Category: Security

An “experimental” plane slammed into a golf cart at a rural Indiana airport, knocking a woman unconscious, authorities said.

Shortly after 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5, deputies with the Howard County Sheriff’s Office responded to Glenndale Airport, a small airfield and flight training facility outside Kokomo, the sheriff’s office said in a news release.

Investigators say an onlooker in a golf cart was filming the plane near the runway as it was landing, but the aircraft “drifted” and hit the cart, causing it to roll. The woman inside was injured and knocked unconscious, the sheriff’s office said.

Area police and firefighters also responded to the scene, according to the release.

The woman was taken by helicopter to a hospital and the pilot was “seemingly uninjured,” the sheriff’s office said. Her condition was not publicly available as of Nov. 6.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating, officials say.

The “experimental” plane is a replica of a Boeing B-29 Superfortress, a bomber used by the U.S. military during World War II, according to an FAA news release.

Based on a photo from the scene published by the Kokomo Tribune, the aircraft appears to be scaled down considerably in size compared to an actual B-29.

Kokomo is roughly 60 miles north of Indianapolis.

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© 2023 The Charlotte Observer

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

In a high-stakes race, South and North Korea are vying for success in launching their first homegrown military spy satellites, backed respectively by the United States and Russia, as a pivotal initiative aimed at enhancing their military capabilities.

The South Korean military is set to launch its domestically-developed reconnaissance satellite on Nov. 30 from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, South Korea’s new Defense Minister Shin Won-sik said Friday during his meeting with reporters.

California-headquartered US aerospace giant SpaceX’s Falcon 9 will carry South Korea’s first spy satellite.

The upcoming launch is part of South Korea’s “425 Project,” which aims to “secure the military’s own reconnaissance satellites through research and development to monitor North Korea’s key strategic targets and respond” to potential threats, the Defense Ministry explained in a separate statement issued Friday.

In pursuit of this goal, the Defense Ministry has laid out plans to launch a total of five high-resolution military satellites by the year 2025 in light of the growing importance of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance — or ISR — assets for early detection of advancing North Korean nuclear and missile threats.

The ministry emphasized that military spy satellites will be the core of ISR assets, which serve as the cornerstone for South Korea’s three-axis defense system.

Spy satellites are poised to significantly reinforce the first axis of the three-pronged defense system, dubbed the “Kill Chain” preemptive strike mechanism, by bolstering ISR capabilities across deep areas and strategic targets in North Korea.

If South Korea successfully put a spy satellite into orbit, the Defense Ministry said it would provide an opportunity to “showcase the military’s superior scientific and technological capabilities when compared to North Korea’s satellite launch failures in May and August.”

North Korea has also sought to put “a large number of reconnaissance satellites” for military purposes by 2025 as ordered by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in March 2022. At that time, the North Korean media said the goal was to “thoroughly monitor and identify anti-DPRK and hostile military actions by the aggression troops of the US imperialism and its vassal forces on the Korean Peninsula and the surrounding area.”

Shin pointed out that North Korea might conduct a third attempt at launching what it asserts to be a “military reconnaissance satellite” in late November. This follows a failed second launch in August, after which North Korea swiftly declared its intention to proceed with another satellite launch in October, attributing the previous failure to a third-stage rocket explosion.

“Judging from the signs we’ve identified, it doesn’t appear feasible within the next one of two weeks,” Shin told reporters, declining to elaborate on indications.

“However, our assessment suggests that a launch could potentially occur toward the end of November, though we need to remain cautious and monitor the situation as it unfolds.”

Shin explained the “delay in North Korea’s launch may be attributed to the necessity for additional time to improve the third-stage engine” of a carrier rocket. The defense chief added the South Korean military puts more weight on the likelihood that the third satellite launch delay is due to “specific technological guidance from Russia.”

In September, Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly stated that he and the North Korean leader intentionally met at Russia’s primary spaceport, the Vostochny Cosmodrome, to assist North Korea in satellite development.

“The competition between South and North Korea in launching reconnaissance satellites is essentially a technology race between the United States and Russia,” said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.

“South Korea’s goal is to bolster its capabilities for the Kill Chain, with support from the United States. Conversely, North Korea, with Russian technological aid, is primarily oriented towards collecting intelligence on the military activities of South Korea and the United States,” he said.

But any launch conducted by North Korea that involves ballistic missile technology, including the use of space launch vehicles to place satellites into orbit, constitutes a breach of multiple UN Security Council resolutions.

Amidst the postponement of the preannounced satellite launch, North Korean state media on Sunday reported that the country has designated November 18 as “Missile Industry Day” to commemorate the first test launch of the intercontinental ballistic missile Hwasong-17 last Nov. 18.

