained in a statement that it is “constantly” reviewing “factors” that may affect “the safety of the U.S. military community abroad,” according to the outlet.
A United States official stated that the current threat level had not been seen “in at least 10 years,” according to CNN.
Chinese rocket crashes into a nearby mountain after an accidental launch (VIDEO)!
A rocket belonging to a Chinese civilian aerospace manufacturer crashed into a mountain
after accidentally launching Sunday, the company announced.
Space Pioneer, also known as Beijing Tianbing Technology, was attempting a ground test with their Tianlong-3 rocket when a “structural failure” caused it to separate from the launch pad, , “Due to the structural failure of the connection between the rocket body and the test platform, the first- stage rocket was separated from the launch pad,” the company stated.
“After liftoff, the onboard computer was automatically shut down, and the rocket fell into the deep mountains 1.5 kilometers [0.9 miles] southwest of the test platform. The rocket body fell into the mountain and disintegrated.”
No injuries were reported as a result of the crash.
France’s high-stakes election began Sunday!
Voters across mainland France have begun casting ballots Sunday in the first round of parliamentary elections that could see a change of leadership and a win for France’s nationalist parties. Many French voters are frustrated about inflation and economic concerns, as well as President Emmanuel Macron’s leadership, which some voters see as out-of- touch with their lives. France’s ongoing support for Ukraine is another issue on the table. Marine Le Pen’s nationalist National Rally party has dominated all pre- election opinion polls.
A new coalition on the left, the New Popular Front, is also posing a challenge to Mr. Macron and his centrist alliance Together for the Republic.
There are 49.5 million registered voters who will choose 577 members of the National Assembly, France’s influential lower house of parliament, during the two-round voting.
France’s National Rally Party leads in the first round legislative elections, projections!
French voters propelled the nationalist National Rally to a strong lead in first-round legislative elections Sunday, according to polling projections.
French polling agencies indicated that President Emmanuel Macron’s grouping of centrist parties could finish a distant third in the first-round ballot. Their projections put Mr. Macron’s camp behind both Marine Le Pen’s National Rally and a new left-wing coalition of parties.
Projections by polling agencies suggest the National Rally stands a good chance of winning a majority in the lower house of parliament for the first time, with an estimated one-third of the first- round vote, nearly double their 18 percent in the first round in 2022. The party is building on its success in European elections that prompted Mr. Macron to dissolve parliament and call the surprise vote. The second round will be decisive but leaves open huge questions on how Mr. Macron will share power with a prime minister who doesn’t agree with most of his policies.
Many French voters are frustrated about inflation and economic concerns, as well as Mr. Macron’s leadership, which some voters see as out-of-touch with their lives. France’s ongoing support for Ukraine is another issue on the table. The two-round elections will wrap up July 7.
German Diplomat: Germany has shifted China strategy amid Beijing’s changing behavior!
The Chinese regime’s changing behavior toward the international community has forced Germany to revisit its China policy, according to top German diplomat Director-General for Foreign Affairs Thomas Bagger. The state secretary of the German Foreign Ministry stated that Germany’s position on China, based on its tripartite approach— as a partner, competitor, and systemic rival—has shifted to rival.
Mr. Bagger noted that Germany is now changing its approach to China, focusing on de-risking and reducing dependence on Beijing, particularly after the COVID pandemic. This includes reducing reliance on China for medical equipment, basic medical supplies, and raw materials for technology. Mr. Bagger said Germany is being open with Beijing about its changing behavior. “China’s approach to us, to its neighbors, to the international arena has changed in a way that forces us to revisit our own China policy. This is a reaction to your behavior,” he said.
U.S. NEWS, POLITICS & GOVERNMENT
Supreme Court rules Trump has some immunity in landmark decision!
The Supreme Court ruled 6–3 that presidents enjoy immunity from criminal prosecution for official, but not unofficial, acts—a win for former President Donald Trump, who will likely face an easier trial in Washington. Former President Trump had asked the court to rule that he enjoyed immunity from criminal prosecution for his official acts unless Congress had impeached and convicted him for those acts.
The Supreme Court held that: “Under our constitutional structure of separated powers, the nature of Presidential power entitles a former President to absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions within his conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority. And he is entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts. There is no immunity for unofficial acts.”
Chief Justice John Roberts penned the majority opinion, which was joined in full by Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh. Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined part of the opinion while issuing a concurrence of her own.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor penned a dissent, which was joined by Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson and Elena Kagan. Justice Jackson also issued a dissent.
Former President Trump responded to the decision on TruthSocial: “BIG WIN FOR OUR CONSTITUTION AND DEMOCRACY. PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!”
The ruling is a partial win for former President Trump, who asked for a broader form of immunity than the justices ultimately granted. D.C. District Judge Tanya Chutkan had rejected the idea that presidents enjoyed immunity from criminal prosecution as did the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
Today’s decision remands the case to the district court for further consideration.
