The Austin Informer

First responders confirm 21 dead after Israeli air strike in northern Lebanon. Photo: AP. The devastation in Gaza is not just a tragedy—it’s the culmination of a calculated campaign of ethnic cleansing carried out by Israel. The bombardment of civilian areas, the deliberate targeting of hospitals, schools, and refugee camps all point to an undeniable reality: Israel is not fighting a war of defense, but a war of eradication. The entire culture and civilization of Gaza are being wiped off the map, and now, the West Bank seems destined for the same fate. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) continued their relentless bombing campaign on Gaza over the weekend, with the latest strikes on Monday, October 14th, taking the lives of four civilians at Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah. These victims are not combatants; they are ordinary people, caught in a web of violence spun by a nation driven by expansionist zeal. The destruction of entire families, neighborhoods, and critical infrastructure sho

As we mark Columbus Day, it's time to reckon with Christopher Columbus's true legacy—a history rooted not in discovery but in atrocities against indigenous peoples. Far from the hero of legend, Columbus’s voyages to the Caribbean introduced brutal exploitation, sex trafficking, mass enslavement, and systemic violence, leaving a devastating impact on native populations. Upon his arrival in 1492, Columbus immediately began to subjugate the indigenous Taino people. In a 1493 letter to Spain’s rulers, Columbus expressed that with as few as 50 men, "we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want” ( Columbus, Letter to the Sovereigns , 1493). His words foreshadowed the horrors that would unfold as he and his men captured and enslaved thousands of natives, including children, forcing them into labor and shipping many to Europe as slaves. Within just a few years, the Taino population had been utterly decimated by rape, violence, forced labor, and disease. Columbus&#

In the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, many are beginning to ask whether this destructive event could have been exacerbated by the growing industry of weather modification—a controversial practice that’s quietly unfolding across the country. Far from science fiction, weather manipulation is a very real industry, and states like Texas openly issue licenses for entities to alter the skies. Through its  Weather Modification Program , the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) allows companies to modify natural weather patterns, often through a technique known as cloud seeding, which disperses chemicals into the atmosphere to induce rain. The ever-expanding operations of weather modification across the United States have raised significant concerns, particularly given the sheer scale of these activities. In Texas alone, cloud seeding operations have seeded hundreds of storms each year. In 2019, approximately 101 thunderstorms were seeded in Texas, contributing to increased rain

 By Jacob Loyd In a disturbing escalation, United Nations officials reported that Israeli tanks forcefully breached the gates of a peacekeeping base in southern Lebanon early Sunday morning. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) confirmed that two Israeli Merkava tanks destroyed the main entrance of a base before forcibly entering. Shortly after their departure, explosions erupted dangerously close to the base, releasing smoke that sickened UN personnel. The incident is the latest in a troubling pattern of violations by the Israeli military in the region, raising serious concerns about Israel’s continued disregard for international law and human rights. The UN has described this breach as a grave violation of international humanitarian law, sparking outrage from multiple quarters, including Israel’s own allies. According to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), the tanks had been responding to an attack by Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militant group. The IDF claimed that an

  As the national debate over the popular social media app TikTok intensifies, a growing grassroots movement, including Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, is rallying in support of the platform's right to exist and promote free speech. Despite concerns over national security and the Chinese government's alleged access to user data, many argue that a ban on TikTok sets a dangerous precedent that threatens freedom of expression in the digital age. Following a grueling five-hour hearing before a US House committee, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew found an unexpected ally in Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez, who made her first-ever TikTok video to denounce the potential ban. Thousands of young users joined her in protest, creating video edits that mocked the hearing and painted politicians as out of touch with modern technology. This surge in grassroots activism highlights the tension between TikTok's meteoric rise in popularity – boasting over 150 million US users – and lawmakers'

