Author: Julius Garza

Another intense heat wave appears likely to set up over Minnesota and the Midwest for the Labor Day weekend. Most major forecast models pump up another heat dome high-pressure ridge across the central United States next weekend. (See the forecast model loop above.) If current forecast model temperature projections verify, temperatures could approach record levels in the upper 90s to 100 degrees again across much of southern Minnesota next weekend. Another string of days in the 90s is likely starting late this week, and unfortunately most of this week looks dry again other than a few isolated thundershowers Monday afternoon.…

Colombo (25/7 – 30.77) In his book “Sri Lanka’s Easter Sunday Massacre: Lessons for the International Community,” terrorism expert Dr. Rohan Gunaratna emphasizes the importance of de-radicalizing Islamic ideology to effectively combat Islamic terrorism. He identifies Wahhabism or Salafism as the root of Islamic terrorism, rapidly spreading worldwide through modern communication tools. Gunaratna warns that merely arresting perpetrators after attacks is insufficient; the focus should be on preventing radicalization in the first place. The Easter Sunday bombings in April 2019, which claimed over 200 lives, were fuelled by extremist ideologies inspired by events in the Middle East and Islamic extremists…

MARQUETTE, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Samuel Ogoshi, 22, and Samson Ogoshi, 20, of Lagos, Nigeria, have been extradited to the United States from Nigeria to face prosecution after being indicted in May 2023, for sexually extorting numerous young men and teenage boys in the Western District of Michigan and across the United States. Samuel Ogoshi was also charged with causing the death of 17-year-old Jordan DeMay, of Marquette, Michigan, who was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in March 2022. “Sextortion is a horrible crime,” said U.S.…

The Department of State released the 2023 Investment Climate Statements today. The reports help U.S. companies make informed business decisions by providing up-to-date information on the investment climates of more than 165 countries and economies that are current or potential markets for U.S. companies. The Investment Climate Statements also serve as references for partner governments seeking to mobilize high-quality, sustainable investments to facilitate their economic growth. Our overseas missions are working to address the barriers to U.S. investment highlighted by the Investment Climate Statements. The reports cover topics including (but not limited to): Openness to Investment, Legal and Regulatory Systems,…

China is providing technology and equipment to Russia that is increasingly important to Moscow’s war in Ukraine, according to a newly released report compiled by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. The report, titled “Support Provided by the People’s Republic of China to Russia” and dated 2023, is unclassified and largely cites open-source data and western press reporting to support its claims. But it includes the US intelligence community assessment that China “has become an increasingly important buttress for Russia in its war effort.” The report says that as of March, China “had shipped more than $12 million in drones and…

Major revision of data marks the latest sign of resilient economic performance. The U.S. economy grew significantly more at the outset of this year than an initial measurement indicated, according to a major upward revision released on Thursday by the Commerce Department. Gross domestic product increased at a 2% annualized rate for a three-month period ending in March — a sizable jump from the previous estimate of 1.3%. The fresh measurement slightly exceeds the 1.9% growth that had been originally forecast by economists surveyed by Bloomberg. Despite the upward revision, U.S. economic growth over the first three months of this year was slower than the 2.6% growth…

Authorities are looking for two people after they allegedly approached and harassed a bison calf at a national park in Wyoming. The incident occurred in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming at approximately 1 p.m. on Sunday, June 4, when two individuals were seen “approaching and touching a bison calf at the southern end of Elk Ranch Flats in Grand Teton National Park,” read a statement from the National Park Service describing the encounter. Park rangers are now asking the public for help with their investigation and anyone with any information on the alleged individuals involved with the bison encounter…

Ford shouts that its ambition is to dethrone Tesla from its position as world leader in electric vehicles. Chief Executive Jim Farley is never shy about taunting Tesla CEO Elon Musk on social media. It’s something of a game between the two bosses. Last year, Tesla (TSLA) – Get Free Report was by far the leading seller of electric vehicles in the U.S., followed by Ford (F) – Get Free Report. The American electric-car landscape seems as if it’s Tesla, Ford and the rest. And yet — a third actor continues to quietly align his pawns. General Motors (GM) – Get Free Report last year regained the title of the…

Mexico’s Environment Department promised to do more to protect the endangered vaquita marina porpoise Thursday, to head off trade sanctions by the international wildlife body CITES. The department said several steps will be taken, including controlling illegal gillnet fishing that can trap and kill the vaquita, which is the world’s most endangered marine mammal. But experts had misgivings, saying Mexico has made almost exactly the same promises in the past and failed to fulfill them, and has even gone back on some previous pledges. There are estimated to be as few as eight vaquitas left in the Gulf of California, also known as…

Visiting the most popular tourist sites in Mexico is generally considered safe or only moderately risky. In simple terms, the U.S. Department of State has classified them as Level 1 or Level 2 destinations, with Level 1 being the lowest risk level a place can have and Level 2 being the second lowest. Under Level 2, you will find: Aguascalientes (State of Aguascalientes) Aguascalientes, one of the smallest Mexican states, is also known as a production center and for its table wines, brandies, aguardiente and other fruit liquors. Despite its small size, Aguascalientes has a rich culinary heritage. Crime in Mexico’s main…