Trump ally Steve Bannon is reporting to the DC gulag today to begin a 4-month sentence!
Steve Bannon, an influential Donald Trump ally, is due to report to prison on Monday to serve a four-month sentence after he was convicted for defying a congressional subpoena from the committee that probed the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack.
Bannon is expected to serve his time at a low security federal prison in Danbury, Connecticut, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Trump is the Republican candidate challenging Democratic President Joe Biden in the Nov. 5 U.S. election. The sentence could keep Bannon imprisoned almost to Election Day. Inmates in federal prison do not have access to the internet or social media, making it difficult for Bannon to communicate with fans of his War Room podcast.
Bannon lost a last-ditch effort Friday to stay out of prison when the Supreme Court rejected his request to delay his sentence while he exhausts the appeals process for his conviction.
He was sentenced to four months after being convicted in 2022 of two misdemeanor counts of contempt of Congress. He was charged after he refused to turn over documents or testify to a Democratic-led House of Representatives committee investigating the Capitol riot by Trump supporters who had sought to prevent congressional certification of Biden’s 2020 election win.
Bannon was a key adviser to Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, then served as his chief White House strategist during 2017 before a falling out between them that was later patched up. He also has played an instrumental role in right-wing media.
He initially was allowed to delay starting his prison term while he appealed his conviction to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The D.C. Circuit ultimately upheld his conviction, prompting U.S. District Court Judge Carl Nichols to order Bannon to report to prison.
Bannon will not be the first former top official from Trump’s White House to go to prison for refusing to cooperate with the committee. Peter Navarro, a former Trump trade adviser, reported to prison in March after being given a four-month sentence. The Supreme Court declined Navarro’s request to remain free during his appeal.
Trump-Biden debate brings in 51-million TV viewers across networks; 30-million more online!
Over 51 million people tuned into the June 27 television debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, according to Nielsen Fast National data as cited by host CNN (as of 5 p.m. ET on June 28).
The 51.3 million people tuning into the debate is the lowest TV audience since the first 2012 presidential debate between President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. That garnered more than 46 million viewers, according to Nielsen.
While CNN hosted the debate, it was also simulcast across 22 networks and streamed online.
Of the 51.3 million TV viewers, 9.5 million tuned in on CNN’s main channel; 9.3 million on Fox News; 9.2 million on ABC News; and 4.1 million on MSNBC, according to CNN.
A Gold Star mother told the Daily Caller News Foundation a “change” in leadership is needed after President Joe Biden said Thursday that no servicemembers had died on his watch.
Biden falsely claimed during a debate against former President Donald Trump on Thursday that he was “the only president in a century” who has not had any U.S. troops die or get killed anywhere in the world during his tenure. Alicia Lopez, mother of Cpl. Hunter Lopez — one of the 13 servicemembers who was killed during the botched Afghanistan withdrawal in 2021 — told the Daily Caller News Foundation that Biden’s comments were “sad” and said it was “time for a change” in White House leadership.
Biden’s performance at the debate was widely criticized and left many of his supporters alarmed. The president appeared visibly tired, made false claims and seemed unable to complete sentences during his spar with Trump.
Several high-profile Democratic operatives and commentators are now trying to get Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race. The New York Times editorial board said Friday that betting on Biden in the race was a “reckless gamble” and that the president should withdraw for the sake of the Democratic party.
Following President Joe Biden’s disastrous debate performance on Thursday, the world saw that his cognitive decline isn’t some right-wing conspiracy theory fueled by “cheapfakes” – and that the White House’s desperate attempts to cover for Biden’s obvious dementia were nothing more than propaganda.
It’s so bad that the NY Times Editorial Board has called for Biden to quit the 2024 race.
It’s so bad that the White House is now telling Axios that Biden is ‘dependably engaged’ between the hours of 10am to 4pm, and that outside of that range, he’s ‘more likely to have verbal miscues and become fatigued.’
In other words: he’s sundowning hard.
Which would explain why he looked like he swapped out Hunter’s Finest for his morning sugar at a mid-day rally on Friday, with no hint of a ‘cold’ we’ve been told explains his debate performance.
Yet, Biden will tune out calls to exit the race unless his ‘kitchen cabinet’ of lifelong family advisors counsels him to do so, Axios also reports.
According to Axios, “The only way President Biden steps aside, despite his debate debacle, is if the same small group of lifelong loyalists who enabled his run suddenly — and shockingly — decides it’s time for him to call it quits.”
Dr. Jill Biden; his younger sister, Valerie Biden; and 85-year-old Ted Kaufman, the president’s longtime friend and constant adviser — plus a small band of White House advisers — are the only Biden deciders.
This decades- long kitchen cabinet operates as an extended family, council of elders and governing oligarchy. These allies alone hold sway over decisions big and small in Biden’s life and presidency.
Meanwhile, Democratic congressional leaders are receiving panicked calls and texts from colleagues who think Biden’s weakness could also cost the party House and Senate seats in November.