The New York District Attorney's office has slammed Republican requests for documents and testimony related to their investigation of former President Donald Trump as "an unprecedented inquiry into a pending local prosecution." In a stern letter addressed to three Republican House committee chairs, the Manhattan District Attorney's office made it clear that they will not allow their investigation to be impeded. Leslie Dubeck, General Counsel for the District Attorney of New York County, accused the congressional request of being designed to "punish" the office for their investigation, and labeled it "indefensible." This response comes after House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan, House Oversight Committee Chair Jim Comer, and House Administration Committee Chair Bryan Steil demanded documents, communications, and testimony related to the investigation of the former president. The ongoing investigation revolves around a $130,000 payment to adult

CANYON, Texas - West Texas A&M University President Walter Wendler has taken a firm stand against what he perceives as a denigration of women by canceling a drag show event originally scheduled for March 31. Wendler, in an email to the campus community, expressed his belief that drag shows demean and diminish women, comparing the events to "blackface" performances. The show, titled "A Fool's Drag Race," was intended to raise funds for the transgender crisis management non-profit organization, The Trevor Project. While Wendler supported donating to the organization itself, he argued that drag shows perpetuate harmful stereotypes and undermine the progress made toward gender equality. Wendler emphasized his commitment to providing fair opportunities to all individuals based on their academic performance. He argued that the university, as an institution representing the state of Texas, should elevate students based on their abilities and achievements, regardles

On Monday, the U.S. Secret Service and the NYPD held a conference call to discuss potential arrangements in the event that former President Donald Trump is indicted, including court security and the process for his possible surrender. Typically, white collar criminal defendants in New York can negotiate their surrender. New York City Mayor Eric Adams reassured the public that the city is ready for any protests that might occur as a result of the potential indictment. He stated that the NYPD is monitoring social media to ensure there are no inappropriate actions in the city and that they are confident in their ability to handle the situation. Over the weekend, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to call for protests against what he believes will be his arrest on Tuesday. The potential indictment is tied to the Manhattan district attorney's investigation into the 2016 hush payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Michael Cohen, Trump's former personal attorney, paid

In an age when transparency should be a priority, China continues to shroud itself in secrecy, this time by withholding critical information that could provide answers to the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) has publicly criticized Chinese officials for their lack of cooperation, further fueling suspicions of a sinister agenda behind their actions. The missing data, which was briefly available in January, could have been shared with the international community three years ago, according to WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. This delay has not only hindered global research efforts but has also perpetuated uncertainty and chaos worldwide. In a damning revelation, researchers discovered that the data pointed to the possible origin of the pandemic in a Wuhan seafood market, where illegally traded raccoon dogs may have infected humans. The presence of raccoon dog DNA, coupled with genetic signatures of the coronavirus, suggested a strong

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Moscow, greeted by a Russian military band at Vnukovo airport, to embark on a visit that is widely seen as China's most overt show of support for Russia since the beginning of the Ukraine invasion in February 2022. Although President Vladimir Putin was not present at the airport, the Chinese President expressed optimism about the visit, stating, "I am sure my visit will be fruitful." In an article published in the Russian newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Xi wrote about the growing friendship between China and Russia, emphasizing the importance of cherishing the bond between the two nations. He also noted his anticipation for working with Putin to develop a new vision for the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination. The leaders are set to meet at the Kremlin at 4:30 p.m. local time, with an "informal" meeting followed by a dinner, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. Official talks and a st

In an age where hustle culture is leaving women feeling burnt out, a new and controversial trend is emerging on TikTok: the 'Trad-Wives.' These women, who have chosen to return to traditional wife roles, are using social media to showcase the joy and fulfillment they find in homemaking, challenging the idea that a nine-to-five job is the path to a woman's happiness. Estee C. Williams, 24, is one of these women, sharing her sexy and intriguing 'Trad-Wife' lifestyle with her followers. She defines a 'Trad-Wife' as "a woman who chooses to live a more traditional life with ultra-traditional gender roles." Williams asserts that this is not an attempt to dismantle women's right to work but a personal choice made by women who believe that a wife's role is to be a homemaker. "I chose the trad lifestyle because I believe that women have drifted far from our roots," Williams said. "For me, the hustle culture was not appealing. Being a

