February 5 top stories

It is February 5. Hope your weekend was good. Here are today’s top stories.

King Charles III diagnosed with cancer

Royal officials said Monday that King Charles III has been diagnosed with a form of cancer and has begun treatment.

Here is the statement from Buckingham Palace in full:

“During The King’s recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer.

His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties.

Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual.

The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible.

His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope that it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.”

Suspected Chinese spy pigeon freed

A pigeon suspected of spying for China found in India and held for eight months was released by Indian officials last week after intervention from animal rights organization PETA, the group said in a statement.

What happened? Mumbai police found the pigeon in May 2023. The bird had a message that was said to look like it contained Chinese characters on its wings, but the message was illegible. Authorities suspected it was being used for spying.

The pigeon was sent to a local animal hospital to be examined medically and investigated. Eventually, it was revealed that the pigeon was an open-water racing bird from Taiwan that had escaped and made its way to India.

Months later, the animal hospital asked police if they could release the bird since the bird was healthy and was taking up a cage at the hospital. PETA India intervened after hearing that the pigeon had been held at an animal hospital for eight months and when Mumbai police failed to provide an appropriate response.

The police department eventually told the hospital they could release the bird. It was transferred to an animal welfare shelter, whose medical staff released it Tuesday.

US starts retaliatory strikes against Iran-linked targets

The Hill reported that the U.S. military launched airstrikes on Friday in Iraq and Syria against more than 85 targets linked to Iran’s national military and the militias it backs, in retaliation for a drone attack in Jordan that killed three U.S. troops.

U.S. forces hit more than 85 targets spanning seven locations, four in Syria and three in Iraq, the U.S. military said in a statement.

The strikes hit targets including command and control centers, rockets, missiles and drone storage facilities, as well as logistics and munition supply chain facilities, said the military.

More U.S. military operations are expected to continue in the coming days. “Our response began today. It will continue at times and places of our choosing,” Biden said in a statement.

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Atmospheric river brings extreme rainfall to California

Storms associated with atmospheric rivers have dumped record amounts of rain and snow in California this winter, resulting in flooding and other hazards.

What is an atmospheric river? Atmospheric rivers are relatively long, narrow regions in the atmosphere – like rivers in the sky. Although they come in many shapes and sizes, they contain the largest amounts of water vapor. Their heavy precipitation saturates the ground that can’t absorb more water – think of it as a fire hose that aims at – then drenches.

A powerful storm slamming California triggered evacuations and left over 900,000 residents without power Sunday, as forecasters warned “dangerous flooding rains,” strong winds and heavy snow would impact central and southern areas for the next few days.

California Governor Newsom issued an emergency proclamation for eight southern counties, including Los Angeles – which was at “high risk” from potentially deadly flooding during this atmospheric river event that Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said “the potential to be historic.”

Biden wins South Carolina Democratic primary

POLITICO reported that President Biden won the Democratic primary in South Carolina, a state that carried his path to the nomination in the 2020 presidential election–as his campaign hopes Saturday’s victory will re-energize Black voters who have strayed from the president.

The Biden campaign also hopes his win in South Carolina, where about 60% of Democratic voters are Black, will mobilize the key demographic in subsequent primaries and the general election.

“You are the reason I am president,” President Biden told a mostly Black crowd in the state in January. “You are the reason Donald Trump is a loser, and you are the reason we are gonna win and beat him again.”

The next Democratic primary is Thursday in Nevada. Republicans will hold their primary on the same day.

At least 100 killed as wildfires rage in Chile

Multiple sources reported that at least 100 people have been killed in Chile as intense forest fires in the center of the country triggered a state of emergency and the authorities extended curfews in the worst-affected cities.

The death toll was expected to rise from the blaze that broke out on February 1. In a televised speech to the nation on Sunday, President Gabriel Boric said: “We know that figure [death toll] is going to grow, it’s going to grow significantly.”

The fires come in the middle of a heatwave and tens of thousands of Chileans have been heading to the coastal region of Valparaiso for their summer holidays. Traffic snarls on the main highway were hindering the mobility of firefighters and ambulances.

The firefighters are struggling to contain the fires that are spreading out of control in a highly populated area part of the coastal Valparaiso region.

The Chilean government says it will investigate arson as the cause of these deadly fires, adding that the president said the priority is to save lives. The governor of the Valparaiso region said on Sunday that he believed some of the fires could have been intentionally caused.

That is all the news stories for this week. See you tomorrow and stay with the light!

King Charles:

https://www.royal.uk/a-statement-from-buckingham-palace-5Feb24

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-68208157

Pigeon:

https://www.petaindia.com/blog/pigeon-suspected-of-being-used-for-spying-held-at-mumbai-hospital-for-eight-months-released-following-peta-india-intervention/

Retaliatory strikes:

https://thehill.com/policy/defense/4445165-us-begins-retaliatory-strikes-for-jordan-attack/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/02/02/us-strike-retaliates-jordan-attack/

California storm:

https://www.npr.org/2024/02/04/1228918306/a-second-wave-of-storms-is-slamming-parts-of-california-how-bad-will-it-get

https://www.noaa.gov/stories/what-are-atmospheric-rivers