White House aides admit Biden is only “dependably engaged” between 10 am – 4 pm!
White House aides have reportedly claimed that President Joe Biden is only “dependably
engaged” during a six-hour window span.
Several White House aides have reportedly “seen flashes of an absent-minded Biden” during certain instances, while also seeing Biden appear “engaged” during other instances, eight current and former White House aides reportedly told Axios.
Sources told the outlet that Biden is reportedly “dependably engaged” between the hours of “10am to 4pm.”
The sources added that “outside of that time range” or even when Biden is traveling abroad, “verbal miscues” and fatigue are more likely to occur.
This comes after Biden appeared to freeze and looked confused during the presidential debate, which began at 9:00 p.m. Eastern on Thursday against former President Donald Trump.
Biden also spoke with a hoarse voice, mumbled, and repeated debunked claims like the “very fine people” hoax and the “suckers and losers” false claim.
The 81-year-old president’s debate performance has raised doubts about whether he is mentally and physically capable of serving another term as president, with several people suggesting that Biden be replaced.
Several donors have also been sent into panic mode after seeing Biden’s poor debate performance and have called for him to drop out, while others have reportedly backed away from Biden.
Despite these concerns, the Biden campaign has maintained that Biden is “not dropping out” of the presidential race. Former President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton issued statements of support after Biden’s performance at the presidential debate.
Federal government to pause student loan payments and interest for 3-million borrowers!
In response to court rulings blocking key elements of the federal government’s new student loan repayment program, the Biden administration will be giving approximately 3 million borrowers a reprieve from their monthly payments.
The 3 million borrowers eligible for the pause are enrolled in the income-driven repayment program dubbed SAVE, and have a monthly payment that is more than $0 a month, the U.S. Department of Education said. About 4.5 million SAVE enrollees who qualify for $0 payments because of low incomes will not be included in the pause.
The payment pause is similar to the COVID-19 student loan relief that lasted three and a half years from March 2020 through September 2023, during which borrowers didn’t have to pay monthly bills and interest didn’t accrue.
Borrowers who are eligible for the new pause will be informed directly in the coming days.
Illegal immigrants barred from sleeping overnight in Boston’s Logan Airport …
Massachusetts authorities have announced that people will be barred from sleeping overnight on the floors of Boston’s Logan International Airport, where some 100 illegal immigrants have been staying in what amounts to a makeshift shelter.
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey made the announcement in a recent press release, in which she said that a team of state officials had been dispatched to the southern border to notify border officials and NGOs that Massachusetts has run out of shelter space.
Illegal immigrants and homeless U.S. citizens will be barred from staying overnight at Logan Airport starting July 9th, Ms. Healey stated.
Those who have been sleeping overnight at the airport and were on an emergency shelter waitlist will be offered accommodation at a former minimum-security correctional facility in Norfolk, per the release.
The facility, which opened this week, is the refurbished Bay State Correctional Center. It will accommodate up to 140 families, or some 450 people, when operating at full capacity.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Scammers are impersonating water, electric and gas companies, BBB warns!
Scammers are impersonating utility company representatives to defraud people by threatening the deactivation of service, the nonprofit Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning.
In utility scams, the criminals “may impersonate water, electric, and gas company representatives, threatening residents and business owners with deactivation of service if they don’t pay up immediately,” a recent BBB alert reads.
Typically, the scammers create an environment of false urgency by claiming that customers need to make an overdue payment within the hour or risk having their essential utilities shut down. The frequency of scams increases during certain times of the year, however, according to the nonprofit.
“Utility scams happen any time of year, but will typically pop up during extreme cold or heat events when many people are more likely to need their heat or air conditioning,” the BBB website states.
In some instances, a fake representative may visit a home wearing a lookalike uniform and claim that the electric meter isn’t working properly and should immediately be replaced, according to the BBB’s alert.
Scammers seek entry to homes to perform repairs or energy audits, but with the intent to steal valuables and siphon off “personally identifiable information that just happens to be out in plain sight,” according to the website.
Offering energy discounts is another tactic.
In certain cases, the criminals may attempt to access the homeowner’s electricity account information to switch the service to another utility provider without consent in an illegal practice called “slamming.”
Warren Buffett reveals plans for $130-billion fortune in his will …
Famed investor Warren Buffett has revealed details of his will, with the 93-year-old founder of Berkshire Hathaway charting a charitable course for his vast $130 billion fortune after he passes away.
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Mr. Buffett said that he intends for nearly all of his immense fortune to be put into a charitable trust that will be used to help the less fortunate.
“It should be used to help the people that haven’t been as lucky as we have been,” Mr. Buffett told the outlet.
His three children—Howard, Susan, and Peter Buffett—will manage the trust, he said. In order for a donation to be made, all three will have to be in agreement on the cause, he said.
In 2006, Mr. Buffett committed to making annual gifts to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, as well as four foundations associated with his family. At the time, it was a mystery what he would do with his fortune after his death. However, in the recent interview, Mr. Buffett revealed that the donations to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation would come to an end.
