What is Flakka?

Flakka,"aka gravel", is the new street drug that is supposedly more dangerous than cocaine. It gets its name from the Spanish slang for a beautiful women ("la flaca"). The solid white chunks, which resemble aquarium gravel, can either be smoked, injected, or snorted. It has symptoms of paranoia, extreme body temperatures (over 105 degrees Fahrenheit) and feeling of incredible strength, which makes people believe they have strength that is equivalent to the "Incredible Hulk." They contain chemicals that are close to MDPV, or the key ingredient in "bath salts" (which were banned by the 2012), and bind and thwart with the molecules on the surface of neurons that normally keep levels of mood-regulating transmitters in check. The result is to overwhelm the brain cells with these chemicals that have a longer lasting effects than cocaine. It is really easy to overdose, as there has been multiple reports in the past couple of months of people abusing it. 

Flakka. 

16-year-old Girl Burned Alive by Mob

In central America, what is known to be one of the world's most violent countries, Guatemala, a sixteen year old girl was beaten, and then burned alive by a mob. Allegedly, the mob threw rocks at her, kicked her, and then poured gasoline on her in the village of Rio Bravo, for her involvement in the killing of a taxi driver three months ago. Police authorities arrived on the scene too late to save the victim. Her name was not given to the media, so her family can remain safe. No one defended, or even tried to save the girl. Some articles published in Guatemala have mixed reactions, some reported it was justice being served, while others blasted the mob for extreme measures. 

Moments before girl was burned alive. 

 

Heat Wave Kills Over a Thousand in India

Two young boys cool off in a nearby lake. 

Earlier this week, in Hyderadad, India, a heat wave of over 110 degrees Fahrenheit with a humidity of 30% struck this larger populated area of Asia, and left about 1, 154 people dead. The number one cause of death is the lack of water. There are millions of people homeless in India, so some cannot afford water or are too ill to cope with the extreme temperatures. Officials have made state regulations for people to avoid going outside from the hours of 11 a.m.- 4 p.m., use an umbrella, stay hydrated, stay in the shade and dress in lighter clothing. They believe it will prevent the number of deaths, and they have also provided water stalls for any person to come and refill plastic cups on a daily basis. 

A homeless man sleeps in shade. 

Endangered Rhino Hunted For a Good Cause

In Namibia, a US citizen, Corey Knowlton, bid $350,000 to receive a permit to hunt and kill the famed, yet endangered, black rhino. This occurred eighteen months ago, yet Knowlton had been planning his hunt for over an entire year before. He has accepted the criticism and death threats from the world, and let social media in on the truth. He claims his actions of killing one of the most endangered rhinos in the world is reasoning.

Corey Knowlton aims his gun ready to fire at rhino.

The older male rhino does not contribute to the gene pool any more, so to prevent it from killing others that do Knowlton decided to hunt it. Knowlton stated it was out of the science of conservation. He also bid the money for it to fund government anti-poaching efforts around the world.

Oldest Stone Tool Found in Kenya

Archaeologist holding one of the oldest stone tool.

A recent discovery made by archaeologists suggest that textbooks may have to be rewritten. Allegedly the oldest stone tools were unburied in northwestern Kenya, that were made ancestors around 3.3 million years ago. Textbooks claim that previously the oldest tools unearthed in Ethiopia were 700,000 years younger, dating back 2.6 million years ago. These tools could imply two things; that human beings did emerge earlier than scientists believe, which is 2.8 million years ago, or apes brains were developing at that point to create advantaged sharp sophisticated tools. The older dated tools were larger and lighter, which archaeologists at Stony Brook University found odd and uncommon. Flakes, anvils and cores emerged around the area too.





One of the tools discovered.

 

5-year-old Hero at Waffle House

Josiah sitting with the homeless person he helped.