The anniversary was designated at a meeting of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, the state media said, without elaborating on the date of the meeting.

Yang suggested that North Korea might choose to conduct the third satellite launch on Missile Industry Day.

But the timing of South Korea’s upcoming satellite launch will be a crucial factor in determining North Korea’s launch date.

“The outcome will be of utmost importance if both South and North Korea proceed with their satellite launches in November. Should South Korea achieve success while North Korea faces another setback, it would cause political damage (to Pyongyang),” Yang said.

“North Korea will evaluate whether it’s more advantageous to launch our satellite before or after November 30, which is the date set for our satellite launch.”

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(c) 2023 the Asia News Network

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

A man attempting to evade Capitol Police crashed a stolen vehicle into a barricade on the Capitol complex early Sunday, and officers arrested the driver and passenger on gun and other charges, police said.

A Capitol Police officer saw a white Infiniti Q50 idling at a green light near Union Station at about 2:15 a.m. and tried to make a stop on a suspicion the driver was impaired, the Capitol Police said in a news release.

The driver sped away and crashed the car into the vehicle barricade near First and D streets Northeast, the agency said. Both occupants — Ricardo Glass and Onosetale Okojie, two 20-year-olds from Washington — fled the crash scene and were tracked down by officers and arrested, the agency said.

Officers recovered a Glock handgun with a 22-round extended magazine and another Glock with a “giggle switch,” which turns the weapon into a machine gun, the agency said. The car was stolen out of Maryland, the department said.

The duo faces charges that include carrying a pistol without a license, possession of a large-capacity ammunition feeding device, reckless driving, fleeing from a law enforcement officer in a motor vehicle and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The department in 2023 has confiscated more than 30 guns, which are prohibited on Capitol grounds.

“This is just another example of our officers and their vigilance and perseverance putting away dangerous criminals,” Sean Gallagher, assistant chief of police for uniformed operations, said in the news release. “They are constantly working to keep everyone safe throughout the Capitol Complex.”

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© 2023 CQ-Roll Call, Inc

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

This article was originally published by Radio Free Asia and is reprinted with permission.

Fighting between the Myanmar military and resistance groups in Sagaing region continued Monday after junta airstrikes over the previous three days killed  at least five civilians, one armed group told Radio Free Asia. 

The battle began Friday, when three allied groups attacked a school campus and other buildings where junta troops were stationed. 

The Arakan Army, Kachin Independence Army and People’s Defense Forces attacked the school before dawn. The group also targeted a police station and administration office in Sagaing region’s Kawlin township. The junta reacted by calling in airstrikes killing and injuring several civilians, said Kawlin city locals. 

A junta jet attacked Hpa Le village in Kawlin township on Friday night, killing 34-year-old Naing Min Oo.

The following day, the junta carried out more than 10 airstrikes, damaging buildings and killing two people, according to Kawlin-based defense groups. 

And on Sunday morning, a fighter jet enroute from Mandalay region’s Tada-U township opened fire on Kawlin city. 

Defense forces have reportedly rescued more than 10,000 residents trapped in the city since Friday. There were still more than 1,500 people trapped as of Sunday morning due to heavy airstrikes near the city’s high school, a local resident who wished to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals told RFA.

“The situation in the morning was that they were still fighting with the junta army. A jet came often and opened fire. A jet dropped bombs in the morning,” the local said. “People were trapped and some were injured due to the junta’s aerial bombardment. When civilians were trying to leave toward the eastern part of the city, junta soldiers arrived and the locals were trapped.”

Residents who could not escape had to hide in houses during the fighting, he added.

Aid workers are still trying to evacuate the people trapped in the city, said a rescue worker, who asked not to be named for security reasons.

“People are being evacuated as much as possible. Some were evacuated on Sunday morning. All the phone lines were cut, some people were outside [the war zone], but they were still out of contact,” they said. “The junta troops are stationed around the city’s general administrative office now.”

Residents from Kawlin’s surrounding villages also fled, bringing the total number of people forced to abandon their homes to nearly 100,000, according to the rescue worker. 

Fighting has also prevented aid workers from collecting bodies in the area and they have not been able to accurately count the number of people who died since the initial blasts on Friday.

“Junta troops are stationed in high-rise buildings. They shoot people if they come out on the street,” the rescue worker said. “There are people who have died due to the junta’s shooting. They use people as human shields.”

The battle is taking longer than expected because of the combined junta ground and air attack, said a member of Kawlin township’s People’s Defense Force (PDF), who wished to remain anonymous for security reasons.

