Monthly Archives: February 2021

National Situation Update- 2/21/2021

WEEKLY THREAT AND ALERT ROUNDUP

Feds Seize Millions of Fake N95 Masks from China - ALLOW IMAGES

Feds Seize Millions of Fake N95 Masks from China


February 20, 2021

  

What You Need To Know

More than 11 million counterfeit 3M N95 masks have been seized by the Department of Homeland Security in recent weeks, and suspected victims of the scam include hospitals and medical facilities in at least 12 states. Authorities say they have contacted around 6,000 hospitals, clinics, and others who may have accidentally purchased the fake masks, advising them to stop using them and contact DHS immediately.

As many as 1.9 million counterfeit 3M masks were shipped to about 40 hospitals in Washington state alone. Cassie Sauer, the president and chief executive of the Washington State Hospital Association, said that Washington state hospitals bought hundreds of thousands of the fraudulent masks, and the association itself bought 300,000 for its members. Just weeks ago, the Cleveland Clinic issued a statement saying that a portion of its N95 mask supply used by their health system since November were counterfeit and “not effective as respirators.”

According to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, one million counterfeit N95 masks were confiscated on Wednesday of this week at a warehouse in Western Maryland. The seizure came as part of a larger investigative effort known as Operation Stolen Promise. Launched in April of last year, the goal of the effort is to protect the Homeland from the increasing and evolving threat posed by COVID-19-related fraud and criminal activity. This includes seizure of shipments of mislabeled, fraudulent, unauthorized or prohibited COVID-19 test kits, treatment kits, homeopathic remedies, purported anti-viral products, as well as all manner of knockoffs and substandard personal protective equipment (PPE). So far, in partnership with border officials, the FDA and FBI, $33 million in phony products have been seized and and more than 230 persons arrested.

The fake masks that were seized this week have the stamp “3M” on them and are shipped in boxes that say “Made in the USA,” although they are not. According to Steve Francis, director of the Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center, an element of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the knockoff masks are all produced in China. Quoting Francis;

“They’re extremely dangerous. They’re providing a false sense of security to our first-line responders and to American consumers.”

Officials are urging consumers to be cautions when purchasing N95 masks. Do not confuse them with KN95 masks, which meet standards in China but are not certified by the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Typical hallmarks of knockoffs include grammatical errors or typos on packaging and user instructions, loose fitting straps, odd smells, poor construction, and lack of a NIOSH seal.

Learn to spot the fakes here and here.



Coronavirus Update Graphic - ALLOW IMAGES


Coronavirus Update


February 20, 2021


What You Need To Know

According to data provided by the COVID Tracking Project, all major indicators of COVID-19 transmission in the United States continue to fall rapidly. Weekly new cases have fallen from 1.7 million at the national peak in early January to fewer than 600,000 this week, and cases have declined in every state. As we’ve seen at many points in the pandemic, case numbers are changing most quickly, with hospitalizations and deaths declining after a delay: cases have been falling sharply for five weeks, hospitalizations for four, and deaths for two. In this week’s numbers from nursing homes and other long-term-care facilities, we are now seeing solid declines in deaths correlated with COVID-19 vaccinations of this most vulnerable population.

Despite the declines, the total number of people hospitalized is still very high—hospitalizations have yet to fall far enough to reach even the peaks of the two previous surges, which both rose to roughly 60 thousand hospitalizations.

As of Friday at 6:00 PM ET, there were 3,003 deaths reported for the day. In total, more than 496,000 deaths in the U.S. have been attributed to the virus.

The Department of Homeland Security has extended the restrictions on non-essential cross-border travel with Canada and Mexico through March 21st.

Effective January 26, the CDC requires all air passengers entering the United States (including U.S. citizens and Legal Permanent Residents) to present a negative COVID-19 test, taken within three calendar days of departure​, or proof of recovery from the virus within the last 90 days.

