KTUL:
As we continue to work through the pandemic, many people are still struggling to find ways to keep food on the table for their families.
A few places around Green Country lifted that burden for hundreds on this special holiday.
Month: November 2021
U.N. Nuclear Chief Leaves Iran Without A Deal On Factory Inspection, Diplomats Say
The head of the United Nations atomic watchdog agency left Iran late Tuesday after failing to reach a deal to allow inspectors access to a factory making equipment for Tehran’s nuclear program, diplomats said Wednesday, casting a fresh shadow over international nuclear talks set for next week.
See also:
–U.S. Won’t Stand Idly By If Iran Gets ‘Too Close’ To Nuclear Weapon
–U.S. Assurances On Iran Met With Skepticism In The Region
–IRGC Head: Iran Must Embrace Strategy To Defeat US
America Must Prepare For War With China Over Taiwan
China’s massive investment in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) may show China is preparing to fundamentally change the status quo and preparing for possible war with the United States over Taiwan. To deter China, the United States must rapidly build up its forces in the Pacific, continue to strengthen military alliances in the region to ensure access to bases in time of conflict, and accelerate deliveries of purchased military equipment to Taiwan.
See also: Pentagon Doubles Number Of US Troops In Taiwan Under Biden
Iran-Linked Militia Calls Up Thousands Of Volunteers To Fight US Forces
A man known as Abu Ala al-Walai, commander of Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada (KSS), on Nov. 19 announced a call for volunteers to fight the “US occupation” should troops fail to leave.
KSS spokesman Sheikh Kadhim al-Fertousi claimed to Al-Monitor on Nov. 24 that “so far we already have 45,000” calls from would-be volunteers for the post-December fight against US forces should they remain in the country.
“We also received calls from organizations that also want to join, each of which has about 1,000 to 1,500” people, he said. “Some used to fight alongside [popular Shiite cleric Muqtada al-] Sadr, while others fought in the past against IS.”
Escalating War In Ethiopia
Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed — a Nobel Peace Prize-winning politician — has said he’ll lead troops who are fighting rebels from the Tigray region of the country in what he’s calling “the final fight” to save Ethopia. Meanwhile, the Biden administration is warning of a potential humanitarian crisis there that could destabilize the entire region.
See also: U.S. Envoy Warns Ethiopia Conflict Could Spiral Amid Military Escalation
Russia And Ukraine Stage Military Drills, As Tensions Escalate
Russian fighter planes and ships practiced repelling air attacks on naval bases and responding with air strikes during military drills in the Black Sea, Interfax reported on Wednesday, as neighbouring Ukraine also held combat exercises.
The drills come at a time of high tension over Ukraine, with Ukrainian and U.S. officials voicing concerns about a possible Russian attack on its southern neighbour, a suggestion the Kremlin has dismissed as false.
Libya Election Commission Says Saif Gaddafi Ineligible To Run
The military prosecutor in Tripoli had urged the commission to rule out Gaddafi after his conviction in absentia on war crimes charges in 2015 for his part in fighting the uprising that removed his late father in 2011.
Unemployment Continues To Drop In Oklahoma
KSWO:
Unemployment numbers continue to go down across Oklahoma.
According to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, for the week ending Nov. 13, initial claims dropped by 192 to 2,020.
Continued claims for that week, meanwhile, dropped from 15,357 the week before to 14,478.
The four-week moving average of continued claims also dropped for the 17th week in a row.
Study: Arkansas Ranks #1 For Safe Driving
KAIT:
Arkansas ranks number 1 for safe driving, according to a new study.
The study by Whistleout.com ranks New Mexico, Alabama, and Montana among the worst states for driving.
Over the holidays, Arkansas State Police are keeping a close eye out for drivers who are using cell phones and are not wearing seat belts.
Pentagon Forms A Group To Examine Unexplained Aerial Sightings
The Pentagon on Tuesday night announced a new group to investigate reports of unidentified aerial phenomena in sensitive areas, work that will be overseen by both the military and the intelligence agencies.
The group will lead an effort to “detect, identify and attribute objects” in restricted airspace, as well as mitigate any threats to military flights.
The announcement follows the release of a report in June that failed to provide explanations of 143 sightings of strange phenomena by military pilots and others over the past two decades.
The report frustrated some inside the intelligence community who believed more analysis and research should have been done to try to categorize and explain the phenomena. Releasing a report that said the sightings were unexplained further drove theories that the videos or pictures could be visitors from space, a theory that few in the U.S. government take seriously.
Kathleen H. Hicks, the deputy defense secretary, said the new group would be called the Airborne Object Identification and Management Synchronization Group. It will be overseen by an executive council made up of the under secretary of defense for intelligence, the director of the Joint Staff and senior officials from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
China Accuses US Of ‘Mistake’ After Biden Invites Taiwan To Democracy Summit
China’s government has accused Joe Biden of “a mistake” in inviting Taiwan to participate in a democracy summit alongside 109 other democratic governments.
