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September 14, 2023 - Hurricane Lee Update For September 14th, 2023. Tropical storm conditions are possible over a large part of coastal New England, including Cape Cod, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, Block Island, and parts of Atlantic Canada. Read more
September 13, 2023 - Haiti Security Alert - Border Between Haiti & the Dominican Republic: The Government of the Dominican Republic has announced the possible closure of air, sea, and land borders between the Dominican Republic and Haiti as of Thursday, September 14th. Read more
September 11, 2023 - Six New Members To Join BRICS, Move Towards Establishing A Single Currency. Countries set to join the economic alliance: Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which would take effect January 1st, 2024. Read more
September 8, 2023 - Embassy In Chile: Demonstration Alert for September 9-11, 2023. "From Sept. 9-11, possible protests related to the 50th anniversary of Chile’s Sept. 11, 1973, military coup in the Santiago Metropolitan Region and outlying communities". Read more
September 8, 2023 - US Coast Guard At Condition X-Ray Due To Hurricane Lee: Today's Updates. "Currently, the Coast Guard Port Condition status for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands remains at Port Condition X-Ray". Read more
September 3, 2023 - Operation Northwoods Unclassified Document. Subject: "Justification for US military intervention in Cuba". Read more
August 29, 2023 - Global Wildfire Update: North American Wildfire Smoke Reaching Europe. Wildfires continue to burn across the world. Read more
August 21, 2023 - Global Wildfire Locations For Last 24 Hours - August 21st, 2023. Fires are still burning across the globe, maps included below show wildfires in Africa, Europe, the Indo-Pacific, and North America. There are relatively few fires in Russia. Read more
June 18, 2023 - Demonstration Alert: Planned Demonstrations in Peru on July 19. US Embassy in Peru - Event: Planned Demonstrations in Peru on July 19. Location: Peru (countrywide): Peru (countrywide). Read more
June 11, 2023 - The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement saying that it “strongly rejects” the arrival of a nuclear-powered submarine in Guantanamo Bay on July 5th, 2023, and called it a “provocative escalation”. Read more
June 11, 2023 - China Deepened Cooperation In "All Fields" at "All Levels" With Cuba In 2017. Chinese state media openly stated their plans to deepen ties with the country in 2017, which included military-to-military relations. Read more
March 7, 2023 - The Governor of Tamaulipas, Mexico Américo Villarreal was cited by Reuters as saying two of the four Americans that were kidnapped in Mexico while on their way to receive cheap cosmetic surgery are dead, and two are still alive, but also said that one is injured. Read more
March 7, 2023 - The four American victims that were kidnapped at gunpoint in Mexico have been identified, with further details on the incident, along with a video of the kidnapping in progress. Read more
March 06, 2023 - Four United States citizens were kidnapped in Matamoros city, Mexico on Friday shortly after arriving in Mexico, as they were traveling in a White minivan with license plates from North Carolina. Read more
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Hurricane Lee Update For September 14th, 2023 - Tropical storm conditions are possible over a large part of coastal New England, including Cape Cod, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, Block Island, and parts of Atlantic Canada.
HURRICANE LEE - Hurricane Lee is expected to impact Bermuda with "tropical storm conditions, heavy rainfall, and high surf," as early as Thursday. A Tropical Storm warning is in effect for Bermuda.
Hurricane conditions and coastal flooding are possible for parts of eastern Maine, southern New Brunswick, and western Nova Scotia on Saturday, and a Hurricane Watch has been issued for those locations.
Potential life-threatening storm surge flooding is possible in parts of southeastern Massachusetts, including Cape Cod and Nantucket late Friday and Saturday, a Storm Surge watch has been issued for those locations.
Tropical storm conditions are possible over a large part of coastal New England, including Cape Cod, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, Block Island, and parts of Atlantic Canada. A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for those locations. Satellite Photos, Projections & More Information: Read More.
Possible Closure Of Air, Sea, Land Borders Between Dominican Republic And Haiti September 14th, 2023 - If the closure occurs, U.S. citizens planning to depart Haiti for the Dominican Republic on or after September 14 will not have the ability to do so and will need to make alternate arrangements.
State Department: "Border Between Haiti & the Dominican Republic: The Government of the Dominican Republic has announced the possible closure of air, sea,and land borders between the Dominican Republic and Haiti as of Thursday, September 14. Read More
Six New Members To Join BRICS, Move Towards Establishing A Single Currency - Countries set to join the economic alliance: Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which would take effect January 1st, 2024.
JOHANNESBURG - After six new members were announced to be added to BRICS, Russia says that the emerging economic Bloc is moving towards establishing a single currency, adding that it will be a "long and difficult process" to get there.
According to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa last month, the BRICS members decided to invite the following countries to join the economic Bloc: Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which would take effect January 1st, 2024.
The new additions will cause the BRICS economic alliance to grow to cover 37% of the world's combined GDP, and contain 46% of the global population: Read More.