Air travelers entering Canada will now be forced into mandatory hotel quarantine at their own expense to await results of a COVID test. Trudeau says the new requirement is part of a suite of measures designed to keep Canadians at home, as the government is increasingly concerned about the risk of new COVID variants that appear to be more transmissible and more deadly.

Nationwide COVID-19 Metrics - ALLOW IMAGES


Important COVID-19 Headlines

One in three US service members refuse to take COVID-19 vaccine
DoD considers sending more than 18K troops to help vaccinate America
Israel to bar unvaccinated people from some jobs, says health minister
Mutations have made coronavirus 8X more infectious
Macron proposes vaccine plan as UK prepares to host G7
Hopkins experts expound upon COVID-19 variants, vaccine doses
What Are The 677 Mutations? New Covid-19 Variants Found In The US
Another new coronavirus variant now detected in 13 countries
Experts Warn Against COVID-19 Variants as States Reopen


SITUATION REPORTS / OFFICIAL CASE NUMBERS

The COVID Tracking Project
World Health Organization
Centers for Disease Control (U.S.)
Johns Hopkins CSSE (Interactive map updated multiple times daily)

OFFICIAL CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION PAGES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Food and Drug Administration
Public Health Agency of Canada
Infection Prevention and Control Canada
World Health Organization


AlertsUSA.com

SMS ALERTS FROM THIS WEEK
NOT DETAILED IN THIS NEWSLETTER ISSUE

2/19 – DHS: U.S. land borders with Canada and Mexico will remain closed to non-essential travel until at least March 21 due to continued spread of SARS-CoV-2.

2/17 – At least 7 shot at the SE Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) station in Philadelphia’s Olney neighborhood. One gunman in custody. Monitoring..

2/15 – Southwest Power Pool declares Energy Emergency Alert level 3, will implement immediate rolling blackouts across 17 central and western states. Monitoring..

2/14 – Electric Reliability Council of Texas warns of possible rotating outages resulting from high demand on grid due to extreme temps. Conservation urged.


AlertsUSA Service for Mobile Devices Ad - ALLOW IMAGES

* Threat Info Direct to Your Mobile Device
* Get Away Early, Give Your Family Extra Safety.
* In Wide Use By Gov, 1st Responders, Travelers.
* 24/7/365 Monitoring. No Hype. Just the Bad Stuff.
* Issued Hours and Days before the MSM.
* On your Cell Phone, Tablet or Email.
* We Give The Clear Truth, Unlike the MSM.
* 18 Years in Operation!

We are NOT part of the government.
In fact, they are our customers!



Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED): Preparedness, Recognition and Response - ALLOW IMAGES

Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED):
Preparedness, Recognition and Response


February 20, 2021


In the post-9/11 era, first responders have incorporated protecting the Homeland against terrorism into their daily mission. Law enforcement, fire service, and emergency medical services personnel play a vital role in detecting and preventing attacks because of the nature of their work, their frequent interaction with members of the public, and the level of access their jobs provide. People who hold these jobs often can identify behaviors or activities that could signal a pending terrorist attack; therefore, public safety personnel must continue to report, according to the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting Initiative, observations that raise reasonable suspicion.

The Intelligence Community routinely produces information for public safety personnel that may help first responders identify terrorist-related activities and prevent, deter, or respond to terrorist attacks. In light of the December 25, 2020 detonation of a recreational vehicle bomb in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, AlertsUSA provides the following resources from the National Counterterrorism Center to help increase awareness of first responders and members of the general public.

Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED):
Preparedness, Recognition and Response

Vehicle-Borne Attacks: Tactics and Mitigation

Best Practices for Vehicle Screening Against Terrorist Attacks


Tussle Over Rare Earth Elements Heating Up - ALLOW IMAGES


Tussle Over Rare Earth Elements Heating Up


In a move clearly meant to taunt the United States and its allies, China is looking at limiting the export of rare earth elements (REEs) that are crucial to sophisticated weaponry, according to an exclusive report in the Financial Times.