From foraging for detergent sacks in Benin to sleeping on Parisian park benches, the remarkable odyssey of Shazam! star Djimon Hounsou has been fraught with adversity. But now, with a slew of roles under his belt, can Hollywood finally recognize the astonishing talent of this Academy Award-nominated actor? Or will the systemic racism that permeates the industry continue to hold him back? Djimon Hounsou's cinematic dreams began during his childhood in Cotonou, Benin, where he would scavenge for Omo detergent sacks to exchange for cinema tickets. After a tumultuous journey that saw him living on the streets of Paris, he eventually found himself in Los Angeles with aspirations of becoming an actor, despite speaking limited English. Now, with a string of critically acclaimed dramas and big-budget blockbusters to his name, the 58-year-old actor has certainly made a mark on the film industry. But as his experiences reveal, the shadow of racism still looms large over Hollywood. Hounsou ha

Twenty years ago, the US, supported by the UK, invaded Iraq in a catastrophic military endeavor based on dubious intelligence and a blatant disregard for international law. This invasion would lead to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of civilians, decades of civil war, and sectarian violence in Iraq, giving rise to the Islamic State militant group. In an arrogant assumption, the US and its allies, including the UK, believed that their overwhelming technical and military superiority was enough to control a distant nation and its people. The invasion began with a "shock and awe" bombing campaign to showcase this military power. This invasion would bring about untold suffering and devastation in Iraq. The US military's actions in Iraq exhibited a blatant ignorance and disdain for the reality on the ground, where decades of bloodshed were only just beginning. The Chilcot report, a damning inquiry into the UK's involvement in the war, found that the UK joined the invasi

In a bombshell revelation, former US President Donald Trump has set the world abuzz by announcing on his Truth Social page that he expects to be arrested next Tuesday. As the news spread like wildfire, celebrities from all walks of life have weighed in with their opinions, with some notable figures such as Stephen King and Rob Reiner expressing their disdain for Trump. Trump's incendiary post attacked the "corrupt & highly political Manhattan district attorney's office," alleging bias in the charges expected to be brought against him. These charges are connected to a hush money payment made to adult film actor Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. The former president urged his supporters to protest and "take our nation back." Famed author Stephen King was quick to voice his opinion on the matter, stating that "Donald Trump is a sociopath and a criminal," while warning against the prospect of Trump ever regaining access to the nuclear codes.

  Former President Donald Trump sent shockwaves through the nation on Saturday as he declared in a social media post that he expects to be arrested next Tuesday. Anticipating an indictment by the Manhattan District Attorney, he urged his supporters to "Protest, take our nation back." As tensions rise, New York law enforcement agencies are bracing for the unprecedented event and its potential fallout. According to CNN's John Miller, city, state, and federal law enforcement agencies in New York City have been engaged in meetings throughout the week to prepare for Trump's possible indictment. While the former president provided no details on the impending charges, his legal team has been anticipating the indictment and preparing for the next steps behind the scenes. Sources reveal that Trump believes he will be indicted simply because Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg "hates him." The former president's call for protests evokes memories of his final d

In a strikingly ironic turn of events, CNN reporter Kyung Lah and her crew found themselves victims of the very crime wave they were covering in San Francisco. In an incident that can only be described as the epitome of irony, Lah revealed that their rental car was vandalized and their belongings stolen while they were conducting an interview at City Hall. San Francisco, a city once renowned for its picturesque beauty, has been plagued by a crime epidemic in recent years. The situation has grown so dire that even a crew from one of the world's most prominent news organizations, equipped with a hired security guard, fell victim to the city's unrelenting criminals. Lah shared her frustration and disbelief on Twitter, stating that their security guard had tried to apprehend the thieves, but ultimately only managed to capture a photo of their getaway car's license plate. Lah also expressed her gratitude to the San Francisco Police for their swift response to the incident. In a

