Johnny Depp, Kelly Rowland and Reba warn fans about AI scammers
Scammers are posing as celebrities to trick fans out of their money. Johnny Depp, Kelly Rowland and Reba McEntire have recently warned their supporters about the alarming trend.
Stars are urging fans to stay vigilant, especially as scammers use advanced technology and artificial intelligence to make their impersonations more convincing.
Johnny Depp issues warning
Depp took to Instagram on Monday, Jan. 6 with a detailed warning for his fans. He emphasized that his official Instagram account is his only social media presence.
Depp stated he’s not on platforms like X, Snapchat, or Discord. Likewise, he said he doesn’t offer paid fan meetings, club memberships, or fan cards—opportunities scammers attempt to leverage for money.
“Today, AI can create the illusion of my face and voice,” Depp said in his post. “Scammers may look and sound just like the real me. But neither I, nor my team, will ask you for money or your personal information.”
Depp says his team is “actively working to combat these illicit schemes.”
Kelly Rowland fan targeted by impersonator
Singer and actress Kelly Rowland also shared a warning after facing a similar issue. Someone using the Instagram handle @iam.kellyrowland without a profile picture messaged a fan claiming they lost their credit card and needed money for a plane ticket to perform in the fan’s city.
The scammer followed up with another message, claiming to be Beyoncé.
Reba McEntire urges fans to be cautious
Last November, McEntire shared her own warning on Instagram. She stressed that neither she nor her team would ever contact fans via direct message or phone to solicit money.
McEntire urged her followers to protect themselves online and be wary of scammers attempting to exploit their admiration for her.
How to spot a scam
When it comes to online scams, there are clear red flags to watch for:
Verify the account: Look beyond the blue checkmark. Check the account’s post history, follower count and activity to ensure authenticity.
Be wary of urgent requests: Celebrities won’t ask for money or personal information through direct messages.
Look out for odd spelling and grammar: Many scams contain typos or awkward phrasing, like the scammer who misspelled “plane” in messages pretending to be Rowland.
Check website URLs: Always inspect links before clicking. Watch for subtle misspellings or unfamiliar domains.
Father of 14-year-old Georgia school shooting suspect charged with murder
The father of the 14-year-old suspect in the shooting at a Georgia high school has been arrested and charged in connection to the deadly incident. And in a surprise move, Hunter Biden has pleaded guilty in his federal tax case. What’s next for the president’s son. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, Sept. 6, 2024.
Father of 14-year-old Georgia school shooting suspect charged with murder
The 14-year-old arrested in connection to the Georgia school shooting is expected to appear in court Friday, Sept. 6. Colt Gray has been charged with murder as an adult.
He’s now not the only one charged in connection to the shooting. His father has been arrested by authorities and charged with second-degree murder.
Colin Gray, 54, is facing four counts of involuntary manslaughter, eight counts of cruelty to children, and two counts of second-degree murder.
Authorities said the charges stem from Colin Gray “knowingly allowing his son” to have a gun. According to investigators, he bought the AR-style gun used in the shooting as a gift for his son.
This comes as we’re getting a clearer picture of what happened inside the school as shots first rang out. An eyewitness says 53-year-old math teacher Christina Irimie died after jumping in front of a student to protect them from gunfire.
We’ve also learned more about an incident report from last year involving the suspect regarding anonymous posts threatening a school shooting. Those threats were made on the social media platform Discord under a username referring to the 2012 Sandy Hook gunman, according to the police file.
Colt and Colin Gray were interviewed at the time. Colin Gray told investigators there were guns in their home, but his son did not have access to them. Colin Gray denied making the threats and authorities say there was no probable cause at the time for an arrest.
Hunter Biden pleads guilty in federal tax case
In a surprise move, Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to federal tax charges Thursday, Sept. 5. It was not part of any plea deal and sets up the possibility the president’s son could spend decades in prison.
The plea was a move to avoid a second criminal trial this year. He was after already found guilty in a federal gun case, which he’s set to be sentenced for in November.
The plea is related to charges alleging Hunter schemed to avoid paying more than a million dollars in income taxes. His attorneys acknowledged the evidence is “overwhelming” and offered a guilty plea — while keeping options open for an appeal.
