Severe storms that included at least two confirmed tornadoes injured several people Wednesday, damaged homes and businesses and downed power lines in Mississippi and Tennessee after they spread damage in Arkansas, Missouri and Texas overnight before moving to the Deep South.
No deaths had been reported from the storms as of Wednesday evening, officials said.
Month: March 2022
War In Ukraine (3/29/22)
Ukraine War Enters 2nd Month: Will Russia Take Kyiv Or Use Its Stranglehold To Drive A Hard Bargain?
Ukraine Offers Neutrality In Exchange For NATO-Style Security Guarantees At Russia Talks
Wall Street Rallies On Hopes Russia, Ukraine Can Resolve Conflict
Asia Shares Hold Onto Global Rally After Ukraine-Russia Talks
Biden Casts Doubt On Russia-Ukraine Optimism
Boeing Poised To Score Billions In Biden’s Pentagon Budget Request
Top General Says Pentagon Should Consider More Troops In Europe
Marines Deploy To Eastern Europe For The First Time In Response To Ukraine
Russia-Backed Donetsk Republic May Consider Joining Russia – Leader
40,000 Mariupol Residents Forcibly Deported To Russia, Ukraine Claims
Volunteers In Mykolaiv Rally To Help Ukraine Army
Pentagon Sees No ‘Real Withdrawal’ Of Russian Forces Away From Kyiv
China Tops Threats In New Defense Strategy
China is the No. 1 priority in the new National Defense Strategy, according to an unclassified fact sheet released Monday evening by the Defense Department.
The fact sheet lists the Pentagon’s top four defense priorities, but makes clear that China is “our most consequential strategic competitor and the pacing challenge for the department.”
“Defending the homeland, paced to the growing multi-domain threat posed by the [People’s Republic of China],” is the top defense priority. The third priority is also aimed at China, saying that the department will focus on “deterring aggression, while being prepared to prevail in conflict when necessary,” with an emphasis placed on the potential for conflict with Beijing.
Though Russia “poses acute threats,” as evidenced by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, hostilities with Moscow are a secondary priority for the Pentagon, according to the fact sheet. The Pentagon must also remain ready to counter other “persistent threats,” such as those posed by North Korea, Iran and violent extremist groups.
Other priorities on the fact sheet are deterring strategic attacks against the United States and its allies, and “building a resilient joint force.”
The full strategy, which the department sent to Congress on Monday, is classified.
See also:
–US Congress Moves Closer To Passing Major China Legislation
–Solomon Islands Close To Security Deal With China, Alarming Neighbors
North Korea Did Not Launch ‘Monster’ Missile As They Claimed, South Korean Lawmakers Say
North Korea’s long-range missile launch last week may have been a modified version of a type they tested in 2017, not the newly developed type of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Pyongyang claims to have fired, according to South Korean lawmakers who were briefed by South Korea’s military in a closed meeting Tuesday.
“South Korea and the U.S. intelligence concluded that North Korea’s claim is false, that it was actually Hwasong-15 [not Hwasong-17]. That’s why we are saying that North Korea is deceiving,” Min Hong Chul, a South Korean lawmaker from the ruling Democratic Party and a former general in the army, told reporters.
Former U.S. Envoy To Israel Quits Biden’s Iran Team Amid Criticism Over Nuke Talks
Dan Shapiro, who served as U.S. ambassador to Israel under the Obama administration, has departed the Biden administration’s team on Iran after seven months as a special government employee and part-time senior adviser.
Shapiro, who was largely regarded as the “Israel whisperer” on U.S. Special Envoy Rob Malley’s team due to his deep understanding of the U.S.-Israel relationship, is the latest high-profile departure from Malley’s team.
Saudi-Led Coalition In Yemen Announces Ramadan Truce
The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthi group in Yemen said late on Tuesday that it would halt military operations from Wednesday, following a United Nations’ call for a truce during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
The UN has been working with the Saudi-led military alliance and the Iran-aligned Houthi movement, which have been at war since 2015, to secure a peace deal and alleviate a dire humanitarian crisis in the impoverished country.
The truce is the most significant step in peace efforts in more than three years as the international community has struggled to end a seven year conflict that has killed tens of thousands and left millions on the brink of starvation.
See also: Blinken Assures UAE Leader Of U.S. Defence Help Over Houthi Attacks, Iran
Will Tigray Truce Deliver Lasting Peace In Ethiopia?