“There is a hospital next to the general administration office, and the Number Two High School is next to the hospital. The defense forces took up positions for more than 200 meters and are fighting fiercely to capture the junta’s camp,” they said. 

“The four sides of the General Administrative Office were surrounded by our PDF troops. But we still can not get close because junta troops have strong bunkers and weapons. A jet came to open fire every 30 minutes, and we had to retreat when the jet flew in.”

The junta has not released any information about the attacks in Kawlin. RFA’s calls to Sagaing region’s junta spokesperson Sai Naing Naing Kyaw went unanswered on Sunday.

At noon on Monday, some allied forces and locals claimed that resistance forces had finally taken control of Kawlin city, but RFA has not been able to independently confirm this. 

Multiple polling locations in Pennsylvania experienced voting machine issues Tuesday morning, forcing election officials to offer voters provisional ballots.  

According to Lehigh Valley News, a local publication, the county’s ES&S ExpressVote XL machines experienced programming errors that caused votes to flip.

The Northampton County Elections Office stated, “It appears that when a voter selects a ‘Yes’ or a ‘No’ for one of the candidates for retention to the Pennsylvania Superior Court, the selection is recorded on the paper ballot and on the machine for the other candidate.”

“The issue is limited to the retention of Superior Court Judges and is only an issue when recording the votes for when a voter selected a ‘Yes’ for one candidate and a ‘No’ for another candidate,” the statement added.

Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure said the error was minor and insisted all votes would be counted.

“I’m livid at the election folks and ES&S,” McClure said.

The issues were apparently widespread and many voters expressed their frustration with the electoral system.

“It’s a joke,” one voter said after using a provisional ballot. “We don’t even have faith in the electoral system, then this happens?”

Another voter who experienced issues said he hadn’t “used a paper ballot since Nixon!”

This is breaking news that will be updated as more information becomes available. Keep reading below.

Indianapolis authorities reported the arrest of a woman on Friday who has been labeled a “terrorist” by police following a deliberate car crash into a building she mistakenly thought to be a Jewish school.

Ruba Almaghtheh, age 34, faces charges of criminal recklessness after she purposefully crashed her vehicle into a structure she believed was a Jewish school, according to a police report obtained by Fox 59.

Almaghtheh, motivated by news coverage of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, admitted to targeting what she perceived as a Jewish establishment due to the “Hebrew Israelite” symbol on the building.

The suspect drove by the building multiple times before executing the attack. “Yes. I did it on purpose,” Almaghtheh confessed to officers from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, acknowledging her intent to commit a hate crime.

Her actions, based on a misunderstanding of the building’s occupants, have led to her being labeled a “terrorist” by the police, according to Fox 59.

READ MORE: Jewish US senator threatened with kidnapping, murder by Nevada man

Court records obtained by Indy Star noted that no one was injured in the incident; however, an adult, a 3-year-old, a 2-year-old, a 1-year-old, and a 7-month-old were inside the building when Almaghtheh crashed into it. The incident occurred at approximately 11:30 a.m., with law enforcement swiftly responding to what was initially investigated as a hate crime, according to Fox 59.

Contrary to Almaghtheh’s belief, the building is associated with the Israelite School of Universal and Practical Knowledge. The organization, connected to the Black Hebrew Israelites, has faced criticism and been deemed antisemitic by the Anti-Defamation League, while the Southern Poverty Law Center categorizes the Black Hebrew Israelites as a hate group, according to The Daily Wire.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis emphasized community safety following the event. A statement obtained by Fox 59 assured that the security program, Safe Indiana, was notified of the incident and working in conjunction with authorities as part of the investigation.

“Safety and security for our community is of the utmost importance, and we are more secure and prepared than ever before,” Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis officials stated, “Although a Jewish facility was not targeted, solely due to ironic misidentification, this is yet another reminder to maintain security protocols, remain vigilant of suspicious activity and to [report promptly] to the appropriate authorities.”

Almaghtheh is expected to appear in court on Wednesday to face her charges.

This news article was partially created with the assistance of artificial intelligence and edited and fact-checked by a human editor.

Sensitive information regarding active-duty U.S. military members and veterans can be purchased for as little as 12 cents per record through data broker websites, according to a new Duke University study published Monday.

The study, commissioned by the U.S. Military Academy, shows that sensitive information, including financial, medical, and religious information, can be purchased cheaply online.

The Duke University study report explained, “This study involved scraping hundreds of data broker websites to look for terms like ‘military’ and ‘veteran,’ contacting U.S. data brokers from a U.S. domain to inquire about and purchase data on the U.S. military, and contacting U.S. data brokers from a .asia domain to inquire about and purchase the same.”