“Hunter decided to enter his plea to protect those he loves from unnecessary hurt and cruel humiliation,” defense attorney Abbe Lowell said. “Hunter put his family first today, and it was a brave and loving thing for him to do.”
It’s considered an unorthodox and unexpected move in the federal court system. Guilty pleas often come with plenty of warning and after negotiations with prosecutors.
Last year when Hunter Biden was on the cusp of reaching a plea agreement that many critics called “a sweetheart deal” that would have spared him from any prison time. That deal was tossed out over concerns the president’s son was getting preferential treatment.
US announces new controls on chip-related exports to China
As China makes advances in the global chip industry, the U.S. is rolling out new export controls on certain crucial technologies like quantum computing and semiconductor goods.
The Commerce Department cited “national security and foreign policy reasons” for issuing the new rules over worldwide exports. It does, however, make exemptions for countries that adopt similar rules, like Japan and the Netherlands.
In the past, federal investigators have also subpoenaed cell phones belonging to the New York police commissioner and another one of the mayor’s close advisers, Tim Pearson, but it’s also not clear if that was related to the recent searches.
Federal probe targets airlines’ frequent flyer programs
Today, @SecretaryPete opened a probe into some of the big airline points programs. The inquiry seeks to better understand: – Rewards devaluation tactics – Hidden pricing and junk fees – Risks of reductions in competition and choice https://t.co/FQWTbY1Pjc
The Department of Transportation has ordered the CEOs of American, Delta, Southwest, and United airlines to answer detailed questions and provide records on their policies for how passengers can accrue and spend their miles. The probe is focused on how consumers could be affected by the devaluation of earned rewards, extra fees, hidden or dynamic pricing, and reduced competition and choice.
First NFL game of the season ends in dramatic fashion
We’ve heard of winning “by a nose” in horseracing. But last night, in the first NFL game of the season, it came down to winning “by a toe.”
With the seconds ticking down in the fourth quarter, it appeared Ravens’ quarterback Lamar Jackson successfully threw a touchdown pass to tight end Isaiah Likely, giving Baltimore a chance to win the game.
Biden, Trump make separate visits to southern border: March 1, 2024
In competing visits, President Biden and former President Trump address the crisis at the southern border. And, at least two people are dead in the largest fire in Texas history. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, March 1, 2024.
Biden, Trump make separates stops at Southern border to address immigration
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump made competing visits to the southern border on Thursday, Feb. 29, each addressing the migrant crisis, a pivotal issue for voters as the two frontrunners for their parties gear up for a potential presidential face-off in November.
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Positioned 300 miles apart, both surveyed the U.S.-Mexico border and discussed the record number of migrants illegally crossing into the United States. During his visit to Brownsville, Biden called on Trump to support the Senate’s bipartisan border security bill, which Trump has opposed.
“Here’s what I would say to Mr. Trump,” Biden said. “Instead of playing politics with this issue, instead of telling members of Congress to block this legislation, join me, or I’ll join you, in telling the Congress to pass this bipartisan security bill. We can do it together. You know, and I know is the toughest, most efficient, most effective border security bill this country has ever seen.”
Meanwhile, in Eagle Pass, Trump, accompanied by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, blamed Biden for the crisis.
“Now the United States is being overrun by the Biden migrant crime,” Trump said. “It’s a new form of a vicious violation to our country. It’s migrant crime. We call it Biden migrant crime but that’s a little bit long, so we’ll just leave it. But every time you hear the term migrant crime, you know where that comes from.”
A recent Gallup poll indicates immigration has surged to the forefront of American concerns, followed by the government and the economy. The poll found a record high 55 percent of adults view the influx of immigrants entering the U.S. illegally as a critical threat to the nation.
Airman accused of leaking defense info expected to plead guilty
Teixeira faced a potential maximum sentence of 60 years for charges related to the improper handling and public disclosure of national defense secrets. The classified documents he leaked included sensitive information about Ukraine’s air defenses and a foreign plot targeting U.S. troops overseas.
