(CNN) The US government is tracking more than 650 potential UFO cases, according to the Pentagon. Lawmakers on Wednesday looked into it this declassified video from an unsolved case showing a small orb moving across the sky in the Middle East. This type of footage of so-called “unidentified aerial phenomena” often fuels speculation, but Pentagon officials reiterated this week that there no evidence of extraterrestrial life to those seen.
Here’s what else you need to know Be Quick and Get On With Your Day.
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1. Tornado
Nearly a dozen tornadoes struck the US on Wednesday, leaving thousands without power and some trapped inside shelters. Storms were reported across Oklahoma, Kansas and Iowa, including Oklahoma the hardest hits are coming out. The most significant tornado touched down in Cole, Oklahoma, killing two people, a local official told CNN. At least four confirmed tornadoes moved across the state and lost strength for approximately 20,000 homes and businesses. The severe storm threat is expected to move east today to include eastern Texas, northwestern Louisiana, southeastern Oklahoma, southeastern Missouri and most of Arkansas.
2. Ukraine
Received by Ukraine more Western hardware, including French armored vehicles, the US Patriot missile defense system, and a highly effective system from Germany for combating cruise missiles. Denmark and the Netherlands also jointly agreed to “acquire, refurbish and donate” 14 Leopard tanks for Ukraine, as Western allies are stepping up efforts to bolster Kyiv’s military arsenal amid dwindling supplies. Leopard 2 tank is seen as an important, modern military vehicle that will bolster Kyiv’s forces and help Ukraine quickly. It comes as the US pledged an additional $325 million security aid package to Ukraine on Wednesday. “Russia can end its war now,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said after announcing the help. “Until Russia does, the United States and our allies and partners will remain united in Ukraine as long as necessary.”
3. Abortion
The Supreme Court on Wednesday temporarily extended access to the abortion drug mifepristone, a move intended to give justices more time to consider the issue. The deadline for the justices to weigh in on the case was moved to Friday after Justice Samuel Alito previously said the court would convene by 11:59 pm ET on Wednesday. The case is the most important controversy related to abortion to reach the high court since it overturned Roe v. Wade last year, which triggered conservative states across the country to ban or severely restrict the procedure. How the medication abortion dispute is ultimately resolved could make it harder for women to get the procedure, even in states that still allow it.
4. Covid-19 boosters
The CDC has updated its recommendations on Covid-19 vaccines to allow another booster dose for people 65 and older or those with weakened immune systems and “want the option of additional protection.” The move is in line with FDA actions this week to allow these groups to get additional booster doses ahead of the fall vaccination campaign. The CDC now recommends updated vaccines for everyone 6 and older, even if they didn’t complete the two-dose series of the original shots. However, only about 17% of eligible Americans — fewer than 1 in 5 — get the recommended booster dose. The FDA says it intends to make decisions about future vaccinations for most Americans in June.
5. Facebook
Facebook users with an active account between May 2007 and December 2022 can now apply for a share of the company’s $725 million settlement reached in a major data privacy scandal. Facebook’s parent company, Meta, agreed last year to a settlement to settle a long-running class action lawsuit accusing it of allowing Cambridge Analytica and other third parties to access private user information. and misleading users about its privacy practices. The claim form — which requires some personal details and information about a user’s Facebook account — can be filled out online or printed and submitted by mail. The form only takes a few minutes to complete and must be submitted by August 25 to be included as part of the settlement. It is not yet clear how much each settlement payment will be.
LATER
SpaceX is preparing for another attempt to launch the Starship
SpaceX is gearing up for a second launch attempt today for Starship, the most powerful rocket ever built — and the vehicle that will one day return astronauts to the moon. This is after SpaceX scrubbed its first launch on Monday due to a technical issue. The rocket, sitting on its launchpad in South Texas, could liftoff between 9:30 am ET and 10:30 am ET. You can watch a livestream of the launch attempt at The SpaceX website.
BREAKFAST BROWSE
Items found by TSA in carry-ons
Look some of the forbidden things the TSA spotlights its Twitter feed during #ProhibitedItemsWeek.
You can now buy Kendall Roy’s ‘Succession’ penthouse
The sprawling penthouse featured as the home of Jeremy Strong’s character on HBO’s “Succession” is sold for $29 million. (HBO, like CNN, is a unit of Warner Bros. Discovery.)
Polestar’s new SUV does not have a back window
This Polestar SUV — the electric car brand that spun off from Volvo — ditched the traditional rear window and rearview mirror.
The Exoneree featured in the Netflix show is launching a campaign for Congresss
Francisco “Franky” Carrillo, who spent two decades behind bars and was featured in the Netflix series “The Innocence Files,” is launching a congressional campaign.
Runner disqualified from race after using car on course
A Scottish ultramarathon runner was disqualified from a 50-mile race afterwards accepting car rides for a section of the course.
IN MEMORIAM
K-pop star Moon Bina member of the boy band Astro, has died, his music label said Thursday. He is 25. Condolences flooded social media as fans expressed their shock at the celebrity’s death. Moon Bin debuted on Astro in 2016. The other members of the group are Jinjin, MJ, Cha Eun-woo and Yoon San-ha.
NUMBER TODAY
$2.4 billion
That’s what the Boy Scouts of America will pay to get paid thousands of victims of sexual abuse after emerging from bankruptcy on Wednesday, the organization announced. The money will be paid from the Victims Compensation Trust established by the court during its bankruptcy reorganization.
QUOTE NOW
“People see the gas lines and they think they should fill up.”
— Patrick De Haanhead of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy, which tracks gas prices and station closures, following panic buying mass station closures in South Florida this week. More than half of the gas stations in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area were without fuel Wednesday after flooding from the huge storm last week caused by panic buying by drivers who topped off their tanks.
WEATHER TODAY
Check your local forecast here>>>
AND FINALLY
This bakery sells out in 2 hours on weekends
Learn the key ingredient behind a Rhode Island bakery that sold out soon after opening its doors. (Click here to view)