Embassy In Chile: Demonstration Alert for September 9-11, 2023 - "From Sept. 9-11, possible protests related to the 50th anniversary of Chile’s Sept. 11, 1973, military coup in the Santiago Metropolitan Region and outlying communities".
SOUTH AMERICA - The U.S. Embassy in Chile has issued a General Demonstration Alert to American citizens currently located in the Metropolitan Region of Santiago and other major cities throughout Chile.
U.S. Embassy in Chile: "From Sept. 9-11, possible protests related to the 50th anniversary of Chile’s Sept. 11, 1973, military coup in the Santiago Metropolitan Region and outlying communities. Prior protests have been spontaneous & mobile, with incidents of violence". Location, Event And Contact Information: Read More.
US Coast Guard At Condition X-Ray Due To Hurricane Lee: Today's Updates - "Currently, the Coast Guard Port Condition status for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands remains at Port Condition X-Ray".
U.S. Coast Guard: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - The Coast Guard urges recreational boaters, fishermen and beachgoers, and water sports enthusiasts in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Friday, to exercise caution during the weekend due to deteriorating sea state conditions and dangerous rip currents associated with Hurricane Lee.
National Weather Service advisories are alerting the possibility of life-threatening rip currents and increased sea states during the weekend ranging from 10 to 15 feet affecting the coastal waters of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
“We are concerned about people and boaters who may underestimate the impacts of this passing storm,” said Capt. José E. Díaz, Coast Guard Sector San Juan commander. “
The increase in projected sea states of 10 to 15 feet severely reduces our ability to respond to maritime distress with the full use of our resources. Make the best decision for you and your loved ones and enjoy a safe weekend, monitor marine weather forecasts and heed National Weather Service advisories.”
Coast Guard: Condition X-ray. Hurricane Updates and Projections: Read More.
Operation Northwoods Unclassified Document - Subject: "Justification for US military intervention in Cuba".
The operation was a false flag operation by the CIA that planned the staging of terrorist actions on civilian and military targets located within the United States in order to garner public support for engaging in a war with Cuba and ousting then Cuban communist leader Fidel Castro. Read More.
Global Wildfire Update: North American Wildfire Smoke Reaching Europe - North American Wildfire Smoke Reaching Europe. Wildfires continue to burn across the world.
Wildfire maps for each country: See Current Wildfire Maps.
Global Wildfire Locations For Last 24 Hours - August 21st, 2023 - National Weather Service Seattle: "Air quality remains poor across most of Washington this morning, though improvement can be seen along the coast and through the Strait of Juan de Fuca as onshore flow is beginning to mix smoke out of the area".
Fires are still burning across the globe, maps included below show wildfires in Africa, Europe, the Indo-Pacific, and North America. There are relatively few fires in Russia. Whether that is due to a lack of sensors in the region is unknown. See Global Wildfire Maps.
Demonstration Alert: Planned Demonstrations in Peru on July 19 - US Embassy in Peru - Event: Planned Demonstrations in Peru on July 19. Location: Peru (countrywide). Read More On Patreon | Read More On Defcon Alerts.
Anti-government protestors are planning demonstrations in multiple locations across Peru, including Lima, Puno, Cusco, and Ica, on Wednesday, July 19. In response, the Government of Peru declared a State of Emergency on the national road network and on regional road networks for 30 days, beginning July 14.
A State of Emergency on the roads allows the Peruvian National Police and/or Peruvian Armed Forces to set up checkpoints and request documentation from travelers.
Roads affected by the State of Emergency include the Apurimac-Cusco-Arequipa south road corridor, the south Interoceanic road corridor (which includes the Peru-Brazil border to Cusco, Arequipa, and points south), the south Panamerican Highway (Lima and points south), and the Binational Highway (between Puno and Tacna). Other roads across the country may be affected with little or no warning.
Protests in Lima are likely to be concentrated in the historic city center but may move to other areas around the city.
Labor leaders in Cusco have called for a general strike in the Cusco region beginning July 19, and other cities and regions may do the same.
At this time, organizers state that the strike is not intended to affect tourism in the Cusco area; however, travelers should be aware that tourist travel routes, including airports, were severely disrupted by strikes in December 2002, which continued sporadically from January to March 2023.
A general strike, also of indefinite length, has been called for the Andahuaylas region as of July 14. This region saw significant violence during demonstrations earlier this year.
Actions to take: Avoid crowds and demonstrations. Do not interfere with or attempt to circumvent roadblocks; travelers have been injured doing so in the past. Monitor local media for updates. Comply with instructions from the Peruvian National Police, Peruvian Armed Forces, and local authorities. Enroll in STEP to receive alerts and messaging from the U.S. Embassy in Lima.
Cuba Says American Nuclear Submarine In Guantanamo Bay A "Provocative Escalation" - HAVANA, CUBA - The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement saying that it “strongly rejects” the arrival of a nuclear-powered submarine in Guantanamo Bay on July 5th, 2023, and called it a “provocative escalation” and warned of the danger in of its presence and circulation of U.S. nuclear submarines in the Caribbean region. Read More On Patreon | Read More On Defcon Alerts | Read More On SJ.