In a shocking and historic move, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian official Maria Lvova-Belova for their alleged involvement in the forced deportation of thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia. This marks the first time that Moscow officials have faced formal charges from the ICC, sparking international outrage and a fiery response from the Kremlin. The court asserts there are "reasonable grounds to believe that Mr. Putin bears individual criminal responsibility" for the alleged crimes, both for committing them directly alongside others and for his "failure to exercise control properly over civilian and military subordinates who committed the acts." Putin's arrest warrant has been met with gratitude from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who called the decision "historic" and cited evidence of the Kremlin's direct involvement in the forced deportation of chi

  In a heartbreaking turn of events, Lance Reddick, the legendary actor renowned for his roles in "The Wire," "John Wick," and "Bosch," passed away today at the age of 60. The cause of death remains undisclosed, with his publicist, Mia Hansen, confirming the tragic news. The world mourns the loss of this iconic actor, whose career spanned over three decades and left a lasting impact on television and cinema. Reddick's journey in the acting world began with stage performances, which eventually led to his breakthrough role as Lt. Cedric Daniels in the critically acclaimed HBO series "The Wire." This iconic role brought a new level of sophistication to police dramas, and Reddick's performance would forever be etched in the minds of viewers. The actor's versatility was evident in his other roles, including Homeland Security agent Phillip Broyles on the Fox sci-fi drama "Fringe" and a police official in the Amazon series "Bo

Photo created with Midjourney v5 Yesturday marked the dawning of a new era in the world of art, as the highly anticipated release of Midjourney's latest Version 5 AI Art Generator, or "midjourney v5", sweeps the globe! Brace yourselves, art enthusiasts, as you step into a realm of photorealistic wonder and experience the groundbreaking prowess of this cutting-edge AI technology. As the most advanced iteration of Midjourney's AI model, V5 transcends its predecessors in language understanding, accuracy, and aesthetic flexibility. This colossal innovation is the result of tireless efforts to refine the art of generating breathtaking images from natural language inputs. "Midjourney V5: An Enigmatic Symphony of Pixels!" While the V5's default resolution of 1024x1024 might take slightly longer to produce its masterpiece compared to the V4, the immediate upscale more than compensates for the extra wait. With this in mind, it is no wonder that the V5 is being ha

A groundbreaking new study has brought the seemingly impossible dream of reversing aging closer to reality. In a sensational discovery, scientists at Xiamen University in China have found a hypothalamic hormone that plays a critical role in aging and have demonstrated that supplementation with a simple amino acid can mitigate some age-related changes in mice. The groundbreaking research, published in PLOS Biology, shows that the decline of a hypothalamic protein called Menin is linked to the aging process. Menin levels in the hypothalamus decline with age, leading to increased neuroinflammation and a host of aging-related phenotypes, such as reduced bone mass, thinner skin, cognitive decline, and shorter lifespans. Led by Lige Leng, the research team at Xiamen University conducted a series of experiments using mice to test the effects of Menin loss and supplementation. They discovered that when Menin levels were restored in elderly mice, they experienced improved skin thickness, bone m

A recent study has unveiled a terrifying truth: trichloroethylene (TCE), a common chemical found in cleaning products, paint removers, and even dry cleaning, has been linked to a staggering 500% increased risk of Parkinson's disease. This shocking revelation comes from a hypothesis paper published in the Journal of Parkinson's Disease by a team of researchers from the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) and other institutions (DOI: 10.3233/JPD-225047). Parkinson's disease, a rapidly growing neurological condition, may be fueled by TCE, a chemical that has been in use for over a century. TCE contaminates the Marine Corps base Camp Lejeune, 15 toxic Superfund sites in Silicon Valley, and up to one-third of groundwater in the U.S. Furthermore, TCE has been linked to cancer, miscarriages, and congenital heart disease. The National Cancer Institute has identified TCE in various household products such as cleaning wipes, aerosol cleaning products, tool cleaners, paint r