~ READ MORE HERE ~


Iran: The Mullah’s Pursuit of Obtaining Nuclear Weapons


In spite of the Iranian leaders’ claim that their nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, evidence reveals that the Iranian regime has long sought to acquire nuclear weapons.

A recent report by the International Atomic Energy Agency pointed out that “Samples taken from two sites during inspections in the fall by the U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) contained traces of radioactive material”.

~ READ MORE HERE ~


Aspiring Immigrants Are Massing in Northern Mexico


Despite significant Mexican counter-migration operations on behalf of the new U.S. administration, large numbers of migrants from around the world are still flowing into northern cities and towns along the border from Texas to California, powered by adrenaline from recent Biden moves to open the border wide, according to a CIS survey of Mexican media reporting.

~ READ MORE HERE ~



Fleet and Marine Tracker Map as of Feb 18, 2021  - ALLOW IMAGES

USNI Fleet and Marine Tracker


These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of Feb 18, 2021 based on Navy, public data provided by the U.S. Naval Institute, and open source reporting. In cases where a CSG or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the chart reflects the location of the capital ship


An Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon conducts an aerial refuel with a KC-135 Stratotanker during Cope North near Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Feb. 18, 2021. The annual exercise promotes stability and security throughout the Indo-Pacific. - ALLOW IMAGES

World News Roundup


AMERICAS


Texas was ‘seconds’ away from ‘months-long’ power outage
Blinken says the U.S. is willing to meet Iran for face-to-face talks
US says it’s ready to join talks to resume Iran nuclear deal
Earth quietest in decades as lockdowns reduce seismic noise
Special Program – Biden’s America: Too damaged to lead?
Why Russia Is Terrified of SpaceX — and Starlink
Cuomo-gate: a Nixonian scandal is engulfing New York
Democrats to unveil Biden’s US immigration reform bill
Texas power outages below 500,000 but water crisis persists
Coronavirus: US life expectancy falls by a year amid pandemic
Mexico president calls for reduced electric consumption
Ecuador election: Tension rises over delayed result

EUROPE


Spain: Dozens arrested in fresh riots over rapper’s jailing
Russia, China to sign agreement on international lunar research station
Russian fighters make unsafe intercept of French Air Force aircraft
French fighter jet flies through electrical lines and cuts power to village
Spain Hoped Catalonia’s Separatists Would Fade. They’re Gaining Ground
Catalonia election: Socialists win, but separatists expand majority
EU records 450,000 excess deaths between March and November
Georgia prime minister resigns over opposition leader arrest plan
Diplomats: EU to impose sanctions on Russians over Navalny by March summit
Russia slams European rights court’s ‘unlawful’ order to free Navalny
Russia to present new concept of national digital currency
Belarus jails Belsat TV journalists for filming protest

MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA


Killings surge in Syria camp housing Islamic State families
Trial opens in Algeria jihadist beheading of French mountaineer
Ebola Is Back. Can the WHO Contain It?
US signals it is open to sending more troops to support NATO’s mission in Iraq
NATO expands mission in Iraq on the heels of deadly rocket attack
Ten thousand ISIS fighters poised for new wave of terror
Erbil Attacks Part of Iran’s ‘Opening Overture’ To Biden
Turkey-US relations: A rocky road ahead
Who are the Syrian Kurdish women fighters who took down ISIS?
Euphoria of Morocco’s Arab Spring has fizzled out
Positive signals’ needed to save JCPOA, Merkel tells Rouhani
Iran nuclear deal hangs in balance as Tehran turns screw on US
U.S. vows consequences for group behind Iraq rocket attack
Saudi-led coalition in Yemen moves troops to Marib to repel Houthis
Lebanon judge removed from Beirut blast probe: judicial source
WHO to send over 11,000 Ebola vaccines to Guinea amid outbreak
Nigeria hunts school kidnappers as families call for help
Nigeria minister: Don’t be ‘cowards’ when attacked
Egypt’s Sisi offers support to Libya’s new PM
Ivory Coast minister to meet ex-president Gbagbo to discuss return
Ugandan soldiers jailed for assaulting journalists