“The Gates Foundation has no money coming after my death,” Mr. Buffett told the outlet.
COSTCO plans to build an 800-unit apartment complex in South Los Angeles …
Costco is building a ‘mixed use’ 800-unit apartment complex in south Los Angeles – with 184 units designated as affordable housing, which some have speculated will allow them to fast-track the construction of an actual Costco Big Box store by taking advantage of a state law which removes significant red tape from such projects, the NY Post reports.
The project, in partnership with Baldwin Village by developers Thrive Living and architects AO, is still in the permitting stage so no word on when ground will be broken.
“The planning and land use system in California and in LA is a Rube Goldberg machine,” housing activist Joe Cohen told SFGATE, “and this project is seeing that machine laid bare.”
The mixed-use complex would rise on a vacant, five-acre lot that was previously home to a hospital. The plans include a gym, multi-purpose spaces, gardens, a rooftop pool, landscaping and a large parking lot, according to the press release.
According to Cohen – who calls it Costco Prison, the complex is “a bunch of small units along these long hallways, with a massive recreation center as an amenity space,” adding “From a plain view, it looks like an old school prison design,” due to its use of pre-manufactured apartment modules that can he brought to the site by truck.
The reason for the ‘prison’ look, Cohen says, is that “Costco was facing years of public hearings, millions of dollars of consultant fees, and an uncertain outcome,” in order to gain approval.
“However, mixed-use housing projects that meet certain criteria are automatically exempt from discretionary reviews by state law (AB 2011),” he continues.
John Deere planning on executing big layoffs in two states in a planned shift to Mexico!
John Deere is prepping for more big layoffs in two states that will leave 610 staffers without their jobs on August 30.
The company made the announcement on Friday and said those affected will be 280 employees at a plant in East Moline, Illinois, and 230 employees at a factory in Davenport, Iowa, Fox Business reported Saturday.
In March, Breitbart News reported that about 150 workers at the John Deere Des Moines Works in Ankeny, Iowa, were moving closer to being laid off in the months of April and May.Per the recent Fox report, “About 100 production employees at the company’s Dubuque, Iowa, plant will also be impacted.”The move comes amid “rising operational costs and declining market demand,” a company statement said. The Fox article noted that employees will be offered Supplemental Unemployment Benefit (SUB), profit-sharing options, and health benefits.
“Earlier this month, Deere announced it is moving the manufacturing of skid steer loaders and compact track loaders from its Dubuque facility to Mexico by the end of 2026,” the report said.
HEALTH
FDA announces two recalls of potassium chloride drugs …
Announcements posted on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website announced the recall of two potassium prescription medications due to the “failed dissolution” of both products.
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals said that the recall impacts 114 batches of 750 mg potassium chloride extended-release capsules, which are prescription-only, because the capsules “may cause high potassium levels,” known as hyperkalemia. The condition can cause an irregular heartbeat that can “lead to cardiac arrest,” the notice warned.
A second company, American Health Packaging on behalf of BluePoint Laboratories, announced a recall of 21 batches of 750 mg potassium chloride extended-release prescription capsules for the same reason.
The potassium tablets are used to treat patients who have low potassium, known as hypokalemia.
The continued use of the recalled drugs can cause the “reasonable probability of developing hyperkalemia that may lead to a range of severity of adverse events from being asymptomatic to more severe potential life threatening adverse events of hyperkalemia such as cardiac arrhythmias, severe muscle weakness, and death,” the notices said.
Drug prices rose nearly 40% over the last decade surpassing the inflation rate, tracker shows
The increase in the cost of prescription medications has outpaced inflation over the past 10 years, according to the telemedicine platform GoodRx.
A price tracker from GoodRx shows prescription drug prices between 2014 and May 2024 have risen by 37 percent, more than the 34.27 percent overall inflation during the same period, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
A GoodRx survey found that 1 in 4 Americans have at least one drug prescribed that their insurance policy does not cover. When individuals are forced to pay for medication, it worsens their financial situation and stress.
Many Americans had a prescription that was sent to the pharmacy but not filled—the most common reason being that it was “too expensive,” the survey indicated.
“The high cost of medications can force people to make difficult choices between prioritizing their health and managing other essential expenses. In turn, this can potentially lead to poor health outcomes and increased costs in the long run.”
The survey found that 23 percent of Americans spent more than $50 on prescriptions per month, with almost 10 percent spending more than $100.
Eat These 8 Types of Vegetables to Lower Inflammation, According to Dietitians
Anti-Inflammatory Nutrients
One way to help reduce this unwanted inflammation is to eat anti-inflammatory foods—foods that contain antioxidants and fiber, explains Chow, which support a healthy immune system, gut health, and more. These important nutrients are typically found most abundantly in plant foods, especially in colorful fruits and vegetables.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals, which are unstable molecules that your body produces when consistently exposed to negative environmental triggers like alcohol consumption, air pollutants, and psychological stress, explains Annie Zappulla, BS, RDN, registered dietitian and owner of A to Z Wellness Solutions LLC.