Rebels and government agree ‘cessation of hostilities’ to allow humanitarian aid to reach millions in need.
Severe Storms Could Hit 5 A.M. To 6 A.M. Wednesday In Fort Smith
The National Weather Service has released a timeline for severe storms to arrive in Fort Smith and the Arkansas River Valley early Wednesday.
Severe storms are possible 5 a.m. to 6 a.m., the weather service reported Tuesday night.
Showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 5 a.m. could be severe. The low will be around 59. A south wind of 10 to 15 mph will have gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
On Wednesday, showers and thunderstorms are expected before 11 a.m., then showers are likely with a possible thunderstorm between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
There is a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Some of the storms could be severe. Steady temperatures will be around 63. Southwest wind 15 to 20 mph decreasing to 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Tulsa Continues To Have Lowest Average Gasoline Prices In U.S.
Tulsa continues to have the lowest average gasoline price in the U.S., while many areas of the country have prices well over $4 per gallon.
Tulsa’s average price was $3.70 per gallon on Sunday, according to Trilby Lundberg of the Lundberg Survey. The city also had the lowest average price in mid-March, according to the survey.
The price at Tulsa-area QuikTrips was $3.67 per gallon on Monday, according to gasbuddy.com, a fuel price-tracking service.
The average U.S. gas price dropped 6 cents over two weeks to $4.37, according to the survey.
War In Ukraine (3/28/22)
Pentagon Will Accelerate Production Of Missiles Ukraine Has Requested To Refill US Stockpiles
Pentagon May Need More Budget Funding To Help Ukraine
Russia And West At Odds Over Gas Payments In Roubles
How Russia’s Central Bank Engineered The Ruble’s Rebound
Russia Sends More Mercenaries To Fight In Ukraine’s East, Per U.S. And U.K. Officials
Syrian Christian Militia Leader Ready To Join Russian Forces In Ukraine War
Kremlin: Russia-China Relations Best Ever
Ukraine Closes Humanitarian Corridors Because It Says Russia May Attack Them
Chechen Leader Travels To Mariupol: Reports
Amnesty’s Leader Accuses Russia Of War Crimes In Mariupol
Mariupol Is ‘In The Hands’ Of Russia, Mayor Says
Melitopol Crawling Back To Life, Claims Russia
Ukrainians Claim To Retake Ground Ahead Of Latest Talks
Everything We Know About Abramovich ‘Poisoning’ At Ukraine Peace Talks
Kremlin Spokesman: Russia Would Use Nuclear Weapons Only In Case Of ‘Threat To Existence Of State’
Zelensky Says Ukraine Prepared To Discuss Neutrality In Peace Talks
U.S., Philippines Begin War Games As South China Sea Spat Lingers
U.S. and Philippine troops on Monday began large-scale military drills, in show of strength as China grows increasingly assertive in the disputed South China Sea and Russia’s war with Ukraine rages on.
North Korea’s Kim Jong Un Vows To Develop More Powerful Means Of Attack
NPR:
North Korea said Monday leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to develop more powerful means of attack, days after the country’s first intercontinental ballistic missile launch in more than four years.
The statement suggests North Korea might perform additional launches or even test a nuclear device soon as it pushes to modernize its arsenal and increase pressure on the Biden administration while nuclear diplomacy remains stalled. Last Thursday, the North performed its 12th round of weapons tests this year, launching the newly developed, long-range Hwasong-17, which analysts say was designed to reach anywhere in the U.S. mainland.
During a photo session with scientists and others involved in the Hwasong-17 test, Kim expressed a resolve to build up the country’s attack capability to cope with threats, according to the official Korean Central News Agency.
See also: Analysts Investigate Possibility Of North Korea Missile Test ‘Deception’
Why A Terror Designation Is The Last Sticking Point In Iran-US Talks
CNN:
After weeks of signals from Iranian and Western officials that a deal to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement was imminent, an escalation in rhetoric between Tehran and the United States over the weekend dampened hopes for a breakthrough.
US special envoy for Iran Robert Malley told CNN’s Becky Anderson in Doha on Sunday that a nuclear deal “is not around the corner and is not inevitable” due to outstanding issues that “matter deeply” to parties involved in the talks, one of which is Tehran’s demands regarding the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Iran’s insistence on reversing the designation of the IRGC as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) appeared to be the last major sticking point in talks, with neither side showing new signs of compromise.