ASIA


China ramps up military build-up in Tibet, Xinjiang
Tussle over rare earth elements heating up
Mutations have made coronavirus 8X more infectious
Whyis COVID in retreat around the world?
How China’s national security law threatens Hong Kong’s internet freedom
Heir Apparent? The Grooming Of Turkmenistan’s Serdar Berdymukhammedov
Top Bhutan general, judges detained in alleged overthrow plot
Nearly 500 detained in Myanmar, hackers target military websites
UK and Canada impose sanctions on Myanmar generals after coup
Blinken tells Ghani U.S. supports Afghanistan peace process
Taiwan blames China after deal for 5m Covid vaccine doses is put on hold
US charges three N. Koreans in $US1.3 billion hacking spree
Facebook imposes Australia news blackout


Alert! Symbol - ALLOW IMAGES

Travel Security Resources


Department of State Seal - ALLOW IMAGES

The U.S. Dept. of State Travel Website is the authoritative federal source for information on the security situation at travel destinations worldwide. With tensions rapidly increasing in most regions, readers planning international travel, even to such common destinations as Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean Islands, are strongly encouraged to research on the security situation at your destination prior to departure.


Active USGOV Travel Notices

Worldwide Caution


Active USGOV Travel Advisories

Alphabetical Country List

Dynamic Map


Other USGOV Travel Resources

Traveler’s Checklist

Smart Traveler Enrollment Prog (STEP)

Travelers with Special Considerations

Travel to High-Risk Areas

Faith-Based Travel Information

Information for Women Travelers

Cruise Ship Passengers

Students Abroad

Your Health Abroad

Driving and Road Safety Abroad


Overseas Security Advisory Council Logo - ALLOW IMAGES

The Department of State’s Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) provides a variety of resources to enhance the safety and security of the U.S. private sector businesses and organizations operating abroad.


CDC Logo - ALLOW IMAGES

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website is the authoritative federal source for information on current health issues related to specific destinations worldwide. These issues may arise from disease outbreaks, special events or gatherings, natural disasters, or other conditions that may affect travelers’ health.


Foreign Sources of Travel Guidance


Canadian Flag - ALLOW IMAGES

Global Affairs Canada


Australian Flag - ALLOW IMAGES

Australia Dept. of Foreign Affairs


UK Flag - ALLOW IMAGES

UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office


Threat Journal Subscription Button - ALLOW IMAGES


Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.



Via: threatjournal

National Situation Update- 2/7/2021

WEEKLY THREAT AND ALERT ROUNDUP


Security is high for Super LV in Tampa, FL - ALLOW IMAGES

Super Bowl LV Threat Assessment


February 6, 2021

 

On Feb 1st, the following related Flash SMS
message was sent to
AlertsUSA subscriber mobile devices:


2/1 – Large security operation unfolding in Tampa for Super Bowl LV on 2/7. Fencing, road closures, and heavy police presence downtown & near stadium. Expect delays.


What You Need To Know


On Monday AlertsUSA subscribers were notified of a large security operation unfolding in the run-up to Super Bowl LV that will be held on Sunday, Feb 7th at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. According to a Joint Special Event Threat Assessment issued by the FBI, Dept. of Homeland Security and several other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, there is no information to indicate a specific, credible threat to or associated with Super Bowl LV or related events in the surrounding area.

However, the FBI and DHS remain concerned about potential retaliatory attacks conducted by or on behalf of the Government of Iran following the Jan 3rd 2020 US drone strike that killed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF) Commander Qassem Soleimani. Additional areas of continuing concern include international terrorism and domestic violent extremists (DVEs); unmanned aircraft systems (UAS); cyber security; local critical infrastructure; criminal activity; and the potential use of crude, simple weapons of mass destruction (WMDs).