“An excessive amount of these unstable molecules may cause longer term damage to our cells, and there are theories that this kind of cellular damage may lead to chronic diseases,” Chow says. Several vitamins, minerals and plant compounds called polyphenols and carotenoids all perform antioxidant functions in the body, she says.
Fiber
Research also suggests that fiber helps to decrease chronic inflammation in the body, says Chow. One way that fiber may do this is by supporting a gut pH level that decreases inflammatory molecules.
Flavonoid-Rich Foods to Eat for Better Health, According to Pros
Anti-Inflammatory Vegetables to Eat on Repeat
There are many, many nutritious veggies that provide the anti-inflammatory compounds mentioned above. Here, Chow and Zappulla list vegetables that are especially high in anti-inflammatory compounds and that they recommend adding regularly to your diet to get their full, healthy benefits.
- Cruciferous Vegetables
- Onions and Garlic
- Dark Leafy Greens
- Sweet Potatoes
- Purple Corn
- Microgreens
- Peppers
- Mushrooms
- Chayote
- Avocado
- Carrots
- Tomatoes
- Edamame
Power Mall Products of Interest:
Optivida Complete Essentials – why? Contains many of the vegetables mentioned above (Dark leafy greens, mushrooms, microgreens, and sweet potato. Also contains turmeric which is anti-inflammatory and flax seed which is a fiber and helps to decrease inflammation.
Optivida Sugr2Fibr – why? Sugar causes inflammation in the body and fiber decreases it!
Curcumin x4000 – why? Supports the Body’s Normal Inflammatory Response
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Elon Musk’s SpaceX wins $843-million NASA contract to deorbit the ISS!
NASA has awarded Elon Musk’s SpaceX an $843 million contract to design and build a spacecraft that will safely guide the International Space Station (ISS) back to Earth at the end of its operational life.
Ars Technica reports that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has taken a significant step towards ensuring the responsible conclusion of the International Space Station’s mission. The space agency has awarded SpaceX, the private space exploration company founded by Elon Musk, a contract worth $843 million to develop a “U.S. Deorbit Vehicle.” This spacecraft will play a crucial role in the controlled decommissioning of the ISS, which is scheduled for 2030.
The deorbit vehicle, set to dock with the ISS in 2029, will be responsible for guiding the massive space station through Earth’s atmosphere and orchestrating a controlled splashdown in a remote ocean area. This careful approach is necessary due to the station’s considerable size and mass, which pose potential risks if left to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere uncontrolled.
Ken Bowersox, NASA’s associate administrator for Space Operations, emphasized the importance of this mission, stating, “Selecting a US Deorbit Vehicle for the International Space Station will help NASA and its international partners ensure a safe and responsible transition in low Earth orbit at the end of station operations.” He added that this decision also supports NASA’s plans for future commercial destinations and allows for the continued use of near-Earth space.
The decision to bring the ISS’s operational life to a close by 2030 is driven by several factors. Primary among these is the aging infrastructure of the station, with some parts now being a quarter-century old. There are also concerns about spreading cracks in the Russian segment of the space station. While it might be possible to maintain the ISS beyond 2030, it would require an increasing amount of crew time to ensure safe operations.
Another key factor in NASA’s decision is the agency’s goal to foster a commercial economy in low-Earth orbit. NASA is collaborating with several private companies to develop commercial space stations that could house NASA astronauts, as well as those from other countries and private citizens, by or before 2030. By setting a firm end date for the ISS, NASA aims to provide certainty to these private companies and their investors.
The deorbiting process is a complex undertaking, given the ISS’s massive size — approximately that of a football field — and its weight of 450 metric tons. NASA considered various alternatives before settling on the controlled splashdown approach. One option involved moving the station to a stable parking orbit at 40,000 km above Earth, but this was deemed impractical due to the enormous amount of propellant required — estimated at 900 metric tons, equivalent to 150 to 250 cargo supply vehicles.
While the specifics of SpaceX’s proposed deorbit vehicle remain undisclosed, industry experts speculate that it could be a modified version of the Dragon spacecraft or potentially the Dragon XL, which is being designed for NASA’s Lunar Gateway station. The chosen vehicle will need to have significant propulsive capabilities and the ability to remain docked to the space station for an extended period.
12 Employees at the Red Rocks Amphitheater spot a 3-story UFO!
The National UFO Reporting Center released a report earlier this month that suggested around a dozen employees at the Red Rocks Amphitheater watched on as a large UFO lit up the sky in Colorado.
The employees were reportedly cleaning up the grounds around 1:00 a.m. on June 5 shortly after country music star Ian Munsick took the stage for the evening’s performance. The employees claimed that they spotted a dark metallic disk appear in the sky.
The anonymous employee who reported the incident said “[o]ne of our coworkers suddenly said to us, ‘Hey, what is that over there? It looks like a spaceship.'”
