1. Breaking News: American Forces Deployed in Saudi Arabia Riyadh, Saudi Arabia—American military forces have begun to be dispatched to Saudi Arabia presumably in response to the recent terror attacks there. However, it appears these deployments were conducted without the permission of the Saudi government. Along these lines, Saudi Arabia has began mobilizing its security forces to response to the American unilateral deployments and has opened discussion of a international reaction at the UN Security Council.

2. Vienna—At a meeting of oil ministers from most of the largest oil producers in the world, including Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, and special guests Canada and Mexico, of a vote of 11-1 (of voting members), OPEC has announced that they will immediately increase the production of refined oil worldwide to help alleviate the current energy crisis. This decision was achieved, in part, by the efforts of the US trade representative who made a stirring speech to the body and helped to convince many of the ministers to increase their oil output. In response, the price of oil decreased from $184/barrel to $150/barrel on the news. News Update: Meeting of OPEC Nets Major Success for Strott Administration OPEC Ministers Agree to Increase the Supply of Refined Oil Into Global Markets

3. Assad Regime Launches Massive Attack Against Civilians in and around Damascus Damascus—The Assad regime has ordered a massive strike against opposition movements and civilians in and around the city of Damascus, the capitol of Syria. This act is just one of a string of recent attacks against civilians there, however, these most recent events represent a clear escalation on the part of the Assad regime to try to quash the opposition movements there. Thus far, the estimated causality rate of this most recent attack is around 10,000 people, but is rapidly increasing.

4. North Korean Rocket Shot Down By Japanese Missile Defenses Tokyo–Japanese missile defenses shot down North Korea’s Unha-3 rocket, launched from its Tongchang-ri space center earlier today, as the missile approached Japanese air space. The North has denounced the action as a ‘violation of Korean sovereignty’ and as an ‘act of war.’ Japan claims that the rocket posed a direct threat to their territory, while the North insists that the missile was clearly in international air-space at the time it was shot down and that the Japanese violated international law in order to destroy the missile. Both Japan and South Korea are making preparations for any retaliation by the North.

5. Syrian Military Makes Move Against Capital Damascus—In what appears to be a potential game-changing move, large portions of the Syrian military have begun to circle the Syrian capital in clear defiance of the Assad regime, potentially signaling a change in the prevailing nostrum of the military elite. In response, the Damascus police-force in conjunction with Assad’s personal security force have begun to mobilize in an effort to thwart the military’s actions.

6. Situation Escalates in Damascus Damascus—The situation in the Syrian capital has grown worse with the passage of time. As Syrian military and Assad police and security elements fight all across the city, hundreds of civilians have already been killed and several hundred more have been injured. At this point, it is unclear whether the military effort will be effective at breaking through into the downtown area where the Presidential palace stands.

7. Breaking News: Major Tornado Outbreak Hits Near St. Louis, MO St. Louis, MO—A major seasonal outbreak of tornadoes has struck in and around the city of St. Louis. So far, at least 2 EF-5 tornadoes have been reported in the Western suburbs of the city, causing massive destruction and at least 23 deaths and countless injuries thus far. State and local authorities have begun to respond, but the overwhelming nature of the damage might require a federal response as the Governor of Missouri has declared a state of emergency in 7 counties in East Missouri, with more to likely follow.