Quoting directly from the threat assessment:

“We remain concerned about sustained interest by foreign terrorist organizations in targeting mass gatherings such as Super Bowl LV despite the restricted attendance of this year’s game and associated events. Al-Qa‘ida, the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS), and their affiliates remain intent on attacking Western targets and continue to call on individuals to conduct independent attacks in the United States using a range of weapons, including improvised explosive or incendiary devices (IEDs/IIDs), vehicles, firearms, and edged weapons.”

“The Government of Iran could direct retaliatory attacks in the environs of the Super Bowl; Soleimani’s death could also provoke a violent extremist Iran supporter to conduct an attack to avenge the death.”

“Although security measures will be in place around Super Bowl LV and adjacent areas on the day of the game, Super Bowl LV and associated events are likely an attractive target due to the relatively high concentration of attendees, symbolism of the event, and the significant national media attention the event will receive. We assess the most vulnerable targets of opportunity for a physical attack during Super Bowl LV will be outside the security perimeter around the stadium and at associated venues where crowds will gather or where less stringent security measures are in effect.

In light of the content of this Threat Assessment, readers may find it interesting that on Wednesday of this week, U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested 11 Iranian citizens after they crossed the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona. According to Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol agents encountered the group on a bridge near San Luis, Arizona. The group consisted of six males and 5 females. The group was arrested and taken to Yuma Station for processing.

So far in FY2021, Yuma Sector agents have apprehend 14 nationals from Iran.

Customs and Border Protection says Iran is considered a “special interest country.” This means it is a country known to harbor terrorists and terrorist organizations.

It is not yet clear why the group was attempting to get into the United States, and agents are still working to determine how they got to Mexico to cross into the U.S..



Coronavirus Update Graphic - ALLOW IMAGES

Coronavirus Update


What You Need To Know

According to data provided by the COVID Tracking Project, this week new cases, hospitalizations, and deaths all dropped. For the seven-day period running January 28 to February 3, weekly new cases were down more than 16 percent over the previous week, and dropped below one million for the first time since the week of November 5. This is still an astonishing number of new cases per week, but far better than the nearly 1.8 million cases reported on the week of January 14. Tests also declined nationally, but by less than 3 percent, nowhere near enough to explain the steep drop in cases.

As of Friday at 6:00 PM ET, there were 3,003 deaths reported for the day. In total, more than 459,000 deaths in the U.S. have been attributed to the virus.


COVID-19 Restriction Maps can be found here and here.

The Department of Homeland Security has extended the restrictions on non-essential cross-border travel with Canada and Mexico through Feb. 21st.

Effective January 26, the CDC requires all air passengers entering the United States (including U.S. citizens and Legal Permanent Residents) to present a negative COVID-19 test, taken within three calendar days of departure​, or proof of recovery from the virus within the last 90 days.

Last week, Canadian Prime Minister Justine Trudeau announced that air travelers entering Canada will now be forced into mandatory hotel quarantine at their expense to await results of a COVID test. Trudeau says the new requirement is part of a suite of measures designed to keep Canadians at home, as the government is increasingly concerned about the risk of new COVID variants that appear to be more transmissible and more deadly

The White House also released a new Executive Order last week focused on protecting the federal workforce and requiring mask wearing.