Ethiopia Troops Seen Moving Toward Tigray After Truce Agreed
Hundreds of Ethiopian troops converged on a town near the border of the northern Tigray province, days after the government and rebels from the region agreed to a humanitarian truce after almost 17 months of fighting.
Over the past few days, 32 buses carrying soldiers were seen in Kobo in Amhara state, south of Tigray, some of whom may be replacing personnel who were being rotated, Addisu Wedajo, the town’s mayor, said by phone.
While the additional forces may help facilitate the establishment of a humanitarian corridor to allow aid to be disbursed to millions of people who need it, their presence may also place the truce at risk.
“Neither the people nor the regional government have adopted the truce,” Addisu said. “There is a fear that we will be at risk if the federal forces move, so everyone is holding their ground.”
Massive New Wind Farm Goes Online In Oklahoma
One of the largest wind farms built in North America is now up and running in Oklahoma, providing wind power to customers in the state as well as to neighboring Arkansas and Louisiana.
American Electric Power (AEP), a Columbus-based power company, announced its Traverse Wind Energy Center began operating on March 21.
The Traverse center is expected to generate 3.8 million megawatt hours annually for AEP’s Public Service Company of Oklahoma and Southwestern Electric Power Company customers in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana — saving customers an estimated $3 billion in electricity costs over the next 30 years.
Severe Weather Timeline: When Will The Storms Reach Oklahoma?
KFOR:
The threat of severe weather returns to Oklahoma Tuesday afternoon.
There will be a LOW tornado threat with these storms.
The primary risk will be for large hail, damaging winds and flooding rainfall.
Storms will develop across Western Oklahoma Tuesday afternoon. The severe threat will begin around sunset (7-8pm).
The storms will move into the OKC Metro/I-35 Corridor around 9-10pm.
The storms will then race into Eastern Oklahoma and clear out by sunrise Wednesday morning (and yes, there will even be a chance of snow in the Panhandle).
War In Ukraine (3/25/22)
Ukraine And Russia Closer To Ending War As Understanding Reached In Four Areas
Russia Says Focus Is Shifting Away From Kyiv, Toward Eastern Ukraine
US, G7 Freeze Russian Gold Amid Ukraine War: All You Need To Know
Kremlin Says ‘Nothing Terrible Will Happen’ If Russia Is Expelled From G20
Russia Warns West: Gas Bills In Roubles Are Just Days Away
Russia Begins To Mobilize Military Reinforcements For Ukraine As Casualties Mount, Pentagon Says
More Russian Mercenaries Deploying To Ukraine To Take On Greater Role In War
US Seeks Tighter UN Sanctions After N. Korea Missile Test
The United States called Friday for tougher U.N. sanctions after North Korea said it test-fired its biggest intercontinental ballistic missile to date, with Kim Jong Un vowing to expand his country’s “nuclear war deterrent” while preparing for a “long-standing confrontation” with the United States.
The launch Thursday extended a barrage of weapons demonstrations this year that analysts say are aimed at forcing the United States to accept the idea of North Korea as a nuclear power and remove crippling sanctions against its broken economy.
Ethiopia: Tigrayan Fighters Agree To ‘Cessation Of Hostilities’
Tigrayan rebels have agreed to a “cessation of hostilities”, a turning point in the nearly 17-month war in northern Ethiopia following the government’s announcement of an indefinite humanitarian truce a day earlier.
In a statement sent to AFP early on Friday, the rebels said that they were “committed to implementing a cessation of hostilities effective immediately,” and urged Ethiopian authorities to hasten the delivery of emergency aid into Tigray, where hundreds of thousands face starvation.
Biden Administration Seeks To Dismiss Oklahoma Lawsuit Over National Guard Vaccine Mandate
The Biden administration is asking an Oklahoma federal court to dismiss the state’s lawsuit over the National Guard’s vaccine mandate.
In a motion filed late Friday, the government argued that the case should be dismissed “in its entirety” after U.S. District Judge Stephen Friot of the Western District of Oklahoma turned down the state’s motion for preliminary injunction against the mandate in late December, arguing then that the plaintiff’s claims were largely without merit.
The “fundamental conclusion” of Friot’s original ruling, the government argues, now requires dismissal of the case.
The Hill has reached out to the Oklahoma Attorney General’s office for comment.
The motion follows a heated battle between the Pentagon and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) over the military’s vaccine mandate, which largely escalated late last year.
See also: Supreme Court Sides With Pentagon On Vaccine Mandate
ArklahomBoy 