Prosecutors said there was no evidence of espionage, rather, Teixeira wanted to impress people on the site with his insider information. The 22-year-old, who was stationed at an air base in Cape Cod, has been in custody since his arrest last spring at his mother’s home in Massachusetts.
Congress passes stop-gap spending bill to avert government shutdown
Congress passed a short-term funding deal Feb. 29, to prevent a partial government shutdown that was set to begin Friday, March 1. The bill now awaits President Biden’s signature.
The Senate approved the stop-gap measure with a vote of 77 to 13, setting new funding deadlines for government agencies to March 8th and March 22nd. Earlier in the day, the House passed the measure by a vote of 320 to 99.
Investigations are underway to determine if a gas leak or a stove ignited the fire on the first floor of a restaurant, leading to rapid spread throughout the building.
Dozens of firefighters fought for over two hours to bring the blaze under control. Some survivors made their escape by heading to the building’s roof.
Officials warn that the death toll may increase as emergency services have taken around 20 people with critical injuries to local hospitals.
Following this incident, the government has formed a panel to investigate the cause and to develop strategies to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Texas battles Smokehouse Creek Fire, largest in state history
Texas A&M Forest Service Chief Wes Moorehead stated, “As firefighters continue to suppress active fires, we urge Texans to be cautious with any outdoor activity that may cause a spark.”
The Texas Agriculture Commissioner has noted a significant impact on livestock, with thousands of cattle dead and concerns that the numbers could rise.
During his visit to the U.S.-Mexico border, President Joe Biden announced he has directed federal officials to do “everything possible” to assist communities affected by the fires. This includes sending more firefighters and equipment.
The cause of the wildfires remains unknown.
Phillies end dollar dog nights after unruly fan behavior
For baseball enthusiasts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, an era is coming to an end, but not for reasons like player retirements or stadium demolitions. Rather, it’s about hot dogs.
After 27 years, Philadelphia Phillies fans will no longer enjoy their cherished Dollar Dog Nights, a tradition where hot dogs were sold for just one dollar a few times during the baseball season. The decision to end this beloved promotion comes in the wake of unruly behavior from fans last season, which included throwing hot dogs and led to several ejections from the stands.
Moving forward, the Phillies will replace Dollar Dog Nights with a buy one, get one deal. However, fans looking for budget-friendly hot dog nights can still find them with another Pennsylvania team, the Pittsburgh Pirates, who continue to offer Dollar Dog Nights.
YouTube facing questions after beheading video remained online for hours: The Morning Rundown, Feb. 1, 2024
Questions about YouTube’s policies are being raised after a graphic video related to a murder case in Pennsylvania is left up for hours. And three people are killed and several more injured when a building collapses near an airport in Idaho. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024.
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YouTube video connected to PA murder remained online for hours
YouTube’s policies are being questioned after it was discovered that a graphic video involving a case of a son accused of beheading his father was left on the video-sharing site for hours. Police in Pennsylvania charged 32-year-old Justin Mohn on Wednesday, Jan. 31, with first-degree murder and abusing a corpse.
Authorities said Mohn killed his father and then posted a graphic 14-minute video about the murder on YouTube, showing the severed head. Police said the video was uploaded about 10 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 30, and remained online for anyone to see for about five hours.
The graphic video was viewed more than 5,000 times before it was eventually taken down. A social media advocacy group told the Associated Press this is “another example of the blatant failure of these companies to protect us.”
Critics have accused YouTube and other social media platforms of not investing in their trust and safety teams. YouTube’s policies were put under the microscope while five social media CEOs were questioned during a Congressional hearing about child safety online.
Representatives for YouTube and its parent company, Google, were not in attendance. YouTube responded to the criticism.
“YouTube has strict policies prohibiting graphic violence and violent extremism. The video was removed for violating our graphic violence policy, and Justin Mohn’s channel was terminated in line with our violent extremism policies,” the company said in a statement. “Our teams are closely tracking to remove any re-uploads of the video.”
YouTube said it uses a combination of artificial intelligence and human moderators to monitor its platform.
