Disaster

A Russian Sukhoi Su-27 fighter jet came within 15 feet of a U.S. Air Force RC-135U reconnaissance plane flying in international airspace over the Black Sea on Monday, according to the Pentagon. abc News reports: The Pentagon is calling the intercept by a Russian SU-27 pilot as being conducted in “an unsafe and unprofessional manner” that put “both the American flight crew and himself at risk.” During the intercept of the RC-135U, the Russian pilot flew as close as 15 feet alongside the American reconnaissance plane, a Defense Department official said.

For the second time in two days, an American Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing after passengers and crew fell ill. On Thursday flight 904, which left Rio de Janeiro at 10.16pm enroute for Miami, was diverted to Brasilia after four people, including three crew members, complained of lightheadedness. On Wednesday flight 109 from London to Los Angeles was forced to turn back to Heathrow after around 15 people, both passengers and crew were struck down by a mystery illness.

Intelligence officials in Egypt and Russia have said they have determined the identity of several of the perpetrators involved in the Sinai crash.  Security officials say that the explosive device found on the A321 plane was carried onboard by an employee of the airport Sharm El-Sheikh. Fort Russ reports: At the interview the offender immediately claimed the position of a porter, who was entrusted with the loading of passengers’ luggage, with access to the airfield. The bomb, placed in the baggage compartment, exploded at the height of about nine kilometers onboard the Airbus 321.

It seems the crude short squeeze is tearing a big hole in some traders' balance sheets (record shorts will do that) and so  precious metals are being sold hard. After Silver's overnight flash crash, both gold and silver have been slammed as crude surges...

Residents in Flint are still being forced to pay for contaminated water. Michigan’s Attorney General, Bill Schuette said Monday that it’s an “outrage” that residents of Flint are being forced to pay for water that’s unsafe to drink and his office may take action to stop the billing. Schuette’s office has launched a criminal investigation into the water crisis to see if any laws were broken. Schuette also announced that a former FBI chief and ex-prosecutor will lead the investigation.