Taiwan was included in a list of participants for next month’s Summit for Democracy, published by the state department on Tuesday. Taiwan is a democracy and self-governing, but Beijing claims it is a province of China and has accused its government of separatism.
The inaugural gathering is considered a test of Biden’s pledge that he would return the US to a position asserting global leadership to challenge authoritarian forces led by China and Russia. Neither is included in the virtual summit, scheduled for 9 and 10 December.
See also:
–China, Russia Condemn U.S. Military Moves Near Borders, Deepen ‘Unbreakable’ Cooperation
–Russia, China Sign Roadmap For Closer Military Cooperation
U.S. Weighs Grim Options If Nuclear Talks With Iran Collapse
As Iran and world powers prepare to resume negotiations next week on reviving a nuclear deal, the U.S. and its allies are already debating a list of “Plan B” options if the negotiations collapse, Western diplomats, former U.S. officials and experts say.
With chances for a breakthrough at the talks in Vienna looking remote and Iran at odds with U.N. nuclear inspectors, U.S. and European officials face a grim set of choices — from ramped-up sanctions to potential military action — as Iran’s nuclear program advances into dangerous territory.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said last month that the U.S. was “prepared to turn to other options” if the negotiations fail, and Israel has made it clear that it is ready to take military action if necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
See also:
–Iran Guard Commanders Boast Of Power, Claim US Weakness
–Iran’s Drone System Emerges As Major Threat – Analysis
–Afghan Refugees Are Being Recruited To Join An Iranian Paramilitary
US Base In Syria Targeted By Rockets – Report
The Kharab al-Jir military base used by US forces in the Hasaka Governorate in northeastern Syria was targeted by rockets, according to Syrian state news agency SANA.
According to the report, five rockets were fired at the base. No casualties have been reported.
An official from US Central Command (CENTCOM) told Al-Arabiya that no injuries or damage were caused by the rocket attack, saying that the rockets fell short and did not impact near the bases themselves.
Yemeni Protesters Condemn U.S. Support For Saudi-Led War And Blockade
Abu Mahran Al-Samawi: “We the Yemeni people took to the streets today to denounce the military escalation carried out by America, the economic blockade and the continuation of aggression. We had thought that when Joe Biden took office, he would keep his promises on stopping the war on Yemen, and open the airport in Sanaa. It turned out that all the talk was a lie.”
See also: Yemen War Deaths Will Reach 377,000 By End Of The Year: UN
Trial On Arkansas Mask-Mandate Ban Wraps Up With No Ruling
An Arkansas judge is considering whether to strike down a state law he’s temporarily blocked that bans mask mandates by schools and other governmental entities.
Pulaski County Circuit Judge Tim Fox heard arguments Monday over the law, which has been on hold since August when Fox issued a preliminary injunction preventing the state from enforcing the mask ban.
On Monday, state health officials said that schools that did not require masks had a 25 percent higher rate of virus transmission than schools that did, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported.
Fox did not issue a ruling Monday and set a Dec. 10 deadline for both sides to submit final written arguments.
Tracking Next Cold Front Across Oklahoma Just Before Thanksgiving. Here’s A Look At Rainfall Totals!
KFOR:
Rainfall totals with next cold front sweeping across Oklahoma Wednesday into early Thursday not all that impressive.
Trace amounts out west to possibly 1/2″ or more in a few places in eastern Oklahoma. OKC 30% of a few showers Wed Evening.
German American Society Of Tulsa Announce Christkindlmarkt 2021
KOKI:
For over two decades the organization has brought this German tradition to the Tulsa-area. It gives families from all over Tulsa and surrounding communities a chance to shop for unique gifts, taste authentic German food and enjoy traditional German holiday music and decorations.
According to a statement from the German American Society, “guests can shop and dine worry free as they enjoy the warm and inviting Christmas atmosphere inside the GAST Event Center. No matter the weather, the doors will be open.”
Tulsa Ballet Giving Away Tickets To The Nutcracker Performance
The Tulsa Ballet is making sure more than 2000 local families get to see the Nutcracker this year!
Dreams of Sugar Plum Fairies and Snow Queens are not only for people who can afford a ticket.
“Hope for the Holidays is our special community outreach program where for one magic night in December, we give away every single seat to clients of social service organizations who all come to see a performance of the Nutcracker,” said Scott Black with Tulsa Ballet.
Oklahoma Senator Files ‘Kyle’s Law’ To Compensate “Victims Of Malicious Prosecution”
KFOR:
Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, today filed Senate Bill 1120.
Under Dahm’s legislation, if a person is charged with murder but is found not guilty due to justifiable homicide, the state would have to reimburse the defendant for all reasonable costs, including loss of wages, legal fees incurred, and other expenses involved in their defense.
Oklahoma Ranked State With Highest Police Violence Mortality Rate Over Last 4 Decades
A study published by the Lancet looked at numbers going back four decades from 1980 to 2019. It ranked Oklahoma number one for people killed by police.