In Prattville, Alabama, Ava Faulk and her five year old son, Josiah Duncan, were eating dinner at a local Waffle house, when they spotted an old, homeless man sitting outside next to his bike. Josiah, at first, did not understand why the man was so dirty and began asking his mother for answers. After she explained to him, the condition the man was in, Josiah did what no other five year old would think of doing... he went outside and offered the man a meal. Ava agreed on buying him food and allowed him to join them at the table. They all sat for a few minutes at the table, yet they still hadn't been waited on. So Josiah grabbed some menus from the rack and started picking things out to eat. Ava told the man to order anything he wanted, at whatever cost. Josiah brought tears to every ones eyes when he started to sing, "God our father, we thank you, we thank you, for many blessings, for our many blessings, amen, amen."

Ava and her son, Josiah.

 

 

More Bikers Rumored to go to Texas

Sunday in Waco, Texas; a fight between biker gangs started in Twin Peaks Restaurant and ended with nine dead, eighteen hospitalized, and 170 suspects detained. Allegedly, four were shot by police forces, since the fight continued even after they had arrived at the scene. Eye witnesses claimed that the bikers just did not care. The fight was all over the patch on the back of a motorcycle leather jacket, a Texas bottom rocker, which identifies geographic territory. The Bandidos, one of the gangs involved in the fight, claimed they had confronted members of the Cossacks months earlier, and told them to remove it. They refused.

Some of the 170 gang members detained, Sunday.

Once the beating, stabbing and shooting was controlled, authorities mad arrests, and then shut down the restaurant for the next week. Reports of more gang members was rumored, so the commission took necessary action to prevent any more bloodshed.

Serial Killer in Connecticut

On Monday, four people were found dead, buried behind a strip mall in New Britain, Connecticut. This is the continuation to the serial killer case that began earlier this month, in the same exact location, where three bodies of women had been discovered. The evidence gathered by the investigators have them convinced that the crimes were preformed by one person, who allegedly "is unable to continue this conduct," so officials stated to the townspeople that they do not need to worry about this killer. The one suspect the police have found is in jail on an unrelated case. One thing released to the media about the police investigations, was the discovery of skeletal remains in their last search. One of the three victims, was identified as Melanie Ruth Camilini, who has been reported as missing since January, 2003.

Police cars outside of the strip mall, where a total of 7
bodies have been discovered.

5 Suspects Detained for Officers Slaying

Five suspects have been detained for the shooting and killing of Officer Benjamin Deen, and Officer Liquori Tate. Saturday night, the thirty-four year old sheriff, Deen, pulled a vehicle over for speeding. Reports claim, Deen called for back-up after probable cause to search the car. Not long after Tate showed up, in response to the call, were shots fired. Marvin Banks was the man who pulled the trigger, he was charged with two counts of capital murder, along with counts of grand theft auto, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The other four suspects; Curtis Banks, and Joanie Calloway, were charged with accessory after the fact of capital murder, and then Cornelius Calloway and Abram Wade were charged with obstruction of justice. Investigations are still taking place, as the results from the tests on the box in Deen's police vehicle need to come in.

Deen, left and Tate, right.

Rare Monkeys Stolen From Zoo

The golden lion tamarin.

Over the weekend, seventeen rare, endangered monkey inhabiting the Beauval Zoo in France, were stolen. The thieves cut holes into the fences surrounding the primate's habitat, and then covered the surveillance camera. Allegedly, they used wooden boxes to carry away seven golden lion tamarins and 10 silvery marmosets. The zoo director, Rodolphe Delord, stated that the monkeys always slept in family groups, and were cared by specialists, since the endangered species were a part of a breeding program. He told authorities that only 500 employees would have had access to the zoo. The amount of money all of those monkeys lost is about 228 thousand dollars. Delord's plea to get the monkeys back has gone viral, and police authorities continue to study hundreds of hours of surveillance camera to hopefully find evidence on suspects.

The silvery marmoset.

Chinese Baby Buried Alive Saved

In Southern China's Guangxi Province, police authorities rescued a baby boy in an unmarked, shallow grave, after being left for dead ten days earlier. He was born on April 24, with a cleft lip, and a congenital defect. After discovering, and paying for the medical attention the baby received, they refused to have a birth certificate written. Later, they hired a man for two hundred and ninety dollars to get rid of the baby. The boy's parents and grandparents have been detained for the charges of an attempted murder. This sort of thing is commonly seen in China, as parents discover a disorder, defect, or problem with their child, they abandon them. The Civil Affairs Burea and police authorities are refusing to share any more information with Chinese social media on the infants conditions. 

