Earthquake in Puerto Rico– Puerto Rico has been affected by ten earthquakes in the two last weeks. January 2nd started the year off with a magnitude 4.7 earthquake shook the island nation. Following that, on January 6th, three earthquakes, 5.8, 4.9,4 4.4 struck throughout the day. A 5.0, 6.0, 4.6, 5.6 magnitude earthquake hit the country on the 7th, beginning that morning and ending around lunchtime. On the 8th, a 4.7 magnitude hit Puerto Rico to end the week of quakes.

Plane Goes Down in Iran– On January 8th, UIA flight PS752 went down in Iran after taking off from Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport. Carrying 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians, 11 Ukrainians, 10 Swedes, 4 Afghanis, 3 UK citizens, and 3 Germans. The plane went down within minutes of takeoff. Originally thought to be technical difficulties, Canadian and British Intelligence suggests that the plane was shot down by an Iranian surface to air missile. The crash is under further investigation.

Iran Retaliates– In the wake of the drone strike that killed Qasem Soleimani, a top Iranian general, Iran launched a counter-attack by launching “tens of surface to surface missiles” as stated by the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) at Iraqi bases housing U.S. forces. No casualties were suffered in the retaliation. Donald Trump said in a White House statement that “Iran appears to be standing down”.

Bushfires still rage in Australia– In September 2019, fires began in the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales and have continued to rage along the countries coast, the death toll as of January 12th is at 27. Firefighters from across the U.S. and Canada have gone to the nation to aid in firefighting.

Iran Admits to Shooting Down Passenger Plane– Iran admitted on Saturday that they shot down UIA flight PS752. This statement has caused outrage and protests in the capital of Tehran. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has been called into the protests. The Revolutionary Guard began using live rounds, however, not shooting to kill.