A 6.6-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Vancouver Island, Canada, Thursday morning, as reported by the U.S. Geological Survey. Initially recorded as 6.4-magnitude, it was later upgraded. Several aftershocks of 4.9-magnitude and greater followed. The quake occurred just after 8 a.m.

Ava Sinclair 12/07/2024 8:30 am

As President Biden attended the NATO summit, former President Trump planned to meet Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Florida. Orban, who has a Russia-friendly foreign policy, has questioned NATO’s stance on Ukraine and Russia, causing friction with the Biden administration and European allies. Orban’s recent visits to Kyiv, Moscow, and Beijing aimed to initiate a peace process for the Ukraine war but were criticized for legitimizing Putin and undermining Western efforts to isolate the Kremlin. Orban’s actions suggest he supports Putin’s view of the conflict, blaming Ukraine and favoring territorial concessions to Russia.

Gabriel Whitaker 12/07/2024 8:30 am

Two Russian-born Australian citizens, a married couple, have been charged with preparing for espionage after allegedly obtaining military information to hand to Russian authorities. The woman, a 40-year-old Australian Defence Force technician, and her 62-year-old self-employed husband were arrested in Brisbane. They allegedly accessed Australian Defence Force material related to national security. The woman reportedly traveled to Russia without notifying authorities and instructed her husband on accessing her work account. They appeared in court and were remanded in custody, with no significant compromise identified so far.

Gabriel Whitaker 12/07/2024 7:00 am

The Israeli military’s internal probe into the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks revealed significant failings in defending Kibbutz Beeri, a town on the Gaza border. The report admitted to “severe mistakes and errors” in the army’s response, highlighting underpreparedness and a lack of prioritization of civilian lives. Despite forces being nearby, they did not intervene as residents were killed. The findings, presented to survivors, noted that 101 people died and dozens were taken hostage, with 11 still unreleased. The report did not hold individual commanders accountable and left key questions unanswered.

Ava Sinclair 12/07/2024 5:30 am

Julio Cervantes Suarez, the sole survivor of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore, recounted the harrowing incident where he watched coworkers, friends, and relatives fall to their deaths. Suarez’s truck plunged into the Patapsco River after a cargo ship crashed into a supporting column on March 26, killing six, including his nephew and brother-in-law. An inspector escaped unharmed. Suarez, who hadn’t spoken publicly before, described the bridge crumbling during a break. A mayday call had stopped traffic but couldn’t warn the construction crew in time.

Penelope Kingsley 12/07/2024 4:00 am

Hurricane Beryl, named on June 28, traveled over 6,000 miles through the Atlantic, Caribbean, Bay of Campeche, and Gulf of Mexico, making three destructive landfalls and setting records. Now a post-tropical cyclone in Canada, Beryl left over 1 million Houston-area customers without power and caused tornadoes and flooding in the Mississippi and Ohio valleys and the Northeast. The most severe damage occurred in Grenada, where Beryl hit as a Category 4 hurricane on July 1 and soon became a Category 5. The storm originated from disturbed weather off Africa on June 24.

Ava Sinclair 12/07/2024 2:30 am

During a UN Security Council meeting, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield condemned Russia’s bombing of Ukraine’s largest children’s hospital, part of a campaign killing over 30 civilians. She called it a “campaign of terror” and a violation of international law, listing other hospital attacks. Representatives from the UK and France echoed her denunciations, while Russia’s ambassador denied responsibility.

Noah Prescott 12/07/2024 2:30 am

Russia planned to assassinate Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall AG, a major German arms manufacturer supplying Ukraine with artillery and armored vehicles. The plot was uncovered and disrupted by U.S. and German authorities. U.S. intelligence discovered the plan earlier this year and informed the German government. CNN first reported the assassination plot.

Ava Sinclair 12/07/2024 1:00 am

Members of President Biden’s re-election team believe he has no chance against Donald Trump after a poor debate performance and are considering Vice President Kamala Harris as the top candidate if Biden steps aside. Internal polls are testing Harris against Trump, either to justify Biden staying in the race or to prepare for her to take over. Democrats plan to pressure Biden to end his re-election bid after the NATO summit, with more lawmakers expected to oppose him. Pollster John Zogby suggests the summit was a holding action for Biden.

Noah Prescott 12/07/2024 1:00 am

President Joe Biden announced a $225 million military aid package for Ukraine at the NATO summit in Washington. The package, revealed during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, includes a Patriot missile battery, NASAMS munitions, Stinger missiles, HIMARS ammunition, and artillery rounds. Zelenskyy expressed gratitude and urged for the removal of U.S. restrictions on the use of its weapons by Ukrainian soldiers.

Gabriel Whitaker 12/07/2024 1:00 am