Baby pictured on the left, and grave site on the right. 

72 Dead in Factory Fire

On Wednesday, in Valenzuela a city in the Philippines, a fire swept through a footwear factory and killed seventy-two workers. The blaze engulfed the second floor, where authorities allegedly discovered most of the victims and suggested that they were trapped there. The fire is unofficially reported to have been started from sparks created by welders working on a factories gate. The lights ignited with chemicals in nearby containers. Workers nearby, like Steve Chua, tried putting the fire out by pouring water and using a fire extinguisher, but it was unsuccessful. Firefighters were able to break through the thick black smoke and save five people. Unfortunately, not all were saved, most of the bodies were burned beyond recognition. The fire burned the log book too, which had the number of employees on duty during the time of the disaster. It has been extremely difficult to know the names of the exact victims, but authorities are doing their best to identify all. Loved ones stood outside the factory and waited for news. The mayor has made a public announcement about the financial aid, and support that will be given to all the families of the victims. 

All that remains of the footwear factory. 

Cockatoo Birds Smuggled in Plastic Bottles

Cockatoo birds stuffed in water bottles.

Recently, in a anti-smuggling operation, twenty-one cockatoos were discovered, each were stuffed in a plastic bottle. They were hidden among the 1,500 ml of plastic bottles on a boat. Indonesian custom officials at Tanjung Perak Park port in Surbaya, Indonesia, caught passengers on the boat trafficking after spotting two of them stuffed in jerry cans. A search then proceeded, the officials had discovered that the crew members had seized over twenty-two birds, all of which consisted of over two different endangered species of the cockatoo. They had to cut each one of the weak birds out of the plastic bottles. The Indonesia's Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), stated that, after the birds were handed into them, seven died due to the illness developed after being stuffed in a plastic bottle.

One of 22 birds discovered to be hidden in water bottles.

Hawaii Lava Lake Sets Record

Lava lake.

In Hawaii, Sunday night, Kilauea Volcano (one of the world's most active volcanoes) erupted and sent rocks, ashes and lava flying 285 feet in the air. The molten lava, and rock fragments flowed into a pond and created a massive lava lake. Scientists determined that the cause of eruption was due to the build up of gas in the crater.

Lava spewing out of a volcano in Hawaii.

 One member in the US Geological Survey, Janet Babb said, "When a rock falls into that lake, it causes a reaction... much like if you were to uncork a bottle of champagne by hitting the top off with a hammer." This bubbling lava, is indeed a tourist attraction and an extraordinary event. The lake created, although it was not a big enough eruption to worry the citizens nearby, has broken last years records of the lakes created by Kilauea Volcano.

Gunman Kills 3 People, Then Takes his Own Life

Early Sunday Morning, a gunman, Sergio Valencia Del Toro, 27,   opened fired on the Trestle Trail Pedestrian Bridge in Menasha, Wisconsin, taking three lives. One of the victims was a 31-year-old father, Jonathon Stoffel, who died next to his 11-year-old daughter, Olivia Stoffel. The other victim was Adam Bentdahl, 31, who was an Appleton and unrelated to the others killed. All of the victims were unknown to Toro. The wife/ mother, Erin Stoffel, was shot three times, after successfully saving her two other children, Ezra, 5-year-old, and Senah, 7-year-old. She even prevented any other attacks, by instructing her daughter to find help. Within minutes, police authorities arrived at the scene. The gunman killed himself, before police could get to him. The mother is in critical condition in the hospital. A fundraiser was held for the family, and over 75 thousand dollars was raised. Toro was infuriated after getting in a heated fight with his ex-fiance, then proceeded to kill as many people as he could on the bridge, before turning the gun on himself, and taking his own life. 