The employee described how their peers “all turned around in the direction he was pointing and sure enough, there was a UFO hovering about a half a mile to a mile north of red rocks,” per the post.
“A dozen of us saw it. We all kept asking each other, ‘Are you seeing this too?’ It was a resounding ‘yes’ from everyone in the group.”
The tipster claimed that the mysterious flying object hovered above the treetops around the Golden, Colorado, venue for less than a minute before it “disappeared into thin air,” according to witnesses.
The report mentioned that the object was disc-shaped and had three stories that resembled a massive office building. The object was estimated to be several hundred feet in length and was illuminated with lights, according to the New York Post.
Just as disturbing as seeing the object, witnesses claimed that it did not make a sound. It was completely silent as it hovered, according to the report.
No explanation for the sudden disappearance was provided. Additionally, the tipster insisted that the object could not have been mistaken for a satellite or drone.
The New York Post reported that there have been 3,320 UFO sightings reported in the state of Colorado alone. This makes it the 12th-ranking spot for states with the most sightings. It is still uncertain what, specifically, the witnesses saw in the sky that evening.
SURVEILLANCE STATE
Scientists are at it again; wary the bird flu pandemic is unfolding in slow motion …
Scientists tracking the spread of bird flu are increasingly concerned that gaps in surveillance may keep them several steps behind a new pandemic, according to Reuters interviews with more than a dozen leading disease experts.
Many of them have been monitoring the new subtype of H5N1 avian flu in migratory birds since 2020. But the spread of the virus to 129 dairy herds in 12 U.S. states signals a change that could bring it closer to becoming transmissible between humans. Infections also have been found in other mammals, from alpacas to house cats.
The earlier the warning of a jump to humans, the sooner global health officials can take steps to protect people by launching vaccine development, wide-scale testing and containment measures.
Federal surveillance of U.S. dairy cows is currently limited to testing herds before they cross state lines. State testing efforts are inconsistent, while testing of people exposed to sick cattle is scant, government health officials and pandemic flu experts told Reuters.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Iowa utility board approves eminent domain for controversial CO2 pipeline!
In a major project milestone, the Iowa Utility Board (IUB) this week approved a proposal by Summit Carbon Solutions to build the world’s largest carbon capture pipeline.
The total project spans five states: Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska. It will slice through 2,500 miles of land and connect with 57 ethanol plants, and affects thousands of private landowners, many of whom have fought against the project. The portion approved in Iowa is 680 miles, a Summit spokeswoman told The Epoch Times.
Many landowners have said, in public hearings and official protest letters submitted to the IUB, that they object to allowing the company to have a right-of- way on their land.
With this decision, 859 land parcels can be taken by the company through eminent domain.
It did put some conditions on the approval.
Summit will be required to submit certain revised exhibits as compliance filings for IUB review before the board issues the construction permit. Summit must obtain and maintain at least a $100 million insurance policy; comply with certain construction methods; and ensure that landowners and tenants are compensated for damages that may result during construction. Also, Summit needs approval in all the other states.
Dane Wigington’s latest Geoengineering Watch report …
“World Is Headed For Conflict Over Food Shortages Warns Biggest Commodities Trader” (from MSN). “From Black Sea to the US Midwest, extreme weather threatens crop output” (from Reuters). From PBS: “Depletion of major groundwater source threatens Great Plains farming.” The warnings are coming in from every corner of the world, the planet’s life support systems are imploding. Chaos and collapse will be the consequence, it is already unfolding and accelerating with climate engineering operations fueling the scenario.
FOOD, PREPPING, GARDENING, FARMING & HOMESTEADING
2ND AMENDMENT
Judge denies Alec Baldwin’s motion to dismiss manslaughter charge in Rust shooting …
A New Mexico judge on June 28 denied actor Alec Baldwin’s request to dismiss an involuntary manslaughter charge against him relating to the 2021 fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of his film “Rust.”
Previously, Mr. Baldwin’s lawyers requested that the court dismiss the charge, arguing that the firearm involved in the shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was damaged during FBI forensic testing before defense attorneys could examine it.
Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer rejected the arguments, stating that Mr. Baldwin’s lawyers failed to establish that the firearm had “an exculpatory value that was apparent before the evidence was destroyed.”
“Rather, a significant amount of evidence indicates that the unaltered firearm did not possess apparent exculpatory value,” she stated in an 18-page ruling.
Mr. Baldwin is set to stand trial in July.
Ms. Hutchins was killed after a gun Mr. Baldwin was handling discharged on set on Oct. 21, 2021. He has pleaded not guilty to an involuntary manslaughter charge, which carries a maximum sentence of 18 months in prison.
Sheriff’s investigators initially sent the revolver to the FBI for routine testing, but when an FBI analyst heard Mr. Baldwin say in an ABC TV interview that he never pulled the trigger, the agency told local authorities they could conduct an accidental discharge test, though it might damage the gun.