Nationwide COVID-19 Metrics - ALLOW IMAGES

Important COVID-19 Headlines

World faces around 4,000 COVID-19 variants
WHO admit Wuhan mission WILL NOT reveal how COVID jumped to humans
FEMA asks the Pentagon to help administer the COVID-19 vaccine
UK finds more coronavirus cases with ‘concerning’ mutations
What we know about the South African variant of Covid
Latest on the worldwide spread of the coronavirus
Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine has 92% efficacy in trial
The race for ‘next generation’ COVID vaccines is heating up
COVID-19: Risks and side effects of vaccination
Sinovac and Sinopharm – what do we know about the Chinese vaccines?
Coronavirus: Lack of global vaccine strategy has ‘immense costs’


SITUATION REPORTS / OFFICIAL CASE NUMBERS

The COVID Tracking Project
World Health Organization
Centers for Disease Control (U.S.)
Johns Hopkins CSSE (Interactive map updated multiple times daily)

OFFICIAL CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION PAGES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Food and Drug Administration
Public Health Agency of Canada
Infection Prevention and Control Canada
World Health Organization


SMS ALERTS FROM THIS WEEK
NOT DETAILED IN THIS NEWSLETTER ISSUE


1/31 – AlertsUSA monitoring response to reports of gunfire, Fox River Mall, Appleton, WI. Heavy police presence. Add’l alerts as warranted.

1/31 – Outagamie County (WI) Sheriff’s Office asking community to stay away from the Fox River Mall area in Appleton. Active situation.

1/31 – Police report two people shot in Fox River Mall incident. Shooter remains at large. AlertsUSA monitoring..

2/1 – AlertsUSA monitoring response to reports of gunfire, University Mall, South Burlington, VT. Heavy police presence. Add’l alerts as warranted.

AlertsUSA Service for Mobile Devices Ad - ALLOW IMAGES

* Threat Info Direct to Your Mobile Device
* Get Away Early, Give Your Family Extra Safety.
* In Wide Use By Gov, 1st Responders, Travelers.
* 24/7/365 Monitoring. No Hype. Just the Bad Stuff.
* Issued Hours and Days before the MSM.
* On your Cell Phone, Tablet or Email.
* We Give The Clear Truth, Unlike the MSM.
* 18 Years in Operation!

We are NOT part of the government.
In fact, they are our customers!



National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Center for Neutron Research, Gaithersburg, MD. - ALLOW IMAGES

Research Reactor Emergency in Maryland


On Feb 3rd, the following related Flash SMS
messages were sent to
AlertsUSA subscriber mobile devices:

2/3 – NRC notified flwg radiological incident within a Nat’l Institute of Standards & Technology facility in Gaithersburg, MD. Elevated radiation levels. Monitoring..

2/3 – NIST incident involves elevated radiation levels within containment bldg of research neutron reactor. Workers undergoing decon and eval. No threat outside bldg.

What You Need To Know

On Wednesday AlertsUSA subscribers were notified of a declaration of an Emergency at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Center for Neutron Research in Gaithersburg, MD. In this incident, elevated radiation levels were detected in the containment building of the 20 MW heavy water research neutron reactor during a restart.

According to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, stack radiation monitors began reading 100,000 counts per minute due to the release of fission products. The reactor had been operating at 50% power (10 MW), and automatically scrammed one minute prior based on the stack monitor reaching 50,000 counts per minute. When the automatic scram occurred, the facility ventilation system automatically changed to emergency ventilation mode to limit discharge to the environment. Several workers were determined to be externally contaminated. Those workers underwent decontamination by a change of clothes and showers and are now being monitored for signs of possible uptake and internal contamination.

According to a statement by NIST, there is no evidence of radiation above regulatory limits outside the containment building, and they “continue to evaluate data from air monitors and other sensors to ensure the health and safety of our campus and local community. NIST is also working to understand the precise cause of the elevated levels of radiation.“

A follow-up release on Friday states the following:

“The research reactor on NIST’s Gaithersburg, Maryland, campus is shut down and in a safe state. It will remain in shutdown status until the cause of the elevated radiation levels is determined and corrected. The elevated levels of radiation within the NCNR’s confinement building have dropped significantly, as expected.”

Interestingly, despite the fact that the NIST campus and the Center for Neutron Research is located near Interstate 270 and is surrounded by housing communities and businesses, most local residents did not become aware of the emergency until hours later.