Jonathon and Olivia Stoffel 

South Korean Arrested by North Korea Officials

On Monday, reports of a South Korean, Won-moon Joo, who was attending New York University (NYU), and residing permanently in New Jersey, was allegedly arrested by North Korean police officials for illegally trying to cross the border. The college claimed they were unaware of Joo's travels, because he was not taking classes this semester. He was arrested on April 22 for violating the laws presented by the North Korean government that denied crossing over the border freely. The South Korean Unification Ministry have been checking with North Korea to make sure Joo is in fact detained. NYU reached out to Joo's family with major concerns for his safety and offered much support. 

North Korean police official standing guard.  

Riots in Baltimore

The response from the citizens in downtown Baltimore after the funeral of the 25-year-old black man, Freddie Gray, was to begin looting and destroying everything in sight. Most of the riots are allegedly over people wanting more answers about what actually occurred. The mayor of Baltimore spoke out and stated, "our community is very clear, they demand answers. So do I."

A group of people looting the local CVS pharmacy.

Freddie Gray.

Gray was arrested because he "fled unprovoked upon police presence," and later they found a switchblade in his pants pocket. In the video clips of Gray, being detained, he screamed in pain as he claimed he could not walk or breathe. The police officers at the scene (all six of them), were suspended and charged with certain crimes. Officer Caesar Goodson Jr. (second-degree murder), Officer William Porter (manslaughter), Lt. Brian Rice (manslaughter), Officer Edward Nero (assault), Officer Garrett Miller (assault) and Sgt. Alicia White (manslaughter). The reports from the hospitals stated that he suffered and died from a major spinal injury a week after his being released from jail. The family hired their own forensic pathologist to do an independent autopsy. Intense investigation is still going on, as police forces try to control the riots.

US Flagged Ship Intercepted by Iranian

The US Flagged Vessel that was taken over.

Last Friday, a US flagged vessel was intercepted by an Iranian Revolutionary Naval Patrol. The ship was contacted by the patrol and directed to continue into the Iranian territory. The master refused. After the US ship avoided the territory, the guard patrol ship fired warning shots at the commercial cargo. Then moments later the vessel made a distressed call to any US ships nearby (closest one was 60 miles away). The crew was then taken over by the patrol. The American Military Spokesman stated that none of the crewmembers are harmed and that the Iranians should be sending them on their way soon . It is still unknown why the warning shots were fired.

The vessel's route near Iran's coastline.

8 Million Affected by Earthquake

A person pulling a victim out of collapsed building.

Over the past weekend, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 caused major damage in remote villages as it struck the small country of Nepal in Asia. It is northeast of India, and to the east of the Himalayan Mountains. It caused massive shockwaves, which resulted in an avalanche on one, Mountain Everest, that killed about 18 people. More than eight million people were affected by the earthquake in one way or another. Over 10,000 were injured and 5,000 were killed. The death toll continues to go up, as search and rescue teams look desperately in districts surrounding the area. There is one story about a 27-year-old man, Rishi Khanal, who was trapped under rubble, and surrounded by his dead peers for 82 hours. He survived by drinking his own urine, until he was eventually found. Organizations like the United Nations (UN) and European Union (EU), have been sending aids for the people fleeing the country on airplanes and buses. The UN has launched an appeal for about 415 million dollars to provide emergency relief for the months to come.

Residents search for family members/survivors. 

Russian Spacecraft Sprialing Out of Control

A Russian spacecraft, after losing contact with the International Space Station this Wednesday, was reported to be spiraling back to Earth's atmosphere. Flight controllers have been trying to regain contact with the unmanned craft, but so far have come up unsuccessful. The Russian Space Agency stated that the craft, ISS Progress 59, has no where to go but down, and should return to Earth in about a week. Progress was launched with three tons of goods for their astronauts in space. Originally, when it docks, the astronauts take the goods, and re-fill the craft by placing their trash, wastewater, and unnecessary equipment. Then re-enter the atmosphere and burn up with all of the junk in it. Now, there will be three tons of goods burning up, which a major loss of money for the Russian Space Agency.

Unmanned spacecraft that is set to spiral back into
Earth's atmosphere.