Researchers noted that the “data brokerage ecosystem” has become a multi-billion-dollar industry that collects, sells, licenses, and shares personal information pertaining to Americans and provides services based on the information.

Duke University’s study was intended to examine the type of information that data brokers collected and sold with regard to U.S. service members. The study also examined the potential risks that could come from foreign governments or individuals acquiring personal information on U.S. military members and veterans.

READ MORE: China’s military targeting U.S. troops, veterans, top Air Force general warns: Report

“It is not difficult to obtain sensitive data about active-duty members of the military, their families, and veterans, including non-public, individually identified, and sensitive data, such as health data, financial data, and information about religious practices,” researchers stated. “The team bought this and other data from U.S. data brokers via a .org and a .asia domain for as low as $0.12 per record. Location data is also available, though the team did not purchase it.”

According to Stars and Stripes, the Duke University report indicates that America’s enemies could use the sensitive information obtained through data brokers to target Americans who have connections with the military for blackmail, disinformation campaigns, profiling, and other potentially harmful activities.

Researchers explained that the U.S. government currently does not have enough regulations in place to guard against the inconsistent activities of data brokers.

“Meaningful policy action is needed to address this ecosystem and mitigate national security risks facing the United States,” the report urged.

The U.S. Military Academy commissioned study recommended that Congress pass a thorough privacy law that would place significant controls on the data brokerage industry, which could limit the dangers highlighted throughout the report.

“Foreign governments have historically sought data about American persons and organizations for espionage, election interference, and other purposes,” the report stated. “Their interest in the U.S. military in particular is high.”

U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) both released statements Monday in response to Duke University’s report.

“This report further solidifies the need to address this gaping hole in the protection of U.S. service members,” Cassidy said. “Our legislation defends the men and women in uniform from having their personal information sold to our enemies like China and Russia. We must act in the interest of national security and protect those who defend our nation.”

Warren explained that data brokers are currently selling “sensitive information” about U.S. military members and their families for “nickels” without understanding the national security risks caused by the sale of personal information.

“This report makes clear that we need real guardrails to protect the personal data of service members, veterans, and their families,” she stated.

Brad Benson, a Republican Granbury City Council Place 4 candidate, was arrested Monday for the alleged possession of child pornography.

According to Fox 4 News, Benson is a small businessman, Granbury’s Deputy Fire Marshal, and a member of the Granbury Volunteer Fire Department. Fox 4 News reported that Benson currently is facing two counts of possessing child pornography, which is a first-degree felony.

Election Eve shocker in Texas: Granbury council candidate Brad Benson is arrested a day before his election, will face charges of possession of child porn. Hood County GOP says if it’s true there is “no way the party would ever condone such activity.” https://t.co/BmK8XH2cNW

— Bud Kennedy / #ReadLocal (@BudKennedy) November 7, 2023

Hood County Sheriff Roger Deeds told Newsweek, “I can confirm he was arrested by the District Attorney’s Office yesterday and charged with two felony child pornography charges, he should have a bond set today.”

Newsweek reported that Benson was arrested at his home located in the Watersedge area of Granbury just one day before the election; however, his name currently remains on the ballot as a council member candidate for Place 4 in Tuesday’s election.

READ MORE: Democrat lawmaker leaving Democrats, becoming Republican

The Republican Party of Hood County released a statement Tuesday regarding the allegations against Benson.

“This morning we were notified of the law enforcement operation involving candidate Brad Benson for place #4, Granbury City Council,” the Republican Party stated. “The Executive committee has conferred, spoken with law enforcement, confirmed more substantial information and unanimously withdraws their support for Mr. Benson.”

The Republican Party of Hood County condemned the alleged crimes of Benson “in the strongest terms,” explaining that the crimes Benson is accused of committing “tear at the heart and soul of society.” Contrasting other Republican candidates with Benson, the party’s statement emphasized its commitment to protecting children and advocating for both conservative and family values.

“These heinous acts are antithetical to what Republicans stand for. It is time for the justice system to act and if Mr. Benson is proven guilty, the punishment needs to be swift and severe,” The Republican Party added. “We sincerely hope that the grace and peace of our merciful God comes upon all the children and families involved, and that healing, repentance and restoration will be seen in personal lives, along with our beloved community.”

United States Army soldiers conducted a successful helicopter rescue of three injured teenagers from Chalkyitsik, Alaska, last week despite facing poor weather conditions and low visibility.

According to the U.S. Army, the soldiers who completed the rescue mission on Oct. 31 were assigned to Charlie Company, 1-52 General Support Aviation Battalion, 16th Combat Aviation Brigade.