Report to Congress on Chinese Naval Modernization - ALLOW IMAGES



Chasing the Dragon


On his first full day in office, President Joe Biden signed a massive executive order that, among other things, killed the Keystone XL pipeline project. Buried in that same order were two short sentences that will allow the Chinese government to get into the American electrical grid.

READ MORE HERE

The New Great Game at Sea


Last month, India included Australia in its annual Malabar naval exercise for the first time since 2007. The exercise was held in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea and also included the United States and Japan, which only joined as a permanent member in 2015. Australia’s newly announced inclusion represents the growing concerns about China’s maritime rise across Eurasia, from the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean to East Asia and the Arctic.

Malabar comes in juxtaposition to the annual exercise China hosts with Russia entitled Joint Sea. Since 2012, Russia and China have conducted the Joint Sea naval exercises as a way to bolster their relationship, while also gaining a greater understanding of their respective naval technologies and platforms.

Eurasia’s main continental rivals — China, Russia, and India — are leading this emerging dynamic of maritime great-power competition as they seek enhanced global prestige and great-power status. This drive for increased international prestige has resulted in growing investments in strategic instruments of national power, namely navies. This in turn has resulted in a dynamic of heightened navalism and naval competition across maritime Eurasia.

~ READ MORE HERE ~


Forging 21st-Century Strategic Deterrence


The strategic capabilities of our competitors continue to grow, and they are sobering. More than a decade ago, Russia began aggressively modernizing its nuclear forces, including its non-treaty-accountable medium- and short-range systems. The People’s Republic of China is also on a trajectory to be a strategic peer and should not be mistaken as a “lesser included” case.

~ READ MORE HERE ~


The Navarro Report


The three volumes of the Navarro Report provide a demonstration that President Trump had a good faith belief that the November 3, 2020 Presidential election results, were, indeed, the poisonous fruit of widespread fraud and election irregularities. Evidence used in the preparation of the Navarro Report includes more than 50 lawsuits and judicial rulings, thousands of affidavits and declarations, testimony in a variety of state venues, published analyses by think tanks and legal centers, videos and photos, public comments, and extensive press coverage.

~ READ MORE HERE ~



Fleet and Marine Tracker Map as of Feb 1, 2021  - ALLOW IMAGES

USNI Fleet and Marine Tracker


These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of Feb 1, 2021 based on Navy, public data provided by the U.S. Naval Institute, and open source reporting. In cases where a CSG or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the chart reflects the location of the capital ship.



Soldiers conduct an airborne operation from an Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft at Frida drop zone in Pordenone, Italy, Feb. 1, 2021. - ALLOW IMAGES

World News Roundup


AMERICAS

10 pounds of Composition C-4 disappear from Twentynine Palms
11 Iranians arrested in Arizona after jumping US-Mexico border
Nat’l Guard protection of the Swamp cost taxpayers $500 MILLION
Judiciary Committee votes AGAINST saying Pledge of Allegiance
US and Russia extend nuclear treaty
CCP Virus psyops in Wuhan brought America to her knees
Biden Is Putting Migrant Kids In Cages, Crickets from AOC
Biden says he will welcome 125,000 refugees during pandemic
Hacking group also used an IE zero-day against security researchers
That Settles That: White House Is Keeping Space Force
Comparing Biden’s Proposed Amnesty to the Legalization of the 1980s
Modernizing Biometrics Collection for Immigration Vetting
For Biden, Tough Talk on Saudi Arabia Meets Reality
US sends warship through Taiwan Strait for first time under Biden
Mexico Arrests Police Officers Over Massacre
Desperation grows as Mexico runs out of vaccines
Hacking group also used an IE zero-day against security researchers
Austin Orders Military Stand Down to Address Challenge of Extremism
Biden cancels Elon Musk’s adventures in space
Lockheed Overtakes Boeing as Largest US Aerospace and Defense Firm
New Sonar Sees Underwater From The Air
National Security Council meets on Iran’s nuclear program