COVID RELATED NEWS
Astra-Zeneca’s COVID prevention drug application gets a fast-track assessment from the EU!
AstraZeneca said today that the European Union drug regulator has accepted a market authorisation application for its investigational COVID-19 prevention drug, sipavibart, for an accelerated assessment.
The submission was based on positive data from a late-stage trial that showed the drug reduced the risk of infection in patients with weaker immunity.
“The EMA’s (European Medicines Agency) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use granted sipavibart accelerated assessment as it was deemed of major interest for public health and therapeutic innovation,” the Anglo-Swedish drugmaker said.
An accelerated assessment aims to speed up the EMA’s review of a market authorisation application.
AstraZeneca acquired sipavibart from RQ Bio in May 2022.
The drugmaker earlier this year withdrew its COVID-19 vaccine, one of the first and most widely used, due to “surplus of available updated vaccines” since the pandemic.
CANCEL CULTURE
Dating App Gone Wrong!: Woman cancels first date at last minute by calling 9-1-1 …
An Iowa woman reportedly got “cold feet” before a first date with a man who she had met on a dating app. Instead of simply canceling the date, the woman allegedly called 911 to falsely accuse the man of being her abusive ex-boyfriend who threatened to stab her, according to police.
Just after midnight on June 16, a 911 call was made to authorities in North Liberty, Iowa. A woman told the 911 operator that an abusive ex-boyfriend was at her home and threatening her.
“She reported him threatening to cause harm to her,” court documents read.
The woman claimed that the man was the father of her unborn baby and he was sending her threatening messages that “he was going to hit, punch, kick, and stab her,” according to the affidavit obtained by Law&Crime.
Police responded to the residence, confronted a man leaving the home, and began an “in-depth investigation.”
However, the man explained that he had never met the woman in person before and that he had matched with her on a dating app just over a week prior.
He explained that the two had made plans to meet up at her house that night, but she didn’t answer the door.
The unidentified man was detained by police for more than an hour.
He said that their recent communication had shifted from the dating app to text messaging.
After investigators reviewed the text messages between the two, police determined that “the conversation showed he was being honest and he really did just meet this female.”
Meanwhile, the woman reportedly told authorities that she had known the man for two years, he wouldn’t leave her alone, and she was pregnant with his baby.
She claimed that he was abusive and threatening, court documents said.
The woman – 18-year-old Sumaya Thomas – finally admitted in the third interview with investigators that the accusations against the man were false, according to the affidavit. Thomas allegedly confessed that she got “cold feet” about meeting the man for a date.
She fabricated the allegations against the man in the 911 call, according to the North Liberty Police Department.
Thomas told investigators that she didn’t think the police would help her unless she faked a more dire and pressing situation, according to court documents.
Thomas was charged with two counts of False Report of Indictable Offense to Public Entity and one count of False Report 911 call, according to KCRG. She was arrested and later released from Johnson County Jail.
PET NEWS
How dogs help people with PTSD …
A nonrandomized controlled trial published last month in JAMA Network Open compared 81 veterans who received service dogs with 75 veterans on a waiting list for trained dogs.
K9s For Warriors, a nonprofit organization, provided the dogs and matched them with veterans during a three-week group class. The dogs were trained to detect physical signs of distress in veterans and offer support, such as relieving anxiety and creating space for their stressed owners.
Psychology doctoral students, unaware of which participants had service dogs, measured the veterans’ PTSD symptoms throughout the study.
Three months after the class, all participants showed improvement in PTSD symptoms. However, veterans paired with dogs experienced greater improvement on average than those on the waiting list.
The study found that:
Veterans with service dogs showed much less severe PTSD symptoms compared to those without dogs.
Fewer veterans with dogs met the criteria for a PTSD diagnosis (75 percent) compared to those without dogs (85 percent).
Veterans with dogs exhibited lower depression and anxiety scores and were less likely to have mild depression or generalized anxiety disorder.
Veterans with dogs reported feeling less socially isolated and had more companionship. However, they engaged in fewer social activities.
Veterans with dogs showed better overall quality of life, including improved well-being, life satisfaction, resilience, and mental health. They also reported less anger.
Both groups had some participants with suicidal thoughts, but the number decreased more in the group with dogs.
Dog Lifestyle: How to keep your pet safe for the 4th of July …
Animal control services report a 30 percent increase in lost pets between July 4 and 6, only 14 percent of which are reunited with their owners. Pyrotechnics trigger anxiety in many pets (and people for that matter), causing them to flee from the sound. And barbecues have their fair share of risks: Dogs can ingest things from toxic food to bug spray or get burned while begging at the grill. Don’t go canceling your holiday plans — get prepared so you can celebrate while your pet sits this one out. Follow these five tips that will help calm your pet:
- Confine them to a small space, like a crate or a closet.
- Bust out the anti-anxiety meds like CBD or a thundershirt.
- Update your pet’s ID tag and microchip info in case they escape and run off.