The Army reported that three civilian teenagers received injuries due to a snowmachine accident near Chalkyitsik. As a result of the serious injuries the teenagers received and the remote location of the incident, Army assistance was requested through the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center.

The Arctic Dustoff aeromedical evacuation unit received the rescue assistance request at 9:38 p.m. during a training flight exercise. After returning to Ladd Army Airfield at Fort Wainwright and reconfiguring the helicopter for the rescue of the three teenagers, the Army medical evacuation team departed from the base at 11:22 p.m.

The Army rescue team experienced poor weather conditions, including mixed precipitation and low visibility, after passing the White Mountains; however, the rescue team was able to land at Chalkyitsik airport at 1:00 a.m. to transport the three injured teenagers.

“Here in Alaska, more often than not, there is some type of complication during MEDEVAC calls; this mission was no different,” Chief Warrant Officer 2 Johnathan Horvath, the leading pilot on the mission, said. “The crew worked together, along with various [air traffic control] facilities, to ensure our patients received the medical attention they need.”

READ MORE: Army renames last base honoring Confederate general

After reaching the Chalkyitsik airport, Staff Sgt. Joseph Uribe, a flight paramedic, assessed the condition of the three injured teenagers before loading each of them onto the helicopter. Roughly 15 minutes later, the rescue team was able to depart with each of the three teenagers and their mothers. Uribe provided medical attention to the injured teenagers as the helicopter transported them to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital.

Uribe explained, “Each mission we launch on comes with its own set of challenges, but thanks to the coordination between Sgt. Perez, our pilots, and myself, we were able to optimize patient treatment and ensure the patients were cared for until they could be transferred to a higher role of care.”

After the helicopter team reached its destination and transported the patients to an ambulance at 2:51 p.m., the three teenagers were taken to the hospital to receive additional medical care.

Maj. Jeff Crook, Charlie Company’s commander, applauded the Army rescue team’s mission, saying, “We at Arctic Dustoff continuously work on improving our medical and flight capabilities for this very purpose. I am proud of our ability to assist the citizens of the state of Alaska on their worst days and proud of our flight crews for their dedication to the same.”

The Nashville transgender school shooter’s manifesto was reportedly leaked on Monday, showing the shooter attacked children at a Christian school because she had a hatred for “white privilege.”

The leaked images of the manifesto, released by conservative Steven Crowder on his show “Louder with Crowder,” show three handwritten-pages allegedly created by Nashville school shooter Audrey “Aiden” Hale, age 28.

The manifesto shows how the transgender shooter carefully planned the Covenant School shooting, which resulted in three children and three school staff members being killed before police officers were able to fatally shoot Hale.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIhTtK-iQoo

Showing images of the leaked Manifesto on X, Crowder tweeted, “BREAKING: Nashville School Covenant Shooter Audrey Hale’s ‘DEATH DAY’ Manifesto Targeted ‘Cr*ckers’ with ‘white privlages.’

BREAKING: Nashville School Covenant Shooter Audrey Hale’s “DEATH DAY” Manifesto Targeted “Cr*ckers” with “white privlages”

“wanna kill all you little cr*ckers”

“I hope I have a high death count”

“I’m ready…I hope my victims aren’t.”

“Ready to die.”#NashvilleManifesto pic.twitter.com/89Ie6TlgRf

— Steven Crowder (@scrowder) November 6, 2023

Hale’s alleged manifesto, which was handwritten in a notebook, was labeled with “DEATH DAY” on the top of the first page, along with the date “3/27/23” and a picture of a pistol and a target.

“Today is the day. The day has finally come! I can’t believe its here. Don’t know how I was able to get this far, but here I am. Im a little nervous, but excited too. Been excited for the past 2 weeks,” Hale wrote. “There were several times I could have been caught, especially in the summer of 2021. None of that matters now. Im almost an hour + 7 minutes away. Can’t believe I’m doing this, but I’m ready…I hope my victims aren’t.”

READ MORE: Army shares new details on mass shooter

In the manifesto, Hale said her only fear was that something would go wrong with her plan. Hale wrote that the shooting could last as long as 10 minutes or as short as three to seven minutes, emphasizing, “I hope I have a high death count.”

On another page of the manifesto, under a headline titled, “Kill those kids!!!” Hale described the students as “crackers” and expressed anger and hatred toward “white privilege.”

Hale wrote, “I wish to shoot you [unreadable] d-cks w/ your mop yellow hair, wanna kill all you little crackers!!! Bunch of little fa–ots w /your white privileges f-ck you [fa–ots].”