EUROPE

One dead and nine injured after stabbings around Croydon, south London
Biden Freezes German Pullout Plans; ‘Cradle to Grave’ Review Underway
Britain expelled three Chinese spies posing as journalists, report claims
Russia Expels European Diplomats It Says Participated In Navalny Protests
B-1 Bombers Deploying To Norway For The First Time
Trident nuclear submarine replacement delayed by another year
Joe Biden demands Russia free Alexei Navalny ‘immediately
As Moscow’s Jails Overflow, Navalny Detainees Are Held Outside the City

MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA

Islamic extremists planning ‘rash of attacks’ after Covid curbs lifted, says UN
Al Qaeda’s “Expansion Project” targets Côte d’Ivoire, Benin
Biden halts support for Saudi strikes on Yemen
In Iraq’s ‘Dire’ Economy, Poverty Is Rising — And So Are Fears Of Instability
Mozambican President announces night curfews, first since 1992
Saudi Arabia suspends entry from 20 countries over COVID fears
Qatar announces new restrictions amid fears of second COVID wave
Erdogan says will not let Turkish university protests swell
Liberia war crimes: Rebel commander on trial in Finland
Tunisian soldiers killed by explosive in mountains close to Algerian border
Ethiopia arrests 15 over UAE embassy attack plot

ASIA

Nimitz moves into Indo-Pacific region after 270 days in CENTCOM AOR
Myanmar coup: What is happening and why?
Xi, Putin make the case for win-win vs zero-sum
16 injured in Sibbi blast following Kashmir solidarity rally
Chinese Soldiers Get High-Tech ‘Dog Tags’ Incl Barcodes, Embedded Chips
Uyghur advocates speak out after accounts of rape and torture in China
Top Chinese official hopes US abandons its ‘zero-sum’ rivalry
China slams U.N. Security Council ‘leak’ on Myanmar
Afghanistan troop withdrawal should be tied with peace talk progress
US study group advises delay in Afghanistan withdrawal
Japan extends state of emergency amid rising COVID-19 cases
Defector says North Korea ‘popular uprising’ likely



Alert! Symbol - ALLOW IMAGES


Travel Security Resources

Department of State Seal - ALLOW IMAGES

The U.S. Dept. of State Travel Website is the authoritative federal source for information on the security situation at travel destinations worldwide. With tensions rapidly increasing in most regions, readers planning international travel, even to such common destinations as Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean Islands, are strongly encouraged to research on the security situation at your destination prior to departure.


Active USGOV Travel Notices

Worldwide Caution



Active USGOV Travel Advisories

Alphabetical Country List

Dynamic Map



Other USGOV Travel Resources

Traveler’s Checklist

Smart Traveler Enrollment Prog (STEP)

Travelers with Special Considerations

Travel to High-Risk Areas

Faith-Based Travel Information

Information for Women Travelers

Cruise Ship Passengers

Students Abroad

Your Health Abroad

Driving and Road Safety Abroad


Overseas Security Advisory Council Logo - ALLOW IMAGES

The Department of State’s Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) provides a variety of resources to enhance the safety and security of the U.S. private sector businesses and organizations operating abroad.


CDC Logo - ALLOW IMAGES

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website is the authoritative federal source for information on current health issues related to specific destinations worldwide. These issues may arise from disease outbreaks, special events or gatherings, natural disasters, or other conditions that may affect travelers’ health.


Foreign Sources of Travel Guidance

Canadian Flag - ALLOW IMAGES

Global Affairs Canada


Australian Flag - ALLOW IMAGES

Australia Dept. of Foreign Affairs


UK Flag - ALLOW IMAGES

UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office


Threat Journal Subscription Button - ALLOW IMAGES

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.


Via: threatjournal