Zuckerberg apologizes to families at online child safety hearing
CEOs from five social media companies testified at a Congressional hearing concerning online child safety measures on Wednesday, Jan. 31. CEOs from Meta, TikTok, X, Snapchat, and Discord answered questions from lawmakers about the role their platforms play in the lives of young users, and how social media has led to children suicides and exploitation.
In one key moment in the hearing, Sen. Josh Hawley asked Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg if he apologized to the victims and their families.
“Let me ask you this. There are families of victims here today. Have you apologized to the victims? Would you like to do so now? They’re here, you’re on national television,” Hawley said. “Would you like now to apologize to the victims who’ve been harmed by your product? Show him the pictures. Would you like to apologize for what you’ve done to these good people?”
“No one should have to go through the things that your families have suffered. And this is why we’ve invested so much and are going to continue doing industry-leading efforts to make sure no one has to go through the types of things that your families have had to suffer,” Zuckerberg said.
If you’re waiting on the social media industry to regulate itself, you’ll die waiting.
It is unclear if the hearing will lead to any type of legislation, though lawmakers are working on bipartisan bills. You can find Lauren Taylor’s full report on the hearing here.
House passes $78 billion bipartisan tax bill increasing child tax credit
In a bipartisan vote on Wednesday evening, Jan. 31, the House overwhelmingly approved a $78 billion tax cut package, increasing the child tax credit for millions of lower-income families. The bill passed 357-70 and now moves on to the Senate.
Along with expanding the child tax credit, the package also restores business tax breaks related to research and development. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., called the bill “important” legislation and added that this was “a good example of how Congress is supposed to make law.”
I voted against tonight’s tax bill that balloons our already out-of-control welfare system.
While Republicans and Democrats came together on the bill, not everyone got what they hoped for. Several New York Republicans were looking for it to include state and local tax deduction limits. And while some Republicans said the bill expanded the child tax credit too much, some Democrats said it did not.
Five of the injured were taken to the hospital in critical condition. Officials said the building’s collapse caused a crane to fall but did not impact the airport. The cause of the collapse is under investigation.
Judge throws out Disney’s lawsuit against DeSantis and Florida’s Commerce Dept.
A federal judge threw out Walt Disney Company’s lawsuit against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the secretary of Florida’s Commerce Department. Disney sued DeSantis, alleging that he retaliated against the company after it criticized the Parental Rights in Education Act, known to critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” law backed by DeSantis.
Last year, Florida’s Republican-controlled legislature changed the district, renaming it the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, with its board members now selected by Gov. DeSantis and then must be confirmed by the state Senate.
We have consistently fought — and won — the big fights on behalf of the people.
When Disney went after our kids, I stood strong in defense of the rights of parents.
Donald Trump and Nikki Haley sided with Disney. Haley even invited them to her state.
Shortly after its creation, the district voted to throw out a development agreement between Disney and the previous board known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District. Disney also canceled its plans to build a $1 billion campus in Orlando.
In its lawsuit, Disney alleged DeSantis is punishing the company for exercising its First Amendment rights. Disney said it would appeal Judge Winsor’s ruling.
— The Walt Disney Company (@WaltDisneyCo) March 28, 2022
A spokesperson for DeSantis said the ruling said, “The federal court’s decision made it clear that Governor DeSantis was correct: Disney is still just one of many corporations in the state, and they do not have a right to their own special government.”
The federal lawsuit is separate from Disney’s state lawsuit against the new tourism district for terminating its previous agreement with the Reedy Creek Improvement District.
Donations pour in to replace stolen Jackie Robinson statue
There has been an outpouring of support to replace a symbol honoring one of baseball’s greats. On what would have been Jackie Robinson’s 105th birthday, donations poured in Wednesday, Jan. 31, to replace a statue of the baseball hall of famer who broke the major league’s color barrier in 1947.
One online fundraiser has raised over $156,000, surpassing the statue’s estimated value of $75,000. Major League Baseball has announced it will replace the statue and provide funding for a local youth baseball league called “League 42,” named after Robinson’s uniform number.