The statement said that the submarine stayed at the American military base located in Guantanamo until July 8th, and said that it was a “provocative escalation of the United States, whose political or strategic motives are not known”.
China Deepened Cooperation In "All Fields" at "All Levels" With Cuba In 2017 - WASHINGTON - After the Pentagon said that reports China was developing a “secret” billion-dollar listening station in Cuba less than 100 miles away from American soil was “inaccurate”, the Biden Administration has now stated that China has been operating military facilities for intelligence collection in Cuba since at least 2019. Read On SJ | Read On Patreon.
Chinese state media have also openly stated their plans to deepen ties with the country in 2017, which included military-to-military relations.
Two Of The Four Kidnapped Americans In Mexico Found Dead, Two Found Alive - MEXICO - The Governor of Tamaulipas, Mexico Américo Villarreal was cited by Reuters as saying two of the four Americans that were kidnapped in Mexico while on their way to receive cheap cosmetic surgery are dead, and two are still alive, but also said that one is injured. More Alerts And Information
Villarreal said that, "two of them are dead, one person is injured and the other is alive".
The FBI are still trying to return the abducted Americans after they were reportedly caught in a crossfire between rival Mexican cartels and taken by gunpoint.
In the video captured of the incident it shows a man clad in body armor dragging a person across the ground and pushing a woman into a white truck. Two other men who appeared to be injured were also seen being dragged and thrown into the back of the truck.
The North Carolina license plates on a white minivan were shown in photos to be full of bullet holes.
A woman who said she saw the incident unfold told the Associated Press that the white van hit another vehicle, and then she heard gunfire and armed men approaching the white vehicle.
"All of a sudden they (the gunmen) were in front of us. I entered a state of shock, nobody honked their horn, nobody moved. Everybody must have been thinking the same thing, ‘If we move they will see us, or they might shoot us.’" the woman reportedly said.
She also said that she saw the men shove a woman who was able to walk into the truck bed, and a man who was able to move his head around was also loaded in.
"The other two they dragged across the pavement, we don't know if they were alive or dead," the woman stated.
4 American Kidnapping Victims In Mexico Identified - MEXICO - The four American victims that were kidnapped at gunpoint in Mexico have been identified, with further details on the incident, along with a video of the kidnapping in progress.More Alerts And Information
A CBS report states that the President of Mexico said the victims went to Mexico in order to purchase cheaper medicine than they could get in the United States and reported that "hundreds of thousands" of Americans cross the border to Mexico each year to buy cheaper medicine.
The report says that they "could have been mistakenly targeted"
A report by ABC news says that the victim's names are: Latavia "Tay" McGee, Shaeed Woodard, Zindell Brown, and Eric James Williams, and one of the victim's mothers said that McGee and her cousin Woodard were with two friends: Zindell Brown and Eric Williams.
A driver's license issued to Williams in North Carolina was found at the scene of the kidnapping, according to the report, citing sources close to the investigation being carried out in Mexico.
Although both reports cite the Mexican President as saying they went into Mexico to purchase medication, the ABC report cites Barbara Burgess, McGee's mother as saying that her daughter had traveled to Mexico from South Carolina in order to undergo a cosmetic medical procedure, and warned her not to make the trip.
On Friday, the ABC report states, her daughter had called to tell her mother that she was 15 minutes away from the doctor's office, but then began going to voicemail.
The report says that the Americans were kidnapped after getting "caught in the middle of a confrontation between groups", citing Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who also said that they "crossed the border to buy medicines in Mexico".
López Obrador added that "The entire" Mexican government "is there working on this".
Both the US State Department and Homeland Security are working with Mexican authorities on the case, the White House said.
White House Press Secretary Jean-Pierre said, "We are closely following the assault and kidnapping of four U.S. citizens in Matamoros, Mexico".
She added that "These sorts of attacks are unacceptable. "Our thoughts are with the families of these individuals, and we stand ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance."
"We will continue to coordinate with Mexico and push them to bring those responsible to justice."
The U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price also released a statement saying, "The FBI is working very closely with other federal partners and Mexican law enforcement agencies to investigate this".
He added, "We're standing ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance. We do also remind Americans about the existing travel guidance when it comes to this particular part of Mexico."
Four U.S. Citizens Kidnapped In Mexico After Gunfire On Their Vehicle - MEXICO - Four United States citizens were kidnapped in Matamoros city, Mexico on Friday shortly after arriving in Mexico, as they were traveling in a White minivan with license plates from North Carolina. More Alerts And Information
The minivan came under fire upon entering the country, according to a statement by the FBI, which said that the unidentified gunmen fired upon the passengers in the vehicle, and that all four Americans were then placed inside a vehicle and taken away from the scene.
"On March 03, 2023, four Americans crossed into Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico driving a white minivan with North Carolina license plates. Shortly after crossing into Mexico, unidentified gunmen fired upon the passengers in the vehicle. All four Americans were placed in a vehicle and taken from the scene by armed men," the FBI statement said.
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 "for the return of the victims and the arrest of those involved".