News

U.S tornadoes – death toll continues to rise

Published

4 years ago

December 14, 2021

A baby is among 74 people confirmed dead in the state of Kentucky, and more than 100 people are missing after at least 30 tornadoes ripped through six US states

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear addressed the media about tornado recovery, confirming at least 74 people are dead with 109 others unaccounted for.

#BREAKING 'Police continues doing hundreds of welfare checks"#Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear speaks about #tornado recovery confirming at least 74 deaths, 109 unaccounted for pic.twitter.com/gaQ9I2CBWi
— ticker NEWS (@tickerNEWSco) December 13, 2021

Search and rescue efforts have been continuing across Western Kentucky.

Meanwhile emergency workers, including 300 members of the National Guard, have been scouring debris for survivors and distributing water and generators to residents.

The US Federal Emergency Management Agency has warned that weather events like this are the “new normal” as it prepares to bolster resilience as a result.

Today, @POTUS received a briefing from Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, and Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall on the Federal response to the tornadoes and storms that impacted multiple states this weekend. pic.twitter.com/El77zzHW3B
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) December 13, 2021

How you can help tornado victims

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has started the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund
The Salvation Army has established services to provide food, shelter and other emergency care to victims.
The Kentucky branch of Feeding America is providing bags of food. Donations to the organisation’s tornado relief fund offset the cost of the meals.
American Red Cross is pleading for people to donate blood as supplies run critically low. You can book an appointment online or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
The Mayfield Community Foundation has set up a GoFundMe to support local towns.
Local authorities are also encouraging any volunteers to come forward to offer support and relief wherever possible.

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Costa Haritos

Costa is a news producer at ticker NEWS. He has previously worked as a regional journalist at the Southern Highlands Express newspaper. He also has several years' experience in the fire and emergency services sector, where he has worked with researchers, policymakers and local communities. He has also worked at the Seven Network during their Olympic Games coverage and in the ABC Melbourne newsroom. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts (Professional), with expertise in journalism, politics and international relations. His other interests include colonial legacies in the Pacific, counter-terrorism, aviation and travel.

News

Iran live updates: Trump claims Khamenei dead as Iran insists he remains in command

Published

10 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Ahron Young

What’s happening in the Middle East?

President Donald Trump says Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed.
Trump describes the moment as the greatest opportunity for the Iranian people to “take back their country”.
Iran insists its leader is “firmly commanding the field”.
Israel and the U.S. have carried out strikes on Iran.
Impacts have been reported in Israel and across Gulf states as Iran launches retaliatory attacks.
The escalation has sparked fear and panic, with civilians fleeing major cities.

News

U.S. and Israel strike Iran as missiles hit Gulf bases and oil surges

U.S. and Israel launch major military operation against Iran; tensions rise as conflict escalates, impacting global markets.

Published

10 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Ahron Young

U.S. and Israel launch major military operation against Iran; tensions rise as conflict escalates, impacting global markets.

The United States and Israel have launched a sweeping military operation against Iran, striking leadership targets and more than 500 military sites in what President Trump has dubbed Operation Epic Fury.

Explosions have rocked Tehran, with civilians fleeing the capital as U.S. sea and air assets carry out sustained attacks. Washington says the mission is designed to prevent a nuclear armed Iran and has even called on Iranians to rise up against the regime.

Iran has retaliated with a barrage of missiles and drones targeting Israel and U.S. bases across the region, including in Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. While many projectiles were intercepted, a U.S. base in Bahrain sustained damage.

Gulf states long seen as stable hubs for global business are now directly in the firing line, raising fears of a wider regional war.

Oil prices are climbing and tankers are diverting from the Strait of Hormuz as markets react to the escalating conflict. U.S. aircraft carriers, advanced fighter jets and missile destroyers remain in position, signalling more strikes could follow.

With global leaders scrambling diplomatically, the world is watching to see whether this spirals further or shifts back to negotiations.

News

Iran warns ships to avoid Strait of Hormuz

Iran warns ships to avoid Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions and military buildup in the region

Published

12 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Ahron Young

Iran warns ships to avoid Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions and military buildup in the region

In Short:
– Iran’s Guard Corps advises ships to avoid the Strait of Hormuz due to rising tensions.
– Tankers have diverted to Qatar and UAE amidst concerns over safety and potential Iranian threats.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has instructed ships to avoid the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping lane linking to the Persian Gulf. About a hundred merchant vessels transit the strait daily, according to the U.S.Tensions have escalated recently as the U.S. increased military presence in the region and Iran issued threats. Western nations are concerned about Iran potentially laying sea mines to disrupt commercial traffic. Currently, no evidence suggests Iran has mined the strait.

Ships have been repeatedly warned against entering the strait, as stated by crews in the area and the European Union’s naval command, Aspides. On Saturday, dozens of tankers diverted, with some seeking refuge in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates while others opted to steer clear of the region, as reported by oil brokers and shipowners.

Shipping Concerns

Tensions continue to impact shipping operations as carriers remain cautious in the Gulf region.

Tanker crews reported hearing explosions near Iran’s Kharg Island, which is vital for the country’s oil exports, as it handles 90% of its crude oil shipments.