Air Force members on Jack Teixeira’s unit disciplined, commander relieved
More than a dozen military members have been “disciplined” in connection to Jack Teixeira’s classified intelligence leaks. According to the Air Force inspector general’s inquiry, released to the public on Dec. 11, the colonel in charge of Teixeira’s unit was also “relieved from his position” following the investigation.
The Air Force report did not point to other military officers colluding with Teixeira, and no one appears to have been aware that he was posting the sensitive information online. Fifteen individuals, however, were found to have known of “suspicious activity” without ever informing higher-ups.
Teixeira was indicted in June, after being accused of releasing U.S. military secrets on the social media app Discord. The secrets included classified information on U.S. espionage activities against Russia, as well as Ukrainian military plans and strategies.
Teixeira was able to access the information with his top-secret security clearance. The leaks have been called the largest U.S. national security breach in at least a decade.
“Every Airman and Guardian is entrusted with the solemn duty to safeguard our nation’s classified defense information. When there is a breach of that sacred trust, for any reason, we will act in accordance with our laws and policies to hold responsible individuals accountable,” said Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall. “Our national security demands leaders at every level protect critical assets, ensuring they do not fall into the hands of those who would do the United States or our allies and partners harm.”
The inspector general’s office determined that at least three of Teixeira’s supervisors each “failed to take proper action in at least four separate security incidents” involving Teixeira. The report also found an overall lack of proper supervision during overnight shifts, which was when Teixeira normally worked.
Teixeira pleaded not guilty to all charges and is currently awaiting trial.
Snap, Discord, X CEOs subpoenaed to testify on online child abuse
The Senate Judiciary Committee issued subpoenas to the CEOs of the social media companies Discord, Snap and X, formerly Twitter, compelling them to testify on Dec. 6 during a hearing about online child sexual exploitation, which the committee calls a crisis. The Committee also wants to hear from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and TikTok CEO Shou Chew, but they are in talks to testify voluntarily.
The bipartisan subpoena is part of an effort to pass new legislation to protect kids online.
“We promised Big Tech that they’d have their chance to explain their failures to protect kids. Now’s that chance,” Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said in a joint statement. “Big Tech’s failure to police itself at the expense of our kids cannot go unanswered.”
During the hearing, it’s likely Mark Zuckerberg will be grilled on Meta’s use of end-to-end encryption.
In an explanation of its purpose, the company said, “The content of your messages and calls in end-to-end encrypted conversations is protected from the moment it leaves your device to the moment it reaches the receiver’s device. This means that nobody else can see or listen to what’s sent or said – not even Meta.”
Zuckerberg has been questioned about this before and once admitted encryption makes it harder to catch predators.
“You’re right that in an end-to-end encrypted world, one of the risks that I’m worried about among others, to safety, is that it will be harder to find some of this behavior,” Zuckerberg told the House Financial Services Committee during a 2019 hearing.
Meta subsidiary WhatsApp tried to push back on the notion that encryption is all bad by releasing a documentary that showed how an Afghan women’s soccer team used its encrypted messaging service to escape the Taliban after it took over the country in 2021.
The ACLU supports encryption for privacy reasons.
“End-to-end encryption is the best protection, offering individuals the assurance that their personal data are shielded from prying eyes,” the organization said.
The EARN IT Act would remove big tech’s blanket immunity from civil and criminal liability and the SHIELD Act would create greater federal criminal liability for those who share private, sexually explicit photos without consent.
Russian cyber attack hits US government agencies: June 16 rundown
A global cyber attack linked to a Russian ransomware group has targeted U.S. government agencies, and deadly tornadoes tore through the Texas panhandle. These stories and more highlight the rundown for Friday, June 16, 2023.
U.S. agencies hit in global cyber attack
A global cyber attack has hit several U.S. government agencies. U.S. officials say a Russian ransomware group is to blame.
According to national security, the ransomware group compromised a “vulnerability” in a widely used software. That software makes it convenient for governments and businesses to move large files.
Impacted institutions include:
The U.S. Department of Energy
Multiple Johns Hopkins hospitals
The University of Georgia
British Airways
The Minnesota Department of Education
Officials suspect there could be hundreds of more companies affected. According to U.S. cybersecurity officials, no federal data has been leaked so far in the hack.