- Don’t fall for puppy-dog eyes at the grill.
- Keep an eye out for other toxins that can make your pet sick, especially if they’re a licker or could inhale toxic fumes from various household sources.
GOOD NEWS
Mess around and find out; car thief butt-whipped in Brevard County, Florida, Sheriff says!
A Florida man suffered a demoralizing comeuppance when he attempted to carjack the wrong person, according to police.
A car thief reportedly attempted to steal a vehicle that was parked outside a residence early Thursday morning. The owner heard a commotion outside his home and called 911 after seeing a man attempting to break into his car.
The suspect – identified by police as 29-year-old Blake Robinson – was confronted by the 66-year-old owner of the vehicle before law enforcement arrived at the crime scene.
Authorities said the pair got into a physical altercation and Robinson knocked the owner to the ground and then kicked him in the head. However, Robert Polk fought back and was able to incapacitate Robinson until police arrived.
The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office said in a post on Facebook, “Welcome to Brevard County, where we proudly support… ‘Play stupid games…win stupid prizes.'”
Brevard County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived at the crime scene and arrested Robinson, who allegedly had blood around his mouth and “was seemingly having a tough time getting up off of the ground, after getting his butt whipped by a 66-year-old man!”
The sheriff’s office wrote, “That’s right Mr. Tough Guy, Robinson, got manhandled by a 66-year-old man who thankfully only required brief medical treatment and was left without any serious injuries!”
Deputies noted Polk’s face was red and swollen, and one of his ears was covered in blood.
Robinson needed to get medical attention after being beaten up by the owner, according to police.
The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office wrote, “As for Robinson, he was fortunate enough to be in Brevard County where he won a few prizes for being stupid including a chauffeured ride to a local medical facility to check his injuries before arriving at his less than luxurious accommodations at ‘Ivey’s Iron Bar Lodge! At the lodge he was given a freshly washed 2 piece ensemble to get comfortable in, before being shown to his sleeping area in our open floor plan.”
Robinson was charged with burglary of an unoccupied conveyance and felony battery on a person over the age of 65. He was booked in the Brevard County Jail on a $30,000 bond.
Sheriff Wayne Ivey said the suspect “got an enhanced charge for hitting someone over the age of 65 who ended up whooping his punk butt!”
Ivey added, “As we like to say here in Brevard County, ‘Mess Around and Find Out!'”
ICYMI
Supreme Court rules for J-6 Defendant; tosses out obstruction charge; others may be affected
The Supreme Court ruled 6–3 on June 28 in favor of Jan. 6 defendant Joseph Fischer, a former police officer charged under an accounting law after he briefly entered the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
The new ruling is expected to make it more difficult for the federal government to prosecute those charged in connection with the Capitol security breach that occurred as Congress was attempting to finalize the 2020 presidential election results.
The majority opinion in the case was written by Chief Justice John Roberts.
Concurring in the judgment were Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Ketanji Brown Jackson. Justice Jackson wrote a separate concurring opinion.
Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan dissented.
The court performed “textual backflips to find some way–any way—to narrow the reach” of the federal statute under which Mr. Fischer was charged, Justice Barrett wrote in her dissenting opinion.
The case was being closely watched because the Supreme Court’s decision could affect hundreds of Jan. 6 prosecutions, including the Jan. 6-related case against former President Donald Trump.
Mr. Fischer, from Jonestown, Pennsylvania, was indicted on several counts following the Capitol breach on Jan. 6, 2021, including obstructing an official proceeding under Enron-era obstruction law 18 U.S. Code Section 1512(c). Convictions under the section can lead to 20 years in prison. The wording of 1512(c) is focused on documentation and ensuring it is made available for official proceedings.
Section 1512(c) states: “Whoever corruptly (1) alters, destroys, mutilates, or conceals a record, document, or other object, or attempts to do so, with the intent to impair the object’s integrity or availability for use in an official proceeding; or (2) otherwise obstructs, influences, or impedes any official proceeding or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.”
The charge relates to the alleged obstruction of the congressional certification of the 2020 presidential election results, a proceeding that paved the way for the inauguration of President Joe Biden two weeks later.
Mr. Fischer argued that he should not have been charged under section 1512(c), an evidence- tampering provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act aimed at curbing wrongdoing on Wall Street.
The problem is the federal government used a “novel interpretation” of the statute that sweeps too broadly. That interpretation “would criminalize a broad swath of prosaic conduct, exposing activists and lobbyists alike to decades in prison,” the chief justice wrote.
Martin Mull, acclaimed actor, comedian, painter, musician, has died at 80!
Actor and comedian Martin Mull, best known for his roles in hit series “Roseanne” and films “Clue” and “Mr. Mom,” has died at 80- years-old.
His daughter announced the heartbreaking news in a touching Instagram post, saying he passed away on June 27th at his home after a “valiant fight against a long illness.”
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Today’s News: June 26, 2024
Today’s News: June 27, 2024