The Russia ransomware group suspected of being behind the attack is known to demand multimillion-dollar ransoms. While stolen data is often used for extortion, none of the agencies have reported demands for money.
Teixeira indicted over discord leaks
Jack Teixeira, the Massachusetts Air National Guardsman accused of leaking highly classified military documents on the social media app Discord, has now been indicted. He’s facing six counts of willful retention and transmission of national defense information. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
The leaked documents contained information about the war in Ukraine as well as other top national security issues. In May, a judge deemed Teixeira a flight risk and ordered him to remain in jail as he awaits trial.
Tornado kills 3 in Texas panhandle town
A series of spring storms came down hard on the south Thursday, June 15. At least 3 people have died and about 100 people were injured after a tornado came barreling through the Texas panhandle.
This tornado devastated the small town Perryton, Texas. Trailer houses were destroyed, communication towers were torn down, and dozens of people were injured from the high-speed winds and thrown debris.
Meanwhile. Pensacola, Florida saw its share of devastation caused by a series of severe thunderstorms. At least one person died after a tree fell on top of their home.
The latest round of severe weather follows tornadoes that touched down in Alabama earlier this week.
U.S. submarine arrives in South Korea
The U.S.S. Michigan, a nuclear-powered submarine capable of carrying about 150 tomahawk missiles, arrived in South Korean waters on Friday. The arrival is the first of its kind in 6 years.
It’s part of a recent agreement between the U.S. and South Korea to increase the U.S.’s presence along the Korean peninsula. The two countries’ Navies were set to conduct drills meant to boost their special operations capabilities.
The arrival comes just a day after U.S. and South Korean troops conducted joint live-fire drills at a firing range in South Korea. The goal of the drills are to counteract the growing threat of North Korea’s advancing nuclear program. In protest of the live-fire drills, the North launched two short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast June 15.
“These launches are a clear violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions, and they demonstrate the threat of unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs pose to the region, to international peace and security, and to the global nonproliferation regime,” State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller said Thursday.
Ticketmaster, SeatGeek agree to end hidden fees
Tcketmaster and SeatGeek announced they will no longer have hidden fees applied to their ticket sales. This means the full costs of tickets will be visible to customers up front.
The announcement came the same day President Joe Biden hosted executives from Ticketmaster, SeatGeek and other companies to tout the administration’s work cracking down on “junk fees.”
According to the Government Accountability Office, hidden fees cause the price of an event ticket online to increase by 27% on average.
Pope Francis released from hospital
Pope Francis has been discharged from the hospital nine days after he underwent surgery to repair a hernia in his abdomen. The 86-year-old pope was greeted Friday with a wave of supporters outside the hospital. The surgeon who did the procedure said Francis is “better than before” the hospitalization.
The pope traditionally takes the full month of July off from travel and public appearances. While Francis still plans to attend Sunday blessings, he will have the rest of June and July to rest before he travels to Portugal in August.
Israel may plan preemptive strike on Iran to deter nuclear program, US leak suggests
Israel may be considering a preemptive strike on Iran as a means to deter its nuclear program, according to a portion of a top-secret intelligence report leaked on the platform Discord earlier this year. The document, classified as top secret, was coded as the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and first reported by the Israeli outlet Ynet in April.
The leaked document dated Feb. 23 reveals “Israel conducted a large-scale exercise, probably to simulate a strike on Iran’s nuclear program and possibly to demonstrate Jerusalem’s resolve to act against Tehran.”
This document cites a report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that found traces of near weapons-grade uranium at one of Iran’s facilities. The amount detected approaches a “declared redline” for Israel, per the document.
“Netanyahu probably calculates Israel will need to strike Iran to deter its nuclear program and faces a declining military capability to set back Iran’s enrichment program,” the document speculates.
Notably, Iran has denied enriching uranium to the claimed 84% level mentioned by the IAEA. However, experts highlight that the critical threshold for creating an atomic bomb is 90%.
If Iran were to acquire a nuclear weapon, it would join the list of nine other countries known to possess nuclear weapons.
The leaked CIA report contains a factual inaccuracy where it mistakenly refers to Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “president.” The document may include other errors.
The intelligence notes the CIA’s uncertainty regarding Israel’s intentions and near-term plans to attack Iran:
“CIA does not know Israel’s near-term plans and intentions. Israel may wait to see U.S. and international reaction to the IAEA’s findings regarding Iran’s nuclear program and whether Iran’s supreme leader will authorize uranium enrichment to weapons-grade before deciding whether to take action,” the document reads.
The Intercept reports that President Biden has not opposed a unilateral Israeli attack on Iran — and his national security adviser recently hinted at blessing it.
“We have made clear to Iran that it can never be permitted to obtain a nuclear weapon,” Jake Sullivan said in a speech earlier in May, reiterating the administration’s often-repeated line.
In the meantime, Iran is increasing its arsenal as it prepares to receive two dozen SU-35 heavy multi-role fighter jets from Russia.
The two countries have seen their ties deepen in recent months.
Iran has also reportedly supplied Moscow with hundreds of lethal drones amidst Russia’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
“ISIS has been developing a cost-effective model for external operations that relies on resources from outside Afghanistan, operatives in target countries, and extensive facilitation networks,” the assessment concluded. “The model will likely enable ISIS to overcome obstacles — such as competent security services — and reduce some plot timelines, minimizing disruption opportunities.”
Historically, Afghanistan’s ISIS affiliate, ISIS-K, has been at odds with the Taliban. The Taliban is currently the ruling administration in Afghanistan.
The intel about ISIS using Afghanistan to plot terrorist attacks comes less than two years after President Joe Biden withdrew U.S. troops from the country. It’s also not the only information coming to light from the Discord leak. Part of the leak includes a Defense Intelligence Agency assessment that said peace talks between Russia and Ukraine are not likely to happen before the end of 2023.
Straight Arrow News aims to identify when stories are being underreported on either side of the political aisle and media landscape. This story is a Media Miss for left-leaning outlets, with most sources reporting it being either right-leaning or center-oriented outlets, according to Ground.News.
On April 19, in an interview with local media, Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said the government won’t announce the start of the counteroffensive for a few reasons. First, it’s warfare and Ukraine doesn’t want Russia knowing its battle plans. Second, she said the public shouldn’t boil the counteroffensive down into one particular large-scale advance, adding in some ways the counteroffensive is already underway.
“We shouldn’t publicly boil down the counteroffensive to particular large-scale advances, because we are talking about the strategic goal of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to free all our territories. We aim at freeing our territory and stopping the enemy in their advances.”
Ukraine Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Maliar
Maliar said Ukraine’s plans to oust Russia from all of its territory, including Crimea, contains a “colossal variety of actions and measures,” like preparing personnel for any number of offensive and defensive tactics. Maliar said when the decision is made to advance, it will happen in a very short period of time when the enemy cannot react.
From an outsider’s perspective, though, it looks like that decision is probably coming sooner rather than later.
On the same day Maliar downplayed talks of Ukraine advancing on the battlefield, U.S.-made Patriot guided missile systems arrived in Ukraine. Along with the United States, Germany and the Netherlands also donated Patriot systems. Patriots can target aircraft, cruise missiles and shorter-range ballistic missiles. They’ll go a long way to shore up Ukraine’s air defenses.
In addition to Western-made main battle tanks like the Challenger and Leopard 2, Ukraine also received self-propelled howitzer cannons. Called Paladins, the mobile artillery system is battle-tested and will help Ukraine counter the onslaught of Russian artillery which is leveling villages all along the frontlines.
For the HIMARS and other rocket systems already in use in Ukraine, the U.S. sent the newly developed ground launched, small diameter bombs. The GLSDBs have a range of about 94 miles, are accurate to within a meter, and are resilient to electronic signal jamming.
There were concerns Ukraine’s counteroffensive plans may have been compromised when hundreds of classified Pentagon documents showed up on the Discord social media platform.
However, Ukraine’s leaders said they aren’t too worried about the leaks because they hold the most sensitive battlefield plans back from Americans as a result of doubting Washington’s ability to keep those secrets safe.